Good afternoon everybody. Welcome to the February 17, 2026 meeting of the Cadam Finance Committee. Uh, please note this meeting is being recorded and will be available shortly hereafter for scheduled and on demand viewing on any smartphone or tablet
device. If anyone else is recording the meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the chair. Seeing none, pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28th, 2025 signing of chapter two of the acts of 2025
extending certain CO 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law general laws chapter 3A section 20 until June 30th, 2027. This meeting of the chat finance
committee is being conducted in person and via remote participation. Every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in
progress may do so by calling the phone number 158 945-4410 conference ID101310450 pound sign or join the meeting via online Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. We will post a
record of this meeting on the town's website as soon as possible. I'll call the role to establish quorum. >> Stephen Daniel, >> I am present. >> Okay. Uh Andy Young, I'm here. Joanne
Brag >> here. >> Barbara Madison >> here. >> John Papalardo >> here. >> Kristen Andre >> here. >> Trai Shields I understand is away. Tommy Dong >> here. >> Good. and Eric Whitley is not yet here.
Okay, thanks very much. I will turn this now over to Carrie to kick it off as usual. You all ready? >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. >> Um today, uh we have a few things we're going to be going over. The Cape Cod
Technical School Assessment, the Chamber of Commerce, um their FY27 operating budget, and then we'll review some articles as well. Um, first we'll go over the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School assessment for FY2027.
Um, it's presented at uh 562,25, a actual decrease of 4.37% compared to FY2026. Um and we have um business manager um
Aaron Orcott to go over the Cape Cod Tech. >> Great. Welcome. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. Um thank you for the opportunity to be here this afternoon. Um our superintendent, Dr. Samborn, says sends his regrets, but with a 12 town um 12 town district, we
try to divide and conquer as much as possible. So I elected to um to visit with you today in Chadam. So, I'm going to be presenting our FY27 budget uh that Dr. Samborn, myself, and our finance subcommittee um has developed locally. Uh this has been presented to our school
committee and is expected to be voted on on February 26th. Okay. Um again, my finance committee uh of the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School uh consists of our chair, who's also the chair of the full committee, uh Mr. Tulio, Dr. Mashu from Yarmouth and
Mary Rose Grady of Mashby. Again, we're a 24 member school committee and um this is the subcommittee uh for finance that works with us year round on the budget. Um wanting to show you our this year's enrollment uh for FY27. Our uh
enrollment count was 703 students. As you can see, that is an increase of 22 students overall over last year. Uh the town of Chadam saw a decrease of one student. Um that's very that's very much reflected in your assessments. Um it is
one uh fewer student coming from Chattam. Uh you will see easily uh the biggest swing in our enrollment this year came from the town of Yarmmouth with 31 students increasing. Um again this is the same information just in a uh a graphical representation.
You can see right right off the bat that um between Yarmouth and Barnstable that's over 50% of our over enrollment. Um and Chadam makes up about 2.7% of this year's budget. Um I want to show you really what's been
happening with our enrollment over the past few years. As you can see in FY19, we really were at our low of 570 students. Um and um as you can see after the completion of the new building um and I think a resurge in in um technical
education uh we are really I would say busting at the seams with 703 students. Um we're definitely uh built we were built for this capacity and and really we're we're bumping up against it with 703 students. Um enrollment um continues
to trend up. Applications uh are continuing to trend up. Um and so we are expecting this um this enrollment number to to stay um relatively the same going into next year. >> Just curious before you leave that
topic, are you at your limit? >> Um technically the school was built for a 85% capacity at 650 students. So I would say probably bumping up about 715 would be the highest we would want to go. um things get very limited um in in
shops with shop placement. So, we could take a few more kids, but we'd have to be very very selective about where where they would be placed. Uh this is just a multi-year enrollment trend. Again, um just like the line graph I showed you, uh this actually
starts in FY21 with a low of 616. Um and again today we are at a high of 703. But you will see Chadam stays relatively um consistent uh in the sending um demographics. Really we've we've stayed in the 20 to 19 student range over the
past few years. >> Mr. Chair, >> please go ahead. >> I'm sorry to interrupt you and you may be going to talk about this later, but how much does it cost Chadam to send a student to the technical high school? Oh, so certainly um that number is a
little little more complicated. Um it is not I don't have that figure right off the top of my head. Most of our towns do pay about the same amount um per student. What that is grounded in or based off of is your minimum local contribution. So depending on how many students go to tech. Um the state sets a
minimum financial contribution you can make and then on top of that we add to for capital and transportation costs. Off the top of my head, I would say the the per student per student cost would probably be
between 22,000 and 24,000 depending on on the local sending town. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, the budget I'm presenting to you this afternoon is a 4.89% increase over last year's operating budget. That was an increase of 93,000
over FY26. I do want to say um that because I got this presentation to you last week and it was right up against um a very important vote that happened um at our Cape Cod Municipal Health Group uh level for our health insurance. Um I didn't want to change any of the figures
in this presentation because it was all set. But I do expect this uh increase to actually decrease uh a slight amount um because those health insurance numbers came in a little bit more favorable than what we're expecting. we were expecting some doom and gloom. Um, and the the
rates were a little bit more positive. So, this 4.89 you see is definitely a not to exceed. I would expect this to come down slightly. I I wouldn't say below 4.5, but definitely um it definitely will land a little lower than
4.89%. As you can see, that is um less of a percentage increase over last year and relatively I think it'll be relatively stable with FY25's number. So, where does the money come from? Um a
majority of it comes really from the sending towns. It's the assessments. Um unfortunately, our state aid is relatively stable, somewhere around 17 to 18%. Um and our local revenue is very very low. that is because um that is just what we're able to to generate
locally. So typically that 120,000 is going to come from um interest uh income received or facility rentals uh in years past. If we've had excess of excess and deficiency funds, meaning our equivalent of what you you consider to be free
cash, um we would offset the budget with that amount of money. But unfortunately, we've gotten ourselves into a pretty low position um with that excellent efficiency fund. really just trying to be good stewards of taxpayer money that we do not have the funds in the excess and deficiency to contribute to this
year's budget. >> Go ahead, Joanne. Joanne, please. >> Never never mind. I won't interrupt you then. I'll wait. >> No, go go go right ahead. >> It's fine. >> Okay. Um so again our assessments typically uh our towns are are
shouldering a a little over 80% of our overall overall budget. Um again this is um a numerical depiction of what I just was referencing. You can see um the operating budget is the second column in
uh we're looking at a $19,370,000 operating budget. Um and again directing your attention to the far right column, the local revenue that really those fluctuations are very reflective of the years that we uh were able to contribute
excess and deficiency to offset uh member town assessments. But in doing so, we were so aggressively trying to drive down um the rates that we um we've gotten ourselves into a position where at least for the next few years, we are not going to be able to offset the budget with any excess and deficiency
costs. uh funds. Again, this is just a quick depiction of our overall operating budget. That's the line that's in dark blue. And you could see um easily see the revenue sources that offset it. The green being um our local town assessments. Uh purple being
local revenue. It's almost you almost can't see that line. And red being the state aid that we receive in the form of chapter 70 and chapter 71 um transportation reimbursement. Um this is the FY27 budget by category.
We've um really just broken this up into some of the major um cost drivers of the budget. As you see salaries um it was salaries actually decreased slightly. This was uh due to we had a reduction of an FTE um one in the teaching staff as
well as some retirements. So, we are trying to take advantage of some of those um retirements to to capture a little bit of savings in our salary line as well as our um benefits. Salary and benefits for all our staff typically
comes in um about 85 82 to 85% of our overall budget. So, really doesn't leave a whole lot left. Um and we still have to fund our materials and services. Um, our transportation uh this year will be our second year of a two-year contract
um with Mercedes Cab company. Um we're actually uh we had a very favorable bid last year because we um are taking advantage of some um electric some EV funding. Um we expect in the next month to launch uh we have 10 electric buses
um that we expect to launch on about eight of our um daily runs. Um and that actually because of some grant funding that that provided us with a a very favorable transportation um bid result. Utilities and heating continue to
increase although we are making efforts locally. Uh we are in the midst of installing a solar canopy on our back bus parking lot. Um and we're hoping that does provide some um energy offset uh for our building. Um insurance
continues to rise. uh the the cost of property insurance liability um is continuing to rise for us as it is many other um municipalities and homeowners on the Cape and building improvement. We are making a consistent effort to um develop a long range capital plan so
that we can make sure that this beautiful building um stays as nice as it is now um and continuing to infuse um money into the budget for the building. So again, that is what those are the ma major cost drivers that represent our $19,370,000
budget. >> Eric, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, quick question on the on the buses and the grant. So the was the grant all in last year's budget or or is there some of it reflected in here for the >> So the grant that was received, it was
actually received by our transportation provider, um, Mercedes Cab company. we enter into a five-year contract with a fixed um a fixed amount for those five years. So, we already saw the major increase last year. Um and this is it's it's continuing to be level funded. The
the funding that we received um offset the capital purchase of those buses. They haven't yet been deployed. Um but but we we benefited very favorably from having about $7 million in funding that went to the transportation provider to
offset the cost of these buses >> because otherwise the there but but the lease is sim is the same as it would have been or as it was you there's really it's pretty flat. I guess I'm not I'm not following what the benefit was. The benefit was we saw a 17% increase in
our transportation contract over five years versus the market seeing about 40. Um so by utilizing the the EV buses and the funds that came with them, we got a more favorable busing contract for the next
five years or four remaining. >> Okay. Thank you. That that's helpful. Um, and then I guess a fairly loaded question, but on the EV buses, um, you know, some of the news stories I've seen for especially from the north main and things like that that they're really
struggling in the cold temperatures and charging and durability of the in and of the of the of the buses for for the routes. So, are we worried about that? >> Um, of of course it's a concern. we're launching into um really an endeavor
that hasn't been duplicated to this size on the Cape. So, of course, I'm nervous. Um but that being said, I think that the technology with these buses has progressed um quite a long way. I think we're being very strategic about which routes they're being launched for. They're not great for they're not going
to work for every route. Our Mashby route, our Province Town route, they wouldn't be suitable. Off Cape, not suitable. But some of our more local routes, uh, we're confident that the charging time, um, can take care of a morning run. Uh, we, the contractor, has
installed six dualsided chargers in our parking lot. They are also responsible for the electric bills u incurred by that. Um, so I have also structured the the bid so that there's a complement of diesel backup um until this really gets
off off the road and um it gets running smoothly. So we hope to not be caught in a situation um where we have busing troubles or or battery charging troubles. Again, another reason why we haven't launched right away um that and
between doing this construction project in the parking lot, it's kind of delayed things. Um, but we're we're confident, but we're going in eyes wide open. >> Thank you, >> Ferbert. >> No. >> No. Okay. >> Great. Please proceed.
>> Uh, I'll go before we forget this. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, how does the state determine what you get per student? Or is it per student or is it by category? How do you how do you plan on what what amount you're going to get from the
state? >> Really, it's purely based off of our it's enrollment driven and it's individual to each town's wealth. So, >> yeah, >> it's almost we have to back into that number. So, we come up with the budget, but then we have to wait for the the state to tell us what your minimum
contribution is for a student. Um, and then on honestly the rest of that um the rest of it goes into determining that rate, but really the the state sets the minimum that your town is allowed, the minimum your town is allowed, >> right?
>> Um, and then anything on top of that is really just the additional costs to to operate the budget. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. So again, this is um a very similar um snapshot of where the money goes to from
the operating budget. Teacher salaries, as you can see, um clearly the most important thing in education uh would be 30 or 34% of the overall budget. Um I do like to turn your attention um much like Monoy, we have costs that are associated
with our budget that wouldn't be in a um a non-regional school budget. Um that would be our our insurance for our staff which is about 10%. Um retirey benefits uh are definitely becoming a large cost driver of our budget and I say large at 5.7% but that's really just the cost of
insurance for retirees as well as OPED contributions. So that is getting to be a very sizable number in our budget um along with our um Barnes County Retirement Association. So, those are some some really large numbers that we have to overcome before we're even
talking about what it takes to educate the the children in front of us. Um, so we we just have to continue to be mind mindful of that. >> Mr. Chair, >> please go ahead. >> Um, on the utilities, I'm I'm noting
that you're basically flat from last year to this year, which is fantastic. Um we're seeing or we've seen presentations from other Chattam departments including the Monoy Regional School District with pretty significant
utility cost jumps like very significant cost jumps. So how how are you coming up with a with a flat utility number here for you guys? >> Um >> can we and can you share it so everyone else can do it too?
>> I I wish it was that easy. I would say a solar canopy. Um we are expecting that solar canopy that's supposed to be in in commissioned by um June July 1st at the latest. Uh we are expecting that to provide significant savings to offset our utility costs. So that along with
monitoring what we've been spending this year and then um hopefully realizing a a decrease because of the the solar canopy that's coming. >> So that solar um is baked into this your expectations on that. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So that's that's interesting and
and helpful. The gas um natural gas costs are were um significant increases everywhere else too. So you you I'm I'm sure used quite a bit in the as part of your building. So >> we do and we are I believe in year two
of a 4-year fixed contract for natural gas. Um so we we're comfortable with the number that we put we put in the budget for next year. Thank you. >> You see ideas? >> They're just there there's some interesting ideas that we could be
transferred to other operations in this town. >> Maybe. >> Carrie, >> I have a question. Um, with your utilities, are you anticipating that you have the credits on your actual invoice?
Because when we receive our credits for solar, they're we receive a check and they go into a revenue account and we have to we can't put them into an expense account. >> So there's no offset like that. Okay. >> We can do because we have to record
>> our revenues as revenues and our expenses as expenses according to the department of revenue. And that's why >> that's how we have to report it. >> Um thank you for that heads up. As far as I know, it is supposed to be um credit offsets. >> Okay. >> Um but I appreciate
>> Yeah, because ours come in as checks, not on the actual invoice. If it came in on the invoice, we I our utilities would probably be a little bit lower as well or >> this is absolutely our first venture into >> Yeah. So, you might want to reach out and find out how they're going to be how
you're going to be receiving that. >> Thank you, Carrie. >> You're welcome. >> Appreciate that. Mhm. >> Um again, this is uh just a numerical uh depiction of um really some of the major cost drivers of our budget. Um again pointing out teacher salaries 34 34% and
again the retiry benefits. This is the number I alluded to. We have of our 17 our $19 million budget about a million um right off the top is is for retirey benefits um and associated costs. Uh transportation's about 5% of our budget, five and a half. Um and then support
services, that's our special education costs. Um the costs of um the additional needs necessary to educate students, special ed students. Um so again, this is what comprises our $19,370,000 um budget proposal.
Uh just a quick category history. This is all the same information, but just showing you, you know, some of the shifts um that have that have occurred. Um uh across the top you can see salaries did increase 2.4. Um that is reflective
of of not just teacher salaries but overall salaries for custodians, food service workers, um non um non-union staff and administration. Um benefits at 10 and a half% of that overall budget. Again um our capital we are making
concerted efforts to try to increase that as well. And all of this together um is what in drives the 93,000 um increase in this year's operating budget over last year's. >> Joan, you have a question. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh where is your
debt located in here? >> Our debt, you will see there's a slide um that's coming up uh as far as our debt. It is also at the bottom of our line item budget. Um I do have slides that depicts what our debt is. We have a 20-year uh fixed principal declining
interest. Um note that we are I believe eight years into >> and I just wondered what percentage of all of of your overall expenses where does that fall? >> It's we keep it separate at the bottom line of the budget. The debt ex the the
debt amount. Um I would have to run that number for you. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Allocation of resources. Again, just a quick um snapshot. Salaries and benefits overall were 77% of this budget. Um with
materials and services being at 8.8, um capital being at 2.6 and uh just a general other being at 11%. This is the capital debt um for FY27. Again, it's a fixed principal uh payment with a declining interest. Um the total
principal and interest due for FY27 will be $5,384,325. When we look at that at a per town basis, your capital assessment for FY27, which is purely just enrollment driven, there's no um calculations, there's no minimum contributions. This is this is
literally the overall enrollment um a portion by town. Um, and that assessment for FY27 will be $145,522. To that we would add your assessment for operating um of $416,683 for an overall um assessment to the town
of Chadam in the amount of $562,25. Again, I caution you that I expect this number to come down. I don't think it's going to be substantially, but I think it will come in a few thousand um dollars less than this once the superintendent um he's been traveling.
Um and so we haven't actually gotten together to look at this budget after we got the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group um rate increase. So, uh he and I are expecting to look at this tomorrow. Um and then once voted uh locally, um I can send a revised assessment amount.
Um, I always like to highlight, I'm sorry it cuts this off. Um, our dedication to OPED. Um, we are, uh, 10 years, a little over 10 years into a relationship with the Plymouth County OPED Trust. Um, we are, our liability is
currently just shy of 21 million. Um, our balance as of June 30th for our OPED reserve was 3,566,000. Um we are proposing a $225,000
um between a 300 and a2 between $225,300,000 contribution. Again, we were waiting for that health insurance number to come in. Um that will put us at approximately 18% um funded to liability for our oped. Uh
we continue to um recognize some fantastic returns um being part of Plymouth County OpEd Trust and um I'm I'm definitely proud of the commitment that we've made and I can say even though we're a small book of business, we we are um we've made significant
inroads into funding this. Um and that is the end of my presentation. >> Great. Thank you very much members. Oh Eric, please go ahead. >> You want to go Barbara? >> Go ahead Barbara. Okay. Um thank you uh after you great great presentation. Um
so the the change in the admissions program for this for the for Cape it's moving to the lottery. Um will I and I think there's been some discussion on the school with the Cape
Tech school board about how that gets balanced between the towns. So, have you guys done any modeling or looking at, you know, what enrollment numbers will be driven to um with the with the new new program? And I and I guess just to
kind of put my little spin on it, I think um there's when they I think when they balance between the different towns, there's a chance that some towns will get more opportunity for kids to get in that may not have gotten in um next year and
moving forward. and and some will be less. So obviously that directly impacts the budget. So I I'm just trying to get a sense of where you see that specifically for us, but in general for your for the for the school. >> Sure. Um I can't say that I intimately understand um the calculations that go
into this. Um and I do know that it's it's definitely been worked out by Dr. Sanborn, our school committee, and um Principal Teranova. I do know each town has a minimum aortionment. So essentially I believe they've taken the total number of applications we have by
town um and um each is getting a a minimum of number based upon um the applications that was that were received. Um while I can't speak directly to Chattam I can say off the top of my head a town like Truro got four applications um because of the
aortionment they were allotted three seats. We are essentially going to be holding 12 mini lotteryies. There was great concern by our school committee that each town would have um their representation. Um so a formula which I
was not part of developing um was created to um really even even the playing field and ensure spots in each one of our towns and so that one town wouldn't um take up spots that could that could be
allocated to some of our smaller enrollment towns. So again, I don't have a perfect answer for you as far as how that formula was developed, but um there is concerted efforts to make sure that it's equitable and balanced um for the sending towns. I also do know that if
the if if there was a seat available in one of our um underenrolled towns, say the town of Chad, uh Turo did not send um three students, that extra seat would go back into I guess the pool of some of the larger towns to afford the
opportunity of one more seat. I hope that answers part of your question. Um it it does from what you you know it sounds like there's more to maybe be worked out on that and I guess um I guess at some point we'll know what
the the impact on Cadam is whether it's it's a big jump or a big drop for us. I mean or stays about the same. It sounds like the goal is to keep them somewhat balanced to where they are now and there's calculus to get there. So >> absolutely. >> Okay. Go ahead, Barbara.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was the essence of my question, too. I was wondering why you changed to the lottery system and approximately how many students get turned down every year. >> Um, so it was not our choice to turn to the lottery system. That was a vote that was taken earlier this year by the
Department of Education. Um, our superintendent spoke out um greatly in opposition to the changes. Um, we've never had a lottery before. Um but the the thought was at the state level that certain schools were um discriminate
having discriminatory practices as far as um race ability. Um and so that was the state's um solution was to have it be a lottery. Um our applications this year were about the same as they were
last year, which was probably about 475 for about 185 spots. Um and and really that that didn't change this year. It's just um it's the change is really more by chance if you're going to get into
Cape Cod Tech rather than grades, attendance, ability, or recommendations. It's really just a ping-pong ball. >> Great. I have a question. I'm sorry, >> Mary. Please go ahead. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Do you guys have a wait list to get into Cape Cod Tech?
>> Yeah, we we definitely have a wait list. Um we typically you know in this year with a lottery we're going to you know accept probably the first 200 students and then as students decline um or or if they change uh their mind we will bring in more students again a portion by
town. Um ultimately uh ultimately we're able to to fill the class and then some. Um so we don't really expect these changes to um to affect the overall enrollment but maybe the composition of the students.
>> Okay. Thank you. I think that may be the end of our questions at least for now. If something else comes up we usually direct them through Carrie. >> Wonderful. And uh >> appreciate it so much. >> I hope to have a slightly decreased number to you in the next few days. >> That'd be cool.
>> Okay. Thank you very much for having me. Okay, next we have um the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants um to go over their FY2027 budget. It's um again at $95,000 for
FY2027, which is level funded. >> Hook me up, Carrie. Oh, what's going on? >> I don't know. >> I'm seeing it. >> That's really weird. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Why is it like presenting like that? That's kind of odd.
>> It's not full screen, right? >> No, it's just um It's not just me, right? >> No, I guess you can just scroll down like that. That's fine. >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> we'll we'll get through this. >> Yeah. >> Good afternoon. How are you? >> I'm Ryan Ferrell, the co-president of
the chamber. I have Emma Carroll, the other co-president, our uh treasurer, Nancy Gardner, and we are missing our secretary, Cole Lander, who couldn't change a work appointment. Normally we would have our executive director here presenting to you all.
Obviously we do not have an executive director right now. Um we hope that position will be filled mid-March, late March at the at the latest. So that's the update on that. Um we're here I can I'd like to almost just come back to
some of these strategic goals and I'd like just to get into the you know the meat and potatoes. We um are here asking for your request to fund us for the $95,000 which is level funded for the past three years.
75 of that goes towards our staffing which does not include our executive director. So that would be our booth and our operations manager within the basset house there. And then 20,000 goes towards our economic development which encompasses
our you know it it helps pay for some of our website, our social marketing media, all that all that um business that we now do online. Um after this then we can go into our
expense breakdown and our income. So this is our income member dues of 90,000 plus. We have our guide book and some of our reserves at about 84. There's the 75 and the 20 that we're
asking for. And then we go into our special events, which is really our fashion show is we don't have many special events ourselves. Um, and then we have uh some display advertising on our website that we're actively trying
to grow every year because it's we're on a new website platform now. It's pretty fresh to us. We're about a year into it, but we're getting much more active on that. So, a total uh total income of 295 311.
And then I'll go to our expense side of it and you'll see the 14 on the uh community relations member benefits and services which is like the guide book 96. Then we have our communications print
media staffing of 665. Once again that's going to be where our bassid house is and our you know info booth downtown. And then we have buildings and grounds at 123 which is basically our rent that
we pay for the basset house. And then um the administration and professional fees that's basically where our executive director falls into that bucket. So that's uh an expense of 294 530. Just a couple highlights of the year.
So, our members um we now have 333 members. That's a growth of 36 from the past year. We also increased our member dues somewhere in the range of 4%. And you'll see this is going to become a
common theme over the next come all every year going coming forward. Um we have some of accomplishments. We've had over 125 visitors to our website, once again, which is relatively new to
us. Um, and 120 of those were first-time visitors. Visitors ourselves, we've had 12,600 through mostly downtown, but also the Basset House. And we've actually had 94 people call the Basset House for
information. So, you know, people still pick up the phone. >> With that, I' I'd like to open it up for any questions, comments, suggestions. >> Joanne, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I'm
interested in the um what the the grant you were asking for from the uh committee the the the committee for trying to think of the name but anyway >> CPC
>> yes you asked for um an amount of $25,000 to restore the legacy of Kate Ghoul Park and can you give me some more information about that? In other words, who's in charge of that project? Are you
>> great question? >> Do you have uh are the selectmen directly connected and helping you choose who designs the park? >> I can only tell you what I know. How's that? >> That would be wonderful. >> So, I think um our past executive
director was sort of spearheading. She was the the head of it in terms of name and face, but they she we had a lot of other players town obviously everybody in town was involved in terms of DPW,
parks and wreck, blah blah blah blah blah. >> The board of selectman. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. Yes. >> Okay. what we see our role is as sitting at the table and giving our perspective
from the business community. We don't see ourselves as the charging factor of the beautifification. You know, it should be a committee. It should not be coming from the chamber of commerce. >> Okay. So, it it just seems to me it
would be a more of a an executive commitment from the from the people who were elected by the voters, the board of selectmen, their decision whether or not to do this and then just their oversight. Uh it looks to me like you're
planning to uh have someone uh draw up the plans and h what's what it's going to look like and what it's going to cost. >> Yes, but I cannot speak to that directly. I I was not involved in that process. >> Okay. I think it would be important for
us to know uh who's in charge. In other words, this is something the park is something that the whole all taxpayers will pay for whatever is done to it and will have a stake in how it looks. And I just have a question about who the
controlling the final where the final vote goes to whether you bring in um a specialist in that kind of planning >> how much it's going to cost and who approves as you go along who approves each one of those steps.
>> I totally agree with you and be happy. We're on the answers, but I can't tell you that there is one specific person that you go to right now. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> I appreciate this is in its infancy. In other words, >> clearly. >> Thank you,
>> Stephen. You have your hand up. >> Thanks, Andy. I've got a couple of questions. I guess my first reaction is I'm not sure why we would be channeling money for the Kate Gold and following up on Joannne's queries. Why would we why would we be funing money through the
Chamber of Commerce for the Kate Gold improvement project as opposed to the town paying for it directly? I I don't understand why we would do that. Um I would like to get some more detail. I note that the administrative
charges for the enterprise are roughly 30 plus% of the entire budget. Uh, and I certainly would benefit and I think the the community would from seeing detail on those numbers specifically and not just a block number of 105,000 or
whatever it specifically was. Um, and I'd like to have a better understanding of the dues picture. Um, you noted that the dues went up roughly 4%. Um, what is the structure? Does CBI pay the
same as a food truck? Um, is it scaled by size of the enterprise? How how does it all work? >> Correct. Nancy would like to help me a little bit. >> I'm sorry, I didn't hear that. >> Sorry, we're getting Nancy Gardner up
here to help me. >> Thank you. >> So, to answer your question about would CBI play the same amount as a food truck? Absolutely not. Uh it is categorized in several different categories meaning restaurants um hotels
um business owners depending on the size of the business. Does that help at all? So, is it size the business as in revenues that that if an enterprise makes over $50 million a year, they're paying X and if somebody makes under
5,000, they're paying XUS Y or >> it's not necessarily what their annual revenue is, but it's based on the size of the business overall, >> meaning beds, hotel industry, it's all about room count. >> Restaurants, it's usually about seat
count. Okay. And is there a schedule that's publicly available that we can look at? This is a question we've been asking for. >> We can make that more than we can make that available. We can send it to you very easily. >> All right. That would be helpful. And
how about the the detail on the administrative >> rather than just the block figure. The actual details of what's been that 105. >> We can give we can give you a breakdown of that 105 as well. >> Okay. That would be helpful. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Okay, Kristen. >> Maybe. No. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the um um I know I asked this question last year and I don't really feel like I don't remember the answer. Um what are the member benefits um that ex that
contribute to an expenditure of almost $97,000? And it does mention the guide book, but I thought um advertisements were sold for the guide book. So, a little bit more granular info on that line, please.
>> We can get the breakdown. >> We can give you We can get right down to line item by line item. We just didn't want to present that obviously and make these slides hard to read. >> John, please.
So, I I see that you all are making the transition to the website and um beginning to track mobile activity um with the chamber and I guess the merchants as a conduit for that. You're
still maintaining the guide book. Um you're spending $96,000 on the guide book and then I guess through selling ads you're recouping almost all of it. Looks like you're off a thousand bucks or something. >> Um, somewhere in the materials it said
you handed out around 20,000 guide books. >> Over time, do you all or have you had a conversation about phasing out the guide book or reducing the cost of the guide book by producing fewer guide books and transitioning more of your resources
into the guide book? >> So that's exactly what we did this past year. So this past year in 2025 we did 15,000 books ran out early August. >> Yeah. >> But with that we also had QRC codes
everywhere where someone could go boom and get the guide book on their phone >> to make it obviously easier for everybody visiting and and locals alike. >> Um do we see tearing down the 20,000 number over the next few years?
Probably. But we're trial and error right now. 15 wasn't enough. Is 20 going to be too much? Well, no. >> Yeah. I mean, you keep printing them and people keep stopping in and you keep handing them out. >> We did we did bring the guide books in house. We used to use an outside vendor. >> Yeah.
>> Who just ran with it and did it and delivered them to us. >> Yeah. >> Um we did we did find some cost savings and a little bit more control and design and and added bells and whistles when we brought it inhouse. >> I know it's Thank you for the answer. I know it's difficult to imagine a future
without a guide book for a chamber, but uh a lot of people are becoming more and more sensitive to printing and waste. Um >> I cut my teeth in publishing day one and >> Yeah. Right. So the minute it's printed, it's it's already outdated. With the
with the digital interface, you can continually update things. It's much cheaper. Um, and it would perhaps change some of the the line items in your >> Yep. >> And that I think that's something that the next ED board and everybody it's
going to be on their >> Yeah. >> sort of to-do list. >> And then if I could, Mr. Chairman, one other question. I I think in your presentation you mentioned one one event. You don't you're not very >> the chamber is not very event focused, but >> fashion show.
>> Yep. There's the fashion show, but where does like the October fest and some of the other events that happen in town? >> Those are all run by the merchants. >> Ah, >> which is sort of the um under the umbrella of the chamber of commerce. >> Yeah. So is is is that in a separate set
of books or is it all contained here? Is it its own standalone organization? >> Well, it's it's a committee and that falls under the opaces if you will of the chamber of commerce. So they have their own operating budget, so to speak,
and income is taken in for those events and then expenses paid out. And we can present that budget to you as well if you'd like to see it. >> Well, I don't need to see a breakout as long as all the merchant activity is contained in the books of the chamber.
>> The money in and money out. You said it's a committee. Well, it's it's sort of the events the the merchants association runs all the events for the the town throughout the year, >> right? But I mean >> it operates >> fiscally is all the inflow and outflow
under the opaces of the merchants contained and captured in the >> not in this budget but yes overall >> I guess I'm not understanding the answer. If you're pulling in revenue from activities and events through the
merchants association, is that revenue reflected in the chambers >> overall budget? >> It is not. >> It is. >> It is not ex reflected in this overall budget. No. >> So is any monies going to the chamber
benefiting the merchants association? um member dues are broken out so that part of or a part a portion of the member dues are paid to the chamber of commerce and then I mean for the chamber and a portion it goes towards the events or the merchants association as well to
cover for the events that occur throughout the year >> are you asking of the 95,000 ask does any of that go towards the merchants >> that could be one way to ask it the other way would be if the town decides
not to provide 95,000 or the 25,000, how would the merchants association function? What would the chamber and the merchants association conversation look like to continue services and events?
>> So, the hypothetical, >> yeah, >> I'll give it to you. >> The merchants would probably still do their thing, right? because they're >> in essence they're self-funding, you know, their big deals. Their art in the
park funds their all the events for the year, >> right? >> We would probably lose some staffing at the info booths and and stuff like that, which >> Yeah. >> I mean, we would have to live with that. The town would have to everybody.
>> Right. Right. That's a choice, right? >> That's a choice. >> Yeah. I just trying to understand. Yeah, I mean I used to be on the board of the chamber years ago >> and I frankly left the board because I couldn't understand how the merchants in the chamber could coexist. One accountable and one to my way of
thinking living underneath the accountable umbrella but not allowing accounting. >> I to our to-do list we're talking about. >> Yeah. Okay. >> That's high on it is making it easier to
explain. Thank you. >> Good luck. Barbara, you have your hand up. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um Ryan, the $20,000 that you guys have asked for the last couple of years is for economic development, and our understanding is that you're trying to increase the
shoulder seasons and the year round patronage as opposed to clogging up the streets even more in the summers. Do you have any way to measure whether or not that's been working? That measurement's a little tough to get get our hands around. Um, but we can
just talk to our members and I can tell you that they like the shoulder seasons, you know, >> the high time they make all their money, but the shoulder season just adds. >> Yeah. and they're they seem very they like the events part then like an
October Fest brings in a lot of business for our members. >> Um so on and so let alone stroll >> David you've got your hand up. >> Thanks Andy. Um I think for for some context for for
uh you both I think that this committee has struggled with the chamber of commerce as you probably aware um for the last number of years predominantly because the numbers are very opaque
and notwithstanding repeated requests for clarity and transparency and the and whatnot we I think have yet to get a full understanding of the chambers business of the purposes of the funds of the interplay between the two organizations
and we were getting close I think last year to trimming recommending trimming u the allocation to the chamber because of that opakeness because of the the kind of endemic lack of transparency and I
would like to see if we can't get that rectified Uh to John's questions about the P&Ls, it sounds as though the merchants have its own P&L that's not reflected in the chambers P&L. I'm guess I'm curious,
a can we get the merchants P&L so we can see everything that's going on under the umbrella of merchant and economic development? Um B, what's the overlap in uh I guess I would call it member count?
Uh is everybody who's in the merchants association also in the chamber? Uh as a different cohort of businesses or whatnot? None of this is none of this is transparent with at least to me and I think to us.
>> I can ask answer the uh membership question quickly. If you're a member of the chamber, you're a member of the merchants and vice versa. >> So why are there two P&Ls? >> One one of which we don't get to see. >> There are two P&Ls because they run all
of they they sponsor the the event separately from the chambers budget and then they their expenses are paid through the merchants association as well and it is a separate P&L. So, I don't I don't I don't intend to be giving you guys a hard time, but it's
it's it's years of frustration. Um, if the membership is generally twinned between the two organizations, I guess I'm I'm further it eludes me why there would be two P&Ls. If I were to set up a set up an enterprise to res represent the
merchants of the town of Chadam, the last thing I think I would do would be to set up two organizations, each with a separate P&L with the same membership doing complimentary things. It just it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. And maybe it's a legacy that's been
inherited by you guys and everybody. Um, but I would like to see if we can't get our hands on the the both P&Ls. Uh, and I would like to see specifics of the DU's structures before I'm going to be willing to support another allocation
personally to the chamber. This has been going on for for I've been asking this question for six or seven years >> and it has been going on for a number of years. There's no question. But >> um, we can provide you with that as well. >> All right. That'd be helpful, Nancy. Thank you again. I'm not trying to give
you guys a hard time. It's just mounting frustration. So, all right. Thank you. >> The folks on the finance committee have questions further for the chamber? No. Okay. Anyone else on the line? I don't see another hand up.
Okay. All right. Um I guess unless we've got more questions, we're all set for now. Right. you'll be providing more information prior to Carrie. She can pass it on. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> No, thank you.
>> And and and I have to admit, I think the question about that CPA grant, who's going to control that? >> Who's it go to? >> How do you control it? Right. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Yep. I'll find out. >> Thank you. Okay,
carrier back in the barrel. Next agenda item says that you're in charge. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just wanted to make a note for myself on that. So, um, we have
a couple of articles to go over and then I also have one article to go over that was already addressed um, at a previous meeting and we'll go over that one as well. But
for now, I'll start with um some articles. So, most of these um are annual articles that you've seen in the past. Um there's there's a couple that
are are new. Um so first we have um an article for uh PEG access funds and um for FY um 2027
the article is presented at $76,458. Um these are funds that come in from the cable company um and they're called PEG public uh cable access uh funds. the PEG being the public, the education I mean the E being education and the G being
the government. So they go into three different buckets on our ledger and the public funds that come in um are to be paid to uh Cape Media. We have a contract with them and so this is their portion of the funds that came in in FY 2025.
Um so that is um an article that was also presented last year. the the amount is just a little bit less than what we took in in FY2024. Um, the next article,
does anybody have questions on that one? >> I don't think so. >> Go ahead, John. >> I spent a few minutes trying to answer this question I'm about to ask and I couldn't figure it out. >> Um, and I don't know if anyone here has an idea. the the funds that are
generated, they're cable access funds, right? That's the the source. >> Yep. >> So, I got to thinking fewer and fewer people are >> fewer and fewer people that I know pay for cable TV. They have internet into their house, but they're not paying for cable TV,
>> right? Does that mean that fewer funds are collected as a result or is it if you have that coax cable going into your house whether it's pumping in cable or or just internet there's a fee associated and >> that's what I was trying to figure out
because the trend is against cable TV >> right and I I believe the funds have been slowly diminishing a little bit as you can say see um last year the article was I think 70
Um I think it was around 74,000. No, it was a little bit higher. Sorry. I think it was a little bit higher than what this one is. 78 maybe. Slightly higher. But yeah. Um technically we do we've been taking in a little bit slightly less. Not not too too bad, but
just slightly less. I did an analysis not too long ago to see how much we were taking in compared to years past, but it wasn't much less. Yeah, I was able to look at last year and the year before and yeah, the trends slightly less each year, but I didn't know if that was because it's predicated on cable
subscriptions by household or if it was sort of baked in over time. It decreases anyway. So, >> no, I think it it definitely goes by how many people are actually subscribed to to Comcast. >> You're welcome. >> Um,
>> and we have we have a copy of the article. We have an article. Yeah. >> Up in front of us. Yep. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Um why don't we just set that aside for a minute? You want to keep going? >> I'll just go through them and then unless you want to vote on them.
>> Yeah, I can just go through the list. >> So, next we have the stabilization trust fund appropriation. Um we did not contribute to stabilization last year as we had enough in according to our financial policies. It's between 3 to
5%. Um this year I took a look at it and with the growing budget um we are um due to put some funds in this account for the stabilization fund. Um we're going to
contribute $350,000. um it will be $3358 from free cash. And there was an old article um $19,942 that was left over that actually came from stabilization in 2011.
So when I did the research, I want to put that money back into stabilization because what the article is complete, it's been sitting on our books for a long time. So I want to move the money back where it came from. Um this will put us um slightly
with this contribution of 350,000 it will put us slightly above 5% it's roughly around 6% of the operating budget. So >> appropriations >> which is net of the debt doesn't include debt services. >> Appropriations out of the stabilization
fund or what is it supposed to be? So, the the appropriations out of the stabilization fund are for um expenses that are emergencies
if we run into emergencies or anything that's kind of like unexpected. >> It's supposed to be a supermajority vote. Correct. >> This is um not to go into it to take it out the funds. >> That's correct. >> That Okay. >> Yep. Any other questions on the
stabilization stabilization fund appropriation? >> So, sorry, just so on the supermajority to take it out. That's at a town meeting. That's the only correct. So, it actually has to get to a town meeting or a special town meeting. >> Yep. If we were to use funds out of the stabilization fund, it would have to go to town meeting and get voted and it
have to be a two-thirds vote. >> Go ahead. Barber, >> like snow and ice. Do we take snow and ice out of there? >> I've not seen that, but you could. Yeah. I understand we can also pay snow and
ice out of the overlay if there's any left by the time we're done our overlay. Are you >> all right? >> Thank you. All right, keep going. >> All right,
so the next one on the list is um the expendable trust fund for retirement. This is set up um a fund set up for um when an employee retires
um and they have a lot of acred vacation time. Um back in the day um they they'd have a lot of acred sick time. Um, and this is the fund that would basically fund um their retirement when they left the town because it's not included in
the operating budget. Unless in the operating budget there's enough funds in the department to offset, we would pull it from the operating budget. However, if not, it would come out of the retirement fund. Um, when I first started, there was quite a few
retirements that had happened in my first year here. And last year there was also quite a few retirements over the past few years. So the fund is kind of depleting and this is just kind of um funding it a little backup so that
way there's funds in there. >> I don't see this needing to be funded every single year but just to have enough in there to make sure there's um funds for people that do >> What's the current balance in the fund? >> Um it's
>> Do you have it in front of you? 64,000. >> You have it there. >> 64. >> Oh, okay. I missed that. Sorry, >> Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Please go ahead. >> Um I just uh why why couldn't the retirement money
when it's needed? So you say it's not needed every year. um if we have enough funds in there. So like last year I didn't ask for for any money to be in there because we had enough funds. So the year before there was $95,000
appropriation into this fund and now we that was I think we had like $146,000 and now there's only $64,000 left. >> Well, it seems to me that that's what the stabilization fund is for. >> It's not. It's for emergencies.
>> Okay. And yeah, so emergencies, unexpected costs that came in um above and beyond. >> These these costs are are not unexpected. >> No. No. Typically somebody that comes, they're supposed to um give at least a
six months notification of their retirement. I believe it is six month or three months before. And if the budget's already done and approved, Okay. >> And typically we just budget for what their salary is for the year. And like I
said, sometimes we do have funds left over in the operating budget to offset their retirement, but sometimes we don't depending on how much they're >> Okay. Sorry. Okay.
>> John, please. >> Just on this topic. So when you would you on the last paycheck you would include unused sick time and and um vacation time that would be contained in the last paycheck. Is that how that works?
>> Yeah, that's how it works. Um, so on the newer contracts, a lot of them have gotten away with the town has gotten away with um, not so like prior to 2013. The contracts included a percentage of
their sick time would be paid out. So if I was in the union, I would get paid a percentage of my sick time. that has now kind of gone away, but we still have all of those people that are still part of the union that we still have that they're
grandfathered in. So, we still have those obligations to pay out when somebody leaves. Vacation time, everybody, if you earned your vacation time, you haven't used it, then you do get that. You do receive that, but the sick time is the a bigger a larger
portion. >> Okay. Thanks, >> Barbara. Go ahead. >> Thanks, Andy. So Carrie, are you saying that in 2013 or 2014 that policy changed? >> Yeah, it's it's the contracts are written differently for anybody that's hired after 2013.
>> So anybody that was hired before 2013, they're grandfathered into the old contract and then anybody hired after 2013, uh the language is different for them when they retire. >> Thanks. You're welcome, >> David. You've got your hand up. >> Thanks, Andy. Um and then Carrie, just
to simplify, this is essentially a fund to true up employees to buy out their vacation and and sick leave when they retire. Correct. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Other questions on this? No.
>> Super quick, I hope. So, um is there a maximum carryover for vacation time yeartoear or or does it just like if you never took vacation, would it just continue to acrue? Yeah, there is a maximum amount that someone can carry over and it's two
weeks I believe um that they they can carry over. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Barbara, >> the town does encourage people to take their vacation time, don't they? >> Yes. Yeah, they do. They encourage them. But there's some people that have
acrewed that have been here for a long time. They have five weeks of vacation, you know. So, and and then they're allowed to carry over two weeks. That's where, you know, >> yeah.
And then those those people that have acred the five weeks are usually the ones that have been here the longest and they were hired before the 2013. So, they also have the sick time. And I think it's around 25% or something like that of their sick time.
I don't know if there's like a a maximum, but I'd have to look back. But yeah, it's really the people this this fund is really to help take care of the people that have been here the longest. >> Did you have another question?
>> Okay. All right. Good. All right. We'll keep going on to the next item, which is the >> grant matching fund. So, the grant matching fund, it's a new article. Um, I actually uh put this forward. It's for $50,000. Um
this is to help offset um if somebody if a department wanted to apply for a grant um and it's the middle of the year and it's a matching grant, they don't necessarily have the funds in their budget to do it because typically a lot
of grants that are matching are 25% that the town would have to pay for. So, I've seen a couple departments struggle and not have the funds available to be pay to get a grant because that when you apply for the grant, they want to make sure that you have the offset of 25%.
>> So, this grant of $50,000 will be set aside to be able to help those departments when they want to apply for a grant that's a matching grant. >> Questions? Barbara? >> Thanks, Andy. Um, and so when that comes
up, who is it that authorizes the okay to use that grant money? >> Um, I would think that it would be the town manager and possibly the select board. They usually see a lot of the um the
grants that do come through if >> so all of all of them, Jill and the select board. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Okay. Joanne, you had a question. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. chair, this seems like reducing
the amount of money that you need, the taxpayer needs to to vote on. In other words, if if if you're saving grant money in a separate article, it stays there. It may draw interest. I don't I don't know. I don't
think it's enough to make to to make a difference, but the taxpayers are this $50,000. I know it seems like a small amount, but it's the principle of the thing. That's something that would lower a tax bill if they're not having to take
the $50 $50,000 and put it away somewhere else. And I think we have plenty of opportunity when a grant comes along for the town's people, the taxpayers to uh argue on that and decide on it and to raise the money for a grant
if they decide that's what they want to do. I don't think this is a good idea. It's just another savings fund similar to me to the stabilization fund which we fund every year and I approve of that. But I don't like to take money off the
table that could be money that lowers the taxpayers's tax rate. >> Eric, you have a question. >> Oh, Carrie, did you have something? >> This is using free cash. It's not using
the tax rate. Um, so it's it's money that we've already received, the town has already received. The purpose of the fund is to be able to apply for a grant mid year and not have to wait until because grants expire. You only have so much time to apply.
>> Have we ever had a problem with that? >> We actually Yes, we did last year. >> What did we lose out on? >> I I can't remember. It was probably a It was a large grant, but we had to try to find funds that we had to be able to
apply for the grant. So, this right here is just a fund. So, that way if somebody comes and they say, "I need a matching grant of $25,000." We have they can go to the town manager, they can go to the select board, and they can ask for the
funds to be able to apply for the grant that they >> I don't agree with that. I still think that's taxpayer money, and the taxpayer should uh be able to vote on how they want to use it and it shouldn't be set aside. It's $50,000 that that we're
taking out that goes on the tax rate. That isn't in my estimation isn't needed, but that's just that's just me. >> Okay. It's not on the tax rate again. It's from the free cash. So free cash uh is there to put on other uh articles
that we the taxpayer wants to vote on and does vote on. So I think it is setting aside 50,000. I know it's a small amount, but it's setting aside money that could be uh used to lower the tax rate. >> Joanne, I gather you don't like this
article. Is that right? >> Okay. Because there's several other people who would like to speak to >> I'm sorry. I didn't realize that. >> Eric, please. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Um Carrie, in that scenario that that you've brought up about the the um grant in the middle of the year that needs
funding, um would the fund that that this committee has kind of in our back pocket ever be able to be used for something like that if if if needed? >> Yes, you could you could use your reserve fund for that. Um typically the
reserve fund is to be used for the operating budget though and not necessarily articles. So they should be going to fund um unexpected um unforeseen expenditures that come up like um a a vehicle. I just happen to
have this in the back of my hand or the veterans um that we can't that I had to present in front of you. We didn't have enough money in the operating budget for that. So typically the reserve fund should you be used more so for something like that. >> John, you had something.
>> Yeah, I I can appreciate my colleague Joannne's concern and I think you've been very consistent in your viewpoints on this type of a as you describe it a um squirreling away, those are my words, squirreling away taxpayer dollars for
spec specific purposes. Um, I just want to offer a counterpoint. Um, as we're experiencing and other communities are experiencing compression in our budgeting process and facing overrides for a variety of reasons, I think that I
could support this article going to town meeting floor for a discussion and a vote. But what I would like to see or would suggest would be some pretty tight reporting back to the finance committee and the board of selectmen.
If and when this is tapped um as the article is written, the town manager presumably would recommend to the select board or is that what we're calling it? Select board. The select board um the opportunity for a grant and permission to dip into this fund to be competitive
in an interyear grant. we would get the report back annually and make a decision based on whether we want to continue to keep it at this level or perhaps a slightly less of a level or more of a level based on the performance of this th I see this as creating more
flexibility for our community to take advantage of state and federal dollars to do the good work and maintain the level of service that our community has come to depend upon us for. So, I'm willing to do it with some tight
controls and a commitment for monitoring and a report back, but again, it would go to town meeting for a decision in May. >> Mr. Chair, thank thank you. Uh, it's still the taxpayers money. We forget who's paying the bills when we sit here
and go through thing after thing. That's taxpayers money. And uh I don't think that we should have to go through the all the mash machinations to to to get their money that's been set aside when it's theirs. Sorry,
>> I'm done. >> Well, town meeting is one of those machinations where the voters kind of think they have the final say. Carrie, you have something? >> Uh yes. So, um just speaking about what types of grants this would help with. this would help with also the dredging
that we're potentially losing some of that money. So, this could help go towards that as well. So, um and the town already contributes to that, but if we're going to start losing money coming from um Barnesville County or uh the money that we're receiving right now for
grants, this would help. This would help for uh when we apply for the grants for the dredging. This would help for the match. >> All right. Thank you, Carrie. >> Go ahead, Kristen. >> I don't think I can say anything better
than John did, but I'm just want to say that I'm in support of this because I know how grants can come up. Uh, and usually the deadline is just around the corner and um I think this is um with some safeguards. I think it's a great opportunity and uh creative thinking to
help leverage um any funds that are out there that we can help with our projects. Thanks. >> Okay. All right, let's go on to the sewer capital transfer. >> Okay, so this one right here is an
article. Um, so back in um 2017, article 18 um was for um a wastewater capital for the sewer, right? Um and when that was written, it was presented that additional funds
would come from the wastewater capital stabilization. Um I happened to come across this when I was working with Rob on where we were going to get some funds for this um for the exceeding amount that we've um kind of gone over a little bit on this um for
an how do I say this? Funds that we did not receive from from the Clean Water Trust. they do not there's costs that are ineligible. Um and also this article has changed over the years. Um it was
presented at um phase 1D, phases 1 C and 1D and then it's kind of stretched out to phase 1D-2A. Um they just kept adding stuff to this. Um so therefore after researching
um I'm asking for $2 million to be transferred from the wastewater capital stabilization fund as the article was written to cover for the unexpected costs that were not covered by the clean water trust. Um
the trust um let's see the stabilization fund currently has a balance of 4 million and we're expecting another 1.5 to come in this year. Um so >> thank you Carrie. >> You're welcome.
>> Folks have questions for Carrie on this John. Go ahead John. Um, so there were ineligible costs that the state wouldn't reimburse. >> Yes. >> Do we So they're unanticipated?
>> Yes. >> Do we expect that continuing our wastewater endeavors is going to continue to generate ineligible costs? >> So I think the issue with this one was that they've added all these phases on
here. So, it's kind of gone through that thing. But yes, there will be ineligible costs. There always is. It's um engineering and design costs are not eligible for clean water trust. Um I do have a list that Rob gave me. I'll have to go back
to my email and find it. If I un understand your response, this $2 million was disqualified from tapping the Clean Water Trust because of the process we chose to continue to
amend the original application. >> So, we made an error. >> Had we had we >> written up the next phase and the third and fourth phase separately and applied separately, they potentially could have been reimbursed.
Um, so the original article was only for say I think it was like 30 million or something like that. We'll just say 30 million. >> Yeah. >> The Clean Water Trust gives you so much money to cover. Um, what happens is is
that um say the Clean Water Trust gave us 32 million, but then there's ineligible costs in between. We can't go back and it's it's a little complicated. I don't
know exactly how to describe it. If we were because there all right the bond company already thinks that we've borrowed 30 $30 million for this project which we didn't. So we can't say that the clean water trust we're not going to borrow from you for this whatever amount. They just don't give us the
amount. We get less from the clean water trust. So those costs that we've incurred above and beyond of what the clean water trust that they're going to give us, we have to we have to get from the wastewater capital stabilization. Is that kind of making sense to you?
>> Sort of. And I don't I don't want to belabor the point. I guess to me the the more important point is this sounds like a a whoops >> and I'm worried we're going to continue to have $2 million whoopses
and I want to know that we've got a anti-whoops device deployed. >> Well, I hope that the Clean Water Trust Um, >> I support >> I'm try I'm trying to I'm trying to
think of a way to say this in in a clearer way because the Clean Water Trust only gives you so much money, but we can't go back and borrow for the same project. So, it's either we we get the money for the unexpected costs or the the cost that the clean water trust
didn't give us the money for these like engineering design or we have to go back to the town and say we need to borrow $2 million. >> Gotcha. No, I mean I support the I support the article. I was trying to get at the underlying cause of needing to
have this article and >> if the process moving forward I mean we got another 20 years of putting big pipes in the ground right this town like >> have we learned from this or are there things that we've learned from this that we can >> be uh
better >> yeah I think I think things have gotten better um I think that if the town was to I don't think that each I I don't think additional phases should
have been added on is what I'm saying. I think that the first phase should have been done and then if you know 1D and 1 C should have been done and not added on 1D 2 A because I think maybe they thought they
was going to have enough funds in there and let's this article was written in 2017 which is a long time ago and obviously you all know that things have with the inflation costs we had COVID and inflation and now it's 202 26.
So, >> hey Andy, can I hop in for a sec? >> Steven has his hand up. >> The uh I'm also interrupting for which I apologize. So, Carrie is the essence here is that we had a project that was
supposed to cost us $10 and we applied for 10 $10. >> Yeah. And because of these scope additions, the project's now $12, but we've already applied for and received $10 and we're not eligible to
uh get incremental funding for the extra two because of the scope expansion. Is that the essence? >> Yes. >> Of what we're going >> Yeah, I guess you could Yeah, you could say it like that. >> Okay. But would that be an accurate I know I could say it like that. Is that an accurate reflection of essentially
the four corners of this? Yes, that's correct. >> I imagine that's a lesson that Carrie could carry back to whoever it is that's writing these uh contracts. >> Well, and to John's anti-whoops deployed device, it would presumably be
not to increase the scope of a particular >> yes >> set of contract documents that have already been, >> you know, bid and submitted and funded, etc. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. I mean, I go ahead, Barbara.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm recalling back when we first entered into that municipal agreement with Harwitch, >> and we knew we were going to get getting $6.5 million. And some people thought, "Wow, cool." And it was the finance committee who recommended that we start
this wastewater um stabilization fund. And looks like I'm glad we did. >> Yep. Seems like a wise choice. I mean to be fair, sorry, the article was written as to be used the wastewater funds to be
used on additional costs. So it's just we we haven't we haven't done it yet >> unless there are additional comments to be made or questions on this. Um I'm trying to figure out how to put together
a vote on this. Um I think we generally have um agreement on the PEG article, the stabilization article, the expendable retirement article and the sewer capital transfer. The grant match fund maybe we'll set vote on
separately. That sound about right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So can I um motion to approve the PEG stabilization article, the expendable retirement article, and the sewer capital transfer article.
So move. >> Second. >> Great. Good. Motion's made and seconded. With those in favor, please say I. >> Call. >> So Stephen, >> I >> I >> I'll vote. I Joanne Sprag >> I. >> Barbara Madison.
>> I. >> John Papardo. >> Hi. >> Kristen Andrews. >> I. >> Uh Tracy's not here. Tommy Don. >> Hi. >> Good. And Eric Whitley. >> Hi. >> All right. Good. that uh prevails with one of one absence. Then we'll go to the
match grant grant match fund. >> I know it's like which way which way do you which words first? Um >> it's a sign. >> That's >> I'll I'll move that Andy. >> I I I'll grant you it could be a sign. Um you're Stephen has moved it. Is
anybody seconding it? >> Okay, good. Uh all right. So this is Grant Okay. With those in favor say I. Stephen >> support. >> Andy Young support. Joanne Sprag. >> No. >> Okay. Barbara Madison
>> I. >> John Pavardo. >> Hi. >> Okay. Chris Andrew. >> I. >> Tracy Shields is not here. Tommy Don. >> Hi. >> Okay. Eric Whitley. >> Hi. >> Okay. All right. That article also prevails. Good. We've managed to deal
with a few of these now. I understand. car that we have a much more complicated one that you want to talk to us about. >> Okay. More complicated than the last one. >> I think everybody has this in front of
them. Um I did not send it to um Stephen and Tommy and I apologize. Um so last Tuesday um after you guys already voted on the
fixed salary salaries elected officials this is where um the article that has to be voted on to pay the elected officials and which is the select board and the moderator. Um it was brought up to increase the
salaries on this. It hasn't been increased in a few years. Um I think I don't even know the last time it was increased because I think in 24, 25, and 26 it was the same amount. So now it's the same amount again. So it's been level funded for at least four years
now. Um so it was mentioned to increase them and the increase was to go from for the moderator from $1,200 to $1,500. Um the select board members each w was they were receiving 4,000. Now it's
recommended to receive 6,000. And then the chair receives an extra stipen which was 1,000 and it was recommended at uh 1,500. The other thing that was mentioned at the meeting was presenting two separate articles at town meeting. one with the
old amount and one with the new amount, which I don't feel that would be appropriate because I feel that would confuse the taxpayers if there's two different articles because which one are they really voting on when there's
already an article in place that shows what the amount is for 26 and what the amount is for 27. And I think Andy made a good point in saying they can increase or decrease this on town meeting floor. No town can't increase it, but we could decrease it.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. You can decrease it on town meeting floor. So um we need to revote this and then have a discussion if you'd like to have just one article or you feel there's a need
to have two. >> Go ahead, Eric. Was the discussion on the one or two articles brought up by someone on the select board? >> Yes, it was. It was brought up by um member Corey. >> And and did the select board decide that
they're they would like to put both on? I I guess I'm not sure what the question is to us. I mean, we don't >> they wanted to have Fincom's opinion on this. Um, they're going to be discussing this again tonight. So, I want to get your
opinion so I can share it with the board tonight. Um, so they are not prepared yet to put this on the warrant, never mind express support for it. John, please. Uh
um curious if you could color in a little bit more. I see I read just read the background >> here is that chair Niccastro made the recommendations >> he did. >> Okay. >> Mhm. Was there any rationale or moving
forward is there is there a process being suggested that these should be adjusted um for cost of living or any other metric by which we would advance these
salaries on a every couple of years. Is there structure around this? So I have not increased these salaries. Um but there definitely should be something that they look at. Um this
select board u chair Dean Niccastro he um said that he had done some research and he feels that um this should be increased according to other towns surrounding towns and what they're receiving. Um and also he feels that he
does um quite a bit of work. >> Y >> and um he feels that this should be increased to reflect the work that they are doing for the board. >> Yeah. To me I'm not debating that. I mean I I've seen the agendas that our
select board plows through. I've seen the long meetings and all the assignments they have to other committees. And to me it's not a question. I mean, I think we're getting a deal at $4,000 a year or what whatever it is.
>> Um, to me, it's just more like I think if we're going to have this conversation, it would be helpful to have uh put some thought into how to address this issue with some structure around it every three years, every two years, like
peg it to some metric. >> Yeah. um so that it >> you know I mean all the town employees have steps and so on and so forth and I >> y >> it's darn near a full-time job >> to be a select board member so
>> um that I guess that would be my if you want to carry that back to the select board that's what I think >> yeah yeah absolutely I will I think it should be looked at every every year but yeah definitely every couple years it should be looked at >> thank you Mr. chair. I think it's a
little late in the budget process to um to make a change like this without a little more uh presentation from the selectman, their reasons and what it's based on so that it can be presented to the taxpayer in a reasonable way as if
it wasn't just a something we did. Oh, okay. That's all right. Without thinking of the extra the cost down the road. So, I I'm not against them getting more money, but I'm against the process right now and how it's been presented and uh
how late in the process it is. >> Stephen, you have your hand up. >> Thanks, Andy. Um, I agree with what both Joanne and John have said. It's it's it's a lot of work. Um,
I guess I worry a little bit about the optics of a 50% salary increase uh at a time when part of our bud budget message is that times seem to be increasingly fraught.
Um, and we need to be careful and cautious now. Handing out $10,000 of raises to the select board isn't going to break the bank. Uh, which brings me back to the optics point. Um, I wonder, I mean, again, to Joann's point, maybe it's too
late, but do we look about $1,000 now as a sign of good faith and work in an annual COLA provision as John's suggesting, which would seem to make it a lot of sense. Um, I don't know. That would be my view. The
other thing I do want to point out, Carrie, I believe, I don't know if it's been reflected, but I know the moderator was hoping for a modest bump in his uh expense account of I think $150 uh to reflect increased costs on his
side. So, I don't know if that uh that's been carried through yet or not. Um but I think the three of us were on an email a couple of weeks ago. So, I just want to follow up on that. >> Thanks, Andy. Um, so I'm currently working on the
final budget uh numbers. Um, sorry. Um, I did add in the $50. We had some savings with, um, Monoy School. Um, we had some savings with, um, the retirement assessment came in less than,
uh, what I originally put on there. And also, our health insurance came in less than I anticipated. So, some of these things um with our savings on that, I added in like the $50 that the moderator had asked. Um
and a couple other things I have taken care of that have been directed at me to to do, but it's not going to make our budget increase even more than what was already presented to you. >> Right. Um we have somebody in the audience, Brian Phillips, I believe,
would like to speak on this briefly, I hope. Andy, can I just add one incremental remark? >> What was that statement? >> Can I just add one incremental remark? >> Oh, yeah. >> I think to Carrie's question about one article versus two, I would be in favor
of one article. >> Oh, yeah. >> And not to. >> Yeah. >> Please, Brian, go ahead. >> All right. Brian Phillips, 374 leans road. Um, I put a little bit of thought into this. I am running for selectman. So I don't know if that's conflict of interest there but I mean you do these jobs select men finance committee
because you love your town and these jobs are a lot of work but as far as the stipen is concerned I think it should just cover like basic costs like gas and and um I guess uh what I would call like maybe like a lunch and coffee because if you're doing this job right you're meeting with a lot of citizens, a lot of
people and you're doing like uh you know coffee meetings, lunch meetings, those types of things and hopefully you're doing it within Chadam so it's going to you know stimulate the economy. So, I think it should be more around uh you know, like $10,000, like $200 a week or something like that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brian. Stephen, did you have something else you wanted to say on
this? >> Your hand is still up. >> That's an oversight. >> That's okay. All right. Um Joan, >> one more comment, Mr. Chair. Uh it's again it looks like and I think to the
taxpayer I'm a taxpayer too that the minute we save some money we think oh boy let's go spend it. I don't think that's good to do on the spur of the minute. It's late in the process. We haven't had a a a really good presentation
uh on why this needs to be done right now. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, we need to vacate this room fairly soon because we the select board is meeting at four o'clock in here. >> Are we looking for a motion on this
particular item or >> go ahead? >> Yeah. Um, so this is going to the board tonight. So, um, I didn't have the opportunity to bring this last week because my agenda was already completed. So, I had to bring it to you guys today. Um,
>> would it be in a form of a motion? Is that what you're looking for, Mr. Chair? >> Good. or just let it die on its own. Oh, well, I think it would, in my opinion, it would be good for the either a sense of the board or and a vote would certainly give that um and I'll so I'll
make a motion that that um that there's only that the fi the finance committee's recommendation is that there's only one article that goes to town meeting floor and I would support the um the lower amount that's already been discussed
that the 1,200 4,000 1,000 as the uh as the amounts. >> Second. >> All right. There are motions made and seconded to essentially support the existing schedule. Is that not correct? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Good. Um, let me do a roll
call on that. Uh, all right. Sorry. And and just one comment now that the motion's on the floor and and again I echo what everyone has said that that is not to say the select board don't do a ton of work and that the
value of what they get paid has no reflection on the amount of time they put in. I mean it's pennies that they per hour that they put in and it's just about the process I think and where we're at. >> I think so. All right. All right. Let me call the vote on that motion. Uh those in favor of Eric's motion, please say
yes. Stephen Daniel, >> I'm gonna say I. >> I. Oh, you can do that, too. Andy Young will say hi. Joannne Sprag. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh Barbara Madison, >> I'm gonna say no.
>> Okay. And John Peablardo. >> Hi. >> Okay. Chris Kristen Andress. >> I'm torn. Um, I guess I'll say no. Um, >> okay. Very decisive,
>> right? Tracy Shields is not here. Tommy Don, >> I >> Okay. And Eric Whitley. >> Hi. >> Okay. All right. So, the motion prevails. Let's see. Three, four, five,
six to two. Great. Um, like I said, the slight board is convening. Charlie Carrie, is there anything else that we need to deal with right now? >> Um, I Let me look at my um No, I think
that's everything. I will be bringing some articles that have already been discussed um to the next meeting. Mhm. >> And then anything else that's remaining I will bring on the 24th as well for remaining articles that we've already
looked at to hopefully go over if you guys need additional information on those articles because there was like the water operating the borrowing for the water um tank. Um and then there's a couple of other borrowings that were on
there. If you guys need additional information, please let me know before. Okay, >> Kristen. >> Um, a couple of things. Um, as a point of information, I've always felt like our FinCom meetings were another public venue for um, these articles and these
actions the town is being asked to take. Um, another way to vet these projects. Um, on the CPC articles, I was really dismayed that we didn't get any of the details that um, usually we see pictures, we see plans. We received none
of that uh at our public meeting. And so I I feel really uncomfortable with um a few of the articles for that reason. Um and I think there was an outstanding question. I'd like clarification. Maybe I misunderstood, but I believe Mr. Phillips asked a question about the
disposition of the Stepping Stones property and what the legality of that was. Uh, what Carrie sent me was the CPC, the language in the Penrose application and what they said they wanted. Um, I don't think that was the same thing. If I'm misunderstanding, please be clear, but I feel like we
don't have that an answer to that question about the disposition of that property. >> Your question is specifically about the the Stepping Stones Road property. >> Yes. about the disposition language and whether the contractor is able to um ask
for more money. >> Okay, good question. >> Okay, I'll I'll write that down. Disposition language on if a contractor can ask more for more money. >> Okay, >> Stephen, you have your hand up. >> Yeah, thanks Andy. Um, yeah, Carrie, it
was it's the language in the in the LDA uh that that details whether and Kristen's spot on details whether or not uh Penrose has been granted the right to to revert to the town and ask for incremental uh monies for the project specifically.
Uh number one, uh two, just for the committee's benefit, I'm cautiously optimistic I might be able to get back in the room on Thursday. Um, and Carrie and I have spoken about the prospect of a little bit of a voton, so we can try
to get caught up. There may be articles that the select board not has not yet posted, in which case we'll revert to the springing uh springing votes uh that we've been using to um uh to efficient effect. Um, but we are
going to focus on trying to clear out some of the underbrush. Um, Huntley Harrison also is going to be there to uh explain a little bit more I think pursuant to John's request and that of others uh regarding the the airport
design group one and two discussion um article I should say sorry some more to come from from Huntley and company on on that. So that's it. >> Thanks Barbara. >> Um I just Carrie had a question too
about the Penrose. I I could be mistaken, but I thought there were two articles in the CPC, one for uh the Buckley property and one for Meeting House. Um so I'm very interested in the contract wording regarding those two as well.
>> Okay. The ones that are CPC applications isn't the stepping stones though. It was the Penrose U for Meeting House and Main Street. Are you talking about the funds that are going to affordable housing trust for the 750 from CPC?
>> That sounds about right. >> Okay. All right. I just want to make sure because I know there was multiple and I will get you the applications. I'll send those out and I'll find about that disposition language for stepping stones. >> Okay. And Kristen, I noted as well in
your note to me regarding um your your thoughts on the on the budget the deficiency of the presentation by the CPC. So we'll make sure next year that um it gets back to where it should be.
>> Right. Other questions, comments? No. Eric, you're on. I think no question. >> Oh, you just press your button. >> I was going to say, can we >> John? You're on then. Oh, >> just a question to Stephen if if you if I might. Did Did you get everything you
wanted from the committee with respect to delivering our first cut to the select board tonight? >> Uh yeah. Yeah. Everybody should have in their inbox a copy of the talking points. Andy has graciously agreed to
walk through the talking points uh on my behalf. >> Okay. got on the committee's behalf. But um yeah, I think the there was as there often is remarkable consistency
um from folks. There's also and I had a chat with Dean earlier today um in advance of sending the note around to the select board. There there seems to be contrary to years past there seems to be and I
referenced this earlier kind of a a little bit of a fraught feeling I think in the minds of many on the committee. Um you know we've got a partner in the the school district who's reached its levy capacity and is threatening to withhold
and not insignificant amount of money $1.4 $4 million uh from the school school district request. We've got five large capital projects uh that are currently ongoing
in various precincts in town. Um, we have kind of looming over it the very divisive issue of the residential tax exemption and and something that I guess I'm sort of sensing is this unsettled
feeling in town. Uh Tracy wrote a really u thoughtful note to me with her responses also noting that that you know the younger families uh are feeling really stressed by the economy by the affordability crisis by
inflation. Everybody's bills are going up. Um and I just think it's something we need to keep an eye on. Think we'll be fine for 27. Um,
but uh it's it's it's different. The the the the sense in the wind for me at least is different than it ever has been. Uh and as I do point out in in my note, um you know, interest rates in this country for the last 160 80 years
tend to run in 40-year cycles. And interest rates also mirror inflation expectations. And I think that somehow or another uh after the the end of the bull market and and um inflation uh three years ago that somehow or another
we've broken out of a >> a a cycle of 40-year turns that goes back to the 19th century uh I think is is not I'm not comfortable with that assumption. So, I just think that the
town of Chadam needs to be mindful uh of tension within the community, tension within future budget prospects. Um, so that's a long-winded way of answering your question, John, but yeah, I I got what I needed and it was totally
different than it has been. >> Thank you, Stephen. Um, just of note, um, I just checked my email. I haven't received uh the note you referenced. if you did send it out to the committee. >> Yeah, I did. Let me I'll double check. >> Thank you.
>> I may have just hit send before the meeting. >> Move to adjurnn, Mr. J. >> I think so. All right. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Terrific. Would those in favor
say I? Just to be, you know, consistent with Stephen's desires here. Stephen. Yes. >> I should have known. Andy Young says, "Yes, Jan Sprag." >> Hi, >> Barb Madison.
>> Iardo. >> Hi, >> Christine Andre. >> Yes. >> Tracy Shields. >> Tommy Don. >> Hi. >> You're willing to end it? All right. Eric Whitley. >> Hi. >> Okay. >> Terrific. We stand adjourned. Thank you all very much.
>> You guys, >> thank you.