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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=bafniSETx3U

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This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. City Council meeting for Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026. The meeting tonight is being recorded and broadcast by E Media and Charter Channel 193 and live streaming

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on their web page, eastamptonia.org. board. Counselors and participants in this meeting are gathered hybrid on the order extended until June 30th, 2027, allowing us to do so. I remind both the members of the city council and the public participating remotely to remain

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muted until recognized by the city council president. Also, for the members of the public, please remove your camera for the duration of the meeting unless you are participating in the public speak time or the public hearing. Thank you. This meeting is now called to order. Maddie

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>> JP Kuzinski >> here. >> Connie Denham >> here. >> Tamara Smith >> here. >> Felicia Jadik >> here. >> Tom Peak >> here. >> Jonathan Schmidt >> here. >> Amanda Newton >> here. >> Kim Jam Rag McQuade >> here. >> Nathan Marqu >> here. So now we're just going to take a

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a moment of silence. Just ask that you remember folks that you need to remember as well as uh whatever it is that you need to do to be present here. If you would like to participate in the pledge of allegiance, now is your

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opportunity to do so. >> 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.

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Thank you. Uh we have no meetings to address uh public comments. Uh this is the opportunity for anyone in the public uh in the room or online uh to address the council regarding any topic not listed under the public hearings. Uh

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it's important for uh members of the public who are going to be speaking that we as a council are not able to respond to your comments because they are uh not on our agenda. Um you will have three minutes. Please state your name and

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address for the record. You will hear an alert when you have 30 seconds remaining. Uh you will hear a second alert when your time has concluded. So at that time, please wrap up your final thoughts, uh, so that we can move on to

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the next person out of respect. Um, so, uh, we'll go ahead and start. So, please state your name and address for the record. My name is Lesie Button. My address is five Run, East Hampton, Massachusetts. Thank you, Chairwoman Denim, and city councilors. So on

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Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, the membership of the East Hampton Democratic Committee voted unanimously to formally endorse the proposed Proposition 2 and a half property tax override and vote yes for East Hampton. The vote followed a highly

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informative presentation by Sam Hunter representing Vote yes for East Hampton, a group of community members supporting the property tax override. The presentation outlined how the override was created and the significant impact

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on East Hampton City Services, what the significant impact will be on East Hampton City Services if the override fails. The impacts include severe budget cuts in local education funding, reduction in vital police service and fire police and fire services, and

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ongoing fiscal instability for East Hampton moving forward. After a question and answer session and active discussion, the East Hampton Democratic Committee made a motion to formally endorse the proposed property 2 and a half, Proposition 2 and a half property

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tax override and the efforts of vote yes for East Hampton. The vote passed unanimously by the East Hampton Democrats members present. So the incre chairman marquee compended during the discussion that uh the increasing tax

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bur burden for when the people of East Hampton have already faced inflation and rising costs across the board is is a burden. Um but without the override the required budget cuts will have a

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lasting impact on education safety and even costs like homeowners insurance. The override is not a long-term fix, but it will help preserve critical services and stability for the future. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.

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>> Please state your name and address for the record. >> Kath Wisinski, Overlook Drive. I am coming up um once again to report that there has been no movement on the records requests that we've made. Um we

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almost a month ago now requested line item budgets. Um there is no effective way to analyze a budget if you're looking at summary budgets where everything is listed together. Um you can't do your due diligence and

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unfortunately you haven't for years now. That's why we're sort of in this position. But you are the last line of defense against overspending and we ask that you do your job and not just keep rubber stamping budgets. There needs to

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be some amendments. There needs to be some cuts. And as much as the mayor keeps saying that he's being transparent, there has no been no transparency. Last night's dog and pony show was two hours of wasting people's time and a half hour of almost answering

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some questions. Um, it was a lot of apologies for not getting back to people, but no real answers to any of the questions that we've asked. And two hours of people's time on an on a weekday evening after we've all worked all day to tell us

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nothing useful is really disappointing. And I know that that wasn't your show. it wasn't your um problem, but it is another moment in time where there's not been transparency and there's not been

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answers. Even though the event was booked as a question and answer session there, there was limited questions and and we were there for two and a half hours and it was a complete joke and we ask that you hold the city

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accountable and please do your jobs and be the last line of defense for our funds. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else in the room have comments for council? You want to say something? >> Yeah.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, just please state your name and address for the record. >> I'm Jacob L and I live on Pleasant Street here in East Hampton. Mhm. >> Um, I just wanted to start off by thanking the city council uh once again for

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backing our resolution from autumn 2025 supporting union organizing uh in this great city of East Hampton. Um, since that night nearly six months ago, we the members of the Insultivation Union

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uh have been locked in a battle for fair wages, decent health insurance, and respect within the workplace. Throughout our contract negotiations, the company has engaged in unfair labor practices. things like unfair targeting of union

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members for breaking rules that were never known or enforced before, going as far as to take away Christmas bonuses and annual raises from hardworking, deserving employees for reasons that had never been disclosed to any employee in

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the past. Members who have been with the company for years without so much as a coaching are being written up frivolously. We have filed charges with the state labor board, but we need all the support we can get.

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INSA is trying their best to create a hostile work environment that seeks to push employees out rather than make them feel respected. Through all of this, we have remained strong and vigilant in our efforts to create a better life for ourselves. Despite all our efforts, INSA remains

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determined in their refusal to bargain a full contract, constantly creating fear campaigns and employing stall tactics at every turn. Needless to say, the battle has been hard fought, but it's producing fewer

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results than we deserve. It is for this reason I have come back to you tonight on behalf of my co-workers to once again ask the city council for help in our negotiations. I feel confident that the presence of

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city councilors at our negotiations would put enough pressure on the company to play fair and finally settle on some articles that been drawn out for far too long. Thank you for all your time and consideration and we'd welcome any

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opportunities to discuss this further as a group. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else for comment? Yep. So, please state your name and address for the record. >> Chris O'Connor, Ashley Circle. Um, here we are few days almost before the big

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boat. And it's sad to see so many of our citizens pitted against each other. We didn't have to be here. There were decisions that were made apparently few years back, maybe even more. But we are here and it saddens me to be at the

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brink of this. Um there's been a tremendous effort in my as I witness uh council denim and as well as council peak and trying to plow through a semi-presented budget that was not

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clear. It was full of it's full of mistakes and it's unacceptable to think that we are receiving that from a mayor and then forced into a timeline that we the citizens have to vote on something that

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that affects us all. It's absolutely unbelievable and it's irresponsible and I hope that you hear that. It's like we have great city employees. The ones that I've met, I had a chance to meet and whatever. I am impressed. It's not

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it's not an us against them. We're just trying to understand like what's really going on and to be able to have a positive effect in our community. I think we all want the same thing, but this is not the way to do it. It's irresponsible.

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And fiscal responsibility is the fir first and foremost. There was a there was someone on on I hesitate to mention her name, but she presented and I think she forwarded that letter to all of you as well as the mayor of a synopsis of what it would be to, you know, have a a

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transition plan for for this override one way or the other and then a one to threeyear plan and then after. That's what I would expect. And there were detailed things that would have outcomes that then we would measure as time went on to see how effective we would be.

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That's what businesses do. That's what we're all supposed to be accountable for. And the fact that we're still getting errors in, oh, it's going to be correct. This is going to be corrected and that FTE is off. Are you kidding me? This is this is not this does not

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reflect well upon anyone anyone. And I'm really sorry that we are at this spot, but it's important to say something because I care about all folks, not just one side or the other. It doesn't It's not about that. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you.

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>> Anyone else have some Yep. Okay. >> Please state your name and address for the record. And before you start, uh this will be our last uh person to speak for public comment at this time. uh because we have a public hearing that will start at 6:15 and then after that

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if there's people who want to continue to speak I'll open public comment back up again Line Street this city council it's on your shoulders other city councils prior to you have passed the

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buck and went along to get along you folks have a chance to change it. Do I want to see cuts? Absolutely not. However, Eversource is going up. Water and sewer

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is going up. You want tax rates to go up. Why do you think the city, the state is in such problems where they're cutting your local aid? Look what they did to Springfield.

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Springfield was getting $3 million on the casino. The governor decided that you're not getting $3 million anymore. We're cutting it to 1.7 or 1.8. Was that fair to Springfield? No. But they're making

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decisions at the state house that affects every community. So maybe you folks, I know you're all good at making resolutions. How about make a resolution where you stand up and say to the governor and her staff that

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you will do everything in the next election to vote her out because she's not doing anything to benefit East Hampton or the other 59 communities that are going through overrides. You folks are the representatives of

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every citizen in this town and city. I've been here since 91. All right. I've seen it come and I've seen it go. Mike Cowznik, the first mayor, never had these problems, but you all went along to get along, and

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that's why we're here now. So, you make a decision. Do you you need to cut when 70% of the school budget is personnel, so 30% goes to our students? Something's

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wrong with that. And that that is only going to go up as he's going to freeze it for how long? One year maybe. And I'm telling you now, you can pass this override or they can pass his

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override now. We're going to be back here and you're going to be looking to do another one because the only thing that has grown in this city, not the tax base, but government employees.

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That's what has grown in this city. And I think you all know that. You're all smart people. You can look around. There's been zero growth. The only thing that grows in this city is the government. And then every citizen in this town is going to have to pay

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because they continue to grow. Well, time is up. We can't keep growing because we can't keep affording it. >> Thank you very much. It's 6:15. Uh I will take a motion to open the public hearing. >> So move second. >> I have a motion and a second to open the

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public hearing. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Okay. Opposed? Abstensions? Motion passes. Uh I will turn it over to Chair Peak. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um we have a series of appropriations tonight. Uh

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almost all of these appropriations have sort of a common theme um which is pretty common at the end of the fiscal year for uh those who are this is their first time uh here. uh which is there's a series of things that we budget for

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every year that are a little bit tricky to precisely budget. So sometimes we're over, sometimes we're under. When they're under, it goes to free cash of the future. When it's over, we need to spend past free cash to to shore it up. So, um

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I'll go through these. Um if there's city personnel who want to speak to any of them, just let me know. But I think most most of them are I think pretty self-explanatory. Um so the first one is a $20,000

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appropriation from free cash. Um it would be going to school Medicare and Medicare tax. So this is something that gets estimated every year um at the start of the year and this year our estimate uh was $20,000 too low. So,

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this would cover the remainder of the >> sorry >> Medicare school Medicare and Medicare tax uh for uh this fiscal year. >> Any questions? Councelor Kazinski.

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>> Councelor Peak. Um and either you or anyone on the finance team I think could be helpful in this. So, if I understand this correctly, the Medicare funds were budgeted, the the tax amount, and then all of a sudden 20% more was required

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because >> I didn't say 20%. I said 20%. >> I'm sorry. 20,000 more was required. I apologize. 20,000 more was required because people take their lump sum, teachers take and other staff take their lumpsum payment. anyone

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who's eligible early that is they get paid for the entire summer in this fiscal year as opposed to next fiscal year. So that money is needed in this fiscal year. How does that affect may I ask next year's budget? Will it be

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$20,000 less than was that built in to the school budget? >> Um that's a good question. Is there anyone from the city who'd be able to I mean I think that the Yeah, certainly that's part of it. That's part of the the balloon payment thing is part of it.

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Is Brooke here? I want to make sure I get you. >> Treasurer Johnson, are you on the call? Um I do not see her. Um, so what we can do is if we have questions, we can

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um we're going to have more appropriations at the next meeting. So we can call her back and is is that what you do you want those questions answered? Uh I think it's an important question to know and for us people for I was hoping

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that before the override budget this is an issue that or the o override decision >> that this is something that we could address and say well yeah we're spending it this year but it's coming off of next next fiscal year's monies. Okay. >> Uh or it isn't coming off,

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>> but that it's a question that we should answer. Uh that we answer it before the decision gets made. If if the this is the number of people who've put in, I think we have an obligation to pay them. I'm don't necessarily want to hold it up, but I did uh want to ask the

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question and see its implications. Um, so Chair Peak, why don't we move through the other ones and we'll see if uh Treasurer Johnson comes on to the call and then we can ask her at that point. >> That works for me. >> All right.

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>> Okay. Um, the next one uh is $23,000 again from free cash uh to the auditor salary. Uh I think that some of you uh recall that under the prior uh administration the auditor's hours were

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reduced. Um and so uh the budget that we passed last year uh reflected that uh lower amount uh under this administration. The auditor's hours were restored to 40 hours a week which

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means the auditor costs more uh money. Um and uh then so we we we dealt with part of that uh in the in the in the winter. Um but this would be to cover

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the remainder um for the the rest of the um for the rest of the fiscal year. >> Questions? Any counselors? >> Um questions from the public?

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So, I'm Kathy Wisinski, um, Overlook Drive. Um, I'm looking at this appropriation and it looked like it was for both reinstated hours, which you talked about, and that makes perfect sense, and backlog. So, I want to understand what that is. And I also

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wanted to ask is our auditor and other professional level staff are they salaried or hourly? >> Um I can speak to the back the the backlog thing. Uh that's not a backlog of um like hours or pay that was owed.

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That's that the uh auditor was working a significant amount of overtime to get caught up with the backlog that um fiscally existed at the beginning of the uh of this fiscal year which we've discussed at length.

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>> Okay. Again, is she hourly or salary? >> Chair Peak, >> my understanding is that she is hourly, but I would want to get a confirmation on that. >> Right. Is um Auditor Patel on the line?

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>> Yes, I'm here. >> Hi Patel City. >> Yep. >> Patel city auditor. I'm hourly. >> Good. Um Kathy, do you have a additional question followup? >> I would say that's part of our budget problem if we have professional level

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staff that are hourly. Um that's inappropriate. No other business would ever do that. Um so thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Um I see uh I think it's uh Jay Thomas. Can you please state your name and address for

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the record? >> Hi. Um Julie Thomas, Six Concord Drive. Um this is just to educate me. So before you guys approve this, don't you need to know what the balance is? Like how much money is in there? >> Are you just approving it without

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knowing that information? uh we >> to know it. Can we have that balance and what happens to that? Does that impact anything with the override coming up? Does that take away money? Does it I I maybe I don't understand it fully, but I wouldn't want to know before I do

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something how much money was in there and how much is allocated. >> Yep. Thank you. Uh Chair Peak, do you want to answer the second part of that question and then I'll turn to Auditor Patel to get the balance? >> Sure. So yeah, free cash is uh

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essentially the surplus that we ran uh in the prior fiscal year. Uh so that can come from either new construction that we weren't anticipating that adds to the tax roles. It could come from if a

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senior employee was retired and a a more junior person at a lower pay grade came in, then the uh the the salary line item might end up be coming in lower uh than was expected. And so all of that free

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cash uh at the end of the fiscal year, it's then ideally like four months later, but in our case, it has for the last few years been somewhat delayed. But it that's the the money that ends up uh basically coming back if we if we if

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we ran it's effectively the surplus funds from the prior fiscal fiscal year. And so what's pretty common is that at the end of the fiscal year when there's things that um did uh where there were things the holes that need to get

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plugged whether that's um a underestimated amount of Medicare tax or a uh an unanticipated repair that had to be make made or things like that. these sort of one-time expenses. We tend to spend out of free cash for those things

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because um those are things we it's not a good practice to spend free cash on things that you're going to have to spend again on next year because those are ongoing things. This is a little bit of an exe of an exception because it's salary.

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Going forward, the full 40hour work week will be priced in to the salary that's in the budget. But because the budget under the previous mayor had the the auditor working less hours, we needed to

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uh we need to find a place to add for those additional hours that I I certainly think were were pretty critical that they got worked this year. And um so free cash is is a pretty typical mechanism for a municipality to cover that kind of thing. >> Mhm.

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>> Great. Uh Auditor Patel, can you provide the balance for free cash? >> Yes. Um after all theations, uh it will be $481,845.34. >> Great. Thank you. Um councelor Kisinski,

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I saw your hand. At one point, >> I just wanted to lend credence to councelor Peaks in mentioning that the auditor's hours were necessary for a variety of different purposes last last

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year. I was in to see her regularly on a regular basis, an hour, two hours every single week. And there were hours that were required for her to look after a variety of issues including not the cities not having a treasurer in that

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position who could handle that aspect of the department. So that led to different reports not being and then extra work for the auditor to try to keep it all together. There were hours that were required. They were important to have. I just

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wanted to to reiterate that to support councelor Peak on that. Great. Thank you. Uh, councelor Jam Mcuade. >> Thank you, Madam President. I just for clarification, um, I know that we've done this before, but I guess I'm just wondering if it's, um, best practice

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like for these hours to have already been worked and for us to owe that money versus like coming for an appropriation ahead of time. Like I know that there are probably reasons revolt regarding this being from free cash versus the stabilization account or something like that, but could we just speak to that a

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little bit? >> Sure. >> Councelor or Chair Peak? >> Uh yeah, I would say that uh under normal circumstances, I wouldn't consider this sort of thing to be an ideal practice. I would say that when the hours were were reinstated by the

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then acting mayor that this was a thing that was communicated with us and we had an opportunity to push back but I don't think that anyone uh did because I think we all understood that we were behind uh on our finances and that uh the auditor

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needed as much the resources that we as many resources we could get to you know to get caught up and I I think that you know as frustrated as I am about a lot of the news about our fiscal situation and the override happening when it did. I think that if we had not provided

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those hours, it likely would have arrived later. So, it's certainly not something that I uh regret uh making that decision. I um so I I think that broadly like I I do um think that uh

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that it's something that is uh like this does happen from time to time that that there's something that's coming up and free cash has not been certified yet but it's a relatively small expense that we feel pretty confident we will have the free cash for and says hey is it okay if

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we do this and then you know it comes out of free So that also happens with like um for instance if a firefighter is is injured and the overtime exceeds the overtime that um we've budgeted for. Uh

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it might be that for like reasons having to do with certification deadlines and things like that that an appropriation at that exact time is not uh necessarily the best way to go about it. But in situations like that, I do appreciate

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and I see Chief North at the back has been really good about hearing like like hearing this when we we've said it over the last few years that like a heads up about that kind of thing is definitely helpful because it means that when other appropriations come our way, we can say we can have it in the back of our heads that this is probably eventually going

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to happen. But no, I would I would say that it's not an ideal situation. So, um I'm not sure that there was like an ideal best practice way to handle it. Um, I would also just say while I'm here that um I I think that going forward we

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really need to have some conversations about uh the checks and balances around the employees who are s overseen by the city council. I don't think that the idea of a mayor reducing the hours of a city council supervise is at all

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appropriate. And so I think the fact that we got into this situation in the first place was entirely inappropriate. Um and so that is part of part of it as well. >> Thank you. >> Uh councelor Newton. >> Um just kind of following up on the

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professional >> microphone >> professional oh professional position being an hourly position. Um, I know it's for 40 hours and there were obviously like extraordinary circumstances for the backlog, which makes sense that you would get paid

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overtime for that kind of a situation where the work is like unfairly loaded onto you and it's additional. Um, I guess my question is let's say the auditor has to or any professional position at in city hall, they have to like work 42 hours one week because they

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just got to get the stuff done. Are they getting overtime for those two extra hours or or are it essentially functioning as a salaried position even though it's called hourly? So, for example, like I teach um I'm contracted

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for 35 hours, but I absolutely do not work 35 hours. I work like 60 hours, but I do not get any overtime for those extra hours. It's just expect it even though I have a 35 hour position that I will accomplish my position without if I

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do something extraordinarily extra like take on a whole new project I may get a stipen but I don't get paid. Do you know the answer to that chair peak? >> Um I would probably want to defer to the mayor and the HR department on exactly

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how those policies are set. Uh but I I mean I ultimately think that uh you know if we want to talk about how those things are done going forward that's perhaps a conversation we could have but I don't know that it affects

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uh you know the fact that you know this was the contractual situation for this year. >> Uh followup councelor Newton. Yeah. I'm just asking is it typical like have you seen it be typical for overtime to be given to people who are in the

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professional roles? >> I haven't seen a whole lot of it personally, but this year was obviously a rather unusual situation. Um but um you know most of the overtime that I've

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had to cover through appropriations over the years has been uh public safety employees. Um but >> I can say that I've had conversations with Auditor Patel. Uh moving forward we

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need to rein this in. I think that we have a new treasurer uh who is going through her first budget cycle. I know that the um auditor stepped up to help

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the city navigate that because she's the one who had the most experience of that. Uh but I have informed her that after this budget cycle, there needs to to be more uh uh even though uh she's a good-hearted person and wants to be

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helpful, there needs to be some reigning in of that because uh one it's it's not her responsibility. Uh that's the the executive kind of side of the house. uh and the auditor is released at a city council uh side of the house where we're

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really that check right that um for being able to watch what's going on um from the the treasurer and the and the mayor's side of of the finances. So that conversation has been had a followup uh councelor Newton. >> Yeah, I just want to be really clear

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that I don't have a problem with this appropriation at all and it seems completely reasonable. I just want to make sure that I know, you know, going forward whether this is a common practice or not. >> Um,

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>> oh, uh, councelor Schmidt, >> thank you. I just wanted to clarify um what I heard from the city auditor and for anybody else uh who might not have picked it up exactly. Uh, that figure for free cash that was offered, that was if all of these appropriations are

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approved tonight. I see nods. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Um, great. Um, any other comments from the public?

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Seeing none, uh, Chair Peak. >> Okay. So, please state your name and address for the record. >> Darlene Norvi, M Street. So, um, I somehow I knew the answer to that and

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it was confirmed for me. I don't know how I knew that. I don't have the background. You all absolutely should know that. Absolutely. They get overtime. They have to by law. So, we're

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the irresponsibility is amazing because we're set up completely wrong. I'd love to look at those overtime hours for everyone. >> Great. Uh, Chair Peak. >> Yeah. Just before I make this appropriation, there's just one more thing I want to say because I think we

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started down this the road of this conversation. Uh, and I just think that it's it's obviously we don't when we're when we have to spend um free cash on unbudgeted overtime, it's not an ideal situation. I just want to point out that

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part of the way that this whole thing like ended up in the in the way that it did, you could argue that a lot of it started years ago when we had a sort of a different financial arrangement and that was restructured in a way that um was

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supposed to save us money um but ended up being kind of a mess. We had a lot of trouble. We switched from a financial finance director to a treasurer and then we had a really hard time finding a treasurer that would stick and then we lost a treasurer and had a really long

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time where we couldn't find another treasure. And the consequences of this were that we like were were that a things fell behind but b to keep things from falling behind even further we ended up in a situation where we ended

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up uh incurring a lot of unbudgeted overtime. And I just want people to reme remember this because we're just we're in a type of season where we're talking a lot about cuts and there's times where you can do things that are supposed to save money and they end up being really expensive and you just need to be

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careful for that all the time in just government in general. Okay, with that being said, um I will make this supplemental appropriation in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $23,000 to be

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transferred from free cash $23,000 to be transferred to auditor salary $23,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose to cover the reinstated hours from uh 70 to 80 hours for the second half of FY2026

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and overtime to work on the FY2025 and FY2026 backlog. Second. >> I have a motion and a second to appropriate $23,000 for auditor salary to cover reinstated hours and backlog. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor?

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Opposed? Abstain. Motion passes. >> All right. Uh, next one up. Uh, this one is uh it's a $16,000 appropriation

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um from free cash. Uh, it would cover election workers and computer services related to the June 9th, 2026 special city election. Uh, >> did we already vote on this one at a

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previous meeting? >> No. No, >> we voted on it at a previous finance meeting because we >> this was the one that we knew had to be done uh this week as opposed to the other ones that like >> it would be a pain in the butt if we had

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to do them next meeting, but it's like not like we could. But this one obviously these funds need to be there on Tuesday or it's a >> it's paying like vendor. >> Thank you. I I think they're just blending together in my mind. We've had a lot of in the last few weeks. So,

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do you want to Are you done? >> That's what uh councelor Marquee. >> Um thank you, Madam President. Um is this the just I just want to know um is this the typical cost of elections even

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like during presidential elections or is the special elections a different cost typically? >> Um do you want to I can >> Okay, sure. >> I mean unless you would like to answer. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, good question.

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>> Um, yeah, so the amount that you're seeing is, um, yeah, like pretty reflective of what, uh, like a a city or local election looks like for us in general. Um, I mean there's a little

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less obviously given that this is a question and and not you know we're not electing or or ranking so we don't need the same kind of extensive programming that we usually like would receive otherwise. Um, but most of this is it's just like flat

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costs like that our vendors say and for you know this service no matter how big or how small the election it will be this rate. Um, and then of course like there's the cost of like printing ballots. Um, you know, election workers

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salary stays pretty steady and even. Um, we're honestly probably going to have less election workers for this than than a larger election. Um, so I would say that it this is a pretty typical amount

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for for an election of this yeah caliber. >> Thank you. >> Other questions? question. You have a question? >> Yeah, sure. I I Well, question comment. I don't know or chair ju just one thing.

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I I do know um you know, just in terms of the the staffing levels for it, you know, I've been watching these things play out across the valley, they're pretty high turnout. So, you know, but it's true that just in terms of voter education, you know, there's one question. So, I'm sure you got it.

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>> Yeah. Oh, no. I mean, we have we have what we need. Okay. I I just mean to say that like it's uh yeah like I mean there frankly are a lot of people that are not able to to be here right now that may typically work um that otherwise you

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know can't because they're they're gone. They're absent. They're like on vacation otherwise. But no, we're covered. Everything will be fine. Don't panic. Um yeah. >> Great. Any comments from the public? Please state your name and address for

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the record, even though I could probably do it for you. >> Thank you. Kathy Wisinski, Overlook Drive. Um, so I know that the election workers are included in this. Is there any additional salary for either of the city clerk staff in there?

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>> Maddie, >> really good question. Um, honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I know that with state elections um that there are typically like additional hours um for myself and the clerk, but that would be money that is

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like given back to us like by the state. Um but I don't I do not think so. But I'm happy to I'm happy to double check and to clarify for you. I'll get I can get back to you tomorrow probably. >> Okay. I I think one of the questions that I'm trying to figure out is whether

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for um consistency if if we have professional staff that are being paid hourly, is everybody getting overtime when they should? Um and if they're mclassified and and people are working hours and

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they're not getting overtime, then that's a a violation of Department of Labor law and that could be a really big problem. Um, so, um, just I'm just curious. I'm trying to figure out what what reality is across departments because it seems to be different.

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>> Maddie, >> that's true. Um, I I think anyone would agree that the pay plan and like classification does tend to to vary. Um, but yeah, I will get back to you with like more specific on that to your question.

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>> Did you want to respond, Chair Peak, to that? >> No. Okay. Uh, councelor um Schmidt. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, I just pulled up the uh budget that was sent to us by the city clerk. Uh, one of the lines is $550 for city clerk's office

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extra hours election day and prep. >> Correct. Great. >> But this was the budget that was sent over for the special election. >> Okay. Gotcha. Thanks. >> Um, other questions from the public?

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questions from the public. Uh questions online. Great. Uh Chair Peak. >> Okay. I'll make the following supplemental appropriation in the form of a motion. Uh the request is hereby

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uh is hereby made for approval of the following appropriations. Amount requested $16,000 to be transferred from free cash $16,000 to be transferred to election workers $11,500 computer services 4500.

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Uh the amount requested will be used for the following purpose to cover costs for election workers ballot printing and programming of voting machines for the June 9th, 2026 special city election. >> Second. I have a motion in the second to appropriate $16,000 for costs associated

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with the June 9th, 2026 special city election. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? Stain. Motion passes. >> Okay. >> Peak.

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>> So, this is going to be a fun one for some people uh especially first time counselors. I remember how I reacted when I first saw this one. This is the snow uh appropriation. So, every year we

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budget a certain amount for snow. Some years there's not very much snow and that's fine. In years where there's a lot of snow, it's very much not fine. And it gets really really expensive to keep the roads clear and particularly to keep them salted. Salt is something I I

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never had any idea before I started this how much money a municipality spends on salt. So this is just to be clear, this is a $582,500 appropriation and that's in addition to the $200,000

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that we had budgeted for snow removal. Um, so, uh, yeah, we've got snow overtime, $65,636. Snow equipment rental, $153,465. Snow miscellaneous and professional

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services, $6. Snow uh, repair and maintenance is $14,000. Snow chemical 372,250. Salt is $241,375 and then plowing is $64,174.

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So that is what we are looking at for uh the addition the shortfall from snow and ice removal. >> Director Nuttleman, I see you on the line. Would you like to speak to this item? >> Uh good evening everyone. Greg Nuttleman, director of public works. I

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think the first thing I want to say is let's hope, you know, that was the worst winter we've seen in a long time and I hope it's a very long time before we see another one like that. Um, I did take a look at the appropriations for FY25 and FY24 for snow. Uh, FY25 we needed an

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additional 321,23045 to close the snow budget. Uh, I'd say, you know, I don't have exact figures on precipitation amounts and things like that, but we did see a very significant amount. I would probably fairly safe to say at least 100% more snow in FY in this this winter than we did in the

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winter that encompass FY25. That coupled with the general increases we've seen in um in salt over the last few years kind of got us to this point. So, >> uh Director Nan, was there a um shipment

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delay in salt that also contributed to the increase in cost for salt? Yeah, you know, we tend to encounter those from time to time. Um, I don't know if it was this winter or last winter, there was a fairly significant ice storm that went through the kind of the rust belt there, Tennessee, and things like that. And a lot some some snow shipments were

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redirected um to that area. There was there was uh has been, you know, all these years start to blur together for me, so I apologize, but there has been some challenges in getting snow at certain times uh over the past few years. >> I mean, I'm sorry, now I'm getting snow and getting salt. It's been a long day.

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Well, that is a problem, too. But yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Snow's always a problem, >> right? >> Uh question. Uh Vice President Jadzik. >> Um >> thank you. I'm curious, Director Nettleman. I heard Chair Peak mention one of the line items was for miscellaneous uh services, and I'm just

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curious if you could tell us a little bit more about what that is for. >> Um for the most part, that would have covered police details that were necessary while we were hauling snow. It's not something you usually see. We generally don't have to haul a lot of snow. You know, knock on wood, we don't get another winter like this, but this year we were forced to haul snow during

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the day, and that requires assistance from the police department over and above what they're able to do on a normal shift. >> Thank you. >> Uh, uh, Councelor Newton, >> is snow similar, I mean, not snow, salt.

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Is salt similar to like um a airliner fuel where you can have contracts that last several years or is it something that can be purchased like in the summer? Like are there better times to purchase it if you're purchasing in bulk? Is there anything that can be

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done? >> We can only we can only store so much salt in our in our salt shed at the highway department. So what we'll do is at the end we'll try to make sure the salt shed is full um towards the end or close to full towards the end of the uh winter season to make sure we have

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enough on hand given any circumstances outside of our control that could be occurring once the next um you know winter season is on the horizon if there's if there's challenges with with being able to get salt deliveries. So, you know, in doing that, we're able to kind of take advantage of the things

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usually don't go down, right? So, we're usually able to take advantage of the prior fiscal year's price to the extent that we're able. >> Councelor Smith, I saw your hand. >> Um, yes. I was just wondering if it's feasible to consider other alternatives

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to salt that might be less expensive, but also do the jobs such as sand in some of the less traveled roads of East Hampton. >> Director Nettleman. Yeah, I mean we do um we've kind of gotten away from using sand over the years. It it it creates issues for our

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equipment and then can build up in catch basins and such and um kind of creates another additional challenges over and above using salt and doesn't have the um melting capabilities. It really only will provide traction in the right set of circumstances and safety is just the utmost uh important. So salt is is what

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we choose to continue to use. >> Council Smith, do you have a followup? I was just really wondering what the rationale was for the salt versus other other aspects. So if it's a safety aspect um my question was answered. Great. >> I think I missed part of councelor

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Newton's question. We do purchase all of our snow on a contract through the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. >> Councelor Kisinski, did I see your hand go up? >> Yep. Um, Director Nullman has lots of experience

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with East Stampton and handling the snow and that's been very well received I think over the years. Uh I was wondering what sort of coordination on a regular basis there is with the finance

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subcommittee or the finance committee to go over all these issues prior to contracts being led out prior to the entire process proceeding. Do we do they come before the finance committee now

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these days? Uh is there regular coordination? I'm thinking of things like contracts, whether we whether we hired uh outside professionals to plow or our own staff, which is cheaper. Uh what the uh all all of the all of the

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financials and how we might be able to save a penny or two here or there in this process, whether we rent equipment or buy equipment, and whether those issues are resolved on an executive level or goes through our finance committee. >> Chair Peak, do you want to respond to

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that? Sure. Um I think that those are all conversations that could happen and that perhaps um I that I hope are happening uh in other places. But I I would say that just if we're talking about the finance committee as a body,

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I really like the our our basic functions are a to approve a budget and then b if people have to spend outside of that budget >> to

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>> to to uh vet any appropriations that go through. So, it's not part of our general workflow to be >> uh proactively looking over contracts or anything like that. It's the expectation in general uh

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with snow being kind of a weird exception under Mass General law. The expectation in general is that we approve an amount of money and then the executive branch has latitude to spend that money so long as they stay within

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the budget. And then if if they're unable to stay within the budget, then they're going to need to identify a funding source, get a sign off from the auditor and the mayor, and then have us approve that appropriation. >> Yeah. city council and finance, we don't

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cover day-to-day operations. Like, hang on a second here. >> Uh, and so, like, uh, Chair Peak said, this also comes at the end of the year. And so, a lot of these things we just see at the end because that's the way the Mass General law

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is has us do this, right? So, but councelor Quisinski, do you have a follow-up question? Well, I know when I was on finance committee a while back, it haven't been it's been many years since I've been on finance, and one of the things we did was go into the the

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the department uh of public works and look over the records and ask for the contracts and look for the various expenses. And it it was just something we did. It wasn't like a a regular thing. And I wonder if something like that were routinized if we might have a better

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handle and be able to be participating in the process of any savings. Maybe there are ways to be helpful. Uh >> similar to similar similar similar to the way we we handle reports quarterly

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from the auditor, reports quarterly from various departments uh such as the fire department. uh and that may be the public safety committee handles that. It might be helpful to set up something where we uh look and ask question or

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able to ask questions more focused. >> Director Nelman, do you have a response? >> Uh not so much response. I just want to make sure everyone understands that all of our procurement for uh services and snow is is conducted under in accordance with chapter 30 and the public procurement law. Our contractors that

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you see out plowing streets respond to a publicly advertised bid process, give us an hourly rate for their truck, equipment, driver, and the cost. And we we generally don't get enough responses to that to really have a super competitive process just because there's not a lot of um contractors that are

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willing to commit their equipment in the way that we need it to plow city streets um at a with a moment's notice. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you, >> Chair Peak. >> If there's nothing else, I'm ready to make a motion.

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>> Uh, public comment. >> Public comment. Yes, we need public comment. >> Uh, please state your name and address. >> Line Street. My question is this. The beginning, you guys pass a budget for the DPW in regards to snow removal. Does

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the DPW track per event? So say a light storm which or a salt event might cost the city X whereas a heavy snow event might cost the city why. And as he gets

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$200,000 when he sees that that is being chewed up should he be not in contact with e the finance committee or someone in regards to saying hey I've already used up all my expenditures. I'm going to

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need more at the end of the year and to at least not drop a 500 over $500,000 expense into your lap at the end of the year. So my question is, are you tracking snow events,

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rain events, ice events per event, and how much that event cost? So he so that you folks have an idea where you're at as it proceeds through the year because you're only talking maybe December,

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January, February, maybe March for snow events, you got four months, you got eight months for the full year. So, at least to give you the information, if you're tracking it by event, you have an idea what they're spending and how they're spending it. And my other

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question on that is you contract out to people that are plowing. who follows up on them to make sure that the roads are being plowed, that they are being salted, or is it just a oh well, we're

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just going to trust them because they're taking city money, but yet there's no, I guess, accountability to make sure that what they're being contracted for is actually being done.

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Uh, director Naman, do you want to answer those questions? >> Sure. I mean, we it's very very difficult to track any one uh New England precipitation event. Um, espe you know, especially in the winter time as things can change. I mean, if there's one big winter storm short, we can we

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can document up we can figure the hours of those days. It's more of a date range that we would we would need to we could pull all of those numbers together. Um, but but no two are the same. I think everybody would would agree with me there. O2 New England winter events are, you know, it can't say, "Oh, that was an

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ice storm. It cost x amount of dollars. Oh, that was snow. It cost x amount of dollars." Like there's situations where it's significantly colder around 141 at the top of the mountain and we're starting to salt that road, you know, significantly earlier than we're salting um normal streets at, you know, the regular, you know, the average elevation

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of the city. So, uh it's a it's a pretty challenging thing to do. Um, as far as speaking to accountability for our contractors and I think we're accountable to every resident in town and uh, my crew does a phenomenal job. They're under the supervision of our highway superintendent, uh, Jim Keats.

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Uh, I I'm not going to sit here and take a ton of credit for the way Jim runs the snow operation. He does he does a phenomenal job and is making sure that those contractors are doing their routes on the schedule that he wants them to do them um in a way that keeps the streets safe and passable for residents for

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emergency services while being mindful of our of of you know our stewardship of the city's dollars. >> I understand but on each event >> one do you have you have a follow-up? >> Yes. Okay. on each event, you know, how many vehicles you have on the road. So,

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you can ballpark based on how many hours they're on the road and as to how much. I was on the DPW under Mayor Tausnik. So, I have a pretty good idea on how it all works. And I don't disparrage the DPW workers at all. In fact, I'm

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concerned and I was going to bring this up at another meeting in regards to the landfill, the Oliver Street that I can guarantee you that >> So, hang on just one second. We're talking >> I know I mean I was going to go to the

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DPW meeting because I'm concerned about the safety of those two workers. >> Yep. No, I appreciate that. Uh, Chair Peak, do you have any comment about following up or um trying to work with DP DPW in some

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way of making sure that we get this information ahead of time or >> Sure. >> sooner. Yep. I can say that uh in the time that I have been chair, I have encouraged department heads to reach out um if they have information uh ahead of

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when a big appropriation is going to come in. It's great to just have that information and just to forward it to my my colleagues uh as well just so that if another appropriation comes across our desk in the meantime, we at least have some knowledge that there might be

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something big coming and that that might inform how we view other things in the meantime. Um I don't believe that under the charter there's any requirement that people do that. Perhaps someday there will be. I don't know. But like uh it's certainly something that uh I encourage

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everybody to do as uh information becomes available. Um and uh so I'll continue to encourage people to do that. That's all I can do. >> Yep. Uh Julie, please state your name and address for the record.

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>> Uh Julie Thomas Concord Drive. So the gentleman who just spoke actually touched upon the questions that I had, but I do have a couple more and again this is education on my part. um what budget does this come out of and how

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does this impact our next fiscal year budget? What is the impact to it? Because that's a pretty large sum. And do the contractors, they must have already paid their employee. So, do they bill us so much later that this is such a large sum?

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>> Um, one second. Uh, Chair Peak, do you want to answer that? >> Sure. First, >> when it comes to the intricacies of the billing, I might need to defer to director Nuttleman. But what I can say, uh, just like I think every one of these tonight, all of these come out of free

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cash. So, they're not coming out of a budget. What happened is that we ended up generating more revenue than our expenses were in fiscal year 2025.

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And so this is the free cash of that past fiscal year that's now been certified. And this is the the free cash from the past fiscal year is what we spend like I was saying on on the last appropriation that that's often what we

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use for sort of one-time expenses that don't generally make it into the budget. So if you look through the budget, you will see that almost all of what is in the budget is recurring operational expenditures. There's not a lot of equipment purchases in there.

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There's not a lot of infrastructure projects. There's really no infrastructure projects in there. Uh there's there's nothing in a budget we'll see, oh, for this year in the budget, we're buying a a fire truck. like those things tend to come either from grants or from these sort of

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one-time funds uh that become available to the city from time to time. The most prominent of which is free cash which is the surplus funds from uh the prior year. We could have a broader conversation about that practice. There are things

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about it that do I do sometimes worry what happens in the year where we we don't have a whole lot of free cash, you know. Um, so there's some broader questions, but in terms of the budget, this is not coming out of last of the the FY26 budget. It's not coming out of the FY27 budget. It's the surplus from

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the FY25 budget. >> Uh, thank you for that. Uh, Director Nettleman, do you want to respond? >> I'm sorry, what was the exact question? >> Um, what was the second part of that? It was about the billing and whether that this had already been spent or how how

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this whole thing works with with the billing for the for these. >> So, it's a process. It's we follow the same process every year where once we're done once, you know, we're reasonably confident that the winter precipitation season is over. We follow up with all of our contractors, make sure we've gotten every bill for every every service or

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material that we received and that we have the numbers and that uh the auditor's office and us and my staff and DBW we work together to make sure we've got that number together and um and we submit you know one time. Um you know we all have some pretty significant workloads here. We're talking about staff hours being cut and then working

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towards you know doing these things. If we were to do an appropriation I mean u appropriation for snow midway through the season that's more hours that staff in this office whose hours are being cut and staff in the auditor's officers hours could potentially be cut

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will be consumed. It's it's we're we're only people and we're doing the best we can with what we have. >> Great. Thank you. Any other questions? >> Chair Peak. >> All right. I'll make the following request in the form of a motion. Uh

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request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $582,500 to be transferred from free cash $582,500 to be transferred to snow. Snow overtime

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$65,636. Snow equipment rental $153,465. Snow miscellaneous professional services $6,600. Snow repair and maintenance, $14,000. Snow chemical, $37,250.

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Salt, $241,375. School plowing, $64,174. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. The Department of Public Works has experienced a shortfall of $582,500 in the snow and ice removal budget for

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fiscal year 2026. We requesting funds be transferred from free cash to cover this deficiency. >> Second. >> So, I have a a motion and a second to appropriate $582,500 for snow and ice removal removal for FY

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2026. Um any further discussion? Uh seeing none. All those in favor. >> Opposed abstaining. Motion passes. Chair Peak. >> Okay. This next one is a rare uh school

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appropriation. Um it's $60,182.16. uh the way it was explained at the finance meeting, uh we had a we lost a school nurse partway through the year. Um we had to hire another school nurse because there's requirements around

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these things. Um initially, uh that hiring was done through a staffing agency. Uh so the initial uh $48,52916 in the contracted services section of this is was um was that eventually we

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ended up actually hiring uh this individual um but then had to pay. So that's the additional uh $11,653. Um so uh you know the budget going forward will reflect the inclusion of

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this position but uh it's you know >> it is what it is. >> Any questions from counselors? >> Councelor Kisinski. Um, just a question on on the school nurse

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and since we don't have line item budgets for all the positions that we look at when we consider our budget, I'm not sure if this person is employed by the city or employed by the schools or how they are paid. Does can you clarify

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that? My understanding is that well for a while this individual was a contractor for the school and then they were hired and at this point they're within the education budget going forward. >> Councelor Kisinski, do you have a follow-up?

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>> Thank you for the clarification. Is it typical that we would pay free cash for this type of uh of an issue? >> Chair Peak. >> Well, I think that typical is not exactly the right word. I think that historically uh when these sorts of

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things have come up, the schools have uh had revolving funds that they've used to cover these sorts of things. As you might recall, under the last administration, uh they were encouraged to spend down those revolving funds and to come to the city for free cash when

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they needed uh an when when when a shortfall happened like this. And I believe that you and myself and everyone that was there, you know, they were very nervous about that process of, you know, part of just getting through that that fiscal year uh without losing a bunch of

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teachers was assuring them that, you know, when these things did happen from time to time that we would treat them like any other department that found themselves in a situation like this. >> I I went councilinski. I I thought we were mostly speaking about things like a

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special education student would come in and that person would require specialized services be sent out could cost the city 75 or $100,000 enormous amounts of money which would de dip into the school reserves. That's the kind of

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backs stop I think we wanted to provide. the discussion of the school nurse never came up as a budgeted position and and hiring him out to contract. So all of those issues were not disclosed. That's why I had some questions about it.

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>> Well, I think the the challenge council Kazinski is we had a >> free class. >> Yeah, we had we had back and then they had to leave because of personal reasons and then we had to pay this >> agency right for another right. So I

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think that's the additional cost that's that that's not coming out of what a regular budget was because that's a salary position. >> So the followup question >> Yeah. Do you have a follow-up >> would be how much do we know how much money is left in that those reserve accounts for the school that they came

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to the city to ask for those funds? >> I don't think we're talking about the reserve accounts right now. I think we're >> that's normally where they would get the money, right? >> I don't think that they have the funds. I'm sorry. your C counselor or chair Pete.

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>> Yeah, you need to ask the school, but um I don't have those balances in front of me, but my understanding is that this is going to be a thing that happens from time to time anymore because they spent down the funds that they use so that they unlike the other departments didn't have to come to us when some unexpected

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cost comes. Now, when there's an unexpected cost, you know, I I just don't that that's my understanding of the situation. So, I mean, I I think that you're right that this is a smaller thing, but if this if something like this were to happen in DPW or police, it

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would it would end up being a free cash appropriation. And I think that, you know, if if we were wanting the schools, if it was a priority of of the city for the schools to be self-sufficient and not have to come for free cash appropriations, then we should have made

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some radically different decisions over the last uh let's call it eight years. Um, so it is what it is. >> Councelor Jamu. >> Yeah, and this might be a stupid question, but um I guess I'm wondering

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if us losing the school nurse has contributed to any of the free cash that we saw in this fiscal year and like would does that potentially offset any of this expense? >> Cheer Peak. Um, I'd need to speak to the

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superintendent, but my understanding is that it was more of an extended leave situation. So, it's not clear to me that there were substantial salary savings, but I'm I don't want I'm not that's what I recall hearing yesterday, but I I don't have any like details in writing

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on that beyond what I heard from the superintendent. >> Okay. Thank you. When I said yesterday, I meant whenever that Monday have a lot of meetings. >> All of our days are blurred together at this point. Uh, anyone from the public

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have comments? Uh, Julie, please state your name and address for the record. >> Uh, Julie Thomas. Um, so to um, you shouldn't approve this unless you know if they don't have the money or

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not. You don't know for sure. You guys just said you don't have they we don't really know what they have why they're coming to ask it. So would shouldn't we know what they have left in their budget before we give out of this budget. I mean wouldn't you do that with any other department say hey you know what do you got left? Okay you can't handle this.

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Okay yes then bring it forward. But you guys don't know. >> Chair Peak. >> Yeah we don't generally even see appropriations unless they go to the auditor and the auditor makes the determination that they're necessary. So that's not generally a part of our workflow because that tends to happen

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before it comes to us. There are have been times where departments have brought appro appropriations that I've heard that they brought the appropriation forward and the auditor did not declined to bring that appropriation to the full council on the grounds that they thought that they

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could handle it. So um I I see Auditor Patel is raising her hand. So, but I I'm just going to say like it's it's generally assumed on our end that that if there was a a different and better way to handle this that we won't even be

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seeing these sorts of things, >> right? >> Hang on, Julie. Julie, Julie, hang on, Julie. Julie, >> Julie, one second. Uh, Auditor Patel, can you please weigh in here?

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>> Yes. Um, hey Patel, city auditor. Uh, appropriation goes from department to the mayor's office that gets bring to the audit and the finance team to discuss where the funding source is going to

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come from. My role is to review where the funding source is going to come from. Whether the request from the department is needs to be honored or not, that's mayor's decision. >> I just wanted to clarify that. >> Great. Thank you. Julie, did you have a

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follow-up question? >> So, again, I I'm I'm not arguing. I'm just saying I would want to know before somebody like if before somebody asks me for money, I want to know what do you have left in your account. So, can you cover it or can you not

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before you go to the to the this free cash because there may be something else that comes down the pike that we would need that money for for free cash and we wouldn't have it in all along they have that money. >> Okay, great. Thank you. So I I want to know that what is what is your balance?

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>> Great. Thank you, Julie. >> Uh Cher Peak, do you want to >> respond? >> Yeah. Um I think it's a fair point to some extent. I I do think that normally these things don't get to us if departments have funds on hand to pay

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for them. Um but uh if that's something it's you know I I I do think that there's you know um it's something that we could ask about but just for whatever it's worth like I know the extent to

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which the schools do not like coming to us for these things. So, um I personally don't believe that we'd be having this conversation uh if they didn't feel it was necessary and actually diving into dissecting all the complexities of how

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Massachusetts school finance works uh to determine whether or not the funding is appropriate is um would be a a bit of a lift. So, I'm I'm not going to encourage the members to to do that, but if that's the way that people want to go, we can certainly have

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those conversations. >> Um, >> like Caribou Line Street, just again, you folks were elected by the citizens of this town, this city to watch out for the pocketbook.

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And from what I'm hearing, it looks like you're the last to know. the school department, mayor, whomever makes decisions and then oops, here you go. Now you can we need this and you dipping

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in the free cash is what has got the city into this situation where we're looking for such a large override. I think that there needs to be better communication to you folks. you manage the the purse strings in this city and

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if they're just bypassing you and sending you a bill and expecting you just to pay it, something's wrong. If somebody sends me a bill, I want to know what it's for to the 10th degree before I pay it. But it

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looks like you just pay it and that's how you got into city has gotten into this situation just using free cash like it's nothing's free. that money could be used into this year's budget or into another budget which was maybe I don't know the the

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technicalities you probably do but you're responsible for the city's first strings and yet it looks like the other departments in the city don't keep you folks informed >> school committee Hunter I >> oh sorry

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>> aren't the counselors supposed to be called up first >> yeah sorry I >> thank you There you go. >> Um, >> I I actually think it's a fair question of whether there is money. I think that is a question that should have been asked um by the finance committee. So, I

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think I don't feel comfortable voting for this um until we have that answer. >> Can maybe we can have >> school committee Hunter. I think they might have >> Would you like the >> Yes, I'd like the answer.

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>> Um, yeah. Hi everybody. I'm Sam Hunter. I'm on the school committee. Um and I just happen to be here tonight. Um so the appropriation request um the superintendent did write up a page and a half u rationale for this. Um do you want me to read it or like what would be

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what would be helpful? >> Yes, please share the information as relevant. >> Okay. So, um, East Hampton Public Schools respectfully requests a supplemental appropriation to address unanticipated expenses related to maintaining required nursing services following an extended medical league

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leave and subsequent resignation of a nurse educator. Um, so essentially, and I'm just going to paraphrase a little bit, a district nurse educator went on extended medical leave lasting approximately 14 weeks to ensure uninterrupted student medical coverage. The district secured a licensed nurse through a temporary staffing agency at a

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permium rate. Following the leave period, the nurse educator resigned. The position was posted. The temporary agency nurse applied and was selected as the most qualified candidate. The selected nurse brings over 20 years of professional nursing experience and has provided strong continuity of care at Mountain View School. Um, so there were

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three unanticipated cost areas. One was the perdm agency rate for approximately 14 weeks of coverage. Uh, two was the agency placement fee, which was a onetime $6,000 placement conversion fee paid to the staffing agency. and three was the salary differential due to the nurse's experience level placement on

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the salary schedule is higher than the previous nurse educator. Um so the request was for an appropriation of $60,182.16 to cover temporary expenses onetime agency placement fee and salary differential. Um and the costs were not

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anticipated and we don't have the um excess the the funds in our budget because of um out of district um uh kind of end of the year out of district stu unanticipated student placement costs. >> Great. Thank you uh council Schmidt.

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>> Thank you madam president. Um I was just looking back at the notes that I took from the finance meeting when uh the education department presented to us and so uh fortunately I do have uh some relevant information. Um, for those who may not know exactly and a

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school committee member, correct me if I'm wrong on anything, but there are uh two kind of main revolving accounts that uh the school committee uh or that the school department rather has in the past uh used as reserves um circuit breaker and then school choice funds. Um

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historically, my understanding is that uh the school department um essentially applies those monies each year to the school budget. Um and then they get backfilled by the state um at the end of that year. Uh and so um the money is

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kind of constantly revolving, right? Uh and so uh for this question did come up in our meeting. Uh and so for circuit breaker um for the coming budget year uh they're planning to use all of their remaining circuit breaker funds uh

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leaving um roughly $100,000 for unexpected needs that come up in the following uh in during that budget year. Uh and then in the school choice funds, um the uh that account will be down below

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$100,000 after FY27. Uh and so just to say leaving um relatively little wiggle room um in both of those cases. >> Okay, thank you for that. Uh,

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>> and the the superintendent also just texted me and said she just got off the stage at awards night and can jump on the meeting if that's necessary. >> Thank you. >> Point of order if she was >> I can he speaking. He was speaking.

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>> He he jumped in. Yes. >> It would be wait to Yes. It would be really helpful if people could wait until recognized by the city council president. That would >> Yes. >> I'm aware. Yep. Thank you for that. Uh,

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Chair Peak, >> um, um, if unless there's any further, I mean, I'm ready when you guys are. >> Okay. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount

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requested, $60,182.16 to be transferred from free cash. $60,182.16 to be transferred to contracted services system health system other expenditures uh $48,529.16 school nurses system professional

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salaries $11,653. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. cover unanticipated expenses related to a medical leave and vacancy of school nursing staff. Expenses include the cost of using a predium nurse through a

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staffing agency as well as increased personnel costs for the new employee hired to fill the vacancy. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to appropriate $60,182.16 for school nurse medical leave and

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replacement. Any further discussion? Councelor Guazinski, >> just because I'm on the fence about voting no for a matter of process and I think that we should have asked those questions in advance. If I vote no, that's my rationale behind

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it. >> Okay. Uh any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? >> No. >> Abstain. Motion passes. Chair Peak.

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>> Okay. Um, the next one is a $10,000 appropriation from free crash to city attorney professional expenses. Um, as I'm sure we've discussed several times now that during the last budget, we asked the uh whole line item

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for city attorney professional expenses. Um so uh since then the city has been coming to us periodically uh for smaller uh amounts to um to to just fill up what

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uh what like when they approach zero on those. So they believe that uh an additional 10,000 will cover the remaining uh expenses for the rest of this fiscal year. Um, and I believe that

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going forward that item will uh just can be a budgeted thing. So, I don't think this is going to be a thing we do forever. Um, >> but uh yes, that's about what it is. >> Um, any questions from counselors?

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Councelor Kisinski, >> I just wanted to reiterate that when we dealt with this last last uh fiscal year at the budget time, this was a an item where costs of attorneys were sometimes we heard figures, correct me if I'm

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mistaken, anyone, $250 an hour, $300 an hour or more for attorneys services. and we were running upwards of I think the request was 75 or $80,000 and without any check or balance from the council.

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We established this new budget and it took some effort to be able to make the adjustment, get the line item reduced. We did that. I think we need to continue that process to keep the mayor's office in line with expenditures in this item

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uh in this line item. and it gives us the authority to work with the mayor's office from time to time on various issues and some leverage. So, I would encourage us keeping it just to >> Yep. >> If I misheard what you were saying, council people,

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>> any other questions from counselors? Uh, councelor Smith, >> I hear what you're saying. I agree with you. Um, and I'm just wondering what were the legal fees that need to be paid?

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>> What were the specific legal fees that needed to be paid? >> I'm not sure. >> I do not know that. >> Any >> uh >> I mean, there's a lot of different legal stuff going on at any given time around all of the stuff that we're doing with

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the easements, various things with >> HR contracts and things like that. >> Um, Uh uh councelor Jam. >> Uh thank you, Madam President. I guess just related to um the concern that councelor Kwisinski raised, is this do

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we know if this money has already been spent and we're being asked to cover this cost or is this are we providing hours for future use? >> If I'm not mistaken, the these are hours that have been

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the next build. So, we've been build for this and I think this is the bill. But, um, Auditor Patel, can you speak to this? I'm assuming that this is already build. >> Um, I do not know if that's build or not.

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The appropriation is on the table. I did not see any um invoice come through and I had to reject it because the process is if you if any department doesn't have an appropriation except snow and ice none of the uh purchase order gets approved until there is money

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available to be spent. So I can't answer if uh invoices are in the mayor's office at this point. >> Thank you. >> But they didn't come through my desk. >> Okay. Uh, councelor Newton,

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>> again, I feel like this might be something that we shouldn't approve if we don't know that answer. >> Uh, council or cheer be >> my understanding from the finance committee was that this was the anticipated cost to cover the remainder

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of the bills that were anticipated to come in for this fiscal year. >> Any other questions? Anyone from the public, please state your name and address for the record. Uh Kathy Wisinsky, Overlook Drive. Um I like the idea of monitoring

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the legal fees um as we've done this year. There have been a number of years where we've spent excess money on legal fees in large part because there have been errors in various departments that could have been avoided and I think this helps us keep track of them. For

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instance, school committee error with the hiring of the superintendent that cost us a lot of money in legal fees. um errors within the ZBA in terms of or planning board in terms of um approving

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um plans that we later get sued by um community members. Um so I think monitoring it like we have been is appropriate. Also, I would just point out that there has been a records request regarding legal expenses um before the city for about a month now

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and last we checked it had not been processed. Great. Any other comments from the public? >> Chair Peak, how do you want to proceed? >> I'm ready to make an appro uh a request. >> Good.

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>> Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested, $10,000 to be transferred from free cash, $10,000 to be transferred to city attorney professional expenses, $10,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. To cover the

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remaining fiscal year city legal expenses. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to appropriate $10,000 for city attorney legal fees. Any further discussion? Uh, Vice President Jadzik.

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>> Thank you. I um I'm of a mind to agree with councelor Newton on this one. I think I personally would like to know um you know if this is something that like what this aligns to in terms of invoices. So I am leaning towards voting

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no on this one. Not because I don't think we should be paying for our legal fees. I absolutely believe that we should pay for what we you know use but I think we need a little bit more information on this one. Madam President, >> um, Councelor Kisinski,

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>> I also am of a similar mind uh, and would like to be able to suggest that we continue the hearing on this matter and on the first matter uh, that was presented to us and that we just bring that up at our next meeting.

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I'm just throwing that out as a possibility that we continue till we get those answers. Chair Peak, >> facing the idea of this failing and it being a whole thing, I will withdraw my motion and instead make a motion

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provided that uh the second is withdrawn to continue this until our next meeting. >> Second. >> Do who seconded this mo? I think I did. >> Would you like to remove your >> I will withdraw my second. So your second

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council Pete >> uh Chair Peak is has already indicated he wishes to withdraw his motion. So we will move on to the next item. >> Okay, great. Um

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so just matter of process, are we going to have to make a vote to continue these two items? >> I'm not sure. We're gonna wait to see if uh Treasurer Johnson comes on the line for the first one, but I at this point

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I don't think they I seen her. So, >> okay. Well, so the last one, this is an $8,700 appropriation also from free cash uh for park site improvements. It's

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specifically for the rental. It says 12 months on the appropriation, but that was corrected. It's 14 month um rental for a maintenance office trailer. As many of you are probably aware, the facility where a lot of the parks

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workers were working uh has is is not there anymore. Um and so, um there's going to need to be a long-term uh solution there. And there's a the city says that there's a plan in place.

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uh to reach that but it's not going to happen in the next uh 12 months. So uh they are going to be renting a uh maintenance office trailer at the cost of $8,700 so that those people have a safe and

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sanitary place to work. >> Questions by counselors from counselors. See none questions from the public. Seeing none, councelor Kuisinski,

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>> just uh thought about other possible locations, and I'm sure there's been a review of other possible locations for temporary setup, >> but uh that's not related to this item. >> So, if there was, I'd like to hear a

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review. That was my request of any other maintenance office trailer location. many other maintenance office locations that could be utilized by the parks department that could let's say a school or some other place. I didn't know if that was something that was we should be

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thinking about and we just asked the question or just approve the expense. >> Chair Peak, >> is Director Mason on the line? Maybe he can expand what the plan is here. >> Director Mason, are you online? >> Yes, I am.

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>> Yeah. Uh, Director Mason, do you have comment regarding Councelor Kazinsk's question? >> Uh, to tell the staff to go a couple miles away when all the equipment is right on

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site next to the trailer would be a complete waste of time. Um, so having an office, having not having a building at all and then spending $615 a month to have them have a spot where they can

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actually get out of the elements um is the short-term plan and hopefully within the 12 months or 14 months for this appropriation, we can see a resolution where our staff is being uh taken care of.

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>> Thank you for that, Director Mason. I think additionally, if we're looking at costs, if this was to be located at a school or another location, that's wear and tear on vehicles for them to get from that location to the job site. That's also

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cost in fuel, etc. I just feel like that would be an additional cost and because this is in the proximity of their equipment. Uh it makes the most sense to me to be able to provide a space that

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provides them uh some level of safety out of the elements uh but also um it is it is near tools, equipment, etc. So, uh, councelor Quincy, do you have a follow-up question?

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>> No, I don't. Thank you. I think appreciate the answers. Thank you, Mr. Mason. >> Great. Director Mason, thank you for that. Uh, councelor Jam Robuade. >> Yeah, just for my own clarification, do we know how long or how many years we've

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been funding this uh temporary uh place for the department? >> I think it came on last year, but >> last year. Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you, Director Mason. We're one year in. >> Director Mason, do you have further comment? >> Yeah, we're one year in, so they've had

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that trailer for a year and we're just extending it. It was originally a year lease because we were hoping we'd have a resolution by now, but we're going to be extending that lease. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. Uh, any further question? Any question from the public?

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Again, seeing none, Chair Peak. >> Okay. Okay. I'll make the following request in the form of a motion. Uh requested hereby made for approval of the following appropriation amount requested. $8,700

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to be transferred from free cash. $8,700 to be transferred to park site improvements. $8,700. Amount requested will be used for the following purpose. Uh rental of a maintenance office trailer. >> Second. Have a motion and a second to

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appropriate $8,700 for parks and recreation department for 14month rental of maintenance office trailer. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Abstain. Motion passes.

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Um, we have an item still on. I want to go back to Treasurer Johnson. Are you on the line? She is not here. So, uh we have two items that uh we need to make a motion

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to continue to the next um uh uh public hearing which is scheduled for um June 17th at 6:15 in these um >> I move to I move to continue two items

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uh one for $20,000 and the other for 10 I believe. I have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to move until next to continue both items to the next uh city council public hearing

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which is as I said June 17th at 6:15 in these chambers. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Opposed? Abstain. Motion passes. Uh I will take a motion to close the public hearing. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to close

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the public hearing. Uh any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Opposed? Staining. Motion passes. Um I will again reopen public comment. Is there anyone from the public who wishes to speak to the

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council about any item not in the public hearing? Anyone online? Okay. Seeing none. Uh items for immed There's no items for immediate attention. Communication from elected officials boards. Uh correspondent.

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>> Oh god. >> Yep. Okay. Uh correspondence. We have Jess Mastriani from E Media and Benjamin Par from the East Hampton Library to discuss the laptop loaner program.

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So please state your name and your role for the for the public. >> Okay. Good evening. I'm Jeff Mastriani, executive director of E Media. I'm here with Ben Para from the public library. And um we have a couple of things actually. We're going to give you just

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sort of a brief overview of the Go Digital East Hampton uh program that we've are now in the second year of running here in the city. Um for my part, I'm just going to kind of give you uh the history of the program and kind of bring you up to where we are right now and then Ben will take you into the

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future. Um so this started uh as a result of a grant through the Massachusetts Broadband Institute uh hereafter known as MBI. Uh in 2023 they announced a program of the municipal digital equity implementation program

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and the city very quickly jumped on the opportunity to get a grant to fund uh a study then uh to create uh the digital equity plan. uh they hired VHB, a consulting firm out of Watertown, Mass, who I know has worked on other projects

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here in the city as well. We completed that plan in March of 2024. And actually, East Hampton was one of the first municipalities in the state to do that and that allowed the city to apply for the implementation grant for up to

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$100,000, which they received. and we began the program in earnest uh in November of 2024. Uh currently we have a city-wide partnership with E Media, uh the city's IT department, the Council on Aging,

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Veteran Services, and the library. And the core program efforts really focused on digital literacy, access to internet ready devices, and uh uh a learn to earn program um

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which the participants could take a 9-hour program and uh after finishing that program would receive a free Chromebook. Um because of the grant, all of the uh

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services that we're offering through the Go Digital program are free. Um and so uh we created a website um and began offering roughly six classes a month uh

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which have continued up through March of this year. Um, free individual tech help hours were expanded uh from originally being held only at the library to also uh e media is uh open a couple of hours

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a week for tech help and we've also expanded into uh three other residential developments here in the uh city. Uh Ben can tell you more about that. Uh we also offered free access to uh the Northstar online learning platform which

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is a self-guided digital literacy platform um through the University of Minnesota. Um, we offered extended or expanded access to Chromebooks with hotspot packages

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and uh, class participants also received a free 16 gig flash drive which included a PDF with links to various resources uh, around the area. Um and the third grant that we've just received um

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and we'll talk more about but that's actually a grant of of devices. Um so um some of the takeaways uh that we've had were just that you know that while the class the large class offerings were helpful to some uh it

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seemed that folks really had some level of literacy uh and in a lot of cases really just had various issues that they kind of wanted to deal with. um either learning how to use their phones better or having a specific need that they wanted to have addressed, which really

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uh lent that uh you know the the tech help hours um to better kind of uh accommodate that. Um, as far as the impact of the program, um, we were I was invited to present uh at

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the MBI conference in Worcester last fall where we received a certificate of achievement for the work we've done uh in the digital equity program. Um, to date, we've offered uh about 48

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classes, three learn to earn cohorts. Um, we've had 90 area residents attending these classes, many of them attending more than three or or four. Um, we had 24 learn to earn graduates who earned free Chromebooks.

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Uh, and as I said, we've expanded our tech support offerings now to seven locations in the city. Um, so actually from here, I think, uh, Ben can take it. And um thank you for uh giving us this this time.

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>> Great. And Ben, if you could just state your name and your role. >> Yeah, my name is Ben Parra. I'm the circulation and operations librarian at the East Hampton Public Library. Yeah. Um just a little bit more. Thanks, Jeff. um on our current focus. So, we got this

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device grant, that third round of grant funding. Um in addition to some other um devices, we have received 108 Chromebooks and 140 Dell Windows laptops that we're in the process of

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distributing to um residents. We're in the second week of device pickups. Um, and we've distributed about 30 so far. Um, there's a lot more available for residents who need that. Um,

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I also wanted to speak a little bit about our vision for the future. Um, um, we want to keep building this program. This has been a really something I think we're all really proud of and a really special collaboration across several city agencies.

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Um, our vision includes uh maintaining a robust program of group classes and one-on-one support that's accessible to all members of the community. So, like Jeff said, we're at seven locations now. We're at Orchard View and Lyropunities.

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Um, the three East H East Hampton Housing Authority spots, um, Dickinson Court, Sunrise Manor, and Cliff View Manor. And then we also offer tech help at the library and at E Media. Um, so we want to keep building those programs, more hours to be more accessible to

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folks who can't make it maybe to the library or to East Hampton Media. Um, and to find more locations. Um, we want to keep working on ways to provide easy access to highquality devices. Um we also have a great network of volunteers

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and we want to build that as well um through senior tax workoff folks um library volunteers um and East Hampton neighbors. Also will u make sort of comment briefly on the proposed budget override. This is

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a multi-depart collaboration that's kind of on top of what we're all already doing. Um even if the budget override passes um this is a mo mainly grant-f funded operation and so we'll need to kind of persist in finding funding sources that make this sustainable in

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the long term which could come from the city will likely come from grants if they're available to us in order to keep offering these classes in order to keep offering tech support to folks. Um if the override fails um we're looking at

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losses of staff hours across all of these departments really. Um um which means less time to sort of find and and and apply for those grants which means likely less or no class offerings

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um and reduce tech help um just less capacity for fundraising. Um so that's sort of yeah to summarize that's sort of the nature of the program so far something we're really proud of and it's also um uh what's at stake and what we're hoping

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to see uh in the future for this and yeah thanks >> great thank you so much uh does any counselors have a question uh councelor Jam >> yeah I just have a comment um I just want to thank you guys for the presentation and for also for doing this work I um both in grad school and

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professionally I've studied and examine the um consequences of the digital divide and how um as technology empowers us in so many ways, it also creates inequity and inequality with access to both access to internet but also the devices and the the knowhow to use it.

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Um so I really appreciate you guys doing the work to help bridge that gap um in in our city. So thank you. >> Any other qu uh councelor Smith? I just curious about the age of the class participants on the whole and um who's actually taking the class to get the

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device. >> That's a great question actually. Uh I would say primarily uh they're uh senior folks in the community um really through the efforts of the COA and and that's been really kind of one of our few marketing vehicles that we can get the

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word out to folks. So that's what we're seeing right now. We would love to expand and get a younger uh participation. I think with this device lending program, we're going to see that kind of even out a little bit where we have folks who need to upgrade devices for work or what have you. So, also if

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you want to read the digital equity plan, it is on the website uh in the about section of the website. >> Great. Any other questions? Seeing none. Thank you so much. Appreciate your time. Um I I did have correspondence. I think we skipped over.

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>> Uh no, you're >> okay. Just making sure. >> Uh okay. Vice President Jazzzic. >> Um thank you, President Denim. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules to allow Auditor Patel to um present to the council. >> I have a motion.

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>> Second. >> I have a motion and second to suspend the rules. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion passes. Auditor Patel, you had a you wanted to give a presentation. I think that uh after last night's discussion with members of the

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community, you wanted to provide some information. >> Yes. Um can I be a host to share my screen? >> Yes. One moment, please. Go ahead.

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>> Okay. Can you guys see my screen? >> Yes. >> Uh, council, hang on one second. Council Newton, >> is there any way for us to get it bigger? I have a hard time seeing from here. >> Hang on just one second. Auditor Patel. >> Yeah. Thank you.

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>> All right. Uh go ahead. Audrey Pen, please continue. >> Okay. So, I had a quick conversation with um C um President Dunham and um this is a very simple way of seeing what

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would be the tax um impact on um if the override passes. Um okay. So for o this override we have to ask ourselves two questions as a finance team is how much will be the amount of the override and how many years of

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override how many years this override will last for. So the amount was determined by if the override passes um the revenue projection has a variance of yes or over the gap between yes override and no

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override which is $3.3 million in change. We are also using $2.5 million in a no override uh out of stabilization. So, we're going to add that back into this um amount uh the revenue projection. There is a negotiation going on with the enterprise

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um uh with the board of public works related to the enterprise chargeback. Um we anticipated that it will increase about $522,85.80. Um this might get adjusted. um it will be le lesser amount. Um and

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the fourth section is the local receipt which is not um at this point it's not evaluated as a with conservative approach which is recommended by the O in the amount of $600,000. So we came up with the total override amount $6.9

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million and change um but we dropped the change and we are just going with the round figure for $6.9 million. The key certain key points are um the revenue budget gets finalized when the tax rate recap is done. That's sometime

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in November. Um I took a scenario like I took just hypothetical three scenarios and these numbers are from my previous slide. Um let's say we only need the gap between the budget and enterprise chargeback

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that needs to be covered. What it means is um local receipts are enough as of June 30th that I do not need to um take $600,000 from the override amount. That will not be taken.

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In scenario one, it's only um budget variance plus enterprise chargeback, which is $3.8 million in change. Scenario two, it's budget plus local receipts. assumption is that um we are not taking consideration in uh

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stabilization. We we are expect we are assuming that enterprise chargeback is going to be as is um collected what we we are anticipating or we were anticipating. Um in that case the amount is $3.9 million and senior

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three is the maximum override amount which is $6.9 million. Um all of these things will get finalized in November. So it's so hard for me to say this is what the number is going to be. But um the next portion of

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this is the impact of the override on the tax bill calculation. So if we visit on the um division of local services website, they have this calculator for override tax impact and the link is here. I can post this on our city's

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website too. Um, if you go on this link, you have to select the municipality because all the 361 municip 351 municipalities are listed there. You'll be choosing ECM then and enter the amount. So if you enter one of the

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scenario amounts, it will give you on the basis of your property assessed value, what would be the tax increase on your bill. So, what I did here is just for the presentation purposes, I took this $3.8 million up top here where it

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says enter the amount to adjust adjust by. I took the scenario one and hit calculate. Change it the town to East Hampton. Put the dollar amount. Hit calculate and it gives you the assessed

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value here and your tax bill. Let's say the assessed value is $250,000 of your property. The impact would be $362.50. >> The second scenario, same assessed value is uh is $250,000. Your bill will be

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increased by $370. Um if we end up using 6.9, which is not the intention because the second question is that how long this override is going to last. Our projection is that this override is going to last for at

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least 3 to 5 years. What it means is that the the taxation, which if your property is, let's say, $450,000, it's going to be $1,200 if it's full $6.9 million. It's not going to hit in

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this upcoming fiscal year. it will be um it will be for next three years or five years depending how we we end up being in the financial situation in um upcoming years. Um

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so in the conclusion I just explained if we if all any of these scenario becomes the reality in November your property bills would go somewhere from $362 to $655 for the property assessed value of $250,000

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or for $450 it would be 650 to 1179. >> Great. Thank you for that. Um, uh, councelor Newton, >> I just want to make sure I understand this really clearly. So, back when we, um, picked the number that or when Mayor

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Derby presented us with the number, we had a lot of discussion about whether we needed to have a second number and all that kind of stuff. Um, and I know at that time you weren't available. Um, but are you saying that potentially the o the amount of

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increased revenue that we take in due to the override could just be 3.9 million. >> Can you repeat the question? Sorry. I I guess I'm asking like I just want to make sure because what I think I'm hearing is that it might only be $3.9

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million in increased tax. >> Yeah. So I think what I saw your hand go up as well, councelor Peak, but I think the idea is that based on what auditor Patel just said is that

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the 6.9 is to get us through three to five years. Yeah. >> So, uh, as Mayor Derby and I think this is the point of confusion is that if we do not go and use the full 6.9, then the

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next year we can go above the 2.5 until we use up until we get to 6.9, right? Um, but one second, Chair Peak, did you I saw your hand. Did you want to add to that? >> Sure. I just when we were looking at the numbers that were in the the $3 million

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range, were those all making the assumption that we don't that we do use the stabilization? >> Auditor, >> no uh no use of stabilization if it's a yes override. >> Okay. But I just don't know because it

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was showing like there was like the 3 million and then there's the there was like four things that added up to 6.9 and you were talking about two of the the the chargeback and the local receipts but I don't but you the uh

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>> stabilization >> stabilization that that didn't show up in that calculation there and so >> there the 2.5 million is included in there but the scenarios which I hypothetically created I didn't want it to overload with like five six multiple

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scenarios. >> Um that's why I just use it as an example that this is how you anybody can go on and see what could be the max impact on their um tax bill as with their assessed value.

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>> Okay. Thank you. >> Does that answer the question? >> Uh yes. >> Uh councelor Newman. So, I definitely understand why the 6.9 is requested and I understand that it's to last us for five years. Um,

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and I know that a lot of people are really concerned about the maximum amount happening this coming year, like getting a $1,200 additional bill. Are you saying that you think it's

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likely or or potentially likely that the full amount might not actually be added to their bills this year? Because I I know I feel like it's a big difference for people. 650 and 1,200 is like a massive difference

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>> so it is so hard to not have the actuals. The driving factor is to see what the actual numbers look like on June for June 30th which gets calculated some by sometime in August and that's why the tax rate recap takes place sometime in

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November. Um there is a there is a high potential that we would not need that 6.9. if we need that $5 million, it's not we have authorization from the public that we can go up to

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$6.9, but in order to balance the budget if I only need $5 million or 3.3 or possibly $3.5 million, that levy limit is raised to that amount. I can't I can't bill if

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I don't need the money to u balance the budget. uh councelor Newton. >> So I I think that is like a very important piece of information that I do not think that most residents and I myself didn't quite understand that. So

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I feel like that is something that could be a gamecher that piece of information for us. >> Um so thank you very much for sharing this. Again, I think there was a lot of confusion around when the mayor spoke that

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if we don't have to use the full 6.9 then we can go above the levy the next year, right? And so that's why I asked um Auditor Patel to provide some scenarios to be be able to provide some additional information to

446
02:04:14.080 --> 02:04:29.840
that because I think people there was some confusion and I think that that also speaks then to the role of the finance committee in potentially making some amendments to the budget. But uh Chair Peak, did you have another comment?

447
02:04:29.840 --> 02:04:45.599
Yeah, I just I I I see what what everyone's trying to do here. I just think we need to be cautious about what we project that we can we can promise. I mean, like we we're talking about making some cuts and we'll talk about that when we get to committee reports, but they're

448
02:04:45.599 --> 02:05:00.400
not going to be $3 million of cuts. So, >> N. >> Yeah. >> So, again, just there was confusion out there because of the not going up to the $6.9 million. Great. Uh, auditor, hang on. Uh, councelor Kwisinski.

449
02:05:00.400 --> 02:05:17.119
>> Uh, question for auditor Patel. So, let me just get this straight. If we don't need the 6.9, but we override the city overrides the to 6.9, but we don't you don't need it. We can't

450
02:05:17.119 --> 02:05:32.080
spend it. We won't use it. But the city will have authorization to be able to go to 6.9 at any time in the future through whatever budget is needed. That's what you're saying. So the tax

451
02:05:32.080 --> 02:05:50.400
levy limit will go up and the tax the effect to the taxpayer really is in effect but kind of pulled back. Is that am I misinterpreting that? >> Auditor Patel, do you have an answer for that? >> Yes, I do. So when we let's take a step

452
02:05:50.400 --> 02:06:06.880
back here. When we found ourselves into this position, we had um DLS people come and talk with us to with the process. Um the two questions which I put on my slide that's the exact those two were the questions they asked. If we only go

453
02:06:06.880 --> 02:06:24.400
for the amount what we need to fill the gap of the budget for fiscal year 27, city will be coming back for another override when we do fiscal year 28 budget. >> So then we looked into these numbers. It's like okay let's see what we can do

454
02:06:24.400 --> 02:06:39.119
like is it going to be 3 years or 5 year projection we can look into and also see if we can justify the numbers the justification landed from both ends

455
02:06:39.119 --> 02:06:55.199
so if you um look at um see the city finance committee I explained this at the city finance too where the 6.9 million is coming from last two years of using one-time revenue and this year how

456
02:06:55.199 --> 02:07:10.560
we are projecting that it will be again $6.9 million. So either way we do the calculation on the basis of the previous two fiscal year budgets or looking at 27 budget both numbers were tying up to 6.9

457
02:07:10.560 --> 02:07:27.440
which has a potential for at least getting us through for next three to five fiscal years. But again, if something drastic takes place with respect to crazy inflation or the health insurance the way we got hit

458
02:07:27.440 --> 02:07:46.880
this year, um that will change the the numbers and the reality. >> Council got other questions. Again, this stem from getting questions regarding not using the full amount, right? So I asked the auditor to provide some

459
02:07:46.880 --> 02:08:02.400
clarification uh to that and what that meant. Right. Um great. Thank you auditor Patel. Um additional correspondence. Um this item is going to be moved to the second

460
02:08:02.400 --> 02:08:18.480
B correspondence from treasure city treasurer and mayor. Uh just to be fully transparent, this item was not presented to the city council president. Um and it was added without um council president's knowledge. So it's being moved to the next uh meeting uh additional

461
02:08:18.480 --> 02:08:39.760
corresponding >> and it's also on the finance committee. >> Yeah. So, uh, other correspondence, uh, at the last city council meeting, uh, folks requested CPA, uh, available balance be put on the

462
02:08:39.760 --> 02:08:54.880
website that is there. Uh, you can find it. It is preliminary. So, it's not, um, they're not actual number. It's just preliminary. Additionally, uh in regards to the city um

463
02:08:54.880 --> 02:09:10.960
uh citywide uh speed limit, uh city engineers are compiling data for Mass DOT. Uh and all of that data has to be submitted to uh Mass DOT by June 12th. Uh then in August, the city will receive

464
02:09:10.960 --> 02:09:27.360
10 signs at no cost to the city and those will be put up by DPW uh as soon as possible. After that, right, uh mayor's communication, mayor is not here. Uh president and vice president,

465
02:09:27.360 --> 02:09:42.639
uh communication, uh just want to acknowledge that graduation for our high school students is this Friday at 6 PM. So, congratulations to all of our uh graduating seniors. Um and we hope that

466
02:09:42.639 --> 02:09:58.719
um yeah, you celebrate uh and and uh enjoy your accomplishment. Uh Vice President Jadzik. >> Um thank you. I have a couple items to share tonight. First is um myself, Council President Denim, and Councelor Jamar McGrade will be hosting an

467
02:09:58.719 --> 02:10:15.840
information session to discuss our tax relief options at the Council on Aging tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. So, I encourage anyone who has questions to come out to that session. Um, next also tomorrow, the East Hampton Learning Foundation is hosting their third annual spring

468
02:10:15.840 --> 02:10:31.679
showcase at Mountain View School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Um, this particular event showcases the work that the educators are doing to inspire the students of East Hampton Public Schools. And I don't know about my other counselors, but I personally will be there scooping ice cream. So, please

469
02:10:31.679 --> 02:10:47.360
come by. Um, this Saturday is the uh sidewalk strut, which is an inaugural event being put on by the East Hampton City Arts Coordinating Committee. That will be Saturday from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. as part of ArtWalk Walk, which is also happening this Saturday. Um, I believe

470
02:10:47.360 --> 02:11:04.159
that the sidewalk strut will include art, music, stilt walkers, sculptures that will be floating on the pond, uh, fashion, face painting, and baby goats, all on Cottage Street. Artwalk of course takes place beyond Cotton Street all around East Hampton. And then finally,

471
02:11:04.159 --> 02:11:20.000
as I mentioned at the last city council meeting, one thing that I'll be doing at every council meeting is highlighting one of our committees that has vacancy. So, um today's uh committee that I like to highlight is the Economic Development and Industrial Commission, also known as

472
02:11:20.000 --> 02:11:35.679
EDIC. The mission of this committee or this commission, excuse me, is to support and enhance the economic environment for current and future businesses, residents, and the community at large. Some of their past projects have included an annual downtown cleanup, communitywide visioning,

473
02:11:35.679 --> 02:11:52.480
downtown beautifification initiatives, and summits with business leaders. So, if anyone is interested in applying for this vacancy, you can do so by either sending a letter to the mayor's office or you can go to the city website and apply directly online, which is the preferred way to apply for vacancies.

474
02:11:52.480 --> 02:12:09.199
And that is all I have. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, uh, Council Marquee. Thank you, President Denim. Uh, the summer reading program begins Monday, June 22nd at the library. It's all ages. So, if you're going to be reading this summer, you might as well go to the

475
02:12:09.199 --> 02:12:26.400
library and earn some prizes. Again, the summer reading program begins at the library on Monday, June 22nd. That's it. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, councelor Jamra McUade. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh this is just my regular reminder about the East Tenants Union. They're a great group of

476
02:12:26.400 --> 02:12:42.719
community members that meets weekly on Thursdays in this room um from 5:30 to 7 PM. Um they share resources on tenants rights and building solidarity. Um they have a great website and newsletter at this point and they have recently started a reading club uh reading different research on rent stabilization

477
02:12:42.719 --> 02:12:58.079
policies to inform uh the their campaign for the ballot initiative. >> Councelor Smith. >> Uh thank you. I just wanted to alert the city council and the general public that several members from precinct 5 have

478
02:12:58.079 --> 02:13:14.880
approached uh city council to talk about the proposed wireless communication tower that would be at oneook road southampton. Um I spoke with a resident who lived on Pomeroy Street who has been

479
02:13:14.880 --> 02:13:31.599
um organizing with us a resident. So far, there's about 50 residents um prior to council that have come forth asking for our advocacy. Um, ironically, the Southampton Planning Board um was set 7:00 tonight, so we could not be there

480
02:13:31.599 --> 02:13:48.960
in person. However, we did send a letter um for the uh residents to read on our behalf, and I want to read that into the public record so we're aware of what's going on in in precinct 5. and um

481
02:13:48.960 --> 02:14:05.920
>> councelor Smith. >> Okay. Okay. Um this correspondence is from myself, uh President Denim and Councelor Jamrog McUade who also lives in precinct 5. Um this is to the Southampton

482
02:14:05.920 --> 02:14:22.480
Planning Board. Um, dear members of the South Hamming Southampton planning board, we are writing in our capacities as East Hampton City Councilors to express our strong opposition to the proposed wireless telecommunications tower at One Cookook Road in Southampton

483
02:14:22.480 --> 02:14:38.000
and to advocate on behalf of the many East Hampton residents who would be directly affected by this project. While the proposed facility is located within Southampton, its impact would not stop at the municipal boundary. Numerous East Hampton residents live in close

484
02:14:38.000 --> 02:14:54.000
proximity to the proposed site and would experience the visual, economic, and quality of life consequences associated with the construction of the large telecommunications tower adjacent to an established residential neighborhood. These residents have invested

485
02:14:54.000 --> 02:15:10.400
significant financial resources, time, and effort into their homes and neighborhood with the expectation that the character of their community um would be preserved and protected. The proposed tower would introduce a highly in I have to pause because I took

486
02:15:10.400 --> 02:15:26.000
that out of it. Um, sorry about that. The proposed tower would introduce a highly visible industrial scale structure into a predominantly residential setting. It would permanently alter the surrounding landscape and become a dominant feature on the daily views of nearby homeowners,

487
02:15:26.000 --> 02:15:42.079
affecting not only individual properties, but also the um entire neighborhood. Residents have also raised concerns regarding potential impacts on their property values, marketability of homes, and the desiraability of the area for current and future homeowners. In

488
02:15:42.079 --> 02:15:57.280
addition, many re residents have expressed concerns regarding the proximity of the facility to family homes and children. Regardless of differing views on scientific regure surrounding radio frequency emissions, these concerns are sincerely held and

489
02:15:57.280 --> 02:16:12.560
deserve meaningful consideration as part of the public review process. Local government has an obligation to exercise caution when evaluating projects that may have long-term consequences for residential communities. We recognize and support the need for reliable

490
02:16:12.560 --> 02:16:28.400
cellular service and modern telecommunications infrastructure. However, the question before the planning board is not whether um improved service is desirable, but whether this particular location is appropriate. To date, many residents remain unconvinced that the applicant

491
02:16:28.400 --> 02:16:45.200
has demonstrated that one Cookook Road is the only feasible location capable of meeting service objectives. Before approving a project with such significant neighborhood impacts, the applicant should be required to provide a thorough and objective analysis of alternative sites, collocation

492
02:16:45.200 --> 02:17:00.240
opportunities, and less intrusive solutions. The burden of this proposal falls disproportionately on nearby residents while the primary financial benefits would acrue to a private corporation interest and participating property owners. For that reason, we

493
02:17:00.240 --> 02:17:15.760
respectfully urged planning board to give substantial weight to the testimony and concerns of the families whose homes, property values, daily views, and quality of life would be most directly affected. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the Southampton Planning

494
02:17:15.760 --> 02:17:31.840
Board deny the application for the proposed tower at One Cookook Road unless and until a comprehensive review of alternative locations, collocation opportunities, visual impacts, neighborhood effects, and potential property value impacts have been completed and made available for public

495
02:17:31.840 --> 02:17:48.240
review. If less harmful alternatives exist, they should be pursued before imposing a significant industrial structure upon an established residential area. The residents of East Hampton and Southampton deserve dependable cellular service. They also

496
02:17:48.240 --> 02:18:03.599
deserve solutions that respect our municipal relationship, preserve our East Hampton residential charm, and fairly balance the interests of residents with the need of infrastructure development. We urge the planning board to protect the interests of affected families and reject the

497
02:18:03.599 --> 02:18:19.120
proposed tower at one Cookook Road. Thank you for your consideration of this matter and for your service to the public. Respectfully committed uh submitted counselor Smith uh Denim and Jamrod McQuay. And I also want to mention that the public notice that the

498
02:18:19.120 --> 02:18:35.920
residents on Pury Ste Street received was a certified letter um from the planning board and most of them remained at the post office because they had to be signed on delivery. So many residents were not aware that this was going on.

499
02:18:35.920 --> 02:18:52.960
And then a public display of where this tower would be located was actually um facilitated by the use of large weather balloons. So you could see how close it would be to the border of our neighborhood and it's about 750 ft away

500
02:18:52.960 --> 02:19:09.120
um from estabome road and all the established neighborhood. Um, so I just really wanted to bring that all forth um, today and just assure the public that we have taken action on this. Um, and hopefully the planning board in Southampton will

501
02:19:09.120 --> 02:19:24.000
also consider these concerns. >> I think it's also important to note that the balloons when they were put up, they were only from 9 to 12, >> right? >> Um, and so of course no one was able to see that, right? Their air work.

502
02:19:24.000 --> 02:19:41.599
So, uh, a lot of, uh, as, uh, councelor Smith mentioned, a lot of residents had no idea that this was even a thing. So, >> uh, councelor Pisinski, >> uh, I'm just wondering how we cannot discuss this matter or talk about it since it's not on the agenda. Is that

503
02:19:41.599 --> 02:19:56.560
correct? >> So, it would be inappropriate for us to comment specifically on it. This breaks my heart, I'll say, because I think this would be something that we would want to talk about, at least some of us. I would be interested in hearing more and in

504
02:19:56.560 --> 02:20:14.399
communicating in the future. So, >> great. Thank you. >> Put that on the record, please. >> Councelor Peak, you have an item? >> I do. >> Announcement. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, okay. Yeah. So, uh, we've been going through the budget and, uh, there's been I've

505
02:20:14.399 --> 02:20:29.840
got notes on my phone. don't usually like to have it out, but uh um we've been going through the budget and there's been a lot that we've been talking about and there's been one important and kind of technical point that has come up uh that I think is

506
02:20:29.840 --> 02:20:46.319
important enough that I wanted to take some time and and talk about it specifically. Um and that is the point around uh full-time equivalent employment. Um, so I guess just a little bit of back I'm going to just throw these notes out. They're too small. Um,

507
02:20:46.319 --> 02:21:01.760
a little bit of background. Um, we've been every year when we when we go through the budget. Um, when we have the budget hearings, what we are really focusing on the most in those hearings is um the specific line

508
02:21:01.760 --> 02:21:17.840
item budgets for each department as as they go through. That's what gets most discussion, but there's a lot of supplementary material that gets included as well that we do read. We don't discuss extensively in the budget hearings as they're currently constituted, which doesn't mean that we

509
02:21:17.840 --> 02:21:32.640
couldn't do it differently going forward, but just the way that we've been doing it for the last eight years, the there's the supplementary materials that um they don't maybe get interrogated to quite the same degree. And that has presented a problem this

510
02:21:32.640 --> 02:21:48.640
year. Um because uh it turns out that one of those uh tables uh which shows uh sort of the the level of employment in each department uh over the last four or five years uh has had some sub

511
02:21:48.640 --> 02:22:03.600
substantial errors in it that go back at least a few years. Um it's uh the the basis of the error I think you need to understand what a full-time employment like an FTE is which some

512
02:22:03.600 --> 02:22:18.800
people do but if you don't you know the idea is that it's like one full-time year round employees worth of employment. So that could be one person working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks but it could also be two people working 20 hours or a week or it could be a couple

513
02:22:18.800 --> 02:22:33.840
people working seasonally for part of the year. you know, um, and it's a good way for us to talk about these things, uh, when there's different departments whose hiring practices when it comes to full or part-time split or year round

514
02:22:33.840 --> 02:22:50.319
versus seasonal split are different from each other. So, comparing them is difficult. Um it seems like what happened is that for a long time departments were individually calculating their FTEEs and sending them to the cities and a few years ago that

515
02:22:50.319 --> 02:23:06.240
service got centralized within the budget process. Uh and it has been consistently done uh improperly. Uh and to give a sense of how it was done improperly, I think it's a good example to talk about our recreation department, right? Um, a recreation department has

516
02:23:06.240 --> 02:23:23.600
been about five people for as long as you know there's been a recreation department. Um, five FTEEs, I should say. Uh, the last two years of the budget that there were records for, it's jumped up to 15. They did not hire 10

517
02:23:23.600 --> 02:23:39.040
people. And if they had, if they had tripled their payroll, city council would have caught that. Like if if if we had been looking and it said, "Hey, this year we want three times as much money for um for our uh recreation payroll as

518
02:23:39.040 --> 02:23:56.399
we had the year before, uh that would have triggered a a a conversation about why that's necessary. What did happen is pool reopened. They hired some lifeguards when there weren't lifeguards for a few years. Those were hires. So they were correct that there were people

519
02:23:56.399 --> 02:24:12.880
that were hired, but they were not FTEEs. uh they were these were not full-time employees. They were these were part-time seasonal employees. Um so why does this matter enough that I'm talking about it now? There's two reasons. The first is that uh I feel

520
02:24:12.880 --> 02:24:29.040
like when I've been talking about this uh this this budget and this override and whatnot as someone who's been on the finance committee now for 5 years and who tried to attend the meetings even before that uh you know the sort of the

521
02:24:29.040 --> 02:24:44.720
message that I've been saying is that I I go into these meetings and what I see every year are departments that are really struggling to preserve level service in the face of rising costs. and um unfunded mandates from the state

522
02:24:44.720 --> 02:24:59.680
and increasingly complex situations on all these different levels. And so when I see the idea that that I look at this thing and it says that 61 people were were hired um there's there was this my stomach sort

523
02:24:59.680 --> 02:25:17.040
of sunk when I first really tried to process that saying how did this get past me? you know, how how are how is it that every year everyone was just preserving level services that all the salary increases that we saw were just contractual mixes? You every year there's one or two, oh, we're going to add a position

524
02:25:17.040 --> 02:25:33.439
to do this, but not not on that scale. And so I was just kind of dumbfounded. Um, and so I'm on one level relieved to see that that's not what happened. On the other level, I'm I'm a little bit frustrated. Um, and I'll maybe get to the frustration in a minute, but I did

525
02:25:33.439 --> 02:25:48.000
get the final the actual numbers today. So, I just want it for total FTEES FY23 through FY26. Evan Labau sent me these to me and they will be online. Uh, and the budget is

526
02:25:48.000 --> 02:26:05.600
will be corrected shortly. Um, so FY23 396 I'm going to round these to the nearest person, but 396 FTEES FY24 410 FY25 421

527
02:26:05.600 --> 02:26:21.840
FY26 427 and then this was the part that importantly was also not in the budget is what it will be this year. So if the override passes, we're still making cuts that will drop it down to 415

528
02:26:21.840 --> 02:26:39.280
approximately FTEES. If the override fails, it'll fall to 388 FTEES. So that's what the actual numbers are. Now, in terms of where those numbers came from, a lot of that is not really

529
02:26:39.280 --> 02:26:54.880
any new hiring. It's maybe like a person in this department that was working. Maybe they pick up a few more hours here, a few more hours there. There's only a handful of departments that actually have seen their FTEEs increase by like more than one or two over this

530
02:26:54.880 --> 02:27:11.600
time period. Um, but there are ones that you wouldn't generally be surprised about. Schools increased by a little under six FTEEs. That's about 2% of their workforce at the start of this time period. So, I I don't think that that's necessarily shocking. Um, fire

531
02:27:11.600 --> 02:27:28.399
increased by five, I believe. Um, and uh, again, we've all been aware of the efforts to expand the staffing in the fire department to increase public safety, to bring down um, our overtime uh, overruns to, you know, for various

532
02:27:28.399 --> 02:27:42.880
reasons. And, you know, that does cost money. I think that it's money that I'm personally okay to spend. um dispatch obviously increased because we regionalized. Um so uh all of this I think when when I

533
02:27:42.880 --> 02:28:00.000
look at it in this this form I mean like I want us to have I'm not saying that every that nothing in here is beyond having a conversation about. Everything is worth having a conversation about. If you think, oh, well, this department did fine at 1.5 four years ago. Well, why

534
02:28:00.000 --> 02:28:16.640
can't they go? Why do they have to have two FTEEs now? That's fine. But I just want to make clear that the size of the numbers we're talking about are not what was presented in that budget. Um, and just one more point because I know I've been talking for a little while, but I just think it's important like I'm

535
02:28:16.640 --> 02:28:34.479
I don't want to um come off as like overly uh angry about this because I just try not to be an angry guy, but I'm I'm I'm really troubled by the fact that this happened. I'm trouble I'm troubled by the fact that it ever h that it was

536
02:28:34.479 --> 02:28:49.680
ever miscalculated. I'm troubled by the fact that I've sat on multiple uh councils and so did many of us that that saw this and while it wasn't one of the major things we were talking about, there was an error and it got by us. Um

537
02:28:49.680 --> 02:29:06.800
and uh it needs to get better. I I I guess that the thing that really troubles me the most is that one of the most salient pieces of misinformation that's been circulating throughout the last few weeks we've been talking about this comes from within the city. um and

538
02:29:06.800 --> 02:29:22.399
that people have in in complete good faith been been sharing it because why would they ever have reason I mean when you actually sort of start to interrogate the numbers I think it becomes clear that there's something wrong but why would just regular people

539
02:29:22.399 --> 02:29:38.319
think to do that like we the city has to be a place where people go to get better information to become more informed not less informed so I just for whatever it's worth on on my part. I want to personally apologize for letting this

540
02:29:38.319 --> 02:29:56.800
get by me. Um, it wasn't if if the if what had what I was actually saying in there had happened, I don't think it would have gotten by me, but an error in a supplemental table in in the um in the budget did get by me, and that's not okay. Um, and I am going

541
02:29:56.800 --> 02:30:13.840
to personally promise that one way or another I'm going to do better about that kind I'm going to make sure to to make sure that these kinds of things in the budget process going forward don't happen again. It's going to be something that I am going to make a priority and I

542
02:30:13.840 --> 02:30:30.000
I hope that a lot of my colleagues both here on the council and within the city uh can say the same on that. Uh I'm I feel terrible that this happened. Um, and the idea of of that that that some people could be drawing a

543
02:30:30.000 --> 02:30:47.280
conclusion about this based on information that isn't accurate, but that we distribute it as a city is is gut-wrenching to me. But I also just for the purposes of the public, if you've been hearing these numbers, I would just really I'm going to be making I'm going to post the table as I have it uh when I

544
02:30:47.280 --> 02:31:04.080
get home. Um, but I'm also I know that the city's working to update it. So just please stay uh in touch with that and if and just be aware that we have caught it. We should have caught it earlier. Um we're going to but I I I do I just want to make it also clear that that while

545
02:31:04.080 --> 02:31:19.680
these numbers while it's unfortunate that it was here those numbers were generated within the HR but they were not gerain to the budget process that was actually the actual budget calculations for the

546
02:31:19.680 --> 02:31:36.960
numbers for payroll in each individual department were not in that were calculated separately. Those should all be accurate. Um, and I feel confident that those numbers are do not have these sorts of glaring errors in them. Um, but

547
02:31:36.960 --> 02:31:52.800
uh I just it's been I hear 61 positions enough when people are talking about the budget that I felt I should really take some time to specifically try and explain the situation as I understand it right now. So, thank you for I I know that was long. I'm good.

548
02:31:52.800 --> 02:32:07.439
>> Thank you, Chair Peak. uh finance chair peak. >> I set myself up for that, didn't I? >> So, if you can believe it, we've been doing a lot of budget stuff. Um the we're going to be doing some additional

549
02:32:07.439 --> 02:32:24.479
budget stuff. Um and so, uh and then there's some other things. So, I'm going to be announcing three meetings that are going to be happening between now and our next meeting on the uh on the 17th. um and sort of the rationale for why we

550
02:32:24.479 --> 02:32:40.399
stretch this process out a little bit. So, um we're going to be having a finance meeting on June 8th, uh which is the night before the budget. Uh that is we're not going to actually be talking voting. You mean

551
02:32:40.399 --> 02:32:55.359
>> what's that? >> The night before the vote. >> Before the vote. Yeah. Yeah. >> The night before the the the budget override. So, yes, the night before the override that we're going to be meeting. Uh that's actually not going to be a budget vote. We're going to be talking about uh a few city council action

552
02:32:55.359 --> 02:33:11.680
requests that do have some like pertinance to all of this, but uh we just we need a time that's not a budget meeting to actually discuss these in detail because uh they're complicated and they deserve fresh like minds

553
02:33:11.680 --> 02:33:27.760
discussing them. So, one of them is the adoption of uh MGL section 60D uh se or chapter 60 section 3D to establish a neighbor in need fund and then the review of MGL chapter 59 section 5 clause 41A to allow qualifying seniors

554
02:33:27.760 --> 02:33:44.960
to delay payments on all or part of their property taxes. Uh and we may or may not finally discuss this borrowing rescending thing if we have time. Um so that's going to be uh on the 8th. Um, and then on the 9th there's the vote. On

555
02:33:44.960 --> 02:33:59.760
the 10th we're going to discuss budget amendments. And the reason for this is that we just determined that it made more sense to talk about amendments to the budget that we knew we were going to have rather than discuss hypothetical

556
02:33:59.760 --> 02:34:18.319
amendments to two different things. Um, so we're going to we've discussed the budgets. We've we've had a meeting where we talked about things that we'd like to consider as potential amendments, but we're going to make a final decision on that uh the day after the vote. Um the

557
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thing is that there are this is an aspect of municipal finance that I I've never entirely like love since we have to pro uh project a balanced budget like there's certain assumptions about certain kind of variable things that the auditor makes

558
02:34:34.160 --> 02:34:51.600
uh so that the revenues balance with the expenditures um and so if we just cut a bunch of expenditures like I think basically the idea is at that point the auditor could make slightly more conservative uh revenue projections because the

559
02:34:51.600 --> 02:35:08.399
spending amount went down and that would potentially but to make those balanced budgets like requires a little bit of time on the sake of the auditor. So we're going we would be suggesting making the budget amendments on the 10th and then on Monday the 15th we would

560
02:35:08.399 --> 02:35:24.720
take final votes on the items. At that point, I wouldn't anticipate a tremendous amount of deliberation since we've had already voted on all those amendments, but I guess you never know. Um, and so the idea is that then like

561
02:35:24.720 --> 02:35:40.720
our auditor would would make some revenue adjustments. We'd make those final budget votes on the 15th ahead of our budget scheduled budget hearing on the 17th. So, I know that that's a lot. It's it's a lot for us, too. Um but uh

562
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that is sort of the process that we have uh for the next two weeks. >> And each of those meetings are at 6 pm. >> Each of those meetings are at 6 pm. >> Uh anything else? >> That's all for finance. So this

563
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concludes Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Chair Peak. Public safety chair Newton. >> Thank you. Um we met yesterday which was June 2nd um for a short meeting. Um but we did we were visited by um Ryan

564
02:36:13.200 --> 02:36:29.280
Griffin, director Griffin of the health department. Um and he uh shared with us some initiatives that he has been working on um including some snow removal stuff um potentially getting

565
02:36:29.280 --> 02:36:45.439
some East Hampton High School participation ready. So, he's taken on that initiative and he is also um working on having all of the um non owner occupied

566
02:36:45.439 --> 02:37:00.399
residences that rent the rentals >> short-term rentals. >> No, no, no. Like all, how do I say >> just rentals? just rentals that are not owner occupied. They are supposed to have contact information, emergency

567
02:37:00.399 --> 02:37:17.280
contact information on the doors or uh displayed at the entrance um so that if there were an emergency, the appropriate authorities could contact them. Um most of the buildings do not have that currently.

568
02:37:17.280 --> 02:37:33.200
So, he's been working really hard on trying to get compliance. Um but he asked us to let residents know that if they notice that information is not available at their front entrance, they should um email him and let them know him know so that he can send the

569
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appropriate letters. Um we will meet again on July 7th and that concludes. >> Great. Uh appointments. Chair Smith. >> Uh thank you, President Denn. We have not met since our last city council

570
02:37:50.319 --> 02:38:06.560
meeting, so I have no report at this time. >> Great. Thank you. Uh, Chair Jam McQuade, ordinance. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, the ordinance committee has also not met since the last city council meeting. Um, we're still sort of in that information gathering um phase and and meeting with

571
02:38:06.560 --> 02:38:23.760
some city staff about the number of things on our agenda. Um, our next meeting is currently on the books for June 9th, but uh we will likely have to postpone that. So, I'll reach out to the other committee members to find another date that works for us. Um, this concludes >> uh Chair Jamquade, I see two items.

572
02:38:23.760 --> 02:38:43.680
>> Yes. Um, >> that need to have their times extended. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Um, I guess I would request or I will request an extension for uh the request to review residency requirements for memberships on committees for 90 days.

573
02:38:43.680 --> 02:38:58.319
>> Second. I have a motion and a second to extend uh request to review residency requirements for membership on committees uh by 90 days. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor?

574
02:38:58.319 --> 02:39:14.800
>> Opposed? Abstain. Motion passes. >> And then the other thing, um I would like to request an extension on amending exhibit A to add new pay plan position of recreation coordinator for 90 days. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to

575
02:39:14.800 --> 02:39:30.800
extend uh the amends exhibit A to add new pay plan position of recreation coordinator by 90 days. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? Extensions. Motion passes. >> Now concludes.

576
02:39:30.800 --> 02:39:46.880
>> Okay. Thank you, Chair Jammer. Property Chair Kwisinski. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh the uh property committee had one item on the agenda. We did not meet because of all the attention to the finance. Uh that one item would be I would request a 90-day extension for the review of uh

577
02:39:46.880 --> 02:40:04.160
flags over city property. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a sec a second to extend the city ordinance request regarding flags on public property including over the pond by 90 days. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none. All those in favor? Opposed? Abstain. Motion passes.

578
02:40:04.160 --> 02:40:21.359
>> Uh Mr. Chair Quisinski, rules and government relations. >> Uh, no report this evening. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, we have no old business items, new business. Vice President, uh, Jadzik. >> Yes. Our first item is a city council action request for a stop sign on Brook

579
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Street at Hendrickk Street. And I would like to make a motion to move this item to the public safety committee. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to move the city council action request for a stop sign on Brook Street at Hendrickk Street to public safety. Uh any further

580
02:40:37.760 --> 02:40:54.960
uh discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Abstain. Motion passes. >> Second item is a city council action request for a cryptocurrency ATM ordinance. And I'd like to make a motion to move this item to the ordinance committee. >> Second. I have a motion and a second to

581
02:40:54.960 --> 02:41:13.760
move the city council action request for a cryptocurrency ATM ordinance to the ordinance committee. Uh any further discussion? >> I was just wondering if it might be appropriate to tell those of us who may not know what this item contains and

582
02:41:13.760 --> 02:41:29.280
what it what it what it means just to give a description to the public of what a cryptocurrency ATM ordinance is and what cryptocurrency ATMs are. >> That's was in the >> I understand was in the packet, but is

583
02:41:29.280 --> 02:41:46.319
could someone explain that before we send it to committee just so the public is aware of what this item entails? >> I I never heard of one so I understand. So cryptocurrencies. So >> what's happening is uh cryptocurrency.

584
02:41:46.319 --> 02:42:02.560
So Bitcoin, they now have ATMs in places like uh gas stations and things like that and seniors are going in and they're putting money in, but really they are um scams they're capturing. Uh and so people are getting their

585
02:42:02.560 --> 02:42:18.960
retirement scammed basically. Um and so they are losing thousands of dollars. Um, so that's why this is being brought forward. Um, yeah, >> thank you. Maybe that's because we have we haven't heard of it.

586
02:42:18.960 --> 02:42:34.080
>> I get it. It's a it's a it's an increasing concern. Um, thank you for >> So, we have a motion and a second uh to move the city the council action request for cryptocurrency ATM ordinance to ordinance. Um, all those in favor? I

587
02:42:34.080 --> 02:42:52.479
>> uh opposed abstain. Motion passes. Um, councelor Jadzik. >> Um, yes. I'd like to refer the next supplemental appropriations to councelor Peak. >> Okay. Uh, >> we haven't talked quite enough this evening. >> Never talk enough.

588
02:42:52.479 --> 02:43:10.160
>> Um, all right. Um, I've got them. So, um, I've got a series of, uh, supplemental appropriation and departmental transfer requests. Um, I'm would like to make a

589
02:43:10.160 --> 02:43:26.720
motion, a single motion to send all of these to finance for review and to set a public hearing for uh June 17th and 6:15 in these chambers for all of them. >> Second.

590
02:43:26.720 --> 02:43:42.560
>> Do I need to do the whole thing first? I think I think I have to do the whole read first. Yeah. All right. So, here we go. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $135,000 to be appropriated from CPA undesated

591
02:43:42.560 --> 02:44:00.399
fund $135,000 to be appropriated to dog park construction. $135,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. This project seeks to construct a dog park in Nak Park. Um, another CPA one request is

592
02:44:00.399 --> 02:44:16.080
hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $44,000. Uh, the amount uh to be appropriated from CPA, $44,100 to be appropriated from CPA reserve form

593
02:44:16.080 --> 02:44:37.359
open space, $39,768. CPA reserve funds $4,332 to be appropriated to Muttersfield renovations $44,100. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. This project proposes renovation and improvements of

594
02:44:37.359 --> 02:44:53.200
the trails at Brickyard Brook Conservation Area between East Street and Mount Tom Avenue uh slash uh East Green Street. Request this. Now we're under supplemental appropriations uh

595
02:44:53.200 --> 02:45:08.960
uh that are not CPA. Uh amount request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $50,000 to be transferred from enterprise retained earnings $50,000 to be transferred to FY26 fire hydrants.

596
02:45:08.960 --> 02:45:24.160
$50,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. This funding will support the purchase of 10 fire hydrants and associated installation couplings. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount

597
02:45:24.160 --> 02:45:39.680
requested $3,500 to be transferred from free cash $3,500 to be transferred to recycling $3,500. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. Hazardous waste disposal prices have increased in FY

598
02:45:39.680 --> 02:45:56.720
2026. As such, we are requesting $3,500 to be transferred from free cash to cover this shortfall. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested, $55,000 to be transferred from free cash,

599
02:45:56.720 --> 02:46:13.120
$55,000 to be transferred to fuel, $55,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. We have experienced a shortfall in the FY26 budget for fuel uh for the city vehicle fleet and heating oil. We are requesting

600
02:46:13.120 --> 02:46:28.720
$55,000 be transferred from free cash to the city fuel account to finish out the fiscal year. This account pays for all city vehicles, not just DPW. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount

601
02:46:28.720 --> 02:46:50.080
requested $2,91769 uh to be transferred from free cash $2,917.669 cents to be transferred to landfill $2,917.69. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. The cost associated with monitoring and

602
02:46:50.080 --> 02:47:06.399
compliance reviews at the former Oliver Street and Loudville Road landfills have increased in FY26. We are requesting $2,917.69 to be transferred from free cash to cover this shortfall. Request is hereby made for approval of

603
02:47:06.399 --> 02:47:31.439
the following appropriation. Amount requested $198,9569 to be transferred from free cash $1,98 198,9569 to be transferred to diffund revenue $198,9569. This amount will be used for the

604
02:47:31.439 --> 02:47:48.439
following purpose. to cover an appropriation to transfer revenue collected from FY20 2021 to FY2025 to a to uh related to diffund revenue.

605
02:47:48.880 --> 02:48:04.319
Uh request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $650,000 to be transferred from enterprise retained earnings $650,000 to be transferred to enterprise stabilization $650,000.

606
02:48:04.319 --> 02:48:21.040
The amount requested would be used for the following purpose. This fund will remain in the enterprise. This funding will remain in the enterprise stabilization account to support capital improvement projects in the water, sewer, and wastewater treatment divisions. And now I've got two interdep

607
02:48:21.040 --> 02:48:44.000
departmental transfers. Request hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested. $161,3749 to be transferred from revenue PEG access account $161,3749 to be transferred to expense PEG access

608
02:48:44.000 --> 02:49:01.359
account $161,3749. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. to approve spending from the PEG access receipts reserved account for cable related purposes consistent with the franchise

609
02:49:01.359 --> 02:49:18.640
agreement. And finally, request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $288.58 to be transferred from veteran supplies and materials to be transferred to veteran cash benefits. The amount

610
02:49:18.640 --> 02:49:38.359
requested would be used for the following purpose. This transfer would fund the June 2026 veterans benefits payment of $15,36543. The current uh balance of the veterans benefit account is $15,76.85.

611
02:49:39.200 --> 02:49:56.720
>> Second. I have a motion and a second um for to send two CPA um appropriations, six supplemental appropriations, and two interdep departmental transfer

612
02:49:56.720 --> 02:50:14.479
uh uh interdep departmental transfers to um finance as well as setting a public hearing for June 17th at 6:15 in these chambers. Uh any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in

613
02:50:14.479 --> 02:50:28.560
favor? >> I >> opposed abstension. Motion passes. Uh uh that concludes everything on our agenda. I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to adjurnn. All those in favor?

614
02:50:28.560 --> 02:50:35.800
>> I opposed. Motion passes. Thank you everybody.