Good evening. Today is Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. There's a motion to uh Is there a motion to call the meeting to order? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Motion carries. Please be reminded that this meeting will be audio and video recorded. Please
rise. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. First item of business in
your packet is an abatement. The above two reference parcels were assessed fiscal 2026 phase 2 sewer betterment installments. These parcels were erroneously assessed betterments in August 2007 and efforts are being made to remove these
assessments. Currently, this error has been remedied in this manner since fiscal 2019. I'm requesting written consent to abate the fiscal 2026 aortion sewer phase 2 principle. Is there a motion to abate? Mr. >> Chairman, I'll make a motion to abate
the sew abments as presented. >> Second. All those in favor? I motion carries. All right. Next item, gentlemen on the agenda. Uh it's regarding South Main Street. couple uh couple data points and just want to get some mass
DOT is looking for some direction from the board. But as you know, the discussion regarding South Main Street and safety and uh for safety uh improvements and aesthetic improvements has been going on for quite some time and we've got two different we got two
new points of interest I think for the board. One uh is that you know Mr. Hley, I know Kevin, but Bob most notably has been a real stickler for infrastructure improvements um when he was a candidate
and as a selectman, you know, pushing the agenda of that if we're going to do anything with South Main Street is to ensure that we're able to at least look at sewer and water infrastructure upgrades there. um Mass DO has agreed uh
to that um and they would bold that into the scope of the project. However, the town would be on the hook for cost of materials. The other data point um and thanks to Mr. Gasper's work on the soil board has negotiated a uh you know I
guess we call it a historic agreement with PJ Keading um which I think puts us in a position to potentially work with Keading where in the past they were viewed as an adversary but with the host community agreement I think they're more
of a business partner than than not and I think one thing we did learn that during that whole back and forth is truck traffic on that road is a huge issue. Um, and there's a, you know, we put in that host agreement, um, language
that we would explore opening up Route 240 and to see if they could provide some relief there. I think all of this stuff is interconnected um in you know being at 10% I would hate to just say no that we don't want to
continue to explore this um and then ultimately get it to a point where as a town we can make a decision an informed decision but I do think since we last talked about this these two points of information um NASDA's commitment to do
the infrastructure provided that pay for the materials and the the work that Mr. Casper did I think puts us in a much better position to look at this project um moving forward. So gentlemen, that's the state of play. Uh Masdot is
looking for a letter from us to say that yes, we would like to continue engaging in that process and that we are interested in the infrastructure portion of it. So up to you guys. >> Mr. chairman. Um, I'll go as far as saying that I was dead set against it.
If they didn't even entertain the idea of doing the majority of the labor, which is pretty extensive, the amount of ledge on South Main Street, it would have set the town back quite heavily if they weren't willing to participate. So, you know, in good faith, I'm okay with
continuing the design concept. Um, I still think we have a lot of homework to do in regards to cost. Totally. >> Um, measurements of water pipe, sewer pipes, putting together the plan because if we're going to run any pipes whatsoever, we got to integrate stub pipes for all the side streets and stuff like that. So, you know, we're still I
mean, we're in what 10% design concept right now. So, we do have time. Um, so as long as we stay on and get, you know, accurate prices to know what we have to petition the town for, you know, I can't say, you know, I'm 100% on anything
until I see some numbers. But, >> um, the fact that they're entertaining it makes me feel a lot better than it did originally when this project started. So, >> Sure. >> Gasper, >> I agree. I'm fine with it. >> All right. So, is there a motion to send
Mass DOT a letter to uh continue the conversation and to uh inform them that we're interested in the infrastructure part of the program uh project? >> So, move second. >> All those in favor? >> All right. Motion carries. Thank you. And just again put it in perspective,
we're at 10% design. This process started in earnest probably like three years ago. So, if you're looking at 10% every 3 years, you know, we'll uh I think Bob's just >> just in time for retirement. >> Yeah, just in time for retirement.
Anyway, this isn't something that's imminent, but it's worth moving, you know, at least carrying on the conversation. All right, next uh next item, gentlemen. I was contacted by a uh solar developer as the chair. Uh the
development is up by Clem's Way and they're interested in talking to us about a pilot. I asked, you know, where they were in the process. It looks like they're pretty much done with the process. Um that it's gone through their uh you know, we're pretty much ready to
roll. So, I know in the past past few months, we've talked about at least looking at a pilot and what that would look like for the town from a uh generating a flatline revenue over a period of time. And so, if you're up for
it, gentlemen, we're more than happy to put this gentleman on the agenda. You can come forward. Um, but I think ultimately town council would have to negotiate something and you know it if if you're open to it, we can listen to
the presentation, but ultimately assign it to town council and the finance team to look at and come back with, you know, what the details are, but I didn't want to make that decision on behalf of the board without talking to you guys. >> Mr. Jamon. Um, you know, we had was it
last town meeting authorized pilots for solar. I think just having any other option is a good thing. You know, as you know, solar fields are depreciating asset. So, if we can stabilize it and still end up with the same amount of money and we have a way to focus on it,
I'm always open for new ways to come up with an even fixed amount that we'd be recouping every year. >> It's all it comes down to. All right. Uh with that said, we'll invite uh Zach Zachary in Zachary Fox is his name from
Rewilder Rewild Renewables. Uh so Margaret will bring him in either on the the third or the 17th. >> Mr. Chairman, >> yeah. >> Uh I ask that uh the staff have an opportunity to contact them. Yeah. find
out who their legal counsel is and then have them talk to KP >> y >> and take probably be the 17th would be the better >> do as much discovery as possible and then when it's ready for our uh you know
for conversation then we'll do that. All right. >> Yep. Very good. Uh 134 Nis Lane. We've got a petition from the home home buyer. Benjamin Ree from Behaven is in a uh has a bonafideed
offer for 134 Nis Lane. I'm writing to formally request the removal of chapter 61B recreational land tax classifications for the property located at 134 Nis Lane and to request that the property be reclassified under its appropriate residential tax designation.
Um although because there's a bonafideed offer, this person can in fact make that request. Um and if the deal falls through and just revert back to its uh you know I don't know the board has a any interest in this to Jim.
>> Yeah, normally we let concomuses send us a letter um out of the game. Ultimately it's the board of selection decision but um I don't know if we want to hold off couple weeks. PMS just went through um it gives time for the board
to look at it. I am familiar with the property, but >> I'd be reluctant to speak on at this point. >> Sure. >> Is there a motion to send it off to Concom and the assessors? >> Com assessors and planning as well involved.
>> Whoever the appropriate >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> the appropriate uh >> bodies to need to review this. Give them an opportunity to take a look at it. come back with a recommendation >> and then we'll look at this at a upcoming meeting. >> So there move >> second. >> All those in favor?
>> Motion carries. All right. Next item, select energy. I thought was Aldo going to be here? I thought he was going to be here. >> Mr. Chairman, I spoke with Aldo um today after speaking with um Rick Holland from PE uh from KB Law. Um he had a couple of notes that he wanted to share with the
board. Okay. >> And we haven't been able to narrow down a time. Um, but Jamie and I are trying to set up a time where we can speak with him on Thursday. >> Okay. >> Um, so I had asked Aldo, I said because we can't officially sign anything on Tuesday, don't worry about showing up.
Um, so but I can, what I did tell him is because I'm still trying to help him move this forward. Um, and it's some small notes that town council has. I was going to make a motion to approve and sign pending final
legal team review and comment. And then this way, if legal doesn't have a problem with it, once we speak with them, then we can actually have it printed out and we can discuss who the signatorries are and everything like that.
>> Okay. Yes. He's the lead man on. So >> that was my motion. Motion was to >> authorize and sign pending town council approval and comment. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I motion carries.
>> And I'll fill you guys in through Jamie once I speak with town council on Thursday. >> Great. Thank you. All right. Uh next item is golf course clubhouse OPM RFQ. See two representatives from the golf course here. Last week, I got an email
from David Flynn, chairman of the golf management committee, asking if it was okay to move forward with an RFQ with the RFQ for the golf clubhouse. And I said, well, you know, obviously I don't have an issue with it, but I want to make sure that the full board has uh
visibility on it. And um you know he then gave me a timeline of if that in in February if we were selecting OPM March and April selected designer May through September final design and construction September through October bid award
October through November construction begins and then hopefully sometime in spring or summer we'd have a a new clubhouse. But we did get a document that came in yesterday. I just wanted to make sure that the board was okay
giving uh authority to the golf management committee to work with our procurement officer in legal to develop the RFQ and then we'll have to come back with a finalized approved document. We just had we just got it yesterday so we haven't had time but I didn't want it to
sit around and if you guys are good with kicking off that process then come back to us at our next meeting which would be on February 3rd. So, and assuming that is approved, you'll be your timeline will be fine when you get to move forward. So, are you guys okay with
>> Yeah, we just need to sit back down with the golf management committee on the design, right? >> Yep. We're still until we >> But other than that, let's get it going. >> Yep. Yep. Is there a motion uh to move forward with the RFQ process uh for the
>> town council for town council's review? >> Uh all the motion second. All those in favor. Motion carries. Good. So you guys, we got this moving. We'll final final at the next meeting. >> Thanks a lot. >> Great. Thank you, >> Kelly. Did you have did you have something to say?
>> I will uh deal with my concerns during the review. >> Okay, fine. >> All right. Uh, next item, storm water procedure. get a call from Jim Souzer, our chair, who
just had some questions, concerns, I guess, regarding storm water. We don't technically have a storm water agent. We're using a a consultant. So, Jim, I thought rather than, pardon the express, you know, death by a thousand cuts where you talk to Kevin, you talk to me, you
talk to Bob, you talk to Jamie, I figured have you just come in, >> say what you have to say, and if we can provide a remedy, uh, we can do that. But I get what you're saying. So anyway, you got it. >> Um yeah, right now we don't have a storm water agent. Um we got a lot of storm water coming in very shortly. Uh we've
had a few come in that I've taken care of since Mark Mint has left and um just want to see how we keep moving forward without an agent. >> Right. So is your concern is that as the chair, it's resting solely on your shoulders to do this stuff or >> Well, um one of the permits I had to
sign, Jamie asked me to sign it. Um I don't think I should be the one signing the permit. Um I think the agent of the storm water should be um right now we got a lot coming on. So it's uh it's not just paperwork being shuffled. There's uh research you got to send it to pre review
it all. And I'm not willing to put the time in doing storm water. Um >> so we've got it right. We have the the consultant. Is it Kevin McHugh? Is that his name? >> He said we would use >> So we're using that, right? We're using him. We really haven't been using him cuz the
thing is is like when we have a peer review come up. It it it's totally up to the rep uh the applicant for the peer review. So what we do is we give him a few um a few people do use this peer review. They usually get back to us.
Then we got to take and get a a bid on it. Uh get the proposal u send it back to the applicant. Make sure they're okay. So, there's a lot going back and forth before um that happens. But, I mean, if you want us to just take everything and hand it all over to Kico
and let them deal with it, I mean, I guess that's what we're going to have to do. I I makes sense to me. I mean, I think that's what we've decided as the process. Probably not the the most time, you know, the most efficient way to do it, but that's sort of where we're at right now, right? I mean, I know Kevin,
you've had a lot more exposure to this than I have. Um, I think you got a consultant and we just need somebody to be the conduit and get that off. I would suggest the whole board do that rather than putting it on your shoulders if you're concerned about that. But I would rely on the consultant. But Kevin, I I
think I think the concern that Mr. Souza has other than some paperwork going back and forth, which I think Julie can handle as a con agent, um, passing it back and forth from applicant to peer review. That's really what it comes down to. It's really the signature for the storm water permit, right? So I could
talk to Mr. McHugh. Um I think outside of that speaking on this topic in an open session, um obviously it's a union involved. So I think it would, you know, lean more towards an executive session, but we did when we did do the hiring, as you alluded to, we had an agreement on
this is the way we would do it for at least the first six months of probationary period. Um and now this has come up. Right. But I think if the issue is who actually puts their signature and I can see Jim as chair, you know, I get it. There's some exposure to you
personally making that if it's a full the full commission. That's I think that's what we're going to figure out like who actually has to put their name on the thing. >> But Oh, go ahead. Yeah. >> I think there's a misconception here. Kevin Mchugh in this role is not peer
reviewing. He is our storm water engineer. He is employed by the town that we can build if we have to. But he is not doing
a peer review of the just a peer review. He is also advising the town. He is the MS4 engineer for the town. >> So would he be getting the proposals and everything from the peer review that's using it or I mean do
>> No, the plans come in. >> Yep. >> You people assign it to Mr. McHugh. >> Okay. >> For review for ADI advising you. >> Okay. >> So he's that please.
>> So consider him your sto still moderation is what Jamie's saying. Is that what you're saying? Okay. So, can we just have it exactly how you want us to work it? So, because it's it is kind of like a So, we just take that whole packet when they come in with a storm water management plan. We send it over to
>> Car if if you need storm water review. So, he's it's I think Mr. Suz is saying something different. >> I kind of I'm going to try to read your mind. So basically all it is is an applicant
comes in um with plans for storm water. The applicants then the conservation agent/storm water agent would then take that plan for storm water review and then send it to a peerre engineer or
several engineers for a cost to peer review somebody else's storm water management plan. Right. If it comes in, everybody's at three grand and they say, "I'll take Jimmy Su's uh engineering and they agree on that. They put the three
grand, four grand, whatever it is amount that that was bid on in a 53G account that everybody's familiar with. It sits there. That peerreview engineer would then take that engineer plans is working on behalf of the applicant that designed all the storm water and say, "We don't
agree with this, we don't agree with that. This calculation's off compared to the 100red-year flood plan." Da da da da da. Now, you need to send that back to the engineer that originally drew it and see if they can come up between the two engineers and an amendable plan to
suffice everyone, right? When that's done more, it's paperwork being shuffled. So, the applicants dealing with our office, we'll call it Concom office, right? They send that information over. We So, we're just playing middleman with paperwork is all that that comes down to. And then when
it all's finalized, somebody the storm agent would then say it's finalized. Peer review engineers good with it. The applicants engineers good with it. Concom's good with it. They accepted everything on record. Now I can put my signatory on it and say have a nice day. Storm water per.
>> Pretty much it, Kevin. The only thing is we review the middle. We're the middleman on it. So when the first engineer takes it and they do it, we send it to our peer review. Our peerreview sends it back to us. We take all the notes. we contact that engineer. The engineer to engineer does not talk. We're actually the middleman on that
just to review everything and make sure all the numbers are matched. >> You've used the storm water agent in the past to decide what goes out for peer review. Correct. >> Um Jamie, usually everything on storm
water we send out to peer review period. We do not say let's not because if someone else is willing to pay, we're not going to be looking at the the the square footage, how much water, um 100year storm. So, anything that comes in with storm water, it goes out to peer review.
>> Then then you don't need to refer to Kevin McHugh. If there was a question of whether it would should go out for peer review or not, and he would be acting in place of a storm water agent. If you send everything out to peer review, then
you don't need to have someone determine whether it goes out to peer review or not. >> Okay. So, who sends it out is what I'm asking. Who gets the proposals? Who gets all that? >> The conservation commission. >> It's not as a commission. We that is done before the meetings.
>> The staff of the conservation commission then should send it out. So, can we do this because I'm sure Jim and I'm I'm sure there's going to be 50 people after Jim serving in that seat and there's going to be, you know, can we either J
through Jamie or town council or get it steal it from some other town just come up with a flowchart on what the heck to do on storm water so everybody knows what the procedure is and the the policy to make sure that that's visible. It's
on the website. >> If if everything's going out to peer review, it comes in, >> it gets logged in, and it goes out to peer review. >> Understood. But some people are visual learners, some people need to see it. >> Correct. The only thing I'm asking is
the proposals, who's goes gets the proposals, who does all that? It's not the commission. We're not going to sit there on a meeting and say, "Okay, let's look at the proposal. Let's We're not going to go hunt the proposals down." I know that for a fact. >> Whether we're on the commission or not, >> can we come up with some
>> Yeah. >> some rules of the road so the petitioner knows what's going on, >> the staff knows what's going on, the >> you know, everybody in the staff needs to know what's going on. >> Staff.
>> Yeah. So, I mean, in the past, we we've had a storm water agent, so it just gets taken care of, right? >> Well, the stormwater agent the storm water isn't our department. >> Right. Right. But what I'm saying is, right, this is kind of like a household where somebody in the household is the one who always does all the bills and then that person is no longer there and
then people go, "All right, how the hell do we pay the bills?" Right? So, let's just come up with a procedure so everybody can understand it for this commission and then for future people. So, >> we'll take care of it for you, Jim. this way. >> If you can uh
contact me on Thursday, >> just >> Thursday, you be in >> just to go over exactly what your process is, Nick. >> Okay. All right. But I mean, basically, I'm supposed to I mean, as a chairman, I
run the meeting and I go for the agenda. >> No, no. I mean, >> flow is all right. I'll go on what you think you're doing, what you think you should be doing. Then Jamie will say this is what you should be doing and then >> well we got four more storm orders that just came in and we got a couple more
coming in >> and I'm not doing what I've been doing. So I just wanted to know >> Mr. Chairman and this isn't us shutting things down like Mr. Gasper said earlier this would involve unions to make any personnel changes or anything like that.
So, we have to come up with a formula at least because we still have to go back and forth and speak to the union to figure out if it's in-house when it goes out to peer review or we use a consultant. We don't need to deal with unions in that aspect. So, it's not something we can just flip the switch
and change tomorrow. We have to do it >> correctly. And I'm just asking right why was a well our agent not responsible for storm water >> conservation agent. Yeah, cuz that's what our department is. Conservation agent
>> time Jim was we were hired when when we hired person didn't have that much visibility there. So, we wanted to at least eventually kind of like >> and this is no insult to the current conservation agent. is somebody that was very green and didn't didn't have any experience working in
this position as it is and knowing how important storm water is. Adding a burden to somebody so they have to learn two fields at I don't want to say learn the fields but actually jump into the fire in the fields at the same time would be the way we looked at it was
that would be setting somebody up for failure. We don't want to overburden somebody that's getting their feet wet and we want to encourage full concom ability during the probationary period before we start adding tasks and responsibilities.
>> As far as conservation agent, I just want you guys to know that I'm extremely impressed. Her 3.9 GPA is shown right across the board. She um I don't know if you've seen any of the meetings, she's really stepping up. Um, just so you know, I think it's a very good hire is
what we did. And that has nothing to do with storm water. That's her as the agent is now. Uh, very impressive. Very impressive. >> Good. Good to you. >> All right, guys. Have a good evening. >> Thank you. Have a good night. >> All right. Next item is I put on here
municipal fiber optics and removal wires. At the time I put this on the agenda because I've had been going back and forth with Gary Hathaway from Scuttlebot um to try to get that poll removed and in turn I was back and forth with
Anthony, our good friend Anthony from Eversource and in turn Ellen Cummings kept going back and forth back and forth and Verizon actually moved the pole. So that pole at Scuttlebutts, it's been smack dab in the middle of the parking lot is now gone. Um, but in talking with
Nick, we still have other The hang-up was the fact that they're waiting for us to take off our fiber. >> Our fiber. >> So, but they did it as a favor to us. They they took care of it while their technician was out there, whatever. But
apparently, we still have our our stuff along the poles that need to be removed. Um, I've talked to Verizon. I've talked to Eversource about trying to get them to do that for us, but because Verizon is a union shop.
>> That's it's a it's just not feasible. NYX gave us apparently gave us a quote on what it would cost to do our own stuff back last June. Um, so I don't know what what the board wants to do, but I think based on the scuttlebuck
conversation, if we have our own equipment on the polls, that's probably going to slow down the process of getting these double poles, getting this stuff removed. So, I don't know what you guys I don't know how we want to approach this, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. I've spoke a few different
times on the solar and these double poles um over the past couple years that it should be the responsibility of the solar company that's making us making Eversource and Verizon change out these poles to the new high voltage poles.
>> It's the cost should be born by then. I don't think taxpayers should be subsidizing solar companies um for for this cost. We just put that fiber up two years ago. They came in, changed out poles because they're installing solar fields all over the town of Aushit. Um
that cost should be borne um by the solar company and not by taxpayers, subsidized by taxpayers. I've been saying that for a few years now. I'm still on that because it's a lot of costs. It's not just the cost of a contractor coming in. It's cost of
police details that are going to go through the roof. So, I think somebody needs to have a conversation with the solar companies and let them pay for it. We already paid to have our fiber installed and then they came in and built a solar field and now they're
saying, "Oh, we need new poles. Move your fiber, move all your stuff to accommodate us." That would be the taxpayers subsidizing the solar farm. And I'm not all for that. So, I think somebody needs to talk to the solar company and let them pay for it. Whoever's responsible for the upgrades
of the poles. Ever Source knows that. Verizon knows that person. They're getting money from them. Why aren't we? >> Okay. Well, I mean, that's fine. I don't I'm just bringing this based on what I thought was holding up Scuttlebutts, but
it's really that that was I was most concerned about that. Um >> that poll's done. >> So, that poll's gone. So, we can we can table this. Um, but I don't know, you know, maybe as part of our as part of the uh the number that Nick
gave us was like 20 grand, 23 grand. Um, which I think comes out of not the taxpayer, but from our it from the money we get from Xfinity and all that stuff. But if we want to consider some type of search charge on the solar farms to deal
with poles, we can consider that. I don't know the mechanics of that but anyway we can we can hold this off. >> We only we only have a loop a fiber loop goes from council on aging down here loops around down middle road down Leonard I think it goes two spots Leonard Lake Street one piece they just
did going to LNG for repeaters or something like that and then it comes back up main street in a giant loop. So >> again, it should be a cost bowed by the solar company, >> okay? >> Not by the residents of the Kush and that 23 grand is going to escalate because of police details and the
verbiage that's in the contract with the police details versus a town detail or an outside detail. >> I think this would be considered a town project though since it's our stuff. But >> yeah, without the way they do it. >> Either way, Jamie, I don't know if you want to get a letter, get with town council if they've had any experience in
other towns and get some type of letter to the countries. >> You know, I don't know. >> It can't hurt to ask. >> Okay. All right. Uh, next item, town finance update. Um, la a couple weeks
ago an email from uh chairman of the finance committee. I think they're kicking off their process. is it on the 28th uh is going to be the first meeting of the finance committee. And I thought prior to doing that, even though we did
our our fi state of the town finances meeting last December, um it would be good to just come back in one last time um for uh the town administrator and Jamie Velasquez to talk about the
process and just give us one one last look at key departments. Um so turn it over to Mr. Kelly. >> Mr. Chairman, uh, I've attached a memorandum
I am planning to send out to all departments. It includes the tenative fin schedule that I discussed with uh, Mr. Bush, Dr. Bush. Uh,
as you can see, it jams an awful lot of departments upfront into the first two meetings and then it goes into a review of fixed cost, uh, the some of the budget busters and
then it goes into a review of public works, public safety, education and at the end we look at revenue estimates. Part of that is because
the Commonwealth will not have uh the preliminary local aid figures until the end of January, beginning of February. And there are a number of other issues that are floating out there that
uh could seriously affect the budget because I've scheduled it in such a way suggested the schedule. I'm also instructing the department that the fiscal year 27
budget shall be a level funded budget and I've asked the departments to prepare two budgets. One will be a bottom line budget of the same bottom
line as fiscal year 26. and that any mandated or contractual cost will be leveled out inside the budget, not the bottom line. And then a second budget
that will be bottom line FY26 with any increases for mandated costs and a list of those mandated costs. There is no room in the budget. So it
will be as far as the town side we are looking to level fund. Not level service level fund. >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yeah. So we had a meeting god it was before the holidays. I think it was
early December maybe late November. I think Mr. Manad came in for putting out the trash bid. I don't know where we stand with that, but that is of the utmost importance to get a a snapshot of whatever that increase is going to be. I
would imagine that that's pretty decent impact to the budgets on the DPW. So, it's it's a grave concern of mine that we need to get that. You know, he said something we used to just go with CMAS as where the trash hauling would go to. We we can't go out for bid for trash
hauling until we know where the trash is going to get. And now there's a new facility. I think it's in Marian of Matapo that opened up. I think it's part of waste management. Um so now we have a second option. So it would be ideal. The board thought it would be ideal to put
that out to bid to see if we can get a better more competitive bid and drive down cost instead of cost just inflating at the past one is like four or 5% a year. Um because we had a 5year plan with them. So, I think we need to make sure that that um RFQ, RFP, whatever we
want to call it, gets done, put out. We should receive that back. Hopefully, we can put it out ASAP, get that back in 30 to 45 days max, so that we can go out for bid for trash hauling. Um, and get that back in another 30 to 45 days max.
So, as you can see the calendar, if we start this off in February, we're looking at probably early April at best to get all our numbers in and award, right? >> So, and that's part of the I think that's going to be a big part of budgetary planning. So, I just want to bring that back to the board's attention
and make sure it's not off the radar and we get our act together and figure out what we're doing with that. Yeah, it's on it is on our whiteboard and we should put this on it'll be on the let's put it on the agenda for the third just for a status report on where we're at with that thing. Um I guess the question is
do we have a date already set for town meeting by by chart? >> I know we monkeying around with it back and forth. >> We we've been kicking that late May, early June because of the state with funding and >> do we want to do that again? Right. I I
would not want to set a date until you know the where the figures are coming from from the state cuz even though the state is a small portion of the budget, >> twothirds of the budget is the tax rate.
You can figure that out. >> State aid is important. >> Uh but state aid makes up a great deal and a great deal of state aid is aid to education. And as you know, education is over 60% of the budget.
>> Mhm. >> Okay. All right. Uh we did send a letter most recently, Mr. Chairman, to Miss Healey. I believe it went out to Miss Healey to for trying to get an increase. I think Favven jumped
on that ship with us. I don't know if anybody else is jumping on that ship to try to push that, but chapter 78, you know, average increase over the last 5 years, if you average it out, it's only coming in about an additional 85 $90,000, which is really peanuts in the
whole realm of 8 to 9 million I think we get. So, um, it's really, you know, it's >> half a percent to one and a half. has is really nothing compared to the cost of education, the increase in cost of education, right? >> Mhm.
>> So hopefully they they'll get that letter and maybe they can step that up to help us out with our education um cost >> and same goes for our regional school. >> Uh Mr. chairman. >> Yeah.
>> Beyond that, uh the halfyear uh review of the budget, uh all accounts were within a plus or minus 10% which is where we want them to
be. Uh the overtime accounts, I put a couple in front of you. There is no real concern right now, but uh I'm going to be talking to a couple department heads.
Uh but uh we have plenty of time to rectify any real issues. >> Right. I think the one the one um column that's missing here is if you can get compared to last year and the previous
year. So like like for instance police we see at 52% used but where does that stack up compared to last year at this time like some of these departments you know are we at the same pace as last year are we ahead of last year's
spending or below um I think that'll be helpful >> but uh the problem is that there are different things that affects yeartoyear at different times so it's really looking at a half year seeing that a lot
of these numbers are only 50 to 60% of what the budget was. So the department heads are managing the budget well, >> right? And that's fine. I just again I think it just it's always good to see what the trend lines are, where the
spikes are in uh spending, you know, at certain times of the year. Are they closer towards the end of the fiscal year? Is it closer towards the beginning of the year? Yeah. So, I think it's just >> Well, in the past, we've had requests at the end of the fiscal year for
a lot of money that we need. But >> that's the point. >> But you've got to you've got DPW, snow, and ice and everything that this is winter time. We won't know where they're at until after winter. >> Right. If you see the percentage, the last column that Mr. Kelly put on his
form. I mean, you can see there's three departments that are a little alarming to me right now >> um on why that occurred. >> So, I think that raises the question um for I think finance, Mr. Kelly to talk to that those departments and say,
>> how did that occur? Right. >> Right. I mean, we're 60% done with a year and we're 70% and some are already 100% expended. Um that's not a good trend line. >> Right. So that's the more data we have, >> you can find out why that occurred, what
like you said, what where were we? Why did that occur? What was the occurrence that drove that line item exponentially? And you basically have no money left in it, right? I think that's what needs to be discussed. And I I've always said that these are the kind of things that
should be watched on a quarterly basis, right? And have that conversation so that things don't run a muck. Um, and everybody gets the picture that we're watching, right? Because I think it's important for everybody at home to know that we're watching. Yep. I mean, it's
what we do. It's what it's our job technically, right? >> That's why the half >> it's called financial discipline. >> It's all it's called. Financial discipline. >> That's why the halfyear report. >> And you don't have money like we used to. As you know, we're at the end of the year, the last 60 days of the calendar
year, the first 15 days of the new year. You can do what they call interdep departmental transfers. And when you're running situations like this, it makes that much worse in that last 60 days for interdep departmental transfers because
now you have more people relying on, oh, we can just get that from here later on. We can get that from here later on. But you we know that you know the two public safety divisions depends on what happens there. no fault of anybody's, you know, overtime could just go for for, you
know, one personnel on on engine on duty, regardless if it's fire, EMS, or it's police, it could spike, you know, your your overtime budget dramatically, right? And that's that's problematic. And we always try to look at it and say we need to be conscientious of that for
our public safety divisions, right? And clearly, it's the most important department. It's not no no offense to anybody else, but let's face it, I think most people at home want to make sure that we have a strong public safety division in town. >> So, all right. Anything else, Jamie?
>> Uh, I've attached uh from the assessor the solar rate tax report. It's 139,000 and change. And I've uh the summary report on OEB
which is uh is going in the right direction. It's decreasing the liability. >> Mhm. >> Part of it is because this board has been very good at uh
making sure that you keep putting money into the OPE account. And the other part is this board in its wisdom changed our investment uh policy and changed uh who
we invest with. Took it away from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that's helped us too. >> Sounds good. >> Huge. That was a that was a big move. >> All right. Anything else? and you'll provide this snapshot to the when you go
meet with the finance committee. Um I think for that first kickoff meeting and you know if you want me there I'm more than happy to. >> No it's I think the first committee has to be process. >> Yes. Yes. All right. Good stuff. Uh
thank you very much gentlemen. Any questions finances off. All right. Next item on the agenda is regarding the town administrator search. I got a communication from one of the members of the um the search committee uh wanting to know
what was going on with the finalists that they presented to us. Um and so I want to get a sense from the board. Do you want to bring these finalists in for an interview um and get direction on
where we want to go with this? >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yeah. Um, since the committee referred their finalists to us, there's been some changes in the amount of candidates that have been referred to us. Um, I'm okay with
interviews with what we have, but I also think this involves some more discussion in executive session in regards to process and what else we should do involving that process. Um, seeing as we have it on executive session anyway, I
think there's some more discussion we should be having in executive session about this. >> Okay. I think that that what was that's referring to really is Mr. Kelly his status. >> Mhm. >> Um, but so are you saying that at least
three or four people and we owe them at least an interview regardless of what's going on? Um, I don't know if Mr. Gasper, your thoughts on it, but the communication that I got from the committee member was pretty strong about what the heck's going on, why is there no action, and essentially pointing the
fingers at me, and I have no problem bringing these people in for interviews. So, that's my public opinion on it. >> Is that what we want to do or these finalists? I don't know what to I I don't People come to me cuz I'm the chairman about these finalists.
>> So, I don't know what to say other than >> I have no problem bringing them in. I bring them in. >> Up to you guys. I don't want to make that unilateral decision. >> I mean, I'm okay with bringing them in. >> Okay. >> I I would still like to expand upon the discussion anyway. >> Okay.
>> Um but I do agree that the communication with the candidates should be made. So, anybody that's still involved in it and still interested in the position has the right to be brought in front of us. Okay.
Um here you going to say something or it's it's a tough conversation for me to talk um in open session about. I just I get it um where we're at, but you know they they screened a boatload of
candidates. Um, we came up with five. The way I see the five that I knew about was two withdrew. There's three left. Don't want to talk ill of anybody. When I look at the three, I
I don't know if that's something that this board would entertain. Um, but I mean, if we're just going through it for the sake of going through it, I don't know if that's the best idea to put people on camera. um and have that exposure. So, I think maybe it warrants
that conversation um in executive session again. We could have that conversation, but um I don't I don't know how the full board feels, but I I don't know. I look at the town charter and I look at the the remaining three, and no disrespect to any of the remaining three. I just think that the
town has a handful of issues. And when I look at the three remaining, I I personally don't know if any one of the three would be capable of taking on that responsibility. Um it's we're not in a we're not in a flow easy position right
now. It's we're, you know, we have a lot of open vacant positions right now. And to put any one of them three in there, I don't think we'd be doing any favors for anybody. And I don't know, I just look at it again and I look at the qualifications under the charter and I just I just don't know if I could make a
decision on what's what's left in the pool. Right. I've been talking about um for God, I don't know how long I've been talking about advertising, but um again, we have several open positions and none of them are being advertised
right now. I don't know how we find candidates if we're not advertising for candidates, not just TA, but all the other positions. I mean, the town clerk's got a position. She'd been looking for somebody there for several months. Um, a senior clerk. It hasn't been filled. We have a town accountant.
We We're advertising for a building um commissioner, inspector, commissioner. None of it's being advertised. I mean, we can't we can't fill positions if we're not advertising. >> I think I mean, I know the town administrator, we were pretty clear that we were going to keep that posted. I
think we got notified in November and the board said you want to keep it open until the end of November to see what came in. I think a couple other resumes trickled in. I know there were two candidates who dropped out, but maybe it's because we didn't s submit a, you
know, we didn't have an interview scheduled. Maybe you go back to those other two candidates and say, "Look, on this day, we're going to be doing interviews at least." And if if of those candidates who choose to be part of that process and if it doesn't work out for them then we can at least close that process and then we open a new one. I
just feel bad for the people who put themselves out there and maybe you know in an interview process whether we know them or not something sparks. I don't know. You know I just think to get that communication that I got um
there's obviously some discontent from the people who are who served on that committee. So to validate their efforts, but we can discuss this further at in executive session, but I just assume contact the finalists and bring them in preferably during the day and give them
the ability to to put their best foot forward and see what sticks and we can go back to the two people who recently dropped out and say, "Okay, we're sorry that we didn't schedule something, but you know, we got caught up with the holidays." And when you're when you're short staffed and you're just trying to
keep things afloat, you know, like you're dealing with the day crisis, you know, it's hard to be forward thinking. >> Yeah. >> No, I get it. The holidays holidays definitely screw everything up trying to >> deal with that we're trying to p piece together and you know, you've been involved in stuff and Bob's been
involved in in stuff and you know, we've had Jamie V >> jump in there and Jamie Kelly's been working remotely. So, it's not like we haven't had any coverage, you know, like we've had, I think in some respect, all hands on deck. We've had a lot of coverage with all of us, you know,
chipping in and and our support staff. So, um, again, go back to the finalists. Do we want to bring them all in for interviews or do you want to hold off on executive and talk more in
executive session? I don't know. I have some stuff I'd like to discuss in executive session before we made any official announcement on this. But I do stand by the fact that we have to have an open line of communication with anybody that's still involved in this process. >> Okay, it's fair.
>> I agree 100% with that. It's fair. Uh DBD. All right. Next item is just FYI. As you recall, town meeting uh revised the bylaw regarding elected officials and uh
went through the legislature and the governor signed it be enacted by the Senate in the House of Representatives and general court. Section one of chapter 3 of the charter of the town of Aushrushna which is on file in the office of the archivist commonwealth is provided in section 12 of chapter 43b of
the general laws is hereby amended by striking out subsection 3-1-2 and it says to see if the town will vote to authorize the board for selectment to file with the general court a petition for special legislation to amend the town charter to delete section 3-1-2
which section imposes on a former town monorita the town clerk, a member of the board of selectman, school committee, community planning commission, board of public works, assessors, and any other elected board governed by Massachusetts law to a 2-year waiting period for appointment to any appointed paid town
position following the expiration of their respective elected term and further to authorize the general court to make changes to form only to the bill without the approval of the board of selectment to authorize the board of selectment to approve such changes. essentially uh the current uh
essentially removes that two-year uh cooling off period and would allow somebody who served in those capacities to work for the town um after their term is up. So that said, I'm going to take
that opportunity to say despite the rumor mill and stuff that people keep asking me about, this does not pertain to me. So, I just want to put that out there. Um, because I keep getting asked, "Is this why you're not running again? You want a job in town?" No, I do not. So, I just want to put that to rest as
well. So, nothing against the town. I love the town. Family, work, and the town are my top three priorities, but as much as I love the town, I have no interest in working for the town. Um, I choose to be a a cheerleader from the
sidelines uh come come this spring. So with that said, gentlemen, is there a motion to accept and place on file? >> So second. >> All those in favor? >> I cares. All right, we've got now executive session under Mass General Law
Chapter 30A section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining, staffing, reorganization, or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body. And the chair so declares and the
board will not return to public session at the conclusion of the executive session. Is there a motion to go into executive session number one? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Roll call vote. Mr. Gasper. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hinckley. >> Yes. >> And I am a yes. Regarding executive
session number two, executive session under Mass General Law Chapter 30A subsection 21 A2 to discuss strategy with respect to negotiations with non-union personnel. town administrator if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining
position of the public body and the chair so declares and the board will not return to public session at the conclusion of the executive sessions. Is there a motion to go into executive session number two? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh roll call vote. Mr. Gaspar.
>> Yes. Roll call vote. Uh Mr. Hinckley. >> Yes. Yes. We are now going into executive session.