City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 10 Feb 2022

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From YouTube: 2.10.2022 Mayor's Blue Ribbon Cemetery Committee

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2.10.2022 Mayor's Blue Ribbon Cemetery Committee

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So the first thing I was hoping that we could get to.

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So we'll be ready in the spring, but this isn't going to stop us. um Do we have to vote.

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On how we break up our project, or is that just something we would discuss.

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um Oh, should we just vote be safe on everything, so I guess I'm trying to so you're trying to.

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Figure out how to implement right these days right so that going forward, we can.

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Start doing things yep, um so what I would suggest is let it looks like you've got a.

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Plan here yeah to discuss with the committee right I'd say: let's discuss that and then what we want.

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To do is get approval from a management side of the house. So that's what bring in.

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Peter you know talk to peter rice and corwin, because you would want approval from the city.

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Before anyone basically touches the headstone right absolutely so so we need to figure out.

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What kind of processes you know? I know we talked about training. You know you had had a conversation.

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With that gentleman who was here about training, so figure out those steps and then what we could.

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Do is we have forms that we've used for other volunteers, who've done work like invasive species.

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Right so we make sure that they, um they sign off on the volunteer waiver forum, that.

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They have you know supervision, it doesn't have to be city supervision, but there's someone in charge.

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Of the work to know that you know they know, for example, the invasive species or from something.

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Else that we don't want to disturb in the wetlands, um and so we need something similar. So what is the.

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Plan look like um and then what is the train in this case? Training or products used, because I.

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Remember there was a discussion about products, so I think if you come together and figure out.

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What you think is the recommended approach submit that recommended approach to us and I'll be taking.

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The minutes and then we can provide the feedback of how we can help implement that okay, so yeah.

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And I think, in terms of the formalities right, the beauty is until you get.

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It would be nice to be able to take a formal vote at some point yeah, but it's not really from my.

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Perspective required because you're not delegated to do a specific task. So the fact that you can sit.

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Around the table here and help put together a good work plan that I can take up, I'm okay, taking that.

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Up without a formal vote, I think if you were gonna make a if you wanted, as a committee, for example, to.

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Say speak in favor of an appropriation with a capital improvement plan and say the committee.

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Has voted to recommend you know 25 000, then I think you'd want a committee vote to make.

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It clear that the committee had taken a formal action to make that recommendation.

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Okay, yeah, you know because I've gotten so many different feedbacks from counselors and.

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All that sort of stuff- that's why I you know so where are we on the same place and that sounds.

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Makes sense all right, so I guess in that vein um I was thinking this is a huge project over.

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Years, this isn't something that's going to happen in two years, not all of it.

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So I thought breaking up the project into two volume: three parts.

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Would make sense- and I put headstones first because it's the least expensive project, but more.

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Important, I think it gets us out in the community, because people are going to see us doing that.

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Which, in turn will help us fundraise for their bigger projects um and then headstone repairs.

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When we get to that point, we can decide because um in all my research from all the different.

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Cemeteries that I've looked up and things like that um they're 50 50., some people they have.

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People in their community or their churches, like barry, who are totally comfortable and capable of.

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Repairing it not so much the broken ones, as you know, lifting and straightening the stumps back up.

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And that's when we, if we decide to hire somebody from the outside or you know, recommend somebody.

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From the other side, then we have to talk about that because that's a big it can turn into a.

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Big chunk of money and then last but not least, there are the tunes and the monument repairs.

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So that would be my suggestion going forward that you know we start with.

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The headstone cleaning- you can do it this spring, get going and raise the money by putting out.

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You know banners or signs uh if we can find out, we can even put um flyers or posters or what, in their.

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Appropriate places and we can even put qr codes on them that way. People nowadays, when they're out.

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Running or walking whatever they always have their cell phone, so you know if they stop and see the.

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Sign and say: oh yeah, that's cool, they can just hit the qr code and go right to. Hopefully our website.

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Might have so so is there any comments to sessions or further another question? What do.

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We need to do to get approval to buy a couple of gallons of this d2. Oh that's found that's done so.

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Do we need to do we need to vote on it or do we need to put a request.

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So I think, um if your recommendation coming out of today, for example, is you would like us to take the.

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City to evaluate whether that's the right product and authorize the expenditures of money from the.

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Trust it would be nice to have a vote, but we can, I think, we're comfortable. You know given.

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Where we are that, we can just take a look at it, because we've got a couple of sources of funds.

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But I think it's a recommendation of the city manager um or she may need to go to.

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City council, to get release of that I'll have to check so I'm going to bring that down, but.

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It could it would be nice if you had a quorum to have a vote, but I think, as a preliminary step.

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If you guys are all in agreement that that's the right product and you kind of outline, this.

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Plan of how you would like to address them, then I think I won't. I don't need to wait.

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For a formal vote to take it to public works and and corn and team and see.

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Are we comfortable with that? What parameters would we want to put on it that kind of piece.

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In that vein, how does it work when we're using volunteers, so they have to approve what we're.

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Going to use on the headstones, which you know I understand that, but as far as when we do it.

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And all that sort of stuff do they have to approve that too? I think we want to have have a plan or an.

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Understanding about when that happens, because, undoubtedly we would get calls if you guys are.

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Out there, so that's not a problem. So if there's, uh for example, uh saturday you're looking at doing an.

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Event and you've got someone supervising you've, got a plan and your volunteers have been trained.

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And we've signed off on the little forums. Then I think that's that's an an easy one. You know you.

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Put the plant together, we have all those pieces in place and then you know, maybe we even put it out.

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On the on the newsletter, but if you see this, this is what's happening. There's a dedicated group of.

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Trained volunteers, so so that people know or begin to learn about the work that you are doing um so.

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I think there's uh yeah, so I think it's good it just we just need to take these pieces and kind of.

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Figure out, and then I can have this conversation with you, you know um about how your who's going to.

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Be the trained kind of supervisor for these events and then keep rolling them out. You know right.

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That's the sorry I jumped no, it's not exciting. I was just curious because we're stuck here.

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This sense seems that we're stuck between you know chicken and the egg. We don't have quorum because.

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It's required based on the ordinance. You know that we have x amount of members, so we have to change.

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That, first before we can go on and have votes yeah right well do we want to stop and talk about that.

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Now I don't know how I feel about it. um So um where do we get all these volunteers? Oh you can.

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You can ask your friends your neighbors, whatever um we're going to research toy scouts, rubbery.

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Right, yeah, absolutely no! It's not going to be the eight of us headstones all the time.

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No, so in connection with what everyone is saying, um I wonder if it would be beneficial to think.

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About a little more aggressive approach, you know, I don't mean grabbing people by the neck and saying.

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How much, but I mean things like, could you maybe do an interview with the paper? Well, could you.

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Yeah, could you call new hampshire, public radio? We've got a little public. We've got a little.

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Radio station here um you know, is it worthwhile to go talk to the elks club um you know. Is there.

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Somebody from who is the head of the history department at great bay community college that.

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You know that we could, that you know yeah, I think, there's more, we can we.

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Can do to help ourselves than that? Oh absolutely, I I agree with you. 100.

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What because we're a new committee, I think, before we could even ask for volunteers like.

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Rotary or boy scouts we have to have our plan in place. Oh for sure,.

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Yeah, you can't go and just get some kind of nebulous.

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You know yeah for sure, but I think there are, I think there are other. I think there are.

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Once we do that, I think there are avenues so that for those of us sitting here this.

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Doesn't look so overwhelming? Oh absolutely, it's it's only overwhelming in the sense of.

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There are almost 4 000 headstones just to be clean. So right um when I talk about overwhelming.

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No, I don't think any of us ever planned on being up there. Cleaning headstones by ourselves.

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um So in the plan going, you know once we have our plan together and get the okay.

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Well, while we're waiting for it, we can start discussing how who wants to reach out to who or.

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To see if they can gather help, should we see, though, talking about getting more people into.

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I I think you I think we can consider this and at the same time, try to get out at least make.

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People aware of what of what we're we're doing and then we could use more members and then we could.

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Use more members yeah, you know that's well, that's that's what I yeah that's what I said we're going.

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To talk about that, is that what we want to talk about, if we, if we want more members or if we want.

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To get the ordinance changed that we have like just 12 people required. There are a couple people.

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That have shown interest in joining the committee and david mccallum thought he was on it. So I.

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Have to let him know that he has to refill uh the application to do it. So that's one more for us and.

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It depends, if he's not going to show, then that's not going to help you with your quorum. So exactly.

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I think that's the key, the key you want people who are going to come here and talk about. Okay, are we.

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Comfortable with d2 so you'd like portsmouth, to be comfortable with that, and we see if that is indeed.

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You know and who is going to be the who has been trained on the headstones pieces so that we can.

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You know reach out from the city perspective and call dhss and say this individual name has agreed.

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To supervise and has the training necessary and dhss says you know um historical dhr. Yes, I'm sorry.

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You know agency says yes, that person has sufficient training, we're comfortable with them.

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Going ahead and supervising a group of volunteers using this product, you know so we just don't.

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Work, it doesn't have to be fancy just a little work plan that everyone understands.

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And a dedicated person with the right training to work with um volunteers.

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um That's like I said: we've done that on you know different types. You know whether it's invasive.

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Species or stenciling catch basins- you know fish, you know don't put stuff down over there.

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Yeah, you know we've been kind of definitely done this before. So all we need is the clear.

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Plan a responsible person and then we can bless it um with all the people we need to and then.

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You know get the volunteers to sign off on the volunteer forum and and make it happen um so.

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So that's that's kind of how I'm envisioning that, and you know it's certainly possible.

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You know, depending on what you want to talk about today, that I can help put that in the.

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Notes and even without a vote, I'm happy to begin that conversation with our side of the house and.

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And to help maybe take this and put it into a plan, a work plan right, that's very easy for everyone to.

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Follow and and understand it looks like you've got the pieces here to kind of put them together.

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And know if you've had the training or what kind of training you've had if you're going to.

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Be the supervisor that's just kind of what I mean. Actually I was half joking about my mom. No, I mean.

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I'm serious but- and I think we need more than one trainer anyway um to make it successful, because.

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You know if you're going to do a project with a group of people and someone else.

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Gets sick, you don't want to have to cancel it at the last second, and things like that.

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This I joined the new hampshire, old radio, association and they're. Very um sorry, that's right!.

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The two of you david and you I haven't, seen you guys in person, so I apologize you no problem.

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You will need you will need before I forget to fill out the application with.

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The city clerk's office, so that we can get you properly voted on.

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All right so- and I actually have one right there- all right so.

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There you go. Thank you um all right, so I need to revoke this here. So what I'm thinking is.

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um Since suzanne's outlined, um you know what we can sort of start going without a vote on.

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This outline that I made instead of getting into detail, maybe I'll just go over the the topics real.

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Quick to see, if you know it's a good place to start to try to get the ball rolling, because I.

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Forgot to find out what the temperature has to be to use the d2, I think it's 50 degrees, so.

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Yeah exactly um so, if nobody has objections I'll do that, so you know all right breaking.

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Breaking the project down and just starting with the headstone cleaning to get us out there.

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Using volunteers there's always a discussion about um you know, is it worth using volunteers.

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Talk to somebody, that's professional, usually they don't want anybody with them, but I I don't think.

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Cleaning headstone is really as simple as spraying the product on washing it down or rinsing it with.

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This the right brush and then rinsing it down. There's not you, know, supervision and.

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Only giving the people the tools that they can use, I don't, I don't think, there's too.

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Much that could go wrong with that. So do you, michael water, is the only one right and I there.

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Are several ways we can get around that, so the city does have a a water truck. Perhaps we can.

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Use them it. That's my other question suzanne and I know peter will answer this. Can we use.

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Other material sources other than from the dpw like, if somebody I know somebody that has a.

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Water truck that would drive it here and leave it for us to use. Is that acceptable or do we have to.

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Use everything through the city. uh No, I think we would be fine, probably with that, but that's one of.

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The things that's what we want to spell out in the implementation plan, so that we would know that it.

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Was you know, I think, about water pressure right? You know, because you want absolutely ground. You.

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Can't have too much pressure anyways, so yeah. It may be practical, oh yeah! No, they won't. There won't.

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Be any pressure washing, it will all be um done by hand just it's just you just want water nearby.

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Water, okay, so we just want to coordinate like a parking space and things like that. So I think.

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Put that level we'll put that level of detail in the plant, which is you know ex company, will.

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Bring a truck it will be parked here for this. So that's just because we could probably work that I.

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Do not have to pay for a parking space or if it's in a loading zone, or it depends which space we're.

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Talking about yeah, okay, so that we can coordinate or we can even um somebody gave me a lead on.

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Q, a cube container for water that can be dropped on site and then just have asked peters.

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To fill it with water and leave it there and put a hose and that's what it was so these are good.

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Right, these are good pieces that we can build into how we implement it and we'll take it back to the.

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City side and we have any better ideas, we'll share right. um So that's you know just that information.

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Out there perspective that, and um it will save us less money instead of using up the money.

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Right now for things that, if we can coordinate a good group of volunteers, two or three times.

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So I'm not talking about the other three at this point, so um so we should get that up and going.

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Because that's going to be right there in the 400s. So if we want to draw a lot of attention and.

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Show people that we're serious about trying to get these cemeteries back in really good shape. Then it.

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Makes sense to use north and union as the ones to go to and hopefully tomorrow we're going to learn.

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um If we have been accepted to the union, street cemetery has been accepted for the new hampshire.

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Registry, it went before the board yesterday. She said it would be a day or two after so I'm really.

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Excited about that, I don't know who did it in the year 2000, but it never got completed so so.

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Read me into that, so somebody filled out a form tonight, some yeah. I I found the full survey.

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Which was done by an archaeologist from the state, it's like 25 pages and they don't do.

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That anymore, we'd have to hire someone or do it ourselves, and it's not that technical. But it's.

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Very it's a lot of work. um I found it in the library, so I called the state and she said.

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That's it didn't go through because somehow no one ever signed off on it from the city.

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And that all I all I had to do was take new pictures and report any changes and she was.

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Really helpful and she said everything was fine to go, so she was going to present it to new hampshire.

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So I thought, oh, that was a bit of luck for keeping us going so.

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Did you sign on behalf of the city? No, I didn't. um Oh, no, I I I didn't. You know the city doesn't.

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Have to sign to make the application you'll get a form if we get passed you're going to.

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All right, yeah, that's where it broke down last time.

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um Yep so 20 years later, we might be able to still do it. um So that was that's perspective on.

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Using volunteers d2, I've done a lot of research on it, plus michael's used it in his cemeteries over.

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There, it really is what the industry uses now um over the years, there's been different products, but.

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This is the latest and best um that they use all over the country um and talking about purchasing.

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In advance, um when I brought it up last time, the price for a 55 gallon drum was 17, something.

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It's gone up 200 in less than three months, um but I actually talked to the man who created.

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This product and who had his company, is out of westport. um He recommends because he over the.

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Years he's worked with a lot of volunteer groups and he does a lot of work in westport with the.

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Town, he lives in now. He recommends that we use one gallon containers because they come with a spray.

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Top and um because it's almost, I figured out the calculation just so the savings you know is only.

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I think less it's less than a dollar if we bought a 55 gallon drop. If we buy the gallons they're.

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Already self-contained um they have the sprayer and everything with it, but the big saving two.

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Would be the cost of shipping we can get? um I wrote down new england premium. Cremations fly.

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In rochester, they carry the one gallon and um she has more than enough. She. They also have the.

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Least expensive right now, they're still 42 for a gallon container with a spray, but we don't even.

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Have to have shipping, we can drive up there, so we decided to get like 40 different gallons to have.

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On hand for the different things um we can do it reasonably so, and can I ask just so much because I.

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I remember you having a discussion about this, but you can tell I'm playing catch up here.

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So you apply it, so you spray it on with this thing and then you let it sit 15 minutes. Okay at.

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The moment, that's all you have to do. Okay, then you can take a spray. Do you use a spray bottle.

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You use a hose right. Well, he has access to water, but he recommends a spray bottle anyway. Yep.

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And you just spray it from the top down and that's it. So all you do is so you don't need brushes or.

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Anything, it's awesome. You can. Yes, he recommends brushes. Okay, yeah, sorry, so let me walk through.

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The process again just because I want to get it right. Yes, it's going to be your implementation.

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Okay, thank you all right. So walk me through this, you pre-wet the stone.

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Plain water spray apply the material.

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Scrub it with a stiff, bristled, nylon, acid, brush long handle yep.

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What I do is, then I rinse it.

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And then I reapply the material.

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Yeah he did say that that if you wanted to, you could reapply it and what he did say was.

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What he said is, depending on how long it lasts, that he's done some of the headstones down in.

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Westport he's more, you know he's around them all the time there are some headstones that.

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They last a couple years and then the moss starts to grow back, but he has a number of headstones.

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That they've done down there 10 years ago and they still have no muscle. So it's really whatever the.

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Conditions are wherever the headstone sits, but how long have you you've had some that have been.

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Yeah, the goodwin monument thanks to everybody, it's going on 10 years, I'm pleased with the.

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Effectiveness of it, it's funny the direction of the sun. Sun exposure accelerates this process.

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That's what he said you don't even have to rinse it off. You know the sun would take care of it or.

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But that that was his best recommendation and, as michael said, you know he adds water ahead of time.

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You can talk to you, know it's going to be 50, 50 or everybody has their little.

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Some people, richard cyphus, said he dilutes it so you're gonna everybody uses the same product.

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But everybody doesn't do the exact same thing. I think what we my suggestion would be is that we.

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Set a protocol because we've got volunteers, because this is the process because whoever's.

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Supervising wants to be able to walk around and see. This is the process because you've got.

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You know historical markers and you know you want to make sure that. Well it's from our perspective.

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You know we'll double check things: division of historical resources. Are you happy this.

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Is the process we're going to do on these historical markers? Are you good with that.

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Before and if because then, if anything does go wrong, everyone's bought into it just to say well,.

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We thought this was all going to be a great idea, but our stones are weird or something- and you know.

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I'd rather have other people bless it, but that's. What I would do is let's decide on the process.

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So that there's a good control and if it doesn't work, then we know okay or it only works on certain.

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Stones and we learn from the process because we're all doing the same thing: oh, it doesn't work on.

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You know granted as well as it works on some other type of stone. Just so we know yeah.

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But if you look at some of the ones I've done in the cemetery, it's almost as if they're.

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Highlighted with floodlights, they glow right and they understand you've seen it.

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Correct me, if I'm wrong too this how they've come to this product because they have been products.

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In the past that didn't work on all stones or created damage, I think this is the latest or.

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The best one because it it's not hazardous waste, it's not designated as hazardous waste and.

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It has a good rate, but it won't impact anything. So I'm not- and I know that you can't say that.

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No, you can't say never, but um through all the research and michael's experience with it.

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So um yeah that that would be the recommendation for the d2 okay. I think I got it now. Thank you.

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Yeah, that was one of the first things I made sure that it wasn't hazardous. It's all biodegradable.

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Impact grass or trees or care.

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And then you know, I would like to try to get.

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Us to purchase it as soon as possible um before prices start going up again.

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um No, I was thinking more than that, but when we get closer to, um I asked how much.

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um I'm sorry what susan that container that you mentioned before that goes one gallon at a time.

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Is that something that is refillable, but it's coming that one we haven't contained.

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The problem with 55 gallon containers is um the handling of them, getting them there and moving.

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Them around you can't just put them on the back of a pickup truck and get them off that sort of stuff.

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And also several people have said: there's a lot more waste when you, when you're, using a 55 gallon.

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Spillage and stuff, like that, um it's there. I suppose you couldn't fill them, but I don't know.

B

um I'm just trying to vision the one gallon that already comes with a sprayer yeah, okay,.

A

So that's what we want just be able to carry it around and just exactly and.

B

That will be discarded and then we get another gallon of the sprayer yeah. Okay,.

A

Right yeah because we'd have to have a 55 gallon container, and this like this is the most efficient.

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Way, you know what I'm saying without involving people have to lift stuff move it around um and.

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Worry about it, not you know if we left it at a cemetery, because we come back the next day that.

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Somebody might do something to it that sort of stuff so yeah. There is no there's a five gallon.

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Container but that's too heavy for everybody, um that's more for industrial, because this product's.

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Used for other things too, like on construction sites for brick and other things like that, it's.

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Not just for cemeteries, so um there is a bigger one and the five gallons cost like I don't know.

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Last price I saw it was 170 for five gallons and in rochester it's only forty two dollars and.

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Twenty cents for a calendar, so um just the lower expense, the guy that um made this also said that.

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There's a lot of waste in it that you really have to train people. You don't have to spray.

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Till everything is dripping down the side, or is that what you do so um this could be the.

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He says the one gallon is that's when you're working with volunteers, so I don't disagree.

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um So I guess so: that's the part about cleaning and then the rest of it is about.

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You know if we should try to update the gsi maps that are on on the site right now, because.

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um James yeah, he said he has a whole lot more information that he could put out or a link to.

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And he already has no, it's not research that we have to do. It came from when he was doing the.

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Assessment with what david moore, I guess it was so um and yeah the other question.

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Is having our own website um like the 400s? Does I I don't know if that's separate from the city or.

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Hook to the city yeah, I mean we do create web pages um on our on our city site, so it.

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Seems like that would be the way to go. I remember discussing this and if I drop the ball on.

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Forgetting to follow through with something just looking to see, if I could find out now well.

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While she's looking that up, um dee and ava right yes spoke to the people that in charge of the 400s.

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And um it was my impression that there would love to have us come on board. So I don't know if ava or.

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Dee would like to let everybody know what happened at that meeting. Yeah sure I can and um eva.

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Please chime in, but they were extremely welcoming. uh They really want us involved.

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It's you know, obviously right in line with what the 400th committee is is trying to do.

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And um so they said it fits right in they said um that we also like all of our activities. We can.

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Co-Brand with the 400th committee, which um made me think like, should we have a.

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A brand or a logo or something I you know, I know that's not one of our highest priorities but.

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So yeah they were very welcoming. We, we basically have to just figure out what we want to do in line.

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With the 400th celebration and then um put in an application by june 1st this year and and just.

B

But, like I said they were very welcoming and, um and uh so what you said earlier about the qr code.

B

They said that they have a couple sophomores from portsmouth high school that are working.

B

On their committee and they're, coming up with a website that um is going to have qr codes.

B

That they're going to post all over the city and they want to include the cemeteries as well.

B

That, like when you you know, scan it, it's going to tell you more about that person. um That's.

B

You know very to rest there, so I think I think it's good partnership.

B

That was marlon, who I I emailed and I copied you on it.

B

And um I I haven't heard back from him, but that doesn't mean I won't so and- and I thought if.

B

I you know I'll give him another week or so, and if I don't hear from him I'll follow up.

B

And see what he has to say, it sounds like he's a kid who's like involved in a lot of stuff and.

B

But um I I thought he would be very valuable.

B

Especially in terms of maybe even bringing in some other kids so.

B

And they gave us a number of people to reach out to, depending on what what direction we may.

B

Want to go in yeah, and also I I can't remember, I sent you guys so much information.

A

Can I send a list of the kinds of things that we could look at like.

A

Character, reenactment, yes, um one day event whatever so I mean that's something we can discuss.

B

And uh the 400 has had a list of things that projects right. I think that was what you said, that.

B

Nobody had taken, but I do have to say I I had kind of a laugh because one of the things they talked.

B

About was grave rubbing, but in this new hampshire old graveyard association they discourage it.

B

Very welcoming.

A

Right when I, yes, that was one of my questions of.

A

How once we get up if we can join on to the city website, because we can do a lot of things there.

A

Keep track, or you know, update people the community. um I have a hard time finding where you can make a.

A

Donation where they hit it on the on the city site, I mean those are all things that could.

A

Be right there, so when somebody, you know, hits the qr code they'll go right to how you want to.

A

Make a donation sort of stuff so, but how? How does that play and how can we go and make our own like.

A

Banners or whatever we want to do signs and put them around town or is that.

A

Something that we have to get the okay for okay, so let me take it in pieces right so.

B

First, I checked that the 400s as a web page. So it's on the city website, but it's its own.

B

Standalone web page, so it's pretty easy when you type in sportsman, 400, of course, with new hampshire.

B

It pops up and takes you at least on your mobile device quickly to that page and what I'm hearing.

B

And I know we talked about this before and again. If I was supposed to follow up the last video.

B

Okay, so what I could do is um follow up and see if we can make it a standalone web page.

B

So it's not buried under parks and greenery and then I will check because I know we've.

B

Been adding donation buttons to various pages? You know so that we can encourage contributions.

B

Yeah, so let me see if I can track that down I'll work with stephanie c cord. Who does our you know.

B

Public information piece and see if she could work with alan brady and if that's a possibility.

B

Of getting that kind of reorganized a little bit um and even touch base with jamie and see about.

B

How some of that information could maybe migrate over and get populated, so I'll follow up this time.

B

Feel free to feel free to bug me in a week or two and say: did you do that um because.

B

There's some information buried under the public library too. You know so it's kind of all over the.

B

Place if it if we could consolidate it and get it yeah, so I will um I'll work on that and maybe what.

B

I'll, have you do is um stephanie sometimes will stand up kind of like a temporary mock page and.

B

Take a quick look at it or you know you can take a quick look at it and see how that looks, but let.

B

Me see if I can make that happen, so so that's the answer to that question and then, in terms.

B

Of other banners during the 400th, I would say um I was actually thinking about cleaning like if we.

A

You know like um what I'm saying realtors, you know they have those metal signs they put out. You know.

A

That we could do something that says: um restoration, project and.

A

They could hit a qr code and, if they're inclined to you know, give us five dollars, then you know.

A

That would be great, that type of sign and then the day that we're actually there um similar.

A

To the sign, that's out in the foyer that says portsmouth, we would have something like that that.

A

Would say: oh hey, we're here, cleaning or whatever we decide on the thing. So those are basically.

A

Some posters that we could put out in various places too, those would be the three things I.

B

Would think? Okay, um I think we could, let's put it in the implementation plan, so it's.

B

Particularly like the temporary sign when you're there, that seems to make sense, we just have to.

B

Make sure we've got something that we all are comfortable with, but that seems perfectly logical.

B

And in terms of a permanent sound, you know kind of semi-permanent sign with a qr code. You know.

B

Like hey, there's a restoration project underway generally, because I thought that's what I heard.

B

But it was the signage the day of and then right so they want the couple for the day of and then.

A

If we could put up signs like or post or whatever in like the library or whatever, whoever might want.

A

One um I think that can be coordinated. Yes, I think it's just a coordination piece. You know we'll take.

B

The ideas and figure out something that that works with what we think sensitivities are and.

B

You know sometimes we're trying to make sure we use colors that are appropriate right yeah, but I.

B

I think that's something that's certainly workable. You want to are donations tax deductible generally,.

B

Donations to the city aren't tax deductible or you know it's not a tax payment. You know if it's.

B

An actual contribution, um but we are not 501 3c, so you do not get a form from us that says you've.

B

Made a charitable deduction under 501 3c, like you, would, if you were donating to the music hall or.

B

You know any of those other organizations, um so that's just kind of work, because I've never.

B

You know our accountant always wants you. Can you can still show the it's still? You can still show.

B

Proof that this is you donated to something: oh, we don't send out a normal piece now. I think.

B

Want to say, when we did the african burning ground, maybe or the library where we took.

B

Bigger donations, we would sometimes send you know some people needed uh something again, because that.

B

Donation was so big it tended to trigger. You know in a robotic question that we would do some letter.

B

But it doesn't look, we don't normally do them, we don't have a good process, but I will check and see.

A

If they've done anything on the website, where you click the button, whether it would whether.

B

It sends you some kind of email acknowledgement that is to the city of portsmouth for purposes of.

B

Something they may have set it up that way and I'm not aware, but it's not a typical 501 3c. So so it's.

B

Still it's still under the general way and I can't give you tax advice, but I'm gonna ask my account.

B

Yeah, that's a good idea.

A

Well, I mean that's the other thing. Hopefully we were going to divide into working groups today, but.

A

After after I thought that, after we went over all this and people could take on what they.

A

Were interested in, um unfortunately, we don't have time to do that today, but um can I just say social.

B

Media again and ask about guidelines or use of it from the city yeah. So um this is a ongoing.

B

Topic of conversation so um generally like on the city's facebook page, because we have an official.

B

The official city, facebook page- we do not at this point, allow comments, so we.

B

Could certainly work stephanie right now is monitoring that and post to it.

B

um And we could certainly happy to use that as a as an outward just recognize. That, because.

B

Unless you're going to dedicate someone to monitor comments, it's hard to open up that piece of it. So.

B

Right now that is like it's outward facing, so we can push messages out through the official.

A

Facebook page and that would go through um stephanie yep, who was here early, you know, met her.

B

A few times and um she so she manages that piece and we're happy to push stuff out. That's you know.

B

Appropriate for that, for this kind of hey, this is upcoming, so that I don't see a problem with.

B

That just recognize it, it's not, you know interactive in the same way. Other facebook.

B

Pages and sometimes people will link you know, they'll push the link to those. You know.

B

um That's great and plus, we would have to sort of always have to agree as a committee. What we.

A

Put out there so like the mayor, maybe he's not supposed to, but he always puts a summary of.

B

The council meetings on the unofficial pages, so what's that, oh he can do that yeah. But could we.

B

Do that you can you can individually exercise your first amendment rights to.

B

Talk about all the stuff that certainly gets a lot of yeah yeah. There's, no reason why you guys can't.

B

Say, oh, you know we'll certainly post stuff on whatever facebook pages you're on just recognize.

B

Always your role, why are you speaking to the whole committee or is it you as a person.

B

Or are you just saying, hey we're doing this, you know fundraising or hey. Could you come join us.

B

This committee's looking for additional members, you know, that's all cool. Any kind of you know.

B

Appropriate messages that you might want to communicate, I'm thank you. Okay, I'm surprised.

A

Because I thought we wouldn't you know we're volunteers, but we still represent the city.

A

So that's fine, you're, wearing and and whether you what you don't want to do, is you don't want.

B

To all be on the same facebook page having a discussion, if you will about things that you.

B

Should be discussing in the public notice meeting, so that's the that's the piece.

B

Like if you would a post and say hey, it's going to be an event. You know on saturday.

B

You know april whatever for uh cleaning the headstones perfectly fine. What you don't want is.

B

Everyone else who might be on that facebook page to start commenting. You know in a way you know.

B

Right exactly exactly, but there's no reason why you can't share.

B

In your friends, oh yeah, I want to join you. Can I get the training yeah.

B

Getting back to my first question: yes, how do we change the wording on that.

B

Is it a statute or a sound yeah, so it is an ordinance. So if you want to change the.

B

Composition of the membership. I need to shrink it down to kind of the numbers you have so that it's.

B

Easier to have a quorum in person and take formal action, then that takes three readings of the city.

B

Council and all you need to do, is you know one of you I would say the best thing to do is talk.

B

To the mayor just to kind of touch base with him, and he will talk to me- or I can do this for you.

B

um And just say: look, you know we're finding that that number 12 to whatever it is 12 to 18.

B

Or whatever it is, is too big, because we have seven, you know or eight dedicated members who show up.

B

And- and that means you know our quorum would be five if we actually, if the number has an eight, you.

B

Know so so that's the that's the piece so a change that would say something that would eliminate the.

B

Number the amount of members you need to have and would make it a simple majority of those present.

B

um Do you still need you need to come up with a a number for a quorum to start and.

B

You could do that, but we usually like to have some minimum number.

B

Whether it's three, you know you it doesn't have to be. You know in default, so you can put the numbers.

B

You can put a specific number, you know three members makes a quark, so whether you have you.

B

Know three, four five or ten of you that three, if it's written in the ordinance that three is a horn.

B

The default is when it doesn't say what the quorum is. Is it's basically one more than the.

B

50 percent, so it's the majority, so the change of the uranus would be changing. The numbers.

B

To something more realistic or just implying what the number would be and also say, two-thirds, I mean.

B

Whatever number you suggest, so we can have a forum rather than just a simple majority.

B

Right, we could make it a forum of say five and then we need to do that by ordinance change.

B

So that the quorum would actually be less than the full rule, um so that's that's.

B

Another option and then you still move that bigger piece or just shrink down the number.

B

Okay, because we need to do that because we cannot, we need to vote on things and we can't. We have to.

B

Get around the ordinance right now, so it has to be done. So I think if you don't think that there are.

A

Additional members who just haven't you know apply, then I would say yeah, let's look at finding a way.

B

To either reduce the number- and I I don't have a fixed view or whether we see about changing that.

B

You know if you're, if your membership calls for 12-18, that's a big number, um I'm more inclined to.

B

Say, let's bring it back in line you know, most committees are somewhere between seven nine.

A

Yeah cause duncan was the only one that got left off not left off, but you know didn't make it to.

B

This list at this point- and that makes nine I mean nine's a nice number and then your quorum is five.

B

But based on your experience, could you give us a little reward that ordinance so that we.

B

Can look at it maybe through the uh via email, so the next time the city council.

B

Meets we can put it forward because it takes three readings, so it does yeah.

B

I'll put some language together and I'll run it by the chairs first and then send it to the committee.

B

Now you can't all respond, you can't do reply all, but if someone's having heartburn, let me know and.

B

Then I can let the mayor know that we might want to suggest we tweak this a little bit so it it's.

B

Functioning better for those you know committed through here, so you can more formally take action.

A

So does everybody reveal? Nine is a good number for the committee so that we can get more things done.

A

I'm sorry to have to do that, but if we we there are people sort of in the waiting room.

B

For approval, I have to talk to them first and see whether they are still interested okay. I I.

A

I have two names that that were given to me that I can contact them. They have people that have done.

A

Things in cemeteries before I can certainly contact them and see if they're interested.

A

In joining that's right too, but I thought there were there were people.

A

Like duncan, who hadn't been? Oh, he was on our original list. He just didn't.

B

If you expect to you know, come on.

B

Then I would be, I mean we're close to a quorum now I assume 70 right now.

A

So I mean we're not so far from it and frankly, it's uh would give us more volunteers.

A

Particularly, I mean us just to start off to have a larger it can't if group can't work it can't.

B

Work but I just was hoping that maybe you can shake the tree a little bit from young people.

B

Yeah we could try that first and then look at the option. I mean that's how ever came on because she.

B

Told- and I guess I should apologize- I'm not going to be here next month. I will be in sunny arizona.

B

But but if we change, if we do, what to suggest doesn't preclude us from going out and getting.

B

More people- that's right, but it does cover us while, while we're grappling with the.

B

With the situation we're getting those people traveling.

B

Yeah, I still think we should go after as many people as we can get. I think the ordinance would.

B

Say something like at least x amount of people, but that doesn't mean that there's a limit.

B

I it you can have up to up to how many people well, if necessary. Well, they the city council, determines.

A

The numbers- that's my understanding and that's the number that they came up with when they initiated.

A

This committee, between 12 and 18, with no no counselor assigned it, wasn't just a random and if.

A

We I mean we can leave it 12-18 for right now, it's not up to me. I mean if you want to try and find a.

B

Couple more members: I can make sure that it's on the city clerk's website, it's still meeting.

B

Numbers I I haven't, looked to see, um but I don't have a problem making sure it's on our banner that.

B

We're still looking for some members, so if you would really I'm happy to work with you, whichever.

B

Way you want to go, you want to shake the tree a little bit and what I could do is I could come.

B

At the next meeting with some proposed language, if the next month doesn't shake out some folks.

B

Okay, well, that works right, because as long as we're getting around- and I will still take this.

B

Implementation there'll be it'll, be kind of non-minutes but I'll capture. What we talked about.

B

As non-voting action just so there's a nice record and then see if we can start moving it through.

B

Our process so that there are any questions that corn has he'll, be here. The next meeting, hopefully.

B

And you know we can say yeah that looks good and you can tease out any other issues. So.

B

That you're ready to go in the spring. um These are all just growing things at this point, yeah.

A

Which? But that reminds me when you've said that on the front page when you.

A

Go to the city of portsmouth, all the committees that are listed kelly said.

A

We wouldn't be put on there unless we had some place to go.

A

I mean yeah, I mean if we should I'm working right, I'll I'll I'll. Let her know we don't have enough.

A

I mean yeah because there isn't anything that just says cemeteries. It's all about.

A

What's happened but nothing specific yeah. She there's usually a list right yeah that you click.

A

On that and it takes you to wherever you want to go so if you can find it within that, but let me.

B

Work on that part, okay, and there we also did some migration of some of our websites. So some links.

B

Are broken and need to be kind of fixed, so I'll check it out, and I I don't know about anybody.

A

Else we won't have a city councilor assigned to us suzanne's going to be our representative.

A

And I think we do much better having suzanne than a new city counselor. So.

B

March 4th or no know.

A

Thursday march 3rd, okay and the answer to your question: yes, chris benecke is working on.

A

um Doing grants gary, oh just lit my money, he's still interested in doing that. So.

A

And he's going to try to rearrange his schedules, so he can um be here on the first thursdays.

B

He definitely wants to.

A

Is a well-known historian um about the cemeteries he happens to be michael's.

A

Cousin, but that's why he knows about her part of the family um has offered to come and speak to us.

A

It certainly would be valuable information towards what we might do for the 400 um and other things.

A

Too, just in what headstones, and what have you um names of people that we aren't aware of that, we.

A

Might want to focus on on our webpage and stuff like that. So um I'll confirm that back to you.

B

Okay, I did get the list from the daughters of the american revolution great, so it's our intent as.

B

The force but lodge of elks to try to identify and locate all the burial sites of members of.

B

Continental army, the bearing was one of the greatest race. This coming christmas holiday season,.

A

I thought you were listening.

A

um Well, I think it's been really productive. I'm I'm happy, like I said we're going.

A

Through such growing pains, but I think everything is really coming together and.

A

We'll get it done and without too much stress on everybody and.

A

So if everybody wants to shake the tree- um and they just have to go where you guys went for.

A

The on the website to sign up and see if they want to be good to have their names.

B

A

A