Thumbnail for 11/24/25 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

Bylaw Updates, Grant Applications, and Staffing Priorities

Original title: 11/24/25 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

These meeting notes are AI-generated and unofficial. They are provided for convenience and are not official Town records or approved municipal minutes. Verify all details using the source video and official Town documents.

Meeting details

Date

November 24, 2025

Duration

20m

Decisions

2 recorded

Action Items

7 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board convened to discuss a range of municipal matters, including progress on several bylaw updates for Accessory Dwelling Units, Associate Planning Board Members, and Farm Animals, with a target for a special town meeting in February. Preparations for the FY26 Community Development Block Grant application cycle were initiated, focusing on Gilbertville revitalization and addressing challenges in income data collection. The Board approved the appointment of two Library Assistants to address staffing needs, particularly in light of an anticipated medical leave for the Director. Administrative reports covered updates on the Townhouse Revitalization Grant, financial certifications, ongoing policy work, and various meetings. Significant concerns were raised regarding critical staffing shortages in the Sewer and Highway Departments and the difficulty in attracting qualified applicants. The meeting concluded with holiday wishes and announcements for upcoming community drives.

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Discussion Highlights

Active work is underway on bylaw updates for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Associate Planning Board Members, and Farm Animals, with a goal to draft and prepare them for a special town meeting, ideally in February.
Town Counsel consultation on bylaw changes is advised, particularly for areas with recent legislation like solar and ADUs, to ensure compliance during the implementation phase.
Preparation for the FY26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application cycle is in progress, with a focus on identifying priority projects for Gilbertville revitalization, including potential use of funds for acquiring and preparing sites.
Past CDBG qualification for Gilbertville faced issues due to difficulty in gathering income data via door-to-door surveys, as residents were reluctant to participate.
The appointment of two Library Assistants was discussed due to a resignation and the anticipated 6-8 week medical leave of the Library Director, ensuring adequate staffing.
Discussion regarding Schoolhouse #6 was tabled until the first meeting in December due to the absence of the requesting party.
The Page Mixer Trust item will remain on the agenda for the next meeting, as the statute of limitations has expired for the Regulus Hill Street School building.
The Town Administrator reported that three bids for the Townhouse Revitalization Grant exceeded the budgeted amount, prompting exploration of options with OIG.
The town's tax rate and free cash have been certified by the Department of Local Services (DLS).
Ongoing work is being conducted to standardize financial policies and procedures.
Chief Landine was recognized for positive changes in department morale, positive feedback from other departments, securing a $30,000 grant for a cruiser, and managing IT needs.
Concerns were raised about critical staffing shortages in the Sewer Department, which is down one fully certified position, and the difficulty in finding qualified applicants for both Highway and Wastewater positions despite widespread advertising.

Transcript (3,991 words)

Lightly cleaned for readability. Each timestamp opens the video at that point.

00:00:01
Our hope our hope for schedule basically there's several more we're working on at least maybe more than that but there's three for sure being the ADUs and the associate planning board member and um farm
00:00:20
Animals all of which um need to be created or updated >> removal >> we may get to that we might get to removal too that's a bigger buy anything. Anyway, we Yeah, we're going to in short, we're doing what we can and and if we can be on time, what we're
00:00:39
Hoping to do is um finish them up in draft form this calendar year um give them to the select board to um to look at and we will have a hearing on each of them and we'll then incorporate what
00:00:58
Comes out of the hearing. and then come back with a warrant um for the select board to send to legal and all all hoping that we could have perhaps a special town meeting in well at this point I would hope it could be in February um 4 months ahead of the annual
00:01:16
Town meeting which can be we like to get them in place as soon as possible um so that's our timetable and I mentioned it also so that the board will if there's other ings that the board or anybody else in town that can sponsor wants to sponsor the bylaw change, they
00:01:36
Can they can take advantage of that schedule, too. And you could, for example, I think you'd mentioned occupancy tax or whatever else you might have together to present um for a hearing, perhaps a joint hearing, no, and then uh in in the warrant for the
00:01:54
Same special town meeting. that might be a good way to go about it if you're working on your calendar.

[00:00:01] um our hope our hope for schedule [00:00:03] basically there's several more we're [00:00:06] working on at least maybe more than that [00:00:09] but there's three for sure being the [00:00:12] ADUs [00:00:13] and the associate [00:00:16] planning board member and um farm [00:00:20] animals all of which um need to be [00:00:22] created or updated [00:00:25] >> removal [00:00:26] >> we may get to that we might get to [00:00:28] removal too that's a bigger buy [00:00:30] anything. Anyway, we Yeah, we're going [00:00:32] to in short, we're doing what we can and [00:00:35] and if we can be on time, what we're [00:00:39] hoping to do is um finish them up in [00:00:43] draft form this calendar year um give [00:00:47] them to the select board to um to look [00:00:51] at and we will have a hearing on each of [00:00:55] them and we'll then incorporate what [00:00:58] comes out of the hearing. and then come [00:01:00] back with a warrant um for the select [00:01:03] board to send to legal and all all [00:01:06] hoping that we could have perhaps a [00:01:08] special town meeting in well at this [00:01:11] point I would hope it could be in [00:01:13] February um 4 months ahead of the annual [00:01:16] town meeting which can be [00:01:19] we like to get them in place as soon as [00:01:20] possible um so that's our timetable and [00:01:24] I mentioned it also so that the board [00:01:26] will [00:01:27] um if there's other ings that the board [00:01:29] or anybody else in town that can sponsor [00:01:32] wants to sponsor the bylaw change, they [00:01:36] can they can take advantage of that [00:01:38] schedule, too. And you could, for [00:01:40] example, I think you'd mentioned [00:01:42] occupancy tax or whatever else you might [00:01:44] have together to present um for a [00:01:48] hearing, perhaps a joint hearing, no, [00:01:50] and then uh in in the warrant for the [00:01:54] same special town meeting. that might be [00:01:56] a good way to go about it if you're [00:01:57] working on your calendar. [00:01:59] >> Okay. [00:02:00] >> Um so that that was the first thing I [00:02:02] had one other if I may. Um [00:02:04] >> questions. [00:02:05] >> Yeah. Quick question on on you mentioned [00:02:07] the bylaws. Did you run anything by town [00:02:09] council cuz there was a few in that in [00:02:13] that report the AG's finding on the [00:02:15] bylaws that you should have you should [00:02:17] speak to town council about. [00:02:19] >> Oh yeah. I've seen that in uh in every [00:02:23] every one of the [00:02:25] >> I'm just wondering if you have [00:02:26] >> every one of the ones the AG puts back [00:02:28] to any town where they basically say [00:02:29] this is okay this okay no no no no [00:02:31] problem or there's no basis to deny that [00:02:34] and but they will always caution [00:02:36] particularly around things like solar [00:02:37] and ADUs and others where recent [00:02:39] legislations come in they will [00:02:42] >> caution the town to [00:02:45] make sure they don't go into what they [00:02:48] would consider of uh unreasonable [00:02:52] enforcement or overregulation or [00:02:54] something. So they they do almost as a [00:02:56] boilerplate say talk to county council [00:02:59] when you're actually implementing any of [00:03:01] these changes that which would happen [00:03:03] during the not in the bylaw writing [00:03:06] process but in the implementation of it [00:03:07] when there was an actual application and [00:03:09] the board was deciding whether a permit [00:03:12] was to be granted or not or what [00:03:14] conditions etc. [00:03:16] >> Thank you. Yeah, that's that's a [00:03:18] consideration. Uh there was also some [00:03:20] mention in the review about again about [00:03:22] accessory dwelling units and so forth, [00:03:24] which I don't know why they they keep [00:03:27] talking about we took it out. That's one [00:03:29] of the ones we're going to be doing [00:03:30] next. So, we're well aware of what what [00:03:34] has to be and what can be in in that [00:03:36] bylaw. And you'll see that when we when [00:03:39] we finish it, which should be pretty [00:03:40] soon. [00:03:40] >> Okay. Thank you. [00:03:42] >> The other thing, if I may, had has to do [00:03:44] with with grants. Um [00:03:47] So, we we see different grants come up. [00:03:50] I've talked about this before. And then [00:03:51] some of them go by and some of them get [00:03:53] get applied for and some of them get [00:03:55] awarded and all that's good. Um the [00:03:58] biggest one that CDBG, the community [00:04:01] development block grant, I was reading [00:04:03] up on more about that and the that's the [00:04:06] biggest one I think at the top for us [00:04:09] would be $850,000 that we might be able [00:04:12] to get. Correct. Uh last year we got [00:04:15] 950. [00:04:16] >> I think they lowered it the maximum for [00:04:18] for what do they call it maybe for the [00:04:21] one town single [00:04:23] >> grant. I mean you it's a little more if [00:04:25] you're in two but then you got to split [00:04:26] in two towns. Anyway, my point is that [00:04:30] um the fiscal 26 applications are going [00:04:34] to be out they said in January and then [00:04:38] due in March. And what I'm hoping the [00:04:41] town is is on track to do is is look at [00:04:44] the um is have in mind in time to put on [00:04:50] the application what it is that we would [00:04:52] want to do and and involve the process [00:04:55] of having different [00:04:57] different interests in town and [00:04:59] different boards weigh in on what the [00:05:02] priorities really are. Capital planning [00:05:03] for example, planning board maybe in a [00:05:06] select board, I don't know. put rather [00:05:08] than just say let's just do [00:05:10] infrastructure and just see what streets [00:05:12] need it the most cuz there's a lot of a [00:05:15] lot of need and and I would get I'd go [00:05:18] so far as saying I would love to know [00:05:20] and I know I've raised this before the [00:05:22] buildings that are so decrepit the 2022 [00:05:26] 1820 22 and 24 I think in Gilbertville [00:05:29] been condemned no taxes coming in for [00:05:31] many years I believe no seizing of them [00:05:33] and I imagine that's because if we were [00:05:35] to take [00:05:36] >> [clears throat] [00:05:36] >> we we'd own the buildings for the [00:05:40] uncollected taxes and we would have to [00:05:42] we couldn't auction them in in that form [00:05:44] with the with the uh condemned buildings [00:05:47] on them and make any money. So [00:05:50] my question is [00:05:53] in an area that qualifies in general [00:05:55] like Gilbertville [00:05:57] >> Mhm. [00:05:59] is CDBG is that would they entertain as [00:06:01] part of that application to say let's um [00:06:06] let's fill the gap in dollar-wise and [00:06:09] allow the town to seize those properties [00:06:12] own them [00:06:14] raise them I mean take them down get [00:06:17] them in condition where they could be [00:06:18] auctioned off with some sort of [00:06:22] intentional uh something in mind for us [00:06:24] like maybe maybe it's some multi-use or [00:06:27] maybe it's the storefront with [00:06:28] apartments above or something where we [00:06:30] could invite a developer to actually [00:06:32] fill those spaces. Right now, we have to [00:06:35] pay a bunch of money to make that happen [00:06:36] because they're not worth what what they [00:06:38] are. They're not worth anything right [00:06:40] now as they stand. But that would be, I [00:06:42] think, a great use of the money if [00:06:45] that's where we have to go to get it [00:06:46] done. [00:06:46] >> Mr. Chair, do you want me to respond to [00:06:48] that? [00:06:49] >> Sure. [00:06:49] >> Um, so revitalization to is part of the [00:06:52] CDBG program. I'm sure you're familiar [00:06:55] with condemning and knocking down [00:06:56] buildings. That is not um but I do have [00:06:59] to check because I'm not sure if we're [00:07:00] eligible this season for another CDBG or [00:07:03] next year. Um so I do have to double [00:07:05] check with that. But revitalizing um [00:07:07] areas like Gilbertville, like Harwick [00:07:09] Center wouldn't qualify, but an area [00:07:10] like Gilbertville does qualify under the [00:07:12] CDBG program. But revitalizing, you [00:07:14] know, certain corridors, that definitely [00:07:16] is a qualifying event for that program. [00:07:19] >> That would be good. [00:07:19] >> Yeah. And now I'm not sure what I'm [00:07:21] going to say next completely, but I [00:07:23] believe that there was some problem in [00:07:25] getting [00:07:26] Gilbertville [00:07:28] qualified entirely or as much as could [00:07:30] happen or whatever because one [00:07:33] [clears throat] of the requirements is [00:07:34] that certain percentage of the people [00:07:36] have to have um income that is not 80% [00:07:40] of the area average if that's right. So, [00:07:42] in other words, lower income than [00:07:45] average and Gilbertville uh probably [00:07:47] real, but Gilbertville certainly [00:07:49] qualifies for that. But they had problem [00:07:51] getting it all okay because the way they [00:07:55] gather that information is to go [00:07:56] doortodoor. [00:07:58] >> They hire people to go door todoor and [00:07:59] ask what their income is. And [00:08:01] understandably, a lot of people didn't [00:08:03] want to answer the questions or answer [00:08:05] the door or something. So, I think they [00:08:07] were missing some of that. So when the [00:08:09] time comes, people in Culverville and [00:08:12] anywhere else, if this if they're [00:08:15] representing CMRC or whatever, uh tell [00:08:19] them the truth and help us get uh get [00:08:23] qualified for for the grants. [00:08:25] >> That's an obstacle. Well, when we get [00:08:27] closer to it, Bill, we can put it on the [00:08:28] select board agenda, have an open [00:08:30] discussion, so it'll be on YouTube so [00:08:32] that people in the town and Gilbertville [00:08:35] realize [00:08:36] people people will be contacting you and [00:08:39] this is to benefit Gilbertville or the [00:08:41] town hardware. So, we'll find out all [00:08:44] the information. We'll add it to a [00:08:46] future agenda. [00:08:47] >> Good. Thank you. [00:08:48] >> You're welcome. [00:08:50] Anyone else? [00:08:53] All right. [00:08:55] New business. Appointment of Patricia [00:08:58] Lai, her DM library assistant. [00:09:01] >> Mr. Chair, you'll see in your packet an [00:09:03] email from Jenna Garvey, the president [00:09:06] of the library board of trustees. We [00:09:08] interviewed five candidates for these [00:09:10] positions. Um, and two were selected. [00:09:13] Um, when you take a if you take a vote [00:09:16] tonight, uh, just note that it has to be [00:09:17] pending a Cy check. Neither of these [00:09:19] people have been cied yet. Um, but they [00:09:22] have their references checked out and [00:09:24] um, the interview panel is excited about [00:09:27] them and I don't know if uh, Jenna is [00:09:29] here if she wants to say anything. Um, [00:09:31] well, I'm here to answer questions. [00:09:33] Originally, we were looking to hire one [00:09:35] person and Justine helped us in [00:09:37] advertising that. And to my shock and [00:09:40] amazement, um, considering it was [00:09:42] part-time, low pay, no benefits, we had [00:09:45] a lot of great applicants. Yeah. um [00:09:48] people with their master's degree in [00:09:50] library science. Um one of the women on [00:09:52] here has her doctorate in education. [00:09:55] >> Um [00:09:56] >> so uh we were pretty excited and then as [00:09:59] it so happened we were looking for one [00:10:01] pdium and then our our [clears throat] [00:10:04] regular library assistant ended up [00:10:06] resigning and so we turned that one [00:10:09] position into two positions but it will [00:10:12] still come from the same line item. Um, [00:10:15] our director is anticipating being out [00:10:18] from anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks on [00:10:20] medical leave, which is what kind of [00:10:23] prompted us to get um, a Kurdian person, [00:10:26] so one person doesn't have to run the [00:10:28] entire department by themselves for that [00:10:30] amount of time. Um, and we just had a [00:10:33] great pool of applicants. So, when we [00:10:35] had two positions, we asked our top two [00:10:37] people and they both said yes. So, [00:10:41] >> all right. Thank you. I'll make a motion [00:10:43] to uh appoint Patricia Lai as the PDM [00:10:47] library assistant. [00:10:49] >> I'll second it. [00:10:51] >> All in favor? [00:10:52] >> I [00:10:54] >> Okay, I'll make the motion to appoint [00:10:58] Elizabeth as the library assistant. [00:11:02] >> I'll second the motion. [00:11:04] >> All in favor? [00:11:05] >> I I [00:11:07] >> Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] [00:11:11] Um [00:11:13] discussion on school house number six. [00:11:17] >> Um Chairman B asked for this to be on [00:11:20] the agenda um with to discuss with Miss [00:11:23] Siren. Um but I don't see anyone here. [00:11:29] >> I think we can table it and move on. [00:11:31] >> Okay. We'll table it tonight. And [00:11:33] >> which meeting would you like me to add [00:11:34] it to? Um, we'll reach out and check [00:11:37] with Liz, but probably [00:11:40] meeting in December. [00:11:41] >> That was what she wanted this on the [00:11:44] agenda and she's not here. So, [00:11:46] >> okay. So, we'll we'll table it to the [00:11:48] first meeting in December. [00:11:53] >> Thank you. Actually, I'm not sure I [00:11:55] should have asked this while Jenna was [00:11:57] still here, but maybe you could tell me. [00:11:59] I think I heard her say that the both of [00:12:01] the sellers would now be on one line [00:12:02] item. Um, And I'm wondering how that [00:12:06] works because both I think both [00:12:08] positions are uh well excuse me before [00:12:11] there were two positions that were town [00:12:14] employees both part-time I believe [00:12:17] >> and and then the predium was going to be [00:12:19] added [00:12:21] to to be just while while the director [00:12:25] was absent but now there's another so I [00:12:27] guess what I'm asking is how much of [00:12:29] this is coming from the library's own [00:12:32] endowment and how Much of it is coming [00:12:35] from the town. [00:12:36] >> Mr. Chair, you want me to answer that? [00:12:38] >> Sure. [00:12:38] >> All of it is coming from the salary [00:12:40] line. So, uh, yes, the catalyst for the [00:12:44] PDM position was the director going to [00:12:46] be out. And for safety reasons and other [00:12:47] reasons, we do not want just one person [00:12:49] at the library. But also, it's really [00:12:52] hard for either one of the two employees [00:12:54] to either take vacation or leave or [00:12:56] whatever. And because then we go back to [00:12:58] one. So, because it's just library [00:13:00] assistance, we can we are it's leg we're [00:13:02] legally allowed to um pay out of the [00:13:05] same line. So, there's no addition to [00:13:07] the budget. [00:13:08] >> Town budget line. [00:13:09] >> Yep. There's no additions to the budget. [00:13:11] Um it's just being paid for out of the [00:13:12] same place in the absence of a library [00:13:15] assistant or the director when she uh [00:13:17] goes on leave. [00:13:18] >> And when the director comes back, the [00:13:21] pdium has ended. Is that [00:13:22] >> uh it's still pdeium. Uh, for example, [00:13:24] like if again if someone needs to take a [00:13:26] vacation or a sick day or something, [00:13:27] then we'll have someone on call to come [00:13:29] in and fill in just so no one's there by [00:13:31] themselves. [00:13:33] >> And and one's a PDM and one is a $19 per [00:13:36] week position. So Elizabeth Fox is the [00:13:40] $19 per week. [00:13:42] >> Correct. [00:13:43] >> Right. Pretty much straight same [00:13:45] position Nancy Lamb. [00:13:48] >> Okay. [00:13:51] Moving on. um discussion and vote on [00:13:54] page mixer trust. [00:13:56] >> So the only update that I have on this [00:13:58] um more to come is the email that I sent [00:14:00] out about the statute of limitations has [00:14:02] expired. I sent that out today for the [00:14:05] um Reynolds Hill Street School Building. [00:14:06] So that is the only update tonight. [00:14:09] >> Okay. [00:14:10] So keep it on the agenda. Yep. [00:14:13] >> For our next I don't think we've been [00:14:15] taking any vote on it. Nope. [00:14:18] >> Okay. Sure commission abatement of 1921 [00:14:21] Gro Street Gilbertville. [00:14:22] >> Yep. So this is one multif family that [00:14:25] has been vacant for a long time. They [00:14:27] have submitted all their proper [00:14:28] paperwork, all their national grade [00:14:30] bills. Um so I have that for you uh both [00:14:32] of you to sign tonight. [00:14:34] >> Okay. [00:14:36] Motion. [00:14:38] >> Yeah. I'll make a motion to uh accept [00:14:40] the abatement for 19 to 21 G Street in [00:14:44] Gilbertville. I'll second it. All in [00:14:47] favor? [00:14:48] >> I [00:14:52] town administrator's report. Justine, [00:14:54] you're up. [00:14:55] >> So, we held a our second walkthrough for [00:14:57] the townhouse revitalization grant. Um, [00:15:00] and then today was actually the bid [00:15:01] opening for that project. We received [00:15:03] three bids. Um, all three were over the [00:15:07] budgeted amount. So, I'm actually going [00:15:08] to reach out to OIG tomorrow and see if [00:15:10] we I don't want to call it like [00:15:11] cherrypicking instead of rebidding if we [00:15:13] could just do part of the project [00:15:15] because all three of the bids came in [00:15:16] way over um the amount of the grant. Um [00:15:19] so, more on that to come. [00:15:22] Do has certified our tax rate and our [00:15:24] free cash has been certified. Uh we're [00:15:27] still working on, you know, ongoing on [00:15:29] standardizing our financial policies and [00:15:31] procedures. Um, we held our bi-weekly [00:15:33] financial management planning meeting [00:15:35] with the treasurer, accountant, and the [00:15:36] assessor. I had a meeting with Chairman [00:15:38] Wallheim and, um, members of CMRPC on [00:15:42] the MVP grant. [00:15:44] We're advertising for a wastewater [00:15:46] treatment plant operator, highway [00:15:47] equipment operator, um, and a van [00:15:49] driver. I attended the Massachusetts [00:15:52] Municipal Association Policy Committee [00:15:54] on Personnel and Labor Relations. I [00:15:56] serve on that board. Um, and I met with [00:16:00] the chair of the library board of [00:16:02] trustees. [00:16:04] Had our monthly [clears throat] [00:16:05] department head meeting today because [00:16:06] Thursday is a holiday. Liquor license [00:16:08] renewals, class 2 and class 3 auto [00:16:10] renewals are coming are slowly trickling [00:16:12] back in. So, your next meeting in [00:16:14] December uh will be the liquor license [00:16:16] renewals and then after that will be the [00:16:17] class 2 and the class 3 renewals. Okay. [00:16:20] Deadline for the liquor licenses is on [00:16:23] Wednesday and I did reach out to the six [00:16:26] outstanding and one of them has brought [00:16:28] theirs in and they all know they need to [00:16:29] get it in by Wednesday. [00:16:31] >> Okay. Um [00:16:35] I attended the Massachusetts Municipal [00:16:36] Managers Association fall conference on [00:16:38] strategic planning. I actually got the [00:16:41] documents from that conference today and [00:16:42] I I'm actually think I'm going to send [00:16:44] that PowerPoint presentation out to the [00:16:45] board because I think I think you would [00:16:47] find it interesting. Okay. Um, so I'm [00:16:49] going to do that. [00:16:49] >> All right. Thank you. [00:16:51] >> Um, attended the Quabin Watershed Zoom [00:16:54] meeting with Senator Cmerford's office. [00:16:56] I met with the chair and the Berry chair [00:16:58] and town administrator on some personnel [00:17:00] matters. [00:17:03] Um, recognition. I want to recognize [00:17:05] Chief Landine. Um, and the reason why I [00:17:07] want to do that is because I've noticed [00:17:09] a change in morale in that department. [00:17:12] I've also had other um officers from [00:17:14] other departments comment to me about [00:17:17] the morale in our department. Um so I'm [00:17:20] really really happy with all the [00:17:22] positive feedback that we're getting and [00:17:25] sorry [00:17:29] and Chief Landine just secured a $30,000 [00:17:31] grant for a cruiser. He still has time [00:17:33] to do our IT stuff that we need and I [00:17:36] just think it's overall just been a [00:17:38] great experience. He's wearing the toy [00:17:39] drive, which that brings me to um [00:17:43] a couple announcements. The annual stuff [00:17:46] a cruiser toy drive is December 6th at [00:17:48] from 9 to 12 at the South Berry Rott and [00:17:51] Gun Club. [00:17:54] Um we are still running our food drive. [00:17:56] Um because we've had such a great uh [00:17:57] turnout here, we've had three pickups so [00:18:00] far and we're already full again. Um [00:18:02] we're going to run it till the end of [00:18:03] the year. [00:18:04] Um, so those bins are still in the foyer [00:18:07] of town hall. Um, and that's what I have [00:18:10] tonight. [00:18:12] >> Well, thank you very much. [00:18:14] >> Any questions? No, I don't. That's [00:18:16] great. Um, select board round table. [00:18:22] >> I do have something tonight. [00:18:23] >> Okay. Um I was noticing in the um sewer [00:18:30] uh report that we are short still two [00:18:36] positions and it's and he had mentioned [00:18:39] that being short those two positions is [00:18:43] inv I I have it on my phone. [00:18:46] >> Yes. Uh we're down one person. We're not [00:18:47] down two. We're down one. Uh we need [00:18:49] four. We have three. But the reason why [00:18:51] you might be thinking too is because one [00:18:53] of them doesn't have all of his [00:18:54] certifications yet and he's still in his [00:18:56] probationary period. Um but once [00:19:00] >> he will the number that he had in his [00:19:02] report was two. [00:19:04] >> That's what I'm going off of. [00:19:05] >> Okay. [00:19:06] >> So uh so we're essentially just down one [00:19:10] >> body. However, we need the other one to [00:19:12] have a certifications [00:19:14] licensing. [00:19:15] >> Yeah. [00:19:16] >> All right. But uh that that's kind of [00:19:19] concerning. It's It's been a while. [00:19:21] >> It's been very concerning. Um I'm We are [00:19:23] not getting applicants for highway or [00:19:26] wastewater, which is why I've been I [00:19:28] talk about it on the radio. I talk about [00:19:29] it everywhere. Um we are not getting [00:19:31] applicants for those two positions. Um [00:19:33] and the ones we if we do get someone, [00:19:35] it's some random person 3 hours away [00:19:40] that just is looking to check a box for [00:19:41] their unemployment. It's we're not [00:19:43] getting good applicants at all. [00:19:45] >> Okay. I'm like I said, I'm just very [00:19:48] concerned that [00:19:51] >> Yeah, we we need to fill those. [00:19:52] >> We need to fill those positions. [00:19:54] >> Yes, I agree. [00:19:57] >> All right, that was it. [00:19:59] >> Okay, thank you. Um I'd just like to [00:20:03] wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving [00:20:05] coming up with family and friends [00:20:07] throughout the hard way. Hope you take [00:20:09] the time, enjoy each other's company, [00:20:12] enjoy Thanksgiving. [00:20:14] Just like to say thank you. [00:20:17] That's it. Make a motion to uh adjourn. [00:20:21] >> I'll second the motion. All [00:20:23] >> in favor? I I [00:20:27] too. Yeah.