WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=HsWrlplOFFo

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: HsWrlplOFFo):
- 00:00:01: Meeting Called to Order, Open Meeting Announcement
- 00:00:34: FY2027 Budget Discussion: City Council and Clerk
- 00:07:41: Executive Department Budget: Mayor's Transparency Efforts
- 00:17:13: City Auditor Budget: Training and Communication Policy
- 00:20:15: Purchasing and Civil Enforcement: Budget Details and Changes
- 00:25:56: Assessor's Office Budget: Vendor Quotes and Requirements
- 00:29:54: Treasurer Collector Budget: Debt and Insurance
- 00:33:50: HR Department Budget: New Service Costs Discussed
- 00:45:05: Information Technology Budget and Department Updates
- 00:47:10: Reappropriation of Unexpended Bond Proceeds
- 00:56:16: City Health Insurance, Trust Fund Updates
- 00:57:34: Salt Shed Repayment and Chassis Reimbursement Issues
- 00:58:23: Water Rate Ordinance Amendment and Discussion
- 01:10:36: ACA Filing and Compliance: Prior Year Unpaid Bill
- 01:11:22: Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

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Thank you. I'd like to call the uh Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 meeting of the finance committee of the Dart City Council to order. The assistant clerk will please call the role. >> Councelor Dowitz, >> present. >> Councelor Heckler, >> present. >> Councelor Matt, >> present.

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>> Um announcement of open meeting recordings. Uh the open meeting recording notice is on the by the door over there. Um is anyone here other than staff recording? Hearing none. noted uh reading of prior uh review and approval of meeting

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minutes. There are none. On to subsection two FY2027 budget meetings. Um the uh mayor and the department heads um that are under our purview here um finance committee have all provided

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their preliminary um budget highlights and um letters that go along with their um their proposed budgets. The mayor's budgets are still version is still forthcoming process here uh today. Um thank you everyone for submitting this information

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for the department heads to the mayor. It is appreciated. Um and we will kick off with um the first section would be the city council, the city clerk um and the elections. We had prior gone over some of this um in our meetings. Is was the clerk coming up for this meeting?

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>> Nope. So I'm here to report. >> You're here to report on this? >> Okay. Um, do you have anything to speak on in regards to the budget or the narrative? >> Um, nothing specifically other than the fact that we are going to be transitioning our office. We're going to be taking the two administered

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coordinators that were in there previously and we are changing to a threeperson staff and only going to be having an um one clerk and then two assistant clerks. >> Okay. >> So, that is reflected in the narrative. >> Um, other than that, everything's pretty standard year to year. So, if anything

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stuck out to you guys if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer anything >> questions or comments from the uh the committee. >> I just I have a question on the need for a scanner. Can you tell me do you know what line that request was put on? Was

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it office supplies or minor equipment? And I mean, because I think that's I think that's an important piece of equipment for you with what you have to do with records because I'd like to know what the cost of that is. >> So, I believe that would come out of minor equipment. Okay. So, that's the

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um $500. >> 300. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> 300. >> $300. Okay. All right. Thank you. Well, the 300 is with the deduction. >> Yeah. The wish list has the 500. >> 500. Okay. $300 for a scanner. All right. And I think let's see. That was

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my only That was my only question on that one. Um, I think the only thing I was just going to point out or mention was in the narrative it had mentioned a cola for all employees, >> which I think is, you know, obviously for elections workers and and those, but

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anyone that's affected by the scale, it might make sense for the departments to budget it in. However, unless we change the scale, that will not change. >> Correct. >> So, I assume we'd either reduce those in the end or just some other things for us to keep an eye on as a council as people

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baking colas into there. If it's for scale of packed employees, it doesn't change per department head. It changes per council scale. >> Yeah. >> Unless the ordinance changed that way. >> Yeah. >> And some of these across

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all of these um especially for department heads, they were um you know quite large. And I think it's important to notice that those are um up for negotiation right now. So I mean those

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amounts actually are um incorrect and should probably be put I mean if you want to budget based on we've always done it before based on colas, but I mean I just that was that was a theme across the board. Um and and

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that's I I you know it's not you know it's just not an accurate portrayal until things are are um finished. >> Mr. Chairman, if I can pipe in with that um in the final version of the budget as these are the requests that have been

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submitted as they were submitted. I do plan to submit the budget uh later this week. Um it is finalized. We're just getting all the formatted done for all the materials to go along with the actual budget itself. Um the anyone who's as has been done with all other negotiated positions

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since I've been here and a long before that too. If anyone is currently in active negotiations, then those budget line items are level funded until the negotiations are done and then a supplemental budget appropriation is done to fill those line items after uh like we did last year with the salary reserve that we have in the mayor's

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unclassified account. Um and that's for any of the 12 unions that are currently in negotiations. And there's currently five of them that we're currently in negotiations for. So those are level funded until those are done except for anyone who's set to receive a step increase midfiscal year. Whether or not that cola changes that step scale or

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not, that step is still going to be given to the employees. So it's flatlined per the step scale that they have in the existing contract until a new contract is finalized, signed, and negotiated. >> But just based off the current contract and how it would affect all employees and their time. >> Yeah, current contract. And then we I

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also went through everyone who's in the the new uh non-union ordinance scale and set those um set those uh budget line items per what that scale is in the new ordinance as well. >> Now do like for uh step moves um I I

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just cuz I'm familiar with the school, we had to notify I think it was by the beginning of March if we anticipated a a step move for credits, college credits or anything. I mean obviously they do the the the the year step but anything greater like you know if you're going to

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move over across um is that is that how is it done here? Is it HR that oversees that? But they but it's up the employee to report >> the employee reports if and there's only one department that this really affects and it's with the um the police department if they get a degree change.

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>> Um everyone else it's years of service that change with that and it's the really the employee and the department head and who work when that year of service hits then they notify HR. There's a form that both the uh that the HR department, the department head of that employee and the employee all need to sign to acknowledge that then gets sent to the auditor and treasures office

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and that's what officially changes the pay scale of it effective on that specific date. >> Just curious as part of that form, do they have to provide a transcript >> for if if you have a for the degree sections in the police department? Yes. Okay. >> Yes. For the longevity side, it's just based on those. >> No, I understand that. Okay.

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>> But yes, sorry. There's only one department here on the non-school side that that affects. So I have to think for >> well and it's it's different because at school it's it's increments and every time >> and there's only you have a deadline. >> Yeah. >> For that fiscal year. >> Correct. And there's only certain accredited programs that count towards

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that. So not only is it a transcript but a um outlining of the accreditation of the university for which the degree is received from. >> Understood. >> I appreciate that. A lot of the narratives were very heavy on salary increases and concerns. Um so it's just

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to know that it's going to be level funded as >> we've gone over this quite a bit. Um I don't think I have any further at this time. So yeah, next up we have I believe the executive department. Yes, Mr. Mayor.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um the uh I I rearranged some of the things in the budget for the executive department this year and the three budgets that I oversee um to try to make things a little more transparent, a little more easier to understand and honestly more clear with what the funds are actually

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used for. Um the uh line item in the mayor's and classified budget uh 58,000 uh it's when we that's the one that the title of that line item has changed about seven times. Um it used to be projects and research. Uh then it was just projects and then when we had the

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munis upgrade and all uh or codes had to have same titles and it was organized by the code itself it changed to capital improvement plan even though it really was something that was never funded out of that. And if you look every department in line items whether they funded or not does have a $58,000 called

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the capital improvement plan research um when it has no relation to the actual CIP. So, it's one of those trying to make things clearer and cleaner uh as to what was there. Um the classified account had a lot of funds in it that were more um I guess the islands of Miss

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Victorious for lack of a better term. If we received a bill and it didn't cleanly fit into one area or the other um mainly when it came to city events um trying to make sure that there was a way to um pay, you know, the not have this catch-all but actually make it clear

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what the money was actually being put towards. Uh, so I did add a uh city events line with $1,000 in it uh at the end. Um, just to show that, you know, mainly what that covers is portaotties for events that we have. Um, cuz most of

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the other costs are covered in the U parks and playgrounds uh budget that has a municipal event stipen. Uh, and that's for really preparing for an event. If there's a, you know, the the location where event needs to have needs some type of prep work that's done for it, too. Anything else like that covers uh is covered mainly from sponsorships for

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those events. Um DPW over I'll use the food truck festival as an example for that. Uh in the past we've had the DPW here on overtime just collecting the trash barrels and throwing the emptying them and bringing them back in. That's been covered for out of the line item in the parks and playgrounds uh department

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or in the DPW overtime budget. Uh but we have events line items. So it's one of those things that's trying to make it so that it's a little more aligned. Now, while $1,000 is just a start, and I think we really need to come up with a more defined SOP per event that the city puts on that says this is what, you

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know, is sponsor covered? This is what we're willing to pay for if at all. And if we get more sponsorships for it, then it's not covered and things of that I think is a goal that I would have for the year of trying to figure out how to more define those. Uh, but at least getting it so it's not being paid for out of this one island of mitzvah toys account that really it doesn't have a

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clear title as to what it actually goes towards. Um, additionally taking the council's uh feedback from last year, uh, we have a consolidated professional development and travel account in the mayor's unclassified similar to how we do the uh, termination leave reserve. Uh, whereas those are used by

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departments, those are then transferred out of the unclassified department into the regular department's budget so that it's easier tracking of that way. uh and we can more uh clearly monitor where the funds are going, what development is being done and actually just make sure that the benefits of the professional development and travel are being used uh

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by the contracts and employees that you know require those uh to make sure that people are taking advantage of those uh that are out there and make it a little less restrictive for a department uh if more than one person wants to take a specific class if uh making sure we're not losing too many people all at once at the same time and things of that

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nature. And then in the recent weeks uh that we've had finance committee meetings, the comments been made about making the budget uh budget positive uh for the new proposed position which uh I have done in this uh budget as well. There's been reductions in um the professional I kept the mayor's

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professional development travel separate. So you could see that there was a reduction in that line item. Uh in the uh professional services there was a reduction uh in vehicle supplies. there was an additional reduction

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and in communications there was a reduction as well as in that uh projects and research line item in the unclassified department. Um the difference between what the aid was getting paid in the proposed new position is around $16,5 is around $20,000 in savings when you add all of

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uh those cuts as well to try to make it a budget positive. Happy to answer any questions you may have. um the consolidated professional development travel u that total is just a total of every line item from all the other >> yeah it came out to 116 and change so

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just to make sure ina that we had enough I just rounded it up to 118 >> and if this is something that does move forward how would that be managed and who would manage the use of that what would the limits be >> yeah we we're working on the finalized process for that right now it basically

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be a request form that the department head and the employee would have to sign off and then file you know, my office HR because we we do those trackings right now, uh, particularly with the union contracts that require continuing education that they have to let us know they're taking the class as part of the requirements in the contract. So, this would just add that extra level of um,

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checks and balances to it. >> We obviously see um, sometimes across these budgets that some professional development accounts get used, others do not. Um and um I don't know how to making sure those people are everyone's

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getting being able to take advantage of it and it's not unevenly dispersed as well. >> Yeah. >> Um is a concern um at least just from looking at it um the first glance when we got the um >> got the budget proposal. >> Yeah. And that was based off of the feedback and request that was received last year

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>> um to try to make it so that there was a actual system for it. >> Um but I take any feedback from this year's too. >> No, that makes sense. I think the idea that consolidated makes sense, but councelor M. >> Yeah, I I think too for professional development and for membership and stuff and correct me if I'm wrong, councelor

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Hegel, we we also wanted to see like an itemized list like, you know, is it MMA? Is it, you know, um and and director Arnold actually sent me a list um after my budget meeting. Um but that's what I would like to see from departments is what professional services and

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development and organizations association do we belong to? um and what is you know um what is actually being funded. Um I just wanted you said you cut your vehicle supplies. >> I I was trying to read it in the small print here to see which one it was. >> Did you cut it by $3?

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>> Oh then that's not the one I was looking office supplies. Sorry. My uh my prints a little small over here. I was trying to figure it out here. >> We have the elderly magnifying. >> Okay. >> You're picking up everyone. Judy, >> it must Yeah, it it looks like it's

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office supplies was cut by that one. wasn't much. That was only 50 bucks. >> Um, communications >> was cut by a,000. >> Okay. >> Telecommunications was in half. Uh, professional development travel

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was >> I I I think that's also in half. >> That one you said you maintained, right? Just to show >> just to show the reduction. >> Show. >> Yeah. And I'd be fine moving that into the other consolidated account, too. I just want to show the the budget impacts.

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Um be because I haven't seen it. I'm assuming there's not going to be a recreation department budget submitted or is there going to be one? >> There is, but that falls under the under the council rules that fall under a different committee. >> Yeah, it will fall under welfare. Okay. So that's why I'm questioning why youth activities here is zero. So what instead

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it will be under welfare committee. There'll be a line item >> that that's a historical item here. It hasn't been funded. >> Okay. >> In a while the youth activities in the mayors and classified section. Is there a reason why it has to stay there then on? >> It's just what Lena spits out when you pull it out. >> All right. Thank you.

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>> Yeah. >> Thank you for the uh I you know I like the concept for the PD and travel. Um whether it stays as one, whether it becomes professional development, travel is separate. I think it is a neat idea. I think the system's a good idea. So if

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that line item goes through, >> I assume every department's line item >> Yes. will have to then be stricken as well. >> And it's it's it's the similar process to what we do for termination leave where it's all starts in this one facade and then we pull it out as needed from

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there. So we can also then accurately track >> how much each department is using it. >> No, I think it might you know cuz if we go to open checkbook or something it's all one place it's all >> but in the what is presented it will be taken out of every >> but if city council had a PD or city clerk or

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>> DPW they have their own PD and travel line item. Is that going to be >> removed? >> We don't remove it because again >> you can probably drop it from transfer >> to. So say I was I was taking a class for $500 and my line item was zeroed out

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because of this consolidated one. How we'd actually do it is move $500 into the mayor's department professional account and pay the bill out of there. So we can see that $500 was spent by the mayor's office for professional development. >> Okay. And that's how it's on the termination as well. that the department

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had to pay the termination having itself. >> Yeah, I think that was my only big question other than like, you know, I appreciate the effort to net zero the budget as well for that position and some of the changes you made. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any further questions? Councilman

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further. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. >> Uh next up, we have the uh city auditor, uh Buckers here. >> Yes. >> Come on, counselor. while she's coming up. I did hit me that youth services, youth activities line item was when we

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funded a small portion of the former summer up program at Mount. >> Yes, that was the last time that was there. So, when we made the recreation department, that was then no longer needed because it was in the department itself. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That was way back. >> Welcome. I know this is your first rodeo

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at one of these. So, um thank you for being here though. Um thank you for the the write up. Um I don't know if there's highlights you want to go over from um your budget or your narrative. >> Um I the one thing that I did not

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include was the um professional training. I did go over what I would like to take with um council president um Tyrros.

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So I do have a list of trainings for year-end reports for the read text the recap and everything. So I did go over all of those. >> Okay. >> Questions for the audience?

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>> I just I just had one. I was surprised that there was no cell phone. Did the previous auditor have a city cell phone? >> The previous auditor didn't have a city cell phone. We offer two different types of uh communication policies for employees. They can either receive a city cell phone device or we reimburse a

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portion of their personal cell phone for city usage. Okay. So, the previous auditor chose to do the cell phone agreement for uh reimbursement of a portion of his personal phone's usage for city purposes. >> Okay. >> And there are no um I mean just with you know people leaving stuff there's no extra cell phones.

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>> I'm sure there is. So if you'd like one we can. So yeah, cuz >> I I do Yes, I do have one. >> You do? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, this was put in probably before you >> Yes, cuz I did update the purchase a new

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office chair in the city issued cell phone for the auditor. So, you do have the cell phone. >> I do have a cell phone. I did get that a few weeks ago. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. >> That's my only question. >> Nothing else for me. >> Yeah. I mean this is a most of it is is

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salary as you've kind of outlined and the office supplies and then required um types of payments. Um so I had no further further questions either. Um >> and the professional services that obviously is the year-end audit

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>> and some other smaller items like that. >> So I think our or I know our um day of the year is through beginning of January only. Correct. Um I think this is what we have in front of us. So I assume the professional services are ongoing available monthly. Um because that seems

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about half about halfway through the year is that right there. So that was the only thing I >> kind of noted at all. So >> um I have nothing further this time. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next up we have director Cormier for

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purchasing and civil enforcement. for being here afternoon. So mine's fairly simple. The um first two line items are wage base. Uh my narrative was done prior to the approval of the step. Uh so that reflects that

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number reflects the step three uh at the at the the approved structure with no cola uh as requested. um the senior account clerk and salary and wage. Uh that line I wish it said

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executive coordinator because that's what it is, but based on the union um contract that's still being negotiated. Uh that number was set at step three. As people know, my executive coordinator is leaving. Uh my new hire will be a step

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three in August. So the budget doesn't really change. um it would need to change obviously if the union contract is settled at a at a higher rate. Uh after that um pretty simple longevity just goes up because of the time and service. Uh communications uh that line

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item was raised last year for some city-based communications advertisement stuff. Uh that's where I did my 3% cut from uh professional services and this is in the purchasing first. uh that handles our docu sign, so our contracts. Um

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telecommunications is for the cell phone. Uh professional development and travel. The only thing I point out on that is because I have a new hire, uh it's required within a year that she's MCPO certified. Uh she'll be taking her first class in June, which will come off this year's budget. Um but there will be

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two more classes that she needs to take next year. They're $595 a piece, but my plan is to carry over some money from this year. Um, and hope to cover it there. Uh, and that requirement to get the MCPO in a year is in the job description. That's

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part of the union negotiations that they negotiated that into the job description. Great. Uh, and then the last thing, office supplies. Uh, so that one is shared between civil enforcement and purchasing. Uh the one thing I'd just let you guys know is that we just bought our first box of paper since

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2022. So as we are frugal in the purchasing department, uh we protect the taxpayer dollars. We figure it was best to do it for ourself. So we're paperless and uh we don't buy too much paper. Uh as far as civil enforcement's concerned, the department and salary is governed by Mass Journal Law. Uh professional

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services on the civil enforcement side is what we pay Kelly and Ryan to process our violations. Uh we felt a little nervous about that in January and February given the increase because of the >> meters >> the new meters and the added snowband stuff. Um but I feel pretty comfortable

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based on the the numbers that come in on non u winter time. So that's it. I mean that's that's what it is. >> Thank you. um with the the communications um line item just through

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beginning of January, you were already over um 2,000 uh expended. Do you have any idea where you are currently? >> Uh yeah, it's not much more than that. Uh yeah, because this is based on So what happens is if we do a bid for a department based project, so if it's community development, community

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development will then inherit the project. Actually, uh DVW has a couple in the in the hopper right now. So like they would pay for advertisement. This covered our citybased stuff. So, anything that's like a generic city one like uh our generators or something like that. This was higher because we sold or

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we were in the process of selling 53 school street and 130 Elm Street. >> So, that requires us uh through uh 30B section 16 to advertise twice uh for each one of them. And we had to rebid 130 Elm Street. So, we did actually six advertisements related to real estate

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sales. So, that's why that's higher. Yeah, >> it was just it I didn't know if it was going to the trend was going to continue or not and your budget was going to >> not be adequate, but it sounds like it's going to be adequate for the following year unless pardon any other changes. >> I you know that's really heavy when it comes to like we don't see a lot of the

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generic uh non department based uh bids. There are a few uh it's really real estate based. So, if there's additional real estate that needs to be sold, um the real estate ones really hurt us cuz it's back to back ones and you know, it's significant advertisement. So,

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>> yeah. Thank you. >> I tried to pull up the account to see what it would be, but my Wi-Fi is a little slow, but I can certainly get you how much it is if you'd like to know the >> I mean, it's the information from the directors, I think, is more than adequate at this time. I'm sure it'll be updated on the in the next >> Yeah, the goal is when the final budget is submitted to give you a year to date.

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>> So, so we'll be there for that anyway. >> Yeah. >> But thank you. Appreciate it. >> So the revenue that comes in from the sale of property, I know we're very limited to what we can use those funds for. Can they be can they fund the advertisement of property? >> They can fund future advertisements, future property. So that so there is

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funds be okay. >> But not you can't go back and backfill. >> No, no, no, no. Just knowing if if there's going to be something. >> Yeah. >> For me, it's pretty lean as it is. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I just I just wanted to say I love in your goals a real uh property

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disposal manual. I thought that was excellent. Um >> we go through a process >> and to be honest with you, we sold more property over the last 5 years than we did prior the 15 20 prior. Now we have some additional goals thanks to the auditor. She's pushed me into a couple other things, but uh it just was after

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this was done. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Thanks. >> Uh next up we have the assessor's office. city assessor Kumar is here. Thank you. >> The floor is yours. >> I will just start in then. So, as

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always, my budget is uh pretty simple. Um it's based on actual quotes from our vendors. Um and of course, they do go up some every year. Really the only difference um this year is that I've put

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an extra 40,000 in to which is essentially half of what our quinnquial reertification will be for fiscal year 28. So by getting half of it up front now vision can start in the spring next spring um and just kind of get ahead of

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it and make sure that we have a tax rate set on time. And we did do that as well um in fiscal year 22 for the 23 reertification. >> Yeah, the quinnquential uh certification is a requirement by state law that allow requires us to go out and make sure we

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actually are evaluating our majority of our properties um in a more in-depth manner than we would do on a year-to-year basis. This was something that used to be every three years, but the um municipal empower uh the the municipal bill that Governor Baker

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passed um extended it out from 3 to 5 years. So that's why it's a little extra now is because it's a lot more in-depth than what we would normally do on an annual basis. >> Yeah. >> Everything else, I mean, professional services, well, professional development

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and travel. Um I am certified by the state um through the MAAO. So I do have to have um continuing education hours to be reertified every two years. Um we do belong to a couple of associations, the International Assessors Association, the

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U. Massachusetts Assessors Association, the Worester County Assessors Association. Um we also um pay to have MLS um which is a quarterly. So, those come out of uh professional services and professional development and travel. Um,

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office supplies. I can one up Josh. I have a return uh address stamp and I use blank envelopes. So, we're we're pretty bare bones. Um, that pretty much is just paper and envelopes. Um, the two big accounts are valuation maintenance and valuation

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update. And those are where our vendors are paid from. And it's all to do with exactly what it says, maintenance and updates. So maintenance really is like the databases and the software end of things. And then the update is uh cyclical inspections. Um again mandated

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by the state. We have to look at every property at least every 10 years which equates to about 700 properties a year. Um so it's always it's tough to get those in and it's costly. Um, but that's all encompassed in that and that's about

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it. >> Questions? >> Nothing for me. >> Um, I have a question about your wish list item of to get a new printer, scanner, copier to replace your 10-year-old one. >> Yes. >> Um, is is and which is no longer service. Is has any happened with that

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since you submitted it? which is why on I put on um the 3% reduction and and the mayor's it's actually down that amount because we did get it through it. So, yay. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. And that's in Lauren's office.

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>> All right. >> Has there been professional development travel this year? >> Yes, there has. >> I actually just um took a two-day course which is 18 and a half continuing education hours. I need 28 every two years. So that was a good chunk.

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>> The numbers we have >> ratio studies, you know, fun stuff. >> The numbers we have are just through the beginning of the year, so we're kind of missing the chunk. So I assume some of it was expended. >> It has been. >> But thank you for that information. >> You're welcome. >> Um I have nothing further.

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>> Thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. I miss cases. >> Next department we have is the treasurer collector which would include I believe debt services and property insurance. I don't think treasur is by herself in the

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office there. Is that correct? >> We have her here today. >> Um certainly have to go happy to go over what she said to me in our budget meetings if you'd like Mr. Chairman but >> sure. Um so the uh position does have two non-unit positions or excuse me one non-unit position one in the department

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head union and two in the ASME union. Um on the operations side of things uh a lot of it is um the contracts that they have with Kelly and Ryan. Uh they do provide postage for uh the entire general fund side of the city uh in the postage machine that's in the copy room

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downstairs. The enterprise accounts do have their own postage machine that they use on their end too. But the postage is paid for for the general fund out of this postage budget that's in the treasures department um side of things here. Uh their parking meter clerk and parking meter maintenance in this as

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well as you'll see this again in some of the other budgets um is actually paid for from revenue of the parking meter. So when you get the budget orders themselves, you'll notice there's the order to raise and appropriate for the general fund and then an order to appropriate from the parking meter revenue account. uh that will fund the two park and wheel lines in this budget

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that's here. Uh in terms of the debt, that's set by our debt schedule with our bond council uh for both inside and outside debt. Inside debt is everything that uh does not have a specific exemption under the general laws for what is considered inside and outside. Uh enterprise is

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considered outside. Anything that's given a grant for is considered outside. Anything that's inside is everything else. Uh so if we take out a loan for construction project that's not grant-based through the MSBA uh and is not part of an enterprise account then it is considered inside debt and that's uh goes into our calculations of when we

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reach our debt limit that we're required to have as a municipality under the general laws. Um that's based off of 5% of our equalized valuations. Uh and then a certain percentage of the budget is then used as the denominator in that fraction. Um so that this debt schedule is based off of all of those calculations that we have here in terms

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of what's inside what's outside and the interest rates based off of when the loans are taken and the schedule that we have. Uh the final budget will have the full debt schedule in it. Uh so you can see what are active loans but you can see the uh in uh treasur Demick's item she does have the uh some of the remaining balances of the loan in some

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detail. What you'll see in the final budget is the actual scale yearbyear what the payments will be on each project. And then our property insuranceances uh do come to us from our uh outside property vendor hub insurance uh h excuse me property insurance vendor

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hub insurance um and their uh quotes for the year uh for continued coverage. >> Thank you. >> Um as you noted there the outline of the inside and outside debt was I thought helpful. So thank you for pointing that

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out. Um are there any questions or concerns? Um I just I have a question and then just a concern. Um when it comes to insurance, property insurance and stuff, it's no different than an individual. Uh does the city shop around for the best prices and not just go to the same vendor every year?

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>> Yes, that's why we changed this vendor this year. >> Okay. All right. And the other thing was in her narrative um uh she talked about um the city being proactive over the last four years sending tax title properties and uh and to begin

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foreclosure processes the process um in FY25 there were five properties facing foreclosure were paid in full in FY26 one property um based on what there is on the rules I I don't see those as great numbers and

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my question is what if anything's going going to be done um to try to um increase the revenue from from uh overdue or uh delinquent property tax. >> I know at least since January 1st, I've different properties going into the

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court process, but then once they go into the court process, we're at the uh schedule of the court as to whenever they schedule those. Um we just received a notice from one this morning of one that was scheduled prior to be me me being mayor. Um so it's really just on whenever the court schedules those final foreclosure hearings on it from there.

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uh uh to get a property into the court process, it's around $7,000 per property. So when you see the tax title line item in the budget to figure out how many properties that is a year, just divide that by seven. That's around the average. So you can see what that process would take. >> Uh just, you know, the assessor has been

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and the treasurer have been kind enough to give me information before and I just off the top of my head, you know, know what one is, you know, only going over $100,000. So it would be well worth presuming. >> Thank you. Is it 7K a flat rate? No matter how >> that's a ballpark rate. >> It's a ballpark rate. So it does vary

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based on the >> Yes. Severity of the project if it's commercial versus residential. >> Um we did hold off as you saw there was only one in I believe it was 25 counselor. Correct. >> You said fiscal 25. There was only one that went through >> probably was five fiscal year 261.

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>> Yes. the uh the 26th year was because that was the first year of the implementation of the new um tax title law for residential properties uh with the new home equity theft act that was enacted by the legislature and we were waiting for the regulations to be released so we knew what we were up against before we continued putting residential properties into the title.

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Not saying that we weren't going to do that because we've since done it but we at least wanted to know that we were following the correct regulations before we continued with the process that we didn't know what it was. So that was one of the reasons why that year had such a big dip in uh the number that went through it. >> And actually in her narrative, the

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director response on department request, she actually outlines that she feels that the city should push more tax title properties to foreclosure so that they can eventually be off should recapture some of the unpaid taxes. So >> um so that that's good to see.

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>> Second. >> Thank you. >> Nothing further. Thank you. We have HR Director Morris, human resources. Thank you all for being here. >> Um, so mine I feel like is pretty basic.

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Um, the salaries and wages are the majority of my budget. um the operational um are fairly standard. There were two changes in my budget which were one um

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was our professional services. So Indeed prior has always been a free service um and then if you want to sponsor a job to attract more candidates to bring it to the top of the list, they'll advertise it for you then you could pay. um they've since changed their

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billing um their way of billing and you only get three free postings per month. Everything after that you have to pay. Um so that was that's going to be a significant cost increase in the HR budget. Um and the alo the other one was

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also a system for um FMLA tracking. So like a lot of things in the city, it's manual pen and paper Excel tracking. there is a system that would ensure compliance, dates are being set appropriately, notifications are going out to employees, and that does have a

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cost. So, those were my two main increase to budgets for those um two things under professional services. >> The uh the other thing in the format of the budget was breaking out the medical exams so it's clearer to see who the three or four biggest users of that line item are so we can better track those.

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We know that uh the physical aptitude tests for fire and police officers cost about triple what it would be for a regular employee to be uh hired. Uh the physicals that we have for pre-employment physicals are required by ordinance for all city employees. Um temporary, non-mporary,

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um any department of the city. It all just depends on whether they're the general employees or the various higher levels. Um and that also covers if we had a random DOT required drug test for a member of the DPW uh and everything like that. So broken it out into the three main users uh which are the um

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DPW, fire and police and then the remaining general city employees uh so that we uh could better track those. >> Thank you. >> Questions, comments? >> Um I had never heard of city stars. When

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was that launched? I was going through the narrative. >> So that was January of last year. Okay. Um and we use um we have gift cards from Blue Cross and Blue Shield that we can offer employees. So it's more just recognition. If someone finds something

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very helpful, they can nominate someone. Um and then we pick randomly a name every month and recognize people's job well done. >> That's nice. Um, in the next uh paragraph, you address the um

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tracking of specific documents including the mandatory state ethics training and I know I sound like a broken record. Um, but has it improved for any boards and commissions as well? Because I'm on uh, you know, a commission and we actually had the discussion the fact that they

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had not taken the state ethics and they really should have um, in that I would hope to see this expanded in the next next this year. >> It has not gone to that level. Um, I I still struggle with the whole process of

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boards, commissions, who's appointed, who leaves, who joins. I've I've had that problem since the day I started. Um >> we had our first appointee today uh with the new appointment uh information form that does require that uh both the HR director signed off as acknowledging that knowing that the appointment has

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been submitted and the appointee coming in and signing off. And what we've been doing now is a new process for that is when the appointee comes in to sign the form, they'll go up to HR and fill out the Corey check form for the background check as well as then provide all of the contact information to the HR office so

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that we have the contact information, we've got the knowledge of the appointee being uh submitted and the background check all done all at once. That way it formalizes the process. Then it goes from HR back to my office for submission to the clerk's office. It doesn't have to be a a difficult process on that form. It could give them

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the website to do the state ethics and they have to >> submit scan to you because you get a certificate at the end once you're done >> to you within a certain period. >> Yep. >> I mean it it it you know it's it's not hard but I think when people are reappointed appointed that's when it

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should just it should be automatic just for what they're getting from the clerk and HR. Um, and I think, you know, anyone existing now, um, you know, all it has to do is go to the the chair of the board commission to hand it out to them, you know, at a meeting and say, "If you haven't already done so, this is

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required to be done." >> Um, I again, I just I just think it's something important because I hate to see people do something based on ignorance. Um, and I think there is a responsibility because a lot of these people do it for for nothing that to make sure that they are they know what

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the guidelines are. Um, so that's that was just my take on that. >> Mhm. >> Thank you. >> What are the requirement? What are the requirements to take that um that course? Like how how often do they take it? Just >> every year. Three years. >> Um, every two years. >> It's every two years.

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>> Well, there's an annual acknowledgement that's once a year and then the training is every two years. So there's two components of it >> questions >> and can I in part of that and I don't know if this is just the schools but you

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also we were required annually for every two years to provide a copy of our driver's license as part of it with the >> oh for like our coreies >> for the for the Corey part two that was part of it too because that was it's not just run once it has to be run on a

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regular basis. I mean, you wouldn't know if something happened, >> right? >> But, you know, especially in education, but you're required to provide a copy of your your driver's license. I want I want to say that was annual. And then the and then the state ethics is every two years. Um, and it's it's it's 50.

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It's not time consuming at all. But yeah, uh cuz Cory's actually should be continuingly run on a are they run on a regular basis? They're not. >> They absolutely should be run. >> The school might be different. I know the school has to be fingerprinted. Cory's are more strict at the school, but the city city-wise it does not.

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>> Well, I think it's important too because you also have a lot of employees operating heavy equipment and um in city vehicles. I mean, if somebody, you know, >> people who run people who drive city vehicles are they are on a DOT

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checklist. They have to be randomly drug screened. Um there's different levels of that. So, that's a little different if you operate a city vehicle. >> So, if >> a heavy equipment city vehicle >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. So I'm like, but if I was a person who had a city vehicle and I had the

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responsibility, if I lost my license, you wouldn't necessarily know that I could be driving a city vehicle without a license. >> Correct. >> Anything else? Any further council commission employee benefits? >> Yeah, the pool is moving uh as you've seen. Yes. So that's why that was

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blacked out or not blacked out but deleted from the final columns that you saw there. >> Yes. >> Um disability commission was uh level funded as the request came in. >> Uh and the employee benefits is again based off of what our providers sent to us. Um and the health insurance in here

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is the 12% increase. >> Any questions on on those items? >> No, I was just curious. I know it's a small amount what um the disability commission uses the $200 for for professional services. I know last year it was to

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um purchase items for raffles for um fairs to I think some of them you have to provide a basket to give away to attend a fair so to buy a raffle item pens giveaways um any sort of training I

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think the chair has done a training um so >> but very minimal >> okay the presence of the I don't know the things they items they had at the sidewalk sale whatever version >> exactly It's pens, chachki, little things like that. >> Okay. >> I was just wondering if it was to

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provide things um accessible to people like certain agendas or or information based on the city um that might be you know to people who are like visually impaired. Do we do they provide large

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print versions of things? Um because I would think that would >> there's been one request that I know of um and the person had an iPad that they could zoom in to make the font bigger to be able to read, but it's nothing that the commission supplied them. >> Thank you. >> Mhm.

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>> I have nothing further. >> Thank you. >> The last of the budgets in front of us is information technology. Um Director O'Keefe is not present, but the mayor is here. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Uh,

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Director O'Keefe, as noted in his um in his written write up that he had submitted uh when I, as I've said before, when I asked for the departments, I asked for three numbers. I asked for the wish list. Uh really just seeing where the department the most effective version of department

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would fall. Uh I asked for a 3% reduction in non- salary cuts. That way we could see if cuts did need to be made, where they could be made. and then a department's request, excuse me, as he's noted at the bottom, he uh he wants to his department request is reducing the budget by 3% anyway, as you see in

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front of you. Um the uh major part of that comes from the uh the IT line that purchases hardware. Uh the software licensing, you'll see uh also

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uh is up by a little bit, but not by much, around $500. Um there are some renewals that we're having, but we've invested a lot in our uh technology side of things over the last several years that has made it so that we are able to bring some of those costs down uh as we uh you know work to update the systems

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that we have. >> Questions? >> Uh the printer copier supply line is that to provide assistance to other departments? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, and other than that, um, I noticed in the narrative the request for

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a, u clerical assistant, which, um, in in my opinion, I I don't believe is is necessary. Um, I just think there needs to be, you know, a little bit more re time management and reorganization. Um,

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especially for paying invoices. Um the other thing in here was my question on professional development and travel is is any type of professional development um for

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continuing ed what is is is it to learn new systems >> I'll uh certainly can ask the director that that that is also one of the lines that's consolidated in the final budget. Yeah. >> Um, so it's >> can certainly ask the uh director too, but that and I can tell you in the final

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budget is one of those that's been reduced and put into this consolidated line. >> Um, question. I don't know if it was just an error or deleted out, but the the department request line is empty um for the >> because it was because the uh the way

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that director O'Keefe worded it is that his 3% reduction is his department request. >> Okay. >> So, it's the same and equal to both. It is formatted the correct way in the final budget submission. >> Understood. Council, nothing.

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That'll end of the budget portion of today's um meetings. We're on to subsection 3, first time on the agenda, item 11827, in order to reappropriate unexpended bond proceeds for other capital projects. Mr. Mayor, >> thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. As

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you're aware, uh, in February 2025, we did reappropriate a portion of the funds remaining in the, uh, unappropriately, uh, bond proceeds that were, uh, taken out as part of the new school building project for this elementary school. >> Uh, the, uh, there is money remaining

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still in that. Uh so the uh request here before you goes towards several projects that we've talked about before in various uh either uh reviewed during that process or in various other committee meetings uh that have come up along the way as a way to getting those projects off the ground. The first being the city hall entryway project. Uh and I

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provided pictures for each of these or as much information as I could for each of these two. Uh when the granite steps were removed from the front steps, what we thought was solid concrete underneath was actually four large 45 ft uh square foot bays uh that were loaded with water. That water in those and contracting and expanding because of the

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freeze in the summer and all that other stuff uh is what eroded away a lot of the grout and quite honestly turns a lot of the concrete and the foundations to sand uh because of the erosion that was done internally with that one. So we had to go back and fill those in order for the project to move forward. Uh the sidewalk, the sculpt of that originally

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had 4 in because of the thickness needed to support the weight of uh the vehicles and the traffic over it. And they to be consistent with the other uh sidewalk panels that are there was increased to 6 in. And then there's some additional work to level out the uh accessibility

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ramp over between the annex building and uh city hall. So that difference is uh what's in proposed in front of you there. Uh the middle school roof project went out to bid uh and came in around $663,000 and change over budget. Uh so in order to get that project moving forward so

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that we one stay on timeline with the bidding procedures because once you open a bid you you really only have a certain amount of time before we have to sign the contract and award the bid after that. Uh but two make it so that we remain within this construction summer season before school starts and try to have as least disruptions as possible uh for our students and our teachers. Uh

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that is included here so that that project can get off the ground and running. Uh I've said several times at the economic and community development standing committee's meetings about the concrete work over at the Waterford Community Center. Uh replacing the ramp on the outside and around the building for all of the various different entrances to make the building uh more

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compliant. Uh so that proposal that was submitted to the uh community and economic development uh standing committees meeting when we just received the cost estimate itself before we uh move forward with this is what's funded in front of you here today now that we have the 30-year approval letter. And

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then with the uh announcement that Gardener Academy is relocating into Gardener High School and the current Gardener Educational Television studio as well as room 109 being uh converted into the two G classrooms in uh Garden

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High School and necessitating the need for GETV to move out of Garden High School and into the community center. Uh there's uh work that needs to be done to fit out the space as while they're a department of the city, work that would normally be done by the landlord of a location uh rather than out of the the cable funds themselves for the actual

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cable specific needs uh of those are included here as well. Uh and then as the uh required by state law and our bond council, the various letters verifying that these projects have a lifespan of 30 years, fitting them into the original school appropriation for the new elementary school, uh are

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included in the packet as well. Thank you. >> Questions? >> None for me. I I thought thought it was a good list. Some of it obviously is connected to the last time we talked about this. Um so I appreciate it. I

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thought a lot of that made sense. >> I just think it's a great move moving a WG out of the high school into community center. I think they'll have more space. Um, and it's it's definitely more appropriate for them to be there and for

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the school to have the um room to you to utilize. That room um where they were actually was originally the library office um when Gardener High School was built and opened um because I was the temporary librarian when I was in

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graduate school and it was an enormous library office for any one person to have. So, it's a nice size room for Gall to take advantage of. >> Thank you. >> Um, just for transparency sample, Mr. Chairman, uh, so I mentioned in my inaugural address this year that the, uh, the 8.4 million that we originally

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thought was going to be under budget was actually lower. Uh, the total amount that came in under budget was, uh, 10,997,982. Uh, of the amount that was appropriated, uh, so far, we appropriated, uh, $8,161,000. Of that, 3.4 4 million has been

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expended. Um, and uh, leaving if you take what was appropriated out, take this money that's being uh, proposed, uh, that leaves us with a balance of unappropriated funds of 1.7 million and change. Uh, 1,711,982

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left for either that. What that does not include is that the two pool projects, the siding and the roof at the Greenwood Pool outdoor buildings, uh, did come in $146,700 under budget as well, too. So that's also available for reappropriation later on too. >> Okay. Thank you for that information.

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>> And that money can be reappropriated towards >> any project that has a minimum lifespan of 30 years. And the that 30-year lifespan is outlined in the general laws. What counts and what doesn't. Uh they don't count equipment. They don't count paving with asphalt. I have to make that just

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distinction separate from concrete. uh and the um equipment has a 15-year lifespan. Paving has a 10-year lifespan under the general laws. And there's various other uh schedules that they have for those. In fact, the uh the budget for both the last two years and this current year

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budget actually do have the the uh chart that the general laws break down to the use for life schedule for borrowing. Um >> do we know when how long the last lining of the the pool lasted? Cuz it's I haven't heard it being >> pool lining is 12 years. 12 years. Wow. >> Okay.

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>> Um I think each one of these items um is very worthwhile. I mean the front steps are ongoing. The projects going to cost a little more. Uh the middle school roof. It's that's needs to be completed. Came in over budget and that one is time time sensitive. Um and the other

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Waterford the ramps there. I was there with the mayor just the other day. They're in not the shape I remember him in but that was quite a while ago. Um and uh GV you spoke to councelor Mack. Um but in the interest of the roof portion I would uh entertain um sending

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this to the council and waving approval for two meetings. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made by council Hegman second by councelor Mack to the rule um two meeting rule and send us to the full council for for approval. Further

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discussion. >> Um just one last thing Mr. Chairman just I should have mentioned this in the letter and I'm realizing now that I didn't. the work on the front entryway um aside from the ramp, the two sidewalk panels and the steps themselves also does include uh the repainting and pointing of the columns themselves too.

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So that's all part of this work that's proposed. Um, can I just want to make a comment that um, as a person who's who's has an enormous concrete driveway, it's important if we're going to do projects steps ranched with concrete that all city maintenance departments are using

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the proper salt in the winter because it's going to look like Waterford Street does now because you can tell that it was just being eaten up by the use of the wrong salt. And so I hate to see anybody come back within a few years and say that um the concrete is broken apart

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because of um mistreatment. Thank you. >> Anything further? Nothing else from me. Hearing uh no further discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion carries to subsection 4 in subcommittee. Item 11482 discussions regarding the city's

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health insurance payments and trust fund. U this item is uh continued to be with us. uh off and on for updates. Um I don't know if there's any further update from the mayor at this point. >> The teachers unions are meeting on Friday uh to send us their formal recommendation. Uh so but we are running

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into the time where we are hitting open enrollment. So to make sure that we still had our minimum 30-day open enrollment period. Uh we did send out the open enrollment notices to all of our activives and retirees uh to let them know that right now plan for the 12% increase unless we unless you hear different in which case a new notice will be sent out to everyone but at

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least that way they can start the uh open enrollment process. Uh and that does include everything from the 8% increase in dental, the projected 12 and a half percent increase in health insurance, and then if they choose to uh enroll in any of the optional benefits as well, that's all part of the open enrollment process that's associated with that. >> Thank you.

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>> Questions? >> Um is there any update on the trust fund? I mean, we had the numbers of April. Do we have any claim numbers? >> I can get you. I don't have that off the top of my head. >> I know that number is in the budget document that again is being currently drafted that hopefully we'll have that

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by the end of the week. >> Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. I have nothing else for me. Okay. Um no objection. This will continue to stay uh with us. Hearing none, we're on to 11752 study and report on the salt shed repayment issue. Um this is also been

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with us for some time. I think the questions at least currently are still with the chassis reimbursement. I don't know if there's any update on that. >> Yeah, we have the opinion from the law department um which I'm certainly I do plan on submitting for your subsequent meeting. I just didn't know how much extra on top of the budget you wanted for this meeting. So that's why it wasn't submitted. Um but I can tell you

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long and short. Uh while the law department's opinion states otherwise, we're looking at a different way to fund the two chassis. >> Okay. Thank you. Um this will again continue to stay with us for both that purpose and the uh purpose for um free cash >> into it into that fund.

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>> And and for the followup on the final looming and seating, correct? >> Correct. Yeah. Mhm. Um item 11815, an ordinance to amend the code of the city of gardener section 8 chapter 625

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there of entitled water rates. Um this was before us last time there was in our packet is the breakdown from uh director Arnold. Um if you want to come on up as well. Um it uh outlined the proposed rate

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increases over the next 5 years. um for the um fire department. Um I don't think there's anything further from either of you to add at this point. >> Uh council Heg asked me some questions. I believe I answer I hope I answered them to um I don't have anything else to

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add. >> That's expected. Um and further discussion or information from the committee questions. >> Well, thank Director Ronald. He answered all my questions. I had a few back and forth with them via email. It was really helpful. Uh so I did appreciate you taking the time to give me all that

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information. Um you looking at it I I think you know we had talked about this at the last meeting that the salaries were obviously concerned. It doesn't seem to be a huge portion of it. Um but wanting you know just wanting to be cognizant of that

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being impacted and tied into it was something we wanted to to keep an eye on I think as a group and a committee and a council. I think I have concerns about the general system where we stagger it. This amount sat for 3 years without being changed. And I think of what we ran into

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at the health insurance. While it might be popular or fun to not update the number as frequently, it feels like now that we're looking at some numbers that are, as we talked about, quadruple triple previous rate increases. Um, you know, that concerns me that and and then

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I think there's things outside of that. There's a number of projects coming up that are are big number big ticket items, but it it just worries me that if we're not doing it as frequently as we should be or maybe could be that that's why we're seeing the you know the risk of this account is depleted. Um

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we're now again right we're being asked to make some pretty significant um percentage increases to the water rates. Uh again where we probably could do more consistent hikes throughout the time. Um, so I'm I'm definitely concerned

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about it. Um, and I have, you know, other thoughts, other things that have come up is just how does the viola contract play into it? Um, do we need to look at other, you know, contract companies that would oversee the parts that they oversee? Are they the best

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bet, the cheapest option, um, for the quality work that we need? Um and and I think ideally too we even just see you know we have the list of projects but you know breaking this you know projecting this out for the next 5

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years. What do we see the salary portion being? What do we see the general expenses being? What do we see the which projects do you expect to have to fund each year? Um so I think for me just more information would be really appreciated. um and then a lot better to

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have than you know the chart was great. The information the director has given us has been really wonderful. He's been very helpful. Um but just seeing where this is going to go and how specific it can be allotted I think would also be really helpful.

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So I had a thought to that end and not going to delay things too much um is to just amend the order for now. So, um, you know, I want to move to amend the ordinance by striking in section 1A

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subsection A effective July 1st, 2026, $7.80 and inserting in its place effective July 1st, 2026, $747. So, about a 15% increase for that first year. And then for now, strike

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subsections B, C, and D. um with the anticipation that we come back when we have some more of this information um and have a chance to better vet these percentages. Um

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and if they're um actually one for a few things um and really just a chance to give us more information but not delay something happening so that the account can start to acrew you know some of that money

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that it does definitely need. Um um thank you councelor. Um we'll take a brief recess just to take a look at what he's handed out to everyone. >> Yeah. Uh thank you. Um everyone had a

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chance to review it. Um I think there's uh some question further questions um possibly as well. Um that are are lingering here. I don't know if there's further questions from Council Mack about the amendment.

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Um, no. I I uh even though the um public service committee was in favor, I I do u and I did bring up then about your concerns about the 20 the increases. Um I I do I I do well when I hesitate say I think it's

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it's good to take a step back and take a look but yet still let the water you know the increase you know be um reduced and just get more information. Um I think moving forward even beyond we got anything over 10% I think we have to

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be very careful about and even though you can always bring it back after a couple years you know and and revise it then not wait until you're right the four years I mean this is two years out 24 supposed to be >> um the timing and the change of the

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water rates are they tied to the fiscal year in any way what's that >> we build quarterly and it's based off of the fiscal year so it's one of that's it's the four quarters of fiscal year that we bail on. >> Correct. But it's basically it has to be set by the beginning of the fiscal year. It cannot be set.

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>> It could be. It could >> I think one time it's been put out in August, implemented in August, the other three quarters. So it's not tied to that by >> it just you're missing out on a 12th of >> Yeah.

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of you're missing a portion of the year. No, understood. Um Okay. Um because of the quarterly building we building billing we do normally like to have an even number at the end just so it makes the math line up easier with the meter readings and the quarters and everything in between. >> Okay, understood.

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>> Yeah, a resident we've got complaints when we did it in August that well the the July residents got build a lower rate the August you know it you can't win type of thing. >> It should also be noted that I don't know if anyone's noticed this. driven by

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Pearly Brook on Clark Street. There's a the pump house on there is a pipe underneath that that recently in the last few weeks uh developed a leak. It's in the worst position. We're trying to get quotes on that. Um it's over the morning glory. So there's going to have to be staging built. That's not even on

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this estimate as far as and it's going to be another big ticket property uh project. Unfortunately, when things go wrong, they're expensive in the water and sewer system. understand. >> So that might have to take precedent over something else on this list right now.

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>> Uh the the media and at the at Snake Pond and the redevelopment of the well are the two priorities as far as has to get done >> along along with Pearly Brook. >> Just to be clear, the resident us changing the rate on July 1st, someone was build say August 1st for those three

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months. They get one rate for two months and another rate for one month because the rate didn't start till July 1st. >> Correct. So people may call in and say, "Well, this rate's different." But if it's changed in August, they're getting build for certain months at a certain rate, just like everyone else in the city. >> Yeah. And I also believe we would have to go read meters every every month to

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make sure that we get the usage under one bill under one rate and then when it changed, we' have to get the usage under the under the new rate. >> So there's I mean there's a little bit of work, but it's it's not impossible. >> And it still would have to happen when

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we change the rates in July. Uh if you Yes, exactly. >> Either way, we've changed the race that has definitely >> um I think talk about a overall rehash of how we attack both this and

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the sewer rates and the 5-year plans and coming back with what the situation is possibly there as well. um and whether we should be um you know delaying like we have um while it was a nice thing to do with it things start changing fairly

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fairly quickly with the costs of things um and then to hit with these higher rate increases um but should I think it should be revisited um of how we how we go about this pro um going forward and see what other plans could be um plans

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to be instituted just so it's more of a gradual ual increase for the residents instead of um a jump. Um according to the comments, there at least would need to be a change if this is something we wanted to um before just

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for ease of the billing um by a penny or whatever such one way or the other. >> So I would move to amend my amendments to you know I would amend my amendment to 748 $748 effective July 1st 206. That was Thank you both. I appreciate that. Council Mac.

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>> Uh second. >> Uh I guess all those uh in favor of the amended version of councelor Hagglin's amendment um with the setting the effective rate for July 1st, 2026

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through 748. And rescending the other um the other dates um made by councelor Peglin, second by councelor Mack. All those in favor say I. I. Um all those opposed? Motion carries.

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Um okay, thank you. Item 11822 prior year unpaid uh bill ACA filing and compliance. >> Just a while we so approving the amendment. >> I was going to say also I'd also recommend the correct. So,

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>> is there any further discussion on the item itself or reflections? >> Nope. I I'll just add that I appreciate it. I know this was a bit of a change, but you know, with the how we do the when we institute the timing of the increases, seeing this large jump definitely raised some flags. I think

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too there's always options of borrowing from the city. There's grants that might come up. There's already institutions that, you know, we we've gone to like the Long Island Sound Fund for repairing these sorts of things. So there could be other ways that if something comes up we could, you know, explore um while we

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sort of figure this out and straighten this out. And I appreciate again the director and the mayor uh for their time answering my questions. Council Council M. >> I just have a procedural question. Um and if the assistant city clerk doesn't know this, I'm sure the mayor will. Um,

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if the public service committee recommended it to go to the council as it was um, presented, do they have to now vote on the amendment or they'll just do that at the c full council meeting? Okay. I just want to make sure. >> I would think they do. Okay. We'll do at

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the full council meeting. >> Recommend recommendations are not binding. >> Right. So, right. So, they can just they'll be revoting on it >> as amended and then they can open it up to discussion if they have any further questions. could be remended back possibly to something else entirely at

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the full council meeting. >> Um, thank you for the correction on the procedure though as well. Council He um entertain a motion on the current proposal. >> Move to recommend to the full council the ordinance be passed as amended. >> Second.

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>> Uh motion made by councelor Hegin, second by councelor Mack for the ordinance to be passed as amended. Recommended for council. Uh is there any further discussion on the item hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. Um

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item 11822 prior year unpaid bill ACA filing and compliance. This item is with us before I further from Mr. Mayor. No questions from the committee. >> Nothing else from me.

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>> Nothing from me. >> I have nothing. I entertain a motion. I entertain a motion to recommend um authorization to pay the uh statement um to the full council. >> Second motion made by councelor Mack and

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second by councelor hegland to recommend payment of the unpaid bill to the full council. Um is there any further discussion? Hear none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion carries. That ends our agenda and entertain a motion to adjurnn.

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>> Second made by councelor. My council act chair. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion carries.