Good evening and welcome to the April 21st, 2026 meeting of the Hman Select Board and Board of Health. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. This meeting is being held at the Hamlin Town Hall in the captorium. Although since we're not caffing anymore, should just be auditorium from now. Close the kitchen. Kitchen doesn't
work anymore, right? Pretty much the kitchen's like closed, right? Mostly an auditorium now. Forget the cafeteria part. >> No cookies. >> No cookies. We're in our office. All right. We are uh recording the meeting as well as broadcasting on Zoom. Is
there anyone else recording the meeting? >> Nope. Okay. Hard to believe. What are our metrics right now, Brian? How many thousands of people watch our meetings afterwards? >> How many people are in town? Like we have about 4,000 people. >> Yeah, but there must be many out
oftowners that watched as well, right? It's >> true. Yeah. And podcast. >> Oh, yeah. Pretty soon we'll be selling t-shirts with our scan. >> I think we are actually the only board without a t-shirt. I see most of right
Herb. >> Uhhuh. Only board wearing a bling here for Oh, yeah. Nice. Nice. Okay. At least you got the right thanks. All right. So, we have no
minutes. Uh, first order of business is to review and sign the annual town meeting warrant. Brian, thank you for all your work on this and you as well, Lauren. So, you we've knocked it down from the
original 67 warrant articles down to 20, which actually is a heck of a joking, but I think we started well over 30. All righty. So, I believe we already last week
motion to close it and that wasn't done. So, how many copies do you have for signature? >> Seven. Seven. You got them all. >> Yeah. This for the sign, sir. >> Okay. Nice. All right. So, we'll pass those along. >> And uh when do you when are you putting
them up? >> Hopefully tomorrow. We got a conf. >> Shoot. They're signed and ready. Post it as soon as we can. >> Yeah. >> No error. That's all. Oh, that's fine.
Going down and forth. All righty. Next, we're going to talk about the town meeting logistics. So, it will be on May 11th. You need to vote to sign them or no.
voting. Did you vote to sign them? >> We don't think you need to vote. We vote closed it and we approved it. I mean, we're just not signing it. We >> voted thing or something. >> No, we just we we're all set. >> Yeah. Perfect. Okay. Unless is there something else
you're adding to it, Brian? Is there another reason to open it? >> Not this time. Good. >> All right. So, Tommy logistics. Uh, let's have it here. Let's start at 6:30.
Let's You've already got the company coming, right? >> Yep. The AV and so the streaming, the uh in-house audio is all set and videos all set >> with that company. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um, and I think we talked about we
really didn't think we had the need for lights outside with the early starting time, the cut down warrant and the fact that it stays light till 8:30 or so. Pretty well. Everyone agree. >> We got some lights at the We got some lights at the library, but we got some
lights in the library now, right? >> Yep. So entrywise, the other question I had was getting back to Mark and seeing if they're anywhere on putting a ramps in.
>> So So that's going to take some time. They did talk that there's no way you get it done. >> So basically the north and south one, they can't get in, >> right? >> All right. How about how about the cleanup? How about the cleanup at the
entryway with some of that cement work there? >> Yeah, we can do that. >> Okay. Smooth out those. All right. >> Babysitting. >> That was another question I had about the babysitting. I think I emailed out about that. That if we're not going wicked long, do we
need it? But we certainly can reach out to and the fact that we're starting early and not going as long might help out because you recall non sometimes they had difficulty staying till the end of the meeting >> and if we're targeting that I think will
be done well before 9 >> and could even be 8 8:30 so it's worth reaching out to the high school and see if I can get somebody and I'm sure we've got what did we do last time we just used a
classroom but maybe even work them into the library. They don't let them use one of their rooms or something or babysitting. >> Or if you got some work to do here, just put them to work. >> Great. Some of the stuff you don't want
to bend down to get done. Yeah. Great. Yeah. Good. But again, um Brian, they're going to reach out to my school and see if they actually have somebody available if you'd like me to. Sure. >> Sure. >> Thank you. What else? Green sheets are going out.
>> That' be the question for advisory sounds. >> I believe they're going to be done the end of this week, >> right? So, typically in the past, um, I did it and Bob Marle did it and last year I think Brian did it. he would add
his little explanation to and try and get it in before the green sheets went out the print. And if we could coordinate that with advisory, I think it'd be very helpful. I mean, obviously some of them, heck, some of the explanations stay the same from year to year, you know.
>> Yeah, I started to >> I started to go through it before the meeting tonight and a lot of them are a lot of them are little tweaks to the to the language, right? But some are repetitious. Yeah. >> Right.
So is that something you can coordinate with um team about? >> Yeah, I can I can ask about it. I think in the I think last year it was a separate document that we put out for the annual and the special so I can
see what see what they want to do. >> Well, mailing out the green sheets. Correct me if I'm wrong, Don. I'm not >> think it's sort of in the time, >> but I mean, I'm not sure it's something
that's required. We do it because we do it. >> I don't think it's required, >> right? So, the fact the format of it, us adding the explanation doesn't, you know, you know, there's not a certain format that has to go out and oh my gosh, you can't put that. Of course, you can.
I'd like to even took an extra day to get out. That's still plenty of time before town meeting. If they arrived when people say they get out to if they're going in the times, they
typically want them Monday as an insert. You know who would know, Becky? You would know because they do the scribe on Maybe Lauren could check with her. >> I know she'll be here, so we can ask her when she's here. She's here tonight.
Yeah, she got the appointment thing. >> Any other concerns for the town meeting? We had a question about a presentation during the town meeting and the chief is here
and entertaining the board's thoughts about what you asked about now meeting you're away comments. So I'm going to have one of my ser who was involved in that incident and the
he's the supervisor of that shift and those officers were working. So I thought it was fitting that he attend standing for me for that since char. >> Now this we did one of these down was the last annual meeting or special town
meeting where we had action up here. We had the fire department. Is this going to be a multi- department thing as well or is it >> the the only I I reached out to um Mike from action to involve um the paramedic who was involved in that one call
>> but it's not going to be a life-saving award like you had in the special forum meeting. >> It's just internal department accommodations. It may involve that one member from action. I wait to hear back from uh Michael. I don't anticipate it taking her long
and one page document for him to >> just have a moment for the officers and I give them >> oh I know and it's good to recognize people too but again you don't want it to get into all of a sudden the town
meeting scheduled for 6:30 starts at 7:30 because we have 12 different things before the actual meeting starts we used to have the Lions Club citizen of the year the garden club gave a thing and >> you used to have an invocation.
>> No, I I'm okay with that. We can do that again. >> Pray over the budget. Might be a good idea >> like at the Memorial Day. Sure. Sure. >> Maybe have them all do it. Maybe it'll help them more, right?
>> Get mana from heaven. Okay. So, >> so we're going to do that or not do that? >> The concern is we don't want to make it we don't want to make it a >> there's got to be a standard, >> right? Yeah. You know, this is good.
Finding a lost dog doesn't come life saving I think is the which it was last time. It was last time and this although this is not a life-saving award, it was >> something that directly affected patient outcome according to the paramedic and I
thought it was >> okay >> in the very least worthwhile internal department accommodation. I think I had sent correspondence back in December about it and I think you suggested maybe saving it
for meeting and again it's a minor thing but I think it's worth recognition. I did a tap talking I can get it to you if you'd like to read it first and then we can >> I got I got it here. >> It can certainly be something less formal than that but I
>> I thought it would be a appropriate thing. >> Okay. Well, let's let's put a pin in it. That does bring up that does bring up a point that you know uh if Rick were here we talk about that as part of the logistics and Don is that something we want to schedule for a
future meeting to have the moderator in as well to make sure that we're >> at least see if he wants to do it right because he runs the meeting. >> Okay. We'll put a pin in that we're going to make bring the moderator in because it's his meeting. So okay.
All right. What else? Herb. This is all the chairs you have. >> Um, this is one of those town meetings where it's tough to prognosticate how many are going to come. We don't have any real there's no real hot button warrant. >> How many chairs?
>> I think the normal 200, you know, which is what you have, right? Ballpark. Yeah. But I can't really say how many will come down. I mean, there's no hot button warrant article, but there might be a concern about the budget per >> What else for the town meeting?
>> Anything? I think there's enough time with those stoves you have in the back room that the staff here could probably get them cooked, baked up. >> Maybe >> they all work, right? >> They don't. Did you disconnect the gas to all of
them or what? >> I don't really those five back there. Are there are they half gas, half electric or how many are in that room back there? >> Oh, >> that room. Yeah, I haven't talked about that one. >> Yeah, they work.
>> There we go. You got three weeks, Brian. I think you'd be able to knock out a few dozen. >> Maybe we stand by looking behind you. Lauren, who's back there? Okay. >> Oh, me, sir. Okay.
>> All right. Other than that though, I think um maybe a further review with the moderator of the town clerk and make sure we're all on the same page what's happening here. Chief, I assume you would do the normal thing. You have somebody here as well.
>> I don't know. And we talked before, you know, about the counting thing, but like I say, nothing is jumping out on the warrant that's going to really predicate that. Uh certainly I have nothing about a secret bell or
anything like that. So this is in one for prior years on this is I think one of the >> this is a quiet I think a quiet town meeting town meeting. Let's wait for the fall the second town meeting. >> All right. So anything else to bring up about the town meeting Brian?
Okay. And Rose will still be coming to this one. Right. Correct. Okay. which dove pea right into town council you've uh se >> thank you really a standard um request for
qualifications that I found many municipalities use to solicit uh responses from prospect prospective uh town councils Um, I went through and I made sure I I changed the town name appropriately because I know Don will find them if I
didn't. So, >> um, hopefully, yeah, hopefully I got them all. Microsoft's got them all. >> And you spelled Hammond, right? That's good. >> Yeah. And who was it, Don? Who came? What was year? Hampton. Hampton.
Hampton. every time. Okay. Um, is this enough time? I mean, obviously we want to get it done before, but I think
>> I think yeah, it's going to be about three weeks, four weeks, three and a half weeks. I I know uh I know I know Rose is trying to sort of phase out sooner than later. So, I don't want to >> don't want to prolong >> Yeah. >> prolong the process. Well, the good
thing is we have nothing ongoing that would require them to stay on. We have literally any cases. >> No. And I think I heard that there's a good chance the assessors are going to try and wrap up their thing. >> Yes. Say there's just the ATB case right
now. >> Okay. >> How do you feel about this? If you look good looking good with Google this
rate themselves or is this their own rating? Oh, >> yeah. The municipal life grant >> experience. Yeah. Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Motion to authorize the town administrator to issue the RQ.
>> Move. >> Second. All in favor? >> I should. >> Okay. Vote and award diesel bed. right here
if the bids were the which typically come through. Yeah. VA, right? The contract may not go out, you know. So that is a stunning number from global. >> Yeah. >> Like they didn't even want the thing. I
mean, look how See that bottom one in the middle there's >> I say it. I hope these numbers are still good, you know, in light of what's going on. But
this why so much No, different column. Sure. >> You don't have spray. >> Okay. So, spray only bit on one. I've got these over here. >> The same. >> Yeah. Look at the same thing here. I
mean, look at look at the global number compared. Like they don't even want the thing. I mean, there's triple the other numbers. >> Yeah. You're the gas diesel one. That's fine. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. There's the gas. >> Where are the gas one?
>> I know. Yeah. It's like they don't want the order. which let me tell you sometimes you send out requests for quotes to places you know are going to >> not come through
plus sometimes they just don't want want they'll bid the best place >> let me ask you a question though Mr. town administrator >> paying attention. >> Yes.
>> Okay. It says here margin and overhead per gallon 7 cents, right? So that's the whatever the going price of gasoline is plus 7 cents.
>> You want gas or diesel? Diesel. >> Diesel. Yeah. which oh trailer which one which is up in the upper left. So that's trailer transport. Okay, I'm with you now. >> There's different delivery types. There's metered pump truck.
>> Okay, >> I'm with you now. back to my weed question. >> If it's $3.50 a gallon at the pump >> and he says the marginal overhead is 8 cents, that's $3.50 8. >> Yep.
>> Okay. And we don't know what. And so the So how do we decide whether contract or not? I guess we just go by the margin, right? By the margin because the bids were based on a spot price. Okay. the marketplace.
>> We're actually seeing we're actually seeing a little more detail than we typically do. Usually lower Piner Valley >> just because of the price, >> right? And they've gone through all the due diligence part of it and we agree with it. >> Right. So So these contracts give us two
options. One is one is the one is the uh essentially the the spot market price plus plus the markup, >> right? All right. The other one is um we could set we do we do have the right to do a a fixed price option
>> at some point in the contract. That's not recommended right now due to the volatility of the >> but wouldn't market >> seem like the fixed thing would be the right thing to do because you know it was going to go up and they're stuck at that price.
>> Well, yeah. >> They think it's going to go down. >> I have no idea what it's going to do. I know it's really high right now, >> right? >> Yes, it is. >> So, so, so this will this contract would allow us >> fixed mortgage or you wanted a uh you know >> variable,
>> right? Why why would they say you shouldn't get it fixed now? >> They're talking the you know how it goes so quick and takes forever to drop back down even when refineries have to come back online the whole thing. I've got a flight scheduled for May and I'm
wondering if the airlines going to still be flying. >> You're not taking us. You're not taking the selection plane. >> We're on camera, Don. Please. >> I thought Eric had that.
Where is he? He's got the sele. So, this contract says that we can the customer may lock on a fixed price anytime between January 1st, 2026 and October 31st, 2026 for the current in contract fiscal year FY27.
So, the low bidder here is is Dennis K. >> Burke gasoline in diesel. When we sign this agreement, we can either stay with this is I'm reading pricing. We can stay with option one,
which is the daily New Haven low uh spot market price plus the overhead >> or between January 1st 206 can lock in. >> Okay. So, let's say at
$4 a gallon now, it's going to they're going to charge us $48 a gallon, right? And May 1st or June 1st, it's at 350 a
gallon. We can go get the fixed price >> on the day that the customer informs of lock on future price. >> Lock on future price. >> Yeah.
fixed futures price program is defined as a settle price for heating oil on the NYMEX that's listed in the Wall Street Journal futures price for January of 2027 the date that the customer informs the vendor to lock on the futures price >> that's the futures price >> y
not the actual price the futures price >> it's the futures price >> so if oil futures are down we could lock in at the lower rate Mhm. >> If they go further down, we don't can't go any further down.
>> But so this is their I say their profit per gallon on top of B price. >> Right. >> Right. >> Now the other thing is that first and what are they suggested? >> You mentioned a price there, but of course we don't pay the tax. >> So our P price is a lot less than what
everyone else is paying at the pump. So >> no different than we don't pay. >> We're probably even coming up less than the pump price even with the 38 cents per gallon. >> Right. >> Federal instinct federal state tax, right?
>> I don't believe so. >> Right. So that 38 cents is well offset by what we're saving. Yes. >> And then we can lock in the we got to like every day you got to get on there and look at the futures market >> like like you do every morning. D
>> somebody can do that. >> All right. Entertain a motion to pass on the option part right now but make a entertain a motion to award the bids to I don't know. Do we have to award the bids? We just we're just acknowledging what Lower Pioneer Valley
does, right? No, we have to it's the contract. >> We agree with theirs. Basically, >> they do the procurement for us. We have to do the contract. >> All right. I'll entertain a motion to do the contract with Burke for both diesel and gas
>> and and charge the administrator of reviewing the options. >> Second favor. >> No discussion. Discussion. I I got I got another question but flipped my little
mind. >> Uhhuh. Okay. >> It was about Oh, no. That was about the lower Pioneer Valley. This is how many pounds are involved in this? >> Well, you can tell here they've even got the Hampshire and Franklin out separately.
>> Oh, you saw that? >> I'm not sure. >> Different prices depending on where you are. >> Yeah. Oh, I see. Oh, yeah. Franklin, Hampshire, >> right? So ours ours have the lowest number because we're closest to the uh the distribution point >> distribution. Right. >> I think they may have taken on pounds.
>> Yeah. >> Oh yeah. Here it is. >> Absolutely. >> It's more apparent on the diesel one where they're broken. Yeah. Franklin's worse. >> Yeah. Their margin is much higher. >> Yeah. They got distance between all the
time. All right. Vote. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I >> by name >> Donald. Yes. I >> I >> don't know what Eric's missing.
>> This is a town hall updates. >> Very complicated. >> How's it going, Herb? >> Very complicated. >> Or both. >> Both. Give it >> right. >> Short and short and sweet.
>> So the old town >> is underwater. >> Yes. >> We have another leak in there. >> Not sure where it's coming from. >> What kind of leak? >> You don't know. Shut up.
>> It's water. Water. It's water. >> We didn't We didn't like strike oil there or anything. We didn't find oil underneath. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, on the bottom, the bottom floor, the
funnel, we vacuum it up. It's weird where it's coming from. So, we did go down and look at it against two eyes on it. Um, it's coming through the concrete wall. We're not 100% where it
pipes that being poured into a wall. then goes up stairs. Um, so anyways, just to make it short and sweet, I shut the domestic water up to the building. It stops a leak, then it's coming out of
domestic water. Now, the furnaces has been shut down. Um, so we're not sure if it's still leaking and it's coming back from the furnace. So, making it way back, gravity downhill. Um, so
we might it might be draining pipes that are working. That's where it seems to be leaving. >> So, um, they shut the water up today, see if it's stillain. Um
if it doesn't if it doesn't stop stop thinking and we know it's not um the other thing I I just wanted to talk to you guys about get your blessings.
So I did I I got a call to to remove the AC units out of it and I just want to make sure that we're clear that we we can go forward with that project. A lot of work be done in house. I do have someone that will recover the
gases um and remove the wiring and remove all piping. We'll do units out there. >> So, you have somebody else for that part now. We don't need
>> um well I have a whole month I got to find out with what we recover. I can I can do the prop I can do the freon recovery for you >> and then if you got somebody else to disassemble and whatever that's fine
>> right so um you get a price to have disassembled >> take them back here use them in this building >> so a lot of go to the back side we got a couple offices
>> so what's over there four or five or >> so right now you have four outside units you have 8 ones on the road side going up to me. There's three heads each. >> Oh, sorry. Four heads.
>> Need to do all the part at that point. Yeah, >> exactly. >> And then we have on your side where Brian's house, but it's two heads. >> The other one, one. So um
so they they can be a value for >> so I just need the you know committee working on it and stuff like that. I just don't get your to do that. >> What type of money you looking for?
>> Uh 25 >> for all of them. Um, pretty good price to move all of here. I don't think they're going to do the free on you. >> Yeah, we have all the recovery system. Wait, that's 134, right? It's probably 134. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. Y >> So, anyways, that's that. So, I just need guys blessing to do that out of there getting that take care of that. Um,
>> the other thing is generator. So, there's been talk about the generator >> so I've been working on Matt Ling and generator. >> He works at Kinsley or is he at Kinsley or? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Um,
so he's on his own now. So he's involved in this as well and has to get that question. I like to do we're going to do this with um it is going to be a significant amount of money to this how they're set
up. So one at the town hall is 60k KWS and one here is 80 kW. >> Is it 80? >> Yes. >> Doesn't mean one's running on gas and one running on diesel. Okay. Running on diesel.
>> The one here is running on gas. >> So the one that's in the boiler room is 80KW. >> Yes. >> Inside. So, so the only thing is my concern is and I even working for the school with
Biblo electric um has made it very clear one we have here is no longer making parts that she >> g so the difference is this
60 kW will carry everything in they already showed me that Um and we need KW can't get birth for it. It's so the difference is one of town
halls only 18 years old one here. >> Back when we were doing the hazard mitigation plan originally and we looked at this place being potentially a shelter. They told me that the generator here was sized enough so it would keep the lights
on enough until the buses got here and the kids could get out. It was never meant to be big enough to operate the building. >> I think so. My concern is this.
The setup that you have here has never operated the entire all the lights. Mhm. >> And so you got different switches in that that bedroom. >> So what happens is once it's here, you'd have to literally go in there, >> turn on all the disconnect, but so it's
hooked up to the kitchen, it's hooked up to the boilers, it's hooked up to um the jet um >> the u fire pans. So, you have to And I I'll be honest with you, I've been in the building for probably 14 13 years
and I've never ever even knew that you had to go and kick them on. So, you have you have lights that come on in the hallways and it does some lighting. Well, um and then you have 20 seconds after the power
goes out, but kick down >> put it back on to the original. >> So, it's not an automatic transfer at all. >> Right. All made >> this is what I'm saying here is even with the 60 this would be automatic >> you would have to do that so what you have out there now is not really
utilities at all >> okay what type of money are you talking about to make the wiring change the first transport and wiring >> it's going to cost some and it's going to cost some money we're talking I don't have a total price yet so what I'm
saying is I like to do this in stages is what we have out there now is nothing wrong. Everything's running good. Everything's doing this what it's supposed to be doing. >> Um, and not putting down on the ver like to get a price to get everything healed.
>> And then we we've talked about just being that generator. Then we go into stage two. >> Stage one would be get it here fencing. It has to be outside. Stage two two would be hook it up to a
switch that's there. Okay. And then stage three would be take everything out of that all those switches that are in there and then put the original the original switch that single switch in there >> over everything. >> Right.
>> But again it is an older generator. Don what was the number for the the fire department one? Was it 40 to 50? Roughly >> $40,000. >> Right. Right. For a new one, right? And then some hookup like 20 something,000 to hook it up. >> Why you hook it up? So
>> in 10 years >> if we're really you couldn't let it go. >> Goodness. >> If we were to now you like say, okay, well, it's going to cost me 30,000 to move it, hook it up. At that point,
we're looking at a like you said 15, 18 year old generator. Is it better to buy new? But if you're saying, "Well, hook everything up. We're gonna talk. Move it. Hook it up. It gets 12 to 15,000 capacity." >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah.
>> I understand that. So, that's what I'm trying to get a sense of if you're saying to move it and hook it up. You're going to need 1012,000. Then it makes sense. Yeah. Pay the money. You still got a decent generator, >> right? But you don't even have like a ballparky at this point. >> No, they're actually looking at it.
Matter of fact, we did a did a tour the other day last Friday and the math numbers together and get it unhook there. >> Mhm. >> Take everything out of there and get it here.
>> All right. So there's a potential that there might be money that was earmarked for another project that could be repurposed towards this because you did quite a bit of savings on the HVAC number
>> for what >> here generator that >> No, I'm saying we if we vote to repurpose that money there's there's money that's not going to be utilized for our HVAC. All right.
All right. So, other update for here. What else you just doing, boy? Where are we with the hallway project? >> So, the hallway project starts in the 29th. Um, this hallway here closed down. We did send an email out to all the
staff members going have to work around that doors in people to get around. >> All right. Is there entry into the health department through the other entryway? Right. >> So this way. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> So only going to affect this hall set up unit. probably down here. >> Well, are we guaranteed need to have it done by the 7th? And the reason I say that because the town meeting is the 11th and if there's some kind of delay
for >> I can guarantee you by the 7th. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We need we need to Yeah. 11th. Okay. >> All right. That's also the proposal from a
for the HVAC >> the proposal from AEG to to do the HVAC work, HVAC work, >> right? So, it's not on the agenda per se to vote that. I mean, do we have until next week to do it?
Is the bid is the number good until next week? >> Yeah, it's going to delay it'll delay the project by a week, but >> Well, I worry that we're awarding a $200,000 bid and it's not on the agenda. >> Okay. Yeah. 2020 grants.
>> Yeah, that's 200. Yeah, >> we can add that to next week. >> Okay. >> Right. No problem. >> Okay. Next on the agenda is the Council on Aging board member. >> Hi Becky.
>> Good. We wanted to pick your brain. >> Yes. One thing we were talking before about the about sending out the green sheet and when do you have to get the scribe to the times for insertion? >> Is it Monday, Friday?
>> Really? >> Yep. So like if we send we'll send this to this week >> run the following week >> Thursday at noon and it will be in the following week the following papers.
>> Wow. So if they want the green sheet before how many on the 11th? >> They'd want it in on the 7th at the latest or the 30th. They'd have to have it to them by the Thursday of this week.
>> Well, that'll be a question for advisory, I guess. All right. Thank you for your knowledge and the floor is open. Senator is here member interested in being appointed to the CEO.
There we go. So I leave it to the board chair. We have the captain. Okay. So, I will also attend that meeting virtually and I think the board was unanimous in recommending Kathleen.
You're from Tall Pines, right? >> I am. >> So, um I think she background is right in line with what we're looking for. Um I would certainly entertain a motion of the board to appoint
Kathleen to the uh COA board. Becky, do you have a sense of the terms right now on the board? >> Yes or no? You can't comment at this time.
>> All right, fine. >> Yeah, we don't know. Oh, we all have a term limit. >> Okay. >> You have a term. >> You know what I'm saying? >> I know. Uh second. All those in favor? >> I >> appointed to a three-year term uh
beginning now until >> three years. >> Three years from now. Yeah. So, you still have an under 60 opening? >> Yes. >> Okay. And you're eating the bushes looking for somebody? >> We are.
>> Are you? >> Great. Great. >> All right. Well, thank you for coming in. >> All right. We have Oh my gosh, Dan. We're almost right on time for you, Dan.
We're right on time for you. >> Easy. Have a couple quick policies for you. Very simple. >> I have a question. How many policies do we have? >> That's our thought. >> Yeah. Right.
>> It's broken into sessions. >> Right. I recall I recall Chief Farnsworth coming in with some revisions as things change and then Scotty would come in as well with some and I'm sure you take them home at night and look them over for an opportunity to update them.
>> I thought so. So just the first two out of 150. All right. >> Tell us about these. One amendment difficulty of the changing law and the second one was a new policy based on adopting a mental health
funding policy 146 but reporting abuse success forces to get us more in line with current mass general law. There was an update to what's called do need to intervene. >> So that was right into heading on this policy. It was not
>> right. >> It existed in the policy in a smaller form. >> It wasn't a heading. I also had to add in the presentation standard that it meets. So that's in the upper left hand part.
>> So duty to intervene. something that came out relatively recently with the law enforcement over the last few years. So, we just needed to update the policy to get in mind with that. And again, was already spoken to briefly in the policy,
>> right? >> I just wanted to get it more up to speed with latest updates that we've got from the police training council. >> Okay. >> The existing policy. >> All right. So motion to approve the two new policies uh the chief has brought
for sorry the revision policy and the new policy the chief has brought forward >> before I second that >> really in 35 words 50 words or less because I know you time or push push on time make it 35
okay 35 words or less just quickly tell folks what the mental health policies about clinician policy It's too he took out a response clinician with a grant from CHD. So that shared between
Wilberham and Hampton Police Departments. >> So that clinician is now working five days a week in the two towns. >> She's in Wilberham four days a week in Hampton one day a week. Um just to assist us with responses to people in
mental health crisis. So, and that can also go into some substance abuse as well if it's related to mental health. Um, she's actually available all five days of the week. She has a radio. She has a a vest that she can wear. She's able to
respond to calls with the officers if need be or to do follow. So, pretty valuable to us follow. >> Okay. So we need a policy that >> and she's paid through the grant.
>> She is paid by CHD and she's essentially on loan as a response and >> administer second all those in favor. I I >> quickly as we're running out of time the three of you Mark. Yeah. Where are we
with the flag at the town old town hall which was mentioned online? Somebody mentioned that the flag was in bad shape. Doesn't the police department you used to be tasked with checking out the flags? The >> police.
>> No, no, I'm sorry. No, no. Condition. Flag condition. >> Oh, condition. >> Yeah, >> you saw that online. Somebody mentioned they felt he was in bad shape. >> I look pretty good. >> No, take a look. Somebody was mentioning that it was in bad shape. Like, okay,
great. And quickly while you're here, Mark, where do we stand with the loader? So I want to present that. >> Okay. >> All right. Typically with 90, do we have to front it and apply for reimbursement?
Right. Check with Dick and make sure we got money. If not, the assessors have it. Right. You have money, right? You have plenty of money in your department, right, Phil? Tons. Thank you.
All right. Is there anything from We have seven minutes. Uh, yes, I have two. I have two uh requests for permit to operate a one-day food service establishment, Honeybeard Tea and Biscati.
would like to do that on uh someday April 25th 2:00 p.m. 11 to 2 p.m. >> Is that part of the library day library thing? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. All in favor? >> I
>> Okay. And I have a similar request from somebody from the Daily Bread Baking Company for the same date and it's also for the same event, the Earth Day Expo event. Motion to approve. Second. All in favor?
I. Okay. Brian. Um, just one quick thing. Um, I will be meeting myself and conservation agent Josino will be meeting with Opacum Land Trust. You
recall this goes back many, many, many years that they're trying to acquire a property on Chapen Road. >> Isn't that the one where they had a second property that was kind of like a butt up next to it? >> Yeah. As part of a fourth legacy grant. >> Yeah. >> Um, I'm told that is that's their final
stages with um the state. So, we're going to have a coordination uh >> likely within the next three months. I think I think the grant deadline uh requires uh Opacum to to take title within uh the next three months. So,
it'll likely move pretty quick, but we're going to have a coordination meeting on Thursday. >> All right. We got we or >> I think I'll make a motion to adjourn when the advisory journal. Yeah. All right. So the next thing on
our agenda is we are going to attend the advisory committee meeting meeting which is the public hearing on the 2026 annual town meeting warrant. Uh we are not going to adjourn. We are going to have a motion to have an adjournment when the
advisory adjourns their meeting. So we still will be in session. We'll be answering questions if they have them of us. We'll sit in the front row, the back row, wherever they tell us to sit and we're fine with that. So, I'll entertain a motion to schedule an adjourment when
the advisory. So, we'll second. All in favor? >> I I All right. Good. Good evening everybody. >> Hi. >> Could we if everybody could sit down please? Would we would like to get started? Mic.
>> Yes. >> All right. Uh my my name is Doug Boyd. I'm the co-chair of the advisory committee. Uh this is the public hearing uh which we are required to have uh of the warrant
which is coming up for town meeting on May 11th. Uh if anybody needs copies of the documents are up front here on the table. Uh couple of things before we get into the warrant itself.
Uh let me uh first off uh explain to people who are not familiar with this process that we have to assemble a budget for presentation to town meeting uh in an environment where the state has
not passed its budget. So we don't know what we're going to receive. the schools have submitted a request uh and yet they have not uh their budget has not been established by the state either.
Um so there's a bit of a Ouija board that goes on here as we try to figure out what the revenues are going to look like. What we do know is that we have the 2 and a half% levy. It's it's based
upon the valuation of the town's property. The the levy uh the 2 and a half% levy is $400,122. That's how much Proposition 2 and a half will allow us to increase the taxes
without an override. In addition, uh we are estimating that there will be new growth uh of $150,000 New growth is any any uh new properties or improvements to existing properties
which increase the the assessed values of the property. We're using 150,000. That's that's the average of the last three years. Um in addition, we have what's known as an excess levy capacity. that is um
money that could have been levied in previous years within the 2.5% limit that we as a town chose not to. That's an excess levy capacity. Uh that number is currently $424,335.
If you add all three of those up, you come up with $974,000 in change. That's the that's the taxing capacity that the town has without going to an override.
Um, let's now look over onto the the request side for for uh the money side of it. the the the requests from all the town departments including the school department.
Uh it's an increase of $819,976. And actually that number is going to be a little bit different because we just had a correction of a couple of lines here. But uh give you a sense of of what we're looking at here. So we have a a taxing
capacity of 974,000. We have a request to increase the expenses of $819,000. If we were to use all of that taxing capacity next year,
we would be limited to the 2 and a half% plus any new growth because we would have exhausted the excess capacity figure. So, let this serve as an early warning for everyone that that we'll get through this year. Next year is going to be a
challenge. If the if the trajectories hold true, and there's no reason to think they won't. The revenues will continue to increase very modestly. Expenses are increasing much more quickly. two lines are
intersecting at a point where we'll either have to reduce services or we'll have to pass an override next year. Um, with that, uh, let me just address a couple of the procedural things. Um,
there there's been some discussion about why this public hearing is happening on a school vacation week. Um, we have to get our green sheets and everyone if you're not familiar with your green sheets, you will be soon.
These have been these have been published by the advisory committee for years and it's the recommendations that the advisory committee makes on all the articles which are coming before town meeting. We have to vote after tonight's meeting. We the advisory committee have to
actually vote our recommendations on all the articles. We have to revise all the documents. We have to get them submitted to the printer. They're they have to be printed, brought back to Turley publications for for distribution.
Turley is now using the uh the Republican for um printing their paper. um when we back up from town meeting of May 11th, this is when we have to have our town meeting in order to accomplish all of those steps and to actually get
the green sheet produced and out to people in time for town meeting. Um secondly, um in the era of social media, everybody uh has the opportunity to weigh in on the various social media
sites. uh advisory committee doesn't have a soul committee site. Um as long as I'm involved with it, we won't. The it it's no way to do governance is for members to weigh in individually on a social
media site without the input of their board. I would suggest that for any of us to weigh in on any issues on any social media sites would be inappropriate because we don't have the authority. We're we're members. were individual members of a committee.
Um, so that's why you you haven't seen any postings from anybody on this committee and I suspect going forward you won't either. Before we get into the actual warrants, does anybody have any questions about what I've just discussed? Yes.
So you said this 815 does that work out to about a 5% increase something was two and a half >> 5% increase of what >> you gave us two numbers
400,000 levy 424,000 have those two together. >> Yeah. >> One's two and a half and the other one's close to two and a half. That's about >> Well, you're talking about an increase on your
tax bill. >> Yes. Yeah, you you can't you can't correlate the the increase on the the tax um directly to an increase on your tax
bill. And the reason is that in the fall uh we have another town meeting where we actually make a decision as as a town. There's recommendation is the town meeting vote on how to handle
any what's called free cash. School school departments call it excess and deficiency. Towns call it free cash. It's the same difference. It's it's excess revenue. In the fall, we make a determination on what to do with that free cash. And we often will apply
some of that free cash to reduce the tax rate. So, we may increase spending by four and a half or 5%. But in the fall, we may be able to apply some free cash in a way to reduce the increase on the taxes. Does that make sense, Dick?
>> Last year, every $140,000 was about 1% on the tax rate. The reason the math didn't quite work is the 400 that he was referring to isn't on the tax rate. It's on the lending limit which is a higher number. Every
140,000 to spend is 1% tax close. Anything further before we start? All right. Uh looking at the warrant, we have uh article one which are the town reports. If anybody has any any comments as we're going through these, please
speak up. Uh and you you'll notice that this is going to be handled by way of a consent agenda which we started doing last year, the moderator started doing last year. Uh article two are the spending limits for the revolving funds.
Article three, it's the library additional state aid. Article four is the assessor's funding for statemandated programs. Actually, are we going to be able to do that as a consent consent agenda? That has a
dollar figure in it. >> We did it last year. >> Really? It worked last year. Um, article five, report of the old town house committee. Article six is chapter 90, state highway
8. The reason those get put into a consent agenda is they tend to be, you know, standard articles which have to be passed as a matter of procedural um appropriations and authorities, but there's really not issue with any of
them. Um, article seven is the annual operating budget. Um this what you have in front of you um is a spreadsheet that shows expended funds
from FY2025 appropriated funds for the current year and requested funds for next year FY27. What I'm going to do is I'm going to go through each of these lines.
Uh, and I will be reading each of the dollar figures that's been requested. Um, because I am I will be looking down. If anybody has any any comments, please just speak up and we'll we'll deal with the question as we're going through. So 1.1
uh is salary, $42,26 for the accountant. 1.2 2 is the assistant, $13,275. 1.3 expenses, $10,000. 1.4 software, $7,000. Total accountant,
$72,31. 2.0 is the advisory committee. Clerical 2.1, $6,151. expenses of $100 total advisory $6,351 8.0 is the board of appeals clerical $9,580
3.2 expenses $300 total appeals $9,880 4.0 The board of assessors salaries 4.1 $20,295 4.2 principal assessor $86,568
4.2.2 2 clerical $29,5 expenses $4,500 4.5 software support $17,38 4.6 Six mapping maintenance $2,500.
4.7 utility valuations $8,000. Total assessors requested $168,177. Five points. Yes. Question. scholar. >> The um both of those positions have new
people in them. Um because they are they are new people, they came in at a lower level on the the salary steps bands. And for salaries, what's the formula that you're using
>> where we requested that department use a 2.5% increase for non-bargains any bargains employees. It's whatever the contract is requesting. Um 5.0 building expenses, building
department expenses. 5.1 Code and General Enforcement 26,47 5.2 Inspector 79,222 5.3 clerical 37,67 5.4
uh inspector's expense $3,500 office expense $1,860. Total building department request $148,596. 6.0 County retirement
um total requested $958,44. assessed amount that >> I believe this is the discounted amount. No, no, I'm sorry. This is this is the assessed amount. What what what Don is referring to is
that the Hampton County Retirement sends us an assessment letter. Um and if we pay it before a certain date, they give us a discount. Um just the first six months, right? the first half year.
>> Yeah, the assessment is two payments one July 30th January 1st. You pay the whole thing by July 30th. You can pick up about 4%. Say it's about money 10,000 if we have the cash in July, >> right? And it's something that we've done uh every year for the past several
years because it is a significant amount of money. Um I'm sorry, there was a question over here. Um, we saw a year 20% increase from 25 to 26 for funding on that. Can you explain why there's an
additional $30,000? >> I'm sorry. Which line are you looking at? >> Well, how much time do you have? >> County retirement. County retirement. I, you know, to say it's a request is is is a misnomer. It's a demand that we receive from the the Hamlin County
Retirement Board. This is the amount of money that we have to pay. This is based on a a formula u as of October 1st of the previous year. Whatever our payroll is
um that's that's the the snapshot is taken as of October 1st and it's now is it 36% Dick? Is that what the assess amount is? 37. So the county the county assessment is
37% of payroll. So for every every $100 we have to contribute 37 into the retirement account. >> This full-time well regular regular employees that are considered full-time which by law is considered 20 hours or
more of regular employment. Don 8%. >> Well that's why I asked how much time you have. Don said plus the 8%. Hammond County retirement is grossly underfunded. They've overpromised and
underfunded for years. And the legislature several years ago um passed a law requiring the the retirement and the several retirement uh funds around the state to start bringing
them up to uh more closely rep so that the funding more closely reflects the the expenses that they're going to be paying the retiree benefits. So there's an 8% search charge included in that county
retirement assessment to make up for that previous years of underfunding. All right. Anybody I know it's a going to be going a lot inside baseball here, but anybody have any questions on that?
All right. Um, moving on. 7.0 insurance. Uh 7.1 property and liability uh 247,520 7.2 employee benefits uh 899,713. Let me just stop here to say we we put
um employee health insurance under employee benefits. um as we're disability, dental, health insurance, life, all all those things go under um employee benefits. The health
insurance, the town's a member of the Scantic Valley uh regional trust, which is something it's a health insurance trust that's been in existence for quite a few years now that does a very good job, frankly, managing uh the insurance
for the towns. Well, they voted an 11% increase this year. Um, I actually um pick my point over here because Dick is the town treasurer. I actually asked Dick to get the health insurance figures because it is a big
bump and it's a big number. Um the the town pays 75% of the health insurance for employees. And with this increase, somebody who's receiving Blue Cross on a family plan,
the town's contribution is going to go up to $24,021 a year for a family plan under Blue Cross. Um the employee share of that would be $8,07. as for a family plan. So I mean it's a
big number. Um and you know the last few years it actually has held level. Uh so for this year to see the 11% of it is kind of an unfortunate jump but uh it is what it is. Um
any any questions before we move off of that? Yes. >> Yeah. I would suggest that you keep all of this in mind when you vote. The um 7.3 unemployment compensation
requesting $10,000 total insurance 1,157,233. Uh 8.0 law and claims requested amount $50,000. 9.0 the moderator he didn't really request it but we're
carrying forward last year $100. Uh 10.0 planning board uh 10.2 2 the $42,152 expenses 10.3 $1,100 total planning board $43,252
11.0 register order registars 11.1 salaries $979 11.2 2 election expenses $25,000 11.3
street lists $3,500 total registars $29,479. Um there's a bump in that because there's going to be uh two elections this year that the registars are going to have to
run. Uh 12.0 Z selectman uh 12.1 salaries $12,156 12.2 administrative assistance $71,381 12.4 Expenses $20,000 12.5 Legal advertising $4,000
12.6 Six, mapping maintenance, $3,000. 12.7 Temporary help, $15,000. 12.8, Storm Water Management, $45,000. 12.9
town meeting support, $17,000. Total selectment, $187,537. 13.0 0 tax collector 13.1 salary $49,726 13.2
clerical $35,830.3 Expenses $3,500 13.4 Four, computer maintenance, $5,000. 13.5 tax title work, $2,500.
Total tax collector, $96,556. 14.0. Town clerk. Uh, salary 14.149,726. 14.2 2 clerical 39,471 14.3 records officer $12,272 14.3 expenses $1,750 14.4 Four town publications $100. Total
town clerk $13,319. 15.0 The town reports $4,000 16.0 trigger salary $59,800. Clerical 13,275.
16.3 Expenses, $1,600. 16.4 Certifying Notes, $1,000. 16.6 Tax Title Work, $11,000.
16.7 Payroll Service, $10,000. 16.1 Zero, Records Management, $2,000. Total treasurer $98,675 17.0 Veterans Benefits $20,000
19.0 Town Administrator $148,625 total general government 3,32,125 20.0 0 Academy Hall Maintenance $5,500 Cemetery Commission 21.1 Clerical $16,42.2 Expenses $500
21.3 maintenance $32,500 21.4 Computer Maintenance $2,100. Total Cemetery Commission $51,52. Uh 22.0 The Conservation Commission clerical 22.1
$45,497. 22.2 expenses $1,543. Total conservation uh 20 excuse me, $47,40. uh transfer station 23.0 23.2 is monitoring testing. You'll
notice a big drop in that. Uh $50,000 total transfer station uh $50,000. Uh 24.0 school building repairs. Uh nothing's requested.
Uh 26.0 Zero library 26.1 salaries materials and books uh $219,54 the total library uh 27.0 town events $3,500
29 29.0 office equipment acquisition 29.1 20,000 22 20 excuse me 29.2 2 maintenance 5,000 29.3 supplies 12,500
29.4 postage 27,500 29.5 information technology $60,000 29.6 Six website $10,500 total office equipment $135,500
uh 30.0 and wreck yes >> on 29.5. Um do we have something on that Brian? I don't recall off top of my head. Um although so we have a contracted ID vendor those are that's a combination of
all cost vendor and also purchase of >> um I think I think that >> anything else. John the Windows operator was obvious ahead of time because they um that's fine. Um
okay, parks and wreck 30.1 salaries um $82,238 30.2 Two, operating expenses $17,500 30.9 scrape part $15,000 30.3 director 54,430
total parks and wreck $169,178 32.0 Z townhouse maintenance. Um, keep in mind we're now referring to this building. Uh, 32.1 custodial, uh, $20,000.
32.2 maintenance and repairs, $35,000. Heat and utilities, $100,000. Fro always won. Facil 32.4 facilities manager $79,970. Total townhouse maintenance $234,970.
34.0 Z the ambulance $349,180. Uh 35.0 gasoline 35.1 purchase 55,000. Uh 36.1 gasoline expenses 10,500.
Total gasoline 65,500. 36.0 0 street lighting $32,000. Uh 37.1 uh there's a correct thing here. There's an error that was made. The director salary the numbers were transposed here.
It looks it should be 96,859 37.2 Who? General salary $126,948. >> Yes. >> What number is that, Becky? >> 1286. >> 128586. Okay. Just so everybody's aware. So line item
request general salary 37.2 is 128,586. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. >> Sorry. Um, can you explain why the director's salary is double? >> Well,
there was a what we what we refer to as the Collins study. There's a there's an institute at UMass called the Collins Institute. They were retained by the town. I don't know when was that six or seven years ago, maybe longer to do a
salary assessment within our within the town um and essentially do a comparison to surrounding communities. So we we refer to it as the Collins Collins report and the all of pretty much all the
positions in town fell into one of the spots on that column report. And so when whenever there's a position which either a person is in or a person is being hired into, we refer to the Collins
Collins report for determining where they should be placed. So in in the case of the director salary for the council on the aging, she's been in that position for 20 23 years. Um obviously
she's on the higher end of the scales. Um Parks and Wreck has been in that position for was it two years? Yeah. Three years. >> Two years. Um, so there there's there's a discrepancy both in terms of the the
length of service as well as where they started in terms of the where they were rated in terms of valuation on the salaries, right? And that's something that we, you know, as a town, we we try to um be competitive
with surrounding communities. We don't want to we don't want to lose people to surrounding communities. But we also don't want to overpay people. We want to be fair to the taxpayers. So what we refer to the Collins study, we're trying to balance the both of those competing
interests. Anything else before we continue? Um all right. So we're down. I'm not going to do the total numbers because they're changing. Um but expenses 37.37,550
37.4 senior ride service $5,591. So obviously that total council upon aging number will will be changed to reflect those uh revisions or corrections.
Uh 38.0 the senior center uh 38.2 two utilities, $26,000. 38.3 This number uh needs to be corrected. The number should be $18,250. That's 38.3.
So obviously the total senior center number will also be different. >> Um 30 39.0 the historical commission $400. Uh I'm not going to read the total dental service figure because that obviously has changed.
Um highway department 40.0 Z superintendent salary uh $111,837 uh 40.1 departmental payroll $314,372 41.0 tree warden uh 41.1 expenses 53,450 41.1.2
2 salary $7,680. Total tree warden $61,130. 42.0 public grounds total request $4,385. 43.0 Highway maintenance expenses 43.0.
Total request $65,672. 43.1 paving $250,000. Total highway maintenance $315,672. Uh 44.0 general highway expense. Total request $20,300. No ice removal $125,000.
Let me just take a minute to do a quick explanation on this for people who are new to this. By by state law, for reasons which have never made any sense to me, we cannot reduce that number. So once we as a town put a snow and ice number in the budget,
we we cannot reduce it. So over the past several years, we bumped that up. That used to be down at was like 25 or $50,000. Uh and what we've done is we we've edged that up. And the reason the reason that
the number almost doesn't matter is that's one of the few line items that can be deficit spent with a vote of the select board. Um and the current deficit on the snow and ice is what is about 200 a little
over 200,000 that'll be picked up out of free cash. Um but that snow and ice is 125,000 simply to apply something towards what we know is going to be a big number.
Um, find my place here. Prime track services 46.0. Street sweeping 46.1 $22,800. 46.2. Catch basin cleaning $30,400.
I believe um I believe Mark found a new contractor for that catch basin cleaning. I don't know if Mark is here or not, but >> yeah. >> Um, is that what it was? Was that a new contractor? >> Kind of a new cont, you know, we're not we're not using sand
>> for treatments like like we used to. So, um, these basins don't have the set that they once had. So, thought it would be a good time to appreciate, you know, off of that. Also be in the position where if we do have
another company come in um that was able to >> I figure we had we didn't reduce the number of catch basins, so something had to change. Um >> we never uh total contract services for highway
$53,200 47.0 Z other highway accounts 47.1 road machinery maintenance $24,000 48.0 building expenses 48.1 expenses and utilities $16,250
49.0 zero radio lease agreement $10,000. Uh total highway department 1,56,146. Um moving on to protection of persons and property 50.0 animal inspection
salary 50.1 requested $3,21 50.2 2 expenses $10,200. 50.4 wildlife control $2,500. Uh total animal inspection $6,721.
51.0 Emergency Management requested amount $6,200. 51.5 Traffic Control requested amount $15,000. 52.0 The dog officer 52.1 animal control
$15,365 Dog damage fund 52.2 amount requested $500. Total dog officer $15,865. 53.0 Z fire department. Um 53.1 Fire
Chief salary $34,375. 53.2 Fire Chief expenses $1,500. 53.3 Operation $75,000. 53.4 Equipment $16,500. 53.5
Training Stipen $32,000. Um, not going to read those other ones. Those are new account numbers that we're using. But fire officer stipen $12,354. Fall reimbursement $65,000.
Fire department salaries $219,973. Clerical $21,161. Uniforms, $6,464. Uh 53.1 EMS supplies, $3,000. 53.11
training reimbursements, $2,500. Total fire department, $489, $828. 54.0 forest fire control 1 $800 56.0 the board of health 56.1 shared
health services um no request for that this year moved is that correct the um >> coverage >> oh grants okay grant funded um 56.2 2
coordinator 56 excuse me $58,318 56.3 expenses $3,000 56.4 Four, health nurse, no request. Total board of health, $61,318. 56.5. The water district,
um, that number correct? 565.1. Is that the correct number? Sorry. U operations $25,000. Uh testing $4,000. Total water district
$29,000. Uh 57.0 the police uh 57.1 salary chief salary $118,450. 57.2 2 general salaries 1,224,028 57.3 maintenance of the cruisers 16,795 57.4 General expenses 98,935
57.6 Six training $50,000 57.5 new cruiser $70,000. Yes. Uh, I'm sorry I missed that last.
>> Well, yeah, I think so. They take good care of it. Um, the historically the the police department aimed at 100,000 miles on a cruiser. um
couple of years ago um the request of a citizen I don't know if she's here tonight haven't seen her but there was a citizen suggesting that we look at the mileage and we looked at a bunch of things and we made a recommendation that that
number be increased 125,000 the number the mileage on this cruiser I don't remember off the top of my head does anybody remember what I don't know if it's the chief chief do you about the mileage is on the cruise that you're replacing.
>> I have two of them, two of my frontline producers that are over 100,000 right now. >> All right. So the so the one you're looking to replace is one of those, >> right? >> Uh so that answers your question on the the cruiser. The other I'm sorry, the
other one was on the train. No. Um that is to cover that line unfortunately has been underfunded to cover state and training state and training for all by officers. So annual inservice training that they were required to attend by the state. Um the
number was was >> that's the revolvers looking for new kinds. That's a request to replace fire. Not >> they're working. they are past the
recommended service level. And >> um just just before we leave that training that training line um you you may be familiar with the post commission um post commission
issued requirements that we have to meet all of which costs more than they than it used to. So, that's an increase on that training line, and I suspect that's a line that we won't see go down going forward.
Um, 57.8 is the career incentive pay, otherwise known as the Quinn bill. 130,158. 57.9 uh building maintenance. And is is that
expense? That what EXP is on there? >> Expenses. Expenses 80,168 total requested for the police 100 excuse me 1,810,534 58.0 Z other police accounts 58.1 election in town meetings $4,244
uh 58.3 WLEC $375 total other police accounts 4,619 total police request 1,815,153 59.0 0 police and fire communications
31,679 59.1 police fire dispatch services $125,000 total protection requests 2,597,50064 Yeah% speaking onward dispatchers Let me let me let me ask you a question.
How long have you been in town? >> No. Okay. Then then you're familiar with the regionalization of of our dispatch services. Dispatch is currently regionalized in Wilberham. Prior to regionalization, we were paying just under $500,000 a year for our own
dispatch for police and fire. by going into regionalization. There's a state grant which has defayed much of that cost but not entirely. This 125 is our share of the unfunded portion of that.
Um and >> it is it is what it is. Um the the grant grant is for five years. First three years state 125,000 each year. The second
fourth year, excuse me, the first three years they paid 125,000. The fourth year we have paid $63,000 50% of that. The fifth year was 92,000. This year right now
joint cultures over the course of five years cost us 250 million 2.5 million paid 20 Um, anything further on the before we
move on? No. Um, so total protection number 2,597,564. Uh, schools 69.0 regional school district 69.1. The assessment, the request from the
schools is 9,424,428 dollars. Total regional school district request 9,424,428. John, >> I can speak to the second. Yes. In October, over the course of just a few days, I had many people email me this
document called a perfect storm. Cities and towns face historic financial pressures to go forth from the mass Massachusetts municipal location to be a very tough year by cities and towns across Massachusetts. that entire
sentences are referred to the cities in town and from Massachusetts provide many of our most essential public services including everything from clean water and safe streets to high quality schools and dependable emergency services. These are quality of life services that impact
the lives of residents today. Offering v vital services requires substantial expertise, consistent leadership and adequate funding. Guess I would say we got two of three. Um, we didn't really get the funding. This is uh a document
that talks a lot about the strains that towns have been under which are very similar to the strains that districts have been under. essentially um the state not really providing significant increases that are able to keep pace with some of the page drivers that we
have but health insurance that we talked about earlier which is schools much like district. Anyways earlier in the process um we began with the goal of bringing forward a level services budget. um brought forward a budget that um
receiving feedback from the town as we could see was not going to fit within this bit of a perfect storm. Between the year between the months of January and March, we reduced that level service
budget by $2.9 million. That included 10 positions and eight incidents. um that uh last week we issued an
additional 19 subs in case the budget doesn't pass. So I guess I just wanted to say that for everyone here supporting this budget is I remember coming to the district sitting in the old town hall
and Mr. Davenport saying okay Mr. Superintendent, now is the time for us to begin um bringing this this district to number one in the state. Well, at that time, Green Meadows was about in the middle. You get ranking every year.
Between that time and now, it's it's the ranking has gone from say middle of the pack to 77%. And I think, you know, with 10 position reductions, maybe we'll be able to drink water, but with 19
additional, there's no way. There's no way. So, it's really important that this budget pass. And thank you for supporting it in in I just hope everyone supports the budget. >> John, just so it's clear, in the budget request, which you've which the school
committee has voted, what does what reductions does that include? the the 10 positions I was talking about. >> Yeah. And what are those positions? >> So, um they're three instructor division. It's one P position and it's a
number of positions uh that happen to be vacant at the time because of um retirements or transitions that we decided to not fill. Some of those are in maintenance department. Um couple of those were class size that we actually
hope to um put in next year to address crowding schools that we just won't >> and and the the additional pink slips which you you granted that that's that you issued. That's that's in the event that the budget is comes out at a lower
figure than you've requested. That's correct. >> And and what are those positions? >> One of the kindergarten leaders who live town. My kids as well. I was so happy to come to work where I
live and my community and had a wonderful year. We don't want to leave it. Amazing. It's just heartbreaking people I work with. >> But to answer the question correctly, the drag of the other 19 positions was
all teachers hired after August 25th, which is the start of this year. >> So that's an additional 19 positions. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Okay, hold on one second. Phil had something.
You said the green medals went to the top is also in the 70s. I want to say it's like 72 73 74 somewhere around there. >> Middle school is 60. Well, I still have a second. You said
there were 10 slips first, but there's really only three because the others are on position. >> Correct. Correct. >> And and some of those are because you have a person infected and a person. >> Well, it's four positions of faculty
positions that are currently filled. Um and student income we're about 28 to 175 right now the same basically
>> there's a question over here >> um I teach um wonderful here I teach in a district which had some money mismanagement two years ago we paid slipp1 staff members and we are flat rate So we need to
support our schools because it is awful large. Our classes are 30 minute class and we really need to think about this. >> Yeah. Um my question I think it's along the same lines is with these additional
these additional cuts these additional what does that do to our class sizes in our grades and what additional concerns does that bring you and how are we able to maintain our quality growth in terms
of where we stand in schools if we're eliminating resources well every additional reduction would increase in class size. Every increase in class size would make it hard for our class size. I think
>> we're above uh the state average right now. We just added half the level. Um it varies by grade level. Right now, and this someone said there's reasons right now the school that has a large
class size is our middle school. some of their uh there's actually just the MSBA application so that class four classes think high
estimated what the estimated that number is well it really depends where the reduction go and how much the budget is off I scale by $1 would be minimum if it
by half a million. >> I have a question. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> So, I have a question. The the kindergarten teacher just spoke and said she got a pink slip. So, there's only two kindergarten classes at Green Meadow. So that'll be one kindergarten
class with all the children that are coming in. >> Well, there would not 100% be the outcome, >> right? >> Again, depend on how much the budget failed. It was large failure then.
>> Yeah, that was a smaller failure than choices. >> Correct. Um right now that's how it stands but there is also the possibility we move the you know resources from other buildings in order to cover things
but at some point you can only >> cover things you know resources so far you end up with gaps somewhere to the future foundation depend on Hold on one second. Lisa, Lisa, do you have
something above and beyond bring in school? story. I find a better way. Find a way. Can you tell me what this is right now
for enrollment? Um it's roughly 8020. >> Yeah. Yes, I'm sorry. Thank you for waiting. What What's your question, please? >> And is it something that >> um well, no, there is no contract and
there is something that carried in the budget which um we don't know what the number is. It's a number that they think is something with that's within reason. Um, frankly, beyond that, I don't think tonight's the appropriate place to go
down that path. >> Yeah. Yeah. Any anything else? I I do there's a couple things I want to say, Lisa. >> Understand that you're no longer going to have instructional coaches. There are three that you're not going.
>> That's correct. budget passes. I'm not really there. And so this couple stability. So, we're already successful. We are they start with the elementary schools.
>> Um, let let me add a couple of things. Um, starting with the fact that there's a there's a finance and operations subcommittee that the school committee has. Um and on that subcommittee there are representatives in both and
Wilberham as well as the administration and school committee and we start meeting in was it December. Um and we we have these discussions at a pretty granular level in terms of what you know what each community is going to be able
to support in that year. Um so this is not the first time when we received this assessment letter that that we know you know we see a number. Um the regional agreement calls for
um the allocation between the towns to be determined by the enrollment split as of October 1st each year. for years and years and years that was 25% 75%. Uh with the with the shifting of green
of Thornon Burgess to Green Meadows and to Wilberham Middle School and the initiation of litigation that shifted and it dropped down to uh last year or maybe it's this year just under 19% or just over 19%.
Each 1% shift in the in the budget is roughly what was it? 360 $380,000 something like that. This year that pendulum started swinging back in the in the direction of Hampton.
So the assessment which we received has roughly a 1% increase in it over and above the normal assessment. Um the other half of that statement is that for the past three or four or five years, Wilberham has been experiencing
the same thing that's been the pendulum was going in their direction. So they were picking up a larger and larger share of the increase in the assessment. So that's why this year the Hammond's ability to contribute to the state to to
the school budget is the limiting factor in the school's budget. Uh the last few years, Wilraham's ability to pay was the limiting factor. Um the last thing I want to say is and it goes
to the comments that you made about remembering when it's time to vote is the legislature in this current administration has not been supporting public education. a a larger and larger share of the responsibility for paying for education
has been shifted to the cities and towns. We we are what's known as a hold harmless district because we have declining enrollment. What that means is that the increase that we receive through the the state school funding
is is it's a flat figure. The the governor put in a request for $75 per student increase in the budget. The legislature, are they looking for 150 per student? >> 160. It's an improvement, but it doesn't go anywhere near covering the actual
costs, the increase in cost of educating students. Um, I don't have it off the top of my head, but the per pupil expenditure is somewhere up around 20. >> How much? >> Thought it was 18,000 and some change.
Yeah, I think it's over 20,000 per student now on the per capita uh the per student expenses. >> Um so do remember when it's time to vote that the people who are representing us um could be doing a better job.
The amount that we as a town can afford to pay is being stretched to the limit. And assuming that we can pay it, that we have the the capacity within the budget to raise the funds,
the the other part of the consideration is the impact on the people that are paying the bills. In this current year, our taxes in town went up about 10%. The average tax bill went up about 10%. We don't have a projection yet in terms of what this will do to the budget. It's
not going to be 10%, but you know, it will still be a substantial increase. It'll be more than two and a half percent. That's for certain. And that's with these reductions in schools and level service in other town departments. So,
um I'll step off my soap box now. Um >> I'm sorry. Somebody have got >> one. Another point I want to make. The select work starts this process in January starting budget different department
we get them work with the advisory committee we work with the department we have a lot of requests that come in and because of the numbers that we're able to work with as Doug said earlier they were looking at a potential maximum
available money roughly $900,000 between regular operating budget and the proposed school budget breaks which they really work for bringing down. It left no money for any other capital request.
We're probably going to have to bring those back in the fall town and use typically called free town and we give the speech free gas money from see here you figure 50,000
somebody quit using that program. Uh you pay your $500,000 state. So some of that money could potentially go toward things
department. We took it off because it's not here in Portland. I think they've done a great job with the SL board,
but Doug and the board make incredibly good point. Even at this number, there's going to be pain to people in town. We all saw a big increase last year. You want to protect everybody, but this is
going to need an increase as well. But working on this and this community that protects takes care of it people see what happens
on the love. >> Um, can I just add one thing? >> Sure. >> I think it's important for people to remember that the advisory board makes recommendations. Okay. So when you came in and you picked
up these budget sheets, it's missing one column and the last column will be the recommendations of the advisory board, but it's the voters at town meeting who are going to decide
the budget. It's not the advisory board. It's not the selectman. Okay? All we do is given all of the information that we've collected since and not only does do the selectman meet with all of the departments, advisory board meets with
all of the departments as well. So that column that's missing right now is purely recommendations of the advisory board. The final say is going to be May 11th at 6:30 at town meeting
that is going to approve the budget based on the recommendations or make a motion from the floor to increase a line item on the budget or decrease a line item on the budget. But it's important to remember that it's the voters,
okay? not the advisory board, not the select board, but the voters that are going to ultimately decide what gets financed, what where do you want your money to go? So, that's all I have to
say, >> Tim. Are you calling our reps and senators? Are you calling the head of the policy committee on education and the senate committee on education?
superintendent shared with us over the last years and been hold money better than 30%. At the same time, this community got 8%.
That's not there. It's not a drama and it's not my spirit. from special programs. Our kids
ought to have hands on activities. Our kids graduated from high school. It's extremely educate the u let me let me just finish the article seven which is the there's two other
items here on the on the budget that's local debt 70.0 zero. Um 70.8 is the miniature bond. That's $477,538. 70.10 is the police department building bonds.
That's $24,750. Total government debt, $682,288. I'm not going to read that grand total figure because that number is no longer accurate. U does anybody have any further questions or comments regarding
article 7 before we move on? No. All right. Uh article eight is the Handen Wilberham Regional School District capital assessments. Uh this is a request from the school
department for I didn't write the number down. I've seen it 10 times but I didn't write it down. Anybody have it? It's 34,000. >> 4,000. >> I'm sorry. What was that? 34. What? >> 653. >> 653. >> And this is a request
for regional capital projects. Uh, a portion between Hampton and Wilberham. It includes two items. One is a a dump truck with a plow and the other is more switches, computer switches
combined equal $34,653. Um, article 9, enterprise fund transfer station. Um, this is a request. Uh, Don, I think I know what you're going to say.
Go ahead. What am I gonna say? >> You're gonna say $15,000. >> $15,000. But the long and the short of it is that transfer station finance. >> You must have had a pretty good education to come up with that one. they were
the uh basically because the the fees and fees we used to get reimbursement for some of the recyclables hasn't taxing the transit station negatively.
Uh you're going to see that we've increased the bag fees starting May 1st where they rein the sticker fees on July 1 to $80. I want to point out that that is still
so what happens is we don't we can't make it profitable or at least maybe even the state takes out our free cash seereases and hopefully we'll get the
transfers station. >> All right. >> So, going to be looking for $15,000 subsidy for the transfers. >> Okay. Any questions on that? All right. Uh, article 10, funding for
Hampton's 150th anniversary events. So right now we have 20,000 reports. We are going to take recommend no action on this at this point but we want to keep it out there to keep the awareness on
the benefit. We are looking for volunteers again quarantine Brian right out >> actually. Is there is there like a sign up on the website for that? Just something where people can express their interest.
Yeah. Not. >> All right. More to come on that, >> but for purposes of town meeting, no action on article 10. Article 11, school resource officer for the high school. Um,
we we have a number. This this is a a situation where this is the police officer that's stationed at the high school. uh Wilberham pays the salary and the expenses and then they start they send us a bill for our portion of the expenses. Um so it's done on a basically
on a retro basis. Uh the number that we have Ryan is that 14,210 is that the is that the correct number? >> Okay. >> We've always treated it as you're billing us for what we paid the guy for the previous year,
>> right? And now they're stating it as this is the expense going forward for the next year. >> So Wilberham wants to get paid contemporaneous for the expenditures. >> But on the other hand, Zick I think said we haven't got the bill.
>> All right. Let's not say too much about it then. >> Yeah. 14210 is the correct number. >> Okay. All right. Um article 12 prior year bills. Honey, any bills? No bills.
Um, article 13, community preservation. Um, there are two requests for community preservation funds. Uh, one is for rehabilitation of Nickham Field as it's called, which is the upper field at the wreck. Uh, that's a request for $25,000
to essentially rebuild the infield. Um, any questions on that? Uh well, you have here somebody with depression wreck right here. >> When it's a perfect condition, you actually get
Uh the second request is a request from the Minog Land Trust for $60,000. 16 or >> 16 6 $60,000 uh to purchase
um 18 some odd acres uh on property that's basically on the back side of Cumberland Farms that joins the existing land trust property along the river. Uh the purchase price for the
property uh is negotiated at 40,000. The balance of 20,000 is for expenses such as surveys and legal fees and whatever other expenses they have to um any questions on that one.
>> Um going to mark it off and let it sit there. >> Well, 40 for the property and Yeah. >> Yeah. the um
article 14 um this is a repeal of the community preservation act. This is something which the community preservation committee thought prudent to bring forward to town meeting for a couple of reasons. Um one
is that when we started the program back in 2001 or 2002 we received a state match of 100%. So for every dollar that we assessed ourselves, we received a dollar from the state. That went on for about six or seven years. That was what
happened is more and more cities and towns started joining community preservation and the the pie kept getting sliced up into smaller and smaller and smaller pieces. The current year the what the max we receive from the states about 16% or so. Next year
they're projecting 15 and a half%. We currently have about $560,000 in that mini preservation account. Uh 500 well last month $564,000
five, excuse me, $664,000 in that account. Um 110 of that is encumbered for the the property on North Road. That's going to be the next article here, but roughly a half million dollars there. Um and with
tax the tax bill going up the way it has um this is one of the few ways in which people can afford some relief to themselves. Um it would remove the 1%
um search charge on your tax bill and first $100,000 of valuation is exempted. It's a 1% assessment on everything over that. Then we receive the state match and then the funds that are expended have to be done in accordance with requirements that the community
preservation statute has in it. Um but anyway, we thought this was something that made sense to bring to town meeting for people to at least have the opportunity to to vote on whether or not they want to keep it or let it lapse. >> Yes.
>> So is it 60,000 coming out of that? >> Yes. Yeah. any any community preservation expenditures come out of that that fund and that fund's changing all the time because tax bills get paid and there's always a little bit added to it. Phil, >> I guess I'd like to point out that this
is an optional program uh that was passed one year and uh of 351 town and cities in the state.
I could say only 57 53% participated or we could say more than 50 way the words but you know 50% don't and if you went further and looked at eastern mass and western mass western
mass is at about oh only 40 communities west that were supposed to participate in CPA now the fund returns 15% so That's a greater return on the button. Well, well, this year return it's
returned much more. So, what what I'm I guess what I'm pointing to this is a chance just to say want a tax on my tax because it doesn't affect us tax levy or the tax rate that
this is over and above. Am I correct? Can I say that? Yeah, it's not part of it's not part of 11. So whatever tax bill is we're all paying 1% for 25 years ago they said first 100,000
will be exempt. Imagine what your house would 25 years ago as what it is today and there's been no um change that you can monitor the extension. So I guess
it's time to say uh do we still I would like to point out though that over 25% of Hampton is owned by Hampton already and that does not enclose the open space
about 61A 61B recreation forestry it's strictly owned by the town and it's about 25% of them so how much more do we take about the tax record. That's not the whole I've
seen the list the CPA is paid for an extra stuff might not like the sun at the cemetery. Here's a list on the website.
I mean it it has worked for us in the past. What I'm saying at this juncture don't get Florida out of 1%. It's 100 grand a year. So like pointed out it's a police.
It's 100 grand worth of salary. That's the only reason I've done it. like to point out there's 201 uh 58 of them charge 1% charge 80 of them charge 3% other
there's 141 that charge over 1% so obviously the towns have a 3% maximum share and search charge. Uh it rough about $48 taxpayer and that's the of the
201 that's the 12th lowest excuse me 12 towns are lower than only 12 for instance has the highest average
charge of 71 $92 at 75 Since the 2011 uh we've search charged $1.44 44 million received 571,000 state which is about 39%
interest over that period. In addition to that, in the last 10 years, we've gathered $130,000 bank interest. We funded 48 projects. Many of them helped 12 historic project, 18 recreation, 11
open space, seven housing projects. We fixed the sidewalk at the senior center. We got equipment for the ball field. We got open space for for traveling for camp, the trails, things like that.
because of those emails we met with $75,000 state to advertise those trails. I think main point is that why I would like what I recommend that we get
no vote on this is that CPA is more than a tax policy. It's declaration invest in preserving the character, the environment, the people, the community years to come. It's like putting money
in the bank some best addition start. >> Thank you. I've been on the park and commission for about 10 years now and we rely heavily.
We have our little park this beautiful park and country set work hard to maintain without CPC I mean it wouldn't we would be missing pavilion we would have built um it's
definitely benefits the town and and without that park just doesn't have the budget funed in put in the up and and upcoming now that
AW is is being used where the parts and reces we have in the back that we use more in the future to develop projects to make that more usable.
The basketball court is in pretty tough days. I think it would be great to have track say school funding things like gym teachers like tech programs. Um if we also
choosing funding uh you continue to absolutely [ __ ] your investments and invest in it. Um if you're not willing to support increasing school budget or maintaining these budget, we're not
going to have we're reducing classroom time in gym classes. We don't have staff support and we're also not supporting recreation where we're going to not have
we're going to not have any physical education program. Hold on. So John John, >> just a quick point, a quick question. I think it would be important for folks to know that we have on CPC funding for
playground upgrades. And um I'm just wondering what effect would article 14 have on 13. >> What effect would I'm sorry again? >> We got a half million. >> If if there were a revocation, it would be on in a future year probably starting
in 20 FY 2027. Doug, did Jurian answer the question on whether if we drop out we can reenroll? >> Um I spoke to um basically the guy that wrote the bill and he works for Community Preservation Coalition. They
have a few extra minutes. They have a great website and you go on and look at all kinds of data about our town and all the other towns that are in the community preservation act. Um he said no towns have repealed CPA.
Um he said there's nothing in the statute about about after if if you repeal it about being prohibited from coming back in. If you do repeal, there is a provision about outstanding tax bills and how the rep
revision doesn't eliminate those bills, but there's nothing that prohibits, you know, coming back into the program. >> Bill, >> uh, two things. One, I wonder, um,
I might be a little confusing. I didn't say don't fix the spray part. But why are they doing it with a warrant question and rolling on it at the time needed as
opposed to establishing a bank account? How many bank accounts are growing and it's a bank account once a year there's free cap and the town has other
means of money. we could vote on these projects as they clear not as you fund that we have >> Don I'm I'm going to ask you to hold it there because this is something which
obviously it's going to generate a lot of discussion because it's an interesting issue and there's a lot of there's a lot of sides to it but >> just looking at the time and we do have to finish the rest of this and advisory does still have to vote recommendations tonight so All right, go.
>> If you take if you take if you take the $60,000 this year and see the other field >> 25,000 >> 25,000 that' be $85,000. We're like here in our living limit. So that probably wouldn't get
right. 896 put,000 on it. that probably get >> you're saying if it was not through CPA. >> Well, I mean that's the that's the risk obviously. Yeah, >> that's the risk. Yeah, hold on.
I'm sorry. You already said we were done with this topic. The only thing I'm saying is $50. So many 50 bucks, but so is the ballooner and so is a lot of
$100,000. >> All right, John. I think I mentioned before it's the only account that makes 17% and that's I wish we could get that out of every dollar the town had. Um that
that does. >> All right. So more to come in town meeting on this issue. Um articles article 15 and 16 are have to be taken together to understand what what's happening there. Article 15 is a
recision of a prior appropriation for purchase of land on North Road. This actually was a CPA request that was done in 2024. Um, and
article 16 is the purchase of 2.6 ac excuse me 2.6 acres on North Road. The land trust um purchased a four and some odd acre piece of property on North Road with the
intent of of splitting it in half using half of it as a trail head or trail up to Mount Vision where town owns property and selling off the other lot to to keep it on the tax rolls and probably build it and have a house built on it. Um, in
the process of going through this and and surveying it, their their site person basically recommended that they switched the the lots that they had planned on using. So essentially what's happening here is
lot what what was going to be the trail head lot is now going to be the building lot and what was going to be the building lot is now going to be the trail head lot. So exhibit 15 is to rescend it and exhibit 16 is to revote it. It's no new money. It's just simply
another a reauthorization of the appropriate piece of property. Anybody have any questions on that? Oh, good. Thank goodness. Um, all right. Article
17 is amendment to the posting location of town meeting warrants. This is a housekeeping issue, I assume, because of the moving over to TWWB. >> Yes. Um, article 18 is the advisory committee
reserve fund. Uh, that's an account which the advisory committee uh has the authority to expend funds from with a vote uh for unexpected and un anticipated expenses.
Traditionally, we've put $25,000 in that account. Um, and we if if there's unex unanticipated expenses, we can cover it from there. Uh, article 19 is the general stabilization fund. That's that's going to put money into a savings
account. Exhibit 20 is reducing the tax rate. Um, those are the articles 19 and 20 are the ones that we typically act on in the fall when we actually know how the years closed out, what we have available for excess revenues. That
concludes the warrant. Does anybody have any questions about the any of the specific articles about town meetings just in general? If not, then that will conclude the hearing. Thank you very much everybody for coming out. We appreciate it. Um and with that we are
going to believe move to another location. Public presence.