--------- Good evening. Welcome to the town of air finance committee meeting of Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at the air town hall. This is a hybrid meeting. This meeting of the finance committee will be held in person
at the location provided on this notice. Members of the public are welcome to attend this in-person meeting. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation via Zoom is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological
problems interrupt the virtual broadcast unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with a particular interest in a specific item on this agenda should make plans for in-person versus virtual attendance accordingly. This meeting will be live on Zoom. The
public may access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID 978772822 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about remote participation, please contact Carly Anteneellis, assistant town manager at
atmair.mma. us or 97877282 extension 100 prior to the meeting. Okay, we'll call the meeting to order. Um, first item on the agenda is we have the minutes of our January 15th uh 2026
meeting minutes to review. So folks uh our group take a look. >> I have two notes. Okay. >> One is how did I make a motion if I wasn't there? I'm missing from the members present list.
And in the same and then in the same first paragraph under the agenda item, it says made a motion to approve the minutes for both the December 4th meeting as amended. >> Thank you. >> That's all I got.
And what was the second one here? >> It's right here for both December meetings, right? >> Okay. So, I have added Vice Chair Andrew Seal >> and struck both.
>> Okay. Any other additions, notes? >> Okay. >> Make a motion to approve the minutes as amended. >> All second. >> Okay. >> All those in favor? >> I. Very good. The minutes are approved as corrected.
Very good. Um committee updates. Um there really is nothing new. Um the capital planning I updated you on that last time and the same with the rate review. And um with the rate review,
uh we'll be meeting next week just to double check the proposed numbers. we came up with for a uh public hearing uh that will be held. And what date is the public hearing for the rate review? >> March 17th at 6.
>> So very good. Okay. Um so let's go on and move to the highlight of this evening's meeting um which is a presentation by the Nshoba Valley Technical High School of the FY 2027 budget. Welcome Dr.
Pigeon. >> Thank you for the invitation. >> Oh, thank you for coming. >> Have um some handouts for the presentation and I do apologize. I made a a physical correction on the last page and it is
corrected on the slide for the public. Two for you. >> So the first hand out is the presentation. The second hand out is the just the full page print out. Robert, will you run the slideshow for
us? Great. >> Happy to get started. So um again, thank you for the invitation. We we do enjoy coming here to share with you what's going on at Nishovetch and also to provide our um FY27 budget overview. joined by Chris Prale, our amazing
representative on our school committee, also representing AIR, and Michelle Bouvet, our business manager. So, we're happy to be here. >> Welcome. >> So, first slide, please. >> Um, before we begin really diving into the budget, we just like to sort of
ground ourselves in the the who we are and what we do and and why we exist. So, back in the 60s, Noa Valley Tech was founded. Um we had four founding towns that came together and recognized that um providing high quality vocational training for students um is can be
expensive. It's a it's a more expensive form of vocational technical education. So there's value and benefit to sharing in that opportunity with other towns. Um also provides the opportunity to provide a wide range of of programming. Um in
79, three more towns joined us and in 2012 we were very happy to have air join us as well. So we now have eight member towns. Um and we're able to provide a a wide range of vocational programming um for our students. Next slide.
>> Dr. Pigeon, just a quick question since I'm I'm not a a native. Um the as I I've been getting to know the area, I drive through conquered and Lexington. I noticed there's Minute Man. >> Yes. technical. Okay. So, that's the next technical high school.
>> So, within our vicinity, with our vicinity, um, Greater Loltech is, I think it's located in Tingsboro, but serves LOL Tinks Sparrow, a few a few towns out that way. Ash, um, sorry, Dunstable. Um, Minute Man serves a wide range of towns. Aset out in Malbero area. So, all of our regions were formed
around the same time. Okay. Um, and you know, how they got linked up with particular tech programs is a story I can't quite tell, but uh, for the most part, you joined together in the in the region that you were were located in. Um, and all of the town all of the towns
around us um, belong to a regional vocational school with exception of a couple. There are a few towns that that don't um, and still participate in a non-resident fashion the way did prior to 2012. >> Great. Thank you. I just good. This is nice to to see the history and just get a feel for the scope of what the
technical high schools do. >> Um, so this slide shows you all of the different vocational programming that we offer. So we do run full academics as we are required to meet the same academic standards that you would see in a traditional high school. Um, but the primary focus is the technical
education. Students basically major in their in their shop and they spend half their time in one of these technical programs. Um, continuing to be the most popular is everything construction and transportation related. Our fastest growing program for the past few years
has been electrical. Um, last year we placed 38 freshman in electrical, which was the biggest class that they we had had in electrical. This year, plumbing is the most popular. So, there's a little competition going on there. Um, and the freshman will actually get placed um on Monday when they head back to school. So, very exciting day for
them. So continues to be the most um the most popular along with our service and health cluster um followed by arts and technology. So when we think about the budget um timeline there's a few things that I wanted to point out um because everything is somewhat accelerated for
anobche and there's a few reasons for that. We actually basically open school and begin the budget process by early October. We're already asking for teachers to provide their their budget requests. So the first round of budgets come in at the end of October and then
October, November, December, that budget is going through multiple rounds of review with the the leadership team and then with the school committee, with the budget subcommittee. Um Chris is actually very active participant on our budget subcommittee. So he's seen our um budget iterations for many months in
many um many forms. Um then we we wait for the release of the governor's budget just like everybody else does and that's when we have affirmed up information regarding our revenue. Um and then we have to make adjustments as well. The time frame between when the governor's budget is released and when the show
school committee must vote our budget is very condensed. Sometimes in some years it's a couple of days. Um and the reason for that is that we have to look at the date of our first town meeting for all of our member towns and we have a 45day rule. We count back 45 days from that town meeting and we must have a school
committee approved budget by that time. Um the town of Westford has a March town meeting and that is what drives our our calendar. So we begin providing to you the draft budget right after the governor's budget comes out. I've been sharing the the draft assessments with
Robert. Um and then on February 10th, our school committee did finalize and vote the budget. Um and we're off to to town meeting at March 28th in in Westford and the other towns will follow. So in this time frame, we are now heading to most of our finance
committees to provide some deeper insight. Before we get into FY27, I wanted to take a look at FY26 and just explain the big picture about how this assessment works and how we come to the numbers that you will see in your assessment.
This is a story that I feel is important to share this year because there is a very significant change in the state the state calculation for the required contribution. Um and it it's going to need some additional explanation for for um those that are that are tuning in. So
this is last year and this is for all eight of our towns. So we had 764 district students. Um the required town contribution all towns was just over 11 million. And that is a number that we do not calculate. So that is a number that
comes out with the governor's budget. It's a it's that very complicated formula that we all talk about and and try to explain that is um not easy to explain, but that is where that number comes from. The rest of the sections of your assessment calculate based on your
student enrollment and the percentage of students from air that are enrolled at NOVACH. So again, that column on town's RLC or required local contribution is a number we get from the state. Everything else calculates based on your enrollment. This year heading into FY27.
Um when the governor's budget was released, the RLC for Nobate Tech was higher than we had actually projected or anticipated. Um and there's a couple of reasons why, and we'll get into that in a bit more detail in the future slides.
So looking at the just the RLC column, that first column in the assessment, um looking at FY27 to FY26, um we are up significantly in the required local contribution by about $860,000.
Um the first column town, second column is the change in your enrollment. So you could see for the town of air you're up five students but then you can also see that your required local contribution is up $234,17. So this is again that states calculation
of that piece of your assessment. Um and if you try to think about it the five students alone doesn't explain why that increase is as high as it is. So I did do a deep dive um and I did um you know talk with Robert and I can explain a little bit about what's happening here.
Um there are there are really two factors. Um why don't you head to the next slide. Um I'm sorry I'm going to bounce around a little bit. So the change in the RLC and then this slide is showing you another
change and that is just air just looking at assessment I'm sorry enrollment alone. Last year you made up 7.2% 2% of the total student population and this year you make up 7.79% of the total population. So your percentage of
enrollment at NT has gone up by um 0.59%. So it's not gigantic change but it is a change to note that affects all the other portions of your assessment. The additional assessment column, the debt column, the capital column,
transportation column. Next slide, Robert. But the big piece that's different again is that minimum required local contribution. Um I held a breakfast last week where I met with town officials and I did a bit of a deep dive on this. So I'm going to just do an abbreviated
version tonight. Um but again that's a column that's very challenging to explain when people ask questions about it because it is a very comp complicated formula. So this is going to be my best attempt to to give a a basic explanation of the state funding formula for
education. So essentially what the state does and the first step is they determine what they believe is the foundation budget for a school district. And a foundation budget is an adequate budget. It's basically the the the bottom level of what a school must
provide in order to provide what they refer to as an adequate education. Uh I think there's a lot of folks out there that would argue what is adequate. Um but this is what they're that the state is doing. First they calculate that basic required amount that you must spend on education. It's a complicated
formula. They do look at your enrollment. They look at the demographics of your enrollment. How many ELLL students? How many lowincome special needs? Um and they run they run formulas and come up with this foundation budget need. The second part
of the state running the formula is they then look at every town and they run another complex formula to determine what is the town's ability to pay. Um they use a a a property wealth and resident income, you know, model um and
they they run these figures and this is what comes out with the town's required local contribution and that is for both of your school districts combined. So that the number that comes out is combined for both Air Shirley and the Shobate and then that number gets split
between the school districts based on enrollment in each in each district. Um what happened with the town of air this year with your RLC is one of the pieces of that formula it's called municipal u growth factor increased by over 1% like
a whole um a whole percent increase and that is what has caused some of the biggest change in that um RLC calculation >> that growth is that is that population grow
income and or >> exactly how they calculate your municipal revenue growth factor is something I can't do a very good job explaining. Um I can't dig deeper and try. >> That's okay. I just wonder if you knew off the top.
>> I I actually don't, but I do and I'm going to give you um Did I bring it over here? >> This is the This is the actual formula sheet. Did I bring the stable formula? Oh, I did. So, I'm going to pass this out. This is
just for reference. This is actually the formula that comes right from the state. So when the governor's budget comes out, all of these the department of ed, right after the governor puts out the budget, the department of ed runs all these formulas and then publishes all the spreadsheets for every school district
and every town. That's when Michelle and I, because everything is a rush, we only have a handful of days to do this. We pull it all down. We look at all of it. Um this is the this is the calculation for the town of air. Um and it's from and I've printed both of them for you FY27 and FY26
and I circled the number that I'm talking about. So the municipal revenue growth factor in FY27 is 6.71%. Last year it was 5.3. So that is a that's a significant change in this calculation. So that's part of
it. The other piece that changes this um that that changes the the RLC is the split between school districts. So if um if there's declining enrollment um or increasing enrollment, the split between the two the two districts does
change. So we only make up about 8.43% of your overall split between the two districts. Um, and that is up from 7.03% the previous year. So, it has to do with
the enrollment shifting that's going on and statewide that enrollment shifting is happening everywhere. >> Excuse me, Dr. Is that referring to the air suries? >> Um, with this calculation, it's just air. Okay. >> They only look at air. Yep.
>> Um, so back up to the the funding formula. So, first the state calculates that that basic budget. Then they determine how much of that basic budget each town um has the ability to pay and then they have state aid that's supposed to come in and fill that gap. Um I'm
sure you've heard the story that state aid's been relatively flat. It seems that the required local contributions are climbing at a faster rate and state aid is really not growing at the same rate that one would expect to see. Um any any questions before we move on from
there? Um, yes, Dennis, if you have a quick question. >> If I might. Um, >> I don't I guess could you clarify when your school >> your school assesses the community
separately or you assess the local school district and then the local school district splits the costs? Um >> that is >> Dennis I think we'll we'll this that'll be disc you'll we will uh put that
together as presentation goes on determines how you'll you'll see how the splits are done >> between you're referring to Yeah. I can go through the presentation and then we can circle back if you like. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's fine. It's just it's a little hard to hear. Okay.
>> Because I can speak up too. >> Yeah. Yeah. Your microphone is specific to the remote people. The people in the room don't get the advantage. >> Okay. >> You can also swing the chair around more than Okay.
>> All right. Good. Yeah. So, yeah, let's let's continue through the presentation because I think what you what I hear your question, I think it it should be answered and um we'll wait till the end of the presentation and uh >> circle back for all questions. >> Okay. So you can you can go to the next
slide. So again the two most significant things that are occurring and the reason why the minimum local contribution has gone up so significantly in air um again it's that change in the municipal revenue growth factor. Um and it's also the the
the the shifting in enrollment that is occurring which is not uncommon. Again it's happening it's happening across the state. You can go to the next slide Robert. Um, so now I'm going to get into a little bit more specifically about an Ashoba text budget. Um, and what the
assessment is essentially funding. Um, this slide I, you know, I' I've said before, I think I could take it out and copy and paste it into any school or maybe even any town's um budget presentation. >> Um, we're all facing the same budget drivers and budget pressures. Um, of
course, we all have staff that we're we're required to have in order to to provide um the education that we're providing. and there are contractual obligations that go along with that. Um the good news is that we did have a settled contract. So as we're building FY27, we know exactly what those
expenses are um for our staff. Health care. Going back to early fall and conversations with with Robert and our other towns, um this is something that everybody's been worried about. I know at one point people were thinking the increases could be as high as 20%. Um it's it's since dropped back, which is
very good. Um a lot of different things have been occurring. Um we are carrying uh you know 10 to 15% increase. Um we're hoping it might come in a little bit better than that. Um you know 8 to 10% which is is our hope but we won't have final numbers for a bit. Um and I I
think it's it's interesting when we find ourselves celebrating when we're we're getting down to the 10% mark. But it is a big shift from where we were in early fall. Um transportation costs again I think they're the same challenges. um there aren't a lot of companies out
there, so the bids come in and you usually have one bid. We are very happy with our with our bus contract provider. Um we are anticipating 5% increase in that contract. Um so that is a that is an increase that we're managing. We've had increases in our vendor
contracts and I'm specifically pointing out HBAC. We had a big increase this year and that is because of the age of our equipment. Um it is beyond its useful life at this point and we're we're we're working daily to keep it keep it going. Um and we'll be talking to you about our replacement plan as
well that you'll see with some requests coming in in the in the next few town meetings, instructional materials, other fixed costs. Again, it's pretty much any any um school and municipality at this point is facing the same budget drivers. Next slide.
um because of our timeline, a lot of our of our um you know, trimming down of the budget, nuancing the budget, it's all happening between October and December. So, we've already gone through this process and basically big picture, the first round of budget that came in, we
were in the double-digit percentage increases, and we just knew that was not going to work. Um so, we went through round and round and round of edits and um making very difficult decisions regarding deferring costs. the big picture things. We've we've deferred a
great deal of capital. Um things that some things that we've deferred two years in a row like the replacement of some of our mini buses. Um and we're just doing our best to to provide a a budget presentation or budget that is um within the means of
our towns. We made the dis decision this year to actually pause the OPED payment. So, for the last couple of years, we've been funding OPED annually and we're pausing it for FY27. However, I will say that we are hoping to have some savings from um health insurance budget from
this current year. So, we do hope to be able to make that payment at the end of FY26. So, we won't really be losing any ground on OPED, but it will not affect the FY27 assessment. We've also done what everyone else has done, and we've maximized the uses of our grants. Um
we've we're working on um anywhere we can fund staff or equipment through revolving, we're doing that as well. Um and we made some significant changes in that area. We've also done a a deep dive to make sure that we don't have any redundancy in in software packages.
We're actually phasing out several software packages this year, all in an attempt to um decrease our spending overall. Um, essentially we were able to bring our budget request from early October to now down about 1.5 million.
So, looking a little deeper at capital, um, you've heard me talking about our capital plan for a couple of years. It's hasn't been really exciting because it's been all fire suppression. We have to replace our entire fire suppression system, but rather than come forward and try to do it all in one year, we've been
doing it in phases. So I think we're on phase four. Um and um at this point we need to finish. So this year we are finishing the whole center of the building and next year with this request is to finish the whole rear part of the
building. There's um there's a two two large sections that will need to be done. So that's essentially our full capital request is to finish that fire suppression project. It's again um beyond its useful life and needing to be replaced. All other capital projects at this point in time have been deferred.
Um that doesn't mean that we're not going to do anything with it. We're using it to we're going after grants. We're going other opportunities to to help um continue to address the items on our capital plan. The big piece that we've been talking about for years is how are we going to go about um
addressing our HVAC? So our HVAC system across the board is beyond its useful life. Um, we were thrilled that MSBA reopened the accelerated repair project program and we did submit a grant for feasibility and we were accepted in. So,
we're really excited about this. Um, so and you might be aware MSBA there's it's basically a shared project with the state. Um, no anticipated um percentage of reimbursement is 55% on eligible costs. So, that's a that's a good
amount. Um, and what's happening now is we were accelerated into the feasibility phase. We accepted into feasibility. Our school committee voted to use our stabilization account, our capitalist stabilization account to fund feasibility rather than ask for it as
part of the assessment. Um, knowing that we'll probably get the 55% back on the feasibility. And timing wise, we are anticipating feasibility would be completed maybe by the end of the school year. And with we are hoping that if that timeline holds that we would
potentially have a warrant article that we would bring before fall town meeting to move forward with the full project. Um it's an aggressive timeline so we may not make it but we're hoping that that would be the timeline. Um and this would be to fund the full heat pump roof HVAC
replacement. Um >> um two questions Dr. Pigeon. Um MSBA is >> Mass School Building Authority Mass. Okay. >> Yes. >> And may I ask what is the your stabilization fund balance?
>> I do you have that with you? It's probably about one >> probably close to one and a half million. >> Okay. >> And this is anticipated to be anywhere from the feasibility is 600 to 900,000 for the feasibility. So it's a good portion of our stabilization account, but we will get likely a 55%
reimbursement on that. >> You get get your back, put the money in, you get it back. >> Yes. 1.8 right now. >> 1.8. Yes. >> Thank you. Um, and then the last the last section on that slide is uh we did also submit a
grant application at the start of the school year and we're hoping to hear back in a couple of weeks. Um, if we get this particular grant, we would be able to do some infrastructure changes and purchase the equipment and possibly even fund the teachers to start an HVAC and
facility maintenance program. Those are two very in need, in demand fields that we do not offer right now. So, we're we're very hopeful. We submitted a very aggressive uh grant application and hopefully by the time I see you at town meeting, I'll be able to give you some
good news. We'll find out soon. >> Um, circling back to MSBA and the timeline, I know I went over most of this. Um but we are in the feasibility stage again using our stabilization account to fund that. Hopeful for a town meeting war article in the fall.
Anticipating a 55% reimbursement rate on eligible project expenses. And then the timing of this is important and you'll see that when we get go through the assessment. So we do have some significant debt that's just come off of the assessment and and I'll show you that when we get to that assessment
slide again. Um, we're increasing our capital ask this year to finish the fire suppression project, but our goal long term is that as this debt comes on, we can be able to we'll be able to drop back that capital ask to balance out that assessment. So, we've had this
long-term strategy where as we take on debt, we try to reduce the capital and and vice versa so that that part of your assessment stays level and there's no large increases that are unanticipated. So, this is that bird's eye view of the budget. Um, in your handouts, you have
one that's a little bit more uh detailed, but this is that big picture. Again, there's not a whole lot of new here. Um, majority of their increases are the things that we discussed in the in the budget drivers. There are other nuances. Of course, we have sometimes
shifting shifting staffing that's that's happening based on need. For example, we're adding a plumbing teacher, but we'll probably be reducing in a different department. Um, so I'm glad to dig into this, but this is really that big big picture overall budget. So the
the proposed budget is 20.3 million, which is a 4.81% increase overall. And again, we did have to cut about 1.5 million to bring it down to this level. >> Um, if I could just ask as far as um would you say, again, this is very
general question. I don't don't expect exact answers but um the actual number of instructors and employees has that increased decreased >> our teacher our teaching FTE has has basically remained flat >> y
>> so most of these increases are >> contractual right so the administrative increase I'll point that one out as an example that looks more inflated than it needs to but that is actually because in our administrative team I did a reorganization and a coordinator level position was eliminated and I added an
HR position which was desperately needed. Well, the HR position is classified under the 1000s and the previous position was classified under the 2000s. So, it that shift shows under instructional services. The majority of those changes are your um it's your contractual increases, your step and
lane changes. Under the pupil services, which is your 3000s, there's um two things going on there. primarily transportation cost increases and then also there is a an an FTE change in that for um we were contracting out for um
EMT services for athletics and we were probably the only school district around that didn't have an athletic trainer. It's a safety issue for us. So that's been added into there. Operations and maintenance is actually it's really level funded for the most part. The only reason we've been able to do that is
because of all of the grants that we have received. Um, a lot of the infrastructure upgrades that we've been able to do, benefits is I think everybody understands the changes in benefits, capital and debt. Taking a look at that. So, we are asking for a big increase in capital, but we've
basically level funded it with the decrease in debt. And that has been our plan. We've been working towards this plan knowing this was coming. Um, this will allow us to finish that fire suppression project while we're also gearing up to potentially request more debt for the MSBA project for the the
the heat pump conversion. When that comes on, we would reduce the capital again. So, trying to make sure that that I expressed to you our planning for those two areas. >> Um, just so you mentioned earlier on the
increase in transportation costs, where are those reflected under? They're in pupil services. Yeah, that's the 3000s. >> Y Okay. So, we've looking at 170. Now, that's an increase. >> That's not just transportation though. That this is the third. >> Yeah. So, I was expecting a bigger
increase. >> Oh, actually, let me point that out. Thank you. You you brought up a point that I I would have missed. >> So, when we get to your assessment, you're actually going to see that our our request for transportation is a slight decrease, which is unheard of, especially in a 5% contract increase. So
for us, what has happened is your transportation costs are your general transportation, but they're also your special transportation. And for us, we've actually had um a decrease in the in the need for some special transportation. There's been some graduating out, which was some expensive
special transportation. We were able to actually reduce that in our budget. So our transportation budget overall looks fairly level. Um but the contract itself for day-to-day transportation is going up by 5%. >> Thank you. Mr. Chair.
>> Oh, sorry. >> Uh question regarding the grant money capitaliz capitalization improvement. >> Do um does the school qualify for any kind of grant money from utility companies for in improvements on energy?
I would imagine as we go through that feasibility process and as we get into that project there are it's highly likely there are other items that we can apply for to get credits back for that energy savings and we will through that whole process actively look for all of those other opportunities. Okay.
>> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> So this is the um the big picture view of our revenue plan. So, Neshovetch funds that $20 million budget through town assessments and through non-assessment revenue. So, through the
town assessments, that makes up 69% of our total revenue. Um, and we'll go over each category in more detail with the with the assessment. And then on the right hand side, 31% of our budget is funded through other means. And, uh, that is our direct chapter 70 school
aid. and we're expecting just over five million from the state in direct school aid transportation reimbursement um about 775,000 and then we also um annually put money from excess and deficiency towards the
the school's assessment. This is not our total amount of certified END. it is holding back several hundred thousand. Um, but that it's not a good um it's not a good idea to use 100% of your END just like you wouldn't use 100% of your free cash. So, we're using a significant
portion but there it's not all of it. Just to be um transparent and it's about what we used last year, slightly less. >> Yes. >> One quick question. Can we go back one slide? Sure. I just want to one thing. So, uh overall I was noticing down at
the bottom. Yeah. the the overall increase was is in your total budget >> is 4.8 >> 4.81%. >> Yes. And we were only able to bring it there through those significant cuts. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um so this is looking at last year's
assessment and this year's assessment. Again, this is all towns. This is not just air. Um so all towns we are up six students and again the biggest change in the assessment is through that required local contribution and that is that state formula that is not I can't stress
enough that's not a calculation that we make. This is that state calculation. The school committee has um voted to not make any changes to additional assessment. So we've level funded additional assessment. transportation, this speaks to that previous question,
is down $2,380. And that savings is actually as a result of some special transportation needs that no longer exist. Um because that that piece of the that contract is actually a 5% increase overall. And then you see how we've increased our request
for capital pretty much coincided with our decrease in debt. Now that decrease in debt is significant. back in 2003 2005 we did a major building renovation project that we've been paying for ever since that was the this FY26 was the
final payment on that project um we made it so now there's only one piece of debt um still on the show's books and that's for the more recent roof project that we that we um put forward I think in 2019 we brought it to town meeting >> um and this is our strategic plan with
this so we again increased capital with the decreasing debt And in the next year or two, um, hoping for approval on the the debt for the roof, the roof HVAC project, and we would continue to work to level fund that portion of the overall assessment.
>> I just wanted to just sort of, you can see I've got a trend going there. Um, so I just did some quick math. The 867 803 increase is I've come up with 6.6% increase. >> Yes. And if you were to do that same
calculation on your town's required local contribution, I believe it's going to be up 7.7%. >> Ah, okay. Okay. >> So, that's that's where I'm just trying. So, your overall budget went up 4.81%. >> Yes. >> But >> the assessment went up more.
>> Okay. >> However, slightly less than your required local contribution if you're if you're talking in percentages. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I'm what I'm guess what I'm seeing and maybe you can address this as we go on is percentages are what's
really driving a lot of this stuff >> in a way. Um, and back, you know, I'm looking at, okay, so of your 20 million budget, >> the state and other chapter 70 is picking up a large uh, you know, five million of that 20
million. So, it would I be correct in saying the state because they're kicking in five million gets to drive this local assessment calculation in a way. >> I don't know that I can answer that. What I can say is that I have seen over
the last couple of years that the town assessments are the percentage of the percentage that's being funded through town assessments is slightly increasing annually and the the the other side of things is not really it it's it's shifting that I am seeing that by a
percentage or two >> each year >> but the RLC is >> but the formula is what's driving it >> and that's >> yes >> is from the state >> correct Okay. Okay. So that's okay. Thank you.
>> Um so let's go one more slide. Now we can Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. So this is this is every town and your FY27 calculation, but if we go one more slide. I think I've done a year over year for just air. So then going back to where we were at the beginning
of this presentation. So you have had a change in your number of students at Nishoba Techch. you're up by five students, which is, you know, pretty typical. You're up a few, you're down a few. That's a very typical trend. Um, your percentage of overall student population is up by 0.59%.
Those numbers are important because they are what drive every column with the exception of the town's minimum contribution. So, the calculation for your portion of additional assessment, transportation, capital, and debt is driven by that percentage of of enrollment at NT. And then the town's
minimum contribution again is not the formula that we generate. That is the state's formula. That's a number that's just not movable. Um, and I just wanted to point out that you can see the majority of the change in your assessment is all driven by that state formula.
>> What's additional >> above? Um, anything above that required amount that you are um told by the state that you must spend. And what I will say about Nishobate is your percentage of additional assessment
is is very low in comparison to majority of school districts across the state. >> I don't know if you can actually answer this. >> So the we've got a few more students going.
>> First of all, uh congratulations. Thank you for your all your hard work on the the budget and all everybody. Um we've got a few more students going which more than just a few students. The percentage of the
>> heirs percentage of students from air is up slightly and there was that 1% increase you mentioned there. >> Those two numbers though like 6 and 1% are a lot less than
28% increase in assessment. >> Can you do you have any idea? Can you address at all how we got to a 20 like in very rough math >> all tied back to that formula from the state, >> right? But I don't understand how like a
1% you you referenced a 1% increase >> in the municipal revenue factor. >> Yeah. How does 1% increase in municipal revenue lead to a 28%? >> Again, again, I don't know that I don't know that I'm going to be the best one to be able to explain the state formula,
but the way that I see what might be happening is two things. That >> that the that municipal revenue growth factor has increased, which means that the state feels that the town's ability to pay has increased. So rather than
provide more state aid to fill the gap, they're increasing the town's requirement to fund that foundation budget. So that's one piece of it. Um and then there are all those other little factors as well. So you have the the foundation budget number that is is
for all of your schools and then it's split in half or not in half, it's split by percentage. So there's this percentage that goes to NT based on student population. there's this percentage that goes to air surely based on on um student population percentage. Um it's all these factors that are
playing in. So I can't explain exactly how or why. I think we'd need to probably call in a consultant from the state to to help us understand that formula in more detail. Um but essentially that that is the the big
that is the big change this this year. this formula published somewhere. >> Yes. And that this can be pulled down um on the on the web. >> This is not that. >> What's that? >> I want the formula. Right. >> Oh, the formula. >> The actual formula. >> He's an engineer.
>> I love it. And and when you can figure it out, let me know. We're going to hire you for help. >> And good luck. Good luck with this. >> Go look at the income per capita changes, >> Mr. Chair. Mr. >> Yes. Just to add on to what um Dr.
Pigeon mentioned is this change that in the state formula in that air exceeding that 1% on the municipal growth factor was um relatively new information for all all of us. It is a significant
change as our local projections had us, you know, lower than than that. But that change and and if Dr. Pigeon can't explain it, I can't. What I'm getting at is the formula without getting all the weeds that I know it's it's like the 1%,
but it it activate that. >> So, just as a comparison, what would it what would it say last year? >> So, that is the handout that you have that's stapled together. If you look at the two sheets, um, there there's two pages stapled together and you can see I circled it. You can see that percentage
change for them. >> But I mean like the 1% the one the 1% local whatever like what was it last fiscal year? >> That's not on your >> No, that's what I was just >> Oh, you mean the percentage increase from FY25 to FY26?
>> Not not in the assessment but in Yeah, that that >> the growth factor. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um I only have two years here of data. >> Yeah. So FY as provided um in this so FY26 it was 5.3%
for the town of air and FY27 is 6.7. >> Yeah. But you you said in the town was surprised at the 1% we we anticipated something lower. What what was it last year the prior year? Like do you know
you mean FY25 was >> that wasn't 1%. >> I see what you're saying. I'd have to check. >> Yeah. >> Is it norm Well, is it normally like.3.9? >> It's it's unusual for it to go up as much as it in across our eight towns
only two of our eight towns had an increase of over 1%. >> And peril. Yeah. But um you know in the interest of time we >> we'll do some followup on that because it's it's an important question.
>> Complicated. >> Should we just start calling you hunting? >> You look terribly complicated. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> I'll take it as an action. >> Um so essentially what I make sure we're I think we're on the same page. I was
looking at. So in other words, what was this? If we had FY25 up here, what would have been the percentage increase? Is that >> No. >> Oh, okay. I'd be curious. >> The fuzzy month that math that none of us can understand.
>> Oh, as far as that said, hey, it's this. Yeah. Like what was that number that that 1% >> that somehow the state decided came like what was it the year before? I'm just wondering like >> Oh, well actually Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I actually did >> somewhere here. Not because you didn't
include it. I understand you. >> I don't think you've missed anything. >> I Googled it >> and it says you first start by taking your old number times 1 plus the municipal growth factor. >> Right. So that'll give you 6.7% off the
bat. And then there's four more steps after that where they tweak it. So I will take it. Don't you worry. I'll report back. I was already doing it for the the airing. >> He has his homework. >> So I I guess that sort of gets I had
been flipping ahead and that's why I was sort of pointing out to percent pointing about the percentages. >> Overall, your budgets only increased 4.81%. >> The total spending budget. Yes. >> Right. So in a nice world
>> without RL what is this called? RLS RLC. >> Yes. >> We would see a 4.8. 81% in our assessment theor theoretically. >> Does it really work that way with a school based on the way you share costs? >> Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah.
>> But yes, the state formula is what's driving all of the increases this year. >> Okay. So I'm what I'm trying to balance is okay. One are is this are you folks in school committee have done your job of >> there would be I guess I would put it out this way.
>> School budget. There would be absolutely no way that we could bring your assessment down to that that number that you you mentioned because you would actually be giving us less than you're legally obligated to do. It'd be impossible because of that RLC
>> piece. So yeah, I mean I wasn't expecting a difference. It was just again it's you would expect to see somewhat a little better tracking. So what I'm hearing is we need to go to representative Cena, Senator
>> El to ask them to increase the state aid, >> Governor Healey, and have them change this formula. >> Yes. And there is a lot of movement starting on that. They did not want they the state does not want to look at the formula until they there was the student opportunity act several years back and
they've been implementing um tweaks to this formula through the student opportunity act over the last, you know, five, six years. Um there hasn't really been a big appetite at the state level to look at the formula while that S SOA has been phasing in. Um but that's you know phase in is coming to an end and I
do think there is an appetite um to to relook at this and I know there's a lot of conversation not just in air but across the state about um what is that fair share between the towns and the state. So I do think that you're going to see more movement on that. Um, but
you're not it's not going to it's not going to factor into this fiscal year, next fiscal year, the fiscal year after. You're looking many years down the road before they would be able to come to some sort of a change or tweak in how they're how they're doing this formula. >> Is there a lobby uh going in towards
government to >> Yes. So I Yes. Um the Mass Association of Regional Schools, MARS, has been really active in um pushing for legislative change. Um and they they've been hosting different forums across the
state. They've been gathering people to go speak to state representatives. So that has been active and ongoing for the past year. Um, I know that recently I attended a a forum that was held in Brtton with Senator Cronin and Representative Scarsdale um and some
some speakers regarding the formula and let's talk about let's talk about educational funding. Um, that was a couple of months ago. So yes, there is some advocacy going on and I've been following and attending where possible. >> What was the what was their acronym? So,
Mars, Mass um association of regional schools and I am actually one of their their board members. >> Okay. Thanks. >> I applaud all all of you for the hard work you did in in getting the >> it wasn't easy
>> for getting the the air assessment. That doesn't that's not your doing um in the budget. Thank you very much. question. >> The chair open the floor. >> Um, >> not not just yet. So, um, so do you want
to finish with your presentation on the >> the last slide is just Oh, that that handout is more just in the weeds of everything we've already talked about. >> Okay. So, this is back up. Yeah. >> So, to speak. >> Sure. >> I have a few questions. >> Um, >> some of them you answered. What out of
curiosity is student security? >> Which line is it? >> That is 3600. >> Let me just take a quick look at it. >> Probably front desk. >> It's a modern era.
>> Quarter million. >> The 3600. >> This is the uh detailed function code budget. >> It's probably our school resource officer and our front desk staff. would be my guess. >> Student resource officer or local resour.
>> Yes. And we do fund we do fund we fund the school resource officer. We have to pay the salary and benefits for that employee. >> Um >> that was a good question. >> It's it's uh it's not listed here specifically, but do you know a total um
software costs? My would I would have to I would have to I would have to do some work on that. >> I'm just curious, right? Because everything is moving through software to service, right? >> And software is expensive. >> Yeah. And if you're doing >> my software I use 20 grand a year, right?
>> Our student management software, it's very expensive. >> Yeah. I just didn't know if you could >> I'd have to I'd have to do a little bit of number crunching for you because it's it is spread over numerous lines. >> Okay. And then so the the the came off was the reserv the renovation. Yep. >> The the debt.
>> What's the biggest driver of capital? Is that the fixing? >> So the 750,000 is the final phase of of finishing the fire suppression project. >> Okay. That's just the question. >> Yeah. >> Just the sprinklers. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And that's the last
>> um and then looking further out like three or five years like what do you think is the biggest like cost driver going to be over like the next couple years? I think it's more of the same and I
don't I don't see anything going down. Although I will say that in terms of supplies and materials, it does seem to be starting to come back down again for for a period of time. Especially our vocational materials were really expensive. Um that does seem to have
leveled off. Um but you know, I don't I don't see transportation costs leveling out. I I continue to see the increases 5 to 9% increases. I continue to see um significant increases in health insurance. We'll all be back into
negotiations next year. Um yeah, we'll be bargaining in the fall. Um so I think it's more of the same to be quite frank. I think it's more of the same in a time when when revenue is um challenging. >> Okay, last question. Um transportation is that just divvied up proportionally?
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> It's based on your student enrollment. I was just looking at the map being like Towns is real far away from where I know >> is a lot further than Littleton Chumpsford and Whisper. >> I'm not complaining. I'm just asking. >> I see where you're going.
>> Accelerated mileage or something. You know, >> it's that's bus rides law. >> Yeah. >> I'm good. >> Any other questions for doctor from our group? >> Okay. Well, I'd like to go ahead and open up um for public input. Now,
Dennis, you want to start off? have a couple. Thank you. These slides are terrific as clear as many have seen. So I think that um can you go back to the pie chart benefits?
>> This one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So I know are health insurance costs part of your benefits. >> Yes. >> So how were you able to manage to limit the increase to I'm guessing now
something on the order of five or six% on your benefits line when health insurance costs have been such an overwhelming concern and we've seen much larger numbers elsewhere. >> I can answer that oped because we
removed the $100,000 for the OPED. >> Um when you're looking at the bird's eye view of the budget benefits includes it's all of the 5,000s. So, it's employer retirement contributions, insurance for active employees, insurance for retired
employees, other post-employment benefits. So, we've removed the $100,000 um payment that we typically would have made under benefits, and that's how we did it. >> And and as I understand, you feel reasonably comfortable, you're going to
be able to restore that >> at the end of this year. Yes. Through um some some savings that we had with the with the health insurance budget. Yes. >> Um on the stabilization fund numbers, um
is is yours is the remaining balance in the stabilization fund something that seems adequate for an annual budget of your size or are you kind of a little bit stabilization? Uh, I'm queasy now that we've authorized to
spend between 600 to 900,000 from it, but I don't have the actual total cost yet of the feasibility study. Hoping hoping it's on the lower end and then hoping we get that 55% reimbursement. So, it won't be as significant of a of a hit to stabilization. Our school
committee voted um to try to keep a stabiliz capital stabilization that was between 8 to 10% of our total budget. Um, when we hit that roundabout number, we stopped funding it. And we have not funded our capital stabilization account in probably at least six or seven years.
It's been just sitting and waiting just in case there was a catastrophic um, capital need and to be prepared for this next big project so that we would have the funds to be able to get that project off the ground.
>> And finally, the there may be a simple answer to this When when you are so obviously air and Shirley are in a regional school district >> for your purposes do you engage with the
school district or are you strictly engaged with air and separate >> town specific to the town by town we are a regional school district Shirley is a regional school district we all um I mean I have a wonderful relationship with Shirley but when it comes to the
budget itself um direct to the gent. >> So we'll be we'll be going to Shirley finance in two weeks. >> And just you know if each of the towns must approve your budget,
if two of the towns, let's say don't, how do how does that process? >> So we there's a it's a 2/3 2/3 vote in order to pass our budget. So, six of our eight towns need to pass our budget to approve it. >> Good. Anything else?
>> Just just a note on your your last question. So, when we look at the final budget for um town meeting, we have our general um budget and then there's actually two entries. the assessment
from the aeros shirley school district and a separate line item for the showa valley technical high school. So they're two separate items. Great. Um any question? Pauline, did you have your hand up?
>> Yes, Mr. Chair, I did several times. Took it down to let others speak. I have a couple of points. one, if somebody in the audience of the meeting room is speaking, please bring them to the table
because I don't know what Dennis asked. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And and this this keeps going on. I say this a lot. And people at the table, remember you speaking into microphones to people in Zoomland.
So that's one point I want to make with respect to your agenda, Mr. Chair. Um we had committee updates regarding capital planning and rate review. I'm not asking about rate review, but I'm curious when will the finance committee meet on its
own to decide what it approves or presents for town meeting and what it does not. specifically um debt exclusions. I've lost track of what they are. I know there is one for the senior center, but I think there's
at least one or two others. And I would like the finance committee to have a meeting on its own before it meets jointly with the selectman to decide how you all want to um support or not support those debt
exclusions because that's what your role is in our government. So I just share that. And then the last thing I wanted to say uh let me see I'm looking at the agenda on a very small screen. Um, well, I'll
leave it at that. I I would really like the finance committee to be independent thinking. Decide what you approve or don't approve of on the budget, what you approve or don't approve on debt exclusions. Um, capital planning committee should be presenting a report
to the selectman about the uh actual impact on property taxes. Am I correct, Robert? Um, for these debt exclusions and this municipal government financing is very very complicated and I know you all
know that and appreciate it and I would really like to see you all address it that way. >> Um Paul, if I just may make a note on the capital items when we uh let me just see I'm looking at our schedule
>> calendar here. uh when we review and vote on the warrant articles >> uh in our April 2nd meeting, those capital items will be on there and that's when we will review and vote on those. So, we have that scheduled.
>> I appreciate what you're doing and I believe that's in a joint meeting with the selectman. >> No, that's by ourselves. >> Separate. Just yours. >> Yep. Yes. >> All right. Thank you. I will keep keep that in mind and I'll look for that on the agenda. Appreciate it.
>> Good. Thank you, Pauline. >> Thank you, Kurt. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Can I can I speak? >> Oh, yes, Sarah. Yes. Yes, Sarah. Thank you. Sarah with you. >> I just want to I just want to say like this is a really complicated topic. like
I I I learned a little bit tonight, but um I'd just be curious like as we go to the town meeting um just how this like what this looks like on the budget item. Um you know, actually I don't really have a
clear thought, but I'm just I am interested in learning this. I just don't think I'm going to finish it learning learning it tonight. Um and that's it. >> So thank you, Sarah. And that does bring up something that had in my mind um and
I Robert if at town meeting we would hope to have presentations by the school board and by Nishoba Tech at the town meeting. >> Yes. So Mr. Chair the the plan is through the moderator. There'll be two separate warrant articles. There'll be a warrant article for the Nhoba Valley
Tech assessment and there'll be a warrant uh article for the assessment for Air Shirley. And in both cases, both superintendents or or representatives from each will make a presentation on the assessment. >> Great. Thank you very much. And thank you for making extra time to visit us
again. >> Oh, Pauline, another question. >> Not a question, just a point to maybe help Sarah along a little bit. And Robert will correct me if I'm wrong, but the town votes up or down on both
regional school districts budgets. We don't have impact on adjusting them. Uh that goes forward during these meetings. But if we vote it up, it's approved. If we vote it down, it's not approved. and the individual school committee needs to
go back to the drawing board and try to present an a budget that will be approved by the uh involved towns. That happened just recently, two years ago in Grten and Dunstable and they wanted an override. It failed and I'm not sure
where they are today, but um I it's it's not an option for the taxpayers. We approve or disapprove the assessment. Am I correct, Robert? >> Yes. Very good. Thank you, Paulie. >> I just want to let you know that Miss
Shoba often when it comes to heirs town meeting, we do we are double booked. So there are two of our towns have a town meeting at the same time on the same night. Um I am intending to be at heirs this year. Um and we'll probably have a representative go to Chumsburg to present and I try to switch back and
forth annually. Sometimes I can make both, but it really depends on what's happening at town meeting. >> Great. Well, we appreciate the effort, especially this year. If you would make that one last question. >> Yes. These slides are pretty slick. Who did your graphics? >> You did.
>> Very nice. >> Very uh versatile, super worth her weight and gold many times. >> Might had a little help with Gemini. >> That's right. >> All right. >> So, yes. So, do do you have AI under under >> art as part of >> I should put it on?
>> Actually, I'm I'm sort of joking, but is AI part of the curricula now for the Absolutely. the >> tech? We're all learning on how to integrate it into the future world of work. >> Yes. >> Very good. Okay. I think uh without any other qu I think we're all set. Dr.
Pigeon and I forget your names already because I'm >> Thank you. That's why >> go that Jeep anywhere. >> Thank you very much for the detail work. Appreciate that.
>> Okay. Um >> so last thing uh we have public input. We have gone through that and uh our next meeting is going to be Thursday, March 5th and this will be a presentation by the Department of Public
Works. Make >> a motion to adjourn. Second. >> All those in favor? I I Part: 2
Today is Thursday, February 19th, 2026, and this is a meeting of the Senior Center Building Committee. This meeting will be held in person at the location provided on this notice. Members of the public are welcome to attend this in-person meeting. Please note that
while an option for remote attendance and/or participation via Zoom is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting or hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast. Unless otherwise required by law,
members of the public with a particular interest in a specific item on this agenda should make plans for inperson versus virtual attendance accordingly. This meeting will be live on Zoom. The public may access the proceedings by
joining Zoom meeting ID 375-4146055 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about remote participation, please contact Carly Antineellis, assistant town manager at atmirair.mma. us or 9787728220
extension 100 prior to the meeting. So all right, um, welcome everyone. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda or a suggested amendment? I move to approve the agenda as
submitted. >> Second. >> Right. >> All right. Since we have split attendance, we'll go around. Ellen, >> Elizabeth, >> hi. >> Bonnie, >> hi. >> Dennis, >> uh Dan,
>> I >> the chair says I. All right. Wonderful. Thank you. Um we are according to my records uh behind three um sets of meeting minutes. Uh certainly are. >> Dennis, can you check on for some reason
I think there's been a little bit of um delay in things being posted on the the website um as the town I think is getting ready to make some changes there. Um can you just verify whether or not October 30th is completed?
Um, and then if you need assistance with those three sets of >> I think October 30th, third down and submit it to the clerk's office. >> Okay. That just might be a product of the the website shift that's happening. So, we can follow up on that. And if you need
>> me to help with those or anyone else has time to help with those, just let me know and we'll get them wrapped up for next time. Okay. I'm sorry. I should have said, are they done? I presume they are not. >> Okay. All right. Um, so, >> so we'll we'll table we'll table that
>> not to put too fine a point on it. >> So, we'll table those and move right into um the site utility and permitting updates. Um, in
in in Oh, you know what I didn't do? Did the waterline did I might not Dan? Did I put that in the packet? You're doing >> national grid looking for the water. >> I no
>> uh right national grids in there. Um do you by chance have that Dan? Are you Otherwise I can pop it up on the screen. >> Um yes. Let me I can share. Give me a second if it lets me. Okay. If
Well, that's different from the the invoice that we have in the packet. >> Okay. Share. >> Did I enable you sharing? >> Yep. It should be good. >> Okay. >> Got it. Got it. >> Yes.
>> Good. Yeah. So, this is from um the town engineer Matt Hearnen. So, um this memo basically summarizes the the bids and the recommendation for award. And so we did receive several bids, 16 bids on
February 4th for the project. So this is for the water man and the Comcast um work and the base bid is 400 base bid for CHB they are the lowest biders 426,150 approximately 390,000 associated with
water main um so that would be toward this project the senior center the remainder is drainage related work which would come out of the DPW storm water budget and then there's an added alternative alternative additive alternate bid
122,000. That's for the Comcast line. Um, you know, of the 16 bids, they all were relatively in line. We had a few of the base bids that were relatively high, but that's not abnormal. We see that. So, it did seem like a good uh a clear bid. Um, and we have worked with CHB in
the past. They've done a few projects with us recently, the Cambridge Street water main and drainage project most recently. So, uh, Matt put together this letter without going through the whole thing recommending, um, award of the project to CHP. That's the first step
would be an award and we would send that award to them if if approved by the committee and once awarded then the CHP has to provide insurance um uh bonding payment and performance bonds
as well as a contract signed by them for the select board to ultimately sign. That's where we go next. So that's where uh that's um recommended for today. I can
Dan. Um I know that we were planning or we had asked that the um that the conc run through the same trench as the water line just I think a little bit higher than the water line but within the same trench.
Do you do you why is it that the com just the addition of the Comcast is just about 25% more? Is it 25% of all the rest of the water work? Like what about laying the Comcast line in the
same trench would cost that much money? >> Yeah, I don't I don't I think all the bids, all the ad alternate ones, you know, were relatively within reason of of each other. Um, you know, the big cost is going under the railroad tracks
there and and so that takes up a big chunk of it, the horizontal directional drilling under the railroad tracks. I'm sure we're having savings by doing a step trench approach. I don't know exactly what that is, but the all the out alternate bids which were for that Comcast line were were around that
magnitude of cost, that 122 or so. Um, in short, >> question Dan. Uh, Dan, as you, as the process goes on and a contract gets awarded and they bill, I assume, on a monthly schedule like we would have
during the construction, knowing that this is going to be financed from two different sources, how how do you see the process with our invoice packet um, going forward? Will will you be vetting the monthly invoices from CHB and then
helping us determine what's on the what's on the onus of the senior center project and what will be coming out of DPW. >> Yeah, I'd say that's the way to do it. Matt, the town engineer, will manage the project um from a PM standpoint and be
tracking costs and progress and recommending, you know, when they submit us a pay monthly, here's how much we did for water, here's how much we did storm water, here's how much we did Comcast, and you know, we'll vet that and confirm it. And then the good thing is I'm on the committee so I can work with you to
to say, "Hey, yeah, we I recommend we pay this much, you know, toward the project from the the senior center project budget." >> So just for the committee with an approval of this, we would then commit that against our budgeted line item for utilities. We have a million dollars in
our budget permanently for that amount that we have unless Dan we have to have any type of contingency in there. And then when we work with Dan to get the bills and what would be the responsibility of the project team, you would see what is spent on that commit that we have for
>> I would commit what's written here by Matt right now in the in the award letter. >> Any other questions or do we want to take a vote to accept the waterline bid? So does um U Dan V this is John does
that so it adds up to 52410 is the total >> yes >> okay because I didn't see it unless I'm missing it I didn't see a total there so I I added the two together oh yeah there it is oh Jesus my computer is very tiny
print so I missed that >> all right >> I got a question for Dan And uh so >> does it make any does does it make any sense to I don't know I think I mentioned this to
you my on my own but that we re if we let's put it this way if we give him the contract for 512 or 10 and we try to revisit the Comcast piece the water is a phenomenal price the Comcast seems high to me too in
relation to the whole project is Is there a way for him to work with us and ask if there's a a potential better price available on on are we stuck with the 122 410? >> Yeah, I I think we're stuck. You know, I can bring it back up. When I I look back
at my notes when I met with Jody from Comcast, the potential to go overhead, there's not enough height there for Comcast to go overhead. >> Okay. >> And then the alternative routes, Jod and Jod and I were looking at any way to get there. This is the the the a planner
from Comcast and other routes would cause a lot of headaches in time because there'd be easements required with national grid and other items. So, this was the best cleanest way to do it. >> Um, you know, I think if we if we start looking at another way, it's going to
>> end up slowing us down. Um, but I, you know, I think we can still bring up the height and just double check it. Maybe there is a way we can get overhead over the over their tracks again. But I know with Jody and working with him, I look back and we we had talked about it and we couldn't after after I'd talked to you, I looked back at my notes.
>> Yeah. I guess the only the only thing I was thinking about is it's not necessarily Comcast if you're convinced that's the deal, but asking the GC if he actually saw a potential cost saving anywhere else in the in the 122 as well. So, let's assume Comcast there's no
other way to do it. We've got to do it this way. But since he's a contractor we work with, maybe we could at least have a conversation with him and say, you know, do you see anything here that we might be able to do differently? >> That's all. >> The one thing I would mention is that for in fairness to that price is that
this contractor is laying the pipe. Compcast is is >> cable >> putting the cable in and that's on he he's including Comcast's cable in this price. Now Comcast might be, you know,
it's fiber probably. It's not coax. >> It is coax. Yeah. >> Oh, it is coax. It's not fiber. Really? No. >> Surprise. Um I suspect that that added some money to it from C Comcast side because they're I don't know who they're
working with, but but they would be running a line through the conduit. So this contractor does the conduit and the water pipe. Is that I understand it. And then Comcast >> and the town obviously turns the water on. So that's not a big deal.
>> Yeah. And we we have a memorandum of agreement with Comcast to cover their scope, our scope responsibilities. They're, you know, they're providing us with the handholes and things like that. So we've kind of we've gone through this and and taken and covered our bases and
theirs to make sure we don't get into a dispute later and clearly identified who's responsible for what. So I think we're in a good spot. Um, I think this is the best way right now. I don't, you know, I think we've >> kind of >> go for it. >> I would go more. Yeah, I would keep
going. Yeah, >> it's it this is a chapter 149 bid. >> No, it's 3039M. It's a public works bid. >> A little bit different, but similar requirements. You can't mess up too much with the bid afterwards, but you know.
>> Okay. >> No, it's very similar. It's just I think 149 is more more stringent and intense and 339M. But yeah. >> So, not to waste time, but I'll take an opportunity since Rob I see Robert on the the line. Um, Robert, is there any
potential that we could talk to people higher up in Comcast and have them be interested in granting us some fees against this project since the 122 to service one building is a lot of money. uh and they may have an interest since they have the contract for the whole
town. So I just bring it up as a note to keep a note on that. Maybe we could bring it up to the the people who we contract with Comcast with. >> Yes. Um through the chair just to Mr. Disc's point. Yes, we can definitely follow up with Comcast and our rep.
That's a good idea. So I will connect with you offline. >> Thank you. >> You bet. And and Robert, if I might add, and and maybe for Brian and and uh and Matt, I had read somewhere that there are grants available for
bringing broadband to unserved locations. >> Mhm. >> Um and it's been obviously broadband is very prevalent all around town, but this is a this is a location that didn't previously exist.
So now I think we might be able to consider it an unserved location and whether or not there would be grants available to bring the uh broadband to that location. >> I think that's something that
>> definitely deserves some more investigation. Um >> yeah, >> when we looked a couple of years ago, like a year or more ago, >> the grants had been awarded to states, but they hadn't come down
further like down into municipal things yet. So, I'd be curious to see >> because I think when I looked at it, you had to have the the broadband provider already identified >> in order to like you couldn't just ask
and then go find the broadband provider. You never know who the broadband provider would be and then you could partner with them to bring the broadband to that specific location. Um, so I mean it's certainly something worth looking
at. Yeah. And to to Katie and through the chair to Dan again, this is just a great example of the help that DPW has given us. So I think we should all applaud Dan for this. >> Absolutely. >> Good job. Yes. Thank you, Dan.
>> So Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion. >> Okay. that we accept the bid of DHB Corporation as detailed in the memo dated. >> Uh I don't have I'm not scrolling.
That's Dan sharing the screen. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Dan, you want to give me the date on the memo? >> Oh, he looks frozen. >> Oh, he he froze. Oh, there we go. >> The memo from town engineer Matt Hearn and dated February 6th, 2026. And the
total amount >> of 512,410 >> $10. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All right. Unless there's any further
conversation, Ellen. Hi, >> Linda. Sorry. >> Bonnie, >> hi. >> Hi. >> Uh, Dan, >> I >> chair says I. Thank you to uh Dan for all of your work on that. Um, yeah, we
need all of the utilities to open the building. So, thank you. Um, this next item is also still you, Dan. Um I believe you had um a meeting with um Gddard today. Is there any are there any
updates to report? >> Yeah, hopefully you hear me and I don't freeze on you. My internet was a little shaky, but I think I fixed it. Um I'm away with the family at school week thing, you know. But um not um you know,
not a lot to report to today's meeting. We did meet with Meepa today. It was supposed to be next Thursday, but I was able to push it forward, which helps. But really what we were looking for was a what's called a phase one waiver from
Meepa and basically to wave the portion of the project which is the waterline Comcast connection because it's within the corridor. And what the discussions ended up being is it really wouldn't save us a lot of time with the MEPA process to do that
waiver. So really essentially we should consider it part of the MEEPA process and I talked with Steve and the Steve Riberty and the GDDARD team and I'm going to be connecting with them on Monday to put together a permitting schedule because now we know exactly
what all these agencies need and want. Um so let's get this schedule together and let's get moving is the next step. Um, so with with MEEPA, it's an what we call EENF and a proposed EIR. It's a a
streamlining way of doing it when we're in the environmental justice community area, which we've been over before. Um, but essentially, you know, we got to go through this process to move it forward. And I think it would be best if I don't speak so anecdotally, but get that
schedule from Goddard and bring it and report it back to the committee and also the work group um of where we go. You know, on Monday, I'll be meeting with them to to hash that out. Um, you know, I don't think it's going to slow us down
so much with the the water main project because speaking with Meepa and with Natural Heritage, we've talked about, you know, in my opinion and and others as well, how it's that project seems to be exempt from permitting because it's within the roadway corridor within a
certain distance. So, I think we can, you know, I don't think we should have any issues continuing that part of the project. But uh more to come and I think that's in short where it's at right now. >> Great. Thank you again. Sorry we lost video here but hopefully you can
everyone can still hear. >> Um I hear you. >> Okay, great. Um all right. Um Ken, are there any updates with the ANR and planning board process?
Okay. So, as far as the ANR is concerned, David Ross filled out the form that we need to submit for the ANR and he promised me the actual plan like today, but I'm away as well. >> And um that will be simple. So, I will bring that application. We agreed that
Dan Valk will be the signer for the town on these applications. So, I'll bring the application down to Dan and the plan and we'll just double check it when I get it. But, I'm hopeful that the planning board has a meeting on Monday. So, we're going to probably miss that one. But by the next planning board
meeting, which will be the first second Tuesday in March, we'll have the ANR signed. In addition to that, John Cateland, civil engineer, developed brought forward a set of doc the civil drawings much too close to being
complete. So, he's working on just a couple of upgrades, I guess, based on our comments from the matrix or whatever you want to call it. And so, we're very close on the civil. So there's a chance to actually in the next couple of weeks we'll be able to turn the application for the site plan approval in and
that'll also include the storm water permit approval. Develis gave us the uh and stamped it already the stormwater um management per excuse me stormwater not the application excuse me but the storm water
>> narrative narative >> narrative and the whole document that complies with the requirements for the stormwater application and it's stamped so that's ready to get an application signed to it so my my opinion by the first the second Tuesday in March the
documents should be ready to go to the planning board. Now I may have to work with John back to Dillis on a couple of comments that we have and Dan Vankeel will look at a set of comments as well but I would say let Dan comment but it
appears to me that if we incorporate the the comments from DPW were actually ahead of the game because what and typically ends up happen in a standard application the package goes in then it goes over to DPW. So DPW has given us a
head start by giving us a a review prior to submitting to the planning board. So I say by my my report on it would be that get it to the planning board to be on the meeting in the first in the first meeting in March. If that doesn't work,
it'll be the second meeting in March because they may have to distribute it to other departments before it hits the meeting. So the worst case would be the ANR on the first meeting of March. the application for site plan and storm water permit the second meeting in March
and then you know we talked about this before probably two meetings or three meetings and we'd get that done >> so by the end of April >> we should be through that >> great that's wonderful that's right on schedule love when that happens
>> um Ken can I ask and maybe for for John and maybe Dan as well so just for the for the public's understanding there there are no kind of engineering issues with the uh our ability to store the storm water on site. I mean the drainage
is going to be fine. There aren't going to be any issues with flooding. Um you know the soil was appropriate. It's very good soil and our engineer he has a very large uh retainage area and but there is always all these retainage
areas have an overflow and it it indicates an overflow to the um north >> to the west of the south >> west yeah >> I think the answer to Dennis's question
is that the storm water calculations the testing in the field that the deepole test that were to determine storm water locations. And the same thing applies I'll I'll give you a second answer. The same thing applies to the septic system location and the testing done for the septic system. So the drawings now are
complete in that aspect of the work. So he's done all the calculations. He's submitted a report and stamped it which complies with the requirement and the civil engineering is good on the site and there's no issue. >> Yeah, I I agree. you know, I didn't look
close at storm water. Matt Hearnen will look a little closer, but you know, I don't foresee any any concerns. >> Yeah, he's he's a pretty tight engineer. He he's been very good on our projects. And um hopefully Dan V and and Jim if
and and and your your chief engineer will come to an agreement if there's any issue. He's very uh accommodating to work out things with the town. So, >> yeah. No, we definitely will. We know the importance of this project, too. So, we'll um we'll make sure it goes well.
>> Yeah. One final comment though to John and then back to Dillis. >> This is most likely going to be an expectation that he'll have to he should come to one of our working group meetings. Maybe then not the next one, then the one following that. So, the working group can talk to him directly about the the civil engineering plans
that that we have. >> Yeah, I'll check I'll check with him. But I do know that he'll be at a planning board meetings, >> right? We know that. But a preliminary to that would be and there's another possibility that the town planner may want to meet with the working group uh
be as part of the original uh excuse me as part of the application. So leave that open too. there's a possibility of a meeting with the even though I've met with him a couple of times and he knows where we're working on it still makes sense to take the set of drawings to him uh before we add simultaneously to the
applications is what I'm getting at and then meeting >> you're talking about meeting with the committee not the working group >> no I'm talking about working with a working group >> okay the working group would would meet the town planner in a meeting at the town hall with the town planner with the
with the applications pretty much ready to go and sign >> and then he would give us a quick review of everything >> and find out if there's anything that's completely missing, which I don't think he will, but >> it's just a good procedure and makes sense to open up that conversation.
>> Yeah. And and and if it's possible, it might be possible to do it by Zoom for him. He comes off He comes out of Foxboro, which is south of Boston. But I'll ask him. I He's pretty accommodating and I'm paying him a ton
of money, so I think he should show up. >> Okay. So, that would be um something we're going to have to plan for in the future. >> Great. Uh anything else on site utilities and permitting update?
>> Thank you everyone for it's a lot of work on on that topic. Um that brings us to the design development review matrix. Um so I last time we presented the design development um drawings and the
next step has been since our last meeting each member of the committee and um has been providing feedback. So not do we want to introduce >> Brian >> just to first kick off thank you to
everyone who spent time on this because uh it's not it's not common that we get the amount of feedback and the amount of interest to to actually dive into these documents and and provide comments. So thank you everyone. hats off to which um I don't think we need to go through all of these. What we'll be taking this and
working in our working group meeting as well is fleshing this out, getting uh feedback from our designer and if there's anything that's going to have any impact, whether it's from a programming or moving something or financial that's going to happen, I'll have that flagged and condensed bring back to a building committee meeting if
there's anything that needs a vote or anything that really needs to be brought attention to. >> Um a lot of these are verification stuff as well. Um, we have some comments on here. We're still adding some to it as well. Um, but this is our first pass at at combining every 10 time we've done.
And to to build on what Brian was just saying, this is a a living document that we're going to be using to track the resolution of these comments throughout the remainder of the project. Um, so it's snapshot in time. It's going to continue to uh to evolve as more detail
gets added to the design. I'm sure more questions will arise as we refine the design to completion at the construction documents phase. Um I know for instance that um Lind received comments from you earlier today those aren't interior as of yet because they spoke to press the
full admin. Um and I know also that um you know an ongoing dialogue is happening um in we're starting to get responses to some of these comments from John and his team. Uh so again, this is a a um a vehicle to um to sort of
archive all of the comments as we're receiving them, make sure that we're tracking them to resolution. Uh but it's um it's continuing to evolve as we get more and more feedback. Uh which we, as Brian said, greatly appreciate, love to see all of these these comments and
they're just great feedback uh for us and for the design team. >> Yeah, I'll reinforce Matt's comments, too. and Brian's especially. Um, I can tell you we've been doing this for 40 years. This is the most responsive committee we've worked with in terms of
looking at details, looking at the drawings, and giving good comments. Not all of which might happen, but but there it it is nice to see the involvement um with all the um members of this
committee as well as others. So, I just want to, you know, second Brian's and Matt's comments that this is very impressive. Thank you. >> If the if the committee can take a look at um you know the kind of in the middle of the page there is who the commenter
is. So, if you can just screen briefly to make sure the comments you submitted are on there and then read through the rest and make sure if there's anything missing or that you want to add or like I said, anything that's going to require a vote, we'll come come back to that.
But this is a great way to compile all that information. Thank you. So >> did I must say it did help with having that tour at Miltown last week and having the the building, >> you know, it's reversed, but just I mean
it it helps so much to see >> um sort of some of it specifics right in the >> and understand you know what >> Google is about behind the town hall. >> Yeah. >> I'm like on my computer trying to look and see. >> Yeah.
over access, >> which is nice. Although we have that woods behind us, we're gonna have a great site, too. Um, all right, great. Thank you guys. Um, did you do you guys have any updated
cost documents you want us to look at or any updates you want to offer are still in progress? >> Not completely at this point. You will see in the in the VIP, which is also what we consider a bit of a living document. I know we'll get there in the meeting. We have kind of a snapshot of
what our budget is right now and we've worked with bother and economy as well to track what our funding sources are currently. Uh in addition to that, we have another document that they're tracking other potential funding sources. We added there's been applications for certain grants that
we're going to as well as some other earmarks that that uh the town is being very diligent about looking after as well. So along with our budget, along with our funding sources and this matrix, this matrix is also going to boil down some some potential value
engineering and option that you may need to do so that we can identify where we sit on our budget, what our current borrowing capacity is and if there are decisions that need to be made from a budgeting perspective as we move forward and I'll work in groups and on this we'll bring that forward. if there are
decisions to be made about maybe identifying other alternates or making a change somewhere around certain things to make sure that we're tracking currently right now knowing that we're still looking for more money and other funding sources there. So, um nothing concrete to send out right now, but I'm
hoping that this will boil down and and develop into we'll call it either aesthetics or material changes and then also financial changes that we can track and break those. >> Okay. All right. So, so then at a a future point, we'll have another checkin
about where we are with price and then >> if any changes are needed. >> Our goal would be uh and I think we need to do that relatively soon as well though, but for our next building committee is have a real a good breakdown on funding, proposed funding,
hopeful funding, as well as of where we sit currently right now. Mhm. >> We know that there's a lot of comments and there's a lot of back and forth going on with the estimator that there were some things that need to be tweaked on it. We'll be able to to really make those apples to apples to see if there's any changes.
>> Okay, great. >> We we'll be getting also a mid-season cost estimate out of Pete Timothy the estimator probably certainly probably mid-March. Um, I'll get an
update from Pete, but I'd like to get a 50 to 60% estimate to see where the pulse is really important. I think Brian bringing up the important side of of where the money is. We also want to make sure we're we're still tracking uh the
estimate. I know there are some comments about the estimate being very similar to the to the schematic one. That's because the market has not changed much. But also now he's going to have a much much more detailed set of drawings where he can now take another look at it and say,
"Oh, you know, I I I thought it was going to be that, but it's going to be this." So, we're going to work on those numbers and um and and give them some other options from some of the comments from the committee and the group in terms of um different aspects of the
building uh zone base and things like that. We make sure that we have those things figured out in the alternates. Thanks. >> One thing I wanted to and we'll work on this during our working group uh meetings is setting that schedule of when we're anticipating that uh that
estimate. What I want to make sure though is that we have time to digest whatever wherever we snap the line if it's 50 60% CDs to make sure that things are incorporated with it and we have time to look at it before it gets sent out so that we we want to make sure
things are incorporated that we've made comments on today. Absolut absolutely Brian we will make sure we do that sorry back through Katie just a quick comment to um John um
Brian and Matt and that is I I should have used the term and I'm glad you brought it up value engineering. So from this point forward I'd like to call this work on the matrix value engineering if anyone thinks that makes sense. I think I think it does, Ken. Um,
what this needs to because there's a lot of comments in here that have no financial impact at all, you know, and and so we're trying to identify that and make sure that they're >> even if we have to pull them out and create a separate document for it so that they're they're highlighted for that. But yes, I agree.
>> Okay. Thanks. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, Madam Chair, if I may, so and and this is in keeping with Dan's um line 81 comment regarding the cost estimate. Um, I think it's important
that we all be cognizant of the fact that uh as the committee updates the public and the select board on on this process as it evolves, our our narrative, our stories to the to
the people who are we are responsible to and who are overseeing this is important for the town. is important for the members of select board. Um, and I understand that what we will have from
now until we have definitive grants and or we have the construction documents put out to bid and the bids have come in are cost estimates. But to Dan's line to Dan's line 81
um we the budget is getting tighter as we speak. Um and how we kind of how we tell that story about although the budget appears to be getting tighter, we are still on track
to come in at or under the allotted funds is important. Um and um so how we are going to do because again this is going to have to happen before mid-March. Um
you know you know when mid-March when we go in front of the select board and say everything's hunky dory we're on track you know budget looks reasonable. The cost estimates have come in where we pretty much anticipated. um if if that story shifts,
we're going to have concerns expressed to us, shall I say. Um so I just kind of want to make that explicit. Um and any thoughts you might have about how we can mitigate any risk
in that regard um would be great because obviously there are the the funding sources are not as flush as perhaps they once were. >> So we are at risk of having declining
funding sources plus accelerating costs. Um, and those two things working together would not be would not be uh favorable. >> One thing I'd like to add that's going to be very important with this is Danv providing the permitting schedule that
we have as that needs to be overlaid. We we won't be able to get a building permit until we're cleared from all of the permitting that needs to happen on that. And so we want to make sure that our design schedule lines up with that >> and that we're going out for an estimate at the correct time so that we can tell the estimator when we feel as though
we're going to have things. you know, as accurate as possible where these places. >> Also, I think one other thing is that although the funding sources are still tricky and I know everybody's working hard on right now, the construction costs are not necessarily accelerating.
It is always a concern, but actually they're staying level or dropping. Um, there's a lot of hungry contractors right now because there's a lot of uncertainty out there. So we need to be a conscient aware of the fact that
this is the most exciting part of the project is hitting the budget and it's always you know a nailbiter when the bids come in. Um, we've been fortunate over the past few years that it's not been so bad, but I I can tell you right
now, our estimator will have a good pulse as well as I think Brian and Matt and his team will have a good pulse of where things are because I'm I'm sure you have a lot of other projects that are being looked at and bid and uh we'd love your input in terms of what you're
hearing from your group and we'll work closely with uh Pete and what he's hearing from his he's he's estim estimating a lot lot of projects right now and he's getting a number in on bids. So he's going to give us a pulse. Right now he's been very positive. So I
just want to there's going to be a lot of anxiety over the next three months >> of which I'll be part of. >> I think we're all part of it understand it. But one one final comment for me Katie on you know thank you Dennis. We're all thinking the same way. But
there's good news. The good news is one big line item that we had which was the million dollars for utilities that risk has gone away. We have pretty much thought put those bids in place and they're under our budget. So the good news is that we we have bid out some
work and we have worked with national grid and >> developed you know uh the engineering for the water lines and that shows currently shows the savings. So, I think that's a big deal because a year ago, I think one of the things we were thinking of is maybe the utilities are a million,
maybe they're two million. We we would we settled on that budget and it looks like we're going to have a gain there early in the project. Just a comment. >> Yeah, it's great. Always like to see that, right? All right. Uh any updates for the
project schedule? I think we we need to overlay the permitting process. Okay. So what uh we'll have an amount we can distribute um our schedule that has been distributed in the past. Not not much has changed to date. Once we get that
permitting schedule uh dovetail that into it and if there are any changes that we see from a pre-qualification which I'll bring up later um bidding and award um we'll get those up and updated
when we advise everybody. All right. Uh, I think that brings us to a grants and fundraising update. Uh, the only updates I have are the community contact compact IT grant was submitted
on February 5th for $170,000 towards the IT and AV needs for the large multi-purpose room. Everyone knew that was coming, but I just wanted to let you know it was actually submitted. Uh we're continuing to do work on the community development block grant, the
CDBG grant that is due April 21st. We are working at with the document collection phase with Pioneer Valley um with the goal of going to the select board on March 17th to do the last
required um public hearing related to the CDBG grant application and then to get their letter of support um in advance. So, we'll do a project update. It makes sense to kind of do all of
those at at one time. Um, let's see. Last but not least, oh um the Health Foundation of Central Mass, they have something called an activation fund and that's um anywhere between 50 and 125,000.
They have a multi-phaseed application. So, the concept letter is due March 1st, and I have a meeting scheduled on February 26th to go over uh with with the grant administrator to go over what would be the best way to approach an
application. It's a 12-month grant cycle, so I want to make sure that we if I'm trying to solidify whether I should submit it this year or wait until next year. Um, so I more to come on that.
Um and then uh obviously separate from our group, but the friends of the Air Senior Center went to Wilberham last week for a tour. Many of them had not been there before. And I just think it's sort of
inspiring to see um a similar building in in real life and see sort of what the fundra what they're fundraising for. Uh I think most people were inspired when they went out there um about how awesome that building is and ours will be
similar. Um and then they offered training um the Wilberham the friends of the Wilberham senior center offered training to the friends group and uh they left with I think an overwhelming
amount of information and they met on Tuesday night to really begin um to break that down into more actionable steps. Um and they did vote to change the target amount that they are looking
to raise. Um was it 475 >> 440 440 so it I think they had said 375 before now 440 some element of that reflects um their recognition of the
expenses required in for plaques. Um, so I think it's not going to be a measurable increase to the bottom line of the project, but I think it reflects a more realistic idea of the funds that need to be raised. >> What we've had success with is once the
contractor's on board, they'll have their own signage contractor as well. >> Okay. Sometimes you get some efficiency and economy to bring that vendor in and sit with the friends, >> okay, >> and say, "Here's our theme that we're that we approved for broom signage or ADA signage, stuff that's going to be required of a contract. We want it to
flow with what you're putting in there, >> but it's also maybe going to be paid for out of a fundraising goal." Just so that same language and flavor and font that you want for recognition, >> right? >> That'd be fantastic. All right. Um, Ellen, you coordinated that meeting with
the the friends. Was there anything you wanted to add? >> Um, no. was very helpful in and uh in terms of establishing a um a committee that would be a um capital campaign
committee and what the steps were and how to train them and send them out and how to communicate to the public and um the research that you need to do and the recognition of the people who donate such as plaques and letters and
follow-ups and the accounting and everything like that. So I think you know we don't have to reinvent the wheel. We have a a great deal of information. They they did it at a level that we'll never be able to touch. They spent
you know they started with a budget of 200 and something thousands or six that they could use um you know to do all this printing and and they also had um discounts do their people's uh jobs and things. So, we're trying to hone this
down and make it more manageable. Um, but I think within the next month or two, we'll be ready to get started. >> Um, additional subcommittees. Did you want to talk about prequals? >> Yes. So, uh, at our previous building
committee, we uh established our pre-quall committee. We'll be sending out a notification um within the next couple of weeks for that just to kick things off, introduce us and kind of understand what the process is going to be. There'll be a kickoff meeting. Uh
we'll take care of generating what they call the um request for qualifications which we'll receive all of them from. Uh that takes a little bit of time. We vet those out. We give everybody some homework to do some work on these. There'll be subsequent meetings after
where we go through all of them. Um, and then ultimately, it's about a two-month process in where we notify who those contractors are. Like I said, with the schedule, knowing what our permitting schedule and what our bidding schedule is going to be is going to be important as we want to make sure that they're what we call their qualifications is are
as current as possible. We don't want to pre-quall somebody right now and go out to bid in six months and there's a lot of information we don't know about these contractors right now. So, we also look at their financials, what their capacity is currently, what they have under
contract right now. Um, because part of the qualification is that they they might have too much work going on right now or they may not have the capacity or the size of a of a project of this size. They don't have the DK certification where it can be. So, those are the
things we're going to be going through. Um, so we'll reach out to those individuals. I believe it was Dave and it was um >> and we will have our procurement manager and Matt and uh representative from
John's John staff will will uh we'll have a kickoff meeting in the near future. >> So So just from my understanding so listen so these are not people who ask to be pre-qualified for this specific project.
it is instead a standardized list of people you want or is it people who have asked to be >> so the the process and I'll I'll I'll keep it >> as brief as I can. We're we will send out a a thing saying we are building a 1 million senior center in the town of
air. Um please send your qualifications to us and in my experience we're going to get about 150 packages that are going to be sent to us all by division. Uh mass general law says that there is 19 divisions in construction between your
masons, your metals, your painters, your HAC. There'll be packages for all of those. >> And so whom do you send it? I mean, how do you know whom to send it to? >> Yep. So that will be advertised in the central register as if it was a regular bid as well as other uh required places.
It'll be at town hall and on the town website. >> Those responses will be um received by us. We will divvy them up on spreadsheets. We'll have uh uh directions on how they are vetted and how they are graded. And then you meet collectively as a team and go through
your grading, make sure that everything is documented, we vote, they get notified. We then have a notification letter that gets sent and puts in the bid documents so that when the bids do go when the documents do go out to bid, the first page of the documents is here are the contractors that can bid on this
job. That's it. Thanks for that. Yeah. Just to add to what Brian is just saying, the um the timing of the pre-qualification is also important because they uh they do expire. Uh so they're valid for 120 days once we
pre-qualify them. So we do need to make sure that we time that effort such that we have as much time that that that the bidding occurs within the window while that pre-qualification is is valid. Under Mass General law, there's a a window that is established there. One
thing that's most important in my opinion when we do this kickoff meeting is we have to establish the RFQ. We're asking what our parameters are for it. And so we try to balance a line of we want to make sure that this isn't their first senior center or their first municipal project they've ever done, but
we don't want to make the pool so tight that we're we're doing the town a service for getting a competitive bid on here. So we we we kind of make some guard rails on there to make sure that they've got the experience, but they're not just, you know, we're not limiting this to only to two contractors.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm a little hungry. >> Exactly. >> Okay. Yeah. Um >> yeah. Um okay. All right. Anything else? I don't think there's anything. I think the FFN subcommittee will really get into full effect after the bidding is
John. That's what you said. You kind of switch into FFN after the bid gets. Oh, we can't hear you, John. >> We have to get the building underway. and we have a lot of time, but it doesn't mean we should sit on our
fannies, you know, because what'll happen too is that we would like to have people actually go and see the products that are going to be used in the building. um the soft goods, the hard goods, the uh the desk systems for the
office, um uh the tables for the for the um activity rooms, um the physical uh fitness equipment, uh you know, the the kind of tables you have in a multi-purpose room that are easy to put away. There's there's
different levels of them and they have different price points. So, we'd like to build there's two or three places. There's a place in Springfield that has a lot of this stuff as well as the city of Boston. So, um we'll probably get
some kind of a little tour going and we would make our recommendations and then the committee will decide um whether they like those ideas or not. So, and you can look and we might try and get you to a couple centers which have different kinds of materials. I think
maybe Littleton, you know, Long Metal, we visit the ones where you can sit in the stuff and see how it works and and hear from the user group whether, you know, this is convenient or not. So, um, and that process probably should start
maybe 3 months into construction. you know, we I Brian and um Matt will also help us with the lead time for for either bidding it out or using the state program. I'm not a big fan of the state
program. We've always done much better bidding it, but we'll play it however it is as it works out towards that time frame. I hope that wasn't too long. But >> no, and depending on the structure of the friends and the fundraising bills, if there's going to be dedicated
donations to certain things, this this money is allocated for equipment or something like that. >> We need to make sure that there's input for those people, a representative from the friends that is able to help with those purchases. If if money is going to be dedicated to certain things, then right, we want to make sure that the
opportunity is there that they they know us. Great. Wonderful. All right, we're making great time tonight. Um, that brings us to the vendor invoice package.
>> Katie, is it possible to put that up on the screen since a bunch of us are remote? Yes. >> Checking out the >> noise looks like Morse code. Make this go away.
>> Yeah, >> if you click the little minus sign, I think that minimizes Oh, those the side panel. >> Yeah, this whole panel here. >> There's a um Yeah, it doesn't but it doesn't slide. Oh, well, I'll just figure bigger. There
we go. Can everybody remotely see that? Okay. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Do you want us to take this? >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. So, uh for month ending January, um see the narrative page here on the
front. Talks about some of our new commitments and budget transfers. Those are based upon um our working budget as we see it here. if we had to make any transfers reasons for it and any type of new commitments which were the guarded consulting tasks that we approved at our previous building committee. We also
discussed the reconciliation to the owner. We've been um in contact with uh Barbara with town accounting who we've kind of set this up trying to get the language correct so that it's uh it's driving rusty towns accounting as well. And then a list of our attachments here.
First page on the back is just our recommendations. Uh what we're recommending uh with the invoices that we have uh would be for Vertex, Catlin Architecture, and National Grid. Um >> sorry, falling down on my job. There you
go. This is those are the uh five invoices that you see here. Um the national grid invoice was something that is per the uh contract agreement
that will also be in this page I mean in this packet. Uh in talks with Danv. Um it would be good to get their payment in right now. Although that the work would not be transpiring, national record is good to get your payment secure. Then you can get in there to make sure that
this is that this is working correctly. >> Okay. So, are those four items on the right supposed to equal 416? >> That's correct. >> No, they don't. >> Okay. What am I missing? I got a 12, 11,
137, and >> Wow. >> I apologize, Pat. One moment. Let me It's about 260. So, you're about 156. Where is >> My apologies for that. Hold on one sec. >> No, just double our invoice. That'll be
fine. >> Oh, sorry. Well, I think you're asking for the full 416 though, right? >> No, >> I don't think so. >> No, >> you're asking for the four invoices to
the far left. I'm right. Far right. >> Tom's got what was doing. They may not have the the formula that they have on here for the sum of this is is not accurate and whether that was a holdover
from the previous month recommending uh I apologize for that. What we are recommending is the substance of this uh packet. We got a few people doing their calculators right now. So do
>> Yeah, it's the four to the far right at >> the language. The language is important. >> Yeah. >> Which says new invoices recommended by Vertex for payment. That's >> Yeah. >> Scratch that line out. >> That's correct. >> That's correct.
>> Excuse me. >> Yeah, you're correct. >> On the right, it's not for the >> So to to be clear, what's incorrect is the bottom lines. And what you have is the column on the left is each individual invoice.
>> Yep. column on the right. What we had is a sum of the three Catwoman architecture invoices together. So what this what this should read, and I apologize, we guess we're still working out the bugs here, is that the vertex
invoices should equal the $23,100. >> Yeah. >> Online architecture should be 137,172. Yep. >> And the national grid should be $100,643.90. The total of that is >> 295.
>> Correct. >> I'm sorry. Say that again. 260 what? >> 260 915 and 9. >> Okay. >> I apologize for that. We'll make sure that the uh next months we'll have this correctly paid previously and we may
even issue an addended version of this for correction on this just to >> so um so if we want this to get paid in this warrant cycle which was due yesterday
>> um the town accountant is willing to accept it the day late. So I will in my authorization I will >> note this 2691590 and the motion should read that amount
and then I will say pending an updated birth page. >> That's correct. It doesn't change any of this the invoices themselves for what we're recommending. It's the sum that we have here at the bottom that that's in formal robust. >> So madam chair if I may. So just to be
clear, so the national grid invoice, we are prepaying >> the national grid 100k give or take. >> My I don't know if Dan I'm sorry I can't see the people anymore. He might have dropped off, but my understanding was that we have to pay it to get on the schedule.
>> Yeah, you have to prepay with those guys and if you don't get on their schedule will be delayed even more. So >> yeah, it is interesting that the bid from National Grid was actually $1,000 higher than this and they bid they priced it they invoiced it $1,000 less.
So we made a,000 bucks. >> But uh >> okay, so let's go through it if you don't mind, Madam Chair. So we're paying John 100% to the feasibility study with the $5,000, right? >> Yes. We're paying John $259.99. He's
going to be 100% DD. >> Yes. >> And then we're giving him a partial payment against the uh CDs. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. And we've decided that the that that the
protocol will be we'll do one motion for the entire vendor in invoice package in total. >> Yes. Right. Yes. But question about that. I thought we had already paid that 5,000. >> I don't think the check had ever been
>> No. Can Can I Can I I'll make a little correction here. I miss build the first one. Our our our town meeting was $10,000. My invoice that went in originally was paid for $5,000. My accountant told me,
"You forgot five grand." So, we we we noted the $10,000 that five was paid and the remaining five is in this invoice. >> I thought correct the last >> we we did correct it and the second one
in $5,000 invoice did go into the town. So, we'll just >> Right. So, we need to circle back >> circle back on it was cut right. Mhm. >> So the total number we're still looking
at is 269 or 590. >> Yes. >> 5,000. >> Correct. >> Well, no, we're not. >> No, I don't think you're going to min us because if it Well, right. >> If that 5,000 is in the queue or had
been made this this week, is there remaining five? Then yeah, that we'll make sure that that gets corrected. And then the last question I had um was about the contingency on the final page.
So, uh I understand the first part of the transfer number one was for the cost of the election, >> which we didn't have in the budget because there was discussion back and forth about who whose budget that would
ultimately come out of. Um what's the second one? The 6132. It just says cost overrun in budget line. >> Oh. That's back on the first page, right? >> Yes.
>> This one, interesting enough, this one says VIP page one at the top upper right hand corner. But is it page two? >> Page 12. Oh, it's not on those. >> So, what this what those are Katie, we went through with um
>> when we went through with our account and with Barbara, there are several vendors that we needed to establish >> a line item for of things that had been paid previously. >> One of those was um Atlas. That sounds correct. Yeah. Here.
>> Yeah. We were trying to account for everything that had been paid previously that we didn't have any uh contracts for that we had. >> Okay. >> And so what our accounting is trying to do is kind of retroactively make sure that we have everything accounted for
for it. This project budget status that we're showing here, it differs slightly than our working draft that we're doing because doesn't account for alternates and other things that we're we're doing. Periodically, what we'll do with the town's accounting and ours is to make a
revision to this status report um to make sure it's as current as possible. >> Okay. All right. So, that's for the atlas. That was for uh that was some element of site work. I trying to remember exactly. So, it just wasn't >> it's not that there was $6,000 spent
that we didn't plan for. It's just that it's being put in the budget that wasn't in there before. We would not be making any >> transfers or recommend if we're not recommending the payment for it on our front page. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you for that clarification.
>> It's something that's already been paid is what you're pointing out, Brian. You just needed to organize it where where you saw it. >> Correct. We need to put it somewhere. >> Yeah. You said it was Atlas. Is that the term was used? >> That that was one of them that was a vendor that on there. Correct.
>> It was one piece of the site work. I don't know if it was the was it the >> boring pass the shear wave velocity test toast soils for seismic for John's structural engineer. >> There you go. Yep. And a couple of other things. Yep.
>> Okay. Awesome. Thanks. >> I think I think we brought in uh didn't we bring in cheap someone who had a machine to do some some u testing and what whatnot. So there was miscellaneous stuff. Yeah. I guess.
>> So, any other questions or can I get a motion to authorize payment? Madam chair, you make a motion to authorize payment based on the vendor invoice package dated January 31st, 2026
and the total amount of $260,915.90. >> All right. >> Uh Ellen, >> hi >> Linda. Hi >> Bonnie. >> Hi >> Dennis. >> Hi. Uh Dave, how do you vote? >> I.
>> Thanks. And the chair says I. So wonderful. Thank you. >> Oh, Ken, I'm sorry. Ken, you're so I thought I lost you there. All right, Ken. >> Okay. All right. Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. All
right. Any I don't believe there's any public. So we won't have any public input. Uh our next meeting would be uh the third Thursday of the month which
is sorry it is March 19th. Um I will not be able to be in person for that meeting. Um, do we want to do you guys do we want to do it fully
remote or do you want to move it a day earlier to the 18th? We're comfortable with no fully remote. Okay. What um what
>> March? That would be March 18th. main thing. >> I may have to that day and Disney just need to double check on that. Third week of the month is usually pretty popular with other projects, >> right? Believe it or not.
>> Okay. >> Okay, Katie, before you close, I got one more thing. >> Yes. >> Um, go ahead. >> Want to set on the date with everybody? >> Yeah. What is the the 19th at 4:30, but we'll be fully remote.
>> I wanted to circle back on the matrix. I think it was kind of left. We never really determined the urgency of finishing that in like couple of weeks. We have to put a deadline on when we terminate the uh discussion about that
and and close those items up. Can't be just sitting there so it gets on the DD and and then the CD. That's what I'm getting at. Did we think about when we should respond and get that closed out? Uh Brian and Matt,
>> it's it's really important because until we get closure on a few of these things, I can't engineer a lot of it. >> U there's a number of items on that list that are have some important aspects to all of our
engineers. So >> So do we want to just >> Sorry. Do we want to put it on the the working groups meeting against next Tuesday, which is only a couple of days away, do we want to basically say Tuesday we start drilling down on that? >> Yes. And and Ken, if we need to have a
quicker working group after that, that would be my suggestion. >> Okay. So, I just want to point it out to the committee that we don't have a luxury of of of waiting a long time with that. We have to keep it going if everyone agrees.
>> I agree. I know you agree. >> I know, but I'm a work on the working committee, not not for the committee. Not >> okay, >> Dennis. Any input on what what I just said or Ellen or anybody? No, I think I
think that's right because again I to my earlier point the quicker I mean there are a couple of things I think that we we ought to be thinking about. That is the potential for the third party estimator to weigh in if the
numbers still aren't lining up like we had hoped that they might or thought that they would. Um, so I think that we can maybe discuss that at our next building committee member meeting whether or not we want to invoke the I think we have some money set aside in
the budget for the for another estimator. Um, so I mean we may want to think about that. Um, and also, um, the sooner we have more definitive numbers, um, I
think we'll be able to kind of decrease some of the anxiety between now and, um, you know, the response to the bids, when the bids come in. >> Yeah. I just want to emphasize that we we got a lot of stuff there. We got to
close out those pieces and decide >> we're going to we're going to say we're going to do this or we're not, you know, and whatever it is, >> get the fight over with. >> We're under contract to get another third party estimate at the same time as the next designer estimate so that that
can be reconciled as well. >> Kind of our last >> make sure let's make sure that we're both pretty. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Right. And anything else? Any other
comments, questions, concerns, updates? No. All right. Can I get a motion to adjourn? >> All right. Second. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All right. How do you vote? Ellen, I >> Linda, I hi
>> Dennis. >> Hi, >> uh, Ken. >> Hi, >> Dave. I >> chair says I wonderful. We are adjourned at whatever time it is. >> 5:46. Nice. Thank you everyone. This is
great.