Five, four, three, two, go for it. >> Welcome uh to a joint finance committee select board meeting January 14th, 2026. And this is the first of several FY27
budget meetings that we'll be having. This one is a public input session based on the draft budget that was posted online probably about a week and a half, two weeks ago. Um, first
select select board members know that we have a new member here, Sam Hayes. Welcome to the finance committee. First of all, um, we still have an opening to the light and water department. get in touch with Mick Baller at the uh Lake
Department if you're interested in joining the finance committee. Um this year's budget, we're once again presented with a balanced budget. I'd like to thank Jim and Robin and Kim for all the hard work that they've done over
the past couple of weeks. in a very short period of time. They took what seemed to be at times an impossible uh deficit to to uh solve and they solved it. We have a balanced budget in front of us >> and
the school department also of course we'll certainly talk more about the school department in the coming weeks. As I mentioned, this one is a public input session. Uh the next three Wednesday nights we'll have department
heads come in and then we have our super Saturday session on the 3rd 7th excuse me on the 7th of February. Um that is a long day and we try and at
least get to 90% of the finalized budget. Uh I just want to tell the members we have a balanced budget in front of us. Anything you may hear tonight that piques your interest or anything you hear from departments over the next few
weeks, please jot it down. Um, we'll talk about them and get a list together super Saturday to go through it. But remember, we have a balanced budget. Anything we add, we have to subtract. So, think of if you really feel strongly
about adding something, please come up with something to take out of the budget. So listen for both things as we go through these um next few weeks. Jim was I think going to say a few words about the process that he went through
and I can talk about it if if Robin doesn't feel like it. Um as I said we started off with a big deficit around a million and a half dollars. Um, we did ask the school department to really look at their budget and they came up with a
$600,000 cut to their budget. Um, the town also came up with a comparable cut to their budget. Um, we're actually funded below the level from last year by 1.8%.
The big thing that helped us this year was renegotiating um the health insurance plan that the town will be implementing July 1st. There's a it's a different plan design, big reduction in premiums for both
employees and the town. Um and that basically helped us get to where we are tonight. If it wasn't for that, we'd be looking at an entirely different budget though for the next few weeks. >> Um, do you have anything to add, Karen?
>> Just about says it all. Thank you. >> Okay, Robin, anything? >> Um, I will only add that we updated the capital plan and the one I dispersed is different now. So, there is a new capital plan and everybody's buying it, which I will post I think after super Saturday. I'll wait till we've gone through everything before I post that
online. So we'll update the final draft of the capital plan >> as we go through. So this is a draft budget as of the seventh. We posted that, right? >> Second. >> Second. As of the second. So there are some things in the book. You're going to
see that um some things may change as we move forward, as we get better numbers in. Um, even though we know we're changing health insurance plans, we still don't know the rates from Maya for these things. Um, so those will change.
The salaries are still um being discussed at town hall with the new compensation plan. So salary numbers may also change. So there could be some minor tweaks to these numbers that we have in front of us. Um, and if they're major changes, I'm sure Robin and Kim
will post a new book or give us updated pages. Yes. >> Jim, do you have anything? I know you just walked in, but do you have anything you'd like to say? >> No, thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay, with that, we will open it up to the public.
>> Rob Brown's 25 Juniper Road. I'm well aware that I'm standing up so that you want me to sit get tired and sit down. So, well, nice tactic. Uh, so thank you all for all the efforts that you've put in so far. I genuinely appreciate all the stuff that all of you do um on
budgets and so many other things. Uh I've handed out I think everybody a copy of what I'm saying. I know from walking in tonight that the capital plan changed as we just heard. So it could change some of my stuff. I'm also uh
I have zero municipal uh accounting experience and so this is new. I've started to get more involved in I'd say the last two to three years, but it's a long way to go with regard to municipal accounting. I thank Rob and Jim for
spending time with me recently and and certainly Steve you've assisted offered more. So, it's going to take some time quite frankly. It's not something that's intuitive in my opinion and u and so I apologize in advance for anything that you're going to kind of hit yourself on
the head and say goodness you know how could he think that. Uh having said that, I appreciate this opportunity because I believe that uh town meetings uh the last half dozen that I've attended increasingly have a focus with
regard to people talking about pushing people out of town and decrying uh the budget. whereas I think we've been very very fortunate to be in the position that we're at uh with regard to
sustaining services and having um having all you folks really do a great job uh leading the way to to keep us where we're at. Doesn't mean it's easy for somebody that has difficulty paying their bills. And it's in that spirit that I'm trying to promote things like
this in terms of public participation and commentary because I think people if they have concerns about the budget, they ought to speak to them. And so I appreciate the opportunity that's been given here tonight. Um I'm not going to read all of this stuff. Uh some of it
may be wrong. Um and and where it is, ask for your grace. Um, what I hope to do is much like Steve just said, I hope that a few of the items will be worth jotting down and that you'll consider them over the next month as you head in
towards finalizing or 90% finalizing uh the fiscal year 27 budget and then you know see where you you land with regard to town meeting etc. So, um, the first page is really nothing more than than my
perspectives with regard to you stated it in your pre finance committee stated in their previous message a year ago. Maybe it's even before that, but I just know what was said a year ago. And um
the deficits that you um project in your forecast for school year 27 are significant, substantial, and I think that needs to be shouted very loudly um in order to try to uh as I think I
referenced a statement that um Jim, you may be the one or Robin Kim identifying, proactive action is needed. And I think that's correct. And it's in that spirit that I offer some comments. I'm stunned
by the projection that um in fiscal year 26, the first year projected forecasted was negative 1.6. Now it's up to 3.6. There's just a significant deterioration. Three years out, we're now looking at 6.6. So your challenges
are are really staggering from my perspective. I'm not saying you obviously shown success and I hope and wish continued success, but I think town residents need to be hearing that and
and so that perhaps they'll get more involved and attempt to identify things that maybe they could do without. I applaud the idea of level service, but other communities can't get there and I
hope that we're able to continue to get there and to prepare for uh King Street Common and and all the added services that are going to need once that arrives with hopefully the base supporting etc. So, I'll move off of my first page. Um,
capital I think is the place where there's a lot of opportunity. um to uh consider what needs to be done and separate the you know we'd all love to have this or love to have that but we
just can't afford it and I'm not trying to pick on anybody but I specifically target and and want to state my support for actions that I think Jim Robin Kim you others with the finance team have
taken to get to this balanced budget position ition. You knocked out and deferred to fiscal year 28, fiscal year 29, um a number of park and wreck projects that total all in $6 million. I
don't think there's quotes on that. So, they're just estimates and placeholders. I've spoken and was here last night. They canceled the meeting for park and recck commission. Not finding fault with them for doing that. they had a quorum issue, but since in exchange with the
park and recck commissioner, um just my that I wanted to be here last night to tell me to their face, I support deferring those items. It's not that I'm against having a dog park or a community pool or a renovation of F Street Park,
but I just think we can't afford them. And when we stack up what we can afford and what we can't, adding things like the the dog park and community pool, I just don't think u the town's ready for
it. I know that park and wreck takes on um appropriately a legitimate survey done by etc institute in 2023. But I went back and read the finance committee message for the fiscal year 24 budget.
And back then we didn't have anywhere near the deficit that we're facing here. In fact, we added on uh fire uh firemen that year. We offset with overtime, but still it was it was a very different
year than I think we're at. And so as I I'm trying to put into context that survey where the community was saying, we want this, we want that. etc. I understand that they wanted that. I think if the question was asked, do you want it and are you ready to reap the
consequences of, you know, doing all those things in addition that smacks is the opposite of what I'm hearing from the public in the town meeting. And quite frankly, I spoke to probably several hundred people going doortodoor with regard to the Shaker Lane initiative and I got earful with regard
to um taxation in town and um had good conversations with any number of people with regard to not supporting the Shaker Lane project along with many people that did you know that sort of thing. But that is to say that I've road tested some of my beliefs as that's some of the
basis for my belief that the the public may not be where they were back in 20123. So I feel so strongly about it that uh I'm encouraging you folks have such valuable time.
I'm really not for kicking the can down just one year on something that I think like these three projects suggest to me they need to be kicked down several years or by me saying this if that leads to a push back with regard to no we want
it now and the public wants it now then good let the public come forward and say they really want these things so we all benefit from a renewed sense of that survey that they really mean it they they want those things otherwise I think it should be kicked out several years so you're not going through the same
process. I'd rather you see a capital list that's already been called with regard to the nice to have uh out of it as opposed to just keeping them in and having to go through it several years in a row. Um the Oakhill stabilization account, I'll
confess this is a a passion project of mine. I've been working for three years at least in terms of invasive plants and their disposal. Um, I'm not going to go into details about that, but when I look at that account,
uh, that account or stabilization account, the bylaw has been changed in the last several years to allow for, um, more things than just how the stabilization account was originally created, which was for land acquisition.
It's not that anymore. Cloverdale has been used for a 20 grand um expenditure that would past town meeting. So I think it's eligible for u removal of invasive plants and the disposal of them. I reference a conservation commission
meeting that I that I watched in earnest that discussed uh a disposal site and that was 2024 and it says, you know, to be continued. Well, hasn't been continued. Um, we've since had a dumpster experience that Tim Pearson and
I significantly filled up. Um, I know it has about an annual cost back a couple years ago about three grand. I know Conquer does something similar. Um, and that Oakill stabilization account from my perspective at $142,000
right now, it's only earning a meager amount of interest. If it were to be earning two and a half, three% it could fund that. So, I'm requesting an article be placed and requesting let's get an annual dumpster or if
somebody wants to take up a disposal site at the transfer station or a disposal site on on town property, I'm very open to that. But my point in trying to identify an opportunity of a revenue source that I think doesn't exist right now that could maybe, you
know, tuck this in. Um, that's where I'm trying to go. So I'll move off off that issue. Um the have had some discussion with regard to uh the park and ruck revolving fund
and I know that it might be a pipe dream uh that there's any money there. I don't know that for a fact. I'm troubled by what I see in the years they're presented in the budget book. What I see is an a continual growing balance and
I'm well aware that um it could be nothing more than a mirage where as of June 30th they're chock full of all the camp tim555,000 was their annual amount one year ago for campt. So yes, they get all that money
early on uh in one fiscal year and then they have to spend the program, you know, out in the next fiscal year. And so it really could be this peak and valley, you know, sort of experience. I recognize that. But the way it's
presented with regard to I think it's $400,000 in change in the first year of the revolving fund is expenses that would be for a basically a a calendar half year suggest to me there should be something there. I don't know what the
amount is. Um I haven't determined how far I'll I'll take this but I don't think I should be the one that has to take this that far. To me, it's a reasonable crest to say somebody should analyze what the amount is that's in
that that net amount that has by a net amount I mean completely exclude the current year you know revenues and receipts that are received and the expenditures of executing all those programs and if there's any amount left
I'd like to know what it is as just a resident in Littleton Um, I'll move on. The school revolving funds I found very confusing. There were um, and I recognize this is a work in process, but
there's some deficit balances. There's some similar accounts that I've identified or revolving funds that that seem to be um, increasing of notable dollars, hundreds of thousands of dollars over the several years
presented. And I think that, you know, if if those funds really are just building and building, I'm not saying we should take them now or the school I recognize this is the
school committee superintendent, not you folks. But if I understand Mass General law correctly, the school committee does have the ability to to influence um not how the money is spent, but to identify the uh
amount to be uh proposed um in in the fiscal year budget. And I just think the public I think I'd like to be aware of how much money is net is sitting in those various funds so that we are aware
of it. Um and and that's the the um the spirit um that that I really am requesting. I think you're scheduled your agenda is posted for February 7th where you're going to hold a joint
meeting with Dr. Clenchie and school committee chair McCarthy and the the business manager. I think it's wonderful that they came in at less than half a percent on the general fund. 26 million dollar base at
a half. You increase that to the 3% which is what the forecast assumption is and you're looking at you know 700 grand uh instead of um you know 100 and change. That's to me a very worthwhile
discussion that I hope you'll have by asking them when you're meeting with them in joint session. How did you do it this year? And can you do it again? What can you do? Because again, I'm looking for proactive. I'd like to lessen the
load of these forecasted net deficits. I'd like to know what we're up against because I think that that then allows you folks to begin processes that I would encourage you in a moment I'll flip a page and see
I there's aspects of money and all the budgets I suspect that a question I if I were in your shoes I'd be asking is do you spend that money annually? I'm not trying to quibble as a, you
know, exactness. I'm trying to quibble with regard to finding what are what I'd argue is discretionary money. Money that isn't needed to, you know, do the exact things that they do, but rather it's it's money that they do from one project
to another. It's those those monies within budgets that I'm not saying should be taken away. So, I don't want to be accused of that. I'm just saying we may be in the next three years needing to identify monies like that and
I'd like them to be teed up so that you folks as you're going through the finance team and your your two months, you know, preparation to get a balanced budget book that you've got them aware and you can have good conversations before you go to the process that you're about to with the department that's
coming in for your joint meeting sessions. That's I' I'd much I'd feel I feel good saying this whether you do it or not. That's that's your call, but that's how I'd like to see it done. Um
I'm interested now. I'll go to the other side. And people that know me, I often confuse so I apologize if I'm confusing. Um I also feel very strongly about the departments and what they bring um when
they put in departmental requests. I take very seriously and will be interested in the upcoming uh presentations before you from the departments where I think we'll get to see the public will get to see what were the departments requesting that already
got pushed out because there wasn't money in order to come up with a balanced budget and I'm not picking with regard to the decisions have been made but I'd benefit I think the public will benefit it if we see the fire chief said
we need more overtime and rather than have it be sitting in the reserve fund we need it in our line item in order to schedule things properly now I haven't talked to anybody I'm just picking on something that I think took place a year ago and maybe I'm even remembering it
wrong but that's an example if there's uh other examples like that with a department is saying I think in order to fulfill my responsibilities or our responsibilities with the department to do X. We need to put before you that we
need this in order to get the job done. The fact that it's been removed, I respect, but in the public, I might have a perspective that wait a minute. I think that department head's got a good point and so I'm looking forward
and if there's a list of those before you get into the department meetings, I'd love to see that sooner than later so that I can have that context as opposed to showing up or watching it on um on video as you're meeting with the
with the folks with I'm sure I'm gonna uh Here comes the poke the bear be careful uh sort of thing if you know that one. I'm not trying to do gotcha with regard
to transfer station, but I am a believer in user fees and I make reference in the financial management policy that the transfer station is clearly identified, name checked with
regard to it's supposed to cover all associated costs. And I've been looking at this for months and I've had conversation or two on the edges and then got very direct and come to learn I
encourage you to confirm because maybe I'm hearing it wrong and understanding it incorrectly but I've been watching it for a while. My understanding is that the highway department uh spends two 10hour to two
and a half days. So 25 hours per week transporting the dumpsters from the transfer station to their ultimate location of disposal. And therefore that financial management policy that says
the the user fees, whether it's the paper bag or the transfer, you know, stickers, the the membership fees, I read that as that's supposed to cover all the costs unless there's an exemption from the select board. So if I
were to hear that an exemption exists, then I go away because you've already identified that. Might the public be concerned? I know from my recollection of past presentations that DPW Director Yan
Lee has presented that the memberships are clearly a minority number of the households in Littleton. So that means in essence if I were right, if all the costs aren't covered by the fees,
then effectively we have A majority of Littleton residents households who pay their service to have somebody come to their driveway, which should cost them more than carting it to the transfer station.
But they're subsidizing and paying it for both. And I know once we're down this argument that we can get into the discussion of, but I'm 70 years old and I don't have any kids going to school, so why should I pay for school? Oh, you
have to. And you know, and we can get into all that line of thing. I kind of view a transfer station and and household waste as being like electricity uh or water. The more you use, the more
you pay. And I wouldn't expect somebody else to be paying for my electricity and my water. Um, so, um, I just think that's an issue that should be dealt with so that the public is aware of it. Should the select board want to put an
exemption in, so be it. But I think they, some might be concerned. And I personally think that we're subsidizing something. And I use the transfer station. I don't have pickup at my home. I think I need to be paying more. I
think the users should be paying more on that one. Um I the next kind of several fall in the category of um I'm what I'm for. I'm for participation and funding to increase
participation. Um, I'm for utilizing town assets that we've already put in tens of millions of dollars. I'm very much for those things. I don't want to use it, you know, absurdly or inappropriately,
but I also don't want to not fund things to the detriment of participation. So, I'm very happy to see the last select board of the the um >> sorry,
>> the um the first draft >> the right meeting. >> I saw you >> over at the firehouse. I'll be there. >> No, it's not there. >> Yeah. >> What meeting are you going to? >> Um >> Conservation Trust. >> Yeah, but there was a whole different group in the meeting room. >> Oh, contact Dustin.
>> Okay. Sorry about that. >> Sorry. Apologize. Apologize. um very impressed with the questions that I saw in the proposed survey and I know that's coming up the select board will be reviewing that in that next week or
so and uh I'm I'll be filling out the survey and I'll make sure a number of people that participated um and attended the last town meeting and benefited from the child care services from the vans um I I'll make the family familyfriendly
I support all those initiatives. I'm grateful that you have a question in the survey, should it make the survey, that that'll go out so people can give their opinion. I think that we saw in the last on the October 28th town meeting, we saw a great outpouring. I worked very very hard with many many other people to get
a lot of people to that meeting. You guys set up for it. We squeaked it in um with regard to almost had too many, you know, for the fire chief to allow the meeting to continue, but uh we managed to do it and I'd like to see that
representation continue. Uh I note and and reference I think in this context um maybe it's later the demographic page that you've got in the the budget book establishes that there's I don't know
roughly 4,500, you know, voters that are, I'm going to say less than 55 years old right now. And I know that I stood up uh after the Shaker Lane vote was completed
and watched the exodus like all you did. We even took a break. That was a smart thing that Tim Gdder did as town moderator to allow the the outflow take place. But after that, I took a look at who was there and from an age perspective and I respect all the people that are there
and wish that there were more. You know, I wish more had stayed, but again, I I've spoke with several hundred and my opinion, it's very different than when I grew up. Times have changed. Um moms and
dads are both working a lot of hours and they're just not able to pull off this weekday um hours that are required for town meeting. Um I know too many people that when I've had some side conversations
and maybe I'm going offline and I apologize. It's difficult for young people to get to that meeting. So, we need to continue to do child care paid for by the town in
order to welcome them here. We need to do van services. I was out I didn't even walk into the meeting until basically 8:30 because I was monitoring the the 150 200 people that were out there as the meeting began. I spoke to several
people that couldn't find parking then tried over into a municipal parking lot thinking a van was there. The van wasn't there. So then they walked back. We need to make it our town meeting as important as it is able to be attended
to. So I support all the money um that's needed in order to make that. I support a bylaw change. Right now we have a bylaw that requires uh the town meetings to be done on weekdays. I don't want to be bound by a bylaw. So,
I hope Celeard will consider a bylaw change to get that removed. I'm not saying you have to commit to getting it done on weekends, but I don't like being restricted such that should you come with the results of the survey and you've got nowhere to go because you've got a bylaw
requires you to have a a town meeting there. um for spending to get increased participation and representation from all the people, not just the people that routinely attend town meetings. I appreciate all those that go uh over the
course of um uh the last several months since October, there's been some discussion, good discussion at select board with regard to select board members couldn't see what was going on in the separate um the separate child friendly room. I was
walking back and forth and I saw what was going on. There was a lot of young people. I counted 40, you know, little ones that were, you know, in tow. That's an addition. I think it was 120, maybe
I'm wrong. Um, that were in child care and all the different rooms. I think that the public and the select board, town officials that are up at that that front line should be aware of what's going on in that other room and should
being able to see that. I think not doing that speaks to how we don't have a a room big enough to allow all of us to participate under the same, you know, four walls. And I think that's unfortunate. So for funding, if LCTV
needs funding for additional screens, please give it to them. That sort of thing. Um I'm for um extending the van hours that were done so that stragglers who are
struggling if they show up as many many many people did at the last meeting. uh they thought that they could come at quarter of I spoke to some of those people um in the parking lot of the election that Saturday after the town
meeting and heard of seniors. Yep. My mistake. I came at 10 of thinking that I was going to get in nowhere to park so I went home. I don't want those people to go home. Um
so I encourage that. Um, moving on. Another part though of using our facilities. I've been very disappointed with regard to our I've been very very happy. Let's start off positive center on Shadic Street's great. It's
phenomenal, great asset town, but it shuts down at 4:30 um on weekdays. It's not open on the weekends. I've attended multiple events um in the evenings and I've been
absolutely stunned to see that there's somebody from EHS, Elderly and Human Services that has to be there to open the building up and shut it down. And after the program is done for when I'm there, they ask, "Could you move along
and get out the door so I can go home?" I'm not saying they're wrong. I'm they're completely right. What I'm finding fault with is and please request respectfully. Apologize my tone is getting out of whack.
Um, building should be able to be opened electronically and closed and we should have safeguards in the building so that any equipment or secure information is is secured so we don't have to have a monitor there to make sure that
something's not done incorrectly. Um, that that buildings we should be proud of it. We should be using it and the public should be using it. they should be using it much more than they are um um currently. I'll I'll stop there, but
happy to discuss other things about that should any of you not be familiar with how um we're not using that room. Are you know are we are we here tonight instead of that place? I don't know. Um
I know um I recently attended the planning board meeting. with standing room only in room 103. And why are we in 103? I think it's because we have got some difficulties with regard to videotaping in the STS room where we
used to do it. I might be wrong about that. I'm for solving those. If it's any sort of funding of LCTV with regard to fixing something or giving them equipment to
get that done, I think LCTV connects our community. And I'd like us to be meeting in rooms that have enough space so it's not standing room only as I experienced, you know, last Thursday at the planning board meeting. Um
the King Street Common, it's a phenomenal um opportunity for our community. Um there are many things I could could talk about, but trying to keep it squarely with the fiscal year 27 budget.
I don't know what I don't know how it's actually going to shake out. I believe I know that the developer is on the hook for numerous changes with regard to safety concerns and and other aspects
that that curbing and things of that nature. And I hope we can get the developer to pay for all of those things. But I also really encourage um
we need to be safe. Too many people view the fatality at the intersection of King Street and uh Gold Smith. The most common phrase heard is we all knew it was going to happen
and we do. I avoid that intersection like the plague. Littleton, you know, the the intersection of King and Great Road are no different. And as we bring in um
another thousand, you know, housing units in that intersection. I don't see that as getting better. I wish everyone well that's working on making it safe. I wish all well who's making it accessible.
In that regard though, I would hope that you folks um who I know are really doing the work if there's money that's needed or should be put in the budget. So that at this
time as we're negotiating or entrusting that the developer is going to do this and that, we should be doing everything that we can to make that area safe now when we can plan for it and say we have
the money to do X or Y and we should not try to retrofit after the fact and say, "Oh, I only wish we did whatever." I know hindsight's 2020 and so we we want to have that benefit. But my point is please consider and you know look into
are there things that that the agreement with the developer isn't going to provide for that maybe we should be doing. Could it be traffic calming, you know, off side of the road? I don't know beyond what the developer I don't know what this is. I just know that I think
it's um I want it to be the um the asset that it can be. Um, I'm going to skip the the commentary about about the Orchard House. I do think given the passion that was there a year and a
half, I think threaded the needle. Again, congratulations. Very happy with what I've personally been out at uh the property when meeting with um Mr. Bransfield. Um so, I thought I was on to something. I
think I'm not. Um, other than if you want to consider swapping out the the orchard house barn for the u the the Baptist church on the corner of King and and Goldsmith. Okay. You know, maybe
there's something to consider there. I don't know. Uh but I thought it was something when I wrote this up. It's not. So be it. Um the select board identified as one of the goals I think it's on page 27
that um one of your goals is to identify potential for charter changes. Um who knows what those are going to be who knows when that's going to happen who know what board's going to put forward to town meeting etc. Um my point is that
I think commentary has been stated with regard to there will be staffing implications with regard to the direction should we go to a charter and if that's the case then where are those staffing changes going to be they're going to be in town hall and um town
hall has recently seen conversation that I kind of view as um going sideways whether it was the uh failed effort to have deeply affordable housing of a year ago or whether it's the recent conversations in terms of trying to move
people around um from space that was vacated by town employees that are now housed at 36 King Street or housed over at the center on Jedic Street. I I I support um doing what we need to do for
our employees. I want them in facility that um encourages them come to work. I don't want them in a location that doesn't give them enough space when there's enough space in a different part of the building, but
we can't find a way to get them from point A to point B. I see in the capital plan there's 158 grand that's identified as other if that other is available and for that purpose. And it's determined that
what existed several years ago is a worthy plan to house them where they are and there's better space that they can see and want to be in. I'd like them to to
be in that space. I think that um $100,000 is plenty of money. A lot less than that is still plenty of money. I don't want it be wasted, but I want them to I want our employees to see a support getting them in um
appropriate space and space that can allow them to do good the good work that they're doing. So, I support that. Um if it can solve the problem, I'd like it to see it pass. I see it's still in capital
or I know capital's been been changed but if it's still there and you do you know kick the tires I'd like to see you get that done so that it can be there LCTV um
I I will say because I haven't been able to get visibility with regard to uh the meetings that the finance team I'm not it's no sour grapes there just trying state of fact. I haven't read extensively
the the many many pages in the book from a department perspective. I selectively dropped in when I dropped into the LCTV it confirmed what I believe I've heard um and that is that LCTV
um is pretty much been self-funded. We've benefited because we've got cable system that you know gives them funds etc. So we all benefit by not having to pay the freight for this service. I think LCT is phenomenal service to us. I think it connects our community in the
absence of a newspaper in the absence of you know fill in the blanks in a way that that we need. And so as I read and dipped into their pages that they're requesting consideration yet to be worked out but of some of their employee
benefits I find myself immediately yes. you know, support it. So, um, want to say that, um, senior tax workoff. This is another one that, um, I personally, when I go on the record, I personally used it for, I
think this will be my second year. Um, I think it's a multi-dimensional benefit to the town. uh senior tax workers of which I believe there's a 100 household cap although I can't quite find where that cap exists in any meaningful way.
Maybe some of you will be able to point that out to me after the meeting. Um legislation changed in Massachusetts a year or two ago or three with regard to instead of a $1,500 credit, it could be $2,000 credit. We're
still at 1,500 bucks. um this cap. I've got people that I know that that are interested. Just spoke with one Saturday. Um doesn't know if she's going to be able to get into the program, but she'd like to do some
things at center on Shadic Street in the food services area, and she'll probably do it anyhow, just like I was doing the work anyhow before I got into the program. But my point is I think there's benefits of the senior tax workoff
program. I recognize they come at a cost. 15 bucks an hour times 100 hours or increase the hours to something to now earn $2,000. It comes at a cost. That should be considered along with all other spending priorities that you've
got as you try to continue to balance the budget and determine what should be in, what should be out. Seniors I think benefit from social interaction. So in addition to doing work that a department head has identified as needs to be done,
it benefits those seniors as well. So I'd like to get it up from $1,500 per year workoff credit to 2,000. I'd like to get that cap significantly changed. Um so that all the people right now I
don't even know that it's an appropriate number in terms of the waiting list is an appropriate number because people already know or at least a number of us know no sense in trying to get additional ideas for work that could be done by senior tax workers because you
can't get into the program. So, I hope that you'll um give consideration to uh getting those things resolved. Whether that requires town meeting or not, I'm not so certain. Some of the stuff that I've uh learned seems
like some of this might be able to be done solely by the select board without going to town meeting, although it seemingly it backs up in the overlay accounts. And again, I lack the municipal accounting experience to know all of that. Um,
I appreciate what you're doing. So, thank you. Um, you've got a lot more work to do. Next three years going to be rough. I've tried to identify some things and and unfortunately for you, I'll probably keep on trying to identify some things
that that I think are are worthy of your consideration in the coming years. Um, I recently heard this is off the cuff. It's out in the written remarks, you know, uh, Director Yanley talking about private roadways and and that struck a
chord with me. I'd never really thought it about, you know, I can I can see an argument for nope all the roadways, whether they're public or private, they should all be done. But my gut is that there's a lot of people live on private roadways that don't know the aspect that
if you put in a request with a proper paperwork that comes to select board, you're going to get your roadway um you know, plowed and so forth. something just seems off a little bit and it brings me back to my user, you
know, perspective. Users should pay for services that they receive. That one might not be a a a good one because most of us have the benefit of our DPW and highway department do a great job of keeping our
roads plowed and sanded during, you know, problematic weather. Um, but that comment maybe is the impetus from me saying I'd love to hear from departments and I hope you'll encourage the departments when you're meeting with them and and possibly this has already
been done. I apologize if you've already done it. Um, I'd love to hear from departments if they like DBW Young said um maybe we shouldn't be doing it. I'd love to hear some things like that.
not not to just if the department that says don't do it to stop it, but at least allow them to raise it up so that it can be in consideration because those are town funds that are being spent on doing things and if they think it shouldn't be done, then I think it merits consideration. So, thank you for
your time tonight. Thank you, Rob. Um, I appreciate the the fact that you took the time to go through everything. Look at these comments. Some of the things you mentioned how hard it is to
balance the budget and and the the difficulties we're going to have moving forward and a lot of the things you identified here increase that make that even more difficult. So you can see how tough of a job we have coming before us um with even dealing with some of these ideas that you have. Some of the things
that you mentioned are outside of the finance committee's perview definitely. Some are even outside of the select boards in line with the uh elected boards and commissions in town. So I mean that's
they're all good ideas. Um, some have more merit than others, but they're all very thoughtful. I thank you. >> Would you like to start? >> Thanks. >> I'll be in office hours first week of February. I'll be in office hours first week of
February. Great. >> I'll be in office hours Friday. I already know. >> Jim, do you have anything about the budget that you'd like to say at all? >> No, I think Well, I just want to thank uh Kim and Robin really for for a for a
tremendous teamwork effort across the board and the the creativity and the that was brought into some of the challenges that we have faced we faced over the past few months. Um and uh uh
we are um we would there's many things there if I may if I may address Rob if that's okay Mr. Chair Madam Chair. So there's a lot of good stuff here Rob and there's there's a lot of things here
that we would love to be able to do and it's a decision of one or or the other and uh it's not you know it's it's it's It's not government's role just to in my opinion from my experience just if we
want something to pass on those those expenses on to the residents because that is a that is a a tremendous concern. Um but uh overall um I think what we what we pre what is presented is a um a a solid budget, a good budget
that will maintain the services that we have um uh that have been um exhibited in years past of very very high-end service uh responsive and uh
and I'm I'm uh I'm really proud of of the work that was Thank you. Yes, sir. >> Does anybody from the committees have anything they'd like to say at all about the process moving forward? We have our first department budget meeting
is the 21st week from tonight at 6:30 right here at the police station. We have a list of departments. The agenda is already posted online with the list. So please look at the list, read up on those departments. Some of us have
already met with our liaison meetings with some of these departments are a little bit more familiar with some of these as others. So if you haven't, please read up on it. So you're able to ask some good questions of these department heads because this is their
chance to plead their case. So I will say that in the this is my I guess my sixth cycle like this is the one I feel like I'm the most informed and part of the conversation before we are presented
with the final budget and I appreciate that. I think that there's been a big push for us to understand what the trade-offs were before they were made and I think this year we finally got there. So, I appreciate everybody who's organized all those meetings and
um it's been a big help. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I I wanted to thank our finance team for the budget. I think they did a really great job putting together and the departments for stepping up and you know um not and and figuring out how to
save money in their budget and make it work because um if they weren't cooperative we wouldn't be where we're at today either. So it was a full team effort across the board and and very
well done. Um and I impressed that we could do this and hoping that we can again next year because I think next year's even worse. So >> it's very good to have the cooperation of the departments and them offering to give rather than just taking. So that's
it's always a good um way to deal with it. That was excellent >> and all the departments and just about everybody contributes >> just about >> with the exception of like information services because it's technology and
there isn't swing in that. So >> excellent. All right. Hearing nothing else >> to the finance committee for a motion to adjurnn. >> You got it. >> Second move by Fred. Second by Sanjay. All in
favor second. All those in favor. >> Good night.