Good evening. Seeing this at 6:30, I'd like to call this Thursday, February 12th, 2026 meeting of the finance committee to order. Tonight, we'll be following the published and posted agenda. We'll be uh available live and via Zoom via Zoom. Um it'll be recorded
for future viewing. Uh, first item on the agenda this evening is approval of minutes from September 23rd, 2025. Has everyone had an abil the ability to review those? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Actually, it's the 25th. >> Oh, 25th, excuse me. So, I I I'll make that note in in the correction. So, it's
September 25th, 2025. Um, do I have a motion? >> Uh, motion to approve the minutes of the 25th. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? No. All in favor? >> I.
>> All right. Six in favor, one absent. Moving right along, we have a presentation, review, and discussion of the town manager's proposed fiscal year 2027 recommended operating budget. With us this evening is our town manager, Paul Cohen. >> Good evening. Can't believe we're back here already
for bring town meeting, but um I'm pleased to present to you the fiscal year 2027 proposed operating capital budgets. I'll be presenting the operating budget and then John Souzer, our finance director, will come up and present the capital budgets in accordance with your agenda. Um
I sort of want to acknowledge, you know, John's efforts and all of our efforts. Um we've had two tri board meetings. Um we've sort of dealt with the governor's latest uh proposed fiscal year 27 state budget. Um we've dealt with last minute
information on the plan design change um by our healthcare provider and we're still seeing the states wrestling even today tabled their changes on their health care plans and so it's a very unstable and uncertain term. Um, but I believe the plan I present to you is
responsible. Um, and um, I'll sort of highlight through it. I'm not going to read I've sent you the materials last Thursday. I'm not going to read you the materials, but I just want to highlight a few items in the report. The first and most notable thing, you know, particularly for those who are watching and haven't seen the document. It's
$176.4 million operating budget um, for the upcoming fiscal year that starts on July 1. Um, the leap of faith in the budget is state aid. Um, Governor Healey proposed funding the final year of the Student Opportunities Act at a minimum
funding level of $75 per student. Uh, and that would have basically given the town of Chet about $388,000. Um, based on our student count from October 1st. Um, we saw this last year and we've seen it
in prior years. Um, and I don't quite know why, but she's done it. I guess you I'm expecting that the history will be you know even though past performance is not an indicator of future results but we do realize that history is a good indicator of what the legislature will do and what I'm hearing is that the
legislature despite the budget challenges in the state budget will be doing earmarks for legislators and I think the expectation is is that they will increase the chapter 70 funding. So, what I've proposed in my budget is that we will receive the same level $150
minimum P pupil student uh in this year's upcoming budget that we did for the budget that we're in right now. And so, that's basically what I call the $388,000 leap of faith. But I think it's responsible because if we cut 388,000 and particularly in the school
department where twothirds of our discretionary spending goes and we wait till July when the legislature finishes the budget process. Well, at that point there are schedules and hiring and everything else is complete and it really would be an unnecessary setback.
And so I think like most things in life, you've got to take some judgment calls and some risks. So that's sort of what I wanted to note with this budget. Um, in terms of the schools, going back to the overview of the budget, the funding proposed funding increase for
the Chsford public schools is $2.5 million or 3.3% uh, which would fund them from from the town at $78.15 million. That's a million dollars less than what um, we discussed at the tri board meetings. Uh, in my
cooperative meetings, and I'll use the word cooperative because they were very cooperative with Dr. Lang and he has released his school operating budget. Um we we came to a consensus on the $2.5 million level. What that means and it really means all across the town and at
the show is basically we're doing level staffing and level service, you know, and with trims and other u modifications to get to a balanced budget level. So, so that sort of explains, you know,
where we were from where we were back in December at Tribard. Um, the show assessment is going up by 6.5% or $263,000 to 4.32 million. That was sort of like late breaking news. Um, and the reason
for that is that wasn't known until the governor's budget comes out. And and wh why why I mean by that is when the governor proposed the funding level it it it bakes in the chapter 70 that I mentioned earlier but it bakes in the chapter 70 in terms of where the funding
follows the students and what the state does in addition to saying here's your chapter 70 education funding level they also say here's your minimum net school spending and basically your chapter 70 follows your students so in the case of Chsford we're a situation where our enrollment
went up in the Chsford public schools by about 40 students, but it also went up by six students at Nshobate Tech. But the difference was the relative proportion of increase, meaning from 210 to 216, um, was greater than the than the, you
know, 5,000 students that are in Chelsea public schools and you add 40. So what that meant is some of our chapter 70 money and minimum funding requirements got shifted to Nishoba Tech because Nishobate Tech as you followed that budget and Dave you missed a good breakfast other week and we're sorry we
missed you there but but as as Dr. um Pigeon explained their funding basically at at minimum level. I mean, they're 300,000 above minimum. And so it's the situation with NHOBA is even if they wanted to cut the budget, they can't cut
below community's minimum funding requirements. And so they had situations with their member communities where they they had uh enrollment swings where for example heir's enrollment was declining in their regional district which surely but was up at Nshoba and and it
basically moved like a their budgetary increase was almost the same dollar-wise as Chsford. Um so that was sort of that last minute and also at the last minute they then see what the governor is proposing for regional school transportation for the vocational school district. So basically that was why the
breakfast was held a week later than normal and also that they were scrambling in that last week in this in their school committee met and a budget committee met basically the you know two days prior to the release of the numbers to the communities because they have a hard deadline with the westford town
meeting. So long story short, our increase is six and a half% in the showa tech because there really is no discretion there u because aside from the minimum net school spending requirement, we're we're assigned a portion of the debt service. We're assigned a portion of transportation
costs and then their $300,000 capital that they level funded. Um, so again, that was another last minute adjustment because I thought I was was being, you know, good judgment of of a 5% increase and it came in at six and a half. Um, and so
again, that's and the the the interesting thing going forward is this this is the last year of this of the state funded seven-year student opportunities act. And this was discussed Wednesday, yesterday, when the governor presented her proposed budget to the legislature uh budget panel, Ways and Means. And we
don't know what where they're going to go in the next year ahead. There's a committee that's studying this and and the problem that they're seeing is the rural communities and even some in our our district with Nobate Tech are really struggling uh and they feel they haven't
received a fair portion to the current formula that really favors gateway cities. And of course, chumpsided's in that in between class per usual as a suburban community that's not a rural district but not a gateway city. So anyway, it just I just put it into context in terms of how th this evolves
and works out. On the general government side, uh we're I'm funding almost the same increases the schools. They're 3.3, we're 3.2. So 1.25 million goes into that. Um so we're just over $40 million. Our debt service increases this year and
most notably it's because of the debt service for the fire station. Um fire station project will be bidding in three weeks. Uh we our latest cost estimates at 90% construction drawings by two independent cost estimators indicates
that we're at budget slightly under it. And so we're fully expecting that bids will come in and we'll be awarding the contract. the two stations will close at the April 1st and then construction will take place over the next 18 months. But again, that debt service is kicking in.
Um so that's why our excluded debt service increases by 885,000 and our non non-excluded debt service also increases by 300,000 as a result of the our capital plans as well as the projects that we've been funding such as the school cafeterias and roofs and so
forth. Um and then our state overlay was just basically, you know, um level funded in terms of estate assessments and so forth. Um the other thing that we had to deal with was were sort of the things that were unusual in the budget that we had to address. We're coming
into a fiscal year where there's two state elections because of the bienial state election system. So they we have to fund a primary election on September 1st and then a state election November. Um, in addition to this year we only had the one town election. Um, so that cost
us an extra $51,000, we have also, I think, responsibly increased our legal budget because we've we've had significant land uh land use costs litigation. Um, that is expected to continue in the upcoming fiscal year. And in fact, we'll probably be doing an
adjustment for this current year u because of the land use litigation. you know, whether that's the commercial trucks at Fledge Road or the 40B projects at, you know, Riverneck Road and and so forth. So that I think that's a responsible action. Also, our solid
waste and recycling contracts are generally indexed to inflation. They're long-term contracts, so that's going up by $147,000. Um, our PAS remediation system at um, Richardson Road has an additional operating cost because you're going to
see this in a capital article, Warren article as well as in the operating budget because we have to expand the system because the testing that's out there indicates that the field of impact is up by is coming in also by the dog park. And so we've got
to modify that in order to comply with the state requirements. And then we once again we're continue to increase our building maintenance because our buildings continue to age and despite the responsible capital investments that we make in these buildings um they are aging and it's you know the ongoing cost
with older facilities. So there's an extra 105,000 there. um per the current year and recent years that you know as I said it's level service level staffing that doesn't mean that there aren't items in the budget that we'd like to fund or that worthy of funding notably
in our public safety departments and public works. Um and so you know again you know we we're we're you know basically trying to continue to hang on as best we can and unfortunately those
items will continue to be um awaiting at a future time. Um the big thing as we discussed at the tri board meetings you know is benefits and insurance. Um that funds about 38% of the budgetary increase of $2.77 million.
um uh our health insurance premiums. What what happened as I mentioned earlier is the health plan that we're part of dropped what they call the GLP1s or the weight
loss drug um provisions. We've seen this with our commercial carriers that as of the first last month, the first of this year, calendar year, they they no longer provide the coverage, whether it's Blue Cross or or um Harvard Pilgrim and TUS.
And what they do do is they allow large providers such as the Meer Consortium, they're aware that you can make your own choice. Therefore, you can pay for it yourself or you can drop it. Uh, and as as mentioned earlier, that's what the state's wrestling with right now because they keep running into deficits.
As I explained to the select board the other night, you know, in the case of Chomps, we spent over $800,000 in calendar year 2025, whereas the prior calendar year it was only $250,000. And now that these medications are
coming out into a pill form, the actuarials have no confidence on what what this is going to mean in terms of cost. Um and so the difficult decision was made to not provide that coverage uh by the plan
that meant the 5% reduction of what would otherwise have been our premiums. Um so therefore the increase in that again you know um was less um and significantly less. The concern as I mentioned to the select board in this
room Monday night is you know that trend is not going to change where you're expecting double digit increases or close to for health care but next year you won't have that modification. So it just again another warning sign to the future and if you saw the state governor
state budget 50% of the state budget is going towards health care in terms of e the mass health and other provisions >> um and it's just staggering. Um, and so again, that's I know she's assembled, Governor Healey's assembled a task force to try to wrestle this problem. Um, but
again, there was so much pressure today at the group insurance commission meeting at the state that they tabled the decision on the GLP1 weight loss drugs because of the legislative pressure um that was being exerted upon the plans uh and the commissioners um
despite the funding concerns. So, you're in a political environment as well. And if you look at the signatures on those letters, two of our reps signed that letter. Um, our senator did not, but um, representatives um, RCRO and
representative um, Elliot signed that letter. Um, and again, it just shows you the that again, these things also exist in a political environment as well as a fiscal environment. Um, so anyway, and and why that matters is is again this they're trying to balance the state
budget and why that matters to us is well that affects how much they can provide local aid and such to the communities because they're they've been having to bail out the group insurance commission and the state's costs. And so that's, you know, so they're all sort of
intertwined. Um, but what it means now is even with the 7.9% increase, the total HMO family plan cost is over $38,000. And that means the town is which funds 75% of that premium, we're spending over
$28,500 um for an employee who takes the plan. And you know, that's why it's significant in terms of, you know, compensation. It's not just what you're paying a person, it's also the benefits and so forth. Uh and as you'll see later, we have a sign we have almost a
thousand retirees and you know you'll see almost 700 employees. So it's significant. Um and on the revenue side we will once again go to the full levy limit under Proposition 2 and a half which gets us approximately $135 million in levy capacity. Once again the
property tax will fund over 76% of the town's operating budget. um local receipts, you know, we we're forecasting almost a 5% increase in local receipts. Um as as I'm sorry, yeah, almost a 5%
increase in local receipts at um 631,000 as you'll see later in the charts. That's basically motor vehicle excise. >> Um as I mentioned the state aid number earlier, so I won't repeat myself. And then available funds are just offsets and funding for the sewer project from
different stable you know and that's declining over time because the debt service for the sewer debt is declining. So moving on to chapter 70 education funding as I said you know I'm assuming the increase please stop me at any point. Yeah.
>> Um getting back to the health thing. >> Yeah. >> I had employ an employer in the past who said if you can get covered by your uh under a spouse's plan you get it. We'll give you a little Benny. They took that away eventually, but it was good. >> Exactly. >> Um, and now I car carry the insurance.
Right. >> So, is there any kind of thing like that if you can that you can incent people to get off? >> We could. And that's a thought and and we're, you know, I've seen up to a third that they'll basically say, well, we'll we'll produce you a third. We'll provide the employee with a third of the town
savings. The problem becomes when when do you implement it and then what qualifies? know if you're off for one year, two, you know, that's that's the issue. And so I unfortunately we haven't seen that occur >> in in Massachusetts communities,
>> municipal monthly uh uh >> right. Oh, it wouldn't be small. It wouldn't be small because again, >> no, it was wasn't it wasn't a third of the price. >> It was more like $100 a month. >> Oh, no. you're not going to get any movement on that be, you know, because
>> So you're saying is the insurance is >> the because the insurance is better than most providers and that's and that's the argument with the GIC issue at the state level is, you know, people are saying, well, yeah, we hate to make the change, but the problem is is the typical resident doesn't have the level of
coverage that that we're receiving. And so that's the issue. And again, if you're going to talk about giving a third, for example, that'd be like $8,000. You know, if you because if our premium is 25,000 in cost, you know, you got to have to put some real skin in the game. And then and then the problem is is about a third of our employees don't
take the insurance as it is. So then it becomes a mathematical equation of okay, so they take a third of the eight. >> That's where it gets Yeah. But it's been thought of. Yeah. >> Okay. That's all I needed to know. >> So anyway, the the the chapter 70 funding again, I'm assuming a 5% overall
increase. the big funding in chap in the education chapter 70 on on slide 10 you can see in recent you know last year this current fiscal year we received 770,000 um so around 5% I'm hoping it's and expecting it's going to happen again um
the capital plan John will speak of earlier our enterprise funds I'll speak to when we do the operating the warrant article review um so just going on to the priorities the priorities remain steadf Fed is education, public safety, which includes public works, as we've
known by this winter. Um, sneak preview, we're we're we've exhausted our uh snow and ice budget for this current year for the first time in five years. >> Um, you know, it's we Yes, we that storm that we had, the 18inch storm cost us over $200,000.
But the problem on that storm and all the others is they they've come they've come at bad time, meaning these have been nights and weekend storms, which means overtime and a lot of it has been icing situations. Um, so you know, even though the other night it was a, you know, three inch storm, two and a half
inch storm, we didn't plow, we're still out there brining and you still got to treat the roads because this winter has been, as we know, it's been one of the coldest winters in recent memory where it's been below normal temperatures consistently since mid November, you know, and up until hopefully next week,
maybe that pattern will break. But, you know, so that's that's that's why I say public works is part of public safety because, you know, the situation is just um it's just been, you know, trying. The the only good part is that when it stays consistently cold, you don't have as
many potholes. But that will likely change in the next month because the potholes come from the freezing and tharring. Um so, we'll wait. You know, the best >> My wife will buy that. >> The best the best will yet come. >> Oh, yeah. You're going to see it. Yeah. But you know so we'll we'll be we'll pivot from you know deicing to filling
potholes. Um again you know I can tell you again this level service uh level dollar um again the big increase when you look at the line item changes is on benefits and insurance as I've noted. You know it's a
7.68% or $2.7 million increase. On the revenue side, as I mentioned earlier, you know, it most of our increased revenue comes from the property tax, the allowable two and a half percent increase. Yeah. >> You know, we we believe is reasonable
new growth when we we've left now the revail year. The only bump we get this year is the final units at the West Campus and um and you know, we have new growth goes till June 30th. I'm told that the final temporary occupancy for the last building at West Campus is
expected to be issued by the end of this month. Um, and you know, so that may also result in a few more students, but it it will um that will, you know, be the end of that. And sadly, again, I'm always trying to look to the future. There really isn't anything in the
pipeline significant that we can say, "Oh, well, this will help our growth in the future." So, um, so that's where we are on that. Um again I provide data in the report about fiveyear and 10-year expenditures and as you would understand and you've many of you have been here
the money has you know proportionally gone towards benefits and insurance and and and maintenance of facilities as I mentioned earlier um school funding you know as I said I'm I'm the schools will be at 78.15 million
or 3.3% a two and a half million dollar increase over the current year. Um, last the current fiscal year was a 2.4% increase. Um, so you know, again, they were able to maintain level staffing and while absorbing their cost increases.
Um, the interesting thing going back to the formula and the net school spending, as I mentioned, I'm providing $2.5 million in net in additional revenue for the school department in their budget. The state's requirement on the net school spending provides for a $3.1
million increase. So that just shows you how this chapter 70 is tied to net school spending. The good news is for us with the chip public schools, we're 30% above net school spending. So that's not a problem for us. So instead of being, you know, 30.54%
as we are this year over net school spending, we'll probably drop down to maybe 29 28. That becomes a real problem as I mentioned earlier about some of these communities such as Drakit and some of and some of the comm rural communities in the regionals who are operating at or
near net school spending. You can see how they get squeezed because they say, "Well, here's your chapter 70 money. Here's your state aid." But oh, by the way, you've got to pay more in net school spending than the money we gave you. And you can see that that's that's that's the case here in Chsford. Um, so again, it just trying to put it into
context. The other thing I put into context is per pupil expenditure. The latest data that we have in chamford is for FY24 is 18,641. We're now in fiscal 26. So the latest data was two years old. So it's 18.64
uh K. So my guess is is if you look towards 27 around there, you're approaching $20,000 a student um to for education in the Council of Public Schools. Um, and we we we we I mentioned that one is it's it's important to know because where does your tax dollar go?
Uh, and also where it is relative to um, you know, your tax bill in total. And as I said the other the other night at the select board meeting, the cost to send a child to, you know, UMass LOL is the equivalent of what we're spending to educate a child in public schools. Um,
that's a whole different state debate. Um the NOVA tech assessment as I said is the 6 and a half% our percentage share you know as I said will increase from 27.49% to 28.05%
um because we went from 210 to 216 students. So our enrollment went up by six and the district's enrollment in total went up by six. Um the Nshoba Tech per pupil expenditure the most recent FY24 data is just over $24,000.
So again, that's two years old. So again, it's really costing, if you look in today's dollars, in what it's costing, it's probably $25,000 per student at the vocational technical school, which is reasonable that it's higher than it would be for the Chall
Public Schools because it's more expensive and costly to educate a vocational high school student than it is a third grader. And so what happens is is that chilly public schools gets weighted down a little bit as well as you have some more specialty trades and materials. Uh and also chil schools
being so much larger you have more economies to scale. Um so anyway but again the important thing is it's about $25,000. Um and their budget drivers as you you know are the same. Um just moving on few
other items in the operating budget. As I said the health insurance 993 retirees, 689 active employees. Of that 467 in the in the school department, 222 in the general
government are are um you know the those that are insured and and as I said we're we're we employ about 400. So you can see the proportional impacts of coverage. Um, Middle Sex County retirement, the
increase this year, as we discussed at Tri Board, is 6.57%, $860,000. Um, the town's unfunded pension liabilities we discussed back in December is 116 million. So of the check that we're going to send them for 13.95
million next this coming July um 12 over 12 million of that is for the unfunded liability. The good news is is the Middle Sex will be doing their actuarial valuation um prim which is the state's um you know investment which manages the
funds for the retirement system had doubledigit returns in the market. So, we still expect a minimum of 6 and a half% in the foreseeable future, but at least it's not getting worse. Um, because, you know, again, we're sort of
at a case where we've had three good years in the stock market. So, that helps us in the big picture. Um, so what else want to just touch upon? I touched upon debt service. Um, I I provide in there the employee equivalents. I think just to note and
again because I think it's important because people may not have perspective in the last five years we've added.7 employees to the general government to the town. So we we now employ 254 five um 255.5 employees
uh in Chidford back when I started back in fiscal year 26 20 years ago we've only added seven and a half employees. Um so this notion that that local government is just spend you know crazy and just you bloated and everything else is not the case and even
in the schools they've added less than 2% of employees are just over 15 in the last five years. Um it's just like I said it's just a case of trying to hang on through challenging times really dropped by inflation. Um
what else we want to talk about? um be real concise in terms of what's helpful. Other thing about property tax valuation and this affects the average single family bill. We're now at a case as we talked back in November, we're at an 8515 split roughly in terms of the
valuation of property in town between residential versus commercial. And if you think about it, the real growth in the community recently has been in the in the residential, including, you know, your residential apartment complexes like at 255 Princeton Street and Kinlock
and so forth. Um, again, if you go back, you know, not a decade or so, it was 8020. So again, that's a concern in terms of our commercial base. The one thing I want to point out because I think it's insightful. The average single family property tax bill is now
available because third quarter the actual bills have gone out. The good relatively good news is Chsford state rank is now 86. Um last the last year we were 80. If you go back 20 years we were 61. Um and for
the more recent years we've been in the high 70s. Now we're at 86. Our average single family bill is $9,219. It's not insignificant, but what it's showing you is taxes are going up everywhere and they're going up, you know, greater amounts amongst our peer
communities that are in our tax range. Now, that will all change perhaps if we take on a major capital project such as a new school project. um as we've and again this it but it just goes to show you the um you know that again we've
we've not had operational overrides um and so it's just the reality of of of where we're at. So again I try to put it into context because how do you measured you're measured by your peers you know um because because again we the average
home value in Chsford is now just under $700,000. Um the tax rate of course is going down because the valuations are going up. That's why tax rates are meaningless. It's really what are you paying in taxes and again we're we're now 86th in the state um proportionate to others. And
then the other chart on the comparison shows that if you measure your tax bill as a percentage of the income in the community from the state statistics we're actually fairing better than our neighbors in Berker and Tuksbury and Westford where we're 13.66% of tax bill
as a percentage of income. Um so again, you know, it just it just shows you that everything is relative. Um in terms of the state aid, um as I said, over twothirds of it is from chapter 70 education funding where again I'm
estimating 16.22 million. Uh and then the other 27% is from general unrestricted general government aid or UGER. That's at 6.475. As you know, the municipal association we talked about made a big push on this fiscal storm and everything else and
then the governor didn't fund it in her budget and there's no indication that the legislature is going to move on that um and that again we expect the movement will be on the chapter 70 education funding. As I mentioned earlier on local receipts you have all the data there but
again the increase of 631,600 of it is tied to motor vehicle excise. John has received the commitment for the ma what we call the major commitment which is the January commitment which has basically people who've owned cars from the prior year and so forth that
was up 6%. Um and as we know valuations of vehicles are going up um and so that's why we're we're comfortable with this estimate and um so that's that's where we're rolling with um at 6.7 million in motor vehicle excise. Um,
so that basically is an overview of the budget. I'll answer any questions that you have either now or later uh through this budgetary process. But again, I hope I've given you and those watching a context of of of what we're doing here. Um, we are in year two of coming into
would be year two of of of uh three-year labor agreements. The only one that's unresolved is the firefighters agreement. Um, we have a mediation session scheduled in two weeks. Hopefully that gets resolved. If I have a placeholder on the warrant we'll talk about later. Um but aside from that um
you know we we at this point we we probably know about as much as we'll know until April when the House of Representatives comes out with its version of the state budget. Uh but that'll be a couple weeks before town meeting and then we'll we'll see the we'll see where it is and we'll also see
what's happening in the state revenue collections. 60% of the state's revenue collections occurs in the second half of the fiscal year. So they're they're being a little cautious because they really know in April and May's collections what's going on with the state budget. Right now they're running
above their benchmarks. Um, but I think there's some caution out there and particularly when you see statistics that come out like today where home sales took a precipitous drop in January and things like that that and and you're also seeing some of these uh situations
where you know discretionary expending is is drying up a little bit. So that's where we are and u I thank you for your attention and I'll gladly turn it over to John who's going to walk you through our capital plan. I just had a a quick question a couple like I really
appreciate everything that you walked us through and bridging from what we saw in tribard to now and some of the changes. >> So as I look through it I mean it seems like a very reasonable budget. What's the contingency planning right around I see a couple things like imagine that chapter 70 doesn't come through motor
vehicle might be looks like it's the highest in recent history. you might have a little bit more in um plan new growth, right? It's like $100,000 here, hundred thou,000 there. That adds up to potentially a little bit of a risk. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that's the thing, it is
a risk game on on both sides. You know, we you know, as as the uh Ways and Means, House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Milwood said the other day, there's some people who are just hoping for a recession. Um and but we're not. Um, and it is a risk, but that's why you
have reserves and that's why we have a stabilization fund for the unforeseen. What the good news is is we anticipate, as I said in December, we will finish this year in the black. Um, and so that may be the case, as I indicated back in December at the trio board meeting, if
if it if things don't break precipitously, we may have to dip into our cash reserves, whether it's free cash or stabilization to stabilize the, you know, the situation and then adjust. The problem becomes, as I said earlier when I was talking about the schools,
you know, you know, we're budging a period that's going to begin, you know, almost five months from now and going 17 months from now. Um, so there's always that entrenched uncertainty. Um, and so the best that we can do is is go on our best
case estimates. Um, but you don't want to be ultra-conservative because being ultra-conservative is is going to be it has adverse impacts as well. Um, so I think the short answer to your question, Steve, is we we if if it doesn't pan out, um, then we'll have to adjust and
it could be adjustments at fall town meeting. U, but the problem is you can't go into a school if twothirds of our discretionary spending is in the schools. You just can't rip into a school in October and say, "Oh, well, we're we're eliminating six teachers and we're going to combine these, you know, classrooms." You're you're you're kind
of, you know, you're your your your die is cast. Um, and so again, that's why you maintain a healthy, you know, reserves, which is why your credit agencies want that you and and the Department of Revenue wants that because, you know, they they want you to
be able to survive the emergency or unforeseen. Um, so that's that's the long-winded answer of saying is we would have to, you know, adjust and and sadly if and Sam was here back in 2008 2009, you know, we had the governor cut local
aid in March, you know, when the great recession is and and we we basically went to town meeting few weeks later and and cut and let people go. Um, so you just, you know, and you'd have to do that. The the problem is as we talked about it in tri board back in December
is we are at minimal staffing levels. you know you no matter what we have to do we have to you know assess property we have to collect bills we have to issue bills we have to maintain vital records we have to you know you know so
when you look at what when you're at minimum levels you mean you can't just go into these offices and say oh well you know John you're going to have to let one of your you know your collection people go or the assessors you're not you're not or the accounting office you're just not going to be able to function um and so that's why it's so
hard and and and in and that and and you're already hearing the concerns because as you'll see in the statistics um you know the public even the public safety the calls are up in terms of number of calls and such that you know you know that's where your employees are
your your major employee base of the town on the general government side is police fire and public works um but th those have impacts um and we're seeing that now I mean We're we're we're we can't obtain enough
snowplow operators. Um so we're you know we're equipping and staffing with employees. Well, you what if you don't have those employees? You know, then what do you do? I mean, again, that's where the safety issues come. So short answer is is in the short term you you you you have stabilization to get you
there. Long term you you you and this is what communities are dealing with. you're going to have to go to the voters and say, "Hey, look, you know, two and a half isn't working." And that's been and that's why the push to the state saying, "You've got to be a better partner to the cities and towns because, you know, they recognize that
we're dealing with health care costs and labor costs, but yet the state has other priorities and concerns in terms of their own health care with Mass Health, as we talked about earlier, and then dealing with the MBTA's deficit uh and so forth. And so it's it's it's a real, you know,
financial struggle. Um, and the problem is is like you said, you you you're one step away. I mean, we we see at the state level, you know, how do you really solve the MBTA problem? You know, how do you solve the health care problem? And then again, it bleeds down to the local
level. How do you solve it if you're if you've got a governor that's meaning a regulator that's two and a half percent is your tax increase. We don't care if inflation's 3.7. We don't care if it's 3.6. We don't care if it was 7.9 that year. It's 2 and a half%. And again, if
you don't have you don't have the growth coming in the other way. >> Um it's a real concern. And >> how much is the gap? God forbid. Uh how much are you talking? >> I think it depends on what how it plays out. Dave, >> I understand. I know you well enough to
know you've estimated scenarios and so you have a pretty good idea of worst case scenario. >> Yeah, I I think and John I it could be a million dollars. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I think it could be a million dollars honestly if if it if things don't break the right way. >> But those are surprising.
>> Yeah. And you know, the sad part is is I was at I was at a manager meeting on Monday with my colleague in uh Pero and he says, "Oh, we're dealing with a million dollar problem in PEPro, but million dollars in PEPro is worth a whole lot more in Chswood." And even with the health insurance savings, said
that only saved them $100,000. Sure. >> He said, "I still got to come up with $900,000." Um and then and then you you know you're again even towns similar in size like Drake you can see yeah they're they're having issues with trying to achieve net school spending
um and that's and that's a real that's a reality of of uh the scenario. So again, it's it's it's sort of a way remarkable that we've come this far and and and what we're doing to do because, you
know, think about it. If if they if they hadn't made the change, you know, in the GLP1s, you know, we we'd be dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars in in cuts. Um and you said the potential is still out there. >> Um >> the tri board meeting. >> Yeah,
>> this will be my last question. >> No, no, it's fine. No, that's why we're here. We're not here to just >> We talked potentially about a a a fee for rubbish. >> Yep. >> Has that had any more um
>> thinking or have we kind of >> scoped that out anymore? >> I don't see it happening this year, but as I said, it's sort of coming attractions. We we I I think as we're sitting here a year from now, that's what you'll be talking about. >> Um and we're kind of curious to see what
Westford's doing. Westwood's launching on July 1st. They're giving everybody a barrel. >> Oh, yeah. >> Uh and anything above the one barrel, which I think is a 32 gallon barrel. >> I think it's a 30. Yeah. 34 36 35 35. Yeah. 3 about 35 36 gallon.
>> You're on your own. >> Yeah. >> And and they call that the hybrid. And it's it's actually probably where we where we may end up. Um now again, for some people that won't be a problem. you know, my my my 90-year-old mother who lives by herself, she's not gonna have a problem with an
with a uh you know, one barrel 36 gallon. In fact, she doesn't have a problem with it now. Um, but it's it's it's basically shifting it to those consumers. And then I think you're going to see other items in addition to the trash fee, then I think the bulk items are no longer going to be free anymore
and those other type of items um are are going to um be impacted. That's why the town wanted and it's not getting any traction. They wanted the local option taxes of let's put on a little bit more on the, you know, meals tax, you know,
let's put a little bit more on the rooms tax because that's all the legislature allows us to do. Um, and I think again a year from now, the big question is going to be what does the state do for education funding? What is the new formula? And that'll be after the election. It'll be, you know, whatever
the leadership is. What are they going to do? because that's what's going that's what's you know you you when you when I talk to my colleagues in other towns they're basically like we are they're on their last year of scraping by and the the trends you know don't
change that's what's going to happen is you're going to be looking at a situation where you know and again here's our case where we're already paying 76% of our budget with the property tax you know that's you know those are New Hampshire numbers
Percentage wise. >> Yeah. Quite >> a quick question, Paul. Um, we we cover 75% of the insurance for our employees, >> active employees, >> active, >> 60% for retirees. >> So, is there any is there any discussion um notionally or otherwise to change
that number? Maybe 70% they paid >> you'd have to bargain it. And the problem is is that basically doing you're reducing their pay, >> you know, for those who take the plan, right? >> Um, and you know, it's just non-negotiable. You're you're not going >> and we only That's true. >> And we only have the the one HMO. Do we
do we have >> Yeah. No, we have Blue Cross. Yeah. Blue Cross. Yeah, we have Blue Cross. And um that's the plan. >> Okay. >> And it wouldn't change whether we went to another plan because our rates are based on our claims. So if we went to TUS or Harvard Pilgrim, whatever, it
wouldn't matter because our claims are our claims. >> Um but no, to in decrease um the other thing is you got to be competitive, >> right? and our 7525 is about with the the average of the market. There are communities that pay more and there are communities that pay less. >> And one of the challenges that we're
having is is still it's a competitive labor market. We are losing continually DPW um operators with CDL licenses to mass department of transportation >> because they're paying about $4 more an
hour than we are. >> Oh wow. um significant >> and you know and then we also see the MBTA is hiring you know you know they they've added thousands of employees and not only and I think the frustrating part from the municipal level is not only you adding employees but you're adding employees at high compensation
levels because of the tight labor market and it's just again it spills down to the cities and towns >> yeah and you know so you know you're in a case where you know and we've seen this even at you know we see this where you know people are looking at you But if they're not going to, you know, they
can easily be a truck driver laborer at Mastar, they can be a truck driver laborer in Tuksbury as well as Chumpsford. And the same thing whether it's a police officer and so forth. I mean, we've seen that occur. Uh and believe me in talking to the chief you know the you know there the communities
including challen we're looking at who's un unenrolled meaning unsubscribed and the policemies to hire police because the the the the list of in quality of people and depth of it isn't what it had been. >> Um so it's it's a real challenge. Um and
and also the the the workforce is different today quite frankly. You know, a lot of these employees don't want the municipal requirements. They don't want to work in DPW and have to be called out at 3:00 am in the morning, you know, and and you know, people just say, "No, I
don't want that lifestyle." That's what that's part of the reason some of the contractors can't provide the vehicles either is their employees don't want to do it either. >> It's just the world changes. >> Um, so, >> okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Paul. Uh moving along in our agenda this evening, we have the presentation, review, and discussion of the fiscal year 2027 recommended capital plan. With us this evening is our finance director, John Zuza. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, finance committee members.
Pleased to provide you with a a overview of the FY27 capital plan. So some of these um first few slides you're going to remember from um earlier tribard meeting, but we thought for those that are wa maybe watching uh be good to just um touch on these. So this first slide
shows um just an overview of the plan. I wanted to start out by saying that um the capital planning committee reviewed 30 projects this year totaling over $9.69 million. Um after deliberating the committee voted to recommend 20 projects
totaling just over 6.42 million that you see here. The first three categories account for about 27 of the plan. Public works accounts for about 27% and then finally school facilities um accounts for about 40%.
Then if we go to the next slide this just shows a financing summary. So if we um if we take the total of the um all the projects 6.42 million we have recaptured funds which are um funds that are cap recaptured from prior year
completed projects and those total about 149,000. So that leaves about 6.27 million that would be funded um through um the issuance of municipal bonds. And then the next slide shows um a history of the breakout of the of the
typical year capital plan between general government and school and the school department. And this varies from year to year. You can see here that um this year it's just under 40% for the schools and um and their balance with is general government. Uh so just gives you
a little perspective there. We did we you may remember this from the end of the the tri board meeting last time. Uh we did want to highlight a lot of times people ask okay you're presenting what's funded let's talk about what's not funded. So you know as the town manager
said earlier we do have a lot of um because we have older buildings in the community. We do have a lot of needs that are on the horizon. I did want to highlight the nine projects that uh were not able to be funded this year. Those total just over $3 million and they're listed there. I won't read all those,
but we also have in the coming years um requests for about uh 65.6 million. So if you add the 3.1 million and the number that's highlighted, we have about 68.7 million in the you know within the next four years. Now we know we won't be
able to fund all those, but just shows you some of the needs that are out there and they're on the horizon. >> And and John, what happens? Do some of these ever go away? Do people withdraw requests or do they just continue to build? >> Some do. Uh we ask we ask department heads to review them every year when
they submit their plan to review what they're submitting for the coming year like this year will be the 27. And then we also ask them to review the next four years just to make sure because you know in the past we had we had the federal ARPA money. We may have we may receive a
grant. Um so we we constantly have them look at those just so and some do drop off and you know as we we always have to rebalance just on priorities and make decisions. Um so it's it's not a you know we I don't want to give the impression we always just push stuff off
but uh we do have to prioritize and make decisions on some of these >> and John some of these come through reg through through requests in falltown meeting or through uh for use in free cash. >> Yes, that's a that's a great point. um a lot we we've in the past we've kind of called that extraordinary capital and so
you've seen things in in in October town meeting where um you know you the need it couldn't it's something that arose you know the the need arose and it couldn't be postponed and it was better to use free cash in that instance than keep adding to the town's um debt
service. So then now we'll move into looking at these projects a little more in detail. So the first two involve our public libraries. So the first one, this is the third phase of funding for the HVAC system replacement at Adams Library. Uh
this is at a cost of 850,000. Um as you know, this system dates back to the year 2000 and um this will be bid very soon and um you know this this project will be going going onward. Um
the next project for the libraries uh is at a cost of 70,000. This involves the McKay library. This involves replacing the um ADA ramp that you see there. Also, the rear door and the rear door frame um have deteriorated and there's also going to be some repairs to a rear
wall. Uh most of that was just wood dam wood decay damage. If we move on to the now we'll transition into public safety. So, the first project is um involves the police station and this is the first year of funding for the HVA system replacement
in this building. And it's interesting if you think about it, the the addition to the library was um completed around 2000 or so. The police the new police station was constructed about roughly a couple of years after that. So, it's not totally unexpected that, you know, both
of these HVA systems need uh HVAC systems need attention. And we anticipate this being a two-year project. I excuse me, a two-phase project. Um and then we move on to the the fire department. The next two vehicles are um
sedan type vehicles. And um the key thing here the committee looked at is that both of these you'll see are older in terms of years, but they have extensive corrosion. This first one um the reason it's no longer cost effective to re to uh repair this vehicle is the
the extensive corrosion, the fact that the hybrid battery has to be replaced and the exhaust system is basically not not repairable. So, uh, in this case, uh, it's best, even though the vehicle, you know, does not have super high mileage, but unfortunately from being
used in New England for so many years, it's it's at the end of its life. The next vehicle, >> John, excuse me, for just a moment, please. Yes. >> Do you expect any salvage value from from I know we approved a couple of them, this one and the next one you're about to >> Yes. So this one um what we would do is
the um they these will be if is these will be sold um on an online platform for municipal surplus called usually through municip bid and so if they can get if we can get some kind of salvage value for it um then we will definitely try to do that.
>> Okay. >> The next vehicle is a 20 replaces a 2017 Ford Explorer. This also um has a has a number of mechanical problems uh following the a collision that the vehicle was involved in um and has not
been the same since that um the fire chief explained the vehicle has just not performed well and has needed a lot of repairs following that collision. Um so same thing here if this will definitely um we'll try to get you know recover some kind of value for it.
>> How many miles on it? This has o this has just over 40,000. >> 40,000. >> Yep. And but the main problems are um some corrosion but the fact that it was involved in a collision and back and for >> we usually do but the problem is it's
just it was repaired so that it could be used again but it just hasn't you know the reliability of all the the engine and the other components have not been as as what they once were. So then we move on to public works. Um this project
um includes 425,000 for roadway improvements. Um this will be based on the pavement management database that's maintained by the town engineers office and public works. And then we move on to some vehicles. Um the next two projects that you'll see
are two heavyduty trucks that are used um that are very essential for snow and ice removal operations. They are older vehicles. Um, and both, as the public works director explained, um, they have extensive corrosion on the frame and the
body. The first one's a 2007 sixheel truck. Uh, this would be a cost of 350,000 to replace this and equip it with a sander, dump body, snowplow. Um, this was deferred last year from the capital plan.
The next vehicle is a uh 2010 10- wheelel d uh truck. This also would be equipped with a sander, a dump body, and a wing plow. Um, and this this heavier truck uh the the cost to replace it would be 375,000.
One thing the committee looked at is is the as our public works director explained, you have on a on a, you know, a heavy duty truck like this now, you just can't go in and um order this uh on a cooperative bid and just go in and pick it up off the lot. There's like an
18month production lead time for this type of vehicle. So that's why the committee thought it was best to get these get these projects uh recommend them for funding and then that way we can move forward with um you know uh trying to get the uh get the vendors
started on them. >> So there'll be two more years of use on these trucks. >> So then we and we figured they're going to be very um you know they're going to be very tired by that point. both both of those vehicles. >> Uh, do these trucks have a a usual like
I was looking at this before I came here tonight. Corrosion, corrosion, corrosion. Now, I understand like the sanders obviously corrosion because they're pretty much throwing out corrosion, but do these things have why I mean I don't I don't crash my car and I don't have that much corrosion. The
problem you have is they're they're used a lot with with and with no >> trucks itself. I understand because they're literally throwing out corrosion. So, >> right. >> It's just when you have steel frames and when it's this when it's this, you know, if it's if it's 5 years, seven years old
after it's driven around in New England for this amount of time. I mean, I understand the trucks the trucks that are actually throwing off corrosion, but >> um the the more of the light the lighter weight vehicles, >> you know, we don't have a washing program here for washing off the cars.
>> Yes, we do. We do wash them. >> Okay. >> It's just the amount of when it's out and and two, they're a lot of these trucks are garage. No, the the truck the truck trucks I I understand because they're literally >> that's when they go out is and they're
involved in the corrosion. I was more just like >> like like this one. >> Huh? >> Like this one, right? >> Like that one. Yeah. >> So maybe what I'm I'm hearing is you preventative maintenance like during the winter time weekly car washes like something like that to try to >> just just extend the useful life of these assets.
>> My car is going to be 100,000 in a few days. So, um, and and it's garageed outside, so and I I have a little bit of corrosion, but and I drive to work four days a week. So, I kind of like trying to figure out why this got so much corrosion. Just the cars, not the trucks. >> I mean, when you look at, again, I'm not
a vehicle expert, but when you look at this car, the body from, you know, from this distance away, the body of the the that you can actually looks pretty good. The problem is always the undercarriage. So, all of these things, they're, you know, very close to the road. you have,
you know, water spraying on them all the time. I mean, if you wash the salt off it, I mean, again, this is um, you know, in this particular case, it's a 2013, so the the car is probably going to be 13, 14, 15 years old by the time it's replaced.
>> Just I'm just saying is that >> I I'm a person who runs my car until they're till till my husband begs me to buy one. So, >> yeah. No, I I totally hear. I I have I have a couple of older ones and I I we always want to get the most we can out
of town vehicles or even I agree with you. I think when you look at different states handle winter different if you go out to some of the western states in the mountain region you will find truck pickup trucks driving around where they don't use as much salt and we have to
use it. It's kind of a necessarily evil here in Massachusetts. But if you go out to some of the western states and visit you'll see pickup trucks from the 1970s and 80s driving around. So, it's it's kind of the >> I'm just saying is that I I part of what the finance committee's job is also to
pre-est the questions that Tom meeting reps would ask. And I'm I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only person who who will be a Tom meeting with 100,000 miles on their car. So, that's >> Oh, yeah. No, we we'll definitely >> awkward questions. >> I think part of this was the hybrid
battery and the exhaust system as well. It's not just corrosion. Well, and that what I'm saying is >> yeah, the dollar figure around the battery and the battery to char change would be 10,000 then. Oh, okay. You know, so >> Oh, to get that much time out of the battery given the way these vehicles are
driven. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The hybrid battery is a major cost. I don't have it with me here, but it's a you know, >> I'm just saying you might want to get that cost so that >> that's a fuller picture of somebody, you know, officially like I don't have a I don't have a hybrid. I just have regular gas cars, so I don't know what the
batteries cost. >> Yeah, the the mileage, you know, the mileages are all low, but the they're been around for reasonable period of time. Um, are we housing them and washing them? Because other than that, I
fully support what you're doing here. Okay. you know, as long as we can tell people, you know, we've done everything we can to get as much because it's not a mileage issue. It doesn't sound like >> it's a corrosion issue, >> right? And that was one of the whole
points of having the new public works facility, even though it's not new anymore on Alpha Road, is in the old days, all these a lot of those dump trucks and things, many of them, only a few would have been able to stay inside at the old Richardson Road site, but this is a much bigger building. So, you know, if you go down there, you'll see
that a lot of these trucks are inside >> and they get treated in the wash bays as well. >> Okay. And then the next project for public works is um you may remember a similar one last year, the a sidewalks piece of sidewalk um snow removal
apparatus. Um you know, it's a specialized piece of equipment. The cost is just under 200,000. You can see here DPW is looking to replace a 2009 unit. The unit has 8,000 hours of service. Um, as the public works director explained,
um, they have four sidewalk clearers in total. One was replaced last year. The problem they have is operationally, you have a piece of equipment like this, you know, it's never going to break in the summer. It always breaks in the height of a winter storm. And they only have they can only they have about 27 miles
of sidewalk to clear. uh on an older unit like this, it can to if if they're not replaced to um periodically, they've had repairs, a single repair in a unit cost as much as 24,000. So, it's just not cost effective to put that kind of
money into an older, you know, 2009 or 2008 unit. So, that's the reason for trying to replace this here. >> What's the lead time on something like that? that I don't have, but I have to believe it's at least, you know, 12 months or more.
>> I think this year's snow is has made a case for this one. >> And then the next public works vehicle is a rack body truck. Uh we're that's being replaced at a cost of 135,000. This is a 2010 model year. Uh the new truck will be equipped with a snow plow.
Um you know, similar story. The body and frame have significant corrosion. Um, it's had some issues. The mileage is about 77,000. So, uh, this truck has, you know, has has seen a lot of use over the years. Uh, and this will also likely
be auctioned for surplus property when the new truck's delivered. The next vehicle, um, this is looking to replace a lightduty 2012 Chevy Colorado. and instead of replacing it it uh with the same type of light vehicle, public works
is looking to replace it with a threequarter ton pickup that's equipped for snow plowing. Uh the reason for that is something that the the town manager Cohen mentioned earlier. It's becoming more and more difficult to hire private contractors to do snow removal. So by
get by purchasing a 3/4 ton with the snow plowing equipment, public works employees can actually use that and we wouldn't need to rely on a on a private contract. will give him a little more versatility. The Colorado Chevy Colorado, that truck has about 89,000
and the public works director indicated at at the hearing that um that her staff had indicated it would likely be unable to pass the next state inspection. So, um that's that's um that summarizes that
vehicle. And then um the next vehicle is for the cemetery department. This is replacing a 2008 John Deere backho. The cost would be 165,000. Um this is really essential to the cemetery's um maintenance and
operations, snow removal and other duties. Um and the cemetery commission has agreed to reimburse the general fund for um 50% of the cost of this piece of equipment. And let's see then then we move on to
municipal facilities. This project is a cost of 48,000. This is replaces a a older 2010 utility van. Uh it's used by the by the um town plumber that does repairs in all the
school schools and municipal buildings. Uh the mileage on this one is 98,000. And the main issues that were brought forward are the frequent repairs and corrosion on this vehicle. So it's old >> 15 years 16 years
>> for um under municipal facilities uh this actually this project involves 300 approving 325,000 to replace the elevator in this building uh the existing ele this is actually supplementary funding
uh to add to a to a previously approved project. The this elevator is 40 years old. Um, and one of the things that when you have an an elevator this old, also in this building, this is very old, um, there's a lot of new energy codes and
electrical upgrades and and, uh, ventilation required. So, the project's a little more complicated than what you would first think. Um, there's actually a equipment room that's in the basement of this building where there's, you know, the motor and other electrical equipment that actually run the
elevator, make it go up and down. And there's a lot of um you know there's a lot of work that's going to need to be done in that room as well as what you can visually see on the elevator. So and then we move on to school facilities. So this first project is
involves $100,000 to fund a roof replacement study. As you may have heard me mention before, we have a number of school roofs that are going to need to be replaced in the in the next coming years. So this would fund a detailed roof study at Chsford High School, the
Harrington School, and the McCarthy School. And you can see on the slide, the age of these roofs varies between 19 and 22 years. Um this would provide um a professional assessment. They would take detailed test cuts and that will help um
you know, public works staff and facilities when when they go to bid these projects. in the cut. What the cuts refer to is when you're when you're replacing the roofs on older schools like these, you really need to have a test cut in a section where it won't
damage anything so that they can see exactly how many layers of material are on there and, you know, what type of material may be in there because that's going to um allow them to make um you know, better more accurate specifications and you won't have
surprises during the bidding or the award of the bids. So, uh, we thought the capital planning committee thought that was money well spent giving that, you know, you're talking millions of dollars for roof replacements. And then this next project deals with uh
building safety and security. So this provides for 251,000 to provide an integrated system that replaces um an OB there's basically some obsolete systems in some of the older schools that involves the clocks like
the classroom clocks that we all remember the intercom system and the public address system and um what this would do is this would fund work at Bay and South row elementary schools um as school administration presented um their
IT staff installed a similar system at Harrington uh last summer. So they want to rep they hope to replicate that at two more schools. And then the next project also related to building safety and security um
includes 400,000 for security system replacement and fire alarm panel upgrades at two elementary schools Bayam and Harrington and to provide an assessment for replacing the same system in other schools so we get a better handle on the
costs and that are involved. Then we move on to biome schools. So, this project includes 700,000 for the complete replacement of the pavement. As you can see by the photos, the pavement at this elementary school
is um absolutely past its end of its end of life. Um it it cannot be repaired any further uh just because the pavement's deteriorated. So, this will include repaving, curb replacement, and ADA improvements. and public works
engineering staff um will be doing the design work and that's going to save about 75 to 100,000 on the cost of this project. Then we move on to McCarthy Middle School. This provides just under 114,000
to install a um public public um a birectional antenna system which is basically like a repeater system. It amplifies the radio signals and in a large school like McCarthy made primarily of brick, concrete, steel that
really um does a number on the strength of radio waves. So you know as you can imagine the radio it um it definitely decreases the strength of the RF transmission. So, what this will do is this will make it um provide better and
more reliable um radio transmissions for police or fire that may ever have to respond to the school for an emergency. And then the last project is a partial roof replacement for a million dollars at Chumsford High School.
>> And this this targets the roof over the kitchen and cafeteria re areas. And um the roof's 19 years old as you can see. The reason this area was being is being targeted for this first part of the roof is because there are active leaks. And
so the roof has reached a stage where you know it's just not um cost effective or and the build this part of the building will be susceptible to leaks and more damage. So this has to be addressed. And then that wraps up the
capital plan. And as we know um the next step will town meeting will have the ultimate say um this in April and then if once town meeting uh makes its recommendations um bond you know the the bonds will be
uh fi uh issued around June and to finance the projects. So that concludes the look at the capital plan. >> All right. Thank you John and thank you Cindy for serving as our leaison this year. >> You're welcome. My pleasure.
>> Next on our agenda this evening is a review and discussion of the draft annual Springtown meeting warrant articles. And once again, we have our town manager, Paul Cohen. >> Let's bring that up. >> Thank you. Um, just as a footnote, uh, fire chief Gary Ryan is watching the meeting. texted me they do wash the fire
vehicles frequently and he remind want wants you to know that the reason you don't see the dirty cruisers and stuff in the fire vehicles is they have um agreements with the car wash in town and they run them through so that's you know so they are getting the undercarriage and so forth I'm just
>> no I just want to make it clear >> part of the question is just like if I was a person watching at home like >> my car has X why you know >> yeah um I think part of is is they're also they were also out on the road in those severe weather conditions where a
typical person is probably staying in until the you know when until the brining and the other stuff is you know salting is mostly finished. Anyway to the warrant um as I informed the select board on Monday evening um the warrant is in the hands of town council. I
expect to receive their comments uh after the holiday next Tuesday and Wednesday next week. It will go into select board packets next Thursday and then the select board is scheduled to sign the warrant on the 23rd. Um I'll send you the final warrant form um next Thursday when
it goes out in the select board packets and it's final for the board to sign. uh 36 articles. Um most of them at Springtown meeting you'll see in the front of this are your traditional Springtown meeting articles with renewal of revolving funds and the capital budgets and the the you know
regional school budget for the vocaba and so forth. Uh and then there's a series of zoning articles at the end which I don't put in this presentation because the wording is under final review and it's it's a chass to take the final wording and then put it onto slides. But um I'll just preview the
warrant for you this evening. Uh for those in the room and also those watching. Article one is customary for all town meetings is town reports. Um there's no votes taken, but I anticipate we'll have updates on the Parker Middle School building project as well as the fire station construction project and
we'll provide a financial overview for town meeting. Uh we'll then move on to a consent agenda. Again, I've not discussed this with the moderator. uh I guess designate at this point because he's the moderator position is is as of today running unopposed. But the I
anticipate there could be up to 14 warrant articles on the consent agenda and I've listed them here and we don't need to go through it. But kind of gives you a heart that if there's 36 of them you can take out 14 of them with the consent agenda um and move along. Article two, which is customary is um
adjustments to the current fiscal year operating budget. As I mentioned when I was up here earlier, there will be adjustments. Um, we will work with the town accountant and the finance director and I will work with the department heads uh over the next several weeks and and hopefully we'll have it before you
close your hearing so you can get those adjustments into the book. Um, basically we'll start running out, you know, the final weeks of payroll periods and such of the fiscal year. Hopefully by next month we'll have the end of or near the end of snow and ice and so forth. And so we'll we'll ask you to make that
adjustment. Thus far, we haven't used the $400,000 reserve fund and that will likely be the funding source for changes. >> Article three is Nishobra fiscal year 27 assessment. Uh it's as you can see the amount there, it's $4,316,932.
Um uh we will receive a presentation from a Neshop representative. It won't be Lawrence McDonald at this town meeting as it was in the past because he'll be on the stage most likely. Um, and I don't know the scheduling conflicts yet
of the superintendent, but she will be in here. He can provide you with the detail of her budget. >> I don't want to speak for him, but I said, "Are you going to excuse yourself?" And then you put on your other hat and he says, "I don't know." >> All right, we'll see. Yeah. >> Yeah. We depend on what Denise's schedule is in terms of other town
meetings, but usually we conflict with Grten and anyway. So anyway, Dr. Dr. Pigeon will come in and and um you know provide you with the detail of the budget. In fact, she did tell us she'd send us the materials from the breakfast, but I haven't received them yet anyway, but I'll provide you when I
receive it. That is then followed by article four, which is the public schools operating budget for fiscal year 27. As I mentioned earlier, it's 78.15 million. The school committee will be holding a its public hearing on the budget the Tuesday after school vacation
week uh which is basically uh the 24th I believe. Yeah, the 24th um at you know 6 p.m. over at the school administrative offices and >> an invitation's gone out to all the um select all of the town meeting reps. >> Tom meeting reps is out there and again
the document is out out there. So that will be that. Um article five is the general government operating budget. Um again we've walked through it earlier what what we vote by budget line items. Um so again we'll be raising appropriate 86 million transferring the other
funding sources and then we have the detailed listing of the 19 line items which is customary for the town. Um again I'm not going to repeat what we've said earlier in terms of the the components of the budget. Um
the article six is the collective bargaining agreements. As I said, this is a placeholder. Um um in the event and hope that we have a collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union in time for town meeting. Um article 7 is reserve fund.
It remains at $400,000. I know we talked in the past about, you know, it's kind of stuck at 400,000, but this is not the year to move on it, unfortunately. Um, so we'll leave it at $400,000 for $176.4 million budget. Not a large amount. Um,
article eight is the capital budget that John just went through. So, we'll quickly move through that. Article nine is when we we move into um let's get to that real quick. It's a
funding request to upgrade the PAS treatment plant at 54 Richardson Road. Um, as I mentioned earlier when we talking the operating budget, the testing results and remediation system is working effectively. In fact, there'll
be a report presented here at the select boards meeting on the 23rd, Monday the 23rd by our our LSP license site professional from Won Samson who will be giving the latest quarterly sampling data. It's doing a remarkable job. As I
mentioned earlier tonight, there's there appears to be almost like a second hot spot up by the dog park. And so the only way to attack that is to continue is to expand the plant and draw the you know water in for
treatment um at at at the treatment plant. So that's what is taking place here. Again this system has been running now for about going into our fourth year. Um and again it just takes money to install
the the trenching and piping to you know draw from the dog park area. Um, and that work would be done this summer um to run the system. Article 10 is the sewer enterprise fund operating budget for the upcoming fiscal
year. It's um $5.7 million. It's only an increase of just over $100,000 or 1.91%. And again, that's funded entirely from sewer revenues. Um so again it's just the only thing that's happening here is you again you're just providing your
salary and staffing increase staffing compensation increases for the upcoming year and your expenses sort of you know moving forward. So there's 58,000 in personnel costs and 38 36,000 for debt service.
Article 11 is a capital project for the sewer. It's $1.5 million of borrowing to upgrade the Clinton Avenue, Fair Street, and Evergreen Street sewer pump stations. >> Um, you you may know we've been doing a series of these over time. Uh, we just
finished Kensington and so forth. We're now on to Clinton Avenue, Fair Street, and Evergreen Street. Um, again, the construction would begin this summer and fall. Um as is the case with these you know the system sewer system is at an
age where it needs reinvestment. Um so there'll be new buildings constructed with new control panels and generators at each of the three pump stations. Um and again the ability of that is you you have the ability to monitor these stations remotely
um and you know the flow meters and so forth. And it just again it's part of the ongoing operations of a townwide sewer system. Article 12 is the storm water management enterprise fund. The funding level is $ 1.77 million. It's a
$97,000 increase over the current year to maintain our storm water operations. Um, we also have capital again funded for the stormwater enterprise and we we're
buying a body a rack body truck um at the amount of $115,000 for the uh stormwater system um with a plow. As John noted earlier, we're using all of our equipment in all our divisions with plowing. Um, this is a mason truck that
repairs drainage structures and head walls. Um, and again, it's part of the just the routine operations of the fleet out there. >> I just had a quick question on the the breakdown between personnel and and expenditures between storm water and
sewer, I guess. >> What what drives the ratio there? because it seemed like storm water there was more personal expenses than you know operating expenditures but it was the opposite for >> right because sewer is much more capital intensive >> pump stations you know sewer lines and
so forth storm water you know has storm water piping but you don't have the facilities so you have it isn't as as capital intensive as as as sewer >> gotcha that's where it goes from >> back to the storm water we are doing a drainage project on Rainbow Avenue uh
for for $350,000 that will be borrowed and again paid from the debt service from the stormwater enterprise fund. That's a known flooding area um because of undersized drainage. Um so again, you've got to upsize the piping, the outlets, uh adding manholes and
replacing the catch basins to increase the flow compliance with our environmental permitting with the state. Uh and again that will be borrowed over 10 years and again hopefully begin this summer and fall. Um couple other enterprise funds that are more
miscellaneous. The forum ice rink uh is level at 70 at $65,000 for the forum ice rink. Again we we lease out the forum to a third party management company that operates the forum. again. So, it's not funded from our levy and and the
facility remains in good condition um in ter in ter structurally because we've invested in the past as you know with chilling systems and so forth. PEG access um a little more challenging sort of an anomaly this year. We're we've got three articles dealing with the PEG
access enterprise fund. The first one is for costs incurred in the current fiscal year that were unforeseen. And so we're seeking a transfer from the PEG access uh PEG just you want to see public education government your cable access
fund. Um we have a undesated fund balance of free cash in that of of $523,920. We'll be transferring $43,000 to um to cover the cost of the item that you see listed. That's a face from the past. Uh on the um on the system in
terms of upgrading our control room equipment at at um in this room uh replacing the servers um and computers and some of the uh TV truck uh communication systems and live upling
capabilities. Um so that will be again a separate article that will draw from their cash reserves to pay for expenses occurred in the current year. We'll then move on to the enterprise budget for the K peg access for 27. That's $682,000.
Um, and that's actually down uh slightly if you see the budgetary spreadsheet. Um, because of the revenue constraints on the system. Um, but there is then again a capital article for PEG access equipment for the upcoming fiscal year of $92,000.
Uh, and those are listed out as you can see. Again, going back to items, moving over into the school committee meeting room with the cameras and switches and monitors, uh, as well as the tele media c studio core switch and
then their graphics updates, which is significant. Um, so that's, you know, where we are with our PEG access, uh, corporation maintaining, moving on to article 19, $30,000 for the golf course enterprise fund, which again has been
constant. We've got a golf course management company that operates the country club. U, and again, it's not borne by the taxpayers. And, um, we have about a half million dollars in there, retained earnings as well. So again if there's an issue that arises on
irrigation or you know what have you um you know we have that means um to come to the town meeting and receive that operation. Um article 20 is still the annual revolving or departmental revolving funds. This is the level from
the last year and we're hoping with that the legislature this year will do municipal reform which would eliminate the need to vote this every year and that you would only would have to come back if you were changing the amount of these funds. But under the current provisions of state law, we have to annually reauthorize the dollar amounts
of these funds. Um and again there's no change there. Um article 21 cemetery improvement development fund. This town meeting request is $60,000 uh from the sale of graves and lots and that's going to fund tree removal and safety pruning at the six cemeteries,
installation of a new niche wall at Hart Pond Cemetery and plantings in the mausole mausoleum area at Pine Ridge Cemetery. Article 22 is a warrant article that will fund property valuation services. It's $150,000. The funding here is the
overlay surplus. Overlay surplus is the amount set aside for abatements in prior fiscal years that is no longer needed because the taxes have been paid or the claims against overlays have been resolved. Um so we'll be transferring
150,000 in overlay surplus. Um why why this is needed is is the Massachusetts municipality to conduct inspection of each parcel at least once every 10 years. Um, and therefore your data has
to be current um, at all points of time within that 10-year window. And that involves basically a physical examination of a full measure and listing of the exterior and a concerted effort quote unquote demonstrated for interior inspections because, as we know, some people won't let you in their
homes. To give you a sense of the magnitude of this and why this is necessary, there's our parcel counts. We have over 13,500 parcels in town. Um, and you can see predominantly of that 135 n over 9,000 single family homes. You can see the
numbers almost 2900 condominium units. Um, and 404 commercial and 218 industrial. So again, if it's got to be done every 10 years, you're doing over 1350 of these annually. And we just finished our revail. But as part of that
revail, we know in terms of the cyclical inspections, we've got to do a thrust uh this year. And that's what this funding article is for. And that should get us to the point back to our plane. U you may recall we did a similar article this a year ago. And we think this two-year
um effort will get us to to a place where we can then continue the carrying it with our in-house staff. Um and we we did fall behind. Um but remember we had some turnover. basically the entire office turned over our our principal
assessor, you know, our chief assessor, principal assessor and so forth. So, we lost, you know, some time uh and and now this will get us, you know, to to where we need to be. Um, article 23 is the annual article on the community preservation fund. This funds the
article 23 funds the debt service, administrative expenses, and reserves. Um the key here is we we um continue to fund 50,000 for the administrative expenses and again if it doesn't get expended it goes back into the fund at the end of the year. We um are setting
aside $150,000 for the for the three buckets as we call them the open space historic reserves and community housing bucket and 250 for the community preservation fund gen budgeted reserve which is the general reserve. Um most notably we're anticipating 1.6 67
million in the CPA one and a half% search charge for the upcoming fiscal year and the estimated state revenue is almost essentially flat at 255 and the reason for that is the funding for the state on this comes from the deeds excise tax and as kind of mentioned earlier there isn't a lot of
transactions going on at the registry of deeds so we're basically thinking that the thing will be essentially level funded uh at 255 um so that would give us 1.925 for the year um Our debt service
um right for the current upcoming fiscal year is $1,168,257. We're nearing the end of the in in 28. We will be, but we're coming into 27, but we're nearing the end of Roberts field and the turf fields debt service. >> Um the Chford Woods is runs out in in
2029. That's just almost 109,000. And then Warren Pole has got a few more years, five more years at uh 117. And these amounts decline over year because remember we pay level principle, not level debt like a home mortgage. Um more
recent ones like Kulis farm, you know, just gotten underway over 400,000. And then we're we're projecting the amounts for the chumps at Arms, uh which is the one on Smith Street, um that you'll see some activity construction wise in the upcoming year or so. and then the center
utilities at 1315 um which was a 10-year thing. And in fact, the public works director and I and town engineer were on a call this morning regarding the center and the utilities project. The initial survey work has been completed. The we'll be meeting in two months. The utilities are
now going to come back to us and say where they think they got to put their conduit lines. There'll be more survey work and so it is progressing even though you don't see anything out there. And you know, we're hoping by the time all this gets ironed up, moves up probably within a ye maybe spring of 27,
you may actually actually see the work, you know, taking place out in the in the field. Um, and then there's two that can covers that article. There's two other community preservation articles. One is a what I call a housekeeping, but it is a required article. It's to amend the
vote taken at the 24th spring annual town meeting of $8,000 that was restricted to preservation of of headstones at forefather cemetery and allowing it to be used at any headstones at any of the cemeteries. Uh so that's
what that article is. um because the cemetery direct superintendent was able to um complete that work with grant funds and so now we've got to do this technical correction because of the limitations we had on that to just one cemetery. And then the more significant
article and more meaningful article in terms of new effort is a $74,000 request um for the community preservation fund to install handicap accessible playground equipment at Vney playground.
Um, as you know, the town has recently modernized the Vney playground in recent years. Uh, and this is this what we'll call phase two, which is to install a, you know, almost like a wheel goround, what have you. Basically, a person a
child in a wheelchair can get on the equipment and operate with with with other children. Uh, and you know, we've um priced it out for the we go round structure and then the underlying surface and installation for $74,000.
Uh, and we expect that will that's net of a $10,000 grant that we're going to receive for that project. Um, and that's been approved by the community preservation committee because as a reminder, community preservation funds can only be expended upon a favorable recommendation of the community
preservation committee. The committees met monthly uh and they unanimously recommend these articles. Um the next several articles article 26 to uh 34 are zoning articles. As I said that you have the text in the warrant document that I
gave you for draft language that's being reviewed by council. That's why it's not in this presentation. Um and the planning board at this point has completed its legal public hearings and review of its zoning articles. uh with the exception of the citizen petition
article that they still have not received a response or had a presentation from the presenter but everything else has been closed out and as as I said it's in the hands of council um so that leaves us with two remaining articles article 35 which is utility easements for the fire stations
um the two fire station projects are involving are involving um relocation of the electrical lines and obviously underground when you do it today so we have to obtain uh easement uh approval to install the underground conduit on
the property as depicted there on the map. So you can see they they go to the rear of the property and um so again if national grids running above ground overhead lines, you don't need easements, you don't need town eating vote. You go under the town's property, you need easement vote. So that's what's
happening here is you're undergrounding. Um and then the last one is a street acceptance for Proctor Road. uh the entire limit of Proctor Road. It's obviously Proctor Road is not a new street, but it was never has never been accepted as a public right ofway. Um and
therefore this would by doing this would increase our chapter 90 reimbursement um for the community. So that is the warrant. Uh clearly it's a two session town meeting. I think the hope is as we can get through the financials the first
night because it's not very complicated story. I'm also told that Kelly Bey, the presenter on the general bylaw, which also is tied into the zoning bylaw regarding lighting, is not available the second session of town
meeting. So the the hope is that if we finish the financials in a reasonable time that we can take up the lighting bylaw, it is different than and you'll hear the presentation and John has sat has sat through it as a member of the planning board. he took a lot of the
lessons or or information that was from that previous consideration a year ago and for example he's relaxed and now it's really not mandatory on residential property owners and and and such and for the government of the town it's not um I
think we're only affected by those national grid spotlights everything else you know our street lights everything are in compliance so the the expectation and hope is is that this will be better received and better understood by town meeting. So that's it.
>> All right. Thank you. Any questions? >> All right. Moving along on our agenda, we have a reorganization discussion vote as we do every year. Um so I will open the floor for first to the chair and then the vice chair.
>> I nominate you. >> I'll second that. >> The minute you better known as Are there any other nominations? >> Seeing none, I will close the floor for
nominations. Um, do I have a Do I have a motion? >> Well, go ahead. It's your turn. >> I make a motion uh to approve. Um, >> how would I say this? U >> My name
go ahead. I make a motion to approve Jim Clansancy as chairman of finance committee. >> I second it. >> All right. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor? I >> I'm abstaining.
>> Five in favor, one abstension and one absent. Open the floor for nominations for the vice chair. is a neither on >> She's not on Zoom tonight. She She's not feeling well. She was not able to
>> Well, I'm going to nominate her anyway. >> Yeah, she's here or not. >> And And I'm going to second it. >> Okay. >> You know the cookie mom, right? >> She's not the cookie mom scout group. >> Oh, because she wasn't here, she she gets slated. Yes, that's right.
>> So, I guess that analogy is is apppropo. Yes. >> Cookie mom. >> Uh, any other nominations? Hearing none, I'll close the floor of nominations. Do I have a motion? >> I move that we uh vote to make Anita Tanini the vice chairman of the finance
committee. >> I'll second it. >> All right. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I. Six in favor, one absent. >> As you said, the cookie mama lane. >> Um all right. Moving right along. We have a review and discussion of liaison
assignments for the fiscal year 2027 budget review. So, I've sent off um a copy of the updated um liaison list and I say updated I've reviewed the dates from last year. These are everyone's role
from last year except for we've changed Cindy having you there as a capital planning liaison already. >> Um >> Cindy and I talked about um I can do the library alone. >> I Yes. >> Okay. Sure. >> Yeah. I'm going to the library. >> Okay. All right. >> Shocker.
>> Okay. You know, I she you know, she walked me through the first time. We're good. >> There you go. >> Okay. >> And I don't mind keeping the police officer. >> Okay. >> We'll keep we'll keep that. >> Anybody else want to make any adjustments to the liaison? >> I like to zoom in a little a little
closer here. >> That's great. Thank you. >> So, board of health, we have uh Anita on. She's done that uh recently. Cemetery. Um Dave, you've done it for many years now. >> Yeah. Yeah, no problem. >> Okay. Um for the Chelsea public schools,
um we have Steve, Dave, and Sam. I think you guys are okay with doing that again. >> Yeah. >> Okay, perfect. >> Um for the CPC, the C community fund. Uh Cindy, you've done that in recent years. Continue to do that. Okay. >> Um senior senator Dave, you want to keep
meeting with Deb? >> Perfect. Okay. uh for DPW uh waste, sewer, storm, and public facilities. Um Cindy, Sam, and and Steve, you guys have done that. You uh want to continue doing that? >> Yes. Perfect. Okay.
>> Can I just go back? Do we really need three? I'm just >> It dep >> You don't have to. Um >> uh I'm just wondering if it's >> It's really up It's really up to you guys if you want to. It is It There's a
There is a lot to cover. There was a lot to cover. No, that's fine. No, I'll keep >> keep my name on there. No, >> sure. >> Finance department and accounting. Um, we've we've kind of listed for the finance department, accounting, assessors, information technology, and treasury and collection. Uh, last year
in the last couple years, actually, it's been Anita and Sandy. You that continue doing that. Perfect. >> For fire, uh, I've been on there. Steve came with me to do that again. >> Yep. >> Perfect. >> Um, for library, Elaine, we've already mentioned that earlier. uh for the Shoba
Valley School District. Um we have Dave, Sam, and Cindy. You guys are comfortable with that. >> And Paul, I'll get a breakfast out of this one. >> And a >> There you go. >> For pay access. Sam, you've done it for a number of years. You want to continue doing that?
>> He's already sent me the budget. >> Fantastic. >> And you say that that Sam Chase show, it needs better lighting. Yes, absolutely. for uh for police department, it's been myself and you Elaine. We can continue to continue doing that. Perfect.
>> Uh we all just heard our town manager's presentation. And for veteran services, uh Sam, you you did that last year. We'll continue to do that this year. Perfect. >> As for the articles, uh these are the articles which will which we'll have review on. Um, a lot of these, so if you're doing DPW, obviously you'll talk
about the PAS treatment things, sewer, storm water rack, body truck, just some things to bring up while you're meeting with them. Um, same with >> anything police or library coming up in the spring. >> Um, >> I don't think so. >> No, no, there is not. Um there are as we
me as Paul mentioned this evening there's the couple peg access of the amendment and then also the uh the um access equipment for this current year for um so so Samuel will talk about that um proper property evaluation services will come up in discussion with the
finance department um for the CPC um when you meet with CPC pre fund we'll talk about those those two um >> no longer the chair is >> oh I'm sorry >> who is Judy Carvin. >> Oh, Judy Carin's the new chair. Okay, I I will make that change right now.
>> That's a major change. >> That's that. Yeah, >> I haven't changed that one in a long time. >> What's her name? I'm sorry. Judy Judy Carvin. >> C A R Ven. >> Yeah, that's up here, too, though.
>> Sorry. Do you Okay. All right. So, I'll make that change there as well. We'll re I will reach out to Brian Latina uh for the uh his his citizens pet petition. Same with Kelly Bey. Uh
and then obviously we'll reach out to uh Chris and the planning board on the um what it's six zoning articles I think >> uh that they have. >> So, the cadence of meetings between on Thursday is between now and town meeting. >> Yep. So let's that's the next on the next on the agenda. So let's let's so
we've gone through this. I'll recirculate this. Not that much has changed, but I'll recirculate this. Um so everybody has it. You can start reaching out to your various departments. Um so with uh the next article on the agenda is discussion of the budget hearing and springtime
meeting war article schedule. So um right now is slated uh not not to meet next week during uh the break. It also conflicts with the school building committee meeting anyway. So, um, we'll we'll have our first meeting, um,
let me see here. We'll have our first meeting, I'm sorry, our first available meeting for budget reviews and and warrant reviews. um the last Thursday in in um in February and then we'll have a break the first week in the first
Thursday in March because that's typically a um night that the zoning board meets and conflicts with the space and with uh tele media coverage. And then we'll have three weeks in March, three Thursdays in March to meet. And then if we need it, uh we have available
either April 2nd, which would be a conflict for um for us with the zoning board. However, um it's it they they have media indicated that the school administration building might be available if we want to meet there that
evening or then the alternative is to meet April 9th. The only problem with that would be that would be the last date that we'd be able to do more article recommendations. >> Show as much as possible. You hope everybody can show. >> We'd love to either get done in March or um possibly the first week in April depending on what the schedule looks
like. >> If um >> but we'd have to vote on everything on that night. >> We would have to vote on that that either that last March night or whatever that April night might be will be the night we vote on everything. Yes. >> Can I ask a really strange procedural question? >> Sure. Um if you know obviously most of
them are uh presentations will be from committees and you know were groups there but the two citizen positions if they happen not to be available at the time that they say we're going to be available does the petition still go on even if we don't get a chance to vote on it. Oh >> it does but that rarely happens that we
don't have the ability to review because I'll reach out to them probably this week or next week and say these are available nights which one works best for you. And typically in the past, I've never had a citizen petitioner or or or someone with with with from a committee
say nothing's available. >> No, I didn't expect the committee for some because there's usually five or six people on a committee and somebody in one of them can come and present the >> Oh, yeah. So I I mean typically Chris has come and presented for the planning board. >> Um someone else could come and present. It just depends on who's available.
>> Well, the citizen positioner is there usually a person. It's usually a person who's who's placed it or they'll have someone that's going to be presenting the article for them. >> Um we've seen both in both in recent past and that'll that's that's the way that will work. Uh as far as rest of the schedule, um we'll the 9th will be the
last day we can have recommendations between the 24th and April 10th. Um Pam will be putting the book together. We'll get the draft letter together by the uh 15th. Um they'll be sent around final comments that day 1516th finalized and
published. So it's available both to be delivered for printing and also be posted on the town website. Typically it gets posted as soon as we're done at the town website and the book is usually available by at the very latest the night of the town manager um uh meeting
with us with um with all of the uh town meeting reps to review the upcoming uh town meeting. We have a later town meeting this year at April 27th. So I think it's about a week later, almost a week later than it was this past year. So it gives us a little bit more wiggle
room, but we I I let's let's focus and get it done if we can. And so we aren't we aren't up against the wall on this one. It's nice to have extra room, but I hope we don't have to use it. I guess it's the West. >> No, just trying to So
schoolification week in March 4th, not going to happen. >> Correct. We will not have meetings either next Thursday or March 4th. Those are the two two nights we will definitely not have meetings. First of the conflict on March 4th and the second u there's another conflict next week. But we wouldn't it would be rare that
we'd have the ability between now and next Thursday especially with Monday being a holiday to meet with our uh respective leazison uh committees and and departments and have a presentation for next Thursday. So that that gives us a two-e gap to set up meetings in the next week and a half and and uh have
some available. this this this particular season I have nobody to talk to with the library and the and the police station. There's no active anythings with them right now. >> Well, no. So, for police station, we will still meet with with uh police chief to review the budget because what we do what we do with the with the
departments is we go through the main budget has been presented by by the town manager tonight, but we're looking at the the department uh reviews and the presentations. So, so you won't be at the library because you won't you >> Oh, no. Oh, you you are the library. So, you you'll you'll you'll meet with both
and they'll both come in. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> I think those budgetary views will go rather quickly. >> There's not a whole lot of change there. >> No. No. Well, I I looked at the library one and it's like level funding go up. >> And and and so um they'll still come in
and they'll still present and they'll and they'll discuss it and and and and usually we we when we have our meetings with them, we talk about, you know, what is the budget? What is the budget request? And if if we're a perfect world, what would you you be reviewing and what would you like just to show that there are other needs and there are
other wants, but we're everyone's working within their means to make sure that we're operating in in a balanced budget. >> I think last year you did it in three three meetings. >> We did it in three meetings. Yeah, that was a record. I think that this year I think we'll probably be able to do that this year depending on on how long we
take with uh the two citizen petition articles. Um all right so with that agenda we've discussed the uh budget in springtime meeting warle schedule is there any public comment seeing none and none on zoom I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved
>> second. >> All right. All in favor >> I six in favor. Thank you. See you in two weeks.