Good evening everyone. Welcome to the select board meeting of Tuesday, November 18th, 2025. Um, we're gonna we're going to go ahead and open the meeting if we want to do uh just a quick roll call. We're missing one attendee, David Modell, but
>> Arnold here, >> Snell here, >> Stevens here, >> Triola here. I'm just going to run down the agenda tonight. We'll open with community input followed by appointments and resignations. Uh we're going to do the fiscal year 2026 tax classification hearing. Um
followed by the review and and vote on the natural gas contract for the town. We're going to open the annual town meeting warrant just in case people are getting antsy about not having a town meeting. We're going to get move into the next one. Then we're going to have the a review of the fire station renovation building committee charter.
Um personnel policies discussion, town administrator town administrator evaluation discussion, then the TA report, leaison reports, review of warrants and minutes, and closing with community input. So with that, we will begin by opening up for community input.
Does anyone in the room have any community input they want to provide? Okay, seeing none, is there anyone online that wants to provide any community input? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to appointments and resignations. And so tonight, um, we have one volunteer
resignation to note, Rob Perry from the Transfer Station Action Committee, and we have two appointees or three appointees, correct? Yep. Three appointees. So um so we have notification of the one resignation and then we have three appointees beginning
with um >> Diane >> Diane Stili Stali Stelli as a member of the cultural council uh with a term to end June 30th 2028 and I know in the packet there was a letter of endorsement from the cultural council or commission um as
well as for information. So was there any discussion on that particular appointment? Seeing none, does anyone want to make a Go ahead. >> Oh, I had a question. I mean, there was some sort of note from uh was it Gretchen that she's not she's
>> Oh, yeah, that was right. It was she's inactive. >> Inactive. I didn't I didn't know what inactive meant >> as of or maybe it was the other one. Was it her or the other one? >> It was Diane sticking. Sorry. >> It's on Zoom. >> Yeah. So, I didn't know. >> You did notice that. >> Let me let me bring up the uh
>> Yep. Let me uh hold on. Let me get my packet up. That's right. >> I didn't see that. >> Okay. So, Melissa responded to Gretchen's email that Diane is marked inactive as of June 2025. Her address is blah blah blah. But I didn't know what inactive meant.
>> We don't know. >> She says she's lived in Carl seven years. >> Uh >> probably maybe on the voter role. Uh >> do you know Ryan on that one? >> I'm sorry. What was the question? >> What does inactive mean?
for a volunteer. >> This is for the first Yeah. Yeah. It says she's marked. This is from Melissa. Oh, Melissa, the assistant. Yeah. Is marked inactive as of 6:25.
>> She lives at >> Oh, that's the next person. Huh. >> June. It's probably a >> June of 25. I don't know what that >> we don't know what it means. So maybe we get clarification on that before we vote on that one. Y >> Mave sounded like a fine c I mean I'm
sure they're both fine candidates, but Mave had a more clear situation. >> She was active. >> Active as does >> a pulse >> as well as Al Allen, right? Gilden. >> Alan Gild. No question about him as
well. >> Do you want me to move both of those bottom two? >> Sure. If there's >> Okay. >> Yep. Uh, I move to appoint Mave Lobo as a member of the cemetery committee with a term to end June 30th, 2027. Just for our information, she's filling
the vacancy created by Dana Booth's resignation. And I move to appoint Alan Gilden as the environmental sustainability committee representative to the safety committee. >> I second that. Those >> Okay. Is there any further discussion?
Seeing none, we'll do a since we're all here and present. David, you want to just announce yourself real quick? >> David Modell. We'll just that way we'll just do a voice vote. So, all in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> Opposed.
>> Motion passes. >> Ryan, did you have something to add? >> Working on it. >> Oh, okay. >> Ryan, you had a um notification of a TA appointments. one is Scott Hammond is the interim. Do you want to cover that in your TA report or do you want to
>> uh No, we can I'm just letting you know um John Mativier is is moving on as as everybody knows. Um, and that that is sad and we'll have more more thoughts about John, but Scott Hammond, who's been acting in John's place whenever
John is is gone or vacations, etc. has agreed to serve until the new year in order to give us some transition time. And then after that, he would he would want to go to more of a local inspector role. So, we'll still need a commission, but notifying you that we appointed Scott to fill in this interim period.
And there's two weeks of overlap here. So they know each other and and they'll work together anyway. But Scott's getting a good transition from John. So we should we should be good for six weeks while we figure out a more permanent solution. I noticed from the minutes of the meeting we had where we
covered the budget that there was a discussion raised by maybe it was Christine that this might be an opportunity again to consolidate or regionalize that position. So before we leap into recruitment, I think we should take a look at that. >> Yep. When is John's last day?
>> Last physical day was last week. >> It's not John. It's Mr. Hammond. And he he'll be around a while. >> Well, I No, I meant when was John Mativier's last day. >> We had macaroons for him the other day. >> I didn't realize. Sorry about that. Okay. >> He didn't want a thing, so we had
everyone pick up a macaroon and go to his office and talk to him. >> Okay. >> It was lovely. The uh second appointment I have is um police officer Zachariah I just want to make sure I get his last
name correctly. >> Coleman. >> Zachariah Coleman comes with 15 years experience in the Draket Police Department with a variety of specialty skills including K9. So I'm hoping there isn't any tussle over Athena because Athena is spoken for right now. But he
is academy trained and and we able to start in a couple weeks filling an important vacancy we have at the police department. So, um, we >> Which vacancy can you remind me who left that created that? >> I don't remember exactly who he's filling. I do know they're down two because we have our new acco
right now. So, this this will fill a good spot and relieve some of the overtime tension we have. >> Is this 12 now or what? >> This is it. We're full now. >> So, letting you know about those two appointments. And then the answer on the inactive is if you do not file a census
or register to vote, you're considered inactive. But this volunteer isn't isn't registered to vote anywhere else. So it's assumed that they live here and your policy is silent on it. So you can do whatever you want. >> Well, if you don't fill out a census, that's not great. >> You could appoint contingent on
residency verification or you could just wait until we verify residency further. I think we should go ahead and appoint her contingent on verifying residency. >> Our volunteers should fill out a census. I would like her. >> Debbie has her hand up and I know she had recommended her. Debbie form
something. >> Yeah, I'll recognize her. Hey Debbie, do you want to uh say >> please announce yourself and your address? >> Sorry. Favor Bentley, chair of the culture council, Healed Road. Diane has been uh working for the federal
government. She was secounded down to DC for a number of years and this is probably why she has not voted here or uh filled in her census. Uh she's recently returned she's not working for
the federal government anymore and she's returned to Carlile in the summer and um so she's been attending our meetings regularly. She is a real person. She's in Carlile. She's living here. Um,
that's all I can tell you. Um, Mark Levitan is her neighbor and can vouch that she's living here. >> Uh, if he if you need him to get on the call. >> No, I don't think we need to get Mark on the call. >> Well, I would take Debbie's word for anything. The policy that you've set up
is that you establish residency. The primary way is through voting or census. So if you wanted to do a point, we can >> Why don't we Why don't we wait till the next meeting to appoint? >> We're fill out the census and we'll be all squared away. >> Yep. >> So, uh >> open
for your benefit. We're just um there's been an emphasis on residency requirements in general. So, uh we can appoint at the next meeting if in the interim. Um we'll just we'll just ensure that we we do confirm a residency. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
learn something new tonight. >> Yeah. >> All right. All right. So, I think that's it for appointments and resignations. Um, so we can move on. And it is 7:10. So, we can move on to the fiscal year 26 tax classification hearing. And we do
need to um open this hearing. So, if someone wants to make that motion uh to open the FY26 tax classification hearing, >> I move to open the fiscal year 26 tax classification hearing. >> Second. >> Do a voice vote. All in favor?
>> I. >> Great. So, I'll turn the floor over to you or >> and I will in turn turn it over to Brian. >> Thank you, Scott. >> Sorry, we're running into some technical difficulties getting through Ryan's computer here.
>> Okay. Um, thank you very much everybody. Um, my name is Brian McDonald. For those that don't know me, I am the principal assessor here in Carlile. And on behalf of the board of assessors, welcome to the fiscal 26 tax classification hearing.
This evening, the board will be requested to take votes on four separate tax classification options uh which will determine the percentage of the levy born by the residential and open space as well as the commercial industrial
personal property classes and whether there should be shifts within both the residential open space and the commercial industrial personal property classes. The four votes include a selection of a minimum minimum residential factor that establishes u
either a single tax rate or a split tax rate between one for the residential open space and one for the commercial, industrial and personal property classes. The granting of an open space discount which we will be very brief. We don't have any classified open space
here. the granting of a residential exemption and the granting of a small commercial exemption begin we always begin with the calculation of a single tax rate how do we get there so we begin with the tax levy that's the budget that's approved
Maytown meeting um net of any uh receipts and state aid and we have the total assessed value of the community that is the primary function of what uh my department does, which is to value all taxable wheel and
personal property here within the community. You know, you divide the levy by the assessed value, multiply that by 1,000, and that is how we get to the single tax rate. Uh the the net levy of the the levy net of receipts and state aid came up to
this number of 33 million and change. You come up with the total value of the community broken down by the different various pro uh property classes. Residential is the 100, open space is 200, commercial is 300, industrial 400,
and personal property is the 500 class for a total value of 2.577 billion. That's up by approximately 7% from fiscal 2025. >> So I'm I'm new to this role. Can we just review for my at least for my benefit I
would benefit from an education on what commercial, industrial and personal are? >> Commercial is um how would I describe that there? Retail storefronts um >> like what's insurance technologies? >> Is that industrial >> down are we talking about down on South
Street now? >> That is uh that is a mixeduse property actually. It's both I believe a 400 CL uh I think that is a 300 class and a there is also residential on that site. There is a >> Is there really
>> is it GT? It's an interesting property. I have not >> That's not a great example. >> Okay. Fern I thought I was >> about Ferns >> also makes us use now that I think >> uh the real estate broker >> the Yeah, that's a real estate
>> the broker with the with the ATM that is commercial property. >> Okay. >> Um very very little of that >> I guess. What is industrial then? How about the I think the toes uh the the autobove auto shop and then what's the difference between residential and personal >> cars.
>> Residential and personal property. >> Residential personal just cars. >> No, it's not cars. >> No, not cars. >> No, no, it is not. Personal property is are assets owned by taxable business. taxable assets of a business used um
that the business used to operate whether it be machinery depending upon whether it's how whether it is a sole proprietorship partnership or incorporated all will dictate what assets are deemed taxable under Mass
General law. >> Okay. So no >> farm, >> no administrative or no business uh furniture or fixtures are taxable if you are incorporated as opposed to a sole proprietorship. In a partnership, all assets are considered to be taxable.
>> And if you're a manufacturing corporation, um it's even less. Um they tend to have u most of their assets completely exempt. >> Great. Thank you. So, >> so I was about to write it down. Of
course, I've forgotten what the 7% was that you said growth in it's a 7% growth over FY24 25 saying or 24 >> 25 >> 25 >> we're setting the 26 tax rate >> the fiscal 2026. So that was the
adjustment to the total value of the community from 25 to 26. So Brian, you come out with this now. We had a budget approved in May. So the first few tax bills you were just
up. How do you >> That's a great question. Those are prelim Those are considered to be preliminary tax bills. >> Those are typically one half of the previous year's net tax bill. >> They split that in half. They build that out for August and November. And those
are payment in lie of a value and a and a a year long a yearly tax bill for each property. And what we do with the actual tax bill process after this is we import values. We also
import the the tax rate that is approved this evening. We then calculate the total bill for each property for the year. We then deduct what the prepayments were in August and November and split the remainder balance over the
last two payments of the year. >> Good question. >> All right. So, putting that all together, we come up with a single tax rate of $12.81. >> What was it last year? >> 1381
138. Because if our if our budget went up less than seven to 7% appreciation, the rate would go down. >> Well, there's a couple things in play there, David. Okay, so we have 7% appreciation. So, typically
in most communities, if we were limited to two and a half proposition, you know, two and a half% increase. If all properties stayed exactly the same, there was no changes, everybody would go up by two and a half%. when you have so for the tax rate purposes if we went up
by two and a half percent and value went up by two and a half percent you'd see no change what we have here in carile which is different is you have excess levy capacity you have the factor of I believe the increase was close to 3.5
>> in that neighborhood and then you have the 7.2% 2% increase in value. So that will still result in a decrease in the tax rate. >> Right. That's what I said. >> Yeah. >> A little bit different than than elsewhere. >> Your taxes are not going down.
>> Decrease in tax. >> That has nothing to do with me. Doesn't mean >> sales not going down, >> right? >> Okay. Okay. Just some review of the sales data from this. So when I'm looking at 24, that's calendar 24 and 25. This is just kind of
a forwardlooking projection of where we're headed into fiscal 27 here. >> So the median sale price from 2024 on 52 sales arms lengths transactions we had was 1.365.
You know the sale to list ratio that's a measurement of the demand for real estate here. uh ratio above uh you know a percentage above 100 indicates that properties are selling just slightly above their list price. Um stark
difference from calendar 2021 or fiscal 23 which was um an interesting year. Um you can see just comparing it to next year you can see there is an a slight increase in the median sale price as
well as the list price. One thing to keep in mind with regards to this information is the sales that I'm seeing in 2025. You can see that gross living area is significantly over and above from the sales in 24. >> Larger homes, there have been a lot more
sales in excess of $2 million in the current year, including not just new, you know, established housing stock, just new, not new construction. That's an indicator that there is um continued demand even not just for new construction but for properties of all
type um as well at the higher end of the um single family price range and some part of that increase is going to be associated with the larger gross living area. So the answer is uh I'm not there is some different variables that may
point to different directions. I do believe that there is continued increase coming next year, but more along the lines of what we saw in the last last year and in this 23 and 24 for fiscal 2025 and 26 which is
more of the normal market appreciation as opposed to the 20% that we saw in 2021. Um couple valuation highlights I wanted to make uh just to to mention you know that of that 7% increase that I
mentioned before they were targeted adjustment to land values. I would say that not all neighborhoods were adjusted equally. What I've seen is valuation compression between the value of different neighborhoods. Um I have consolidated I think there were seven or
eight neighborhoods different land values when I got here. Um I think we are down to four different neighborhoods and differentiated throughout the town. Um I think two of them might actually even have the same prime like uh prime site total cost. >> Can you just clarify what you mean by
neighborhoods when you in that >> So what neighborhoods are not thought of in the in the traditional sense neighborhoods are are a collection or a group. >> This is an assessor term now you're >> Yeah. So I as both as as both an
appraiser and an assessor I can speak to both. >> So when we're speaking of neighborhood >> um as an as an appraiser I would say handover. Okay, that being describing a specific area or a colle of
of parcels when we're talking about neighborhood from an assessment perspective, those would be um areas or lots where the land value would be equivalent to another
neighborhood to the same neighbor to lots and it may not be approximate but have an equivalent market value. >> Is that based on geographic location or is it a houses on the lots because they're all $2 million homes?
So, that creates a neighborhood. How does that >> Well, that's how it traditionally worked, I would say. But when I start when you start to see the lower end of homes and from what I've seen with the scarcity of buildable lots here, what
that is indicating is that there is compression between the highest the I would say there's River Road and then there's the other three neighborhoods and there's little smaller differentiation between those three neighborhoods that I'm mentioning than there were in the past before I got
here. >> But the theory is If you have a house on in say handover hill, I mean that's not a great example because all the houses look alike anyway, right? So maybe some place where there's a little more variety of housing stuff, but you have a house on in that
neighborhood versus some random house that's the same house on the same size land somewhere else. You might command a premium because you're in this better neighborhood. >> Correct. >> Right. >> What are the four? >> River Road, Hover. Well, Hanover is not
its own neighborhood in itself. They're given um rather arbitrary that most communities assign a number one two three four and that's essentially what it is here that they're they're given two le twoletter designations
um that's historical. I didn't build it but that's the way Patria does establish those. Um, the way we determine the similarity of whether neighborhoods need to be consolidated is looking at sales and the residual land values. So, you
subtract the building value from the sales price, you get an implied land value and you're looking for similarities between neighborhoods. So when you see similarity in the that land residual even though they might may not be abuing
but if you see equivalent value there assuming that the building value is accurate I I think that we've gone a long way towards adjusting those since I've gotten here and bringing those more to market that when you see those
similarities time and time again that's when you know that you can consolidate or they are uh equivalent in value market value One of the things we've been focused on in the last year or two is trying to consolidate and and reduce
the number of neighborhoods as well as the number of home styles that we uh we assess on. And there's a good reason for it. And as you can see from his uh graph up here, we only had 53 home sales in in
the whole year. Right. >> Sorry. Could you just introduce yourself just >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Chemisto. the chair of the assessor's board. So uh to the point being that uh we have very few sales in Carlile in overall in town. So
the concern is you know how do you start to make you know how do you have comparables if you have all these categories of styles and neighborhoods. You got to try to condense that down as much as possible so you can get some reasonable comparison. Does every house
slot into one of the neighborhoods? >> Every house, every home ex is it >> neighborhood is like, as Scott said, it's a assessor term. It's not like we think it's like a classification of town. >> So, um, that's question one. Question two is, so you did, you know, two years
ago or whatever, three years ago maybe now, you you decided that, you know, colonial, mid-century, modern, blah, blah, blah, deck house. You had these things, right? So, you were kind of sorting that out. Now you come to so you you remove you look at a property you've got a categorization whether it's
consolidated or not you have a categorization of the house so the house gets appraised on that with that lens and then gets deducted from the total value now you've got the land so do you have a similar rubric like is it next to a stream does it have a hill I mean what
what are the it's not just like it's 2.3 acres it's got to be some other qualitative thing to bin those in. Right. >> So, you're saying here's what I would say. There are houses along River Road that are vastly
different with those sites. >> Vastly different from the rest of the sites here within Garle along the eastern side that front along the river. >> Yeah, >> those would be a very separate neighborhood from the other three. Let's
deal with the broader case of >> do I differentiate with properties that are so two acres is the prime site even though that we do have two or four acres >> right >> prime site is consider the from an assessment perspective we use two acres
as the prime site you're looking at somewhere in the $600,000 range um you know the sale that we had on you know the corner of Carlton right there that really kind of there is a newer home that was constructed within an established neighborhood. You see the
changes that are ongoing, although you had the bundled sale of the lots for the new homes that are being constructed at the end of East Ring. While those were a bundled sale and not considered armslength transaction, I think those the sale price of those homes,
if you were to go through the land residual methodology, you're looking at a a land value that may be similar to a neighborhood to other neighborhoods that were more that were superior in the past. And there has been compression
between the premium between one the those other three neighborhoods as as in the past there may have been a wider disparity between >> are you but you're basing it on market like that end of east writing you know maybe they spent $2 million for a house
but they're looking at their neighbor's garage like to me two acres like that's not great >> the thing that I've learned over my lifetime is it's a house for everybody >> and you know you're using the way you're looking at it as someone who's been here in Carlile is how a lot of people look at
And I I was just going to say I think also one important point here is that >> you know when it comes to land in particular the question is how do you extract the value of a lot given that there are very few p you know land only
sales in town. We have very few buildable. >> So maybe just so we don't tie this all it seems to me that you spent a lot of effort to categorize house styles >> style. So, okay. So, my house, Barney's not a good example because she's got a unique house and I don't know Christine's house, but let's just say we have houses. I've got a deck house.
She's doesn't. We sell for the same or close or whatever, but you know that deck houses come in at a premium. So, you would deduct more and then my land is less just by >> arithmetic, right? >> That's a good question. Is more there is more there are more details that would should be factored in there is gross
living area. other amenities other amenities whether it be um you know heartscaping you know other >> you are doing you are putting >> all of that is factored in >> depreciation all those factored in there >> you know that's and you know that goes
to the fact that one of one of the other things that we recognize is >> the need to update the information we had on the housing stock here in town and I'm happy to report that I believe we have a 95% uh cyclical compliance
rate as of today >> with u you know plans to improve upon that beginning in the spring once the weather improves again but we've brought that up from I believe >> 44% when I first arrived >> was bad >> good
the other just and I know we need to move along with this but the the three 390 and taxable new growth >> yeah that's the that's the >> that would be new construction and improvements that are that were that were not pre-existing. A lot of that was
tied up in the construction of the new condominiums down at Case Walk. >> And is that more than a in a typical year? How does that compare? >> You know, when I first got here, um, new growth in previous year was was below the historical average of which was
around 300,000. >> Okay. >> If I stretch this back for about 10 years, it's you're averaging about 300,000 a year. So this is slightly above average. >> You know, when I got when I got here, I think there was four almost 450, but
that was making up for stuff that wasn't captured in the previous year due to the uh the death of my predecessor. >> Okay. >> And and if you multiplied that by >> 13 by 12.81 >> that would buy actually the new growth is calculated using the prior year tax.
>> Okay. But that's how you would get the value. >> Yes. That's how you come >> the other way. You back it out >> that that 390 number. Yes, you could back into what the total new value would be based off of you that formula, David. >> So the average single family is now up
to 1.356. And you know, building values, adjustments were made to all building values. I will, you know, getting back to the land value as we're being more cognizant of of given that we were in a reval this year
and the necessity and being under a higher level of scrutiny uh by the department of revenue for our values. You do have um you know split entry style homes. They're the cost associated with that building
is not what it would be to construct it nowadays. Why? because it's uh functional obsolescence has to be built into that value because if land is what it is and it remains if that home were to to fall down or to burn down that's why they're prime redevelopment you see
those homes being either vastly expanded or torn down to make way for new homes >> questions okay so what we have now is I'll present the information with regards to the minimum from residential factor. This
table reflects a various um residential factor and the CIP shift. The CIP shift, the top line at a residential factor of one, which would reflect the tax rate at $12.81 for a
single tax rate for both the residential open space as well as the commercial, industrial, and personal property classes. The last two columns indicate what the average single family tax bill and what the average commercial industrial property tax bill would be at
that $1281 tax rate. So that's the single rate here. Um those are the range of options if we run with a CIP shift running from 125. CIP stands for >> commercial, industrial and personal
property. So at a very high level this is saying everyone gets the same tax rate commercial, industrial, personal, residential and on the left column if you >> what you what the board is going to vote on >> it's confusing is the residential factor
and this is one of the things I was going to touch on here. >> So as and as you move down you're you're shifting more burden to the other class which is a very small percentage. So >> right >> hardly it hardly moves for the homeowners. It's a big burden on the
>> industrial gas. >> Exactly. >> Correct. So the at a maximum CIP shift of 150 here you could see the it's this number the residential factor is the is the percentage deduction of full and
fair cash value at one. And as you can see with the CIP it's less than 1% if you were to f to shift to the maximum of 150. >> So that the way this is done is so the CIP shift the way this is
calculated is you would multiply the single tax rate by 1.5 that results in the CIP tax rate of $12 1921 there. >> You determine the new percentage levy for the CIP class. you deduct that from
the levy that we discussed on slide one and that's where we that's where they would determine what the new residential rate would be from that deduction. >> And in simple terms, you have 98% homes. So you'd have to drive like an incredible change to move the needle for
the homeowner, but you're really hampering >> Yeah. >> the auto body shop. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Exactly. One one group loses big time and residents get >> and the other residents save 100 bucks, right? Yeah, >> 149 to be exact. >> And your recommendation on this is the single as as we've done in past years to
continue that >> makes no sense for this time to do anything. That's I'm just going through the process of explaining for both you know for those >> on each one. >> Haven't seen it since last. >> We are going to vote on each one. Um and we can do it we can take the votes as we go. >> Sure. >> It is. Yeah. Last year we went through
this. So, if we could just take the vote on each of the classification options as they have a cascading effect, this being the most important one. The board for the reasons David has mentioned um so eloquently, we recommend a uh
residential factor of one. >> So, should we want somebody to move that? >> Yeah, if someone wants to move that and then we can discuss. move that the select board for the purpose of setting the fiscal 2026 property tax rate adopt a residential factor of one thereby establishing a
uniform tax rate for all property classes. >> I'll second that. >> Any any discussion? Seeing none, let's take a voice vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Great. That motion passes.
>> Excellent. Thank you. Good. Moving on. I'm going to mention this very Oh, just a couple things here. This slide indicates the change in the average single family value, the the percentage adjustments as well as the change to the average single family tax bill and the
percentage adjustment between 2015 and 2026. David, I took your note, made sure I corrected that chart to the right, so it it cascaded in the proper direction this year. Um, as you can see here, um, the
for fiscal 26 single tax rate is 17 17,380 for the average single family tax bill with the increase being 643. Excuse me, put my glasses off. >> Before we build any public safety buildings, >> I know,
>> David. So one of the things I just wanted to point out once again 7.38% increase that you know I was reflecting earlier why was I mentioning 5% increase to the sales we typically I like to be
around somewhere around uh 95 96% because of the reval this year that requ and the land residual analysis required by the department of revenue that required a higher um assessment to sale ratio closer to 98% %. So that's why you're seeing the percentage higher than
it the the market rate adjustment from the sales that I mentioned in the previous. >> We're finally to your point, I think we're modulating the whipsaw of co like if you look at the co years, you know, >> crappy and then like jump and then like nothing and then jump. It's like now we're sort of
>> Yeah, that 2022 0.45% set me up well for the next year. Um it was busy. >> Moving on. Look at that. >> All right, this is the last slide. So this um this chart here indicates the
average single family tax bill. Um and the blue line indicates the percentage the average single family tax bill is as a percentage of the income per capita as reported by the department of revenue. Um you can see the trend line here that
it's been steadily decreasing and down to uh up slightly from the previous year but settling at 8.09%. >> That's amazing. >> I mean it's really >> it's a K it's part of the K-shaped economy. We don't have
>> we don't have too much of the lower leg of the K, >> right? >> But I mean for you know people are doing well. Yeah. The tax bill is easily absorbable. And then there's some people like it's a big deal, right? I mean, that's just the reality. >> Yes. >> It's, you know, by
>> Yeah. >> which we're very acutely aware of and sensitive to and we spend a fair amount of time talking about policies to uh ease the tax burden on disadvantaged seniors. the town is not, you know, I
will mention that there's a reason I wanted to point that out and that was a great comment by David because it's something I was going to get into a bit later at not part of the classification but will affect the tax rate and that was the implementation of the means
tested senior exemption which was voted upon the first year I was here at Mtown meeting but wasn't signed by the state legislature until December of 24. So, this was the first year that it became effective, >> but I'll get into that in just a moment.
>> I'm just doing a time check. We're at We're at the allotted time, but and we don't need I don't want to rush through this, but let's just make sure we uh >> Sure. >> Grant, if you can open space this out, this is really easy. There is no open space here in Carlile. They use the uh chapter land process that allows for the
clawback of back taxes through that through the roll back or penalties. Um because there's no open space here, I just suggest that we move to not grant an uh an open space discount as there are no eligible parcels.
>> I move that the board does not grant an open space discount for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll take a voice vote. All in favor? I opposed. >> Motion passes. Okay, that's number two.
The next one. Okay, the residential exemption. So, the residential exemption, it it provides real estate tax relief for residential property owners that both own and occupy the property. It um
the way this formula, it's a percentage of the average residential value, that's the total residential property class divided by the total number of residential parcels. And then the residential factor is a percentage of that figure. So that would include all both
properties improved with with um single family homes and those without. So what this does is it moderates those for those communities that have you know $400 million apartment complex >> exemption. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Um yes.
>> So but also so the the community there are 18 communities that that adopted the residential exemption in uh fiscal 2025. Some of those >> include highdensity um urban. So you're seeing Boston, Chelsea, Everett,
Brooklyn. Um these have a large percentage of non-qualifying residential properties at those you know multif family developments that I had mentioned previously or they fall within resort uh communities such a Cape Cod or where
there are a large number of second homes that would not qualify. It allows those that you know once again the communities to provide a a discount or tax relief by passing on that burden uh and a shift
within the residential property class. So uh the average residential value here is up to 1.263. you know, the total number um Carla based off of analyzing the the mailing address for the property tax bills, you
know, which is probably the safest way to determine if they're own or occupied. 85.54% of Colorado properties are owner occupied. If you look at the analysis over in the chart to the right, you can see the one
in orange is for the average single family and then you would have the condominiums which would be the second largest residential class here in town. um because of the the difference in the average assessed value on the top line, you you would see significant tax relief
to the much smaller condominium class uh as opposed to the average single family um which would only see minimal tax relief even up to the maximum 35%. Um with that said, I think this um while
there conquered has implemented that I wanted to mention this, we went into this extensively last year. Um differences within the community in its um evaluation profile. We have a study up still available through the town of
Carlile website if you go to the assessor's page deal detailing our analysis as to the differences between conquered and carile. um with Carlile's housing stock and valuations um in the shape of a normally
distributed using a bell curve, we would see this as being um disadvantageous and um a disadvantage to the average property given the minimal savings. And for that reason, the board does not
recommend a residential exemption. >> We've never had we've never implemented a residential exemption. So, who saves in this? It looks like they both they can't >> Well, a condo does, right? >> No, but why wouldn't the >> I believe there are less than 50 condominiums in town,
>> right? But if if their bill went down, wouldn't the house bill go up? It can't be both go down. >> I don't understand. So what? >> So no that's the tax properties would be subsidizing the >> this would be adjust the tax rate would
so by reducing >> the percentage adjustment would reduce the total taxable residential class. So when you reduce that the tax rate must go up. >> Right. >> Right. >> Correct. >> So that's not what's not shown. Yeah. >> Yes.
>> The tax rate on everybody else goes up. >> Right. Exactly. the rate remains consistent but because the percentage of their total value is higher with lower valued properties such as the the condominium class that's why they would realize
>> savings in their total tax bill. So I let's go to move. >> Oh, I had a quick question. Okay, so if 15% of the properties in town I are they second homes then are they vacation homes? I'm not >> Well, that's up for debate because I can
tell you when Conquer implemented this, I bet there were a lot of people that that redomiciled uh within conquered in order to take advantage of that residential exemption. What this doesn't account for is people that maybe seasonally just want their mail sent to
their second home, whether it be in Florida or Arizona or elsewhere. And that doesn't mean they're not doiciled here, but there's really that that I'm estimating 85%. This is a decrease from last year, which was up at 89%. So, this
may not account for I may be at the point where um it's a rough estimate. It's the best I can provide. My guess is it's likely higher. Yeah, >> but once again, if you look at those other communities that that that I had
referenced, you're seeing a much higher percentage uh a lower percentage of the qualifying properties that are both owner occupied and the doicile >> or they're non-qualifying in the case of >> you know the inner inner city is what I
would say. >> So you would get the discount if the resident lives in the property you are eligible for the discount, >> right? So that's the the issue. >> It's basically a tax on like vacation homes and >> Right. Right. Exactly. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And it's a tax on
>> in Carile. Yeah. >> Be ridiculous. >> It it works out well for the year round residents in Nucket. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Which you want because Yeah. Correct. You need those people that that live there and >> be able to afford to live there. >> The community run. Yes. >> Okay.
>> All right. I move that the board does not adopt a residential exemption for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll take a voice vote. All in favor of not adopting the residential exemption.
>> I opposed. >> Yeah. Okay. That's like a double. All right. I do have to mention this is not a classification option, but I know if we go back to the first vote the board took, they approved the tax rate of
$12.81. >> The way in which the means tested exemption works. >> This is the senior exemption that this is the new recently approved by the legislature. >> Yes. This is a home rule petition. >> Yep. it each community that has
implemented this beginning uh over I think approximately 10 years ago initiated by the town of Wakefield and then adopted by various other communities because with the inaction of the statutory the inaction by the state
legislature to increase the the award amounts of the existing statutory exemptions in the waning effectiveness of those exemptions towards a percentage of what the average uh single family tax
bill is across the Commonwealth. Um because of the lack of agreement at the state level as well as the requirement to reimburse the communities on the cherry sheets for those exemptions that have been granted. That's why you're seeing the, you know,
more and more communities going this route in order to provide, you know, those their long-term seniors with additional tax relief. >> Wakefield initiated this because they were building a new high school. I think, if we remember, Conquer did this because of middle school, new
construction was what initiated this if I recall. That's my understanding. >> Yeah. So just with regards to this, so it has to be owner and occupied for a minimum of 10 years over 70 years old
must have qualified for the circuit breaker and assets not to exceed 500,000. Similar functionality to the residential exemption in the fact that what they do is we determine the the award amount. The award amount is then translated into
a reduction in the value of the property. That reduction in the to the residential class that total number at the beginning requires that the tax dollars then um that are going to be exempted be redistributed among the
remaining taxable residential property. So, with what was approved previously on classification option one at a $1281 rate, the total revised rate will now be $12.82. I will, you know, bring the t the
average single family tax bill by $13. >> And just to be clear, we're not, this is not a vote or anything. This is just a report on >> what what this is what this assistance or exemption is. It's c basically it cost the average taxpayer an extra
>> $14 a year. >> Yes. And >> how many homes are there in >> 10 total? 10 total. And what I want to highlight is that graph at 8.09% of the median income per capita. I can
tell the applicants range between almost 12 and a half to as high as 40 almost 44% of their gross income. So this is reaching the people that this was intended to assist >> and and for the benefit of anyone
listening the qualifying criteria is that that's set by us or by the >> Yeah, it's yes, we have some play in that and some part of that is with regards to the um to the state and their u their Massachusetts state income tax filing.
>> Okay. And >> so we did have say in that, but we pegged it to the state when we voted at town meeting, >> right? Yep. >> We took it out of our hands basically. >> Yeah. It's um I think one the final thing that I want to mention is the town
was funding a tax relief program through a grant to the COA in previous years. >> Yeah. >> This is uh this has only increased the total award amount by about $4,000.
And what I want everyone to know is the town was funding that in just in a in a different way. It was something it was being a direct line item or whether it be an abatement that came out of the overlay. >> This is not and this really is not a large net increase by any means.
It's just being uh and the reason for me as I wanted both yourselves as well as the odd the average of the taxpayers listening is if you adopted a $1281 tax rate why is it 1282 and that's why I included this evening. Okay,
>> quick question. Um, do you have any sense of how many uh eligible how many homeowners could qualify for this exemption but don't apply for it? >> I will say we we can only help those,
you know, I I think we were successful. Uh, I attended men's breakfast, women's breakfast. I we advertised in the um the COA newsletter. Um, you know, I personally sat and talked to his more people. I can tell you when I went to
the men's breakfast, my experience. I presented for about five minutes and they immediately all wanted to talk about MBTA. >> Uh, but that's uh I I can only do so much. >> Yes, continue to have, >> you know, we will continue, you know, I'll be working with Jeff, the new COA
director. He knows he knows who needs it >> and this is only this is the first year. So >> yes. Yeah. >> Uh you know one you know I do think that the shortened uh timeline for applying for this may might have been an issue as well. What I'm hoping for is as we
continue to see seniors come into the office and hopefully now that MBTA is over we can have a more you know thorough conversation >> discount of the eligible people get >> percentage. >> Yeah roughly. And >> if they qualify, how much do they save?
>> Um, you know, you're averaging close to the maximum of around 2,600 a year. 2,600 per applicant. So, it's significant. >> Well, I can tell you there was only one of the applicants whose value is approaching 1.3. Most of them are
>> most of them fall on the very low lowest end >> of the single family values, >> but they're saving some money. sign far more than even the average because >> yeah right should >> I I do think that this has been effective and
>> you know to the average person it may not be as it's not nearly as significant to the to the recipients of this exemption. Moving on last but not least is we have the small commercial exemption. I'll
just say that there are only four four properties that will qualify. you know, not guaranteed that these are owner occupied. They may be they may be rental properties. If um and it's, you know, having had discussion with the board here, there are not many people that
have adopted this throughout the Commonwealth and it is the board's recommendation that a small commercial exemption not be adopted or not be granted. I move that the board, the select board does not adopt a small commercial exemption for fiscal year
2026. >> Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, we'll do another voice vote. All in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion passes. Okay. So, those are the four votes. >> There's another one
>> and then we need to You're going to report the excess levy capacity to us or >> Yeah. I do have that. >> Do you have Do you have >> the one Do you have uh I don't have that website the total access of
>> onway. Yeah, >> that'll have it right if you go into the LA5. >> That was just our >> vote, right? >> It's not a vote. We just say use >> you just have to we have to acknowledge that. Is that the board? All of you would have to view that when you went to
sign. >> When we went to what? >> Yeah. Some part of it is um acknowledgement on the gateway website. >> They don't sign that. >> They don't sign at all. But we have to acknowledge that it has to be reported to us. >> Are we looking for that number? Is that
the idea? Okay, >> there it is. >> 3,565,6929. Say that again. >> 1 million 3 million $565,692. >> Okay. So that we have been informed. So do we
need to It's not a motion. We just acknowledge it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So we'll get that in the in the minutes in the record. That excess levy capacity amount. Great. So, I think with that we can we can close the hearing. Yeah. Move to close the hearing.
>> I move to close the FY2026 T tax classification hearing with thanks to the board of assessors and our assessing department. >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you very much. >> Second. All >> in favor? >> I. >> Yes. Thank you very much. We appreciate
all the >> all the detail work that goes behind it. >> Okay. My head's spinning from just a few minutes of it. >> Yeah, >> it's dense. >> This is what >> it's dense material. >> Oh, yeah.
>> It's important though for doing it. >> All right, let's move along to the uh natural gas contract. >> Mhm. >> Ryan, are you speaking to that? >> I am. >> Okay, so uh this came in today. So, we have four contracts with
uh four natural gas accounts with the town and six with the school and we combined them uh last year and we need to renew our contract. This is one of those that you can renew for 12, 24, or 36 and um we are now out of contract
which means we're floating. We usually don't contract until the winter months because the prices become more real. So, right now we're paying Who's who's the contract with? >> It's a good question. >> You may have to recuse yourself.
>> Exactly. >> NYX >> I don't know that answer. >> Okay. Well, >> um, so we are currently at 8.07 07 a decaththerm and the renewal rates
here are 1021 for 12 1019 for 24 months and 1018 so this is what I would be negotiating it's sprag by the way it's right here >> it's sprag oh there it is >> oh sprag okay
>> um so a couple of things and this is not my expertise but I spent a lot of time learning about this so the the rate is going up but the overall market is is unclear. So, they're not recommending a 24-month commitment at this level, but they are recommending that we take this
level now, otherwise it'll be increased. And they don't think you should float in the winter months because floating or being uncontracted would cause spikes in our cost. >> Who is they? >> Um, this is our consultant who we work with in order to understand this. So,
what I'm asking is for you to approve me to negotiate based off these rates that are being presented tonight. >> So, current rate, >> this is for residents and the town or just >> just the town. >> Just the town. >> Yeah. >> We don't have a similar like we're going to talk about the electric
>> CCA. No, >> no, we don't have a CCA. So, it's just what the town pays. >> Yeah. >> So, right now you're paying what? >> 807. >> So, it's really jumping up quite a bit. >> Yes. >> Wow. And if you go spot, what's your inclination?
>> I only can believe what our consultant told us, but that it would be in well a lot higher than this for 6 months and then we might see some relief. >> So when is that? I mean, we're in a fixed contract right now that's going to run out or out of contract. >> What are we paying right now on spot
rate? >> 8.83. >> So not terrible, >> but it's going to jump if this is the market. Have you looked at other suppliers? Why Sprag? There's a lot of suppliers out there. >> From what I understand, they put it out
to bid and we can only accept those who are willing to work with us and we are not a competitive market because we only have 10 accounts. >> I see. Okay. >> So, typically we get two offers. >> Okay. >> And one person says, "No, thank you." >> Did you get two offers?
>> Uh, we did. And this was the lowest >> by a lot. >> Um they're relative because we did try to analyze this for sustainability and trying to pick. >> So does your consultant I mean the the price difference between the three periods is minuscule.
So does that imply that does your consultant believe that that market is stabilized over that three years? >> So that's what they're offering. The consultant is saying it's going to dip below that they believe in 12 months. So it would be
>> what's driving it high now? >> Ukraine. >> Um we pay a very high rate because because of the pipeline issue we have in New England. So there is no direct >> that's not going anytime soon. >> No it's not. >> No but we're normally around this eight level. So locking in for 24 36 months
would not >> doesn't make sense if it's going to go down. >> So does it even make sense to lock for 12? like wait >> if we want a fixed rate that we believe is competitive >> 20% increase though >> you mentioned about environmental
considerations so when we put this out to bid we have certain criteria and that's included in there or how does that work >> Sarah analyzed companies to see who might offer more green solutions and that's a relative term in this particular
um industry and none of them bid so is actually in the list of >> it's the relative bus contract all over again. >> Only one guy options. >> There's no collusion, but only one guy bids. >> There's no
>> So what what do you need? So you need authorization to negotiate. >> Yeah, >> we can continue to float or we can lock in one of these 12 or 24 36-month contracts. We're recommending to you that we lock in for 12 and and re-evaluate in the next 12 months.
>> The the thing I guess is there a six? It seems to me there's a seasonality where they rake you over the coals in the heating season. So, so to speak. So, can you get a six month and then revisit in the summer? It' be better to revisit it when you have some leverage than get caught in this endless cycle
where he you have to negotiate on the cusp. >> But he's saying your leverage is that you're a small town so you don't have these people. They don't even matter what season it is. He's just talking about variability in the season. >> Maybe, maybe not. I mean, I don't know that. I think >> I don't question. So they don't offer six months because they do that
>> because they want to get you in the vulnerable time >> calculus. >> But let's say you legged it out through pay whatever you got to pay through the this one heating season and get yourself on a summertime calendar. Would they give you a 12 month, you know, in June? >> We're going to negotiate around that
time frame anyways. So this just locks us in. >> So you can break this? >> No, but we can we can agree for next year. >> You agree to what? You could sign an early contract that kicks in when this contract ends.
>> So you could do that negotiation in the summer and then it wouldn't kick in till this time next year is what you're saying. >> Why don't we do that previously? >> Start. >> We missed a window where it would have been 883.
>> Do we like is our consultant like >> because of the town meeting? I'll be honest. >> Who who who recommended the consultant? I mean, do we know anything about like this is a sophisticated market where people get paid zillions to analyze like do we have an insight? People know a lot
more. We're like at great buyers disadvantage. Not just because we're small because we don't know >> anything >> anything about this market. >> We're playing with pros and we don't know. >> We are. So the um this was the town
consultant. The school had a consultant. >> This consultant is responsive. Almost no one wants to work with us because we're not we're not worth it. So, they don't make a lot of money off us. So, we're working with this this gentleman because he answers
>> and he's been very accurate and responsive. >> Okay. So, the theory is that you in like January you're going to pay like 12 if you don't sign up. Like what? How bad do do you have a sense of if you if you did float it like do they when
you say it's going to go up is it is it like 12 bucks is it do they >> I don't have a sense of that. >> Just to put in perspective what's the magnitude of this decision? >> Not very big compared to the rest of your budget. >> Oh because we don't use much gas.
>> All right. Should I go ahead and make a >> No, it's $10.19. Let him go one one decor. >> I I should have looked it up, but I believe it's around 4,000 Decathars a year. >> 4,000 Decath. >> 4,000 of that. >> 4,000 things.
>> So, it's uh $10 time 4,000. >> Yeah, >> it's 1021 per dec. Is that right? >> It's peanuts. >> 40,000. >> All right. All right. Fine. >> Okay. I move uh to approve the contract between the town of Carile and Sprag
Operating Resources and to authorize the town administrator to enter into negotiations on the town's behalf based on the information presented at the meeting not to ex exceed 11 decath >> $1 to exceed 11.
>> Just threw that in there so I had some room. But we believe this is the rate. If it was >> far in excess of this, I would bring it back. >> Okay. I second my second. >> So I would say Ryan, we're in discussion, right? Um >> it'd be worth it'd be worth 20 minutes
on the internet to just maybe Sarah could do it or somebody just like learn a little more about this market and like what's going on. There should be a ton of information out there just to calibrate the guy. >> A chat room that tells you how to do it. what a chat room saying how do you how
do you do this and these people I'm sure you're gonna get you just spend a little time on the internet you're gonna get a lot more information about this and you know maybe >> some of it will be true >> some of it will be true >> anyway I understand your point I just >> it's not worth your time >> we hire the consultant and it's I could
learn a lot about this if you want me to and I will >> yeah he's just >> but I'm doing other stuff >> all right >> it's not a high priority smoking cigar doing an energy future We got to vote it. We got to vote. >> Take a vote. >> All right. Do we have a second? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Let's do a voice vote. All in
favor favor of the motion. >> I opposed. >> All right. >> We need something to wrangle. >> Yes. All right. Next up. Oh, we're going to open the annual town meeting warrant. >> Okay. >> Yay. >> Gee. >> I move to open the warrant of the annual
town meeting currently scheduled for May 18th, 2026. to close the warrant on February 10th, 2026 with a deadline for final bylaw language of April 7th, 2026. >> Second.
>> Second. >> Did who gave us those dates? >> No. >> Well, we voted on the 18 the >> right. We wanted as late as possible to get the fire station things in. >> And I think the Yeah. >> So, there was two two things at play. We wanted to get the fire station in. We
also wanted to have deadlines so that you didn't have lastm minute discussions about significant bylaws. >> So the dates are trying to bracket that variable. >> Part of Wayne's feedback that he informally >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> And and in our discussion, April 7th
from Ryan's standpoint was a reasonable deadline that for the vacation. >> Well, and it just gives enough time to do the legal review and and everything versus and so >> the only counterveail is as Wayne points out that the later you go in May, the more
U challenges are from scheduling. So >> well the May 18th is a Monday. >> It's a Monday. So we're going back to Monday. >> I think we should for for that time frame. >> Okay, that's fine. >> And you know and ju even just from a standpoint of getting in like we're
going to want to have like Tecton and some people presenting and it's easier to do that on a on a Monday night versus >> for them. Yeah. >> Well, yeah. And I I don't know. I I don't know what your >> It depends on what >> We'll revisit it. >> Yeah, we'll revisit. We don't have to This doesn't lock us in. Sunday or Monday.
>> All we're doing is opening the morning. >> Hand up too. >> Somebody got thumbs up. Christina Christina has given you a thumbs up. >> She's giving us a thumbs up. >> She likes She likes Monday night. Okay. >> Yeah. Okay, that's fine. We But we're not necessarily deciding that specifically. It'll be the Sunday or the Monday. I do think the April 7th is we
do want to communicate that out. If people aren't done, sorry. Like you missed it. >> Yeah. Right. That's fair. That's good. And then the closing the warrant February 10th I assume is Ryan works for you. >> It's the same. It gives everyone. So most of this is from the town meeting study committee,
>> right? >> Opening early but closing earlier so that people have to do their due dates. >> I support that. >> Now do we I made the motion somebody second. >> We did. Yep. Okay. Any more discussion? >> Okay. Let's take a voice vote. All in favor of the motion.
>> I opposed. >> Great. All right, 8:15. So, we're on to the uh fire station establishing the fire station building committee. Oh boy. >> So, with the passage um at town meeting
and the subsequent election um that project is moving forward and we need a building committee to uh shepherd that through the next phase. Ryan had provided a draft which I looked at it essentially is the as far as I could
tell similar to what we have for the police station. We talked about the um the voting members um one addition that we had when when I presented to the board of health. Tony um said he would be interested in in participating in in
our in our planning discussions Mariana. >> Yeah. We thought that was a good idea to involve the board of health given the the issue of the septic and making sure that that all information is is communicated and and processed. That'll be critical to the early stages of
design. So, um we added we added a a board of health member um and then that kicked us up to four at large members. So, my my question to Ryan was is that too many voting members, five or seven. And from his standpoint, um, it it
wasn't an issue. Um, >> I mean, you like a lot of members because people can't make it, you have other people. >> Yeah. >> As long as the quorum doesn't present a problem. >> Well, I think the MFC typically likes to have two people on there. So, by the time you end up adding in all the requisite people and and and accounting
for some at large members, um, it becomes a bit of a larger committee, but again, from Ryan's standpoint, he thought it was um a good thing. >> Okay. All right. I don't think there's anything else in here that's specific or unusual language like when I
compared it to the police renovation charter. >> One member from MFC, but you think they're going to want two? >> That was that was what was suggested. >> So, you're changing from what we have here in the packet. >> No. Do >> do we have an ATL?
>> It could be an atlarge >> because we're going to publicize >> Could be an MFC member, >> right? Yeah. >> So it doesn't exclude a second MFC member. >> Yeah. The Ryan the the the question was >> we were expecting probably two MFC members but one would be at large. Is
that correct? >> By making it two you have to have two. If you >> want a second you can have it at large and then you have options. >> Okay. So that just gives us a little more flexibility based on but you're okay with the size of the committee. Correct. You think that's okay from your
experience? My question was relative to the Carile building committee. There was discussion one point about having an actual >> building committee standing a standing committee. Do we have to deal is that something I haven't researched it or
anything. Do you know anything about that? >> So it's not that clear in your bylaws, but my interpretation of it was that there would be a building committee for any project, not that there is a building committee >> ongoing. Uhhuh. Now, how would a building committee differ from the MFC?
>> Well, the MFC is tasked with the ongoing maintenance and fac like looking out as well at deferred maintenance on existing structures. It's not new. >> I see >> necessarily new structures. >> It's kind of a hybrid. So, it started off as facilities maintenance when you
didn't have a facilities department, >> right? It really takes the what most people would call long-term cap long-term capital. >> So that could the non- voting members be firefighters who live in town? >> They could be if they're residents.
>> Yeah, they'd have to be residents, right? Fire chief is a Oh, so he is one of them anyway. >> Would be a non voting member. >> That's what I asked. Yeah, I didn't. >> And I I think the That's a good question though. If a volunteer firefighter lives
in town, >> could he be he or >> she be a voting member as an atlarge member? >> If we appointed them, they're paid by the No, but we've typically had a conflict of interest policy that you don't um somebody that's on the town hall payroll
>> isn't a can't be a voting member. >> Yeah, >> I'm just I'm just raising it. So, that would apply here, too, I assume. >> I mean, I would avoid those appointments. You wouldn't you wouldn't appoint a police officer to be on a building committee. >> Yeah. >> As a voting member, >> right? Okay.
>> Okay. >> Of a police project. >> And the goal would be to um if we approve tonight, we'll advertise and at our next meeting we can appoint and get that because that needs to get up and running. >> Yeah. >> Um >> asked, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. I think Tecton's saying 12 meetings between December 2nd and
February 2nd. >> Oh, they're they're pushing. They're really moving to >> because they need to be ready by 10 minutes. You can can they get going if you don't get a full >> Yeah, they're already Tecton's already been working on the design since um >> Well, they will, but I mean can even you stand up the committee with the five
people when you >> I'm just saying. >> Yeah. >> Well, we'll be able to appoint at our next meeting, >> right? But if you don't get seven, it doesn't. >> Yeah, we as long as we have a quorum >> ordered to come back. >> Okay. Right. Let's go. >> I move to approve the charter of the fire station building renovation
committee as presented in the packet. He wrote it. >> Second. >> Maybe you didn't. >> Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, let's take a voice vote. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Great. Motion passes. We have a committee. And so that'll
Ryan, that'll get advertised tomorrow. >> We'll get that up. >> Yes. >> Okay, great. All right. >> And it'll go in the mosquito for next week. Do they publish the week of Thanksgiving? >> Maybe not. >> Use that all the time. >> Okay.
do what we can. >> Yeah, >> I don't use, >> you know, again, >> it can go out on the town website though, right? >> It'll be on the town website. >> Ordered seems very military. >> All right. >> Personnel policies discussion. I'm guessing you're here for that, right?
>> All right. >> Just uh announce yourself for the >> Hi everybody. This is Aubrey Thomas. I'm the town administrator and HR director. Come on down. >> As I join the >> spin a wheel. >> Do you want to present?
>> Right. Yeah. Let me uh join. Sorry. >> Get our get our viewership up. >> We could Everyone gets their theme so they can they can request their play for people at home. >> Oh, their favorite. Yeah, they're right. Like the basketball players >> do the word of the day and you can win a
prize. How am I getting notifications? All right, let's get this open. There we go. Should be good. >> All right. >> Hey, look at that. We're pretty much out tie. >> We're ahead of schedule. We're ahead. >> Well done.
>> We're actually 20 minutes ahead. >> Aubrey's eating. >> Oh, 8:35. Right. Right. >> How much? Ken Burns. >> Want to approve? >> Watch that. It's really good. It started >> started on Sunday night. >> It started Sunday. So, it's 8 to 10, but
you can catch the repeat at 10 o'clock. Very interesting. >> But one can stream it after look at it later. Yeah, >> you can always just I'm like a real time guy. Like I turn on the TV, I watch and then I'm done. >> Yeah. Yes, you can watch it any >> and with that introduction, Aubrey, do
you want to talk about our >> something totally different than Ken Burns? Um, so yes. So when I last met with you all in August, I uh spoke about the operational updates that I'd like to do for the personnel policies. This is phase two of the updates. Um, most of
these shouldn't be too controversial, but there will be some decisions to be made. Um, I sent uh with the packet what these updates would look like. And so I am looking tonight to have either an approval or if you would like some further clarification or if you don't
want to vote for something, that's also your decision. So I'll go through each one and >> these are for non bargaining unit employees, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. Thanks. >> So the first is are the performance of
reviews. Um as you know one of the biggest updates that we have had um in town is to tie the performance of reviews with a step increase annually. So we want to make sure that that is reflected going forward um in this
section. Um it also notes in the actual policies now that a copy of the performance review was attached and that wasn't the case. So, we will make sure that that's actually attached in this next version. Any questions for voting for that one?
>> Did you want to vote for each one as as >> you? No, I think we should just do them as a package. >> Unless we have a change that >> Okay, sure. Town meeting style. If you're good with that, >> consent agenda. >> Yep. >> Make note of the numbers. >> Got it. Okay.
So for section 87 um one of the things that we needed clarification for is overtime. Uh we I did have do a compreview of surrounding towns and how they manage this. So the fair lab Labor
Standards Act uh states that you only have to give overtime for any hours after 40 that were actually worked. Right now we are calculating sick leave personal um and incentive time into those hours worked. >> Oh, >> so it's happening a lot. And what I also
did um which is not something I want to put publicly is you know the weeks where folks took sick on the same weeks that they were also getting overtime. Right. And that was pretty frequent. >> Um and so >> so you're just peeling sick out of there. You're leaving. >> Yes. Yes. Because that seemed to be the
most costly. Uh with other towns, most of them have a union and so unless the union um the contract says otherwise about it's about 50/50 if they just follow FLSA strictly or if they allow other time. Um so I think that not
allowing sick leave to be worked but to be counted as hours worked but allowing other time is good middle ground for that. Um, and so that can save some costs, but this will also make sure that you know if you're called in, you still get that overtime anyway. So that does
not count against you if you're called in for especially for snow. >> Quick question to call what's a call back? >> So let's say there's a snowstorm early Saturday morning, >> you're called back into work. >> You have to go to work. You get at least four hours. >> If you go home and then you're called in
again that night, that's a call back. >> But if you're here and Jim says, "Can you stay another hour?" >> Right. That's not a call back. Correct. >> Okay. >> Has and with regard to has have you spoken with Jim about this or Okay.
>> Yes. So there there might be some you know concerns raised by employees who have always had that overtime pay no matter what. >> Um but we're trying to compromise a little with by still allowing personal and vacations. So I and my only intent
is so he's aware of this policy. >> Yes. >> Does >> And what are Oh, >> go ahead. You go. >> I was going to just ask and so number one talks about incentive hours. >> What are those? >> That is I believe and I should know on
the top of my head, but basically um there's if they if you don't take sick time for a certain amount of times, you you get extra hours credited. There's there's it's I'll look it up. I'll look up. >> Sorry. Um >> well, >> it's very specific to DPW.
>> The the um it must be elsewhere and not maybe a change of like how Jim would determine who's eligible for overtime and how he decides and all that jazz. Is that also in the personnel policies or is that somewhere else? >> When you say who is eligible for overtime? >> Well, I mean it was a big deal with
police contract in the years past about how people were chosen, how they were ranked, you know, schedule, right? who gets the first dibs on the overtime and all that jazz. >> Luckily, I think that because it's such a small
>> department, that's not necessarily the case. Especially with a snowstorm, it's probably going to be all hands on deck, >> but it's not codified anymore. >> No. Um, but I think that I don't, as far as I understand, there hasn't been a Okay. >> concern with that. But that is a good
question. >> Any other questions on this one? No. Next section 8.0 or 8.8 actually is detail pay for non-UN officers. There aren't a lot of them. Um but they're just not anywhere in any policy, but
they are paid the same as union officers. So we just want to make sure that it's set in place somewhere. It's just formalizing what's already been been done. >> So this complies with the CBA, >> correct? >> Any questions? Section nine, group insurance. Just
making sure that it's reflecting how the percentage has changed and might continue to change. It may or may notific. And also notes that it can split between the retiree and the active employees. >> Right.
>> That's good. >> 211 holiday coverage. Just making it clear. Uh the first one was not clear of who was actually eligible um because it didn't really align with all the other leave that I'm going to talk about further in this. So just
making sure that it aligns correctly. So 20 hours is that threshold of who's eligible for the holiday. >> If you work fewer than 20, you don't get paid for anything for holiday >> for holiday. Correct. >> And if you're between 20 and 35 or whatever, you get a per rout that's eligible, right?
>> No, it's holiday pay. >> It just it's eligible for holiday. Yes. But the other ones are prrated, right? >> Depending on how many hours, >> but your holiday if you don't work eight hours is not eight hours, right? It's whatever the hours you work. >> Right. Right. If if you're full-time, if you're 20 hours or more. Sorry. Yep. Any
questions? Other questions on that? Recognize holidays. This is an easy one. Um Martha, the library director, has been really fantastic in also helping review the policies. Um, she noted that the library is no longer open the day after Thanksgiving, so this line doesn't apply.
>> But you you hear you reference the following holidays, but there's nothing listed after, but I imagine it's in the basic. You just showed us the changes and there's no change to the list. >> Um, >> the way it reads, there's no >> Yeah, no listing of the holidays.
>> Oh, that's just I didn't put the whole rest. I just put adding. Sorry. >> Holidays. >> Holidays. >> Holidays do still exist. that one through. >> This was just um >> this is like uh what is it? Meta style or who they really Amazon style something like.
>> Yeah, that's true. >> No. Yeah, this was just referencing that line removal. >> Yeah, >> got it. Okay. Okay. >> 213 holiday pay. Um this was just because how you get paid
for a holiday, what it what counted as official or appropriate absence, it wasn't clear. That's all it said was and was officially inappropriately absent. What does that mean? Right? So, trying to define that means you're approved. You didn't just not show up and then you're still still going to get paid for
that holiday pay or you're under you're out on FMLA, anything like that. There's a reason that you are out. So, then you still will get that holiday. >> So, if you're in FL FMLA and you're not drawing pay, right? That's you don't get paid for that. That's just you're on leave, right?
Like if you're on family leave, >> you wouldn't just get a holiday pay if you weren't getting paid for that. Yeah. So that's >> Well, that's the question. It looks like you would get paid. >> Yeah. It makes it sound like >> So if let's say I >> Well, when you went out, >> right?
>> So you were out without pay, right? >> I took my own pay. Let's say that there was a holiday. >> The HR director took her own pay. What is that? >> I I had to use all use up all my vacation. >> Okay. So on the day, so for that case, if it happened to be a holiday, you didn't have to draw vacation because it
was a holiday. >> Correct. >> But if you had taken no pay, would you be paid for the holiday? >> I don't think that we would do that because we >> Right. So this >> Yeah. So that that's a good question. So that's something we need to make sure is clear.
>> Who want Yeah. So let's put a hold on that. >> Yeah, sure. 213 >> 223 uh scheduling and acrual. We are adjusting everybody to all align on July 1st. Um there were a lot of issues that
were happening over the years of folks either forgetting that their time was about to expire and then they're out for a whole month straight or um really having to have our other staff um most
notably the town heavily track folks individually. So this makes everybody on the same scale. This also helps with budgeting, right? So you can anticipate the time that's going to be used. So if I carry forward two weeks on July 1st, I have until the following July, June. >> Correct. To use that extra two weeks.
>> When it's acred though, does do people have to wait and it's backloaded to the end of the year? It's because they acrew if they want to take a week off. They haven't acred it if they're beginning of the year. >> Technically, you should wait until it acrus, >> right? >> Theoretically, yes.
>> But this is the excess you're talking. Well, there's an acrruel and then there's the excess, >> right? Yes. personal you do get front loaded so you do get two days automatically and six sik is you know but sik is also approved as well so >> so when you first start working here
let's say you get hired you know April 5th you don't acrewue any um vacation time until July 1 starts >> you be you are pr-rated between April
and July So whatever that increment is so you still do acrew it's just not >> you know it they just it's you will just >> but your date of of >> your cruel date your date where you have you have that year between July 1 and
June 1 restart reset so we'll start with that so that that's where that that is um but let's say you wanted to >> you started April 5th and you wanted to take a week off at the end of that month you will be in negative acral if you didn't take do paid permit with certain in certain
cases. I guess >> I can override it. >> You can like I I have my honeymoon I just started but you know >> typically we negotiate it during the hiring process and I say I'm sorry I have this vacation and figure it out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I don't want to lose an employee over that. But
>> long-term employees it's a different calculus. I have a couple answers for you as you're presenting here. Um incentive days are in lie of so >> DPW workers are on standby and typically towns compensate for that in some way in
a contract whether that be a stipen we give days of leave based on how long you've served for the town as compensation for that for that off time. So example if you've worked for the town for 5 years you get three days of incentive time for being on standby for
the entire winter. The max is 10 years. You get four days. >> It's like a stipend in the form of days. >> It's in the lie of a stipen. Yeah. >> And what was the max? Sorry. >> The max is 10 years. You get four days. And you have to have served one year to get the two days. So you have to go through a winter cycle to be eligible.
For holidays, you don't earn them if you're in an unpaid status to include FLSA. So you have to be in a paid status to get a holiday. >> Thank you. That's what I thought. >> You're right. >> So that's what I've been following. >> All right. So is we can go back to that. Is the language okay as written then? >> 213 clarify.
>> Yeah, I think you're right. Um, we would want to extend make sure that even though it references FMLA to explain. >> Okay. All right. >> You know, if they're not taking that >> hold that out. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. Fine. >> Because when I was out, it wasn't really during holiday season. So, I can't use
myself as an example. >> Any questions with where were we? >> 223. >> Yeah. 223. >> Yep. >> Okay. Okay, >> 23. Sick leave. Um, again clarifying who qualifies for sick leave and who
doesn't. >> We're rather unique in how we categorize folks. Um, Jessica, the new finance and HR assistant, help um, put some compreview reviews in. I don't see other towns having these three different categories like we do where we have
under 20, then, you know, either 20 to 35 or 20 to 25, and then 35 up. So there's there's and it and >> the 20 to 35 or 20 to 25 depends on the type of leave. From my understanding, a lot of that has to do with library employees because they're very very
specific and they have very unique schedules. So I think that was part of >> So the people who are in the middle category, they acrew PTO or whatever whatever they acrew with these various things at a prorated amount compared with >> correct. Um and then if you're
>> um Yeah. But you have to work at least 20 hours, right, to to have this. >> So the under 20s get something like this. >> They do. So further well, that's that's later um for and that will be but that is technically ti tied to this as well,
but this clears up because right now was saying full-time and part-time. Yeah. >> But then 23 forest is part-time. Um, so it just we need to make it clear of who exactly gets what and that if you
get sick leave, you don't get PTO and vice versa. If you're getting PTO, you don't get >> 234 says >> part-time employees who work more than 20 are entitled to pay sick leave on the same basis. Doesn't mean the same rate of approval. It's just the calculation
is done the same way. >> We're just making sure that's clear. >> Yep. Any other questions on >> and we had a policy in place to pay the overtime because you don't have to do that, right? For municipal employees.
>> So, we pay the >> sick the sick time or whatever. >> Oh, pay the sick time. Sorry, you said overtime. >> I did say >> um if they leave. Correct. You don't pay that out. >> Well, I was saying we we don't I thought we talked about that last year. Like
that's why we have this policy in place, right? We moved because municipal employees don't fall under the Massachusetts Act for sick time. You don't have to pay sick time. >> I don't think anybody has to. Yeah. Has to pay. Right. Right. That >> if you have Oh,
>> because we don't have PFML. >> If you have 10 or more employees >> because we're not covered by PFML. Correct. >> That's family. >> Yeah. >> Oh, it is. >> Yeah. Do you is it worth going to 313 since it's part referenced 231?
>> Yeah, we can go straight to that before we ever Okay. >> Yeah. All right. >> So, with personal leave again clarifying that versus PTO, right? Um making sure that instead of just saying
um full-time, you know, it's also part-time employees, >> right? Um >> so our part time again they're getting instead of two full days they might get well you show it here right there >> right prorated amount. Um so here so then with that in mind this
is where the PTO comes in right so instead of that sick leave and the personal leave they have PTO >> so earlier we said part-time employees who work more than 20 hours >> and here we say 25 >> right so that's where I was mentioning
we're unique where I think there were situations that this was addressing um with specific employees particularly part- timerrs at in the library and other departments and so was making it so and and so I wasn't privy to those conversations but there's clearly you
know they depending on how many hours depends on what if they have personal sick PTO and it is it's a little it's unique where some of them if you're over 20 you automatically get this if you're between 20 25 you get this if you're over you know it's there's >> wow okay
>> so it's a little it's still complex but at least with this we >> PTO Yeah. >> Right. At least with this um >> you do like there is clarity for the finance department to pay properly and make sure it's consistent.
>> Okay. >> We're also endeavoring to fix this in hiring processes and procedures. So not hiring or hiring clearly within a definition that's not confusing. Mhm. >> A quick question just the probationary
period that's mentioned in the previous section. >> Does that vary per person and and is that negotiated when they get hired or >> it's three months. >> It's always three months. >> So once that three months passes is when they get um especially if they're in bamboo, you just add it to that.
>> And this rolls over now again July. No matter when they were hired, like if they were hired now, November, December, January, February, in February, they'd be eligible for their two days of PTO or personal time or whatever. And
they would get that immediately at that point. >> You know, I should pro I that's a good question because this needs to also address that. >> And would it roll over like again in my exam? >> Personal leave does not roll over. Um >> no, I mean rollover is not right. I'm
sorry I misspoke. I hire in now. >> So in February I hit my three months. I get something. We'll figure that out. >> But then we fresh clock happens July 1. >> Even though I just got it. Do I get the fresh at that point? Am I treated like everybody else? I just get a
>> fresh two days because you said the two days >> and that's where I think we need to clarify if that would be prrated for between February and June 30th >> to normalize everything. That's something that's a good question to make sure that that's >> clean in here as well. >> All right. So, >> so we want to hold this one out then.
>> Sure. >> This is 303 I think. >> And 313 is where >> it might be. It might be 31. This is >> or 31. >> I would just say 31 31. Okay. Um, while I'm on here, just to note, um, if you
have any questions, um, we'd like to, uh, reject the 1 hour increment just because it's already not being enforced. It takes a lot more time to enforce it. And >> so, you can take 20 minutes >> administratively for the finance department, they don't care. So, I will
say it that way. For them, it's just easier to process it than having to go back and enforce everything all the time. >> So, even this other one was half an hour. So I mean >> right and it's not concern >> can somebody say I want 10 minutes to myself I'm going to take PTO I >> theoretically yes but if there is concern with that we you know we can map
>> no I mean I don't if you guys can manage it people asking people typically would take a half a day I would think or something right >> I would say usually people aren't doing 10 minutes but um >> they may say I have to take my kid to the doctor I'll be an hour late I'll take the right >> right and I think that's what we're trying to make it so it's flexible for
them right um and if again if you're in the bamboo system, >> right? >> It's it's counting by the, you know, hundreds of of a minute. So, you know, it's >> so if you're back in an hour and 15 minutes, you can say I took one point, you know, >> I took 15 minutes of extra I took 1.25
hours. So, then you're not >> Yeah. And that's self-reporting. >> Yes. Well, with >> reviewed by department. >> Yeah. I was going to say with the approval of the department head. >> Okay. Got it. And then um just also looking to redact
not being allowed to work use it in conjunction of other time because again it takes more administrative time to enforce that. >> It doesn't allow flexibility for employees. >> Um I I don't personally like to have to pry into well why are you taking your
personal leave >> with your vacation? Right. >> Yeah. That's not really >> who cares, right? >> Unless I need a doctor's note. don't really like to ask more than I need to. So, >> and when you say inconnection, it means, oh, I'm taking two days of personal leave and then three days of vacation. Right. Exactly.
>> If it's Okay. >> Exactly. And and from what I understand, that hasn't been enforced before anyways. So, it's not something that's even being followed by department heads. >> I mean, really, people should, if it was me, I would take my personal time first. You take that up front because
>> we do encourage >> it. Okay. And then again just looking to also have this PTO not have any minimum increments. >> Right. Got it. >> Next one is section 35.
Travel is now being referenced in another policy later on. Okay. >> In the financial policies. So I'm looking to recommend >> just eliminate this. >> Yeah. Eliminate and replace it with resignations because that's just it fits better in that section.
um probably not entirely um enforceable to require anybody to give a minimum of 10 working days of a notice, but trying to make that into a policy. Also to try to encourage communication to make sure that we have our equipment returned in
time, that paperwork is processed appropriately, that there's an opportunity for myself or somebody else to conduct an exit interview. So, it's just formalizing the resignation process. >> There is no mention. There's no incentive to do it or just you can't make a distance.
>> Well, a good reference. >> Yeah. >> Um, so returns of all town property. >> Mhm. >> I mean, you do have some leverage on that, right? If people have a laptop, a town issue laptop or something, if they
don't return it, what leverage do you have? >> Uh, there is like like with pay or >> I don't know. I mean, that's the thing. I mean, you you usually give them their final paycheck on their last day, right? >> Correct. >> And that would be in conjunction with turning in all the company property, I
would think. Right. >> Yes. But let's say they quit via text or a phone call or they just don't come back. Um, >> then that gets >> Can you deduct the value of the property not return? >> Matter if it's an issue, but you should
have something in writing because there's nothing. I think that might be good to consider in this is you know what that policy and that's something to further clarify with legal counsel >> when most employees in this building have a laptop a town issue laptop
>> always they take home right if they >> yeah and I would say most across town as well >> yeah I mean and not cell phones right >> so it's really just the laptop right >> I mean >> so that can be disabled remotely so security wise >> you can disable it you can disable Um,
but you know, expense wise pretty that can add up if they keep doing that. >> I mean, it wouldn't be bad to just put a sentence in there like >> it's it's kind of neat the way it's written in 353, employees are expected to complete. Yes, of course.
>> But you you may want to be a little more prescriptive like on on the last day >> employees will turn in their lap. Do they have badges? >> Fobs. >> They do have fobs. >> Yeah. I mean, they should turn everything in. >> Mhm. >> Have the exit interview, turn it in, and
>> you know, get their paycheck and the town reserves the right to deduct. >> See what lead >> That's a good point. Absolutely. In there. >> That is a good point because that is a frequent concern. >> Yeah. >> So, because that's these are expensive, right? The fobs are cheap, but
>> Yeah. Fobs are you disable, >> but you also don't want people walking around with fobs. I mean, I guess >> you disable them. It's like when you forget to turn in your hotel key, you think so many people need to know. >> Yeah, that's that's why uh right >> that was one of the reasons I was very excited for the children and no longer
the physical keys because if somebody forgets it it's it becomes useless immediately. >> Do we want to hold this one or we want to approve it and then revisit with additional >> I mean we can hold it because there's like three. It's just word smithing. You'll be back. It take you like 10 minutes. I agree with Barney. Council
should usually just we don't have anything now on resignations. Is that correct? >> Correct. So this at least section. Absolutely. >> Well, if we we could approve this as written. >> I mean amend it. >> Amend it if you if you would like to have this.
>> We can approve them. Honestly, we could approve them all as written and just come back and >> make up to you. I I I plan to come back soon. Okay. >> Um so I don't think these revisions will take too long. So, it's up to you if you want to approve and then approve again or just
>> I didn't know if there's any reason to get at least get some of this in place that you haven't had before. >> Well, I don't want to jinx it, but if you want just in case. >> People generally wait till after Christmas. >> True. >> So, as long as we get this done before Christmas. Okay. >> Yeah. All right.
>> Good incentive. Okay. All right. >> Um, >> so 35. >> There are two sections. Most of it's just section 33. Um section 16 I'd like to just reference 33 because it's um 16 talks about clothing. >> Yep.
>> What we are seeking to do is add uh the policy about DPW uniforms into the personnel policies. Again, because they do not have a contract, we need to have somewhere where it's in there. We already have this policy as a standalone policy. They do receive $750 annually
and they receive it in two separate increments to prov to um receive boots and clothing. >> So they buy their own boots with the money. >> Correct. And they do um qualify for I think it's every either November or Feb. It's like same
time twice a year and no matter when they start. Um, and I advocated for that actually because you're going to need winter boots whether you started last week or three years ago. Right. So that's that's why I have been an advocate for that.
>> Um, >> so there's no uni. They wear a shirt, don't they? We're a carw shirt. >> I don't believe so anymore. I think they used to, but it became too much to upkeep. So they just are looking to make sure that they have the proper clothing in general and that it's safe and that
it's clean. Um, I think the boots is really about safety, >> right? Well, the boots I get, but >> so they don't want to wear shirts, I think. >> Yeah. I was wondering jacket. I mean, >> the problem is when you go there, it's very it's more expensive for us to actually provide. >> It is expensive because there's a cleaning fee and
>> to wear shirts. >> From my understanding, there was, you know, >> it there was a lot of stories as to why it it was not working. >> It looks nice, but I mean, you have to police have to have a certain look. >> Sure. Sure. And so I get that, but you pay a tremendous premium for those.
>> Yeah. So to to outfit a police officer goes into >> Well, even if DPW, I'm guessing if you go to these specialty clothing, right, >> it's easy for them to go to >> we buy we buy fleces with information and they all
um as far as appearance and standards, appearance standards, do you have is that uniform? I mean for all employees within the town to be to work a a neat and professional manner >> that will be coming up in the next round of recommendations of a dress code.
>> Okay. >> Um that could be part of that. This is under the umbrella of DPW. So, but I should make that clear, right? >> That this is still just about DPW employees, but um that is something that is going to be a recommendation at that
next round of policy updates. Everyone has to wear a tie top hat. >> Monle. >> I've never seen his tie like actually buttoned up and choked in. >> You can have a look. >> Ryan has
all have her stuff. >> Any questions with this one? >> Hey, um I 332. Have we covered that already? We're in that right now. Yeah. >> So, um I just noticed it says the allowance amount is decided annually by
the select board. >> Is that >> what we want to have the select? >> If you don't want to revisit that annually, we can take that out. It's just that I'm I don't want to put a specific amount that inflation say annually by the TA. >> Sure.
>> There you go. >> Mhm. >> That makes sense. >> Power we gave him. He can negotiate the >> boots, man. >> The gas contract. >> Gas contract. And then he >> you got to become a save. You can roll into boots. >> The shoe guy. The uh
>> cobbler. You got to become a cobbler to >> guy. Um >> I imagine I mean it doesn't say here, but I imagine steel would be required. Right. >> That is my assumption, but >> I mean you're Well, it says appropriate.
So >> is it Jim Hall? Who's got who determines? >> That would be Jim Hall. So should you reference it, you know, it's >> as determined by the DP director. >> Yeah, that that that's a good idea, right? >> Yeah, because some one guy may argue, well, it says appropriate. I think it's
appropriate. Jim says, well, no, right. >> So, you probably should also add >> the authority. >> The authority, right? >> I Yeah, absolutely. >> All right. So, I I can update some of these. >> Is he a supervisor or a director? >> He's a director, so that needs to be
updated, too. >> Okay. So, there's All right. >> They provide feedback. >> Yeah, >> I know. >> They provide feedback. >> Feedback whose appearance is deemed unsuitable. >> Right.
>> Could I mention one other thing? I know it was a ways back, but 235, the extension of sick leave. I just noticed a reference to the personnel board. >> Oh, good. >> Definitely take that out. >> Five. Yeah, there it is. >> Bring it back. >> Oh, yeah. Let's take that out. Right.
That is something that you know because it was already approved that will be part of the um update is any reference to the personnel board to make sure they're all >> shall be determined by the dodo bird. >> I don't even >> I don't even know what that what is that
>> extra passenger pigeon. >> Right. Right. >> They're calling them dodos. >> Yeah. >> Yikes. Or is it carrier pigeon? >> No, I think it's passenger pigeon. There's plenty of carrier pigeon.
>> All right. Can you research the pigeon? The appropriate pigeon reference. >> Right. Let's talk about the magnitude. >> And it's not even 9:00 yet. >> We're following what happens. >> All right. >> Uh I would like to add section 38
financial policies and reimbursements. So, um, this is really to just reference to the web page of where these all are because they will be updated, but to make sure people understand if you want to know about reimbursements, travel related expenses, phone or technology
stipens, winter plowing, other operational statements, and any other allowances, reimbursements, or financial incentives, this is where to find it. So if folks say I didn't know there's a policy or >> So you're just cross referencing to the procedures >> because there are a lot and I don't think I don't think I mean and if they
get adjusted you know it only makes sense to be able to it's a live document to have that to that web page basically. >> Um so as long as that web page does not change or just making sure people know. >> So speaking of posting would this also this also is posted
>> this policy gets posted then as well. all of these personnel policies. >> Yeah, there it's always on the website. Absolutely. >> And you'll see in the next one, they are annually acknowledged. >> Yes. >> Part of the onboarding process. >> Oh, that an employee every year has to
sign that they >> Yeah. >> So that does tie into my recommended addition of section 39. >> Before you get there. Sure. >> So just on 38. So >> So you're cross referencing the the policy. You're saying it >> covers everybody. It's these things. Go
find it here. >> Any questions? Uh, so you got several places to go. Finance department or the or you basically. So, do you want to leave it that way? Like, do you really want Sandy and Kelly be getting pestered about those or
>> they are the ones that created most of these? So, but if you want to So, I'd go >> That's not what I want. That's what you want. Yeah, that makes more sense actually to adjust it to just have them go through me because I can either refer them back to that or if it's a >> I mean I don't think they should have to
well gee I you know was promised a phone they don't need >> I think that's a good that's a valid um observation. I think because we're so small it's we all kind of pitch in but I think to create order and structure >> to just have it funnel through. Okay, >> my position would make more sense.
>> Okay, thank you. So I am requesting to add section 39 um so to the per personnel policy acknowledgement we're already having folks acknowledge that they've read the person personnel policies annually now
>> this goes into so I'll show you this is the form >> it's very basic it has a link to the policies which there's various ways to get to that link it's on my human resources page everything >> you just say yes I've read it your name your title your email address and the date and you just submit
>> and if they're late you remind them you ping them if they they >> we are tracking that but once they do complete it that goes into a report I also get emailed so >> so is it annual on the their anniversary date or what what's >> every fall fall is our our annual yeah
there's a time frame >> and in there is also because we only have a part of sexual harassment and all that jazz is >> everything the whole policy all the policies um what we're also doing is making it so it's part the onboarding process on day one is to read reading acknowledgement. So they're doing it while they're onboarding and then
annually after that. >> So that's linking to was the last revision really 2021. >> Correct. >> So all the we haven't adjusted any policies. >> No, we did all that all that Kate stuff last year. >> That was Kate's stuff. >> The 2021
>> really >> add So removing the personnel board the um adding the military leave policy that will be part of this revision. Okay. >> Okay. So, that is the most recent version. >> So, we hadn't actually put all that in. Seems like forever that we couple
kicking out and then this date. >> Okay. >> All right. Great. >> And didn't we have to approve something a town meeting >> on the to remove the personnel board? >> Yeah, >> that was done. >> That was that would be updated in the bylaws at this point, but we need to add
that's part of theation. >> Yeah, we did. Was it May? I mean, if you look at the pattern here, >> before 2021 was 2012, so we're getting a better track so far. >> Yeah. >> When did you join? >> Uh 20 end of 2022. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. So, I have no problem appro to uh Barney's point, I have no problem approving all the changes. So, you can pick and choose what you want to do and then come back with the revs rather than this. >> Sure. So, we're really emphasizing onboarding, too.
>> Yeah. >> I'm not letting people start working until they acknowledge personnel policies and complete the onboarding process. >> Yeah. >> And if you know anything about your town, department heads really want their new employees to start working. So, it does work. >> Yeah. >> Annually, we're threequarters of the way
there >> with annual training. The problem is when we do annual training, as you know, we have to shut down the town a lot of senses. So um we're getting >> annual training. This is just annual self-re >> we we have call it the big four big five
ones that we do every year. >> Okay. >> And we track >> you do them I mean employeewide. >> Remember we had one earlier this fall I thought right. Yeah. >> Particularly difficult with a lot of the part-time >> Yeah. >> employees. So we're pretty compliant. We
feel good about the liability but >> it's not as easy as it sounds. I don't believe. Okay. I move to approve the personnel policy as presented with the understanding that the HR director will
return at a subsequent meeting with >> revisions as suggested by >> second. >> Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll take a voice vote. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Great. >> Good job. All right. Thank you all. A
few. That's a lot. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, that's a lot. And then >> more to go. >> Yeah. We >> get to controversial ones. >> Yes. >> We're still like getting through the basic ones. All right. So, we're on to the TA evaluation discussion.
>> It's our also known as our doto bird. So, do you want to um I know you provided the the memo and do you want to walk through the memo, Ryan, or how do you >> I'd be happy to. >> Okay. >> This process isn't that dissimilar from my previous years here. And
contractually, we need to agree on this process. So, this is this is what we do annually. This week or early next week, if you'll give me a couple days grace, you'll receive my self-review and supporting materials. Then, each board member would complete an individual
evaluation and schedule a one-on-one meeting with me to go over that. At the conclusion of that, that evaluation could be finalized if you want to make any changes and then that goes in my personnel file, but you would then send a summary to the chair of your
evaluation for consolidation. The chair is only allowed to to take what you put and consolidate it into one. They can't change it. So that public that public paragraph will be published. >> Consolidate as in >> put it all in one document. >> Assemble it.
>> Assemble it, not synthesize it. No. >> And is it Travis said this and Dave said this or is it just >> number B said this? >> No, it would be your your >> if you look at the review doc which I think is in here, isn't it? >> Yeah, that's what I thought. >> There's that. >> But >> there's no editing. There's no
>> Yeah. Whatever you write at the end there. >> So hopefully by mid um before the for the December holidays, we would complete this oneonone. You would send your summaries just after the new year to the board chair and then in January the
aggregated summary would be presented. >> So are we evaling you for fiscal 25? >> Yeah. >> We can do >> just to get it on the same cycle because I think this is a better time of year. >> Okay. >> Um the last 15 to 18 months if if you so
choose just to get in one >> we can bring it up to current. Yeah. >> Thank you. Have a good night. >> Night. Good night. >> Thanks a lot, Aubrey. >> So, um, just again to summarize, you would complete the form with scores, talk to me, maybe you change your mind,
maybe you don't, then you send a public summary and scores to the chair for aggregation. But also, um, isn't there I thought I read here >> that at some point we're filling out a paper that both of both parties sign.
>> Yes. Right. That's the one on >> and that happens either at the one-on-one meeting or if there's some change. >> So, you would review that with me in the one-on-one and then if you if you're done, great. We sign it. If you want to finalize it, then we sign it after you've done that. >> Yeah. >> And that goes into my file.
>> Yeah. Okay. Okay. >> And that's not a public document. The one-on-one and we don't see each other's detailed document. All we see from each other is the public paragraph. >> But you see all of them. You don't even see it. >> No. >> And the and the rating the number.
>> So this whole like this whole form that starts on >> page 68. >> That's the whole form. >> 66. Yeah. >> Well, there's a form, right? And >> Oh, I see. You're not reading. There's a lot of verbiage here, but then really what you're talking about is the
>> the little score thing >> on page. >> Yeah, this is pretty much what we >> This is what we did last year, isn't it? Were there any changes? >> Nope. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I wondered if did sets the standard exceeds expected. Nothing that those categories haven't changed by name.
>> They have not. >> Okay. It's pretty straightforward. >> There's a little typo there, but we I'll send that to you later. >> All right. The key thing is anything that summary paragraph the public paragraph you send >> is published as is
>> right >> it's not hey here's you know make this >> you know so you just want to and that's the that's the public piece that we all see >> is the score aggregated >> the score the the the scoring is aggregated though
>> the the chart above it so I get it that the comments go as is but then the >> this overall overall performance We're sending you that >> you consolidate that into one number, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. Right. Okay. >> What do you >> I'm just curious. That's kind of
interesting that you're allowed to do that which is subject. >> You're actually allowed to do both. I think the other one you're allowed to do. >> Are you? >> Yeah. School committee does that all the time. >> Well, I don't know. It means you're allowed to do it. >> You could you can synthesize the chair has the I believe
>> we could give them the authority. the chair could synthesize the comments into >> Well, what did you do last year, >> Travis? We did it. Exactly. I asked you to do it and I put it exactly as as written. But you don't I don't think it's quitative scores though, right?
>> And then and then I added the quantitative and you know, you trusted my math was correct, right? >> But it's it's not I do not believe it's statutoily >> required. Yeah. >> Right. That's I I don't know that. But I've heard that that was the rationale
is that we should not do that and let the chair because the chair has but I think as a board if we want to designate the chair to do anything we want we could do that. >> I'm agnostic. >> You can't. So that that would be a violation of open meeting law
>> for him to synthesize the comments. >> Yes. >> Because you're taking four people's comments and >> I disagree because when we do editing of documents we say send your comments to the chair. You're not supposed to do that. >> And then the chair amalgam he >> well it's both we're trying now to have
it go to Gretchen instead of to his chair. >> The chair can display the edits and comments in a document but they cannot take your comments under advisement and make changes >> really >> in the document. Yeah. >> Even if after the fact we say we read what the chair has written even though
it's an amalgamation we say we're in 100% support and we vote in favor. We can't do that. >> That would be a meeting. Well, that I get that. >> But that's where we're having a meeting. We're having a meeting. We're saying, "Okay, the chair wrote this. He just happened to have >> I thought what they're It seems stupid because I thought what they're trying to
adjudicate is serial, you know, if I send my document and then you send then we're actually we are having a virtual meeting. But if if it's blindly sent to the chair and we don't know what the other people are sending, that's not deliberation. That's just me saying, "Hey,
>> no, but I think the step of the chair taking those individual >> anybody on any committee." >> Yeah. On any committee, putting it into a new document that shows >> that this new Couldn't it be the chair's that's the chair's opinion, right? >> The chair just happens to get
information. He went on chat GPT. He went on, you know, he's getting information or she and and then you know, we vote and say that's what as a child, but you know what? Let's just leave it the way it is. Don't worry about it. Yeah. I mean this >> Okay. So it's published whatever we write.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. In this last section here. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> It's okay. We're only five people so it's five. >> If you don't do it that way and it was challenged then it would become public and I would prefer you don't do that. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I just want to clarify though. So then the the the uh above
this last p. So on page 71 the overall performance average are we providing to the chair >> your score >> just the bo the ending score at the bottom >> the whole table. >> No each one
>> and then will the chair average each of the lines? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Oh that's the idea. Okay. >> So why bother to have the average? Why why make us do extra math? We should just put our scores in there. Well, because it's useless, right? It's you're going to average something differently. >> That's correct. You are correct, sir. >> Right. So, there's no point in
averaging. It's irrelevant. >> You don't need to average, >> right? We're just going to give you >> you just put in your scores down through job knowledge. Okay. >> Right. >> I'll add just saying average. That's all. >> But the goals are we also or
based on what you said. >> How did he do in the goals? Right. we're going to >> which one might argue I mean it gives equal weight to everything but >> goals is probably the most important one right I mean it's kind of silly in a way right how did you do on your goals is like way more meaningful than
>> we haven't waited them >> we haven't waited them >> and on the other hand though one could say yeah but it is it fair to to to wait the goals if things have changed over the last year so it requires >> no we're not waiting the goals we're
waiting goals as a if there's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven things, each one's worth 15%. Goals is only worth 15%. >> It's the same as customer service. >> No, but I'm saying if you were to give it a higher percent, but you you're not
allowing for the the changes that happened over the course of the year where the TA had to change his or her goals. >> I don't you're not we're not communicating. >> However you get there, goals should be like the most important thing. >> Oh, okay. compared to customer service
or something. Communications. >> No, but I mean it would be public the each score. I don't know. I think the overall average is I would ignore it. Personally, I think we should ignore the average. >> The overall average. >> Yes. And just you you're going to average each. >> You want like an over wasn't that added
for a particular reason. >> Yeah. It was some >> Yeah, it was his final metric, you know. >> It's what the public is most interested in. >> You can write whatever you How many Goss did he get?
>> But I think you should not let him go down that path and we should only give them the average for each of the >> C. That's fine >> in my opinion. >> Well, give me your score for each of the categories. >> Well, we certainly will do that, but I mean don't the public will. You're right. They'll say, "Well, he was a five or no make them look at each one like
make them do some work if they really want to." This is a discussion that we have to have in open and I and it's valuable but I think we should ask the TA if he wants one number score because he's had one since he started here and that may
>> be valuable to you. I'm asking >> I think it it it doesn't matter to me. >> It doesn't okay I agree that so this form should reflect how you want me to operate. So if you don't think customer service is as important as
goals then change the weight. Well, there's no waiting. We have no We have no We don't want to waiting. This is a one point. >> We don't need to wait them. We just say >> this is how you >> It's really great on Ryan's really great on leadership, management, teamwork. >> He could use a little work on
communication. It just gives us it makes it a more nuanced review is my point. >> But you Yeah. >> Well, >> there's if I if I my guess is there'll be very little variability in your scores anyway. They're all going
to look pretty much the same >> when we meet one-on-one. I want you to do the average though. >> Okay. >> Just you. >> I can do that math. >> Math. >> Make you do the math. >> Be the mean. I had trouble with my son's calculus one.
>> So, and the key things are we want everyone to have their one-on-one by the 16th. Is that the date? >> Yes. >> Of December. And then Okay. If we can >> send me the paragraph by January 6th, was it >> fifth? I think >> fifth. And that gives a week to
aggregate it. It'll go in the packet. Yeah. >> Be public be presented the week. >> So that should give ample time for folks to >> Yeah. >> to do that. Okay. >> Well, the public nature of my job is is great. I I am I think what this process does is allows you to have a
conversation with me about what you like that I'm doing and what you don't like that I'm doing without it necessarily being public unless you want it to be public, >> right? >> Because I do want that feedback. >> Some people might think that's funny or weird, but it's it's because of the public nature of >> No, I understand. It's always
>> it's always difficult. This is an ongoing thing. It led to somewhat of the TA bylaw itself, right? revisions is is how how do you evaluate a person in open meeting law? How do you effectively evaluate a person in an open meeting law? It's really not the open meeting
law is not conducive to certain sensitive discussions, >> right? >> Financial personnel, whatever. And there's all these cluji constructs we have for executive session and this and that. It just it doesn't there are you know there are weaknesses in the open
meeting law that to my opinion run counter to good management practice basically it is the law so it is what it is but in your own company right you wouldn't do it that way right okay yeah let's have the review in front of let's have your review in front of everybody else
>> but again we will not see each other's one-on-one >> reports just everyone's clear on that >> but you should communicate through your paragraph anything you want everyone else to see. >> Right. That's right. >> Got it. For sake of clarity though, there's no like behind the scenes
process here. >> We know and the public whoever addressed your comment to Mary Lynn Bone, >> there was nothing behind the scenes, Mary. >> All right. Is there anything else we want to cover off on that process for
now? Certainly, if there's any questions, we can um pick them up at the next meeting or You can contact me separately or Travis, you ran the process last year, so I might be contacting you. >> Okay. All right. Want to get in the TA report?
We got some some more votes in this one. >> All right. This is uh a longer report just because it's it's been a while since we met, which was both good and bad. >> Mostly good, though. >> Mostly good. This is my town administrative report for for today, November 18th.
I'm going to hold a coffee hour even though um the coffee hour places are shrinking with ferns and market down to zero >> market once the library is under construction. I'm just going to be in my office. >> Oh wow. >> So December coffee hour will be indoors
here. I'm going to hold it in the parlor room December 2nd from 10 to 11. And I'm hoping people will come to town hall and we can do tours or talk about the town meeting that was or the town meeting that we just opened in the spring. You heard my appointments tonight of
Scott Hammond as our interim building commissioner and Zachariah Coleman as our new police officer from our HR director Aubrey Thomas. We're saddened to report that John Mativier has moved on to a new opportunity outside of Carile after 10 years. I'll have more to say about John,
but he's been an invaluable resource according to the staff. Scott is our interim building commissioner. He's been on call for several years working under John's guidance and has served as primary commissioner on multiple occasions. So certainly qualified and it's definitely
helpful to have him here with his carile experience as we explore future options post John. I also wanted to talk a little bit about Mr. Coleman who's now joining our police department. He has 15 years of experience in the Drake Police Department. He was a K9 handler for a
while and has several credentials that'll be important for our department. He's also a veteran of the United States military and although it's not Army, I still recognize his service as in the Coast Guard. For department updates, I'll I'll read this verbatim from Chief Amandola. We
did receive a burn justice assistance grant. These got announced by the state a couple weeks ago. It's an essential source of funding that helps police departments enhance public safety and improve community trust. It allows agencies to purchase critical equipment, support, specialized training, and invest in technology. So, Sergeant
Mastro and Kirk Bishop, our communications director, collaborated to secure a grant to enable the department to incorporate modern tools and practical strategies to enhance our police department and initiatives. The total of the grant was $26,250. Your uh moving on your Ottabon Lane
study. This was the resident who came in and talked about the storm water. Nich completed this study. I will be forwarding it to you this week for your individual review and then I'm going to work with the chair to schedule a time for you to discuss it publicly.
That is now complete. In your packet, you'll see the PowerPoint from the legislative breakfast that the MMA was hosting this year. It was in Chelmsford. I sent Gretchen to represent Carile. While many of the themes echoed previous discussions that you're familiar regionally um funding for
infrastructure, schools and rising mandatory costs such as health insurance were the main topics and that'll become a theme as we start to work into the budget process. So I encourage that you and the public to review that that information. The MMA also had a report on the what I would call the
inefficiencies of Prop 2 and a half. I did send that to you. That that is a that is an important read I think and something that is demonstrating why there are so many overrides not in in our region but statewide. >> Sarah our sustainability coordinator
attached her semiannual report on the CCA. So recent trends show that the CCA is no longer outperforming the basic utility rates but we still believe that the CCA gives us a credible long-term strategy for people looking for that type of uh s sustained rate fulfillment.
So, um, review that. It's definitely good information. We are trying to provide this to you every six months so that we can properly inform the next >> coming up though, right? >> CCA contract next year, I believe. >> Oh, it's not January 26th. >> It could be.
>> I thought in the I'll look it up. Okay. >> All right. Your first vote here. The transfer of the DPW SUV to the COS. The the way it goes as we try to maximize our resource is when a police vehicle is decommissioned, it's usually given to
Jim to serve as the director's SUV. The COS in conversation with Jim asked that they got his handme-down from the DPW in order to improve their efficiencies and reduce costs. Why does this matter? because of the way the CO is without a
home base, the resident the um employees have to go and do things, go get supplies, go to events that are not necessarily here and we are required to pay mileage when they do that. So, we believe adding this SUV to their fleet would allow us to test whether or not
using an internal vehicle would be more efficient, cheaper, less wear and tear on the personal vehicles. It's also not required that a person have a personal vehicle that they could use for this. So, it'll help with long-term recruitment, >> but is it also So, I also interpreted, but maybe not correctly, that they could
use it for transportation of smaller groups or are we not allowed to do that unless it's got full ADA stuff in it? >> So, we can use it for that. My primary concern with that is that's an increase in service that hasn't been discussed with you and the finance comm. >> No, it's just a choice of you don't have
to take the four if if two people need to go somewhere, you don't need to wheel out the 14 passenger, >> right? I think it's worthwhile trying it, but I would ask the town administrator to come back with this at some point a year from now or whatever and tell us if it really is less
expensive because it did occur to me that adding an additional vehicle with the, you know, that has high mileage on it could have, you know, lots of expenses associated with it. And >> I don't know the exact figure, but it's >> overund.
>> Yeah. and that that you have additional insurance, you have you know the tires you I mean at the end of the day it may not it may not be as and that's why I think it would just be helpful to know. >> Okay. >> So based on Oh, sorry. >> I was just going to say who's going to maintain this SUV? I mean
>> the DPW, >> they still maintain it. >> We have a mechanic. >> Any costs associated with the vehicle, the COS has committed to paying as well. But to Travis's point, SE50 to $75 a month is pretty pretty low.
>> Yeah, that's >> right. And I just I and I'm not opposed to this. I'd like to try I think we got to try different things and see what works, but I think you got to then evaluate it after the fact to make sure. >> Yeah, >> definitely when this pops on a capital plan, you need to have a discussion about it.
>> But again, you say magnitude and this is not going to move the needle. >> But I guess every little thing. No, but it's one of those downstream things. Oh, we need to replace the SUV and it's >> Right. Right. And you've added another vehicle to the fleet. >> But I do like the fact that it's also if you're if people aren't driving their
own personal vehicles, we're not there's a liability there too when Right. when they're driving for the COHS with their own vehicle and they get in an accident. >> Is there which reminds me because we it wasn't it's referred to in the financial do we have a minimum insurance requirement for
>> Yes. >> employees who drive vehicles? >> Yep. It's all covered. >> Okay. So the because this because of procurement law, you'd have to vote this vehicle surplus and assign it to the COS, which is why it requires your vote and attention. >> I move to declare the townowned SUV
utilized by the DPW director as surplus and transferred to the Council on Aging and Human Services for use by their staff to support services. >> Second. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? Seeing none, do a voice vote. All in favor? I opposed.
>> Very good. >> Your second vote. Because we received a gift, you're required to assess it. So, the COS received anonymous $1,000 donation in honor of Maggie Osillo with the donor requesting that the funds support residents experiencing financial
hardship or crisis. The COS is asking the board to vote to accept this gift and establish a community crisis gift account. >> Gift account >> different than a which is different than a sustainable account. So a gift account goes away once it's finished. >> Okay. >> Just accepting this gift and it would
provide direct assistance to Carlile residents under the direction of COS. >> So it would not fall under the this new committee that we're going to end up having. >> It's not a trust or long-term fund. >> Got it. Okay. I move that we accept the $1,000 gift in honor of Maggie Majuski
Ascalillo and establish a community crisis gift account under provisions of Massachusetts general law. Chapter 44 section 53A as requested by the donor to provide direct assistance to Carlile residents under the administration of
the Council on Aging and Human Services. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll do a voice vote. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Thank you. Some budget updates for you. My town administrator page has a section
on the left navigation called budget information. This is where thing on the Gleon Clock trust fund. >> Yeah, that's coming up under capital. >> Okay. >> There's a site on my website called budget information. That's where we're posting the most up-to-date information
for people to review. So, we encourage people to go there. The finance committee is now working through FY27 budget requests, specifically capital. They're getting ahead of the capital requests. As they told you, we've already had one meeting with police and DPW. We're doing um facilities. They've
already met with fire given that apparatus discussion and facilities and recreation are next in December 4th. So this should be all part of information that comes to you at the December 16th draft 1 budget. departments also received their official
guidance. And I held a workshop today with departments about the financial picture of the town and how to submit these requests that include your 1% reduction in in cost exercise that they'll be including in their submissions to the finance committee. >> And just quickly, what was the response
or was it an optional thing to attend? >> It was optional, but we had a lot of department heads, especially newer department heads there. Mhm. >> And I really went through what excess levy capacity is and and a lot of these terms that you're familiar with so that they understand why um numbers five
years from now matter when you're constructing a budget that you you know in their opinions need right now. >> So I thought it was helpful but you should ask them because they might have a different opinion. the both school administrations received the finance committee's guidance and I
met with uh CCHS and I know officials have been meeting with CPS so some um comments that people had to make sure the schools understand this I do believe that that has been satisfied at this point they at least are aware of the guidance and where the town uh exists in
terms of financial forecast we also received notice from Maya and cab risk regarding the 2026 renewal rates for retirees that happens in a calendar here. So, it's our first look at health insurance costs. Those increased by 12.33% effective January 1st.
Maya cited higher medical and pharmacy costs, increased utilization of service and Medicare issues, and reduce federal subsidies under the inflation reduction act impacting Part D prescriptions as why the costs are going up. Uh, I would
expect it to be worse for our primary insurance coverage. So, 12.33 is now the floor. for capital project updates. The Gleon clock repair that was done recently. We're asking the board to consider voting for uh $1,450
from the Gleon Clock Trust Fund in order to pay for this. That would uh help close out that account and use the money for what it was set aside for, which is one of the directives we have from you and the finance committee. I move to expend from the Gleon clock trust fund an amount not to exceed the
current expendable balance approximately 1450 to offset the clock repair invoice the remainder of which will be paid through the select board expense account >> second any further discussion voice vote all in favor I
>> opposed >> okay >> the elevator project is now completely bid with the apparent low bidder being New England builders and contractors. They had a total proposal of $1,45,382 with an alternate which is a maintenance contract of $6,000. This does exceed the
town meeting appropriation by about $6,000. The MFC committee agreed to earmark $25,000 from their maintenance funding to support the product's completion and we're awarding that contract this week. We did check references and we are ready to award the contract.
>> And when are they thinking they would actually do the work? Do we have a sense of that? The lead times for this equipment is still in the months range, but when we started this process with the last contractor, they were going to do some of the work within three to six months.
>> This is three elevators, right? >> Three. So, we'd likely focus on the library and town hall first and then try to time school for the summer. >> Yeah. >> When students aren't using the elevator. >> Makes sense. Boston Mechanical started the
construction process for and held a kickoff meeting and will start this week on the HVAC and weatherization project at the brick building. I'm sorry, the weatherization project is already done. The HVAC will start this week. Uh the heat will be shut off in the brick building, so there won't be a ton of
disruption to recreation, but people should wear coats and then it'll be way better, including uh the summer when and condition the air in that building. It's a really long-term project that's been worked on by the MFC and the ESC and Sarah and facilities and Holly. So, a
lot of people deserve credit for focusing on this project. >> Rally's got to sit there all day with no heat. >> We authorized her to work from home except when people are there. Okay. The town hall bathroom renovation and the mechanical room expansion both were awarded to Fort Meadow Builders and
we completed their reference check as well. The uh bathroom renovation was 51,828, which is less than we thought it would be. Includes all four bathrooms to include updating the plumbing, which was the main source of our problem, our flood earlier this year. The mechanical
room expansion base bid totaled 52,828 with an alternate of 5,000 for adding a water softening unit. So, that kitchen right there will come a lot closer to you. that room will expand and allow the mechanical room to accommodate things in the future like PAS filter and anything
else that's needed to help with this building. So, taking advantage of that space right there that's not really needed in order to help the long-term viability of the building. >> And just for context, one of the reasons that we're doing like the the water softener is that the acidity in the
pipes has been causing pinhole leaks. because of that we um you know now are going to have to look into replacing copper in the building or pipes in the building >> anyway with PVC >> probably. Yeah. Yeah. I think all the
new plumbing is typically done. >> Okay. Continuing on cemetery mapping and software implementations. The GPR portion of the project is done. mapping all the gra the graves in underground space at the cemetery which is both interesting and
something. Um the cemetery is mostly laid out. We're one or two mapping sessions away from completing the maps. Gretchen has been assigned to this as Jim and the cemetery committee and they're just doing a great job. >> We finding any graves we didn't know were there when we do >> we're finding things. I'm not ready to
say all of it publicly yet, but we are finding things and fixing them. the there's no like graves or I don't want that to come out weird u but just anomalies and where things are and what we thought we now know >> like ledges and
>> turned graves and things that are >> it doesn't soil shifts things around >> some of those graves are a couple hundred years old >> yeah but if you remember during Jim's presentation we're not going to be probing the ground anymore we're going to know where things are >> I know that I understand that I wouldn't
be surprised if something had moved over the centuries >> but also maybe had been is in a different position than when it was. >> Yeah. Orientation. >> Well, there's ledge and there's >> Yeah, there's all sorts of stuff. >> The road maintenance project is complete. Our paving projects, as we've talked about many times with the school
facilities parking lot being done this week. >> The residents of Fezant Hill have encouraged Duall to come and walk their new road with them. They're very pleased that it it I mean we don't get a lot of successes so I'm celebrating it but they came to a public forum and expressed a concern and and it was addressed by the
town. So >> was that a parody road? >> It was a road that was delayed because of the drainage problem at the end and you invested in the engineering and fixing that problem and then doing a top coat that should have been done two or three years ago. >> Remember they were the ones that never got their final
>> paving. >> All right. Quickly through CPA projects. The Bant Davis track rehabilitate rehabilitation is complete. The dimmit park study is out again to a designer and we should be contracting with them this week to get a update on the design
for that for that project and uh as a potential CPA project in the future. We have re-engaged with the hydraology studies to get more information about that. Megan and I are working on that specifically and we have a meeting planned next week and discussions to
come with you in December about the bog bog house affordability housing feasibility study and future projects there. So that's going to be coming to you as a decision point in the next couple months. >> It's not really a decision point. It's more of a update of the information I
think. Right. But we're also don't we als aren't we looking for the select board though as a body to support moving forward >> right the the piece that thank thank you for bringing that up because the piece that is confusing to the cat at the
moment is exactly what it's the interplay between the housing trust the CPA or CPC and the select board. So my understanding is they're coming to your board. It's not clear to me what they're
asking. Like do you need to authorize something or do you need the select board and then >> No, the CPC we you know we um authorized the money for these feasibility studies, >> right? That's already been done. >> That's done. So if there's something new
that's going to be require funding that that could theoretically be a new project application. One of the members who I think sometimes gets confused by things seems to feel that >> they need to petition the CPC for some
things but I'm not I pushed her your way. So >> I can try a little bit but right now it's the conscom's land and building so they have to be involved. Eventually it needs to come to you. So you have to understand that and be willing to do it. funding right now for the study and
design can be covered by the CHT, but you're going to need funding in the future, >> right? >> Which is likely going to be CPC, but it could be regular town funds, which the select have to approve. So, in my opinion, everybody needs to get on the same page about what's being done. >> It seems that we should to the degree
that CP it qualifies for CPA, it should go to CPA. >> I think that's one of the decision points. >> But, so that's right. Okay. So maybe that's what they're coming in on the 16th or we're coming on the 16th, right? So >> yeah. And then there's
Conscom board of health and all the land use departments that need to weigh in before >> and then there's a 98 process, right? However that long takes >> 97. Yep. >> What? >> 97. >> 97. Yeah. You have to go to the You have to petition the MGL, right? >> Yeah.
>> Which is not overly difficult or overly expensive, but it is money and time. So you should get >> Well, there's that. And then the question I mean are we approaching a I've been cautioned to say a habitat for humanity type organization >> about partnering right
>> yes >> undefined >> right and so there's a lot of steps in the chain so I'm glad that we're having the joint meeting because I think in the siloed way people are getting kind of confused on the total stories >> it's one of those building projects that
needs the shared vision for something this complicated to So we should spend some time on that goal setting >> for building construction projects. The library renovation is at the cost estimation and then what to do next phase. So that's going to be coming and
more information will be available once those final final uh numbers and decisions are made. So will there need to be more money or will there need to be a pair down in the project? How are we going to accomplish one or the other is what's being discussed with the library right now. The police station
renovation is heavily monitored weekly weekly meetings. There's a lot of construction going on there. The police station building renovation committee is meeting Friday to review everything and they've assigned two members to the weekly meeting in order to uh follow the updates for the contamination which I know
you're following that soil has been segregated work is continuing and we have we'll have final decontamination. I thought we'd have them tonight but we don't. But the current estimates indicate that it's within the contingency. So, we're not at crisis stage yet. We're at a not cool with the
soil, but okay overall. >> Do we know the source of the contamination? >> It's the old uh gas station, right? So, >> we knew it was there. We just didn't know how bad it would be. >> Is there a a bond for that gas station
or like some >> No. >> Nope. It was a leave it alone type thing and then now we're going to disturb it and then say leave it alone again. In 30 years they'll do it again.
Um simplified. It's obviously more complicated than that. You know about the fire station renovation passing at town meeting, but just wanted to say one more time. >> And then um so I have proposals that I'm signing tomorrow with Tecton and CMS that are less than the amount approved
at town meetings. you have you're going to have about an $80,000 design contingency which was was always part of the plan with that 1.4 4 million and then they are right now tracking that they can make the timeline of town meeting but it is an aggressive timeline which means that we have to stay on top
of it uh in order for it to work and then the DBW building your chair has scheduled two meetings discussions about this in December we've invited the appropriate folks >> two meetings >> what were the yeah we we have our meeting tomorrow so
>> so the first discussion is going to be reintroducing you to the conceptual conceptual design, the project potential timeline and the anticipated costs. So you can decide whether or not that that's acceptable and you want to move forward or you want to have more discussion about that design. Um the major implications on the timeline for
one or the other upcoming topics, the budget, you're going to talk a lot about the budget. Residency requirements is an upcoming topic just to remind you to get into that mind frame. And then you will be reviewing your goals and my goals at an upcoming meeting as well.
We approved a slew of Rotary signs as we always do and you have seen and then I have um a few recognitions that I would like to do. So first uh Jeremy and Lane from the DPW enhanced capabilities by earning their CDL. I'd also like to give credit to Jim
for finding a CDL course in Chelmsford that was about a third of the normal costs. We started offering this C paid CDL license as a recruitment tool and it and it seems to be working. So there these licenses authorize them to operate the large heavy trucks which means our crew is now fully capable of handling
the winter in time for winter which is great. They had to pass written knowledge exams and a driver's test and a difficult skills test in order to get this license. So thank you to them. Town meeting I thought this is my personal opinion was a huge success. A lot of people deserve recogn recognition for
just the way it ran. Um the the outcomes are important, but the way it was run was was very good in my opinion because I had a lot of concerns about it. So um I'd like to thank Ashley and her staff. I thought the efficiency of processing voters was good. Aubrey and Gretchen did a lot of work leading up to the meeting
to include and I and I did some of this so I understand how labor intensive it was printing all those warrants and making sure that everything was done in time and we had about 12 hours to do it if you remember because of all the last minute decisions. Julie and the planning board's dedication throughout this challenging process was very evident. I thought Wayne did a great job with the
town meeting and invested a couple dozen hours to make sure that it that it ran well. And then facilities, so Steven, Nancy, Al, and Steve for their effort with a complex logistical setup that I don't think most people noticed. >> Um, so that was a good effort. The COS
held two successful vaccine clinics last month now, um, demonstrating their coordination and community service. The October 3rd senior clinic senior clinic hosted in conjunction with the board of health provided flu and COVID 19 shots to residents ages 60 plus included uh
homebound individuals. The October 18th community clinic held with Walgreens served 134 residents and administered a wide range of vaccines. They also accommodated 35 walk-ins, which I think is important. It ran smoothly, maintained privacy, and offered a welcoming environment. They also showed
hocus pocus, which was timely at the time. and um ran without issue. So I thought that was great, great job by the cos. John Mativier is my last recognition. There are many reasons to thank John for his 10 years of service to Carile. He's
versatile, dedicated, and his contribu contributions will be difficult to replicate and it might even be impossible. When I arrived in Carile, John had just completed his service as the planning administrator, a role he took on while serving as the building commissioner. And this was to help with the transition in the planning
department that ended with the hire of Julie. His commitment continued when Sylvia retired. John stepped in as the interim conservation administration. He told me he'd do it for a month and I made him do it for six. And he assured a seamless and critical transition from Sylvia to Megan and provided Megan with
a ton of support while um she was starting to learn the position and a support to Sylvia as she was starting to move into her new role. So, the town of Lincoln is certainly fortunate to have him. His service to the community stands out, but I'll also remember his personal support he offered to me. His deep
institutional knowledge, his guidance, and his willingness to help me made a difference um for a new town administrator learning the community, especially on the land use side, which was um pretty disjointed when I got here. His expertise in all the different categories helped me understand it better. Um
most of the new employees here have been mentored and helped by John. So his legacy will continue for for a long time. So I'd like to thank him and just recognize maybe a lot of people didn't know some of that some of that versatility that he offered. Maybe they only knew him as the building commissioner, but he really should be a
land use director or town administrator somewhere given given his skills. He doesn't want to be, but he could be. >> And that is my report unless there are any questions. >> Well, it's on my mind. How did the hazardous waste day go that was in o in
October? I was out of town that weekend and I know the previous one was there were a lot of delays. Was there anything? >> This one went well. >> It went well. Okay, good. >> I mean, well, I I was number 15 car in line and uh No, but they really had it well organized and um
>> yeah, the company was there all ready to go and >> I didn't Did you hear anything back? I know that that >> that means it went well if you didn't hear anything back. >> That's what I was thinking. >> Yeah. And I I know I saw Jim there and we chatted a little bit and he said that he had the
>> the police department was, you know, on on tap kind of if if it got to where cars were backed up >> and that didn't happen. So that's good. I mean, they were when when I went through the line was was down to the to Low Road, but it hadn't gone out onto
Low Road. And then >> I came back later with our regular uh dump run and it was again busy but it hadn't gone out onto L road. So I don't know the numbers. It' be interesting to see how many people actually went through.
>> Yeah, I can get that for you in >> as compared to last year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Remember that was just a big >> Yeah. >> It was a different day though, right? It was Saturday instead of being that Thursday. Yeah. >> Gretchen does a lot to coordinate that and so does Jim. and they both took the lessons learned from last year very seriously. So,
>> yeah. Good. All right. Great. So, my questions, I mean, maybe did you do a I imagine you did a pretty good debrief of Gretchen's uh attendance at the MMA. There's a lot of stuff in her PowerPoint, which is interesting.
Like, Commonwealth has collected more money than they normally do. Do you do you sense that we're going to get more? What's your sense of that? how much flow down then may come to towns for the fiscal 27 I guess you have any sense of
that >> I think it's going to be pretty similar to last year I think something that helps is it's an election year >> I mean they got 7% more collections right so that's a pretty lot >> I'm hoping it's invested in building an
infrastructure >> okay >> because even a significant increase in our state aid wouldn't help us that much but it would really to help reduce the costs of the big capital projects that are hindering our budget. >> Is there any movement to do that? >> Pushing really hard. >> Okay.
>> We should we should have our legislative delegation come in and let remind them. >> Yeah, that would be >> that's a good idea. >> That would be a good idea. >> I don't think Have we ever had Barrett come in? >> I don't think we've ever had Senator Barrett, have we? >> I don't know, but he should come. >> No.
>> Yeah, we should get him. >> And then this the supplemental thing. Does that mean anything to us that there's a whole slide on the supplemental cir tax and there's a lot of acronyms here that I don't know but >> a lot of times those do have impacts but not that one did not have a lot of
impact for us. >> Okay. Um and chapter 90 you expect to be more or less level or slightly up only or what? >> Hopefully it's over 450 but we would take the the two-year appropriation was 450. expecting that. But every year they've had a supplemental
>> right >> assistance at 70. So we're really getting around 520. >> And that's before the culvert because they also have 200 million for culverts and things. >> We met with Nich today. I met with Nich today um to go over
Westford Street which is coming as a topic but also um how we can attack that culvert grant program in order to address our larger culverts. Um it's complicated but we do think we have a plan. >> Great.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> And then there's the municipal power empowerment act which has a lot of interesting things in it. Is that a real thing or is that just like talking? >> It's been two-year effort. >> Yeah, >> there are the one piece of it that seems to be controversial if you follow social
media and etc. >> I don't >> in a nerd way like I do is the local option to increase uh excise taxes. >> So, it's being portrayed as a direct increase in excise tax, but what it is specifically for towns like Carile is
another revenue lever that you could push. So, you could say we're going to increase the um excise tax in locally in order to bring that revenue in under your local receipts. Not saying you would, but it's an option. >> So, in small towns like Carile where you don't have a large commercial base, as
we saw tonight, there's very few ways except for waiting for state aid numbers to see how you can offset tax. >> That's increasing the property tax on the vehicles or what is that? >> Yeah, the tax on the vehicles. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um and it's tiered and it's nuanced. >> It's a tax. Yeah.
>> Another more >> two more provisions. They're trying to tie the municipal building authority into this. The schools have a building authority that allows you to reduce the cost of school buildings. We meaning small town administrators and others have been advocating for um the same
type of program for municipal buildings. >> That would greatly benefit Carlile. We would definitely take advantage of that given our current building cycle. >> Yeah. Whether that's getting included or not is still unclear because it would use revenues that um people really want to keep in reserve and not use like the
millionaire's tax. The second thing is um it would increase the procurement threshold that matters for people like me and Gretchen who are doing procurement to the same level as the schools. So it just doubles all of the procurement thresholds. So we have more flexibility.
>> More flexibility to not have >> don't have to put everything out for >> where would it go from what to what >> uh 10 becomes 25,000 50 becomes >> that would be good and and the finally this cannabis thing does that have anything to do with us or not? >> Because of where I work I haven't paid a
lot of attention to that one so I don't know it >> does so you because of where you work >> you don't have any we don't >> we don't have that's what I'm saying yet it's not relevant to us. Okay, that's what I >> when I was in Hubson, I was very focused on C.
>> So, I agree. It would be good to get Simon and uh Senator Barrett in or >> Simon will come. Senator Bar might not, but it would be use it would be good time to get them to check in. >> And I would say January so that you're right ahead of the state budget cycle,
>> right? >> Yeah. >> Or early February would work too. >> Yeah. So, I mean, uh, Gretchen's report was sort of the presentation looks really interesting, but she said the vibe was pretty not very good. So, what was her like,
was it worth it? Did she learn stuff? >> Vibe meaning there's a lot of there's more budget pressure than there has been in all of the communities that that surround you and here. >> Yeah. >> And with 20% health insurance costs.
>> Yeah. the um retirement assessment and mandatory costs, things are getting squeezed like like employee pay and just the ability to provide services generally. >> Uh school funding is I'll use a very professional term bananas right now. So um
>> there's just not a lot of hope that that everything could be contained in two and a half or these regular taxing. two and a half is too low of a >> they need to >> they need to increase that to give the towns >> or exempt mandatory costs. >> The most interesting proposal I've heard
is that things like health insurance are exempt from two and a half and allow a town like Carlile wouldn't reduce the tax burden but it would increase your uh levy capacity. >> Right. Right. Which is important. We've decided that's important. >> Yeah. One one thing to note though, David, to that point is you may have
read the article that was passed around about the um towns and what is it? Med uh >> the override overrides the override in Medfield. >> No, the one it's Northshore. Um >> yeah. >> Okay.
>> Was it Medfield? It was in the Boston Globe. Yeah. That talked about how they were going to have this big override. It passed. They had tiered overrides and it passed the highest one. So if anything it it that's one data point, one town. It's not necessarily a comparable town.
Melrose town, but if it if it is indicative, voters are willing to pay rather than cut services, they were willing to pay for >> a you know, I'm not saying that's Carlile, but it's just a data point. >> But half in the aggregate, half the overrides had failed.
>> Is that right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That was that was what >> that was what stuck. struck me. >> That's not But in any event, >> I mean, we would probably pass, but you're you're >> playing with >> it's a much more leveraged
vote than normal like that. It's pretty binary, right? When you fail, really bad things happen. Yeah. And >> that's we try as administrators or stewards to avoid putting the town in a position where >> a whole lot rides on one vote. That's my
issue with overrides, right? It's better to try to if you can, you know, manage >> you want to have that. Well, >> if you reject a fire station, okay, fine. Try to get >> staff and you're right. >> But look at and look at a year like this. If we have an allocation increase at the high school and you you're
subject to a two and a half, we at the levy capacity. >> Well, that's exactly right. And then if we have voted down, you still have to pay the high school bill and you're really cutting to the bone. That's why good management practice for us would be >> we got to keep >> they anything it could do to >> we got to keep that buffer.
>> Okay. >> So um and then flipping over to Sarah's report on the CC thing CCA. Well I'm going to be it is January 26. So aren't we coming up to a >> negotiating cycle? It sounds like we are.
>> I will. >> So are we going to get the band together again and all that jazz? >> I'd like to. Yeah. and all that. Yes. >> Okay. >> Is that it for the TA report? >> Yes. >> All right. Let's go on to liaison
reports. >> Well, >> I can start. >> No, that's right. I have two actually. So for the CPC um the funding cycle is open now for the um FY27
CPA applications and uh a notice went out to all the board chairs and uh with copies of the application and information and then the deadline for submitting it your application is is the same is the um week before the warrant
is closing on the so are it would be the um 1st of February I think if I've got those dates right. Anyway, that's gone out. And um we also just found out the what the
Carile allocation is for the um state match which is gone continues to go down. It was um 18 point something% last time and now it's about 14%. It's just about $100,000. So, it's still um a
decent amount, but that percentage is is shrinking as we were afraid it would. Um and then on the LSC, the land stewardship committee, um they have been
um trying to review the uh lease that the land steward committee um signed uh about a well maybe not quite a year ago. It was about 10 months ago on the
Woodward land. And you may have read some things in the mosquito about you know concerns about that. So, the LSC has created a uh subcommittee of four people from the LSC committee to
review the lease and pull in various stakeholders and then come back to the LSC with a um proposed revision of the lease. um with the goal I I believe their goal is still to try
to have that done by the end of the year. We'll see if >> to revise the lease. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because there it got down into the weeds and looking at the lease and the the addendum attached to it. There's some unclear stuff or
some conf confusing uh >> asks in that or so. Anyway, it needs some reworking and this uh subgroup hopefully will be able to do that because it's been a pretty contentious trying to do it with the full land
stewardship committee. So, that's my report. I do have an update from the library. Um Martha had said that uh their construction document bid package is
almost complete. Um, they do need a variance from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board for the historical staircase. Most people don't ever see this staircase, but at the very front of the building, it's now serving as >> Oh, not the windy one in the middle.
>> No, it's the it's the old original staircase. So, who is liaison for historical commission? >> I am. >> Can you say a good word on the library's behalf? because apparently they are um I don't want to say dragging their feet. I that I I really think I'm I'm saying
that too strongly, but she basically said we really need this and they're >> they need and they need what? >> We need a variance from the master architectural Yeah. access board. Not to demo it. No, no, it's um we are not in compliance right now. You open a door
and you have to step down. I see. And maybe back in 1895 that was perfectly acceptable, but that's not anymore. And in order to we would actually have to like rebuild the staircase. So it ought to we we think we are completely aligned with the historical commission's you know
>> great love. >> Can you forward me some kind of email? >> Yeah, I'll write something up. But basically we we need action. >> Okay. >> Um >> I think that's that's it from the library. the uh the trust fund uh committee is moving
right along. We got another meeting coming up in a couple weeks and then I think we're going to wrap things up. >> Good. >> Um went to the school committee meeting this past week along with Aaron from FINCOM. They presented an initial
uh needsbased budget um where they're looking for 6.97%. Um there's there's some there's there's work to be done. Um and you know there's a lot of discussion about the guideline budget and and they they in a fairly
quick sense they did a preliminary look at what they would do to get down to I'm not sure why 4% but to get that down to 4%. So, a lot of this comes down to um
prek special education given and I I don't want to get into all of it, but um if we get more um children in the pre-K program that require special education, it may require we create another whole another section of prek and we go to two sections.
>> You can't deny prek is >> that's right uh discretionary for nonsped, but it's mandatory for sped kids. That's correct. And you can't charge for it and you you have to accommodate it. And we're kind of on this threshold. I don't know. >> It's the seed corn for
>> and this this is part of like the scale issue we have we deal with with Carile. You bump over a threshold. Now you have to ramp up a whole another >> section >> section which is a teacher and some paras. And it's it's unknown yet what the what the exact numbers are going to be. So you know as the school typically
does they said this is something that we we think may happen so we'll know more. Um but you know it's just looking at that and you know just raising the topic of as as a as a one school school district um are there ways we can we can
better partner with the region um and prek kids. >> Yeah it's tough with prek kids. Um but anyway more to come on that. Um we we'll be meeting with them and uh I know Fincom is going to be working with them and >> we'll see where that
>> there was also another you know there's it was mostly staffing around sped and um another regular education. So there's there's a there's a bunch of unknowns and larger discussion going on and then I don't have any other updates.
Anybody else have any other updates otherwise? Well, yeah, no update on town meeting study committee. We kind of took a break while we were getting ready for the actual town meeting, Wayne and me and everybody, but we we need to finish that up and issue a report. Supposed to be by the end of the year. I don't think
we're going to make that, but we'll get something out. Um, we me I mentioned already the affordable housing trust. So, yeah, trying to get John's done a really good job, John and his sidekick, I forget the Chris. Yeah. done a pretty good job at researching uh options on
the you know on the b house that seems to be the focus and then this morning we had a pre- audit meeting with the auditors on the financial audit seemed to go pretty well so you know they'll start their field work this month I think and on we go
okay good >> warrants and minutes we had MFC meets Thursday we Brian covered most of what we're talking about which is all these facility projects and everything. Um the only thing I would add is not
sort of unrelated but Barney and I were chatting before the meeting and you know I was mentioning you know you only hear about the things that don't go right which is not always great but um or often you hear about that the announcements for the special town
meeting. You know, I I reached out to a lot of people to try and vote the day of um because it wasn't and >> the election. You mean the >> election? You're right. I haven't spoken. Okay. The election and um >> and the feedback I got was
overwhelmingly gosh, we didn't even know about it or whatever. So, I don't know. I think maybe study committee or whatever we can as a select board we can think about how we >> Well, it was oddball because it was on a Thursday. Thursday all around single issue. Tuesday was the holiday, you know.
>> Yeah. So, I mean, Right. So, I think Yeah, I mean, we should take it under adisement for the >> Didn't you set wasn't the election set in that packet of timeline things already for the June thing, >> but yeah, you're right. We should >> June's usually a little more. You have all the positions and all there's generally more interest in that,
>> but even then, you might only get 600 people. We're not going to get a big turnout >> in a regular with select all the positions >> of select board races and other Everybody might only get six 700 people. >> Yeah. You know, >> I mean, I think people should >> not how can I say this? If people choose
not to come to vote, that's one thing, >> but people should not miss it because they didn't feel about it. >> So, that was the comment that I have is that they were but you know, >> we're going to get low turnout anyway. >> It's incumbent on people to be participate in their own government,
too. Yeah. >> All right. Warrington minutes. There's minutes from October 21st, November 2nd, November 3rd. November, >> right? Because it's the town meeting, right? >> Well, one was a non. >> Yeah. One. Yeah.
>> The little one that didn't happen. >> The little one that didn't happen. >> And then the next might night was the budget meeting, right? >> The Zoom budget meeting, >> which was prop well documented. I once again, Gretchen did a nice job. >> Yeah,
>> I'm good with them. Yeah, I'll follow. >> Do you want a motion to uh >> Yeah. >> Yeah. No, I Sorry. >> You got one minute. We got to make our 10 o'clock deadline there. >> Uh All right. I move that we um accept
the uh minutes of the October 21 20 or that we approve I guess is the language that we approve the minutes of the October 21, 2025. >> Yeah. Select board meeting November 2nd, 2025 and November 3rd, 2025. Select board meetings.
>> Second. Any further discussion? Do a voice vote. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Great. That brings us back to where we began. Community input. Christina Marilyn
>> Ryan Mlan. Mr. Mlan. >> I'm good. >> You beay. Okay. >> So, at the end of at the end of this packet are two letters to Bill Rick saying, >> "Oh, about the deal with the dam." Is that something for us or what's that? Is
that just >> Actually, I did have a question. >> That'll be for future. >> Yeah, I think Yeah, Dan Cook needs to he's the one that moved it through those. So, if you want, I can reach out to Dan because he called me originally about it and I said, >> I mean, does that call for some joint meeting with Bill Rick? >> No.
>> No. They're looking for like a letter of support. I think >> they're all in favor of Yeah. >> They being Bill Rick. >> Bill Rick. Oh, yeah. They want to >> I think it's just kind of like a Oh, the there's other committees that provided letters of support to remove the dam and I think they're looking for something similar.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Great. Okay. Motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Great. >> Second. >> Voice. All >> in favor? I. Yay. We made that clock. Yay. >> Okay. You're official chair now.