Well, good evening. We have a forum present here at the select board. So, I'd like to call the select board and wage and personnel uh board together uh to border on Tuesday, May 12th at 5:45 p.m. here at the Lakeville Council on
Aging. Lake Cam is recording our meeting. Is there anybody else here recording? Seeing none, if we could please rise for pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Before we get started with our regular business tonight, I would like us all to just
take a moment. Um, we've lost a another member in town. Um, this has been a a long-standing um, active volunteer in our community for many, many years. Um, some of you may have had the the privilege of of
meeting Brian Reynolds. So, he has recently passed. Um, and yeah, it was a it was a hard one to to hear, too. So, um, if we could all just take a a moment of silence in me memory
of Brian Thank you very much. Okay. Select board announcements. Mr. Planka. >> Thank you. Good evening. Current committee commission vacancies include a member for the board of registars, two
vacancies, and one atlarge member for the cable TV advisory committee and one atlarge member for the zoning bylaw review advisory committee. Details on these positions can be found on the town's Facebook page or the website lakevillemma.org
under news. Reminders from the town clerk's office. Please return your 2026 town census. Uh let's see. The town's operational override election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th at Lon Pond Lodge. Deadline for voter registration for the
Old Colony building project override vote is June 9 by 5:00 p.m. The Old Colony building project override vote is scheduled for June 20th from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. That is on a Saturday. And
the location, please note, is at Asaw Gym. It is not at Lon Pond Lodge. I got ahead of myself. Uh, the reason for the location change is due to an an event being previously scheduled at Lun Pond Lodge.
Uh, on June 8th at 6:30 p.m., the town will hold its special town meeting at Panuk Regional High School Auditorium. A quorum of 100 voters is required to conduct town business. The annual town meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Uh, and
again, a quorum for 100 voters is also required for that meeting. So, that the special town meeting followed by the annual town meeting. And the final overright outreach meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. Uh, yes, tomorrow, Wednesday, at the library from 6:00 to 700 p.m. I believe that's all, madam.
>> No, there's one other item right here. >> It's on the other side of your >> That's all right. I've got it right here. >> Thank you. Ah, yes. Uh, the annual Memorial Day observance will be on Monday, Memorial Day May 25, starting at 10:30 a.m. Uh,
we will start at the Veterans Memorial at the fire station, and we will continue up to the World War I Dick Render Duran Square. Um, crossing up, yeah, which includes the honor roll and the flag pole, ending with a veterans exhibit and refreshments at the historic
1856 townhouse town hall. And in case of inclement weather, uh, we will meet at the historic townhouse at two precinct drink at the intersections of Route 105 and Route 18 at 10:30 a.m. >> Okay. >> I believe so. >> Okay.
>> Any other select board members have anything to add for announcements? >> Okay. Finance Committee, would you like to? >> Yes. I will call the Lakeville Finance Committee meeting on May 12th to order at 5:50 p.m.
>> Teniti present. Wright present. >> Manovsky present. >> Be present. >> Okay. So, thank you again for um joining us this evening. Um so this I'm going to turn this over to um Andrew and Mike
Ellis. So this is for the fiscal year um 2027 budget recommendations. Um and I believe there's some handouts that um were provided in front of you this evening too. So all right, Andrew, take it away. >> Thank you. Um so in your packets um
supplemental packets, we have a an article 1A which is this kind of shows revenues and expenses front and back. And then we also included um the amendments which you can find behind you on the screen as well. Um so last week we went over the 1B budget
which was the non-override budget. we found some savings and revenue. Um we adjusted a little bit. Now that's going to be true for the 1A budget as well. Um so this kind of lays out where we see those. Um and then we kind of got listed
out some things that were cut out of 1A even if an override passed and we listed those out. Um for example, we have the principal assessor, the town planner, and a part-time floater. um those we tried to show you what it
would look like if you brought those back and the amounts. And then we also showed some recommendations um which were to kind of increase the employee benefits line specifically health insurance by 70 grand. Um we
would pay for the asawset um payment not because originally we were going to use it out of capital stabilization. we would use it within the operating budget and then local receipts. Um Mike can get into where that 12,000 is going to go.
Um but we thought it was good to limit those. Mike, do you want to explain where we put those? >> Yeah. So, it's really just going to offset the 20,000 on top. So, what this would do is, as I've mentioned during the budget season, we've kind of maxed out our local receipts. We're very, very
high uh close to prior year actuals. So, even though we're recommending up top to increase local receipts 20,000, I wanted to mimic what you saw last week, but really the net difference would be um the $7,12. So, um I just wanted to visualize it so
you would see that we would have some savings there and we wouldn't have to increase that receipt as much for the 1A budget. Um so, like last week, um it's up to both boards to kind of say or show what they want to see. Um, for example, if you
don't want to bring back the town assessor to full-time, you don't have to. Um, but we wanted to show what that is and if that's a priority for the board, we can bring that back. Um, open to recommendations, suggestions from the boards, what they think. >> Madam Chair, may I ask a question?
>> Of course. >> Um, line item health insurance increase of 70,000. So, are you saying if we don't adjust that, we're underfunding health insurance or where's that 70,000 going? Um, so generally the practice we've done in in years past is to kind of overfund health insurance a little
bit just in case someone comes on health insurance. Um, with this current budget that we have, we it's marginally overfunded 50 I think 50,000 of a cushion just in case someone comes on. A family plan's pretty expensive. That pretty much would eat up that quickly.
So we wanted to put a little bit more into that line just in case anything happened. Okay. >> Of course, if there's anything outside of this, that's that's fair game as well. Um, for example, if you think it
is underfunded, that could be something we maybe fund how the board likes to see it. Um, it's entirely up to the board. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> Uh, do we do we know did Bob provide a
detailed I haven't seen it on what was being reduced for his services >> um like up there. Um, so he went from 116 down to 70. That was because he thought um he had to pay for like a
subscription or a license this year. >> It's actually next year. >> So, we saw that savings >> this year. >> Okay, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Where do we stand with the town planner
right now? >> Right now, we don't have a town planner. Um we're not paying anyone to to do any of those services. So, there isn't a line item in the 2026 budget. >> There is. >> There is. >> There is a there's a line item in the current fiscal 26 budget
>> for $89,64. >> Okay. So, um can we restore the planner? >> Yeah. So, we actually we show that as an option to do that. >> 89 is the full full-time salary, right?
Correct. Correct. I think that the the part-time floater um is very important to the office. Um I know that that was something we implemented quite a few years ago. Um because most of our departments are only
two people deep. So, if there's somebody out, I know um that part-time flo was u beneficial um to getting a lot of you know work moving along as well. So, um personally,
I would like to see that position back >> because this is outside the override right? >> This is an addition. So, this is the override budget. Yeah. >> Um correct. >> Okay. >> Yep.
Okay. My recommendation would be um to restore the planet position. I think me Fabian would would agree with that uh the full time. We we all know we have significant development challenges coming down the road and
a qualified plan. It will definitely help add significant value. So that would be my one of my recommendations. I know the assessor um position as well and I know you were having difficulty identifying
candidates for that for that particular role but um you know I mean we even talked about halftime right part-time >> yeah correct >> still nothing right even if we had somebody that was retired that
>> could work within >> Yeah I haven't haven't had any luck? I've reached out to the association a couple times and they say they reach out to people and they just no interest. >> No, no interest. It's part-time. >> Part-time full time.
>> Oh, either way. >> Yep. It's been a challenge for quite some time. the debt the debt service um down at the bottom under ANS is that as a warm set >> that's correct >> and that's the windows we're paying um
interest only on that right now >> yeah and um Mike can go into a little bit more of the mechanics of that but we've been paying it this year and last year um out of capital stabilization >> okay >> yes so it's a it's a mandatory principal payment we haven't permanently borrowed
on that project yet um we didn't get the final audit from MSBA until after we renewed the ban and I had to renew the ban in order to close the books and not have it affect our free cash. So the 167188 is 67,188 of a mandatory principal payment and
we're paying down an additional $100,000 even on the ban um which will be that much less we would have to permanently borrow when that time comes. >> Would we be able to get a full list of the debt obligations we have coming around the corner? I always forget about
one. Like I know I think of something and I think oh these are all the ones and then I forget we have one more. So it would be nice to have an ongoing list of which I mean you guys know right which >> what our debts are. >> It should be in your uh budget book under debt service. >> Okay.
>> Um now that won't include well it will have the fire station on there but just as an interest payment interest payment. But are you looking specifically for like um debt schedules >> more to like when they're going to drop off?
>> Okay. >> Whether they're because I didn't I guess I didn't realize this one was >> uh interest only. But they're here if they're right here. >> Yeah, we can provide debt schedules. I think the police station falls off 2036.
>> Yeah, about there. I I do have a long-term debt schedule. I'd be happy to share. >> Okay. Yep. >> No, don't want to add any work. All you already have just Yeah, that's great. >> Thank you, >> man. Question. >> Sure.
>> Uh Andrew, the um the revenue adjustments cherry sheet education, that's smart growth. That is the smart growth from the governor's budget to the house budget. That's not the house budget to
the senate budget, >> right? Yeah. So, it stands today based off of the house. It's at 432. >> Yep. That doesn't include the extra 285,000 that is on the Senate budget. >> Right. Potentially coming, right? You mentioned that, right? We may not know that for another month.
>> Month, month and a half. >> Yeah. >> That's that's a a big enough number that I'm not certain on. I don't want to that. >> You noted that last week and it's potential that we could do something with that at a fall town meeting. >> Correct. >> Okay.
>> And those cherry sheet numbers are identical. Last week's 1B we voted in 1A. They have no bearing on the overall. So yep. >> Can you just explain the um local receipts adjustment for 12988?
>> Uh, basically we listed all the items that the board and finance committee may want to bring back and we ended up with a $12,988 deficit. So since we have been extending ourselves in our local receipts and
we've been trying to look at the overall financial health, not just the appropriation side, Andrew and I thought, for lack of a better term, we could just reduce investment income. So we had up top we said we could increase it comfortably 20,000, but since we didn't
need the full thousand, I just plugged that $ 12,988 and said we would just reduce it by the $7,12. Um, but as I said earlier, I just kind of wanted to show the visual of we could go as high as 20. Uh, but we have the
luxury of putting 129 back in. So, >> and um, Andrew, what would be your recommendation to the select board and the finance committee? I would um recommend um adopting as shown under
recommendations and then also um bring back the salary reductions. If there was one thing I maybe wouldn't add is the assessor to full-time. I've had a tough time finding a full-time. We
could leave that at 50,000. But that's a it's a big decision. I don't know if the select board wants to see a full-time assessor. I know the board of assessors is open to either way, >> right? Yeah, they had been all along
too, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Question for member Fabian. Your recommend you've you have accessessor experience. Your recommendation. >> Um to go along with what Andrew said, it's hard to find a principal assessor. There's just not anyone saying I want to
be an assessor when I grow up. So, um I'm not even sure that that salary would attract someone to come. >> The feedback I've gotten from some seasons is that they don't want to come here unless it's 115,000 or greater,
>> right? It's like they have to pass four, five, six towns to get here that are all paying more. So, >> maybe not these days coming up. >> Fair. All right. I mean, a full-time assessor would give
you more counter time in the office. Um, they certainly could find work to do. There's work, plenty of work to do, but if we can't find a full-time get that salary, what's the probability of getting a part-time
even slimmer? >> There are some retire semi-retirey people that are interested Um, last year when I reached out to people, they say there's fleeting interest to come. They can do abatements. They don't want to do like a
tax classification. >> So, it's kind of a hodgepodge of people that are there's no one really that would do everything. >> So, that can be tough to find. >> Are we leaving revenue on the table without having that professional support
to make sure we are properly assessed? Um, do we know last time the boat excise tax was done? Does anyone know that? >> There's some old receivables. >> So, probably not in about four or five years since the last time it was done.
>> Possibly even longer. And I think they grand total less than $400. It's not a very >> So, there is work that mean like the boat size tax, but >> it's not going to offset the salary by 50 grand is what I'm wondering. >> No. >> No. >> Okay.
Um, you know, the personal property stuff. I don't know if we had a full-time person if they would, you know, go through it with a fine tooth comb. Um, I can see maybe a little sitting there, but
>> but not $50,000 worth or whatever. >> No, because those are all done by like the, you know, you get the form, you fill it out, it's like the honor. Mhm. >> I don't remember the last time anyone ever, maybe the assessors do, but I don't think anyone's ever checked those
personal property. >> Well, we did have a um we had a property I think around town where there was a it came out of a a chapter and it was the assessment was never done and that is money on the table. So, are we leaving money? I guess that's the kind of the
question that I'm asking about, you know, are there bigger problems that maybe we haven't thought about? Would a cons can a consultant fill this job for any period of time? >> That's who's doing it now, right? >> Yeah. We we we have ROG, the one that's historically done the last 10 years
doing it. >> Um I always kind of feel that we kind of react. We're not like a proactive >> assess department. Yeah. >> That's us as a town, isn't it? It is. >> So, if the question was, do I would I
prefer a full-time one? Yeah. But if it's not feasible to get, then um a part-time one is just as good. >> At least, you know, that >> nothing. >> Yeah. I mean, part of the work is getting done. and somebody that's seasoned. I mean, I think that that's
key um to make sure that, you know, they're looking out for the best interests of the town and somebody that is seasoned will have experience in what to look for. >> Okay. >> I think that that's key. And the same
thing with the planning position. Um I know that there had been discussion about you know a tier you know somebody coming right out of school versus you know somebody that has experience and we don't you know I didn't realize that we
were a teaching hospital but um for me because of these projects because of the financial landscape that we're we're facing right now and going forward with economic development uh that we're we're focusing on I would want to make sure that we have somebody
you know in that position that could actually lead us >> and not somebody that's waiting for direction. Mhm. >> So I think that that is absolutely key and I know that again the salary is not you know always you know very attractive
but you know some people might find the benefit of being living closer by Lakeville and the convenience of Lakeville being here and the excitement of you know developing
you know some projects for us. So, um, I just want to make sure that we're not just hiring people to fill the positions to fill a seat. I want to make sure that it's, you know, individuals that are going to be here for the benefit of of Lakeville
for what we're trying to accomplish. >> Madam Chair, can I ask a question? Um, back to the town planner salary. So, what would the a competitive salary be for that? You said it's 115 for an assessor. What about a planner? >> Not that far off. So, is it possible that we just reallocate some of that
money that we were going to, if we're only going to go with a part-time assessor because that's all we can find minimum, can we take some of that 39,000 and allocate it towards the town planner since we think that's a a more realistic position and a very important position for the town and just bump up that
salary so that we can maybe attract some qualified candidates. >> There's some considerations for that. Um, one that comes to mind immediately is that that person would probably be the second highest paid in town. We'd have to do some adjustment on the salary charts, >> but it's not a bad
>> Well, unfortunately, that's just realistic, right? To get people to come in. Yeah. >> Use the next person in the doors going to be one of the highest paid. So, >> yeah. Right. And then maybe it's a chance to redo the position, make it a a dual economic development planner,
>> something else. I I'm just, you know, I've been beating the drum about a planner for ever and ever and ever. And, you know, I'm just going to restate the things I've said before, which are, you know, this town is a very complicated landscape. We This is not a simple, you
know, somebody's going to come in and know how to do one, two, three things. This is somebody who has to have played poker and they know how to play and they know what they're doing. And I don't know that we're going to ever find that in a one one person, one full-time person. Um, Middleboro struck gold when
they found I think it's her name's Leanne over there. But certainly she's got a much more complicated situation happening. Um, I do feel strongly that we would be well served at least for a short term to be using consultants instead of a full-time employee because
we don't know what we need at this time. We think we know what we need, but I don't think we do know what we need. I think when and I was on planning board and I'd sit across from the attorneys that I know very well and listen to them talk and think we're we're just we're just out of our league. We don't know what's going on. So, it would be nice, I
think, to reconsider the possibility of allocating some of those funds, whatever that number may be. Um, and the other thing I just want to mention is that I'm, you know, uh, last week both Leah and Lorraine con expressed significant concerns about not giving raises to the
people that are here. and I've had conversations with people and I I feel very strongly that both of you are very important to this town and we want to make sure that we retain that good quality help. So, you know, when I'm looking at all of these things here,
none of these are as much of a priority as they are to make sure that you get the raise that you're entitled to, which we had hoped we would be able to accomplish sometime this fall retroactively, but I'd like to figure out how that piece would would play in here. So we don't
have to worry about it for this 1A budget. This is for the override passes. >> The override passes, >> right? >> So the the salary increases are >> are built in for that. >> Built in for that. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Madam Chair, >> through you. Um do we know planning
companies? I know that you had mentioned that a couple years back. >> Yeah, they are out there. They're out there. And um you know I think that we we just have not made the collective decision that that's the right that that's the right move. I think we've talked to those people. Um but you know
when I look at plans and I you know I look at things that are happening in other towns for comparison east and I think oh my gosh like I was on planning board. I was a volunteer. I did not know what I did not know. Look at what these people are doing as it relates to storm water as it relates to natural plantings
and the requirements that they have on them. never mind the fees that are being, you know, potentially raised in an environment like that which they're then using to offset other costs. Um, yeah, there's there there are consultants out there that doing a lot of different things.
>> And I know that the planning board did and I think we put out an RFI um or at some point um and I think two or three at least two came back with their fee structure. um one was very expensive um you know and it was you
know per hour or you know per project um so yes there is you know an option for that but you'd have to be very clear >> what you want right because there's projects that are ongoing >> already have um and then there's you
know maybe some shorter term projects but so it's a tough one I know that I feel like for for you know the past four years we've been having this discussion you know >> or longer >> or longer. So, Madam Chair, if we do what like
Darren suggests, um, it would be in a planner line, we could use that for a person or >> consultant, >> a consultant, right? We could do that or do we have to
separate it out? >> You if you're going to do both, you'd have to separate them out. One would be a uh expense line and one would be a salary. >> Salary line. >> Yeah. Does the planner role include um administrative services for ZBA or
planning board? >> Um at this time we have an administrative assistant >> um that does the administrative stuff. Colleen is now the ZBA. >> Okay. >> Um assistant for that. So we have assistants like administrative assistants in the office. >> It's just we don't have anyone high
level technical >> um where >> the planner role, right? the plan. We don't we so I mean a consultant can fill that void. >> Yeah, >> I think so. >> We have a lot of smart volunteers too. I think if the consultant said these are
the 20 things you need to do, you're going to send the army out to work and come back and I think we'd accomplish a lot. What's the flavor, >> man? I I would support this as is, but to
Barbara's point, is this now the time to reallocate some funding to a planning consultant line item? >> Yeah, you could do that. Um, >> yeah, you could do that. I mean, one thing, one option you could do is have a
planner line, have a consultant line, and then you don't have to make the decision tonight on whether whatever you have, but whenever you do make that decision. >> Yeah, >> you can move those funds around between those different lines. >> Yeah, I wouldn't advocate one way or the other. I we got to get planning board input obviously, but I think to give us
some flexibility, Bob brings up a great point. It's we've you know we could take, you know, the uh the 40k stuff. >> Did you say 39? >> Yeah, 39. Some change from that and add
that to a consultant line item. >> Kind of high, but >> I would I would probably only recommend 10 or 20. Yeah. >> As opposed to the full amount. >> Okay. Madam Chair, through you, why if we have $39,000 that we're willing to spend, why
wouldn't we take $9,000 of that, boost the plan of salary up to closer to 98 $99,000 to make it a little more >> attractive to people and then keep uh that the balance of that set aside for
the consultant. >> It's a good way to look at >> it's an option to as well. Um I I I'm still leerary though and I understand the the level of the the position
but it's always difficult to bring in a higher salary um when we haven't really done a lot of work to reclassify those that may need to be class reclassified.
>> Well, plus this is we wouldn't do both, right? Right. We would have it would be one or the other situation. Is that how you're envisioning it? No. >> No. >> Personally, no. >> Okay. >> I think you get what you pay for. >> Mhm. >> And if you're going to if you want someone very qualified to come in and
focus on Lakeville, you have to pay for it. >> And and to Darren's point, you're going to alienate people no matter what. having been the guy brought in that's paid more than the guy that's already there. >> You know, you're gonna alienate people.
>> Sorry. >> Still don't have to like it. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I I understand that. But it it's a it's an expense that we need to undertake. We the we lost the last planner, right? Not in pretty short order. >> Mhm.
>> Uh have been unable to fill that position. it's sitting. We have some major things coming up in the town. Uh >> well, it's an investment. >> Mhm. So, >> that's how I look at it. And and to uh Barbara's point, you know, this is
somebody that what they do day in and day out and not and not to dismiss any of our volunteers or any of our boards, but when you have when you have somebody that that's their livelihood is to make those decisions and give that input.
You know, it's important, especially if they're doing it on a day-to-day basis and not meeting every other week, to talk about something and then maybe talk about it a little bit more >> and and then a month or two or in the case of Lakeville, four years goes by uh
and nothing gets done. Madam Chair, yes. >> I also see Vim and Vigor in the economic development committee and wouldn't it be nice for them to really have like a staff member that they can help,
you know, that can really guide them and >> it's because we're we're definitely off to a a big start here. >> Yep. Madam Chair, if I could offer um that Maybe if we took some of that full-time
assessor money as as folks have already said, but just make the town planner salary full-time for $100,000 and um and off well and use that some of those funds to offset that position
because that would get closer to market. Um, and then even if if we had a full-time person, then we could still leverage the volunteers that you mentioned as well. >> Also, just because it's budgeted doesn't mean you have to pay him that amount.
So, >> right, it could be a range. >> Yeah. >> Based on experience >> and and this is the 1A budget if >> the passes anyway. So, I could we could be >> talking about a move here, >> but if I remember correctly, didn't we
start out at when when I came on this board, were we at like $70,000 was the salary? Yep. >> And we've upped it and upped it and upped it and >> still nobody's bit. And so, we're already more than a year behind
on this again. >> Okay. So, if we were to pursue what we have just been discussing, so if we move the $9,64 off of the assessor um and put it onto the town planner
salary, we're looking at 99208 and then we'd have 30 let me see 31. So, we'd have 80,000 um for the the assessor. Correct?
You with me? >> Yes. Mhm. >> And then if we were to move 10,000 of that 89 or 8 80,000 to a consultant line >> and I would put planning department
consultant I guess it as a label because I know most of the other consultants are under the select board's budget. Isn't that correct? >> Uh planning What was the question? I apologize. >> Oh no, you were typing too. Um, most all the other consultant the consultant line
is under the border selectment is select board. Isn't that correct? >> That's correct. Yeah. >> Okay. So, this would kind of be an anomaly having this. >> Yeah. I would use reference of myself and Todd. So, Todd had his own line in the accounting department as an expense
line because he was a 1099 contractor non-s salary. So it would kind of look very similar to how accounting did. >> Yeah. >> The planning department is also under a select board. >> So it's not like the planning board makes the call on where that funds go. We would still control it if that's the
concern. >> Okay. >> Or we'd make the decision in coordination with the planning board, I should say. >> Okay. Right. Okay. Well, that makes perfect sense then. >> Okay. Did everybody get the math? >> Mhm. Okay. >> So, we still have 20K.
What are you going to do with that 20k? We're going to keep we're going to keep that 50k for the assessor. Correct. >> No, that was the original proposed. This is what it would be now for fulltime. >> So, it's seven it would be 70,000 sitting in that line. >> 70 for >> correct
>> full which we're not going to get. >> Yeah. I mean that 20 grand it's just kind of sitting there, right? We've already said that like the 89 wasn't going to get it done. So, taking it away, might as well do something with this 20 as opposed to Even if it's just a I don't know
>> keep the assessor part time at 50 figure out with the other 20k. >> I would lean towards the 20k going to receipts myself just to make sure the the structure of the budget is >> more in tune. >> Okay. You want to so you want to bump up
the local receipts number >> um >> for the yeah >> for the revenue revenue. Sorry. I'd like to pay that would bring it down as well as towards towards principal on windows as as interest only >> payments make my skin crawl
>> but just listening to the math and and Mr. Ellis, if you can correct me on this. Um, that would bring it down to 70 or 60. >> Which one? The assessor. >> Correct. >> No, keep it.
>> Just keep it flat. Keep right behind. Actually, it might be easier to >> Okay. >> Right behind >> because we put the 10 in the planning consultant. >> Correct. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that we were all clear on the math. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, the 20k is going to go where? >> Receipts. >> It went to revenue. Yeah. we have now.
>> Okay. Okay. Any further discussion on any of this? All right. Well, I will certainly entertain a motion from the select board. >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. All right. And just for
clarity purposes, um, as presented and discussed, >> I got it. >> Do we want the full, um, budgeted amount? We did that last last week. >> M, can can we vote on this and then this separately?
>> That's But I >> But Andrew, you're asking to combine it. >> No, I'm just saying eventually I'd like to vote the final one. >> Right. So, he's actually going to have to move this over, I think. Right. >> Okay. All right. So, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the select board
hearing? None. Roll, please. >> I. >> Any discussion, please? >> Carboni. I Howard I. >> Any discussion on the motion? >> We Nobody had discussion. >> I'm saying the audience. Can I have a chance to ask questions?
>> Um, I wasn't planning on it because it was our dis discussion, but would you like to comment after? Well, you getting like the school committee there. You don't let people talk. >> No. Um, that's not it at all. Um, but we
did have a motion in a second. So, um, did you want to finish? I would like >> and I >> Mr. Lameron, would you like to comment, please? >> Yeah. On the two I think we're talking about the two issues here having to do with the planning planner and the U assessor, whatever
that person is called, principal assessor. Um, first thing is on a principal assessor, I don't know if you uh watch this the sales of the properties in town and you look at what they're being sold for and what the assessments are. The assessments are way
undervalued on what's in what's in the system. That needs to be addressed. Actually, Lee and I complained about that two years ago and it hasn't changed at all. So that is a significant impact on certain properties that are
affected by other individuals and that's just not right. You mentioned the personal property taxes. The personal property taxes for commercial properties is way undervalued and that whole thing needs to be looked at because the commercial properties especially for the
uh the marijuana facilities and Lee is going to be me out on this. >> Oh yeah. that they're they're way undervalued. And so this this is really important. So I think Leo was mentioning that we hire somebody to do that, but that person doesn't do a thorough job. I
mean, I can tell you there's hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal property that taxes that we can collect that can help us in our budgets is not being addressed right now. >> Are you applying for the role? >> Are you applying for the role? >> Absolutely not.
>> Oh, see this is the trouble that we're having. But you know, I think I think your point is very well taken. >> So I think it over there, >> you know, said that, you know, this is a valuable position >> that, you know, we're relying on a third party to do it
>> and we all know and we back that up. We had trouble with this third party, too. We let that third party go. Now we hired him back, you know, to do the the the uh task again. So I think that whole thing needs to be looked at and you keep pushing it aside. And I think that's not
right. That's my opinion on the principal assessor. >> Um just as Go ahead. >> Um just through you madam chair that was exactly what you know when Barbara asked if there was money being left on the table >> on the personal property tax. So each
resident or business is responsible for filling out their own form. The assessors typically take the form and they just run with it. But we don't, at least to my knowledge, have someone looking at these forms and literally going and doing some inspections on some
of the commercial properties. And there could be a lot of money sitting on the table in these on the personal property stuff. So, >> I mean, may you and I looked at it a couple of years ago and all the all the marijuana facilities, personal property
taxes, were way undervalued. >> Yeah. And there's a lot of money sitting there, you know, that needs to be addressed. And >> yeah, >> I don't say the assessors have ignored it, but the company that they hired to do this isn't doing it right. >> Right. And there is one company in the
just in the state that's kind of that does it. >> So, >> well, the biggest source of revenue is not personal property at this time. It's real estate for our town, right? And the state mandates
every 3 years. I believe we have to have review. Correct. And a lot of that is done electronically. I'm sure it has to be. Is there enough money? I guess that's the question I posed to Leah Rich. Is
there enough money in the excess tax revenue we could be generating by having a more thorough assessor than it would cost for us to increase that salary to attract that type of talent? So, I think the number I threw out was 35,000.
>> I really I really think there is, Barbara, but I don't know like I haven't seen a personal property tax bill for any of the commercial businesses. I mean, so residential. Okay. you own your primary home, you don't pay personal
property tax. When you own a secondary home, no matter where it is, if I own a house down the Cape or I own two houses in Lakeville, that secondary residence, you pay personal property tax, which is the contents. There's only one type of business
corporation that is exempt from personal property tax and I don't believe any of our at least last time I checked which was a couple years ago are that type of corporation. So every conveyor, every
everything they have, every piece of equipment manufact especially manufacturing falls under personal property tax. And I don't know that anyone is >> I'll give you a perfect example. You know the Jets building,
>> you know that was that was taken over by um >> idolist. Yep. >> Right. >> They completely gutted the building everything out of that building that was in that building. They brought in all new equipment, all new conveyors and so forth and so on. I don't think that's
been taxed as personal property taxes. That's just one. >> Yeah, we would have to definitely check to see what their >> what is our current >> and that's new growth by the way, Barbara, so you know what >> that's new growth, >> you know, personal property taxes. >> Okay. Well, I think that this is,
you know, I don't know what the assessors have, um, you know, for their projected goals, um, you know, for FY27 or 28, but this is definitely a conversation >> to be had with the assessors. Um because
maybe there are ways that we can tackle these topics individually like we could focus on you know personal property tax and or focus on um you know squaring away something else. Um but I
think that that you know obviously it's got to come with them. But you know if we put a plan of attack in place to try to make sure that everything is uh brought current. >> Yeah. It's definitely a conversation that we should have. >> So, good point. >> Is having to do with the town planner.
Now, we've gone through two town planners in the last year. One of them was here maybe six months and the second one was here four or five weeks and then left and we lost our administrative staff member who had been in the town
working for the town for 20 years. Somebody should ask the question, why? Why are we losing these Why are these people leaving right away? Why did we lose a staff member that's been here 20 years? She's okay. She wasn't great, but
she did her job. >> We're not going to do that. >> I'm sorry. >> Not perform. I I would rather you not address performance, >> but that needs to be addressed before you go and hire a new planner. I'll tell you right now. Yeah. >> Because there's something wrong there. >> Um
>> you agree, Andrew? It's a concern of mine that we don't have a planner. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's um Yeah, it's been a frustration the first 18 months not be able to keep a planner. >> We have a very very very complicated situation from a development
perspective. It's a very complicated situation and I guess I'll leave it there. But I do think we experience is going to show us that we don't know what we've got right now. >> Okay. Finance committee. All right. I will make the same motion
that the revised uh budget 1A uh I guess 1A uh changes are made. >> I'll second. >> Tenin I. Right. I >> Manovsky I >> Okay. Thank you. Now um the budget
number. So everything that we talked about this evening um that we just voted on is included on the second page here. >> That's correct. So it would be under the general fund operating budget $40,71,69. >> It's at the
Wait a minute. I'm not following it. >> 4701 609. Flip the page around. Huh? >> Third sub total up. >> Oh, and then art. I'm sorry. I was looking at the >> when you go to bottom line, you actually
go to the bottom line. >> Justin, I'm sure you're right on top of this because you do this on a regular basis. Okay. So it was um 40,716 609. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay.
So I'll entertain a motion um for the proposed um town administrators um budget for 20 2027 um for 1A article for 40,71
609,000. So moved >> second >> discussion. >> Uh Madam Ch. So I I will uh um restate my um issue with the um the
free the um the regional school district uh assessment increase 1.7 million 9.65%. Um I can't uh support that. I think everybody knows my position on that. I
expressed that last week. Uh considering multiple factors including declining enrollments and so forth. I won't get into all that. So again, I'm just publicly stating my opposition to that line item. I support all other line items, but I do not support that line item.
>> Noted. Okay. Any other discussion? Hearing none. Roll, please. >> I planka. No. >> Carbon. Iard. IB and I. >> We need to vote on it.
>> Okay. Um I will make a motion that the uh operating budget of 40,71,69,000. >> Seconded. >> Second. Tanini. I >> Right. I >> Manovsky. Hi, >> Bill. I
>> Okay, so these will be rolled into >> Yes. >> What is the uh the assessment for the regional school into the budget, please? >> It's up on the uh screen. It's on this page if you want to follow along.
It is 1,73,284,000. >> 1,7 what? >> Three. >> 284. >> 284. >> So there's been a reduction uh in the assessment for what reason?
>> I believe it's tied to state aid increases. >> Yeah. and then special education which was mentioned at the budget hearing. >> So they reduced the budget by $250,000 then you said they wanted to do.
>> Yeah, but it would uh it split off between us and Freetown a little bit differently. >> Oh no, I understand that. >> Yes. >> So it's the state aid the difference in the state aid number which they got uh I don't know what the exact number was. Maybe Mike can explain that. But um so I
I have a question. Um, and I know Mike is not going to like this, but um, the intermediate school, they put the they put the uh, debt schedule in the into the budget right now, and
that intermediate school has been paid off. >> So, that's $135,000 that this should be reduced by. >> Is that correct, Mike? >> Yeah. So, um, we voted a debt exclusion.
Um, I can't remember the year. 2005, possibly. >> Was 20 years ago. >> 20 years ago. Yeah. Um, long story short, we were raising this on our tax rate. I can draw your attention to the screen. um you'd see that we raised
the 135 debt exclusion for the school here and then we would appropriate it on behalf of the school's uh debt payment which is appropriated in their budget. Um sorry I went a little too far which is right here. Um like all debt
exclusions they do fall off. This fell off in fiscal 26. So, as you can see, 27 no longer requires a payment. Um, what Freelick was doing was taking the total prior year assessment, including that
debt payment, and adding on what they needed for the subsequent year. Obviously, this stuck out this year because we made our last uh debt payment. So, when we spoke with Mr. Higgins and Dr. Starky. Um, they offset
it with reductions to special education. Um, and Mr. Le the camera, I understand you're asking why we didn't see the full dollar value. Um, something that town administrator Sorth and I have inquired about. Um, we can certainly get back to you on an answer. Um,
>> no, but you're looking to save money. Here's $135,000 sitting on the table. >> Yeah. that you know is available for the budget that they used in their budget that they won't reduce even though the debt schedule has been paid and free time share is $55,000 so you know and
I'm sure they're going to be all over there too. >> Yeah, you're you're 100% correct and that's why Andrew and I had a had a meeting with the schools uh probably about a month ago because we knew that this 135 should not have been included as part of the bottom line. It should have been subtracted every year over the
20-year life of this note. So, when they said we need a million dollars on prior year's assessment, they should have deducted that debt payment um for for two decades. Yep. But obviously, it's uh it comes to your attention right away this year because it's no longer needed.
The the note is paid off. So, >> so uh there's $135,000, Paul, if you let me increase the salary, but whatever. >> Thank you. You're welcome. Mad Chip, I mean,
>> you um Andrew, Mike, you met with the administration a month ago. You discussed this with them and their response was >> they um had a well they just they disagree with how we do the math essentially. Um they thought they could
basically take the prior year number with the data exclusion number and just kind of add on. We got a difference of opinion on that. >> Um pretty bad I think. But um they essentially went back like the next couple days the special education thing
happened and they they came back with a new amount but I don't know if it could be tied necessarily to that 135,000. So um we probably I mean I don't know it's tough to they can kind of set their own
budget and give us the assessment but we don't have to give it to them obviously. >> Yeah. Yeah. And the assessment the the budget the school budget has a line item specific for Lakeville's portion of this and it was zeroed out going to the budget season. However, the full amount
of the ask this example the 1,700 was added on to the grand total of the 17645 and the prior year debt payment. So dollar for dollar we should see a savings of 135480. Um, by not taking this off and including
it in the total year after year after year and then not allowing it to fall off like we have done on the town side, basically turns it into a quasi override. It never goes away. A debt exclusion is supposed to go away. But if you're taking both subtotals and adding
on instead of subtracting, it's a permanent increase. So, um, we should see a reduction of 135480. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. If they don't correct it, could we send them a bill? >> Um, I suppose we could. When we get the
assessment from the schools, um, I have FY26's assessment. I can pull it up if I can disconnect for a moment, but it subtotals. So, when I pay the bill every month to the schools, it's 17,645 divided by 12. It's 12
installments of that number. And then there's a second subtotal for the capital debt exclusion. So how this was caught was when I started here I started to separate the assessment from the capital and then as I mentioned it stuck out because we paid our last payment. So
theoretically we're sending them two checks one for their debt exclusion and one for their assessment. So by including the grand total it's it's high. >> Can someone tell me again how long has this been going on? I think since the beginning 200
>> but the but the debt's just falling off so it's not we really truly didn't miss we have not overpaid. No, I think we have >> sounds like >> 20 years >> double payment >> if you I can try to pull it up.
>> I can't. >> So, Madam Chair, question um for the accountant. I'm sorry to put you on the spot but >> if the school committee would stop ignoring a request for an audit, would something like this be picked up?
>> That was exactly my question. Um >> it's it's hard to answer that question. I mean I I don't know what the auditors are looking at. Um >> could I ask >> we could we could define that in our scope if we we can we have the flexibility to do that. >> Yes.
>> Madam Chair, the problem you're going to have is the free time knows about this as well. And so, you know, they're going to vote their share and they're going to vote our share as match our share that's going to be voted on tonight, you know, for their for their budget. >> Mhm.
>> And uh so you're going to have 135 and 55, you know, in that budget that's out of balance. And that means that, you know, that's not a good thing to do. >> Right. Right. >> So, it needs to be it needs to be fixed. It wouldn't be the first time that we've
had to send an invoice or demand letter um for something that was identified. So >> um but I think that we absolutely
now that you've brought this to our attention, >> we need to address this. >> Um yeah, I mean I'm showing on the screen now the revenue portion, right? So because the last payment was made, we lose the ability to raise this. Right.
Exactly. So now by the school including it, we lose the revenue source spreading it on the tax bills, but it's still being included as part of the expense side in the school budget. So um yeah, and and Freetown voted their own method of paying for it. I'm not quite sure if
theirs was a debt exclusion or operational debt, but uh to Mr. Leamemer's point, this shouldn't be split 60/40. should be $135,480 coming back to the town of Lakeville. So, >> correct. >> So, it looks like
there's got to be some >> Yeah, it's in it's we're working on it. It's in progress. Yeah. So, um >> but it's um >> Madam Chair, >> yes, I'm I'm having a lot of big feelings again and Larry's not here to calm me down. Um, you guys brought this
up a month ago >> approximately >> approximately. >> Okay. So, this has been knowledge that's been out there for a month. I mean, what was you guys are just not seeing
eye to eye on? >> Essentially, the first um defense, I guess, if lack of better term is that it was past practice. This is how they've been doing it for 20 years. >> And in their defense, they've had a lot of change, right? This is what turnover produces mistakes and errors, right? So, we have
>> Well, we haven't caught it though either. >> And we haven't caught it either. And it's, you know, we've also had a lot of changeovers and all these I >> I mean I I I want resolution to this before I'm even willing like I'm this is blows my mind.
That blows my mind because this is the the that that portion of it if it's if we've been if this has been going on for years and years. I mean what other mistakes are there that we don't know about? That's I mean
>> well hence the reason why how many times has this board said they would like to see some kind of an audit >> and we voted twice for the record. Well, I'm not I'm just I know maybe my feelings will calm down in a little
while, but I feel like why should we approve why should we even allocate a budget if that's not going to be agreed to? Because this is a massive problem. I can't believe I didn't know about this last year. It's just and I I just so people understand this is really the the
school committee budgeting is so complicated and I applaud you that I mean I know you've served on those committees and you guys know a lot more about this than I do and how these things are all figured out but the majority of our money is not happening here at the municipal level. The spending is happening at the school
level. >> Madam Chair, so if we want to take charge of this, we could decrease our assessment by 135 and just we take control of it, right? We just don't pay them at 135. If we feel strongly that we're in we're in the right position
>> and that way you don't you don't have to deal with them. >> It is, you know, >> and agree to an audit >> to make sure doesn't happen, >> right? Which we have. So that I know Mr. Plunker is pursuing um that through the regional fincom. Um but I I like what
you said. So we could re obviously revote um minus that that amount. >> Mhm. >> Um and that would reduce our assessment by that amount as well. And that's and that's okay if 1A passes.
if one passes and I don't think we can go back and recalculate for the last 20 years but at least for this year >> we would >> right to get this moving along but at least knowing what happened >> that's why you do the >> we need to make sure that we see where
>> it's fallen off >> because I think that we need to be educated in that respect. So all right so we would um what was the total was 135 134 what >> 13540
>> 480 135 480 135 480 right >> yeah and Mike can kind of >> so if you could reduce our >> proposed budget by that amount
>> sure and Can we do that whether it's 1 A or 1B? >> Whether the override passes or not. >> Yeah, >> I feel I think we should. >> I agree with that.
>> We could we could um what we're giving them in the 1B is not very much. >> It's 350,000. >> 350,000. um we'd have to recalculate and do all sorts of stuff before we um advertise the town meeting warrant
which we're doing tonight as well. Um we can try to do that math quickly. >> Mike looks stressed. >> No, I I just want I found the sheet in case anybody's interested. I don't know if you can see the bottom, but this is kind of how I, you know, well, we caught
the problem. So, when I started here and they said we need a million dollars on last year's assessment, I put the million dollars on this number here, $17,645, because this to me is the assessment. This is the debt payment down here, the 135480. But what was actually happening when
they said we need a million dollars on the prior year assessment, it was going on this number down here >> for 20 years. So, uh, just to kind of put a visual with the, uh, >> yeah, that makes it a little easier to understand. >> Yeah. Yeah. I apologize for not having that. Uh, >> now another defense, um, from the
schools, what they kind of said, Michael kind of laugh at this. It's a coincidence. So, like he they kind of say like we we give you a number um, and that's what you kind of go with. Like they give us an assessment sheet that's like more illustrative, >> but this is like the end all beall. and
he they kind of said, "Well, that's the number." And Mike was kind of like, "Well, that's a funny coincidence. It's it's off by the same 135 >> 480 >> 480." Um, so I mean that it's it's as much of as it's
not really a true defense. I mean, they they give us an amount. What goes into that amount we don't really have a say on. So, but at the same time, >> the fact that it was off 135,480 was >> not ideal. >> Yeah, we know we know where
>> where it came from. >> Mhm. >> That's kind of how we first >> Yeah. >> first saw it cuz what the number they had I think advertised and they gave to us >> was off by that exact amount. So, we said, "What the what the heck's going on?" And we we and me and Mike know the
135480 number because we do the budget so yep >> so close. So that's where we kind of went down the rabbit hole to decide how this happened and then we found out it's been going on for 20 years. So um >> and in that time when you're setting up the school budget and I know there's been turnover in the schools but you
know that >> this subtotal up here the 176 that's operational. That's what you need to operate. And then this should be immediately earmarked for your for your mortgage payment, right? Like this this goes right to the mortgage. >> So now that the mortgage is paid off, your operational cost is the lesser
amount. So >> um so as I said going into 27 budget season, it stuck out like a sore thumb. So >> well, the school always said they were looking for new revenue streams. >> Is that is that a similar number like
year over year like the prior year's budgets? Are they basically baking in like a 0075% increase? Like >> Well, it's So 135 that was the last year. Mike knows the numbers better than me. I think maybe two years ago it was like 400. >> Yeah. So uh again I you know related it
to like a 30-year mortgage, right? You're paying a ton of interest up front um in principal. So yeah, the payment's gone down, but there was a time where this was probably in the neighborhood of half a million dollars. >> So it's way worse. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. So I do have the debt schedule. Um,
>> so like >> so we ask like how the school budget's gone up so much like year-over-year like for the past 10 years or whatever like this could be a huge portion of it. >> We need to have a meeting with school committee. That's just this is >> because they need to be part of the
discussion. >> All right. So are we looking to revote our >> 1A >> 1A um minus the 135480? Yes. So I come up with um 3,934,689
30. >> No, but we already filed it. We already took a vote on it. >> So we voted. >> We voted originally 40,71609 and correct taken 135480 off that. I get an operational budget of 40 million
566129. >> Um maybe my All right. I'm using an antiquated. Okay. I'd rather go with your number. Could you say that again, please? >> Yes, ma'am. Uh 40,566129. >> 129. >> That's correct. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes.
>> I think we should officially vote that last vote out and then do another. >> That's fine with me. >> Does that work for everyone? >> Make the motion. >> Um >> resend. >> Yep. Uh motion to resend the motion that
was made by member Howard and seconded by me I think >> in the amount of 40,7001,609. >> Yes. >> Second >> motion and second discussion hearing none roll please. >> I plug I
>> Carboni Iard IB and I. >> Okay. >> All right. I also uh make a motion that we resin the budget uh that we voted on of $40,71,69. >> Second. >> Tanini I. >> Right. I >> Manovsky I
>> Bill's eye. >> I'll entertain a new motion. >> Right here. >> I'm ready. Motion. I motion um for the bud budgeted amount to be $40,566,129. >> Second motion in a second discussion
>> hearing >> reflecting the deduction of $135,480. Correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> We can include that in the motion. Is that okay? Yes. >> Okay. >> I say it again. >> Okay.
mention I get again a step in the right direction but I still remain opposed to the total amount being allocated. >> So noted >> role please. >> Hunt I >> Wa No. >> Carbon I Howard I >> Fabian and I
>> like to make a motion uh to approve the uh operating budget of 40,566129. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Tenini I >> Right. I >> Manovsky eye. >> Bu's eye. >> Okay. And then not to put on too far on
the back burner, but let's at least let's get a picture of exactly what the true dollar value is for the >> Mhm. >> that intermediate. >> I just had a quick question as well. What would the board like to do with that?
>> Yeah, that 135. I guess >> reduce that assessment. >> Okay. Reduce assessment. Yeah. All right. Sorry. I'm just >> Do we need to vote on that? >> My wheels are turning too fast. I think >> we need to vote on because we gave a bottom number and this was a projected
um or proposed for the town administrator. Y >> So, they'll just reduce that um 1703 284. >> Oh, the 1B budget. >> Well, that's the other question. What do we do about that? That was brought up.
>> Nothing. And you said that um something about the >> well the increase for that one isn't tied to that 135 number. Um it's just a number I brought like kind of conceptualized with Mike. So >> Okay. >> I don't think that needs to be changed.
>> Okay. All right. >> Madam chair. >> Yes. >> Um I don't disagree with member Plan that something needs to be done about the school budget. Um, but I also feel like something needs to be
done about the understanding of the budget for the folks who actually vote for that budget. >> Right. So, I'd like to at some point on a future agenda put a discussion about having a
uh like a finance meeting with and including our Freetown folks too so that everyone can understand how the cherry sheets done and you know so for future reference. Nope. I think it's great and I I am very
hopeful that um with the regional finance committee understanding their role and what it was designed um to do where the two towns come together um with the school and they actually have a
discussion about where the towns lie and with where the school is looking to assess and coming through an agreement with the recommendation back to the to the school committee.
>> Madam Chair, it it should be note I'd like to remind everyone that we've attempted to do those types of meetings for three years now. Uh and we did have a joint regional
uh sorry we had a joint select board meeting and fin meeting >> with Freetown and the school committee way back at the beginning of the year where we expressed uh uh our financial difficulties and no uncertain terms to
the school committee and the administration. uh my opinion they did not fully um recognize those uh difficulties. Um but to me Pman's point we we I think we need to do something a little different because
what we've been doing for the past two of the years >> is not working and they are not getting the message in my opinion. Yes. And I don't want to take too much time on this, but I literally think that, you know, we can take a page out of the assessor's 101, which discusses exactly how the cherry sheets done and how
taxation is done, and literally invite our make it instructional. We have some super smart people here that can, you know, I'm sure they can combine efforts with some folks in Freetown that can expose to all of us, to everybody. I mean, I've sat for hours and hours and
hours of how the taxation stuff is done. I don't think anyone else, you know, it's super interesting if you're into it, but you you you get a sense of how finite the amount of money is that the town can raise and you know, we need to
help anyone who wants to try to understand that. So >> um so I will ask um our administration if you can just make a note and then I'll circle back and see what we can put together for for that discussion.
Okay. U moving on. What does the town administrator have to say and what does our management analyst have to share with us? So, I I mentioned that during this discussion um with the Senate um budget, proposed budget, we're looking at um potentially 300,000 more
in state aid. 285,000 of that is smart growth reimbursement. 18,000 is VBS, which is veterans um not veterans, veterans benefits, blind, and there's another one. Um that went up 18,000. It's a reimbursement
program with the assessors. Um so 300,000 is quite a good amount. Um, but it's not final. Um, and I don't want to appropriate that until it is because that's that's a it's a big it's a volatile amount. Um,
the last override roundt discussion is tomorrow night at the library from 6:00 to 7:00. Um, it'll just be the town at in attendance. The schools have a school committee meeting and won't be there. Um, and then that's all I had. Emma.
>> Um, so at the last uh energy advisory committee meeting, they opted to put in an application or recommend that they put an application for the municipal energy technical assistance grant. Um, we're going to be creating an application and submitting that. It will
be going in front of the board at the beginning of June for approval for submission, but we are going to be looking at getting some energy audits for the public library and council on aging. so that we are able to apply for future bring communities grants.
And then second, I just had an update on the website. So I was having a discussion with the town clerk the other day and she brought up a good point that we have two elections coming up within the next month and a half. We have a lot of outreach materials intertwined with
uh you know website links and documents. So, we're looking at pushing back the release of the website to the end of June, beginning of July. Um, we're still receiving feedback from people on the website setup. Memblanca sent some uh
good suggestions the other day and we've had two new members here as well that uh I'd like probably to get your feedback on the website. So, we're looking at about a July 1 release date for the new website. >> Sounds good. Okay. Anybody have any questions?
Well, thank you very much. We have a set of minutes in front of the select board for April 7th, 2026. Has everybody had a moment to review? I'll entertain a motion to approve the select board meeting personnel meeting minutes of April 7th, 2026.
>> So move. >> Second >> discussion. Uh just on the bot bottom of page two. >> Yep. >> Um it looks like it was a a dual entry. >> Me too. Correct. We'll take a look at that. >> And other than that, I have nothing
else. Um roll please. >> Hunt. I >> plug eye. >> Carbon. I >> Howard I. >> Baby and I. >> And Madam Chair, just just a couple minor. >> You can email me. >> Okay. Okay. >> Fine. >> Or if you have them, you can just hand
them. Yeah, I'll I'll circle. Yeah, I'll circle in my hand, too. >> Simple. >> Okay. >> Oh, I just said either way. >> Either way. >> Okay. Um, next we're going to discuss and review the special town meeting and the annual town meeting warrant
articles. Um, and get ready for advertisement. So, Andrew, would you like to >> Yes. Um, so we can go over the special town meeting warrant first. It's just one article. I I got rid of the unpaid bills article as we don't have any at
the moment. Um so the first one is the Gateway Health Group. Um lack of a better term, it's a buyout. Um the claims um we're responsible for our claims at the end of the year. Gateway, as everyone knows, is dissolving. We're
joining a new group. Um there's been some issues with the broker recommended fiscal 26 of a premium amount that was wfully inaccurate. Um they recommended 8% which we we put in the budget was
more like 25%. So, um, essentially our budget amount was inadequate across the entire Gateway Health Group, which is ourselves, the town of Carver, and then Old Rochester Regional um, high school.
And so, we are responsible for paying our claims. Our claims have gone up over the last year um, just based off healthc care being what it is. Uh, I'm going to mess this up. GLP1
>> was a big a big one that kind of hit in 26. Um we've had a couple of big health claims um recently. Um and so our rough deficit is going to be about a million and we are proposing
using $800,000 in free cash at the special to help pay for that deficit. For reference, um, Marian at they're a part of Old Rochester had to pay 684,000. Matapoet had to pay 734,000.
Rochester 716,000 for a total amount of 2.1 million. And then Carver, their projected deficit was north of 4 million. >> So, um, Carver has gotten Talian approval. Marian and Matapo have all
gotten approval. Rochester, I believe, is next week and then we're the last one in the group. So, we're June 8th. Um, we were hoping this amount would be a little bit lower, but we've had a few different health uh claims recently, so
we've kind of had a uptick from what I thought it was going to be. >> Madam Chair, >> so I know we've had a fair number of discussions around so I'm sure I understand it fully. We when we come to the end when we're
leaving we don't you know we have to obviously cover those claims and you you might try to project what that number is going to be and the number was more than what we projected for >> and part do the GLP >> that's part of it um it was also based
on past claims the broker at the time I don't believe they did a proper analysis >> of what um we should have kind of put into that >> so they said 8% is good to go but then I don't think they quite realize what the claims are going to look like in that in this current year.
>> Not easy to predict. >> It's not easy, but I there's been some discussions about whether there's been some liability should be on the broker. We we removed the broker maybe a few months ago. We have a new one, but there's some contention still.
>> And I'm curious too, is that under the new plan, GOP? Is that >> won't be covered? >> Okay. Uh, I think GOP1 is basically off the table on all health plans. >> Mayo, GIC, Mayflower, that's pretty much it's
it's it's on there if you have diabetes >> for the for the original intended purpose. Right. Okay. Thank you. >> And I think it's the same way in the public private sector. >> I think a lot of that. Correct. Thank you. >> Y.
>> All right. Well, I'll entertain a motion from the select board to approve the special town meeting um warrant article. Um as presented move >> second discussion hearing none. Roll >> I plug eye.
>> Carbon I board I >> baby and I okay so special's good to go. Um I know this is more for advertisement. Okay, moving on to the annual. Okay, so the annual 18 articles in
total. The first one is the nonoverride budget. If the override is not to pass, this is what it would look like. So, um, we chose to list out this year a not to exceed amount of the number that was approved last week by both the
finance committee and select board. Um and we kind of list out some of the other amounts. This was at the uh guidance of town council. So >> article one is 1B, >> correct? >> And article two is 1A.
>> Correct. Um obviously the election's next Tuesday. This is June 8th. What would likely occur is under article 2 if it were to fail at the election we would probably make a motion to table.
So just for consider just for knowledge. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Any questions on one or two? >> Think we're good. >> Okay. Um article three is the standard park department enterprise budget.
Article four is the capital plan omnibus plan. >> Sorry, madam chair. Article three, the pox commission budget. I don't have it in front of me. Will that will change if dependent on the override?
>> No, >> it's okay. It's not dependent. Okay. >> No, we have a indirect 15,000 on 1 A and 1 B. Oh, >> it's expenses. Yeah. Okay. Got it. B. Okay. Okay. No impact. Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Um article four, the capital plan omnibus. We made three changes to this.
Um this was due to the special town meeting uh free cash being so high that we made three changes. Um that's not to say that they won't occur. It's just they'll probably be funded in the fall if anything. Um those are the Asalam Elementary School roof
projects. That is the fire department capital operating amount. And then that is also the bud removal material permit. So >> those were all reduced.
>> All red eliminated. Yep. >> Yep. >> So what we're seeing is not the eliminated one. >> Correct. I took all took all three of those out. This is the remainder. Okay. Because I'm showing bud permit material. Am I looking at the wrong
>> Yeah, we passed out a supplemental that would have taken that out. >> Okay. >> Yeah, there. Yeah, >> that would be another change you asked about. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, the total capital plan would be 510 512,000.
>> And that's down from 1,342,000. >> That's correct. Any questions on that? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Article five is the capital uh
preservation fund annual revenues. It's a standard article every annual town meeting. Article six is the one community preservation fund project which is gravestone repairs at Thompson Hill Cemetery for $15,000 being paid out of the reserve for
historic resources. Um article seven is the school free lake school committee recall provision. This it will be the exact same article um as Freetown. Freetown has this on
their annual town meeting on June 1st. >> Who's proposing this one? >> I don't see that listed here. >> Oh, that would be by the select board. >> Okay. Going to make sure we add that
Okay, article eight is the compensated absences. This is another change we made. We originally had it at 50,000. It's now at 25,000. This is for retirements and uh resignations to pay out their uh acred
uh time whether it's sick, vacation, personal, whatever is relevant to them. um because ordinarily this comes out of the budget. So we did this the last year as well.
>> Um article 9 is to accept section 18B of chapter 53 of the mass general laws. This is for local ballot questions including Proposition 2 and a half tax overrides and debt exclusion. It's essentially the local option for a red book. Um state sends one home for ballot
questions. This gives us the the local option to do it ourselves to explain overrides, explain debt exclusion projects, kind of the pros and cons, and just project details. >> No cost to the town. >> It will be cost to mail out,
but we don't have that. There's not going to be an election in the next year, I don't think. So, um I don't think it'll be very expensive to do what we have to do for that. >> Okay. Um, >> but I think it would be a good point to
make when we are preparing our >> It's the number one uh I guess negative feedback I've gotten with the override is people don't know about it is and then like people the old school way of getting information is the mail. Um, everyone has a mailbox of some kind that
they would get this in. I know I read the red book when it comes in. >> So, I mean, if I got this as a resident, I'd be ecstatic. Um because you could have all the information from the town in one spot. They don't have to go on Facebook or the website to see links and everything.
I think this would be a good way of community outreach myself. Um the next one is article 10. This is the meals tax and it would take effect on October 1st, 2026. Article 11 is to appropriate 25,000 out
of the sale of water tower account funds. This is to use for intermunicipal water agreement negotiations, water studies, um stuff of that nature. Um article 12 is to amend the earth
removal bylaw. The changes that were made is that I changed um the number of cubic yards that can be removed in a single calendar year. I took that from 2,00 to 1,00. >> Why did we reduce that? >> We thought the amount was too high. So,
a lot of projects didn't need to get earth removal that are pretty sufficient. >> Okay. Um, we took out I guess the loophole of incidental. Um, because some projects they say they're incidental to the constru to the construction of a building. So they basically would say
that they don't need to do an earth removal, get a permit from the select board because they it's incidental to the construction. Don't need to do it. Um, we had I not under me necessarily, but I guess that's been done the last couple years. um some big big projects,
hundreds of trucks didn't have to do one. So >> incidental, it's a relative term. >> Exactly. I know that was >> to be argued by lawyers. >> It was mentioned if everyone remembers during the earth removal discussion with the big one at the pig farm.
>> They were kind of intimating that their project might be incidental and that was like 7 8 million cubic yards. >> So um >> soil has value. It's just going to be sold. Why should we just permit that our top soil beach be stripped? I just I disagree with it. I think we should
charge for it. >> So we we do >> and but be supervised also. It's tough. >> Yeah, >> there's some there's some opportunities there. >> Yeah, we so we did increase the fees from what was it 10 to 25 cents >> or 15 to 25. >> Uh and then the last one is I changed
the enforcement from the town's building commissioner to the select board or the designate. Um, so depending on the project that could change. Could be the DPW director, could be me, could be could be the building commissioner.
>> We need to add that this was proposed by the select board on this as well. >> No, okay. Article 13 is the revolving fund. that that is the annual we have to set the limit by which they can spend.
>> Article 14 is the prohibition on cryptocurrency automated teller machines. We don't have any in town but these are the kind of machines that get put in convenience stores like that. Um they've been used for fraud fraudulent activities. I saw the town of Midbar was
doing the same article. Mhm. Um, article 15 is to change the demand notices for delinquency payments tied to excise tax. Right now, if you pay late, it's a $20 fee that gets tacked on to
your bill. We are allowed by state law to change that to $30. And that would bring in about 25 to $30,000 annually. This is just if you pay a bill late only.
Um article 16 is data centers. This would add data centers to the existing um let's see >> marijuana >> marijuana overlay districts. So it would
now be the marijuana and data center overlay district. This was submitted by the planning board and it kind of goes into the definition and then it would go into um special permits and kind of regulated activity.
And then this would also change section 2707.3 the plan special purpose district regulations. So um there's a map at the back. I'm sure there's probably some questions on this. >> Okay. Did you um what did town council
say when you talked to them about um combining these two? Um >> sorry, >> go ahead. >> Um they said it was allowed. We could they could do it as it was written. >> Okay. So um I know that they're having their
hearing on uh the plan board's having their hearing on this on Thursday. Uh and I I just have some concerns. Barbara, I know you were were on the planning board, so maybe you'll understand >> because there are two different um
I say purpose uses. >> Um so you've got your marijuana overlay district um that is special permit by ZBA >> and then you have the data center which is going to be special permit by the planning board.
All of this is getting interwined into this one bylaw. Um I also kind of went back to our current um bylaw with what we had written for the marijuana overlay district and so I was able to to see where the changes were going to occur.
However, I did see that there was language still included under the marijuana overlay district that still is going would reference marijuana overlay district
post this adoption. Like that language wasn't included in here to be changed. >> Okay. Uh >> so I'm not sure where to go with this. I when it comes to zoning, and I know I've
I've stated this before, um it can be very confusing. You know, you've looked through your bylaw, it's very confusing. >> Mhm. >> Um I absolutely 100,000% support the data center overlay district. I'm just concerned
that it's going to be confusing. Well, the one of the biggest questions about data centers is their energy and water use, right? The use of the resources. And I don't believe that our our marijuana overlay district has any restrictions on energy
or water usage. Um, my son happens to work in this field. So, it's an interesting uh consideration and we need to have the controls in place, but I don't know that it shouldn't be its own overlay, right? or how that it shouldn't be separated out because the marijuana
use is a very different um type of land use and energy consumption than you would have with a data center. And you know, a lot of people may not realize that many of our neighbors are paying outrageous numbers for their utilities
and god forbid middle gas and electric be obligated to provide any sort of power resources here that would increase our power costs. So I'm not I'm not willing to pay for anything for a data center. That's where I stand on that. So how do we work out the energy and resources
>> so that you know marijuana facility which is not having those sorts of draws could be allowed to do what they do and then a data center would have deeper controls under special permit. I think they're going to look back to that bylaw and that's pretty much what's going to guide it. Mhm.
>> So maybe we need something on the books because we got to get something on the books, but we've got to hurry up and >> No, no, I'm I'm right there with you. I'm just I mean there's a lot of times that we've had to go back and back and back because we've made mistakes, made mistakes, mistakes. So
that's why I know how important this was um with the discussion at the the level of the planning board, >> which I know has funneled through other um boards, committees, and commissions. We absolutely 100% need something there. That's why I wanted to make sure that we
were actually asking the question because we could use the same overlay. >> Yep. >> You know, meet meats and bounds just have a different color. >> Yeah. And that's what the question is. What is the color? And they'll be deciding that tomorrow night. >> No, they're combining it. They're
combining the marijuana overlay district. >> I haven't seen any of the language. Is there any reference to utility >> controls? It says says the planning board may impose conditions necessary to ensure compliance with this section, including without limited to electrical load, water usage.
>> That's too big. It's too big. It's my opinion. We we it that's subjective. So, you have a board of people like I was and didn't know the first thing about what I was doing and I sat on the board and I made mistakes that we'll have to live with. But the cost for utilities and and and all of
that stuff is not something we can mess around with. planting trees. I'll live with that mistake. Not, you know, we're going to commit to providing water or electricity for an outside company. >> I will say that the G& does require like
an out output study before any project goes in town. Um, so they have a pretty good say in what they'll approve. Um, in terms of water, we barely have any water allocation as it is. data centers use I think upwards to a million even small
ones per day. I don't so I don't see a world where we could ever have a data center in Lake >> the new ones are not running that way >> really. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I would say maybe today but you're right eventually it's they're not going to need as much water. Hopefully not as as much electricity as well but yeah if I was a data center today I wouldn't
come to Lakeville. >> Yeah. It' be difficult for sure. >> Yeah. So, I just I wanted to make sure that the liability um you know, if somebody were to misinterpret the bylaw because of confusion and who to go for, you know, special permit or
whatever. But >> I did send this all to town council and I said there was a lot of questions on it and they they took a look at it, both of them, and they said it was fine. >> Okay. Um >> is this a case for a a consultant to take a look at it for us? >> It's possible. Yeah, it's possible. Um I
don't want to hold it up. So I mean I to I mean all the language is in here for the data center. Um >> and it's obviously it's on the map here too as outlined. Um but I just I don't want to confuse anything any further. We've been down
that road where people have interpreted our >> bylaw. Um, and this is important and I believe that there's language missed for correction if this were to to pass. So,
I'm not sure what where we go with that. >> Madam Chair, what is the harm in delaying this particular article? Because it's it's we could come in tomorrow. >> Okay. So in the past we what we've done is
we've said okay look it's not perfect but we'd rather get something and then we'll correct it at the next town meeting >> but it can become that iterative response is problematic. People don't remember what what it is we're changing and why and and that sort of thing. But
this is a new thing that's happening all over the place. So we can't be expected to know everything that's going to happen. >> To that point through you madam chair. This is the third time we're voting on this earth removal bylaw. Third change.
>> Oh, no. We're on data center now. >> No, I mean, I think it's been at three >> Mhm. >> at least three changes since we originally >> Yeah.
>> All right. Thank you. >> I'll let Emily take uh 17. >> Sure. So 17 uh is a non-binding uh municipal decarbonization resolution. This one is recommended to be included on the warrant by the energy advisory
committee. Um they're currently exploring um the process of transitioning the town from green communities to climate leaders. There's five criteria you have to meet for that. And that the first one is to adopt a
non-binding resolution showing that there's community support for becoming a climate leader community and reducing fossil fuel usage. So that's what this article is. And then the last one um
is the citizens petition to have a wetland protection bylaw. That's important. >> So, um I think this was maybe voted on or tabled back in 2017
if everyone remembers that. I think it's I think I was told it was written the exact same way. So, madam kit it any to you meabian it may have been before you you folks were on
clapboard. Any reason why he was tabled? Did anybody know? Um you too I think >> back then it was voted on and I don't think it passed. >> Oh town meeting it failed at town meeting >> back in 2017. >> Yeah it's very restrictive.
>> What is it what is the saying um >> 25 ft within the vernal pool? >> No but um pro >> the intentional use. Yeah, the the intention is to protect the the water quality um and not have development encroach too closely upon the wetlands
because those wetlands are like the sponges that clean everything out. So I >> understand that. But the state is got pretty this is go this is above and beyond I'm assuming what the state says. >> Yes. >> But there's what is that saying the way
you're a homeowner with less you know without having >> governmental restrictions. It's it will or I forget that what it's called >> which which would be you right it's the it's the water quality issue. >> Yeah.
>> So >> okay >> and then that that is it. >> So I guess I'll entertain a motion to place all the articles on the warrant. >> Say what? >> Place all the articles on the warrant.
Yes. So moved. Second discussion. Hearing none. Roll >> I >> carbon. I >> power I be an >> I
and then in the next subsequent follow on next meeting we'll vote on every article. We have a we're going to have a warm review um where we get to hang out with the fincom again. Um
and then we will they'll make their vote um to recommend and we will do the same and we will also at that time ask who would like to read the article. >> Right. That's right. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. >> Volunteer for none.
>> What's that? Volunteer for none. Now, now that we have five, we have to divvy it up a little more. >> Okay. Um, did you have any Would you like to stay for the rest of the meeting or did you want to adjourn? >> I think they're >> I think we're good. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
>> Tini. I >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks for having us. >> So, we actually did one and two on that. >> So, we're good. Okay, I'm good. Um, next we have um up for discussion.
Is our uh we have a a request for amending a hosted community agreement for Bountiful Farms which is located at 200 Kenneth Welch Drive. They're looking
to add research facility use um to their current post community agreement. Um they would need the vote of this board um so they can pursue getting the the license. Is that correct?
>> Yes, that is correct. And actually for this item um the CEO of Bountwell Farms would like to attend the meeting to discuss this further with you all. Uh he does live about an hour away. So I would request that the board table this item
so he can attend the next meeting on um June 2nd which he confirmed he is available to do just to explain it further. It's not urgent. >> Okay. >> Madam chair. >> Yes. Before we table it, I I did want to point something out in the original agreement.
Um the it talks about the company uh shall not be responsible for community impact fees in excess of 3% of the company's annual gross sales. Mhm. >> I'm focusing on sales because if they
are receiving funds from the research then that is revenue but it's not sales. So I don't know if we want to clarify that. >> Sure. I can ask them uh or let them know that that will be a question. I can say
though that um for the 3% that's typically retail sales is that that I think is referring to the retail tax and this would not be a retail use. It would just be for research purposes, but I'll let them know that that question came up and then they can address it when they come.
>> Sure. I wasn't sure what the original intent of adding that um um section in >> and so I just wanted to point out that sales is different from revenue and so if we were looking to gain our own
revenue from that >> then we may want to change that language from revenue or from sales to revenue. So, >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> Uh, just another information. What is marijuana research
exactly? >> Well, that's a good question. Um, so we actually it is part of our bylaw as an as a marijuana establishment. So, I went and looked at that today. Um so research
um I'm assuming on for medical purposes different presentation >> but m Mr. Barton will be here on June 2nd and he will I'm sure eloquently explain that in very basic terms.
So, but yes. Um, but I did want to make sure that that was part of establishment. >> So, has um council >> looked at this at all? >> Yes, they have a um draft amendment to it. Okay. So, we'll send that uh for the
second so you all can review it. >> Okay. Because we did a lot of work to get to here. >> Okay. All right. So, that's tabled. Um, we do not have any appointments or licences tonight. Um, is there any new
business that came to the board before after the posting? I don't believe so. Um, any old business other than a lot of messiness over here. Um, next select board meeting is June
2nd, 2026, 5:45 at the police station. As mentioned, um, no correspondence this evening. Um, and I will entertain a motion to enter executive session pursuant to Mass General Law, Chapter
3A, Section 21A6, to consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real estate if the chair declares that an open meeting may have detrimental effect on the negotiation position of the public body, Lakeville Country Club, and not to
return into open session at 7:38 p.m. So moved. >> Second. Roll please. >> Eye. >> Plug eye. >> Carbon. I >> Howard eye. >> Fabian. I. >> Excellent. >> Okay.