We on air yet? >> We on the air. >> Not lit up. might want to turn that your volume down because it's >> now it down. No. [Music] >> Okay. Never mind.
>> In accordance with the requirements of the open law, please be advised, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast over the Lunberg public access channel and on Facebook live on the public access Facebook page.
If you wish to uh join us on Zoom, please go to the uh town website, go to the finance site and you'll have a link to zoom in and if you want to call in the call-in
number is there also. >> We stand al to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[Music] Do we have any public comments? >> Is your microphone on on your laptop? >> I have I'm a feeling I'm hearing >> I'm hearing I'm hearing it >> like on your actual laptop. >> I can't.
>> You just turn it off. >> What? my computer. >> I think I'm hearing it. >> Yeah, we got a lot of feedback as well >> there. >> I think that works. >> Yeah. Hey,
>> there you go. >> So, any announcements, I guess, right? >> Any announcements? >> I don't have any. Any public comments? You have >> anyone from the public? >> I'm not seeing anybody up yet.
>> I don't know if the town manager or finance director are here. So, let's go to new business. Did everybody had a chance to um uh to do the uh town finance policies
look at them? >> Yes. >> No, >> the first >> 40 pages. I think >> 40 pages. Yes, I did that. >> Mike, did you? >> I did not. >> Okay. Uh for those who did, did anybody have any comments on them? see anything
that was of interest. >> All I remember was I I don't know if this is a because I don't know the process now some of this stuff. So I don't know if this is a big change or a small change or or whatever
to the current process. So, um, that was the only thing I I had. It all seemed fairly nothing didn't make sense to me. >> Jay, >> I don't have a chance to read. >> Yeah, Tanya, you did. I did read it and
I thought it was interesting that they had a forecasting element in there. Um, a five-year projection, which is what we've been talking about in finance for about for the past year, having departments do like a a more broader scope of the revenue that they're going
to be needing and generating. Um, so I I liked that. Um, see, have a couple notes. Um, there was a grants management portion in there. Um, require pre-approval. Awards
funds can uh supplant current expenses and compliance and monitoring and force. I think we should just keep an eye on that when we're talking about that $50,000 for the grants writer. Um, and and who's going to have to approve any of those grants that come in or any of those grants that are applied for. like
I didn't really state in the policies like that chain of command, but maybe something we can ask at a at a later date. Um, yeah. And then I just had I had one question. This is like me just being new to town government when we look at the
like organizational chart of town government. Is it town council then town manager and then departments down? Or is it town manager, town council and then down? Like how does the org chart work here? Town manager is the head of the town. >> Okay.
>> Uh select board is >> the >> is their boss. >> Okay. >> And then um the school is separate superintendent the head of the school. The people report to that person. So it and then the department heads and the chiefs all report on the town side to
the to the town division. >> Okay. So the clarification is even though the school is separate, they ultimately still report to the town. The town's responsible. They report to the school board. >> Yeah. The school committee. >> School committee, rather. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And
and then there's a dot dot line, I think. Okay. >> Kind of with the select board and the school committee because basically there's >> I guess it's kind of a discussion, but the select board and the town manager say, "Okay, here's how much your budget
can be for this year." And that's what they and then they can have a discussion but eventually they come to a meeting of the minds as far as the budget and then it gets discussed um at the finance committee and at other places. >> Um but that's the way this the state
wanted the town and the school to be separate and it >> there's reasons for it I guess and uh but it also muddies the water a lot. >> Okay. And I think it's uh makes it harder to for
it us to work as a team because as a school and the town and you know that's kind of the things that with the the tribe board meetings we're discussing to see how we can get some advantages there. Okay. the scale.
>> But ultimately, if there's an impass or this a something that needs to be decided, >> town manager, >> town manager. >> Okay. >> Town manager and schools superintendent will discuss the budget. >> Okay. >> But I believe it comes down to the town manager
and the school department gets we said they get one number that we vote. >> Okay. >> We don't have say over how they manage their budget. Once it's approved the town meeting, then the town council will be more of an
an outside consultant to the town manager and select a board. >> All right. >> So that's just me trying to understand like the or works differently in different towns and cities. I think too >> ultimately it's the town meeting that decides everything.
>> That's true. We can do all we want. >> It's the people. It's the people that decide. They know and it's uh good to know. >> Awesome. Okay. Okay. And other than that, I thought it was like pretty standard. All of the, you know, all the policies and rules are already there
under Massachusetts law. All the numbers seem to line up. So, I don't I didn't see any changes that we need to make in that portion. I felt the same. It was just pretty standard. >> Yeah, >> I compared it to other towns as well and
it was pretty much the same. I' I'd like to talk to the finance director to find out would this be a big u burden for the organ for the town to
to manage these is is this a lot of change I because I don't I mean I don't know enough about the dayto-day functions of of it. Um, my guess is that and I'm hoping most of
it's either there already or or something very similar. >> Was it >> that'd be if if he was here today, we could ask. But >> was there a change from the policies that we had from like F the former FY to this one? >> Wasn't there anything more implemented?
>> Well, the there's a policy now that because this one hasn't been imp hasn't been approved yet. Okay. >> But the policy now then uh the prior uh town manager I believe
got a I can't remember how she did it. I think she either got a grant or and she worked with the state on preparing what we were see what we see and I don't know how close that is to the current policies. My guess is a lot of it is
current policy, but I don't know. >> Okay. >> Isn't this wasn't this a recommendation from DO? >> Yeah. I don't think it was like you better do it or else. I think it was more like this is best practic practice.
>> Best practices recommendation. >> Right. >> So, what's the procedure of this new uh financial policy document? Like, do we vote that in? Does town council vote that in? Like how does that work? >> I think the select board is has I don't think they have looked at it yet or they are
>> and um it's being supported by town manager and the the uh director of finance town. >> Yeah, >> they support it. So um I think that's hope if when they come in at our next meeting hopefully we can have a have a a
better discussion about you know what are some of the big changes because that's for me I mean I'm reading through this I am not I was never an auditor so I don't know I know safety and soundness I know you know all the rules about doing things
but I never been that's not my expertise so I just want to find out how different And this this is from how we currently run. And um would this uh do they have any um concerns about any of the changes?
Is it gonna, you know, is it um so I I think that would be an interesting discussion, but I think it's my gut feeling is telling me that that it's, you know, not it's not going to be a major change to how they run day-to-day.
There might be some other things that they do. >> I mean, it's standard it's standardly fit across other towns like us and what our budget is and what you know, what our population is. So, um, and they're running well. So, I think it's I think it's a good policy. I just, like you
said, I don't know what's different from the old policy. I didn't compare. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe who would who would answer those questions? Like, who would we have here to answer those questions? >> The director of finance. Okay. Or the town manager.
>> Okay. >> Yep. Um the next tri board meeting is going to be August 26th and it would be good if we could all be there and the topics are on the agenda. It's human services, culture and
recreation, health services and health insurance which would be uh probably right for discussion. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean I think the reason why we put
this on here is that so that you know we can kind of talk about some of the things that the finance team um how we look at these things and if you know if some of us aren't there then the others can ask questions um that we like bring up um you know and I it would be good if
we could all talk in these meetings not just you know I I talk a lot so I I'm happy to take a seat back but if we talk about them here, then we might feel a little bit more comfortable bringing them up in the other setting if we have any like questions that are finance related for some of these things.
>> Well, I couldn't make the last meeting, so I I just and I watched some of it and uh I had to stop and then I came back and I never got through it. U which is um um kind of not good, but I So what was
your overall people that were there? overall view of it that they think it's it's a good thing that's h it's happening is it u is everybody um working together because you know I I saw people you know they're sitting down there and they're talking and was the
sense of we're going to get we're going to get through this together is I think that's I mean the the thing is is that we got to get people who are if everybody all the committees are there are we all taking this serious seriously
in trying to make necessary whatever the necessary changes are. Are we are we willing to do that? Did it seem like that to you? >> I thought it was very a very nice meeting and very >> everybody got along and everybody was talking about things. I don't know if
that that will continue when we get into the nitty-gritty of like combining departments or school budget or health insurance or you know parks and wreck but I think that there's enough respect at the table and enough new people on the different committees that there's more of an open-minded
concept going on um with a new you know town manager uh a new superintendent um I think she's very she's very realistic she comes from an inner school where they have nothing. So like
they have nothing. The students have nothing. Um so it's a different perspective coming into you know a community where the school is is a very very very good education. They have a lot of things. They do a lot of things. Um but from my impression people seem to
get along. What did you think? >> Yeah I thought everybody got along. It's it seems the first meeting was kind of getting a feel for things and hearing, you know, people's uh their thoughts and opinions on what they're doing and then
being able to listen to the other boards on how they're seeing things so that further down you can try and you know have more in-depth discussion on if if we should be going somewhere with all of this.
And I think it was good to lay it out and the school they have reservations about combining services >> a few people did. >> It was good
that they got their concerns out. Now people who want to do that want to combine know what the school is concerned about. Um, and it makes it easier to try to work out a a an agreement that would be beneficial for
everybody and and for the school not to feel like, well, what happens if we need this and how are we going to do this? >> So, I thought from that perspective it was good. One of the lucky things we have is you
mentioned it. We have a new town manager, new superintendent, fairly new finance director in the town >> and a lot of of the uh department heads are fairly new, too. I mean, the police is fairly new. I
mean, been around for a while, but uh uh >> new position. >> Yeah. a lot of new people, new positions, which is ve which is good in that they're not >> well, we've been doing this for 30 years. This is the way you do it kind of thing. They're I mean that there's nothing against that. That's you know,
if it's good, you know, why why stop doing it? But there's always >> the ability with new newer people to to think about other ways and maybe um and the the the select board is fairly new. I mean there's you know fairly new people there
>> and the school committee >> a lot of roll turnover there too and >> yes >> you know we're >> new >> some of us are so that's good so I think hopefully that'll that'll lead up to the uh to a good thing
>> no >> um so do do we think that >> we should be talking at the meeting when we can >> y >> but if we have things that we can bring back to our meeting to have further discussions on. Is that >> right? >> Is that the right thing to do? That
would make sense to me. >> Um and then if we can come to an agreement then go back to the meeting later on and say okay the finance committee thinks this rather than >> right >> Chris or Tom or Jean or >> Right. I think that's Yep. I think
that's why we added it here. >> Um cuz these are some of the things they're going to talk about. uh human services, uh culture and recreation, my assumption would be the full-time recreation, uh director might be falling under that.
Um health insurance, you know, I think people are looking at different ways to cut that down. Um possibly maybe seeing a comparison model between a couple of different other insuranceances. I know they keep saying it's more expensive, it's more expensive, but I want to look at the data.
>> Like I want to see what it looks like. You know what I mean? I just I want to see like GIC, Fallon, those other at least a comparative of three different type of you know um types of insurance. I just don't want to go on like they said. So um
health services, human services, um you know, I'm I'm not quite sure like what would fit into those categories. What do you think that they're going to be talking about there? >> Uh I really don't know. human services that
that HR >> so I >> yeah they were talking about combining >> combining the HR >> the HR functions >> to what town and school >> facilities they were talking about that they're also talking about >> I think there's some stuff about
athletic department and the parks >> Yep. Um, you know, this is >> shared space, shared space, shared >> shared resources, shared folks, >> right? And to me, that's the way the
state wants us to be really or um makes it harder to do these things because we're supposed to be separate and whatever. But I think it's to the benefit of both the school and the town and all the citizens that if we can find
ways to combine efforts to, you know, have four people to do something rather than two people over here in school and two people in town doing doing similar things, right? It's
better to have four >> that do all those things if you can, >> right? And there's I think there's unions involved. It's it's complicated. I'm I'm guessing. >> But that doesn't mean you don't do it. It just means you got to work harder to
do it and you got to make the effort and you got to get people to agree to it. But >> doesn't mean just because it's hard doesn't mean you don't do it. >> Right. And I think I think one of the concerned was concerns was that is this going to save money? Is this going to cost more money? I don't think it's
going to cost more money, but honestly, I don't think it's going to really save money, but I think it's going to improve the operational processes so that everything's streamlined and things run a little bit smoother and there's a like a more granular view on what's happening across the town as opposed to like this
is happening in the town, this is happening in the schools, this is happening, you know. Um, but I agree it's tricky and when you're bringing four people together, somebody has to be the one. >> Mhm. the one in charge. >> Um, and how does that work and how do
you word that? >> Well, the one big thing I see is if we start to do this forecasting and five-year plans and such like that, if you have, for instance, two facilities departments, right? It's it's very difficult to plan out what your
facilities guys are going to need for five years for two different sectors, right? and then combine them back together and be proactive with what you're doing. Whereas, if you have one person overseeing all of the buildings
and they can kind of gauge it up and it doesn't have to come to us or the board as two separate things and they need to put it together, right? Um, that's just one thing. Like there's there's so many different ways that that
forecasting and 5-year projections could just help us out, you know, in in the long run, being able to know what the town is going to need um and such. And uh having
narrowing that funnel, right, so you don't have as many different organizations within the town being able to provide that information. It would be would be huge just
>> what were some of the concerns um I know with it the school committee was concerned with data >> of students of humans >> um and how that's going to be protected and that's something we have to think about although I still do think one IT
program is the way to go we just have to make sure that we put those safe safety mechanisms in case. >> Um, but I'd like to hear more like what the actual concerns are and not just like I'm I don't want to this, you know, like what are the I I think I need a
more broader picture of the exact concerns for everything that, you know, we have conflict with before I'm like, yes, I think it one singular IT is the best or I think one facilities all the way across is the best. I don't think I that that's going to change for me, but
like the IT when you're talking with data and talking about kids data. Um, and I think HR is another one that could very easily be brought across the town. Um, but what do you remember some of the concerns that the school had other than
that with any of these? I don't I think that was basically it was facilities and it was it >> and what was the facilities concerns? Do you remember? >> I wasn't there >> that I think they didn't think the
school was going to get plowed out first or that the town was there was going to be like a >> they were afraid >> they used the the example of we needed a ramp built right away. There's only one facility department and we need a ramp built right away. Who's going to do it?
And that that's a valid concern, but it doesn't mean that it's not a concern that could be addressed. And >> that's that's a question of prioritization. It doesn't matter if you have one department or two departments, >> right? I mean, that becomes a priority
either for your internal department or for the whole town department. >> I don't think that's of concern in my opinion, right? I mean, there's >> I mean, that was just an example that they gave. >> I mean, we're not eliminating a department. No, >> we're combining, >> right?
>> So, it wouldn't be the same amount of people, >> but I could see I mean, >> we're doing that. >> Well, that's that's what the impression that I got is we're not going to say, "Okay, we're not going to have this anymore. We're going to combine them with one head." >> If you're the facilities direct director
um and you get the superintendent calling you saying, "We need X." And the town manager going, "Hey, we need Y. We need them done today. You don't have the resources for it." It puts a facility director in a tough spot uh because um
depending on how we set it up, the facilities could report to the town manager. And if that's the case, then is this facilities director going to do, you know, treat the town better than he's going to treat the school? Because >> when he gets his raise, he's it's the
town. Um so we have to be aware of those kind of things and figure out how do you get around those things? How do you justify it? How do you um deal with it? Because there are benefits of like I said having four people rather than two and two. >> You know, you can you know you can build
a ramp as an example with four people much faster than you can with just two people. >> Yeah. >> Well, two things. Are we worried about cutting positions? Are we combining or are we cutting? >> I I >> that's that's a question. >> Yep. That's a good question. I think com I think my impression was combining
>> um and then still having people like project managers in charge of the school projects, project manager in charge of the town projects being directed by one person. >> Um that was the impression that I got but I'm not sure did anybody get I mean get a different impression.
>> I think those are those are things that the tri committee can talk about. also equipment, you know, do we need the kind of, you know, if facilities has a widget and town facility has a widget and the school committee has a widget and you
know, you use it once a month um and they use it once a month, do you really need two wizards? If you have one department, maybe when that widget breaks, you still have one, you don't need to buy a new one. So there might be some savings in the long run um you know on things like that but those are things
you know you'll find out as time goes along or maybe you need two widgets and you know and uh that's okay. So I think those are the things I think we should be discussing at the at the committee to and I hope the the plan is to have the
experts I mean not just the committee members but people who are in those facilities HR IT and all the rest to come in and and uh to to help us make the right decisions
or make you know understand all the facts cuz we probably don't know them. I don't think anybody of any of those committees >> does those things every day. So, right, >> the professionals should be telling us, >> "Nope, we need five widgets, not two, >> right?"
>> Who knows? >> Um, also, are we are we thinking that, you know, the director of the BW, the director of HR, how do they feel about taking on like all of that under their department? Um, I'm sure there's going to be
questions there and they should be asked, >> right? >> You know, um, and there should be valid answers of like how that structure is going to look like your job is not going to get bigger or your job not going to get, you know, the same. We don't know. But something to really dive into
um because they're gonna ask. >> Sure. >> Because I know, you know, if if I'm a manager and they put another whole department under me, I'm going to what's the implication on my work on my team? >> Mhm. >> You know, um >> Well, the funny thing is everything we're doing is public. >> Yep.
>> So, they will, if they care to, they can watch. they can be at the meetings if they want to. Uh I think they should be invited when when appropriate uh to get input. U but
hopefully there isn't any surprises. Um >> well that's what I worry about. Like all these public meetings, they don't come, they don't talk, they don't ask questions or they don't submit questions. I think we're going to do some type of question submission process because there's not open comments at these meetings. Um,
>> yeah. I I am hoping that if they feel uncomfortable going to a meeting and saying, "I think X, Y, and Z," >> they would feel more comfortable. Let's say it's they report to the town manager. Go to the town manager and say, >> and maybe the town manager can say,
"Well, you should say it yourself because, you know, and do it. I'll support you. Don't don't worry." Or, "Okay, I'll bring it up and she she can bring it up." I mean, but I hope that I hope that
management and staff of the town and the schools both know this is open and we're discussing it. There's and by law, we can't be discussing things that that they don't know about, >> right? >> Which is kind of a weird thing to do in
management. Usually >> you don't want to say, "Hey, we're going to do some things that a lot of people aren't going to like, but let's talk about it first." And then you decide not to do it, but then you created all sorts of turmoil in the in the in in um
>> in the in the workforce. That's that's a terrible way to do it. >> Yeah. >> So, um but that's kind of how we're stuck with open meeting laws and all that. So, >> I mean, >> it might make it a little harder for us to talk openly. I don't know. Maybe.
>> Yeah. I mean, I don't think it should. I think we should be very transparent. Um, I kind of want to look at this as like being thought partners, not only with the other tri other members of the tri meetings, but also with the residents and the staff.
Um, and I think having it here is going to make it a lot easier for people to see it. It feels more public here, I feel. Um, I like sitting down around one table, too. I think that makes people feel like they're kind of on the same level
playing field >> when we talk about things. Um, yeah, but I do think that there should be some type of avenue where people can submit questions. um even if they can't have a public comment at these meetings, like how how
are they going to be heard if if they have questions specifically the the department heads because they're going to be the ones most affected by any type of merger. So, okay. Um did anybody want to go through
any of the old business tonight? Well, Anna's not here to do our analysis of historical school budget data. She's fabulous, you know, and that's, you know, that's amazing. And I'm in finance and she she can really pinpoint those discrepancies. So, I think that's more
of her area. We talked about the tri board meetings, >> budget request forms. Um, what is that? What's the budget request forms? I'm trying to think >> uh the forms that Jen was going to send
out to the departments. >> Okay. Um one thing that I do want to get underway is scheduling department submission budgets because I just feel like and Chris and
Jean worked the hardest on this I think last year. all that all that stuff squished into those two months. Like I was tired and I'm in I'm in like in a lot of finance with cities and that was a lot. >> Um so you know I think we need to
stretch that out and have budgets submitted a little bit earlier so that we can not have five six seven hour meetings. >> Yeah, I think that is going to happen. >> Okay. So we just need to put together a schedule >> and I think Chris is probably the best
>> person to look at that. Um, >> I thought we already had a budget schedule. >> I think we they were talking about hopefully getting like Well, this is October 14th school
budget presentation, general government. So, I don't know if any of that's changed, but the goal was to have budgets um starting in October. Yeah. Rather than in January. >> Yeah. I I I don't know if that was from
the select board or the >> I'm not sure who town manager who wrote that up. So I'm not sure if that's changed, but I it's always good to have even if it's less accurate, less it's we're less sure about some of these numbers. I shouldn't say accurate. as
accurate as we can make it. But if we're less sure, but >> have them sooner so that we can look and see, yep, there's going to be a gap and then we have more time to discuss that >> without having to say, oh, we got to get it all done by tomorrow. Cuz >> yeah,
>> but we need to have something in writing that we can give to department heads of when they're ready. I know she's doing a new um department budget submission that that that we already have. I think it's yuggov um where departments can submit their budget online in a template.
>> I think that's going to be fabulous. >> I think it is. >> We just I just want to make sure that we have a written timeline so that we can prepare ourselves and the departments can prepare themselves.
>> The town manager usually does timeline. >> Okay. Depending on it, there's certain dates and things to do, especially for uh things that have to be advertised. >> Mhm. >> So, who did the timeline last year? Was it Jenner or was it the interim?
>> The interim. >> The in. >> Okay. Yeah. >> But it was pretty much the same as it was with Heather in prior years, too. I wasn't >> I mean, it was, you know, first week of this month is that >> Okay. Every year has been well some years are easier because there's less
issues >> but when you the last last year and the year before >> we had issues okay >> midnight you know >> so that's not common is what you're saying during budget >> well depends on it can be >> you have depending on which
>> tell me the truth tell me the truth Jay >> well depending on which department it is and how much they cram in and then it's usually the town usually presents there's a preliminary budget in January. Uh but then things change. But you know through January, February, March, if you
have, you know, weather events that can affect your schedule. >> So I think Jen and Chris are looking at moving those submission dates up. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> They would Yeah, they were trying to move them up, but I don't know how how much of a detailed budget we're going to
get early in the fall versus the spring. Well, we can definitely ask that at the next tri committee meeting. >> Just ask if um >> the budget calendar. >> There are public hearings that we have
to have >> based on certain dates. >> Uh I didn't see any minutes. Did >> No, I did I I just looked it up and I didn't see anything. >> No. >> No. Does anybody have committee reports? >> Uh just mentioned the municipal
buildings design committee is um uh is going to continue. >> Good. >> Uh we're um we're going to we uh we met with the select board um
last week um and uh and we're going to continue. We have to get some new members. I think some people are leaving because they just are like Mr. Jeff is is no longer part. Uh so we're having different
people do that and um we'll see what happens. I I I I hope that the goal is to find a way to renovate this building, re uh renovate
the Ritter, provide better work space for the staff and better um accommodations for people trying to do business with the town and do it with in a budget that is acceptable to the town. I think that's the thing, right?
And then also the other part is I think um what do we you know we're talking about other you know we talked about the Brooks House and TCP >> you know what do we you know what about those so
>> is is that committee exploring re like generating revenue generating programs in the shared spaces that we can use with other communities our own parks and rack like >> yeah I mean in Well, what I haven't been on the committee the
entire time. There was a prior committee uh that was there and they were just a TCP, right? >> We came back when I got on the committee and said, "Here's we want to do. We want to phase one was to renovate this building in Ritter and provide what I
just mentioned right the space >> and um we took it to town meeting and it didn't pass >> right >> so and I think what we heard was that it was too expensive and too
uh we were adding additional space but Ritter and there might have been too much of that. So, we're going to look at and see is there another way around it. And >> too much space. It's too >> well because I think from my perspective what it was was that um we were
underutilizing this building and building space over there. Question was the school department. do they um their ACE program and uh uh
does it need to be here or there? Could it be somewhere else? Um and a few things like that. So I I think we're going to have more serious discussions and maybe we and I don't know again this is the committee's
discussion but I'm hoping that we can scale down what we're doing at Ritter maybe move some of that to here and utilize this building a little bit more for things that it could it could uh work for. Um,
>> great. >> Um, and um, >> I think you could revisit the the town hall again, but I think what I heard from people, it wasn't just the expense.
They didn't like it being next to the Ritter building. You've got a beautiful empty lot where the primary school used to be, and you could consider putting the building there. Then what will we do with that building that that's going to become a blighted
property eventually? >> Well, that's the other thing. What happens like >> there's a few of us there's a few of us on the committee whose thing is okay if we say we're going to decommission this building for that. What are we going to
do with it? We have what? No. Whatever I No, we never said that with either Ritter or this building. This building I think is San we can't this is the town. This is the image of the town. This building is a is is I mean it's it is
the town. So we have to our major focus is to preserve it >> and to utilize it I think as best we can even when it's limitations. It's an old church. It's not office space. It's not you know retail space. It's a church
>> right? And uh so we have to accept that as and uh figure out how to use it. The Ritter building is a library that was converted into office space. So how do we you know that's also
uh well it's 100 years old the original part and 65 years old the addition. So, um I don't know, you know, it's less Sanro saying to to do things to that building, but I think this building is
is definitely going to be um treated properly, >> right? I think you don't want to change the visual integrity >> of the way the town looks with a brand new building. >> It would have to be very carefully constructed to look like this for that.
Yeah, this building the only thing we were planning on doing to the outside was um um getting it's not really that that much work uh to get it so that the front stairs the front walkway meets the
threshold so it can be handicap accessible. >> Right. >> And we uh that was important. And then the other thing was >> um renovating the building in order to have it used better. the bathroom that's over here. >> Um, it's, you know, not the best place
for the bathroom, but how do you change things and and squeaky floors and all the other things? So, >> right. >> So, the u there's a bunch of thoughts that we already have. So, the question now is how do we get it to a >> right
>> a better a better spot? How do we cut the price down a bit? I think >> I love a new build, but >> again, blighted properties just suck your money away. >> You know what I mean? Like, we're going to build a new building, but we're still going to maintain the that that building
or this building or whatever. >> Well, the Brooks House is a property that we've discussed, right? >> And it's an old house. >> Y >> and it's u what do we do with that? Um, and that's,
you know, and the select board is, you know, wants to see if we can rent it out, but I >> I don't think that's going to happen. >> Yeah. This I drive down 2A and there's plenty of places for rent. >> Yeah. And uh is and uh I don't know if
someone's going to come in and say yes, we'll take this building, put in $350,000 to get it to where we want it to be um and uh have a 20-year lease and rent it out and have a good time. I I just
>> It might happen, but I don't know. So, we got to think about that building and what we want to do with it because we've already said uh sell it uh the not the land, but the building have, you know, sell it for a dollar and have somebody move it away. That didn't work. Now, it's Do you want
to make a commercial? We could we rent it out as a home? I probably could, I guess, because it is that's what it is. I don't I haven't been inside recently, so I don't know what that would take. >> Um >> so, it took a long time. >> Yeah, probably. And then what would and
then the other part a couple members on the board they do they say this jokingly but you know give the firemen a little bit of work fire people a little bit of work and have a fire there and burn it down and they can practice on that building. >> Yeah.
>> Uh I know that would be not be some people wouldn't like that. So >> but I think that's another option. Um and we should think about all the options. >> Yeah. Well, I'm extremely happy that they're going forward with the municipal >> Yeah, I I am too.
>> Um I'm hoping they're going to go forward with the parks of wreck uh Marshall Park project >> as well. >> Have anybody heard about that? Is that >> I haven't heard about it, but I think it's I mean I can't I like I said, I
can't even believe a youth organization would go into a public hearing and say, "No, we don't want new fields." Like I just I it just blows my mind um that that even happened. Um it's it's crazy to me that could be such that park could
be such a revenue generating place. There could be camps there. There could be, you know, we they we could use the fields more often if they put lights in there. They could have night games. There's so much so much to do there. Um, just being from a parks and wreck
background, I would love to get my hands on that park and make that generate some revenue. But I'm hoping that's going to go forward as well and they they don't feel discouraged. And I mean, I'm sure they feel discouraged, but they don't feel defeated. >> I haven't heard. Has anybody else heard? >> I I've heard just from other people that
Yeah, they're looking at kind of like the municipal building how to refocus and and maybe do it in smaller chunks >> maybe. But this we'll see. But I I I I totally agree that it's um
I haven't been to that park in in uh since my kids are older now, so I don't go down there as much. But >> I remember there's an old >> uh tennis court, basketball court behind people's homes, and it looks like it's from a jungle >> from Planet of the H, you know? It's
like, you know, it's like nobody's been there for 50 years. And it's like it's um >> it's um so I think it and I haven't I've only been here 32 years so I don't know but 50 60 years ago that place was was
in a much better condition and much nicer and and had more resources and so we should try to get it >> back >> back to a a level that more people can use it. I looked into it just a little bit because I go I walk my dog in there
um all the time and the walking track that's in there is one of the oldest in the United States. That little grally track that goes around the fields. Um maybe we can look at it as a historical investment and get some
>> dollars that way. Maybe you never know. And also, you know, it wouldn't hurt if there could be revenue generating programs there. >> Yeah. >> Instead of just saying what the cost to
the town's going to be, if you could talk about not you, but um the director talk about the revenue, it might make a difference to people thinking, you know, well, if we put the money in and then but we're going to get the money back eventually.
>> Yeah. might not be a bad investment. >> I mean, it it could be camps, it could be pickleball tournaments that people come in and pay for. We could have outside contractors come in and running programs and split that money with the town um you know, for for use of the land or use of the fields. You know,
there could be baseball programs, skate basketball programs, could be pickle ball programs. The skate parks supposed to go in there. Um there's lots of ways to generate revenue in a park. Lots of lots and lots of ways. How are we going to maintain it? >> I think that would have to be built in.
I think it's built into the budget that they projected with the build. Correct. >> I don't know. >> I think they had a a line >> that was for consistent um upkeep. I thought there was I'll have to look
again. >> I remember. >> Yeah, cuz you have to maintain things. You can't just build it and be like, >> "Yeah, >> it's brand new. It's lovely." There has to be some type of >> Yes. Yeah. It's constant maintenance, >> right? And did they do that with the schools when they built the new schools?
Was there a part in the budget where there was a maintenance plan for years moving forward? >> Well, there's always something in the budget, maintenance. But >> I I just get >> always fully funded. >> Yeah. Yeah. I just get concerned cuz I
know like when we're looking at the other buildings and such through the whole process, I did not see one time anybody figured out what it was going to cost us to run the buildings. >> You know, between utilities, maintenance, cleaning, so on so forth. You know, I did some back of the
envelope numbers and, you know, a couple thousand dollars a month just for utilities. these these buildings. >> I'd like to see a comparison analysis to like a projected cost to maintain to the cost that it's costing us to maintain
these older buildings, too. >> You know, people are cleaning them, we're using heat, we're using electricity. Is it efficient? It would it be more efficient in a newer building? Probably. Um, so maybe that's something we can ask for.
So, we don't have any minutes. >> No. >> Any no committee reports? So, um else we got >> public comment? Yeah. >> Anybody out there? >> See, cuz I can't get Zoom on.
I don't see anybody. >> They're all trying to stay cool. >> So, our next meeting is August 14th. >> Yeah. >> Which is right before the next um tribal meeting. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe when Chris is here, we can just go over what we talked about and
see if there's anything that we want to bring up. >> Yeah. >> As a as a committee. Okay. Is there any public comment from the committee? I >> have a motion to adjourn. >> Motion to adjurnn.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I [Music] Okay, we're returning.