WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 2
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=Bnw1c1i4WU0
Video-2: youtube.com/watch?v=GAWpThjUV0Q

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: Bnw1c1i4WU0):
- 00:00:00: Life Insurance, FSA Options, and Vendor Considerations
- 00:05:18: Approval of Sick Leave Bank Policy Implementation
- 00:06:26: Committee Appointment for Reviewing Main Street Property
- 00:10:13: Middlesex County Inter-Agency Mutual Aid Agreement Review
- 00:12:59: Cost Allocation Policy for Enterprise, Revolving Funds
- 00:21:24: Community Path Feasibility and Design Contract Approval
- 00:23:38: Library HVAC Replacement Contract Approval Process
- 00:38:54: Review of 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
- 00:40:55: Public Comment - Question from Joan about Warrant

Part 2 (Video ID: GAWpThjUV0Q):
- 00:00:00: Meals Tax Discussion: Revenue Impact and Offset
- 00:02:53: Meals Tax Funds Allocation: General vs. Economic Uses
- 00:05:22: Committee Support and Clarification of Tax Increase
- 00:07:46: Understanding the 0.75% Food Tax Impact
- 00:10:49: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget: Challenges, Revenues, Levy
- 00:16:17: Cost Allocation Policies for Funds and Departments
- 00:17:09: Expense Increases, Budget Categories, Debt Service Breakdown
- 00:20:13: Budget Reductions and Potential Impacts on Services
- 00:25:46: Revenue Aggressiveness and Deficit Discussion
- 00:27:26: School Budget, Chapter 70, State Advocacy
- 00:31:14: Senator Contact and Future Meeting Schedules
- 00:32:10: Meeting Discussions: Public Hearing, Elections, Open Positions


Part: 1

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--------- option for us to consider is changing our life insurance carrier from Boston Mutual to Mutual of Omaha and also increase that benefit. So, right now we offer $2,000 life insurance policy to

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employees, 12 employees. Um this would increase that to 10,000 at a dim the dimminimous cost to the town um of about $480 um per person. >> No. Okay. In total.

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>> So I in my view it makes a lot of sense and um and so I wanted >> the switch you mean? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So I wanted to bring it to the board for just for you considerations

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and that's the the dental there was um the recommendation was to stay with our provider. So um and then we currently have a um

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an agreement with CAS for our flexible spending account and so we're considering our options right now for that. Maya has um Maya has an option for an FSA HR that um for Blue Cross. So I

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believe that we might sort of um which I think I'm still evaluating but I think it's more affordable as well. So we're saving some money and right now nobody's taking advantage of the past um for the FSA. So we don't have anyone

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using it and we're paying for for fees. So yeah, um what would be the reason why they're not using it especially the FSA in my opinion because task is not an easy vendor to

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communicate with and work with. That's my first that's my first >> I will echo that >> they do not make it easier and um I think with another vendor um a more customer friendly vendor we may see

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better um and more education and so that people are aware what it is and what's a benefit track I think um I think we may see more participation And then I'm just going to ask and then of the change in life insurance. Okay.

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So we're going to move from Boston Mutual to Mutual of Omaha. At least that's what we're we're projecting and we're going to increase the benefit amount from 2 grand to 10 grand. Now is that an automatic transition or do

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people need to go through a physical evaluation before the new insurance carrier pick them up? I don't think it's an automatic, but I they I've not been told that people have to go through a um physical a physical. They not been told

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that. I'm not 100% sure enough to be >> Yeah. Sometimes they do. And so, you know, I I guess, you know, this is something that >> they shouldn't for like open enrollment stuff. They won't. They won't for the

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basic life insurance policy with um at least with Boston Mutual. Yeah. >> Mutual of Baha may be different, but again, life insurance at like $10,000 is that's not a real high number. If it were the $2 million policy, it might be different and they might want to reduce

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their liability. Um but I have a small number for consideration. if you want me to get that before you >> No, we'll vote it through and then if that becomes an issue um we'll take it under reconsideration at that point. All

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right. But I'm just I'm just flagging it because >> typically in the past when we well not here but when we changing life insurance carriers we're looking for either you have you been to the doctor in the last

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year and so I I don't I I but two grand is not a lot of money >> it's it's actually >> no when they when they I mean it is going to cost us the change in cost is

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$438. >> Yeah. I mean >> to go from 2 to 10 to me it's a no it's a no-brainer. >> Yeah. >> So I move to approve um offering the following supplemental benefits to

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eligible employees. the Altus Vision 150 insurance plan through Altus Vision at the employee sole expense and changing the town's life insurance carrier from

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Boston Mutual to Mutual of Omaha and increasing the benefit amount from 2000 to $10,000 effective July 1, 2026. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I

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sick leave bank policy. >> These are common practices in a lot of municipalities. So, not a bad policy to have as an option for folks. >> Yeah. a debate on it, but

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>> I don't care. I mean, people are willing to do it. I think they should be able to do it. >> Yeah. >> There's no no impact on us or the other. questions, motions. >> No, I'm just um Are we talking about sick bank? Yeah. >> Yeah.

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>> Move to approve the sick bank leave policy as presented. >> Second. >> In favor? Hi. Hi. >> Okay. 476 Main Street, Adhot Committee appointment. So, this is putting a small group of

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um essentially department heads or at least someone from each department to um review the property across the street as it is in chapter 61 and the owners are looking to remove it from that. and considering that as a central piece of

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property in the town center, but thought we should investigate this a little bit more. And so that's what that committee will be doing. And that's it. >> So our members are Jason, Leah. >> No, not me.

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>> You're not on it. >> You didn't appoint me. >> I thought we put you in it. >> We didn't. >> Are we doing that tonight? So it was it's um select board member. >> Yeah. >> Historic commission member Davis Davis >> is going to serve on that, right? Yeah.

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>> And then Pinecom, Alan Cheney is going to serve um economic development. I believe Anakah is going to serve. >> Who? >> Anak. >> Anak. Okay. >> What's your last name? >> C.

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I can't say it again. S E L >> S C L >> S E L >> S E L >> S E L >> I N G E R >> So that's for Am I missing somebody? >> I'm on it. >> Planning. >> One, two, three, four. >> Oh, yeah.

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>> Jeff Palace. >> Jeff Palace from planning. >> Jeff Palace from planning. Yes. >> So there were five letters. >> That's five. >> Economic development. >> That's Anaka. >> Anaka >> is Anaka. Yeah. Um, okay.

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>> Jason, do you want to be on this board? >> Um, I'm okay with the decision of the board. If if you think I could I would be helpful on it, I'm happy to help. I'm happy to just support it, you know, and not be a member. Whatever Whatever. >> So So right now, the way this is laid

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out five people. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> It's probably a pretty good number. >> That's right. One, two, three, four. You actually have a favor for >> you make four of >> he makes he Jeff

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>> Leah Allen Anakah and Jeff five >> we >> Yeah I But Jason you were going to be involved. >> Yeah I'll come support or Yeah. Yeah. I'm happy to help you. Happy to help. I don't I'm fine but I think >> Okay.

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>> We all set. >> Yeah. >> Move to a point. Leah Bassbains, Ian Davis, Alan Cheney, Anakah Selinger, hope I said that right, and Jeff Palace

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as members of the 476 Main Street ad hoc committee. >> Second. >> Those in favor? >> I. >> Do we good? >> There's a clock ticking on that now, right? >> There isn't. >> There isn't. Okay. >> No.

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>> No. So they need to have a bonafide offer and engage in a PNS before the clock starts to tick. >> So they have one check box there but not two. >> Yeah, that's not even a bonafide offer. It was simply I guess it was someone sort of

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>> kind of fishing. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. She wanted just to let us know that there there is >> interest out there, but this was not particularly one that was >> they were considering. Yeah.

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>> But again, we want to, you know, I'm not going to drag it on forever because, you know, you never know how things can change, >> right? >> All right. Very good. So, next up, we have the Middle Sex County Inter agency

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mutual aid agreement. >> So, this is something we do every year. >> Yeah. This is something you have done since I've been here. There have there were some updates. Nothing. It's looking the fleece shoot substantial. Um so

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they just they're asking each community um involved to to just have the select board approve it again uh just to allow for um visiting departments to have the ability

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to provide mutual aid and vegetable and vice versa. >> Yeah. How does this and if we don't know we don't know how does this interreact or interface with nemlech or is this nele this is not nec um you

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will on your next board agenda you will have something very similar directly related to them black okay but this is separate from >> okay >> and and so we're um we're going to enter

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into this agreement and are the towns in the agreement going to be specified or is it just a blanket? Right now there's no >> there's no reference to what specific town. >> No. So I know and I think it was I think you're right. It was um

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it was drafted differently last time, but in this case they're they they're not doing it that way. They're just having each town individually um sign it. So, um I can get you the the the list of communities that that have

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signed it, but um it's not incorporated into the language of the of the agreement this time. >> It so is this competing against NEM? >> No, no, no, no. So, this is this is entirely separate from them, Mike. So

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this allows like you'll see um in the purpose and authority you'll see the type of incidents that it allows um allows >> you know outside agencies to come into dunable and like I said by star but this

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isn't um >> okay >> this isn't the same as >> all right Eric's okay with all those I take it >> I move to approve and authorize the police chief and the chair of the select board to sign the Massachusetts inter

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agency mutual aid agreement sponsored by the Middle Sex Chiefs of Police Association. >> Second. >> Those in favor? >> I here's another mouthful for you. the cost allocation policy for enterprise

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funds, revolving funds, and community preservation act. >> So, we've been working the last several months, as you know, between the advisory boards, life board, and internally

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to balance our FY27 budget. And so in doing in going through that process, we've tried to uncover every possible um option that exists for um reductions in expenses

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and alternative revenues and enhancing revenues. And so one of the things that was done this year was um some communication with our enterprise funds, our evolving funds, those departments

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who administer evolving funds and >> uh this community preservation committee >> around helping to offset costs directly related to the administration of each one of those. And so, um, this policy that you have in front of you was

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drafted and sent to me by the town accountant, which essentially allows us to, um, look at those funds I just mentioned, that appraise, revolve, and CPA, and, um, utilize some of those funds to

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offset general fund expenses that are directly related and tied to >> those purposes. Yep. Got it. >> Um so the CPC has approved um their uh

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allocation. I kind of went through and put together some um spreadsheets on the proper allocation and costs, but the best my best um my best effort to do so. The

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water um the water board approved fair number um board of health. I'm in discussions with but I don't think they've taken a formal vote but they have um re reacted positively with me on that and the wreck revolving fund um

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I'm still working with them on it. Um I modified their budget slightly but um they anticipate having to use some like revolving farm funds to help offset w costs. So um so you know in all it it

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was I think successful and um is revenue that's going to go directly to help us back separate 27 and beyond. >> Yeah. Get it. >> One question on in direct costs is you know like you so you're categorizing the

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different departments that a revolving fund may utilize right on the page two indirect costs. So like IT, human resources, legal services, insurance and sets. Did you also call out like public safety? Um what about like town

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administrator time? >> Well, yeah, he you account for that. >> So I did account for my my time um and other and other staff time. >> So catch all there. >> Yep. Yep. Um >> what was the first one then you said?

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>> Public safety. >> Public safety. Yeah. I didn't really >> because I think of >> Give me an example. Yeah. >> So, you have the the Brew Fest or the Fall Fest at Larder Field. >> The police chief's going to spend some

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time not only to perhaps get a detail there, but also indirectly come and help talk to them about liability necessary for trucks serving food and and things of that nature. >> Um, >> but is that really up and beyond what his job would be? They they do typically

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for specific events they typically have to hire um >> the details um or at least when alcohol serve they they definitely high details. >> Yeah. >> So that's been that's something that they do pay. Um I mean it's something we

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could look at. um for FY27 I think um I think we're okay without doing that but something we could look at I mean >> the rec so things like the water enterprise fund

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um the trash revolving fund >> they have like an a consistent revenue stream that they know is coming in because they're billing you you know, they're billing water rates and they're billing the trash feed. >> Yeah.

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>> So, there's some predictability around um we know we're getting this revenue in. Um we know essentially what the cost is going to be based on the contract and with the general funds costs included,

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you can kind of set a rate based on what you're expecting the cost to be in the wreck revolving. It is slightly different just because um it's dependent on how many programs they

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run, how many people attend which is not a require it's not required. So um so we are I will I will admit we're handle we're working with them a little differently because of that. Um but the idea um the the initial

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discussion around um the hiring of the you'll remember the the senior program and wreck program director >> was that those hours would be funded through the rec revolving based on that

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position basically trying to cover the cost of salary. >> Yeah. >> And so you know there's been some ups and downs on that. I mean, it's four hours a week we we have working on recreation programming. So, um the

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ability to offset all of those costs. Um >> you know, we have to be realistic with that too. So, um and what actually what work can get done in four hours a week. So, um you know, I mean, yeah.

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>> So, uh we're doing our best to do that with with recreation and they're working with us on it as well. So >> do you find that it's going to be tracked over like percentage like if our health insurance goes up 14 whatever percent then the implication there is

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the indirect cost will increase your health insurance line by the 14% is there >> correct >> okay absolutely >> yeah now you know for for me for instance you know what I don't have the alloc allocation spreadsheets in front

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of me but you know for I'll just use CPA they were, you know, let's say I put I forget I think I put 1% of my time >> was spent towards CPA which is much less than that. the actual time is that's spent on CPA, but that's

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the that's the number that was on that we used. And so 1% of salary, 1% of health insurance. Um, and so yeah, if the health insurance costs go up again by 10%, it will be the actual cost based

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on the actual percent of work and then whatever the number is is is the number that will be allocated. >> Okay. Yeah, >> it actually becomes cool to tell a story that way with it because it it the more successful your w group may be, the more the indirects will go up. But there

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should be some balancing act to that. It's actually a nice way to look at it. >> Okay. Move to approve uh the cost allocation policy for enterprise funds, revolving funds, and community

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preservation act as presented. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> Okay. The town center community path feasibility and design contract. Um the committee that was put together

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reviewed how it was like 12 10 applications to do the design work um for the town center lead project. and we narrowed it down to the top three and the committee came up with um the

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recommendation for niche engineering. So their numbers were right, their presentation was great. Um I think they have a really good uh >> absolutely >> understanding for what it is we would be looking for for this project.

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just surprised that she bid it because they she's typically been involved with Boston water and sewer and >> well they've done stuff there too. >> They do um >> there they've done a lot >> they do I just found this out through this process but they do um planning

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board similar to what Taran does here at brought. >> Oh really? >> Yeah. >> I know. Wow. I didn't think they were doing much of that cuz she's it's a samba business, right? And she's

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involved with the tea and Boston water and so a lot like immersed. So >> they have a pretty diverse project team. >> Yeah. I didn't know that about them. I kind of didn't. But we all said here >> their presentation was >> Oh, I'm sure. Excellent. >> Oh, absolutely.

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>> Exciting. >> And they seem genuinely excited to do this. >> Yes. >> project, too. They came out and they and walked it. >> Their proposal was great, but no, it was good. The process was very good, too, I

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thought. So, yeah, it was >> good. Move to approve a contract with the niche engineering for the town center community path feasibility study and conceptual design plan as

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recommended by the town center community path evaluation committee. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> very good not uh library HVAC replacement contract

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with energy source. Yeah, go ahead. >> It's a chilly topic. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. I'm sweating with anticipation. Bear with me tonight a little bit.

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>> Started drinking yet? Sure. >> So, um you may remember at special I think it was special town meeting um last year um the library

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received uh a CPA allocation to fund replacement of um the HVAC system for the >> records room. the records were. So that was about $58,000 and

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>> that was for two two or four boilers, right? >> No, that was >> what I thought. >> That was one of them. >> Okay. >> Cuz we talked about the math at the special town meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They want to do all four, >> right?

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>> Yeah. So, um, we had as part of the green communities program, um, specifically actually the mass saves program, we had somebody, we had one of the, um,

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national grade subcontractors go out, they called EPCO, EPCO contractors, um, and went out and did a, um, comprehensive building assessment of the library. And so that that included um some

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recommendations on HVAC. >> Mhm. >> Um this what you have in front of you is comes from the CVA that was done and essentially phases it into two.

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Um, it's really kind of a comp it it for me it's been a complicated project to try to pull together because one we've had to face the contract um in the work and two we've had to

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piece together like a variety of funding sources to to be able to >> yeah this thing. So, Energy Source is the is the contractor that we're we're currently working with um to implement this.

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The first phase um for that's in front of you is to uh replace three air handling units. Um, and all total that project for the first

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phase is going to cost $335,000. Um, and it's replacing them with heat pump heat pumps. Um, so I'm just I just want to get this right. Um, after this phase, there will

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still be two air handling units that need to be replaced. That's going to be hopefully, if all of this lines up and the schedule lines up, that will be a green communities request in the future, hopefully in the fall.

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Mhm. >> In order to do that, we need to complete our current green communities project before the fall round, which is the weatherization and LED conversion project, >> right?

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>> That needs to get done before we can apply for another round of green communities. >> So, phase one has to be completed. >> What? Um, no, no, not FA. I mean, so the W weatherization and the LED needs to be

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completed by Okay. >> Um, before the next grant round >> that will allow us to to um apply. >> Okay. >> This FA the phase the HVAC phase phase one um we've had to split into two

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contracts. >> Okay. Yeah. We've had this split into two contracts because part of the funding for this phase is going to be an annual town meeting in West for our capital for our capital um

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allocation. So $45,000 is baked into our capital allocation um for FY27 for this project. We can't sign a contract unless we have funding in

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place to pay for it. >> Yeah. >> So, we need that $45,000 to be approved at town meeting before. So, what I've worked with I know this is comprom sorry and I'm kind of I don't know if I'm doing a good job explaining it, but um

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what we what I've worked with the contractor on is splitting phase one into basically two phases. >> Okay. This first phase is basically the bulk of the work. It's that $191,000 and it's to do the bulk of the work.

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Then there's $42,000 second contract that we can't sign now, but we will be able to sign at the end after town meeting if it's approved. that would basically tie it all together um um the electric

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connections together and also put the um controls in. So they think they can do that at a later phase once the air handling units are I'm sorry the heat pumps are in and um and do it that way. Same contractor.

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>> Same contractor. Same contractor which was going to be in um one contract but because of the funding >> um >> it needs to be two. >> Am I making sense so far? >> Yep. >> Okay.

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>> So for for um the funding of the project uh what did I do? I guess in front of me. Okay. So the funding of the project, we have a variety of sources. So one is

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the CCA fund, housing fund. We received a $75,000 state budget earmarked. >> Um that needs to be spent by the end of the fiscal year. >> The current obisc fiscal year. So this

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project has to be done by the end of this fiscal year. >> Yeah. >> Phase one. >> Phase one. >> Yeah. Phase one. Phase one. >> First part of phase one. Yeah. >> Phase one. Phase one or phase one. >> Phase one. That would be two that are two contract. Yeah.

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>> Um so 75,000 with the budget airmark and then the capital allocation of $45,000 that will hopefully be will be presented and hopefully approved at town meeting. That gives us $178,000.

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The total project cost is $235,000. So, we're left with a balance of $57,000 that we still don't have money to buy. However, we have net meter and credits and we have bal large balances of net meter and

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credits on our >> electric bills from the solar agreement that we entered that the town entered five or six years ago. Is that about right? Yep. So for the net meter and credits, our

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current balance was 97,000, a little over $97,000 all in. So that's across all of our invoices. And there are one. There are eight accounts that they're spread across. So we'll have to do some

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work with National Grid to properly um allocate the net metering credits to the accounts we need them on. However, um there's so there's $97,000 roughly total in credits that we have. We have to

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provide a local match for the LED conversions of about $38,000. So that leaves a balance of $59,000. The balance that we need to cover for the project is $57,000.

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So that's That's the That's the plan that's come together over like honestly months of work just basically pulling it together. >> It's very creative. >> It's a creative way to get a project

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done that's been needed for a long long time >> and to use the net medium credits for something >> and and using leveraging the net meter credits leveraging the mark we got. Um it's

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it's a good project for it's a very needed project for the library. >> Absolutely. And if we do if we get this done right and we get it done um by the end of the year and we get the weatherization LED lighting project done

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will be in line to apply for the last two um units in the fall under for the green communities act and I've talked to them about I was worried because the green communities applications are

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looked upon more favorably if you have a local match. And so initially I'm like, well maybe we have to hold back everything and then just use the CPA funds as the local match and everything else. But they said

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as long as you properly explain what you've done and what you're doing, >> yeah, >> this this will be looked upon favorably. So, um I think we're in good shape to get it to get it done and to move it

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forward. Um the only real question mark is one we we will need annual time meeting to approve the $45,000. Um, that's that's an absolute must of the project won't can't go

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and or I shouldn't say that or we're going to have to get really creative somehow. Um, I don't know where that 45 would come from. And the second is we do not currently yet have national grades approval for the on bill repayment.

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That's just I that won't be an issue. It just hasn't come through yet. Um but given the timing constraints I wanted to get this to you now. Um so the I have drafted a motion for you to consider

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which does condition the contract approvals upon the approval from national drags and the second contract contingent upon approval of the free cash appropriation. >> Yeah. Yeah,

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>> I I I do have just one. >> Yeah, >> they may tie together. >> My understanding of energy source from what I know and I could be all wet that they don't do anything. Everything is is

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sucked out, right? Which is okay. Is are is this chapter 149? >> So, it's it's a really good question. It's um

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so we avoid because it's um >> a national grid sub that's been kind of vetted and bid >> that we don't have to go out through our own procurement. >> Yeah. >> Um I believe and I would confirm as I

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believe that it is prevailing right. >> Yeah. So I I guess my only my only concern is that when if if it is if it's chapter 149, right? Are all these numbers. Oh yeah, we're good with that. >> We're definitely good with that. Okay.

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These energy source does this. They have been extraordinarily helpful with this whole thing and are going to they have assured me that they are going to also help me manage the net meter and credits and

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working with national grid to allocate them properly. >> Right. >> Um they've done this. You can tell just by talking to them they are >> they're talking in my in my view. Yeah. So >> no I don't know >> chapter one and then have they gone I

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mean they've seen the library, right? >> They've gone there several times now >> because that's that's tough work. I mean, those those units are nested together where you got to like walk sideways to go buy them. >> Well, that's one of the reasons they

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phased it this way because after looking at it, they you know better than me, but they basically said to to replace air handling unit two, I think >> you have to remove air handling one. And

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so you can't do one. It makes no sense to do one without the other. So you have to do themselves. >> And so that was one of the reasons it the project's been phased this way. >> That's that is exactly on point. It is just like that. >> Yeah. Yeah.

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>> So all right, here we go. So probably going to need a glass of water here. has moved to approve a contract with Energy Source to install heat pumps at the Dustable Public Library in the amount of $193,161

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and to authorize the town administrator to sign on behalf of the board contingent upon approval of on bill repayment from National Grid. I further move to approve a second contract with

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energy source for installation of heat pumps at the dustable public library in the amount of $42,364 to be signed after May 11th, 2026 contingent upon approval of $45,000

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from free cash appropriation to cover this contract cost at 2026 annual town meeting. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I thank you.

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>> Thank you, Jason. That was very creative >> work on getting something done probably. >> That's Yeah, it's been a project, >> I bet. Um, all right. Last thing. We've got uh review of the 2026 annual town meeting warrant. The warrant's not yet

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closed. >> Nope. It closes on the 30th. This is a draft. I just figured I'd get it in front so you could see what was on it. No action, no nothing. Just um just wanted to get it in front of you. I I know there's I believe there's others

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coming. Um I know I have to add one more. I had a meeting with James Simmons yesterday about cleaning up some of the CPA accounts with um paying all the balances. So um there's an article on

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that that needs to be included. But um this is the this is the Did we have any action on that? >> No action. Just basically information only. Yep. >> What's the 250 for the transportation? That just the trash.

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>> That's the trash. >> It'd be put in parenthesis like barrel program. >> What we really should do is change the bylaw to reflect that it's not >> right. It has to be transfer because that's what the >> still refers to it that way. >> Yeah. >> I saw it. I was like, "Wait,

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>> I know." >> And then I pointed out to you and then I >> We get that all the time. >> Wow. The transfer station's been closed. What are you guys doing? >> We have an audience member with a hand up. >> I see you, Joan. One sec.

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>> We could um I mean, we could add a article. >> Might be a good idea because we do get called on a loss. naming convention, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. I'll talk I'll try to say daughter health. >> Um 174 Pleasant Street is the parcel next

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to the post office. >> Yeah, >> that's a placeholder right now. Mhm. Are we going to end up with 23 articles >> if you add that? >> How many? Um >> 20. There's 22. >> I mean, there may be others, too. I'm

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not sure. You never know what will come in. So, >> okay. We're at least north of >> 21. >> 21. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Joan, you have a question. Can I just Is this on

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the counter website? >> It is. >> It is. >> Yep. >> It's good. >> That's good for now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Cool. All right. Any

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we good? >> All right. Second. Second. All those in favor I see.

Part: 2

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It's not cunative like second, you know, if restaurant does open, we don't want them to then have to change their shortly after opening. >> And then looking also, do you all have the handout that Jeff sort of emailed to you? >> I I do and I believe we I have that

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attached to the invitation, but if we don't, that's we can just proceed. So I mean so going over it um so what we Oh sh on the economic development committee. So um yeah it's

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so part of it was we looked at the surrounding towns that do have it. So airsford Groten Littleton Pepper Shirley Towns and Timsboro Westford the closest town in Massachusetts that does not have it is Ashley. Um, and so

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in the attachment that Jeff um had sent out, there is a link if you want to look up Massachusetts towns that don't know it, but it's um 267 currently. Um and so what that would

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mean really is, you know, 75 75% food tax, you know, is 75 cents on $100. So, we don't anticipate it really affecting current businesses. Um, I don't know if you've noticed if you ever go to Duncan into Pepperald. Have you ever noticed

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that you're it's like I don't know couple cents to me that's more than so you know we're not anticipating that it won't affect our businesses as much. Again, this would also include food trucks that come to October Fest or to

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various events in town. Um we're sort of kind of predicting, you know, concerning that, you know, small Dunkin Donuts can do about $1 million of revenue a year. Um we have not reached

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out to Dunkin Donuts to ask exactly the numbers, but we said conservatively between Farmhouse Cafe, Dunkin Donuts, um you know, Dunible could potentially make some, which is not a lot. And again, looking forward as we're hoping

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to uh attract more uh economic development, you think this could be potentially a way to decrease the tax. Is that sort of a priority? >> Yeah. >> Um yeah, so we're hoping that you'll

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support the warranty. >> Absolutely. So I just have a couple questions and then obviously if any other discussion there just uh um as far as the funds are concerned uh oh do we sort of have anything earmarked or where

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would the funds actually end up like they just end up in the general fund or and then what would be would there uses be earmarked for anything associated like beyond that? Okay, we bring the cash in. Is that is there any intended

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uses beyond just uh funding of the general budget? >> So, as I understand it, you know, that it all goes to the state and then the state returns it to the town. I would I don't know where it goes. >> Yeah. I I don't know if we'd see it

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>> I don't know if we'd see it in our on a charity sheet or if it would come in as local receipts, but it would pretty much come in as one or the other. I don't >> Yeah. >> Can the state take it cuz you know they've been known not to do that. >> All right. And then were there any other

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particular obviously considering they were looking towards developing you know greater economic development within the community? Is there any other uses aside from just support of the general fund that uh that you'd be looking to do with the money? Is there some other way to uh

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bring businesses in those types of things? provide other opportunities for businesses to come to town. Is there anything you were thinking along those lines? That's just general question. >> I think our goal was more to try and offset the tax burden.

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>> Okay. the idea that Dunable does want to attract more restaurants to town that as Anukica said having this in place ahead of time rather than it be

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after after the fact it it just makes it smoother and no other town around us doesn't have it. So it's not like they're going to pick a different category processes. >> Well, and kind of also knowing that with

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the MCO projects that there is potentially one >> commercial uh building that could house an >> there is. Yeah. Um and I guess I'd be a more question for you. If it comes back in via Cherry

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Streets or local receipts, there'd be no additional account maintenance cost associated with that. made no other we wouldn't be you know signing ourselves up for something else where I've got tap more account now is that we have to account for and we wash ourselves out so okay

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those are the questions I had I don't know if you guys have any other >> can you forward the um whatever Jeff did see it >> it was just the form of email but yeah um actually I don't have my laptop

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I believe you have IC connection not >> I don't I don't see it doesn't mean you didn't send it >> I hate Gmail

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do I I really like so much better. Like I can't find anything in June. >> Um tomorrow question. I mean it seems like a good idea and a good time to do it.

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>> It's realistically financially obviously potential $7,500. It's not, you know, it's it's a good first step and obviously something that proves to the concept of, >> you know, uh, >> I think it's good to have in place, like they said before businesses come in. So, it's an expectation rather than

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something we're trying to impose afterwards. >> And the intention is at least to get on to the warrant, I think, to be able to propose that to the taxpayers and just allow the folks to just make that make that determination, right, town meeting. Yeah, it has to be but you know again

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these questions are great because then we can make sure that we >> Yeah, it's just one of those things where uh we sort of our mindset is towards the budget side of things and any additional costs from uh always uh when we have something good comes in is always you know an equal and opposite

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reaction right so uh we always want to be leerary of what happens there so um that's great and I agree that I think it sort of it happens across the board almost every community that's not only around us but um that uh we all frequent on a regular basis and it doesn't really

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impact our day-to-day. This isn't we're not talking about adding a 10% tax on something. It's, you know, something that you're going to notice $10 purchase, but >> talking about I apologize for coming in and I >> How much of an increase

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is a 7% food tax? That would be fair food or meals. >> It's not. It's what's on $100. It's 7.95 75 $100. Again, it's, you know, it's a it's a good start

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and obviously if we do, you know, there is a uh if the first restaurant that comes in here, you know, just >> becomes wildly successful. You know, we'll just have them lined up ready to move in. And >> well, I mean, I think looking at Rotten, they have Chippy, they're both very

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successful. You know, if you look at their online bookings, they're booked. >> You can't get in. I know. Yeah, >> there's no uh random uh date night. You have to plan ahead for that one for sure. Yeah, >> it's nothing. >> That's correct.

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>> Okay. Without anything else, u you know, I I I definitely think it's a good motion. I definitely think it would be something that uh sort of makes sense and anything that can help us out all on something I think that we'd be in support of. So, I don't think we have to take any other

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action associated with it until the warrant is issued. But, >> thank you. >> I appreciate the time and letting us know what uh what we're what's going on over there. I do know there was some other other things you were also looking into with the the cannabis side of things, but uh that was seemed like that was a little bit further down the line

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of ideas and concept. >> So, the state mandates a 6.25% rate on restaurant meals in towns can add up to 0.75% Y that's that's what we we decided to add to reseller research. Literally

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every single town does the max >> 75%. Yeah. So then it's >> so it's combined rate of sub% that's okay I get but at 75 and you move zero a couple times to make that multiplication work

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and then you go okay this isn't your you're my ice coffee might go from 413 to 414 you know the bank and then now they don't have uh pennies anymore it's probably going to round up to 415 anyways they actually don't call them

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taking pennies Exactly. >> They don't call it a milk tax anymore. They call it a food something tax as of 2024 if they changed it. >> Well, again, appreciate the the the time

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and uh joining us here tonight and look forward to seeing that on the warrant and hopefully getting that past the town meeting be very good. Thank you. Uh, and thank you for the work you guys are doing. Absolutely. >> I'm ready. We're going to have to just

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work off the printed copies cuz what's going on with the network? We do have handouts up here if anybody wants a a copy of what we're going to go through. If you guys are gonna you guys you guys gonna stay? You want to hand out?

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You don't have to. We understand. >> Don't pressure. >> Don't share the next. >> Okay, >> I'll move through this really quick because we've gone through a lot of this already. So, I'm not going to delay over some of these points.

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>> Um, so I'll be talking. Uh so we know what the challenges are for for 27 um education assessments. Fix spots are arriving much faster than our revenues are. We're still planning for the

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regional dispatch assessment 28. Included in this budget is still the nine police officer to add to the um grants from the department and then a bunch of contracts that are also arriving faster than revenues. Next slide just gives you an overview of the

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revenues. Um, again, we've been more aggressive in some of our estimates than we have in the past. Um, I think they're in line with with what we've seen the last few years, but still, even still, we are more aggressive with new growth and um,

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and more seats. Next slide just gives you a review of the levy. But may the one thing I point out in this is not only the new growth, we usually estimate at 120, we're at 140 for 27, but also

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the override excess. So that carries to 27. So that's helping us out for next fiscal year. The other obvious thing is excluded debt is significantly increasing. That's the

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that's the EAS project. state aid. Um we're seeing a modest increase of about $11,000 from when compared to 26. That's based on the governor's proposal.

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Our free the next slide's free cash. You see our certification of free cash is steadily increasing. Jason just so the govern the governor's proposal the house proposal and the senate proposal is that like in the middle >> it's probably it will probably end up

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being very very very slightly more than that. Okay that's that's what I've seen last few years but nothing to write home about. So our free cash number uh certification number has steadily increased and because of the fiscal discipline the

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board have um have demonstrated our overall balance has um has increased year-over-year. Um in addition to that even with that higher increase we're also contributing to stabilization and CIP stabilization.

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Um and that's the next slide. So you see um the tenative plan for stabilization funds is $50,000 of free cash for general and CIP stabilization funds. In addition to

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that, I'm hoping the boards will support appropriating $100,000 of PAS settlement funds to each of those stabilization funds. That will get our 27 balance the 550,000

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general stabilization of 200 for our CI. Um the next few slides are basically our financial policies, what we're doing well and what we still have um and where

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we still have improvements to make. Um our free cash we're using to balance is remain the same. We have not reduced it for by 27. That was our goal. Um that's really to be frank the only

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thing where we're struggling with the other um all the other policy goals that we have we've we've hit the mark on. Um which is which is a beautiful thing. That was the intention and I think being

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disciplined towards it is going to help us along. >> Yeah, for sure. So that's we're just at the 105,000. So we just haven't been able to sort of crack that, right? That's not significantly started, but correct. >> We're getting there.

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>> We're getting there. >> So some of the revenue adjustments I um spoke about earlier, I just highlight here and which I think provides a rational basis for that. Um, in my in the original budget that was presented to you, overlay surplus was not included

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in the revenue stream. That's why it's here. Um, that has been um that has been approved by both the select board and the board of assessors. Um, the next slide goes over cost allocations that we've been working on.

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So the select board tonight approved um a cost allocation policy for revolving funds, enterprise funds and the CPA and um based on kind of cost sharing spreadsheets that I uh that I drafted and reviewed with

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um water um board of health and the CPC. Um these have been um formally approved by the water board and CPA CPC. Um I've talked to the board of health. They've

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been um they've been very positive and we've had good discussions about that. I don't think they've taken a formal vote of but they have been fully communicated with and understand rationale. The next slide is um an overview of

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expenses and expect increases. Um we've really done our best on the town side to hold the line on increases and the only increases that are higher than what you'd want I guess is library

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and recreation. Um, a lot of that is based on our IT anticipated IT contract. Um, there's a new our new contract starts September, so the first third of the

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fiscal year and we just bid it and that low bid was just over $36,000. Um, in our budget for this fiscal year, we have $25,000.

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So, it's a significant increase. Um, we got a lot of bids. They were just high bids, unfortunately. So, there was interest. It was just higher than what we what we can afford, but the low bid is essentially in line with what our

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budget is uh planned for 27. So, we're we're in decent shape today. And then insurance and assessments. That's health insurance. That's um that's pension and um and that's general liability

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insurance. So that's that increase is largely driven though by the pension increase that we that we're seeing. Next slide just breaks down the expenses in another way just so you can see it um

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broken down by municipal salary operations and insurance and assessments. So our m municipal operations are actually we we've cut those seeing actually decrease in funding. Municipal salaries

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are going up 2.75% which is reasonable. insurance assessments is the tough one. And then we're seeing a huge increase in debt and interest, but remember all that debt is is excluded. So that doesn't put pressure on our operating.

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So overall, we're seeing a 5.81% increase. The schools altogether, we're seeing a 6.15% increase. This next slide just is a visual to break it down into budget categories

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which I'm not going to go through unless you want me to do this. The next slide is debt service which breaks down the debt service. So you can see um the schools in the town again that's really driven by the

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increase is driven by the past projects. the next slides which again I don't know that you'd want me to go through each in individually and in detail but the next three or four slides go through each budget category and show you where what

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has been reduced um based on department requests in my non-administrative recommendations. So um in total for general government almost 23,000 was reduced

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for public safety 100 almost 147,000 was reduced for public works almost 250,000 was reduced um education under almost 105,000

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human services 9,200 library parks Okay. Um 36,000 and then what else? So insurance assessments 87,000. Um just to flag this because this is an issue. Um health insurance line actually

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has been red has been reduced. um that's largely based on enrollment and um losing the flexibility of having, you know, if we have someone come on the plan, you know, that's going to put a

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budget strain on it that typically we've been able to um flexibility to handle. Yep. Um we also in this in this budget don't have any plans to contribute to overlay. That doesn't mean we won't and

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we won't be able to um um when we do the recap in November, December um but as of now within this budget we don't have any anything budgeted for that >> parks 29,500 reduction is that

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>> that No, that's based on what you asked for and what I've Yeah. All right. So that in some ways it is because the the contract came in low. So we we were able to >> that was because you and my negotiating skills are just

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>> exactly beyond. >> That's correct. Um and then this last slide what's the last? Well the last graph I guess is just what what is increased from the

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department request. So there were some increases. Um I increased town hall budget. I increased it based on anticipated cost assessors needed. Um what that was frankly just an oversight that was not included in the initial

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request. um my not their over my and um and then some smaller other adjustments which means another 75 what's that instead of 76 >> for some reason the increase was in there for 2.95

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um just on that the uh there was a $50,000 reduction for the professional technical for >> so that was um we had $50,000 in their professional technical line with the hope that

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Kingsboro would assist us >> and um Kingsboro has decided that um they weren't prepared to do that right now. So um the budget was strong to >> I mean it wasn't them. It was the union

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that right? >> I don't know that for sure. I mean, they were I don't I don't know what ultimately the deciding factor was, but um but ultimately the decision was made that they weren't they weren't ready to do it. That doesn't mean I mean I I

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responded to the town manager in Kittensboro and and asked them to it may not happen now, but that doesn't mean it can't happen at some point. And so I hope the lines of communication will remain open for that. But for next year,

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it's Um, so that's basically it. I mean, the last slide just goes through some of the potential impacts that we're going to see because of some of these reductions. I don't have any budget for engineering.

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So, um, I I don't even know that that's going to work, but that's how we get the budget. So um we we have established the new shift in the fire department that we may need to remove. I mean

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no household hazardous waste stays included in this budget. Um reduce available ability of funding for paving staff shifts in the library. Right. That's um and most to me as important of

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that is this budget is leaner than we've than I've had since I've been there. It's a very tight lean budget um without a ton of flexibility in it. So if something goes wrong, something goes haywire, we are likely to have to turn

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to precash as a as a way to solve that. So I'm hoping that doesn't happen. I'm hoping we can manage it. and we're going to do everything we can to, but if something completely unexpected happens, that is might be something I have to come to the board about. Um, and then um

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and then again, revenues are increasingly aggressive. So, that's not a great combo. That's a combo we try to avoid, but for next year, that's that's where we're at. I was so relieveful year to date.

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>> Last I looked it was 25,000 in deficit, but it's going to be more than that because I know he has some billing that he's that he's waiting for waiting to come in. Depending on how much how bad the deficit is, you know,

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we may be able to work it out this year within inter department transfers at the end of the year. If not, I do have a placeholder on the warrant for a free cash appropriation to cover cover the deficit or at least a portion of it if we needed to. So, it'll

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be one or the other. I'm hoping, fingers crossed, we can deal with it through transfers, but we'll see how that goes. You have the handout with the budget and I probably said through select

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earlier that they were closing in on next week. >> Yeah, the deadline for articles is the 30th. >> So that's my head. I guess I'll say you know what I'll I didn't say one thing about the school budget. So um

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our budget number is based on GRE's number. So it's it's just a simple not simple it is but it's a calculation based on um the our proportional match. Um it's however

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we don't know what that fiveyear rolling average is yet in the shift and we have been seeing over the last couple years I think the shift go more toward us um and it's small it's

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very small incremental um numbers but it has been slowly shift thing slightly. Um I mean I'm talking like less than a half >> because our enrollment's going up. >> I guess our I don't know percentage. >> I don't know if our enrollment's going up or just our for our share of the

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overall enrollment is going up which doesn't necessarily mean our enrollment is going up. >> So maybe we should invest in birth control water supplies. Um, so I just wanted to flag that as our

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number based on that could fluctuate slightly, but at this point that's the number we're carrying and it's purely based on about the school. I believe there's you know the the schools are possible for course I mean

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they are going to have to leave people off and remove and reduce positions. So I think they're they're trying to see if there's some flexibility with terminal if there will be not but I don't have any indication that number

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will change on side at this point. both rides. I mean they said no right anymore. Right. Right. The direction they're heading. They don't really pass. So right any other movement from the state at all changes? I know you mentioned that

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that's what they have in there, but I mean there does appear to be some greater I want to say traction, but at least a greater uh you know request is coming to from a lot of different communities to the the governor's office.

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Seems like it's going to be hard for them to avoid here short order. >> I think so. I think so. I mean that they're getting there's a lot of people in a lot of communities who are

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significantly impacted by the chapter 70 issue. It's it's it's killing it's crushing everybody. Um I was on a statewide call last week um with the Mass Association of Regional School

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Districts. Um there are 270ome communities dealing with the same thing. So we're not alone. And um there's a lot of communities that are

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advocating for change. Um us being two of them. Um I am on the 31st I'm going up to the state house of administrators from the um small town administrative

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small town administrative Massachusetts um organization. And so we're meeting with Governor's office and other folks to talk to them about some of the priorities we have, which is the number one priority is chap 70.

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So um there's a lot of work being done on it. It's just um the timing of when something will happen and it takes time. I takes time to get things done. Have you heard Have you talked to the new senator at all?

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I've emailed um back and forth with her. I haven't and I talked to her before she was elected, but I um I haven't talked to her since the election. Um I sent her some earmark requests because that's that's kind of the time of year

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and um Rep. Scarsdale helped connect us. So So I've done that, but I haven't I haven't had um stage with her yet. Okay. I'm hoping to next week when I'm up there, I'm hoping she's all around. >> Yeah. Yeah. Seriously.

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All right. U any other comments, questions, concerns, anything else we need to discuss this evening? Um I guess we're we're we're not quite there yet, but we're getting to that point in time. We're going to end up having multiple meetings I would imagine

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probably in April here as soon as the warrant gets posted. Uh we will have additional times where we'll have to get together to discuss the warrant and then have our public hearing regard to it and then of course uh town meeting is upon

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us. So it's that time of year. It is not >> fire. >> Oh. Um, are you done outside before? >> Well, that was only

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that was kind of, you know, it's nice to be outside. We had we got a big in Marvel head. We had a big circus time should see the plan. It's huge. >> We had a circus tent the first year. >> I don't remember. >> Yeah, we had a 10th we had a 10th actually the year was the shortest

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meeting ever because they and we voted the budget all in motion. >> That was the best town meeting. >> It was over like 15 minutes or what just happened? Oh yeah. Okay. Um

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>> they might move to the calf rather than the gym cuz they they want they would prefer like the me in the cafeteria. >> Yeah. They don't want to get stuffed on the floor. >> Yeah. And I guess they're investing in like audio visual in the cafeteria. So to try they they prefer

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>> what? No duct tape square on the wall. >> I know. I love that. Yeah. Um, so >> I know. Okay. Um, so once that I guess that those will

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probably be the dictator of our next meetings. Um, this is going to be once the warrant is posted. We have to meet uh 30 days before and then one week before. Yes. Almost.

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I'm Yeah, we've got a we have our motions. Uh we review the warrants. Uh we review the warrant articles 30 days prior and then we have within seven days prior or more than seven days prior we have to have a public hearing.

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Something like that. It's a bylaws conflict with each other. >> Yeah, that's why we do both. We could be a reproach. We don't want to fix it. >> We can fix it on this warrant if you want. I don't know which way's right to be

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honest with you. It's I think that's a local thanks to >> I was just wondering if you found a replacement or Leo. >> Uh we have not found a replacement. Actually, that was one of the other items that was on our agenda for this

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evening. Um, I think at this point, uh, we're only month and a half away from elections. Uh, we do have, uh, uh, multiple candidates that have pulled favors. So, it it may fulfill itself. If not, we'll

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look for um, >> are you volunteering, John? We would look for uh nominations after after the election if we don't uh if we don't fulfill the board. But at this point, we're sort of a a month and a half away from

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uh election time. So, we think it makes sense to just ride it out here and just uh make sure that we have enough people. We got to have four out of the six. So, already being down one makes it more challenging for sure. That's you're you should be six.

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>> We are. >> What else are you missing? >> So, tonight we're missing Tim. >> Okay. He's not he's he's still on the board. >> He is still on the board. Yeah. >> But currently, so there's um only one position was on the website, but there's now two.

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>> So, uh every uh every every year there's two positions on the board that are up for re-election. as currently is uh my seat and Leo's seat is up for uh and Leo's the one that just retired or resigned from the board about uh two

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weeks ago, three weeks ago. So, moved out of town and seems to be a win, but uh that's awesome for him. >> Hope he's doing well. >> Hope he enjoys Florida. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, so we have we have two we'll

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have two opening positions uh at election. So it'll be a two situation. Aside from that, I think it'll be I'll I'll confirm the dates on when we uh when the the warrant is posted. Then we'll try to meet that uh 30 days prior

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to uh the town meeting and then it'll be just >> Where's 30 days? What is that? It was for our motions to make it onto the so you know I say the advisory board and and select board is and support. >> Yeah,

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>> we were I believe that's how we were told that that's 30 days prior we need to tell somebody. So we were waiting for the printing >> uh to print out >> for us to take a position on the articles

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but that's the end 30. Okay, gotcha. So we meet 30 days prior too to make sure that our positions are on the articles and then we meet seven days prior to make sure that we have the the

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public hearing >> which makes sense. >> I would appreciate more people come to please come to the public hearing >> so that try to resolve those questions before we get to town meeting to explain them all again. Um, so

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aside from that, I'll I'll reach out via email just about those those dates as soon as that happens and uh to meet then. But it's probably two meetings in probably midappril and then early May, right? So to get those two

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done. If uh if nothing else and I'll entertain a motion to adjourn and say we can hang on. >> Anyone want to make a motion? >> All right. A second. Second.

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>> All right. All those in favor? >> Thank you everyone. All >> opposed. All right. Well, that's it for Thank you.