WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=RatrTT-6uwQ

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: RatrTT-6uwQ):
- 00:00:01: Call to Order, Agenda Overview, Approval of Minutes
- 00:01:25: Public Comment - Minute Accuracy Concerns Expressed
- 00:02:15: Detailed Review and Correction of Meeting Minutes
- 00:05:33: Motion to Approve the Minutes with Corrections
- 00:06:08: Discussion and Recommendation on the Education Budget
- 00:07:48: Public Comment - School Choice Money Use Concern
- 00:08:04: Inquiry Regarding Encumbrances for the Next Year
- 00:09:39: Motion to Recommend Education Budget Approval to Council
- 00:10:12: Capital Planning Budget Discussion and Ralph's Concerns
- 00:10:32: Public Comment - Rate Increase and Water Report Concern
- 00:11:18: Water Rate Increase, Springfield Water Costs Impact
- 00:15:13: Greenwich Slumber Water Main Project Impact Discussion
- 00:16:51: Clarifying Water Main vs. Springfield Sewer Issues
- 00:19:05: Stormwater Project, Grant Funding, and Bonding Strategy
- 00:20:34: Public Comment - Stormwater Project Bond Amount Concern
- 00:23:57: Contingency and Setting Grant Funding Thresholds
- 00:26:38: Capital Plan Approval Motion with Grant Contingency
- 00:27:47: Discussion on Enterprise and Revolving Funds Budgets
- 00:28:46: Recreation Fund Balances, Rollover Accounting Options
- 00:31:53: Ambulance Deficit and Revenue Projections Scrutiny
- 00:35:43: Ambulance Rates, and Medicare Reimbursement Challenges
- 00:36:53: Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund Fee Increase Analysis
- 00:40:12: Stormwater Fund Revenue and Expenditure Review
- 00:41:39: Public Comment - Retained Earnings seemed Low
- 00:43:44: Community Preservation Fund (CPF) Balances, Projects
- 00:45:54: Brown Farm Redevelopment Plans; Passive Recreation Focus
- 00:48:13: Public Comment - Question about available projects for CPA Funding
- 00:51:16: CPF Spending Rules on Brown Farm & Heritage Park
- 00:55:50: Motion to Approve Revolving Funds and Town Council
- 00:56:57: Preparation of Communication Report to Town Council
- 00:59:07: Draft Report Review, Exceeding Financial Goals Praise
- 01:01:38: Education Budget vs School Department Budget Title
- 01:03:53: Insurance Advisory Committee Reactivation Discussion
- 01:07:30: Recommendation to Share Insurance Trends and Data
- 01:09:10: Edits to draft report
- 01:10:39: Health Insurance Stabilization Fund Recommendation
- 01:15:06: Employee Cost Breakdown Sheet Recommendation
- 01:16:47: Report Revisions, Approval, No Meeting Needed
- 01:17:37: Financial Oversight Committee Budget Recommendation Approval
- 01:18:24: Choosing a Representative to Present to Town Council
- 01:18:55: Adjournment Motion and Closing Remarks


Part: 1

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uh like to call to order the May 4th, 2026 meeting of the financial oversight committee and since there is not a quorum of town counselors present, we will not open a uh a special town council meeting. >> Thank you.

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>> Um so it is 3:30. Uh we have a fairly uh full agenda. Uh uh we need to review the minutes of um our meeting that we had with the schools. Uh review and vote on the education budget, review and vote on the

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capital planning budget. Then we need to review the enterprise funds and the revolving funds and if we're comfortable be able to vote. and then finally uh talk about um our communication to the town council and decide if we need to

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meet on Thursday at 4:30. So action-packed action time, >> ready? >> The uh first order of business is review and approve the minutes of the 427 meeting. And I will say that Amanda was

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very thorough in her in her her meeting minutes. Um does uh did did everyone have a chance to review them? >> I have question. >> Yeah. So um

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just trying to think of the way I want to put this. So there there are instances where sentences start and they go for two words and then nothing follows. There are instances where a paragraph is started and there might be things missing within the paragraph. So

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I I don't I don't feel comfortable voting on acceptance of the minutes. So you certainly can and I and I will just abstain. >> Yeah, I I did notice one uh definitely

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one place where there was two words kind of like the start of a sentence but it ended. I can't say I noticed a second instance of that, but um there were a number of corrections that we need to to do. >> Rich has got them apparently. >> I have I have three corrections.

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>> All right, go right ahead. Uh page two, it says rich question as to why that is the lunchroom aid paraprofessional as to why the lunchroom aid par profofessional is going up 296%. So it's not new age, it's lunch room

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paraprofessional. >> Lunch room aid pair of professionals. >> Lunch room par professionals. >> Parrofessionals. >> So in place of new age, >> correct? >> It's lunchroom paraprofessionals. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> So on page

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>> uh before you go off on that, uh that's where one of the hanging sentences is. U said >> Pam said I think we need to delete that. Y >> it's that same paragraph just at the end of that paragraph. >> Okay. Go ahead, Rich.

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>> Um I'm moving to page four. I don't know if anybody had any more corrections on pages two or three. I'm moving to page four. Uh, I did have one uh the second to last paragraph on page three where

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Connor stated that Gordon uh blah blah blah that that last sentence said, "How much would a whole year like revenue?" I think means to say how much would a whole year look whole year look like revenue-wise, >> right?

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>> Yeah. So, I would insert look uh between year and like in that second in that final sentence of the second to last paragraph. Okay. Go ahead, Rich. >> Oh, yeah. And I I'm sorry. My two corrections are on page four.

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>> No, I'm on all the My god. >> Are you >> page seven? I'm on my correction page seven. >> I would go to page four, the second the first full paragraph. Uh the last line, um it spoke to getting $500 per school

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choice student and I think it meant to say,000. >> I missed that. >> Um All right. Uh and you're all the way on to page seven, >> correct? >> Okay, go right ahead. on page seven

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uh 4E. Uh Ralph asked if there was a vote. Do you need Why do you need it? It should be a 100,000. >> We're missing a zero there on that second line on 4E. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> And if you continue reading, Tom

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clarified that we are that we are this is the S Enterprise Fund and retain earrings. I think we meant earnings there, not earrings, but earrings should be earnings. >> And that's all I had, Mr. Chair. >> Uh, did anyone else have

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any other revisions? Uh, corrections? Um, Russ, did you say you wouldn't be comfortable? >> No, I will with those changes. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. If um there are no other corrections, would anyone want to entertain a motion

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to review the 427 minutes with those corrections uh uh included? >> So moved. >> And do I second? >> Approve, not review >> to approve. Yes. Thank you, Anna. >> You're welcome.

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>> Uh and was there a second? >> I'll second. >> All right. Uh any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Any opposed, please say nay. Okay. The the minutes are reviewed and approved.

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So our next order of business is the education budget. Um, and we had uh met with the schools uh representatives of the school committee and uh Gordon

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and Pam on April 27th. Uh we did get some follow-up information uh regarding uh some of the questions I think Russ you had primarily.

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Um, and this was the time we had to give ourselves a chance to think about it. Um, review the follow-up information and, uh, discuss if we're comfortable with the budget or recommending the

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budget to the town council. So, open it up for discussion. Um, I'll just make a comment that um I'm good with the presentation that uh Gordon and Pam made uh and grateful that two things that they were able to get to

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3% with um much less damage if you will than in last year's budget where uh 20 positions had to be um let go and that they with attrition and some moving

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things around that um they're able to make this work this year. So, I applaud them for their creative efforts. Okay. Thank you, Kathy. Uh other comments. >> I do have a concern how much they're

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using school choice money for the operating budget, but being realistic, it makes sense. I do have a concern. >> Sure. I think they do, too. Um, other comments, >> Russ,

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>> how much are they encumbering for next year? >> Did you Did you catch that? Was it like $225,000 >> regarding school choice? >> No. >> Oh, were you talking about the prepaid transportation?

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Not sure. >> Not just trans. Was it other things as well? >> They already paid the transportation >> for FI27. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, >> 2256. >> I don't have that. I don't know where that page is. >> I mean, so technically, does that equate

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to 3 3% plus the 225? And so a more accurate number would be 3% plus the 225. >> Yeah, but I think they they tend to >> number that every year because they can. >> Oh, okay. I I don't know what I can find

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out what it was last year, but um that's something they they kind of do >> past practice they've done. >> Yeah. Okay. >> When they were able to, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, you're referring to prepaying the LPVEC. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But that's fine. Yeah. Okay.

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>> Other comments or >> No, I would echo Kathy's comments. >> I would uh I would tend to agree. Uh, I I give credit to Tom and Kim and and the school committee and school

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administration for working through all those things and getting to a reasonable budget uh for the town. And uh I would entertain a motion to

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uh to recommend uh to the town council well to that we would we would recommend to the county council that they approve the education budget. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none.

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All in favor please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose please say nay. All right. Thank you. We're on to our next item which is capital planning. >> Did want to thank Kim for giving that

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very nice clean. >> Yep. >> Uh cuz you said >> I'm assuming that comments that Ralph gave you might have to do with capital planning. Uh Rush. >> Um yeah. So I trying to remember exactly his comments, but he would not vote in

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favor of anything that would increase a rate 50 cents. Is that on water or sewer? >> That would be wanted I think. Yeah. >> And his two specific comments were we're getting in his words polluted water and

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that there isn't there's a $40,000 report that still needs to be done. So his thought is why don't we wait to see what that report says before you do that specific project that would have

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the impact of raising the rate 50 cents. So I didn't get that all in order I'm sure but those were his comments. So, >> so the biggest project in the capital plan this year for water

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uh wouldn't impact rates this year because we wouldn't have to pay the bond until FY28. So whether we do the capital plan for water or not will not impact >> 50ents >> budget

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>> price increase. >> And I'm I just have a question. Um, can we legally go into July 1 with not having approved um the water rate for the next fiscal year?

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>> I don't know. >> I don't think so. Um, >> but it doesn't sound like the questions Ralph is wanting answers to and asking us to set this aside will get answered in the next six weeks.

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>> Not in all likelihood. Um yeah, I mean the the the budget and the rate are sort of based on whatever the operation is, right? And um all the other stuff like I assume you

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know the the the biggest hit on the capital plan certainly that the I mean we have to continue to update and upgrade our facility, >> right? regardless of all the other things that are happening with proposed legislation and whatever is going on at

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Springfield Water and Sewer. Um, so I guess maybe I'm I'm I don't know that we can go into next year without a water rate certainly. >> That's what I'm saying. So, >> um, but can we keep this water rate and move into the

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next year >> fund? >> Uh, >> you know what you what >> or or we leave the motion as we're assuming and he votes no. >> Well, >> but that that's not right. >> But that's also assuming nobody else on

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the council. So, so the point about the budget is if we we can't really level fund because our biggest line item is going up 20%. And that's our bill to Springfield Water and Sewer for usage. >> So, we can level fund all we want. We

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just won't collect enough revenue to cover the account. >> They'll shut us off. >> Well, at some point >> that's ELS is not going to allow us to do that, right? there there's like a there's a calculation um sheet which we have to do based on all of our estimates that says where we need to set our rate

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and if we're not setting our rate to a point where the revenue we collect is going to cover our expenses DLS won't approve your recap >> right >> it's part of the recap at the end of here so you won't be able to set a tax rate if you don't set all those other dates >> okay so I don't know how far or much we

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can dispute our bill from Springfield Water and sewer at this point >> I Uh, go ahead, sir. >> Well, I'm I'm just trying to come up with a solution here, but assuming that we have to pass the motion at 50% increase, are

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there actions we can take during the fiscal year when the answers Ralph's looking for are available to us? Yeah. And and again, I I'm I I guess I'd have to get into those questions a little deeper to know what they even are and if that information is going to impact the

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budget andor our expenses at all. >> Right. >> Um the the water that we get >> is Yeah. Even though it's it hits that number every once in a while that makes us notify. It's not like they're giving

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us water we can't treat and then >> distribute to our residents. So as as as bad as the picture is painted, the water's not bad, >> right? It's just not perfect, >> right?

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>> I I'm a little confused because there's only one big project. It's the Greenwich Slumber Water Man. >> Yep. >> And that's to be bonded. Is that what would I mean? >> Well, that's that's what I was saying. It wouldn't impact this year's rate because the payment on that bond

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wouldn't happen until FY28 anyway, >> right? And it would be a debt debt service payment. It wouldn't be the million6 or whatever, >> right? >> Uh and and is that what would push >> to have an increase over 50 cents uh in

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the water fund that project? No, that's I think that's what I was trying to say was that this doesn't really impact this 50 cent increase this year at all because we're not really going to have to make a payment >> towards the project. >> I mean, one of our issues is we we have

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we have to pay whatever Springfield is charging us. >> Correct. >> And that has an impact on our >> the biggest impact. And isn't the increase they're passing along to all their consumers reflective of the fact that there are significant cost overruns

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in their project. And didn't I read in the news in the last two weeks they're behind. They're like a year behind. >> They were a year behind. >> And then there's significant cost overruns. >> So they were already Yes. A year behind with overrun. And then they discovered

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PCBs somewhere in the facility infrastructure that will add another year and uh I saw the figure at 8 to 30 million or whatever somewhere in there. >> But so chunk of money. >> The Slumber Lane project and the

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problems with Springfield Water and Sewer are two different things. >> Correct. So, the biggest impact to our water uh account is always the payment to Springfield Water and Sewer. That

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pretty much drives our whole water budget is whatever the increase to that payment is to to that organization. >> Other other comments that uh Ralph had? Russ,

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>> I did my best to remember. I think I got the major point. >> Well, yeah. And he he had another good point about the water main project, and that was doing the separating the um and again, it's to not budget it for this year, which I sort of already explained

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that it won't hit this year, but was to do the uh just the engineering and do the project in the in a subsequent year. Um in a normal year, that may make sense. And from a timeline standpoint, we'd be

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pushed out that far anyway. We typically don't go out to bond until December, meaning they can't really get that their hands on that money until it's all taken care of, and then that would push us into FY28. However, we have to go borrow money again for the high school in

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August. So, between August and June, they'll have enough time to complete a design, put bids out, and probably finish the project before July 1st. So, um, >> that was your that was your argument. You'll be able to do it in one fiscal year. >> We will be able to do it and and in

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other years it may not be the case from the timeline, but this this year with a borrowing in August, we'll we'll have no problem buttoning that up substantially complete by the end of the year. Certainly not enough to now push it out to

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December again because if we go FY28, we can't borrow that other piece of money till 28. Now we're worried about getting it done in 28. So now this FY27 project is not completed until FY29 potentially, which is too far out.

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Uh I noticed that you put the clarification on the stormwater one uh the Spade Arden and Brook Street. The project will be bonded contingent on grant funding. So the entire project would be a

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combination of grant funding and bonding. So, yes, and we we we got into a good conversation, me and Felix and Mark Burman up in uh who who's like sort of the storm water uh handles all the storm water for DPW, uh about

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potentially if if we don't get a bond uh trying to figure out how water and sewer can get involved too because depending on what the design that comes out of uh DP nowadays. So, right now there's three

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24-in pipes, two three barrels, right? And now they try to make you do the box so that you can have uh natural riverbed underneath a culvert. This is for wildlife and water quality and this that and the other thing. Uh so

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depending on that design, the water and sewer main that go under that culvert currently may have to be redesigned anyway. So that uh water and sewer potentially could be uh contributing to this project because their infrastructure is under the existing

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culvert. So there's a lot of moving parts in that tiny little spot. Uh but we also think that that's why it's a pretty good grant opportunity because there's so much going on right there. So would the grant cut into the million5

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or would it be in addition doing things in over and above the million? >> No, no, that would that's the that's the total project cost. >> So if you got grant funding it would reduce the million >> and you're making >> it would have to really I mean realistically Jim would have to at least

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reduce it in half to even think about borrowing that much money from the stormwater account. Uh again, that's a it's a small uh young account and we would be strapping that account for at least the next 10 years if we tried to do that.

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>> So just a kind of a silly question then why wouldn't you just show the amount that you would see think reasonable to borrow assuming you got X dollars in the grant rather than put an amount that you wouldn't feel comfortable bonding if you

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had to bond the whole amount. Well, the so why why the total project cost if we because I don't know what that bond is going to look like or the uh the the grants are going to look like. There's a couple opportunities right now. One stop um and the mass works and so I don't know what that's

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going to look like. And so this way if we're sort of uh if we can do the whole project whatever that dollar amount and if it makes sense when we run the numbers then we can do it. >> I'm just not sure. Sorry. I don't don't

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want to break the time, >> but >> so why why have the full account? >> We're going to bond for a million bucks. >> Yeah. >> Contingent on grant funding. I'm not exactly sure what the contingent on grant funding is getting at if we still leave it at a million five

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>> bonding approve have the town council approved. >> I think only because it's only because it's the total project. I I think though, didn't we anticipate that we wouldn't go out to bond unless we got the grant? I think this was to

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put kind of that constraint on it. >> Yeah. We >> not going out to bond for the total project cost. We can't do that. >> Yeah. >> So, it would be a question of what the numbers look like depending on what the size of the grant was. If it was 200,000, maybe we still wouldn't do it.

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If it was 600,000, would we think about taking out a bond for the >> That's what I'm wondering is because of what you're saying, >> would it be contingent on a grand funding of at least X dollar and then then the balance would be what you felt

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you would re a reasonable amount of bond out of the out of the storm water fund. >> Yeah. Which I and I don't even know what that number is, but >> um so >> I don't want to beat a dead horse. I think I mean that >> it's a good point. It it's basically

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saying with this plan, if it's voted on like this, even if we didn't think it was a good idea, we could still bond a million, >> right? >> So, um, >> and you do put in the description, if I'm correct, this project will be bonded

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contingent on grant funding, >> right? >> Okay. So, that so that Okay. Again, I think from a from a council perspective, >> not having a number in there may say, you know, if I get a grant for 50 bucks and then put a bond out for a million,

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it's >> just a matter of putting this project will be bonded on a grant funding of at least X dollar to reduce the approved amount or something. I I just said that there's some kind of um >> when you protection

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>> boundary or something guardil >> when excuse me when you apply for that grant do you ask for a specific amount or you just >> plead your case and they decide what you should >> there's no cap on what the grant is for.

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We would ask for the whole project. >> Yeah. Um, so again the the the grant parameters would sort of tell us >> your amount. >> Yeah. >> So in your mind you mentioned 200. If we got 200,000 we probably wouldn't want to

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>> I I probably wouldn't feel comfortable borrowing 800,000. I just I I I don't >> So is that number 200,000? Is it 50? Is it 300,000? >> He's going to make us say a number. >> Uh no, I'm just kidding, Jim. Uh I mean at least I mean I would think at least

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>> and and even then we would have some pause when we talked about it. >> So could we could you just like the project will be upon a continued grant funding of no less than at least 400,000 or some number that >> or% which will reduce the approved

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bonded amount or something. >> Yeah. I mean >> well rather than an amount maybe Jim how about a percentage like with approval for bonding of at least 50% >> 50% >> of the total project >> on the condition on grant funding of

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>> at least sounds reasonable >> 50% of the project >> which would then reduce this amount >> correct correct >> y >> okay >> would it would you feel comfortable putting putting that in the description >> yep >> okay >> I think Kim's already doing it

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Just check >> on the flat. >> He's comfortable with it. >> Flat. Yeah. >> Uh, other questions? Uh, other comments? I see the 150 is in there for the town hall roof for the CPA fund. >> Any other discussion on any particular

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items? >> This is a member of the uh capital plan committee. It is >> it is um very um feels good that all of the items that the committee voted that were priority have been accepted by the uh town manager and I

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think this is an impressive list >> that that we're doing. >> Right. It's a bit more robust than >> last year. Much more robust. >> Right. >> You guys did a great job. Thank you. >> Well, and finding a way to fund it. >> Well, that's always it's always the rub.

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Uh would people be would would if if any further discussion on the capital projects capital plan? Uh would someone be comfortable in it in making a motion to recommend approval of the capital

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plan as as uh shown in the revised >> okay >> plan submitted with the one with the one uh clarification regarding regarding the uh contingent grant funding on Spade Arden and Brook Street. >> I'll take it I'll take a shot. Make a

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motion to approve the capital plan committee with the amendment that the DPW storm water add the statement this project be contingent on grant funding up to 50%. >> And do we need to include the fact that there'sund

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the $150,000 CPA? >> No, because there'll be no additional appropriation. It's just for sort of clarification. >> Thank you, Rich. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> All right. Any further discussion? All right. Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. >> I.

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>> Any oppose, please say nay. Right. >> All right. On. Thank you. Thank you. >> And that moves us to enterprise and revolving. So, just to get it started, Mr. Paige had no issues with anything related to

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the enterprise fund. >> Wow. Wow. So moved. >> You're a second though. >> Well, we've all had had the seats for some time. >> Um, are there any ones that uh committee

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members have questions on? We've got we've got I'm I'm looking at page 42. There's the solid waste disposal council on aging. >> Oh, you want >> um 42 >> and then page 43 is the recreation.

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>> Nope. >> They really handle quite a bit of money, huh? >> Yeah. Oh gosh. Going through a lot. Yeah. So does that uh tell us also that the participation of uh of our young people is really up >> Oh yeah, >> really impressive. Yeah,

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>> it's very impressive. Uh >> almost every sport every season >> which is not something that happened when I was growing up. you know, you had a season for sports and but everybody want everybody's playing everything every season and >> right >> uh

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there's a lot of action over there and >> and um this financial offic,000 that can be rolled over to the next year, correct? >> No, we referring to >> the the wreck account. So, the way that the accounting works for the wreck, uh,

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by statute, um, they can keep $10,000 plus any incumbrances and the rest goes back to the general funding. >> Okay. >> Got it. Okay. >> All right. I thought this is something that we've been sort of exploring

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looking at just for for future years in terms of the accounting of this money um and and what the impact is on the general fund and what the impact is on wreck. Uh there there is another accounting uh vehicle by general law,

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not enterprise fund, that allows the wreck department to roll their own money over. Mhm. >> Um and so the the the dollar threshold is somewhere around 500,000 which we're obviously handling more money then. So but it also cuts into um you can you can

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pay salaries of these employees out of that fund which we can't do. We have to have a general fund obligation for all of our per uh full-time salaries. So we've been trying to balance the books a little bit to see what works and what doesn't. Obviously, this rollover does

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come to general fund revenue in some sort of way, free cash, right? >> Yeah. >> Um, so we got to figure out what what the best thing is in the big picture, but um, you know, at at minimum maybe trying to pull out pine null and let

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that run by itself. Um, and see where the rest of this >> shakes program. >> Well, uh, that's a thought. That's a lot of accounts for somebody to deal with, but um you know they they have to sort of deal with them anyway. Um >> yeah, I mean right now they're just a

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bunch of little accounts within a big account. So they just separate accounts. >> We're we're still this is still a work in progress. Something that we're looking at um if nothing else to sort of maybe move some of our general fund obligation into the revolving account so that a lot of the work that they do for

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a wreck is in this revolving account. and it sort of doesn't make any sense other than the parameters of the law that we can't spend money out of this account on their salaries. So, we're trying to uh if nothing else just think about a way to move some of our general

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fund obligation into the revolving area. I'll say >> on the budget uh page 44 was the beginning of the uh ambulance. Is that figure right that we're 405,000

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in the hole? >> Yeah, we've had we've had a discussion. >> I understand. I didn't I understand why and all that, but wow. >> Yep. >> I didn't realize it was that much. So um based on now again there's a whole

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there's another piece of this which is um you know again we already had the conversation about >> moving fire and ambulance so we can see the picture but um we also can't vote on a number unless there's that much money in the account on the night that you

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vote on the budget. So um this number uh looks like it will change by about 100,000. Uh we're we're sort of keeping an eye on it, but as of yesterday, I think we're going to be able to make that number 305. Um from a from

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>> again, we just have to watch the revenue come in right up until the day and then we'll, you know, hit print basically. Um so hopefully this will be showing a number that will continue to decrease as we sort of get this leveled out.

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So, the 2026 budget had projected a $54,000 um profit or surplus. Uh I assume that was way off the actual the actual way off the budget

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>> for the >> Yeah. I I don't know where where did where did the budget end last year? >> No, because you're talking about the year we're in >> here. Yeah. >> 2026. Yes. Um revenue we're projecting revenue at about

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what did they say >> 20 >> two 2.1 >> y >> I think we're projecting revenue of about 2.1 so we should be over which is why we would have enough money in the fund

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before June 30th to actually appropriate a budget of 2 what are we 2.1 million You know what I mean? Because we had a little bit more revenue in there than we anticipated because we're only looking at revenue through May. There's another

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month of revenue to be collected for the year. >> But then in for 2027, we're projecting a deficit of 400,000. >> But we So I don't know if you remember, we moved in a lot of expense out of the fire department into the ambulance.

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>> Yeah. All right. So, it's just more appropriately stated. It's just the the ambulance fund doesn't at this point bring in enough money to >> Now that you say that, I >> Yeah, if we if we did the budget like we did last year, that number wouldn't be

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there. The general fund obligation would be up 400,000 whatever in the fire department. And I think ultimately like this is showing us what the ambulance fund how much it actually really costs. Because if we get to a point where we're never bringing in enough money to cover

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the ambulance fund, then why are we accounting for it separately at that point? Like why isn't the ambulance and the fire just >> one >> one accounting um function. >> So on page 45 is the like ambulance rates. Do we know are are other counts

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facing this similar type of situation with the medic or are we just unusually >> we have the highest percentage um of those Medicare calls th this is something that everybody deals with um

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but because of our demographics and the facilities we have in our town we we're seeing it the most Uh, all right. And I see you do show some of the the rates, but

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>> I don't When did we say we got that updated Medicare number last year? I I did it happen before the we voted on the budget. >> Um, no, I don't think so. >> Or did we? >> I don't think so. Is that in here? I

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don't know if that's >> um I don't think so. >> I don't think we can. >> So, questions on the ambulance. >> Yep. >> All right. >> Go up very much though. >> No, I know it won't go up. It won't go up as much as I want it to. Uh the next

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was our sewer enterprise fund and uh looks like a projected 5% increase in the fee and the water was 11% that's was

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maybe concern any questions on the sewer enterprise >> I think you I think you missed the water my And page 47 that went before saw >> Yeah. You know what messes me up? >> Both sides. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I can't justify the the paper,

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but it I I it really does mess me up. Thank you. >> The days of the singlesided printing. >> Yes. >> Uh so yes, the water water enterprise fund. Uh this has had a 17% increase in

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23 or I mean in 24 5% in 25 5% in 26 and a proposed 11% in 27. >> So if you look at that second one under expenses the operating expenses that's where we pay. >> So that's a $400,000 increase on a $4

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million budget. So that >> that's our that's our increase. >> It's uh yeah it's up 15%. That's uh that's Springfield to water. Yep. >> Questions on the water? Part of it is uh out of our hand.

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>> Yeah. Thank you. And we'll move to the sewer enterprise. So it looked like there was a 9% increase in 24, 16% 25, 2% in 26 and a 5% increase proposed

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for for 27. Uh operating expenses go up 8%. And is this also a byproduct of the sprinkle rates? >> Yeah, so we have a similar usage rate

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that um we get a similar bill for for water and sewer. >> I notice you're you are building in a a surplus for for these. This is to continue to um add to the retained earnings.

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>> Add to the retained earnings. your bonding. >> Correct. Uh and also, um we've historically uh gotten true ups Springfield Water and Sewer, meaning here's your bill. Uh but also we need

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more money because of projects went got overrun and this that and the other thing. So, um, it's good to sort of plan a little bit for an inevitability, which is the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission charging us more.

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>> Um, questions on the sewer enterprise fund. >> Yep. >> Now, we move to the stormwater enterprise fund. This is the newest of these LCAT flip. >> Oh, I did it, too.

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Oh, yes. Thank you. All right, here we are. Oh, yeah. Oh, >> so I was kind of confused. The interest is only $2,000. The the fund seemed like it was bigger than than

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that it would generate a little bit more than that. But >> um honestly >> sometimes I feel like we shouldn't even budget interest in this fund. So it is kind of minimal. >> Um there's no clear way of knowing what

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we're going to receive from charter every year. >> Um you it just depends on how many people are taking, >> you know, getting cable and then there's a percentage of that that we get. But we find out quarterly what they're sending

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us and then we just kind of get that quarterly. But like each quarter could be different. So we're really just budgeting revenue based on what was brought in before and and kind of hoping. So I you know honestly that 2,000 is just kind of

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>> speculation. What is the fee per her connection? Do we know? >> Um we just got that. We we actually just asked for those calculations. I haven't been through them yet. I'm It's hard to say, >> but but it's per connection you get a

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fee, correct? >> However, >> yeah, per per user. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, Kim, the reason I was asking in that page 37 where it has the reserves or the retained earnings of the funds showed

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after the 70,000 projecting a retained earnings of $485,000. That's why I was just curious see like 2,000 seemed like >> much to budget. >> Do you have the are you are you looking at the mun?

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>> Um I'm looking at >> Oh, you're just looking at the Okay. >> Yeah, like the balance. >> Let me look at the mun report and see what the actual revenue is. >> Yeah. >> Uh other than that, I I didn't have questions. Anyone else? >> Okay.

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>> All right. flipped it over the tour. So, we did that. >> Uh, and we have our storm water. >> Storm water. >> All right. >> Now, the 11% increase in operating expenses, is that

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>> also tied to Springfield? It is not. Okay. >> Nope. >> That that budget is whatever. and I've been out for a couple years now, but whatever year uh we're in on the storm water permit through uh D uh depends on

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what work we have to do out in the field to show that we're not polluting the environment basically. So, uh that that number shows a little bit of a fluctuation, but um we went down a little bit in salaries. So, um we didn't we didn't move any of these rates at

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all. and uh shows uh keeping the rate flat at $49. So 0% increase. Uh question enterprise. Then I'm showing my next one as community preservation fund. Is that

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correct, Rich? Mhm. Last week >> 52 or 52. My only question is go ahead. >> How much longer do we have a bond payment for the brown? >> They're both within the next two years. The pool and the brown farm are up.

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One's up this year, one's up next year. >> 28 29 something like that. >> Yeah. >> Are there a lung? So I remember the town meeting where we approved >> the Brown meeting. Wow. >> With the grand plan to make athletic

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fields and so forth and if you remember that individual using what I refer to as the John Lennon >> message. Imagine this field. Imagine that. And then he had no idea how much it was going to cost. >> Yeah. So, are there plans down the road

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that once that is paid off to do more with the Brown Farm or is the idea just to leave it as it's currently been operating? >> My my current vision is to keep it a more passive recreational space in that

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uh we did the structural assessment of the barn. It came back a little uh less structural than I wanted it to. So, uh, it's kind of up in the air whether we want to expend the funds on a building that's in that rough of a shape, but we

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have amazing hiking trails back there. Uh, planning and conservation are and we're working with Donna to see uh if we can get a trail plan together. Um, so I'm thinking of more of a event space slash entrance into our hiking network.

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Uh we own a lot of that property in between Parker and North Main and Summers and uh Porter and Kibby and so um I'm thinking passive between the high school's new facility uh and Heritage

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Park when we get to it. I I don't I don't see the need for more fields. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Yep. >> It's um the years are 2028 and 2030. >> 28 and 30. >> That's the land acquisition. I think we were also

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there was talk of multif family housing as well. >> Yeah. So, not to pick on him, but it was Ned Obernheiser who stood up. Imagine soccer fields. >> Oh, yes. >> And baseball fields with dugouts and lighted fields and and the $10 million price tag that would

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have gone with it. Didn't have the money for, >> right? Yeah. I I've seen the plans and then again it certainly was a reasonable option but I I feel like we're going to be in really good shape in the next 3 to 5 years here and we don't have to

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>> spend more money on Brown Farm. >> Thank you. >> So is the the FY27 the 300,000 is that a I thought it was a is that is it always a flat 300,000. I thought it was just a a some kind of

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based on a percent of of taxes or whatever, like almost a mill rate. >> So that 300,000 is basically an estimate of what we think we'll get. It gets adjusted as we actually get it, but it's not usually very far off. And I see the

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debt payments, but is there a place where you show uh like like the others uh estimated surplus or deficit? >> We have our balances in the budget. >> What do you mean? >> The CPA balances. >> They're in the reserves.

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>> Yeah, they should be here, Jim. >> I see the I think it's like I think we got like two >> They're right above the stabilization and reserves >> and 37 in there somewhere. No. Well, I've got 37, but it all it really shows is

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uh the funds. >> Okay. >> The balances. >> The balance. It looks like the balances of the funds. >> Okay. >> What are you looking Are you looking for more detail? >> Well, >> by project. >> Well, I'm just curious. You bring in

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revenue and you pay out like debt payments and grants and whatnot. And what what is there is it reducing taking from the fund or is it or adding to the fund. Is there a surplus that year? >> So the undesated would be what's in the

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undesated amount would be what's in the fund. So if you look from 24 to 25 it went from from 1.5 to 1.9. Now it's at 2.2 and then within each of the um categories like open space, historical

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historic resources, affordable housing, those are what's remaining in each of those. >> Yeah. No, I see that. Um, >> okay. >> And out of the income and whatever, I assume they also generate income on this

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money that's been collected or is that not the case? >> There would be interest. There'd be >> just wondering, it just struck me there's only one project this year 170. >> We've got almost $3 million in CPA

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funds. Are are no projects coming to the CPA committee or are they just not of of quality or >> I'm on the committee. Yeah, the projects are far and few between. We got one in this latest uh fiscal that's it. There's one. We haven't voted on it yet.

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>> Yeah, cuz we're just kind of like >> so >> adding the money up. >> One last year, right? The fence, right? Wasn't that >> Yeah, we've done a few and and those are reflective of those projects had being done, right? So those balances mean that that money that was approved, that

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project's already ongoing. And so recently, and you've probably seen, uh, some things that were eligible for CPA funds in the past, >> yeah, >> do not meet the criteria anymore, >> really. >> So I think we're finding that, yes, we have a lot of money,

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>> but projects that are eligible are are sort of few and far between. You can't just go do capital projects, >> CPA funds. We had hoped to do the track through the CPA fund. >> Yeah. Right. Denied. Yes. >> Right. Right. Right. >> So, so that >> high school

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the turf field used I think was done at some point with some money from CPA. Not anymore. >> Now that's not eligible. Whether whether it ever was is another story, but now they're sort of keeping track of these things and they have sort of a very

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strict matrix of uses that are allowed and are not allowed. And so we do fully plan on trying to start spending this money and we again the town hall roof that was a capital plan thing. That was kind of an easy one. That's our most

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historic building I think. Um but um we we do have to try to find that sweet spot to start spending some of this money. Now, I sort of earmark Brown Farm as a space to do that because there are no criteria on Brown Farm because we used CPA funds

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to purchase the property. >> Therefore, we can spend whatever we want up there. >> Correct. >> So, this I'm sort of wrestling with. Do we spend a little more money to fix the barn space up or is it too far gone where we have to sort

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of invest in another building if we want a building up there? Uh or or something just a pavilion or something? >> Yes. >> Else. Yeah. >> I guess the uh beyond that question more Oh, I'm sorry. >> No, no, that's all right. Go ahead, >> Marilyn. Um Okay. You said that because it was

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purchased with CPC funds, we're pretty clear free on Brown Farm, but can we still spend CPC funds on a building, a brand new building if we were to take it down? >> If it's a restoration, we can spend

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funds on it if it's a restoration. >> See, that's that's because we were they were talking about putting the ice rink underneath within that building. At least I heard that at one point. >> But that was Ralph's dream. Oh, that was a that was a there was a some chatter. >> Yeah. >> Um

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>> because I I I just you know I think it's what you said is faith because there's been many things that are valuable that don't don't you know meet the criteria >> right? >> What about Heritage Park? >> No >> creation. >> Yeah. I mean

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>> could we use CP we use some of that money there? >> It's a possibility. >> Yeah. There was I thought there was a grant out there for a half a million. Am I >> partner? >> Oh, the the design. No, no, no. CPC did the did the whole design for Heritage Park, >> right?

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>> So, we that's been finished and when when the time comes and we go out to bid. I don't think we could use CPC funding funds for the construction though. >> And I and I'm not I'm not I'll have to check. I'll have to double check. >> But there were some other options up

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there. They were talking about park grants um with a C. Park with a C. >> Um but yeah, no that that I I'll I'll look into that for sure. >> We can spend some of this money on >> be nice >> on on the Heritage Park. That'd be

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great. >> Was the question answered that Marilyn had that can you spend it on a new >> on a new building >> at Brown's farm? Well, Brown, because I know you can't use it for a new building under other circumstances.

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>> Correct. So, the >> But if the if the if you purchase the the property with CPC funds, I didn't know if that changed the rules. >> Pretty No, I'm as as I understand it, if you acquire a parcel of land with CPC money, you can use CPC money for just

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about anything on that site. >> Well, >> well, here we go. as I understand it. >> Let's look at the barn again then cuz I think the ice rink would be super up there, you know. >> Yeah. I mean, again, uh the the the structural analysis of the building was

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not great. >> Well, you have to fix it. >> Well, that's true. >> But again, is that is it worth is it worth the cost of fixing that building or you just have to start over? >> I can't answer. the all the all the

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poles are are direct buried. There's no concrete. So, they're all rotting away. Uh you know, we're a couple years away from if we do nothing from >> we don't have a choice. >> Yeah. >> So, >> uh any other questions on the community

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preservation fund? >> I think I go try to answer your question from before. >> Yeah. I feel like are I think what you might want to see is more of like a munis reporting by project that kind of shows you what projects are currently

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going on. >> Maybe I was just kind of uh I was likening it to like an enterprise fund where you got your yearly revenue and you have your expenses and you're either got a surplus or you got a deficit, you know, that eats into your your retained

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earnings or your fund balances. And I would say it's kind of difficult to look at it that way because the way the CPC runs is that there's one fund where this 300,000 kind of rolls through and all the fund balances live. >> Then as the projects are created, they kind of live in a different fund and you

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pull them out and you track them all separately and we kind of have to manually >> Right. But I I assume the committee has to look at that to determine what's available and what you know what they can >> you know. >> Yeah. Like they'll they'll get those reports. We'll send we do send the

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reports that show all the projects that are currently and it just looks like a regular munis report with all the budgets, what's been spent, what's available. I could add something like that to the budget present. >> Uh I not not this year, but I mean it might I just thought it was I was kind

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of like felt like I was missing. >> Yep. Well, I think it back to your other about the $2,000 interest in the LCAT which has 500,000 and this account has 2.8. If there was some reconciliation of how much money this account was making

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while it was sitting there >> that that could be some valuable information. I'm sure it's in the revenue somewhere, but >> yeah. >> Uh did I miss any revolving funds or enterprise funds? >> Absolutely not. >> Okay. Uh, did anyone have any additional

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questions regarding the budgets for the revolving funds or last time? If not, I would entertain a motion to recommend approval these budgets to town couns. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? All

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right. Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed, please say nay. >> Okay. That's approved. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh what other parts of the budget did we miss any parts of the budget that we

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needed to review? >> Uh I don't know. Uh there certainly uh got through everything I thought we should have. Again, the all the departments, all the revolving accounts. Um you know, there is a ton of

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information in here and uh pretty well organized. And so I'll just thank Kim again >> and his staff because um this this this budget has gotten to a point where it's very easy to read. >> There's very few questions that you

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can't answer yourself if you know where to look. Um and so I just want to say thanks because um it's really made the whole process um kind of enjoyable. I did say I like the I love the budget and I >> correct. Well, I I have to say having

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been on the uh the committee for several years now, it is uh it's it's good to see because uh you both work well together and you prepare it and the questions we used to have uh or that we have you have answers to or you've

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written the answers uh and most of them you know make sense and you know you're starting off Russ and I remember from the appropriations committee you know, we started off where you began. So, it's

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really nice to be able to review it after you've already gone you and everyone has gone through it. Uh it's good to see that the town manager's budget, you know, has already gone through all of that uh due diligence and, you know, brought the budget in at

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a at a level that that um is reasonable for the town. So, I I applaud you both for that. Um the next thing would be and uh how we communicate to the to the town council. Um what I did do for hahas and

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I didn't think we'd have time but we we I guess we do. Uh is I did a draft uh report um and I I didn't try to remake the wheel. I just took what we

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>> gave last year. Yeah. >> Updated it for I didn't want to I didn't want to do anything with it unless we in case we were making changes to the uh we were going to make changes to the budget. But let me see if I can find it

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in my pile. I just want to repeat something I said in the beginning is when you sent out all your financial policies and you had goals, you know, and objectives, it was such a pleasure to be able to see that you met your goals

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>> and exceeded them. I mean, as a as a resident of town, that means that that town council and both of you are actually paying attention to the town finances, which I'm sure you would do anyway, but but it was really great to be able to see that, you know, you met

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your metrics, you exceeded them, there's a lot of thought that goes to it. the fact that you're not uh taxing to the tax levy limit was re you know I've been telling people that since I've been on this board and they go really and you know they're very happy to hear stuff

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like that so yeah well done by everybody >> thank you >> thank you Jim >> so pretend there's a big draft >> across the top >> when I used to use >> I'm gonna shred this one rich when I

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used to I'd be able to put big big draft across diagonally, but can't figure out how to do that with. And if I'm too verbose, we can cut things out. >> Oh, thank you. Thanks. You're welcome.

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Thank you. want to give you a chance to read it through and mark it up. >> Yeah. Hopefully I have the right percentage of some things. Kim, >> I would put would you put with no changes here and then as submitted by

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the town manager? >> Yeah, I would say as submitted by town manager. Put put this in here. Approve the budget with no change. >> Changes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's just hanging out. Yeah. This would be paragraph one.

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This is very Okay, Jim, I've heard you kind of mention the the education >> mentioned a few times the education budget. Is it really I mean is it the school department or the education

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department? >> It should say school >> in the mun it's called education budget. I just use education budget to include the school committee along with the the school committee budget. I mean we call it the school budget. >> Would you Kathy you have you and Rich have some experience with that? I think

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it's easier to for the lay person who might be reading this >> school >> school department budget that it'll be more recognizable >> school budget. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Sure. Can do that. >> Yeah. I mean their their budget is

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actually different than this number in general fund. They have their grants in there, all their other things. >> Oh, that's good. That's very impressive, Jim. You even captured the uh the recommendations that were made by Russ

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uh the very first meeting. >> Russ was kind enough to uh >> Oh, okay. >> supply them to me. >> Although I I So, Russ, make sure you you read it. the one place that I uh number four we had I remembered that we had also talked about reactivating the

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insurance >> so it's called insurance advisory committee >> right >> yeah we should put that that should be a strong >> Russ when when it was active it was because the um

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>> you know a president >> made it active Is that was that Elio Gonzalez? >> Correct. Yeah. >> Is that is that the person or the position that should be doing that? >> So the insurance advisory committee consists of seven members of collective bargaining agreements and one retiree

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representative. >> Right? >> Once it's established, it's an employee. It it's a committee of their own, >> right? >> So they set when they want to meet. They set what their agenda is going to be. Obviously someone within the town can help them host meetings and the like

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>> cuz I'm a retiree representative >> but as I said we haven't met. >> So really what happened this goes to show you how old I am. So the town adopted provisions of chapter 32B section 2123 to make plan design changes

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in 2012. So you initially had to go through the insurance advisory committee >> but then there was an additional committee called click employee >> I don't know >> consisted of one representative from each bargaining unit >> the three sounds like something

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>> I'm working at Sullivan Hayes and Quinn available to the town >> and they were the labor attorney for the right I did that other piece >> for the child but that >> yeah there's a department a federal strictly >> but you're required that every town is required to have an insurance advisory

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committee >> outside of health insurance. >> So in other words, >> to the employee, >> can the council recommend the activation? >> So we're having like discuss. >> Sorry. No, that's my fault too.

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>> That's my fault. Anna was asking a question about number three Russ the MA we say study whether the town adopting mass paid family medical leave would be financially and administratively beneicial >> so I guess I was surprised that we our employees weren't already

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>> no municipalities can opt in >> opt into it okay >> state employees are required to participate in >> I'm sorry Kathy you had you were having a >> I I was just saying um on the side to

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Russ. So, um he he was explaining how the what the provisions of what was that chapter 302B >> 32B um require. And my question was um can the council

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recommend the activation the reactivation of that committee to conduct that study because it's all pretty much uh representatives of the various bargaining units >> kind of a >> so >> we're not part of it right

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>> so can we recommend it? Well, you can recommend to the town manager that he convene the initial meeting and you know they can go from there. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I I would assume at this point with our sort of robust HR department

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that that >> Yeah. Mo mostly run through the HR department. >> Yeah. Um I think that that would be an easy sort of meeting to schedule and at least get the ball rolling, you know, uh to get everybody together. Mhm. >> You know you what you do is you share.

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>> I just take that as a direction from you right now, Kelly. >> I mean, you share >> I was just going to make it one of your goals. >> Wrote it down. So, you know, done. >> You share with this group, you know, what are the trends like what's driving increases? What new things are

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potentially out there that the town could explore doing? Um, you know, I I've mentioned a few throughout the list, but you know, they're you're supposed to try to keep them apprised of things that are going to impact their plans moving forward.

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>> Yeah. Or >> currently, you know, so and you can look at claims information and say, you know, there's been 12 heart attacks in the last year, you know, and they could make a recommendation to your representative, Scantic Valley. Are they doing I'm just

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making this up. Are they doing wellness programs that could improve heart health? You know, or you could say, or you might want to look at adding a high deductible plan or, you know, they make re So they're advisory in nature. >> Yeah. >> Nothing is mandatory that comes from

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that group, >> but it makes them more aware of what's going on. So then when there is a change they'll you know let's say a higher contribution or their premium goes up they'll understand some of the reasons behind that and then when their members

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come to them and go oh our health insurance went up 10% and they'll go oh yeah here's why >> here's why >> you know so it's it can be a good communication tool for the town administration >> so right now I have uh education with

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School. >> School department. >> Oh, school department. >> Oh, okay. School department. >> You want that paragraph one? >> Yes. >> And uh >> I have one other one, right? >> Yeah. Go right ahead. >> Very first paragraph. >> Yes, sure.

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>> At the end with the um clause with no changes. >> Yes. it. Uh please uh consider moving that to right after budget for the town right above it, as submitted by the town manager.

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>> Uh sure. I mean, I kind of agree it's not the right place. I kind of liked finishing with the with no changes. Yeah. No, no, absolutely. Uh so uh budgeted budget for the town with no changes as submitted. Sure.

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>> Yeah. >> And I personally I would just switch the position of paragraph one and two. I make two just move them, you know, flip-flop them. >> Yeah. Because to me, the second

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paragraph is the opener to the whole uh paper statement rather. >> Yeah. I I just figured I'd get the conclusion right right out of the way. >> Uh sure, we can do that. >> I actually just have one question about

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your wording on the number four. It says >> number four. >> You mean paragraph number four? Sure. Yeah. >> Back number. >> Oh, the back number. Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> And it say it says that the reserve account could be used by the town council for other expenses. Are you

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referring to other health insurance expenses or >> So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I got this right. You said that you appropriate an additional 3 to six% for health insurance cost,

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>> but it doesn't go into a separate it doesn't go into its own designated health insurance stabilization fund. It you put it either in reserve >> into the reserve account. >> It basically rolls to free cash.

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>> Yeah. >> Okay. So it's not so it's not tech so then it's not technically used >> for future expenses with related just to health insurance. >> Yes.

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>> Right. And I'm and I'm recommending that if you're going to appropriate additional three to 6% you establish a health stabil health insurance stabilization fund. So, if some year you get whacked with a really big increase and you've got $100,000 set aside in

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that health insurance stabilization fund, you can draw down. Now, you could in that specific year use use it from free cash. I think you guys can do that, but it'd be nice just to build that up over time

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>> and then if you get hit with a big one, draw it down. kind of it's kind of like an OPED fund for uh active employees almost. So, >> but that's just my recommendation. >> No, I just the way it read it seemed it

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didn't specific for health a little bit. Uh >> it's a little vague. It it Yeah, the wording isn't said. >> Insurance stabilization fund money that is put into the fund I would assume,

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right? Not the reserve account. >> Yeah. Like basically he's he's saying like set up a stabilization fund for health insurance. Any >> anything that got turned back from the health insurance >> a separate reserve account from the stabilization the health >> No, it should say what you just said. >> It would be it would be its own

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stabilization fund. >> Right. Right. >> You would roll those expenses into that stabilization fund >> which could be used by the town for other expenses. It wouldn't be able at that point. It >> it would just be restricted to health. So, what did you just call it, Kim?

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>> Stabilization fund. >> Yeah, I would >> add another word with it. Health insurance stabilization fund, >> right? >> Yeah. You you call it that. >> So, >> restricted to setting >> aside specifically to for health insurance. Yes. >> Stabilization fund money that is put

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into the fund which could be used by the town council for no >> health expenses. exclusive which can only be used by the town for related health expenses. >> That's what you meant to say, right Rich?

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>> We got there. >> We got there. >> Another state >> for health insurance or health expenses. >> Health insurance. >> Insurance. All right. You could say you could say active retiree active employee

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and retirey health insurance. >> Can we leave it at health insurance expenses or >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, let me just read it. uh reactivating the insurance advisory committee and setting aside in a health insurance stabilization fund money that is put

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into the fund which can only be used by the town council for health insurance expenses. >> I would put a period after stabilization fund and capital M on money. It's just >> Oh, okay. Right.

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>> Two separate sentences, right? >> Yep. But I was if I could. So I was just thinking the other day. So and I don't know if the town does this or not, but I just think of it. So when you let's say the police chief comes to you and says,

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"I think we need a a new patrolman." Okay? You know, and he gives his reasons why. It would be kind of cool if you had a a sheet that said, okay, you know, Esau met me patrolman salary and then

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health insurance cost, uniform cost, OT cost, Quinn bill cost, you know, share of unemployment, share of retirement, share of whatever. And then, you know, it's not, let's say, the $75,000 in wages. It's the whole shebang. And it

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would be interesting if you implemented that so you got a true picture of the total cost when you're you can start when when you're adding employee new employees to do that because it's what I kept talking about it's the extras. It's

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those extras where you have a 75,000 you go, "Yeah, we can do that. That makes a little sense." But if it's 75,000 plus 50, >> then you go, "Well, maybe, maybe not." You know, it just makes you kind of see the big picture. >> Well, I think that's sort of why it's

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been so hard to add full-time employees to the budget. >> Yeah. >> Because it's not just >> It's not just salary. It's >> Yeah. It's not just that number >> in in the department's salary but line item. >> Yeah. >> It hits six other accounts.

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>> And so >> that's sort of why we've been sort of shying away from from adding new employees, >> especially with health insurance costs where they're at. Um, so if I make these changes and send

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it out to you all >> to make sure I got them correct, uh, would you be comfortable as this being our report to the town council? >> Yes. >> Yes. Absolutely. >> And, uh, if that's the case, I don't see

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a need for a meeting on Thursday. >> Do you? >> So moved. So moved. Right. Um, do I come in very handy? >> I tend to to approve the report or >> once Well, we're going to give you that approval after we look at your revision.

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>> So, you're going to give me an email approve. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Or do you want to with these revisions of them? >> That's better. >> And then I send if you catch anything, let me know rather than trying to do a Okay. So I move that we accept the

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financial oversight committee budget recommendation to town council with the amendments discussed. >> Second. >> Revisions. >> Revision discussed. Excuse me. Okay. >> Uh there being a second. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All in favor

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please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed please say nay. >> When are we presenting? What date? We are talking about it on the 12th, Diana. Correct. But we the actual

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official hearing based on the legal posting is until the 26th. >> So I'll be in Italy. Um >> so we can zoom you in. >> Sorry. You can hear it. Sorry about that. You can give it to Connor when back from Iceland. >> Yeah.

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>> Yeah. So someone uh will need to we need to pick a representative of of the committee. I'll be more than happy to be representing. >> Is that is everyone comfortable with that? >> That makes I think you should make >> I still think we should zoom you in.

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>> All right. Thank you. >> All right. I think our our work is done. >> Uh again, thank you uh thank you for being here with at every meeting. And uh Jackie, >> thank you. >> Thank you, Jackie.

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>> Jamie, thank you. >> Thank you all. Thank you everyone. Thank you very much. >> Always my favorite. We >> have to adjourn. >> Yeah, you do. >> Yes. Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I'm assuming there's no other

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discussion. So all in favor, please say I. >> I. I. I. >> Any oppose, please say nay. We are done. Damn year.