Thank you. >> Today is March 23rd, 2026. It's 6:31 p.m. We'll call this meeting to order and start with the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. >> All right. So, we're going to start off with the best part, I think. Um, the
mail. After after that, we will be recognizing the Littleton Bramfield High School hockey team. Uh then we'll have a joint meeting with the finance committee. We'll move on to uh dep department department board
updates and requests public input and member updates, appointments, um select board discussions on several items, a special permit re uh request, an update from the town
administrator, minutes, adjournment of open session. And then we'll be entering executive session at 9:25 sharp and uh anticipated adjournment is 9:45 p.m. sharp. So shall we start with the mail please?
>> Let's do it. Um thank you madam chairwoman. Um members of the uh select board and hello littleton. So we have some current vacancies on the town boards. The following boards are appointed by the select board. The Agricultural Commission, Committee for
Exploration of Real Estate Tax Relief for Seniors, Economic Development Committee, Master Plan, Implementation Committee, Permanent Municipal Building Committee, P personnel Advisory Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals. There is one uh vacancy of an
appointment by the town administrator and that's for the affordable housing trust. Uh there is uh also a vacancy appointed by the Littleton Electric Light and Water Department and that is on their finance committee. Sign up to receive public notifications for the
town of Littleton. Scan the QR code to register or go to www.ittletonmma.org/subscribe. Community impacts, public safety activity, town meeting changes, transportation issues, public health concerns, town events. Stay informed.
Select board office hours coming up. We have one Wednesday, March 25th, 4 to 6, Mr. Rambacha. Wednesday, April 22nd from 4 to 6, Mr. Rambacha. Wednesday, May 27th from 4 to 6. Mr. Rambaka.
Wednesday, June 24th. From 4 to 6, Mr. Rambaka. >> I just signed up for Thursday. >> Okay. >> Coming up. >> Sound like he was being punished. >> I know. A week from Thursday, that is. We have a notification from uh from National Grid uh in regard in regards to
the to the transmission vegetation maintenance notification requirements uh that they will be uh providing Littleton with the annual notification of upcoming transmission sideline vegetation management activities within our municipality. I will uh and there is a there is a uh
as you can see the corridor on there that that will be taking place. Um and uh further uh providing the clarification regarding the vegetation management plan public hearing referenced in the recent municipal notification letter. The public hearing
that Mass DOT will do is March 27th, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. as listed in the Environmental Monitor Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources public hearing notice. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And here
we are again uh continued the notice of the public hearing for vegetation management by the uh Department of Agricultural Resources. And it is going to be it's a Zoom meeting and it will be March 27th at 9:30 as expressed before. And there is
the link that is right there uh for that uh for that meeting. We can also have uh we've got Littleton Robotics uh and uh the they brought the Darwin to the Minute Man District event
in Bill Rick, Mass last uh last weekend for their first competition of the 2026 season to share that they came home with the event win and a new blue banner. Congratulations to Littleton Robotics. Very very impressive. Very very impressive. Um
and That uh that is it madam chairwoman. >> There's a lot of you. We'll start sitting down. Um so we wanted to take a moment to recognize and thank and just give all of our appreciation and
congratulations to the Littleton Bramfield boys hockey team, our division 4 state champions. Last week they went to the Garden and uh had a dominating game. They won 5-1 against St. Bernard's. Um and in
addition to that, they just had an amazing season. Um let's see, just one loss the whole season, right? And um three um three of you um got had uh scored over 100 points. That was um Connor and Liam Glue
and Littleton's own Gavin Worling. So congratulations. We just we couldn't be prouder. Thanks. Thanks for all you uh boys have done for uh for our town and we appreciate it. Maybe your coach would like to come up and say a few words.
>> No, >> just one or two. Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for having us. That was a great season for the players. Had great community support from both Harvard and Littleton. Uh it's great being here. Um
awesome season. Congratulations, GUYS. It's going to be yesterday. It got rain rained out. Um I don't know. Has it been rescheduled? >> Total. Next next week. Next weekend. >> Uh next Saturday. Next Saturday at 9. >> Saturday at 9 this time. Okay. Great. Well, everyone uh we'll see you there.
Um yeah, we have a little bit of uh recognition here. You guys want to come on up? >> Yeah. >> Anybody? >> Yeah. Everybody. >> Get We could probably get the whole team in a picture there. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Picture. >> If they can do it on the garden, they can do it.
>> Yeah. Right. >> Got to get the captains. >> Come on. >> I don't want to. >> Where's Fred? >> I don't know. I guess I'm on the text. So, where are my cabinets? >> Hey, why don't you player step forward
to the select board? >> Our knees are really old. I was going to say >> what about this thing and come. >> So guys, if you can see me, then I can see you. So make sure you can see into the leg, right?
>> Needs a step stool back then. >> All right. Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Come on. >> I haven't got confirmation. Justin does. Congratulations. I got to get the boys home.
>> Russian. >> I wish I could beat you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Awesome guys. Just awesome. >> Thank you guys. You know, >> from not having a team to state champ. Pretty impressive.
>> Didn't you say you won? >> That was your alma. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> See you Saturday. >> Yep. See you Saturday. >> Awesome.
>> In your parking lot. >> All right. Yeah, I saw the banner. Oh, that was so nice. And then I was like, >> it was very nice, but also >> some personal connections.
>> Good stuff. >> Well, this is just sad. >> That was it. >> It's all down. As you said, it's all downhill from here. It's all downhill from now. >> All right. Well, uh, we can get started with our joint meeting, Mr. Chairman.
Not quite. We can. We don't have a quorum. So, if you have >> I sent a text to Fred. >> Okay. Um, >> you have something else to do. >> I don't suppose Where's the appointment?
Uh, does anybody know if uh Mr. Bent was planning on coming to this evening. >> Mr. Who? >> William Bent. >> Not for appointing. >> Yeah. Don't know. >> So, we don't need >> What time was the appointment supposed to be at the time? >> 8:15. >> 8:15. I was hoping to let him out early
if he was already here or coming, but All right. Um, let's go ahead and start uh with uh department board updates and requests. I guess >> we had a conservation. >> Mhm. Request for conservation to declare
Friday, April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day and retroactively declare Friday, April 25th, 2025 as Arbor Day. >> Didn't we do that? >> I feel like I feel like we did a retroactive declaration last year.
Maybe we only retroactively 24 and we forgot to do 25. >> Could be. >> It won't hurt to do it twice, right? >> No, I I know that when we um I was I don't know what town I was just driving through and they had a really good when you when you were entering their town might have been might have
been Chumsford with um the Tree City >> USA sign. It's really nice good looking sign. They actually had that and then Purple Heart community below it and all their So I think that's something that we should look into is >> we're going where >> I thought we had Arbor Day signs but not
Tree City signs. They gave us an Arbor Day sign. >> Yeah, because there was a it's a really nice Tree City USA. It's um like a 2 by two with a tree in the middle and it's a it's a good looking sign. >> I don't know if that's the same organization or a different organization but um >> something to look into. Okay.
>> But I'll do a motion. >> Yeah, please. Move that the select board vote to declare Friday, April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day in the town of Littleton and retroactively declare Friday, April 25th, 2025 Arbor Day in the town of Littleton.
>> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? >> I. >> Next, we have uh the PRCE discussion and vote on changes to schedule C and C1 for summer seasonal positions. Um, Alicia was going to be here for
>> We can wait. >> Yeah, we can table it until she gets here. >> Okay. >> Public input. >> Well, I mean, is there can we discuss Oh, no. Where did Steve go? The fin could we have the discussion about the financial policy, for example, without
voting if if I mean, or do we need to wait for a quorum of fincom in order to like have that discussion? Like I assume that the policy discussion is going to be asking Steve questions and opining on it. >> Yeah. But I think the the rest of Okay.
his committee might have questions too. >> Okay. >> You want to talk about the orchard house? >> Sure. All right. >> Okay. Orchard house. >> For Sue. This is number seven. Select board discussion sale of the orchard house. Order.
>> Um Tony and I have a draft um started a draft article. I spoke to town council about the process, the order of operations. I think that is relatively non-controversial.
Um, I spoke to the Littleton Historical Commission. They have a basically near final draft of a historical preservation restriction for the House, which I have in my possession. I spoke to Linda Stein. There are a couple things in there that probably need clarification.
For example, one of them is a pretty significant restriction on any changes to the interior of the house, >> which I think is probably a non-starter. Yeah. >> For someone who wants to buy it and renovate it, but she was very >> occupy it. >> Yeah. She was very much like, well, I'll just talk to our consultant um who helps
us with these and you know, it shouldn't be a problem. Okay. >> Nothing else in it. Basically, what it covers is the the the appearance and envelope of the outside. I also got in touch with Henry to dis to ask him for his opinion on what could be done on
that lot um on the 1.15 acres because I think when we go to town meeting people are going to be concerned about you know can someone put up another house and I want to get the building commissioner's opinion on what can or can't be done. Mhm. >> Um other than that, like we need to
finalize the restrictions that we want to put into the um the article and then the and then the RFP. I can draft those and send them around. I haven't done it yet. Um I need to schedule some public meetings and I think that's it.
>> I think Oh, and we are going to have to subdivide that lot, I believe, before we sell it. Is that correct? >> Okay, >> that's correct. So, it's it's currently one assessor's lot and the nonAPR section will have to be subdivided off from the APR section.
>> I don't know what the legal process for that is. >> Zoning change. >> No, we'll go to the planning board. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. >> Yeah, the zoning won't change. >> No, the zoning. You're right. The zoning won't change. >> That's just an ANR type request.
>> Okay. So, any other any questions on that? >> What's your timeline for are you thinking for the public um discussions? >> I I think I'm I'm a little conflicted. Doing it early would allow the input to
be included in the warrant article. Doing it late would be more likely for us to get attention because people are going to have seen it in the in the warrant and are going to be talking about it. So, um I probably maybe I'll do two, but I think I should probably do
one very soon, like in the next two weeks, so we can we can have a an article in the >> you know, but it'll probably be after it goes to print, but we can have a addendum. >> What do you think? Before, one after
>> I mean, um >> I just want to I'm concerned we're not going to have all our ducks in a row. straight enough. >> We we able to get this. >> It's possible. So if if it if it feels
like we're not all there, we can pull we'll just pull the article >> and bring it back in the fall. So the concerns I guess would be more so on um some of the things we already discussed.
the sprawl, what >> it's 1.14 >> 1.15 I >> 1.15 acres. So, um is it just the footprint of the house? Things like that. Questions that everyone's going to want want to ask is what last thing you want to see there is a huge, you know, >> yeah,
>> three comp, you know, >> condos or whatever behind it. So, if it's just a building itself, um it maybe an out building obviously for somebody, but those are the type of questions that I would I would have. And then um obviously tightening up the historical
side be able to answer those questions. I I do agree with having a meeting if it's going to be on the warrant or not if we have to pull that. I still think you should have a meeting before >> town meeting just to so people can you know you can >> get the word out there. So if it does go
to town meeting people, you >> know, we see how that goes. We've seen how that goes. >> Absolutely. >> What's the date that the warrant has to be finalized for print? Is it? >> It's next week. >> Yeah. Oh, is it next week? >> Okay. >> So, there's no time really to have a
meeting and get feedback. >> I didn't realize it was that soon. >> Um, that's really the >> Yeah, >> but yeah. >> Yeah, that's we won't we won't know until we get close to the town meeting whether we think we should pull it and
if we have to pull it. I mean, do you think that like having it on there and pulling it is a bad look? >> That's what I'm worried about. I'm not I'm I'm nodding because yes, that is what I am wondering, but not necessarily because I'm sure that I think it's
something that we should think about. >> Well, what would be different if we had it on there and pulled it versus just put it out in October? Other than the fact I mean, it's just a heads up that we're thinking about it, right? we'd be basically moving the same article forward in October just with a little
more information. So >> I don't think having it on and pulling it is that >> I think it looks disorganized confidence >> but if we well if we think it's on there and it's disorganized and we pull it say we thought we could have it done in time
we couldn't. >> We're going to bring it back when it's ready. >> We'll bring it back when it's ready. So, >> and and I mean Matthew, you've been champion championing championing this >> champion. >> And you're not going to be here, >> right? In the midway through. I mean,
right. Yeah. I mean, I will be obviously involved in this, but yes, I will not be right up to the >> I will not be sitting on this board. So, um >> um so we're going to have to that I don't know have to get everybody else up to speed on it as well. I know Mark, you've been working with them as well. So,
>> not so much lately, but yeah. Um, so I guess the discussion is do we move this to a fall a fall special? >> Yeah. >> I mean, you you I assume that we could work out some way for me to deal talk to
town council about this specific item even if I'm not on the board. >> Yeah. So, you know, I could I would be happy to take, you know, if we move it to the to the fall, I'd be happy to continue to work on it, >> like just in, you know, and only it.
But no, I'd rather try for try for this the spring. >> Okay. Is is that >> Are you okay with that? >> Yeah. I mean, we don't know. We don't know if it >> No, no. and and I can get I can I I we Tony and I can get a final a good you
know a first pass of the final language in to the warrant. I'm confident of that. >> Okay, >> Mark, any concerns? >> So, I would say to have an initial meeting as soon as possible so then you can get feedback on what you're drafting
for the town meeting article as potentially before it goes to print. >> Okay. >> Right. And then you could see if there's feedback that makes it >> if there's too much resistance then you can that's kind of like a >> don't >> an idea that we could pull it.
>> Yeah. >> Rather than and then >> having a meeting closer to town meeting more as anformational >> sorry. Yeah. Okay. >> So >> what do you >> nice if you had more than a week to get it done but >> I mean >> it is what it What um when is do you
know exactly the date that you finalize the warrant? >> Go to print April 1st. >> Okay. >> So we could have a brief discussion about it at our meeting next week. >> Yeah. And I could try to >> to finalize it or decide to pull it >> and I could try like setting up a meeting for this coming week.
>> So the warrant itself is only saying it has nothing to do with the RFP or RFI. >> That's correct. It's just >> excess. >> That's correct. Well, surplus would I think we should put some specific language in about how we're going to restrict >> the footprint.
Yeah. >> Right. So, I don't think there's a ton of leg work to get that defined as much as obviously putting out the RFP and and all the >> Yeah, it's much less lifting than >> Yeah, that's the leg work. This is more of getting historical lined up, zoning,
all the everything to make sure that we've got the right all the restrictions are there. can be written clear to people so when they're voting they can say okay >> this makes sense it's not going to it's still going to be a farm field farm looking house not a whatever
>> so all right I'm comfortable with it >> okay >> so I'll shoot for a meeting for this weekend then >> okay finance yeah qu >> all Right. >> Oh, so I just want to make a point. Next
week's meeting is we're going to Charter's meeting. So, it's actually not our meeting. Not that we can't set an add agenda item to our own meeting, but >> I I was more thinking that if Yeah, if the wording of the article changes based on his meeting, we should discuss that.
or if Matthew decides after that he recommends that we pull it, we should just have a if there's no changes, we basically can gloss over it. >> But yes, we're done with that. We've done >> Okay, Mr. Chairman.
>> All right. Um, first on the agenda is budget. >> Okay. So, I have an update since we last met on Super Saturday. So next, the first slide is where we were at um at the draft budget when we published it in
January. That was the one with all the changes from the starting deficit. You flip Tony to the next one. Um through Super Saturday. Tony's causing trouble. >> That happens.
>> Any questions? >> Best budget presentation ever. Super Saturday, we were um we had a positive $7,752 and then don't spend it all. And then if we flip um the changes since our last super Saturday meeting um was the Elder
and Human Services new hire was hired at an additional higher step. So that's the adjustment of the 164952. Um we have um some ADA requirements. Um Mark, you know about that. So there's some software that um we have to
purchase for that. So that's an increase in the IT budget. And then there was a transfer into the budget from septic receipts. When we went through our free cash process, they had us reserve funds for septic loans, old septic loans that were out there because they were already
collected and they weren't reserved. So every every budget process now, we'll be pulling those into the budget as revenue and they just go out as debt already. So, so we are at the final of the $8,570 for that. >> What are we going to do with that?
>> Sure, we could find something. >> Um, >> before you go further, Robin, sorry. >> Sure. >> So, where we left some things that are already in the budget was salary. Gary, you want to talk to the salary because
we haven't met since Super. >> Yeah. So, uh, this for this, um, fiscal year, uh, they're looking at the volume of, um, material provided by the Collins, uh,
center regarding the compensation study, um, and benefits that there was no way to be able to do all of the changes um, recommended changes and for us to really go over and see what we wanted to accept by Tom meeting. Uh so we're going
forward with um the current model that we have uh for July 1st for the next town meeting of two and a half%. >> Two and a half two >> two and a half two and a half% yeah for uh the next fiscal year which is the
same model we went last year. Um and then what'll happen is over the next several months the uh personnel advisory committee and HR and Jim's office and finance team will will go over uh the what we're trying to in um take from the
callin center and move it into our community looking at all the salary data we have from communities that were provided to the call-in center and what that's going to look like for our our employees for the town and how it's going to affect power grid and and what that's going to cost the town going to
our next fiscal year after this. Um so that's kind of the what all things considered what's happening uh for this town meeting. This is a very similar looking comp grid that you've seen every year for the last five or six years. Um
and that I will say that 2020 20 where are we 28 will look different. Um it'll probably have the same grade structure but a lot of positions will be moving on a little bit of a different classification on
more to come on that but for this town meeting expect much of the same. So there's no change to the bottom line from what we looked at before because we had already included the two and a half in the budget numbers for the department. So we're good. The other
thing that was up in the year at the time was health insurance. >> We opted into the budget with the higher >> correct >> just in case. So what happened with >> 12% of it? >> Yeah, it was 12.8. So it came in a
little bit lower, but we budgeted the actual the flux and the on and off of the program if a if a person comes from an individual to a family light. So we've chosen to not change it. I think it was like $90,000 we saved with the percentage and we're going to hold it
there just in case. I mean, going from a family to a from a single to a family, it'll cost you 10 grand to the town. So, we're just going to leave it there in case there's changes. And >> so, the the what happened was the unions
um as they were meeting with with town management, they did not vote to change plans. They voted to stay where they are. And if you remember back on that Saturday, we kept 98
>> 80,000 980 in the budget. That was the um higher number in case they didn't and they wound up not switching. So, >> y >> there's no change in that. >> Yeah. And if we don't spend it, that falls to free cash. So, yep. >> Until next year,
>> we'll be forced to change. Correct. Is that Yeah. So, >> okay, you good? I don't want Okay, so the top our current stabilization funds just balances as of February 28th, just for information purposes. Um, the
operating budget when we last met was that 66 million. Um, and then if you follow down our free cash policy, these are our contributions. So, capital expenditures is the 1.6, and I'll go over these later. The capital I'll go over later. um general stabilization in our fiscal policy sees a minimum of
100,000. Um we're contributing um from free cash for OPED and Middle Sex uh CPT CPC contribution for the $465,000. So we get the match. Um school building stab we've got 2,48,33
we're contributing this year. And then cap stave again that's that's from cap stave that number there. And then debt exclusion state which we contribute to every year for debt. >> Madam chair. Okay. >> Um question on the OPED. So are we sure
>> are we still projected where we're going to be when this is when we're I guess all paid off. You never paid off but I know we were in pretty good standing. >> We were at like 80% funded and I I think with the last evaluation we're probably more around 70.
>> Okay. All right. Still way ahead of >> Still way ahead of many communities. Yes. >> This you think you catch up and then health insurance costs go like this and then stock market goes like this. >> We're not going to have that happen. >> Okay.
>> So, um the free cash use of policy the cap expenditures and the cap stab I highlighted. If you go to the next slide, did you go the other way? There you go. You just zoom. So, the only thing that's changed since Super Saturday is the six
wheel dump truck um for DPW. It broke down. It's not working anymore. It was in the out years for capital. So, we pushed it into this year because we had room within free cash to do so. So, our total is the 1,618,26 for that. So, that is the only change
since Super Saturday. And then for cap stay, we're still doing the engine replacement and then we added $100,000 for a feasibility study there. And this is the balance in the cap stave account because you guys are looking at numbers but you don't know what the this
is the outy years that we have right now. We've had talks about having meetings to more nail down these numbers. I will say there's an article in the warrant for $175,000 that's not added to this as well. But those are the balances going forward. Um, if you look
at the last line with the blue print, those right there are for debt that we're going to borrow and then use tapcade to pay off. So, the first three are for the dog park. The last three are for the engines. So, we're going to borrow pay it down every year so that
we're not we're not bonding it. We'll borrow and then pay. >> That is it for me. We'll get into more detail on those numbers when we go through the warrant. Um, we have the financial
policy. We can get that out of the way. That's next here. So, the financial policy working group had two meetings in the past couple of weeks. Uh, we went through the existing policy and agreed on some recommended
changes. Um it's not to say those are the only changes. I mean we should discuss anything else that any other the members uh feel that should be changed in the policy. Uh we sent it out Friday. I know there was short notice.
Uh how would you like to proceed everyone? You want to go through this? Did is everybody comfortable with the changes? Would you like to discuss them? >> What's the I >> I have a couple questions that may be just clarifications. Not they're not significant, I don't think.
>> Um, in section 15, the revolving fund, the what was stricken was 10% of the budget was the old limit. Where did that number come from? Was that just >> that was in the master law? So, one of the municipal modernization acts
stripped that language out, but we never updated the polic. >> So, it's no longer it smelt like a state thing. So I wanted to um um why did the review of the budget process get removed
from the budget calendar? >> Like there the last line in that table was you know after the budget is finalized the finance committee and so and other people will meet to discuss whether it can be approved next year. Yeah.
>> Um it's the first Tuesday in May after the annual town meeting and then June 1st. Review and recommend any changes to full boards and committees. Oh, I misread that. I'm sorry. I thought that was that's the working group. Got
it. So the the budget process itself There's a whole new section in here. Maybe I should explain that a little bit better. Um, the original draft from the charter
committee when they sent it around to Karen, Fred, and I included more of a playbyplay on the budget process. And we kind of felt that it wasn't appropriate to be in the charter. And if
it did exist, it'd be more appropriate >> in the working sense. Yeah. >> Um the charter committee has since taken that out. So, but we felt it was still warranted to put it in here. So,
again, I think, and everybody should speak up to this, but I think the process that we have now works. This is a kind of the third year of this. Um, so we should memorialize it, get it into this policy,
and then if future boards want to change the process, both boards have to agree because it's part of this policy, and both boards have to agree to amend this policy. And Steve, can you just mention I guess for the public um what the
finance financial policy group is? What who who they are? So that I think we keep referring to you know the meetings. But >> so the financial policy group is two members of the finance committee, two members of the select board, one school committee member, the town administrator, and the town treasurer or
finance director. Um, we had it in that that they would meet after the process, but we switched it um that they would meet kind of after we go through that budget first. And maybe it's even more appropriate to do
it before the budget process starts just to go through it. But it's it's still in here that they need to meet annually. One of the other things that was added and Karen maybe you want to speak to this a little more is a capital
committee. Um we have that happening before the budget process starts. So the finance director will get in touch with department heads what do we say August
>> July July >> July August time frame. um get that 10-year capital plan and then a group to select board to financ school committee town administrator finance director
again can meet go over the plan in a little bit more detail than what we've been doing. We've been concentrating on one year with 10 years out. This is actually to go in and say all right this is out there in year five. Does it
really belong here? what's the feeling, that type of thing. Do you have anything else you want to add to that? >> No, I think um I think the hope is to come up with a really comprehensive road map um that actually that really reflects um at least what our current
understanding of our needs and priorities are. um right now I think there's a little bit of things are in people's heads you know or and so we'd like one sort of place where especially residents can go and say all right this
is this is what we've got planned for the next 10 years this is what they're going to be coming to town meeting with >> and is that what's referred to as the capital planning working group in this document okay and that does not currently exist correct >> that was my other
I think it also helps with the road map board committees turnover. >> Yeah. >> You know, new members can come on and be like, "Okay, and it's more of a okay." >> Yeah. Really brings you up to speed. So, I'm glad. >> Yeah, that's a good point.
Anything else from the changes or any other changes people have not for me >> seen in the document >> on the budget process? I understand this is kind of how we're doing it, but there's a lot of responsibilities put between the finance director and the town administrator and I don't know if
it would be better to put them under one umbrella rather than the two just so that there's a better clearer responsibilities and coordination. Like half of the things are finance director, half are town administrator and it might be better to make one
person in charge and then delegate to the other rather than having it already split here. where >> on the budget process, >> the town administrator does like holds department meetings, but then
the finance director estimates I there's just a lot of back and forth >> on the two and I don't know if it makes if it would make it clearer or simpler if one person was in charge rather than two people in charge. I understand this is how we're doing it and I'm not
suggesting we necessarily change it, but what I'm suggesting is maybe one person's in charge of driving it and then you know the town administrator or the finance director could delegate to the other one as needed rather than >> so if if we
>> up front to find like a finance team. >> Yeah. >> Consisting of the town administrator, finance director and just refer to team and all those things. That would be better. I think >> they can figure it out. >> That's what I think would be better. >> That good?
>> You okay with that, Jim? >> I think it'd be great. That's a great idea. Thank you all. >> Any other things, Mark? >> Um, I don't have anything else really on the changes. The one comment I have is we've been asked about the transfer
station a couple times about its use and it says um I forget exactly that's at the top of page 12. I guess it's in section 18. Unless agreed by the select board fees charged by the enterprise
fund service as well as the transfer station operations and other feebased program funds will be sufficient to cover all associate expenses. Um, so since we never really discussed those outside, I'm not sure what the like the select board doesn't annually vote
whether the transfer station can carry a deficit into the town budget or anything else. So >> no, by definition you do the fees. So we don't discuss >> by setting the budget by setting the
fees lower than what the cost is. They already after the but it's not part of the normal budget process is the question. So >> I I do agree with Mark like we do set the fees but but it's not tied in any way to whether or not that fund is running a deficit or a surplus.
>> I feel like that's always pretty explicitly pointed out. >> Um it has been the last year or two, but before that no it was never it was never made explicit to me anyway. And I think we had to ask Steve kind of pointedly like well what does it really cost and what isn't included in that line item?
So, what's the wording change thereafter? >> I'm not sure exactly. Right. Um, it's not like we explicitly talk about the transfer station as a budget item in part of the budget discussions outside
of the salaries for the budget. Right? When we set the fees, we talk about the there's not a transfer station specific um >> topic >> topic combined budget thing, right? We set the we talk about
>> well the finance team works for you if you want that as a presentation. >> I'm just wondering if there's something we should clear up in the policy. >> Let me let me see how how I view it here. And it's kind of like
taxes too. So, if the select board going into the budget process decided that they didn't want to raise the entire levy, then that's a policy decision that you make before the budget starts. We craft
a budget around that policy and then you set the tax rate in November to that policy because you can't wait till November to make that policy decision because we've already crafted and approved a budget that spends the
entire levy. So, it's just like that with the transfer station. If we go into the budget sessions and you want to change how the select board views that fee and
you want to cover everything with the fees for the program instead of subsidizing it, we need to do that before the budget process starts. We work those numbers in the budget. Then November comes along, you have the public hearing to raise the fees. Now
you know that there's nothing in the budget, so you need to raise everything up because that's how I view that. >> They're just they're so separate and they're so disjoint that it's hard to bring them together. Right. We have the budget meetings in January. We set the
fees somewhere between >> February. Well, the transfer station fees we do somewhere between February and June. >> You do that in November, I believe. >> We haven't done that for this year yet. the stickers come up in July 1st, right? >> So, we do it
>> like Yeah. 30 to 60 days before that, I think. >> So, it's just maybe we need to either clarify this or have a way of bringing them a little closer together or something. >> I I don't know what the right answer is. I'm not suggesting we're doing anything wrong. It's just the policies, the way
the policies worded. whenever you sub well you're subsidizing so we never know the exact costs obviously change a lot of big things happen throughout the year with that so >> it's much easier when we're not subsidizing right but >> then our fees would be $1,000
>> Mark's point being like that that one thing is so separate from the rest of the process it's hard to you like the tax rate yeah sure we do it in November and we understand that it's tied to the levy and >> I don't know >> that's It's it's the same concept.
>> I totally get that >> the the timing is just doesn't fit up with the budget. >> How do you fix it? I don't >> I don't think you can because >> you're not right now. I bet I bet we could have more discussions. Obviously, we meet and every year on this we can come up with.
>> So, so if the select board is is thinking about >> changing how that works and subsidizing things, then those things need to be worked into this budget. >> I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting we figure out a way of changing the
wording here to be more clear that what we're what the transfer station operations in the fees will cover. Right. Right now it this wording applies that unless this agreed to by the select
board which we never really explicitly have a meeting that says we're agreeing to go over this policy. >> Doesn't say explicit. >> I understand that. I just I Okay, keep going. >> Um, it
when we vote the transfer station fees, it's not clear that we're voting to override something in this policy. >> We're not overriding the policy. >> The policy says unless we decide to do something else, we're deciding something else. To override the policy
>> would be to not follow that at all. I don't know how you would but >> so door number three >> maybe what the selector should do is if you want to memorialize it in your policies saying >> that's the way you would say that we
understand about the >> the transfer station fees the town will subsidize >> yeah that's probably >> then we just work it in here but if you have a policy decision that changes that that says we want the users to fund 100%
of the program. And that's a big change. >> No, I'm not suggesting we change what we're doing. I'm suggesting we figure out a better way of >> That's a fair point. What if we do decide that that's what we need to do or want to do? How do we do that in a timely manner? If the budget if the
policy committee meets in the late spring after the budget's done, >> I mean, no matter when the policy meets, we're going to have something that's out of out of cycle. >> I don't think it's a policy. I don't
think it's a this policy thing. I think it's a policy of the select board thing >> because you're deciding to >> That's what we're struggling with. >> Yeah. Yeah, but you want I think you want to line them up language is it it does but it's not less agreed to by the
sock board >> and by setting fees lower than what the charges are agreed to agreeing to it. >> I mean it it's somewhat similar to what you do when you set the tax rate. That's >> you know you're you're balancing how
much goes to industrial, how much goes to residential. You could have a similar kind of analysis on the transfer station. You know, if if the rate is this, this is the subsidy. If the rate is that, this is subsidy. It
it would be I would think relatively a simple mathemat mathematical process if you you know if if you're concerned about it that way you'd see the total spending total income at
different fee levels >> and then you could you know >> okay so outside of the transfer station are there any other enterprise what other enterprise funds do we have maybe subsidizing >> just transfer stations It's not >> it's a general fund revenue. So,
>> but this is and and fees charged for enterprise fund services. So, are there other enterprise funds that we subsidize out of the budget? >> Nope. >> Because we never vote. >> It says water department, sewer department. >> Cemetery, park and record not enterprise
anymore. >> They're not enterprise. Park's not enterprise. >> COA funds we set up were not enterprise. >> Not enterprise. None of us are enterprise. It's only two. So we're in water right now. Used to be parking rack. >> So basically it's just a transfer station. So we just have to handle that
as a case as it its own special. >> Yeah, that's why it's called separately. >> Okay. >> We can probably try to address this over our you know the next meeting that we have as far as the our um the committee
the finance meeting. We we can discuss it but I I don't think it's something we can solve right now. I just don't know how we line the two up >> unless we're going to substantially change how we're >> It works right now, right? We haven't
>> Right. I think it works. >> It keeps it keeps the balance. I mean, obviously things are trickling up, but that's cost of doing business right now. But >> I think some some people said that, but it's kind of ambiguous that >> sentence, but I I think
>> we'll try to tighten it up. >> Okay. My other on um in section 15 when we talk about revolving funds, we ask for a a budget about the revolving funds, money coming in, money going out, what's left over. Do you want to specify
a timeline for when that is? >> Uh I thought that was in here. We talked about >> You have to set the expression. When are we talking about as when you were getting the budget data? Is that it?
>> Expenditure limits for those those revolving. >> Now, we're talking about we talked about the policy. We're going to ask everybody what a revolving fund to submit to the finance director policy on how they're using it. >> Correct. >> But the um deposit limit is, withdrawal
limit, those types of things. >> Yeah. >> You you approve it or it doesn't move forward. That type of thing. Was that part of the budget process? >> You wanted a presentation from them for revolving funds as >> No, I want you to We talked about you approving a policy.
>> Yes. >> First. Yes. >> Yes. >> So, and then we talked about it being included in the budget book, that type of thing. So, each department would have something about their revolving in the budget book. >> So, it has to be part of the budget
process. Okay. >> Okay. I just >> put that in here. >> So, in section 15, there's no timeline. I don't know if there's a timeline in the budget. >> In section in number eight in the process, it says the finance director will prepare an annual budget, blah blah
blah, including staffing changes, revolving funds, stabilization accounts. We could add in policy that goes along with those revolving funds in that if we wanted. >> So, in section 8, I'm just suggesting we throw in a timeline. That's all. >> I don't You mean number eight in se in the in
the budget process? I'm talking about like like number eight in section 27. It's the finance director will prepare the budget book which includes revolving funds. >> I'm sorry. You're right. I'm talking section 15 where it outlines revolving funds and enterprise funds. It says each
department is required to submit as policy. We just should say somewhere in here. It could say as outlined in timeline as outlined in section blah blah blah but just say that there is a timeline somewhere because it's not clear what the timeline is in this
section. So if it's outlined in the other section just refer to it. >> That's all. It doesn't say when that policy has to be established, but it's >> has to find >> the initial one, but it says that if you want to if you want to renew, you can't or
>> Yeah, there's there's not an initial stat establishment date, >> but >> in order to go in front of annual temp in order to go to town meeting, >> you have to have it. So, you're going to butt up against the
timeline at some point. Yeah. >> So after that sentence, it says each department that utilizes a revolving fund is required to submit a policy to the finance director for each individual revolving fund that outlines such and such as part of the budget process.
How's that? That's >> Mr. Chairman. >> Is it? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Budget process or annual budget process either to make it clear that you're doing it annually. >> You okay with that? Is that good? >> Sure.
>> And then I'm done. >> Okay. >> Did we just create work for you? >> No. >> Okay. >> Yes, >> we did. >> It's okay. >> Needs to be done. >> You don't specify the budget book per se in the in the calendar. Should you do you care about that?
Um I mean it says December January finance director submits annual report and then January fans committee and select board meets to discuss requests. I mean maybe that's maybe the book is
you know implicit there. >> December to January detailing the submit an annual budget report detailing the budget capital request select board finance committee. >> That's if that's the book that's the book that's fine. number eight in section 27 of the budget
process talks about the budget book. >> So how did those >> and the how does number eight line up with that calendar I guess I'm saying I mean this may not be important it may not it may be that we don't need to specify a date for everything but you
know our Okay. Um, >> I withdraw money. >> Well, you're not bothered. >> You're saying it says they're preparing a budget book, but there's no timeline on that. >> Yeah, but it does. Well, all those numbered items in section 26.
>> Number nine. >> Sorry. Section section 27 doesn't have dates. >> Number nine. >> That says December. You're right. >> Says December by the end of December. >> That's for the draft. You talk about what the final >> draft budget book to the >> Okay. To the boards. Yes.
>> Yep. >> That's fine. Draft. >> You want to add? >> No, I don't. I I think the more we get if we're going to get too specific, it's probably not going to help things. So, >> anything else from
J? Good >> if we >> Mr. Chairman, we haven't taken public comment yet. So, and as we're good, maybe we can do that. >> Okay. >> Public comment anyone? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair
Sand 682 Great. Going back to the transfer fees here. Uh, can you explain to the people how this transfer fee is held in this town? Because to me, who's collecting it? Who
they turning into? What's the accountability on it? If you're setting a fee up for the transfer, it seemed like to me that you would put that fee into a stabilization account itself to call it the the fee
for uh transfer. Whatever is needed over at the transfer monies will come out of that first before they take it out of the general budget and put it towards something. I understood uh a little while ago I heard
that it was being collected and put in the general fund. I don't think it should be put in the general fund if you establish a fee for a particular item in the town. It should be accounted for that money that's being spent
or that's being received and being spent and it shouldn't just go into the general fund. It can get lost in the general fund. Where do the bag fees go? >> They have line items in the budget. Revenue line items >> and then we subsidize.
>> Correct. >> When you go general fund, it's a general revenue. It's no different than a permit fee. It's >> correct. The building permit is general fund revenue. Yeah. >> All general fund revenue. >> That's all tracked. >> Mhm. They all have their own lines.
>> So they go into a line they go into a specific line item when they come in. So if you wanted reports on what revenue came in for stickers, we can do that. >> Okay. >> But it's not it's not dedicated to the transfer
station. That's matched our lot. That's nothing we can do. >> Julian de from Harvard Avenue. So is it just listening to the conversation is the town subsidizing the transfer station?
>> Yeah, >> substantially. Yeah. Like, do we know if the town weren't subsidizing how much the stickers would cost roughly? Would they double? >> They'd be like $1,000. >> No. >> Well, we pay the salaries of the workers.
>> We pay the salaries of the workers at the transfer station. I don't know if we I don't think we subsidize or I'd have to look, but I don't remember. My recollection is that's what Steve said is that the the fees the bag fees cover the operation of the station. >> No, >> but the but the employees are part of
the um DPW budget. >> Yeah, I don't even think it does that. >> Okay. >> We it it used to >> and since we don't get money from the >> I think now we're at a point of we can't double the bag the bag fees. We can't we're not going to double the fees of
the the annual fees. So, we have to keep this as close as possible by subsidizing it. I I don't know. I mean, this is probably one of those things we should probably pull just to see. >> Yeah, we can. >> I But I I know it's beyond the >> That's fine.
>> You probably subsidizing, >> you know, and we're not the only community I I know that's dealing with this. just looking at I know act and they've all come up with creative ways to do this um and different fee structures and different uh subsidies that are used to
do it. So I know there's probably room for improvement in here, but I just know people don't want to spend $20 for five bags that's coming. It's down the it's right in front of us. So we try to subsidize keeping those fees
on those bags and those annual fees as tight as possible. very little increases. Um, and you know, whenever it does go up $25 here or there, we hear about it, you know. So, >> but yeah.
>> So, I always wish the bags didn't have to be plastic. >> Rob Brown's 25 Juniper Road. So because select board heard this in February 9th I want just for the finance committee that's here tonight. um February 9th I said I think the PRC revolving fund
should be paying for some of the expenses pertaining to the maintenance on the numerous fields that are used by their programs that generate revenue and that um it seems like that's changed over time and and I think that should be
uh charged uh via cross charge out of the general fund from the PRCE revolving fund which was recently disposed to have uh the net surplus in fiscal year 5 to $222,000 and the surplus balance of $740,000.
Both those items which is stated in the January budget meeting separately on section 15 of the policy documents. Sorry to revisit some things we were discussing before public input, but I'm a little bit just like clarification
sentences under the recommended language for the department revolving funds pertaining to chapter 53 and a half. Is it this policy that's going to state that the select board and the finance committee need to increase the revolving
fund as to what can be spent before it goes to town meeting or town meetings I believe required? So is there a sequential approval process as I'm confused by this word because I
left clarification and I look forward to the transfer discussion transfer station discussion I've given several of you I work for Steve Yonley I think the uh item is subsidized by general fund by approximately $95,000 according to the
stuff that I got from Steve Are we good? >> Good. >> Anybody have any other comments or anything about the policy? If not, finance committee, I'll look for a vote. to approve the changes to the financial
management policy as amended. Section 15 to make it part of the annual budget process and section 27 to define a finance team. >> So moved. >> Moved by Fred,
>> second by Rick. All in favor? >> I. >> What you said? >> Yeah, it's same same motion from the board. Same second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? >> I. >> This is to be ratified by the school
committee. Correct. >> School. Yeah. >> Justin has it and he will be bringing it to the school committee at the next meeting or a future meeting. He said >> yes. >> As soon as you get those changes to him. >> Yeah. Were there any substantial changes
that would affect their their vote now? Um, kind of warrant Jimmy, you want to go through. Okay, we have uh 31 articles uh and one um submitted uh
petition uh by a resident. And uh and we will uh as we go uh you can see the the beginning it lists the May 5th
20 26 uh town meeting. Uh those are the >> and then it just moves right into uh to the vote. It's uh the message the message that has been uh that's standard boilerplate for uh for the warrants. I'm
going to give an example and then we've got uh Tom moderator um Tom procedures uh in which is uh again standard standard practice and we have uh
um moving into uh we're looking for the finance committee. Um, we've got a placeholder for the finance committee uh budget report for FY27
uh and that will be added uh uh before it goes to print and along with that uh another placeholder will have uh FY27 uh budget summary and which will also be put be put in into that um
article one um annual reports uh tear up the reports from the town offices of the committees. Um, article article two, we've got bills of prior years as we know that uh anything that has been uh was not paid
in a previous uh during a previous fiscal year uh is uh has then got before it can be paid in a new fiscal year. It's got to be the approval of of town meeting and that requires a four-fifths vote. >> Do we have any?
>> Nope. Um, >> we're still using a little bit. >> Uh, here we have uh we've got the FY27 operating budget. Um, in the and vote to raise and appropriate 64,497,127
and transfer from certified free cash $937,392 uh for a total of 65,434,519. um and uh transfer from the funds specified uh within uh to defay the expenses of various departments for the town. And this will be beginning of
fiscal year FY27 which begins July 1st, 2026. Any questions on anything uh as we're moving through what we have for information?
Um I had just I was just mentioning the the Karen Madam Chair that so that we don't have an official moderator for this Tom meeting. We have one someone that's going to be doing it stepping up that
has to be voted on at Tom meeting. >> That is correct. >> I just I was just thinking normally that the moderators in the room for the these discussions so they can kind of get the feel of the the Tom meetings look like. I don't know how we can if we have somebody in mind. Um I can't imagine
objections to a Tom moderator but might want to start inviting them. We're going to have these the big discussions on the warrant just to have them in the room. Okay. Just so that they first time they see it isn't that at time >> well the consent agenda and everything else is usually set by the town
moderator. >> Yeah. >> Okay. No. Great. Thank you. Mr. >> Spangle. Mhm. That is it. Um, moving on.
Um, uh, obviously we've got UCTV. >> I'm sorry. >> LCTV is next, >> right? I'm just trying to get there. I'm sorry. Uh fourth article, we've got um LCTV uh
vote uh the appropriate existing funds uh for FY27 for the salaries and expenses to the operation of LCT cable television. Um and we have to 420 vote to appropriate $427,793 um for that. And um that uh is a you
know yet again a standing article that uh we have seen many of other times. The next article uh we have uh department uh revolving funds. Um uh if you can see the different uh expenditure
limits and those are for the expenditure limits uh in which uh for the various uh revolving funds that we have within the town >> and the reports right >> that's uh those uh those are the limits and there have they have been ra there
be there have been certain ones that have been raised in the past I know that recently we uh increased parks and recreation I think last year and that that 1.8 8 million I think mirrors uh last year's uh limit is uh is
something and that is a yet again something that is not unc that is not uncommon for us here article six uh board of water commissioners
of water enterprise fund operating budget on the the vote to raise and appropriate $69,600 uh for that and um it's uh and that is that is is funded um
through the water revenues. Uh one of that's one of the enterprise funds that was recently referred to by the chairman. Uh we've got article seven, water commissioners sewer enterprise fund operating budget uh in the amount of
$840,000 um and that will um um so that the water department can operate and maintain the existing um
little common smart sewer districts. uh and this is the seventh year of uh the so enterprise fund is being funded. Uh and then whereas previously it was appropriated through through the town budget and um article 8
uh water uh appropriate funds from the sewer uh retained earnings to cover the un any unforeseen expenses in the amount of uh so we've got $140,000 uh in uh there in the event that that needs to uh to be utilized.
appropriation for article 9 uh board of water commissioners appropriation for water retained earnings. Uh vote to transfer $1,900,000 from the water enterprise fund retain earnings to fund the water main placement projects uh previously author
authorized by town meeting and this is to ensure that funds will be uh available for for the purpose for this project. Article 10. Robin, you want to explain that a little, please? >> Yeah. So, there was an entry that wasn't
made in 2024 to reserve the funds. So, in order to correct that, we have to have this article. The money's already spent, but we had to pull it from ret we had to pull it from free cash to use. And this entry reserves the money so that it comes back into free cash next year.
>> So, the the state took 1.9 million away from our free cash for this year. That's why we showed a smaller number when we did the estimate. We get that money back next year when they >> reertify free cash. So, we'll have the
original estimate plus the 1.9 million that >> they held off this year. We're not out any money. >> We still have the money. It was just an accounting mistake that was made. >> Correct. Thank you.
Article 10 uh uh appropriation for PAS settle settlement agreements. It's part of a settlement little Little Littleton water board's lawsuit against manufacturer of PAS for water water supply contamination in the amount of 1,274,72021
in article 10. Can we just clear this up a little bit in the narrative on what it's going to be used? It's kind of a circular argument here. It says we're motioning to put the funds in as outlined and it says with respect to agreements, but it doesn't really say what it's being used for. It just just
some in the bold if you just say what a little bit more description >> how is it going to be spent. >> Yeah. No, I know. And there are um there's more than one PAS settlement agreement. So, it ranges. So, we can work with Tom to figure out what the language >> Well, even in the narrative, just give
some examples. It doesn't have to be in the motion or the article. >> It's it's Yeah, it's to improve water. >> Yeah. >> It's just circular the way it's worded, right? >> We can't use it to repay the debt,
right? >> No. >> No. So, it's for operations of the facility down in Wickham. That type of thing they can be used for. >> I believe it's for water remediation. So, but I I will clarify. I haven't read any of the agreements.
>> Well, so the agreements are are fairly broad as long as you're using it to address PAS remediation or water quality improvement. >> So could that go against the Boxboro
project water line that's going to Boxboro to fight uh >> PAS for that? It wasn't PAS. It's uh it was the same salt. >> We're funding that debt. >> It is water quality. You're right. >> All right. I mean, I just it's just a
question. I just >> I don't know the answer to that, but I'll check. >> I'm pretty sure Nick got grants for that part of it, but >> just clarification on >> Yep. >> on the Yeah. >> Yes. A sentence or something in in the description what it can be spent on. >> So, we can't use it for plowing private
ways. >> Just yours. article 11. Uh it is a transfer from free cash in the amount of 2 million48,34 um for Shaker Lane Elementary School project. >> And in the in the bold, can we say the
reason we say that the ending balance is 155,000? We might want to say because we've already taken X out, right? Okay. We've we've already applied this much to the project, right? It because we put money in before and it doesn't look like
>> it says with the balance of 155 after the withdrawal of funds described in article 12. >> That would be perfect. >> That's what it said. >> It's already there. >> Not in the paper copy. >> Oh, okay. Not in the copy.
>> I gave him that comment already, though. car. >> I'll pull up a newer one. >> It's this one. >> So, yes, we're we're putting money in in article 11 for this uh next fiscal year. Article 12
>> takes it out. >> Takes it out. Well, allows the the the town to take it out during the whole fiscal year. July 1st, we don't have to suck it out. The treasurer can take it out as we need it because the longer it
stays in stabilization, the interest stays with stabilization. We suck it out of stabilization, the interest goes to the general fund, does the project no good. So, it's up to our treasurer to handle that
up to it. And that's obviously, you know, from uh to benefit the taxpayer uh so those funds can be so the taxpayer doesn't have to uh pay as much for the for the >> that is a little bit more than what we originally estimated for the year.
>> Correct. Um, but it makes up for the uptick in property values that happened in 25 25 26 forget these years. 26 property values
increased more than what the estimate was. Raise that dollar value up. This brings it back down so it's comparable to what we're showing town meeting. Article 13. Uh we have uh two
appropriations here. Um to one in the amount of this is through uh capital capital stabilization fund. Uh one in the amount of $1,391,000. Um and that is for a new fire engine. Uh
and uh the second one is for $100,000 to fund a feasibility study to identify infrastructure mechanical needs. >> Another feasibility study. >> Can we what's that? >> Can we talk about that? >> Sure. >> I mean, we've already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
>> on feasibility studies for this building. What's >> different here, Jim? Well, I I think uh the thing that's different compared to the previous one that I was done I believe was done in 2017 or 2018. Uh it is uh the library was still here, senior
center was still here. Uh the all the employees, school department was still here, parks and recck was still here. So that evaluation and that assessment was done based upon those people here in the building and moving forward. and what came came of that. Um I uh can be where
we are where we are today with future projects and uh people with the plan of moving out of the building uh hence the new library and uh the other projects uh that that have been going on. Uh now
we've got really just a smaller core group and it it has >> what happens? What are we going to do? >> Are we going to uh because there has been people have expressed of wanting to
wanting us to stay here uh within the building instead of uh you know other other opportunities that that potentially are there. Uh but before we do that is uh it has been the desire um to we have to based upon our core
services that we have here. What is the impact to that and the financial impact? >> Okay. So you and the select board are in lock step on whatever the charter is for this building. >> It's part of our discussion tonight. We have a I think we have this on our
discussion. >> Yeah. >> This scope that it says here is pretty narrow. >> The the previous was a space need study which where we identified just how cramped for example EHS was. So, you know, and we built a senior center, we built a new library, we we got 36 King
Street. All that's all those people have moved out and we have had over the last few meetings lots of debates about what do we do with this building and one of the questions that we can't answer is well, what is it going to cost to keep it running and how do we put people in this building that makes sense? So, that's what this is for. >> There's a longer lock.
>> How much footprint we need now? We don't need as big a footprint, believe it or not. >> Right. >> So, >> okay. >> Yeah. Just I know I know we've spent a buttload of money on it already and here we go again. So >> I know I feel off these bills. >> Okay. >> So that
this just to be clear what this is for. This is to look at this building. >> Yeah. >> To come up with a cost that to keep this as a town hall. Is that what >> Yeah. What part of it? What it would
cost to keep a town hall here in this existing building? what it would cost to potentially to move it, raise it, move it, keep it on this property. I mean, >> this article just says >> all this has to be discussed. >> Not this article. No, this is just a feasibility study to find out if this
building what it what it will cost to support >> it really what what it would cost to you know first you want to identify uh areas within where we would be focused towards in regards to would the core
services be over on the library side would it be over on the parks and rec side where I mean I'm sorry the the school side I mean and then what happens with the rest of the building, what does it cost? Uh because as uh one of the the highlights that the select board has uh
they've they've asked us to uh look at the um the energy consumption and so we're looking at for instance the energy consumption to next door at the at the center on Shadic was for the past I
believe 14 months was $400 for the year. this town hall. I mean 37 shad seat was 52,000. So that's a data point that will obviously there's going to be a number of different data points included in that.
>> Yeah, I guess Fred this could be the first of a couple feasibility studies unfortunately and this we have to do something with this building. town the town made it clear um one of the options you know what we put in front of the town last
year um wasn't >> okay so >> held in good so trying to figure this spot out for us and what we can do here >> okay so whoever talks to it at town meeting needs to >> make sure people understand that this is
first of several >> potentially >> a year or two building is going to work so Right. Yeah. So >> So this is all part of a road map that we're going to be creating eventually >> and that's part of our discussion points.
>> But that's it's that's step one probably of any road map. >> You mentioned that the last study was 19. The last study was actually 21. >> That was the space need study. >> Yeah. Milton Town Hall building and space needs assessment LLB architects.
>> Which one? 2021. >> Is that the one with the the surveys when all of the employees were surveyed and all that? I >> then I'm mistaken. I thought >> I thought it was earlier than that, too. >> That that was that one you're talking about was 18 to 19. This is when we were
looking at DCU at the time. >> 18. 18 was when we were looking at >> I mean when we talked about moving when we when did we come on? >> 21. >> That was 21. >> I'm sorry. 21 there was three studies
done. This was this building. It was Indian Hill and >> DCU the big DCU building existing bank. Yeah. >> We were looking for a home. >> There was three done at that time. >> That's right. >> And this report from 21 went through
this entire building and basically summariz it and says that the HVAC HVAC systems in this building weren't weren't happening. They were weren't very good. So, >> they've gotten better.
>> You want the AC on? No window. It'll work great today. >> I know. >> If you can open it. >> Moving on. >> Um, article 14, we have um uh fiscal year capital items from uh from available funds. As you can see there
are uh number of different uh there are different departments uh with uh uh different different requests and with a total uh spending uh spending from free cash in the amount of $1,618,026
article 15 uh we have an ambulance replacement program uh ambulance vehicle replacement to to appropriate $525,000 from the uh it's the ambulance >> receipts.
>> Thank you. Uh the ambulance receipts fund uh and that um is looking so to replace the uh 2021 type 1 ambulance that has exceeded its useful uh useful life. Article six 16
>> just real quick on should the ambulance fund also be covered in the financial policies >> like a balance it's not >> the fund the ambulance fund >> it's not a revolving fund so we never talk >> it's a receipt reserve for appropriation
>> yeah I'm just curious it should be in that policy at all >> since we never actually see balances of it anywhere >> we can't spend the money without it going on town meetings though Okay. >> Um, here we have article 16. Uh, Robin,
correct me if I'm wrong here, please, but this is uh this is to retrofit uh the proposed new new fire engine. >> This No. So, there's an we had a $1.3 million article in 2025. He hasn't spent
all of that yet. There's some funds left in it. He said we could take 175,000 of it because he knows he won't need it. He's going to retrofit the fire engine with the remaining funds in that article. So this money, the 175,000 is going to go back into cap state. So that's the vote to place it back into
cap state. If there's more money remaining in the fall after he retrofits, we'll take that back as well. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> You mentioned that with this current fire engine that it might not cost the 1391 and then you'll have that same thing taking place next. Yeah, we'll take a look at all the articles in the
fall and resend. What? Then >> it's better than an overage, put it that way. >> Exactly. >> Article 17. Speaking of rescending, um here we have uh two previous town meeting votes uh for two separate projects. One being PAS, one being
well. Um, and we have uh uh the authorization, the amount that was issued uh and that will that includes a a total of $99,741 $74,151. Um that will um
uh that uh is is being rescended. Article 18. Uh this is uh the class and comp study uh for for the town in which uh it's it's schedule A with permanent full and part-time employees. Uh I got
rid of it and uh below the grid you have uh all the positions that are highlighted and specified in each in each area as you go down the different and the different grades. Uh then you have
schedule B which would be uh hourly. You have on call meeting clerks. You've got civilian traffic regulators uh in in in schedule B. Uh that also uh it also includes um uh lead counselors uh
preschool program uh COA van driver uh special uh special course coordinator for pox and wreck uh preschool special coordinator schedule B2 temporary seasonal employees
also uh different areas with uh seasonal highway laborers, engineering technician and um number of different uh seasonal equipment operators and we have got schedule D fire department on call um hourly rates there
and again uh here you underneath that you've got the the grades and the specific positions that uh that are called out. Uh and then we have schedule C parks and reccks department for seasonal temporary feebased positions.
That's hourly. And below that grid you have uh the different um positions that are there and uh schedule C1 community education. Uh again underneath those you've got the
different grades with all of the uh the different positions. And um and article 18 amends the classification of comp plans for non-union and town employees uh for FY27 as Gary was talking about earlier with 2.5%
cost a colar increase uh covered by schedules A B1 B2 and D. Um and uh amends classification compensation plan for parks and wreck positions. Oh, I just lost my place.
Excuse me. Um, compensation pucks and wreck seasonal town employees effective at the close of uh of the town meeting and it's at the close of the town meeting because of the seasonal employees. Uh, so that will start at the close of town meeting and not July 1st. So,
an item later on our agenda is updating the CNC1. Is this reflecting that update or >> Yes. >> Yes. So, should we have the discussion on that update now or >> Sure. You'd like >> I'm chair because if we're voting the warrant to close the warrant and it's
updated in the warrant sense to me. >> Okie dokie. >> Going from efficiency. I love it. >> Oh, I'm like going to the dawn. Where where should I go? Um okay. So, um this
is just some standard housekeeping. Um the last time we updated uh the C and C1, um we had done it for many, many years to get us up to the uh $15 an hour
um state minimum wage. So, um, this we've done some research over the last couple of years, um, and we there's definitely some positions especially towards the end of the um the grades um
that the higher grades that um for us to be more competitive and to be able to get um staff and some of these towards the end are uh more certified. um for us to have a competitive wage uh against DCR, other recreation
departments and other just you know private organizations uh we really did did need to look at increasing those uh prices. So um or sorry wages. So um the other piece of it as well is I know
we're just kind of looking at the grades here but up on the actual schedule itself um we are trying to do a standard standardization um across the the board. Um that's one of the things in the class and comp study that uh they had spoken about. Um
so in the past our previous steps uh for C uh only went up to step five. So, we would be increasing that out to 10. Um, we also do have a lot of staff um in the middle ranges that end up sticking
around for quite some time. So, some of them are at that uh frozen rate. Um, so this would allow us to give them that increase um and more easier uh capacity. Um, and then let me see
on C1, uh, which is a community education, uh, those only went out for three steps. So again, we mimicked and went all the way out to 10. um and um again use that uh
1.7 um% increase across um each of the lines to ensure that that's increasing appropriately. So, like I said, it's pretty standard. Um it's just an update that we're doing
um for those main reasons. a for the retention um and uh to be able to make us more competitive in the field when we're hiring for the summer seasonals because that is a challenge to hire for those roles sometimes um and then also
to assist with that standardization. >> Thank you. >> So, so I just go back I understand they're going to 10 steps. I support Yep. support that. Did we also then re um change the base salaries for these
different steps too because we didn't do that with the other comp grid other than the 2 and a half%. >> Yes. >> I just wondering if we have par with the rest of the town employees of what we did. >> We started at the 15 last year. >> Yeah, it was the same that it was last year. So it does the main step does
start at 15. Um but we did increase the percentages um for C specifically so that we could get to that place um to be able to give them uh a little bit of a higher rate. So as we go down the grades
um step two goes up by 3%. Um three and four go up by 4%. Uh five 6 7 go up by five. Uh 8 and 9 8 9 and 10 and 11. Oh, and 12, they all go up 6%. So, um, we
did try to bump those up because the median standard for a like we'll say aquatics director, which is a grade 12, is around 27. um which >> basically if we're doing the same if
it's more mimic closely mimics what we're doing with the town employees or grades and steps and the and this >> yeah it typically doesn't that's why our our town plays are on schedule A so it's a much more standard schedule um so this
schedule like the between steps I think is >> how much >> it's not two and a half. It's It's like one, >> what is it? >> Yeah. One and three/4. >> So, it's just a different It's not So, it is not in line with I guess the rest
of the the full-time schedule A employees. It's designed specifically for >> seasonal seasonal >> seasonal employees. So, >> okay, >> these are staff that usually work for anywhere between seven to 10 weeks about in the
summertime. That's about it. Um, okay. And it works out there such a big discrepancy between like a the snack shack operator and a camp director >> to fit it all in one grid. That's why
you have to go 6% on some of those things. We don't mimic that on the town side. Not 6%. I think this will carry us forward for several years with the new the step system out lining up more with the the rest of the >> that's the hope unless we get that $20
minimum wage happening. So then we'll have to go back to a process we had been doing the past five years uh before that happened. So >> I don't believe they were part of the salary study though that we did with our call. >> They were not. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Any other questions? Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. 19 >> 19. >> Thank you.
Um Okay. Um, article 19, uh, capital stabilization def fund to save, uh, free $876,22 from free cash to the capital stabilization fund. uh that will require
um requires that amount equal to at least 1% of the total general fund transferred annually into the cap uh cap stay with uh uh several capital purchases as you was was reflected earlier anticipated coming years um for
some of the the we required to fund some of the projects um and the capital stabilization fund uh at the end of FY27 should have approximately $6 million in it uh um as
a balance. Uh article 20 debt exclusion stabilization fund the amount of $300,000 uh from from certified free cash that would be transferred can be added to the property tax bill beyond the limits.
um for defayraying those costs uh by use of the debt exclusion stabilization fund uh reduces the cost of debt passed onto property tax payers. Um this article will add $300,000 to the fund. The fund expected at the end of FY27 to have
$444,26.92 in it. >> Uh quick question on that. Is there a policy on what we should put into that fund each year? Is is that part of the do >> you have to put in enough money to cover the debt? You can't vote to to pay for
the debt if we don't have a balance and they're reflective of that. Plus, we're trying to fill that up right for down the road for Shaker Lane. >> So, these are for the existing debt excluded items, police station, Russell Street, >> Middle School, >> middle school. That debt lines up in
four years. The town is going to pick up the last two years and we're building up. You notice we're putting in 300. We're only going to use a hundred something because that we're leveling the debt service right now to $900,000
per year to the impact to the taxpayer. That drops off totally the last two years. Okay. >> It's the same kind of exercise we're going to be doing with Sha Lane once we start building that fund up by like
500,000 is taking enough each year to peg something in the future so we don't have tax spikes. You keep it level and keep it going down. I was mostly curious if there was we had part of the policy that stated that we have to put some minimum
amount in each year or is it you're saying it's just enough to cover >> you could you could have just allowed it it's like a mortgage allowed >> right >> play it out by doing this we're actually in effect paying your mortgage >> it's hard to put it in policy because
the right >> okay that's that's all good >> was established to do it to minimize the impact of the tax eyeire And what the treasurer does is tries to keep it from having a tax by
>> that's all. Okay, I understand. Thank you. >> Um, if you can, Mr. Chairman, article 21, so the next article, uh, the the use of the debt exclusion stabilization fund. Can you I'm not familiar with this one. If you can, it's passed on to the
property tax taxpayers also. It's using inside revenues to pay outside debt basically. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, and is that the whole amount of of the excluded debt for
>> No, we're bringing it down to 900,000. >> Oh, I see. That's right. You told him that. Okay. Thank you. So, it's a million one. It's a million1 a million dollars and 1,000 something >> and we've been holding at that 900,000 I think for the past three years. Thank
you. Okay. So, we can go on to article 22. Uh stabilization fund vote to the transfer the sum of $100,000 from certified free cash. Um uh that's part of the financial
management policy that requires at least 5% of the operating budget be maintained the stabilization fund with a maximum of 10% uh with a contribution of at least $100,000. Um and uh and this will add the $100,000 to the fund and uh at the
end of FY27 a balance will be $4,724,439. Article 23 um town matching funds to community preservation fund. This is a transfer in the amount of uh uh $465,155
from certified free cash uh to represents a supplemental addition to the approximately uh the the C the CPA 1% CPA search charge and um that uh I
believe we have >> effective 2% right >> we're effectively matching 1% >> exactly that's in our policy value. >> I remember that discussion. >> Yes. >> Uh which moves on to article 24 which highlights um different community
preservation uh proposed projects and uh here they're split into two years uh for FY26 and FY27. This was uh uh something I've never seen before, but that's but I thank the finance director and town
council for for working out this strategy of and the items that are for FY26 are uh you can see in the top top part uh the 60,000 the 45,000 35,000 the 20,000 those are for really
time-sensitive uh projects uh in order to be uh done that have to be done prior to uh July 1st that really should should get done like says herbicide treatments for invasives. Uh and then we move on to
for fiscal year 27 and there's a number of different uh projects that have been proposed um and uh uh for FY27. >> Are these up-to-date numbers? I thought they were asking for less for the boardwalks.
>> Those are the numbers Carolyn gave me on Friday. So, >> okay. >> I don't have anything else other than that. >> So, they are up to date is the answer. >> Is there anything different in here from what we went over? >> I didn't have these numbers at all. So,
>> but the the project itself without put out the numbers there, nothing's changed. We still have all those open space things, historical markers. >> Yeah. Um, >> you had gravestone preservation before. >> Anything about that?
>> No, I don't know. I think gravestone preservation was one, but it's changed to the veterans monument at the common. That's one of them that's changed from last year. And she said historical markers was what they were doing this year as well. >> Is that the ones at the border with
other towns? The historical markers? No. >> Not that I know of. No, that's for this the 9,000 is for the cemetery, the gravestones. >> The hund is something that I haven't seen before.
>> Yeah, it's new this year for sure. Yeah. >> They all voted it. CPC voted. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Article 25 uh MAR bus fee schedule that uh the use of the uh of the the
funds uh there are amendments to the use of the funds um for indirect uh for all direct and indirect services the operation for the COA transportation services uh which eliminates existing restrictions that prevent the use of such fees for payment of indirect costs
associated with administrative costs and eliminates the requirement to provide reports to MART which is a contractual obligation. Um article 26 DPW um
uh it's uh uh repairs uh repairs to private ways. Um the vote is to resend the prior acceptance of master journal law chapter 40 section 6C which authorizes which authorize the town to appropriate money for the removal of
snow and ice from private ways and deletes chapter 183 from the town general bylaws which governs a town repair and maintenance to private ways in town. So um this is uh when not plowing private ways anymore. >> Correct.
That's it's good. >> And not doing minor repairs. >> Correct. >> Not guess. >> Which which basically never happened. But >> I used them once. >> Oh, did you really? Oh, I stand correct. >> Up to $75. I think you can
>> I stand corrected. >> Article 27. Um this is a fee schedule that uh need needs to be uh put in place for weights and measures fee schedule. Uh since uh our arrangement with the
Northern Middle Sist Council of Government has changed to a contractual relationship with uh the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with uh the um uh the division of uh weights and measures. uh
we have to have a a a fee schedule in place uh for the uh for for charging uh our local uh proprietors and this is really reflecting upon what it is c what we are being charged with the state. So we are
not adding on any any 30% administrative costs or anything like that. It's re it's really basically a pass through and this is uh what we need to do. Um and uh let me see.
Okay. Um and here we have article 28 from the town clerk. Transient merchants bylaw uh amends uh the the bylaw to certify that transient merchants permits are issued uh or denied by the town clerk.
Um >> this this was a comment from the attorney general. Okay. >> Say that again. >> It was a comment from >> I know that part with the >> what? Okay. When what was he what comment
>> by the town clerk was at the words by the cler? >> So when the so when the attorney general reviewed and approved this bylaw from previous um town meeting the attorney general suggested but did not require that we identify who um
issues or denies the permits. >> Okay. I don't know on third. >> All right. Article 29, uh, permits and license delinquent taxpayer bylaw. Uh, it this is to amend the existing, um,
bylaw by striking for not less than a 12-month period. Uh, the way it currently works is there is there is no notice or action that could be taken uh, for at least 12 months. uh before for any delinquent uh um real estate taxes
or anything like that. And we felt that that uh um we recommend that uh this be amended uh as uh as presented. >> So this means if I'm a day late paying my taxes, they can report me >> for you. It's an hour. >> I'm just
>> You could get a notice saying you >> No, no, no. Um, so the the treasurer has to issue a list of delinquent taxpayers and does that periodically throughout the year. That has to happen first and an opportunity for a hearing has to
happen before you can exercise your rights under this. So it's not you're an hour late. We got you. >> I was just trying to clarify if there should be something that more clearly states when you get on the list if it's not after 20 12 months, right?
Whenever you piss Robin off, you know, I I learned not to do that a long time ago. >> You could be on the list within an hour is what you're saying >> in a minute. >> It gives flexibility. It gives flexibility to the office. >> Yeah. Got it. I think it's important.
>> Article 30, uh, amend prior town year town meeting clean lakes revolving fine article. Uh uh this uh substitutes uh uh the conservation commission for the clean lace committee as the agency authorizes
spend from the fund. Um that was through uh the work of the uh through the select board. Article 31 seconds. So >> Robin or Tom Weber, can we like article 25
go back >> and article 30? Can we format them the same? Like you have the table establishes AB through G. Yeah. and maybe flip the table so it's a little easier to read
like you did a along the column and then you have more of an explanation to do instead of having this >> little cheesy column here. >> Yeah, we haven't gotten to the that level of >> work yet. But yeah, >> set up 30 the same way. Just
>> you got it. >> I think I do that. >> Okay. Uh, article 31. Um, this is the authorization to for the sale of 242 King Street. And this is authoriz the select board to dispose of
the land and building located 242 King Street. This is the White House that is in front of the recently completed uh uh water treatment plant. >> Is this is a select board article? I didn't think we own the property. I thought the >> we don't
>> water >> water does though which falls under us >> right >> we didn't >> water does yes >> so why but what why are we asking for it to be I this is like a declared surplus basically >> correct and dispose of it
>> it is weird language dispos >> we don't know why are we declaring it surplus I guess >> but it's through the water department it's there >> why aren't the water commissioners do like like doing it then >> I mean I guess it should be their article theory. >> So the so
>> I wasn't aware of this. So the water department has the care custody and control of this. >> They purchased the property. >> I think we ever we had no we had no money in it. We had no say in it. >> The sewer department. >> We paid for it but
>> purchased it, right? >> We have debt on it on the land purchase. >> Yeah. And that's supposed to go towards >> the store department, but the town is paying itself >> with that information. Let me >> I guess I would like to see the sale of
that property, that house, if that's what happens. Are we is the town getting the money or is that money going to We are getting the money >> paying down the debt. >> So it's >> it says the proceeds will be used to repay the town for expenses and incurred related to the town sewer project.
>> Okay. So what is our article? >> Well, I know the planning board has been the water department has been in front of the planning board to ask for permission to put in a driveway. We haven't been in front of >> Okay. >> the planning board to do that. So it's just kind of
>> Yeah. Some consistency. >> Yeah. >> Would be preferred. >> And I I know I asked you, Robin, to put that uh >> Yep. >> repayment in there for the town expenses. Can you just run that past Nick so he doesn't forget
that that's what he agreed to do, >> please? >> Sure. Can >> I The water commissioners agreed to do that? Water and so commissioners agreed. >> Yeah, I think any of us would have trouble speaking to this article without
knowing more detail. >> The water commissioners >> um >> don't volunteer us, right? Where did where did this article originate from? Who proposed the article? Anyone know? >> Wasn't us. It
>> was just on the list. I think >> the list. >> It had to be. >> We had a list. >> Light and water. >> I would assume the light and water commission >> had to be. I mean, >> okay. >> The first time it's in front of us. Correct. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So, small diversion here.
Now that I'm looking at this and realizing that the orchard house sale will also have to specify where the funds will go, which we haven't even talked about yet, which makes me think we're not ready to do that.
There's too many things that are not pinned down to finish in a week. >> Okay? >> Because I know someone's going to ask, well, what do you do with the money? And if we want to use it, I don't know. We probably can't use it for the orchard. There's going to be a discussion with town council on what we can use the
funds for, how we direct it. Right. >> Right. >> Nothing that we've even discussed yet. >> You can do that off the top of your head. Right. >> Yeah. It's just whether or not it's accurate. >> That's an excellent answer. >> How much do you charge?
>> Business as usual >> for advice or for accurate advice. >> Yeah. Right. $50. >> Um, so yeah, so I think based on that I I think it's probably best that we do not have this orchard sale on the
article on the warrant on this warrant >> because there was discussion about creating a stabilization account for the orchard >> for the orchard for another bridge between leaser leis >> well or or just for repairs to that car that you're going to come up eventually, right? >> It would be nice to be able to deposit
it. I think. Yeah, I think we're going to have to unfortunately we're going to have to wait. So, >> okay. >> Makes me a little sad, but it's probably for the best. >> Don't worry. We'll, you know, we'll work you right back in. >> I just I feel like I'm letting I feel like I'm letting people down.
>> No, he is. >> Just means you hang around. >> Just about >> just means you're hanging around with us long ago. Matthew, >> I won't. Don't worry. There you go. >> Um, okay. Last but not least, the uh
article 32 citizens petition to amend uh the proposed petition is to amend uh the town's general bylaws to include reporting requirements for pox and wreck uh programs revolving funding. And that'll be it. That one's um
>> Tom and I have been working um looking at this one and we'll probably have a town sponsored draft for us to consider >> like a select board sponsor. >> Correct. >> Okay.
>> Madam Chair, I make two comments. >> Yes. >> George S2. Uh, finance. Mr. Chairman, is this $500,000
for Shaker Lane that is going to be put towards paying the annual debt? Is it in this budget or when is it supposed to start? >> It's $2 million, George. >> Oh, it's 2 million. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. When is that supposed to start and is it in this budget? >> 2 million is in this budget. >> It's in this budget. Yeah. >> Okay. That answer one. The other was the town administrator said that the energy cost for this building was 52,000.
>> Yes, sir. >> You said that the center was 4,000. >> 400. >> I mean $400. You have to add the $400 to the credit of the solar they got on
that building to give you the total cost of the energy for that building. You have to add that together because they're getting credit on the electric bill every month for the amount of energy that is generated through that.
So if they're getting $2,000, then it's $2,000 whatever the amount is, you have to add it to what they actually pay to light and electric. >> So, what I'm Mr. I'm sorry, sorry, >> you're saying like you you but I think
you you've included the solar like the net metering cost that's included in the $400 that you quoted. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I think >> but I think what he's saying is that you get a net cost, but they're giving you a credit off your bill for the actual
savings of the solar panels being there, >> right? >> Which is probably detailed on the bill. No, it's probably detailed. It may >> So you would have to add that together to say how much it cost for the year to operate that building. >> Why would we add it if it's not costing us that much? Why would we add it? >> If we're only spending $400, why would
we add money back >> for $400? >> We are. >> We are. Yeah, but you got the solar up there. So if you had that building didn't have the solar on it, if this building had solar on it, you'd be running it cheaper, too, right? >> I guess that's the point we're trying to
to show. >> Yeah. Well, that's my point. I I think the people need to know that that building isn't being operated with $400 of electric being paid. It has solar on it and they're getting credit every month. I'm the first one that has solar
in those solar. It would be good to see what that the true cost to run that building is. >> Without the credits, >> there are no credits. >> We don't get any credits. The the town doesn't net meter. >> So the
>> the town doesn't have a meter on here. >> The town doesn't have a does not net meter. The meter does not run backwards for town buildings. That was part of the agreement with Littleton Electric to allow them to put more larger solar arrays on. Your solar array is limited
so that your meter won't run too much backward. >> Question is how you how you come up with paying the $400. >> That's what the bill that Littleton Electric sends us over the course of the 14 months. >> That's the bill. That's the sum of all. >> We don't have meters on no buildings.
>> No, no. No. There's an electric meter. I don't think there's a separate solar meter that you can track that runs. You don't get SRAX. You don't get any of that on town buildings. >> We can calculate. We know how much energy we used and we can we could try
to come up with an estimate based on what the electrical rate here is and the energy use is over there so that we could compare. It would have cost if we didn't have the solar it would have cost X. That's what you're looking for. >> Pretty significant. That's what I'm looking for. >> Okay.
>> That's a good idea. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, let's just put solar on this building and call it a day. >> There you go. >> So, we'll make my It's probably compatible with those parts.
>> So, we are uh minor edits to this basically. I mean, the the nuts and bolts of this is what it is. It's everything we talked about in the budget. There's no big changes from what we discussed
already. Is everybody comfortable to make recommendations at this point or should we meet yet again to make recommendations? >> We need to meet before it goes to print >> which is the first >> which is the first.
>> So we do have we do have meetings. >> We have a week >> we have a week >> this week. >> We'd like your recommendation so that we can make our our decision. put it that way. I if you guys >> I'm comfortable with recommending
the financial stuff maybe except for article 13 because of that $100,000 till you have your discussion but um in article two because there's nothing in it yet. >> Right. I I don't have that on my list to
do. So I I would make proposal here and entertain a motion to the finance committee to recommend article three the operating budget, article four, LCTV, article five, the revolving funds. >> Mhm.
>> Article six, the 27 water budget, article seven, the 27 sore budget. Article eight, the amendment to the FY26 sore budget.
>> Uh, article nine, the water retained earnings. >> Article 10, maybe we can hold that until we find out what the money would be, >> what they're going to use the money for. >> Article 11.
So, skip 10. We go to article 11, deposit to the school stabilization fund. 12, the withdrawal from the fund. 14, capital from free cash. 15, the ambulance. 16 to resend
175. >> Do we have a working ambulance? >> Barely. >> I mean, seriously. >> Seriously. We We have one that's not working. >> The new one you mean? >> Yeah. Two weeks. >> New one is not working. for two weeks. Present >> Steve 13.
>> I thought it went right back in. >> 13 will hold. >> I'm sorry. >> It's got to go back. >> $100,000 feasibility discussion. >> 16 rescending the 175,000. 17. Descending the debt prior debt. 18. The
comp study. 19. Capital stabilization deposit. 20. Debt exclusion stabilization deposit. 21. The debt exclusion stabilization withdrawal 22 general stabilization deposit 23
>> trans okay transfer to Y go ahead >> three CPC deposit from free cash 24 the CPC projects 25 mark revolving fund
27 Weights and measures fees 30 um clean lakes article from last year. It's changing the
clean lakes committee to the conservation committee. >> Do we care? I care. But I mean from a finance committee. Do we care? >> Put a name on it. >> Committee. >> I know it says it's a select board finance committee article. So if you're not going to make a motion on it, it should just say it's a select board
article. 31 the sale of uh the surplus of 240. >> Let's hold off on that until we understand who is whose article it is. >> All right. What it is. Yeah. Yeah. >> Everybody get that?
>> Did you do 13? >> No. Because 100,000 for your conversation about the feasibility study. >> Okay. >> Can I see the one you took off? >> This one. Unless you want to do your discussion now. >> I do not.
>> No, I haven't. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Don't worry. >> I obtain a motion. >> It's a It's a motion. >> You move it. >> I move that we approve all the articles that Steve just mentioned.
>> And a second. And I wash my hands of the whole thing. >> Good. Move. by Rick. Second by Brad. All in favor? >> I >> I >> We're good. So 10 10 and 31 we need to discuss
>> 10 13 31 we held >> okay forthcoming probably not by next meeting >> right >> 28 and 29 they don't have anything to do with >> Florida 26 >> and one and two two we don't know
because we don't think we have any bills or we don't have >> I think we know we don't have >> we know we don't just recommend that or does that mean we just pass the whole pass that you just pass. >> Okay. >> So, we're doing everything three through
>> 31. Well, 3 through 30 except for >> I can I can list them. I think we've got 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 >> 27 >> Bear with me. >> 27 30 and that's all. And then >> that's the ones they >> then that's the ones they've approved. So we can do that motion first. Okay. Motion to
Motion to approve the warrant. >> Recommend. >> No, we >> are we approving the warrant yet? >> No, you're recommending the articles. >> We're just recommending articles because we still have to come back and decide on a few.
>> Okay. I think >> let's recommend the articles as read off by Madam Chairwoman Morris. >> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? >> I.
>> Okay. And so for the select board, that leaves us 26, 28, and 29 >> that are just exclusively ours. Yeah, >> we're holding people. >> Are there any questions about this 26 28 29? Are we ready to move forward on
recommending them? >> I'm ready. >> I don't think I can vote on 26. >> Oh, okay. >> That put us in a situation because you'd be doing it for the same reasons I would. >> You would. And then we don't have a quorum on that one. Yeah, >> but we
>> But your road is currently being cloud minded, isn't it? >> Yeah. So maybe you can vote. But so they stuck that repair in there. >> Oh, okay. >> So that's a tricky one. It's so >> You know, we should ask town council. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry.
>> It's okay. Um, so for article 26, the DPW private ways and repairs, my road is currently being plowed by DPW. So I assume I cannot recommend that article. >> He's on a private way >> because I'm on a private way.
>> Better safe than sorry. And Gary has had repairs done on his road. >> So I'm on a primary way as well, but mine we plow independently. Um but I've had repairs done on our road. >> So I don't it's just a weird scenario.
>> Yeah. So um the best advice is to to recuse yourself from the vote. >> So we don't have a quorum for that one. >> Okay. So we can vote 28. >> So we can do 28 29
11 years. >> Gary, can we get a motion to >> Sorry. >> I'm just thinking about that $75 11 years ago. >> I know you're reminiscing fondly. >> All right. What if
29? All right. >> Uh motion to recommend articles 28 and 29. >> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? >> I thank you. >> Um we could vote on 28
quickly. Um when we go to the charter committees meeting on the 30th >> on 26. >> 26. >> 26. You mean >> it's 26. All right. 26th that is >> but we didn't do 1 2 10 13th >> correct the 23rd.
>> Okay. So a week from tonight. >> Yeah. >> Can you make sure that that goes on the voting? >> We're going to the charter committee. >> More on it. Yeah. >> I heard you saying no. >> Have to remain articles. >> You're one's talking date, one's talking. >> Understood.
>> So you want on the agenda you would like >> articles 26, 28, and 29. No, just 26. >> 26. >> Just 26. >> Yep. >> And we won't have an answer on 10 probably. >> Um 10, 13, and 31.
>> Yeah, that'll leave 10, 13, and 31 >> blank for both of us, >> which may just have to be before the meeting, >> right? We'll just have to have it in the agenda. >> Oh, because we we won't get an answer before next Monday on those two. Okay. On those three, will we?
>> We don't want to meet with them. Oh, >> and then I guess depending on where we are on 32, I would add 32 to that list in case we can vote on that as well. >> Okay. So, 10, 13, 32,
26, >> and 26. >> No, 26. 26 is going to be next next Monday. 26 and I think go ahead and put 32 on next >> 26 and 32 >> in case we can pull it off.
>> Okay. >> All right. >> It's an it's pretty much administered. >> So we have two >> we have two to vote on. >> Should be an easy vote if the language. >> All right. >> Yep. >> That's the most financial I think.
>> That's a lot of financial. >> That is right. Is that the most we've ever had? >> Hold on. You guys have the Usually it's like >> I guess good. Good. >> We're good. >> Are you talking building tonight? Should I stick around? >> You won. If you can't, if you haven't
had enough of us yet, you can definitely I I'd love to hear some good talk. >> Okay. >> Do we need to vote the order? You need to order. >> Are we going to do that? >> Yeah. Which article? on the >> the the only order thing I would suggest
is that 26 be moved up because I think that's going to be it's going to generate >> you're looking for contentious about repairs. >> So they don't want to vote this. >> Correct. >> I mean there's going to be a small but vocal >> ranking. >> Hi Tom. >> So
>> uh question when you're >> okay. Um would you be in a position to vote one part of article 13 the the um >> fire engine? >> The fire engine. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. Right now. >> Yeah. Okay. >> What is this? >> You guys haven't adjourned yet, have you? >> No. >> We still have minutes. We >> article 13. >> Article 13. Do we have a motion to recommend the fire engine portion?
>> The 1 million 391. 91. >> So moved. >> Have a second. >> Moved by Fred, second by Rick. All in favor? >> I 131. We're okay. >> I recommend um
article 131. >> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? I. Thank you. Sure. All right. Order. >> Yeah,
>> I agree that 26 should probably begin. >> All right. So, 26 to after three. >> Well, do we want to maybe we want to keep like four through 14 as part of the consent agenda?
All of those seem relatively non-controversial and we could probably get through them on the consent agenda unless someone disagrees. >> You're saying move it up before three. >> No, I'm saying move it up to like number put it put put it right after 13.
>> Oh, >> or right after 14 for example. >> I see. >> Because it seems like >> it's all consent pretty much. I mean >> after the budget discussion usually things settle down. So we usually I mean so consent agenda doesn't have to go in
order. I'm concerned that >> it's a lot to change the article numbers. >> I'm concerned that if we move it after 13 folks are going to get think that it's going to take longer than it will and if they want to talk about it they're going to show up too late.
>> Um okay. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah sure. So we can put it earlier if you want to do that. It >> up to you but right now it's grouped with bylaw amendments. Yeah, >> we've been trying to put the more controversial stuff up front.
>> Okay. Yeah, >> I'm just reading through these articles. >> There's always a couple questions on finance, but >> there's a lot that going to be on the consent agenda. >> Yeah, I was just looking at this. You might you'll have one or two people have questions, but this is going to move quickly. I I believe the finance articles, which is literally all of
them. So, >> can we leave it leave it like it is though? >> I think we might be able to get away with it. Are we going to add um notes about child care like we did last time? >> Yes. >> And >> and shuttles buses. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> I guess we can close them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. uh subject to addition of one more article, >> right? >> That was disgusting. >> 32. Wouldn't it be wouldn't it just be a
change to 32? >> 32 is a citizens petition. So it stands as it stands. Yeah. >> So it probably should discuss it on Monday. >> Yeah. >> We'll close it on Monday. >> It's simple. It's a simple vote to close it. So
>> and order them on then, too, right? What? >> Order. >> Close an order at the same time. Right. >> If you were going to insert one, there's no point Monday. >> Yeah. >> And I would I would recommend that we assign the articles at a much later
meeting >> here because why would waste everybody's time? >> May 7th, >> we have >> All right. Yeah. No, I think that's fine. All right.
I have two minutes just to do minutes. Center around minutes. Um got great uh January 14th, 21st, 28th, February 4th, and February 7th. Have a motion to accept.
>> Second move by Rick, second by Sam. All in favor? >> I thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. have a motion to move by second by favor. >> Uh we can move forward with item uh six. I
think Mr. Bent is here. >> Great. >> Does anybody have any questions? >> Apologies for not recognizing you. >> Yeah. probably would have got you in a lot of room. >> It's fine. >> Good stuff. >> Thanks for your patience.
>> Is it though? >> Does anybody have any questions, concerns regarding >> Have you been sitting in on the meetings? >> I have not. I Okay. You know, >> and do you do you have experience with the with zoning? >> I I'm a I'm a professional engineer. I I
just recently retired. I've done my whole career. I've done water, wastewater, utility, civil infrastructure. So I I've been to a lot of different boards in my career, but not in Littleton. I've been I've lived in Littleton for 14 years now. So I just
I had a time because I travel a lot, but I like I said, I just retired. So >> Okay. Well, thanks. >> Thank you for >> Appreciate it. >> Bye, Tom. >> Did you have anything else you wanted to add? Uh I'm not sure what uh what you want me
to. Very informal. >> Yeah, very informal. >> Yeah. No, I'm I'm looking forward to it. I've always wanted to get involved in something and I and I looked into what was available for different boards and I I I think I have >> I had the experience to understand the different issues. I've gone back on the
website, looked at the different things over the last few years and I think I have the experience and you know to be able to provide some input. Are you going to ask me to say what's your favorite color? >> I'll go with blue.
>> You're in. >> We haven't heard any negative from the current board. Correct. Is there any appeals or anything? So, no. >> Uh, it was madam chair, the chairwoman uh was very supportive. >> Okay, that was the next question. >> Great.
>> They need bodies. >> Yeah, this is great. >> Thank you for stepping up. Thank you very much for participating. move that the select board vote to appoint William Bent to the zoning board of appeals as alternate member for a term expiring June 30th, 2028.
>> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? >> I. >> Thanks. Go ahead and get sworn in >> at the office. >> So, what's my next step? >> Go to the town clerk and she'll swear you in. >> Not right now. She's not up there.
>> No. No. No. Okay. Okay. >> During business hours. Yeah. All right. Thanks. >> Before the first meeting, I guess. Okay. Thank you. >> I always let people just know. >> Thank you. >> All right. I think I think we're now caught up
through now. We need to go back to five for members updates and public input. >> Gary, we'll start with members updates. Anything? >> No. Once again, congratulations to uh
the uh a place where you couldn't really even field a hockey team years ago to where we didn't even have a hockey team years ago to this is a outstanding accomplishment and uh look forward to um many more future years of success and uh
congratulations also to the robotics team. I don't want to forget they've they've been continue to do outstanding um in all their events. >> Okay, nothing for me. No, I'm sorry. >> That's Mark. >> Um, so I wanted to um
uh the town clerks uh gave me a list. Um we had three veterans pass away um in March. Uh Lawrence Fischer who was 95 and from the air force veteran, Emanuel Maderos, who's also an Air Force who was
90 and David Wilson an Army veteran of age 57. I uh just announced um and thank them for their service. Um a couple weeks ago I attended the legislative breakfast in Clinton.
There's a lot of push to update the undesated funds we get through the uh they're still doing the big their big bill they're trying to push to reform procurement and everything. I don't know what headway they're making. Um, one
interesting thing is the cannabis regulations have changed. So, you can now do social cannabis. So, we can adopt that or not if we choose. If you do, there's three different kinds. And, um, it allows cannabis at different events, >> hookah bars and things like that.
>> Yes. Or Yeah. Um, and they have to get an H HCA with us and all that. Um but no one can if we don't adopt the regulation there are no social in Littleton. Um on
Saturday I attended the CPTC meeting which is the planner planners organization training. They uh a lot about affordable housing and um lips and lus which are what we need to do to get like new apartments and things on our
subsidized housing inventory. Um, if you want to get into acronym soup and everything, I highly recommend following this process. Um, I've attended, well, MHP and Chap have had affordable housing events in the past couple weeks. Um what I've
learned through the last one I attended um POW which is a national affordable housing developer um talked about some of the projects going on and um from the sounds of it from the different meetings
I've been to it sounds like the town for any affordable housing project will be in expected to contribute about 10% of the cost of the project um to show that the town is committed and then that opens up the doors for a lot of the um
the state and uh tax credit funding. Um and affordable housing projects are not cheap. So um Thursday I'm going into Boston to attend an event um sponsored by Chapa um for the a bill that's going
through called the house and now called Yiggby for its Yes. ing God's backyard which allows multif family by right on religious uh property. So there's a lot of this is part of the push by the state to open up more housing.
I also um wanted to thank everyone who attended mini golf over the weekend. Apparently the library was quite a mad house on Saturday. I heard there were over 200 golfers through there on Saturday. All told, the the event raised just over $16,000. So, thank you for
everyone that participated and sponsored and whoever outbid me on some of those things, I want to really track them down. So, >> all right. Thank you. Um, I'll just add that um I'll be in office hours Thursday, April 2nd from 1:30 to 3. And
that's all for me. Uh, we'll take public comment >> if if I may. Madam Chair, Mark, you bring up when you you brought up the cannabis um just to get ahead of that. We probably somewhere probably after town meeting that should probably be on our agenda to set up decide what we're
going to do because it's before it act get ahead of it if we want a policy to allow it in certain circumstances. I don't know enough about it. So I don't think any of us do. >> But we should probably Yeah. >> find out what the state's doing.
>> That's all. >> Okay. public comment. Going once, going twice. >> Moving on to seven. We've already discussed the
Orchard House. Um B, discussion regarding the potential transfer of stateowned roadways to municipal ownership. So, uh, as part of the 550 development, there was a lot of, um, effort on
whether we wanted to take ownership of the of, um, King Street in front of that property, so for parking and whatnot. Um, I been thinking we need to figure out if we want to have a larger
discussion and a real plan on what if we want to take ownership of any or all of the state roads in in the common area and and have a more formal process and decision. I volunteered BPAC to do this. They haven't run away from it yet. They
just need help and guidance on what we want to do. we like we should look and see what the costs, what the benefits are and make a real informed decision on what we want to do and not do it peace meal or reactively. So while we have a chance
we should if we want if we're at all thinking about it I think we need to do it more formally and um more publicly and not reactive. >> So I don't know what others feels others feel about it. I don't know how to kick it off. I don't know how to make it happen, but
other than volunteering someone else to do it. >> What's the um what's the state allow? Do they allow you to just break up 110 for instance for a little portion just our common? >> Yes. >> And then if you look at most they pick
their plow up and continue on and drop it. I mean >> I don't know how it actually works in practice, but if you look at around a lot of the towns around us, um they have sections that are town I've seen >> Air does it from basically the Yeah,
>> Actton has a couple different sections. 27 through Actton Center and 111 through there, West Actton Village are both town roads. You'll see signs, but >> so so the impetus for this essentially that the only reason I've heard is so
far is that we could put parking on the King Street side of those commercial buildings. >> Well, there's parking. We can control whether the sidewalks are there. We can control the speed limit potentially. Uh not sidewalks, crosswalks, I'm sorry. Um we get more say in crosswalks, bike
lanes, that type of stuff that we don't currently get necessarily or it's very very hard to do. >> But if we do the bike lanes, it's going to be for the little section that we took over and there going to be bike lanes to nowhere. Can you meter it? >> But we'd be allowed to meter it, too. >> Meter it.
>> Meter meter those spots on camp. If you don't, the residents will end up taking them all. The idea to have them there would be for the people to use commercially. Correct. >> Yeah. >> I I'm not I don't know what the benefits versus the drawbacks are, but we should
if we're go if we're thinking about doing it, we should do it more formally than >> haphazard. >> I think giving it to BPAC is great, but they will need some help. >> Yes. >> Getting information from the state and understanding the cost of owning that
section road. Yeah, I agree. So, >> I mean, but I have no definitely no objection to looking into it and I think it's a good idea to try to understand what we're getting into if we do it. >> Do you have uh any comments or ideas,
Mr. Dugen? Um just from the few conversations I've had with with DOT and exp uh which uh they uh um they are they're open to it. Uh they
would prefer not to do it but they are open they are open to it. uh we would have a maintenance agreement with with DOT and uh we were very specific uh on on the call and making sure that that one thing that I did not want to take I
would not recommend the select board taking on is the uh the maintenance and everything about the overhead lights the the the traffic lights and things of that nature. Uh they had assured us that that was not the case. It was merely it
was the maintenance agreement was really reflecting upon areas that uh the state DOT specifically does not have uh the capacity to express to the select
if during an inclement weather event they don't have tow trucks because they consider them state roads and parking um >> prohibited anyway >> right >> so it's just like whether it be 495 or 119. Um, so we would have to have an
agreement uh with them as part of the maintenance agreement. Uh, but uh to be able to tow the vehicles out during that time so that they can plow the road. Uh, the other the other thing is that they wanted to uh
um but they are open they are open to to the discussion if this is something that we wanted to do. uh we would not be responsible for the for the maintenance or anything like that for the road. Uh and um >> it wouldn't be >> No, it was it was something that that's
that's how the way uh we in >> the snow and sand >> we understood that >> snow and sand. >> So I thought there was a separate >> but they're doing the snow >> there's a separate funding source for town controlled state roads. It's not normal chapter 70 money or whatever.
There's another there's like 71 or something. We need a lot more information on this before. >> Right. Yeah. I mean, but it was it was really at a 10,000 foot level conversation. >> Um with Yeah. >> And that was really centered around whether the project itself at this at
first at the first stage, the retail project, whether that was going to be uh they were going to incorporate the on the on street parking or not. And they ended up they did not incorporate the on street parking because in order for them to do that to have a to have a bike lane they would have to make uh they would
have to take some of the green space and they would have to make a wider uh uh sidewalk slash and uh also bike lane that's uh right in the same path uh of people are walking instead of along the
street. So it was really left at that. Um we are meeting with DOT tomorrow about 119 the bridge deck and I can um the same the same lead on that conversation tomorrow is also uh uh
was also the person we were talking about in taking taking on care custody control of sections of uh of King Street. So happy to uh coordinate something that there would be a more of a a detailed uh conversation with uh
with uh with Mark and uh whoever whoever else she would like and Tony and I and and Maron would be on it also. So uh we can arrange that to get more information. >> I I mean although a lot of the surrounding towns have done it, there must be a reason they're doing it. It
would be nice to figure out what they've learned from this experience too, right? And just get a more thorough understanding of whether we want to or not. So, >> okay. More more information to come.
>> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> 119. They're they're are they going to put um if it happens uh the bridge they're going to put septic piping there even though it's that's tomorrow >> that's E
>> oh it's still coming up. >> Yep. All right. Sorry. >> We can talk about E now if you want. >> Silly things you want. >> Nothing else is uh nothing else has been in order tonight. >> Well, I don't I want to steal from somebody else. >> Um we've got we were going to talk about the um >> I didn't see a second page.
>> Municipal facilities. Oh, I'm so sorry for you. Um, I think no, let's talk about 119. It's dubtales nicely with what we were just talking about. Uh
so tomorrow uh as you as uh we submitted uh in the packet uh there was a succession of the emails that that were exchanged between the the town team and DOT uh with and uh just
recently reached out to us to uh uh appreciating our our advocacy um to include the utilities and uh they had some questions that their team would like to ask our team. So Lisa was able to coordinate uh such a meeting for
tomorrow. >> Good. >> Uh I think it's at noon time. Uh there's there's a team's meeting. Uh so they uh they're well aware and uh responsive. >> Great. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. My question was just thinking of the future. If you just put a a sewer pipe to specs on if they're going to expand that bridge or completely redo it, >> they're widening it right >> just to put it in there. It can be blocked in both ends until the point comes maybe in the future if we're going
to be running it >> right >> up that way then we've got it already done. That's the only I know they they're going to do water anyway. I'm assuming >> correct. There'll be two lines. >> I was just curious if they >> if that was part of it. But it it definitely >> even though we don't have existing sewer
running that way just to have the pipe there already we wouldn't have to go through >> right and and that was and they were uh so that is beyond their original scope and they recognized uh some areas from our original conversations months ago
with areas in terms of widening it um uh sidewalks on both sides things of that nature. >> Um we also asked for that. So, but they did express to us that there is a budget and they're trying to live within it. So, uh we'll see where this conversation
takes us. >> Okay, >> great. >> Um so, back to policy on use of bond finance municipal facilities. >> We uh currently and um have uh reached
out with uh uh the language the policy to bond council. We have not heard back yet. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, of uh looking at how we can uh to do that. Is that was that correct? >> Yes. Yes. We're waiting on comments from bond council. Rob and I are working with
them so we can get a a working draft over >> to bond counsel >> um to the to the board. Okay. Board's consideration >> with bond council's comments. >> Okay. Got it. Um okay.
Uh ICE, I don't have any updates on that tonight. um application from the Little Littleton Country Gardeners for May 9th coming every year, right? >> You got to keep an eye on them. They're trouble.
>> But there's no there's no other event planned. I I I know we have we got a pretty good calendar of events. >> Yeah. >> Um they weren't on that weekend, right? >> That was the only thing I was thinking, but >> can double check. >> That was that would be my only question.
want to double book the comment. >> Was that an email or was it? >> It was. Yeah. Here we go. May April 18th, May 16th. >> So, we're good. >> So, we're good. Yeah, >> I'm good. >> Okay.
Go ahead. Any questions, concerns? Nope. >> Um I don't just in the motion they Oh, it says set up on May 8th. So, okay. Okay, I'm good. >> Move that the select board vote to approve the use of the lower Littleton Common for the Littleton Country
Gardener's annual plant sale scheduled for May 9th, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. including setup on May 8th, 2026. >> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? I >> I now we move on to
town hall future timeline. >> Uh what we have done is we have uh looked at the um we've split this uh the feasibility plan town uh the the timeline for the feasibility study into
really two parts. uh we looked at uh the uh the timeline in regards to the actual feasibility study. Then we looked at the second part would be uh dependent upon the decision that the select board would like to move independent uh on the relocation uh planning and
implementation. So we've got between both uh the first the first part the the study itself we it would take between uh 9 and 12 months which would bring us uh to approximately a year from now in 2027.
And uh first of all would obviously be the uh the appropriation of town meeting for the feasibility study. Then we'd looking then what we would be looking at is to define uh the study uh scope including the potential renovation and
relocation options, public engagement um with uh uh with uh with residents within the community uh cost estimates, stakeholder interviews, space needs assessment uh and review of any historical documents that uh this would
uh this would take place. uh then go rolling that into uh late summer and the fall we'd issue the RFP and complete the selection process for the architectural and consulting firm
and uh then we would look to in the fall execute the contract uh to begin the feasibility study uh and then in close to summer of 27 the the firm would complete the feasibility study present its final findings depending on the on
on the findings whether it's something for uh this is something the select board would like to pursue then we would uh whether if we look at let's say if we're going to look to move uh then we
would identify a potential uh lease space or if we would not be moving then that would that search would be would transition into looking for swing space uh and then looking into further into the fall of 27. Uh then uh if we are
again going back to we would then need to be looking at town meeting to seek approval for lease funding uh and the disposition process and surplus process uh or uh the funding for the swing space in order for us where we're going to
what we're going to be doing to to stay. And uh then uh once that uh takes place then we would have uh to prepare the move move the new departments to whether it be that swing space or the potential
of uh of a new location. Uh but that potentially once we identify the location of of uh some someplace new then it's really then it would really take a a whole new it would extend the the issue
out further only because it would have to wait for the renovations of of that of that of that space. Uh, and so we're probably looking at um looking at 15 months between 15 months to 24 months to
before it's actually uh we're in and then we have no idea what the cost would be and I'm not even going to begin to estimate that estimate that. So that would be the potential uh road map with with the details we're looking at. So, I was thinking it made
sense for at least one, maybe two of us to sort of try to run point on this somewhat like we did with the orchard. >> Great. I'm I think this is a great solution to the log jam that we're in right now,
which is to take one step forward and talking about understanding how this building could be used is a great way to do that because then at least we're comparing this building's cost or renovation or whatever to moving or
building a new town hall. But often it feels to me like these studies are a solution looking for a problem and you end up with like the answer that you kind of started with expecting. So I would be um urge that you define you
know a couple of cases. Is there one where it's we spend minimal amounts on maintenance and updates to this building and stay here? Is there one where we say oh we're going to be here for another 20 years we need to invest in it. And is there one where we're like there's no way we're going to move. What's it going to cost to get out of here and into
another place? >> You know what I mean? Like >> I do >> force the force those consultants to actually do the work instead of just fitting our problem into where they think we should go. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean I wrote I wrote the the four things that I think the the average
citizen is going to want to know and that was building right here. whether it's in this entire building or broken off pieces of it that needs to be part of this um you know keeping the facade gutting it whatever building right here
in a new building in the footprint to some degree building right here on campus this might have to come down or maybe it maybe it turns into something else and town hall is going to be a lot smaller and it's maybe on the side over here and this becomes a parking um
buying a piece of land and building there or an existing piece of land that the town's already own and moving there and building. And lastly, the lease option or rental option going to a place that's already built uh speced out. And I think if the town knew
could, you know, if that could be part of the discussion where people all those questions were answered on what the costs of every one of those things would be and the timeline, some things can happen a lot quicker than others. >> Mhm. Obviously, you know, leasing it's a lot quicker potentially than going
through the whole build process, but um just I think the cost um and the feasibility of this building would solve a lot of problems. I think a lot of questions would be answered. That was it's always been my belief that that
was kind of the major sticking point in doing anything and it remains that way. So, um, now I think if we can just sit back and and allow this to play out, that's a longer timeline than I wanted to hear what you mentioned, what you said, but I I think it's important for the town to really get a good
understanding of what this is going to look like and is it even possible and at what cost? >> Well, it I mean >> I mean that's anything is possible if >> right but it's >> whatever you want here if whether you want apartments or you want you know renovated
office space. I mean, it can be done. I mean, you know, you you you know, you have the shell, but at the end of the at the end of the day, when we're looking at the dollar amount for whichever into what Matthew was saying, at the end of
the day, we're still staring at a new TBW building at 45 $50 million uh to do to do that. So, there's there are demands that are that are still out there that are on that are on us. Um and
um then then where do we go? >> Yeah. I like I said, I think being able to answer the public's questions with with some pretty hard answers and it may I don't know. I I think that this
community may say the the most expensive p thing might be the thing they want to do. I don't know. And if it's staying here and gutting this entire building and redoing it and that's the most expensive, but that's what the town wants. Let's find out.
>> Maybe the most expensive thing is to just keep fixing problems here as they come up and pay and pay the most. >> I know, right? >> That was going to be what I was going to say is that we are keeping a running tally of how much it's costing >> to stay in this building while we stay
in it. >> I mean, $50,000. >> Yeah. No, it's not. This isn't. We know that this this we're on a clock. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Here. >> We don't need the space. It's too big. >> Yep. >> It's too old. >> And it So, we This is I just think this
is going to help uh the community have a better understanding what we're facing. >> Yeah. >> Mr. I agree with what you just said, Gary, but I don't think this article >> Oh, no. >> is going to solve that. >> No, it's a first. It's a step though,
right? >> I think this the language here is kind of limited. Just infrastructure mechanical keep it in operation. You know that you don't need those two pieces of the building to keep it operating. So, what
>> Yeah. What are you really trying to find out? Just how the condition of this building is? You know, it's crap. >> I mean, I don't I don't know what the cost of what I just said would be. Um, >> I'm not certain you're going to get your
answer. >> No, what we're going to get there is the cost to stay here, right? Is that what >> you're going to from what the way I read this you're going to get a cost of running this entire building
on the current footprint. That's the >> No, I don't think that's >> Well, I mean, we could I mean, we can get specific when the RFP for the architects >> um and that, you know, if we want to just say, all right, we either
tell us whether if, you know, based upon the our current operations, take into account a you know, growth a growth percentage into that with expansion of of of employees and and
look at uh where is the best place for us to to be. Is it in the middle? Is it on that left side? Is it on the right side? Based upon that square footage. >> But what I think Steve is saying is this article says, "Fund a feasibility study to identify infrastructure and
mechanical needs to keep 37 Shadic Street in operational condition." >> If we just stayed here, nothing. So all you're doing with this $100,000 is seeing how good the >> H in this building. That's all you're finding out >> for $100,000 feasibility study to do
what Jim said I think is great to be specific in the RFP. So you should make this language a little broader. >> Okay. give a small >> make it broad so you can tailor the RFP for what you need because you're not getting you're not going to get what
you're looking for >> you know like to to determine the feasibility of you know repairing or you know altering town hall >> to x >> to to like you know >> square foot we know we know how many square feet you need
>> really I mean >> I thought that was part of what we wanted them to >> but it sounds like between the two studies and the one Steve, I'd be curious to dig that one up that you had mentioned from 2021. >> If that has if that has the square footage that we needed at that time, that didn't really change. We can add 10
20% to it without having to spend $100,000. At least we know how many square feet town hall needs with all these other places gone now. And that will help us a lot, I think, know what we need here. I mean, a lot of the work's been done. I don't I don't want
to pay something that we've already we already know. We already have that information. I just I just don't know legally. I've been told that you have to do that X. You have to do this as part of the
process to get the next step when but how many feasibilities do we have to do? You know, if one was just done five years ago, four years ago, I think we're good. Let's use it. Use this the square footage that we had.
whatever. >> So, so is is it lost language here to to fund a a study to identify the feasibility of maintaining 37 Shannon Street as a town hall?
>> Yeah, >> that's gives us good. Yeah, that's good because that could be studying space where where you put people down in the RFP. Yeah. To zone in how
you really want it. >> I just don't want to be limited and then you're not get what you want. >> I didn't know we were limited, but I guess we are. >> Well, it can only be spent on what you say it can be spent on. So did you get Steve?
Thanks. >> I think you can just I think you can just strike um identify infrastructure and mechanical needs to fund a feasibility study to keep 37 Shedic Street in operational condition. That's basically what you're saying as a town hall, right? Or
>> I wouldn't even say operational. I I say maintain it as town hall and then in your RFP. That's one of the things you want to find out. >> So you want to go beyond the mechanicals. You want to get into office space. You want to get into structural
issues like >> identifying the option. He wants to give you the the the option of of putting that in the RFP if you decide >> that's what you want to do. >> And I know and I I I and thank you and I appreciate that. I'm just I mean but in so if it's up to us to identify what
kind of language specifics in the RFP are we are we looking to actually identify okay then this is going to be changed around and this is what I don't know is that
is that something that >> you know things going into this that this building is too big right? >> Yep. So part of the RFP is how much space what do you do with the other sides right say you're keeping the
center what do you do with that how much is going to be to demolish them and then getting this space up to snuff >> right >> that goes to two of Gary's points right >> yeah with that though you could probably
get the cost we're we were starting to realize that what's the cost of the old boiler, what's the cost of all these other things, the water sprinkler, the ADA stuff that would have to be brought. I mean, that's all going to be hopefully part of this, but I don't know how far $100,000 goes. I I would like to think a
long way in your drawing, but probably not >> probably not as right. So, as much as we can get out of it though is for this space um with the square footage identified that we need which I think we
already have that number or sounds like we already have >> well to madam to the chairwoman's suggestion uh whoever is I think the first step is for us to really to look at
I mean we'll use the language that was suggested by by the chairman and uh and we can really um sit down and identify the square footage and uh um and maybe someone in the scope
of the uh the RFP. >> Okay. >> But uh the select board wants to join the party. >> I'll be honest if somebody wants to join me. >> Okay, I'll do it. >> You guys are already done it once.
Okay. So, you and me? >> Sure. >> All right. >> Moving on. >> I don't volunteer for anything anymore, Matthew. >> Doesn't seem fair. Doesn't seem fair to anybody. >> Wait an orchard. The orchard. >> I I volunteer. >> I mean, like he's leaving. >> And then you said, "Please, he'll be
he'll be in the orchard when he leaves." Well, >> he's going to live there probably if he keeps >> All right. Special permit. Since it's 8:55 p.m., this must be earth removal special permit time.
>> Yes, we have a public hearing. >> Be happy to touch on that. Um, so it's to set a public hearing date. Um, so we received an application from New England Power. Um, they are seeking earth removal special from this board and the project involves replacing and refurbishing the transmission um, structures along with their existing
utility carter. Um within Littleton, the proposed work includes grading, removal of approximately 26,000 cubic yards of material and uh spanning over an area of roughly five acres and that's to construct work pads, replace poles, and improve access roads. Um this is part of
a larger regional project. Um the line runs through Challenge Creek northern portion of of our town and terminates at the air substation. Um the application um was received on March
March 9th and I will take a uh make a note here that um the working motion here had a date of April 6, 2026. Um I would recommend that it be scheduled for April 21st at the end of Tuesday, Monday
being a holiday at 7 p.m. Why is that? um because under our policy we are required to have the public hearing not less than 30 days and uh not more than 45 days after submission. So April 6th does not work. Um so therefore we just
recommend that motion be for April 21st at 7 p.m. Um the packets um as I believe is customary. This is my first earth removal permit. Um seeing go through the process here in town. Um but we would distribute um to the respected departments and boards for for comment.
There's been some initial um uh feedback if you from planning and uh but certainly would go to conservation and the other um the other um boards and departments in town. So the goal being getting their feedback obviously sharing with this board and also with the
development team. We'll also send notice to the abuters um as is required by by our earth removal bylaw. >> So I think they were in front of the planning board last summerish to talk about replacing the poles
>> to get approved >> and yeah so this is just expanding the scope of what of the work that they were planning then effectively. So, so this um yes and and certainly germanine to the board here is is uh and I don't recall
now what off top my head what the minimum threshold is here of earth removal/disturbance but um Mar and I have spoken and um and after her review um and obviously you have the application here um there's significant earth removal disturbance
meets the threshold um so they do have to get a special um permit from this board and um yeah and they they may may have to go before conservation but certainly we'll solicit feedback from that um for that department and board. >> Okay. It just my my question is just
more on who has jurisdiction over which pieces so that we're clear on who's approving what. >> What if we say no? >> Well, I mean I just always curious what if you just say no. Um, so the week of the 20th I am out of town. So
that puts our quorum potentially in jeopardy if either of you can't be there. >> I plan to be there on the 21st. >> I can probably I can know I can be there. >> Oh, yeah. It's a different day. Is that why? >> Oh, that's right. You're still with us? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yay. Okay. >> We don't want to make any crazy
decisions, though. Um, yeah, I'm good. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. So, Matthew will chair it. >> All right. >> Move that the select board vote to schedule the public hearing on April 21st, >> 2026.
>> Sorry, Gary. It's the 21st since it's >> Yes. 9:30 at night now. Is that 30 days? >> Um, correct. So, the submission was >> the 9th of March. You said >> completed submission was March 9th. >> Okay. >> Um, so 30 we're in that window.
>> Okay. Never mind. Unfortunately, it was the sixth. It would just be a couple of days short of that window. >> Yeah. Got it. >> Move the select board vote to schedule the public hearing on April 21st, 2026 at 7 p.m. for the earth removal permit.
>> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? >> I >> I. Thank you. >> All right, folks. Where are we? >> Town administrator update. anything left.
>> Yeah. Uh I will be brief. Um uh we've got phase one of the residential uh um component for 550 King Street is still under peer review. Uh
but it is underway and they are reviewing the storm water and uh the traffic. >> A lot of digging going on I saw. Mhm. >> And 410 Great Road application was withdrawn last week as a as a result of feedback that uh was presented as to an
internal meeting and uh uh so they will they probably look in another 30 days they'll come back >> feedback to the planning board >> uh feedback from town staff and uh two members of the planning board. >> Okay. um uh uh conservation uh uh uh that is
rumored that Concom will decide uh tomorrow on the docks for Lakeshore Drive and Long Lake. I know that it's been continued, but uh according to the conservation agent that there is uh the potential that tomorrow is the tomorrow is the day that it's finally resolved or
>> are they straw pulling or officially deciding? >> Apparently officially. >> Yeah. Just so everyone here is aware, I have reached out to the chair a couple times now and have not received reply. So, >> okay. >> Sorry that we're all being caught unaware, but
>> uh beginning uh uh tomorrow, I'm I'm sorry, Wednesday, uh EHS will be open late on Wednesdays until 8:00. And this is going to be a pilot. And this is something that they will be doing during daylight savings hours. So that is from
March to what? October. Uh they will uh see how that goes and uh and reassess at the at the end of the period. >> On what days, Jim? >> Uh Wednesday. >> Yep. Um and normal and they'll have programs available for anybody and it's
it's it's been very well uh >> um scheduled. Um uh uh on uh Friday there were contractors that did a walkthrough on the second floor for the for the anticipated renovations for the bids
that going to be due for April 1st. Uh as you can probably see from that screen up there, uh we uh started doing close caption for LCTV and that's something that we will potentially be looking at expanding uh for town
meeting. That's great. >> Yeah. >> If I had known. >> Yeah. Why? >> Oh, >> I wouldn't have said all those things that you said, >> but now they're in writing. >> Uh and uh final interviews for the
assistant director. Uh it's down to two. The third one had withdrawn and uh that was uh I believe they were conducted today. And uh so something that will uh >> of what? Assistant director of Parks and Wreck. Oh.
>> Oh, Parks and Wreck. Okay. >> Oh, sorry. >> I didn't know you were firing. >> That's cold. He's right next to you. What are you doing now, I guess? >> Oh, no. No, no, no. That's not happening. No
way. If anything, I'm throwing you the keys. >> Um, >> okay. >> 40 uh we've got 42 abatement requests. Uh and uh the assessor's uh web page has been updated on the scheduled uh streets
that inspections are going to be taking place this season. >> How does that stack up? 42 >> was going to ask >> reassessment you a lot >> abatements values too high. >> Is that a lot >> 42? >> I think so. >> That's high compared to >> Matthew. You don't think so?
>> I I seem to recall I asked a couple years ago and that was it was in the 20s I think. >> Okay. I think yeah >> they the board has uh uh they're down to I think they're down to in the 20s they they they've addressed approximately
half of them u I believe 25% they have agreed with approximately 75% they have uh denied and uh that's it. >> Thank you Mr. town administrator minutes. >> We're quick. Can um on the solar for the
um for the center. >> Can we get like a blurb in the newsletter just separate like don't bury it in the EHS year blurb just like >> the solar panels and this you know our electric bills were >> absolutely >> right. It would be great to publicize
what we're what we do well right and if you want to compare it to the cost of the other buildings go right ahead. So, we should also just say, >> okay, >> this is what we're, you know, >> with that real quick. >> You want it, you want in the in the town newsletter or the centers or >> the town newsletter? >> Let's see if we could do both.
>> Yeah, let's do both. Okay, great. Good. Good suggestion. Thank you. >> I like it. Minutes. >> Uh, I have no I have no corrections on them. >> Nope. Me neither. >> Good. Yeah. Move that the select board vote to approve the meeting minutes from the select board meeting on March 9th,
2026. Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew. All those in favor? I take a motion >> to adjourn open session. Oh, can we get No, I have to read something first, right? >> You have to read the >> Yeah, you want to >> Yeah,
>> the chair must >> Okay. An executive session is required. >> Um, so we'll move that this >> That's me. >> Do I Do you do that? Yeah. >> All right. So, I just say that.
Oh, here we go. Executive session number three. Oh, and number two. Okay. So, executive session number two is to discuss strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union
personnel, police chief contract. Executive session three is um executive session under Mass General Law 3A section 21A purpose 3 to discuss strategy with respect to a grievance by the Littleton Police Association is
discussing these matters in open session would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the town. Is there an executive session one? No, because we already had one. Okay. >> All right. >> Okay.
I move that the select board vote to enter into executive session pursuant to master law chapter 30A section 21 alpha 3 to discuss strategy with respect to a grievance by the Littleton Police Association under the collective
bargaining agreement as discussion in open session may have detrimental effect on the town's bargaining position as the chair so declared and also move that the select board vote to enter an executive session pursuant to mass general law chapter 30 section 21 alpha two to
discuss strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-UN personnel police chief contract as the chair so declared >> and to not return to open session. >> We need that part too. I think >> and to not return to open session.
>> Second. >> Moved by Gary, seconded by Matthew as amended. All those in favor roll call. >> Gary's an I. >> Gary's an I. Matthew. >> Matthew is yes. Yes, >> I'm a yes. >> Vote. Uh,
>> all right. We'll adjourn open session. >> Open session.