[music] [music] brings us to our open session portion of the meeting. Uh the town meeting. >> I'll go into this if you want the agenda. It's okay. just to go over uh u there was a special town meeting on Monday, November 3rd. Uh the board of
assessors did not um submit any type of articles. So there were no there was no business in regards to uh the board of assessors, but there were some housekeeping financial items that were passed and I believe the results are on um the town's website at this time for
the public to view. Uh on November 4th, 2025, the FY2026 initial classification classification hearing was held with the board of selectmen. Uh it will be um again revisited tomorrow, November 13th,
2025. Uh at that time, we do not have an actual approved growth or uh value. We do now. As of today, it it did not change um any of the tax rates that were presented at that time to the board of selectment and the uh PowerPoint uh
presentation. Uh the skew of actual um growth was about $502. So, it didn't in the scope of things, it didn't change any of the rates. Um and the value of the town is at the 2 bill544,000
$4,176 and that's an increase of about overall 21% from FY2025. Um it is uh the board of selectmen are asking for the board of assessors recommendation on uh the tax shift. So I can present uh what the recommendation
is of this board at that time. >> Okay. So, um, Kelly, Fran, and I did go to the last meeting and, um, I gave them, you know, some of my opinion on it, but again, they they continued it till tomorrow, so no action was taken.
Um, I the the board of selectman does they do want a recommendation from us um as voted by the board of assessors. Um, at that meeting I tried to um, you know, just give them my input and told them it
was only my input that I I believe that uh, now would be a good time to try to reign it back in from the 135% uh, back down to 125%. Again, that was only my opinion, not the op opinion of this board. So, um, I don't know how you guys
feel about it. if you want to take any discussion on it or have any uh motion to to go one way or the other with it. Again, you know, the current uh split is at 135%. It has been for the past 3
years. Prior to that, for I want to say about 7 years it was 125. prior to that, you know, 120 and 115 and >> it's it's it's >> keeps creeping up and, >> you know, I kind of won that over 15
years ago that once you go down that road, it's tough to come back. Um, but we don't have um a big um raise this year. Um things are pretty steady, the values are pretty steady. Um, it's not a terrible time to just
rain it in a little bit if uh if you guys see fit. So, so our values are up 21% from last year. Eric >> Kelly, >> I'm sorry. >> 21% you said, right? Our values are up >> 21% overall. Yes.
>> Yeah. Now would be a good time to go to 125. >> I agree. >> I'll make a motion to go 125. >> Well, we don't have any say on it, but to to to recommend the selectman use 125
versus 130 as a tap shift. >> There is a motion and a second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> So moved. >> Um if you could present that to the board at the tax shift committee meeting tomorrow, Kelly. >> Yep. So 125 was a three to zero vote.
>> Unanimous decision. Correct. >> Okay. uh leading on to the actual tax commitment or tax billing process that happens once of course a tax rate is certified. If it happens that a rate is certified within the next couple of weeks, we're definitely in good shape uh
to get that process done timely for the third and quarter bills to go out December 31st, 2025. As a reminder, there is a town vote on November 18th of the ballot question for the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School. um um building of
the new school there. If you have any questions, I know the old colony website has a lot of uh information as well as social media. Um I know there were on all things cushion, there were a few comments and definitely some details about that in regards to the impact on a
Kushnet and what would happen in the scenario of each whatever the outcome of the votes would be. And lastly, our next uh meeting date, we're uh December 3rd, 2025 is the first Wednesday of um December, if everybody's okay with that.
>> Um yeah, if you think we'll need a meeting, that's only about 3 weeks away, right? >> Yeah, you will for the end of the month. Uh signing anyway. Okay. So, [snorts] >> December 3rd, 2025. >> Yes. >> 400 p.m. back here. >> So, so Kelly, I've been out of town.
>> Yes. >> What is the impact for households? of the old colony. >> Well, from what I I've heard indirectly, I really haven't been intimately involved. You're looking at they're saying about an average of $800 to $1,000. They're saying the burden of
>> on the how long? >> 30-year bond. >> So, if you have a million dollar house, it'll be double that. >> Correct. It it varies on the amount, but they did it on an average. So um and on you know there's a formula of I guess
there's there are five communities that send children to or students to Old Colony and it's based on the student body the number of of students that attend per community has an impact to on how the the debt will be dispersed
>> and it will change. Right now we're at about 35% correct. We will be assessed for the first year annually. If it stays the same, we would be assessed 35% of it. >> If during the next 30 years it changes and say Matapo sends, you know, more
kids, it it'll shift back and forth is what I've been told. Y >> I know the whole bill from what I understood and again I've not been directly involved is around $288 million >> for the rebuild. >> That that's the rebuild. Um
>> again over 30 years there's a lot of interest on that. >> Correct. >> And then just know that's only the building. >> The building is going to require additional salaries, additional help. Um because the new building will be double the size of the old building. You are
going to have additional janitors and uh additional maintenance >> programs. Right. >> Three new tech, >> you know. And that I don't even know if I want to consider because that's good because you're getting three new teachers, but you're getting a whole new program. >> Correct. But above and beyond that, just
to maintain the building itself is going to be uh a lot more overhead, >> more to heat, more to cool. >> Y >> it's going to add to the budget. >> So, all right. >> We do need to go to executive session. >> We um we do have to go into executive
session um to review some chapter and personal exemptions. Um, we will come back into open session to um let the public know any votes we take. Um, so I do need to uh I need a motion
to adjourn open session and go into executive session with a roll call vote. >> Make a motion to adjourn the open. >> I'll second that. >> Motion in a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. Eyes. >> Eyes. >> Source. I
>> Oh, I know. Names are good. Names are good. >> Okay. >> So, we're in executive session. We will return. Thank you. >> Having uh voted on and concluded our uh discussion and votes on the applications and personal uh exemptions in executive
session. Um we are now back in open session and I will turn the floor over to Kelly to uh >> give us open. I'll make a motion to go open. >> Second. There's a motion, a second to return and into open session. All in favor?
>> I. >> Kelly, would you go over the votes we took? >> Well, the votes have to be taken in open session, but what went over uh they were uh chapter 61A applications, there were seven signed, chapter 61B, there were two uh in review of the FY2026 personal
exemptions. F uh 41 C clause number 2 17D1 22 lowercase A4 37 capital A1 22 capital E2 and the items for the board to sign for this month were the meeting minutes from October 8th 2025 both open
and executive end of month motor vehicle abatements October 2025 FY2027 chapter 61A and chapter 61B applications and FY2026 personal real estate exemptions on the note of the chapter 61A 61B.
Please be advised that uh December 1st is the statutory deadline to file for FY2027. Uh chapter is always filed a year in advance. So we are in 26, but the 27 apps are what we are taking in this year when it comes to chapter 61 accounts.
>> Okay. So just need a motion and a second for the um applications that we approved. >> Make a motion to approve. I'll second that. >> All in favor? I. >> So moved. Um, that concludes our regular business unless you guys got anything under new
business. Little business, >> ladies. All good. >> All good. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> I'll make that motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. So move. We are [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music]
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