All right, ladies and gentlemen, it is 6:00. We will call the meeting to order for the Halifax Finance Committee. This meeting has been posted in accordance with the provisions of Mass General Law Chapter 38 section 20B and is being
recorded with uh is being recorded and will be posted on area 58's community access channel. The finance committee chair reasonably anticipates the following matters will be discussed andor voted on at this meeting. Agenda items may be taken out of order for time
management considerations. So, I want to thank everybody for attending. Um uh if we uh we will go ahead and dive right into our agenda. So the first item that we have are the meeting minutes. Um there are three sets uh to be uh voted
on tonight. There's a fourth set that I sent out today, but due to the time that I was set sent set them out, we will put that on for the for the next meeting for us to review and approve. So, uh, so we'll start with the meeting minutes from
October 20th of 2025. Has everyone had an opportunity to read those minutes? >> Does anybody have any ads, changes, or deletions to the minutes from 10:20 of 25? >> Can I get a motion to approve those
minutes? >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you, Frank. We'll do a roll call vote. Cheryl, I think we lost Cheryl. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Frank Johnston,
>> yes. >> Mike Reignetta, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So, we will those will be approved uh with a quorum vote. Uh we will move to um the meeting minutes of November
3rd. Has everyone had an opportunity to review those minutes? >> Does anybody have any ads, changes, or deletions? >> I'm good. >> Good. >> Very good. Can I get a motion to approve
the minutes from 11:3? >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you. Roll call vote. Cheryl, >> yes. >> Thank you. Mike Bennett, >> yes. Frank Johnston,
Frank. >> Uh, yes. >> Thank you. Uh, Mike Regetta, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. So, those will also be approved. Thank you very much, everybody. And then the last set uh was
from 1117 of 2025. Have we all had an opportunity to review those? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Does anybody have any ads, changes, or deletions to the minutes from 1117 of 2025? >> I'm good. >> Very good. Okay. So, we will uh approve
those. I'm sorry. Can we get We'll do a roll call vote. Uh Cheryl, >> need a motion. >> I need a motion first. >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you. Roll call vote. Cheryl. >> Yes.
Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnston, >> yes. >> Mike Reignetta, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. Thank you very much everybody. So those all three sets of minutes have been approved at this meeting. Again, the minutes from 12:30
will be added to the next meeting that we have. Okay. So that closes out that uh agenda item. we will move on to the um the Maryland's landing uh agenda item. So I think did everyone happen to
everyone have a look at the documents that uh Lindsay had sent out >> this morning? >> Yes. >> So um I did question um I did question the first uh check that was in there that was dated a year prior. Um, I
believe that the explanation that we got back was that that was a, you know, that the new year just rolled over and it was just the when instead of writing 25, they wrote 24. Um, and they presented documentation of where where it was actually processed in uh in on the 16th
of or deposited on the 16th of 2025. >> Yep, that's correct. >> Right. So, anything anything else to that, Lindsay, or is and is that all that we that the um that that company has given to the town for this for their
whatever they're doing over there? >> That those three that I sent were the only ones that were um given in FY25. Okay? >> And then the ones from last meeting are the only ones that we've gotten so far
for the current fiscal year. >> Okay. which actually she did bring in a check on Thursday which will go in um December, but um that's all we've gotten so far.
>> Right. >> Okay. And so and so I guess this is going to be a silly question. There's is there anything before 2025? Has this been going on for a while? And I'm I'm just asking only for the edification of the committee itself. I can look back tomorrow um and see how
far back it goes. Um to my I mean I started in March of 24 so >> right >> my knowledge is only to then um I don't know if there was anything prior to that. >> Okay.
And just to just to restate what we discussed at the last meeting, there is no formal contract with the with um McDonald's Industries on on for tipping fees or tonnage or anything like that. Is that correct? >> Correct. There is no contract.
>> Okay, >> Jim, there's a hand up. >> Yeah, somebody has a hand up. >> Hi, it's Marilyn McDonald. Can you hear me? >> Hello. >> Hi. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes. Yes, we do.
>> So, I'm here for any clarity and yes, uh we have been uh voluntary given since um 2023 once we secured a few more permits. So, if there's anything you need, I'd be happy to get that over to you guys. Uh there are no contracts. This is just
given back to our towns of Bridgewater and Halifax, but there has been um incoming from 2023 to now. >> Okay. Okay. So, I I I just if I could just ask a question then. >> Yeah. >> Is is there is
help me understand the logic behind not having some formalized contract with the town for this activity? >> Well, this activity doesn't require any formal like a host fee like say a com 97 soil or anything like that would. It's just a courtesy to the towns. I had
worked closely with Charlie Celick, Michael Dutton in the past and then Cody um who I know at one point did mistake about, you know, make a miss uh statement, but this is truly just um us giving back to the towns uh on a couple of items that we help the towns with.
Catch basin cleanings is one of them that we take in free of service and then when we receive those, we we do what we can sharing with the towns. But again, this is not anything that requires us to. It's just trying to help out towns that we know can can use some help and
we can we can do it. So if it seems to be causing some confusion, but you know, I'm here to assist. >> Frank some fees for tipping fees. So the
subcontractor that town hires does not charge us for a tipping fee. Is that what you're telling me? >> I'm sorry. I quite didn't hear you. the contractor we use that cleans our catch basins, he's dumping um free gratus at your
facility on behalf of the town of Halifax. Is that correct? >> Correct. For for both Bridgewater and Halifax, as this is a joint community project, both Halifax and Bridgewater will send our LSP license professional out. We'll test your street sweepings and catch basins otherwise
they would have to go out at the expense of Halifax. We also do, you know, some sharing on those items that again are not under any contract and we just, you know, give that to the both Bridgewater and Halifax as a means to add a little something to your budget. That's all. I
mean, again, it's voluntary. So, you know, if the towns don't want it, then I we don't have to do it. But I know today every little bit helps us. >> We're just trying to understand what's going on here. That's all. Okay.
>> It it's just it's just a um it's it's just a contribution to the towns on a couple of items that you know that we worked on with with Charlie back in the day, Michael Dutton, and you know, we're able to judge a little bit more for those. So, we we give the town something on that. Um you know, we were more mum
and pup till we brought help and so sometimes I would wait till I had the revenue and then drop off a check. But but that's all that is. It's just um it's giving the town some revenue. um in a voluntary means. Now, do I want a formal contract and want to be able to
give the talents more? Yes, but that is not in front of us at the moment. So, I'd be happy to supply what I have given in the last couple of years if that helps you. But there's, you know, sometimes the form we'd have to break it down because there are in the forms of donations to certain items like your own
um land bill that needed looking at with tying bond. There's, you know, donations made to the town for, you know, holidays, things like that. So, I'd have to break them down to what was definitely donated um you know through that. >> Okay. Um why is WL French writing us a
check? >> Because French took over the operations as far as us doing the invoicing and everything. So, they're going to do it every month. So, we the two items that we do it on the catch basins and the remediation soil, they're going to do it
as a larger company. uh boom boom at the end each month. Us being local mom and pup, I I did it a little bit differently. Sometimes if there was low catch base and volume, I would help in in throwing a little bit more to be honest with you. So, but WL French as we
get older um is the ones helping us do all all the work down there. >> Well, WL French is now managing the landfill. Is that correct? with McDonald Industries still on site, but yes, they're doing all like the invoice and to clients and the payment. So, that's
why you're seeing the checks now from WL French. >> So, they're the operator of the facility now. >> Correct. >> And >> they're on site doing still some stuff, but they're the operator of like the pushing. They're the operator of paying
the clients, getting the clients, things like that. So, yes. So that's why you're seeing the checks come from WL French versus McDonald Industries. >> And they're managing the scale house as well. >> No, McDonald Industries is in the scale house. We send the information to
French. >> And so they're operating just the landfill and all of the accounting on behalf of the landfill. Is that correct? >> On behalf of Yeah. On behalf of us in Republic. Yes. >> I'm sorry. Repeat that please.
>> On behalf of us in Republic. They are operating the landfill manually. We are still on site operating it in the scale house and being down there. So it I don't mean to be confusing you but they took over basically my job of clients
invoicing you know paying people. That's their now responsibility. That's all I have at the moment. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, so I'm just I just want just I just to clear something up in my head. Uh is is McDonald owned by WL French now?
>> No. No. We just brought them in as a partner to help us. That's all. So they're but they're managing part of your business. >> They're managing but they're a partner. Yes. We brought them on as a partner.
>> Okay. >> All right. I believe um we have a question from one of our public attendees. Uh Chris. >> Hi Jim. This is Chris from 129 Circuit Street. Uh, can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes, we can.
>> Uh, so I know some of you guys on the board might have seen it, but I want to just read it into for a public record in case anyone else doesn't know about it and maybe some clarification. On 217 2024 at the town of Mendon, uh,
the select board is interviewing town administrators. One was our current administrator, Cody Hadad. Uh they asked him about quote can you give me a specific example that from an economic development standpoint of something that you have grabbed a hold
of pile and citizens and you know where you're at at with that within the community that you're working in right now which being Hellifax. Cody goes on to say that he's been working for the town over a year. Uh the
first example he goes is Maryland's Landing. It gives a quick uh overview of what Maryland's Landing is. That's a closed landfill that in the sense it doesn't accept any more solid waste or sanitary fill, but it is where place they're dumping quote contaminated
material dirt. Uh to quote what Cody said, because the this again this mutually beneficial relationship, you are benefiting. you're using our roads, you know, constantly 60 80 trucks a day
coming in. And so I was able to negotiate a fee, a 1% fee ultimately. So all the soils that come in, we get 1% of the revenue that they bring into the town. So this is currently averaging about $10,000 a
month. So that was nearly we're coming up on two years ago of what Cody referred to is that we're getting $10,000 a month. So that was to quote what was said. So I didn't know if there's any clarification what that was about since we not able to
see any money and we were just told there's no contract. And what the last thing I have was from this 11192 2025 board of health meeting at Halifax where Maryland's landing attended with a representative the
engineering and uh a representative from French company uh it was asked about what the benefits we're getting out of this and to quote the representative I forget his the gentleman's name uh from French his exact quote was the other benefit is
there's a tipping fee associated with this that we're giving back to the town a dollar a ton. Um so every ton that we're bringing in there, you know, a dollar goes back to the town. Every truck that pulls in there, it's, you
know, $30 to $35 a truck. That's going back to the town directly to the to them to spend on what they want. End quote. But we were just told there's no tipping fees or nothing and this is voluntarily.
But that was a representative from French that said that. And the way it was stated, it wasn't said it was in the future. It sounded like what was currently going on. So can I just quickly make a statement? I do have to go as I have a daughter and a granddaughter in ICU at the moment from
Burough. So again, one there is no contract. This was just voluntary for the for the towns. I don't know why Cody said that. As I mentioned in the beginning, that was his misinformation. A lot of information, misinformation on this site. What the gentleman Jared
Erton from French was referring to is on the corrective action. We are trying to get and again these soils do not qualify for a host fee. We are trying to negotiate that the towns do get a host fee for it. That's that's the clarity. So there is there is there is no there
is no nothing out there as far as contracts. We want to have a contract in place for you. Absolutely. But that's the clarity. So, at this time, I need to go, but you have my information. If you if you need the correct information, please always feel free to reach out to
me. I am local, but I will be heading up to New Hampshire with my daughter. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And unfortunately, she has to leave. I do have one other thing. There was a document, there was a meeting with the board of health in September before unfortunately what happened to Bob
Valerie. uh they also attended Maryland's landing but it was basically just McDonald Industries and no French company or anything. There were questions raised. From those questions they prepared a document that I have in my hand dated
October 1st, 2025 that they sent to the board of health. Dear border board members, thank you for the opportunity to introduce the health exord of health meeting on September 17th, 2025. It basically goes in that there was a list of questions raised at that
meeting. So Marilyn and it looks like their lawyer answered in each paragraph the questions and one of them has to do with money. Okay, here it is
on page five of six. What is the town share of revenues was the question. So their answer to that was Maryland's Landing has agreed. So it says they have agreed to share revenue with the town of Halifax generated by the acceptance of mass D approved soil.
The revenue share for the town of Halifax is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. Commonly referenced as tip fees. This municipal revenue does not typically apply to sites receiving mass D approved soil. Tipping fees typically only apply to landfills that are
receiving regulated COM 97 soil or municipal solid waste at open operating landfills. So, it's multiple times they're telling another board, the board of health, that we are getting money, but obviously now we're being told to the finance
committee that no money's coming except some donations. >> Right. Well, that's so Chris, that's that's true. And I appreciate you reading that stuff. I I I do recall watching the video with uh with Cody and his road use fee and the video of the
first meeting where they stated that there was some type of tipping fee uh from their attorney. So, you know, that's our for the we don't really have the the committee doesn't have authority over like the contractor or that's the
board of health and the selectmen that need to kind of deal with that. We're just trying to make sure that if there are if there are funds coming in that they're being allocated correctly into the correct accounts and that the town is, you know, that everything that the town is receiving uh is is accounted for
uh you know, for future information. I think at this point >> it >> right >> one other thing that came up this week. So it it's like you said it's not directly under per your preview but it could be a financial impact to the town is in cost later on. Uh there was found
evidence at another soil reuse facility and I believe the town of Dudley that WL French is involved in. Uh there was a newspaper article brought up from the Worcester Gazette how it was discovered that a good majority of all the trucks were way overloaded.
uh well over 100,000 lbs permitted to be on the roads. Uh since then, I remember one of our neighbors was looking at the trucking logs and he mentioned something about he was seeing trucks at 42 tons of dirt at over 120,000 lbsund I think one
was near 125,000 lbs. Uh, so I just see that as being we have thousands of trucks, possibly a good amount of them way overloaded to be on the public roads as in the highway department sometime in the future if this is going to be a
financial cost to Hellifax to repair roads and broken down roads. I just wanted to make that point. >> No, I appreciate that. Right. >> Yeah. I'm just listening to Miss Marilyn speak in regarding that Halifax doesn't
pay tipping fees or disposal fees for our storm water catch bases, which I think we're doing on a quarterly or by quarterly basis. Um, so if the contractor is not including disposal fees in there, let's say Maryland's
Landing or the town says, "Hey, we're done with all this now. our budgets aren't going to have fees in there with the highway department to allocate for disposal of those materials when they're doing this if the contractor is not
including that in his price to the town. >> Right. >> So that's a concern of mine and I think that's something we need to discuss with the highway department. >> Okay. and understand what's going on there. If that's actually the case that they're not paying tip fees and it's
being um and we're not paying the contractor tip fees and Maryland's is taking it at no charge. I'm just concerned that you know how things go, especially when it's on a handshake verbal agreement that all of a sudden we
don't have that luxury anymore, >> right? then we've got a contractor sending us an extra $50,000 bill for tip fees or whatever for the annualized thing and it's not included in our budgets. >> Yeah. >> So, I think we need to dig into that a
little bit more as well just to make sure that um one it's actually happening and two how we going to allocate for that in the highway numbers. Well, I can certainly invite um
uh their highway supervisor to our next meeting. See if he has any feedback on that from a financial impact aspect. >> Yeah. I don't know if Bob's got his numbers back from highway yet and he's included that in the numbers or not.
>> Well, that's our next agenda item, Frank. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And and hi. >> Hi. Good. Good morning. Good evening. >> Good morning. Good morning, Bob. Um, so, uh, on on the tipping fees, so
it all goes to the general fund anyway. Nothing's earmarked to go to highway or any anything else. Ultimately, it come back as free cash at some point. So, >> yeah. >> Um, and you know, and just to weigh in on the the whole uh tipping fee words,
you know, I think the key is that it's so-called tipping fees. You know, we keep using tipping fees, tipping fees. Uh, but it's just basically a voluntary gift to the town. Uh, you can call it tipping fees if you want to call it tipping fees. You can call it a gift.
You can call it a goodwill gesture or whatever. But money is money that's coming into the town. >> Yeah. >> So, it's, you know, I wouldn't get hung up on the word tipping fees, >> right? No. And I appreciate the clarification there. And so my concern
just uh from a cost u look is that you know it it if we're repairing a road costs a half a million dollars a mile. >> Mhm. >> Right. What from what we've gotten at this point we're not even close to
covering repairing you know a hundred feet of >> a mile. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So the Yeah. you know, that's that's what that's that's the financial perspective that's not being considered >> when we're agreeing to these tipping to
these fees or these donations. >> Um that in the future Steve, you know, Steve's going to have to repair a road, resurface a road, whatever, because of the trucks going across it. And when it's costing, you know, half a million dollars a mile, and we're getting, you
know, 1% of that, um that's that's quite the gap. And then, you know, obviously, you know, chapter 90 money isn't isn't always guaranteed to be the same amount every year, and it's never going it doesn't seem to go up at all anyway. >> Yep. And, you know, again, the key
though is that there's no authority to collect tipping fees, right, on so 1% of of something is better than 0% of nothing. >> True. Until we can't repair roads that need to be repaired. >> So, it's not it's not a a wash, you know, it'll never be a wash, even if
there were tipping fees, >> right? you know, it cost so much to pave a road that it would take, you know, 20 years in tipping fees to pave a a solid road, >> right? >> Okay. EJ's got a question.
>> Or he had his hand up. >> Yeah, I did. >> Yeah, I do. Thank you. Um, so sorry, I got on at 605, Jim, so I don't know if I missed anything at the beginning relevant to this, but um >> No, this is the last thing we're talking about. >> Yeah. So, so
um we hear a lot like we've heard a lot about the town wants to go to contract, company wants to go to contract. Do we actually know where that process stands? Like are we are we moving towards actually going to a contract or does
everyone just want to go to a contract but those wheels aren't actually in motion? >> Yeah, from my perspective there's no no talk of the board of starting a contract, you know. um that may be down the road, you know, if it's a if if all
parties are willing to enter into a contract and and you know, finalize or memorialize how much will be coming in each month so we'd have a handle on it. Um you know, that's something that probably next town administrator on the board of
selectman will look into. >> Okay, it just seems >> nothing right now. The answer is nothing right now that I'm aware of. >> Yeah, it just it seems like a pretty heavy burden for us to be taking on from a just from a maintenance standpoint for
those roadways and the potential of that down the road given the financial call it a crisis if you want that we have in front of us right now. You know, I mean that >> it seems like we're we're welcoming a very high risk situ situation and and
not proactively trying to do something about it. Yeah. So again, we don't have authority to stop it. Uh D does uh if they so choose, if there was some issues. Uh so so I hear you. I hear
every one of you because I was on the finance committee in my own town in a select minute. You know, it's something that you want to try and make that work to fix the roads. But again, that's never going to happen even even with tipping fees. You know, towns have
tipping fees all over the place. They still have to pay their own monies to fix the roads. >> Sure. Sure. Sure. Sure. But you you like to think that you're you're getting some compensation for what you're allowing. I I fully understand. >> No, I know. And and I think we are, you
know, again, by voluntary uh and maybe it's not what the amount that we would want to get. Uh but right now it's the only method of taking the money in uh as a gift. >> Be honest with you, Bob. $58,296
for 12 months isn't very much money in tipping fees coming to the town of Halifax with the volume of material that is being moved into that facility on a daily basis. >> Yeah, I I hear you. And again, it's not tipping fees. You gotta remember there's no >> call it what you want, Bob, but the
dirt's going in there. >> Okay. >> Yeah, the tipping fees are zero right now. That's that's zero. >> You can call it what you want, but $58,000 is nothing compared to what's scales over there.
>> Yeah, I agree. You know, I'm not defending it, >> right, >> Frank? You know, I'm just saying that, you know, there's no authority or method to get tipping fees on what she's doing. >> Okay. >> So, so again, all this runs >> I think we're kind of going off on a
tangent here. >> We're getting we're getting in a bit of a circular argument here. >> So, it's it's between the the D can stop it if they wanted to. We can't do it as a town. And you know, it seems that
whatever damage happens to the roads, we're at least getting something rather than nothing. >> I find that hard to believe as a town, we can't stop them. >> Could I say something? >> Hang on, Chris. I want to let Mike talk.
Uh just a just a quick comment that I think just of all the the amount of work that we've done as a group over the past years to provide transparency and clarity for our constituents. This is the first thing that's come up since I've been around now for, you know, a
year or so, whatever. That is utterly confusing that there are so many different conversations and board meetings with this group about what has gone on and nobody seems to know what's going on except the town's getting free money for something that people don't usually give
free money for. I don't know many businesses that just offer donations just for driving through town. >> And the fact that we have no contract and no clarity, I think that needs to be addressed. So now I don't know if that's the board of selectman or who has the the power to,
you know, get this shored up so one way or the other it's it's clear so that everyone lives in town understands what's going on and is there money not money and I think I think I'm less concerned about the amount of money although I'd like to make more money obviously for our town and the roads but the lack of clarity is concerning
>> and there lack of transparency but I think the public is seeing right now that's paying attention like like Chris who comes to the meetings and is on the call is it's not good. It's not good. >> Well, it's a lot of the there's so much misinformation. I think we need to actually get a handle on really what's
going on. How many trucks are going in and out and you know, some of this other information because it just seems like a lot of things were said not necessarily true. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. >> And and I think that's got to be clarified, but then Yeah. Then you know
do we we need to work towards a contract with them so we at least have some >> something in writing >> some yeah something in writing we can work against you know we we can't really do much other than accept their donations right now because we have no control of them
>> we control situation >> yeah we need to understand the process we don't understand the process >> but I think we need to get some actual actual information some real numbers you know we have 40 to 60 trucks a day. Okay. But, you know, is there really 40
to 60 trucks per day going in there? We're not, you know, all these fees and all this other stuff that's out there and it's got all people all all churned up >> because it looks like we're hiding money somewhere, >> right? >> You know, and we're obviously not getting that money. So, let's let's get
actual information. Let's get some things firmed up that we can put out to people and say, "Okay, so here's the reality behind it all. you know, this is what's going on. I think we need that first and then, you know, contract second. But >> can I can I ask can I ask Bob? Bob, if
you don't mind, just what in your opinion, in your experience, what would our next steps be to get some more clarity and and have this sort of cleaned up for us and and for the town? >> Okay. So, because it's governed by state law, by D, uh we'd have to talk to town
council whether a bylaw can be put in to get tipping fees on something that's totally regulated by the state. So, that'd be the first step. And then if they say, "Well, yes, you can do that." Then then you work to put in
their bylaw at town meeting for tipping fees for any any materials, whether it's tipping fees, even tipping fees going out in and out, you know, whatever, >> right? >> That would be the process. It's got to go to town meeting anyway,
>> right? But but there's no fee. Forget about the tipping fee in that word. And I get the the the differences there. There just I think there should be some clarity about the relationship between that company and our town which I think is where the the muddied waters are right now. There's there's no clarity.
There was a handshake. There was a conversation. There was something years ago that we're going to drive through town and and hand off some money as we drive through which is it's welcome. I love it. It's fantastic. Free money is great. But, you know, with with this much confusion about it and where it came from and nobody
>> here seems to know what the process is about where the money comes from, where it goes and >> well, we kind of know where it comes from. It comes from them, you know, >> comes from WL and then yeah, then it goes into general fund. That's that's that's the process right now. So,
>> well, and there's another whole point now. They have a partner involved with them as well now in the front end of all these. >> So, But Bob, I I think I think Mike, and correct me if I'm wrong here, but I I I still don't think that you got your answer.
>> I because I >> you know, >> Yeah. Okay. So, I I So, let me try to reframe I just want to try to reframe it. So, so when Mike is asking to understand kind of where we are, it's it's not necessarily the fact that there's trucks coming
through the town. It's what like what got us to the point where those trucks were even allowed to come into the town. I think like that's and from that point forward, okay, there we know now we know they're coming into town. Who is involved with the process and understanding what that was going to
look like? Who is that explained to on behalf of the town of Halifax so that we can all get a better understanding as a group to what that person knows as an individual because they couldn't have just come in and started to do it. somebody had to have had a conversation with them. So, we're trying to figure
out where was that conversation and how do we get to be a part of it to at least understand it. Is that better, Mike? Does that >> Yeah. And just so we can explain it, I would like to have a statement so that people have misinformation, which there's plenty of out there about all kinds of topics that we deal with, right, in our
>> in our volunteer line of work here that we just be should be able to provide some clarity to our to our residents, right? That and we've done a good job that over the past couple years. why this one this one is sitting with me right now that we can't answer the public definitively on why or how this
came about and the the exact process if the process is that yes we can't do anything about it they're going to drive their trucks through and they're going to drop off a check every now and then on the way through for whatever they feel like dropping off of then that's the answer and if that's what the you Bob and the selectman say that's the answer then we can give to the public then that's great
>> they'll have to live with that and then whatever was said in those previous meetings that that Chris read into the or whatever. That's that's all hearsay. It's that's those were untruths, misinformation given by people that are involved right now. But I think we need to be able to answer the people where where what's going on.
And I'm on your side, Bob, by the way. I'm not I'm not angry at all. I'm on your side. >> I'm on your side. All of you. We're >> all on the same team. We're all on the same team. I just did a good job of providing clarity and and transparency to our >> I hear everybody's Yep. I hear
everybody's frustration. Um, so you know, I can just talk to the board board of selectman again and see what they want to do and, you know, and maybe put on a meeting agenda and see if we can get them, you know, see what what the process will be. I can talk to town
council if they want me to do that and and get some information and bring it back to the committee. You know, >> that would be helpful. Yeah. >> I Yeah. I I don't as an attorney I don't like things left unchecked.
>> Yeah. >> You know, it's just murky. >> Contract is good. It's a contract. So, both both sides are bound by it. >> Right. Right. >> You know, right now >> Right now, we're a recipient of something that they're not bound by, you
know. >> Correct. They could stop anytime they want. >> Yep. >> And there's there's nothing that can be done about it. And yeah, you know, would they be willing to sign a contract? H they say that. >> Well, they say they will until they until there's a pen in their hand.
>> Language is put together. I know. >> Yeah. >> So, >> we'll see. Again, I I don't want to get into a situation where we're crossing over into an open meeting violation because it wasn't on the agenda to talk about >> certain things. So
>> well we wanted to talk about Maryland's landing and that's what we are discussing. >> So >> can I say something? >> Go ahead Chris. >> Uh to earlier what EJ said about this being high risk because there could be a lot of questions in the future what this
brings financially to Hellifax when this is all done with possible contamination. There's all sorts of questions in other boards exactly what's going on there now as far as what rules are happening and stuff. And as far as not being done, as of this week, it was found out there is
already some case law. Uh other soil reclamation sites like this one are just as big. Town of has already sued them and won in superior court. uh it went twice to Superior Court and then they were found
in favor that they can stop this. Uh and now since then Kingston is suing Mary O'Donnell Sand Pits by the Kingston mall because they're building another hill of the same soil bigger than the hill that the King the old Kingston mall sitting on near the Kingston train station.
uh the town in the Oxbridge did it by saying that even though the state does the approval and the setting up these programs, it still doesn't overrule the bylaws of what was allowed in that zone.
>> And as Kingston says here, I'm reading their letter on a cease and desist to the operation. It is readily apparent that you are engaged in a business accept and fill it your property. It is my understanding that per state law, such importation and reclaimation business is regulated under a certain
administrative consent order acco issued by the Department of Environmental Protection. However, with the acco may regulate certain environmental aspects of your reclamation business, it does not provide for approvals under the Kingston zoning bylaws. Uh,
>> okay. So, Chris, I I appreciate you reading that, but I don't think any of us except for Bob is an attorney. But it basically went in saying like that is only that's I2 zoning for Halifax. The only acceptable use there is a sanitary landfill. And I think our
bylaws say any other use is not allowed. So maybe there is a thing that as far as you like you said a lawyer or something because it looks like Oxbridge already won and now Kingston's currently in the middle of a lawsuit trying to do it.
>> Yeah. Well, I and and I don't think any of us are familiar with the particulars in any of those cases. >> Yeah. >> Um and how it was adjudicated. So, I do appreciate you bringing that up and it's good to know that there are potentially some options out there, but they not may
not be ours, I don't think. But we'll we can certainly look into that or we'll have actually Bob will talk to town council and uh take it from there. Okay. Um, I love lively discourse. So, I want
to thank everybody for their comments and questions. So, uh, if any is anybody else have anything they want to discuss on the Maryland's Landing dollars and cents before we move to our next agenda item.
Very good. And so we will close that one out and we will move on to the uh budget uh the budget updates. So Bob, they were all supposed to have them back to you by the 11th. Yep. >> Did that happen? >> Yeah, it happened. >> Oh, excellent. >> I know.
>> So we're putting together a spreadsheet. See where we stand. Um >> and I I just need clarification on how you guys meet with with us. Uh, is it you want me to set those up or how? >> So, so how we did it last year is the
liaison, you've seen the liaison list, right? >> Thank you for sending that out. >> Um, yeah, no, no problem. Everybody has their their set uh departments that they're working with and they they will uh reach out and and talk to the department heads to get a time together.
So far as the town office is concerned, that's mainly mine. So, uh, last year Cody set up those the, uh, the the meetings with the, um, with the department heads, and I just came in and sat on in on the meetings and discussed the budget itself, um, and reviewed it
with them and talked to them about, you know, what they're trying to get done and and how we can best assist them inside the framework uh, that we have. Uh, and Bob, anytime is fine by me. And you know, I I retired a couple years ago, so it's uh um you know, you could set them up for you you can run them all
all in one morning if you want to or set them up on a couple days. It's all up to you. >> So, how about the other members? Um is this something that you're available days or >> Go ahead, Cheryl. >> I'm I'm retired, so any day but
Wednesday is fine with me. >> Bob, same with me for the most part. I do have some appointments on my calendars, but you know, if you know some dates, we threw them out last year and then we made sure we all fit into them. And also, it depends on the department heads because mine had
tailored around the fire department, the emergency management service. So, it's a little bit of a wild card. I've already spoken to the fire chief on a couple of times about things and um so whenever you're ready, just let me know what their schedules are, yours are, and um
come on in, sit down. >> Plus, also, Miss Lindsay, I'm assuming, is going to be involved in the meetings as well. >> Okay, >> still on. >> Yep, I'm going to be on those. >> Yeah, perfect. And um Bob, I'm just a
question for myself. Um, have you loaded those up to our one drive yet or? >> Well, Lindsay, Lindsay, did you put those on the one drive? >> I did not put them on the one drive yet. I was out today. Um, that was originally what I was going to work on today, but I
was out. Um, so, no, they're not there yet. >> Okay, we'll get it next week. >> Yeah. And then that way we can get a look at the drafts, first cut and all that and kind of get our ducks in a row. >> Yeah. Um, Michael, what what's your availability?
>> Yeah, I'm I'm retired as well, so I'm I'm pretty available. I'm wide open. >> Just let me know. >> Anybody work anymore? >> Yes. Yes. Some of us still work for >> I think those guys now
>> slowly at the top, Bob. >> Oh, >> Bob, I'll be out of work for the next six weeks, so I'm pretty flexed, too. >> Is that true? Yeah. >> Okay. Days. So that's good. >> Yeah. >> I should have said who only can do
nights. >> Mike, >> are are nights better for you? >> No, it doesn't matter. No, I'd rather days. >> Oh, good. Okay. >> Too many meetings at night. >> No, I I I do still work quite a bit, but my uh my schedule's relatively flexible. Mo most days. Yeah, most days I can make
work, right? With a little bit >> like late in the day or is that better? >> Whatever. Anything? Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. Pretty pretty flexible. >> I miss anybody. >> I think you got everybody. >> EJ. >> Yeah. Rod's not on tonight.
>> Yeah. Ron >> Bob. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Bob, that was EJ. That was uh next weeks. Yeah. >> Okay. >> But no, Bob, it's all up to you what your schedule is. >> Yeah.
>> All right. All right. >> Okay. So, that Thank you, Bob. That's good to hear that everybody got everything back in on time. Um, so uh for those who were not there, the
elementary school uh had a preliminary budget that they shared with everyone last week on December 8th. Um, they are profering a 1 I think it was a 1.8%
increase. Mike, is that right? >> Yeah, that sounds right. >> Was that 1.4? >> I had 1.8. I could be mistaken, but it's uh >> I had 1.8. >> I thought elementary was 1.4 and then Silver Lake was 6.8. >> Yeah, it is 1.4. Yeah.
>> 1.4. Yeah. >> So 7 million 7.6 million is what they're asking for for >> correct. >> Um or I'm sorry uh they're asking for 8.127
for FY27, but after um grants and uh funding, they're looking for 7.722. >> This the elementary school or civil? >> That's just the elementary school. >> Yeah. I was a little disappointed though to be
honest that your request for a 10% cut Bob went unanswered by the school. >> I think they're going to wait to see what filters out and then look at cuts. So, so that was from the that was from
the elementary school last Monday on the 8th. >> Can Can we um talk about that? Uh what Bob just said there as far as them waiting for to see what it comes out and >> that's not their words, it's my words.
>> No, I understand. I understand that. >> Just want to make sure it doesn't get quoted as like >> No, no, no, no, no, no. I I totally get that. I totally get that. I'm I'm going I'm doing a little bit of revisionist history here because this is the exact way that we got into the the the issue that we had last year.
>> Yeah. is we were scrambling at the very end because we didn't get what we asked from them upfront like we asked for it. And then we ended up finding out much closer to um >> hard deadlines on what on what the
issues were going to be. And it led to some very uncomfortable conversations that we can probably avoid if we can just get to the table a lot sooner. And that's all we're asking them to do. Nobody's saying this 10% reduction is set in stone. We're just asking to see
what it would look like. So, I don't know who like where do we go for help with that? Who can help us push that and make sure that they do get us the 10%. That we've asked for. >> Yeah. So, I can request it again uh at probably the next department head
meeting. I'll talk to them. I just don't I I maybe it's just me, but I I it bothers me that we went through went what we've gone through the last two years specific to this budget, yet we're not doing anything to fix it
now going into the third consecutive year. I have a I have an issue with that. And and the issue is those that are putting the numbers together that are supposed to be putting them in front of us. So, >> well, you wouldn't have been very happy with the numbers they put together
because they're not solid numbers. They're merely some estimates and assumptions that they made >> in putting this together. >> Yeah. And and but I can respect that to a degree because I do know that some of what they have to put together comes
from the state level and they need to wait for some of those numbers to come down to them. So, I can I can I can be a little bit empathetic to that part of it, >> but but make a 10% reduction off of those assumptions, >> right? >> That's all we're asking for you to do.
Every other department in the town has to do this. I don't know why school doesn't get held accountable to it. >> We can't hear you, Frank. >> Can you hear guys? And that was that was directed at nobody on this call,
>> right? No, I absolutely I I feel the pain, EJ. I absolutely do. It's um >> it's a shame that we you know, we get the last minute um increases uh for whatever reason. um you know and then there's there's
line items that are budgeted out for maintenance in the schools that don't get executed in that fiscal year and then they have to come back for more money the next fiscal year because the costs have gone up. Um and you know it's just uh you know we just did that with the library window, right? We we
allocated I don't know $20,000 to repair the the window and it went up you know more money than in the following year because they didn't get it done. um for whatever reason, you know, and I'm sure there's a number of circumstances that could be uh you know
uh afforded to to why it didn't happen. But you know, um I think so Bob, if you could and are you dealing with the principal or are you dealing with Sarah Hickey? Because she does the budgets for all the elementary schools. >> Yeah, it's Sarah basically. Okay. Um but
I understand that she'll be leaving. >> Yeah, this is her last year. >> February. Yeah, >> even even as a cry for help. >> Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. She'll be leaving when? >> February. >> February. >> February. So even before the school year is done, she's she's,
>> you know, so >> this going to be this is going to be a slow roll through through February from Sarah. This what this is going to be. >> Yeah. >> So >> yeah. So don't expect too much info to come too fast.
>> Got it. Yeah. even as a cry for help, Bob, from the school committee would would be something that might be worthwhile because at the end of the day, they they are the vast majority of our budget and
this group here has is tasked with trying to figure out what the town has for options next year. And it's hard for us to come up with a logical solution to propose to the board of selectmen in the
town without having reasonable figures from the school or reasonable participation in this process from the school even. >> Yeah, I'll sh I'll shake the tree and see. >> It'll be appreciated as much shaking as
you can do. >> Please do. It's a very big tree. >> Yeah, it is. It absolutely isn't very easily. >> Okay.
>> So, Bob, we will wait for your um advice on or the times and meeting times for the department heads. >> Yeah. >> Um so, we appreciate uh we appreciate all that. I I'm I'm anticipating probably, you know, we'll be doing this getting into January.
>> Yeah. I want to get as close to the first of the year. >> Yeah. >> As possible. So maybe that first week start have some schedule. >> That's Yeah, that's absolutely uh >> I think that's absolutely >> key to that along with a couple of other
things that I've been, you know, so I know we have five contracts that we're negotiating, right? Uh so yeah, so all our contracts right now are on hold just to see what happens with the town administrator position. >> Okay. >> Uh we'll know more at the end of the
week. So >> Okay. So I you know a couple things I think we need early in early January is the um you know obviously the the levy capacity um any assumptions for local receipts >> any state aid based on whatever the
governor's guidance is at that point in time. um and enter any any uh retained earnings data that we can get from our enterprise funds. Right. So that'll be probably the first couple of things. And I'm sure you've already got fixed cost stuff, the insurance projections and
>> Yeah. Yeah. Not not not a happy number. So >> yeah, I'm sure it's not um you know pension and Yeah. >> Okay. And yeah, well that's one of the other things is we need to start talking about what the fiscal pressures are going to be, right? So, the contract
negotiations, schools, school assessments, which we were just talking about, um, and any mandated or regulatory requirements that are out there for the town that we have to abide by at this point. >> Y >> and then perhaps maybe sometime we can we as a committee should talk get a
meeting with a joint meeting with the selectman just to kind of talk about where we're at at a preliminary budget process so everybody's kind of on the same page. I know we haven't done we've done that. We've done that when we've got the budget kind of finalized. Uh but I think we we should have at least one
preliminary meeting finance committee and the selectman just to talk about the fiscal posture of the town. >> Yeah, I think that's a good idea. >> Okay. Anything further on the budget submissions from Bob?
>> Uh nope. That's it. >> Thank you, Bob. I appreciate all the work that you're doing. >> Thank you. >> Um, liaison updates, we kind of folded that into the last one. So, everybody, you know, I'm sure you've already talked to the people you normally talk to. Bob will be setting up the meetings and letting us know when they are. Um, so
please make sure that uh we get those set up as early as we possibly can. Uh, okay. So, that closes out liaison updates. Um, moving on to correspondents and as may arise. Um, I have not gotten
any emails from any residents in the town uh to be shared or discussed on the call. Uh, does anybody have anything they would like to discuss with the committee on who's on the committee at this point in time? >> Excuse me.
All right. Being there no conversation on that agenda item, we'll move to public participation. We have Chris. Chris, do you have any closing comments? >> No, I think we covered everything for tonight. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for attending. Absolutely
appreciate it. All right. So, that closes out public participation. Next meeting planning is our next agenda item. I have on the calendar at this point the 5th of January. Right. >> Okay. That'll be in person at town hall.
>> Yep. >> Selectman's meeting room at least if my if I did my reservation form correctly today. >> Jim, just so you know, the zoning board of appeals might be meeting that same night >> at 7. >> So just when just for your timing, just
make sure that um you know doesn't conflict with that. That's all. >> Sure. No, appreciate that. Thank you. All right. Okay. Before we close out, does anybody have anything else for the committee?
>> Just uh merry Christmas to everybody and happy Hanukkah. >> Right. >> Merry Christmas. >> Merry Christmas to everybody. Hope you have happy holidays. I do want to say that I certainly do appreciate everybody on this committee and the work that we have done this past year. It's been we
we did a great job for the town meeting. We did a great job with the budget last year and we're all kind of getting saddled up to kind of get back on that horse again next year. So, I think you guys do fantastic work. I really enjoy working with everybody here. Um, and I
look forward to next year. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you all. Happy holidays. >> Happy holiday. Can I get a motion to adjourn? So moved. >> Second. >> Very good. Roll call vote. Cheryl,
>> yes. >> Mike Bennett, >> yes. >> Frank Johnston, >> yes. >> EJ, >> yes. >> Mike Rnetta, >> yes to ajourn. >> And I am a yes as well. Thanks everybody
for attending and have a great holiday.