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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6_30_2020 Transcript Special Meeting06-30-2020SpecialTownBoard.mp3 Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:00:00] ​Hi, everybody. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:00:00] ​Evening Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:00:05] ​...call the meeting to order. This is a special meeting of the Enfield town board. Tuesday, June 30th, 2020, 6;30 p.m. via zoom. Are there any changes or additions, removals from the agenda. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:00:33] ​OK. All right. So I guess we'll start with privilege of the floor. If anybody would like to speak for privilege of the floor, please use the raise your hand button on your screen. On your screen. All right, I'm going to unmute everybody in case people couldn't figure that out. There's anybody who'd like to speak for privilege of the floor, please let yourself be known. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:01:28] ​All right. I think that there's some correspondence that the Town Clerk wanted to share with everybody that she put together. I have unmuted you, Ellen. You sent some correspondence earlier, if you'd like to share that. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:02:08] ​Yeah. So we had one piece of correspondence come in at the very last minute. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:02:13] ​I thought there were two. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:02:17] ​There were three total, I think there were three that were sent. And then there's another one that just came in. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:02:25] ​And what are those? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:02:26] ​So I just got an application to fly the flag of the United States Marine Corps in November from Ed Hetherington. And I just scanned that, but I didn't have time to send it out. Last year Alice did grant that request. So it's my intention to do that again. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:02:44] ​There was also information on rental assistance from Ithaca Neighborhood Housing. Also a petition signed by one hundred and fifteen Enfield residents. And there was also something Ted Palmer, Tad Palmer from NYSEG has been trying to get in touch with the board regarding an LED conversion program. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:03:08] ​And what was the petition that you put together? What was that about? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:03:13] ​Beth, I believe it's the Board's obligation to communicate any correspondence they received to the residents. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:03:18] ​I'm actually asking you. You sent it. So what is the petition that you put together? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:03:26] ​I received it and I scanned it and I sent it to the board. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:03:30] ​And what was the correspondence? Would anybody else like to share that? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:03:39] ​Well, we have before us a petition that is signed by that was 115 people or couples. Residents of the Town who are urging that number one I'm paraphrasing it from memory that we not make the highway superintendent and clerk's positions appointive, that we keep them elective. Furthermore, I believe it said that if the Town Supervisor resigns, the new Supervisor should be elected in November rather than appointed as well as the Councilperson might replace that of Councilperson if he or she was elevated to the position of Supervisor. I'm paraphrasing. I think it was received at about 6:07 or 6:08 tonight, and I just downloaded it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:04:36] ​OK. I will just respond to that and say that I was elected to this position. I will decide when and if I resign. There is great value in continuity of government. Those who understand the importance of that will appreciate and maybe even give me a thank you for staying around and disrupting my life for even more months beyond the date that I had hoped to not be doing this anymore. But instead, they are interested in having disruption through the next several months with a Supervisor that's resigned right before budget season. And up until the end of the year. So someone else would have to manage all of that and figure that out. That would be up to the Board to determine. And but right now, it's up to me to determine. It is not unusual for a board to work together to replace a Supervisor. In fact, the Supervisor before me that happened with. It happened in the town of Ulysses, just last year. In fact, it was known by that Board, a year into their four year term of their Supervisor that their Supervisor wasn't going to stay and their Board worked together to replace that Supervisor. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:05:58] ​So I will decide when I resign, if I feel that we're in a good place, which I do feel like we're getting to. We've hired a terrific bookkeeper that I think will be really wonderful going forward. And I think having a deputy supervisor that is equipped to do a lot of the tasks of the supervisor office and and help with that transition, I think is a really great step. And so if people would like me to toss the town up in the air and, you know, and just leave now, I guess I could do that. But that's against my moral fiber. It is really to me, very irresponsible to just think that that's the appropriate way to go forward. So I'm going to use my conscience and I'm going to stay in office until I feel that I can step away from this. And the Board and the Town can be in a good spot. I'm hoping that's very soon. But it isn't gonna be determined by the Town Clerk in a petition that she puts together. It'll be determined by me. And the way I'm working with other people in our local government to provide continuity. That's all I had to say about that. Supervisor McGee ​[00:07:24] ​So let's continue with the consent agenda which includes the audit claims. We have audit claims, so Ellen, if you can read the warrant please. Under the consent agenda, which includes the audit claims. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:07:50] ​Hey, Beth, I'm not cohosting right now, so I'm not able to close the other videos. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:07:58] ​Where is that? Hold on a second. Go ahead and read the warrant. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:08:23] ​The Town board authorizes the Supervisor to pay general fund vouchers one 141 to 150. Dated 6/30/2020 in the amount of three thousand seven hundred and sixty six dollars and eighty nine cents. Highway fund vouchers. 93 to 97 dated 6/30/2020 in the amount of nineteen thousand three hundred and thirty one dollars and seventy four cents. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:08:54] ​Thank you. Is there any discussion? All right, please call the vote. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:04] ​Councilperson Bryant. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:09:08] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:09] ​Councilperson Lynch,. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:09:10] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:10] ​Councilperson Mehaffey Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:09:14] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:15] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:09:18] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:09:19] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:21] ​Aye thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:09:25] ​All right. Old business, proposals for new laws for appointed and elected positions. I I'm going to withdraw two of the proposals that I had, one each for the clerk and highway superintendent. That would reduce their terms to this year and also the four year term for the supervisor. Unless somebody else would like to put those forward, I'm going to personally, they were my proposals. I'm going to rescind those. Does anyone else have interest in going forward with the changing of the highway superintendent and town clerk to appointive beginning in 2020? And does anyone else want to put forward the supervisor from two to four year term? All right. So I guess that leaves on the table for tonight's discussion. The two proposals of making the highway superintendent and the town clerk appointive rather than elective and having them be able to fulfill their this current term through December thirty first of twenty twenty one. So I am going to move. I guess I'll move both of these. No, I'll move one at a time. The local law abolishing the elective office of Highway Superintendent and creating the appointed office of highway superintendent of the town of Enfield, New York. And I'll move that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:11:23] ​Second. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:11:27] ​Is there discussion about this? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:11:34] ​Well, if others won't talk about it, I will say that I said what I said at the last meeting, I talked about the fact that I don't think it's the right time or the right decision. I will vote against these changes and make them appointive rather than elective. I think the petition we have tonight demonstrates full well there is a groundswell of opposition to any change. And this is not the time to do it. I won't grandstand further. I'll just say that I'm going to vote no. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:12:08] ​Well, I have to say, as much as a board member, since I joined the board, I've always felt the whole setup was very unwieldy in terms of the length of terms in certain positions, positions being a point, being elected rather than appointed in terms of smooth operation for the town, in terms of budgeting and other matters. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:12:34] ​I just want to clarify on what Robert said. He was saying that he is going to vote against making them appointed. What he's actually voting against is making them available for the people to choose whether or not they're going to be appointed or elected. That's what's on the table right now. We are choosing to let the residents decide whether or not they want this to be elected versus appointed. That's why we're having a hearing so that the residents can talk to us about what they would like to do. And then it can either it can go on to a ballot and the residents will then get to vote on what they would like to do. So I think it's important for the residents to have a voice in how our town is run and that the five of us don't choose whether or not these are appointed or elected positions. That is something for the residents to all be able to weigh in on. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:13:25] ​As I said, I don't think we want to tear the town apart with a referendum right now. I think that, you know, if the public hearing will probably represent what we've seen tonight in that petition, I think there is a groundswell of opposition. I just don't think we need this as a controversy in this town right now. Let's go on what we have right now. We may have a change of supervisor later this year, and that will be enough disruption for us. I don't think we need to have a question decided as to whether we eliminate two elective positions and put the entire control of the clerk's responsibility, the entire control of highway maintenance in the hands of three members. A majority for the town board, no. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:14:17] ​Well, we wouldn't be doing that, though, if the residents voted to do that. That would be the residents voting to do that, not us. We would not be putting that into the board's purview. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:14:30] ​I don't think we need to discuss this this fall. I don't think we need that kind of disruption, that kind of referendum. That's my position. I'm not going to be redundant. Thank you. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:14:40] ​Yeah, that's fine. I just want to clarify exactly what we're voting on here. So it's not like we're voting whether or not to replace an elected with an appointed. We are voting whether or not we want the residents to be able to vote on this. I just want to clarify that that point, because it's really a nuanced point that I think is being sort of thrown around. And I think it's really important to clarify that we as a board are not voting whether or not these these positions are elected or appointed. We are merely voting on whether or not the residents get to decide whether or not they are appointed or elected. So I wanted to make that very clear. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:15:16] ​Exactly when did this petition come in and how many signatures? I didn't get that. I'm afraid. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:15:29] ​It came in on Town email. I think it was six minutes after or seven minutes after 6:00 tonight. I just saw it. And it's got a hundred fifteen different lines signed. In some cases, I believe it's you know two partners husband and wife. This is one hundred fifteen signatories to this petition. Counciperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:15:50] ​And we have three thousand plus residents of Enfield. Supervisor McGee ​[00:15:55] ​And over 2000 registered voters in... Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:15:59] ​The electorate in the last general election was 791... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:16:01] ​Excuse me...this is a town board discussion. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:16:01] ​..and I was correcting a fact..there were 791... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:16:02] ​Town board and I were having a conversation. Mimi, did you have a comment? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:16:13] ​Well, I did. I. I wanted to back up Stephanie's claim that this is really talking about whether or not we want to discuss putting it on the ballot. And that's what's important to keep in mind right here. I don't think, you know, if we want to discuss the merits of the position. That's one thing. But that's it. I mean, I think we need to do that at a public hearing. I don't know that now is the time to do that. But certainly in terms of deciding how many people get to vote on an issue, if you think about it right now, the budget of the town is a huge percentage of it is the highway department. Before we have the public hearing. I would like to know exactly what percentage is the highway budget and I don't just mean the highway I mean the highway barns. I mean the salaries, all of the salaries that go into it. And all of the money that goes into the highway department. And if that is being controlled by one person, that's huge. It's probably 70 percent of our budget of the town taxes. If you don't count the fire, you know, is being controlled by one person. So that to me is a lot scarier. You know, when we want to sell a truck that we were told was going to be sold, we can't we can't get that to happen. So it feels to me that the town board and most of the budget is being hijacked by one person. And that's scary to me. And that's why I'm in favor of putting this on the ballot and letting the townspeople decide if that's how they want their money decided to be spent by one person. That's fine with me. If that's if that's what they want to decide as a townsperson find that very scary. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:17:56] ​Remember, of course, that that person that you're talking about, controlling this highway spending is an independent elected position, he is not somebody that just comes in out of the cold and decides he's going to run the highway department. In this case. I like separation of powers. I like the fact that we have different people who are different elected positions making these decisions and not just control by a town board. And what we're talking money. Does anybody know how much these referenda would cost the town to run? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:33] ​What do you mean? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:18:34] ​Well, to put it on the ballot, it's going to cost something. Will it not? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:38] ​No, because it's going to be on the ballot in November, at the election. If it was a special election, it would. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:18:45] ​All right. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:18:47] ​And I have to say, I'm in total agreement with what Mimi, said just toadd that in. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:18:56] ​And it is just with any elected office, it is someone coming in cold and deciding they want to run the highway department. There are the qualifications are that you're 18 and you live in town. So. Those are the qualifications. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:19:12] ​Before we have a vote, I would like to request that the Town Clerk have a moment to speak about this. And if Buddy Rollins is in our meeting, that he be able to speak as to what he thinks about it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:19:26] ​So are you making a motion? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:19:28] ​I will make a motion if I have to. That Ellen Woods, the Town, Clerk and Buddy Rollins, the highway superintendent, be allowed to speak to this motion before it is voted upon. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:19:43] ​So we're not we're not necessarily going to put this forward to a public hearing. And at that point, everybody has an opportunity to speak. But I'm sorry, is there a Second on that? So there's an opportunity to write in, to email, to speak at a public hearing if we were to put this forward this evening for a public hearing. That's plenty of opportunity to speak about this. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:20:21] ​I would like a point of privilege to allow Town Clerk Ellen Woods to speak to it, and you can use my time as a member of the town board. I ask Ellen her opinion on it Well, if someone please unmute, Ellen Woods, please. I want her opinion before I vote. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:20:59] ​Alright. Go for it. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:21:01] ​So I would like to ask Supervisor McGee and Councilperson Redmond why they believe that the townspeople have the right to vote on whether or not their highway superintendent and clerk are elected or appointed but they don't have the right to vote for who will serve as supervisor in twenty twenty one. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:21:25] ​I can answer that. The people of Enfield already voted who would serve as supervisor, and they've trusted me to do what's best for the town as supervisor. If I am unable to complete that term, then my expectation is that they would trust me to also guide for town through a proper transition. If I could have done that at the end of April, that would have been terrific. It would have given from April through at the very least early September for someone to be able to put together a budget on them on their own who is appointed by this board and to run the town through CoVid. Sure. If we wanted that to happen. Great, but that isn't what I thought was the best thing to do. And because here I am through these months and now in a place where in a in a month a person will have to start developing a budget and understand that budget and the tax cap and the capital plan and the fund balanced policy, all of the things that go into making this town run. It's it's not feasible to me morally or ethical ethically to do that. So they elected me as supervisor to do what's best and represent the town to the best of my ability. And right now, this is the best of my ability. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:22:46] ​So I have one more question and a correction. So the electorate in the last general election of twenty nineteen was seven hundred and ninety one. So it's pretty disingenuous to say that is two thousand. Because in the last general election, seven hundred and ninety one people voted for the office of town clerk. So that is the Enfield electorate. Also, I would submit to the entire town and in fact to the entire county that the supervisor is very aware that I ran opposed and in fact Buddy Rollin's ran opposed. He is highly qualified and he ran against Denny Hubbell, who is a master of highway and roads. So it was clash of the titans. And I would also say that when Mary and I ran against each other, it was also clash of the titans. Mary is employed by Cornell University in an administrative position. I also brought a lot of skills to the table. So both of us ran hotly contested general elections. Councilperson Redman ran unopposed in the general, as did Supervisor McGee. So basically. Supervisor McGee is ensuring that anyone who is upset that she asked me to run against a hometown sweetheart is gonna have another crack at me for the next few months. And while she and Stephanie Redmen have been trying to bury me with work, we met. We meet. We met eight weeks in a row. This is the end of my month and we're having a special meeting. I had to prepare a second abstract when most other towns only prepare once a month. So now I am going to have to deal with a public meeting. I am also going to have to deal with this.... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:24:34] ​....Are we going to communicate about the position of Town Clerk and why it should be appointed or elected? Can we hear your opinion on that? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:24:45] ​Absolutely. Absolutely. I would like to ask Supervisor McGee how many.... of your hires... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:24:50] ​I'm asking you to articulate, OK? And we'd like to have be part of this conversation. Please articulate wat the pros and cons are of having either an appointed or and elected town clerk? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:25:03] ​An elected Town Clerk an elected Town Clerk has an inherent dignity. If I was appointed I, the town of Enfield needs to triple my line and that's a conservative estimate. Twenty thousand is not a recruiting range for a appointed town clerk Ithaca's town clerk makes almost six figures and she deserves every penny. This is difficult work that I'm doing elected as a community service but appointed it will need to be paid what it's worth. So that's the first point of order. The second point of order is that I would like the town to understand that all of Supervisor McGee's hires to date have been at her pleasure, not with a formal interview process, interviewing three people and choosing the best, most qualified candidate. I did that with my deputy. I went through the county and I did a formal ethical hiring process. I don't think there's any evidence. There is no evidence that this board would do a formal ethical hiring process because they have not done one to date. It has all been, you know, cronyism, as it were. So an elected town clerk acts as a neutral foil officer and acts as a check on the town board. That is the important inherent dignity of elected town clerk's most clerk's town clerk's in New York State are elected. And that's all I'd have to say. I have so much work to do. I have so much work and Supervisor McGee is essentially ensuring that I will always have to run. And that Stephanie Redmond never will have to. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:26:56] ​I will add one thing, one point of correction here that in Stefanie's defense that she did run a contested election last November, there were three candidates for two positions. But that's that's that's one point of correction. I would also mention to build on what Ellen Woods said, they often appoint appointive positions are more expensive. I believe the town. I checked this early on the town of Ithaca's superintendent of public works makes almost six figures, over ninety thousand dollars, according to the town clerk or told me that and Buddy Rollins doesn't make that. So, again, if we go to appointive positions, we're going to be spending more money in a time when we cacn't really afford it. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:27:43] ​How many miles of road? And how many people is that person supervising? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:27:47] ​I can't tell you right. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:27:48] ​And the population of the town of Ithaca. is nineteen thousand seven hundred. Our population is thirty five hundred. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:27:54] ​And I don't know what the number of biologist Rhodes is in the town of Ithaca.. I'm sure it's more than Enfield. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:28:02] ​Now, I think you're comparing oranges to apples here. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:28:06] ​Yeah, that's ridiculous. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:09] ​OK, so let's get more perspective on this proposal or would we like to move it to public hearing? I don't see Buddy Rollin's here. I looked for him. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:28:22] ​This is a motion on highway superintendent, right, not clerk? Right. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:28] ​Right. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:28:28] ​Before they combined. Supervisor McGee ​[00:28:29] ​Yes. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:28:33] ​I want to restate the motion again, please. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:37] ​I just think that we put this to a public hearing. Local law abolishing the elective office of highway superintendent and creating the appointed office of highway superintendent of the town of Enfield, New York. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:28:54] ​Second. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:56] ​We already had a Second on that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:28:58] ​OK? I think it was me. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:59] ​Yeah. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:29:04] ​So I would like to say that, Robert, you know, you and Ellen both have brought up the really important points of having it as elected, and that's that's wonderful that we can talk about that. And I think it's also really important to talk about the benefits of having it appointed, such as you get to actually sort of put it out as a job with exact qualifications and you get to say who has the best qualifications and hire the person with the best qualifications. So that's why I think it's important for us to have these public hearings so everybody can discuss their points of view as far as the pros and cons and not just focus on one aspect of it and really mull it over as a Town. So, you know, at that point it would go on the ballot and people could choose what they think is the best route for us. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:29:50] ​One point of hopefully before we vote in that is we were originally going to have the public hearings tonight, but at the advice of counsel, we postponed the hearings. And I'm curious to know from the supervisor why counsel wanted us to postpone that hearing and have further discussion. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:30:10] ​Well, depending upon. So we were going to put all seven of these proposals out for discussion for the public and then make a determination of what we're going to actually adopt to put forward for the electorate and some of them conflict with others. So if you have a four year term for positions, but the electorate decides that they want that to be appointed. That doesn't make sense there's a conflict there. So it made more sense to ... And also in my perspective, I prefer to give opportunity for the people that are in the positions to decide if they want to maintain those positions and to have the year after in order to determine that. So after this election, it also would give the board an opportunity to develop the process of working with the county, whether or not they want the positions to be civil service. So there's more protections and determine a salary for that and how to budget for that. It gives opportunity for everyone involved to look at what the electorate decides and figure out the best way to implement it, because it's absolutely true you don't want that and I actually, you know, I take offense to the idea that my bookkeeper was just cronyism. He's one of the best qualified people that's working for this town right now he literally is. He has so much experience. He has. Ellen, you're embarrassing yourself. Stop it. It's really just such a lack of decorum it's unbelievable. He's really super qualified. He is a veteran. He has also been an auditor. He works for many municipalities. We went through several interviews, met with the board prior to appointment. It was and he went through that county process as well of applying through the county. So it's this unbelievable. The town board yes. You want to have a structure in place for making sure that if you actually have to hire someone, if one of the people that's currently in the position does not want to be appointed to these positions, I mean, it's upheaval and inconsistency in government. If we get to that point, if the people that want to stay in those positions want to stay in those positions, then they have the opportunity to do that. So it isn't you know, I think that it makes sense for there to be time through the next year for the board to develop that for the people in these positions to make some determinations and see how they want to go forward. But it is not you know, I think that it's unfair to suggest that five people that are actually elected to represent the town, not to not to provide services for the town, but to represent the town as a governing board, which is what the governing board is. Is representatives. People choose the board to determine the path of the town. And so did you have something you wanted to say, Mimi? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:33:47] ​No, thanks. Just. Adjusting. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:33:52] ​Yeah. So it's. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:33:55] ​It seems like, yes, you don't want to have people just making random decisions, but you'll have five people checking each other in those decisions. Five people, because once you whether you're appointed or elected, you serve on the board. So anyway, is there more discussion on the highway superintendent? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:34:20] ​I am just glad that, Beth, you did withdraw the motions that would have shortened the terms for those now elected. sI am glad you did that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:34:37] ​And so. All right. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:34:40] ​I actually have it in my question, Robert, why do you feel like the people don't deserve to have a say on this? Do you think that our our our residents aren't competent in making these decisions? Because it kind of feels like that when you're saying you don't want to have a public hearing and you don't want to have it on the ballot? It kind of feels like you're saying the residents aren't capable of making this decision for their town. And you don't want to leave it in our hands only. And that seems unfair to say it's only the five of us that get to choose this when it's the residents money that pays for these positions. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:35:13] ​I don't think most people want it. And frankly, I think we're forcing this on the people because of personality disputes between the town board, some members of the town board and these two elected officers. And I think that's that one reason to do it. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:35:31] ​But this is something that's been a discussion for decades now. I mean, as I understand it, this has come up many, many times before or now. And Ellen, please stop. Thank you. And there have been people out there have been residents, for example, Ann Rider has said that this is something that she would support. So this does seem like it would be a upsuping their vote to say that we, the five of us, only get to choose this. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:36:00] ​I have to say something. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:36:01] ​Go ahead. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:36:04] ​I've been on the board probably the longest. I think I may be wrong, but it's always been an issue in terms of budgeting with the highway department and, you know, it's not just the highway highways edpartment. But I've never seen better budgeting since I was a present supervisor, tookover very clear, that's so important I mean, we've we've managed to stay under the task cap. It's just a matter of the budget. Doing the budget with the town is really important to our town residents, so they don't pay more taxes. And that's what then? I guess that's the only bottom line, but a very, very important one. And that doesn't mix maybe with this discussion, but I think it should be out there. Because there's been the discussion about highway budget. It's been going on for eons. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:37:02] ​During the past year, we've talked a lot about the comprehensive plan and how valuable a comprehensive plan is for us, and we have a draft comprehensive plan and we haven't adopted it yet. But I do notice that on page twenty three of our draft comprehensive plan, it talks about the whole decrease the risk to management of town resources. The first action item is explore a proposal for an increase in length of terms for highway superintendant, town supervisor and town clerk. Nowhere in that draft comprehensive plan does it talk about the desirability of making those positions appointive. So if we're going to live by what our people have for almost a decade proposed in this comprehensive plan, that is yet to be adopted. But we all kind of believe in it. I think we should be respectful of the comprehensive plan and not try to make some positions that are now elective appointive. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:38:01] ​But we're not trying to make them. We're trying to give the residents the choice on that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:38:06] ​Exactly. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:38:10] ​It's going to divide this town this fall, and invariably these measures will go down to defeat. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:38:18] ​I don't think we should be held hostage to certain people throwing tantrums. I think the resident should be able to decide this and voice their opinion on this, regardless of whether or not people in these positions are throwing a tantrum. Councilperson Lynch ​[00:38:39] ​If they are put on the ballot ....campaign against them. Promise. Supervisor McGee ​[00:38:50] ​OK. If there's no more discussion, I'll call the vote. Ellen, please, Call the vote. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:04] ​Sorry. Hold on. Councilperson Bryant ​[00:39:07] ​Did you read the motion again? Supervisor McGee ​[00:39:09] ​Yes. This is to move the local law, abolishing the elected office of highway superintendent and creating the appointed office of highway superintendent of the town of Enfield, New York, to public hearings. Councilperson Bryant ​[00:39:23] ​Thank you. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:26] ​Councilperson Bryant. Councilperson Bryant ​[00:39:28] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:28] ​Councilperson. Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:39:31] ​No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:33] ​Councilperson Mahaffey,. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:39:35] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:36] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:39:38] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:39] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:39:42] ​Aye. Thank you. And now I'll move to the local law abolishing the elective office of town clerk and creating the appointed office of town clerk of Town of Enfield, New York to public hearing. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:40:00] ​Second Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:40:18] ​Is there any further discussion? All right. Please call the vote. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:29] ​Councilperson Bryant. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:40:30] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:32] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:40:34] ​No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:36] ​Councilperson Mahaffey,. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:40:38] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:39] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:40:39] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:41] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:40:43] ​Aye. Robert, are you continuing with your proposals for that two year to four year for the other two terms? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:40:52] ​No, I don't withdraw them in view of the fact that you Supervisor McGee withdrew your resolution about a four year term of supervisor. I think it does complicate the issue. So I'm withdrawing those if there's no objection. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:41:09] ​All right. Thank you. And I actually I mean, I would suggest that if this election turns out where these positions remain elected. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:41:19] ​Which it will. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:41:20] ​The board. Right. That the board, if they feel that that's important next year to put forward the two to four year terms, it makes sense to do that at that time. I'd also suggest if, you know, if things look like. You know, yeah, I think that the board should talk about what that would look like as far as how to do the hiring and working with the county to use their job descriptions and their process in hiring someone. If the people that are in the position either retire or are not interested in continuing on as appointed. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:42:01] ​If I may say one thing more, that if these are items, these changes, these local laws pass at referendum, I will move next year to increase the size of the town board from five members to seven members so that the control will be in the hands of four members of the town board and not just three. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:42:24] ​I think that's a great idea. I think that's a terrific idea. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:42:28] ​Now, the more people we can get actively out there now. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:42:33] ​Yes, I think that's a great idea. Thank you. OK. So we need to set a public hearing date. Well, we have a board meeting on July 8th, we could do this on the 15th or the 22nd. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:43:07] ​We've got to have time for publication. I don't know if he would allow time for publication. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:43:11] ​No, I don't think it would be either. So either the 15th or 22nd. And I can have Guy reach out to Ellen to have that put together and published in time. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:43:26] ​One thing we'll have to keep advice, keep close watch of is that way. I think the current executive order by the governor expires maybe the 7th or the 9th of July with regards to public hearings and open meetings, law waivers. So, you know, presumably he will extend it and then this will be a virtual public hearing. But if he doesn't extend it. Don't know. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:43:55] ​Well, if he doesn't extend it, then the board is going to have to figure out how that meeting is going to have to go. So we'll have to talk about that and whether it's people coming in one at a time. I don't know if you've been in the community building upstairs, but Judge Poole has had the full space, just everything defined very carefully about where people can sit. The number of chairs in the crate in the proper distance. So it's very sparse in there. And we'd also have to be mindful of how many people are in that space at a time and I mean, we can certainly do that by having people come in one at a time and give their comment. But you'll also need to provide a way, I think, personally, because this is the way we've gone on for the last several months with much more engagement to have a way to stream it as well. So the privilege of the floor is not required, but public hearings, public comment is so. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:44:58] ​Is responsibility possibility, we can have it in school? Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:45:02] ​You just read my mind Bob. Supervisor beth McGee ​[00:45:04] ​I don't think that they're going to allow that I was actually thinking of contacting them about other types of meetings. But right now, I don't think that they would allow us to do that. Mimi, did you have a comment? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:45:17] ​Well, I just want to say that I personally won't attend the meeting unless everyone is masked the entire time. So that's my rule. And. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:45:27] ​That's my rule, too. So I wrote my email. I didn't want to have this meeting go public. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:45:36] ​I don't care what it is, but I just have to say that I won't be in a room with other people that are not mass and. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:45:43] ​They won't even be before be able to have a virtual hearing. I suspect that. I suspect that given what's happening across the country, the governor will exptend his orders. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:45:54] ​So we'll have time at the July meeting to discuss it again. I think to revisit it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:45:59] ​Sure. So at the July meeting, we can. The meeting will be available. We should count on it being made available virtually, but also in it as a contingent contingency, be able to welcome people into the space to give their comment and have town board members there. I know we've talked about it at the county level. Is there likely being some sort of a hybrid plan available going forward anyway because of the engagement that people and the accessibility issues of this, people being able to have access that they were not able to have before? So which date do we want? Do we want the 15th or the 22nd? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:46:48] ​I would suggest the 22 only because that gives us a time to respond to whatever the governor does and whatever we decide at our July meeting in terms of how we're going to format this. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:47:03] ​That's fine. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:47:04] ​I agree with that. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:47:07] ​I agree with. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:47:16] ​630. And a special meeting directly after that to discuss the public hearing and determine how we move forward? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:47:35] ​Do we need a resolution to set the specific date? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:47:39] ​No. I'm making a motion to move these to a public hearing. I don't think it's necessary to have a resolution for that. OK, unless you you want to format one? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:47:51] ​The date doesn't need to be shaded in a resolution. Oh, I'll defer to you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:47:57] ​Well, I'll move that we set a public hearing for the where are they now? For the adoption of a local law, abolishing the elected office of town clerk and creating an appointed office of town clerk of the Town of Enfield New York and a local law abolishing the elective office of highway superintendent and creating the appointed office of highway superintendent, the town of Enfield, New York. For July 22nd at six thirty pm. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:48:33] ​Second. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:48:38] ​And more discussion board. OK. Would you please Call the vote. Ellen? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:48:47] ​Councilperson Bryant. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:48:49] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:48:51] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:48:52] ​ Because I oppose the underlying resolutions. No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:48:57] ​Councilperson Mahaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:49:00] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:49:01] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:49:02] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:49:05] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:05] ​Aye. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:09] ​OK. Reopening plan for the town board. As I mentioned previously, you know, and Bob had mentioned that we're hoping that we'll have an extension on the virtual meeting capability. It is very challenging. Personally, I would prefer not to be the person who's facilitating the meeting in person as well and trying to manage all that in person, as well as trying to facilitate a virtual meeting at the same time and facilitating the meeting. It's enough to manage this virtually and facilitate the meeting just from my house. But then also having to deal with coordinating the public in the space, that would be a five person job. So we need to discuss it like that. And also, again, I feel really strongly that really looking into the accessibility issue of moving forward and providing these meetings streaming, they don't have to necessarily be unless it's a public hearing. They don't have to necessarily be interactive. But streaming them publicly so people have access to them is important. I think we've learned that, that people want to be engaged in that way. So I would ask that the board. Consider that and look into how we can make that happen. What's going to happen if our July meeting has to be in person? So how do we move forward with that? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:51:05] ​So I, I, I'm a little confused. I thought once the governor opens it up, does that mean we have to meet in person or we have to prepare to meet in person? Like, for instance, when he, you know, opened restaurants for indoor dining, you didn't have to open it for indoor dining. You needed to prepare to open it for indoor dining. Come up with a plan that kept everybody safe. The workers and the customers. And and then you could reopen. So it seems to me that after the order is issued does not necessarily mean that we have to have you know, we all of a sudden have to have open meetings. That is it might be wrong about that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:51:50] ​There's an executive order in place that allows us to have virtual meetings. Once that expires, there's nothing in place to allow us to have the virtual meetings. He would have to extend that executive order in order to continue that. He could he could do another executive order and say, you have to now start preparing to do that. But once it expires, we no longer have permission to continue in that way. Would you agree with that, Bob? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:52:18] ​He suspended portions of the open meetings law, which requires us to have in-person meetings. If he extends his suspension of the open meetings law, then we can continue to have virtual meetings. That's the sticky wicket. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:52:37] ​That doesn't necessarily mean we have to have residents show up. So we don't have to necessarily worry about the social distancing. If the room gets packed or something like that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:48] ​You have to have public access to the meetings. Councilperson Redmond ​[00:52:51] ​But we could do that virtually. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:53] ​To observe the meeting. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:52:55] ​But that part we could do virtually correct? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:53:04] ​Again, a lawyer would have to read the open meetings law to see what it allows and what it doesn't, but I presume that the governor will at least for another month or two, extend his suspension of the open meetings law so we can continue to meet like this for a while. I would think that's just my my speculation. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:53:26] ​And my my question is, since Beth has been overtaxed doing this, how is streaming accomplished? I have no clue but if that's one way for getting the public to be able to listen to not participate, but be watching the meeting and listening to it. How was that done? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:49] ​I would like to know how efficiently other municipalities do it. Yeah, there are. There are other towns who are asking the same question of ones who have been doing it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:53:59] ​The village of Trumansburg has been doing it. It's not interactive. They just stream it on Facebook. I think that Facebook is limited because not everybody, believe it or not, has Facebook. But you can stream zoom meetings to YouTube, make it they can automatically be streamed to YouTube. So that is a possibility, right. That is a possibility to do. The only challenges is that if we are all in the same room, the feedback loop is way it's just out of control. So we just we can't be sitting even six feet apart actually, in my house, we have a family family gathering every weekend and we can be in separate rooms with the door open and still get feedback loop so. So those are certain... Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:54:49] ​What if we had. What if we had one computer to sort of stream the whole thing instead of us each individually having one sort of one that looks over the whole group of us and someone maintaining that computer alone? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:55:02] ​Yeah. And I don't think that that's that's a reasonable way to do it. The only problem would be microphones. So you'd want to have a microphone that connects to that laptop that captures better quality sound of everybody. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:55:15] ​You were meeting in one room as a Town board, and we want to stream this. I think we're going to have to have somebody, not one of us, but somebody else. And we may have to pray for him to or her to engineer the thing. I can refer to what my sisters church does. And they have you know, the minister speaks, the required director performs, an organist perform. But they have a team of actually two people out in the vestibule running the whole thing. So. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:55:51] ​Videotaping.... Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:55:52] ​As an engineer, if you will, show that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:55:55] ​You videotaping a are facing a show. Now you have to be.... That, to me, is like watching YouTube for a particular show. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:56:02] ​There are people actually there. There was one individual who really helped out the municipalities a lot right before right after CoVid started. And we met with him and did some tutorials with him to get Zoom's set up and to also talk about things like Web and that sort of thing. The best way to to do these virtual meetings. And he volunteered all his time. And he has a business for doing this consulting in virtual business. And it might be worth while to get back a little bit to him. And because he did this for all the municipalities pretty much and volunteered his services. And it might be worthy, a worthy endeavor to check in with him and see if he provides those consulting services to set us up for that sort of thing. It's it doesn't seem like it is that. I mean, Stephanie, I've been running these meetings. If it's based on Zoom, it's not really be that complicated. If the equipment is in place, if everything's run off of a laptop and the equipment is in place, it's not gonna be that complicated. I mean, I've actually I've actually done video and audio for weddings before with multiple mikes, setups and cameras and that sort of thing myself. So I just I'm not going to volunteer my time to do that. I don't have any time to volunteer. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:57:30] ​We have to remember that we five have a town to run. That's right. You can't be engineers of a production at the same time. We've got to get attention to running the town. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:57:40] ​Thank you. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:57:41] ​Thank you. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:57:42] ​Rene Carver. You're asking about. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:57:44] ​Yeah. Yeah. Yes. And I'm happy to check in with him if we're interested in that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[00:57:53] ​I think it's a great idea. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:58:00] ​Anyone else? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:58:00] ​No I agree I would like you to check in and see and see how feasible this is and how much it would cost. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:58:09] ​It would be a good service. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:58:12] ​Yeah, even, you know, word in my other life providing support online and just at first, it felt like people might be getting lost. And there's certainly some aspect of not having things in person. But it is unbelievable the number of people that are now able to engage that we're not be able not able to engage before. And and the other thing about this is that I think it will inspire whoever is on the board to be pushing further for broadband. Accessibility is such a huge issue. And if people can be more engaged in their local government by having better, better Internet services. I think that's really important. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:59:00] ​It would be good to have this continue past CoVid. It seems like it's it's allowed for a lot more engagement and that's been the growth in this war. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:59:09] ​And it's a good thing to do. I'm all for having these meetings stream. Very good thing. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:59:16] ​OK, so I will check in with Rene Carver, but. If our next meeting has to be that at the community building, how are we doing that? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:59:31] ​Well, first of all, we may have to all be mashed per Mimi request, which is fine and I don't know. I don't know how we got in terms of we're going to have 50. But, you know, you can't. You've got to be socially distanced. We really need more guidance from the state. And frankly, I think that we probably will be able to meet the way we're meeting right now on the 8th. But we just we may have to if for some reason or other we find the governor is not going to extend that order. We may have to maybe have an emergency special meeting to make some decisions. I don't know. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:00:13] ​And I'm going to be right down to the physical setup of the room and people to, you know, let people in and out. So there are social distancing is established and masks are on. I mean, it'll be a nightmare. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:00:30] ​It may be,. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:00:31] ​It seems like. I agree, Robert, that they're very likely going to extend the exemption for us to to have in-person meetings. However, if they do not, I do think that we could meet with the five of us and then just one of us hosting Via zoom. The way that we do now would have to muddle through for the first meetings so that we can have interaction from the public. I cannot see us inviting the public as well as the six or the five of us. Six of us really with Ellen there to within that space. There's just not enough space in there for us to have our typical crowd and the six of us in there and social distance with masks on. So it seems like have if we if it comes down to it, the worst case scenario, we could set up the computer at one end and and try to get the best sound that we can out of it. And hopefully we can talk to an Rene Carver and get some ideas on how we can make it better. If he can't set it up before then. But that seems like our best option at this point. But like I agree I agree that he the Governor Cuomo, probably will extend it. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:01:35] ​I hope so. That that room does not lend itself to ventilation even when you have a lot of people in their room. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:01:44] ​Plus, the Judge has city hall taped off as well. So I don't want to be disrupting what's already in place in there. So so there's like one chair next to two chairs and the two chairs are taped off. So then in the center of the room, there's one chair every six feet. And everything else is picked up in the room of the chairs along the wall and in the back along the wall. There's three chairs. Two chairs are taped off. So we don't want to be disturbing what's already in place there to keep social distancing. So there's seating there that we can utilize for people that that want to attend. But the issue that I have primarily is that if we end up meeting in the building, regardless of whether we let people in the building or not. We want it we need to discuss what we're gonna do about comment. People's ability to do privilege. You either suspend privilege until we figure this out or you figure it out. So just being able to allow people to have a voice at the meetings. So, again, privilege isn't mandated. So. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:03:07] ​I think we should allow it, though. I mean, maybe have bring in one person at a time. They're supposed to address the board anyway. Not they're not their buddies. So, I mean, we could we could we could have a door tender and let one person in at a time. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:03:26] ​Well, why couldn't we have them just discuss privilege through zone like we usually do? I mean, there's no reason we can't answer that like we usually do at the beginning. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:03:37] ​If we can make it work from the community building the zoom conference. Yeah. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:03:42] ​I just need you to get a line of people who want privileges, a floor, and then they start subdividing them. So the space could do that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:03:52] ​So we can have crowds up to 50. But you also you there's also limitations to your capacity, though. If your room has a certain capacity, you're only allowed a certain capacity of that space. So. So we need to end. And you'll look in the room and see what the capacity is based on where this chairs are left, basically. So there's not a whole lot there. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:04:18] ​How about temporarily in the firehouse, in the meeting room? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:04:30] ​And it's not really our space to commandeer that's the private company. Really? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:04:37] ​We would also have to manage the sanitation of that space as well. If we were to invite the public in for that. So but, hey, any one of you are welcome to ask that. I'm not gonna be the one. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:04:54] ​Let's see what the governor does. And maybe we're maybe we won't have this problem to contend with right away. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:05:02] ​All right. Is that all? For that topic? All right. And Stephanie, you're going to facilitate the technical end of the planning board meeting tomorrow. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:05:16] ​Yes. I've already set Via zoom link out to them. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:05:20] ​Thank you. OK highway requests. As usual, as usual, transparency rules the day we're having this conversation by ourselves. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:05:38] ​I don't think we can have it with our buddies presence. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:05:43] ​That's been a problem from day one as far as I've been on the board. Is not present when we need to discuss something. Many times. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:05:56] ​So. The 284 agreements, did everyone have a chance to look at those? And. So the first the first Aiken road that's listed is the stretch of Aiken Road that goes near my road between Halsyville and Podunk. And see. Well, here was that. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:06:35] ​Two thousand eighteen amended going from Halsyville to waterburg. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:45] ​Yes. So that was done. Oh, no. That one was not done. The one from Podunk, two from Halsyville to Podunk was done. And let's see, what year was that? Halsyville leading to Waterburg. Halsyville leading to Waterburg, one mile cold and hot mix, ... level oil in stone.. two layers for sixty thousand. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:07:48] ​I'm looking at. I'm looking at a two thousand eighteen. From a Halsyville to Waterburg for one hundred thousand on Aiken,. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:08:01] ​That was the second one in June,. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:03] ​Right Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:08:06] ​You know what? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:08] ​That was the second one that was the in the amendment in June. So it went from an estimate of sixty thousand to a hundred thousand. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:08:22] ​Then 60. I can tell you there's a 60 or a 100. I thought it was 100. But the first was two hundred 2018 original. What was done in January? That's a sixty thousand. Yeah. It is 60. OK. looked like a hundred to me. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:48] ​And then. In 2019, the next mile was a hundred, estimated at one hundred. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:09:05] ​That was from the two in 19 was from Waterburg to Buck Hill. Was in the original in January was one hundred thousand and then in 2019. In June, it was struck out. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:09:26] ​Right, because he did .... Rothermich Road's Culvert instead. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:09:30] ​Right now, with something from the, from the minutes that I accessed, said something about there was a five thousand dollars plus five th... Something cost five thousand dollars more. And they did Rotha instead. So that was stripped out. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:09:51] ​But. Then the same exact description. In 2020. This year. Waterburg to Buck Hill Road is now sixty thousand dollars more. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:10:10] ​And Buddy would have to answer why. Maybe stuffies just become more expensive. I don't know. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:10:16] ​I'm sorry, I have to interrupt. I ask for copies of these. No, my copies make any sense in terms of the amount you're talking about. So I'll have to do further research. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:10:28] ​So we're talking about in three years, a one mile stretch of road, the exact same treatment, being sick, going from sixty thousand dollar estimate to one hundred and sixty thousand dollar estimate. So the difference is one hundred thousand dollars in three years to do a one mile stretch of road. So I would like to understand that better myself. I think we also have the issue we're talking about about one hundred and forty eight thousand, so that's the one hundred four... One hundred and forty eight thousand dollars in chips, money that I requesting be put into the budget to to spend. But we also need to be prepared. That anywhere from 12 to 20 percent may be cut from that reimbursement. And that would be money that the town is going to have to foot the bill for. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:11:38] ​But if we don't spend any of it, then we can't submit bills. We don't get any of it. Is that correct? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:44] ​But you haven't spent any if you don't. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:11:46] ​Right. We also haven't got any road repaired. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:51] ​Right. Right. Yes. But regular maintenance and stuff will be done. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:12:01] ​Right, but we lose not just the 20 thousand, we lose the whole. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:12:07] ​Yes. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:12:09] ​Right. Right. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:12:10] ​So you lose granted money, with that. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:12:13] ​Eighty thousand that we have submitted bills for as opposed to losing. 20,000. Because are having to find 20,000 in the rest of the budget. That is my thinking about that, right. We don't do any work at all. We can't submit any bills. We get no chips, money. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:12:35] ​Exactly, understanding. But you also haven't spent any money, you have to spend it before you get it right. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:12:42] ​Well, we're going to have to spend this money at some point anyway. The question is how much? And I definitely agree that we need to understand all a little bit more why these differences are here. But I'm not summarily advocating that we don't spend any money and don't get any chips. Why? Because chips, money might be reduced. I think that would be shooting ourselves in the foot next year because, you know, now we're. Eighty thousand dollars down in terms of our budget instead of just twenty thousand dollars down. Am I. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:13:13] ​Right? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:13:14] ​No. No. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:13:16] ​Right. Mimi you have to spend the money and vote for it. You can't exceed what they're going to give you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:13:23] ​You're not. Eighty thousand dollars down in your budget necessarily. You're just a year behind in a capital improvement. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:13:33] ​Right. But instead of coming up with one hundred thousand dollars to do that road, we now only have to come up with twenty thousand dollars to make up for whatever we didn't do this year and move the money from. So let's say we took it out of some some contingency or some other fund, we would be twenty thousand dollars down next year, we would not be a hundred thousand dollars down. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:14:01] ​We'd be spending the money and we wouldn't get quite as much reimbursement. Right. Well, if the governor cuts things so we'd have a deficit, if you will, that we have to make up some other way in next year's budget. I presume that's how we'd work it. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:14:16] ​And we all better believe we're going to have a deficit the government is going to be cutting. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:14:20] ​Well, we're going to have to end up in this year's budget. We can't make it right and make it up next year. Think of it as a non balanced budget. We're going to need to come up with that money. So the question is, is there any funds that we could pull that 20 thousand from if we don't end up getting the chips money? That's that's my question, because I feel like I'm robbing Peter to pay Paul. If we do no work and submit nothing to chips, given that we believe that they're going to give us some money, possibly as much as 80 percent or so. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:14:56] ​So the dollar figure that we're talking about having to come up with this up to about thirty thousand dollars. So and you know, from the beginning of these discussions, right before Resco, it began. My concern was if we don't bite the bullet and spend the money to do a chipps project, then it's it's what they've said. The Highway Superintendents Association. It makes it harder for them to. Fight for us. You know, if we show that we don't need that money right now, we're not going to use that money. So you don't have. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:15:32] ​Standing was the truck that isn't sold yet is worth around twenty thousand. Somewhere between 20 and 25. I would say that if we don't get the chips money, that's where most of it comes from. Instead of that money going into the equipment fund. Just off the top of my head. That's the bulk of the difference if we don't get the chips money. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:15:55] ​And means a good idea, my Mimi. Sounds like a good idea, ..... Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:15:59] ​Maintained. Well, we can we can take the money out of the equipment fund and use it toward replenishing what we don't get from the state. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:16:08] ​Right. Well, we don't. It's not in the equipment fund yet. When we sell the truck, we would have to put it in the equipment. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:16:14] ​Presuming We're going to sell the truck. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:16:16] ​Right. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:16:18] ​Is it possible to cap our expenditures for the road to eighty thousand? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:16:23] ​You can't do it up road. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:16:26] ​No. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:16:27] ​But you can have an explanation or ask that we find a way to do it. Less than one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:16:35] ​Well, I would definitely want to know. Well, I definitely want to understand what happened, given the price of oil has dropped tremendously in the last three years and usually things for roads have oil in them. I could be wrong, but I believe pavement has a lot of oil in it. So I do have a question about whether all the materials went up that much. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:17:05] ​Now, the question, which only Buddy could answer, but I know that I drove Aiken today and I noticed that Buddy has done a lot of ditch work there. Now, I wonder if the work he did with the excavator on the ditches is included in that overall price tag. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:17:19] ​And that may be why it's higher. I don't know. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:17:21] ​I think that that has to be done in the top number. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:17:26] ​I would think so, but I'm not sure. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:17:29] ​But if he was here to clarify that, that would be great. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:17:34] ​Because most of the work done on my side, it's like right on the edge of Enfield and across the street is Ulysses. It's usually it's the county that comes out. I have no clue what you know, other than what I'm reading right here. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:17:53] ​So how do you want to move forward? Do you want him to come to the July board meeting? Councilperson Lynch ​[01:17:59] ​Definitely,. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:18:01] ​Definitely. Please,. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:18:03] ​Please. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:18:04] ​All right. Bob, would you reach out to him? And I have a conversation. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:18:08] ​Yes, I will do that. I would like to hear his responses. I'd like to have the questions answered myself. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:18:17] ​It's not that I'm opposed to getting the work done, and I do want to take advantage to as much Chip's money as we can possibly get in this this year's budget. So I don't want to forego that. And I don't want to just put the whole thing off till next year. I really don't. But but I do need answers. I would have to answer to the public about why it went up so drastically in three years. I would be irresponsible, not understanding that. And I I'm not sure how positions work. And I'm sure we have absolutely no say or control or even an advisory capacity. But it seems that if the supervisor isn't here, the deputy runs the meeting. And so I'm wondering if the if the highway superintendent is in there. Could the deputy supervisor come to the meeting? You know, I'm not saying that Buddy has to be at every meeting, but we should be able to ask questions of the highway department, given that it's a huge part of our budget and we are paralyzed to move on without somebody representing and speaking for the highway department and explaining those things. And I would imagine the deputy probably does understand where those costs are coming from. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:19:32] ​So unusual usually usually these things like chips funds are you find out where you're going with these meetings as a highway superintendent or representative because they figured out ahead of time. And then, you have to spend them. We have a plan to spend them. You get reimbursed. So I'm kind of missing the middle there. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:19:51] ​No, I don't know, Bob, if you could. What? You know, ponder that. You know, having some one of the two of them at every meeting so that we could ask questions. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:20:02] ​They're not required to be at the town board meetings. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:20:06] ​However, if we want to have transparent conversations with the public about how we're spending hundreds of thousands of their dollars and there are discrepancies like this and we're talking about an agreement that is literally called the most important agreement between the town board and the highway department highway superintendent that we should be able to have open conversations publicly about. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:20:33] ​I do understand that we cannot make the highway superintendent do anything because we are not his boss. And so I. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:20:43] ​It's the biggest part of our budget. It's ridiculous. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:20:45] ​We can't require that he come to meetings. You're right. And that's part of why I feel very stuck. A lot of the time that we can't move on with issues with somebody who, you know, with with a person heading up a department who, no matter who it is that we can't say, I need you to be at the ... Meeting, you know what he could say? I don't feel like it. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:21:11] ​Well, things like the vehicle, we don't know about it. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:21:16] ​So I feel very stuck. And, you know, I have to say, going back to the first issue, this is what I wanted to be appointed so I can say I need you at the July meeting for the first 20 minutes. Let's not rush. Any member. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:21:30] ​Question lets request his presence at the July meeting. And if for some reason or other he can't come to the meeting, he's got a prior commitment or something like that. I can. Can I say that he should have his deputy come in his stead? Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:21:46] ​Absolutely. I. We're talking about professionalism here. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:21:52] ​You can say that, but you can't make that happen. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:21:55] ​I'm going to request it. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:21:57] ​That's fine. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:21:59] ​Good. Good luck. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:06] ​OK, so we'll table this for July's meeting and hope that we'll be able to have a conversation about how this increased five hundred thousand dollars in three years and discuss how we'll move forward with. Whether or not we'll move money into the chips budget to do that. To do that work, I would like to see that done because it's in our capital plan and it's already about two years behind. So. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:22:37] ​.... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:37] ​That stretch of road. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:22:39] ​I'd like to see ourcapital plan maintained as well. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:44] ​OK, so Bob works of magic there. [01:22:48] ​And that early. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:57] ​OK. New business, Town Web site. All right,. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:23:06] ​Agenda item, actually. OK. I forgot at the beginning of the meeting, I don't think we remember to ask if there was additions to the. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:23:16] ​I did. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:23:18] ​Oh, you did. I'm sorry. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:23:20] ​That's all right. You have an addition. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:23:22] ​I do have an addition. And that has to do with the use of the town lawyer. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:23:27] ​So does anyone have an objection to Mimi having a discussion? Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:23:32] ​No. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:23:32] ​OK. My concern is, is the thought that anyone and everyone can go to the town lawyer and rack up bills for the town. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:23:43] ​He's quite expensive. Not for a lawyer, but for our town. I don't think he's overcharging us. I think he let me have a look at her. But I know that in the past, the way we've handled it traditionally without any kind of rules is that. Any contact with the the town lawyer go through the supervisor and sometimes the supervisor would delegate a board member to contact them regarding a specific issue around a wind law or some specifics regarding town property that one member of the board had done a lot of work on, but it would always go through the board to the supervisor or at times the supervisor needs to consult with the town lawyer immediately regarding issues. So only the supervisor would go to the town lawyer without the town board's approval. So I actually want to formalize that and make a motion that only the supervisor contact the town attorney unless authorized by the board and that other people that want legal advice for the town. There are two different avenues. One is AOT and the other is a New York dot com. Both of those have very, very skilled attorneys in town issues and they are free. We pay our dues to these organizations and they give. They often give give. They always give free advice and are often very thorough advice that I've noticed. I will use them a lot because they're free and we pay our dues. So if if it's an issue that is not a life and death kind of issue for the Town in terms of being sued for advice, which I consider this Website issue to be, I think that's an advisory kind of thing. What's traditionally done? What should be done? I would like any interested parties to go through those avenues. Given that we are members and not rack up, you know, the whole unemployment thing cost almost three thousand dollars. And that's, you know, I don't think we needed to incur that. I think we could have done the whole thing through AOT and not had to go through our lawyer to do that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:26:08] ​So maybe I totally, totally agree. I have to add that when I joined the board, there was a district supervisor is very clear. Staying within the budget for our town attorney was well known. It's very well known in legislation or advice that if I had a question, it wasn't she was going to say, no, you can't call em. But if you wanted to weigh in first and I felt coming from corporate, shall we say, that that was the appropriate way to handle it. I felt would feel himself ridiculous calling a lawyer directly for our Town. I still feel that way. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:26:53] ​So I'm not trying to cut off people getting legal advice. I think we have different avenues to get that. And as a board and if you feel strongly that we need something to go to the our attorney, I believe we should go through the board on that and get the board to to push for that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:27:10] ​Exactly. There are other random avenues, as you just described, AOT, and other things that we go to. We want to question something. But in terms of something that affects town or might affect town, it goes through town board. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:27:27] ​And in some in some instances, and I believe in this instance in particular, AOT is going to have a better and New York state. They're going to have a better grasp on what's normal, what's what's acceptable. I think they're going to give us better advice to not only it be free. I think it's gonna be better. And I don't have any problem with, you know, any of the town officials contacting those people correctly. But. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:27:58] ​This is a crazy question of circular logic, but is it possible that state law governs who can contact a town attorney, attorney for the town in technically accurate speak, who can contact and who cannot? Since they're a separate elected offices in clerk and in highway superintendent, are they allowed to contact an attorney for the town directly? Does state law do that? Maybe we have to go through Guy Crowe and ask who can contact legally? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:28:33] ​Why don't we go through AOT and ask? Why don't we ask the organization towns Association of Towns who can they would have they would have a clearer idea, I believe. And given that is the A budget and that is controlled by the town board, I'm not sure that other entities can spend that money. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:28:54] ​That's what I was told. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:28:57] ​So anyway, but I think it's perfectly reasonable question, Bob and I and I, I would encourage you to call them and ask them that. I just don't want to incur more legal bills over issues that I don't think we need our town attorney involved in. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:29:20] ​And a lot of the requests for legal services were requested by our supervisor, and that would not change under what's being proposed right now. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:29:31] ​That's right. Well, the supervisor does deal with the day to day running of that town so and dealing and has to communicate with the town attorney on immediate things often, if there are property disputes or course and concerns about employee employment, labor law and that sort of thing, if there are things that need to be dealt with in the in immediacy, I do communicate with a AOT almost always first, almost always on the issues that I call them about. First, they say you really need to defer to your town attorney. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:30:14] ​Mm hmm. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:30:15] ​So. And, of course, you know, it is I as far as when maybe you said, like deferring to the Town supervisor, whether other board members can communicate, it isn't up to, in my view, up to the Town supervisor to determine whether board members can. Generally, what we've done is discuss it as a board and decided who the best board member would be to communicate. And the board makes that decision together. So. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:30:45] ​But didn't a lot of this arise? The discussion tonight arise because the town clerk contracted Guy Crowe regarding the town website within the past week or two. Isn't that why this has arisen right now? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:30:58] ​Well, no. It was also the three thousand dollar the twenty seven hundred dollar bill for the unemployment that spurred me. So it's there's two issues here. You know, it's it's once is once and then twice. It is like, OK, does anyone just get to, you know, rack up hundreds of dollars of bills because they, you know, want to figure something out? I don't think that's the First Avenue that you go to to figure something out. I mean, and if you want to come to the town board and say, I would like to speak to the town attorney about this and I've got a copy, the voucher right here and most of the request on that. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:31:38] ​And most of the requests twenty seven hundred dollars are responding to BM presuming MCGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:31:43] ​Yes they are, because of the calls that were initiated by the highway superintendent about unemployment, arguing that he had total control of the employees and whether they could go on unemployment. So, yes, unfortunately, I had to respond to those. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:32:03] ​What they would have been responded to regardless, would they not? Would they still you still would have had to seek legal advice because of the questions that Mr. Rollins raised with regards to unemployment. They would have arison one way or the other. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:32:18] ​Would they have if he understood that the board absolutely had the authority to do that? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:32:24] ​But that was a question he raised and you got the interpretation, Beth, from the attorney. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:32:29] ​uhm Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:32:31] ​It wasn't that he was running up bills with the attorney. It was it he was raising questions that you had to seek legal advice from. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:32:39] ​Right. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:32:40] ​I don't think the changes that you're proposing tonight are going to make much difference in that twenty seven hundred dollar bill. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:32:47] ​He was talking directly to the attorney also. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:32:50] ​How much? I didn't see too much Rollins on here. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:32:57] ​Most if it is B.M. Beth McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:33:01] ​So how much is it for the highway superintendent? You have it in front of you. How much? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:33:10] ​I would have to tally it up? It is about 23 different contacts. The first one was a telephone call with Buddy Rollin's. $100 expense, then telephone call with Beth McGee $247 dollars expense. Then Beth McGee $742 expense goes on beth McGee $67 fifty you want me to go on 23 items I think on there. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:33:41] ​I think though I think that's the big item there. Was the getting clarification for the board on the authorities of based on the positions of the board and the highway superintendent. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:33:54] ​You would have shot it anyway because that was central to your argument. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:33:59] ​I would have liked to be able to weigh in on it. But because the conversation was initiated to the Town attorney, I'm just I'm just proposing that we take a little bit of control back, given that it's the A fund money that's being spent here. So. I'm not saying that no one else is going to get legal advice. You're going to have very good legal advice from AOT. And NewYork.com so I don't see the problem with that. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:34:37] ​Well, I was certainly told when I was on the board, I was during the whole windfarm farm business that we were not to call the town attorney directly we should tak of the town supervisor before we did maybe it was something we discussed at the board, but I wasn't going to ... phone call Guy, whatever, hundred dollar an hour he charges. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:35:04] ​I know from experience, because, you know, I had for a long time what it turned out to be a business endeavor that didn't work out. And I know how expensive lawyers can be. And I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees. And it's not fun. I know that. And maybe we all have to at a time of economic crisis, if you will. We all have to just resist the temptation to call the lawyer if we can. I know that I feel uncomfortable doing it myself on behalf of the town. I think that he's got to feel the same degree of discomfort. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:35:45] ​It's worth it if you do it on behalf of the town, without discussing with the board... the supervisor.. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:35:58] ​So. Do you want a formal resolution for that Mimi? Do you want to have somebody reach out to a AOT and ask about the board's authority to manage attorney funds that way? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:36:17] ​I think, given Bob's question, I think that's a good question, and I think we should reach out to AOT and find out. I personally don't have the time right now to do that. So I would really appreciate it but another board member would volunteer to do that. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:36:36] ​I can do that if Bob doesn't want to, Bob do you want to, since you brought it up or..? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:36:40] ​ I'm the paralegal. So maybe I should be I can I can put together some kind of reach out to them to determine, explain our situation and see what is what is allowed and what is not and what the purview of the board can be. And then I'll get back to you. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:36:59] ​I think it is important to consider some sort of control so we don't have large expenditures for no reason. I think we we need to have some sort of policy in place for that, for our decisions to to contact the town attorney it does cost us hundreds of dollars every time he's contacted. So it just seems, you know, fiscally irresponsible to contact him, you know, for just at a whim. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:37:22] ​And it also protects future boards from this kind of thing happening, you know, maybe two board members are fighting and they're both calling the lawyer constantly, you know, so I think it could actually protect future boards from this kind of thing. So. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:37:40] ​Maybe we should have some kind of policy on this. Councilperson Stephnie Redmond ​[01:37:42] ​I agree. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:37:44] ​That would establish the ground rules so that everybody knows what the rules of the game are. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:37:51] ​I would be happy to contact AOT, too. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:37:56] ​OK,. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:37:56] ​So Bob. So, Bob, I had the question and he's offered to communicate with them. The way that we have to communicate with them is through email, through Chris Anderson now at the Info at association or AOT or whatever they've got their email address as it's on their Web site. So if you communicate with them, send them your questions. Then Chris delegates those questions to the different attorneys and if you can just send us the response from Katie or Lori whenever they get back to you and that way we can be clear on what they've said and what you've asked that'd be great. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:38:40] ​...Questions? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:38:41] ​Well, I mean, if he if they respond to that, what they do is they say that such and such date you asked such and such. They present it back to you in their answer and then they give you a really thorough answer. So we'll see that. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:38:54] ​First before I contact them. So I know exactly what I want to ask. If board members would reach out to me, send me an email so that I know what questions, I should then pose to AOT so that everybody gets their questions answered. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:39:10] ​Great [01:39:12] ​That's good. Councilperson Virginia Bryant ​[01:39:13] ​Thank you. [01:39:13] Counciperson Robert Lynch ​[01:39:14] ​Thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:39:21] ​And regarding the website, what I was bringing up for the Web site is we had been working on Websites policy for the last about a year. And I have the language of that. It was just not it wasn't ever like polished and presented to the board. So I can put that together and provide that it's all about how to utilize that as communication tool and the structure and or infrastructure is how that's maintained and managed and hosted and we can incorporate that email into it. It's important to have a policy about the utilization of the Website. So so I will have that ready for July's meeting for discussion. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:40:09] ​Thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:40:18] ​This is a special meeting so there is no privilege of the floor, any, any board members have an announcement? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:40:31] ​I guess every announcement I have is that I guess they're going to have one of those county administration conference calls this Thursday morning. They originally weren't going to have it. They are going have one because things have changed. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:40:48] ​Yeah. Yeah, it's looking pretty scary outside our borders. I think we need to build a wall around New York at this point. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:40:59] ​Well, Cornell did just, I believe, say that they're going to quarantine every student coming back for two weeks. I'm not sure logistically they're going to do that. But that's the scary part for me that come out really if they're going to quarantine for two weeks and they're going to stagger when they all the classes come in. That would be the beginning of August that they have to start bringing people back. So. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:23] ​Right. Well, they did say they're going to have a long lead time because this semester starts September 2nd. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:28] ​Yeah. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:28] ​So it's going to be challenging. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:30] ​Yeah, Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:31] ​Sure. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:31] ​... If you're staggering when they come in 2 weeks, 14 days. And he is. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:36] ​Right. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:38] ​Right. I just can't even imagine the logistical nightmare they're going through. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:42] ​So I don't know how they're going to police it. I really don't. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:46] ​My my heart goes out to them. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:41:49] ​Mimi... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:41:50] ​ ...the students. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:41:52] ​CTB is no more open, up in Collegetown Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:41:57] ​We do have a I'll put a little plug in. We do have a food truck there. CTB. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:02] ​Oh, great. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:42:04] ​So we parked it across the street and the performing arts center. Cornell is letting us use their property to do that so you can still get your coffee and a bagel. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:14] ​Nice nice, are you? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:42:18] ​That's my plug. That's it. I'm not going to.... Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:23] ​OK. Ellen, do you have an announcement? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:42:30] ​She's muted. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:30] ​I've unmuted her. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:42:37] ​Muted in my computer Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:42:38] ​Yes. Trying to unmute her. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:42:40] ​Here she is. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:42:40] ​ I do have an announcement, which is tomorrow is the last day to pay Second installment of property taxes. It's due by close of business. There's information on the Town Website, townofenfield.org. And they are can be dropped off at 125 East Court Street until close of business tomorrow. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:43:00] ​Great. Thank you. All right. I'll make a motion to adjourn. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:43:10] ​Second Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:43:12] ​Thank you. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:43:13] ​Now we're happy 4th. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:43:15] ​You to be safe. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:43:17] ​Thank you.