Okay. Uh, good evening, guys. Oh, I'm sorry. Recording in progress. Uh good evening and welcome to the town guidance board selecting finance committee's joint presidential budget review meeting. Uh, today is Thursday,
March 5th, 2011. We're at Oldtown Hall 1111 Somerset Act by Mass. Uh, can I please have a roll call? >> Nicole Melo present. >> Dr. Chico, present. >> And Peter Karen, present. And, um, would you guys like to open your meeting? >> Open the March 3rd meeting of the finance committee. And same thing, we'll
go for roll call because we do have one one member on Zoom. >> Susan Loren present. >> Roach present. Tomjo present. Jacob Stevens present. >> Tracy Carlson present. Tracy, do you need a copy you gave me last night? >> No, I have one. Thank you very much. >> Cool. Thank you. And can we please all
stand for the pledge of >> allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Uh we're going to just jump right into this. So try to stay on track. uh wealth the other night and we can continue that we'll be all set. So first up is the planning board. >> Chair. >> Yes. >> If I may just make a quick statement. Yeah. That's it. Thank you.
>> Uh last night Miss Lechman voted on on the mailer to uh on the ready school to be mailed to the uh to be mailed to the voters of the town of Titan. Uh the proponent's statement is based on my budget recommendations and the information I
had provided them at the time. The budget season is fluid and I'm continually adjusting as I get new figures as we face potential layoffs. I'm doing my best in reducing uh to
reduce position but not if there is no debt exclusion. The truth remains. >> We will be eliminated for the shots. >> Thank you for allowing me to say that. >> Sure. >> Thank you, Ros.
>> Okay, you guys are up. Plenty of wood. Ready? anything in particular or you just question. >> So we started with the no debt exclusion first. >> Okay. >> So typically they'll review that budget first and then move on to with the debt exclusion budget.
>> So it seems like the principal difference between the no debt exclusion would be the technical between what we requested and um kind of requested that is primarily the focal
which are variables hard to predict um we've already come down I think from the previous year maybe it was the year before that at 14,000 um and now I think we're down to a request of 10 and a recommendation of
7500 I personally I feel that cutting the legal fees really is putting yourself on a razor's edge. You just don't know. And if you get your back up against the wall with something and you've got no money allocated for legal funding, you've got
problems. So it is true. It's a guess. Often comes in under that. That would be always a guess for every department that comes in. uh as long as um
you don't sell yourself sell it too short, there's always means to have to fund that in the future. But I I hope you guys don't base your decisions to appeal something on what
you have in the budget. >> No. >> Okay. >> I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I think just to echo, we we we're taking the same approach is, you know, we want you to be as conservative as possible within a margin, right? Um where, you know, we're
realistic on things and we said this pretty much every department like legal fees is one of them. We know that something can happen that will be unforeseen and we'll have to adjust for that at a later date. Um but taking a stab at it, we appreciate it. You know
what you're looking at there. Um it's a big area and I think the um as far as the first two line items for the stipen for the chairman stipen for members I think what is in here car correct me if I'm wrong is reflects a the requested 50% cut.
>> Yes. >> The board let Carrie put that in. they are opposed to it. We just feel like there's and this is not just the planning board. It's across, you know, every committee in town. But the more you remove um
stipens or cut stipens, you're just going to get fewer and fewer people stepping forward, um it's just, you know, and I think we're already seeing that to some extent. So, it's just um a comment. We did accommodate the request, but
>> that is the position pretty much across the board of our of our >> committee. Yeah, I see Ralph your recommendation was a 50% cut. >> Was a 50% cut. Yeah. >> Setting consolation if you want to take it back to them. It's basically across
the board that's happening. Yeah. So it's not targeted. >> So they don't feel targeted. Yeah. Exactly. >> And that's for the no debt exclusion. >> Correct. Exactly. >> It was my opinion as a individual opinion, not on behalf, not speaking for
the selectment, is that if the debt exclusion does pass, we would not cut it. Um, but again, that's just my opinion. >> I would cut it to zero this year with the financial situation we're in. So I have a different opinion but I respect
choice. >> Okay. >> Are you guys all set? >> I am know that if you did need money for legal we have a reserve fund.
>> Okay. That's I know Carrie manages that very carefully. Carrie knows that a reserve. Thank you. Any other questions? I know. >> Nope. >> All right. Thank you.
CBA. >> Yeah. CBA's budget is pretty straightforward. Um we there was the 50% reduction in the stipens as requested. Um there was also some target numbers that was requested
uh by the town administrator which was obtained and that was pretty much it. questions. I >> do have a question. It's pretty decent. >> The professional technical has an
increase of 59 cents. >> My apologies. Um, apparently my number my fingers got a little >> numbers I see. What is what is a professional and technical for you guys? What is that utilize? >> Uh that's for legal services. Um so for
the zoning board um council writes the decisions for um any applications that come in as well as again if we get um any appeals we have to respond to those as well. >> Does anybody else have the capability to
write decisions >> legally? Even with the planning board, I'll draft them and but council or not town council, planning has their own, right? >> Council, uh, their council reviews it to make sure it matches all legal. >> So,
>> so you do do the base writing for them. >> I do. >> And they just approve, clean it up if necessary. Okay. So, we're not >> I would like to make Actually, sorry. >> No. Oh, >> I would like to make clear that when decisions are written under the ZBA um
that's build to the applicant, >> right? >> So the applicant, you know, the town, we pay the bill, the applicant reimbures it, so that doesn't come out. Um so forgive me thinking of that now. Most of it is just um for side things. We have a
couple things too um that billable to the applicant. I believe Arborrest is one and that's been kind of kicking up again. Um, as you probably noticed, they did some clearing out on Tmont, right?
Yes. Tmont Street down on Tmont Street near the landfill. That's Arborrest. And so, they've started to clear that. >> Anything that's involved with legal on that, it it's charged to the town. It's a 40B project and that gets charged to the town. So, we're seeing an uptick in
activity on that. So, Just want to be cautious of that as well. >> And there's no recourse for the town on those billings. >> No. Okay. That's a that was >> what >> that was a negotiated factor probably what 20 years ago.
>> What do those costs look like? >> Well, it's it would be we don't know what's coming up. So, they still have some things that they have to do in order to even obtain a building permit. So, for example, they have
quote unquote a preliminary plan. We have a plan of what's going forward. It tells you the number of houses, you know, and the streets, but it hasn't been finalized yet. So, of course, that's going to have to go under review and to get the finalization on
top of you still have HOA agreements, homeowners association agreements to come, security agreements. Yeah. So a lot of that is legal language that is way beyond my expertise. So >> we just want to be cautious on that one.
>> That's the one that really sticks out in my head. >> Okay. >> Abracrest was our first 40b. I don't know how many people remember that. >> That was a long time. >> That's a long time ago. Uh 20 some odd years ago and I was on the uh CBA at the time. And uh be honest, we didn't know any better
to have them include uh that we we not have them include that they should write the decisions, but we learned from our mistakes. And then going forward, we just said it's it's your baby. You write the decisions. And um so uh now that you're saying there is
going to be an uptick in that I would >> I'm I'm putting that and I hate to say assumption but because you see activity going on right now >> it's kind of stopped. It's and it's stopped right now because my understanding is there um there's like some conservation wetlands and
replications and um >> pools or not to get too much into it but um so there's some things that had to and they actually had to wait for some of the stuff to regrow. So it wasn't because the applicant said, "Oh, I'm going to come in and do this and then
walk away and then come back." packets because they actually had some permittable items that had to follow through before they can move further. It leads me to a question between uh the budget you presented with the debt exclusion passing which actually has an
uptick in professionally technical versus the one that's level funded with you know minus the 59 cents um with the no debt exclusion. Is that why you asked for the uptick on that side because you would estimate the increase of uh legal
fees? >> I would say so. I think it was more of me transposing. Let's see. >> It's just a very specific number. 16 65 93 cents. >> Yeah, it's a very specific number. >> 93. >> I think it was because I was trying to
hit the target numbers that the town administrator requested. So >> you're trying to say the 2%. >> Correct. >> Gotcha. >> So he asked me to come up at a at a couple target numbers. >> We already reduced the um the stipens as
requested. >> Everything else is pretty much at the bare minimum now. And so I >> just did a subtraction and said, "Okay, that's the number." So that brings a follow-up question that I'll have because to your point, you do have the reduction in stipens still in the debt
exclusion passing budget. And so my question is going to be if the debt exclusion passes and we run with the debt exclusion budget budget, you you would rather have that money in professional and technical versus keeping level funded your stipens.
>> I would say level fund >> the stipens. >> They would like to level fund the stipens. >> Okay. So maybe we'll have to >> Yeah, I know it was but but in hers she's asking for the 50% cut which gets her to the 2%. So I just
>> I would assume and maybe I shouldn't assume Doug or or everyone uh what similar to last year what we do for one we should do for >> Yes, I agree too. I'm just saying I Well, looks like Ralph gave her an extra 500 which probably gets her to the 2%.
Um, we tried to get closer to it. I didn't stay as hard and fast that 2% >> as as Carrie did, but you know, we try to have a put a reasonable number that works. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I didn't know we had target numbers, but
we I thought that a department has a budget that they present and the town administrator has their recommendations, but I thought they were kind of I thought they're independent of each other. Like when I do a budget for my department, I sit down, I look at what my expenses are and then I sit with the
town administrator and they say what he thinks the town can afford. But I I've never heard of a target number before. >> I g I didn't give necessarily a target number. I gave him a role direction where we were looking to be in. So >> Okay.
>> I'm sorry if I misunder like >> No, I just was trying to understand that's all. >> Yeah, I got it. >> Thank you. I'll give you the 50. >> Just get it right for next year. Okay. >> I will. I will. I'll do my best.
>> Thank you. Have a great evening. You're welcome. >> You too. Uh Sue, which is on the last page uh for everyone. >> Hi, Woody. How you doing? Good. Two nights in a row for you. >> Good evening.
>> Good evening, Woody. Good. >> Sorry I missed you last night, I guess. >> It's for the last page. >> Thank you. Is there something? >> Yeah. With the sewer vacation this year?
>> Yes. Um, and we had a meeting with Ralph and Serena the other day to go over our budget. So, our budget is pretty basic comp except for, you know, we have our office manager retiring this year and we're going to have to hire a new girl
to replace her. So, there's what they calling some new hire overlap. >> Yeah. And you know I have all the numbers here and I believe they have the numbers too. Um if you want I can let you look at what Diane wrote down here.
>> I don't know what you have Ralph. >> Same number same we talked about the other day. >> So basically everything in the sewer department is just about the same. >> Um we have an increase in postage obviously we can't control that.
And we had one of the increase. Postage went up $250. >> Flow charges. >> Postage. >> Yeah. Is that cotton cotton's bill anymore? >> Oh, yeah. And the flow charges, right? Because, you know, they upgraded their
system. So, we're at their mercy. Whatever they tell us we have to pay, we have to pay. >> With a smile. How how um long is the overlap for this for the office manager position? >> Well,
it depends who we hire. You know, we could hire someone who has a little bit of office experience >> and the training won't be as as you know, take as much time, but you never know who we hire. It's a union position. So, we could get anybody from within the
union. And, you know, I heard Ralph say something about we may lose some employees, but, you know, we do have an awful lot of employees that are retiring real soon. So, I I'm sure people are going to make moves and, you know, uh I hate to see anybody lose their job,
>> but there are other ways to work the budget. And I and you know and I I have a lot of confidence in the finance committee to see through the [ __ ] and hopefully can come up with some ideas before we have to lose people. >> Um because there are other ways and I
know there's other money and I'm not here to talk about it tonight but you know I can tell you where to find some money if you want to talk about it. Other than that this budget is fine. And I would also like to say this is my last time presenting in a budget.
>> I'm officially all done after April 11th. >> So this is my last time here. >> Official position. >> Official business. Yeah. >> You know, I do enjoy watching the finance committee and I have for maybe the last 20 25 years. >> Mhm.
>> But you got me on Tuesday nights because I do something on Tuesday nights. So long as you have your meetings on Tuesdays, you won't see me. any other night. I'm available. >> Every department's not gonna have their Tuesday night.
>> I zoom in though, you know. I watch them. >> I watch all the meetings really. You know, I tell my wife, you know, there's something better to watch. I watch that, you know. >> So, yeah, it's my job. I >> Oh, thank you very much for >> We all set. >> Oh, yes, sir. So, I do have a question
over >> for uh Serena. Just indirect costs. Are we expecting those to be the same? >> No, that's the preliminary. I was waiting to see what the increase in the health insurance was going to be and then I'll re-evaluate that number. >> Okay.
>> I'll still say hi to you when you're on. >> I'll still say hi to you when you're >> Oh, yeah. All right. I see Doug on camera. Hi, Doug. >> Where's he blur or something? >> Woody. Yeah. Nice and warm down here. >> You're looking good in that t-shirt, brother.
>> Any any questions for Woody? >> No, I'm good. >> Good. >> Thank you very much. >> See you. >> Yes. >> Yes, sir. >> So, the CPC budget is not actually printed in these documents.
>> Yeah. have uh I think for CPC there's no recommendation from the fincom or the water selectment anyway. Um just so everybody's aware that formula is set by the state. There's whatever we take through the 1% search charge. >> 10% goes to each eligible uh category and 5% goes to our kind we'll call it
our operating budget. >> I was going to ask you can you tell everybody what CPC stands for? And you just my other question was going to be could you tell them how it's funded but you kind of just did but in simpler terms. CPC is the community preservation
committee which is part of the community preservation fund which is a 1% search charge on all of our taxes with some exemptions. >> I'm sorry to pause you for one second. What I'm I'm sorry. >> What's the department number?
>> No, no department number. Doug, we're going to 6:30 though in a second. >> Yeah, I'm just rambling for a second. Um yeah, the community preservation fund is a 1% search charge on most individuals taxes with the you know
there are some exemptions for you know elderly or anybody that receives an exemption is usually exempt from that search charge. Uh but what it's used is for um it can be used for several different things. Open space and recreation purposes, historical
preservation and community housing like such as like lowincome and or elderly housing. So, and then whatever money we take in from that 1% search charge is divvied up between the three separate categories, 10% to each category. So, there's a fair distribution and then the
remaining goes into an undesated or unreserved fund which at the discretion of the committee can be we can make proposals to put before the uh voting body at town meeting to you know use that money for specific projects.
>> Thank you. You're very welcome. But follow up on that. Um, does are we when the money sits in there, does the town get the investment income or do they get the investment income? >> Stays within the CPC. >> Stays within CPC. >> And how many people on your committee?
>> There are seven. >> Okay. >> Yeah. There's there um there's a specific representative, one from parks and recre one parks and recreation covers parks and recreation and open space. There is somebody from the um
housing authority, a housing authority representative, uh historical commission representative, uh conservation representative, and then there's more. I'm wrong this. I'm sorry. There's nine. And then there's four at
large members who are appointed by the board of >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. and anything. So, we're we're essentially we're a recommending body. We have, you know, project proposals that come before us and then we'll draft
um annual and or special time meeting warrant articles for the use of those funds and then the taxpayers, you know, ultimately have the say on whether or not those funds get used for that purpose. >> Okay. >> Indoor pickle ball arena. >> No, indoor recreational facilities are
not eligible for these as >> outdoor pickle ball. Nice try though. Nice try though. >> There was a rumor something was going in front of Woody's house. >> We We should We should re respark the rumor of the water park in front of Oh,
yeah. The splash pad in front of Woody's house. That was a good one. >> Um average, how much do you get annually? >> Um it has been right around 800,000, right? Does that sound about right to you? >> Overall revenue.
>> Oh well. So there's also a it's the the percentage changes um based there's also a state uh matching funds like they okay but that it's variable and that's that comes from the in the receipt income from um the registry of deeds
>> so depending on what kind of how >> so 800,000 from the >> about is does that sound right to you I I didn't bring any CPC numbers >> I don't quite remember I can follow up with Yeah, that >> okay.
>> I didn't bring any CPC information with me. >> I assume the money is percentage is what of what is collected, not what is spilled, right? >> Somebody has to pay their real estate tax. >> Correct. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. It's what's it is what is collected. >> Collected. Okay. >> That's question. Pretty basic. Thank you. >> Yeah, that makes a big difference. Okay, we move on to pops. >> I might have had it zero. 83,000 probably sounds.
>> Yeah, I was going to say, right? >> I think the state's like 26,000. >> Can we get one? Yeah. >> Say you $800,000 a year. Kevin, you see some projects? >> Yeah. Yeah, it's a >> flash. The picture bank. It's a last last year
was 83 was 83,000 and that didn't include the matching funds from the state. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> 83 not Yeah. Oh god, I wish it was 83 water parks in >> Yeah, there definitely be a water park. >> Okay. Parks and wreck.
>> Parks and wreck. Um, so we tried to do our best again this year to like kind of make some cuts where we could. Um, once one kind of one reduction like that you'll see in in 5240 for equipment repairs and maintenance. We had a conversation about reducing the amount
of portaotties that we provide at specific sites just because we don't feel that they were needed. Um, so we're going to keep um portaotty rentals at the community playground because that's, you know, very widely used. And then at the multisport um court facility, the
pickle ball arena. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. down on down on um >> the community garden one's going to go. >> The community garden one is gone. >> The color is horrible. Nobody needs a porta potty that like >> correct. >> Yeah. >> Every time I drove by there I was like can't we camouflage that? It's just
scream porta potty. >> It bright. >> You want people who need it to know it's there. >> Is there still one at the big pole field? >> So no there is there is not. So, and we we typically run them or have them out
from April to just the beginning of December, like so right around right after lights on happens, we typically pull both of them. Um, but if like weather hits, we'd pull them earlier. But that's kind of typical like, you know, midappril through the beginning of December. Um, depending on weather. Um,
we're not going to provide one at the ball field. We actually I just left a parks and wreck meeting prior to this and we're having a an internal conversation about how we handle field use and at specifically at the ball
fields and if like if an organization is having events there that we really you know >> north field >> mostly the north field we also have the lane field on the lower part of main street which doesn't get reserved as much but it does happen from time to
time making it the responsibility of the organization renting the space to pro provide or pay for the porta party services. I mean, you go to a lot of playgrounds throughout the, you know, the state in different towns, you don't see a porta party. It's kind of part of
the norm. >> And it is, you know, it's it adds up. It's a little it's an expensive cost. >> Yes, it is. >> But we feel like, you know, if we don't have one here, it's going to create an issue where people are trying to get into this building or that building and then not all the restrooms and so on. >> So, we think we think it makes sense,
but we wanted to reduce it. We also reduced within that line item um kind of our general what we generally um spend on agg for aggregate materials. We reduced that. We were able to kind of stockpile a little bit at the end of the year last year and I think we'll be able
to kind of purchase a little bit extra like engineered wood fiber and stone dust just to kind of keep us afloat and then we can reduce it to FY27. Um, we complete, we zeroed out, uh, 5,300 professional and technical just because
it's something that we haven't expended any money in for as long as I've been on the commission. Um, for recreational, we reduced on 50 5350, we reduced that also by a,000 just based
on the events that were kind of providing the community. And it's always been our attitude to try to move more towards um sponsored events, I guess, is the best way to put it. So, we're going to be
more proactive moving forward. And finally, like, you know, to reach out to local businesses, banks, and things of that nature. We've had it there was another kind of we had a a follow-up conversation on that earlier today that like we don't feel like it's the responsibility of the taxpayers to
provide you know an annual event. >> Most other towns it's sponsored by local businesses and organizations. So we're going to be more proactive in >> um in doing that. And then on the last
one 5581 community garden we zeroed that out. We had this conversation last year that was like a few things we wanted to get. So we could put it in the position to be successful and we think that by the end of this fiscal year we'll be there and then we'll move it towards completely you know volunteer and or
donation fun just freaked problem. >> Exfinity has been kind of problematic. >> That was uh unique to the town. Not just the town, but today went down. >> That was like kind of like a what was about a month ago? Verizon like blacked
out. >> Fun fun. >> Daniel and I were driving down to Connecticut for my son's birthday. We were going to uh the Greywolf Lodge and we like left the house and then all of a sudden both of
our phones stopped working. We were like, >> "Yeah, >> doesn't even know where you're going." >> PMP hit like Yeah. Yeah. Luckily, just follow the signs for Foxwood. You go on 95 until the signs say, "Come gamble this way." >> Yeah. You're like, "All right, I'll go that way." >> Old school. >> Yeah. Exactly.
>> Luckily, we were going to a very obvious place to get to. I have no sense of direction. I think I would have still got lost. just go home. >> That's my That's why I drive and not my wife cuz my wife's the same way. >> Yeah. >> I think we're all set. Kevin, >> um if Doug has any questions, we can he
can email me. >> All right. Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Mark, you're up. So, >> recording in progress. >> Hey, we're back. >> Hello. >> Hello. >> All right. How's it going? >> Good. So, real quick, um I just want to say a
few things about what I got going on here um for the budget. I know if you look at um the non-debt exclusion budget, you'll see that it's an increase bottom line increase of 12%. That's a little misleading. I want to line real
quick. Um I added in three new lines. That's 5210 energy um utilities, 5230 non- energy, you know, phone, internet. Speaking of internet, you know, And um 5450 that's custo custodial and housekeeping for the cleaning bill. Um
those were lines that were paid previously out of a different budget from the town. The town was paying before they're going to pay for it again. I added those in and while at the same time I was actually able to trim the library budget, the 610 budget itself by a little over 10%. It's down 10.7%.
So the combination of both those things, trimming the budget and adding it in, the difference came out to 12% increase. So that's that's what's going on there. >> And I'm happy to talk about it more >> and answer any questions.
>> I don't No, thank you. >> No, I don't have any questions >> on on the energy. >> Yes. >> It's been close to 6 months now that >> Yeah. opened in September. Yeah. So, how are you seeing this 20,000
>> that that that I came up in consultation with a town accountant um based on an estimate of bills that have been paid before. We sort of extrapolated. So, it's a nice even round number because it's really it's really an estimate. Um so, we're hoping that's close enough. If it's under, I have some state funds that I can use to subsidy that. So, I we'll
be in good shape. Next year, I think we'll have a really much a much better, more clear, more accurate idea of what that line's going to look like. But right now we feel comfortable with 20,000 being a good number. >> Is that all electrical or is it uh oil or gas? >> It's electrical. >> It's all electrical. >> Yeah.
>> So it's all electricity. >> Last year's 15 was that electric for the building as it was at that point? >> Last year's 15 which >> uh so I'm I'm back to public buildings energy library. >> Gotcha.
>> Uh department 192. Oh, >> I don't have that. >> As it was. >> Okay. >> So, this would be the first year with air conditioner in that one building. >> Air condition and and heating it with people in the build. Yeah. Right. Yeah.
Previously it it was unoccupied in the winter. >> Sure. >> Just make sure it doesn't freeze. >> Yes. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. >> Do you mind if I was a quick question? Yeah. >> Just because I'm curious. So, what What has the cost for electric been during the heating season?
>> That's a great question. I haven't been those bills haven't been coming down my way yet. They will next fiscal year. >> Uh around 3,300. >> Okay. Well, the only reason why I ask is actually selecting cars. That's a good question cuz you're going to air condition. I guess it's like the good thing about the systems that were
installed is they cost a little bit to run. You know, they're kind of expensive to run for a heating. However, it's like it's like pennies on the dollar to air condition in this space. So, it's like it shouldn't be. >> Don't worry.
>> I don't want to get into >> I'm waiting for this snow to then I know the air conditioning is right on the way soon. >> I don't want to get into like >> too much snow this year. >> We don't need to have a lesson on how key pumps work >> and I'm done with winter talks. I mean, it's been a cold, snowy winter. I'm ready to move on.
So for item 5106, the salary of the assistant libraries. >> Yes. >> And should we not get the debt exclusion vote, the um town administrator is recommending bus assistant libraries, librarians?
>> Yes. >> Okay. So how many do you normally have on? >> Okay. So we have two full-timers, 35hour week, and one full-time 32 hour week. >> Okay. Mhm. >> Are all three on? Must be on pretty much the same time or
>> Yeah. So, so all three >> You've got one for the children's library. >> We have one for the children handles the programming and and and all the reps for that. We have one one handles circulation, does all that and one that does all the cataloging, all that. Um there's also a part-time page
fills in as needed, but doesn't really fill in with the cataloging. Um that's just part time that just have, you know, days off, vacation, sick time. >> Do you ever get interns? So >> you ever get any interns? >> We get a few volunteers to help reshell here and there. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> So what are we looking at for hours? Should we not get the debt exclusion vote? And we're >> Yeah. So um currently there are three assistant librarians. >> Yeah. >> And one part-time. So we're looking to reduce uh if we don't get uh if we don't
get the debt exclusion, put it to uh one um one assistant librarian and two part-times. >> Okay. So on that I actually I know this isn't this isn't on here but that if that's the recommendation um that is the recommendation but I actually have
some other information and I I know it's on I can talk about is now appropriate to talk about that. >> It's budget related. >> Yeah it's budget related. Okay so there is another way I can reduce expenses and there is another saving I can propose. It wasn't quite on here, but I just got
the numbers yesterday on what the new projected um insurance um employee benefits cost would be. >> Okay. >> Yep. And so total the library would be projected fiscally 27 for $44,814.60.
That that's based on the projection. However, um if I take that on in my budget, I can I can actually cut the equivalent of that. Um, so that way the town, even though it would be on the hook for $44,814,
if I take that on, I can actually reduce other lines. Um, and the lines I'll be looking at specifically are 5107 part-time page. I I would shift that and make that entirely grant funded. That will come off the appropriation
entirely. 5106, I would take one assistant librarian job and cut it to part-time. um giving the total for that line $119,5001.13 and then I would take 5105 I'd drop that down even more I don't care what that number is 5105 and I drop it down to
$59,36627 that would take the 610 numbers that will reduce it by actually 20% um when all is said and done but yet I've taken on other lines the town would have paid for you know the benefits the utilities I would have taken that on so the library fudget would have been would be
reduced by 20% % I'd be taking on other lines that the town would have normally paid for. >> So you had mentioned grant money towards 5107, >> correct? Yes. >> How come you can't use that now >> for the appropriation? >> Yeah. >> Okay. That that is a great question.
That's a great question. So in order to qualify to get that grant funding, I have to be certified by the state. And the state has a certain formula for appropriation. And their rules are rent funds cannot be applied towards the
appropriation. >> Does that make sense? Did I explain that well? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. So, a certain amount would need to be appropriated in this in this case. It would be um >> Oh, you're not going to cover the full appropriation but with the grant. >> If I take if if I if I take if I take
5107 out of the appropriation if it's not that's gone. We don't we don't worry about that. I replaced it with the funds the um the employee benefits. Correct. >> So that that Yeah. So that would be in there and then no one would have to worry about appropriating that part position again.
>> Okay. >> So the so the only positions that would be then appropriated with this potentially new model would be um it would be one part-time librarian, one full-time librarian at 35 hours a week and one full-time librarian 32 hours a week >> and myself
>> at the new at the new rate. You mentioned grant funding, >> correct? >> How long does it last? >> Are you guarantee that it's going to be uh offered year after year? >> As long as I am certified, it will be offered year after year. Correct. And it's usually between >> Is that in writing? >> It is. It is. I We can I can send you to
the MBL the mass the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners website. I can send you there. It's in writing. As long as I'm ser as long as we are a certified librarian, we will get that year after year. >> And it's usually between 15 to 20,000 a year. >> Okay. >> It's unrestricted. can be applied for anything including salaries. Um yeah,
it's it's well it's well worth it. There are other things that come with certification, but the grant funding is is well worth it. >> So here here's what I'll say. Um so first off, thank you for thinking creatively. >> It's I I was told from day one nothing's off the table then
>> and we love it. That's >> um to so first that's first and foremost um two you know personally as a citizen who has a young kid who goes to the programs often um the last thing I want to see is um our new library get
underutilized and so >> you know so for for for two things I'm thinking you know I'd almost want to see what this would look like in a little bit more detail and I don't know if he can work with you to draw up what this
would look like on the sheet. >> The thing I just proposed. >> Yeah, >> I'm happy to do that. >> I would like I would like to see what that looks like. >> I'm happy to do that >> on this on the sheet. >> Um just so that I can get a better idea cuz I know there was some other numbers rattled off there where you move things around.
>> Yeah, it's >> with the caveat that I say this because you're already aiming to reduce your salary and now you're talking about reducing it further. We We also don't need you and people working for no money. Like we need you to live. Yeah.
Yeah. But I need But I I listen, you're you're already proposing in your in your adjustment here prior to you talking about reducing it further a 7 12% cut. I don't need you and I know that you want to keep as many of your uh assistant librarians as possible and that's
absolutely wonderful, but I don't need you making 10 15% less, you know, and doing the work of three people. I I I appreciate it very much. But the reason the reason it was it was fairly easy for me to make that decision myself is because I know my personal finances. I
know my situ I I know all of that. So I I know that number that I have proposed for myself is is is a very legit number that is well within my means. So that's the reason I feel comfortable proposing it for myself. >> Um I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve the town and I put
that >> above most anything and I want to continue to do that. >> No, no. And again, that's well beyond abnormal and that's >> that that's that's wonderful. But you live in Massachusetts. >> I I don't know why I You don't live in
Arkansas. >> I actually My cousin just moved there. >> All the sakes, but but but but I wouldn't have put it down in writing or even proposed it if it was something that I was not comfortable following through on for myself. >> Yeah. And I think there's two and listen, not to get off topic, but I think there's also two conversations
here. There there's what you can live on and what you're worth. And I think those are two different those are two different benchmarks. >> Um, and from the several conversations that you've had with us and the groups and since you've been here, I think you're worth more than you're putting
yourself on paper at. Um, and so I just want you to be cognizant of that. Um, >> I appreciate the that do you um I know it goes into the general fund income from the library. >> Um, so we get >> It's got to be minuscule besides the
grant. >> It is. So, every now and then there'll be fines for um lost books. >> Okay. >> So, maybe what like >> $24 every two, three months. >> Sure. >> Make photo copies. We don't break the bank. It's 10 cents per photocopy. 25 you do color. >> Um and those go into um some funds that
I can I I use I buy replacement books with the fines, >> right? >> And then um I buy copier, photocopy, printer supplies with the um >> Okay. >> The photoop the photo. >> I know she didn't have anything for replacement of equipment. Is it because of everything is new >> that replacement equipment? I mean in a
in difficult budgets, difficult decisions need to be made and that was a line that was easy to cut. Um okay cuz it >> the way it worked now I was sort of in a position where I kind of had to buy a replacement equipment every year within the budget. I think taking it out gives me a little more flexibility that if I
don't need something one particular fiscal year I'm not locked in where I have to buy it. >> Y I just think that's fairer for everybody involved. Great. Great job. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I It's all I can say. Do you guys have
anything? Yeah. >> I just like to echo uh the comments by Jake. I think um I didn't you putting that down is selfless and um I I don't I when we talked about our
recommendations um I know we're making cuts and the town's in a bad spot but seeing department heads have you know put being put in this these types of situations is is really sad and um
I hope we can support department has not cutting their salaries like that. I get sometimes we can't give raises like we'd like, but cutting salaries is a is a whole another thing. Um, so I I will just take it a step further
as far as the um putting on paper. I was going to ask that as well, but >> the stuff that that I the stuff I just threw out. Yeah, happy to do that. Yeah. >> Would you mind just doing a memo to the board selectman finance committee? I can I can do anything I can do a and finance committee too. I can do anything you'd like.
>> Just like this is basically this is this is this is totally new information. >> Okay. Awesome. >> The numbers just came in. It was like it was like yesterday. So and so again again creative outside the box thinking that >> to echo what they said. I don't >> I'm not comfortable with you cutting your salary that much.
>> Okay. >> Um I I know it's a tough time and and it's very noble of you. >> Uh but >> yeah. Right. Well, but the only thing I would say to that
is I would rather cut my own salary than cut a >> Okay. You know, that that's what I if if me taking a bit of a pay cut is the difference between >> losing a staffer. >> Y >> and I'm going to and I'm going to take that pay cut 100 times out of 10. >> And again, this is and listen, we
there's two budgets here in front of us, right? There's a no debt exclusion, which is what we're talking about. We're talking about the the >> you know the pull in the parachute rip cord versus hopefully it passes and and a lot of these conversations become a little bit less relevant >> and you'll notice in the non-dead exclusion I did not give myself
>> good thank you um um but yeah e echoed to Peter like >> yeah I'm I'm not trying to argue about the paper we appreciate >> I'm just saying if if it comes between me or a staff member I'm like
I'll take the >> No I understand why you were doing it and I I understand why you're moving things around and I No, I I get it. I get where you're coming from with it. >> Yeah, if you could a memo would have available. >> I can even send a new a new sheet as well. >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah. And what the grant funds would be used for >> the equivalent see of what that grant fund would be. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. I can do all that. >> Excuse me. I just want to make a note. >> Anybody have any other questions for >> I do. >> Oh, yes. So what's printed in the budget
has been voted on the trustees and then what Mark is talking about today has not been voted on the trustees. >> No, our next meeting is Thursday. >> Okay. >> So I I can I can bring that up and put on the agenda. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. >> Next week this coming as in a week from today next trustee meeting. So it can be
voted on. It can be put up for a vote then I can give you a memo that Doug's got something. So, if I'm understanding correctly, by moving things around, we will be entitled to more state funding or grants. >> We will we will remain certified.
Correct. Uh I I can't just cut outright and lower the appropriation if I add in the um the um the staff um >> benefit. If I add that in, I can then cut and we can we can stay certified. Correct. Okay. Yes. >> And beyond that, we have a lot of
recreational things that the library is involved in. >> Yep. And we just had the parks and recck guy. He was talking about creatively having business owners and people um contribute. Is that something that you're pursuing as well? >> It is. Yes. I had a meeting today with the friends of the Dayton public library
that a lot of there are programs coming up that are going to be funded by them. Correct. Yes. I'm explor I'm not exploring every option with the budget. I'm exploring every option to fund everything moving forward. >> Yeah. And I just like to echo what the others have already said about you
cutting your salary and uh I don't think I would recommend that you do that. But these other things that you're talking about, I think those can probably bridge the gap whether we have the the debt exclusion or not. >> Thank you. But what I propose it's a
breaking case of break glass case of murder. That's correct. Um leaving it on the table whether you choose to take or not is is is up to you to totally um but Cool. >> Thank you. Just numbers on paper right now. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> We appreciate you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Appreciate it. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thanks for the time. >> Have a good night. >> Thanks very much. >> So, um we'll go over 113 first meeting. So, I'm requesting a total of $6,000 for town meeting. Um, this is for um an
annual town meeting, our normal special town meeting, and we are anticipating a uh another special town meeting. Um, so that would be two special town meetings and one annual town meeting.
This obviously the checkers and the police officers would obviously depend on how long the meetings will go. >> So just being two specials. >> So there is a possibility of another election for a debt exclusion for the
DNA elementary school. >> That will be a special election >> in 2027. >> 2027. >> Okay. >> Um so this is an average. So, I took what uh the police officers could make.
Yeah. So, I you know, it depends on who is up for um which police officer is actually going to show up for the town meetings. So, it could be anywhere from let's say $700 to $1,000. I just kind of
did an average, but obviously that could go down depending on how fast our town meetings will go. You're saying per meeting between 700 and 1,000. So then you times three. >> Yeah. So I kind of just did it that way. Um we do have seven uh election workers
that do work during those elections. Uh I mean town meetings, sorry. And um so I kind of did an average there. So I just kind of did like a $6,000 um because of the three. >> Cool.
So, there's three school building committee members here and I'd never heard of a special town election. So, I just wanted to ask Ralph, did you know we were having a special election for the school? >> Yeah, this is um it's part of the stuff we're uh part of the information we're
putting together for the uh for the for the MS MSBA. So there's the uh timeline um that that they've been presenting at, you know, at the meeting shows um a
potential debt exclusion vote in June of 2027. Uh for that to happen, we have to have a special town meeting in April, April of 2027. As you know under normal circumstances the exclusion you know
goes to the town meeting uh a town meeting first has to pass by two 2/3 2/3 vote and then it goes to the ballot. So um as they're you know as they're going the timeline u we felt it best that um we have that money set aside so it does
happen so we have it. Okay. I surprised over my head. I have >> I was going to ask you if you had heard, but okay. I mean, we don't have to get hung up on it if it's >> having Ralph kind of recap it like that.
I think we kind of lose sight of the calendar year versus the the fiscal year, >> right? April Yeah. >> April 27 and then June 27. So, it's like >> Yeah. more than a year away, but within the next next fiscal year,
>> right? I think that does sound more appropriate to the timelines that we've discussed within those meetings. >> Can I ask one question pertaining to this? >> Yeah. >> So, are is this vote only to get the application in to the MSBA or are
>> no this project already coming to the top of their list >> right at that at that stage they should have completed their feasibility study and and get ready to put it out to bid. So, that's what that's for. So if so basically this is if all the
timelines are hit. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Would you say I'm sorry I'm saying this is if the timelines are hit right. So if the visibility studies done if everything >> so the anticipatory timeline is you know that be ready um you know they're moving
you know they're moving along uh by the uh beginning of the year of 2027. Um well by March of 2027 that's when they that's when I think they'll they'll have all the numbers
everything solidified by March of 2027. That's on that's been on the timeline and from that that's when we uh the next step would be to go um to the voters of the town of D to see if they will fund it. >> Shouldn't it be approval of funding not
debt exclusion? And wouldn't couldn't that be handled within the annual town meeting held in June of that year? >> No. For a project of that size, it would have to be for a debt it would be a debt exclusion. It would be the for the construction. It would ultimately it the funding would
be for the construction of of the school. >> Okay. I have a question. Is the feasible feasibility study completed? And have they determined that there's no repairing the current school that we're we're going ahead and we're building another school?
>> Did we ever get our our match back? >> So we appropriated a,375,000 and then we were supposed to get back around 700,000. >> Is that all done? >> So the short answer is no. The feasibility study has not been
completed. They have not they have not um um uh had a solid answer yet as to do we do uh do we build new or do we renov renovation or build new. So we're it's
still in it's still in that process. uh we had to hit a threshold uh before we start um getting our our money back from MSBA and um I think we just we just hit the threshold. Depends on spending. So
um we're starting in the process of of uh well we haven't received it yet but we're filing very soon to get to get some money back right we hit the 50,000 >> at the last meeting. Did they approve those invoices that were on the agenda? I >> I think we're getting off topic. Uh yeah.
>> Okay. Let's go back to uh town. Is there any other questions on it, guys? >> Okay. >> You now we go 161. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um so on 5101, so there was a 0% for non-union
employees for any raises. So I um kept uh the town clerks um at 79593 and that's for 52.2 weeks. uh salary. The t um the assistant town clerk that is with a 2.5% increase at
52.2 weeks that's $56,874.30. Um the 5115 the salary for the clerk that has been um requested that that would be removed from my line item. So we will not have um the special uh clerk
working for um our department for the 10 hours. So that would be removed overtime. This is for the assistant town clerk for additional time to train for state mandate uh mandatory changes. That
is staying um the same at 300 um benefits education incentive. Again, this is for the assistant town clerk to be a justice of the peace and um a notary. The equipment repairs maintenance which which is 52.40.
Um I kept that at 375. This is 3 hours of retrospect. We do have um two printers as well as our standard um like with the computers and things like that. So I just kept that at three hours just in case we need that.
Um and then the professional technical I do have at 3,000. This is for conferences. Uh legal fees um for like Matt Costa. Um we also this is for my CMC. So um I do um I am getting
certified for my um clerks municipal um association and um I already completed one year. I have two years left. So um that would be included in that.
Um and then uh the 650 for 5340 this is under communications. This is actually dog licensing and business um certificates past new past due notices that we actually do ourselves.
So um we actually uh did the math by us sending out all those late notices. We actually um received back $3,100 just by sending that out. Um and we keep this as a separate line item for postage
because we want to track that. >> Mhm. >> Um and then office supplies. Um we're at 2400. This is for, you know, vital records. Um paper. We have two printers. We need envelopes. We need ink. This is
for again um all of our town records that we keep for vitals um as well as um anything that we need for um dog licensing 5580. This is for dog tags, carbon licensed
paper. Um this is based on actual cost with a very slight increase from last year. Uh 5710 travel. This is for um mileage for the conferences um post office siphons um
things like that. Um and then last is 5730 dues and subscriptions. This is actual cost. >> Dog licenses. You don't you pay for those tags? >> We do pay we have animal control
officer. >> No, we we pay for the tax cuz we're the ones that actually um do all the dog licenses. Yeah. Okay. >> And how much do you think you take in for that? >> Um quite a few. We have 800 and uh something. Um and we're trying to keep
going now. We're going after a little bit harder with fines and things like that. So um we'll be working with the officer a lot, you know. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yep. And uh the with the debt exclusion,
the only things that will change really um the salary for the town clerk, which is the 2.5%. Um the the assistant is still the same. And then we'll actually have the salary
for the clerk um 5 hours instead of the 10. So, we did um reduce that by 5 hours. So, that would be $6,3922. >> Two quick questions. >> Yeah. >> Um you said you you had a drop in dog licenses. Did we just we just didn't
need that many or >> what do you you requesting $300 less in dog licenses than you did for last fiscal year budget? So, the dog licenses I actually did um what I did was I took the exact cost. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Uh I know that's revenue producing. So, that's why I just want to make sure. And then, uh you know, pretty significant drop in office supplies re request. >> $2,100. Do you feel like that's more accurate? Okay. Um and then uh same
thing I asked uh we had the treasurer yesterday u on with the reduction in the 10-hour town clerk uh you feel there'll be any lost capacity in the office? >> Yeah, you know um I do without uh without her um without the position
they really do do a lot. She really the person really does do a lot for me. Um she helps with vitals. She helps with the window. So if somebody comes to the window, she's doing dog licenses. She's filing. She's doing things that now I'm actually instead of doing the stuff that
I want to focus myself on, I'm actually getting up. I'm doing all the dog license. I'm doing like the vital records, you know what I mean? Between Becky and myself and with everything going on, it's been I mean, you know, I hate to lose anyone.
And honestly, I would love to keep her at least the 5 hours. Um, if you know, I think it's really important. She does, you know, the person does do a lot for us and by losing her that even the five
hours is is quite a bit. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> So, just for the assistant 6.95% change that's based that's because of the 2% and because of the partial week. It's Yeah, it's a it's 52.2 weeks.
>> And I I did get those um exact cost from um our attempt. >> Yes. Um okay. And then uh I feel like everything else is pretty much the same. Do you have any questions on Wednesday?
>> Good job. >> Yeah. Nice. >> Perfect. Now on to 16. So elections. So we were anticipating the three elections. Um we will have the state primary, the state election as
well as the town election and a possible anticipating the special election. So I did add the other the fourth election in there. So salary election workers we used um
exact $15,285 for FY25. I am requesting because of that extra election um 18,157 and I did take that from the um
the the local election and we do have 17 election workers for those um for those elections >> that work all all four >> that. So, yeah. Yes.
Yes. Because you have to have your check-ins, two per precinct. You have to have your clerks, um, which is three. You have to have your tabulator, um, greeters or whatever. And then you have to have your, um, you have to have
your, you know, I have Becky, I have I have >> So, your check in your check-in people are different from the people who are in counting hands, let's say. So, we have two per precinct check-ins. >> Yeah. We have clerks who have specific
um requirements. So, they're are the ones that do affirmations if there's anybody that's um hasn't done their census, so they become inactive. So, they do the affirmations. Um they do all those types of things. Um
anything that the clerks um they cover the clerk's lunches, things like that. Um, so they kind of work hand inand with the check-ins. Okay. >> Um, and then obviously we have the tabulator um >> people that work for the and the
tabulators and then we have some that actually do for the full by mail. >> Yep. I got you. Thank you. >> Yeah. Um so that uh so that's my election workers and this is going to be the same for both um
without and with the because there's nothing I can do about elections. Um, and then the salary clerical. This is basically um based off of Becky or you know my assistant as well
as um you know my um my clerk. Uh so that's for like overtime. last um last year FY25 we used $4,900 uh $4,92967 that was actual for FY25
um I am requesting 5,200 and that would be for four elections vote by mail the 5220 um I'm requesting 4,000 um because we will be we are anticipating vote by
mail. Um we are getting quite a bit in already. Um so this is staying the same. We do get paid back from the state. Um so for the primary and the state election, we'll be able to get paid back
from the state for vote >> that just goes into general fund. And then um >> right >> no she has um the election special revenue that goes. So yeah >> it's a special revenue not general fund. >> Okay. >> There's two different grants. One goes
to the general fund and one goes to special revenue. The first three hours on a >> on election day is a grant that you can use um without further appropriation. Yep. um vote by mail and unfair mandate. The town puts the money up front
uses expends the money and it's reimbured from the state and that does go into the general fund. So there's two different two different grants for elections. >> That first couple hours goes into the >> Yeah. The first three hours >> three hours. >> Yeah.
>> Yep. >> You said something about increase an increase voted by mail. Vote by mail. the increase of requests are coming in. >> Yeah, we're getting quite a bit in for vote by mail. >> When do they go out? >> Um they've uh so the vote by mail has
already started going out for um what we do is when um when we certify anyone that comes in on the state, we actually do send them vote by mail applications. Those have already come back. We did send out vote by mail applications in
with a census as well. And we did send one per um household as a request. They can um request another. Um so we did that to save money. >> But you've had no expenses since in 20 26 yet
>> um yet. I also haven't had a um town election yet. April 11th will be my first election. So sending the stuff out does not go to special I mean go to vote by mail. >> So vote by mail I'm requesting the 4,000
um because we're you got to think the state so when the primary um the state will send out any um a vote by mail card to anyone that hasn't filled one out. Um, so the state will send out one of
those cards to say, "Do you want to vote by mail for this election, all elections, the same thing that you got for say your um the presidential?" So that same card will go out from the state. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. So, let's see. 5,300
uh professional technical uh let's see we spent um we used $4,227 in FY25 I'm requesting $5,99 and again that is for an anticipated
four elections um offduty police um I'm requesting so 5301 I'm requesting $9,888 $38. This is an average. Um last
year, uh last FY25 we spent $7,553. So, um census the communications. Um so, 5340 under communications. This is for the census and confirmation mailing. So, anyone um so this is for the s uh
sending the census out um as well as a confirmation mailing for anyone that did not um fill out their census. So, they get a confirmation mailing after that. Um FY25, we use $6,944.
I'm requesting $7,100. It's just a slight increase because of cost of mailings and things like that. So, um, office supplies, um, I requested $650.
Um, this is any election needed, um, supplies, and depending on what they may be, I could actually get paid um, get something back from the state on that as well. And this is with or and without the um deck because it is an election. I by
state law I have to run things specific way. >> Questions on elections. >> Good job. >> Oh good. I have one more left. >> Um 163 um registration. So this is uh
5105. This is my salary. Uh so salary for the registars this is 600 this is actual cost registar statement. So this is with and without uh street
listings. This uh the 5300 street listing this is for the annual street list uh preparation and printing the I'm requesting 1,500 um which is uh basically um a very slight increase from last.
Um then postage 5340. This is for vital mailings, um certified voter mailing, census, confirmation mailing, etc. Um this obviously can go
down depending on how much we actually um use and spend. >> When do we typically spend the street listing money? So, we usually buy um 90 street listings. So, we have to pay
postage in advance for that. So, we pay that's one of the things we pay out is the postage. Um so, that's usually just for that is for street listing. I I to I don't know the exact number,
but it was a little over $1,000 just for that >> just for posting. >> Um we will June >> around June. Yeah. >> Questions on registrations? >> No. >> No. >> And that's
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Dan. You're up again. Dan, can you just briefly explain what the Titan Economic and Development Committee does, >> commission does? >> Yeah, so the general purpose is to
promote and encourage um commercial activity in town. >> Uh most of our focus is on existing town businesses to find ways to encourage that shop local. Um we have started
doing it was more in terms of um attending conferences going out to um neighbor conferences that sort of things to talk to people try to recruit people to come into town but that's not the primary focus of the committee as far as
the meetings go. So in a nutshell that's it >> thank you. >> You don't have much of a budget. >> Um no. Um we did request level funding from last year. Um that was not a consensus of the committee but it was the majority vote um to level fund from
last year. Um we got a few things planned. We actually had a few things planned this year. Unfortunately because of quorum issues. We met very erratically which is why our spend rate is probably much lower than uh we probably would not spend the full amount
that was allocated for us for 2026. Um but we do have several plans going into next year. Um we already spent this year, we continued, we plan to do it again this year. We bought some um advertising signs D lions. Um we plan to
give those away to local DY businesses just as a promotional. Um, we plan to try again to have local businessmen, business owners, uh, come to our meetings and offer a speaker, freshman,
that sort of thing. So, there'll be some costs associated with that. We have plans to do something similar to what Taunt's doing right now, which is to for Don Taunt, it's a dine out night, which is advertising local restaurants. They're bringing people to a central venue. We're not going to do that, but
we are going to try to do something where we just have a day that with a flyer that gets mailed out um or posted somehow and hopefully with a sponsor to help cover some of the cost of, you know, the various diners, what restaurants we do have. We have bakers
working out the house at home that could participate, that sort of thing. Uh we're also trying to plan a um what we're calling home sweet home which is all the many many homebased businesses that are in town and try to set up something um hopefully behind town hall
if we can arrange a date um where people can set up their wares. So >> great >> um a lot of different things. None of them are major costs. Um a lot of the costs that we do have are kind of are estimated but that is our our schedule going forward.
Okay, pretty clear. Cool. You guys have any questions? >> No. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Thanks, Dan. >> Historical. >> Hi, Cat. >> Hi. >> You sick of those yet? >> I got to give you history for money.
>> Yeah. Again, you have a very straightforward budget. >> It's simple. It's what we think we needed. Um both are the same. Uh our biggest probably expense here is
professional and technical for members to attend a conference. Unfortunately, over the past couple of years, that conference has been in June. Um, so I don't know what the cost is going to be or how many people are going. And I know
last year that we were interested in going, but it was way out in Sturbage and no one wanted to travel 2 and 1 half hours and two and a half hours back. So, um, hopefully that they be I think they're going to be in Worcester this year. So, hopefully the content is
related to what we need. Um, to go along with that, I'll jump down to travel because that's the only place we really charge for travel is if we go to a conference and we put in at the 72.5 cents per mile and that's based
on car pooling rather than everyone taking their own car. Um, I picked traveling to I think it was uh to Worcester or Fortn. So, our historic town building marker program is kind of on hold because we've
had trouble finding a new vendor. So, we're trying to figure out how to work on that because the only markers that we would technically buy are the ones per town building such as here is Oldtown Hall, the library, both the Carnegie
building and the one at 207 Main Street. um because they are, you know, historic buildings and the fire station in North Don also qualifies for one. So, we our plan had been to do like one a year, but then our we lost our vendor. We've been
looking for another vendor, contacted other historical commissions and they make theirs. I was like, I'm not doing that. No, no, no. Um, so that program we kind of like put in for one every year to hope to get to get that going. Then of
course it's archival supplies and um, office supplies. And it took me many years to figure this out. Our budgeting is a little bit different than other departments. We don't have like a monthly amount of money that we spend because ours is more
projectbased rather than we don't pay a salary to anyone. There's no monthly cost really. So it's project based. So when you look at our budget like now compared to where I am in FY26, it's like we haven't hardly spent anything, but we do have, you know,
things that are in motion to work on going to that conference. Um, so that's it in a nutshell. >> What are the plans for like the old library? >> What? >> What are the plans for the old library? Do you know? >> No, I don't know. I know what I would like. >> What would you like? I would like the
historical commission to have an office there. >> My office right now is my file cabinet in the cellway town hall. >> Can I tell everybody there? >> And somebody put their bunny costume. >> Yeah, somebody put their bunny costume
there. I had to climb over it. >> What are the plaques made of? >> They're uh Shar can tell you. The plaques. >> Yeah. So they're typical um so the plaques are typically PVC which I found
that out and unfortunately I can't find PVC anywhere. Um so it's a PVC plaque and on the plaque it's um basically all the historical markers. So the actual house will have the number of the
house like what the historical um per se like what the house was >> it's named >> it's named. Yeah. And um so typically the PVC um or wood um it's a 9 by5
um and 3/4 uh thick and um it was um painted um a specific color. So, kind of a burgundy um that dark deeper red. Um and it's almost like an outdoor vinyl that will
have the historical commission um on both the upper and down and then um all that information, but it is an actual outdoor vinyl that ends up getting um weatherized. So, um, yeah,
Sher's making us a a sample to see if it could be done, >> you know. So, >> send it to me. >> Send it to you. >> Our our machine shop in school can do. >> Yeah. I was going to say >> we were trying. Yes, we we have looked. >> Well, someone I'll talk to you, Kevin.
>> Yeah. >> Hey, you need somebody on the inside to just go down there. >> I'll talk. >> That would be fantastic. >> Don't leave without me. I'll talk to you. >> So, um, you know, that's the historical commission. I would like to say there's
lots of things that we would really like to do. One of the missions of this historical commission, and this is when I look back, the historical commission has never really addressed this even before I got on, is one of our things is to be identifying historical buildings
and historical properties in town. And you do that by having a survey and um we've been lucky CPC has paid for our surveys and it identifies your historical homes gives it a description who lived there and that qualifies like
for national register districts local districts if you so choose your town so chooses to do that but it also helps to maintain and tell the history of towns that's never been as far as I can tell in the historical commission budget. So,
if I was going to build an ideal budget, I would always be putting in like $3,000 as a minimum to do that um kind of work. That is part of our job. Um, of course, it's not feasible this year, but just so
you know, that's in the plans. >> Okay. >> 20 years from now, >> we'll be talking about this night. >> Yeah. when it was so dire. >> Pat, can you keep going back to CPC
though every year for that $3,000? >> Yeah, we've gone back. We just um last year finished up West and we did 10 properties there and now we're working on um with CPC money. We're um a national register application for the
Mount Hope Finishing Company and Village up in North Don. >> So, we do go back to them. Yeah. As long as they're agreeable and there's money there, we can do that. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> Any other questions for the historical commission?
>> Are you doing the town historian as well or is that MNA? >> That's MNA. Yeah, >> I did reach out to her to let her know. Um, and I realized her contact information has changed, Serena. So, >> um, I can share that with you. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, well, obviously the town of Star needs next, but uh, MNO doesn't drive at night, so I think it's pretty clearcut what she needs. >> Does anybody have any questions on it? It's basic.
>> Does she actually ever take this the um the stipens? >> Uh, I have not heard of her ever taking it, but if taxes go up, she can use it, >> right? Absolutely. >> It's not a It's not a stipen. Oh, >> my apologies.
>> That's okay. All right. >> She's put in for $1,000 before. I don't know if you remember that. I don't know if you were here when >> Yeah, I remember that. >> Cut that right now. >> Okay. Um, agricultural commission. >> But there's nothing in there. >> Nothing in there, so we're cool with
that one. Uh, town. >> There's nothing in there either. >> No, that would be a bad day. T, thank you for all the work you do with this. >> Yeah. >> Putting these budgets together and everything is uh a lot of work. I know it's part of your job, but
>> it was a lot to keep track of with running the two different budgets and everything's kind of changing at the last minute. >> Double this year. Yeah. So, if there's any um inconsistencies or anything, you can, you know, just point that out to me and >> um so before I get into my accounting
budget, I just want to take this opportunity to ensure that the board of selectmen and the finance committee have the same information regarding the salary requests before any recommendations are made on March 25th and April 16th. Um, so right now the
clerical union contract and Chief McGee's contract are currently in negotiations and there are no increases that are currently requested. The police union, which we haven't gone over um, their requests yet. The police union has been recommended to receive their 2%
cola increase. The dispatch union has their 2 and 1.5% cola increase. The fire union has their 2% increase and the highway union has their 2 and 1/4% increase. All four of these unions are receiving all of their stipens in their benefits as stated in their contracts
regardless of the debt exclusion passing or failing. On the no debt budgets, um department heads with individual contracts, mo most of which say an increase of no less than 2%. Non-cont contractual employees and elected officials were asked to submit
their salaries with no COLA increases. Many of us have submitted the same salary as our current FY26 budget. At Tuesday's meeting earlier this week, it was evident that the no COLA increases were a surprise to many. Um, which I was under the impression that that
recommendation had come down from the board of selectmen on the with a debt exclusion, a 2% cola was recommended for non-un employees. I understand the financial hardships of the town um but am disappointed that
each employee is not being treated equally with the no debt exclusion budgets. I've been employed since August of 2022 and the town's financial hardships have been discussed many times since then. When I renewed my contract
last year, it was in hopes that a plan would be formed to correct the deficits and to have my contract honored. Now, I am slightly hesitant to keep my budget request without a COLA increase, knowing that many other town employees are having their contracts followed to
the fullest um if the town's people deny the debt exclusion. Preparing these budgets have been very difficult for many departments, especially with the forced reduction in clerical union workers. With a few retirements on the horizon, Ralph has done his best to keep
as many current employees as possible. The Dyon Rahobit School excess and deficient funds are always a surprise and never guaranteed. There is a $750,000 in excess funds that are due back to the town. These funds being applied to the
FY27 budget is, in my opinion, just another one-year solution with no plan for the deficit to be um with no plan for the deficit that we will face in FY28. Um, I ask that everyone keep this in mind when doing their recommendations
for the FY27 budget and I thank you for your attention to my concerns. Um, and as always, I'm available to discuss any questions on the budgets. >> Can I speak to that? >> Sure. >> Sure. Um, I know we've been approached about the cola uh a couple of times for
this budget process and I know I've been clear on uh my feelings on it and that was that I wanted to hear all of the departmental requests and um listen to the budget process and then the board would vote on it. You know, it's hard to vote on the cola without seeing where we
stand for a budget and the budget changes. So, it kind of goes back to my comments that I made earlier where um when the planning board or zoning board was up there, you know, the department makes their budget with what what they think that they need to run. The town
administrator makes his recommendation based on what you know what numbers he has and then um selectman and um finance committee are going to make their recommendations based on the information they have. So I I think I had support
from my colleagues here when um we had that discussion and there correct me if I'm wrong there's been no votes by the board of selectman on cost of living increases and there was no um nudge or suggestion to town employees on the selectman's end again correct me if I'm
wrong to put in a a 0% cost of living. Uh, I believe we were updated and told that some town employees did do a 0% cost of living, but I was under the impression they did that on their own, but we didn't ask I unless I'm missing
something, we didn't ask folks to put in a 0%. You know, do a budget whether with the debt exclusion without knowing that we're going to have less available funds. Um, but I I don't think we said anything about folks salaries because we we we weren't there yet, you know. So
that's uh so I I think personally if you want to reconsider that I think you absolutely should because that wasn't um but again that's just my recollection >> in um the previous budget processes I know that um with the cola I understand
this year is a little different but we did previously receive direction from the board of selectmen what the cola would be and we would suggest that to each department and say you know the boss have voted 2% or 2 and a half% % everybody's cola for so we didn't have
that direction going into it this year >> right >> um and then we do all meet with Ralph in January um in preparation of putting together our budgets and he had those recommendations so I was under the assumption that you know he was under
the board of selectmen and that his recommendations were you know in line with with what the board of selectmen were thinking and I understand we didn't give a recommendation but I I hope nobody thought that meant that we thought everyone should give a zero. That just meant that we were waiting to see where we were at and everyone to
take into account when they picked whatever number they were going to pick where we are at. So, it was never intended for anyone to >> It's just really difficult doing the budget that way where everybody comes in all over the place. Um, you know, in past years there was a consistency of
what that cola was going to be. So, this budget season was definitely um all over the place trying to get everybody on board and everybody on the same page with and to to for like full clarity that was mentioned to us and we we we
didn't go with it and now we see where we're at and sometimes we just need an example like we I thought we were doing the right thing by not giving a number cuz like Mark said I we wanted to see where we were and then kind of but it looks like it just added to extra confusion >> a little bit. Yeah.
>> Yeah. And I don't want any of the employees to look at what someone else put and then be like, well, I don't want everyone to see what I what I put. I know that's hard because it puts you in the spotlight, but I mean, you put what you feel like you're worth. Um, and every employee should do that.
>> Um, so that being said, we can go into my budget. So, for the no debt on the bottom section, the expense side, um it was reduced by $1,875 with the biggest reduction in not
attending like educational conferences and meetings was really the only place I saw that um I could cut some of the budget. The audit line is contractual. There was um not much I can do about that. And if we have a single audit, um that also has a $2,000 increase there.
Um to back up the assistant town accountant with all of the clerical workers, there is a separate rate on June 30th. So you'll see where some of those numbers are increased, but that's still their FY26 salary
because that contract is in negotiation. And then on the debt exclusion side, I did put in um the suggested 2%. And like a little bit of overtime that's not really needed as much. Um and then I cut a little bit of professional and technical.
>> Why isn't overtime needed as much if nothing changes? >> Um so my new employee is very efficient. Um overtime really only comes in like on a holiday week or like the blizzard week for example if she needed to put in a couple of hours to catch up on work.
Okay. >> And it's really sparse. And I discussed it with her and she said that she she would make it work without necessarily using overtime >> because the clerical gets paid overtime over 35 hours. >> 5106 is negotiations.
>> Yes. Clerical union. >> Not to uh silly question. Clerico would be would that also be administrative assistance? >> Yes. >> So in those cases where it's zero, it might just be because it's in negotiation.
>> Um which one specifically? Cuz there are a few that have longevity that are already built into their rate. So their rate is staying the same on June 30th. So there are a few employees that the older more longevity employees that they're already that there's no change
on June 30th. But June 30th brought in the reclassification study that had been done. So that added grades and steps. So then some people were shifting from like a grade six to a grade eight. >> So that is um that'll be their pay on June 30th and they're negotiating for
the future. >> So this change is is a grade change and then there's going to be a contract change. >> Okay. So, we just put money aside um to make sure that there's money within the levy to account for Chief McGee's contract negotiation and clerical contract negotiation.
>> Rest of fire is not >> No, >> just chief. >> Yep. >> But I don't put that in every budget. I just wait until side and then at special we would vote to fund those budgets. Yeah, >> you said we may be subject to a single
audit this year. >> Um, it depends on the spending. The auditors were here this week and just wrapped up. Um, I think in the close of FY 26, the single audit will go up to a million. Um, so I'll
just have to verify with them that our opera funds are pretty much done. We're probably not going to hit that million dollar spending. So that may be a number that once I confirm with them, I can drop the 2,000 and it would just increase by their contractual 500. >> Okay.
>> So these budgets are still fluid with things that aren't quite set in stone. >> A little a little bit. >> Anybody Anybody have any questions? No, >> you you got your certification last year, so you're set there. >> I am. >> Okay. >> Yep.
>> Congratulations again. >> Thank you. >> I just have to um attend that conference every other year to keep up with the certification. So, I'm going to do it on the even years. >> Any questions? >> Thank you. Somebody has a hand.
>> I'm here. You >> hear me? >> This Thank you very much. I just wanted to comment on some >> Can we turn up the volume? I don't speak
to the department. I just want to confirm to the board and that there is generally speaking a department headwide understanding. So I just wanted to comment on
that intended to be explicitly communicated or explicit understanding department they sought to form director I I heard what Paul said. He basically said that the non-UN department heads there is there seems to be understanding
amongst those department heads that the directive is basically that they wouldn't get a cost of living increase is what I heard. >> If it doesn't pass, >> if it doesn't pass, right? >> Yeah. >> If it passes, they would get it. >> Right. And can I just speak to that one more time since I like to speak the dead horse a little bit. Um the board of
selectment um works through >> we do our work through making motions and that is how we get by directive. Um to the town's people to the department heads to the town administrator um there's been no votes on the cost of living. I get it was a clunky process
but we don't we didn't know and we still don't know where we stand right now. We just got the Dy and Rehobith budget today and when times are good it makes sense to give um kind of where we're going to go but we just we didn't know but I just want to be clear to the department heads that the board of
selectman uh did not give a directive that it would be zero. Um we simply didn't know and uh still don't know. We haven't taken any votes on that. Um we're going to go through the budget process and deliberate. Um, you know, I'm I believe that
Ralph started off the meeting saying we're looking at um positions, not people. You know, I I was looking at, you know, going through this as creative ways to move folks around retirements. I think that's something that the the board has has looked at, but I haven't
heard us talking about um asking folks to, you know, for 0% cost to living. So, but again, we we do our work through motions and we have we have made no motions and have given no direction to the town employees that it's going to be zero. So, let's get
through the budget process. Um, we'll look at the cost of living um and we'll take that into consideration that um those requests are all over the place and treat all the department heads fairly. That's very important. The um process is we do this meet with
the department heads and then it's a joint meeting where we vote on the individual budgets. >> At that point, we've heard all of the information that we need to hear to make our decisions. So, what we hear tonight
by no means is a okay, you got the budget, we got your we got your the line that you're looking for. Um, in what you said, Serena, I only heard for the first time two weeks ago that the department heads had
all agreed or or to some extent that there was going to be no cost of living. I was kind of not flabbergasted, that's an exaggeration. I was surprised uh that that that took place, but I I don't know. although I wasn't in the room to
say what was said, what wasn't said, but um it can change. Uh it it changes everything when we we the DR just like Mark said just came in which kind of um le leaves us
with a new set of numbers that we didn't have before and it's um but I don't want to make the budget based on breaking employees backs that that's not fair and we'd have to take a look at it when we go and vote on each individual. We don't
vote on each individual line. We as a group will make recommendations, but we'll vote on each individual department and their budgets. Um, okay. Cable is next. Um, you'll see it's the same budget as last year. Um, we're not anticipating
any increases. Um, if you have any questions, you can go line by line. How's >> the equipment? >> The equipment's great. You'll see some new things. We've got new microphones. Um, our annual town meeting warrant from last year. Um, it was approved for 100,000. We have about 25,000 left. We
have a few more upgrades actually happening tomorrow in here um for a few more things. So, we're excited to get some equipment back into the right century. studio came out great. >> Yeah, we've been doing u more studio shoots. We have a selectance report that
Peter Karin has been doing and um we've been doing more and more interviews in in the studio and your son too actually has been doing. >> Yeah, he's done a great job with people are still talking about it. >> Yeah, we've gotten really good feedback. So, we're we're excited. We got we finally are getting the original
content. Um we've been trying to create and and really utilize it more if we could just keep some some personnel in. We need some more staff. So if you know people, tell them to apply because you guys repeat it on every board of selectment announcement. So uh we're
very open to to new members. So >> you guys have done a great job looking towards the future. >> Thank you. >> Um for years we've been trying to catch up. Yeah, and technology advances faster than most. So, it's it's tough to keep
up with >> how expensive things are when it comes to technology equipment, too. But >> can you briefly explain how cable is funded? >> Yes. So, we have a contract with Comcast. Um, so our money is in a we're in a year six of our 10-year contract.
So, in 2030, we'll go back into negotiations. And we had help from our previous town employ uh administrator. So, we'll we'll be looking for some guidance on that when that time comes. In our current contract, we receive 5% of anybody in town who utilizes Comcast
or Expinity. We get 5% of that invoice. Um, and that goes into our PEG access fund. That's where this budget stems from. So, this isn't necessarily from the collected taxes. This is from people
who utilize Comcast. So, that does fluctuate. um not too greatly, but it does fluctuate from time to time. Um I did look and pulled. Thank you for sending February's expenses I think on Tuesday or Wednesday. I pulled to see
what we have currently. We have reserved right now $49,19958 in our I call it a savings account. That's not the right term, but it's kind of like our savings pool where we pull our budgets from. Um, so that's how we're funded is from that contract with
Comcast and the users. >> So it's an expense to the people who have >> use >> Comcast, but it's not part of the tax. >> Correct. >> Great. Uh, because I know um, and I don't want to say concerns. People
have asked where how can Dyon afford all of this nice equipment and and the sound increase has been tremendous and in the the videotaping of the town meetings and uh others that are videotaped and I just wanted everybody to know it's not costing them a dime
>> unless you're a Comcast member which is going to be collected from you either way. >> Right. >> Yeah. It's it's tagged on if you look at your bill too you'll see it. Um, I forget the specific wording to it, but it it's spelled out in that >> right >> little fine print of your invoices or your bills that you get. Um, but I do
feel it's important to I I feel like we have this conversation every year, which is important because a lot of people don't understand it. >> Sure. >> Um, because why would anybody really know how all this stuff works? It's very complex. Every department's different and has their funding from different ways. So, um, thank you for bringing that up. I do think that's a good
highlight to to mention. And that covers not only equipment but salaries also. >> Correct. Everything on this here is covered by our PEG account. >> Yeah. >> Anything on the plan for this coming year?
>> Any any big purchases or anything crazy on the plan for this coming year? >> Not no I don't think we do actually. We won't have anything on this annual town meeting warrant that I'm aware of. We haven't discussed that. We do have another meeting um in April. So that's usually when we try to nail something
down. >> You noticed a decrease in the number of Comcast subscribers with a lot of people streaming. >> Honestly, no. Um, our income has still been pretty steady. We get quarterly deposits and I know I usually ask Serena
around budget season to figure out what that average looks like. Um, but I didn't get the the breakdown, but just looking at what are debits, not credits. Debits, right, would be what we're receiving. Am I making sense of this correctly?
>> Um, because you're looking at the >> the allocated then debit line is what we're receiving. That has been and I compared this one to last year's, it's maybe it's not off much at all. So, it's it's still pretty consistent to be
honest. Nothing that I mean and we do have a large sum in our account right now, but nothing that I saw that was like eye opening, but it is something that we definitely need to keep in mind as we move forward. Um, especially going into the next contract negotiation, which would be in
2030. Um, definitely something I'm sure they're going to mention because they're not going to want to increase, I'm sure, our rate. They want to probably keep it at five or even try to negotiate to go lower. I don't know what what that's really going to pan out to be, but I I'm sure that they'll they'll try to play
that card. >> Hi. Um, are you advertising on our town page if you have vacancies? >> I don't know. On the town, like on the cable department, >> I was thinking like um like our open positions under jobs or employment
because it's compensated for for >> It is. Yeah. I actually No, we're not. Do we need to I'll have to talk to Leanne and maybe you Ralph too about how we can >> Yeah. I'm surprised it's not usually put on. >> Yeah. >> Get the word out. >> Right. Exactly. Absolutely. >> Awesome.
>> I think that would be a great idea. >> That'd be cool. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Do you All right. One more question since we're talking about that. Do you have a advertisement on cable like >> Yeah, we do on our uh bulletin board. >> Beautiful. Okay. >> And what is it channel
>> now? That's channel 95 >> five. >> So we got uh a notice that it changed from channel 9 and it is now 95. So we've been trying to update um things everywhere. We had sent something into
the to the office too. So because I know it's on the top of most or many people say you can rewatch this on channel 9 but it's now channel 95 as of maybe two and a half three weeks ago or so. Correct. >> So it it'll be a little bit of a learning curve. We hope everyone can find us. So tell people if they say they
don't see it on channel 9. It's 95 now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Everything else anything else? Good job. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh yeah.
>> Just flipping through the zerobased budget. I noticed u conservation doesn't have any rationale. Are they have they submitted rational yet? No. Um, so Ralph, would you be willing to reach
out? Um, I I'll say during the last budget process, I think when the health was either late on the budget or something like that, and I made a >> It was very important to me that people follow the um budget process, conservation or board of health
>> conservation. I was bringing back two years ago. >> Maybe it's two years ago. just >> follow the budget process. >> We need to go back. >> My point is we have 10 people here working really hard on the budget and um
I know I'll just to be clear, I'll always be a no vote on recommending any budget that doesn't follow the process as outlined. So hopefully the conservation commission can get it in before next Thursday. Uh actually >> for next Tuesday, >> Tuesday, >> actually in advance because I think we
all deserve a chance to review it ahead. So, um, all right. That's my comment. >> Especially since next Tuesday's meeting is going to be the long. >> Mhm. >> Police high school. >> Police fire high school. >> Oh, no. Well, no, we already fired, but
they're transfer request. Are they Are they doing the transfer request? >> They are. >> So, but yeah, it's the school and police. >> Um, >> you guys have seen the numbers for the school? >> No. >> No. >> Oh, okay.
>> Up or down? asked when we got off. >> Okay. >> Up or down? >> It was 4.75% increase. That's >> Mhm. R. Anything else? >> Nice job, guys. Thank you. Uh motion to adjurnn. Somebody
>> make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Motion has to be made second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. All in favor? I coach the ice habit. >> Thanks, Doug.