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All right, everybody. It is 6:00. We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. This is the meeting of the FA finance committee of the town of Halifax for the 1st of June of 2026. We are located here in the selected meetings room at the

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town hall. This meeting has been posted in accordance with the provisions of MGL3A section 20B and is being recorded and will be posted on area 58's community access channel. The finance committee and its chair reasonably anticipate that the following matters in

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the agenda will be discussed andor voted on at this meeting. Agenda items may be taken out of order for time management considerations. Committee members in attendance are Mike Bennett, Frank Johnston, Mike Rignetta, Rod Hemingway, and myself, Jim Walters. And virtually I

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we have Cheryl Burke and and Ed Brian on uh Zoom at this time. So, uh the first item that we have on the agenda is the approval of meeting minutes. I think there was some changes that needed to be made to the minutes from the 16th of March. um those haven't

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been resubmitted yet. So, we will push that off to our next meeting, which would be on the 15th of uh June. That will be a virtual meeting. So, hopefully they'll be done by that time and we will we will get those voted in and then posted. Excuse me.

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All right. So, uh, one of the items that we had, the next item that we have on the, um, on the agenda, uh, we're going to actually bump item number two down one and we'll look at we'll move FY26 June finance actions up uh to, uh, to in

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front of the reorganization discussion. Um, so one of the items that we have that we have for uh that we're looking to do here in June, there's four things that I think we need to focus on. So, we have some line we have a line item transfer we need to take care of. Uh,

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and Lindsay, if you could help us understand if we're all set for the new fiscal year in the accounting system. Um, and if there's um, you know, schedule any town meeting if it's needed, but I think that's up to the selectman. Um, and then finalize any

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hiring contracts or purchases uh, scheduled for July 1st if that's at all possible. So um why don't we start with the uh accounting system? Are we ready to go for July 1? >> Um we are sticking with soft. We are not

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doing the accounting system as of July 1 because of Harper's the payroll. I know that that was a prior discussion that we had um because payroll obviously is more important. Um so that is where that

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stands. So we're continuing the soft break. >> Yes. >> And um so the status on the other system is what is not ready. It's

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>> um on our end for the town side. We are choosing >> to put a pause on that. has nothing to do with them. I just don't think that the timing of everything. I want them to

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get it ready, be completely 100% in municipal. I want to work on us getting into a new payroll system and dealing with post town meeting, post override, failing,

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and then work on a software system. And what what's the time frame you think that'll be? >> I do not know. I don't >> 60 days, 90 days, 180 days. >> I mean, so I guess I don't really know

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what you're asking. Are we We're sticking with soft, right? That's the accounting system. >> Yeah. >> Um there's other things that we're dealing with first, >> right? Okay. Understood. And but I also believe that we've been hearing about Harper's quite a bit.

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>> Harper's is payroll, not accounting. >> Okay. So >> Harper's Harper's is July 1. Yes, if that's what you're asking. >> All right. Thank you. So is there a plan then once Hawk is implemented are we looking at moving to

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the new system or is that As of right now we are just focusing on figuring out how FY27's going to look and harbors and then going from there. Um I so I didn't say this in a last

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meeting but Jackie is not coming back so I do not have an assistant. I know that that position was cut from 40 to 19 hours in general but at this moment I have nobody. So the main focus is the new payroll system and figuring out what

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FY27 looks like. Lindsay, are there any costs associated with delaying the new uh accounting system? Have we signed any contracts that need to be delayed? >> No. >> Okay.

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>> The cost would be obviously paying for softright, but that's something that was budgeted for anyway cuz we have soft. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, so from a system perspective,

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we're just going to continue on as is. Harpers is on going to be on boarded on July 1st and whatever soft bra becomes is whatever soft break becomes. Is that about right? >> Yep. >> Okay. Line item transfers. So for the

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group um the request is hereby made for the following transfer from the reserve fund in accordance with chapter 40 section 6 of the Massachusetts general laws. There's an amount requested of $19,000 to be transferred from the reserve fund to the town building

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expense outside maintenance. The current balance is $9,476. The amount is requested to be used for to pay for the sewer line failure repair at the water department. Um so uh it's

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an extraordinary andor unforeseen for the sewer line failed and the building had to close. Admin employees had to work from home until it was fixed. Any questions? Is there a motion to approve the line item transfer of $19,000?

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>> So move. >> Thank you. All in favor? Oh, I'm sorry. Roll call. Sorry. >> Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnston, >> yes. >> EJ,

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>> Mike Retta, >> yes. >> Rod, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So, that is approved. >> Um, and then after that's signed, you can either slip it under my door or put it in the mailbox. and then I'll scan it and send it to Cheryl so she can sign

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because she's online obviously. >> Thank you. Yeah. Just need this gentleman over here this side. Well, >> he's sitting in the corner. I know I

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said far away. There's three copies. >> Okay, just put it back. >> Okay, that takes care of the Is there anything else or is that the only one, Lindsay? Is that it?

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>> Um, that's it for right now. I'm still tracking the electricity and the oil. Um, so that will be coming. Um, but for right now, that's all I have. >> Good. Thank you. >> Okay.

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>> Um, I did have an item down here for scheduling a town meeting. So, I think we all saw the email that has come out. um think it's going to be raised at the uh at the selectman meeting next week is

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where he's going to speak to it I guess publicly. Um I have some you know thoughts on it just initially. Um so I think this proposal is kind of like four things premature procedurally flawed unsupported by current data and

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inconsistent with Massachusetts municipal finance practices and statutes. That is my just my initial >> we're going to discuss that tonight or wait till select >> I think we're going to wait till the selectman's meeting to see if they even adopt it as the law. Um, that's uh

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that's probably the most prudent action at this point, but uh you know I think it's a bit >> Sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead, Cheryl. >> Steve has his hand up. >> Steve has >> Steve.

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>> Yeah. I just wanted to um let you guys know that the email has been sent off to town council for review just from a procedural and uh logistics perspective as well as timing. So just so it's under review right now just so people are aware.

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>> Okay. All right. Okay. So we'll just close out the FY26 June finance actions. Um I think most of them are complete and uh if there's any follow-up we'll do that on at our next call. Uh so we'll move into committee

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organization. So as we do traditionally every year after an election we look at the committee as it stands. Um we have three positions that are filled by vote on the committee itself. There's the chairperson, there is the vice chair and then there is the clerk. So, I'm the

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current uh chairman of the committee and I would I would open it up to anyone else on the committee who would like to take this role uh and give it a go for a year. I'm certainly happy to uh to uh step aside and let that person take charge. If not, I'm happy to consider um

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I'm happy to continue. Um I have fun doing it and uh it does provide me entertainment at times. >> Man, you at times, Mr. chairman. Yes. So, it's so long about entertainment. Thank you. I

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I'll speak personally. I like the job you've been doing. I totally respect the amount of time and effort you put into it. So, I am more than happy to um to have you stay on if you're willing to do so. Yes. >> I made a motion for Jim Charity. Second.

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>> All right. It's a roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnston, >> yes. EJ. >> Not sure if that's either. >> Not sure if it's EJ either. Uh Mike Reignetta. >> Yes. >> Rod Hemingway.

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>> Yes, sir. >> And I will abstain at this point. >> Okay. So, it's five. >> Well, last minute. >> All right. >> So, we'll move to the next um vice

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chair. Uh you know, I did have um I've I've had a discussion uh with a couple of individuals who uh including the current vice chair about uh you know possibly looking to make a change there. I think um speaking to the current vice chair, I don't think there's any

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objection there at this point. Um so u with that uh and with after talking to Cheryl, you know, I would like to nominate Frank Johnston as the new vice chair of the finance committee. >> I second. >> Very good. Thank you, Cheryl. Roll call

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votes. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Mike Reignetta, >> yes. >> Rob, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So, welcome aboard, Frank. Appreciate you being here. >> Congratulations. >> You'll do a great job, Frank. >> Thanks, Cheryl. Appreciate it.

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Appreciate all your help these years. >> We will be leaning on you, Cheryl, for your institutional knowledge. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, yeah. Don't don't sound so thrilled, Cheryl. Okay. So, the next uh we have the clerk

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and the current clerk is Mike Bennett. Um I think Mike does a fine job. Uh no issues with anything that he has done. He's is uh you know done well in the years that I've been on the committee. So Mike, if you if if you would like to continue, I would certainly like to nominate you for that position.

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>> Well, thank you. If anybody else wants it, I mean, they're more than welcome to Mad doing a good job as well. Yeah. Okay. Then uh with that said, I nominate Mike Bennett as the to continue on as clerk of the finance committee. >> Second. >> Second.

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>> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Frank Johnson, >> yes. >> Uh Mike Retta, >> yes. >> Rod Hemingway, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So, thank you, Mike. Appreciate you continuing on with that. >> Thank you.

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Okay. So, we'll close out the uh committee uh reorganization and we will move into the town administrator update. Away with you, Mr. Silvo. >> Good evening, everyone. I've only got a couple things for you tonight. I The

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first thing is I am still waste deep in uh collective bargaining. That has been my main focus after town meeting. Um, I did have a conference I attended uh late last week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday down on the Cape to learn about how to avoid burnout. So, I think we should all

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take that. So, um, or many of us should. Um, but it was good. Um, today has been a long busy day as you many of you can imagine. Um, and then to follow that up, one thing I will be doing, we will be having a department head next Tuesday.

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um where I will be hopefully um introducing some new subworking groups. I would like to create a finance subworking group that would involve also FINCOM members to come in and meet on a semi-regular basis during uh each month to discuss um you know the financial

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matters of the town and also get the bud you know uh not the budget get the agenda lined up for fincom so that we can have more items so folks can understand what's going to be on there and then um as well just be better prepared as far as me and Lindsay are

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concerned um we've just been having discussions about that. Uh not to say that you guys don't give us the information we need, but we would like to provide you guys with more and by being in order to do that, we just need more information and I think by sitting

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and collaborating with you guys in between meetings um obviously not constituting a quorum, but I think it would help out and we could rotate members to meet with us over the months as well too. So get everybody more familiar with the process as we move through the year. So, you'll probably be hearing from us uh very soon after that

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department head meeting after I create some of those teams as we um sort through a lot of these issues moving forward. So, uh other than that, if you guys have any questions for me, I can uh surely answer them if you have any pressing matters or questions. So, I don't have anything for you right

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now, Steve, but I know as we get into the end of this month and move into July, it's going to be um you know, it's it's going to be quite an adjustment for a lot of for both the departments, the department heads and the people that work in them. Um there's uh you know,

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there's there's always I think uh going to be room for improvement regardless of how well you're doing or how unsuccessful you are. I think with the fact that we have we the adjustments we need to make in July with the override not passing uh at the ballot box um is

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going to be a um you know it's going to be a lot for a number of individuals. We also have some you know we we have to look at at where the budget is. I think you and I have communicated over this already. you know, freezing current spending, making sure we're looking at uh we're, you know, making sure our free

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cash is certified in a timely fashion, getting getting communication with the schools next year uh at a much earlier point. Um because I think we all know just from an accounting perspective, you can forecast what your budget will be uh

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just using the last 5 years of budgets and you know, and and working that through, adding whatever percentage you can or need to. Uh so it's not unreasonable to ask the schools to to forecast their budget um or the uh you know for for the next fiscal year. So we

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at least have an idea. I'm not asking them to nail it you know down 100%. But you can certainly get within the ballpark uh using past performance versus future anticipated costs. So uh >> don't don't mind me laughing or smiling.

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It's just I found out information that the schools don't have information beyond FY26. So going back beyond one year is going to be very difficult. >> Well, I have it going back to 2023. So if they need that, I can certainly deliver that to them.

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But um anyway, so that's that's I think where we're going to need everybody to be pulling the rope in the same direction, um to get the town through this and into next year or into into 28. Um okay. So um yeah, Steve, I just had a

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question for you uh administratively. >> Sure. >> Does the school not retain copies? Do they only retain copies of their budget from a year or do they they had they had did they lose it somehow through a data purge? Like what was the why don't they

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have historical record of their budgets from the last 5 to 8 10 years? >> Yeah. So, I don't I don't know exactly what information Jim has, but I had a call recently with the Colin Center and the when you create a brand new ledger list of accounts, which is what happened

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at the schools in 2026, you have to create a crosswalk back to all the data in order to be able to access it. So, that crosswalk was not created by staff at the school. So, therefore, we don't have any access backwards beyond FY2026. So, that is exactly what you were

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talking about, Rod. it was ended up being a a technical or data data issue where there the bridge was not or the crosswalk as it's called was not constructed correctly. Therefore, the data is not accessible. So, we may have printed copies of it dating going back

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that far, but there's no uh there's no digital data that can be pulled up from anywhere in a reliable sense from the conversations I've had with the folks that have looked at it from Collins. So, uh, that's that's all I know up to this point.

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>> Thank you. Okay. Anything else, Steve? >> Uh, at this point, no. Nope. >> Okay. Anybody have any other questions for Steve? >> All right. So then uh we will I look forward to getting the information on

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the on the working group, Steve. That certainly is I think going to be um of use going into next year. So we will close out the town administrator update. We'll move into correspondence and as may arise. Correspondence and as may arise. I think

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last week I sent everybody an email that was sent to me by one of our residents. >> Um Mary Graanise had some questions for us after town meeting. Um so the first one was who is responsible whose responsibility is it to question the

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school committee and their budget at town meeting? Uh the comment that she made was I know it was discussed that Dr. Jill did not have to explain their numbers or change numbers but shouldn't the fin or board of selectman asked her to explain? I think the problem the

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problem is since there is so much chaos and numerical mistakes that many were confused. Had I known what was happening I would have asked her to explain. So my initial comment on that is we had been communicate we communicated with

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the schools or at least I had quite frequently myself and EJ as the liaison to the schools had asked them for numbers and budgets and numbers and numbers and numbers uh which they either couldn't get to us or didn't have uh and didn't have them in time which you know

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when it came down to it they were submitted on the uh I think the week We voted the budget in April. They came out with new numbers a week before or actually um I think the a resident presented different numbers a week

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before and they were changed yet again the evening of town meeting. So, um that's I think where all the confusion happened and just personally I think uh our support of the original budget is what we voted on what we discussed and

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any changes to that. we didn't have an opportunity to drill into and um you know I I really wasn't in support of that because we presented a budget that was balanced based on the revenues as required by law and that's you know whether there were errors or not they

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weren't present when we voted on it and we didn't have an opportunity to really drill into the new numbers and vote on those so we were kind of out of the process my thoughts. Anybody else? >> Yeah, I agree. Part of the problem

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through the whole year was um >> what numbers they wouldn't provide to us. They wouldn't come in and discuss those numbers with us so we'd have an understanding of what we were working with. And then Friday

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before town meeting is when the discrepancies were found between the Silver Lake regional number and the Halifax elementary numbers for tune of $600 plus thousand which was discovered as you were well aware Jim you were in that meeting when

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they were discovered on Friday afternoon before town meeting on Monday and Silver halfheartedly explained their $200,000 discrepancy

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and helps elementary didn't really give any reasoning behind the $400 plus,000 differential in there. So that created a lot of concern as well.

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So, it's a lack of a lot of lack of communication during the budgeting process that needs to be corrected. And if mistakes are discovered post approval of budgets, then we need to have those conversations

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by the parties that are actively involved in generating those budget numbers. And we weren't afforded that. >> The town wasn't afforded that. Taxpayers weren't afforded that. So a lot of numbers were getting moved around

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and it did create a lot of a lot of chaos >> and it did and and the fact that they changed again. >> Yes. >> On the evening of town meeting. >> Yes. >> So now it was a third time. It's a third set of numbers that we were looking. So that's done.

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>> Part of the lessons learned applying correction and moving forward into this next budget season and holding accountability to to um different departments whoever they may be to stand with their numbers and

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explain those numbers. I also feel that the the numbers the the people who a lot of people who were there at non- meeting don't necessarily understand all of the parliament there were and all the lexicon the words everything we're saying the numbers can be very confusing and can be very overwhelming because there's a they're

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big numbers so be able to explain we have to understand those numbers at a level that then we can then interpret it for for folks who may not understand them but not getting them until Friday evening or hearing about them and and we met as a group on Monday. Uh we didn't

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have an we didn't have a good opportunity to really dig deep but that's frustrating for us. It was also very frustrating for people at town meeting residents understandably so. And I I'm also hopeful that we learn from this that next year we understand a lot

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sooner because we can have really transparent open conversations amongst all the departments and FINCOM. So when we present at the town meeting we have a really good understanding of what they are and when people ask questions we can we can speak to them but the problem isn't the lack of asking for the information in the meantime we ask a lot

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for the information the problem is getting the information >> correct and that's what has to be fixed the getting of the information from school board and we have to understand what they are in reasonable a reasonable time for us to be able to look at

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>> well have dialogue with to understand what's behind those numbers, what generates those numbers. >> Yeah. >> But we don't see that. We don't have that dialogue. We don't have those conversations with the powers that are presenting

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those numbers to us via an email. They don't come into the meetings, >> right? Right. I get the >> Can I ask a question? >> Sure. Is it Who is it? I think that's

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>> just name and address. >> You put yourself on mute. >> Sorry, it's Mary Graanise. So, that was my my email to Jim. My question was, so at that point, if we didn't know when we were so unclear, why didn't someone ask

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the school to clarify at the town meeting so at least something could become clear? It just seemed like it was between what Gordon's new suggestions and everything else. It was a cluster. But at that point, why didn't we say to Dr. Pru, can you explain how all these

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numbers have changed since we haven't gotten any information from her prior to why didn't we call her on the carpet right then and there? I'm just trying to figure out whose responsibility it should have been to do that. If there were if we were missing

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so much from the school committee and we were missing so much from Silver Lake, why didn't we press them when they had them in front of us and we had to make them answer? >> No, that's Mary. That's a fair question I would say. And I I would I think the

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only logic I could come to on that is it was agreed between the finance committee and the selectman and the to and I believe Steve was part of that conversation to have the uh have Dr.

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Jill come up and explain the errors that that had occurred both at Halifax Elementary and at the school. Um perhaps the mass confusion as to the numbers that had changed for yet again a third time. Uh that probably just kind

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of fell through the cracks. I don't think through really anybody's fault. Uh but the intent was to have her come up and explain that. It just it just didn't get done due to the uh due to the events that happened once the numbers changed for a third time. That's the only thing

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I can probably think of. >> Okay. So, I'm wondering if this happens again next year because it sounds like it's just the way that they operate is they just wait and wait and things happen at their speed and they don't give us information and we're just stuck with what we have. What are we going to

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do next year if this happens again? >> Well, um so it's our intent to start talking to the schools probably in October about what their budget will be for the next year. uh once they turn in a budget, we are going to be scheduling public meetings to have the residents come in and review the budget and have

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the school present there to uh to to walk through it. Um I believe that also happens at least we have at least one meeting with the finance committee, the selectment and the school uh which is you know attended heavily by the by I

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think the the school employees but not a lot of residents I don't think. Um, so I think we should, uh, you know, it would be my my hope that that the residents take that meeting to come in and ask the schools what's going on there. >> Okay. All right. And when is that

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usually? Is it January or is it >> No, no, it's usually like Marchish. Probably March. >> March. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That feels late, too. >> Yep. It's all late. We're working our we're we're trying to schedule it so the

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departments are much much faster with getting their their requests in so that we can get these out in front of the residents. It's my opinion that there shouldn't be a number on that budget sheet that the residents haven't seen already. >> Right. Right. And I'm not criticizing

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you guys. I just didn't know where it fell in the line of procedure and who does who's supposed to ask people to come up and explain to whatever. I was just wondering what that whole process was because had I known no one I would have done it. I just didn't know what the process was. That's all.

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>> Sure. No, that's certainly fine. And again, you know, the finance committee makes the requests. I think the the town administrator is the one that's probably more in contact with the schools on a day-to-day basis. Um, and you know, obviously we had an interim town

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administrator before we got Steve. Um, and uh, you know, so and that went on for a while. So, you know, and unfortunately, we don't have records of him or his contact with the schools at that point. >> So, if there were any. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate

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it. >> Yep. >> Thanks for the questions, Mary. >> Okay. So, um just to just to finish this out, there's two more questions that Mary asked. Um second one was, I know Gordon was discussing the budget mistakes starting in April uh with

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Silverlake. So, I guess I don't understand why it wasn't relayed to the finance committee until a week before the meeting. I was in attendance at that meeting when he brought up the optional plan with the schools, but the FINCOM did not want to act on or discuss it. Uh, can you explain? Sure, I can

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explain. Um, he wanted to use free cash and we don't support that. It's not in the financial policy of the town to use free cash for operational budgets. Um, free cash is meant to pay for capital capital items um such as you know uh

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police vehicles and buying ambulances and because they are onetime expenses and it is one-time money the free cash is. So we didn't we didn't support the use of free cash at the town meeting and we still at this we still don't support the use of free cash uh for operational

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budgets. >> Got it. Now, I I can't speak to the April time frame because I had no knowledge and I don't think anyone else on the committee did of of any any uh budget errors being being either brought

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up or discussed with the schools in April. >> Can I ask Mary, are you referring which Gordon cuz we had we have two Gordons in the town. Both of them were speaking at the town meeting. Are you talking about the chair of the Silver Lake School Committee or are you talking about

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>> No, Gordon Andrews. Gordon Andrews. Okay, thank you. >> Because what I didn't understand what he was talking about because clearly all that stuff kind of went over my head. I asked him to explain and I said, "Why are you just waiting till now?" And he had said he had forwarded me some the email trail of how long he had been discussing things with Dr. Jill and all

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this and these mistakes had kind of come out a little bit before everybody else became aware of him. That's why that's kind of what also led into my other question about whose job whose responsibility is it to make the superintendent answer for their budget and their mistakes. So it all kind of

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went together. Do you know what I mean? >> Right. >> If Dr. Jill was discussing that with Gordon Andrews in April, she surely was heck wasn't discussing with the finance committee in April or May.

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>> I would think that that's who she conversations with or the town administrator or the town administrator. Okay. Is that satisfying? Is that a satisfactory answer, Mary? >> Yes, it is.

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>> Okay. The last one was, can we request that Dr. Jill, Gordon Laws, and Lawrence? >> Just to clarify 1.2 come in. >> No, was Dr. Jill not talking to us and Gordon was also not. >> That is fair. I just want to make sure

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that's at is fair. >> I didn't know that. Okay. Thank you. >> Uh last question that she had was can we request Dr. Jill Gordon Laws and Lauren Laws to attend the meeting to answer questions now? Uh

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um we can certainly invite them to a meeting. That's that's that's there's nothing wrong with that, but we're we're we would be reviewing yesterday's news, I think. Um, and I think what would be of most benefit if when should they

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attend is not necessarily what happened last year, but what they're going to do different next year because that's that's I think where the rubber meets the road. Um so yeah we can certainly we can certainly invite them to invite all three of them and see who uh who comes

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in >> to chat. >> Jim, alternatively at the school committee meetings does the are the public allowed to ask questions like that at school committee meetings. So the interesting thing with school meetings Yeah. And I I find this rather

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interesting. It's frustrating. is all the public discussions up front and then they hold the meeting. >> So the public not allowed to discuss exactly on the agenda, >> correct? Until the following meeting. >> Yeah, correct. >> But there is Right. which is I agree

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that's seems a little bit backwards. Okay, maybe >> that's one way to phrase it. >> That would be nice. Um well, but there is an opportunity. I see it as a divisive move. Yes. Whatever.

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>> Yes. I should know their rationale. If they have a rational that way >> questions. >> Yeah. >> They can do what they want. You can't ask. >> Right. So my my point is if they if they are unable to attend one of our meetings to have such focused questions asked. We

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certainly the public all of us can certainly attend. We all can't together. Not clearly, but some of us could and ask similar questions to them before they start their meetings. Yes. Okay. Just just Okay. >> Have a question, sir?

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>> I had a comment. Robert Mullvin from 7 Oak Street. Um just on the school committee meetings. They are quick to have all the public comments at the beginning so that way you're not allowed to speak when they start discussing different things. It was on the committee a long time ago. It is

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beneficial but it also shuts down the communication from the public especially when the budget numbers go up on the wall >> right when you can't ask questions >> can't ask questions they don't take any public participation >> they actually know what time was at the beginning

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you have to ask any any and all questions about the meetings >> at the end question isn't it >> and they will vote on the budget that night without public yeah without public comments Okay. >> Okay.

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>> Can that process be changed? >> I'm sorry. >> Can that process be changed? >> If you're on the school committee, I guess you could ask for the process to be changed. >> I know a lot of challenges the same way. >> Really the same way. Yeah. You have you

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have I said I get sort of three minutes at the very beginning where you can speak and then they do their agenda out. >> Doesn't sound like a very democratic process to me. >> Okay, Mary, any other questions or does that cover everything you wanted to know? >> I think I've spent enough of your time.

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Thank you. >> Thank you, Mary. You're always enlightening. I appreciate your input. I just I'm trying to learn and I don't understand how some things happen so like non like common sensical. So I was just figuring I need to learn for myself. So thank you. I appreciate your

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time. >> No certainly happy to help. >> Okay. Um so other correspondents anything as may arise? We have some guests here. >> We need >> Yes. Go ahead. Can I just

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>> you can just uh name >> 27 notes straight also with the uh web assessors. Um we had a question we were kind of looking at our numbers. >> Uh right now we are in the um call it the hiring phase. We're

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looking at applications for a new principal assessor. Our current one I believe June July >> June 25th >> June 25th she is retiring. Um, looking at the surrounding towns around us,

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principal assessors around $85,000 a year. The assistants are around 7475. We have our ranges step 1 through 10, I believe 75,000 through 104 or 105

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with the applicants that we have based on their experience. We cannot compete at the current $75,000 limit. >> So you're saying that's step one of the role? >> That's step one. So we're trying >> for the assessor or for the assistant

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assessment? >> Principal assessment. >> Principal assessment. Okay. >> 75 350. We haven't. >> So coming in at that number, we cannot impede. Um >> what's the competitive number you see? >> 85. >> 85 for the surrounding pounds. >> How many steps are there?

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>> 10. >> 10. month. >> Our concern is with Deb retiring and then the experience that we have on our resumes, we want to make sure that

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we get someone in being that the assessor's office is responsible for 90% of the income. Want to make sure that we have a smooth transition. We're not left with inexperienced assessors. >> Sure. So what would what step would they

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start at to meet the the salary you're looking for? >> The set was lean >> which is 1 2 3 4 five you know >> what was do we know what seller was last year off the top?

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>> Uh maybe Steve know. >> Yeah Steve do you know what you might know? >> Off the top of my head I do not know. Um, but 80, I believe 85, 86 is correct for Debbie right now. And

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I believe it might be a five, a four or five, I think. Um, but off the top of my head, I do not know. >> For me, I wanted to reassess that. >> So, going through the application process, we want to make sure that the right information,

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>> right? We don't want to waste time and we don't want them to waste us. We're no longer part of >> So you'd have to talk to the selectman. Unfortunately, >> I saw wage and personnel, right? >> So the selectman do all the wagering personnel stuff. You would just just make a request to them to hire at the

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step that you're looking to hire at. Uh and they would be able to approve that uh themselves. >> That's we used to be joint but lap down meeting they appreciate. We just want to make sure we're talking. Yeah. Well, tonight

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people >> we appreciate the time. Thank you. >> Well, you've spoken to everybody, Rob, but everybody knows. So, yes, >> I just when when leaving is she leaving July 1st? Is she done then? >> 21st. >> June 25th. >> June 25th.

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>> Do will there be a gap between her leaving and the new person? Probably. >> Could be. Okay. >> So, I'll put it. >> Is she who replaced you, Holly? >> Yes. >> Yeah. How many years that? >> Yeah. >> We do have some resumes. Some people are

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interested in the position. >> Three. >> And they're certified, right? We don't have to. The town doesn't have to fund them getting certified, do they? >> Um, I think all certified. >> Okay. >> What's the average experience? >> We want We requested five years

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experience. Yeah. >> Um, it was changed to three years. >> Um, I don't know why, but we had a meeting and changed it back to five years because that's pretty much the long round. >> Sure.

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>> So, uh, yeah, >> they all have at least five years. >> We're hoping. Yes. >> Oh, you haven't seen the resume yet? >> No. No. Two of them. >> Two of them. Two of them do. Yeah. >> Do you have two candidates or three?

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>> Three. three candidates. You guys need to move pretty quick. >> Yeah. >> Don't meet me till next week. >> June 9th. >> June 9th. >> June 9th. So they meet next time tomorrow. >> Yeah, that's actually probably better to get a hold of them to get on the agenda

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there. >> But it shouldn't stop the interview process, right? >> We're meeting tomorrow. So we're going to have the interviews as soon as we can interview all three. >> Yeah. Right. You can keep moving forward, >> right?

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>> But you get to the select and so if you don't get it on this next one, it's going to be two more weeks. >> Know how much we could probably >> Yeah. >> shows one or the other or whatever. >> There's adjustments within the wage and personnel to move those steps somehow. And if I remember correctly,

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>> there's no bylaw that says you have to start at step one. >> There's there's some stumbling. >> There's language in there on how to do all that. We just want to make sure we don't bite ourselves. Yeah. No sense. Could you have some candidates to be proactive and hopefully

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get it from three? >> Yeah, for sure. For sure. >> Yeah. Three is, you know, in today's world's pretty good. >> Yeah. No, certainly happy to happy to help even though we can't help.

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Okay, Chief, >> I just have a question and I'm not sure if it's to you guys or to uh Steve since he's on the call. >> So, uh going back to town meeting article five >> the uh additional funds that

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>> um were placed into the account. Correct. Right. Have we gotten a legal opinion or is that um set because obviously as you all know we have to get ready for uh you know July 1 coming right around the corner and we got to

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make some difficult decisions. >> Sure. >> So we need to know some reassurances if that officially the number to for us to work with or is there a different number or you know um I know there was the question about the legality of that uh The finance

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committee has complete control over the reserve account. >> All right. So, thank you. >> So, there our intent is still what we stated it was. >> Isn't that correct, Steve? >> You are correct, Jim. That's about

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That's exactly what I was about to say. The fin is the authority on the reserve fund. >> And does that take care of you to take care of your business and your end? >> Yeah. Yes. Yeah, >> as long as that money is transferred over, >> we can control that money, >> right? We can work it.

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>> We just need to do the forms like just did this evening. >> Yes. >> So, we just kind of have to work with Lindsay and us and >> Yeah. So, would you like an official request from us? >> Sure. >> Just just to just to move it from the

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reserve fund. >> Kind of figure out how we want to do the paper trail and and all that. I don't know how. What did you pay? Bi-weekly or bi-weekly? So, every couple of weeks you would need to probably do something on the thing.

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>> Well, that's what we're asking too. >> No, no, I think we're going to do one. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we're going to fund them for the year. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Just too much paper. Chief doesn't want to do all that. My

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budget would be uh you know recording be nice to watch that deal. >> Yeah. >> So >> you have someone retiring correct? >> September. >> So September

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and a resource officer. What's which which what become of that? basketball if we don't that's the the whole point there is if if we if that now now that number is there uh we're able to to to manage that you know just go go business

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as usual if we weren't so then we he would be he would be going back to you know to the uniform division and okay we no longer have the services at school >> right >> so the retirement is that sergeant going out >> yes >> and if you got somebody >> yes so the I already submitted the

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letter of to the selectman with the uh we had an assessment center last month. Um the top two uh one um will be promoted um July 1st because another another staffing um issue that went on in our department and then September

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when the retire retired of Sergeant Cabrio we'll put the second sergeant there. >> Okay. And then what about backfilling that position? with the well then we would have to go through a process of sending out a job uh notice and then

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trying to get something to the academy probably we're probably talking about uh well into 27 okay by the time we get a spot in the academy and all that so we have to have a student build it over time and try to make it work

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>> I know there hasn't been any plans yet for the special town meeting but will prior to that. Obviously with the capital items that we had, we may be adjusting our 5year capital plan because everything's being pushed back from at least a minimum minimum a year. Um, is

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there anything on the books for uh capital planning meetings? >> So, that's something that uh Steve and I need to work on to getting that on the calendar. So, yes, we do have plans to get a capital planning committee meeting at least to discuss the requests from

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the departments, both police, fire, and um I think public works is looking for a a new truck, you know, all this all this other kind of stuff. So, um yeah, we need we need to get that on the books. Plus, we're also looking to possibly update the capital the the planning uh

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calendar like an additional year. I think right now it's out to 29. I think we want to take it out to like 30 just to make sure that we have we're looking at everything the right way. Um cuz I know there's like a ladder truck like two or three years out and that's $2

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million and uh you know so those are uh >> those are some big dollar items. an ambulance fund. >> Well, the ambulance is something we didn't do last year that we Yeah. >> And that's three years. >> Well, you pay for it today. You don't get it for three years. So,

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>> that just makes no sense. >> That's amazing. >> Well, it is. Is it amazing? >> That was a co thing and co it turned up went to a three long past. >> Exactly. >> I'm sure still some of the acquisition of arts takes a while. Yeah. Okay.

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There's a long line of people going ahead and evalu. >> All right. >> Anything else? Soon as may arise. >> Um, yes. Right when we were going through finalizing for town meeting stuff. I had

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gotten an email or message from Scott Mer regarding the >> Yes, we need to we were going to talk about having Scott come in. We sit down and talk see if we can understand that cuz based on what Lindsay said >> that doesn't happen, >> right? so you understand where we're at with that. So, if we can get that on for

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our next meeting, >> okay, >> you know, on the agenda, >> what are you talking about? >> Uh, Halifax, um, housing authority, uh, Scott Rod point up about, um,

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we're paying Emil to manage the maintenance of that facility over there. and not sure why that is and how we can change that and bring it back into his department. So, we need to understand how that all works because Lindsay's not seeing anything on

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her end showing that we're writing check to them, but they may be using a contractor or something and we just need to know the name. >> Thank you. >> So, if we bring Scott in, we can sit down and have a conversation with him

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and have a better understanding and take it from there. you know, >> we can certainly do that >> town meeting and all that so we can get a chance to talk to >> Yeah. No, that's true. Okay. All right. Uh we'll close out that uh agenda item. So, we'll open up the

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public participation. Anybody on the phone or here in our you this is the this is the most crowded this finance committee has ever been >> from a public perspective. I want to thank all of you. Yes, exactly. Okay.

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>> At home. >> So, going once for anyone on the phone. Any questions for the finance committee? >> All right. There being none, we'll close out that agenda item. Moving us into next meeting planning. I have the 15th of June as our next meeting that will be

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virtual. Uh so uh that'll be a Zoom plan that goes out uh and uh I'll make sure we get Scott on that agenda for our next meeting. Anybody have anything else before we

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close up? >> Yes, sir. >> No. Thank you all for your service and your uh appointments tonight. Ready to go, baby. Chair clerk. All right. Is there a motion to adjurnn?

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>> So move second. >> Second. Everybody's ready. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Cheryl. >> Yes. >> Mike Bennett. >> Yes. >> Frank Johnson, please. >> EJ, >> yes. >> Mike Retta, >> yes, sir.

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>> Rod Hemingway. And I'm yes as well. We are returned. Thank you everybody for attending.