City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon COVID Response Task Force Committee, 26 Jul 2022

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From YouTube: 7.26.2022 COVID Response Task Force

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7.26.2022 COVID Response Task Force

A

Good afternoon everyone I'm karen connard city manager and I'm I'm happy to welcome you all to.

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The first meeting of the we're our first order of business will be to rename ourselves that's.

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Way too long a title, um I keep referring to this as the covid recovery task force and I'm hopeful.

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That we could maybe shorten it to something like that, but that being said, thank you all for for.

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Joining uh I speak for councillor bagley, who we'll hear from in a moment about the importance of of.

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Your participation and how we stand up this this task force, so the first order of business would be.

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To go around and explain: uh share your name what organization you're with and I think we'll leave.

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It at that for now, but um I'm karen conard, I'm here to represent the city of portsmouth. I will be.

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Joined by other city staff, as may be appropriate, including uh the health officer kim mcnamara.

B

Hey everyone kathy beebe, I'm the executive director at haven, violence, prevention and support.

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Services, oh, let me mention sorry kathy that when you speak, speak move the microphone as close to.

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You as possible, it's really hard to hear uh when for recording purposes so joining here. I am again.

B

Yes, thank you. I'm kathy beebe, I'm the executive director of haven, violence prevention and support.

B

Services I'm laurie waltz. I am the executive director of leadership, seacoast, janet lotch.

C

Ceo for greater seacoast community health, linda braulette, ceo of my home, address 260 thornton.

D

Street retired postmath teacher there you go, will arvel's uh executive director of crossroads.

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House hi I'm amber buttermore, a portsmouth citizen and fundraising chair for dondero pta.

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Hi, I'm molly wilson, I'm a pediatric occupational therapist and a business owner in town.

G

Hi everybody I'm whitney brown, I'm the manager of safe harbor recovery center of granite pathways.

H

Hi everyone I'm andrew bagley, I'm a city councilor. I would share that. We have other members of the.

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Committee that weren't able to make this meeting and if it makes sense for those following along.

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I'm happy to read those names off. We have andrea, ardito, abby, frank tanya, marino, lori, mcintosh,.

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Mimi wheeler and nancy brown- and I think that's it in terms of who's here and who isn't here.

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I should mention that as city manager, I'm in an ex official capacity, I don't vote.

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um And you all will serve as the primary um opinion, policymakers and and I'm happy to.

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Be the resource so um and because, because I can't vote, I cannot serve as an officer.

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So I said I would take a crack at looking for a nomination of officers. It would be ideal to have.

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A chairman of this task force or co-chairs, if that feels less onerous.

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We will definitely need someone to take minutes and we can talk about what that feels like and how.

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And how minimal minimalistic the minutes need can be, and uh so I'll open it up to.

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This group to to have that conversation about who's going to lead this group.

E

Weren't there, a couple of names that had already been thrown about or had folks that had stepped up.

E

And volunteered, or they were at least to you. Yes, there were a couple that were brought up.

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To me, and I will be happy to share them now- we're happy to hear what people have to say.

A

That sounded a lot more cryptic than I needed to. I know I mentioned I'm happy to co-chair, but I.

B

Would love to have it be a co-chair versus chair? We have. We have a brave soul who is willing to.

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Coach her as long as I don't take the minutes, that's not a bad call. That's a really good call.

E

And I believe I had also mentioned to you that I'd be willing to co-chair, because I knew.

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You were being willing willing to step up and coach her, so I'd be happy to do.

E

It with you, if that's if everybody agrees to that yeah, I think this is nancy brown.

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Nancy is that you are you nancy? You are hop on up, so um it sounds like we have two.

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Willing people to serve as co-chairs could could one uh one of you voting members of.

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The task force make that motion and so and could someone else? Second it unless.

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There are other nominations we'd like to hear from are people comfortable with that? Yes, all.

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Right so one of you, wonderful people, needs and andrew, and I don't count as voting members.

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It would be great if one person could make that motion if another person could. Second, that motion.

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I'll motion that kathy beebe and will arvello are co-chairs of this soon to be renamed. Maybe.

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Who seconded that janet? Thank you janet.

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Okay, great and I'm happy to take minutes just for this one meeting, since I'm.

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Thank you and all the talking so far, all right, so we have. uh We have emotion. Oh sorry, you're going.

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To say that we have a motion in a second and um is our people comfortable voting on the co-chairs.

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And if so, um all in favor, please say aye aye any opposed all right. Now the tough vote who.

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Wants to be the bare bones minute taker, because as a public body and I'll share with you in a.

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Second and I'll share with you now that we've put forth a right to know document which explains.

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How public bodies need to hold meetings? We need to be open to the public. We need to be.

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Able to be accessible and we've made a great strides to make meetings accessible to folks.

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Virtually and remotely- and we need to keep minutes that will be kept on the city's website.

E

In terms of who takes the minutes, uh how does that so there's somebody at the city that will.

E

Help them I mean: how does how do the minutes get to be online and so on as well right? So if one.

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One of you, wonderful people are willing to take some minutes and you send them to.

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My assistant jessica, who was the person who set this up, she will share them.

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With the production team and the back of house, so we will get them on the website.

C

I'm okay to take minutes. Thank you janet, thank you. So could someone um kindly make a motion.

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To nominate janet for secretary I'll make a motion to nominate janet latch for uh secretary.

J

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Okay, um any other nominations. Any discussion on that before she changes her mind all in favor.

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Please uh say hi any opposed great. I think those are all the officers we need at this time. I think.

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If this group decides that other officers are needed, we can take that up so now. At this moment,.

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um It would be best to hear from councilor andrew bagley who, um who brought this item.

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Forth initially so floor is yours. Counselor. Thank you, city manager, um first I'll say all these.

H

Meetings are recorded and they'll be posted on our youtube channel. So um with the minute taking it's.

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It's good to have like an outline, but you don't have to get too detailed because.

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You can always refer to the video provided there aren't any technical difficulties.

H

So I'll start by reading off the charge, uh the kovid response task force blue ribbon committee.

H

Is a mouthful is for six months to evaluate the challenges and identify low-cost, high-impact.

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Recovery solutions that use arpa monies the crtf will be composed of citizens of portsmouth local.

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Non-Profit representatives and the city manager, as an ex-official member who can incorporate city.

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Staff and resources, the initial objective of the crtf, will be to meet, discuss and survey. The needs.

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Of the community and incorporate their findings into recovery plan, the crtf will be fashioned that.

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Input from residents is well defined and simple to do with public meetings of various locations.

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And times throughout the city, there would also be dedicated web page on the city site that outlines.

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The proceedings and there's a contact button for residents to make recommendations and suggestions.

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The crtf will allow the city of portsmouth to build a strong, resilient and equitable.

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Recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity.

H

First, I want to thank you all for for giving up your valuable time and being willing to serve.

H

The idea for this committee came to me through several residents that were concerned about.

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Particularly the youth or less advantaged people of getting left behind because of.

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Covid so the best description of kovid and how to affect people.

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That I've heard is is that we were all in the same storm together, but we were all on different boats.

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And some of us weren't on boats, we just had a life vest and some of us were treading water. I.

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Think is the best way to describe it. So the idea for this committee is to take residents with.

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Backgrounds that are particularly well suited, such as linda burleigh, who used to be a elementary.

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School teacher here in town, as well as leaders from local non-profits that work with those.

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Communities and have firsthand knowledge my hope for this community or for this committee, is that.

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By working together, you guys can identify solutions to problems that are low cost and having.

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A high impact- and I know abby frank- isn't here today, but one of the this happened pre-coveted.

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But one of the things that I saw as a great solution is that little harbor school on fridays.

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They have something called sunrise squad and it's a group of k through 5th grade students.

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Who, who gather in the cafeteria in the morning have breakfast, and that was always happening, but.

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What they incorporated was one friday a month the fire department comes in and provides some local.

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Leadership role models one friday month, I believe library comes in and then they also have rotating.

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Guest visits so those four fridays a month they're given a chance for these children.

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For whatever reason have been nominated to be part of this group, uh interaction with.

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With adults in the community that they might not otherwise have so it's not a very expensive.

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Thing to do I mean the fire department, they they show up in their ambulance and their fire truck.

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And if there's a fire call they they obviously even go to the fire call, but it's otherwise a.

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Sunk cost because we're already paying the fire department uh their salaries to be there. So we're.

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Really maximizing the impact without much cause cost, so some of the things I thought of I know.

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We're fairly well through the summer, but summer camps and summer activities are difficult for some.

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Members of our community, because of transportation because of cost uh because of uh food scarcity,.

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Things like that, so uh one stat that I heard was that uh band enrollment in the schools is down.

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By 50 since covid, so that was an opportunity for students to to gather in a school music.

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um You know gather together, do an activity, that's outside of the standard required.

H

um Things, but because of covid and because of the challenges of covid things that, like.

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That have dropped off considerably and- and I don't know the stats. But if you looked.

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I would imagine that families that are struggling more than others are probably less likely to.

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Participate in these types of things and and the barriers to those that I hear over and over again.

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Are things like transportation and child care? So I think that the task of this group is to look at.

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The population as a whole, but it should be cognizant of the fact that the younger you are the.

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More likely, this has disproportionately affected you, the other thing that is important to be aware.

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Of is, for instance, our kindergartners and first graders. The vast majority of their life has been.

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During covid, so they're coming to school without having had the social interactions and activities.

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That you know previous generations have had so I I would encourage the community, the committee to.

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Look at the city as a whole, but I would focus on how we can best uh help our youth and the charge.

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Is you you are all the people with the expertise I am not so the charge is. This is the goal.

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um But how we best get there, I think, is something that this committee is going to be able to develop.

H

And, as you guys have, some meetings find your fee footing and where's the best places to.

H

Implement resources- one thing I would add to that is, I believe, the vote of the council.

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Reflected that this group would work for six months or until the end of the calendar year.

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And provide a report, yes, at the end of this calendar year as to progress.

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Made and recommendations, if any or a plan to to to map out how to best move forward.

E

And it's my understanding that the task force can either end. Then there or maybe.

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Move forward into the new year, possibly if, if the council thinks it's appropriate.

E

Yeah more time, I think we didn't want to put up too many restrictions, but we also wanted to.

H

Put an end date on it so that we had a target to work towards um and then at you know, when we get.

H

The synopsis of this this may be a committee that continues in some form or shape, maybe.

H

It's altered, or maybe it doesn't, maybe we've accomplished all our goals, but I don't think.

H

I think long-term covet's going to be with us and and we're going to require.

H

You know solutions for the long term and I hope that there's some synergies that are created here.

H

By bringing people that are all working together with uh to make our community better, but maybe.

H

I've been working a little bit in silos because they're unaware of what other groups and.

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Organizations are doing so, maybe by combining some resources we can effectively get more done, but.

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uh It's really going to be up to you guys over the next six months to to chart a course, and then you.

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Know come to the council with your asks and what you think we can do to make the community better.

C

And do we have to have measures for any activity that we create or being measures for success or.

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Metrics anything, I think, that's for the group to determine it's really open-ended.

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And I would add that, by virtue of forming this as a blue ribbon committee, it has the.

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Ability legislatively to operate until the end of this council's term, which would be december.

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Of 2023, so I think we should look at december as a good check-in uh status report. Do we want to stay.

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Together, do we want to keep working together? Does it make sense? You know we can take that evaluation.

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At that point, but um each each time the council turns over every two years they have an ability to.

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Stand up new blue ribbon committees, renew existing ones or sunset, those that don't seem to have a.

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Purpose anymore, so that's that's. The only reason I think blue ribbon committee is on the letterhead.

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um Yes, it'll be my three favorite words to to temporarily remove, so we don't get you.

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Know so long-winded question: what was what was your initial question that she was responsible.

C

Whether or not we have to have measures for any activity or a program that we develop.

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Or make recommendations for that's another good point that this is an advisory body to the council.

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So what this group will do is make recommendations that the council will then act on as the.

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Policy creators for the city karen can and andrew can ask a question about because you.

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Mentioned it several times, and that is about the future, so this could end at the end of.

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The year or possibly could continue at least through the end of the this council's term.

E

um Would, and- and this is the just the way, I think- because I think uh about.

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I don't think long short term, I think long term. um Would it be useful- and I don't know if this exists.

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Currently, so that's why I'm asking the question with: is there a task force or a committee that.

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That is thinking about the next 10 20 years for portsmouth. um In terms of what portsmouth may look.

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Like how do we prepare for continue to prepare for change over time and so forth? And I'm just.

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Thinking, for example, just one exam one example is obviously the housing issue. Workforce.

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Demographic shifts and so forth, so is there um any benefit for this body to be thinking not just.

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Near-Term but also longer term, in terms of what and now we're celebrating, portsmouth 400 so again,.

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For me, it's what is portsmouth look like in the next 10 years and how do we prepare ourselves to.

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Make sure that we're all doing the right things to make portsmouth fake a balanced, healthy community.

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And that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But but I think right.

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Now, at least in my estimation, portsmouth does not serve all of its residents equally.

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um Or equitably, and so that's uh that's a big concern of of mine, but not just enforcement. I'm.

E

Talking all of new hampshire, sure yeah, I would say that the charge for this you know that's a great.

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Question- and we do look at that with different groups and committees- the initial charge for this.

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Committee is is the short term in the sense that you know, kova just happened and how do we quickly.

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Right, the chef I mean, obviously, things have been done and how do we continue to do those things.

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Now there may be some long-term plans that grow out of this, but I think the the acute.

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Needs and the immediate needs are primarily the focus if, if I can add to that, the city is.

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Stands up a 10-year master plan process and we lasted that in 2015. So we are looking for a new.

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One to start in 2025, which really means late 2023, all of 2024. We are working toward that.

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Next 10-year master plan, so I would see that the work that this group does helps inform and.

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Perhaps could live on in some capacity toward that conversation. Thank you sure.

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And maybe that, um but I don't mean to keep running this meeting.

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You guys want to take over. I can stop at any time.

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Maybe that's a nice segue unless people have questions about where we are so far into the.

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Arpa funding and the status of uh where that is so the city was the is the recipient of.

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12.88 million dollars and council in at any time we have utilized 57 and a half percent.

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Of that 12.88 million to date, leaving 42 and a half percent or 5.4 million dollars.

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In round numbers, so much of the funding was used to address shortfalls in the budget, given.

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Changes in inflation and changes that we've all seen so it was used in a manner consistent with.

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Why we got the upper money in the first place, to offset the effects of covid so as not to.

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Adversely impact taxpayers when it came to budget time, which was a way to equitably, distribute.

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The the funds, if you will the challenge to the and the opportunity really is for the council, is.

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To decide how best to utilize and spend the rest of that money in terms of mechanics, we have until.

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December 31st of 2024 to obligate all of the money and december 31 2026 to expend all of the money.

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So I'll speak for the counselor and then I'll stop talking and let him speak for himself to say.

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The council is looking for guidance on how best to to handle the the remaining distribution and who.

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Should be the beneficiaries? How is that best and most equitably distributed? Should a portion of it.

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Go toward next year's budget should a portion of it be reserved for the fy 25 budget. Should some of.

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It go to some short-term needs that are identified in part by folks like yourselves, so yeah, and I.

H

Guess I would further point out that you know we did get this money, um but we're not grasping at.

H

A place where to spend it there there's a lot of projects within the city that could qualify.

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For this money, because I think we've had the final rules, what we're trying to do is making sure that.

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We spend in a way that we get the most benefit for the community out of this money. So there's.

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Going to be a lot of competition for these monies from various groups throughout the city, what we.

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Want to identify as a council is: where do we get the most impact? Where do we make the most.

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Benefit for the community, in the spirit of why the money was awarded to the city by the federal.

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Government, so what we're looking to do is really maximize the value of this dollar, so we don't want.

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To spend it in a way just because it technically qualifies, we want to spend it in a way that.

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Is most beneficial to the citizen, supports men so question on that, so the 5.4 million dollars.

E

Is that going to remain static for now, meaning that those five point any portion of those.

E

5.4 million dollars will not be spent down so that we're making decisions on 5.4 million not.

E

4 million- or you know in the next few months or anything like that- that's a good question. That's a.

H

Good question: I would um since there's so much so many asks of this 5.4 million. I would I wouldn't.

H

Hazard a guess at the number, but I would say it's considerably smaller than that: 5.4 million.

H

That would probably be um at the disposal of this committee, so it's really going to come down to the.

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Ideas you come up with and and how much they cost and how much support there is on the council to.

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To commit to those items so we're kind of in a race against time. Yes, and no, I I think I think.

A

This council really wants to be thoughtful with how it doles out the rest of the money.

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Yeah, I was joking if, if, if you were in my seat, you'd have a folder this thick from.

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Different departments requests for opera, so we could have spent the money 17 times over.

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We have heard from the arts and non-profit blue ribbon committee that they would they.

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Have requested as much as four percent of the total amount, which is about 480 000, to go.

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Toward supports for a support for the financial support for the arts and nonprofit community.

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So that ask is sort of out there in the ethernet on the table, what we, I think this group is charged.

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With doing is understanding the asks that haven't come forward yet or how to best synthesize them.

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And maybe this group individually could do great things, but when you're all together in one room.

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Perhaps you we can learn that people are trying to best utilize, the money. So it's not so it's.

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Most efficient there could be ways that you all are working independently of one another.

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That may benefit from a conversation about money on the table and and how? How do things go about.

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Being delivered, uh are they is it existing services? Is it services that we've yet to identify.

A

Things like that, so when we're looking at recommendations, so we really should be looking.

B

At the costs associated with all of whatever those would be, I think, to the extent practical, yes, yeah.

B

Yeah, I wouldn't get hung up on it, but it's it would certainly help inform the conversation.

H

I guess the best way to say is that there's going to be plenty of competing interests for.

H

This money, so that the best ideas will rise to the top one area that it may be.

H

Best served by this committee is kind of the issue of the commons. You know.

H

Where you have uh the town green and it's to everybody's benefit, to not, you know, have their.

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Animals graze on there too much so that they get used up, however, to the individual's benefit.

H

That their animals graze as much as possible in there. So if this committee identified.

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Gaps in the support services that maybe no organization really wants to take on, but.

H

All organizations would benefit from. I think that might be a you know, instance, where this committee.

H

Makes a lot of sense and could have a big impact. I don't have a specific example of that, but.

H

You know like say, for instance, a transportation component. You know.

H

Of getting from from a house to a non-profit to to another nonprofit and back to that house, you know.

H

Whose job is that? Who, who could best fill that need um things of the along those lines?.

E

Can I make an ask that the committee be kept informed of if, for example, the 5.4 million.

E

Amount gets spent to some degree that we are informed of what that amount is, so that, when.

E

We're having public hearings we're not speaking about 5.4 million we're actually speaking about.

E

What the actual amount is, because I can see some frustration being happening.

E

With people coming forward ideas and if the resources continue to diminish over time.

E

Then you know: what's the exercise I mean we'll get a lot of good stuff out of it, but I can see some.

E

Some kind of questions or frustrations coming forth on that I I will take that as my charge.

A

On on a regular basis, every time we meet to update the group, but we cannot spend.

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Any arpa money we the city without getting approval from council, so it will be, it will be in.

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A public process, but I wouldn't expect all of you to follow council meetings if you don't wish to or.

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Normally do so that would be on my plate on a on a every agenda, I'll make sure that that this group.

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Knows if anything changes I think at this point I don't anticipate anything changing. In addition,.

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To budget offsets and certain things directly related to covet the one thing that we did ask for.

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And that we should talk about at a future meeting when it's appropriate to do so. Is that.

A

Kim mcnamara our health officer, and if you haven't I I would think everybody at this table must have.

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Either met or knows of kim, she is looking to update the city's community health public. Well,.

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We're doing a health assessment, it's a updating, our community health, public health profile.

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And a lot of the information that's going to come from that will be really useful to not only this.

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Group, but um you know the city administration and how we plan moving forward. The council.

A

So that was 65 000 out of the 12.88 million that kim lobbied for successfully. I believe it was may.

A

So she is working to get that pulled together right now, so that will be a a good.

A

Infusion of information to this group for sure, and one of the things I'll say about.

H

The community health assessment, why it's such a good ask and something to keep in mind- is a lot of.

H

Non-Profits use the community health assessment to then write for grants, so this is the amount.

H

Of money that we spent, but then we get a much bigger return on the money because of what it.

H

Can lead to and help to so so anytime? We can do that where we leverage resources to.

H

Then gain more resources. That's that's always ideal. I have a couple of questions.

I

One of them will primarily address. um I think it will be helpful for this group and and if.

I

We need to find the information, that's fine and if it can be shared with us, that's even better.

I

But to understand what asks are in the pipeline for the money.

I

In case, there's any opportunity for us to collaborate and include those already.

I

Percolating ideas and requests. Second question is: what are the technical requirements of how.

I

The money can be spent or cannot be spent, and how can we obtain that information and the third.

I

Question that I had has escaped my mind, so I'm sure another smart person here is going to ask it.

J

Don't you think, that's a part of what came how what came with the money, some restrictions or.

J

Comments on what how the money should be used, it did and jane farini is one of our city attorneys.

A

And she is our in-house rule she's the one who makes sure we follow all the rules related to the.

A

Final rule of arpa, which is this 400-page document, so I'm thinking future agendas can include an.

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Update from jane on what we should and shouldn't be thinking about, in addition to kim coming forth,.

A

With the status of the health assessment, so maybe at the next meeting we get jane in here, yeah would.

J

You be able to come to a meeting sometime and talk to us right. I think it would be appropriate to be.

A

At the next meeting I'll leave that up to the co-chairs, who will work to develop agendas but.

A

Right, but this is exactly this is perfect. This is exactly where this group needs to go. You ask.

A

The question because we live this and it's hard to get- you don't want to get in my head, but you.

A

It would be good to understand what you guys need for baseline information to then.

A

Start moving forward so related to baseline information. um I'm thinking that we.

E

Certainly, for me I'll speak for myself, I need to understand from a demographer.

E

Or an economic development person or city you mentioned kim mcnamara, so anything related to.

E

What are the issues that portsmouth is dealing around health and continuum of care and.

E

What are we in terms of economic development? What, where are the gaps in terms of demography,.

E

You know what does the population look like and where are the the underserved.

E

Communities where they exist, what are they, what what are they not getting? Those kinds of things.

E

And I mean for me, I I need to kind of under that's the puzzle, understanding what the puzzle looks.

E

Like um or the different pieces of the puzzle look like so that we can make informed decisions.

B

But did I understand from what you said that we really should be focusing on youth? I would say.

H

It's focusing on needs of the community, but with an emphasis on youth, because I think they've been.

H

Most disproportionately affected, but that may be um youth in single parent households and how.

H

Do we make single parent households more robust? So it's I don't want to say it's just youth and.

H

And to the demographics, we could have someone from the udc come in.

H

But I think it might be valuable for this committee, since you guys are aware of.

H

Lots of areas where there's needs you know to maybe do a survey of where you think the.

H

Most needs are, and then you have a framework from each person's perspective of where you think maybe.

H

The top three of the top five things that could be done and then, by doing a cert I think we can set.

H

Up surveys fairly easily yep, we can maybe by doing a couple surveys during the first few meetings.

H

Because the city may not have that information, we'll have some of it, but we may not have.

H

As up-to-date uh boots on the ground information, as as you folks may have so, services of the.

E

General population you mean right or where you see the things are falling through yeah and as.

A

We're working to get the public health assessment data that will speak to the demographics and what.

A

We're seeing now it would be be great to mine, the talent and the information and the.

A

Base of knowledge you all have in the room. That's exactly why you're here so we've got.

A

To make sure that every meeting provides ample time for as a forum for for, sharing and and.

A

Building, can I just oh sorry, go ahead, um so um I love this idea about defining restrictions.

G

Around the spending having jane in next meeting, I would love us to develop an actual objective.

G

So we know when we stray from it and objective measures. So we know when we've hit the mark.

G

At the beginning, probably or so I know when I'm talking out of turn and stuff um and also.

G

As for the 40 um 480 000, uh the arts and non-profit, is that already dedicated.

G

And is that part of the 42 percent that hasn't been is or is that the 57 percent that has been.

G

Dedicated it's it's on the table for discussion. It has not been approved by anybody, but it's.

A

It's it would if it were funded, it would come out of the remaining balance. All right and it's an ask.

A

On the table, right now: okay yeah- that was my other question. Thank you. But now I have another question.

I

Or a comment, maybe more so um I think mental health needs are.

I

Really really important to be addressed, and I don't know if there's another group currently.

I

Working with the city on that and if that would fit into sort of our objective. um But I would also.

I

Say that that probably doesn't have age restrictions around it, um but I there's.

I

Just been so much happening lately, and I think that this could be a good opportunity.

H

I think that's an excellent point, so this this committee would be the committee to.

H

Address mental health needs uh housing needs, food security needs all of those types of needs and and.

H

That's why I think, maybe a survey is such a good idea, because maybe there's one or two needs that.

I

Really rise really rise to the top, and then we need to find solutions for.

G

Has anyone used the wisdom portal uh department of health, and even would we find that data there.

G

A lot of the data, some of it there's also the scoring county scoring. There's there's just a lot.

C

Of data out there, we just did a neat assessment for stratford and rockingham county in november.

C

So I'll go back and look at that and see what our references were. Oh great, thank you. What.

J

Kind of information will you get from the community health assessment and when will.

J

It be done that would be an excellent question for kim and uh it really updates the health of.

A

Of the city, but it will also update demographics, so I could share with you demographics that come.

A

From our economic development department, but I think for the purpose of this conversation, kim's.

A

Numbers will be better, so um so I don't misspeak and and don't misrepresent. I think.

A

Kim and jane should probably be uh on our next agenda and she can speak to all that.

A

Great- um and I think the hope is to have some preliminary data to share in the early fall.

A

So we're in we're in the sweet spot of information gathering um was there recently a community health.

J

Assessment, it's been years, it's been, I was going to say it's quite a while right, I'll, say a decade.

A

But it could even be longer. I just want to throw this out from um I'm a retired teacher, but I've.

J

Worked in a number of different schools and um there's really different schools in our community.

J

I I volunteered at new franklin, the last five months and I knew out of some of the other schools.

J

That that's a school that struggles a lot there's many students there that are really not doing well.

J

And um we can talk about that a little bit later, but it was quite an experience being there.

J

Helping out you know, working with little kids that were just totally frustrated and then I.

J

Got their stories from the teachers of like even a little bit of their family background.

J

And I think that's to me it's very critical. You know I think, a key component. That's.

A

Missing in this group is a school department representative, so if it were the will of the group.

A

I could reach out to the new superintendent and ask if he would identify someone, but.

A

Andrew did you have a thought? No, but I I guess my thought would be that's exactly.

H

Why we've assembled this group is so on the city council. We have a number of parents, but.

H

I don't believe we have any school teachers and in our day-to-day lives we don't necessarily see.

H

Where the gaps are in coverage, so that's why we've.

H

Assembled this this team together, so that you guys can tell us, where are the things.

H

That the community can be doing better how and why so, that's very valuable insight.

J

Share some stories later.

F

I'm I'm also a former teacher. um I was a fourth grade teacher for 11 years in hampton um and.

F

That's my question was: how how could we survey the schools or get the schools involved, whether it's.

F

The needs from the administrators or the teachers, um because I I you know they do see the unseen.

F

um You know things that that you're that you're bringing up andrew so.

F

I think it's important to get them involved, whether we survey them or we have a representative.

D

I think, if abby frank were here, she could speak directly to, I believe the structure of her program.

D

You're right we have abby, you have abby, but I think this sh, the structure of her program is.

D

Changing for this year, because I think they're building into before school, when all the kids.

D

Are there at eight o'clock? I think that this it's gonna be more than one day a week, because.

D

Those kids have been their behaviors, their need to be with other people, the socialization all of.

D

That stuff has fallen through the wayside. Like I'm sure, a lot of us have fallen by the wayside.

D

Over this past couple of years, so I think that it'd be critical. If abby was here, she could.

D

Speak to it, but I also think it's important to get somebody from the school department. I.

D

Don't know that the superintendent has been here longer than new york new york minute.

D

But he might be able to suggest somebody to come yep. You know, I know the principals, maybe one of.

D

Them would volunteer to step up. Okay, who is abby, frank again. Abby is a teacher a little.

A

Happier, do you think it might be a good idea to have someone who's more in that social and.

I

Emotional learning space, like not a good guidance teacher like a guidance counselor, um someone who.

I

Like this is their full-time, gig, yeah there's also secrets mental health yeah. That's in the.

D

Little house they do and then they also are at ceco's mental health. Do they access the other.

G

Buildings did they access the other buildings as well? I don't know if they go to dondero.

G

But I think that would be a good. I think I know one of them. um What's her name.

G

uh Laura uh she works. She is the part they both the seekers, mental health, counselor.

G

And he works with the guidance counselor, so it might be. You could ask, hits all areas.

J

Yeah, thank you for mentioning, because I mean we have a number of schools here.

J

Yeah and that's that's one thing this committee can help, do is so we have three elementary schools.

H

um And abby feng created the sunrise squad at little harbor and then, of course, the.

H

Pandemic hit, so there wasn't a chance to like duplicate it at the other. Two elementary schools.

H

And there may be things happening at dondero and new franklin that we could also duplicate at the.

H

Other two schools so um because everybody was just sort of treading water during covet and you.

H

Know trying to get through the day there wasn't a chance to take a 30, 000 foot view of things and.

H

See what we could be replicating elsewhere, so I think that's something this committee can you know.

H

That view from 30 000 feet would be a good one for you all to take. I think I love the idea.

G

Though, for mr arvello of looking being able to braid it with longer term views so that we don't.

G

Spend it similarly to maybe dover, where they put people in short-term housing.

G

Very and it all that money's gone, you know and everybody's still homeless and houseless.

G

um So there might be ways to really have high impact, but with the long view, so we don't harm.

E

Just been sitting here, thinking about.

E

Andrew's comments earlier about focusing on on children and I'm not opposed to that. But I'm.

E

Wondering if my original understanding was that we would take into account all of.

E

The potentially all the needs of the community, and and if we, if, if the charge is from the very.

E

Beginning that we focus on children in need, then the committee is very, in a sense, very focused.

E

So I um I just want to understand, because I'm hearing different things I just want to understand.

E

If the focus is, you know a very focused charge for us to just okay, what are in terms of young.

E

Children, what are their needs in in the portsmouth community, or whether we're thinking more broadly.

E

For other populations, so that I'm I'm getting some mixed messages there and I want to be clear.

E

um Yeah, so that's a good question. My intent was maybe, if you think about percentages, you know 60.

H

Is focusing on children and families with small children, but it's important that we.

H

Don't ignore populations such as those living in senior housing or people who don't have.

H

You know, let's say a robust uh social circle for for whatever reason, so I don't think we should.

H

Be exclusively focusing on children, I just think that that should be a highlight. Let's say, of, of.

H

Of the committee, but I think it's equally important, um you know there's a number of.

H

People that live in the senior housing here in town that haven't had the social interaction for.

H

The last few years, so maybe having somebody from the senior center come to one of these meetings.

H

And talking about some of the needs there or some of the outreach that could be done there.

H

Would be a a good thing, so I don't want to limit it to children.

H

Or to seniors it should be the whole community. I just wanted to highlight the fact that I think.

H

The kids should be a focus if I can throw out for consideration of the group and for whatever it's.

A

Worth the previous task forces organically found ways to have breakout groups or subcommittees.

A

That tackle different components of the larger issue when, when we first met two years ago, the.

A

Citizen response task force organically decided to talk about health, the use of the public realm and.

A

Why am I forgetting the third one? There was definitely outdoor dining. What was it and.

A

Pop-Up right, that's exactly right, so it could be. It could very well be that this group decides.

A

um One one emphasis, and one set of folks- is going to work on youth. um Mental health could be its own.

A

Subcommittee, so I think that's up for the group to to figure out and how to best break it down.

A

Because um what I should mention is these meetings were meant to be an hour, give or take, and there's.

A

Only so much real productive work you can do in an hour. It may make sense to have subcompanies break.

A

Off do some work and come back and report, but again that's for this group to decide good point.

B

Well- and I think what I heard you say too, is what we're really looking at is.

B

What are those lower cost things that have the most impact so once we're? If we're tackling mental.

B

Health, you know it might be that we're focusing on children because there's an opportunity there.

B

Among the schools, or something like that, but we're not specifically focusing on any.

B

Population right now, so I would say that um next on the agenda is meeting cadence.

H

So that will be up to you guys to decide how often you think you should meet and and when.

H

And then something that's not on the agenda but we'd like to have at all meetings here in the.

H

City is public comment, so usually we reserve at the end of the meeting a few minutes. A few.

H

Minutes for members of the public to speak and because we're talking about spending.

H

Arpa monies: I think the public comments are more important for this group than maybe some others.

A

So what makes sense to you all? What feels comfortable is as a meeting cadence and again.

A

There are 14 current members of the committee and to be able to meet. We have to have eight of you.

A

In person that doesn't mean other folks couldn't join via zoom if they needed to, but eight have to.

A

Physically be present, it doesn't have to be here. We volunteered to have it here, because.

A

It's easy to produce and I think we it would make most sense but comfortable. It's air conditioned.

A

Someone be brave, take a stab. What do you? How often do you want to meet? I think we don't.

A

Have a lot of time to kind of tackle all this work, so I I mean I at minimum. I think we have to meet.

E

Bi-Monthly twice a month because it's it's going to require some subcommittee work, we're going.

E

To do the public hearings and all of that has to be scheduled, and we have what august five months.

E

Pretty much and again that's for a check-in. Don't worry yep yep, not a lot of time. So that's my.

E

My two cents for me. I think it depends on how many subcommittees we have, and so, if we.

C

Have more subcommittees, can we minimize this group meeting to wants or something like that.

B

But I also wonder about the information gathering and what that's going to entail in terms of.

B

Meetings- and you know we're already talking about jane and kim coming to the next meeting.

B

And there's lots of other ideas we need to decide on in terms of how we're going.

B

To get some of that other information, so so just to address janet's point and your point.

E

Is if we initially meet on a regular basis, at least in the beginning, to get set up and.

E

Maybe form some subcommittees and and then decide. Okay, we've got some subcommittees doing work and.

E

Maybe we can go to a monthly schedule of meetings, but um I I think it would be prudent for us to.

E

At least begin to meet fairly regularly and in the first few meetings, anyways.

G

I like that idea, it sounds like we really want to make an impact. I think that's what I'm hearing.

G

And we have a chance to do that in a way that makes sense and is non-duplicative and low cost.

A

So we have the ability to meet when city hall is open by and large. If this group prefers a before.

A

Work or after work meeting we can certainly do that. I don't want you to feel limited to.

A

A time of day we picked this just because it it was a doodle poll results for most people, so.

C

I don't personally, don't me um doesn't matter if it's lunchtime or before work after work gets hard.

C

Because it gets pretty late, yeah yeah, okay, I don't mind giving up my lunch hour. I mean.

J

You can eat it before you come, you can come you bring it, you can bring it share it with.

A

You brown bag is totally fine by us. If you, if you all decide this, could be a brown bag opportunity.

A

Sandwich, I wonder if panera would or something would donate for our lunch.

G

Who's, our development person so does a standing lunch meeting work for me for the most part.

I

Sure I would prefer a standing just to get it on the calendar so that we can plan for it. And I, like.

I

The idea of planning, maybe at least august for two meetings so that we can get the information.

I

Gathering perhaps that goes into september, and then we can ease up on the big group meetings and.

I

Dive more into our breakout groups yeah, so that would mean that so this was the 23rd.

B

So are we sticking to tuesday? I know this was the result of various dates on a doodle poll.

E

Works for me works for me too. I am not here. The ninth but.

I

That doesn't mean the whole group can't meet. Can I ask a logistical question like who will be in.

G

Charge of doing the court coordinating like the sending out of the doodle polls or scheduling and.

G

That would be jessica griffin in my office, so you should have received the agenda and the meeting.

A

Invite from jessica so she'll continue yep she'll. Do that, and so did I hear august 9th and 23rd do.

A

You want me to what we'll do is make sure we have a quorum for those dates. First, so we'll go out to.

A

Not only you all, but the folks who are not able to make this meeting okay, so do we know out of.

B

The folks that are here who can be at the ninth and the twenty-third I can be here me too. I think.

I

Okay, I could come squealing in its possibility, but I'll be on my way back from the cape, no squealing.

A

All right so we'll move forward with that and uh and what we'll do is confirm that those work.

A

I think council, your suggestion was a great one and perhaps if this group is amenable.

A

To that we'll we'll add public comment in before we adjourn today. um Do we have.

A

Any folks from the public who wish to bring comet forward come on up grab a microphone.

K

280 south street, in listening to the discussion here today,.

K

I noticed it kind of went towards the schools more. I would ask if.

K

The city manager would be able to discuss the arpa funds that are coming into the schools. Oh good.

K

Question- and there is, what did you call them? There is arpa funds that are coming into the school.

K

If I recall maybe three million or so maybe two tranches yep uh and um I I guess I would ask since.

K

Since uh you kind of gravitated to subcommittees, I think that's a great idea and um that um you could.

K

Advise the school department, also uh along with the city council, especially if, if that's your.

K

If you're, looking at 60 percent here, um the mon, the monies are available, um they probably who.

K

Knows if they thought of the things that you're going to think of here, but that would be also an.

K

Opportunity to give advice where it looks like you really really want it, and the only other.

K

Comments, I have is, I think, you're going in a great direction, and this would be.

K

Definitely a fantastic advisory committee with all of the different views that you have here.

K

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you and I'll just make a comment. The the school monies.

H

Are called essler fundamentals are not mistaken, so they're not they're the same as arpa funds.

H

They just have a different name and structure, an acronym. It is um elementary and secondary.

A

Now you lost me, but it's esser, ess er, and what what I in the interest of time I'll.

A

Have I'll ask jane to bring something from nathan, lonnie who's, the school's business administrator.

A

That speaks to the schools, um the esser funds, um former council huda- is right.

A

It was initially in the magnitude of 3.9 million total and I don't know the status.

A

Of what they've committed or what they've spent, but we can bring that forward as well.

I

That's great yeah, just excuse me, that's correct yeah and it's for sau 52., okay um hold on. I think.

A

It's just portsmouth, it is just portsmouth, but don't forget. The high school does serve.

A

40 percent of the high school is the other four towns.

A

Interestingly, 40 40 newington, newcastle, greenland and rye make up 40 percent of the high school.

I

Yeah, I hate to duplicate efforts and love to collaborate where we can to make it efficient.

E

One another ask: um can we have.

E

Table uh it's gonna say that too sure name plates happy to make those it would. It would.

A

Not only help one another, but it would help the folks watching sure. Thank you. We can do that.

E

We journey I miss meeting all of you. I will leave that to the co-chair, so it.

A

Sounds like we are ready to adjourn I'll, entertain a motion to adjourn.

J

Didn't you want any comments from people for a little bit before one o'clock? um If there's.

H

We had public comment already and if there's anybody else that wants to speak.

H

If you have something to say this would be no. No, I just thought you're gonna do a final statement.

J

At the end, or something no now that we will develop a rhythm and a cadence to meeting it, it.

A

Could very well be that folks are able to watch the meeting and then wish to comment on zoom. So.

A

That's why I'm sitting here and keeping an eye on folks who may wish to join so the idea is to.

A

Capture as many folks as possible, knowing lots of people can't make their way to city hall, so were.

I

You indicating that you thought each of us would give a final comment. Yeah! That's what I wondered.

J

If anybody made a final comment or statement or something that's great, we do have time for that.

E

Well, you brought it up.

J

To your background, but and I'm on my way to crossroads.

J

Today, I think, backgrounds and expertise and things that you really want you're bursting at the seams.

A

To bring will will be some part of the share and I think we're all looking forward to that.

A

I know I am, I mean I'm not trying to extend the meeting, but um maybe now.

G

That we're on that idea, we could just do one or two words of what we think the objective of the.

G

Group is, maybe just so, we can get it into a articulation. I don't know, but I guess we have.

G

It covered no okay, I I'm not. I think it's too soon, honestly, all right! That's what I need. I think we.

A

Need to talk more about it, whitney you bring up a good point now that we are an advisory public body.

A

This group will get an email from jessica, but this group should not have any conversations.

A

In that email do not reply all because it could be construed as something that is.

A

Could trigger right to know we included, I think everyone has it attached your.

A

Agenda now that you're part of a public body, what does that mean.

A

So they're just there's: there are rules around how we meet, and so when you receive something.

A

You may get reminded from time to time. Hey! Please don't reply! Oh we'll talk about that.

A

In the meeting when the meeting is being duly constituted, I take my uh comments.

J

Well, I'm grateful to be here and connect with you and um I'm sure we have some exciting things to.

J

Work on and I've been involved in these things in my life at different times, and I'm glad to be here.

E

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Can I second the motion of mr arabella. Anyone else sounds good.

E

Thank you meeting is adjourned.

J

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Everyone thanks. Everybody. Thank you. Thank you.