[Music] So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I All right. Good evening everyone. This is a meeting of the finance committee. It is Wednesday, October 1st, 2025. This
meeting is being audio and video and recorded. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. >> Uh be before we start um I just want to uh I want to recognize a moment of silence for uh Charlie Kirk in honor of Charlie Kirk his passing three weeks ago. Thank you.
Okay. Hope I hope everyone had a chance to uh to get a look at the articles I sent out that you know Jaime's been revising. Um and we have the most up-to-date version in front of us right now. Um, and we're going to go through them tonight
and take votes. Jamie, this has to get um your timeline to get this out to print is when >> uh the I'd like to send it to printer the 8th. We advertised we sent the advertisement for town
meeting to the neighborhood news uh today. It'll be in the next two uh editions and I'd like to get it to the printer by the 8th
>> which is next Wednesday >> which is next Wednesday be because then I can get a proof back look at it and approve it for the run fairly quickly
and that'll take it And so we have everything by town meeting. >> Okay, sounds good. >> All right. Do you want to do you want to take us through each article? >> Article one is payment of prior years bills.
>> Y >> uh a number of the legal bills. So, you know, came in uh part of the bill was in the for services
for the last fiscal year, part of the bill was for this fiscal year. Uh we asked the uh providers of various attorneys to send us the uh
bills split properly in our fiscal year versus their quarterly billing. And uh other than that, it's there were some we've got full-time person up
in uh the accounting office and she's cleaning up a lot and finding stuff and that's part of the issue here. Uh and then there's some some services
that were provided at the end of the fiscal year and build at the beginning in the beginning of the next fiscal year. And uh when those came in, we uh
have to treat them as last year's bills. It's a total of $22,3151 and we're asking to pay that out of free cash and hopefully it'll be less bills next year now that
we have someone in the accounting office >> keeping up. >> Actually, someone in the accounting office. I hope so, cuz some of these are from 2023. >> 24. >> There's one in the technology one's from 2023 >> for $5,600. That's conserving.
>> Oh, the Munice one. >> Uh, Tyler Technology. >> Yeah, that's >> okay. I mean, any discussion on article one? Make a motion to pass. >> We have a motion and a second. All in
favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Okay. On to article two. >> Article two is an amendment to the board of health budget. Uh it's a result of
settling a grievance and uh agreeing that a position need to be reclassified. uh in uh prior years there were one and a half clerical people in the board of health. Now there's one
uh just one position and we looked at the duties etc. And uh both the selectman and the union agreed it needed to be reclassified from senior clerk to principal clerk.
What happened to the the planning board clerk? I see that that was >> the board the board of selectman refused voted it out. >> Is that what that's the salary of that one possession? >> What >> the 136
>> for the board of health? No, that's the sal that's the new line for the salaries for board. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Yep. Yep. All right. >> The total amended amount. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> So, the increase is $3,520.
>> Yes. >> I make motion. >> Second. said. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. I would ask
the finance committee to while they're considering this and some of the future articles just to pull out page 22. It's
it shows you the uh uh various funding sources as we go along. kind of a cheat sheet, so to speak. >> Yeah, that's good. It's nice. >> Jamie, what so that that planning board
position, what act what happened with that? because I know there was >> right now there need >> right now the board of selectman asked that the MOA that they negotiated with
the union for the uh principal clerk in the building department fill in with some of the planning work. We also have hired a minutes clerk to on a per
minute capital M not small M uh situation to do minutes for various committees. So the minutes not only for that committee but other ones like the ZBA etc can be done but we've asked that
the uh building department clerk uh take over those duties as far as the administrative duties for the planning board to see if that works right now. I guess they I watched a
meeting they were going to like revisit it if it didn't work because the who's the who's in charge of planning was in it. So >> yeah, and if you remember Kevin at the town meeting said that and Kevin and Bob said they really hadn't tried to
implement it yet and they wanted to see if it works. >> Okay. So if it doesn't work then >> you guys can revisit it in the spring. Well, yeah, because I think that's the right thing to do because, you know, you're, you know, negotiating in good faith and if you give somebody your
word, you know, you want to stick to it. Um. >> Yep. >> So, hopefully they'll uh they'll go back to that if if things don't work out. >> Okay. On to article number three. >> Article three is a capital article.
First first item is Council on Aging uh asking to increase the previous uh capital expenditure authorized at the
annual town meeting. It's been 9 months since we got prices for the four HVAC units. In that period of time, the prices have
gone up. Part of it, I'm sure, is materials and part of it is just the uh all all prices for mechanical and control items are going with
controls are going up. >> What was the delay for the 9 months? I mean, if this passes, is this going to get executed? Uh, >> we're all set to go. Okay. uh town buildings to install and upgrade
uh the fire alarm system in parting ways. The software and some of the hardware in it is not going is so out of date it's not going to be supported and
part of it can't be repaired. So, we're looking from for $7,000, not to exceed 7 to upgrade it, and that's a safety concern. Uh, next uh item that the selectman
approved was uh to purchase two police cruisers. They're marked cars not to exceed $170,000. Uh and that all of these items so far are
out of free cash. >> Didn't we approve? >> We approved town meeting. >> We approved one. >> All right. So, this will bring it up to three. Obviously, >> three, but we were two behind if you remember.
Well, actually we were one behind >> at the annual meeting and two behind from the meeting before that. >> Right. >> So we are >> we were four behind. Now we're one
behind. >> Oh, okay. >> So we're in much better shape regardless. >> Yeah. And uh the police department's done all the work to identify the best deal and
uh it would be something that is in the view of the selectman necessary. when you look at some of the vehicles
are so out of date and it's not like they aren't constantly running, >> right? >> Mhm. >> So that also adds to the wear and tear.
>> Absolutely. And hopefully uh next round of capital expenses you'll get them current. Uh DPW street sweeper.
We originally asked for 275. It passed at the annual meeting at 270. The price was two 27 274,000. So we're asking for the additional
4,000. And that brings the uh request from the selectman for capital request to 190,000 out of free cash. Make a motion to accept the articles
written. Oh, sorry. >> We don't have discussion here. Uh, anyone have any discussion on these items? >> I I do. Um, not to pick on the police cruisers, but that's basically all the capital in this. Um,
just for me in general, I feel like maybe more explanation either verbally from the department, like a a department rep or I guess with more documentation of exactly like where their fleet is at in terms of like, you know, I know Mr.
Kelly saying they get it up to date. They've been they haven't had the cars and I understand that, but I would like to see, you know, the size of the fleet. We're replacing um a vehicle that's 5 years old and now is 100. >> In the past, we've had the police chief here for the annual meetings and that he
he goes over the chief goes over all that. >> Yeah. It's just, you know, to approve two cruises and um again, I'm for it. It's just I'd like to have more context of are we replacing a car with 120,000
mi that's 5 years old or a car that's you know 3 years old or 50,000 mi and how much you spent on um maintenance and things like that. That's just from my experience kind of something >> most I think they are over 5 years old the
ones we're replacing they're five or over. >> Yeah if I remember correctly. Yeah, I would like to hear it exactly, but I mean they scratched the unmarked car and I know just because I know who drives them. Like I know their unmarked fleet
is like old. >> Mhm. >> Oh. >> So I don't like I think they have a detective driving my Al's SUV that he got when I was there. I want to say probably a dozen years ago. So I have no doubt that that that's the case. Um >> scratching the unmarked.
>> I think one of them is 2014. Yeah, I would say probably older than that. That SUV, the detective. >> I um >> I'll reach I'll reach out to the to the police chief. >> It's just in general like even the street sweep, but like it's 275 grand. I
know you we both run um last town meeting, but uh to hear more of an explanation, you know, from DPW exactly why it's, you know, repair. >> It's a street sweeper that was beyond repair was uh not operational at all.
that would go down the street and you see piles of stuff. >> I I just think that that should be like either documented or explained by somebody from the department. >> But we've already this is >> I'm saying like at the last meeting when we would >> this is the
under your charter the budget is totally the selectments. >> Yeah. This is advisory right? No, but I mean the budget itself department heads do not technically.
>> No, yeah, but department heads are the ones that know about their fleet, >> right? And so they're the ones who can explain why they need it. >> Um, lastly, I mean I and I would like to kind of see the quotes and the explanation to what they're buying
because 170 that's 85 grand a cruiser. I just paid invoices last week for um two MC cruises. They were 66 grand. >> This is what's everything was fully fully done. >> Yeah. All new. Like this could have I
don't know maybe they add computers. They probably Taho. >> It's computers everything. It's total package. >> So um I know like Taho have gone up from my understanding what I hear like $15,000. So that could be the reason. Uh
it is a it is a high number I feel for cruisers. I I I'll take the word that you know they need them in and the fleet is depleted especially since they scratched and unmarked but um I think in general not to pick on PD >> and it includes all the computers, the
radios, everything in that price. I um I was in attendance at a recent border selectment meeting, not the most recent, but the one prior to that um and the police chief was there and he uh he had asked me to come by um at some
point to to talk to him because he had some things he wanted to discuss with me. I don't know if this was it. Um so in his defense, I have not had a chance to to get over there and talk to him. Um so but I will reach out to him to make sure that we get >> there's um >> you know explanation
>> that just >> the second acting. Yeah. >> Chief combo cheap combo. >> Yeah. The uh there are also I think he probably wants to I know he's talked to the board about staffing
going forward. >> They're in the midst of a a transition here too, right? So it's >> seems like the police department goes through that a lot, >> right? >> It's tough to get people on board and it takes so long. You know, the requirements are so strict.
>> Well, also I think after the last set contract settled, I think they're in a better position since they are civil service uh department, but they're in a better position to poach
other departments >> instead of us getting poached. >> Yep. >> Yeah. No, but I I I agree. Well, >> I'm just saying I mean it's police on on this. >> I had thought I had thought the chief when he when we did our spring meetings,
I thought he had said that cuz he had explained that he was switching vehicle. I mean, >> I I can give I can give you the documentation that they delivered to the select. Well, because Tom was reacting, >> right? >> And at that time he was saying they were
ch because I guess because they were using Dodge and Dodge Taho. >> Yeah. Because prior to that, Prior to that when Chief Richmond was the chief, we he'd provide us with a detailed explanation uh updating, you know, the condition of the vehicles and what they
needed and stuff. So, uh, I'm sure we'll get that going forward, um, Chief Compo, um, for the annual coming up and, uh, I'll I'll have that conversation with him anyway. >> Actually, >> again, I'm not trying to make this about
police specifically. I think in general, any type of big capital, which is the main thing that we're doing on this, is free cash capital expenses. Mh. >> We should have like, you know, the people that have the explanation instead of, you know, the TA trying to explain it for >> Y,
even if it's this is the fleet. This is what we're replacing. >> Mhm. >> Makes a lot more sense. Did you have anything else to add, Jamie, or >> uh No, I was just looking. I know in the presentation that the board had, there
was communication from uh the sergeant who did the research on it, but I think that's up in my uh the book
uh the notebook that we had at the selectman's meeting. >> Okay. All right. So, I think we had a motion on this, right? >> Mhm. So, we have a motion. >> Second. >> There's a second. >> I I'll get it. Get you that. Have >> a motion. Second. Any further
discussion? >> Being no further discussion. Um, all in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> All right. This motion passes unanimously on to article four. Article four is the fire chief's looking to take unexpended
money that was originally for uh appropriated article 10 of September 30th, 2024 for uh the uh fire station 3
to uh use in the outfitting of the new fire mention too. So it would be no new money. It would just be taking it from uh money that hadn't needed been needed in the fire
station 3 repairs and transferring it over to uh outfitting the new fire engine. >> Mhm. >> Wait, would that that would just normally return to free cash, right? >> No. Mm-m.
>> It's an article. >> You'd have to uh dissolve the article at some future date or just remains in the article and in the future it could be used if there was uh future repairs for
station 3. >> Chief knows what's best. I'd say >> I'd make a motion. >> Second. Okay, we have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Okay. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed?
Okay. Motion passes unanimously. Article five. I'd like to take five and six together because >> Okay. >> They're they're paired. >> Okay. So, five and six together. Article five, we're rescending the borrowing
for the ambulance from the special town meeting September 30th, 2024. And we are asking to fund the purchase of the ambulance.
And we're asking for an amount not to see exceed 475. The borrowing was authorized at 600,000. So 475,000
is what we're asking for. 275,000 out of free cash and 200,000 out of EMS revenues. So the 600,000 was never borrowed. It was just an authorization to
>> to order the ambulance. >> We have to approve the borrowing and that gets us in the queue and when it's delivered 2 years later. >> This is for the first this is for the first ambulance is getting replaced. Okay.
>> How much how much is out of the reserve? Two. This is 275 here. 275 for free cash and 200,000 from the EM EM revenue total. >> All right. It says 275 on both on page
21 22. >> That's misprint. >> So 275 free- 200 >> EMS for evidence. Well, this is just these are list these are listed as additional funding sources besides free cash. >> Yeah. >> So saying that's 200.
>> Yeah, you're right. It's it should >> Okay. So free cash. All right. It's it's flip-flopped. >> Yep. >> So it's 200 free cash and 275 EMS. Now 275 free cash, 200 EM. Do we have Do we know when that's coming
in yet? Did we know? >> I'm just trying to get the money to pay for it. >> When it's delivered is uh Yeah. Once it's delivered, it's I'm sure they've got to make sure of the outfitting of it.
>> And I know he they're coming in in the spring for some of the uh some of the uh what do you call it? Stretcher. They're going to need some money for the
stretchers. And that's I think a 100,000. let's say a 100,000 each, but it's the ones that actually uh have all the devices to lift and
everything. >> Mhm. So, this this one's not fully equipped with all that right now. >> Well, I think they're keeping two, but they have to replace two of the structures.
That's what in just the fire chief and I were talking about when I'm going to before I depart put together a transition for whoever comes in.
>> Make a motion to extend articles five and six. Second motion a second. Any further discussion? >> Okay. Uh all in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Okay. But the motion passes unanimously. Articles five and six.
>> Article 7 is for 35,000 and that completes the radio repeater uh exercise we've been doing for almost the whole time I've been here. >> Mhm.
So, I can actually speak to this uh Mr. Chair. >> Yep. Um during our Apple Peach Festival, um the EMA radio system was in let's just say non
operational to its to its fullest capacity. Um we had a lot of dropped uh calls um very staticky and come to find out the radio system hasn't been replaced in probably a couple decades at this point and it's really really old.
So this is to replace the EMA um dispatch radio system that we also share uh with our DPW department. So during the normal business operations of the DPW, they use the frequency to communicate back and forth with their um
with their staff. So um of course I have to abstain from the vote, but I just want to explain what the uh what the replacement is. >> Where is that? Where's that repeater? Uh it's up on the um gas tanks. The uh >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. Up on pecking room.
>> All the mod are >> the whole thing's up there. I actually I bought EMA was actually on the fire tower, but >> what I told is nothing is on the fire tower anymore.
>> Yeah, I I I remember. >> You can't go up on the fire. >> I wouldn't go up there if I were you. Um, but yeah, no, I've I remember prior discussions with the previous director that he had mentioned that they were up there. I don't know if they still are and they just moved them over there or
at one point they were there. >> I I think that's the one owned by DCR. Is it the tower? >> I believe so. Yeah, >> it's uh not it's been judged not safe to
go up it. Yeah. be a perfect location for a cell phone tower. >> So 35,000 from free cash. >> Yep. >> Make a motion. >> We have a motion. >> Second >> and a second. Any further discussion?
All in favor? Anyone opposed? >> Okay, one abstension. >> Uh pass with one extension. Article 8 is to approve the ask me collective bargaining agreement. It's uh
even though there is no funding necessary for the first year, it's uh the town meeting has to approve it by confirming any previous
appropriation and acknowledging that it's a three-year collective bargaining agreement. It's uh 2% 2% and 2% plus the top step
uh gets an additional half a percent in the last year which is in line with a lot of the other collective bargaining agreements. Is there a motion for article 8? >> Make a motion to approve article 8 as
written. >> Second. >> Have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes unanimously. On to article 9. >> Article nine. Uh this is an amount that
under advice of council we are putting forward it. We are in litigation concerning health insurance claims and excessive premiums and uh the runouts. It takes almost two years to get all the
runouts and the stop-loss payments and rebates for prescriptions. We are moving out of MSHG and into uh
arrangement with Alliant. uh we are uh have council and we've also had uh because MSHG
hasn't provided an audit in 2 years or we are uh gone and hired CLA. It's not just the Kushnet. There is a
group of towns that were associated with MSHG that are all in this effort. And this is uh a maximum amount that the possible demand letter from the
other side could be issued. We do not expect this money to be uh all of this money to be spent. We do expect some of it will be because uh
like uh my discussion on GIC and Maya with their reserves. There is a a number of problems in the health insurance industry now and the premiums >> are uh have not been
uh covering all of the claims. We've had one catastrophic claim in town that has uh which was a organ transplant that has cost us considerable amount of
money. Uh but we also uh uh are looking at uh going forth to the court telling them
that yes, we've appropriated this amount of money. This is our good faith mount amount of money. We don't expect the amount to be anywhere near this, but we are in our litigation versus the MSHG.
We're saying we are in good faith putting this aside. you're uh to the court and keeping uh all our options open
in not only going after them for uh the fact they haven't provided us with the audit. We want to make sure all of the prescription rebates that should have been ours are ours. We want to make sure the stoploss
attached at the right points and in the stop-loss insurance is individual claims and there's the group itself. So, we have to also look at that. And as I said, it's a 2-year runout
in getting all of it. And we're asking similar to how we bought the ambulance where we did borrowing that we didn't need to do. We're asking that this be appropriated so we can show a good faith effort to
the court and at the same time challenge the any figures that are being put forward not only for uh claims and all our rebates and stop-loss but
also for the fact we're reserving our rights to sue the uh Gallagher Insurance that was the administrator for not setting the rates right. So then I understand this this what
you're saying is that this 625,000 is not going to be a pro it's going to be a pay as we need it as we're only authorizing up to 600 and this can be used for legal fees for the town.
>> Yes, it's all litigation. >> Do we have a reserve fund for this or should we think about putting one in? is >> we have a a health insurance stabilization fund that would be my advice to this body and
town meeting would that is for uh when you need your reserve to be replenished like the GIC went to the legislature for that if your reserve gets hit.
This is so we can prosecute the litigation and actually go after what we think is our appropriate amount. We have a demand of 625 from the other side.
We're saying it's very improper. >> Oh, so that's where that number came from. This Okay. I was just kind of wondering >> it's actually it's somewhere around 630 right now, but our lawyer said that's
not even close. And so uh that's part of uh you saw some of the legal bills from Attorney Lang. He's the one who's representing >> not only us but a group of towns and school districts on this. So is the
litigation like a like class action with them or is ours individual? Every >> it's it's not a class action but everybody is it's individual because
everybody has different type of uh depending on which area they're in. whe they might have a different stop-loss insurance carrier
or uh a different uh administrator of their stop loss. That's the big problem with us all trying to do it as a group. So, we're individually doing it
as a group. >> Are we all putting in the same amount? No. Uh >> well, they're demanding money from us. So what what is like I guess what is the 625,000 that >> that's their demand >> for for what exactly? Like if we have a
I I >> they're saying they're saying that the expenses as they're estimating it far exceeded the premiums.
We're saying, "Yeah, that's what you're saying, but we know you have we've got 18 months of rebates from the prescription companies that are
coming in." They wanted to include, we told them we we left as of June 30th. They wanted to include some costs coming in. We said, "No, we'll pay those ourselves." So we decreased part of our
liability and then we still are dealing with the stoploss carrier as far as because stop loss the stop-loss carrier we're using
for and a number of the towns are using was hired by MSHG. So MSHG says the stoploss carrier has to pay them and then we'll audit and give you what we
think you or decrease your liability appropriately and we're saying no we want to deal with the stoploss carrier directly >> I guess I got one more question sorry the so when you're talking about like um
catic cases if say you have you said an organ transplant I'll use their example. Say that cost a million dollars and then they only estimated that they were going to spend townwide 500 grand. They can demand that the town pay basically
>> there's the overage like >> it it would be the difference in most groups like this have stoploss insurance and so it's the difference between the premium payments and where stoploss
attaches that you've got this expense and let's say it's 150,000 but for that case because it cost a million
but stop and the premiums let's say the individual paid are 50,000 and stop loss attaches at 200,000 >> do you pay the difference >> but and I'm just using that as an
example the problem is uh with stop-loss and with the re with the prescription rebates coming in both so much further down the road and most stop-loss
insurance will attach at a certain amount for an individual claim and then for the group will attach at another point. So you can get so much for let's
say that catastrophic here and then when oh it's $10 million for the group. Well then the stop loss attaches again for another amount. >> Is this for just one case or is this is
>> the total? So I'm just wondering now is uh whatever you know out of the 625 you know we use 300 the other 325 does that drop off after they say 2027
fiscal 20 or does that still does this article stay alive >> that this article stays alive until you dissolve it so it's like >> but we should know in 18 months [Music] or
>> that's why I'm wondering like 2027 or >> or sooner if we go to if we go to court and get >> whatever is not used we can kill this I'm assuming that this is going to stay kind of like on our credit report is this money that
>> it's for if you >> best way to describe it is >> right >> if you're in a lawsuit and you say all right I've got x amount the lawsuits for this and I got X amount of dollars. I'm putting it in in an envelope in a safety
deposit box, right? >> And if I got to use it, I got to use it. But if I don't >> Mhm. >> when the case is over, >> I get to empty the envelope. >> Okay. >> Which >> But there's no actual money until we need it. This is just the approval to go
after the money. But this is the this is to tell the court >> that we have good >> and once the two audits are done and we know what where we're going and we the also have to wait for to get the
our auditor at least as well as their auditor to agree what the future rebates for the prescriptions s are going to be and if any of the stop-loss payments
are valid, then when we get a final figure, the final figure would be paid out of this. You're going to be paying something, >> right? The question is uh what we don't want to happen is that
we're paying for losses that should really should go to other members of the group who stayed in the group. >> Right. >> Thank you. So, I mean, when we have the fall town meeting, what we'll need to reiterate
probably to the me town members is that we're more than likely not going to utilize >> all of it, >> all that money basically. >> And we get out of MSHG, we're in with the
lion. We've put a different uh safety valve together as far as the insurance we as you and I talked about the insurance we purchased. So that any
anything for total claim for the year cannot go above the amount that we appropriated. And that cost us a pretty penny in the insurance market.
But it's a better safety valve right now for what's going on in the health insurance because uh next year we're looking at most other than the retiree
uh Medicare wraparound policies, we're looking at 20% increase for most. I'm not saying ours because we're in
this different situation with the lion, but you're looking at 20% >> uh with Maya and GIC and at 32% with Harvard Pilgrim. >> Yeah, that's ridiculous.
>> Mhm. >> Yeah. I mean, as as I mentioned earlier, I I attended a healthcare forum yesterday uh for the MMA and you know, he had the head of Maya GIC uh ahead of Blue Cross Blue Shield there
and you know, the the forecast for health insurance costs are just it's >> it's not good. It's it's it's not sunshine and rainbows. I can tell you that. Um, and they don't have any concrete solutions either. That's that's
that's the problem. >> The only solution they've had is the weight loss drugs. They're saying they're not covering them after a certain date, >> right? And uh everybody's waiting to see what happens
with Washington and whether we're going to be paying American prices for drugs or European prices, so to speak. >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. Do you have a motion?
>> I'll second it. >> Second. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? >> I'm going to abstain. I really feel like for 33% of free cash, I don't have a full understanding of it.
>> Okay, the motion passes with one abstension. [Applause] Number 10 really doesn't look like this. Article 10 is uh amending article 12 of the annual town meeting of
1962 as to the composition of the conservation commission taking it from seven members down to five. The two major reasons are
>> can't get volunteers interested. We've got had two vacancies in the commission for an extended period of time. >> We feel that pain. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> And we we've had core emissions and everything else.
The board feels that it's uh reality being what it is that it might be easier to have a five member commission. >> Make a motion to accept it as
>> Yeah, it's unfortunate. It's important commission. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Second. All right. We have a motion to second. All in favor? You see a lot of a lot of towns are going to for planning
board, conservation commission, etc. that used to be seven members are going down to five. You can't get the volunteers. Article 11 provide a sum of money not to exceed
3,500,000 to design, engineer, construct, purchase, equip a golf course, clubhouse, and any associated legal expenses. And the board is proposing
to fund it by expending 1,250,000 from the golf enterprise retained earnings and then borrow 2,250,000 through bond anticipatory notes bands.
Sorry. Um, >> this I was trying to watch some of the meetings on this. Um, there's a lot of content. Um, >> the project is to move the clubhouse to the practice screen. But, um, there was
other >> That's a conceptual plan presented. So, I I I guess what I'm getting at is is are they planning on replacing with this money the the practice screen or is that going to have to be a subsequent project?
This project here, the what you've seen is a conceptual plans. This article authorizes at this point to actually have to
determine that and have the actual on-site engineering, the architectural designs and everything done. What they've done up to this point is conceptual plans. If you saw it was
four phases. It was build the clubhouse. It was put together a uh building for the golf carts and >> it was the parking lot. It was the practice area. >> I just hope we fund enough of this. Um
>> and that that that's incorporated when they do it. Um adding adding a practice area. I've never seen a golf course. >> I would imagine >> Oh, I'm sure it will be. It's a question of the conceptual for example the
conceptual plan and the board has had discussions if you watch the meeting they have the building for the golf carts priced at a million5
and Kevin Gasper brought up the fact that you could do steel building >> with the slab for >> a couple hundred thousand. >> I saw the >> Well, I was here. I was here for >> and and that would be all that's
necessary. And they said, "Yes, that's true." But this is the conceptual that the firm from Florida did for the golf course. So there are
and this way you spend the million and a quarter out of the retained funds, the enterprise fund funds and then you
go to bands. Well, that way you have the flexibility to once you've got the design and everything, you can go out to bid. You can even look at such options as prefab
where you don't have to pay prevailing wages and a number of other things. And but you've got to first get the engineering and the design done.
And if you do bands then uh for the 2 million and a quarter, you can do it for under 10 years. You a ban can roll over year to year. So if
you once your bond payments, which you've got one large year left on the golf course, expire, then you can use that money that you've been using to in include to pay the
bands down >> and you know to the golf course is going to be paying for this. It's not coming out of taxation. >> Right. Exactly. So, I mean, we got to make sure we re reiterate that to the town members at town at fall town meeting that this is not going to affect their tax bill in any way. And I think
that's probably more one of the most important things to emphasize uh in this whole thing cuz this is an important project. >> And I the most important part of this project is probably the clubhouse in my opinion because if you don't have, >> you know, I I saw >> this is only for the clubhouse, >> right? But if and I saw the
presentation, if you don't have a big enough clubhouse, you're not going to generate enough revenue between, you know, food, alcohol, drinks, you know, because you want to be able you want people to want to go there who don't even necessarily like golf, right? >> Um and when golfing golf season is not
active, if if it's a really good establishment and they have great food, you know, good atmosphere to go watch games or whatever, people want to go there. >> Yeah. You're you're not making the revenue >> that you could make right now
>> from food and beverage etc. But >> you're paying 300,000 plus in bond payments right now. >> There's definitely a need. I play I five
years overdue. So, this is a multi-year project, but you've got the revenue right now to carry this project through. Once that's done, you're going to have
more revenue. >> Mhm. >> Or you should from a clubhouse because right now you're operating out of a double wide. >> Mhm. >> I mean, this could potentially be a season like year round kind of thing. >> Yeah. It's going to be interesting to see though, like I don't think the town wants to get in the business of, and I
think this was talked about, like what are they going to do? Are they going to lease it or what? Are they going to, >> you know, is the town trying to run? Uh, >> I've been I've been in two towns that we've had facilities like this. And in both
originally the town tried to operate it themselves and very quickly there thereafter we went to putting it out to bid and bringing someone in to do the food.
>> Experience. Yeah. Cuz boy, you got to be experienced in that area cuz if you're not, >> then that's that's going to be a mistake. And and it was a a serious revenue producer. >> What now? It's a year round thing, right? That did they do?
>> Uh towns that you were in. >> Uh one one wasn't, but one was >> Yeah. >> One was a 9hole and it was just for the snack bar, bar, etc. while the course was open. But it still made a pretty
good penny. >> Even if this goes through, you know, you're going to have more revenue. True. But you're also going to have more expenses cuz now you're going to have to hire people. You're going to have a chef, cook way unless you put it out. >> Yeah. >> I you know um
forgot what I was going to say now. >> I'm sorry. >> You kept talking. No, I had a chance to play in two tournaments there this past summer and they were big tournaments and at the you know when we were done there was they were running out of out of food
>> trying to do it on one grill >> condiments. I mean it's like I'm just thinking of all the money that was >> or they're catering it with someone else and they're making >> it's a fantastic course. I mean it's such a great course and it has the
reputation for that. Uh, but now to add add this to that, it's it's a no-brainer. >> The last couple times I went, it was caded by I think like Ricardis. >> Yeah. So, yeah. Yeah. >> Missing out, you know, like >> Exactly. >> Yep. Yep.
>> I recently went to I recently went to a an event, a seminar that was held at the Old Scotland links up in Bridgewater. >> Mhm. And they had uh
you know the whole uh I'd say there were 100 people there for the seminar and they had it in the big room.
>> Mhm. But they had another room going on where people were playing golf were still going in and getting lunch and everything else. And the had it all catered out of their kitchen. But it
was, you know, I complimented uh one of the servers and they uh told us that they worked for a catering firm >> that did all the business there. We just provide the facilities. You guys
come in and do all the cooking. >> Yeah. And the uh the organization that I was uh going to the se pro who was who was who was putting on the seminar
rent rented the space but the golf club handled the food. But the rental was the whole thing. But they obviously had someone that worked for
them as a uh providing it not only for the players but for all the events that were going and they were marketing it. Uh because when you went in, the golf club gave you a brochure that said if you
want for weddings, >> for you know uh confirmations for the for professional events, business retreats, this is the place to come. And I think the same thing could be done
with your once you have a clubhouse and you don't, you know, you put an RFP out, you get someone come in to provide all the food and beverage services for the year.
>> Yeah. I mean, there's some local golf courses around here that have nice clubouses. I don't know. Have you ever played the back n >> in Lakeville? >> They got that. To me, that's a nice nice clubhouse there. You know, you got the the bar centralized right in the middle um of the the dining area. It it goes
all the way around, so there's plenty of seating at the bar and then you have the the high tops, you know, on the perimeter. Um it's pretty good. There was a pretty good space in there, too. Um so, I don't know, you know, but I think that's probably the most important aspect of it. And I know, you know, with
their conceptual design, they're talking about adding a large patio. um onto this. So that's great because you can put more tables and chairs out there too, you know, for events and good weather. >> We know that the big events right now
>> at a Kushnet Valley, you're getting about 150 people. So you have to look for accommodations for 150 people probably in the design
>> and the design that the conceptual design didn't have that. >> Yeah. So that's something that now the architect is going and the engineer engineering/archchitectural
design people are going to have to come up with >> Right. >> Mhm. >> Okay. All right. So that was article 11. Uh do we have a motion? >> You made a motion. >> You made a motion. All right. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Anyone opposed? Okay. Motion passes unanimously. Article 12, uh, funding of the school roof ban. >> Yep. That is, uh, something we've been promising,
the board has been promising the town and this committee to to do. We are asking for a an amount of 242,352 from free cash and 52,648
from the special solar tax revenue fund to retire the now the borrowing for the school roof. I think that's a no-brainer. >> Make a motion. >> Second. All right. Motion and a second.
Any further discussion? All right. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Okay. Motion passes unanimously. Article 13. >> Article 13. And it's not anything of a
ban payment. title was my uh >> my Microsoft cut and paste mistake. It's funding the repairs of the to the elementary school roof and gymnasium
closet or gymnasium the closet in the gymnasium. It's 150,000 free cash has been reported many times to many committees. >> Uh the
gymnasium area is closet area is leaking roof and uh walls and was definitely one of my sticking points when we were talking about the HAC train.
>> Yeah. And the the issue also is that it's not the same roof as the roof they repaired. It's like a >> separate >> secondary. >> It was an addition building. That's what that was. >> But it was a separate add-on, I think.
But if the uh you're going to start to look at solving these problems, you might as well at least this is one that's right in front of you and we know it's there. And it's too bad that they didn't uh do the whole roof at the time
because we might have got since you got some uh school building assistance money when you did the big roof. If you folded this in, you might have got a percentage of this paid for, but they didn't. >> Yep.
>> Which I don't understand, but uh 150 in free cash is the estimate. And that's up to 150. >> Yeah, this is definitely a must in my opinion. >> And um absolutely. >> You know, Mr. Kelly and I sat in on uh
>> many a few meetings uh regarding this. most recently a legislative meeting with two our two state reps and Senator Martigny um to discuss the issues uh with our elementary school and I think this is the first step uh on our part showing
that we're you know we're going to operate in good faith and we're going to get this project moving uh in the right direction to to address this and and get it going because we we can't we can't leave it the way it is. um we don't want that school, you know, getting worse. We
certainly can't we can't afford to build a new school. So, we need to to fix this and and you can't start to address the other problems until you get the
pouring water in problem done. >> Yeah. Correct. Um so yeah this is I think this is the right right place to start >> and then you know continue the conversation with you know the other aspects of the project and um you know hopefully
you know our reps and Senator Montgney can possibly come up with some extra money from the state. It's unlikely but hey you never know. It's it's it's always worth asking and to keep, you know, trying when it comes to that.
>> Make a motion to approve article 13. >> Second. >> We have a motion to second. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Okay. The motion passes unanimously. >> Article 14. I'd ask that the committee report a town meeting. We're waiting uh
for wording from our financial consultant on this. This is a technicality an article dealing with technicality as far as how we reported our uh water
revenue to do and put it in our revenue figures. And uh I have to defer to Todd Hasset who's our
financial guru with do on it and he asked that this be held and he's working on the wording with do now >> I make motion the table >> and take up >> and take up at town meeting a >> report a report
>> report at town So move will be a meeting before the meeting obviously to resolve this >> or you could depending on what it is you could just report at town meeting or
we might pass over it depending on when they agree on the wording. >> I'll second. All right. So we have a motion and second to report right at town meeting. Um any further discussion? All in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? That motion passes
unanimously. Article 15 for as you know the CPA was accepted by the town and it was accepted at a 1.5%. Correct? >> Yes.
And uh but you could have done a lot more. You accept it at 1.5%. >> And >> I think you can go up to three. Correct. >> Yes. Right. >> And it's based on the value
of the tax bill and the value of your house ultimately. And since all of the values have gone up lately there, the estimate we've been keeping
the CPC funds at turned out to be $60,000 lower than actual. Now part of the CPC is you have to
assign a certain amount of the money you collect to different categories and that's what you see as the breakdown. Well, we have been assigning
uh for a number of years $26,000 in uh historical resources reserve community housing open space and we've been doing 13,000 for the
administrative costs. Well, which were within the guidelines for the percentages we were supposed to assign. Well, when we did the percentages now of the new amount, we need to do the new
amounts in red >> based on current valuations, >> based on what we're collecting. Mhm. >> And that you see that we were estimating 176,000 in the past and now it's up to
240,000. So when you have the 240,000 estimate and actual, you've got to change the others to reflect that amount. >> Mhm. And so this is just in changing
the article that we passed in the spring to reflect what reality is. >> Yeah. This is not this >> it's not costing. >> No, this is not going to significantly change property tax bill. Uh
>> well, the board is actually considering in the spring ch changing the amount of the percentage which would put it then back to the lower amount dollar amounts that you
see here. And that would if old colony passes etc. that might give the taxpayers a little re relief in the bottom line, >> right? It's it's essentially a 1.5%
search charge tax on your property tax bill. So, it's not I mean, we all get our quarterly estimates and we can see the little breakdown where it says CPA and the percentage. It's not it's not a big number. Um, but yeah, you're right to your point. If if old colony does
pass, um that's going to be >> you might want to go down 25 basis points or 50 basis points on it. >> The farthest you can go down is the 50 basis points.
>> So the lowest we can go is 1% or.5%. >> 1%. I mean there are and I mean correct me if I'm wrong but I think there are there are uh some towns in the Commonwealth >> that don't that don't have a CPA >> right they don't even participate >> right
>> so the residents aren't getting a search charge from that perspective >> you see a lot of the very small towns out west or in the northwest the like the towns
300 4,000 5,000 in population >> that do not have >> hopefully CPC that we have to do that you know um >> well this has been valuable for the town because it's helped with historical
buildings it's really helped with open space uh you've got a large uh undesated balance that if you wanted to buy uh property for conservation purposes or that you can do it
if you need to upgrade playgrounds to comply with the ADA, which is going to be coming down the pipe shortly to most communities. You're going to have to do that and you could pay for it out
of here. Oh, I think it's a great function and we all recognize it during the Apple Beach Festival because we have a lot of the historic buildings being utilized during the Apple Beach Festival. >> Um, so it's nice to see the history and
it, you know, it's nice to have people like uh like Pauline Tera >> from our historical commission who keeps volunteering her time. God bless her. I mean, because she's such a sweet lady. Um, but she has so much on her plate at
at this stage in her life. She actually needs more people to help her to to volunteer for historical commission. We uh yes, they they need people to volunteer, but uh we sent a crew out
this summer of uh the kids, CES workers, and they did a a number of interior paintings for Pauline on the historical buildings. >> Mhm. >> Which meant all Yeah. the YES program
paid for the uh kids and the historical uh paid for the paint. >> Yeah. I mean, it's a great thing. I mean, I don't know how many people had chance to attend the Apple Peach, but um again, it was a Yeah, he worked it. It was a
>> I mean, other than the rain during the the parade, um >> it was a great weekend. Great success. Again, kudos to Tom Foron uh who, you know, organizes it and again to Pauline who works tirelessly uh for our town.
>> Make a motion. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes unanimously. [Music] >> 16. >> Yep.
16 to see if uh the uh town will transfer from the PEG access and cable reserve funds uh amount not to exceed 49,000 to purchase
and equip a utility van with a mounted aerial lift capability for the Kushnet CATV department. Not only will that help with the what the various things the department needs,
it will also uh the department could have used it and will in the future on the fiber network. We could have used it instead of having to go out and rent something to install
some of it. Is this a used van? >> That's a thing. What do you get? 49 grand for >> 49 to you. But >> what? Yeah, it's used. >> Yeah. >> And it's uh comes out of the ch reserve
fund which presently has $996,55 in it. >> They don't want a new one. >> And they don't >> That was uh I think they've found one. they've picked out that's already got the uh >> and that's going to cover the cost to
equip it too. >> The aerial lift. If they want some money for repairs that kind of money, why don't you buy new? >> Yeah. >> H >> they got that kind of money. Why just buy a new one?
>> I don't million. >> They're looking at that one. a van with the with a bucket and equipment that that >> Do they have an existing van or no? >> They've never had one. >> No. >> Okay. Cuz I didn't think so. >> That's what they requested. >> That's what they requested.
>> Okay. >> Make a motion. >> We have a motion. >> And that's it doesn't cost the taxpayers. It costs the >> I'll second it >> cable come out of taxation. >> All right. We have a motion in a second.
Any further discussion? Sorry. All in favor? Anyone opposed? >> Article 17. I ask that the committee report at town meeting. This involves a couple paper streets
and we have uh that are surrounded by property owners on all side. one property owner in all sides
and uh the town is looking for a way to abandon the paper street but we still have to do the legal work and if the le if KP
finishes by town meeting then we'd be presenting it but if they don't because they got to do the meets and bounds And it has to be an agreement with the individual
that surrounds the street that the land was either taken from or cut off of 50 years ago or whenever the paper street was created. I make a motion table until we report on
>> and at some point it's probably going to come up but there's a lot of legal work that needs to be done in doing this mainly because the town's position should be that the
legal work is done by the property owner and then the town's lawyer agrees that that legal work is right rather than us having to do all the legal work and spend all the
money first. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Um, all in favor of article 17 I. >> Anyone? Okay, that motion passes unanimously. >> Well, we tabled it. >> We tabled it. Motion on the table. >> Well, it's a to report it. >> Correct. Okay.
>> All right. Um, we're going to take up uh three sets of minutes that Kathy prepared for us. Uh, the first date is from April 24th, 2025. Um, in attendance was myself, Phil, Eric
Chu, Kristen Flynn, and Lisa. >> Motion the minutes. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> I >> Okay, those minutes have passed. Next set of minutes is from the meeting of May 12th, 2025. In attendance was
myself, uh, Sue Delgado, Phil Adams, Pete Penoy, Eric Chu, Kristen Flynn, Eric McGlin, and Lisa Tomlinson. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> We have a motion, a second. All in favor? >> Okay, those minutes are passed.
>> Last set. Okay, the last set of minutes is from the meeting of May 22nd, 2025. Uh, in attendance was Phil Adams, Pete Benoy, uh, Eric Chu, Kristen Flynn, Eric McGlenn, Mr. St. Gene, and Lisa
Tomlinson. I was absent. >> Motion to accept the minutes. >> Second. >> Have a motion, a second. All in favor? I >> will abstain since I was absent. >> Okay. Um,
anyone have any old business to discuss? Any new business? >> Um, under new business, has ever everyone received the the letter from the town regarding utilities from constellation the aggregate? >> Yep. >> Um,
>> so you notice that the the rates are coming down, >> right? Which is a good thing. Yep. The only thing though, >> right, that's the only the supply rates. The only problem is, you know, how much are we going to get whacked on the delivery charges uh through Eversource,
you know, because they're probably going to increase their the delivery, so it's going to probably offset and more than likely be a wash. >> No, but at least Yeah, at least they decrease the rates. So, I thought that was uh promising. And it was I think it
was in 2028, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We we've been dealing with them for a little while and we're involved in the bidding. The staff here was involved in the
bidding uh with the folks from Constellation when we went out into the marketplace. I've been dealing with them in four towns now over the past number
of years and they're the in my view the most uh knowledgeable in how to manipulate the
market for the consumer. >> That's a good point. Are we going to meet a meeting the 8th? >> I don't believe so. >> If you have a meeting uh before town meeting two articles going
to take up a town meeting. >> Yeah, but I'm not sure those two articles I'm going to put it. >> I I'm going to put placeholders in, but I'm not sure they're going to make it. So I would say reported town meeting
like you've the motion said is the best and you don't need another meeting. >> Yeah. So we won't even need to meet prior to the town meeting like we have in the past. So I think Kathy I think we'll be good as far as not having to post any meetings uh between now and
October 27th. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. We have a motion to adjurnn and a second. All in favor? Heat. [Music] Heat.
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