Welcome to the town of Dyon Board of Selectman's regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. This meeting is in person and via Zoom at Old Town Hall 1111 Somerset Abton Mass. This meeting is being recorded. The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair
which may be discussed at the meeting. Now, all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. This agenda was revised uh this afternoon. Uh can we please have a call to order? >> Nicole Melo present. >> Mark Pico present.
>> And Peter Karen present. And can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance 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.
>> I guess we all know why we're here. Um so Ralph, you want to start or motion to go into >> Oh, I'm sorry. Here I am thinking that uh yes, we need a motion to go into executive session. >> I'll make a motion to go into executive session under Mass General Law Chapter
38 section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. And the chair so declares Dyon Permanent
Fire Association local 302 grievance and also under MGL 38 section 21A7 uh for the approval of the board of selectman executive session meeting minutes of July 9th 2025. >> I'll second that >> motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? I
>> I >> Okay. >> Good evening. We just returned from executive session. So, we're going to go right into the regular board of selections meeting. I'm just going to reiterate that this meeting is being recorded. The listing matters of those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting.
Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. We lost some friends and neighbors this week and Mark and I were just talking about one of them is the gentleman who lives just a couple of houses away from us. And uh I'm going to read their names. Will we please stand for a moment of silence? Uh
James Eaglesen, Brenda Guiles, Alan Maderas, and Donald Bar. Thank you. Uh we're going to get right into uh schedule of appointments. Do you want to come up now? >> Okay. This is for um the board of selectman parks recreation committee
joint meeting would interview Patrick Luke interview Marco Pacico and review act and discuss appoint parks and recreation. So I'm going to call the parks and recreation uh special meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Kevin Smith is present. >> Rachel Dul is present.
>> Okay, one of you ready? Kevin. Right. Well, we'll just uh we'll do alphabetical auto. We'll have Mr. Leoo come up first and >> welcome guys. Good evening. >> Kind of want me to just lead the way, Mr. >> Sure. Absolutely. >> All right. So, we had a chance. We um we
received your volunteer applications. Thank you for sending them in. Um you both look I just want to start off saying that you guys both look like great candidates. Um just so you're both aware, I'll just say at at one time is this is an interim position for an elected position. So, you'll be filling
in and from now until um our annual town election in April. Um and at that point, if you know you choose to stay on the commission, you'll have to run for election to get reelected to that position. Um but I just kind of wanted to very loose, not not a hefty interview. Just tell us a little bit
about yourselves and why you're interested in the position. >> So, my name is Patrick Puk. Uh I'm 33 years old. I've been a lifelong Dyon resident. I have, you know, went through K through 12, you know, 2011 DR graduate and I think I got the idea to always
want to be part of, you know, giving back to the community. I've served on various boards, including the board of directors at a golf course. Um, I was appointed as a fleet captain at the Charma Yach Club down the street. And I actually got the idea to uh volunteer for the parks and reccks. I think I had
an idea about putting a hockey rink over by the town hall. I thought, you know, coming back for the treeing every year that would be something that the community would use. I reached out to the parks and reccks commission and um was able to attend a meeting and, you know, kind of put forth my idea and I
found out about the potential opening and said, "Hey, I'll you know, throw my name in." Um something certainly to give back to the community. I think my experience and training u I think I have a lot to bring to the table, you know, with uh the various trainings obviously through work and scheduling, organizing
events. Um certainly my love for Dyan is uh you know first and foremost Mr. Karen can probably attest that I went through uh you know the little leagues and baseball stuff. I was not a great athlete but you know I went to kindergarten in the quarter and played pop water football. So I think first and foremost is to give back to Dyon. Um
like I said in my application I certainly uh chose to move back to Dyon to raise my family here. So uh I think at the time of my application my son was due at the end of August. Um he decided to come two months early. >> Wow. Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. So next
oh I don't know how much questions you guys have. >> So my main question I think so I know we had you had come to the meeting with us and you brought the hockey rink. We were looking into that um that idea but is there have you been thinking of are there any other ideas you've been thinking about or different events or
ways to change some things or just anything in particular you've been thinking about? >> So I'm not exactly sure on what events the town or that you guys run. Um, I think certainly the parks you guys do a great job of maintaining them, taking care of them. We can drive around the town and they're used all the time. Um,
I know that the Easter egg hunt was the the most recent one. I'm not sure how much of a part you guys have and like the tree lighting and festivities like that. Um, I think that's certainly the one that, you know, I think is the biggest probably event for the town. Um, that I think that there's different things that we could do within the reason that's probably the ideas that I
have most is that, you know, treelighting event. So, probably nothing specific. Um, I think, you know, once I learn more about what specific events that you guys run, um, I'm certainly can bring forward a lot of ideas. I'm sure >> my big question was going to be like, what's your why? That's one thing I that
comes across in my profession all the time is like, what's your why? But you kind of answered it um, coming from D, you know, just >> Yeah, >> you have that that fully covered. Um, >> I think I've always wanted to to be part of the Dying community in some fashion. Um, I always knew that and not
necessarily. Um, I'm a federal employee, so I can't really be a politician. So, I think this is a a perfect opportunity to, you know, be part of something that's, you know, not necessarily in politics, but it's a way to give back and, you know, be involved in the town throwing lollipops and great stuff that
makes sight in the community that it is. >> Absolutely. >> And then I guess my last question is, are you aware of kind of what our role is? I we did try to outline it in the description, but I think one thing that I like to emphasize um and that we've
all learned is we kind of I think everybody has this notion that parks and wreck is very much like the party planning committee and it's very much not. So, I kind of want to just make sure that you know what do you think your main role is going to be?
>> So, I think I'm probably the best suited at planning events. Um, I know that it's you mentioned party planning, but I think I'll just bring up my idea with the the hockey rink. It's not just, hey, let's call up a contractor and, you know, get a hockey rink built and figure out how to fund it. It was, hey, we have to clear it with the the highway
department. Who's going to maintain it? Do we have the adequate space? Is there liability concerns? Um, so I know it's more than just, hey, let's, you know, throw an event, put a calendar out there. There's a lot more that goes into planning an event that you don't think about. Who's going to maintain it? Who's going to set it up? Who's going to add >> I'll bring that up again. add water to
something like that. >> Uh safety and all those concerns. So I certainly know there's more than just hey let's have a party and invite the town. >> So I think my role you know pretty good at working with various committees and departments. Uh just at my employer
alone I've volunteered my time on uh a couple things. Enable the people a new professional network um which we kind of outside of collective bargaining. It was an opportunity for the employees to talk to other employees of you know various changes you know not necessarily to go through a union but hey you know we
don't have a good collaboration space so we worked with uh the facilities department and security where I work and we got collaboration centers put in place so if somebody wants to have a quick meeting they can do it. I said hey you know if somebody wants to have a private phone call you know I think a great idea would be to have a little
phone booth and that is uh was actually brought to fruition a few years ago. So um certainly unique ideas I have with working with various committees department. Um I'm not sure the golf course board of directors would be although I think you guys run the golf tour. So >> well not just that but like you're
working as a committee so you're going through like you know the motions of you know conducting meetings and operating in that fashion. >> And then the the fleet captain um I was only that for a short period of time. Um you know I got you know at one time I played golf one time I did a lot of
boating. now you know getting married and raising the families and changing my priorities. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Do you guys have questions? >> Well, technically uh you guys make your recommendation to us and then yeah, >> we we approve it, but since this is a joint meeting, we do have the
opportunity to ask questions. >> Yeah. Yeah, we more than happy to have you. Um >> 33 years old. >> Yeah. >> And have you been to many of the events besides uh Christmas tree lighting and uh Easter egg hunt? So I went to I guess >> those are the probably the two that I
always came back for. Yeah. >> Um other you know I can't say but I've certainly went to every night and event certainly you know every year I make it a big point to go stand outside for the Santa Claus you know when even I don't it was my little cousins at the time. >> Yeah. >> But the certainly the tree lighting was the one that I
>> absolutely obviously as a child growing up in town I you know sang in all the things and you know went to all the little league stuff right you know Mr. Gay was the president. Yes, he was. >> Uh certainly as a child, you know, up until I was 18, I certainly attended a
lot more stuff than I didn't have a you know, now I think my focus is having a family. I will be, you know, ensuring that my son is part of the community that I grew up in is kind of my focus. >> Great. Uh Nicole, do you have any questions? >> No, I don't. Mark, do >> you have any questions? >> I'll ask some questions. Um all righty.
uh working in boards, working on a board, you work collaborative collaboratively with people of varying opinions and beliefs. Um please describe um how you work with others of varying opinions and how you get your point across.
>> So I think that's obviously the most challenging part of being on any committee committee or board. And from my experience, I think it's important for everybody's opinion and voice to be heard. Uh the the one thing that comes to mind is the enable the people effort
um where you know where I work is a very diverse um organization and we made sure that we were putting together our we called it an IP that we had you know a mix of kind of every group um specifically uh we hired a lot of folks from University of Puerto Rico and
that's something that I can certainly not experiences going to college somewhere else moving to the states but we wanted to make sure that we had voices um on our you know team that could you know relate to those challenges and I think the most important thing is just you know everybody's voice is heard and you come
to one common goal obviously every idea is uh you know might not be you know you know put to fruition at the time but you know we always keep um I'm big on keeping a list whether it's lesson learns list or kind of ideas that you
review um you know every three months or three meetings where hey somebody had an idea to do this well hey we have a a little extra money or this could be a good idea now or something happens in the town that you decide you you know want to put forth that idea. So I've always been pretty good at working with people and uh getting my point across
and and listening to others obviously be respectful and all that but I think on any committee it's important to have a diverse group of opinions you know genders experiences background and all that stuff. >> Perfect. I have two more questions but they're shorter. Are you familiar with
the open meeting law? >> I am. Okay, perfect. >> I don't I don't know that I could recite the law. I certainly have uh in the town I think I do watch a lot of the YouTube videos. I will say uh on various things uh so I'm sorry for familiar with that.
I've attended a few of the uh planning board meetings. I don't know that I've ever attended a select board meeting in person. um you know around last year I certainly paid attention to the the chief police things and you know that was good to see the community come together and all that so yeah I am
familiar with the law >> great if appointed the town clerk will give you a copy of it that is great um some information my last question is as um Kevin Smith alluded to it's normally an elected position and at the uh conclusion of this term the um appointed
candidate would hopefully run and um being an elected official your name and address is public record and knowledge and is uh that something that you would be comfortable with doing? >> Yep, absolutely. I uh like I like I mentioned, I I knew that this position might be open for an appointment and uh
whenever determines I think it's this year, you said this year in April. Um so I knew that in mind when I uh you know decided to to put in the volunteer application. So certainly no issue with my address and in all that stuff. So, and I certainly if pointed, you know, given the opportunity, I, you know,
certainly would be interested in working again. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> That's all I have. >> Do you have any other questions? >> I normally don't do this, but I feel I have to ask Patrick a followup question. Sean, I'm a member of the DoD. This is
an elected position. This will be an elected position. and I just want to make sure that that uh your role as a governing employee doesn't preclude you. >> Yep. Absolutely. Great question. I uh I didn't know if that was going to be brought up. Um so I am very familiar with uh all the laws pertaining to my
position in the federal government. Um you know the the biggest one is I can't run in a partisan election which this is certainly not a partisan election. So yeah, I'm very familiar. Um my direct supervisor has been informed that I did, you know, put my name in the hat for this. So yeah, I'm aware of all those
rules and certainly make sure there's no conflicts of interest in any way, shape or form with my official federal condition. >> Great. Great. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Now, Mr. [Music]
>> Good. How are you? Nice to meet you. So again, thank you for sending in your volunteer application and you have the advantage of having >> Mr. Leoo go first. So you kind of know what we're going to ask. Um like so I'll just kind of kick it off with like the
biggest thing for me is what's your why? You know, what makes you want to get involved and be on the parts and rec commission? >> Always I've loved that. My wife's been here since she was born. I was here actually right in front of the school from the time I was about 8 years old till my father passed. My mom had to
move away. We had our kids. We moved right back. And ever since we've always been a part. My wife was a teacher at the school for 20 years. I coached pot for like six years. My daughter cheerleading. And we've just always been a big part. We did the food drive over
here almost every weekend for a long time. Every other I think it was. Well, I did had a in at the fire department cuz I know Eddie Ducha pretty good years ago and it didn't work out.
It didn't work out at the time. Something was going on over there. I always wanted to be in same part of the town or something because this is a place we live and I love and I'm a family person. So Don's a great place to
me to raise kids and just be a part of. >> How old are you guys? >> 24 and 25 will be 25. [Music]
>> Um well I'll ask the same question. Have you in your time, you know, after applying and whatnot, have you put any thought to I will put this out there. I know a lot of people don't realize what we actually do and it's funny. Every time we meet new people, we realize that more and more. Um,
but is there any events that you've kind of thought of that you wanted to add to anything or or anything that you've ever been to that you've wanted to change up or just any ideas you've had that maybe you don't see happening in the town right now that you would like to make
something new or add to or you know >> I think I'd have to think a little more on it, but I always thought something there's not much for kids to do anymore and I always thought exercise. I don't Since I was growing up, my dad put me in every sport you could think of, every
boxing exercise workout. And I love how we've always had the little exercise thing over here. And I just feel like >> something a little more structural, timed, and scheduled where kids could come. There's someone that could show them how to do even if it's an hour here and there.
>> I feel you would help let their energy out and give them a little discipline. >> Right. Okay. That's a good idea. Okay. I don't have any questions. Do you >> Mark, you got the same three questions? >> I do. >> Um, so working in boards, you work
collaboratively with people of varying opinions and beliefs. Please, um, describe how you work with others with varying opinions and how you get a point across >> easily.
At my job, they call me the problem solver. So, I'm the go-to with anyone. Doesn't matter who, what, where. I love everyone. So, I'm always positive where everyone I can be and try to turn every situation into a positive one.
>> Beautiful. Are you familiar with the open meeting law? >> Slightly. >> Okay. Um, as I said, if you're successfully appointed, the town clerk gives um you the the law and there's resources for additional trainings um on that. And that's something as if you're
on um any board we have to follow the over meeting law. Um and my last question is this is an elected position. So if successfully appointed you would be ex or we hope that you would run um for the position and being a public employee elected your name and address
public information. Is this something that you're comfortable with? >> Okay. Thank you. I guess just to you know lass is there anything else that you want to you know share with us about yourself that just kind of pertains to the the role you're
seeking or >> you know I believe it or not it was a little bit of luck I live on forest in Tmont my wife was driving by seen the sign she sent it to me and I said yeah why not I'm not going to lie I didn't think I was going to hear back and when
I did I was hesitant nervous cuz I never went for this anything like this before, but again I said I love Dykan, so I'm going for it. >> Awesome. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you guys. >> I think the expectation is that we'll
make our recommendation. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> So, I'm we can kind of openly discuss. First off, I think you're both great. You know, especially reading through both of your resumes and or your volunteer applications and both
of your kind of professional experience, both of your ties to Dyen um are great. You'd both be an asset to us, you know, and the parks and rec commission. I think you both can bring some different things to the table. Um
I know like I look at Mr. the Chico and like I come from a construction background. I'm a little bit more hands-on involved um in in things um especially like you know some of our playground projects and stuff like that. >> Yeah. Which is great. So that I don't have to do anything.
>> No. And then you know I don't want to speak uh for Rachel but I'll just like I think you know Mr. Leoo kind of has ties a little bit closer to Rachel but you guys both also have a good mix. So before we, you know, have any discussion and make any decision, one thing I just
want to emphasize is I think either of you would would be great and it would work out perfectly fine for all three of us. Whoever is not appointed, our meetings are public meetings. You're more than welcome to come. Please come. Stay involved. Let your voice be heard.
It might not be that you have like the technical vote of being, you know, an official committee member, but we're always open. I think Mr. Luke can attest to that is we're open to hearing your ideas and trying to pursue them um and involving the community more and two we
never know you know I don't know how much how long I'll be on the commission Rachel doesn't know so there's always going to be another opportunity and I think it's a good experience to just stay involved even if it's just a member of the public >> to kind of learn and and grow with the committee and you know then you have
that opportunity to um you know come into that role you know officially if another opportunity knocks. >> And to say to add to that to say as a member of the community, we had somebody approached us a few years back with the pickle ball idea and they took that and
went running with it. That completely came from somebody outside. That was not necessarily not even that was not our idea. So they came to us with it. They kept coming to meetings. We all worked together. That was really an outside community
driven idea that we obviously approved. We had to go through the whole process of meetings, but if you ever drive by the pickle ball, I don't think there's a single time of day that that that thing is not jamming with people. It was such a great idea and that did not come from us. So I think it's very important if
you really are interested in being a part of be a part of even if you know if you don't get the opportunity to be on the board because yes you get a vote with us um but you still have such a voice even if you're not an official
member. So just you know that's all >> a second to think about it. Do you have one or the other? That >> Oh, we we >> we're going to make we're Yeah, we're going to make a recommendation. >> Oh, we're going to discuss those later. >> Um,
>> you guys been a tough choice. >> Yeah, it is. And you know, and that's not We're not trying to be We're not trying to be nice. It's It's the truth. Like, >> yeah, we discussed it beforehand, too. And we said that we were both great. So, we're really not just trying to be nice. It's >> Yeah. No, I don't have if you got if if
you're comfortable staying, we're comfortable. Like, yeah, but you're not going to walk out the door. We're not going to say, you know what, I really didn't like him. Um, yeah, I I kind of lean a little bit more that way. Um, do you want to make them just so
>> um mostly if we have to mention um because being a >> Yeah, I mean >> if I'm just saying there needs to be a >> No, I mean if if you want to give a
reason, you can. I don't think you necessarily have to, but All right. What? Um, >> so I it would be a motion to recommend the board of select and appoint. >> Okay. So I will make a motion to recommend that the board of selecting
appoint um Patrick Leoo as our new uh commission member >> and I'll step down as the chair and second. All those in favor >> I >> I >> Okay. So your recommendation is Patrick M. Yes. Um you guys I've heard
everything I needed to hear. Me too. Uh you guys as well. So, um it's just a motion on the floor to accept. I'll >> make a motion to um accept the recommendation of the parks and recreation commission as presented. >> I'll second that.
>> Motion has been made and second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you guys. Pleasure meeting you guys. >> Thank you guys both very much. We're going to just adjourn and uh motion. >> I'll make a motion to adjourn at 654.
>> All right. Second. >> All right. >> All those in favor? >> I park is >> Yeah. >> What's going on with the garden? Anything? >> Um, >> it's kind of a saga. No, actually I I just this week, um, actually, if you don't mind, well, yeah. So, I know we're
open. So, um, just this week, I actually talked to somebody, another town resident. This kind of ties into something I wanted to say before I go. Another town resident reached out to help clean up with that. It's just one of those things. It's, you know, you it's tough to get people involved >> and he's cleaning up at least.
>> Yeah, cleaning up. We were able though, and I kind of um recaped this with Sleman Melo during our commission on disability meeting because co-op wants to get involved over there. We were able to with some of our funds at the end of the year, get a good lawn mower, get a good weed whacker. Plus, now I'm
starting to hear from some people that want to help get it clean back up. So, we're hoping to kind of turn that around. >> Okay. >> And end the year good and then start the next year. >> Start next year. Yeah. Correct. Great. Um, and then the other thing is there's been some kind of riff raff at the um, Timothy Ryan, what's going to be the
Timothy Ryan's playground over on School Lane and uh, School Street and and Palmer Street. Um, the police have been doing an excellent job of checking in on that. I just want to thank the um, um, St. Lawrence family for going. They've helped pick out pick up trash and and keep an eye on it. Uh, Mr. Gluchi is in
the crowd who kind of regularly lets us know that things are going on. There's another gentleman that lives in the neighborhood, Mr. Maybe Mr. Gucci can help me because I don't know why but I deleted the message and there he helped clean up the like spread out the mulch for us. Um I think it was Brian
something >> maybe Rosa >> I don't think it was a Rosa. It will come to me but I just wanted >> Yeah. Um but I just wanted to say thanks because that's a you know it's again something I should have kind of mentioned in when we were talking to the two candidates is this is just a
volunteer position. We don't get paid. We all have real like full-time jobs, so it's kind of tough to keep up with stuff. So, like we just really really appreciate when the public, you know, steps up and and helps do those little things. So, >> okay, >> we'll put the announcement out, too. >> All right. Thank you guys very much.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Congratulations. And thank you for coming, both of you. >> Mark, I'd like to say you was your idea to put it on the sign. He saw the sign and he came. >> I love it. Mark,
>> this is a um update from the library. >> Yes, >> yes. >> How y'all doing? >> I'm doing excellent. Thank you. >> All right. Good. Good. So, a lot's been happening at the library and I think the last update I came before to give you I think was about a year ago and a lot has
been that long. >> Yeah. Time flies. >> Yeah. >> Which which means we're having a lot of fun. >> Sure. >> Yep. So, basically what I wanted to say because a lot lot's been happening. We put the flooring in. So when I say the flooring in, we carpeted the entryway. We refinished the original hardwood floors in the main hall, which looks
great. We put vinyl planking the restrooms, the program room, and the staff offices. That all looks very good. The highway department is finishing up on the interior carpentry. Um, we also have a contractor working on the exterior carpentry to make the exterior look like that photo that's always circulated from like 1910. So that's
going to look that's going to look really cool with with the columns put on the entryway there. And the electrician started. I'm excited to say that shelving installation is going to happen next week with me and the help of the highway department. So, that's great. That puts us just a few steps away from
putting books in the building. And then once the books from the building were there, um we're waiting on the light fixtures to be installed. We got the approval to put in the shelving along the perimeter. Anything that's going to along the wall is the perimeter, not in the interior because we're going to hang light fixtures from there. And that's for
reasons we're not going to put the shelving there. We need to get up to the shelving. And knock on wood, if there's a crash bang, boom, we don't want any of that. So, we're doing that. And then the fire chief once he sees the shelving is going to give us the okay for occupancy on when to start putting books in. >> Okay. >> I'm hoping that's going to come
beginning early August. But there's just a few more boxes to check on that. Once I get the okay with occupancy, I can go ahead and set a date for the grand opening, which we're targeting a midepptember grand opening ribbon cutting on a Saturday. Um, there are some dates I have in mind. The reason
I'm not putting those dates out there is I'm waiting for the occupancy. And the reason I'm waiting for that is because we can get it done or we can get it done right. I choose to get it done right. And so I want to make sure that when occupancy to put books in there is granted, I give myself and the staff enough time to actually put the books on
the shelves and we're not just running around with, you know, chickens with their heads cut off like the day before the ribbon cutting trying to get everything everything the way it's supposed to be. want to make sure we have plenty of time to do that. So, vacuum comes early enough and I can set the date. We're going to do that. I do
know that after Labor Day, the unit will close so that we can move everything over there regardless of when the occupancy happens. It'll happen in August, but Labor Day, we're going to shut down that unit. So, that'll just be a few steps away from an actual library.
So, staff's really excited about that. Uh we've had several meetings with the trustees and the friends of the library and we've come up with a nice little ceremony for the ribbon cutting on that Saturday. Um whatever Saturday it falls on. It's actually pretty cool. It's going to So when that when 395 Main
Street was first open, they had the opening and everybody walked down to Smith Memorial Hall for the reception. >> Oh wow. >> Which I think is Yeah, that is pretty cool. So our chair Ronald Carter had the idea of this procession and so we we talked with the Rouos. We're going to have this sort of we're going to have a tractor tractor ride for a few people
down the hill 2207 and we're going to have some books with us. They're like the ceremonial books like okay, you know, we'll arrive. Okay, we have the books, we're going to finish the move now. Um and then those are going to be presented to the trustees and staff to finish the move. We have a slate of speakers, four speakers who will keep
maybe tackled for three or four minutes each. Those speakers will be me doing a welcome, Ron O Connor as chair of the library trustees and co-chair of the building committee, Kent Pacico as co-chair of the building committee, and Zack La Point as chair of the Friends of the Dayton Public Library. and then I'll go I'll finish up give a long list of
thank yous because this project has been in the works for a long time and I want to make sure everybody who contributed in some way gets acknowledged and I so I want to make sure to do that and then we're going to we're going to cut the ribbon and we'll have an open working library at 207 Main Street. We're really
excited about that. We have a full slate of activities for that following week, following after ribbon cutting too to really so it's not just an opening day. It's going to be an opening week with a ribbon cutting happening on that Saturday. Um, so I haven't I wish I could come with you for an exact
specific date. It's going to be this particular day. We're not quite there yet. There are a few boxes we need to check to get there, but >> that'll happen soon enough. It >> Yes, it'll happen really soon. Um but it hasn't happened yet. >> But we're what we're targeting for I
think is still on track. >> Sure. >> And the most important part is um we're working on a lot of different budget lines and we're in the black on all those. Yeah. >> That's one of the things that not to interrupt you. I'm sorry. Finish. >> I was pretty much >> Okay. Um staff. >> Yeah. >> Are you going to have enough staff to do this? >> Yes.
>> Okay. So, nobody additional has to be hired. >> Nope. Nope. We No. We're gonna have the help of the highway department to move and then once staff moves in staffing levels will be what they were at 395 Main Street. Okay. And the hours the trustees voted on the hours. It's going to be pretty much what they were at 395
Main Street. The overall hours for the week. There's one day that's different, but the overall hours are going to totally exactly work 395 Main Street. >> Okay. >> And the staffing level there was sufficient and the staffing level at 207 will will be sufficient as well. >> Okay. Well, thank you for your enthusiasm and and it's a long time in coming and and and it's very happy to
hear that we're right around the corner from opening up. I think uh the public has has waited a long time. Uh it's it's been a long time coming and I'm I'm excited to sure really help it get across the finish line. >> Okay. >> Nicole, do you have any no >> comments? Mark,
>> thank you for your enthusiasm and you kind of answer my questions because it's it's on um financially you're within budget. >> Yes. And um as far as hitting your your dates, it sounds like you're on track as far as your timeline goes. >> Yes.
>> Um Okay. And I guess what are you guys going to do to let the public know that you're opening? >> Okay. That that's that's a great question. So we're we're going to do it on social media, but let's see the what date what did I write the date down? Oh, I didn't write the date down. The fourth
Thursday in August. I'm going to give a nice little preview. um talk right here at Old Town Hall. If anybody wants to come, I'll have up-to-date photographs. I'll have a full slate of events that's going on. So, I'm going to do that. I'm actually You just approached me. Yes, chairman. About >> two weeks.
>> Yes. In two weeks, we'll be doing that that video. >> Then we can make an announcement. >> Yep. I hope in two weeks. I hope if you have a date, that would be great, too. >> Exactly. Exactly. Sure. So, we're getting the word out and the friends are going to help us with that as well. >> Fantastic. meeting with the friends and
trustees jointly tomorrow night to really hash all that up. >> Thank you. That's great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Ser, you're up. >> Hello. >> Appointment of the um
>> election workers. >> Was that election workers? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Yep. So, I would like to recommend the annual appointment of election workers as per the attached presented list in your packet. Um I would also like to make a note that
we have um please note that corrected terms also presented in your packet um not what was uh listed on the actual agenda. >> Okay. Um I don't have any questions. Nicole, do you >> No. >> Mark, do you >> I just think listening to parties on the
um form is very transparent and uh so thank you for that. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh we don't have to read each name, so we can just uh make a motion as printed. >> I'll make a motion to appoint uh the election workers for the annual
reappoint for the dates August 1625 to August 1526 as presented and recommended by the town clerk. >> I'll second that. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Um before you leave though, could I take could we take um the resignation of
Cheryl Wick out of order? I have some discussion on that. >> Um so at this time I'll make a motion to take the letter from Cheryl Wick resignation of order registars out of order. >> I'll second that. >> Motion has made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? I >> I
>> um so I just figured it makes sense with the town clerk here. >> Sure. >> Um so a resignation from the board of registars. My understanding is once they resign and we accept it, a letter has to go to the um the local Democratic party
soliciting three names of candidates for registars for the board of selectman to appoint. If there's not a local board of uh there's not a local Democratic party, I believe you would ask the state. Um and then if there's no one, then we could solicit any names we wanted. So I
just want to make sure for the public is that something that um >> yes you >> Yes absolutely. Um so we do not have a um official Democratic town committee. >> Okay. >> So then yes I would go to the state and um follow the guidelines.
>> Okay. And if the state does give us like the state committee doesn't give us any local >> Yep. >> we can put on the website and announce the vacancy >> maybe like the strawberry vine and kind of get it out there. >> Okay. Does it just go to the Democrat Democratic? >> I believe she's a registered Democrat.
It would go to you have to be equally balanced by party. So you need um it as balanced as possible. Is um what's the makeup now? Do you know >> the other two registars are Republicans? >> Okay. So it would have to be a Democrat. >> Democrats.
>> The only one that can be unenrolled on a board of registars is a town clerk. >> Thank you. Good to know. >> Yes. So, I'm on top of it. >> Great. Thank you so much. That's all I had. So, I'll make a motion to accept the letter from Shell Wick um with
thanks and appreciation. >> I'll second that. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I >> Thank you. >> Missy, how are you? >> Yeah, it's you. So, um I'm here to uh talk about your
trash program, your recycling program. >> So, my name is Missy Hollandback and I work for the Mass Department of Environmental Protection in the waste reduction branch. Um my job is called a municipal assistance coordinator or MAC
and I help 43 towns down here in the southern part of the state. Uh starts up around Avon Milton and goes all the way down to Fall River, New Bedford. and I work with municipalities. I've been working with um Dyen a year and a half, two years going on two years program and
your contracting. Um so pretty familiar with with Dyen. Um and like I said, one of my goals is to help you guys reduce your trash. >> So I'm here to talk about um the thoughts that you um Ralph. Yep. Thank you. um to talk about the um proposal
that you have for having um your an enterprise fund where you have $7 for large bags and 350 for the small bag to fund your entire Dyon trash program. So let's take a look at that um with that.
So I'm going to take a big step back and give you some information on a macro level. So, in the state of Massachusetts, we throw away 6 million tons of trash. Half a million tons go to the five um landfills that we have in
the state. By 2031, we expect to have or estimate to have one landfill left. They might squeeze out a little bit more, but the end is very near. The other three million tons goes to waste incinerators. um yours
goes to CAMASS or what is called Reworld now. Um and again those are elderly plants. They're in their 20s. They're designed to last about 20 some years. So they're kind of elderly on life support kind of keeping them going as long as we
can. And the reason for that is because there's a moratorum. We can't build anymore in the state. And everyone goes why? And I'm like well do you want one in your town? So that just shuts it down right there. So, um, we're looking at capacity issues. So, what's happening
now is 43, uh,% of our trash is being sent by railroad cars out of state and that number has gone up quite dramatically over the years. That is adding a lot more cost to our program and it's adding
a lot more uncertainty to our program. All you need is a strike in, you know, Ohio or we need a tornado down in T Kentucky as it's going down to Alabama to be dropped off. So these are not being railroaded, you know, nearby. It's
Ohio, it's Alabama, it's South Carolina. Um, so these are long trips, so a lot can happen. Up next, so we talk about the two components of a solid waste program. One is called a fixed cost and
um that is basically your gorgeous dis uh collection contract. So um your first year um with a contract that's going to be $498,000 and that's not really going to change. Um if everyone in Don won a whole
contest and now went on a boat trip, you know, for three weeks, that's not going to affect your price. That's going to be what it is. Um a variable cost as the name suggests um are annual increases of processing for trash and recycling.
Borges contract only pays for pretty much half of the program. The other component is the disposal fees and those are very expensive. So right now uh for calendar year 2025 you're currently paying you will be paying $87.84 84
cents to throw away the trash or just fix it up and then to dispose of it is 87.84 a ton for recycling. You pay for recycling as well and currently that rate is uh $110 for recycling to be
processed. Um we're also looking at diesel fuel has really um changed the industry a lot with the search charges and pricing going up and down. We really can't predict what it's going to be. um and it always of course seems to happen at the worst time. The other thing is
the bags themselves the prices are increasing. Um the other thing is unexpected cost to the transfer station. I believe last year we were looking at um a really hard huge increase because the uh cardboard got wet or something.
So that really shifted the program a lot and haded a lot of unexpected costs. Then the other thing is that things we can't predict um industry the sudden changes in the industry like strikes like the one that's going on with Republic right now or isn't going to go
on strike but the other places that you take your facility your materials to those facilities they could go on strike. Um the other thing that is is a huge concern right now are fires mainly because of our rechargeable batteries. Those things catch on fire like crazy in
the trash trucks, in the dumpsters, um even in an incinerator. It sounds stupid, but there's fires there. They can happen before they're in the official burn place. And these are happening more and more frequently. And that will cause costs that you're not
going to know about because if, let's say, where your recycling currently goes now, if that catches on fire and they need to shut it down, your recycling then needs to go somewhere further away, which could potentially adding costs that you don't know about or how long it will go. That happened with the Avon
wheel uh waste management facility last year. Um it did cause a huge influx of that. So again, these are things that have no control over, but they will affect and they do affect your trash program. So here's a little uh snippet of uh your Borges contract. Three pages
long. Most of the contracts I see are 40 to 80 pages long. They go through everything. Um and this is a very fair contract. Borges, you have a great relationship with them. They do, you know, a great work with the town. Um but
again they're small hauler and um they only work with the collection of your stuff at the curb or at your transfer station. The other part that you have no control over are the disposal parts. So currently right now um your like I said
your trash tonnage is 8741 a year and then the following year it's going to go up over $20. That's going to be a huge hit for you and then over that it stabilizes about you know5 or six dollars. It's kind of a normal thing. Um, so
the other part that we want to talk about is recycling. So, yes, in Massachusetts, get this out of the way here. Yes, in Massachusetts where recycling gets recycled. What we do is we work uh these B the for one thing,
these items are banned. Recycling materials are banned and they become a commodity the minute they hit your curb. that there is a value for that out there somewhere. Um, and this is why we want you to buy recycled materials. Um, in Massachusetts, we have a 2030 master
plan because we have those capacity issues. And what our goals have been over the last 20 years is we are working really hard to keep our trash tonnage down in the state. This is why we added mattresses. This is why we added textiles. These are why we add these
things to these banan lists to keep that tonnage down. And they even have a program where they have people like me to run around and help you doing that kind of thing. Other states don't have that. So everything I do is to get a child to decrease their trash. Um the
other thing is um you know we work with the MURFs and the MURF is a material recovery facility basically where your recycling goes. So we work very closely with them asking them very specifically what do you want? How do you want it? Why do you you know we work with them
whereas other states don't. So we know that um our stuff is going to be recycled because we're working so closely with them in the markets. So and other when you read those articles about you know things not getting recycled that's in other states. So as long as
you follow our rules from recycles.org board. Um you can go to there and find out any information on recycling. Um but as long as that's happening, recycling is happening. Um I thought so. Okay. Um so
in prior once upon a time in recycling prior to 2017, uh China decided to have what they call operation national sword where they refused to take our recycling because it was contaminated. we were sending a lot of bad stuff. Um, back then a
municipality actually made money on their recycling and some a lot of communities actually paid for their whole entire trash program on their recycling. After the Chinese national soar, they started charging processing fees and the prices have gone up and now
you can see they're triple digits, $110. They're even higher. Um so what's now happening is the market is um stabilizing. So and the companies realize they made a lot of money out of that that processing fee. They have a a
fixed fee that's coming in. And so they're making a lot of money, record-breaking profits. And what they're doing though is they're they're giving back some of the revenue share profit share for those recycled materials when they sell them
on the market. They're giving them back to the town. You have to work on your contract with how much you get back with them. Unfortunately, because Borges is a very small player, they're not able to um work with a hauler, actually a U Murf
that will pay them, which means that you won't be getting that money, any of that re refund or rebate money back. So, you're strictly going to be paying that processing fee. >> So, there's no good news here. >> Yes. Um I, you know, it it's something I
would like to work on um as as you know, a project with it. I have some ideas how maybe we can do something but um for right now that's how it is. So basically the more you recycle in Don the more it's going to cost you. >> Yeah. >> And right now it's more than your trash >> right.
>> Um so let's see next one. So going to take a step back now about pay as you throw. You've had pay as you throw in D for quite a while. You do a great job at it. You have low trash tonnage. talk a little bit about more the design
of it. KT is designed to reduce trash tonnage. That's why it was created. It's basic behavioral modification. Residents will look harder at ways to save money. Stop and think about it. When you last time you were on an airplane and you had a choice of paying
to have your luggage checked or maybe you could get it free if you did carryon. Everyone wants to do the carry-on. They're jamming their stuff in there. And it's the same thing that happens with pay as you throw. It's the mentality of that. Basically, it's an incentive for saving money by using
fewer bags or smaller bags. So, this way that residents can do this is they can increase the recycling. And it's normally not a bad idea, but in Dyon, because of your system, it's actually going to cost you more. Um, residents can also look to composting, donating,
and other projects that I'm working on in town to help reduce those trash damage. But all of these things basically lead to residents using fewer or smaller bags. Um, and the other thing is, um, I have you throw in my town, you guys have it,
too. But residents will try and squash more in a smaller bag. Um, it causes rips. you get complaints to the town and it can add more weight to a smaller bag. Um, and this can throw off your financial models if you're trying to figure out, you know, based on what people did in the past. When the price
goes up, people will start changing. Um, pay as you grow programs are generally involve a two-tiered or even a three tiered funding system that combines a flat fee or a tax subsidy and
a unit base fee. The unit base fee is the plastic bag charge for your residents. The flat fee tax subsidy provides revenue stability to municipal program and ensures that the fixed cost
your contract um uh the fixed costs of the are covered. So the bag fee, the unit based bag fee covers the variable cost for disposal and provides financial incentive for residents to recycle and
compost more to make it smaller. So basically another way to look at it is it it the bag fee should be covering about half of your program. Um so and the thing is your residents can control what they put in their
trash. So they can control trash tonnage. Next on Ralph, please. So how do others pay for um their trash and recycling? So we collect a lot of data every year. One of the only states in the country that does this and um so
this is how other municipalities pay for their trash programs. This is all trash programs in general. So right now the most popular one are straight property tax. I can tell you our data is a a year behind. I know that a lot of towns already have switched to property tax
and annual fees. So, this information is a little old already because a lot of towns are going through financial issues and they're really trying to save more money for their schools, their police, their other items. So, they're looking like you are to other ways to pay for
these programs. So currently right now though the pro the most popular one is property tax followed by a property tax and the payback costs. The next one would be annual fee, a flat annual fee.
And an example of that is one of my towns is Hopington. They have I think it's a $650 flat annual fee for their trash. Um and um that's what residents pay. Um and then another one would be um property
tax and annual fee and then there it goes down. There's so many different flavors, you know, as long as it's allowable by the state uh towns have come up with it. So how are um funding programs paid for?
Um the funding for sources for pay curbside or both programs. So um communities that have um again property tax is the number one way Um again annual fee um like so property
tax and payt is again another one annual fee and annual fee and payt and and if what you notice here it's always more than one you really have this balance that you you have almost two revenue sources coming in because you really do
need to be able to cover that fixed cost. Um next slide please. So there are some towns who pay exclusively for their trash service with
um payt bags. They are all drop off communities. Once you start having a curbside program, that means you have a fixed contract cost. They do not. Um, the other thing I can tell you, I didn't want to go too crazy with data here, is
most of these communities, um, as you can see, are on, uh, the Cape or in central Mass. Um, and the other thing is that most of these communities, they might have that transfer station and at PT dropoff bags, but also a large percentage of their residents actually
contact private haulers. So, it, you know, residents just, you know, don't like that. So, next one. So, an example, uh, I have a colleague up in central Mass a couple months ago. They just instituted a $7 bag fee, but they
only have it for one bag. Ashley went to this uh model because they are part of a regional school district. The funding changed on that. They're also small, rural, they don't have a large commercial base, and they were really
struggling with the prices and they needed to fund their transfer station. So, what they did is they have the $7 bag for one 35gallon bag or 33 gallon bag. Again, at right now, that is the highest in the state. They have recyclables where residents can drop it
off and it costs $7 flat fee um every time you drop your recycling off. Um, then they started, they implemented a transfer station sticker fee, which they didn't have before, of $50. They charge the standard prices for residents dropping off furniture and tires, all
that. And I asked my colleague, "So, how's it going?" She said, "Well, they have 30 people or excuse me, 50 people that have signed up. Normally, they'd have 300." She said, "It's dying. It's going to be gone unless they do something or change it." Residents don't want to do that. That is very expensive
for that. and they don't give them options of different bag size. They figure they may as well just go for that private hauler. Um, so my concern is is what would happen Oops. Next one. What would happen to your enterprise fund if
residents bought fewer large bags and or they use more smaller bags? Um, switched your bag revenue would decrease. They switch from large bags to small bags. But your fixed costs are going to stay
the same. That that collection cost is always going to be there and that's not going to change. Um and these are things these are not fantasy, you know, things that happen. These are real life things that we've seen over the past 20 or 30 years of actually happening to programs
and when when it happens. Um, so the other thing is so large bags, the shift from large bags to smaller bags can happen for a bunch of different reasons and also not just this larger to smaller but fewer bags. So you have population shifts, snowbirds, empty nesters, single
residents, economic downturn. We've seen this across the state when we measure the trash across the whole state. When there's an economic downturn, lower disposable income means less trash and smaller bags as well. people aren't buying as much. They're really economic
be economic economic pardon me e economical um and then also you know you talked about um funding you know for your low income or your senior residents for the bags but that's putting more cost burden on the other bags and on your other
other residents. Again, the bag idea is that it was to reduce trash tonnage. And then the other thing is it happens more residents start putting their trash in public bins. Um I've I have actually seen this. And then I know also a lot of
people take their trash to work. So some people are just going to start Yeah, actually have a friend that does. Um and it happens. And the thing is, so somebody that might have you're counting on them buying that one large bag, all of a sudden they're taking it to work.
So they've been pulled out of your model and again you're counting on that for your fixed cost. Um, next slide. So the unintended consequences, again, just going all through these things that happen. um you know the one that's going to happen and
we we know this because the flip side is when I talk to a town about why they should go to pay as youth row it's because their trash tonnage is going to go down from 20 to 40 uh decrease from 20 to 40%. It will decrease and one of the reasons why the residents are going
to recycle more but it's going to cost you guys more. So they're going to have be paying you know smaller bags but that you still are going to have to pay the disposal fee for that recycling. The other thing is composting. We're really focusing a lot on food waste in our in
our trash. 25% of trash are things that can be composted. Um and that is a very heavy weight u of your trash. So let's say residents start composting. Um that will have a significant impact on your
trash. We some of the programs I've been working on here, we've applied for a swap shed uh for residents to drop off household items uh that they might normally be putting in their trash. They can now, you know, donate them or uh drop them off there. So, we're really
trying to educate the Dyon about other ways they can get rid of their trash stuff. So, I'm helping to destabilize, you know, your enterprise fund basically. Um, the other thing is, and you know, you probably won't have that much of it, but what if residents
decided to pay a private hauler? I Everyone loves Gorges. I've met them. They're fabulous. But some residents might go, you know, you know, let's let's get that big 95gallon bin. Let's get a dumpster at the end of my driveway like Rahobath has. Let me share it with my neighbor.
It's easier. I don't have to go out and buy bags. It happens. I'm not saying you're going to have a huge amount, but in each of these categories, you're going to have people doing these little things. So, what you're looking at now is not what's going to happen once those bag prices go up. Um, and then the other
thing that I think we mentioned when when Peter was in the committee last year is the bag retailers. So, the bag retailers sell the bags and they get a teeny tiny little percentage to help them cover their costs and all this stuff. Well, a big issue is the amount
of uh fees that these little hauler litter little mom and pop places are paying for credit card purchases. So, I don't know about you guys, but $70 for a roll. I'm not going to be having, you know, $70. I'm going to be they're going to be using more credit cards. So, it's
going to be hurting your smaller um vendors and because they're going to start seeing it immediately like, whoa, you know, it's going to add up when they look at their bill already. So, you're going to need to make them whole or you're going to start losing the vendors. Um, and that's again, they're your residents. They're your, you know,
your people. So, next one, I just have a little, you know, you know, idea of that. But the idea is that you want to make them whole. You don't want them losing money. Next slide. Peter, I'm sorry, not Peter. Uh, >> my mouth. Sorry. Um, so stuffing bags. I
know it sounds crazy, but residents will do it. I do it, you know. Um and I just did a little model using some of the numbers that Ralph had used a few weeks ago when um you know he presented you know what what the cost modeling can look like and I just said you know let
what if 10% of residents shift from a larger bag to a smaller bag just looking at that and you know and came up with you know I have the MH estimate that's mine and then Ralph's estimate at the bottom you know it's almost aundred
$1,000. And that is not a ridiculous amount to have 10% of a a 10% shift. That's and I went like I always go low. So it could be higher, but I just wanted to, you know, show you how easily that can
shift. Next slide, please. Um, we've talked about the organic collection. I'm going to point this out because when I start again playing with wrong with your numbers, again, household trash can be reduced by 25%. That's literally, you know, large bag to
a small bag. Um, that's a win for the town in one aspect because you don't have to pay that tonnage. But if they're shifting from a larger bag to a smaller bag, you're not getting the revenue of it either. And that is your base of your
program. So, it's got it. But one company that is very popular um and they do have a model where they do curbside pickup and um I looked at their pricing and basically for $1460
a month they will come and pick up your food scraps for you this adorable little bin and they come and do it. You can put your meat in there. You can put your dairy things that you normally would not put in a backside backyard compost bin. And then I looked at the cost shift and
if I were a resident and taking my trash, it would be about $14. So a resident would almost break even by shifting to something like this. They might not want to, but it it's possible. And the thing is you're losing the bag
sale again, but yet you are getting, you know, also the trash. So that is something that you would also have to look at because again all of these are things people are going to start doing this to save money. >> There's no lesser of two evils. >> I'm sorry.
>> There's no lesser of two evils. >> Exactly. Exactly. Um and um so what are the impacts of shifting from one large bag to smaller one um or increased costs? So, how stable is your enterprise fund going to be uh for paying for this
whole entire trash program, including this the trash transfer station? Um there's just so many components. Like I said, that extra fuel search charge is a very common one. Um bag sales, um all those stuff in there. Like you're going to have to make decisions what you want
to cut. And it's going to happen all of a sudden. It's going to happen very quickly. You're going to see, oh, we have to pay our gorgeous bill. We're not bringing in the revenue. than we thought we were going to. You're going to have to play, you know, shifting pockets, paying Peter, Npal, and robbing everybody else. Um, so you're going to
have to really look at that very carefully and you're going to other thing is you're going to have to increase these costs annually because as you could see the next year especially the price is going to go up so so dramatically. And you know, Ralph told me it was a great plan. I never
thought thought of this. So changing the bag color. So, if this is something you want to do every single year, you're going to have to change your bag color. So, there's a little, you know, confusion factor in there as well with, you know, if you actually do this, uh, making sure they're not using last
year's bag. Um, so it's it's a little complicated actually. Um, the other thing, uh, next slide. And again, borrowing from Ralph's slide is, you know, you you're going to have to make a decision. you know, once it comes down to that, you know, you're
finding out you can't pay your gorgeous trash bill because you don't have enough bags coming in, you're going to have to decide, you know, in your other services what what you want to cut. And sometimes it might come mid year, you don't really have that chance to plan. Um, so like I
said, you know, looking at what some of the other towns do, either deciding to do the um, staying with the tax base, a lot of towns want to move away from that because they're trying to lower that cost. They want to save it for their police and their schools, but the annual
fee does seem to become a very popular way of doing that or cutting services. Um, the other thing with Dyon, the fact that you're so small and you have also curbside and a a transfer recycling center, you're very unique in that. Um, so, you know, you really need to look
at, I think, maybe your program and take a bigger diver deep, maybe slow down a little bit with what you want to do. Next one. Um, because this is a lot of importance to be putting on a thin plastic bag. It shifts, it floats, it
moves around, and it's it really can destabilize and really undermine your budgeting for your whole town. And I really don't want to see that happen. I hate I hate putting money in the trash. Yeah. I would rather have it go to, you know, other services that a town can
have. But trash is very important and we need to make sure it's done right. So, so I understand 50% should be >> that that's the rule of thumb. >> That's the rule of thumb. And um what
was the next question? 50%. Uh are you recommending a yearly fee? I I'm going to let you look at what you want to do because I have one town that does tax base annual fee and they increase
their bag prices every year. Um actually it's a city that does this. So they run this model every year. So it's whatever you want to do but again acknowledging and making it very transparent to the public that every year these costs go up, >> right? So, you know, looking at them,
you know, whether but don't wait five years and all of a sudden go, okay, we're going to change this. Um, you know, and and looking at where your modeling is. Um, you know, also looking at your transfer station. Um, there's some things I, you know, don't want to say here in this public meeting, but
there's some thoughts that I have that I've mentioned to Ralph and some other ways that maybe we can work with other towns. Yeah. Looking into more regional options and things like that because everyone's going through this situation. So, uh, I I think the enterprise fund failed for a few reasons. One of them
being I think we didn't get across to the people, the public, that it wasn't going to cost us money to have an enterprise fund. >> Yeah. >> Uh, it's just a question of the way it was funded, but it was not coming out of anybody's pocket to fund this. Uh, because on paper, it makes sense to have
an enterprise fund. it. So, an enterprise fund really is just a way so that you know annually you look at the fees within there and it's more transparent and see, oh, it costs this much and this much. >> Um, but the thing is funding that
>> enterprise fund with bags is like I said, it's it's almost like sand. You can't you can't grab on to it. So, you do need something that's stable, whether it be an annual fee or the tax base or something that you know that's solid. And I'll be honest, most of the towns
are shifting to an annual fee. >> What's What's the breaking point with banks when people say, "I'm not paying any more for this, therefore I'm going to go to >> the highest the highest that is still working, I think, is $5." >> $5. >> Um, but again, I believe that's in one
of our wealthier >> communities. Okay. >> Like old Boston money kind of like that. Um, to be honest, the sweet spot is, you know, the $3, >> right? you know, $5 range thing. >> Um, you know, again, as it starts
shifting up, we might see it, but for right now, it's just not there. >> Okay. >> Um, >> I know we've discussed this at our communities, but, uh, for the other of the two and for the public, um, I just wanted them >> to be aware >> because the thing is is like to be honest, people don't really like having
to go out and buy these bags, right? You know, so at some point it's, you know, and we haven't quite gotten there yet. I'm sure we will very soon, but right now $7 is definitely >> that. Yeah. And in addition to buying bags from
the town or or whatever location they get it from, most people use uh a bag they get from the supermarket to put their trash in and only to put that into a Don bag. So not that they're paying double for that, but they are
paying >> more money than than this. >> So So the thing is that's what a lot of residents kind of get. They're like, "Why am I paying so much for this lovely plastic bag that has Diton on it?" >> They need to understand that it's the the services you're paying for. Y
>> um you know, it's not just the cost of making the bag thing. Um but with that and and that will go up. Um and I know we had some vendor issues and stuff in the past and that seems to be resolved. Um, but again, you know, residents start thinking of that and they start thinking
of other ways, you know, to move around that. >> I I like the idea of a swap shed, um, table or, whatever you want to refer to it as, but there's also cost for a startup with that. >> I'm sorry. >> There's also going to be a cost for a startup. It's going to have to be covered somehow.
>> Oh, no. So, actually, the the town has applied for a grant for that. So, okay. If they get it, they will be getting $6,000 uh to buy the shed. and um if they need to put a concrete pad down and all this stuff, it will pay for, you know, up to $6,000 to get your
>> up and active. Y >> um beyond that, how you want to run it. Um >> I highly recommend volunteers and you have such a a a really a close community that I think who can do that. Y >> um so I don't think you're going to need to have, you know, paid employees to do it.
>> Okay. But um the idea again is you know instead of somebody putting you know whatever in their trash that they're going to put it there and somebody else will use it right and the guy the library unfortunately he left but I said oh we can do a library of things for you we can you know do some other fun things with you again to again ideas of helping
to keep the trash >> right >> and then you know your lines club do does a great job every year with so things like that I'm working starting to work more with them. So, like I said, I'm I'm making everything possible so we can bring it down stabilizing, you know,
your plan. So, um that's just kind of where we are with that, >> right? >> So, >> Nicole, do you have any questions? >> No. >> I have no questions, but just a statement first. Just thank you for the pres. >> My hearing aid is needs repaired. Sorry. >> Thank you for the presentation. One
thing that sounds unfortunate is the state makes all these regulations. They say no more landfills, no more incinerators. So our costs go up >> and they employ folks from the state to educate us, but they don't give us any money. >> So the state >> give you money. So So the incinerators,
it's um the reason we have the moratorium on it is because the towns wanted it. The towns don't want it. I mean, if we had that, you know, we lifted the moratorium and it goon, you want an incinerator in your town, you know. Um, I can tell you in the
minute people go, um, the other thing is, so we do give you money. We do have the grant money. We do have a lot of other grant programs out there. Um, the reason we're doing that is because we're trying to keep the trash tonnage down. Why? Because we're trying to save you money. Um, because if this is all just
going to be railroad and out of state, this the rates are going to be very high to begin with, right? Um, so all these bands that we do are based on keeping the incinerator still going and still, you know, all this stuff. The other thing is we're a small state and this is why we're ahead of the curve out of a
lot of other states in in the country is because we're small, we we closed the landfills down because they were leaking chemicals and they were not healthy for our residents. So we closed them down but instead of um just making it very punitive we actually had job like
creating a job like my job and then also grant money. So we really tried to have the carrot program rather than the stick program and other states are actually trying to model what we do with it. So I mean I know it seems like oh they're making us do this. Well the other thing is a town does not have to provide trash
services. That is something you know that we need to remember and some towns do not. So, if you looked at some of my data, I only had data from like 200 and some towns. The reason is because a lot of other towns, um, they don't do it at all. It's private haulers. You know, you
want you do it. So, um, and some fairly wealthy towns do, too. So, >> do you know, so based on your numbers, let's say we do have bags and we have an enterprise fund. If you have a deficit in that enterprise fund, can you pay that deficit through taxation instead of
through your bag fee? I I I'm not a funding financial person. I can't ask that yet >> because the board has to listen to the community and what the community wants. And in my opinion, um the community has spoken loud and clear. They don't want to pay a bill, any additional bills in the mail for trash. They don't want to
pay for a sticker, but they'll pay more for their trash bags because they value the service. So, hearing what you have to say, I and I think we all acknowledged it. We don't know what the number's going to look like. And I think of course what you say makes sense. Folks will change their habits and
perhaps our million-doll budget can't be fully funded by an enterprise fund, but we would still be pulling out hundreds of thousands of dollars out of our budget, which would help our overall budget. So my thought is I guess that's an answer that we need to have is if
folks change their habits, but we know what the community wants. They don't want to pay for they don't want to bill. But we have a problem just like everyone else. Um, so yeah, that's my question is we would still we would still be successful in
pulling out hundreds of thousands of dollars, but if we have a deficit, >> can we still at least fund that deficit that trash cost through taxation, you know, because >> um something to look into budget? Yeah, we would we would have to but but the
the problem becomes I mean are we are we dedicating those funds? So if we go into it we have to know we're supplementing we're supplementing the uh enterprise fund with uh with taxes. Um
my you know I invited Missy here to begin so we could begin the conversation. Um you as I had stated to the board now is the time for us to work on the fiscal year 27. Uh I will be right in a few
minutes be presenting be presenting budget options and the budget option being sanitation enterprise fund debt exclusion and it's not quite a budget option but a consideration a capital exclusion. What I wanted to what I
wanted Miss for was to pro provide expertise on on trash. As funny as it sounds like so you can as a board begin to think we are looking at an enterprise fund but treasure there are a lot of
considerations uh we have to take into account and if you right so you give us the goal and my hope is at the our third meeting or right the third meeting from now the second meeting in August we all come
together uh as a board directing management and our financial team as to you know which which way to go. Obviously this is going to take a lot of time and effort and analysis. So if we're going with the enterprise fund um
we need to know sooner sooner rather than later. Uh so again um I I knew you know Missy was the person we kind uh thought about the enterprise fund. We had some we had some conversations
uh at my presentation um at annual town meeting was that okay this is what the cost is going to be um and I'll bring it up I'll do go very quickly uh at our budget opkins it's going to be approximately $360
per person uh per household sorry we got to figure out how to get there and and as as this slide uh accurately presents we're we're relying a lot on a thin piece of plastic. Um so but it was a
starting point again it it was a starting point and then we have to figure out um you know put you know put our options put our options and considerations together. So I mean I I don't expect
any answers tonight. We we shouldn't have. This is this is the reason why we're doing this is so you listen and you digest and as we go as we move forward because the you know our next next week is going to be
we're looking at service and personnel reductions. So I want to present give you as much information as you you know as you think about you know you as the decision makers of the town to help to give us direction as to which way to go. So
again, I know um you know he's a a pro on this. He looks across Massachusetts. He knows a little town. I say if we listen if we had an incinerator that might not be a bad thing. He makes a lot of money on we should lift that ban and we'll we'll
be floating cash. >> We would. >> And the and the other thing is this presentation is geared for you. You can also I'm if you want to have me, you know, talk to residents or be a town meeting, I can do something a little more easier. Um because I know tons
>> in a household, you know, this is what I put out on my bag and and so I can explain it in that method. Um and like I said, I keep saying is, you know, you can make the choice to put the your money and throw it in the trash basically or you know, the services that you want to keep for your town and and
it's you know, you're doing what you can. Borges does great service. you know, even if you were to get somebody else, you it won't you're not going to be saving mega money here, right? >> Um, and your service is so top-notch and they're really giving you a lot for it. So, um,
>> you know, so I have talked to and I'm starting to what I call I don't want to say the regionalizing but working together like sharing resources to see what we could do with a lot of towns. I've talked to, you know, kind of started talking to Ton a little bit and things like how how we can make it um,
you know, better for everybody um because it is everyone's having this situation. Um, I mean have really wealthy towns that are struggling with it. So, >> thank you so much and thank you for being here. I do have one more question. I thought I saw a slide that showed that
some town I think it might have been Ashby charging $7 a bag for recycling. So Ashby, so it's interesting when you were asking me about the funding thing. So how they kind of got in this situation is they found they had a deficit and they were using I I can't
remember what it was. Um Oh, they were using their free cash funds >> and they, you know, got in trouble for that. So I know there's regulations you can't do. So they in a panic had to quickly come up with something. So it's $7 for one bag. They don't give two
different sizes. And it's $7 just to drop off your recycling. So, you know, if you go once a week, you pay $7. If you go once a month, you pay $7. Doesn't matter if you have, you know, five things or a whole trunk load of it. >> Um, and they never had, to be honest,
it's I don't think they were monitoring their program closely. I mean, if they if they were for the first time ever having a transfer station sticker fee, um, then they weren't really keeping an eye on it because most towns have one, you know, at least something. So, um, but again,
it's it's it's going to kill their program and it does it I I want to keep transfer stations around a because they're really good for when you need to get rid of that extra stuff and it won't fit in your bin. But the other thing is I'm also working with a town who's
involved with the Republic strike >> and for whatever reason over the years they have their curbside but they kept their their trash transfer site permitting. I don't know anything about the permitting. I know it's kind of tricky and all this stuff, but they kept it. And the thing is that saved them
because when that strike happened, they were immediately able to flip to having their residents drop off the trash there, right? >> So, it has a lot of advantages for the town. Um, we just have to figure out how we can fund it. And, um, >> so we had a discussion at one point
about recycles. So, is it not illegal you can charge to for a recycle bag basically for That's not illegal. You can charge for recycling. >> I'm sorry. Say that again. >> You can charge for recycling. >> You can charge for anything you have. Yeah. >> So, >> I would not do that because So, this is
where we kind of get tricky. And this has to do, as I understand it, because we're a commonwealth and not a state. So, we have trash bans. So, we kind of regulate the haulers and then the land the landfills and the MURFs, but not the
residents. So recyclables are banned items from the trash. They have to go in recycling. So Mr. Borges, and he's fantastic, if he sees things in the trash that should be recyclable, he might refuse to
take that resident's trash. >> Um because when he goes to tip it, he can get a fine and if it happens enough, they might refuse to allow him to drop there. He could lose his contract. So, it's on the other end of that. >> Okay. >> Um, so yeah, you could do that. You
could charge for it, but the reality is once your residents kind of go, >> then just stick it in the trash kind of thing rather than paying extra for it. Um, >> so Peter, one thing I just asked was, can you charge for recycling? You can. It's not recommended, right? But you can
charge for it because I know we talked about it. So, >> you know, we had talked we had we had I think last year we had talked about, you know, having a flat fee. Rather than calling it a recycling fee, just call it a fee because that way, you know, it's not always, you know, if you want to use it for the transfer station for something else, it's just a trash and
recycling fee, you know, solid waste fee or whatever you want to call it, rather than making it very specific, >> kind of cover other things because again, I'm seeing a lot of things happening like flash floods and all of a sudden, you know, like crazy things happen and I really want you guys to be
able to be flexible enough and to be able to cover everything. So, and trash is really important actually. So, >> thank you for being so available and >> very informative. Very informative. >> Thanks for coming out. Thanks for recommending it, Rob.
>> Oh, no. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we're going to move on to announcements whenever you're ready, Nicole. >> Um, the Dayton Blood Drive is Saturday, August 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Old Town Hall. Um, this is sponsored by the Dyon Board of Health and the
Dayton Police Department. For an appointment, you can visit the redcrossblood.org. The pan mass challenge. The community will come together on August 2nd and 3rd from all corners of the world with one mission to raise funds for cancer research and treatment. Um, be on the
lookout. There'll be riders throughout Dyon. Um, some important roadwork announcements. Horton, um, Oak, Maple, and Maple Swamp Road. The week of August 4th, weather permitting, the first treatment of preservation and
rejuvenation treatment will occur and then August 18th through the 22nd. Also, weather permitting, there'll be a second treatment. This will be crack filling leveling in hot patch. The Dayton's Lion Food Bank distribution will be held next
on Saturday, August 16th. This is located at Town Hall in the lower level. And then the friends of the Dayton Public Library will have their third annual golf tournament. Will take place on Sunday, October 5th at the Swansea Country Club. For registration, you can
contact Kevin Smith at 508-509-2713 or for the park and rexgmail.com. >> Great. Thank you. Uh this is the first of two public inputs. Is there anybody who has anything they want to add at this time? Nobody is. Uh Gwen, how are you? Nobody's out there.
>> No, I'm I'm here. It just took me a minute. >> Okay. Do you have any public input at this time, Flynn? >> Um, well, I just wanted to say I really thought Missy did a um a really great job presenting that and I think there's a lot of room for us to work. I mean, she brought up some things I had thought
might actually I um I'm not in that industry, of course, but it had crossed my mind, things that we might run into, but I think she's really a good asset and it would do us well to be working with her. So, >> she comes to just about every meeting that the uh trash reduction has. uh we
meet once a month and she's always there which uh she has great information and I was glad she was able to come tonight to explain it to the public exactly what what what's going on. >> Yes. The other thing is the uh trash to you know an incinerator
trash to energy plant. I mean it it they say that we need stuff in town. I know we we already have a power plant, but >> I don't know, >> just the things that make you say, hm, you know, I I wouldn't be totally opposed to it. I mean, if everything's
regulated properly, they have to do something and, you know, I'd rather have that than a prison in town. >> Sure. >> So, but thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Town ministries report, please. >> Oh, thank you. Um, I have uh two things
listed, but before I go into the budget alternatives, I want to uh just make you know, we got something from uh Nast uh as as you know, we're looking to rehab the bridge on Pleasant Street. Uh we did have we did uh get grant money uh
for that purpose. Uh but as a reminder, the town did uh put uh put money in the special special town meeting that was in November. So uh there's going to be a public meeting on it held by Mass D. We'll be putting up on the website. It's
u August 12th at 6 PM. It's a virtual meeting. Um so I just want to um let everyone know about that uh that it's it's coming up. So I will be discussing
the budget as we um as we have been been discussing since the uh the end of last budget cycle um 27 budget cycle began two months ago, you know, let's uh so um
I think we're going to have to make a a lot of choices. Some of them may be may be difficult. So, I think it's best start now to have the select men start thinking about help giving us direction.
I want to make sure of myself and my my financial team uh knows we're going in the right direction. to emphasize uh to emphasize this point um as you if you remember at um annual town meeting um I
have an estimated budget balance of fiscal year 27 right now as a negative 954 let's call it 955,000 almost a million um you know at at annual the good news is at annual town
meeting we were looking closer to 1.1 1 uh pilot agreements have come are are coming in. So that's about 180 182,000. So that that's what brought it down to uh to the n the 954.
Okay. So um as we have been discussing how do we close how do we close that short form? So um uh one is and they're not mutually exclusive. Uh we're going to be discussing the enterprise fund. Uh
this is a full job so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that. There's the debt exclusion. There's a capital exclusion and service and personnel reductions and we're going to be discussing that at at the next selectment meeting. So I want to focus
um focus mo mainly on on the uh on the debt exclusion uh in in this presentation. you know, just very quickly on the enterprise fund. Again, Miss did a fantastic job, but um some, you know,
some numbers that um although we did a quick analysis, uh these numbers probably aren't going to change very much. As we know, the um this year's uh this year's budget number is going to be uh like 900 950,000.
um you know we next year's trash number should be o over a million dollars. So we spend a significant amount of money um for for tra for waste. Um that breaks down to about $360. The average cost
$360 per per household. uh as as um as Missy uh presentation showed, we cannot we cannot rely exclusively on bad
stable revenue sources need to be identified. Um and um if if we decide to go uh re um to present we present an enterprise fund to the public um we I I
need to know sooner rather than later. um especially if we're looking at a special town meeting in November because um as illustrated there's significant cost analysis we need uh to do uh to identify revenue sources uh and to
really identify uh do we want to use do we want the whole um all the funds which are associated with with waste removal in an enterprise fund we want to do a carve out uh what do we want to do.
But but the reality is sanitation of course will eventually outpace other services. So we have to um we really have to make a make a decision on this. What do we want to do? >> Can I ask a question on that? >> Yeah, of course. >> Is so if you want direction from the
selectman, is this going to be on our next meeting or when are you expecting us to talk about this? >> Well, I'm I'm hoping at not not the next meeting. I mean if you want to say it now, you can say it now. Uh but I I have mi I had missing here and just just so
you could start start digesting it. Uh, I was hoping to start having really get some some direction at the August 27th meeting because then we would have gone through all all the choices uh all the choices and then we
could start you know do we want to focus on one you know what happens if this doesn't go through what what are our next steps >> okay >> so you know this I want the board to to really take an opportunity
Um you obviously always available questions questions now but we have a significant we're facing a significant shortfall and you know again we have to make decisions and and
sooner sooner rather sooner rather than sooner rather than we don't want to be ashy you know all of a sudden we have to come up come up with money fast. Could you get us that answer though on maybe from DLS or whatever contact would be to
see if you can fund if there's a deficit in your enterprise fund through taxation. No, you can >> you can Oh, >> can that's part that's Yeah, that you can build the model or um you can either
collect more money than you or less money than you need, but that short is is made up from uh from from taxes. That's part of your model going in. >> Um you don't want to use taxes when you're halfway into it. You have to,
right? So you have to realize um what your costs are going to be. So again that's part of the analysis. So we were looking at if we fund the whole right sanitation enterprise fund through um through user fees uh we have to make
sure we have a stable source if we just sort of do it again as I mentioned earlier if we do a carve out you know um you know as we'll say the the the borgous money is we just collect the enterprise fund
for that and the and the rest we still taxes is we could do that. So I think um it's these are the things um as I want you to digest and and and consider but we have to identify
right we have to identify the revenue sources whether it be through general funds whether uh be through bag you know general funds bad prices and and and fee uh or you know one or the other we
have to We have to do that analysis. So we have to again it it it can't be relied on one source. We have to use one or two or or three sources as as was presented. >> Thank you. Um again uh just uh just to illustrate
um how how much uh how much uh sanitation removal affects uh affects the town's budget. If um say if we removed it from uh from general funding um we would be in the positive 27,000
almost $28,000. So it is a it's a significant service uh we you know we supply uh to the people of people of Tyon but it comes at a significant a significant cost. So again
this is something um I think we need we need to consider how do we how do we manage to the next one? >> Sure. >> There's no good. No, I know. >> So, um next uh the budget options. This
is this has been this has been up a lot is the debt exclusion. Um again, um we carry a significant portion of of debt within within the general fund and we all we all know what it is. We've
identified it. The first one is is uh Bristol is Bristol Plymouth. Uh the member towns are are on the hook for about $180 million. Um we uh in the past and I I use this
number because I rather for budgeting purposes I'd rather go with the high number than than the low number. Um, in in the past, our full um our full obligation uh was uh was about $910,000
a year. That was with when we had a full, you know, 8% of the student population was 8.1% of student population was from Bon. Um it was going on a higher interest
rate. I'm going to say this, the last uh the last uh schedule we received um you know it was based on that that enrollment of set almost off percentage point less. They got a little better
they got a little better amount um on on the interest rate and you know it's going to be approximately $700,000 but it it fluctuates and for you know for illustrative purposes for tonight
just again for consideration um I I rather I rather go higher if this is something we're looking to do you know I'll really get the you know get the best numbers we can in addition In addition to
uh BP uh is the Bristol Aggie. This is something that happened a few years ago. Uh the member towns are on again are on the hook for about $52 million. Um talking talking about fluctuation. Last year our you know our obligation was
$167,000. This year it was $29,000. again because of um you know what we what we owe is is based uh on the amount uh the number of students which we have.
So again um as long as we keep this um in within pay general fund it's going to put a tremendous um tremendous strain uh on our revenues and the services we can provide.
Again, a little history. Um, I know this board has brought it up many times. Um, this question went went before the voters in November of 2024. Uh, a presidential election. A lot of ballots were cast.
Almost the 4,900 ballots were cast. It was a relatively close vote. Um, for for the BP debt. 2221 was opposed. 2159 were in favor. and maybe not as close for the um for
Bristol 2313 or oppose a 20167 favor in anticipation of the possibility of uh of introducing a debt exclusion again with some foresight put together uh as
to um if the town has the warrant article to see the town accept the provisions of chapter 53 um 53 section 18B. Again, it allows the town uh to put out mailers and explain what a yes vote means and what a no vote
means again to um using using the high numbers. Uh and this I ran this through u through the DLS just so you see you know what is the cost what is the cost to to to each
household for you decide to get that exclusion. So um if I I broke it out between two debts BP debt was the lagging debt but um the total number would be the average
taxpayer and this is this is based on the average house average assessed value of $59,000 would be 31059 at annual cost >> just the high end
>> that using the high meaning if our BIRL gets right looking about like 1.1 $1.1 million if uh but it it could be less but I wanted >> so a wild card as small as it might be
is the percentage that we have students going to BP um why did it drop a percent this year do you know >> well yeah I mean obviously that's ultimately the reason why but are they
just no rhyme or reason to it dropping. So >> is doing a better job at attracting students. >> Okay. Um >> so that number can fluctuate by about $100,000. >> So just um um just so the the
projections I have now based on on the on the schedule um you would nine the 910 or let's say 975 would cover both >> on the SK on the schedule. Yeah, >> you know, if everything holds steady, right,
>> we're looking at it would be about approximately $200,000. $200,000. >> BP also added Freetown to um Right. They did. We're competing with more students. >> They could have uh taken from the pool. >> What's the criteria for getting into BP?
It is it you have to be accepted. You apply and you >> apply. Yeah, you have to apply and be accepted. >> Okay. >> A lot of Yeah. A lot of vocational schools now they they interview the students. So they want to make sure they
have a you know a caliber of student who um who it's not academic but they want to make sure that that these kids they take in are are serious about what they about about about the
trades they select because a lot of the trades they use use some serious equipment and they want to make sure >> Okay. >> Didn't it just move over though to a lottery based system? in the state >> was that that's crystal >> it's I believe it's all >> voteex okay
>> so yeah >> number of people apply and then it's >> and then it's >> a lottery from there >> okay >> but that just passed so that will be for this this I don't know if it is effective probably for this maybe this year >> and I wonder how they'll like like the
way it used to be what Ralph was describing you wouldn't have to look at how many you're taking from each town because you're looking based off criteria, but when you're looking at a lottery system, are they going to decide we need X, Y, and Z since they're looking to diversify?
>> That'll be interesting to see. >> Yeah, >> I'll reach out to the >> work in our favor. >> See how they their plan is. >> Yeah. >> So, that would, you know, in a way that might, you know, we will know what
percentage every, you know, every year. ahead of us, you know, and we may raise the number, but at least we'll know what it is over time. So, um again, given given the current numbers, next year's um uh u next year's
number for um for the for the our debt obligation is about $810,000 given the numbers I had gotten last year. So if we have debt excluded, our our estimated budget balance would be
minus 144. So honestly, if I was looking at that today, I would be happy, you know, if I knew that was going to be that was going to be the number we could start fig. But uh just just as an illustration for
both the sanitation enterprise fund and for the debt exclusion uh how much how much those two items affect affect our budget. They're they're definitely big ticket items. Uh they put a they put
us significant they put a significant strain on the budget as we keep it in the general fund. uh one point that I'd like to share which will bring us into the capital exclusion um because uh because of those two factors uh you
know a lot um you know last year we and actually two years in a row we had a dip in dip into free cash I've made a commitment that we're not going to use cash for the for these purposes for any of those purposes this year fiscal year
27 um also um as a result of uh of the strain that puts on our budget, you know, we have to put you know, we put capital needs on the back burner and there's only so long we can there's only so long we can do that. So you know, you
know, we we squeeze the budget. We did a we did a good job last year and squeezing it. Hopefully um hopefully we won't have too many ill effects as a result of it, but there's only so long we could so long we could do that.
Which brings me to my next point. So something something uh to consider. It doesn't really uh doesn't relieve pressure on on the budget, but
it does it does uh eventually it it will it will help us because it relieves pressure on our capital means something called the capital exclusion. Very similar to a debt exclusion. But the thing with with a capital exclusion is
um you don't you don't put it out. uh the bond we don't pay any interest rate on it. It's for one year. So it's a short it's a short window and we raise the funds
exclusively exclusively for for capital capital needs. Um just again to illustrate the point um if school of $500,000
the um the average taxpayer would pay for that one year they would see an increase in their tax 1347. But this we could get, you know, we can get some things uh we could get some
things done. You know, I'd be um reintroducing the capital capital committee because we have to identify what our capital needs are. And um you know, the lower hanging fruit. Uh this is this is probably this is probably the
best uh the best way we could uh we could do it. Um again, it's just um it's just for one year. Um, you know, if we identify, you know, if there's a need, you know, need to buy a new a new police
a police scooter, if you need to buy highway equipment, we need capital uh capital maintenance repairs to our to our to our buildings. Um, this is probably the best way for us to um find the money.
>> How much would it raise, Ralph? >> That would raise $500,000. Um so a debt exclusion is a ballot question based on the vote of selectment. So this is also a ballot question. >> Yeah, it's the same. The difference is that this is exclusively for for capital
needs and it's just one year. We don't go out we don't we don't do bands uh a bond anticipation notes doesn't go out. There's no interest associated with it. So the money we collect is goes goes
straight to to capital and that's why I have for for this week's budget. >> Good job. Again, I I want you to think about if you have any questions now or or as we
go, please do not hesitate to contact me because these we we have to make these decisions here. >> Well, you certainly have given us a lot of information. I think um we each have to digest it and um talk about it in
earnest. She want to wait till the 27th of August >> if I >> or whatever the date is. >> I think um the 27th but we'll have a we'll have a fuller picture. >> Yeah. um given given our next given our next conversation.
Uh but you know again it's uh you know if we decide to go with an enterprise fund do we do the whole sanitation or do we do a car? If we decide to go with the debt exclusion do we ask for the whole
debt? Do we ask for just BP? what you know what we do we just ask for for you know for this leg if we decide to go with with services personnel reductions you know what what is that going to be
do we do a combination if we you know take one from column A one from column B one from column C you know how you know how is that going to go but all of this um you know is if we go exclusively
with sanitation and respond or debt that exclusion. And if it doesn't pass, what I'm going to be presenting next week is we we're going to have to go to service and personnel reduction and
and I want you and the general public to understand what that would look like. Okay. Um, suckling goals, you want to do that, too? >> Um, I I I I wanted to keep this on the
agenda. Um, because I know Chico had had put it on. Um I had again I had given you my thoughts on it at at the last at the last meeting. Um and I don't um uh
to sort of do a to do to do a long range plan um to incorporate the goals and selectments goals and the department head goals and um look through all the all the studies again that we have done
to incorporate that and this is just an overview and sort of uh make sure we articulate those goals and and and have them written down and then um every year do an annual review of them and and make
sure we print them in the war. So so so knows where we're you know uh the direction where we're going. So I think this was more of a discussion for the board as to um
what direction do you want to go with this? do we want to look at this uh take another look at this again maybe um you know let's get past the budget options and in September take a look at it or or do you want me to bring it up again at
the next meeting so um I think this is I want to get your direction as to as to where do you want to go with with the goals >> every year we used to have a retreat um with prior
um town manager and um we used to discuss the goals at that uh but we used to also incorporate it with uh their review uh which is due in September for you
um because some of those goals become >> right >> your goals. Okay. Do you guys have any comments about the goals? Um, well, I brought it up a couple meetings ago and we haven't all been
together since, right? Uh, so, uh, I thought it would be good if the board maybe over the next couple months if we all worked together on common goals that we share. And I think Ralph's comments at the last meeting
really complemented the idea and he brought some really good ideas forward too about getting other department goals too and seeing how we can incorporate that and longer term goals and and even Ralph had town administrator goals and um since then and since Ralph had his
comments at the last meeting I saw a lot of town websites actually have their selectman's goals on there >> and instead of us just you know things end up on the agenda and we make our decisions on it. Um, having our own direction and sales and
guidance too on where we want to go. I think it makes sense. So, I think >> it made sense that we I said this at the last meeting that I talked about it. It makes sense. We haven't done anything for the past year because the budget has been overarching and our main focus. But
now, um, I think we have we've been talk for the budget, we've been talking about kind of the same things. So, I think we'll we'll be okay when we're making our decisions. So, I don't think it would hurt for us to talk over the next few meetings on some goals. >> I have some >> that um I could introduce real quick if
you don't mind and then >> maybe that will help us in future meetings as we talk just things I came up with thinking about I guess. So um one fiscal health of course um working on a course of action to deliver
the best services without imposing unnecessary burdens on our taxpayers. Um we're already doing that and we're working on it hard. So we could already put a lot of act actionable items on there. Community engagement and communication. I think we could increase
the focus for the town through the board of selectman to increase communications through the town. you've already done a lot of that with your um with your videos and housing. Um preserving housing and open space and growth
um growth is coming to Dyon and we're a community that values open space and farmland. Um so I would like to see Dyon be a leader in implementing impact fees to ensure builders pay their fair share and the town gets what it deserves. And
my last comment is I saw at the last meeting a resident brought up a mission statement. I have um experience making mission statements and I find it helps with my day-to-day decision- making and it it I have it in my current role. We made one as a team. We have it on the
website and we actually use it to make decisions. So I I like the idea of in the goal setting process to craft the mission statement as well. And um I think it just all adds value to our town and what we do and what we stand for.
>> You have anything you want to add at this point? >> No, those were excellent. One of them um that I had Mark that you hadn't mentioned was business um and growing business >> and not so much um more so homebased businesses because we
had at one point I can't remember they changed their name the Dyon interi whatever they are now he come and they yeah they had spoke about how many inh home businesses we have and how we could influence having more in home businesses
and how we could maybe make revenue off of that. I like that. >> Isn't that going to be one of your discussions, Peter? Did you have that one already? >> No, tomorrow. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> But yes, it was a list of the questions.
>> Yeah. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, one of the things I inadvertently done had done was slip uh skipped over selection reports. Are there any? >> I don't have any. No. >> Okay. So, uh, no harm done. Uh then we'll move on to old business review,
discuss and act. Uh the superintendent had called me about a week actually. I'm sorry he didn't call. I think he sent an email that there is a position that needs to be filled that um the board of slemen have to decide who wants who on the board or Ralph or or our appointed
designate uh needs to be on this committee of three. Uh do you want to explain all Ralph or >> Yeah, absolutely. So um as you as you may recall um your last meeting meeting before uh the um the board of the uh
building the school building committee came before this before this board and said that they had selected um an an OPM anonymous project manager for the for the Dyon Elementary School project. The
next step in that is working working with the with the OPM. It's it's designer selection. So what this is is um is the uh designer selection. Um it's it's it's very because of because it's a
MSCA project the steps are very prescribed. So there are three uh they look they have three individuals uh the designer selection team. Uh one is the someone from superintendent
school committee and a design from the town. It's the CEO of the town or their design. The um I this is you know my fault. I thought we had a
little more time to do this. I was going to present it at the August 13th meeting, but um but they gave us the schedule and uh they're looking for um someone to be appointed sooner rather than later. They're going to be submitting
they call it the redline version of the of the uh of the draft uh designer proposal on 14. So they want to they don't have to have it named, but they want to kind of have it wrapped up. uh the whole process has been and and I
know select Chico was there as well. Um they feel that if we when we move forward with this they want to move forward in the selection process as as quickly as possible not to rush it but to save time on the front end so we save
time on the back end and that translates into into real. So um so again the um typically it would be um it's either the a member of the select
member of the selection or or they're designated which I would be the likely candidate. >> Well let's work this way. Does anybody want to do it? >> I'm comfortable with with with Ralph. So
am I. Uh, you don't mind, Ralph or? >> No. >> Okay. Uh, then can we have a motion on the floor? >> I'll make a motion for our town administrator, Ralph Taco, to be the designate for the designer selection
panel. >> I'll second that. >> Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? I >> uh remote. >> Thanks. Yes. Uh, just keep adding to your plate. >> Okay. uh remote participation zoom policy.
This is supposed to be the second reading. >> I just want to say thank you to Ralph and Karen and team for making this policy. I think it's well done and um it's there for good reason. So thank you.
if I range as you go through just something putting this together actually from Zoom talking about um talking about
Zoom security digital platform security and they stated that um you know it shouldn't as we do because we make this a public meeting shouldn't put the shooting the Zoom link um in the agenda.
So, if someone wants the Zoom link, they could um they could they can request it and um she did a sort of a quick survey that um let me back up a second. We are not obligated
to um to have these meetings on on Zoom. So um as we got this from from the governor's office of public body is not required to provide remote access to a meeting. The meeting is held in a physical location that is open and accessible to the public. Nonetheless,
we encourage public bodies to provide multiple methods of access to a meeting when feasible. um maybe um further consideration if we can enact uh the Zoom Zoom policy but um I'm
just uh putting it out there. We don't have to have uh the public meeting on Zoom. We can't provide access. Uh we can't provide access. Uh well, we have to say Missy couldn't be here to make the presentation. Um we would have it on
Zoom. If uh if um someone is um disabled and they need to come on Zoom, we would give them the access on Zoom. If an individual, you know, the public say, "Listen, I want to go but I can't." We would give them access to Zoom. we wouldn't necessarily just um for lack of
a better term broadcast it so anyone could choose so we so we would have more control access something to think about um I know we're going to have one more read of the zoom policy if that's something that you want to consider
something we could put on the next agenda I >> I don't see a reason to change Um other than that one incident that we had
what four five months ago um it's just >> going to limit the knowledge that gets out there if we >> limit Zoom. Um, well, I'm going to say not necessarily because we have it's it's cable, it's recorded,
out there, but again, it's it's coincidentally we we received this um from from the digital platform. So, I wanted to make the board aware of it in case, you know, in case you did um you
did want consider that you know we have the policy now we can keep it going as it is >> right >> or not so >> okay um this is a review discussion act so really it's just accepting that as a second reading
>> yes >> okay >> I'll make a motion for the second reading for the remote participation zoom policy >> I'll second that >> motion has been made and seconded any discussion all those in favor Hi. Hi. >> Uh, new business, a vacation carryover
request. >> I just wanted to point out as confirmed account all the everyone request requesting carryover is is within their contractual agreement. >> Fire is 96 hours.
>> They have right two weeks. Those weeks are 48 hours. That's right here. >> That's 96. Yep. >> Okay. I have no issues with it. This unic >> No, we have dedicated employees. >> Yeah, >> they're they are at work.
>> So, I'll make a motion to approve the vacation carryover request as presented. >> I'll second that. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? I >> approval of the warrants. I'll make a motion to approve warrants
paid by July 1725 3A25 for $141,58642 for B25 for $73,97464 and warrants paid by July 24th 25 4 A26 for $122,839
$9.93 and for B26 for $274,57926 cents. >> I'll second that. >> Motion has been made and second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Acknowledgements. We've already done approval of board of selectman's regular
meeting minutes for July 9th. >> I'll make a motion to approve the board of selectman regular meeting minutes of July 9th, 2025. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? Sorry. >> Oh, no. I've got one more.
>> Guys, have anything you want to add here for the show? >> Do you have anything else? >> Well, I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. >> No, it's okay. Now's the opportunity. No, I think um just kind of going back
to that enterprise fund or the debt exclusion and I I think the best course of action, I know it's not going to be an easy thing, but really just trying to educate the public. It's going to be a hard sell in my opinion if you take too
much away, like if you're taking away the trash and trying to get them to pay for the school. I mean, it's all like it's you always got to play part of the psychological game, too. But, um, I think there's a lot of good information out there right now, but I think the big key is trying to educate the town's
people, um, about the what what the potential best option could be. So, that that's my two that's my two cents with that. And I probably had a few other things I probably should have wrote it down, but um, I was just trying to pay attention to what everyone was saying. But, um,
>> Sure. I appreci appreciate the job you guys are trying to do for the town. >> Thank you. Well, this two weeks now, you can take your notes and and come back. >> Yeah. Although I I won't be able to make that meeting in two weeks, unfortunately. I have a conflict, but I'll I'll I'll be around for another
one. Oh, and and about the Zoom, um sometimes like it is better to be there in person, but it's a great option to be able to um you know, even if I get home late, I can jump on the meeting and and still try to to participate. I'd like to
see a little bit more participation. And I'm not familiar with what happened several months ago um with Zoom, but I know there's a a lot of different parameters you can put on it so that you can only allow the certain people to come in if you think it's some nefarious
person trying to cause trouble and things like that. But um I'm sure you guys will make the right decision. So just that's that's all. And again, thank you. And um yep. >> All right. Thank you for your kind words. Okay. Any other public input?
That's it. All right. Ajournment, please. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Uh motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. And we are closed.