So, why don't we go ahead and get started? We will call this meeting to order. That is the 20th of May of 2026. Uh, this is a meeting of the finance committee of the town of Halifax. Uh, present on the call are Cheryl Burke, Mike Bennett, Frank Johnston, Mike
Reignetta, Rod Hemingway, and myself, Jim Walters. 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. The agenda items may be taken out of order for time management considerations. Um, so we will just go ahead and dive right in.
Uh, for the town representation, we have Lindsay and Steve SBO. Thank you so much. Um, I know that Mr. Celely is on. I'm as a representative of the town or front of the board of selectman, but he is present also on the call. So, uh, first order of business is the approval
of minutes. I checked in with Emily. She's got a bunch going on. Um I'm hoping that we have a bunch to approve here over the next couple of weeks so we can take care of that when in our next meeting in June. Um so I will just keep after her on that. I know that she has had some other issues uh and she's been
busy with some things uh collegewise. So I think that's all cleared up and she's ready to go. So that's a good thing. So we'll close out approval of minutes and we'll move into some review of activity on the annual town meeting. Um, so I would say
the I think we all realize what you know the uh the override did not pass at the ballot box. Um, it got it got put on it got passed through town meeting uh but ended up getting defeated at the ballot box by 170 some odd votes. Uh, which is unfortunate because it's going to put
the town in a bad position. um we now have to you know start uh cutting away at the things or letting the people know who are not going to be you know moving on with us in FY28 or I'm sorry 27. Um
we uh you know and it's to me it's just a it's just a sad day for the town altogether. Um and uh you know we did everything we could I think at the time to get it out in front of everyone with public meetings uh on what the override was. Um, even though I think with the
exception of the one down at Halifax Estates, uh, they were very lightly attended I believe. Um, so those are those are kind of my thoughts. I'll open it up for the committee for any other comments. Frank, anything?
Mike, Cheryl, Rod? I think you said it well. Uh I'm uh concerned for the town. I'm disappointed that the override didn't pass. We did submit the budgets that would allow the bud the balanced budget for the town and
the town's folk voted uh to take the budget that does not have the override into it. Uh we'll see how this impacts the town this next year. We understand and we we I think the town did a very good job of of helping people understand
what the impacts would be. Uh obviously uh at town meeting uh the uh change to the override numbers uh and were were not wellreceived even though it was it was obviously a number less than the
maximum. I I think people felt uh rightly or wrongly. Some people felt like they were hoodwinkedked. Uh and we certainly don't think they were, but that's uh didn't set us on a really good foot for for moving through time to be able to to further convince people of
the benefits and the necessity of the override. >> No, it did not. >> Right. So I think a couple of things you know there there are you know so
Steve I don't know how or or what has happened at the at the town at this point but you know from I guess from a finance committee or at least from my perspective you know we should be looking at freezing non-essential spending um making sure that we're on
top of any emergency emerging deficits uh you know maximize our free cash position, delay any non-urgent capital carryover uh and uh you know just in general. So um you know and I think you know
discretionary purchases uh of down department heads need to be you know reviewed by both you and um and uh Lindsay. Um though you both have you're essential to what we do financially moving forward. uh you both kind of have
different primary missions at least the way I'm looking at it and you can correct me if I'm wrong you know from for Steve it's like you know operational restraint uh staffing management and I don't know if you want to call it you know political coordination or management of of kind of like the
environment where uh Lindsay is you know into the fiscal control and cumbrance discipline and deficit um prevention. So, you know, those are kind of those are the things those are the three main things for each of you that I think that you would be focused on over the next couple of weeks um to get us in as best
a position for July 1st as possible. >> Yeah, I concur, Jim. I I fully concur and um appreciate all the emails that have come over and with the ideas um and the suggestions. We me and Lindsay have been sitting down as as needed and as
available this week. It's been a busy week. I've had bargaining. So, um, keep the information coming in, the suggestions. We're going to take it all under consideration. We've already installed those, some of those, um, measures that you've already spoken about freezing. Uh, at my last department head meetings, any purchase
over $500 is coming to the review of the administration. Uh, and through department heads, you know, fire and police do have their own discretion over their purchases. I left that up to Chief Chavs and Chief Whitam, but everything internally for us is coming across my desk for the most part. So, um, you
know, I basically see everything that goes through Pam and and Lindsay's hands, so that's definitely in control. Still a hiring freeze in effect for non-essential positions. Um, you know, you will see some positions that are are out for advertisement. Um, one being an assistant wiring inspector uh because
it's just needed for emergency reasons. Um, again, that's based on compensation that would come from permits. So, again, not a huge con, not a huge um price there. and then the uh appraiser assessor for Debbie Dean who will be
retiring here uh on July 1st. So besides that, you're really not going to see anything out there. Water department's still looking. Uh but again, those are water retained earnings. So um yeah, we've taken a lot of those considerations, put them into effect already, and are really just trying to
um plan for July 1st as we come up come up to it. >> Yeah. No, I I agree with that. Um, so regarding regarding town meeting, I just, you know, just just a couple of questions. I know we chatted briefly uh
last Thursday, I think. Um, so you know, one of the questions that I'm still kind of struggling with and you know, and certainly and this is just from me, so I don't know the feelings of the other members of the finance committee, but you know,
on the second day when you met with Gordon Andrews and you did not meet with the fincom either afterwards or prior to or during, you know, why was that? Why why did it happen that way? Because in my opinion, and again this is just my
opinion, I felt that you know as as Gordon was a resident and not an elected official and not on a committee. Um I would have thought you would have looped in the finance committee to have that conversation even if you guys were adding up numbers before the selectman
meeting. So why did it happen that way? >> To be honest, Jim, I don't know what instance you're talking about. Um, if it was Gordon approaching me, I did not approach Gordon. I I I at no point approach Gordon. So, um, that's your
opinion, frankly. Um, I at no point had him come. You know, Gordon has approached me on numerous occasions with information. Um, and I didn't approach him. So, in those moments, I was literally amongst
the um, sort of chaos that was town meeting. So, there was a lot going on. There was a lot of people walking around. There was a lot of people milling about. People were coming up to me, passing and going. Um, so I didn't even know who was
coming into my sort of my personal bubble at that point. Um, in my in my And that was the end of night two. Is it is that what you're saying? >> That's not what I'm That's not what I'm referencing. I'm referencing when we came back for day two and you were back
in the teachers room with I some of the selectmen were there. Um myself and Frank and EJ were and Mike were in the room and you and Gordon were talking. >> So >> yeah, he approached me. That was a select board's opening. >> I understand that. Okay. So I'm not
saying that you you uh were seeking him out. Just saying that I'm I'm trying to understand once what was the the conversation did not include anyone from the finance committee. >> Okay.
>> And you know >> the budget the budget is a work product of the finance committee, right? We're responsible for it. Um the bylaws say we're we're we have that advisory capacity to create and submit the budget
to the town. Um, so you know, that's that's that's I think that's that's the part that I'm I find odd in in my opinion. None of the information he brought me
before that select board meeting was impactful to the fin comp. It was to match numbers and to make sure the numbers that he had brought up the night before were the numbers that we confirmed last Friday. And that was an open meeting of the select board again where I was
approached by him >> and again I'm a town administrator to all the residents of Halifax. I was heading into a select board meeting to sit with the board of selectman and he was at that said meeting.
So >> that conversation Frank we can't hear you. Can you hear me now? >> Barely, my friend. >> You just There you go. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yes, that's good. That's good.
>> That conversation began prior to convening the um selectman's meeting with Gordon Andrews. That conversation started prior to the start of the meeting. We were awaiting
Mr. Pratt to enter the room because there was only Bill Smith in the room. Suckman Smith in the room. So there was not a meeting taking place at that point in time. >> Okay. Verifying numbers that we had all spoken about on Friday.
He's the guy who has institutional knowledge about the school finance numbers and he was explaining to me where the 424 how that was made up and if that was matching the number that was on the sheet from the night before. It
was just verification of information that was already up there. You can ask Gordon if you want. >> Yeah, I'd prefer not to. Thank you. one. >> Uh, go ahead, Cheryl. >> No, no, I'm just saying, that's all.
>> Okay. One thing I think uh including my first year with the fincom, one thing that was really frustrating for me was obviously hearing the the large discrepancy that came back from the school, the the
error, the double of uh doubling of the debt exclusion uh or double double counting it and then the additional monies that that we became aware of. I would really be it would be really great if the school was a lot more gave us a
breakdown of the Silverlake assessment so we could see it. I mean we're we need to see that kind of stuff and and when numbers change this drastically we look foolish at least that's how I felt even if it wasn't ultimately on us
I feel like the school definitely needs to give us and come to us. they haven't come to us for how many years now and and had this conversation. We could have helped them look it over and helped them see that either look out oh this is a major error because then when we go to
do the when we went to do the override the override was was too large because the numbers they gave us were erroneous and I I think it it's it behooves them and this is a really rough way to learn that we all are in this together and we
all need to work and have really good transparency and understand and when we don't get that kind of cooperation, it's really hard for us. We're flying blind for a large portion of the budget. Yeah. No, it's that's that's right, Rod. We we have to, you know, so
couple of things I think moving into next fiscal year that we should look at changing. Um, so I think for next year the budget requests from the department should come in much earlier. Um, and I'm not talking January. I'm talking uh October,
November. And then once we get them from the each department, we should have a public meeting and we should put it on the calendar and we should invite the public to come in and say the highway department wants x amount of dollars. What does the public think of that? and
get their comment because I think part of the challenge, you know, going through going through 155 line items in a single night is bananas. And it's just it just adds to confusion. People get lost trying to follow stuff down a list.
So, if we get this stuff out in front of the uh in front of everyone, the residents uh in time before the meeting, uh so they know what's already there. So, by the time the warrant lands in their mailbox, they've already seen the budget, they already know what's on the budget, and they know who what
department is asking what. Um and they have an opportunity to say, you know, why aren't we doing it this way? Why aren't we doing it that way? Whatever. But then that's the place for them to open up and make suggestions about how um the uh the that that specific
department should be operating. Steve, you have a question. >> Yeah, just I have a general question, something I've been thinking about today. Um in the last couple years, I know the previous town the previous permanent town administrator took a lot of the financial matters under his own
wing and did a lot of things in a solo sense. Do you guys feel like that impacted the fincom in a way that uh negatively in a way as far as transparency information available to
you guys? Um because to me it seems like that could be part of the issue here um based on what I've seen and heard and what I'm seeing in other aspects even like collective marketing. Um, so I'm just wondering if you guys have thought about it in that over the last couple
years where you might have had a little bit less input. Um, if that made a difference because I do fully concur with what Jim's saying right now is I'll start we should start budget meetings very early October, November, uh, start going through these lines so that by the
time we end up a town meeting come May, people have seen these and had the opportunities to see these exact numbers a couple times already. and it will be much more um at least to the folks in the room, a lot more people will know them. Um so I completely agree. I just
wanted to bring up that that point um because Cody was much more of a financially minded person and professional than I am. I'm more of a HR personnel back backed person. So I do wonder if that did have an impact.
>> Well, I mean that that's a fair statement. He he did keep a lot of the the the items pretty played it very close to the vest on a number of things even though um just I personally had asked him to share more information than what he did.
Uh and we got we only really got insight into stuff until I I I would say like uh maybe eight eight six to eight weeks before town meeting is when we would see stuff and approve it. I I don't want to do it. I don't I didn't like doing it that way. I didn't think it was fair to
the finance committee. I didn't think it was appropriate based on the finance committee's charter that's written in the bylaws. Um, you know, and uh, you know, because we're, you know, we're here to help. We're here to advise and we're here to help craft this budget. It
is the finance committee's budget in the end. >> Yes, I agree 100%. And Lindsay and I were talking today about um you know kind of scheduling agendas for this meeting and and wanting more on the agenda and more talk before the agenda
is posted for direct questions that we should be preparing for and you know getting ready for these meetings so that we can have data ready to go. Um, we know that we want to try to keep the agendas open so that you can be flexible for open meeting law and and those those
impacts, but having more directed data and what we should be chasing, numbers you guys want to see. Um, that would really help us out preparing for these meetings and getting more information out and being more transparent. And I am more than willing to share all the
information um from the start and have you guys in in the budget discussions from from the start, you know, starting in October, November when we initially call the department heads. Um I think that's all great ideas and and also prepping them for their public
presentations, you know, over the course of the winter into the spring and then also making sure they're getting ready for town meeting. And then also next year I do want to do a mocktown meeting. Um, you know, obviously we couldn't have the entire FINCOM and select board and
multiple presents at the meeting, but if we had less than a quorum and representatives from each of those boards basically and the staff included, get the moderator um, and sort of be able to just run through it, all the articles, the numbers, and that way get
a dry run in a couple weeks before, work on it, and then be able to deliver a final set plan a couple weeks later. Makes sense. >> We certainly need something better than what we had. >> Yeah. >> Because that that was a mess.
>> Yep. >> It was an absolute a mess. Put us all in a bad light. >> Yeah. >> You know, so we need to do something a little more organized. We need a little more control. >> And that's a nice way to get it, Steve. >> That's a nice way to get us the control, the knowledge of our information. A
little rehearsal out there. I think that's a good way to go. >> Yeah. Thanks, Mike. And I think um you know, I think at the end of the day, it was a really short runway with a lot of work to do >> and it just things got out of control. Um >> you know, I I came in I feel like budget
season didn't really start till I really came aboard. Budget seemed to be about 50% done >> and then we're rushing through the rest of budget season to make it manageable. Then doing an override adds a whole another budget to the equation. that could that complicates things, makes it
a little bit more complex. Um, I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. I'm going to be accountable for my role unless it wasn't organized. It was an abject disaster. Um, and it will get better. Uh, so that's that's what I've been thinking on and those are the suggestions I have internally that I
think can make us more prepared collectively as a team uh, next year for this instance and for this timing. and we're gonna get a run at it um hopefully in early November for special time meeting with capital planning. So, you know, uh that would be a good test run.
Uh Lindsay is going to have to go through the reertification of free cash before that time again. So, we're going to get to run that through again. Uh it'll be good. At the end of the day, I was looking for silver linings. There's a couple there and I'm going to take them and run with them. Uh we can't get any worse. I know that much.
>> Don't ever say that. >> I know. I I will say that because I refuse to get worse. >> I trust me, I am I I I don't like failure and I saw that as an abject failure. So, um I hate to fail. It's my
biggest fear. I hate failing. So, >> one thing that I'm hopeful comes out of this as we prepare to be better next year is I I like the idea of having some of these smaller meetings to discuss like the departmental budgets and have it open to the public, which all of our meetings have been open to the public
and they're certainly have been welcome and and Chris who's on the call tonight has come to almost all of them. >> Uh I heard some people say things like they they were asking about the police budget. how can you get the overtime down when we had the the combined FINCOM and select me back uh I think uh
sometime in early April maybe and someone asked well wouldn't you think shouldn't you just hire another uh police officer and we'll cut down the on the overtime and we had already uh discussed those reasons for the overtime I think Frank asked uh the chief like what's going on with that and he had
four officers out in FMLA at the same time which caused a ballooning of the overtime deficit so so we've adjudicate those questions. I appreciate that the person was concerned enough to look through the numbers like what's up with this, but we didn't. We uh I wish they had attended some of the meetings
where we discussed it. Just like at town meeting um I think was a missed opportunity to explain about the tax delinquency question. Someone asked we had 1 point something million and Steve you had a great response. I think I asked you about that a couple months ago and you had a really good response about
>> this is how much we realistically can expect to get. this is the number of years it takes to to claim on those delinquencies. And I think it was a missed opportunity at town meeting to help answer that. And I'm hoping because I'm sure it will come up again because the number will remain elevated and it
will come up again at next town meeting. And I'm I'm hopeful that we can have an answer ready for those tough questions because I think a lot of people would have really responded well because you had such a good explanation when I asked you. Um, and I think in the future those
kind of hard questions that we need to game for what are people likely to ask about and how how should we respond to help them understand why the budget was structured as it was even though you see these other outstanding uh balance uh
budget numbers. >> Yeah, I agree, Rod. I I think um the more opportunities people get to speak I at the end of the day there was a 24% turnout. So people are at least voting. Um we had pretty good turnout night one of town meeting. It was close to 600
700. So um you know people are listening now. We just need to make sure that we're transparent about all the information for the full year so that we're just we stay on top of them. Um because that's that's how you win. Um it's sort of like the tide. You just
have to be relentless with it with the information, the factual information. Right. Exactly. J, a couple things. It's Mike and I appreciate everyone on the meeting tonight. I'm usually pretty quiet. Um, I can't I can't just be quiet tonight
because a couple things have been on my mind and all the comments tonight are sort of feeding into to my comments. So, I hope I hope I get these right and I and I say them how I mean to say them. So, bear with me for a second. First is we spent, you know, the better
part of a year on these budgets. We didn't start the month before town meeting. We spent a long time with these with these, you know, the programs and the departments on these budgets and we had a plan going in and I think the finance committee and I thought the
selectman uh and then when you came on you as well, you know, all were on the same plan. I thought we had a plan to address the town. We were very open in our meetings and transparent about where the money had gone, what it's been spent on. No one's getting big raises. this override was to keep our services intact
and that after last year's use of free cash against our better judgment knowing that this year would be an override. >> We addressed that all a year ago. The town should have been prepared. We should have been prepared and we got the town meeting with a budget and a plan to try to impress the severity of our
situation on the town's residents and we got punched in the face >> and we had no backup plan. Um the plan literally went out the window and it turned into a lot of time of lack of communication with the finance committee with the
residents where a few people were communicating about things and things changed that plan and a plan went out the window which leads to my second point which is all the transparency in the world right now and all the work we do leads the town to have very little
credibility in what we do unfortunately. So the amount of transparency that we can portray now, I don't know how we get that back. I don't know what gets that back for us right now. Both as a FinCom and as selectman, we let them down at that meeting by
changing the plan we had going in. Our plan could have been crazy, but our plan was transparent for the past six months. At every meeting we had, every combination meeting we had, and we let something change the plan that night. And uh I think that wasn't
good. It was not good. >> Well, it was it was the last minute information that came forward, right? That's what screwed everything up. >> Yeah. >> When he came forward with that, it just knocked everything out of alignment, you know, and just >> it did >> just made everything go a little skew.
When the schools come in at the regional level at 200 plus thousand that >> of money that shouldn't have been in their numbers. Middle school comes in our elementary comes in with 400 something thousand for
a total of 650,000 plus minus. And that really screwed us there because all of a sudden we got all these numbers flying around and you got people in the audience with their sets of numbers that they're playing with and it created
chaos. The meeting got out of control. There was no control in the room >> and we allowed that to take place >> from all all different levels >> which was wrong. >> Yes. >> And we should have handled that better.
We and we should have had a better handle on these 200 to 400. The schools were dancing around the numbers like it was no big deal. The residents didn't understand the numbers and it got very confusing for them
because all of a sudden we're throwing numbers around. We're just in line numbers on the override. We're off on those numbers. Our math is all over the freaking place. were reading wrong numbers on the um warrant to the
audience, different columns. It was just a total shitow and it just snowballed from there and there was no getting it back at that point in time. >> No, it was embarrassing. >> No, that's that's that's a very good
point, Frank. So, I guess a follow-up question is I thought we were going to have the schools get up and explain where these dollars came from, and that didn't happen. We had um Gordon Laws get up and I don't
know, throw some kind of word salad out there that I don't think anybody understood. >> Um and he said it aggressively, so I guess that must mean he means it, right? >> Right. Um, so you know, I was expecting to see Dr.
Jill get up, be invited to the microphone and say, "Here's what happened, people." And explain it to the town. I would have liked to have seen Lauren Laws, the chairperson
>> um of the elementary school committee, get up and say, "Here's where our error was when we voted for $8.175 million." >> But that didn't happen either. So, everybody got to skate from my
perspective except for us. And everybody sitting at those tables up front, Lindsay, Steve, the selectman, the whole finance committee >> were were allowed to be looked at
um you know in a manner that was not really, you know, the best. >> Why Why didn't the school Why weren't the schools put up there and put on the microphone? >> Yeah. Why? Why didn't that happen? >> Well, why do they always get away with
this? >> Right. Well, they want to, you know, >> this is by no means the first time. They've done this year after year. >> Right. >> No, but then that was that was a part of the plan, right? That was one of the >> of the the pieces to the puzzle that we had going into this meeting that we knew we didn't have those numbers.
>> They were going to be there. >> Let them explain their numbers and their situation. >> We fought for them. And the problem >> can't hear you, Frank. >> Can't hear you, Frank.
>> The problem with the numbers from the schools being skewed like they were caused our override to be that much more than what it reality it should have been. It should have never been 1.5. If we'd have had those numbers in advance prior to us submitting our 1.5 number to
the state for the approvals >> and our override would have been 800,000 or thereabouts if you do the math, >> right? >> And it was ridiculous and they didn't think didn't even bat an eyelash.
administration who takes a large portion of the funding through the Silver Lake Regional District sat over there in the corner and didn't say a dang word about their numbers. >> And that's a disjustice to the members of the finance committee and the
residents and taxpayers of Halifax. >> I agree, Frank. >> Yeah, I'm with you, Frank. 100%. >> Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. >> Yeah. It was unacceptable. It shouldn't have been done.
>> So, but why did it happen? Why did it happen? That's that's what I want to know. How did how did that how did that not happen after I thought we all agreed that they were going to get up there and say this? Because we knew if they didn't, it's going to all come on us.
>> Yeah. >> And that's exactly what happened. >> Yeah. Well, we were in a defensive posture at that point, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, we weren't thinking offensively minded by having them come up and defend themselves. >> Well, no, that's I understand that, Mike. And yes, when things started
spiraling out of control. >> Yeah. >> You know, Yeah. You know, it's it's it's the old Mike Tyson adage, right? Everybody has a plan till you get in the ring and get punched in the face. >> Exactly. >> So, you know, I I get that. But, you know, nobody there were there were there
were a number of people up there that had all agreed to this and nobody thought to say, "Hang on, Dr. Jill, come on up." >> Yeah. >> So, you know, Yeah. Our numbers were wrong. They shouldn't have been, but
they were. A lot of time went into that. >> Yeah. And explain why. I mean, this wasn't like Sorry, Frank. Go ahead, Rod. >> I was just going to say these numbers weren't off by $50. >> They were off by hundreds of thousands
of dollars. The town's people, the finance committee, the town administrator, the selectman all deserve to understand why there were such a colossal mistake, an overstatement in numbers, and explain to the town people, we
messed up. Here's what happened. Be transparent. because they already understood there that while they had a lot of supporters in the crowd, even some of the supporters were confused. >> What are you talking about? The numbers were overstated by $600,000 or whatever the final number was. Like a
lot of people were confused. We had people coming up thanking us. I heard people say, "Thank you guys. I can't believe I don't even understand halfway the numbers what people are talking about." Because they didn't they couldn't follow the train of thought because it was so disjointed. They couldn't understand where, how, why are
the numbers changed, how did they change, what was, was an addition error. What's going on, >> right? Where did the money come from? >> Why, Cheryl? >> Where did the money come? Where did that money come from? Suddenly, >> right? >> No explanation did we get.
That's the problem with the school's failure to provide numbers in advance of us submitting our final numbers >> coming in on a Friday before town meeting on Monday and
saying, "Oh yeah, by the way, there's a few dollars here on Friday." Town hall's closed on Fridays. Mhm. >> Monday's town meeting. How the hell you get that information out to your residents? You don't.
>> You can't. >> Not enough time. >> Enough time. >> And then the people that are supposed to speak for their numbers in each of those two departments between the elementary and the regional district failed to do that.
They don't have a problem asking the town people to pay this money and that money and this is our budget and this is why this is our budget. >> Take it or leave it >> is the mentality. Well, now the bloodletting starts.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You know, the town was not covered by the fire department on Saturday, I think. because they had the ladder truck went out to respond to something I think in a neighboring town, Penroke or whatever
>> and the the chief called for his on call people. Nobody came, >> right? >> So there was no fire coverage in town. >> But that's typical of the call guys. They don't show. >> I understand that. But you know, it's like, you know, now we're gonna lose,
you know, an ambulance in July, >> right? So it's a this is just a this is just a you know a sampling of what's what is to come. >> Yeah. >> Well on that now that we've identified most of the problems we got to work on
the solutions we have a few months to get some solutions some ideas for solutions in place. Yeah. >> Right. To solve this. >> On top of that when do we get their numbers? Where is the actual approved budget versus what we thought
it was? >> Has the school published their final um budget? Steve, >> their their final budget is the budgets um that they sent their requests on. So those are the numbers they wanted to
receive. At the regional level, they have the three town vote to secure their regional assessment, >> right? >> So, is there is their budget final? >> I'd have to reach out to Jill to see if their budget's final. >> No, because the paperwork for the Silver
Lake that is up on their website for their budget is dated the 15th of December. So, I don't even know how that's even close to being accurate. If they're going to claim that's what's accurate, >> so I understand that the the elementary
school, right? I think we have as close to an accurate one as we can possibly get from them, right? They're a department of the town. They basically need to turn the stuff over when we ask for it. >> So, I certainly understand that it's the high school that drives it. Um, yes, it's the, you know, two, if two towns
vote to on the budget and approve it, then the third town is stuck with it even if they don't approve it. >> Um, which I believe is what has occurred this year. Uh, so because I don't think Plimpmpton's, uh, assessment went up really at all. Um, so, you know,
Kingston and Plimpmpton said yes. So, it's all on, you know, it is what it is. >> Yeah. >> Um, so, you know, Mike, to your question, that's that's a it's a that's a great question. So, you know, we were talking about getting budget requests early, getting public meetings set up on each department, not just one for the
entire budget. I want every department to have a public meeting with the department head, the finance committee, and the public. And, you know, if the selectman wish to to attend, that would be great. Um but uh with the finance committee and then the public can answer questions because I I don't want next
the next time we do this. I don't want any numbers that the town has not seen previously. Nothing. There shouldn't be any changes. It should all be final. That's one. Two. >> Yeah. It can't happen. Yeah. >> I sent out a budget calendar on the 9th
of April. I want everyone here >> to commit to the fact that that's what we're going to follow this year. It lays out everything that we're going to do each month when it comes to the budgets >> unless there's an objection. That's what we're going to follow from a
finance committee. The first meeting every month, we're going to cover those items on that. The second meeting will be the budget status report that Lindsay will set up for the previous month. And then each quarter, we should get a revenue estimate,
>> right? >> Yeah. So I mean you know the today the the D the DLS released their equalized valuation report for 2026. So those numbers are now public >> right and they're saying that uh you
know Halifax's estimated growth 67%. Not much there. No, not at all. >> Jim, can I ask a question? >> As we're just talking about the schools,
has Halifax, has Fincom from Halifax ever had a uh try meeting with the Plimpmpton and Kingston fincoms to discuss the like the Silverlake assessment? Have we have we reached out to them to know to understand what are
they getting for numbers? Are they getting a a a breakdown? Are they getting these budget numbers sooner before their town meetings than we are? I don't know if the the three committees can even meet together or have a conversation about like how can we help
encourage the school to give all of us accurate numbers, detailed numbers so we can best make our our individual budgets. So, um, so that's that's a great question, Ron. And for a while, I was
trying to get the the chair people from each committee to, you know, to, you know, I wanted the three of us to talk about and and go to the school as like a group. Instead of the school having three meetings, we just all go and have one meeting and then we all hear the
same thing the school says, right? Um, and then we can all ask questions at the same time. Um, you know, Carl Pike was part of that out of Kingston, but Carl Pike is now a selectman. So, you know, I don't think I don't know who the new I need I don't know I don't know currently who the new finance chairperson is for
for Kingston itself, but uh, you know, I could we didn't get much response from Plimpmpton for whatever reason. So, you know, just trying to trying to get everybody on the same page is is is a great idea and it's something we're going to keep working on, but it just
hasn't happened yet. >> The chair is Michael Kawette. >> Okay. Um, so we have the budget calendar. That's what we're going to follow. If anybody doesn't have it or can't find it, let me know. I'll send it out again. Um it was
sent out on April 9th. Um >> I have an excellent It was an excellent plan, Jim. >> Yep. >> So we've got that and you know I think we just need to we need to we all need to work on developing budget priorities.
We need to make sure that we are you know this next month is going to be critical just so we can close out the month uh without you know going underwater. Um, and uh, you know, let's get into next year and start really kind of pounding away at stuff. So, you know, whatever can be renegotiated next year
should be renegotiated. Um, I know that the schools, the transportation for the schools, so I think the bus contracts in it last year, Mike, isn't that right? >> I believe so. >> So, you know, that's that's a that's a
big one. >> You know, school transportation is >> at least a million dollars, if not more now. Yeah, Jim, it's interesting you're mentioning that because several towns have had to renegotiate with first student uh these last few months and the
numbers are up astronomically to the point that Plymouth and uh Lindsay may be able to attest to this is they're looking at doing their own bus service, buying their own buses and managing their own service. Wow. fact
that the um um quote they got back was just more than they could afford. Yeah. >> And a couple others in the in the Southshore here have just negotiated their next three-year contracts and most of them have gone up by a couple of
million dollars. >> Well, if it makes more economic sense to buy buses instead of getting getting a vendor, then that's that tells you something. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. So,
>> uh, I think we kind of beaten that horse to death a little bit. Mhm. >> Um, so if anybody doesn't have any more comments on the activity from the annual town meeting, we'll move on to our next agenda item, which would be Steve uh an update from Steve from the town
administrator. So, how are things going on your end, sir? >> They're going well, thank you. Um, finally been able to take at least a slight breath. Uh, this week's been a lot of collective bargaining. Um, so that's why that's what I've been busy with uh for most of the week. As Lindsay
can attest to, I've been checking in with her every every mo moment I get to um kind of address these issues and strategize and start planning and keeping on top of July 1st. Um, in regards to that, we have identified some issues and items that will need to go
either speaking of, you know, negotiating contracts, we do have a couple expiring contracts coming up that we will have to work on. Um and then we'll have to talk to the fincom about how you guys want to deal with those as far as allocations go. Um and then also
we have some items left from town meeting that need to be addressed probably either through again through the fin's decisions. Um we will be able to me and Lindsay have sat down figured out those dollar amounts. They're very small. Uh we have a list of items that still needed to be addressed from town
meeting for contractual obligations. Uh, it ended up totaling I have the number right here. So, including Dylan's $347 for the library. Um, I think it's um
a total of 3,000. Well, we got 3,344 7,161 and 1,17. So, conservatively, that's about 10 grand and that will make everything square budget-wise.
Uh, those items refer to I actually shorted myself, just so folks know that. I can put that on the public. I messed up my own contract line or my own wage line. You guys want to make me eat it? I'll probably eat it. Um, >> uh, so basically the way my contract was
laid out was $153,000 to, uh, the base to start, uh, July 1st of 2026. >> Yes. >> Uh, I had thought that was weird when I was entering the budget and said, "Wow, why did my rate change so quickly?"
>> Uh, because I had it in as 150. Um, so that's $3,000 of it. Uh the next adjustment is for line 17 which is the principal assessor appraiser position which is currently being advertised for. So when we entered this into the budget,
this was the the line that read at the top of the the salary chart said FY27, but it was actually FY26 rates. So the wrong rate was entered. That's the $3,44 that role. Um, so that's just we'll take it allocations because we'll be out
hiring for that. So we'll have to tell the person that we are hiring most likely at step one. That's what will be allocated to that position. Um, the $7,161 is for the one department that uh
budgeted correctly when it came to the 2% COLA. That was the DPW or the highway. Um, so Steve in his in his budget did not include the 2% for his clerical or his wage subline. So we have to put that back in. Uh, so that because
the rest of the town got that and that was part of the agreement and those are contractual obligations. So those the total 7161 is the entire increase for the staff of highway and at 2% and the 1,17
is for the clerical down at the highway. Um so just a little bit more information on that. Uh me and Lindsay will solidify that and have more of a a data sheet for you guys. We'll send it via email so in preparation for the next meeting you'll have it all to look at in advance.
Um, other than that, like I said, um, I have informed all unions that they will be subject to probably special town meeting allocation with their new contracts, uh, because obviously we're not going to get them done before July 1st. So, they will be subject to
approval at uh, town meeting uh, a special town meeting. And that will of course uh be pretty much just the dollar amounts as far as what they'll be siding on for 2027 retroactively and for the remainder of 2077. Uh and then we
will adjust the budgets accordingly for FY28 to incorporate any changes through bargaining as they continue into the early summer. And currently there are five unions just so you guys are aware >> that we are bargaining with. So that
again um we're getting closer to the point where all proposals are in so we could start solidifying exactly what the dollars and cents will mean um across the board. So we're still getting there. >> Okay. So I have one question. Um
>> sure. Since we're negotiating with five unions, how where are we at with um with the like like healthcare cost? Have we are we doing anything to um
uh to to to like alter plan designs to make them more affordable? So, I did uh sit down with Linda McCarthy down in the treasurer's office and said basically I think the first place to start is to uh pull Mayflower
Group into the conversation and say what do we do potentially with deductibles? What do we potentially do with plan design? How much can we save um as far as the current plan we're on? And what those savings would be because obviously
this is all impact bargaining. Uh so it does weave into CBAs in in a way. It's not that it would be prohibitive, but it does weave in. Um but then beyond just interacting with the Mayflower Group and seeing what deductible changes could be
done or percentage changes could be done or plan redesigns, obviously looking out to the broader market and going out and seeing if there are any real large savings by effectively changing carriers. And so
those are the two options really um as far as looking at cost savings on a health insurance approaching who currently carries it and see how much they could save us and maybe flatten that that curve uh that inflation curve that we've been seeing of the 14% or 10 to 14%. Maybe hopefully they can get it
down to three or four um something sustainable and and stabilizing. But if not, then we of course will have to look elsewhere and that's just >> the financial truth. Um it's not going to be a popular decision, but other communities are being in being forced
into the same same conversation. It just happened north of here in Rockland. Um I do have a relationship with the town administrator in Rockland, Doug Lap. So I have reached out to Doug to set up a appointment with him to speak uh basically about health insurance the
process going out through RFPs getting um some other vendors to come in present and see what the financial ramifications potentially could be as well as the uh the insurance you know benefits or or pros or cons. You know because obviously if these are going to have to be
bargained we're going to have to put them on the table for our staff to consider and negotiate on. Okay. All right. I think since that's the largest expense and the one that's going up the most, that's where we need to focus, I think,
a lot of efforts. >> I agree, Jim. Yep. And I'll be on it. And um you know, that's I could that was one of the first things I did post town meeting was sat down with Linda and said, "This is one of our biggest cost drivers. Let's take a look at how we can save in any way possible."
>> Okie dokie. Anything else, Steve? >> Um, at this moment in time, no. >> Okay. Very good. Uh, >> maybe tomorrow morning the answer will change. But >> yeah, finance committee, you have
anything for Mr. SBO? Comments, questions, queries? >> No. >> Yes. Frank, >> I just want to I went to uh current election on Saturday morning and I just want to give a shout out there. Steve
was in there during the morning. Rashi, I'm not sure how long >> can't really hear you, sir. Franks, >> did anyone hear what what Frank said? >> It was he said he saw Stephen at the on the floor on Saturday morning uh during
the morning rush and he really appreciated that Steve was there. Uh is that a good summary, Frank? >> I'll say yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I I >> I appreciate that, Frank. Yeah, I wanted
to make sure that um uh it was a tough town meeting and um I know Sue is still on the call. There she is. Uh I just wanted to make sure she was all set and I wanted to show the support to the residents that either way, no matter which way you voted, um I was there to
support the residents coming out. Uh I hope to be there again this Saturday. I know that with the Memorial Day um event at 9:30 a.m. um just you know it'll be good for the town administrator to be there and be present with the residents and the veterans uh and those that have
um you know paid the ultimate price on Memorial Day. So um you know I just want to be there. I know that state reps generally come in. So it'll be good for me to be there and be seen. So speak to the state reps because we need we need those connections as well. Mhm.
>> So just I guess one final question. Now at when we when we closed out town meeting, we said we were going to produce another set of numbers for the residents for election day. Did we do that? >> Another set. So a final budget document.
>> Yeah, like a final budget document. >> Yeah, it's still on the end of day two. Yeah, it's still it's still up on it was on the website as of Wednesday. >> Okay. So, there wasn't a handout. It was just up it was publicized. >> Yes, it was just put onto the website
cuz I at the very end of night two uh Mary Graanise had asked if it would all be put together >> and we did coated into a document. It was the final bud approved budget, >> the allocation document and then the impact of the 999777
and those were in one cohesive document that was on the website. Now, if you go on the website, you will still see just the final budget document is still up there. So, people can go on and print out the actual approved budget as it stands currently.
>> Okay, good stuff. >> One quick line item about question about the budget then. So, I just want to make sure I read it correctly. The budget that's on the website now that is our final approved budget has the Council on Aging director salary
cut to that number 49,000 and that's all that is what is in there right okay >> correct in there right >> Yep. Alrighty. >> Thank you for that information, Steve. Appreciate it. >> No problem. Thank you.
>> Um, so if there are no further questions uh we can move to uh correspondence and as may arise. So I personally did not get any emails uh regarding any actions that we have taken or any questions for the finance
committee. Has anybody else gotten any from the residents >> emails? No personal correspondence. Wow. >> Yeah, a lot. >> Too bad my Kevlar from the from the town meetings had worn out. I had to buy a
new one just to walk around town. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting. Interesting. Anyway, okay. So, I'm going to take that as a no. Um and uh so is there any so as may arise any anything anybody wants to
discuss while we're all here >> finance committee wise >> uh I have a question I believe my appointment is up this year 2026 is on the call I'm not sure how uh this
position is if I were to seek reappoint logistically I don't know how that works considering I was filling out uh Bill Smith's term. So I'm not sure if anyone has any advice for how I go about checking in checking that.
>> We could. So how that happens Rod is you know if you have interested in continuing >> um you know we certainly we we will absolutely discuss that and obviously we would welcome you to continue because you know you're part of the committee now. Um and then there is a nominating committee the way the bylaws work which
is um either myself or Cheryl as chair and vice chair would go to the nominating meeting which would be the chairman of this of the board of selectmen uh the moderator and I think the town administrator and someone from the finance committee and then they just
reappoint you. >> Okay, great. I would be interested in continuing to serve with you. I've enjoyed my year and I think this is a good group. I've learned a lot for sure. >> More to it than what you thought when you got into it, isn't it?
>> A little bit. I knew there was a lot. Didn't know it was this much. >> It's just a couple of Monday night meetings, right? >> Just a couple Monday meetings. That's all. >> Some issues off, you know. >> Exactly. Exactly.
>> We used to have them off. >> Yeah, we did. That That was the selling point for me, Rod. The summer's on. >> Summer's on. It was >> Yeah, Rod, I hope you come back for another run here. >> Definitely.
>> Yeah, same. I agree. Yeah, good to have you back, Rod. Hope you work. >> Thanks. >> Yeah, you get that first year out, that first run out and uh then you really get a good handle on what's going on. You went through the town meeting. >> Yeah. And um this was a tough one to go
through for your first time. And um >> so lessons learned from what took place, apply going forward and it's all for the better going forward. >> Good advice. >> All right.
>> So that will close out as may arise and correspondence uh so we can move into public participation. Uh, is there anyone else on the phone that would like to comment or have any questions for the finance committee? We open it to the public.
>> Hey Jim, it's EJ. I just wanted to say you guys did a great job tonight. I've been in the background. I uh I was late on the train. I apologize. I didn't want to disrupt the flow you had. >> No worries. I I I counted your presence, sir. >> I appreciate that.
>> All right. Hearing none from the public, um we'll close out public participation and move to next meeting planning. So I have June 1st. Uh that'll be in person at town hall at 6:00
6:00 p.m. Anybody ever does that work for everybody? >> Sounds like a plan. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Very good. Okay. If there is nothing else, uh, is do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnson, >> yes. To adjourn, please. >> EJ, >> yes. >> Mike Ragnetta, >> yes, sir.
>> Rod, >> yes. And I am a yes as well. We are adjourned. Thank you all for attending. >> Thank you. >> Good night everybody. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you all.