Uh good evening. Today is February 4th, 2026. This is a joint finan select board meeting, our third meeting for the budget for FY27 with department heads. We have a pretty stacked agenda tonight.
We are um starting off with the water and sewer departments. We squeeze them in. uh conservation commission, board of health, cemetery commissioners, veterans agent, parks and racket, town administrator, town council, select
board uh participated in German for the select board in the finance committee going to adopt a code of conduct for um this coming year and then we'll with that Nick Eric thanks Steve um you
want to just come to the table. >> So, we're we're a little earlier than usual, but my my board has seen these budgets. They're not uh haven't been voted on yet. Um but I think the final budgets will will be pretty close to what's presented tonight. Okay. Um you
know the first the first uh page of document uh shows FY27 water budget compared to FY26. Um on the O andM side not a lot of variances from last year obviously on administration. We got a cost of living raises with salaries. We do have eight
hours a week for the assistant conservation agent Warren who's been uh a good asset for us. We have a lot of projects that are kind of have have a conservation involvement to it right now. Uh Jim and I have been working on that together and I think FY28 that'll go away but for FY27 I think we can
still support and defend uh having that assistant agent work for the water department. Obviously we got the insurance cost that that you that you all are dealing with as well uh impacting the administration part of the budget and the uh full debt for box
borrow that part of the project uh is hit out hit our debt payments. So that's gone up $64,000. um not a lot really. Um when you look at our our debt for the year, it's right around $2 million annually.
Uh from a production side, that actually went down. So that's our wells, our treatment, all that kind of stuff. Uh every other year, we clean our wells differently. Uh we alternate how aggressively we clean them. We pull the pumps every other year and really uh do a full uh cleaning and full uh rehab the
wells. That's in FY26 and FY27 we just we leave the all equipment in place and chemically surge uh the wells so it's a little less expensive. So that's why I see that kind of drop off this year. Um but you know every every winter we we go through a process to make sure our wells are nice and healthy for large
consumption time year in the summer. Uh and environmental service budget went down quite a bit. uh could we had the lead service line uh D program uh that was full reimbursement by D but it had to go through our budget that's $120,000
that's why they talk about so much uh we do have about $100,000 in that uh budget for uh water resource management which is uh has a contribution to lakes committee um for FY27
from a capital standpoint um for the most as far as water main work. Um, and we're at a we're at a spot now financially where if we actually take on these projects without borrowing. Uh, so we're looking at Warren Street, which u was obviously
from Parley right down to um King Street about $1.1 million project to complete that. We would do that with our with our retained earnings. And then some smaller projects. White Street's missing a piece of water man and hopefully some um we
have a lot of old pipe in the system a lot of the lake here is going to try every year try to pick away some of those from their own staff. So that's the capital budget. >> Any questions? >> Just just before you leave water the
just an update on the the new well and the box pearl project. How how is that going? posts or >> Yeah. Um yeah, we've expended almost $9 million on those two project these two different contracts, one project.
>> Um and we probably got three to four left to expend. Uh we did get we did secure the $6.5 million from uh Mass DOT. We've also received uh the rest of it goes through the SRF program at 0% loan. Um but we've also received a $4
million grant from BPA. Um, but it's a little tricky how to receive those funds because they're for disadvantaged and small communities which Littleton and Boxboro don't qualify for that. But the housing the condo associations do. So we've been working with EPA, Dtown
Boxboro, uh, town Littleton to try to figure out how does that how those funds flow. So we'll still end up borrowing the money, but the $4 million should come back um, you know, in Lment payment for those associations. There'll still be a betterment process because there's
some properties that won't get those those funds from from the federal government >> in time. When do you think >> they need to get that funding needs to be out by uh I think it was October of 28. So the form that $4 million will will flow pretty quickly. I think it'll
be pretty similar to how we did the sewer project. So probably in August the board of commissioners will commit the benefits uh and then we'll work with the town of Boxboro getting them on the tax bills and as you guys know you've seen the idea we have to work three time box on collection the betterments. It's
different than sewer because the water department has got funds to support those payments until we receive on $4 million from EPA. It's going to really help with that. >> Thank you. >> The project should be done hopefully by the fall of this year. well in uh
wallpaper. Okay. Um the next slide is just a five really our fiveyear financial uh plan and um kind of has all our capital projects in there, our M budget. I won't go over all the numbers here, but really the
number that that we like to watch is make sure we keep our capital projects funded. uh make sure we're covering our debt, make sure our rates are are high enough, and then we look at the the bottom number and we continue to float around $5 million in our reserve account, which is a lot better than the
$140,000 we had in there when when Squad Edwards took over. So, I'm sorry. So, financially, um the department's in great shape. If you guys review any questions, always feel free to um let me know. Next one is
just our proposed town meeting article. um you know $6.8 million coming from rates. We do still have that small betterment piece that comes from the point uh for that project from 15 years ago. We will be pulling some funds in from the
enterprise fund uh to support the water main works. Um but you know the typical article for for us. >> Is that basically the end of the veterans from
>> the only bedroom we have is the ones in the point. Yeah. I think there's five years. >> Is that basically it? >> Yeah about five more years on that. >> That's really it on water. Questions on jump to our favorite subject sewer.
>> Sewer. love story. >> I love it yesterday when we had a frozen pipe over 495. That was fun. Um so just like FY26, we're still taking a lot of stabs of the operating budget. Um
because it's so flow dependent. Uh for instance, the chemicals were up 350%. But we have to feed it a chemical called microc that keeps the bugs alive. With no flow, it needs more micro. that there's there's a the need to get
flow uh to the plant. Uh we've been we've been open for for business since right around December 4th or 5th. We've notified everyone in the district uh that they can connect. Uh we've we know that there's uh about 17 or so people that are working towards that. Uh
obviously the old IBM buildings have their infrastructure work done as part of one of the uh town grants. Uh so they can connect at any point and Northern Bank is Another one that's like really close, the housing authority too. No one's connected yet other than Hager Homestead in the town. But hopefully
once the weather breaks, we'll have some more connections, bring us some more flow. And then the plant, it's a lot easier to operate and hopefully less expensive in certain areas. In other areas, the pumping electricity is more expensive. Uh but really the the big drivers here,
utilities are, you know, it's gas electricity. You you that have seen the plant understand there's a lot of equipment in there that runs on utilities. Subject services just is pumping the tanks. Chemicals we talked about. Equipment is just maintaining the equipment that's that's in that plant. Uh insurance obviously jumped up because
now we got to ensure uh that building. Uh outside services is just for things that need to happen at the plant that didn't happen during construction. uh computer systems is the we have a a contract with Violia who um uh maintains
and operates and made all the filter equipment. So they actually can stay on with us and and support that u the employee benefits and our one sewer employee with um other wages going to people that assist.
And then the big one the the debt payment um which went down Um, >> did you have one full-time employee that >> one full-time? Uh, some of like my time gets broken into that others that
assisted, but it was really one full-time employee making that plant run. All our all of our water department employees are licensed to work on both. Um, when we did contract negotiations, that's something that we worked out with with the union to make sure that they're licensed in both areas and can work in
both areas. Um but yeah, there's one full-time employee saw responsibilities around that plan. Uh this budget that you saw, you know, we work very closely with Kim and Robin on trying to figure out how we're going to pay for this because
obviously the town is still um really the only user. Um, so we anticipate um $400,000 coming from the town for the on and not not counting the debt. Uh, $100,000 being transferred out of our
enterprise fund. Uh, so if you remember five, six, seven years ago when this got set up, the sewer department runs on an enterprise fund. Every time every year that funds go in there, we don't spend them, it falls back to enterprise fund. So we do have I think around 150 160 grand in our enterprise fund uh that
really has no use at this time. So, we're going to put it into our budget to help um support it. Um and then we we we do anticipate having some rates come in next year. So, we there's like a $98,000 of rates that we project for next year. >> But that funded that's unsustainable
though, right? I mean, that's sort of a one-time use for those funds. >> Yeah. And I hope they don't use them and they falls back to the enterprise fund. But >> um with with the unknowns of operating this this plant with so little money, >> we thought it'd be better to at least get them into the budget and if we need them, they're there and if we don't need
them, they fall back into our fund. >> Yes. Yeah, we need rates. We need flow. >> Um everything gets better with flow for everybody. Um and then the debt piece, uh we're going to put $840,000 out of
the Ben account. Last I saw that we have about a one and a half million dollars in there. But also the uh February 1 was when the real assessment hit. So I'm sure that counts a lot hopefully a lot higher now. But the full the project's fully assessed. Um so everyone should
stop February 1 should stop paying their assessment on it. from a just from an operational standpoint that the the town and Hagar basically generate 8,000 to 10,000 gallons a day. It's been
that way forever. >> Yeah. >> Um the next wave of flow coming in is the same more or less. Uh I mean I think
you have probably 30,000 gallons in the district already kind of there without any development. Um but they're going to connect >> right >> uh per legislation they have two years to connect. So two years from December >> two years from when
>> we made it available so December 4th. >> Okay. >> Okay. So the 30,000 in the district includes what the the municipal plus this can't >> I think it was 30,000 on top of municipal
>> on top yeah what's okay so all right so then in two years you'd be running 40,000 plus uh if we get lucky and get something out of 550 basic I think 30,000 is a good number for us
as far as keeping the bugs alive and that's what it seems engineers think. So if we can hit that 30,000 number I think our chemicals cost come down >> and how do you expect to charge those customers because
>> we have a rate right now. Yeah, it's two and a half two and a half cents a gallon is our rate. >> Okay. Hager's been connected for years now. So they've been paying that rate um which is comparable to surrounding communities. Um
>> so so the bottom line is the town is basically on the hook for $400,000 plus inflation until um 550 agreeably gets rolling.
>> Yeah. We we have that spreadsheet that kind of guesstimates when that switch happens. >> I guess I can say about >> we have it all in this. So >> I don't think it's we don't need a we don't need a piece of 550 to for that
situation to happen. >> I forget where it's at. >> But in any events it's three to five years out before this major >> that 400. So just in terms of budgeting and for us to be thinking about it, there's
a3 to $400,000 nut that's sitting there that we can't do anything about for the next number of years. Okay, good. Thank you. >> Save them all for Tim.
>> All right. Thank you. >> So So I'll go through this sheet real quick. You go to the beginning. >> Can you make that bigger for the old folk in the room? >> I can't read. >> Okay. So, the total cost of the sue project was the 48,929.
Um, we had three um pieces of the project that were excluded and those are the three there for the suit 6.2 million and then all the offsets were the ARPA funds, the loan forgiveness, the mass works. So the actual assessment that we
gave was the 25,959 that was assessed. Go to the next slide. >> Robert, can you go back for a second? >> Yeah. >> I just want to This often gets overlooked, but you know, Erica, Rooks, Robin, uh Kim, I don't think it shows
how complicated from a financial standpoint this project was. Making sure that um D was happy. The SRF program was had federal eyes on it. This was not a simple project from a financial standpoint and um those three ladies did a fantastic job making sure that all
these things felt what they were supposed to. Um anybody that's worked with D and the financial team would understand that how complicated it is. So okay this next slide um the debt that we actually issued for the sewer in
total was the 31,800. What we assessed was 25 million because of all the offsets. So the rule is with the assessment or betterment funds, whatever you want to call them, we can only pay the percentage out of the betterment funds that were assessed, not
the total principle. So that's the 81.63% that we can pay out of the betterment funds. So next slide. Um this is the debt schedule. Um it breaks down uh the top three are the
excluded debt that we had to come up with and the last one the clean water trust is mostly where the the um assess the betterments came from. So that's all the debt out through FY30. Um this is the total debt service. The
max possible is the next line of what we can actually pay out of betterment. The next line is what we used this year on FY26 was 300,000 because we didn't have a lot of money there yet because we had just established this. In FY27, our plan is 840,000 in betterment funds and the
amount that's not covered is that 989. And by FY28, we should be able to use the full amount of the 80% assessment out of Betterment Funds. So, the top line here is the collections
that we should get from Betamments, assuming everybody is on a 30-year plan. We've estimated out 30 years that everybody's spreading the debt out and then what our usage is here underneath that how we're going to use the betterment funds. And then this the assessment balances.
This is what we how people have signed up. So 30-year aortionments were 66 parcels. Two were 20. One parcel was 15 years. One parcel was 10 and two were five. Um 12 parcels paid in full. And um
all of the the sewer betterments are attached to the quarter three and quarter four tax bills. Our current the current that's okay. The current balance right now in that account is the 1.1. So
we need that we need the betterment funds from this year before we can vote next year to to pay that portion of the debt. So we'll keep a close eye on collections of those accounts. So in the February bill for example, we build probably over just a little over a
million correct split. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Questions on the betterment. I mean this is this is on us until we can start seeing stuff. So, it's a long way down. We're going to be dealing
with this, >> which isn't a surprise we did this. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nick. >> Have a good night. >> Thank you, Robin. So, we're going to be looking for the same amount of funds that the water department's getting. I have the uh the
most pristine conservation properties in the whole state. Um, for for those of you that don't know, I think I know everybody over here. I'm Tim Pearson. I'm the conservation agent uh fulfilling uh Amy Green's uh shoes.
So, let's jump right into it. Um some of our major accomplishments that we've had this last fiscal year. Um we've had 61 public meetings. Um 29 permits issued, closed out, 19 other administrative
actions taken during those meetings. Um we've had a survey completed at Webster Woods and had um balance installed. Um, we have completed our Cloverdale 88 trail uh boardwalk turnaround uh and
parking area improvements. Um, the purpose of that project was to to enhance the accessibility of the uh the main um boardwalk at Cloverette. Um, we've had numerous treatments of
invasive plant species done. um mostly ones that we have uh already had previous treatments for. Um and then an additional one at uh Bumblebee where we um noticed that there was spotted nap um
that had taken uh fold there. Um we continue to give the uh the vert pool education talk. Um we gave that to the uh the little little gardener club. Um we organized a uh seminar that Mass
Wildlife came in and gave um on coexisting with black bears. Um we have put in many hours uh restoring the new town hill community garden uh because it was in
desperate need of of some rehab. And then we have completed over 115 sitewalks and inspections for uh projects that have have been active. >> Okay. Um
before I even get into this, I just want to say the narrative that you're seeing in the packet, it needs to be updated and and revised um before it is accurate. So, some of the numbers that are noted in there may not be consistent with the um the budget or the um
the money items that you're seeing below. So, with that said, um we're looking to assistant or sorry, the uh conservation agent, the hours are are going to be consistent uh 40 hours this fiscal year.
We're looking for another 40 next fiscal year. uh assist agent. Like Nick said, water department is funding uh eight hours of Lauren salary. Um we are funding 32 hours. We're looking to keep that consistent next fiscal year. Um and
then anticipating to request in uh FY28 to fund those 40 hours entire entirely within conservation's budget. um the office coordinator uh Heidi which we share with uh board of health and
facilities. Um prior to to uh Heidi taking on that role we had split an office coordinator with board of health and it was 50/50. We were funding uh 20 hours. Um, with Heidi, we are only funding uh four of her 40 hours per
week. Can you back up just one minute there? I didn't get to the expenses. Okay. Um, for we initially requested um $20,000 a little north of $20,000 for land management. A lot of stuff is, you
know, uh, open space needs and invasive species treatments, um, among a few other things. Um, office costs have stayed consistent, um, with or generally consistent with, uh, how much we had in
in fiscal year 26. Um, and then lake management was an additional cost that we had not previously uh had funded clean lakes committee. um had had dealt with the uh the oversight of lake management issues. Um and so we had
requested that $123,000 for uh invasive species, aquatic invasive species treatments at uh Long Lake and Forge Pond as well as lake management plans for Long Lake and Forge Pond as well. Spectacle Pond um is is uh
funded by the water department since they have the uh the well over there. they have an interest in in funding those projects. So, here you can see the the revised budget. Um, and the main difference of the two being that uh you know, we met with with Rob and Jim uh Kim and
Michelle and we talked about you know cuts and um we talked about CPC and some of the items that we were requesting funds for um under lake land management. um mainly
the boardwalks um were were seen as items that we could apply uh for funds through CPC which we've received funds from CPC for boardwalks in the past. Um and so that reduced the number quite significantly by about $10,000. Um and
then there were the the lake management items um which we were also asked to to submit CPC applications uh to fund. Um that being said, um the conservation commission has worries that you know the
the CPC isn't a shoein, right? Um and so with it not being a shoe in um the commission feels that we should we would like to request that those funds um be allocated toward to uh us within our budget. And you can see the the numbers
right there um for each of those items. Uh we don't anticipate any additional personnel um in our five-year operating needs plan. Um, the only thing that we uh anticipate, like I said before, is that we uh anticipate requesting an
additional eight hours um to fund the totality of of our assistant agent Lauren's uh budget and then water would not have to fund the uh the eight hours that they are funding her uh this year. And for FY27,
>> this we do not have any uh capital budget requests uh for FY27. Uh in FY28, we anticipate that we will need to um replace our our vehicle that our department uses. We have a a Ford Explorer that we use right now and it is
in pretty poor condition. Um think we might be able to make it last another year. Um We'll see if that happens. Um, but we we got a quote for a uh a Ford F-150 Lightning um for the the dollar amount that you see there, that 51
number. >> Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Um the 150,000 Can you go back to that slide, please?
Have you approached CPC yet? >> Yes. So, we uh we met with CPC um last month um and they approved I'm trying to think they approved funds for the Long
Lake management plan to be done or to be funded. um they have not yet approved um funds for the forge pond management plan um or the herb or the invasive species treatments
for either of the the water bes long take what was the article we did last $30,000 the clean lakes committee to spend for projects that's it was kind of openended >> yeah right
>> y >> do you know if if clean lakes committee has intention of spending that money >> I'm not sure the status of that um in addition to these uh costs Uh we anticipated spending they have and we confirmed this with with Carolyn
Mueller that they have $20,000 or Forge Pond specifically has $20,000 um that could be applied towards herbicide treatments um >> so the the money that they received from
CPC from last year they still haven't spent >> there is there's some leftover money at 20,000 forge I I don't think there's there's any other leftover costs that that could be applicable for um invasive species treatment at at Long Lake um and
and none for um no CPC funds have been allocated for management plans. >> Okay. So these projects you see them as ongoing projects >> um it's annual more annual cost. So with the management plans, most of the items
in there um are to develop a baseline for the water body health um which is very useful u to have that historical data going forward. Um and then really the one thing in there that would and it wouldn't be the same um it wouldn't be
the same cost. I think it would be reduced is uh for the the water quality testing and that's more of a monitoring ongoing u maintenance type item. I I think that the little meeting you
had with with us, some of us, um, we brought this up to get this money put into your operating budget is probably not going to happen. The best way to get funds is through the capital plan.
>> Okay? And so if we submit these things and add on to our capital >> because it's just separate funds there more available on on this side right >> on the operating budget side. >> Yeah. >> Um you have better chance at getting
these things approved if we did it that way. >> U so if we can get some idea maybe the commissioners can get some idea from CPC what they really intend to fund
and if you can get that answer to us sooner than later because we'll be talking capital on Saturday. Um, just so we have an idea of of what's in front of us for capital for the committee. Also, that 30,000 from last year, it's
open-ended for Clean Lakes. If you can tap those funds or have the Clean Lakes Committee tap those funds for some of these projects, that's going to help Okay. And we can discuss as as a board the I think the best way whether to make
it a capital project specifically for these things or to make it another open-ended article with funds in it for certain things. Okay. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I just I didn't
know if they the clean committee already had plans to spend that 30,000. I'm not I just wasn't sure of the the status of that. Um I will say after our uh initial meeting with CPC to go over these items um like I said they approved the long lake management plan the funds for that
um get the sense that they're on board with the um the forge pond management plan um and at least the idea of it. The main concern with the forge pond items is whether or not um Westber is going to
be splitting those with us. Um and if they're not, do we look at only having a management plan done and invasive species treatment done on the Littleton side of lake? Um so there's I've been I still have the I haven't
heard from the Westward Conservation Agent on if that's going to be feasible. Um, so my understanding is that Westford CPC has gotten to the point where they consider any um aquatic invasive species
treatment uh maintenance and so they they don't allocate funds to that anymore. Um I'm I'm not so sure um what what they would think about the the management plan funding that happen. Okay. Um, with the Long Lake in invasive
species treatment, um, there was just some concern from some of the Clean Lakes committee members about wording, um, whether or not the scope of the work is going to be confined to herbicide treatment or if it should be expanded to
include mechanical stuff. So, um, the clean lace committee members met with conservation last night and sorted through that stuff. I do get the sense that the clean or the the CPC is on board to uh road to to funding the um
invasive species treatment at Long Lake. >> Okay. >> So, you also have the $10,000 of the old Clean Lakes budget in your budget. So, what's that money going to be used for? um that could be used as a
like a a contingency, you know, in case some of these costs. So, I took these costs um specifically the the lake management plan costs from um Spectacle Ponds management plan that they had put together um and done this in this past
year. Um and increase the amounts to conservatively um account for inflation. Um but there's, you know, there could be some unexpected cost that that $10,000 would
would cover. Um and and same with the invasive species treatments um taken from uh Spectacle Ponds herbicide contract, herbicide treatment contract that they had um done this past
year. um and accounted for I know Forge Pond has I'd say similar quantities of of invasives to uh spect they're in just a bad shape long lake has a little bit less so even though it it says that we're requesting more for um for Long
Lake even though it's in less bad shape um we were actually counting on that $20,000 that that CPC has from um previous year's uh CPC funds so we were counting on $55,000 total to to spend on
uh Forge Pond. >> Were you um for F for F for F for F for F for F for F for F for F for F forge Pond were you looking at when you're budgeting for the whole pond? >> The whole you were okay. >> Yes. >> So that would potentially be split with Western. >> Yeah. That's
that's something we might be able to help reach out to select there too because I know that they hit some right issues with their budget last I don't know if that's one of the things that being discussed was being dropped or
they they didn't drop their dredging budget did they >> CLC or Westford >> Westford >> uh honestly I'm not sure >> I is to me um and this is more of a question for the select board administration
and maybe consom here. Who's driving the bus? We've got a clean lace committee that's been playing in the water for now years. Not a whole heck of a lot has come out of it. We have conservation
commission stepping up to bringing um $158,000 forward um from a policy standpoint, from a management standpoint, who should be driving this bus because we have too
many fingers in this pie right now. So, and certainly isn't us, but as Joe taxpayer, I'm saying Okay. Now what >> I think moving it under conservation was the first big step
where >> so it's officially been moved to conservation >> operations are under conservation I would put it that way. >> Okay. Clean lace I missed that >> providing a lot of institutional knowledge and a lot of good advice.
>> Um so does clean >> what needs to be done >> from a subset of conservation or do they work for conservation? Do they are they dissolved? >> It requires Yeah, it requires a town meeting action to dissolve clean but
>> okay >> I don't think there's any appetite to do that right just right now. >> Okay. just so we don't have too many atoms bouncing around in this >> queue. Okay, thank you. Um CBC sees their funds
using them whether you're talking about a management plan as meeting the criteria of using CBC funds preservation purposes that maintenance in the past has been kind of >> Yeah. Yeah. It's it's my understanding is that it kind of varies kind of to
town depending on their CPC. Um Andrew, correct me if I'm wrong. Um did they did they vote on the eligibility for all four? >> So the management plan for Long Lake was voted on and the remaining three applications were heard, but they
weren't there wasn't any action taken. The CBC for the most part uh is supportive of clean lakes or lake activities, aquatic invasives, management plans. Having it be an ongoing thing might be an issue because then it could
potentially be seen as maintenance. Um that's that kind of gray area. At the same time, the committee wants to preserve funds for future open space purchases as well. So we don't want to siphon uh you know valuable CBC dollars off in large quantities yearly. I I
would imagine um because it would take away from our purchasing power down the road. Um but certainly projects like this I think the committee is very supportive of. Um if it came back year after year I can't gauge you know what that could potentially look
like but this year I think uh if I were to take the temperature of that committee I would say it's generally pretty supportive of uh of these proposals. So I guess Andrew, if we could iron that out with with CPC as much as you can. I know they're probably not meeting the
next couple of days, but >> yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I think the next meeting will be uh it's always the second, sorry, third Wednesday of the month. So it'll be mid February, but we'll have an answer uh at that meeting hopefully on all remaining three
applications. But beforehand, like I said, it's very hard to take a an accurate up-to-date temperature of the committee, but based off of our one uh last week, I'd say the committee seemed pretty supportive of the applications. >> So, if it if it's going to get tougher
and tough at the CPC to approve these things because it's comes maintenance. >> Exactly. >> Then let's start to figure out a way to, you know, get it into the capital budget. It's not going to get into the operating
budget. >> We would have to cut 150,000 from somewhere else to get it to you right now. So >> yeah, >> we have better options to go to the the capital plan to to get those funds. So that's when it comes time next year, Jim,
>> capital request comes around, make sure you get it on there, make sure you put it in what you're going to need for each year and the 10 years. >> Okay. >> As an estimate. >> Yeah. >> Just so we can stop putting them apart. Does everybody want to dictate for the group? Sounds
like the easiest way for me. >> Well, I but I also think there is a big gray area with the CPC. So, if it is something that obviously um it's going to be something that has to be bridged over years to to migrate to what you're talking about. I don't
it's it's nice to know what that budget has to look like, what that capital expense is going to be, but we're not supposed to be using capital for the yeartoyear routine expenses either. Correct. >> Well, he said this is just giving a baseline
>> the lake management plan. Um the invasive species treatments are are presumed to be ongoing. I mean, all of these aquatics that we're treating are are you know what this I don't know if it's the state that considers it um non- eradicatable
aquatic invasive species. Um so the idea being you know throw funds at it now and and over time the need it'll diminish the populations they'll have to throw less and less money at it. So even if it's if it's even if it's an ongoing thing for a little while maybe a
capital article an article itself specifically for invasive species treatment load it up they spend it as they need it that type of thing. You know as well as I do putting that kind of money into the operating budget
it's just it's going to be harder and harder to support. Do you know how much we have in the uh open space bucket? >> No, >> I think it was around the 600k range, but that's just me throwing wild numbers at you guys.
>> Just the open space bucket. >> Yeah, >> we do have a fair amount in undesated as well, but we try not to dip heavily into that just because if there's a big wreck project or a big housing project or historical, uh, we don't want to deplete those funds. So, it's always good to have that reserve rolling.
Thanks. >> So if the if the commissioners are taking over the more the management of the clean lakes from the committee, can you have some conversations with them about that $30,000 article from
last year? How I guess now you intend to spend that with their advice? >> Absolutely. Yeah, we can certainly, you know, meet with them and determine, you know, where and when we're going to use those funds. They are pretty restricted to forge pond and aquatic invasive plant
control. It is flexible in terms of the methods, but it's invasives 100%. >> Uh the $30,000 from last year's article, it wasn't specific to anything. >> I'm fairly certain that was aquatic invasive plant control over if I'm
remembering correctly. >> This is you're talking about the CPC article or No, >> no, that's why. >> Oh, sorry. >> Oops. There was an article at town meeting last year of $30,000 for the clean links committee. >> Oh, gotcha. Gotcha. >> And you're saying there's 20,000 still
there. There's 30. As far as I know, there's still 30,00 >> 20,000 is a separate CPC with a separate CPC. >> So, we'll have to talk to find out what the status of that 30K is. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> and if we can apply to some of this then
all of that >> long range we do need to look at it just like we we mow the fields you know that's an operational expense and at some point this is going to be an operation if we want to continue to operate under a management plan it's
going to be an operational budget I can't see us getting around it we definitely can't keep tapping CPC it's >> well I'm not talking CPC I'm talking setting up a separate article like we did last year with the 30,000.
>> They spend it. It rolls for for at least three to five years. They spend it as they need it. That type of thing. We can talk about that Saturday comes down. >> Any other questions for Tim or the
commissioners at all? Thank you. Thank you. Good job. Good job. >> Even though you weren't involved, >> that should have >> Where was that first? >> I I should have said that. Even Even I
know the guppies. >> You should tell about the Seahawks incident last week. >> What? I don't know what you're talking about. Good morning. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Some major accomplishments for the past
year. Um in July one we went from fully paper to paperless for all of our permit applications about 21 total. Um we also did a lot of work with the regional opiate planning. Um so we're going to be pulling resources with six
other towns make a strategic plan um to do a regional approach to substance abuse efforts. We also conducted a large scale comparable fee schedule uh across local boards of health in Massachusetts. We did about 16 towns total. Um, and we
developed a fully new fee schedule based on those town states. We also continued to update our board of health regulations. Um, and make amendments. Our goals for the upcoming year, uh, we receive about 50 plus years of
archived files from the show boards of health. We have been working to try to digitize all those and make it into an online platform where residents and business owners will be able to pull down their own documents whenever they want instead of having to come into the office. Um so we'll continue that work
during the year. U also talked about looking at social media more and making a landing page um have dedicated to public health education and awareness issues throughout the year. We're also discussing internally in land use about developing the guides for
homeowners, contractors, and for just uh prospective business owners. A lot of times they don't know where to start when they kind of need a road map. So, what we're going to be working on over the next year is creating road maps for all the divisions within land use and how they cross over so people have a
better idea of where to go and cut us down on time and helps them go in the right directions. U we'll be doing the laws the same for things like septic which can be very confusing to homeowners as well. Uh so we're proposing for the operating budget for FY27
a $10,000 increase in professional services. Um having leave coverage to the town of conquer through their health director for $1,500. uh requested 400 increase in expenses and requested $450 memberships for board
of health members. Um after discussion, need to cut back on $450 decrease in board of health memberships, $200 in travel expense, $200 in tools equipment for a total of
$850. Um, we do anticipate having more inspectional needs over the next five years. I don't foresee anybody any capital requests coming up in the next five years. >> Can you go back?
>> What are you using for vehicle? Um, I just use my cards. >> What is leave coverage? >> Uh, so leave would be if I went on a vacation or birth of a child, something like that. We don't have any staff that
can cover any emergency situation. It's after hours. So this amount would represent multiple situations that might happen. Let's say title five have food which might require intensive hours. So that should cover $100 an hour for I forget the amount of hours but it would
cover the worst case. >> Wait, does that say when you budget professional services? >> So that' be within the professional services. >> So that that line item is 68,500. So 42 of that would be for the public health nurse, 25 for professional
services and 15 for question. um as a board along with the the LBD and I think LFD a few years back, we we um did a kind of a deep dive into what we ought to witness and had some speakers
come to the high school and I would just maybe tap into those resources and see if uh you can collaborate collaborating with other towns which is fantastic but just see if there's any institutional knowledge you know within these two buildings that please hire. >> We are right now we're advancing programs that already exist to tie into
it. So, it's just a very broad way. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's all it was. We We were doing it then. It was It was trying to >> Yeah. It'll bring it back. >> Pull it all together. Yeah. Good. Thank you. >> On other note, I I just wanted to thank
you. You know, I'd go around um town a little bit and talk to different restaurants and the owners and just kind of see what they think of you. And um Hey, >> he's going to report. No, they it's it's all positive. Not
easy, but much more positive than dealing of the past. >> No names. No names. >> So, just want to let you know that um they people speaking well of you. >> I've heard the same thing. >> Gary visits all the restaurants. >> I do not want to list
>> just research. You can take that inspection job. >> So, if I may, um, the $450 in membership for BO members, if we go to the next slide real quick, that was cut. I would like to see that actually put
back into the budget. um that actually goes to a place that uh we use and utilize for all of our legal questions for boards of health and it's the Massachusetts um organizations of
the boards of health. So, we actually use that as a legal service to go get pre-adjudicated items that may come to like, you know, uh updating our well um requirements and
things like that. Uh so, that is actually where that $450 is coming in. It's actually that membership. >> Is that considered legal fees? >> I wouldn't mind seeing that. >> No, it's not a legal fee. It's it's an organization membership. That's one of the benefits of being part of the
organization. Right. >> Right. Right. Right. Right. >> And that's a board expense or I would think that would be a Francis thing. >> It's more meant for the boards of health in general than health department type of staff. >> Do you have access to the same information? >> Yes. >> We were friendly with them. So,
>> but to get the access that we really need, we need to have a paid membership for that. >> And was that one we just reduced to 200 or 250? We get rid of it completely, >> right? >> Wait. So, it would be adding the 450 back is the request. Yeah,
>> I'd like to see the other I'd like to see the other items added back in just because of uh how such a good job Francis is doing. >> Travel goes to his driving his car around tools and equipment. >> Sure.
>> Steve, can I ask a question? >> Do you have that same membership already, Francis? Uh, >> I do not. It's specifically for board of health. And is that for one membership? >> For one membership. >> Okay. Thank you. >> It's for the entire board to use. >> Okay. I just know it's one membership.
Two memberships. >> No, no, just one. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. You're welcome. >> Any else for Francis? >> Thank you. >> Thanks everybody. >> Thanks, Francis. Good work.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening again, everybody. Different hat. Andrew, >> different hat. So, good evening everyone. Um I'm here tonight with Superintendent TC Bailey and fellow commissioner Carolyn Mueller
in the audience. So just to give a quick recap of some of our u accomplishments this year for the department. Uh we did uh continue expanding and improving our Sullivan Loop expansion area at Westlon. Uh we continued to develop and uh sell
new grave space to the public uh to meet demands. uh continued our very popular uh historic gravestone preservation program at Westlon. Uh luckily with CPA funding uh this time around very grateful for that. Um using our seasonal
staff position we significantly improved operational efficiency this year as with last year having that third person during peak season is super help. I mean, it really takes a tremendous load off of our two full-time staff members to, you know, conduct office work and
to, uh, meet with families, funeral homes. Uh, it's really key having them. Um, we continued, uh, seeking our conditions, uh, assessment for the cemetery administrative building. That's been a little bit of a struggle to, uh, get somebody to actually give us a quote to get that work done. It seems to be a
very niche thing for somebody to go into a municipal cemetery building and to assess it and let us know what's wrong with it. We've sent it to a number of firms and unfortunately nobody's bitten on it. So hopefully we'll get a
qualified firm to uh take us up on the job. Um, and we did continue our ongoing uh tree and shrub health val and replacement as well as invasive plant control on site at Westlon and the ovarian ground.
Um, some goals for FY27. Uh, we're going to continue implementing recommendation well sorry we would implement recommendations from the uh building conditions assessment once it's obtained. Hopefully, we get it within this fiscal year within it will uh guide our future improvements and uh the needs
for that building. Uh we're going to continue removing hazardous trees uh at Westlon annual bearing ground uh replacing them in kind with pollinator friendly shrubs and trees and we're also going to be removing invasive plants uh at both sites as well. Uh we're going to
continue the historic gravestone preservation program at Westlon this upcoming summer with pre-allocated uh CPA revenue sorry CPA uh grants from last calendar year and uh we're hoping to continue that for years to come. Uh
we're going to continue to maintain a compassionate service to families and uh visitors to Weslon and working cooperatively and and well with other departments, the town's people and uh anyone who really needs our help. Uh we'll be uh improving departmental
record storage accessibility. That's a big thing. A lot of times people come to us and they're like, "Hey, uh do you have this particular person at your old bearing ground or at Westlon?" And we're always striving to make that information more readily available to the uh the
public so they're not having to come up to the cemetery building and ask, especially historic records. We love our historic records. Um and we're going to continue expanding staff training and professional development among our two full-time staff members and seasonal.
It's a little tricky to, you know, maintain uh that same person year after year, but if we can get them back, we love developing their skills and and uh continuing their professional development year after year. So, uh this was our requested budget for
FY27. Um, in terms of collective wages, we had uh uh 184,416 proposed uh expenses, 31,200 for a total of 215,616 uh dollars. Um, and the expenses go
towards things like supporting our machinery, our truck, our building, and uh the grounds. So, our revised budget uh did go down a little bit. Uh in terms of wages, it did
go down by about a thousand to 183,416. Uh and then our wage uh expenses were cut down to about 30,500 uh taking 700 out of office supplies. Office supplies for the uh department
typically uh revolve around printings for lot sales. Uh we'd like to supply individuals when they come to our department with plenty of information. So when you buy a great block, we're giving you a folder with everything under the sun that we can give you just so that you're informed. Um and
throughout the year, we do have to replace things like deep books um and other really important uh vital records that the cemetery maintains, you know, for hundreds of years at a time. Um so a cut in that area is a little tricky.
We'll try to get by with it, but ideally, I mean, if if we had our local funded budget, that would be best, but we get, you know, we're tightening our belts all around. Um, so if we did uh wind up needing more, we of course we'd be back, but we'll try to manage with uh
you know, what we have in the uh revise. So this is just a quick uh overview uh in depth of our um just staff salaries for the uh fiscal year uh century superintendent uh assistant superintendent
overtime seasonal staff member and lunch depete and same thing with the expense budget detail. Um you can see we have a very small budget compared to other departments and uh you know we try to
use our resources very conservatively at the cemetery. Uh we work with what we have and uh I think we do a pretty good job managing overall what we are allocated. Um but for instance water we get about $1,000 to water the uh two
cemeteries for the year. Vehicle repair maintenance. Uh we have a 2012 pickup truck. Uh it's probably one of the oldest vehicles in town, but we'll get to that uh actually in our upcoming slide. Uh maintenance for that is uh picking up
year after year. Uh software, 3500, office supplies, uh building maintenance, and so on and so on for a total of uh $30,500. So, in terms of our uh five-year operating needs from FY27 to FY31, uh we
anticipate uh wage and costs uh wage and benefit costs increases. Uh we'll have a continued need for the seasonal staffing support. Like I mentioned before, having this third person online is really key for this the success of the department. I we've got a great crew. our two
full-time staff members, TC and Ian, do an amazing job, and they can get by, but for us to really do an amazing job. That third person to help during peak season really, uh, helps tremendously. And then, um, in terms of cemetery software
and technology upgrades, uh, we will down the road have to, uh, transition to a new, uh, mapping system, uh, and data system for grave grave lots. Uh, it's actually really expensive for that. Um at our last meeting we did touch upon uh
the fact that we'll probably be between 8 and 13,000 down the road to uh transition bless me sorry >> to transition our existing data to a new platform. Uh once the company or the vendor that we're using phases out that
service. Um we don't really have a a solid timeline of when that might be. We'll bless you. But um just something to keep in our back pocket in terms of a future need. And then um like I mentioned before, there's always office equipment and record management supplies
which are really key for our department. Uh so in terms of capital budget requests for this fiscal year, uh we did ask this time around as we have for the last I want to say maybe last five years uh for the replacement of our aging
cemetery service truck. Um over the last 10 years, it's had issues everything from transmission replacement to uh you name it, rust, brakes. Uh it's it's really one of those trucks or department
vehicles that if that truck fails tomorrow, cemetery doesn't have a vehicle to to use anymore for anything. Whether it's moving equipment, uh getting from cemetery to cemetery, field bearing ground, uh over by Shadic
Street, we would be in a crisis situation without that truck. Um, so we did ask this time around uh again for uh $78,000 roughly for a uh state-of-the-art uh reliable new uh utility truck for the
department to meet our needs. And then um as I mentioned before uh we do have uh RQs out for the um cemetery administrative building rehab uh which is still pending and hopefully we can get that in hand uh this fiscal year and
uh get some results and guidance as to what we'll need uh for future capital expenses. Um and then in terms of the uh capital year, just to explain five-year capital plan, sorry, to expand upon that a little bit more. Um
we already touched on the uh symmetry administrative building upgrades and improvements. Uh we've floated in years past potential need for a mini excavator to do site work and grave excavation as the cemetery constraints, but that's just still a very rough idea of
something that uh the town might need in the next 5 10 years. Um nothing crucial or immediate by any means. Um and then our we've got our historic gravation project which um we would love to see go year after year as it has for the last
eight or nine years. Um, we'd love to see that go in perpetuity uh for the time being. Uh, just because the town's people really appreciate the preservation of u the historically and culturally significant monuments at Stillbearing Ground in Welon. Um, yeah,
and that's um essentially it for the five-year capital plan. And that's it. I I had a couple questions under the 109,000 in FY30. That's the mini excavator in the county.
>> Yes. Yes. Which again I I can't see that being even within that 5 year or sorry that uh three-ear period. It's just something that we'd love to keep on the horizon just in case because we don't want to wind up in a situation down the road where we can't get equipment in between gravestones. Uh
>> this is the fourth year invested. at least I was about to say so I know you're saying it's not crucial you know on the horizon but it's >> this has come in front of us now >> maybe at least four years >> a mini excavator >> it did it has >> it's under FY30 for now
>> but I mean in previous cycles you've even had shown the uses and why it the value of it and why it it would make sense it would buy itself back over time so there was a lot of plans for it so I >> I don't want to just kind of push push
it off on the horizon because it is something that you could probably speak to it more. >> We uh there are situations that arise where already where we need to borrow a mini from the water department and they've been very accommodating in that. Uh it's kind of tough to ask though
because it's theirs is just big enough that we can't pull it with our truck. So it takes two of their guys to drop it and then come get it later. >> The other option >> Sorry. Would the new truck be able to be able to pull it? No, not the way it's speced out. >> Okay.
>> It would be that you need a heavy CDL truck to pull to pull the one they have. >> Okay. >> There is a smaller one available that would actually be better for cemetery. >> Um the other alternative is to move headstones if you had to. We
have a device like a pincher that goes on the end of the back of the bucket. We can do it. I don't like it. >> Sure. If you were to drop it and take a chunk out of the corner, now the cemetery's on the hook for somebody's family headstones.
Not not ideal. We've done it a couple times, though. >> You also have to do graves by hand. >> Had to finish a couple by hand to get just couldn't reach. >> Yeah.
>> Um the preservation um gravestones. >> Yes. >> You know, um I think it might have been last year. I was surprised to find out that the individuals that do this are well seasoned, I will say. >> Um, >> do they is there a plan? Do they do they
have a younger group coming up or you going are you? Yeah, thank you. Or you actually been able to look at what our future is because when this ends. >> Yeah. >> Which seems not to be too far off. >> I actually did meet with uh Jim and Miy uh who work for actually it's their firm
Finn. They do amazing, incredible work. Um, they indicated to me that they intended to keep this going um, you know, as long as possible. I do know that they have a crew with them um, that works very closely in every aspect of the preservation work. So, I would
imagine that that would keep going and we would want to continue that relationship as long as possible. Uh, they do amazing work. Uh, and I mean, we appreciate everything they do for us. They're just very comprehensive and just really care. I mean, every time I meet with them, they tell me uh this is their
favorite, one of their favorite towns to work in uh just because of our staff and uh with the lovely towns people. So, >> all right. Thanks. >> Was the Eagle Scout project that was that was also restoration but not the
same or was that >> same detail? >> So, the uh we actually did have an Eagle Scout uh come to us on Monday night. Um they're actually looking to uh place uh some more veteran uh grave flag holders. >> Uhhuh. >> Um which we'd love. I mean, we want to
see every veterans grave at Westlon one. Uh so they're able to uh you know, have that flag for Memorial Day and >> and other uh holidays throughout the year. Um >> uh but yeah, we're really excited to work with that scout. Really grateful that they're offering to do it along
with uh Larco. He's the best. Uh >> you have an Italian project that was done. There was that was that was a that was last year. They >> they came and um >> I forget that young man's name, but he was a nice nice kid and he did really good work. They put in a few Saturdays,
>> edged them all out and you know refreshed the area around them, made them a lot more visible, which was great. They did scope work though you're talking about, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you. Andrew
Andrew separately new account the trust fund commissioners met yesterday. >> Yeah, yesterday. >> Whatever. >> I don't know what date is either. Yeah, I I think we we'd like to probably schedule a meeting with with the cemetery commissioners to talk about the
trust funds, >> how much we can if we can apply something to the building when it does come through and then talk about some deposits into the funds. maybe. Yeah, actually, uh, this past Monday, we
did discuss, um, having on our next agenda, um, or actually a little maybe a couple months from now, uh, taking revenue from lot sales and adding to perpetual care, um, and keeping that going just so there's, uh, you know, actually revenue going in and we're not
just solely, you know, relying on uh, on um, >> so when you when you do talk about this meeting, if you put us on your agenda, we'll come to your meeting. No problem. >> Okay. Okay, it'd be lovely. Thank you. >> Just let us know. >> Anything else for
>> Thanks. >> Carolyn, while you're here, >> um, any updates on CPC, what projects you're looking at this year, and everybody? >> Yeah, most of them will come up in February, March. We have a lot of late projects. I got you here in the middle
of the conservation uh meeting, but uh we've already approved our invasive for >> long management >> long the long lake management plan. We approved or recommend to recommend to
town meeting the uh forge pond ones. We had sent them back to conservation. So, we'll expect those back in February. Actually, uh Lauren sent me the projects today. So we have Forge Pond Madawanaki management plan and then herbicide treatments for both Long Lake and
Forge Pond Madawani. And then there's another um invasive for Heartwell, the Heartwell property, Heartwell conservation property. What do they call it? Terrestrial >> terrestrial invasive control.
And um they also have two boardwalks coming in. Those I think are going to come in in February. I can't remember the properties those are at. >> I can't think of it. >> Yeah. So those are two two smaller ones. Um we're still waiting on the affordable
housing trust. They're going to h uh want to reimburse their LRAP program. uh they still have some money left over from last year and I know there's some discussions on how much they'll need because they're looking at their policies. Um so we're expecting that to come through either February or March
and uh Marin Tuill I think she talked to you guys during her budget hearing about a uh housing plan that will um come through CPC. So we kind of discussed it really quick at at our last meeting but I don't see
there were no objections. So, we told them to come ahead and come to that. Um, I haven't heard from park and wreck yet. Um, I'll have to I'll send another message out to it. See if they have anything on the
horizon, but I haven't heard of anything else. >> Okay. Any unofficially for Caroline? >> I'll send you an update once we have our next meeting. Okay. >> Thank you. Robin, >> is this you veteran?
>> This is me. Sorry. Sorry. I'm tracking the time. Okay. So, um veterans agent um they designated the town as a purple house community last year. Um this year I should say, expanded department accessibility to 19 hours per week. Um
launched new outreach initiatives. um veterans spotlight program on LCTV and the veterans coffee hour. Um the goals that were set for FY27 was uh lead community and ceremonial events,
maintain veterans memorials and veterans corner, pursue professional training, expand digital outreach, and deepen the community engagement. So this was his requested budget, the 2972
and the $3,780 in expenses for a total of the 33652. I don't believe you made any cuts, correct? That's not there. He didn't change any of his nothing. So he increased some of his lines um
appropriately. They're doing the plans to do a lot more this year in the veteran service budget. And um this is for benefits. The 10,000 goes to the VA and we went over with Michael the 120,000 in veterans benefits
and he was comfortable with that number. So this transition between veterans agents from John to Now >> um are those reports getting filed down? >> Yes, actually on time. Yep.
>> Okay. And uh the money coming in from the cherry sheet is is that reflecting of this higher budget for >> That's delayed, right? A couple years. >> That's delayed by one year. one year but it's been going up
>> as benefits go. >> Is he saying an an increase in requests? >> It's um there there there has been an increase uh request from uh the current veterans agent predecessor as a result
of of of his efforts. Uh right now uh he is just reaching making sure reaching out and communicating while he goes through the training uh with a neighboring veterans agent, the neighboring town's veteran veterans agent. Um he he doesn't want very
conscientious about making sure that the the wrong information is not relayed and all that kind of stuff. So uh contact is continued but uh any further action is is >> I was just wondering with crisis going on like crazy >> right
>> tends to people that might be too proud to ask aren't quite as proud anymore when we get behind >> it it's tough situation but I was just you know with inflation the way it's going right
yep Any else? Skip down to the town administrative. Unless all you want to work for us. >> Okay. Um, thank you.
So hitting uh let's uh we'll first hit some some accomplishments over the over the past year. Uh the TA's office coordinated with the select board the school leadership fin and municipal staff to advance funding for the Shaker Lane school uh including the
special town meeting warrant article that was successful uh for the debt exclusion and ballot question uh assisted in the coordination that was a brainchild of the select board for spotlight business program to highlight local businesses through the town new
news newsletter and website. You may have seen some uh some uh businesses that uh have appeared in that and that's uh that is continuing continuing forward and it's going to kind of delve off into uh the town administrator's uh business
uh visitation program whereas I will be able to which is further down at a bullet point but it's going to complement uh that so I will be able to get word out that if they're interested happy to spotlight them also. Um, so
here the TA's office managed the planning execution of special and annual T meetings including warrant preparation, coordination of supporting materials, implementation of approved actions. uh were able to coordinated uh the office coordinated with LCTV the
launching of the select board podcast which is which is some of you have have have been have been guests at multiple times. It's uh and the listenership has has increased dramatically. Is that right Mark?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Um, uh, TA's office was involved in, um, oversight with the tennis courts and Wickham Field project and, uh, that was a local contractor that, uh, was
able to do that. Um, Joe, >> thank you, Mr. Cataldo. Uh, uh, they did a great job. They did a fanta, absolutely fantastic job. So just waiting for the spring to just cross the tees and dot the eyes on just a a few uh few minor things to be done for the
completion of the project. As we all know the um situation with the closure of the Nishoba Valley Medical Center uh work for Chief Mccertie on the closure and advocacy for financial support to the region because of the closure. As a
result of that, uh we were part of uh the region that got um I've gotten multiple uh funding investments but by the state for that. Uh initially I believe it was approximately $250,000 and that could not that could only be
spent on training. Uh it could not be spent on personnel related overtime actions. But most recently with the $5 million um investment by the Healey
um Driscoll administ administration that uh there's more flexibility on the usage of that of those funds that the chief is overseeing assisted the select board in coordinating the selection process implementation of the charter review
committee and that is uh they have working they're working very very hard and tackling a number number issues as that continues. Um, this was also the town's first full year of the monthly electronic newsletter uh to support resident
communication and engagement on municipal programs and initiatives was that was successful. Readership is steadily increasing uh and one of the the outstanding act the hiring of our new town assistant town administrator Tony Souza right here
to my right. Uh absolutely. Woohoo who was right. Um we also over the course uh of the year we uh we identified an internal team to assist assist assist staff in areas of budgets, procurement, payroll, grants,
human resources area. That has worked out very very well. None none of you are familiar with that that is really something that there are there there are people from within in the in town hall that if there's a particular department that is having difficulty with personal
action forms or uh doing their budgets the team will go and they will sit down and they will help them help help the individual help the department head which is which is fantastic great great team teamwork camaraderie it's it's fantastic
uh appointed a new finance director and assistant finance director/chief procurement officer and they are to my left um continued the TA business visitation program that is ongoing um
let me see uh worked with facilities department the creation of the work order system was launched and has been successful in the first year and that is basically has cut down on direct phone calls that Eric was receiving when he first got here with with requests and now he's able to track them, prioritize
them uh and people can uh can see where it is in the queue. Um, also, uh, I have I'm a member of the Shaker Lane, uh, CM at risk pre-qualification committee where we interviewed a number of
different, uh, contractors, uh, that will be building the, uh, the Shaker Lane school and, um, that was a very very that was a an excellent experience. Uh we also coordinate that the office coordinates the bids for the
infrastructure improvements using the mass work grants funding for at 550 King Street. Uh we continue to support support staff desire and training and certification programs. Uh we coordinated fixing uh the
unexpected mechanical problems at 36 King Street. Uh and the TA and this is something that is um not on there. I've added a couple more. Um the uh the TA's office drafted, you know, an
awardwinning third time annual town report according to MMA. Uh what we want to do for goals going forward. Um I have to change mine too. Uh and essentially uh uh what we want to do is
we want to continue involvement with 550 King Street and 410 Great Road project. Uh plan for the potential uh town charter changes anticipated to be presented to the select board uh through the charter committee report. uh
continue the uh the town administrative business visitation program and also continue with the Shaker Lane building committee and continue to support town employees in the success of the of their jobs. We uh looking at FY28 there some
some of the messages that we we've received that you've all received is some funding support will be cut off uh or or or I shouldn't say maybe not so be abrupt as a cut off but um will be
frowned upon uh after the FY27. So we would like to be able to work with particular departments for example the library the library trustees that basically and Sam when he was here he expressed Uh there is we have LCTV that LCTV and FY28. We want to try and
identify you know how we you know what needs to be what we can do there. Um and we're sitting down the finance team uh and my Tony and I are sitting down with them to discuss those identified shortfalls uh and potential uh
solutions. And um we want to coordinate with the select board on fulfilling their goals and continue drafting uh award-winning annual town reports. And last um we want to Tony is is started
working. We're going to the office is going we want to draft a town and school room rental policy. And uh we want to do that because there was a little bit of confusion on renting space out. We received word from bond council saying as long as there is is
there's a bond on it, you cannot you cannot rent it out then but they they did not finish that statement. So it's they basically said oh you can when challenged uh with that with what the answer they gave us when challenged they said oh you
can but you have to have a policy in place. So that's what we're uh we're going to do and uh try to do that across that table. Is that just an internal little policy? It's not one of these things that has to go all the way.
>> No. Yeah. No, it's internal. I mean, yeah. Exactly. Um and here we have uh the wages 48 for the for the for the staff of three and a half of us is 487,785.
Expenses of $18,600 for a total budget of $56,385 was requested. uh what uh it was reduced uh we reduced it by um of $8,000 hitting uh conferences and meetings um matching
grant funds um reduce the travel and but we did increase the dues and subscriptions because with the the new ATA uh he too was also members of different organizations such as I am which expenses have gone down and now
it's 498,385 And there is no nothing fiveyear capital plan or fiveyear operating meanings going forward. I want to say town council we want to say we level funded that. There was not a slide for that. My apologies. And that
is uh that has been level funded at $280,000 working with Harrington and EA. Is that line inclusive of labor council, bond council? They're all >> under the same. >> It's it's not all bond counsel, but is
labor council part of the project. Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> We budget for bond council >> and their rate increases. It's more like every 3 to 5 years. Is that what we've been seeing from them? >> Um it they haven't increased since I've been here. >> So, I'm trying to keep that streak going
last too long. Maybe they cut it. I don't remember. >> Sure. >> That happens. >> For this budget, >> do you want to be correct?
>> H >> right on time. >> You guys are really ahead on how many hours. >> It's Tony. >> Good job. I kind of wish they had come a little bit earlier. Is this one good? >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Um, good evening members of select board, finance committee, and fellow residents of Littleton. Um, I'm honored to pre present the fiscal year 2027 overview for the parks and recta uh parks, recreation, and community education department. Um, our mission is
to enrich the lives of Littleton residents through diverse recreational, educational, and community- based opportunities. Um, and we're committed to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcome, uh, sorry, safe, clean, and welcoming parks, facilities, uh, to foster connection, inclusion, and
well-being. So, um, this year our major accomplish accomplishments. So, uh, we continue to offer a wide range of rec recreational and educational programs designed for residents of all ages. Um, in fiscal
year 25, we delivered 374 programs serving, uh, 5,849 participants. Um, that's around 73% Littleton residents and 27% non-residents.
Um we continue to support children and families through key programs such as Camp Teen Adventures, uh vacation week programs and ski club. Uh affordability remains central to our work through the youth scholarship program and holiday
helpers program which assisted 61 children um with over 700 donated items in uh December of 24. Um we provided 10 special events and completed several important facility
improvements. Um these included uh working with um Classic Construction and others to do the renovations at 36 King Street. Uh resurfacing of the basketball courts at 300 King Street. Uh installation of an EV charging unit at
300 King Street. um and major upgrades such as the Wickham baseball field, renovation um and construction of four new tennis courts at the Littleton Middle School. Um these accomplishments reflect our commitment to highquality
accessible recreation services for the town of Littleton. Okay. All right. So, some of our goals that we have Thank you. Sadly, I do need a little zoom in these days, you know. Um,
so, um, some of the goals that we have coming up for, um, this upcoming year is, uh, one of the issues that we have coming up is the advocation of, uh, the baseball fields at Shaker Lane. Um,
the rebuild and implementation of a field use plan that's going to serve that community. um for their sports needs and through that transition. Um that's something that we'll also have to figure out uh what we're going to do in the interim time as well, but I'll talk
about that a little bit later. Um we are going to update our um online registration software. Uh so that is upcoming uh in this next year. Uh we're working on an RFQ for that right now.
Um, and one of the big things that the the park commission uh really wants to focus on this next year is just reviewing, updating, and creating any sort of department policies um that are either non-existent, we need to update
and change. Um, so that is definitely a um big component of what one of the things we're working on this year. Um, I'll also be developing a strategic plan that's going to address uh space needs that we have. Um, and that includes ADA
and AAB access issues um and improvements that we may need for recreation facilities, parks, or playgrounds. Um, we always kind of throw this one on there to research any land opportunities if possible. Um, and
develop rights of first refusal with town council. Um, there's not a lot of land out there, so always looking um and develop a detailed maintenance and depreciation list for the department. Um we do have a lot of
equipment. Uh that's something that we have not been able to get to yet. So that is extremely important for us to focus on this upcoming year. All right. So, our requested budget um
so the fiscal year 27 operation budget uh will continue to fund two full-time general fund positions um the director and the assistant director. Um including longevity pay where applicable. uh the
25 sorry 27 requests maintained level funded um compared to uh fiscal year uh 26 across most categories. Um key expenses for the general fund uh include utilities for Long Lake Beach, FA Park,
and 300 King Street. Vehicle maintenance for our vans. Uh we have an electric truck, a events trailer. Um and then we also have three uh 12 passenger vans. Uh professional services will include porta
potties, pest control, um many other things, but that gives you an idea of you know what we're looking at there. Um and then also for special events supporting 10 to 20 community events that are Sorry, >> 12.
>> Sorry, what did I say? 20. Yeah, you know, why not? Let's just add extra 10 in there. Um, sorry. 10 to 12. Thank you, Saul. Um, events uh that would be free to the public at no cost to the public, but there is a large uh cost to
be able to put those programs on. All right. Revised budget. So, the revised budget um reflects reductions in special events line um that was uh dropped down um
just to be able to help out overall with the town uh balancing the budget. So, um with that, you know, we were talking about 10 to 12 special events. If we do 10, we may have to drop it down to 8 to
10. Um, so we're going to figure out internally which ones make the most sense to kind of pull off the docket for uh the year. Um, so we'll take a look at that. Uh, professional services was reduced by $2,655.
Um, this was done because, uh, I had duplicated trash removal for 36 King Street, which was already included in Eric's budget, um, sorry, facilities. So, um, that easily was removed. We didn't need a double of that. Um, so
new, uh, Tim Mahowski, our assistant director, has now accepted a job in Actton. Uh, he'll be the director for parks and recreation there in our next door neighbor town. And, uh, with that, then uh, we'll be hiring for a new assistant director, which means that the
700 that we had for, uh, longevity, that can be taken out because we're not going to have anyone that will be applicable for that. um longevity for the assistant director position. Okay. All right.
Guess we talked about these ones a little bit. Um so just some upcoming uh costs for the department. Um I had mentioned before we're going to be updating our um online software. uh being able to start kind of from scratch
uh and requires a little bit of investment on our side um to be able to get up and running. We've been with the old system for probably about eight years now. Um so it is there's a lot of technology changes that have happened out there over the years. So it makes a
lot of sense for us to upgrade. Um we had already I already talked about the detailed maintenance and depreciation list for our equipment. Um, so if there are items that um potentially do need to be replaced, we will look at should that
be incorporated into the capital request or is that something that we would pay for out of the revolving. So we'll look at those things as we go into the next year. Um, so we currently have two uh pass sorry well right now we have two passenger vans. Tomorrow morning we will
have three. Um so the uh depreciation plan for that um we want to be able to work with that. Um but we have relatively new vehicles. Um even our truck was recently replaced in 2023. Um so also the basketball courts were just
completed as well, but they do suggest that those be resurfaced about every five years to keep them in good repair. Um so that's something that we will be looking at putting on in the future. Um, we also have yet to get the maintenance schedule for the new tennis courts. Um,
but looking at that, that's something that we would want to be able to include that and make sure that we're keeping that facility uh at the best that we possibly can. Okay. So, fiscal year 27 capital. Um, so
we had three items that were on here. Um the park commission had a discussion um a few months ago and we kind of reassessed and and looked at some of these things. Um the season community pool has been on there for a while.
However, that's something that we do not feel is fiscally responsible at this time. Um so sorry Gary, someday my friend, we'll get there. >> Memorial. No way sir. Um so uh yes uh that's
something that for the time being till it makes sense to come back to that project um that we will take a look at that. So for now that one's off. Um the two that they the park commission did decide that were of higher importance were renovations to FA Park. Um mostly
because that is a park that is not really accessible and we really want to make it to be accessible. Um and then also um a design for a dog park. That's one that's been on there for quite some time. So um that being said, uh none of
these are on the capital this year. Um so again, those will be things that we would add um for the the future. Okay. So these are just the ones that we had talked about earlier um about
potential what could be coming. Um the only two that I did not talk about um that we've have already gone through a majority of these would be um we had talked about when we were creating um or renovating
36 King Street that there was a potential need for more space there and the idea of possibly putting in a fieldhouse that would allow us to be able to have indoor um turf or um indoor basketball courts. Um, but the reality
with that one is that we want to hold on to figure out if that's actually needed once we have the actual design for Shaker Lane. Um, so that may not be something that we need to add. Um, if we have all of the, you know, gym space
that is needed. Um, one other thing that came up recently, uh, again with the the Shaker Lane project is, um, just revisiting the idea of potentially installing a septic system at Long Lake. Um, we've tried a few times and, um,
have not had much luck. Uh so you know there's a possibility here with you know the the rebuilding of the septic system that potentially there might could might could could be an add-on um that we
could look into. So um those are things that we would see for the next like five years coming up. Okay. All right. So these are um last year I started going through and
um putting out the uh the actuals for the revolving budget. So this is completely separate from the general fund. Um so everything that we were talking about before is on the general fund. Um this is the revolving the
revolving funds come from um uh revenue that we get from folks that sign up for our programs. uh events, things like that. So, what I wanted to do over the last couple of years is sort of break it out so that
um everyone could kind of see the breakdown of what we're looking at the net being for each of the program areas. Um so, this is just kind of a general overview from the actuals of um fiscal year 25. Um we're in the actual of 26
right now. So, uh, that would be not really helpful to take a look at at this moment. And the the um column that is on the right hand side, uh, those are items that we look at as um indirect costs. Uh
so those we do add a percentage into the programs to be able to cover all of those items. Um so just a a further clarification on that. Okay.
So um with this this is our um actual for fiscal year 25 for our revol revolving budget. Um we do obviously get in a lot of revenue. Um, our programs are very well attended. Um, we hire a
lot of people to run those programs. So, we do have a pretty high wage uh line. Uh, and our yearly expenses. So, the net for 2025 um has uh is around uh so not not around is two $221,771
and seven 11 cents. Um, I know that drives you nuts, Robin. I'm sorry. No, I'm I'm doing that to my computer. It's giving me a hard time. >> Um, so the, uh, one of the questions that had come up was, you know, why do
we have a, uh, about $200,000 net for that year. So, um, I wanted to go through a few things just to kind of explain, um, the reasoning for those things. So, um, during fiscal year 25 and 26, we did have staffing turnover
that did that was budgeted, um, but resulted in lower wages and benefits, uh, that we originally had budgeted. Um and the spending we had more expenses for 2024
um because we um in like inhouse updated the um club space and the preschool space um on the second floor at 41 Shadic Street. Um, so being able to prep for programs, make sure that um all of
the items that are needed um to support the staff and and the children that are there. Um we that's again an investment that we put in. So we have not done any of these updates um this last year. So
that was able to uh help to contribute to some of that. Um, one piece that I did want to add in is that um, new for this upcoming fiscal year, this is specifically for the revolving budget, um, that the park commission has, uh,
decided to approve contributing 1% of the camp t revenue to the long lake uh, stability revolving fund. Um so that can help the clean lakes committee fund conservation actions um to support
the water quality environmental needs of uh Long Lake. Um so this past well current fiscal year uh we did try to um see if we can get some money ahead of time to help them out. Uh so we were able to collect around $2,290
from membership fees and de donations. Um, so that will go directly into the stability fund. Okay. So, I love this. This is the um we have so many questions that come up about the revolving. Um, so overall,
where are we at? So, as of December 31st, um, we had uh 740,000 um in as cash in revolving. Why is December important? So December is super
important because this is uh it provides the most accurate snapshot uh for our financial activity. Our program schedule does not align neatly with the town's July uh through June fiscal year. And beginning on January 1st, we open our
summer registrations and begin collecting revenue for programs that occur in the next fiscal year. um a large majority of the our department our department's revenue comes from those summer programs. So things always look a
little bit skewed. Um so what are we going to do with those funds? Right? That's a been a question uh that's come up. So the reality is like we have talked about this a few times that the recreation commission and
the park and recck department we've been implementing this like planned savings um since we actually created the revolving fund in two sorry 22. Um we um shut down the enterprise switched over to the revolving. So the goal has
always been to be able to maintain financial stability for the department um to fully fund equipment facility improvements without placing any burden on the general fund capital or CDC. Um,
so one of the things that we've talked about that might help with some of the transparency of this is breaking out um some of these lines into a stability account and a uh project account. So um
the stability account is specifically going to be 15% of the expenditures. And this is something that you know we wanted to be able to reserve this amount for any unforeseen circumstances um similar to the impacts that we
experienced dur during COVID. Um so being able to have these funds set aside will allow the department to absorb less losses um sorry absorb losses without needing uh assistance from the general fund. Um I know it is something to be
fiscally responsible that has been a very important goal of mine over the last 10 years. So um we're finally getting to that place where we're able to to do this. Um so the project account, what are we going to use these things for? Um coming up, one of the
things that we will need to do is to support any repairs that we have at Littleton High School baseball field um and softball field. Uh this will help the ball field needs during the Shaker Lane building project. Um so those three
fields that are at Shaker Lane will be unavailable for use um during that 3 to fouryear period of construction. Um, so it's those updates are absolutely essential to ensure that we don't get to a place
when I first started there the the fields were a bit of a hot mess. We've worked really hard, highways worked really hard over the last um 10 years to make sure that our fields are pristine. They're beautiful. Um they've done excellent work. So we want to be
able to keep them that way. So, if we're able to reinst uh reinstitute the uh two fields that are at the high school and then potentially look at doing an interim practice or t-ball field at Cooper Farm. And again, this is not a
full-time like that's going to be that forever. Um that will be able to help out through that three to four year time period um till we can move back on to those fields that would be at Chaper Lane. um in the future, what will we do
with those funds? Um th the funds that in there would be able to help cover feasibility reports, design fees, things like that for potentially capital projects or CPC projects. Um those are things that they can be quite uh
expensive and um they need to be accomplished for us to actually move forward with projects. So um that's something that would uh be in that um to be able to contribute to overall
costs of any major capital improvement projects um help pay any bond obligations for PRCE capital projects um and to support ongoing upgrades and maintenance of the parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities. So, um,
that's kind of the overall goal of, um, what we're planning on doing with those funds that we have in the revolving budget. >> Can I put a question just on that that piece? So, the >> the 15% that's a stability
project or is it separate? >> Separate. >> So, the 15% is stability. You didn't mention >> how how the project >> Oh, I'm sorry. So they so 15% of um the the uh revenue would be not revenue with
the words sorry um so 15% of any of the expenditure or expenditures that would um be covered and then we would separate and have a separate project account line um and the rest of those funds would go
into that line item. I I think you have to be careful unless you're when so I I know the importance of the December number. Yeah. 740. >> But there is some some things that may not work. >> Yeah.
>> Like a CAMT does where definitely crosses fiscal year. So some of that 740 could be >> for this current fiscal year. >> Yep. >> So you may want to just out of that 573 figure out how much of that needs to
actually stay in the operations. >> 100%. Yep. >> And then you have something that >> is available for projecting. >> That's just what we had at the moment, but yes, those calculations do need to happen. Absolutely.
>> I'm I'm a big advocate for reserves. I was here when you were going crazy with COVID and doing the refunds. I totally understand um the need for it. I think it's a smart use of the of the
funds. I do encourage the the commissioners to put that policy in place. Not only that, it establishes but how it's going to be used and especially the the project things what types of things who has control of
it who has the authorization to use that those types of things need to be covered in it. >> Um >> don't don't limit yourself be as gentle as you can with those. >> Sure. If you're able over the next year or so
to to cover those feasibility studies out of those funds, that's absolutely great. >> That's the hope. >> I think that might be everything. Yeah. Um, are there any additional questions that any of you have?
>> Dog dog park. Yeah. >> What? >> Knew it. >> Oh, yeah. >> Well, since he gave up on the water now. I'm all over the D. >> Oh. Oh, okay. All right. Giving up on the water. >> I know. We've talked about this one for a while. >> Yeah, I know. >> I I was just looking when you're
mentioning the design and everything. We have designs that potentially if there's a piece of land that was similar to the one we were going to put up at Duper, >> that design is actually we paid for. It's already been done. The entire layout of the dog park. Never seen that. Really? >> Yeah. So
>> awesome. >> Have to dig that. >> Yeah. I would love love love to see that. When did that happen? >> Um that was under our prior administrator under Anthony. >> That was part of the tennis court project. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So they they laid out the dog park a little bit. >> Yeah. That with the parking and
everything. >> Not know that. Yeah. Okay. Um, the other thing was, you know, I hate to see these special events get cut, you know, to some degree, but I I think um there may be some opportunity here with Rotary to
pick up one of these events if it's one that you you're really struggling with potentially during this time. >> They have been so supportive. It's they >> Yeah, they help out so much. Yeah. >> Yeah. So fate park is the number one project.
It's ready. It's time. >> Yeah, I think you know it's it is I think we need we need a lot of thought on what that ends up looking like and what the community wants to see there. Right now it's it's a big open space.
Not a lot of >> no parking. >> No no no parking. no parking and and not much there other than big green space, which is not necessarily a bad thing. So, I think there's, you know,
a lot of work to be done just to figure out what what needs to go on there, but making some accessible trails and and ways to get through the park. So, part of that, there used to be more playground
equipment there that we pulled out a number of years ago. was guessing like >> um so you know there there's a lot of I think there's a lot of potential but figuring out that there's also a lot of
thoughts to go into to what's going to make the community happy make that better space >> shade tree is working on creating a Do you have any answer? >> Well, you're getting a new assistant. So, that's we talk about that a little
bit. What's the What's the plan on that? >> Um, we will post the job uh relatively soon and then go through the process that we do for hiring a new person on. So, yeah. >> Starting before your crazy season, I hope. >> Yep. So, as soon as we can. That is the
goal for sure. Yeah. Great. >> Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. Have a great night. Thank you. You too. >> Thank you. >> What's that? >> Yeah. Set. Now I have to do >> you. You guys are the moderator. 100
bucks to the moderator. >> Yeah. But goals and all that. We Your goals are our goals >> should be number one on your list >> without a doubt and and our hearts. So, strategic goals for the select
board, study impacts on on of the new housing developments, improve town communications, address staffing and or organizational structure at 37 Shadic Street, plan for potential charter changes,
highlight Littleton's agricultural heritage, continue to implement the citizens leadership academy, develop a plan for the orchard house, non-restricted landing, Okay. Uh
so uh select that the operate increase uh for the increase was to magic map and assessment by $2,000. So it's aligned with the actual expenditures and FY26. This line was already had already
expended $6,710. So, we have a total of $26,300 for our operating budget. Um, the town meeting budget uh for uh the budgets include for uh $15,000 to
$20,000 for town meeting and report report expenses. Uh town moderator professional services. He's He's making bank $100 >> more than us. >> That's it. >> Two legs.
>> Just one quick question on the leadership academy. Is that virtual or is it in person? >> I'm sorry. >> Virtual. >> It's in person or >> Yes, sir. Y >> applications are being accepted, right, Tony?
>> Absolutely. >> Wednesday nights will be the meeting. >> Wednesday night starting February 25th. >> Yep. Big graduation annual town meeting. >> Cap and gowns, the whole nine yards. >> Where was that? >> Valadictorian.
>> We're going to make the captain gowns out of sheets. >> I see. >> Construction paper. >> Construction paper. There you go. February 29th. >> Good. >> That's it. >> Anything else? >> That's all I got. >> Saturday. >> Looking forward to
>> Jane is. >> That's our pre Super Bowl party, right? >> Department heads morning. So, they're done. Uh we have separate discussion on the facility, the new library, first
floor down there. 15,000 proposal. Then a working lunch, talk about the budget, any changes anybody has, you heard
things and jotted them down. We'll discuss those. you guys have any adjustments that need to be made, especially after last week's conversations, we should deal with them at that point in time. And then we talk about capital and warrant articles and
things that fall out of free cash. So, playing on a long day, >> take out the machete. >> Lunch will be served. cooking. >> The one thing that struck me a little bit different this year that I I noticed was the um
>> I hate to call it nickel and dining. Um but it seemed like there was a little bit more of that this year with some of the smaller departments. And it just dawned on me that, you know, what a $10,000 is to cemetery or historical,
what that means to them compared to what it means to a school budget or police or fire one of our big departments. I'd really like to look at those departments really hard to try to potentially meet some of these needs that as opposed to cuts on some of these
cuts that they have a good argument for here because it it's so minuscule to their budget but so much so important to some of the budgets. >> Maybe it would be helpful to see the percentages of the budget that were cut, right? So like if it was $400, is that
1% of their budget? Is that 10% of their budget? Yeah. I just when you see it, you're like, man, 400 bucks. >> So, so two things >> is everything we put back. We need to take something else. >> No, I'm aware. I just it was something that I I wanted to look at myself. >> The second thing when we talk about
those things is to rely on the finance team as to why those things were cut. I think they dealt with these things. This is >> Jim's recommendation to us and we should give it him to >> and and quite honestly this is a tremendous involvement by the department
heads. I mean it was it was at one point that you meet with them then we met again. We asked them and uh Robert had reached out to him and said okay please submit cut what you can in your deposit. We're not going to go in there because with
that so these are all recommendations that the department heads and in in speaking with them. Um, okay. You're okay with with what you submitted for a cut? >> Yep. >> Yes. >> No, it's great work and I and what what's been done with that? It's now
from a the top looking down from the, you know, the executive level. Okay, let's Is there 20,000? Because I'm just looking at all those all the budgets that came in front of us just tonight that had to make some of these smaller
cuts and they weren't all potentially >> 450 health >> 450. It's like I just look at some of those really big budgets and say, "Hey, >> well, can we take something >> without it even being
>> right?" And I I mean, I completely appreciate that, but we're also we've also made the the decision internally, we're not going to turn the water on at the common water. >> I mean, this is where we are. >> Yeah. No, I understand what we're trying
to do. I It was just more of a I'm going to look at the bigger I me personally I'm going to look at the bigger budgets a little bit harder um on Saturday than I probably normally would. That's all. >> Okay. >> Not that this is great with the departments that have come forward to
you and presented to you because um you know they really care. They really get it. >> They really do. >> And um but now we can beat up the four bigs and see what we can come >> and they've come to the table too. >> They have. Exactly. Right. >> Okay. That's what I haven't seen. So I don't >> Yeah,
>> a lot of things that we can't see from we can see actuals from you know 25 spending to date from 26 something that Robert and Kim would have to tell us. >> Some of the things if if you look at the
the line items you know >> there there's always some padding those things they don't all spend. >> That's true. >> That's true. And plus expenses when when you deal with expenses it's you can overspend one line but you're going to make it up. That's true. So
>> and spending to date some things are seasonal. So you don't you know one line could look oh we didn't spend very much right now but it comes in the spring. Some renewals come in the spring. So >> but they should be encumbering us.
>> It's not always a good reflection. Um, >> right. >> And we only looked at that was a snapshot. We just got that email today, right, of where we are spend budget-wise, what's been spent and I, you know, I'm looking through it and I'm like, it is hard to decipher. Well, what
>> some of these budgets are summary? >> Yeah, I remember looking at one town council's line, right? Because it's encumbered. >> How do we spend 90% of our budget in month two? >> Yeah, that gives you a little bit of a panic, doesn't it?
I didn't ask that many questions, did I? >> That would be me. >> No, thank you. >> Yep. Good job. >> We'll say it again on Saturday, too. Good job. >> Yeah. And we'll bring the deficit tracking that we've done and where we're at with all the changes that we know of
>> and have that discussion Saturday. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> It's a lot of work, >> guys. We we have to stick around just >> uh motion to return. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? I I