WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=VAOdo59nKYE

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: VAOdo59nKYE):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order, Previous Minutes Approved
- 00:01:50: Reviewing and Approving Warrants for Accounts Payable
- 00:04:22: Selectboard Updates: Tom Tribute, EPSC, Mini-Town Meeting
- 00:06:22: EPSC Update, Mini-Town Meeting, Fire Department Recognition
- 00:09:54: Mini-Town Meeting Confusion and 250th Anniversary Discussion
- 00:15:24: 250th Anniversary Fund Allocation and Donations Discussion
- 00:18:39: Public Comment: Donations and Revolving Fund Discussion
- 00:23:07: Budget Review Introduction and Revenue Overview
- 00:33:18: Revenue Discussion and State Aid Overview
- 00:36:59: Water Enterprise Fund Offset and Expense Discussion Begins
- 00:40:37: Expense Review: Secretary Wages and Assessor's Clerk
- 00:43:45: Town Treasurer Clerk, Assistant Town Clerk Changes
- 00:45:16: Planning Board Finances and IT Support Expenses
- 00:52:09: Town Hall Maintenance, Old Town Hall, Library Discussion
- 00:54:13: Fincom Budget, Police Department, Salary Discrepancies
- 00:56:49: Police Budget, Fire Department Wages, and Finances
- 01:01:10: Fire Department Budget Cuts and Stipend Program Ideas
- 01:05:32: Firefighter Recognition, Emergency Management and Discussion
- 01:14:03: Setting Accountability for the Fire Department's Funding
- 01:19:10: Emergency Management Review, Followups on Budget Items
- 01:25:01: Snow and Ice Budget, Discussion with Revenue Opportunities
- 01:26:25: Snow and Ice Budget Shortfall and Allocation Concerns
- 01:31:19: Board of Health Budget, Library Expenses Discussion
- 01:33:01: Health Insurance Increase Explanation and Debt Exclusion
- 01:35:38: Water Department Budget Review, Retained Earnings
- 01:38:18: Water Department's Financial Challenges and Unpaid Bills
- 01:44:16: Water Department Billing, Leans and Future Plans
- 01:50:10: Water Department Challenges and Commission Oversight
- 01:56:15: Broadband Budget and Backhaul Payments
- 01:58:57: Meeting Follow-ups and Eversource Easement Request
- 02:04:16: Budget Review: Action Items and Water Department Concerns
- 02:10:40: Mini-Town Meeting Schedule Clarification, Committee Bylaws


Part: 1

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I know >> six o'clock. >> Okay, the time is now 6 o'clock >> and the uh select board meeting for

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April 21st 6 PM begins. Let's start with the allegiance. I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under

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God, with liberty and justice for all. Liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. All right. We're going to start. >> I think Christina is probably making uh because we got to see it. >> Yep. Um but let's go to the uh

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examination of records from the previous meeting first. Um so we have March 2nd notes >> motion to accept the meetings as written.

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>> Okay. All in favor or any questions? >> None. >> None. No. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Hi, >> Carol. >> I got to say she ran away at this point. >> Carol ran away. >> Okay,

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>> it's okay. We can keep going, right? This train keeps going >> always. >> She was absent during that time, it looks like. >> So, we're good. >> Okay. I'm not sure.

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>> Even if you took it, we waved there. All right. So, >> make sure it writes. >> Yeah, make sure it writes. Might have dried up. Um, all right. Let's go to the action items. We're going to bundle the next three. They are review and approve warrant number 21 for accounts payable

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for payment. Review and approve warrant 21 wired accounts payable for payment. And review and approve warrant 21 payroll for payment. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> Not for me. >> You want to take a look at it first? >> Do I have to?

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>> Yes, you do. >> You're so short. Did these go? Yeah, you can. There we go. That was intent by fire. I see. >> What a taskmaster. >> This is

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one signature, please. What is this? Payroll. We can make this. No. and remove. >> Oh, this is I would abstain from this one anyways. >> Yeah. >> You want me to open a window? It's just

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me. This house. >> You could open it just me. >> I've got a sweater. >> Well, you do, too. But it's up to you. I don't care. >> We have Kelly. Is that Ronald? Kelly's on. Who else has joined? Ron.

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>> Ron. BK Ronald. >> There you go. Ron and Kelly from >> Yeah. >> Can you see us? Okay, Ryan. >> There you go. >> You okay?

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>> Great. We went public, I think. >> Can you hear us, Ronnie? >> Okay, >> your your voice is off. >> Oh, no. >> Wait a minute. >> Okay. Yeah, I can hear you. >> Okay. >> Okay.

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>> All right. Last one. All righty. All right. Let's move on into nothing for new business tonight. Departmental report. We're going to do our budget review tonight. So, I don't know if >> Christina asked if we could come back to that because she's printing the stuff

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for audience. >> Okay. Um, we could go through the selectboard update stuff. Sure. You want to do that? >> Okay. Um, there will be you're probably more familiar with what's going on with Tom

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um for the tribute to life. I I what what that is, but u I the uh >> wake is going to be 4 to 7 at Versian Adams on Friday the 24th

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>> and then the service is at 11 o'clock at the white church up here and burial after >> on >> Saturday >> on Saturday >> on Saturday. I think that this is um Mark Boomsma and a few other people in town have talked about um trying to put

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together something at the park. Um >> Oh, really? >> Is that what that was for? >> It'll be on the agenda next week. >> Next week. Okay. >> People are using the form and requesting and so it's usually going >> he did mention for next week. Okay. So that we should um probably table he'll

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be talking next week about doing something in um memory of Tom at the >> Okay. So we'll table that. Um I do know that Jen's catering right Saturday. >> Saturday. Yes. >> Okay. >> She's all set.

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>> I'll be helping her. Okay. EPSC update. Where are we? Um we have the planning uh hearing on Friday. Um, there's still open questions on the on the bylaws from

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the attorneys, but I talked to the attorneys today or talked to Jonathan today and he said, "Don't worry about it there. You know, it's okay just to go forth with what we have and they'll be small if there if there's any changes." Okay? So, we shouldn't have to do too much there. So, there'll be the best the

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solar and the overlay map discussion. Um, and we will do that. There'll be the hearing and then we will they'll come to once the hearing is over then the team will come to the board with the new bylaws and then we will go to the town

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the same day as we're doing the annual town meeting and just get approved there >> part of the town meeting correct on the warrant right >> um the whole thing the way it's going to work when I talked to Jonathan today is that we're not going to like print the whole thing in the warrant it'll be a

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separate package Yeah, I mean the the one best bylaw is 24 pages long now. >> So when we do theformational meeting, the Minitown meeting, >> we should probably like get a QR code for people to scan so that they can look at it online.

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>> Well, we should leave that for when Christina comes. I don't think we're having a Minitown meeting. >> Oh, okay. >> Because we're going to do it at the annual town meeting, >> right? >> Hardly anybody comes to the meeting. Minitown meeting is the informational meeting where people come to ask questions about the budget and then

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>> Oh, and isn't that usually like seven days before? >> Yeah. >> So, okay. So, at that point they could ask questions about >> this is not another special meeting. It's like a >> Yeah, got it. >> Yeah. >> Are you talking about mini town meeting in this room? >> No. Uh, we usually do it in there, don't we?

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>> Because Christina had sent out a whole email about how the timing is not working anymore because planning didn't get to what they needed to get to. So in order to get to the mini town meeting, it would be right on top of having the annual town meeting. So skip the mini and just have an annual.

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>> That was in an email. >> That's the way I understood. >> Yeah, that's the way I understood it too. And normally like last year when we did the budget, we had a meeting before the annual town meeting, >> right? >> Go through the warrant, go through the budget, and people are here anyway.

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>> It's a select board meeting that we go through it. Yeah. just let people know that that's when they can come and ask questions, >> right? And we'll have copies for folks. And as soon as we have the final final on all of the uh bylaws, then we'll get it posted and people can look at it and

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all that stuff too. >> Like, you know, I you know, I just have to give kudos to the committee because they really really worked hard. >> Oh, yeah. >> On those things. >> Awesome. >> Um, so that's that. And the other thing that I failed to do last for, you know,

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we all failed to do was recognize the fact that our fire department and the surrounding fire departments just did a phenomenal job. >> Yeah. >> And um putting that fire out. I mean, that was a really horrendous looking thing and it could have been so much worse.

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>> Um so kudos to those guys. They really absolutely did really did for them. I I still don't understand what that driver was thinking. >> I don't either. >> You pull up to the fuel pump when your truck's on fire. I mean, come on. >> Right. Right.

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>> And then get out. No. Pull up and then get out and look at it. Um and in this case, run like heck. >> Yeah. Um >> Right. Well, if if the fire ever got really out of hand and those tanks blew,

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the west sides would not be there. It' be a whole >> bad >> Oh, he's in jail. >> Can I back up? Did we just cancel the Minitown meeting? So, we were talking I my understanding

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is that the dates were going to end up it would be that the mini town meeting we wouldn't have time to hold it prior to that annual town meeting with the warrant the way that the warrants going, but the select board and finance will be meeting the week before and reviewing

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the last minute details of the budget at that meeting. So, we were saying that we could sort of mark it as a mini town meeting for citizens to come and ask questions about the budget before annual, >> which I think is seven days pri prior to the meeting. We need to get Cina has it

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all figured out. We need her her in there. >> Seven days. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe we'll have to meet on that Wednesday. I think that's what Christine has in this notes that she >> Yeah, I think did say meeting on the Tuesday.

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>> Yeah. April 2nd, >> the 26th. >> Right. >> So then we'll meet with we finance will meet with you the Monday before that like the 19th. >> Let's wait for her cuz she's got it all figured out. I don't and I don't want

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to. >> If I say something that she's not thinking, then I'll be like, >> "That's not it, Jackie." >> Yeah. We're We're talking about all the dates. >> Yep. >> And we all know that the warrant will have the new bylaws in there for June

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1st for voting, right, purposes. There is no Mintown meeting or there is a Minitown meeting is the question. >> This is the Minitown. This is the many town meeting >> where you go over the budget with the select board. >> Okay.

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>> There will be a meeting prior to the annual town meeting in this room like we normally do. >> Uhhuh. >> That day usually, right? That day. >> Yeah. Right before town meeting. We will meet in here. Right. >> We normally do >> prior to annual town meeting which

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starts at 7. We will have our normal meeting at 6. Um, I think that there's confusion around the particular word mini town meeting. It's confused me as well. I wasn't sure if it meant that six o'clock meeting immediately prior to

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annual town meeting or if it meant this. And I I thought it meant it makes more sense that it means this. Like everybody's going over the budget, >> talking about finances and going over the warrant, >> right? >> So I that's my that's my interpretation. That's what I believe it to be. >> Um,

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>> and that's fine. We just want to make sure we're all clear. That's all. >> And there is no special town meeting taking place. Just >> overall because of the timelines of everything. >> I'm still trying to get everything printed. Is there another question that >> No.

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>> While I was here, >> I am coming back. I guess all the >> Yeah, at this point the budget, I guess >> the budget and the warrant draft. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's just that the budget is difficult to print sometimes.

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>> I know. I know. I was going to Well, wait a minute. She's got a copy of it right here. Can't we just make copies of it? Would that be easier or no? >> Oh, the budget. >> This has all my scribbling in

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>> help. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. Where's Ray when we need him? No. >> I know, right? Um well while well while while I got you guys let me just just talk about one other thing then if we could I could

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find it um >> in the annual meeting we're going to be reviewing the budget um in front of we tend to not re that's when um we're

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voting on the budget so that's where um anyone who has questions on it can ask then um in the past it's been sort of set up where the mini town meeting would be the week before so hopefully all the questions would cleared up so the annual town meeting just goes a little bit faster

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>> um voting >> we vote at the annual town meeting >> right and and what happens to a lot of the questions at the mini town meeting that people would have always wind up being repeated at the regular town

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meeting anyway >> because very few people come to the mini. >> Okay. >> Right. Um well, while while we're sitting here, let's if you don't mind. Um I do. >> And do you Where's Joanne? Get Joanne in

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here. >> So, here's you know, we we're having the 250th anniversary team getting together. Jen's handling all that >> and she's gonna find out what historical society's doing, fairs doing and make sure that we're not duplicating it and

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whatnot and get with Joanne on the flags and all that stuff. Right. >> Um Joanne was concerned about well we can't eat up the recreational account and the memorial account because that's for Memorial Day weekend. Correct. Right. So, um, we have

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3367, $3,367 in recreation. We've got $647 memorial account. >> Um, and we've got in the veteran account 10,000. Now, the 10,000, if you remember when I went to Westfield and talked to

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that lady >> and she said that's basically our money, the town's money, meaning the town's money to do what they will with that >> because we don't have what you would call a veteran program. >> Right. >> Right. >> Um, and normally we haven't used that

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money and it just rolls over into the next year kind of thing or we fulfill it again in the next year. >> So, if we use it, do we still have 10,000 next year? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> No. >> Um the because normally if we don't use it, it's going to go it goes back into

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the general fund and then comes back out into the account, right? >> Um the thought would be so Joanne still has her money for Memorial Day. My thought was this whole

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uh initiative, this 250th is in fact Memorial related. that we could use some of that 10,000 for Memorial Day and use the funds for recreation for >> the uh >> well it's veteran related. >> It's veteran related.

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>> Um and use the recreational money for the 250th celebration thing. >> All I'm saying is that we should I'm thinking we could, you know, because those guys are going to come back and say, "Hey, how much budget do we have to

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spend?" And I'm going to say my response would be, well, how much do you need? >> Yeah. >> First of all, figure out what you're going to do and then come back and we'll figure out if we have the money and if not, you'll have to cut back. >> I did meet with Belur. >> Yep. >> And um he's going to provide us with a

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list of bands by Friday. >> I don't know what day it is when I'm out of work. It's April vacation. I have no idea what day it is. Um, so he said that they would cover the band and um, we are just we're going to cover the sound and

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possible DJ prior to the band. We thought the 45 two 45 minute sets and then acting before the fireworks at 9:30 at fireworks here at 9:30. >> Okay. >> So he was very helpful. >> Okay. >> And that's for

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>> weekend before Fourth of July, >> right? So it's June. It's like the end of June. >> Like the fireworks show is on Friday, I think, right? >> Yes. So the band will be the same time. >> I know Jen's going to talk to everybody that's on this little group that's

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working on this on Saturday that looking at Saturday to do something to celebrate the 250th. >> Um so my question to you guys, are you okay if we dip into the 10,000? That's my question. >> I don't have a problem with this. It's

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for the veterans. Yeah. One more. >> Okay. All right. >> Any questions? Do you guys have questions? >> Yeah, Kelly, go ahead. >> Um, so just so you're aware with the anniversary, we can set up like a revolving fund if you want to solicit

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donations from the community um for people that would want to donate toward the 250th. And then you know those donations come into that revolving fund and then we can spend you know expenses out for different things if that's something you

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so choose that is available to us. >> Fireworks >> we do that >> for the firework donation that might be we hadn't really talked about how we were going to meet. >> I know George had said that he want he wants to possibly solicit donations for

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the bsentennial park. Right. So, we need a place to put those donations as well. >> So, but we don't want a million different revolving accounts. >> Well, there's a revolving account for the recreation department. Could we use I believe so.

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>> Could we just use that one or is it >> worth setting up another one? >> I don't know that we have one for that. Just a moment. >> We don't have one for recreation. We talked about setting one up. Maybe we never did. >> Maybe it's just fire.

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Yeah, we don't have one. >> Okay. >> So, can we agree that we'll set one up? >> Yeah, I think I mean what is financing? >> This is just for the 250th um I think that's what she's saying >> and the bsentennial park

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>> decoration >> decorations or whatever for that. >> Is that right for the 250th? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That would be a a a celebration revolving fund for um the 250th. >> Okay. >> And you but you only have like a year

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and a half to spend the money. So if we set it up now and you get donations in now and it's not spent by a year from June, so not this June but the following June, then it goes back to the general

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fund. So, it's not like that's fine. >> Yeah. >> Forever. Don't >> Oh, do we want to call it Well, let's just talk about that for a second. Do we then want to call it the 250th? Because then you'll have people saying, "Well, wait a minute. You know, we want to use that money for the park."

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>> Yeah. No, it has to be 250th. >> Can we just call Can we call it something else? >> I don't believe so. Let me just double check, but I don't think we can. I think you can. Okay. If you find that out, I mean, that answers the question that George is

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going to come in next week. So, we could just say, "Hey, we've got it set up." >> Yeah. Whatever you suggest. Kelly, did you say one year or a year and a half? >> A year. >> It would be a year and a half. >> Oh, a year and a half.

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>> Yeah. So, if we opened it right now, we would have until the following June 30 to spend that money. >> Okay. Um, so you can call it um >> anniversary um

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or special event. Yes. So you could call it either anniversary or special event. Those are the two options. >> Let's do special events. >> Okay. >> Revolving account and then if people want to donate, we'll put it in there.

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>> Okay. I will set fund up. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Yeah, thank you. >> And are we going to fund it as well? Are we going to put funds in that as well? Just for donations. >> Just for donations. >> Yeah. Money. Yeah. Just for donations.

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We have uh 9265 in the bsentennial trust right now that they can use for, you know, cleaning up the park. >> Um certainly we don't want to use it all. I said, you know, they'll have to come up with what is their plan and they come back and say, "This is how much we're going to use or whatever."

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>> Um, and then >> you can pass it down if you want. >> Here you go. >> Um, that's it. That's all I need to talk about. Okay. Good. Good to have that discussion now. All right.

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All right. This is the high level. So, will you guys go you want to go through that front page? >> So, the first one I need you guys is just the budget summary, right? >> Yep. Okay. >> There's a stack of stuff coming to you. We're getting it all. It'll be here in a minute.

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>> Okay. >> All right. So, Kelly, just so you know, we're looking at the summary page. >> Okay. >> Are you good? You don't have to go through the warrant at this point.

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If it's easier, D Good thing the chairs don't recline. So, >> I like the tall back while they're comfy. Although, how come yours is because you're just so tall like my head hits me. >> Are you okay then? >> Well, I'm not sure what I'm what you're

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looking for. Well, you have a summary page she just gave you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do you want me to just walk through it really quick? >> Well, let me >> talk. Really? You're just going to talk about the revenue and the expenses on a whole, >> right? >> Right. And then we'll go through the details when she brings the detail pages in.

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>> Okay. >> Well, again, I mean, I can read it to you or we can read it to ourselves. No, just maybe just speak to the totals, right? Just just speak to the totals, I guess. >> Okay. Well,

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expected revenues. >> Yeah. >> 5,925 742 and 83. >> Yeah. >> And then we have the um >> expenditures. >> Yep. 5,51,663.

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>> Yep. >> Um, you know what that >> the 175 I think is the stabilization funds if I'm not mistaken. >> Transfers to other funds. >> That's our stabilization. Okay.

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>> Yep. Nope. That um leaves us with total expenditures 5,676,663. >> Yep. >> Leaving us with a surplus of um $249,000.

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>> Yep. >> $149,0007983. >> Yep. which is well within our um our goal which was between having a surplus between 2005,000. >> Yep. >> So the key is we have a surplus. >> Yeah.

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>> Which is good. >> Okay. So now that we have the detail want to walk through what do you want to walk through first? So this is our new capital project. >> Yes. Want to snatch that up with what I had.

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This would be not something the finance group is looking at. It's for us really. This is just Yeah. Yeah. Excuse me. And so we are we still deciding what we want to spend which capital projects we want on our

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>> No, I think No, I think these are in the budget, right? >> These are all in the budget. >> Most of these are grants if I'm not mistaken. Is that right, Kelly? Do you know >> um for the capital projects?

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>> Well, yes and no, I guess because this as an example, uh no, these are projects that aren't done yet or not in the we haven't decided what we're going to do because >> the water main replacement Russell Maple Lane, that's a million one. We haven't

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done anything with that. Right. Um, >> I would say from a water thing. >> Oh, okay. Very good. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uhhuh. >> There are a few others, but mostly statement.

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>> The SCADA upgrade. >> So, the others we're aware of. >> The others are what we are looking to fund. ska reand and >> I don't know who put this together and Christina maybe state grant state grant

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state grant other water main replacement state grant state grant resand one filters so these are these are things that the water department is working >> so these two for highway we are putting aside money that's included in the

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stabilization the 170 Yeah. >> Yep. >> I don't know what this the material screener the grizzly material screener. >> Yeah, he had talked about that. >> Did he? >> Yeah. But then I thought we had said

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he wouldn't need the screener if there was a >> Yeah, we might have to revisit that >> cuz we've already decided >> We removed it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we did remove it. So, >> this is old. We can >> I mean >> and then it's got 18,000 in here. The

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Oh, no. That's about right. 17,000. >> That's enough. >> Yeah, that was getting removed. >> Yeah. Anything. Just to put it out there. The chapter 90 stuff is the chapter 90 stuff. He should have, you know, paperwork for that. The stabilization stuff, if we're going to

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do it, it would have to be in this warrant. And um >> so it's just 110 then. Yep. >> That's the only one. And so if our stabilization is just a 175, sorry, now I have too many papers. And that

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includes that includes a library stabilization. A you have the um education. >> You have it right there, right? >> Oh, it's in this detailed one. >> Can we go to the stabilization page real

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quick, you guys? Let's go to that looks like page one page. Oh, >> it is on >> Oh, that's page six, >> the very last page of your packet here.

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Mhm. >> So general stabilization 25, building stabilization 25, right? >> So this is not included then. >> Yeah. >> And he wanted to start the highway stabilization the

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>> he wanted to look at is that for the mower that we were going to put 25,000 away. That could be for anything that wind up. >> But he was like, "Isn't that what you wanted to focus?" >> Yeah. >> So, but it's not included. Oh, it is included.

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>> But what I guess what I'm saying is that from a capital standpoint, if it's not in the warrant right now, it isn't happening. Yeah. >> Um, if it's not in the warrant, it could come from free cash. Just putting it out there. >> Understood. But if it's not in the warrant,

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>> it's not happening because it's either going to come for free cash or it's >> not in the warrant, it's not accounted for, it's not getting voted on. >> That's right. >> So the op is free cash, >> right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Does that make sense you guys?

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>> So when we go through the warrant, if there's something you go, whoa, we missed something, we need to >> do that. All right. So let's just let's just start. Deb, you want >> you want to start with um

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the normal dip water for now, skip broadband for now, and go right through. >> Okay. >> You want to do that, Deb? How do you What's What are you comfortable with? >> Well, I'm not really comfortable with the water to store, >> right?

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>> Or go big ones. Okay. Do you want to do revenue first? You want to go through expenses first? Well, I guess revenue probably a good start. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, and of course we as committee did

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not come up with >> right >> the revenue. >> Maybe Kelly could go through it because Kelly comes up with the revenue numbers. >> Kelly, can you go through the revenue numbers with us? You >> can do that.

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So, um if you can do you all have the re the full revenue report page. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. So, um at the top you'll have your our previous year's levy limit. Then we add in um the 2 and

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12% um and then the new growth. Jackie, did you guys confirm that with the um assessors? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um so then that gives us what our levy limit will is going to you know will be.

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Then we have the debt exclusion that we're um paying towards um for the broadband. So that gives us that amount. Now um the bottom what is

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>> explain for for everyone. So this 200,000 we're going to see it twice, right? So, we're going to see it on the expense side from the town, but then we also see it here on the revenue side. Correct. >> Right. Because it's like an offset. Yeah.

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>> Um I don't know for the life of me what those other two items are, the 926 and 32. I don't know. Um I'm not I'll have to go back and look at that. I'm not sure what that's there

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for. Um okay. And then now when you get to the next, there's basically three different revenue sources for the town. You've got your taxes, you've got your local receipts, and you've got your state aid. So this next section is going to be our

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local receipt. So these are things that the town receives um in addition to what we can get for taxes. Um so we have our excise tax, we have the penalties and interest. We do get the large pilot from um Springfield which is a huge help for

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us. Um then you get the meals tax and the rentals. Um the different department fees um that we get. We've got the dump from the transfer station. Um so those are some larger items. Um then we do have the

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building permits. Um the other miscellaneous permits. Um, we've put um 50,000 in there for earnings on investments. Things seem to be um doing fairly well. Um, so we're going to leave that for that. And then this next little

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section is the state aid. And as of right now, these are our best guesstimates of what it's going to be. Um, you know, this does until we get the final governor's approved budget, um, these numbers won't be exact until, but

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they're as close as we can possibly get right now. >> What What line are you on, Kelly? >> 155 is the total. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Kelly, can I Are these numbers based off of the estimated cherry sheets that just came out or Yes.

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um not on the ones that just came out. These are the ones that we had before. Okay. >> I haven't updated this for that. Um because I knew we were having this meeting and I didn't want to have any confusion. So, I've left these for right now. >> Fine. I just wasn't sure.

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>> Yeah. Um then we always have offsets um that we have to pay that the state um charges different charges. Mhm. >> Um, and then down at the bottom, the next section, starting at line 77,

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this is the money that we get back from the water enterprise fund for our, um, indirect costs. So, that's going to be for our utilities. They're in the building. Um, basically the space, um, my fee, part of my fee, part of Sarah's

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fee, um, part of Christina's time. um we basically bill them for that. And for the fiscal 27 um there the fee is 72,50948. Now the 44 right above that that's money

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that they still owed us from fiscal 24. They um didn't have the money to pay it all back. They paid part of it last year and then this is this the the final amount this year. So that's what that >> you're going to need to change the

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title. I was a little confused on that. >> Okay. Title saying broadband enterprise fund when really it's water. >> Okay. I have that fixed here on the other one. That's fine. That's fine. >> Copy. >> Um so then we come up with our total

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revenues that we're going to get right there of the 5,92574283. Yeah. >> Okay. Any questions on that revenue? >> If I remember right, you know, I was

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questioning the same thing. When you go back to 15 and 16, line 15 and 16. I was like, why are those two numbers in there? I didn't I wasn't sure either, even though historically they'd been there. That's the actual real estate taxes and property taxes that we charge.

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Um because >> when you do the math, uh I think it's pulling it off the 4807 if I remember right. >> Okay, >> you might want to check that to get to

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the 5.9 million, right? >> Let me just which is an important point because it could change your whole number. >> It does not. I took it out. I just

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deleted it and it left everything the same. >> Okay. So, it's pulling from the right number. >> Yeah. Yeah. The four the 4 million 80794535. >> Perfect. Okay. >> Okay.

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>> Any questions? >> No. >> Okay. Let's go. >> I have a question. >> Sure. >> Um, since I don't take notes on this, can I save my hours in >> You don't want to sit through numbers. Come on. >> My hours. >> You're okay.

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Thank you though, Joe. >> And thank you for your help. She put people and organized all of this. So, thank you, Julian. >> You are. >> Believe it or not, >> happy administrative day. >> Well, thank you. I didn't even know that

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existed. Now you're down. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Do you want to go through the next bit down? >> Yep. Okay. for our expenses. We pretty much stayed pretty close to what people

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were looking for. Um there were some changes that we were given. Um yeah. Um like the um wages, secretary, account administrator,

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>> those we have no control over those. you guys at that but pretty much going down if then we've pretty much >> can I just do you mind because I know this probably be question. So, as far as um secretary wages, you guys are going

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to see a percent change there. That looks like a lot and it does on that line item, but when you go look further down in the expenses here, we've taken her hours away on the treasury side because we have Jordana. So, really what

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we're seeing is a very small difference. I actually have the percentage. I gave you guys the percentage difference. It was I think all in all I think a $2,000 increase for the year. >> So it looks like a huge increase for Joanne. It says 46% but overall it's

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coming off on the treasurer side of things of our expenses and overall it evens out just in case anybody had any questions about that. >> I didn't. Okay. >> Okay. >> So we're good there.

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and the wages assessor's clerk difference. >> That's um that's to me person. >> Okay. And that was just the contract that was agreed upon. Correct. The 20,000 >> have to assume. >> So yeah. So that position

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it was requested by uh >> where are we Dr. >> Yeah. Sorry I was just skipping down to the next big difference. >> Okay. Yeah. Take us where you're gonna go because I don't know where you're at. So, the previous person who held that position only had x amount of hours.

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When we hired somebody new, they said that there was much more work to be done and requested more hours. >> Um, >> increased hours. >> Yeah, it was increased hours. And at the time, I did um run it by you guys. Yep. >> It was okay. And for this current fiscal

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year, we had just moved money from existing accounts, okay, to to be able to fulfill those hours assessors. But for FY27, we want to budget appropriately. So, we're not doing that again. >> But she has now cut her hours. So, the money, we should see a surplus at the

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end of the year. Yeah. Frankly, >> she wanted three days. We gave her three days. Now, she's doing two days. So, >> we should see that go down. >> So, how do you want to do this? Do you want them to go through only the ones that are >> make changes?

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>> Yeah, I think it does make sense as a little bit. >> That's fine. Just tell me where you are though. >> The both of us. >> Yeah, the both of us. >> Um I guess the town treasur clerk I the minus 100%. That's because of the shift

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in the positions there. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And then the placeholder. Okay. Go to bed. >> Yep. >> Um >> when are we doing that? >> Soon. >> That's got to be this year, right? Oh,

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like that's got to be in the next couple months. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, that could go up. >> That could go up. That was full disclosure until I go out put an RFP out. I won't

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know. I asked our current uh who we have a contract with, you know, can you suggest a number that I can put it plug in here that's realistic? That was the number that was provided. That doesn't mean that's going to be the number. >> I have I have no idea. >> Yeah, it's a little dirt.

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>> Okay, >> um the assistant town clerk is 16%. Is there an increase in hours there or? >> Yes, I think so. >> But yes, there was

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>> You want to say that? >> Yes, there was a couple. >> That's okay. here. >> It was 1 hour more a week, right? >> Was it? >> Y. >> What's next? >> Um, >> let's let's talk about planning a little

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further. >> Yeah. No, I'm >> Oh, >> so Greg had come in with um well, you can see the list of >> expenses that he was looking for. Um Jackie

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was um we actually called them back in. >> Okay. >> Um to find out specifically what these were for and it seems that it could come out of the $200,000 fund >> that was voted in. >> Right. So

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>> Jackie fun. No, not Jackie's fun, please. >> I don't I'll be getting hate mail. Um, so we took, you know, you guys all know about the 200,000 that we took to the energy team. >> Yeah. >> The planning board is in deep trouble

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because they don't have an expert in planning. >> Yep. So what we decided to do instead of asking for let's put another job in, we decided to take money tempor out of the 200,000

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and get somebody in here that can do planning work >> just for the year. >> Just for the year, maybe not even for a full year, >> right? As a like an as needed basis as projects come up. >> Um to hire a full-time position

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>> doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense for us. I think um >> you know we are in the middle. I we were just talking about this. We're in the middle right now. We have so many things going on >> but guess what two years, three years from now we won't. And now we have these

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fingers crossed and now we have these physicians that we've funded and you know we can't just get we we have to think about this pragmatically, right? So there are going to be times where we're very busy and we do need experts to step in and give us help. And I think

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that this is the best way to go about it for now unless we start to see >> this be like a constant year over year which I don't think >> right >> is going to >> right. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And the from an FPS standpoint, we're still going to go to the state and be

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pushing for if you want this work done, you got to give us money. That's not off the table yet. >> Okay. Um, Becket has wanting to has the same problem. So, they're wanting to share hours, like hire somebody and have them

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work there and work here on planning, which would probably you get a better person that way because who's going to want to come in here from Westfield or wherever for an hour here, an hour there. >> And we talked about using the grant, the

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what was it called? Uh, onetop possibly for that. Not that I know of. Oh, you're talking about the >> uh Yeah, the one stop that um Ann Gobi was talking about at our last meeting.

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>> Yeah, I we could but I don't have time to do it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You know. Okay. >> Um we we'll what we could do is take it out of go ahead and move forward and then go for the one stop. That's a possibility. >> Okay. >> So, how much are you talking? It looks

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like a total of 51,440 >> total. >> Yeah. Um, also the administrative role sitting in planning is really Edna doing all that

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work and she cannot do it anymore. >> No, we really need some more people on. So, I've already put the going out to a vendor that, you know, does basically sources jobs. You don't have to pay benefits. You don't have to even track their payroll. They go through this

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place and you just hire from them. Okay? And that administrator would support EPSC. It could support planning. And if there's, you know, if they've got other time, then we'll, you know, we'll certainly keep them busy. But um Edna is

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you know is just overwhelmed with the work. So we need to get her that support. >> So that'll probably be the first one we fill frankly. >> Um same thing with they use PVPC.

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Um and we'll take that from the 200 because these are all energy related things. Um the the challenge there is that the guy that was supporting them has just quit. So they don't even have him anymore. He was supporting EPSC and

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he just quit. So now I'm doing what he was doing. But they weren't doing that much anyway for me at this point, but certainly for planning they were. >> So we got to talk to >> our friends at PVPC and say get it filled. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> So basically we need to get him the

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support. But the the funnel that that the money that that's going to come from is the money that was voted on. And then we could track it and send the bill to the state to be able I could go to the state and say this is what it actually cost us, >> right?

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>> Um and and not put the headcount on because they should be paying for it. >> So that's that. >> Does that make sense? >> Okay. Um, and then I see the AT that says there's a breakdown of the cost and vendors.

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>> Um, the next one, the 75% increase on the town hall. Is that with the roof stuff in there? >> I'm sorry, I was doing an email. What are where are we looking? >> The 75% on the town hall maintenance and

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repairs. >> Well, can we go back up? >> Sorry. external IT support because I've heard it but you guys haven't. Is there anything that's really driving the IT increase that you would say or is it just ferally everything? >> Pay for Vadar now. We were paying through a grant before.

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>> Oh yeah. >> Um and this will be the first year that we have to pay ourselves. Yep. >> So that's one of the things that's driving it. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um I do have a different spreadsheet that breaks down. So I put um

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it used to have like we used to have things that should have been considered it type things just in different areas right like so like automated logic or or the securityities I just put anything that was like that in that bucket right this IT external software things like

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that because it just makes more sense that's we know where to find it that's where that is so but the biggest driver of that number is the fact that we have run out of the grant money for betar Okay. Okay. And your question was why 75% increase on town hall maintenance

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repairs. >> Let me find where you are. >> Um there was the bottom >> on page two. >> Two. Yes. >> So you requested 20, right? >> And yeah, I requested 20. It was

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recommended 175. >> I don't know why it says 75. Oh. Oh. 75% is an increase from the prior year. Oh yes. Okay. Um I mean yeah the I requested 20 because

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of the state of things. >> Yeah. >> And just based on what we were spent this year. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But we have discussed that we are we have um money put aside elsewhere for the bigger bigger things. So the 17 um

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>> we're finding the band-aid effect is still costing a ton >> costing too much money. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> Okay, go ahead. Deb, the old town hall expenses is up 13%. Is that take that's not taking into account

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the new because that one doesn't start yet. The new um lease. >> No, it's um that's because of all the issues with the chimney. Yes. >> And the repairs that need to be done >> and I that

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>> is a guess. We have spoken with a vendor that we're really hoping to work with. Um they seem great. They're onstate contract. We wouldn't have to jump through a ton of hoops. Uh I'm just waiting for quotes. I asked for quotes for different things. one being the chimney. Um, some drainage for around

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here, >> fixing of the roof. So, we're waiting on some quotes from from them. >> Okay. >> So, hopefully >> the chimney and the fence >> and the fence. Yeah. >> Right. >> Okay. Okay.

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Um, >> so Fincom, you would rather the 2.5. >> I'm 2.8. >> 2.8. Yeah. Um, >> it the head of the finance committee from

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Chester. I got a email or something from yesterday. I think it was after they had had their meeting. Um, and I think he said they wanted to >> 5%. Yeah, 5%.

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Um, I shared with him our frustration because we don't really get a say in it. Chester does whatever they want to do. So, I was happy to see that their finance committee was closer to what we

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wanted the 2.8 but he's at 5%. >> So, is this 119 accurate or it's higher than you think because it's 7%? And I include expenses though, right? >> So it might

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>> Does that Is that the 5% for her? Do you remember? >> Yes. >> Yes. Just >> Okay, then we're good. That's That's the number. >> She wanted. >> She wanted 10. >> She was looking for 10, right? >> They said five. They said 2.8. >> Yep. >> And yes, we're going with five. >> Five.

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>> I'm sorry. I just want to make sure that I'm understanding. So, police department, the total is 119. >> Yep. >> That's correct. >> Yep. >> Well, it may not be because they said, "Fuck, she just got an email yesterday saying Chester wants to do five."

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>> What did we put it in there for? >> That says, >> "Well, we wanted 2.8." >> No, I know. But did we put the iset? >> We didn't change it because we don't have any votes, >> right? So this is the right number >> if it passes through them

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>> for the 5%. >> They're not finalized on this not finalization. >> That's what I'm asking. >> Is this 2.8% or is this >> you know what I mean? Like >> the last one we had had everybody's salary broke out. I'm not sure what this one. >> Okay.

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>> How that it% >> I just want to make sure that we didn't adjust. We did not adjust hers. We took what they had. So this 119 is accurate, right? Yes. >> Based on what we know. >> So we can go with this. >> Yeah.

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>> Come down the >> right Sarah. Theoretically, yes. >> Okay. Now, Deb, fire department. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Well, um,

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yeah, we did not recommend flow. um raise of 16% that Adam had requested. >> That should also say >> 2.8 across the board. >> Yes. 2.8 across. Yep.

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>> So, are we not budgeting for the um firefighter wages? >> No. >> No, we are. >> He has not he has not spent this year. has not come up with the um program that he wants to. >> Right. So, let's let's first talk about

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>> let's first talk about something real quick just to make sure. Do we have the right budget here? Because we changed the numbers to 2.8% from 2.5. And I just want to make sure that we're looking at the 2.8% version. Kelly can

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>> well I can tell you this Kelly is the overall expense 5,676 6663 >> or Kelly >> Kelly >> she might have walked away for a second

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okay well we'll go back to it >> no I'm just talking and was muted Sorry. >> Okay. >> Uh 5,676663. Yes. >> Yes. So, this is the correct budget. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Because I'm surprised that 2% didn't

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round up to 3% since we're now giving it 2.8 versus 2.5. I just want to make sure we got the right one where we went back and remember we left that meeting we said change everybody 2.8%. Is that what is in here?

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Let me just triple check my other spreadsheet that has my wage calculations on it. >> Yeah. >> Or either that just look at Adams and is that a 2.8% raise or a >> I think it's

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>> 2.5 from 27173. Right. >> Yeah. I took what I I took their actuals from payroll. >> So what gain them in payroll >> that was with the 2.8%. So

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>> some of the budgets weren't correct. >> Okay, that's fair. >> That would be that could be part of the issue. >> Okay. As long as you feel that if as long as that 27,827 is a 2.8% 8% raise over prior year,

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you're good. >> Yeah. >> Um, so >> the original police budget, >> okay, >> the 84 950 that fire requested for expenses. Did he have that broken down? I just see

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that we went to the 50,000 which was um reviewed historic spending. >> Did he have like increased costs that we're we're not funding? He for the past I believe it was two years maybe three years. Kelly maybe you

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remember or you guys he's not meeting his budget. He's not spending the money that he's requesting. >> Okay. >> So we decided that we would take it down. >> Okay. So he didn't have like something that he need he's like needed to purchase this year with that.

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>> I just want to make sure that >> he's spent if I'm not mistaken. We just looked at this so far this year. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Um, fiscal year 25 requested 56865

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>> and close the year with a $30,236 surplus. >> Okay. >> And then last year um or fiscal year 26 requested 79280 and still has 72147 left. >> Oh wow. >> Okay.

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And you know the the challenge, right, was that our medical expenses have skyrocketed. So we can't have money other if we leave money in buckets that shouldn't be there. >> Correct. Yeah. >> We're going to have to raise taxes. >> We funded it significantly higher than his previous year's expenditures.

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>> Okay. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. >> Are you okay? >> I'm with it. Okay. >> Just make sure you're >> you're answering the questions. I'm listening. the >> let's talk about the 20,000 Adam came in I mean I was on the finance

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committee when last time two years ago Adam came in and wanted the 20,000 >> was it two years ago yes >> yes it was two years >> and he did not have a plan >> plan we asked for a plan >> we gave him the money last year and still didn't have a plan

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>> right >> and still hasn't spent the money >> right >> um again you know, you don't want money sitting around because we got to come up with a budget. >> If he comes back with the plan, we don't I I mean, the discussion these guys had,

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and I know I'm speaking for you, so you >> It's okay. We'll correct you. >> Okay. Is if he comes in with a plan, the the we want to give him the 20,000. >> Correct. >> Absolutely. >> Right. But come in with the plan.

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>> Yeah. And if he wants the 20,000 or maybe he figures out really it's more than that, come back and we'll do a town meeting and get the for the for the guys because they're worth it. >> Yeah. >> But having it just sit out there and not being used is

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>> I just don't want to like the perception without explanation looks bad, right? like without explanation. It looks like we are cutting way back on on fire or cutting down on what was requested. I just want to make sure at the meeting that we have

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the explanation so the um volunteers as well as the public knows that that's not the case. >> That's all I just want to make. And >> that's fair. The volunteers don't know anything about this money when we met with them about >> I mean well if they're at the meeting right they would

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>> find that hard to >> but >> well initially he had come in and said he wanted to do a program that would pay for people to show up >> he also he also said that he wasn't even sure that he's blind so proceed with this

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>> okay >> but I I I want to make sure that we as select board at least say, "Look, we're open to coming back to the town and having a discussion and asking for the funding, >> but we need to know what we're funding."

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>> Exactly. No, >> that's all. >> Which is what we had asked for last year, >> right? >> He hasn't come through. Well, this year, I guess, >> right? Right. This year come through this year. >> What do you think about that? Because these are the fire guys.

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>> I don't know. I myself I'm thinking on just rolling it over, you know, cuz we don't know what's coming up. And if it if you got something that comes up to 20,000 or more,

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you know, we're we're going to have to dig to find the money. But if it's still in his budget, then it's it's there for them to use. Can you spend money that's allocated for salaries on like a break fix thing?

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>> So no if it was salary. We don't know what this is like. Is it a stipen? Is it are they getting paid to go to training? Are they getting paid to show up to calls? We don't know. So you're right in questioning that >> right, Kelly? If if something is

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specifically a salaried it or item, it can't be transferred to pay for something that doesn't go towards payroll. >> Well, it depends on how the budget is voted at town meeting. If it's voted as a department, then yes, you can um you

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know, that's the that would be the only difference, >> right? Okay. So, um I mean I agree with you, Cara, that I think it it looks it doesn't look good. Um I also don't think

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that it's fair to have it just not look good for Adam because at the end of the day, that's the explanation, right? The explanation is Adam didn't give us what we needed to be able to move forward with this. Do I think it's fair to put it all on Adam? No. Um

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>> but you know, I don't know how else to go about it. I want I would I think everybody at this table shares a sentiment that these pe that these volunteers deserve to be recognized. >> I don't know how easy of a process it is it is, but is there a way that we could

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just say, "Okay, well, Adam, you're not taking the reigns. Can we just stipen these these these these individuals and say, "Okay, here's your stipen. It's $20,000. >> We don't know. I don't know how many volunteer firefighters there are and shame on me for not knowing that but I believe

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>> well it fluctuates because we get volunteers from the college during when the college is open >> and then in the in the summer they're gone and >> so we're down in numbers >> if if they get paid a wage you do have to have county retirement for them

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>> so I wouldn't I so 20,000 is what we're talking about and I don't know that that would be a wage number for any >> I'm just saying that's how Russell does it. They get paid per hour when they go out. >> So these guys are going to remain volunteer looking to call >> the the structure unless you are I I

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don't know. I think that they're going to remain volunteer but I think that >> you guys have the option of saying we would like to offer a statement and then it just takes out is it for training, is it for a call, is it for this, is it for

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that. No. If you are a volunteer firefighter for the town of Blandford, you get paid a stipen >> and then you figure out whatever that stipen may or may not be. >> Um, >> is it in our bylaws that we don't pay firemen or would we have by

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>> No. No. >> You know where it's >> I mean in Graanby um I think they do somebody told me that's or the fire chief told me that it's they pay $30 every time they show up for something. track that.

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>> Absolutely. >> Hey, this is what you get. >> We appreciate you guys and maybe down the line we will be able to put together a better >> approach to it, >> but for the optics of it >> and for the intent behind it, they we

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don't nobody wants it to look like we're taking it away from them or that they don't deserve it, right? So maybe the simplest answer is a stipen for now. If that's simple. I don't know if that's simple. I mean, all of our other most of our other volunteer boards get stipens. So, I

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don't Kelly, would that be a difficult process to set up? >> It's not necessarily a difficult process, but the difference with call firefighters is, you know, there has to be some sort of action happening. And what I have found in most

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towns is you might have a roster of 20 call firefighters and maybe only two or three of them really come in and do stuff. >> Yeah. >> But they're still on your roster. So, you know, it's the give and take of that is what I have found like that you're

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talking of when they come into a call, they would get, you know, $50 or whatever. there would be some sort of an agreement, but they and then um in one of my towns, they gave them a $15 stipen

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if like they guaranteed they were on call. So, kind of like you do in the water department. This guy's on call for this weekend. You're on the call for Blandford for this weekend. You're going to get a stipen whether we call you or not. So, it really it needs to be a def

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a defined program. It it's not just a blanket. Okay, we're going to give these stipens. It doesn't really work that way for fire. >> Got it. >> Well, you know, just to throw it out there then, do we say, okay, you can have the 20,000. Tell us what you need

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to get a program together. What kind of support do you need? How can we help you? Because it's really our fire department, not just his. So if he doesn't have >> Kelly, would it make sense to put it in a different account until we have a

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plan? >> No, I mean you kind of have to do one or the other. Okay. >> Um it was either you just put it in the budget and you know it's there or you know maybe at the fall town meeting um you know you use some free cash to set

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up an article or something like that. Um, you know, I mean, I guess you could do it now, but it would just be easier to put it if you since we're doing the budget to put it in the budget. >> I mean, Hustle's been doing this for probably 25 years, I'm sure they'd be

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willing to share their homework. >> Yeah. >> I'm just thinking with the state of the fire department project and everything. >> What? >> I would I would like to give them something. Do you know what I mean? I think there's a problem with giving them

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the 20,000. Do you know, but we just need to put somebody's feet to the fire and say get >> even as Kelly was saying, >> you know, they're on call, but they don't show up. Do we go pay them or, you know, tracking it, right? Like >> Yeah. >> I don't >> And it's not that's not our decision.

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No. >> I mean, the boss Adam's got to be the one. So, what if we just leave it >> and then maybe hopefully, fingers crossed, at some point once we get through this budget season and annual town meeting, we can sit down and figure

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out the easiest, best, >> let's get this done. >> Just just uh a thought like uh Debbie was saying, you know, we don't know how many show up and that. Well, don't they have a check-in roster? Like when they

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have their meetings on Wednesday night? Uh it seems to me that you know you're you're having a meeting and whenever uh I go to like a Pioneer Valley meeting or something like that, we have to check in. >> Yeah, I think that'll be part of the

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conversation when we sit down and figure out, okay, what's the what's the approach here? I think I think it's probably best to leave the 20 there and then um kind of, you know, work together with Adam, but hold his feet to the fire a little bit and and come up with a plan. >> Are you guys okay with adding it back

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in? >> What's your recommendation? >> Don't let me influence you. I just feel he's going to do the same thing as he did this year. >> And if he does, that's >> and that's and then >> so the firefighters are not getting this money, >> right? But what I'm saying is if it's

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there, I I will take the steps to try and figure out how we can get these guys this money. I can't do it right this second. I >> just I I I can't take it on right now, but if it's there, I will commit time to figuring out how to get these guys >> and women

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>> to working with Adam to get it. >> If I have to do it myself or with a member of the select board, I'll do that. That's fine. the the the the thing is is that it in the end it goes back into the general budget anyway. >> So I mean >> right

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>> the risk is what it's just there or is it there when they need it? So what I'm saying is it comes back to the general bud budget June 31st anyways. So it's kind kind of like in a interestless

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bank. Okay. >> Well, well, like banking, you know, when we were young, you used to get 5% on your checking account in your savings account, and now you pay them or >> Well, I remember the offset for doing

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some of these cuts was to offset the incredible increase in expenses we have on the medical side. It's huge. >> Yeah, I understand that. >> But I'm, you know, I would vote to keep it >> for sure, too. >> Um, At the end of the day, the vote is

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at the floor, right? So, you guys can absolutely make whatever case you would like. I am not going to weigh in. That's not my place. But I will answer any questions anybody has. >> Um, I just want to put it out there that if your if your hesitation is that it is just going to sit there and Adam's I

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will take the time to look into it this year and do something if the money is there. If it's not, that's fine, too. I'm not going to be mad about it. I'm just offering >> right >> that. What if we did the compromise and did 10,000? >> No, >> that gives something.

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>> No, because then you're not going to have enough. Even if you did a plan, you wouldn't have enough money to do what you needed to do with the number of people that are involved. I mean, this year, Adam, the initial thing that Adam had said last year was that he was going

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to use this for paying people when they come in for training. >> That's what he was going to use it for. Um because when you do this, you have to get a W9 from everybody. It's a payroll thing, you know. >> It's it's work. >> No.

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>> What do you want to do? >> Vadar. Has he spent any of that money yet? >> What money? >> I I have Vadar. He has not. >> He still hasn't spent it. >> No, but he can't though because there's no way to There's no there's no there's no um way to spend that money, right? That money is for

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>> He's not paying anyone. So the money hasn't Yeah. >> Right. Because they have to fill out a W9. They got to do all that stuff. >> Yeah. They have to become an employee of the town. Yep. >> So they have to, you know, they're just like a new employee. They have to come in and fill out all the paperwork and

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everything >> and you know, a lot of them don't like that cuz they're in multiple towns and it's, you know, it's a lot of paperwork for $15 or whatever. I mean, at the same time, guys, you know, frankly, we can hold him accountable to make sure it

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happens. >> Yeah, we're absolutely >> We is We are his boss. >> Absolutely. >> So, so this this $20,000 >> that we're talking about that it can't it has to be used for salary. Can't be used for equipment replacement or

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anything like that. No, >> it has to be used for salary. >> That's what it's called. >> Absolutely. Yep. >> Yeah. What I mean, like I said, it depends on how you vote at town meeting, >> right? For this one specifically, Kelly,

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they would, I think, have the have an article for this specific amount of money for that purpose, >> right? Let's I'll put it out there. you know, she volunteered her own time, but I'll put it out there that we'll hold

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Adam accountable to get a program together to use this money because we need these guys to show up when we need them to show up and they need to be shown that they're appreciated. >> Absolutely. >> Right. So, if that's what we need to do, that's what we'll do. >> Yeah. It really should be on Adam

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because he was going to do it last year, >> right? >> He hasn't done it. So, yes, if somebody's going to be in, >> we'll hold them. >> You can hold us accountable that we'll hold him accountable to get it done. >> Okay. So, Kelly, can you can you adjust the budget and put that back in and I

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will add an article to the warrant specific for this $20,000. >> You don't need to do that. Doesn't need to warrant because it was already last year. >> It's got to be one or the other. So if you're if you want to specifically put

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him to that this is the only way this can be used, you have to do an article, >> right? >> If you put the 20 in his budget, then it can be used for whatever within his department >> like that that would be Kelly like uh

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putting it in the budget for training and >> anything >> any any programs. So that's kind of sort of like a design designation, >> right? But I will tell you now, TJ, and I say this with the utmost respect. If it's put in that way and he and money is

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being spent out of that account that is not through this program that I'm going to take my time to figure out, I'm not going to take my time to figure it out. He's either spending the money on the volunteers or he's you guys are going to let him spend it on whatever he wants. So, >> well, at the end of the day, if it's

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going to go to something else, it should go on the expense line. >> Yeah, >> that's what I'm asking. So, do you guys want a warrant article that assigns this money specifically to this purpose or do you just want to keep it in his budget? That's my question. >> Oh, I see. I say it has to say that.

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>> So, you want to see if >> Put it on a warrant. >> Put it on a warrant. >> Yeah. So, a warrant article then. >> I want to see these guys get paid. No, >> that's >> So, I'm taking it out. I'm not putting that 20 in the budget, Christina. >> Okay.

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>> I think is she asking it? Uh, I'm Well, it's going to be a Warren article that's back in the spreadsheet. It's gonna not be there, >> but it has to it's it is going to be coming out of the budget though. It's not It

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does have to be represent >> article will need to say raise and appropriate. >> It will. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Hold on. Um, >> that was one that was contentious.

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>> Uh, so it looks like the the next one, the emergency management expenses is removed. We don't need it. It's 100 bucks. Okay. >> It's been there for the past few years and it was never used. So, >> okay. >> Can we just talk about that for a

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second? Emergency management is supposed to be more proactive than what we do. >> Yeah. >> It's not supposed to be when we react to an emergency. It's supposed to be react. It's supposed to be planned emergencies. So, no, we don't have a budget in there,

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but we need to talk about that. You know what I mean? >> Especially with all this stuff that's coming into town. Okay. >> A lot of changes in highway. Yeah. >> Okay.

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>> So, I don't think we agreed on a 6% raise. >> No, we didn't. But that was after we made that decision after. It's 5%. That's what we agreed on.

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>> So, that number we'll have to change. Well, we don't have to change it because it's not going to This is whatever's left will go into the general fund at the end of the year and they when we do the spreadsheet for his employment then we'll put the 5% in there but but your

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concern he'll see this and say this is >> Yeah. No, I want to change it. >> I don't want to. >> All right. Change it to 5%. >> Yeah. Agreed. >> Okay. Um and then the wages it's fine. the 60% for overtime

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wages based on what he spent last year. Is that the >> Yep. >> Okay. Highway clothing allowance 19%. Is that just increased costs of items?

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>> I think we have more employees but Do you guys want to talk to the discussion you had with him on all this stuff? >> And see if I could find what he uh had originally submitted if that's helpful at all. >> Right. Well, let's just talk about

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salaries for a second if you don't mind. >> He submitted $318,500. You can see that, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. We broke it out. The finance team broke it out to say, okay, what is what is the

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salaries? What is the overtime? And what he had added in there was like everybody got their CDLs.deed. That's why it was so high. >> Oh, >> okay. So, what we did, see at the bottom here where it says $70,000,

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>> that money is there should someone get a license, >> right? >> Move it from there. Okay. >> Otherwise, it's a big chunk of money sitting in one bucket. Now, how come it looks like LA uh FY

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last year we had 338 that was also including in case people got that's why that was so high? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And his was included >> and superintendent was included in that

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number. >> Right. His original proposed salary amount was $45,500. >> Okay. >> Just for reference, >> he was asking for a 10% increase, I think.

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>> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Um, so then the equipment outside repairs. I guess what I'm asking is when you sat down with um Rey, he you felt obviously you felt everything was justified the

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these increases the cuz I see like 22%, 25%. And then there's that negative 26%. Are we kind of like breaking did some of that get moved into another fund?

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Yeah, some of that money got moved into other things. >> Okay, so overall he's only up >> 10%. Is that right? >> Right. >> Okay. >> Well, if you if you look at say so take

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for example the roads, right? Repair new roads. >> He was getting he got 115,000 last year. >> He asked for 150,000 but he's getting what? another $240,000 in >> chapter 90 on top of what he got the

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year before. >> It's more than that. >> Okay. >> Well, it's 400 total, >> but 200 more than the previous year or something like that. >> It's definitely more than the previous year. Yeah. >> So, we felt, you know, when they were talking about we were looking at those

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numbers and Right. wasn't that the reason behind it more for Yeah. Yeah. I'm not going to give them more. I'm going to get from the state. Okay. Um, >> and we know he's got a million dollars sitting there right now.

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>> And it rolls over a million dollars for what? >> Chapter 90 funding >> that he hasn't spent yet for this year. Is that what you're saying? >> But it does roll over. It's It won't. Yeah. >> Thank God. >> All right. I'm looking down at board of

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health. >> Do you have any questions on Highway? >> No. >> Before we jump. Okay. >> No. Snow and ice. >> Never mind. >> The only The only thing I would say Yeah. The only thing I would say on snow and ice for for as we go forward,

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>> we keep it at the same number, but we know that it changes. You know, to really truly budget, we should be increasing it in the future. We don't have to this go around, but let's say it's $200,000. Well, it's $100,000 more than what you budgeted, right? I don't

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know what actual snow and ice has been. >> Kelly, the only thing is you can't de you should never decrease that. Right. >> Right. You don't want to decrease it, but I don't want to make it so low that we wind up blowing the budget. You know what I mean? Like when I just remember

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this discussion when Rainey was in there that he had kind of like an open ticket to spend what he wanted on snow and ice and he was like $56,000 that wasn't budgeted. >> Yeah. >> So how much more is it going to be this year? I don't know. How much did we go over

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this year so far? I don't know. >> Hold on. Well, that's a good point because we just got through winter. We should know. >> Let me give you let me give you a little information on snow and ice. >> What's that? Because it wants me to change my password right now and I just don't have the energy.

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>> I got it. Um, so did they spend? We know how much they did getting it. >> Mine wants a new password and I just As of right now, we're over um to 91,06815.

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>> We're not Oh, we're over that much. >> Yeah. >> So, we'll have to use money in other accounts to cover that. >> So, maybe we should Oh, >> seriously, we're already up to 200,000. >> Oh my god. >> What are we What's the total for Snow

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and Ice right now? Um 200,56815. >> What did I say? >> So maybe we should be >> But why though? >> Oh no. This was one of the hardest winters, >> right? And >> was a tough one. >> Really?

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>> Oh yeah. Well, it was it's not not because we had big storms, but everything was consistently, you know, it seemed like every couple of days, right, they're out there. Mhm. >> Yeah. This was a tough winter. >> Yeah. >> But what were you saying?

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>> Well, you need to be very cautious about because I know that it the the intend the tendency would be to increase snow and ice. >> But then let's say next year you have a a not as bad a winter. Once you increase

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snow and ice, you're stuck. >> You can't ever decrease it. >> Okay. It's not like if we increase it next year, you can decrease it the following year. >> Okay? >> So, it's better to leave it as as low as possible. Um because, you know, I mean,

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you can overspend it, but if you if you end up increasing it, you have to put that much in every year and you can't use that money until the end of the year. So, it's like >> Yeah. >> So, so that would be best level funding then.

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>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Just the only the only say from a budget, you know, just throw it out there though, we're saying we're going to be o we're going to have a surplus of 250,000. If this were this year, we would only have a surplus of 150,000,

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right? Because 100,000 was spent that wasn't planned. >> Yeah. >> So, we just got to >> keep an eye on it for next year. Make sure it doesn't go crazy next year. But this even makes me want to question again why we didn't submit the money for

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the snow and ice >> benefit that we could have gotten. >> Well, the one that they've just come out with. >> Yeah. >> Um, as far as I know, they haven't come out with the guidance of how to we're going to get that money. My thoughts are

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um is that it will come when we post our um when we go to do the recap. There's a place um or I'm sorry when we go to do the balance sheet there's a place we have to tell them how much short we were in snow and ice. So my thoughts are

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maybe when we do that report they'll send the money that way. >> Well he didn't submit for reimbursement. >> No >> no ICE. >> Yeah. >> Not on all of it. >> No no no. I'm sorry Kelly. I think we're

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talking about two different things. So, MIMA reached out after one of the last storms and asked us to submit um how much was expended during the storm for storm cleanup and safety and um there

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was a deadline to submit that and it was not >> Oh, okay. Yeah, this is that's different. This is a >> I know you're talking about the end of the year with the the on the um on the gateway recap all that stuff where you put the

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Uh Jackie is talking about how MIMA had reached out um offering to give reimbursements due to the severity of the last storm and uh the paperwork was not submitted. So we were not eligible

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for reimbursement. So I think we were just talking about different things, >> right? But there is um there has been an approval at the state with um an pretty good size amount of money to cover town shortages this year.

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>> Okay, good. >> Has been it's already been allocated, but the guidance hasn't come down as to how we're going to get that money. >> Um we're expecting that any time. My my but my thoughts are that would be the best way for the state to determine

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because we have to report there. that's what how much we were short and that's when how they would decide how to divvy that money up. So I do think we will end up getting you know a portion of that 90,000 back. >> Great. >> Okay. Okay. Let's move on.

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>> All right. So >> board of health. >> Yep. >> Um it looks like overall it's only up 7%. So, I don't really um building maintenance is up 33, but they're down 10% on expenses. So, I

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don't really have any questions on that. >> Did you have any questions? >> Okay. >> Um I'm on the next page. >> Yep. >> Library looks good.

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Um While we're on library, since we have one of the trustees here, we're going to have to get a sense of what it's going to cost to maintain the library as it, you know, because we don't have a

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number around that. So, something to take back >> with new like utilities costs and stuff. You're saying >> when you're going from >> Yeah. >> So, yeah. new utilities, whatever it has to occur. >> So, we can start thinking about what

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does that cost the town. >> Yeah, that's a good point. >> That's two years when it's >> 27. So, we'll be budgeting. It won't be in this budget, but it'll be in the next budget >> next year, right? >> Partial. Yeah. >> I just don't want to lose that while we're talking about it.

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>> Okay. >> Okay. Um, let's see. So, oh, because we're not using the historical consultant, >> right? >> Okay. Um, >> right.

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>> In the last two years, the money has sat there. So, >> okay. And they only requested 500. >> No, they didn't submit. Okay. Well, then the 500 if they needed it. >> There we go then. Um,

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>> do you have any questions on that? >> We're on the >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Obviously, not much we can do about the >> Okay. >> I mean, there you go. We went from 394,000 to 581,000.

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>> Yeah. >> I do have and I've given this to the finance committee if anybody would like to see it. It's just it's a health insurance prec increase and it's just an explanation that I did as to why it's so high. Um, everybody here has heard it.

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I'll say it again anyway. We have to budget for the top tier family plan even though >> they don't. >> Me for example, I am not the top tier family plan, but you guys have to budget for it >> just because that's just how it works.

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Um, not only that, the increases across the board, it's not just Blandford, it's everywhere. The increase health insurance premiums are through the roof. >> Um, >> one of the big things driving it and a lot of companies of health insurance companies are dropping it are the GLP1

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medications. I had a meeting with um Wendy from Maya and I mean she talked about it for 40 minutes like very very expensive stuff >> really driving up the cost of um some of these health insurance stocks. So I don't know but I do have it here. The numbers are correct. I've gone over it

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with Sarah. >> I've gone over it with Kelly. If anybody has any questions, happy to answer them. But yes, it is a lot of it is a lot more. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, you know that

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>> the debt exclusion is the thing that was on the other page, right? >> Overlay. You understand? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> I don't have any other questions. I think that's it. So really the only

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number that got adjusted in the budget was raise A3. Is that right? >> And the fire. We put that back in. >> Okay. You good? >> Mhm. >> Okay. You should have water.

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Let's do water next. Do you want me to try to talk to it? Water? >> Yeah. I don't understand. >> I I'll try to talk to it. It's okay. You got water in front of you? I'm >> looking for it. It's in here somewhere. >> Yeah. It's a long one like this.

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>> You want this one? TJ, I'm sure I have another one. >> Oh, I got it here somewhere. >> Got it. Thank you. So, we just not filling these line items. the um >> I guess not. >> But that's >> Are we just not filling the water revenues? The

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>> um >> Well, right. She's just got it all in one bucket kind of thing. So, Kelly, the requested budget or the approved budget? Which one is it? >> Um it's the um

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>> the um >> requested budget, right? >> The requested Yeah. >> is what we're going with, right? Okay. Yes. >> So, we got some challenges here from water. >> Um, in order to make this thing balance, we had to take $22,000

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out of retained earnings. >> Okay. Um, so your topline revenue and other funds is $894,000. you turn it over, you've got um you know what you would say is your

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expenses of 232,000 and then you got all the loans. Okay. >> Mhm. >> When you get further down into the budget, you'll see transfer to

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general fund 72,000. >> On the two page, page two of two. Mhm. >> That's the bottom. And then you got the 44,000 that they needed to pay from last year, right? That she talked about earlier. >> Bottom line, you're going to come out

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with $6542 even after you take 22,000 out of >> this is not sustainable. Mhm. >> Um the need to get that that uh

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superintendent in there is just getting worse. This is one of the reasons, right? Because there's no real oversight on the finances um >> or the projects. I mean the >> or the projects. >> I bought my house 18 years ago. They

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said meters would come and swear to God. >> I believe it. >> I have I have a question on this. I've been doing a little digging here. Um because when we met with >> water, they brought up that there was a huge amount of owed money to them. >> So, I've been kind of working with

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Jasmine a little bit. I don't have the uh how far out these are outstanding bills, but they have $114,676,000 owed to from who? >> Uh 98. There's 98 bills that haven't been paid.

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>> What are bills? Bills in the town, not from the town, >> not from us. >> Right. Right. >> Residents. >> Okay. So, that's tricky. >> Now, I don't know if it's 30 days, 90 days, three years. I I asked her that,

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but she didn't get >> so I don't have all of that nitty-gritty information. Honestly, and Kelly, you would know better than me in the municipality, even if they don't pay it, is it still considered revenue, >> right? No, it's not. Um,

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>> my question is is how are they saying they have that when we don't show that money on the books as being outstanding? >> Because they can't >> they can't say that they have that much money do them because that's not on the books. Where did you get that from, Sarah?

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>> Uh, when we were here, they brought it up and then she sent me >> I believe they said something similar last year, too. >> Yeah, they did. >> She sent me the account outstanding balances before. Oh, okay. >> Can you send that to me?

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>> Yes. >> Well, and the and the key the real key is to understand how delinquent they are. I mean, this could be from >> say I think that at one point one of the big deficits like outstanding amount of

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money that was owed to water, didn't that have to do with the plaza >> or no? >> Yeah, at one point. Yeah. >> Yeah. At one point. Yeah. >> But I think they straightened that all out. >> Yeah. Because that's like the plaza pays like both of them pays total like 350,000.

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>> Yeah. I think at one point there was >> we were like where's all the money? And it was >> Yeah. I I'm not sure if that's >> Well, they brought it up when we met with them and and I don't quote me on this, but I think they said there's like 50 people out of 250 that were

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>> had outstanding bills. I don't >> I see that as a followup for us. >> I mean, I'm looking at that's half the money taking knowing what I there's probably explanations for it, but >> I agree that there is should be a

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followup. I don't I think that followup comes from the water department. >> No, I know. But we need to tell the water department what's going on. >> So, they know they know. >> I understand. But at the end of the day, >> if it's not happening, we're

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accountable. If it if the bills don't get paid and we wind up in the red, the town's going to have to pay this bill, right? >> Yes. >> The subsidies that they've had. Uh, don't unpaid water bills go on the taxes

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as a lean or a betterment or something? >> Don't know. >> For collection, >> it goes in a lane. Correct. >> It should. Yeah. >> But after so many days delinquent, >> it becomes a lean. Yeah. Um, but it doesn't really affect them until they are trying to sell the house, >> right?

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>> So, it's like, >> does the lean acrew interest daily though or no? >> I don't know. >> How much does it cost to put a lean? It doesn't. It's um I mean well I shouldn't say that

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>> everything depends on do we have the capability in our billing software to put a lean already >> we do. So, how it works is if when um the treasurer does the taxings or each

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year when we do the billings, any leans that the water department has that are uncollected, they can give that to the tax collector and then we lean those on their taxes. So what then happens is your people that have mortgages

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when the they because before they pay to the taxes when we send them the tax bill they're going to have that water lean that's going to then be paid to the town. So um so there's no um you know it we get that money

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>> sit there like so another example and >> our trash bills right like the trash pickup >> you had to pay your trash bill but it's a health thing we can't stop picking up your trash if you don't pay your trash bill just like we can't >> turn your water >> access to water if you don't pay your

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water bill so what happens is I don't from what I remember you can't you have to call it something specific to add it to the tax bill. And in Springfield, it was for the trash. And we would get calls all the time, why am I paid my my real estate taxes? Why am I acrewing

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interest on this balance? What is this balance? Well, this balance is the lean that got paid that wasn't accounted for in your escrow and what you owed in taxes, right? So, there's this additional amount. So, the city or town in this case would still get our money.

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>> But why are we then >> why are we not doing that? water departments not giving the outstanding bills to the collector to add to >> so the leans aren't happening. >> Correct. >> And now I need to make a real good clarification here on this report. Uh

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since thank you for sending it to me. This 121,000 is current. So of this of this 121,000 over a 100,000 is current F 2026 bills we just sent out. So, this is not like

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years owed. The only years we have owed is 2025 and there's 17,000 sitting out there. So, that's all the old bills we have. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, the 17,000 could be leaned. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um and 17,000 is not anything to shake a

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stick at here in Blford. Obviously, we want to collect that money, but that for us to be able to do that, the water department needs to work with the treasures to get those leans applied to the tax bills so that we can collect that. >> But, you know, if I move that

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>> talk to the wire department because they they up >> I understand that and that's that's where it's the check but verify. Yeah. And that's what this is really is too many times this kind of stuff comes up where things get thrown out and you're

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like, well, what's going on with that? >> But yeah, we'll follow up. >> That's why I wanted the 90day. What was 30 609, >> right? >> Okay. >> No, I appreciate that because that's we got to look for that stuff. >> I mean, they're at least 30 days over.

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>> So, there's a couple of things follow up with water. This is one of them. You know, what's the real what's the real deal on what's truly delinquent? I don't consider it really the only time until it's past 90 days frankly then you start getting worried are you going to get the money or not >> and then you would do I mean there's

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probably a law as to what time what's that time frame right but the other thing is is that the model isn't sustainable unless they start charging more I'm sorry to say um and there and they want to do all

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these projects and I'm not sure where the money is going to come from >> well I mean charging more to that they're, you know, talking about transitioning to meters. So the whatever they're charging per, I don't know how it works, per water, per gallon, whatever. >> I don't know,

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>> is going to have to be enough covers basically more than >> Right. I I mean, I don't know. So, we need to we the board needs to have a meeting with them and say, "What's the plan?" I just >> and it's tough for them because look

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again if full-time workers all of them a commission who don't have that superintendent to hold a code >> I mean until we have a superintendent I don't think a meeting is going to get us anywhere >> get us anywhere right >> well I can understand why Steve don't want to be superintendent >> right

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>> I will throw out there that I was >> looking over other local municipalities um budgets that are out there. And I did see two who have to budget year over year for SCADA software which is rather

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expensive. Just keep that in mind. The software just like we pay for Var. So our Var I think is 15,000 a year. 158 maybe um >> on top of the loans. >> Bad.

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>> Yeah. >> Oh, Badar. I'm sorry. >> No, no. What were you skated? But so I'm saying I'm I'm just equating the two, right? So SCADA, we're going to have to pay um a software license >> year over year. And what I'm seeing in

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other towns is is 20 30. I'm sure it depends on what bells and whistles you want in the software, how big the facility is. All of those things I'm sure come into play. >> It is thousands. At least 10, I would say.

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>> And my guess is that's not in this budget. something probably not even crossed their minds. Additionally, I would also like to bring up one of the first meetings that we had with Bright and Pierce, I had said, you know, this project started quite some time ago. Um, with the way technology advances,

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is any of this stuff that you guys have done already outdated? And the answer was yes. >> Oh my god. So, I don't know that the water department is necessarily taking that into consideration, but >> yeah, >> these are things that we are aware of.

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Um, and we can't turn a blind eye to >> this a whole another discussion. That's all. >> What's that? >> Nothing. I don't think I can. >> No, I mean, at the end of the day, no, you can. Yeah, but anyway, it's a it's it's not something that we could sit on

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very long. It's going to be a problem. I mean, at what point do we just start to talk about alternatives to a water? >> Well, that's something that we should keep. >> I mean, I think the scary reality of this is that we have it out there posted

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for $18,000 like and nothing really. So, what do you do? Even if we could, which we won't, please don't take this as I'm suggesting it in any way, but even if you posted it for 250,000, that doesn't mean you're going to get the right person. And

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>> that's a problem. We need somebody. It's our water. It's our town's water. >> We need an expert to come in and tell us what is the best path. >> We need a a is there a Kelly that does water? Is there a Sarah that like is there a group that that you know is

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there somebody that is a professional in this? Because clearly >> we're putting it out there and it's just >> nobody Springfield Water Sewer it holds runs the monopoly basically for anybody with these licenses that we would need

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for a superintendent and there's not much we can do about that. So at some point we have to look at our alternative options. >> Yeah, we do. I mean, and there's a few different ones that we could do. I mean, no doubt about it. I mean,

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>> let's not forget the amount of money for these amount of people at services. Not saying that they don't deserve water. A lot of money for a few for the >> 250 households. And I mean, I'm one of them. So, but yeah,

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>> I know what you're saying. >> And our water bill's outrageous. So, we on the other side. So, >> is there such thing as a shared water superintendent? >> Uh, well, I think if I beg you to recall

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>> water services and how horribly that was. Um, >> we had one before, TJ. >> No, I Well, yeah, but >> I mean, Bernie does two towns. It's a full-time job having one person, >> but Bernie really wasn't the

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superintendent. He w he was at one point before Gordon >> at one point before Gordon. >> But the the thing is is there's there has to be a solution and you know >> you know I'm thinking we either outsource it is a possibility or you

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know I don't know I was hoping our cap was going to be helpful but they weren't very helpful >> at all. Maybe this is something that we just need to have a town meeting about at some point and see what the residents really think if we lay it out for them. Like this is the numbers. This is the

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reality. This is what we're dealing with. >> We don't want to make this decision as a whole for the entire town because it affects the entire town, the amount of money that it costs in all of this. So maybe we see what people want to do. We give them the numbers. We give them the

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reality. and >> and you need the emergency service water available hydrants. So it's not like you can go to all wells, >> you know, >> just saying I mean it's not I I mean >> I'm just saying because I know that I can't figure it out, right? Like I can't make the right decision. >> At the end of you know there's a couple

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things, right? At the end of the day that engineering team is running the show. >> Yeah. >> Period. And they're getting they're getting paid >> big bucks big ass bucks to run the show. So number one you got an outsource engineering team telling us what to do. department

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>> that at $108,000 if we found somebody we would not be relying on right here >> right here anymore. Yeah. >> The way that >> they get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. >> So you got that problem and they continue to come up with projects that

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>> now most of those projects are defined by the state meaning there's certain requirements. Right. >> I say that the direction is you do what the state needs to have done and that's it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Right. We're done. Because any more debt

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like the SCADA project, I frankly after I understood how it works, I'm not sure how they sold that one. >> That was required, wasn't it? >> No. Couldn't have been. >> The SCADA project doesn't when when we first started talking about the SKA project, somebody sold somebody of Billy

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Good. >> You thought that that was part of our the the list of things that we had to do to catch up to the bare minimum? >> No, I don't think so. >> No, I I don't think so. Yeah, >> I don't think so. I think that was a wish list. >> Jeez, I didn't realize.

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>> I mean, the skater project, all it does is monitors inside the building, >> right? >> Anything that goes out. I said, "Oh, this is going to be great. If we have water leak someplace, it's going to detect it." Nope. >> The the the thing is with the water department is we have

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>> so many different size pipes. All right. We have we used to have a water tank and that water tank was only one foot higher than the fairgrounds. >> Oh, you told me about that. >> Yeah. And so I mean >> water didn't run down.

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>> That's why we went to the pump system >> and now they want to install another tank >> right >> closer to the pump system. And I I'm saying, well, we're starting to get a little redundancy here. >> Mhm. >> You know, and we're talking spending a

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lot of money and >> yes, >> we're going to be at at the end, you know, it it's I mean, it would be nice to have not have to rely on pumps, but we are.

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>> Okay. Well, we need to have a probably a a a meeting about just what we're going to do. >> We should commissioners. I don't know where they fit in this bowl. The water commissioners. They own it. They do. >> They're elected. They do. They still receive a stipend as well. They do.

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>> So, they used to work hourly. They used to get money out of two buckets, but I don't think that's the case anymore. Mhm. >> Um, so there's like they would they kind they manage the superintendent like

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we manage the highway superintendent but then the superintendent it everything is still overseen by the select board. Um, >> it's a um, >> weren't they concerned about the performance? >> Yeah. Well,

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I I no comment. I think that the expertise of our water commissioners are the expertise of the systems and how they work and the repairs and I don't think the budget side is as much their expertise that should be

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under the purview of the superintendent but because we haven't had a superintendent in a long time now and I think even when we did have one that superintendent was really outsourcing most of that work to regular peers >> which is excessively expensive. So, I

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don't think that we've historically ever really had a superintendent that was really knowledgeable about the budget system. >> And again, it's they Springfield Water Sewer just holds the the lock on everybody who gets licensed in this

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industry. That's where they go. Springfield Water Se >> and they're going to pay more money. I mean, the last guy we tried to get from Springfield Water ended up just moving up the rank there instead of coming to us. >> I mean, he was going to get paid $30,000

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less than what he was paid already. >> So, good job. Yeah. So, >> and do more and he was a laborer. It wasn't like he was a manager. >> All right. So, let's talk about broadband real quick. It's a one pager. >> It's le it's reduced. >> Um

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>> I don't have any concerns about that. >> Yeah. So, at the end of the day, uh, broadband's still doing very well, >> right? >> I mean, I'm not >> Yes. >> I don't think any of us are too concerned about it. Are you concerned about it, Kelly? >> So,

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>> no. >> And sure, what is um why are they calling it a backhole payment? Um, >> I don't know what a back call is.

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>> Now I don't feel stupid because they keep calling it a monthly back haul payment. The the fiscal year 27 shared back hall payment details for Blandford and then they give us the total assessment. They give us a monthly

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payment schedule and then they say or quarterly and then they give us a quarterly payment schedule. This is broad. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Says, "The backhole escort account earns $68.66

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in interest between March 1st, 2025 and March 1st, 2026. This amount has been aortioned to the towns accordingly." Um, >> is it something to do with I mean this does it have something to do with the revenue side of of

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>> is the aortionment of the monthly recurring shared backhole costs for FY27? >> Yeah, I don't know I don't know specifically what that is other than that he does have that listed in his budget in the >> as long as it's accounted for. This was

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left on my desk. Um, >> and I had asked >> there's something that Peter would know. >> I think Peter is the one who left it. >> Oh, I think he's the one that did ask. I have no idea.

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But it's money we get back it looks like. >> I know it's a payment. >> I don't know. >> Yeah, it's a payment. >> That's a question for Peter. >> I I'm very, you know, that's another thing. A lot of this information on on uh broadband itself is really in fever's

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head. >> Yes. >> And that's >> Well, not that he's not a great guy, but you know, he really needs a backup. >> Yes, >> he needs a backup. Okay. >> Broad. >> So, what are the follow-ups you guys to

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this meeting? Can we just go through it really quick? >> Oh, yes. Um, the follow-ups were uh Christina is adding a warrant article to the um special town meeting. Um the

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select board is following up with Adam about um actions for the 20,000. I also um just as a side note I'm gonna reach I reached out to um someone I know who's in that business and I think that he'll

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be a good um source for that. So I'll work >> that's great. >> Awesome. Thank you Karen. >> Um the select board is going to follow up with the water department regarding concern for the um their budget

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>> and and the lean process. um on the 17,000. >> Okay. Um >> and we should meet with Peter and get an explanation on this. >> And what was that called >> on the back hall

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doesn't make heads or tails look nice? >> Oh, the town of Washington thing there. >> Yeah. Washington too. >> And that was it. There was no followup for Ray. >> Um I can I just This isn't This isn't budget, but this is warrant. So, I

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wanted to go over it with you guys. So, um I had received an email from Eversource asking about um possible and they

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Okay, there's a new request for a guide and anchor easement located on property owned by the town of Bland. Planford. The pole locations should be covered under previous goals, which are grant of

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locations granted by the town attached to the most recent go signed by the select board. I do not currently have the previous goos, but I will try to obtain them. This is what Eversource is saying to me. >> Um, I said, "If there are existing easements on these properties that Eversource holds, could you please

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provide copies?" She said, "There is not an existing easement on either property. The poll location again should be covered under the go. Then one other question. Oh, the maps. One said Otis, one said Blandford, but she clarified that that was a mistake. I have never

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dealt with this before. So, I ran this by attorney Ikeman, who um deals with this. and he said that um for a warrant article

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he said that this was pretty straightforward and he said Christina without getting too deep into this if the select board is amendable to whoever sources requests to locate guywires I always thought they were guide but it's gy no >> no

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>> guidewires on town property I recommend putting an article on the warrant to authorize the select board to grant heedsman in these properties for utility purposes. He drafted me an a warrant article. >> Okay. >> If you would like, I will put it in. I didn't put it in because I haven't had a

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chance to talk to you guys about it first. Um up to you. >> What >> I can read the article if you'd like. >> What could they do that we wouldn't like by granting them this easement? And >> and where and where are they talking?

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Here you go. I always love. What's the What's the What's the bad story here? >> Is this on North Street? >> That says Otis. It's supposed to say No, it's Maine. That one's Maine. Take one

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down. Pass it around. >> On Main Street. >> North Street. When he says Maine, existing pole exist. Yeah, they're pointing at the poles on Main Street. Okay. Stage Road, North Street Main Street. So

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that's right down right up here at the intersection. >> Yep. >> And what did he do? >> Right here. >> It's going to anchor these poles. >> Yeah. See? Yeah. Because they had a stake in here. And this this pole, I believe, is on private property, but

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this is the one they're talking about. And then they have another 16 pole here. Could they put it in pressure? Can you do that on private property? Put in >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Because the the poles have to be spaced at a certain distance with something like 300 ft

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>> and they have to have something to to carry the weight of the wire. >> So, no. >> So, we would approve it. >> Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Okay. >> Absolutely. Because that's See, this is the old burial grounds right here. Yep. That's to fall right on the corner.

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>> Yeah. Kelly, does anybody have any other questions for Kelly? >> No. >> No. >> Kelly, I think Thank you so much for attending. Thank you for everything. I think but I think we're good. I don't think we need to know about >> we need to update the budget. >> Oh,

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>> so when will you have that back to us, Kelly? >> And do it right now. So the only one the only thing because we're not adding the 20 back in because we're doing that as a separate warrant article and

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>> and what was the was there another change? >> Yes, the percentage of rates 5% versus 6%. >> Okay. Just on that line just the percentage one. Okay. >> Yeah. And then the change from broadband

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to water on the title >> on the title on that front page. >> I don't think it's just changing the number. >> Oh, she said she did already. >> Oh, yeah. For raise, I don't think it's I think the the amount is wrong, not just the five. >> Do you know what I'm saying? Right. >> Instead of just changing from 6% to 5%,

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I think we have to adjust the >> formula. was but I think that was the amount that was decided and that's based on what he's getting paid now but I will triple check that >> yeah make sure yeah um I can't I don't

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have it in front of me but the 5% I can't remember what we have >> so you guys have the warrant um do you need to go through it or are you good >> it's a draft I can't say that enough

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>> please understand it's draft figure that out with Ray and Christina. I'll touch base with you on that tomorrow. >> Okay. Thank you so much, Heather. >> Okay. Have a good night. >> Thank you. Do you guys want to go through the warrant or what are your what's your take?

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>> Wait, before you go to proceed, can do you want me to add this article or Yes. Right. >> We're in agreement. >> Oh, absolutely. No. Our next meeting is all departments. So at that point, can we touch base with water

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department and whether IC's dependent? So we don't need Joanne to add anything extra. I just wanted to make sure in the notes for her on the next agenda. >> Oh, I see. So, like all of these follow-ups, there's nothing that Joanne has to do to the agenda because like this is

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already water. >> So, we need to get water to do a um an agenda because it's going to be a joint meeting, right? >> Well, it's an all department meeting. >> Oh, okay. >> So, we don't need to We can just ask them at the meeting. Yeah. Where they're

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at. Okay. So, there's no followup for Joanne here. This is just all for us. Okay. So, I'm just going to note that. >> Perfect. >> Any questions, you guys? >> I don't see anything.

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>> No, Sarah. I have some questions about the water by >> um there is there is a dollar amount in there just so you're aware that says $55,000 in there, right? And that 55, right? There's $55,000 in

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there that we need because we have a hole in the roof and that roof's got to be fixed. And back we have >> Sorry. Well, you you said there's $55,000 in there >> in a warrant on the warrant.

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We put $55,000 in there because it was just an educated guess as to what fixing the hole in the roof was going to be. And plus back at the COA back there, they get water in the building because of the way it's structured.

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>> Well, it's the it's the landscaping in the back >> because the water comes down the hill and comes in that back door. >> Yeah. >> And you got like a little foyer there >> and the water congregates in there. >> So, we're getting some estimates, but 55

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is kind of what we got as a place right now. Just so you guys don't go, what is this? >> Five, right? 30. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Smells like fire. Does that mean

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why am I smelling fire? I'm sorry. >> That may go up. Don't know yet until we get the estimates. Right. But you know, first the one thing I want to end with is that for the first year doing this as a group, you guys did

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phenomenal. You may not feel that way, but you did. You really did. >> Thank you very much. >> You know, and and Allison, I know you've been like kind of not comfortable, right? Everybody feels that way. >> We just appreciate that you signed up and that

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>> very quietly sitting here to absorb. Yeah. Next year. Next year it will be better. Believe me. >> It's not. >> This is a lot more. >> This is the hardest work you'll do the whole year. Really?

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>> Sure. >> Right. >> Right. >> Thank you very much. I did a good job. Good questions and everything. If you know anybody else that would like to help out, you know, tell them we're very easy to work with. >> Yeah,

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>> it's Debbie's problem. >> It is. >> Is that right? >> 806. >> Oh, what? Go ahead. When meeting the second quarter is the 27th, so next week. >> What's that? >> I think you're talking.

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>> Are you asking? >> When's your next meeting? >> That's not a town meeting. >> Really? Their next meeting about >> Minitown meeting? >> Yes. So your next meeting >> is June 1st, right? >> It will be the annual >> June 1. We're not going to come next

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meeting whenever they want. >> Yeah, >> I know. But they're asking about budget meeting. >> Okay. anything related to budget. You can do whatever you want, but for our purposes >> for including us will be June 1st. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I would suggest maybe you guys meeting

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prior to that going over everything once everything is finally we have all of the stuff. My suggestion would be to sit down and go over it. But that's totally up to you. You guys can do it how you want >> just so you're prepared with questions. >> It's not totally up to them. It's part of the bylaws. They are obligated by our

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bylaws to have anformational meeting >> seven days before >> at least seven days preferably two weeks before the annual town meeting. >> That's what this was. >> This was >> Yes. >> Yes. >> It was not just that >> but it was listed as a joint.

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>> Yeah. But not as u a open meeting for the towns. >> It is a open meeting. >> Yeah. But it is it's under the open meeting laws but it wasn't publicized. That's information for me >> decision here. What is medieval meeting? Mary do you

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>> it's been historically labeled many town meeting because it's when the finance committee and the select board get together and they review the warrant and the budget which is what we just said. Anybody has questions from town, they

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show up and ask, "Why are you spending x number of dollars or don't we need to spend more?" >> I think so. We did I think legally >> if we just we did that and it was posted as an open meeting and it's posted as a joint meeting. My thought Mary is that I

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mean we could have another meeting historically no one shows up or the same people show up and the same questions are asked. So, I don't know that it's necessary that we do it again. I don't know. I mean, it's up to it's this just my personal opinion. I don't think that >> is it required by state law.

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>> No, it's our bylaw. >> It's just our bylaw. >> But that's says it has to take place seven days before annual town meeting. What we just did now? >> At least seven days. >> At least seven days. So, we're covered there. I just want to make sure that I'm not giving out the incorrect information because I read that before and I said,

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"Well, we're covered. It's at least seven days." And what we're doing here is going over the budget with the select board and the finance committee. I made sure that it was posted as joints. I didn't know that there like mini town meeting needed to be broadcast any differently.

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>> But then again, but then again just for you know uh to well we'll throw it out there. All right. There's nothing to say that the finance committee can't have an inflammation meeting,

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>> you know. they're supposed to have, >> right? So, >> it's their meeting and they post. >> So, they can do it any time between now and seven days before the town meeting >> if as they so choose. >> Get ready for a big crowd. >> Yeah.

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>> Ring or >> they have to do that. It's >> it's in the bout >> as a result of unfortunate incidences prior to the establishment of the bylaw for the

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finance committee. >> So if you guys feel that you >> but I still think that this was >> we need to >> we did we did so we did fulfill our duties under the bylaw tonight. >> Okay. But what she's saying is that

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historically people are used to a more I guess a broadcast one where people would show up >> and they put it together. It's not a select board thing. >> Correct. >> Do you want to end the meeting?

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>> Oh, >> meeting is it? >> Hold on. I could sleep in this chair. >> I don't >> I need one for work. >> Sorry. >> $100. B.