All right, I'm calling the meeting to order. It is 5:32. It is February 26, 2026. Um, this meeting is being recorded by the Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund
Committee. If any other persons present are recording, please notify the chairperson at this time. Seeing none, I'm assuming no one is recording. So, I'm calling to order this meeting.
We're going to do a roll call of members. Mandy Whitten >> here. >> Jim Gisman >> here. >> Not here. Patty Williams here. Okay, we have a quorum. Um,
first item on the agenda is the review of the minutes. from January 22nd. Are there any questions on the minutes? >> No. >> Questions?
Can I have a motion to accept? >> Motion. >> Can I get a sec? Can I get a second? >> I second. >> All in favor? >> Have to do a roll call. >> Have to do a roll call. All in favor? Mandy? >> Yes. >> Kim Gisman? >> Yes. >> Patty Williams? Yes. minutes have been
accepted from January 22nd. Public comment. I see nobody online for public comment at this time and there is no one in the room for public
comment at this time. Uh we will reserve the right to have public comment later in the meeting if need be. Okay. Uh I wanted to do next item on the agenda is the final review of materials
intended for promotion of elderly and disabled taxation fund and uh you have seen the final version Mandy. >> I have. >> Okay. Now um and do you agree that it's lovely? >> I do agree that it's lovely. Jonathan
did a very nice job. >> Yes. And um the only question I have regarding this is uh we originally said we wanted it double-sided. Do we still want it double-sided or do we want to do
single sheets? >> Does anyone have an opinion? >> Cost costwise I would say double-sided. >> Double-sided. Okay. All right. Now, the other question I have is the we have a
few copies here, um I was going to go to uh Staples and get copies made voluntarily. Uh so I was going to do like we need copies of
the publicity sheet that got done. We're we also need copies of the guidelines uh the Yes, the guidelines, the policy. >> So, uh, one of the questions is I do not
have the final copy of that. That's why I asked you about it, Mandy. My assumption was that you had the final copy. >> I think I have it. >> You have the final. Somebody has the final copy. >> She did. >> Okay. Um, could you email me that final
copy and I will also get copies of that made at Staples. >> Okay. Okay. >> I I used the uh copy guy right down the street. >> Okay. >> Much cheaper than Staples. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay.
I might have a coupon. We'll see. I I'll decide. >> Whatever. Whatever floats. Okay, fine. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, we're good on guidelines. We're good. >> Councelor Williams. >> Yeah. >> Excuse me. I'm just going to suggest um I'll send you um a final file for the
the handouts. I would just suggest printing from that rather than like making copies of the physical version that you have there. It'll just be much higher quality if you work from the file. >> Okay. >> Staples will take that little guy down. >> Okay. Fine. Thank you. And you you know
my you have my email my personal email. That's what we won't use. Okay. Fine. >> Okay. Now, an ordinance update is the next thing on the agenda. Um, so I I had submitted, it's a little
story I have to tell you. I had submitted language to um appointments and ordinances and they all thought it was fine. And uh Al because it went up on on somewhere on the calendar, Al saw
it and said he had better language and in fact he does. So he submitted language which I'm I cannot clearly I've spent the last 20 minutes of my life screaming at my printer and I cannot
clearly print out the language that he gave me but I will read it to you. Um the suggested draft language motion moved by second by that the city of Greenfield hereby adopts the provisions of unclaimed excess home equity upon the
sale of a property or an appraisal of property where the city has see that's cut off has elected looks like chapter 200A section 9A regarding the disposition of abandoned funds by a
city or a town and that any unclaimed I think it should say monies I'm sorry uh the will will will be submitted to the treasurer's office and half will go into the elderly disabled tax fund and
half into a fund for the maintenance of properties. So everyone's agreeing, which is nice. >> No fight on that. >> Around any kind of money that is excess that will go half to the uh to the tax
fund and half to maintain properties that the city has taken by tax because there is no fund for that. And this is an agreement with the mayor's office and everybody who's been involved in this process so far. Um the language the the
correct language has been submitted to everyone and their mother that needs to see it before it will then come back. My understanding is as an ordinance. It has to go through the city clerk's office
the individuals of A&O of which I am one. It will then go in to A&O again and then ANO will agree without a problem. They will agree that it goes to the
council for recommendation and then the council will vote on it. Now the council is very supportive of this the comm this committee's work and the existence of the tax fund. So I don't see any problem with this going forward but that is now going forward.
So, I just wanted to report that. >> Could you send me that so I can include it with the minutes? >> Yes. >> Yes, I will. And let me just make a note >> okay
final guidelines. >> Yes, please. Okay, the next item. Was there any question on the ordinance process at all? Is that a clear? Mandy, do you understand the process? >> Okay,
>> Mandy, how long how long does it uh can it take to make sure that money is truly unclaimed? Um, >> I mean >> that I'm I'm not really sure because I
haven't been through that process yet. >> 19 months. >> Yeah, I would say >> it's the state the state um the state statutes that are referred to. >> I think it's three years.
I believe it total might be three but I know it's at least 19 months because there's different times when you have to send notice out to any possible heirs etc. This it's a very thorough
uh bit of business in terms of how it has to get done because >> so we're sure it's our money. >> Exactly. So you make damn well sure by the time it goes into your account that it really is excess equity and not we're
not stealing equity. >> Um and I think the way the the language got done that way because there was such an uproar around equity being taken and now it got fixed. So now people can get their equity as as justice is being
served on that one. Mhm. >> Uh so yeah uh the language is very very specific about it. So I think but I do believe it's 19 months in my reading but we can all review the statute as well.
Um and I have some good news on the fundraising front. Um I did I said I would do research into Bayate Franklin. Does anyone remember Anita Fritz who used to work for the recorder? >> Yeah.
>> Anita is the fund for is the funding person. >> Oh, cool. >> Um at Franklin Medical. I did not if I if you go deep into Bayate and you get into the big funding in Springfield, you have to be a 501c3 to
receive funds from them, which makes sense because it's they have a foundation basically. But there is local support that happens. So I am going to uh both uh I'm going to set up a meeting
with her down the road a bit and have a chat and see if we can get I think we can we should ask for like a fiveyear plan of $10,000 a year. I think that's modest. >> Yeah. And I was just talking to my wife
who's who was a fundraiser. >> Yeah. >> And we need a fundraising agreement. >> Yes. >> You know, which which is as I understood it very simple and it just says I'm committing to doing this. This is my
pledge for you know that's >> okay. >> I'll draft something. Would you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Let me write this down. gene drafting. I thought of that today, too. But it's one of the things I went
through the civ because yeah, the donors need to sign something and they need to have something and we need to have something on record that says they're going to pledge this for x amount of time. But I think, you know, the big ones, the banks, Bay State, any else that are big,
I think, you know, a fiveyear commitment is the best way to go on that. And if you're asking for $10,000 for five years, that's just in one place, that's a good thing. So, if we can get four or five places to do that,
>> you know, we have a little bit of money. Does it make sense to um make that contingent on anything like we raised the first slug of money and we don't have enough applicants or you know
something like that. So that there's an out after here for that. >> I don't think we're going to suffer from that lack of applicants. I think we're going to be overwhelmed with applicants. Right. Okay. >> I think so.
>> I think we're going to be overwhelmed with that. >> Just a question. >> Yeah. No, I think a you know a fiveyear commitment if if in fact they want some kind of out if they raise it then we can deal with that question as it arises. But let them raise let them raise that not us. >> Good point.
>> See what I'm saying? We're negotiating here. >> No, I'm agree. >> Okay. No, I'm with them. We are negotiating with them. Okay. >> With them. Yeah. >> Is there any other
This can be the shortest meeting in Greenfield history. >> We We need to agree on when that pro to draw, >> right? Jonathan left us. Unfortunately, we should have a discussion.
Uh, I'm thinking with the mayor about when we want to do the the the announcement and when we want to do the the um public the public release, you know, the press release. Yeah. a
press release and have some kind of, you know, have the mayor, you know, in front of the cameras to to to say a few words about this. I know she hates doing that, but buy her some chocolate or
something. I don't know, talk to her. But this is a, you know, this is a celebratory thing. This is going to be a very good thing for our community. There is absolutely no downside to this program. It's all good. So, it would be
but it would be far more official if we do a actual, you know, press conference with a general announcement. We at one point said we wanted to name this the Alcaniano, you know,
>> right? >> Uh, elderly and disabled tax fund. I don't know how in terms of it that being the official name. Uh the mayor thought that was a wonderful idea. I don't know if that has to go before anybody to get
the the the city seal on it or whatever. Um but I will I can talk to her about it. >> I you know I I think officially it's just elderly and disabled tax fund, right?
>> Unofficially it's Alion. It it gets attributed to Aion. >> Yeah. I mean >> because it's the cities because we own it basically. I mean the state allows us to do this and it is called the elderly and disabled tax fund.
>> Exactly. >> But if we want to give it a name >> Yes. >> we have the right to do that. >> Yeah. We we do but uh I think the way it would be carried in the city would be without the also reference.
>> Okay. I I think I I don't know, but >> we'll I we'll find out. >> Okay. Yeah. All right. So, let's check on the name. Do folks have an opinion in terms of when to hold such a
you always want to have have a press conference on a Thursday. I do know that. I'm not sure you need a press conference. >> You just need a press release. >> Yeah. You know, >> not not a conference. Just a release.
>> Okay. >> I thought it'd be fun to have a press conference. >> Well, you know, >> but Jenny doesn't like to >> get in front of cameras. I know that, you know, she's and she's great. I mean, she's comfortable in terms of speaking
and but she doesn't like cameras. I I understand. Um, all right. So, maybe we should talk to I'll I will I will talk to Jenny and I will talk to, you know, Jonathan both about timing on this,
>> but uh because I really it's up to it's really up to them how they want to do this. That's this is not our realm of expertise. It's theirs. But we're going to be accepting um applications in September. >> Precisely.
>> Okay. And the news release ought to go out before the fundraising. >> I think the sooner the better because then it makes us more official and so when we knock on the door,
>> you know, we won't we won't be treated like we're trying to uh convert somebody. So it sounds like um there are actually two releases.
One which is really when fundraising starts and then the other is when the applications are available and there'll be a lot of overlap. >> Yes. Okay. >> I think Yeah. I think what what we would have to do is you know through the
summer we'll keep tabs on our fundraising etc. >> Yeah. uh and then come you know August we'll have to send we'll do another release that basically says applications are now available and we want to make sure that goes into like the senior
center of newsletter etc and so on >> but uh well we could talk about that with Jonathan >> y >> because he is the communications guy >> and he did a great job on this I'm very pleased >> he did >> did a very good job >> after reports
Well, yeah, if we have to >> because unless you've been involved with the process and understand what what this is, >> you know, it's hard to >> Yep. >> give it teeth and we gave it teeth. >> Mhm. >> Okay.
we need to on the agenda we're talking about reviewing the fundraising target list and assignments. >> Yeah. So, um last time we met um the Wahab mentioned Joan.
I think Wahab uh volunteered mentioned Joan U for Greenfield Cooperative Bank. And uh for Greenfield Savings Bank, Wahave and I are going to do that one when he gets back. We will make the
contact then Gilmore and Ferrell. >> But with with respect to Mitch and Joan, >> I think because the the bank is could be a sizable donor >> and Wah will be with them. >> Wah will be with them.
>> Yes. That's the That's the plan. >> Um, and Gilmore and Ferrell was Al Norman and you, Jim. >> I'll go. I'll be if he says it, I'll be there. >> Okay. And Roger Real Estate was here.
You were going to talk to them, but >> he's he's nonresponsive. >> Nonresponsive. Okay. Well, maybe later. >> Yeah. >> Just maybe not now. Maybe later. Okay. >> Yeah. I mean that's always when you hear no it's noon now. >> Yeah. Right.
>> Right. Uh cone in company uh is Wahhab and me because he knows Wahhab has a contact in there >> in the radio. >> Yeah. And then for Bay State um
whoever wants to go with me to Bay State. Mandy, you want to go with me to Bay State? >> Sure. >> Going to be down the road. So, it's not like we're going to do this tomorrow. >> Yeah, that's fine. I can go with you. >> Excellent. Because that's very official. Council
the treasurer put it on my son go to eaten food. >> I don't think we need to uh list in the minutes the no names and contacts. >> No, we do not. We do not. So we'll just >> just to note that there's been a list of
six uh I don't know if you want to call them targets or >> six prospects >> prospects is better >> and that has been divided amongst >> uh the committee members and activists
or whatever. >> So that's good. I think I think we're in good shape. I I'm feeling good about this whole process. Jim says he was losing sleep. >> Jim worries too much.
>> Yes. No losing sleep. That's important to stay healthy. >> Well, thank you. I appreciate that. Um, but I was losing sleep because I felt that we were under the gun to do most of the fundraising. And the issue is we're
not under a gun, but they are aligning up prospects that we need to be in the meeting for, which are, you know, larger institutions. you know, they they they can go and
solicit friends and family if they want. But if it's uh got the potential of a multi-year corporate donor, whether it's a corporation or not, it doesn't matter. Then one of us has to go along to make sure that the
message is being conveyed properly, >> right? Because we represent the city, >> right? And that was conveyed at the last meeting and there was no argument about that. People understood that. That was a great tip. >> Well, nearly everybody understood. I didn't. >> Okay.
>> Now you do. >> Now I do. >> Now it's good. >> Yes. >> All is cool. All is cool. And >> I I feel I will be much more healthy now that I can get a good night's sleep. >> There you go. >> Do we have any other business?
My eyes a little red. >> Everybody's okay. We're good. >> I think so. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Very cool. >> So, uh uh I make a motion we adjourn. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> I
>> I Mandy. You have to say your name because >> Oh, I Mandy. Sorry. >> I Jim. >> I Patty Williams. >> Okay. meeting journal. >> What day? >> 5:55. >> 55.
>> Have a good night. >> Okay. You too. And it looks like you're still in the office. I hope you get to go home soon. >> Yeah. Hopefully. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Good night, Mandy. >> All right. Good night. Yeah.