All right, everybody. It is 6:00. I want to thank everybody for joining. Um, we're going to call this meeting to order. It is the meeting of the Halifax uh finance committee. It is the 15th of June uh at 6:00. Um, this uh this
meeting has been posted in accordance with the provisions of MGL3A section 20B and is being recorded and will be posted on the Area 58 community access channel. The finance committee and its chair reasonably anticipates the following matters will be discussed and/or voted
on at this meeting. Agenda items may be taken out of order for time management considerations. Committee members in attendance are Cheryl Burke, Mike Bennett, Frank Johnston, Mike Reignetta, Rod Hemingway, and myself, Jim Walters. Um, so with that said, uh, we will get
right into our agenda. So, the first item that we have up is, uh, meeting minutes from the 16th of March. Uh, they were corrected by Emily and resent out. Has everyone had an opportunity to review these?
Is there any changes, ads, or deletions? >> No. >> Very good. Is there a motion to approve these minutes? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl.
>> Yes. >> Mike Bennett. Can't hear you, Mike. Yes. >> Very good. Thank you, sir. No worries. Frank Johnston, >> yes. >> Mike Reignetta, >> yes. >> Rod Hemingway,
>> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So, those minutes are approved. 6. Okay. So, we will close out the uh meeting minutes portion of our agenda and we will move into the um into the
meat of our meeting. So, the first thing we had up is in regards to building maintenance. I have Scott on the line. Thanks for joining us, Scott. Um just a discussion item. I think you had sent Frank Johnston uh an email about um
using Penberg services for housing for I think the housing authority. you can certainly correct me if I'm misinterpreting what I heard. Uh but uh you know, if you could certainly kind of walk us through what your concerns are, we're certainly happy to hear it out and help out in any way we can.
>> All right. Thank you guys. Um yeah, so I just had it was more of a question than the concern. I know, you know, we're scraping for every penny we can find. So, I was looking around and every year we get a check from the federal and we sign it over basically to
Pemroke to handle our housing authority, repairs, maintenance, all that stuff. If it's they're not doing it out of the goodness of their heart, it must be profitable for them. So, why would we not do it for ourselves if we have a group that can handle the building maintenance? Um, and maybe we get
another person, you know, another another employee back in the fold on our end. That's all. I don't know what's entailed in it all. I I don't know the final points of it. It was just a question. >> Thanks for coming. Appreciate it. >> Scott, um do you know the value of that
check that the federal government provides to the town of Halifax? >> I don't I don't. I was hoping you guys might that that was the kind of the question is I was hoping you guys might be able to shed some light on how that agreement works or
what what all is entailed in it. I did did ask Sandy about it at town meeting um and I'll have to reach out to her tomorrow um because I don't remember exactly what she said but it is not
we don't receive a check that we sign over um I forget the exact details of it but that's not 100% accurate. >> Okay. So, so who does the work on the I guess
the units, the residences that the housing authority has control over? >> I believe it's the town of Pembroke. It's not us. >> Okay. >> Um, who makes the call says, "Hey, I've got a bad water heater." Where does that
call go to? >> I have no idea. >> Yeah. So, Scott, have you has has the town of Halifax ever done any work on one of these houses? >> Not since I've been there.
>> Lindsay, do you remember a ballpark figure of how much? Well, I guess maybe it also applies to you and Stephen. What's the value of the cost uh the value of the maintenance work or what I guess what's the annual value of how
much work is done on the housing authority properties >> I don't know >> because that money must be accounted somewhere is it all federal funds is it a mixture of federal local and state like what's the makeup of those funds for the maintenance of those facilities
>> I don't know the answer to that >> good question Rod I'm looking at their website right now. Um, >> who's whose website? >> The Halifax Housing Authority. >> Okay. >> If you go down to the email, it says to email
the director at pemrokehousing.org. >> The address 6killcomins Drive, Pemroke, Mass 02359. And the telephone number is Yeah. Yeah, it says the administrative offices are located at the Pemroke Housing Authority, but we have a local housing
authority board, >> right? >> All right. Uh, yeah, we're going to have to I think we need to dig deep into this because it sounds like it's been going on for quite a while. >> And I think I want to say Mark Dylan was just recently >> Yeah, he was just elected in this past
uh this past election. We can reach out to the housing authority, figure out what they know in-house, and then also reach out to Pembroke to see how this deal works out. I mean, it's all public record, so we should be able to find it one way or the other. >> When's the When does the housing authority meet? Have they ever met?
When's the last time they met? Are there minutes available? >> It's a good question. >> Let's take a look. They had a meeting yesterday uh on the 11th it looks like was their last meeting but I don't see the minutes.
>> Rod, who uh who runs that uh committee? Does the is the chart there? >> Uh I'm trying to find out who the It's a great question, Frank. I'm trying to >> elected board. >> Uh Kent Kent Edwards is the chairman
at least as of May 11th. >> Thank you. >> And Edwards. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It looks like it needs to be updated. Right now the most um recent we got a term expiring for Patricia McCarthy on
the 20 2024 >> right >> to 2025 Christine Tomkins in 2026. So right now I don't know and it says John Macau is the executive director of Pembroke
Housing Authority and Halifax Housing Authority. That doesn't make sense. >> John is the director for both. I I don't think you can hold Well, I guess you can hold a a role in two different towns, but it certainly doesn't make sense that the Pemroke
Housing Authority is doing work in Halifax and accepting payment for that. >> So, I don't know how it got set up, Caesar, and I appreciate your input. Um, but unless you have more detail, you know, I'd like for Steve to kind of dig into this and uh, you know, get back to the committee about it and and help us
understand a >> how much money how much is how much how much of this fund has gone to uh, Penroke when it should have been coming to Halifax. That's probably the first thing. How do we fix that and bring those dollars back into Halifax and use
our own building services division to repair our own property? Yeah, definitely. >> Yeah. I I don't The only thing Charlie told me like years back um was that it's mainly regulated by the
federal government that the town organizationally has no involvement with it whatsoever. And that's >> I can't believe that. >> And that was that was from Charlie from like four or five years ago. I don't know if things have changed though. The federal government could care less what
happens in Halifax. >> I'm not gonna disagree with you. >> So, we need to fix this. >> Yeah, we'll figure it out, Jim. We'll I'll get asking some questions and digging in with Lindsay. >> I did text Sandy. I don't know if she'll
answer or not, but I did just text her and ask. I do remember talking to her about it at town meeting. I asked her. >> Mhm. and she said that we don't receive a check and then turn it over to Penrook. >> So then that must mean that the check
goes directly to them and that makes no sense at all. >> Any Yeah. Eddie Manswell >> on the upside John Mchuan is still the director in Penrook. So >> right would at least have somebody to talk to. Interesting.
>> So, um, Steve, if you could, uh, kind of lean into that a bit, uh, and if you could have something for us at our next meeting, so we could at least get an understanding where we're at, any progress that was made, uh, that would certainly be appreciated. And Scott, I appreciate you bringing this to our attention. And, uh, as we uncover
things, we will certainly let you know what our progress is. >> Sounds good. Thank you guys. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> Okay. >> That just makes no sense to me at all. >> Yeah. Unless it's set up on like some kind of a regional agreement or
something, Jim. >> Right. >> Yeah. But either way, we need to understand it. >> I mean, those are assets with it. You're fading in and out, Frank. Just just so you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. We just need to understand what what the business is with it and
why it operates that way, you know, because it is an asset of the town, >> right? >> Well, I guess that's also the other thing to ask too. Is it an asset of the town? Do we do we have ownership of it
as a town or is it merely housed in our town, but it's not actually an asset? I don't know. It may well be. I'm just I'm I'm curious to understand more. They do have a public They have some more deta details. It'll be interesting to see what Stephen finds uh out more about
it. >> All righty. Um Okay. So, Steve, we'll await whatever findings that you have and I'm sure we'll have more questions after that. >> I'm sure you will. I will.
Thank you very much. Okay. Um Okay. So, we'll close out that portion of the agenda on the building maintenance and the housing authority. Uh we'll move on to our FY26 finance items. So, um a line item transfer
request came in. Um I sent that out to everybody to have a look at. Um I have one question and others may have questions. I'm just curious why something from 10 months ago is just now being paid.
>> Um, are you talking about Pam >> line item transfer, right? So >> from Pam, right? >> It uh Yeah. Yes. She wants to move $2,200. >> Yeah. So it's her wage line.
>> Yeah. >> So it's been being paid the whole time. and we can't do line item transfers till May. >> Mhm. >> So, I don't like um Irma ended up staying on longer than what was budgeted for
because Cody left and there was that transition period and he figured it would be best if Irma stayed. Um so I don't know if it I guess it could have been done earlier in May, but I don't really know what else it could have been
done. Okay. So, we're there's no other way that this could have been these wages could have been fulfilled or made whole before now. >> The Irma was one of the budget cuts from last year. >> Yes. >> So, it was not budgeted to keep her on.
>> Right. >> When Cody was leaving. >> Yes. >> He extended Irma for the month of July and the month of August. >> And didn't didn't fund it. Well, it couldn't have been funded at that point because it was the new budget that
we already didn't budget her for in general. >> It wasn't allocated in the new new fiscal year budgets. What you're saying, >> right? Cuz Irma was not budgeted for in FY26. >> I understand that >> her position was cut. So,
>> yes, that is correct. And we extended her and continued to pay her out of the the uh the selectman clerical wages. Correct. >> Yep. >> Right. And we didn't do like a reserve transfer at that time to fund that to
make that line whole. We waited till now. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry, Lindsay. Who's Irma? >> She was in the Sleekman's office with Pam. She did a lot of like the Sleekman
um meeting minutes and she updated the website or not the website specifically, but she did a lot of the overlooking the bylaw stuff um and just any type of help that Pam needed that she couldn't get done. She was a part-time employee.
>> Okay, thank you. >> All right. Any other questions for Steve or Lindsay regarding this line item transfer? >> And just a comment, Jim. Um maybe going forward if we have to do carryovers
like that in the future, we allocate that funding early on instead of at the end, you know, we know we're going to have an Irma stay for two months, July and August into a new fiscal year. And um we need to all can we allocate the funding at that time into there or do we
have to wait till it's actually hours are used and spent right no fair that's certainly fair and I think you know as long as we can uh I think there's ways to fund those lines without waiting till the end of the year.
>> Um but it's always you know so as they come in we could just have that discussion at the time. If there's nothing else we can do, then I can certainly understand that. But I think it's a disable. >> I mean, for $2,200, I do think a line item transfer is the way to do it because as you saw with the sewer issue
at the water department, >> larger sums of money come up in the year, and I don't know that doing a reserve fund in August is the way to do it. >> Okay. All right.
Certainly a worthy discussion. Mhm. All right. Okay. So, is there a do I hear a motion to approve the line item transfer of $2,200 from the town administrator salary line
to the selectman clerical wages line? >> So move. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. Frank Johnston, >> yes. >> Mike Reignetta,
>> yes. >> Rod Hemingway, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So, I have um I can put this into an Adobe Acrobat uh to get everybody's electronic signature. So, I'll do that after the
meeting >> and I will get that out to I'll just send that out and um everybody can sign it when it gets to them. >> So, just check your email over the next day or two. Mhm. >> Uh, and sign it way as soon as you get a chance to. >> Okay. >> And then when that's all set, Jim, can
you forward it to me because >> you are the originator. It's going to end up back with you. >> Roger that. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, okay. Hey, the other item that I had was
just a question mark around if there's a need for any type of special town meeting, but I think that kind of would feed into our town administrators update. So, I will turn it over to Steve at this point. >> All right. Yeah, I can lead off with that, I guess. Um, I do know that there
was a submitt today late, so signatures have to be certified. Um that also begs the question of if we are have met the time requirements um to call a special town meeting depending what is on the citizens petition because in order to
use free cash you have to spend it by June 30th. Today is the 15th of June in order to so you have to have the board of selectment open a town meeting warrant
within 14 days of a town meeting including a special town meeting. They have 45 days to hold but 14 days to open a town meeting. And the earliest you would be able to hold it as of right now with again we don't have a select board meeting right now to hold and open a
warrant. Um there's none scheduled for tomorrow, which would be the last day that I believe would be under the wire. Um so therefore, I don't know what the potential of having that special town meeting regardless is of it being
submitted today. Um those c those signatures have to be certified and that is a long process that'll start tomorrow. I believe it began this afternoon. So again, I'm going to have to speak to town council tomorrow about when this came in and if it is appropriate for a June 30th uh town
special town meeting otherwise uh we'll be looking at other scenarios and if it if it comes down to the board of selectman having to still hold the town meeting a special town meeting and I've seen in other towns. The one thing that I will warn against is I saw the town of Armas, for instance. Um, they scheduled
a special town meeting right after a debt exclusion lost on their town meeting floor with the expectation that it would pass at that at the election that weekend. So, they still went to the ballot box. They got all the signatures, everything in the day after the town
meeting. So, they were able to schedule the special town meeting and it lost at the ballot box. Anyways, now you still have to hold that special town meeting because the citizens petitions request still holds. So they had to hold a special town meeting regardless of how
town would have voted. This the decision was already set in stone. So there are stipulations like that that we still have to investigate with town council in the event we can't have the actual citizens petitions on there that regard free cash because I know that is um sort of the sticking point of the citizens
petition coming in. I'll know more in the morning once we actually get it, vet it, and are able to turn it over to town council for for review and timing stipulations. So, moving on. Uh, if if anyone has any
other questions, I'm I can answer them uh as best as I can at this point, but until I'm not a lawyer on this. Um, so until town council chimes in, I'll leave it at that. >> All right. um an update on CBA. So I'm getting
close with uh about three of the unions which is bringing the other unions financially into the picture as far as numbers. So that's a good thing because then we will know a lot better what is going to be left for capital planning.
Um I'm looking at a number south of $200,000 which was what was initial on town meeting floor. Uh, I believe it will be between 150 and 200 somewhere in that neighborhood. And I believe that will leave us somewhere in the neighborhood of about 1.2
to just under $1.2 million for capital planning. Um, and that leads me to my next point, which is capital planning committee starting that up and getting those those projects um prioritized because obviously we want to start putting together that plan having a good
idea of knowing what we're what we have on the table to spend. Um, obviously there's a lot more questions this year, uh, things like how much are we going to put towards road stabilization and those things, but that's up for the capital planning committee to decide. So, um, I
would I'll take any suggestions on when folks want to get started on that, what you'd like me and Lindsay to do to get you guys prepped and ready to go for that. Um, we do have the 5-year capital plan as far as list of including for this year, um, all ready to go. So you guys instruct us on when you want that
information, how you want to see it, and we'll get it all out to the members from the Finland be taking part of that in that committee. Um, couple more items here. Uh, there will be a need to retain Eric Kinerf uh
consulting and the main reason is so that we can certify free cash again by September 30th. >> Okay. So, I am awaiting a uh quote from Eric to retain him from obviously July 1st to September 30th. The nice thing
about this, it will only have to be done once in advance of town meeting, including in the spring as well. So, because of the time crunch and because of the fact that Lindsay will at least lack any sort of assistance for the time being, we're going to be posting
internally on her assistant accountant position on July 1st. internally to see if there's any candidates. Um she's going to be up against it. We have Harper's um coming off >> coming online
uh basically in the beginning of July. We hope that is going to take some pressure off. The team has been meeting pretty regularly with Harpers over the last couple weeks to really get in the swing of things with how that's going to roll out. Um and they've been saying it looks like it's going to be pretty good. Lindsay can comment on that. They had a
meeting last week for almost the entire day. Um, so things are coming along there. Um, once I get that quote from Eric, I can send it along to the fincom so you guys can review it and take a look at it and then we can strategize about what we want to do with it moving
forward. But it's going to be a pretty big push to certify free cash in in advance of what everybody wants to do is an early November uh, fall town meeting. So or fault special fault meaning. So um
that's why having an extra set of hands especially an experienced set of hands having to do the rec reconciliations the certifications all the um and all the revenue schedules is going to just require more than the
two hands that are there now. That's really the the big thing. >> Okay. And the consultant role is that is that a 40hour or 32 hour a week role? >> Oh no no no. It's Bill is here one day a week. >> Okay. >> Um yeah it's it's not a it's not a huge
lift like that. It would be I imagine on the same sort of schedule we have now which is we have Bill Row who comes in on Thursdays and then we are able to remote in with Eric uh as needed to help to have assistance on items. So looking
at that model, you're looking at roughly now until September 30th. So >> July, August, September, October, November. So July, August, September. So that's 3 months, 12 weeks, 8, 90. So 100
hours somewhere in that neighborhood, >> right? I mean, I guess it's my opinion that if the town if the special town the fall town meeting happens like within the first two weeks of December, I don't think there's any harm in that. You know, I I think every we would most likely want to stay away from like the
week before and the week of Thanksgiving and then obviously the week before and the two weeks after Christmas, right, for everybody to have that time. I think the first two weeks of December, even though nothing happens at the federal or state level after Thanksgiving, um that
doesn't mean we can't conduct town business at that same time. >> Of course. Yeah, that's just Jim. That's just what people have been suggesting to me. They want to >> No, no, I understand. And I'm sure they want to get it out there as quickly as they can, but you know, you you can only do what you can do in that time.
>> Exactly. Yeah. And and that's why I'm going to leave it up to you guys um to decide with the select board what the best course of action will be >> um as we sort of get there uh throughout the summer months and and early fall. So, but I just know that the the push is going to be on to get that free free
cash certified as quickly as possible. And then the nice thing will be is it will be done both for fall town meeting and and spring and annual time, >> right? >> And we'll have a much better idea of when um you know what the school is doing numbers wise as well. So should clarify that.
>> Okay. >> Um and other than that I don't have anything else uh besides any questions from you folks if you have any. No. And we're gonna So, we're going to
when you send that submitt in that you got today to the town attorney, we're going to >> have him prioritize that and get us an answer back as quickly as we can. >> Yeah. I mean, if I am I'm going to have to one of the first things I'm going have to do is clarify the timeline question, right? He gets in timeline
wise. That'll be a pretty quick conversation. Um, I want to do that first thing. I may even call him on my way home today. He's he generally answers the phone pretty late. So, okay, >> I'm going to have an answer probably today, either late today or early tomorrow
>> and then after that we'll sort of sort of whatever the response needs to be and whatever we need to do at that point. >> Very good. >> Ultimately, it boils down to the select board um in the event that the timeline can be met.
>> Can I ask one more question to Stephen? >> Sure. Stephen, this gentleman, Bill Row, who's been coming in one day a week to help uh with Lindsay, is this a gentleman who's been here for a while now? Has he been consulting for us for just this past year or a couple years?
>> Lindsay, he's been with how long? >> July 1st of 24 when Sandy retired. >> Okay. And I think since I come on I've come on board, we've sort of changed the format a little bit as far as how uh how we sort of collaborate because I've gotten
a little bit more involved to learn parts of the process that I wasn't uh quite as aware of and knowledgeable on. So it's been helpful there. And I've known Eric uh Kentf going back um a number of years and he's the one who owns the firm. So Eric is one of the one
of the best uh town local government accountants around. Um, so you can't really can't really go wrong with Eric, that's for sure. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions for Steve?
Okay. Um, so we'll close out the uh town administrator update line. We'll move on to correspondence and as may arise. Um, I have not gotten any emails from a resident uh to be read out or distributed to the finance committee.
Um, I don't know if anyone else has. If they have, please raise your hand. Um, as may arise, uh, we, um, EJ, Mike Rnetta, and Rod Hemingway have all been reappointed for another three-year tour
on the finance committee. So, very good, guys. It's pleasure to have you here. Um, look forward to as much fun as we can all possibly stomach. >> Feel like we're just getting started. >> Oh, yeah. Pretty much. And Rod went
about it the right way. He had those brownies and he wasn't >> That's a new He gives new meaning to the words brownie points. >> Yeah. He he kept them all at the end of He kept them all at the other end of the table.
>> Stand up and walk down, Jim. No big deal. Think we should have passed them off to the front row at town meeting. >> Possibly. Okay. All right. Well, if there's nothing else um on as may arise, is there anything?
>> Go ahead, Frank. Um the snow and fund the snow fund release from the state Halifax is getting aboutund just under $138,000 has been approved. Um Lindsay, do you
know when we going to receive that money from the state? >> I don't. I just saw that today that that came out. Um so there was nothing I did I did not receive an email about it. I saw um Kathy Lernatra's Facebook post.
Um so I don't know when we're getting it. Um but I did look through the emails. I don't have anything. Linda's at a conference so I don't know if we did already get something AC or not. Um but I can reach out to her tomorrow and ask
and then I can also try to find out tomorrow more about when we would be getting it. >> Yeah. because Steve hasn't requested his line item transfer yet. >> No. Um I do think that
I would think that we would be getting it before June 30th. I would hope. Um but that amount of money is almost our whole deficit if I'm being honest. So >> Okay.
>> Okay. All right. Thank Thank you. And I I will add to what Lindsay had to say that Chief Wam also reached out and said, "I wonder if this is the MIMA money slash uh monies that we had applied for as the town." Um so he doesn't know if if maybe that's related
to that. So he saw the same I believe uh note that uh Lindsay had seen on Facebook. Um, and I actually I had previous to today had a call into Linatra's office uh and Sweezy's office anyways to get them here for July or August to meet with the board of
selectman for a meeting as they annually do typically. So maybe if um I can get in touch with them tomorrow, I can find out more. Um but they're on they're queued up to call me back at some point here soon. So >> yeah, cuz uh Representative posted
something last week regarding that as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Generally, these things are are worked on by both offices. It's just a matter of >> right. They just do whoever wants to plant with it. >> Yeah. The senior seat gets to typically announce. So, and I think Bloodatra is
the senior in this uh district. So, >> that's correct. She is. >> All right. Okay. Well, thank you, Lindsay and Steve. >> You're welcome. All right. Uh so if there's nothing else
we will close out the correspondent as may arise line item moving into public participation. Any members of the public have any questions or comments for the finance committee. Hearing none, seeing none, uh we will close out public
participation um and move into next meeting planning. So what I've got is the 29th of September, which is the next Monday. >> September. >> September. Yeah, let's go on vacation.
>> June. 29th of June. >> What I learned several years ago is we do get the summer off. Is that what you're saying, Jim? >> Well, we usually get August off, I think. Anyway, um, so, uh, June 29th, it'll be
a virtual meeting, >> 6 PM. >> Anybody have any issues with that date? >> No. >> But can you say that again? >> June 29th. >> Thank you. 6 pm. >> Technically, I'll be on a personal day because I have to take it, but I'll come
in remotely for the call. >> All right. >> Responding on the Halifax Housing Authority. >> Appreciate that, Stephen. We look to hear We look forward to hearing about it. >> Yeah, it's a it's a personally mandated
mental health day I'm going to take. >> Oh, it is a full moon that night. Don't say that. >> Okay. >> If there is nothing else for the committee, is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnston, >> yes, please. >> Mike Rignetta, >> yes to adjourn. >> Rod Hemingway, >> yes.
>> And I'm a yes as well. We are adjourned. Thank you all for joining and I will see you on the 29th of June. >> All right, see you in a couple weeks, guys. >> Beautiful night. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> All right, guys. >> All right.