Hi, Kelly. >> Good. I think you're on mute, though. >> Hi. How are you? >> Good. >> So, I'm I'm working on the SCADA thing. I never went back and updated my spreadsheet at the end of the year. So,
>> okay. I'll give you a number in just a little few minutes. >> Oh, that's fine. >> I just make a list of like what accounts you have, your account numbers, what your FY25 budget was, >> how you ended, what your FY26 budget was.
>> Yeah. In its current state. Yeah. And then um I attached the reports for it too. for the two five So they just don't come. >> How you doing? >> Good.
Good. Good. We don't want to keep you longer. >> Is it warm? >> Good. >> Highly unusual, right? >> Yes. Zero weather.
Okay. All right. I still full disclosure have to finish doing my stuff these things for assessors planning and I had to put one I have every department it lists each of their
accounts their account numbers what they have a budget for in FY25 how they ended in FY25 is a budget for FY26 where they're at FY26 and then a copy of each of their expenditure reports from FY25 and FY26 and if your department happens
to revenue. You also have to review uh reports from just time consuming. Deb Sarah coming >> um Sarah, we had to reschedu Mark because it um it didn't work for him and
that's totally fine. There were a couple people, but No, no, it's not you. It's fine. Um Sarah, I know can't make it until after 4:30. I think she >> and Alison
uh Alison will be here just um but that's okay because on too >> Yeah, we all >> not enough but >> yeah well back and shoot me. I've had enough. I've
had enough. So, >> so I I mean I don't know if we really need to wait. >> No, I wouldn't wait. I mean, at the end of the day, we're not making decisions. So, we should always communicate to these guys what discussion is about coming back in.
>> Okay. >> Are you aware that this is legal in this post? Well, right now it's not a legal form and there's no finance, >> but somebody needs to
be >> I've heard that she was the only one. So, we'll just have to paint it. >> No. So, for my >> There she is. >> So, you know,
we should announce that. >> Thank you so much. Sorry, I'm I'm distracting and I'm >> Alison. Don't worry about it. You're working. >> I'm totally better at it. >> So, do you know what?
>> No. >> Okay. >> Hi. >> Want to introduce yourself? So, >> honey. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You and your husband came down to my house and bought plants at >> Okay. Yes. And met your lovely wife.
Yeah. Yeah. Life works for the highway department. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Small town. >> Yeah. It is small town. >> Where do you live? >> Down on N Brook or one of the scooter.
>> Y. >> Thank you for letting me know. I wasn't I I the name sounded so familiar but I just couldn't >> this your fourth year >> um
>> yeah this is my third year >> yeah yeah >> okay so you got marks and we want to keep our full form so we're just gonna >> okay >> have to communicate to the other two finance people >> okay
>> what what happens here Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. Um n um so nothing really to speak about and what's going on now. Do you think
>> really nothing? Um given current affairs. I'm just asking for level fund. >> Yeah. >> From the previous year. >> Yeah. So, we wanted to ask a couple of questions for because we've got, you know, for us
since we're not so close to everything. We got the highway group that's doing a trees. We got Eversource. I get the whole Eversource thing because that's usually there's power lines involved, right? >> Yep. >> You don't get involved any of that. Is that right? >> If there's something damaged alongside
the road or critically needs to come down that yes, I will address it. Uh but for the most part they Eversource concentrates on just power line protection. They're not necessarily looking at public safety or traffic concerns or anything like that.
>> Okay. >> Would you say what they do though is like preventative maintenance or they come out like oh there's probably >> No, they do both. Um I actually just got uh some of the high lines that are cross country. they're going to be trimming this year. And it's a it's a cycle that
they obviously tree leaves growing so they come back and trim it back again and try and maintain certain distances from their power lines. >> Yeah. And Mark, how do you determine it when to go? And again, Alice is new, so we want to make sure she gets educated,
too. >> Sure. Um, well, obviously you guys know I've been working on the ash trees for a few years. There's a ton of them left. Uh basically the emerald ashbor came through and has basically killed every one of them and they're not going to
come back. Uh and then basically it's you know if somebody has a complaint about a tree I mean people you know residents see stuff all the time. There's one actually on Hayden Road that my tree tree guy is going to be coming in I think Wednesday of next week to
take care of and get it put down on the ground so there's no safety issues there. So, I mean that's that's pretty much the gist of >> when somebody like has a tree that I called you for your expert advice on a couple trees, but um
somebody sees something and they think it's going to be a dangerous cave roll thing, would they contact you first and then you determine is it highway or is it you or work with Ray or how do you do that? >> Typically, I believe if you read chapter 87 which dictates tree warden duties.
>> Okay. Any roadside tree that's in the rightway over 4 in falls under treeboard. >> Diameter >> at 4 foot rust height is what they call it. >> Oh, height. >> Well, 4 in at 4t off the ground.
>> Um, is basically how the law is written the highway department's not supposed to cut anything bigger. No, but usually Ray just shoots me an email or text or hey, what do you think of this? Can I clip it while I'm here? >> Yeah. If it's an issue, get rid of it. So,
>> right. So, in the past, like the couple years ago, it was 20 grand and we bumped it up to 40 grand. Are you seeing 40 grand worth of work every year >> with these ash trees? Yes. It's It's tough to get a lot done. Uh obviously
costs and everything keep going up every year. >> Um I'm making a dent in it. >> Yeah. >> By no means am I anywhere near done. Can I ask about Jeff's lottery service? >> Sure. >> Just because I see the invoices come in
and I wonder um like how well I guess my first question is do we have a contract with them? >> Not to my knowledge. >> My second question is so we paid this fiscal year two invoices, one in September, one in December. Well, two in December, but the one two I'm talking
about. September for $6,320 and then one in December for the same exact amount. So I'm just wondering what their pricing is >> by the day. >> By the day another one in December for $9,480.
>> Yep. So I think if you do the math, the two $6,000 ones were probably two days and then the other one was a three-day the 9,000. He was here in town working for three days. >> Okay. So, it's not 6,000 a day.
>> No. >> Oh, you're saying that's a grouping of days, >> correct? >> Okay. >> I If you want, I could pull the invoices up and look, he's right around 33,200 a day, I think. And that's the bucket truck, the chipper. He comes with three guys, all the, you know, related
equipment. >> It just says it. I'm like, well, is this per tree? Is this per hour? or is this you know >> oh it's he just does it by a day rate >> and I'm not a procurement expert but is there >> there's a threshold between 10 and 50
would uh try to obtain three quotes from tree services >> okay >> from different vendors >> y >> um >> but you only need to document that you try to obtain them if all three people don't get back to you that's okay as
long as you can show hey I reached out the same exact manner to all three vendors and this is the quote they've given me like or if Jeff is the only one who replies then Jeff you have to be able to demonstrate that you did reach out to three different >> okay I I try and use Jeff uh he's been
in town since way back when Mike Wick was tree >> work he's super easy to get in an emergency situation a lot of times he'll come out for half a day and work on a flag poles he's done that in the past he works on a radio tower at the salt ship for pretty
much nothing. >> The base work >> who >> the radio towers is that >> we just did a bunch of work up there. So we're >> we're trying to get the fire department radios to work better and it's a process. >> Yeah. >> So >> we actually have no direct line to
Northampton dispatch. It actually goes to Chester and then to Northampton off of their radio tower. So lot of Um so let let's go on the procurement for a second. Is it a cumulative amount
with a particular vendor or is it >> it's like a project? So so there's they'll call it like bid splitting if you're trying to let's say you know that he wants to have trees taken down. He can't spend $9,999
with Jeff and then $9,99 to stay below that threshold. He knows that he has to it's his goal is the ash trees, right? Y >> it's one project. >> If it's going to fall between 10 and $50,000 you have to try to obtain three
quotes three. So you just reach out to three vendors. It can be email, >> but I mean I I'm talking about like throughout the year. >> It's throughout the year. >> It is. Yeah. >> So basically in the eyes of procurement my budget would be taken as like a
contract price and technically we're splitting hairs because I'm keeping those invoices under that threshold. So to cover ourselves I should probably try and obtain quotes on like a yearly basis. >> You could so I I don't know if what I
said confused you the invoice itself doesn't matter. It's the overall. So like the overall is the removal of the ash trees for fiscal year 27, right? >> Y >> if you get an invoice for $11,000, that doesn't you don't need to get a quote every time. It should be like have an
agreement with, you know, you're reaching out to three different vendors. You let them know we need ashtray removal throughout the year. >> What I don't know the words you guys, but you would reach out to those three vendors and ask them to give you a quote for the entire year. Yep.
>> Go with that. >> Okay. >> Should I do that on a yearly basis >> so that my my budget covered? >> I've got a equipment that I want in town. >> Yeah.
>> Um Kelly, did you want >> Were you gonna say something? >> No. No, just the dogs. We all have them. >> So on a Yes. On a yearly basis. Yes.
>> You can do u option to renew in a contract. Okay. With a vendor if you would like to. Um but it would be our own goods and services contract. So you don't have to write the contract. The vendor doesn't have to write the contract. We have the contract. Our attorney supplies it for us. You fill in
the blanks type thing. Kelly signs off with the money. is available to honor the contract. >> Yep. >> And that's it. >> So if I do that before this next fiscal year and that way there we can get things on track and just >> Okay. So then at the beginning of every
fiscal year, whoever the contractor I get would sign that contract and >> it's not obviously not going to go all to them at once. It would be by invoice, but >> correct. >> It would be for X amount. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Okay. >> Right. And it's not a commitment to, you
know, he gets $40,000, let's say, in the contract. It's not committing 40. It's up to 40. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's up to four. It could be up to 40 or whatever. >> Um, surely if there's an emergency like we have 100 trees come down or something
bad, >> you're not beholden to that. There are there are other funds we can use. There are things. Okay. where I live before 19 trees. I >> got to take them down that >> you go to take it down.
>> Were you here in 2008 for the ice storm? >> That was um so last year you had 40,000 44. >> Yep. >> I thought it was 40.
I don't know. I did too, but it was indeed 44. And is the thought mark that you can spend like today you spend 50% really expected to be right at you spend
the rest of this year think >> I could easily spend double that but trying to be realistic too. So >> yeah, thank you. >> Yeah, >> we all Thank you. Um, >> and basically I think that 44 breaks
down to my original outside services was 20,000, >> right? >> And when we came into the ash trees, they started putting an additional 20,000 in. And then they didn't clear >> and then they didn't >> uh and then last year they went to this
44,000 and instead of because it was tough because he'd go out to do ash trees but he'd see a cherry tree or maple tree and they wanted it defined as asht tree in only or you know outside services only. So I was having a tough
time trying to >> Yeah. Right. >> So anyways, they just made it one >> one amount, one line item to make it easier. >> Questions. >> No, you answered. So So
I'm just so stupid. >> But >> but so he's only used up 21,000. And you said >> currently has currently but isn't
>> he currently has 21 minutes he's already six. >> Okay doesn't start till 5. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you because like
you're welcome. >> I'm new to tough because it's a year ahead. >> Yeah. Right. Right. and the calendar. It's not a calendar, it's July. >> July. Okay, that makes perfect sense. Okay, that's great. Thank you. Thanks. >> I don't know for this is great. This is
so educational for us. Every year we learn something different or have a different question. >> Sure. Absolutely. >> Did you have any questions for us? >> Good. >> Okay. We don't want to take up any more of your time. Thank you for coming in with us. >> Yeah, absolutely. I mean, decisions aren't made yet, but we know what we
need to, you know, >> you guys are good. >> Sorry. >> No worries. >> Thank you. Bye. pass it down. >> Um, do you want me to tell you about SCA or do you want um
>> Yeah, me too. I just make just made that like >> not even that. But >> yeah, Kelly had a question. What? Um, do you want me to give you the information on the SCADA project or do you want me to email it to you? >> Can you email it to me?
>> Yep, I will do it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Hi, how are you? >> Informal gathering. >> Oh, yeah. because I'm just here just as a
placeholder to help out and help these guys. >> No, not about the knowledge. I'm learning something new myself every day. >> Um to help out everybody through it. >> Yeah, I appreciate it.
>> I mean, there's still a lot of things to talk about, >> right? >> Right now, I think it's just like trying to get through what's kind of a whirlwind. >> It is. >> Yes, it is. Fire.
>> Yeah. Well, the great thing. Here's here's the thing. We didn't have Kelly to set up the stash. So, having her here is incredibly helpful. There's She can at least step in if we're off target on something. >> I don't want to interrupt the
conversation. I know I said I was going to go to work on other stuff. Um, in the email that I had sent earlier to everyone, I'm still working with Sarah on tremor and collector, but like I had said, I was going to provide you guys with the same exact stuff. So, this is the treasurer collector stuff. I will
say that we have to go back out to bid for treasurer collector by law. Um, we'll wait before June 30th. uh because this is the last year that we can have Sarah without going back out to bit. >> Got it. >> So, we will have to do that. But she's
covered through FY26. >> Is she not joining this meeting today? >> No, we don't have >> Yeah, this is just like the expenditure reports, the overalls, >> that kind of stuff. So, you guys can take a look at it. So, when we do sit down with Sarah,
>> um >> we have the information. And I think when we sit down with Sarah, it's going to be a lot of stuff. It's going to be >> my stuff, too, because that includes the insurance, the Medicare, the debt, all all of that.
>> And some of that there's nothing you could do to say yes, right? In your like insurance record to date that >> and I this is a copy of the most recent contract for collector if anybody wants to take a look at it. But again, like I said, we will have to go back to it, but
I'm going to go try and finish the assessor stuff. >> Okay, go ahead. >> All right. So, a couple things, and Mary pointed this out, is that these are generally official meetings, right? Right now, we don't have four.
So, we're okay today. But normally, there's three. It has to be posted. Okay? So one of you guys, three of you get together side and cheer generally. >> Yeah,
well we nominated her >> anyway. And you know it just a simple simple agenda, right? And generally I I mean I guess don't we all normally go sit or is that just
>> we are you know you are responsible in the department chair for normally we had a fulltime town post all the but we have made it clear since we are a
very parttime entity we can't do Yeah. >> So, do they give us access to the internet? >> Actually sent it to Wendy Burman. >> Yeah. >> She manages our our but it's not just that has posted
out there on the bullet. >> If it's posted on the website, that's just an additionalbody's >> it's not because I I get that question a lot. >> Yeah. Excuse me.
>> So, okay. >> Um, can I ask so what if we're deciding the budget now, what are the things that we'll be reviewing like it's what's
>> yeah like for example >> well let's just talk about the budget for a second. This is just first step in a budget which is does take some time because you have to talk to individual people kind of get their sense of what
they need. >> Yeah. >> But before you can actually make decisions, you need to be able to see the entire picture. You need to see how much revenues, right? Where are all the other revenue items? What is that adding up to be? So
when you go to look at your total budget, like you're balancing your checkbook, right? Same thing concept. You're you're saying, "I got five million over here that's coming in revenue and I got six million over here in expenses." That's got a balance,
>> right? Or even better. That's money that is uh remaining goes into precash or you decide, well, we're going to put cash. put in stabilization. Okay. And some of these different departments have stabilization,
right? But this is just your first step of understanding what are the needs. >> I see. >> Right. >> And then Kelly will take it and put it in the spreadsheet and add them all up. So they she may come back to us after we
get all this feedback and she says we're up $200,000 over last year. Well then you're going to look at it where we go what's driving that >> right? Yeah. >> And then you might have to make decisions because if the revenue is not
coming in at the level that it needs to and your expenses are higher, you may have to make some adjustments. So some folks who may have to go back and say could do that but to do this right and
don't forget it's ultimately the vote of town lead can make wonderful recommendations and the board can say yes that's a great idea >> we recommend it we support it but again
it's and we've seen it happen somebody salary to the town. >> Right. Absolutely. So first first phase there is >> okay I'll just
>> um and that's you That's the process, but there's a lot of work that Kelly has to do and like we won't be as or you was finance team to your work. We don't project what revenue is going to be. We
rely on those guys, right? Finance work the county work the treasury and what was it last year think. Um so you don't have to do those projections but you just need to be able to see the whole picture. Okay. And what
I was saying to Sarah last night was so the town has theirs have debit credits, right? New York expenses. Water and broadband are standalone. They're what we call our
enterprise. So they kind of have to make money for themselves. Okay? It'll take taxpayer and take users, let's say. So the money that you pay for broadband goes into
keeping that mini enterprise alive. >> The money that you pay for >> it's not part of town budget. You're still responsible as a finance team to look at it holistically. Right? So
again, Kelly will put together their what you would call penel, right, for that particular enterprise account. And it can be a little spoiled sometimes for sure because they have their own loans. They have, you know, different things,
but you're gonna walk I wanted to say this to you, walk away from here at the end of the year and into next year knowing how the town works, >> right? >> You really will. It's a It's an exciting thing to learn. It was for me,
>> you know, I've never been. So, it was really neat because sitting there, you get to see a whole big picture. >> Yeah. >> It's very eye opening.
>> It is very eye opening. And there's no more what did he do with this money? What did he do? It's all in front of you. There isn't anything that's hidden. It's all there is, right? >> When that plow,
>> right? >> It's like when that plow truck drives down your street, you have a whole different appreciation for that plow truck driving down that street. >> There's so much that goes into that. >> Yeah. So when like we had like this kind
of big increase in suspectments so a lot of >> there will be there will be more money on the revenue side >> that wasn't raised appropriated >> well
>> right so when they um project revenue next year they'll take that into collected for this and will that flow through into absolutely that wasn't that was a department since then
well assessors the assessors that yeah so it'll be interesting this year is a lot of change >> you know like the let's just take the 200 grand that we took the energy that was a oneyear event that's not going to
go into like we're gonna still tax >> I know that day Rob assessments all went up 9% so actually I Facebook at first someone I actually did the math like your house >> right >> 9% of that
>> right >> and you're going to become so much more educated. So, so I hope you actually get enjoyed it out of it if you like social.
>> Um, but as far as so that was that I just wanted to clarify what that means, finance you guys >> to meet other times as an example. Um there's a reserve and the reserve
account historically has put put $45,000 there. So you do your budget, right? You say this is what the budget is something emergency, right? and we need the extra money versus going to the town to vote. We
come to you and say, you know, we're requesting that we transfer X amount out of the reserve into this account to cover this expense. Anything that goes beyond the reserve, take money out of a savings account,
free cash. I mean, these terms up, it'll tell you exactly what it is. And then there's the stabilization funds that has voted up. So, you know, that's why the pre work is so important because every town meeting
costs money, right? You got to have registers in, you got voting in, you know, have set up. So, we try to want to avoid that can by planning. Does that make sense?
All right. So is T is top you're top part just you not able. All right. So I don't know if the house treasure Well, I don't see it. Um,
let me just check. You want a copy? >> No, she's probably got it. Bring it down. Are you just Did you fill out one of the documents? >> Yeah. Okay, she's got actually >> I'm always like five minutes late and I
was >> a lot of it is like the app >> but through the That's larger than >> the highway department. >> Everybody else straight to >> Yeah. I mean,
>> we spent a lot of time. >> Want chocolate? >> Chocolate. >> Yeah. Want chocolate? >> Sure. >> Okay. You deserve a chocolate. >> Kelly, would you like a chocolate? >> Yes, please. Not mine to give away, but that's another
>> It's lovely to meet you guys. >> Oh, Sarah. >> Oh, yeah. It's nice to meet you. You're the librarian. >> I am the librarian. >> The librarian. >> Yes. I mean, some days I feel like I may in fact be the library, but here we are.
Today I'm just the librarian. thought you needed glasses to be a librarian. >> You know, let me tell you something funny. When I was little, I thought glasses were the coolest thing on earth. And this was in the 80s, so they certainly weren't. I used to lie at the eye doctor trying to get them to give me
glasses. And they somehow always knew I was lying, but I would spend hours, like what felt like hours, I would spend so long standing at the like the wall of glasses picking out my dream glasses. And then I was never able to get any. And I was devastated every single time.
>> I still don't need glasses. I one of these days I can be hopeful. >> That's >> I I look forward to that. Jackie, but you like chocolates that aren't mine to give away. >> They're probably your chocolates. >> Sorry. >> I used to feel that way about braces. I
wanted braces so bad. >> As somebody who had braces, they were brutal. You missed nothing. >> Oh my god. >> I have too as an adult. I I have them I have them as an adult. So you are lucky to get them when you're a kid because an adult
>> it's like and I can imagine the pain. I don't have the foresuit to go through that amount of pain as an adult. I have enough pain in my old body. I don't need any. Sorry. >> Now they have the Invisalign so there's no pain involved really. But >> okay let's talk.
So no real questions on paper. There's two. >> Um, are we Oh, clering your >> right first. So these two and a half% increases, but you want to increase my hours and
make your So what are the hours? I mean you and I a little bit our posted office hours are Monday afternoons 4 to 6. Repeat the
Monday posted office hours at two hours because those are the hours we are obligated to open for in person voting. >> If we say we're open 8 to 5
>> No, I don't. >> And then it just adds to the budget adds to the budget. So we keep the to Monday to 5 to 6 and that enables us to stay within budget terms,
>> right? I get that for longer both of us come in more than those two hours every week. >> Understood. And that's kind of the reason why I was asking right is because
when you do the math I was trying to figure out and this is you guys jump in here and I know we just saw this so but I was trying to figure out okay if you took this money and you said what was the hourly rate
can't really do that say town clerk being paid the hourly rate of other town clerks if you don't know what the total hours were Right. It's just arbitrary. I get the the 4 to6 is your guys business. That's when you want to be here, you know, for
the public. Yeah. But there's still hours worked whether it's at home, whether it's here. And I don't know what those hours are. Nobody does. And they sh because we have uptimes and down. We
have right now is busy, right? Um, and we're going to be super busy probably the end of the fiscal year and we will be in more than 10 hours. Doris shoots for 19 hours a week.
>> Okay. Um, and if she doesn't do much hours this week, she'll do it next week and then some. Uh, election times It's >> so we it balances out over the course
and as you said and we probably I'm just going to be honest with you there's been a couple people that have hit me up and said when are they there? you don't know when they're there and and then you start to know just email them or send them right call them and
they'll come in right >> I don't think I can talk >> I know I know but that's just you know not everybody knows that um but you're saying she shoots she shoots for 19 hours then you're looking
for one Yes. 10. Now, the rest of these things, just so to edit you guys a little bit, Can I ask whatever? >> Maybe somebody can educate me. >> Sure.
>> Um I thought siphons don't increase. >> No. >> So why are our sency increasing? >> Well, I think in her case it's a salary. >> It's a salary. >> They call it stipen salary. It's I don't
care what you say. It's and this woman is not what other towns were saying. >> I'm not making an argument. It's not an argument against Doris in any way, shape, or form. It's It's >> Kelly's here. >> Should we rename the account? Should it
not be a stipen? I I I don't know. >> Yeah, we'll rename it. >> Okay. Just so that clearing forward that was five minutes.
I guess >> hers says I just wanted like and if we're saying stipens don't go up then we shouldn't be calling salary. So if she's working 19, let's say sometimes it's 19, sometimes it's 15,
then it's 25, you know, it's $26 an hour. Very good. Who's this? So I would have to do that. What you guys should do is say, "Is that normal?
Is that not enough?" You know, it can go both ways. I've seen it going both ways. Are we paying her what normal time for people to pay? That's why I was trying to get into hours on the other end of the state
population. I would think that me is tell you know if if say which I'm not saying at all but say you're thinking oh wow that's too much.
How do you tell someone that's been doing this job oh we're going to cut their salary? No, we wouldn't do that. >> We wouldn't do that. >> What I've seen, and I can't speak for a municipality, but if you're, let's just say, let let's just take care of, right? Let's say that
the top end of her salary for this region is in the middle of say 90,000. >> That's actually >> okay. When she encroaches, you have a a
medium sal, you have low-end salary, medium salary, highend salary, right? When they hit that high-end salary, they're going to be out of the market. That's all that they're out of market, right? Paying them way too much for the job. Don't pay for the first pay for the job because you're going to be highly
highly educated. You don't pay $50,000 attorney, >> right? >> So, in that case, we would then discussion and this would be policy. So, so we'll talk at but no one here has ever had that
situation. Uh if it ever happened, then you would still if they're a good employee, you would still give them an increase, give it to them so they're base doesn't keep going up, but they're still recmpensating.
And the reason for that is because you don't want so let's go back to this lady that is thousand it could be that she's been doing it forever and they just keep increasing increasing versus say okay well the job really is only a $50,000 job we'll give
you two% raise every year something like that that's usually what you see when I was in San I was getting $20 and 175.
Um, so feel free to always just ask because we're all kind of like different things come up for different groups. Any
other question? So she's going back on the on the if you see here child report salary 759 to 782. So we're saying that's a salary also. >> What and I think Kelly's probably going to ask the same question that you've
been asking. >> Why do we have all these extra salaries just call it under the child? Right. >> Well, they are under the town. >> No. Why? Why are they just a part of what is paid for versus
I honestly do not have a good answer for that except that is the way the budget has always. >> That's the way it's always been done. That's the normal answer. And and now, you know, now when we're doing the
budget, it's time to change it. >> Yeah. I mean if you were to add up if you added them all up now we're talking okay salary that's by law which one is
that the number eight >> okay the town report salary is that's whoever goes and when I get the So I thought that
>> so it's not always >> that was before I was if you weren't in your child responsible if you weren't in your role today would be responsible for that reporting. >> Yeah.
So that should be >> absolutely do it because it it goes with calendar and we have to have some things in law by the time you go to publish it
right. So you know really is it possible though Mary that would get that money versus the town clerk in other words we put it in the town clerk salary then you can't break that out something else okay no I will get that
you can't break that meaning we can't add it into what's the vital the vital salary is for both marriages and that's the town clerk.
That's the town clerk's responsibility. >> Um dog and street salary. She does that. I know she does that. >> Dog and street salary. >> Oh dog street.
and the police is we are mandated we are one of 11 states United States that mandates police coverage for all elections so we have to have police here and if it's a
state election state election that's not so bad we don't have so many overurren but when it's a town election to Saturday those are over That's why it's, you know, it doesn't
come out of she sends us a bill. >> Um, >> and who sends us a bill? I was trying to understand what you were saying. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Kelly. The chief police sends a bill to the town clerk for the
hours that the police officers have participated in the elections. >> Okay. Right. Okay. Okay. Yeah, that's fine. Um, so but my
one of my questions is so all of these the you know the vital statistics, the dog listing, all of that is all the town clerk's responsibility. Why do we have separate line items for this? This all should be rolled into
their town clerk salary. Well, that's what what that's what I was just asked there because when you look at let's just take the town report salary for $782, right?
What correct me if I'm wrong, but what I think I heard was that town clerk Doris doesn't do that. That's right. You do it. That's right. So, if we put in Doris's salary, that's a problem. Yeah. Leaves you out of addiction.
Right. But I've never seen this where a person that's a special project. It's just part of the jobs that you do. It's not you don't get extra pay for doing that. >> I've never seen this before. >> I don't know what to tell you. Tell
>> Okay. >> Something we could definitely discuss. >> Okay. Um but at least you know for the purpose of this discussion let's just make sure that we're aligned on the numbers and we can
now the election workers you saying pay rates 1548. Do you have anything in there that you want to budget or pen you or expand on that a little bit? Um,
you've got a pay rate of 5548, but you don't have any dollars in there budget. Um, is that on the next page? All >> okay. So, that's on the next page.
change our state primary and the state election plus our local election and somebody else said
That's another status. >> Okay. So, let's look at the expense. >> So, for um just so you all know on the books there is um an election state grant money that we've been getting for
several years here that's not been used. And as of right now, we've got $4,200 in there to be used for election expenses. >> How much gas were lost?
>> $4,194. So, $4,200. >> Wow. That's news. Sorry. We were not aware of that. We have $4,200 students. Yep. Just about 41.94. Yeah.
>> But you know, >> now you would still for the purpose of budgeting though, you would still budget like the money to fix that budget, right? We could do that, >> right? You could still budget, you know, put that in the budget, but then could
utilize those funds. um you know or split it half and half, you know, do half, you know, taxpayer money and half of the you know, grant money, you know, for a couple of years to use it up. Um because you can use that money for both
expenses and for wages for election workers. >> Yeah. And we only are reimbursed by the state for two hours when we work 12 and 13 hours.
That's sort of like an unfunded mandate. We've asked that state give every municipality $10,000 for running the elections which would take a load off town
and give some freedom to the town folks but nothing ever happened. So let's look at the expense side. you're flat on the town expenses, the dotted street listing expense, town
report expense. Um, that's that's paper now. The elections themselves, um, you open it up to 765.
Now, I know I remember last year reduced it because you bought the machine, but we also didn't have as many elections last year because the the year we're in, right? You only have to worry about right April
right now. This year, you're asking for additional 2600. Why is that? It's because we've had more elections. We've got state primary stabilizers.
If somebody leaves office unexpectedly at the state level, we have I'm just I think she thought was that
well we were out of here the last presidential election by 8:30. I think she didn't have to pay electric until ballots all those ballots
and that is error eventually and if there's an error to go back find it takes hours but you know like he was saying you got 76 if we put
7600 in there is that some money off but you have some money spend still get the money that right >> what you were saying >> they're wanting the budget 7600
which is 2600 more than last year for >> for elections. >> Well, they can use that grant money. They don't need to increase the budget. >> So, if we left the budget flat to 5,000,
then they can use some of the money that's in that fund, >> right? >> I would rather leave it 7600 and turn some back because that 4194 has been accumulating for how many years, you say, Kelly?
Um, I don't know. I would have to go back and look because it's in it would be in the old software. >> Yeah, it's for several years. If we haven't used it, I know it's been coming in. I thought we were I thought it was put in our account to be used, but
apparently it hasn't. >> No. No. It has to be set up as a separate grant account. It can't go into the general fund stuff. Now, one other thing um that I just wanted to bring to your attention is the
town clerk is still getting her fees. Um back in the day, um that's how they paid the town clerks and the treasurers and things when they first started before they started getting wages
um and they would get their fees. Now, all the towns that I know of want are not doing that anymore. They have voted to um to take go away from that because you're actually paying them a wage. So,
it's kind of like getting a bonus that you know that money really should be going to the general fund. So, that's just something to you know put out on the table that you kind of need to discuss and see if that's a practice you all want to continue to do.
a dollar for that is um we don't have a lot of debts. We don't have a lot of births. We don't have a lot of marriages. Um the biggest would be $20.
>> Don't have a lot of either. >> No, if we have one a year, we're lucky. Uh, and so I long enough I'm not aware that the state or the town has done that to say we're
taking it easily. Um, all the town clerks have a schedule that's got a longer list to it than ours or so, you know, that's I
>> Yeah. I mean, I've got you've got $584 here, right? The dog license fees revenue. >> Was there other revenue that you show there? >> That's what comes into the general. What?
>> Right. Um, give me just a minute here. $15. >> We don't have a lot of them. >> There's any question. Is that what you said? >> No, it goes to the >> That's No, it goes to the We have a separate account for income.
For instance, for the dog tax, uh we split it. business for the general fund dog goes to town clerk got a better dog license >> right but that's you know that that was a practice back when town clerks were not getting wages
um >> are not aware in Blandford of having any change in that >> and across the state Kelly there are other all the communities have a schedule so Right. You have you have a
fee. Yeah. Everybody has a fee schedule, but the town clerk doesn't retain the fees anymore because they're getting paid. >> Um so the fees all go to the town in the general fund. >> I I certainly
>> okay that's not fair. get so little compliment. >> Okay. I just wanted to bring that to your attention. Something to to think about and discuss. So, >> yeah. And that's fine.
>> Anything else? >> Are you good with your uh Have you been able to dear to get ready. We are in the process and we've got boxes that need to be shredded and when
we have enough of them, we have to follow we have to pay out of our budget the $250 for the treading. We cannot join with the town for whatever reason. Joan said that we
have the paper of ourselves. Okay. Shredding is going to come up a couple times as an issue. Okay. Any questions? Yes.
Where was my next to Mary next to Mary and then >> I I do hope so. That is my goal is to be efficient if nothing else. So >> well I don't know that but that's the this is the research one. This is the
mostly one. Do you have my things? If not, I brought these. >> Yeah, there you go. Perfect. And that's not the spreadsheet I have, but I'm sure it has. >> Oh, goody. >> Oh, yes, it is. It's correct.
the negative balance of $3,000 um is only because we are awaiting another check coming in. Uh yeah. So I'm I'm assuming that that is the account that it will be going into because that is the one that has Yes.
the 30 account. Yeah. So actually in that count account there are more things that are coming out of it that have just been pushed through. Uh, interestingly, at this point with every accounting item that I have for the entire planning and
design phase, which is now completed, um, all of our bills are in and we have with the grant funding and the town appropriated funding from the um, vote that happened to March 24, we have $56,392.98
left over. Um, so we will be giving half of that back to the state because we only are refunded 50% of the expenditures and then the other 50% will be going back to the town or it will not taken out of the town building stabilization library grant fund anyway.
So we are drastically under budget and came in months ahead of schedule. So those two things never align. Oh, thank you, Kelly. >> You go girl. You go girl. >> Library. >> We try.
>> The question I have that it's been on my mind is that is there in there to move all this stuff over to the >> Yeah. So, we have moving expenses accounted. We bet they put in $10,000 um which is what our OPM suggested that would cover us to have minimum of two
days of a professional moving service for our like large items that are not individually bookable. We've had a massive amount of yearly investment support in like helping us move and we're going to do like a ceremonial book brigade which we do not anticipate every book being moved by but it will be something and if nothing else will be a
fun spectacle. Um, >> we are a spectacle at the library. >> Yes. >> All right. >> All right. Sorry. >> Of course, I didn't mean to derail. I just wanted to try. >> So, major challenge is the staff.
>> Yes. Our staff currently are paid a measily $16.40 an hour and these are people with bachelor's degrees and an extensive amount of specialized on the job training. Um that is below surrounding
staff rate. However, when we did the uh comparison that there was a wage comparison that was grant funded, I think three years ago, um it unfortunately at that point literally all of the towns that they compared us to were also pulvery. Um so it wasn't
like we were all being paid the appropriate amount except none of us were being paid the appropriate amount. They didn't recommend a staff wage increase for our bachelor's degree educated longtime employees that have extremely spec like very deeply specific
skills for the job. >> Okay. So at that time they were instead Russell and Otis and Huntington which was not a very appropriate ballpark or a very large. >> So what do you think is the appropriate?
>> I think that if they were raised to $18 an hour. That would be an appropriate starting place of the ballpark. I did not put that in here because I respected the request of the town to have the staff and everybody else just level
essentially. So, I did go marginally above the 2.58 or something%. I think I went to like 3.2% and I, as you can see, I rounded up to $17 because I was like, this is my staff are dedicated. they understand
that their um you know their value is greater than their pay. Um which should not mean that they don't get paid more, but it means that they won't at this point over pennies. So I have
them going up to $17 instead of 1640 and the 2.5% was like 1682 and I was I just found 15. >> So that is that is my request is that they they go to 17. Do I think that that
is the appropriate wage when we compare what they do to what the other library texts and other libraries of our similar not necessarily size but services do. No, they don't get paid. But we're also here trying to all work together to make
this work. And you'll see that I don't have it broken down by person because all share the same staff but all three of them are the same. >> So is that the proposed question? So the proposed is 17
and then I just did the 2.5% for myself. go crazy wild. >> 17 for that group. >> 17 for that group and then 18 for Sam. Yes. Which is also maybe a few pennies more than the bulla. Um,
but I mean he has a master's degree level position that does >> and he only works four hours with his masters of library science doing our local screen research. It's a the value.
>> We're not doing this to be rich everyone >> despite what social media may think recently. It's more than fair. I mean, >> thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Any questions on that?
Let's go to the expense. >> And you'll see that last year we had a surplus in expenses of about $1,000. Um I am nothing if not a pener. So >> we know that >> we anticipate having a surplus. Um but
we do not know how much the surplus exists early in the oil system to know >> it's that is the idea to put solar on the roof. It is not firmly written in the stars. Um it is just that would actually because the grant covers 75% of
the project. The grant covers 75% of solar panels. However, we are making 100% of that energy savings. So, normally it would take with the amount of square footage that we have in the solar efficiency levels, it would take seven to 10 years to pay off the solar panels and to start seeing an income
within seven years. So, we start seeing that like actually pay off and now money on it, a return on investment. However, because the grant is paying for 75% of it in roughly estimated terms, after two and a half years, we will then be making your profit off that. you double up on
grants. >> Let me ask a question because the green >> there's like half a million dollars of grants out there for anyone that's in green. >> Yes, you can. So, we're able to apply for other grants that will supplement
it, but we are I do not believe that the MBLC grant will cover like it's it's a challenging way to break down because you have to report that grant to the MBLC. It will come out of the town 25%. Yeah, >> but the solar panels, let's just say
that they cost $10,000. We know it's not 10,000, but let's just say it cost 10,000 and the MLC paid for 7.5,000, then if town gets grant from the green communities that pays 5,000, we can't take all 5,000. So, we would take 5,000 and we got to give two and a half back to the state because we can't be making
money off. >> So, it just gets sticky tricky. >> When is the new library going like >> 2027? That's the idea. So that's not this >> one year and 10 months. >> I'm just because I I have qu I guess my
questions are that just increased cost much larger building. >> We do not necessarily anticipate a much greater cost and it won't be a greater cost for operations because we have designed it to be operated and state number of staff that are currently >> I mean more like electricity. It's
heating a 5,000 foot building electric even with solar. >> Yeah. So because of the the efficiency of it's they're not mini splits. People are like mini split. It's not a mini split. It is an HRV system that sits into the attic and it's a heat recovery
exchange unit. And the ability for it to produce the PTUs to heat the building is extremely efficient. Um even compared to things like oil and propane. And that efficiency doesn't necessarily create economic benefit, right? Efficiency and economics are different. But because of
the solar hopefully the potential for the solar it would offset that to the point where it wouldn't necess >> Yeah. Although like >> even though we're like a super efficient building right now. I mean we're still 130 year old building.
>> Sure. >> I just I have mini splits and everybody's like oh they're the best thing. And they are great but they're super expensive. >> Yeah. We currently have one mini split key in our library. So we are currently using electric as our um like supplemental backup heat and our all of
our electric. So we do currently use it. >> Any other questions? >> I think we're good. That's something you want to share. >> I am grateful for you taking the time to read over and give me your um your patient insights. I appreciate it and
looking forward to staying on budget for yet another year. That's the goal. That's the dream we're living here. Thank you so much. I do appreciate all of it. Have a lovely rest of your budget season. Happy budget season.
>> Thank you. I'm so sorry, Christina. I stole your thoughts. >> You're so I can't help it. So speaks out paper. >> Well, I have my own paperwork that she
gave. >> Sorry about my >> I not too bad. >> I didn't circulate any stories about you today. The day before matter today or yesterday. My favorite
super lucky. >> Yeah, you actually have >> Let's just start here. >> What >> you want to talk about? Did you just talk to your first page? >> I mean the budget analysis >> we don't expect we don't expect to be
over budget. We did switch a lot of stuff around to increase the hours of our clerk because she wasn't able to keep up and she found out after fairly short time in office that everything that was supposed to been done by the
prior clerks had not been done. So she's still catching up with that. Biggest change upcoming which probably require more schooling and and more training is that we building based
server to a cloud-based server because company no longer supports their building based server. So that will be an ongoing increased cost of course because now oh we don't have to buy a server or up to create a server say
so like like every company >> yeah it's becoming more and more expensive for >> which is less expensive. So you're ask you're asking for >> we're really looking to level fund most
of the accounts that we don't typically use on any given year. But there may be times like when you look at legal notice things that if we have to move forward with doing any kind of legal takings then you have to do
that which we haven't done much of that last couple years the town hasn't been looking diligently at foreclosures and stuff we're not look I I don't know what you're doing with people's
pay for people who get stipens assume that >> stays flat >> stays flat >> at least at this there hasn't been a lot of dialogue about it yet about >> so >> because I don't think they've changed for a while
>> no my understanding someone told me and I and I'm talking to PBC tomorrow anyway about something else I mean I send a note. Somebody told me that PC
did analysis stip. >> They did one several years ago, I think, which is what Nicole was referencing. >> The compensation study. >> Yeah. >> Stipens were in there. >> Stipens were in there, but they haven't done it in a while.
>> Yeah. And we were I think we adjusted some of the stipens around that time. >> Yeah. >> But that's probably going back four or five years. I know they've done a more recent study.
I don't know if Blancher was included. >> That's something that Kelly might insight too. She does her other Sarah whether or not our are aligned with what others do.
Um, so for Michaela, if you guys haven't met her, she's fantastic. >> Yes, it's really good. She is really good. I mean, the stuff that she's been able to figure out on her own, I think it's >> Yeah, I usually only get two or three texts and calls a day.
>> Yeah. >> Not bad for a new >> Better to get asked than not get asked. He just sits there. approved. >> Um, >> course I don't always know the answer. >> So, this is the 2 and a half%. Is that what you did here? >> Yes.
>> And you're just increasing your hours 3% >> 3%. Yeah. You're just increasing her hours. >> Um, >> keeping them looking at we increased it for the last part of this year after she came on. We're just looking to keep that
less than 20 hours. So, yeah. Void benefits. Any questions? >> I just in my, you know, my normal question. So, they have five expense lines and they only total $4,200. Is
there a reason we just don't have a line assessor department expense for in their budget? >> No. just because it's always been done that way. >> Okay. >> Somebody in the past probably figured out they wanted that.
>> Kelly want to simplify that. >> I have no opposition to pay making one line of assessor's expenses and put everything in there. >> Yeah. It just there's for these tiny little amounts it's just crazy to you
know cuz it's not only the issue of of the you know splitting the budget but you may you know trying to make sure it's getting in the right line item for your expenses. If you've got this little of expenses it's much easier just to have one account member. >> I agree.
>> My guess is somebody along the line everybody's right like that. Somebody along the line wanted to get into details. >> How many rolls of toilet paper did you use yesterday? >> I know. I know.
>> So, I mean the why things go up, folks would just have to bring in, you know, it's a substantial >> Well, I think a long time ago, people probably thought this was a way to control spending by line.
>> Yeah. as in order for you to transfer money. It's a step-by-step process. If you put all that one expense account, then conceivably you spend the entire amount on supplies or entire amount of expenses for training, but >> and you can go short if you're not good
at it. You go short. >> So, yeah, I would have no no problem with making that one expense. Do you feel I know the team gave two and a half% whatever you said three which is why feel that that's what
she should be paid or do you feel she well I think we're all underpaid now all the people that are paid salaries are underpaid I got >> to be honest um but in her case she has come a long way
I think with the increased hours. She'd probably happy at this point. I'd like to see us continue to increase that as we move forward. >> What is the average do? >> No idea. Do you guys interject
I don't want to over questions >> right and you know as I tell every financial if we're a little under that's not such a bad thing. I'd rather be under than
over because you know under just flows into free cash >> over comes something else that's you don't want to have to deal with. >> Well thank you. >> All right.
Uh, no we don't. We do not decide to come, but uh I'm here. >> So, come on up. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I have documents for all of you. >> This is conservation. Huh?
>> Sorry planning. They did not show up for you. >> Wow. Is there any way I could get access to the um the um yesterday's
um I >> yesterday's um budgets. >> Yeah. Yeah. I have them all in my office stacked up same set. Okay. Um, the only difference with the planning board and conservation is I ran out of time to
do a cover sheet for you guys, but they don't have a ton of accounts, so it should be pretty easy. But I can certainly put a cover sheet together for you guys. But yes, I I'll send it all over once these are all said and done. >> I'm going to put everything together for everybody. Okay.
>> So, I got a duplicate of ses. >> You don't have conservation, >> right? Do you have planning? >> Yes. >> Hey D, how are you? >> Good. >> Can I get you up with a question after this?
>> What's that? >> Can I get you up with the little question on the side? >> Sure. >> All right. So, let's start on page one, which doesn't look like there's any challenges there. This is a is an easy one, right?
>> Sabrina, is that her name? Yeah, Sabrina. She's a new new conservation. >> I thought we already budgeted 13,000 last year. >> We This is the This is according to what
we did already. Yeah, this is not different. She's only worked half a year. That's why it says 6500, >> right? Okay. >> Yeah, we had no age. where it was. >> We had no agent for a while. Yeah.
>> For coordinator. She likes to be called court. >> Are you putting an increase in there or is too early to write early to give her? >> No, I mean we I mean position was posted the range I think 22 to $25 an hour, but
to attract somebody with her qualifications, we thought we'd go right into 25. >> Yep. It seemed to work. So >> I I think that'll be good for for a while. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> This will be for July, right? Should we go like a year and a half?
>> Right. Yep. >> All right. Conservation expenses are permanent fees expecting. That's always a guess, right? >> Yeah. I mean, it's just part of the unknown with conservation. We never know what's coming in. Uh,
a lot of that is uh if it's somebody who's doing what's called a request for determination, which is basically the front end of the Wellness Protection Act to see if somebody's in in jurisdiction of the Wellness Protection Act or not. We we have to do a public meeting and we
have to do it a legal notice which is usually last about 65 hours per per time to write the paper. If um somebody files what's called a notice of attack, which is a more
rigorous permit application, then that there's a state calculation that they do where the state gets a piece of it, we get a piece of it, but it can be somewhere like 7,000 for the town if somebody throws an but again we
never know what's in the pipeline. So it's sort of a guess event. Yeah. Um, >> so this is pretty straightforward. >> Yeah. So the question I have is that do you think staffing is going to be an
issue as we get into out of the moratorum? >> Uh I I don't I mean I think Sabrina is very well qualified to do this. I think she's been doing this for Southwood for
quite a while and their program is quite a bit more work and they see a lot more applications than we do. Uh so she's uh seems to be seem to have hit the ground
running so far. Um >> uh so I I think we're going to be fine. Um but I mean time will tell. I mean, if if how many of these things they're potentially out there materialize, how
hard it would really hit it, you know, if they're sort of spaced out, that would be okay. But if they all kind of happen all at once, that make us stretch a little bit. >> Ely quiet, which is concerning. friend of mine in town yesterday, I think it
was yesterday, received a letter started offering them to $180,000 a year borrow their land. They're not going to do it, but a couple >> go.
So the other thing and I don't know if you all realize this is we we use peer reviews quite a bit for significant projects. So they're sort of selfunded from the applicant. >> Uh that's worked pretty well for us. Uh
and people like waiting those type of people they sort of expect it because it's never really challenged. >> We we go out to bid to several local contractors. come up with a number and say here's what it's going to cost the peer review and say okay and they sign a
check. So, so that that that's a lot takes a lot of what what could be in this project that >> um in the app pit on the last page uh the FY2025 revenue for constitutions
and the revenue is probably a little deceiving. It it is revenue, but it's money that they're spending to I think this last one's one of these last ones. Was it check
for a peer review, wasn't it? Yeah. >> Yeah, we had several checks, I think. >> Okay. So, this is >> so >> you're getting business for it. I mean, one thing that's not to be honest with you, if I could ask a question with the this money that comes
in as fees, it's never been clear what we can use that for. >> Kelly, do you did you hear that question? I think >> yes, I did. >> That's the answer. >> I mean, I don't know that there's like a specific of what you can use the fees
for. Um, but as long as it's an expense that deals with conservation, then you can spend it. So, you know, I I don't think that there's like a a black and white. You can you only use it for this or this.
>> Yeah. I guess I somebody's explained it to me in the past. is like we can't we can use it in something that's related to the function of the commission but we can't like go buy >> uh supplies or something like that.
>> Well, I mean I think supplies would be a function of your commission like if it's something that you use for conservation commission >> then >> yeah be no issue with that. Yeah, >> I'm not going to send it back, just so you know.
>> Okay. So, one thing I I don't seem to have access to what what the amount is in that account I identified here. >> Which account? I'm sorry. Are we talking about the >> page four or five where it says if it's uh the account?
>> Oh, permit application fees. >> Yeah. Um, do you see that? >> Um, I'm looking here. >> It's on the very last page of the thing that I gave you.
>> Oh, it is. >> This is FY25. FY26 hasn't posted yet. >> Oh, okay. >> But if you look on the last page of the packet I gave you. >> Oh, okay. >> Did I? >> No, I was going to say I don't I saw that.
>> I didn't take two. I swear. Um, so this is your obviously your budget thing that you've filled out. This is your FY25 expenditure ledger. So this is to reference. >> Yeah. >> This is your FY26 expenditure ledger to date as of today. >> Y.
>> And then this is your FY25 revenue ledger. And you'll notice the account number matches up the one that you were asking about there. And so there that's what's in there right there. >> Okay. Awesome. And you can keep that. >> Thank you. >> Is it the general fund number of 01
>> that revenue? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Then that just goes into the general fund and that's not something he can use that money. It just goes in as part of the general fund operating. >> Why does it do that then? I guess I'm confused how that it's they had set up
the account numbers. I think because this these things they're getting are specific for conservation. It should really be 01, >> right? So, um they have I have a whole different fund for those. Okay. >> So, like that is um
that's fund 90 which is the agency funds. So, like right now for projects going ongoing right now they have Southern Hill Town for conservation.
I have Blue Wave, Gibbs Brook. Um, and then I have Aurora Development. Um, I have Shepherd and then I have Flu Marijuana. So, right now that's the projects going
on for conservation that they get the money for that they are paying out um fees, pure fees, whatever for those projects. When they're completely finished, then that money goes back to the contractor.
>> Right. >> So, did I hear you right, Kelly? You said that this account that I identified in that Christina, she said if it starts with B1, it's going back into the general fund. >> B1 stands for represents general fund. Anytime you see an account starting with
01, that's a general fund account. >> Correct. So, if that's how it's set up, then um the budget you give them, it takes care of their expenses for that committee. Now, I do see um I did see in the
revolving funds um Oh, no. I'm sorry. It was a different thing. I don't see a revolving fund for conservation. So then I mean that that would be the only
fund that they could have money coming in and using expenses out of. >> Did didn't what was that check that you brought this year recently? It was like a a company a tree not a tree company but maybe the name of the company was
like evergreen or ever Do you remember? >> Oh, the >> a big check. >> Yeah, the $5,000 check. >> Well, that that was for um Shepherd Farm. We have a management plan, like a forest management plan, okay,
>> for the for that property, and we we were able the state we applied, it's not a grant, but we applied for some funds to the state to pay for that. >> Yeah. So that check came in and we we had the forester do the work and we paid him.
>> And so that check went into the correct account, right? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yep. So he's been paid. That's all it's all said and done. >> So I'm trying to in my head figure out what's the difference between that situation and then like
this other general fund. Now >> I I to be honest with you, I I don't have an answer for that. Um, >> so what's your suggestion as far as that being like a general fund account and it's it's conservation commission fees
that they're Is that normal? Is that a normal setup or would that be in a revolving account for them? >> Um, it depends. Some towns do it as a revolving and some towns do it this way where you know the money goes in it. It's no different than like the highway
department. you know, any money they get goes into the general fund and then you as the, you know, the budget budgets money for their department for them to use. >> The general fund is the general fund for the town or does each
>> Yeah. No, no. Overall, >> yeah. So, it's either going to be in your budget, the expenditud, or >> a revolving fund, which you don't have set up currently. >> What does it take to set up a revolving?
>> It would have to be at Angletown meeting when we do our award. We have to always include what revolving funds we want for the year. >> We have to do it anyway for everybody. Has to go to town. You could have a Yes,
>> I'd like to go. That's why >> like what kind of isn't there a limit, right? Are they revolving fund? >> What do they also like? >> Yeah, it depends on what we put on the warrant for the spending limit. >> I got it clean. we would exceed that.
>> Yeah. I mean, it's it's it's like I explained the other night, a revolving fund when you is the money the cash coming in and cash goes out for expenses. But if let's say you your fund has $3,000 in it, but the town meeting
we tell them, you know, we've put in there that they can spend up to five and town meeting approved that. They can't spend five. they can only spend three because that's all the money's there. Um, a lot of departments think, "Oh, well, you know, I can just spend that." But that's not how that works. It's
whatever cash is in that account. And also to keep in mind, it's not a savings account. A lot of departments like to do that. They just keep putting money in it, but then they're not expending money out. Um, and so we really have to keep
an eye on that to make sure that yes, you're getting your revenue in, but you need to be doing your expenses out of it. >> We really should have in our department level meetings discussion >> for sure.
what we're doing. >> All right. >> So, one other thing I just wanted to bring up that saw in the email I sent when I sent this budget package in is the the house. It's Shepherd Brown.
Uh it's it's clearly at some point going to be a liability to the town because it's in such a state of disrepair and I run some numbers on it. I mean I think
demolish the house and dispos,000 >> five or five z. >> What's that? >> Did you say 15 or 50? 5 Z 5 >> and we talked about maybe having fire department do a training fire with it. You know, there's ins and outs with
doing that. That's that's a possibility. But, um I mean I just I mean it's not a safe structure to go in anymore. Um and so it's just kind of sitting up there on 23 and
it's not >> How many properties that >> What's that? How many how much propert >> I don't know where it's at. >> So this is the property we we the town acquired it in 2009 for a dollar for Springfield water and sewer
professional. There's a a conservation restriction on the property they carry from Springfield Water and Sewer. So, it's kind of a weird conservation restriction because it's written more for watershed than like town home
property, but it works. Um, and uh at one point the historical commission uh was working with DVPC and the state and they were trying to like preserve
that. >> They're trying to take out things out that they thought were of historical value, I guess, the house, right? And I I thought I finally heard that that had been done. So that and that the historical commission was out of it. And then I don't know if you remember Christine, we talked to the woman at PCR
that Carol >> Y raise. >> Anyway, she sent us a form. We started talking to her like say hey we want to demo this house. You know what's involved with the state because it's a conservation restriction on it so forth.
So she sent us a form we would need to fill out. We drafted the response to that form that form back in the state, but we never sent it in. So, uh I don't know where that I assume they would approve it because I think they would be amendable to having I mean what we would
like to do with the property is to make it like a little park like area where the house is make a parking lot there and construct some trails on the property similar to what's built conservation land. that that's sort of
the end vision. Uh but as long as the house is there, it's kind of like >> too dangerous. >> I mean, it's like there's it's kind of from the road, it goes uphill, pretty steep, so there's no real good way to get off of Route 23 unless we build like
a parking lot where the house is. So anyway, it's food for thought. I I don't know what the answer is if there's I mean I've looked for grants for things like this and not coming up with anything. >> Well, I mean I' I'd like to sense that
it's something I plan for, right? and the stabilization >> if you did >> um you know put it in the warrant and explain what the challenges are like we don't want kids in there we don't want something happening something
>> and that we would have a plan for it from conservation something it's not like that I wouldn't do it as a tax increase type I would do it as let's take it out of the stabilization but that's got to get voted 10 >> we actually have a pretty nice plan for
the property. >> Yeah, let's put it on the list. >> Yeah. So, um I can't remember off the top of my head. I don't think from our conversations with Carolyn, there was like a time restriction on that. We could send this into the state, see, and
just see maybe that's the first step. Maybe you send it into the state, see what the state has to say. >> And if they're like, "Yeah, go for it." that then the select board and the conservation commission come up with a plan on how to best move forward. I mean it is a controlled burn if that's possible. I don't know.
>> We got to get I'm sorry I missed that part. I mean, I heard what you were saying, but so they have to move on to be able to vouch. >> Yeah. And again, I think they would be for it. I think they just have to jump through the hoops that they have in their process because because it would
lend itself to more conservation related. So things. So I'll I'll resurrect that form. I have it. >> I'm sure it's still in our >> Yeah, I'll find it. We'll pull that out. We'll get it.
Can I ask another question? Yes. >> Outside of conservation, one of my favorite subjects, tree board. >> Does he have a budget? >> He does. Have you noticed that? Um, and I'll answer that question in further
detail in a second, but have you noticed tree work being done on Carrick? Um, >> yes, I have. >> So, that's Springfield Water Suit, >> right? >> Yeah. But but it's it's on it's down in the watershed. Yes. It's not on. >> So they're supposedly they had offered
on their way out they were going to you know take down some additional ash trees along her road. We have talked about this. She uh Nicole had tried to speak with Mark about it. Mark was not available. I just wrote a letter giving them permission.
>> Is Mark I mean is Mark ever available? I I try to talk to him and I never get these. >> Um, so yes, he does have a budget. He his budget for fiscal year 26 of year we're currently is 44,000 for ash tree
removal. He uses Jeff's tree service about 32 or $3,300 per day of service. So far, he's expended about 50% of his budget for fiscal year 26. Where on on,
you know, which areas, I don't know. >> He he showed up on her bro. Mark did one day like out of the blue and said, "Oh, I'm going to have guys Jeff's do some work." They were there for one day. They did a little bit of work and they left. Haven't seen them since.
>> No, no significant impact to the They worked on like two trees. >> Oh, >> but the work that Springfield is doing is very significant. >> Yeah. >> It's like it's that I mean I sort of had it in my head. They're going there take
a few but they're actually hauling the logs out. >> Yeah. >> Like like it's a logging operation. It's kind of bigger than I thought it was going to be. But but anyway, >> is that good or is that not good? Um, well, you get into,
you know, >> I mean, I don't think they'll hit the threshold for a cutting plan. >> I don't know. I mean, I see lot big log trucks coming out loaded with logs >> every day. Well, I bet it's only going to be two or three days. She gave me a raise.
>> So, I I talked to I called the fellow at Springfield that I know who's sort of running this thing. And I said, Jake, I said, "How long is this going to go on?" I said, "Well, about 10 days and then we're going to come back next summer. We're going to do a lot more." >> So,
>> that was not >> I mean, and if they're truly hazard trees, it seems odd to me that they're they're taking lots rather than just dropping it in the woods and leaving it there. But but anyway, I I'm going to walk down in there and see what they're
doing tomorrow probably to see what the scope of it is. But if they're going to do something on her road on her way out, that would be lost. >> Well, that was the intention. That's why she's reaching out to Mark, but I Mark never returned her emails or calls. So, I I
talked to the select board about it. Um, I gave them permission. I gave the water sewer permission because there's the Massachusetts public shaped tree act. So I gave them the permission that they needed to move the trees and in that
same letter asked that they u remove any problem trees that that order road in federal area during their operation. >> Sure. From a select board standpoint though, you know, this leads me down the
path of what what we've been talking about with this. You know, we don't have any plans for some of these folks, right? And like for Mark, we need a plan. Like if you're going to spend $44,000 of taxpayers money to do and you
know, same thing with RG, same thing with, you know, anybody that's asking for a lot of money. uh to the fire department. We know what is actually going on, >> right? >> So, you know, Mark sat here and said, "Oh, it's about a day, but how many
trees is that?" >> Yeah. >> How many streets? What >> where are you going to get this? >> And what trees that see them? I mean, that's what I've always sort of like should be like proactive and like go
identify prop trees that because I mean if in the summertime you could very clearly see the dead ash trees they're on our road there's many of them >> u and you can see them anywhere if you drive around but so but we're just
waiting for >> well I I think in the spirit of transparency too for our people for residents it's good for them to know this plant if someone says, "Hey, I know something that's a little bit needs to get done." >> There's just a couple things of question
I have for that. >> Yeah. >> Town property where they're taking these trees down. >> So, part of it is that's why I had to we had to give permission for the Massachusetts Shade Tree Act. Um yeah,
majority of the trees of the logging that's going on is filled water sewer property. >> Okay. Okay. Um because I was going to say if it's town property and they're not just diseased trees, the logging of
it, then they have to pay the town a portion of that money they're getting for those trees. >> Right. Yeah. >> Right. So I didn't this is news to me that logs are are like coming out. I was presented to me was it's the ash tree
problem. You know we want there >> there's some I've never been I've been down her road. I I know the area but I haven't been down that path. And I guess like how it was presented to me was that where that entrance is at the very end. Um there were that is still town
property. There were ash trees that they wanted to take down there. And then further down the path, which is Springfield Water Fiction property, they were going to continue to remove the ash trees. It's news to me that there's log trucks coming and going tree removal.
>> I mean, it's it's just interesting to me. It's like, you know, it's like a like a glorified cart pass going down to the reservoir. It it it used to be Falls Road. Eric Road used to be called Falls Road. It went all the way to Connecticut. used to be the highway to
Connecticut before they built the reservoir in black. So anyway, uh they're they're spending all this money taking out hazard. I mean, they're spending some serious money down there to take out hazard trees. So something
just seems odd, >> but what do I So then >> thank you. >> Thank you. And with you, Steve. I told her,
>> but I also for Yeah, I saw that. Great. Yeah, she's cleaned up the desk in there. She's like making a little work spot for her down there. >> Great. >> Great. So, Christina, you had asked me
yesterday about those two um encumbered accounts in the capital project for the the a fire truck? >> Yep. >> Do you know how number one has the fire truck been ordered? >> No. >> Go ahead.
I think what it was, Kelly, was that it was an agenda item at either a special town