Are you going to take all items for him or just like are you going to do this? >> We could do both. >> Yeah, >> we're alive or we're on. >> All right. Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight's meeting of the Lunenburgg Select Board. Today is Tuesday, December 16th. 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.
In accordance with the requirements of the open meeting law, please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live over the Lunberg public access channel on Facebook live on the 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. We're going to
begin with announcements tonight and I have two one last reminder about Santa's mailbox which is by the flag pole in the town center. You have until this Friday to drop off a letter to Santa and get a response. Make sure you put your name and address uh on the envelope to get a
response. And just an FYI at the beginning of the meeting that town offices will be closed from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. tomorrow for an employee event. Okay. Public comment. Are there any public comments from the board? >> Nope. >> No. >> Nope.
>> Any public comments from the public? Not seeing any public. Let me check on Zoom. Nope. All right. We're going to jump right into our first meeting and it is an introduction of Steven Wallace, the town's new uh director of planning and economic development. So, I will
invite Mr. Wallace up to the podium. >> Mr. Chairman, while uh Mr. Wallace is coming up, it is my pleasure to introduce the community to Stephen. Um he is coming to us most recently from Sterling, but has a long and very successful career. and I am thrilled to
be welcoming here uh him tonight to Lunenburgg. >> Awesome. >> So, >> good evening, honorable select board of Lunenburgg. >> Good evening. >> I'm very happy to be joining your town as your new planning director.
Um I've got 35 years of experience as a professional planner, 10 years in New Hampshire. um the last 25 here in Massachusetts. Spent nine years with Central Mass Regional Planning out of Worcester,
couple years with the city of Framingham, 11 years with the town of Westminster, and I'm wrapping up three years with the town of Sterling. So, um I have a lot of experience working for small rural towns like
Lunenburgg. Um, I'm very interested in hearing what your priorities are for the next planning director. So, please give that some thought and when you're ready, um, drop by my
office and we'll have a talk or send me your thoughts via email or give me a call, whatever your preferred mode of communication. But I'm going to spend my uh first few weeks meeting with the various boards
and committees in the planning board of course and getting their priorities going to put them together into what uh what will be my annual work program for my department. I'll share that with you. We'll talk about it. I'll keep you
updated as we go along. But yeah, I can't wait to get started. I'll start the uh first full week of February. >> Questions, comments? >> Thank you. I'll open it up to any questions or comments? >> No, I'd just like to thank you, welcome
welcome you to Lunenburgg and appreciate you sharing your experience here with us. You know, since getting involved with local government, starting with the the planning board, I have a new appreciation for the importance of a position such as yours. So, once again, thank you for sharing your expertise.
Yeah, thank you for coming tonight and welcome. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I just want to welcome you aboard and um excited to have you start in February. >> Great. >> And I definitely will take you up on your offer to chat at some point because I've been talking about economic development with a lot of folks in town
and I have a lot that I'm learning and uh curious about. So, I would love to chat with you at some point. But you're joining Lunenburgg during what I think is a very interesting and potentially exciting for you time. So, welcome aboard. I've got some ideas for economic development. So, let's
>> Great. >> chat when you get a chance. >> Sounds good, Jen. >> No, just Stephen I think is going to be a great asset to the team. I'm really excited to have him. Um I think that he's going to be able to just fit in very easily to our crew and get going
right away, which is awesome. >> Well, it was so nice to meet you, Stephen. Have a good night. And I guess we can um we can just make this final now instead of doing it later. Uh, I move to ratify the town manager's appointment of Steven Wallace as director of planning and economic development. >> Second.
>> Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. It was so nice to meet you, Mr. Wallace. And, uh, we'll chat soon. >> Okay. See you next year. >> Have a good night. >> Thank you. >> All right. Up next, we have FY24 audit
report from Frank Seredi, managing director of CBIZ CPAs. Hello. Thank you for having me here tonight. >> Good evening. Thanks for being here. >> Appreciate the opportunity to present the results of the audit to you. Um I would uh like to start off with
something that's called a governance letter. It should have been part of your packages. Um it's contains uh required communications that uh we're supposed to share with the uh those charged with governance for the uh the town and that's the select board. >> Excuse me.
>> So this is a little bit dry. I'm going to try to get through it as quickly as I can. >> No worries. >> Move on to uh some of the more exciting uh financial highlights. But it uh starts off talking about our responsibilities as auditors for uh the
for the audit and um basically our primary responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements as to whether they're fairly stated in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We're also responsible for considering the city's internal control
over financial reporting to determine our auditing procedures and for the purpose of expressing our opinions on the financial statements. Although uh providing an opinion on the uh internal controls is not uh primary
purpose of the audit. Um we're also responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free of material misstatements um by performing tests of its compliance with provisions of laws, grants, uh regulations and contracts
and however um providing an opinion on compliance is also not one of the objectives of the audit. uh generally accepted accounting principles requires uh the inclusion of required supplementary information in the financial statements and those are uh schedules that are in the back of the
financial statements. Um your uh budget taxual schedule, your um pension and OPUB schedules, those types of things. Uh we're required to apply certain limited procedures on those schedules, but we don't uh provide an opinion on those schedules.
Uh next section talks talks about the plan scope timing of the audit. Uh the audit includes examining on a test basis evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Um and it involves judgment about the number of transactions to be examined in
the areas that we test. Uh the audit includes obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment including internal control sufficient to assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements and to design the nature timing and extent of our audit
procedures. Material misstatements may arise from uh errors, fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets, violations of laws or government regulations that are attributable uh to the acts of management.
Uh when we encounter these types of things uh when performing the audit, we uh generally communicate those at the conclusion of the audit. However, there are instances when we might communicate those matters uh sooner than that. Uh the last part of that section talks
about um material uh significant risks of material misstatement in the audit and uh management overratic controls is always considered to be a significant risk. It's uh nothing unique to Lunberg. We have to consider that a significant risk in all the audits that we do. And
what that means is that management has the authority and the discretion to override internal controls. And that creates the potential for fraud and it also makes it difficult to detect uh misstatements in the financial statements. So to respond to that risk
we perform you know different procedures. Uh one of them is um incorporating an element of unpredictability into the audit. That means that we don't perform the same audit procedures every year so that the the management team knows what we're going to look at and uh that type of
thing. We try to keep people on their toes and uh you know not have people just focusing on things that they know that we're going to look at. Uh testing of journal entries. Journal entries is an area where management you know can have the ability to override controls if
there are not sufficient uh controls in place over the journal entries. Uh we make sure that uh there are valid uh descriptions and explanations for the journal entries and that that they make sense. We make sure that there's adequate supporting documentation and that there's sufficient controls like a
an approval process. You don't want one person to be able to go in and make journal entries without someone else reviewing and approving those entries. That's a segregation duties issue. Uh we also assign experienced staff to the engagement. We review estimates for bias
and we evaluate any significant or unusual transactions that we might encounter while performing the audit. Uh next section talks about uh qualitative aspects of accounting practices and uh management is responsible for the uh selection and use
of appropriate accounting policies. The significant accounting policies can be found in note one of the financial statements. There were no new accounting policies adopted during the year and the application of existing policies was not changed. Accounting estimates are an integral part of the preparation of the financial
statements. They're based on management's uh knowledge and assumptions uh knowledge and experience about uh past and current events as well as um assumptions about future events. Uh the most significant uh estimates in
the financial statements relate to the net op liability, the net pension liability and depreciation on fixed assets. We uh reviewed the uh underlying assumptions that we used to develop the estimates and we found them to be reasonable in relation to the financial
statements as a whole. There are certain uh financial statement disclosures that are particularly sensitive to uh users of the financial statements because of their significance. Uh those again are the net pension liability and the net op liability. We reviewed those uh
disclosures and we found them to be clear uh consistent and neutral. Uh next section talks about difficulties encountered while performing the audit. I'm happy to report that we did not encounter any difficulties while dealing dealing with management while performing
the audit. There's a next paragraph talks about independence and as part of the audit we've agreed to perform certain nonattest services. This is mainly related to the preparation of the financial statements, consolidating funds into governmental and business
type activities, recording uh converting to the acrruel basis of accounting and uh based on our uh review of of these procedures and the role our role and management's role, we found that our independence would not be impaired in fact or appearance and this is standard
practice for the municipalities across the state. Nothing unusual here uh for Lunenburgg. Corrected and uncorrected misstatements. We're required to accumulate known and likely misstatements that we might identify while we're performing the audit uh unless they're clearly trivial
and communicate those to the appropriate levels of management. Happy to report that we didn't identify any misstatements in the uh the financial records as we were doing the audit. disagreements with management. Uh that
is considered to be um a disagreement related to a financial accounting reporting or auditing matter. Whether or not it's resolved to our satisfaction um that uh could be significant to the financial statements of the auditor's report. I'm happy to report we had no
such disagreements with management. And then uh management representations. As part of the audit, we uh send a a letter over with various representations that we require management to make to us. And it's important that um you know
those representations are accurate and um complete and those representations were provided. We need to get that before we can issue and finalize the financial statements. And that's a standard uh practice uh when auditing uh management consultation with other
independent accountants. Uh there are times when management management may uh seek out another accountant uh for accounting uh matters or advice. Uh this is similar to obtaining a second opinion. And if that uh consultation
relates to uh preparation of the financial statements or the opinion on the financial statements, our standards require them to check with us to make sure that they have all the relevant facts. To our knowledge, no such consultations occurred. Almost there. Uh other audit findings or
issues? Uh we generally discuss a variety of matters uh including application of accounting policies and standards um with management each year prior to our retention. And uh none of these all of these discussions accord in the normal course of our relationship
and none of them were a condition of our uh retention as auditors. And the last paragraph just talks more about um the required supplementary information which we already touched on so not going to get into that. Um, if anybody has any questions on that, I can take them or I
can move on to the, uh, financial highlights. >> Any questions? >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh, financial highlights. Um, the overall results of the audit, we were able to issue an un uh, modified opinion. That's a clean opinion. It's the best you can get. Means the
financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The information that we received uh was accurate. The responses to our inquiries were timely and uh we did not identify any internal control
deficiencies such as material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. And so those those are good very good results. Uh we had very good cooperation, no issues getting the information that we needed or anything like that. So uh from our standpoint, we
thought the audit went very well from that standpoint. Financial highlights. Uh general fund fund balance total 10.7 million. Of that 370,000 related to incumbrances that were carried over to be spent in the next year because you had
commitments against those funds. You also um used $1.7 million of free cash to fund your uh 2025 budget. So that was also considered to be assigned. That left you with unassigned fund balance of $8.7 million. That's about 18% of your
budget. And that's uh up from last year where it was 17% or 7.9 million. So about an $800,000 increase in your unassigned fund balance, which is really um you know a a good healthy fund
balance. And you really want to be in that range from a rating standpoint. The rating agencies are looking for that like 10 to 20%. So that's a good uh healthy fund balance. Included in that are your stabilization funds. You've got uh your general stabilization fund with
a $3 million balance. Uh that was up about 300,000 from the prior year. And that's been steadily increasing since 2013. So the town has been doing a good job at, you know, putting some reserves aside for, you know, unexpected and unforeseen things that might come up.
It's nice to have that flexibility in your, you know, in your arsenal. You're trying to balance your budget. So, that's a positive trend there and it, you know, continued to build that up a little bit more. Uh, zoning stabilization was 243,000, pretty consistent with what it was in the prior
year. Vehicle and equipment stabilization fund was 2.3 million. That was up about 400,000. So, you put a little more money aside there, too. Um, health insurance stabilization fund 116 and opioid stabilization fund 184,000.
So, like I said, those are all part of your unassigned fund balance when you're looking at your general fund balance sheet. Uh, real estate and personal property tax collections continue to be strong. About 98% of the commitment was collected, which is very good. Uh,
budgetary results, you ended up uh having an increase on the budgetary basis of 651,000 in fund balance. You had a revenue surplus of 653,000. um mainly related to tax leans, motor
vehicle excise, fees and rentals, but pretty conservative budgeting, which I mean that's what helps you to build up your your fund balance. You don't want to, you know, budget too aggressively and then come short. So, it's always, you know, better to air on the conservative side.
uh expenditures came in under budget by $1.5 million and that pretty much spread across all the uh functional line items and then those uh those generated increases in fund balance and those increases were offset by the use of $1.2
million of free cash that was used to balance the FY24 budget. Uh these results indicate that your budget is uh structurally sound and you have good budgetary controls in place. Little bit about the OPED uh liability. The uh town contributed another $283,000
to the OPED trust fund in 2024. Brought the balance up to 1.4 million. You also had 141,000 of investment income which is up from the prior year which was 59,000. So you're starting to accumulate a balance in the OPED trust fund which
is great. Now you're starting to have some significant earnings there. And the other thing um that that's doing for you, it's allowing you to be able to increase your discount rate. And your discount rate, well, actually before I get to that, your net op liability was
uh 50.9 million. At the end of the year, that was down from the prior year of 53.2 million. And uh you know, the contributions that you put in the the fund, the investment income, those help to reduce your netb liability. And they also help to increase your discount rate
because you don't currently qualify for a uh the long-term rate of return uh until you you use what's called a blended rate until you have ass your assets are sufficient to pay for uh projected benefits of current plan members.
Um and so uh your long-term uh rate of return is 6.25%. So you currently have a blend of that and the double A municipal bond rate which was 4.21%. So um there is something in the footnotes called a
sensitivity analysis in the OPED notes. It's on page 60 and that uh tells you what the impact of a 1% increase or decrease in the discount rate is so you went up by about 6% so a little bit more than half a percent. And what that note
will tell you if you look at it is that um a one 1% increase to decrease is going to uh change your liability either increase it or decrease it in the range of like 6.5 to $8 million. So you were a little over a half a percent. So you that's a big part of the decrease that
we were talking about and the liability was related to that discount rate going up and that's all tied into your funding and everything else of the trust and I believe your uh trust trust contributions are 10% of your free cash I believe that's the policy. So as long
as your free cash stays up then your trust contributions are going to stay up. Um so um they have been trending upwards over the last like nine years and you can see that in the back of the report on uh one of the RSI schedules. Uh and then you
have the net pension liability and that's really related to the Worcester regional retirement system. So anybody that's not a teacher or someone that qualifies to be in the mass teachers retirement system certain administrators at the school qualify as well. uh there
everyone else that qualifies for a pension will be in the uh Worcester regional retirement system. Um the net pension liability there was 22.5 million related to the town up a little bit from the prior year of 21.4 system is 50% funded and that's up 2%
from the prior year. uh they lowered their discount rate slightly. Uh and um that's really about all uh wanted to mention about that. Capital assets, you uh increased your capital assets,
capital additions for general government activities by 2.2 million, mainly related to road paving and machinery and equipment. No uh capital asset additions for sewer enterprise. Not really a lot going on with debt. We had 152,000 of
short-term debt outstanding at the end of the year. Uh that was temporarily funding the capital plan and land purchase. Uh didn't in uh issue any new long-term debt uh midyear required payments of 1.6 for governmental, 1.6 million and 692
for sewer. And then the last thing I had was on the uh report on federal awards. Um any um entity in Massachusetts that expends over 750,000 in federal funds is required to go uh undergo a single
audit. And that's an audit of the federal funds. And so uh the town expended 2.7 million. So you're well over that $750,000 threshold. And you town typically is typically does qualify for the single audit. uh $417,000 of
those expenditures related to school nutrition, 599 for special education, uh 522 for the American uh rescue plan act program, 728 for the CO 19 education stabilization fund uh grant program and
that's a school program um that's running out and then 434,000 for other grants. Uh based on our um work, we determined that we needed to audit um the education stabilization fund. Uh we
had no findings, no question costs, no internal control deficiencies. So again, this was a clean report, unmodified opinion, best results you could hope for on the audit of the federal awards. So all in all, financial uh position seems
to be improving. No internal control deficiencies, very good cooperation from everybody. So from my standpoint, it was a very good audit. >> All right. Thank you very much, Frank. I'll open it up to any questions from the board. >> Sure. >> I don't have any.
>> Out of curiosity, how many municipalities do you audit? >> Um, you mean the company? >> Yeah. Um, well, we've recently merged. So, before we merged, I think we were >> uh probably 80 to 100. And so, now we've
mer I'm going to say probably if we took the Northeast, I'm going to say 3 to 500 maybe. >> Okay. So, a lot. >> Yeah, it's um been auditing Lunberg. >> How long have we been auditing Looneyberg? Um,
I've been on this audit for quite a while, uh, with a legacy firm, Powers and Sullivan. >> Um, I don't know the exact year. I'm sorry, but if I had to guess, I'd say probably a good 15 years or so. >> I'm just wondering if you have um enough
information based on what you've seen and municipalities that you worked with to say what you think of our financial practices and how they compare to other municipalities. Are they better, worse, average? Just curious. >> Um, I mean, historically over the last
several years, I would say that, you know, your financial practices have been very good. Like if you look at the trends of you know the town's finances over the last like 10 years I think that you'll see that the financial condition has been improving over that period of
time with the reserves and um you know general fund uh fund balance the unreserve fund balance the stabilization funds the uh funding of the oped liability which is not required but it's a a prudent thing to do and you know it's to me if you know there are still
some communities out there that aren't funding it. And to me, they're kind of kicking the can down the road to future generations. It's those are, you know, costs that are, you know, being incurred now, even though they're not getting paid out until people retire. So, I think that's a great thing when
communities fund that. But, um, internal control wise, we've never had any issues with cash reconciliation, receivable reconciliations. I mean cash is honestly one of the biggest like risk areas in the audit and that's one of the most important things that we first question
we ask is cash reconciled and never been an issue out here and um books have always been closed on a timely basis don't typically find errors um so I mean our experience has been you know pretty positive I'm not sure I can't think back
to us having a significant deficiency or material weakness in any of our reports. We've had comments in the past, but there are more kind of efficiency improvement things, but um CBiz is not uh as inclined to put those in writing.
It's we're more inclined to communicate those verbally to management. >> The things that we uh typically put in our communications that would be attached to this governance letter would be like a significant deficiency or a material weakness. And um from what I'm
hearing about 25, it sounds like you know things are behind like cash reconciliations are behind. And you know that right off the bat is going to be a material weakness because there are not controls in place when you're not
reconciling cash that would detect an error or fraud on a timely basis. So something could occur and you're not going to know about it because there's no reconciliation being done. Money could not be recorded on the ledger. You know, it could be an honest mistake
where something wasn't recorded or something could be missing. But if you don't reconcile between your bank balances and your book balances and your general ledger, you're at risk. And that's considered to be a material uh
material weakness and internal control because a material error could occur and you would not you don't have systems in place when you're not reconciling to detect that on a timely basis. So that's that's a really big thing that's something that you want to get done and caught up as soon as possible so that you can get that peace of mind and know
that everything's okay. Um and similarly the receivables would probably be next in line. all your your funds go through that receivable process. You know, you're committing those receivables for collection. The collector collects the money. You want to make sure that those are being reconciled. The general ledger
is a check and balance on the collector's records again to make sure that everything is being properly accounted for and nothing's missing. Uh that type of thing. Um so yeah, I think getting some good people in to help, you
know, get you caught up on that stuff. It sounds like you're moving in that direction, which is really great to hear. I was happy to hear that. And uh yeah, was that hopefully that answers the question. >> It sure does. Yeah, thanks for raising that. Jen, did you want to >> I just wanted to add that um so we
haven't engaged yet for FY25. Um because we haven't closed FY25 yet. So >> once FY25 is fully closed, which we're anticipating with the consultants that are working on it that to be around January, end of January, January 31st is what we're hoping. That's the target
date. Then at that point, we'll engage um CBIZ again for well, we'll sign a contract before that, but we'll actually have them start doing the FY25 audit. Okay. >> So, that's work that typically would be underway now. >> Yeah.
>> Or well on its way now, actually. Right. >> Yeah. I mean, we're usually stout. Um we'd like to do like preliminary work in the spring and then we come in Yeah. probably like Septemberish to work on it. But um yeah, I think you'll still be in good shape if you're able to get
things cleaned up by then and you know >> Awesome. >> get a schedule to get it done as quick as we can. >> We're certainly working towards that. >> There's an agenda item to that point. >> There it is. Yes. >> All right. Well, thank you very much, Frank. >> Yeah, my pleasure. >> Yeah. Thanks for coming in tonight. >> Yep. Great seeing everyone.
>> Yep. Have a good night. >> You too. >> Mr. Rogers, you want to make a public comment? >> Um Mr. Chairman Dave Rogers 82 Highlands. >> We don't have to the booth. Can we get a um microphone out here? Oh, >> sure. >> You're fast. >> About time.
>> Thank you. Uh Dave Rogers 82 Highland Street. >> It >> It should be on. >> It's on. >> Yeah. Hit it again so it's green. >> Hit it back on. There it is. >> Green now. >> Okay. Um on the agenda, um it was
indicated that uh this uh segment that this gentleman just got through as well as the new employee uh that we have uh hired um was all part of a a uh hearing. Uh is that true?
>> I don't believe so. I don't know what that would refer to. I >> I understand what his question is. So on the agenda that's posted today, there's section four is scheduled meetings and hearings. >> Yes. >> And there's two scheduled meetings, right? >> There are no public hearings. I think he was wondering whether this was a public
hearing or a scheduled meeting. That that section of the agenda refers to both scheduled meetings and public hearings. Public hearings would have to have a public hearing legal ad depending on the type that's either in the newspaper or published. But this is was not a public hearing,
>> right? We didn't post a public hearing for this and I don't know if we have for these types of things in the past, but >> so there's no uh uh proviso that uh the general public can come in and and the
voters ask questions about those two uh segments of the uh uh the procedures or not procedures but the uh uh um the listing of of the uh um what will happen
in terms of of um the uh what's the word on >> agenda items? >> The agenda items. >> Yes, thank you. Agenda items. >> So, we don't post public hearings for every agenda item. Um is it common for municipalities to have a public hearing
for audits like that? >> No. So, um no. the so public hearings, you know, things like um there's a lot of things that are statutoily require a public hearing. Special permits require
a public hearing. Um our bylaws require certain types of things for public hearings. Um the so to this one for the audit, it's actually not a requirement that our auditor comes in and presents publicly. Um it's very nice that he does
because we all get the audit report we put it online and but it's not necessarily when you read it it's not necessarily the easiest thing to read. So having somebody come and explain that and distill it down um that's helpful. Um the other agenda item under this
section the introduction of Steven Wallace, director of planning and economic development. That would be something that was inappropriate um for a public hearing. the appointment of somebody would not be appropriate to have a public hearing on that matter. Um, but of course, you know, there is
for something where there's not a public hearing, an agenda item where there's not a public hearing, there's the public comment section at both the beginning and end of the meeting where the public can come and either raise questions, comments, concerns in advance of an
agenda item or after hearing the presentation at that public comment raise questions, comments, and concerns at the end. Yeah, I'm familiar with that process, but um it's been my experience uh when it comes to public comment. Uh
there is no interaction between anybody uh that comes forth to talk. So there there's there's no give and take and there's no explanation which I think is unfortunate especially in light of current situation as it pertains to uh
monies that are owed to the the city of Fitchburg. um that that to me should be disclosed and a discussion uh should take place and uh auditor
if I was sitting up there which I'm not ever um I I would ask specific questions about that uh in hopes that we could get some uh guidance as to how better to uh take care of our accounts uh payable and
that sort of thing because It's How much is that money now? What's the What's owed? >> $90,000. >> $90,000. >> That's This was an audit for FY24. >> Sorry. >> This was an audit for FY24. >> I understand. Yeah. And what?
>> But but this is an FY25 and 26 issue. >> Uh-huh. And that that's why I think it would be prudent. And I'm surprised that nobody uh on the board uh broached this subject. They haven't they haven't audited that time period yet. This was
the time this was an audit >> for the time period of July 1, >> 2023 >> to June 30th, 2024. It covered that period. This audit was completed
>> in October of 2025. So, a couple months ago. um at that time in October, we didn't have awareness around this issue. This was this this wasn't even something that was u on the radar, so to speak, to
be saying, "Hey, can you look into this issue?" Now, when it comes to engaging them for the FY25 audit, I think there's a whole host of things we're going to ask for um a special eye on. >> Would would that be part of it?
The water billing issue I think is close to resolution and close to some public discussion um at least for a proposal. We there's no question of what happened what went wrong with the water billing issue. There's not a the town did not
increase its rates when Fitsburg increased its rates and the town was not timely sending out bills. That's I mean that's pretty straightforward. I don't need an auditor to say we weren't doing what we were supposed to do. That we weren't we were not sending out timely bills.
>> Okay. That that to me, Joe Citizen, indicates u a real weakness. So when this gentleman comes in and and I understand about the years that are in question uh but I I would have thought that it would be a great time to to get
his advice and counsel as to how this kind of stuff can stop and we won't run into this again. This was a human this is a h we there's no I think auditors are very helpful when you don't necessarily know what's happening but we know what happened
here. Mhm. >> There's I don't need an auditor to tell us what happened here. >> And we're going to have those discussions in January and when we're ready to take action on it, we will. >> Okay. Will that be uh in a forum that uh the citizens can come in and discuss and
find out information because I don't know about you guys, but $90,000 to me is a lot of money. >> I don't know if we're going to post it as a public hearing. We'll see. But we can start having those discussions in January. >> Okay. Well, I'm I'm going on record as uh respectfully requesting that that be
a hearing so that people such as myself uh can be educated about this. >> All right. Understand. All right. And thank you, Mr. Rogers. >> That's it. So, I don't no more. Huh. Okay. Um this is a big issue in so far
as I'm concerned. So I would appreciate uh that and and the school department with regard to the issues that were were uh prevalent there for ordering things and and and taking monies from events
and paying uh people uh uh that work uh in the in the school system for uh events. And I'm I'm not completely familiar with this. Okay. And I'd like to be because it it to me
it indicates a real weakness. >> I'm sorry. >> Some of that you might have to go to the school. I >> was going to say I was saying, can you refer him to the school committee for some of that? That's not under the jurisdiction of >> Mr. Rogers. I I appreciate you coming in. And really, I do. And I tell you, we need to make this a little more
collaborative and maybe do some more public hearings. Message received. Uh but we got to carry on with the agenda tonight. I I appreciate uh you saying that I don't agree with it because u that's one of the fallacies in so far as
I'm concerned. Um you can bring forth a a problem but there's no uh discussion and it it is you know I don't get a good feeling. So, uh, anything that we can do to in entice the the, uh, public to come
in and to learn more about what's going on would be, I think, beneficial for everybody. And frankly, I I take exception to the stands that uh, I've of uh, heard you. But >> that's me. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you for your time.
>> Of course. Thank you. >> Okay. We're going to move on. Appointments, ratifications, and resignations. ratification of the town maner's appointment of Brandy Oul as the meal site manager. >> Um, did you want to do these at a as a slate or I >> Oh, I didn't know if you wanted to speak to them. If not, it's okay.
>> I I'll speak to Bry's um but I don't have much information beyond Bry's. Um so Brandy Oul um is joining Lunenburgg um having worked in this position in uh her current community of Clinton and uh
she has a lot of experience in this area and we are excited to have her both bring her food and her programmings to Lunberg. >> All right, fantastic. Any questions for the town manager? >> I move to ratify the town manager's appointment of Brandy Oul as the meal site manager. >> Second.
>> All those in favor say I. >> I. I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Okay. And then we can do um both of these together. Um this one only this is the only one with a vote though. So >> correct. >> Ratification the town manager's appointment of Joseph Davis as intermittent heavy equipment operator.
So I'll move to ratify the town manager's appointment of Joseph Davis as intermittent heavy equipment operator. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. Motion passes unanimously. And finally, we're going to acknowledge the library director's appointment of Mina Schulton as the
library assistant. No ratification needed on that one. Okay. Town manager report. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Not a lot of topics on my report today. Um but the first is uh the consensus
revenue hearing was today. I was not able to tune in at noon today and I was not able to find um any reporting on it as of yet. However, so that folks know, today started the FY27 budget process for the state with their annual
consensus revenue hearing. Um, at this hearing, the Department of Revenue and other financial experts um talk about the state of our economy and state revenues over the first second half of the fiscal year and the upcoming year.
After that, there's a number that that is the target number that's jointly decided for the uh revenue forecast for FY27. That is the basis for the governor's budget in January. Um so, a lot of folks in the municipal world um
tune in to this hearing or follow up on the hearing after the fact because this gives us some pretty good insight as to what the governor may or may not be doing in in their budget in January. Um, we know that revenues statewide are up over projections. Um, but there's been
other comments that have been indicating some conservativeness in spending. So, uh, I was not able to find any reporting on this today, but I'm sure it will be out tomorrow. And I know the Mass Municipal Association is going to take all of this, uh, technical policy walk
language and distill it into something that's readable for us. Um the second item which I know I shared uh with the select board and the finance committee but to share more publicly here um earlier this year the MMA had released the a perfect storm report about cities
and towns facing historical pressures and this report found that there are convergence of factors forcing Massachusetts and cities and towns to make increasingly devastating cuts to essential services. Um, municipalities have been keeping budgets balanced by cutting or reducing services, which
impacts schools, libraries, roads, public safety, and an overall shrinking of community vibrancy. MMA's words, not mine. Um, but last week, they released a package of policy recommendations that would quote stabilize municipal finances and public services, restore and
strengthen the state local partnership, and provide additional flexibility for local leaders to manage the budget. those policy recommendations were in direct response to um that report. So the number one policy recommendation which I think this is going to feed into
another agenda item shortly was a major infusion of unrestricted general government aid referred to as UGGA to make up for the local aid from the commonwealth that cities and towns lost during the great recession of '08 uh and
to 2010. 18 years later, UGGA has just returned to the FY8 levels in the most recent state budget, not adjusting for inflation. That's really important. Um, so the MMA is calling, there's 351 cities and towns.
They're calling for a $351 million increase um to UGGA to restore uh the levels to pre-recession levels, stating, quote, "This is the most direct and immediate way to strengthen the foundation of our municipal government.
Two, they want to ensure that all local aid programs remain fully funded going forward. Chapter 70, circuit breaker, um other special payments uh for for certain types of things. Three, and this is where I think that there's been some conversation. What, you know, what is
this report gearing up to do? Is this is this going to have is the MMA going to take a run at Prop 2 and a half? So, here they've told us what they're looking to do. So, provide cities and towns with more flexibility for raising their local revenues, more options for
raising local option tasks and cut taxes and cutting costs. And so specifically for Prop 2 and a half, the recommendation is to keep the overall framework, but let the local voters choose if they wish to implement gradual multi-year overrides
or replace today's 2.5% annual tax levy limit temporarily or permanently with a higher fixed cap like CPI. The goal here is to not have uh the state decide what's going to happen to Prop Two and a half to allow municipalities to take it
to their voters at town meeting and say something different works better for us here. Uh provide more flexibility on reclassification and shifting burdens. That's probably not going to impact Lunenburgg greatly. Um but some new or increased local option taxes including
slight slightly higher local hotel meals taxes, local option search charge on motor vehicle and uh real estate transfers to fund affordable housing. So again, these are local options. They're trying to put a menu together that give uh communities the tools that they that
may work for their town. And lastly, more incentives for regionalizing services and reducing minimal um municipal government costs in accordance with the governor's municipal empowerment act. So there there it is. That's what the association is is planning to do with this report in the
form of legislation. Um they are specifically asking for advocacy um around around this effort. All right. Uh the chairman already mentioned that town offices will be closed for tomorrow from 12:00 to 2 for the annual uh staff
holiday potluck in Yankee Swap. Uh current recruitments are down. Uh our conservation agent, we had interviews this week and there will be an offer letter going out. Uh staff librarian, finance director, I want to stick on finance director for a minute. So, I
have this posted uh for almost 2 months at um at 1:25 to 145 with a flexible work schedule and potential of signon bonuses. I did have one interview scheduled for tomorrow. That candidate
has withdrawn. Um so, I I do believe I I I do believe this is the right rate. Um but we're not getting applicants. So, um I did speak to Robert Half today. They have some direct recruiting
capabilities. Uh if they provide us with a candidate and or candidates and we interview them and they're they're not a fit, there's no cost. If they are a fit and we end up hiring them, it's 20% of that salary. So I have asked them to
engage both around finding um they can do some direct recruitments around finding finance director and payroll and benefits administrator. Um we did have interviews however this week for payroll and benefits which were positive. Uh recreation director at 19 hours per week
um is still vacant. I actually spoke with the chair of the parks commission uh last night and said that I'm I'd like the the parks commission to start having some conversations here because although it is frozen outside uh the reality is
is that you start planning for the summer um staffing and scheduling really in January February. So, um, without this position being full, uh, or filled, I think the parks commission and I need to have some discussions of what, you know, is there volunteers that could
step up as has been done in the past. Um, and we have a dietary aid position at 9 hours per week and the outreach coordinator. We're still working on that job description. Okay. Uh, the board and committee vacancies remain the same. Um
but just to read them we have agricultural commission architectural preservation district commission cultural council green communities associate members historical commission parks commission personnel board pack zBA and a rep to the first middle sex
small town collaborative. Um, I did have um I'm not listing it here because it's not a vacancy, but I did have um the chair of the conservation commission reach out and say that they are anticipating that there's going to be a vacancy and that perhaps if there was
somebody who was willing to volunteer that they somebody might be stepping down a little sooner um due to personal reasons. So, if they're although not listed here, if there's folks who are interested in the conservation commission, if they're listening to this, fill out a talent bank form, get it in. Um, because I know the culture uh
conservation commission will be looking at minimally um at the next round. Elected uh positions, we still have a vacancy on the planning board, sewer commission, and trust fund commission. >> Okay. Any questions for the town manager?
>> Yes. Would this be a good time to introduce like a part-time accountant to to assist with the finance director? Would that help with recruiting? >> No. So, we have an assistant accountant um who is a new hire. She's been on for about two months now. Her training is
coming along excellent and we have a consultant who has been doing the training for her. An assistant accountant. First, I don't I don't know that we'd hire anybody. Um, I don't think that that's this is a
position that across the Commonwealth I was talking to Frank earlier. I you know, do you know any they there's shortages across the Commonwealth both for even for his world and for our world. Um I I don't know anybody who would be
willing to take a part-time assistant position. Um and it doesn't help the overall like that doesn't eliminate the need for the consultants. It doesn't eliminate the need to hire a finance director. It doesn't really move the needle in one
way as far as I can see. I mean, I I think if you told me that there was an assistant, there was somebody that had accounting skills who only wanted to work 19 hours a week, let's say, and they would be very interested in coming
in. I think if if you if there was a known candidate, right, I think that that would be a meaningful and worthwhile conversation. >> Yeah. Texas think maybe a retiree or something would >> that's >> later on the agenda. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> That's that's literally what we're doing later on the agenda.
>> Um you mentioned you had interviews for payroll and benefits. >> Mhm. >> Did they come from >> they did not just response to the post. Okay. >> Yes. So um we talked to two folks both were very skilled in payroll and
benefits substantial experience. Uh, no municipal, no mun. So, that's not a barrier, but it's certainly a challenge. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions? Okay. New business. So, up first, annual
license renewals. So, we revised the agenda with applicants that are um ready to be considered for contingent votes. So, that's what you're seeing here. So everything that was already here before is um our applicants that are ready to go and the ones that were revised. So
the highlighted ones um have some outstanding things and it looks like all but one of them uh is potentially good for a contingent vote. I think there's one that we we should discuss. Um so one hasn't even sent in any application
information. I believe that is what I'm reading. Mhm. >> Um and that is uh Lunenburgg gas. So I am looking to the board um to see how we want to handle that one in particular. So we can not vote to renew tonight. Um we could do a contingent vote
potentially for that one. >> Yeah, >> sure. Yeah. If you want to come up and talk about what's going on. >> If you could Oh, yeah. Come all the way up. Yeah. >> All right. So, I have been in touch with the manager. Um, there was um some
changeover for the manager, so it took a while to figure out who I needed to talk to. Uh, last week I did send her some specific instructions on how to go to the open gov portal, where the application is found, and everything.
Uh, I anticipated the end of last week or the beginning of this week to have an application. Um, but it wasn't the case. Uh, I talked to I received an email from her this morning saying that it's in her accountant's hands, but they don't know where the applications are, where to
mail them in. So, I sent her the instructions on how to do so on open gov again, and I haven't heard anything. So, I am hoping very soon. So, if the board was not inclined to
take a contingent vote for you to understand what that means, um, so this is a common VIC license. There's no alcohol. So, it would mean from January 1st of 2026 until the board
voted to approve the license, they would not be able to sell and serve food for folks who are going to sit there. So that's what the common the common Vic isn't just like the for the sale of the
food. So you want to go to there bag of buy a bag of chips leave great. >> Mhm. >> Get a prepared sandwich and sit down somewhere. No. But by the same token, if we approve contingent on everything being in place and everything is not in place by
January one, they're in the same. >> Yep. It's just you'd be looking at the actual you you'd have an application. There's just no application. >> There's nothing. I don't >> Right. >> I have a hard time. >> Yeah. >> With nothing. Are we meeting on the 30th? Do we know
>> or is this it for the year? >> This is it for the year. >> Unless Unless there's a triborn. >> Okay. I'm just wondering if in the next two weeks they got everything together, would we still be able to >> We could do this. >> Yeah, we could call a meeting and do a Zoom meeting for it. I'm open to that,
too. Um, >> she's responsive in communications, just not following through. >> Okay. Well, other board members, where where are you at? Are you comfortable with a contingent vote? Do you want to hold off
on it? >> I'd be comfortable with a contingent vote. I don't see the downside. >> Brian, >> I would be comfortable with a contingent vote. >> Okay. I am as well. I don't really have any issue with it. Um, if they don't submit anything by January, then they'll
be in the same situation and we can always revisit it. If we do get it and there are issues, we can deal with that when it when it arises. So, um, I'm comfortable with that as well. Um, do any members have any other questions about any of these um, other applicants that we have listed here? Some of the
outstanding information >> on the table or on the table? Yep. up on the um uh Whom gas the comment. ment you have here Melissa >> personal property tax. >> Yeah. Applicant
>> is confused. >> Yeah. Uh there seems to be some barriers with communication with them. Um it was stated they were aware a few weeks ago that this was outstanding. uh he came up
and said that he was going to take care of it and I don't know if there was like a break in communication when he went back down. Uh I did receive a call um from a woman from Wham Gas and I thought
she was calling about the common Vic. However, it ended up being she wanted some help filling out an assessor's form. >> Okay. Um, so that is ongoing, >> but it's just getting these documents submitted, right? >> No, this is they need to pay taxes.
>> Yeah. >> So, I would the um for sure for uh contingent votes would be bad Larry's blue sky golf, >> right?
>> Uh Lanny Orchards, uh question on Dipping Donuts. So, Dip and Donuts, uh, Lunenburgg Gas, >> Wham Gas, and Baker's Towing. The two smoke stack and it's landlord issues.
>> So, I don't know that I have contingent. >> Baker's Towing. I did find a website that I could submit a a verification request for their bond, and I did receive a an email stating there was a bond. However, they didn't give the
information of how long it's valid like I usually receive. So hopefully I'll get another response. >> I I think the the Blue Sky Golf um that's the the NOX box for the fire
department um was supposed to have been installed as a condition of their occupancy. So that the fire department is not going to sign off on this one until that NOX box is installed. >> Mhm. >> Okay.
>> And the personal tax for Lanni, did did they come in today? >> They came in and they had paid previously some other um fees that they needed to, but I guess this one was missed when they came in to make the
payment. uh they are aware and they should be taking care of it this week. >> Okay. And the fire department inspection for Bad Larry's Wednesday. That's tomorrow. Wednesday. >> Yes. >> Expected. Okay. >> I'm unsure on whether they did schedule
one with building cuz I think building was looking I have an email. Hold on. >> Okay. Sorry. Just give me one sec. I know I saw something. I think he said he went today and it looked like there was a miscommunication. Nobody was there to
meet him. Um, but let's see if he said when he was going back. All right. Okay. So, he did have an inspection scheduled today at 1. Uh, nobody was present, so he's reached out to reschedule. >> Okay.
>> Are we comfortable with doing contingent votes on all these? >> Yeah, I'm not thrilled about the contingent vote on Lunberg Gas, but >> Okay. the majority of the board >> and smoke and do we want to just vote on those? Not contingent because the issues
outstanding are >> Yeah, they're not on the >> landlord. >> Yeah, they're on the regular approval list. >> I know. I just see it right here and I know people are looking at this. So, >> okay. So, I will move to approve the annual license renewals as printed on the
agenda with the contingent votes for the applicants listed in this table. Um, to be contingent upon the uh outstanding details here and with the exception of smokestep and
>> second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Okay. One thing here actually I did want to note I noticed was here for on their alcohol license. They have a common VIC,
too, right? It wasn't on the agenda. So, we might want to just >> Yep. They do have a common VIC, too. So, >> okay. So, do you want me to just make a motion for that? I'm glad I forgot about that. Glad I caught that. I move to approve the annual license renewal forappa for the common Vic.
>> Second. >> Those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed, no. The motion passes unanimously. Okay. >> All right. Approval of employment agreement for Karen Brochu, the interim finance director, town accountant.
>> So, Mr. Chairman, this is the future agenda item with bringing back a retiree. So, um Karen Brochu is uh retired from a long service to the town of Lunenburgg as its town accountant and finance director. Um she is ready,
willing, and able to come back and help the town of Lunenburgg out uh as early as tomorrow morning if the board ratifies this employment agreement. Um, so the terms of the agreement are that she will be paid $150 an hour for her
services. Uh, she's not entitled for to any additional benefits. Um, and uh, we're anticipating that she'll work approximately 16 hours um, a week. Her time is going to be limited in that she
is a retiree and so her earnings are capped. Um, but I'm very thankful that she's a able, but more importantly willing to come back and uh help out the town of Lunenburgg. >> Okay. Any questions on this?
>> No, I am also thankful >> and she'll be able to overlap with Katie. That's that's the goal of having her start tomorrow that they can at least have a couple of days that they can overlap and I'm sure that Katie will
answer the phone if Karen has questions about anything that has happened during Katie's short tenure here. Yeah. >> Okay. I will move to um approve the employment agreement for Karen Brochu interim finance director/town accountant.
>> Second. >> Those in favor say I. I >> those opposed. No. Motion passes unanimously. Okay. Discussion on future disposition of 925 Mass a um so I wanted to pick this back up where it was dropped off uh last year and in the
meantime uh we've received um a lot of documents from uh the time since we had that presentation. Um so there's been a lot of work to get this property uh ready to redevelop. And there are um a couple things that the board will have
to do um namely um reviewing the uh evaluation criteria for the RFP. Um I think that's the main thing for us. Um and then actually getting it out. Um so no discussion on this tonight, but I wanted to put it on everyone's radar. There's a lot of documents in here. I
don't know if you guys had a chance to go and watch that presentation. Um but it is on YouTube from last year. I know that was emailed to us. I don't know the date of that meeting off the top of my head. It's June 11th. Okay. >> I know cuz that's someone's birthday. >> Oh. Um, fantastic. Yep. So, um, go ahead
and watch that and if you have any questions, um, uh, I know there's a lot here, so definitely reach out to the town manager. Um, I know this process is probably going to be new to all of us. Um, but yeah, that's pretty much it. Um, >> I think Mr. Chairman, before you move
off of this subject, um I am meeting with um >> Amanda next week from Mass Development who was here to give that presentation. >> Um if in your review of information if you feel that it would be helpful um to
have her come back and give a full presentation or a follow-up presentation um to this board, let me know u before next week. um she is the for mass development are not the folks who crafted the RFP though that was a
separate consultant um that crafted the RFP and uh that contract has been fully expended and so there's no more work of the consultant that would be done >> on this. >> Great. All right. Any initial questions
on this? >> No. Is the expectation next time this comes up that we go through the red line RFP? Is that what the expectation is for? >> We can. Yeah. If we're ready. I don't think that's really our >> most tell me what I need to be prepared for. >> What's the evaluation?
>> The red line is for >> you guys and town council. >> Yeah. Us and town council. Um the important part for the board is on pages 16 and 17 of the document. There's the
evaluation criteria. um this is what the consultant drafted. >> This is the opportunity for this board to really guide what is going to be considered a highly advantage advantageous advantageous or not
advantageous proposal. So this was crafted based on what the conversations were at the time, the understandings of the property. Um that may change. So just for the public that's not looking at this document, the categories are use, renovation, new construction,
responsive design, environmental, purchase price, parking, timeline, developer experience, and financial feasibility. Um, I think most of your probably concentration is going to be around the top section of that, right? About what what this board's goals are
for that property. Um, at the time that this was originally drafted, there was not the structural evaluation done. So, there was in that meeting from over a year ago, there was a little bit of back and forth of whether or not reuse was the the better route or new
construction. Um, the structural evaluation of the property was good. So, if the board was inclined to, you know, keep that structure and not have a a new structure, then I think you're going to really want to look at how the
renovation and new construction criteria are listed. >> Mhm. >> And do I remember right, if it was new construction, it had to be it was three, >> two, three. Okay. It can be up to three based on zoning. It must be at least two. >> Okay.
>> Only for new construction, >> correct? Yes. Yes, Mr. Chair. And and to Mr. Rogers's comments earlier, if there is anybody in the public that does want to meet up and discuss this, I'd be more than happy to meet up. >> Yeah, it's funny you bring this up. I actually was thinking that this would be
a really good candidate for a public hearing because I am curious to uh you know, see what people think on this one. So, >> all right. Old business letter to governor and local aid on the FY27 budget. So, I have
a red line in the drive. Um, thank you to Brian for helping out with some of the language uh relative to Rene's feedback. Um, let me just pull it up. So, I have two versions here. Um, the second one is the red line and then I
have one um with just the changes. So I added some information to the second paragraph um on those mitigation funds for the hospital closure. Um so that process is still being determined. Um so I just said uh mitigation funds
set aside have still not been made available to municipalities. Then I made that little edit right there. So instead of saying without support from the state, I modified it to with little to no support from the state. um down below now that um we have the number for the unrestricted general
government aid that is being advocated for. Um really coincidental timing on that. It was 2 days after we reviewed this letter last week. Um I added that specific number in here. And then this is um Brian's sentence or
a couple sentences here. Um I put it in this paragraph because it was mostly related to education funding. Um, but I left it exactly how it was written. I thought it was very good. And then I think the only thing down below is, oh, and I didn't, somehow I
missed the red line for this. I added the 351 number again at the bottom. And that's pretty much it. Those are all the changes that I've made. Do you have any idea what that 351 million would translate to Lunberg? I don't off the top of my head. Um nor
have I seen any >> projections for what that would look like, but >> I'm assuming it's going to be some formula beast. >> Yeah, for sure. Yeah, it's not divided by 351. >> Yeah. Would be a winner if it was divided by 351.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Except I mean I'm thinking a minimum of 351 million because for the state that's not a lot of money. >> No, not really. for a budget of you know 60 something million uh billion it's not
>> and it's one of my concerns is like mentioned in the the town manager report is that you know I personally think the the the problem is the lack of funding from the state >> and I'm just concerned that they would provide a mere pittance and then celebrate the changes um allowing people
to raise their own taxes when really the primary problem that needs to be dealt with specifically is the lack of the you know return of our own funds from the state and not only just uh returning our funds but without the strings attached
to your point about the unrestricted general government aid. So, I understand the importance of, you know, being a broad-based letter, but I I don't really like the idea of letting them off the hook. And, you know, I I'd like to see something in there that indicated that
we're not looking for tools to raise our own taxes. >> Uh, and that's essentially what the other the half of this their solutions will be is providing us, you know, tools to raise taxes. >> Can I just clarify? And so that's the
position of the municipal association. We don't even know what the position of the legislature is, right? Like >> but I I mean I I like the message of, you know, returning, you know, being providing us with the appropriate amount of um funding from the state and it
would eradicate or eliminate all those other issues. >> Yeah, I mean I think I've captured that pretty well. Um, you know, I write somewhere in here that, you know, first and foremost, like I don't think the solution to this problem is increasing
excise tax or any of those, you know, local tax options. It's the state just increasing aid to us. Um, so I' write in here somewhere. Um, actually, I don't know where it is. What were you going to say? I I was just
going to say um the addition of the word minimum at at least 300 like the >> Yeah. Give us at least 350. >> Yeah. This 351 million. It's giving me a weird feeling like they picked that number cuz there communities. Yeah. So
they're trying to let you think, oh, it's going to be a million for every No, it's going to be a formula. And we don't do well with formulas. So I I kind of that bothers me that how they arrived at that number. Why that number? Why not 500 million?
>> It's a nice talking point. That's why it's 400 million. 351. It's like too cute. No. >> I It just feels odd. >> It seems restrictive, too, that it has to be 351 million. I feel like it should be just an increase, a significant
increase >> to bring us back. I mean there MMA said that that amount would bring us back to the two pre208 level which doesn't doesn't account for inflation nothing right? >> No. Uh so the the we already back this
year in this budget we got to the non-income adjusted. >> Okay. So that they're saying the 351 will bring us will account for inflation over those 18 years. Let's pull up their That's
pull up funny cuz I mean that just goes to concern that they're going to they're going to give us money and celebrate it and we have to be you know polite and accept it but it won't be enough. So those those they'll either eliminate two and a half on their own or circumvent it. And not
you know not to go down that rabbit hole again but where it talks about the chapter 90 lack of funding that's where the storm water task for the storm water utility fee comes in because we're not receiving the appropriate amount of funding from chapter 90. So it requires the citizens of Lunberg and other lake
communities to raise essentially raise their own taxes outside of Proposition 2 and a half. So that's that's the that's the trend that really concerns me and it's all a direct result of the lack of appropriate funding >> because that's a federal mandate. Those are
>> well it's both state and federal but yeah I mean it's >> no the MS4 is >> it's regulations government. I don't mean to necessarily just pick on state government. However, they clearly have a funding problem when it comes to the the communities that together actually make
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. the scripts needs to be flipped or should be flipped. >> I mean, if the goal is that the 350 million brings us back to the adjusted >> catches us up. >> So, >> we should just say amount that catches
us up because I'm not convinced it's really 350. >> I'm fine with removing the number. I didn't I didn't have it there last week. We can just remove it. I only added it because there's a number now. >> So, if we don't want to include it, that's fine. I think MA >> I would support include a significant increase.
>> Okay. >> I I did find the section of the report where they talked about the 351 and why they arrived at that number. So they said between fiscal 2007, the last full pre Great recession budget, and fiscal 2024, UG has averaged approximately
6.78% of total local taxes statewide. So then they go on to say, well anchoring on the 6.78% benchmark of 356 million. So it's so close to the
>> 356 351 that I'm assuming they just >> dropped that for um >> but that would be a 26.5% increase above FY26. Um, but it doesn't say that that
they're not claiming that that would restore to the 07 inflationed numbers. Yeah, >> it's getting there. >> Do we want to remove it or keep it? And maybe it's including a minimum of 351
>> or as a as a start for FY27 like >> Yeah, actually that's that's good. >> I like that. Okay. Um >> like we're coming back for more in FY28. >> Yeah. Well, I think I think one of the things I like the value of this letter
is, you know, I'm not convinced they'll read it, but the the public here in Lunenburgg, hopefully they read it and it'll certainly hopefully provide some needed information and motivation. >> I think it's still important too to be reaching out to our legislators about this and the fact that we're sending it
to our legislators mean that >> this is important to us. >> Well, I am also just saying that the FY27 state budget include a 351 million increase. So, I am being specific enough to state this fiscal year. >> Yeah, it does. >> Maybe that's okay.
>> 27th. >> Yeah. What do you guys think? >> We're just aligning with MMA's recommendation, but >> I honestly I >> it's not enough and I I don't I don't think we're going to get a big enough piece.
>> Mhm. I'm fine with keeping it. I think it's specific enough to the fiscal year. Um, what do you guys think? >> I think it gets the point across either way. >> Okay.
>> Do we know anything about when the um the funds that became available for the Nshoba? Yeah. So, they should start to be um available um by application in January uh is what I read. Um but I
think there's still a lot uh of details that um have hasn't been communicated yet. >> Correct. >> And so we we don't know what that amount could be for us. >> Oh, we do know the amount now, right? >> We just got an amount. Yeah. >> Mhm. I just heard and I don't know if this is correct but from Senator Cronin
$165,529 >> for Lunberg. >> For Lunberg. >> Hold on. I know we have a Okay. >> Department of Public. >> What was the number? >> $165,5529 >> right on the money. >> Mhm. Yeah. Just came out today. I just saw it from Senator Cronin's office.
>> Out of how what was the total amount? Do you know? Well, it it says uh there's some details from the chief that say this was based on 100,000 per town as a base number and then a formula based on call volume increases, increased weight
times, overall increases to turnaround time. They specifically excluded overtime costs. So the formula gave the additional 65,000 um >> r so it says towns of air and graten receive much more as they were most
heavily impacted. range was from $800,000 to Graten to just over 100,000 for Boxboro. So, um we were third from the bottom. Um and then the final roll
out with requirements and the grant application will be in January. We are not getting the money. This is a reimbursement grant. So we will have to extend and um and and report um wording.
So wording of the request was for quote extraordinary EMS related costs. The final language has not been completed but it appears the grant will allow for wages, EMS related training and EMS related equipment and hardware.
So, how many years is that? >> Uh, the grant period is through June 30, 2027. >> So, once? >> Yep. This is one time. So, where it's one time, in my opinion, I would not want to see it expended on wages. >> Oh,
wow. We're third from the bottom. Yep. >> I'm surprised. >> All right. Any other feedback on this? Are you ready to approve it? >> I am.
>> All right. Is there a motion? >> Um I didn't finish reading uh this >> this red last red one. >> So the whole part of chapter 90 is that out of here? I don't see it.
>> I think I did remove it. Um, yeah, I did and I didn't add it back, but I can just copy it back. I have the other >> Well, I mean, it What is it? At risk of becoming TLTR, >> right? >> I wanted to I needed to cut it down just
a little bit, so trim that out. >> I think the UG and the and the Chapter 70 are the are the biggest. Mhm. >> points to get across. So, >> all right. Are you ready, Renee? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion that we approve uh
the letter to the governor Mora Healey on local aid and to the fiscal year 2027 budget and send a copy to both the to the governor, our legislators, and also the the school committee and finance committee. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor say I.
>> I. Those opposed? No. The motion passes unanimously. Um, we will have to coordinate signing that uh because Amanda is not here and they are not printed out right now. Um, so just be aware that we're going to have to do that. >> Do you mind a docu sign? Do you want wedding? >> Um, I I would prefer wedding.
>> Okay. >> We um we'll have to do it another day anyways. >> Mhm. Okay. Moving on. Discussion on special event policy. Um, so we pretty much decided that we're going to completely redo this and workshop it.
Um, and I also, um, I'm generally mindful of not talking about policies too much without, um, a full board, and I know Amanda is very opinionated on this one. Um, so we can hold off on January, but I think we should, um, start really thinking about what direction we want this to go into. Um,
it sounds like we don't really want to regulate events on private property anymore. Um, so the questions are, you know, who does this apply to? um you know what exact what activities are we trying to regulate or prevent and what
does this process look like and what do we want from applicants um things like that are uh what we should be um considering for our next conversation on this discussion on appointment policy I did um drop in an updated red line based on
our conversations last So in the first paragraph um I removed the um requirement for the bulletin board since we had discussed that um under appointments I changed at the first and second regular meetings in June to just during the month of June.
>> I didn't really know what to do with this one. I added it here um mainly as a reminder that we discussed this um and I also I think this is where I added a section maybe create a vacancies section I don't know um but I just wrote the town will maintain a page on the town's website including an up-to-date listing
of all vacancies and information on how to submit a volunteer application vacancies will be posted to the town's social media accounts with a link to the web page. Um in the following paragraph I removed um in a local newspaper for
all of the vacancies for appointments I removed in the second meeting in June. Um, so the material will just be made available the first meeting in June. And then for requesting interviews, I changed it to select board from select
board members to the select board by a majority vote of its members for an articulated reason to be provided in writing. Uh, may also request for all applicants uh to be interviewed. And then here I just added this note to kind of flag that we discussed this. Um we
talked briefly about potentially creating a subcommittee to um screen or potentially uh do interviews or preliminary interviews of applicants um especially when we get um applicants who put down you know like three to five different boards that they're interested
in serving in um and I didn't really know um how to flesh that out. So I left that as a point of discussion. So I just wanted to make sure that was captured. So that's there. Section three, I added um at the end of
the reappoint um where it says that members may provide their review and response um regarding other members of their board, committee or commission that are seeking reappoint. Um I added directly to the town manager. Uh reappointment
application shall not be discussed during an open meeting of the appointed multi-member body due to the open meeting law. Uh under ad hoc committees I removed at least annually to from time to time as needed or requested and this is um reviewing charges and memberships of
advisory committees. Under learn, I added in the beginning, all appointees shall successfully complete all training requirements of the multimember body they are appointed to. And then under organization, I replaced
all with any. Reporting, I changed that to when requested by the select board and took out each November. And I think that's it. The only thing I did not do was update the uh actual volunteer application. So the other thing that we discussed um that I didn't
capture in all of this is adding um some sort of u field where people can say I am interested in the conservation because um a reason for their interest for uh the boards and committees that they mark their interest in.
So I think I captured everything that we discussed in here. Um, so this is the working dock of everything we've discussed so far. Um, anything anyone want to discuss or bring up on this tonight? >> I just had a question on like the
subcommittee. >> Sure. >> If there was two I I was under the impression if you had two two people informally could meet but if it's structured two people then it's becomes public record. >> So it depends of course.
So if it is something I'm going to use myself as an example. If it is something that the town manager, the building commissioner, somebody has independent authority to do on their own and you are
convening a group for advice um to say there was there's some some decision that the town manager could make and I'm convening two select board members to meet with me and provide advice to me on that. um that is not
subject to the open meeting law. However, if two members, even if it's just two of a five member board, have a subcommittee where you are actively meeting on something that's under the policy direction of this board, even
though it's less than a quorum, it's still public meeting. >> Okay. >> So, that was um I think the town had a specific example of that with the tax investigation. Yes. So even though that was two people, uh that was an official committee.
>> So my concern would be that even though we do have a subcommittee, the person is still coming in, they're going to be likely on camera um live on TV, which is maybe a stressful situation for some people to have to come up to the select board and interview um just to be
appointed to the committee. Um I don't know if then there's a way around that then. >> Well, There isn't a way around it. >> You don't necessarily have there's not every single meeting in the town of Lunenburgg is filmed and not every single meeting in the town of Lunenburgg
happens in this room. Right. So >> So it would have to be posted. It would have to be posted. >> We could ask pack not to record. >> Sure. >> And and obviously if there are people who have an interest in that subject matter and they want to come and sit there and listen to the discussion,
>> you don't get the complete privacy of that. But they they >> I think you don't get the recording at least. you don't get the record and it's and the height differential and all that. >> Yeah. Um so I don't know. Um I'm honestly not really sure where I'm at right now on this. Um but I'm going to, you know, keep thinking about it and
then we can pick it up again in January. >> All right. The date at the end, are we changing first and second Tuesday in June to just June? >> I'm sorry. Hold on one second. Where you looking? >> The very bottom >> the key dates at the very end. >> Okay. Um
in person or No, not that one. Nope. First and second Tuesday in June. >> Should that just be June? >> Thank you. I had a feeling I missed one somewhere. I'm just going to leave it as June. Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. Anything else on this tonight? >> Nope. >> No. All right. review select board bylaw for potential recommendations to bot review committee. Was there anything that members wanted to uh discuss or
potentially recommend for the select board bylaw? And are there other bylaws that members would like to flag for discussion for a future meeting? >> I have not had a chance to look at these. >> Okay, no worries. I know it's a lot.
I will just mention that the the EDC is working on that that um request from that local business about a BYOB policy. So, okay, >> that that may come up again slash to the bylaw review committee and then ultimately of course here just to let
the board know. >> Okay. Uh that's interesting to know. Thanks for letting us know. Okay. So, we can leave this on if we want to continue to review it. I know there's a lot of bylaws there. Um, so
some good reading over the holidays. All right. I don't think we have any minutes to review tonight. Warrants. Don't see any. Are there any action items? The letter that we have to send uh that we have to speak to the school committee
and finance committee. I will need copies for that for tomorrow for the school committee meeting. >> Okay. Um, >> I sent you the >> You gave me the final >> the final. Yeah, she emailed it uh late last night. >> I think Melissa might have it too
already. >> It came last night. >> No, no, like over the weekend or something. I don't remember. >> What's today? >> I don't think you included Melissa on that, by the way. So, I would just try to find that and Okay. send it along. >> Any others?
>> Yeah, it's not on like Well, it's just on plain paper. So, >> yeah. So for that, are we okay with docy sign? >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I have >> I think that's fine. >> Okay. >> I'm not coming in for that. >> Okay. >> Unless they're both done at the same time. All right. Committee reports.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. I had an action item. >> Oh, you had an action. I do. So, I was I was uh reminded of this meeting to come up um for a future agenda item by actually Frank Seri. Oh, >> okay. >> When he was talking about um the opioid
settlement funds. Oh yes. >> So um the town of Lunberg needs to start deciding what to do >> with those opioid settlement funds. Um as many municipalities as there are in
Massachusetts that are receiving these settlement funds, there are different ways there are that many different ways that folks are handling them. Some folks have um stood up specialized groups, task forces um that are comprised of town staff. Um some have all volunteers,
some have hybrid. Um but or some are leaving it at at this level that these decisions around the expenditures are are decided by this this entity. Um, so it for a future agenda item to start to
think about how do we want to approach the expenditure of of the funds and whether that be through some type of committee or or what have you. And and I'm sure there's perhaps folks listening um in the public that have opinions about this one in particular. I think
opiates have certainly impacted a lot of families. So I don't know if folks feel particular about that. Um I know we have some requests for expenditure of the funds from uh police and fire. Um but before we start expending funds, I
think we should have a more comprehensive decision about the direction. >> Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for bringing that up. >> Is there any time constraint around that? >> We should be well into spending the funds now. >> Okay. >> Yeah. All right.
>> Committee reports. Maybe we could have a public hearing on it. Uh the planning board met last night. The uh master plan steering committee did finish its uh charge last week. They'll just have to have maybe one more
meeting to approve minutes. Uh the chair of the planning board did read an extensive list of thank yous to all those who had contributed it throughout the lengthy process. They did have an ANR, an approval not required at 222 West Towns and Road that
was endorsed. I believe it was into I forget four or five new lots. That was the property that the town did have the first right of refusal at one point or twice actually, but they did have a public hearing. The one for 30 Summer Street was uh the applicant requested
and was granted a continuation for a future meeting. uh zero reservoir road had a storm water permit uh which is referred to graves for peer review that will be um it's proposed to be for
single family homes in the immediate area of Goodrich. They will need a special permit for a driveway that would be a future public hearing. Uh that hearing was also continued to a f future meeting. Um
the and 100 towns in Harbor Road that that's a five lot project. The one house that's done essentially done they um put up a performance guarantee bond of $4,000. So once that check clears they will be eligible to receive their c
certificate of occupancy and that house would then be eligible for uh sale. Uh the MO is tomorrow and the library board of trustees is next week.
>> The school committee meeting is tomorrow. Uh they're going to be doing a budget workshop. That's all I had. >> I don't have any. >> Capital planning meets tomorrow night and we're going to be reviewing our rankings.
All right. Upcoming meetings. Uh maybe we'll have one uh for December. I'm not sure. Maybe a tri board. We're still trying to schedule it. Um hopefully we can get that scheduled. Um but if not, then we won't be meeting until 2026. Public comment. Is there any public
comment from the public? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. Um in the um printed um agenda, >> can you please start with your name and address? >> Sure. My name is Dave Rogers. I live in
82 Highland Street. Um the the part of um agenda uh dealing with the um highway department and the individual that we're going to hire. Would you be kind enough
to read that because there's a part of that that I I don't understand. >> So we ratified an appointment for a intermittent heavy equipment operator. >> Yeah. What is an intermittent heavy equipment operator
>> to the town manager? Do you want to answer that? >> It's not a full-time member of our staff. Um they're used as needed. Um this is going to be somebody that is driving one of our trucks um for snow and ice removal, but it's it's not a
full-time member of the >> part-time. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, with specific regard to the letter to the the governor, um, I've been thinking about this and, uh, somehow or another, I think we should explain to the governor
that, uh, we would be, uh, happy if they would begin to, uh, take care of unfunded um, state mandates. That would be a great start. Um, and, uh, see what their response is because it's, you know,
probably we should uh come up with a a number of mandates that affect us and the uh the cost of that so that so they could see the impact of that. Anyway,
it's the beginning stop. It's awful. Um that's it. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Not seeing any other public here tonight. Any public comment from the town manager? >> No. >> Any public comment from the board? >> Yes. Uh the Lunberg Oh, if any anybody's
looking for last minute uh Christmas presents, the uh the Lunberg PTO is selling um plush blankets. They're pretty big. They're 60 in by 70 in. Um and they're $30 and 40% of the purchase will go to the PTO. Uh if you just go to
the PTO website, uh Lunberg PTO.ptboard.com, ptboard.com. You can find information there. All right, I just want to wish everyone a merry Christmas, happy holidays, uh happy new year. Uh I hope you all enjoy
your time with your family and your friends over the holidays and we will see you back here in January. All right, have a good night everyone. Oh, is there a motion to adjurnn? Uh >> so moved. >> Second. Those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, no. The motion passes
unanimously. All right. Good night. >> Thank you.