Good evening and welcome to the May 12th, 2026 meeting of the East Alto Town Council. Call the meeting to order and ask that we 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. You all right? >> I would ask that we take a brief moment of silence to reflect on all of the events going on both near and abroad. Thank you. In accordance with Mass General Law, this meeting is being
recorded by LCAT. And if there's anyone else in the audience recording, if you could identify yourself. Thank you, Cindy. Okay, seeing no one else, uh, public comments. We had one sign up first and then we'll have a additional
speaker Christina. >> All right. >> But if you could just state your name and address for the record, too. >> Christina Brooks, 56 Woodbridge, Nissan Meadow. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you guys for letting me speak today. I felt it was important to
be here because whenever we talk about this issue on the agenda, I make it a priority to engage in transparent conversation. Unfortunately, during the last meeting, I was unable to be physically present because I was supporting my daughter at the St. Michael Spongebob play. So, um I took
that call over the phone and unable was unable unfortunately to speak. Um had I been present, I would have spoken up then because what occurred during that meeting was very unexpected. My understanding that the purpose of the meeting was to finalize the wording for the non-binding ballot for the voters,
not to revisit whether cannabis retail should be or appear on the ballot at all. That issue had already gone through the proper channels and that's why I'm here today. I wanted to start with a quick recap of the journey because it seems like some items had been forgotten or misinterpreted at the last meeting in which I'd like to clarify, especially
with our federal residents. Uh in 2016, Massachusetts legalized cannabis statewide. 2016, that's when the town council uh decided to have a meeting, which I did listen and watch the recording. It was not the will of the voters at that time to ban cannabis, but
the will of the town council. And I understand that at that time it was uncertain, right? Not knowing what it was going to be like having retail. Something new can be scary without facts. And so at that time, the town did decide to put it on a vote and solidify it for the memorandum. Right. So
November 8th, 2016, the town voted for a president, representatives of Congress, sheriff, even restricting confining farm animals, and on question number four to permit the possession, use, distribution, and cultivation of marijuana. In total, 10 years ago, 9,331
people in our town voted. 45% of your community voted yes. 4,222 people. 4,935 people voted no. 52% and 174 people, 3% left it blank. Between those who had said yes and the voters that were
indifferent, you're talking about 48%. To me, that's not a landslide. That's nearly half of your participating voters that either supported to legalize or were indifferent. That is not overwhelming opposition. Since then, until I brought it up, there has not been any other conversation or votes. So, to say the town has voted on this
three times and keep on saying no to me is is false. Now, a town council, as you stated, yes, is here for responsible for local governance, including enacting laws, approving budgets, and overseeing community services to enhance the quality of the community, but also a
town council is here for community representation. A council represents the interests of their constituents, acting as a liaison between their community and local government. They gather input from their residents and address their concerns regarding local issues.
Now, I want to saying that recap my journey with all of you here today. November 2024, I started a conversation to change the bylaw between an email exchanged myself and the town. February 11, 2025, we were put on the agenda and the council advises at the town meeting
to start a citizens petition and to include the verbiage to enact the bylaw if we were to put it into effect. April 25th, 2025, we gathered signatures. 51 of those signatures were verified from the petition. And on April 30th, the
town let us know that the bylaw proposal would move forward, but that it required a social equity component. What is social equity, you ask? It's about fairness and justice and a social pos policy. It recognizes the different individuals and groups have different needs and circumstances. It aims to
provide the necessary resources and opportunity to achieve equal outcomes. Now, the council attorney asked us, minority Hispanic woman and a minority African-American man, to add a social equity clause to the bywall. We worked with our attorney and added that clause.
April 30th, later that evening, we were told we missed the June cutoff, but we would continue with June 2026. On May 9th, our bylaw and proposal was approved by the town attorney deemed acceptable to implement, and if the vote were to move forward, could be implemented.
August 8th, the council voted to approve the non-binding question for the community on the June 2026 vote to allow cannabis in East Meadow. Now, at the last meeting, April 21st, council was supposed to decide on the verbiage for the non-binding vote, but then it was decided that it would no longer be on
the ballot. During the April meeting, there were some statements that were made that were false and had nothing to do with the use of cannabis and ultimately not the view of many people we spoke with in our community. If I had spoken with people in this community and they told us they were not interested, I
wouldn't have wasted my time and money. I mean, this was time and it was money that took, you know, us, which I know it also took you speaking with your attorney, but it wouldn't make sense for us to move forward if there were so many people who were against it. Statements made during this meeting where I see what is said on Facebook on our
community forum. Respectfully, Facebook is not a public hearing. It is not a scientific poll. It is not a reli a reliable measure of public opinion. When I started this journey, I made one post a year and a half ago to collect signatures. Comments varied from don't buy from them because they sell lace
products from someone who had a fake profile and we didn't even have a storefront at that point, which we still don't to people who are just interested in knowing more what this would entail for the town. In a world where wrong information gets shared on social platforms, it's not a way to gauge
interest there. But in meetings like this with your community and casting a vote to see what the interest is. Another statement made were these people are going to benefit. I am unsure why I wasn't addressed by name and pointed out as these people. Unsure. Do you mean a
Hispanic woman, an African-American man? Do you mean a social equity applicant or a minority? Because I want to be clear. We are not just these people. We are your neighbors. We are residents. We are parents, taxpayers. We are raising five children in this town. Our children all
go to Esau Middle Schools. My husband coaches in this town. We volunteer in this town. We invest in this town. We care deeply about the same things every family here cares about, right? Safety, property values, strong schools, and a thriving community. Wanting to open a
legal regulated business in our town does not put us outside of the community. What? Excuse me. We absolutely want to keep our children safe, our town thriving, and our property value up. To make changes where we want in the community, we are going through the due process,
and conversations like this are very important, and to just disregard it is careless. Another statement made, the town had an issue with a minor getting alcohol, and we need to protect our kids. When we talk about protecting children and public safety, it's
important that we talk facts. A child, a teenager, an underage person can legally walk into many places where alcohol is served. They can walk into a restaurant, a hybrid bar. They can walk into a liquor store. That's not the case with cannabis dispensaries. Dispensaries are
among the most highly regulated retail environments in Massachusetts. You simply cannot walk into one. Before you ever reach a sales floor, you have to pass through a secured entry vestibule where a valid non-expired physical ID is checked. No paper IDs, no scanned IDs,
no exceptions. If you are not 21, you are not getting into that dispensary. Once inside, products are not sitting openly on shelves to be stolen or for access. Inventory is secured behind a register and customers must then again reverify their ID at the point of
purchase. Every product is sold in childresistant pack. Beyond customer access, the con the cannabis control commission has strict operational requirements covering everything from security systems to surveillance to inventory tracking, product safety, and compliance
inspections. Those requirements extend to the sales floor, storage area, and parking lots. If a dispensary violates that regulation, the penalties are severe, including suspension and immediate shutdown. There are even rules preventing purchase if children are
present in the vehicle. This is a point. Cannabis dispensaries operate on multiple layers of safeguards designed specifically to prevent underage access and protect our community. So respectfully, the alcohol-related accident in town should not be compared
to the argument against cannabis retails. Those are separate issues governed by separate laws. And I want to add this. Several parents had reportedly raised concerns about the alcoholrelated issue in town weeks before action was taken. So those are separate issues and
deserve their own accountability. Um it's unfair to really discredit and delay the proposal of something we've been working on for nearly two years. You know, with safety on its core leading that, you know, this is now due to an alcohol incident. Um, another statement raised was we want to build
new housing and what will this look, you know, it'll look bad on our community, it'll look bad on our school and our housing being built. Um, respectfully, I was one I was at one of the team me uh town meetings when the council shut down, I believe it was like a $100,000 grant for a new housing initiative
because we needed like 20% for affordable housing. And before it was articulated what affordable housing was dollar-wise, it was shut down in references of that this had happened to Springfield and they didn't want this to happen to East Long Meadow. But as stated, some of the council has said they've had a tough time in our own town
buying a house. So that begs the question, what is affordable, right? Does affordable mean cheap or just something that our town can afford and live on? It's time that the council truly hear from their growing community. When you pass by our center, you see plenty of open retail spaces that are
outdated. The dry cleaner that was in the middle of town finally got purchased and is being revamped to put to rent. The old bakery behind the the pride is it's an eyes sore. We have plenty of space for new business to bring in revenue. Again, when I started this journey, I told the town and the council
I would stay away from the center because of not only the schools, but because of the traffic. That was something that was brought up. So, I want to make sure that that was also addressed. Um, I do understand the concerns, but I also want to let you know that I've worked in this industry for over seven years now, and a lot of the stigmas that were brought up have
been proven to be false. Um, and I want to address finally the argument that everyone keeps on saying, well, people can just drive to Springfield. By that logic, why do we have seven plus banks in our town, three liquor stores, six hair salons, two gun stores? Right? It's
because people value access. They value convenience. as residents should not have to leave their own community to access legal products safely. Over the past two years, I've spoken with hundreds of residents, veterans, parents, teachers, coaches who support
safe local access to cannabis. And when I needed signatures over a weekend, I gathered 50 just in a single weekend. That tells me something in our community. This conversation is important. Our community is evolving. And my question today is really well my
request today really is let the people speak right put it on the ballot. Allow not assumptions but not comments on Facebook not outdated perceptions but the voters themselves to let you know what they want in their community. This is a democratic process and if the council chooses not to allow that
process to move forward then I ask clearly what is the path? What is the number of signatures needed to bring this now to a binding vote? Because whether it be cannabis, business development, or outdated bylaws, change starts with conversation. And conversation should lead to opportunity
and not roadblocks. >> Thank you for your comment. Um, I think from the council's perspective, the window for any ballot changes has already passed now that the warrant has just been signed and is being printed, especially with all the
mail-in ballot time frame. Um so I think from this point forward the only path that you would have would be to in the charter if you go to the uh citizens initiative petition process which I know
you started originally there's I'm trying to find the exact uh page so it's under article 8 uh section 8-3. You would have to
I think originally your original petition wasn't valid because it didn't contain the social equity portion that legal council said had to be part of it, but now that you have that portion of it, you could restart with that same thing. Um so you would need a minimum of
50 signatures again and then that would come before the town council. the council at that time could choose to act or not act on it. And then depending on that time frame, there's a lot of provisions there. You may need to seek
additional signatures of that and then potentially a sec a third set of signatures essentially totaling a minimum of 500 at which point then it would go to the ballot as a binding question. >> Okay. So I think that's the number we needed to know 500. So
>> yeah, it's all outlined in section 8-3. Okay, perfect. >> A lot of different thresholds to reach some of those different numbers and they have to happen in different time frames. >> Yeah, no problem. So, are you saying that we should go through the 50 or would it be smarter for us to just go straight to 500 and bring it to the
council? you would >> I can't advise you what you should do, but I would say start with the lesser amount because you have to then no matter how many signatures you get certified the first time, you have to get additional ones above and beyond that the second time. So, if you got too
many the first time, it may be hard for you to get additional signatures. >> Yeah. Okay. It's a stepped process. >> All right. Well, we'll be back with 50 more signatures. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Additional public comments.
>> Hello. >> Good evening. How are you? I'm >> Deborah Baronssky. I live at 157 Summers Road in East Long Meadow. And um I know most of you, but um if you don't know me, um I used to be one of
you back when we were select men. I I appreciate um >> you do and and greatly um respect that you have lives and you work hard and this is a lot of work for you. So I'm
going to be brief. Um I want to start by saying this isn't a complaint in any way, shape or form. I love East Lung Meadow. I am retired and um if you don't know, I'm a beekeeper now that I'm retired. I have chickens and bees and I
grow medicinal herbs, not those, you know, basil and and and those kinds of herbs. And my husband convinced me to be in the farmers market last year and it was a blast. I loved it. And um since
then I've been going out to different shows and being a vendor and selling my honey and my candles and so on. And while I was out in Hamen at the library on their Earth Day, I was talking to the lady who sold tea from Hamen and the
woman from Wilberham who sells bread. And I said, "Boy, it's kind of expensive to get started in this because in order to sell your goods, you have to have a residential food kitchen." uh a residential kitchen permit
um and you have to take a class for $200 to learn about surf safe. And we were laughing about that because now I know that if I were ever to buy a case of oysters, I would have to save the tag for 4 months in my, you know, even though I want to bake bread. I know that
now. I passed the test. I got an 87. But we were joking about it and I said, "Yeah, and you know, to get that permit to have a residential kitchen, it's $200? That's a lot." And they looked at me and said, " $200. Ours is 25." I said, "No, that's crazy."
So, we started looking them up and in fact, Long Meadow, Wilberham, Mson, Hampton, and Enfield are all $25 to $50 for a residential food permit. And I'm not complaining.
I'm going to write the check for $200. I'm bringing it forward because I think it's a mistake. I Googled many. I went to Springfield. Even Boston is $100. So, I'm just hoping it's a mistake
because it does seem like a really big difference. For me to run a residential kitchen in Long Meadow, I would pay $25 and here to pay $200. It seems just obsolete.
While I was searching for that, I also recognized that I'm supposed to fill out a food service establishment plan review application for another $100. And that application, in my opinion, is geared toward people who want to run a
restaurant. It's asking me how many seats I have, if I'm going to serve breakfast or lunch. I'm not serving food. I'm putting it in a glass jar and and selling it. And again, the women that I've dealt with in the health
department are lovely. I'm not complaining about anything. I'm just kind of questioning. And finally, I I noticed and I I haven't gone through the whole process yet, but the last page says that there's also a $75 fee for the
health department to inspect me at the farmers market. So, now we're at $375. And I'm just again, I'll write the check because I want to be in the farmers market and I'm having a great time
processing honey and selling mineral tea. Um, I'm really only bringing this up so that maybe someone could look into it and see if it's actually a mistake. I hope it is. I don't want East Long Meadow to be standing out like that.
>> Yeah, we definitely will look into that further. Um I know I had started some conversation with our um health department director on the farmers market permit but we didn't get very far on that aspect of it yet but we will definitely dig into it's definitely
helpful to see this information all put together for >> great and again not a complaint just an observation and hoping that you'll look into it. >> I know you had a question or two. I >> did. Um, so I notice on here the only one listed long meadow for the farmers
market, >> but I didn't see any fees. So I actually went online and applied for a residential kitchen permit in all of these towns to see what would come up. And I didn't see any of these towns ask for a plan review for a new food
establishment. Nor did I see any of them asking for additional money to be inspected at a farmers market. This was my own research. Y um so >> and I wasn't sure under ours um it says farmers market per market $75
cost to each individual person at the market or is that the cost >> to the person running? >> It's a cost to me I believe. however, is I because I'm I've applied for I've applied for my residential kitchen
permit. I've taken the class. I've submitted all of my paperwork and I've gone through the assessors and now I'm waiting for the young lady to come and actually come to my kitchen and do the inspection, which I'm I'm sure will be fine. Um the farmers market fee, I don't
know if that's for people who don't live in East Long Meadow and are coming in. That could be. I I don't know. I just, as I said, as I was researching it, I saw yet another fee and I'm just, it just seems a little overboard. >> Yeah, from my understanding, Tammy had
it said that the farmers market fee was for each participant in the farmers market. They had to pay that $75, but I can't remember which category. She said if you were going to do multiple farmers market days in town, you didn't have to pay 75 per each one. I think it maybe
fell under like temporary food service or something and you could do the I think it's the$175 for up to 14 days and kind of treat that as your >> and I'm doing all I'm I'm signed up $200 to be in the farmers market. >> So I'm paying to be there. If I have to
pay another $75 I mean that's a lot of bread. I mean >> literally and not a dollar. I didn't mean to be funny, but that kind of water. So anyway, um I'm going to let you get to
your your other business. Um I appreciate you giving me the time. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you for this information. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, they're they're charging them and then the town on top of it. So >> it's the point is definitely well taken visiting that structure. complicating
factor of course is what the health department and like state health rules are that we have to >> and how much involvement they have with each application you know >> thank you >> especially knowing the gap too you know trying to maybe look at >> you know so I think if I'm correct
usually isn't it in June that we uh approve our fee schedule >> forwards yeah we would start the first reading of draft changes is for our first meeting in June and usually we approve it the second meeting in June. >> Maybe we could take and look into some
of this before that because I've got other fees to look into too. So >> may I ask question? >> We will add that as you know when we talked about these fees um who did they strictly come from the health department from the health department?
>> Yes. >> Okay. We go back to the health. >> Yeah. I'll I'll uh I'll talk with Tammy um first thing tomorrow. >> Thanks. >> Great. Thank you. Any other public comments?
>> No one in the audience or on Zoom. Council comments. Do any counselors have a comment this evening? >> I just wanted to thank the school committee superintendent. Uh me, uh Ralph and Jim had the chance to see the new high school. It was my first time going into it. Um, I'm more of a visual
person. So, like to actually like see it physically because we've seen the renditions and the pictures and everything over the years, you know, and to actually see it like be a real thing is kind of surreal. Um, so it's really cool. It looks like it's coming along really nicely. Um, and it looks like I
think things are largely on time. So, um, they are doing definitely a lot of work. So, in a very short period of time. So, it was really cool. >> Great. Anyone else? I'm going to agree with John. >> Okay. Town manager report. Hi Tom.
>> Hi. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um good segue, John. Uh attached uh to the report are project reports for the weeks of April 6th, April 13th, April 20th, and April 27th regarding the uh
high school and auditorium. Uh uh pictures continue to show amazing progress of the new building and uh demolition has already begun of the old building. Uh central office relocated to the Carter Monday building during April
break. Um and their old home has been raised uh at this point. Um just less than uh four months until students enter the brand new high school, which is pretty insane. Uh just a reminder again, all the
scheduling and progress information uh anytime on the website esomema.gov/hsbuilding project. Um Council on Aging held a volunteer lunchon on April 17th to honor and show appreciation to all of our uh wonderful people who volunteer their
time here at the senior center. Um it was a an opportunity to to publicly thank our 138 volunteers for their dedication uh at at the senior center. Um so far this year we've had 85
volunteers serve more than 6700 hours. >> Um Alicia was nice enough to tell me what that was in dollars um salarywise and I gave them a big round of applause. Um so uh we genuinely genuinely uh could not offer all the
programs and services uh that this building offers uh without their help. So uh thank you uh to all our volunteers once again. Um financial oversight meetings concluded um last week. Uh I
want to say thanks again to the entire committee and the town council um for for thoughtful and engaging conversation on the budget. It seems no matter how many times we've looked at it in every iteration since September, uh we always
seem to come out of there with new thoughts or new ideas or uh just a new angle at at something. So, uh um thank thank you everybody for your time. Um and uh open enrollment period closed May
6th. Uh open enrollment is a crazy busy time. Uh, I just want to thank our benefits coordinator, Megan Emerg, um, for her diligence and organization and devotion to our employees. Um, she organized the benefits fair fair at uh,
Birland on April 30th. So, I want to thank the HR department as well, all of our vendors and and a bunch of other departments for their um, for their contributions um, to another successful day. Uh I want to pass along sort of a
public service announcement. Uh Eversource Gas um is going to be uh conducting inspections of their facilities in town. Uh these safety inspections are mandatory by federal and state regulations to ensure safety. Um
they will be making every effort to schedule convenient appointments with customers and uh reinforce the import the importance of these inspections. Um, customers are encouraged to go to their website for more information. There'll be a link on the I'm not going to try to
read that link. Uh, it's long, but uh, the manager's report is published um, every Wednesday morning after a meeting. Um, the link's on there. Um, and I'll I think there was a flyer that I attached to this as well that um, just sort of to
let everybody know that if they are it's not won't be a scam call. If it seems like somebody's trying to get into your house, Eversource is trying to contact everybody um to to get in there and make sure everybody's uh in compliance. Um the public library is currently
undergoing a facelift with multiple projects underway or completed already thanks to recent ADA grant funding. Uh exterior improvements to provide a flush west entrance ramp uh and new emergency exit sidewalk are formed and actually I
said ready for concrete. They were being poured today. Um the lobby and circulation flooring is being uh replaced in phases. They got to move some bookshelves and uh uh that looks very nice. the portion of that at
the in front of the desk is is already is already installed or was today. Um, and they've fully implemented the new assisted listen listening system. Um, updated the ADA compliant signage featuring Braille and high contrast
wayfinding. Um, and the replacement of the lobby's non-compliant water fountain uh with filling station is scheduled for this week. Um, so these projects obviously will significantly enhance library safety and accessibility uh for
all patrons. So everyone uh please be patient during construction. There are signs telling you where to go uh when you can't go a particular way. Um some upcoming events, the Memorial Day ceremony, uh Monday the 25th at 11 a.m.
at the high school. Uh usually the Legion's there a little early uh to do a march over to the flag. Um the time capsule kickoff uh May 30th 100 p.m. at the Norcross House. Um and uh
Springfest the is June 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. at Brown Farm. Uh that's similar to October Fest just in the spring. Um, and we'll have a time capsule there for you to
talk about. Um, anyway, that's it. I'm happy to answer any uh questions that you may have. >> Just a quick question about Memorial Day. >> Yeah. >> Um, I know in the past we've always um sort of marched up to the monument in the center, but then we went into the
school. >> Y >> what part where is that part going to take place? uh as scheduled everything uh the flag is still there >> but the building where you know I know it's under de can we still go into the same okay that was the question
so yeah auditorium that part will will be uh as is until the last day of school >> okay >> and then get out of the way >> thank you >> we'll see if they let the bell stop ringing before the wrecking ball comes
Any other questions? >> What else? >> Oh, he's saving them. He's saving them. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Tom. >> Yep. >> I have no communications announcements.
There's no public hearings, so we'll move to orders of the day. Licensing matters. We have a series of them. The first one is an entertainment license for East Village Tavern for the 4th of July. I'll make a motion when I find my
motion. I make a motion to approve a 1-day entertainment application for East Village Tavern, 53 North Main Street from June 26, 2026 through July 3rd, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to
11:00 p.m. and July 4th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the Essome Meadow Rotary Club Fourth of July Carnival Beer Tent in collaboration with the Esau Meadow Recreation Department Eong Essental Rotary Club. >> Second. >> Motion was made and seconded. Is there
any further discussion? >> Seeing none, everything tonight is a roll call. Jim, >> yes. >> Yes. >> I am a yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> Passes.
Okay. Next, we have uh one-day liquor licenses for East Village Tavern for the beer tent. I make a motion to approve a one-day liquor license application for East Village Tavern, 53 North Main Street from June 26th, 2026 through July
4th, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for the East Long Meadow Rotary Club 4th of July Carnival Beer Tent at Centerfield. Second. >> Motion was made and seconded. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none. Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn,
>> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> I'm a yes. >> And Catherine, >> yes. >> Motion passes. We have another one for East Village for the Summerfest. >> I'll make a motion. Sure. I make a
motion to approve a one-day liquor license application for East Village Tavern, 53 North Main Street on June 4th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the Summerfest at Brown Farm. >> Second.
>> Motion was made and seconded. Any further >> question? Yes. >> Isn't Isn't it June the 6th instead of June the 4th? >> I think June 6th is a Saturday. >> Uh, yes. Yes. >> Yes. Yep. June 6th.
>> So, I will um change amend my motion to June 6th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. for the Summerfest. >> I'll amend my second for your >> made and seconded and amended for the
6th of June. Any further discussion? Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> I'm a yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. Motion passes. Thank you for the catch on the date. Yeah,
>> whatever. Fourth, >> sixth, both. >> I just want to say thank you to them for putting that all those events together again. It seems to have been very successful since they've taken it over the last couple years and >> absolutely >> sure the town looks forward to it again
this year. >> Okay, next we have a one-day liquor license for St. Paul the Apostle Church. This one we originally approved uh last month, but it was rescheduled. >> I make a motion to approve a 1-day
liquor license for St. Paul the Apostles Church, 235 Dwight Road on June 28, 2026 from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. for a Springfield Cultural Association fundraiser.
>> Motion made and seconded. Any further discussion? Maryland. >> So, because this was um uh the date was changed, um this doesn't count towards one of their um I think you can only have 21-day licenses, right?
>> So, I just want to make sure that >> Yeah, I think since we didn't actually issue and sign one, it won't count against them for the res. >> But yes, good good catch. >> Any other discussion? See? None. Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn,
>> yes. Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> I'm yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Okay. Then we have approving a change of owner for a common victual license for Sammy softs serve. I make a motion to
approve a common victory license change of owner application license for Sammy's soft serve from Arjgeraldro demo doing business as Sammy's softs serve to Mizy's scoops and
sips LLC doing business as Sammy Softs serve at 44 Harkness Avenue >> second >> motion made and seconded any further discussion >> seeing none Jim Yes. >> Anna. >> Yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn. >> Yes. >> Ralph. >> Yes. >> John.
>> Yes. >> And Kathy. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Kathy. You remember that last name? >> I do. >> That was amazing. >> That's why I didn't volunteer.
>> Okay. >> Burned into my brain. >> We have financial matters. We have two grant acceptances. The first is accepting a $15,000 sustainable and resilient New England libraries grant.
>> Make a motion to accept a $15,000 sustainable and resilient New England libraries grant to support the East Long Meadow Public Library for Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 44, Section 53A. >> I'll second that. >> Motion made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, Jim, >> yes.
>> Uh Anna, >> yes. I'm a yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. John, >> I'm a yes. and Kathy. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Then we have accepting uh two combined grants, $6,44.65
for student awareness of fire education and $2,568.98 for the senior safe grant for the fire department. I make a motion to accept a 6,044 and65 cent student aware student
awareness of fire education safe grant and $5,568.98 senior safe grant to support the Eastong Meadow Fire Department per Massachusetts general Law Chapter 44 section 53A. >> Motion made and seconded.
>> Any further discussion? Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn, >> yes. Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Then next we have free cash transfers. Um before we get into any or
all of the motions, I don't know if you have a particular presentation that you want to make for >> uh or just sort of a continuation of a conversation I think we had at the original budget meeting about uh you know places we wanted to we our our
opinion of earmarked spots for whether it was uh the capital plan um you know we had earmarked some money for fiber um which you don't see on this list because we're still working through um some of the
member utility uh applications um before we have a final product to share. Um and then the rest of these were were sort of the continuation of that list of things that um we had presented at a at a prior
meeting. um obviously all for discussion um sort of in line with our uh policies, our our financial policies and um for those accounts that have have made it to those those um goals, those benchmarks
that we've set um no need for appropriation or additional appropriation to those accounts um outside of the budget. So um that that's about it. Um we and if there's questions when you do
them all then we can again uh totally up for discussion. Um this is sort of our view of where we think we should allocate some of these funds um due to the free cash number being as far over
uh its goal as it is. I think to add on to that, um, given all of these suggestions, if we don't necessarily have to vote on all of them this evening, if folks aren't comfortable with it, we do have some time before the end of June. >> Yeah.
>> Cash freezes as well. Not to say that we can't or shouldn't absolutely tonight, but >> Yep. >> Okay. So, we'll start off with the first one. That would be a transfer of $100,000 from free cash to the Amberland overtime uh account. I make a motion to transfer
$100,000 from free cash to account number 2907220 dash 513 ambulance overtime for expenses associated with ambulance services. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. Any further
discussion? I just say I think this one seems pretty straightforward. Yeah, we've been dealing with this one for most of most of the year at this point. >> Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph,
>> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> The motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Oh, the other thing, I mean, you did see it in your packets, but I had put together a spreadsheet as well to kind of show what the >> That was awesome. >> Cash numbers would look like as each of
these happened, cuz I was losing track of it as well. Thank you. That that that was actually really great. Yeah, it was very helpful. >> Okay, next we have $100,000 from free cash for the 250th celebration expenses.
I make a motion to transfer 100,000 from free cash to account number 2668122-4900, the 250th celebration expenses for costs associated with the 250th celebration. Second motion made and seconded. Uh the
only further discussion I would have with this one is this was something that we had established as a newer account specifically for this purpose and we when we established the account we didn't fund it because we didn't really know what we would do with it yet. But now I think the town manager has a
better idea of what those expenses would look like. >> Yeah. So >> this would this is mainly like security or like supporting these >> um Yep. We we I have estimates from and I just re I'm realizing now that I didn't forward any of those to you uh
about correct I think the numbers uh sort of extrapolated for the extra days and uh using our data from the last few years uh between police and fire we're looking at 35 $40,000 um we ordered all new flags for the
parade route uh which are already up um decorations for town call uh which are already ordered. Um we are going to make a contribution to the kickoff party for the time capsule of about $3,000. I want
to say $2,500 on top of the uh CPC money. Uh I'm still working with uh the vendor for our 250th banners, which I assume will will cost somewhere in the 8 to$10,000 range when we're done. Um, and
um, so yeah, we're getting we're getting up there now where we're ordering things and uh, I just want to have an account number to put on some of these invoices when they when they start coming in. Um, this these funds can only be used for this celebration and only this
celebration. And uh anything that doesn't get used just stays in this account until the next eligible celebration or you want to put it back in free cash or anywhere else. Um so >> so my only question is do you feel
confident the 100,000 is enough? >> I do based on the the commitments I've I've sort of made at this point. I think there's even some room for uh any sort of additional ideas that could come up. I'm still waiting to uh I want to make a
contribution to um Springfest. Um and um there there, like I said, there's a couple more decorative >> sort of ideas, but um we didn't, again, I wanted to have all new flags. There were a few flags on the on the
parade route last year that were getting a little uh old. Uh so we bought all new ones. Uh we have uh some decorations for town hall. The um the historical historical commission bought some flags and bunting that they were going to put
on the the commission building. And uh when I signed the invoice, I immediately called Bruce and Andrea and was like, "Hey, can we order some of this for town hall, too?" So, um I really would like to start getting very festive a little
earlier this year. Uh, you know, typically this the flags go up a little bit before Memorial Day. So, um, I I think it's time to start bringing out the stars and stripes. >> So, great. I we should be we should be
good with that number. >> Any other comments or questions? Seeing none. Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> Emmy, yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> Passes. Thank you.
Okay. Next, we have transferring $250,000 from free cash to the capital stabilization fund. >> I make a motion to transfer 250,000 from free cash to account number 8227122-4900. Capital stabilization fund.
>> Second. >> Motion was made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, Jim. >> Yes. >> Yes. Emmy, yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> The motion passes.
>> Next, we have transferring $250,000 from free cash to the OPED fund. I make a motion to transfer $250,000 from free cash to account number 8225122-4900 oped fund.
>> I'll second that motion was made and seconded. Uh further discussion I have one um of the list of all the transfers this evening. This is the only one that I disagree with. Um, I think when we had
the presentation from uh Tom and Kim a couple meetings ago when we were talking about the OPED fund, knowing that we're really decades away from being able to utilize that fund in any sort of meaningful capacity. Um, and I think it's important of course that the fund
exists and that we make some sort of contribution to it to keep advancing it. But for it to be a quart of a million dollars seems a kind of a wasted money in the sense that it's going to do nothing for the town really and that money could be better spent on something
else over the next 20 years. So to me I'd be okay with a lesser contribution but 250 seems like a lot to just sit there discussion. >> Sure. So based on that thought um my thoughts completely the opposite. uh the
closer we can come to it, the better. We have extra money um in the free cash that's just been sitting there. I think this is a good opportunity to put some away. In the past, we've put in a million dollars at a time. Um I think
the more you can put in now, the more it'll make an interest as you go forwards and hopefully get us there quicker. So, I'm all for it. >> I agree with Rep. Sorry.
>> Oh, that's fine. Any other discussion >> Kim? By putting money in now, is there a potential we don't put in money now? The liability gets bigger in the future? >> Well, the liability is growing every year. >> By putting money more money in now, does our potential liability get smaller by
putting it in now? >> So, the the hope would be the more you can put in. So, I I think we talked about how it tells you you have a certain year where you're going to reach I think it was like 60% or 65% um based on what we're putting in and
what our policies are. So, the more you can put in now, the hope is that that gap will start to um it'll shorten, you know, before we can actually reach that goal. I I mean I I do understand where Connor is coming from that if you put in
250,000 like really does that make a dent? But if we don't put in above and beyond what our policy is then it's just pushing that off further and further. So I think anything you can put in it is really >> thank you.
>> Any other discussion? Seeing none. Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a no. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> Motion passes. Next, we have transferring 800,000 from
free cash to the Maple Shade roof replacement project. I make a motion to transfer $800,000 from free cash to account number 3422 021-5800 Maple Shade roof replacement project for
the roof replacement at Mapleshade Elementary School. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Discussion. >> Yes. >> So is this our portion? Um because this is going through um the building
authority, right? >> Correct. So >> in addition to the money that we transferred from all those other projects when we uh accepted the grant that was uh >> April, March, >> yeah, >> I can't remember.
>> That was a few meetings ago. >> Yep. That's all I just wanted to verify it and hope that you know the state didn't say, "Hey, >> we changed our mind. Now you pay for everything." >> No, just our portion. And I assume similar to the last roof that we did or
the windows and doors project, there was some left over and that will just eventually get rolled back, >> right? >> Not that it'll be a lot. >> Well, and the good news with this sort of funding from MSBA and the way that we've been able to do this is we won't have to roll a bond anywhere.
>> Right. Exactly. >> And how much are we getting from MSBA? >> Uh 58% of 2.9. So >> like 1.3 or something was that >> I remember correctly. >> One6
repairs and replacements are like a better percentage >> repair than like building a whole. >> It's pretty close. And I Well, that would depend. Yeah, >> we ended up with a higher percentage than that for the new school because of
all of the initiatives that we put in place in the design of the building. >> Um, but it'll be done pretty quickly and and you know, close to 60% is again, thank you MSBA who continues to um help
us out in that regard. >> Great. Any other discussion? >> Seeing none, Jim? >> Yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> Yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. And Kathy, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Okay. Then next we have transferring
$2,673 from free cash to the police detail for a deficit. I move to transfer $2,673 from free cash to account 2700210-4900 0 for a deficit caused by three
uncollected detail invoices from FY24. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Further discussion. >> Yes. Um, I find it troubling that we're basically picking up the tab for outside
details. These are details that are extra and above and I still have a hard time understanding um the process. Um, if I get a second job, I don't expect my first employer to do the billing at all for me. But again,
that's my frustration with it. Um, I know it's in contracts and everything. I just think the town's getting stuck for an outside vendor not paying for a detail that the town really has no control over. Um, other than we do all
the organization, we set everything up and it's more my frustration than anything. Um, they're outside details. Does that count towards their retirement? Um, does that go towards their gross pay? >> I don't believe so.
And so >> what about when um when a police cruiser is used on a extra detail? Does the town get compensated for the use of the cruiser? >> Do we get compensated?
>> Well, I see these guys doing traffic duty. >> Yep. >> And we have a cruiser there and they're getting paid by National Grid or Eversource >> and our crews are sitting there running with the lights and all on. Do we not get anything? They're getting paid from National Grid.
>> Yeah. I mean, other than whatever that administrative fee is that gets added on the 10%. Um, there's no other >> fee. >> Are they getting paid by National Grid or are we paying them and National Grid
is reimbursing us? And I know that sounds >> Say that again. >> Yes. >> So, are they getting paid by National Grid? Are we paying them and then we're getting reimbured from National Grid? We pay them >> and right >> so this is what's uncollect this is why
it's uncollectible so we pay >> right >> so it's in payroll and then we the details come in >> and most of them do uh I feel like we had one of these last year right >> so I I do want to point out we now have
an outside company that does the process for us so we're not trying to collect from vendors and they take on the liability of it so we shouldn't see any more of these going forward. These were from 2024. So they were before that company ever took over. So now that that
company does the scheduling and does the billing, all we handle is the payroll part of it. >> And they're getting that 10%. >> They don't get the whole 10%. They get a portion of the 10% which I don't remember exactly the percentage right at the moment.
>> Thank you for letting me comment. >> Of course. A quick question from a collection standpoint. Do those vendors then get on a list where they can't get any more extra details. >> The the ones that had not paid us in the past. >> Correct.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Good. >> Any other questions? >> Seeing none. Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> Yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John,
>> yes. and Kathy. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> And last under the transfers, we have $1,87644 to the hazardous materials account. I make a motion to transfer $1,87644 from free cash to account number
2542220-4900 hazardous materials for a prior year deficit as the reimbursement request deadline passed. >> Second motion made and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Further discussion.
>> Do we have one individual now that's um >> uh tasked with keeping an eye on all grants? >> So, we have um >> it's very difficult. I mean, seen some of the grant paperwork and 30 pages and stuff and it's like how do you figure
all of that out? So, I'll let Kim speak to most of this, but we've been working very hard on a grants sort of procedure and that starts with approval, uh, which I've been making sure is a thing and
then this whole process on what you have to do to administer this grant. >> And I guess that was my question is, you know, so we have a list of grants and then it's, hey, is this a reimbursement grant or is this this type of grant? and then now a procedure so that way there
something like this doesn't happen. >> So Kim and Rebecca have been doing the heavy lifting on a grants policy that everybody is now following so that um again this is a simple mistake. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, and we're trying
to eliminate these because like you said, every grant is different and the procedure of which really has to be we we all kind of want to have eyes on so that we don't miss any of these little details cuz they're so different. >> The timelines and all on some of these
are so tight and turn around and hey, if you don't do this and jump through that hoop and toss to this person. >> Sorry. The two discussion points I would have um would be one that I appreciate the chief's explanation that he provided for
this and >> obviously innocent enough mistake and thankfully it was just a small dollar amount so it's really not a detriment to the town. Um, and then secondly, as Tom mentioned, they were working on a grant policy and uh somewhat as a
thing that kind of came out of the financial oversight committee meetings, but I don't think we ever explicitly talked about it, but it was something that I had thought of. um with all the different grants that we've either been going after or getting approved for as well. Um I had asked Tom to see if we
could interject at the beginning of the process, not just once a grant had been approved cuz we're always accepting them on the agenda under Mass General Law, but sometimes we don't even know that the town was seeking a grant at the outset of the process. So just trying to close that loop for a couple reasons. I
mean, one, just so that the departments are getting credit for doing all of that work, cuz sometimes they're going after things and not even getting them in the first place, and it's nice to know that there's a lot of work still being done. Um, but then secondly, to make sure that it overall aligns with where the council wants to see the town going because we
may be chasing after grants that are not in a productive direction and getting money for the sake of getting money isn't always helpful. >> Correct. And if somebody's spending time and energy >> administering a particular direction and only to find that this is not a grant that we want to accept,
>> right, >> that's unfortunate to find out >> at the 11th hour. Yeah. >> So that I I I appreciate your introjection into the process because I think that's only going to help communication wise and then sort of the final product as well. So
>> y great. Any other discussion? Seeing none, uh, Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> Yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Tom. Thank you, Kim, for putting all of those together. Uh just as a quick recap then since we passed all of those motions for the benefit of public when freeash was certified uh this fiscal year we started with 13,341,756
we made some previous appropriations from October through January that totaled $1,650245 >> 1 million 1,650,245 Sorry. >> It's okay. >> Um, and then with all of the votes this evening, that was an additional
1,54,54944. So the total votes that we've taken so far this fiscal year are 3,154,7944. And then knowing that we haven't approved it yet, but there's a roads capital project in the budget for next year that we anticipate voting on at our
next meeting. That's about $1.8 million. Assuming that passes, that would leave us ending the year with about 8.4 million in free cash. >> Give or take. >> Give or take. Bless you.
>> Thank you. All right, which leads us to the FY27 budget update and discussion. Um, we'll have the official public hearing for approving the budget and the capital projects at our next meeting on May
26th, but now is an opportunity if anyone has any questions. And if there's anyone in the public audience that has a question or comment on the budget, I would also entertain that. See anyone in the public? Anyone from the council?
>> Yes, Ralph. >> Um, so first off, I want to thank the finance oversight committee. Um, Russ Denver was absolutely amazing talking about the insurance. I was lost as soon as he started talking, which is
extremely impressive. um his knowledge is incredible and I hope uh going forward some of those thoughts may actually help. Um I do have a concern um when it comes to the upcoming uh vote that we'll have to take on water rates.
Um the proposed uh jump is 50 cents uh which is about an 11% increase in the rate. Um, we are looking at spending 433,000 I believe um to go through tie-in bond
uh to try and come up with a solution because our water doesn't meet state's uh requirements um for cleanliness. And I I'm having a really difficult time looking at this, saying, you know, the state's basically
saying, you're not meeting water quality. Um, it's been consistent for a long time. You have to tell us how you're going to improve it. And we're saying, hey, we're going to go up on your rates 11% for this water that doesn't meet any of the standards. Um
I I I think maybe it's time that we cut back a little bit and say, "Hey, you know what? Maybe we don't bond this water project this year." We wait and see uh what the solution is uh through the state, what their suggestions are
from the 433,000 that we're spending to try and figure out what solutions we can do because we don't know what a cost is going to be. I mean, one of the thoughts may be filtration systems, point of use, which would be each
person's house. That would be absurd. The the cost I I just I mean, we we've been told year in and year out for the last seven, eight, nine years that, hey, the water's
okay. Just keep drinking it. Um, I know it's got these contaminants. There's nothing wrong with it. Just keep drinking it. And now the state's going, "Well, wait a minute. You can't do this." And our solution is to keep going up in the
rates. Um, I I'm I I will tell you going into that, I I cannot vote for that type of a rate increase, 11% increase for contaminated water going to the the residents. Um,
I'm in the process of doing a whole house filtration system. I can't stand the taste of the water. Um, I was born and raised on well water and you can tell the difference. And um, and again, it's not our town. It's not the people in the water department. It's what we're
getting. Um, and we have no say over it, which is even more frustrating. We have to pay for these. We have to pay for tying bond for engineering and everything because we're getting crap water. And now we
have to try and find a solution because they're unable to, unwilling to. I don't know. Um, well, to your point, Ralph, it's safe to drink unless you're pregnant. The other part is, from what I understand, part of the
problem is not filterable. the uh so and that's what they're doing up in the uh with the new filtration plant. Um I agree with you in terms of the increase and you know I I I'm a mind of you know I think our
residents all of us here deserve clean water and competent management. Um I don't think we're getting both right now. To have our residents work over more money for a product that is less than desirable is problematic to say the least. And
I don't know what exactly we can do about it. That's why I don't know. I know it's not on the agenda. Um but I know there's some legislation um pending. Maybe the council can take a vote at a future meeting to support or to request from our legislators to
support that legislation. Um but yeah, it's it's something that is becoming more and more concerning, especially given some more developments up there u that they keep on uncovering and it's not it's not going to get any
better anytime soon. Um I know we have a $1.6 million uh water main capital project for I believe it's Slumber Lane in Greenwich. Um before our next meeting, can we get a list of um
over the last 2 years, four years, whatever, of how many water main breaks there has been in that area? >> Sure. >> And I think it's what Jim said. I think that supporting or doing something at a future meeting would be really important because, you know, right now we don't
have representation on, you know, the board in Springfield that that kind of makes these decisions on the water, which I I when I first read that a few weeks ago, like I it's kind of extraordinary. um you know, not just us, but other communities outside of Springfield, you know, to not even have
like one seat or even one seat dedicated to those other communities, but to have it be people that are, you know, not really accountable to these other communities. So, I think, you know, telling our leg telling our legislators kind of in one unified voice, I think would be a great idea. Um so, I think at
a future meeting, I think that would be a good thing to discuss further. Yeah, I have that as an action item that we'll we can at our next meeting and so that can be a homework assignment for all of us. I'll try to find that exact uh docket in the legislature and send
that out to >> bill 2330. >> All right. Thank you. >> If I can add one more thing through the chair. >> Sure. During um our FOC uh our last FOC
meeting, um we had discussion over whether or not we can legally enter the new fiscal year without having adopted um a new water rate. Um, we didn't really have a definitive
outcome, but we there's concern that we we have to do something. We have to adopt some sort of a rate. And maybe it could be as simple as adopting the rate again that we have right now. And with the understanding that based on future
uh or enough time to investigate this matter more thoroughly, we would we could adjust it. Just just a thought. >> You want to are you suggesting Kathy, in the spirit of the 250th anniversary of America, like a water rebellion as
um yeah, we could work on that. I like it. Do you want to just Is there a Do you see an issue with not um setting a water rate by July 1st? >> Well, you have to set a rate. >> I mean I mean not >> increasing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean you wouldn't
>> not doing the budget like DLS would like to see it obviously because this isn't um to your point that there are expenses and I will get you that break data. This bond won't even hit this budget. So, so that capital project won't hit the water
rate till FY28. Unfortunately, this is just an increase based on whatever our increase is from our bill from Springfield Water and Sewer for our usage, which DLS has had a problem in the past, the way that we budget, and we
are now uh budgeting appropriately for usage based on uh prior years data and and budgeting for that number. Um, so I don't know how easy it's going to be to to make the budget balance in the
enterprise fund if we don't have a rate times a usage that matches our expenses. >> Your only option would be to decrease the budget in other areas >> like how much water
>> retained earnings portion. You could I mean you could bring if there is a um budget surplus budget and in there we could a good portion of that surplus just go you know going forward if there's any
small items that they need for um capital projects we won't be able to use retained earnings if that number starts dropping. >> I think the accountant has what one.2 2 million in retain >> retained earnings is good and we're budgeting a surplus of 105,000 right now
on based on these numbers. >> So we're looking at one 1.3 million in retained earnings. >> Well, and what's a 50 cent increase going to >> if the budget holds and our usage is in line with what we think it's going to
be? Again, that we won't know if that's actually a budget surplus until the end of the year. >> That's what we're budgeting. So, even if we don't, we look at the 1.2 million in retained earnings. Y >> and like I said, I just >> I have a difficult time telling someone,
I'm going to increase your rates 11% to cover this uh water that the state says um yeah, really isn't good, >> right? >> Um no, I >> I agree with Ralph. I think like considering maybe sending some type of
message so that they hear it. It does sound a little unusual to maybe what we've done in the past, but I think it could be something to get their attention so that we can actually look at solving this issue because like you should not we should not have a situation where like we're not sure that the water is fully clean in this
community. I mean there's children that use the water, the seniors that use everybody, you know. So, and it's happened unfortunately in other parts of this country and I do not want this town to be um you know under that issue or the other surrounding communities that use this water as well.
>> Oh, I think I agree with everybody that it's not okay that we're not getting well not not healthy water but not great water. just don't know if not going up on the
rate and funding our budget is going to do anything to make the water any better. I think you know what John had said, maybe have a unified front, talk to our
legislators, kind of like get some representation. Absolutely. But us not paying for the like we still have to pay for it. By us not going up on the water rate isn't going to make it go down. >> They're not going to charge us any less.
>> Correct. >> So why are we going to you know, kind of disrupt our budget that we've done so much work to make and nice when they're not going to change
anything. >> Maybe we extend an invitation to them to come up here and let us know why they are raising our rate. I know they go to the Springfield City Council and make presentations, you know, in Springfield of why they're going up in the rate. They've never to my knowledge I don't go out to the surrounding communities to
explain why their rates going up. Maybe they would do this the honor of coming up here and letting us know why >> and ask them what they're going to be doing to >> alleviate the problems and correct the problems. >> Absolutely. >> Put them on the spot >> through the chair. I would ask that for
the next meeting um we see what let's say a 6% increase in the water rate would do to our retained earnings as compared to you know diminishing it if we could look at maybe a couple different options and just see what happens.
>> You mean funding the budget retained earnings? >> So what I'm saying is right now it's a 50cent increase. Y >> um what if we only increased it at 25 cents? Okay. >> Obviously, the money's got to come from somewhere to pay the water and all, which would probably be out of the
retainer portion. >> So, what effect is that going to have? >> Um, I I just I I'm having a tough time telling the residents, I know you get these mailings quarterly. I know it says that you have bad water
and um we want 11% more for that bad water. Um, if I go to a restaurant, I order a meal and it's bad. The next time I go back, I don't expect to pay 11% more for that same bad meal. I just >> It's really hard to disagree with that
logic. And and I I I think that I'll just come right out and say I agree with you. >> Um, it it's difficult because like Anna said, you know, I know we're paying more for it. I just it's like >> no this is
>> someone doesn't stand up at some point and say hey wait a minute this just isn't right. >> Um >> I I agree. >> Yeah. I think I'm more in the split the difference sort of mindset where I think if we if we don't increase it at all.
The only message that's sending to anyone is our own residents which not that that isn't an important message but it's not really going to attract the attention of other people cuz the only people paying for that loss is us. Um, but I do agree that if we just increase
the rate the full amount and continue to do more projects in those accounts, even if they don't technically affect the rate this year, but we know that that's going to impact the rate in the next couple years, >> that's a lot to ask of people, especially knowing that they're paying for the new school now, too. And
>> it's even more it's even more enraging, right? because we have this asset management plan and we've been doing our diligence on keeping our system up to date and doing these projects and getting this account to a place where
it's in really good shape. You've you know we're we're above our marks on everything and now we have to do something detrimental again to fix this problem that's not ours. >> Yeah. I'm sorry to interrupt you.
>> No, this is why it's tough >> getting heated. >> As you point out, like we always have a pretty extensive capital plan and we want to stay on top of things so that we're not all of a sudden surprised with tens of millions of dollars of infrastructure work to do in the future. But I do have a hard time also saying,
"Yeah, let's just keep approving projects knowing how how much it's going to cost people in the interim." So to me, I would not be in favor of approving capital projects out of it, minus the tyin bond thing that we kind of have to do no matter what. Um, and then if
there's some way to, as Ralph said, with potential different scenarios we could look at of retained earnings, even if it's 25%, 50%, a couple things to see what those numbers look like. >> I'll get those numbers, too, for the breaks on slumber and credit, whatever
is in the project. Yeah. And this is a good reason why you do a budget cycle in a couple different meetings so that it gives us time to do it. I know in the past we've been crunched and it's like here it is tonight. That's it. >> Right. Yeah. I remember there were a
couple years that on the fly adjustments that last meeting and >> we'll try to avoid that. >> I have a quick question, one last question about um the projects that we're doing um for our water and sewer. Are they eventually going to have to
happen and are they for our own infrastructure? And >> so I will say yes. >> Okay. Um, this was something that happened way back when I was still in DPW that we have this asset management
capital 20-year plan that we take our data and what what mains are old and made of, you know, substandard material and break a lot and we try to and now unfortunately the water matrix matches up with the sewer matrix which matches
up with the paving matrix and so stalling any of these things is sort of detrimental to the whole the whole thing. >> And I and I think I guess we you know say let's of these projects again we're
just hurting ourselves in the long run >> right I mean yes slowing the the the progress that we've sort of made down >> 100%. That's >> so again I brought it up during the uh
finance oversight committee meeting um instead of bonding 1.6 to start bond the engineering and let them go through the engineering because we have an email here that says these are really rough budgetary numbers since as you know it's tough to come up with construction costs
before the design starts. Um here's what we have and at the bottom it says let's say 1.6 6 million more or less. You know, it's like, so I take this as, hey, until the design
and the engineering is done, we have no clue what the construction costs are really going to be. So, if we're going to look to do something, why don't we say here, here's money for the engineering and the design. That's got to be start one anyways. So start with
it because we know we're going to have to replace this. In the meantime, let's hold back a little and say, you know, residents, we're going to cut a little break here. Um it may only be for this year, but at least that way there the design process is still going forwards.
We're not slowing anything down. Um but maybe it's a good way to say to the residents, we hear you. We understand. Um, I have to tell you, I don't even have to go to my mailbox to know uh when those flyers go out for the water. Um,
my phone rings. Yeah, you told me it was getting better. And it's like, I did. I did. I, you know, I figured by now Springfield Water and Sewer would have had this under control. And I mean,
we're talking years. And um now it looks like we're talking more years and what 30 30 35 million more um at least frustrating. >> Yep. >> And again I my frustration's coming out
tonight because I can. >> It's just it's you know when you hear it from the residents and you don't have an answer that's what's frustrating. Um, and there's nothing we can really do except maybe help them a little bit with
the rate going forwards for a little bit knowing it's going to catch up. But that's my thought. >> Or have somebody from East Meadow in the room. >> I think the thing, Ralph, is, you know, we're told we don't even know it's 35
million and we're just told to eat another 11% increase and we don't know why. We don't know how much and it's just last second. Here you go. >> Yeah. 35 million bucks. You're expected to eat it. >> Sorry. >> And we know you have nowhere else to go for this particular product. So, have a
nice day. >> Here you go. >> No matter what. >> So, >> right. It's not like we produce it ourselves or we can go shop around on the market to buy water somewhere else. Right. And just for the record, since the bill came up, Jim and John um and
Anna had sent me a letter not too long ago um concerning this whole topic. So, thank you for, you know, sort of uh reaching out. I did send um a letter of support on behalf of my office back in July of this bill. Um I guess I would
say I would urge you to do the same if you're going to talk about it next meeting. comes through. >> So, Senator Alivera has it as part of the as an amendment in the environmental bond bill that just went through. >> Okay. >> Um the House should be taking up the environmental bond bill in the coming
weeks suggested that we send a letter to both Rep. Ash and Rep. um Poop. >> Um just asking for them to support Rep. Saunders's amendment to the environmental bond bill that would mirror Rep or excuse me, Senator Oliver's. Um, so it'll be separate than
from >> separate than the other one. Okay. >> From that legislation that that that ended up going to study and >> that's a good Okay, that's a good update. Thank you. >> This was their attempt to kind of revive uh revive that legislation. >> Good to know. Thank you.
>> Can Oh, yes. >> I just want to clarify something about the budget. The increase that you're seeing in the budget does not have the projects in it. That's only the cost. I I understand that >> current budget. So if you want to see um
other options, you're looking at either removing the budget surplus of $100,000 and then saying that you're actually going to fund the budget with retained earnings and with user fees. So that those are kind of your options in terms
of changing the actual fee. >> Right. >> No, I understand that. >> So So why don't we do this? We'll we'll we'll give you the option the all the way option to keep the rate the same and and show you what that looks like from a negative budget surplus that we're going
to have to in you know and then maybe halfway and then you already seen the 50 but um and then we will have enough data where we can look at midpoints or or in between um min mid and max um next time.
>> Thank you. >> Great good discussion. Other thoughts on the budget this year? Want me to >> let someone else in or should I? Uh, >> go for it, Rob. >> Go for it. Um, under our capital projects, I've got updated uh storm
water enterprise. >> Yeah. >> Which is a just over a million dollar project for Spade Ardan and uh Brook Street, the covert. Um the new project description says this project will be
bonded contingent on grant funding. Um that seems to be um a capital >> confusing to me. >> Okay. >> So >> a portion of that would be bonded if we
get a grant for another portion. So, so our thought process was, hey, we're not even going to do the project if we can't get some type of a grant, >> right? >> Um, and what are we looking at the 500,000 like what we got on Porter Road?
Um, >> yeah, I think we had >> what this sounds like, say, we're going to bond this whole thing >> if we get a grant, >> right? >> Um, grant pay back half of it. What's written there is that we would not bond what's needed on the project if we
didn't get the grant. >> So, we can clarify that. And I think we even had >> I like that intent. >> Yeah. >> I feel like we even had a little discussion at financial oversight about an actual number or andor percentage. I think uh if we didn't get 50% of the
project, we weren't going to >> to do it. >> Yeah. cuz I think part of my concern is because the fund is so low, um, if we had to go out and bond all of this, >> it it's really going to strap this. Now, now with that being said, I have personally looked at the culvert and it
does need repair. Y, >> it's not like it's, hey, let's just go and do this. >> It's in bad shape. Something has to be done. Yep. >> I just um I'm hoping for half a million dollar grant to do >> well to be I I hope I hope we could get
even more. Um there seems to be a bit of um focus on these types of projects, these the small bridge culvert things. It's starting to become a thing now instead of just uh you know the the larger bridge projects. But um we have a
one-stop grant um opportunity coming up. We we have some some shovel ready products projects and I think that this could be one of them that we could get after um at some point in June. But
again um >> so I guess this jumps to my next question though on this is a covert actually considered I guess part of storm water management. So, does that mean all of our culverts, all of our small bridges are going to
fall under storm water? >> They should. Um, I mean, my interpretation when we first created that count, the storm water was your storm drains and the pipes from those. It wasn't like Peas Road has
four different coverts and if those let go, >> isn't that under the highway? And well, >> in that scenario, we would be well into the stabilization fund as well. Uh I would imagine. Um but um yeah, I mean
highway and storm water are pretty linked anyway. Um but yeah, the the the permit is storm water discharge to the waters of the United States. That that that was the whole thing about storm
water. So all those >> too not the control of the streams and all and this is basically on an intermittent stream. >> Um like I said I was just >> well the stream is also discharging to something else. So again, this whole
watershed idea, >> it's all storm water. And again, this is why this whole >> again, I just don't want to see us use up all our um assets uh through storm water
and then not have enough to replace uh manholes in the sewers on the streets and stuff like that when we need to. Um >> and this is one of those ones >> and that's why the grant would be great. >> Yeah. So, I I guess I'll say 50% when we run
the numbers might not even be enough to do this project. I don't I don't think 500,000 is something that this account can even handle. And so maybe um we're just going to have to pick these
off with grants as we can get them that these projects are um you know there's there's an opportunity in this particular culvert to supplement with water and sewer because um the culvert
has water and sewer underneath it that will inevitably have to be replaced depending on the new design of the culvert will not be a, you know, triple barrel RCP. That's not how they do things anymore. So, um, we may end up with some
water and sewer work there, too. So, um, yeah, in all likelihood, if we don't get good news on a one-stop grant in June, this will be on the capital plan again next year. >> Just like to say the rest of it, great explanations through finance oversight.
Um, I'm good with the rest. And like I said, I just had those couple of concerns. The rest of the budget, um, I think it's pretty much as lean as we're going to get it. Um, I'm negative what, 1.54% for town departments and 3% for
the school. Um, do have some thoughts on school, but that'll be for next meeting. >> We did get some additional good news. I know Kim gave you the uh updated recaps from House uh Senate Ways and Means has
uh injected some more unrestricted um government aid uh 115,000ish about that. Uh so um all all all those numbers you just said turn into we're
back at 1.9 million in excess levy which is where where we started the year. So, um, you know, we'll see where where the final state budget ends up, but, um, yeah, I mean, great job everybody. I mean,
>> yeah, >> pretty pretty good. >> I would echo the sentiments that it was a productive financial oversight committee sessions this year. And as always, thanks to uh Tom, Kim, and all the other department heads for all the work that they did in putting together
the many tens of pages of documentation and having all the numbers aligned. I know it's a lot of work, but it also is flowing so much better than it ever used to 10 years ago or so. So, it's uh it's refreshing to see how much of a
welloiled machine the process is. >> Yep. Uh the only other thing that I had was it's not necessarily related to FY27, but it sort of came out when we were talking about long range budget planning. Um Tom and I still keep
talking about the parks and wreck fund uh ideas there because we have the recreation revolving fund as it stands today and there was, you know, thoughts a couple meetings ago like revolving fund versus enterprise fund and so forth. And so I think we still continue
to explore that idea cuz we've seen that other communities, at least in some of the research that I've done, have split that out into multiple specialty purpose accounts. Like they might have one for a specific or a specific building that they have. So they might not be able to
do the entire, you know, wreck program that the community has, but they can at least manage a part of it, keep those funds more consistent with the operation of of that. And then if you have, you know, a bunch of different funds and you have that, you know, $10,000 limit or
so, it still adds up to a lot more than just one fund with a $10,000 >> limit at the end of the year. >> Yeah. Like bringing a nitorium online or something like that. >> Exactly. >> So, >> so yeah. No, that's a great point.
>> We'll keep looking at that, but >> um that's Thank you for bringing that up. I I think we've been trying to, you know, when when you're running this lean, there's not a lot of time to actually talk about things that may help the residents or may help a department
or or just may help this run even better. Um but that is one of them that we continue to look at state law counting um to try to figure out what's the best and we're going to end up with some more data here when we uh start putting programming in that pool um and
and a whole other set of revenue and expenses and what that looks like and so we may end up with um you know an enterprise fund or more uh revolving accounts to look at um for the different stuff. So, um the the while we're
talking about these sort of uh the the water rates, uh we had sort of done a um we we had done some work to try to figure out if we could go to some sort of tiered system, which is not anywhere near finalized to try to throw in front
of you in May. Um, but I think we should start talking about it maybe in July or something to um the the tiered system is is set up more like an electric utility where your high users will pay more um per than your low users because they are
putting more strain on the system. Um so um it's a little more equitable I guess is the word. Um and then um you know we have some staffing things that I think that we could and should talk about. Um
you know an impact shift at the fire department from their busy hours 7 to 7 to sort of uh knock down this overtime and the wear and tear on the staff. Um, and and that there's already a it's already a stressful job and to keep
getting forced in every other night on your after your 24-hour shift, we end up with um just more sick time and more people getting hurt and it just compounds itself. And so um similar similarly um
you know we we have some other positions that I think it I think I said deputy director I think there's plenty of work uh for another employee at IT. Um but again these are um I don't think we're in a
position where we should start adding positions right now necessarily. Um, we we should I think we should have the impact shift conversation about the fire department uh at some point. We we you you've seen the numbers. We got
absolutely creamed this year um on the overtime budget and and fire and ambulance and we're looking at that as numbers. Those were people hurt. Yeah. >> And people filling in and doing a very
hard job. Um, so there is an impact to the department outside of the budget and that's the people in it. And so I think they could benefit greatly from um from that position. Um, >> on that front, um, I think that's a good
idea, but I guess I would like to see a bit more of a breakdown in terms of if you were to add a position like that, how much would that cost the town? But then how much do we anticipate that would offset the overtime expense?
Because it certainly isn't going to eliminate all of it, right? >> Is it, you know, 50/50? Is it? >> Yeah. >> Oh, it'll have a 20% impact, but there's still going to be a lot of overtime for other reasons that one person isn't going to be able to pick up the slack. I
would love to get that information and the numbers in front of you probably in the first or second quarter next year just to see if that's you know that that's something that um if it if it looks as good as I think uh from the budget side then the the bonus of
helping out the human beings in the building is is even that even more greater. So, um, I don't think you can say more greater, but I did. Um, Jamie left. Sorry, Kathy. I'm really just sorry that
I said it in front of Kathy. Um, yeah. So, um, if if if you're willing, that that's something that I I can put in front of you for sure because we've um both the chief and deputy chief have sort of sort of run this out. And again,
maybe next year we don't we're not in the position we're in this year where this many people get injured on duty. But my thought is if all these people are are are getting forced into shifts that are 24 hours long, um it that >> that's tough.
>> It's a tough backtobacker for instance, which obviously doesn't happen, but um you know uh it's it's a it's an option. And so if you put it with the numbers and think about uh the human impact um
it it probably makes a lot of sense. >> Great. Anything else on the budget? >> Okay. Till next meeting. >> Till next meeting. >> Whole whole stack of motions. >> I know 17 or something.
>> Next meeting will be the public hearing on it. Right. Right. Right. Next we have our approval of the April 14th minutes. >> I make a motion to approve the April 14 open session. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> Emmy, yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> And passes. And then we have under old business the
250th anniversary. >> Hello. >> There she is. >> I'm back. >> Thanks for waiting. >> I said I would be back. >> Last time was in February. >> So I'm just going to You can hand these out.
>> I thought she was here. >> Kathy, if you want a copy of what I'm handing out. Thank you. >> Oh, I need a copy, too. First, I I just want to say the town is looking great. I love Old Glory out there. Drive down Elm Street. I saw DPW
putting them up. So, we're starting to get in gear. And back in February, it seemed like it was an hour away. >> Um, we're here. Um,
I consider Memorial Day almost like the kickoff. We had last year um a great um celebration for April 20th. Uh the shot heard around the world. I don't know if it's the 20th or 23rd. Don't quote me on
it. I was a European history major, not a um but anyhow, we have many fantastic volunteers in this town who have been really working hard uh to create
a spectacle of sorts. uh for East Long Meadow, which in this area, as we know, we are all about the Fourth of July, Independence Day. Um and so we're excited. So, this what I handed out is
just sort of a little synopsis, a snapshot of some of the things that are going on. It's a lot of stuff. Um so, as a second Oh. technical difficulties.
>> I'm going to share it. >> Sharing it. >> You can keep talking about >> Okay. So, as you probably know, I am a member of time capsule. So, up in the left hand column u
part of the calendar are the important dates which May 30th which is right around the corner is our kickoff party. Um, please, I know it's a busy day here. We've got a lot of stuff going on in town and I think that's great and I
think they can all play a role together. Um, we would love it if you stop by. Uh, you will get invitations. Um, and in your official capacity, I'm looking at you, Connor.
Maybe a couple of words. We we intend to keep the speaking part relatively brief. Um, we will have the new time capsule which will be dug up in uh 50 years. It is right now as we speak at Go Graphics
being wrapped and Go Graphics has donated the wrapping. We've gotten a lot of donations for the time capsule and um I know that uh money
is tight and I really appreciate the town stepping up in this. Um and I thank the town the taxpayers as well. We will have a fantastic celebration. And when you look at the
cost of things, sometimes you have you have no idea, you know, how much things are costing, bunting. I've seen it run from stuff to crazy money. So, it's nice to know that as much as we um ask for donations and we get them, that we've
got a backs stop here. And um we're very pleased with that. Thank you so much. And we will be careful with the money. I promise you that. Um, no junk anywhere. I was thinking of, you know, going away, but I won't do that. Um, anyhow, so
as you can see, we have something for everyone. What really hit me was um, and may really want to stick on your docket there is the um, veterans appreciation dinner. I've seen a breakdown of that.
that is on June 29th at Center Field. It looks really incredible. Um the group and uh the details that have been put together for that. >> Um carnival of course will be there.
We're going to have uh a cornhole tournament. Um there's a car and truck show and it looks like it should be substantial. Um, we're also, as usual, having concerts, concerts, this town will be a city of
music with concerts both at Center Field and at Maple Shade School where the Rotary Club is having their concert series. So, um, we look forward to seeing you at the May 30th and then we,
um, have June 6th is Springfest, which is not necessarily this, but time capsule will be there. Um, and also a children's event has been set up at the library. And if you're thinking, how am
I going to write something? And this is for anyone in town who has a connection to town. Um, we will have uh PR going out as to what we're accepting and what we're not. Um, we can't have lithium batteries or cans
of soda that, you know, we've all laughed and said, well, we won't be here in 50 years, so you know, but we want it to be safe. Um, but we will also have some pre-made questions so that little ones can either draw what they think or
adults can instead of having to think about it can just answer the questions. Um, because in 50 years, who knows? Who would have thought back in 76 that our lives would be on a little phone, right? Or that Dick Tracy would come true. And
now I'm I'm looking and and laughing when I was looking up for some of these questions um about well do you think we'll have flying cars? Well, we already have them. They are. If you're rich, you can get one. They have flying drones now
that people can get in. And my husband wants one. We are not getting one. But >> flags on elves. >> Yeah. >> I worry about the poor birds. How are they going to navigate this? But um we should be very proud of this town for
pulling this together. Um as usual we do even during CO I remember there was this angst there and unofficially there was an unofficial um parade but this is what we do and um so please make yourself
available to come up to all of this. Um and we also made a promise that these events for time capsule will be free to all residents. We want residential participation is number one goal and for
kids and adults to remember this in 50 years. Um because it lives on forever bicial cookbook and here we long transportation Willow Glenn. Those of us who've been around remember this Shamit Bank
>> Sham >> uh and um many have gone away including Acres Power Equipment I have to say but uh all of the uh banks and the blue moon. Anyone here remember that? I've heard
>> Oh yeah about it. >> I'm a little young for that but um so thank you very much. Uh, if you have any questions, feel free to ask or contact me or if you want to volunteer, we're all about that. So, have a good time.
>> Thank you, Don. >> Thank you. >> Amazing how much uh it's coming together, >> right? Did you guys see Donna's shirts or is it Donna was selling shirts last week? >> The shirts that Donna was selling last week. >> I'm sorry. I'm deaf, so I'm like, what?
>> Oh, the shirts that Donna was selling last week. the shirts >> recck department head shirts. >> There are shirts and um they're really cool >> shirts and hats and they say um celebrate
celebrating America 250102 >> in the USA >> in the USA. And they're really cool. Um >> they will be at some of these events being sold. Um I think Donna was going to have it at the shred event. Not sure.
I'm hearing rumors. We'll come back. We'll get back to you. But you will see them. And they're reasonably priced. >> These are only like 20 bucks. Yeah. >> Yeah. And the hats, I know the hats are coming in stock um mid June, so it'll be
a little later. But um they're great memorabilia to to have so you can remember um this buy. But uh that is a um also we'll be selling them at the concerts. I believe I'm putting words in my mouth that maybe I shouldn't be, but
I think I'm right. >> Thank you, Don. Thanks. >> It's wonderful to see how many uh things are filling up that event schedule there. It's definitely going to keep the town busy. >> I have a question related to the council.
>> Sure. um work. Did you decide on some kind of shirt to wear for the parade or >> Yes. I just haven't had a free moment to uh finish finalizing the design to get it to you, but I hope in the next meeting or two we'll have that. >> Well, I also got an email from Paul
Federichi cuz I was a former grand marshal and we get together this time of the year to designate who the next grand marshall will be. And in that email, it said that they are going to invite all of the former grand marshals to be in the parade. So, I'm going to be in the
parade, too. >> Even though I'm not going to be with you guys. So, anyway, that'll be it'll be fun. It'll be fun. Absolutely. >> Based on the parade, do you want me to reserve a golf cart again? >> If you would be so kind, I think that would be
>> Do we want a four-seater, six-seater? >> Who's going to drive it? >> You trust me? is always great at driving, but she speeds. >> So, let me >> I guess the question is how many people want to walk versus a ride.
>> I'm fine with walking. >> I like walking. >> I don't know what the outcome of whether I'll be there or not. Yep. >> So, depending on >> It's always nice to have it if someone's driving. >> Well, plus the kids that are with us, they can jump on and offer whatever
the same size. Great. Thank you, Ralph. >> It's Kathy. >> I'll be the designated driver. >> Maybe from >> I'll be the driver. I don't know about the design. >> And maybe from our newly funded celebration fund, we'll have a couple extra decorations on it or something.
>> All right. Oops. Uh, next under new business, we had the bylaw review committee update. So this not to be confused with the council's general bylaw committee. Uh so this was the bylaw review committee that we have to form according to the charter every
10year intervals on years starting in a five. We started that process last March of 2025 I believe. So it's hard to believe that it's already been a year at this point. Um >> it's not that hard to believe. >> I know. Well, it's gone by really fast.
So, I think at this point the committee has gone through all of the general bylaws with the exception of zoning. Um, I think they needed to meet one more time to review the um one that you had finished. Was that correct?
I think as a whole um and again I didn't get all responses um but everyone that did respond seemed to be good with what Tammy had written for the the dog control and uh that was going to be accepted. Um, I just know it's been
tough for Ryan. Obviously, he's got irons in the fire everywhere and it just has to be uh compiled in such a form to be presented. Um, you know, with the X outs, crossouts, the different colors
and all of that stuff. Um, yeah. And then we have to push a charter question so that we can adopt this as a whole. instead of having to do it piece by piece which will take us the next three years >> comma by comma.
>> Yeah. So that that is something that's going to be extremely important. Um and again I don't know how far we can even go with it if we the town chooses not to adopt uh um the charter amendment. So, um,
>> right, >> but I would be hopeful that at the meeting maybe in June, um, that we can actually bring in a form, give it to everyone, tell everyone what the suggestions are so that we can start considering public hearings and stuff like that on
that. >> That makes sense. which I guess reminds me given that the election is coming up uh in a few short weeks now. Um perhaps we could put out more of an explanation about the question even
though I think the question is clearer that it'll be on the ballot this year. Maybe we could put something out that explains what the purpose behind it is and so forth. I think we're able to do educational uh information, but we cannot um encourage
people to vote one way or another. Right. >> If I understand correctly, >> that is correct. >> Almost exactly. >> But we can certainly explain what we're asking for and why it came to be. >> Right. >> Yep. >> Great.
>> Okay. Next, we have the town manager review process. Um it's hard also hard to believe that it's been >> Yeah. Another year has gone by. Um I think as long as the council was good with it, I think the process that we
followed the last couple years, really the last few times that we've done an evaluation of Tom has has worked out well. So we could follow the same process with the same form and the same questions and scoring categories. And then once the responses are received
from you all, we would have that three member uh committee of the council that would kind of compile all of that together uh put together some recommended goals and then as the council would then reconvene and
decide overall on his evaluation and any potential compensation that comes as a result of that. Um so I think the two things I would ask one would be from Tom if you could for the next meeting put together your self-ealuation and then
any of the goals the many goals that we had given you last year if you could you know put together any progress you had on those and then from a council perspective I'll send out the evaluation form again within the next week or so
and then if you could fill that out and then also any potential goal ideas that you have for next year. Any thoughts or comments? >> This year went by way too quick. >> It sure did. >> Interested in seeing Marilyn's? She's a
little free now. >> Yeah. >> I'm not great. >> Okay. Next, we have discussion on the Peas Road and Lee Street intersection. I see what you mean, Ralph.
>> Yeah, I I drove there today. >> So, I asked Connor to uh add this to the agenda. Um very recently, within the last couple of weeks, we had a major accident at the corner of Peas and Lee. Um many people know that's right where I
live. Um it's extremely difficult when you're coming down Lee Street. You can't see the stop sign until you're on top of it. And if you're driving the 30 35 miles an hour, you're never going to see it in time. Um, we had an accident at
300 PM on a Saturday. The next morning I get up, I happen to look out the window and I watch another car go right through the intersection and two people slam on their brakes. And this isn't something that's randomly happening. Um, we're talking at least two to three times a
week I see someone drive right through the stop sign. Um, with that, I've talked to some of my neighbors. Um, I think I think the simplest thing would be to prune the shrubs back to the town
property line to start with to see if you can see that stop sign. Um, I think part of the issue is the road gets right to the very end. It turns a little bit >> and so the stop sign is right at the very end of the road which sets it back, >> right? Um it's almost like maybe move
that, you know, down Lee Street, even if it's 10 feet to put it closer to the road, prune the shrubs. Um my other uh thought after talking with my neighbors is before that down like the brook, which is I don't know, 1500 ft before it
adding a um one of those stop signs with uh >> stop ahead. >> Yeah, exactly. Um you know, I looked it up. You're looking about $1,200 for that. >> We bought a bunch with Shared Streets money a couple years ago. There's probably one in the >> And I'm just thinking not just the sign,
but the one uh the solar one that actually has the >> the red blinking lights around it. Just something to catch your attention cuz >> um I mean one of the accidents that occurred a few months ago, the guy got out and he's like, "I drive this every
single day." He's like, I just I zoned out and never saw the stop sign. And it's like, well, >> you don't see that stop sign because of those shrubs until about 20 ft away from the intersection. It's >> it's it's like tough. >> You can't you can't see it. >> And I feel bad. One of the people that
was in the last accident had New York license plates. >> Yeah. >> So, I know for a fact that they had no clue. >> They were looking ahead. they saw the road continue and >> um but when you have a threec car accident and there's two infants
involved in it um it sort of starts to process thinking and I don't want to be sitting here in a year going well we should have done this or that um but we didn't so so that's why I asked them to put it on >> even if like I said we just start by
pruning the heck out of those shrubs and I don't mean trimming them I mean >> bringing back to the property line which is 11 ft. Um >> well >> it's it's actually 12 1/2 ft >> on that side. >> On that side it's
>> not that when they move the road. Yeah, actually it's pretty close. >> Um >> yeah, >> I thought they have the bigger ones. >> Well, so >> but again I I'm not saying hey just go in and take the shrubs out. >> We we had a similar conversation. So,
uh, I have talked to Mark, uh, uh, Chief Williams, sorry. >> Okay. >> Um, who's talked to Daryl and some of the other guys that have done details out there. Um, and I'm looking at the data now, there's been whatever seven
accidents in the last five years, maybe uh, eight, but the last time this there's three in 2022 cuz I remember having this conversation before and we trimmed back the bushes and I thought we added a a stop ahead sign. >> You did when neighbors ran it down.
>> Oh, it's not there anymore. >> It's no longer there. >> Okay. >> So, um, they've already been talking about it. So, I expect that a solution will come pretty swiftly here. Uh, when Connor mentioned that it was going to be on the agenda, um, I I emailed Chief
Williams right away who talked to um, Officer Calcasola who's our sort of safety liaison uh, who talked to Daryl. Um, and I think we should have something uh, in place in short order. And then if we think um you know purchasing
uh you know the they're they're kind of obtrusive at night. Uh if >> Well, that's why I was thinking like where the brook is to where there's no houses there. >> Okay. >> Ralph's bedroom. >> Yeah. Well, that's what Yeah. Um >> so want to get into a careful what you
wish for scenario. But again, I this is uh in my other life uh 25 years ago, I laid out Favorite Lane with uh a local surveying company in town and we said I I think the next day somebody drove straight into Favorite Lane.
>> Yep. >> Um so this has been an issue for people that are not aware, especially at night and when the the foliage starts to kick in. So, uh, we'll get out there and try to do whatever we can to get the bushes
back, um, and try to add some additional signage until I don't think we have, uh, one of the solar ones like in stock, so to speak. Uh, but, um, if that's appropriate, if if the if the people on the ground think that's the solution,
we'll just purchase one and put it in. One additional thing, um, I saw that there's a bit out on the town website for the like repainting of lines and Y so forth. >> Could it also be like making sure that the stop line is more visible, too, cuz
that one was pretty heavily worn when I drove past? >> Yeah. So, that'll be on the bid for sure. Um, that that that is for every line on every road in town, that bid. So, uh eventually, yes. After you get through the winter and the snow and the
plows and the salt in the springtime, we try to to to freshen up all the lines. >> We have the solar stop sign at um Chestnut and Pro. Has that worked? >> Uh well, yes and no. Um there's like
three other ones. There's a 20 mph one and then a 20 mph that's got lights on it and then the um I just think there's just far too much distracted driving happening. >> Um I think we all know the reason, but >> the road is so terrible that people go
really slow. >> Real slow. >> Yeah. On Chestnut Street. >> Yeah. That Yeah, that takes a beating for sure. >> Um so yeah. Um, >> I mean on Peas Road, you'll actually hear quite often people will as they're coming up to the intersection now start
beeping. >> Start beeping >> and uh >> must be lovely for you. >> Again, as long as there's no accidents, if they want to beep beep. Um, but >> we should be able >> Someone's coming down le straight at 35 miles an hour, that beep doesn't do anything.
>> No. And they're usually going over 35 coming down that hill. >> You got it. >> Pushing me as they go. I So we we it's on the radar. We'll we'll get out there and and see what we can do to make that safer for sure. >> Okay.
>> Is it possible by the next meeting to get an update on paving for the next like we got the the bigger projects going on. I know it's like in the capital plan there too. We got the Y >> Blebrook and but isn't Pleasant supposed to be >> uh Pleasant is on there too. Y
>> we like got a quick update just >> Yeah. So >> an overview is yeah Pleasant >> assuming the state gets in which I think they will uh we'll have prospect Summers and Pleasant going at some point this
year which means three of those spokes of the Rotary uh at one point or another will have paving on it. So, we're going to have to do a good job um messaging um just to let people know they're not going to be able to get to where they need to get to the way they want to get
to it. So, um and that's that means everybody. Uh so, um we can have we won't have a schedule right now because those things will still be out to bid inevitably right now and and Mass DOT hasn't updated us since they sent back
the signed contract. >> Okay. So, their only date that they have to worry about now is June 30, 2027. As long as they're done with theirs, they they're not in violation of our agreement. Um, so I would take that to mean that they're going to try to get
that done either summer or fall of this year. Uh, so they don't have to worry about a late winter or a late spring and try to have to sneak it all in before June. Not that we wouldn't take the pavement if they tried to put it down
after June, but um yeah, that that's something um we can have that full list. And now it's just occurred to me that um the chapter 90 projects themselves aren't on the capital plan and they probably should be. Um, so let's see if
we can uh, you know, it's not funded through this budget, but we can have that on like all the other projects that are grant funded on the list so everyone knows what's happening on the capital plan, >> right? >> Those should be listed on the capital those projects. I mean, I think
Pleasant's going to be uh, you know, $800,000. >> Yeah. >> To get to get the whole thing done. So, um, yes. So if our capital, the free cash and all
is passed for uh the streets >> um the asphalt, >> is that expected to try and be done this year? Parker, Hamen, Metobrook. >> Yes, because >> Okay, >> that won't need mass DOT approval,
>> right? because that's town funding and we already have an agreement in place with a three-year contract with the last the person that did Westwood. Um, so we should be able to click go. >> Awesome. >> Almost immediately.
>> Great. >> Lots of questions tonight. Yeah, >> cuz there are some other streets that I've probably mentioned that we did that whole Kingston uh where they did the water mane back in that area. They're going to be in there putting new
pavement down there. So, there is quite a list of streets that are getting paving that aren't listed here. So, I'll >> that great to see like the whole >> Yeah, it's it's substantial. So, >> Yep. >> You got it. >> All right. So, action items for our next meeting. So, our next meeting is
Tuesday, May 26th, our budget public hearing. We will fully talk about farmers market fees. We'll have the discussion about the Springfield water and sewer legislation and our vote of support of them. Um,
talking about the budget with the retained earnings split options, we'll start Tom's evaluation process. um an update to see if anything had happened with the peas road and the
paving list. Those are the things that I have listed. >> If you guys are too busy, you just give me an A. It's fine. I'll take it. B+ something. Just throw it out there. >> Our shirts are >> Oh, yes. Right. >> Great.
Right. That's what I have so far. So next we do have two executive sessions this evening. Uh so I will make a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to match general law chapter 30A section 218 to discuss strategy with respect to
litigation in the matter of Alex Sarah versus the town of East Long Meadow as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the town and the chair so declares and pursuant to mass general law chapter 38 section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with
respect to collective bargaining with utility workers Union of America, UWA Local 169, which is the DPW, United Public Service Employees Union, EPSU, Local 2 424M-
AV120, which is the professional employees and UPS local 424M-IV119, which is the clerical employees as an open meeting may have the detrimental effect on the bargaining position. of the town and the chair so declares and
to reconvene into open session for the sole purpose of adjournment. >> Second. >> Motion was made and seconded. Uh the only further discussion I would have is the second part of that executive session for the contracts was something that um kind of came as a result of the
financial oversight committee talking about getting more involved in the collective bargaining before it's ultimately fully decided upon by the town manager. and then the council really has limited choice at that point. So hopefully this will give us some
insight into that process sooner. Any other discussion? Seeing none. Jim, >> yes. >> Anna, >> yes. >> I'm a yes. Marilyn, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> And Kathy, >> yes. >> Thank you. The motion passes to enter
executive at 8:10.