And Melissa, can you start the recording, please? Recording in progress. Okay. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the July 21st select board meeting. It is 700 p.m. Calling the select board
meeting to order. Uh please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. This meeting will be recorded and broadcast live over the Lunberg Public Access channel on Facebook Live and the Lunberg Public Access Facebook page and will be uploaded to the Lunberg Access YouTube channel after the meeting.
The agenda lists all the topics which may be discussed at the meeting and are those reasonably anticipated by the chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by
the open meeting law. Okay. The first item is any announcements. Does anyone have any announcements this evening? No, I don't either. Uh public comment. Do we have any public comment from the public?
Those in the room not seeing any. Anyone online? Just raise your hand. No. Melissa, you seeing any? Okay. Any public comment from the board? I just want to um say one thing. I want to uh thank again Pete and Debbie
Lincoln for sponsoring the town band concert. It was last night. Um Steve Archinbo and the the town band did a great job. Um it was great weather. It was very well attended. Um, and also want to give an honorable mention to Tim
Murphy and Carol Archinbo who did a little sing along. Um, so anyways, it was really nice to to be outside and and to have that. So again, thank you u for sponsoring that event uh to the Lincoln. So we have a couple of scheduled
meetings this evening. The first one is a presentation by Thomas Kerry on his um Eagle Scout project that he's proposing of a loafing shed at the DPW. So Thomas, if you want to come on up and I'll share
your uh your presentation. Just give me a minute. Okay. and just let me know when to advance. >> All right. >> And I'll move it. Just it's the light on the screen, just so you know. >> All right. You can uh advance it.
>> And we do have um the DPW director. >> Yeah. >> On the meeting as well. He's on Zoom. >> Okay. Um you can go to the second slide. So, uh, a brief overview of the the project. So, it's going to be a 10 foot
x 12t, um, loafing shed built at the, uh, like entrance of the DPW to store, um, sand and salt for like town residents to come pick up during the winter. So, they have like sand and salt for their driveways. Um,
it's like it's a three-sided shed, so there's like one end for the loader to get in and put like the sand in salt. And then, um, it'll have like a corrugated metal roofing, um, plywood walls, and then it'll just be like an
open floor. Um, you can go to the next slide. So, um this is kind of just some like uh where the shipping containers are. It's right by the entrance is where um we we wanted to put it. So, those will
be moved before we um build it. And then the other photo is the GIS map, like a circle of where it's going to be. Uh you can go to the next one. Um, this is a uh rough sketch of the
um build that we're making. Um, I went over it with a uh licensed and insured contractor. He's a member of our scout troop and he helped me design the shed as well as um coming up with the
material list and reaching out to uh the suppliers to get the materials. Now you can go to the next slide. So, uh, for like just an estimate of the cost, there's a a price sheet that we
got from, um, Moors Lumber, and they it'll it'll be no more than like $2,000 to to make and get put together. Um, >> and Thomas, can I ask you a question?
>> Yeah. >> You got some materials donated. >> Yes. We had at my work, we have like a dumpster and they were just throwing out a bunch of like nice just like metal, like corrugated metal. And so I just took it home. It's like 30 sheets that
are like 3 ft x 5 ft. So I can just use that for the roof as well as some like rubber. So it'll it's nice metal. And like each of those sheets are like $10 to $20 like to get at Home Depot or something. So
>> it'll be um good to for like roof material to keep it sturdy. >> You literally went dumpster diving. >> It was It was kind of just like sitting on top, but yeah. >> Okay. >> Um and then there's a a 10 ft by 12t
piece of rubber that we had lying around at my my house. So, we can just put that underneath the metal as like extra um you know like insulation and >> stuff. >> And I think you get a discount correct for lumber. >> Yeah, that's that's why we went through
them cuz they give us Yeah. a discount. >> Um so this is the the next slide is just um a thing for my the actual part of my project uh just for the beneficiary to read.
And then on the next slide, it just talks about um I think I just need the beneficiary, the DPW director to sign it, but >> I was told to just add this slide. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. And the select board needs to approve the location. Yeah. Give you >> permission to put this on town property. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any questions from from the board? >> Um, thank you for doing this and
planning this. I think this is great. Uh, a lot of residents uh, every year ask, "Can we get some sand? Can we get some salt for our driveways and walkways?" So, I think this is a great opportunity to help support the community. >> Yeah. >> Um, I think getting that out there to the community is going to be important.
So, I I definitely welcome you if if it gets approved. Yeah. >> You finish it to come back, show us some pictures, uh and we can get that word out to the community, too. >> All right. >> Um, also, I did have a question. I think it might be for the DPW2, director. Uh, but where where are those current containers
going to be moved to? And also, if this is the ideal space for the DPW for this to be located. >> Uh, when I was talking with him, that's where he said he wanted it. But, um, he said that those weren't the towns. Those were someone else's cuz they >> Okay. >> It was something to do with a bridge, but they had they just put them there
and they never actually did the work. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Bill, did you want to comment? >> Yes. Uh, so Bill Bernard, DBW director. Um, so that location is just inside the gate. So you you come into our yard.
It's right there on the right. It's an ideal spot to to put the sand for people. Makes it easy. you know, we could people call say just come in, you'll see the little shed on the right and it it'll be right there for them. And yeah, we are going to move those
boxes somewhere else. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. >> So, I see that the the expense is not to be more than $2,000. >> So, will there be additional fundraising? So, it's likely it'll be much less than that or >> um No. I was kind of hoping that the
town would fund it cuz like uh with with most of the other projects, uh our troop does it with the conservation commission of the town and usually they just um fund the whole thing and then like they just provide the materials and you build the kiosk and update the trails and
stuff like that. I think what Glenn was asking is if it does happen to run over 2,000, you're asking for us to support no more than 2,000. >> Yeah. I don't I don't think it'll go over 2,000, especially with the donated
materials and stuff cuz I mean Yeah. So, >> did that quote include the the materials you found the the corrugated roof? >> No, that did not. But >> Okay. Um I think there was it said it was only like 1900.
>> That's what it 19 something. Yeah. >> So >> yeah. So to be clear, I fully support this. I think it's an excellent project and I and I congratulate you on the achievement, >> but I I would suggest trying to do a bit more fundraising because I think you'd
find a lot of people will feel the same way that we do in terms of being proud of you and want to be part of that uh level of service that you're giving to the community. So you may find that it's a good link between your your project and the community and it would be a good
learning experience to understand how much support you have uh from the community as you give back. >> All right. >> Okay. And to be clear, you did speak with the DPW director about and Bill, do you want
to comment on on covering this with your budget? >> Yes. So, you know, um it's overall in my budget, it's not that big of a number. Um if we had to do this ourselves in
house even, I think it would cost more because he got a great discount from that lumber yard. Um I'm I'm sure we could squeeze it out out of the budget. >> Okay. Um to the booth, if it's possible to turn up the volume a little bit on Zoom,
it could just be me, but Okay. Um, any other comments, questions? I'll just uh reiterate some of the comments that have already been mentioned. I think it's a great idea. Um, thank you. Oh, what's your timeline?
So, you ready to start construction once we give you the permission? >> I mean, as soon as I have the approval, I think I have to send this to the the scouting like district and they have to approve it and then I can start building. But, I'm I'm ready to start
building. I just have to get the approval. The goal is to get it done before the school year starts. Is that >> um hopefully before like September at least. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, good luck. Um >> Yep.
>> So, I'm looking for a motion to um approve the project and give uh permission for this shed to be built on DPW. >> So, moved. Second. >> Any additional discussion? If not, all
those in favor? I I >> the motion passes unanimously. >> Thanks for coming in and preparing and >> Yep. >> Good luck and please do come back when it's done and >> All right. >> We'll get the word out there. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. >> Good job.
>> Have a good night. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next, we have um a joint meeting with the trust fund commission to appoint Richard Howard. So, I'd invite Mr. Howard up.
>> Good evening. >> I want to give a little background for for folks. You you previously served on the the trust fund commission. >> My name is Richard Howard. I live at 26 Conell Drive. I uh previously served on the finance committee for about six
years. Several of those with Mr. Alonzo and the other Mr. Bowman who had been on the select board at uh at different times. Uh I was a vice chairman of the finance committee for one year. I also served on the charter review commission
back uh probably around 2006ish whenever that that round was was was in play. And most recently I served uh up until May of this this year as a member of the trust fund commission.
I've uh you know professionally I uh work in the accounting field uh 39 years in accounting. I'm a uh plant controller for a biioharmaceutical manufacturing company over in Devons. So my my
background is is finance and accounting. So, u I have some relevant experience. >> Okay. And you're seeking appointment for it's a three-year term, right? Is that right? >> Um I don't know if you can appoint for a three-year term or until the next election.
>> The next election, right? This is an election. >> Election. Yes. So, so until May of 2027. So, >> yeah. >> This is an elected seat. Um >> Okay. Any questions from the board? >> Nope.
Um, no. >> So, I have just a couple. Um, >> I'm just curious why you weren't nominated at caucus or >> I didn't attend the caucus. >> Okay. Do you know you don't have to be
in attendance to be nominated? >> No, I didn't. >> Okay. For everyone out there, you don't have to actually be in attendance for someone to nominate you. >> Okay. Um I think cuz that did happen this year. I think if you're nominated um someone nominates you and you're not there, you you will be contacted. Do you
accept a nomination? I believe that is um what happens. Um the alternative is to pull papers and collect signatures after the caucus. Um I don't know if you were aware of that. >> I knew that avenue. >> Okay.
>> But uh just with things going on, I just didn't get to, you know, go through that process. Okay. I want to take this opportunity to get the word out to people too about how you can be nominated for elected seats, you know, through the caucus, through
polling papers, and so on. So, um, want to make sure people are aware of that. All right. Um, if there are no other questions, anything else you'd like to say? >> Okay. Then I'm looking for a motion.
I'll make a motion to appoint Richard Howard to the Trust Fund Commission uh for term ending May 2027. >> Second. >> Okay. Now, I'm going to do a roll call vote because this is a joint meeting. Just >> so Mr. Bowen, if you could come. Um I
think that's typically how it's done, but better safe than sorry. We'll just do a roll call vote because >> I have the vote, too. >> We Yeah, we and >> I'm just the lone member, so I have >> we can do it under just one motion. So, um, all right. So, I'll begin the roll call vote. Glenn, >> I, >> Brian, >> I,
>> Mr. Bowen. >> I, >> and I for myself. So, um, you'll need to get sworn in >> by town clerk. And, um, I think we're >> all set then. >> Yeah. I am current on my ethics training.
>> So, I I did take that before election. >> Okay. That's every two years. Is that right? I think >> uh, there's a refresher every year. Yeah, he did the refreshing before because they put it out before the election. >> If you need any training, I'm sure you will get an email from Kathy or the state to let you know.
>> I'll let you know. >> Um, but thanks for coming in this evening and um, yeah, just get sworn in and >> Oh, thank you for the appointment. >> Thank you for voluntary. >> Yeah, thank you for coming in. Uh, Madam Chair, can I just uh make a a motion on the correction of the record?
>> Um, can you do it during public comment? >> Well, it's not public comment. It was directly related to the prior uh joint meeting. So it was part of the joint meeting context of the minutes >> of this evening's >> no from the last meeting that we had
where we had a joint meeting >> on July 7th. >> July 7th joint meeting. It was just a correction of the record. I did send an email out with advanced notice to all members with regard to the correction of the record publicly and I just wanted to make the same statement. >> But I'd like like to move on with the
agenda and if it's something you want to cover, you can state it in public comment. We don't have the the meeting minutes for approval tonight, I believe. Anyway, >> I understand that. However, it's not a public comment. It's actually a legitimate request that the board correct the record.
>> Okay. I think that request can be made. It's been made in writing and but I think it can also be made in public comment. Well, that's why I said at this meeting here, I'm asking for the correction of the record from the board to recognize the statement from the trust fund commission to you and the
other members of the board with regard to not just the correction of the record but also the solution to the issue and circumstance that arised from our last uh interaction uh which we were not able to accomplish our meeting.
I think it's beyond the scope of what we are planning to cover tonight. And um if you're referring to the application, I that wasn't the reason for not um appointing Mr. Howard last Uh no, my statement was uh clarified in your email
uh with regard to misstatements or misspeaking that was affirmed by the chairwoman of this board uh on an employee statements and how we should together work together and conduct our
meetings in the future. But first we have to correct the record appendix here which is what was the issue, what was the situation, why did it occur, how did it occur and how should it be handled
moving forward and I believe that the record needs to be corrected in that respect because I went through which I sent you an email and I can explain that here about the discrepancies and why there was an issue between the executive
and this commission which obviously had some confusion here at the select board. And this is going to correct that record so that it's understood about what the position was with regard to having a
joint meeting and how we conduct that business here in town. And the correction of the record is actually so that the minutes of the record when the records are reviewed will not have the inaccurate or misstatements that were made by any party. However, it was a
result of just confusion about process and confusion about you know uh who and how a process is handled. And in that my statement is poignant, clear,
>> no accusational Okay. Name it all. >> Okay. So, you've gone on. This is again I think this is public comment. I'll give Can you do it in 2 minutes? >> I can. >> Okay. Ready? >> I can. I have to put on what I can read with. Unfortunately, I'm blind.
Too many blueprints over the years. Too much reading. The internet was a terrible thing. It made you read more. We used to have to go to library do a decimal system. Okay. So, uh, if I may, uh, madame
chair, members of the select board, my name is John Bowen. I am the chairman of the, uh, board of trust funded commissioners here in Lunenburgg. Uh, before I wanted to do this before we took up Mr. Howard's appointment. Uh, however, I did just formally request that there be a correction of a record
uh, of our July 7th meeting as noticed uh, to this board in writing uh, which I notified you. On July 8th, the assistant town manager confirmed in writing that Mr. Howard's volunteer application was received by the town on May 27th, 6 weeks before our last meeting. He
submitted it through the email resume link on the town's own vacancy posting, which is pre-adest to the assistant town manager inconsistent with the town's paper application form, which directs applicants to return it to the office of the town manager. The record of July 7 states that no application existed that
was incorrect and the characterizations of my comment that followed from it were also unfounded. I want to play be plain basically about my part in that meeting. My opening statement on July 7th was that I had never received an application upon which to act. This was true. Had an
application been provided to me or the commission, I would have stepped up and handled every correction and every communication with Mr. Howard myself. Instead, I relied on the town manager's office because that is where the town's published process places that responsibility at this time. The record
now shows the reliance was exactly where the process had failed. I was not creating a disturbance. I was asking the right question and the answer arrived in writing the very next day. I asked that the minutes of July 7th be corrected to reflect that Mr. Howard's application was in town's possession as of May 27th
and the documentation supporting that is already within the town's records for any member to be able to verify on their own. I also asked the town's public facing application process be fixed and corrected and I want this board to hear how broken it is because every piece of this can be verified on the town's website tonight if you'd like to look at
it. The vacancy posting offers an email resume link that goes to the assistant town manager. The paper application says, "Return it to the office of the town manager." And that form isn't even linked from the vacancy posting. You have to find it with the website search function. And on July 8th, we learned in
writing for the first time that application should actually go to Melissa Richard. An instruction that appears nowhere, not on the website, not on either form. Never communicated was it to any board or commission in this town. I've never heard that. The correct
channel was disclosed only after the failure was found. And most serious of all, the town's online volunteer form does not list the trust fund commission among its selectable boards, nor the planning board, nor the school committee. >> 30 second warning. >> Three elected boards with vacancies on
that very page, and a citizen answering these positions cannot uh select the board they're applying to in the town's own form. One form, one instruction, one recipient, and every board with a vacancy actually on the form. That's the facts, and it protects every board. One final thought, Madam Chair. Both of our
boards operate informally and served us until it didn't. I don't attribute July 7th to any one person. I attribute it to the absence of shared general ground rules for joint sessions. I ask that before we have a next joint meeting, our two chairs agree on a few basics. That staff speak through the chair. Members
are recognized as members in one conversation at a time. I believe that that protects everyone in this room, including staff, which I believe is your direction. One person speak at a time. That is my request and I'm glad that now we can proceed and I'm glad to uh and
appreciate you for the appointment of Richard Howard to this board. We have some additional work to do and some new stuff and information to be able to bring to you in the future to be able to help the people in the town of Lunenburgg. I thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Next up is appointments,
ratifications, resignations. We have two ratifications um of town manager appointments before us. The first is Janet Robbins as outreach coordinator. Um I do have some information um shared from the HR director about uh Miss
Robbins. She uh comes to us with nine years um experience at as Ashpernham COA director and has a passion uh with outreach and helping others. I think that's correct, right? Um,
and the other ratification is for the tow manager's appointment of John Lynch and Charles Venezia and my apologies if I'm not pronouncing that correctly. Uh, as clock winders, >> so I think we can do them in one motion.
>> I'll make a motion to appoint Janet Robbins as outreach coordinator. John Lynch, >> ratify the appointment. Sorry. >> Oh, sorry. I'll make a motion to ratify the appointment of Janet Robbins as outreach coordinator, John Lynch, and Charles Venezia as clock winders.
>> Second. >> Okay. Any additional discussion? If not, all those in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes unanimously. >> Okay. And then I have uh acknowledgement of a resignation, the resignation of Liz
Ora from the Lunberg Housing Authority. I believe that happened a couple of weeks ago. Okay, we have no town manager report this evening. Um, on to new business. Uh,
the historical society presented uh their American Revolutionary War Memorial at our last meeting with um a desire to place it on the lower common. Um the exact location on the common is yet
to be determined, but if we can take the first step of just giving them permission to uh have that memorial placed on the lower common, they can trigger, you know, that the work begins and then we can um meet on site at a later time to
specify the exact location on the common. So, this evening looking for um a motion to grant permission. Uh >> I'll make a motion to grant permission to the historical society to install the American Revolutionary War Memorial on
the lower common with location to be termined later. >> I'll second the motion. >> Okay. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I motion passes unanimously. Um,
so in terms of meeting on site, are you okay if just one or two of us go on site and meet with the historical society and NTPW director and facilities director and then come back and specify the exact
location at another select board meeting? If all of us go, we have to post the meeting. I'm okay with that if it's okay with the DPW and facilities. >> Yeah, I mean they they definitely will be included on it.
>> Well, that's that's coordinating. So, it's going to be during the day, right, when they're um during their working hours, but it's important and historical society also requested um input from the DPW director and facilities director as far as where on the common this would
go. So, if you're okay with that, um, I'll work to set that up. I mean, shouldn't be a tall task. And then can bring back the exact location. If we need another vote, we can vote then. I don't know if we'll need a second vote, but All right. So, I will take that
action item to schedule um a meeting. Um, one two of us could could go, just not all three. Okay. Um, next item is discussion on school committee request to include article on
warrant for November 2026 special town meeting to appropriate the additional um uh state age in the amount of $350,000 to the school department for the FY27 school operating budget. That was a mouthful. So um I prepared
some slides to to kick off this discussion um to just make sure everyone is um on the same page and has the same understanding. So
um let's see this one. Hold on. Get it to the beginning. Okay, good. And switch to slideshow mode.
Okay, so my intent here is why is it asking me to continue sharing? Yes. Um there my intent here is just to cover the Massachusetts state budget process and
timeline and and how state aid ties into that um as well as the Lunenburgg process and what has happened um to get to where we are where we are now and the next steps. Um, so some of this for people who have been following very closely and in the weeds, this will be
um, old news to you, but I think there's a lot of people out there who haven't been as um, aware of all the details and I don't want um, Facebook, social media
to be the source of information or a place to have debate and discussion. So I thought this was a good opportunity to give an overview for everyone. So a very brief highle overview of the the
state uh budget process. So the Massachusetts budget process involves both the executive and the legislative branches. So it's starts with the governor's budget. It then proceeds is handed off to the
House where it goes through ways and means some debate and then the House will present their draft budget, pass it off to the Senate. Then it goes through the same steps, presents their draft budget, and then it goes through what's called
conference committee. And this may be a point that people aren't as familiar with. So the conference committee consists of six members, three from the House and three from the Senate. and they are tasked with reconciling the budget, the House and Senate budget to
then pass to the governor. So once the conference committee comes up with the the final um their final recommended budget, it is approved by the House and Senate and then goes on to the governor for final review and signature. And once the governor receives that budget, uh
the governor has 10 days to act. One part of the budget is something that's called a cherry sheet. People probably have heard the term cherry sheet. It's an odd name. It does not tell you what it's about. It's the name comes from the colored paper it was
printed on before things went digital. It's that simple. What the cherry sheet is, it contains um the financial aid that the mun municipality receives from the state as
well as the charges and assessments that a municipality has to pay to the state. So there are two sections. The receipts section, this is the money that state gives to municipalities.
It contains several line items, those that are tied to education and those that are tied to general government. Chapter 70, something everyone has probably heard of many many times is is in this education uh receipt as is smart
growth uh which you may have heard of because a couple years ago that was zero for Lunberg. Um, and then on the government side of aid, there's something called often called UGGA, which stands for unrestricted general government aid.
Then the other side of the cherry sheet is the assessments and the charges. So this is the money that the municipality needs to pay back to the state. You can see there are many more lines on that side of the sheet. Um, one of the lines that came up during the FY27 budget
discussion in the spring was the mosquito control project. That is an example of an assessment that's um, paid back to the state. So, when you're talking about state aid, you need to look at the receipts, what's coming in, as well as the charges and and the net
of that is the net state aid that's available. Now during the whole budget process, each time a draft budget is released by the governor, the house, the senate, conference committee, the cherry sheet is updated and you can see this online.
Each column will contain the new numbers for each draft budget as it is released. And this is true for the receipts uh portion of the cherry sheet as well as the assessments and charges. And it is common
for the numbers to change as the budget process proceeds from the original governor's proposal to the final conference committee. And sometimes some lines go up, some go down. It's very some of the lines are are very
volatile. Now, in terms of timeline, this takes months. Um, the governor's budget, I'll I'll cover just the FY27 timeline. The governor's budget was released, the proposed budget was
released in January 28. On January 28th, the House budget was released April 29th. Then the Senate May 21st, conference committee June 30th, and then the governor signed the budget on July 9th.
So, how does this overlay with Lunenburgg's timeline? The town manager's preliminary budget was released on February 19th, so just couple weeks after the governor's initial proposal. The warrant book with
that contains the FY27 budget was sent to the printer April 8th. So, that is 3 weeks before the House budget was released. And then the uh budget was approved at annual town meeting May 2nd which again
is before the Senate conference committee and then the final budget. So it's not ideal. Um but we're working on the same fiscal year. So these are this is the process. This is what happens. This is it is what it is and this is
what we have to work with. Now you can see after the annual town meeting there's a lot more activity on the state side and that's what plays into this additional state aid that um we've been talking about most recently.
So let's focus on the activities that have happened since annual town meeting. The Senate released their budget May 21st. The school committee on June 24th voted
4 to zero to request the select board to schedule a special town meeting as soon as possible to appropriate the additional state aid because on the cherry sheet the Senate budget had a big increase in the smart growth. Um now keep in mind at this point still has to
go to conference committee still has to be signed by the governor. So, we have we don't know a when that's going to happen or b what the final numbers will be. So, there's still a lot of unknowns um about what the final state aid will be and
when we will know that. On June 29th, the school committee chair emailed me the results of that June 24th school committee vote and her availability to meet with the superintendent, town manager, and myself the week of July 6th. We had that
meeting on July 8th. At that meeting, we knew the conference committee budget that had been released on June 30th. There's a lot of talk about that meeting. I'll cover that in a little uh in more detail um in the next next
couple slides. On July 15th, last Wednesday, the school committee voted on a spending plan for the additional state aid that was approved unanimously by the school committee by a vote of 4 to zero and an article um for special town meeting
around the additional state aid that was approved 3 to one. The next day, the superintendent communicated the results of those votes to me. On July 20th, yesterday, a petition for
special town meeting was submitted and we are sitting here this evening with uh on our agenda discussion of the um school committee article regarding the FY27 state aid. So what happened on that meeting on July
8th? So again present were the superintendent, town manager, school committee chair and myself. The superintendent presented a spending plan for additional state aid based on the conference committee budget. That's the number we had to work with at the time.
So that was what we were working with. The proposal included hiring a reading specialist at the primary school, a reading specialist at Turkey Hill, to restore the high school principal to full-time. So, this meant increasing a
0.5 over what was budgeted, and to purchase 72 Ignite tutoring license seats. The total cost of those additions was $477,896. that amount exceeded the total
unappropriated state aid of 471,121. So that to be clear that unappropriated state aid was the total that includes education and general government aid which the general the increase for the general government aid items um was
nearly $74,000. It was $73,998 to be exact. And that included an increase in the UGGA as well as the uh an increase in the exemptions for veterans, blind persons, surviving spouses, and elderly.
To be clear, um the town has not had any discussions regarding the additional state aid yet. Um those discussions are to happen between now and the November uh special town meeting. And I did um indicate me as an
individual voter in Lunberg, I could not at this time support using all of the unappropriated state aid without at least having those discussions um regarding any needs on the town side and uses for any of the additional state
aid. The discussion um continued on a variety of things. One is the flexibility in the school budget that they have the ability to move line items around and um to possibly cover the cost
of some of the requests at least until the November special town meeting. Now, there is a risk of the appropriation failing at any special town meeting, no matter when it's held. You can't I mean, I think the risk is low. I don't know if it's ever happened, but
it's nonetheless it is there. Never say never. Um, so we talked about the ability to address that risk using existing funding sources. Um, we talked about special special education reserves. We talked about the capacity
that was created in the FY27 budget due to pulling some of the expenses for FY27 forward into the the year end of FY26. We talked about the savings from the changes in the FY27 health insurance plan that went into effect July 1. The
include optouts and changes in the plans, the high deductible plans. People change plans and that resulted in savings. Um the school business manager was on vacation that week, but the superintendent thought that the savings
um could possibly cover one reading specialist for this year for FY27. Uh but obviously needed to confirm that with the school business manager. Uh we talked about the fact that there's a grant pending for the Ignite tutoring
uh license seats and we suggested that the school committee discuss and agree upon a spending plan before calling a special town meeting. I think it would be of benefit to them to communicate to the
public and the voters what the money would be used for. If you were voting to give someone money, I would think that most people would want to know how that money was going to be used. That's, you know, along the lines of transparency, fiscal responsibility, accountability,
and all of those things that we've been talking about. Um, we also discussed letters of advoc advocacy that um we have received from parents around classroom sizes and athletics. Um again, we suggested that the school committee address these
points in um discussions at their school committee meetings. And at the end of all these discussions, the superintendent proposed a request of $350,000 of state aid to address the district's most immediate critical needs.
And the action items that came out of that meeting were one for the superintendent to confirm the health insurance savings in FY27 with the school business manager. Um because that was an assumption that I that went into that request for
$350,000. So it needed to be confirmed. Um, also that the school committee vote on the spending plan proposed by the superintendent, communicate those results to the select board as well as vote on an article for a special town meeting and communicate the outcome to
the select board. So they did that. The school committee met July 15th, a week later. In the meantime, the superintendent had, you know, circled back with her leadership team, with the school of business manager and made some
changes, I think minor, to the initial spending plan we discussed the week before. those changes um included well this isn't a change but uh she did confirm that these savings for from the FY27
health insurance changes could indeed fund a reading specialist in FY27. So that's that was confirmed the um proposed increase or I should no there was an addition there was um an
increase to the high school music teacher to go from a6 to a 1.0 no FTE to address the need regarding the senior um schedules and that so that was a change and an addition from our previous discussion
and the cost of that change was offset by reducing the number of the Ignite license seats from 72 to 52. This spending plan was approved by the school committee uh unanimously by a
vote of 4 to zero. So, where does that what is the status of that spending plan today? Well, happy to report that three of the four requested staffing additions were posted the very next day. These were the
reading specialists for the primary school, the reading specialist for Turkey Hill, and changing the um high school assistant principal from a part-time to a full-time position. Also um worth mentioning is that these positions they're posted.
They are able to start right away. So they if they are filled before the first day of school, they will start and that is because they can be funded through other sources even until the regularly scheduled
November special town meeting. In fact, I think they could be I think the the conversation at the school committee meeting was they could be funded for the entire year through austerity measures. It would it sounded like it would be a stretch, but certainly could be funded
for 2 and 1/2 months. So, the plan was to have the posted positions in place for the first day of school and that plan would not be impacted whether the special town meeting was in September or November. The requested auditions not currently
being addressed are one the Ignite license seats that grant is is pending. Um I don't last time I asked there wasn't a known uh timeline for a decision. Um although
the schools received a grant last year for the Ignite tutoring and it I think they are optimistic of getting the same grant this year. So hopefully that comes through. And the other um position that is not currently be being addressed is a
point4 increase for the high school music teacher. Um but again my understanding is that the first semester schedule is set. So changes in the electives due to an increase in that teacher um would really impact the second semester schedule is is my
understanding. Okay. And the school committee also did vote on a special town meeting article for appropriation of that $350,000 of state aid and that was approved by a 3:1
vote. The article does not specify when that special town meeting would occur. And the town manager sought cl to clarify all of the conversation leading up and around these. And unfortunately,
this the recording for this meeting um got really glitchy and is garbled and and at times hard to understand. Um, I watched the recording and to me it I did pick up that they were discussing primarily, you know, keeping it the
November, covering positions until November and seeking the appropriation in November. So, um, the town manager when we received this article and the results of the vote, um, sought to
clarify whether that article was tied to a special town meeting outside of the regular November special. um superintendent uh commented that the conversation at that
meeting focused on the November special as being the mechanism. So it's not a formal vote. It's not clear. Um it's all everyone's kind of mutual understanding based on conversations that happened. It's all a moot point
because uh we received a petition, a citizens petition yesterday for a special town meeting. So, this is literally updated this afternoon. The town clerk verified the signatures this afternoon. I have um an appointment with town
council tomorrow to discuss the process, procedures, and so on. Um because there are some things in Mass General general law that apply to a citizens petition special town meeting and we have our own bylaws and charters to follow. Um the timelines
uh that that uh may not be aligned and how to align them and so on. Um, so I will be meeting with town council tomorrow to find that out and we will be um posting an agenda for
a meeting for a select board meeting on Monday the 27th to discuss the date of the additional uh special town meeting. So, the information I collect from town council tomorrow will inform um our meeting on the 27th around the date and
and what the requirements are, what activities we need to do and how much notice and so on because I don't want to make a mistake and misstep to invalidate any actions that may happen. So, um this
is not something that happens on the regular basis. So, it's best to uh get it right. And I think that was all I had to say. So I will open it up if you have
other comments, questions, discussion. >> I can start. Uh I had a a few words prepared then a few um after the presentation. I want to thank the chair for the presentation as well. Uh I also appreciate the work that went into this uh this whole process uh securing additional state aid for Lunberg and the
advocacy of our legislative delegation too. Um however, I'm disappointed that the recommendation shifted from restoring approximately 418,000 in new education funding to just 350,000. Uh the Commonwealth provided Lunberg with a substantial amount uh more
education related revenue uh than what was available when our local budget was adopted in May. uh residents were told throughout the override discussion that if the override failed or even additional state aid became available, we do we would revisit school funding in that moments arrived.
Um if the state has determined that Lunberg should receive additional educational funding, our goal should be direct as much of those educational dollars as reasonably possible to our students. Uh every dollar that's diverted elsewhere is a dollar that's not reaching our classrooms. I
understand the importance of thoughtful financial planning and having a spending plan. I hope that the select board has a transparent public discussion with the school committee and even finance committee about the new revenue and how it can be best allocated. I think our students and educators and taxpayers
deserve that conversation. Um I think open discussions, open meetings I think will be are needed. Uh I think discussing this additional state aid I think the finance committee should be involved. Um there is definitely a risk of uh failing at the special town
meeting. That is definitely a concern. I want the the schools uh to be aware of it. I I've asked the chair of the select board multiple times to put this on our agenda for a a potential earlier special town meeting uh to discuss it as at the
select board. Um so we could have those discussions. Um and I think that's it. >> Yeah. And I would like to thank the chair for the clarification because it was confusing having watched the the uh school committee on the 24th and you
know it's so you you addressed a lot of that confusion and and I thank you for that and I think it's important for us to be mindful as as um elected officials here continually thank the the state delegation that we be mindful that these additional funds the $471,000
are from a state budget that grew by about 4% to to a total of $63.4 billion. The timing of that delivery, the timing of the delivery of these funds, the $471,000 is disruptive and inefficient to utilize
in an active budget. Um, you do not do not and they do not represent any progress in solving the lack of investment into Lunenburgg by the state through local aid or chapter 70. None.
They have created a a commission to study it and by all estimates if they increase the investment it will be for it will be years in the future. So it's just be mindful of the fact that of this 471,000 it comes from a state budget of
63.4 billion. Thank you. Okay. Um I just noted three things. one the total the net amount for the education lines is going to be less than
418,000 when you take out the assessments. So just I think it will be discussed at FINCOM this week what the the actual net is but um it's closer to 400,000 give or take 5,000 um so that that will be covered.
So um and also a fincom hearing is required for any uh moneyed article for a special town meeting or annual town meeting. So there will need to be and that's part of the schedule of building this out. We have to post a public hearing. They have to
hold it. Um we have to have a quorum of committee members. Uh so so the spending plan I'm sure will be covered in that public hearing. I would expect they would want to see that. Um something I want to I want to touch on just in general
um is around official communications and processes. I think I think we've gotten in trouble in the past by um talking over through recordings
um you know watching a meeting thinking oh our meeting was recorded so you must have seen it and you'll act on you know whatever came out that is dangerous for many reasons so um I am really
trying um to follow an an official communication process for any action. That's why I was I made a point of stating when it was communicated from either the the school committee chair or superintendent um and
actually kept asking last week, send me send me the article. What was the vote? Send it to me. And especially that meeting because the audio was I don't know what happened, but it was inaudible at at I I tried to watch the recording, tried to slow it down, everything. it
didn't help. Um, so anyway, I think and this is this is true for me to do for every board committee member or for chairs to communicate, you know, by email official everything is is documented and official and nothing will
get slipped through the cracks or be misunderstood. Um, so and I think you know the reason we didn't act any earlier was
what date do you put? Call us call an early special when you have just the house or just the senate draft. What date do you put? There are years where this the governor signs a budget in late July. This is early for this state. July 9th.
Um, but you have no way of knowing and you have no way of of knowing even if the the numbers and the aid will change even from conference committee to the the governor's final budget. Um, so anyway, it's all that's how we got to
where we are. The important thing is where we are. So, we are going to, you know, do everything we can to meet all of the guidelines and the requirements to get this early special town meeting, I don't know what
to call it, the additional town me special town meeting um done. Um so along those lines, if we're going to have to have I mean it goes there's no getting around it. We're going to have to have meetings off schedule. That's
true for us and I think it's going to be true for Fincom too. So if there are any days that you are not available Monday through Thursday um from now until Labor Day is when is Labor Day? September 7th. >> Yeah.
>> That's right around the date where you know >> September. And we also have a annual town election August 8th and a primary election September 1st. And which I forgot to I want to acknowledge the
amount of work this is putting on our town clerk's office. Um they have the special town election August 8th. They have the the state primary September 1st. There will be an early special town meeting. There is the
general election November 3rd. And then we have our November special town meeting uh sometime in mid November. So this is this is an incredible amount of work for them to take on in the next four to five months. So I want to thank
them in advance for that. Um we got the signatures verified in 24 hours that um and I want to acknowledge uh that effort and thank them for it. Um, so again, if there's any days that you know you're not available, um, please let me know.
I'm going to ask the finance committee chair through email if he can do the same for his committee so we can try to piece together a calendar um, and align it with all the requirements um, so we make sure that everything is
is done correctly. Anything? We really don't have any action to take tonight. Um, we will be meeting 6 o'clock on Monday. If there's anything else
you want to Okay. Um, okay. So, speaking of activities that the town clerk off town clerk's office is doing, we have the warrants for the special town election.
Um, and that is for August 8th. Uh, Melissa, do we need a vote? We'll vote. I don't know if that we need a vote. I know we have to sign. I don't We'll just vote to approve um just in case it's needed. So, I will
make a motion um to approve the 2026 special town election warrant as presented by the town clerk. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor?
>> I >> I motion passes unanimously. Um we have five copies to sign. So, if you can hang out after the meeting and sign them, um, we can do that then. Don't let me forget it has to be wet ink. So, we can't do
the docu sign. Uh, the next item, the select board FY27 goal. So, after our workshop last week, I drafted try to pull them all together um and dropped a document in our folder. I don't know if you've had time to look at it.
If not, it's fine. If you have and you're ready to comment or take any action, that's fine, too. >> Uh, I'll go first. Uh, I want to thank you for compiling our ideas. Uh, I did only have one comment. Uh, goal five,
budget and finance. Objective three was listed as >> Hold on. Wait, wait, let me open it. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Uh, >> I can read it, too. It's pretty short. >> Yeah. Where? Here it is. >> So, goal five, budget and finance. Objective three was listed as continue efforts to advocate for additional
financial aid from the state and I was just hoping to make it more diverse. Um, select board member Mloud had mentioned um even the audit. So I had drafted um an option uh that might actually include
that but not get too far away from the objective. Okay. So, objective three, continue to advocate for the town's interests by supporting legislative, regulatory, and funding initiatives that benefit Lunberg, its employees, boards,
committees, and residents. I felt like that fit, too, where we had one of our employees actually um advocate writing a letter to the legislation uh last year. And I thought that would kind of fit in this category as well. >> Okay.
>> Where we're just general advocation of our community. >> Okay. >> Uh so goal one objective for these there's some of these are pretty minor. >> Does that fit with your >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Sorry. >> All right. I'll email that. >> Yeah. I was going to say, can you share
that was honestly I think I just wimped out at that point because that was the last one I did. Yeah. Um, that was it. Yeah, just a few comments because I I I don't like last year this these seems
kind of just pass by and then we don't end up going back. So, some of these might just be comments, but goal one, objective four were just simply to be ensure uh municipal building design committee and APDC were aware of that goal. Just so they're keyed in. Uh goal
two, objective one, poll coverage. If we could delegate that to the police chief to the extent law and charter allows, you know, whether it's a um >> Oh, the election. You're >> covering poll. >> Yeah. Poll coverage. Yeah. Yeah. Um okay
>> just again that can just be for consideration. Uh goal three objective two. >> Okay. >> Goal three, objective two. >> Yeah, we just have to be careful not to formalize it too much. Members remain accessible outside of informal meetings
and greets. It's just instead of having we just got to make sure that it's >> kind of not too formalized. uh a new objective focused on engagement, transparency. Um like we had a lot of push back to um
comments like toi from citizens and the press leading up to the override and like specifically like the Lunenburgg uh ledger took a lot of heat and then subsequently the coverage kind of went silent. Um so we
just have to make sure that we're you know receptive to um those comments. I think I had mentioned it as um you know dissenting opinions em embracing them. Uh these can have a chilling effect on other members of the community wanting to engage with their government. So I
think we just have to be really mindful of that. >> So I I struggle putting that as an objective because it's not measurable. >> Yeah. >> Right. It's kind of an aspiration or it's I don't know code of >> Yeah. I just want to
>> like a goal because it's not measurable. I don't know how to if you can think of something >> that's fair. >> Um I mean I hear you and I I agree. It should go without saying. >> Yeah. Um >> and as in in the general category of
transparency, I think areas that we could improve as um like the way the introduction of the additional assistant t town manager came apart um came about in that budgeting process kind of went quick and it's it's it seems to be a
very unpopular, you know, topic or a dicey topic like a a budget appropriation and additional state aid special town ing that the way you know that kind of you you addressed a lot of those issues and and brought that clarity but issues just like a lot of
times I find myself things things in government seem to move quickly without um being transparent like the hiring process for high-profile positions the police chief the fire chief those seem to just kind of happen I I understand
that it is the town manager's responsibility but I I think just as an example of transparency of an area where we could kind of focus on and and work on incor um involving the public and that also speaks to the the hiring process of the the town manager. So
again, those are just examples of the transparency. >> That one is really really tough to really limited what can be done. I understand but just coming from a frustrated citizen previously watching like these things really was profound
how quickly they just emerged. So if we can just you know kind of a goal a focus mindful of that's >> yeah like the town manager screening committee even the select board other than the rep who was on the screening committee >> still that's all confidential we don't even know who they screen
>> so there's a there's a lot of not much that can be done I can tell you um you know I was involved in in the interview for the finance director um as was the chair of the finance committee Um
it's the fact of the matter is that you know as elected or appointed officials if we are able to be included in some part of that process people have to trust
um >> and I think there's opportunities in public comment and a lot of these are in public meetings interviews are in public >> the interviews Definitely, which is crazy to me. >> It was the simp it was the same in superintendent.
>> You were you were the only public member who attended the town manager interviews, >> right? >> But it and that but that was really quick. I forget now, but it was like interviews Monday and then appointments the next day. I mean it was really really quick. There was something >> because once they interview they are public >> but just
>> you have >> I I think that just in general I think in other areas other towns I have seen more um public interviews and it's just a goal. It's just a comment for a goal. >> I think we're limit it depends I think
on the position you're talking about >> for sure without a doubt. Uh and it's just the error of you know and that's just the error of blind trust in government simply doing the right thing is is like a bygone error you know it we just need more transparency.
Um goal four objective three uh ensure and this I don't maybe this is even a a town manager goal but ensure the minutes from approved minutes are posted promptly on the website. I had an email recently of someone looking for
>> Oh, yeah. >> So, that's I don't know if that's us or but all of I know we're way behind on approving minutes, but those that have been approved, a lot of them are not posted. >> Yeah, >> we could adjust that just by the year at the end because at the end it says
remain compliant with posting of minutes in FY27. >> So, I think it's getting the posting part there. Every >> It's the whole process. Yeah, we're behind on Yeah, the whole process. >> So, Yeah, if you want to edit the wording,
feel free. Um Oh, there was something else. Uh the first one you brought up about Oh, are you done? >> Yes. >> Um the first one you brought up about, you know, having these I don't know what to call them. I think I what did I call them? Select board chat sessions or
something. I actually did get an email from a resident who watched and >> and liked, you know, >> the idea, the the opportunity to try to out >> Yeah. >> out reach out more. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah. >> So, I think the more
>> avenues we have for that, the better because >> one thing it's not going to work for everyone. >> Yeah. And I think just us having those conversation periodically is very helpful because it obviously work there. But people are not limited to just you know coming to speak with us at these
they can email us and >> you know >> can't speak for everyone but I'm I'm confident each one of us would meet with anyone >> at any time. Well at a mutual agreeable time. >> Um >> some people are hesitant to email too. >> Yeah.
>> They want that. >> That's why it's good to have both. >> Yeah. and email you can't tell tone all the time. So >> yeah, >> um the other thing is about the the Lunberg Municipal Building Design Committee and so we have a joint meeting with them on Tuesday. >> Yeah, >> that's been confirmed.
>> Um and I know I did hear from uh one two members of the committee that saw our goals discussion around that. So So we'll have an opportunity to go through that as well next week.
Um, okay. So, this is in our drive. Do you want to You can just go ahead go in and edit, save it as another version or save it as is. I don't care. >> We can We can go in and
>> Oh, yeah. It's in the drive. >> Mhm. Um or you can do it by You can email. And if you want to do it sequentially, Brian, you add the >> I am all set. Yeah, add that last objective in there. But I >> if there's other language you want to
change and then um >> once it's you've entered yours, let's we'll circulate the final draft and maybe we can vote on it next week. Okay. Anything else on this topic?
>> No. >> Okay. Uh then we were on to minutes. Speak of the devil. Um >> so we have one, two, three, four sets of minutes in the drive to approve.
Are folks ready to approve all of them? >> I am. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from July 1st, 2025, July 15, 2025, August 19th, 2025, and April 30th, 2026. >> Second the motion.
>> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I passes unanimously. Okay. Uh committee reports. um library board of trustees met. Their li the library director is working with
the rec director to manage the impact of the uh losing access to TC Pacios. Uh they've set up a subcommittee for the future working on updating their strategic plan. Uh on Friday, this past unrelated to the library, I went to the
settler crossing the North Central Chamber of Commerce. They had a a gathering there that was interesting getting everyone in the area together and I expressed Lunberg's interest in working on their um reputation of being um unfriendly to
business and everyone's there seemed to be appreciate appreciative of of our efforts specifically referencing the the workshop or the work that the uh um planning board is undertaking. um the Council of Aging on Tuesday the 14th, they welcome the two members that
we recently appointed, Pauline Roy and Chris Johnson. They seem to step right into their roles. Um and August 3rd, they will be having a jazz concert, very similar to the style of the concert they had last night at the Lincoln Pavilion. So, keep an eye out for that. As Renee
indicated, it was a a very enjoyable evening and it's a proper use of that um really amazing resource behind the Lunberg Adult Activity Center. >> And that is all. >> The lawn is beautiful back there. >> I'm so jealous.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I missed it. Uh Oscar's 10th birthday was yesterday. We missed it, but he didn't want to go. >> Uh the cable advisory, I just got sworn in. They're meeting for the first time on Thursday at 3:00. Uh the school committee met last Wednesday uh discussed their spending plan as we
discussed tonight and then the board of assessors met on July 1st. Um they continued their review of neighborhood classification project with significant progress made in updating waterfront and sub sub neighborhood property classifications to better reflect market
values while maintaining equitable assessments. The staff will continue to do parcel by parcel reviews throughout the summer with changes expected to be implemented after preliminary tax bills are issued. The board also review received an update on the principal assessor search with the hiring decision
expected before the next meeting. Members discussed plans for an August outreach session at the senior center to educate residents on the senior means tested tax exemption and circuit breaker programs and began exploring a possible town meeting article to increase the local veterans property tax exemption.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 5th and that's it. >> Okay. I don't have any reports. I I think Stormwater's trying I haven't checked to see if a agenda got posted. I think we're trying to set up a meeting.
Um and finance committee is meeting Thursday. This Thursday at 7. Okay. Our upcoming meetings. So, as I mentioned, we are going to be posting a meeting for Monday at 6 to discuss a date for the special town meeting. Um,
and then Tuesday the 28th, we will have a joint meeting with the Lunenburgg Municipal Building Design Committee. It will be David Blat's going to give a presentation on some programs that came out of a a recent conference um that Mass Safe sponsored, but then we'll also
have a workshop around TCP, Brooks House um and other municipal buildings. And the charge and composition of the of the committee as well, I expect. Um then our next regular scheduled select board
meeting is August 4th. >> So we got the 27th, 28th. on August 4th right now and stand by for >> and again let me let me cuz I would love >> I think after the 8th it'll be a little bit more flexible too with more members.
>> Yes, that will help. That will help. >> That will help. Um yeah, I don't know what finance committee uh will look like as we get closer to Labor Day. I know that's um popular vacation time. Um,
and sometimes we will need to meet in person, sometimes Zoom will be okay. So, ideally, I'd love to have a calendar set up where we know we have quorums and we can just identify the meetings and and just check them off as we go. Um, okay.
I think we've covered it all and can open it up for any public comment from the public. We have none in the room. So, anyone online who has a public comment, just raise your hand and I'm not seeing any um is there any
public comment from the board? >> No. >> No. >> Okay, then Brian, >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn at 8:19 p.m. >> Second. All those in favor? I >> I Okay, we are officially adjourned.
Have a great evening everyone and see you uh next week.