With it being 6:30 p.m., quarant like to call the free tile board select meeting for Tuesday, April 14th to order. This meeting will be recorded on the town's YouTube channel. Um, and while we're here, is anybody else recording? All right. Thank you. Uh, Chairman French, would you like to open your
meeting? >> Yes. Being 6:31, having no quorum present, I call the free town finance committee to order. >> All right. Well, uh, first line of business, pledge of allegiance. If everyone can stand
face stand to our flag right behind you, Deb. >> All right. Is that the case? >> 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. I need that. But sometimes you just forget some words and you're on camera. I got wondering if I would remember it. >> Yeah, you know, all day I was thinking about it and it said it like a million times. You know, did I just forget a word? Just in case those social media
out there. All right, ladies and gentlemen. Uh, first on our agenda is discussion and vote on which applicant to be appointed to the finance committee one-year appointment effect at 4:14 2026 until the next annual town election and make set appointment. All right,
who do we have for a candidate? Mr. Cabal. All right. >> So, we want to ask for um motion for, you know, if anybody wants to nominate one of the >> Do you want to say who the three candidates are first, please?
>> Yeah. No. Who I know Craig Kerall's candidate number one. And I'll be honest with you, I don't Who are the other candidates? >> Mark. >> Mark Versowski. >> Mark Versowski is candidate to Well, I don't know if they're ordered. and Jean Fox.
>> And Jean Fox, he's out here. All right. Sorry about that. I didn't have it in front of me. All right. So, would anybody like to make a motion on who to select as the candidate for a one-year term? >> Um, I'll make a motion to nominate Craig Cabraw.
>> All right. I have a motion for Craig Cabraw. >> Second. >> All right. I have a second. Do I have any additional motions for anybody else? >> Okay. Um seeing none other um right that's the procedural right anybody
correct me here um since nobody else if there's a first and a second go roll call and see if right that's what we did at the school committee meeting roll call y >> all right >> all right uh roll call vote start
>> no for Craig okay so no Lisa no Chris >> yes >> yes for Craig I >> I miss French. >> Yes. >> Yes.
I I'm also I >> Dar >> I >> I >> Chad and Toby. >> Hi. >> I All right. The carries. Mr. Gallal. Welcome. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Uh if you'd like come
on up you like. Is it Is it Is it effective today? Ball 14. >> Oh, Cheryl can swear in sworn in. >> Yeah, there you go. >> Cheryl, thank you for being here. >> I'm already ready for him. That's awesome. >> That's right.
>> While while he gets appointed, I do like to thank Mark and Jean for putting their name in the hat and as well as Lisa. Welcome to welcome to the party. >> Thank you. >> So, >> Toby and Toby. >> Hey, Toby. That's right. Sorry about that, Toby. Jeez. We were just talking about skiing. I completely forgot about you.
>> Craig, would you raise your right hand for me, please? Do you, Craig McGall, solemnly swear and affirm to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties and implement upon you as a finance committee member filling the one-year unexpired term through the expiration date of the next annual town
election in 2027, according to the best of your abilities and understanding agreeably to the rules and regulations of the constitution, the law, and the town free town. >> I just need your signature top and bottom line, sir.
the fact that we had an appointment on on camera. >> Yeah, that's awesome. >> That is you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Supposed to sign. >> Well, welcome. Um again, for those that are just recently elected, including our
new select, uh >> welcome to your first uh of many meetings to come as as a group. >> Good evening. All right, moving on to our agenda. It looks like there's a a cool seat. I like to call it a hot seat, but uh first
one up for the fiscal year 27 budget review with the finance committee. It is anticipated that departments listed below will be will be reviewed. Others may be discussed as they come up and as they relate to. All right, looks like uh fire is our alpha. Al chief,
>> we're just trying to see we don't have any extra books for Craig. A budget book. Oh, >> you can actually you can have mine. >> I was going to say, >> Craig, you can have mine right there. I I got a >> Oh, >> smaller sheet. >> Sorry about that. >> Sorry. >> There you go. Feel free to doodle while
you like yours. >> Number 220, Greg. >> All right. All right, Chief. How are we doing today? >> I'm doing well, thank you. Uh-huh. >> Chief, is this your last harrah with us? >> Keith informed me of that that today
that this was the last time I would have to come. I sit in the hot seat with the bright light. >> Why is he not beside you? >> Yeah. You know, >> he should be he should be help me. You know, fairly sure I can
offer you for your participation. All right. All right. Sounds like like we're heading civil defense 291. >> No. That's good. >> All right. >> Do you need to
ask? Yep. >> Oh, that's right. Before we uh order of business, the board of select, we need to appoint Craig Cabraw before we begin. All right. Um Craig, >> it's going to be uh Yeah, I guess it's >> Yeah, we also point authority. So, uh I
make the motion to appoint Craig Cabraw to the finance committee for a one-year term beginning effective fall 414, 2026 through the next town election. >> Motion made. >> Second. All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Just in case the internet salutes look
back. All right, Chief. >> Uh I I have one question before I we're doing civil defense first. >> Yep. >> Uh is everybody's number 23,000 for that? >> Yes. >> Yes, it is. >> You want it lower?
>> That's actually what we had discussed earlier. Okay. >> Made some adjustments to >> to that to try to have a a round number there. And but um >> was that your Sorry. Was that your original budget number? >> It actually it was not. Um
it's it's very close. I don't know. It's Hang on, Lisa. It's within It's within $600, but um yeah, it um that's we're good with that. But >> okay. um you need to need to have that
supplies line in the event that you need to open shelters and things like that. We don't usually spend all of that supplies line, but you have to have it. I mean, I I will spend some of it. We're going to now the weather's broke here. We're going to go through the the shelter and stuff and make sure
we don't have expired supplies and things in there. >> It's a good idea. This past winter, we we've had some emergencies. Did you end up having for the public? Do you end up having to open it up for for residents and everything else? >> We Yeah, we didn't we didn't get to that point fortunately, but >> Good.
All right. Anybody else have any questions regarding this one? This one's pretty straightforward. It's a reduction of last year by what 494 or so. All right. What's this requested?
Salaries, wages 7,000. All right. Yeah, pretty straightforward. 2% cooler increase. All right. Um All right. Looks like 220
is our next one up. Fire. All right. S time buyback. Now at any time if I'm sure all of you have looked at this. If you have any questions, feel free to speak up and and
ask away. >> How do you want to do it? Just >> Oh, if you have a question, go ahead, Lisa. Yeah, if you have a question. >> I do have a couple question with the original budget that you submitted. >> That's in the back there. That leaves on
page 60 for you. >> It's something. >> I didn't want to be too loud. >> I was not uh originally had requested 248965 about 2,49
265 that was um that was including uh additional firefight real time by the end of the specific. >> So, I do see on the >> That's the only thing that's been removed from now. >> All right. Because I do see on the back
uh back sheets you have um a memo from January 22nd, 2026. Um but it only goes to number four. I don't I don't know if you have anything after number four. So, it kind of ends in the middle of vehicle maintenance.
So, if you could just um if you have the additional page and it has more um information on it, could you pass that along, please? >> Second 20. >> Sorry. What number four you looking at, Lisa? >> So, it's um
>> it's in his um it's in his um explanations. It's right before >> meeting before 241. It should be the last page. I don't know if everybody else has it. I don't have it. It probably didn't get double-sided printed. So, if you have that original
memo where you request leaves sort of >> explanation sheets. What we're looking for? >> Yeah. Right before 240. Oh, no. You don't have Yeah, it it's a a memo. It's a memo that you Sorry. It's a memo that you submitted. >> Oh, my my cover letter. >> Yes, your cover letter. >> Okay. Yeah.
>> Just doesn't have the back page. >> You don't have this? >> No. Can you just come with the additional walk, please? >> After >> hands- on vehicle maintenance. So, I didn't know what else was after that. >> Okay. Uh, you have four. >> Mhm.
>> Okay. Five would be um community programs. We uh continue to prioritize fire prevention and community outreach programs. Uh particularly the school-based and senior safe programs. Um, and we've expand we're trying to
expand these efforts into a community- based uh EMS program to uh to go into people's homes. Uh, this this is a program that's in place in Marian. Uh, I have my EMS director and uh board of health working on this.
Um, we are currently uh through the COA we have a lock box program that we're putting uh we're putting code lock boxes on residents houses that they're at risk for uh access issues.
You know, they push the button or they dial 911, they can't get to the door. So, those these are things that are all uh they've been supported very graciously through the firefighters association, their raffle money and and things like that. Um,
in the past we'd always got grant money. We lapsed a couple of years because of the MBTA uh bylaw, the housing bylaw in compliance with that. We're hoping we're going to get that that back. Um, so this was
this was all part of I mean we're we're still going to do all these things. Um, but that was part of my uh explanation of what we could utilize the additional position that I'd asked for. >> Thank you. >> Number six. >> Was there a number six or just ended?
>> Number six was capital requests and we we're going to deal with that in uh in the fall if there's uh if there's money in the fall. There's nothing there was nothing really pressing there. I just wanted it to be put out there that the the uh the Tahoe the deputy chief has is
got 140 130 140,000 miles on >> getting up there in age. >> We need Yeah, we need to be we need to be thinking about that. And um >> yeah, that was just that was just >> Chief Remind me. Is that similar to what the police does? We get a base package then we add all the decals and lights
afterwards. >> That all comes from the vendor all fitted. >> Good. >> I just have >> that's all state. I just have a couple more questions. Um I see that there's a decline in qualifier fighters. Can you just tell me why and how can we
recommend how can we fix that? >> Okay. The the five substitution salary wages. It's going from 9,000 to 5,000. Okay. That line is what I pay the part-time people to work shifts.
>> Yeah. And that's that's not call back. That is the line that when somebody's on vacation or sick uh gone to training, there are call firefighters on that list to work along with the what
will be covered in overtime. I have I've I've hired we we keep skimming the cream off the top. Right. So, we've hired all our all but a few of those people that are eligible to work. So, I have like two people left on the call department that can actually work those shifts. So, how
do we switch less and less? So, I I don't I'm not I don't need $9,000 there. I don't have the EMTs to work it. >> So, I was trying to be somewhat >> Yeah. fiscally responsible, but in turn that also swings the other way that I
have >> more overtime >> overtime, right? >> Um so that right now those shifts I have two groups with four people on them. Uh we we run with three.
So we've saved I'm going to say this fiscal year there's probably been 900 hours of overtime that's gone uncovered by by utilizing that. >> Okay. >> Um so that's pretty pretty significant. >> All right. And can you just tell me why
you need another firefighter? We have we have two ambulances over the the the trend over the last two to three years besides being busier and increased call volume is the simultaneous calls that
happen. It happens all the time. I I have I could tell you it's probably close to 300 times already it's happened this fiscal year that the the second call comes in. while the while while the crew is working on the restroom. So that
gives us the ability to have staffing for both for both analysts with four people per group. So I was when I first became chief, we discussed in this very meeting that I realized we couldn't absorb six new employees all at once, right?
>> And we're going to kind of pick away at it, which is what we've done. Um this initial position this position that I had requested initially was the last slot to complete that that hiring
process. Um so that would give me four people on each group. It would give us continue it continue to give us options to to help manage the overtime. Um, but after our initial budget
meetings, I don't I understand sustainability and I understand I understand that I've seen the best of times as far as finances go, right? And and again, 41 years I've seen the low times, too. I can remember,
>> right, >> back in the 90s, we all were arguing at town meeting over the same dollar. >> Okay, we've had some we've had some really good years. I I know it's going the other way. Um, so that's that's why this is submitted without that without
that passment now. And again, I'm I'm a team player and if that's where we need to be, that's that's where we need to be. Uh, >> right. Like we discussed last year, ch well, when you first came on, chip away at it and eventually get there. >> Well, that's that's what we've been doing.
>> Absolutely. Again, I I'm right now I I just want to explain something to especially if y >> right now our call wages budget, the call back money >> um probably $50,000 in the negative in that because of winter storms,
>> right? >> And the call back for all these second calls. You know, it's we're we're we're doing as much as we can with with what we have there. But that's just it's like snow and ice. You don't know how many snowstorms you're going to have. It's like my broken fire truck. You don't
know how many breakdowns you're going to have. You have a number when you when you've exhausted that. I let folks know, hey, we're going to be we're going to be back. Look for a transfer for this cuz you have to fix the broken stuff and we have to go to the emergencies, right?
Um, so that's >> yeah, the broker fire truck that was unexpected, but right >> it was a high cost, but I had to get fixed. >> Personally, I I feel like we should discuss this a little bit more. It seems like it's rather important. Um,
it's not like I haven't been here and seen things the same as you, right? Um, but I don't have the revenue sheets and I asked for that at the last meeting. So, I don't know what the what the receipts are for the town. It's hard for me to balance a budget when I don't know what the revenues are. So, um I don't
know. Can we afford it? Can't we afford it? I can't say yes or no. I don't have that those numbers in front of me and I'd like to see them, please. I do have them. I did not get a chance to get them emailed though today. Sorry, >> Chief. Could I ask you on your overtime,
and I know overtime is difficult to estimate. I understand the reality of it. Um but if you were to have this added position, do you know how much overtime could potentially be reduced by? I don't I don't see that I can reduce this
number car but I think I can keep it where it is. >> I think that helps us stabilize the growth right because as our employees are doing more sick leave I mean vacation time etc. Um I can see us being
able to to keep that more in check. Um, in the past we've needed to transfer money from salaries to overtime last I've done it the last 3 years. I I have the money's in the budget. We just have to move it in in the lines. >> Sure.
>> Um Keith and I ran the numbers the other day and >> I will have to do that again probably, but I don't think the number that we're going to have to move is going to be quite as big. Um and again the the system has it's working out but when
we're when there's only three people there and that second call comes in. >> Yeah. >> Debbie when you're looking at sick leave buyback sick time buyback um it's 55 close to 55,000. That's not going to be do you and is there sickly buyback next year too for anybody? Is anybody
retiring? >> That's just that's one time for >> that's a one time thing. So this budget is really higher by 55. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. So that almost So next year you'll see a savings, not a savings cuz we don't really ever save.
It's >> not going to go down 55,000 but >> but you could start off with $55,000 dollars less in this budget because it's just a one like that line item should just be a line item by itself. So then that way we know next year that's coming
out, right? But that would offset whatever new >> and there'll be >> potentially new person in there, >> right? Right. And there'll be many more increases next year. And also, you asked about the revenues. We have no excess levy at this point. In fact, we did not
fund some things. One of the things that we need to fund. We're short funding it. I have to move money around. So, if you're going to fund another firefighter, I have to take it out of some other budget. I just But see, those are the things that I don't have in front of me. So, I that's why I just asked a question, right? Like, I want to
know why it's important, why it's important to the fire department. Oh, we know why it's important. We're not sitting there. We're not not arguing with about whether we need to. We understand that >> per our discussions over the years. We have a plan in place and we're executing that plan. They can't get everything all at once because we have to be
responsible to not only the fire department but also to the town. We want one. It's just time and place. That's all it is. Um and through through the chair, if you could provide those information once >> once you have them with my experience. >> Anybody else have any other questions
for our chief? Um, >> what you got, Chad? >> Chief, is there anything in this the budget you're asking for? Any services going to be reduced if you don't get more? >> Like I said, no, >> everything in there, Chad, is
everything that's an increase essentially is contractual except for a few small things like um my my equipment repairs. Everything's technology now, >> right? >> That's where the IT stuff. fostered a a sensor in the in your four gas meter is huge bucks
>> and and they expire, right? So all this all the technology the air packs got a computer built into all this technology it cost so much money to get it fixed when it breaks. I mean the same the same with the fire apparatus you can't I'm sending I'm sending as much as I can over to to Andy now with the highway
department and that's going to we're going to realize some savings from that. Um, but again, the the the technology that's built into this apparatus, it has to go back to the to the dealer for a lot of the stuff. >> Um, oh, we have you any updates on the
ambulance on the new on the new rig? >> The ambulance uh should be built and in Plainville by Thanksgiving is what I was this year. >> Yes. >> Wow. All right. >> You said September, right? >> But I'm supposed to have a VIN in May. Um,
>> oh, so you got pushed back six months >> and the uh the new fire engine is ordered. I have a I have a place in line. That's three years away. I won't see that. >> I'll swing by and check it out. >> Do the maiden ride for >> That's ordered. That's We have a We have
a place in in the production line for that. I still we're still working out the final construction details of configuration, but that's >> it's all in the works, too. >> Well, Chief, you're more than welcome to come back anytime. Wow. >> Oh, I'm not I'm not going to I'm not
going to be far away. >> Good. Phone call or two. >> All right. >> To make copies of the revenue sheets. >> Okay. >> I just have one last question. On the last page of the budget, I think it's
page five, there's a $27,000 item towards the bottom. It might have been the account you were just talking about with technology, but I'm not sure. It's called a fire replacement equipment. >> So our the primary use of that is we buy
turnout gear with that car. So the the turnout gear has a 10year shelf life. It's no longer compliant after 10 years. We're supposed to discard it. So we started a program two years ago. I
got that ear mark. We got the ear mark from Senator Roberts. Yeah. Oh, >> the employees, the firefighters need two sets of turnout gear because >> you wear one, you have to launder it. Now, they need something to wear while that's going through the laundry. >> Sure. >> Right. So, if you have a fire and 15
people have contaminated gear, we have one >> washer and dryer, one washer and for >> that's four turnup gear. So now we got an earmark.
Two years ago, I think we were able to buy all the career people a full set of turnout gear that's compliant. So now with that money, the set of turnout gear is like $5,000. So with the bulk of that money, we buy
we we are we're on rotation now, right? So I'm buying three or four sets of gear a year out of that, taking stuff out of service. So eventually everything's going to cycle through. So we shouldn't have a big Okay, I need $100,000 to buy everybody turn. >> Yeah, it's a great idea. So that's that was something we did two years ago, I
think, just to kind of >> So it's not quite as big a >> show nugget all at once. >> A lot more money than you think it is. Cost us 70 grand to do the first round. Well, >> which we got. >> And fortunately, the the the grants are
back. Um, so we just we have a a a grant right now that uh the two firefighters that are in the fire academy uh getting complete sets of gear for them once they graduate with uh grant money. So that's that all helps out too.
So now that we're back in compliance, it's it helps a lot. But yeah, >> it's great. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. Thank you, sir. >> All right. Who's next?
Mr. McCome, come on down. >> 420 420. That's where we're going. >> Take care, guys. >> Chuck, how you doing? >> Very well. How are you, sir? >> There's no snow on the ground, so >> Oh, that's a good thing. Grass is starting. >> That's the grass, right? >> Grass. On to the next thing, right?
>> Yep. Grass is starting to grow. >> That's right. >> How you been, Chuck? >> Very well, thank you. All right. >> We as we work through our budget, we try to keep things as close to the cuff as we can, >> right? >> Um
obviously all the top stuff on the budget is all contractual. Um the largest increase of anything we're asking is for the signs and lines, which is the road striping, >> right?
>> I think last year we probably spent $55,000 on striping the roads. Um, >> and what's this year? I mean, so, >> uh, hasn't gone out to bid yet, but it's going to be that, if not a little bit more, especially with the price of fuel going up. But, uh, you know, if it's a
huge deal, we can just keep it as where it was and limit what we stripe. You know, we try to as we all get older, it's more important that those lines are there. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Um, so it's it's a safety thing to be
able to stripe the whole town. Um, I mean, we don't go crazy. We don't use thermal plastic. We don't use, you know, the best stuff, but uh that number would be 10 times what we're asking. Um, >> well, last year it looked like you guys were pretty busy throughout the entire
town repaving many, many roads. Is it you think same pace this year? >> I not quite where we were, but we're going to be pretty close. Okay. Um it's an election year for the governor, so she's given us a little bit more money in chapter 90 money to kind of, you
know, win over some votes. Um so I think we're getting six and a quarter uh this year. I think >> seven and a quarter. >> I think that's a winter now. >> Yeah, we we've got Yeah, she's a lot of things. Uh we've got still I think
$100,000 left over. So we're going to be around 700 $750,000 we're going to spend. We've already got the sidewalk project. Um working on that. The engineers are working on that. Station 2 paving project. I think we're opening bids next
week for that. So hopefully that'll get done sooner rather than later. I'm I'm expecting that to get done by the 4th of July. >> Oh, fantastic. So yeah, we we're we're doing all right. You know, our paving program has been pretty aggressive the last two years because the town's given us some money.
>> So I think the last two years we pretty close to a million dollars each year we spent on paving. So it's making a difference. >> Well, I think you said it best. Fix what we have. >> And the the problem is like this last winter, it just devastated even the roads that we just paved. The frost
heaves. It just tears apart everything. It doesn't matter whether it's new pavement, old pavement, it doesn't matter. Uh but um now that the frost is gone, most of the roads have settled back down. We don't have frost eaves or anything like that. So uh we just need
to get out there with a crack seal and crew and >> uh seal some things up. But >> you know, we're in good shape for the shape we're in. We're just trying to keep manpower. And that's the that's the difficult part that we've been having lately, >> right? >> You know, and it's hard. And I have some interviews coming up.
>> We've got interviews. Like I said, we just lost one. You know, somebody that we put a lot of time into over the last three years. And he went to a neighboring community for $6 more an hour. Young man, young family. Can't blame him. >> It was the right move for him. And you
know, it was devastating to us. But again, we >> and the last hire I if he makes July 1, I'll be amazed. It's and it's it's it's just the the struggles they have everybody's having at home.
>> Yeah. No, things are expensive. >> Everything. And you know, he's he's got a young family and he's struggling, you know, great worker where and we see a lot of promise in him and I just hope that he reconsiders and wants to stay in
Freetown, >> right? Yeah, I I know you do a good job of offering him different things like get a CDL and things like that to increase their pay and not interested. >> No. Well, he he's already got a CDL and he's but he's $25 an hour only goes so
far with a >> family, two daughters, house, rent, every you know, it's just it's it's tough. It's tough for everybody. Um again, over time we we increased that quite a bit. Um
I mean for our department again with with snow and ice is different with this overtime but the storms that we had you know last year's 4th July which was a nightmare for us you know there was a lot of overtime there that was unexpected right I said
hopefully we don't have to use any of it because I still do 99% of the overtime myself just because it doesn't cost the town anything it saves the budget So, I plan on doing the same. So, hopefully uh that money will stay in the budget
and we won't use it. Hopefully. >> Yeah. 10 more years, right, Chuck? >> Uh 20. >> 20. Even better. >> 20 more. >> Got to recalculate that budget. >> Um all right, >> Chuck, how many um employees total on
your team >> today? We have five myself and five others. >> You, Eric, >> and then you're down one right now. >> We just lost one. >> Okay. >> We We were down
yet. We were down another one. We We had two open positions. Uh we filled one. We're still We We're down two technically. >> Down two. Okay. Technically, um we we've decided to hold off on hiring the second one. Um just to try to save some money
because the need isn't so much this time of year. Hopefully come fall town meeting, we can live loosen up some money and maybe hire somebody before next winter, >> right? >> Um just so we can have bodies and trucks. >> Ball drivers are always a big thing at
that time of year. >> It's so difficult. Like I said, how we got through the blizzard? Oh, you guys did an amazing job. >> No, we didn't. Well, you guys held it together. >> Yeah, but we didn't. You know, I know >> you guys did an amazing job with that. >> See, see, the problem is you you from
the outside you say, "Oh, you did great." From the inside, it's like, "Oh my god." You know, uh, we were down 12 to 15 subcontractors. Uh, we had equipment breaking left and right. It was a just a nightmare that
way. Um, and it's not new equipment is going to be better because it's the new equipment that's breaking. And when the new equipment breaks, it's there's not a quick fix on the side of the road like the old trucks used to be. It's an absolute nightmare. I've got a truck
that's been in Wham since December 22nd. >> Mean to laugh. >> They bring it back. It goes What happens? the new stuff, it the check engine light will come on and then it goes into limp mode. >> That truck, every time it comes back, it
goes into limp mode. It never plowed snow once this year. It never sanded a root. Is >> that one of our new trucks? >> It's a 2017 with 17,000 mi. >> It's an absolute nightmare. We're into it for 30 grand and we haven't used the truck in 4 months, 5 months.
>> Nothing the warranty can fix or if it's probably out of warranty. >> Yeah, of course it is. And unfortunately, International, the company, the truck that manufactured it, has pretty much washed their hands. It's the same engine as Harry has in the fire truck that's given them fits. Got it.
>> It's just it's it's a lemon and international has washed their hands of the problems. U so that's still in way am I to give you some type of estimate of what the cost is going to be long term? just >> they're just throwing pots on it.
>> At some point, cutting bait might be the best way. >> They're getting intern they're getting international's tech team in working on it and overseeing it, but we're not making any progress. >> And the problem is
everybody that knows trucks knows what that truck is and what that truck has become. So, it's not it doesn't have a tradein value. >> Oh, that's even worse. International has pretty much come out and told us to light it on fire. >> That's not what you want to hear,
>> right? No. >> You know, >> 17,000 miles on a vehicle. >> Yeah. You You don't want to hear that. But >> for that same truck, do you know what a cost would be to for a new truck? >> 301,000. >> So, >> okay. >> If you're done with that, he does have
two warrant articles that he presented to the select men um that you'll be seeing. One one is for the salt shed. One is for a new truck to replace this. >> Fortunately, we don't have any revenue left in the levy. We have $550,000 in
cash, free cash. So, Chuck said he needs a salt shed prior to the truck. So, that is what um we'll be looking to fund uh hopefully at special town meeting. >> Kind of a the problem we've had the last two years is our salt suppliers are
falling short. We can't get salt during the blizzard. We didn't have salt. We had some. We didn't have I like to keep the salt shed full. So if we have as every snow event, whatever we need to fill that shed back
up is what I order. So if it's 200 ton, 300 ton, 100 ton, we try to keep that building full. For a month and a half this winter, we couldn't get any salt. You can't go to another vendor because they're locked
into their, you know, they um the ultimate goal for this salt shed would be to buy all the salt that we use, say 3,000 ton in August. Prices might be a little cheaper. Supply is definitely there. If I can buy a
year's worth of salt and get it in the summertime or early fall, we're good to go. Uh we've priced out different types of salt sheds. The one that we've kind of talked about and kind of settled in on
it's what 362,000 I think the quote I got from the supplier, the builder. Um that doesn't include the prep work or anything. So that's another 150,000 that we'll do in house. But I think for the town it would be beneficial.
Again, if we don't get it, you know, we'll keep doing what we're doing and hopefully the salt supplies, you know, get better, right? >> But unfortunately, the last two years, it just seems, you know, town of Berkeley calls me, "Hey, you got any salt?" No. Hey, then,
you know, if I have it, I can give it to them. If they have it, they give it to me. I have that, we have that relationship. Breth down Berkeley and Lithos. So whatever they need, you know, if if I can get salt and they can't, we we we
I'll give it to them. When they get it, they bring it back to me. Makes sense. We're all the same roads. We're all connected. >> We we we try to try to help everybody out. >> And it was also brought up about um keeping the salt underneath that shed will help with contamination, right?
>> Has it has to be in a building no matter what. Um, our building I think was put up in the early 80s. Um, I can use chapter 90 money to pay for this. The problem is if we're going to use chapter
90 money to pay for the salt shed, that money is not going to get spent on the roads, >> right? >> So, you got to try to have an equal balance one way or another. But, like I said, if the town decides at town meeting, hey, this we don't want to do this. >> It's up to the town's people, right? And I'm fine with that. And at that point, I
can say, "Well, you know what? The governor just gave us an extra $200,000 or whatever. Maybe I can just do a little paving this year and put the money towards the salt shed." >> Um, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. >> Yeah. Bring it to the town people, let
them decide, and we'll move forward the next day. >> Right. And and and the truck, like I said, our problem right now is I have more trucks than I have drivers cuz our main focus should be getting people bodies. We need bodies bad, you know.
>> Now, do you think like um maybe reach out to some of our own town employees, maybe they want to get a CDL or anything or No, >> I don't know that we have any town employees that want to take a pay cut. >> It's true. >> To come work for the highway department and it's not um like I said with the blizzard, if it wasn't for the fire
department and Chief Rose helping us, the result we wouldn't have the results that we had, you know, in the fire department, the fire chief was in the load of the entire blizzard. So his brother Paul, Captain Ashley, was in the backo the entire week.
>> I I didn't have the bodies to put in that those respective pieces of equipment. So they they were the heroes of the Blizzard. Uh if if Chief Rose didn't run the the skid steer, the police station wouldn't have got plowed. We don't have the people. We just don't
have, you know, the people to cover all the facilities. Um >> I think we got videos of chief uh doing donuts in the parking lot. Oh, it's again be great if the salt shed goes through town meeting. We get it. Hopefully we
can have it up by early fall. That would be great. If it doesn't, it doesn't. It's, you know, and we'll just do what we've always done for the last 100 years. We buy it as we need it and hopefully we can get it. >> Right. And you know >> what kind of structure is it?
>> It's a it's the latest and greatest that everybody is buying just cuz they're cheaper. It's basically a fabric tent. Almost looks like a quantit. It's 72 feet wide, 120 ft long. Um
it's that I don't know what the fabric is. It's like a poly whatever. It comes with a 25-y year warranty. And god forbid if we have a tornado or a hurricane or whatever and a tree blows through it, it's about $35,000 to reskin
it to put the a new piece of fabric on it. It's probably a quarter of the price of a wooden structure. Mhm. >> Um, >> believe it >> as the town's grown, you know, our salt
shed was put in, I do believe 1980, 1981, and it was something that the state offered. Every town has the exact same salt shed that we have. It holds approximately 600 ton, you know, stuff to the rafters.
That gets us through one good storm, two good storms, you know, so you're always always replenishing. Sure. And if we can get the material, the salt deal we deal with is great. They have it. I call them the very next day. I have a fleet of trucks in my
yard. That's great when it works. But when they don't have the salt, we're in trouble. Um, that's when you start scratching your head and you got to call the subcontractors in earlier that maybe you wouldn't because you could probably burn it off with salt.
So that in a way it costs more money. you know, if I got to call the 20 subcontractors plus my guys, it's it it's more money. It's more it takes more time. It's >> And every year those prices go up as far as those 10 foot >> plows and and
>> honestly, I don't know what we're going to do this year. Um I don't know what how we're going to incentivize these people to sign up because every year it's less and less people. >> Yeah. >> And this year the plow guys did pretty well moneywise. So, I'm hoping that's
going to incentivize the guys that have left. Maybe they'll want to come back. Um, I I don't know. You know, >> I think the combo of lack of snow over the years and maybe some insurance premiums gone through the roof. >> Insurance is a big deal. That's that's
the common what I hear from them all the time and I tell them is you you have to do it. You're a business. >> You're doing business with a town. You need insurance. you you're you're opening up the town to a ton of liability
because you're working for me, working for the town. And if you crash into a car or somebody's house, which has happened, you need that insurance, you know, you you need that. Um, but maybe we have to pay more money. Maybe I
don't know. I don't know what the key is to bring people back. I think it's a generational thing, too. Right. People are getting older and listen, if I never saw another snowflake as long as I live, I'd be quite happy, >> right? >> I I'm can't do it anymore. Not like I
used to, you know. >> Do you think it hurt us that we had a few winters that were really >> Yeah. >> uneventful, if you will. >> I think that helped. three straight years of >> if if the subcontractor has to come up with an extra $1,500 for an insurance policy and he doesn't make that money
back and plow and snow is brutal on vehicles. >> Yeah. >> Uh just things rot out quicker, things get banged up, bent up, whatever. And it costs a lot of money. So, it's not going to take too many years if somebody has to spend $2,000 every year and they're
only making $1,000 every year before they realize this isn't working. This year, probably my average subcontractor made, I don't know, 1012,000. Okay, now you know I can pay my
insurance and I and I put 10 grand in my pocket. You know, after I pay taxes, I put six grand in my pocket. But it's it's you know six grand is better than losing money. So um >> hopefully this last winter isn't the
norm and hopefully it's not going to be a trend. >> But I hope not. You know looking at the past few years you're in the 70s 80s and this year you're >> we got spoiled and and honestly it it was an oldfashioned winter. It's nothing special. I mean, even the blizzard,
you know, they claim it was a record high snowfall, but it it was just 30 hours of snow. It's just is what it is. It is what it used to be. But anyh who, >> I just have one more question. Um, personnel wise, and you're saying it's
hard because, you know, uh, the rate is not as high. Do you know the going rate around like communities >> for our for subcontractors for? >> No, no, no, no, no. our workers. >> Um I don't really think we're that far off, but we just lost a three-year
employee to the town of Dyon. >> Uh he went from $26 an hour to $32 an hour. >> Um >> and that's for doing the same job, Chuck. Basically, >> yeah, same job. And he's making and he's
a good kid, but he doesn't have the skill set he makes. He's now making more money than my foreman who can do everything. >> Yeah. I drop dead today and the town's not going to there's not even going to it's not going to miss a beat. Eric will be
there running the show and the three-year-old a three-year employee is now making more money. Um, if if Eric goes to the town of Dyon, which I'm assuming I I hear there's an opening for a foreman position, he'll be making $40
an hour. Now he's making $32 an hour. So, uh, the threat of him leaving is possible. >> Does he fall under the, uh, our union contract that we just negotiated last year? >> Yeah. Everyone but Chuck. >> Everyone but Chuck. Yep. It's it's it's
difficult but you know most towns again depending on what town there's rich communities there's poor communities. I was in town of Berkeley today there Foreman makes $34 an hour. Eric makes $32 an hour and that's Berkeley. You know it every town is like I said
there's there's towns that pay way better and there's pounds that towns that don't pay as well. Um >> well can we steal from the towns that don't pay as well then? >> Oh they're sold. I have no I I have talked to people in other towns and it and it's and it's a it's a rotten thing
to do and it's but it's difficult because you know these people they've come into the town they want to work for the town because it's a good job >> and they like the community but reality is
on Friday they go grocery shopping just like you just like anybody in this room and you go to the gas pump and you're paying $ a gallon for gas. It's tough. >> We're paying our laborers $22 an hour. You can't live on $22 an hour. Not in free time,
>> right? >> Uh the few people I do have a few people that are working, they still live at home with their parents. Well, that's huge. But the hopes and dreams of anybody to build a house or buy a house in town now is nil. It's not It's not possible for
anybody. >> Yeah. Over the years, I think the number one department that we've had many interviews for, I think you and I have sat on on many of those, is >> and it all boils pretty much down to the almighty dollar. >> Absolutely. >> You know, my my newest hire, who's
great, >> but he has that same pressure. We're paying him $25 an hour, but he can go drive a dump truck for gopes and make $42 an hour. >> Yeah. Well, it's the same eight hour day. Um,
>> yeah, >> it's it's just hard to to keep people. >> For those wondering, we have over the years skipped a step for people that came in with experience and everything else to be able to keep and retain employees, but then again, it snowballs
to the next town, more experience, more money. >> And and the union is, I guess, great in ways, but to me it it's a hindrance. >> Yeah. because I can't reward. Jared's a great worker. Shows up all the time. Puts in 110% all the time. He
makes $25 an hour. Chad, we've heard the same thing. >> Same, you know, but faith recognizing. >> Well, listen, look, I have to pay him. I There's no in I can't I can't reward him, right?
>> You know. >> Yeah. >> I reward him in my ways, you know. you drive the better truck or you you know, hey, I need somebody for overtime tonight. You want I offer it to him first just cuz I know he's the better guy and I know he's always going to take it. Whether it's setting up for
elections or or town meetings and needing people to run wires or whatever, you know, there's there's the go-to kind of people. And then I've got people that had it here two weeks ago when we had our little meeting. I was like, "Oh, are we getting paid?" No, you're not getting
paid. You're getting an an award. You're they're recognizing what you've done and you want them to pay you two hours overtime because >> they're being nice to us. That's dumb. Just shut your mouth and show up >> and you got a nice hat. >> And you got a nice hat, you know.
>> Um but again, the budget thing, like I said, whatever the town really needs, you know, we we can move stuff around, whatever we need to do. Um, uh, I don't I don't, like I said, we haven't asked for anything crazy.
Um, >> yeah, I don't see anything, uh, any major changes. >> Like I said, everything, whatever you buy, a tie, a truck tire used to cost $300. Now it's $700. So, you know, hopefully we're in all good
shape with that type of stuff, but it's just it's just the cost of doing business, unfortunately. All right. Anybody else have any questions for uh >> I have one question. Just shoot the new guy. So, has there been any conversation of reeal re-evaluating the salaries
comps to other towns? I mean, you talk about long-term and the culture and what I do. We I mean money's the motivator. It's an incentive. Obviously, you have the culture, but the money is in retaining people. Is that something to reconsider down the road we just for long term? Because you talk about you,
Eric retires or he leaves, your next best guy is probably on the outs. Where does that put us? >> I mean, it puts us in a pretty precarious position. Sure. >> If I'll use Eric just because he's my number two and um
if he leaves, we're in trouble. >> Real trouble. >> Real trouble. >> The my my next guy, uh John, excellent. where I can't I can't throw enough praise at this guy, but we're
paying him 26 $27 an hour. He could go into the real world and make a whole lot of money. But he he he's done that. He's had that lifestyle and he wants to come stay close to home, you know. But every one of my guys, including me, have a
second job, you know. You have to just to kind of make ends meet. And I tell people, I got to make plans to meet. the guy's salary is set by the union and the town negotiating. So, it's my
biggest hiccup is I can't reward the good guys, you know. I can't have three foremen, you know. I don't I don't want three foremen. I don't like titles because that just I'm not going to do that because I'm a biss or whatever. But
it would be nice if I could reward good workers. >> Not saying I'm going to punish the bad workers. >> I think like I said, laborers, we start at $22 an hour. >> Something you can think about incentive based reward for good foring employees.
>> I don't know if that's something >> Yeah, we get into the weeds. >> It's you're dealing with that, you know, and it's difficult, right? It is. >> I know. And I know during negotiations for all negotiations last year, we looked at the comps from all neighboring towns similar to ours and some areas
went up, some areas stayed the same, but for the most part, everyone got an increase across the board. Unfortunately, it's you have to negotiate with the union and there's pros and cons for everything. >> It's difficult because you know you you the workers pay goes up 2%.
>> The cost of living goes up 7%. >> Correct? >> Okay. You're fighting an uphill battle and that's not just in the town of Freetown. That's everywhere. That's and that's every industry. That's the truck driver, the guy that delivers the milk, whatever you may do. You know, everybody's struggling now. And you
can't help that. But I mean, we I think the town gives these guys a pretty good working atmosphere, you know. We're not beating them with whips, you know. >> Thank you for that.
>> Well, I'm old. If I hit them, they'll come hit me back and I'll fall and I won't get back up. But we we give them the I think the greatest working environment. We've got all great equipment thanks to the town. So, we're
not running junk. Everything is decent. The work environment is decent. You're working in town. But the bottom line is Friday when I go to stop and shop, the bag of groceries that used to cost $100 is now $200, >> right?
>> You know, especially if you got kids, >> they eat a lot, >> you know. Well, you fill up your fuel tank. Price oil right now is over $5 a gallon, you know, and it's just everybody's feeling the same pinch. But, >> uh, all right. Well, thanks, Chuck. Very
informative. Um, we'll keep trucking along. No pun intended. Anything. Like I said, we salt sheds, dump trucks, whatever it works, whatever we have to do. >> I still believe that we should have like an incentive for employees to go drive a truck every so often. Maybe the street sweeper, maybe a select or two can get
on a street sweeper. >> Oh yeah. >> Push him along. >> You want to drive a street? >> I kind I kind of do. >> Make them buy as hard as I kind of do. I'm not going to lie. >> 7 a.m. You show up at the shop, I'll have you in a street sweeper. I'll even
let you pick sweep your own road. >> All right. >> I'll go that. That'll just be all over social media. Look what you do. Tell >> But I'll may take up on it. >> Thanks, Chuck. Chuck. >> Thank you, Chuck. >> Listen, this is one of those trucks I haven't driven yet, and you want to see how it works.
Just get, >> right? I hope so. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. Well, down >> to be here. >> All right. >> Oh, no.
We got treat. >> Oh, sorry. Uh, we are looking in the hot seat. >> 210. I'm always in the hot seat. >> 210. >> Can we do 950 really fast? Tell my fuel. >> Sure. 550. >> I >> Yeah. Um, so you put in for the same
amount again next year. >> So, so obviously we when we first presented the fuel recommendation, it was before the Iranian conflict. >> So, does that need to >> It's definitely worth having a conversation about. Um, but, um, it's
hard to predict what the fuel is going to be throughout this next fiscal budget, right? I'd love to see things go back to normal. I think the whole country and everybody would like to see that come back to normal. >> Right. When you buy fuel, is it bulk? Like what like when's your when you
reup? Is it you got like a 10,000 gallons at a time? How how do you f >> So we monitor it from the department? Um we have a software program that communicates with the fuel tank and um depending on the season of the year, we do usually do bulk fill up. Well, if you
can imagine if we're getting towards hurricane season and the blizzards and stuff like that, we want to stay on top of it like so we're not shortfall during the blizzard or whatnot. So, it's a lot of uh supervision, you know, and um it's knock on wood, it's been kept up.
>> Yeah. Is that part of the uh the accreditation process? >> Uh un Yeah, fortunately not. We're doing it for the town because it needs to get done. It's very important. Every department runs on rule, right? in some form or fashion. So, >> who we buying it from, Chief Dino?
>> I believe it's Burks company. Yeah, >> it's very loyal. Um, for the most part, it's uh worked out very well. I think >> it's usually pretty close, right, pricing wise. Um, >> yeah, >> it's not it's not usually that far off.
Yeah, we follow the trends that that um what we see online and um knock on wood for the town. We've actually budgeted over and we've stayed within that. So um I think we've been lucky that it's
worked out the the way it has. >> Um but to be true to the budget, we always have to follow it and um make predictions when we can. Um again, this is something to talk about. I'm not sure if there's any wiggle room there to maybe add a 10 to 20% increase. I'm not
really sure. And I'm just throwing that number out there. I don't know what to expect from this next. >> Do you know what the comps are right now? >> I do not. >> All right. >> The comps >> um >> comparable prices >> from what he did before. Yeah. And then um and then from Burke, right? From what
he did back in what is this January, February to what the price is now, right? It must have increased. So this budget, just so you know, is set. We spent $111,000 last year. At the time that this was prepared, which is 6
months data, we were at $55,000. So on track to be at 110,000 again for the year. So there is some room in there, but I do agree with what's gone on lately that we probably need to increase it. So, um, one of the things that I did prepare tonight, but I need to confirm a
number is, um, I got a new assessment from the school today that decreased our assessment I have by 100 umund $108,000, but uh, Mr. Higgins has a different number. So, that 108,000 is freed up. I
already have things that we're going to need to adjust in the budget. And I have after I have those adjustments, I have about $30,000 of uh freed up money. So just for information purposes, you if you wanted to throw $25,000 in that budget, I think I could do it again. I
need to confirm with um Mr. Higgins that my number was just different than his number and I've got to figure out why. >> Okay, that would be great. >> That could be that could be a possible temporary solution. Yeah. I mean, listen, let's keep our fingers crossed and then we don't need it, right? And
work within the budget and that'll go back into the >> Yeah. Either that or we increase the reserve fund, which is also a number that I think should be increased already. >> Yeah. We >> could also rather increase this budget, we could just increase the reserve fund. >> Yep. >> So, keep that in mind and you guys can
let me know >> the way you want me to move forward. >> Right. So, >> right. Um, like Zer said, we can also do a transfer as well if it comes down to Yeah. just put it in the reserve fund. If we transfer, we do the >> trans contract you're locked into with Burke. I mean, can is you able to shop
it like JP Nan or somebody like that or what they're at a going rate at the time or are we locked into a contract with one particular vendor? >> I'm not sure. I think we've been pretty consistent with Burke. >> So, it's state bid list, right? Because of procurement reasons. So, we have to go the state bid list which is Burke.
>> Okay. So, we Okay. And I can look at that again, but that's partic that's particularly what we've done. >> And usually the only thing you're bidding on with them is the transportation, right? They're they're being paid for transportation. The fuel rate is the fuel rate. That's something
separate. So park is probably making cents per gallon, right? >> But they just bill us. >> They're billing. Yeah. So because depending on where they're buying it, they're buying it from >> I can look into it and get back to the um committees. >> This is probably more like just like
Chucks. It's probably going to be a fluid situation over the next few months depending what happens overseas, right? Keep an eye on it and then we it sounds like we have some options to move it to left or right depending what what happens. So that's good news for us. Okay. Are Mark, are you all set with the the
field question? >> Yeah. >> I just wanted to get that out there. >> Okay. No, absolutely. Uh, if you all go back to 210 and we'll start from the beginning. All right, Chief, what's what's new on this? Let's take a quick look. >> Well, just to give a I think you have
all the the sheets there. >> A majority of this is contractual. Um, and with in being met with the contractual, it's just not the um the raises that are negotiated with the town. There's a number of officers that
got college degrees. they get an associates degree, it's an extra 10%. If they get their bachelor's degree, it's 20% and uh there are some that get their masters and it's an additional five. So, as some of you may know that there's a
um a vacancy of a sergeant position that's open and uh guys are trying to get their degrees to put themselves in a better uh light and location to get promoted here into the future. So I think that's the trend that you're seeing is uh look if anybody wants any
advancement within the department they're going to be they're going to need college education to support that. So and that's why I'm here today. Um just going down so outside the contractual uh we asked for an
additional increase in repairs and maintenance of vehicles. It's just like what Chuck said, we're seeing costs increase with uh vehicle parts and maintenance and um it just we have to, you know, change with the tides and uh
the only other additional uh change is um the food supply. we asked for an additional $400. And the reason for that is that um in the past when we deal with the parade and fireworks uh event, it's
an all hands- on deck here at the police department. Uh traditionally the parade and fireworks committee had supported feeding the men and women here that worked that night and thanks for for doing that work. Well, it didn't work out this past year and it was asked to
for us to absorb it into our budget and I think that's going to be the trend going forward that um paying for the food for the guys for the the that the event is going to come out of the the uh department's budget. >> How do you how do you folks usually do guys that you guys order out and then
get we get a bill ahead of time? >> Yeah. So, usually what happens is uh past couple years I order a giant um um grinder packages just set it up out back. I pay one of my credit card and I submit it to the town and again it's
usually a hefty bill um that comes along. I'm dealing with uh you know 25 people. >> I'm going to find the treasurer of the PNF committee. that shouldn't be an issue for them too. I I believe they the thought behind that was that we they were going to do that, >> right?
>> So maybe got lost somewhere in the the weeds or the thread. So let me re-engage with them on that. Maybe we can adjust that in their future. >> Sure. >> Yeah. I think that thing was >> they wanted to like create a donation form and I said to pay the bill directly
and then >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Max. It's an early conversation and I and I remember specifically saying that's on the PNF committee, right, as a gesture as as goodwill because you guys work your butts off for 24 hours essentially. So, I think that might be just a
miscommunication. We'll re-engage. We have a new treasury this year. Um, and uh and I I I agree that it's a good trend to do. I mean, first responders are required to work this holiday event when most other people are enjoying the day off or the festivities. Um, and it's
tough on their families, too, because they're missing their, you know, their uh their parents who work for an apartment or the communication center. So, it's nice to throw that little appreciation >> towards them. Thanks for bringing to our
attention. So, uniforms, not too bad. Went up a couple grand, but not not over nothing crazy. You can see here, stipens. Yeah, the uniforms went up because it was contractual. >> Yeah. >> Right. Okay. >> Did the uh order for the ATV already go
in for the or UTVs? >> Yes. So, uh once the procurement was done and was signed off, we had ordered the unit um that is being funded by $20,000 of a grant that we acquired from the Burns Grant and the town approved in an article the remaining money. We made
the order um about three weeks ago. I'm I'm you know guessing here. Um, and we were told that there's a considerable amount of time for them to like build and get it to us. I'm hoping to see this thing. Um, I don't think we'll see it
for the fireworks event, but I >> was going to ask if you'd have it before the 4th of July. >> Yeah. Um, we're really looking forward. It's very high tech. Um, it's a four-seater. We're going to be able to transport more people. If you're familiar with the fire department's uh XUV, it's the same model. Uh the only uh
difference is we invested in a um uh onboard navigation and how that benefits us is dealing with the Freetown State Forest doing search and rescues and locations. Not only are the operators going to be able to use the navigation on on the vehicle, um administration
from here is going to be able to see it remotely through a computer system. So, we're really excited about this. And it's not only just monitoring the vehicle, we monitor all the maintenance that goes along with it. >> So, it's um I look forward to showing it off when we get it here. There'll
definitely be a little bit of a party. I I have to um uh provide uh a couple of officers to be instructors for this uh unit because it's that high-tech. And uh part of an accredititation standard, we have to provide the training for anybody that operates vehicle safely and for
liability purposes. and and let you folks know this year's fireworks is going to be bigger and better than ever. All right. Just letting you letting you know that right now. It's going to be a party. >> Um I have a question on um retired
vehicles. Yes. Could you talk about if you have any plan to be retired and also what is the process when you retire a vehicle? >> Sure. So, um I believe most of you know that we do have here a cruise lease program that uh the former chief had
created just about 20 years ago and it has worked very well for the town and the department. By doing that, it maintains a replacement program throughout our cruiser fleet on a regular basis where we are retiring cars
that are at least five years old and approximately well over 100,000 miles. Now, if you can imagine, our cruiser fee is made up of uh you is 15 vehicles. 10 of those vehicles are for the patrol side of things. The other five are for
administration. the the vehicles that are being used on the patrol side are driven hard. >> They are put to the test. They operate at high speeds. They go through all the terrain that uh you don't want to go
through. And when it reaches that level of over 100,000 miles in that years, it is we need to get rid of it because we're dealing with repairs. It's not worth investing the money in in fixing it versus uh replacing it with a new vehicle. So, knowing that our cruiser
lease program goes over this three-year cycle, cruiser lease is for three years. The three-year uh program goes with uh two cars the first year, two cars the second year, one car the third year, and then that rotation goes all over again.
So, that replacement of those cars every single year supports our fleet where I'm not coming back to you and crying about replacing cars. It's worked out really well. The only time I come back to crowd to you is when these guys get into an accident and they total a cop, which I
hope I didn't jinx myself. I didn't want to say. I was like, don't bring it up. But you said it based on experience, right? >> Based on experience. >> Discussion did not happen. >> Listen. Yeah. >> So you return the vehicle back to the lesser. >> So once the vehicle is ready for
retirement, I approach the board to say that, hey, Nelly has to go out the pasture, right? So, um I give the specs, I give the uh the condition of the vehicle, and it's reviewed and it's vote on them. From there, um the vehicle goes
back to the town and they can um consider making uh disposal of it in different ways. It can be put out to auction like the most recent ones that did. >> It can be used in uh some type of value in tradein for either maintenance or uh
adjustment in a in a car. Um, we have done that in the past as well, but it's what is the best value? What is the best bang for your buck? >> I It's hard for me to really depict on that. I'd like to think maybe with the
um the auction maybe you can get more physical money because that money goes back to the town and into the general fund, >> right? And then the town can decide what they want to do with that money. >> Send a lot of stuff to it. It's called municiped and it can be voted on, right? So that that's where most of the stuff
has seemed to have gone, right? There's very few that have been traded back in. It's pretty much all we >> declare that send them to the municip. But at the end of the day, it's the decision of uh the you know the board on um how they want to deal with the car >> and what what happens with the
specialized equipment that are in the >> be next question as well. Okay. So keep going. No, no. Roll. >> Can like are we talking about the electronics and all that other stuff? >> Sure. all the stuff I probably don't know you have in the vehicle. >> Yeah. So, >> maybe I don't want to know you have.
>> Let me It's always wise maybe like a month or two prior to this meeting if the if the finance committee wants to come and like visit and see what's all I'd be happy to do that >> but these uh patrol cars that we operate are a technological nightmare between
all the equipment that's in there. So, everybody knows that cars have flashing lights and sirens and control boxes that monitor all that stuff. But when you start talking about radar units and uh mobile data terminals and all the safety
equipment that we have in the back, which leads up to like stopsticks and flares and medical gear and crime scene tape and and I'm not even doing justice because when you open it up back there, it's look like somebody's living back there. You can't put you can't put a
bicycle in there. If we pick up a bicycle on the side of the road, it's completely packed. All our um uh uh equipment that we use for an active shooter between helmets and tactical vests and we have ramming uh devices to
open up doors. It's uh it's a feat to fit all that equipment inside the vehicle. So when we are building a cruiser from from brand new, not only do we deal with the vehicle, we deal with the outfitting of all the electronics, brand new uh control boxes, the antennas, all
the wiring, all brand new from from the get-go. Um, we are now replacing our radar units in the same fashion. Instead of coming to the town and saying, "Hey, I got 10 patrol cars. I need 10 brand new radar units." We are replacing the
radar units as they are being developed in the car. >> So, new technologies. >> Correct. Because all technology >> lifespan on a radar unit. >> Well, it's hard to say because I mean a a radar unit could be involved in an accident and gets banged around and the
radar cone gets defective and we send it out to get checked and as long as it's certified and works, but we see a car that looks like it's going 35 mph but it depicts 65 mph. that's well this is a problem. We don't want to be writing people a $300 extra ticket, right? So
anyways, uh what I'm getting at that there has to be some consideration that these electronics do have a shelf span and even all the wires that connect all that stuff, it wears. The car's running around, it's moving around, it could wear in a certain location. I have had
wires um fray in the past and we just have to order new wires and replace it. Um, so we don't we have never bothered repairing light bars because
I don't even know who to really deal with that. I mean, we just buy it brand new, we replace it, and maybe I can send it back to the manufacturer, but by the time you shift it and send it back, you probably spend half to 3/4 of what it actually is worth. So, um I can honestly
say that we don't deal with a repair problem with all our electronics because we replace them new. Now, whatever we have left over, and this is something I can address with the town is if they want to see if they get any value with that and put it on the auction block. Um you can you can do
that type of stuff. >> Not that like you know when I look at process improvements, right? We're going to we get this vehicle, we put all the stuff into it, the extras, right? before we put on the missed. Is there anything we can scrap take out of it? Like one thing like one for one like a like a mount, right? A mount will maybe you
need a new bracket, but one mount from one vehicle to another may save us a couple hundred bucks if not more. Things like that. So, as we move forward, I think it'll be prudent of us to save as much money as possible. Maybe even take out the spare tire. I know that sounds cheap and all, but like Chuck said, it
went from $300 to $700. It may save us some money down the road, right? So, something to think about as we move forward. >> Sure. Thank you. The >> welcome. >> The um reserve officers, is that like for the the special officers now?
Because they know we don't have the reserve officers. >> Yeah. So, if you can imagine um several years ago, we no longer have part-time reserve officers. Un well, fortunately for us, we had a retiree that loves still working here, and he opted to be
retired, but still work for us on a part-time basis. I figured that's where you were going to go with it, but I was just curious. >> Yeah. And um his specialty for this department is not only just a part-time officer that can work out in the field, but he's our IT specialist for our
computer networks uh system >> as well as a firearm infrastructure. So, he's used multiple ways and I would rather pay pay him his rate versus >> another officer overtime to do those.
And he's a good guy. >> He's a very good guy. Dependable, loyal. >> Yes. >> I figured that's what you were going to say, but I just wanted to ask to be clear. >> It be Edw. >> Yeah. What's that? >> Going to be Edw. >> You said it, not him. >> I can say that. I can say that, but yes,
it is Edwine. He's happy. Not >> he's stuck on midnight. >> So, right now, how many vehicles do you have sitting back there? >> 15. >> 15. >> 15. That's not including trailers. They're all in use. >> They're all in use. Y
>> and you're fully staffed. >> No. >> Go ahead. >> Go ahead. What? >> Speak to me. >> Oh, okay. So, we are budgeted. We're fully budgeted for what we agreed upon. Uh we're currently budgeted for 21 full-time officers and I'm including in that
>> 21 officers. Um, we obviously we have one part-time officer like I mentioned before and that could Gez I'd love to see three or four more other full-time officers from other communities come over here part-time, but that's not realistic. It's it is a
unicorn, right? So, um, >> we have three retirees that are special police officers that work traffic control only. We have one I'm I'm sorry. Yeah. Three three specials that work uh
they retire retirees that work details. We have one civilian traffic controller who aged out as a police officer and is now a civilian traffic controller. He works details. And we have two civilian lockup attendants who are basically uh
the function of watching a female prisoner who only have those uh moments. and then one administrative assistant on the police side. >> So what does your reasonable
um staff look like? >> So two years ago I worked with the town administrator and I provided her with a staffing analysis uh for the town. And in that analysis, um, and what I've learned about dealing with analysis, different types of
formulas and and functions to be able to predict what the amount of law enforcement personnel should be for the department. Um, some people use a ratio of population size. Uh, but the true measure and what uh the former chief had
left me is a uh call volume and activity uh analysis. So what I did in that analysis was break down all the activities reasonable activity that's required in a formula. Not all log entries are considered into that. For
example, administrative functions are really not a call for we're talking about an active response. Someone needs a call for service. That broke down to where I could the town could support us with an additional um an officer which
they did. Um, with that, it also supported a part-time SRO program and a um part-time uh enforcement with the uh town uh boat ramp and the idea as well that it would hope
that that additional full-timer would reduce overtime when those opportunities uh arose and which it it did. uh a true measurement. Um I can't give you a true amount of money, but I have seen it when when we have four officers scheduled
during the day, one of them is on leave. We don't backfill that officer. We make sure we have three officers normally on a patrol shift throughout the shift. The days of having two officers working on a shift is not safe. It's not practical. and the amount of volume that we're
having uh is we need to do better and make sure that we have three officers on the leadership. So, where I'm going with this is that the staffing analysis that I provided to the town uh has been worked out well. Um I think the biggest uh dilemma I'm dealing with is all the
unknown absentees within the department with the >> been playing with that over the last couple years. We uh had a historic year where we had an officer uh had to take maternity duty and she was on light duty for a period of time and then turned into like an FMLA, right? So during that
time I lost that officer and it impacts patrol and then uh I try to do as best as I can to reduce the overtime but sometimes it's just inevitable. I have to you know pay the overtime. So I think the 21 number is a good number. Um,
currently I have one open position. I'm foreseeing another open position in 10 months. Um, I am being proactive right now to to say that I'm looking to post an advertisement to start getting
applications in. So, I put the town in a good position on some type of decision-m process, but at the end of the day, um, it's the appointing authorities's decision to make to replace that person. All I can tell you is this, that there's
an impact when we have that body that's lost. All these other unforeseen things are going to happen are going to happen. I'm going to cry about it when it happens and try to manage it. Um, we'll do the best that we can, but it's important to stay on top of maintaining
those numbers, you know. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, the I would say to add to that, the plan we put in place has worked out very well uh minimizing the impact. So, uh, again, those those plans are always adjustable, right? So, um, do what you must and we'll go from there. >> Forgive me on this side of the room cuz
I don't mean to talk cuz you're part of it, too. I feel like I'm in the gauntlet. I should be back. It's all right. >> All you guys, but >> we should put a few people behind you. That's really mess with >> the new guy question, too. So, talking about vehicles, you lease five and then
the other 10 you own. >> Yeah. So, after the three-year program, the town owns the vehicle and um we've disposed of it in different ways. We've actually um transferred it to another department if needed. Um the
vehicles that are on the administrator side, those vehicles are not being operated from like the patrol side. They're operating like normal human beings. I hope you know I I >> So those vehicles are key for other
departments that need a SUV for whatever reason. And I uh Lisa was here. Seems like she gets our hand-me-downs quite a bit, whether it's from us or the fire department. We're always in communication with the town administrator uh to see how it can be
best suited and used. Do you ever feel that you own the vehicles for too long? That it's a crutch and the cost of ownership just gets high where >> Well, if I could answer that real quick. So, one of the vehicles we just took from the acco control officer, she was uh basically Barney rubble with a hole
in the ground, a hole in the floorboard before we upgraded her vehicle to what she has now. So, uh I think the answer is yes and no. We've been savvy over the years where if we find a car that um is exceeded its life but its body is in good shape,
we'll keep that stored and cannibalize it when we have our other cars that are still in the same model time to say replace a door because it was involved in an accident or a scratch or for whatever reason or we got heavy officers sitting in the car and we need a new
seat and reo out. we'll go over there and take the the seat out of that car and and >> the things that we do with this specific car has worked out better for the time. You want to talk about how we save money, that's how we save money. We do things like that. >> So, one of the cars that recently we
sent back to the auction was one of those cars and it looked like it came from the Bronx because it had no interior to it. There was nothing more than scrap. It needed to go right to the junkyard. So those stories you don't hear very often, but those are the
things that we do to make things better and work within the department that we can. >> You do get every bang for the buck. >> Small town, small town living. So, and we take care of each other. >> Yeah. Right. >> We try to get those cars out of the pen and out of sight so people don't see, hey, why is this car on blocks? Well,
it's because we're picking at it, you know. So, yeah. If you had any more questions on that one, we can move on to 215, >> please. The communications, >> could I just add one more thing to the chief police budget? So I I don't know
if most of you know that we acquired a body warn camera grant and um the grant that we got from the state supports uh the first year complete um of all the equipment and and everything to get us
up and running. Um the grant total just under $150,000. But going forward, the grant does not support cloud storage of the data that's collected from these body own cameras. Knowing this, there's an additional on
year 2 through year five, there's an additional $10,500 um that I'm going to have to um come up for an expense. I did not add that into my budget. After talking to the town administrator, it would be best and
again to be a good uh supporter of the town. I'm looking to absorb that money for with this budget. If things get rough at the end of the year, then I'll go cry on the town administrator's shoulder and say, "Hey, I need to make
future adjustments for whatever reason." But what I want to put forward is with this uh body one camera grant, there is a future expense leading into this next fiscal budget of another 105, but I'm going to try to work it in with the budget that I have here presented to you
today. So, I'm trying to do better and make things work more financially sound for the department and the town when when I can. I if it if I'm a success, I'm a hero. If I'm not then he can take me out to >> you have to pass here with the vehicles. >> Right. So
>> So it's not cloud it's cloud-based. It's not on the server here. >> Correct. Um after talking to a lot of chiefs um they had advised me do not get physical servers within your department. You're going to exceed it right away and
you're going to be looking to upgrade it and there's going to be a cost with that. And additionally, you are responsible from everything in that in that server and now you're pushing the responsibility to the cloud-based system. So, there's a lot of advantages of going that way. And
that when I built this grant, I knew that going into this, but >> we're going to be set for a 5-year program with this body warn camera grant. So, that's something that I can pat myself on the back. >> Congratulations. Um I'm not coming for
the town for that money and um in 5 years then you can curse me later because we'll be looking for the money to for replacement or maybe there's another grant who who knows and I've become very familiar with grants. >> I like to uh if I can bring the money in I'll bring the money in.
>> So the alternative from the cloud base is the old system come to back to the unit come back to the station plug it in and it downloads off of it. Is that what they were planning? So it's there'll be docking stations throughout the the department and it'll upload through the
network system out to you know in that format >> but yeah that's you know I'm not an IT guy so don't hold me to that >> I have an IT question I'll go call Ashley TJ >> yeah he's he's definitely an asset >> just clarify chief um you said the first
year everything was covered >> yes >> does that include the cloud storage >> yes so I going >> that shouldn't hit this budget. It should hit next budget. >> I correct. >> I I think what you're going to see is the payment is when we sign this
contract. So, we just signed the contract yesterday. So, a year from today, there'll be another $10,500 bill. >> We don't even have the We don't have the equipment, though. We don't have anything yet. >> I know. It's going to be delivered here
any time and they're going to get I know. I'm >> It's going to be tight. We'll see. >> We're I'm certainly aware of it. We've had this conversation. >> Yeah. >> See how it goes. Um >> is it a prepaid for the year >> or is it a monthly charge?
>> Um I believe once we get the equipment and the um training and everything installed, they'll be looking for the grant that full grant of 148,000 and change. >> I'm talking about that 10,000. So if you're saying that the year starts
yesterday and a year from today they're going to say now you're year two. Do they want that 10,000 that day or is there a monthly charge after that? >> I guess the answer is this. I don't know. So I I got to get you an answer for that. So that's probably
>> I'm just wondering how much is actually going to hit the budget. It sounded like to me with the package that I saw it was in, you know, they broke it down into years. Year one was the full grant. Year two was year 2, three, four, and five is that $10,500.
The schedule I got to figure that out. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. And I believe there is language in the contract that talks to that u from reading it. So we have to just refresh ourselves with it. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> All right. If no more questions, we'll
move on to 215. >> All right. Looks a lot of contractual things coming in. Salaries have increased as expected. >> And there's one new dispatcher coming on. >> I was going to say >> so.
Yeah. So, obviously there are contractual issues with the communication department. um you're not going to find any um expenses increases. Matter of fact, most of them are down.
There's one that's up uh 13 or $1,400 that is there. But um what we um in in collaborating with um Margaret and the town administrator, one of my challenges in dealing with the
communications department is having uh say reliable part-time uh dispatchers that come in in those open vacancies. And what I found is that it's tough to find those people because they have full-time jobs in other
foremans. And when those shifts that are needed for them to fill in, they can't because they're at their other full-time jobs. There's some people that only can work weekends. And um when there's open vacancies during the week, I'm at a loss. So it usually goes out to overtime.
um a discussion with the town administrator and the FCCOM chair, we thought maybe we try an additional full-time dispatcher to support uh um two dispatchers on the 4:00 shift. So
that um because of the amount of calls that have been increasing, but also helps out when those vacancies do happen, we can resort back to one dispatcher and not worried about, you know, filling the um the open vacancy. So, what I decided to do was reformat
the uh personnel expense to support a full-time dispatcher, reduce uh overtime and some of the part-time funding for the part-time dispatchers to support that um full-time position. Thanks for
explaining that. My question was to you was your overtime, gross overtime went down from 27 to what it is now. Well, sorry, 23 to what it is now. So, so what we're predicting is that this will definitely reduce overtime,
plus maintain the extra staffing levels when we do have two dispatches on the 4:00 shift to support those extra calls. But again, like like I said, we have an open vacancy. We're not so critical in pushing out overtime replace it because
we have one person that's there. >> Yeah. I remember the net difference in cost was only about 3,3500 to have an additional full-time employee versus the part-time and the overtime expense. So, we thought I it was better
to have that stability with the department for the $3,000 additional cost. >> Now, I hope that comes true through the end of the year. We'll >> we'll watch. >> We'll watch. Right. And um what that budget also supports is we have three
officers within the department and one full-time firefighter that maintains their certification levels to work as a dispatcher. They started off there. They kept up with their certifications and when all else fails, we need an extra
person in there. If we go to those officers and the uh firefighter to fill in those spots, their overtime rate turns into a blended rate. So, I can't even tell you, they don't get the true overtime rate that an officer would get cuz that would cause a mutiny in there
with the with the dispatchers, right? So, they get a blended rate. It's a lower rate and um it's a nice safety net for the department as a whole because you never know with this blizzard we had actually had a third working station in there and it worked,
you know, seamlessly to have that extra makeshift station that we put in there and uh we had one of those officers working in that position. So I can say that was definitely a good decision. It's a success and I think you're going to see that in the future with higher
critical incidences where we put in like a a temporary third station. Um I'm a I haven't worked out the details with the fire chief, but I foresee the um the command post to deal with the Fourth of July event at the communication center.
We have more technology to deal with any type of issues. We can see the calls coming in. Plus, we're able to maintain uh weather alerts and all that other stuff and make better predictions and work from there versus working at the
fire station that turned into a um >> a a disaster zone from everybody leaving the festivities at last 4th of July. So, we're pivoting and I'll probably make that recommendation to to make the command post here at the department, but
that's soon to be uh determined. So, >> have the fiber optic guys popped in yet? >> I dealt with them today. >> Okay. >> Um, brought them in tomorrow. They're actually dragging the line through the station tomorrow. Okay. >> Uh, either myself or one of the officers
will be with with them throughout the process because of sensitivity in the room. Just can't leave them unattended. >> Yeah, I agree. And for those wondering what I'm talking about, we received a grant, federal grant through the uh opera, right? opera or Bristol County
opera. It was one of those. >> Yeah. State grant municipal fiber grant >> and we got fiber grants to the town, right? Going connection connected to all town buildings. So I believe you're the first or the second. >> So between you and fire uh town hall, things like that. So down the road what
that means for the town to be determined, but we'll have 100 strands of fiber optics around town. >> Yeah. >> Which is which is great. >> Well, if you have questions that cuz I just want to go over one MFA. So, the only other thing that I wanted to mention is that the chief has a
warrant article that's going to come um I believe with the salt shed. Um $550,000 of free cash we have will fund the salt shed and we will be able to fund the article. So, I don't know if you want to just quickly explain that article and what it's for.
>> Sure. So, um we are in our sixth year here at the department. Um we are currently experiencing um serious video surveillance failures where we have to reboot the system on a weekly basis. Part of that reason is we
didn't really have a um contractual plan with the video surveillance system to keep up the maintenance with it. So what we found is as computers and again I'm not an IT person but as computers get
upgraded with their software Windows software system the video surveillance system was not getting its updates and what we found was there was constant conflicts with the video surveillance system and our
um Microsoft operating system and that's why we're experienc all these failures. So, in order to um fix this problem, we have to acquire all brand new licenses for the video surveillance system, which
was about a $30,000 expense along with we're coming to the lifetime of the server specifically for the video surveillance system and the replace that. It was wise just to replace it all together because we're at the shelf life
and that's an additional $15,000. On top of that of our computer network system here at the department is at that age again. We're the last time we were close to like maxing out our video surveillance and we found out that we were storing way too much video on our
server. So we had to cut it back. So anyways, our video uh I'm sorry, our network server system was close to 70 to 80% full. So now we have to replace or upgrade the network server to
our department. It was wise to combine everything together um because it goes along with all the it. I don't have the exact figure in front of me. >> C6000 was the request, >> but that figure is to upgrade and
replace the video surveillance system that's here at the department. And what that means is all the cameras are good. It's just replacing the software um upgrading a brand new service system and the licensing on the police uh
network. It's a brand new network um server for the department. Do >> you know what uh vendor you're using for the surveillance the back end? >> The video surveillance is BBS Boston. I don't know and the acronym, but it's a
Boston based company that does that was a part of building it into the station when we had first had it built. >> That makes sense. >> So, I I might be able to find it, but other than that, that was the only thing I just wanted you all because the more articles will be
>> I just think it's something that we have to deal with. We've been kicking this can down the road for over a year. Um, and there's nothing worse if we're in a critical interview or something that needs to get recorded for whatever reason and the thing is locked up and in a failure,
then we have to explain why, right? And you know, if it goes to court, we're going to be in a pickle. >> So, um, and we rely on video surveillance system constantly. We constantly have a live feed. It's it's pumped through the whole station. Dispatch watches it on a regular basis.
Um, and on top of that, um, when issues happen in the department, I need to go back to the playback system to figure out what's going on. >> Well, long term, think about surveillance. You don't capture any of the town hall or transfer station surveillance at this moment. Correct. Or
the one at the beach at the uh, boat ramp. >> No, we do not. Um, but I recently had asked to potentially get a live feed here at the department. I think it would be beneficial. >> That's where I'm going with it. uh you know areas that are dark the beach once lights go up right there's talks of
doing that right we've got a grant for that add some power down there as well as the boat ramp it help alleviate some of the pressures of continuously going down there right versus just being able to see it and then when you do see something you can react much faster than waiting for that phone call to come in right
>> so as you build that up if you if you could just take a look at that new system if approved by the town residents can accommodate that right because that would be beneficial long term It gives us long-term thinking. >> Sure. Well, there will
>> now is that mandated by So, we talked about the fuel that the the vendor that you use for surveillance. Is that mandated by uh the state or any sort of or can you are you able to put that out to bid if you want to look at a different product? So BBS,
I haven't I haven't checked, but being part of the group that actually installed it in this building, I'm assuming they're a part of some type of contractual group to get it in here. But going forward, um it just made sense that they own the
system to continue with they knew they know the product. And >> I was just think about the challenge you're talking about with reliability. There are fully based cloud providers that do that sort of stuff too. I didn't know if that's something we could look at. I didn't know how it worked in a police station, what requirements there were. >> Yeah, I kind of focused in on the same
company that had it going. Um, especially when when it was working properly, it worked out great. There's nothing better where if you look at the old TV movies where an interrogation is going on and there's a one glass window, that's a myth now. That doesn't happen
in real life. We're relying on a live feed into the interview interrogation room and we need to have that equipment. So, I'm in another room watching and listening as that interview is going on. >> Um, we've had pretty steady reliability of that. Um, I at times when I know an
officer is working in the interview room, I'd like to go and listen to see how he operates just to see uh going to doing a good job. And it's it's nice to be able to do that. Um, but for purposes of call, we need the reliability, you know. So,
>> I'm wondering what the schools use because they have so many cameras all over the place. >> We know exactly what they use. We did a security walkthrough with them a couple years ago. Um, we have a full full accounting with the we walked with the police and fire through all the different schools and and our superintendent. So, we have a pretty good idea of what they have. They they
have an outdated system and currently Lakeville has the ability to ch look in as we do to FES. uh we have capability on our their cell phones. Um I'm not sure if here at the station, I know you can look at it through your mobile devices as needed. >> Some guys have that ability. I do not,
but u it's definitely uh it's a techy thing. >> Correct. >> I think some of that's been updated because that there's a different there's a different system now. It's a little more in like complicated sort of, but it's a better feed. >> Yeah, it's better feed. The problem we have with the cameras at all our
schools, they're very similar. They're all Chinese built and everything else and every compatible to the software we have here. Uh we did a a study um a walk through uh detailing where they're all pointing and everything else. One, we need better cameras. We need a better feed. Uh we're also like like like your
issue, server systems and everything else. Um it it was it was up there. It was quite a bit. And it starts with replacing most of the cameras cuz they're really they're outdated. cameras have a good shelf life about five, six years before >> they lose, you know, especially the ones outside looking into the parking lot
very grainy and everything else. They work they're they're they've been used and for whatever issue they we need it for. But that's that's a question that down the road that's going to be it's going to get higher louder and louder. There's grants for it, too. >> Yeah. No, I but I do think they some of them have been updated because I can
actually trail when somebody has gone from point A to point B. That was a that was a system that Chief Rose and I and Chief from Lakeville, we sat in our meeting with Bosch uh to include that software to be able to track people. It reduces the strain on the person observing the camera, but also gives a
great capability to the police officer to be able to track and then apprehend as needed. So that that was a great collaboration between the school system, both police departments. Um and I'm very happy that I took lead on that. So and of course approval from the select board and we'll continue doing that because that that is important. We just need
more grant money. So if you know a senator, congressman, >> tell them, give us a call. >> Working on it. >> Yeah, I know. I know. Always. >> So it sounds like you have a pretty high level of assurance that this will be a fix the fix >> for >> that the vendor has provided you.
>> Yeah, I believe enough insurance. >> Um we have called him in on um emergency basis to get us back up and running and he's very been very helpful and cooperative and I've been paying him out of the budget to deal with those issues. again unforeseen but I need the system
to be able to work so I am confident that that's definitely this upgrade is a better system going forward in maintaining what we have here >> but I wouldn't be surprised there's a bid list people that actually are able to
>> oh absolutely >> feed into it so we'll see what what happens >> can make it a bidding war and you know >> yes all right any other questions for the chief Not sweating enough. >> Hey, we should have done this in that interrogating room.
>> Oh my gosh. I thought I was going to get a fogg there for a minute. >> See how you feel. Check the feet. >> Thank you. Thank you. Time. >> Thank you, sir. >> And again, the opportunity is there. If somebody wants to get a tour of the
station, fall, be happy to give you the old station. We used to give tours. It was 20 minutes. Now I plan on an hour in terms of the multiple levels and stuff, but really it's an eye opening experience to see what the town afforded us to work here and we're very humble
and very grateful. So thanks. Thank you. >> Enjoy a ride to Berkeley, Chief. >> We'll do. >> They need a little bit of meditation, guys. Still they might have some of our salt. It's maybe still on the road. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Now, are we planning on going through the next few or might as well? >> Which ones? Florida Health. >> Florida Health. >> I don't know if you if anybody has questions. We didn't >> any questions with 433 >> 510. It looks like we budget went down
>> about 2 3%. >> Uh be careful. Board of Health has to go up 30,000 cover. >> Yeah, I do have that. I'm I've started a spreadsheet to keep things from getting too
confusing when we start changing budgets and seeing that now it's confusing once we start changing. But I did start a spreadsheet and we do have a contract increase. I don't know what I'm looking at because it's not it. Oh, there it is. $30,000. Um, and that's for the
Riverhawk Bass uh contract. We don't have a choice. The D's uh telling us this is what we have to do. So, that budget will increased by $30,000. The and the reason why you're seeing the decrease is because of the the way we divvied up the allocated the help.
Right. >> Right. >> The clerk there. So what Riverhawk is doing for those that are are new to the committee is they're testing our wells, checking our water, and when they do find the PAS, they're also statemandated water services to those to those homes
until we have a solution. So that could be short-term or long-term. That could be bottle services for life. We don't know yet. So D is mandating it and we're unfortunately >> we that's it's our it's our issue to deal with at the moment, but at the same time, it's our residents. We got to make sure we take care of them. So
unfortunately that comes with the cost. >> So if you look on the health budget, there's a line for water and that's the water we're supplying to the residents. >> And that's the $5,000 line. >> Yes. That's bottle service. Uh a handful
of homes have been tested for PAS above the normals. And and the issue with the testing, not issue, but the reason why we have an increase in PAS is the state has changed their their testing protocols from parts per billion to parts per trillion. And because of that, we have a larger pool now. So now we're
testing wells within a certain area of the transfer station and other areas. U luckily we did get a million dollar grant from um a congressman to be able to engineer a water line on on that area in the event we do need it down the road to include tapping into the school down
the road. >> So that's the water that has PAS in it. >> Well, the water would come from Fall River with PAS. the other. >> Sorry, I couldn't hear. >> You're just referring to the town owned wells. >> We have to test the wells. >> Well, we test the the town owned wells
around the transfer station. Some of those four of them, I believe, came showed signs of PAS. So, we had to then test all the um residents that were within 500 ft. 500T.
>> That makes sense. >> It's an ongoing thing. people are ignoring um the the notifications and then all of a sudden they'll say, "All right, come and test." >> So, it's an ongoing thing.
>> Los's point, they changed the levels and then >> people are triggering over. The issue is also that >> your house has become a contaminated site >> and is now listed y >> as a contaminated site. So people don't
want to get tested because they say, "I don't want to deal with it. I'm not drinking the water. It's going to hurt my property value, right?" >> So you get the mix of both people. >> We've done everything we could from sending letters, knocking on doors. Um just asking, "Hey, can we test it?" But
understandably, it's their property and they can do what they want. And I understand that. Um but we're just there to help. So if they change their mind, we're we're there. And um some have, others have continued to push back. And again, that's okay. But we want to make them aware. So hopefully they go out and
self test themselves and maybe that's something that you know in the background they you know we don't want them doing anything to their bodies that they like we don't like our children everything else. So ongoing it's uh we'll stay on it. Hopefully that water line grant that we got for about a
million dollars um you know gives us something to work with and then additional grants to possibly install it down the road and that brand new paved road that Chuck will hate us for. So, all right. >> One thing I did want to mention to uh
both uh committees and boards is that um all of the department heads, the bylaw employees put in a 2% increase per my my letter, my suggestion of the budget. As we know, by employees do not get steps increases. They don't get any of
that. They only get callers on a yearly basis. So, a little bit different than unions and contract employees that have the right to negotiate. Now, last year we did let most of the bylaw employees come before you and get wage adjustments and bring them pretty much where hopefully in comparison of other towns
and I think we did a good job with that. But as all uh human nature and as we've heard tonight, the 2% doesn't really keep up with inflation. So, I'm putting out there that possibly we could give our bylaw department heads a 3%
increase. What's in the budget is 2%. I've calculated what 3% would cost. Um, it would cost the town uh $4,650. However, I think it would go a long way with the bylaw employees. So, that's not a decision that you need to make
tonight, but I I do have these this this and I'll pass it out. Um, so, >> and what was it at 2%? What would it have been? >> Well, 2% I didn't total it, but I the 2%s are already included. Okay. I just I just an additional 1% for our bor
employees would be $4,650. Now that's just the full-time employees. I didn't part-time employees, which we do have a couple of them. I just left them at the 2%. Um so something for the committees and
the board to to um to consider. And I'll give you these so that you have them to look at. >> Deb, I know you're probably closer to them than all of us. Um, you think that would go a long way in like goodwill and morale? >> No, I think so. I mean, I think it's more of a fair fair wage, right? 3% in
this in this. In fact, you're seeing a lot of it in the union, right? It always used to be 2%, but now I talked to the, you know, council and they said really, you're not seeing the 2%s anymore. You're seeing the threes. The problem is sustainability, right? And I keep saying that it's difficult just to
sustainability. And one of the things that I'm working on once we get through this town meeting is I just met with Nancy the planner today um and we're going to try to revive the economic development committee and start looking at ways we
can start you can just pass these along pass um you know bolster our economic development especially in the strip of u main street in aa where we've had buildings knocked down we have some vacant land up there we need to start looking at that area we got the train station down. We need to start looking
at how we bring business there to help offset uh future increases in in in the t in in in the cost of of running the town. And we'll also look at the east free town side where we do have some businesses. So nothing's a quick fix. As you all know, municipalities work
slowly, but we got to start somewhere. So I will be focusing on that with my team um after town meeting very soon. So, um, >> so that we can do our part to keep up with the inflation without having to raise taxes to the residents.
>> So, >> yeah, it would go a long way. You know, >> say it's a relatively small number if it brings a lot of goodwill. That's the thought. >> I think it will. Yeah, >> I think it will. I mean, they've asked me, they've written memos, they've, you know, you know, but thinking, um,
>> the money is available. It's not going to give make any big impact on us, is it? >> What >> the the money we have the money available to do this. >> Yeah, we're I mean >> not going to have any detrimental impact. >> It is okay. I mean, we have it. You know what I mean? Yeah.
>> I think you like you said go a long way. >> I think it will. And I think the fact that they they that they know that you're listening to them is important, too. Not just like it's 2% and that's what it is. that that that you hear what that they're coming to me asking me for
some more and I'm asking you and I think that they they will appreciate that. >> Yeah. I saw how greatly appreciative they were when we had the little the 65 folks here that were out there for the storm, >> right? U we gave them, you know, from the town select bins uh budget uh
donations. We all got them a hat with the town seal on it and you know it was a small gesture. However, the morale picked up, right? So I I see in their faces, you can see them talking around town. Yeah. It's it's small money for a big impact. It's big spot. >> Nothing really.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you, Debbie, for bringing that to our attention. >> Okay. You can let me know. And again, we'll keep a running uh we're going to keep a running tab of how the changes to the budget. Um I've got to confirm the number with the school. >> Yeah.
>> Great news with the school. >> So So did you hear that there is an a reduction into the school assessment? I just I just got it at about 4:00, so I'm waiting for um I uh Jack Higgins did respond to me, but I'm going to go back to system because it's a lot strong. >> Yeah. >> Um
>> it's at least $50,000. My calculation is $100,000. So, we're off a little bit, but um it's still a reduction that frees up that that little bit of money to do the that $30,000 contract that we need for the blood health and the other things that we do need. >> Sometimes we get lucky. Well, I'm hoping
they get some more state aid and we get a little more wiggle room there. >> Just a debating game at this point. >> All right, folks. >> Any questions, concerns? >> All right.
Mr. Zer, second Zer Kavalo. >> Good. Men. >> All right. So, we all set. >> Make a motion, please. Your >> second. Same here. I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion made. >> Second. >> All I
>> All right. >> All right. All in favor of adjourning? >> I >> I >> I We are officially adjourned at 8:31.