[Music] Okay, being uh 6:00, do I have a motion to open our finance committee meeting? Second. All in favor? All right, we are
open. Good evening everyone. This is a meeting of the finance committee. It is uh Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. Um we are, you know, we don't have a flag in here unfortunately, so we will not be saying the pledge of allegiance
tonight. Um this meeting is being uh audio or video recorded. Uh so tonight we are going to um finish discussion on the articles um that have uh been amended and updated by the board of selection. So we're
going to go through those tonight. um take votes and then have uh any discussion on any issues that might be pertaining to any of the budgets which we're going to finish up uh this Thursday. So um Jamie, do you want to
just give us any brief overview right now? Any new developments? Uh as you know both the board of selection and this committee has uh
reviewed the uh budgets that have not changed or uh minor changes uh usually reductions. Uh the uh selectman are reviewing the budgets
uh Thursday afternoon, the ones they haven't yet reviewed. And uh then uh they did all the articles. They've changed a number of them from when we talked the last time.
and where uh depending on uh the cuts that they make to the budgets on Thursday. We're
very close to a balanced budget. Okay. Excellent. It's been a a long arduous process to say the least. Um it seemed every year I think we always say this was the hardest year and here we are saying it again this year right Bob. I
mean this is the Yeah it has been by for a few years the hardest one. Yes. Yeah. So yeah we don't want to we can't keep going down this with the bag. You sure?
Yeah. I mean I just drafted the letter to the letter right. Um, I went on I apologize that nobody got to take a look at it. I just I did it and sent it out to Jamie um and Sydney. Um, I made a few some revisions in the letter I put in
last year, but basically what I brought up in the letter this year was um, you know, the fact that our departments either had to remain level funded, make cuts, or had very nominal increases. Um,
and that's basically was the nuts and bolts of, you know, the changes that we had going on. Um, you know, I mentioned the fact that some of this was due to, uh, very little local aid that we got from the state. Um, and of course, you know, I threw in
a couple sentences about, you know, the state, you know, uh, spending irresponsibly on illegal immigration. I'm going to throw it in there because it's true. Um, it's a factor. All that stuff
affects what we can get for local aid. Um, so it has to be put out there. It has to be known. Um, it's a fact. You know, they can say all they want in Boston and say, "No, it's not." And, you know, blame everything on Trump. I mean,
that's what they seem to be good at right now. Um, well, not not to mention the fact, Mr. Chairman, but I was just reading the news this morning. Maybe it was yesterday morning. is we know that the governor has talked about pushing the onus more on the towns
to increase their taxes in order to make up the shortfalls for what we normally get from the state. There were four towns on the Southshore that voted on Proposition 2 and a half overrides. Only one of the towns passed it. The others voted it down with a large majority for
it. and we have sat back and said we don't want to do a Proposition 2 and a half override because that just resets the pace for years going forward. We can't walk back that 2 and a half. That just increases our taxes for next year but also for all the coming years. So
for the town's people that are upset about services being cut or budgets not being able to be funded the way that certain committees want them to be funded, we've got to look at the fiscal responsibility that we have. but also the welfare of the town and all the town's people moving forward into the
future just not for the next year. So I think as a committee we are all 100% against a two and a half override operation. Yes. Absolutely. And I think you know I don't think there's I don't I think the services are still going to be
relatively well maintained. Um I think you know between what the board of selectment have done uh Mr. Kelly, you know, working together uh with us. Um I think we've really made it
work. As difficult as it was this year, um it's just uh it's it's gotten more and more challenging all the time. And you know, like you see articles that come up and I always try and stay a breast of uh current events.
I read something. He's uh I don't know if he's a state rep out in Springfield or if he or I think he's a state rep. He's proposing a $10 million amendment to the current budget right now to the the governor's budget. I think it's going to go to the house um to help fund
uh legal fees for for illegal immigrants. I mean, I it's like really you're going to take $10 million. We don't have that. that's going to go to the taxpayers, the middle class. There's no way we can afford that. So, people need to pay attention to who these individuals are that are proposing this
kind of stuff and keep start keeping score. Take a look at how your reps are voting on things. Um, just so when the next election comes around, you you remember. I mean, that's that's the only way things are going to change in this state. And kudos to New
York. And I can't believe I'm actually saying it being a Red Sox fan and then our neighbor of New York, but they voted down the amendment that was being proposed to create a slush fund for appointed or elected officials legal
fees to be covered whether they were in the process of their job or personal. and it was 100% around Leticia James being brought up for the fraud on her mortgages on her properties. So they voted it down and we're talking about a
Democratic control house and and Senate for that state and it did not pass. So that's good. I mean one more thing then we'll get into it. Um locally I don't know if anybody's aware but you know what Christian is we are part of the green community act. Um
the town of Marian just voted to get out of the Green Community Act um because um according to some of the I guess builders in that town, it's affecting their ability to build uh homes cost effectively or whenever you do renovations, you have to adhere to
all these extremely rigid guidelines that are outlined in this Green Community Act. Um so they're they're they're they're out of it. I mean, I know we're in it, but um how long we're going to stay in it, I don't know. Because I think that's something that would affect new growth because if you
don't have building going on cuz it's too costly, then you're going to have less new growth. You have people doing less renovations to their homes. Um so, I think that's something we need to think about as a community going forward. And the killer is is I believe with the renovations from what I've been told that if you renovate a building,
any part of that building now has to abide by the current code. It cannot be gr grandfathered in. It can be grandfathered in as long as you don't touch it. But as soon as you touch that existing building, the whole building now has to be up to code. Which is why renovations you won't
see going out. So there's a lot of issues. I think I I hope everybody just stays just informed as they can as to what's going on in the in the whole area, the whole region, the state. All right, we can get to this. Um, let's start with article one. Uh, article one
is uh article one standard acceptance of excuse me, are we going to go through them all and then vote or we going to vote each article one at a time? Well, cuz I think there might be there might be a couple articles on here that
we might not vote on. Um, hold on. Well, cuz I think some of them might be nonspending. There might be maybe one or two. So, I don't know if we can all as a whole. Let's just take them as we go. Okay. Yeah, we usually do the consent
articles all those. Well, the consent agenda can be all done together. We'll go through that whole thing. Uh, one, two, let's Okay, let's do that right now. Uh, one is the acceptance of reports. I'll make a motion to accept article one. Second. All in favor?
Motion carries. Article two, I'm going to ask that it be passed over. It's uh prior to your bills. We don't have any. Is that going to be dropped off? Yeah, it'll just be passed over.
will be left on the warrant to pass over motion to table. I don't know if we have to do that moderator would pass. Yeah. The consent agendas which is a consent agenda you see every
year and that's articles 3 through 10. Correct. Correct. I'll make a motion to pass the consent agendas as written. Clear. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Anyone
opposed? Our motion carries unanimously. All right. Uh originally we were going to create a revol another revolving fund for fire for
repair. We've uh taken that out. We're going to put it in the budget as a reserve. specific for fire. Specific for fire. So, it's taken out of the uh uh not only
the creation of the original version you saw, but it's also taken out of the table and it's a standard table for revolving articles that you authorize uh the limit each year. So that's the
new reserve fund under expenses on the updated proposed budget for the fire. Yeah. Was that the only change? No, I'll get to the I'll make a motion for article 11 second. Any
discussion? All in favor? The free cash articles have been changed quite a bit from what you saw originally. And the veterans
uh article has been put in another place in the uh uh in the war. So just removed from precach but another place in the war. Yeah.
Uh and both senior work off and the veterans work off. We're doing the fun through the overlay. Are there any other major changes on the free cash? Oh yeah, go through them,
please. Uh the MS4 consulting services we cut to 30,000 from uh you remember was the original and I'll take the uh
Uh and we can do that. I mean we mostly get the services we need with production. Yes. Uh the storm water st MS4 stabilization fund we increased by the 20 we cut from
the previous and so that will be 70. So we basically just shifted the money. [Music] The uh compensated absence stabilization
fund we left the same at 50. The health insurance stabilization fund we decreased by 50,000 to 150. the oped account, a trust
account, we left the setting at 100,000. The general stabilization account. Uh when we did all of uh looking at all of the budget and
looking at where we wanted to be, we only funded it 100,000, not 200,000. And that's to stay within that sweet spot of between five and 15.
Yep. I think we're at 10.75. Okay, that's good. Uh the capital stabilization fund we increased
to 200. Now if you remember we took 600 out of it for in the prior town meeting for the office welcome. So we're starting to build it back up. What was it before?
Before it was 200. What? It was 100. So we increased that 100. Yeah. Okay. Same thing. We basically just transferred the money. Still 50 different uh the opioid settlement fund transfer is the same. And that was uh uh we have
to do that every year because the opioid uh money goes into free cash and then we transfer it out. Uh the youth employment service
program is the same 30,000. The school uh roof band repayment is 275,000. That's half of what remains on the ban. And that that was
the number we had before this too, right? So that hasn't changed. Yep. And the capital budget has increased substantially to 665,000. And uh if you go to
page 22, it'll give you the chart. The fire is the same. It's for the new compressor for the SBA models. Not to exceed 80. Yep. The
it is the same uh for hardware software printer copers and that's not to exceed 40 the police cruisers. That's
10 pardon. That's 10. Is it 144? Yes, it's uh up to 150. The uh uh services to update the chart of accounts is the same
30. The HVAC system at the COA is uh decreased by 2,000. The uh used truck for maintenance is decreased to
45,000. The general code compilation is the same at five and overw. Yeah, that's the big difference. That's what I was getting to
the DPW. We've decided to uh fund the street sweeper and that's not to exceed 275,000. Now I I had a chance to to watch that meeting and I I listen to what Dan was saying. Um so apparently we have a
street sweeper, correct? That really doesn't work. So it doesn't work at all. very poorly. You can tell where it's been by what it leaves. between can't tell where it's
been takes and uh our uh we're spending within 5,000 of free cash with this purchase. So basically our free cash is gone for
the year until it will fall. What's the I'm trying to think the last piece of equipment that we got for the We've gotten a few years. I know, but I'm trying to think recently. Do you got the excavator? You haven't gotten anything other than
the slide in for the sander. Uh, since I've been here, I I don't remember. 3 and 1/2 years. How long? 3 and 1/2 or something. But who's Kevin? I don't think we've
seen it's probably been close to four or five years. We got utility truck. Come on. And you can probably speak to the use of a street sweeper, right? I mean I I'm not I mean definitely you know it's you
know I contract it out I'm sure would be quite expensive. I don't know the condition of the current one being broke. I know obviously we all know Dan's been pointing to this for a couple years now. Um do we have an opportunity of getting a few bucks selling the old
one? Uh, I don't know. But I do know that, like you said, it's been a request for a number of years. Way that we could look at maybe leasing
for a short term for 6 months to a year. As you said, if you hire someone uh that's uh going to provide a driver plus the street sweep drugs. Sure.
If you rent one, you're not sure of the quality of renting. Well, the problem is if you have an issue, you just call them up and say, "I need another street sweep because this is broken." I'm just wondering like long-term lease versus an outright purchase. I don't know if
that's even an option. We can wait the way this is written. We can investigate it because this is not to exceed the amount. Yeah, I don't have a problem with investing in a piece of equipment that they're going to use for No, I just
think with everything we're talking about with this budget, we're within $5,000 with this purchase after cash we're like right there. I just tough because it's coinciding with all the other vehicles. Yeah, but keep in mind most of what we've done is shift money
away from town reserve funds. There's no way we can get away from the police department cruises. Oh, we didn't last year. We had no choice. But uh so in the year before Yeah. I mean
they they obviously public safety is president but uh I I heard some discussion sorry Eric something else to add um I heard discussion about how this would be funded and there was a potential option to maybe utilize some
chapter 90 funds to cover half of it is so they not going that way. Uh I wouldn't advise it because you know the shape of your roads you know you need the chapter I need to do I heard that I heard the whole conversation and that I know it was was mentioned but then you
know it's taken away from road materials which you know I know there's a lot of roads in disrepair so I mean I I'd rather personally see it in road materials and this is something that you do at least the whole town at
least three times a here plus accidents. Well, from a motorcycle perspective, it's safety. I mean, I mean, every time you have a major accident, my skin gets washed out. As
far as the sweeper, I'm sorry, as far as the sweeper. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the town definitely needs it. So, I just was thinking, you know, just openly wondering about the long-term lease options, if there's such a thing, if it be addressed, if it was even
addressed, we can address it with them. But this gives them the option of purchase for up to, but not to exceed or a long-term lease. So, what's So, when they need to use something now, what are they using?
They've got a I don't think it's been used. Uh, I've seen it wrong. I used last spring do a good job. Yeah, it leaves stuff and they've uh used I believe
they've used another one that's not going to be [Music] available. Maybe we should visualize. So, I' I'd say this is a good use of the
money now, especially when uh free cash being certified in the fall uh if there's a need. And also, your uh all of your uh savings accounts, your
stabilization accounts are where they should be. Okay. So, if there's a piece of equipment that's needed, uh, you could access that, but I don't think so. You're providing for the police cruises. We're
providing, you know, an article you'll see very shortly for a fire engine. And we're providing for this. And all of them are needs that we've had to bypass for years now. Yeah. Mhm.
this um I'd like to get like everybody's input on this one since this is you know impacted this this article quite a bit um the St. Jane, what are your thoughts? I uh observe the current street sweep
burner operation and it's a waste of fuel time and it just is not doing the job at all. And I feel that this, you know, the streets sweep is ineffective in this, but you have motorcycles, you have a lot
of motorcycle traffic and you if you traverse the roads, you'll see a lot of sand on the side of the roads cover. And normally by this time of the year, Dan has the roads pretty pretty much in in in good shape. But like I say, watch
that thing in operation and it's just a waste of time and money. So I I think it would be a good good expenditure. Okay. It's a high maintenance item for leasing. I you know I've never looked into the leasing
aspect of it but it's it's a very high maintenance item and I think if you lease it would be a you know uh high high impact lease a high I was just thinking until fall or next year or
whatever until maybe we have a different financial outl Well, sure. I'm sure I'm sure Dan would do that and then just do a cost benefit analysis of uh you know what's the lead time on how long it
doesn't have to be outfitted. Yeah. I think it just comes as it looks, right? Yeah. Something special. I'm sorry. I'm asking Lisa, would you give any input on that? So, I I personally, as a rule of thumb, I'm never a fan of leasing anything. Um, but
uh my thoughts are I thought Eric brought up a great point about maybe regionalizing with a smaller town nearby. Um, but we only use it three times a year. If we could look at renting, I mean, what does it take maybe one week
to do the whole town? could rent it for one week, return it, get it in a couple months, rent it for a week, return it. It's not ideal, but it would probably save a lot of money. Yeah, that's that's good. How many times
a year does it get used? At least three for cleaning the town. Yeah. And but that's more than a week. I I don't know. I'm just Yeah, that's that's a lot more than a week. How much?
How old is the last move now? I don't know how old it is, but literally it leaves more than it picks up. Yeah, they I watch the movie as well. He's he came he's having a very hard time getting parts for it to service it. And that's that's the main
driver behind B. And as far as uh with another you don't regionalize equipment. You might regionalize department or something like that, but with equipment
uh when you need it, they'll need it and you're going to be fighting over it. Yeah. Who takes care of the expenses? I mean, we'll borrow we borrow ambulances, but it's an ambulance. They're not using appreciation of the taxes. I mean, I I just think this is the
time to get it done where we've got a late town meeting. We're go you're going into the fall. You get certified free cash in the fall. If there's a need for
free cash, then you have it. And uh and that would be if you needed for maybe a building expense or something like that. So, Mr. Chairman, we can just recommend that we get price comparisons
on rental needs, lease needs, as well as purchase so we have a a better idea. I mean, I know we don't have time before the article has to be approved, but as written, it gives the amount up to 275 and it still needs to be it still needs to pass once they get it finalized,
doesn't it, Jamie? Or is this the end of So, what if we say do it, if they decide whatever they want to do, they they can do. Yeah. But, uh, and they can do, you know, uh, the board of selectments still have to approve. That was my question. If the
board of selectman are say lease or lease purchase or whatever own. Yep. That they can do that. Uh this is just sets
the limit of what you can spend. But all of uh all of these expenditures have to be approved by the board of selector and uh most of them have to go through procurement. So if it gets approved, the
town meeting just the way it's written right now the and let's say the the conversations are taking place and you know we want to have them look into doing a lease or renting a machine
several times a year to figure out what is the most cost effective way to to utilize this. We could still do that or are they just going to take this and run and and purchase it? Well, who's going to take it? DPW. No, the select
have to approve it. The purchase would go in case of this would would go to the board. I mean, I caught some of the meeting, but I don't know if if they actually talked about how much it cost
to like to rent one of those machines to do the whole town. like I I don't know if they I don't know if they threw that out there. They uh there's been discussion in the past about
uh hiring someone andor renting and they pretty much pointed towards this. So, uh there was multiple discussions as well as your favorite
thing looking for a green one versus a non green one. There's actually a green street sweeper. Is there like a solar panel out on it or something? I don't know. turbine. We have rented in the past and
we have uh high out to an independent contract in the past and neither option was cost effective at that time. It wasn't. And that's why we decided to buy the one that that uh is presently in
use. I can't remember how long ago that we purchased that. But we we did experiment those two options. I'm talking a while back now. Neither one was cost effective. It's labor intensive number one because you you sweep a certain area and then
the machine's full. You got you got to dump it. So, you got to have a truck there. So, you have a truck and a truck driver and uh the amount of sand and and debris that's on the side of the road now, it's going to be quite a project to get these
streets uh cleaned up. So, Okay. That makes sense. I mean, it makes sense. Thank Thank you for that input. Um, so I'd say uh motion articles 12 through 22.
Yeah. No further discussion. I I just had um sorry the uh do we have a balance budget completely? I know I brought up the stabilizations last meeting. Um, we're working we're working towards
it. It's close. It's real close, but I'm still waiting for the board to finalize the departmental budgets. any yeah that's um yeah so I just want to
touch on what what I brought up last meeting I didn't think I was going to hear this one um cuz it was supposed to be yesterday but uh you know clearly there's no appetite here for private board to um utilize any stabilization
funds for operating costs which I understand the principle Why? I got um I even the general stabilization reduction of 100. I mean, yeah, I still think it's it's comfortably high. So, um
I just want to address what I brought up last week. And and as far as the uh street sweeper, I think I'm on board. I mean there's no England. So I am curious one last thing is what are they doing this
spring like now? Are they not sweating? I haven't seen that's not crazy for you all the rain. It's all going to go down the cash basins and all the sand and you know I
don't think anyone's arguing the need for a street sweeper and how we get there. I mean, we'll just give it the option to the voter selectman and the superintendent DW and to address what you just brought
up. Last year, the school department used their special education stabilization fund and used that to balance their operational budget for where they wanted to. And then this year they went and the
need was to replace it especially with a big increase in special ed needs for this upcoming school year from what their projections are. So that's my concern when we start looking at taking away from any stabilization fund and using it for a purpose not that specific
fund is that it's just money that we're going to have to pay back in the future. And it's not like we're looking at next year saying next year is going to be easier. We're looking at next year going what are we going to do next year? So if we can avoid that at all cost, that's why I'm against it. Yeah, I I mean, like
I said, I get it. And next year's going to be worse. So I mean, we're hopefully we'll be in a better position than if we had the money for anything manufactured in the cushion.
Just wonder we know what the schools are what budget is doing yet. They said in terms of personnel or um they haven't given me uh anything other than the bottom
line. So they hit the 140 141 140 change. Yeah. So I mean thank thankfully all the departments um particularly the school uh so kudos to them for really helping out the town uh
with you know with them reducing their budget. It's enabling us to, you know, provide a balanced budget without having to ask the residents for any type of override or us dipping into any of our stabilization funds. So, I think that's I think we've done a fantastic job. I
mean, compared to what I hear, you know, some other towns going through, um, you know, I just I mean, you had mentioned that the town that you're in was going to have an operational override, right, at their town meeting? Yes, they it
passed. It passed. Tell me it did. How many have you had? Do you know how many over the last say 5 10 years? Uh two in history. 200 one in the 90 early ' 90s one in 2006 really but every other comparable
town has [Music] had so the problem is once you start going down that road so you we have to it's just it's the long turn down the road you know
hopefully push is going to find themselves in a very good position with their annual budget versus these other towns that are going with overrides cuz their their base is going to be or just I I don't know how because well, you know, there's going to have to
be some changes. We are going to have to get more federal, more state. There's going to be there has to there's no new growth is very difficult. You know, we you're right. I mean, you got to get the
master plan established in this 5 7 actually what you're seeing in especially northern county uh parts of southern Worester County and
uh a number of others and as you saw we've started to explore is uh sharing of personnel between towns. Yeah. Yeah. That's when we talk regionalized. I mean, we're going to have small towns like a Kushnik are not
getting a line share of aid like the cities are. And so, I mean, we're going to have to, you know, pull the wagon. And they also need to revisit and rework. I think chapter 7 is that has to be someone's going to
do something with that. Well, over 200 districts have minimum chapter 78. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Right. And that's because of what the state but none of this is going to change by
next year. And I think next year is going to be if we have the same fixed cost increase that we have this year, which we could probably plan on, it's going to be catastrophic. But exactly to your point, next year is going to be worse. So if we did an override next year, that's not going to
help. and still be looking and trying to be creative. If a whole colony goes through and a debt exclusion isn't approved, does that have to go out like operating like use that only if they build it if
the debt exclusion doesn't go through? I doubt I doubt that. How would they be able to go through? I doubt that it would be approved by the towns if other than with a debt exclusion cuz there's no way you're going to be able I think
to afford 100 million without a debt exclusion. I think once they start talking about the numbers of what it's going to cost per household, it's going to be like sticker shock to a lot of homeowners and they're going to be like, well, I mean like I can't afford that on top of my my annual property tax bill.
It's going to be it's going to be over probably over a grand, 1800. And the sticker shock is the other killer. I mean, keep in mind residents went through a major tax increase off their property taxes this year because of reevaluation. Yeah, definitely. I don't know. I don't know who got the break,
but I got break, you know, but you told that now add two and a half on top of that is a huge one-year increase for taxes. Next year we won't have a re-evaluation in values of the home. So
we'll see what next year brings. I also don't under value of the you know undervalued when they reval it the money doesn't change right. somebody they're they're also valuing as far as
the market goes right the overall increase is still 2 and a half right so the evaluation is the market it's then you
take that and put it into the levy that's the uh trick and your problem is 88% residential for the tax levy.
Uh I think there was a motion and a second. Okay. So we that was on articles 12 through 23. So we provide we had a good healthy discussion on this. Um any any further
discussion? All right. a motion in a second. Um, all in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Uh, before we take our next one, just go back to one more thing. You know, I still think we're we're feeling
the lingering after effects of the last four years of, you know, the national economy being the way it's been with the record spending which created the inflation that we we're still feeling now. um that's had that has an effect on the
state and at the local level. We had to get through co I mean we've never dealt with that before. So I think we're probably still in a recovery phase from all that stuff. Um so I I and I'm hopeful that you know the national
economy is going to get better. Just give it time. You know I mean let let the man in charge do his job. just nonsense. It's just over the top. All right, next. What is it?
Article 23. Article 23 is accepting uh Mass General Law 59 section 5 to have a veterans tax work program. Make a motion. Any discussion? All in favor?
Any oppos? motion councle 24 is to see if the town will vote to transfer 200,000 from the EMS receipt reserve account and to borrow the sum of
650,000 to fund the purchase of a proper engine with a,000galon capacity and 1,250 50 gallon per minute pump. The uh present equipment is
consistently in disrepair and repairs are becoming too expensive and not economically possible. Do we know which piece of equipment uh this is going to replace? We did. They said it in a couple of
meetings ago, but I don't remember offhand. Well, who let us in? I don't know the numbers. I mean, we had the discussion weeks ago about the need for it. I had no problem with it the way it
is. I think it was replacing the oldest one. And he gave a description of what the looked like. I forgot what he used. Um, uh, what did he call it? the current one. I don't think it's squat, too.
It's just it I think with I think there's there's been more fires around lately than than I've ever seen recently. Um we've seen especially in Bedford, we had that that devastating one here in Christian. Was it January
1st? It's been a lot of usually um it seems like there's a lot going on with uh like more fires. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's people using a lot of electronics charging stuff. I don't know. Up until recently, we did have a very dry season. Yeah. Too burners out.
I mean, we got a lot of rain recently, but the winter and fall were dry. So, look, it's it's a public safety issue. So, I don't think this is something you can take. I make a motion that article 12 is 24 second. Any discussion? All in
favor? Anyone opposed? And article passes. The [Music] uh article 25 is a CPC article. What you see in front is the appropriations that
have to be done each year. You have to divide up so much so much into each of the categories and then uh you appropriate the actual projects. The appropriation
that is not used will go into the undesated balance. And I did it again where the parks department should be open space. But
uh the administration is uh 13,000 uh that never gets used. Uh the up to 60,000 for the relocation of the
historic memorials at Brussell Library. So they need to market the building and we plan the plan is to move them to the area by parking
wise. Uh we're hoping it will not cost anywhere near that, but you have to put down the footing for the memorial first the memorial. And I've been told,
uh, besides the size, you have to have someone who knows what they're doing because it's 14 interlocking pieces. Well, he just say
uh and then uh the next is the painting renovation for the rear fence along for long plane museum and that completes that project. And then the
parks department's 8,000 for various small projects. We're still waiting. We have the money we appropriated last year to do to get
someone to do the survey. So we get a survey of the whole back uh boundary. So then the plans can go forward to use some of that other land. But we need the survey first to
tell us where we can go. I'll make a motion to approve article 25 with the stipulation that the reserve source of funds be open space for park not historic. Yeah.
I'll type of correct motion in a second. The only thing I'll add to this as far as discussion is just so the general public out there is aware by uh the town of nutrition participating as
community in the community preservation act. Um it's basically a 1.5% search charge tax on a property tax bill. So, it's not a lot, but enables the town to keep up with all the historic buildings,
um, the parks and whatnot. Um, so I mean, some most I believe most of the municipalities in the Commonwealth participate in the Community Preservation Act. Some don't. Um, we do. We do. Yes. Um, so I mean there ever
comes a day where we decide not to or things, you know, get worse and that that's eliminated, then that would be something to look at, I guess, but it's it's a small it's a small number right now. It's it's not a lot. and and with
the undesated balance which grows that's money you can use to buy conservation land open space land that type of thing for that um I just before we take
the final vote I just like to give a shout out to uh Miss Pauline Texera from the historical commission she does an outstanding job um and with the with the historical commission I mean, she's been a long long time volunteer to our town, just a
fantastic lady, does a great job, and you know, she's always involved in something. Um, she's at the Apple Peach Festival for the whole weekend, and just a a really great lady. I just want to give her some recognition.
Well deserved. Mhm. All right. So, we had a motion, second. Um, no further discussion. All in favor? I Anyone opposed? Okay. So, this motion carries unanimously. Uh, Mr. Chairman, uh, I would ask the
next three articles or placeholders. There is negotiations ongoing for collective bargaining agreements for ask me and the police. Uh I would ask that uh you report at town
meeting cuz uh I can't uh report as you know what's going on in collective bargaining. So tell us so we'll know by by town meeting. Okay. Well, we always meet we'll schedule a meeting
like an hour before the actual town meeting. So if there's any unfinished business, we can take it off uh right before the time we make a motion that we table articles 26 27 28. I would ask that it be motion that uh the the board
uh take them up prior to town meeting and report to town meeting. I'll change the motion as requested by the administer that articles 26 27 28 be
table town meeting won't be be taken up before us uh before the town meeting motion second. All in favor I oppose motion carries unanimously.
Uh article 29 is the sped uh reserve fund for the school. It uh there's a limit on it as you can see and it needs to be replenished.
Uh this is what takes care of uh any uh emergency uh funding for people who move in uh to the district that it's unplanned for.
Uh you could have one move in the cost are 100 plus,000. Yeah. Yeah. That's what makes that line at the back. They part of their budget very volatile. So, Mr. Administrator, just to make sure I'm reading this right, these funds
would be potentially moved from areas in the school department budget that are unused correctly, not coming from outside sources from the town. Just want to make sure that was all set. I'll make a motion to accept that
29. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Any more folks? This is an article that uh you either take up now or you take up in the fall almost every year. Which one is
that? The the spending here, but this is where we were talking last year. They use some of the spend to cover operational and it needs to get replenished. But at least it's being replenished from their own Uh the next
article is uh what this allows is the school to enter into a 20-year contra up to 20 year contract with train for energy
management services. It does not negate the uh vote of the general public against uh the dead explosion. All this allows
is for if the board selectment and the school committee uh want to enter into a 20year contract. It allows them to do that versus a three-year contract and
allows them then to have access to all the engineering that train did etc. It doesn't mandate that the contract have what 20 year I'm just wondering a 20-year contract to do what we're trying to be doing over 20 years are they
putting in a this allows you to contract up to up to for the 20 year period that was going to be the amount of time that launch was going to
be but it also allows you year. If four years down the road you want a contract with train to get them to do that the referendum that was voted
on was for a particular project for a debt exclusion. This normally you only contract for 3 years. Under these energy agreements you're allowed to do it up to 20.
And this would allow down the road if there's a need or value for it for both the board of selectment and the school committee to have the option. But it's not you're
not authorizing a particular uh project or appropriation. So we're not restricted. It doesn't address funding. So we're not let's say we wanted to address the structural
issues with the school, the envelope. Uh we could put that out to bid with private contractors if you wanted to and not have to go to train. Right. Correct. That was my wish. Yeah. Yeah. You could also uh let's say you contract with
train get all their engineering their design and everything. Uh and maybe you contract with them as an OPM. Didn't we pay for that already? I mean isn't that the town's that engineering? I mean we paid over 20 grand. Well, that and
that's I mean that's a good point because we pay for study, right? So in essence in essence this basically doesn't make that a waste of $20,000 by having let's say you wanted a
particular part of you're still going to need the plans and everything else for that. Okay. So if we vote on this and it is approved through the town meeting, is this in agreement with train? Will train be willing to give? No, this gives you the option of
contracting. Okay. It's a law in the state. You can't you can't do any contracts over 3 years unless you go through this and unless you go through this energy
department like I've had issues where I I came in for a service contract for more than 3 years as a town meeting. Yeah. So J one other question Jamie. So this article the way it's written this would have to be quote on the annual town meeting every year like this. No.
No. But you're g you're giving them the option down the road. Okay. To do it the 3 years, not 20. So, I mean, we have the option down the road to do it anyway. What does this
cost us for per year to do a 20-year contract anyway? Nothing. And does it tie us in exclusively with trade only? No. Yeah. I just wanted to say what I didn't think that we did an energy study on Ford Middle School, but it's in here. I
thought we only did the elementary school. It was just the elementary school. Yeah, they listed for mill. Does that mean that they can go back and have another energy study done? So, they have to pay for it and that means they need an appropriation. Okay.
There's no money into this. So it's just a preventation. I am concerned that it's going to be that it's being written up to 20 years. I mean I'd be more comfortable with the three and then just every 3 years or
whatever just redo it. It just I'm not too crazy about the 20 year designation. We're not paying anything for it. It doesn't tie into what's the benefit of having a 20-year contract with them. The other issue that uh that I have is, you
know, right now we have a a a current board of selectmen who were all involved in this. Now, if we leave this in there for a 20-year period and you get, you know, new individuals coming in, I mean, I don't know anybody I, you know,
if it goes into another debt exclusion would have to go through the whole process all over. I don't think this is entering into a 20-year contract. is giving the option for the board to elect to 3 years elect
to contract with KR for a year up to 20 years if but it's likely to use that judgment and the school committee but anything that cost still has to be appropriate. Yeah. So, say they want to
put in like a simple dehumidification system that $5,000 in 20ear contract. They could enter a 20 year contract for 500 something like that funding, right? The funding come from where my question is if it's not exclusive to train, then why
is train specifically called out? because you have to when you're doing this type of thing through the from what I understand the way it was explained to me the department of energy with the
state. Mhm. You would have to name one of their vendors. And I think it ties in with the green community uh act and the mandate because if if we were going to go forward with anything like that, there was that grant that's tied to that. So
it may have the engineering studies. Yes. I just I don't have a problem voting for it cuz it doesn't lock us into anything. But I just don't understand benefit to either side. Why have a contract? The schools asked for
it and It didn't seem to be any uh it doesn't issue. It seems odd to me that they add a second school. Well, you wouldn't have to do it again if I think the reason that's in there is because originally, Lisa, when they when
they did this whole study, they actually in included the middle school as as a potential part of the project. um if we wanted to do anything in that school. So they they kind of threw that in there. Yeah. They didn't put middle
school in here. That would have been excluded out of that because you know I mean I understand 5 years down the road, 10 years down the road, who knows what needs to be done in the other building. At least that would be worded. I just
again advocate if it doesn't give a benefit to either side, why have a contract to begin with? And if there's no cost to it or cost savings to it, why even bother? It's not a contract. Well, it's the ability for them to enter into a contract, right? So, can I ask this? Theoretically, if the school
decided to finance this project that wasn't financed with a debt exclusion, obviously they probably can't afford it, but if they could, this would allow them to enter that contract. No, they have to have the port. Yeah.
And they would have to Yes. But which which would I don't know how that would even go very well. No, I don't even know how.
I'm just I don't understand what the negative could be out of it or the positive. I'm just leerary that all of a sudden this article shows up between voting down the debt exclusion for it and working with trade and all of a sudden I think they just want to option
that they can tap into their resources. The other thing I think it does is if if we have let's say we have a completely we have three new select um six years from now a completely new board select it gives gives the school
the ability to if we address it but that's going to be difficult I mean this is going to have to be pretty well explained come town meeting I think people are going to see this and there's going to be a lot of concerns you know at town meeting confused because the the funding we voted this down in a
referendum like there's going to be a lot of discussion on this on the town floor. Um because you're going to have a bunch of people lined up at the podium saying, "Hey, wait a minute. We voted against this." So, exactly. Somebody's going to be prepared to give a good explanation.
Um Mr. H better stand up and explain, you know, one of the one of the board members. Well, I mean financially it's not asking us for anything. It puts it on the board select any anything financial is going to come in front of us in the future. So this
committee can vote to uh not take a position on it or vote to recommend it or vote to not recommend it. I think we kind of have to take a position because we were asked at
last town meeting to to be participants in this this whole process. So I mean to not to not make a recommendation now kind of makes us look foolish I think in my opinion this is definitely not black and
white trying to take a decision or something to me I'm okay with nobody I mean it's kind of ultimately whatever we recommend it's ultimately going to be the the photos a town meeting and if they don't get a good
enough explanation to appease them, they'll shoot it down. I'm willing to take not take a position because it's ambiguous for us at the time of presentation or readress again before town meeting when we have a
better idea. I don't know that's going to be addressed any more clear than what we You know what? We can hold it right now. We can hold it right now until then and we can get between now and meeting try and get a little more clarity on it. So
why don't we hold it? Make a motion to hold it 30. Um any further discussion to report and report back meeting. Okay. Motion a second. All in favor? Okay. Motion
[Music] carries. All right. And the next article is the operating budget that holder has to still be approved by the uh foreb don't change. I think we've
already taken those. So anything with NC we've already made our recommendation um reduction. Yes. building department. Oh yeah, we're going to see
what else. I'm going to ask you the next article would be article 32 which is sewer enterprise fun which is same thing table. Article
33 would be the golf same thing. Article 34 which is numbered here. You said article 31 and 32. We had to remember to remember them.
[Music] Uh to uh I asked that this be up at the next because the select have to act on it. This was uh when we looked at what was
in some uh funding for golf, they asked for a lot larger article. This elect uh vote this one because uh we believe it's needed to complete the bunker
projects but not the [Music] ex wanted done. So, are we still looking at that article 125 or is that open to change? Uh, uh,
the select one instructed me to look for 125. Okay. So, that's set. That's what we're looking at. Was originally a lot more. Okay. Gotcha. We have a motion for tableling any article
35 as well. Uh 34 35 we can vote on because it's just a reduction from what it was previous 125. Yes. That's 34. I messed up
here on this. Yeah. And I for 125, right? And I asked that it be uh taken up on Thursday. Okay. I wanted to see if it passes even with the [Music]
voice. And then you have the sounding [Music] articles. It's not under my perview. Thank God. I mean typically I mean technically we
don't have to take up zoning articles so cuz they're usually nonspending. Well the one on the zoning map is just to take and merge
uh actions of prior years into one zoning map. Uh I did 36 on this one. Correct. So that's not financial. Yes. We don't have the finance committee does not have to make a recommendation on that one. I
think the only thing we'd look at is if you were moving something from residential to commercial or vice versa because that affects tax rates. But this is something that's already done. Well, you got the you got 37 is the uh one with the accessory apartment dwelling, right?
And the solar one is just dealing with fencing set. I make a motion we don't make any recommendations on section 38 accessory apartments. Really that's not changing the value really of
anything. It's not going to reduce any tax income. It's uh it's really uh if you don't have something then you default to the state and do you really want to default
to what the state position? This is not my a motion still in discussion. Well, no, we haven't even Yeah, I don't want this one. I was
just I was thinking of this the last time, you know, if that article could have any indirect uh impact, economic impact on the town. um you know, in reference to Title 5 issues cuz if you're putting up a
separate dwelling on a piece of land, how does how does that work? And I know this the whole thing's in here, right? The whole description cuz I think we had asked for that cuz I wanted more of an explanation on this. Um we did cover it with the in the master plan
last week, the committee. Yeah. And it would be if they were sewer, there's no issues. If it's not sewer, they still have to be compliant with whatever title 5 restrictions are. Um, I made mention that I have a house that's four bedroom, but I use one of them as an office. It's
a very small room to begin with, and I just remove the closet if this was to go through and bedroom somewhere else. You know, my question is like somebody's putting up a separate dwelling on their their acre property that they have, right?
Um, do they have to somehow and you have a bathroom in there. Do you have how do you you got to run a a a new distribution pipe or something into the existing leeching field, right? I mean, but whatever was done,
they'd have to be compliant with whatever restrictions are there. So, they did they have to get that. So, you got to make sure you have enough land. Oh, yeah. approved, right? You might not even be able to do something like that, right? I think it's
different if you're just attaching. Uh yeah, I don't think it ties into your I don't think if you put a house in your back property, they're going to tie No. Well, that's why I'm just I'm like that doesn't make sense. I mean, I don't know how you could do that, but you have to have enough land to put like an
additional leeching field back there, you know? Okay. I mean, I'm just just thinking outside the box here a little bit. Um, you know, I don't want to see us, the town get impacted with that uh that nitrogen
recovery that was the BS that we were potentially going to have to deal with um like 2 years ago from the department of never assume that it's going to all that was a
um potential agreement by DP to a suit that was filed against the state and so it was going to be a
stipulated judgment. It's not like it has to go to the legislature. So this was also the nitrogen recovery would this affect the town and again the thought was is unless
you were realistically unless you're adding in new septic into it wouldn't affect the town at all and they saw any impact of this being minimal if any because it would still have to either tie into their existing regulations or if they were building more um chances
are if we were in that nitrogen recovery phase that they'd still be required to update their subject. Yeah. So, I mean, all right, then we can this there's not going to be a direct economic impact, I guess. So, 36, 37, 38, you just won't take a position on
it. I'll second the motion. All in favor? I oppose. Okay. All right. Uh, I circulated a
change proposed by the fire chief to the fire budget. I know he's already been before you. I bring his apologies both tonight and Thursday. He's got school
awards and so he wouldn't be able to be here because of family member getting awards uh and I can pretty much go over uh the
change the change one change is there is a substantial increase in a full-time position budget and that mirrors this uh decrease
in the part-time EMS call. If you're looking to increase by two the full time, so we're just transferring buckets. It's still the same number once
we go back and forth. Yeah. [Music] And uh the second thing is they are including a reserve instead of doing a revolving and that 25 is that the number we had in
the revolver. How many? No. Uh this is I just wanted to answer questions on it because the select has to vote on it yet. But it it was a
change and since he couldn't be here and I said I'd uh bring it forward with our time together, you know, and I we're not
saying it would solve an overtime problem. We are saying that say it would solve the man problem. Well, that'd be my concern cuz I know we I think we went down this road with the police department where they added positions took it from over time so
that go down what they expect. So the problem is actually getting the people. Yeah, I trust that he fills the part-time positions, whereas if you have a full-time person in the
rotations and how does a two full-timers impact the the benefits in retirement? We got a a large increase in that. Uh well, you you you'll have a
large increase in uh uh the health insurance benefits uh if they take it, if they don't take it. Uh but also I know it won't be that large if it's the two individuals I
think he's looking at cuz they'd be single. But uh but but with some of the uh layoffs in other places, I think you're looking at a wash. Okay.
So, we're not looking at I'm sorry. We're just not a big increase in another budget we haven't seen yet. The um No, it's okay. Um the 2025 to date, the column L, it does it's an addition error at the total at the bottom just before you give it to the
board. Oh, no. I mean, we that's just for us while we're going along. We erase that before we give it to the uh the public. And not only that, it's also at the uh
it's probably the last time we did the two date was April. motion on this cuz my motion right up the bottom line. He was like, "How is that 700?
Uh where are these over time getting funded for reserve fund transfers? in the best going way over. Oh. Uh, police and fire over time were substantially underfunded in the
past and then were made up either through reserve account or in May you can go to the uh final board of selectment and transfer uh in May and June among multiple pull
accounts. This is just proactive moving to what historically we've been. This is being truthful instead of saying uh oh, we're going to budget for overtime and it's really only
50% of the overtime. Last year we uh started to budget up with the overtime to the truthful figure and this year we're continuing to get there and
hopefully they'll control the overtime so it'll be totally exact. All right. So we were very underruned when I got here. It was and transfers were how you leave a budget
budget, you know, you know by a couple hundred sometimes blow through in December. Pete being on the um master plan committee going on. We've talked about
it and and I am most likely not going to be able to be here for the next meeting when we're going through the budgets. So I know when we were looking at the master plan budget preliminarily it was one of those
no change budgets. Do we have any changes in that that may fact that that I can get an idea on this evening before since I'm on the committee? the uh there's been no vote by the
board. There has been a discussion that on support staff and whether or not that that uh staffing would be diminished in
duties assigned to another staff person. So was this the staffing that's currently un there's no one in the position? There's no one in the position. It's funded, but no one's in the position. Remembering that correctly, that was a part-time staff to
begin with, right? Half time. So, we already share a a planner with that voice and we're looking at reducing the support staff for that planner that's here part-time to less than part-time.
What What's the reduction proposal? Uh there hasn't been an exact one mainly because we're looking to balance the budget and we're looking at unfilled positions right now seeing what
we can do. Is that the the only change on the planning committee and I won't be here Thursday so I'll just make a comment if I can. Mr. chairman is just we're in an intense area of operation with master plan right
now trying to set up the plan for the next 10 years for the town and I know there's a lot of people that have volunteered their time being on the planning committee for it. I don't know how the job gets done efficiently and effectively if we take
away a part-time support staff or even reduce a part-time support staff for a planner that's here part-time to begin with. I have serious concerns that we're doing the town a disservice if we remove any type of hours from a support staff. I would think it'd be the
opposite that somebody that's here part-time as the the main planner would need more of a support staff for time that she's not here or he's not here. Um so I don't know if the board selectman are watching this or you can convey it to the board selectman but I've got a
serious concern that plans may off and Mr. Aspar who's a board selectman is on the master planning committee and probably that's the best person to vocalize my concern with. If you can do it, I'll try and do it myself personally with Mr. Gasmore.
How many how many hours a week would that position uh entail? Right now? Yeah. 19 and a half. Okay. So potentially that is going to get them eliminated or reduced down to what? this
uh any position that's unfilled right now is being looked at. I mean, at minimum, I mean, I'm thinking you're going to probably have at least 12 hours a week. Uh, you know, three days a week, 3 days a week, 4
hours, 4 hours. I don't know. I'm just spitballing now. I mean, versus having nothing. I mean, at least at least have something in place. My concern is we had a hard time fighting the planet to begin with and we ended up
sharing one with Matt Poison. If we're going to put more job responsibility on somebody that we had a hard time filling the position for to begin with, what's the job satisfaction going to turn on if that person doesn't have any support that they were expecting? And then does the job get
done effectively and efficiently? because I can't see how it can be from somebody that's part-time that's looking for support staff that is expected to now have that support staff taken away. We've all been there in job positions before where people that did jobs to assist with what
we were doing now are gone and you've got to take it on. I don't know. I got concerns with reductions in that. So, if you could just make that Thank you.
I just and just to add to that, I think, you know, without us struggling every year to try and, you know, can we enhance revenue in this town somehow, how can we do that without a good master plan? Um, and you're not going to have a
master plan if there's no plan, right? I mean, um, so I think that's an important component to this town for the future of going forward, you know, cuz if let's say we can get something developed, that's going to ease the burden on the taxpayers. That's why we're all here.
It's it always comes back to the to the taxpayers for me. Um, that's why I've stayed in this position as long as I have. Um, because I care about this town and I care about all the taxpayers in it. Um, so we always have to think of the big picture, not just, you know,
have tunnel vision on one component. You know, I know every department's important, but you know, us on this committee, we we have to look at the town as a whole. Um, and I think we do a pretty good job of that. Um, and I think this this year particularly has demonstrated that by
far. So that's that's really all I have to say. If you read the town of Kush Facebook page where a bunch of monkeys don't know what we're doing that's why is the five chief [Music]
contract any uh uh they've had delegation letters we've got an RFP to go out uh civil services [Music]
fine with it. Uh the board of selectment has to actually sign the delegation letters cuz we had to change them because they have my name on it and I'm not going to be here. And so civil service accepted chair of
the board of select or their design as the uh noted individual in the delegation letters to make sure everything is uh complies with the civil service rights. And so they're moving
forward on that. I expect uh probably uh the first meeting after a after the no after the budget's taken care of that they'll take up the RFP and the delegation letters. The
RFP's already been vetted by council and so then it would be an assessment center. Just to bring up a something quick when it comes to schools that was came through this afternoon that starting the
26 27th school year vocational schools regional vocational schools will have their attendance determined by a lottery system. So it's it can be weighted although I think the school can determine where they want to put the weights for it. A lot there's a lot of
resistance to that. I know that was passed by the the state legislature. So next year when we start looking at school budgets, I don't know if we can count on what our enrollment numbers are this year to have any factor the year after.
And that's only if there are your your enrollment not only is based on who wants to go there, but on who doesn't want to go there from other towns. Yeah.
And uh I know that the Mapois school population in general is substantially going down. Yeah. I think they only had eight or nine students.
I'm not talking just in the vote. I'm talking total school population and Marian from what I understand is the same uh for the south coast because both
of those towns now uh be almost starting to become retirement communities and resort communities. And it's it's a a different dynamic is
going on. But I know in old Colony's case for the last several years their admission requests have far exceeded their enrollment capacity. And instead if they were if their enrollment capacity was over their requests were over the enrollment capacity, then it
would go to a an open lottery. And then the schools obviously were upset about it because it doesn't throw any merit base to it. It just throws it open to anybody where right now they screen people whether or not they can thrive in a a learning situation like that. So that's all
vocational schools. All regional vocational schools and my daughter's going to be the same. when I in the '9s when I was doing Bristol's contracts
uh there was a 4 to 500 person waiting list to get in. Did they have to go to school both ways? They still do in the No, I was I was
just I was negotiating contract at the time. I can remember when Bristol Aggie was boarding and and people actually uh boarded there and got up at 4 or 5 in
the morning to take care of the cows. I think Mr. was one of the more secure looking house. This guy looks the same every year. It's like it's like
weekend sunglasses on actually for a couple of those years had the highest test scores in the county. Yeah, I I was impressed by it. It was a good school. We have uh 7 minutes to approve from
March 12th, 2025. In attendance was myself, uh Phil Adams, Pete Peno, Eric Chu, Eric Mlenn, and Mr. St. Second. All in favor? Okay. Motion carries. Um, anyone have any old business to
discuss? Just discussing the old business. I just want to say new business. I want to go pass out to our chairman for an outstanding job on your radio uh show you fiscal views and you made your point very well I think and kudos to you.
Thank you. Yeah, it was it was uh it was a mutual thing that came about between me and Chris McCarthy to uh to go on his show and um I really enjoyed it. It was around you do it fairly often. Well, he actually mentioned something about having me on as a regular. Um, so I
we'll see. We'll see where it's going to go. Natural step. I mean, I obviously I like talking about this stuff and I just I feel like uh, you know, more people need to get involved and get the message out. If we're ever going to change the state to
more of a red state, you have to get involved. We we just can't sit back and and hope. Um, so one one thing I wanted to bring up with the new business is um, a Kushnet's going to have its first aushet uh, Republican town committee meeting um, June 10th at the BFW. I
believe it's at 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. Um, uh, Jesse St. is the uh, he's the one who organized getting this together um, with his uh, campaign manager. I believe his name is Paul Gonops. Um, so the first meeting is coming up. Uh,
everyone is welcome. You don't have to be Republican. Um, you can be an independent like myself. You can be a Democrat, Libertarian, doesn't matter. Um, everybody's welcome just to to come out and talk some common sense. And that's basically what it's going to be about is common sense policies that that
we want to discuss and promote uh throughout our communities. Um, right here in Kushnet, I think our residents got the message. They sent the message loud and clear in November on November 5th. I mean, I think we were the highest percentage uh that voted the way we did
throughout the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Um, you know, and it's it's about policies really. Will there be any representatives in the state GOP uh committee there? Um, I don't know
who's Well, probably um I don't know if the the former sheriff might be there cuz he's involved in the the uh the Republican town committees throughout the region. Um Amy, I I'm going to say a couple
more. I don't know. Well, Jesse's Jesse's obviously going to speak. Um, you know, hopefully he makes makes another run out of it and he'll he'll get more hope for next time. But I think this is a good grassroots thing to get going. Um, I
know M Poison has a a committee. I believe it does. And I just I think the more the more communities even small community like ours, if you get more communities doing the same thing, it's people start talking. It's
how you make change. Yeah. Just get the conversation going. I mean, it's, you know, it's it's it's not about left or right. It's about common sense stuff. And I think if people really think about it, we probably all have a lot more in common than we realize. you know, it's just it's these
fringe things that some people go crazy over. Um, but you know, I I think the left has gone way too far radical in my opinion with some of this outlandish stuff that and if they don't get away from that, I don't think they're going to
they'll they'll win any big elections anytime soon. And the biggest problem is the misinformation that gets presented as fact with no problem with the mainstream media for the most part. Uh it's in the back pocket of the Democratic party. It's so
obvious and um you know it's tough when you're up against that you know and Mr. Chairman, could I change uh topic for a minute? And I know some of you aren't going to be here at the next meeting.
Yes, myself. And I want to thank everybody on the committee and prior committee members for uh a great working relationship for three and a half years.
Feeling mutual. Yes. I've enjoyed my inter uh inter interactions with all of you and I thank you for welcoming me. I wish you uh good health going forward
cuz that's the most important thing. Without that we have nothing. Um and thank you for you know your wealth that you've provided in your interest to the town. Um cuz you have a a great background. uh with various things and I
think I think the town will you've I think you've implemented some things that we'll continue to utilize going forward. Um and I I think you know you came into a difficult situation. It was a chaotic situation that you came into. Um, and you kind of hit the ground
running. And what I saw in the beginning, the some of the things I saw you doing, I I said to myself on numerous occasions, wow, I haven't seen this before. And um, so thank you. If you change your mind, want to extend
a year, just let me know. Well, uh, Christian's been very nice to me. I appreciate it. And as Pauline Texer will tell you, I have uh roots I
didn't even know about going back to colonial times. Push it. Really? Yeah. I'm a Holland. Okay. Okay. That's awesome. So, can I go ahead? Do you want So, Paul
made sure and fill in the blanks for me. didn't say that's why we need we need Pauline. Kudos to her, too. Um, everybody that's here tonight, who's who's going to be here Thursday? Think
Phil? Triple check. I still haven't heard back from Sue yet. I texted her to see if she was going to be available Thursday to make sure we have a quum. I'm going to reach out to Kristen. Um, we need you two. No, I will not be here.
Um, I'm not sure about Sue. I can't remember if she was going to be there or not. So, we have I think they did that. If you run into emergency situation, let me know. I'll delay for me cuz I'm not going to be around.
Um, you'll know ahead of time whether or not I'm going to text her tonight. I'm going to text her as soon as I get home. Yeah, I think we'll be fine. We should have five. Yeah, I think we'll have at least five. And it's just, you know, whoever is going to decide to hold the
meeting, if Mr. St. Jean's here, he'll be the one uh to do it. Um if Sue's here, she could do it. Um, if you don't want to hear because there's really not going to be a lot really to to go over the next
because some of the stuff we're still going to hold until until we have our our meeting before the town the annual town meeting anyway. I think the the operating budget will get voted on well Thursday night the operating budget and
the revenue the final revenue projections because yeah as you know we haven't finalized them yet because the state hasn't given us budget numbers so that's all you guys will be
doing and $40,000 here there means something to say their their revenue was a lot higher than they were expecting for Q1, right? So maybe that'll help us a little bit. Well, it's always the House comes with
one number and then the Senate comes with chapter 70, let's say, and then they meet in the middle and they both take credit for defending either unrestricted local
aid or chapter 70. Well, they did come out and say that they're reducing the hotel um emergency housing. Well, I think that's that's a little tricky cuz I from what I heard is
that rent will be covered for for people that are displaced out of shelters. They're going to have potentially rent covered in apartment buildings. Yeah. Like multifamilies. So rent paid through
vouchers through the state homing to that. I I I I've seen a couple articles in it on uh I don't know if it was guy or another one. Um but I think they have to uh take a vote on that. But don't be surprised if if that happens. So you
know she's going to say things are going to make her look good. Is there a motion to motion to all in favor? Hey, I [Music]