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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-22-2020 Transcript Special Meeting 07-22-2020SpecialMeeting.mp3 Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:00:04] ​And I will open the special meeting of the Enfield Town Board. Are there additions and change or changes to the agenda? I have a couple of issues. I did want to mention a fiber build out that Clarity Connect is doing and the possibility of having a notice put on the Town Website describing the areas and to see if there are other areas that feel that people are underserved and do not have access to high speed Internet because they are looking for information about that. It's spotty as far as how companies that provide service actually report. So they're not always accurate. The maps are not always accurate. Also, Enfield Community Council has a request for a movie night that they've asked that we discuss this evening. So are there any objections to these brief discussions to be added? I can put them on new business. That's OK. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:01:28] ​Point of information, Beth, is Virginia Bryant excused tonight? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:01:32] ​She is excused. I have that on my notes, too, to mention she had an emergency with a friend and had to take them out of town this evening. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:01:44] ​I did notice that we didn't get hiring freeze on the agenda. We do have to figure out what we're going to do about that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:01:57] ​And where would you like that on the agenda? Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:02:00] ​We can put it under old business, right? I mean, this is something we have to finish up talking about, how to handle that new hire. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:02:11] ​OK. Board Members can mute themselves, please. OK. So now we will enter into privilege of the floor. And the same rules apply for privilege of the floor. Each person will have three minutes to speak on the topic and must address the entire board. Ellen. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:03:09] ​OK, before I start my three minutes, I just wanted to note, in addition to the agenda, I would like to discuss just briefly the rabies clinic that's coming up. It's just more of a discussion just to try and get as many residents access to that. And then also maybe during the discussion of the Town Clerks role, we can discuss in-house networking needs of the Clerk's office. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:03:37] ​So do Board Members want to add those to the discussion tonight? Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:03:44] ​I'd be okay with that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:04:01] ​Did you have something for privilege of the floor Ellen? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:04:04] ​I do. So I just wanted to address some comments that had been made in previous meetings. I would say. So I want to say that to say that Enfield would be operated more like a corporation with these positions to be appointed is not correct. We are not a corporation. Profits are not our bottom line. We are a New York state municipality, a service organization to serve the needs of our residents, doing whatever it takes within the law and within our budget. And to say that the Clerk would earn minimum wage or even a living wage under these under as an appointed position is also deeply misleading the work that the clerk does, including balancing high dollar accounts, delegating following state Town and county law, training, accessing, training herself, interfacing with important people in organizations, office management, public information, Web site and supervising employees is so far above minimum wage that offering that pay to pay that amount is insulting. The local laws represent to this Clerk an attempt to strip the office of its status, as well as an attempt to strip this Clerk of a fairly earned victory because she earned it on her own. There is a certain ownership that comes over you because you are proud to be the elected Town Clerk of your Town. It is not just a job it's an elected office and it serves the interests of the people. Polarization of power in any organization will eventually destroy it. There would be no checks and balances if only a majority of three people are allowed to control the destiny of a Town. Already, the board has shown an extreme reluctance to check the behavior of any of their members and elected Clerk is a key element in maintaining checks and balances at the top level of local government. Very comparable to the three branches of federal government. Don't give your rights away. Rights surrendered are rarely restored. There is no valid reason to take this responsibility. And right away from the people of Enfield, New York, the people's power should never, ever be taken out of the hands of the many and placed in the hands of a few. Throughout our history, lives have been lost, trying to preserve this freedom and the right to vote. And we'll touch on this more in the Town Clerks report. But I just want to say that I find that the the Town Board, specifically the female members of the Town Board, are engaged in an elaborate pink coloring of the Town Clerk where her voice is silenced and her status is degraded and also her value per hour. Her imagined value per hour is considered much, much less than women who have the same level of education and achievement. And I do find that I want to state for the record that Robert Lynch and Buddy Rollins are currently the only members of Enfield government that treat me as a respected elected official. I'm done. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:07:16] ​Thanks, Ellen. Is there anyone else who would like to speak for privilege of the floor? Everyone is unmuted. Sure. All right, on to the old business. The proposed local laws. Is there anyone else who would like to move the local law abolishing the elective office of Town Clerk and creating the point the appointed office of Town Clerk or the Town of Enfield? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:08:26] ​I do Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:08:31] ​Mimi Mahaffey, is there a Second? Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:08:38] ​I'll Second. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:08:43] ​I will read the resolution, the local law has already been read. Earlier this evening at the Public Hearing a resolution to move to adopt the local law, abolishing the elective office of Town Clerk and creating the appointed office of Town Clerk of the Town of Enfield. Whereas upon proper notice, a Public Hearing was held on the twenty second day of July 2020, where all persons wishing to speak regarding the proposed local law of 2020 were heard by the Enfield Town Board. And whereas after consideration of all information presented and available, it is the determination of the Enfield Town Board that the Town will be best served by abolishing the elected office of the Enfield Town Clerk and creating the appointed office of the Enfield Town Clerk upon referendum and approval by the electors of the town of Enfield at the general election on November 3rd 2020. Therefore, be it resolved that the Enfield Town Board hereby annexed the local law of 2020, a local law abolishing the elective office of Enfield Town Clerk and creating the appointed office of Enfield Town Clerk. Be it further resolved. That said, local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of state and after approval of a majority of the electors voting thereon in accordance with the requirements of municipal home rule law. Section 23 at the general election on November 3rd 2020. Is there any discussion? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:10:27] ​I'd like to say some things. First of all, I think that there's been an unfortunate mischaracterization campaign going on about these proposed laws in a way that makes residents feel like they're the Town Board is trying to make these positions be appointed or that we are trying to take away the right to vote. And I want to clarify that this Public Hearing is particularly put here so residents can have input on these positions. And I think it's been very helpful to actually hear how the residents feel about this and to have their weigh ins. But I want the residents to really think about how there has been a mischaracterization of these laws and so that the residents can understand that this was put here so that they would actually have a vote in it one way or another. It's not trying to take away a vote, it's trying to say, hey, here's this law, please vote how you would like it to go. So there's that's the one thing. It's not the board trying to take away your right to vote. It's saying or at least from my point of view us saying that, well, how would you like to to go forward with this? And I had a little bit of a different view than Robert did because he thought the residents would say, we don't want that choice. I see no reason why residents wouldn't want a choice. I why? It doesn't make sense to me. To me, I feel like the residents have clearly said they want to have a choice. And so here's your choice. Please go to the polls in November and hopefully it'll be on a referendum there. At least that's my position, is that it should be on referendum there and then you as residents will be able to vote. And I really do feel like these positions should be reevaluated and we should continually reevaluate how we run our Town and we should continually take input from residents on how we should run our Town. And I think while there are issues with having over Zoom, we are seeing more participation than ever before. We had, you know, up to 44 people on this call tonight. And you know, that would pack our community building. So that's I feel like that's a good showing. And so I think it's important that we reflect on things like Joanna Green was talking about her need for accountability from the highway department. And I think it's important for the residents to understand that this is the path forward for accountability. This is the path forward for residents to be able to come to the Town Board and say, I don't like what's going on with the highway department, and that Highway Superintendent would then have accountability to the residents through the Town Board. So there are there are advantages of having these as an appointed position. I understand there's advantages to having an elected position, those who've been going over it or, you know, people who have stated those opinions tonight, too. But I think it's important for everybody to go and really look into the ways that these have pros and cons and then make your best decision when you go to the polls and vote on this through a referendum. So I just want to clarify that this is not taking away your right to vote. This is saying here is your right to vote. How you please vote on this. Tell us how you want this to be done. So I think that and then one more thing I'd like to say is that this is not going to actually cost us anything. So people have talked about how this is going to cost us anything. It actually costs or anything to have this meeting tonight. You're not paying me anymore. You're not paying Robert anymore. You're not paying the Town Clerk anymore to have this tonight. It's just gonna go on the ballot and people will have their decision one way or another. You know, stated through a referendum. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:14:30] ​Thank you, Stephanie Mimi. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:14:33] ​Well, I want to reiterate and expand a little bit on what Stephanie was saying, because I personally haven't decided how I'm going to vote in November. I may well vote to keep it in an elected position. And I have not weighed in tonight on whether it's elected or appointed. I heard resoundingly almost to a person that they want the choice. They want to choose they they want to be able to hear their voices heard. And all that engagement makes the citizens of Enfield more engaged and more aware of what's going on. And so I'm all for choice and I'm all for voting. So I don't see a conflict. Yes, there's CoVid going on. But that also has given some people more time at home and more time to reflect on their communities and get engaged in their communities. And I think that's a wonderful thing. I think the fact that if this meeting was deciding whether or not to make it elected or appointed position, I would be opposed to even bringing it up because I don't think it's an ideal format, but because it's only deciding whether or not to give people the choice. And almost to a person I heard everyone's saying I want a choice. I want my voice to be heard. I want to vote. So I'm really feeling like they're pushing me in the direction of putting it on the ballot because they want their voices heard. They want to weigh in. And they want to be heard. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:16:16] ​Thanks, Mimi Robert, did you have a comment? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:16:19] ​Yes, I do. With all due respect, Mimi, I wonder if you heard the same hearing that I heard tonight, because what I heard with people was not that we want a choice, it's that we don't want this considered. I know what I've got about I think about 19 or 20. If you count the emails that came in before the meeting, about 19 or 20 comments, and they all said we don't want the position to become appointive. One person, Becky Sims, bless your heart, I. I think she's a good citizen of this town. She said, I may not even vote for making it appointive if it comes to a referendum, but she'd like the idea of a public initiative because she thinks that's something that good democracy demands. I would suggest to Becky, that perhaps the better way is in a future year to have a referendum on extending the terms of office for Clerk and Highway Superintendent and maybe even supervisor from two to four years. That would be a better opportunity for a public initiative. But I don't think the voters want this. As I've said before, it will tear the community apart. We'll have another controversy. That'll last right through Election Day? And I just don't think the public is demanding it. Public Hearings have a purpose. And the purpose tonight was for people to say they don't want to change. So why bother? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:17:48] ​Mimi. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:17:51] ​I also want to guess a little bit the idea of a smear campaign. I I think that Buddy and Ellen are the best people for the position, and I truly believe that I have a lot of respect for the work that they do. The passion that they bring and the expertise that they have. So I resent the assumption that I would remove them from office, in my mind, it gave me an option of having more continuity in terms of people that are experienced on the job and have done this for a long time, not having to make it into, you know, a popularity contest. It's very hard to have all your expertise out there every single every two years for an election. So in my mind, it allowed for more continuity. And and I'm I'm I'm really sorry Ellen, that you feel disrespected by me. I don't know what I did to disrespect you, but whatever I did, I apologize. So I truly do. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:19:04] ​Because enough people have contacted me about being ignored. With concerns I've just had. We had one in this meeting. Who's said? I think it was Joanna, grave concerns about the way the Highway Superintendent manages the roads. And as Stephanie pointed out, this is potentially the mechanism to provide accountability where residents can have a voice to the Town Board to have more input. And that is input that can be given at any meeting or any day. And the idea that every two years, residents get to make a choice. I find that disingenuous, actually. So this is a presidential election year. There will not be another time in four years. And there may never have been another time ever in Enfield when more voters will vote. And at last year's election, seven hundred ninety one people voted. That's thirty six percent of the registered voters. When I ran in 2016 in a presidential year like this one. Fifteen hundred and ninety two voters voted in Enfield and that was about 74 percent of the registered voters turnout. So in my view, this is an opportunity for people in Enfield to have their voice heard. A Republican in Enfield needs less than 30 signatures to get on the ballot. Democrats in Enfield are subject to a little higher scrutiny with higher signature requirements. The current Highway Superintendent is a Republican. If none of the other qualified people in the Town are interested in running a potentially contentious political campaign but are simply interested in doing the job and doing it well, 30 signatures on a petition will get the Highway Superintendent or the Clerk, who is a Republican elected. So how is this representative, representative of the electorate? All they need once they're on the ballot is one vote. If no one runs against them. And that could be their own vote to win office. So these positions are, we keep hearing, inherently non representative of the residents, nonpolitical. And they're service oriented, which I absolutely agree. And it is important to let residents decide if this system is acceptable to them going forward. And maybe if it is acceptable to them now, another board will give the residents an opportunity at another time to change that at a time that it might not be to residents. It's a, in all of the years that I've been attending Town Board meetings as an activist or a person who has been facilitating meetings or an elected Councilperson, I cannot count on one or two hands the number of times that people in these positions have been intimidating, have been aggressive at meetings, have made it a toxic environment, and I really feel the only place that a resident can make this choice safely is in the privacy of a voting booth. So I also would like to mention that there was a confusing and misleading letter sent out to residents who thought that the Town sent it out, notifying them of a Public Hearing of these Public Hearings with the Public Hearing notices signed by the Town Clerk. And they came from the Town Clerks home address. So I had residents call me very confused and angry about it, and they sent me copies of the letter. So I just don't even know what to do with that. And I don't I don't think that this board should make the decision ultimately. I do feel strongly that enough people are going to vote on this initiative at the ballot. That it will be a really, really important time for Enfield residents to have some real choice on an issue. When you almost never do. Bob. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:24:13] ​I would like to move to postpone action on this until such time as Virginia Bryant can participate in the discussion and the vote on this monumental matter. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:24:27] ​She's already let me know how she feels on this. And she told me that she would like to move forward. So I'm not going to go ahead and Second that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:24:36] ​She said the same thing to me too. So I won't Second it. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:24:42] ​I would like to say that the idea of tearing this town apart kind of quote unquote. I don't like that language. I feel like that's just a lack of professional behavior because, you know, with a Town Board, you should be able to have political input from residents without it considered to be tearing the town apart. And the only reason why it would be considered tearing the town apart is if people are acting really unprofessionally. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:25:10] ​Well this will be the third big controversy we've had this year. And in my opinion, and it tears the town apart that we're not acting to solve our common problems. We're fighting issues between ourselves. That's my opinion. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:25:24] ​It doesn't feel like a fight to be able to say, hey, how would you like to vote on this residents? You know, that doesn't that doesn't feel like we're having an argument at all or just giving the vote to the residents. It doesn't feel like I'm tearing the town apart just to say, how would you like this to go one way or another? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:25:41] ​If I saw a petition signed by one hundred and fifteen residents of this town supporting the idea of a referendum, supporting perhaps the idea of changing the terms of office for these positions, I'd be convinced. But I don't see that there wasn't one person attending this meeting tonight who strongly, passionately supported making the Clerks or the Highway Superintendent positions appointive. So as again, I say, why bother? Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:26:15] ​I think it does. Go ahead Beth Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:26:17] ​I do want to respond to something that you said, you said you felt like it was taking this out of the hands of the many and putting it into the hands of the few. And actually, when I hear you say that people don't want the choice. On Election Day, what I'm actually hearing you say or them say is we don't want other people to have the choice. So what this feels like to me is that it's taking it out of the hands of the few and putting it into the hands of the many. Approximately sixteen hundred people. Stephanie, did you have a comment? Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:27:05] ​I'm just curious, you know, the people that signed that petition may not have had the best platform to understand the different perspectives, and they may have only gotten one perspective when they signed that petition. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:27:23] ​The letters that went out, actually that looked misleading, like they were from the Town and were confusing to people actually stated. Thank you for signing the petition. So the people who received it were people that signed that petition. Is there more discussion among the board? Right. Would you please Call the vote. Ellen? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:28:04] ​Before I call the vote, I would like to. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:06] ​Would you please call the vote? This is the board's discussion is over. This is a resolution that's put forward. And right now we're voting on this. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:28:18] ​Right. Thank you for talking over me, Supervisor McGee. I would like to say when the Clerk has information that is factual, that was inaccurate in the board's discussion, I strongly believe it is the Clerk’s responsibility to share accurate information with the board before calling the vote. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:28:38] ​Would anyone like to hear that information? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:28:40] ​Yes. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:28:46] ​Thank you. So the board has stated that this resolution will cost zero dollars, and I would like to share that it is already cost at least one hundred and fifty dollars. That was the price of the legal ad. So. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:29:01] ​Thank You. Call the vote. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:29:04] ​Councilperson Mahaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:29:07] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:29:08] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:29:10] ​No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:29:11] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:29:14] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:29:14] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:29:17] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:29:18] ​So moved. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:29:27] ​Thank you. With respect to the Second local law, is there anyone else that would like to move the resolution to adopt upon referendum. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:29:48] ​I will. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:29:48] ​I'll second Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:30:05] ​So the resolution is as follows. The local law was read earlier during the Public Hearing. The resolution is to move to adopt a local law, abolishing the elective office of Highway Superintendent and creating the appointed office of Highway Superintendent of the Town of Enfield. Whereas upon proper notice, a Public Hearing was held on the 22nd day of July 2020, where all persons wishing to speak regarding proposed local law were heard by the Enfield Town Board. And whereas after consideration of all information presented and available, it is a determination of the Enfield Town Board that the Town will be best served by abolishing the elected office of the Highway Superintendent and creating the appointive office of Highway Superintendent of the Town of Enfield, New York. Upon referendum and approval by the electors of the town of Enfield at the general election on November 3rd 2020. Therefore, be it resolved that the Enfield Town Board hereby enacts local law, the local law of 2020, a local law abolishing the elective office of Highway Superintendent and creating the appointed office of Highway Superintendent of the Town of Enfield, New York. Be it further resolved that the local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State and after approval of a majority of the electors voting thereon in accordance with the requirements of municipal home rule law. Number, Section 23 at the general election on November 3rd, 2020. So there was a Second by Stephanie. Is there any further discussion? I would just say that all of my same concerns apply. So, Bob, did you have comment? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:32:04] ​I'm a little sad tonight for reasons that you might find somewhat surprising. I'm sad for my colleagues because even though I disagree with the four women with whom I make decisions for this Town on a kind of a semiweekly basis, now, I respect them. They're good people. They're honest, able citizens of this town. But unfortunately, what you're doing tonight is showing that you don't really have great respect for representative democracy. And a cynical public is going to say these Public Hearings were farces because we came out, we attended. We said, don't go there with these resolutions. And here we go, going down the primrose trail with something the public of Enfield doesn't want. And what I fear is that my colleagues with whom I respect sitting with and deciding issues are basically writing their own defeat in the next election if they choose to run. They're saying, they're telling the voters, vote me out of office and vote somebody in. So I'm sorry for that. I will vote no on this resolution. I wish each of my colleagues would as well. Thank you. Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[00:33:34] ​Again, I think that's a bit of a mischaracterization. I am not telling the voters that I don't want to hear what they have to say. I'm saying please come to the polls and vote which way you would like this to go. In fact, if we had sixteen hundred people or more at the voting booth to tell us which way they would like this to go, even better. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:33:56] ​Stephanie, I'd say that if you run for Supervisor next year against whomever, you're going to have an uphill climb. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:34:06] ​Hopefully, the Residents will be able to hear beyond your mischaracterization of what I'm trying to say and hopefully they will hear me what I'm saying. Please come to the polls and vote and let us know as a Town how you would like this run, because I would like an open democracy. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:34:28] ​I would just like to state that the women on this board have over and over again been judged by sexist and misogynist comments by Robert Lynch and Buddy Rollins repeatedly. And so I'd just like to assert that I think I have the mind to vote and and make a decision. And even if I were running again, the choices that I make as a Town supervisor or a Councilperson are what I think are in the best interest of the residents. And I have voted on many controversial things that might have written my death knoll for my future elections and. You know that I don't take that into consideration. I never run for office to win again. I'm never, I'm never in office and making decisions to win the next election. I'm in office to serve while I'm in office. That's why I'm here. And if people didn't like what I was going to do or what I did do, then they can vote me out. That's fine. I you know, I can invest myself. And if people don't like it, that's that's what this is about. That's what it's about. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:35:45] ​You believe the. I don't believe this board's majority is listening to the people. I'll leave it there. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:35:53] ​That's the point of this, though, is to put it as a referendum so that we can listen to the people. I don't know why you're trying to stop a vote from the residents. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:36:04] ​I put it my public comment. You can go back and listen to what I said. The voters exact revenge. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:36:13] ​OK. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:36:16] ​You want exact revenge for me to tell them that they can have a vote? And I don't really know what to say. I'm just trying to say, please come to the vote, come to the polls and vote on this. So I think that that's an attempt to mischaracterize what I'm trying to say here. But I guess the residents will have to decide on that, because I really am just saying, please come to the polls and tell us how you would like this to go one way or another. I'm not trying to weigh in as to whether or not it should be appointed or elected, which you continually mischaracterize what I'm trying to say here as trying to take a vote away or to try to push one way or another, I'm not doing that. I'm saying please come to the polls and let us know how you would like it to be done. Yes, we've heard a lot through this Public Hearing tonight, but we haven't heard from the three thousand residents of Enfield. And we'll have a far more broader, you know, broader base coming to that voting poll to tell us how they would like it to be represented. So please don't mischaracterize what I'm saying anymore. Is taking a vote away or rule it not listening to the residents because I'm absolutely listening to the residents. I'm saying, please tell me more. Come to the polls. Tell us how you would like this stuff. Done. Please stop mischaracterizing me that way. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:37:27] ​Sir, any further board discussion? OK. Please, Call the vote. Ellen. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:37:49] ​Councilperson Mahaffey,. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:37:51] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:37:52] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:37:54] ​No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:37:55] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:37:58] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:37:59] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:38:01] ​Aye. Thank you. And now I with the adoption of these. I need to move the ballot proposition. First, we need to title the laws, so the Clerk we did first, so that would be local law number one. And we have a resolution number. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:38:34] ​I think, as posted, it was number two on the Website. I believe that was number two as posted. And I'll go grab the resolution number. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:38:46] ​So the ballot proposition. That's what was numbered. But we can change those in our in our in the motion. So we adopted the local law for Clerk first to move to an action referendum. So that would be local law number one. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:41] ​So I hadn't twenty I have 2020-52 for appointments to the Water Protection Committee. Was that the last resolution? It feels like it wasn't. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:39:51] ​52? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:39:53] ​Twenty twenty fifty two would be the last resolution number that I have. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:39:57] ​I don't think we've had anywhere near that number of resolutions do oh. oh because of the first meeting? Sure. I don't know. That's. What was the last resolution? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:12] ​Appointments to the Water Resource Protection Committee. I'm just going for right now. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:40:30] ​I don't have that information. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:40:33] ​OK, great. Yeah, so I just on. And we believe it's fifty three. This would be 53. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:41:05] ​OK. So I would change. So I will move the ballot proposition for the Clerk as ballot proposition number one. And the ballot abstract as prepared number one for the Clerk position. Is there a Second on that motion? To put this on the ballot. Is there any further discussion? OK. Could you please call the vote. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:42:21] ​Councilperson Mehaffey Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:42:23] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:42:24] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:42:25] ​No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:42:27] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:42:28] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:42:29] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:42:31] ​Aye. And I will move the ballot proposition for the Highway Superintendent position about proposition number two and the ballot abstract number two. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:42:49] ​Second. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:42:56] ​There any further discussion? Please call the vote. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:43:04] ​Councilperson Mehaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:43:05] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:43:06] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:43:08] ​No. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:43:09] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:43:11] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:43:12] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:43:12] ​Aye. Thank you. OK, so the solar project, it. Not sure how the board wants to move forward about with it, but I did want to add a couple of comments in reading the bid for the request for bids. First one is it is it states on the second page, the top of the page under proposal, submitted deadline and process. It is the responsibility of each bidder before submitting a bid to examine thoroughly the NYSERDA and related requirements and documents and to visit the site to become familiar with and satisfy bidder as to the general, local and site conditions that may affect cost, progress, performance or furnishing of the work and services. It is the responsibility of each bidder. It does not say it is a requirement. In the next paragraph, it says, On request, the Town will provide each bidder access to the site to conduct such examinations, investigations, exploration's tests and studies and on and on. Under site visits, it says site visits are available with prior notice and on the following scheduled times. And it offers scheduled times. If you are planning to make a site visit during these times is how the next statement begins. On the third page, it says. In submitting a bid, the bidder automatically warrants and represents that, and the second one is the bitter has familiarized itself with the nature and extent of the project and work site, its locality and all local conditions and laws and regulations that in any manner make affect, cost, progress, performance or furnishing of the work and services. The next note is bidder, has obtained and carefully studied or assumes responsibility for obtaining, carefully studying all such examinations, investigations, explorations, tests and studies which pertain to the site or otherwise may affect the cost, progress, performance or furnishing of the work and services as biddar considers necessary for verification. As bidder. The bidder considers necessary for verification of the bid price under general and reserved rights of the Town. The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids or proposals received in response to this RFP and to withdraw the RFP at any time at the agency's sole discretion and including from mere and including from mere convenience. Under evaluation of criteria, an abstract of the amounts of the base bids and options will be made available to all bidders after the opening of the bids. The next paragraph is in evaluating the bids. The Town will consider the qualifications of bidders bid compliance and the price submitted with or without any one or more selected project options. The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids, including without limitation, the rights to reject any or all nonconforming, nonresponsive or conditional bids. And further, including the rights to disregard any nonmaterial, nonconformity or error. The Town reserves the right to waive all infirmities, not involving price time or changes in the project in the project. So with those pointed out, the board should make a decision about. Is the Did we require a site visit with the board? Based on that language is the first question I had. The second question was whether or not a late entry. Is something that is acceptable. So you may come down on the different side. For either one of those things, depending on what you think that criteria is or how important a criteria is. So I just want to point out, those are the things that spoke to me in this with regard to those issues that were raised primarily. Bob? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:47:55] ​Yes, Stephanie is the point person on this, and she talked to someone from the Association of Towns, so maybe you can update us, Stephanie, on what you learned from talking with their legal staff. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:48:10] ​Yeah, you know, I talk to them. I talked to one person there. I don't feel like she may have adequately looked over the solar RFP before giving an answer. It was kind of just a generalized answer. You know, you can't take things after the deadline. And I don't really feel like she had examined our solar RFP when she answered those. It was kind of just generic. You know, the rules of AOT. So I don't think she really scanned our RFP for language in it that could exempt us from it, required a site visit or or having a specific deadline, because there is language in there stating that, you know, the board has some leeway with CoVid as far as the deadline and as far as the site visit, you know, as Beth went over. There wasn't a requirement. It was requested. So I'm not sure how we want to move forward with that. They said that we could get clarification from our Town attorney if we wanted to go further with that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:49:16] ​I actually suggested that and I would personally prefer that since. Guy is the one that made the recommendations about the additions of language to this solar RFP. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:49:29] ​And the question in my mind also is, since Rebecca Carpenter's bid was tendered late. There could be legal problems with that. That leaves us with just one bidder. And would it be wiser for us to reject both bids and go back, rebid it on a fairly short timetable? Make sure that we get the site visits and also hopefully get both of those bidders to submit timely filings. So we've got some comparison shopping to do. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:50:03] ​So I'm not going to make a decision here. I think that I'm actually going to abstain from this because I think that we've hashed this over enough. But what I will say is, number one, I don't think the board should move forward without Guys' conversation. Have him look it over. Understand what the language was that he asked us to add or suggested that we add. And for the very reasons we're talking about, to have the board have some more flexibility with the bids. You're mentioning a potential legal issue with regard to not having not allowing a late bid in. I would suggest that you would probably have a big legal issue if you did from the winning bid. So we had two responses. Actually, we had three. One was completely out of the price range. The first time this went around and the same two were bidders. I don't think you're going to get any more bidders. I don't think you're gonna be comparison shopping on a big scale. But again, I. I think that we should consult with Guy on it. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:51:19] ​Would you say if we don't if we have to reject Rebecca Carpenter's bid because it was tendered late? That leaves us down with just one choice. Maybe she's got the better offer. I don't know, because we were told not to open it. So I don't know if maybe if we rebid it and both bids were timely filed, we might have a better deal because perhaps Ms. Carpenter's got the better offer. I don't know. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:51:46] ​Mimi. That your reading of those points was extremely helpful and certainly in this lay person's view. It did give us the right to open these bids. I would like Guys' approval before doing that because I think he wrote this in a specific way to allow for these kinds of things. So if he says you can open these bids, I'd like to open it and move on. If he says I would not do it, then I'm going to probably heed his advice and rebid it. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:52:24] ​Mm hmm. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:27] ​So. You so I'll go ahead and send this to him and explain the situation. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:52:41] ​I think we're in agreement on that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:52:47] ​Thank you. I just wanted to be clear that there was a very specific language that made it more flexible and that we intentionally had that added so we wouldn't have this issue. Is there anything more on that? OK. The reopening plan I sent Rene Carver's estimate. To the Town Board. With regard to equipment as well as professional assistance to design and order it and install it and train for use. It's the end we need to speak with the judge. I'm not familiar on the history of the monitor that's there, but it's antiquated and it's not like fully HDMI. It's very challenging for our use. It would be better to have more up to date piece of equipment that is directly HDMI instead of working through the night. The TV connection that's there, the regular TV connection and converting it to HDMI. So that's why that the HDMI television is there to serve as a monitor. So the cost of the equipment could be potentially $2498 and the Professional Assistance Design Order install and training up to $1200. Based on the needs and desires, professional assistance can be modified to include any portion of the items listed. It may also be possible to utilize the bookkeeper's old desktop, but I'm not sure if it's up to date enough to to manage this, so he would have to test that out first. That would eliminate the $250 computer cost. He's actually very excited that Enfield is taking access so seriously and that we would like to see these meetings continue to be streamed for the most public access. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:55:32] ​I'm in support of this. I think it's great to offer more access, especially for people that are, you know, to have to stay home because of kids or care for other people or are unable to make it for him. Any cap or any sort of reason, fab roads. Transportation. Yeah, there's a lot of reasons that people can't always make it to the to the Town Board and it's great to have access. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:55:59] ​Would there be any advantage to getting a Second to be on this, or is this pretty much reasonable? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:56:08] ​I think that the prices are reasonable. I actually especially the B an H vote... Computer for myself earlier this year, ....and video camera equipment. And they are offer a really terrific price. So for what he is asking for the camera that is recommending here, it is specifically for video conferencing. So. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:56:41] ​And I don't know, Mr. Carver, I presume he's a reliable, responsible individual. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:56:47] ​I've actually known Rene since I was a teenager. I think he's from Trumansburg. His family is well known in the area. And again, he offered his services through CoVid to municipalities and businesses and not for profit organizations free of charge. That was all he had done during CoVid. So he is of fine, upstanding character. If anyone else would like to find someone else to get an estimate from. I'm happy to entertain that idea. That would be fine with me. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:57:37] ​Now, do we need a motion on this to go ahead and accept this? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:57:42] ​Sure. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:57:44] ​Where's it coming from in the budget. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:57:47] ​It Would come from the 1620.4 Point for the building line. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:57:54] ​Well, I think it's amazing the number of people that have been able to participate, even sometimes for short periods of time, they come in and out of the meeting as their life allows it. I you know, I think it's a wonderful thing and it just gives people more options. So I'm in favor of open, open access and having more people have the ability to keep tabs on what their local government is doing. I think this is a great thing. So I'm all in favor of it at a small price to pay. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:58:31] ​Second. Did you make the motion Bob? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:58:33] ​I can. Yes, I got it. I will move that we accept. Mr. Carver's proposal here for installation of a video conferencing facility at the Enfield community building. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:58:56] ​I'll Second that. I will say I I did not know Rene on a personal level. He was an employee who was an employee for the organization that my mother worked at. And she was his boss. So she trusted and respected him as well. All right. Any further discussion? All right, please. Call the vote on that motion. Ellen. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:59:32] ​Councilperson Mehaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[00:59:34] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:59:35] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[00:59:37] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:59:38] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[00:59:40] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[00:59:40] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[00:59:42] ​Aye. Thank you. The electronic payment policy. Has anyone had an opportunity to look at that policy or do you want that on the August agenda? I was thinking that we were hoping to have that policy adopted. The sooner the better to help facilitate electronic payments. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:00:08] ​I'd like to hear Ellen's opinion as to how immediate this is. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:00:14] ​You know. I don't think it's like the most urgent thing. We're also working there. My deputy and I took a course with the state comptroller on internal cash control procedures. So to go along with the electronic payment policy, we'll be doing some updated internal cash control procedures. Also, credit control procedures, documentation procedures. We're updating those right now. So I think I'd be comfortable waiting till August where we could have those as a pair. The electronic payment procedures. And then what happens inside the clerk's office? And then also, I do what I, I do recommend purchasing the swiper as opposed to having the Clerk key in payments. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:01:02] ​I agree. And I did reach out to Williamson then on that. There are no per transaction costs to the Town. This swiper is about a hundred and fifty dollars. It's purchased by the company that Williamson works with. So they just referred us to them. So I have that information. But there is no cost to the Town in per transaction fees. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:01:25] ​And so I'll just bring this up now, I was going to bring it up as part of the Town Clerks discussion. But my dream for this office is that the computer that is on the countertop, I'm sure. Are you all familiar? There are three computers in this office. There's one on the countertop. I would really like to be able to access Williamson on that computer because it would be super elegant if when somebody purchases a dog license with cash or a check, if we could just input it right there as opposed to having to go to a separate computer. I think that would streamline operations and lead to less backlog. know, if we could just do it as one transaction. Right, while we're standing there at the counter with the customer. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:02:10] ​So you should ask them what the cost is for that and let the board know, because it will be accessible to another device. So they may charge for that. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:02:21] ​Oh, yeah. I think if all the computers are networked, we can have it just there's no Williamson cost. Right. So we've all the computers are networked. We essentially can access it on the other computers without it being on all the computers, if that makes sense. Because if it's on more than one computer, then there's a reconciling that has to happen. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:02:41] ​Yeah. Since we're on the cloud for the book keeping and we're only able to have two devices and then the additional of the Town Clerk, so each of those devices costs something more. So you'd need to get clarification on that. And then just let the board know. So. OK, so I'll move that to the August meeting. And Stephanie had asked about the hiring freeze. What did you want to say about that? Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:03:17] ​Well, I'd never really discussed how we were going to move forward now that there's been a hire during a hiring freeze. And I think it would have been helpful for us to know that the person that was hired was not just going to be a flag person because that was how it was originally presented, which is why we thought we could go through the youth program. But, you know, recently Buddy made it clear that he wants to use this person to do more heavy equipment and things like that. And so I do think that he's going to need someone beyond the youth program. So I do think that we need to OK this position that he has and that he is. He's taken on the seasonal hire. And so we though we haven't officially lifted the hiring freeze. I do think we need to move forward with letting him get this person in and move forward with getting projects done in the Town because we may have another shutdown coming up in the fall. You know, that's something that has been discussed, as you know, using this time that we have most efficiently. And since it's clear he cannot use a youth program or you go through the youth program for the seasonal hire as they are restricted in what they can do. And it's clear that he does want to use them for more than just a flag person and they want him to use them for using heavy, heavy equipment. I think that we should go ahead and OK, this seasonal hire as it is. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:04:46] ​So Buddy doesn't think that you have to OK, anything anyway, so we don't have to make any motion. I guess so. So do you want to move forward with that? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:05:00] ​I make the motion it just because we do have a budget freeze and it would make it crystal clear to Buddy that he's authorized to hire this position. We might not be legally required. But no harm in doing it anyway. So I'd move it. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:05:17] ​What are you moving? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:05:18] ​I would move that we exempt from the budget freeze the Highway Superintendent retention of part time summer labor. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:05:31] ​Second. Is there any further discussion? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:05:36] ​More than one. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:05:38] ​More than one. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:05:40] ​Person? Councilperson Stephanie Redmond ​[01:05:40] ​No, it's just the one that he's hired. We had originally asked him to go to the youth program and he went ahead, hired someone anyway. So. So I just plan to make it clear that we're gonna go ahead and finance that. Because originally we've got a hiring freeze and there was some discussion about not financing that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:06] ​OK. There's no more discussion. Call the vote on the motion. Ellen, please. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:06:10] ​Yeah. So I just have a quick question. Is this amending the original resolution? Or is it just the independent standalone motion? Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:19] ​This is a motion to exempt the summer part time position for highway from the hiring freeze. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:06:28] ​OK. Councilperson Mahaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:06:30] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:06:31] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:06:33] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:06:33] ​Councilperson Redmond. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:06:34] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:06:35] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:06:38] ​Aye. OK, so the Town Clerk position review. This is on the agenda because the Town Clerk has suggested all sorts of issues with the job of Town Clerk. Is this an issue that the Town Board wants to take up this evening? Do you want it on the August agenda? If there are any requested changes by the board, then those should be addressed in the budget. If the Town Board so wishes so, I would need that information prior to September. If they made a decision at the August meeting, that would be helpful. So waiting until the August meeting is fine, but it's here for you two to discuss. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:07:38] ​We've had a long meeting. We've made some important decisions tonight. And I know Mimi doesn't like late meetings. I'd be wanting to put this off until August. If it's all right with others. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:07:53] ​That'd be okay with me. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:07:59] ​With that Mimi. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:08:01] ​Yeah. So I would prefer. To put it off. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:07] ​OK,. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:08:08] ​I'm I'm sorry. I just have. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:13] ​What? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:08:15] ​So I'd like to be recognized just briefly on this topic. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:19] ​The board has decided that we're going to move it to the August meeting. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:08:24] ​So I have a concern that I feel is more urgent than that. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:08:29] ​Does the board want to discuss this this evening? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:08:32] ​I don't need the whole discussion. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:08:36] ​If Ellen thinks it's crucial that we discuss it right now, we can spend a few minutes on it. I just don't want to delay and belabor it for another hour. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:08:48] ​That would be fine with me. If you have something brief, it is getting late. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:08:53] ​So now that this initiative is on the ballot, I would like the board to consider meeting with themselves and offering the Clerks some protection from fault finding, which is a serious, serious issue in the workplace. And I feel like it is happening to the Clerk and the office of the Clerk. And so I want to be able to know that between now and November, I can go in every day, do my very best and not be subjected to excessive fault finding. And I would like the board to step up and offer some protection from that. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:09:30] ​I personally haven't seen any excessive fault finding. I've just seen and, you know, have you done certain things? Certain things need to be done. You know, just basically asking you to do, you know, have you done parts of your job? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:09:42] ​Oh, I don't, actually. Stephanie, you didn't you didn't see me get accused of opening an envelope that was, in fact, sealed. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:09:48] ​I heard. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:09:49] ​And you didn't see that? [01:09:51] ​I heard a question about it and that understanding that she doesn't want you know, people don't want their mail opened. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:09:58] ​So. So I don't think so. In many towns, the Town Clerk does open mail for the Town. I do not. It's not never been my policy, but it isn't some kind of felony. OK, first of all. Second of all, have you ever heard the term micro aggressions? Because I know. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:10:15] ​Is this going to be a long discussion? Because the. Not already. I'm not going to talk about this. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:10:20] ​I'm going to define the term micro aggressions for the board. Because when the supervisor writes me an email referring to why are the Clerks' opening all the mail? First of all, now I have to take pictures of every single piece of mail I come in here because I'm not. There is no question that I'm opening all the mail. That's ridiculous. So that's fault finding that's what fault Finding is Stephanie. And I'm making an ethics complaint and you have to deal with it as a board member, even if you are in some relationship with the supervisor. You have to deal with an ethics complaint. You have to deal with an ethics complaint as a board member. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:11:00] ​Yes. And I have watched what's been going on with the Town, Clerk and the board. And I don't find a fault in how the supervisor is asking you to finish up parts of your job. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:11:11] ​And I don't find fault in her questioning whether or not you've opened a piece of mail and all you had to say was, no, I didn't open that mail. It's very simple and doesn't need to be a huge crisis situation. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:11:21] ​Every time I try to step up and do something good, the supervisor finds a way to insult or degrade me. And I need the board to take that seriously. I'm making a serious complaint before the Town Board and you need to take it seriously. I have documentation. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:38] ​OK, everyone has documentation. I have screenshots of every time you've trashed me all over the Internet. So, I mean, what are we going to do? Hopefully by you know, we're doing Mimi did a comment as a board member. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:11:53] ​Yeah, I'd like to end this discussion. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:56] ​Thank you. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:11:56] ​I agree. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:11:59] ​OK. So the ECC has requested permission to have a drive in movie night using the end of the building on the town hall office side. They have some question about licensing. In my view, that would be totally up to them as an organization to decide if they're going to do that or not. And but what they're looking for. I just didn't feel comfortable just saying go ahead and use this base for that, especially during CoVid. So does anyone have a problem with them using that side of the building for a drive in movie night? Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:12:47] ​I presume they're going to be CoVid compliant. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:12:52] ​Is that the expectation that the board has? Then you should make that expectation... Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:13:01] ​I'd actually like them to get guidance from the Tompkins County Health Department on how to do that safely. There was a graduation at a drive in that there was an outbreak at. So I wouldn't want to be held responsible, even if not legally responsible. I don't want it on my conscience that I didn't do due diligence on this and keep the safety. But I applaud the idea. And I think it's I think the youth do need more to do. And it could be a great thing. So I'm not opposed to it. I just would want them to get expert advice from the Tompkins County Health Department on how to do it safely. What do they do about bathrooms? What are they don't you know, there's all those questions in my mind. Are they going to have concessions? If so, how are they going to monitor that? So. But I am not trying to micromanage it, but I would like them to have all of the information that they need to do it safely. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:14:03] ​Becky Sims is here and she has her hand up. So she works at the health department. So I'm going to unmute, Becky. Becky, did you have a comment? Becky Sims ​[01:14:15] ​Hey. Oh, sorry. Yeah, I just wanted to mention. Sounds like Mimi is on the right track. But yeah, they should be able to get guidance from environmental health regarding how to have us safe gathering, if that's what they decide to do. I know recently there was a drive in movie situation in Ithaca. That sounds you know, they were working with the department regarding safety and guidance. So just contact our environmental health division and they'll help you out. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:14:46] ​All right. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:14:50] ​And they may not want to do it. I'm fairly soon I'd be willing to move that we authorize the Enfield Community Council to use the side of the town hall building for its drive-in movie pending approval and consent by the Tompkins County Health Department. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:15:13] ​I'll Second that. Is there any more discussion? OK. Please, Call the vote. On that motion. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:15:30] ​Councilperson Mehaffey. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:15:31] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:15:33] ​Councilperson Lynch. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:15:34] ​Aye. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:15:36] ​Councilperson Redmond Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:15:36] ​Aye Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:15:38] ​Supervisor McGee. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:15:40] ​Aye. Thank you. And after that, the Clarity Connect. They have reached out. They're doing a build out in the town of NewField with fiber high speed. So the area in Enfield that they're going to be working in and building out in it will include areas of Connecticut Hill, Rumsey Hill, Griffin Road, Black Oak and Douglas Road. So this is what they have funding for. This is what they're moving forward on. And he's provided a map of it, the areas. But he did indicate that because it's hard for the mapping to be accurate as far as where. Because I asked him, don't you have maps that show where high speed is available, where it's not? And he said that oftentimes providers will overshoot the area just because it makes it look like they have a larger area. So as far as reporting. So they're often not accurate maps. So he has said that if they know what the unserved areas with high speed Internet are Enfield that potentially future funding or build out could be utilized for something like that. Of course, no guarantees, but wanting to know what the unserved areas for high speed Internet and field are. So I thought if we put a notice out on the Town Website asking that question specifically for people to reach out if they have no access to high speed Internet where they live in the town of Enfield, to please let us know their addresses so we can get a better sense of that. To survey that. Anybody have an issue with that? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:17:38] ​I think it's terrific. So the right direction, more access. I would only Clarity have access to that information. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:17:52] ​So, I mean, I don't know, I mean, anybody you would ask for it, I guess I've already reached out to other fiber providers in the area to get a sense of what they're build out plans are. So my hope is that they would be a part of the conversation in the future, especially because we have a cable franchise agreement coming up in the next year or so to consider. So entering as many possibilities as you know as we can in that conversation, I think would be important. So things change all the time. Well, I have fiber at my house now. I'm in the town of Enfield and it's provided through Ontario tell and they provide a lot of service in the town of Enfield quite a ways in. So. Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:18:46] ​So my my concern that if we're going to put it on the Website, I would like other companies to have access to that information, because if we're already with Clarity, they might not they might be reluctant to report us, even though my Internet is spotty and many of the year it's nonexistent when the leaves go on the tree, whenever there's a storm, if it rains tonight, I would be on here. So I'm nervous having only one company have access to that information. So I'd like to know that that gets shared. So. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:19:20] ​So I think that just generally having the addresses and mapping a general area where there is no service, this could be useful without violating any privacy or anything of residents putting it out. So. So basically, I can just put a note out just saying we're taking a general survey asking where people to people to respond if they do not have access to high speed Internet where they're located. That's right? Councilperson Mimi Mehaffey ​[01:19:55] ​Right. Yes. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:20:04] ​And Ellen had an announcement about rabies clinics. Ellen, did you have information about rabies clinics? Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:20:23] ​I'm just starting my video. Thank you. There will be an rabies clinic on August 15th. Residents need to register by July 31st. It is a drive through clinic. You can put as many animals as you can fit in a car and they will vaccinate ferrets as well as cats. Birds do need to be vaccinated every year by law, whereas dogs, it's only every three years after the first year or so, as many animals as you can fit in a vehicle. But you do need to preregister it will be at the TCAT on Willow Ave the TCAT bus. So it's for the whole county. And right now they are not putting out on their public website or Facebook pages. It's all going through the Town Clerks. So when I issued the dog licenses this month, we will also be including a letter that was actually written by my youth intern and she did a fantastic job. So we're going to put a little letter in for all of the residents that do not have rabies. I think the Town of Groton had 63 animals that were missing rabies because of the county clinics being postponed due to CoVid. So this is very exciting development that they've gotten one on the books. And I'm well, I'm not able to publicize it as widely as I want to. I invite anybody, you know, on this call to get in touch. The phone number is 607-274-6688. And that will get you registered for the clinic. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:05] ​Six, eight, eight,. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:22:07] ​6688, eight. So 607-274-6688 . And that is Cynthia Mosher is the person coordinating that clinic for the health department. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:19] ​OK. Thank you, Ellen. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:22:22] ​I'm not sure you're correct regarding cat inoculations, I was always led to believe the cat needs an inoculation the first year and then that only lasts for one year and then they can get a three year inoculation unless something's changed. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:22:43] ​That's the case with dogs. I don't know if that's the same with the cat. Personally,. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:22:48] ​I don't want to scare people. We had to check with our vets if they have a question about it. Town Clerk Ellen Woods ​[01:22:52] ​No, I'm sorry, Bob. Just to clarify, was it I was discussing ferrets. They need to be immunized every year. Yeah. Cats. It's always with you know, I would always defer to the vet, but it's dogs. Is three year inoculations available to cats to ferrets every year. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:23:10] ​Thank you. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:23:15] ​So anything further by the board? All right. Thank you. I'll make a motion to adjourn. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:23:24] ​Thank you,. Councilperon Stephanie Redmond ​[01:23:26] ​I'll Second Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:23:29] ​Good night. Councilperson Robert Lynch ​[01:23:30] ​Give Virginia my regards. Supervisor Beth McGee ​[01:23:33] ​Will do. Thanks, Bob.