All right. So, it is 6:00. We'll call the meeting of the Finance Committee of Halifax to order. This meeting of the Halifax Finance Committee is being recorded and will be posted to Area 58 and their community access channel. Agenda items may be taken out of order
for time management considerations. Committee members in attendance physically, Cheryl Burke, Mike Bennett, EJ Bryan, and myself. Virtually, we have uh Frank Johnston. So, we have quum, and we can continue. >> So, first item on the agenda is any
meeting minutes for approval. We do not have any for this meeting at this point. Um we will have uh probably another set coming out for our next meeting uh which I believe is what the 15th. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> So it'll be the 15th. It'll be virtual.
We'll talk about that later. Um so uh closing out the meeting meeting minutes um agenda item, we will move on to FinCom secretary interviews. Uh we have had no success getting the two people who applied to come in and um interview
for the role. So what we've done at this point uh because I know Katie is uh is looking to uh to leave uh we're going to have the uh young lady who does the board of selectment minutes >> start doing the finance committee minutes. >> Right. So it only makes sense. It's only
a couple hours of a week to be done. So, since she's already digging into the select me ones, she's just going to do the ones for our meeting, which are basically all in Zoom anyway, and it's just listening and typing at that point. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that'll be a huge help. >> Yeah.
>> All right. >> When's um when's um Katie finishing up? Well, she's going to probably just brief the the other the other secretary on kind of what she does at this point and then um she has to finish the last two sets of minutes that she told me she she
would have to us by the end of the week and then she'll probably be done after that. >> Thank you, Jim. >> Yep. >> All right. So, uh, closing out the secretary interview agenda item, we'll move on to year-to-date revenue review. So, I think we have that all in front of
us >> right down there. If you want to see it, EJ um that I asked Lindsay to kind of bring us uh to bring forward to us um because there's obviously a difference between the status report, which is just expenditures, and the revenue report,
which is all of our income at that point. Um, so a couple of Anybody have any questions for Lindsay on the um on the revenue at this point? >> Are we on track? >> Comment. >> Go ahead.
>> Just so everyone knows, um, real estate goes out in October and it's due the 1st. So, a lot of the revenue is going to show up in November receipts. Mhm. >> And then the other big one is excise,
but that's not till February. So, um there'll be a lot more coming in. >> Do we anticipate any shortfalls anywhere? >> Um not to my knowledge. >> Okay.
>> Any growth? >> Any any new growth aside from So, we got Starbucks, right? whenever that opens, >> which I don't believe is going to be reflective because I don't think they're going to
be done by January 1, >> right? >> Okay. >> Well, I'm sure they're not. It doesn't even look like they're close. So, >> yeah, yeah, they're just now starting on the inside stuff, >> right? >> Yeah. So that's not
>> so that's not going to be impactful then. >> No. >> Okay. So um on the on the subject of revenue. So I thank you for providing us copies
of this the WL French excavating stuff. >> Can Who is Michelle Smith? She's the assistant treasurer. >> Okay. >> For the town. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> So, the tonnage fee is is this a fee that we are we get every month? >> So, there are no exact anything with this.
>> Um they are working towards a contract, but this is really basically kind of what they just do as a more so as a donation is what I would call it. Um,
they're working towards a contract is my understanding. Um >> but yeah, so this is what they provide us as their donation for using the foods and um >> the landfill and doing all of that.
>> Um >> and then the so Michelle just signs them because she has to sign everything that is money that's submitted. >> So that's the only reason why she's on there. Yeah.
>> So, so here's here's my question. If we don't have a contract, >> why why how how are how is the town, you know, I guess, for lack of a better term, allowing this to occur without
some type of paperwork behind it? >> Um, like the money part of it, the revenue. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, we're we're we're receiving monies, right? So, we've got $5,481 from July from July 8th, right? Then
we've got $1,182 from the uh from the 12th of August. Then we've got $1,340 from the month of September or for on the month of September. and then um
$1,43 that was from October 3rd. I'm I'm presuming these payments are in a rears, meaning the service has already occurred and they're just paying us for what they did during the previous month, right?
>> Um again, I don't know how they're doing this, how they're figuring it, any of that. >> Yeah. >> Everything I have been told is that it is a donation that they are just
>> giving an ad a voluntary admin fee. Um I know that there was dollar amounts brought up at the board of selectman meeting I believe it was or the board of health um sorry >> yes >> but that is all hypothetical if they
reach an agreement and if they come to a contract >> none of the actual dollar per ton or dollar per this >> is actually happening at the moment >> everything that they're giving us is strictly voluntary for admin fees and
that's my understanding Okay. So, >> so basically it's an inind donation currently that we're receiving from Maryland. >> Correct. >> Basically, >> we're not invoicing everything. They're not providing any documentation for per
tonnage per rate. It's just dollars sent to the town on a infrequent basis. >> Okay. Um, Chris, you have a question. Just uh, you know who you are and address? >> Chris Wowz, 129 Circus Street. I'm not
sure, but I believe all of you might have received an email from one of my neighbors questioning this time. >> Mhm. >> U, we've been to multiple meetings with this company and it seems like every meeting is new misinformation, things they're stating.
Board of Health, they kind of said it as a fact that they've been given this money, $35 tipping fee for every truck. And then as so much for every ton, too, which adds up like millions of dollars, >> right? >> Uh it was also reported from the previous town administrator in an
interview with the town of Mend. >> Yeah, I saw that >> on record that >> it was worded a different way like we're getting 1% of all their profits, >> which isn't tipping fees and Right. Yeah, >> that would been getting like I think it
was stated like 10,000 a month. So nothing keeps kind of adding up with everything that's been stated, >> right? >> So I think we're just looking for a little kind of facts to it. >> Sure. Well, these are the facts that we have right now. >> So yes, we I >> But nothing is really set in stone from
what they're stating. >> Well, that's there's no contract, right, Lindsay? >> Correct. >> Correct. So there's no contract. So, >> but do we do we really do we really think this is like an inkind donation that they're making to
us on a monthly basis? There has to be some type of language around why they're doing this, >> right? >> Um the the thing that jumps out at me from looking at the receipts that we have here is the the dramatic dip from July to all of the other months that
follow. We've gone from almost $5,500 in July down to just over a thousand and every other month that follows. So why >> what happened in that time frame that caused this to change is a question that I have. >> So I can also tell you if it's based on tonnage
>> from July to October they had just given the D their most recent quarterly report and it was almost one of the highest tonnage was three months over 100,000 tons with almost 4 to 5,000 trucks. So that would mean that we didn't get
anything for May or June if it's a if it's a >> it's an accumulated amount is what you're saying right now right it was it was a quarterly tage >> July August September October was wicked high from their reports of tonnage coming
>> yeah but they so they gave us in July we got 5500 roughly >> then in August we went down to 1,200 roughly so it's you know what I mean so those those months that follow. If it was a quarterly, you would it wouldn't make sense that it would dip that much.
>> It would be an aggregate of the whole month of the whole quarter. >> So, um, Lindsay, was there an existing contract in place and and it expired? Is that what happened with on the contracting side? >> I don't believe there was ever a
contract. >> Right. Okay. So what I can tell you from living in town for 40 years too where all of us dealt with the BFI was there which they were also working with Republican BFI they've been operating since 2018 nothing ever came to the town
181 19 2020 21 until 2023 when they started making complaints and now all information and that's what I did back in the day and that's when 500 people came to town meeting uh I know the article was worded
differently just to shut the dump down. But if you talk to everyone back then, the town voted. They were just sick of that whole area. It didn't matter what BFI, what was given for money. You know, that type of business, everyone kind of decided we don't really need help. Even
if it's a big revenue, >> it's ruining the town. That whole area is going to be flu, right? >> Contaminated. >> That's unlined, right? >> It is unlined. And now they're looking to go to 170 ft. But I guess in our minds down that end
of town, it's not worth it. Find better businesses, better revenue than being the biggest contaminated model in Massachusetts. >> Mhm. >> So, okay. >> Just some of the statements they're saying about finances, but like we're finding out tonight, it's not quite what
they said in the board health. >> Right. Well, that's what we're trying to find out. So yes, Chris, to to just to validate, yes, we we I think we all saw the email um asking questions about Maryland's landing, hence us trying to dig into it just to understand what's
going on. I I've I've reached out to the previous town administrator to see if he could explain some of this. I have not gotten a response as of tonight. Um so I'll just keep kind of chasing that rabbit as long as I can. Um, and because
I I just I'm just trying to understand what's what's the agreement here and who was the agreement with. So, I don't know and I don't know and I don't know if Lindsay knows kind of who's like kind of running the show on on the McDonald's corporation stuff, right? They bring a
check in. It looks like they hand it to hand it in to the cashier. She puts it into the general fund under a line item >> and then everybody just kind of goes about their own way at this point. So, basically, this was something that
was I'll say an agreement um with Cody and also uh the Bridgewater Town manager, administrator, whatever they have. Um the real his actual ten um >> and there's never been any contract from
that. It was just a agreement on admin fees. Um, so that's kind of and the contact from board of health was Marilyn. So she had emailed Marilyn
asking in better detail, is there a contract? What's the agreement? That type of thing. >> Uhhuh. And any response? >> Yes, there is no contract. >> Okay. and that they are voluntarily
doing >> uh turning over money for admin fees essentially. >> Right. So this is the I guess what it on the mended interview it was like a dollar a dollar something for road use a road use fee.
>> Yeah. And I think it was worded as a dollar as their profit as tipping and tonnage fees. >> No, there was no tipping and tonnage fees mentioned. And I don't think these are reflective of any tipping or tonnage fees. It's titled tage fee. >> They say that >> I don't have a specific dollar amount
>> for what they give us. >> I just have like I don't have a dollar per or anything like that. I just have the grand total of what I made copies and um provided you guys with. That's all I have. I don't have a dollar per
$20 per like I don't have any that specific. >> No, I I understand. They they could send $100 in. It wouldn't get >> right. Nobody would say anything about it. >> Yeah, basically. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> One other question and maybe I missed it. Would these checks just started this
year? Because I think uh some of us were looking at like the past town meetings and line items. >> Is it just a general fund? >> Just a it's just going into general revenue and all we have right here are the four that I've already mentioned. >> That's all that I see. >> Just this year, not last year.
that those four are just from the fiscal year. Um I can certainly look back to last year to see. >> Okay. >> Um but it is just the general fund. I would think that that's because there is no contract, >> right? >> Um that it just goes into the general
fund and then would get turned back into free cash >> at some point if it wasn't used. >> Lindsay, would you would you mind pulling last fiscal year? Uh, I I'd be interested to see the historicals on it just to see what the trend looks like. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. >> No worries. Thank you. >> Thanks, Lindsay. >> You're welcome. >> All right. So, just to kind of cap off the revenue report, everything all the what we have
expected is what we have gotten at this point, right? Yep. >> Yep. We'll just be November will be include all the um real estate >> hopefully. Um and then it'll probably slow down until February when the excise
comes, but obviously that's more from the registry. So that's whatever we we don't really I don't even think we send those out. >> So that will just come in. You talking about updating excise tax?
>> Yes. February's excise real estate was October due November 1st. >> Yeah. >> They're all listed under that account number >> 4375. Yeah. >> So, the miscellaneous just one last question, Lindsay. The miscellaneous
general revenue line item or account number, is that just for anything that comes in or is it specifically for what we're talking about here? >> No, that's um anything I would say I'll call a donation for a lack of better.
>> Okay. >> Um >> Okay. So, anything that would just be a not a reoccurring um um payment. So, yes, we get donations for like fireworks and stuff like that. That's a specific account, >> right?
>> Um this is just the general overall revenue that we get that doesn't have a specific >> Sure. No, I certainly appreciate it. And uh you know we'll keep Chris we'll just keep we we're going to keep digging in
on it till we kind of get a better understanding of what's happening and and how to move forward I think is probably and I think that's going to fall more to the selectman or the board of health than it is to the finance committee. >> I think it was just because those statements were made. >> Yeah. No, it's
>> the money showing. >> Right. >> Right. Well, you know, so the other I think as I said there's two different reports. So there's a revenue report which is where this is listed but what you find the budget status report on the website is just expenditures which is why you won't find anything there
>> from a from a you know monies coming in. >> Okay. Um anybody have anything else >> on this specifically? So, um I guess uh Lindsay, all I would ask is as we're doing the budget status report, if you could send out the
updated revenue report along with it each month, that would be really great so we could have a look at it. Obviously, I know it's going to be after the month's expired already or in a rears actually. So, uh, just to keep us kind of informed of where of where we're at from a balance perspective because I want to make sure we stay in front of
any shortfalls as we know we're, you know, getting close to the halfway point where, you know, I think next week we're expecting all the >> uh department heads to have their budgets in uh or their their wish list, whatever it is. >> Um, and then we're going to start kind
of getting hot and heavy into the uh into the budget reconciliation piece. >> Yeah. Okay, if there are no other questions there, we can close out the revenue report line item and we can move on to budget and liaison updates. So, just as
we discussed, part of the the budget letter that went out uh from Robert to the department heads was to have their proposed budgets in by next week, the 11th to be specific. Um they're supposed to do a level service budget and then look for a 10% cut if they can find one
uh to help kind of you know work with the town and and what the um and what we have to work with from a revenue perspective because it's just going to be getting tighter and tighter as we go along. And I think we all recognize the fact that with the um with the town
rejecting the MBTA Communities Act, we are excluded from all grants uh from all discretionary grants from the state. We'll still get chapter 90, we'll still get chapter 70 uh monies, but all the grants that other towns are using to fund projects uh we we are excluded from
at this point. >> Yep. So I would ask everybody just uh next week at the end by the end of next week just check in with your liaison um and uh make sure that they have a complied with what the interim town administrator has asked and getting
their budget in and b let's start talking about what we're going to do. >> Right. And uh for for your uh edification the um elementary school is having a um correct >> it's coming up Monday at 6 o'clock. uh
they're going to have a per I guess a proposed budget from the Silver Lake. So, I'm definitely going to be there because I certainly want to hear about that and and where they're at. >> Um should be some interesting listening, I think. >> For the schools specifically.
>> Anybody have any other comments on uh budget and liaison updates? >> Okay. So, correspondence and as may arise is our next agenda item. So, I don't know if you guys know this, but the Office of the Inspector General has
rendered his report on the Brockton public schools $18 million budget over. >> So, that came out yesterday. So, what I want to do is I just want to take a minute and I would like to read some salient paragraphs out of it into
the record. So, it starts off with Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro called on the Brockton city and school leaders to adopt meaningful oversight and the Brockton public schools finances following a review of the financial
practices and oversight and controls of the city and the Brockton public schools. The unprecedented I'm going to skip to the next paragraph. The unprecedented FY23 Brockton public school deficit was caused by a collection of failures to
properly plan the Brockton public school budget, monitor spending, and respond to clear warning signs in it. The IG Shapiro said in a letter released today. The Brocket public school FY23 budget crisis can largely be attributed to the
inaction of individuals at every step of the budget and budget planning and budget management phases. The OIG cannot overstate the fact that a failure of leadership by key BPS leaders allowed the fiscal crisis to occur. Um,
so paragraph four, no, I'm sorry, paragraph three. State finance law is simple. Government entities cannot spend more dollars than they have available, regardless of any rationale for doing so, no matter how
noble. IG Shapiro said by not recognizing and addressing clear indications of the ballooning budget deficit, the BPS CFO, the superintendent, the school committee members, the mayor violated their fiduciary duty to BPS, the city, and the
people of Brockton whom they serve, which resulted in a mismanagement of a significant amount of public dollars entrusted to BPS in FY23. And the last thing I'm going to read is this one final paragraph and I think this is probably the most important one is
additionally despite receiving monthly budget reports which contained information that showed the me that many expense line items were exceeding projections the school committee did not discuss much less attempt to address the mounting deficit while sources advised
the IG that many school committee members at the time lacked a finance or accounting background. ground. The budget the budgetary fiscal cliff facing BPS was so significant it should not have required any specialized budgetary
or accounting acumen to fully understand the scope of the problem and the urgency to act. >> So I think it's the report's out there on the O site if you want to have a look at it. I read through it um uh earlier today,
>> which is why I wanted to read this. >> And it's a reminder to us as the finance committee and the people we work with in the town to make sure that we are staying on track with the stuff that we need to do that they're staying on track with the with the budget that they have proposed. They're not overspending.
They're not trying to find other ways of getting things, you know, financed or or bought or poed or whatever. Um, you know, as we have said multiple times, it's going to be a very very stringent year for next year uh for the town uh
and for the schools uh specifically. Um, you know, it's it we have to try to get more with less as best as we can. Um, and we're the we're you know, in my opinion, we we're the voice of the residents. Uh, when we talk to the
department heads in the town, and I think it's important that they get heard at every level when it comes to the budget because this is important. Public safety is important. People want their their roads plowed. They want the fire department to come. They want the police department to come. And they want their bins picked up when they put trash out.
So, you know, outside of that, the specific kind of services, you know, we we have to we're going to have to we're going to have to look at things in a different light and in order to get the best out of the town and its resources for the residents.
>> Thoughts? Anybody? >> Well, I kind of think we still, you know, given the Whitman situation, Whitman Hansen School District, >> where they had somebody that was not reporting accurately, >> right? Um, we need to keep that in mind. You know, just keep it in the back of
your head. I'm not saying that they're doing anything wrong, but we need to keep that in the back of our head to make sure that we're getting accurate numbers. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, I think what's even probably more important is as the school is 54% of our yearly budget.
>> Um, I think in my opinion, and I've asked Robert about this to get them to report to us where they're at from a budget perspective. >> Sure. Sure. >> You know, monthly. I I know they have to have a monthly finance meeting.
>> Any business does, >> right? >> So, you know, why aren't we getting those? >> Yep. >> So, that's where I think the pressure needs to come from. And Lindsay, if there's anything you can do to help us with that, that'd be great,
>> especially with the elementary school. >> I can try. I'll see what I can do. >> Yeah. So, who is um who is it? the superintendent or the principal at the school that manages the budget at the elementary school. >> Yes, principal.
>> Yes, >> at the elementary. >> No, I'm going to be honest. When I come to the school, I don't know how they do >> anything. >> Well, there isn't an accountant or anything at the elementary school. So, the principal would be responsible for
the budget, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, he controls the person. >> Yeah. He was at one of our department headings and he said they were working on the budget. >> Um so yeah I guess it would be the principal over there. Um
who the day entails besides him I don't know. >> Okay. >> So you know we I'm going to do my best to stay on top of um Sarah Hickey. I know this is her last year. She's retiring at the end of the year.
>> Um, >> so, you know, and Dr. Jill is is on the other side of that coin, right? So, how do we make sure that we get these numbers from them? >> I understand I understand that they're busy. I understand that they're short-handed or they have issues getting
stuff done. I I I can certainly appreciate that. >> However, you know, when they're they're going to be asking us for, you know, $2 million a quarter, >> right? >> Right. at Silver Lake. >> We have a right to see where it goes. >> We should We We need to know where it goes. Yep. I think it's only fair.
>> I think that's our right to ask where it goes. >> It's the citizens right. >> Yep. Absolutely. Absolutely. >> I I think it's um it's worth noting too and and obviously everything uh Jim that you said I agree with. um you know in
years past and I know we touched on this actually at at the I believe it was at annual meeting last year that the the involvement from the community in this process is is important. It's always important but it's more important now
than ever. Um you know we have a limited amount of voices on the committee here as well as every other committee in the town. Um, and if our responsibility is to represent what the community wants as a whole, then the only way we can really
know what that is is is if we hear from the people about that. >> Um, you know, December's tough. Obviously, there's there's a lot of stuff that people have for commitments with family and friends. And of course, that that makes sense. Um, but you don't have to be here. Send the emails in,
right? make the phone calls, ask the questions because the questions are what is going to get results or at least steer guidance in the direction that it needs to go. >> Um, but it it doesn't do the community as a whole any good just to have six or
seven voices making decisions and making recommendations um based on what they think everyone feels. So, um I think in the past the approach we've taken is kind of we've sat back and said, "Oh, geez, no one's in the room, right?" And that's, you
know, Chris, I'm not leaving you out here, but in general, we would say nobody's in the room. And it's almost as if it's a complaint. And I think it needs to be a different approach where we're reaching our hand across the table to say, >> you know, please come and ask the questions so that we know the questions
that we should be asking of people. Um, so I'll leave it at that, but I just thought it was a >> I think it's fair. Yeah, I think it's fair. >> Um, we've as you know, we >> Chris, >> do you have a comment?
>> Yeah, go ahead. >> I was just going to add >> to what you said like I think even was it last year tried to do a big public outreach and >> because we were getting in this financial trouble. I think he did two meetings. >> We did. Correct.
>> I came to one. I think there's only four or five people here. >> Yeah. With the town. >> Yeah. And and that's why that's why I said it, Chris, the way that I did because it it is hard to get to these meetings. We know that as a committee, you know, and if if personal lives are
going to get in the way of that, there's always email. send us a >> send send the note over because >> um we can't go another we can't go through this budget cycle without having any feedback from the community until town meeting that that's not an effective way to get through this
>> um you know so I please I encourage people what we we have been seeing more outreach so keep it coming it's it's helpful Landing perfect example >> we want to be able Uh, so I'm a big believer in transparency. I
think it's, you know, it's it's it's imperative for us as the finance committee to be as forthright with the residents as we possibly can. There's no there's no secrets here. You know, the the budget status report is up on, you know, it it hangs in the hallway up here. It's out on the website for
everybody to have a look at. >> Um, you know, anybody has a question about the budget or anything that we're doing here, I'm happy to answer that. you know, anybody could call my phone and I'm I'm going to answer the phone, right? And if I don't answer it, I'll give you a call back. That's that's guaranteed. Um, we I I want as much
feedback from the public as possible because it's the only way that we, you know, when the seven of us get together, we're we're kind of banging our heads together trying to figure out what's the best approach. Um, and if we're not getting feedback from the public, even when we put stuff out and set up public meetings, you know, we're going to make
the best financial decision we can based on what we know and what we have, you know, based on our own experience in in finance and managing, you know, large accounts and things of that nature. So, but you know, the public's always I'm I'm always looking for public feedback.
>> At the end of the day, we are residents as well, >> right? We all live, right? >> That's the that's the reality of it. Okay. Any other any other comments, questions? >> So, our next to last agenda item is
public participation. Chris, is you're here. Anything else you'd like to ask us? >> No. >> Well, I want to thank you for coming. >> So, >> and participating >> and participating. I I do appreciate it. >> Um, so I don't think there's anyone else
on Zoom. Um so with that we'll close out the public participation line item. That takes us to the next meeting planning. Next meeting is the 15th. Uh that'll be a Zoom meeting at 6 p.m. So that'll be a virtual meeting. We will not and then I don't think we meet again until January.
>> Okay. >> All right. >> January 5th. >> Okay. >> I think >> I don't think so. >> January 5th. >> January 5th or what is it? That's the first. >> So January 1st is a Thursday. So we'll do the fifth. >> The fifth.
>> Yeah. >> We'll talk about that then. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anybody have any questions, comments, queries for the uh for the committee? >> Okay. Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Some second. >> Very good. Uh roll call. Cheryl. >> Yes. Mike, >> yes. >> EJ, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. To adjourn, please. >> And I'm a yes as well. We are adjourned. And I thank everybody for coming. And uh
we'll see everyone on the 15th.