City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon COVID Response Task Force Committee, 20 Sep 2022

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From YouTube: 9.20.2022 COVID Response Task Force

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9.20.2022 COVID Response Task Force

A

Oh you're, good, okay, we're good.

B

Thank you call to water I'd like to entertain a motion for approval of the nine six minutes.

C

One change: I think I emailed janet when I was speaking it's new franklin school.

C

Not just plain franklin school it's in. Can we have that? Can you repeat that for us it's new.

C

Franklin new franklin and it was just listed as franklin school. I just wanted it. Okay, thank you.

B

um Thank you will do. We have a motion to accept the minutes with the added change from linda.

C

So moved you need a second.

B

Thank you uh all those in favor say aye aye any nays. Thank you.

B

So just uh uh brief comment on a meeting that we were able to be part of. We had great.

B

Representation at the uh council working session on october I mean september 12th.

B

um And I did a very brief along with um with uh who was who was with me me yeah. Thank you. You're.

B

Welcome, along with along with laurie, we did a a bit of a presentation and the work we're doing.

B

um Through the task force, so it was very brief, but uh it was good for uh for us to make the council.

B

Aware of the work of the task force, um so we're going to move right into uh portsmouth housing.

B

Authority, presentation and craig welch could not be with us today, but in his place we have.

B

Kelly lesko who's director of resident services, so kelly. If you would like to join us and and.

B

Talk to us about some of the needs that you are seeing um through the portsmouth housing authority.

A

You know what um come to this empty chair that'll be the best join us at the table. Thanks.

D

So I'm kelly lesko, I'm the resident services director of the portsmouth housing authority.

D

um You'll have to forgive me, I I wasn't really sure what the format was was going to be today. So.

D

um I did prepare a few notes on on what we're seeing at the housing authority.

D

um And sort of things that we are doing or would like to do.

D

um So um because of you know, covid a lot of our residents, were they just sort of retreated to.

D

Their apartments they there was really no sense of community, um so we're starting to partner.

D

With some organizations like the pine tree institute were in the works to get together.

D

um It's it's sort of a program where they discuss adverse childhood experiences, trauma.

D

um And how that impacts our adult lives, but what they do is more of, like you know a workshop here.

D

And there, and what we're proposing to do is to um collaborate and come up with a series.

D

Of ongoing opportunities, excuse me for residents um to kind of talk about trauma.

D

um You know it would be a facilitated group and so pine tree has the resources to to do.

D

The workshops, but for this we would need some funding to kind of do the partnership and offer.

D

The ongoing programming we're also talking about doing some parenting coaching where um it's sort.

D

Of that watch me grow program where you kind of talk about developmental milestone screenings.

D

um There's also a parent cafe that we are are discussing, but all of that we would require.

D

You know child care for our our folks, um which kind of brings me to that community.

D

um You know the sense of community where we've got some high school students, I'm I'm meeting with the.

D

Outreach coordinator at portsmouth high school- and um we were thinking that, maybe you know some.

D

Of the students could provide child care, but it's not like a babysitting service. It would be more.

D

um Like a little informal mentoring so that they could, maybe you know, model.

D

Better behavior for our kids and things like that.

D

um But all of these things we need staffing, um you know we, we just kind of need.

D

You know money to do more detailed assessments like for our senior folks. You wouldn't think.

D

Of it, but covet actually um impacted like their mobility and so we're seeing a lot of our older.

D

Residents with an increased fall risk, so there are assessments that we are able to do and kind.

D

Of give the residents that information so that they can then go to their health care provider.

D

um And you know kind of combat things like that, so you just there are so many different areas that.

D

Covid really sort of affected housing and and our seniors with the isolation and really we're just.

D

Kind of looking for the resources to you know get more staffing to help us implement the programming.

D

um You know address we've seen a real increase in substance, misuse and mental health. All of that was.

D

Exacerbated by by covid, um and so my hope is to really kind of bring back and foster a sense of.

D

Community, amongst our properties and like between residents and neighbors, um you know kind of like.

D

A neighbor helping neighbor sort of program, um you know looking for scholarships for some of.

D

Our kids to attend- I mean portsmouth, has awesome summer programs and after school programs. So but.

D

They're not always attainable for for our kids, so um you know just just things like that is. Is.

D

Really kind of what we're looking for and looking at doing, I know craig had talked about some.

D

um More, like air quality type of things, which are are super important for us as well.

D

um But you know we as resident services, I mean I would like to see gardens built at mama said we.

D

um You know we have so many residents who love to get outside and we had these big.

D

React inspections where we had to really cut back a lot of the vegetation outside and people had to.

D

Kind of get rid of their gardens, and so many of them had said like this. This is my this is my.

D

Therapy like this is for my mental health, so we'd like to offer. There are spaces. There are at least.

D

Three different areas at wameset that really could use the gardening space at gosling. Our.

D

Resident service coordinator over there, she has an amazing garden that she worked with the kids.

D

um Anybody with a green thumb you'd be jealous. I mean it's beautiful, so I would love to be able to.

D

Do something like that at our other sites- and you know, get folks outside get them working together.

D

um And yeah that's that's kind of where, where we're at right now.

A

If I can add to that um to the for the benefit of the group, kelly touched upon some um some.

A

Of the more structural elements to that impact physical plant within the housing authority and.

A

Those would be on the second page of the handout that is in front of you, but this is the cover.

A

So this represents the list of projects we knew about when we brought it to the council.

A

And page two is what craig provided on behalf of the pha but kelly question for you. Would you say.

A

That number one residence services is much of what you talked about here today, incorporated.

A

Into that first request for the 510 000 or maybe part of it- yes, okay, yes great and then I think.

A

We get into more structural uh elements with the number, with priority number three.

A

I, like it, the priorities are not in the order of the listed so now this is an eye test for me.

A

um Some of them are real nuts and bolts type stuff as well things that we're.

A

Doing on the city side that they would be responsible for at pha properties,.

E

All of the um requests and ideas for use of funding that you just described is what is.

E

Actually contained in this 1.355, I don't know that was a question I had for kelly. Okay, I don't know.

A

How much of what she talked about is in that 510 or the the 150 under gosling and wamesit.

A

It'll be great to have the the gardening aspect included in a specific mention of.

A

Wamis it, but it's not fair to put kelly on the spot either. No, you might not know the answer to.

E

That question I'm just trying to figure out if there's an additional request for funding from.

E

This task force or, if you're, providing like supportive information about the programs.

E

That are listed here. It's I believe, it's more supportive information, yes, perfect! Thank you.

F

And so kelly we too have a parenting program. So do you want my card because we do parenting.

F

Programs throughout both yeah and stratford county okay, 520 year olds- is it too late for me.

G

I have a question um it wasn't mentioned here when you were talking, but um how did the transportation.

G

Affect the residents transportation yeah, it's it's always a challenge. um You know we. We did.

D

An event actually on saturday um and myself and another coordinator were kind of driving the pha.

D

Van to get folks to where they needed to go, um it's more, I think, for the kids to be able to.

D

Access some of the after-school programming or summer programming- that's where we find there's.

D

A there's, a big need for transportation, because you know mom, mom or dad might be able to get them.

D

There, but they can't necessarily get them home or you know it's just either they don't have.

D

Their own transportation- or you know sometimes, unfortunately like they're, just they're, not up.

D

To even get the kids to where they need to go, or it's just um it's always a hurdle for us.

H

um I just want to share um just listening to this, I'm sort of in awe, because I've spoken.

H

With a number of people who live in places that you're mentioning as well as senior.

H

Citizens and all of these things were mentioned one way or the other they imagine it, and one.

H

Other thing, I would add, is that the seniors mentioned um like in senior housing. They used.

H

To have those who have been there for quite a while used to have special programs for them.

H

Yes and they wonder if that could ever happen again, it could be workshops, discussion, groups.

H

People giving presentations or even someone someone said, even someone coming to play a.

H

Little music once in a while or or something right, and so you covered like this, is what.

H

Everyone was speaking about yeah, so we're actually gearing up to do a resident needs assessment.

D

um In october, I I'm hoping is when it will go out, for you know our planning purposes for next year.

D

um We would like to kind of see you know what would be meaningful most meaningful to.

D

Our residents, um we are starting to slowly get activities and workshops back, but even now, like.

D

A lot of our residents are still very hesitant. um You know now they're all concerned about when, when.

D

They're going to get their boosters and you know we're trying to arrange for them to get boosters.

D

And things like that, so you know you hate to blame everything on covid, but it really has been.

D

Difficult to get programs up and running again, but we are starting up again with coffee hours.

D

And we've got our after school program. I've got a medicare program coming in october to.

D

Kind of help, folks, out with that, so we're we're hoping my hope is to build that all back up.

D

um And- and you know, get us get us back in better hope than we were before. What do you think.

H

um Just make myself a note because pardon me nancy nancy: you need to pull the microphone.

A

Right here right, you have a soft speaker. um They mentioned that um several of them have.

H

Read this article reason: it said the scientists experts predicted that covid will linger some.

H

Of you might have seen that that article in the portsmouth herald, even though you know right now,.

H

The in the center for disease control and all that's my background in health and all that and.

H

um Is saying that there's many positive changes that are taking place? On the other hand, there's.

H

A number of scientists that said this may linger and then they list all the reasons why.

H

You know I mean I worked at the polls this past week and um there were people coughing and.

H

Other people got nervous and stuff and people start putting their masks on and then the day.

H

Afterwards, we got a call that one of the workers was a diagnosed positive had the coved, so we all.

H

Had to be tested and stuff and as far as I know so far, no one else has gotten it, and neither have I.

B

Can I ask a question kelly in terms of the number of children in pha? Do you have a sense of what.

B

Numbers and- and you know terms of the breakdown from between ages and so on. No not off the top of.

D

My head, um I don't I'm sorry, um but you know a lot of the programming right now is geared toward like.

D

School age, but I would say almost like elementary middle school age, we're really looking to capture.

D

Maybe like early, you know younger kids as well as some of the high school kids and to try to.

D

Get more programming for them and in terms of the trauma I mean, has there been an assessment.

B

Of trauma in in those young pop uh young, the younger kids, so what what we see? It's mostly.

D

um You know it's coming from the parents: the parents have experienced those traumas and.

D

Kind of trickles down into the parenting of their kids, so yeah, you do see little behavioral things.

D

Or- and you know, I'm certainly not an expert by any means, but just in the trainings that.

D

I've had and what we witness with our residents, I mean you, you can see, there's either a disconnect.

D

Or you know, maybe the parenting style isn't what it should be. So we're just we're looking to reach.

D

Out to those parents and say hey, like you know, yes, this may have happened to you, but you can.

D

Change this and you know you can parent your child differently to make them more resilient, and you.

D

Know kind of just break this pattern. That's what we're looking to do with pine tree institute, so.

I

Kelly, do you have? um Is the green leaf rec center part of that the programming stuff and that's kind.

I

Of like back and up and running, and yes so um tammy joslin has the after-school program.

D

Running yep, so that's back, they had a really successful summer. They did their summer program.

D

um So yeah and then that's open to individuals living in wamasat, yes, yeah and then I believe.

D

The gosling kids go to the mc3 program: okay, because they're in franklin, yeah, okay,.

B

Cameron had a question for you, the the um the request from portsmouth housing authority.

B

uh That second page is, is that, as outside of this process, is that part of the 12 request of the 12.

B

Million dollars, or is that this is a request as of the september 12th work session. So none of.

A

The items on the pha list presented here have been funded. Okay, they were for this exercise. I.

A

Considered them a department of the city just the way we pulled all the other departments.

A

And I want to make sure we included their asks so um assume that none of these have been met.

B

Other questions for kelly.

B

So next we have.

B

Brad nickels from coast, bus.

A

J

Mentioned about mobility and covet boy, do I get that um I went from not having a cane to a cane.

J

um So I'm rad nichols I'm with kost. I'm our executive director.

J

um We do not have a request in, but janet had asked if I could come and speak because I I.

J

Understand you've had a lot of conversations around transportation and transportation is, is.

J

uh A very common theme across the seacoast and the need for more transportation and.

J

Particularly public transportation and community community-based transportation.

J

Whether that be for the general public or for special populations of the league individuals.

J

With disabilities, low income, what have you um as an organization coast, was significantly.

J

uh Hindered in terms of our operation and the impacts on our operation as a result of covid.

J

And the pandemic, we did actually shut down for a month and a half period in uh in april and part of.

J

May of 2020 we slowly ramped back up and then um completely uh we we launched in a very soft launch.

J

Of a completely redesigned uh fixed root system that we'd spent the previous two years, planning.

J

uh So a lot of folks disappeared off our system and have slowly been coming back, but they don't.

J

Recognize the system that they're coming back to, because it is very different than it was.

J

um The other thing that's been happening over the last five plus years is: there is a there's, a real.

J

Shortage of of commercially licensed vehicle operators who can operate our our larger buses.

J

Which is what you see primarily on our fixed routes. Sometimes now you'll see a smaller bus and.

J

A direct result of not having enough commercially licensed stuff, and so we put a smaller bus on a.

J

On a route that has fewer riders and can we can manage with that smaller vehicle.

J

So what you've seen over the past couple of years is coast actually slowly diminishing.

J

The level of services we can provide because of a lack of staff and that's something we've.

J

Really struggled with I'll say. At the same time, our pay rates have increased.

J

Somewhere between 20 and 25 percent for those staff over the last three years, we'll probably.

J

uh In our well in our upcoming budget that we're looking to pass at the end of the month,.

J

uh There's uh the likelihood of another notable increase in pay um to hopefully become more.

J

Competitive in that marketplace, but it is a very serious challenge that we're facing and it affects.

J

All parts of our operation, whether it's fixed route or demand response like our ada paratransit.

J

Services or our portsmouth senior transportation and some of the other services we provide.

J

But we are an organization that um is not afraid of thinking outside of the box, and so we are open.

J

To concepts on how we could better serve the city, the one thing that I will say reading.

J

Some of the the articles that have come out about using these funds traditionally um we're.

J

Talking about ongoing programs and- and I think some it seems like some of the focus has been.

J

On not getting into ongoing programs and rather being more focused on one-time opportunities.

J

We don't tend to be that uh I I will say we also have been a direct recipient of.

J

uh Somewhere between seven and eight million dollars of of coveted uh relief funds.

J

Directly, so uh whether that's through the cares act or through arpa so and we will.

J

We are spending that down aggressively and and we'll use that funding through.

J

Our our fiscal year, 24, which will end in october or end of september, 2024.

J

But we did, you know we did just suffer through a a major wave of covid or offices at the end of.

J

October, we had uh half of our operating staff out at one point and we continue to see staff.

J

Affected on a on a day-to-day basis, I think we've had three people go down this week.

J

It's an ongoing issue that we are constantly having to manage.

J

So I don't, I don't have a. I don't have a request. I don't have anything in specifics.

J

But we are, we are certainly willing to to be at the table and discuss opportunities if, if there.

J

Are opportunities that you'd like to to bring to our attention questions of the task force.

G

um Back when you said that during covet, it was really hard for coast and you list it.

G

As one thing, the lack of drivers, what are the other factors that may coast have difficulty.

G

During covet and just not enough riders or you know so much effective, what's what are.

G

The factors so our ridership uh uh dropped uh significantly they're, probably somewhere around.

J

40 of what we had traditionally been carrying on a monthly basis, uh we're back up to between.

J

60 and 65 percent, but I'll be honest with you, it's sort of stuck there and it's stuck there.

J

For a reason, it's because we keep not being able to run our full set of services if we.

J

Were able to do that? What we're seeing right now is our our average weekday ridership is climbing.

J

So we know that there's demand there, we just we can't deal. We can't fix the supply issue.

B

So what what percentage of your routes have been either declined or stopped? You know to comparing.

B

Pre-Cover to to now is it 40 40 of your routes have either been stopped or or some in some way.

B

Impacted suspended, suspended temporarily suspended it's getting beyond temporary. At this point,.

A

I have a question about your planning because you mentioned shortly after the pandemic and.

A

Trying to write the ship you, you made a big change to your fixed route and you.

A

Mentioned that it took two years to plan, is that typical for length of planning? I want to.

A

Give these folks a sense of what a planning effort looks like because we we threw you a.

A

Curveball you'll remember when we said hey, could you change your route to accommodate.

A

When families first moved and maybe use that as an example, because if we maybe what I'm trying.

A

To say is managing expectations here. Should we or should we not be thinking about an ask of you.

A

And then we should calculate what that means in a time horizon. uh I threw a lot at you so.

J

Depends on the type of service or the services you're talking about uh if it enviro, if it.

J

Involves um buying equipment, for example, if you it's a two-year wait to get a a vehicle, a.

J

Vehicle sure uh smaller vehicles, that might be nine to 12 months, but that is highly variable.

J

um In terms of planning changes uh that that two-year process that we went through, we did a.

J

Comprehensive operations analysis, it's the first one we'd ever done as the organization and our.

J

What 28 or whatever it was 38 year history at the time um and we relooked the whole system and and.

J

Really went out, uh I think we had four different public hearing opportunities or public information.

J

Gathering sessions uh periods across the the service area- okay, so from farmington down to here.

J

um It it was a was a much longer process than we normally would go through, but any of these.

J

Changes take months, so uh it it. It really depends on what exactly we're talking about.

J

If it's something that sort of expands the the.

J

Eligibility for say, demand response service in the city sort of to to piggyback on what.

J

We're doing with senior transportation that might take a lot less time. Okay,.

J

The question is: are we going to have the staff to support that, if I'm being brutally honest.

J

Another question: where are our commercial drivers trained? Do they get training through.

K

Coat the coast bus pro, you know a company or where, where does that happen right so.

J

um Yeah boy: uh no, traditionally we do not train people for their commercial driver's license. Okay,.

J

They're, uh there are a lot of reasons for that. It's it's very expensive. It's very time consuming.

J

Your insurance company really doesn't like it and will charge you much higher rates for that.

J

uh Within the last year, the federal government has totally changed the licensing process.

J

And a lot of the rules around that there is a single commercial driving school.

J

In the state of new hampshire currently operating, there are some in northern mass.

J

We're in maine, so we've tried to work with uh some of the state programs to see if we could get folks.

J

Who, who are not currently working uh interested in taking that training and coming to work at coast.

J

um We've not had any success with that. Unfortunately,.

J

We tried working with the community college system to see if they had they.

J

Could they could begin programs to help with that? We haven't had any luck there.

J

um The one of the things that happened with the pandemic was most of your commercial.

J

Driving schools were shut down or restricted, and so you've got a nationwide backup of.

J

Of need uh to the tune of some 80 000 commercially licensed folks. So, and you know you you'll.

J

You can make a whole lot more driving packages than you can people and guess what also happened.

J

During the pandemic, we started moving a lot more packages door-to-door than we used to.

J

So we compete, we compete with all the home delivery service drivers that are out there.

A

Who are probably more competitive with the pay? Yes, absolutely yes, now probably burn you out in a year.

J

Or two though yeah, where we can, we can give you a much more realistic day-to-day work schedule that.

J

um It gets you home every day and um doesn't leave you exhausted at the end of every week.

B

So budgetarily do you you're able to meet your needs so a and the reason I'm asking that question.

B

Is because if we are you know, transportation did rise to the top of a priority list that.

B

We're we're discussing, and so once if there is a need, you know where you talk to workforce and.

B

That's that's a long-term kind of a issue that has to be addressed in many different areas.

B

um And I would if you have not talked to cheryl um the new president at great bay.

B

Community college and you'd be interested. I can make that connection for you. So that's.

B

um I mean she is interested in reaching out to the community. I don't know if you've had.

B

A conversation with her yet but she's relatively new she's, relatively new, and but but she is very.

B

Interested in having conversations these kinds of conversations, I know that that has been evolving.

J

A little bit with the community college system, so there may be new opportunities there. Yeah.

B

um But getting back to the the budget, are you able to meet all of your energy of infrastructure.

B

Needs outside of being able to hire staff and so forth. The answer to that question today is yes,.

H

When, when all of that emergency funding runs out in 2024, no, we we uh go from uh an annual gain.

J

To an annual loss and not annual loss and 2025 looks like about 1.2 million dollars.

J

Right now, so no, we have a very different situation in a couple of years and quite.

J

Honestly, we're hoping that the state um can become a financial, much larger financial partner.

J

For public transit providers across the state, because we all face the same situation.

J

Related currently is not much of a financial partner.

H

Where's, the funding come from. Overall, it's federal funding. We get uh grants directly from.

J

The federal transit administration uh and then our communities are our second largest source.

A

uh Sibling organizations are like you in new hampshire uh there's.

J

I think eight or nine of us got it, got it and and I'm sorry one follow-up question: are you all.

A

um Having similar experiences, yes, we are all having similar experiences.

F

We have experience in sort of managing people that might be interested in volunteering to drive.

F

People one-on-one with the stipend, so we have uh so we do not directly, but we have a program.

J

Overarching program called the alliance for community transportation and through that we.

J

Helped form uh ready rides, which is a regional volunteer driver program in uh sort of interior.

J

Stratford county parts of rockingham county, we also certainly have a relationship with task.

J

um And there are, there are opportunities there.

J

um I think one of the biggest challenges for volunteer driver programs right now is uh through.

J

The pandemic, they lost a large number of their drivers, who are tend to be older and tended to.

J

Be a little bit nervous about driving folks, and is there any pot of money that has recruitment.

J

uh There is a pot of money for recruitment that is being spent currently across the state through.

J

I think it's aha, um and so, if you're on facebook, you probably see ads for that, there's been some.

J

uh Advertising on mur, I believe, and through other channels, jeff donald on our staff, who's.

J

The regional mobility manager for act on this part of the state is heavily involved in that.

F

Yeah, and is that, is that something that we, that you think we should look at expanding or.

F

Adding I think volunteer driver programs are are, can be a real tremendous asset. We tend to.

J

For whatever reason, we've we've tended to not have as much interest in that in the in.

J

The cities in the region versus the smaller towns.

J

Have some theories behind that, but it's just the way it's it's uh shaken out. Okay, thanks.

E

Red when you said that you guys are funded through 2024, that's with a reduced 40 roots.

E

Eliminated or that's with, we hope we hope with uh the budget that we approve at the end of the month.

J

We'll be able to get back to uh almost all the way back to to full staffing um by march of next year.

J

So that's that's, uh except for maybe one route. um So we hope that we'll be back.

J

To uh probably somewhere around 95 percent of our our system schedules by march of next year,.

A

Other questions, thank you. Rad really appreciate you coming yeah. Thank you. Thanks.

J

I'm happy to follow up in any way you'd like super. Thank you.

B

Okay, before we move into the next section, which is uh just to continue our conversation about.

B

Addressing your priority areas that we have talked in the about in the past, uh we sh, in addition.

B

To the the submission from portsmouth housing authority, I want to bring your attention to that.

B

Third page- and that is a list of of applications that was submitted to the department of health.

B

Department of health or health department health department right yes, help the city's health.

B

Department, city's health department prior to the creation of the task force, um and so the the.

B

Concern for, for certainly for me, is how to address this. I mean this was already in process.

B

um And we either need to subsume it under this process. uh We need to figure out a different way.

B

To address this, and, and certainly um so, I'd like to to hear from the committee members as to your.

B

Thoughts on it, um what do you need to? I? I think we have an obligation uh to respond to the.

B

To the these applicants so that they know either that this is not going forward or that it's going.

B

To be subsumed under this process or there'll, be some other process set up for for consideration.

B

Of these applications and and they're at least three committee members that represent.

B

Organizations on this list, let me give a little color commentary. This list was established by kim.

A

Mcnamara, uh probably in the march or april time frame when and she was soliciting ideas and so.

A

She came last march and april march of this year: oh this, okay yeah. So um this is a running list of.

A

Things that she was compiling, it is by no means exhaustive um and when we were asked to present.

A

To the city council, what we knew to be asked we made sure we included these, but you'll see that.

A

The list includes names for which some dollar amounts are not available, and I think that was.

A

Kim's thought that she had heard from folks, but the the need had not been fully baked or fully.

A

Articulated so by no means is this an exhaustive list. I want to just make that clear. This was.

A

I think of this as a point in time, when kim was collecting information, we're still in information.

A

Gathering mode and so to will's point um the group, I think, could be charged with refining.

A

This lists and narrowing it down, prioritizing it perhaps or making priority type recommendations.

A

That that both speak to individual needs, as well as collect actively identified group needs.

B

Any any thoughts, I wonder if we could have- um and I mean I guess some of them- might be more.

I

Like placeholders like, we want to make sure that some of these organizations, like the.

I

Tbds, but I'm just curious about some of them that actually have dollar amounts like what the actual.

I

Programming is so like seacoast mental health, so I guess if we knew more of the exact idea, then we.

I

Would know that we don't want to replicate that idea. We want to consider that idea, but I just I.

I

Don't know what the idea is we could get like more specifics. Maybe I can tell you on my end.

I

For chase home because I put dollar amounts and you do have a plan right there yeah, so I just.

I

Wonder if we could get that line item idea, kind of more for other ones, so that we're not trying.

I

To replicate things like families, first, that's awesome: what do they need the money for? I guess.

I

I don't know if we reach out and ask that or well I mean somewhere filled out an app. It was.

I

Actually so it might be somewhere already yeah, okay uh kim did forward to me the application.

B

So I I have the whole list of applications, and so the question is uh the question: is.

B

You know: do we want to go through all those applications and and make some determination.

B

um Under you know, I think we also need to keep in mind that we have been having conversations.

B

About uh trying to create a process where we're thinking of a uh in thinking about.

B

The priorities: what are the priorities that we that we are going to work with and then creating.

B

Trying to create, uh you know, address the bigger picture. If, if we can, that doesn't mean that we.

B

We could have a bifurcated process, I think, is what I'm trying to say so that we addressed a.

B

Bigger picture in terms of connecting all these dots and making sure that we are addressing.

B

Transportation and daycare and mental health and so forth, but then maybe setting some funds aside.

B

Specifically to address some of the needs of the applicants that are are certainly on this list.

B

And, as karen said, that's it's it's not. These are I'm sure that there are others out there.

B

um Like like um crossroads, we didn't submit anything. I didn't.

B

Even know that there was that there was this process, because I believe it.

B

Was an unofficial process? I think kim was trying to collect information at the time.

F

And maybe lilith we look at the bigger. What what do we want to? You know the bigger strategic.

F

Planning things and are there agencies in here that can do a component of that yeah.

G

The other thing we need to explore- and you know I'm sort of I should be looking.

G

Into this I mean our place is on here um and that's me.

G

What other funding has that population gotten developmental? You know if they've already, if.

G

They've gotten that separately, we need to find that out, um and you know our place. Speaking of.

G

Placeholders I mean we're not serving anyone yet so maybe lafayette house or I I've gotten in touch.

G

With one sky I have not heard back from them, so there may be other organizations that could.

G

Use but but kim felt it was, you know, important to represent the intellectually and developmentally.

G

Disabled, which one is it under your's glory? It's our place is the second one. The second one.

L

Slightly supportive housing and programming okay. Now this is a question I don't know if.

B

It's if it's possible, but is there a way for us to get a big picture, understanding of where.

B

All of the funding is um so to your point, lori uh about.

B

um Sure that we have a better understanding of all the different funding streams.

B

Address a particular issue, whether it's day care mental health or substance, misuse or.

B

Transportation, because I certainly don't have I'm sure that you know there are just a lot.

B

Of funny streams, particularly because of covet that different organizations are benefiting from.

B

And um I almost feel like we have to have some some understanding of that before we can make.

B

Some of these decisions- and that would be that- would be tough for the city to try and identify.

A

But it's certainly worth pursuing if we could sort of audit all the people who are interested.

A

In funding from us, have they gotten other funding? Is there ask of the march april time frame still.

A

The same is it changed so at least getting back to those folks that that submitted applications.

E

Before we get caught up in the weeds of these specific asks, some that have dollars associated.

E

Some that don't have dollars associated many which are not represented on this list at all, can we.

E

Talk about how is a committee we're thinking we are going to approach the process of.

E

Meeting the objectives of our mission, so I don't know that it's I don't.

E

Personally, I don't feel comfortable making a decision about how much a.

E

Specific organization should receive- or not I don't being in the non-profit sector, for as.

E

Long as I have been, I feel like I'm never going to know what an organization needs.

E

I think it's a really wise idea that there'd be some sort of process to gather this information.

E

And that an organization would need to disclose if they've received other funding, but whether.

E

Or not that impacts the decision of this committee to put forth to the city council.

E

Ultimately, to make the decision we're not making the decision, I'm wondering if we can think about.

E

What that might look like so would would it be like um an open call and we invite organizations.

E

That are in the priority areas that we have identified to put forth their what their project.

E

Would be what their funding request would be if they've received other funding? It comes to this.

E

Committee and then maybe we break up in priority areas and we can identify where there might be.

E

Some collaborative opportunities and then we just sort of make a a big list of recommendations based.

E

On priorities and provide that to the council, and that way we don't have to get so stuck on like.

E

This group asked for this amount of money that grew best for that amount of money.

E

um Certainly circle back to these folks, since they've already put in some effort to complete an application, but just an I feel like we're going to get stuck if we just focus.

E

Too narrowly on portsmouth housing this and we still don't know what the um non-profit arts group.

E

The details of that, but they have their own process, but there could so just like I didn't.

E

Know that all of these organizations submitted a request to the public health department.

E

We also don't like pmac is on here, but I imagine, pmac probably has made a request.

E

Under that other bucket, so I just kind of.

E

Circling back to where I have a a real concern is that there's agencies not intending.

E

To try to get more of the pie than theirs to give. But when we all know how nonprofits have.

E

To do our business right, we apply to every single opportunity that is put before us and we just hope.

E

For the best, so I think if pmac is submitting here and there I'm just using them as an example, yeah.

E

No disrespect and then we also still have like the whole school funding thing and we haven't.

E

Like that's not represented anywhere, so I'm just trying to think forward of how this is going to.

E

Play out in the end and how we can based on a lot of factors and time limit of time. Maybe if we can.

E

Think about that I don't mind making any sense whatsoever yeah. Yes, I just want to say that.

G

Also, a few meetings back, we talked about thinking outside the box pilot programs and looking at our.

G

Needs list that we came up with in figuring out, so it's kind of like a top-down approach versus.

G

Who wants money submit your applications? Then we just give them the money kind of thing you.

G

Know what I mean yeah, so I think we got to decide which way we're going to go. We're either gonna. You.

G

Know think think top down and how can we change the community? I wouldn't use the word top down.

B

Because that that is a negative connotation, I'm just thinking big picture, then dividing.

G

It up in a little tiny pockets but cameron. The question is going: if this task force once we make.

B

Recommendations to the tech to the city council. uh How would that like they like to see those.

B

Recommendations would they like to see them us make recommendations like coming up with a list.

B

Of non-profits that should get a certain amount, or should it be more generic and say: okay, these.

B

Are the priority areas priority areas we see uh as as needed, um post covet? You know and I feel.

A

Like it's more of the latter, I think it puts you in an awkward spot of naming names and choosing.

A

um But and don't forget, use the the framework of being a task force for good you're, not the.

A

Ultimate arbiter, the city council will be so there's pressure off in that regard, and I think.

A

They're looking for priorities and themes because they came to you all because you're the experts.

A

And they are not, and they are relying on experts to help them make the decisions on the money and.

A

So if it's thematic, um that's great and then as ultimate arbiters, they can decide how to divvy it.

A

Up and put the city staff along with non-profit that could be a process, a follow-up process for.

B

Yeah, I don't think we need to get hung up on process to lori's concern more to what.

A

Is it we wish that someone addresses someone the ultimate arbiter of the of the financial decision.

B

Which is great, thank you. Thank you that does take some pressure off. It does take some pressure off.

B

And and- uh and I think it just continues to take us down the path where we started to talk about.

B

Which is those priority areas and those themes so to get back to those uh to that conversation.

B

um And so we heard from pha around housing and we heard from uh rad on transportation.

B

um And well, I had been asked to reach out to um zach mclaughlin from the school department and.

I

I mean I'm meeting him with him. Finally, at one o'clock after this, so I was going to hopefully.

I

Invite him to our next meeting if people are still interested in to hear from him, yeah.

I

Because there is that esser arpa discussion and which is what and what their needs are.

I

So hopefully, he'll be able to come next tuesday. I'm super curious about that abby. I went on the.

E

School's um the district-wide website, and it does look like there's.

E

Been some work, I don't know. I can't tell when these spreadsheets were dated populated, there's.

I

Been a few meetings and I was able to talk to um um one of the school board: margo peabody she's, a.

I

Vice chair last week we had a phone conversation just about their process and it sounds similar to.

I

What we're trying to figure out the process of how do you submit an idea um and their decision.

I

That it's not really that the school board has to vote on it, but they do have to have had a.

I

Conversation to prove it, so you can't just be kind of you know sending ideas through.

I

um So she was actually reaching out to nathan who's the business administrator to get back.

I

To me on, what does that actually look like? How do you submit ideas.

I

um But she did have information in terms of they sort of have a framework of percentages of where.

I

The money is going to different kind of pots and if I can jump in just like the city had some.

A

Public hearings on what do people want to see the money used for the school board? I believe has had.

A

Two listening sessions relative to what do people want to and they had a survey too yep and a survey.

A

Yeah and but I don't know that they've allocated anything yet formally yeah, but she did just say.

I

Kind of like they've yeah, she was telling me like last april, one of the school board meetings. They.

I

Did go through like 50 is for infrastructure, nine prefer loss. So you know she went through learning.

I

Loss was 12 percent um learning, loss for staff nine percent, so their idea of breaking it down.

I

Where they want to put the money, um but it hasn't been put yet so that's why I think it.

I

Could overlap and, as you said, karen, it would be kind of one of the things we could come up.

I

With a great idea, and then it would kind of be out of our hands for people to say well, that's.

I

Really school, that's really arpa and I think we're just coming up with the ideas which would be great.

E

Yeah, that would be nice if we didn't have to decide what pot the money comes from, nor how.

E

Much of that pops dedicated where you can use this these up, because we have the applications.

G

Because we do and they're as we're gathering needs that should be in the application, so you.

G

Know inviting people to speak here. This is just one more way to get information about the needs.

B

Well again, I I can disseminate the the the applications to the task force. I have.

B

Them and if, if you are willing to spend some time looking at those, we can, we can.

B

They shouldn't be super long. I think they're, one pages.

B

They might be worth updating too.

K

Yeah, well, I think that's a good idea, because I, I think, like lori's point about learning a.

K

Little bit more yeah, um I mean just hearing from the public housing authority and coast today. I.

K

Mean I'm much more informed than I was you know a couple hours ago, um so I think some transparency.

K

About programs and pilots and and reasons for um the need, would would help us tremendously.

K

Yeah and it sounded like abby, you were familiar with what kelly was saying about some of the.

E

um Projects that they have planned and where that can support some of the at-risk students.

E

So there could be some synergy and collaboration there, 100, because green leaf is something that.

I

They've always run, and then it is interesting when you think about you know that there's green leaf and then there's mc these all these programs. But how could we kind of synthesize.

I

And get transportation do all these things? Those are the ideas that right we could maybe support.

E

And so how much of it can we say like okay, so portsmouth housing authority has already put.

E

Forth their request of the city, we don't have to worry about, like that's off our bucket of concerns.

E

um And how much can we look at for at-risk youth that fall into that right, demographic, I'm, not sure.

E

I'm using the right language to really describe what I want to say, but how much can we say? Okay,.

E

That initiative in that project that's got some funding behind it. Now we can go over.

E

Here and focus on mental health or whatever yeah. How did these numbers get decide in that.

M

The portsmouth housing authority put that proposal forward and they attached members.

M

To them, it's nothing, that's been approved, okay, it's not been approved, but they they.

H

Are the ones that okay and how about this one, I guess I'd, ask nancy! You gotta grab the mic.

H

I'm interested in um you know have when we attended the city council meeting right here.

H

um The arpa funding has that all been. How has that all decided show me the shoot you're looking at.

A

This one yep, so the this list represents the request from department, city departments and.

A

They're listed city department they're all listed on the left, the ones that are all listed. Okay.

A

Some say no, some say: no, because would they be eligible for a capital improvement plan. Okay,.

A

Conclusion: that's a budgeting tool for for us. Okay. So if we're up to the city, the city could.

A

Spend that money two and a half times over and the point was to show interest in the.

A

Program and what we understand to be eligible. But that doesn't mean that they will all get to.

A

See the light of day or be supported by the policy decision makers, who are the council.

A

So this still has to be gust in a form that is not inclusive of us. We, we almost don't need to.

A

Worry about that, but the request came from the group earlier. What have you spent the? What have.

A

You obligated the arpa funds on and that is in the presentation page. I believe it's five or.

A

Six, I think the only one listed here karen that could be duplicative is the marketing for local.

E

And our local arts and cultural organizations- I don't know if that that's under the economic.

E

Development department, it's the third one down yeah. I think they probably wouldn't venn diagram.

A

With this group, the one I think that could is number four health, three million kim is intent on.

A

Set aside setting aside funds to address things that come out of her needs assessment, many of.

A

Those might be items that we all would support as a group. The problem is timing, and so.

A

um Reiterating on timing, if we don't know what the needs are yet this group could certainly.

A

Ask for an extension to to consider um the the follow-through on that. When will these decisions.

A

Be made for for these, we don't have a timetable for that. We have to obligate all of the remaining.

A

Funds by december of 24 and spend them 24 by december of 2026., and I don't think we really.

B

Should get hung up on that nancy? I think we, no I'm just curious because we was presented to us. I want.

H

To know how that relates to you know the we have a specific task in front of us and I think we have.

B

A timeline and we need to come up with the themes and the priorities based on the information we've.

B

Heard and we've read about and so um kind of just because we have less than five minutes any.

B

Other comments related to priorities and themes that we already have on the list. Anything else.

A

Can I jump ahead to next meeting speakers? In addition to dr mclaughlin could be.

A

um Kim could have an update on where she is with the needs assessment it. It won't be terribly long.

A

But I think we should have her on our agenda as a standing item or maybe every other meeting to tell.

A

Us how she's doing she said she'd be available on october 4th right. I also reached out to donna lazu.

B

Who's uh donald lee was the ceo for southern new action services, which is the cap for rockingham.

B

County, um so I'm waiting to hear back from her see if she can come out or send a representative to.

B

Talk about uh kind of county-wide needs. We also, um I invited the seacoast public health network.

N

And they can come to the meeting on the fourth, um so I will wait for a confirmation on that, but we.

N

Could probably put that on the agenda? That's great! um I'm also wondering because we have a theme of.

N

Transparency here right and wanting to really embrace all voices, because I think why we're.

N

Sitting here is because we represent the voices unheard right, um while we have also many of us.

N

Also put in a bid for these funds right, but we're not voting on anything right. um However, should we.

N

Be focusing on bringing in, like you said like that idea, one call, but we can help prepare the speakers.

N

That this is what we're going to be asking, and this is the nature and have everybody on a call.

N

Or in person and for the existing list, or were we saying to disregard the list? I was unclear. I think.

A

The idea would be to refine the list to make sure those folks still have an ask for consideration.

A

Or did they meet their need somewhere else? I'm almost thinking now that I've said all of.

E

That out loud, another thought popped into my head that I'm wondering if we first pass anyway, almost.

E

Ignore the dollar signs associated with any of the requests and really really just focus on.

E

Like confirm that we have a list of priorities which I think we do and.

E

Then what organizations fall within those lists of priorities? That's a meeting in and of itself.

E

um Maybe we can do some background work in between meetings to help get that list.

E

um Complete and then once we see who falls into what bucket, then we can figure out what.

E

The next step might be whether it's do we invite people. Do we put that list to the council and say.

E

Here it is, I I just I'm, I'm really wondering like where I know that they.

E

Have asked us to decide or give input about where this remaining funding should be spent.

E

And maybe they'll come back to us and say we would like you as a task force to provide that.

E

Information and do additional work, but if maybe just providing them with those priority areas.

E

And here's the organizations that work within those areas and they can tell you what they need.

F

To go to somersworth, I think we're good. I think we're wrapped up.

B

Yeah we're almost we're almost done, but um just to finish up on that lori that um I think going.

B

We can, we can certainly go back to this list and and uh ask them to confirm their their needs and.

B

I think you're right, we don't need to get into the dollar numbers and we're basically just confirming.

B

The list of priorities and any if there are others that we need to add them, we could discuss those so.

B

um I karen, how do you think we should I mean I certainly can follow up with this list or I don't.

B

Know if, if the city wants to take that on or how should we I'm hesitant to take that on I'm happy.

A

To be a resource to the task force, um okay, so I can, I can certainly reach out to them, and maybe.

B

um I'll have to give some thought as to how we want to get them to confirm their needs.

B

um Whether they, you know whether it's a phone call or what, if you just let them, know that.

B

I mean it's in front of us now: I'm gonna do public comment yeah so that could that could be that's a.

A

Good eating in and of itself just considering time management yeah, and can I also make a request that.

E

Anybody who can't attend a meeting watches the recording before they come to the next meeting.

E

Because that's going to save us a bunch of time, okay, thank you. That said I'll.

B

Entertain a motion to adjourn second moved and seconded seconded 103.. Okay, thank you.