WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=g0e06IJwZnw

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: g0e06IJwZnw):
- 00:00:15: Meeting Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
- 00:00:48: Budget Updates: Warrant Articles Overview by Selectmen
- 00:06:42: Health Insurance Stabilization Fund Discussion
- 00:10:14: Engine 2 Funding, EMS Reserve, and Collective Bargaining
- 00:12:50: Community Preservation Fund Articles Discussed
- 00:15:19: Town Election Date Change and Bylaw Amendments
- 00:19:05: Planning Board Articles Referred Back, Flood Plain Articles
- 00:21:15: Review of Approved Articles and Funding Insertions
- 00:23:16: Motion to Accept Changes, Article Discussion and Review
- 00:31:39: Detailed Review and Voting on Each Article
- 00:42:33: Budget Overview, Trash Bids, Police Budget, Education Budgets
- 00:44:24: Oak Colony Budget, Debt Exclusion Vote, and Overrides
- 00:51:11: Revenue Decline, Budget Challenges, and Rate Increases
- 00:51:59: Adjournment


Part: 1

1
00:00:15.200 --> 00:00:31.920
All right, we are open. Uh, good evening. This is, uh, Wednesday, May 20th, 2026. This is a meeting of the finance committee. This meeting is being audio and video recorded. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

2
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:48.480
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, tonight our main objective is we're going to get uh some updates

3
00:00:48.480 --> 00:01:10.159
um from Jamie Kelly and Jamie Velasquez regarding articles budget. Floor is yours. All right. Uh the selectman went through the uh warrant tonight. Other than the

4
00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:27.280
operating budget and the two enterprise accounts, uh we're finalizing those. Uh they all are dependent on each other because of the offsets

5
00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:45.759
and we are pretty far along on them. But for example, as you know, we until we settle on all the salaries in the operating budget, we can't determine what the

6
00:01:45.759 --> 00:02:04.079
Medicare payment would be and it's formula based on the total salary amount. So, we're still cutting some salaries uh some budgets. Uh the selectmen

7
00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:22.400
have said that their purpose is to still provide essential services but to cut the budgets down as far as they can to then make sure that the budget for the

8
00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:42.720
schools is not as draconian as we originally thought when we gave them a number of 175,000 increase. Uh I'm going to

9
00:02:42.720 --> 00:02:59.440
not use numbers. So, but I'll go through the articles and tell you the ones that change. There was no change in the annual report article. first article.

10
00:02:59.440 --> 00:03:20.400
The second article is the prior fiscal year invoices. We found one for $6.79. Uh we changed the wording to reflect that it'll be a transfer from free cash

11
00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:37.440
or otherwise provide for a transfer from available funds. It will be from free cash and I'll address the free cash articles both this and the free cash articles together when we get there.

12
00:03:37.440 --> 00:03:54.080
The board voted to finalize the numbers for the PEG access cable fund as what is printed. The consent agenda was unchanged. The revolving fund

13
00:03:54.080 --> 00:04:11.040
article was unchanged. The free cash articles, we included the past year bills. Jamie, this Jamie

14
00:04:11.040 --> 00:04:32.759
went through and squeezed every place she could. And the valid number now for remaining free cash is $34,388 and a nickel.

15
00:04:33.919 --> 00:04:50.160
And uh so the selectmen have us paying for the past year bills out of free cash. They increased the MS4 consultant services to

16
00:04:50.160 --> 00:05:11.120
30,131 and 26 cents. So we changed that article, the MS consultant services article to reflect that and the article on the youth employment

17
00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:27.840
service program and the capital budget remains the same. Now the capital budget article as the selectman approved

18
00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:43.360
all of the FY27 capital budget fire turn uh new turnout gear not to exceed 65,000. Please replace 911 recording system not

19
00:05:43.360 --> 00:06:02.160
to exceed 13,250. Please replace Glock firearms, holsters, ammunition, and provide training not to exceed 35,000. Please purchase of seven new

20
00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:18.479
AEDs and associated equipment not to exceed 12,000. Please purchase and equip one police cruiser on March not to exceed 65,000. And then

21
00:06:18.479 --> 00:06:42.319
repair of the boilers in both buildings for the schools not to exceed 95,000 for a total of 285,250. Uh the selectman approved the fund the

22
00:06:42.319 --> 00:07:00.720
health insurance stabilization from from past year's articles the remaining money uh just for the edification of the finance committee the state since we're selfins a hybrid

23
00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:20.479
self-insured the state advises us to eventually build up our reserve account to the equivalent of two quarters of our premium. Uh that would be just a little over a

24
00:07:20.479 --> 00:07:38.400
million $100,000. Now we're not anywhere near it, but we have been building it up year to year. So eventually we'll get there and that's to make sure that if there is

25
00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:53.599
an issue down the road uh you have reserves sufficient to uh cover any major uh catastrophic insurance issues.

26
00:07:53.599 --> 00:08:12.160
>> Are you still carrying like 20% of the increase in health insurance >> or changed? No, we're 13 and a half to 14 and we're hybrid in that we're

27
00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:28.720
self-insured, but we as a group buy our stoploss reinsurance and go out to bid. So, we get a group price on that, but we get to run our

28
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:43.839
program ourselves and get away from the previous where uh there were some towns that weren't carrying their weight. And GIC and Maya, you have no control at all

29
00:08:43.839 --> 00:09:04.080
over your rates. And actually a number of communities are worse off than we are right now with the uh increases cuz they're doing plan design and they're ending up with the premium increases about the same as as

30
00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:21.279
we are. We are not changing our plan design at all other than what is mandated. Uh and that was including the bronze plan. the minimum plan that was mandated

31
00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:38.720
by the federal government. >> Isn't OC part of Mayer now? >> That I think when I watched the meeting, I thought I heard him say that they're they're in Maya. >> Yeah. >> Right. Yeah. and Maya is uh

32
00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:57.200
discussing the issue with their reserve because they've depleted their reserve over the last two years and they might end up having a uh recmputation

33
00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:14.320
of premiums mid year. >> Yeah. to make up >> which GIC in one year did it twice. So you had three different premiums in a year which is held when you're trying to

34
00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:31.680
do a budget. Mhm. >> Uh funding for the current engine 2 ban. Uh the selectman voted to transfer the available funds from the EMS reserved

35
00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:51.920
receipts account. So that's the way the article will read and or file for accept expend grants etc. If the chief could get those the establishing and funding the EMS

36
00:10:51.920 --> 00:11:09.120
preserve fund. There was some wording changes. It will now read to see if the town will vote to transfer from the EMS reserved receipts account the amount of 25,000 for the purpose of establishing a

37
00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:27.720
reserve fund special article for the use in the repair and maintenance of department vehicles, equipment, facilities and associated equipment and require a vote by the board of selectment to expend

38
00:11:34.079 --> 00:11:48.959
The board approved the next two articles. to board. Uh as far as the collective baring bargaining articles, you know, if the contract any contracts are approved

39
00:11:48.959 --> 00:12:09.120
prior to town meeting, the board will meet prior to town meeting to take any action on it and they request that if the FinCon be available to do that. Also the uh

40
00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:26.880
resin borrowing of Sloum Street and the cleanup of articles the board is struck. Those will be done in the fall. The board approved going to the legislature for a special act for the

41
00:12:26.880 --> 00:12:50.959
appointment of retired police officers as special police officers for police details. This funding special education reserve fund which has been an annual uh was approved by the board. the CPC

42
00:12:50.959 --> 00:13:09.279
preservation fund article. the appropriations which are the same every year the last couple years or remain as far as the expenditures town administrator administration

43
00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:24.720
the administrative 13,000 town administrator request beautifification committee for town buildings undesated balance 5,000 000 town

44
00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:42.480
administrator 250 national anniversary parade cost undesated balance 10,000 board selectman request to repair roofs on town hall and parting ways on designated balance

45
00:13:42.480 --> 00:14:01.160
47,500 historic commission requests the next three one to repair and replace and paint Exterior of the Lawn Plane Museum from historic for 17,594.

46
00:14:01.839 --> 00:14:18.320
Historic commission to repair, replace and paint hallway to second floors ceiling and walls of wine plane museum 4,200 from historic. Next one to replace the ceiling in the

47
00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:37.920
apartment and paint four rooms of the Lawn Plane Museum from historic 28,000 for a total of 125,294. The other articles, the other requests that were

48
00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:58.079
in here previously, the select removed. I'm assuming that the the line for the repair roofs, town halls, and buildings, it doesn't indicate that the community preservation recommended or the board of selectmen. >> Uh it was recommended.

49
00:14:58.079 --> 00:15:16.279
>> Okay. So, it's just we'll have to fix it, right? >> Yeah. >> Didn't get there. Yeah. operating budget and the next two budgets you know are next week.

50
00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:40.639
Golf course retained earnings the selectment proposed the beautifification donation fund selectment proposed. We have an article to

51
00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:59.759
change the town of Aushnit's general bylaw article one section 2.2 and this change will place the town election on the Tuesday of school vacation week.

52
00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:17.199
It's at request of the schools and uh the town clerk and the wording's been worked on from town council. I guess most years it'll be the third week the

53
00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:33.120
or the third Tuesday in April, but there is every now and then they'll it will end up being the fourth Tuesday in April. Well, I think you said something about the Tuesday following the Patriots.

54
00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:51.360
>> Yeah, that's how they're figuring it. That's why the wording says that. Um, we're hoping not only does as far as safety, public safety and

55
00:16:51.360 --> 00:17:09.120
uh use of the schools, it might also reflect some savings for the election budget, but we'll have to see. Uh the next article is recommended by town

56
00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:31.679
council. It's a cleanup of amending article one section 2.1 and it is to uh make sure that the board of selectmen

57
00:17:31.679 --> 00:17:52.000
clearly have the authority to change the date if necess. necessary on town meeting. >> They've been doing it, haven't they? >> Pardon? >> They've been doing it, right? >> Yeah. Town council just wants to

58
00:17:52.000 --> 00:18:16.080
uh make sure. >> There's never been a challenge with that, has it? >> No. It's a definition of town versus board of selectment. And the logic is how can you change the date of a town

59
00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:32.799
meeting if the interpretation is the town meeting has to do that because you'd have to convene the town meeting first. >> Yeah, but there's a so supposed to be on a fixed date in May >> or >> or Yeah.

60
00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:49.360
other such time. >> So we'd have to call a town meeting to change the date of a town meeting if you interpret >> it should be changed at town meeting or held on the day it's supposed to be. >> Well, the problem we've had in years past is we didn't have the state final

61
00:18:49.360 --> 00:19:05.200
state figures for revenue. >> Everybody else does it in May seems to figure it out. the uh there's next week >> first planning board article

62
00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:24.720
that selectman voted to uh refer it back to the planning board and uh maybe take it up in the fall. There was uh an issue with the authority of waving the solar by

63
00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:42.240
provisions of the solar bylaw with the selectman were uh questioning the authority to allow it to be done. And so they're

64
00:19:42.240 --> 00:20:03.960
asking town council uh to weigh in as far as the tree planting and tree cutting versus establishing a fund in place of planting of trees.

65
00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:29.600
And the art the next article, the flood plane article, there was discussion on that. And it turns out the town council uh recommended this

66
00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:45.200
uh because of the provision that the commonwealth insist goes in as far as the flood plane. So it was to comply with the commonwealth.

67
00:20:45.200 --> 00:21:03.480
>> I mean these aren't revenue articles. >> Pardon? >> These are not revenue articles really. And then the uh the last two articles are the uh citizen petition.

68
00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:40.320
And so that's the changes in the water. other than the three financial articles. Okay. I haded my notes, sorry, I had ined my notes that we approved and I I at the

69
00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:56.159
time was trying to figure out why and I went back and checked. We approved article 2021 and 22 for theus that aren't on here. But if we have to insert funding, that's the

70
00:21:56.159 --> 00:22:11.039
collective bargaining ones. >> Yeah. >> If we have to insert funding >> and we already voted to approve them >> to approve the articles. But if we have to insert funding in it, then we'd want

71
00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:27.760
to come back to this committee >> before town meeting. would rewrite the article to say approve the contract and appropriate X amount from this source.

72
00:22:27.760 --> 00:22:43.280
>> Just the selectman didn't vote on them yet, right? >> No, >> I don't Yeah, just Okay, >> because mainly because uh they they're still negotiating the contracts. So we we would take an additional vote based

73
00:22:43.280 --> 00:22:59.280
on the amended version just prior to telling me >> I feel like we shouldn't have voted on >> the week before. >> That's not one of the articles that changed numbers. Is it last week or on Monday when you weren't here? There was a lot of articles changed numbers. >> No, there were no numbers the old

74
00:22:59.280 --> 00:23:16.640
version. >> No, but I knew what he was referring to. >> Okay. Uh so if you want to vote on the warrant as far as any of the changes I can put in

75
00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:36.720
recommended by town meeting recommended by finance committee or not on the final draft of the war before it goes to printing or if you want to wait until next week. >> What does the group want to do?

76
00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:53.679
>> Well, it would just be the articles that that had the changes that the select board has approved >> today and this go through. >> Yeah. >> Do you want I I'll make a motion to accept the changes to the articles as

77
00:23:53.679 --> 00:24:09.679
read by the town administrator. Will that suffice? Far right. >> Current. You're sitting in the seat. >> All right. We want to review which one. >> Which one we're talking about? Yeah. >> Do you want to list? Maybe we list them.

78
00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:31.240
>> Yeah. Like we did last time. >> Little floor. >> Two. >> Two. Three. >> Two. The ones that were changed were 2 3

79
00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:53.440
12 14 >> wording on 16. >> Wording on 17. >> 14 16. You said >> art article 2

80
00:24:53.440 --> 00:25:19.720
3 the 12 14 was the uh capital budget 16 was wording 17 was wording uh and

81
00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:37.120
23 and 24 were uh original was the resend the borrowing of Sloen Street and the cleanup of old articles. Those were placeholders. They were omitted.

82
00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:54.120
>> Which ones? >> 23 and 24. >> There's another 23. >> Yeah, there's another 23. >> Yeah, there's a new 23 and four. only those you have >> uh on the other list that you have >> the prior list >> on the no on the spreadsheet yeah you'll see 23 24

83
00:25:54.159 --> 00:26:11.279
>> I just meant they were amended >> y >> uh 25 >> so sorry are we voting on 23 and 24 >> the new ones >> no I think >> those were old those were voted in on >> No they were struck >> yeah on the right

84
00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:26.880
>> special the new police language based on your vote. >> And then the the special we already voted on those. >> So the the new 23s were voted on the first meeting, right? >> Yep. >> Yeah.

85
00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:50.760
>> Uh 25. We amended some for that. So that that's a new total. >> Okay. So we're voting 25. 31 320 are new.

86
00:26:53.120 --> 00:27:21.000
We struck omitted the first of the planning board. there was uh minor uh I don't believe there was minor change here was there

87
00:27:21.520 --> 00:27:41.440
>> no okay there's no change there >> and then the citizens petitions etc >> we are doing 33 the new version right >> it's Just a change of >> article >> the flood plane one. >> Yeah.

88
00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:57.279
>> Yeah. That was just a change of number. >> But we still need to vote it, right? Because it was a change. >> 32. >> We don't have to we don't have to do 33. >> That's not >> No, you already. >> Okay. So, we're not voting 33.

89
00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:12.159
>> 32. >> I um 31 and 32, right? you need to vote 31 32 of the new ones. That's a change of date

90
00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:28.960
of uh the election and then the authority for changing the date on town meeting. >> So we have to vote those even though there's they're not financial. >> They're what? >> Even though there's no financial impact,

91
00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:49.279
>> it's a bylaw change. Okay. I >> if it's a bylaw change and that's the reason we're voting 31 and 32, then why aren't we voting 38? >> No, but I think there I think there's a potential I think there is a potential financial impact

92
00:28:49.279 --> 00:29:04.000
possible impact especially when we're >> well there would be >> when we're having the election >> because we're we're taking votes and it's all financial. So yes, indirectly there is a finance. >> No, but I mean I we're hoping it saves

93
00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:20.720
money when the kids aren't in school and we can use the school. It might be custodial money or whatever. >> We don't know. >> But the votes whenever the the school was always closed, it was always like a professional development case.

94
00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:36.399
>> No, school vacation. The problem is going to be everyone's traveling that week. They can't >> talk about in the past. I'm talking about in the passage that that is going to everyone tell me. >> Was it wasn't there there was once it wasn't we were told or I was told

95
00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:52.159
>> yeah there was one time it wasn't but typically it happens >> professional development >> on a and it's a professional development day so I'm not sure how it's going to really impact the bottom line >> and they and they said it would the school said it would help with their scheduling >> and like you said it'll

96
00:29:52.159 --> 00:30:08.960
>> it'll restrict a lot of the voters. >> Yeah. So that might be a different issue. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. For elections. >> I guess then you'll have to do the early voting or the mail in or something like that, right? That'll have to be

97
00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:32.840
>> and that's more money. >> Even better. >> We're going to vote as a group to vote separately. Article 31 and 32. vote separately. Yeah.

98
00:30:34.320 --> 00:30:51.320
>> Why don't we vote all the financial together and vote all the non-financial together? Does that make sense? >> No. >> Well, it sounds like you might have an issue with 31 and I have an issue with 32. >> You can always abstain if you want. I mean I mean it's

99
00:30:51.919 --> 00:31:02.960
>> Why don't you vote each one separately and >> that way we cover ourselves. >> Mhm. >> Each one that we just reviewed >> each article >> the changes. >> Okay. >> Okay.

100
00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:22.240
>> The the 2 3 12 14 16 17 25 31 and 32. Y >> retract my original motion. Okay. want to make a motion or >> No, >> you you can make a mo you can make a

101
00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:39.120
motion you can make a motion to uh vote on each one. >> Okay. >> Separately. >> So, I'm going to read I'm going to read through these articles on it and then we're going to make a motion. >> Yep. Okay. >> Okay. >> Mhm.

102
00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:56.000
>> All right. So, article two is prior fiscal year invoices to see if the town will transfer from free cash or otherwise provide for a transfer from available funds of the total sum of $6.79 to pay bills from prior fiscal years or take any other action there on

103
00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:12.240
or in relation there too. So, this is uh from an unpaid bill dated 61225 for a town building. The vendor was with Rocky's Ace Hardware for the amount of $6.79. Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I.

104
00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:27.519
>> Anyone opposed? Okay. So, that motion passes unanimously. Uh three, article three is the uh PEG access and cable fund to see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum or sums of money from the PEG access and cable

105
00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:44.360
related fund. The sum of 240,000 for the expenses of public access as follows. Salaries wages 100,000. General expenses 90,000. cable reserve fund 50,000 for a total of 240,000

106
00:32:45.360 --> 00:33:03.760
>> to be raised from the cable franchise fees and cable related revenues. >> Okay. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Have a motion. Second. All in favor? >> Anyone post? Okay. There's no

107
00:33:03.760 --> 00:33:26.080
opposition. >> Next change one is the >> 12 >> MS4 consultant services. >> Okay. Article 12 MS4 consultant services to see if the town will vote to transfer from free cash or otherwise provide the

108
00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:44.480
sum of $30,13126 for the board of selectment to fund FY2027 engineering consultant services for compliance with the general permit for discharges from the municipal separate storm water system mandated reporting

109
00:33:44.480 --> 00:34:00.399
and filing of associated documents or take any other action thereon. on for emulation there too. This is requested by the board selectman. >> Make a motion to approve article 12. >> We have a motion. >> Second.

110
00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:22.720
>> There's a motion in a second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? There's no opposition. >> What's the next one? >> 14. >> Okay. 14 is the FY27 capital budget to see if the town will vote to raise and

111
00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:39.760
appropriate or transfer $285,250 from available free cash or or any for any or all the following capital improvement projects and purchases or take any other action there on or in relation there too.

112
00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:55.520
So we have several departments here. So fire department for purchase of turnout gear not to exceed $65,000. That's coming from free cash. Police department replace 911 recording system not to exceed $13,250.

113
00:34:55.520 --> 00:35:10.480
That's from free cash. Police replace Glock, firearms, holsters, ammunition, and provide training not to exceed $35,000 again from free cash. police purchase of seven new automated external defibrill

114
00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:25.680
defibrills AEDs and associated equipment not to exceed $12,000 again from free cash. Police department purchase and equip one police cruiser unmarked not to exceed $65,000 from free cash. the

115
00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:42.640
school to repair the boilers. It's two boilers not to exceed $95,000 and this is for a total of $285,250 from free cash. >> We'll make a motion. >> Second.

116
00:35:42.640 --> 00:36:01.119
>> There's a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. All oppose. 16. Article 16, funding of the current engine to ban to see if the town will

117
00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:16.000
vote to transfer from available funds EMS reserved receipts account or file for accept and expend grant and or matching funds provided by grants or otherwise provide a sum of $200,000 to make a principal payment to the band for

118
00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:34.400
the recently required engine or take any other action thereon or in relation thereto. Motion approved. >> Second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? No opposition.

119
00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:50.560
>> The next one u the selectman added two words from >> is that 17? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Do do you have it in there? Do we have it in there? >> Um >> uh the special article.

120
00:36:50.560 --> 00:37:06.640
>> It should be. Yeah. The special. >> So it's already here. Yeah, >> with what I'm reading. Okay. >> All right. So, article 17, establishing and funding repair and maintenance special reserve fund to see if the town will vote to transfer from the EMS reserve receipts account the amount of

121
00:37:06.640 --> 00:37:22.000
25,000 for the purpose of establishing a repair and maintenance special reserve fund for use of department vehicles, equipment, facilities, and associated equipment and require a vote by the board of selectment to expend or take any other action thereon or in relation

122
00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:44.240
thereto. Motion to approve. We have a motion. Second. There's a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? No opposition on article 17. So 18 and 19 were already approved, right?

123
00:37:44.240 --> 00:38:06.400
>> The next one was 23 taking them out. I'm sorry. >> Uh the uh I was just saying that you don't have to do any action on the resin the borrowing of Sloan Street where the cleanup of the old articles because the

124
00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:22.480
selectman removed the those from the wire. >> Okay. >> So it's not even here anyway, right? >> No, it's not No, it's not in there. >> Yeah, it's not even in here. So Okay. So the next one was >> 25. Okay.

125
00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:38.960
>> Community preservation. >> Okay. Article 25 FY27 Community Preservation Fund to see if the town will vote to appropriate or reserve from fiscal year 27 community preservation fund estimated annual revenues and the

126
00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:55.440
amounts of recommended by the community preservation committee for committee administrative expenses community preservation projects and any other expenses in fiscal year 2027 as follows from FY27 estimated revenues for

127
00:38:55.440 --> 00:39:10.240
committee Administrative expenses $13,000 reserve from FY27 estimated revenues for historic reser resources reserve $26,000 from FY27 estimated revenues for

128
00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:27.119
community housing reserve $26,000 from FY27 estimated revenues for open space reserve $26,000 from the undesated balance of community preservation fund $85,000 or take any other action in relation

129
00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:55.440
there too for a total of $176,000. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Passes on oppos. I think those are the last two.

130
00:39:55.440 --> 00:40:15.520
The last two are the town clerk articles. Okay. Article 31, amend bylaws. Article 1, section 2.2, annual town election date to see if the town will vote to amend the town of Krishna general bylaws. Article 1, section 2.2 as

131
00:40:15.520 --> 00:40:31.359
follows. Current language, article 1, section 2.2, to the annual election of officers shall be held on the 4th Tuesday in April to commence July 1st 2024 or at such other time as shall be

132
00:40:31.359 --> 00:40:46.800
determined by a vote of the town. This is getting amended to article 1 section 2.2 to the annual town election of officers shall be held on the first Tuesday in April following the Massachusetts Patriots Day holiday each year with opening and closing at such

133
00:40:46.800 --> 00:41:01.839
hours as may be determined by the board of selectmen or take any other action thereon or in relation thereto motion. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor?

134
00:41:01.839 --> 00:41:17.920
>> Anyone opposed? Motion passes and opposed. Uh, next article is article 32 to amend bylaws article 1 section 2.1 annual town meeting to see if the town will vote to amend the town of Kushner

135
00:41:17.920 --> 00:41:34.720
general bylaws article 1 section 2.1 as follows. Current language article one section 2.1 the annual town meeting shall be held on the second Monday in May of each year or at such other time as shall be determined by a

136
00:41:34.720 --> 00:41:50.079
vote with the town. This is getting amended to article 1 section 2.1. The annual town meeting shall be held on the second Monday in May each year for the transaction of business or as may be determined by the board of selectment or

137
00:41:50.079 --> 00:42:10.240
take any other action thereon or in relation there too. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. All in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? I

138
00:42:10.240 --> 00:42:33.040
>> Okay, that motion passes. All >> opposed. One opposition. >> Oh, we have one opposition. Sorry. >> So, I think that covers it, right? >> War. Yep. Now, as far as the budget itself goes, just a couple quick

139
00:42:33.040 --> 00:42:50.400
uh things for the committee. Uh the bids came in on the trash and we saved more money than we have we're estimating. So that's good.

140
00:42:50.400 --> 00:43:06.480
Uh and uh we're looking that was just more money. So it was still in a savings category as far as that department. We're still we were still working on the

141
00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:23.440
police department's budget as of this afternoon. We've got some final figures that we changed in that. Uh we will be presenting it to you next Wednesday. Uh

142
00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:42.079
the selectman will make their own recommendation as far as uh the education budgets and uh we are still working on benefits and

143
00:43:42.079 --> 00:44:03.599
insuranceances visa v the offsets and uh pensions. got to finalize those. Uh we are close, very close to what I would

144
00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:24.960
consider a fair budget. Town versus schools. >> Next question. Um, so the, correct me if I'm wrong, the select board, sorry, the school committee voted on a budget, right, that had a million dollar 1.1

145
00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:41.520
increase. >> So is the hope that they will revisit that? >> The select are looking at it, they'll make their recommendation in the operating budget. >> Okay. So when we go to town meeting with a balanced budget, it will have

146
00:44:41.520 --> 00:45:00.800
>> the selectance figure. >> Okay. Thank you. >> For both education budgets >> for a colony as well. >> Okay. >> Well, timing of this, how much does that put us with uh

147
00:45:00.800 --> 00:45:19.200
publishing the warrant? We're within time frame and we're The fact that you guys and they hit the warrant articles allows me to be able to do the motions on all but the three financial

148
00:45:19.200 --> 00:45:36.880
articles and send it all off to town council. Quick question. Since we're not the ultimate sers of the OC budget, like how does that work because we've got four other member towns that are impacted by the budgets?

149
00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:54.720
>> Yeah, but our assessment would be the select can recommended how we fund it. >> So, how would that affect us if we voted at town meeting to not fund it to their request?

150
00:45:54.720 --> 00:46:11.440
member towns would have to pick up or they would have to >> there are a number of various uh way issues ways that would have to be addressed. >> Is there any form of retaliation that could go against our eighth graders

151
00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:27.440
>> like as far as seats available or anything like that? Okay. >> It's a lottery system. >> It's a lottery system. I want to make sure. >> So right now there's roughly $400 and something thousand >> $4102. Okay. So, $410,000 >> were dreaming about this number. >> $410,000,

152
00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:43.839
right? Part of that is because of the increase in students at Oak Colony >> for for the past year. >> For the past year, because and that's what I want to make sure everyone realizes, you don't pay based on the kids going into the school this year.

153
00:46:43.839 --> 00:47:00.079
You're paying based on enrollment as of last year. >> You are a year. >> So, there's a disconnect between the number of bodies. So we are catching up for the fact that we had more kids go to the school than what we paid last year. >> Last year there wasn't the lottery. Correct. >> Correct.

154
00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:16.160
>> So next year >> next year we will have less kids. >> We don't know yet. >> We don't know. >> Okay. >> And June 20th of course is the vote in the debt exclusion >> for OC.

155
00:47:16.160 --> 00:47:31.839
>> Five days after town meeting. >> Yeah. Town meeting and then OC. Okay. And uh what was it that the selectman announced? Three overrides failed in Lakeville. >> Yeah, the Lakeville ones failed.

156
00:47:31.839 --> 00:47:48.319
>> Yes, it was uh it failed by a 60/40 split. So 60% no, 40% yes. >> And just so anybody who does watch these things understands, there is no override being presented for Kushnik. that would have had to been decided weeks ago and

157
00:47:48.319 --> 00:48:06.720
on the warrant. So there is no override vote. >> There is no override presented for Kushner. There is only a debt exclusion districtwide election on June 20th between the

158
00:48:06.720 --> 00:48:35.599
holiday and Father's Day on a Saturday. Who chose that date? >> The district. >> Okay. So, overseas school committee basically. Yeah. Okay. That's just a weird date. >> Oh, I think uh I'm I said this the other

159
00:48:35.599 --> 00:48:50.960
night, but I'm going to say it one more time. I think more of the smaller communities like Lakeville, like us, um, well, not that we're asking the residents for an override, but other other communities like that. Um, you more than likely you're going to see

160
00:48:50.960 --> 00:49:10.480
the residents rejecting them because of the current state of the economy here in this state. you know, people just are they're taxed so much already. They can't afford much more, you know, and it's and then in a way it's it's like you're bailing out these

161
00:49:10.480 --> 00:49:27.119
these politicians in this state for their irresponsible spending. And it's like the residents need to say no to this stuff, take a stand and say no to all these overrides. I mean, they are taking that position more and more. So,

162
00:49:27.119 --> 00:49:42.800
towns are standing up to it. >> Well, they need to >> because if you just roll over, then >> these polit politicians have been controlling the state for decades. They're just going to keep doing business as usual. 25% of your budget is

163
00:49:42.800 --> 00:50:00.640
state aid and they're only increasing half a percent to a percent and a half percent and a quarter. You're 65% approximately is the levy. That's 2

164
00:50:00.640 --> 00:50:16.960
and a2 plus new growth. So at the most 3%. So, what the state doesn't give you, you're either going to have to >> make it up, >> make it up in fees or make it up in

165
00:50:16.960 --> 00:50:32.640
cuts. >> And once you start going down that override that override road, it's not going to stop. You'll have to keep doing it every every couple years. I mean, look at the way Lakeville was doing it, right? Or they were trying to do it. There was going to be a certain amount.

166
00:50:32.640 --> 00:50:49.520
I think it was almost a total of like $5 million that they were asking the residents for over three years. >> So over three years it was going to be like 2.6 and then 1.8 and then 1 million something like that the last year. I mean that's I don't care how much it is for how it's just it's the it's the

167
00:50:49.520 --> 00:51:07.079
principle because it's just not going to stop. >> And your water and sewer rates went up 2.4%. >> From New Bedford >> from New Bedford. Well, that and then look at the ridiculous utility rates we pay in the state, right?

168
00:51:11.520 --> 00:51:27.839
Smaller communities, communities that are primarily residential have spiral in their revenue down versus the costs.

169
00:51:27.839 --> 00:51:59.040
and eventually it reaches critical mass. So you either have to cut services or change your revenue stream. Okay. Uh anybody have any old business to discuss? No, new business.

170
00:51:59.040 --> 00:52:18.960
>> Okay, next meeting date is next week here 7 o'clock or we can wrap things up. Um, I will talk to the selectman about sending out a draft financials on Tuesday.

171
00:52:18.960 --> 00:52:37.760
As long as we finalize and know, you have to understand it would be a draft and they could change it in the meeting before your meeting. >> We're going to have it finalized Wednesday though. Correct. regardless. >> Make a motion to adjurnn.

172
00:52:37.760 --> 00:52:44.280
>> Motion and a second to adjurnn. All in favor? >> All right. We are adjourned.

