378 00:49:04.210 --> 00:49:12.156 John Compton: So we're gonna get a few more minutes as usual, long agenda 379 00:49:15.930 --> 00:49:18.406 John Compton: this 1, 1130. 380 00:49:20.661 --> 00:49:31.121 John Compton: So does mine. So okay, alright. Then I guess we will call the 381 00:49:32.310 --> 00:49:35.759 John Compton: April Town Council meeting to order. 382 00:49:35.960 --> 00:49:39.470 John Compton: and as soon as I have the agenda I'll be happy to. 383 00:49:42.040 --> 00:49:48.120 John Compton: No, we're not calling the council meeting order. It's not an order we're gonna call the public hearing. 384 00:49:48.770 --> 00:49:56.629 John Compton: Yeah, order. And this is not what I want, either. Sure. 385 00:49:57.188 --> 00:49:59.459 John Compton: So this is a public hearing 386 00:49:59.670 --> 00:50:03.959 John Compton: on ordinance. 2,025 dash! Oh, one 387 00:50:04.310 --> 00:50:12.720 John Compton: which is an ordinance to require the registration of vacant properties and establish vacant property, maintenance and security standards. 388 00:50:12.880 --> 00:50:16.400 John Compton: amending articles one and 9. 389 00:50:17.130 --> 00:50:23.460 John Compton: Hopefully, anyone interested, was able to look at it. In the materials section. 390 00:50:23.630 --> 00:50:26.554 John Compton: The Council's looked at this a few times. 391 00:50:27.360 --> 00:50:31.340 John Compton: And so the public hearing is open. 392 00:50:31.680 --> 00:50:35.040 John Compton: We have anyone here who wishes to 393 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:42.940 John Compton: Speak to this ordinance, Marilyn, trying to get into the meeting. 394 00:50:43.590 --> 00:50:44.309 John Compton: You need to. 395 00:50:44.310 --> 00:50:46.519 Liz Everhart: Bye. So, okay. 396 00:50:49.400 --> 00:50:50.980 John Compton: Okay, 397 00:50:53.130 --> 00:51:03.439 John Compton: We did get a a separate comment from Paula. I don't know if she's on which will handle we had. We had that comment in the document. 398 00:51:05.240 --> 00:51:10.350 John Compton: Okay, there's no one here to speak on the ordinance, you know. Call. 399 00:51:10.350 --> 00:51:11.279 Liz Everhart: It's my hand! 400 00:51:11.670 --> 00:51:12.300 John Compton: Sorry. 401 00:51:12.300 --> 00:51:14.629 Liz Everhart: I raised my hand. Sorry it's Liz. 402 00:51:15.190 --> 00:51:17.899 John Compton: Well, I guess that means you can speak. 403 00:51:17.900 --> 00:51:29.919 Liz Everhart: I just. I meant to write something in support, and I'm not sure if I did. But I just wanted to say that I am in wholehearted support of this without any concerns. Thank you. 404 00:51:31.250 --> 00:51:32.790 John Compton: Okay, thank you. 405 00:51:33.900 --> 00:51:36.689 John Compton: Alright. And then, did I miss any other hands? 406 00:51:37.380 --> 00:51:43.329 John Compton: No, but Marilyn's in the waiting room. Marilyn's in the waiting room. Oh, thank you. 407 00:51:43.750 --> 00:51:46.040 John Compton: You're gonna have to help me out, because 408 00:51:46.420 --> 00:51:48.640 John Compton: not controlling that. But I have it here. 409 00:51:49.720 --> 00:51:57.570 John Compton: Okay, well, then, we'll call a public hearing for real to a close like. 410 00:51:57.790 --> 00:52:01.259 John Compton: and we'll move on to a meeting in the town council. 411 00:52:02.590 --> 00:52:09.429 John Compton: That's good before I start. Well, that's the call to order before I start. I thought 412 00:52:10.720 --> 00:52:17.290 John Compton: for tonight's meeting that they certainly should mention that John Mahathy passed away 413 00:52:17.430 --> 00:52:23.503 John Compton: last week a very sad event, and a kind of a surprise, and it was it was 414 00:52:25.270 --> 00:52:50.759 John Compton: quick, quick! Relatively, I think, for some of us she was a lovely woman, with the strong Catherine spirit. She charmed many of us over the years, earning respect for her caring nature and active involvement in making Washing Grove a better place for all of us. I think I can speak for myself and the Council. She'll be very much missed, and her memory will be honored. 415 00:52:53.530 --> 00:52:58.254 John Compton: Maybe I'll allow the council. If anyone wants to make a a statement, there is a 416 00:52:58.830 --> 00:53:08.329 John Compton: there will be a event here at the Hall on the 26.th That's correct. Yeah. 417 00:53:11.210 --> 00:53:13.587 John Compton: Okay. Sad event. 418 00:53:14.550 --> 00:53:27.821 John Compton: alright. So that will take us. Then. Okay. Just one thing, John, that did come up at the gateway committee. There's a between Chitty Grove crossing and 419 00:53:29.342 --> 00:53:36.939 John Compton: Washington Grove. There's that little pathway. And Jones. I just get confused. I think it's her niece designed 420 00:53:37.220 --> 00:53:58.320 John Compton: a welcome sign that, says Washington Grove. This way, Shade Grove, crossing this way. It's a really nice thing which we procrastinated on building for forever. And we were talking about, and Joan has mentioned this many, many times, and so at the gateway Committee we were saying how it would be a nice tribute to her 421 00:53:58.320 --> 00:54:19.850 John Compton: to put a I think Georgette came up with the idea of maybe putting a bench there, putting up the sign and maybe having a dedication to her there, because you know that because she's famous also for picking up the trash, and we don't have to dedicate that to her. So this would. I think this would be something that would be nice. So we're going to probably close that at our next meeting. 422 00:54:20.040 --> 00:54:20.870 John Compton: Right? 423 00:54:22.530 --> 00:54:32.109 John Compton: Oh, my gosh, okay, so then we'll move on to approval of the agenda. 424 00:54:33.880 --> 00:54:36.519 John Compton: Pretty full agenda, as you all know. 425 00:54:39.870 --> 00:54:42.099 John Compton: I need a motion to approve the agenda. 426 00:54:42.290 --> 00:54:51.160 John Compton: I'll move second, any comments, additions concerning the agenda. 427 00:54:53.220 --> 00:54:56.470 John Compton: a case or another, if if there's time could. 428 00:54:56.600 --> 00:55:13.090 John Compton: We're looking at talk. We've been talking a lot about possibly putting kiosks around. If there's time. Can we put that in there, or you want to just wait. But I don't think the proposal has materialized. No, I thought we would have it. I would like to introduce it to what we want to do, or you want to just wait. 429 00:55:13.300 --> 00:55:28.810 John Compton: I think, cause we're gonna be discussing that on Wednesday at the Rec. Meeting, and we can come up with a proposal to bring to council. So I think that's okay. I just, I know there's a lot of discussion, and there's various ideas. But once it's flushed out. 430 00:55:28.970 --> 00:55:31.060 John Compton: then, of course, we want to do it. 431 00:55:31.950 --> 00:55:39.490 John Compton: Okay, alright, any. No other comments. And I'll favor approval of the agenda. 432 00:55:40.110 --> 00:55:45.440 John Compton: Okay, agendas improved. Hi, Chris, I didn't see while I was 433 00:55:45.700 --> 00:55:56.049 John Compton: at at loose ends. Okay, so we're on to public. Sorry. Sorry for the approval of the minutes. 434 00:55:56.780 --> 00:55:59.009 John Compton: yeah, of 3 10. 435 00:56:00.042 --> 00:56:11.990 John Compton: Hopefully, the Council had a chance to take a look at that. Any motion to approve the minutes. Thank you, Peter. Okay. Mary seconded. Thank you. 436 00:56:12.150 --> 00:56:16.750 John Compton: Any comments or corrections about the minutes from March 10.th 437 00:56:17.310 --> 00:56:22.609 John Compton: Nope, great. Okay, hearing none. And I'll enjoy we're approving the minutes. 438 00:56:22.950 --> 00:56:25.969 John Compton: Okay, thank you. That was unanimous 439 00:56:29.170 --> 00:56:31.789 John Compton: and move on to public appearances. 440 00:56:32.080 --> 00:56:35.410 John Compton: This is public appearances on any subject. 441 00:56:35.510 --> 00:56:36.525 John Compton: Oh, 442 00:56:38.110 --> 00:56:41.855 John Compton: Including all of those that are on the agenda, so 443 00:56:44.570 --> 00:56:48.440 John Compton: Feel free. Do we have any public appearances? 444 00:56:51.940 --> 00:56:59.090 John Compton: All right, seeing none. We will then move on to the treasurer's report 445 00:56:59.600 --> 00:57:05.370 John Compton: there, and as usual, I will attempt to put the treasurer's report on here 446 00:57:05.780 --> 00:57:07.810 John Compton: somewhere. I have the training for that. 447 00:57:09.916 --> 00:57:10.589 John Compton: Hold on! 448 00:57:10.900 --> 00:57:17.529 John Compton: You think I would. But can I please get this? 449 00:57:22.180 --> 00:57:24.570 Jean Moyer: Shall we start, anyway, or. 450 00:57:24.570 --> 00:57:25.949 John Compton: Yes, by all means. 451 00:57:25.950 --> 00:57:26.765 Jean Moyer: Okay, 452 00:57:27.780 --> 00:57:41.530 Jean Moyer: within income. We are starting to see the public utility property tax come in. It historically comes in the second half of our fiscal year. So I was happy to see 453 00:57:41.940 --> 00:57:45.440 Jean Moyer: some of it's starting to come in 454 00:57:47.320 --> 00:57:51.859 Jean Moyer: in terms of the contributions. I've 455 00:57:52.100 --> 00:58:05.389 Jean Moyer: given the information needed. If for Joe Mahaffey. If folks want to do a donation I've provided the information for using the Zelle 456 00:58:06.535 --> 00:58:16.390 Jean Moyer: to facilitate that, and nothing really new to report on the stump 457 00:58:16.870 --> 00:58:20.230 Jean Moyer: that that's pretty held pretty much held 458 00:58:21.390 --> 00:58:30.890 Jean Moyer: in expenses. We're pretty much on track with most things. I've put in comments where needed. 459 00:58:31.611 --> 00:58:35.330 Jean Moyer: There's really nothing new from last month. 460 00:58:38.420 --> 00:58:46.410 Jean Moyer: So I'm here. If anybody has particular questions on any line. Item. 461 00:58:48.380 --> 00:58:52.950 Jean Moyer: Yeah, there's really not much new from last month. 462 00:58:55.200 --> 00:58:57.151 John Compton: But to get to the bottom line. 463 00:58:57.430 --> 00:59:02.954 Jean Moyer: Yeah, and the bank balances are at the bottom. And then I've started putting in the 464 00:59:04.270 --> 00:59:11.330 Jean Moyer: the new funds that we've been that we have are at the bottom below the bank balances. John. 465 00:59:11.770 --> 00:59:12.560 John Compton: Yeah. 466 00:59:13.210 --> 00:59:22.419 Jean Moyer: So that stump carving is up to 46, 50, which would be match dollar for dollar by the town up to the town, doing 467 00:59:22.570 --> 00:59:31.610 Jean Moyer: 5,000. So I know Tom's been in communication with the carver and 468 00:59:31.810 --> 00:59:39.030 Jean Moyer: that will happen in the summer, but in next fiscal year done. 469 00:59:41.060 --> 00:59:42.919 Jean Moyer: That's it for this report. 470 00:59:45.330 --> 00:59:46.870 John Compton: Any questions from the Council. 471 00:59:49.250 --> 00:59:53.109 John Compton: Okay, I need a motion to accept the treasure support. 472 00:59:53.710 --> 00:59:54.660 John Compton: I'll move. 473 00:59:54.960 --> 01:00:00.529 John Compton: Ava has moved. Barbara has second, all in favor. 474 01:00:01.770 --> 01:00:02.660 John Compton: Okay. 475 01:00:03.300 --> 01:00:12.480 John Compton: there's report accepted. I also have on here kind of review of the timeline for preparing and adopting the budget. 476 01:00:13.250 --> 01:00:19.099 John Compton: There's not a lot to say. Today, we're going to hopefully approve the 477 01:00:19.820 --> 01:00:25.310 John Compton: the the budget that will go to the meeting on May 10.th 478 01:00:27.100 --> 01:00:33.540 John Compton: I need to send out a a notice of that. We have to get it out 479 01:00:34.080 --> 01:00:40.429 John Compton: early enough, and there's some other a few other things. But we certainly, I think 480 01:00:41.540 --> 01:00:49.650 John Compton: hopefully, everyone who has anything to say about the line items will have contacted one of you or someone. 481 01:00:50.930 --> 01:00:53.998 John Compton: Alright moving on to my report. 482 01:00:54.900 --> 01:01:02.980 John Compton: I have one kudo and that's to Steve works. This is, comes via Peter. 483 01:01:03.605 --> 01:01:15.650 John Compton: Steve gets a lot of kudos, remember, he's no longer an employee, which means all of these his skills and and efforts deserve recognition as a resident 484 01:01:15.930 --> 01:01:26.620 John Compton: and this time. It involves the vinyl sleeves that innovation to used for a removable 485 01:01:26.890 --> 01:01:34.479 John Compton: signs in in the walkways and so far those sleeves appear to be holding the 486 01:01:34.870 --> 01:01:43.140 John Compton: sounds more vertical and and and hopefully that will continue, which has always been kind of a 487 01:01:43.410 --> 01:01:45.320 John Compton: eve of a lot of people. 488 01:01:45.500 --> 01:01:48.490 John Compton: because just in the ground they. 489 01:01:48.660 --> 01:01:52.060 John Compton: or or a short sleeve, they tend to fall over. So 490 01:01:52.880 --> 01:01:57.989 John Compton: so all, all thanks to Steve and as you saw 491 01:01:58.100 --> 01:02:05.187 John Compton: hopefully in the Council reports and it's down there in in my of note area. 492 01:02:07.720 --> 01:02:18.290 John Compton: Peter and Rj have started a program on signs all over town, which means this is being implemented as well as a lot of other signage being 493 01:02:18.969 --> 01:02:40.039 John Compton: closely examined and renovated or replaced. If you have to go down the call A, the leaning tower of Nagan is what I call it. 22 signs on it has a sleeve, and it's straight. Okay, yeah. It's the 1st time in maybe 20 years. That's how long it lasts. But so what are you doing? Going around with a level? 494 01:02:40.565 --> 01:02:53.680 John Compton: Well, when the sign is like this? It's like pretty obvious. But almost all the sign. Almost every post in town has been done again. And it's nice for us that walk around and notice those things. 495 01:02:55.160 --> 01:03:08.650 John Compton: Okay, so then I have the top here about the town election. Of course it's going to be in person on Saturday, May 10, th from 4 to 7. 496 01:03:09.316 --> 01:03:13.880 John Compton: The absentee ballot applications are being accepted through may second 497 01:03:14.595 --> 01:03:24.180 John Compton: for those who want to vote early in one way or the other. That can be done by mail, or more simply by simply bringing the 498 01:03:24.350 --> 01:03:34.850 John Compton: closed ballot here. But 1st you have to submit an application for the ballot, so the applications are being accepted through May second, we're working on them tomorrow. 499 01:03:35.060 --> 01:03:41.599 John Compton: Okay? Good. Because people will start who who has been nominated. 500 01:03:41.930 --> 01:03:49.430 John Compton: and that was my next. The nominations I know of myself, for Mayor 501 01:03:49.690 --> 01:03:54.339 John Compton: Mary has been nominated for another term for council, and John Porter 502 01:03:54.730 --> 01:03:59.680 John Compton: has been nominated for the other town Council position. 503 01:04:02.010 --> 01:04:04.699 John Compton: So unless there's 1. What's the other account? Council position? 504 01:04:05.460 --> 01:04:14.040 John Compton: Because I'm leaving? Oh, oh, and Mary, yours term is up. Yeah. 505 01:04:14.580 --> 01:04:23.705 John Compton: But she's going back to being a mother never left right now. 506 01:04:24.940 --> 01:04:31.607 John Compton: yeah, if I guess this is we was last full fledged council. So 507 01:04:33.750 --> 01:04:38.809 John Compton: I'll I'll say something again, probably at the at the town meeting, but. 508 01:04:39.200 --> 01:04:44.100 John Compton: as you know, we struggle to find 509 01:04:45.020 --> 01:05:07.389 John Compton: newer residents. Read that also as younger residents. To to serve on the council to bring in. You know the point of view of a newer resident. Probably the average residents here may be in the 30 or 20 high twenties except for you and so 510 01:05:07.800 --> 01:05:11.580 John Compton: doing it while having kids, school age, kids and 511 01:05:11.910 --> 01:05:18.659 John Compton: working and all of those things we really it's really been a I know a challenge, but 512 01:05:18.830 --> 01:05:32.359 John Compton: terrific for the town. Well, I might. I might come back to council at some point the the the you can follow in Charlie Charleston's footsteps. He's been. 513 01:05:32.490 --> 01:05:46.270 John Compton: He's been on the Council off and on for years as dragooned into the into the position. So yeah, we may pick you up on that sooner. Right? 514 01:05:46.907 --> 01:05:53.162 John Compton: Okay. So next item is, I just want to re mention the zoning changes. 515 01:05:55.910 --> 01:06:05.989 John Compton: that. The that the planning commission is is going to propose in some way or another for the commercial corner. 516 01:06:06.681 --> 01:06:13.708 John Compton: That's further movement on that is awaiting. So Ellen Ferguson, our town attorneys 517 01:06:15.243 --> 01:06:23.130 John Compton: consultation on how best to implement a a a change in the zoning. 518 01:06:23.530 --> 01:06:32.470 John Compton: The reason for that is because we we want to connect the zoning change to renovation of the property, and 519 01:06:33.310 --> 01:06:37.739 John Compton: we'd like to connect the 2 pretty strongly. And how to do that. 520 01:06:38.385 --> 01:07:00.530 John Compton: We we need Sue Ellen's advice exactly on how to do that. So she addressed this at all, or she hasn't. I've let her know that we'd like to hear about it. But yeah. So this. So that's next on tap. Yes, it's the only only other thing on our plate other than the ongoing, lighting pepco fiasco. 521 01:07:01.076 --> 01:07:08.179 John Compton: If you don't. If ever by the way, on that subject, if you don't already know, since a year and a half ago. 522 01:07:09.119 --> 01:07:15.050 John Compton: She's been representing about 8 municipalities, including Washington Grove 523 01:07:15.330 --> 01:07:25.570 John Compton: in the discussions with Tepco and also on the the Public Service Committee. So we share the cost of her work on that, and it hasn't been 524 01:07:26.840 --> 01:07:34.265 John Compton: owner an owner's amount by any means. But but we absolutely need someone with legal legal 525 01:07:35.580 --> 01:07:37.780 John Compton: wait to do that. 526 01:07:39.695 --> 01:07:43.085 John Compton: Okay, the shared use pathway. 527 01:07:43.900 --> 01:07:58.580 John Compton: report is, unfortunately, there has been no real progress on the mandatory referral, which is next up on the formalities, that that to the Planning board has not been scheduled. 528 01:07:59.880 --> 01:08:05.550 John Compton: although it should be scheduled shortly. The reason that it it was scheduled at 1 point, but then 529 01:08:05.740 --> 01:08:10.570 John Compton: had to be canceled because the forest 530 01:08:10.730 --> 01:08:15.670 John Compton: conservation portion of the plan had not been addressed to me. 531 01:08:15.830 --> 01:08:23.450 John Compton: Forest conservation people's liking but that hopefully will be done, and it will get get moving. 532 01:08:27.990 --> 01:08:30.399 John Compton: What happened? 533 01:08:31.050 --> 01:08:31.859 John Compton: Alright. 534 01:08:37.500 --> 01:08:42.090 John Compton: hey? Now, you can can't do that on my laptop I have to use 535 01:08:46.859 --> 01:08:49.590 John Compton: I'm supposed to be sharing a screen here, aren't I? 536 01:08:50.064 --> 01:08:56.220 John Compton: No, I'm supposed to be looking at my agenda 537 01:08:57.300 --> 01:09:06.339 John Compton: alrighty the arbor day Arbor Day is and what the Westwoods cleanup will be on Sunday, April 27.th 538 01:09:06.770 --> 01:09:08.369 John Compton: Wanted to announce that. 539 01:09:09.760 --> 01:09:13.690 John Compton: And there are some other events coming up. There's always events. I just wanna 540 01:09:14.120 --> 01:09:25.019 John Compton: really mentioned some of our major volunteer events, and that's 1 of them, and that would be a good way to honor Jamone, too, because she was such a big part of this committee. Yeah. 541 01:09:25.700 --> 01:09:26.680 John Compton: yeah. 542 01:09:27.519 --> 01:09:37.420 John Compton: Okay. And then, I do wanna report on the a parent sort of a major 543 01:09:38.474 --> 01:09:43.546 John Compton: development in in in the final final 544 01:09:44.580 --> 01:09:50.859 John Compton: redevelopment of the county service parks around the shady Grove Metro. 545 01:09:51.439 --> 01:10:00.589 John Compton: For years the problem or the remaining problem has been relocating the Montgomery County school systems buses. 546 01:10:01.970 --> 01:10:03.390 John Compton: They're they're still. 547 01:10:03.600 --> 01:10:06.650 John Compton: And there's about 400 buses, they say. 548 01:10:07.770 --> 01:10:12.770 John Compton: but the county executive has has recently submitted a supplementary 549 01:10:13.598 --> 01:10:16.670 John Compton: funding request of about 10 million dollars. 550 01:10:17.217 --> 01:10:23.030 John Compton: That would fund the the relocation of about 250 551 01:10:23.880 --> 01:10:26.370 John Compton: 2 of those buses to sites. 552 01:10:26.670 --> 01:10:28.770 John Compton: one or more sites on Goody. 553 01:10:29.130 --> 01:10:34.629 John Compton: so that still needs to be fully developed. The remaining buses. 554 01:10:35.211 --> 01:10:40.698 John Compton: Which is a subset, and it's a by downset, and it's a partial subset. 555 01:10:41.755 --> 01:10:51.529 John Compton: may still be located near Crabs Branch, but as part of the redevelopment. There is a proposal to do that. 556 01:10:52.113 --> 01:10:55.650 John Compton: But the 10 million to get all that movement going 557 01:10:55.990 --> 01:11:01.980 John Compton: may finally mean that that redevelopment could occur which there's only 558 01:11:02.080 --> 01:11:24.010 John Compton: nearly 20 years since the original master plan in 2,006, and maybe I don't. I don't know anything about this. So what are they hoping to put where the buses are currently? Oh, there's a residential residence. There's a park. Oh, okay, there! Not a huge park. 559 01:11:24.540 --> 01:11:41.630 John Compton: Originally it was a school site. I don't know that it's still a school site as well. Okay. But yeah, it was important to move that. Yeah. Those buses to reclaim that property. And will that impact the road coming through completing through amity? No, that's not part of it. Oh, good. Okay. 560 01:11:43.200 --> 01:11:46.259 John Compton: okay. And that's the end of my report. 561 01:11:47.630 --> 01:11:56.410 John Compton: so we'll move on to the administrative matters. And the 1st one is the landscape and services contract. 562 01:11:57.690 --> 01:12:02.434 John Compton: That has a surprising 563 01:12:03.800 --> 01:12:20.600 John Compton: We we got 3. We got 3 bids, and normally we would open them here in front of everybody because we're back in this room, but it's actually gonna be more, it seemed to me to be. We've got 3 bids and get more efficient to at least assemble the bids, so we the Council could consider. 564 01:12:20.870 --> 01:12:23.590 John Compton: and we have 565 01:12:28.350 --> 01:12:33.949 John Compton: I have put together the 3 bid. The 3 bids were from Rj. 566 01:12:35.870 --> 01:12:40.596 John Compton: A company called Green sweep. They include a lot of details about their 567 01:12:41.350 --> 01:12:46.670 John Compton: Their companies have some details, and Green Earth, who has bid both 568 01:12:46.810 --> 01:12:49.390 John Compton: previous time that we heard of the contract. 569 01:12:50.510 --> 01:12:52.726 John Compton: So here you see it. 570 01:12:53.520 --> 01:12:59.300 John Compton: and the this this are the Rfp. This time, as you will recall. 571 01:13:00.547 --> 01:13:04.590 John Compton: Requested a bid for 5 years out 572 01:13:05.126 --> 01:13:09.430 John Compton: we'll only award the contract for the 1st year, but 573 01:13:10.190 --> 01:13:15.280 John Compton: in awarding it to the the winning, the bidder. 574 01:13:16.145 --> 01:13:24.970 John Compton: We have the option of offering them a second year, 3rd year, 4th year, in this kind of 5th year, at the pro, at the at the 575 01:13:25.190 --> 01:13:31.500 John Compton: price that they have specified for those years or with negotiation. So so 576 01:13:32.910 --> 01:13:39.460 John Compton: just for summarize I've got in green for the next year, which is the one we're actually awarding, of course. 577 01:13:39.720 --> 01:13:40.545 John Compton: And 578 01:13:41.880 --> 01:13:52.560 John Compton: you can see that green earth's bid is substantially the lowest. How could Rj and green Earth both be almost 50% when they're so much different 579 01:13:53.230 --> 01:13:58.199 John Compton: per hour, because Green Earth has no idea what they're getting into. 580 01:13:59.480 --> 01:14:05.950 John Compton: There's there's there's no way. There's no way that you know. 581 01:14:06.310 --> 01:14:12.379 John Compton: It's it's in the 1st year Steve worked probably 50% of the time training all the people in Rj. How to do this. 582 01:14:13.360 --> 01:14:31.759 John Compton: So so the difference is, they are projecting different amount of time to I don't know. I don't know. Is that why they're different? They're both charging $50 per hour, but 1, 65,000, the others 35. Yeah. Well, they wait a second. Let me explain the per hour. Each of the bidders was asked to 583 01:14:33.220 --> 01:14:48.870 John Compton: provide an hourly charge for additional work. So, as you know, we, the the contract covers a a set, a fixed set of of work of of scope, and then we 584 01:14:49.300 --> 01:15:01.549 John Compton: utilize someone often this contractor for all the one offs and miscellaneous, and they usually bid those individually, I mean, when I say, bid 585 01:15:01.740 --> 01:15:06.099 John Compton: I'll quote a price, do whatever the job is. And 586 01:15:06.750 --> 01:15:15.870 John Compton: most of the time it's it's not the materials. It's the labor to do it. So that's what it was. This is the labor rate they would return 587 01:15:17.770 --> 01:15:29.460 John Compton: alright. Well, peter's made made a statement. I did put a couple of things on here because it just seemed to me that you know, we had to take seriously this this low bid. 588 01:15:30.420 --> 01:15:39.209 John Compton: And so what I did is, I calculated the difference which is here in green, which is 30,000. And then I took the hourly rate. I said, Okay, supposing they 589 01:15:39.390 --> 01:15:41.309 John Compton: under, as they they 590 01:15:42.140 --> 01:15:53.609 John Compton: somehow took. We're gonna do a lot more hours. The amount of of hours at $50 51 $50 an hour is 600 591 01:15:54.050 --> 01:15:58.969 John Compton: support, 600 h of work, man hours. 592 01:16:00.710 --> 01:16:03.989 John Compton: I did the same thing for the other bitter green sweep. 593 01:16:05.150 --> 01:16:20.979 John Compton: And they they're also, as you can see, they're 56 versus 65, and but their hourly rate was materially higher, so the difference, the 9,000 lower cost would support 594 01:16:22.130 --> 01:16:25.980 John Compton: 110 h at their rate of 85. 595 01:16:26.500 --> 01:16:39.399 John Compton: No, the green sweep and the green Earth. Their names make me think that they're environmentally friendly in some way. Is there any difference in the, you know, equipment they're using, or anything like that. 596 01:16:40.170 --> 01:16:41.810 John Compton: I didn't read 597 01:16:43.220 --> 01:17:04.929 John Compton: thoroughly the green Sweep. I did read Green Earth, and there is a statement by Rob Mclaren. Who's the owner of the company? It's I can show you what it says concerning that, isn't it? Mandated now? Sorry, isn't it? Mandated now in terms. Well, that's for the leaf blowers there's still, you know, we still use all the other equipment. 598 01:17:05.760 --> 01:17:08.969 John Compton: yeah. So let me 599 01:17:10.040 --> 01:17:16.292 John Compton: and green earth is the person who cur. They currently they currently do our leaves. That is correct. 600 01:17:17.000 --> 01:17:21.450 John Compton: so they're a little bit familiar with the grove. At least they're very familiar with the grove. 601 01:17:21.630 --> 01:17:25.149 John Compton: You would have to say, Okay, open. Thank you. 602 01:17:25.280 --> 01:17:30.930 John Compton: Let's stop the share on that and show you what they said. 603 01:17:33.020 --> 01:17:37.140 John Compton: Okay, excuse me, it will scroll weirdly. 604 01:17:37.310 --> 01:17:40.210 John Compton: That's their bid for the 5 years. 605 01:17:42.780 --> 01:17:46.090 John Compton: He included, somewhere. 606 01:17:46.480 --> 01:17:50.650 John Compton: We have to go down there. There. You have it. 607 01:18:04.565 --> 01:18:05.390 John Compton: Okay? 608 01:18:08.560 --> 01:18:10.449 John Compton: And they have some reference. 609 01:18:14.810 --> 01:18:21.129 John Compton: Okay? Well, I think we have. 610 01:18:21.350 --> 01:18:27.749 John Compton: Did any of the bids have like material deviations from the Rfp. Specs. 611 01:18:30.580 --> 01:18:38.299 John Compton: In general, the the bids don't make no alterations to the Rfp. They sometimes they include the Rfp. But 612 01:18:38.480 --> 01:18:45.759 John Compton: we only require them to submit the bidding sheet and it. When we go to the contract. 613 01:18:46.350 --> 01:18:54.639 John Compton: You know the contract states. This is what you'll do. Yeah, no, there were no no caveats that I saw. 614 01:18:56.850 --> 01:19:01.489 John Compton: How long has Rj. Been doing the landscaping 3 years? 3 years. 615 01:19:06.200 --> 01:19:13.469 John Compton: so is there an intent to have a presentation from the contractors prior to award? 616 01:19:14.030 --> 01:19:34.050 John Compton: Well, there wasn't but so here, here's the deal. Let's let's be a little private. Yes. The the reason we wanted to get the to potentially make the award tonight was to include accurate numbers in the budget for next year. So in the budget for next year. 617 01:19:34.520 --> 01:19:44.008 John Compton: jeans here. But I think we put 65 something we just sort of. And we were gonna insert the actual number if we awarded the contract tonight. 618 01:19:44.530 --> 01:19:51.310 John Compton: So if we were to leave that number in it basically is the high bed here. 619 01:19:51.814 --> 01:19:58.919 John Compton: And if we were to subsequently make the award before July first, st which is when the contract starts 620 01:20:00.460 --> 01:20:12.969 John Compton: it could only positive impact impact the budget. So one thing one thing we can do is budget the way we have at the moment which would cover the the high bid, and if we 621 01:20:13.780 --> 01:20:19.320 John Compton: council chooses to make award to a lower bidder, it will just reduce the 622 01:20:19.500 --> 01:20:24.730 John Compton: the cost in in that way, and and for that line, those line items that. 623 01:20:25.150 --> 01:20:34.929 Jean Moyer: Yeah, the budget uses this year's numbers. It's actually like a hundred higher than what's on this quote. 624 01:20:35.680 --> 01:20:39.070 Jean Moyer: So we can change it to the exact number in the 625 01:20:39.340 --> 01:20:42.630 Jean Moyer: quote. If you want to, or just leave it the way it is. 626 01:20:45.210 --> 01:20:55.699 John Compton: So I have a question, do we have recommendations like, or have have the recommendations been checked, or the references for green sweeping green earth. 627 01:20:56.810 --> 01:21:08.980 John Compton: No? Well, well, green earth we have familiarity with, of course. Right I still have that. 628 01:21:10.100 --> 01:21:13.510 John Compton: Why, I can't. This is not my computer. That's why. 629 01:21:16.840 --> 01:21:17.680 John Compton: Yeah. 630 01:21:20.030 --> 01:21:29.193 John Compton: who green earth provided as references, we obviously don't need a reference from our Rj, they've been doing work so green earth 631 01:21:31.740 --> 01:21:38.500 John Compton: provided 4 references. They are hoa's and a shopping center. 632 01:21:42.510 --> 01:21:47.510 John Compton: And I can do a quick look at Green Sweep. 633 01:21:52.680 --> 01:21:56.049 John Compton: My main concern. Huge difference there. 634 01:21:56.240 --> 01:22:09.320 John Compton: just remembering when Rj. 1st took it up from Steve. It was a big learning curve in terms of figuring out the particulars about things we do in the grove. And looking at the Rfp. We've added even more 635 01:22:09.470 --> 01:22:17.790 John Compton: particular things that that are, gonna you know, require more work. So I I just be concerned 636 01:22:17.930 --> 01:22:21.840 John Compton: that you know, they may not really understand 637 01:22:22.390 --> 01:22:42.399 John Compton: the technical, or you know, there would be a switch over a learning curve at the beginning for them to figure it out, maybe right. And a lot of a lot of I mean, I spent my last 30 years of my life doing government contracting and contracting, and the low you, the low bidder, is always suspect, and there's there's no especially like I've worked 638 01:22:42.610 --> 01:22:54.139 John Compton: very, you know, in the last year and a half. I've worked hand in hand with Rj. But Steve spent the year before that he spent an entire year 60, you know he's 35,000. That's 35,000. It sounds like a lot of money. 639 01:22:54.150 --> 01:22:56.270 John Compton: but one employee 640 01:22:56.270 --> 01:23:24.208 John Compton: with with benefits, and everything is going to cost you a hundred $1,000 or whatever. So for the amount of service we get. And I know, George, I'm looking at Georgette. You know she's she uses them quite a bit with the trees and everything, and you know we have just a very, very positive experience. There can do attitude. They're also advisors. They give us a lot of advice on different things that we can do. So I'm I'm a big fan. I'm actually 641 01:23:24.950 --> 01:23:27.519 John Compton: very surprised that 642 01:23:28.030 --> 01:23:45.969 John Compton: $35,000 to me, understanding what the nature of the job is, or what gets done to me, sounds totally unrealistic, and that they don't understand the services that we want, even like the lake itself is just like just one example of something that's out of, you know. It's a little bit unusual. 643 01:23:46.370 --> 01:24:00.650 John Compton: So you know, for me. I think it's a no brainer to to go with, you know, to go with somebody we know somebody who's learned, and I know that Steve is not if we if we bring in a new company. Steve is not training that company. 644 01:24:00.760 --> 01:24:09.289 John Compton: So there's gonna be a lot of grove time spent a lot of frustration. Kathy, I think already has probably a full plate, so 645 01:24:09.390 --> 01:24:14.270 John Compton: I mean, I don't. I don't think it's a difficult decision personally, but you know we're a council. 646 01:24:15.210 --> 01:24:25.720 John Compton: So I I guess my question is, and it sounds like, you know, we're trying to find a placeholder in the budget which we already have some monies allocated in there that 647 01:24:25.750 --> 01:24:49.169 John Compton: to move forward. But I mean, is there a degree of urgency? You know I I would like to see, because of the disparity between the numbers right and the fact that the green Leaf folks or is it green leaf? No green leaf right? But you know there you would think that they would be somewhat familiar, because they've done the leaf. 648 01:24:49.420 --> 01:25:19.039 John Compton: But they're not familiar with the overall ground. But to say, I'm sorry. Yeah, but that just drives me crazy when when anybody says they're familiar, because they picked up the leaves. Well, no, but the no, but we I mean, we're all thinking it, though. But picking up the leaves is, it doesn't even. It's not even 1% of what this is about. Yeah, it's like a no brainer. They hire somebody who's getting paid minimum wage to drive a truck, look for piles of leaves, pick it up. That has nothing to do with what this contract as far as maintenance. 649 01:25:19.780 --> 01:25:23.902 John Compton: I guess my question is, is, what would it hurt if we 650 01:25:24.360 --> 01:25:29.839 John Compton: put the numbers in there that we already have, and and then have presentations. 651 01:25:30.510 --> 01:25:32.120 John Compton: What would you ask him? 652 01:25:32.600 --> 01:25:38.500 John Compton: Well, you know the experts sitting right over there, right? And and what we what we expect. 653 01:25:38.730 --> 01:25:49.189 John Compton: and and I I guess I'm kind of curious. And the and the thing is, too, we don't. Wanna we don't wanna get what you pay for and go with a low dollar bid. But 654 01:25:49.580 --> 01:25:58.209 John Compton: just such a substantial part of being in growth is the environment that we have. I know it's a big difference, but I would 655 01:25:58.350 --> 01:26:18.819 John Compton: be really feel very badly if we went through the lower bid, and and we're ending up chasing after. And who's gonna chase after them to make sure that it's done correctly. And I would just just add one thing which you none of you probably know is that a lot a significant amount of people in the grove no more. 656 01:26:18.950 --> 01:26:44.519 John Compton: They know they know the workers personally, and you know which is not the greatest thing in the world, but they know them, and the owner of the company. You know Jim loves Washington. He's the owner. He has a beautiful beach house. He doesn't have to work, and you know he should be retired, but he comes here all the time because he loves hanging out in the grove he loves, you know. This is like his second home. In a way 657 01:26:45.410 --> 01:27:07.680 John Compton: I don't know when the Sustainability Committee was trying to get leads. They were, you know, they were happy to take the leaves. You know that they were collecting. And I mean, they're very accommodating the communication. Yeah, that I think that's like a huge part of successful relationship is obviously communication. And yeah, I call. I call Jim at least 2 or 3 times a week, and he always picks up his phone 658 01:27:07.810 --> 01:27:26.549 John Compton: and he always and he always gets right back to me. And the other advantage, too, is that you know Steve? You know, knows these people and will continue so. He will continue the work gratis. Advising them because he's still advising them on how to do different stuff. So anyway, that's 659 01:27:26.570 --> 01:27:51.730 John Compton: it's yeah. If if green leaf or green earth if they could provide the same service and communicate the same way. That's great. But $30,000 is unrealistic, and I don't think it's a i don't think it's a lot of money for the service, I mean. I don't know what you all think, but I just thought that we were getting a really good deal. It's not like it's over budget. It's we budgeted for that amount. 660 01:27:52.080 --> 01:28:16.930 John Compton: I could be remembering this wrong. But didn't we put something in the Rfp about environment like when possible, using environmentally friendly equipment. So isn't that in the Rfp. Already? Because I guess that's my only thing is, I'm like, you know, thinking about well, would there be environmental advantage to one of these companies? But I think, did we put something on the Rfp. 661 01:28:16.930 --> 01:28:41.059 John Compton: okay? So so then, and they already, I know, are getting the battery solar battery powered blowers. The cutting lawns with a battery powered lawn mowers is not feasible yet. Yeah, and it's not required. But if we, if we ask them to whatever we ask them to do, they really, I think John would agree. They? They pretty much bend over backwards, trying to do it. 662 01:28:41.060 --> 01:28:46.200 John Compton: Yeah, okay, that was my only question. You know. I 663 01:28:46.470 --> 01:28:52.600 John Compton: I'm a little bit with with Chris's thought. 664 01:28:53.184 --> 01:29:12.350 John Compton: I'll just throw one more thing out. I mean, it's because the difference in in in bid is so large as Peter says it's seen. It's it's makes you a little bit well, how much less service will you be getting, or will we be getting the same, or or what 665 01:29:14.130 --> 01:29:26.929 John Compton: the thing about Rj. Is that they do their jack of all trades, I mean Jim Clinton ensures that, and maybe part of that is having Steve. He's a Jack of all trades. But whatever whatever reason. 666 01:29:27.542 --> 01:29:32.260 John Compton: it means, almost any project that we come up with 667 01:29:32.500 --> 01:29:39.800 John Compton: like, or or modifying the playground stuff. 668 01:29:40.716 --> 01:29:46.893 John Compton: or fencing, or whatever it might be, that they're well capable of doing that 669 01:29:47.710 --> 01:29:49.960 John Compton: and easy easy to work with. 670 01:29:50.130 --> 01:29:57.339 John Compton: I don't want to complicate anybody's lives. But, as I say, it wouldn't hurt to to kind of quiz 671 01:29:58.260 --> 01:30:00.199 John Compton: green earth on this. 672 01:30:01.790 --> 01:30:12.809 John Compton: We can think of it this way. I mean, we I was going to ask Jane. I was gonna ask you, but I forgot as to how much additional contracting we did with Rj. Beyond. 673 01:30:13.700 --> 01:30:20.049 John Compton: You don't have to answer now beyond beyond the contract, all the additional work. 674 01:30:20.772 --> 01:30:31.209 John Compton: And the reason I put that calculation of what what the difference in hours would be is because we do have. You know, we wanna feel comfortable 675 01:30:31.430 --> 01:30:32.880 John Compton: hiring. 676 01:30:33.460 --> 01:30:41.720 John Compton: you know, contractors to do all that work, and if if 30, $35,000 bought us all of the standard 677 01:30:42.020 --> 01:30:43.330 John Compton: landscaping. 678 01:30:43.600 --> 01:30:48.020 John Compton: It would leave us that much more money to do these other projects. 679 01:30:49.210 --> 01:30:53.079 Jean Moyer: I can work on the calculation. It won't take me long. 680 01:30:53.890 --> 01:30:54.445 John Compton: Right 681 01:30:55.000 --> 01:30:56.042 Jean Moyer: Just keep talking. 682 01:30:57.590 --> 01:31:03.590 John Compton: And you know, I think in the end, you know Peter Peter's expressing. You know 683 01:31:04.470 --> 01:31:09.305 John Compton: many of us feel the same way that 684 01:31:10.230 --> 01:31:18.390 John Compton: It's worth it. It's hard to calculate the value of how we're of having someone very responsive. And 685 01:31:18.500 --> 01:31:28.339 John Compton: you know, aware of when we need something done quickly, and when we don't, and you know what sort of what sort of work we expect? 686 01:31:29.760 --> 01:31:36.524 John Compton: You know. That's and we don't have no guarantee that another contractor would would respond that way. 687 01:31:39.260 --> 01:31:47.880 John Compton: But you guys didn't see the bids green sweep. It has some substantial references are substantial. 688 01:31:48.330 --> 01:31:55.343 John Compton: They're not just a they're not just another hoa company so they also 689 01:31:57.230 --> 01:32:04.109 John Compton: The the question is, can any of them provide the other services that we knew Rj. Could do even when we went 690 01:32:04.210 --> 01:32:12.410 John Compton: going in because we used them previously. So I guess 691 01:32:12.920 --> 01:32:17.610 John Compton: I guess my recommendation is up to you guys would be not to award the contract. 692 01:32:18.020 --> 01:32:24.269 John Compton: leave the budget at what that would cover, cover the the high bid contract. 693 01:32:24.510 --> 01:32:31.310 John Compton: and spend a month or 2 at least as long as necessary, as long as we act before 694 01:32:31.560 --> 01:32:39.320 John Compton: July first, st just to assure ourselves of what what these bid, what these bidders are capable of. 695 01:32:39.850 --> 01:32:44.069 John Compton: Okay, if if we bid, if we award it on May 19, th 696 01:32:44.490 --> 01:32:47.820 John Compton: is that enough time for them to work? 697 01:32:48.610 --> 01:33:02.599 John Compton: Contract starts July first.st So I mean, we have to sign the contract, but you know well, great! That's what I mean. Is that enough time for us to negotiate and conclude the contract? I don't think there's a whole lot of negotiating. It's yeah. We have a contract. 698 01:33:02.950 --> 01:33:08.759 John Compton: Yeah, I I mean, even if we did it on June, whatever date it is, we? We would have enough time. 699 01:33:08.870 --> 01:33:09.570 John Compton: Yeah. 700 01:33:10.110 --> 01:33:19.440 John Compton: So I think you know, what I'm thinking is that it's a very high probability, right that that Rj. Would would come out 701 01:33:19.560 --> 01:33:28.843 John Compton: ahead. But you're doing your due diligence, you know, Judici, responsible for the for the storm water. 702 01:33:29.500 --> 01:33:36.820 John Compton: We'll we don't want to get yelled at by Rob again. The the only, quite the concern that I have is 703 01:33:39.230 --> 01:33:43.240 John Compton: If we go in a different, if we if we stick with the Rj 704 01:33:43.748 --> 01:33:49.809 John Compton: I think it might be hard for us to get new companies to bid make 705 01:33:50.670 --> 01:33:59.769 John Compton: greener. It's gonna say we under bid the incumbent by 30 grand, and we didn't get the contract like this is this bidding process is. 706 01:34:00.620 --> 01:34:03.060 John Compton: yeah, what's the point? Yeah. 707 01:34:03.678 --> 01:34:17.819 John Compton: I, you know, putting aside, like our duty as stewards of the public. Fisk. I mean, there's there's countervailing considerations, I mean. Peter's points are are completely valid, and I haven't heard 708 01:34:18.040 --> 01:34:19.269 John Compton: any kind of. 709 01:34:19.610 --> 01:34:25.620 John Compton: I I think generally the sentiments in town seem to be people are alright pardon 710 01:34:25.730 --> 01:34:29.829 John Compton: satisfied, if not happy, maybe happy with 711 01:34:30.160 --> 01:34:37.105 John Compton: Rj. Spark. I certainly can't say like there's dissatisfaction that I'm aware of, I mean, so 712 01:34:40.740 --> 01:34:44.219 John Compton: is it? Would it be productive to and ask 713 01:34:45.880 --> 01:34:56.320 John Compton: Rj and green earth to come to the next meeting and talk with us. I think that's I think that's request. Yeah. Well, yeah, I just. 714 01:34:56.550 --> 01:35:09.599 John Compton: I'm not sure that I know what to ask them. I mean other other than like to say, Are you for real green? Yeah, I mean that. Yeah. 715 01:35:11.620 --> 01:35:37.220 John Compton: yeah. So I I guess I don't know. I'll second, your motion. If your motion is to table, the to to May 19, th we can always postpone until June whatever, and and invite representatives. But we have to think about. What are the questions we're gonna ask? Yes. So 716 01:35:37.450 --> 01:35:46.710 John Compton: well, you're probably in the best position to know that we need to see the Rfps, and presumably they're saying that they will provide the services that are in the Rfp, right? 717 01:35:47.070 --> 01:35:50.370 John Compton: Yeah. So I mean, what are you gonna say? Are you did. Well, but no, no! 718 01:35:50.670 --> 01:35:59.219 John Compton: How responsive they're going to be, do they? I mean, do you have people who can do faxes 719 01:35:59.672 --> 01:36:06.660 John Compton: or stuff? Not that we can't hire Rj. To do all that. Anyway. We that's that. You know we have funds. 720 01:36:06.990 --> 01:36:10.120 John Compton: It's not this contract to do all that work. 721 01:36:10.410 --> 01:36:12.060 John Compton: So you know. 722 01:36:12.270 --> 01:36:19.620 John Compton: to the extent. You know, they're willing to continue to work with the growth. There's all those projects that we know, will 723 01:36:19.760 --> 01:36:22.990 John Compton: we? We could treat you could treat the landscape 724 01:36:23.270 --> 01:36:45.790 John Compton: contract as a landscape contract. Wasn't there talk? Weren't you talking about having a separate maintenance? Yeah, it's hard to find somebody who that's a handyman. Yeah, exactly. Paint the hall right, Chris, that you know that sort of stuff, John. Did you see in Green Earth's references whether they had 725 01:36:46.391 --> 01:36:50.900 John Compton: other municipalities that they're doing similar landscaping. They don't 726 01:36:51.320 --> 01:37:10.019 John Compton: now. But Green Sweep does they have Chevy Chase? That's the first, st is it, Chevy Chase? Yeah, it was Julian. So yeah. And because of all these questions that we have, it would be good to just have people come in and press, you know, present their case. And then from that we could develop questions. Right? 727 01:37:10.480 --> 01:37:14.549 John Compton: Yeah, yeah, it gives us time to look at the bids. 728 01:37:14.690 --> 01:37:18.519 John Compton: Yeah, maybe reach out to talk with references, and 729 01:37:18.720 --> 01:37:33.350 John Compton: so green sweep, I mean, I just read a village friendship heights, not not friendship, Julian. I know Julian Mansfield. So metropolis management. A whole set of community services, Kettler management. 730 01:37:33.560 --> 01:37:39.619 John Compton: They have about 6 or 7 references. I I think they're all management companies systems. 731 01:37:42.390 --> 01:37:54.440 John Compton: but green earths are hoas, and I don't know what they do for the hoa, whether they just to mow the grass. Yeah, maybe they just picking leaves. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I just wanted to say one other thing, because 732 01:37:55.470 --> 01:38:02.134 John Compton: the the gateway really likes their fencing. And you know whatever 733 01:38:02.840 --> 01:38:08.495 John Compton: Audrey commented about. Thank you. So, Audrey, and and I'll speak for Georgette. 734 01:38:09.050 --> 01:38:15.779 John Compton: are both fans of Rj. The woods. I know, Patty. If Patty was allowed to speak 735 01:38:16.271 --> 01:38:40.029 John Compton: just like everything, and working, you know. So like there's a lot of people within the town volunteers who are very actively engaged with them, which we don't. You know you don't. You don't see or hear about that. But when I chat with them it's a lot of interaction, and I've never heard. I've never heard a negative thing about these guys 736 01:38:40.110 --> 01:39:02.950 John Compton: so, anyway. But but I totally agree. Due diligence. It doesn't hurt, and I'd be fascinating to hear what green earth you know what the real story is because I find it hard to believe. And how are they going to get up to speed right away? It's starting the summer. The grass is growing already. So you know they've got they've got to like come right in and you know. 737 01:39:03.830 --> 01:39:13.350 John Compton: So it sounds like we have a plan of postponing this and asking teams, hand is raised, so can we vote on that. 738 01:39:13.750 --> 01:39:20.549 Jean Moyer: I just to let you know we had budgeted 30,000 in different contingency buckets 739 01:39:20.870 --> 01:39:24.540 Jean Moyer: for odd job work for Rj. 740 01:39:24.750 --> 01:39:29.540 Jean Moyer: but so far we've only spent just under 4,000. 741 01:39:30.969 --> 01:39:36.849 Jean Moyer: You have to remember. Snow removal is a different budget. It's not. 742 01:39:36.850 --> 01:39:38.920 John Compton: Yeah, we're not talking about snow. 743 01:39:39.090 --> 01:39:41.410 Jean Moyer: Yeah, that's all we've spent. 744 01:39:43.080 --> 01:39:43.950 John Compton: So. 745 01:39:46.630 --> 01:39:48.300 Jean Moyer: So we have not. 746 01:39:48.560 --> 01:39:58.610 Jean Moyer: Historically, we barely tap the contingency budget with Rj, and you. 747 01:39:58.950 --> 01:40:04.670 Jean Moyer: Okay, well, maybe we should be spending more and doing more projects. It's just not the way it's worked out. 748 01:40:04.670 --> 01:40:30.480 John Compton: His. This pricing is ridiculous to do stuff like he was going to take up all the cement on Center Street, that walkway $2,000. Whetstone Springs. You could somebody would contract, would come in and charge you 25. I can't believe the beautiful job they did, and was, that was like a couple $1,000. Right? Yeah. So because they're here and they like to grow. I mean, no, that's this. There's so much 749 01:40:30.520 --> 01:40:54.390 John Compton: value. Add that Rj. Brings to here that I mean to me it would be like a huge mistake going. But at the same time I would really enjoy listening to this $30,000 proposal and see what they say. So would it be possible to get a list of the the the A la carte type work that Rj. Has done the past 3 years, because it may be that they're they're 750 01:40:54.450 --> 01:41:03.580 John Compton: in effect through the the flat price, subsidizing other work, that that if we were to go with green Earth. 751 01:41:03.690 --> 01:41:28.399 John Compton: then they're gonna charge a lot more for that work, and it may not be that much of a price to several people nodding, thinking that maybe right? I don't know because I but those of you interacted with rj, I mean, it sort of sounds like you. You suspect that might be at least part of what's going on. It's it's like. When Steve was Steve was an employee, Steve put up just an example. The the fence around tennis courts. 752 01:41:28.560 --> 01:41:55.690 John Compton: What would that would cost? $50,000, maybe more, and he got the materials, and you know he built the bridge to the lake, which which was an amazing. And it costs us. I mean, basically, it cost us nothing. Well, yeah, which is but what would they charge? $25,000 to put on a little deck these days. So so if you look at what you know, it always amazed me at how much value he brought 753 01:41:55.690 --> 01:42:14.160 John Compton: to the grove, which people don't. John would know the mayor, but the average person would have no idea you know the value. So the, for example, the sign work. Who's doing all that? Making it or doing it? Doing, not making. Rj, but Steve, I mean, Steve is going around with Jim, and I mean the owner. 754 01:42:14.180 --> 01:42:15.130 John Compton: No. 755 01:42:15.300 --> 01:42:20.609 John Compton: they're not paying. See? If they can show it straight. They they have a they do like a Christmas month. 756 01:42:20.840 --> 01:42:49.449 John Compton: That that's where the it's difficult to figure, because Steve is still. Yeah, I'll give you an example. We we need a We. We asked Steve. When we do the stormwater work when it when the work starts, we need somebody who can answer all their questions. Help out, where do I put all this stuff, you know? Can I do this? Can I do that? Steve said. Yeah, he would do that, and we were ready to. I mean, I'm ready to pay him. We have him on the we have him as an employee. 757 01:42:49.800 --> 01:43:02.389 John Compton: When I tried to get him, you know, I told him you know we were gonna do this, and he said, Well, you can do that. But I'm probably not gonna charge you anything. I said you are. And he says, Well, if I wasn't doing it 758 01:43:02.530 --> 01:43:17.609 John Compton: agreeing to be responsible. I'd probably be down there anyway, just watching and kidding, or whatever he would do. So I mean, now we hear he's doing that on other things. Obviously. 759 01:43:19.180 --> 01:43:46.969 John Compton: so it's not just, it's not. It's more important than actually, the labor is is doing it the right they go and they do, and that's what the other people do, too. It's so frustrating to me because they'll even like with signs. They'll put a sign instead of 4 foot. It'll be 6 feet, or they'll put it too high, or they won't do it correctly, or whether or they're just slow, you know. Yeah. 760 01:43:47.290 --> 01:43:51.799 John Compton: examination of what that did mean, and we can hear from Jim as well. 761 01:43:52.420 --> 01:44:09.734 John Compton: okay, I think we have a decision. Let's move on, then, to the next administrative matter which we could defer, and I called it dog business. At Peter's request, I stuck this here this on here 762 01:44:10.550 --> 01:44:23.579 John Compton: And I assumed that there was some specific proposal to be as to what to do. If there's not, I would recommend. We defer it because we got a lot of other things to do. 763 01:44:23.910 --> 01:44:36.270 John Compton: Do do, I would. I would just say, well, we can. We can do this just in 5 min. Just so, just to let you know that this winter has been, as every winter you see it, 40% of dog owners 764 01:44:36.430 --> 01:44:39.149 John Compton: I learned this today do not pick up their dog poop. 765 01:44:39.330 --> 01:45:05.610 John Compton: and John doesn't walk around the group. But you do. I do. I'm not sure even. I know you do with your kids, and it is just. It's everywhere on the path. It's on the street, it's on the walkways, and I go to the shady grove crossing, and I see they have those 2 poop stations there as well. Yeah, I mean, most most communities have them. And I know it's like kind of giving in to these people who. 766 01:45:05.750 --> 01:45:11.520 John Compton: you know, are disrespectful to us, but you know what every once a month we all go pick up the trash 767 01:45:11.530 --> 01:45:38.509 John Compton: all the ways up to mid county highway, and it's the same thing where, Pete, there's a certain amount of people that are going to be doing that. And you can sit there. And you know, say, Okay, well, I'm not. Gonna I'm not. Gonna you know. It's not my problem. It's not my fault, but it's still there. It's disrespectful. It's unhealthy. It makes the town look there, and it's really disgusting, anyway. Or Mary talked to the same company that does Shady Grove crossing. 768 01:45:38.530 --> 01:46:01.260 John Compton: and I was amazed at how economical it is. The 4 stations are like a $2,500 $2,000 investment, which is per, that's 1 time cost. And then it's like $2,000 a year. They pick up the they empty the trash every 2 weeks, and they replace the bags. You have to pay for the bags, but they so they basically maintain them. 769 01:46:01.260 --> 01:46:13.969 John Compton: And if the higher end containers are enclosed, so there, some of them like have holes, and then they smell so they're because we walk in amity all the time, and you can walk by them and you don't smell anything really pretty. 770 01:46:14.300 --> 01:46:27.440 John Compton: so it's obnoxious for me and Mary to have to actually bring this up at the council meeting and argue about it. But I was just really trying to figure out after the winter and the spring. What can we do 771 01:46:27.490 --> 01:46:53.660 John Compton: to make this a little bit better? And this is what this is a solution. It's not reinventing the wheel. This is what most communities have come up with, and I was thinking we could try it, and 4 would give us allow us to put one by the maintenance and then put them on either end. And you know, trying to think of a way that it's not right in front of somebody's house. So if you go to the end of Washington Grove Lane and put it across the street, it's still accessible for people who are walking 772 01:46:53.660 --> 01:47:03.109 John Compton: walking through, but not really, you know, in anybody's, you know anybody's way, or in the entrance to to the woods over here. I don't mind if they put it across the street from 773 01:47:03.530 --> 01:47:18.680 John Compton: Yeah, we're not saying, put trash cans out in the park in other places which people still ask, why don't we do that? We said, No, we're trash free. This is really a different. And there's gonna be people are gonna take multiple bags and things like that. But but the expense is pretty minimal. So 774 01:47:18.800 --> 01:47:22.840 John Compton: just think about why is this year any different than any other year? 775 01:47:24.059 --> 01:47:41.370 John Compton: It's it's always been. Steve. Steve probably gave up. Steve used to tell me stories all the time when he was cutting the lawn, and he would come home, and he'd have feces on him, because it's just. It's all over the place, especially on the grass, where you can't like really see it that well. 776 01:47:42.080 --> 01:48:04.600 John Compton: so why do we think if people don't care about picking up their dog. Now, are they going to say? Oh, well, there's a little poop station now. I'm going to pick up. Why, well, that's why it's not going to be 100, but it's a reminder. And a lot of times people just don't have bags, and also they don't want to carry the bag. So if you can have 777 01:48:04.770 --> 01:48:26.243 John Compton: not, everybody is going to use them, obviously. But I think you know it will make may make a difference. I I think, a specific proposal. I guarantee you there are going to be feelings on either side. Here. 778 01:48:27.010 --> 01:48:47.859 John Compton: I I my immediate reaction is well. 2 weeks between pickups. No, it can be every week. It's just a little bit more money. So we were saying, well, we try it for 2 weeks sessions, and then, if if that doesn't work, we can make it weekly, it'll be good if they're filled. That means people is using them. And of course the next thing is. 779 01:48:48.340 --> 01:48:54.230 John Compton: how much of an impact would this have we still have offensive? 780 01:48:54.340 --> 01:49:03.049 John Compton: Sure, could we? Could we? Maybe possibly, while we're thinking about this, maybe even talk to the Hoa President, Chris. 781 01:49:04.003 --> 01:49:09.820 John Compton: and see how it's been effective over there. And and I think it has been. But 782 01:49:09.990 --> 01:49:18.369 John Compton: but they've never. They've always had it so they wouldn't know the opposite. But yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah. 783 01:49:18.620 --> 01:49:36.150 John Compton: I don't know how many. I don't see that much on the ground. I, honestly, we we have a we have a baseline. They may not have a baseline. We do. I'll be. I'll be dropping my poop in front of John's house next next 2 weeks. 784 01:49:37.520 --> 01:49:49.260 John Compton: Don't start that war. We we had some offline discussion. I I suggested a cheaper solution. 785 01:49:50.480 --> 01:49:55.340 John Compton: and that is that we offer a dog bounty. 786 01:49:55.959 --> 01:50:03.739 John Compton: so we can pay by the pound or by the by the bag. You deliver a bag, will 787 01:50:04.680 --> 01:50:21.300 John Compton: you? You'll get a bounty for doing that. I mean, that's how you clean if you clean up your dog. Yeah, that's how you get rid of cans being dropped around. You put on a deposit, and then people collect it for the money. 788 01:50:21.730 --> 01:50:41.199 John Compton: You know, it's a it's been an effective approach. I'm really serious. But you know, the 19 sixties co-found. You know the apple, the affluent communities do DNA? Seriously. They do. You know that so they can accuse if they do, they do, DNA. And it's like a thousand dollar fine. 789 01:50:41.200 --> 01:51:04.170 John Compton: If if they if yeah, they find poop on the ground, they do, they check the DNA, and each dog has to register. Yeah, I think we should put cameras. Let's go on wait before you do the trash cans, because you should. All people ask those 2 trash cans at 790 01:51:04.580 --> 01:51:27.519 John Compton: the maintenance shed or not ours. They belong to the garbage service. They store them there, and they bring them down the streets. They can't access like oaks like Johnson Alley. I didn't know, Steve explained this to me, so Johnson Alley and a few other, and I think on Oak, and then they? They pick up all the trash and they put it back so 791 01:51:28.000 --> 01:51:39.666 John Compton: well, so like. If people are putting their poop or trash and stuff in there, they're they're coming and taking it away, and they're dealing with that, and they haven't mentioned anything. We somebody 792 01:51:40.220 --> 01:51:41.113 John Compton: put it 793 01:51:41.800 --> 01:52:06.429 John Compton: Liz put took them, took them and moved them a little behind the bamboo, so they weren't as visible. But we're not going to put those. We can't put those in the maintenance shed. Yeah, and there's no place else, really for them to do it. So that was, that's the reason why they're out which goes to show that people are putting their poop in the trash cans, at least. Yeah, there you go. Some people. Yeah, my trash can has lots of seriously. People people know where the accessible cans are all right. 794 01:52:06.760 --> 01:52:15.209 John Compton: Was that 5 min? All right? That was about yeah, that was a grow 5 min. That was a John Compton. 5 min. 795 01:52:15.690 --> 01:52:24.623 John Compton: Alright, we're going to move on to the the annual time meeting budget. So Jean is here. 796 01:52:25.350 --> 01:52:29.469 John Compton: I'm gonna put it up. Well, you can put it doesn't matter. I'll put it up 797 01:52:30.550 --> 01:52:31.240 John Compton: And then. 798 01:52:31.240 --> 01:52:40.340 Jean Moyer: Yeah, I've got my my copy up that I can speak from, cause I've highlighted the things that if very few things that have changed since 799 01:52:40.540 --> 01:52:43.639 Jean Moyer: the Council last saw. 800 01:52:44.290 --> 01:52:44.940 John Compton: Right. 801 01:52:45.180 --> 01:52:53.059 Jean Moyer: And we finally got the correct number for the county municipal tax duplication. 802 01:52:53.500 --> 01:52:55.830 Jean Moyer: So we put that in. 803 01:52:56.160 --> 01:53:00.210 Jean Moyer: And if you go down to the detail 804 01:53:01.930 --> 01:53:05.030 Jean Moyer: past the that 1st page summary, John. 805 01:53:05.700 --> 01:53:06.850 John Compton: To what? 806 01:53:07.120 --> 01:53:08.230 Jean Moyer: Just keep going. 807 01:53:09.040 --> 01:53:12.890 Jean Moyer: Yeah. So now we're in the detail. If 808 01:53:13.978 --> 01:53:21.089 Jean Moyer: the summer in the parks there was enough interest that the registration was reopened. 809 01:53:21.650 --> 01:53:27.679 Jean Moyer: and so Eva came up with a new budget. So income 810 01:53:28.483 --> 01:53:32.360 Jean Moyer: projected to increase. Because I know there's. 811 01:53:32.360 --> 01:53:34.869 John Compton: A lot more. Yeah, that's great. 812 01:53:34.870 --> 01:53:35.220 Jean Moyer: Yeah. 813 01:53:35.970 --> 01:53:43.950 Jean Moyer: And then when we get to the expense detail, we'll see no, don't! Don't go there yet, John. Don't. We'll get 814 01:53:45.241 --> 01:53:50.298 Jean Moyer: yeah, no, just let's finish it one line at a time, anyway. 815 01:53:51.150 --> 01:54:00.610 Jean Moyer: So expenses did go up. But the town subsidies roughly, the same as it was last month when you last saw this 816 01:54:01.250 --> 01:54:15.370 Jean Moyer: down there, the use of, or contribution to reserves. That number got adjusted just because income and expenses got adjusted. Now we can go into the detail of expenses. 817 01:54:15.480 --> 01:54:23.740 Jean Moyer: and again I've highlighted in yellow that which has changed since the Council last saw it. 818 01:54:23.930 --> 01:54:27.700 Jean Moyer: So we have to go down now. I did. 819 01:54:28.830 --> 01:54:32.789 Jean Moyer: when you stop there, John, the contract services. 820 01:54:33.515 --> 01:54:38.270 Jean Moyer: That's 65, 8, 32 is. 821 01:54:39.580 --> 01:54:49.850 Jean Moyer: as you could see. That was the number we were using this year, do you? And it's now 65, 5, something. Do you want that to be changed? Just leave it like that. 822 01:54:51.780 --> 01:54:53.009 John Compton: I just leave it. 823 01:54:53.010 --> 01:54:55.009 Jean Moyer: Thank you. Saves me work. 824 01:54:55.593 --> 01:54:59.759 Jean Moyer: And then we get down a little bit further 825 01:55:00.130 --> 01:55:12.750 Jean Moyer: when we get to recreation. So there's the change we're going to hire another counselor, because we'll have more kids. 826 01:55:12.750 --> 01:55:32.270 Jean Moyer: one more counselor and then supplies mostly the food budget. It's popsicles and pizza on Fridays went up. So that's the new numbers highlighted there. Like I said, the town subsidy basically didn't change, maybe by $20. 827 01:55:32.340 --> 01:55:39.039 Jean Moyer: And that is it change. That's those are the only changes. 828 01:55:40.670 --> 01:55:41.740 Jean Moyer: Since 829 01:55:45.500 --> 01:55:47.300 Jean Moyer: The Council saw it last month. 830 01:55:49.440 --> 01:55:58.099 John Compton: Can I ask a question, Jean? Remind me where the amount is that's gonna work for the website to improve the website. 831 01:55:58.100 --> 01:56:03.129 Jean Moyer: So that's way up under the what's called executive. 832 01:56:03.950 --> 01:56:04.720 John Compton: Okay. 833 01:56:04.720 --> 01:56:09.060 Jean Moyer: Yeah, so there's that 20,000 834 01:56:09.060 --> 01:56:10.979 John Compton: Oh, I see it now. Thank you. Okay. Okay. 835 01:56:10.980 --> 01:56:11.610 Jean Moyer: Yeah, 836 01:56:14.540 --> 01:56:33.060 Jean Moyer: I, Christine is finally eating into that 1,500. She's got somebody, she's trying out to do some basic cleanup and inventory to be, prepare for the work that this 20,000 would entail, so that 837 01:56:33.640 --> 01:56:42.210 Jean Moyer: the year end projection is now not 0. That could be a change. If, if if we want to 838 01:56:42.540 --> 01:56:43.540 Jean Moyer: do that. 839 01:56:46.050 --> 01:56:49.689 John Compton: Yeah, I definitely think you should put in what you know. You're spending. 840 01:56:51.230 --> 01:56:58.400 Jean Moyer: But yeah, I'll put that and on my copy, John, I'll get you a clean copy. 841 01:56:58.400 --> 01:56:59.150 John Compton: Okay. 842 01:57:00.036 --> 01:57:01.884 Jean Moyer: Cause it changes. 843 01:57:02.730 --> 01:57:03.720 John Compton: Object, number. 844 01:57:03.720 --> 01:57:05.880 Jean Moyer: Bunch of numbers. It ripples through. Yeah. 845 01:57:08.680 --> 01:57:17.530 Jean Moyer: But that that's really the only since you guys last I saw this, do you only like changes. 846 01:57:21.490 --> 01:57:24.959 John Compton: Okay, does anyone have any questions 847 01:57:25.700 --> 01:57:31.540 John Compton: about the the budget? I do. Wanna make sure and point out 848 01:57:32.000 --> 01:57:39.410 John Compton: I'll go back up here that the use of reserves to balance the budget 849 01:57:41.030 --> 01:57:43.739 John Compton: is a hundred and some $1,000. 850 01:57:43.740 --> 01:57:46.380 Jean Moyer: 4,646. 851 01:57:46.880 --> 01:57:47.670 John Compton: Right. 852 01:57:48.010 --> 01:57:50.989 John Compton: It's here, there it is. 853 01:57:51.240 --> 01:57:56.650 John Compton: Okay. Last year we had the budget as as 854 01:57:56.940 --> 01:58:00.760 John Compton: had 71. So this is roughly twice that 855 01:58:01.538 --> 01:58:13.189 John Compton: you'll note that because we underspent dramatically the there was a instead of a use of reserves. There was a $270,000 increase 856 01:58:13.480 --> 01:58:14.709 John Compton: in reserves. 857 01:58:14.970 --> 01:58:20.150 John Compton: So even under worst case scenario, this would simply be covered by the 858 01:58:20.760 --> 01:58:27.499 John Compton: windfall, if you will, or the excess revenue the current fiscal year. 859 01:58:28.650 --> 01:58:31.700 John Compton: That said, I don't 860 01:58:31.960 --> 01:58:46.279 John Compton: recall ever seeing a a year finish where the amount of reserves used approach the amount that was budget. I almost never, as I. As far as I know, it's never happened. 861 01:58:46.510 --> 01:58:50.314 John Compton: How much you use is used has changed 862 01:58:51.210 --> 01:58:52.350 John Compton: But you know. 863 01:58:52.500 --> 01:59:00.639 Jean Moyer: And this increase is really almost totally accounted for with the 20,000 on the website. 864 01:59:00.980 --> 01:59:04.689 Jean Moyer: and 50,000 that we have for 865 01:59:06.220 --> 01:59:10.659 Jean Moyer: long overdue painting of the hall. 866 01:59:11.690 --> 01:59:12.520 John Compton: Building. 867 01:59:12.520 --> 01:59:15.399 Jean Moyer: And a few other items within the hall. 868 01:59:16.285 --> 01:59:19.920 Jean Moyer: Just routine maintenance. But it's expensive. 869 01:59:22.570 --> 01:59:27.029 John Compton: Okay. So that that was just wanted to make everyone aware. That is the case. 870 01:59:27.757 --> 01:59:32.220 John Compton: Once again, the the other important feature here 871 01:59:32.550 --> 01:59:35.314 John Compton: it. Which is right here is that the 872 01:59:35.760 --> 01:59:39.220 John Compton: tax rate is calculated as constant yield. 873 01:59:40.230 --> 01:59:48.880 John Compton: So there's no change in the yield per 100 assessed valuation that said 874 01:59:49.535 --> 01:59:52.260 John Compton: so that will yield the 875 01:59:53.060 --> 01:59:56.539 John Compton: about the same amount of money. It it yielded this year. 876 01:59:58.760 --> 02:00:04.629 John Compton: Gene, do you have any idea? I I'd like to have for the town meeting to know the change in. 877 02:00:04.970 --> 02:00:14.250 Jean Moyer: Property. Yeah, I get a letter from the State. So yes, they tell me that 878 02:00:14.560 --> 02:00:19.390 Jean Moyer: assessed valuation numbers, they tell me so. I can look up last year's easily. 879 02:00:21.140 --> 02:00:24.900 John Compton: So if everybody's was the same as mine. For example. 880 02:00:25.550 --> 02:00:31.659 John Compton: my, my assessed valuation will go up 10%, which means my tax 881 02:00:31.880 --> 02:00:34.550 John Compton: property tax will go up 10%. 882 02:00:35.290 --> 02:00:46.259 John Compton: So that means if everybody else's goes up 10%, the the the we will end up. 883 02:00:46.440 --> 02:00:50.399 John Compton: Unfortunately, since I doubt they've counted for that 884 02:00:50.520 --> 02:00:53.650 John Compton: raising. More than this 267,000. 885 02:00:54.100 --> 02:00:58.180 Jean Moyer: Well, as you can see, we generally come in higher. 886 02:00:58.180 --> 02:00:58.910 Jean Moyer: Exactly. 887 02:00:58.910 --> 02:01:01.619 Jean Moyer: All of this is a crystal ball for the state. 888 02:01:01.960 --> 02:01:02.570 John Compton: Yeah. 889 02:01:07.390 --> 02:01:18.749 John Compton: alright. And so that and the dwelling the dwelling tax is calculated strictly on our refuse and recycling. So that's a known number, and as you see what it is. 890 02:01:18.750 --> 02:01:24.879 Jean Moyer: And with the new houses being built on Ridge, we'll have to change that to 25 dwellings. 891 02:01:26.640 --> 02:01:28.110 John Compton: Yeah. Creeping up. 892 02:01:29.580 --> 02:01:36.292 John Compton: Okay, I think that's all I wanted to say about the the budgets. So 893 02:01:39.010 --> 02:01:44.570 John Compton: the other thing we want to. We we need to approve and it's 894 02:01:46.470 --> 02:01:50.299 John Compton: was our capital improvement plan. There was no changes from what we. 895 02:01:50.520 --> 02:01:52.910 Jean Moyer: Did at the last meeting. I. 896 02:01:53.430 --> 02:01:59.989 John Compton: Don't have a copy readily to put up, but if no anybody has any reason to see it, I'll show it otherwise. 897 02:02:00.120 --> 02:02:02.140 John Compton: It's where we left it. 898 02:02:04.390 --> 02:02:07.759 John Compton: Okay, in that case, 899 02:02:08.920 --> 02:02:20.490 John Compton: we need a motion to approve this budget for submitting to the budget, the financial plan and the capital improvement plan to the town 900 02:02:20.690 --> 02:02:21.580 John Compton: meeting. 901 02:02:22.650 --> 02:02:23.740 John Compton: I will move. 902 02:02:23.900 --> 02:02:26.670 John Compton: Eva has moved to second. 903 02:02:26.930 --> 02:02:33.120 John Compton: Who did. Mary is seconded any further discussion on that. All in favor. 904 02:02:33.480 --> 02:02:38.430 John Compton: Unanimous. Alright, we're set. By the way, this is modified with that number. But. 905 02:02:39.820 --> 02:02:42.370 John Compton: Gene, you're gonna change. You're gonna put. 906 02:02:42.370 --> 02:02:46.409 Jean Moyer: The ordinance doesn't speak to year end. 907 02:02:47.480 --> 02:02:53.769 John Compton: No, I'm not talking about the ordinance. This is the budget that goes to the we've only approved the budget. Going to the annual town meeting. 908 02:02:53.770 --> 02:02:54.410 Jean Moyer: Yeah, I'll. 909 02:02:54.410 --> 02:02:54.950 John Compton: Oh no! 910 02:02:54.950 --> 02:02:55.350 Jean Moyer: My bad. 911 02:02:55.350 --> 02:03:04.730 John Compton: We're going to the, are we? I don't remember. That's the next thing. Yeah. 912 02:03:05.940 --> 02:03:15.100 John Compton: okay, right? So the next thing is because we have to. We have. The State law requires us to do 913 02:03:16.190 --> 02:03:18.020 John Compton: our rate by ordinance. 914 02:03:18.330 --> 02:03:29.600 John Compton: Then we have an ordinance that needs to be introduced. It is 2,020, 915 02:03:29.870 --> 02:03:40.020 John Compton: 5 dash, oh, 4. And it basically contains the summary totals, for each of the. 916 02:03:41.010 --> 02:03:48.389 John Compton: for each of the categories, and the tax rates. So here's the the tax rates are here. 917 02:03:48.570 --> 02:03:54.779 John Compton: and here is the, the, the dwelling tax. 918 02:03:55.330 --> 02:03:59.130 John Compton: So what we do is introduce it today. 919 02:03:59.300 --> 02:04:07.109 John Compton: and it has to be advertised in usual way in the Bulletin, etc, and then the May at the May meeting. 920 02:04:07.450 --> 02:04:14.570 John Compton: which is reason we have it. One of the reasons we have a main meeting as soon as we can. Is to coordinate. 921 02:04:15.440 --> 02:04:16.830 John Compton: Okay, so 922 02:04:17.610 --> 02:04:25.580 John Compton: somebody introduce this. So I move to introduce it. Thank you. Barbara moves to introduce the ordinance, you know. Take a second, Mary a seconded. 923 02:04:27.026 --> 02:04:33.863 John Compton: I assume there's no discussion. We will go through the advertising 924 02:04:34.620 --> 02:04:38.814 John Compton: motions to a public hearing in May and 925 02:04:40.010 --> 02:04:41.410 John Compton: and take care of it. Then. 926 02:04:41.880 --> 02:04:49.410 John Compton: okay, this will then move on to the next item, which is the vacant properties registry amendment standards. 927 02:04:52.415 --> 02:04:55.720 John Compton: okay, ordinance. 928 02:04:55.860 --> 02:04:56.820 John Compton: And 929 02:04:57.090 --> 02:05:11.009 John Compton: as you know, we had that been introduced. We've discussed it a few times. I don't believe we've amended it at all, but I'm gonna put it in Mary's hands because I think Mary has an amendment to 930 02:05:11.160 --> 02:05:15.389 John Compton: do. You have the no good. Okay. 931 02:05:16.610 --> 02:05:22.070 John Compton: I'll put it up. So these amendments include, all of Sue Ellen's 932 02:05:22.270 --> 02:05:27.332 John Compton: recommendations in terms of adding and changing the wording 933 02:05:27.960 --> 02:05:56.409 John Compton: She didn't really make any substantive change in any of the anything that was in the ordinance. It was more how it was. You know how it was expressed in some of the order. The only thing that she had record she had changed is she wanted to change it to vacant, abandoned and unsafe properties. And we thought that that was really beyond the scope of what this was, what what we wanted to do, that this is really a vacant house. 934 02:05:57.152 --> 02:06:01.130 John Compton: Registration, and that like, including unsafe 935 02:06:01.670 --> 02:06:26.680 John Compton: properties, it gets us into that kind of area of you know what's safe. And and you know whether somebody's in it or not, and I think the distinction is that if they can house, there is nobody present on the property, so that increases the risk of fire and of things going on in the house. So that is a reason to separate out, you know. Mandating certain maintenance and 936 02:06:26.770 --> 02:06:37.186 John Compton: upkeep of houses of inhabited houses versus uninhabited houses. So we're just leaving it as we had it, which was registration of vacant properties. 937 02:06:38.480 --> 02:06:51.230 John Compton: make a comment. There, it's my opinion that vacant encompasses, abandoned and abandoned properties by definition. So so abandoned properties would actually fall. 938 02:06:51.650 --> 02:06:57.750 John Compton: Yeah, yeah, that's your definition. I think the only other 939 02:06:58.090 --> 02:07:07.150 John Compton: major change was in the section under vacant property maintenance and security requirements under it's on page 6. 940 02:07:08.027 --> 02:07:10.812 John Compton: What was in there was we were 941 02:07:11.760 --> 02:07:18.650 John Compton: We were compliant said that they needed to comply with maintenance standards of Montgomery County Code, and then we added. 942 02:07:19.083 --> 02:07:33.770 John Compton: Kind of relevant Washington Grove article codes. But it really didn't seem to be necessary, because the Montgomery County codes are way more specific and comprehensive than what we have. So it just complicated more so. It just took out the Washington Grove articles. 943 02:07:35.010 --> 02:07:39.260 John Compton: But everything else. 944 02:07:39.410 --> 02:07:47.341 John Compton: The colors we allow, and the the colors nature of the of the walls. 945 02:07:48.250 --> 02:08:03.586 John Compton: How? How high the grass is. Yeah, was there? I think that was. Those were the only major changes. And Sue Ellen's changes were great make makes it, you know, much more readable and much more. 946 02:08:04.340 --> 02:08:10.469 John Compton: Literate, do you think that's pretty much it, Chris? Yes, I think so. Yeah, no, it is 947 02:08:11.030 --> 02:08:14.809 John Compton: so that pretty much stands, as we 948 02:08:16.270 --> 02:08:18.550 John Compton: had, you know, previously presented it. 949 02:08:19.410 --> 02:08:23.560 John Compton: so did I hear a motion to amend the. 950 02:08:24.370 --> 02:08:35.510 John Compton: and then the ordinance to with these amendments all in favor. 951 02:08:36.400 --> 02:08:39.590 John Compton: And you post. That's unanimous. Okay. 952 02:08:40.450 --> 02:08:50.329 John Compton: you guys did your homework. You did a good job, all right. Well, then, in that case, unless there's some other 953 02:08:50.690 --> 02:09:00.100 John Compton: amendments, motions to be offered, we'll move on to a vote on the ordinance itself, as amended. 954 02:09:00.480 --> 02:09:02.960 John Compton: Any any further discussion on that. 955 02:09:03.780 --> 02:09:07.609 John Compton: if not all in favor of approval of this ordinance. 956 02:09:08.894 --> 02:09:23.379 John Compton: Well, I obviously everyone knows here. Hopefully, everyone listening, knows that doing something about vacant properties has been a 957 02:09:24.887 --> 02:09:48.010 John Compton: sort of a thorn in many people's and the town side for years, and owing to Mary, principally Mary's major efforts, and with with Chris's you know, to actually act to attempt to get the situation better under control. 958 02:09:48.280 --> 02:09:56.410 John Compton: so that we we can encourage safe houses if they're not 959 02:09:56.620 --> 02:10:00.999 John Compton: occupied, and maybe encourage them to become occupied 960 02:10:01.160 --> 02:10:04.290 John Compton: at the same time, which is also one of the 961 02:10:04.510 --> 02:10:10.440 John Compton: I know what most people would prefer. So great. 962 02:10:11.220 --> 02:10:28.960 John Compton: This was the easy part. Now the enforcement. Yeah, but this is like, this is the 1st step, which is, and this this gives us a lot of a lot of teeth. And since it's an ordinance, enforceable 963 02:10:29.090 --> 02:10:42.939 John Compton: communication wise, it's great because it's an awareness that we're all sharing this understanding of it before. It was just like individual people trying to do things. But as a group, as a town. 964 02:10:42.940 --> 02:11:01.090 John Compton: I think it'll be much more effective as we get John to enforce this. Okay? So I want to say something about that. It does impose a administrative burden on the town as well as on those who who are not occupying their properties. So I guess I should ask right now I'm going to ask 965 02:11:01.090 --> 02:11:23.350 John Compton: Mary for this year to get this thing started, which is always the largest hurdle that we can work together to ensure that those who need to know about it. We'll get the forms together all that stuff so that we can. And we have till July 1st is the 1st registration. 966 02:11:23.540 --> 02:11:24.680 John Compton: Wait. Okay. 967 02:11:26.030 --> 02:11:47.529 John Compton: all right, then. We will now go on to item 12 which is still unfinished business. This is tennis court security and use. Okay, I have indicated. And as Georgette very helpfully 968 02:11:48.373 --> 02:11:54.212 John Compton: helps to have some institutional memory. Very helpfully. 969 02:11:55.500 --> 02:12:04.759 John Compton: Remembered that we actually have procedures for Woodward Park use and the sport of the park and sports facilities. 970 02:12:05.200 --> 02:12:10.710 John Compton: That's the good news. The bad news is, rather than it being done by resolution. 971 02:12:10.840 --> 02:12:12.600 John Compton: With procedures. 972 02:12:12.710 --> 02:12:14.930 John Compton: It was done by ordinance. 973 02:12:15.180 --> 02:12:22.010 John Compton: So we have by ordinance. This document, which I distributed to you. 974 02:12:22.120 --> 02:12:26.490 John Compton: and that is what will need some provision. 975 02:12:26.740 --> 02:12:43.040 John Compton: I think. At least, it should be looked at closely in conjunction with this, in my opinion, why is that my opinion? The 1st thing that the ordinance indicates is that the tennis courts will be restricted to town residents. 976 02:12:43.540 --> 02:12:53.720 John Compton: that this may be the time to confirm or revise that prohibition, or that restriction. 977 02:12:54.755 --> 02:12:58.380 John Compton: Since implementing a lock system 978 02:12:58.970 --> 02:13:03.119 John Compton: and the administrative burden, whoever is responsible, 979 02:13:05.430 --> 02:13:09.830 John Compton: actually addresses the the the usage of the court. 980 02:13:10.030 --> 02:13:11.929 John Compton: In conjunction with that I know 981 02:13:12.480 --> 02:13:15.959 John Compton: brilliant. The hope is to create a sign up system 982 02:13:16.860 --> 02:13:18.942 John Compton: to sign up for the course 983 02:13:19.718 --> 02:13:25.039 John Compton: and if all of that could be done at the same time, that would be great, so that 984 02:13:26.030 --> 02:13:30.640 John Compton: this distribution of access information. If the Council 985 02:13:30.960 --> 02:13:37.790 John Compton: is in favor of going forward with the locking can be done in a in a way that 986 02:13:38.000 --> 02:13:41.940 John Compton: you know it's it's easy we're ready to manage 987 02:13:44.550 --> 02:13:46.700 John Compton: It will be a little more complex 988 02:13:46.830 --> 02:13:56.430 John Compton: then. The lake, although a lot less users. The lake has lots and lots of users who courts have users, but I don't think it's in the same 989 02:13:56.650 --> 02:13:58.080 John Compton: same. 990 02:13:58.700 --> 02:14:08.850 John Compton: So what is the motion that we're talking about here? Well, we either have to have a motion to just take action about the tennis courts with respect to 991 02:14:09.150 --> 02:14:14.109 John Compton: their their operation. But we have a did anybody look at that. 992 02:14:18.270 --> 02:14:39.429 John Compton: Yeah, the courts are for the use of Washington Grove period. So I'm on the same way. I would make the motion to lock disappear, to lock the courts and we already have. Meredith is well, we could discuss it, but I would. I don't think this is that complicated. 993 02:14:39.800 --> 02:14:56.140 John Compton: and it could always be, you know, we can always amend it or do something else. But the people, all the users, there's a significant amount of people who have heard nothing but requests for it, and I asked me to. You know. Bring it up tonight, Linda Meredith is 994 02:14:56.458 --> 02:15:25.100 John Compton: even though we're not discussing it right now. Meredith is coming up with the system for communicating. She's putting her name and number everywhere for people if they need it. But there's a lot of pickleball. It's going to keep increasing. And the courts when you have 2 pickleball courts, and we have the one tennis court. So it's it's it's going to be a problem as far as people from outside coming in and using it, plus the fact that it says it's for Grove. So I don't see a problem with at least 995 02:15:25.603 --> 02:15:30.750 John Compton: I mean by saying Lock. You know, one says it's for Grove revenue. So just 996 02:15:30.790 --> 02:15:37.899 John Compton: that would be the way to implement that, do we have to change anything in this ordinance? So we can just start blocking the board. 997 02:15:37.940 --> 02:16:02.120 John Compton: Yeah. And we can. Always, we can. You know, if if there's a problem, we'll fix it. But Meredith Meredith Meredith spends a lot of time. She locks the gate every night. She's at the court. She's actively engaged with. You know, with that particular facility, and Linda and and Meredith, both very strongly, have been requesting for a long time to have that locked because of the damage that's done. 998 02:16:02.280 --> 02:16:31.759 John Compton: That's 1 thing. And also most communities that I know that have tennis courts have locks on them now. Anyway, it's unusual, and it works. What's the gardens in there now? Yeah, so what about accessing the clay courts? Because you just walk over those just go over the fence, but there'll be a but there'll be at least they won't be able to throw right, and those are the most important things. No, and if you have, if you have an 80 pound dog. 999 02:16:31.780 --> 02:16:57.620 John Compton: it's your dog. But but I just think like you said, I don't think I think this is pretty much, you know, if you can find problems with this. But the lake works the bathrooms at the maintenance, shed a lot. The tennis court you know sheds locked. The town is really good at communicating combinations and things like that. So I have a question. So I know they're working on that schedule on how to reserve the court and all that 1000 02:16:57.870 --> 02:17:00.990 John Compton: once that's in place, would the 1001 02:17:01.360 --> 02:17:10.339 John Compton: ports still be locked? I think so. Yeah, yeah, because part of it is to keep people with like dogs and scooters and bikes off of the courts. 1002 02:17:10.709 --> 02:17:11.490 John Compton: Yeah. 1003 02:17:12.530 --> 02:17:37.080 John Compton: there's a million tennis courts, I mean a million tennis courts around us. Every school's got lots of tennis courts. So people from outside the grove it's not like they need to play tennis in the grove, and we lock that we already locked the pickleball nets. Yeah. And the pickle pickleball is, you don't even see people playing tennis anymore. And we're going to see less and less. It's all it's pickleball, and the tennis players will use the use. The clay courts. 1004 02:17:37.520 --> 02:17:38.360 John Compton: So 1005 02:17:41.459 --> 02:17:57.570 John Compton: yeah, you can always find reasons not to do stuff. But so so the motion is, we start locking the tennis court. Yeah, it's as simple as that. We just buy some locks and put them on. Yeah, I don't. I don't think we need to wait, because I assume. And I don't know if anybody's talked to Christine. I assume setting up the website. 1006 02:17:57.860 --> 02:18:11.100 John Compton: for you know, online scheduling is gonna be a long process. Because I think she was saying first.st Or maybe you guys were saying first, st she's gonna set up a residence only section, and then within the residents only section would be the tennis court 1007 02:18:11.639 --> 02:18:35.870 John Compton: sign up, and maybe the the combinations would be there. But I don't think we need to wait until that's ready to start locking. No, we just need to tell people where. Yeah. And I already put out that we were considering locking the courts and be aware of that. And here's people, if you notice a lock on the court, here are people to contact, and we can put that out again on the in the Bulletin and on the Listserv, and we really know almost everybody who uses courts. 1008 02:18:36.639 --> 02:18:44.059 John Compton: and you could put a list, or we could. We're not. Gonna we're not gonna make it secret like the lake, like we don't care if somebody from outside the grove 1009 02:18:44.190 --> 02:18:52.680 John Compton: finds out what the combination is fine. That's not a problem. But at least the the people who want to find out the combination are going to be the type of people who will respect it. 1010 02:18:53.240 --> 02:19:01.789 John Compton: plus plus if it's locked. People are not. Gonna you know, they're gonna feel uncomfortable going in there and using it, even if they do know what the combination is, so 1011 02:19:02.090 --> 02:19:06.630 John Compton: I don't. I don't see this, as I think. I think that the people who spend a lot of time 1012 02:19:07.209 --> 02:19:19.890 John Compton: with with those courts and making this something that's usable for our town. This is their request, and I think that they're the ones that know better than anybody you know to a degree, and since it's already there. 1013 02:19:21.090 --> 02:19:30.330 John Compton: I don't see any problem with that idea of locking. It just helps me the wrong way, even though I understand. 1014 02:19:31.030 --> 02:19:39.400 John Compton: You know you go. Okay. I've been, you know. 1015 02:19:41.120 --> 02:19:47.430 John Compton: I I'm I'm unconvinced that there, that this isn't a solution without a problem. 1016 02:19:48.425 --> 02:19:53.960 John Compton: Let me just ask you what damage to the tennis courts has occurred 1017 02:19:54.330 --> 02:20:13.460 John Compton: this year, or any other year. Apparently the Clay court, especially the clay courts. Oh, there was a big damage to the clay courts done by summer in the parks, so that won't be solved so that won't be solved by this 1018 02:20:13.766 --> 02:20:26.940 John Compton: kids were in there digging like it was a sandbox. Yeah. And apparently the staff didn't realize that that was a problem. So I've now had to tell them. Don't let the kids in the Clay court. Clay Court is off limits. 1019 02:20:26.940 --> 02:20:28.312 John Compton: But yeah, anyway. 1020 02:20:29.339 --> 02:20:38.580 John Compton: the core. The court is used as a playpen a lot of times for people, though, because they can go in there with their kids 1021 02:20:38.580 --> 02:21:03.350 John Compton: dogs. I don't see dogs too often, but I do see a lot of young children in there, and they'll be jumping on the nets. People will be using it for as a soccer. Sometimes they use it as a soccer. I have seen somebody in there with their kid on a scooter and their dog running around, but I don't know what damage they're doing to it. Yeah, the real point is. 1022 02:21:03.350 --> 02:21:11.049 John Compton: is it is this proposal simply because a rule is a rule and people 1023 02:21:11.940 --> 02:21:26.739 John Compton: there are people violating it? Or is there a more practical reason that the violate violating is causing damage, preventing tennis players from using the court. The garden is suffering, or whatever, and. 1024 02:21:27.010 --> 02:21:33.169 John Compton: as far as I know none of those things are the case. In other words, it's a solution without a problem. 1025 02:21:33.270 --> 02:21:50.209 John Compton: Well, I'm just saying that the people who maintain the court use the courts. Okay, this is their. This is their request, you know we listen to the people, and this is the people. 1026 02:21:50.210 --> 02:22:12.929 John Compton: wheels and dogs. It messes up the court, and I don't know anything other than that, but he's the expert and not me, so she could probably speak to it more, and I don't know if she is like saying there has been damage, or it's just, I guess I I to your point. I don't know if there has been damage, or there's just concern about there being damage, and that maybe the 1027 02:22:13.370 --> 02:22:26.500 John Compton: you know Meredith has raised her hand. I and I know we don't. No, no, no? Well, yeah. And just yeah. The other thing, though, is that just plan for the future. The increase in pickleball is is 1028 02:22:26.800 --> 02:22:52.339 John Compton: pretty astronomical as far as people playing it. There aren't a lot of. There's. There's lots and lots of tennis courts. There aren't a lot of pickleball or locked around. Those are locked already. No right. But but people don't know that. And the thing is that the the nets around people are going to be you know, even like within the grove, maybe for the scheduling. It's gonna get more and more. It's only 2 courts, and there's a it's already at capacity on a Saturday morning. 1029 02:22:52.340 --> 02:22:57.270 John Compton: And now we have our kids. But that's not the big problem. I mean, we're anticipating, have? 1030 02:22:57.480 --> 02:23:22.030 John Compton: We're planning for the future. I do know. Also, maybe this is why Meredith raised her hand. I do know. She had an incident where there were some kids skateboarding in the tennis court, and she went to tell them that that wasn't allowed, and I think there was. John. John told me, instead of him coming down and doing his job and enforcing it. It was like 1212 teenagers, and me 1031 02:23:22.030 --> 02:23:41.939 John Compton: and I luckily backed out. No, and his response was a call. The police! But that's just one example. But that happened to me. I'm sitting here. And because I saw all these kids skate and skateboarding the surface, that's why, when you play tennis, you are supposed to wear tennis shoes, not running shoes, because it ruins the surface of the court. 1032 02:23:42.060 --> 02:23:47.959 John Compton: and I'm not even argue. I don't even use that quote. I'm not arguing from that point. I'm just arguing that 1033 02:23:48.230 --> 02:23:55.099 John Compton: my constituency is requesting that we do this. It's it's something that 1034 02:23:55.530 --> 02:24:08.569 John Compton: the Ordin says. It's for the town. I see no reason it's it's I mean, unless unless, Jean, I say that our budget can't afford the $10 for the locks. But may I propose that we 1035 02:24:08.590 --> 02:24:31.429 John Compton: but this also off to the next month, and in the meantime, if people have reports of damage, actual damage that was done to the court, you could we see a record of that, because right now, like we don't know what it is when it happened. How often, and I think that would be to me that would be helpful to me. I think that's unfair. I think that's unfair. But 1036 02:24:31.430 --> 02:24:44.210 John Compton: I have no problem with it, because nobody's gonna be using the tennis courts until, like the clay, you know, at at Memorial weekend is when the clay courts open, and that's when it becomes I know that they're playing some pickleball now, but pretty much. 1037 02:24:44.320 --> 02:24:46.649 John Compton: you know. So it's not gonna make a big difference within the month. 1038 02:24:47.010 --> 02:25:11.839 John Compton: But but if people have experienced this problem like as an ongoing thing, then they would be able to say, Oh, last year it was around July, and you know they don't have to have every single detail there. But just to give us an idea, we had to redo the surface court surface like, if okay, so like. So is it? Because I guess I see Barbara's point of like. 1039 02:25:12.250 --> 02:25:33.100 John Compton: Has there been actual damage from this? Or is it just concern that there will be damage? And if there's been actual damage what and like cause I can see if if it's like me, meaning that we're having to resurface the court more often, then that that is a concern. But maybe we need to have more information. It's an attractive nuisance, I think that's what I would call it, just like the lake is. 1040 02:25:34.719 --> 02:25:42.189 John Compton: And and I don't think people should not, if if we if it said, there's a sign up there that says Grove 1041 02:25:42.430 --> 02:25:45.399 John Compton: only, and I see no problem 1042 02:25:45.620 --> 02:26:00.489 John Compton: just like every other, every other community does this. I don't know why, you know we're being. It's there's no reason why anybody I don't think it has anything to do with Dei, or being unwelcoming, or anything else. It's just a grove asset for the residents. And 1043 02:26:00.984 --> 02:26:12.860 John Compton: you know, putting a lock on it to me is what you know. We're not reinventing the wheel here. It's not like we're putting a fence around the grove. They have the playground. They have all that everything there. 1044 02:26:13.100 --> 02:26:25.210 John Compton: Well, I move that we postpone this for a month, and people who have information about damage that was done come forward, and we consider it 1045 02:26:25.320 --> 02:26:36.019 John Compton: next month and take the vote next month, or and also people who would, who are requesting this. I mean, they may not just necessarily specific 1046 02:26:36.510 --> 02:26:57.119 John Compton: incidents, but you know why they yeah, yeah. More detail, more detail on why they're requesting. So that you understand? That needs a second. Okay, so what what about? I'm sorry. What about Peter's motion to lock the courts. Where did that go? I'm amending that that motion. It has been introduced now, in 1047 02:26:58.940 --> 02:27:07.969 John Compton: another motion, is being made to postpone action until the May meeting to solicit 1048 02:27:09.074 --> 02:27:12.400 John Compton: opinions on blocking the court, and 1049 02:27:12.950 --> 02:27:34.380 John Compton: any any reports, details about damage or other, or just in writing so that we can all in writing. It'd be useful now before. Well, before we do that, before we do that. 1050 02:27:35.530 --> 02:27:40.500 John Compton: we ha! I have the right to ask Meredith if she wants to report on damage. 1051 02:27:41.690 --> 02:27:48.690 John Compton: I use my helpline. We now have a motion to postpone on the table. 1052 02:27:49.377 --> 02:28:00.389 John Compton: I'll listen to it. It was already mentioned, and it was just she was discarded without well, but it was. It was said that she can't speak. 1053 02:28:00.460 --> 02:28:19.089 John Compton: and she can speak. I'm not nothing against you, Mayor. This has nothing to do with you. It has to do with the order of handling this. It's the mayor who calls on people to speak. Is that right? You pointed out today? That's perfectly legit. You, you know, Meredith would like to speak. 1054 02:28:19.642 --> 02:28:23.970 John Compton: I I'm gonna do this one, because the motion has been to postpone 1055 02:28:24.150 --> 02:28:28.730 John Compton: for the express purpose of hearing from people about this 1056 02:28:29.890 --> 02:28:41.850 John Compton: by May. So when we just when we just then, I mean, it's not gonna make a difference what she says now or that. So that's what that's my point. Yeah, yeah, I don't think it's anything we haven't really heard. Okay? 1057 02:28:42.010 --> 02:28:53.540 John Compton: Well, yeah, you have heard. Yeah, I'm sure some people here have not heard. Yeah, okay, alright. So anybody else want to speak to the post motion to postpone which is seconded by even 1058 02:28:54.560 --> 02:29:00.029 John Compton: if not, we'll move to a vote all in favor of public voting as described, a post 1059 02:29:01.900 --> 02:29:18.460 John Compton: you didn't speak. Okay, Rob is opposed. Yeah. I mean, I don't see why we would postpone the the ordinances. Say that the these kind of recreational facilities are for the exclusive use in the town, and putting a block, that where the combination is only made available to 1060 02:29:18.770 --> 02:29:29.349 John Compton: town residence is consistent with what our ordinances say, and the the sentiments, apparently, of people who use the tennis sports. I'm not one of those people. 1061 02:29:29.470 --> 02:29:32.529 John Compton: so I'm not sure that we need to postpone things. But 1062 02:29:33.230 --> 02:29:49.219 John Compton: all right, the vote carried. I saw 4, I'm just gonna say, because I understand both sides. So it was 4 in favor, one opposed, and one abstention we postponed till next meeting. 1063 02:29:50.820 --> 02:29:57.990 John Compton: Okay, I I have a point of information. This came up last time. The 1064 02:29:58.470 --> 02:30:02.349 John Compton: aren't the ordinances supposed to be on the website 1065 02:30:03.350 --> 02:30:13.850 John Compton: because this ordinance that you showed us isn't listed under the ordinance supposed to be no. 1066 02:30:14.120 --> 02:30:15.800 John Compton: should they be? Yes. 1067 02:30:16.280 --> 02:30:32.849 John Compton: Well, I'm not sure what the distinction you're driving. There's there's a web page called Ordinances. That lists a bunch of ordinances. That's not one of them that's listed on the website. I'm not saying it's not enacted. I'm just saying it seems like it should be 1068 02:30:33.260 --> 02:31:00.490 John Compton: so. We have a council. Oh, it's on there now. I wasn't going to check. But I know Christine specifically says ordinances before whenever it's there. But you see, there's a jump from 2,016 to 2018. I think it's just. She hasn't put the older ones on there, but she clearly put this one on there. She has no response. If she's requested 1069 02:31:00.620 --> 02:31:04.310 John Compton: the ordinances. But that's not not a trivial 1070 02:31:04.925 --> 02:31:12.869 John Compton: it's not a trivial thing for her to put it on or to provide them. The Council handbook that you guys all have access to online. 1071 02:31:13.090 --> 02:31:20.639 John Compton: for example, has a Charlie Charleston put together something called a red book or red something it has 1072 02:31:21.310 --> 02:31:30.650 John Compton: all of that are virtually all of the ordinances and resolutions through 2,013. I believe 1073 02:31:30.760 --> 02:31:32.299 John Compton: this is when he did it. 1074 02:31:32.610 --> 02:31:39.930 John Compton: and they're all just links to Pdf versions or scan, you know, scans of them for earlier. 1075 02:31:40.170 --> 02:31:45.729 John Compton: But they're not on the website, you're absolutely right because somebody has to create a usable. 1076 02:31:46.630 --> 02:31:51.269 John Compton: you know, has to dump them in an unusual way, something to improve the website with. But 1077 02:31:53.450 --> 02:31:59.029 John Compton: what can I say? You're right. What? It wasn't there up until this week, probably. Yeah. 1078 02:32:00.830 --> 02:32:10.510 John Compton: Okay, we have. We have moving on to the new business. We have had the planning commission has 1079 02:32:11.350 --> 02:32:17.654 John Compton: sent to the Council a request to modify our 1080 02:32:18.550 --> 02:32:26.589 John Compton: zoning ordinance. I believe it is. No, it's not a zoning ordinance the an ordinance involving fence permits. 1081 02:32:26.750 --> 02:32:33.038 John Compton: and in a moment I will put that up here. 1082 02:32:42.650 --> 02:32:48.170 John Compton: can I speak to that while you're doing that? You may. Yeah. So on at the planning commission. 1083 02:32:48.380 --> 02:32:54.129 John Compton: It's kind of like an oversight in the ordinance. It says that when you apply for a fence, permit. 1084 02:32:54.660 --> 02:33:00.200 John Compton: you have to apply also for the to Washington Grove and to Montgomery County. 1085 02:33:00.350 --> 02:33:11.100 John Compton: which is obviously not something that anybody's ever really done. And and we so we're requesting just to take off the ordinance. The fact that you have to go to Montgomery County. 1086 02:33:11.310 --> 02:33:25.710 John Compton: and it's confusing because some residents do like we get calls all the time from people their contractors go. Oh, you know, we all go to the county, get a permit which is obviously probably more expensive, and everything too. And so that's not necessary. So 1087 02:33:26.250 --> 02:33:29.579 John Compton: we'd like to just to change that to streamline the process. 1088 02:33:29.880 --> 02:33:31.040 John Compton: A second. 1089 02:33:32.280 --> 02:33:38.699 John Compton: Okay, the ordinance 2,025, whatever it is. Stash O, 3 1090 02:33:39.481 --> 02:33:56.420 John Compton: has been introduced. Discussion is open. I've highlighted the 4 words basically, that are being added to the set of exemptions from Montgomery County permits. 1091 02:33:57.370 --> 02:34:00.476 John Compton: Yep, you have to walk your fence 1092 02:34:01.780 --> 02:34:04.379 John Compton: alright. Do we have any discussion? 1093 02:34:07.900 --> 02:34:10.260 John Compton: I have a 1094 02:34:11.130 --> 02:34:19.530 John Compton: I think this is kind of a no brainer nobody has ever been concerned in the past about a Montgomery County permit. So why should it 1095 02:34:20.080 --> 02:34:22.060 John Compton: be implied? But you need one. 1096 02:34:25.790 --> 02:34:39.419 John Compton: okay, I guess there's no reason not to do this. We handle ordinances by advertising them in our required, and will be in the bulletin. So that's fine. And is there any discussion? Well, I have just a legal question. 1097 02:34:40.170 --> 02:34:49.610 John Compton: if Montgomery County requires permits for fences, are we? Do we have the authority as a municipality to say that our residents are 1098 02:34:49.900 --> 02:34:52.259 John Compton: not subject to that requirement. 1099 02:34:53.390 --> 02:35:00.179 John Compton: Oh, yeah, yeah, they they have requirement. They do have requirements for fence permits. 1100 02:35:01.980 --> 02:35:03.640 John Compton: Right? I believe. 1101 02:35:05.044 --> 02:35:14.530 John Compton: We have our own, and you know it's it's has to be the height. It's all sorts of. We have all sorts of specifications regarding fences. 1102 02:35:14.830 --> 02:35:20.850 John Compton: It's just that, you know. So in order to get a fence, you have to get a fence permit here in Washington Grove. 1103 02:35:21.650 --> 02:35:25.880 John Compton: It meets our requirements, not Montgomery County. 1104 02:35:27.830 --> 02:35:33.850 John Compton: Right? My my question is, simply, does a municipality like Washington Grove 1105 02:35:34.200 --> 02:35:38.709 John Compton: have the legal right to say? It's residents 1106 02:35:39.100 --> 02:35:45.800 John Compton: don't need to comply with Montgomery County's fence permit regulations? 1107 02:35:45.930 --> 02:35:49.760 John Compton: That's what this word is saying, right? So 1108 02:35:50.530 --> 02:35:55.893 John Compton: as the the way the way that the town 1109 02:35:56.790 --> 02:36:20.399 John Compton: incorporates various sections of the county's code into our ordinances. For example, all of this, the building structural requirements, the electorate, all, all of that is incorporated health health requirements, a raft of sections we incorporate, but they leave out another larger raft of 1110 02:36:20.750 --> 02:36:22.780 John Compton: parts parts of the code 1111 02:36:23.496 --> 02:36:33.309 John Compton: from from our requirements. So we are exempted from all of those. Yeah, you're absolutely right. Some things the county specifies 1112 02:36:34.500 --> 02:36:42.586 John Compton: requires the municipalities to do. For example, I believe the gas powered when we 1113 02:36:44.010 --> 02:37:02.109 John Compton: leaf blowers, leaf blowers as well. Municipalities are not allowed to exempt themselves from that and a lot of other. Yeah. So we can look and see whether we've incorporated the portion of the code 1114 02:37:02.430 --> 02:37:08.570 John Compton: that includes bench permits because they do have a fence permit. 1115 02:37:10.850 --> 02:37:32.259 John Compton: But if it does that we have an oversight. We should have exempted ourselves from that section. Yeah, no. I I understand the rationale for this. Yeah, as long as legally, we can exempt ourselves from its up. 1116 02:37:33.060 --> 02:37:42.240 John Compton: This is what it was almost a record how quickly we were gonna pass. Good question. 1117 02:37:42.960 --> 02:37:50.759 John Compton: Alright. Actually, I I'm gonna tell you now that you brought it up, I'm gonna take a look and see what, what, whether we incorporate that section 1118 02:37:50.920 --> 02:37:55.549 John Compton: and our ordinances, and and to what extent. 1119 02:37:56.270 --> 02:38:01.610 John Compton: whether we've exempted ourselves from various small parts of those sorts of things. 1120 02:38:02.000 --> 02:38:05.060 John Compton: Alright anybody else for the comment. 1121 02:38:05.760 --> 02:38:10.340 John Compton: All in favor of ordinance. 25 0 3, 1122 02:38:10.750 --> 02:38:17.300 John Compton: all right, that's unanimous. It's passed. Great John, is there? So is. 1123 02:38:17.450 --> 02:38:37.590 John Compton: Can we like these in the parking lot? So that so like, it's a lot to pass, you know, to do this publicly, and all that stuff to prove it, because there's other things other ordinance changes that the PC. Probably wants to make. And so would it make sense to kind of put in the parking lot, and then collect them together like a certain number. Or is that not worth doing? 1124 02:38:38.370 --> 02:38:54.083 John Compton: You've gone all the trouble to draw this up. As far as I know, we've handled ordinance. Well, as long as we isn't an admin, we're using this a lot today. Administrative burden to to 1125 02:38:55.560 --> 02:39:11.899 John Compton: fulfill the requirement of our charter to pass it. We could just let this go. I had started to say, Well, gee! Can't we wait and combine this with the well, we we it is combined already with the vacant property. So we have 2 ordinances. Okay? 1126 02:39:11.900 --> 02:39:31.569 John Compton: Because we wanted to clean up. We wanted to clean up. We have a lot of things like that and right. But but this is like whether we pass this net now in 10 years. It's not gonna make any difference to anybody. But I'm just trying to license. Lighten the administrative. 1127 02:39:32.470 --> 02:39:39.749 John Compton: Okay, alright, we are on to the next item of new business, which is 1128 02:39:40.435 --> 02:39:49.169 John Compton: resolution 2025 0 5 a charter amendment requiring the town council to schedule town election hours. 1129 02:39:50.940 --> 02:39:54.248 John Compton: Right? I moved to introduce that. 1130 02:39:55.180 --> 02:40:10.119 John Compton: And I mean, if you read it, and if you know, we've talked about this in a meeting that right now we're kind of stuck. We can only vote at a certain time. That means the town meeting can only be at a certain time, and this just gives us a little bit more flexibility. 1131 02:40:10.628 --> 02:40:16.069 John Compton: So the charter currently says that polls have to be open from 47 1132 02:40:16.796 --> 02:40:30.069 John Compton: but this change would say for a period. Instead of saying that for a period of 3 or more hours on election day, as scheduled and made public by the Council at least 21 days in advance. So it's just 1133 02:40:30.470 --> 02:40:38.309 John Compton: everybody can still go still, gonna be at least 3 h, but just gives us a little more flexibility in planning the day. Yep. 1134 02:40:39.110 --> 02:40:45.620 John Compton: right, and the and the and the main reason is to be able really is to be able to schedule 1135 02:40:45.800 --> 02:40:47.710 John Compton: the annual town meeting 1136 02:40:48.570 --> 02:41:01.700 John Compton: after the election, and and perhaps in the afternoon, if the Council right now, we can schedule the time meeting whenever we want on the second Saturday of May. But nobody wants to do it 1137 02:41:02.500 --> 02:41:05.009 John Compton: before the election. 1138 02:41:06.770 --> 02:41:09.749 John Compton: Okay? So any discussion of this. 1139 02:41:11.960 --> 02:41:31.239 John Compton: okay, I'm voting. You don't want this to be. I think this is an easy one. Okay, all in favor of this ordinance. That passes unanimously. Okay. As you know, there is a more stringent requirement 1140 02:41:31.410 --> 02:41:43.120 John Compton: for this one. It does require advertising for 4 consecutive weeks and etc, etc. I kind of ran through it the last time, but we will follow that procedure 1141 02:41:45.820 --> 02:41:46.380 John Compton: and 1142 02:41:47.110 --> 02:41:54.260 John Compton: and and and you know, we have to allow opportunity for there to be an objection. That sort of thing. Okay. 1143 02:41:56.370 --> 02:41:58.030 John Compton: very good. That. 1144 02:41:59.059 --> 02:42:06.320 John Compton: Let's not that. Okay, we've reached the Town Council. Reports of note 1145 02:42:07.113 --> 02:42:14.410 John Compton: for which I have a few. The Town Council rewards are very expensive this month. 1146 02:42:15.020 --> 02:42:17.259 John Compton: Thank you all for writing those out. 1147 02:42:17.840 --> 02:42:23.719 John Compton: but no thanks to Chris, who, I think, just put in their minutes, which was, went on ad nauseam. 1148 02:42:24.734 --> 02:42:46.939 John Compton: the lighting company. So anyway. I had to say something. So so, Kathy, even she, she says, Okay, here's all the council reports. 1149 02:42:47.400 --> 02:43:15.279 John Compton: Do they have to be that long, and I said I was thinking, well, you know there's no harm in it being long. And then I realized, if you want to make them readable. But of course Christine claims nobody ever reads them. Does, I hope? Well, yes, but that yeah. But but it's formatting. I mean the format all over the it's unbelievable, the different format. I always go through it. 1150 02:43:15.820 --> 02:43:36.730 John Compton: I don't know if you I go through it and make it uniform, and this time it did take me quite a while. Okay, that said, I. Still think it's better to have that information than not, certainly for austerity, and actually for keeping up with what's going on, because nobody can keep up with what's going on 1151 02:43:37.428 --> 02:43:54.540 John Compton: except Peter. Okay. So of note of notes. 1st thing is from the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging ad hoc committee. This is from Barbara, who's on this ad hoc committee 1152 02:43:56.535 --> 02:44:00.389 John Compton: the this is a group of of of town 1153 02:44:01.540 --> 02:44:06.800 John Compton: you know, leaders who had attended the the workshops. 1154 02:44:07.060 --> 02:44:14.440 John Compton: and we everyone there agreed that we we hadn't reached any stunning 1155 02:44:15.370 --> 02:44:23.579 John Compton: set of of things we needed to do to solve what everyone believes are are 1156 02:44:23.820 --> 02:44:40.890 John Compton: goals in this area. So the the 4, the 3 or 4 of them agreed to work up where we should go after this year's session. So from that they provided a nice nice report, which is very wrote a nice report. 1157 02:44:41.714 --> 02:44:44.435 John Compton: It's very, very informative. 1158 02:44:45.270 --> 02:45:10.459 John Compton: but I did want to. Just just point out that that was done, and I hope you know more people will read it. I do have a question about that, because I know one of the things we suggested was having some people from leadership. Montgomery do a very brief presentation at the annual meeting. So is that something that I've reached out to them? Okay, that was my question. I have reached out to them 1159 02:45:11.160 --> 02:45:24.859 John Compton: did feel that asking someone to come for 15 min Saturday night at 8 30, or whenever that's what I I gave them the option which I sure they will 1160 02:45:25.050 --> 02:45:42.778 John Compton: grab immediately to record. One of them will go to that. 1161 02:45:44.630 --> 02:45:48.843 John Compton: no, I think I hear somebody roller skating on 1162 02:45:49.940 --> 02:45:54.010 John Compton: Oh, yeah, sorry. That was my only question. Okay, we'll we'll see. 1163 02:45:54.110 --> 02:46:16.910 John Compton: Alright. With respect to maintenance. We already in connection with the kudos. To Steve the comprehensive sign project is described well, by Peter, including listing all of the current list of signs, which is a 1 page long of of what what's been, what's been addressed, or will be addressed. 1164 02:46:17.988 --> 02:46:32.341 John Compton: And in sustainability. This is nothing everybody shouldn't have expected, although it may not be on your radar. The the energy conversion incentive program that we have going. 1165 02:46:33.943 --> 02:46:43.049 John Compton: was only approved for the second pilot year this year, and we put 20,000 into the budget for the coming year. 1166 02:46:43.280 --> 02:46:44.690 John Compton: but we have to renew it. 1167 02:46:45.575 --> 02:46:49.830 John Compton: That renewal has been worked on by the Sustainability Committee. 1168 02:46:49.940 --> 02:46:59.099 John Compton: and they have proposed some changes to the operational aspects which are part of the approval that we've been we've given. 1169 02:46:59.560 --> 02:47:02.127 John Compton: and and that that 1170 02:47:04.090 --> 02:47:10.200 John Compton: I've I've convinced I I persuaded them that we don't need to deal with it until May, or even June. 1171 02:47:10.875 --> 02:47:22.259 John Compton: We have the money. We just need to approve the details. One of the important parts of that everybody should know is they propose to authorize it through 2030. 1172 02:47:22.430 --> 02:47:41.780 John Compton: It wouldn't come back every year still requires an appropriation. I mean a a budget if you don't have. Budget can't do the program, but it wouldn't mean go reviewing it every year. Okay, summer in the parks. You already heard crease presentations and additional counselor. 1173 02:47:43.110 --> 02:47:52.060 John Compton: and for me, and from also from Ava there's and was mentioned the community bulletin board kiosk. 1174 02:47:52.260 --> 02:47:54.900 John Compton: Yeah, I'll work up a proposal, for that 1175 02:47:55.330 --> 02:47:59.496 John Compton: has been is being worked on, and lastly, 1176 02:48:01.230 --> 02:48:09.339 John Compton: as far as events go up, the Rec committee, apparently is, as is is 1177 02:48:09.640 --> 02:48:14.050 John Compton: planning to reduce the events at music weekend 1178 02:48:14.230 --> 02:48:22.874 John Compton: in favor of having those, or something equivalent associated with Circle Fest, where they're about 3 weeks apart. Usually 1179 02:48:23.720 --> 02:48:30.980 John Compton: the the music weekend usually falls on father's day in June and the local festival, May 24.th 1180 02:48:31.480 --> 02:48:32.185 John Compton: So 1181 02:48:33.270 --> 02:48:40.962 John Compton: And that's it. So if anyone has anything else they feel they want to bring specifically otherwise. 1182 02:48:42.506 --> 02:49:06.869 John Compton: guess it's for the folks that are on there. As to how well the speakers. Oh, yeah, I would like anybody to please let us know any improvements that we can make, we, we 1183 02:49:07.710 --> 02:49:12.449 John Compton: and and and if it, if it's couldn't, we all face the camera 1184 02:49:13.650 --> 02:49:34.470 John Compton: configuration of this room. This doesn't make that we could all sit like this and put the camera over there. We've chosen to start out by doing it this way. So I I know you. I know you're seeing the better part of Peter's head and probably mine as well a lot of the time. 1185 02:49:34.710 --> 02:49:38.930 John Compton: But but do to do do give us any any advice, please. 1186 02:49:39.360 --> 02:49:45.200 John Compton: Not right now, but but privately. Just just let us know. 1187 02:49:46.358 --> 02:49:59.991 John Compton: Okay, on that note. The next meetings when next meetings, the annual town meeting on May 10th at 8. It's also going to be a hybrid meeting. And hopefully it's going to work. 1188 02:50:00.690 --> 02:50:07.899 John Compton: perfect work work. Well, we're not gonna send it Melissa. And all this here from 1189 02:50:08.110 --> 02:50:18.340 John Compton: Montgomery Municipal Cable. She's been overseeing our second trial with this, and it did. We did fumble around getting it started hopefully. All's well that. 1190 02:50:18.560 --> 02:50:19.540 John Compton: Well. 1191 02:50:19.940 --> 02:50:26.409 John Compton: but we'll be doing it in the hall, and they have agreed to manage the technical aspects. I will not be managing 1192 02:50:26.630 --> 02:50:29.490 John Compton: so hopefully. That will be good. 1193 02:50:29.590 --> 02:50:47.187 John Compton: So this is great. Having a meeting, I think, in person. The only drawback is that John can. Maybe you can hide your wine in there. Well, I thought of bringing wine today, offering it to everybody, and if we keep this up I may well do that all right. Okay, so 1194 02:50:47.760 --> 02:50:59.610 John Compton: if there's any hearing, no objections to adjournment. Then we will call this great job. Thanks, guys, all right. 1195 02:51:00.310 --> 02:51:02.329 John Compton: Oh, I now have a child. 1196 02:51:04.523 --> 02:51:18.519 John Compton: I knew it was gonna rain tonight, but I didn't think it sounds like it's 1197 02:51:18.520 --> 02:51:42.590 John Compton: I'll find an excuse not to be there tomorrow. I was trying to copy what I'm doing.