Good evening, Hatfield. Welcome to the April 29th, 2025 meeting of the Hatfield Select Board. I'm going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. As usual, I'm going to open the meeting by reading our public participation policy. The Hatfield Select Board welcomes everyone to its meetings and all other public
meetings of the Town of Hatfield. All regular and special meetings of the boards and committees of the town of Hatfield shall be open to the public and shall conform to the open meeting law. Executive sessions are closed to the public and will be held only as prescribed by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is
important to recognize that the open meeting law affords the opportunity to listen to the proceedings but not necessarily participate. During meetings of the select board, an attempt will be made to find a balance between hearing from members of the community and conducting the required business of the
Hatfield Select Board. For the public's information, this meeting is being recorded. Um so first um we're going to kick off with some announcements. Um all good stuff. Um first I just want to um you know note that the paving has been
happening finally out on 5 and 10. And I know that this week is a little um you know creating some inconveniences for people who live along there or travel along that route. But it does mean the end is in sight and I think we're all um happy about that. I did not have a chance to go down that road tonight um
but my husband did. He said it looked looked really nice. Did you go out there? Yes. So, I will be taking that. Well, I don't know if I'll have to be taking it in the morning that I think they're working in the morning. But in any case, um so to the residents out there, it's you know, hang on just a little bit longer. Um and and the end is
in sight. Um the um town is in receipt of a letter um that is really worthy of sharing. This comes from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Um and it is um extending its congratulations to
um Tony Lstowski, our water superintendent um for his outstanding performance during 2024. He has been nominated by Mass D's Western Regional Office to be recognized at the 2025 public water system awards
program um for his performance as a distinguished operator. Um and I just want to read what they've written here. Anthony Lstowski has been the primary treatment operator of the Hatfield Water Department for the past 18 years and for the past four years has also been the
primary distribution operator for the Williamsburg Water Department. Tony is a dedicated leader and has been very proactive in keeping both systems in compliance with Massachusetts drinking water regulations. Above and beyond his normal duties for Hatfield and Williamsburg, Tony has also given his
time and effort to other public water systems and has worked closely with Mass D, lending his expertise to assist struggling surface water treatment plants with their operating procedures. Tony is a retired lieutenant firefighter and EMT, demonstrating his dedication to
helping people in his community and surrounding communities. So, I just that is really just a wonderful letter. um not a surprise to us because we know um you know really how valuable um Tony is here. I know Tony really stays in pretty regular touch with me which is something
I appreciate um as a board member and uh he just does a fantastic job and it's nice to see him be recognized that way. So I thought it was important to share that with towns people. Um, I also want to remind people of um there's an open
house um over at um the Old Millin this Saturday from 11 to 2. Um, and this is to um it's an it's an introduction to the project or a discussion about the proposed dam removal project. This is
all proposed. This is very early stages of discussion. I actually had um a resident um take me on a a long ride all down the farm roads to show me the the Mill River and how that um you know
meanders you know quite it's quite crooked through town but meanders through town and and how um he's concerned about the you know the effects of removing the dam. So it was really um really informative and I appreciated that. So, I know this. So, this is from
I think I said this already, 11 to 2 at the Old Mill in on this Saturday. You do have to RSVP. Um, which reminds me, I haven't done that yet, but I will. I I plan to go. So, it's just an open house. You stop in, right? People I don't think people need to feel like they need to be there for the whole three hours.
Correct. Um, but it's just to um to take a maybe a look at maybe some I I don't I don't know, project proposals. I have no idea what they can't even be at that stage yet. No, they they have a presentation with kind of an introduction to the project. Um but they're very early stages for anything
concerning engineering or anything else like that. So I think it's really important for residents to weigh in on how they feel about this particularly um you know our farmers who are using some of the water that's backed up behind that for irrigation purposes. And so people should really try to make the
effort to go particularly if they feel really strongly about it. So as I said I'm going to go. Are you going to stop in? Well, I'd just like to remind residents that the town does not own the dam, right? And that's the issue. It's the owners on each side of the dam who
own the dam. So, I think that's important to let residents realize and also hopefully you can show up to express your opinion or find out why they're doing what they're doing or proposing what they're doing. That's all I just wanted to say. And I also want to
say congratulations to Tony on his prestigious award. That's a impressive award for for Tony to receive for the mass water uh commission. And the last item is just keep on your calendars. End
of May is Memorial Day activities. There'll be more information coming out afterwards. So I know every it always comes fast it seems. and and also town meeting uh reminding residents it's
extremely important you attend town meeting there's some real big issues that the town has to decide. So again it's not we just present to the town the issues and you the town taxpayers make
the decisions. That's all I just wanted to say. Excellent point. So that's May 13th and then town elections are May 20th. Um, excellent point too about the dam that the town doesn't own the dam, but certainly the town has a an interest in um participating in what happens out
there. Okay, that was all I had for announcements. You didn't have anything. So I just want to say that we've received uh some final materials from the Piner Valley Planning Commission who were so helpful in putting together the comprehensive plan. uh they had some
some extra budget at the end u for both printing uh copies of the plan which we have some some bound copies that look very good that we'll be distributing to uh department heads I believe to select board members so we'll hand those out um and uh those will will live in offices
so if residents want to come in and take a look at them they'll they'll go to the library as well some other places uh so that it's a document that that uh should be easily accessible and then it's a document that we want to be living as well We want to find reminders of where uh of what's in this plan and and find
ways to to implement on it. Uh so uh in that spirit, we still are looking for one more person uh open um at large seat uh on the uh comprehensive plan implementation committee and that committee will start meeting after um
town meeting. We'll get in touch with folks and start putting those meetings together. So if you're interested uh you can apply through the town clerk's office. uh we have an empty uh position on that uh implementation committee. It's really important for um putting our efforts together to make sure that plan
doesn't just sit in a shelf, but is actually out there and living in the public. And then the other reminder that we'll have of that plan is a really cool poster that was uh put together uh by Pioner Valley Planning Commission using the notes uh that were put together at one of the the listing sessions. And that poster, uh, select board can decide
where we want it to go, but there will probably be room for it downstairs in the meeting room or somewhere else in town hall. Uh, we'd like it to be somewhere to remind us of what some of the goals are from that plan. So, uh, if John will allow me to, I'll take off my microphone real quick, hold up that that poster and show it to folks and then,
uh, sit back down and put on the microphone again. Sounds great. [Music] That looks really nice. Very nice. Very nicely done. It should be somewhere where we can see
it a lot. It's a good reminder of the work that's ahead. That looks really nice. Thank you. We should thank them. They put that together. Um, okay. So, that seems like that's it for announcements. Is anybody here for
public forum? No, they have a hearing. Oh, sorry. So, I do um so Christy Budro uh Main Street and here as school committee chair and I just want to extend our deeply felt
appreciation to see the topic of increasing the insurance contribution on your agenda this evening. Um I don't think it's any surprise to you all that we have um had a lot of challenges in hiring with the compensation package we
can offer in the school department. I don't think it's just our department. Um but our insurance contribution is a little behind our neighbors. Um this year we had some incredibly um productive and uh collegial negotiations
with the teachers and educational support professional unions. They came in with really reasonable requests for their cost of living adjustments. Um, and we reached an agreement with them for a 2.7%
cola a week before the new insurance rates came out, which as you know were particularly high, surprisingly so. Um, when we sat down to do the math on that, a huge portion of our staff would
actually have no increase at all. that um 2.7% would be completely eaten up by just the insurance um increase. And so we sat down to look at what could we do from a school
department, school budget perspective, what would that cost if we needed to make an adjustment? because truly we're concerned about losing the staff we have and having difficulty replacing any opening um as we go forward. And as we
looked at that and we ran the numbers for us to adjust it, it would have to be completely across the board. We would have to adjust every salary whether they took Hatfield's insurance or not, whether they were on an individual plan or a family plan. and to take sort of a
median road. Um it would cost the school budget another $120,000 in taxpayer dollars and and we reached out to ask and try to better understand what the cost might look like if town could adjust on that side. Um,
and it just is likely a much more affordable proposition because when town adjusts it, it adjusts just for the people who are taking the insurance and just at the rate that they are also contributing. And so it's very efficient
and the difference is like 120,000 compared to about 75,000 approximately I think and that would speak to every town employee not just teachers and paraprofessionals. Um it is a magnitude of difference. It
may only be 5% but that 5% is meaningful to our staff. Um the difference between someone being able, you know, particularly looking at single parents who are on family plans where this insurance increase would have been well
more than 100% of their cola. This makes the difference whether we keep our staff or not. Um, and it just we have a great staff. We give a lot of value back in education and this would allow us to continue that. So, I just want to be on behalf of the school committee advocate
for passing this. I appreciate that it's not an insignificant ask. I know budgets are tight and I know it's we budget too. It's it's hard and there are a lot of choices to make. Um, this one just feels like one that would be very worthwhile.
So, I just wanted to be here tonight to say I appreciate the challenge of it. Um, and also the cost effectiveness of doing it through the select boards tools and and knobs and versus if we have to address it to stay
competitive. Thank you for your time. Okay. Um, so the first item is our consent agenda. Um, I I would like to I would just like a little more time to review the April 2nd one. Is that if that's
okay. Um, so I would prefer to not take that one up, but um, we we I'm fine with the other one. If that's okay with you, two. That's fine. So, I'll take a motion then on the
motion to approve minutes for April 8th, 2025. Second. Motion made in second. Any further discussion? No. Okay. Finally, posted business. Topic one. We are um joined tonight by um Fishtails. Um
Carrie and Richard, you we would like you to come up to the mic. Um so um KF Fishtales Inc. doing business as Fishtails Bar and Grill um has submitted a motion to um or excuse me an
application to change your hours um from Sundays beginning at 12 12 noon going to 1:00 a.m. Um to Sundays starting at 8:00 a.m. and going to 1:00 a.m. That's a long day, Carrie. That's a long day.
The 8 a.m. is a misprint. Oh, okay. I thought I I'm sorry. It's 10. It is 10. You're right. I'm sorry. It was only changed. Yes. I'm sorry. It was changed in one place on the agenda, not the other. So, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Still a long day. Yeah. For you, Carrie. Um, and so did you want to explain a little bit about this? So, we're looking to start some sort of craft fair, farmers markets on Sundays through like
the second week of August to like Columbus Day weekend. And I want to have breakfast and, you know, open up some more opportunities there. And then we also have like the occasional holiday where I'd like the opportunity to maybe open a little earlier. Um, you know,
just trying to grow a little bit, but I want to just make sure that we do it the right way. So, and the the farmers market would be inside or on the patio. It will be on the grounds on the patio and then like the green across the way
there. Yeah, we are um we're coordinating it right now. Actually, we have a business lunch on Thursday to go over a whole lot of stuff. And if we can get this up and kicking hopefully by mid August. Yeah. That's what we're shooting
for. So kind of like a brunch offering. Yes. Yes. On Sundays. And there's other events also that um so I work as a coordinator with her. And you know there could be a um events on Sunday if we're not having
the farmers market. Also baby showers, you know, um family breakfast, different little things. come up, you know, up do a little bit better in the business. Yeah. So, yeah. Okay. That I just um I just asked those questions so people at
home knew what you were up to. Um but I don't have any other questions. I mean, I talked to the police chief. He has no problems. He's he's hasn't has not had any problems with fish tales. I did some other research and there's other places that have Sundays at 10 o'clock for
mimosas or whatever and I don't I don't think we've had a problem with fishtails and I think it's a great idea and I I'm willing to help businesses in town any way I can. So, I'm I'm in favor of this.
I like it. It sounds like a great plan. Congratulations. We'll see you on Sundays. Thank you for doing that. I'd like to say one more thing. I'd like to thank Karen. Um, anytime I come in here, Karen above and beyond I think her job and she's always um in touch with me
with emails and I think Carrie also agrees. But uh thank you very much. Yeah, you've made it all very easy for me all this. Don't lose her. We we appreciate Karen very much. Thank you. It's nice to have you recognize that. Okay. So, I will take a motion. I'll
make a motion to approve the change of hours for KF Fishtails Incorporated, DBA Fishtails Bar and Grill from Sundays at 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. to 1 Yeah. Sundays at 10 a.m. Yeah. Sundays at
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and then holidays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday would be holidays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Are we reading that right, Karen?
Okay, that's I should have thrown this one out. Got it. Okay, I know we're we've got different information here. I'll second it. Okay, a motion made and second. Any further discussion? No. All those in favor? Hi. Hi. Congrats. Do you know how long about when you'll start?
Just so people know. We're going to We're aiming for the second week of August. So, kind of like midsummer and then into the fall so we can kind of, you know, get all the fall fun activities, too. It's all to be approved anyway. So, there's a delay. So, that's our goal is Okay. So, not this summer.
No, this we're shooting for this August. This August. No, no, no. I know. But not like Oh, right now. June or July. Okay. soon as soon as we can. We can. Excellent. Excellent. Well, I know you'll put the word out about it once it's ready. So, great. Thanks for coming
in. Congrats. Thank you. Okay. Um, topic two is an update on the DPW director search. This will kind of function as part one of the DPW uh director conversation because we'll also talk later about appointments to the search committee.
Um, and we'll have that committee screen our resumes. I do want to say that right now there are not an extended number of resumes to to review. We we have a few applications that are in, but we don't have that many. Um, so I just wanted to make the board aware of that for now.
It's been, you know, two and a half weeks since it was posted. Um, so, you know, we were hoping for for more at the time. There's still plenty more that could come in. It is posted on our website. It's posted on the Mass Municipal Association's uh uh uh listerve of of open positions and uh we
post it on Facebook and it's also posted on indeed.com. So that's what we have at the moment. Um I could also post uh through membership with the American Public Works Association. That's not a bad way to get it out there. It costs a little more than the MMA posting. Um but
we would have the money available to us if if that's of interest. Um, and then I'm I'm open to other places where you could post as well. I don't think we've used LinkedIn in the past, but that's an option. Uh, so if the board has any other suggestions on on how else to get it out there for positions like this in
the past, I've also seen towns, you know, retain firms to try to help with a search like this, I wouldn't recommend it at this time, but it is an option that's out there as well. So, it's one to discuss. Well, I like the idea of the public works. Um, you know, I I mean, I think it's important to cast a wide net
and um make sure that we're turning over every stone to attract the most qualified candidates. So, I would I would be in favor of start with that and then go from there. I'll do the LinkedIn, too. Yeah, LinkedIn is probably a great idea.
Great. Anything else on that, Ed? No, I I think it's a good idea to try to get a as large of a pool of candidates that we possibly can. Sure. Absolutely. Anything else on that? Okay. No, that's good. Good stuff. That's good. That's all I got. Okay. So, topic three is the DPW
report. Um so, we do have some water abatements that have been um that are here in the packet. We have one um actually both of them were billing errors. Um, and I know that th these are always checked out by um our water
superintendent and uh the our collector to verify all of this. Um, so I don't have any questions about these. One is for 166 Main Street and one is for 8 Cronin Hill Road. No, they're both billing errors. So
yeah, and both of those billing errors have been resolved, I will say. So, problem is fixed and this gets us gets the uh folks back to whole. Yeah, they're pretty pretty sizable errors. I can understand why they would want them taken care of. So, I'll just
take motions on those. I'll make a motion to approve water abatement of $25518 and sewer abatement of $550 totaling $85 26 cents for Jason Shay at 166 Main
Street Hatfield Mass due to a billing error. Second. A motion made and second. Any further discussion? No. All those in favor? I. And a motion to approve the water abatement in the amount of 1482.34 cents for Frederick Strong at 8
Cronin Hill Road Hatfield Mass due to a billing error. Second. A motion made and second. Any further discussion? No. All those in favor? I. Okay. So, now we're we're back to the DPW search and this is to discuss
the um search committee. Um, so I Okay, I just I did I talked to someone else who said they were going to submit their interest, but I it looks like they didn't. Um, and we're looking for how many members? We have two uh at large
positions available. Four applicants. There are four applicants. Okay. Um well so I will just say that the four applicants are Jeff Jeffrey Pearl from um 35 depot um Julie Okcon Julianne
Okconor excuse me from 27 Old Stage. Amy Jones from 70 Dwight Street and Jeff Sigradnik from 30 Main Street. Um a after I reviewed these, I think that the um the the two that to me have
um the most qualifications um would be uh Jeff Ziggradnik, Jeffrey Pearl, um and then Amy Jones because I know she has a lot of human resources um background, but you know, the the
construction background um that Jeff and Jeff have um was appealing to me, but definitely Amy Jones human resources um you know, experience is also worth discussing. I mean, they're all worth
discussing, but those were my thoughts just to weigh in. Well, chapronic I like. So, I mean, if we want to discuss that first first whether Okay, sure. Uh I agree with the Jeff
Sagratnik. That was one of my first picks. Yep. Okay. So, that seems like it's unanimous. I gota pick one more. And I liked um honestly geographically speaking,
uh Julianne O' Conor simply because she's from Old Stage Road, the other side of town. Which one do you Julianne O' Conor Julian I think everybody's pretty good for it.
I just thought maybe geographically speaking having somebody from that end of town would be good. I guess I you know to me I would prioritize not necessarily where in town they live but sort of what they bring to the table. Um and uh in terms of
understanding um the industry. Jeff Pearl for me would rise to the top with Amy second because of the extension extensive HR experience. Um, but that that's I'm not sure where you are at on those.
I know you're waiting for me to say something. Okay, it's okay. Take your time, Ed. It's a big decision. This is this is hard to do. Okay, let's let's look at the pros and cons. Okay, let's take Jeffrey Pearl. He has background in
facilities director. Uh he's got experience as a director of facilities, project superintendent. He was a did a couple projects that were over a million dollars.
uh three that he's listed and as far as director and stuff he has that knowledge and then I look at Julian O' Conor that was the other one we were discussing crypt
and she does have h she's a human resource manager so she has understanding of HR and personnel Um, so maybe it's better to bring in somebody with
a perspective from the HR side on one side on one thought. I mean presently on the on the committee we have finance, right? Uh will be John Wils Jr. will will be the
finance rep. Okay. And and then uh Eric Neils uh Deerfield sewer but also works with us. Me and then just has a background in facilities. Mhm. So, we do have
somebody that represents facilities. So, I'm going to go with Julian Okconor just to balance off the committee. There is HR. You're right. You make a good point about HR experience bringing
that voice to the table. Good and Julian is an HR director. So, I'm fine with that. Okay. So, we would need to make a motion to appoint both of those. Let's do it. Okay. I will make a motion to appoint
Jeff Sagradnik and Julianne O' Conor to the DPW director search committee. Second. A motion made and second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I We're almost there. We just have one
quick topic. So topic five is a um proclamation um that the Hatfield is a Purple Heart Town. And I'm going to turn this over to you, Ed, because this is um I know something that's very important to you. It's important to all of us, but
something I know you're pursuing. Yes. You want me to read it? Yes, of course. And I'd like to make a pro proclamation for the town even though you're a better elegant speaker than I. But whereas the town of Hatfield has profound gratitude for all the men and women who have
selflessly served their country as members of the United States armed forces. And whereas the purple heart is the oldest military decoration in present use and the first made available to the common soldier. And whereas the
Purple Heart is specifically awarded to United States Armed Forces members who have been wounded or killed in combat. And whereas the mission of the military order of the Purple Heart is to support
combat wounded veterans and their families and to ensure this country continues to value their sacrifices. And whereas the town of Hatfield appreciates the sacrifices of Purple Heart
recipients in our community and beyond and honor their bravery and defending our freedoms. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Select Board of Hatfield, Massachusetts, do hereby
proclaim the town of Hatfield a Purple Heart town and encourage the residents of Hatfield to show their appreciation for the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients.
Very nicely done, Ed. And I I just want to, you know, thank you for bringing this forward. you're a wonderful advocate for our our veterans. And actually, it started with uh John Peace. Really? John Peace brought this up at a
uh Sons of American Legion meeting. Oh, nice. And and I Is this the original or is this what's in here? Okay. So, there's a whole process. It's been a lot of different people that have been involved to make this happen. Well, I know a lot of other area
communities have already done this because you see the signs as you enter and we get a will we have a sign that says we're a Purple Heart community and over the years since I've been a kid, this town has always had uh Memorial Day activities and has always honored our
veterans. So, I think it's a good thing to do. I think so, too. So, did you make that motion? Was that officially a motion? That was my motion. Okay. I'll second the motion. A motion made and second. Any further discussion? No. All those in favor? I. Thank you, Ed. And
thank you, John Peas. There is some stuff in here to sign. We don't have to vote on these the pay things, right? Yeah. Yeah. Just the fire department. So, that would not be Thank
you. Okay, we are ready for the finance committee to come on in. We're only five minutes behind, so we're not doing too bad. Not too bad. Not too bad here. That's for you. [Music]
Do we need to take a break to get them set up? No. I I'm gonna I I got be I got behind in my duties and I have not been signing things as I should. So, I'm going to do that. Um so um the remainder of the meeting is
um for us to meet with the finance committee, button up our budget, finalize our town meeting warrant, and also um included on the agenda is a discussion on increasing the town's contribution to the health insurance premiums. Um can we take those out of
order maybe? I I I'm assuming that you're here because you want to be part here for that discussion. Do you mind discussing those that first or do you want to do the budget first? I mean, what will I watch later?
I stay watch. You mean you don't watch it over and over? Well, justice. Um I just thought since they're here. Okay. Yeah. We're here for the the whole thing. For the whole thing. I Okay.
Yeah. So, um so for the for this initial discussion then we'll take the agenda just very slightly out of order. Um there is a proposal um before us to as I mentioned increase the town's contribution for employee health insurance premiums to 60%. We're
currently paying 55% for our town employees. So that includes people at the school and then people like Bob and the fire department, the DPW COA. um Hatfield compared to other communities
as I understand it has a lower um contribution rate. We've been aware of that. We made a commitment over the last few years to try to incrementally increase that rate and we did maybe what two or three years ago, a
couple years ago we went up. Um, I think that there's a little bit more urgency this year because of the rates that we got from the group insurance trust, um, Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, this the in increase in premiums was
significant. Um, and as Christie spoke to, you know, it would mean that some people's raises were just negated. I I'd be shocked if there weren't some people who would actually get less money, but um, several. Yeah. Um and so you know
then there was some discussion about um at the last meeting about looking into what it would look like if we did go up to the 60% um this year. Um and so that's setting the table and I'll let Andrew maybe take over because you
actually did the uh the work on these scenarios. This was put together by uh by Christie. Oh by Christie. Okay. I'm sorry. It says Hatfield Public Schools. This focuses on the school side but but and this mostly gives you the idea of of the individual impact uh in moving up
from that 55 to 60 and how uh the employees would would benefit from that. Um so I think it's important to look at what would happen on the town side and I I do want to add so not only did you say that it affects uh school and town employees there's another group that we need to decide if it affects as well and
that would be retirees because right now we pay 55% of retirees health insurance. uh we would have the opportunity the the the option to add retirees to this 60% increase as well. Um or you can keep them at the 55% and that's in your motions tonight. You'll have to decide
if you want to do that. Um if we do 60% for employees, we're not obligated to do retirees at the same time. But I will say the budget impact at least at this time for uh for retirees is not is not as large as you might think it would be.
it's about $15,000 a year just on the on the retiree side uh from the math we're putting together here. Um it could create, you know, greater future liabilities as well if we move up to the to the 60%. But again, it's not as enough of a a deal breaker that I
think it it makes a lot of sense to exclude retirees. It's about 15. It's a narrow bandwidth, right? What's that? It's a fairly narrow band. That's correct. Because you get to Medicare, right? So it's only applies to the folks on Medex, it's it's it's pretty minimal.
Um the the amount of of uh the impact of going up, it's about $8,000 a year. Uh for the folks on Medex alone, there's that's the largest group. So um looking at our budget impact, um and this is already included in the the current
budget models. Uh I've included the the increase in the model that we have right now. And I'll show you eventually what our budget looks like and that we we do currently have a surplus of about $30,000 which is good. That's where we'd like to be even after adding even after adding this because we added $65,000
total. Now uh the full amount to pay for it would be closer to $80,000 but each year uh we budget a significant amount of contingency of if people were to join in during the year for the health insurance. And our accountants have
asked us about this in the past. They said, you know, we're maybe a little too high in the contingency. It's probably not as much as we need. We've budgeted for five singles and three families to join the plan. If we move that down to four and two, which is a more likely number and gives us plenty of cushion
still and then increase the budget by $65,000, that puts us in a comfortable place to be able to absorb these extra costs moving from 55 to 60%. So you're looking at about $80,000 more for the budget each year. As I said, $15,000 of that comes from the retirees. The rest
would be from employees. While it's a large number, um it's it certainly has a large impact for the individuals. It helps us with our hiring, I would say. Uh and it overall is I think something that can fit in our current budget and it'll help with retention, attraction, and retention. I think there's a good
case to be made for both of those. So question Andrew, the 65 the 80 whatever thousands that total did not include the retirees. It does include the retirees. It it I'm sorry. It does include the retirees. Okay. So that number we've been talking about all along did include the retirees. It it
did the number we've talked about from the start included retirees. So so we don't need to make any changes based on what we talked about. budget are are we're going to still be over the levy limit at $32,000 under the limit. That's what I meant.
Yep. Yep. It's But it's an important distinction under the levy limit. Levy limit is is good. Yeah. Okay. is a being being a retiree and one who's going to join medics this summer and being one of
those 40 people who are on this and the the amount of time and effort that these retirees have given to the town over the years. They deserve just as much as the employees do for as far as the percentage that the town pay for health insurance. Much small. Yeah, it is a much it's a
much smaller amount. just thinking of, you know, just a I spent 36 years working for this town, so I think I deserve the extra 5% just like many of the others who are in that category. I'm off the finance committee, speaking for myself at this point. I gotcha. Um,
and I mean, I guess I would just speak up on behalf of town employees. I mean, we we really make an effort to um you know, make sure that our town employees um you know, are fairly compensated and and that the benefit package is competitive with other communities. And you know, we're lucky
to have the employees we have and I think that um given that we can do this within the confines of our budget and we did make a commitment to really try to um start raising this, I I'm I'm in favor of it. I mean it's hard to imagine
that there's any any many many people doing less because you can't do less than 50%. Right? So like how many you know how many people are doing less um so you know I don't know I mean the
state's doing 75 now um for new newer hires and like I feel like you're probably borderline competitive if at 60 like that's not That's not outrageous by any stretch.
And and I and just just to remind towns people that the the again I said it earlier, but the premiums are are really skyrocketing for our employees because they they sort of held the premiums down for a couple of years. I'm not sure why they would do it
that way, but then there was a big jump. So it would be a you know um I think a burden on on our town employees. Is isn't that partly why, and Sean, you have to correct me, but going forward, we don't anticipate that the health
insurance rates will jump? I mean, they could, but would they go up another 24%? I mean, so I mean, you would really hope not. Like, you really think? And if it doesn't, then that that helps pay this
5% next year. I mean, if if it goes up another 25% next year, you know, like that's the sort of annual situation that's going to happen now, you just deal with it. It's going to it's a bigger issue than just the Hampshire
Insurance Trust. That's a like a big issue, right? You know, like it's not just going to happen there and not just for Hatfield. Nope. Those rates went up for for everybody. Yeah. So I think it would be a wider concern
at that time. It's not Yeah. I I don't have any additional questions. Did you? No. Nope. I'm in favor of this for you to vote on. Okay. We need to vote on that. We don't we don't get to I move that in accordance with Mass
General Law Chapter 32B section A 7 A section 7A. Oh, section 7A, the town increase its monthly contribution rate of premium cost of health insurance for active and retired employees to 60%. Second. A motion made and second. Any
further discussion? All those in favor? I I. Excellent. I think that's a I think that's a really wise move on behalf of our employees. And just to clarify, this will take effect for July one. July one. I don't have that in there, but that's the
intent of the board from what I can tell. Good. Okay, great. Thanks. Thanks for weighing in. Thank you. Okay, so now we'll backtrack to the um the budget school as well. So, as I said, this is built into the current
budget model right now. So, that brings us to, as I hinted earlier, a $32,000 surplus uh below the levy limit. Um, as we've talked about in the in previous meetings, this this uh levy limit is
built to a 2 and a.5% increase adding new growth from the past year and any other uh debt exclusions uh coming in. Um, this year we we really do see a higher amount of of debt than the past because that debt exclusion that was
taken out two years ago, those bills are essentially coming due now. So you see a significant increase here from the amount of debt exclusion of of over uh $250,000. Add to that 40,000 in new growth and then $250,000 from the Prop 2 and a half
increase. And just from a budgeting standpoint and the impact on that for for taxpayers will be you know noticeable that instead of a 2 and a half% increase in taxes that does translate more of an essentially an 8% increase for the average taxpayer but
this is just built to what would be a balanced budget. So, um, I want to frame the conversation that way because even though we've presented is a balanced budget, a fair one and a and a well-built one that meets the service needs residents, we do want to be aware
that that does raise residents taxes um by that that amount of around 8%. Um, before any overrides or debt exclusions is before any new overrides or debt exclusions. New overrides or debt exclusions. Thank you. Inclusive of
prior Of course, but that is because the the pre the sewer debt exclusion is hitting. That's $150,000. Wastewater treatment plant. Yep. Wastewater treatment plant. Other, you know, projects uh that maybe we've had smaller amounts of debt, which also explains if
you look at the bottom line, year-to-year percent change in the levy in the maximum allowable tax levy last year was 1.4%. Because your debt exclusion went down, right? Yeah. So two years ago, you used more of the debt exclusion probably
because you were doing design work on the sewer plant, right? And then you went into a phase of you weren't doing anything, right? Uh you know, really waiting for it to be constructed and now that's happening. So it's going back up again. The project will be completed in
FY26 and that's when we'll have interest payments and and principal payments start to right. That's just the interest right we're doing right now. So since we're talking about that at have you the board at some point have to
decide you know is this going to be a 7030 6040 you know what is the breakdown of what the users are going to pay and what the the taxpayers are going to pay and that's a decision that will need to be be made going forward.
No, I mean on this topic, I've also been thinking out of the box there some towns what they do is you reserve a space on the capacity and they pay a fee each year because if they have a septic
eventually they probably have the option of tying into the sewer. In some towns, they figure, well, you only have so much capacity. So, if a sewer line goes past somebody's house that has septic, they
actually have a reserve fee. I don't know whether it's good for this town, but it's it's just something I've been thinking about for discussion purposes only, whether you do a So, it's more
expensive to tie in if a new line goes by. Is that what you're saying? What I'm saying is if if the sewer line goes by your house and you presently are on septic, what you're doing is you're reserving capacity for the future so
that if you ever have to tie in if once your septic fails, then capacity at the plant is already been reserved for you. Do you get refunded if you are never able to tie in? I
mean, a lot of I I assume this is on the assumption that if you have a septic and it fails, the expense to replace the septic and and do all the work is is excessive compared to what it will cost to tie in. I think it presumes you have
a sewer line too, not right not some maybe future, you know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. because there are though there's there's many areas in town, right? Like that like we don't I can Yeah. So I'm not I'm not sure how many
that reserve at I don't know each town has their own little little fee setups. I uh yeah and and and that certainly can be part of the discussion, but I I I just just want to bring it to your attention that you're gonna have to decide
how in 26 the project will be be finalized and we'll start paying principal and interest and that's when you'll you as a board are going to have to decide. I mean certainly we can give input but as to what percentage the
users are going to pay versus what percentage the town's people are going to pay of debt exclusion of this debt exclusion right did I say correct I I think we got to look at the numbers what's coming in from existing users
what the expenses are and and what percentage of the plan is actually being used And you know, I mean, I I do agree that there's got to be decision 70, 30 or or something like that, but yeah, and I'm
just throwing those numbers out, but but you know, you'll ultimately have to have to decide. But, you know, is it fair to tax everybody on some of you know on the
full amount if you'll never have a possibility of using the sewer and that's what makes it difficult. If this is a water system upgrade where what are we at 95% of the town then it's a different discussion but it's a
discussion on on the sewer side is it's a little bit different. Well, that's that's going back to that reserve your your spot. That's how some towns help, right? But there there there's a lot of areas in town where there's no line.
Well, well, I was going to say maybe that works in in areas where there's like frequent expansion and plans for expansion, but I mean, we really don't have um we extended a line and I don't think anybody tied in into where was
that just water? I thought there's sewer by the dump. No, that's just water. No, I think the sewer went Did this There was a very tiny extension, but just to the DPW garage. Just to the DPW. There was only a few houses, but it didn't go
further down straights. No, the water went further down straights, but not the U sewer, but it went to the DPW. Went to the DPW. And everybody there said they wanted to tie in. And yeah. Well, you know what? We've got a lot of things to talk about tonight that
are are more timely, but that that is a good discussion to open. Um, and we'll we'll get there at some point, but we do need to get to the budget and the uh the town meeting town meeting uh warrant. So, the
um budget that we'll uh have at town meeting for folks to review will be the department budget. It's typically um organized this way which shows the amount that comes from taxation and from other sources. Shows salary and expense.
Um in the past I think it's also shown what the percent change is. That's a helpful thing to see. Um so overall these are the the budget tabs. I'm happy to go through them if if that would be helpful for this body, but really it's whatever folks would like to to do and
whatever. I mean, I feel like we've gone through these fairly extensively in previous meetings. Y um I I just want to note that, you know, we we really found a lot of places where cuts could be made and I think every place you can really
get the budget closer to its true number um is always a good thing and and I think it allowed us to find some money this year. So, I I commend you on that and and also the finance committee and the department heads who worked on it, too. Yeah, folks are very into people
were really um it it may mean that next year our free cash number may not look as robust, but that's okay. I some people like to refer to free cash as overt taxation. I don't agree with that, but it's one way to look at it is we get closer to the number that we need
from the residents. I think they'll appreciate that. Yep. Right. Great. So then if nothing jumps out from here, I don't know if there's anything you want to touch on, Sean. Um I mean I think I think we've
um touched on some of it, but I mean I would say just the highlights. I mean there's there's really nothing new in in DPW actually. It's a slight reduction uh overall. um you know
uh the schools is a two and a half% increase which I mean I I I don't know how we would do it for any less really it's I did um I went to the schools and met with Connor um this week and it he did
um say that the choice numbers are looking good too so yeah that was good news. Well, that's good. U because you know it the spending of the school will increase more than two and a half% but the town's contribution to it will not.
Um in terms of um I'm just trying to think if there's any other like big ones. I mean I think we've talked about the big ones which are retirement assessment and health insurance. And those are those are up dramatically.
um not not as a result of the 5% increase that you just passed but uh as a result of conditions in the world. Um John, just as a quick note just DPW ended up being basically uh stable level. So we had slight slight now it's
now it's I think uh $20,000 or something, but it's it's mostly level. It's just there was one other line ite adjust there, but we're we're pretty good. Um, and we did uh I think we talked about the
overrides. I mean on the revenue side uh it doesn't really show up because it's not appropriated any longer in the traditional fashion, but um chapter 90 money uh almost doubled. Um it's a significant increase uh which
is my understanding is that's due to the millionaire's tax uh that we've passed that um funds education and transportation. So we got a lot of money to pave roads a lot more than we used to. A lot more than we used to. Could be a lot better.
We're going to be grateful for what we got. Um but uh what what I heard, you know, just completely unofficially, I went down and had testified before the joint committee on transportation in favor of this bill that would increase
the funding for chapter 90 by 100 million, but it was it also had a provision to um do a five-year commitment. So, what I've heard just completely unofficially is that the five-year commitment is probably not going to happen, but hopefully the hundred extra hundred million is still
on the table. I'm actually at the state house tomorrow and we'll have the opportunity to maybe ask a little bit about that if I get a chance. So, that, you know, that's great. Um, we've added some extra hours uh here and there. I think I unplugged us. Dare.
That's all right. We're just going to have a little timeout here for a second. Technical difficult Chapter 90. Yeah, chapter 90. I don't, you know, I I think that's our big revenue there. And there's some slight increases in chapter 70 uh per pupil
stuff that really doesn't do much. um minuscule. Uh pretty much that stuff is not is all pre-level. Um you did okay with our investments too this year, right? Yeah. Yeah. That that we did
um we did uh do really well last year with investment income. So we have a projection uh we came in way over what we've been projecting the last couple years actually. So we'll see what happens. So,
we were able to project more uh probably not up to what we have been coming in at, but um we did add a little because we've been coming in we a couple years ago we projected like 50,000 and came in at like 250. So, you know that helps.
Yeah, it's not you don't that's really low. You don't want to be that below volatile time too. So, you want to be a little concerned. Well, we're conser we're cons I mean I think Andrew came up with a number. We looked at it. I mean I think it's conservative compared to um what we have been bringing in you know
so but but we didn't go back to 50,000 either which is like way low compared to what we've been doing. Um so while we and you know chief flarity's here so the fire department is in as the current state correct. Yeah.
Yeah. And that that was at the advice of uh town council. basically said you budget for the current state and then if the override passes then we know what the money is going to it goes to that that additional right it's not like the override we did before where you had
various various things were getting the money right you know what I mean it's a it's a specific purpose you had to show then you had to show the override budget and then on override budget this is much simpler because we show the regular budget and then if we have the override we know the money goes to the new programming from through. Yeah. Fire
engines. And it's really just plugging it into a couple of line items. That's all you're going to do. So, it's not it's salary expense basically. So, pretty pretty straightforward. Yeah. I mean, I don't have any other questions. You know, we've gone through this over
the course of a few meetings with a fine tooth comb. I didn't think there was much we were really that was sort of out there. Where did we end up with stabilization when we decided to do? So that we'll discuss through the free cash allocation because that won't be coming from the budget itself, right? Um so we
can discuss that when we go over the warrant. The rest of the exciting decisions are that's you're absolutely right. It's the free and I that's the thing. I I think that this is pretty pretty solid. So we can spend our time talking about the warrant articles. It's not it's not there's not a lot of
significant changes. I mean I I think you know um we've added a little bit to support some uh additional hours for like planning like a couple of hours. Yeah, but those are pretty small small dollar amounts. Small um that that's
really it. No major no major changes. I I would encourage towns people that want to Andrew and Sean put a very nice presentation together that's on YouTube about the budget and it hits all those highlights. So if they're really
interested they should look at that and when you watch it and think uh they got the numbers wrong somewhere that the updated version is on uh is is on the website now. So Oh yeah, we had a little technical we had technical difficulty. Uh we had redone the numbers earlier
early early earlier in the day and didn't translate over but uh they're very close anyway. I mean okay I I don't think it's the the override the debt exclusion impacts we were slightly uh
high. I don't think it really make a difference to anyone. No, it's, you know, $56 a year or something. We were off by Oh, but we corrected it because, you know. Okay. Well, accuracy. Yeah. Okay. Good.
Okay. So, um that's that's the budget that will be presented to towns people uh at town meeting. Yep. Does that vote budget need to be voted on by finance committee? Is that how it works or Yeah, we do. We usually vote on it right
before just in case something else. Great. So I can wait for that happen. Huh? We have had that happen. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So, well, there's going to be a Senate budget, you know, right? A House budget. Well, there is budgets in a House budget's in, right? The House
budgets this week, right? So, yeah, I guess we won't know with the Senate. Well, unless there's I mean I'm sure there's not going to be a amendments for local aid. So, we're going to meet before town top time top town time top town time top town top town top town top town top town top town meeting and yeah, right before right
before I do that, right? We meet at you generally we meet at six o'clock, right? We always post ahead of time in case there's anything that's that's the easiest time to just for the finance committee for us to pass. Yeah, we have had things come up. Oh, yeah. Yeah. But
let's not anticipate anything like that. But so we will we would vote this at our meeting before um before town meeting. Okay. Um so we have lost Ed. He is just stepped out briefly to have a
conversation. Um but I guess we could start on the town meeting. Warren, are you or do you want to do the free cash stuff? Um, doesn't it kind of come into play as we go through the warrant articles? It will actually. Yeah. So, we could kind
of do them both at once. Sure. I'll um put the warrant on this screen for folks who are following at home. And I know that some of the articles are not necessarily money articles, but we'll run through them just quickly for
the benefit of people watching. Yeah. If that's okay with you. pretty heavily money so they are won't be a lot of things so don't affect many okay we're gonna have elections this year again pardon gonna have elections I assume we are going to have elections article one
is to have elections article one also includes language um for the two um questions that would appear one is a proposition two and a half override um that would be that's for the school
projects um boilers, roof and and um parking lots and then dead exclusion. Excuse me. That is no. Yeah, that is dead exclusion. Excuse me. That one is dead exclusion. Um and then the um Proposition 2 and a
half override, which would be for um an additional $480,200 in real estate and personal property taxes um for fire and ambulance. Um and that is to add a third
shift overnight. Two people, add a third person to the day shift so that the chief does not respond generally to calls during the day. And then there's additional monies for
backfill and training and overtime. So that is the number that you landed on. And housing, temporary housing and the temporary housing benefits. It's the whole everything that would it would cost to go 247, two
people, three shifts a day. No, two people, two shifts a day and three people one shift a day. Did the chief, did the summary, Did you see the summary? Yes, it did. Did that capture it? I just want to make sure it was
Good. And we'll touch upon that later in the We'll touch upon it later, but that's this is the election section, right? So that sets the election. Um and a lot of the next ones are sort of housekeeping. Article two is to um authorize the select board to apply for,
accept, and expend without further appropriation any gifts or awards um from any p private or public source. Article um article three is to um approve um authorize the treasurer to enter into compensating balance
agreements um for fiscal year 26. Um article four um is to authorize the select board um to enter into an MOA with mass DOT under um this is chapter 90. So this is using the chapter 90
funds which are road project funds. Um, article five, um, is the, um, snow and ice appropriation. There was a lot of discussion on this last year. Um, so I think we need to make sure that our, um,
whoever's speaking on behalf of our DPW is prepared to speak to whatever that number is. Yes, it it'll be around 94,000. Uh, we'll have an exact number that needs to be covered. um and we can highlight what the sources of that
deficit are, but um yeah, it it it should be as straightforward as it can be. Um article six is to transfer $27,741.80 from free cash to the opioid settlement fund. And this is really just
a housekeeping matter, right? It was supposed to be taken from there and wasn't. That's correct. Those funds closed to free cash when they shouldn't have. Article 7 um is to transfer 1900 um
$1917.50 from free cash to the wetlands protection fund. Again, same as the previous one. Housekeeping. Um article eight. I mean we I don't have to do all of these. If you guys if you want to take turns or pipe in, do you want to do that? I think you're doing
great. You want me to just keep going? I can do something you want. We need a break. Let me know. Well, we usually we we alternate at town meetings. So, why don't you take eight and then we'll go down the line. All right. Article eight to see if the town in accordance authorized payment of one or more bills
of previous fiscal years which may be legal enforceable for appropriate funds some money therefore to take any actions there of. So sometimes we have bills from previous fiscal years that just there is a bill right there. Yes. Eversource invoiced us
like a long time after the end of the fiscal year. Yeah, that's on me. Eversource invoiced us very late and that needs to be paid still even if they invoiced us late. So that's from uh FY24.
It's $1,900. Usually small bills that just $1,100. Yeah. Um okay. So then I'll go next. Um article um nine is to see if the town will vote to an raise and appropriate um
the sum of $90,000 for in engineering services to meet the town's obligation under the permitting requirements for the small municipal separate storm sewer systems MS4. Yep. So, this is a project that will allow us to to get
um caught up on our permitting and uh reporting from from past years in accordance with the EPA's regulations on storm water management. Right. Because we did have a report that we needed to do that. There's Yeah. Yes. Okay. Article 10 is to see if the town
will vow to vote to raise and appropriate by transfer otherwise provide a sum of money to be placed in the other post employment benefits liability trust fund or take whatever action and we'll plan to put in $20,000
for this from free cash. Um we typically do $10,000 for OPED but we missed last year so we'd like to make up for that. We have the free cash to do it we believe so that' be $20,000 for OPED. Someday we'll get there. Someday we'll get there. I know. Excellent. There's
progress. Article 11 to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate appropriate by transfer or otherwise provide the sum of money to be placed in general stabilation stabilization account or take any other action relative there too. Great. And this
isn't a bad time to at least point at the free cash model that we have here. Uh we're recommending the finance committee discussed uh $100,000 to go to the stabilization fund. Um our financial policies ask us to put about 1% of the operating fund of the operating uh
general fund into stabilization each year. That would be closer to 160 $170,000. Um for a variety of reasons, as long as we're splitting up our uh stabilization, our basically reserve funds into free cash and stabilization, we should be in decent shape. So, we're
recommending $100,000 this year. It would put us on a good trajectory towards meeting uh the amount that our financial policies ask us to to have in reserve and stabilization. Uh while also reserving a good amount for free cash and some other projects. So, 100,000 is the plan right now. Um that's something
that we can discuss once we've seen all of the things on the free cash model. Thank you. Am I next? Am I article 12? Um this is to um see if the town will vote to appoint the town treasurer as trustee of
the other postemployment benefits OPED liability trust fund. And this is yeah this is something that our financial policies recommended that we do was we set up this uh trust fund but we never named anyone as as trustee. Uh if we don't name anyone it does
actually revert to the town treasurer but I think it's a good step to take to to appoint the town treasurer um who is is on top of us anyway. So article 13 would be the sea of the town will vote to accept the provisions of general law
chapter 44 section 54B which will allow the town trust funds to be invested in accordance with general law C203C the so-called prudent investor rule as recommended by the town's
financial policies to make available the options required to meet the investment goals of the OPEB trust or take any action thereof. So accepting the prudent investor rule allows for additional places where funds can be invested. Uh
all of which uh is it in accordance with our financial policies, something we haven't done yet. 14. to see if the town will vote to act on the fiscal year 2026 budget to raise and appropriate or appropriate by transfer from the cable TV enterprise
fund, water and sewer enterprise fund, ambulance revenue fund, ambulance surplus fund, school choice fund, cemetery perpetual care interest fund, overlay surplus fund, free cash, water and sewer retained earnings fund, cable
TV retained earnings fund, and bond premium fund and other funds a sum of money to fund blurry here the operation of the town's department and all other necessary and proper expenses and to
defay the charges and expenses of the town including debt and interest to set the salaries of elected officials in accordance with provisions of general law C41 section 108 and to provide reservation reserve fund for the ensuing
here or take other action. That's the budget. That's the long way of saying that's the budget. Great. Thank you, Greg. That towards the end or have you guys made a decision to I think it's been around
this area the last couple years. I I copied and pasted from last year's order. So, this is around what it would have been last year. Okay. But I'm I'm happy to move it where always funs next kind of
there's there's a certain order to this. So, article 15 is is sorry, article 15 is to see if the town will vote to raise an appropriate or transfer from available sums, available funds, a sum of money for personnel to supplement the fire ambulance department's operating budget
and costs associated for fiscal year 2026 and to determine whether such appropriation shall be contingent on the passage of a proposition two and a half ballot question. So, this would this is the question that um would basically
trigger the ballot question on um an override for the fire department articles would be that $480,000 um would be added onto the taxes, right?
Because it's and it be permanent. It would be permanent. Yes. Okay. Article 16. The city of the town will vote to rescend the following bond authorization projects voted. Sewer assessment management planning project
article 15 of May 14th, 2024 annual town meeting. Storm water assessment management planning project article 16 of May 14th, 2024 annual town meeting. in drinking water assessment management
project article 17 of the May 14th 2024 annual town meeting. Why do we have to have this? These were all passed uh allowing for bond authorizations and none of them need to be funded using uh borrowing. So because uh there is
borrowing space that's now being used up by these, we cleared that space out by rescending the bond authorization. We had alternate funding sources for those. Yes, we had significant grants and then in kind some of it too, right? We kind
of plan that, right? All all of it. I'm not really sure why the bonding was a part of it. Um all of it was uh contingent on receiving these large grants from the state um and then meeting it with some transfers from free cash, which we're actually going to do later in the meeting, and then retained
earnings, which had already been completed last year. Um, so it's a small town contribution uh through cash and then a decent sized one through inind services which is really just our staff time and then a lot of state grants go into this. Never was there any any
bonding needed so we can clear this from the docket. I have this as recommended by the finance committee. I'm not sure how that ended up in here. I was going to ask about when are you doing that? What we're going to do it at the end at the end tonight. Yeah, we'll
just do one motion to do all your recommendations. Yes. Oh, okay. That sounds good. Oh, next is a chart. And you could kind of just summarize it. It's just the the last line is the one to highlight. This is the revolving
funds. Do you want me to do You're just authorizing the revolving funds. Yeah. I I don't understand what you mean. Just the last line. Well, the last line is the amendment. So, this new the timber sales is new. Yeah. Everything else is standard. You guys voted on that
couple of meetings ago, right? Okay. So, we're leaving the this is uh to see if the town will vote to amend general bylaws of the town by adding a new revolving fund for use by department of public works. And that would be the watershed management timber sales. Yep.
authorized by the DPW director for timber sales operating expenses for timber harvesting program for $50,000. Right. This is what Tony came in to talk to us about. It pays for the program itself.
The revenue sales. Article 18 is to see if the town will vote to set the spending limits for revolving funds um under general law chapter 44 section 53E and a half for the fiscal year um beginning July 1. obviously. And this
just lists our um revolving funds and the spending limits allowed. And for folks following along at home, there was one change in this from the year before, which would bring the tax title revolving fund up to $75,000. That's recommended because uh
we we are doing additional work with our tax title attorney now to help uh clear a bit of a backlog that we have. While we're not anticipating necessarily go up that high, I think it makes sense to to have that because um they, you know, they're doing some very good work and should be bringing in some some
additional funds for us. And you know, people may not really know what tax title is. That's a a if you're really in a rears on your real estate taxes, your property goes into tax title. Um and then there's, you know, a process for the town to move forward or a process
for folks to pay their tax bills. But it is good to stay on top of making sure that we're collecting those amounts obviously. Yes. Article 19. Save the town vote to raise an appropriate appropriate by transfer
or otherwise provide the sum of $27,837 to create the storm water asset management management plan. And this was because last year we didn't fund it. Uh so we have to bring it again. That's
correct. It was structured as that bond authorization. Um, but it didn't include a transfer from anything else. And the best way to fund this would be through a free cash transfer. Um, for my recommendation, that's up of course to this board, but if you want to do that
u, but we can review that. Um, I think very soon we'll be ready to review that free cash model because we'll be be through all the free cashache. Okay, great. Let's see. Article 20 to see if the town will vote to raise an appropriate
appropriate appropriate by transfer or otherwise provide the sum of $42,000 for repair and replacement of six fire hydrants or take any other action. That's pretty self-explanatory. That's pretty right there. Um, article 21 is to see if the town
will vote to raise an appropriate appropriate by transfer or otherwise provide the sum of $76,200 for the replacement of the Smith Academy carpets. And this project would um mean that all of the carpets at Smith Academy have been will have been
replaced. Um, some are original to the building 1980. Article 22, see if the town will vote to raise appropriate appropriate by transfer otherwise provide the sum of 140,000 for upgrades of the DPW facility
at Elm Court or take any other action and we had an explanation. I think you made an explanation on the finance committee that originally they thought it was going to be a different kind of building and it changed. This building is and it makes sense to complete it and
get it done. Yep. I talked to Garrett today about getting a little bit more information about the sort of the evolution of this project and making sure that he has that information available for town meeting. Yep, that would be good. But we've gone this far in this project, we might as well
complete it. Article 23 to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate appropriate by transfer or otherwise provide the sum of $85,000 for purchase of a new police cruiser for the Hatfield Police Department.
I think now I'm sorry, all free cash, right? Yeah. And I think now is a good time to take a look at this spreadsheet which shows the proposed uses of free cash this year. if that sounds okay to the board. So, let me um zoom in on this
so that it's readable. How's that look? Looks good. I'm just going to get rid of this. Okay. So, our free cash certified amount uh for this year is 1.1 million. 1 uh
108434. And our town's financial policies down here um recommend 3 to 5% of the general fund budget be reserved in free cash. If we were to do 3% and if a general fund budget is approximately 15 million, the reserve target would be
around 473754. Um I think you know give or take from that would be fine. And maybe that number actually for general fund budget is a little high too because that might include some things uh that aren't necessarily from the general fund. But that's that's the number I took from the
the recap. So, um, if you go down the list, here are the things that we're planning on using free cash for at the moment. So, we have the OPED reserve transfer, which was mentioned earlier, of $20,000. Stabilization fund transfer of $100,000. Opioid settlement, which is money that never should have been in
free cash, but we're transferring it over $27,000. Wetlands protection, same thing, $1,900. Previous year's bill, right now it's $1,160. Then we get to the snow and ice transfer. Now that will actually be lower. Let's um change that to
94,000, right? 94,000 is the current estimate. The MS4 compliance uh which was mentioned earlier, the sewer systems is 90,000. Storm water asset management 27,000. Uh new fire hydrants 42,000.
Smith Academy carpets 76. Police cruiser 85. and then Elmc Court1 139500 and that brings us to a total free cash reserve. So free cash remaining of $43,000 that targets more like 473. So if we wanted to make a change of some
kind, we could get closer to that reserve target. But I think because these are going to all eligible expenses that are good for the town, a strong case could be made for this scheme for free cash use. And also there could be some monies in that general fund budget
that you really shouldn't calculate that three to 5% on. No, there there are probably a few. Yeah. Also, for the record, we've never been close to 35%. I mean, just never close, you know, like just I mean, I think that's a pretty healthy that's very healthy. Closer than
we've ever been. And that's a good comfortable spot. We we would like it to be a healthy number like that because we are in kind of uh turbulent times and so it's nice to have a little reserve just in case. I mean a huge water main break
you know there's andrew we have well the school if if if if the school could lose $150,000 of federal money pretty easily and they would you know they would need that. Can I ask, do you know if they have their
Vogue transportation number because I think that came in late, right? Last year we had to do some adjustments. Um, yes, we had to do some adjustments. I I don't know what why that happened, but we did have to do an adjustment. We used free cash,
130,000ish. Um, uh, but we have a number from the school. it it's actually down uh tuition pretty comfortable with it. Yeah, I think there's fewer students. I just remember right before town meeting I think it was last year right before
town meeting was big. I mean I mean it's one of those things that it's such a small number of students that if one or two or three students decide to do something different than they maybe thought they were going to do it makes a huge difference in the
budget. So you know this year maybe a couple of people decide not to go. So now it's down. Okay. I just That's totally off topic of free cash. No, but we used free cash last year to fix it. So it it's in the article for the Alcort
building, you have 140. It did. And on here we have 1395. Do we want to be consistent with those numbers or do we really care about that? Consistency is probably good. Um we can keep the 140. I would think I would go with the 140.
Yeah, it's only $500, but still. No, it's it's it's important to be consistent. It's good point. Okay, that is a good comfortable place to be. It's a good use of uh that money. So, are there any projects here that we feel like we would not like to explore or are
you comfortable with this uh this set of projects and use the free cash? I'm comfortable with that. Right on. Great. up to residents. All right, we arrive at article 24. Article 24. So,
um this is to see if the town will ra uh vote to raise an appropriate appropriate by transfer or otherwise provide a sum of money not to exceed $3,370,000 to replace the boilers and roof of the Hatfield Elementary School
and to mill and pave the surface of Billings Way and the parking lots at the Hatfield Elementary School and Smith Academy. Um and then to you know to determine if this is going to be um done by um debt exclusion basically. Uh so this would be on the
ballot. So it so these questions the question about the fire department and this question would have to pass at town meeting and pass at the vote at the ballot box. Yes. Just so people understand that process for how these
things are passed. And it's a twothirds vote for the debt exclusion at town meeting to place it on the ballot. Okay. But simple majority, right, on the override over at the ballot. Uh no, even
on town floor on town meeting at at town meeting at town meeting and then on the ballot for the debt exclusion. It's a simple majority that doesn't necessarily make sense, right? There's no reason to apply logic to that, right? Yeah. It's just with a difference that that we
treat bonding because it's a borrowing essential. Yeah, borrowing is treated as something that you you can't do very easily. And article 25 ties in with article 24 because article 245 is sort of asking uh how we can pay for that
project. So to see if the town will vote or raise appropriate appropriate by transfer otherwise provide a sum of money for the repair replacement of the boilers roof. Hatfield Elementary School determine whether or not raising appropriating sum of all said amount
from tax levy by transferring funds from existing accounts or authorizing a treasur and the approval of the sweat port. So I mean that's basically uh giving permission to go ahead and pay for it if it's all approved. If it's not approved, if it's not approved, if it's
if it's sorry, if it's not approved, if that exclusion doesn't go through, this allows us to borrow the money to do those two projects, which are critical projects. The boilers if they have to be done this summer, there's no way they're going to get make
it through next year that you could shut down that school in a heartbeat if the boilers are are bad. And obviously, we need to protect our asset of uh however many millions of dollars we spent on that building to keep the roof and keep the water out because if you get water
in there, there's I don't even want to go into what we could possibly be facing if it's if that's become a problem. And Right. Right. And the school department spent a lot of their own funds on on uh keeping this thing as right in in as good a shape as they can. So, and it and
it's quite clear that the state is not going to come up with money anytime soon. So, I had a question. Had a question on that one. Is that excuse me, if 24 fails and it fails at the ballot, is that already included in the current FY26 budget under that debt exclusion?
Because I thought I heard earlier it's not. So, we're raising taxes even without a two and a half passing because we still have to bond or pay for other projects, right? No, because that was mentioned earlier. No, you'd have to uh borrow it. You would borrow without a
debt exclusion without the Yeah. So then you'd have to cut somewhere else to pay for it next in in the following year in the following year or get some kind of money from somewhere, right? Yeah. So it would not have any impact on taxes theoretically.
It would just we'd have to figure out how to pay it back. We have lots of borrowing capacity. Uh our limitation is we don't have the money to pay it back, right? and you'll you'll be prepared to explain the differences and the the different mechanisms and the different
impacts, I'm sure. So, um Okay. 26 to see if the town will vote uh to general law C40 section 14 and all enabling laws to authorize select board to acquire by gift or purchase such temporary construction easements and
rights as may be necessary in connection with the day pond project as follows. a temporary construction easement of approximately 4,000 square feet at 69 Main Street and B a temporary construction easement of approximately
4,250 ft at 9day Avenue or take any other action. So these are um construction easements that are are relatively small lifts for the property owners. We're in negotiations with the property owners now and and going over what the piece would look like with them. They're both supportive of the the
project overall. Devil's in the details of these things, but we think overall that they'll be supportive and easements do need to be approved by town meeting vote. So rather than wait for the final easements to be negotiated with them, we we think we should vote for this. It gives the the town the ability to move
forward and then we'll work with the property owners to make sure that everyone's happy with the terms. uh there shouldn't we're hoping that it doesn't require you know additional appropriation of any kind uh for for considerations um and it should be relatively straightforward overall
property owners. So now we get into our list of um community preservation articles. Um article 27 um is just the general um CPA article um to see if the town will vote to appropriate and reserve from the
community preservation annual revenues um the following um appropriations and reserves. So, appropriations FY2026 estimated revenues for committee committee administrative expenses at $8,500. And then reserves um the
estimated revenue for historic resources reserve is 40,852 as is the estimated res revenue for the community housing reserve and the estimated revenue for open space reserve. And then the um estimated revenues for budgeted reserve is
$277,461. Okay. Article 28 is the seat of the town will vote to appropriate by transfer from community preservation budgeted reserve account upon the recommendation by the CPC a sum of up to 35,000 to restore rehabilitate the main roadways
on the east and west side of the Brad Street Cemetery under the guidance of the Hatfield Cemetery and historical commissions. set funds to be expanded under the direction of the CPC or take any other action thereof. So this is
another another money to maintain the cemeteries of roads and keep things up. 29 to see if the town will appropriate by transfer from the CP community preservation budgeted reserve account upon the recommendation of the community
preservation committee a sum of up to $14,000 to expand and rehabilitate the main roadway in the main street cemetery under guidance of the Hfield Cemetery and Historical Commission said funds to be expended under the direction of the
community preservation committee. Um, so article 30, I'm just going to kind of abbreviate it, not it's it's a lot of the same language because they're all um CPA articles, but um article 30 um is to um appropriate by transfer from
the community preservation budgeted reserve account $30,000 and that would be to install an irrigation system for Smith Academy Park. Article 31 I'll summarize also it's want to add something. Okay, sorry. Article
30. Okay, you all set. Yeah, I thought I thought Andrew needed to say something. I'm sorry. I'm just going to summarize article 31. It's it's to get $91,700 for day pond, but I want people to realize that originally the CPC had
asked the pond folks to look for uh any kind of grant or additional money. So they funded the first part of that project which was the permitting and doing all the studies that were required and that's been done and and they did
not get any grant money. I know Marlene and uh Brian Nichols looked for grant money and there was none available. So this is the re the final piece to get that pond uh fixed up which will be from
community preservation committees money. Excellent summary Ed. Thank you. 32. See if the town will appropriate by transferring the community preservation historic resources reserve account upon
the recommendation of the community preservation committee a sum of $40,000 to restore and rehabilitate the cutter farm museum barn sighting and roofing such project over the under the guidance of the select board his hapfield historic commission and department of public works and said funds to be
expended under the direction of the community preservation committee um article 33 just to summarize would be Again, another community preservation um article. This is from the budgeted reserve account. Um the sum of $48,000
to install for recreational open space and historical purposes the new Oliver Smith Park within the Main Street Cemetery. Um so I want to make one quick note about three of these projects. This one being one of them. This article 97
protection just um creates a protection uh that's difficult to remove uh the land from but but sets it apart as recreation open space essentially. So once that is under article 97 protection it's diffult to then develop it or or remove it as a park which is a good
thing for the town to have this land set aside as particularly in a cemetery right cemetery whatever else. Sure. Yeah. And article 34 is $20,000 to restore and
rehabilitate the walkways, fencing, and other historical features in the Main Street Cemetery. And that'll be under the guidance of the Hatfield Cemetery Commission historical commission DPW. So
I mean that's 20 grand for that. So um article 35 is very lengthy. Um, do you want me to read the whole thing because it is I mean Well, that's a lot. I can also read the summary if this would be helpful. Okay. Why don't you read the summary? Um, great. Or Yeah, go
ahead. You can read it. All right. So, um, yeah, because it's it's it is a long item here. So, I put together a quick summary about the construction post construction storm water management bylaw. Um, both about what it does and then how we got here and and why we're
considering this. Um, and we can discuss all of this. So, what does it do? So it creates a new storm water management permit that must be obtained in order to conduct any construction activity that will disturb or impact at least one acre of land. There are numerous exemptions
in here of of of many different kinds including for maintenance of agricultural land. I don't know why laying open here land public roadways infrastructure emergency repairs and incidental disturbance among other specific uses. So we can go through that
uh more finely if it helps, but there are a number of exemptions in here that should help with with any immediate concerns. It establishes the planning board as the permit granting authority and enforcement entity except in areas already under the jurisdiction of the conservation commission. It allows the
planning board to create the specific rules and regulations for obtaining this permit. and it allows the planning board to wave these provisions if it is in the public interest and in select other circumstances. So what this is essentially doing is creating the framework for the rules and regulations
that will then need to be further developed and voted on uh by the planning board. So why are we considering this? The EPA and Massachusetts D require a general permit for storm water discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems MS4. That's the kind of systems that we
have for storm water. Um, and we need to to uh obtain this permit which uh as a part of the permit, municipalities are required to have a post construction storm water management regulation, typically a bylaw or if you're a city an ordinance that complies with federal standards. The town is currently out of
compliance with this regulation and we've been issued an order for compliance by the EPA directing the town to remedy this by February 2nd, 2026. So by passing this bylaw, we'll begin the process for the planning board to then pass its own rules and regulations on construction and post construction storm
water management which will then be open to considerable public participation and feedback. It has to be posted. They'll discuss this a lot. We'll also get a lot of guidance on this from town council and from uh engineering consultants that we plan to to work with. So this bylaw
is the basic framework that begins the path to compliance. And you know why are we here? We're also here because this bylaw should be a good thing for the town in reducing pollutants that are delivered into our storm water systems. And that's why it's set up by EPA and D in the first place. So, what happens if
the bylaw is passed? The bylaw will become effective after review by the state attorney general's office and by uh the end of the local appeal period like all other town passed bylaws. The planning board then begins deliberations on specific rules and regulations for the permit. That's subject to public hearings. The town, as I said, will work
with engineering legal consultants to develop those rules and regulations. We'll work closely with all relevant stakeholders on this um and passing the bylaw. Now, it helps the town comply with EPA's order for compliance under section 309 of the Clean Water Act. If we decide we're not ready to either put
this on the warrant or to pass it uh at town meeting, because this is a big bylaw to pass, it makes sense that people would have some concerns about it. The town would need to make any desired amendments to bylaw and most likely have a special town meeting so we can try to get this completed by February 2nd, 2026, the deadline given
to us by EPA. What does this mean for residents? For residents, it doesn't mean anything if they're not planning on uh undertaking any kind of disturbance to over an acre of land that they own. uh if they're going about normal farming
operations, it also doesn't mean anything because there's considerable exemptions for any of that. If where are the exemptions for that in this? They are in the bylaw. I was looking for and I couldn't find
them. Yep. Section four. Sorry about that. Section six, letter B, exemptions, normal maintenance and improvement of land and agricultural use as defined by the wetland protection act. Uh removal of native plants. So here are all the
exemptions. Yeah. I mean you build a house does that are bigger than an acre. The house itself has to be bigger than the acre. Not the disturbance. The disturbances. The disturbance would be bigger. Have to bigger than an acre.
But that would be huge. Well, I mean, obviously we don't have acre sized houses, but most people they'll put up the the the fence fencing with the, you know, with the uh the stuff to catch in case you get run off, you know, the black plastic
fencing you'll see around different construction sites. That's really what we're talking about here, right? Much more likely to be applicable to say a redevelopment or a development of an entire neighborhood. Essentially, if you build a new sub subsection of some kind, a subdivision, that's what we're really
talking about. Or if there's a major a major road project or something like that, that would have to have those kinds of things. But a road project is mostly exempted here. I believe even if you even if you did a house, a driveway, a parking spot, you know, like disturbing an entire acre would be it
would be difficult. A lot. Yeah. You'd really be digging in. So most likely this applies to larger projects, subdivisions, and other things. Large commercial, they would need to to get that permit, but your That's in all communities.
We're just not in compliance, right? Need to be passing. Yeah. So what is it? So that was going to be my question, Andrew. Sorry to interrupt. Is this essentially boilerplate that was sent to us from the state for us to pass? was
heavily adapted from sample legislation from a community that has I think similar agricultural needs to ours. Um and uh reviewed by town council um
yes and EPA has did send this to us. I would expect some good questions about this at town meeting. Yeah. And honestly, I the plan was not to include this in the in the town meeting this time, but I think there's equal amounts of concern about doing it on this
timeline and doing a special town meeting to pass this. So, I think if we're not ready um and residents just can't support this at this time, I understand that and we can uh move forward with plans for a special town meeting. Um and if they, you know, can
feel some some trust in the exemptions and everything else in here and and with our planning board and the role that they'll have in developing the specific rules and regulations, I I think that that would be a good outcome as well. So, I think we're in a good space. Have you talked with the planning board about this? Planning board has seen this. Um
our building inspector has seen this. Um, no one's raised enough objections that, you know, they they don't think we should continue at this time. Um, but it's a lot of work to do and that's why we'll have the consulting help to to do it as well. So, this was not put forward by the
planning planning board. No, because it's it's not a zoning bylaw. It's a general bylaw. So, this is essentially being put forward by the select because we're not in compliance. it would be put forward by the selectman rather than by the
planning board. Okay. But the planning board So, so I'm sorry. It gives once once this is if this is approved that then gives them the ability to work on
future the bylaws necessary or the the zoning bylaws necessary. Not necessarily zoning bylaws, just rules and regulations. it would exist as rules regulations of the planning board and they would be the permit granting authority. So much like they you know
give a special permit for for a project that special permit would then probably also have to include in some cases this storm water permit or storm water construction permit. So, if somebody is going to I mean it I Yeah, I have lots of lots of questions
about this. Like if you go and you know if if if you've got a bunch of trees to clear, do you have to do you have to get that or are you talking about you cut the trees down and then you can't disturb the soil? But it's got to be
greater than one acre. It has to be greater than one acre. So if you had a farmer that or somebody in town that was say trimming back their field because it was being overgrown. Would
they have to get a permit to do that? I think that would most likely fall under this first exemption of normal maintenance and improvement of land and agricultural uses. Okay. Or removal of native plants invasive growth or other vegetation. Right. It's a I mean we're digging it up. If you're just where it
becomes an issue if you cut it down and then dig it up and regrade it. That's that's where and this maintenance of existing landscaping gardens associated with single family dwelling. I mean that's that's what touches them most residents I'd imagine. So they're pretty
exempted from that which is good. Yeah. Well I understand we have to be in compliance. I'm just it's a lot. Yeah. It's Well, it also doesn't mean you can't do a project. It just means you have to get the storm water management permanent. A lot of it would fall under conservation
though like you said, right? A lot of it wouldn't fall under the umbrella of the planning board necessarily. Right. Right. And this says that it would not be the planning board if it's already a conservation reviewed project. Right. And most most projects I mean any projects we've
done we most like we usually have to go through the conservation commission more than we go through the planning board. If you're doing that cutting up at the in the wetlands around the reservoir, that would be conservation commission,
not the plan. That's that's cut comp. Yes. Yep. And what this mostly will require is showing they have a plan for storm water management of some kind. Um I mean that's is it will mostly affect really large projects like the
subdivisions or the or the um large commercial properties. So that's the intent of it. And you know what also is in here which is great um is that there's an opportunity for the planning board to create a waiver process here too. the plane board may
wave strict compliance with any requirement this bylaw um in the case that it's in the public interest or a public safety issue occurs and if it's consistent with the purpose and intent of this bylaw. So I think that helps a lot of the yeah cases on on the margins that we're talking about. Yeah. And
unfortunately, it just adds another layer of thing you have to do, you know, like, okay, I gotta, you know, get a meeting going with the planning board or maybe I have to hire an engineer or Well, that's right. You know, you hate
to have it stand in the way of Yeah. a project, but if I mean, yeah, it's a it's an EPA compliance matter, right? We don't Oh, yeah. No, no, I get it. Yeah. Okay, on that one, yes. Article
36, I'm just going to go through the purpose. Article 36 deals with accessory dwelling units. And the purpose of this section, it says the purpose of the accessory dwelling unit by law is to
provide homeowners with a means of obtaining rental income and thereby to enable them to stay more comfortably in their home neighborhood, otherwise be forced to leave. Add inexpensive rental units to the housing market. Make
housing units available for low and moderate income. Protect stability property values and encourage compliance. And a lot of it is uh like fine-tuning or tweaking the definitions in that article.
Yeah, I would say that that if this looks familiar that accessory dwelling units is on the agenda of the warrant again, it's because it was last year. In the space of the last year, the uh the state has passed its own uh language on accessory dwelling units. I'd say we
were pretty close to compliance with that. Um but there are a couple items that do need to be changed. They passed their own definitions. they passed, you know, the a number of things that we can just accept. So, we don't have to set up our own definitions. The biggest change is that our accessory dwelling unit uh
language that was passed last year um restricted ADUs to um owner occupied um and this no longer does. So, uh ADUs do not have to be um owner occupied at this point.
And otherwise, this is this is language that was reviewed, you know, very closely by the planning board. They did a good job with this. Um, what it does is it uh matches the the state's requirements while also, I think, keeping very much the intent of the
original language uh regulations that they passed last year for and it'll be presented in this edited form. That's correct. So, anything that's crossed out, it's changed from from last year. Anything that's underlined and bolded is added. So, it's an amendment rather than a new 5wall. Okay. So, what did you say
about owner occupy? It doesn't. So, um if if I owned a house that I rented out to I could put an ADU on a property I rent out. Doesn't have to be my house. the main house and the
ADU could be renter occupied, whereas in the past you could only have a renter uh in the um ADU and the owner had to live in the main house, the principal's dwelling they call,
huh just difficult to poses some import some enforcement questions. Oh god. of how you're how you're going to go and determine who's living where. Exactly. But other than sit out for a lapse, it'll it
Yeah. So, a a landlord with rental property, say a duplex could really put an ADU on each side or just one? Oh my goodness. Um, the planning board did cover this and now I'm forgetting where where they
landed on it because it's an excellent question. Um, we have a site plan review. No, that's not it. Um, there's a site plan requirement for if you want to add a second ADU. Here we go. Second ADU in a residential lot. It requires a special
permit. And it can only be you're entitled to one, but you have to have a permit to have more than one probably, right? Yeah. and and they have some pretty specific uh check boxes that you have to check here in order to get that garage of a
rental unit into a ADU. Right. Space. Yeah. Yeah. You'd have to put all the proper things into that garage. Yeah. Right. There's a house in my neighborhood that's a rental. So, they could put a an ADU on that house, but that would be so long. It it still
has to meet the same zoning requirements that in terms of frontage and setbacks and all that all right here. Y yeah. Okay. Well, what do you mean like your garage to to turn your garage into an ADU? Well, I mean any ADU you put on
your property, you still have to maintain you you have to maintain the same you can only be so close to the side setback and oh the setback not the front the frontage ch is the same but it's the setback well your your frontage
would would it's not for the ad it's for the main the frontage would be for the main right but but you I see what you're saying about being on property lines you still have to on on green. Well, I am certain that the planning
board will be prepared to speak to this. Yes, they put a lot of work into this and so they'll be in good shape. Okay. And article 37 is to um you know hear any and all reports that have to do with the welfare of the town.
That moves us to topic eight. Did we um Were there any edits that we went through? So, if we want to do this, you can I don't think there were edits. I'm going to print this version because there was a typo or something in the one
that you have. There was a note to myself. I forgot to remove. So, these I do not sign. They were in the signature. No, I think No, Karen made a made a new version. So, I think that's perfect. Yeah, you can sign that. So the for the finance committee, I'm going to make a
motion that we support articles 2 through 11 and 14 through is that 25? 25 as putting down recommended by the finance
committee 2 through 11. Second and 13 and 14 through 25. So, I guess I should um add that to this copy and then you can sign that.
Yeah. Yeah. Because that's all Yeah, it doesn't it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter really. Uh we've done it the day of before. Yeah. So, there are some people that will that look for the recommended by finance committee for
whatever reason. Easy to do. Uh so any discussion on any of those articles? We haven't touched the CPA ones yet. So so all the financial articles are recommended by the finance commission except we haven't talked about CPA yet. CPA. Okay. Because that's 20 starts with
27. So you prefer we really don't have any say on CPA anyway. We don't know what they're Oh. All right. Well, hang on. Let's vote on this. So any further discussion on any of the motions 2 through 11 or 14 through 25? Those are
all fi all the financial ones. Yep. All right. Hearing none. All those in favor? I I Would you prefer that? Oh, sorry. That the warrant includes the recommended by Yeah. Okay. So, I'll get that done now and I'll print a copy for the board to sign community. Um, yeah.
The only time we've ever um the only time we necessarily need to get involved in community preservation articles in my mind is if they create problematic situations for the town going forward, you know, or or
questions for the town going forward. We we've always had questions when they put money to the very nice thing that was put out here and you know it's maintenance that now the town has mostly because community preservation act can't
support any maintenance right so if it's a thing that needs a lot of maintenance long term that's going to fall to the town. Yeah. But I'm look one of the things one of the things that we did in Capitol uh when it was the the
community preservation articles was that we didn't vote on them because it's not our purview, but we wrote that we supported that they were doing that. I don't know. Do we want to Well, that would be the question. Do we want to support them or or just let it be? I mean, we have a whole committee that
reviews it. I'm comfortable with the work they do. Oh, absolutely. No question. Yeah. I I don't have a problem supporting article 27 through June 34. I'll make that as a motion. I'll second
it. Any discussion on that? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All opposed. Uh would you be interested just in case there's people who are confused articles uh 13 and uh
12 and 13? Yeah, those are that's fine. Finance recommend uh finance involved. They just don't necessarily involve appropriations. That's up to you. I mean it's fine with me at 12 I think is one way or another the outcome is the same.
So yeah. Um, it's fine. So, you're looking for us to vote on the warrant? Do we want to vote on that? Sure. I I would make a motion that will finance will committee will will support articles 12 and 13 also. Second. All
those in favor? I I Okay, we're good. And those that was all CPC that you uh recommended? Yeah, we did CBC and 12 and 13 whole. So, that pretty much covers almost everything pretty much. And I will make a motion
that we um ex um accept approve the warrant as the town meeting warrant as presented. Second. Second. A motion made in second. All those Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I take a motion to
adjurnn. Yeah, I Oh, one other Sorry, no question. We're all set on the lease. Oh, so the lease um is built into the budget.
Budget. I was just thinking because we had talked about the boom mower and Well, we don't Oh, yeah. Those over those on here. They're not They're not uh part of It's part of the budget. It's part of
the budget. The lease lease things are part of the budget. The only thing we took out of the lease. Sorry, David. Go ahead. What is decided to use that money for is it's not we don't have to vote on it at a town meeting. If you vote on the budget for the DPW, there's 230 whatever
thousand dollars to support the lease program and then the powers that be will decide what what gets purchased. Right. We took out the fire the the police car right in
order to keep that number right closer to the same as so the the water and sewer trucks before I think just feels like someone should have oversight over that and well I mean yeah we have I think the DPW director has oversight
over that doesn't because it's in the DPW budget we probably have voted on it for that way. I don't know that it's a requirement. I don't I don't remember we're voting for it at town meeting and
leases. Yeah. And I don't remember. Well, I guess I just brought it up in terms of are we certain that these are the items that we want to because we had the help
me. We had the COA van was on there. We we had the the boom mower, the dump truck, the pickup truck for the DPW pickup truck, the two sewer, the sewer water, they coming out of Enterprise. They all come out of
Enterprise, right? We've we've had articles before for leasing on town floor, but was that when was that maybe new leases not within the lease capacity? Well, these are these would be new leases. They're new leases. Oh, but but they're in the lease
capacity. They're already in the If they're in the lease capacity, then I would think we're okay. Do you have If you're talking about the I do not We did a lease on the fire truck, right? That was outside of the Well, like the ambulance was a separate lease was
outside five or six years ago, right, Bob? When we did it and and that's going to be paid off this year. This the last payment. I'm going to ask town council just to to see if it needs to be in there in some way.
Thinking of it now and it is a contract that would last five years and I'd imagine that town meeting the legislative body would have to be the approval authority for a contract. Yeah, I think each one has been an article with the funding source being
being has to know what they're spending their money on. Yeah. And the ability to approve the purchase in order to say no even if it's in the budget or not say no we don't want them getting XYZ because it's cost the residents
that's part and but but that's part of the reason we went to a lease is so that it's correct because we had issues with it yeah it I don't think each individual item has to be
approved we've done things we've we've approved an amount like before I don't know that you each individual thing has to be an article probably that's that's how we used to do it right when we borrowed
individually for the item right any other any lease item has been in the warrant as an item to be funded from the town's operating budget vehicle lease
I don't money is there The town's people have to say that yes, we're agreeing to spend $20 and something thousand. Well, you're doing that to Andrew's point has the oversight, but you're you're doing that. Nobody knows what you're purchasing. Somebody
decides they don't know. They don't if there's money for protective gear, they don't know which specific protective gear line, right? Or or if there's the town all free cash items that are spent. No, no, no, no. Like if there's something if you have PPE in your
budget, okay, in your fire department budget and you know whatever companies there are out there that that make that there. We're not voting on the the town doesn't vote on what PPE you buy. I'm just saying what's been in there in the past has been that they've all been and
I talking 300 and I and I think going back five years to the last time to to this lease. You you could look at what was on the warrant. I mean, but don't we have to approve? I think we need to add it. I think it should be something like
this. I I mean I believe that those purchases have been on as with the funding source as leasing. Um what I found in this previous warrant here was to authorize see if the town will vote to authorize to enter into a
5-year vehicle lease. Yeah, that's what I think if we add that then we can add the ex the information on the floor about what the vehicles are and everything else that will at least give us the perfect that's the requirement. But I I I can't see. Oh, look at this
because Darl's right. We moved away from this whole thing years ago of voting on each individual. But I think it's in here too. will vote to raise and appropriate purpose purchase uh purpose of purchasing a new police cruiser. Is that one on the lease? That's not on the lease. That's on the lease. Purchase.
That's a purchase. That's not a lease. Purchase. It's not a lease. So, I think if we add this one here, fiveyear vehicle lease, vehicles lease, then we should have what we need.
Yeah, I agree. Yeah. All right. I'm gonna make some trade. can provide very accurate information about all the vehicles that are going to be in that lease. Andrew has a list of of everything what it's going to cost on an annual basis. Yes. Yeah. So, where would
we like this added under um capital improvement? I'll put it as the last one in capital improvement. Sure. Or Yeah. Here. Yeah. And then I'll I'll make the changes right now.
Um, so, uh, okay. So, so we're gonna have to, so we could, we could adjourn though while you make those, right? No, we we can't. I mean, we're going to have to revote your numbers. Yep. Your article numbers. Yep. Okay. But you'll This won't take
too long, right? That that I'm pretty sure that's exactly how it's been done. Right. Right. And I really just brought it up to make sure we were all comfortable with the five with with the with the items we're purchasing through
the lease. So maybe some of those ones that I'm remembering were just were like larger lease vehicles like the ambulance. Ambulance was a was was a lease in itself and we might have had Yeah. So to revote I don't think you voted on the
warrant yet, did you? We I think we did vote on the warrant. We did vote on the warrant. So, well, they're we're changing it, right? We're changing it. So, we'll wait till it's changed and then we'll revote it. We'll vote to resend. Can we take a five minute break while Karen? What? While we're waiting,
we'll Can we take a break? Well, yes, we'll take a break. Yeah, I'll But before we take a break, I'll make a motion that we resend our vote accepting the warrant article in lie of the changes that are coming. Second. Motion made and second. Any further
discussion? All those in favor? I. So maybe we will take a short break because there's some paperwork that needs to be done and then we'll just take a final vote when we come back. Perfectly.