be action moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> All right, we are open. Good evening. This is the meeting of the finance committee. It is Monday, May 18th, 2026. This meeting is being audio and video recorded. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Okay.
All right. Before we uh before we start tonight's meeting, uh FYI, um you know, as appointed officials uh to this committee and by the town, uh we're all held to a higher standard. Um
so I I always want our commentary during our meetings and if by chance you're you're commenting on social media to always be professional. Uh we can be critical but always be professional in our commentary. That's right. Um
so tonight we are going to uh get a budget update to see uh if there's any new updates and then we're going to get into uh voting on some of our uh level funded budgets and any budgets that have minimal increases so we can get these
out of the way. Um, we're going to have another meeting on Wednesday this week, the 20th. And then if we need one more, then we'll have one more next Wednesday on the 27th. Uh, if if we need it, if we can't get everything wrapped up um on
Wednesday this week. Okay. >> All right. Adam, Jamie, anybody anybody have any updates for us? Yeah, you should introduce yourself. >> Well, like yes, actually uh let me uh
let me formally introduce our our new town administrator, Mr. Adam Leontaine. Welcome aboard. Uh looking forward to working with you and you're definitely coming in at a very challenging time. Uh it's like Mr. Kelly came in at a
challenging time, too. Um and he implemented a lot of good things for us when he came in. So, I think he's, you know, he's leaving things as best shape as he can. I mean, we're obviously we're all at the mercy of the state and what the state has been doing and uh, you
know, what they've been doing in in my opinion is irresponsible economically. Um, I'll probably talk a little bit more about that later tonight, but I'll uh I'll let you have the floor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the finance committee. I appreciate uh coming in front of you for the first time. Well, actually technically the
second time because we met with the schools at that joint meeting. So technically the second time, but it was a different type of format. This your first business meeting. I want to thank Jamie for staying on board for the transition period. He's been very helpful, sharing a lot of institutional knowledge. I mean, we're fortunate where
he stayed on and he's really has a cushion uh finances as top priority. And thank you Jamie for everything you've done to not only ensure a smooth transition but to work with the finance committee and everything you've done for the community. Uh just quickly about me
uh I started in in city city government uh with the city of Chabe for nearly a decade before going to the town of Templeton and the town of Philipston and then coming here to Aushnet. Uh I take my job very seriously and I work really
hard to ensure the finances are uh to the most conservative possible level uh to ensure the proper with uh fiscal for taxpayers in accordance with you as the fiscal watchdogs as well as the selectman. Um so I want to thank you for
the opportunity to sit down with you go over the budgets. We do have some good news and Jamie will get into all the budgets soon. We did have some savings when we went through uh the trash bids that came in Friday. So that that was good. It helped us with the deficit overall. Um
so we're going through each line. You see uh when as you go through these budgets, we're doing the best we can to level fund all the departments. Uh uh Jamie uh the chair of our select board uh uh Kevin Gasbar, we've been going through and trying to keep these budgets
as low as possible to make sure we close this deficit. Uh it's it's a lot of work. Uh it seems like I'm looking at these so long that you just when you start looking at numbers throughout the duration of the day, they kind of all just >> blend in >> blend in after a while. So, uh,
appreciate your work and thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself. I do want to touch base on that because you'll see, uh, that that was our biggest savings so far was those trash bids. So, we'll hopefully we'll be able to continue that service uh,
including your taxes and uh, I believe that's a select board's goal as well. And there were some cost savings there. So, that will help us as uh, Jamie goes through the budget with you as well as myself. So, thank you, Mr. chairman for taking the time out of the meeting to introduce myself. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.
>> Mr. Kelly, give us the good news. >> Uh, seven departments are in uh we've cut beyond level funding. 18 are level funded. This is as of
today. We haven't stopped. Uh this is a a exercise in as you know balancing the budget where we cut things where we can
we level fund things where we can and then we go and see if we can cut again to get to our target. We're not there yet but we're getting a lot closer. Uh
there are a couple accounts that will not be done until the end and the reason for that is as you know sewer water and Gulf
we have the offsets or indirect cost whatever you want to call them and that keeps fluctuating. waiting as we make cuts in the
substantive part of the budgets. Uh we are also uh making further cuts in the benefits and insuranceances as we look at what's going on. And so,
uh, that budget buster account, I'm hoping we'll we'll be able to take another 75,000
out of the bottom line, but that's not out of the cost. That's in what we take out via the offsets. uh the pension, you know, we pay once and so we
get a discount, but it's still a budget buster. But in that particular budget, the other line item is Medicare. And we can't determine that until we see
the final salary number because it's a formulaic determination. And so we look at what the total salary townwide is to make sure that the
Medicare number is 0145 of that number. Uh the negative accounts as of right now are
Cass, the debt assessors, board of selectman, town clerk, accounting, and COA. I believe I may jump in for a second. >> Yeah, the town clerk's redoing that, so
that number could change. um based on uh impact bargaining or whatever bargaining we need to do potentially. Uh level funded is the reserve, moderator, final,
con, soil board, board of appeals, whites and measures, EMA, border health, street lights, ice and snow, forestry, veterans, recreation,
parks, historical and miscellaneous. And then uh the regional account is not set by us. It is in effect uh bills that we have to pay that's up uh $56. So
uh other than that the increases so far are cemetery acco uh both of them uh cemeteries driven by a slight raise uh beyond minimum wage
to bring them up to where as public sector minimum wage to bring them up to a regular minimum wage. acco because of some uh contracts we have to cover
uh a library is a minor increase but that's because of MAR and we've kept it within that actually slightly above that uh and most of the others
are under a 100,000 pension is over as you know uh water we're finalizing with the offsets but it's around that and uh then benefits and insurance we have to look at
uh Kushnet schools as we know is 1 million plus change and old colonies 410 Yeah, >> we did go down to the library today to make sure that our numbers were aligned because we don't want to go through a process of losing out with the
certification that that it's a difficult what it take four years to get it back when your communities do that before. So, we made sure that the number was accurate with the library director. What we're looking to do is save as much money as possible on the
town accounts and then addressing Old Colony which is a budget buster at 4102 and
then seeing what is left for public safety. the public works and the pushnet public schools. >> So, we'll be working with the selectman on those school numbers, whether it's
going to be that 410,000 or what the final Kusha public schools number will be. Um, we're doing our best on our side of the house to keep the number as low as possible. Um, how many of these have we sat down and already went through? I mean, pretty much almost all these at
this point. We're still reviewing uh or holding out nine departments and one of them is benefits because
and that doesn't include the enterprise because the enterprise is also where we have the mostly enterprise and water is where we have the offsets and as I said That will change
as we determine not by a lot but the Medicare numbers. When will all this be finalized? Like closing we looking at like to have it finalized by Wednesday,
but I think probably the beginning of next week >> and that would beginning of next week would be the absolute latest that we could do it. Correct. >> Mhm. So,
I don't know if you folks want to review the budgets for the level funded that we have so far and look at those. >> Yes. >> And get a recommendation on those. And
then we can probably uh debt will not change. And uh then we can look at uh some of the minor increases like
cemetery and regional which are one is $56. all out. Uh uh just kind of like we did with the uh uh typical articles where you guys went
through them and voted them. If we can get these done and we can get them off our plate. >> Mhm. >> Cuz uh last year we were rolling quarters. This year we're rolling dimes and nickels.
I won't say pennies because uh >> they're getting to be rarer than I went to the supermarket and they told me that they were rounding up >> up and down. >> Up always.
So, uh, of the budgets in front of you, elections we want to hold, Pam's still working on it. >> All the details, right? >> Yep. Select board
is a hold because we're looking at even though it's a decrease, we're looking at uh elimination of this position. No, we're looking at a further
and um do we have uh reserve and do we print those >> reserve form? >> Huh? >> Reserve moderator print.
>> Well, I can read them. The reserve is 150,000. It's no change from last year. I don't >> Huh? >> Maybe not reserved. >> They're not printed or they're in the
back or >> no um moderator there. I don't see them in there, Jack. But >> yeah, I don't have you have in the packet and you have the numbers right there. You read off the numbers.
>> A reserve >> reserve fund >> 150,000. Last year it was 150,000. There's no change. >> Okay. It's level funded. >> Next one.
>> Moderator 875. >> Speaking of moderator, do we have one >> for the town meeting? >> Uh, I've been told very likely. >> Okay. >> Finan 2,900. No change.
Legal 100,000 no change. >> Con 81,371. No change. >> What was that again? I'm sorry. >> Con. >> Con. >> And how much? >> 81,371. Soil board 15,800
no change. Board of appeals 6,655. No change. I'll send these all in an email. Weights and measures 2,219. No change.
EMA 17,900. No change. Board of Health 162,163. No change. Street lights 27,350. No change.
Ice and snow 110,000. No change. Forestry 18,000. No change. Veterans 142,397. No change.
Sorry, can you repeat that? >> 142,397. Okay, >> thank you. >> Recreation 25,25. No change. Parks
49,967. No change. Historical 7,666 no change. Miscellaneous 12,000 no change.
And then for regional we have 3,861, an increase of $56. And that's sered and th those type of bills. >> 3861 is an increase of 30 $54
>> 56. Cemetery is 7,100 for an increase of 275. The debt is 423,380. for a decrease of 61,250.
And as Adam said, we're looking at C mass, which has a decrease, but we're verifying the Dan's verifying the bid
numbers to make sure with the biders that actually were the low bid. just to make sure because it's a savings >> if I could jump on that. So also not sure if you're aware but like the
contract right now with waste management goes till June 30, 2026. So the select will have to either take this up at their first business meeting in June because if we're going to be changing vendors cuz waste management wasn't I could say that wasn't the lowest
publicly. I announced the bids. So, we're looking at transition to make sure that's why Dan's following up to make to ensure a smooth transition because if the selectman do award it to a new vendor, we want to make sure that goes smoothly as possible because I don't we don't want folks to when it comes to
trash, we're aware of how sensitive that could be um to ensure it's a smooth transition. Just so you're all aware. >> Are all these numbers going before the board of selection already? >> Nope, they're going on Wednesday.
I don't think we did any budget, right? >> Uh they reviewed the top sheet overall. >> Yeah, they've reviewed the where we were at the point, but they reserved the right to go back and cut further. >> Mhm.
>> We're not any of the ones we read were not going up. We might go down, >> right? If we, for example, if I need of
the 18 level funded, if I need to cut in any of them 25 or $50 to save 500, I'm going to do it
if we need it. It's a terrible situation to be in, but when you've got 4102 budget buster facing us, that eats up almost half of the revenue increase
or four grade levels. >> Okay. Okay. So, based on uh all those numbers on all the level funded budgets and the ones with nominal increases, uh is is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Okay. All with budgets passed unanimously. I'll send uh
Kathy an email with that list. doesn't need to verify it. >> Okay, looking at the the next one in our packet here, we have uh treasurer collector. Is that the notice book?
>> I believe that one was that was being sent back a couple of them that are going back to the departments. So that's going back. So that's being held. >> Uh we just want to verify the right sheet. Um
>> you guys get copy. >> Yeah. That's on the other side. >> Okay. I'm looking at it differently than you. Sorry. >> I'm flipping it differently than you. That's fine. >> I believe you have the latest one. >> Actually, I have a quick I have a quick question.
So when I'm looking at what we have in front of us, so I'm just going to use the treasurer collector as an example. >> So at the top column we have column at the last four columns you have M, N, O, and P. So M,
>> P, P is what is going to be presented to the board selector. >> Okay. So basically we're concentrating on P on P. Mhm. >> Okay. But not every not every sheet has P has
a has a company. >> Yeah, I know. >> You're just looking at the FY27 BOS is what you're about. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, regard I guess regardless of the letter. >> Yep. >> I'm just using this one as an example.
>> Okay. >> Okay. So, going back to treasurer collector, we're holding that, right? Correct. Yes. >> Okay. I believe that is for your edification but not for action.
That will be where we're going. That number. >> Yep. And it's uh primarily because Department of Revenue will not let us charge the
excuse the borrowing expense to our debt line. They're telling us it has to go into the fees etc for banning have to go into the
treasury collector's account. Okay. >> All right. On the >> and that's really the primary increase there and we've cuts elsewhere in the
budget to minimize that increase. But we're not looking for a vote. Okay. >> All right. So on the flip side of that page, we have town, right? We are
the board is still looking at the one of the salary levels as far as recruitment goes. Okay. So, we're holding that The next one I have in front of me is technology.
We're also checking some of these travel lines, verifying those on technology uh the uh town uh town technology. I thought you were waiting on some technology.
Not nec you will see in the technology salary column we like last year are charging a portion of
the administrator and the network tech for the work they do to the CATV. V but it will not reflect anything decrease in the article as far as the salary line
for that. Well, it'll be done as a journal entry and we're looking at savings of 16,828
to the operating budget coming out of CATV for salaries. and we've worked as far down as we can with the
uh expenses. I I believe you've talked to the administrator prior to when he came in to give you his budget. Mhm.
>> And as you can see, we've subsequent to our conversation or his conversation with you, we've cut it further, but we're pretty much at where we can
go. We really worked hard to try to get this one to be level funded. Um but after your meeting it didn't go as all these subscription costs they just seemed to
>> but you know where we could we made some cuts like the the cell phones whatever we we could manage through the budget. >> So we're holding holding this one as well. >> Yeah. Uh, >> yeah. >> Well, I've already talked to him, but
yeah, I'd like to hold it at this point. Any of the election budgets also I want to hold. They're being water registars will hold >> soil boards. We already we already
>> appeals board if you did >> what's next. >> I want that held please. >> We've worked very hard on the public safety budgets. And if I could also highlight the fact too, we're doing our best we can to try
to reign in these overtime costs. We're getting cooperation from both departments as well. The uh police chief already issued a overtime freeze, anything, but outside of any contractual obligation. So, we're trying to do what we can to instead of just throwing the same amount of money, things overtime,
we're trying to make some changes there hopefully to save the taxpayer some more money. What one issue we're looking at is where we center the charges for details at election
whether it's in the police budget or it's in the town clerk's the budgets under the town clerk and there's a discussion there. I know in the past at different times the state has helped out
with some money but who knows from the state but we want to make sure that we put it in the right account. So if we do >> if there is aid that comes in >> yeah we'll get it. So that's the discussion that's ongoing now. And if I
could also say too, like we noticed on the police department, the overtime, we're trying to come up with the realistic number because if we looked at all the different scenarios, like we had that blizzard, over $20,000 overtime was attributed to that blizzard. >> Um, so we're trying to be realistic with
the cuts as we're making them. Um, so that's where we're at with. And then as Jamie mentioned, we might see a move with the police details going into the town clerk's budget, but for some reason it was in the police budget
building inspectional services would like that to hold. Even though it's only a minor increase, we're looking at to see if we can pair that down. As I said, we're rolling quarters,
dimes, and nickels. EMA we already took up. >> The next after that is DPW highway. >> We worked on that one today. Uh, I'd asked for it to be held, but as you can see,
just from your purview of column L and column P, we've uh done substantial work to get it down. We're just seeing if, you know,
5,000 here, 10,000 there eventually will help. So like if you seen the equipment line, it was 67,000 went to 60. So we're also looking at what goes into snow and ice versus what comes out of the highway, you know, when did that piece of
equipment break, how should it be allocated, all those different variables. Jamie's going through all the indirects right now to make sure with the health insurance, the the pensions and the like. >> Yeah, that's for sewer and water. >> So there's a lot of moving components in
those. for water sewer. We've got uh I I know it's tough to react, but there have been
department heads on the town side that have been coming in twice a week and agreeing to cut 10,000 here, 12,000 there, just to try to get it down. Our Our target was to try to
get every budget to be level funded other than mandated costs. >> Mhm. >> And one thing here that we're very worried about is fuel and
>> Mhm. >> do we have a righteous figure especially what's going on internationally. >> So >> well that's the great unknown. I mean, you can't really do much with that, >> but how far can we bring it down and
still not feel like we're totally being full hearty is where we're at. But I'd ask you to hold on that one.
Street lighting. >> We already voted now. >> Yeah. >> Cemeteries, you're already voted. >> Health, you're dead. >> The veterans who did recreation are dead.
The star called you dead. Uh, no. >> I'm waiting on the Medicare >> regional. You did >> golf. I asked to hold because we're still going to the offset. out of the warrant.
There are a couple updates from what you have already done. Article two, I ask you to hold, let's see, uh, bills a prior year. I'd still ask that it be
held, but uh, it's on page 17. Sorry. But that uh, I don't we don't expect anything to come of it.
So far, we haven't got any bills. So, that might be excluded and held to the fall fall. And so, we'd be changing the numbers. Obviously, article three of the consent agenda is
the PEG access and cable related fund. I think I asked you folks to hold it the last time. Those figures are good. I'd like a vote. >> Make a motion. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Article 3 passes unanimously. I'm I'm sorry. I will have to ask for your records. Article 12. Yes.
>> Yes. >> 13. Yes. All right. 14. I asked that it be held still. >> Reordered on that one. >> Okay. I think it was just some language changes. >> Yeah, there's language changes in the
police. It's replace Glock firearms holster and we inserted the word ammunition and provide training. >> It's just wording, right? It's not change. Yeah, >> 16 we
got 15. Did you do 15? >> We did 15. >> All right. >> We didn't do 16. >> 16. I asked that that still be held. >> 17 is wording change. And I'll I'll read the wording. You can
strike the words that were in the previous if you have the previous one before you as well as this one. It's to see if the town will vote to transfer from the EMS
reserved receipts account the amount of 25,000 for the purpose of establishing a reserve fund. And then we took out some extraneous words after that and we carried over for use in the repair and
maintenance of department vehicles, equipment, facilities and associated equipment and require a vote by the board of selectment to expand. >> We just have to add uh the language or take any other action there on or in
relation there too for those two as well. That'll be council does that. But >> yeah, >> we took a couple words out about fund the fund. >> So article 17 before 7 to see if the
town will vote to resend article 13 of the annual town meeting from the June 17th, 2020. >> That's what it said. >> That's what we had. >> That's what we had. That's what we said. That's what we That's right. >> Okay. So this is a >> that's not just a word change. That's a
complete rewrite. I I've gone through so many versions of this. >> Yeah, this is very different than what we voted on. The one the one be >> before it, it says article, it looks like article 9, even though says article
in it. >> So, um, but that's the one that's the EMS reserve receipts. >> Okay. >> For 25,000. So, that's >> that's now article 17 >> more to 17. Yep. >> Okay. >> And we took some words out of that
version before. >> Yeah. If we could just keep track of like the language because uh quite frankly, like Jamie said too, like if we take out that late bill article, all the other numbers are going to change. >> So, you just have to be cognizant of that cuz the selectman uh we're hoping
they vote on it what either Wednesday or the following Wednesday, right? >> Yep. >> So, just, you know, because once once we change all the numbers up, it's going to be So, do we have to because the numbers are all changed from the articles that we voted last time, we're going to have
to redo it again? >> No, because we'll put recommended by the FINCOM on the appropriate article. >> So, we can take this up now, right? >> Huh? >> We can take this up now. >> Yeah, you can take this one up now. >> Make a motion. We accept article 17 is
read. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Being no discussion, all in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? >> Okay. Article 17 passes unanimously. >> So maybe in the minutes just add like reserve fund 25K that you approved. It
just might be easier for the sake of the board just as a suggestion. >> Yeah. Article 18. We did >> that. >> That was old 17. Yes, we did do that. >> Yeah. And
I think we >> article 19 which was old 18 we did as well. >> Yeah. >> Next three articles you don't know if those >> we don't have they'll pro if there's no collective bargaining they'll be passed
over. Mhm. >> Uh we're still determining on the article 23 before you now uh whether we resend the borrowing and how much we resend
cuz originally it was for a uh a million5. And uh once we do the final accounting and we look at the DOT money
uh whether it's necessary at all which we doubt or a substantial amount of it will be removed. And we're actually hoping
to hear on uh the DOT money any day now. The selectman are hoping to hear. Article 24 is a placeholder for a cleanup article to clean up old
articles. Mhm. >> 24 we have to provisions of metro laws chapter 40 section 13E that's the old one and the new one >> okay
>> we're a placeholder if we have to >> cuz we voted on the 24 old one. >> Yep. >> So we need to vote on this one. >> Yep. That's now article 25, right? >> No. >> No. >> So 20, the old 23 is now 25.
>> Yes. Right. >> You must have added some guys to 25. >> We did. Uh, we took up 23, which is not 25. Yes, we did. >> So you did. >> Yep. >> Okay. And you took up
>> 26. 26 which was >> 24. >> 24. >> Let me double check to make sure. >> Yes. >> 24. >> Let's see.
>> Yes, you can hold 24. Yep. >> Okay. >> Which we did. >> CPC. Sorry. CPC. we want to hold. >> And just on that one too, we'll update the fiscal year 2027 throughout the
article. >> Mhm. >> This here that I >> think that was our old 19. >> I'm sorry. I got to get back on time because
>> we've now jumped around too much. I've lost track. >> Yeah. 25. I agree. We did we did 023 which is now 25. >> I didn't have to go. So it's not a problem for me.
>> Oh well. Okay. Sorry. Where did we leave off? >> 20 27 on the new sheet >> which should be 25. >> Actually it's 19. >> It's okay. I I think we probably just go through that one yet. >> Yeah. So N I got you. 19 is now 27
and we did not vote 19 last last time. >> I don't think so. No, I don't think so. >> You still want to hold it? It's 27. So we're holding that. >> We're holding 27. Okay. All of that just Okay. >> Hold the budget. No.
>> 28. Hold the sewer enterprise, hold the golf enterprise, and hold the golf retained earnings to do them all at once. >> Yeah. I mean, they already approved, but
what? Oh, sorry, Jamie. What are we holding? We're at article 28, which is the operating budget. So, we skip that, right? >> Yeah. >> So, flip pages now. 29. >> So 28 >> store and golf you wanted
to 31 >> of >> course return and we're holding that one. 31. >> We're holding 31 articles. We're not voting on 31 has some formatting we got to work with. Data elections doesn't apply the time
doesn't apply. Yeah, but place to >> there was one zoning that required funding. >> Yeah, the old 29 I think. >> Yep. >> Old 29. >> Old 29 reads >> which
>> um general law chapter 44 section 53E and a half. It's um departmental >> revolving funds. It looks like we establish the following revolving funds for fiscal year 2027
article 35. >> So you're going down. >> Mhm. Yes, we did. >> All the other ones you didn't >> right 29. Yes. Was the Did we do 28 of 28? Do we know what >> we did? We did all the It's the 100,000.
That's the last one. >> You did that one. Yeah, we did the 100,000 for the We voted new article 31. >> Okay. We did. >> We did. >> Yes. That one. >> Did you do article 32? >> No, we stopped at 29. 29. The old Well,
wait a second. Old 29. >> Mhm. >> Which is new 32. The one >> old 29 is new 35. >> Sorry. Anyway, there's Did you do the beautifification donation account?
>> We did not. >> Okay, let me talk about that. This is written by town council. It is to establish a beautifification donation account for the town of Aushnet so we can receive
donated funds for beautifification projects subject to approval of both the beautifification committee and a pushment board of selectment and it's uh so we can get donations
for and they'll be earmarked for like uh taking care of the decorations at Christmas time around town hall. Uh uh mulch and flowers in certain places,
that type of thing. If we took donations in the past, it would have to go into the general fund and then we'd have to appropriate it at town meeting. this. If someone wants to
donate $500 for mulch around town hall, they can donate it. It goes into this account and then we expend it straight out of this account with the vote of the beautifification committee and the board
of select. So the usage of that money that goes into that account would strictly be by the board of select >> and the beautifification committee. Beautifification committee would have to vote on a project, bring it to the board
of selectmen, get the board of selectman's approval of that particular project that the money was donated for. I make a motion to pass to accept as written.
>> Motion is just >> Yeah. On that though, we're going to make a board of selectman right on there. It says select board. We're going to make that correction on there. Just that language change. No, >> you know what you mean.
>> I'll make a strictly donated funds. It's not >> strictly donated funds. I'll make a second. All right, we have a mo a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed?
>> Article 32 passes unanimously. >> Uh the town is a correct. It's a government education. >> All right. I just I just asked her if the donation was tax deductible >> and it should be since it's a
government. >> If not, we'll make it that way. >> Okay, sounds good. >> You put the first 500 in. >> Do you have do you do you have clients who need a deduction and will donate?
>> Thanks to tax legislation, there are a lot of limitations now. Thank you very much. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, article 33 is uh elections as a whole. >> That was at the last uh meeting, was it? >> I didn't get the word for that.
>> It's really It's really just a date change uh for the election >> for town elections. Oh, >> because of the uh because of the issue with scheduling schools, etc., it's
going it's going to be a week earlier during vacation week. >> Okay. So, we can we can take that up then. I believe that was going to bylaw review, right? >> Yeah. >> By review. >> I'm waiting for the final version and
then uh the date of town meeting. There's a clarification that if the board is selecting need to change it, they can. We hold it here. >> Th those two are from town council,
correct? >> Yeah. I'm hopeful we could get that if you have a meeting Wednesday. >> All right. So, we'll hold those if you're meeting Wednesday. Yeah. >> One request if we're changing the numbers. Can we put old number, new number?
All right. So, let's see. Next 36. >> No, 35. >> That was passed. >> Mhm. >> Which one? >> 29. >> That was all 29. That was all >> right. So, you passed that one. >> Yes. >> All right. So uh 36
>> what planning board articles are beyond my scope? >> Yeah, it's the citizen petition articles are >> if it doesn't involve any uh spending uh direct or even indirect I don't think we have to make a recommendation on this.
Um 37 I think is probably under that category as well. Yeah. On Wednesday, I'm hoping to give you a revised revenue sheet
based on Senate numbers. I'm waiting to see if the vote finalizes. How much of these increases and unrestricted government aid? How much has that helped?
>> Not a lot, >> right? Cuz I you know, it's funny cuz you see you see the headline of the article, right? And it makes it look like, oh, Christian's getting an extra $1.8 million and it's not the case. It's 4% 4.5% above that. So when you do the
math, it comes out to about $88,000. >> That's that's what we're >> And then you look at the assessment sheet and that takes some of it away, >> right? So it's like peanuts. But but according But when you read the article, if you just if you're not paying attention, so for the rest of us out there watching, we are not getting an
additional $1.8 or $9 million from the state. Uh that'd be a pipe dream cuz we don't have they don't have that to give to us. But as I said, we're that >> we're rolling quarters, nickels, and
dimes. So 25 grand seems like a great thing right now. >> That's a It's a shame that, you know, we're our town's in this position and there's a bunch of other municipalities throughout the Commonwealth in this
position. I mean, a record number more than I've ever seen since I've been doing this and it, you know, and when you see all these overrides, you know, trying, you know,
asking residents for more and more taxes to me is just appalling. I mean, how much more are they going to are they going to try and bleed from from the taxpayers in this state? It's just ridiculous. And I think at some point,
you know, these all these smaller communities, even some of the bigger ones, should just say no. Say no to the overrides to fund operational budgets. Take a stand. I mean, uh it's like enough is enough, right? All right. Cuz if you don't, then okay, the leadership
at the top, the governor and that whole team, they're going to be like, "Okay, well, apparently they're okay with this. They can absorb the extra costs. They want >> you know BS we can't you know we have some of the most expensive utility rates in this country.
>> So you factor that in home insurance rates etc. It's it's out of control. We're we're one of the most expensive states to live in the country. Probably number two at this point. I mean it's
absolutely ridiculous. And you know, the only way things are going to change is is going to be in November when people go to vote. >> I mean, but we've been put in this position by the governor's office. The
>> tax levy is the increase is between 2 and a half and 3%. As you know, local receipts, we've been increasing them between 3 and 5%. local aid between a half a percent and
one and a half%. So you've got the state and local aid is not keeping up their end of the bargain. If your tax levy is between 2 and a half
and 3% and your local receipts go up 3 to 5%. Then the town is doing its share. It's a state who should be kicking in another
one one and a half 2%. And they're not. They could they they just look at all the billions of dollars that have been spent on agenda-driven projects over the last what four years. I'll say that but
this is we've been heading on this path for the last 10 years but it's really got accelerated over the last four. Um and I don't even know where we go from here at at this point. But I mean, the last thing I'm going to do is ask our
taxpayers for for more money. >> Mhm. >> There's no way in hell that that that I will make that recommendation. Not as long as I'm on this committee. It's not happening. >> No. Make hold the politicians accountable. Make them do better. Make
them spend our tax dollars more responsibly. I mean, it's just is absolutely it just drives me crazy. It's just nonsense. >> Well, we're looking at some general legislation that we're
hopeful will be help beneficial to a fishnet. So, um I'll keep people posted on that. But until 25% approximately of our
budget is comes from the money should come from the money from local aid. But if they can't at least make it 2 and 12% and you've got contracts uh collective bargaining contracts at
2%, you've got increases in my >> pleasure. Yeah. you you can't keep up with it. >> No. And once and once once a municipality starts going down this override road, you can't stop. You're going to have to keep doing it be because you're you're you're creating a
new base, right? And and it's still not going to keep pace with all with all these fixed cost in this state. It's it's not going to happen. >> So I think that you know the communities need to take a stand to and and hold these politicians accountable. Just say
no. Stop. Stop digging into your into your own pocket and make them do it. >> Oh, different. >> That's why everybody is moving out for 6 months and a day, right, Sue? >> That doesn't mean you're you've changed your doicile though.
>> 6 months in a day. >> Takes more than 6 months in a day, though. >> No. >> I mean, the other thing they'll never take up pension reform in the state. you know, all new hires should go into a 401k just like they do in the private sector. >> This pension system doesn't work. It's
not going to work anymore because of longevity, >> you know. >> Well, we only have till 2036. >> Yeah. Well, the it's supposed to be fully funded by 2036 to 204 statuto.
Yeah. Uh, and that's why you're seeing that 100,000 plus every year on top of your pension cost. >> Yeah. And we're supposed to be at net zero emissions, too, by 2050 thanks to all these windmills and solar panels.
That's that's another pipe dream. Well, it's also that's why uh uh new employees are contributing 11% >> in pension costs.
>> I think it's actually higher. >> 13. >> I think it's 13. >> It's gone up that high. >> Believe it's 13. >> I know. I think it was 11 with the search charge the last time I >> checked, but >> yeah, last I knew it was 9 plus two.
MTRS is 11% but that's not funded by towns. >> Yeah, that's state. >> It could be the 9 plus two. Maybe >> it's 9 plus two. So it's >> Yeah. With everything going up, you're just so used to everything else. >> It's 9% plus 2% over 30,000 or 40,000
something like that. So it's really not a true 11%. But it's the health insurance pension cost and then the fact that state aid is half of what it should be. >> Yeah, we'll have to look at health
insurance. >> All right, my rant's over. Um, for now, >> what's the group that the cushant belongs to for health insurance? They've gotten out of MSHG where we're where a hybrid self-insured
where we buy stoploss and reinsurance with the group >> is it was it Allegant? Is that the name of the group? >> Pardon? >> Is the name of the group Allegant? >> Alliant. >> Alliance. Okay. I knew it was something like that.
But it's mainly to p purchase uh stop-loss and reinsurance as a group on the open market. >> Jamie, what is it that's stopping I know they mentioned it in the school meeting about being able to opt out of it.
What's stopping them from being able to opt out of it to like save money in the budget? >> Don't have to be a policy, right? Opt out policy. They You're talking we pay people to opt out. >> There there was some talk at the school
committee about uh the teachers union was asking why um some of them couldn't opt out of the insurance. >> Right. I've seen that >> that if you don't take the health insurance, you get you get paid certain amount of money. But on the flip side,
you have some employers that if you cover your spouse and they have access to coverage, then you get penalized. >> Yep. >> That's how I work. That's how they do it at my job. >> Oh, >> but the real problem, >> you're penalized if your spouse does not take their coverage that they can get.
The the real problem with that is some of the unions, especially the MTA in various communities, has said that they want to see an opt out that
covers both folks who take the family and plus one plan and folks who are take the individual. But and someone who's
non not eligible for anything but an individual, how where do they go under Massachusetts law because you have to have insurance. So they couldn't figure out what to do
about the people who don't have spouses, not on family or plus one, don't have anywhere to go other than the employer's health insurance >> because they're ineligible for the health connector. >> They make too much money.
>> And even if they did, >> they could go to private, but it would be there's no way the health connector. >> Yeah. you you would have to apply to the health connector or get denied and then they'd offer you something else which is likely more expensive anyway. >> Yeah. And and then that's not going to
motivate anybody because the money you'd be paying. >> Yeah. >> And generally when they do a policy it's for the people that already have health insurance if they wanted to opt out of it. So people that already that let's say they
have their spouse already on the plan a different plan and they don't have a health insurance through town it would only be opt out for the people that are actually on the health insurance for a one-time payment of a opt out. >> Yeah. And then they can jump back on an open enrollment or if there's an event
that happens that qualif a qualifying event and then what do you do about the money you've already paid them? It would be a bure forund and something employees
for the treasur collector and the town administrator's office to keep track of that would be an abysmal nightmare. Our healthcare system is so broken. It really is. >> It's a lot more manageable in the
smaller towns. Does anybody have any old business to discuss? >> So, Wednesday select meeting will come back Wednesday night. Hopefully, we'll have a lot more certainty to what we're doing.
>> All right. Anybody have any new business to discuss? >> All right. No old business. No new business. So, we have a set a set of minutes to approve from March 25th, 2026. Uh, in attendance was myself, Pete Benoy, Eric Chu, Kristen Flynn, Eric
McGlenn, Mr. St. Gene, and Lisa. >> Motion to accept. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I minutes are approved. Next meeting date is this Wednesday, May 20th, right here, 7 p.m. So we can
hopefully wrap things up and if we don't finish on Wednesday, then we'll have one additional meeting next Wednesday if necessary on the 27th. >> Is everybody available? >> No, >> for this Wednesday or next Wednesday. >> Okay. So Kristen's not available. Mr.
St. Gene, you could be available. Okay, >> I think so. >> Yeah. Both Erics Lisa >> motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. We are journ