Good evening everyone. Um it is Monday 6 p Monday April 13th at 6 p.m. with corn being present. I will call the order of the free town board of selecting meeting. Uh please note that this meeting is being recorded and will be posted on the town's YouTube uh channel. Is there anyone else in the audience
recording? Oh, thank you. All right. So, I'm going to go right over to agenda item number one. um recognize the board of selectmen uh to choose a chairman, personnel board chair
and board of parks commission chair. Um so um I'm going to start it off by saying uh done board parks for you know several years. I enjoy doing it. Uh I know
selecting Los is um long awaited to become uh chair of the board. So um so I'm going to um suggest that that's exactly what we do that um you know selecting those who become
chair of the board I would say um chair of board of hearts and our newest member Chad congratulations by the way um >> thank you welcome would become uh personnel chair has anything else to say yes >> no I I I would be honored to be chairman
of the board Uh, Mr. uh, Sen Zagger said, "Hey, congratulations. Welcome to the bullpen. It's where the fun happens." Um, yeah, I think you beat your personal chair and Jared's done a great job over the years as a parks in, uh, parks commissioner.
Got a lot of stuff done. So, what are your thoughts? I >> think it's great. >> All right. >> I'll make that motion. >> All right. Well, yeah. So, um, so what I'm going to do is because council has told us before that we can call on our own motions when it comes to this for the reorganization. So it does sound a
little bit funky but um I'm going to entertain a motion to make um selectmanopes chair of the board uh selecting Kavalo chair of personnel and myself selecting Zerger uh chair of board and parks.
>> I make that motion. >> I'll second. All those in favor >> I >> I >> All right. So, I am going to pass it over to Sloan Lopes, but I I do apologize because I did want to say um once again, congratulations to Slector Matthews on a job well done and uh enjoy
your retirement. >> That's right. All right. Well, thank you and let's uh let's kick off. All right. Discussion agenda number two, discussion to vote whether to proceed with summer concert and movie series for summer 2026. So with this um you know at the last
last meeting or one month before that um our program director um either stepping down or >> right down or moving on >> currently splits her time 20 hours with community programming and then 20 hours
as outreach director at the uh COA. she no longer wants to do community programming for the town and has not scheduled anything for after July 1. So my concern is is and she and she explained all of the issues with that position and why it was a difficult
position. My concern is twofold really. One, nothing's been booked. Um so we and I don't have an official resignation from her but I would need to hire somebody and two um budgets are extremely tight, right? So um if we are going to hire her
as full-time on the outreach under COA which is a discussion that will will be coming up in our joint meetings. Um I don't the funding is going to get tight but also we don't have a physical place to put another human being in our buildings. I don't have an office space
anywhere that I could afford u a community program director to uh sit and and schedule things. So, I did ask Kylie if she could schedule some concerts for the summer, just the concert piece of it, because of course we know that
people really like that. Um, she said it it'd be late. You know, it'd be difficult for me to organize at this point, but I wanted to put it before the board to make that final decision about we're going to we're going to stop this programming because I know people already are looking for it, looking for
the schedule. in my budgets. When we get to the budgets, you'll see I took um $5,000 and added it to the library budget because they can do a lot of the movies, right? They would do it in in conjunction. It was primarily the
community program director with the library director. They would do some of the programming, the movie nights and whatnot. So, I added some funding to the libraryies budget in order to pick up some of the the programming that was being done by the community program director, but of course, not all of it.
So, I need a final decision or or something about how we're going to move forward. Are we just going to get rid of the community program director department and not do any of these um things? I did approach the
cultural council to see if they could absorb any of it and they said they really don't have the capacity given that they they have a hard time uh they're short staffed. They said they could lend a hand. Um but that's that's that. So I don't really know what else
to do with that but we have to make a decision moving forward. >> Right. And then we also you know another thing she was saying as well is that it took a lot of time from her family staffing to grab things to and from the containers. So it so it is quite a bit.
However, the residents do love it, you know, from the concerts to the movie nights. Um, I wonder if it's too late to put an ad out there, see if we can try and grab someone the next with the next month. The problem being is is what she was saying, right? We don't
>> physically. >> So So Kylie was 100% not on board with trying to schedule anything for the time being. Um, no. She and I have been talking like if I told her to schedule some concerts, I I think she would do her best. She's still employed. She's still working.
>> Um, I know she's doing some exercise stuff. She's doing some stuff getting it done the park. Um, it's not that. It's just late in the game now. So, what are we going to get? But who's going to run it? Who's going to show up and um meet the people, clean up the park
afterwards, um move and deploy whatever needs to be deployed? I mean, we we could also simplify it and not have food, just have concerts. Um, I just don't know who would run that, right? Sort of like the beach in the boat ramp. There's nobody I I'm
struggling to get people for that. Who's going to run this? >> So, I I and and again, if you hire somebody, where am I putting them? >> Yeah. No, absolutely not. No, I'm I'm just trying to think of what But to your point is that I don't want it to fall on someone else's shoulders who doesn't
already have the time to do it. So, um I mean I think it's something that we'll have to discuss. I just think because she worked so hard to get it where it is, you know. >> She did an amazing job. It's really It's sad cuz she did an amazing job. She really knocked it out of the park and
everything. Even our event newsletter that comes out that's, you know, we're no longer going to have that. >> Um >> but I I don't I don't really see a solution here and that's why I'm bringing it back before you again.
Right. I don't see a solution either. Not this late in the game. And it is it's unfortunate that we're losing a couple of things that she started from the newsletter concerts. Even movie nights were a pretty big hit. >> Well, as long as we still have her as an employee hopefully going forward, then
maybe she can, you know, guide someone going forward. Maybe next year if we can figure something out. But >> I I think that, you know, the library might be able to pick up some of the stuff, the the movie nights, you know, they might be able to do that. I don't know. I haven't I I just sort of at the
last minute threw some money in her budget so that she would have some um flexibility to do more programming cuz they do a lot there too >> with no space yet again. Right. So here we are back to the same
same issue with no space. It's not a popular decision, but my my idea is that we just put out from temporarily until we can do it right and not put the burden on, you know, one or two people that's not even part of their job description,
>> right? >> Or even an employee technically, right? We end up, you know, we start talking about some of these boards and someone starts trying to pick it up. It's just not fair. >> So, >> what do you think, Chad? Yeah, I think we'd have to temporarily
stop and try to find someone over the winter or something towards reconvene. Uh, sounds like concerts are going to be the hardest things to get together this late in the game. Maybe we'll discuss with library down the road. Maybe movie nights can get brought back up in the summertime. Those were late summer,
early fall. So, say for now, we table it. Nothing we can do for it now. table discussion too and um get some more information for for right now concert series for sure. Right.
>> So that work for the town for now. >> That's fine. I just like I said I don't I don't I know people are going to start asking. They got to be looking for the concert series. So we want to make sure >> that that you are all on board and I don't have a solution to this problem. So um >> I know I know you've been trying. It's
it's invaluable. She's a great employee. Um and it's again we'll do what we can for the residents once we get more information and hopefully um maybe even push it later in the year. Who knows right so >> and maybe some of those people will volunteer up on the culture of housing
>> then we can get large in federal money again. >> Well question as far as the some of the committees we have is it under our authorization to kind of add tasking to those committees or is it set somewhere in the state statute somewhere? It depends. Like I always try to have a charter with any of those committees
that we set so they know what their roles are. Um I know the cultural council in other towns are the ones that put on the concert series and do what Kylie was doing in our town. Um so if you have a big robust uh council, you can get some of those things done and
they can get grants to do a lot of the events here. you know, we we we didn't have that, but we I mean, we added a lot more, wouldn't we? Events newsletter and whatnot. You know, that took a lot of time, >> right? >> Yeah. New newsletter is great. It was great cuz it kept the residents what
gave them what they wanted, information on what's going on in town. >> Yeah. So, >> surrounding towns and Yeah. >> All right. We'll table it and then uh reconvene. Uh we have more information to pass to the town and if any gives you information, let them know that we're working on it. And it's just unfortunate
at the moment. All right, discussion three. U discussion of vote whether to accept the gift of a Japanese red maple tree in its planting on Wing Avenue in the seen. So this one we have a resident um McGrath. He's the owner of of the the
Japanese red maple. He wants to get professionally transplanted in front of the in front of this somewhere else on Wing Avenue. And um as the town was able to provide some loom for the project so that makes it looks makes it look nicer and and more feasible for him to transplant it. Um Japanese red maples
are gorgeous as trees. >> Um as far as loom is that something that I know the transfer station somebody creates their own loom mulch. >> Would that be sufficient enough? >> I don't think they create loom. when they create. >> No, unfortunately I should have talked
to Chuck about this because every time you plant in the middle of the culde-sac, right, sometimes you create >> issues with plowing and I just didn't have a chance to talk to him about this if he was okay with it. >> Right. Well, we can always approve it on condition that Chuck doesn't seem doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
Make sure there not a high or uh DPW issue down the road. What we don't want is this beautiful tree to be ruined or impede the DPW from doing their their jobs. Yeah, I'm sure they could take a pack full down there. >> He's he's saying here that he would do
it himself if we can't. So, >> right. >> Okay. >> So, we see if Chuck comes. >> I just want to make sure it's not a plow issue or maintenance issue for Chuck. That's all I want. I make sure to >> I'll read that into the the the discussion. All right. So, uh entertain
the motion to accept the gift of red maple tree and it planting on week avenue. Um, as long as our highway, the DPW department is okay and doesn't impede the roadway in any way. >> Uh, motion. >> Second it. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> If it does, we'll reconvene and discuss
it again. >> All right. Discussion four. Uh, discussion about vote whether to close the annual special town meeting warrants on 61, 2026 for submissions and send over to town council for review. Uh, 61 for submission. So that's
actually that's the date of our annual town meeting, >> right? So >> right, you're closing them now. >> We're closing the right >> just closing them four submissions for the 61 annual town meeting. >> Yeah, they will nobody can request >> request for not even not even petitions,
right? So it would be closed for >> uh petitions can come in but I think this is more on our own. >> I mean this was all read into that timeline right now. >> Okay. Any further discussion, Chad? All right. >> Slick a real question.
>> Sure. >> It doesn't mean the war on articles are final because there are some things and some suggestions I'm going to have when we get to the war on articles, but it just means that what we have we can send forward with two town calls and to start reviewing. >> Yep. All right. Uh that said, I'll
entertain motion to close the annual special time meeting warrants for 61226 for submissions and then send over to town calls for review. >> Motion made >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> All right. Discussion item agenda five. Discussion vote to approve the agreement between the town of Freetown Fadar
Systems for 71226 through 6:30 2029. All right. And blank on what the we do for radar. And also our our accounting and systems. Am I correct on that? >> Yeah, VR is what we use for our
accounting software. So >> should I double check? Yeah, it's it's a cost of doing business. As you will see, a lot of the stuff we do is repetitive because it's a either state or federal required. All right. No comments, questions. I
entertain motion to approve the agreement between the town of Freetown invade our systems for 712026 through 6:30 2029. Motion made >> second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. Number six, discussion vote to move to Harper's Employee Forward for Pinkless Payroll. All right. Like
majority of the country that works in a uh office of some type uh including state and federal employees uh we have direct deposit. Um, as you will notice, if you get paid by town, you got a check in the mail or sometimes, um, little perforated things. This kind of brings
us up to 2026 and makes it all electronic. All right. >> Um, I know some employees have wanted this for a while and I think this is a good way to save some money from printing and mailing and everything else. Not to mention more convenient for the employee. Sometimes you get your
paycheck a little earlier. So, I think it's a win-win. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. better saves on debt. >> Yes, it's just everything's going paperless. So, you won't get a payub anymore. We already obviously have direct deposit, but you won't get a
payub anymore. You you'll have an email and a login and at any point in time you can go in and you can manage some of your own uh stuff. You can you can manage your own with withholdings if you wanted to go from single one to married before or something. You can do all of that
online. So it does help the department um with a lot of the paperwork and you know and we're forever people have to come and pick up the past bring it back to their department every two weeks. So this will eliminate all of that. They've been asking for it for a couple of
years. There is a fee to do it um to the town, a small fee. I I want to say around $250 a month for this fee. that then when people need paperwork, if they're refinancing their house or they're doing different things, they can
go online and get it and they don't have to go down to the treasurer's department to get it. So, it is what I think most companies now do this type of a system. >> You and the thing is you say $250, but it's actually think about the payroll
hours that it's not going to affect, right? So it's it's all a wash over probably a gain on everyone's part and and the peace of mind that's just getting done and you're not worrying about finding Chad to give them the space. So >> now since it's a new system uh are we
going to provide any training to the employees or is it very self-sufficient log in and go kind of play around with it? >> Yeah, I I can ask Patty. I think she she'll have different uh webinars up. Uh this will be as of July one. I mean, we will have some people who will push back
on this because, you know, there are those people. I'm not not going to say that I might be one of them. Please, >> you hiding the cash under the under the mattress. >> I'd love to deposit, but I like my paper stuff, but I I obviously I'm willing to
sacrifice for the greater good, right? >> The younger generation that's coming up behind me. Um, so you know, we just we'll we'll be uh we'll work it through with whoever needs help, >> right? This it looks like here you can contact Deanna over at the payroll
coordinator for any questions you may have. So I have nothing but trust in that department. So >> I'm sure you can go on there and print it out and have put it file cabinet. >> Right. >> All right. Uh, seeing no comments or questions, any further comments,
questions, I entertain the motion to move to Harper's employee forward for the paperless payroll. >> Uh, motion made. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> All right. Number seven, discussion vote to declare the former transfer station trailer as surplus. What did it do with the trailer? All right. For those of you
that stopped by a transfer station, uh, the employees there um, were in the trailer for a long time. when we upgraded into a more self-reliant, self-sufficient, insulated trailer. >> I was just there and that new trailer looks amazing compared to what they had. >> Correct.
>> I was like, "What? Where did you get this thing from?" >> Well, we had a good a good group trying to look for look for it so that they can, you know, work in a place that makes sense, right? But now we have a problem to do with the old one. >> Mhm. >> Now, is this an item that we could put
on this bid or something that we crushed and turned into pulp? Well, the only my only thing would be is to find out if it has any value to someone that would turn it in for scrap metal, right? beyond that municip >> I don't know
>> a little history with scrap metal and stuff like that and to be honest by the they could take off the outside it cost them probably more to get rid of the wood and everything else or they'd be burning it in the yard cause another problem for >> so well yeah I guess cuz that's my thing
is is the the top half of it is can be crushed and put into one of our dumpsters um the the lower half is all metal right it's going to be a trick Er, so it's all metal cuz it's an old toe paner, right? So I guess we could have them send that over for scrap metal. I
don't know. >> What do you think? >> I Well, well, right. What I'm thinking is this. Maybe reach out to the place we bought this trailer from or the one we have there now. Maybe they take old ones to refurbish in some way. >> That's beyond refurbish.
>> It's bad. >> It doesn't have wheels on it either, I don't believe. I mean, we just dragged it off of the the the platform. We didn't put wheels on it and move it. We dragged it with machinery. And I think that from what I understand, like during some of these blizzards and the storms,
the siding of it has been blowing off now. So, it's in rough shape and it just I my recommendation would be to tell Chuck to do whatever he wants with it. Crush it up and if you can get scrap metal, great. If you can't, just get rid of it. >> Well, yeah. I think crushing it up, putting into the dumpster is a no-brainer. uh we're going to spend more
time and effort trying to get someone to take it away. My own thing is is if the bottom is a solid metal frame, then they're not going to be able to crush that up into a dumpster. So, we'll have to have >> someone bring it to a scrapard or whatever. >> I can I can ask.
>> So, I would just say we just >> say it's surplus and then have Chuck look into it and see what he can do with it. >> No, I don't. Okay. >> Yeah, that's a good idea. >> All right. So, yeah. See you. >> All right. I see a motion to declare the former transportation trailer as surplus
and refer to the DP DPW. What to do with the next? >> Uh motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I number eight. Discussion vote on awarding the quote for winter sand for fiscal year 2027. Do you believe we're talking about sand?
>> It was you. So let's let's discuss it. So we got three quotes in. Looks like one from Gopes, Cape Cod Aggregates, and TL Edwards. And the winning or the lowest bid I should say is $27 per ton. We received that on March 19th. And so
you know one declined to bid. So the index went up was $30 per ton. So saving $3 a ton on sand. Sounds like a good deal to me. >> One is a town company. All right. >> What's that one? >> It's a town company. Clar is a town
company. Yeah. Um, >> how many tons of sand do we use? >> I was just looking up myself. I >> think it depends, right? This year we probably use more than we usually use. >> Yeah. >> Right.
>> I think in the bid they might give you ranges. How many? >> It does say that we spend less than $10,000 a year on sand. >> That's helpful. So, right, whether we go one or the other, it's around $10,000 a year.
>> I mean, I personally want to keep it in town if we could. I know they're more, but it's not much more. >> Yeah, that's >> we run into >> procurement laws. Okay. >> So, although they're in town, we have to follow the the best priced item for the
town. >> Okay. >> Um, I hear you. I I I rather keep keep it local, but sometimes we get stuck following what the state tells us what we can and can't do. And this is one of them, especially when it comes to procuring. >> Gotcha. So, but it's a good last name.
>> No relation, no relation company, too. So, >> right. Got is a great company as well. >> Yep. >> So, at $27 a ton. Um, >> that's any other question or comments? No. >> All right. May I entertain a motion to award the quote for Winter Sand to G
Lopes at $27 a ton for fiscal year 2027. >> Motion B. >> Seconded. >> All in favor? >> I I All right. Next item up up is number nine. Discussion vote on awarding the hydrant repair replacement project. That's all right. So this one again we
got three bids in Aqua Line Utility, Rivero Construction, and Jbus Construction. Um, Aqua came in at 293 29,375. Rivero came in at 48,830 and Just
Construction came in at 28,146. >> Hold on. Lan, were they all at the pre-bid meeting? >> One wasn't. >> No, Rabbero, which was the high bend, was not there. So, you know, similar to the one we just
discussed, JB Construction came in at the lowest bid, best value for the town at $28,146. It was there at the pre- bid conference. Um, questions, comments, best price forward.
Exactly. All right. That said, right for number nine, I entertain the motion of awarding the hydro repair and replacement project bid to JUSD construction for $28,146. Motion made >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I right. Moving along in discussion
number 10, a vote on awarding the fire station number three partial roof replacement project bid. Spending some money today, but this is all for good things we need. So, it looks like we got six bids in. Um right unofficial official six bids you
with the lowest one being >> K&G but K&G did not acknowledge addendums one and two disqualifying their their bid. >> So the next one up would be NCI Middletowns New York they acknowledge they acknowledge the
addendum one and two at $33,000. >> Yes. >> All right. So, looks like that is the best offer with the next one coming in at 92,000, one coming in at 124,000, 41,000, and 39,000. So, NSI Middletown
of New York at $33,000 is the best offer for the town, saving a significant amount of money. It is unbelievable the difference in those bids. >> Yeah. So, all right. Ent motion to award the Fire Station 3 partial roof replacement project bid to NSI Middletown, New York
at the price of $33,000. >> Motion read. >> Seconded. >> All in favor? >> I I All right. Now, some fun stuff. All right. Number 11. Discussion vote to grant exclusive use of the band stand to the Tuesday club of Sonet for annual
Strawberry Festival on June 21st, 2026. Well, first and foremost, good job to Tuesday Club for still doing this year after year. They do a great job and it's a great event. We have many people coming by. I don't love the parking situation, but the our police and fire
and everybody else that's involved do a great job of keeping everybody safe. Um, what do you guys think? Continue the tradition or >> we tell them no strawberry cake this year? >> I don't think so. >> Okay, good. All right, that said, I
entertain a motion to grant inclusive use of advanced dance stands in the Tuesday club of assaent for the annual strawberry festival on June 21st, 2026. >> Motion made second. >> All in favor? I >> I. >> All right. Glad glad to report. I get to do it. >> All right. Next one up. Let's see here.
Discussion of vote on number 12. Discussion of vote to approve the quote for Axon Enterprises for body warn cameras for police department. All right. All right. So, we got a grant from Senator Rodri's for some body cameras. >> Oh, nice. >> And looks like this is the cost of maintaining them and and making sure we
have the proper servers and space and everything else. >> This is the body cams themselves. >> Correct. >> So, this is for a cost of >> around 149 150 um which is what we got the grant for.
Um you'll see in there the cost of 191. that's for multiple years like maintenance and whatnot. So the grant does not cover that. Uh but that's not um something there's >> 1498 $ 8.97.97. >> So that's the cost to get the body cams
here and up and running. >> Okay. >> And we have a grant to cover that. >> The the $10,000 go is that what it cost a year to maintain them? >> That's what he um the the chief is believing that's about what it would cost to maintain the cloud base that we
have to have. Um he's rolling that into his budget uh for the current year. >> So which one I approve? Am I approving the 10,517 or the 149? >> No, you're going to approve this. You you should see there should be a conflict in there. I just need a signature on the card for the 1497.
>> All right. You vote. I entertain and annual budget procurement. Entain the vote to approve the call from Exxon Enterprises Inc. for body warn cameras for the police department for a total cost of $149,897.90. >> Motion made >> second it. >> All in favor?
>> I thank you Senator Rodri and in the Senate for providing us with a grant and to the police for getting all the information that we needed for that grant. So >> yes, >> it works for everybody. >> All right. Number 13. Discussion vote whe to approve the change order the
request from Riverwhalk environment for postc closure environmental monitoring at Holland Road landfill. So this is the the continuing monitoring that we have to do for the landfill or transportation
because of the PAS um reporting requirements that D is requiring us to do. The initi the initial contract was around $80,000 at the time. We did not have the money in the budget. So, I had them change the contract for a six-month
contract period so that we could execute it and keep moving because D is requiring us to do this. At last town meeting, if you remember, we got sub supplemental funding for the board of health that was to cover the remaining of this contract, which is actually from
January to June of this current year to continue this required testing that we have to do for all the wells up by the uh transfer station. is extremely expensive. >> It is extremely expensive. >> It is uh but we're complying with D the
plan of the state regulation and um it's uh fortunately at this point part of doing business for the wells near that transfer station. So the quote is for $41,000 90 $41,90. All right. So any questions, concerns on
the cost? No. All right. All right. I entertain a motion to approve the change order request for Riverhawk Environmental for postclosure environmental monitoring at Holland Holland Road landfill for the tune of $41,090. >> Uh motion made second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> I number 14 discussion of vote to approve the request to use a town of Freetown sealed made by Peral Plymouth Regional Technical High School or school shot sorry in the main entry of the new school. When I read this, I thought that
was a great idea. I like that idea. Making sure that we know that Freetown's represented at Bristol Plymouth. What do you f What do you What do you guys think? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Makes sense. >> It's going to be a beautiful school. So, it's going to be gorgeous. It's should be opening uh se September of this year.
>> All right. All right. I like it. All right. Maintain a motion to approve the request for the use of the town of Freetown Town Seal made by Personal Plymouth Regional Technical School in the main entry of the new school. A motion made >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> All right. Thank you, BP. Great idea.
>> All right. And since you're new to the board, town seal is uh it's controlled by the board of selection and we choose where he goes. >> Great. All right. Next item up is the number 15. discussion about whe to approve the
ambulance of payments and write offs for March 26 in the sum of $26,000 630 56. This is a uh recurring cost and and reimbursement that we receive as far as
u the write offs with the sounds of it. The firearm stay visit. >> Yeah, that's what that means. Same question. >> All right. And if if you need a breakdown about the write offs for the month is about $34,895.73 and of course the mandatory adjustments
relative to insurance for the month is 167,734 and83. So anybody who's wondering what the 202 came from, that's the breakdown. All right. Maintain the motion to approve the gambles abatesments and write offs for March 2026 in the sum of
$26,63056. >> Motion made. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> number 16 discussion and vote whe to accept the following donations for the council. A Deborah Messier mayor in support of tax services and sum of $100.
B gift of frozen meat from Omaha State Company valued at $130 from an anonymous donator for a donation to older residents in need. That's great. Love it. And C, anonymous donation to help older residents and sum of $1,000.
You know, when I read those three, I can say one thing. We have some great residents, great people here in town donating to our our fellow residents. Um, any discussions, any concerns? >> All right. Thank you to
Deborah, me and to our anonymous donate donators. It'll go a long way to our residents. All right. That said, a motion to accept the donations labels item 16 A through C. >> Motion made. >> Second. All in favor? >> I I
>> All right. Number 17, presentation of fiscal year 2027 budget. >> So, I'm just going to give you a brief overview. We're going to be starting budget meetings tomorrow. Um, so I've given you sort of the omnibus but in the match so you can read it because the one
you're going to get tomorrow will be very, very small print. I've been working with Matt and the departments for some time now to pull this budget together. We are very very tight on budgets. Uh this year I've had to cut
unfilled positions. So we've cut the HR position. We have cut a position in the highway uh department that wasn't filled. I I cut it in half. Meaning there's still money in there. If if he needs to hire somebody halfway through
the year, we have to talk about that. The fire department requested additional firefighters. I said, "No, we can't afford it." Um, so when I tell you it's tight, it's tight. I'm still probably um $2 to $300,000
of that I've got to maneuver because there's some budgets here that I'm going to have to increase. So, I've given you the Omnibus. I've given you some of my notes. Our facilities budget I I increased with I worked with Carl and we went up about $75,000. and Matt and I
looked at it again and Matt looked at it and he still thinks it's needs more. Our electric bills are incredibly high. Um the PD electric alone is probably $72,000 for the year. >> So the electricity bills are really hurting us um in terms of that budget.
That's that's a lot of what goes into that facilities budget. So there's one that I need to increase the PAS that we were just talking about. I didn't have the contract when we did the uh got the board of health budget, but I did just get them and I need to increase it by
$30,000 to cover that budget. Um I've cut there is no money uh building improvements. I usually carry money to do some scheduled improvements to the buildings, although we have done a lot over the past 5 years. Um, I I'm only
I'm carrying very little and I think that's the remainder of what's in there. I'm going to take out to cover those other things that I'm talking about. OPED, which is our future funding for our retirees health insurance piece, I usually fund it to there's worksheets
that say like it's current needs. I usually fund that number. I cannot do that this year. I funded it uh 250,000 and that may need to be cut by 50,000 uh to make this budget work. The um just for reference, I I funded at 300 or we
funded at 397,000 last year. So I cut $150,000 out of that budget. So I've made some substantial cuts um where I could cut. There is really nowhere to cut at this point from this budget. It does balance. We do we do use
the tax levy with a 2 and a half% increase. Um we have new growth of roughly around $300,000 and I did go and pull all of the building permits and look through them to see if that number was accurate and it is pretty accurate. So um we add back of course our debt
exclusion numbers which is BP and our fire uh PD to the tune of 1,13,000. That's this sheet here. I don't know if you have this small sheet. the revenues and you want the one that says the town of Freetown budgeted inflows at the top. That's where I'm
starting. So it should have your tax levy of 29 million >> 159. Do you have that? >> Yes. >> So then it shows the 2 and a half% increase which is all we can increase our levy by. Then it in and then you add the new growth. Then you add back the debt exclusion numbers which I've given
you there. the state charity sheet, which is what they give us, state aid. And then, um, the local receipts, uh, which is always an unknown for us. We do the best we can. I try to be conservative. We did increase those based on prior years. Um,
and that gives you your total sort of revenues. Then if you flip it over, the back side is going to give you the the general funds, which are your budget book, all the expenses, which is what this big paper is. Uh, our overlay. I I really should be
funding that a little bit more based on what's going on with the assessors, but we do have money in that account, so it's it's fine where it's at. Um, and then at the bottom, you'll see the snow deficit. So, that's a very large number. So, that's a portion of why we're really tight. It's almost half a million
dollars uh we ran over. We are filing uh Harry is working to get money back from FEMA, but that takes a year. It takes a very long time. Um but that gives you sort of the overview of the numbers where we're getting them from what we have to start with.
>> Then I've given you basically the uh omnibus budget all the expenses. I have >> um I'm sorry I don't want to cut you off that but I just want to ask a quick question based on the snow deficit. If we do get that money back or a portion
thereof does it just get dumped back into the general fund? Yeah, I believe it goes right back in the general fund because by the time we get it, we'll be under >> what amazing what snow does. You know, just for reference for those out there in uh YouTube land, FY25, we spent
$29,000. FY26 $82,000 and this year's snow total $477,920. So, Mother Nature got us good this year. >> That's over the budget, which is,000. So, we actually paid more than that. But that's why we have the best roads, right? We we um
>> Yeah, we >> we need to spend a lot of money to maintain the roads. So, I did a quick just real quick at like 5:30 just a an Excel spreadsheet. I'll pass this down. That just kind of gives you the budgets and where they went and where they went up and where they went down for your
reference. So, you can just see like I only did the the major ones. Like I told you, the facilities budget I it was already increased by $65,000, but I think it needs to go up another 15. Police budget, as you know, it's just we we have we have, you know, a large force
there. So, although we don't have much force, but you know what I'm saying. It's a lot of it's just contractual. Um, but that just is going to give you some some numbers and go down to the school numbers. So not only the district school which is up by 10%. But BP is up by 24%.
So it's not not even even Bristol AG is up by 10%. Right? So there they continue to just creep up when we can only increase 2 and a half%. So there is a real cliff waiting to happen with the budget. I'm on top of it. We'll be we'll be
having broadened discussions um soon about looking forward to next year and what I think we might want to entertain, but you'll see the reduction in that OPED by $150,000. You see the increase of 200,000 in our health insurance budget. That's a big
number. Um so those are those are the big numbers and where where the increase is coming from. Board of Health, we had a fall on but then an increase. Is that >> that you're because you're saying we're going to increase because of the testing, right?
>> I have to go up. That's not in the budget yet. Right. I put it in there that I'm going to have to add $30,000 to meet those um criteria. One of the things too, just keep in mind, so I did on the bottom of your on the bus, I made some notes. One of the things we did is
Naen and Nina who both work in that joint um department they share responsibilities. So we combined their salaries and cut them in half and and allocated them equally to building and board of health but it made a nightmare for paperwork. So we have undone that
and now Naen who is full-time is completely allocated to building. Nina who is part-time is fully allocated to board of health because it just makes our paperwork incredibly uh difficult. So you will see a little tweak with that. It looks like building jumped. It
really didn't. It's just taking more of that expense and that's where you're getting that credit in the board health cuz they're taking less of the allocated expense. It's um it was just one of those things that you know they had to do time sheets for both departments and split their time in half. It it got split their own off time. it it wasn't
worth the paperwork. >> It was confusing to everybody involved. So, I'm I'm glad we were able to spread spread them out and put them in their own their own department >> and they're still they're still covering each other. They're still doing the same job. It's just an easier uh paperwork process for the town. Um so, I made the
notes about that and something like the cemetery budget. every year he has an article for maintaining the secretary for 10 grand and we just put it in the budget this year rather than a separate article because it has to happen anyway. Um there's the question about Kylie. Do
we just end the community program department? um she wants to be full-time currently part-time at the COA and do we increase her hours there and that budget increase your budget that you have in front of you does include her at the full-time position but that has not been
solidified. >> So it's 13.56% increase would be her included in that budget. >> Yes. >> So that's that's a discussion I think that we'll have >> in the budget meetings coming forward um because it wasn't something I felt I wanted to make unilaterally. I think it
needs to be a whole discussion with FINCOM and the support of selectman because she brings great services to the COA but also we have a lot of competing needs right so at one point you have it's it's always this trade-off just it's no different than personal finances
on some level >> um there is no there's $550,000 in free cash there is no um so none of this includes warrant articles So, you'll see the warrant articles in
your warrant in front of you. Um, Chuck has asked for a dump truck. He's also asked for a salt shed exceeding my my $550,000. The PD has asked for a camera system to the tune of $66,000.
Conservation has asked for $30,000 to put in their rainy day fund. Patty has asked for $8,100 for um an oped evaluation which is required by by the accounting law. So she has to have that money. I have put in an article to
match a grant for the old school house in the amount of $25,000. So it would only be utilized if we got the grant for the first $25,000. Um which L by the way. So that's very exciting. >> You know, we don't know if we've got it yet, but it's just exciting. Um, and
those are the those are the money articles. So, I talked to Chuck and asked him which one he needed more, and he said the salt shed. The salt shed is $550,000 total, but we had allocated at
one of the town meetings $100,000 to engineer the salt shed. So, we could reallocate that $100,000, add 450,000. So, he'll have his 550. That leaves me a hundred grand to then fund the PD's
camera system and fund hopefully my the $25,000 match article, Patty's article, and then maybe not the conservation article as it's a rainy day fund and not a need. And then we're out of free cash and we're done.
Um but we we and hopefully we have free cash in the fall to get Chuck has dump truck >> the and just for point of clarification that salt shed will cover two things. one um environmental issues, right? That they want they want it all covered up
when they did the whole study of his property. >> I say his property the town. >> And then also it allows him to be able to buy the salt and get it and have more storage space than he currently has
where uh a lot of towns and places have been running out of it because the state takes precedence over taking the salt, right? So that so if he has more space then he has more room to store it and so that way he can keep up with his roads that we were just talking about. So
>> yeah I just you know the worry in me thinks you know we raise a thin in the free cashier just in case in case something comes up >> right. Um >> well if something comes up we have stabilization stabilization >> and we have the reserve fund which actually I think I would be recommending we increase that too um because we're
going to hit it this year. I think we're going to actually use most of it. And it's because of um a fire engine that broke down and we had to spend $72,000 repairing the fire engine. And that's half of the reserve um budget that we
have. Um but those are the unforeseen things and that's why that reserve fund is there. Um we are of course we've we funded at the last at the last town meeting out of free cash to buy a new um fire truck, but of course it takes a couple years to get here. Right. Right.
>> Um, excuse me. We're going to be looking probably for a transfer for um, facilities, right? So, I think that would be coming soon, too. So, um, when I tell you I think the reserve fund will probably be maxed out this go around, I
I think that it's there. So, um, we're okay. We can fund everything. We can continue to operate. No real cuts to speak of, but some concern moving forward in what next year is going to look like. um as we know right the
school uh and and I I can't really had the school not used EMD to reduce their budget we would have be we'd be in a different position right now um >> you are correct on that >> so thankful to them for at least trying to e you make that effort to get us you
know um but we're not alone all the towns around it's the same thing so I am in the ear of the representatives to tell them that the funding is just not we need more state funding. Um, I I encourage that as well. There is a
template for a letter to send up to the reps. I think we all need to we all need to join together to try to get the state to give us more funding because this problem's not going away for any of us. And I'm not sure how you continue to run a town if you end up with no financing.
So, just something for us to start. As soon as this budget season and town meeting is over, I will be pushing conversations to figure out what we're going to do as we move forward. not only with this board and fin but also as you know I've been asking the school for
that round table to sit down and discuss how we all contribute and help ease this burden for all of us speaking with Senator Rogers he did say that the state is working on it um when we did push push back a little bit saying you know
40 50 60 towns in the same boat he does he does believe he does say it's a real concern he's working on it so at the end of the day this isn't the pencils and staplers conversation to reduce anymore. We have to really triage the budget coming up to make sure that we stay ahead of it. That's across the board.
So, so great job. Give us these numbers. Gives you real perspective on what to look at so we can give the residents um real information. >> Yeah, I think you have everything to prepare yourself for tomorrow night, I think, and for the budget hearings. And obviously, always if you have questions, let me know. It takes some time to
really digest. Um, but I live and breathe these numbers for a while, so I I know where where they are, but I've tried to kind of lay out for you. >> The BP one at 24%. Is that because they consider us a a wealthy community? Is that >> No, that's a piece of it. But what's
happening is if you remember when we when we were not a member, you could only send 15 kids per year there. So, it was 15 then 30 then 45 then we became a member and they started accepting 28 kids a year roughly. So the we're just
going into I think next next year we'll have the full four years of being a member. So we have 110 students I believe going and don't quote me on the numbers cuz they're still not solidified 100%. So every so we have a bigger
percentage of their budget. So when we when we talked about joining BP they said we would have 5% of the cost. >> Right. 5.3% of the cost. >> Yeah. But we're probably more like 9% and then of course because of the way that the minimum contribution is
calculated by the state it's calculated by property wealth and because Freetown has higher property wealth than Ta and we actually pay more than the percentage of pupils we have in the school district which might be 9% of the you know pupils
but we're saying we pay 12% of the total overall budget and of course their new building the the cost for the loan for the new building is just ramping up to the full amount. So I I gave you that on a sheet. I showed you how much was going
to be a pile of loan that is debt excluded which was around $600,000. Probably next year it'll be $700,000. So it's shown as an expense and an increase in BP, but it's excluded. So it's that's why I it gets added sort of in the front end and then subtracting on the back
end. If that makes sense. the DP in this upcoming year will accept 400 kids. It's a lottery base, right? So there's no there's no real math for us to calculate how many kids we're going to send there. So it's that's the scary part too is it's quite literally the luck of the
draw and um good, bad or indifferent is what it is. So what you know year to year can change. >> It is very unnerving not to know for a lot of reasons. I mean I talked to Dr. Starky the superintendent and you know we're just I'm thinking about it budget
wise and costwise but also how does she plan her teachers and her staffing if she doesn't know how many students she's going to have >> um >> it's not fair to anyone >> it's it's not good although it did come out to relatively what it has been >> um I don't know if that was just the way I don't know so I think those
conversations are going to continue to be had I because there is actually three different lottery methods and each school does a different one um old colony does a different method than BP P then Bristol Aggie. >> So I think those are those will be um
conversations that will be coming probably through the school committee and and and Dr. Starky coming up and because I don't think anybody's 100% happy with it. >> Right. We certainly heard from many residents >> uh how they felt how the lottery went and how transparent it was and of course
the results. So um anything we can do to smooth that out for everybody be fantastic. But I know they're doing their own thing and part they think. So is >> maybe you attend their school committee meetings. I I don't know. You know what I mean? And I Yeah, there's three different ways though that they can do
the laundry part of the state. >> But it's brand new, right? So it's going to change. It's going to evolve. I I don't know what it looks like. >> Yeah. >> Any questions? Like I know this is a lot to digest, but I just wanted to get it to you for tomorrow night. Um >> this is great. I'm I'm thankful that
it's in large letters. As we get older, these get harder to read, especially when you have a big fat book. >> Tomorrow night, we'll be looking at police, fire, highway, and board of health, meeting. So, those are the things we want to be concentrating on for questions for tomorrow night. Um
because I originally wasn't sure I was going to be at the meeting. I think those are the ones that probably have the least questions in them. Um, you know, >> would you pretty straightforward? >> I think so. I mean, I'll be looking at them again before tomorrow to prep for
tomorrow night's meeting, but I didn't see any on the first go around any concerns. Of course, I don't know uh if they'll come in and ask ask for more and then that's what I put in the budget. >> So, uh yeah, we we removed an HR
position, we removed a high rate position, but we did add a dispatch position, just so you know. >> Okay. Yep. See right here one >> added one. because it um and it only net me net an increase of $3,000 and that's because we got rid of all the overtime
by not having that because we have now have somebody full time. So those are the only positions that were added to the to the budget was dispatch. >> Great. >> Thank you, Debbie. Great report and something look forward to. >> So I I don't want to throw you to the
fire after just getting away and then going to be good. >> Yeah, we get notes overhead. >> All right. >> All right. So >> all right, personnel board to >> select. >> All right. So I want to first
acknowledge two resations. It's uh Keith Sylvia from truck driver from the highway effective 41026 and N fansa from senior clerk fire effective 4826.
I have their letters and we'd like to just thank them for their time and service to the town and accept their letter. >> All right. And then we have discussion and vote on which selectment
to appoint to the roles listed below. How else you already got one? you are the uh public records clerk by being the chairman. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And then we're going to have the sexual harassment officer,
the master plan committee board of selectman representative. Um, EMA public safety, economic development committee, Bristol County Advisory Board, Board of
Selectment Representative, uh, the tax um, increment financing board. You are the public records. That's that's all of them. >> All right. >> What's the volunteer? Well, looking at
this, you know, personnel personnel should probably take a, right? That kind of falls in line with those type of policies. >> Okay. >> Um, my in my head again, this is for discussion. When I look at master plan, that's something that would fall in the parks and wreck more appropriately.
>> Absolutely. >> Um, C public safety effective. So, that's two C's in there. All right. Emergency management. Um I I'll jump on that before as the chair makes I think it
makes sense there. Right. >> All right. So let's see here. State Chad Jared. >> All right. The D Economic Develop Committee Bristol County. >> It barely meets
like the last year. >> All right. Is that a day a day or afternoon when when they usually meet? >> I don't think they've met in well over a year. >> I don't think any of these have met since I've been here other than just >> other than the master plan meeting and I
think the master plan is done. So I actually looking at some may ask them to meet and I don't know but so I don't think any of these are a heavy lift. They just have to >> So that means I would join a board to say hey we're done. >> Yeah. makeup closer.
>> Yeah, it's so if we're not meeting that often, >> we can leave on the books just in case we have to update the master plan, but right now it's just got done and approved. So, I think um none of these have met since I've been here. >> So, all these were under
maintain that same role then. >> Well, the other issue is there's other stuff that y'all that we don't have on here, right? So, I don't want to pass it all on to you that's not fair because you're already involved in other stuff. So, but it's all easy stuff to our point. So, >> right. >> Um, economic development committee want
Chad whatever you guys want. I don't get out. >> Yeah. It doesn't matter if I especially if it doesn't meet I'm not afraid. >> Sounds like a Chad problem. Fantastic. >> I've done a house if that's where you guys >> perfect. The economic development is
going as a lot of business owners. So, that's probably up here because it's all about how we bring business to the town and stuff. They haven't really met since I've been here, but um it's something I know I believe Carl's actually been trying to get them to do some stuff
along the main street uh in a Sonet. So it may >> Yeah, that's actually something I'd be interested in. So yeah, jump on D. All right. >> All right. And then the next one is the Bristol County Advisory Board. Board of selecting representative
I'll take it. >> All right. All right. Next one. Tax Increment Finance Board. Well, since we'll I'll jump on that one. >> It's all in order. Yeah. >> Yeah. All in order. >> Oh, that's you. You're the public record.
>> Nice guy, too. So, public records. All right. >> So, looks like we got >> So, you're going to once you call it out, you have to just call up the dates as part of it, too. So, say what it is. Just make sure you pull up your fees. >> All right. So, I'm going to Okay.
>> But, >> yeah. So, I'm going to >> We So, we got A Chad, B Jared, E myself. Oh, sorry. C for myself. D Chad, E J Jared, F and G myself.
>> Yeah. So, they're all you just can't you can't do your own. >> Right. >> Right. So you're going to have to leave those out and then well one of us will have to call out a separate motion. This gets a little bumpy, right? So be able to do a motion on it, >> but you can't stand through A and B.
Okay. >> Got to stay with A and D. Okay. So I will make a motion for points uh select zagga for um master plan
committee board of selectman representative effective 41426 to 63027 um select bin lopes for EMA A public safety
effective 4:1426 until 6:3027. Uh selectment ZGA for Bristol County Advisory Board Board of Selecting Representative effective 41426 until 6:3027.
Sele tax increment financing board effective 41426 to is that 4:30 or is it is it 4? >> No, that one was 4:30.
>> Okay. 4:30 27 and Selectman Lopes as the public records clerk board of selectman effective 41426 until 6:3027 >> and make that motion.
>> I will second it. >> All in favor? >> I so then I'll do the next one. Um so with that I am going to entertain a motion that we make selecting devalo um chair
well in charge of uh sexual harassment officer effective 41426 through 63027 as well as um economic development committee effective 41426-
63027. Make that motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I see those second. >> Yeah. >> All right. And then we'll move on to it. >> Actually, we're going to rethink that. He just second the motion.
>> So, >> I I'm going to make the motion. >> I I made the motion. Yeah. So, I'll second it. Okay. Sorry. Like a good call. >> No problem. Number 20. >> Number 20. Discussion of whether to
approve the following appointments. And we have Pamela Delarocco to uh council of agent library community building committee library alternate effective 414
26 until 6:3027. So >> you can go through all of >> and then B we have Robert >> Clobe. >> Colbecia. Okay. As veteran agent director and veterans grave officer
effective um 5126 until 6:3029. >> It's 4:30. Yeah. >> Oh, sorry. Fourth, >> no, we changed. >> No, we changed it. Yeah. 63 29.
>> We're trying to get them so that we're not doing them every year and we do them on their term. And then uh C Nancy Dery to uh SRPD commission member board of selectman
rep effective uh 53126 until 6127. >> All right make that motion. >> I will second it. >> All in favor >> I >> All right.
Welcome to the team. Too bad, right? >> Next one on agenda. We have enough discuss with the parks commission. Uh on to the top of his report. >> So I just uh couple of things. We had Earth Day. It was I I I wasn't able to
attend. My daughter was committed, but I think it was a success. >> It was amazing. It was a It was a lot. I'm still so I drove off Bullet this on way here and I saw the bags lined the whole street. So that tells me it was a successful
event. >> It it is, you know, we really got to give Carl thank you. He he brought that to the town when he came here a few years ago and I know he works in conjunction with Kylie and a lot of other departments, a lot of town employees. Uh I know Chuck has a lot to do with it, Vicki. So thanks everybody.
I I I you know it's it's amazing and I think it's eye opening when you're out there picking up the trash how how bad it is. So thanks to everybody who went out and did that especially you know Carl and Kylie and Chuck and Vicki for
for that. So that was that I wanted to obviously you know we're working on getting a new library COA building. Um, >> the drawings came in, the budget came in really high, above what we could afford
or above what myself and Matt and and and financial people felt we could afford. So, we sat with everybody, you know, their costs. We asked them to redo it, decrease it, do what do they do. One of the problems is the grant requires
the library to be a certain square foot in. So, that could not be decreased. So that's still a substantial size, but they did re redo the plan. They took out a lot of the curvature. They they tightened up some of the open spaces. I
still think the lobby, the night lobby is a little bit big and could be tightened. Um and they did decrease the budget almost $5 million. So, um, I wanted to show you that it's going to the committee this week for
them to vote on which billing to vote put forth to this election for a vote on what, if anything, will be moved forth upon a meeting vote. The grant is almost $10 million. It's about $9.6 million. It
has to be accepted by June 30th in order for us to accept the grant. What that means is we need an approval at town meeting for this project but also to borrow the money to build this project and the total cost is around 26 million
at this point. Um then you have your grant for for 9.6 million. We do have stabilization funds. So we're probably looking at borrowing 7 to 8 million. I will finalize the numbers as we move
forward. But we need to go to town meeting to get an approval on that and then we also have to get a ballot question to ask. So it it takes two approvals to get to borrow money. >> So I am working on writing the ballot question that will be ready to go. Town
meeting is June 1st. I tenatively think we would have the ballot question on June 8th, the following Monday. I've talked to Cheryl. She's aware that it's coming. Um, I'll be writing the question. All this will be subject to the selectman voting to move the project
forward. Once the committee determines which project, the original project at $31 million, the revised project, they will make a decision or a recommendation to this board. This board will then vote um what they what they have an appetite
for. So it can it can die on the vine there. Um or it can move forward to town meeting with that. And as we move on this I mean we've been pushing this. We just got these numbers last Thursday. So as I get closer I will give you um the
thoughts the co you know the cost. I do have the the sheets of the cost to uh homeowners. If in fact we're going to borrow $7 million it would require a debt exclusion. As I just told you, the budget's tight. Um, a debt exclusion
would actually increase taxes, which is something I did not want to do uh to build this building. But we're probably talking about somewhere in the vicinity of like $130 per household per year. >> Per year for 20 years.
So that these numbers I >> and you were saying that government has worked it out to show the fall off of the police station the increase of school the school department >> I haven't had time to do that she just bring it forward because it is it's good
for people to hear right that >> well I think people need to see the full picture right you're already doing a debt exclusion for the PD that will fall off but we did say that when we were borrowing from BP right so I don't want to say oh the the PD will fall off that's a act but we're sort of already
replacing with BP right we said that the last time I don't want to say oh and this will no this is so I will do a chart so it's visual so that there won't be any miscommunication >> correct >> um because that's what I don't want I don't want miscommunication at least not from my office about what this will cost
taxpayers um it's a big building it's awesome um it would be amazing but it's a big building and it it would be expensive you know $26 million building, but it will be a COA library and a community room
that we we we need as we say even tonight, right? The PD is being used by another board. We're here like we always need community space. So, I really can't say more about it. I just wanted you to see the revised plans, see the revised
budget, and and it's going to come fast and furious. So, I just want you to have the information as as soon as I have it so you can start formulating questions and understand what's happening. Um, yeah, there's a worksheet that tells you what was cut out of the original
>> budget 150 ft. But first and foremost, I want to say thank you to you >> for coming back from a well-deserved earned vacation and hammering our OPM and an architect to get these numbers to where it needed to be. um pretty close to where our original numbers thought
they'd land up so or end up I should say. >> Yeah, I mean we did cut some some stuff and >> there is still a lot of work to be done. But just keep in mind that the actual plan is a conceptual design, >> right? >> So if it gets approved and gets all the
approvals, we will then go uh get work with the architect to actually do construction drawing. So, when I'm looking at this plan, and I know he did it quickly for us to get where we don't I mean, there isn't a door to one of the bathrooms. I mean, there's things missing on here, but so keep in mind it's a conceptual drawing.
>> It's one of those open to the public, huh? >> Um, so there there's things that need to be addressed and will be addressed in the construction phase. It can be interested. >> And this committee is meeting this week to discuss it and we'll have information for this board in uh very near future.
And you're right, Debbie. Uh transparency is the key to all this because it is essentially three different buildings, right? Council of aging, library, of course, and a community center, feeding room for many things in town from getting elections out of the schools to warming stations
if need be. Um and many other things that we can do with library and council of aging. It it's it's going to cost some money, but I'm excited for the residents of this town. I've been asking for 3540 years from these buildings. plus $10 million grant. It's not too uh not too bad. So, good job everybody that
wrote the grants library. >> So, >> yeah. Wouldn't we end up saving money, too, because we'd be able to use this for something else. So, like your current senior center. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. I would hope that we would use the this to move the annex people here we're paying rent. >> Yeah.
>> So, we will this building will definitely be utilized. >> Yeah. Well, we can save money on you rent there and make some other things, >> right? And same and again, it'll be central, right? So the new building will be essentially across the street up the road right across from FS and this building will be centrally located with that same facility. So with the new new
addition of the parking lots and everything else we'll have ample parking for other town needs. >> Well they did cut the parking was one of the expensive >> I did I I did see that. So um but that it's it's again we the board select and listen to what the resident have to say
the 3540 years this is what they've been asking for. So, I'm very proud to to be on that committee as their chair and also push it forward for the residents and >> and and I I'm just going to drive home what was initially said that this is just a conceptual and that things will
have to change based on needs of size, right? One things we just talked about was that community room and then like how big it needs to be in order to hold the town meeting, how big it needs to be a vote, all those things will have to come into play to see if that is even a viable space for it.
So, I just want to say that because I don't want it to be driven home into people's heads that this is 100% what it can be used for because if it's not a big enough space and we can't use it for that, then I don't want it to be, well, you told me it was going to be used for that. So, >> correct. And and and Debbie's done a
good job of gives the numbers that we currently have from the last project, right, when it was 31 $32 million. So, we already know those numbers in size. So when they say they cut 1,158 ft, I want to know where to make sure that we're not again shooting ourselves
in foot and putting us even though it's a smaller building at about 1,000 square feet is a lot of square feet, right? We're in about 1,000 feet right now, >> right? So do we, you know, decisions be made. >> It came out of my community. >> Did it.
>> So that's why I am concerned about the size of that now. So I one of the things I will be asking is there any way >> that we can add the square footage back and what does that mean and is it an alternate that we can do when we put it out to bid right >> in other words if the bid comes in at 20
million but it's 21 but we get the square footage that we need to do what we need to do there. So these are things that that we will talk about, but in order to make the project viable and get it anywhere close to where we could afford it, that had to happen, >> right?
>> So it's a trade-off as always. It's >> Yeah, >> listen, I'm pleased. I know that we're looking at maybe 2 three million being cut and that was a stretch to come back at 4 and a half. I'm I'm optimistic this is this is going to continue moving forward in the right direction. So but I
look forward to this week's meeting. I'm going to try and not be the pessimist from >> I'm gonna say that this library will have running water. So, we're moving in the right direction in this building. Get that too. Um I
will tell you, you know, I think I said I've said this. I applied for a grant with um Congressman Aenloss for this building for $3.5 million. I did get turned down. So, I did get that um Friday. So I also put it into Senator
Marky. So if anybody has any, you know, relation with Senator Marky, I did do the same grant with him. I haven't bothered that, but generally they work in tandem. So um that's unfortunate because I was hoping to get a million or two extra for this project. Uh a couple years ago, we got a million
dollars from Aquask for this project, right? >> But uh President Trump pulled it back. So I was optimistically we get something, >> but that didn't happen. So, just so you know all the facts, I don't foresee us getting any more grant funding. >> Well, anybody out there that shoots plays golf, Senator Marky, have you
contact us, please, you know, we'll take all the every dollar we can get from to make this project viable and not cost taxpayers um any more money. But you you have done a great job, I will say, to reduce the amount if again the idea was no tax no tax being risen using strictly
the levy that we currently have. Um, we're as close as we possibly probably are at this point, right? And we'll keep refining those numbers and we'll get it to town meeting. We'll get it there. >> Good job all around. >> So, that's that. So, >> go ahead.
>> You're going to see a lot more on this as we get to the town meeting. Right. >> Yeah. >> That's it. That's all I really have. I don't think there's anything else once I've been working on the budget. >> Sorry. >> Really? Perfect. That's all we've been doing and warrant >> warrants and budgets at that time of
year. >> Thank God last year. >> Are you going to sign or I'm not sure if there's public input? >> Oh, yeah. We have public input at the bottom of our agenda. So, was a a note there per Mike McHugh this
>> Oh, that's something else. Okay. All right. So, do we have anybody here for any public input? >> If you could state your name. >> Sure. uh Barry Wing out. Um I was the guy who was donating the tree. >> Oh, thank you.
>> I went to the wrong meeting. >> I was there with you. >> Oh, sure. If you like to tell us about the tree and uh Japanese maples, they're gorgeous. >> Yeah. Um I I planted uh four or five on my property a few years back. Um it's
probably about 7 feet tall now. Um one that I'm looking to donate onto the um culdeac area. Currently, the the culpac is uh just flat dirt. Um I'm the only house on the culde-sac. Um and I think it would be uh you know something
that'll beautify it a little bit and uh I think it's going to outlast me by many many years. So uh so a little bit to the community as well. >> Just wondering if the board would support uh my donation. So, we voted to support the donation uh pending speaking
with the DPW to make sure one we're not destroying a tree with it with snow or or sand, whatever we do down that area. So, barring any information from RDPW, our our supervisor where >> so we're just waiting to hear back.
>> Oh, thank you so much. >> Well, thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. That's they're gorgeous. >> Yeah. >> It's just for curio how that species, how tall does it get? Um the one uh the oldest one I have on my property is the the size of my house now. It's uh it
gets pretty big, but this is uh this is very wide. So I think it'll be uh it's the best one I have. I think it'll look perfect out there. Nice and full and um it's about two stories high, I think, maximum. >> Okay, that's looks gorgeous.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah, we appreciate that. Anything we can do to beautify our town? >> I think this I think my neighbors are happy. that they're they love the tree and I talked to them about it and uh they're all all on board. >> Thank you. Well, thanks for bringing to our attention and we look forward to
working with you and thank you coming here and uh talking with us about it. >> Oh, absolutely. I didn't want to miss the meeting. So, >> thank you. >> 99% of the time you would be right to go over there. >> So, >> I for one went there first, so I understand.
>> Um, we have others in the room. Any other additional public input? All right, that being said, there's time. >> How about some >> Oh, some ses first. We'll take it. >> Got to pay the bills. Congratulations
on chair. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Promise right by everyone. You've done a great job over the years. So >> this is already I believe. probably
>> have. So, don't sign your own appointment. You have to chat on there twice. Debbie's been appointed to a lot of things. So, we always joke with her when we appoint her to something. >> I was waiting for you to guys to say, "Oh, we'll just have Debbie Lud." That
didn't happen. >> I didn't option. >> No, you do enough. So worried about it. We both do enough for this town and and the town appreciates it. Oh, I thought you say you guys do a great job. Well,
>> you could say I was gonna sign, but then I have to do it. Sorry. >> All right. Auto death increased benefits for the carpal tunnel. >> Yeah. >> All right. Now being 7:25 p.m. I I
called I adjourn the board of second meeting for today 13 2026. I entertain a motion to adjourn. There's >> a motion made second. All in favor? Bye.