##VIDEO ID:FZnCRE8botg## noting the time and the presence of a quorum I call this meeting finance committee to order um I would like saying it is 7:31 or two on the East if uh anyone in the room has not voted yet please now and go take care of it it'll take you six or seven minutes to the RJ cray Junior High School uh we are prepared to move forward the first item on the agenda agenda as always is citiz Citizens um concerns no one rushing to run to the the microphone we'll move on to the special town meeting runs and I had uh invited Jim Coleman Jim the CPC to come and speak to us um appreciate that he was play as they did and are willing to uh give us the recommendation um I didn't I didn't you given the short notice I didn't discuss whether you wanted to present something first or if you wanted to the uh finance committee liaison who is responsible foral speak first and then have you answer questions uh whatever suits you Greg I do not have a presentation um so I can answer question and just say a few words first it's up to you as the invited as the invited special guest I yield the please uh say what you feel uh would be most for us to under to understand before we move forward and then we'll hear from then we'll deliberate amongst ourselves uh this is the to the special town meeting there are five articles the the articles is is dare I say the resal town meeting uh and so uh Mr Coleman the floor so first of all are you all are you all Familiar of property we're talking about all right um well I can as the current chair of the CPC um the question that uh Jason sent to me was CBC feels is the best use of our money um the CPC voted unanimously uh to spend this money uh couple of things we can we considered the chairman of the open space uh committee when and she explained that um large open space Parcels are getting fewer and fewer no surprise there and getting more expensive there either so uh I think the one point is that the CPC felt this is um it's a very good property it's got uh good um environmental and social uh benefits um I should say I also happen to be the Conservation Commission representative on the um CPC and the conservation committe unanimously uh to approve this uh purchase um the another consideration was that we are hoping to a 500,000 our grant from the state um and it's that's I think that's the reason for the special town meeting so quickly State needs that application in by the end of the year and so I don't those grants probably aren't given out all that so we should be taking advantage of it um let me uh there and entertain whatever questions you have before we jump into questions let uh uh member jarbo uh the information that he found out uh he knew that we're going to ask in advance let's let him uh proceed from there thank you sure the the article is drafted in say that if uh the state grant money does not come and and um gift that is expected does not come then the total price is in the article but we may end up uh paying less if those other two sources of revenue come in so what we need to understand is CPA set aside about 1.2 million and borrowing is about 1.8 million um and um we're hoping to get a gift from the conservation uh Trust of about 100,000 and the state program is called land andd all caps and their land geve for about a half a million so um again the warrant article I think uh us the total price of um 3.68 m and that then presumes things go bump the N um the other Revenue sources through but if they do then would end up paying you know 3.1 plus something like that um one of the questions I was asked to back on was um how are we that uh if we put um acquire this land that it will be used uh for the purposes in the article uh we actually have one possibly uh protections one of which is um uh the regulations that are in the article and purchase and sale agreement but this is if the state comes in with its Grant uh the state also then has certain protections and so uh again that's one of the reasons why I think we're moving quickly make sure that we get that but um it would it would give us sort of our umon Su Spenders we would uh have to of protection both uh the ones that are in the article and in the State uh regulations I know about this land um I'm familiar with it I'm also the land nearby which is owned by the and um in the late 70s early 80s there when believe it or not there was a governor named ed king um there were plans to expand MCI conquer down Route two um on some of the state and then uh State senator's um drafty bill that was enacted into law even with King's signature that put restrictions on land which abuts this and uh again we have um um a nice set of uh buffer zone us that um we not only have within this Pro property but even the property needs to be maintained for either agriculture the soccer fields Etc that are there now so all that put together I strongly recommend that we article one thank you very much um I'll obain questions from the rest of the committee before I uh ask before I make my final questions um start on the end of the table gang either to for Mr jarro or for Mr Coleman uh thank you oh I just have a question about what does this um in how does this impact the the to budget um in um spending Incas or borrowing Inc does this compete with some other spending need of that we have discussed uh in this so I'm going to take a first back at that and then let somebody else take take uh take it further the while the uh bond for this will be a j Bond the expectation is that it's going to be paid out of CPC so barring a major problem with see bar major problem with CPC uh the funding source for this and again somebody please step in and tell me if I'm wrong on this should all we the CPC search charge that goes under our taxes so they going to impact the average single family tax bill above what is already baked into uh my understanding is that this is a um looks like we got four Revenue sources for this is just straight up money from the uh open space set from CPC the second is a bonding that was expected to be paid out of future CPC funds the $500,000 from a grant and the fourth is 100 GI from act and conservation Trust address your question thank you that's k um the corollary question that I would love to ask in Jump is how much money does the Acton conservation have because I was not aware of that particular puddle so that's outside of outside of previous knowledge Mr bordon so acting cons basically it's a private organization you can join the do conservation trust they have here and they're the ones who have it it's not a town so it's and so they what they do is they hold station restrictions I used to be chair CPC by the way so so they hold a lot of conservation restrictions on these lands when they it's bought with CPA money you have to have a conservation restriction on it has they're usually the monetary one of the monetary Monet in authorities that will walk through and document okay the other one is subb Valley trustees is another common one that area uh that that property particular they did a project on it in the spring Boy Scout was involved that was involved and we cut they cut a trail around the prop big it's a good chunk of property it buts up Upon A Horseshoe Drive and again as as it said in the article you know it buts br Trail so it's it's a nice really nice and the weather so it's not so it's basically added to that whole comp plan okay that you protect you could B the houses on that land and it's a nice really nice wooded does have some ham radio towers which will be Tak by the current owner and an old house and whatever but it I I feel it's a great for what what it is so we'll go out of turn um Allison's next but Roland if you have any questions now it's your time to ask any questions good on it very good Allison do you have any questions I was curious about whether there would be a restrictive covenant on the link that that's addressed in part seven thank you I've answered my own question Steve Scott I don't think I have any questions because I think the only thing I was thinking of is I felt like it was addressed last time was uh there was there was a vehicle in a body of water small body of water and that was detered just let it sit there um has there been any other to U that interpret that was with my hearing is the AC this rooms hard TR trouble so I apologize but wa can you hear me yes so my brought to our attention that there's a vehicle in the bottom of a butter and that there are at least one or two radio towers uh uh mitigated remediated and if I go so far as to add to your question Scott I hope I'm up um how sure are we of the doe deal on this property that there's not going to be a problem such as the property or the dam on the River Street property so question is what are how sure are we of the knows at this time we've got at least one submerged vehicle potentially two towers are there is is there anything else we need to worry did I get your question appropriate Mr Mr Sol um I what I can say is that owner of the property or the representative of the own did come before the Conservation Commission uh was of intent for removal of that vehicle uh from the um from the we and uh we uh agreed upon a method to remove it um so will be done he said although it's out conservation commission's jurisdiction that all of the be coming down and beyond that I'd have to leave it to the I think the board of Select further due diligence that were outside of the purview of the Conservation Commission um is that the board of Selectmen when they came um both the conservation uh I'm sorry the town manager uh KY Conservation Commission and then we had it also about it at the CPC there were no other issues for attention so I don't want to speak Beyond I know meanwhile the town manager is anxiously behind to answer this question I suspect he's going to back up exactly what you just said I would also like to ask though is the is the tearing down of the tower our responsibility or the owner's responsibility just as part of the answer thank you uh thank you hi nice to see everybody John andera the town manager he uh as part of the closing cost is going to be required to remove there there's not just one or two tow several Towers out there interesting um I haven't what I understand so they'll be required to remove the towers um demo the house and to whatever of a septic system is there uh and make just dirt um the cars uh will have to be dealt with as well based on what the Conservation Commission ordered in its order all those things are uh requirements that if they're not met the property won't close we won't close if they don't do those things or if there are any other surprises and then sorry or if there are any other surprises uh yeah so and the due diligence pair is where we where we'd look for which is going to continue through the winter do a survey we'll do phase one environmental all the that you do when you're inquiring a big piece of property like thatting in closing in the spring closer to yeah um before June or in time frame thank you do you have any questions no thanks Craig we'll come back to you because it's your it's your article I'm move we approve no we'll come back to you article Christie do you have any questions I don't have any questions but I wanted to actually um correct something the land immediately abing it is actually town-owned land a swap of use with the state with the school Street Fields across the way so the state owns School Street but leases it to the town the town what is often cornfield that directly abut this land okay no questions thank you the last question I have is do you putting in some kind of parking parking area or access to monreal Trail because it because it is uh so stated to it um that hasn't been discussed yet so I can't say I wouldn't be surprised but uh judging by through Qui understanding from the seller that to be pretty minimal uh but I don't know uh What uh the the SL board may have thought of another con I believe if it's still true that the owner I mean the seller wants the Conservation Commission this property which is a little bit on the conservation is the town but it seems clear that the Conservation Commission will have jur however you figure all the other parts out and I don't think we would want to have parking there I mean you got to have some access but it does back up to the Bruce Freeman Trail and there are apparent quite a number of trails already um in the property and leading to the so that might be a lot of the access but the area where the house is now no um or very few Tre might be a location to have a uh u a park small parking but I don't want to get ahead of myself or the commission or the town on saying any that said we have a select board member who look looks like he on this right now as well so um restriction will be negotiated for the next 6 months and lot of details here but the expectation is that there will be parking allowed to the conservation uses so most uses would be passive Trail uses and we would allow to build uh parking to F that use not parking for something else we couldn't put Train Station Park for example right so it' be parking that's accessory to the you out on the land um there also may be accessory uses for the um bike trail again that's that's really not negotiated yet and for example be uh a bike repair station this as an example but that I don't want that's part of the negotiation for the conservation intersection parking is Prett the rest of the things is um uh part of the negotiation great and I have one last um looking at this um looking at these Parcels it looks quite a bit of uh water waterways that run through it it's close to the Ice Pond Dam looks like there's it's definitely a watered area they made the and I understand the assessment that the the assessment is uh significantly less than the purchase prices because our street area I also understand from what the Tom Andrew that the best best use assessment price is significantly higher than ex uh expected acquisition cost uh is when they did that maximum best um best possible usage uh assessment what percentage of the land perk what percentage of the land was not available to be built on do we have um this is just from so first of all I don't think any perks are involved here um but there is a an outline of the land what could be built there and it was a small subdivision to go I probably have a picture of it I could go back to my computer and of lots in it uh it's something like 20 uh uh Lots um just just just from memory um so a small subdivision and it avoided the the uh the wetlands piece and things like that so that that 20 Lots information that's uh that's the information that we need I believe that uh you had asked what's what's at stake here from a going to no longer be gaining $400,000 um the same time we are going to be what could have been approximately 20 20 lot sizes um that was a conversation that was had prior does that answer your question along those lines yes very good thank you very much now Mr jaro we turn our I'm support our article one at the upcoming special Town recommend H recommend and you move that we recommend I move that we recommend I support no you can support but you got to recommend oh then I move we recommend article one which would authorization of property located at 1935 weather be second I heard Steve because his microphone was on uh any further have all questions been asked and answered at this time oh I see if Mr wellinghoff is online he's not in check okay uh all those in favor please say I opposed extensions very good thank you very much Mr uh for uh coming tonight and answering our questions be a very smooth uh special ton meeting appreciate it okay on to the next two articles if if you're okaying them as a pair Mr noon since you are one assigned to them we have two Collective bargain agreements what say you I have no information you have no information does that mean that you would prefer that we until town meeting I believe the special town meeting war that very good that one's quick we're done with both of those we'll defer two and three yeah I just want I wasn't being presumptuous but I just I put that in there just i f there's nothing to discuss so sorry about that fine okay article number the town Capital purchase replacement of an ambulance Roland I know you were volun told on this to topic we here at the last meeting but you and I did speak on over the uh do you have enough information this time wish to speak to this article I don't but I'd like to ask the town manager a question John looks like you're on the hot seat so it looks like this is going to be lease Arrangement lease to purchase so what are the benefits to the town of going the lease to purchase route and what is the cost differential reach outright purchasing the vehicle thank you yeah with that and in an earlier version of the warrant we we put flexibility try to do both um and we've since decided that least is the most advantageous way to go uh some of the the reasons uh when we borrow for a project like this there uh borrowing costs associated with the bond issuance uh we have to go through the ratings process does it have a cost associated with them additionally we'd have to borrow short um a band would create additional Financial liabil or necessary fun um while we wait for the project to go out in a package uh so there's extra cost there more importantly the sevene which we're proposing to do at lease to own it really Smooths out the the over a period of time which is more manageable and uh builds into our ongoing apparatus replacement program uh we currently lease to own the ambulance most recent ambulance that we purchased which I think was um within the last 5 years uh and so we're we want to continue doing that over to replace the all three we have over the next 10 years for example so we feel that's the most advantageous way to go and in terms of cost differential a lot of it depends on the interest rate that we would get which we would hope would be good but that's not known uh at this time and we'd probably be at weing purposes we'd probably budget the same four and a quarter on the lease um so in that in that way it's you know okay the purchased one or something like that at the last town meeting be wrong and the other one was the other question I had do we do we do do we I thought we Au last at last year's town meeting I think that was a fire truck May was the fire truck we did it in a two town meeting okay so what is how long does it take yep passes town meeting you go to order how long does it take to get it at this point yeah thank you for bringing that up reason why we have it on the special town meeting warrant it would normally just be at the annual you'd wait 18 months 16 months maybe we're now here hearing that it's going to be more than two years which is why to get a jump start on the process the lease would not be paid until uh years from when it's when we sign the contract so we wouldn't have right away we could we could pay it even in FY 272 um it's we're really just trying to get a jump start on getting this thing ordered so that we don't even longer uh cuz the the one that we're replacing we're on a primary ambulance and then a secondary ambulance and then the third is a mechanical backup and the makeup is not reliable as a backup uh so we want we need to replace the front line and move them all down what is what's the life expectancy of I mean the one that we have right now uh was purchase the mechanical backup we're using right now was 2015 years ago um and it was probably in Frontline service for the five years I'm I I don't know I can that specific yeah any other questions mine I know we're going to get a uh q1 update um not at the next meeting that that request just came in today uh but our next listening meeting for our uh cost cutting cost cutting savings so we're going to get uh the of the different funds probably in two meetings from now um is it your expectation that the ambulance enter will be able to be the sole funding source for this life of the loan life of the Le yes that's that's the proposal that's that's what we're going to do and we've made some that um program to to help it be financially sustainable going forward and I can't remember is Enterprise fund one that is getting currently getting a subsidy from the or is it self-sufficient at this time uh that's an interesting one to try to explain because we have 40 plus firefighter paramedics and they all work ambulances they all provide a medical services I think we pay for nine of them out of theise so you could say that it's being the general fund or you could say just the opposite that it's subsidizing the G um someday there may be an opportunity for on fireing ambulance well but that let not count fire yeah it's not that easy to to say that yes we with a general fund subsidy uh but it also uh does a lot to help pay for firefighters and mve you are um you're okay with what was said about making sure to identify what future uses planned for each of the different uh revolving in general and uh funds correct absolutely we we do five years in every budget process for the Enterprise funds and those discuss with throughout the budget process and we be shared with oh yeah yeah we we I think we we do we Ty we have no the last the last three years we've asked for in the expected what's in each of the funds or our different quarter updates and I would like get that moving forward um I've spoken to you about it before I'm sure where I'm coming from yeah we we publish a financial report that has all the information in it every year uh and we'll we'll make sure you see that very good thank you Roland this is your article do you have anything to say no I think tion that we recommend Article 4 town Capital purchase replacement of the an ambulance second all those in favor please say I I opposed just for minute taking um do the associates just want to make sure that I have the okay the good news is it was so it's not a big deal but uh yes no they their vote does not count thank you uh the veterans tax abatement annual cool increase I do not believe this was as to us as something that was going to be on this did anyone else see this one com in other would you care to speak to it sir so special Town meetings don't happen too often and planning for the annual town meeting uh this is something that certainly could the annual town meeting but the select board had said as it's number one goal this year to identify opportunities for tax relief but we wanted to jump at this one that that we uh it's the hero act which was passed by within the last year that allows for this to happen and it this this article would authorize in the amount of exemptions that veterans get in their tax exemptions uh because you know normally he Capp and this cap a little bit and because of timing this wouldn't impact the current year bills but we would just want to get a jum and and tell people that we're doing what we can um that's all thanks so even though it clearly could be implemented in the FY 26 it earliest is f so it's not going to impact the fiscal year and we now very good that's what I needed to what I needed to hear I recommend we approve move that we I move that we recommend I recommend that we approve we Rec Article Five veterans tax abatement annual Cola in second thank you Greg and all those improve all those in favor please say I opposed say nay any extensions good that's also unanimous for note taking purposes good we're moving through things night night which is important considering it is a uh national election okay moving just closed to Massachusetts that's not why the town manager left so quickly he's not going to make it on time okay Massachusetts let's not let's not K ourselves okay my computer's not acting we're ready for conversation of the listening sessions for H hi everyone apparently I did not move quickly enough for us to get that December date we had discussed for um meeting at the senior center so we are now look January and if the internet was working I could tell you what dates one second oh okay it's so we're looking at January and dates on offer currently are January 7th 24 28th uh woman who runs this said maybe was the end of the month in order to give people who a little distance from the holidays I have no idea whether matters at all when is the weekend one second Luther King weekend is on um January 20th is it Martin Luther King so I'd avoid the 21st okay so we're looking at the 78th I would like the 28th if we can get enough people the 28 makes the most sense because seventh might still be to ear okay 28th wonderful so we've got three of us anyone else Greg four we need one more o' on January 28th your Center to do a listening session Steve can you back him up if he can't make t okay what what's the date again January Tuesday January at 6 p.m. we can reach out to I can I I can do uh take a look at the calendar see what days we the might have to uh twist the arm of uh Adam or one but let's uh let's uh I will Reserve that date can I ask where we stand for next for meeting we were going to meet in two weeks yes um I wanted to get this date down before submitting the news flash for that we scheduled for the 20 and did you reserve the date at the library okay um back in time 12 19th 19th yes 19th I reserved that date Library I should be able to make the 28th it might be tight on time but I'll again to get there on time and I'm sorry before I move on to this let me write down we've got Jason Scott me and Roland uh we are not oh is our our next meeting which is our listening session at the library so that that will be the first one um and any of the associates are welcome also just unfortunately you do not qualify for us meeting um I have some concerns either people will well no one might come will come and have nothing to say because we haven't guided them come and complain to us entirely about the schools and the size of that budget which I think is much better served by them talking to the school committee for that so I put some guiding questions starting with asking them to please limit if there is time at the end they can dis budget relative to the overall Town budget which I think is sort of an inch to bring up but that would be more of a long term do we want to be considering changing the split that's what I'm expecting to get out of this um me any questions you have for guiding but I come up with um first of all does the amount taxes determine how long you're likely to live in town I hear that from a lot of people it does I'm wondering how widespread that is or if it's just the people I'm talking to it might just be the people who chose to come to this but it at least give us certain of what people think about um then is do we think the town should be emphasizing what are our we as a town stand for and then sort of think of a lot expending along those lines um there any easy cuts that people see not expecting a lot would you like the town to continue new sidewalks or services or things like that um I'm sorry I'm then cut off I don't know where I was going with that one uh a different way what services or purchases do you see happening that are not essential are the things that you would cut out what would you be willing to personally in Services used in the town to limit budget I think budget growth is a problem um projects that you think we should do but not right away things that we should be planning but for whatever reason cannot should not be spending on currently and what should we be in more in now to save money in the future that's part of the idea we're hearing with the DPW is that it's it's cheaper for yes it's a big hit but it's going to cost more if we may do do people anything else in that anything anyone would like to add or any changes you would like to make to that we remove okay thank you Christie um ask them what town services are they willing to give willing to cut um presumably the major to services that will provide all of them understand so are we able to maybe get uh a few items that we uh that make um spending items uh that that the town focus on and uh just ask them about they know yeah the items they're talking about like that and my one concern is that if you don't do an exhaust it will be things that we're picking that are things that kind of drive us I'm sorry I just wanted to clarify because I just remembered it um what should be in that and I think what is off the end of the page is use these services that you think should be cut is it yeah like that guy shouldn't get that thing that he needs yeah I use this and frankly I could do without it kind of so you think a list would be helpful I think not a detail list some Jal car be helpful and I think asking about whether they use those service or those service are essential I think that's also helpful so you said you did not hate getting into discussions about the split you know or how would you like to hold that until the very end uh because I don't for what we can get at here the conversation with the select board and while that is the budget it's a part that we have more sway okay over and I'd like have us analyze it so I'm happy to hear about that and I think it but I'd like that should be the last thing we discuss because I can a whole big sure I've talked to enough people around here who go off on that um and I also think that we prepared for the likelihood that people will come and talk about this and I think we should or you should I it um be be willing to provide that feedback to we get enough of it because I think people reasonably think that um those concerns here and they don't realize that the school is basically same entity when it comes to budget yeah so all right well and we do I think you're pointing out we do have some say in that I mean through the ALG process and and various things I'm just hoping to get a different range through this okay you had your I'm just nodding in agreement do you have the verbiage out for the for the blast so that we can go I didn't see it come across my email which scares me no me and do you know the logistics of getting that at the door yes I do that'll go out the door tomorrow yes excellent CU I want as much warning as possible I it's it's a balance of as much warning as possible but not so far about it yep so I would like it to go out this week and then again closer like maybe the day before or we're going to ride the fine line between informing them and spamming them excellent you you you will be happy to know that the coldly locks version of fantastic to hear it um if if that works for everyone that's what I have I think uh I think anyone on could feel free to email you with some leading questions between now and um you know please for open meeting log consideration just email them to to Christie directly um if you're okay with get directly um so so that we can add to that compendium some time comes we have questions to ask and not have awkward silence and please if you think of any like to any of these questions if we have the answer already I'm saying this is a chance for us to stand up and share our opinions also indeed indeed okay is that everything that you need say on this topic all it okay looking ahead at the finance committee business realized that while I have read the two drafting minutes that we've received I don't think I ever forwarded them to the committee NOP I didn't forward them to the committee and I'm looking outbox and I did not forward them so we're going to have to take a pass on that the good news is we will not Rel late uh review the LA review three sets at our night um I'll will be sending out the sets immediately so that if I neglect or send out the third set we can still be in compliance with oml next we have reports who would like to go on reports dping forward so uh I did most of the or half of the meeting last night uh this is not a this have this conversation because I'm pretty sure we all want to go home and election results um we did get an A DPW number of 46.9 wors uh last night we also did receive the schematics from the town manager and we did receive as of today just 3 hours before this meeting we did receive another round of answers from Samson Weston with regards to yes a couple of weeks ago honestly I did not even have a chance to open between 3:00 and tonight so we're not going to go down tonight but they it was the number that was the close 46.9 and I'm sure I'm going to have a much deeper dive on this conversation in the near future meeting we will obviously be focused 90% on the listing session I am going to ask us at the end of the next meeting to a quick ALG guidance uh session that's our last meeting before the next ALG meeting um our next meeting will be at the library it will not be at Town Hall that's unusual and I guarantee at least one of us me will be the person who shows up at the Town Hall at the night of that meeting are there any other leads at this time well we have we have Selman Martin approaching the microphone sir the floor is short just a reminder uh to follow upon on your other thing the uh DPW building committee is meeting Thursday night talk this room and they'll um more information on those numbers thank you for that reminder uh is anybody planning on coming on Thursday night do I have a quorum not that I could post that quickly anyway you're planning on showing up I I might come two uh let's count on Adams that's still his that's still his uh liaz three if Adam comes out you should you should we should keep the placeholder for Adam just in case if people wish to show up please let me know so that we can uh avoid om issues okay um again next meeting 19th at 7:30 at the library oh I'm sorry left the library closes at 8 we are allowed to stay as want because I have to show up before 5:00 done how to lock up the library such just so is that I'm not in trouble taking on no risk and I may not be totally comfortable but that's fine happen good thank you okay assume there is the meeting room on the first floor of the library yes the first FL uh so if you walk in the library absolute hard left you'll go into the children's section if you go leek left you'll get into the meeting room I'm very familiar with that very good all right so I I move to J second this is not debatable all those in favor please say I I opposed we urge you all right