Good evening everyone. I'd like to call to order the Greenfield City Council meeting for June 17, 2026. Chief >> Okay. This meeting is being recorded by the city council and the Greenfield Community Television CCTV9.
If any other persons present are doing the same, you must notify the chairperson. >> Okay, we've got the recorder here. Welcome everybody. If folks have public comment, we have a public comment signup sheet over here
and you'll have three minutes. Um, and we'll explain it when you come in, but please sign up if you're interested in doing that. All right, clerk Scott, can we take a roll call of members? >> Absolutely.
>> Do we have No, we don't. Um, councelor Golib >> here. >> Councelor Gordon >> here. Councelor Dilmas >> here. >> Councelor Bottomley >> here. >> Councelor Bulock >> here. >> Councelor Williams >> here. >> Councelor Baldick >> here. >> Councelor Webb
>> here. >> Councelor Brown >> here. >> Vice President Garrett >> here. >> Councelor Minhos has not arrived yet. Councelor Cibbis >> here. >> President Wandelowski >> here.
>> Madam President, you have a quorum. >> Great. All right. Those who wish to rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our first order of business is to approve the April 15th and May 20th city council meeting minutes. >> So moved. >> Second
bullet and bottom. >> All in favor? >> No abstensions. Thank you. Our first guest is the superintendent of schools and school committee. And um this is our last meeting with
Superintendent Joy. So um before he sits down, I just want to thank you for your year of service to Greenfield and all you've done for us. Can I have a round of applause everybody? Thank you. Would have been an easy day to skip out and say it's the last day, right? I was at a pool party. I was
telling the president, right? them or something like that with all the things that were going on today. So, no, here we are, our last one. So, we'll give you a quick update on what's going on here. >> So, I can just uh give a quick start by just reminding you all, you'll see this
later on in your agenda when you're looking at the operations budget, but the school uh we did vote at our meeting last week to approve the budget as presented to you all. This is a a balanced budget. We are not asking you all for any additional funds. So hopefully that helps make your job a little bit easier. Um, and we were able
to use some some vacancy savings. I do just want to note and that I would like to say I'll say this again and again. Um, we've been using vacancy savings to try to help balance this budget for the past several years. And what that means is that these are vacancy savings are positions we wish we could fill and we
are having a hard time filling them. So these are staff that we wish we could have. This is not a long-term solution, but it's the one we have for you all this year. Um, ideally next year I'll come back to you with a different scenario and ask you for lots more money because we have lots more staff. So
that's my hope. Um, but for this year, um, we are not asking you all for any additional funds. Let me thank you all for everything you've been able to do for us throughout the year. Anyway, um, next up, talk a little bit about
some of our athletic stuff. Um, Green Wave Baseball Western Mass Champs. Wow. Congratulations to our baseball. I know, right? That give a round of applause. Thank you. Yes. Um for their 17 ining win over
Lennox. That's a game. That's That's a lot of baseball. >> Um girls tennis won their preliminary round over David Prrowy and will be traveling to Manchester, Essex for round of for a round of 32 match. Um track had
successful athletes in Western Mass in the States. Mason Umel placed second in pole vault in the states in Western Mass. Uh placed first in the 110 what is that? >> Metershur >> high hurdles. See I didn't I I didn't actually do any track as a kid. So I
don't know any of these acronyms. >> Um high hurdles. That is 110 high hurdles and 400 high hurdles. I'm assuming that that's a measurement that's that's a lot. That's high. um in Western Mass and the States placed third uh in one 110 high hurdles and second in
the 400 high hurdles. Jack Lori won the javelin in Western Mass. Kira Tamson placed second in the 400 meter uh third in the 100 meter and placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdle at states. The 4 by 100 boys team relay consisting of Jack Lori James Leavorei, Yvon Williams, and Camel
Ramsey came in fourth in Western Mass and states. So, just saying our athletics like we're kind of kicking ass. We're doing great. Um, next thing I just wanted to come back. I mentioned this last month, but we do have a new advisory committee called the long-term
facilities use advisory committee. This was stood up so that we could do some actual long-term thinking and planning regarding our facilities, our school buildings, how we want to actually organize ourselves across them. Um, thinking of and like we're exploring all sorts of options. So we were exploring
what would it look like to maybe consolidate buildings? What would it look like to maybe have in the future, not in the immediate sense, maybe a new unified elementary school? What could it look like to pursue um cons uh working with other districts? Um regionalization
is that is that a possibility? There's also a model for community schools. So this is going to be a group that actually is really digging into some of these different options. We are looking for participants. There's an interest form on the GPS website. Like there's a whole little banner across the top.
Click it, find it, you'll find the interest form. We have open positions. It's an advisory committee. So that means we are able to accept members of the public as being part of it. So that we want um people beyond school committee members to be part of the decision- making and the planning and the learning related related to facil
facilities use. Uh that interest form closes on the 22nd. We have plenty more spaces available. Last I looked at the responses. So, if you're out there and you're like, I'm curious about buildings, you don't need to be an expert. I promise you, we're going to be bringing in the experts to us. Um, but
if you're like, I care about the future of these schools and the buildings and how we're organizing ourselves. I think I can contribute. Uh, please take a look at the time commitment that's listed on the website. Please take a look at what it entails. And if you are interested, please submit that uh form. the steering
group which is myself and two other school committee members for that. We'll be reviewing the uh submissions on the 29th. Um so please get those in as soon as you are able if that is of interest to you. Uh and then lastly for me for my
portion I want to just remind people or note for people that we will be having our summer eats kickoff on the 24th. So that's next week. Um, last year we served over 60,000 meals to folks and I can't imagine that with the cuts to SNAP
recently that that will be any less this year. So, this is an important um service that we are absolutely thrilled and honored to be able to provide for the community. Um, and so we hope that you all will join us at the Green River Swimming Area for the summers kickoff 24th from 4 to 6. And if you haven't yet
had the pleasure of meeting our incoming superintendent, she will also be there. So, you can go there, meet her, get some face to face time, um, and enjoy some good food and other, I think, fun activities and such while you're there. >> Thank you, Chair Ston. You have in front
of you some enrollment figures that we were just down. I say just, but one student from last month, but the last two months, we had a few uh move out and our school committee asked like what happens to some of those students. So, I did tell them and I'm just letting you know that we did have a family move uh two families separately with a few
students each move to two different states down south and we also had a family move to Europe as well back to um Europe and we had one student transfer to Springfield. They say I say Springfield is a transfer because when you're in the state of Massachusetts they transfer the students and they're
still counted but when you're out of state they're just I say gone from the state system in that sense for you there. So, um, fortunately, you know, those last two months and hopefully that I know our new superintendent, you know, I'll obviously tell her what I'm doing and hopefully she'll continue a lot of
these things. We'll keep you posted as to what's going on with those students so that we didn't have to report to a dropout per se or something like that or somebody leaving us for other reasons, which does happen. We know that at times, but uh, these were moves and all of them were actually moves, moves out
of state or move to another district. I do have some highlights from each of our schools just to kind of give a quick wrap-up of the year. I did ask our principles to let me know a couple things they were proud of in their schools. So, at our early Academy of Early Learning, AAL as you might have
heard it referred to or North Parish, you have a lot of names for a lot of schools and places and uh and we see them pop up in different places, right? You heard our four you you might have heard our four corners or discovery at four corners is now going to be called four corners, right? you hear referred
to different places like what school are we talking about right around here I'm like north parish where is the where's the north around here right uh but at AAL uh they did just select a new curriculum through a prism grant that we received from the state focusing on highquality instructional materials and literacy and they will implement that in
the fall they also had a successful roll out of a new social emotional curriculum this year which was called kimois which focuses on communication respect and kindness at four corners Right. Uh they began the year with 40%
47% of their students reading on or above grade level and ended the year with 62% of the students reading on or a grade on or above grade level. And this year over 70% of their English language learning students improved by at least one language profic proficiency level as
compared to last year at Federal Street School. They successfully implemented restorative practices learning pilot and they had a math map results indicated that their students performed at the 65th percentile for achievement while reaching the 84th percentile for growth
reflecting strong academic progress as well. At Newton, their students improved their reading performances significantly at all grades by using the UFly intervention in small groups. and the entire school focused this year on being and working on the Newton way, creating a culture of bu being kind, respectful,
and being safe for all of their students. At the middle school, our fifth grade students with disabilities this year demonstrated double-digit gains on MAP testing and assessments in both reading and math. And they also had seven multilingual learner students exit the
program. So, those were students receiving extra services. They are now out and into the mainstream for that which is a great accomplishment. And Greenfield High School, you've heard me say earlier this year, had the Gary Rome si surprise squad come out and recognize one of our students, Nate Woodard, and he was on TV all over Western Mass. And
that played for a while. That was a nice goaround for us. And they also did a lot of great things at the high school where they wanted to build round well-rounded participation. And they had a unified basketball team which combines regular athletes and special needs athletes together. and that's sponsored by the
MIA now and plays different games against different communities as well too. Well, they did one of their games during the daytime and had this the auditori not not the auditorium, sorry, the gymnasium filled with all their student body to watch them participate against another team. So, that was great to have those students receive the
recognition because we all know what it's like or you've seen crowded either football games or basketball games or different sporting events. Nothing like having your classmates cheer you on on that as well. So those are some of the um highlights for our schools. Uh just to quickly touch on last week, you know,
we had a door incident at one of our school at Federal Street School where somebody got into a door um right behind the individual where the Greenfield Police Department who did a great job in alerting our staff and handling the situation professionally and kind with
the young man that was involved. Um yes, not nice that a door opened, right? We know that. Um, we're looking into it. You've heard you've probably heard some things. You've read newspaper articles, etc. Um, a pe some people will say, "Oh, people knew." I can tell you a lot of people didn't know factually, right? And
we also have an online maintenance system, ticketing type scenario where people can put in when things are broken to fix. I went back two years. There's not there's nothing indicating on that door. Now, that doesn't mean something wasn't written down, right? Or somebody didn't tell somebody, but it didn't go
through that channel as well. And as we always say, I can't fix things that I don't know about. So, they have to tell us in certain ways. So, uh we did have they did have a restorative group last night with some parents and there's another one being held next week with administration with parents as well to
to talk about all the scenarios, but I want to thank the police for handling that in a nice way and all of our teachers and staff because at times it can be unnerving, right, when you're called into a shelter in place. There's no doubt about it. Um, ironically though, gone are the days where some of
you uh went to school, myself included, and didn't practice those things because we didn't have to, right? And I was probably in between. I didn't have to practice getting under the table for bombs, right? Um, during wars that I've heard about, but I also didn't have to do this um as a student. And now it gets
to be unfortunately it's a different world and a little right of passage for our students to practice those types of scenario scenarios. So, they did a nice job on that. I want to leave you with a couple another nice note. Just received it yesterday. Nice email from one of our teachers, Margaret Rancort, who is at
four corners and she just wanted to share a nice note that said she got a very positive comment from Fred Vi, the director of the Beniski Museum in Ammerst. He pulled her aside during their fourth grade field trip last week when our students went up there to let them know that they always look forward to having the Greenfield students at the
museum. He told me Greenfield students are the best behaved and most interested in learning. He further stated that our students exude a sense of gratitude for being given the opportunity to learn. And it was not just for Four Corners. He was talking about all of our students who make trips up there. So,
congratulations to all of our teachers who do a nice job of prepping our students, right? The parents who do that as well too and taking them up there because it's always nice to go on a trip. I can recall the days when I took students on field trips and people would always say, "You're taking city kids when I was in Springfield on a field
trip." And I'm like, "Yeah, because that people behave. They appreciate that." And it sounds like our students behaved obviously very well and appreciate going on these things which is nice. So, we appreciate that. Um, do want to make a quick thanks to the Greenfield Recorder Madison here in Anthony who was prior to
that. Madison had a great article. You'll probably be in print tomorrow about one of our retirees today. I was over at the high school where they had firet trucks from Gil Monagu and Greenfield drive one of our retirees home who was the former I believe deputy
chief in Gil Monagu who retired after 33 years of teaching here and we've always had nice press coverage. So thank you to them and thanks to you the city council for all your support not just of me though I appreciate that as well too but for the schools really of all of our teachers. We see you at a lot of events.
uh you came out for the facility tour, you've supported us during, you know, budgetary times, whether it's regular budget, capital improvements, um you name it, things that pop up and um I think that you can I would hope that things will continue. I do know the incoming superintendent and I I think
that she'll be a nice fit with you and do well. So, thank you for for everything. >> Counselors, any questions, Vice President Garrett? I just want to echo the thanks for the service that you gave the city. You could have been retired. You could have
been at pool parties all of last summer, but instead you helped us through, you know, what you know, maybe it was a rebuilding year as far as relationships between the school committee and the city council. And you know, Chair Ston, I also appreciate all the work you've put through and I just it's great when
public servants are able to come together and try to make things better. So, I really want to just thank you and I'm sure other folks will echo the same. Thank you, >> Council Web. >> Ditto. Um, yeah, this was my first year,
obviously. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and, um, being so approachable. I wanted to know if you were able to share what was coming out of those restorative circles you're hosting with parents and staff and what the schools have um, come up with for
mitigating this happening in the future. in terms of the door. >> Yes. So, one just happened last night. I haven't gotten a full report on the one from yesterday and one will be next week. We're going to want to listen to parents to see what they they say. We kind of get a general gist of what people want, right? Get the doors
locked, right, and fixed. And obviously, it was fixed that next Monday morning. um at that point and just reaffirm to everybody, you know, we had I went over that week and met with the faculty twice during afternoons on that week just to reaffirm the nice job that they did, but also let everybody know that anybody in
our schools can escalate and I say um what we go we've practiced unfortunately from a shelter in place to a lockdown which are two different scenarios in there, but any of our employees can call those and they do know that we have things posted on the walls. We've found
that some of our printed material, nothing that's in the room itself, but some of them might have some different language here and there because some of you, if you are in education or you've seen your kids years ago, you went from hiding in a corner, then at times some of the practice went to hiding in a
corner, standing behind the door and hit the guy with a baseball bat. You know, when they come through the Oh, no. Seriously. And you know, attack the person, throw tennis balls at them, throw things, right, to dise them. Those they're all different scenarios. I'm not saying you did it here but they're different things and then there's there's some practices known as you know
run when things happen get out and you know scattering I'm saying this into the woods and go away so these thing the different things over the time over time things have evolved right and we're working to make sure that all our printed material does that but we do have training all the time so we do
train our teachers the actually um our convocation day the first day with teachers and all the staff this year they had three people if you read the article in the newspaper you would have seen We did have a debrief with the state police who's the school liaison for central and western Mass, our Franklin
County Sheriff's Department who does stuff with us all the time and our own Greenfield police. Um, and as as I said, we acknowledge it was scary for staff and for students. Um, but they did handle things well. You know, they and and the law enforcement as well, too.
So, things were done well. If the door held, we wouldn't even be talking about this right um at that point. So, >> councelor Golib, >> so it sounds like it's pretty important that all of the documents get updated and are consistent and the training is
the same. And I heard you say that you're working on that. Yeah. Do you know by when that will be that will be complete that that updating? >> Oh, yeah. By the start of school. >> By the start school. Yes. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Yes. So, the training is is on point. the training that our teachers receive.
Some of the written we I found some old in some old handbooks, some of the written procedures might have not been updated, but yes, but what they were told and given at the start of the school year and refreshed with all the time is up to date. So, I just have a quick It it sounds
like from at least the newspaper um that you also are looking at the communications protocols because I know there was some concerns about what we heard as parents and also what staff within building and I know there's, you know, you're trying to balance um the
safety and information that people maybe not might not need right then in the moment. moment, but just be interested in how you're updating those protocols. >> Yes, we're we're updating those, too. You know, we did uh everybody who needed to know at the time frame was informed
and people were told and email did go out to parents prior to the close of school that day, probably about an hour after the incident happened. It's you you kind of hit the nail on the head, president, that there's a fine line in there of how much we can share at the moment, right? An hour after the
incident, we're still gathering information. we don't have a ton to share and and we know that in this world everybody wants everything fast and we can appreciate that. Um gone are the days when a newspaper was delivered right in the morning and then in the evening might some of you might remember those the morning edition and the the
night edition. Now it's instantaneous, right? If we don't get to somebody within minutes, they're like, "What are you doing sitting around?" In that sense, far from it in that sense of sitting around, but we did learn that people want a little different information. So, we'll we'll try to share that the next time when things happen, but we're still at times we'll
hold information. Um, you may recall years ago if you went to an open house at your kids school, and this could be a while ago for some of you yourself, you might get a map. Okay, your your kid is way down the hall and take a left and a right and you're in room 29 down there. We don't give maps out anymore. And you
know what? You can probably guess why we don't give maps out anymore, right? So, the bad guys don't have a map of our school and know how to either do things that that aren't nice anymore. That's the thinking we have to have unfortunately, right? And for those those people and there's a lot of most
people are really nice. you don't go my even my head sometimes doesn't wrap around that deviousness right that some people you have to think the other way unfortunately at times and and I know the police you know have to think that way all the time and do a nice job of keeping us on point with that so we're
always considering those types of things of how much we share what we do share you know oh I if I tell you every door that we fixed right now people would then say oh that door might have been compromised right and that type of scenario so we weigh weigh that and we know at times you know We take some
hits. Um, but it's for the best. Sometimes they're calculated hits, you know. and councelor Bulock. >> Sorry, I was really trying not to comment because we have such a long meeting tonight, but um I'm sorry if you
already said this, but can you clarify for me now like if there is a lockdown at a school, will parents be notified like while that is happening? because in the past as a parent I have been notified whe when
that's actively happening >> and um I think that's really important for parents to know in real time that like there's a lockdown at the school. I think the communication I got when it happened to my child's school was like
please do not come here. we're holding the release time of the students until like we got a follow-up text that said we're holding the release time till this time. Um, so I'm just wondering like in terms of policy like can parents expect
to receive an update if there is a a real active lockdown. Um, and then I do just want to say there's I feel like we are very lucky in this situation. Um
there was a lot of pieces here that we were very lucky about and I'm really grateful for that. Um and I'm especially grateful I think that every student and staff was safe and that there's been care taken into the person who like we've been told did not have malicious
intent in entering the building. Um, and I think that as a as a parent who's, you know, my kid was a first grader when Sandy Hook happened and that's when they locked all the doors, right? Like before that, you could just walk into schools
and um or at least where my kid was, you could just walk into schools. And so that's like a thing we've been told over and over is that the doors are locked. So I think I I appreciate and hear that you're saying we'll have all these policies updated and I think it's important for us as parents to know like
will we receive communication if there is an act like a lockdown that is active to know that that's happening for stu our our children um in the future. >> Yeah. You know I'm going to almost give you an answer. I'm going to tell you ahead of time, I I'm going to have to
read that policy on lockdown because when it's happening, like when it's happening, I don't know that I can sit here and promise you that the principal is going to be able to get to a desktop or a laptop and send that out. We did not have a lockdown last week. We had a shelter in place, right? That that's
what we had. We did not have a lockdown. Um a lockdown would be with a weapon, right, or a dangerous intruder. uh this person who did come in, right, was deemed to be not of harm to themselves or others, right? And that's why it was a shelter in place in that scenario. And
that door was locked many of the times. The first time the person who came in hit the door didn't go open. The second time they did, right? Um the first policeman able to go in after open the door. The second person couldn't get in. The second policeman could not get in.
Right? So, it was something that had to be hit the right way, right? And hadn't been hit the right way in probably a long time until then at that point. So, um yeah, I I won't sit here. We're looking at those procedures, you know, and I'll pass that along to the next superintendent and say you're going to
know during the lockdown. That's a that's probably a a high crisis time to be able to have somebody go depending on how long it extends, right? Depending on the scenario, they might be able to go and then like you mentioned, tell people stay away, right? don't call. That's why we don't want phones in schools because
you you jam up all the phone lines and that type of scenario. But we'll do our best to do that. But I don't want to sit here as I walk out in 10 days or, you know, whatever the 30th and tell you they're going to do that and promise it for somebody else, you know.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. At this time, I want to invite the mayor and uh any other folks that she wants to bring up. Good evening everybody. Um,
so a couple of things. Uh, we're going to be celebrating Independence Day, um, the America's 250th with the fireworks celebration on Sunday, July 5th at Beacon Field. Fireworks start at about 9:35 and there will be music and vendors
starting at 4 pm. I'm excited to share um that Greenfield's historic conquered stage coach will be on display at Beacon Field during the day. Um and thank you to Councelor Balduk for helping to make that happen as well as well as DPW back
there. They'll be helping with that as well. Um the fireworks are paid for in part by donations. You can find the link to donate to the recreation department under fireworks events. Um if you're interested in supporting this great event. Um to celebrate the 250th
anniversary, the state has asked all municipal all municipalities to do a reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8th at 6:00 p.m. We're planning a reading in front of city hall and we'll ask a number of participants people to participate.
Hopefully, we'll have a city counselor or two to join us. Details to follow. Um on the budget, I had sent a little graph to you last week. Um the graph included in the packet represents
Greenfield's changing demograph demographics. I think this data is important when thinking about budget priorities for the city. It's a well-known fact that our senior population is growing rapidly. In the year 2000, the senior population
was about 17%. It's now 24% and will increase to 30% of the population by 2030. Conversely, the population of of children ages 0 to 18 has decreased from 20%
in um 2000 to 15% in 2020 with decline in birth rate. The decrease in school age children is projected to um continue. Why am I mentioning that? I was asked about my budget priorities. The bud the
poverty rate for those over 65 is 17%. That's the highest of any age group in the city. The seniors may not be here lobbying you, but they do need your help. When money is short, they cut their pills in half and are the least likely to get
proper nutrition. They need all of us to continue to watch the tax rate carefully. The senior center reports about 30 social service um inquiries per month. Um getting a social worker or perhaps
two in at the senior center part-time is a priority of mine based on um based on that data. Having seven per shift um at fire is also a priority. call
volume of medical calls has increased dramatically. Um we're up 10,000 calls over the past several years. Um with the population continuing to age, these numbers will only go up. There will continue to be a
significant increase in medical calls as the boomers become seniors. So we should be looking at advanced life support services as well. And we are likely Many of our neighbors neighboring towns
have trouble manning their fire and ambulance services and we are likely to share it in the burden of this as the whole county ages. I would love to have full-time security at the library and I'd like the library
to be open more hours on the weekend. And I'd like to add a DPW worker or maybe two who could be assign assigned exclusively to the main street um to keep it pristine. Um
and I would add a fourth person in it as a department that stops over 20,000 cyber attacks or cyber attempts at intrusion per month. We have needs in most departments and would function more efficiently and effectively with more
staff overall, but we have a very high tax rate relative to household income. That's why my focus on reducing the cost for green h green field households by not further increasing their taxes is also a priority.
and I have Steve in here today because we're also going to talk about some of the orders that we're not voting on tonight. >> Okay. Um for the we we have on here a request to
revote some of the uh uh capital projects out of retained earnings. We met with the DR this afternoon about 3:30 this afternoon and unfortunately they are unable to allow us to move forward with that because they have not certified the retained earnings or free
cash. Um this is very disappointing. Uh however uh this stems from a issue related to the cash reconciliation between the treasurer's office and the accounting office that stems back to
2025. Uh as you know in 2025 we lost everyone in the department. Um and the folks that we brought in uh were brand new to the position had never worked in government
before. Um, and there was a six-month period where a lot of things that should have been done were not being done. Um, due to the fact that we had uh Robert Half uh come in with a uh kind of a
contract person to run both departments at the same time. So it was we are working with them on reconciling this uh uh cashbook issue. uh and we have engaged um several people uh to go ahead
and do that. Uh however, the do wishes to uh help us uh engage a another company or another auditor uh to go ahead and do that. So uh we'll be working with them and as soon as we have more information uh we'll let you know.
Um but the short answer is that we will not be need we will not be able to revote those um um capital fund projects uh tonight. >> Counselor's questions. >> Yes. So I'm confused. >> Okay.
>> I often am. So when you're saying revote, are you disc are you talking about the capital projects we've already gone through and said that need to happen? They cannot happen. Is that what you're saying? >> That's exactly what I'm saying. Yes. >> The ones that are from retained earnings.
>> Retained earnings. >> Okay. And can you specify which ones those are? >> Um on on the agenda, they're under number 10. Um, and one is a Chevy Equinox dump truck.
Um, windows and heating system uh, silo tower. >> Hold on. Can you I need to mark these. >> Yeah. >> Um, so there's the Chevy Equinox to
replace car number 10. >> There's um, sorry. So, anything from retained earnings? >> Anything from retained earnings. So, >> okay. So, the dump truck. >> So, it's page 58 orders 64 through 73.
>> Yes. >> 64 through 73. Okay. >> So, the entire section 10 >> the entire all of section 10 >> retain water retained earnings. Okay. Yeah, I see. First part. >> Okay. Councelor
Gordon, I'm sorry to hear about this. This is obviously quite unfortunate and I'm sure very stressful for you all. >> Extremely stressful >> as it is for others as well. Um, can you tell us a little bit more about next steps and timeline for getting this resolved? >> Sure. Um so in the over the summer
months uh we'll be uh engaging a firm whether it be on our own or uh through the do uh and what they are going to do is rebuild the entire cashbook from FY25 to FY26 that represents over 2 million
lines of transactions uh in order to do that. Um and a lot of the issue stems from in 2025 because uh frankly people um did not know um
exactly what thing what was going on. Uh we would have entire warrants of hundreds of checks voided at that time uh as well as transfers made without the supporting documents and things like that. it. One person that we got through, Robert Half, was trying to run
two departments simultaneously. It It didn't work. There's no question about that. It did not work. Um, luckily, uh, we were able to get someone on board that we've had to train as the accountant, uh, another person. We hired
an experienced treasure collector, uh, who did not show up on the first day of work. Um and so we had to go out and find another person uh which made that more difficult and so uh and then you know we're able to get a system in
place. However, going through and making sure that that system is correct. It's in line with what the do wants and going through those about two million lines of transactions is is going to take at least the full summer to do.
>> Sorry, follow-up question. So then do we I don't know if you know the answer to this or someone else but then do we have an opportunity to vote on these items that were submitted or is the budget deadline passed at that point? >> The budget deadline will be passed at that point. >> Okay. But they could come up as
financial orders in the new fiscal year. They could they could come up they and some of them will come up for borrowing but to spend something from retained earnings which they were not going to certify today. Although in one account
they were pretty sure it was 97 something,000 and the other 173. They were going to wait to see how the whole reconciliation came out. A couple of them will need to be voted on with, you know, just borrowing because they
they'll need to be done. And we still have more capital orders that I have not put forward, but I was waiting to see where we were with that. >> And does this is just affecting retained earnings? >> This affects retained earnings and free
cash. So what about enterprise funds? >> Enterprise funds are where retained earnings come from. So >> okay, >> you're only there's only three accounts that have retained earnings. That's
water, sewer, and get. And we we are used to funding a fair amount of projects from retained earnings. That's been past practice. But all retained earnings have to do
with those three enterprise funds and nothing else. >> So does this affect the operating budget as well or just the capital requests? >> Just the capital requests. >> Okay. >> I have a question.
>> So I have two questions or >> Yeah. I just wanted to know if um this affects the ability of just general day-to-day operations of these three enterprise groups. No, there they have a regular operating
budget that's that you vote on every year. It's the some of the extra things that are, you know, they're actually needed. So we'll have to figure out which ones are the most needed and you know what the other payment source will be.
So I have two questions. One um with the cashbook not being followed are we currently following the procedures and trying to reconcile every month currently? Yes, we we are working um
we've went from the QuickBooks uh program that was not working well for us to just a general Excel program uh that's working with us. So, we have uh kept up and um kept up the cash book of
both the treasurer side as well as the accounting side. And so what we're working now is to reconcile both of those for the year N26. um we should have that done. Uh and it should be a fairly easy task for any auditor to come in because we've kept
good records uh for 26. It's that period of about seven or eight months in 2025 when everyone was gone that it it frankly it became a mess. There's no question about it. Um my my second question is moving into
voting for the operating budget and with the concerns about retained earnings and enterprise funds. Are there parts of this budget that's before us that we cannot vote on tonight? >> None. This the 27 bud the 27 budget is
absolutely fine to move forward. >> Um councelor Gordon and then >> asking the same question. Councelor Gordon and then councelor Bullet, please. >> You go. >> Um, just to clear up confusion on that. So, there are a couple of things under the FY27 operating budget that come from
enterprise funds. So, can we vote on those or or no? >> So, you have your votes for enterprise funds. You have three votes for enterprise funds. >> Yeah. That that does not have any
>> Okay. It's money to the enterprise funds. >> Yeah. doesn't have anything to to do with this. They're they are supposed to operate self in a self-sufficient manner and we have done what they asked us to do and go up on the rates. Um we've gone
up every year since I've been in here and they have requested that and we told them again this year. We're sending out the notification you notify people 6 months in advance. The rates are going up for January 1 and we announced that
you know by July 1st and they will go up another 9% which is close to the max allowable before it comes before it would come to council. I think you could go up to 15% but I think they were happy with the
nine. >> Councelor Bulock. >> Okay. So we are so these appropriations into um these enterprise funds we're putting the money in them but then for the 27 budget this they'll basically be like a
locked box until we get do signs off on >> exactly the retained earnings portion. Yes. >> Okay. So we can't pull for 20 unless they unless this is all cleared up by July 1. We can't approve any fiscal
orders out of these enterprise funds for 27 >> out of the retained earnings. Yes. >> Okay. >> So, we can approve a budget tonight. >> Mhm. >> But unless this is cleared up, we can't approve any financial orders
out of these funds moving forward from retained earnings. >> Right. Right. >> Right. which is kind of like a good way to think of it is like that there's leftover money in that fund because all the funds are supposed to be from
water and sewer rates or from GET rates. That's how they operate as an enterprise fund. >> Yeah. So I guess the best way to explain it is that um water and sewer they take in a bunch of money. They provide a lot of services. they have a lot of expenses
and then the what's left over at the end of the year is retained earnings. Um and we say that there is about 900 and some odd,000 in uh sewer retained earnings and about $175,000 in in water retained
earnings or vice versa. I I'm just going off the top of my head. And so that's the leftover money for the year. And the DR is saying, "No, until we have assurance that we know that that's the exact leftover amount, you guys can't
use that." >> Councelor Bulock, >> sorry. I'm just going to say I'm concerned about this as the chair of Ways and Means. Um, I think this would have affected budget deliberations. I understand that you had
this conversation today with do and so we're receiving this information in real time. Um I think it's going to be really important for us to receive like for for next steps for us to receive updates on a monthly basis on this situation in our
ways and means meetings. Um, >> yeah, >> I agree. >> Councelor Golo. >> So, I'm still trying to just wrap my mind around this. Um, you can assume that you're like a doctor talking to like a sixth grader. I know I've been on
council for a while, but I want to make sure I completely understand and that members of the public completely understand what's going on. So I think what I'm understanding is that and not to that was not a slight towards sixth graders. I'm sure there's a lot of sixth graders who understand what the doctor
is telling them. Um uh so there was a period of time in which there was imprecise accounting >> and therefore the state is saying because there was imprecise accounting
we don't know precisely how much money is in these funds and therefore we will not allow you to allocate money from these funds not knowing the price precise amount. Is that have a couple followup >> that's the 12th grade version. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. So, I am following
that. A couple follow-up questions. How concerned are we about the discrepancies between the what we've thought are in those funds and what is actually in those funds? Like how much less might be in those funds than we've been counting
on? I I'm extremely concerned and and I'm extremely concerned in the fact that um it could be as high as a few million dollars or it could be as low as you know we someone over booked several
payroll warrants and counted them twice. But then that would be in the hundreds of thousands of lines of of transactions. So, um, because we've taken in as much money as we think that
we have, we've expended as much money as we think that we have, I'm 85% certain, no one stole it. Let's put it that way. No one's stolen the money. Um, but I'm 85% certain that this is a
bookkeeping and clerical error within those many hundreds of thousands of lines within those reconciliation reports. And so it's just a matter of finding it and and we'll know as further
along as these groups um as uh it's company we're hoping to use a company called CLA uh out of the Boston area who specializes in municipal uh auditing, accounting, and procedures. Um so we're hoping that they can uh put the correct
folks in place in order to go through all that. And a couple of followup. Do you have any sense of the cost of paying those consultants? >> Um, I'm thinking around $150,000, but I I could be wrong on that. I I
don't know. >> Okay. And does this mean that we will have no free cash in the coming year or what is the projection for? And there will be no none. >> Likely none right now. However, this is on hold until we get that reconciliation.
>> Okay. And the reconciliation is going to be over the course of the summer. Do you have a projection of when? >> I would say over the course of the summer and into the fall. Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. When you say a couple of million, I just become really concerned for our departments because even a couple hundred thousand, I look at the
things that they're counting on. I look at the all of these amounts and it's I don't have the I I'm kind of adding them up in my mind, but it's like a million dollar. Like it's not that much. It's not millions. I I'm
just like I'm just feeling for you all at the back of the room right now and um >> and for the city. So I think those are my questions. Yeah. Thank you, >> Councelor Webb. >> Um yeah, I wanted to clarify. You said
you were extremely concerned and you thought it was a clerical error. >> Yes. Um I'm extremely concerned because nothing is going to happen until it's found. >> Okay. um and finding that within the vast amount of information is not an
easy task. We have had at least one consultant work on it and then another consultant work on it who um owned a large auditing firm in the state is and is widely considered the the best mind
in the state. Um and he basically said I don't have enough time to go through all these lines. I I I can do a reconciling adjustment, but I don't have that kind of time. >> Okay. So, what you think the reality is is that
the money is not missing. We're not going to have to pay anything back, but it's just finding it in those thousands of lines. >> I I am 99.99% certain nobody stole several million dollars. Cool. >> I that did not happen. It's it's it's a
matter of finding where the uh journal entries that were not done or were not done correctly are. >> So, I'm going to go first and then councelor Bullock. Um I've been trying to I'm usually very even keeled and I
have to say I was really thrown by this. Um, I'm a little bit angry that we didn't get a heads up sooner. Um, because we talk to you guys all the time that there were issues with free cash, that there were issues with certification,
um, that it rose to the level that DO was talking to us. >> I also recognize that our job as city council is oversight and I think we have not had all the tools that we needed to be looking at the right things. I'm
gonna be bringing a motion next month because I can't do it this month that we get at least quarterly budget to actuals that we get free cash information. Um I want to look at returned retained earnings and how those are going over
time because they were also concerned that our retained earnings have been going down year overyear and we don't have any information that shows us from year to year a lot of this information. Um, I work for nonprofits. This is the information we give to our boards
regularly. We have a much bigger budget than my little nonprofit. So, this city council should have that information and we should be asking for that information. Um, this this really ties our hands. >> So, that's my comment. Um, I just want
to say I I I was assuming three today that they were going to certify that because they had given us every indication that they would. We actually all agreed on what the numbers were, what numbers they were talking today. So, I was surprised by the way that this came out myself, but um we've been
working on the reconciliation and I think I've said that here. We've had people in here. We had somebody working for like six months. Um that Michael and um then we brought Mr. Powers in and I
didn't I did not think that today was going to go the way it did either. >> President Wendelowski, I just want to tell you that or I would have said that earlier. I don't think it was clear to the council that our audits haven't been done for several years and I understand that they're being held up, but that
those are indicators that we should have some concern. So, well, I think the 24 are is in progress, which they were saying. I don't think that that was more than I didn't feel like that was very far behind at all.
>> No, no, the 24 is just about done. It's the 25 that um is problematic because of the cashbook situation. >> So I have councelor Bullock. >> Yeah. Um so when you Okay, I'll say um
I guess thank you President Wandelowski for a little bit of frustration in this. I feel like usually I'm the one who expresses anger in these moments. and uh I don't know maybe it's like 5 years in but I'm like I don't think it does us any good to be angry at each other uh to
solve a problem. So um when when you say nothing is going to happen until this gets solved in terms of um the city's functioning the city functioning financially does
that mean like we can't borrow? Does that mean like what does that mean? Nothing is going to happen like in term in financial terms for us as a city like what is our if this doesn't get solved till the fall or
what does that mean in terms of us operating as a city? >> So um as far as daily operations go nothing daily option operations will stay the same. uh this has no impact on the daily operations.
Um as far as this affects two areas. One is the do certifications and uh audits. They're the two two areas that they affect which in turn affects a borrowing. Uh we did go out last
December got a very favorable rate at 4% for borrowing. Um, so this needs to be resolved by December in the fact that the cashbook needs to get fixed. The uh 25 audit needs to get done uh in order
to borrow. They only need the 25 audit in order to do that. The So we're we're going out for 27, but the 25 audit is essential. So they're the two areas where when I say um it puts things on hold, they're the two things that are
put on hold. That's helpful. Thank you. >> And we are ahead this year for fiscal year 26 on, you know, receivables versus budget by I think it looks like a couple million, isn't it? >> Yes. Yeah. Um and that that that's
another area that we had to look into with the 2025 is that the the booked um cash receivables were a were behind what we thought that they were. Um so that's that's another area that had to get
reconciled uh within this whole uh piece. >> Councelor Bley, >> so is it my understanding you've been working with the department of revenue for quite a while? >> Mhm. Um, so I'm angry too, but I'm also
frustrated like it doesn't appear that Department of Revenue has been particularly helpful if you've been working on this for months and then we find out that we're not getting certified. Like I'm I'm curious, not that we know, but I don't understand why their guidance wasn't clearer months
ago. >> I don't know. But I will say this, every piece of guidance that they gave us, we followed. They asked us to increase the enterprise fund rates, you know, to whatever was the max. They said to put somebody on the
reconciliation, which we did immediately. They said to throw as much money at that as you needed. And we had not only this Michael in office as a temp, but then got Mr. Powers in. And in the end, um, I can understand their I
can understand their decision, although I was disappointed today because they're like 95% sure that that's there, too. And it's unfortunate that we can't use it because there's things that are needed, but I think they're afraid that in case
the overall number was under, then we'd have to pay back that. And I can see that. So, um, yeah, councelor Golib. >> Yeah, I'm flabbergasted when I hear that you've been talking to do for months
about this and we haven't known about it until tonight and this isn't transparency, which yeah, I'm feeling very disappointed. Um, I know you've said that you care a
lot about transparency and us hearing about this tonight is not transparency. And I know that councelor Bullock said um that one that we're wanting a thorough report at Ways and Means. I think that the thorough report needs to
come to Ways and Means monthly and here I think the c the community needs to know about this. Um, I would like to hear about this monthly. I will state for the record that if it's not if it's not uh at least mentioned a summary a
very brief keeping track of this at the council meetings I will ask about it. I I think that the community needs to know and there may not be you might just be there looking at the numbers. I understand that that might be the update. I understand that there may not be a substantial update every month, but
I think that we need uh the community needs and deserves uh some report, some summary each month on how this is going until it is complete. So, thank you. >> Since this is like the fifth time
around, um and I know we've we're going to go till midnight tonight. Um, anybody else want to say something and then I'll give last word to councelor Bullock? Councelor Bullock. Um I do just want to
say that when you know I have asked about free cash multiple times a month since January and it we have been told that you were working with do to certified the free cash and so I understand um that does not come as a surprise to
me and I was I was uh I will say was I was like appeased a bit that you were working with do to certify free cash when that came up. I think The concern for me is that
my mind was like there's a problem that this hasn't been certified yet. Usually this is certified much earlier in a budget season or in our year. And so whether the solve for this is more
communication between between us the counselors and the mayor's office or ways and means or whatever that that solve is. I think there needs to be another layer at this point of um
of collaboration and understanding of this process because I will take responsibility for taking at face value that like do is involved. they're working on it, but there was red flags for me that our free cash wasn't
certified by this point in time. And um yeah, so what we can talk we can talk not in a six-hour meeting about what the solve is for that. >> Thank you. I >> think that's it. So thank you
and I appreci the the other thing I just want to comment for everybody the fact that do is helping is actually really helpful. It gives us a lot more resources that we don't have. So let's take that so that we can move forward
and get this resolved. So I appreciate that. All right. I'm going to open up um public comment. It is 7:35 and just as a reminder for public comment, you've got three minutes and
when you come up um your name and where you live, uh those are the requirements. So, um the first person I have is Andrew. >> Hi, good evening. Uh my name is Andrew Penetto. uh 32 Cleveland Street here in Greenfield. Um I was hoping to see more
people here in the audience today. Um to speak to uh something that uh impacts students here. Um I'm the parent of a rising sixth grader and a rising third grader. Um and the rising sixth grader just spent fifth grade um after school at the recck room that's run by our rec
department. And I just want to give it a resounding endorsement um and express how much it's needed not only for um the students which it is. I mean, this is a a place where they where they have the opportunity to experience a bit more freedom and maturity and independence,
and it's been really facilitated by an amazing rec department that we have here in town. Um, but it also has impacts um kind of on the broader local economy in the sense that if parents don't have this additional uh place for young people to be while they're working, then it can impact uh family budgets. So, um
I really would like to encourage the city to uh utilize I think I've been hearing that there's a potential for unrestricted government aid of some sort. Um to tap into that to ensure that that position is retained. Um and I
think that's super important for, you know, the broad community and and other programs like that in our town. Um and then also for the record, I'd also like to express my frustration at what I just heard here. Uh that's really um I really feel like I see a city council of very uh capable, interested, and caring
people that are um really trying to dig into things. But then I I'm also a public servant. I work for the federal government. So I have sympathy for people who are in these positions in our for our city. Um but it is really disappointing when the ball is dropped that hard. Um so I appreciate you
holding them accountable and um I look forward to that being resolved. Thank you. >> Thank you. I have Steve O'Helerin. And if you push the button, it'll turn green. There you go.
>> Hi, I'm Steve O'Halerin, 17 Vermont Street, and I too indirectly participate in the afterchool program. He in fact directly participates in the afterchool program.
And the first thing I'm going to do is read what he wrote today because he's a little sketchy on the >> speaking publicly. Dear city council, I think recck room is
important because it is fun and it and it wasn't there. Oh, if it wasn't there, parents would have to take time off of work to pick up their kids. So, Recck Room should stay.
What I got out of Rec Room was I got to play games and socialize with other people as well as play video games. Also, the main person who hangs out with the kids likes being there and has fun with
us. Also, it's his job. Um, personal note, I work at Bay State Medical Center in the mental health unit and practicing people practicing
socialization with other people and being able to communicate in a open supportive way is extremely important. But as we all know, we're different
folks. We have different interests, etc. But the more you practice, the better you get. You're never perfect, but the better you get. And I see the recck room, and
I've watched the dynamics as well. It clearly is a classroom, but it's a flea a free classroom in the sense that there's a lot more space and the ability for people to interact
and figure out what is my natural way to interact. The other piece of that is that if they develop emotionally, mentally to be able to deal with the
crazy world that we're in, then they too will be much more productive as they get older, which as far as long-term investments
That's, you know, that's it. Um, anyway, you guys got a lot to do, so I'll stop there. >> Thank you so much and thank you for coming out. Um, I know public speaking was really scary when I was your age and
now I'm doing this. So, someday you might be in this chair. question is, do you want this copy of this or >> Sure, that would be fantastic. >> You want to go give it to >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. >> So, we have uh four folks online waiting in the queue. So, I have Ursa Sharer next. Hi, council. Ursa Shear, Greenfield, resident in precinct 6. Uh, I'm another
voice in favor of uh if we do receive unrestricted uh government aid or funding uh to continue the middle school uh recck room. I have a rising fifth grader. He
has uh participated in the afterchool program since kindergarten. um we've been really really happy with it and I think for him a few of the things that are key uh one is that his entire class uh are kids that missed a year and
change of preschool due to co and I think if you ask any of the school administrators or teachers they still are seeing the impact of that and so more space to socialize to social to socialize in an institution um in this
freer way that the the past speaker just um voiced, I think is is critical for how he continues to grow up and others uh kids continue to grow up. Uh I think it reduces screen time overall in the composition of his week. Um and it's a
level of independence that he and our whole family have been looking forward to him continuing to build towards. So, thank you very much for your time and consideration and I'll yield. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next up, I have Louise Amiot.
>> Good evening. Um, I'm Louis Am. I live in precinct 6 and I'm speaking about the data centers. I don't think it's on the agenda for tonight, but I did want to express my concerns for Greenfield
being prepared to deal with the question of whether or not a data center would come into the area. I think most of us know that data centers use a great deal of water and apparently that water is then contaminated so it cannot be used for human use. They use a great deal of
huge amounts of electricity and they get precedents over the needs of people so that uh energy shortages are like possible and energy price hikes are extremely likely. And as far as
providing jobs, historically they have provided jobs only in the building process. During the act once they're built, apparently they use very few people and very skilled people. So um I think if Greenfield is going to consider data centers, I think we really ought to
look into it very closely. There was a letter in the paper today suggesting that we consider um setting up rules for what if anything we would demand from data centers. I would like us to consider at least doing that much. We
need to research this before we can give them an open door. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Molly Merritt. >> Hi, Molly Merritt. I live in precinct 7. Um, I think many of you probably know by
this point I've been following the budget process pretty closely this year. Um, attending a lot of meetings, giving a lot of public comment, listening to the public comment that other residents are giving, um, trying to get an op-ed,
publishing the paper that they wouldn't publish. Um, and I just want to say that at the end of this whole process, and I'm just really sad. I'm really sad that we can't find the $80,000 or whatever it
is to fund the recck room position. Um, and you just heard testimony from parents and families about, you know, what that's going to mean in their lives. I know council has received literally dozens of emails from other families about the impact that it's
going to make. Um it it ju it just feels the mayor was expressing you know the fact that the demographics of Greenfield are such that you know the population is aging and the school population is declining but we have a we have a role in that right like
we can make Greenfield an attractive place for families. Um, you know, as a as a a parent with a young child who moved here recently, I feel like I'm meeting people all the time who are new families who are moving to Greenfield because it's an awesome place to live
and it's affordable. And, you know, I would like to propose a vision of Greenfield where we invest in our schools and we invest in our programs for kids rather than throwing up our hands in the air and saying it's just it's it's only old people. We need to, you know, stop spending money on kids. I
just that's going to mean that more kids and families are going to choice out of Greenfield to be honest because that's a conversation that a lot of families are having and if schools are underfunded as as they have been in the last couple of years and if programs are being cut then families are not going to want to stay
in Greenfield they're going to want to choice out. Um, so I'm just another voice to to say that if we have any um unrestricted government aid or any I understand that free cash is is, you know, a whole other can of worms right
now, but um yeah, I'm just really sad that we're not able to to invest in our in our middle school kids and and support our families in that way. And I just um should probably leave it there.
So that's all. Thanks. Thank you, Michael Nord. >> Uh, yes. Um, my name is Michael Nord. I'm a resident of uh, precinct 7. Um, and I'm just here to reiterate the calls for um, funding the rec room and
expressing my disappointment that um, that was not a priority for the mayor. um you know, children are our future um and budgets reflect our priorities as a community. Um, so I just think it's like
very disappointing that the mayor doesn't think that this is a priority, that there are other things in the budget that could have been trimmed um to save a space, one of the few spaces and programs that are
publicly available for kids, exclusively just for kids in this city. Um, and yeah, I think it's just like really sad and um, I really hope that uh, future budget seasons will reconsider this. Um, thanks.
>> Thank you, Jennifer Dow. >> Hi. Uh, I am Jennifer Dow, uh, precinct one in Greenfield. Um, I have a son who is going into sixth grade and utilizes uh the rec department very much. Um, as
a child who's not very much into sports, um, and doesn't want to be glued to his phone, um, he utilizes these programs and everything that Molly said is very on point. Um it is very scary um about
the budget and the mental health of our children and we want to stay in Greenfield and um I really hope that this can be considered um keeping because I think it is very important for
our children. Um so thank you. >> Thank you. That concludes our public comment period. Thank you everybody for showing up um both online and in the room. Really appreciate it.
So we're going to move to excuse me public hearings and second reading and that will go to Councelor Bullock on page 56. And I'm opening the um public hearing
right now at 7:50 p.m. Okay. >> Um this is for the community preservation budget. Correct. >> Correct. In accordance with home rule charter, the Greenfield City Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 at 6:30 at Johnz on
Community Center, 35 Pleasant Street and on Zoom. Fiscal year 2026, Community Preservation Budget. Appropriate $243,330 for operations of the Community Preservation Committee. Appropriate
$8,730 from Community Preservation Act funding to Greenfield Recreation Department for beacon field enhancements. Appropriate $20,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to Greenfield Conservation Commission for Greenfield Conservation Fund. Appropriate 20,000 from Community
Preservation Act funding to Greenfield Department of Planning for Miller's Meadow Project. Appropriate $24,600 from Community Preservation Act funding to Greenfield Tap and Die Historic Painting Preservation Project. Appropriate 30,000 from Community Preservation Act funding
to Greenfield City Clerk for preservation of historic city documents. Appropriate 30,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to Greenfield Housing Authority for Security Deposit and Rental Assistance Fund. Appropriate 50,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to Rural Development Incorporated for 176 Main Street
Affordable Housing Project. appropriate 60,000 from community preservation act funding to Franklin Community Cooperative for former Wilson's building facade restoration. I'm sorry. Do you want me to keep going for fiscal year 27 operating budget? Okay. I
thought I was just doing community preservation. Sorry. Fiscal year 2027 operating budget appropriate 70 thou 70 million24,736 for fiscal year 2027 general operating general fund budget appropriate
2,815,181 for fiscal year 2027 water enterprise fund appropriate $3,895,664 for fiscal year 2027 sewer enterprise fund appropriate 2 million $22,21 for fiscal year 2027. Greenfield
Community Energy and Technology Enterprise Fund. Establish budgets for revolving funds pursuant to MGL chapter 44 section 53E
and a half. And we don't have anyone signed up for public hearing. So I am closing the public hearing at 7:52. >> Sorry, I have a question though. That G set number I believe is wrong.
>> Does there anything we do about it now? >> No, that'll come back around. >> Okay, thank you. >> Is the number higher? >> Yes, it's higher. It's um 2,382,970 is the correct number I believe. Stephen, we have a question because the
the number in the budget book was wrong for GET. And we're not allowed to go over the mayor's >> but it was correct in Munice I believe. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> The question the question is the public
hearing notice posting to the public >> was for 2,22,21. >> Okay. Typically, whatever it is published at is the amount that you can vote up to.
>> If it's lower, fine. Good to go. >> But you can't go over what it was published at. >> Gotcha. >> So, it seems to me that we'll have to vote this 2,202,201
and then come back with a supplemental appropriation at a later date. That would seem appropriate, but >> yeah, that that's that's my recommendation on that. >> Okay. >> Can I get a um commitment that we will
do that from you, Stephen? >> Yes. Yeah. Thank you. I'll make sure that that gets to you. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, now we can close the public hearing at 7:55. Okay. So, we're going to motions, orders, and resolutions. Um, we are not
talking about the revotes. So, I didn't even say anything out loud about it. >> Starting on page. >> So, we're starting on page 74. Um, rescending order number FY26100. Can I have councelor Bullock, if you can find it,
read the next uh four? Well, you're going to be reading all night. Really? >> Max said he wanted to read tonight. >> He does have a really good voice. Order number fiscal year 26-148. The city council move that it be ordered
that the Greenfield City Council rescend the following order voted during the regular and fiscal year 2027 capital budget meeting held on May 20th 26. Order number fiscal year 26-100 on May 20th 2026 the Greenfield City
Council on a motion by councelor Webb seconded by councelor Williams it was unanimous it was unanimously 11 yeses zero nos um vote that it be ordered upon recommendation of Mayor Dorger the city council approved the borrowing of
600,000 for repairs to the inflow and infiltration systems as part of the capital budget for fiscal year 2027 Seven funding will be from the retained earnings of the Greenfield Sewer Department. Majority vote required. >> Do I have a second? >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Order number fiscal year 26-149. The city council moved that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council rescend the following order voted during the regular and fiscal year 2027 capital
budget meeting held on May 20th 2026 order number fiscal year 26-104 on May 20th 2026 the Greenfield City Council on a motion by councelor Webb second by council Williams it was unanimously voted that it be ordered upon recommendation of the mayor
Disorger the city council approve the transfer of $100,000 for the engineering for the upgraded nitrogen removal as part of the capital budget for fiscal year 2027. Funding will be from the retained earnings of the Greenfield sewer department. Majority vote
required. >> Second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. >> Order number fiscal year 26-150. The city council moved that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council resend the following order voted during
the regular and fiscal year 2027 capital budget meeting held on May 20th, 2026. Order number fiscal year 26-117. On May 20th, 2026, the Greenfield City Council on a motion by councelor Webb, second by councelor Williams, it was
unanimously voted that it be ordered upon recommendation of the mayor to Sorger, the city council approved the transfer of $315,000 for the replacement of screen number one at the pollution control plant as part of the capital budget for fiscal year
2027. Funding will be from the retained earnings of the Greenfield Sewer Department. Majority vote required. All in favor? I. Great. Order number fiscal year 26-136.
The city council upon recommendation of Mayor Dorger move that it be ordered. Is this the same? Should I keep reading this? I think we've got them all. Yeah. Yeah. All right. >> Yeah. We're gonna um I would like to go
to the CPA and then we'll go to the operating budget without any objection from folks. So, um Councelor Webb or Councelor Bullock, we're going to go to page 107. Um operations of the community preservation committee.
>> I can do it. I'm there. Um, order number FY26-122. The city council upon recommendation of Mayor Dor move that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $243,330 from community preservation act funding
for the following projects. One, Greenfield City Clerk Preservation of historic city documents, $30,000. Two, Franklin Community Cooperative, former Wilson's Building Facade Restoration, $60,000. Three, Museum of Our Industrial Heritage, Greenfield Tap
and Die Historic Paintings Preservation, $24,600. Four, Rural Development, Inc., 176 Main Street Affordable Housing, $50,000. Five, Greenfield Housing Authority Security Deposit and Rental Assistance Fund, $30,000. Six, Greenfield
Conservation Commission, Greenfield Conservation Fund, $20,000. Seven, Greenfield Department of Planning, Miller's Meadow, $20,000. Eight, Greenfield Recreation Department, Beacon Field Enhancements, $8,730. Majority vote required.
>> Second. >> All in favor? I >> Any abstensions? discussion. >> Yeah. >> Sorry, you look like you were ready to go straight in. So, um, any discussion?
>> It was a unanimous positive recommendation from Ways and Means. >> Thank you. >> It was Gol. I just want to say that this is the bright spot of the night and you deserve all the awards and the the I'm looking at Susan Regik and um thank you for your
work and thank you to the I'm I'm so grateful that we have this money. Thank you to the voters for voting to pass to to have this fund and for the um for the commission for doing all the work that you've done. So very grateful for a bright spot tonight.
Any other discussion? All right. All in favor say I. >> Oh, >> I'm sorry. I have a question. there. If I'm counting correctly, which I'm may well not be, there are nine
uh things under the community preservation budget on the agenda, and there's only eight things listed in the um on page 107. >> This is one of the nine. >> What? >> This is one of the nine. The overall
>> Oh, the overall thing is one of the nine. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> No. >> Should we take a roll call? >> No. >> Okay. Any other question or discussion?
All right. All in favor say I. Please. >> Any abstensions or nos? Fantastic. All right. Now we're going to go to the operating budget. No, >> we have to vote the other nine. >> Oh, >> the other eight. >> Okay, we're going to
>> we just put all the money in. >> Kathy just looked at me, so I'm supposed to do something. >> Oh, we have to vote each one of them. >> Oh, all right. I'm going back. >> I apologize. I thought it was one fell swoop. >> I did, too. >> Page 129. >> Yeah.
>> Sorry. We're on page 129, you said. >> Correct. Okay, I'm going back. Okay. Order number FY26-123. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder moved that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $8,730
from community preservation act funding to the Greenfield Recreation Department for beacon field enhancements. >> Second. How do they all came? >> All unanimous positive. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Does any discussion or questions? I see
some confusion. >> Why? >> Councelor Garrett >> just voted. >> Looking at the order, apparently there's going to be a chessboard installed. I'm curious. Is this the same chess board that used to live on Main Street? Does anyone know? >> It's not. >> It's a different chessboard.
>> It's actually not a chessboard. Drive. Yes. >> This is chess table. Is that different? >> No, it's not. Um, there will be three different things. Yes, there is going to be a chest table. That's correct. Um, it is
not the one that was on Main Street. Um, and there also will be a cornhole and a ladder ball, which is a I it's been explained to me. I don't totally understand it, but kids know what to do with it, so it's it's good. and the um it this will be installed by
the DPW. Um so we're really talking about the the equipment itself. >> Any other question? Uh councelor Gordon, >> this is not a question for Susan, although I very much appreciate you being here. Um but the sort of whispers that were happening over here uh were
confusion about why it feels like we are voting on things twice. So I just want to clarify my understanding and you can tell me if I'm wrong. Um but my understanding is that we just voted on the overall uh community preservation budget
>> and saying yes, we will like spend this money on these things and we're approving that budget to be able to spend the money on these things. And now we have to actually individually vote on each of those things. Is that accurate? >> So that's why it sounds like we're
voting on things twice. So for my fellow counselors and the public, >> that is why. >> Correct. Because we have to appropriate the full amount and say this is our intention with all of this money.
Any other questions? All in favor? I thank you. >> Order number FY26-124. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder moved that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $20,000 from community
preservation act funding to the Greenfield Conservation Commission for the Greenfield Conservation Fund. >> Second or so moved. >> Any questions or discussion? >> All in favor?
I >> order number FY26-125. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $20,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenfield Department of Planning for the Miller's Meadow project.
>> Second. >> I don't see any questions or discussion. So, all in favor? >> I abstensions. >> Order number FY26-126. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the city council approves the
appropriation of $24,600 from community preservation act funding to the Museum of Our Industrial Heritage for the Greenfield Tap and Die Historic Painting Preservation Project. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion?
All in favor? Order number FY26-127. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $30,000 from community preservation act funding to the Greenfield city clerk for the preservation of historic city documents.
>> Second. >> I don't see any discussion. Oh, >> sorry. Vice President Garrett, >> I really appreciate this was brought up. These documents are stored, many of them, in the basement, the city hall, which is a mess. Um, I would invite the
public to go down there, but I don't recommend it. It's really like very very grateful this foresight to keep these things from being destroyed, you know, was thought of. So, thank you. I know Quinn had a big piece of this and so really appreciate it.
I know of other communities that are envious for the scanner, so they might be asking us about to borrow it. >> I think Buckland was one of them. >> Councelor Bulock, >> do you need help? >> Yeah.
So, this project is expanding. It's not simply for city clerk anymore. It is going to be more for the municipality. Um, but this will be put towards the scanner that it was in maybe not intended for, but it
will be put forth for a scanner for the municipality and then we will be doing a larger project. So, >> thank you. All in favor? I. Okay.
>> Order number FY26-128. The city council upon recommendation of Mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $30,000 from Community Preservation Act funding to the Greenfield Housing Authority for the Security Deposit and Rental Assistance Fund.
>> Second. >> Questions, discussion? All in favor? Oh, >> I just wanted to add uh what we talked about last night around it. Uh Susan let us know that three families used this last year and they're expecting more for the following year. Um this covers the
security deposit and helps with first and last. And the security deposit goes back to the fund when it's done being used. >> Thank you. That's a really important resource. All in favor say I. Thank you. Next order.
>> Order number FY26-129. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $50,000 from community preservation act funding to Rural Development Inc. for the 176 Main Street affordable housing project.
>> Second. >> I don't see any discussion. All in favor? I Okay. >> Order number FY26-130. The city council upon recommendation of Mayor Disorder moved that it be ordered that the city council approves the appropriation of $60,000
from Community Preservation Act funding to the Franklin Community Cooperative for the former Wilson's Building Facade Restoration. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? Councelor Bullock. This is the most delightful traffic
hazard I've ever seen on Main Street. Um, I can't help but stare at the old building. It is a fantastic project. So, I'm very happy that this is happening. Um, and that honestly, I think Greenfield is well overdue for a project of this scale and I think it's going to help revitalize downtown. So, thank you.
Anything else? All right. All in favor say I. Thank you, Susan. Thank you for the support. We really appreciate it. >> Do you want to do this and then go to the budget? What's the appointment?
>> You think we can do it quickly? >> 145. >> So, I want to go to the appointments and reappoints um and knock that off. So that's page 145. Councelor Golob, are you? >> Yep. >> Ready to go? Great. Thank you.
>> Order number of fiscal year 26147. The city council moved that it be ordered that the Greenfield City Council pursuant to charter section 210 affirms the following appointments and reappoints by the mayor all terms to expire December 31st, 2029 unless
otherwise posted. Board of Health Dr. Darius Greenbucker. Board of License Commissioners Ruth Ellen Henry and Phil Coronet Corant both terms to expire June 30th, 2029.
Cemetery Commission Ian Hodgen Community Preservation Committee Gar Shenfelt, Mayoral Appointment, Historical Commission, Tim Black and Margot Jones. Planning and Construction, Derek Healey and Gene Wall.
Public Library Board of Trustees, Sarah Ahern, Bellamare, William Benson, and Jonathan Cohen. I don't know how to pronounce this name, Gorga. Um, thank you. Um, Public Safety
Commission, Maria Burge, 4-year term to expire December 31st, 2030. Recreation Commission, Donna Ducel, changed from full member to alternate. and Daniel Pekki change from alternate to full
member trustees of the soldiers memorial David Lewis and William Phelps majority vote required. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> And this received a positive unanimous recommendation from committee.
>> Any discussion or comments? Um, councelor Gordon. Yeah, just a quick comment. Um, you know, when we have a particularly when we have a long list like this and you know, we have some version of this almost every month. It's just so striking to me how much it takes
to make everything happen in Greenfield, right? and it's our city departments and it's the executive office and it's the council and and the school committee, but it's also all of these committees that, you know, like I wouldn't have known that we have the cemetery
commission, you know, like trustees of soldiers memorial. I'm really grateful that people are doing that work. Like I'm just really appreciative of everyone who who comes together to to make everything work. Um, and I'm particularly happy to see former counselor Healey's name on this and and
appreciate that he couldn't quite stay away from city government. Also, former counselor Burge, that's a little while longer ago. I'm also appreciative and um all in favor say I. I. Great.
All right. So, we're going to circle back to the operating budget. So this is going to be the process. Um the ways and mains chair or councelor web will read the total order. We have to get a second
and then next we're going to go department by department, section by section. Um if there are no amendments, there is no vote required. So we will keep going. So, just want folks to know that
if there's no changes, we're not going to we're not going to go back and have discussion. If there is an amendment, it must be specifically stated that the amendment is either to the state the salary and wage line item or the expense line item and the amount to be reduced.
This must be moved and seconded. Then the rationale given discussion and a vote taken that must be a majority vote. If the amendment is approved, a new total must be stated and the bottom line of the department and section must be noted.
Please note that reductions are only to the total salary and wage or expense line. The council cannot amend items within the total salary and wage or expense line. So if you don't like that there's too many pencils, we we're doing
the total line item and if they want all the pencils and are going to reduce something else, that's what's going to happen. All right. So that is that is our road map for this evening. We will take a break at some point, but let's see what we can get into and go from there. So
councelor Bullock, it is in your capable hands. >> Thank you. And just one other point of clarification. So if there if an amendment is made, um are we asking the finance director to do the math and then give us the bottom line number for each
department? >> Yes. Okay, great. Is that okay with you? Perfect. >> He's got his abacus over there. >> Fun. Um, okay.
Order number FY26-136. The city council upon recommendation mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the city council votes to appropriate the sum of 70,24,736 which is the full amount necessary for the fiscal year 2027 general fund budget
July 1st 2026 to June 30th 2027. To meet set appropriation, the following funding sources and amounts will be raised and transferred from parking meter receipts reserved 250,000, pension stabilization 200,000 raise and
appropriate 69,574,736. Majority vote required. Second >> recommendation from Ways and Means. >> Um, this was a unanimous positive recommendation. >> Any other discussion or comments? Okay. Uh, Councelor Gordon,
>> I'm just the appreciation person tonight. Huge thank you to Ways and Means for the incredible amount of work that goes into this during budget season and and so the public knows they put in so much work. The rest of the council I I think all of us probably have either
attended those meetings or watched the recordings and all of that. So when folks don't hear a lot of discussion, I'm afraid sometimes that they think we're just rubber stamping things and not, you know, asking questions. but it's because so much work um under councelor Bulock and and everyone else
on Ways and Means has already happened. Um and so just really grateful for your many many hours of labor on this. >> I second that and to all the city departments who also got um questions asked and and responded to everybody.
Um, and I just appreciate that all counselors uh were thoughtful about how we were asking questions and not making them do peacemeal work for us. So, thank you
everybody. All right. Um, I just want to say one thing which was I a huge thank you to to all the counselors on Ways and Means. Not to single you out, John, but especially the new counselors who asked so many questions like which bravely um
it, you know, it's not always easy to be like, I have no idea what's going on. And so I really appreciated that. And same thing, we invited every um department to come and speak to us whether or not they, you know, needed to. Um, and so a a huge
thank you to all the departments who came and some of them stayed very very late to talk to us. So, thank you so much. Um, and also to the mayor and finance director who attended every meeting. So, thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to take this as a
roll call because this is $70 million. >> So, we need to go through >> We go through the whole budget first. >> Oh, we go through it first. Sorry. I thought we had to do the >> We're going to have to do some math. Okay. So, let's go department by department. >> Okay.
City council salary and wages $85,595 $94, sorry. Expenses $21,600. Total $107,194. Do I have a second?
>> Oh, we don't. >> Are there any amendments? >> Okay. >> So, now she can go on to the next >> next one. >> Executive off Mayor executive mayor's office. Salary and wages $212,51.
Expenses $12,800. Total $225,31. Is there an amendment? >> No. Oh, sorry. Not for me. Maybe someone else has one. >> All right. Next.
Um, chief of staff $73,945. Expenses $500. Total $74,445. >> Any changes? >> Thank you. Economic Development Salary and wages 14
$1,045 $100 $145,000 $145,075. This is too early in the evening for me to be like this. Expenses $23,489. Total $168,564.
I see no amendments. Do I need to read the total executive line too? Yes. Total executive $468,310. Okay. Financial Administration, Accounting, Salary, and wages 322,514.
Expenses $183,800. Total $56,314. >> Any amendments? >> Audit. >> Audit expenses $60,000. Total audit $60,000. I see no amendments. Assessors.
>> Assessor's salary and wages $217,191. Expenses $85,950. Total $33,41. >> Any amendments? Treasurer collector. >> Treasurer collector. Salary and wages
$25,338. Expenses $31,910 total $237,248. >> Any amendments? >> Tax title. >> Expenses $60,000. Total $60,000.
>> No amendments. >> Total financial administration 1,166,73. Okay, on to operation support. >> Legal labor expenses $95,000 total $95,000. >> No amendments. Legal city
>> legal city expenses $150,000 total $150,000. >> No amendments. Human resources >> salary and wages $287,68 expenses 900 no sorry $9,021
total $296,629 >> I see no amendments technology >> technology salary and wages $316,700 expenses $419,850 total $736 $6,550.
>> Any amendments? >> Total operations support 1,278,179. >> Okay, moving on to licensing and registration. >> City clerk salary and wages $24,987. Expenses $8,50
total $213,37. Any amendments? >> Sorry. >> Okay. On to elections. >> Elections. Salary and wages $27,200. Expenses $8,000. Total $35,200.
>> No amendments. >> Board of registers. Salary and wages $3,500. Expenses $16,100. Total $19,600. No amendments. >> Licensing commission salary and wages
$12,000. Expenses $1,100. Total $13,100. Total licensing and registration $280,937. >> Okay. So, we'll move on to land use and development. Land Use and Development Conservation Commission expenses $500, total $500.
>> You guys sure on this one? Okay. >> Planning board expenses $500, total $500. Okay. >> Zoning board expenses $750, total $750.
Planning department salary and wages $120,000. Expenses $7,050. Total $127,050. Total land use and development $128,800. >> Okay. Other general government >> central services salary and wages
$13,000. Expenses 2291,000. Total $34,000. Central maintenance salary and wages $565,57 expenses $166,350 total $731,57 energy salary and wages $111,963
expenses $973,750 total 1 million 85,713 total other general government 2,121,220 >> we're on to public safety >> public safety police salary and wages 3,892,437
7 expenses $299,450 total $4,191,887. Are >> there any amendments? This one does have an amendment. Um we got an email this afternoon um from the chief of police amending this budget um to subtract
$6,000 from building and maintenance supplies which would be in the expenses line. >> Um I didn't do that math. >> So So we'll need a motion. >> Oh, sorry. >> To reduce the expenses by six. A mo I
make a motion to reduce the expenses line from $299,450 to reduce by $6,000 to >> $293,450 >> $293,450. >> Do I have a second?
Any discussion? Okay. All in favor? I >> do. We have to vote on the to do we need the total appropriation line though? >> The new total appropriation 4 million 18587.
>> Okay. Do we have to vote on that too, Kathy? I don't think so. >> I don't think so. I think as long as you >> as long as you vote the expenses and the reduction. >> Okay. >> It's automatic calculation. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Parking next. >> Parking, salary, and wages $44,72. Expenses $81,200. Total $125,92. I see parking
>> dispatch salary and wages 711,826 expenses $15,900 total 7 $727,726 fire salary and wages 3,37,522 expenses $233,58 total Total 3,271,030. Building inspections, salary and wages,
$270,200. Expenses $6,400 total $276,600. Weights and measures $25,000 total $25,000. Furcog inspections program expenses $16,500
total $106,500. Animal inspection salary and wages $3,000 total $3,000. Emergency management salary and wages $5,500. Expenses $16,600.
Total $22,100. Animal control. The salary and wages are zero. Expenses 200 sorry 28,563. Total $28,563. Total public safety.
We just >> 8 million77230 >> 8,772,38. >> We're going to do schools and then take a break. >> Great. Education Education Assessments expenses 1,531,26
total1,531,26 Greenfield Public Schools expenses $24,47,84 total $24,47,84 $4 total education $25,679,010. >> Okay, thank you. So, let's take a 10-minute break and we'll come back and
pick it up at public works. >> Great. We're doing it. 45 and we are back in session. Um, and for those at home who don't know where you are, you're at Greenfield City Council. >> It could just be background information.
You're doing something else. So, we are going back into the public works budget. public works DPW operating salary and wages 2,394,287 expenses $76,350
total $3,100,637 DPW snow and ice removal 83 salary and wages $83,000 expenses $144,800 $100. Total $227,800. DPW street cleaning expenses $42,000
total $42,000. DPW trash disposal $545,44 total $545,44 DPW cemetery expenses 0. Total public works 3,915,481.
>> Okay. Move on to human services. >> Health inspection services. Salary and wages $252,550. Expenses $33,200. Total $285,750. Council on Aging salary and wages $150,725
expenses $4,600 total $155,325. Veteran services salary and wages $266,766. Expenses $322,72. Total $589,468. Human Rights Commission expenses $500, total
$500. Commission on Disability Access, $500 and expenses, total $500. Domestic violence task force expenses, $500, total $500.
Total human services, $1,32,43. Culture and Recreation. Library $781,350 in salaries and wages. Expenses $141,000. Total $922,350. Recreation Department salary and wages
$239,263. Expenses $10,100. Total $249,363 historical sorry >> I don't have an amendment but I would like to discuss this item >> which we can do >> I think it's late
we've dis we've done it in prior >> discuss it >> we can discuss it sure >> yeah um yeah there's there's so many different things that I could say about this But um I am
yeah I'm very disappointed that we according to this budget are not going to have an afterchool program for our middle schoolers come the coming year. And there's a there's so many different things I could say. There's just three points that I want to make. Um I think
that one it's really important for us to distinguish between caring and prioritizing. I think that all of the, for example, all of the items that the mayor said were her priorities are things I also
care a lot about. Um, but we don't have, for example, I have an aunt right now who's uh who's really struggling who's 90 years old. I know about the depression rates, especially of people over 85 years old. Um, it really matters. It
does matter. I care deeply that we invest in seniors and fire and library and DPW and it all these things matter. But when we have limited funds, whether that's a home budget or a city budget, we have to make hard priorities. And for
me, the after school for middle schoolers is something I would have chosen to prioritize. Um, they say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And I think that that's
really the case in in this in this situation. And I think that investing in uh services, the the amazing services that the rec department provides for our middle schoolers is a preventative
measure that can reduce the needs for social worker at the library or reduce the needs for dispatch to show up. Um and I prefer to invest in prevention. And then finally, the third point is that
vision is powerful and that we can look at the current demographic trends and make choices that just follow that or we can set a decisive vision that brings us that has the power to bring us
in the direction that we want to move. There's a lot that is very scary and sad that is going on in our world both in Greenfield and elsewhere. And if we just said, "Okay, given where we're going, we're going to do the thing
that responds to that." And didn't we didn't these are times that require a vision that has the power to move us in a different direction. And um I understand I really do understand wanting to respond to the demographic
shifts. I also want us to make decisions that will shift the direction and I think we have a real Greenfield is an amazing place and I think we have a real opportunity to bring new families. I was a new mom when I came here. My son
is now 18 and I'm so grateful to have raised him here. Um, so I want us to have a vision that that honors current current trends but also does our best to to shift them. Um, for
example, if we continue on this trajectory, how much more money will be lost in school choice um and and school and students choosing elsewhere? So, I'm not going to make an amendment. I have no power to make an amendment currently,
but I think I echo a lot of people in this city. Um, and I'm really sad that there is that as of this budget, there is no after school for um, middle schoolers in our town now.
>> Councelor Williams. >> Yes. It is my understanding and I could be wrong but it is my understanding that within the recreation department there is a revolving fund and from that
revolving fund it is possible to produce two part-time positions in order to keep the recck room open. So the question isn't the question is will there be a recck room or not? I think it that can be
uh the question is is it going to be the same as it has been? Perhaps not because obviously the full-time position has been has been negated, but there is a possibility and I hope it's taken advantage of because I agree and I think everyone agrees it's an important
program. So I just hope it goes forward perhaps in a different form. I hope the vision of folks who make that decision is in place in order to continue it because obviously there's a lot of folks who have been spoken to it is it is important. You know, of course it's
about kids. We want to take care of kids, but I think an adjustment has to be made here in order for it to continue right now. So, I just wanted to make that clear that people that that is a possibility in order to save this program and for it to go forward that
two part-time positions can be created legally from that revolving fund. Thank you. >> Councelor Bulock. >> Yeah. Um, since we are discussing this, um, I will just say
I feel very conflicted about this. Um, you know, I I don't know what my I what I do know my kid will do next year is walk around town and I will between the hours of 2:10 and
5:30 look at his location every 15 minutes and be somewhat worried about it. Um, but he's old enough for some freedom. Um, and right now he utilizes that freedom at the recck room.
Um, so I obviously have a personal affinity for this this program and the staff that run it. Um, all of that to say that I think part of the vision that councelor Golib talks about in this
current budget season means that we need to be able to envision something different. Um, I would prioritize differently than Jenny, but I or by the than the mayor, sorry.
Um, but I respect that she has a need um that she is meeting with this current budget. Um, and so I can say what I'm committed to as a counselor who has an investment in
this. And I've spoken to department head Moore numerous times throughout this process. I've spoken to the mayor numerous times about through this process of the budget season to try to find a creative solution. Um, but I am committed to
trying to bring both um, director Moore and the mayor together with myself and and whoever else is willing to do that to have a conversation to envision creatively what we could do to make sure that there is some kind of programming for middle
schoolers. And I don't think that we can do that through an amendment tonight. Um, but I do have a commitment to at least try to make that conversation happen um, in the near future. Councelor Webb. >> Um yeah, I just wanted to read from the
um paper that the rec commission gave ways and means uh when they presented their budget. The um hold on, I just lost what I was going to say. The program came online 3 years ago after a 15-year hiatus and has been g gaining
momentum ever since. The fact that it took so long to get the program back speaks to how difficult it is to get something back once it's gone. And I want to highlight that point that yeah, I don't we need to we need to keep this on the table as something we keep discussing and finding a solution for.
Um and I couldn't agree more with having a vision for the future. I think we have the power to change it if we act on it. So we should. >> I'm very supportive of continuing the recck room program. I look at the demographics of our community and really
rely on this program to make sure that kids have somewhere safe to go after school so that working parents have some can still work really. I mean this is something that allows people to to put food on the table. So um and I also
heard the mayor in the spring wanting to come together and figure out a solution. So I want to work with the mayor on that solution. I think we can I think we can get this done. We've done some creative things before we figured out the GIC thing. Um
there's a lot of there's a lot of room here and I know the mayor's committed to our children as well. So I look forward to figuring something out um when we're past this budget. Any other um comments? Councelor Bottomley?
Um yeah, I just wanted to say I believe that there's a solution to this because one thing we heard through this whole budget because there are a lot of cuts and last year boy I don't know I I mean just looking at the big cuts it was like maybe 700 800,000 from the expense lines
of budgets. So it's been two years in a row that's pretty tough. But I've seen a lot of creativity and willingness of department heads to try to find solutions. Uh and sometimes it's it's not ideal. Many times it's not ideal. We've heard from many department heads this year and last year about the
difficulties of the uh budget crunch. And I just wanted to remind everybody we're still in that perfect storm. If people don't remember, it's very important to keep the big numbers of increased retirement, increased health care, lack of federal funding. These are
all adding to this huge crisis. But I I don't know. I believe in in our department heads and that that we'll find a way to save that program because it's important and the uh director Moore has done really good work. Are there any amendments? Okay.
And just as a reminder to the public, we can't add money to budgets. We can only cut as as a city council, which just makes it really hard. Our hands are tied here. >> Okay. Historical commission expenses
$500. Total $500. Total culture and recreation 1,172,213. Debt service long-term debt principal expenses $2,68,120 total $2,68,120. Long-term debt interest expenses
1,246,200 and expenses total 1,246,200. Short-term interest expenses zero. Total zero. Total debt service 3,314,320. Miscellaneous. Furcog assessment
expenses $11,000. $11,740 total $11,740. Contributo requirement expenses 7,336,512 total 7,336,512
workers compensation insurance $300,000 total $300,000. Unemployment insurance expenses $150,000 total $150,000. Employees health insurance expenses 11,200,000
total $11,200,000. Employees life insurance $130,000. Medicare City Match expenses $530,000 total $530,000. Liability insurance expenses $833,766.
Total liability insurance $833,766. Total miscellaneous 20,582,18. Total operating budget 70 million18736 >> 70,18,736. changes. >> I think it just changes this
1836. >> That changes that. But does it change this also? Stephen, I'm wondering if that changes the raise and appropriate the 66 69574 if that goes down by six. >> It should go down. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Sorry. So, this would go 63. >> Sure. That's >> I don't think that's correct. I think that's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm over by one digit.
>> So, does that make the raise an appropriate amount in the order 69,568,736? You're holding. >> I did it in my head. >> Sorry. >> Give me that number again.
>> Um 69,568,736. >> Did we need to read this? Reading the amended making a motion to amend the main motion. Okay. >> By you. You want me? >> Yeah.
>> Do you want me to read it, >> please? I would suggest that the main motion be amended to read as follows. that the city council votes to appropriate the sum
of 70 million18,736 which is the full amount necessary for the fiscal year 2027 general fund budget which is July 1st 2026 to June 30th 2027
to meet set appropriation the following funding sources and amounts will be raised and transferred from parking meter receipts reserved 25,000 pension stabilization
20,000 and raise and appropriate 69568,736. This would need a motion and a second and a vote to amend the motion. >> I think I can do it.
Um, I make a motion to amend FY26-136 to read. The city council votes to appropriate the sum of $70,18,736, which is the full amount necessary for
fiscal year 2027 general fund budget July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. To meet said appropriation, the following fund sources and amounts will be raised and transferred from parking meter receipts reserved $250,000
pension stabilization 200,000 raised in appropriate 69,568,736. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion on the amendment? Okay, we'll take a roll call in the amendment.
>> You threw me off. >> I know. >> Councelor Golib, >> yes. >> Councelor Gordon, >> yes. >> Councelor Dol, >> yes. >> Councelor Bottomley, >> yes. >> Councelor Bullock, >> yes. >> Councelor Williams, >> yes.
>> Councelor Baldick, >> yes. >> Councelor Webb, >> yes. Councelor Brown, >> yes. >> Vice President Garrett, >> yes. >> Councelor Minhos is not here. Councelor Cibis, >> yes. >> Does the president wish to vote? >> Yes. And yes.
>> The motion passes unanimously. The main motion needs to be voted. >> And now we need to vote the main motion as amended. >> So I have a motion on that. >> You don't need a motion. Okay. You just need to vote.
>> All right. Everybody ready? Yes. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any abstensions? Opposition. >> The motion passes. We have pass the budget. Done.
>> So, we want to go to >> I didn't know my mic. >> Where are we? Okay. >> Page 87. >> All right. So, we're going to go to page 87. Thank you, my page. Okay. Order number FY26-137.
The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the sum of $2,27,731 be appropriated for the FY27 operations of the water enterprise and further appropriate the sum of $67,50 to be transferred to the general fund
for indirect cost for a total appropriation to the water enterprise fund of $2,815,181 to be raised from water user rate receipts for the fiscal year starting ing July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. >> Second.
>> Excuse me. I assume this was unanimous, positive, out of committee. >> Yes. >> Any discussion? All right. All in favor say I. Okay. >> Now, do we >> Page 72?
>> Which one? >> Page 92. >> 92. Okay. Order number FY26-138. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder moved that it be ordered that the sum of 3,152,974 be appropriated for the FY27 operations
of the sewer enterprise and further appropriate the sum of $742,690 to be transferred to the general fund for indirect costs for a total appropriation to the sewer enterprise fund of $3,895,664 to be raised from sewer user rate
receipts for the fiscal year starting July 1st. 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Order number FY26-139.
The city council upon recommendation of mayor disorder move that it be ordered that the sum of 2,29,71 be appropriated for the FY27 operations of the Greenfield Community Energy and Technology Enterprise GAT Enterprise
and further appropriate the sum of $172,500 to be transferred to the general fund for indirect costs for a total appropriation to the GAT enterprise fund of 2,200,21 $1 to be raised from the GET user rate receipts for the fiscal year starting
July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. >> Second. >> Any discussion? We councelor Garrett >> shouldn't read um and further appropriate the sum of $172,500
be transferred from the general fund for indirect costs rather than to the general fund. >> It should. >> Is that right? is going from to >> it's going from G set to the general fund. So this is correct. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Order number FY26-140. The city council upon recommendation of mayor disordered move that it be ordered to authorize the revolving funds budget in accordance with Massachusetts general
law chapter 44 section 40 sorry section 53e and a half for the fiscal year 2027 receipts received but not expended in fiscal year 2028 shall be carried over to fiscal year 2028 unless otherwise prescribed by MGL
>> second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Now, are we at 155? Okay, we need to go to
>> This is really fun, guys. >> So, we are now at >> I was being serious. >> We are now at presentations of petitions and similar papers. There are none reports of committees. Um, nothing
posted. Unfinished business. None. Old business. New business. And now we are at first reading. City Council first reading June 17, 2026. Appropriate $100,000 from borrowing for repairs to Poet Seat
Tower. Appropriate $100,000 from capital stabilization for repairs to Poet Seat Tower. appropriate 322,000 for FY2027 community preservation committee budget. >> Are there any motions for reconsideration?
>> I will take a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> I heard some seconds. >> I think it was councelor Williams. No. >> All in favor of adjourning say I. >> Adjourned at 9:13.
>> Adjourned at 9:13. I think it's a record.