want to welcome everybody. Uh it is 6:00 on the 2nd of March of 2026. This is the meeting of the Halifax uh town finance committee. This meeting has been posted in accordance with the provisions of MGL 38A section 20B and is being recorded
and will be posted on the area 58 community access channel. The finance committee reasonably anticipates the following matters to be discussed and or voted on at this meeting and some agenda items may be taken out of order for time management considerations. Committee members in attendance, Cheryl Burke,
Mike Bennett, Frank Johnson, EJ Bryant on video, Mike Regetta, Rod Hemingway, and myself, Jim Walters, uh, with EJ on, uh, video. All votes will be done by roll call. So, we will move into our first agenda item, which would be the
review of agenda meeting minutes. We had two sets that we were going to look at. However, there are some corrections that need to be made to both of them. So, we're going to push those to the next meeting. uh once those corrections are made and validated by the finance committee. Um so with that said, we'll
move right into our second agenda item which is our budget reviews. So first on the grade is our library t. I turn the floor over to you. Okay. So yeah, we had our original meeting about
the library budget and I put in a reflex for 367,400 for the FY27 budget and that's mainly for the reason the state certification $367,386.
I just rounded up the $14. uh we mainly discussed the importance of the certification process and thankfully I was able to locate the documents with more in detailed information on how to remain certified, what happens if you're
not certified uh with the state. Uh if you'd like I could simply elaborate because that is the core reason as why the library is asking for any specific value is simply because state certification in the library world is incredibly important. We do not need
certification. The residents of Kalax are not allowed to use libraries within the state of Massachusetts. So residents all 7,000 some of the written. So residents would be unable to use any library within the state of Mass
and the MAR municipal appropriation requirement is decided by taking the previous this fiscal year the two previous uh budgets that were allocated adding them together dividing by three and multiplying by 1.0. 025% increase
and that's how I got the magic number. Um, mainly I went with I didn't submit a level fund simply because there's an increased requirement to keep certification.
>> Uh, and the certification requirement is essential because our library functionality would cease. Uh, I would say over I think it's around 60% of all of our items that we checked out are from neighboring libraries that are sent to us via transit. We would also lose access to the sales
library network consortium which has a pretty massive return of last year it cost $18,000 to be in the consortium and of items checked out through the sales library network they came to an estimated value of about 4 and
I want to say $46,000, which was really high. But the math on that is a little weird. They used an average of a book being $17 to purchase, which the average book is closer to 30. So I want to say that's lower. But at the same time, as the library, uh, we
buy books through Ingram and they give us about 44% discount on average per item. So, we're never paying the retail price for an item, which I was like, okay, probably why they did that. But, um, yeah, I have my main question is I just
wanted to know uh, do you have any questions for me about this? Cuz this is just essentially moving some money around. The only real money moving around is from my line because with the previous director having left, there's more money than needed in the director
line. And I'd rather move that into electrical just because we were getting for this fiscal year pretty close with the electric line and I assume things are only going to get a little bit more expensive. >> Yeah. >> Uh besides that, the of the money that is an increase in this fiscal year, it's
only $6,870 more and the majority of it is just going into step increases for my staff. um a little bit more in materials because since we have to stay we have to spend exactly 16% of our budget on
materials for patrons. Um, so that because the overall budget is increasing, that increase needs to take place. And then of the remaining increase in money, it's going to go to office supplies simply because we're running into an issue this fiscal year where the, for example, the book
protectors that we wrapped the books in are $120 for one roll and we can go through one roll in 2 months. So, I just wanted to put a little extra money into that line to ensure that books can still be processed and aren't immediately destroyed if a patron accidentally drops it at the beach, which happens a lot in
summer. >> I had a question. Uh, your the electrical line you're talking about, is that just to pay the electrical bill or is that the electrical upgrade, the repairs? What's what? >> It's sort of it's named electrical, but it's like electrical and utilities from
how I come to understand it. Uh so thankfully I've since learned because when I originally took the position when I was in Avon when I was paying bills we had an electrical line. It paid gas and electric. I've since learned that electrical is and its expenses come out
of that line and the majority of gas expenditure actually comes out of Scott's budget. So I was like, "Okay, well that's good to know cuz I was afraid we were going to be like very in the red after going through winter and now it's looking like wool doesn't make it perfectly." I was like, "Thank goodness."
>> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Welcome. You're referring to electricity, correct? >> Yeah. Yeah. Not electrical. >> Yes. Yes. Okay. >> So 16,000 is your request for 27th
>> for the electrical time. electricity >> 5977 so 16,000 >> yeah I just rounded everything to a flat simply because yeah 16,000 flat that's what I put in
the request 15977 was for the situation with the 10% budget reduction which um I put some notes at the bottom explaining why the budget reduction looks the way it does, which is simply so we are open
41 hours instead of 25 to 39 because that allows for the library to have higher staffing so we can perform more programs and events which is where we're seeing the majority of our patron usage coming from. But we also have to spend
less on materials. So if for example I was I had to let go of staff um and I said I can only be open 39 hours now I have to shave 2 hours off the clock then 19% of my entire budget would have to go to materials and then I wouldn't have
the money to pay for another staff member. So it sort of snowball into a situation where we potentially have to lose two whole staff members to ensure that we meet that 19% materials requirement uh by the state to keep certification cuz the goal is just to
simply keep certification or else >> there's no exception to this by the state. >> There is a waiver process for if the library is within a 5% cut of the highest appointed. So, for example, if the school gets a 3% increase, the library can take a 2% cut.
But if the let's say, for example, the school the most the town entity that gets the most increase in money gets a 0% increase, then the library can take a 5% cut. Um, if not, you're not allowed to do the waiver process. You can have
weird situations where it's reviewed. Um, there was actually one in Norfolk this year which was multiple staff members retiring and having a lot of vacation time which made it look like they had spent a very large sum of money on their library. So then when they were going to get reertified, it looked as if
they were taking more than a 5% cut. It was actual just that town monies had to be put into the library because they were basically paying for staff members that retired in June. And that's something that would happen at the state level with the MBLC. speak. I also was the library trustee
>> and just to underscore what Dylan is talking about with the waiver um in first of all we're in a very good network the the sales um uh consortium is incredibly first of all it's the biggest one in the
state and it's very rich in resources so we're really part of something that provides our um patrons with an enormous amount of value um and I've been in the library world for over 30 years and watched libraries choose a waiver and
once you choose that waiver it's very very very tough to come back. It's like not doing your you know your basic uh um scheduled maintenance. It's very difficult to make that. Um one of the most dramatic ones was Bridgewater a number of years ago. Um, Bridgewater
suffered a great deal and they cut an enormous amount of staff, library staff. Um, and we all watched in horror as their library and their programming shrank cons. They've been like a a regional hub like all age library made
to Bridgewwater. So, everybody sucked a little bit and then to watch them have to build back up again. It it's taken them like 20 years like to build back up to a, you know, to where they had been before. So, you know, I just really urge caution when considering um the waiver
process because once you go down that road, it's extremely difficult to come back. >> Yeah. Bridgewater in 2008 was actually descertified after going through the waiver process for years because it was slowly heading downhill. And currently they still do not have the same level of
checkouts or patron usage simply because people from neighboring towns stop going to you because you're descertified. And your residents can't go to neighboring towns either. And to this day, I believe they went from having over 20 staff members to they currently have six on a three-story building, which is kind of
wild to me. But um their attendance, their checkout numbers, their overall usage is way down. And since the libraryies value is by how much the population uses it, it, you know, really put them in a bad spot that they have not recovered from.
>> Hal's never had to do a waiver in all the 40 years that I've been living here. Um, and we're kind of proud of that. You know, it's still an extremely tight budget. And I also want to point out that um when Dylan came on as director, he um has worked really closely with
Scott on the building and um discovered that we weren't adjusting our temperatures, the internal temperatures for when we weren't in when I was not in the building. It was maintaining the same temperature 24/7. And he saw that and then you know now we're on a
schedule >> for electrical usage. So, we're actually getting much more >> bang for our buck with electricity now since Dylan has has checked into that. >> Nice. Is it 10% saving which is a free month after 10 months in my eyes? So, I
was just like what do you mean you are like excuse me? >> No. Can you restate the just the way the 5% um how that reduction works? If we were to apply for the waiver, it's 5% off. >> Yes. It's if I don't if you don't hit
the amount requested well the minimum amount required by the sign up which is 367 386. If you don't hit that exact bar we have to apply for a waiver to see if the state will allow us to remain certified. And the main thing that they
look at is to see if the library was treated fairly or unfairly. And their definition of unfairly is are you within 5% of the office that got the most. So for example, if the school gets a 10% increase, anything lower than that
request is unfair and they desertify you immediately. Um so >> so essentially if so, so if the school gets if the school at the most just to say for got 10% increase and you apply for waiver, you would still then get a 5% increase
because it would be 5% less than the 10% of the school. If any entity in this town gets a 5% increase and you do not give me the MAR, we are descertified because we are not within the 5% reach of the highest most gaming office
if that makes more sense. >> Mhm. >> So the library have any revenue generating activities going on? We currently the only meter revenues are basically fines and overdue fees which we currently do not. Um we're fine free
but if people return the items to a neighboring library the surf map hasn't been modified meaning the person will still be fined for it and most people if they get fined a dollar $2 or whatever they just immediately pay it and then we receive those money in the form of a check once a month and then I just
submit them to the general fund. um if the town for revenue generators at the library the two that I'm most aware of that are most successful are passport and notary uh it's something that I've discussed with the staff because for both of them
I would be comfortable with at least two staff members myself and hopefully the assistant director or another staff member being able to do it simply so that way we have an expanded network of people or you know let's say I get sick of flu we don't want that service to be done for a community, at least someone else will be able to do it. And I'm
hoping that in FY27, we'd hopefully be able to play that because another staff member has showed that they are interested. Um, and I know West Bridgewater, >> we did it very successful. But I do have to caution you, the federal government
is starting to say no to libraries processing passports, which is really too bad. Hopefully that will not continue. Yeah, my wife works at the West Bridgewater Public Library where they do sometimes up to four in a day and I believe it's $35 revenue per person that goes through. Um
I was like that's a pretty, you know, if I can get four people a day, that's pretty good sum of money. But that >> when we instituted that at West Bridgewater, we used those monies not for the operating budget, we used it for capital expenses. So I was able to um end up making all of the lighting LED
lighting within the building which is really great bit by bit you know as the passport money came in. It's certainly something to look into but it doesn't um it's not a good idea to use it for operating because it's unreliable >> you know then we went through through co
of course it shut down. So, it's not a reliable source of regular generation of it, but it is really convenient um to look into if you have the staff. >> Is that a service you're currently actively offering? Are you waiting for the second person to
>> Currently not offering? We're looking into hopefully starting it sometime next fiscal year. Okay. >> Does we want to expand our services? >> It's just sort of like this is why we're here. So, if people want it, why not? You also have to have plenty of staff
though to take care of other things because um processing a a passport from my experience you know it takes a good 45 minutes to an hour per passport because you got to do all this checking and the picture taking and you know um
it's worth it you know if you have the staff >> but you can't do it on a shoestring staff situation but it's worth certainly worth looking into but again currently I I'm not sure was looking at you because the federal government just saying no no
no library processing. So I'm not sure how that is in the site but I I saw it come up in my um news feed and I was like light bulbs flashing. I was like what? So I don't know >> then besides the just a comment besides
the whole certification process and the dealing loop that they say your citizens can't use libraries anymore. The other main benefit of getting certified by the state is they then giving you the uh library grant the library incentive grant which currently been awarded over
$12,000 this fiscal year. We're going to be awarded another half sometime. >> Is that a discretionary dispersement? >> Yes, it's given for the sole purpose of the director decides how the money is used. It's outside >> coming from the state. >> Yes. Is it discretionary?
>> So does is that something that's required legislatively or is this something that you know the the state gives as you know a goodwill gesture? >> It's given to those libraries that that are certified. um and is based on
population, but it's also at the whim of the legislator legislature that it's not a it's not a fixed amount. It changes year to year. So there again, it's wise not to use those those grant funds for fixed costs. >> It's better to use them for like programming and that type of thing.
>> How does the MBTA um 3A play into that? since that's a discretionary distribution of funds from the uh government. >> The good news is it hasn't impacted it. Uh thankfully the MBTA zoning situation has not impacted it at all. Thankfully
we I checked double checked with Lindsay. Has it I checked in with her a little while ago to make sure it had arrived cuz there was a software issue where I couldn't see uh if money had arrived in the encounter. I believe it has simply because they sent me
verification uh and they let me know. But that was fiscal year that was in December. Which fiscal year? >> 256. >> It was December 25. So FY26.
>> FY 26. And we're being penalized going into 27. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I've reached out to the uh Kate Engel. Yeah. Kate Merlin from the MLC board and she said it shouldn't be an issue simply because
>> Yeah. Well, you're being very It's one of these things where you don't know what what taken by, right? >> Yeah. When you fill out the form, you have to >> it's like the first thing find the box check the box and say we are not in
compliance with every grant application has that on it. Okay. No, this has no grant application. This is a gift given for accounts that certify a library. >> So, it's not a grant. >> Not a grant for this. It's called the incentive grant. >> It's called the grant. >> It is called the grant.
>> Well, the grants are what? I'm getting hung up. >> Yeah. I'm not sure if the library was on affected by >> Yeah. I don't know. We could look around the rest of the state, the other impacted communities to see if they're looked early on and it didn't seem like the library were being affected. I think that might
>> Yeah, there's nine communities that are left um by the other five. So, they're probably cross reference with those. >> They're all they're all on the list that's being awarded their grants. >> Okay. >> There were only two towns in the entire state, I think, that didn't get a grant. I mean, they were uncertified and one of
them is way out in western Mass and the other one is somewhere in North Mass. So, I don't think it had anything to do with the feeling. >> Okay. If I remember correctly, the majority of the money might even come down from federal assets.
>> You could that might be true >> because the IMLS scare that happened last year made it so this year when they rolled the grants out to everyone, it was the same amount simply because they weren't sure if the IMLS money was going to be coming down or not. And since it did, they're looking at next year going
back to giving out increasing returns to the people. >> You said this this grant was done in halves. So So it's 7:25. When's the next one scheduled to be dispersed? >> It would be the same time because I submit the ARIS report to the state and
federal government in July, August, September. Um I do that and the finance report. The ARIS report is simply how many items circulated, how many people walk through the building. It's very timeconuming but it's not very tense. The finance report is when they say did your town did give you enough money for
this fiscal year. And if they review it and find that, you know, there's no false, everything's true, the money is all coming from a municipal appropriation, not anything else, then they send they sent me the email, I think it was in December, and they say,
"We're sending you a check. You'll see it in 6 weeks, and you'll see a second one 3 months down the road, which is why we're expecting one this month." >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Well, I may ask something, Dylan. Can we sit
and try to figure out squeeze the sponge down to the last drop without losing accreditation? I know you try, but I wanted to do the advanced metrics to try to get every last drop and maintain certain.
>> Uh the main problem is like 367 386 is it since it's based on the previous fiscal years, I can't go back and change the amount that was given to the library those pre previous years. >> Okay. And um when it comes down to it, we were essentially just like one of the
main expenses the library was paying out of its municipal appropriated money was the sales membership and we currently aren't aren't. That was all cut out over time. We don't have a programming budget. I am going to potentially not have enough supplies money to buy the
supplies necessary for the library to get items to people to have them be protected. So there's really not much left to cut. >> I hear you. No, I I will want to tell the board that every Dylan did a great job preparing question. Sure. Um, you
know, it was very well detailed. Um, he did all the work necessary. He did everything we asked and I'm just as the administrator, I'm just asking if there's any more squeeze in that orange left and I'm going to be asking every department had that question uh over the
next week or so. Um, so it's not specific to the library we're doing. It's just it's going to be an essential question. >> Yeah. So I mean, um, because I am wondering I just was looking at the differences in the percentage increase. I think we could get away with a
negative number because I don't see a increase of 5% or more. Uh, but if we can't go backwards, I would be potentially interested in the labor process. Now, I do understand that we would have to jump back in with the
while we the years we miss and that's probably where you fall behind cuz we don't do the appropriate accounting then you can fall behind. So, if we were to get a waiver for 2 years, in 2 years we have to match 5%. Not just 200. The other thing I forgot to mention the
waiver is a maximum of 5 years max. If >> you don't catch up within 5 years, >> say just desert. So we we had a meeting today internally and we were talking about um just a variety of things and this was one of the waiver process was one that came up. Um so it's certainly
one that we at least want to investigate just to see if there is any potential savings but we do know the pitfalls going down this road. Uh we don't want to go down it unprepared because in a couple years we do if we do go down this road we want to make every effort to get
that accreditation certification back as soon as possible. We hope that this is the bottoming out and then we're coming back the other side next year. And that's that's the hope and the prayer. But again, this is nothing nothing set in stone. Nothing has been determined.
We are just making sure we've investigate everything on the table. >> No is really the bottom line. And then the only other point I would make and I know you know it's it's something that you all know already but in tough times the library gets even more heavy uses
than ever. It's the one service in town that services every single you know member of the community from zero to you know 110 years old. It's you know it's not it's not age specific. It's everyone. Um and with a with a quality
of library we have right now um he's Dylan was doing an amazing job of milking every possible value out of it the budget that we do have and it's a tiny budget. the library budget is so small um
even a small cut to it makes a huge effect on the services but I'm not sure you know in the larger scheme of things it's going to be you know that would be my flea to see it as you know the maintaining what we have is of extremely high value as a small um investment
financially >> yeah I would say the main reason as to why I also want to make sure we're able to keep all the staffing is the main area that I'm seeing statistical increase that's significant is in program attendance by far. Um in
February last month, we had um 20% more program attendance even though we were closed for two snow days and we had two we had three less events than in 2025 because snow day ruined a whole bunch of it. But um it's just like more people are physically coming to the building to
do things. I'm trying to diversify. I started the cooking club and I'm shocked that so many people keep showing that but it's just sort of like this is just a free program we can do and it seems to be the major pull. We're seeing a lot of new phases. We've had new card signups
really like flying up. A lot of people are moving to Halifax which is great like come in here come and use the library you know cuz the main point I want everyone in the community to be aware of is the library is as great as you as a citizen allow it to be. You know, I can't come forward and say
patrons checked out so many items this year that they save the value equal to two or three times my budget unless you're coming in and checking out items. And like the online usage in Halifax is ridiculous. We're the people using our
library online are not competing with neighboring towns that have the same size and budget scale like Berkeley. We have checkout numbers that's reflecting Boston taught in Springfield and Worcester. Um I even double checked it's
not so much that we have more people using the online collection. It seems like every town has an average of like 10% 10 5 to 10% patrons using the online collection. It's simply the people in Halpex that are using the online collection are reading potentially five to 20 items a month where I just have to
say I'm glad you got the time but like I'm glad we can help and I'm glad we're being used. I can only hope we get the number higher. >> Does our infrastructure allow for that increase of >> usage? So our our systems are fine.
We're not going to have to worry about costs associated with those this year. >> Not this year. But I do know Scott has been talking to me about he wants to replace the roof. He's wanted to replace it for a while now and some of the unique ice dams that formed during the January storm caused a little bit of
damage. But um Scott just changed his technique uh with this new storm. They cleared off the roof and we haven't seen further leakage, which is great because having it rain and no water come in lets us know that the water leak situation is
only when it's a winter only ice dam situation. So, Scott changed his whole plan on how he deals with it. So, that way he can hopefully get at least three more years out of the roof is his goal from last I spoke. How old is the roof?
>> God told me it's it's due. It's over 20. He was pretty happy that the roof is even in the state it's in and not worse. >> And the plumbing situation is that rectified
>> not rectified, but I'd like to focus on how it did better. Apparently the I I knew I started in July, but um the previous summer they had Scott had over 26 reported calls to the library for fogging. This year we had four. Um it's
mainly seems to just be an educational campaign worked cuz people stopped flushing inappropriate products. >> Um we've had a few clogs which I or Scott's people have unclogged. It's just being able to tell if it's a basic clog cuz the two toilets can join in the back
in a Tpipe formation and it's like if the clock's there, I can plunge it. If it's not, I have to call Scott and then worry about the cost. But, uh, thankfully, we only had four situations that actually required Scott and his guys to come out. So, we're going to hopefully just keep that information
campaign up. But, >> we have a the baby changing station being separated from the bathroom helped a lot. >> Made a big difference. >> Oh, yeah. So it's a lot easier to invest in diaper genies and diaper genie changing bags than everything else which thankfully the friends have sponsored the diaper genies. So that hasn't even
come out of the >> I had one more clarification question. It was came up during the discussion you guys had about the potential of the waiver and up to 5 years. I just want to understand if we if we had to go down that road >> Mhm. and we were in the waiver period where we had the waiver for 3 years. You
would remain certified during that time period. >> We would remain certified. It just we wouldn't receive the incentive grant which currently I'm using to pay the bill to be a member of sales which is a huge return. I actually just was on a
task force with sales cuz they're reevaluating how they charge libraries cuz they haven't changed it since 2000. And um yeah, we uh we're in a situation where next year it's looking like we're actually going to be playing paying less simply because they put a major weight
on a historic cost but not on usage. So libraries like New Bedford that were doing 10 times our actual like weight on the server weren't even paying two times what we paid. >> So I'm glad that that number is going to be going down. But um as for the labor process, we would remain certified, but
the select board and the town administrator would spend December, January, and February going into Boston to go to hearings in front of the MBLC where they would ask why weren't they certified this year? Why didn't you hit the MAR? And they would discuss that for
about 3 month length. And then they would announce whether or not we were certified. I believe there were eight libraries that just got certified in February because the MBLC found that although they were, you know, not within the 5% MAR requirement, the waiver was
acceptable. So they accepted them as certified libraries, >> right? >> Then that clock starts ticking. >> Yes. >> 5-year clock >> cuz they have to announce each one. This I believe um I don't remember. I don't want to say Korean, but they're on the
three-ear. So they have 2 years left to get it done. Greenfield Greenfield sorry >> but you wouldn't get that grant that whole time that you'd be on the waiver process effects would not receive that grant that incentive grant you could potentially partial or you wouldn't >> okay
>> partial is only if you meet certain standards which u I believe are mainly if we were within a certain uh MAR percentage. I'm not too sure on that one. >> We would be in big trouble if we didn't
get those grants cuz you're paying for your membership to sales through them. >> Yeah, >> that is crucial. I mean, I in the in a perfect world, the sales membership should be part of your operating expense town pays for, but it slid over to the grants and now you know it that places
it in some jeopardy. It's the main benefit of the grant is it saves so something did go wrong with the roof I at least have a way to assist in an emergency worst case scenario but realistically we like to use them for trying to do things that could overall
make the library better that might just sort of you know be difficult in an operating year like oh we need all all the shelving let go we need to drop $10,000 that's not in my operating budget this year okay I'll R
does patrons need the items to be shown. >> Anybody have any questions there? >> Jim, I just want to say I just want to say thank you. It's DJ. Um that that was incredibly informative. I appreciate how thorough you were there, Dylan. And um also thanks for the efforts you're
making uh both in the building to try to make some savings as well electricity and heat and things like that. Yeah. We try our best, but in I want I want the library to get 10 times the usage. I'll see how we can get
there. Good work. Yeah. >> Thank you very much. >> We're all in this together. >> Thank you all. Have a great evening. Have a good one. >> That's what I like to say. give us a buy for you.
>> Yes, those Google review is very important for committee. >> All right. So, that ties up the library. So, next I'm going to hit B is highway. >> Hi. >> So, Steve, I see you online. So, uh want
to go ahead and get started? Steve, if you're talking, >> can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> All right. You just want to do like regular and just go through each item because we have so many because most of them are level funded. There's only a
couple that are I'm asking for some money. >> Well, let's start with the ones that you're looking for an increase. >> All right. Well, there's there's a couple.
>> The first one will be um 419 storm water. Uh when I met with Stephen and Mike and Lindsay, the uh we're not sure how Cody moved money around because it went down
to a 100,000, but we need 144,000. And Stephen was going to talk to Cody at some point to find out >> where that money went or where we were going to get that from. >> Yep. I have one with Cody tomorrow.
>> Okay. So, that one basically is on hold. Um, >> oh, Steve, how much did we spend um so far on um on storm water this year?
>> I have it here. Um I got you, Steve. Uh storm water so far to this year, we've got >> 30,000 important folks. $35,66
plus another outside charge for outside consulted uh 32,000 totaling $68,69. There's >> Why such a big number on an outside consultant?
>> That's the engineer. Um so on these MS4 I can take over Steve on this just to explain this. I have a lot of experience dealing with um storm water in particular. Um the town has contracted an engineer to oversee the storm water
compliance. Uh this is very common amongst municipalities and states because you need engineers to review the current infrastructure in towns or located and then they develop a plan in order for them or public works to then go and fix certain items. Now, they have
to also identify point source and non-point source pollution. So, there's a lot of engineering work, there's a lot of survey field work. Um, and typically these are laid out in 10ear contracts value anywhere between about$1 to $150,000 per year. Um, I've seen at
least a handful of these in varying communities of the same setup and and makeup. Um, it's a it's a basically it's a compliance issue. you definitely need to comply with the Clean Water Act. This is where these ranks come down from was
the Clean Water Act. This is all NIFTY's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit. Um it has to do with all the catch basins in town. Uh it's very expensive and it's a ton of work and when you don't have a robust DPW, you
have to rely on outside services as well. >> I understand that. Um, so the consultant identifies X number of storm drains and that is mapping all of that. >> Y
>> So every year he remaps everything. >> Well, they're mapping everything that's currently in place. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> So once that leg work's done, that cost should go down on an annualized basis cuz the system already has it. Correct. >> Yep. So we would know where everything
was and then we would also have a list of things we need to address. Understood. And that has to be done on a quarterly, semianual, annually basis. >> Capital basis. Typically, they're mainly capital projects, storm water basins, catch bas. >> What about the inspections and stuff? >> The inspections are ongoing. They're
part of these fees. >> And who's doing those, the consultant or the town work? >> Consult does that with town staff present? >> What's the town staff doing there? uh observing >> and tra and uh we help with the traffic and we have to uh dig up some of the
manholes were paved over back in the day and we have to dig up the manholes so they can get into the the manholes to check. >> So once we dig the manholes up, Steve, do we recover them back up because they're below grade and that creates a pothole situation?
>> Basically is what's going on. Yeah, we try to we if we can we put a riser on them trying to get them up >> and then some of them have actually lowered a little bit with the this year's winter. Uh so now we're going to have to go back and dig them up and we
might have to go all the way to the base to put another r not a temporary riser a regular riser on it. >> Right. >> So So that's an ongoing ongoing Yes. Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> And what about um so we don't have any erosion control that we're monitoring and things of that nature under this? >> No, just when we see it, we go out and fix it.
>> So, we're not having to do posts storm 24-hour inspections? >> No. >> Okay. >> Those typically come up. I mean they will schedule the quarterly inspections with see event. Sometimes they'll schedule Right. Yeah. See how they react, right?
>> But not scheduled specifically typically. >> Well, like I have inspections I have to do here at the highway barn and recycle quarterly, >> but that's myself. I don't involve the
the workers, so it's not costing us anything. >> Yeah. So, we're doing those inspections internally. That's what I was getting at on some of these inspections. That can be done internally from my previous livelihood. We did them internally. >> That's how we're doing that also.
>> Yeah. Use the engineers to do the reporting and and and whatnot with the state. >> Yep. >> All right. >> And just so you guys know, last year we had to put in a new uh detention pond over there at the elementary school was
part of our storm water um things we had to do. And Kathy, the touted my administrator, she actually got a $10,000 uh grant which we used money toward that. So that
saved the town $10,000. So that was nice when she did that. I was glad she got it. Oh, what else you got there, Steve? >> Okay, other than storm water that we have
uh >> all the salary is a cola. um on mine only if uh the other elected officials get money then I will I will want the same but if they don't then I will not take a raise.
Uh the highway wages for the full-time staff is the same >> that's going to I mean 366,000.
Uh that's because Jeff Tori is the he's a full-time employee. 16 hours here at the highway and 24 up at the uh recycle center. And that's that's going up because of his uh step
increase and the cola. And then the rest is >> so Steve if he's working at the recycling center is his wage coming out of the recycling center's budget or is it coming out of your budget? And if >> the recycle
>> Okay. So you'll be sharing the cola with them. >> So basically that's how it it has been set up. He's been work doing this for three years now. It started before he even started, but it's it's always run. It's always been
we pay so much of it and uh Sue pays the other part out of the recycle. >> All right, you got it. And that could go down because we actually lost two highway workers last
year that were up at midsteps and now I have one employees at second step and the other one started at step one. So that decreases the actual amount that we will be spending
hopefully. Um 422 is that's basically level funded again the $6,771. Uh 422 on the town roads
>> staying the same. 58,742. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> 423 snow and ice. That would be staying at level up at 177 509.
>> Steve, speaking of snow and ice, um, >> you don't want to know. >> Yeah, I do want to know. >> It's right now. I'd rather know now than later. >> We're We're projecting right now we're
going to be about 97,000 over budget. >> 97. >> You can include another. >> That's the high that's a high number we went with. >> You can add the um rooftop being shut off at the >> Is that what was going on over the
weekend? The rooftop fall under that. I thought they're doing something in the quadrangle back there when I saw the crane cuz that was a rooftop and that's going against highway. >> It's going against someone budgeting. >> Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out.
That was not talk to me about that. That That's uh Scott. >> That should be maintenance. >> It's got to come out of snow and ice because it was snow and ice removal. >> That has never happened before. Whenever building maintenance does something,
they take it out of their money. Well, when it comes to this the state law what we can it should fall under snow and ice. >> So, we're going to have to get into the specifics of it. >> Yeah, I was going to say we're going to have to talk about that one.
>> So, that's the first I've ever heard. That's the first I've ever heard of anything like that. >> You're a rough number. I'm not talking about it coming out budget. I'm just saying as far as the legal accounting moving forward, >> it's in order to pay for it out of
potentially uh funds that could maybe be coming down from FEMA, we need to slide it into snow and ice deficit qualifies. >> So, we're not saying it's coming out of your budget or going to be included in your budget. It's just that it needs to be locked in snow and ice. Okay. That
just was like a shock because I hadn't heard anything about it. Yeah. No, no, no. I didn't mean to scare you with that. So, the way it works. >> Yeah. All right. Either way. >> All right. Thanks. Thanks for the
explanation. >> Participating again. >> Anything else on the snow ice, >> Frank? >> Yeah, Steve. I was just curious because I know what happened. There was a shortage, you know, the whole thing. and we got hit hard this year and I and it's been weighing on me for, you know, two
or three weeks. I was waiting to talk to you about it, but now I have an idea. So, I appreciate that, Steve. >> Yeah. And this and just so you know, this actually even on the the state the bid we're on with Plymouth that went up, I think it was uh over 20 cents a ton
this year. So, that that didn't help either, >> right? And then there was the shortage and >> y >> we got lucky and we had I mixed some sand and salt to make us get through a little bit. So now we we've got a few
loads of salt and we're good to go for now. >> Do you think we have enough if we get one more storm? >> Yes. And we already have we had ordered we're still waiting for order from mid uh January. That's how far behind they are.
Okay, thank you. >> All right, so Snow and Ice. What was the next one here? >> Sorry, I put my paper down. I lost where I was. >> You didn't put it down. You dropped >> that
missed the silo. Exactly like that. >> All right, so now Uh >> the street lights we went up because of the cost of electricity. What we're planning on that going up that's went to from 41 to 45 317. That's for um line
424 and 424 traffic lights. That's staying the same. Uh that's 75,000. That's 7,500. Um >> that's right. >> 426 highway maintenance, barn maintenance.
That's staying the same. the 13750 um >> line 425 highway equipment uh maintenance. Basically that one we are asking if we can go up 5,000. Right now we have $9,911
left and we still have full five months to go in this this year. And that is because it, as everybody knows, everything's going up and our equipment is getting a little bit older. We still have some new stuff, but it's still, especially this winter, is
is killing us. So, we're asking to go up that $5,000. >> 5,000 or 4500? >> Uh, let me see.
Uh 57 is what we're asking and it was 525. So >> 4500. >> Yep. 45 45. >> Next will be
one. There's nothing. Nothing. Um, >> hey Steve, can I can I >> oil and gas? Uh, account 471. We're going to level fund that. That's for the uh all the gasoline and oil for the all
the equipment in town. All the police fire. >> Yeah, Dave, I got a question on that. Um, you know, the price of of the heating oil has jumped. Are we locked in for 27 on the current pricing or that hadn't been negotiated yet?
>> Uh that Scott builder of maintenance took that over. We do just gas and oil for vehicles. >> Okay. This is strictly the vehicles then. >> Yes. >> So what about the same thing? We have uh I I signed up with uh Plymouth County
again. Well, this is new that we were going through the selectment. Now we're doing it with Plymouth and they have more towns involved. So we can sign on once a year. They do a contract with the lowest bid and we can either go with them or we can go off on our own with
the selectman again. >> Okay. The 110,000 that you have in here, is that based on the 27 low bid numbers through Plymouth? >> That that was the 26. Yeah. 26 27. >> So
we're not We won't see an increase for fiscal year 27 then. >> Exactly. >> Even with all of the um situation going on in the Middle East right now. >> Well, when we did the when we did the budget, no, it was we weren't planning
on that that going up, but >> Well, that's what I'm getting at. >> We could try to we could try to figure out a different um the price now since we know there's an issue going on in the Middle East.
Um, our plan was to level fund >> Steve. Uh, is that uh, because I think I'm a little confused with this. Is that that a contract uh, for fiscal year 2627? Is that uh, the pricing is the pricing locked in or is just the opportunity to purchase the lowest bid
locked in? It's the we we signed up with the whatever price what it is is every Monday they they have a rack price >> at Boston and um >> it's a scale >> island >> and they lock in on that Monday and then
if we have to call >> we get that price. >> Yeah. Yeah. So scale pricing goes fluctuates with the market conditions. >> Exactly. So, well, we can pretty sure we're going to see an increase in the cost of fuel, oil and
gas, um, gasoline, diesel fuel, motor oil, all that. Um, so I don't, you know, level funding. I don't think that's the number. >> That's what I mean. If if you want, I'll look into that more.
But as of when I did the budget, it was we were going with the 110. >> Yeah. No, I understand that. But cuz gas price gasoline prices were up big time today. >> Yeah. Yeah. So that's what I'll do. I'll
just mock this one and we'll look into that. See if what we can come up with. >> Yeah. We need to take another look at this line for sure. Steve. >> Yes, I will. >> Steve, hold up one second. EJ, did you have a question still?
>> Yes. Uh, Steve, so just out of curiosity regarding the rest of this year, how are you guys um in terms of, you know, cleanup, pothole repair, things like that once all the snow and stuff is gone? Oh, we're still working on the Oh, we
still have enough money in our regular budget from the road maintenance. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we we're still good with that. >> Okay. >> I'd love to go up on that, >> but I in reality, I know that will not happen.
>> Okay, cool. Thank you, Steve. >> Okay, so that's it for the highway, I believe. And then on the cemetery um the same for the the stipen I give for the cemetery. If the other elected get
2% I'd like to get the 2%. If they don't I don't want to I will not go for a raise. Um, and the part-time wages that would be just the 2% cola. If if if that happens, they still have to uh negotiate. I meant
to say that with the uh the employees for the highway. Also, the contract with the union is up this year. So they'll be um renegotiating the contract. >> How many how many how many employees are
at center? >> One full-time sanator. >> One full-time. Does he split time with highway with your highway department or is he just do the senator >> this time? Yeah. He's he's working a lot more with us.
>> So which helps out. >> Like we've had to delay I think one of the the um funerals the ladies had to postpone it. I think this is the third time she's had to postpone, but
that's really not a big picture in the the budget. >> Okay. >> Okay. So the salary reflected here is just one person. >> One person. >> Yeah. >> Then that that was all for the um
cemetery. And then Sue is out sick today, so she's not here for the recycle. I mean, we go over the numbers, but she's the one that has the answers for all of that. So you want >> you want to hear what she
>> Yeah. >> Yes. Just one second, Steve. What What did we want to do? >> Contract's up this year, correct? On the re on the trash. >> Yes. >> Yes, that's up, too. Do we have an idea where the numbers are going to land on that?
>> We don't even know who's going to uh bid for it, but now since we have our own totes, they should be uh hopefully more companies will bid because we have totes instead of bags. Just so you guys know, I installed a 6%
increase just to be conservative on last year's number, which was 397 um 3971 175 um was what actually s requested um because that was the current last year
of the contract. So I figured that this incoming year being the first year of the new contract probably be even with the new totes probably be about 6% more which would come to about $421,000. So a delta of about $24,000
total >> and that doesn't include any of the recycling. That's strictly the trash services. Correct. >> Yes. Correct. >> That's the trash. >> Yeah. Sorry, I couldn't hear what you were saying. >> Yeah, just making sure that it didn't
combine with the recycling Steve. That's all the number. >> Okay. >> Uh Steve was uh talking about >> Yes, >> Steve. The line you just uh stated, is that less any revenue that we take in
for the renewal of the residents for their totes? So the way the budget works and money is shifted around on the budget sheet, I'm still learning where the connections are, but as far as I understand, there is obviously retained earnings that come
back on both water and solid waste. Uh cuz there's also reserve funds that are set up by down every year for water retaining water reserve fund. Um so generally most of the time these services take care of themselves. At least that's the way enterprises are
set with growth, >> right, >> and operating, right? >> But we will have to see with the 6% increase potentially what our loss will be in revenue versus that 6%. And then we'll understand what
the contract value was there. >> When does that contract tied to what what month? uh whatever we So I'm going to be soon put out the last time she did a contract for trash. It was done in February into March for an RFP. So I'm
going to be sitting down with her very soon. I just had uh Caesar pull the historic documents so I can put together the next RFP. So we should be going out on basically the same schedule that the town is used to which is March. maybe try to get a quick turn around, get April, May, but definitely in time for
the next fiscal year obviously to get kicked off and get the new company into place or even if it might be the same one. So, >> all right. Anybody have any other questions for Steve? Steve, you have anything else for
us? Um just the capital plan I I put in for a um a a new one ton the truck we have uh is a 04 I mean 07 sorry
and the last inspection they said this was probably this last September was the last time they were probably going to give us a a sticker because of the the the rot that's on the frame and the body and
everything and it's I sent you guys a piece of paper today that has within the last 24 months five of the major things that have happened to the truck was a uh the rebuilt front end needed all four
tire or six tires. Uh complete wiper system. The front wheel bearing went and the EGR valves to pass inspection. He had to redo that this last time just to get it to pass.
And it also this last uh year it had to be pump towed in because of fuel pump failure. So the truck's on it last leg and that's our main that this is our main truck that we've used for filling potholes. has got the hot box on the back and come
to find out it's been overweight for since we've had it when we were using the um the hot box. So that hasn't helped the the life well it's it's lasted what is it almost 20
years and the one tons we usually go 10 to 15 years. So, we've got a long time out of that truck, but it's time for the a replacement.
I was trying to put it off for another year, but I don't think it'll make it another year. Well, I know it won't get an inspection sticker. >> And you have that in your cat, Steve? >> I turned that in today. Yes. I didn't know we were going to be doing I thought we'd already missed it, but I turned it
in today. >> I have a um I have the uh estimate from McGovern. They're on the MAPC and the GBPC
contract. So, they're basically they're pre-built trucks for the m municipalities and you you buy what they have. And this is basically the same truck we bought two years ago, that white one that we bought.
>> Yeah. And now it's um $116,53 for the truck. And I put in for another $497 $497 for lettering and anything else we needed to
put on the truck after we get it. The the radio system will switch from the old truck to the new truck. So that'll save Steve, the 116,000, is that just the um cabin chassis or is that include the utility bed on it?
>> That's the bed. That's the holes, hydraulic system for the sander and the plow. >> Yeah. So, it's outfitted at that price. >> It's out. That's everything we need to have the truck, >> right? Well, >> Steve, did you mention it was what 946
last year? Yeah, somewhere around that. And this is the identical truck and it's up to 116 >> that a 250 one toner or or >> no the five the five 550. We have 350s
that are all they're they don't carry the weight we we're carrying in them. They they weren't built for what I mean. They're a nice truck, >> but they're not heavy duty like we need. So the 550 will have the rear have a
beefed up rear section on it rear >> end and everything. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Even with the 350 that's got the high the better uh rear end, but it's still it's not enough for the equipment that we put in there. The hot box, you're talking 2 and a half ton
of um asphalt. So right there's 6,000 over 6,000 lbs. It is probably like 3,000 over what we should have in it. >> And if you look at the truck when it's driving down the road, it sits
>> handle it. >> It's not good. >> The suspension from the 550 will be able to handle that unit. >> Yes, that's what we have now. And we've had that full We actually put the hot
box on it one time just to use that and it it handled it no problem. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Well, we haven't been able to fill the hot box. We end up getting a ton and a half which is it's kind of stinks cuz we're making another trip back up to
Avon to pick up the hot hot mix. So >> that's >> and like I said that's off of the um the basically one of the contracts through the uh >> what is it the greater of Boston police commission or whatever
>> some stuff. Yeah, he got an upgraded >> he got upgraded frame and suspension. Yeah, rear axle. >> So, which one which one are we talking about? >> So, he wants a 2028 one also. >> Well, you better ask him.
>> He's looking for a 26. >> This this one that I have that they that they have is a uh Oh, that's my last one. 2000. 2026 >> Superduty F550.
>> But that's that's capital, right? >> Have you updated your fiveyear capital planning, Chief? Steve, >> have I? >> No. >> Have you? >> No. Nope. every time I I keep on saying I'm
going to start doing that and I I just something else comes up and then we get to this time of year and I just >> start going. So I do have the paperwork right here that Stephen sent out >> or Lindsay, somebody sent it and uh
>> I was talking to Kathy the other day and we're going to start we we we're going to start putting that together. >> Okay. because it will make everybody's life easier so that you guys can see what we need and we we can have it on the on that for you. >> But be it would be helpful for the town
to be able to plan correctly when we have >> Exactly. I understand that. So yes, we will be putting that together. >> Okay. >> All right. Anybody have any other questions for the highway department?
Good. Thank you, Steve. Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Have a good night. >> All right. Thank you, sir. >> Thanks a lot, Steve. Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Steve. >> Bye. >> Okay. So, that takes care of the highway department and the library. As we can
see, the school is not here. Um the budget was sent out to everybody today for a little they're looking for a 6% increase um which is 5% more than the 1.4% they said they needed uh 3 months
ago in their presentation. Um so hopefully I know I know that Steve is you know neck deep in that with them. I think there's some conversations that need to be had um with the 60% increase in special education transportation
um along with some other kind of funny looking numbers I think uh throughout the rest of the budget itself. I haven't had enough time to like look at it completely >> and do any kind of analysis on it because I like to look at last year, the year before and the year before that to kind of get a run rate. Um so I got to
put that I'll put that together myself. work to >> Jim. Same here. I only breezed through it briefly, so I haven't had a time to take a deep look at it either. >> Yeah. Um, and I think it's something that we need to examine because it's going to be So, I think last year it was
an $800,000 increase, I think. >> Yeah. Somewhere around there. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, I'm sure there are things that they need to be that need to be addressed that they are legally obligated to do. absolutely understand that contracts etc. Um, I think there's
a couple of things out there now so far as the school goes with the um with I think the idea that was presented by the by the Silver Lake School Committee using um the deferred or the uh >> mortgage
>> and continue to pay that though they've had this list of immediate items for at least a year that that have gone unressed. So there's a kind of a question around that um at least in my head um that that I think needs to be verited out a little bit. Um so
hopefully uh let's let's take you know let's take some time over this next week and have a look at everything um and then we can come back with questions if they come to our next we'll reinvite them to our next meeting or perhaps the business manager I think
is the appropriate entity to have not so much principal at this point which again we can get here and and ask some and have her answer some questions I think that would benefit everybody uh because we do have to then in turn take this back to the residents and you know
help them understand um why it's why it's going up the way it is uh and you know where cuts will have to be made. I think cuts will have to be made this year if there is no override and I don't believe it's going to be >> what is our deadline for determining yay
or nay for a >> that's a great question. Um, so I mean that's all I have to say on the school which takes us actually to the town administrators. >> Yeah. So thank you Mr. Chair. Um, yeah. So my update tonight will just be more
of what Jim was talking about. Um, we are need the mountains and now we're trying to climb it. Um, all things said conservatively that we when we announced the deficit, it kind of started at a very large number and
kept shrinking. We ended up between 1.1 and 1.4 million. But the reason being 1.1 is if you leave zero room up to the levy, which would mean you collapse everything and leave yourself with no breathing, which mean next year you're in a really tough spot. So with
breathing room, you're looking at normally $1.4 $4 million deficit to close um to provide a balanced budget heading into next year. And let's take the free cash that's coming in which is estimated to be at a level of 1.1 to 1.2 million. That number should become
official on March 15th when it is scheduled to be certified. >> Um so >> Steve, can I cut you off real quick right there? Sorry. um how does the schools numbers that we're looking at now for the first time factor into that that um variance of 1.1
to 1.4? >> Put it this way. I'm looking at a number right now between 560 and 860 that's incorporated my cuts and my suggestions um through various meetings over the last week plus uh which leaves about 860
on the table to get down to zero. Um, I've got a little bit more to investigate on the general government and public safety and everything we deal with over here on our side. Um, but when it comes down to the schools, this is
essentially the number that was settled on last year and we're back at that square, right? >> I think that's going to end up being sort of the neighborhood that we're looking for from them. Now, when it comes to what we've gotten from them, we've received the same budget items
that you guys have received. So, we need to have more conversations and more transparency with the administration over at Solar Lake. Um, not only Silver Lake, the regional school district, but also the elementary school. And that's mine. I I plan on working with Lindsay
um and reestablishing the relationship between the town of Halifax and the school department and at large the Silver Lake Regional School District because um there's no reason why we can't work together and have more of a
clear picture for everybody involved year in year out when it comes to the budget process. Um, this would be a lot easier process if we could all just be transparent about what our books showed. Um, and I think right now it's not because I don't think I don't think
anyone's being nefarious. I just think a lot of new people have entered the situation. We've got myself. We've got new people at the school district. We've got new people with the principal started in September. Um, so there's a lot of new bodies and moving parts. So,
we all want to start off square and clean with a clean slate and make this relationship work. Um, so that's something me and Lindsay are going to work on moving forward. We've actually as of today reached out to get a meeting with um Dr. Cole and Hatton with um the
Silver Lake Regional School District and Brian uh hopefully before we meet next week um uh with you guys again. So, it's moving in the right direction. Now, we still need a lot more information regarding FY27 from the school
department this year, and hopefully we can get that as well when we send it. Um because like I said, we've taken essentially 1.4 down to down to 8 down to 8 to 9. And I'm running out of places
to to go and I mean, we had one department here tonight where we were probably asking questions. In most normal years, we wouldn't ask, but we have to ask the machine because we're in that those dire straits. We have to ask Dylan, what is the waiver process about, right? >> And after he explained, I don't know how
much we can actually save there. It's 5%. >> Nothing on a $300,000 budget. >> 18 grand down. >> So, I don't know what you can do. And do you really create just more work um by doing anything to get back? you
spend more trying to get it back than cutting right now. So, these are going to be tough decisions. Um, and they're going to be and I I hope that department heads know that it's going to be fair. It's going to be equitable. We're looking, like I said,
we're looking at everybody. Um, we're looking at every department. I shouldn't say everybody. We're looking at every role, you know, because again, I think at the end of the day, everyone to realize these are roles, not people. Sure. is taught or humans to differentiate that. Um but these are roles not people
unfortunately. >> So um what I will say that also came out of the meeting today is that by the end of the day on Thursday I will be giving my suggested budman and you all for your review in
preparation for next week's point. So you will have that. Uh that was a request from Jonathan. He wanted to make sure that you guys had enough time to review it before you sat together next week. You know, for the very >> next week or the 24th. I thought it was
the 24th. >> I thought it was next week. Then we change Didn't we change it? >> I haven't watched nothing. Yeah, I had March tonight >> for the joint meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We were going back and forth between the 16th, 24th of the night. >> Yeah. >> We said all the things.
>> That's what I have for the Giants as well. >> Right. With the 9th. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> So that's next Monday. >> Exactly. Which seemed off, right? They're going to come here. >> They're coming here. >> Next Monday. >> Yep. >> Yeah. That's what I have.
>> Yep. because then by their next meeting we have to decide on the Gucci ballot article everything going to go on. >> So that will be the night where they officially decide >> and I think you guys I think the seeds were planted last year and overrides are
100% necessary. >> It's just a question of I don't mind how big >> and um it's got to be vague. It's got to be >> because and we're going to see what the residents really want because that's that's the job of, you know, myself and
the rest of the administration. Um, and I've got a team here that's we're going to put in the light work. We're going to get the message out. Uh, it's not going to be for a lack of trying, that's for sure. >> Um, but we're looking at um an override for sure this year. We're going to need a lot of support getting this out the to
the residents obviously in a series of public forums. We're going to do them at all, you know, at all different times so folks can come and take part. You know, we're going to do day sessions. We're going to do some sessions at night hopefully schools to get school guards and come out. Um cuz we need everybody
to see what this potentially means and to have them make their own decisions because it's their it's their lives and it's their, you know, it's their daily lives, their toilet. So, um I wanted to provide that update for you tonight. I don't have anything else really of
substance but to tell you that we're obviously all working very hard on this. Um, and we're not going to stop. So, I mean, sign up for this and uh we're going to make it work if
>> Very good. Anybody have any questions for our town administrator? >> Appreciate the work. Appreciate the the clarity and the transparency. It's been great. Ah, surely the budget's going. You're going to send it to us on Thursday. Thursday, guys, so that you can review it. My operation for Monday.
>> I'll be in my room until Monday, >> right? >> Okay. >> So, again, thank you, Steve. Appreciate all the hard work. I hear locket one and especially getting settled in so you can do a hard job. >> Exactly.
Um, so that takes us out of the town administrator updates into kind of correspondence and as may arise. I have not gotten any emails from anyone in the town or residents to be discussed here. So they'll move to the second portion of that which is as may arise. So I know
two weeks ago we talked about the government study committee um and putting some articles on the warrant. So, uh that's the selectman met on Thursday uh and voted to put five things from that that the government study
committee has um presented to them uh on the warrant uh as you know for the town to vote on and then there's a few that go actually to the valve. Um so we'll just talk about those real quick. There's five total. We're we're trying to So, just as an overview, the
government study committee has been uh meeting since September of 2024. Uh we've been meeting at least once a month. We've met with every town department head to talk about what they do, how they do it, how they what they could see as something working better.
Um and their suggestions as to how we can improve things. uh you know so far as the functionality you know charter versus just bylaw strictly you know and those kinds of things. So again we put five articles together or five items to
be put on to the um to the uh to the warrant. So the first one is to move the office of the town clerk from elected to appointed. So that's currently an elected position. We would like to move that to being appointed. Um, there's certainly I can certainly read through
the language if you want, but that's that's really the gist of article A, right? Article B is to move the office of the town treasurer collector from elected to appointed. Okay, so that's article B.
Article C to move the office of the uh town highway department superintendent from elected to appointed. Again, that'll take the town the town has to vote on these at town meeting. Then it goes to the ballot to be voted on a second time in the following election.
>> Those are all separate. Um >> they're all separate, >> not combined like it was 3 years ago. That's correct. That was correct. >> So you can individually vote on them. >> Yes, they'll all be voted on individually. Article D is to rename the board of selectment to select board. So
just removing the the term selectman out of all the bylaws using select board select board member not selectman just to be a little more welcoming and and bring it up into 2026. Okay. And then the last one which is a
home rule petition um which is to change the water commissioner's role from elected to appointed. >> Okay. So, I think that's those, you know, I think water is something that a lot of the town's people are concerned
about. Um, and I think this is something that they certainly would like to uh they most likely would see. Right. So, just a couple of quick notes on it. So, for a major a majority vote at the town meeting is required for the adoption of articles A, B, C, D, and E. Okay. The
majority vote at the annual town election is required for the changes to take effect with regard to articles A, B, and C. Okay. So, the last two are just the town meeting votes on it and then it's it's off to the attorney general to to make sure it is the
legality of it and then it gets returned to us as an effective policy. >> So, the water commissioner one doesn't go to the ballot box. It goes to the town meeting only. >> Correct. Okay. Um so uh it articles A and C require in
addition to the town meeting vote the ballot question to be voted on by the voters on only at the town elections. Right. Any vote by a special town meeting to change a position from elected to appointed shall take place at
least 60 days prior to the acceptance of the voters at the annual town election. And that is according to Mass General Law 41 section 1B. Um, no home petition or charter amendments is required except as in
article E which requires a home own petition to the Massachusetts legislature cuz the election of water commissioners specifically is required by Halifax's water act. >> Okay. Okay. Um the change applies uh regarding the
first three the change applies uh respectively. So current elected officials will fill out their term >> when their term expires is when an appointed individual will be put in place. So no one's there's no one being ousted when these when these get uh when
these get voted should they pass. >> Okay. Thank you. Any questions? Oh, just for the record, Jim, who's on the board on your government studies board? >> Um, Thomas Tom Pratt Selectman is chairing the board. Um, Mary Grace is on there. Uh, Kelly Sers, I think her last
name is. Uh, myself and Mark Dylan. So, we had we had two we had one more member. Um, two left. Mark Dylan filled the the the third role. Um, when actually one left, the other, you know,
guess what? Wow. Hey Jim, will there be a um presentation at town meeting kind of walking through how how those recommendations were arrived at? >> Um it's I what we're probably going to do is so each one of us on the on the
committee is going to do like a five or 10 minute not even probably 10 minutes video that's going to go on the town website just to talk about the article itself. Uh Tom Pratt may do something to talk about the process in and of itself.
I mean there's still a lot more work to do to be quite frank. These are just five things that we thought were probably the priorities >> priorities that that needed to be taken care of first >> because then you know when we're talking this has nothing to do with the with
like charter versus bylaws versus you know >> representative government versus selectment versus whatever. Um you know so these are just some some this is what I would say is probably low hanging fruit when it comes to um you know
government >> when it comes to more efficient. Yeah. >> Yep. >> And all of all the votes are simple majorities. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Good work. >> Well done time on that one. >> Well that committee is going to go on
for a while. Anybody's welcome to join. We have an open seat. It's recruiting the kids. >> Why does he keep looking at me when he >> I know I should have said over there where the administr
that's at the hair. So here is here. Yeah, I understand. I got it. >> Thank you. >> Okay, good stuff. >> All right. Any questions? No. >> Okay. So, we'll close out the uh correspondence and as may arise, we want
the public participation. Um, so we'll open it up for anyone from the public if they have any questions for the finance committee or regarding any of the items that have been on the agenda this evening. Very good. Hearing none, we will close out the public participation section and
move on to next meeting planning. Um, so next meeting is next Monday at 6 p.m. We will be here in person. >> Uh, and we will be a joint meeting with the selectman and we will be walking through the presentation of the budget by our town administrator.
>> They'll be in the great hall at the great hall just a little more room. >> Yeah, great hall next. >> Great hall for great meeting. >> Yes. >> Pretty great. >> That's great. I think that brings the closing of our current agenda.
>> Did is there a motion to >> so moved? >> Second move. >> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnson, >> yes. To adjourn. >> EJ, >> yes. >> Mike, yes. Ron, yes. I Yes. As well.
This meeting is Thank you everybody. Thank you everybody. Thanks Lindy. Bye. Take care everyone.