All right, folks. Uh, of it being 6:32 in the evening, uh, we have a quorum being present. Like to call the free town board of selection meeting for April 9th, April 29th, 2026 order. This meeting will be recorded and we posted on the town's YouTube channel. Is anybody else recording this meeting?
>> Fantastic. All right. >> All right. Being 6:33 and having a quorum present, I will call the Freetown Finance Committee to order. >> All right. All right. Let's get started. Uh if all those that can stand, let's all stand and pledge allegiance to the
flag. >> All right. >> Let's do it. I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> All right. >> All right. This >> chairman, before we start the meeting uh formally, can I make a statement? >> Please do. Um, I would just like to uh clarify something that was uh alluded to at the last meeting when we were um
getting ready to appoint a new member to the finance uh committee. It it was alluded that um we had already knew we had already known who was going to be um appointed. I want to clarify that we did not know ahead of time that I asked my
staff to prepare all the paperwork for all three candidates that had submitted letters of interest. And then knowing that we were going to go right into a formal meeting, I asked the clerk if she could come and swear in the new person so that they could be ready to vote on
the on the committee. So she did. She asked me who it was. I said, "I don't know." She said, "Okay, I will prepare paperwork for all three candidates." So, my team and the clerk came prepared uh with paperwork for all three candidates.
Um and so, as soon as one was chosen, they were able to get sworn in and move forward. There was at no point did we have any uh preconceived notion of who was going to get appointed at that meeting. So, I just want to make that statement and thank you.
>> Thank you, Tom. All right. All right. Well, let's get into it, shall we? Uh, number one is the omnous buzzer fiscal year 27 budget review with the finance committee. Um, we anticipate all departments list below will be reviewed. Others may be discussed as they may come up or as they relate to today's agenda.
So, let's start with a building and we'll go to 192 public buildings and maintenance. >> Hey Carl, how you doing? >> Good. All day, too. >> All right. Does everybody just want to make sure that their mics are on green? >> We might want to either give them a mic
or have him come over here. >> Carl, you're more than welcome to hang out off the deck. Catch a bottle of water. Bring your coffee down. >> All right, we got them right where we want them now. >> Yeah, my bullseye. Carl,
>> how are you doing today? I'm doing well. Sing well. Well, thanks for being here tonight with us. All right, I think we all at this point have looked at all these paperwork a thousand times, but we'll just go through them together
and if anything pops out, anybody feel free to just chime in. All right. >> All right, Carl, what are you thinking here? Anything any big differences from last year? Electric's going up. So number one, the first thing I want to report is public buildings are in best shape they've ever been in in in many
many years because of the commitment from the town to invest in those buildings. We've added a pod. We get a new fire station. We've added so much. So that requires upkeep and maintenance and because electricity, right? Electricity is so expensive, >> right? >> If you look through the budget, you'll see that's problem electrical expense.
This building, any buildings with electricity, those costs we can't control, right? It the rate comes in, we we just pay them. Uh so that takes uh a lot of our monies away. Um and if you look on on line item I'm looking at here uh on the police
station, we're already short monies. We have to go back and get some more monies. And that's unfortunate. We try to budget the best we can, but some things especially in this building unforeseen. We're still finding systems that were not managed right in the beginning. There's no maintenance plan. We found out we had a a pH level
something else. So we had to monitor, right? We found this out. So now we got a maintenance plan. We'll take care of everything in the house. So these things all take money. I can tell you the building is in still in great shape. We need some more work on it to maintain as we go along, but it takes a team of people to including the police staff and
and administration this building to keep it going and the way it does functioning as it as it does. >> Yeah. I think it was a big surprise to a lot of us when we had a brand new building and then we didn't have a plan in place at the time to keep it going, make sure that was still impeccable as it is today. Right. So, good job on you
and your staff keeping it going and everything else. And unfortunately, electricity is going up all across the country, especially here in the Northeast. And I see the line items that highlight that. And you're right, police stations, fire stations, COA, uh, the more we use it, the more they cost, unfortunately.
>> Um, great job maintaining them and for all staff involved. >> So, the other point I want to make is that two years ago through this board, we raised the fees on permit by 50%. That money is is is helping us quite a bit now. So we we we made that change as we we're way be behind everybody else.
So now we're at least where everybody else is. That was a 50% increase in in fees that come in. That's helping to offset some of these costs, >> right? >> Yeah. And that's something we down the road to look at as well, right? Uh are we keeping up with all the other towns in the area? Right. I know we increased them to kind of match where where they were to increase our fees, but also
taking some more revenue. Not that we want to take money from the residents, uh but things do cost money to to go out there and inspect, right? Cost of living, cost of people. Um are we still in that same um scope from other towns? >> So we're yeah we're right in there where we should be. The other thing we we try
to do as a building department is try to do some economic development by trying to get more businesses open making it friendly for business giving them express permitting access to having these things done all one sharp stuff. Whatever we can do to get businesses in here to offset the burden of taxes on residents we're off for that and I'm sure the board as well and everyone else
in this room is. So we keep trying to do that and we're getting there. We're getting there. No, we're always keeping an eye on new growth. So, anything any ideas you may have to keep those up, let us know. Um, we're always open to all ideas from anybody, not just not just your department.
>> All right. Um, oh, a bunch of the heating bills. I'm looking at town hall, police, and fire station all went down. >> All one went down. We We're proposing We went from 8,000 to 5,000 on town hall.
What are you looking at, Jared? >> Uh, town prop heating account page 32. Page 32. Yeah. 833. 32. 32. >> I can answer that. The majority of that is because we have put in uh mini splits
at the town hall because we the boiler was >> That's right. >> failing, >> right? >> Yeah. So, that's so switched over >> and the windows. >> The wind. Well, first I looked at the town hall and I'm like, "Wow, that makes a big difference." But then I'm looking into that too and I'm like am I missing something?
>> We also came up with a plan that we keep the old system in place in case we lose power. Right. So we have two things going on. We are saving some some oil money but again it's being made up cost electric. >> Yeah. >> But I my what I respond to get from town people is that it's much more
comfortable. The environment is better. So it was a good investment and it needed to be done anyway because we had old oil waiting to go any day. So, >> I remember hearing from a town employee that she would have to have curtains on the windows so that the the draft wouldn't come in when they're in the office. So, I'm glad that that got fixed to fix.
>> Made a huge difference. >> So, and that's that's a great example of maintaining what we have. >> Right. >> Right. Instead of getting something new, maintain what we have and give it more life so we can, you know, save money down the road. And a good example of that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sure.
>> All right. Um, on the line item for stipens, it looks like it went from 25 from 5,000 to 10,000 to 26 and then 26 from 10,000 to 175. Do we know what that increases >> on the stipen? Yep. >> I'm not sure. >> That's the very first.
>> Yeah. So, that is uh we have one department building facilities. St. F is the building commissioner as well as the facilities maintenance manager. So um that has become increasingly more responsible
more and more work. So he had come to me and he you know he expressed that you know hey look I'm actually doing the work of two people. So we had a lengthy discussion about whether it made sense to split split this job into um facilities manager and a building
commissioner but we're not quite there yet. So, uh, he's he came to before the board of selectmen and myself and we discussed increasing stipen. He currently gets a $5,000 stipen and then this would increase him to get a $12,500
stipen and I think he's probably prepared to talk about that. >> This is mainly just like wage avoidance of hiring an additional person. Right. Correct. >> Thank you. Yes. >> That's all that's all I want in >> in the interim. I mean, I think especially if we possibly get a new building, the more buildings, the the
more that we're going to need that facility person. And Kyle's probably I mean, he's not not probably very capable because he's got a lot of experience. Some building commissioners don't quite have the facilities experience that Kyle has. So, in the future years, it may be different, but right now, I think it's
less expensive to do it the way we're doing it than to obviously hire a full-time manager. I can tell you in my time it's probably 50/50 being the building commissioner, zoning officer and then the facilities guy takes up 7 days a week 24/7 I'm on call and we've
had some issues over time. So I without support of everybody in this room I probably lost my mind but we kind of kept it together and and got past that but it very very uh uh you got to be with it 24/7 7 days a week. >> Y no that makes it makes perfect sense. I was just curious what
>> Yeah. I think you should tell I mean the snowstorms you're here in the weekends. You were here when the library didn't have heat multiple times on the weekends. Um because as much as we're only open 5 days a week at the town hall, he's responsible for the buildings throughout the weekends. We've had leaks at the fire station. I mean, you have
come on the weekends a lot of the time. >> We also did a cost analysis of salaries, what other building commissioners get in Southeast Mass. So, I'm not at the middle of the top and believe me, I love the job I do. I'm not here for the money, but uh we're not talking about that. So we got facilities and then committ commissioner. Uh that's what
we're looking to keep and and if I am gone in a couple years I hope to train somebody or get somebody involved and maybe we can make a decision how you want to split that at that time. But I think we came up with the best decision now would progress with what we were doing or proceed what we were doing. >> You're absolutely correct. We looked at the cost maintenance of the town of town
budgets and everything else and instead of hiring additional bodies and increasing the cost of um from health care to salaries, we thought best that we throw more at the at the person doing it and pay them for the work that they're performing versus going out and
hiring a whole new body and then again maintaining that person throughout their life cycle of that employment. That and increasing cost to make sure that we're compatible with other towns. So we don't want to lose any talent. I think has been a great cost avoidance, cost management for the town over the last few years. So
>> simple as paying someone what they want. >> Yeah. Right. >> Right. Beyond any of it, just keeping them happy. >> Right. >> Keep them for another 10 years. Right. >> That's right. That's what I was going to say, Jared. I could have sworn last time you were in front of us, you told us 10 to 15 more years before we talked about retirement. So I'm going to hold you to
that. >> Just have a a quick question. Um most of this seems pretty straightforward. There's a couple things that just look weird. Um, on page 33, town prop non-energy water, it's going from 1,200 to 10,000. Am I reading that right? Like what's happening there?
>> We are we paying the This is for water for all the buildings in town. Bottled water. Is this for the the home delivery? >> No, that to help. >> Yeah, I that should help. >> What what what number is this? I mean, page 33. >> 33. Second line down
>> 10,000 pound fro energy budget. >> Yeah, let it go up. >> So we did just change the water vendor for the water bubblers and water we get in here. So we did change that vendor maybe 3 months ago. We found them more cost effective, more responsive to when
we needed product. Uh I can't tell from here what exactly that that number is for. >> Yeah, it looks like we've already spent $3,800 to a year. That's probably >> and that's a halfway mark. So, you always have to kind of look at that. It's only halfway through the year.
>> I can look further into it. I will tell you that ultimately the the facilities budget is is hard to predict exactly the expenses, but anything that we don't use obviously goes back to the general fund, but also um if if we run short on one line, we
can steal from another line. And that's happening a lot this year in particular because we are way underfunded on some of the mostly electricity I think. So actually at reviewing this with the town accountant he feels like we even need to go up on the totality of this budget
about another $20,000. So I will be bringing those changes uh on a spreadsheet for a future meeting. But just so you know I'm this actual total budget which is quite an increase over last year. Um
>> yeah, cost of things have just gone up. Unfortunately, we're not immune to that. Not yet. Someday we'll get solar everywhere, but not today. >> I have a similar question on page 37 under copier supplies. >> Y last year was 8,000. Now it's 20,000.
I don't know like if we're buying a machine or >> We are not buying a machine. >> We do have a maintenance plan on that on that uh leaf. That was quite a bit. We do op printing through I think for the town hall through one printer now on a hallway.
>> So we we have one contract that services all of the um printing machines, right? So there the police station, the fire station, the town hall, the annex seaway as well. And so that's a maintenance contract that maintains all of the um
printers, copiers, and it also like if if when the drums go, the ink goes, it it's included in that price. So it is very expensive and it did go up crazy because I think the company that we used to use was local in Freetown in the plaza and then they sold out to another
company. So it has been going up substantially. >> Yeah, looks like already 187 expended this year. >> I was going to say it looks it's probably not enough, right? >> We and we do pay per page. So every month um Land you take the counts and
you give it to the um the guy and they then they bill us per count. Not for the most part, but they'll call up an we machine. >> So, it's so it's it it really is indictive of how much we print in the town hall. Like Cheryl prints quite a bit in her in her department and then we
pay by the page. So, um I can certainly try to find something cheaper, but that's the cost right now. >> Just a question just kind of jumped off the page. That's all. >> No, no, you great great catch. No, it's good to know this information. >> Uh, for this building here, the police
department, um, I just, you know, looking back historically, you know, 2024, there was about $54,000 spent. In 25 there was around 70,000. What kind of what kind of um, you know, situations have come up with this building in
particular that lead to that kind of spending? >> Yeah. So I think we can all go back to when it was first open and the water was rushed through the building without a filter or any kind of filtration. It caused havoc throughout the whole building. Any metals or any joints and fittings were corroded. We spend a ton of money to fix that and replace them.
We sense put a filtration system in. We make sure the water's good coming in. Replace all that piping. So that's done. So as I explained the board, the building is like a big dyke that was leaking. We plug a hole here and it would leak over here. So we got all these holes. It's pretty much plugged now. We've got to control our costs on
it, but it takes a it would took a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of a lot of headaches for a lot of people, >> right? Was that jockey? The >> I was going to say for the jockey pump with the sprinkler system that was very expensive. Um, now we have a maintenance contract with the the sprinklers, so they check it every 6 months or
whatever, make sure it's working properly. We've had the electrical issue where water got into the >> We also did things like once a year we have a a deep cleaning of the building, right? We had all these carpets done, all the we do all that once a year. So that money was been it's good money. It's good spent money. It makes our job
to maintain it weekly and monthly easier once you get all the salt out of here and all that. So we've added more to the building to maintain it and keep it going. >> It's a very high-tech building. Extreme like crazy. Some of the stuff that you find out I go back there was a light on the front of the building that had its
own memory board. >> Oh yeah. >> Like we're just going to wire it up like >> and save 10 grand. There's some wonky things that we discovered up in this building over the course of doing business with this building over the years from electrical to where locations of sprinklers are over to like evidence
room. >> You would have to have a tech here full-time station here to maintain this building literally because it's so complicated. There's so many different systems that work in integrated with each other. You got to figure it out. We're still trying to figure it out. >> The main one was the heat for a long time, right? We we were it they weren't
talking to each other. One room would be 50, one room would be 90. and we could not get it figured out. But we finally hired a new contractor that's been >> always looking at vendors. How can we do it better and faster and cheaper? So, we've done that here. We get rid of the vendor, get a new vendor, not come with it being successful. And we scrutinize
every bill we get. It comes with electricity. Why is it high? We find why we is off by the facilities management we do. Right. >> For those out there listening on and and here in this room, we we have looked at putting solar both in the parking lot and on the building, right? because this building was a 50-year roof and it was supposed to have solar ready.
Unfortunately, um construction of the roof wasn't to the standards of the solar company and we couldn't put a a solar on here to reduce our electrical rating. So, it is what it is. We'll keep moving forward and you know, but my favorite story for this building is where the intake system is. You someone
mentioned mulch on the way in. Smells great, but when the mulch is blowing and sucking into the filter, >> kind of kind of throws your day off. And it's interesting you say because again building relationship with our neighbors. We went over and talked to them. They said, "Okay, we'll put our varieties." You see varieties roll. Take a while. But they also reimburse us once
a year in the spring to replace the filter that they damaged with all coming off here. They also not supposed to be doing that if the wind flag is is like this. If it's wind more than 25 miles, not and they've been good neighbors, I got to tell you, >> very good neighbors. We had a problem down here where something shot from their yard across and went through one
of the trucks windows just, you know, but they were called, they were there to replace it. Real good neighbors. just so happy with that relationship we have with them. >> Yeah. >> And sometimes it just takes a conversation to be had to fix problems. So, thank you again goes back to your your process of doing the job of both and making those conversations happen.
Right. >> So, but moving along here. Um, anything else on that first one? Anybody see that they they have questions on for 192? Everything else looks in line. I know you got the extra vehicle in there, so that creates the cost a little bit, but
it's not too bad. Quick question on on your labor worksheet. John is listed twice. >> The new hire John >> John step up. >> Yeah, that's because in the middle of the year he he goes moves up a step till
like the half the hour. Is that >> Oh, so the first line is just through July and then after that. Okay. >> Oh, just from um his anniversary day, right? Would be from July one to his anniversary date. From his anniversary to the end of the year. I just did it in two separate lines.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, as far as the uh any new construction like with the fire station, the addition, does that impact any of the costs here that are in this budget? >> Uh, I think do we allocate some money for the the increased electricity? >> The electricity because the new the new
addition is similar to the town hall now with electric uh mini splits. So, you'll see the heating costs actually decline, but the electricity go it's just a much bigger building, too, right? double the size. So you went from a 5,000 foot building to a 10,000 foot building.
>> Okay. >> Y >> and as far as building maintenance costs, did that did you have to increase that line item? >> That one there, they take care of their own station. They do a great job. Maintenance, I mean, we don't have to send anybody up for that. They It's self self-supporting in that sense. So that helps out quite a bit. Snow shoveling. I
mean, can't beat it. >> Yeah, it's uh we like I like some parody across all departments on that on that field, but it's it's harder for other departments than than some. So, uh, good on them for doing that cuz they it does keep the cost down. >> Absolutely. And the facility is gorgeous inside.
>> So, I haven't been up there yet. Stairs are my thing, but if they, uh, put a fire pole up, I'll climb up that thing. Let me know. >> All right, let's move on. Uh, let's go into number 241, buildings,
and then review those. 241. >> The biggest thing in in building it, it's we're renting the annex there. And that's I mean, well, what a what what a benefit that is to the town for us being there and allowing it. We have space for parking and just have space for people to work in town hall. That's an expense
for us. I think it's about 32,000 a year. >> Uh that's under facilities. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't see that one. >> Okay. It's another million building, but this is finished yet. >> Yeah, it's one of those things. Um, you're right. You know, we only have we
have so many town halls is being used to the max, right? We we moved buildings the rooms around uh offices around trying to maximize the space. Again, we updated the windows some point. We do we're going to touch the wood cladding and everything else in the mini splits to make it comfortable to people live
there. Even the bathrooms we got a grand for. >> Right. And we're handicap accessible. >> Handicap accessible. I appreciate that. >> No, and it's a great I mean we see it used every single day and people appreciate that very much, you know, having access to it and being able to access the services in town hall. >> Yeah. >> And then having the secondary building
alleviates the parking, right? We have only 22 parking spots and we have more more employees than that. So if we had a full staff at at work, no one can go to town hall and pay their bills or talk to anybody or pay taxes, right? It's um >> it's it was a one one of those necessary
things. And once we do get a new building up and going, you know, other buildings will be utilized for that annex. So plan in place, it's just got to it takes time to execute. >> It does fortune does. >> The the main change in this budget, I will tell you that in the prior year,
the annex is set up so the clerks are interchangeable. I mean, Nadian's the um head clerk, but they Nina can cover for her. So, their salaries were split 50/50 between building and border health budgets. However, the paperwork became
incredible to keep that straight because now you're splitting their time off between two budgets and they had to do two time sheets each. It just created way more work than it was worth. So when you see the increase on n you know building clerical that's because we just
allocated 100% of the n the building clerk naen to the building budget and we allocated 100% of nine um nina who's part-time to the board of health budget just because the the submitting the payroll and paperwork was easier and
cleaner. So it looks like there's an increase there but there there really isn't other than the contractual increase for the the uh Thank you, Debbie. That's exactly the case. Uh it took a lot of time to it was taking more time to split everything up than it was to do it this way. And
finally, enough was enough. We try to make everybody's life a little easier. This was the best solution. So, >> anybody else any questions on on that one? 241 building. If you don't, looks like a no. Let's move on to 242 gas.
Looks like an overall decrease I assume because of the mini splits. >> The gas is um this is the gas inspectors. >> Oh, gas inspectors. Okay. >> So, it's just because it doesn't look like it's being used to the totality, so it was reduced. >> Well, on that note, a couple years ago, again, we looked at that. Where are we
compared to other communities? We're way below what they were paying their inspectors. We did have an increase last year. I think it was from $40 to $50 per inspection. We get that money back as part of the permitting process, but I think now they're they're much where we should be and we're collecting the
monies we should be collecting from that. >> Good. Now, how many gas customer? Just curiosity. How many gas customers do we have in town? I'll be getting more. I know. >> No. So, these would be any any gas inspector go you want put the stove or your gas dryer in? That's that I don't know how many how many people service
the gas. >> I was thinking more like um about 3,600 homes >> inspections. I don't know. Yeah. I wouldn't know. >> Just curiosity. >> Yeah. I know certain parts of town doesn't have it, others do. Just figured I'd ask. >> Does this include um inspections for propane? >> It does. I was going to mention that
include a lot of propane. So, yeah, anything. Yeah. Propane. >> Yeah, >> sure. >> But that's self- sustaining. We They get paid $50 per inspection. We're collecting 50. So, it's a wash and that's self-sustaining. That's good. I wish it was that like with everything else we did. That's not always the case,
right? >> Right. >> We're with you. >> Yeah. All right. Uh let's move on to 243 plumbing. >> Same situation. Those all plumbing permits. They go out, get paid the same. Um of course that's our frontline defense to make sure these we're not blowing up houses, right? They're very
important inspections. We got uh people that do this kind of work are experienced local people very responsible and they do a good job of what they do. >> With all these permits, I know we went to permit eyes and everything else. Do you find that as though people are getting more and more used to it as far
as submitting a permit inspecting them? >> When we first rolled it out, we had a one or six months period where you can come in and train on a computer there. We're not maybe once, twice, two people a month maybe, but all the option come in and doing a computer will help you if that's keeping you from your application. So,
>> yeah, good. We'll reduce some of that paper copier stuff. >> All right, we'll get into electrical then. 245 245. So that's that would be the same thing. What we're seeing now is a a reduction in solar permits. Uh we were going crazy
for the last couple of years. Now it's slowed down quite a bit this year. The tax incentives aren't there anymore. So that's a consideration. Uh so we'll probably lose some money on the permitting for especially large solar projects. Unfortunately, those were that was good money for the town.
>> Yep. Solar was here for it's still popular but not as it's I think people are slowing down. I think the incentives are drying up a little bit. Yeah, that and offshore wind. >> Yeah, it's a different discussion. >> All right. Well,
anybody else any questions for our building inspector before we release him for the day? >> We um I want to talk about something real quick before he leaves. Um we have a situation on 42 W Street that just happened. It was an emergency and we need to have a discussion real quick with the board of selectman. Um there
was a house fire at 42 W Street. It was vacant property. It's very seriously uh damaged now. It's a it's a a public nuisance and we have a great concern about the safety of that property and we need to have some direction on how to move forward. So, college, you want to jump in? >> Yeah. So, uh we had two awesome uh
buyers here within a two-month period which allowing to anybody. The building right now is just about standing up. You see it's leaning a little bit. Um there's no fence on no protection on it. We through my department, we sent out applications for vacant buildings. That was one of them. It came back unsigned.
Nobody's responsible. I've talked to somebody who has neither the authority through the courts or the money to pay for anything to the town. So that's a dead end. The fact is we got to do something about this building. Three options. A firewatch, very expensive. Fencing, which will be there for
probably one, two, three years. But we take it down in one or two weeks. It's gone. You don't have to look at it no more. I got a price for a fence for $6,000. This is not not a security fence, just a fence telling don't go in there. Then I got a price to take it down for $25,000
and then so two are and the other one's keep a fireman in there or policeman to watch the neighborhood every time every night. Tough decisions these are but I can tell you looking at it it's very inviting anybody might want to steal copper. You can see copper in there. If someone goes there and gets copper it it
it will fall on somebody or something will happen. So liability is on us to do something. We got to do something. We could put a lean on the property get that money back but that's probably years down the road. So, who owns the property there? >> That's my my question. Yeah. >> The owner had passed away. >> Yeah. So, the owner passed away. They
found two wills to confuse things. And so, everybody says, "Oh, mine's good. Mine's there." So, it's in probate and they're fighting about which will is valid and who's going to own in the end. >> The fact is there's probably not much money equity in the property. >> Nothing down. >> Yeah. >> So, who's going to jump forward and say,
"Hey, we we'll take care of that for you." Nobody. But the fact that we're left with with a a a nuisance and an attractive nuisance in some cases a neighborhood. >> The idea of not taking it down to me is foolish because leave it. Putting a fence up and people will jump fences especially if they see something on the
other side of it they want. Fences get knocked over things happen. Um and then the eyes saw to the neighbors. >> You still see it. Correct. So >> So to your point is does it stink to spend uh that extra money? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. We'll get it back.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It might take some time. >> Let's go through all the legal proceedings to recoup that those funds. I I think >> Right. We'll be I mean, we'll take care of that and we um I'm working on getting the funds because that >> are the alleged property owners in the area here or is there something like
>> she had an address in Nevada or California or something? >> She was in California, but the the relatives are in Arizona. >> Arizona. So, I've spoken to them. Again, they have no legal authority to do anything with the property. They have no money to to do anything with the property. So, >> I'm sure if there was value in it, you
relatively came out of the woodwork. Yeah. But that didn't happen. >> Yeah. >> And it is a nice It's a kind of lot right by the water. It is. It is a nice area, >> you know. So, >> it's grandfathered in. That's good. >> Wow. That's >> Yeah. >> So, what we need from the board of
selectman is a decision on which direction we go in and then Kyle can make that happen. I will work on the finance piece. I think I've figured that out. we need to just authorize the dollar amount or authorize a company for him to to proceed with. >> We we don't have time to do procurement.
It's an emergency. We have somebody that will just take care of it and that's I'm just going to >> we call it out as such in the vote. >> Yeah. That it's an emergency and we need to take care of it. >> I guess that's why I'm asking because I think I kind of knew the answer but I wanted to make sure that we didn't get caught up on the decision that the boat
that we made. >> Yeah. To your point putting a fence up when especially when cops are exposed. mean how how that goes, right? Um >> I just don't see any other way other than knocking it down. >> I Right. What do you guys think? >> No, I could I I agree with that. And
honestly, the price of 25 I've I've been in that business before and the price of 25,000. Take that down. It's actually a really good deal. >> That's with the asbestous bases and all the other paper. I thought it was a great price. >> Yeah, >> great. >> You think has a speestous in in the building? >> Uh I would suspect it does now. Whether it's still intact, I don't know, but
>> but it was burnt off. So yeah, >> that's just another problem down the road for the neighbors and everything else. >> Caution caution everyone that we have to somehow get legal advice on this. We don't want to take down somebody's house when we shouldn't have now got to pay the full value of the property and the house that we took down. Right. >> My experience that has happened. You be
real careful. So I'll write that into the motion. Um we'll give I I'll make a motion to to get the get it going, but also whether or not making sure that we have legal authority to do so. leave us time and so that when we do get authority we can just proceed
without have to revote it again. >> Perfect. >> Also like would the historical commission have anything to do with historical? No, I understand that but I don't know if there's a process. >> I already went that I already went that route. >> I'm I'm sure if a building was up and there was something like to knock it down that would imply. But I from
looking at that building there's nothing left. There's no historical >> Right. It's an unfortunate thing. It's a it's a beautiful it was beautiful before it was you know abandoned and and and run down but it was still a nice looking house right >> very dangerous so it's really an imminent thing that we have to take care
and so there isn't the time necessarily to do procurement or permits for things that we normally would do >> right my final note on that so we've tried in the last six months to do a vacant building registration that was one of them we identified what's vacant we contacted the owner hey paid 100 bucks give us who information about who
owns out how to contact so this is one that didn't come back didn't answer the complaint or didn't answer the requirement. So through that process, we could build up a fund of money. So $100 to register a building. We could have a pool of money. So when these things do happen, we can go, hey, we have vacant building money. We're going to use either clean up a vacant property or or
secure it from from entry. We're still maybe a year or two away from that, right? >> Hopefully that we can work in that going for further with that a little bit and create that pool of money. Take we have a lot of vacant buildings in Freetown. Believing we're finding more and more every time, >> right? >> Yeah. Um keep doing that.
>> Does that right now? Oh, sorry. I mean, does that go into general funds >> right now? It does. We have to set up. Yeah, that's why >> I just wrote that down after he said that. >> All right. Well, let's I'll I'll make the motion to All right. I a motion to
move forward with find procurement to tear down this house properly once we have legal authority to do so. >> All right. >> Just call what? >> Yeah. No, we're I won't use the word procurement because I'm not going to put it up to bid. Just >> Okay. Just hire somebody that capable of
taking it down >> as quick as possible. >> Was it Six Water Street? 14 >> 14. >> No, no, 432. >> 42 while I was on too. >> I don't want I don't want to seem like I've been acting so long. The fire department has been along with me. We've had conversations all the time about
this. So, the tree fire chief, we've been working on this to make sure we get the best results. This is not just me doing this. Believe me. >> Yeah. He Yeah. I mean, he did call to see if he was necessary for him to come, but I didn't feel like he I felt like Carmel could offer you everything that needed to be offered. >> Okay. >> All right. And Okay. I entertain a
motion to move forward with the demolition of 42 Water Street based on the arson um based upon legal authority once we get the legal authority from either our town council or whoever whoever the powers that be are. All right.
>> Motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. And I didn't put a dollar amount there because I don't want to say 25,000. It comes in at 30,000. It has to get done. We'll we'll deal with that afterwards and another subsequent motion. >> If I can get a contract or something, I
may put it on Monday's agenda because we're meeting again. So, I'll I'll make sure that that's back on your agenda. >> Perfect. >> All right. >> Thank you, Carl. >> Carl, you thanks for being here. >> Thank you. All right, who is next? Let's see here.
According to my agenda, we're going to go with community programs 699 and other cultural and recreation. Kylie Battalio, come on down. All right. Hello, Kylie. >> Hi. >> We're going to be at 699.
Those I'll have the binders. 699. Hi, Kylie. >> Hi. >> How are you? >> I'm well. How are you? >> Good. All right. I see you right in there. No office space. >> Just if you want to, you know, introduce that this is this is your last year of doing community program director. You
you do not want to do it after July 1. So she did prepare the budget as you know so that if somebody were to come in but we've had multiple conversations about this department and this budget and this program moving forward. Um no final decisions have been made. So, I
kind of put up there if I were to hire another employee, I don't have a I do not have a space. I cannot fit another human being in the town hall nor the COA and god, not the libraries. So, there's no room for anybody. And so, this is
sort of a placeholder budget and it's really going to come down to the decision about what you how you want to move forward. >> Yeah. No, I think you've done a great job. >> So, an amazing job. >> Thank you. So, Kudos to you and to everyone that's was there with you. I
know a lot of family u helped and uh town employees and friends. So, um it it definitely takes a village and you showed that. You proved that. So, good job. I know we got a lot of people that showed up to these events. So, kudos to you. >> Thank you. It means a lot. >> Lot of hard work. >> Yeah.
>> So, I just have one quick question. Um on the salary um that's for someone to replace you, correct? >> Okay. It was just weird because in the back it still had your name on it. So that's just keep like I know she's not doing that anymore. Okay, that's point of clarification.
That's all I needed. >> Everything else I kept the same. Honestly, the budget served me pretty well. I was able to do quite a bit with it. Good. >> Um so all I have >> very straightforward. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of events.
You put a lot of mini trophies, you know. I was expecting to see mini trophy budget in there, but I did not. >> No, I think you brought a lot of joy to the town. You really did. From movie events to uh holiday decorations, um you name it. The was that
>> day. >> Earth Day. That's right. Earth Day was a big day. So, you know, so >> the event letter is amazing and we're going to lose that, too. >> Yeah. I think a lot of people got used to having that event letter. it it pointed them in the right direction as
uh from town news from events to things going on. So, uh or things coming up like elections and everything else. So, it was just keep us in mind. All right. Keep us in mind. Who knows? Maybe we'll have an employee step up and say, "Hey, I'll
I'll take this on." You never know. You never know. Maybe I can be part of the senior work program. >> Yeah. just throwing it out there, you know, just adding suggestions, that's all. >> Um, all right. Well, Kylie, um, thank
you. Um, there's no more much I don't think there's anything else unless anybody has any other questions for this program. No, I think it's just ultimately the decision needs to be made whether we hold the money for the program and and think about hiring somebody or maybe paying a stipen to do
some of the stuff that we've we've done in the past. Um or just abandon the department and zero it out and move the money back into our tax levy and and utilize it other way. >> There was a lot of hard work that went into this to get it to where it is. I
would hate to dissolve the money and then have someone come forward and then us not be able to do it or say we can't hire you till next year because we don't have the funds. >> Worst case scenario is the money goes back into the funds anyways. Right. So it's not a big deal. It's not like it's going to hurt to
>> keep it there. >> Leave it there. >> No, I say leave it. And to your point too is if stipens come up or anything comes up like that, then we can pull it. We could pull a stipen from that salaries line, right? If we >> we could run negative and then move it
on on May 15th of the current of the year. >> I'm assuming concerts are probably late in the late in the stage, right? But we had other events too like yoga in the park and things like that. Will those still be ongoing? Is that already preset beyond July 1st?
>> Uh so yoga, Zumba, self-defense, pickle ball, that's all happening May to June. >> Okay. Anything beyond that I didn't schedule because I didn't know if anyone was going to be replacing me. So I didn't want to kind of just dump that hands.
>> Um I can certainly try to schedule concerts. I just don't know what you would get. >> Yeah. It's kind of late, right? I think the well last year was what first one was in mid June. >> Yeah. >> Right. Then July, August. Yeah. Movie nights. Do we have any credit with the vendor or did we use that last year? >> We used that.
>> Okay. So, I was going to win this year for the Christmas decoration. I knew it. I knew it. All right. Yeah, I agree. I think we we we don't cancel the program. Maybe there's hope out there as far as the next step moving forward cuz Yeah, cuz
you're right. Right. It it brought a lot of joy. A lot of people out there enjoyed everything that the town provided on your behalf. Right. Like you spearheaded a lot of these things and you showed us the way and and it wasn't as easy as it looked. was in just calling people and just saying, "Hey, show up at this date." A lot of
coordination, a lot of time away from family, right? After our time as well, because everything was about six o'clock on, right? >> So, all right. >> Set the bar high. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, and I I just want to thank you guys for the opportunity. I truly did
enjoy it. And everyone that participated, it made it all worthwhile. I would just sit there like just praying. I'm like, "Oh, I hope people show up." you know, when they did it. >> I know >> it was an amazing feeling and the people I met along the way amazing. So, I want
to thank everyone. >> Thank you. Great. >> Thank you, Kyle. >> Of course. >> You can go. Also, you can hang out if you like, but I don't think we have any more questions for you. All right. >> All right. Next one is C in our agenda
and Council of Aging 541. Council Aging. >> Come on down. We're going to be going to 541, ladies and gentlemen. All right. >> Hi, Rebecca. >> Hey there. >> Welcome. >> Hi. >> Kylie always makes it very hard to
follow. So, >> all right. Got some circles. All right. Let's see here. 2% cola union contracts. We love those. Let's see. staff there, John and Judy.
All right, going down the one that sticks out. All right, so director. Yep, I see you. You're it tag. All right, clerical part-time. And then you have your full-time salary. I'm assuming is for
your person that was here before. >> All right. Let's talk that real quick. I know we had um let's discuss a way of funding it. So, what are you thinking? >> I've I've talked to my board about it.
Um >> they all agree that Kylie is an indispensable part of our team. Kylie wants to be a part of the team. Uh that's why she is um with us. but she expressed very very early on working with the Council on
Aging and being at the Council on Aging that she she wanted to work with us. Um so we had originally um funded her position from a grant, >> right? >> Uh Kylie wrote the grant. Uh she was able to we were able to fund about eight
hours until the end of the fiscal year. Um then we were able to get her to part-time. Um, I think she's been happy and I think she's been enjoying the position. Um, as you can see, I did, um,
give you all a newsletter with some, um, information just of how the program has grown, um, between fiscal year 23 and fiscal year 25. Our programs have run have grown in, you know, exponentially.
Um, and I'm in need of a person that can um help fill the role full-time as an outreach worker. Um, she is able to do the things that I'm able to do um as a
social worker and able to um very successfully fill that role. Um, I was on vacation last week. The center didn't skip a beat. uh she handled all the things that I would have I would have handled um as far as the town and and
servicing them. As far as funding, >> yeah, >> it's a tough year. I I certainly understand that. >> Um I I don't know. >> I don't know. >> And I'm going to just interview you,
Kylie. Will you I mean, obviously, we're talking about taking Kylie from a part-time position to a full-time position within the COA. Will you just give us your educational background because I'm not sure everybody knows that. >> Yes. So, I have a degree in public health. Um, minor in political science
and health resource management. Uh, for sixish years I worked in assisted living um in assisted living. Oh, thank you. It was an assisted living and memory care facility. And that's kind of where my passion started. Um, and it kind of
grew even more working at the Council on Aging. Um, I really truly love what I do and I feel like it does make a huge impact in people's lives. Um, it's incredibly rewarding. >> Okay. >> I just wanted the board to know that
your background is in public health. >> Now, like kind of going off of what you were just saying, Rebecca, you you looking at the newsletter, you have increased your what you put out at Council of Aging, right? Um, do you guys run short on days? Right.
Like it feels like you're you're you guys your folks are busy, right? You're looking I know you added Thursdays bacon and eggs tomorrow, right? >> Bacon. Yeah. >> Bacon and eggs. >> Egg. Yeah. Egg sandwiches, hash browns, actually. Um, but I think it was you that told me on the day I was hired, you
wanted me to make it the best it could be. And that's really what I've tried to do in the past three years. I've I've this is my whole world, my my absolute passion. I I love working with older adults. I love to make their lives better um in any which way I can in
multiple different ways. Um I'm really actually enjoying the the management piece and the budgeting piece. And I I would my background is in macro social work, so I love systems and I love watching whole things just become um
become what they can and Yeah. >> Yeah. And Kylie is just an incredible. I mean, she fits in our team like a glove. I never had to make it happen. Uh the way she asks questions. She she is in on my office multiple times a day. Um
asking the most pertinent questions of of how she can help and what she can do. And um everybody just adores her. She she has the most patience. She is uh so kind to everybody and they they just they adore her. Um, she also has talents
that we I I don't have. You know, even being a 40-year-old woman, having a 26-year-old at the uh the senior. >> You're fine. You're fine. >> But even the tech help like she was helping so many set up different things yesterday on their phone and and just things that they wouldn't have been able
to do. And her her skill level is just different. We all have different skill levels. So, it's um it's really I don't know. It's it's a great I always say It's going to sound lame, but I always say it's like Camelot over there, you know? It just I have like the most
amazing team. >> No, I see you added chair yoga quite a bit. >> We did add chair yoga. >> Now, you find that different days are the same people are coming or you have new faces showing. >> We have new faces. We've added gosh, the amount of tags we've been adding. What
was happening is we had it on We just had it on Tuesday and Thursday and people were like in each other's armpits. We had about 32 people doing yoga in a pod and it just didn't work out. It was people were unhappy. They were complaining. They loved the class but they couldn't fit. I had people in the vestibule doing yoga while they were
in the was a disaster. So I added I kept adding classes and people just kept coming. So this is what we've been as you can see from FY23 and that's not even talking about this year but FY23 to FY25 we increased exercise by you know 600%.
>> Yeah. I I was just I was just seeing them, you know, you have a lot of increases and the crazy thing is you have COA rides down 15%. Which is means they're that means they're getting up and and going there themselves because they want to participate. >> We've had, you know, obviously we've had some losses along the way. People have
gone into nursing homes. People that were going to adult day health programs two days a week now went into a nursing home. So our ride rides kind of go up and down a little bit. Um but for the most part, everything that's service related has has
skyrocketed. I need the help. I I need her. >> If the rides are down, can you cut a van? Can you cut one of the van drivers some of their hours? >> The van drivers do so much in between
their rides that it's very they do things that I don't even think of. John will go down to the food pantry every Monday because he knows I need water for for the lunch program. They do thing. John will Jackie's out shopping, getting stuff for the Tuesday lunch program. John goes to do the grab-and-go lunches
outside. They do things without even me saying anything. They they insert themselves. They pick up the phone when they need to. They're almost another extension when they're you you actually feel their presence when they're not there because I'm so they just know what
to do. So, I wouldn't say cutting them would be beneficial to the center at all. I think I need all of my hands exactly where they are. Sure. Make it tough on us. Make it tough on us. Sorry. >> No, it's it's your your job to give us
the information and our jobs, you know, figure it out, right? So, I I it's hard to fight those numbers, you know. No, I do have to ask this, right? I do have to be fiscally responsible. Any programs that you feel that may drop off
down the road? Maybe we're not overextending our hand, but are there things that we shouldn't be doing versus maybe we should be doing more of something else based on your opinion? Just trying to figure out a way to, you know, I I got to answer to 9,200 plus people to make sure we're doing the
right thing for everybody. So, I got to ask the question. >> So much of what we do is volunteer based too. I figured >> we are so stretched. Um, you know, I I have people doing taxes. I have people two people doing shine now.
Our numbers are are growing with that just because but it's all volunteer-based. What we're paying for is a very small amount of of staff to do a lot of big things. And I don't think that there is a way to cut down any more than what we
have. I mean, I try I mean, I'm as fiscally responsible with the budget as I possibly can be. We try to go out for every grant that we we possibly can. We've brought the COA is probably Let me even do you know how many at least four at least four grants. We started the
nutrition program with a grant. We got Kylie with a grant. We got a grant for the van. Uh 25,000 for the van. Um there's some coming up that I I have a lot of plans for her. Um I have plans to start a memory cafe. Um
lots of good stuff. Um, as far as converting this position, the request to convert it from part-time to full-time, is there a job description that you can share with us? >> You have one. It's a working job description. I don't have I don't know if I've run it by you.
>> Kylie has shared it with me. Um, I don't have it with me, but I >> You have it, but I only have one copy. I I can do you. >> It's really everything she's doing now, just at a full-time level. >> It would have to be approved by the selectman. Yeah.
>> But to some folks, >> Rebecca, the um I asked you to look into the Formula One grant and whether that could be used to pay for um Kylie. >> So, if you could explain, you get money from the state based on the number of seniors in our population.
>> And so, every year you get I don't know the number, 40,000. >> Well, no. So, it it depends on how many elders you have in town. So, we have 20 2470 2,470 older adults in Freetown as of the 2020
census. Um, that number stays until the next census. Um, right now, last year we received $16 per elder. Um, this year it they're pushing again $16 per elder.
>> It brings us to about 39,000. Um, so I had talked to my board about this. Um, I continue to talk to my board. I brought in three different board members today just to talk about this exact thing. Um,
they love Kylie. Um, but they feel like so what the formula grant goes towards is it goes towards paying for the Tuesday lunch program which which feeds about 60 to 65 people each week. Um, it goes towards the Thursday breakfast program. It goes towards the exercise
programs and paying the instructors. It um it it pays for bigger things sometimes, too. It pays for like when we got the pods, it paid for the chairs um that we needed now to to put into the pods for chair yoga so that we weren't backing,
you know, back and forth. Um so, it pays for the bigger items uh that we have. If we pay for a salary out of the formula grant, it directly takes services away
from the older adults directly. So that's where my board gets stuck. Um, and my board has trouble understanding why the position couldn't be funded because every other position is funded. Why does this one have to be half grantf
funded? That's where they're coming from because it will take um the amount is about 28 29,000 for next year. So that will take 28 or 29,000 from the formula grant. >> How much do you have in the grant right now? Formula 1 money cuz you're still
you're working on a couple years ago, right? >> So sorry, we were not spending it quite a lot before I got there. Um so we have right now um we have about
70,000 >> we pay but like I said we pay a lot of money out of the formula grant. >> Well I just the reason that this is a tight budget year right but also the salary is one number but when we get
into health insurance that can be another $30,000 $35,000. So when you're looking at you, you know, a certain portion hits your budget, but it also ups another budget for me. So that's a big it's a big nut to crack. So just
this is a big decision just because the time where we're at, how tight the budget is this year. I'm I'm wondering if there's some kind of a compromise like you take 10 grand out of the formula grant that town funds the rest. I don't know. I'll leave it at that.
Yeah, it's it's it's a tough one, right? Because Formula One grants there for certain reasons. >> We also added a lot more to our plate, right? As far as to to use that same Formula Grant, right? So, >> and so you need the help, too.
>> Yeah. Trying to find that balance is it's we're not trying to beat you up. We're not trying to beat you up. Like, we we want the services. Our seniors definitely want it. >> Prepared for this, >> right? Our seniors want it. what I was walking into. >> You know, 2400 seniors are using these programs on a yearly basis and but like
Debbiey's saying, it is, you know, we got to we got to make sure we're balanced. >> Here's my other thing then too from our side is we know we just sat up here and saying the high praises of the community programs, but do we pull some of the money from that and reduce the amount of
money that we could put towards that program? Right? Even if we get someone, they come in in a part-time basis or they're, you know, we're paying stipens out to people to do stuff, we reduce those programs, right? We say, "Okay, she was doing 10 programs. Let's reduce that down to five and then we can pull
some of that funding back to use to help offset her salary at COA." >> Yeah. >> Because at the end of the day, >> what we talked about the most was her, right, as a person and what she does. So, I want to make sure we keep her. So, it's finding out the best way to fund it. And maybe some of it is through the
Formula One, but maybe some of it is through moving over some of that funding and saying, "Okay, these these few programs we we don't think things loosen up down the road on wood." >> Does the grant even allow for us to do that? >> Yes. >> Okay. Just curious. Some grants do, some
grants don't. >> Right. Right. >> This is a different It's a different type of grant. It's just it's it's more money allocated to the town um from the state based on the number of older adults you have. And it's not a permanent. We've been lucky. We get it every year, right? But they could pull it one year. It's It's not money that's
promised. It's just money that's part of the line. >> Yeah. On principle, I don't love funding salaries through grants. It's always temporary. You just never know if it's going to be there from year to year. And I think if it's something that we just we want and we have to have, we should just fund it.
>> Jared, just to clarify that your suggestion was to potentially utilize some of the 45,000 budget from 699. >> Yes. to fund. >> So, right now, she was doing, you know, all these different lines of items and
saying, "Okay, well, maybe I mean, please no one, anyone forgive me if I'm picking against you. I'm just picking out a random one." I think of movie nights at the park, right? We just talked about that. So, that's what made me think of it. So, if we say, "Okay, that wasn't something that was really
going after, maybe we pull that back. It was a, you know, it was a big time crunch. She spent a lot of time and money on it. So, we take that away. even if we bring someone in or do a stipen for someone so that way we can take some of that salary or wages from
there to help fund her position over there. So at the end of the day we can keep the individual that we wanted. >> I mean it it sounds practical. >> Yeah. Just to be clear both of these budgets at the full amounts are in the budget that I've proposed to you. So
they're they're funded at on the omnibus >> accepted into DP for this upcoming year and it was 100% based on lottery. You could get tickets based on a couple of different things. But um so the odds of more kids going from Taton is obviously
greater because there's going to be a lot more kids entering the pool. But it's still lottery right at the end of the day. How many kids? We could end up with one kid. We could end up with 60. >> We don't know. And then that can severely skew the numbers which is scary. Right? Something we've talked a
lot about on our side like well how what do you do? Right. >> Very difficult. >> You don't know what the number is going to be. It's not like they say okay you know you're roughly you're going to get 50 kids accepted and we know roughly what that number is going to be. We don't know. So >> I believe our numbers this year were well we accepted 31 and then we're
around 90 plus right now. 91 I believe. >> So we have 96 students currently. Um I think if 31 were accepted I think 28 may have accepted that. So I think um my calculation is that there'll be 110 students going to BP next year. Um which
this is the first year that we actually have been member for four full four full years. So this is this is probably a very good picture of where we're going to be because if you remember we were sending students but we were only allowed to send 15 a year. Since we've been members we've been sending 25 to 30. So, you know, four years of that
we're at we're at the 110 number. Um, so I think that's this >> we were what 7580 going to Oak Colony if I remember. It was about >> Old Colony would only let us about 18 a year, right? So, um, and and and so this is this is a bigger commitment. It's a
bigger expense. You know, >> Yep. And that's why I've said we're right where I thought we were going to be once we we became members because we knew the budgets were going to get tight because it's expensive. Um but it's you know it's a good option for the children and that's where we're at and yet that's
what the town wanted. So here we are. >> The magic of proper budgeting surprises a little. They're still surprising but at least we're prepared for them. So what does FinCom think? What are you thinking Margaret? personally like the declining debt
service over 20 years. Can I just ask does anybody know what the exclusion yearly for the police department is? >> $500,000 we we pay >> well per so average >> per >> per household.
>> Yeah. >> No, but I will get that done because that's one of the worst. >> You think you can offset that in a couple years? Is that what you're thinking? >> Well, yeah. The PD goes off in two years. Is it close to this which would make life a little bit easier
>> because like I said we've kind of sold that story when we did VP and I didn't want to >> I know >> keep saying oh we three debt exclusions and we're off of one but if I show you then people have transparency that's what I want I just
want it to be transparent however you you want to look at it but I want everybody to have the numbers and I'll use I mean maybe I'll use a $550,000 average number you know I can ask Mike what the average although this came from our assessed values that is the average
based on our assessed values 531,000 >> from recollection I want to I want to say that it was around 136 to 146 on average >> okay >> that's what I >> I have I had one like just over a hundred in my head
>> I remember question >> yeah it's it's similar it's similar comparison to this >> um death. I'll throw one out. >> Yeah, throw it out there. Why said you said initially? >> How about my friends down the other end? What do you think about
>> No, I think you're right on the money. I think um you're buying debt over 20 years is probably the way to go. Why Why spend more than we have to spend? Make any sense? >> I like the declining debt. Are we positive the interest rate is correct on the 15? Because it did spark me as well, but I still like >> I will double check for you guys and
I'll let you know. Um, were you all interested in the 15-year >> at the sub 10 million that you know all in with interest at I mean that makes the most sense. >> Sorry, I didn't hear the beginning of the
>> Oh, this the the declining debt service. >> Yeah. >> With interest coming in under 10 million. I think that's the only option that comes in under 10 million. >> Yep. >> I love the idea of saving $1.2 $2 million in interest. >> Yeah, that's what I thought.
>> Yeah. >> And and the fluctuation isn't that big, right? When you're talking about these two, and Toby was asking more about just because of the way that it's labeled and thinking the numbers are incorrect, somewhere between 15 and 20. But if
you're looking at the 20 side by side, you're going 128 136. >> So, at the beginning, it's like, okay, yeah, paying a little bit more, but it's $8. It's not like it's that big of a number to save in the long run. It's it's foolish >> and in the end you're still paying more.
I mean >> I will reach out to um the adviser the uni bankank that uh the woman that prepared these just confirmed that the numbers um if they were wrong and it's drastically different I'll share that with you and then I can we can always
come back and revote if if it's something that's appealing. >> Okay. Yeah. It's funny. I was just looking at I have all the numbers for it except for what the cost was, but it was >> if you finally put it in chat GBT.
>> Yeah. 6.5 was the estimated finance amount. So, we're looking at 7.5. So, looks like it's on average. All right. So, it looks like the declining option debt service is the most popular one. I think it is probably
the most the best option for the residents in town, >> right? >> Um I know t things are tough for many residents. Uh but we look at you know libraries and consation like we had the director here earlier today. Uh those numbers are going up and they need more
room. Um and of course the question always is what are we going to do with that building? And of course that that's a simple answer. It's we'll turn into like a town hall annex more than likely and use it to the town's advantage as best as possible. We haven't voted on that yet. Decisions want people to think like that's 100% what's going to happen.
That's like one of one of the >> Yeah. >> the thoughts, >> you know. It's >> We'll put Cheryl over there all by herself. >> It's her own building. >> Just saying. She's the only one in the room. So, >> going to say, "Oh, really? I We hadn't had that discussion." Okay.
>> I just had to pick on her and make her way. >> That's right. >> I don't know. She got a new office. So, >> all right. So that's the what we're going to go with. Um I'll entertain motion to move forward with the declining debt service for the library
cons of Asian community building in the sum of $7.5 million >> over 20 years. >> Over 20 years. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> All right. I will entertain a motion to
um accept the 20-year declining debt service option. >> We'll make that motion. >> All right. All in favor? I >> I >> That was an I premier. John,
>> are you hear me? Hi. Sorry. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. and I'll update you if something changes. >> All right. >> Okay. >> All right. And then of course now we have number three on our agenda tonight. The impacts of the ratification of the teachers union contract. >> Not going to spend a lot of time on
this. I just wanted to sort of bring it up in the cursory conversation. We know that the school committee um approves the uh teachers contract. Um, I've given you guys the sheets that I've gotten from um, Superintendent Starky of the
proposed um, contract increase that they have disclaimers on them that, you know, they may not, you know, they're going they're being vetted at council and they're going to be ratified and signed. So, just be aware of that. Um, the raises
are substantial. They are substantial. looking, you know, anywhere from 16.8% over three years to 25% over three years. They're substantial. There's a big impact to our budget. Uh they did
provide me with some um numbers that the salaries would be roughly uh $1,50,000 this year. Next year they'd be around 931,000 due to some retirements. And then the the last year, I believe it's
$1.1 million. I've also gotten some preliminary projections because I guess they had done them for Lakeville given that Lakeville was trying to prepare a three-year override. And I I'm looking at, you know, an increase in assessment of close to where
we are at at least this year. So, our incess our assessment increased by $1.2 million and I'm presuming that it's going to be again that next year and the following year at minimum. Um, so I'm just I'm just going to let you know that as soon as we get through this budget
round and town meeting, I will be looking and I've already started, but I will be projecting the the next year budget um so that we can be prepared to do whatever we need to do um look at ways to minimize our costs and I will be diligently working on that. So we will
um and and hopefully by then we will have some more uh numbers. Of course, Lakeville's looking at an override. what happens in Lakeville will have a big impact on Freetown. If if their override doesn't pass, uh we I think the school committee is going to go back to the
drawing board with the budget and and and they might be have to have a super meeting. There'll be some, you know, things that we will we will be looking at. The school assessment that you have in your budget is is not the final assessment in the omnibus that you have that I gave to you last meeting. Um
there's always been one decrease because they had a reduction in out of uh out of district students reduced. So that was a reduction. We we also know that there's a proposal for the um chapter 70 money to go up to $150 per student. Um so Jack
has not prepared that assessment as he's waiting for final confirmation of that change. As soon as he has that, I will get that assessment and and change the omnibus. Unfortunately, timing is going to be tight um because they're not going to have those numbers until May 15th.
I'd like to finalize the budget and get it approved before then. So, I may look to see uh and project what that assessment change will be and change the budget accordingly um so that what we put forth is pretty
close to final numbers. Um I think that's really all I have. But I just wanted to let you know that that had happened and that's out there and that it's it's pretty substantial impacts to to the bud the school budget which will obviously impact our budget and our
responsibility. It clearly will be greater than a 2 and a.5% increase. Um and so we're going to be uh looking for ways to accommodate that. >> Yeah, it's a tough year. You know, all teachers, we love them. We do uh they do
so much for our children. But this isn't a an emotional discussion. This is a a financial discussion. It's about hard numbers, unfortunately. And they are town employees like everybody else, right? So, we got to look at that. Um, we have to be fair to everybody involved. And
you know, you're right. May 19th is a big day for Lakeville. If they do override and they approve it, more than likely, right, we're probably going to be there in the near future, maybe next year, right? So, that's something to think about as well. So, you know, we're keep continue working with the schools.
I know sometimes it's not the easiest part of your day, right? Um because it's a lot of moving parts, right? But at the same time, we have to be responsible to our residents, right? Um to make sure we're asking every question and making sure that we get the right answers
across the board. And I know May 15th the assessment comes in which puts it two weeks before our town meeting which is more and you know if they get it out that day it would be a miracle. More than likely it probably be a week later if not right before our election. So getting information out is going to be
tight and but unfortunately we what we don't want is we don't want to be in a position that that Lakefield's in, right? That we might be in next year and then whoever we do keep as teachers and everything else. We're just going to have the same discussion the year after and the year after and
the year after. We have a unique opportunity to make tough decisions this year, but put us in the best footing tomorrow. And I know it's tough for a lot of people to hear. I know it's an emotional roller coaster across the board. Unfortunately, our job is to make the decisions for the residents, all
9,200 plus of them. And that's our job. It's tough. I understand that and I can't apologize for it. You all volunteered to be here and got elected uh except for those that are hired um and appointed, but we have to make sure we do the right thing. And that may be
that may be tough for some people to hear. More to follow. That's going to be an ongoing discussion for next month and that unfortunately one side's doing a really good job getting information out because we're waiting on the receiving end to get that information to put it out there and
make it everybody >> real numbers on the on the impact of this. So, like I know when I was doing union negotiations, I would have spreadsheets that would list everybody out and it would show me, you know, based on what's on the on the table right now, how much it's going to cost, right? >> So, I I mean, like I said, I don't have
that, but um Jack Higgins provided me the totality of the impact, which was 1,50,000 this year. And and I'm I'm rounding, so don't hold me. >> Shouldn't we have that though? Like, you know, like shouldn't we have that? There was a negotiations committee that had
that data. >> In the school committee, they had a negotiation uh uh union negotiations committee. >> Mhm. >> I I don't think they had that. I don't think they have that data. Did you have that data? >> We didn't have that data. During negotiations, we were very we discussed many things.
>> You think they would have the data. >> You would think. Yeah. We we you know, >> well, I mean, you don't know what you're agreeing to otherwise, >> right? So you have to you have to have something that way you can plug in the numbers that says when I do this this is the result. >> Yeah. >> Right. Instead of just blindly saying
we're going to do 1% or 10% or whatever. I don't care about your percentages. Right. Like what if I have 100 people at level six and only 10 at level two right? Like how many people are going to step. >> Well after the fact >> you have all that information. >> So after the fact we got the information about 63% of the teachers that are on
staff are level step 10 or above. The remaining 30 the remaining percentages were somewhere in between you know the remaining percentages but the high majority were steps in the middle steps four to four to 7 4 to 8 and in the proposal they are eliminating steps 1 2
and three and creating step 13 14 15 which those 63% would then go into those percentages and then each p each step would also have the increase on top of that. So if you go to step 12 to 13 I believe it's a 3% maybe then the next one is 2.5 or 2.25 25 then the third is
one and a half again rounding off. So there there are those were necessarily available during discussions where it was discussed but so there's a plethora of information putting out there. Uh if full transparency both town representative which was myself and lake
representative Chris Blanca voted no on on the budget on their proposal. Um it just again we love our teachers but >> it feels like you're almost doing it backwards. Like when I was doing this like we would have our budget ahead of time. >> Yeah. >> Like this is what we have to spend
sliced up any way you want >> right instead of them coming to us with a number that we now have to make fit. That doesn't make sense to me. >> So one of the questions like last year they used END which added to the issues we have this year. END was proposed. It was a onetime payment of five and 7%
teachers and secretaries. Unfortunately, that increased the budget 5 to 7% going into this fiscal year, >> right? >> So, instead of us doing what you know, we we asked is it two years using that as the base, it was a threeyear. We even asked if we want to go to a 5year to
kind of iron these things out and get a long-term plan. Um, but you know, the the union voted the way they wanted to vote, which is again, it's it's part of the process. Uh, but here we are. So, the numbers are there. So now we have to kind of make sense of it all and discuss
it as a group. And again, as someone that, you know, I have four children and next year I'll have one kid at every single school. I get it. I I understand. I understand. But at the same time, like you said, um we have we only have x amount of dollars that we can put out
there without going to the town asking for more. And we got a tough decision to make. And if they vote yes, that puts us in a a financial predicament for next year, even this year. If they say no and we say yes or
vice versa, that creates a an issue for talk about elections. We'll have to have potentially a an additional special town meeting with both towns and and and there to discuss to move forward to back to negotiation table then come
back and then once again discuss the budget of possibly an additional town meeting. So there's a lot of there's a lot of moving parts and it's here we are but we're not the the good not the good news but the news is we're
not the only town over the years state assessments were have been used for salaries in other areas co money was used for projects such as like like laptops great great for usage for that because we we're that need but now those
laptops need replacing and updated so those cost more money >> do they So that's >> do they though need replaced? >> I I think technology is an important part of our children. So it's a hard discussion to have. That's why we have school committee. Um and they're doing they're doing their job and doing their
best to get the information out there and and getting the best stuff for our children. I I do believe that unfortunately for us like many other communities, you know, the scale is not there that it's not in their favor. Unfortunately, we it's our job to kind of make sense of
it all and ask the questions we have to ask and those are tough. >> Along the technology standpoint, I was actually surprised and shocked at the level of effort that Rich Blanchard's team puts into keeping this old stuff up and running. It it's I mean working in
IT in the corporate world, we scrap everything every 3 years. It's a three to four year life cycle for for technology. Um and the fact that they are keeping five, six, even 10 year old technology up and running with a lot of manual efforts. Impressive. >> Absolutely. And and so arguments are
there, right? And but then there's also some good news out of these things, right? Like our children are getting some good education. The unfortunate part of it again, we're in this room to discuss budgets and budgets are ugly ugly word, right? like nobody wants to really have those discussions, but we're the adults that were elected to be here
and appointed to be here. And we have to make sure we do the best for the residents that have put us here. And that might be might not be the answer that people want to hear, especially teachers and parents. There has to be a give and go. And I just want everybody
to cool heads. Feelings are important, but when it talks when we talk about budgets, the numbers have to make sense as well. And that's sometimes hard to kind of digest, but it's our job to get the information out and make sure we're all on the same page. We don't have to agree, but let's all vote on the facts.
Those don't change. No matter how we feel about it, the facts don't change. So, we have to have that discussion based on the facts. Let's all vote on the same thing. That's all I ask. >> Amen. >> So, I'll give you the numbers and the impacts that um Jack gave me. 1,37,000 for this year, which was accounted for
in the budget. >> Yep. next year was $930,000 impacts because there's going to be teacher retirements that they know about and that have been submitted and approved. And then at fiscal year 29, $1,130,000.
Um, and this in this includes the savings from the teachers that were retired in the prior year. This does not include any of lane changes. In other words, if a teacher gets a master's degree or gets 15 hours of credits, that doesn't account it's not accounted for because
they're not aware of it as of yet. So th this is not an exact number and I, you know, so I'm going to caution you. It is his projection based on what he has. I've given you the tables that I've got from them and again I put the disclaimer there. Um, but I've given them to you so
you can have a sense of what's going on. Keep in mind that every year step a step is is is being eliminated. So step one's eliminated, then year two, step two is eliminated, and year three, step three. So that's that. I don't want to get too more deeply into it. I'm sure you could go to school committee and ask them um
for more information. I just wanted to touch on it because it's a big part of our budget and it has an incredible impact into the town budget and how we move forward and and what we're able to do. I've also I think you all have the warrants, their draft at this point, but they have the articles in them, the
money articles and things that you you'll be looking at probably at your next meeting or and if you have questions, you can email Margaret or and Chip can email me. >> Um, I just want to say annual Yeah, the annual town meeting warrant article 16
is no longer necessary, >> right? Because it's a citizens petition. I can't we cannot remove it. So go to town meeting but it will be okay >> it'll be tabled before we we but because it's a citizens petition we
cannot even the citizen can't >> yeah Mike said it had to stay on >> just just to let you know conservation commission purchased it last Monday night so that's
>> got a hot with the fun the conservation commission has so it didn't >> because we did not have the money to buy that >> right >> fant all works out >> in fact the other conservation >> works the way it's supposed to know >> okay >> funding
>> we we still have money >> yeah we just don't have it so >> that's fine >> any other questions on on the omnibus budget on any budgets anything anything else you would like me to get for you or anybody >> I think I'd like to bring up a comment and I know I have a lot to learn uh
being new at this but just sitting listening and the anticipation of the school uh committee and the what what the teachers are asking is that you know I listen I'll use Charlotte as an example Emmy um two weeks ago and Mr. Matt Humber and we're going to put a lot
of effort into what the school is asking, but I also just hope in the years of me being here, we can contribute time to getting our employees of the town. And I know there's been a lot of effort in between and you talked about negotiations, but I think of how
great Cheryl is in her office every time you walk in and you talk about investing in in Emmy and we're also investing in the seniors who are important part of this town. And then Mr. Matt Cumber with his second uh third in charge leaving to Berkeley and then obviously if Eric left
which is going to be an opportunity for him where does that leave us and we're making all this effort in on infrastructure and I know that that's just that's the necessary evil to fund but how do we retain such wonderful people and be the
town that's known for doing that not necessarily comping but we also elected to to take care of our people. Well, you're elected. Well, we're we're vot I guess we're voted into some degree, but how do we how do we make that happen? And I know there has to be a forecast to
it all, but I think it's so important. I listen here and I think everybody's so smart, but us being the smart, there's got to be a way we can make it happen for these people. >> I think the the analogy I use is how do you eat an elephant? >> One bite at a time. And and I think you're right. You're absolutely right.
We've been chipping away at it, realizing that years ago and and trying to make the put our best foot forward to make sure that we retain the people that we want to keep in this town, right? We have valuable employees there. We we appreciate all their efforts. Um and we do what we can, you know, we do what we
can every year. Every year we try to add more and change things around and >> yeah, I think that I when I was hired uh almost 5 years ago, one of the goals was uh employee retainage because at that time everybody was jumping ship from Freetown. I think we've done a great job. I there's always room for improvement. Money is always going to be
an issue and it's difficult. There's a balance there. Um we're well aware that the highway uh union and there's I think there's another union that also is going to need some some adjustments. Um I will tell you that my team uh we're working
diligently. I've got to get through this where we are right now today, but we uh Nancy the planner, myself, Carl, we're working on economic development. It's it's priority for us. We're jumping all over it to see where we can bring in businesses to start bringing in other than just on the backs of the taxpayers,
which this town has done a great job at, right? We have a we have one of the lowest tax rates for residential. So, but we want to continue that so that we're not burdening the taxpayer, but we are working on economic development and you'll be seeing that action for us. We'll be looking at setting up the
committee and um start just because we've got some vacant pieces of land on the main street strip in aa and also the dumping donuts on the east free town side. There's some vacant properties over there on County Road and stuff that if we could bring in businesses there, we could start getting some more tax
dollars. So, we're we are looking at that and and and we are also open to any suggestions. So, uh collaboration is key. uh pe people have great ideas and so if you've got any whatever we're willing to to listen and and jump on
that committee or you know bring it bring it help us bring that to fruition >> and without going too deep into the weeds one of our biggest issues right with talking south Main Street was we have we don't have the infrastructure right so there was a survey done to
bring the the sewer down right the the septic line what I call septic sewer line down towards the and and then that should make it more viable for some businesses to come into some of those parcels. So that's done. Now then really the next issue would be getting funding
to put it into the road. But so those things have all been thought about because of what she's talking about trying to get that tax base up as far as paying our employees. I'm >> very big on that too. That's actually when I initially ran was one of the
platforms I said stuff about was employee retention. Right. Because >> it's true. It's cheaper to keep them than this to try and replace them and you know what you have. So, >> it's extremely detrimental to a town to lose employees because they have when I came here almost all the employees were
new. It's very hard to get um historical value. You don't know what happened. So, people say, "Oh, we did that already. Really? I wasn't here." So, thank God for Kevin Desaris who has a great history of the town and Mike McHugh, right? Because they're they're the ones I go to when I'm like, "Hey, and now Cheryl's getting there now. She's been
here quite a bit." So that's important to a town. That's extremely important so we don't keep making the same mistakes or doing the same things over and over again. And Chuck Chuck's been here a long time, too. He's he's got a lot of information, too. >> Yes. >> So, it's it's good. I just I just felt
that I need to say it. I've said just kind of soaked up. But I think that's important. That's one of the reasons I wanted to join this is it's about the people. I grew up here and it's uh it's important that we take care of the people that take care of us. >> So, It's the toughest part of our job. It
really is. Yeah, it's >> all right. Any other questions? Any public input? >> We lost most of our relevance. >> All right. We'll send those signatures. All right. Well, that said, it is uh being 900 p.m. I think we've been here
long enough, folks. I entertain the motion to adjurnn. >> Motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I will entertain motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. Second, >> Chris and Carol. All in favor of adjourning.
>> I >> I at 9:01. >> Next Wednesday. >> Next Wednesday. So, all right. I'll try to get you >> know where I am. as it's been presented to all of you.
So, it's not like I don't have the money already allocated in the budget. It's just a commitment moving forward because we know that we're entering into some tighter tighter budget lines. So, but but as of today, we can fully fund the
COA budget and fully fund the um community program budget. Hardest thing for any of us to do for a budget is to find the metrics and the back the information to back it all up. We don't have that problem here, right? The problem comes down to a strict
making sure that we don't hire you this year, then so worst case scenario, we have to lay off next year. We don't want to go into that scenario, right? We're all being cognizant of that. Making sure that we all think it's probably the greatest idea in the world, right? It's a it's the residents approve it, right?
That we know they like it, right? based on your numbers alone, but we have to make sure that when we put our best foot forward, we're not taking that foot back tomorrow, right? We don't want to do that to to you to to the residents and certainly not to the employee, right? To you sitting in the room, right? Can't avoid it. You're right there, right? So,
that's where we're we're making sure that we're that's balanced, right? That we have future growth in this department. It looks like it will. It's just that uneasiness of making sure that this balances the ominous budget is is in the right position, right? So, don't think we're picking on
>> hoping that there may not be future growth and maybe we'll just stay stable and we'll stay you know we have a lot of work to do with >> well I see >> potentially the new building and everything like that looking at future growth >> pulled in a different direction. I need somebody that can that can be there and
and answer the hard questions that can come. My team is amazing but they are not social workers. they're not socially minded when a difficult question comes in when you know Haley was here today because of a restraining order like there's so many things that just pop up
during the day and um she's the person that I turn to for those things and if she wasn't there I a lot of things would have to be cut or changed. I I'm a big proponent of less is more, right? So like want just growing programs just to say, "Hey,
look, we're doing a new program. We're going to make people happy." Well, then you end up having none of them really be good, right? So I'd rather I'd rather find out we have five programs that are working really well than 10 that are eh, you know? So, >> and they're constantly evaluated. If
something's done, unfortunately, we had to get rid of Zumba um because it wasn't working. We're bringing back Zumba with a new instructor because everybody loves her. But through Kylie, we learned about her. So, we're bringing her to the center now. So, we're constantly trying other things, but if something's not working, we're not just paying for it
and and just letting it settle. >> Well, one of one of the things when we look at the job description, more than likely, we have to put it at town meeting to be sure it's part of our, you know, part of our uh scope of employee. We've already added that we >> I digress >> because she's >> I just had to change it for the hours,
but she's Yeah, we've revised it, but she definitely we we already have the the title. Um >> yeah, we already have >> that. I knew I just didn't know if because it was going fulltime, we had to add the additional language to that. >> Okay, perfect. Well, that's that solves that issue, right? Because what what I
was going to say to that is >> whatever is on that job title, we have to make sure we stick to that scope, right? I know we I know we're especially in this world, we're very reactive. We want to help out as much as we can, but we have only finite amount of of resources, right? We can't tackle every
single thing that comes out. I would love to say yes to that. Trust me, as you know, support that, but we don't have that kind of, you know, there, especially if there's only two of you. There's only two of you. You >> We've been working. >> Quality of life is a is a real thing. >> Boundaries a lot on boundaries because it can easily um go the opposite
direction. We're both empaths and we want to help everybody. But um we've been working especially with recent cases, we've been working a lot on making sure people are coming to us and us not necessarily jumping >> to them. So it quite a bit. >> Yeah. Yeah. Protect yourselves and
protect the town and everybody and also protect them, right? You don't want to commit to something that you can't do long term. And of course, word of mouth is is big in that community. And if you do it for one, you almost feel obligated to do it for the second and third and so on. That gets tough. So just >> we're very careful.
>> Just be careful with that. >> Can I just clarify one thing? >> Absolutely. >> Right now >> out of the COA budget, Tyler's getting paid 30,500, right? >> So we're really talking just under
26,000 difference. >> Yeah, I came up with 28, but I could be I could be wrong when I did it out today. I I think it went up a little bit because of the cola. >> Okay. Um when I did it >> it is 56118, but that's at the 2%
caller, so that'll get adjusted to 1% more than what it is, but I mean I can check that looks pretty. >> Yeah, it's around it's under 30. Whatever. >> Okay. >> Slightly under 30, >> but the two part-time jobs don't qualify as a full-time in town, right? >> It does. the way she's been currently,
she's been to she's been to two she's full-time, >> even though it's split between two departments. It is considered full-time. She does have benefits. I don't know if she's using them at this point, but she's she's eligible for benefits. >> We're already paying the health insurance. >> But she's eligible. Okay.
>> So, that's that's already there. So, we are talking roughly 26 28,000 >> difference. Okay. Yeah. The only other question I have on this on this subject and we can move on from this is you have union contracts already in the COA by her going
full-time. Will that put her on any of those union contract? >> I I don't believe her position is within the union. I think I I believe I've already vetted that through town council um because of she's an outreach director. That's really not a union clerk or something that fits. It's it's
currently not in the union for sure. Um, >> so it's something that I would foresee putting in the union. >> Well, avoid trying to avoid any grievances in future and and making sure that you you're paid fairly, but also got to think about the union employees as well. So, I we can make sure
>> I I think I did that, but I I will review it. >> Yeah. If it is, it's it's part of >> I don't think >> I don't think so. I don't think so either. We have to make sure we don't move forward in one direction then realize this this does is covered by a union contract. >> Yeah. >> We don't want to go back and forth and
then ultimately that changes your pay at the end of the day then. Right. Um >> well there would be we would just what we would have to do but I'm I'm 99% sure I've already invented this is that we would have to add that position to the union contract with an MOA and we would just say this is a new line. This is the
position and this is the pay scale. So it wouldn't be like okay she's now going to be a clerk within the union and they have pay scale you know it would be its own line and it would probably be pretty you know we would we would propose it to be similar to where it's at. >> I think we had to when we created the job position.
>> Yeah I I like I said I think I've done this already I think we created she's been in this position for a year and a half now. >> Has it been that long? >> It has been that long year and a half now. She's already eight hours and I think we had to do all of this when >> Yeah. I took care of that's why she's
already on the bylaw. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, yeah. >> Swimming short covered. It just came up and I saw that on on the lines. I'm like, you know what? >> Gotta ask the question. >> I'm ready. >> I know. Thank you. Anybody else have any further questions? >> Smile. >> That's it. >> Trying. >> Yeah. We're same team. It takes a
village. Sometimes some conversations are are more pleasant than others. And >> we understand. >> Usually numbers. >> Town resident. I totally get it. >> Right. I don't have any questions, but I just like to say I mean I feel like this is a worthwhile investment. You're talking about almost a third of our population. There's clearly a need.
These are people who've worked hard, contributed their whole lives. Like I think we're time to give something back. >> I agree. >> The best >> and the best older adults. >> You know how I feel about our older adults. They're uh when I told you that first day to make it the best, I meant
>> I plan on >> piggybacking off of him. I would say I've always thought our senior center could do way better throughout it years here. So seeing this, it'll be great. >> Night and day. >> It's night and day over the last few years. Yeah, >> it is. >> Thank you.
>> And it seems like they're already accustomed um to having Kyrie around, so I think it only makes sense to continue. >> I don't know how many people wanted to come tonight. >> Oh, you should have asked me if it was open meeting. >> Oh, let me do Let me try to see what I
can do. >> Well, I need them all there for June 1st. So, make sure they're there for June 1st. >> I'm going to do my >> and June 8th. >> June 8th. >> So, add it to the calendar. >> Thank you. Thank you, Rebecca. >> Thank you, Kylie.
>> Thank you. Nice seeing you both. >> Thank you. >> All right. Who do we have next? It's our very own Tom Clerk. Come on down. >> I hear welcome back from DC is in order. >> Uh, yes. I landed at 12:30. was back at
work at 1:30. So busy busy time. >> We at Dallasos or Reagan airport today. >> Reagan. >> Reagan. >> Best one they have. >> Well, they're both great. >> No. Yeah. >> Dallas is not. >> Yeah, I know. >> Just in case. Nobody wants to go
audience. >> All right, Cheryl. Let's do >> back to follow. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Very good. >> You like metrics? No. >> Newsletters. Metrics. All right, let's get into it. So before we start um you know speaking out with the community members
>> um and also to some members who may be new may being elected for the first time this year. I think there's a little bit um I don't want to say lack of knowledge but not a full understanding of what it is that the town clerk's office is responsible for and um I'd like to take this opportunity to not only speak to
members of the finance committee and Loris Leman but to the viewers at home and the voters of town. So if you would allow me I have a brief statement. Well, hopefully I'll make it brief. I'll talk fast. >> Sure. >> Not educate you all, but educate people at home. Um, and then we can go into budget and I'll be happy to answer any
questions I can. >> So, good evening members of the finance committee, members of the board of Sluggman, town administration, and to the residents of voters of the town of Freetown who may be joining us this evening, whether here in person or watching from home. Thank you for the opportunity to present the proposed FY27 budget for the town clerk's office,
board of registars, and elections department. I would also like to take a moment to speak not only about the member about the numbers in the budget, but about the role and function of the town clerk's office itself. Many residents, especially those who may not may be new to town, have never had a reason to come to into town hall or only
interact with municipal government occasionally, may not realize the full scope of what the town clerk's office does. Often people know us only for dog licenses, marriage licenses, or perhaps voting on election day. While we are very proud to provide those important
services, the office of the town clerk is far more than that. The town clerk's office is one of the oldest and most essential offices in local government. It serves it serves as the legal recordkeeper of the municipality, the chief elections authority, the custodian
of vital records, keeper of bylaws and official actions in a primary point of contact between the residents and their local government. Quite simply, this office helps the keep keep the town functioning legally, transparently, and efficiently. The town clerk's office performs a broad range of required
governmental duties, many of which are mandated by the Massachusetts general laws. Under elections and democracy, I'm the chief elections official for all local, state, and federal elections. um administration of town elections, special elections as we're going to go see on June 8th, state primaries and
state elections, ballot preparation, vendor coordination, testing of tabulators, polling place operations, and certification of results, early voting, vote by mail, absentee voting, military overseas, voting compliance, pole worker hiring, scheduling, payroll
coordination, and of course, mandatory training, campaign finance filings, and candidate nomination paperwork for both local, state, and federal candidates, as well as petitions for proposed ballot questions as Massachusetts will get the opportunity to vote on in November, enforcement of election laws and polling
place procedures, town meetings, maintenance of voter roles and and street lists, processing new voter registrations, address changes, removal and inactive voter maintenance, which is a daily compliance with state voter registration systems and deadlines, board of registar support and hearings.
I'm also the custodian of birth, death, and marriage records, issuance of certified vital records to the public, attorneys, genealogologists, and state agencies, amendments, corrections, delayed filings, and state reporting compliance.
Under licensing and permits, we have the annual dog licensing program and enforcement coordination, business certificates, DBA filings, raffle and bizarre permits, notary and justice of the peace services where they're applicable, and the annual flammable tank registrations under town government
operations are required legal posting meetings of notices and warrants, custodian of town meeting records and election archives, keeper of the official bylaws, accepted votes, and municipal records, custodian of the town seal, Ults of office for elected and appointed officials. Maintaining
appointments, resignations and vacancies, planning board decisions and records. Special permit filings and decisions. Site plan review records. Street acceptance records. Zoning board of appeals applications.
Chief master public records clerk. Uh public records requests and record access compliance. Daily resident assistance by phone, email, walk-in and mail. research requests from examiners, attorneys, surveyors, and residents. Coordination with state agencies,
courts, funeral homes, and other municipalities. The town clerk's office works directly and routinely with numerous state and regional agencies, ensuring legal compliance, reporting and municipal operations, including the Massachusetts
Secretary of Commonwealth, the Elections Division, Corporations and Commissions Division, the Governor's Council, Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Office of the Attorney General under the Municipal Law Unit, and Open um Division of Open Government, Division of Local
Mandates through the State Auditor's Office, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics and the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission. Florida District Court, the Massachusetts Medical Examiner's Office, other municipalities, state departments,
and regional agencies as needed. Historical preservation, preservation of permanent and historic municipal records dating back generations to the 1700s. Actually, 1683 is the first record we have and then jumps to 1686.
ensuring retention, accessibility, and lawful storage of irreplaceable town documents, which you the board of sub will probably see me very soon on that topic. Um, our office operates on two separate computer systems due to security and state requirements. One computer is
dedicated to state elections and voter systems, including voter registration, elections management, and state records platforms. And the second is the town issued network computer for all other business. The town clerk's office is a year-round operational department with statutory
deadlines that do not pause. This budget supports accurate and secure elections, legal compliance with state mandates, daily resident services, preservation of public records, efficient municipal operations, technology maintenance, which is a big one, which you'll see in
a little bit, and then uh staffing support to meet public demand. The cost of elections administration alone has increased substantially in the state of Massachusetts due to expanded mandates such as vote by mail, early voting,
equipment program, postage, and staffing requirements. At the same time, residents rightly expect prompt, professional, and accessible service. I remain committed to managing this office responsibly by maximizing staff
productivity cross trainining for continuity using technology where practical and most of you who have been with us for a long time have know that the town clerk's office has stepped leaps and bounds in technology for efficient for efficiency.
um hoping to seek outside funding where available, but that's quite limited. And then improving systems and workflows and maintaining transparency and professionalism. For many residents, the town clerk's office may be the first office they
interact with when moving here, registering to vote, starting a business, obtaining records, licensing a dog, researching property history, or participating in democracy. It is also the office the residents turn to during some of life's most meaningful moments.
Whether celebrating the happiest occasions such as marriages and the birth of a child or during some of the most difficult times, including the loss of a loved one. For others, it may be an office they never physically enter, but they still rely on work we do every day behind the
scenes to ensure their town government is functioning properly. The town clerk's office is not simply a counter at town hall. It is the legal recordkeeper, election authority, information center, and institutional memory for the town of Freetown. I
respectfully ask for favorable consideration of the proposed budget, and I thank you for your time and continued support. And at this time, I'd be happy to answer any questions. >> You sound busy. >> So, unless you unless you're coming in for something specifically, you don't
realize what it is that we we do. Well, one of the things I didn't hear in your your statement is that you're also a town employee. All right. Keep always keep that in mind. You're a town employee. So, we got to answer ask questions, right? So, this year Absolutely. Yeah. And you're Listen, we know you're busy and I'm sure there are things you wrote on there that you left
out because >> only so much time and paper to put it all together fast. >> Yeah. And we completely understand, but when you look at the budgets, you're asking for 7% this year, right? And looking from 2023 till now, that's only a $20,000 jump. >> Okay. >> Right. I don't mean to interrupt, but
did you want to go over the easier ones first or did you want to jump in right to >> No, it's the first one on there. Might as well get >> usually we past years, we've always done it last, but that's okay. Let me just get myself ready if you don't mind. >> Yeah. Yeah, go for it. Uh it's it's the first one on my list, so might as well go up and down. Um I'm not here to beat you up. I'm just
>> No, no. The and I and I and I want honest conversation and it's you don't know what we don't know >> unless we have that conversation. >> Sorry. 161. Sorry. 161. So the the glaring one right away is that the first one circled right 85250 and and I know looking at like we've done to other
employees we look at comparison with other town clerks and everything else right and as a town clerk you don't get the same stipens and and other benefits that some employees do right and and I can see probably one of the reasons why you're asking for more Gabriel's got
what 3% we're looking at may possibly going 4% for all the other town employees that we discussed last week. No, we're looking at two possibly three. >> Two possibly three. Thank you. >> Say sorry. >> I take it all back. Correct. So correct. So when you look at seven other other
employees might go, hey, how is she getting that? And you look at 2023 till now it's nearly 20,000. Right. >> Any thought? Right. Maybe it's from this board is do we instead of make having you elected, we have you as an appointed as a town clerk. That to me makes sense as far as getting you the stipens you
deserve, getting you the proper compensation like other employees do and it increases like everybody else versus you asking for 7% and then what if everyone says no, right? This way I think I don't know I I'm just thinking loud looking at read thinking about your
statement reading what you what you wrote on your credentials mock standard. It's like is being appointed something that makes more sense than being elected? you'd have to go through the elections every three years, then you would get some of this compensation for stipens and everything else. Does that make sense?
>> So, I'm just asking the question. >> That's so there's pros and cons to everything. I'm going to be quite quite honest and quite frank. >> Yeah. >> The role of town clerk being elected, your first issue is going to be asking the voters to do as such. requesting
voters to lose their ability to make a choice and an option is not is something usually that doesn't happen. They were that was brought to the voters in the town meeting in 20 2019
>> um or 2020 I believe it was 2020. It was the outside meeting that we had at a ponoquit. Um, and voters obviously overwhelmingly voted against that. Selfishly, speaking selfishly, if it's for me, yeah, that sounds great. Great. I'll be
lined up with everybody else. But to me, it's the position. >> It's the position. It's the transparency. It's you have the town clerk beholden to an appointed authority. The town clerk is the hub.
of town government. It's where voters and many of you know because many of you come to my office. When you have a concern, when you have a thought, you go to the town clerk to provide some direction as to what their options are going to
be. Now, if you have a town clerk who is beholden to their appointing authority, for example, let's say town residents have an issue with someone something that a selectman does.
As a town clerk who is appointed by the board of selectmen, I would think that town clerk would possibly be reluctant to serve their master, their appointing authority rather than serving the public. To me, I would love to be
appointed. Give me that sip and give me that money. It's the role. No matter who is in the role, it's the role. And I think voters knowing what it is that the town clerk does and the role of that office, I'm beholden to them. If I'm not
doing my job, if I'm not making a fair enough wage, it's their opportunity rather than a board of three or a board of six or a board of five, whatever it may be. So, speaking honestly and frankly with you, yes, I would love to make more money. >> I would love to have the stipens. I
would love to have the extra benefits. It's not easy having to come before the boards and explain your position, explain your role, and having to ask for money. Um, but if you have I I have the utmost respect for the job and for the
voters, I think leaving it up to the voters for this position would be the best thing. >> Just a few question. If that's the case, then then why aren't more >> town clerks elected? >> It was. It's a very rare thing. I've,
you know, as far as I know, you might be the only one. >> And so if that's the case, why isn't that why isn't it more prevalent? >> So, so elected clerks versus appointed clerks, the seesaw has swayed. And for that reason, exactly. >> Okay.
>> So, the trend used to be 7030 for the elected. It's now the other way. I do have I do the the comparison analysis for the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association yearly. I've been doing it since I took over um as town clerk just to see the comparisons. The
concern here is for many many years there's been a huge gap and it's always kind of playing catch-up catchup not only for the role compared to other town clerks appointed or elected and I have all of those breakouts for you. Um it's just my predecessor started really low.
So it's been it's been a constant trying to catch up. Um you know and just for that reason, John, it's it's a difficult time. Everyone's stretching their dollars. Um everything
is much more expensive. And for town clerks to go appointed, it's a guarantee. It's a contract. Fair. They contract it when they're appointed. Is it a contract? >> Yes. Most of them are. Yeah. Yeah. >> So that you can negotiate
>> by employees are contracts, but it's um it's regulated by them the statute, >> right? So by going by going appointed, it's a guarantee for them. >> If you're elected, it it's much more difficult. You're at the will of the voters for your pay, for your job security. If you're if you're under
contract >> too three years the same thing I >> think under MGL the the types of positions that can have a contract is very limited and I don't think town clerk is one of them >> having park in it that's what I was asking because >> the yeah the >> treasurer accountant
>> I think assessor >> that's why they go and they opt to become appointed because they they get a contract which tends to have more benefits >> I think you can go to the you can go to the legislature and get special legislation to add like to add like I think actually the assessor has to be a
special legislation so you can you can change it but the statutory ones I believe are the accountant the town administrator the treasurer >> no >> but I was just want I was just curious because you said that >> it's we talk about it all the time and it's pros and cons right so >> personally for me personally for me yeah
but >> like we're not your masters right so >> no I know that terminology >> but I know I know it's just one of those things that like I'm looking at it as as you as an employee And in my head, I'm going you would be you'd benefit more as a town employee
versus an elected official, right? And I understand the whole want to be transparent and want to be independent. We support that 100%. And I understand that our board might change someday and we might not have that and that, you know, maybe creates some, you know, some some turbulence in in in our in in the
way we think. I'm just thinking about you long term, right? >> And I appreciate that. No, and I and I appreciate that and I knew exactly where you were coming from, but that's why I said it had to be give you both sides of >> Oh, sure. No, I I love it. The other thing I keep going back, what did she just say? The voters overwhelmingly supported keeping her as an elected
official, right? So, >> both positions, >> both positions at the time, doing the highway surveyor. So, >> so, so that's what I mean, right? Like if they the voters want that's, you know, we work for them. Oh, absolutely. So, and I know you know that. I'm just saying it out loud. So it's that's one
of the other parts of it. So >> yeah, again it's both sid and I appreciate the open dialogue and it's >> and it's good for voters at home and and people at home to see >> right and that's that's one of the things I like doing is when I ask the question it's not just for me and people in the room we already made that people
listening in be one or 100 they may have the same question is like why is she why is she asking for this when other people are getting that and I want to be able to answer that question right >> I think one of the other challenges around town clerk I think that's one of the few roles in town because it's
elected that you're actually required to live in the town. Correct. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> So that you couldn't move to Fall River and cut your expenses in half. And so I think that's one of the the unique challenges to that role. >> So even though it's elected, is there anything that's stopping us from from
offering a stipen? Maybe that can help get the dollars up without >> Well, there's a statement in there already. So if you go down if you go down a couple, you go down to like the educational career incentive stipen, you know. So there are certain stipens already built into it like instate travel. Not really a stipen but things that that are kind of part of the job
that we support and and fund, right? >> Thinking like maybe there's something we can do there versus like at least then we can get you get your earnings up a little bit but slow the growth, right? So that the percentage isn't as high from year to year. You know, maybe there's something that could be done in there.
>> So Massachusetts general law, it was um an MGL that the town accepted years ago. if you get your state certification, um, which I have, >> I'm one of 123 out of 351 communities in Massachusetts that hold that. Um,
there's a stipen built in for that. Um, speaking of certifications, I've got the um, certified municipal clerk certification and then I also have my masters. I'm one of 28 in the state of Massachusetts that holds my master's
certification. Um, I'm one of 123 that hold my state certification. >> Awesome. >> I've got I've got comps for you if you want to have an open discussion. I have by county. So, uh, you know, appointed and elected. I have by surrounding towns when we'd like to compare apples for
apples. I've got that and I've got um comps for all three certifications. So, if anyone has any questions about that, if you want me to read some things off, I can certainly >> I'd like to see You don't have to read them all if you don't. I just want to say something too about especially about the appointed thing. I would definitely be against that and I'm looking there's
over 200 still 232 clerks that are still elected and I think that's a great idea because if you have a town that ends up with a board like she said that or any board for that matter or I guess the select board the town clerk wouldn't do their job
correctly. >> Oh yeah. But being independently elected, again, being in town, caring more about the town, the same way that I think we all feel the same of keeping the highway surveyor the same way. I like that idea. I also looked up and I think you have those numbers next, but I
looked up the average pay of a town clerk and there's room there. And another thing is if we, >> you know, put it through today, it's up to the town's people to vote for it. They can call it out at the town meeting
and I rather put it in the town's hand, the people's hands who elected her to say yes or no to to her raise. >> No disagreement there. All right. >> And that's why I took the opportunity to speak on this a little bit because obviously at town meeting I'd have to recuse myself of taking the minutes then go down and speak. So hopefully by this
it will be a little bit pre-education. Yeah. >> I guess. >> Yeah. Like no disagreement there. The question here is we're in the finance committee meeting >> discussing finances, right? and finances are our discussion. Your your work is invaluable. I I we can attest to that.
It's just again you look at the percentage and you look at over the years got to ask the question. We're we're here to discuss it. I'm not here to chew on you on it any in any way. Um I'm having open discussion with someone that I've known for many years, right? And I just maybe other people want to
know as well. Um that's all. Go ahead. >> Thank you. >> A question and a comment. I know you were getting the thousand dollar stipen for that certification. Where did the other thousand come from? >> So, uh, when we sat with Deb, we had
talked about there were other um I had previously gotten an election stipen for every um election. There's nothing in the mass state statutes that Yep. that um >> prohibits that or states you can get that. >> So, some clerks some clerks get it and
some clerks don't. So um and then we talked about having the MA my master's certification >> and being one of 28 in the state. So we discussed that might be a little bit of a a factor. So the MGL covers a thousand and then the other thousand is
>> kind of like in of kind of >> that'll kind of help kind of close the gap right that was zeroed out. All right. And then another statement that I just want to make public. How many years have you wor have you worked for the town? >> 13 years total
>> and you get no longevity. >> That is correct. >> What else? >> Correct. >> I just want to throw that out there. >> I also don't my idea of the appointed commitment to play because you don't get you don't get that stuff. Well, we do ag I I think there's a lot that are on
Cheryl's side as far as the elected, but >> there there are quite a few benefits that I'm not um eligible for. >> Um like the the health insurance, that's a $20,000 cost minimum. Um I have the figures on that >> anytime.
>> I could get that at any time. Correct. Um but I don't I don't currently take advantage of that. I currently um don't get the health insurance stipen well waiver stipened either. Okay. >> So, that's not something I'm eligible for. Um, other town clerks, they do get
a longevity. It's it's basically town to town. Um, and I've got the comps for all elected so that we're we're comparing apples for apples for anyone who's interested. >> No, I just wanted to get that. >> Yep. No, thank you. I appreciate the question. >> Any other questions on this one?
>> All right, let's move on to 162. Primaries and elections. Oh. >> Oh, yeah. Never mind. >> Do you have anything else for us? >> Never mind. >> Sure. >> All right. >> All right.
All right. All right. >> So, election work with this. Are there more workers? >> Is that the more election? >> There's more elections. >> Is it the more election? >> How many? >> So, this go
>> I just got another one thrown at me. Um, >> so this is So, this Yeah. So this is the budget. This is the budget that fluctuates. For those of you who don't know, it fluctuates cuz some years we could have just one election, an annual town election, or in years like this where we have three. So guaranteed
starting FY27 July 1st, we've got the September primaries. We've got the November state elections, which might be a three-page ballot for all of those who are listening because we have 12 questions in front of the attorney general's office. Mhm.
>> Um and then we have the annual town election the following April. However, we noticed we weren't budgeted for a special town election which we'll be having this fiscal year. So things like that always pop up. And then if we have a state senator who passes away, then the state would require a special a special election because that seat can't
be empty. So this is the one that kind of fluctuates. >> Obviously, um you know, you have to train your pole workers. Um, I just did a training here in this room. Actually, I I do my required training every year. Every other year, I bring the state down so they understand that it's state rules
and regulations. These aren't several rules or town clerk rules. Um, this year I set up this room as a mock election, which my election workers really liked. Um, so that they're ready to go cuz sometimes it's a whole year before they're, you know, in another, you know, working in another election. Uh, it
tends to be sometimes older folks who have the availability during the to work elections. Um, postage postage is going to increase with that three-page ballot post. I finally got a call back from the postal office about the rate rate increase. Is
that going to go up July 12th? Um, so think about postage to do vote by mail, which is mandatory with the votes act of 2022. So, probably a lot of you have seen my posts on Facebook about me going to Washington DC. Um we're fighting for federal funding to get directed to the
local communities because the local um tax town budgets can't sustain all of these unfunded mandates. So any money that trickles in usually from the feds will get stuck at the state level and it's not getting siphoned out to the local communities where where it's
needed. Um, for the state primary in September, that will be September 1st, a whole week before, we'll have inperson early voting, which is mandatory for one week. That'll be here for the November election, 2 weeks of mandatory inperson
early voting. It's all adds up. And then it's, you know, back in the day when it used to be one election day, we're doing 21 days of elections. You still have to do the same work in, the same work out. You have to balance. You have to account for every ballot, every vote. the track by mail, you know, track my bailout
ballot, where is it in the mail system? That all comes from our department. So, you've seen, you know, the department was running with two people for a long time, but it has changed significantly in the past 8 to 10 years. And then with the votes act of votes act of 2022,
which you'll hear me reference all the time, but it really is um detrimental to the budgets and the staffing at the local level. I don't know if there's any other questions. Um, programming went up a little bit, so we've got all
that nice technology, but um, a lot of those costs have gone up for maintenance from those vendors. >> Are those going to be ready to go for June 1st? >> Separate >> separate things. Okay. >> Separate things. Yeah. Actually, I um I reached out to the town of Somerset
because I'm anticipating a large crowd. So, I want to see if they can borrow if we can borrow theirs. Um, I had our clickers numbered 500 to a,000 specifically so that we leave numbers 1 to 5 499 open so that in case we need to borrow it from someone else.
>> Good. >> We don't have to re number everything. But yeah, I'm in the works with that that town there to try to see if they say no, then I'll reach out to the next person because that's going to be a big big question once um people start paying attention, know what's going on and and that ballot that
ballot's already ready to go. I approve the ballot sample today. >> Good, good, good. >> I'm sorry. >> Are the clickers in your budget or is that another budget? >> So, the clickers are in my budget. Uh we did move
Oh, let me find it. We did move one. >> The clickers are in my budget. So, four elections, >> the pull pad programming, the tabulator programming, um the ballot printing.
Is that under other purchase service or >> yes on the under purchase service? So poll programming that's 300 um per election times three. So that's 900 and then obviously uh 300 for each town meeting at least two.
Um that's an additional 600. Um the tabulated programming that's $1,400 times three elections a year that's 4,200. Um, ballot printing is about $1,500 per election. And then, keep in mind, I'm very conservative, too, to try
to save money. We have um $7,600 and change registered voters. Obviously, that changes daily. Um, but for each election, we're supposed to have three ballots per voter because they have the opportunity to make two errors and vote on three ballots. The first two get
spoiled. Then for the primaries, you have folks who are registered in parties for Democrat and Republican get their own ballot. Then you have 75% of the voters in town are unenrolled. >> So they can choose their ballot. And we don't know until they choose their ballot. And that's this is a good year because we're down to two political
parties. There are years that we have four. We have the Green Rainbow that comes on and off and we also have the Libertarian Party that comes on and off. So, it's it's there's a lot that goes into it and it's it's always, you know, you you try to save where you can and but then you always run that risk and it's,
>> you know, it's hard palpitations. >> It's very nerve-wracking >> cuz you could think, oh, the same thing happened with tummy. What I thought was, oh, this is going to be an easy one. We don't need to pack 500. Well, just pack the 250. Well, I needed 16 more. So, now it's like, you know what? I'm not even
because it takes a lot of time in the office. We got to go through all of those. We got to make sure all the batteries are out of the car. It is a lot that goes into it. It's not just simply, oh, just bring the the case with us and I'm lazy and I don't want to carry that heavy stuff. It's like, >> you know, we still have >> the office work to do. So, there's a lot that goes into it. It's so when you see
us kind of going crazy and pulling our hair out >> and and it's a lot of things. It's like last minute, right? Like you can only do so much. >> I wanted to make sure it was on your radar cuz right the last one we did then the one before that there was uh what was it? >> It wasn't it wasn't it wasn't connecting. It connected in the
beginning and then we lost it after the first two questions. >> The Red Sox question >> and of course they didn't make it and they won anyways. No, I just want to make sure it was on your show. >> So, just to just to let you know, so what we've done is um um I purchased a separate um
uh laptop. Sorry, I lost my train of thought there for a second. So that I'm not running dual computers and I've kind of shifted the responsibilities a little bit so that we've got Tim working that part of it behind me. I'm concentrating on minutes and having my paperwork done and then Betty is is the guard
>> making sure that people So, we're trying to make make changes and and make shifts to make sure that it works. It's it was it was quite embarrassing. Believe me, I was not happy with myself. I feel like I let myself down, let my team down, let the town down. It was quite embarrassing and I accept full responsibility for
that. But unfortunately, I can't change it and I know better for next time and I'm already jumping on Somerset. if you help us over. >> And that's why and that's why it's good to have relationships with other town clerks and other vendor in other towns as well. You know, hoping that if we have the opportunity to return the favor
that the town will be kind enough to do so. >> Thank you for keeping that on your radar because you're right. I think we might see some higher numbers this year and having those extra extra clickers working and present >> is is exactly what we want to hear. So, good job.
>> And technology is technology, Cheryl. We know sometimes it doesn't work the way we want it to. >> Um I I don't know if you saw the the slight increase for the um clerks and wardens.
I don't know if we wanted to >> why >> the clerks and wardens the um election clerks and wardens >> on page 54. >> Um it's part of the it's part of the 162 budget. >> Okay. So, I I mapped it all out, the labor worksheet, but I did want to call your
attention to it. So, currently, um, we have the wardens who oversee each precinct and the clerks. Those are the people that are sitting in the middle station. So, if you don't answer your census or there's an issue with you on the voting list, you kind of get deferred to those folks. They're also the ones that are uh statutoily required to keep record of everything that
happens during an election, good or bad. And then also the counts at the end of the night. So, right now there was only a dollar differential um from the actual teller inspectors, which are the people who just check in, the people at the ballot box. Um, and I I'll keep those I
wanted to keep those folks where they are, but I wanted to increase the wardens um to 18 and their clerks to 17 cuz right now it was 15, then 1550 for the clerk and then 16 for the warden.
And due to the job responsibilities and roles and obviously the scrutiny under elections, this is a lot of work. Those those wardens and clerks are there just as long as I am. You know, there's no sleep on election day. Doesn't matter if it's a local or if it's a it's a state or federal election. The responsibilities are still the same. And we want to make sure that we have fair
and and um free elections. >> So, it's a lot of responsibility on those folks. when you know at the end of the night um we used to have everybody stay and then with the help of um the highway department helping me set up and and take down and then with the new um
ballot booths too that you guys saw at the past local election um it's easier to kind of just put all of that away and get those you know regular clerks tell clerks out the door as soon as the numbers match good we we've accounted for every ballot now it's going through
and making sure all those writeins as we witnessed in the annual town election, all those Mickey Mouse, Superman, Easter Bunny votes, Jesus, anybody but we still have to go through all of those. >> So, yep, we have all of those. So, those of you who have obviously everybody's
mostly everybody um has been through town election, you know how I enjoy writing >> to be voted on by selectman anyway as a separate for an increase. Are you successful in finding the help you need or have you struggled throughout the years?
>> So, it fluctuates. So, we used to have it's changed. We've brought on technology um due to it, you know, it tended to be an older population that would would be pole workers or wanted to be pole workers. So, they were kind of afraid of the technology, but we've
eased them into it. So, we lost a few. Um but everybody loves it. Everybody loves it and it's um We have about 33 election workers, but that also falls down to what schedules they can work >> where I don't like to keep an election work no matter what type of election is.
If it's a half day, a local or a state or federal, I don't want the same people working all day cuz I know at hour 16, my eyes are going crisscross and I want to give everybody ample opportunity to work, right? So, and be accustomed because there could be sometimes a whole year that an election worker might not
be called. Um, but is it hard finding election workers? Yes and no. So, for this upcoming election that we'll have on June 8th, obviously it's a it's a dead exclusion question for Council on Aging Library um building, we have many
folks who sit on the COA/ library community building committee. To me, that is a conflict of interest. So, my election workers sign off on an election worker policy that um if they feel strongly as a proponent or an opponent
of a ballot question or um or if they related um to a candidate on the ballot, I ask that they sit out >> so that there isn't an appearance. Right? So this election I'm squeezed tight because as we all know if you if
you're interested in being a pole worker, if you're interested on serving on a border or town company, it's usually the same faces that we see, right? Those are the people who are interested. Those are the people that we have time. >> So yeah, I'm I'm struggling with this one. >> Um just because so many people uh so
many of my co-workers know that they don't want anything to go wrong or give an appearance of a conflict and have any issues. They want it to either go one way or no way or whichever way, but be fair. So, and usually with the federal election, you'll see a lot more people
interested when it's the uh presidential election every four years, just like the people who don't answer a census and come out to vote every four years and have to do all that additional paperwork. Yeah. >> And those provisional ballots. >> Yeah. We have that discussion and next. >> Yeah. Don't get me started on elections.
That's like my my favorite. That's, you know, >> good and bad. >> Absolutely. Any other questions for 162? All right, let's move on to 163. Registration. Uh, all right. Let's see.
Kind of looks part-time salaries up a little bit. See, registars printing, not surprising. >> So, registars printing. So, the census costs us about $3,600 a year.
confirmation cards are about 1350. Um, and then the street list, which is the book that we're mandated to have, that's about 1230. I got to tell you, I I got to invest in trees because I keep hearing that paper keeps going up and up and up. I don't know if that's true in other departments, but all my vendors
keep saying the same thing. And then, um, registars, postage. So, every voter who registers, all the, you've heard me say it before, everybody goes to the DMV, you're automatically registered to vote if you're a US citizen. And some people call and say, "Well, I didn't register to vote." You well, you did
something either at the registry of own vehicles or you um had interaction with um a state agency such as like Mass Health or Department of Transitional Assistance, um Social Security, anything like that. Um so, that's a lot of mailing, that's a lot of voter education. Um, for the folks who don't
return their census and are registered voters of town, the state requires us to send confirmation cards with prepastage return postage. So, I have to send them a postcard which already all went out saying, "Hey, you didn't answer the 2026
census. Do you still live in town? Do you still want to vote here or did you move? >> Please fill out this card. And by the way, we've paid the postage for you." And there's no way around that. There's no way around that. And we we're constantly it's daily scrubbing of that voter maintenance list trying you know
and I'm calling folks if I've got a phone number or an email um you know just try to get information and get that and a lot of times you know with a census we have to mail it to every single household they may move to Florida so now I'm holding on that because they're you know they're a um
snowbird >> or um someone may have moved or um you know a person within that household may have moved that can't get forwarded. Now it's I'm getting it back. I'm splitting it out. >> I want to know whose bright decision it was to incentivize people to not do it
because you're saying initially you you have to pay the stamp, but then if you wait and don't do it, then it's coming to you for billy any money, but it just seems >> well and right. >> Town clerk's office used to send out a
second census reminder, a second census mailing. I cut that because you know we've put it online work with the schools because that that kindergarten registration list Carrie you may know the schools come after us and ask for a list you know um I didn't do I don't do
the second census it's not required if it's not requ as you know most board of selectman and town administration knows I try to back up everything with an MGL site an MGL because we're trying to do everything under the letter of the law and if it I'm not required to do it and I don't have to spend additional funds
I'm not going to. >> Well, we appreciate that. Keeps us on the lottery. >> No. Well, it's it's everybody's it's everybody's pocket that's here, >> right? We're all taxpayers. We're all living in town. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't have any questions on 163.
If anybody else has any questions, Cheryl, thank you for answering our questions. Um, thank you for in case anybody had any questions, we answer them. Thank you. And I do appreciate what you do. >> Thank you. >> I know it's a tough job. Sometimes it's >> it's not always easy, but there are good days and it's but it's rewarding at the
end of it. But um again, I'm always an open book if anyone wants to see anything else, see any comps. I know we're kind of limited here, but if you've got any questions, email, phone call. >> They might want to give me those and I'll scan them and send them off to the chair of the fin so they have them for their meetings.
>> Um Okay. I just happen to wrote Okay. All right. Because I wrote on my little note on these see my scribbles. >> No, just send them to me and I'll send them to Mara. I weren't sure get him to the >> Thank you, Cheryl. You're welcome. >> Thank you, Cheryl. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Clark.
>> Um, all right. Number two, discussion and vote on which possible debt exclusion, level debt service, or declining debt service option to utilize for the library conservation community building in the sum of $7,500,000. So, you're all aware that we're bringing
forth um the proposal for building a new COA um library community building. Um and unfortunately, the cost uh was higher than what we anticipated.
So, we we do have it's 26 I I rounded it up to make sure that we were safe. The actual budgeted cost was 26,137,000. But when you see the warrant article, which you should have gotten copies of the warrants, I rounded it to $26,500,000.
And I did that because if we go through the whole process, which will uh if it gets approved at town meeting and then the ballot question gets approved, then we go through a year of um designing this building and then it goes out to bid and if it comes in a dollar more than 26,137,000,
it's dead in the water or we have to go back to town meeting at that point. So I I I just gave a little bit of um contingency money just to protect us uh from that happening. So um 26,500,000.
The proposal is uh the grant is almost 10 million. It's 9 million uh it's 9,675,000 say. Um, we're proposing to use $6 million of capital stabilization funding
and $3 million in the overlay surplus account. Um, so that leaves a balance of $7,500,000 roughly. Um, if we don't need to borrow at all, we won't. Obviously, if if a bid comes in lower, we will borrow less
money. So, I asked uh our um advisor to give me the numbers of what it would what it would look like at a 20-year. I also asked for a 15-year. So, you have those. You should have those all. You got them. Did you find them? I I I I left them on
your um table that filled them like this. They were on either the features contracts. So, you you should open them. >> Oh, >> yes. Does everybody have them? >> Yes. So the front page is borrowing $7.5 million over 20 years. The left side is
a level debt service and the right side is declining debt service. So the level debt service just projects that the cost to the taxpayer will stay level over the 20 years. So if you see the far right column, it says impact on the average
household of average value of a house $531,517. It would cost the taxpayers roughly $128 a year. The right one, declining debt service. I prefer this because if you look at the bottom line, the cost of the interest, it's almost it's a it's more
than a million dollars cheaper. And yes, the first few years is more than 128, but it quickly drops down and it starts at 136. So, it's really only $8 more and then it after uh you know 5 years it's it it's less than 128 and it continues
to go down. But the overall cost of the town is much it's it's $1.2 million less. So that's the one that I think is the best for the town. But yeah, but just to give you more context, I did do it over 15 years. And I will tell you, I
had originally done it over 30 years, but what essence is we're going to sell a a bond. The town's going to uh sell a bond to get the money. And the adviser is saying a 30-year bond is harder to harder to sell at this point. They prefer the 20 years and of course I've
shown you the 15-year it would raise the either the level debt at to 158 per resident or 193 the declining. So I thought a safer one was the 20-year you know the building's going to be it's like a mortgage right the building's going to be around for 20 years if not
longer clearly hopefully much longer. Um, but I I didn't want Obviously, we've got the two boards here that are most important in terms of recommendations. So, I thought it would be good good timing because we've moving forward with the ballot question as you heard um
Cheryl tell you on June 8th. So, when you have to borrow as a town, you have to get both town meeting vote and a ballot question vote and you have to get them both in the affirmative. Sometimes you can if you if one is a negative and one is a positive, you can go back for a
revo, but we don't have enough time because we have to be um we have to accept the grant by June 30th. So, we have to have our approvals in place. So, unfortunately, we have to get a win-win on both to move forward. So, I'm ready to move forward with ballot questions
and uh warrant articles, but I want to um get a vote from these two boards um that that that you would want to move forward with with the clienting debt service so we can make sure that we're transparent to the taxpayers of what it's going to cost them. >> No, I agree with you, Debbie. We we've
done everything we could to not increase taxes of any kind. Luckily for us, we were able to get that nearly $10 million in grant money. And because of that grant money, the building's a little bit bigger than we expected. Right? Because of that, here's where where we fall as far as taxation and levies. Um, and I
agree with you. I think the declining debt service is the best option we have in front of us. >> Absolutely. The the one thing I'm going to ask, Deb, and maybe I'm misreading this. The interest is actually more interest on the 15year versus the 20. >> I know. I saw that today and I'm like,
>> that's a little puzzling. I was looking at this. I didn't I mean I didn't prepare these and I just actually tonight when I was doing it I'm like wow that's that's odd. Um, >> but I still think the off of mind for people today is dollars,
right? And not that it always isn't for all of us in this room. We all love numbers, right? That's why I was sitting at these tables of the reasons, right? But, um, I think that spreading it out over 20 years will make it more palatable to the person, especially in today's
world where everyone's kind of scared to spend money. So, um, >> I agree. And it's 136 a year at the highest amount right per year >> average right based on the household median income. Oh, not the house not median income but the value >> value of your house 53.
>> So >> which is is a fair number I think when you when you look at just the value of the house. I think that's a fair number. Um and not and not necessarily market value but assessed value right. So I think that's fair. I think if you guys look at your tax bills that's probably a fair number. Um, I will also, if that's
the way that the boards would like to go, I will be preparing um a spreadsheet for us soon that will show uh the debt exclusion of this plus the debt exclusion of the PD and the debt exclusion of BP. So, you can all see how
they will impact your taxes. We already obviously have a debt exclusion on the PD that drops off in 2029. We have the debt exclusion from BP that's doesn't drop off forever. And then we will add this one and I will show the impacts to the taxpayers so that they can see what
the impact is currently and what it would be with this additional thing. Um, in full transparency, when we did the BP debt exclusion, we said, well, the debt exclusion for the PD is going to drop off, so it they're going to wash each other. And I'm not going to say that again publicly because it's not
transparent, right? We've already said that about BP and the PD. So, I want to just show a spreadsheet so we're 100% transparent of what this looks like. Yes, the PD is going to drop off, but you we you have BP that's there and that's continuing to go up. Um, and unfortunately, that's almost a moving
target because the more students we have going to BP, the more of the bond that we pay. So, I can't tell you that. I mean, that we we were, you know, we were told it was going to be around a $450,000 >> Yeah. >> bond payment and I think we're up to 650,000. So, unfortunately, that one's a
little bit of a moving target. Um, but I will chart what I have uh based on the numbers that I do have from BP and I will I will show that so that that residents will know exactly where we are and what we're what our debt is and what our debt exclusions are. >> I agree. And we have just so I don't
know if everyone I know some people definitely know already, but there's there was 400 kids accepted into BP for this upcoming year and it was 100% based on lottery. you could get tickets based on a couple of different things, but um
so the odds of more kids going from Taton is obviously greater because there's going to be a lot more kids entering the pool, but it's still watery, right? At the end of the day, how many kids we could end up with one kid, we could end up with 60. >> We don't know. And then that can
severely skew the numbers, which is scary, right? Something we've talked a lot about on our side, like, well, how what do you do, right? Very difficult. You don't know what the number is going to be. It's not like they say, "Okay, you know, you're roughly you're going to get 50 kids accepted." And we know roughly what that number is going to be.
We don't know. So, >> I believe our numbers this year were well, we accepted 31 and then we're around 90 plus right now. 91 I believe. >> So, we have 96 students currently. Um I think if 31 were accepted, I think 28 may have accepted that. So, I think um
my calculation is that there'll be 110 students going to BP next year. um which this is the first year that we actually have been member for four full four years. So this is this is probably a very good picture of where we're going to be because if you remember we were sending students but we were only
allowed to send 15 a year. Since we've been members we've been sending 25 to 30. So you know four years of that we're at we're at the 110 number. Um so I think that's this >> we were what 7580
going to Oak Colony if I remember it was about quality would only let us about 18 a year, right? So, um and and and so this is this is a bigger commitment. It's a bigger expense, you know. >> Yep. And that's why I've said we're right where I thought we were going to be once we we became members because we
knew the budgets were going to get tight because it's expensive. Um but it's you know, it's a good option for the children and that's where we're at and that that's what the town wanted. So, here we are. >> The magic of proper budgeting surprises a little, right? They're still surprising, but at least we're prepared
for them. >> So, what does Fincom think? What are you thinking, Margaret? >> Personally, like the declining debt service over 20 years. Can I just ask, does anybody know what the exclusion
yearly for the police department is? >> It's $500,000 we we pay. Um, >> well, per So, average per >> per household. >> Yeah. >> No, but I will get that done. Okay, because that's one of the worst. >> You think you can offset that in a couple of years? Is that what you're thinking?
>> Well, yeah. The PD goes off in 2 years. Is it close to this which >> would make life a little bit easier because like I said, we've kind of sold that story when we did VP and I didn't want >> keep saying, oh, we have three debt
exclusions and we're off of one. But if I show you, then people have transparency. That's what I want. I just want it to be transparent however you you want to look at it, but I want everybody to have the numbers and I'll use I mean maybe I'll use a $550,000
average number. You know, I can ask Mike what the average although this came from our assessed values. That is the average based on our assessed values. 531,000 >> from recollection. I want to I want to say that it was around 136 to 146 on average. Okay, that's what I
>> I had one like just over a hundred in my head. I remember came up. >> Yeah, it's it's similar. It's similar in comparison to this. >> Jeff, I'll throw it out there. >> Yeah, throw it out there.
>> Why said you said initially? >> How about my friends down the other end? What do you think about Oh, >> I think you're right on the money. They've um applying debt over 20 years is probably the way to go. Why why spend more than we have to spend? Make any sense? >> I like the declining debt. Are we
positive the interest rate is correct on the 15? Because it did spark me as well, but I still like >> I will double check for you guys and I'll let you know. Um were you all interested in the 15year >> at the sub 10 million that you know all in with interest
at I mean that makes the most sense. Sorry, didn't you hear the beginning of the >> Oh, this the the the declining debt service. >> Yeah. >> With interest coming in under 10 million. I think that's the only option that comes in under 10 million. >> Yep.
>> I love the idea of saving $1.2 million in interest. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. >> And and the fluctuation isn't that big, right? when you're talking about these two and Toby was asking more about just because of the way that it's labeled and thinking the numbers are incorrect
somewhere between 15 and 20 but >> if you're looking at the 20 side by side you're going 128 136 >> so at the beginning it's like okay yeah paying a little bit more but it's $8 it's not like it's that big of a number to save in the long run it's foolish
>> and in the end you're still paying more I mean >> I will reach out to um the adviser the uni bankank that uh the woman that prepared these just confirmed that the numbers um if they were wrong and it's drastically different I'll share that
with you and then I can we can always come back and revote if it if it's something that's appealing >> okay I was just looking at I have all the numbers for it except for what the cost was but it was
>> if you probably put it in chat GBT2 >> yeah 6.5 was the estimated finance amount. So, we're looking at 7.5. So, looks like it's on average. All right. So, it looks like the declining option debt service is the
most popular one. I think it is probably the most the best option for the residents in town, >> right? >> Um I know t things are tough for many residents. Uh but we look at, you know, libraries and consation like we had the director here earlier today. uh those
numbers are going up and they need more room. Um and of course the question always is what are we going to do with that building? And of course that that's a simple answer. It's we'll turn into like a town hall annex more than likely and use it to the town's advantage as best as possible. >> We haven't voted on that yet decisions.
Want people to think like that's 100% what's going to happen. That's like one of one of the thoughts. >> You know it's we'll put Cheryl over there all by herself. It's a real building just saying the building. She's the only one in the room. So, I >> was going to say, "Oh, really? I We
hadn't had that discussion." Okay. >> I just had to pick on her and make our way. >> That's right. >> I don't know. She got a new office. So, all right. So, that's the what we're going to go with. Um I'll motion to move
forward with the declining debt service for the library council of Asian Community Building in the sum of $7.5 million >> over 20 years. >> Over 20 years. Motion makes >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> All right. I will entertain a motion to
um accept the 20-year declining debt service option. >> We'll make that motion. >> All right. All in favor? I >> I >> That was an I from you, John.
>> Oh, you hear me? Hi. Sorry. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. And I'll update you if something changes. >> All right. >> Okay. >> All right. And then, of course, now we have number three on our agenda tonight. The impacts of the ratification of the teachers union contract. >> Not going to spend a lot of time on
this. I just wanted to sort of bring it up in cursory conversation. We know that the school committee um approves the uh teachers contract. Um I've given you guys the sheets that I've gotten from um
Superintendent Starky of the proposed um contract increase that they have disclaimers on them that you know they may not you know they're going they're being vetted at council and they're going to be ratified and signed. So just
be aware of that. Um the raises are substantial. They are substantial looking, you know, anywhere from 16.8% over three years to 25% over three years. They're substantial. There's a
big impact to our budget. Uh they did provide me with some um numbers that the salaries would be roughly uh $1,50,000 this year. Next year they'd be around 931,000 due to some retirements. And
then the the last year, I believe it's $1.1 million. I've also gotten some preliminary projections because I guess they had done them for Lakeville given that Lakeville was trying to prepare a three-year override. And I I'm looking at, you know, an
increase in assessment of close to where we are at at least this year. So, our assess our assessment increased by $1.2 million. And I I'm presuming that it's going to be again that next year and the following year at minimum. Um so I'm just I'm just going to let you know that
as soon as we get through this budget round in town meeting, I will be looking and I've already started but I will be projecting the the next year budget um so that we can be prepared to do whatever we need to do um look at ways to minimize our costs and I will be
diligently working on that. So, we will um and and hopefully by then we will have some more uh numbers. Of course, Lakeville is looking at an override. What happens in Lakeville will have a big impact on Freetown. If if their override doesn't pass, uh we I think the
school committee is going to go back to the drawing board with the budget and and and there might be have to have a super meeting. There'll be some, you know, things that we will we will be looking at. the school assessment that you have in your budget is is not the final assessment in the omnibus that you
have that I gave to you last meeting. Um there's always been one decrease because they had a reduction in out of uh out of district students reduced. So that was a reduction. We we also know that there's a proposal for the um chapter 70 money
to go up to $150 per student. Um, so Jack has not prepared that assessment as he's waiting for final confirmation of that change. As soon as he has that, I will get that assessment and and change the omnibus. Unfortunately, timing is going to be tight. Um, because they're
not going to have those numbers until May 15th. I'd like to finalize the budget and get it approved before then. So, I may look to see uh and project what that assessment change will be and change the budget accordingly. Um, so
that what we put forth is pretty close to final numbers. Um, I think that's really all I have. I just wanted to let you know that that had happened and that's out there and that it's it's pretty substantial impacts to to the bud, the school budget, which will
obviously impact our budget and our responsibility. It clearly will be greater than a 2 and a.5% increase. Um and so we're going to be uh looking for ways to accommodate that. >> Yeah, it's a tough year. You know, all
teachers, we love them. We do uh they do so much for our children, but this isn't a an emotional discussion. This is a a financial discussion. It's about hard numbers, unfortunately. And they are town employees like everybody else, right? So, we got to look at that. Um we have
to be fair to everybody involved. And you know, you're right. May 19th is a big day for Lakeville. If they do override and they approve it, more than likely, right, we're probably going to be there in the near future, maybe next year, right? So, that's something to think about as well. So, you know, we're
keep continue working with the schools. I know sometimes it's not the easiest part of your day, right? Um because it's a lot of moving parts, right? But at the same time, we have to be responsible to our residents, right? um to make sure we're asking every question and making
sure that we get the right answers across the board. And I know May 15th the assessment comes in which puts it two weeks before our town meeting which is more and you know if they get it out that day would be a miracle. More than likely it probably be a week later if
not right before our election. So getting information out is going to be tight and but unfortunately we what we don't want is we don't want to be in a position that that Lakefield's in, right? That we might be in next year and then whoever we do keep
as teachers and everything else. We're just going to have the same discussion the year after and the year after and the year after. We have a unique opportunity to make tough decisions this year, but put us in the best footing tomorrow. And I know it's tough for a lot of people to hear. I know it's an emotional roller coaster across the
board. Unfortunately, our job is to make the decisions for the residents, all 9,200 plus of them. And that's our job. It's tough. I understand that and I can't apologize for it. You all volunteered to be here and got elected uh except for those that are hired um
and appointed, but we have to make sure we do the right thing. And that may be that may be tough for some people to hear. More to follow. That's going to be an ongoing discussion for next month and that unfortunately one side's doing a really good job getting information out
because we're waiting on the receiving end to get that information to put it out there and hang in everybody >> real numbers on the on the impact of this. So, like I know when I was doing union negotiations, I would have spreadsheets that would list everybody out and it would show me, you know,
based on what's on the on the table right now, how much it's going to cost, right? >> So, I I mean, like I said, I don't have that, but um Jack Higgins provided me the totality of the impact, which was 1,50,000 this year. And and I'm I'm rounding, so don't hold me.
>> Shouldn't we have that though? Like, you know, like shouldn't we have that? There was a negotiations committee that had that data >> in the school committee. They had a negotiation uh uh union negotiations committee. >> Mhm. >> I I don't think they had that. I don't think they have that data. Did you have
that data? >> We didn't have that data. During negotiations, we were very we discussed many things. >> You think they would have the data. >> You would think. Yeah. We we you know, >> well, I mean, you don't know what you're agreeing to otherwise, >> right? So you have to you have to have something that way you can plug in the
numbers that says when I do this this is the result. >> Yeah. >> Right. Instead of just blindly saying we're going to do 1% or 10% or whatever. I don't care about your percentages. Right. Like what if I have 100 people at level six and only 10 at level two right? Like how many people are going to step.
>> Well after the fact >> you have all that information. >> So after the fact we got the information about 63% of the teachers that are on staff are level step 10 or above. The remaining 30 the remaining percentages were somewhere in between you know the remaining percentages but the high
majority were steps in the middle steps four to four to 7 4 to 8 and in the proposal they are eliminating steps 1 2 and three and creating step 13 14 15 which those 63% would then go into those percentages and then each each step would also have the increase on top of
that. So if you go to step 12 to 13 I believe it's a 3% maybe then the next one is 2.5 or 2.25 25 then the third is one and a half again rounding off. So there there are those were necessarily available during discussions where it
was discussed but so there's a plethora of information putting out there uh if full transparency both town representative which was myself and lake representative Chris Blanca voted no on on on the budget on their proposal. Um
it just again we love our teachers but >> it feels like you're almost doing it backwards. Like when I was doing this like we would have our budget ahead of time. >> Yeah. >> Like this is what we have to spend sliced up any way you want >> right instead of them coming to us with a number that we now have to make fit. That doesn't make sense to me.
>> So one of the questions like last year they used END which added to the issues we have this year. END was proposed. It was a onetime payment of five and 7% teachers and secretaries. Unfortunately, that increased the budget five to 7% going into this fiscal year, >> right? >> So, instead of us doing what you know,
we we asked is it two years, use that as the base, it was a three-year. We even asked if we want to go to a 5year to kind of iron these things out and get a long-term plan. Um, but you know, the the union voted the way they wanted to vote, which is again, it's it's part of
the process. Uh, but here we are. So, the numbers are there. So now we got to kind of make sense of it all and discuss it as a group. And again, as something that, you know, I have four children and next year I'll have one kid at every single school. I get it. I I understand. I understand. But at the same time, like
you said, um we have we only have x amount of dollars that we can put out there without going to the town asking for more. And we got a tough decision to make. And if they vote yes, that puts us in a a financial
predicament for next year, even this year. If they say no and we say yes or vice versa, that creates a an issue for talk about elections, we'll have to have potentially a an additional special town meeting with both towns and
and in and there to discuss to move forward to back to the negotiation table, then come back and then once again discuss the budget possibly an additional town meeting. So there's a lot of there's a lot of moving parts and
it's here we are but we're not the the good not the good news but the news is we're not the only town over the years state assessments were have been used for salaries in other areas co money was used for projects such as like like
laptops great great for usage for that because we we're that need but now those laptops need replacing and updated so those cost more money >> do they So that's >> do they though need replaced? >> I I think technology is the important part of our children. So it's a hard
discussion to have. That's why we have school committee. Um and they're doing they're doing their job and doing their best to get the information out there and and getting the best stuff for our children. I I do believe that unfortunately for us like many other communities,
you know, the scale is not there that it's not in their favor. Unfortunately, we it's our job to kind of make sense of it all and ask the questions we have to ask and those are tough. >> Along the technology standpoint, I was actually surprised and shocked at the level of effort that Rich Blanchard's
team puts into keeping this old stuff up and running. It it's I mean working in IT in the corporate world, we scrap everything every 3 years. It's a three to four year life cycle for for technology. Um and the fact that they are keeping five, six, even 10 year old technology up and running with a lot of manual efforts. Impressive.
>> Absolutely. And and so arguments are there, right? And but then there's also some good news out of these things, right? Like our children are getting some good education. The unfortunate part of it again, we're in this room to discuss budgets and budgets are ugly ugly word, right? like nobody wants to
really have those discussions, but we're the adults that were elected to be here and appointed to be here. And we have to make sure we do the best for the residents that have put us here. And that might be not might not be the answer that people want to hear, especially teachers and parents. There
has to be a give and go. And I just want everybody to cool heads. Feelings are important, but when it talks when we talk about budgets, the numbers have to make sense as well. And that's sometimes hard to kind of digest, but it's our job to get the information out and make sure we're all on the same page. We don't
have to agree, but let's all vote on the facts. Those don't change. No matter how we feel about it, the facts don't change. So, we have to have that discussion based on the facts. Let's all vote on the same thing. That's all I ask. >> Amen. >> So, I'll give you the numbers and the impacts that um Jack gave me. 1,37,000
for this year, which was accounted for in the budget. >> Yep. next year was $930,000 impacts because there's going to be teacher retirements that they know about and that have been submitted and approved. And then at fiscal year 29, $1,130,000.
Um, and this in this includes the savings from the teachers that were retired in the prior year. This does not include any of lane changes. In other words, if a teacher gets a master's degree or gets 15 hours of credits, that doesn't account it's not accounted for because
they're not aware of it as of yet. So th this is not an exact number and I, you know, so I'm going to caution you. It is his projection based on what he has. I've given you the tables that I've gotten from them and again I put the disclaimer there. Um, but I've given
them to you so you can have a sense of what's going on. Keep in mind that every year step a step is is is being eliminated. So step one's eliminated, then year two, step two is eliminated, and year three, step three. So that's that. I don't want to get too more deeply into it. I'm sure you could go to
school committee and ask them um for more information. I just wanted to touch on it because it's a big part of our budget and it has an incredible impact into the town budget and how we move forward and and what we're able to do. I've also I think you all have the warrants, their draft at this point, but
they have the articles in them, the money articles and things that you you'll be looking at probably at your next meeting or and if you have questions, you can email Margaret or and Chuck can email me. >> Um, I just want to say annual Yeah, the
annual town meeting warrant article 16 is no longer necessary, >> right? Because it's a citizens petition. I can't we cannot remove it. So go to town meeting but it will be >> it'll be tabled before we we've because
it's a citizens petition we cannot even the citizen >> okay >> yeah Mike said it had to stay on >> just just to let you know conservation commission purchased it last Monday night so that's
>> our office >> with with the fund that conservation commission has. So it didn't >> because we did not have the money to buy that, >> right? >> Fantastic. It all works out. >> In fact, the other consideration >> works the way it's supposed to. What do you know? >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> Funding. >> We we still have money in that. >> Yeah, we just don't have it. So >> that's fun. >> Any other questions on on the omnibus budget, on any budgets, anything else you would like me to get for you or anybody? I think I'd like to bring up a
comment and I know I have a lot to learn uh being new at this but just sitting listening and the anticipation of the school uh committee and the what what the teachers are asking is that you know I listen I'll use Charlotte as an example Emmy um two weeks ago with Mr.
Matt Humber and we're going to put a lot of effort into what the school is asking, but I also just hope in the years of me being here, we can contribute time to getting our employees of the town. And I know there's been a lot of effort in between and you talked about negotiations, but I think of how
great Cheryl is in her office every time you walk in. And you talk about investing in in Emmy and we're also investing in the seniors who are important part of this town. And then Mr. Matt Cumber with his second uh third in charge leaving to Berkeley and then obviously if Eric left which is going to
be an opportunity for him where does that leave us and we're making all this effort in on infrastructure and I know that that's just that's the necessary evil to fund but how do we retain such wonderful people and be the town that's known for doing that not
necessarily comping but we also elected to to take care of our people. Well, you're elected. We We're vot I guess we're voted into some degree, but how do we how do we make that happen? And I know there has to be a forecast to it all, but I think it's so important. I
listen here and I think everybody's so smart, but us being the smart, there's got to be a way we can make it happen for these people. >> I think the the analogy I use is how do you eat an elephant? >> One bite at a time. And and I think you're right. You're absolutely right. We've been chipping away at it,
realizing that years ago and and trying to make the put our best foot forward to make sure that we retain the people that we want to keep in this town, right? We have valuable employees there. We we appreciate all their efforts. Um and we do what we can, you know, we do what we can every year. Every year we try to add
more and change things around. And >> yeah, I mean I think that I when I was hired uh almost 5 years ago, one of the goals was uh employee retainage because at that time everybody was jumping ship from Freetown. I think we've done a great job. I there's always room for improvement. Money is always going to be an issue and it's difficult. There's a
balance there. Um we're well aware that the highway uh union and there's I think there's another union that also is going to need some some adjustments. Um I will tell you that my team uh we're working diligently. I've got to get through this
where we are right now today, but we uh Nancy the planner, myself, Carl, we're working on economic development. It's it's priority for us. We're jumping all over it to see where we can bring in businesses to start bringing in other than just on the backs of the taxpayers, which this town has done a great job at,
right? We have a we have one of the lowest tax rates for residential. So, but we want to continue that so that we're not burdening the taxpayer, but we are working on economic development and you'll be seeing that action for us. We'll be looking at setting up the committee and um start just because
we've got some vacant pieces of land on the main street strip, Minnesota, and also the Dumping Donuts on the East Freetown side. There's some vacant properties over there on County Road and stuff that if we could bring in businesses there, we could start getting some more tax dollars. So, we're we are looking at that and and and we are also
open to any suggestions. So, uh collaboration is key. uh PE people have great ideas and so if you've got any whatever we're willing to to listen and and jump on that committee or you know bring it bring it help us bring that to fruition
>> and without going too deep into the weeds one of our biggest issues right with talking South Main Street was we have we don't have the infrastructure right so there was a survey done to bring the the sewer down right the the
septic line what I call septic sewer line down towards the and and then that should make it more viable for some businesses to come into some of those parcels. So that's done. Now then really the next issue would be getting funding to put it into the road. But so those things have all been thought about
because of what she's talking about trying to get that tax base up. But as far as paying our employees, I'm >> very big on that too. And that's actually when I initially ran was one of the platforms I said stuff about was
employee retention, right? because true >> it's cheaper to keep them than this to try and replace them and you know what you have. So >> it's extremely detrimental to a town to lose employees because they have when I came here almost all the employees were new. It's very hard to get um historical
value. You don't know what happened. So people say, "Oh, we did that already. Really? I wasn't here." So thank God for Kevin Desaris who has a great history of the town and Mike McHugh, right? Because they're they're the ones I go to when I'm like, "Hey." And now Cheryl's getting there now. She's been here quite a bit. So that's important to a town.
That's extremely important so we don't keep making the same mistakes or doing the same things over and over again. And Chuck Chuck's been here a long time, too. He's he's got a lot of information, too. >> Yes. >> So, it's it's good. I just I just felt that I need to say it. I've said just
kind of soaked up. But I think that's important. That's one of the reasons I wanted to join this is it's about the people. I grew up here and it's uh it's important that we take care of the people that take care of us. So, >> yeah, it's the toughest part of our job. It really is. Yeah, it's
>> all right. Any other questions? Any public input? >> We lost most of our back. >> All right, let's do some signal signatures. >> All right. Well, that said, it is uh being 900 p.m. I think we've been here long enough, folks. I entertain the motion to adjurnn.
>> Motion made me >> second. >> All in favor? I >> I will entertain motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second, >> Chris and Carol. All in favor of adjourning? >> I
We are out at 9:09. >> Wednesday. >> Next Wednesday. >> Next Wednesday. So, all right. I'll try to get you >> know where I am. Bless me.