Good evening. Welcome to the Town of Air Finance Committee meeting of Tuesday, April 2nd, 2026 at 6 PM at the Air Town Hall. My name is Kurt Prescowski. I'm the chair. Uh 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 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 the public may access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID 978-772822 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about remote
participation, please contact Carly, assistant t manager atmir.mma. us or 978772822 extension 100 prior to the meeting. I'm going to call the meeting to the order. Um the first item is I'd like to amend
the agenda. Uh the first item would be to review and approve uh minutes. I am going to uh move that we uh shift that to uh after uh public uh input at the end of the meeting.
Benny, sorry. >> I'd like to make a motion to or do I or am I just seconding it? >> Uh, second. >> Okay, I'll second your All right. So, all those in favor of moving the review of minutes to the end of the meeting.
>> I >> Very good. Okay. So that will bring us to uh our main topic of the agenda this evening, a review and vote on the financial art warrant articles for town meeting April 27th, 2026.
Um in your packets, uh there is a list of the titles of all the articles. Uh I'll be using that to uh record our votes on those. Um, then there is a copy
of the memo that Robert Ponrion, town manager, distributed on March 30th with some last minute notes on the warrant articles. And then the last piece is an actual copy of the warrant articles in
full. Okay. So, um, what I would like to do is first, um, using, uh, Robert's the town manager's
memo of, um, reviews and re recommendations. Um, I was going to throw that uh, put it to the committee if there's been any questions that they have right off the bat. Um and if not, Robert, would you
want to just address that briefly and then we will go into uh reviewing the articles themselves. >> So, Mr. Chair, members of the Fincom, thank you um for having us and I appreciate uh Barbara Tierney, the
finance manager, and Carrie Cooper, the town accountant are here um as are some other department heads. if there are any um specific questions. Um I think we had a very successful budget forum uh last Wednesday and I appreciate the fincom's
uh attendance and support on that. So the memo that uh the chair referenced just for everybody's benefit which is on the website and was sent to you on the 30th as any budget any year it remains a
in draft form if you will all the way until it's ultimately um the warrant is approved the the draft two budget which we used for the forum uh which you have all had um since uh March 13th there were some minor changes
since the forum and when I sent you the memo that I wanted to highlight. Now, the changes result in about a $21,000 increase um to to the budget and they're minor changes which happen um every
year. And just quickly perhaps one of the most significant so the reserve fund when we started out the budget process we had it was at 150,000 which it is this year and then we increased it to 165,000
um with at the at draft 2 at the forum since the forum as we're looking at fuel and energy outlook since the last three weeks I mean we were doing pretty good on the fuel front and then global events and we're already seeing those impacts.
Um we're recommending in the final draft that we actually have the reserve fund at 175,000. This will provide uh a buffer um for lack of a better word due to the fact that the fuel and energy situation
remains extremely volatile. The good news is that the town's electric rates are all locked in until November. Um and fuel uh we uh will be monitoring. So that was a 10 that was a $15,000
um increase. IT services there's a $9,000 increase um in further looking due to increased IT service costs and with the cyber security and we do have a new um IT manager. I was felt that that
adjustment um was needed under snow removal in three categories as we had we haven't had a winter like this in a while. Under snow removal overtime, the DPW director uh recommended about a
$3,000 increase um due to increased overtime costs. Under snow removal fuel, a $1,000 increase largely driven um by the fuel situation. Snow removal, salt and sand on the
second page, a $5,000 increase. This is due to salt and sand cost, specifically the salt cost based on trends um from the DPW director. The general fuel account increasing by a th00and
um the retirement of debt um which um the finance manager can speak to this was a reduction of another 15,000 from 84,648 to 69,648. employee benefits. Um there was a
reduction of about $4,300 there. Um again, a savings that was identified. So in the bottom, so the total omnibus budget increase for draft 2 was 6,000 674,510.
The final draft at 695,671 or total increase or difference between the two of 21,161. and that would put um the budget in its
final form. Those are the only um changes and then the rest of the memo what we get to later highlights um sort of the aspects of the warrant articles. >> Okay, good. >> Um are there any questions to Robert on
the changes or the budget in general? And I should, Mr. Chair, if I if I could just add, so with those changes, the total FY27 omnibus increase is 695,671
or represents a 3.47% increase over last year. And as we've been discussing throughout the process, our target was for no more than a million and no more than 5%. So, um I think that uh we're in good shape on that front. And then when you factor in
the two school assessments, which there were no changes, the total budget omnibus and the two school assessments increases by 1.1 $1,834,372 or 5.06% for the total budget.
>> Sure. >> Yes. Um, probably for Barbara. >> Was the were the changes that you had the reductions were those because of the other increases to the fuel costs or was it just sort of independent? You would
identified >> for the debt service? >> Yeah. >> So that that was independent. As we grow, as we grew closer to the bond issue, the treasury bond market became clearer and my adviserss um anticipated a larger premium than initially expected
and so I removed um and we paid down a couple of the projects. So I had anticipated it at that time. >> Okay. >> And I'm happy to say we did get a very good p uh premium at the bond issue. >> Thank you. >> Sure.
Okay. Um, what I am going to suggest, uh, if there's any not any other questions about the budget in general because the next thing we're going to move is to start looking at the Warren articles. Um, because we actually have Robert's memo which has notes on the
Warren articles. We have the actual whole list of warrant articles. What I'm going to propose uh is that we start to go through them and um look at them and as we look at them we'll we'll do the vet vote right then and there. >> Let's do it.
>> So look at article one discuss but article two post get it up on the two. >> Okay. Does that sound good to everyone? >> Yep. >> You wanted to move the minutes. >> Oh we already did that. >> Oh did you? >> Corrections. >> Oh no. They moved to the end. what they
move again. >> Ready? We got you covered. >> Thank goodness. >> Okay. Um, so the first warrant article is article one, salaries of elected officials.
Wait, can I have a quick uh my brain is not working. The order of operations, I guess we'll say. >> Okay. Yes. >> Right. Would be to pull an article, vote to approve >> and then discussion
and then you vote and then a yes would be a yes. A no would be a no. An abstain is a obstain is how I think that's how we did it last time, >> right? I just so we're going to
review discuss and make a motion >> and we should we should also probably like we I think we did last time sort of group similar articles together so we can vote them together >> kind of like we do with town meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So like article one would be like I make a motion to approve article one.
Then it's a a second and then then a discussion and then the votes get recorded as a a yes is a yes and no is a no and a stay isn't position. >> Yeah. Is
>> that how we wanted that to go? >> Do we do we say we make a motion to approve article one or recommend article one? It doesn't matter. Or I guess recommend. >> I don't know. >> Semantics matter, I guess. >> I'm sure. >> No, I think I think recommend would be good cuz that's the
>> Yeah, I think >> Okay. Spoken like the true uh secretary. Got to be precise. >> What? Of course. >> So, but again, uh I was going to just to double check. I was going to say
article one discussions questions and then move to vote to recommend article one. >> We can do it that way too. >> Okay. >> However you want to do it. >> Okay. Well, no, no, no. Cuz I No, it's it's more just double.
>> That's just a move to recommend it. Let's get down to it. >> Okay. So, I'll make a motion to recommend article one. >> I second the motion. Okay. Um >> discussion questions.
>> No, >> I have no discussion. >> That's just that's just all we all vote yes to. >> Well, no. Okay, that's okay. So, we've moved second discussion. There is none. All those in uh
uh favor >> I >> I >> I >> So, we have four yeses. Okay. Um, I move to vote on article two,
contract funding air town hall clerical union AFSCME 93. So moved. >> I second the motion. >> Okay. Discussion. >> None. >> Uh, I think that seems fine.
>> Okay. Paul spent a lot of time negotiating contracts, right? I feel like >> it's in good faith. >> Yes. >> I have no comment or question. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> Okay. I have four
>> recommends. Yes. Recommends. Okay. >> I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 3, the FY27 omnimus budget. >> I second the motion. >> Okay. discussion
done. >> Eric, >> uh, no, I I don't have any any comments or questions on the on those. >> I also have >> All those in favor?
>> I >> I >> I have four to recommend. >> I'll make a motion to >> Wait, sir. You said you have four to recommend. Wouldn't it be >> four yay votes to recommend? >> You also
that's five of you. >> Oh my gosh. Okay. Quick moment, folks. Just because the chair can't count, we've we've >> always got to seconded articles one, two, and three. And there
have been five votes to recommend for both for those three articles. Thank you. Okay. >> Okay. Moving on. >> Okay. Like to make a motion to recommend article 4, the FY27 Valley Technical High School assessment.
>> I second the motion. >> Okay. Um the the only discussion or comment I have on that we do have Dr. Pigeon attending town meeting. Correct. >> Correct. With the presentation.
>> With the presentation. Okay. >> My only comment is I feel like every time she comes she does a great job. >> I want that on the record. >> Okay. Um, with no other discussion, uh, how does
the committee vote on article 4? >> I >> recommend I Yes. >> Yes. Okay. We have five votes to recommend. >> Okay. I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 5, the FY27 Air Shirley Regional School District
Assessment. >> I second the motion. Uh again my one comment uh is that we have Dr. Rana >> yes to attend the town meeting to make a presentation. Okay. Good.
>> I have a comment on this one. >> Okay. >> I'm when he was here last I asked a lot of questions and I think most of it comes down to that the his saying that it was uh very tight from what I've seen is is very true. like if they don't get their sugar
breaker money and all that stuff, they're going to have to make some hard choices very soon. So, I feel like it's razor thin, but that's I'm okay with that knowing that he knows that that's going to be problematic for him.
So, but yeah, I I'm happy to approve it. >> Okay. I think uh to sort of follow up on that is that we should uh make sure that we are looking closely at the school budget uh throughout the year
and maybe uh again this isn't the form to totally discuss it but I think it's something we should look at further further meetings is just revisit the school budget maybe during during the year.
Okay. Any other discussion, comments? Okay. Um, all those in favor of article five, >> I >> I We have five votes to recommend. >> Okay. Um, I move that we vote on article
six, the solid waste enterprise fund. >> So moved. >> I second the motion. Okay. Um, any uh questions, discussion?
>> No. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I I >> Okay, we have five votes. Yes. Um, I move that we vote on article 7, ambulance enterprise fund. >> So moved. >> I second.
>> Okay. >> Discussion, questions. Okay. I know. Okay. All those in favor? >> I I >> Okay, we have five votes to recommend. Um I move that we vote on article 8, sewer
enterprise fund. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion, questions. >> One not. >> We're just going real fast. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Well,
>> I did. We're on We're on eight, correct? >> Yes, absolutely. >> We our our AI assistant on the secretary is not you're using pure manual. C
>> can I ask who who made the motion and seconded that? >> Andrew and Bob. Andrew and Bob. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> We could do it the same way every time, but we choose not to. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Sorry. Continue. Thank you. >> Okay. So, we have moved and seconded on the sewer article 8 sewer enterprise funds. Again, any discussion, comments? >> Okay. All those in favor?
>> I have five votes to recommend. I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 9, the water enterprise fund. >> Second >> discussion, comments. >> I think I brought it up in the meeting
that I feel like 350,000 for retained earnings is an awful lot of money and that we got to figure that out whether it's a rate increase or whatever. And I'll probably spend we should spend time looking at that during the year probably.
But the um rate review has to like that's more than 10% of the direct costs, right? Which is a huge number. Yeah. I think the having sat on the rate review,
the consideration was that um revenue has been flat the last year because of the restrictions on the wells and once those restrictions come off that the revenue >> their water tank >> um no I believe the um
>> filtration is the filtration >> filtration it will be up to snuff so that once that is uh up to date then uh water usage and revenue will increase so that when we revisit next year hopefully the revenue will have gone up enough
that uh it won't be as dire as a circumstance >> and we would antic is it will that when will it come online will it be the full fiscal year we can ask >> Dan >> yeah hey sorry I'm kind of still in the
senior center meeting a little but Yeah. Um, so the Clearwell storage tank project that should be completed this spring before summer demand. So July 1 is the next fiscal year. Um, and that's going to get us back to our full
capacity at the Grove Pond plant. So in recent years, we've had to purchase water from Devons. We've had to ask businesses like Pepsi not to use as much. So our revenues are down. We're not we weren't able to produce as much water. So we'll actually have a more normal year. So, we're really in like a
flux and a like a a transition situation um with the water budget and yeah, like Curt said through the rate review committee, you know, this year we've had to dip into retained earnings, which you know, we we have kept our reserves up really high, which is the good thing, but um but we're hoping in the future
that this will pan out and we won't be doing that um next year. >> So, it'll be we'll see. Yep. So just so you were saying it'll the well will be on essentially the full fiscal year. So we'll have an actual good view reading
on how much more revenue there is. >> Yeah. Perfect. >> Yeah. >> That's right. >> Good. Thank you, Dan. >> Yeah. You're welcome. >> Okay. Um
no other discussion or comments. Okay. All those in favor? >> I I >> I. >> Okay. So, we have five votes. Yes. To recommend. >> Okay. >> I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 10, the storm water enterprise fund.
>> I'll second that. Any discussion, comments? >> Seems like it's doing what it's supposed to do. >> Okay. Very good. All those in favor? I >> I have five votes to recommend. >> I'd like to make a motion to recommend
article 11 to the capital budget requests the borrow section. Okay, I'll second that. discussion, comments on article 11, capital budget request. I'll just uh note that uh having sat on
the capital budget uh committee the uh the capital budget committee did a good job of uh well not the committee itself but all the town departments in particular DPW did a good job of reducing a lot of um capital budget
requests for this I have a question for Robert. Maybe you can answer. >> Um, how many phases are there in the library renovation? >> So, the library renovation, um, there the facilities department is
anticipating two. So, this would be phase one of two. >> Okay. Of similar size there. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. Any other discussions, questions, comments? >> Okay. >> No.
>> All those in favor? >> I >> I >> Okay. Have five votes. Yes. To recommend article 11. >> I would like to make a motion to recommend article 12, the capital budget requests for capital stabilization. >> I'll second that.
Any uh discussion or comments on these items? Wait, I don't remember seeing the $50,000 in tune SharePoint computer. >> What's with that? Is that just the IT upgrade? We have SharePoint in the town.
>> We're in the process. Yes. So this is this uh is part of the computer replacement in the in tune intoune um shareepoint and it was part of the February 5th uh capital that was approved by the capital planning committee.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other discussion comments? >> All those in favor of article 12. I >> I Okay. Five votes to recommend. >> I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 13, transfer of unexpected bond
proceeds for fiscal year 2026 annual road paving project. I'll second that. Okay. Uh discussion, comments. It's just returning money, right, that we didn't borrow >> long time ago.
>> Correct. Yes. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I Okay. I have five votes to recommend. >> I would like to make a motion to approve article 14, transfer of funds from the town's PAS settlement fund for the
Spectacle Pond and Grove Pond PAS media replacement projects. >> I'll second that. >> Any discussion or comments? seems like a great use of PA fast money, but it's going to run out eventually, so we should uh
think about that next year. I think we I looked it up this week. It was we have another couple years left, so we use it just for that. So, >> on the the PAS the overall PAS fund. Yes.
So that's yeah just a good what is the timeline on the PAS set of things? So as a Mr. chair. So, um we're currently um involved in various um lawsuits against PAS manufacturers
>> and um as these cases are settled, in most cases, none of them have gone to trial, but have settled. Uh we have gotten settlement funds. You see in the note, we have just over 1.8 million right now in settlement funds. Um we have set up a this why there's a warrant
article is the the settlement fund can only be used for PAS related expenses subject to uh town meeting approval. So the recommendation for this year from the DBW director and the water and sewer
superintendent was this 425,000 to replace the PAS media in the two water plants, Spectacle Pond and Grove Pond so that this would not hit the water rates um this year um and was a
good use of it. Um to your point um Andrew, we do have to monitor that you know this is not an endless supply though there may be some other settlements down the the down the pike. >> Great. Thank you. Any other discussion
comments? Okay. All those on uh in favor of article 14 I >> I have five yes to recommend. Okay. I make a motion to recommend article 15 pay down of
prior year borrow for capital projects. So move >> second >> second discussion comments love paying down debt. Yes. Yeah. Just uh as always, just a
shout out uh and no uh to Barbara who's done a good job of managing the town that all those any other discussion, comments? >> No. >> All those in favor? >> I
have five to recommend. I would like to make a motion to recommend article 16 gaz 45/oped. I will second that. Okay. Any discussion, comments
article hearing? None. All those in favor? I I >> Okay, so we have five votes. to recommend article 16. >> I would like to make a motion to recommend article 17 funding of the
reserve fund for future payments of acred liabilities for compensated absences. I will second that. Uh discussions, comments on article 17. >> Okay. Hearing none. All those in favor? I
>> I >> five votes to recommend. >> I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 18 forward funding of the town's pension fac. I just I always just like to make a comment here having been in the
retirement plan business. It's always good to see people actually forward funding pensions. That's a uh not an often thing you see. So, good thing. >> Any other discussion, comment?
>> All those in favor? >> I I have five votes to recommend. I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 19 UDAG fund replenishment for the senior center building project. I assume that means from the senior
center building. >> Yeah. Four. >> So, um I'll second to your motion. >> Yeah. >> And then you have a question then comment. >> I'm just I just didn't like the way it
was written. Sorry. >> Okay. Oh, no, no, no, no. Elaborate. >> Well, it's just replenishing UD, DAG. I I assumed the senior center building project was like the added line of the like we're refunding it because we'd borrow a ton of money for the senior center.
>> Mhm. >> So this through the chair. So on the UDAG replenishment art article um as reviewed by uh town council they like to see what the the project that the funding is related to. This is in no way
the total amount um obviously of the project um but is the 500,000. >> Oh, I'm I'm with you. Yeah. >> I just was curious about the whether you needed to put that at all, >> right? Cuz we actually borrowed a million, right, from Udag for the senior center project.
>> Yeah. 2 years, I guess. >> Well, it was just replenishing the fund, not necessarily. It seems like you're paying this towards building the project, even though that's not true. That was money. It's not totally clear, >> but I mean,
>> well, the good news is >> legal language is legal language. That's fine. >> Just pointing out that it seems a little confusing to me. >> I'll leave it at that. Okay. Any other discussions, comments? Okay.
Um, all those in favor of article 19, >> I >> I >> I >> have five votes to recommend. >> I would like to make a motion to recommend article 20 stabilization fund.
>> I will second that. >> Any discussion, comment on article 20? Okay. >> Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I have five votes to recommend article
20. >> I sorry. I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 21 revolving funds article which is amended bylaw and establishing fiscal year 2027 spending limits. I'll second that.
Any discussion or comments on article 21? >> Uh Robert, could you just explain that? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair through you. So um required by law, town meeting has to authorize every year the revolving fund
articles of the town um which this sets the expenditure limits. This is the exact same article as last year as there's no changes um to the limits. So it's a general business article. So if there were changes, they'd be flagged if
to increase the limits. >> Okay. Any other discussion, >> comments? Um just folks who are uh calling in to make sure you uh please check that your phone is uh computer is muted.
Okay. Um, so all those in favor on article 21. >> I I have five. Yes. To recommend. >> Like a motion to recommend article 22 funding for aquatic weed control for
town ponds. >> I will second that. Discussion and comments on article 22. >> It's the second year. It's 20k. 50k a year >> two years ago. So a bargain. bargain at any price. You ever spend time in Sandy
Pond Beach and the weeds come up and try and grab you? >> Okay. Any other discussion or comments on article 22? >> No. >> Hearing none. Um all those in favor? >> I
have five votes yes to recommend. I would like to make a motion to recommend article 23, the Community Preservation Act. I will second that. Any discussion or comments? >> No. >> No. She can't even give us a a blurp
this time, right? >> Yeah. >> Mhm. Okay. Uh, hearing no other discussion or comments. All those in favor? I >> I and five, yes to recommend. >> I would like to make a motion to
recommend article 24, the community preservation fund for affordable housing trust. >> I'll second that. Any discussion or comments? None. Okay. >> Hearing none. Uh, all those in favor?
>> I. >> Five votes. Yes. To recommend. And >> it's our last one, right? >> Correct. >> I'd like to make a motion to recommend article 25 preservation fund for Sandy Pond Schoolhouse HVAC project.
>> I will second that. >> Any discussion or comments? >> Uh, only that there's a title there to see if but it's >> Oh, yes. Good. Yep. Good catch, Jen. We'll fix that. >> Have any of you been in there? Have you
been in there? >> Oh, no. I know. Jen, you've you've done some work around the school houses. >> You should come. >> You should invite me. >> Oh, I'll tell you next time there's open house.
>> All right. We'll we'll have to do a tour of the Sandy Pond Schoolhouse. >> Clean up on April 18th if you want to come. I mean, it looks like when I was driving by and they were fixing the the carpenters were there fixing all the stuff, it looked really nice. Wow. >> That that's what the original
schoolhouse in Sandy of of Air. >> It's a It was built when Air was still part of Graten. >> Oh my gosh. So, it's older than 1871. >> Uh >> that's when we became that's when we split off. >> Yeah. Yeah. Must be. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
So, >> okay. Any other discussion, comments on article 25? Okay. All those in favor? >> I I >> Five votes yes to recommend.
>> Okay. Um those are all the articles. Um we have those recorded. I will uh take this summary and uh pres uh present this to the select board next Tuesday. Uh-huh.
>> Okay. Um, like to open the floor to any public input. >> Oh, Pauline. >> Good evening. I needed to unmute. Sorry. I have some very brief questions. Um, the draft warrant that I printed today
has already indicated your committee made certain recommendations specifically on article two uh, one and two. I'm curious when you did that, >> Mr. Chair.
>> Yes. Those are ministerial typos from a previous draft. You voted them tonight. So, apologies. >> Fair enough. Thank you for that. Um, this is just a comment from a taxpayer.
I am fascinated that nobody on the finance committee had a single question about anything on the omnibus budget. Any comment? >> You can say no. I'll I'll ask I'll respond.
>> I'm I'm sorry I can't hear you. >> My name is Bob France. I'm going to respond to your question. Pauline, are you talking about tonight's meeting that we didn't have any questions? >> Correct. >> Well, this is this is the night the finance committee approves the omnimous
budget on the warrant. >> Understand? >> We got that. >> We understand. But we've we've reviewed this multiple times and the last meeting was draft number two in which we reviewed and supplementally uh supplementaryally
um uh Robert updated our uh the omnimus omnibus budget with the amendments that were shown on these uh the u uh his summary see that he sent out on the 30th March 30th.
So a lot of our all of our discussions have occurred earlier in previous meetings. >> Thank you Bob for that. So >> you all reviewed draft two and approved everything on the omnibus budget that was presented at that point. I did not
find a draft three. Is there one? >> There's a revision to draft two. the supplemental omnibus budget and the amendments were indicated on Robert's um summary on uh March 30th
>> which we reviewed this evening. >> Correct. >> Yep. Fair enough. I've listened to all that. Robert, is there an actual draft three of the omnibus? Cuz I know I've had trouble trying to find things on the new website. if there's an actual draft three, if you could just let me know
where I can find it, I'd appreciate that. >> Through the chair. So, Pauline, tomorrow um as part of the select board um packet will be the the final budget that will have the omnibus insert. It is the same.
It's the same as draft two except the memo I sent to the board, there was there were $21,161 worth of changes um from draft 2. So that that memo identifies that, but you'll have the the actual the final um
will be in the packet. >> Thank you for that. I will try to figure it all out online tomorrow. Um comment I'd like to make about article 19. Andrew, I'm feeding more off what you
said. Article 19 UDAG replacement of funding for the senior center. You all will remember we were told our tax dollars are not going to pay for this. We're going to fund it from this. We're going to fund it from that. We're going to fund it from something else. The funding from you to UDAG, the
replenishment to UDAG is nothing more than funding from our tax dollars. And I do believe the public, the residents, the taxpayers need to understand that this has happened multiple times. I've raised it every time it happens. This is
not funding from some source that uh just appeared. This is funding from free cash which is basically our tax dollars that were not used for other things. So in the long run, the senior center is ultimately going to be funded
75 to 90% from tax revenue even though the committee continues to want to tell us that is not the case. That's just a comment. You all can respond if you'd like, but no need. >> I can I say one thing to that? >> Yes. Uh Pauline, yeah, I agree with you.
I think we mostly addressed that when the senior center committee came to our committee meeting and I mentioned it in the town meeting where I spoke for the the no the no vote.
I I agree, Andrew, and I appreciate and commend you for that. It's not always easy to say no to something. Um, moving on to article 20. Is there no capital stabilization funding this year? >> Uh, they're in the same article, right?
There's capital stabilization and um regular stabilization are are combined. >> Oh, I think you're right. I'm sorry. >> No worries. >> I'm sitting here without a light at the I'm having a hard time reading this. But usually, Robert, I'm sorry, Robert. Aren't they usually separate articles?
>> No, this is the standard article we've used for 16 years. >> Okay. Well, I I'm sorry. I'm getting old. >> That's all right. >> Don't forget. Article 21. >> Mhm. >> Two questions.
The Fourth of July fund currently has some some funds in it. I don't know what the the um revolving fund allows them to spend up to $30,000. There's no committee, correct?
Through the chair. Um there is no active committee at this time and the limit as Pauline said for the article is 30,000 and there's approximately $16,000 um in the revolving up amount for Fourth
of July right now. Okay, I'll leave it at that. I'm not going to bother with that uh whole topic. The parts fund for $75,000. I'm getting old. Maybe I forgot that.
But what exactly does that entail? >> I'm sorry. What? Oh, through the parks. Yeah, >> parks fun. >> Excuse me, chair. I I have to leave. So, >> okay. Excuse me. >> Okay, Rob. >> Thank you both. Have a good night. >> Thank you. >> Good night, Bob. >> Good night. >> Good night. >> Good night, Bob. Thank you for your
answer. >> So um through the chair uh to Pauline. So the parks that's the parks um revolving fund uh which is under the parks commission uh that they can the the money they take in from example um
when you go to the the beach out of town folks different different fees that they collect they can use back for >> Yeah. >> Thank you for clarifying. I forgot about that. I don't go there much anymore. Um, I don't think I think there was one
other question. I'm sorry I'm flipping pages so I'm making my voice and I apologize for that. Um, I did have a question about the two technical schools. >> No, that's a wrong word. No valley is one technical school and the regional
school is the other. Um Kirk, you mentioned having a concern about reviewing the Air Shirley Regional School District budget over the next year. Why don't you have the same concern about the show valley? Both are just
assessments. We really have no specific input although we have representatives to both committees. >> I can take that one. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah, I I think that was me, Pauline. I think the >> Sorry, sorry. >> No, it's no worries. I think um at least
from my perspective, the having looked at the budgets, right, the the air shirly budget, as I was saying when that article came up, is they moved a lot of stuff to circuit breaker stuff for anticipated money that they could get. Um, and they kind of
essentially borrowed as much money as they could from themselves at that time. And looking at the uh the technical school, they actually have a reasonably healthy reserve. Um so I don't anticipate them needing some emergency
money in this circumstance. And if they did, they have enough to cover it. >> Appreciate that explanation, Andrew. Um has the finance committee met with the air regional school committee at all in this past year, fiscal year 26?
>> Yep, we met. He came, Dr. Renda came uh twice actually. Um the first time to present the budget that we decided um informally at that time that was too much and then he came back for an update I think two meetings ago. >> Correct. >> Before the police was here were here um
for a quick update. >> I appreciate that answer and yes, I was there for both of those. Um you your comment suggested that this finance committee would like to meet or at least a representative would like to meet with the air regional school committee during
the fiscal year 27 in advance of fiscal year 28 budget. Did I misunderstand that? >> That was I uh was suggested that at at a future meeting that we look at uh having
uh maybe meeting with the uh school uh midy year so to speak just to uh keep uh keep on top of it. So we will look at that again. >> Thank you Kurt. I appreciate that. That's really where where I was going
with it. And with all due respect, I think I suggested that a couple years ago, these budgets are very complicated. And to just try to approve them, pardon the expression, on the fly, it just the we're talking
millions and millions and millions of dollars. And it's really imperative that we look at it over the course of the year, not two weeks before town meeting. That's just my take and that's a message I've been saying for 30 years. So I just
appreciate you all taking even a look at it. Robert, I'm sorry for asking questions that I should have known the answer to, but I appreciate what all of you are doing. Good. Thank you, Paulie, and thank you for the uh the comments about the uh uh on top of the uh school
board. Uh I I Andrew has done a good job of uh taking a close look at those uh those two budgets. I actually want to give you a shout out for that. Thank you. >> Well, at a future meeting, I will explain the uh regional growth factor calculation. I'm very excited to come
give that presentation. >> Yes. Okay. Uh very good. Good. Thank you again, Pauline. Any other public input? Okay. All right. Um hearing none. Uh next item on the uh our amended agenda
is to review the minutes from the meeting minutes from January 15th and then February 5th. So you have you have copies of those in front of you. >> I said we should have three minutes
only. We only have two minutes in front of us. >> Yes. We didn't we did not get a copy of the March 19th meeting minutes yet. So, we will have those to be reviewed uh at our next meeting. So, we're just looking
at um January 15th and the 5th. >> February 5th. >> Yes. >> I have comments when Eric's ready or if you want to write them down. >> Okay. I uh was at the January 15th
meeting and I'm not in the roll call. >> That was the same thing as last time, too. >> Yeah. But I made all these motions for later on just which are recorded in the minutes. >> That's right. >> Okay. And then um uh agenda item under
rate review the second paragraph the second line says it doesn't appear that the rate proposed rate increase will be enough to offset that difference. That is a bit of a confusing >> sentence. Doesn't appear that the rate proposed
the increase >> the in >> the >> the increase rate proposed. >> Yes, that's right. will be enough. There's a double negative. There's a yeah a double negative in there. >> Okay. So, how should that sentence read
then? >> It doesn't appear that the increase in the rate propo proposed will be enough. So, scratch out not here. >> Okay.
>> So, scratch out not and then say and then move increase over here. Got to get rid of the second rate. This rate got um and then the paragraph below that. Robert's missing an E.
I think that was it. Okay. I have one. You spelled my name wrong. Fifth in in the it's S E A L E Y which is right literally everywhere else E
>> that's usually a problem with my name >> the thing is I never know how seriously you should take this kind of thing >> because if you if you take it seriously like this thing uh there are two here like the on this page. It is supposed to
be three pages but only two pages of period. Uh >> it's a good one. >> Uh so but I feel like I did not do the work so I don't want to pick one other people. It seemed like a you know >> what's wrong with this printed was
supposed to be double-sided but only printed. >> Oh, okay. It was not me. >> But the thing is there is something here that was like uh the agenda item public input. There were two paragraphs for from Pauline Conley and the second one I
think is is the fire department. So I'm reading page three of the minute from February 5th and um Uh so here they said the fire department planning on hiring two additional staff
answer is no they will I think that it's meant to say they will be paid by something they will not be paid from the budget but here they say that they will not be paid both sentences they will not be paid so so I I felt like it must be
okay so was printed just not stable okay whatever correct Wait. >> Wait. These are two. >> Okay. There's one page for each. >> Okay. >> Yeah. There's a page two for each set of There's a page to page. >> Yeah. Yeah. So,
>> the copier did not. >> But I really don't feel like picking on this kind of thing. I feel like if it's understood from context, you know, you're doing this on the fly. It's very, you know, >> Mhm. I mean, if it's unclear, you should say something. But just here they say
would not be paid two times. So I think one of them was meant to say be paid. So >> okay. So this is on the >> Yeah. So one of those knots should be paid >> on the should February uh
>> I think it says they >> they will be paid. >> Yeah. >> By the impact funds. >> Yeah. >> All right. So this is on the February 5th meeting minutes. >> Yeah. >> Ah very good. Oh yes. No thank you J.
Perfect. >> Okay. Now this is good. Very good job. >> Well in light of that I will make a motion to approve both minutes as amended. >> I second the motion. >> Okay. >> Look at Jin seconding left.
Okay. >> See, and I I never quite take the initiative. >> Okay. >> I only follow. >> All those in favor? >> I I >> I have four uh votes. Uh yes, I for to
approve the meeting minutes that Robert uh did have to leave early. Okay. Um our next scheduled meeting is Get my calendar up in front of me here.
>> Is it one or two before town meeting? >> Just one. So the next our next scheduled meeting is April 16th. >> Mhm. >> And then town meeting is on the 27th.
So um we would meet on uh Thursday, April 16th. I think it would be a brief meeting. where we that we had something on your end already for that. >> Do you happen to have that? >> Cuz you wrote out the hole.
>> Yeah. >> Give me one second here if it's okay. >> I don't have it in front of me. I bring my computer. basketball fan. >> Little bit. >> I just went to He went to Purdue. >> Oh, my son goes there.
>> Oh, okay. >> He must be a basketball. >> He is now. >> Yeah. I mean, you can't not if you go to >> Actually, for April 16th, I had TBD. >> Oh, okay. >> To be determined. >> Okay. I can talk about the initial growth
factor if you'd like. >> Okay. So, uh, so April 16th meeting, why don't we we can take a look at >> unless there's something pressing, but >> we can do the technical high school
formula. And why don't we um just uh talk about that school committee, maybe having the uh regional school district uh discuss having them touch base with us midyear.
Okay. So here >> uh Andrew. >> Mhm. >> What's the something something growth factor? What are the first two letters? >> Municipal revenue growth factor. MRGF. I set out that teaser presentation. >> I know. I've been waiting for it.
>> We're going to make it. I'll pull up the spreadsheet. >> It's like It's like when movies have that teaser trailer when it just shows like like 20 seconds and you're like, "Ooh, this is intriguing." >> Well, I had to go back to like 2016 where they actually made all the formulas in the spreadsheet where I could flip through all the pages.
>> Turns out they assume you're doing 2 and 12% no matter what all the time. So, it's going to change by 2 and 12% every year. That includes other things like excise tax and all that other stuff that's included. So they they didn't miss anything and the state aid you
already get is already included in that too. So >> okay, >> no stone left unturned. >> All right then. So uh our next meeting will be Thursday, April 16th at 6:00 p.m. >> Perfect. I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn.
>> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I