It's 7:01 on Thursday, January 29th, 2026. Um, and I will call the finance community meeting to order. This is a hybrid meeting and is being recorded. Um, I have with me in the room from finance committee, Don Croft, Andy
Olden, my Kraton, Peter Twining, and myself, Sarah Melish. Um, we also have in the room Ann Harrison from the select board, um, Tony Barleta, town administrator,
Andrea Main, uh, finance director, Bion Pike, um, Barbara Master, and did you give me your name? >> Andrew Vanill, deputy office. >> Okay, thank you. And >> I was waiting to see if you could pronounce his last name.
not a chance. Um, we also have Dean Nanes from the finance committee in the room and we have a visitor Carl Don. >> Carl Done, chairman of the Harbor Advisory Committee. >> Thank you. Um, with that
we will start with the harbor fiscal year 27 operations and capital budgets. is on page >> 49. >> 49. >> 49. >> You're using last piece. Is that
correct? That's correct. Okay. Good. my thought. Okay, >> Sarah, we're going to do the launch service as well as the operating budget, >> correct? >> Yep. We'll do the the harbor master, the launch service,
and then the Okay, Harbor Master, >> can you give us an overview? >> Uh, sure. So, we're working on operation or capital first >> operation.
>> Operation. So, I think you'll notice the big uh ticket item this year is staffing. We're trying to bring our staffing numbers up for
operating the department into the uh part of the night which I have not traditionally uh run the department. If you look at all of the surrounding part departments, the larger towns will often run 24-hour harbor departments. Others
run depending on the day of the week uh till 10 at night or midnight. We have almost without exception since I've been here 4th of July, 3rd of July fireworks special events finished around 8:00 at
night and uh that an oversight on my part. We should have been operating the bulk of the activity that is potentially problematic is late in the day when folks >> after eight late in the day
>> late in the day. Uh folks who are still out in the harbor anchored or out to dinner uh headed back. That's the time of day when you see some of the the more serious problems
with voters and we haven't staffed we should adapting for that. So uh that that's the big thing I think you see on the increase in hours.
How many hours? >> Yeah, we didn't We didn't >> or a metric with how much you're expanding the >> Well, we're looking at just doing right now potentially Thursday, Friday, potentially Thursday, but definitely Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
>> Okay. >> Like we So, this year what I did was I actually went out there on salary so they didn't cost the same. Go out there and do it. And the response was awesome. We did have a lot of activity and a lot of people came up to us and were like, "What are you guys doing out here till 10:00?" Well, that's where the problem
is. And by doing it, we did see a reduction in the boats over at Sand Co after a certain variety, right? >> And give me a little flavor of the problems. >> Uh, a lot of it is underage shrimp.
I mean, that's majority of it. Uh, safety issues. Uh, but like a what we try to do is is yes, we're enforcement side of it, but we're trying to educate the community. So that kind of that one morning unless
it's excessive and then we'll take action. I mean we wrote uh it's about I would say only three or four of those were we're money sites to share >> but we're just letting know that we're out there. We are engaged. I know it's really not it's not the local people
that that we issue. is outside of that coming in uh because you know on Saturday Sunday that place attack it's typically from our surrounding towns where everybody's coming in. An observation on my part this year is
that uh we had fewer uh incidents, accidents, reports of uh misbehavior. not zero but certainly less uh than we have in the past because there was a presence
and and how do you quantify how do you say well what's what is the value of that you can't except that we didn't have any serious incidents this year >> that's the goal >> yeah so can I >> go ahead
>> do we keep a separate record of the number of requests for safety issued for for service um >> oh in touch with that. Um, so we don't right now and that's something that we've been talking about. >> Yeah. >> So the police use something that's called IMC, which is kind of the model
we're moving to so we can document all these calls. >> Yeah. >> So that way we can say, hey, this is this is why we're out here. Uh, but I mean, we have to start our presence out. I I would think you'd need something like people were complaining that
requests weren't getting met before needing to add hours in a tight budget year. >> That's exactly why we did increase it because people did come to us and said, >> "Well, there's a federal record of it."
>> Well, we just said there isn't. >> So, so the hours are Monday through Wednesday, I guess. What are the give me give me the hours I have the weeks divided in two parts with different hours for the >> some of the weekdays and then longer
hours for the end of the week and the weekend. What are those hours? >> So Andy, you operated until 10 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. >> And that's 8 to 10 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or what?
>> 8 a.m. That's when we would get started. Yes. So, typically the way I would do it is I would have a arber master on in the morning, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. When I when it was just me, uh
I'd have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I would be the early person and then you have another person that comes in with noon or two and finishes the day. >> Okay. Would
there be any sense in in thinking about tight budget year starting the day a little later? I I would suspect there's less activity from 8 in the morning to 9 or 10. Could you start at 10:00 and go to 10 or start at 11 and go to >> Yeah. >> you know, match up where the peak need
is. >> There's a lot of different uh models you could set up. The biggest issue is is something doesn't always happen when it's convenient. And it's typically when you don't have that coverage. Uh like 8
amount of calls for it's pumped or u even if it's one of our transient voters coming in or something like that, it's good to have a assistant, you know, our master there to assist them. Uh what we try to do is when we have the assistance
there, we're there backup. Uh but it's just it's a lot for a small department. you. I spent years in my office trying to work uh from 8 until noon hoping and praying that it
would be a quiet day. And I don't have the metric for how many times that was interrupted. And the administrative piece of this job, which is no small thing, uh was set aside so
that I could rush down to the boat and respond to a call. It could be something as simple as, "Hey, Brian, there's a boat in Proctor Cove. It looks low in the water." Well, I can't ignore that. >> I can't say, "Yeah, you know, I'll get
out there in a couple hours. Got to finish payroll. can't do that. >> It's amazing how much small stuff we actually called out to do. And I wish there was documentation of it because >> had we had that, I mean, it's it's it's amazing. So hopefully next year we have
the same conversation we'll have, you know, uh the reports and the calls and we need the staff to be able to converse. Um, how do the dock fees collected
compare to the cost of the doc staff? >> Uh, probably about 50%. Maybe 50. Uh, it's so we in 43,000
>> up 25. >> Is that just dock? It's excluding the launch. That's just the dot. >> Okay. >> Thank y. >> And then staffing uh was 19,500. So it was less than
>> I'm confused about all these positions. And would the extended hours um could that be used to like extend the launch as well? >> Let's not talk about the launch right now. >> I do have an answer to that when we get to launch.
>> We're going to talk about the launch next. Next. Okay. I just got one question. >> So on the revenue 45K, did that all come through DOAWA? >> Yeah. For the dock 100% DACA. >> Yeah. And that is that net of their
>> additional exception of uh No, I'm sorry that was watch the doc is all about >> and that's net of fees. That's the uh so that's what we get as revenue 45k
and and the um so whatever they take is is pulled out of that automatically or already. >> No, >> they get charged, >> right? They get charged on top. Yeah. Okay. >> So, we paying Yes. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> So, what So, what we've cleared is 45K. Perfect. >> 43. Sorry. >> 43 and a half. >> 434. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Close enough. >> Um
I'm confused about all these positions. I didn't know we had so many things called Harbor Master. Can you explain the positions that in the department? >> Sure. >> So, we have a harbor master >> one >> that I knew. >> One of those
>> and thankfully we have one now deputy harbor master Andy. They're the two full-time staff. Then we have a lot of older retired people. >> Full-time year round. >> No, no. Are all seasonal part-time?
>> But I mean for the two of you. >> Oh, we're full time. year round. >> We are we are costing you the full well the voters the full boat. Uh the others are the staffers who work Monday through
Sunday, seven days a week filling in uh all the different shifts. It would be great if it were three or four people, but uh seasonal part-time job does not uh appeal to people looking for
full-time year- round jobs. So, we hire uh experienced uh part-time retired people and fit them in when they aren't uh going to doctor's appointments, visiting with grandchildren
and that sort of thing. So there there are a lot, >> but we wouldn't cover the shifts if we didn't have all of them. >> But listed in this the spreadsheet
is assistant harbor master/clerk and then there's part-time deputy harbor masters. >> What's the difference? Yes. >> So, the part-time deputy is no longer that was that was one person that when I asked for a full-time deputy, I was
given a part-time. Uh he was seasonally 40 hours a week. He's now just an assistant harbor master. The spreadsheet that you're looking at isn't accurately >> reflecting the titles. We have a harbor
master, a deputy, and then assistant harbor masters. The clerk is an old title. There wasn't I had somebody help me for a very very short period of time and she had to be her own title. She
wasn't an assistant harbor master. So there is no cler. So it's harbor master, deputy harbor master, and then assistant harbor master. >> So are we going to roll those into one line? >> Yes. >> Yes. We'll do that. Looking at it, I'm
like, "Oh, I did not date that." So the but the part-time and the assistant are going to be >> they're all the same item >> lines three and four will be one item >> but and those represent part-time employees >> parttime season >> to assist on an as needed >> and they on the water. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> And there's no benefits. >> No. And the two the numbers on the two lines it's the sum of the two. In other words, >> right? >> When you combine the lines it's the sum of the two. >> 7,000 request. What?
>> About 87,000 requested and about 60,000 budgeted for last year. >> Yeah, that increases the >> Yeah, but the look at the TA recommended. It's different. >> I'm just looking at last year's budgeted, which looks like is about 60 and the requested this year, you're right, is closer to 80,
>> but look at the TA recommended. >> I know. >> It's uh something 60. >> The TA recommended it's about 42 43. No, >> no. >> 604
924 36 36 951 >> the first blue call. >> Yep. >> I'm looking at lines three and below. >> Yes. >> 60,800. >> Yeah. All right. >> And then the police patrol is
police department, >> right? We have police officers that come out on the boat with us. >> Okay. Even though Andy Andy's deputized, >> Andy cannot be here 24 hours a day. 7 days a week, >> much as he tries,
>> my wife wouldn't appreciate it. Um, right. >> Okay. So, this is the additional hours that Andy's not here. >> Well, yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, >> if there's something that happens Yeah. >> And we need a police officer on water. >> So, you call them. >> Oh, yeah.
>> So, this is on request that you have police patrol. And we so on weekends Yeah. we have uh occasionally with the orange maybe a little more than occasionally we've had a harbor master and a police officer. >> I see. >> Together.
>> Why don't we put that budget please? >> It comes out of the har waterway funds. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We pay them. >> But that the orange boat requires two people, right, to operate it. Or can it be operated with one person?
>> No. So, here's the thing. The boat is designed to be operated by four people. We try our absolute have try our absolute best to always have two on there. >> Sometimes we just don't have the staff.
>> Yeah. And you have to have two boats out there. So yeah. Um so what that requires is a higher level of communication between the two boats that are out there because that one person on each >> right that boat uh is much harder to
interdict or assist with one person the way it's set up. Right. There was a >> And the reason there needs to be two boats is that because you've got so many locations to cover and uh on our shoreline.
>> It goes back to 2017 when residents remember Sandalo got extremely busy. The volume of traffic came in uh took all of my attention. All of it. A resident up
the coast said, "You know, you're not doing your job right because we're here too." >> Y. So that precipitated the need to buy the second boat and staff it. So we got the safe boat. It was a steal
from a price standpoint and it served us, but it is far from ideal when you don't run two people on. >> We'll come back to that when we get to
capital. Okay. Yep. >> And what are professional services? >> Aqua town mooring our or big ticket
uh software. >> Okay. >> That assist >> you know when to work right the scheduling app. >> Yep. >> So Brian as I look down so I see the doc staff. How many step that that's a what? Two people always on on the dock 20 is
that >> so on the busy days you have someone come in early and then you'll have someone come in middle part of the day when the dock is out straight and then a person to close at the end of the day. So it's >> and that's the 10:00 time.
>> Uh we close the dock at sunset. >> Oh we do? >> Yeah. >> And other salaries what what how does that differentiate? That's been removed. >> I'm sorry. That's been removed. It was for offseason training. >> I was gonna say it's been it's
>> the longevity's been removed. >> No, no, no. That's there. >> And the longevity is for >> Andy and I think I received it once. Um just curious how many boats are we
operating? Is it so we've got >> Let's wait till we get to capital. >> My question is actually relative to maintenance expenses and I I guess the question is is 16,000 appropriate for one boat or four boats. That's the nature of the question.
>> Well, what's what's nice is we have the experience and the capability to do a lot of our our services inhouse. Mhm. >> So we're able to keep down cost boats. >> So it's three boats. >> Okay. So we've got the pump out boat,
the eastern, and the safe boat. We won't talk about the launch because that's separate, right? >> Okay. We have a capital plan for like repower. So I do put in for that actually we we're in need of some hiring but not
this year. That's good. >> We have a schedule that we'll pass out when we get to CA. Yes. >> What what's the rationale for the decrease in gas price? Is there less
votes? There was 800 um last year and we're going with 500. >> The actual 25 um last year's budget de was reduced in 2026.
>> Gasoline and oil. This is for the truck. That's a separate. That's not those. >> Oh, >> gasoline and oil and let me see what's the other one. There's another one that >> or maybe it's all No, it's all in one now.
>> It used to be maintenance and then gasoline and oil. That's That's for pickup truck. >> So, the gas and oil are in the boat expenses line. >> No, no, those are the gas for boats. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. So the the expense
>> line for boats includes everything >> including the truck. >> No, the truck. >> This is the 54800 is >> the truck gas and oil is on the gas oil line >> and that includes maintenance. >> I understand includes gas and oil. I got
it. But I was wondering >> No, the maintenance is >> boat expenses. No, >> that's not repairs and maintenance and gas for the boat. >> Is the auto truck repairs and the
gasoline and oil, >> right? So, there's two >> second line and the third to last. >> Okay, thank you. >> We can add the word vehicle to that line, the title you if you'd like. And that stays low
too because we didn't make it so bad. >> No. >> Any other questions on these expenses or so? >> Just one from my point of view. Medical supplies. I assume you I noticed if I've read all this correctly, they that's been zeroed. You you don't carry any
medical supplies? >> We do, but I'm no longer an EMT. I surrendered that license. I was the only EMT in the department. You don't send an EMT out alone to be an EMT. It's it's an impossibility. And it was a liability
for the town from my perspective to send one EMT out. You have to drive. We have an ENT to deal with patient casualties. And we don't do that. It's one person. It's just me. So the first aid kit has
gone from on the uh safe boat in the eastern to you know a junk kit for an EMT down to a first responder. So the the expense of maintaining that fits easily into the boat thanks
expenses. >> Got it. >> And do you do you get a lot of medical calls? A lot is a stretch, >> but I will tell you when we get them, they're pretty darn serious. >> Sure. >> And uh >> how do you handle them? What what what
is >> Every situation is different. So the biggest one we've had was the boat with 10 people on board that drove up all the way onto Halftide Rock. And that was
elderly folks and handicapped individuals. We had a broken orbital eye socket, broken finger, a broken neck, a dislocated shoulder. So,
it's like any accident. It can be I cut my finger on a fish hook or I broke my neck when we hit a rock. >> But isn't that why we have police and fire? Yeah, but police and fire cannot respond in ambulances and cars out there. That's
us. So there the equipment actually the equipment we have to respond with. >> Yeah. >> Is to get them there. They're coming down with all of their own gear. All of their own equipment. >> Yeah. >> But we maintain the asset. We are their fire truck. We are their
ambulance. We are their police car. All of those things. >> Can you follow on that to assist? And you just you bring them back to the top onto the boat. >> Exactly. >> As safely as possible depending on what the injury is and then get them to as
soon as we can. >> And that's like going back to what he was talking about liability wise. That's why I'll only be the first responder because I can't I can't render, you know, the same care that EMT can. So to hold a license like that kind of puts me at, you know, viable and town
liable. So the way we're training, especially this year, is get them as safely as we can onto the boat. Get them to shoot. >> Do you have like a boat gurnie for like the guy with the broken neck multiplers? We we we provide the level of care that
we're legally allowed to, right? And there are cases where we may bring the fire's apartment out to the casualty. >> That's what I was wondering. Yeah. >> Right. So, the thing to remember is that when a boat goes when when your car crashes,
>> everybody's right there. When the boat crashes, they might end up on the bottom of the ocean. So, we our our approach is often fraught with a lot more risk and danger for everybody involved.
That's why we do a lot of training when when we see fire. >> So, yeah. >> So, like we train so that way we all can work together and go out there and do the stuff safely. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And we do. That's the really great
thing in this town. >> Just did just did a training recently at Gordon College. >> That's right. with the fire department >> on police department >> and the police department on if they were to fall overboard into the into the water with all their gear on how they how they safely can get out of the
water. Okay, >> that was just last weekend or two weekends ago. >> The certified instructors $25 a person and Andy organized it. Andy made that happen. >> It's good. >> I have a question sort of about ongoing
maintenance. So, um, not to be touchy, but I know Bion, you're kind of focused eventually on retirement. I'm not sure when that's happening. And you do a lot of maintenance around here and and we have more and more stuff that
requires more and more maintenance. And I think we've benefited by not having to farm that out. But if we can't bring on somebody who can do all that, what do you think's going to happen with these numbers? And where where I'm going with this is we just
don't want to be looking at the end of a fiscal year where we're suddenly like, whoa, what happened here? And it's because the team changed and suddenly we're like having to hire out >> every little thing that has to happen,
>> right? So, we've been fortunate. We've had very capable people on staff. Good news is that the deputy harbor master you hired is actually far more skilled at the mechanical things especially than
I ever ever will be. He is exceptionally good at these things. He was a mechanic in his career. So, you're at least even. Uh, and when it
comes to the building of floats, the the doing the in-house repairs that we've been doing since 2012, uh, I'm I can only assume that when I'm on my way out the door, Andy is going to be bringing in people of equal skill. Now, if it's the people that we have on
staff now, that skill already exists. the 21 floods that are sitting up at treatment plant ready to go in the water. I procured the materials. I went up and uh said we're going to do it this
way and I came back and that's what was done. Exactly that. Yeah, we have a lot of a lot of skill awesome staff members. >> You know, I I mean to give them a shout out tonight. I mean, they really are really incredible. U they bring a lot to
the team. So I mean further on down the line whether it's me or somebody else you have an awesome team already. So >> sort of like the sort of response to my is that even even as Brian retires we should be
able to sustain a lot of our in-house repair capability. you know, yeah, we tr I mean, that's what that's our goal because I mean, >> not only does it keep our our overhead budget down, but you can see it with the police. It's
hard to get cars fixed all the time and everything else. You're always at someone else's whim. If you can do it in-house, you can get stuff done when you need it done. Okay? It saves on the equipment, too. >> There's a lot of pride of ownership. there's a lot of part of ownership in the staff and all these things that that
we we actually do. >> I'll just I'll just add that a lot of the capital requests that we weren't able to do were with that mindset. You know, it was it was them trying to think of ways that we could
more stuff inhouse and less stuff, you know, needing the boatyard's assistance for different types of things that we have to do with whether it be launching or um you know, pulling a boat out or trailering or storing or winterization,
those types of things, being able to do that in house. But that that's the mindset that I think you have with these with the department is how do we say how do we approach this with a way
of uh cost savings to the town. >> The concern here was that we can sustain that as staffing changes. That's >> that's the goal. >> That's the goal. Yeah, >> that's the goal. certainly not, you know, I don't think that we would be approaching the budget with
a plan for the opposite. You know, I wouldn't if we if we run into that issue, we'll adjust at that point. But I wouldn't I wouldn't build extra funds in here. Uh assuming that we're not going to be able to do stuff in house, you
know, about 3 months after I'm gone, everybody's going to say, "Didn't we have that guy with that funny sounding first name for hybr?" And they'll say, "We got that new guy with funny sounding last name." Yeah. >> Here now. So
that that piece of of how this harbor has been running for the last 14 years isn't going away. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Do we have any other questions on this harbor mastery salary and expense budget?
>> Want to be clear on from two lines the request when the town administrator recommended. So the buy one to expand the hours. We heard about that does not want to expand the hours. We took that out. >> Well, I want to expand the hours. It was It's kind of another It's another
>> similar to the library discussion of last week. >> Uh looking at the bigger picture of where we are with the school. I didn't feel >> it was appropriate, but it was something that >> I'd be willing to go back and look at if
those other things work out. >> I totally agree with you. I just want to make sure we >> and so and so we're like one and a half >> this is this is typical for our budgets that there's a request column is different from the recommended column. >> So we're at one and a half% total
increase. >> So yes it says >> so after 3 years of over 25% increases I find this very refreshing and move to approve it as noted. >> Okay. So you're moving to approve the
harbor master sour expense budget for a total of 317,838. >> Second. >> Peter seconds. Any discussion? I'll take a vote. Dean, >> yes. >> John, >> yes.
>> Andy, >> yes. >> Lori, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> And Sarah votes yes. >> 50%. Thank you. You still got a little jealous. >> We got the launch, too. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, next we're going to go to the
launch services, >> which is on page 50, the next page. >> This is saying it's 100% covered by launch fees. That correct, Andrea? That's correct. >> Sounds good. I'll make a question. >> Have the launch fees already pledged or
paid for? >> Not yet. >> These are estimated launch, >> right? So, they're in uh the renewal season, so we aren't going to have all of our fees in until spring. Sometime in spring. I I'm not I
haven't heard a lot of noise about people dropping off. I have people asking if we're going to increase our hours because then they would be interested if we were going to run beyond sunset. If we started running, what would be more traditional launch
hours? So >> I mean I think that in prior meetings we've discussed this launch service um in detail and our requirement is is that the fees that come in cover the
expenses and if we start running into a year when the fees don't start covering the expenses and that's the point when we look at it again and say we continue with the launch. That's kind of been >> And what did we decision did we make
about paying back the capital? I know we've been doing some payment of it because of >> Right. >> Is that is there a schedule anticipated for that payment that we >> I don't think we have a anticipated schedule, right, Andrea? >> Right. No, >> not yet.
>> And am I missing the boat? As I guess I am. The launch fees seem to be 34,255 and the launch expense is 53,000 and you say it's 100% coverage. What am I missing? >> Arbitours.
>> She came back with corrected numbers for us. >> They're not right. >> Yes, they did. >> So, part of the problem for Andrea is that when people make their payments through pay >> Yeah. Sometimes they'll just make a lump
payment in morings. So we had to go back through all of the data and extract. Okay, this it was it was fairly easy because when you look at a line and you see, okay, it's a mooring fee and they paid
$1,100, that's a good indication that they lumped their >> No, I understand. >> So one of those people I lumped them together. So, Andrea, can I update these two revenue lines in this report? >> Yes, I can. Okay. >> Just out of curiosity, what is the
correct sum of the revenue lines >> for fiscal year? >> You probably had it, but I was looking at >> We had it at another meeting. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm getting it by fiscal year. So, um I mean >> Oh, that's right. We did it by the season,
>> right? >> What was it for last season? So last season um as of November 18th it was total revenue was $45,653. >> I'm wondering if there's a way to run it more efficiently. Like it it seems like very labor intensive to keep from 7:00
a.m. to 6. Yeah. There were a way to do it by appointment only or or schedule it. Would that be more optimized? >> So you still have to have the staff even if it's by appointment. You can't you can't uh have Paul Stone sitting at home waiting for a phone call and not pay. So
the nature of launch service is >> the biggest. >> It would be wonderful. season plus the guys down there that actually generated that tour. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, Harvard tours were >> got it this year.
>> Okay. >> So, maybe Sarah >> more more right >> Sarah maybe you just answered this but I'm a little confused. So, it looks like salaries and expenses are 62,000 but there's 45 >> 53
>> 53 even. And so the fees that's for no recommended is 53,000 and that is for the fiscal year whereas we're looking at fees for the last season. >> Right? So I just look back at fiscal
year 26 budgeted which is the year we're in right now and working through and that's 62,400 which the town voted on last year. So that's the number we're currently working >> and Andrea is reporting that
>> Andrea is reporting that revenue >> not for the fiscal year for the season which crosses two fiscal years. >> We still have >> so >> two months I'm not sure quite what the difference >> Andrew do you have the expenses for that same time period? >> Yeah,
>> she gave us Yeah. So um last season it was $33,92.96. So even though we budgeted um in FY25 >> 624 >> 62414 >> yeah for FY26. >> So like part of that is in FY26 and part
of it's in FY25 of that 62. It's hard when it I wish our year end was in June 30th sometimes. Well, no. The 62 is is in FY26, but the 30 the 30,000 that was spent is
partly in FY 25 and partly in FY26. So, you have to look at the expenses and the revenue by season and compare those >> which is the 33 and the 40 whatever. >> So, our what >> I have it again if you want to pass it
out look at it. Yeah, that'd be >> so what request I know we asked about this last >> just finish. >> Are we under budget for fiscal year 26? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, I know we had requested um quarterly
reports because a year ago or nine months ago, we were very concerned about kind of where all this was going. Could we get back on track on the quarterlies? Because the quarterlies will allow us to look at >> an operating year versus a fiscal year.
>> I think we are >> take two quarters and two quarters and you just move them around. >> I think we are on track. The last quarterly report you got was for as of November and there is no launch service. >> Right. >> Right. So >> there's no expense.
>> Yeah. So there's nothing really to report which is why we just for that for this >> I did I do include it in my quarterly report like as of September 30th and then I owe you guys for December 31
>> like fiscal year >> which is why we asked her to give it to us for the season because it was too confusing >> crossing the two fiscals. Okay. So, >> and so those were the launch services reports we're now requesting from her is
based on the season, not the fiscal year. >> Right. So, for 27, our revenue projection is sufficient to cover or not to cover the expense.
>> Well, yeah, I would think similar to this last season, it's a change in the fees that you're anticipating? >> No change in the fees. I see I don't see any uh drop off in the number of
seasonal customers. >> Okay. And what kind of a number is that by on? >> It's around 70. I think it was 68. >> Okay. >> Y >> I don't think you see any major changes unless you increase the hours, right? Otherwise, it's just going to be the
right. >> So, do we have a plan to increase the fees? No. If we we talked a little bit about fees. Yeah, we did. >> Um >> in order to increase the fees, we have to start having that discussion in the
spring and then essentially they get installed into the system in the fall or the following year. Okay. >> So, it's something that we'll be looking at, >> but it won't be for this summer. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Right. So, >> be for 2027.
and and the and the from our uh side of it, we can't have the discussions in June, July, and August and September when we're in the height of the season. So, pre-season and get that approved through you and
the select board by the fall so that we can change all of our platforms for when we send out renewals in December, >> right? >> Which I will not be doing. I'll be sorry. >> Oh, I'm sure. >> I think I'm finally clear on what we're
doing. >> So So you'll have a number of people signing on by the time you start looking at do we adjust the fees for the next year. Is
that correct? >> Yeah. When do you when do you start get the numbers of people signing on? We've already started collect collection that's started right out the first of the year. Um it's going to get hot and heavy here in
the next month because morning renewals >> March >> are March 1st. >> Yeah. So yeah. So I would say yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. when we looked at the launch, I think it was in October, um we assigned what the
expenses were and what the profit was and the difference I believe we assigned towards the reduction of capital, >> right? >> So, do we have an estimate on what we're going to do for this year for that reduction? >> If if the numbers are the same, I would
think I'm expecting that harbors will increase again. Yeah. >> As they did this last year. So if our expenses are flat and our hardware tours increase, if our uh launch service customers are flat, I
would expect there to be a little bit more money to go. >> What about our hourly rate for the seasonals? Is are we didn't change that? >> Right. So, right, the only thing that would drive the cost up at this point
would be significantly would be if we adjusted those launch service hours uh to mirror what other communities offer and uh
we we presented those numbers, but assuming that that doesn't happen, I would expect there to be a little more revenue to go Yeah, >> because I I think the intent is not only to pay off this capital expense, but to
have another kitty within the time frame that we need new boats. >> So, that's a pretty aggressive payment every year. >> So, we have to consider that. >> So, you know, Andy Andy and I both were Andy had the launches at the Yach Club
forever, managed those and I've worked with other launch service companies. these these launches the platforms will last very very long time I expect a 10ear schedule 10 but I would say that that's
>> as long as you maintain you're going to get launches at the club right now are what 24 years >> look the actual payback is that to also the transmissions and their engines >> uh >> oh thank you
>> yes money drivers I mean that So >> I still have when I first started Jack Ellen me stopped it. >> Just additionally to that Dean, you know, we didn't we didn't increase the hourly rate for the part- timerrs running the launch this year.
>> We're probably going to have to increase that next year. We'll factor that into the a potential fee increase >> to cover that. But so there's another >> expense increase. Yep.
>> So can I ask a question? I'm back on services. Sorry. But >> what do you mean services? >> I'm not talking about capital. Um talking about operating. >> So in 25 we had budgeted about 34,000.
In 26 we had budgeted 62,000 and we're in that year now. and the recommended or the requested is 53,000. So I know there's a little bit of timing going on here, but the revenue on this whole operation is about 45.
So the current year we're in and what we're asking for for 27 are all above what we're asking for. >> And I'm just wondering why are we doing that? Or can we are we intentionally planning to run this in the red?
>> No. So the the big increase was my as with the hybrid masters I threw out there we want to increase our hours to better mirror as I said with the idea that there are people who would be willing to sign on.
>> So that's what you did for the 26 budget. Okay. So the 26 budget included an assumption of extra launch hours. >> Yep. >> Which was nixed. >> Right. So we're going to come in under budget >> come in more around 30 I think Andrea
around 30 40 >> so it'll be close. >> So this current budget request of 53 are we still going on the assumption we're going to have more people or is that 53 above what we are thinking we're
going to get for revenue call it harbor tour hope. So, uh I expect there to be more harbors. That's we saw an increase this last year. Um >> this is without like not really
advertising. >> We do zero marketing right now. >> Yep. >> I'm lary of doing that because we don't we we don't want to overwhelm this new child that we have.
with too much demand for arbittors and needing to bring in the second launch driver. If somebody posts to arbittor in advance, it's going to be a full boat, $300 for an hour, then we can bring in
that extra person to drive the boat and have the other launch for a launch service. So mechanically then, Andrew, the way we deal with this is you you sort of watch what we bring in for revenue. >> And we probably won't hit that. If we
don't have the revenue, we won't hit that 53. >> But we will be asking the voters to approve the 53. And if we don't spend the 53, it goes down to free cash. >> So we're taxing people for money we're not using. And but we we've been talking
about that for years and we're we're trying to manage that. So that's fine. this like it's um I put it under estimated revenues receipts like receipts not taxation. So like I'm expecting 53 over here as for revenue and 53 over here for expenses and if I
don't get that over here then I'm not going to spend it over here. >> But the 53 in revenue that you're trying to accomplish >> is July 1 to June 30. >> Right. Right. >> But the analysis that we're doing
>> is what's the season months, >> right? So May, June, July, I'm sorry, July, August, September, October. So fiscal starts. >> So So this 53 >> will cover July to October of the
upcoming summer >> and then April to June >> of the following summer. Yeah. >> So, but when you're looking at a seasonal basis, you're looking at April, too. That's why it sort of
>> an opportunity for fee increases >> for the beginning of 27. >> And it's part of the reason when I asked the question, I was looking back at 62, which is the year we're currently in. Two quarters in, two quarters out. And this new this new budget will be two
quarters in, two quarters out. So, it's Yeah, >> that all makes sense. It's just kind of looking forward. >> The other thing that helps me is, you know, the people who buy the pass, >> you know, that's a good chunk right up front, too. So, >> yeah, >> you know, we're on track, you know. So,
>> so helps. >> Yes. And for anyone who's who's wondering, well, how do we collect those launch service? What's the mechanism? It's doc lock. We use dock log to capture uh those arbittors and per ride
launch fees. Okay, we've done enough on the launch. >> I think we beat it to be this horse down. Yes. >> Do I do I have a motion to approve the 53,000 for fiscal year 27 salaries and expenses for long?
>> So non seconds. Any more discussion? Take a vote. Dean, yes. >> John, yes. >> Andy, yes. My Peter, >> yes. And >> Sarah, yes. Okay,
on to Harbor Capital. >> How can we beat this up? >> Capital is page 78. for your paper file. >> I know I'm having to clear out my second floor and trying to figure out how many filing cabinets I have to move down to
the first floor. Okay. Car. >> So that's been removed. >> Yes. >> And the equipment transport emergency response
has been removed. >> Yes. and public safety votes. >> The public safety votes have been and Morris Pier is the match for the grant. >> And then
>> do you want do you want them to touch on the ones that have been removed? >> Yes. Yes, please. >> Not to great extent, but >> yeah, >> give us the the latest. >> Yes. uh trailer. Uh the idea trailer was
that you would have a hydraulic trailer that could transport all of our buffles where we keep them up at the water treatment plant. One trailer, one trailer rather than a trailer each and every we
don't have trailers for the launches. Uh so we're uh paying the boat guard to haul those out and transport those for us. Idea was to move that in house uh using the single trailer.
>> So it's something we're we'll continue with the current B >> and that's included in the launch expenses. >> Uh the trailers
The trailer would have been across the boatard hauling cost. >> Oh, the launch hauling cost. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That that all those the spreadsheet on my computer tracks exactly what money is spent on which vessel end.
>> Okay. Okay. Just wanted to verify. >> Yeah. What calls the boats to launch off if we asked them nicely if they could do that. They actually do give us they they give us a break on some stuff. Uh some stuff
they do for free. US is not for free. But uh I will say since Andy's come on board that the expense of oil changes uh uhization
changing water pump right here. So it's very helpful. Just reduces that ground. >> Yep. >> Thanks Andy.
And then and then obviously consolidating into one trailer versus having >> right three. >> Yeah. So so the long-term goal is to reduce our maintenance overall. If we can get rid of all of our trailers because we know what happens to trailers that sit forever and then you go to use them. There's always there's always an
issue. >> Um and then store everything up at the water treatment plant so that way we can work on everything ourselves. >> Is that inside storage or outside storage? I thought it'd be nice to have inside.
>> I know. >> TCW might have a boulevard. >> We're looking for a place for that. >> We'll build it. >> All right. And then the vehicle. >> Uh yeah. special vehicle obviously to transport. I mean right now, yes, we
have one vehicle. Um, it has a purpose. We use it for the kids to go and do all the talks and a lot of the other maintenance, but for we're hauling our boats right now. A lot of times we're up at DPW on steal trucks that they don't
have time to give us. But >> they build lots of trucks sitting up there most days. >> Talk about running trucks. Um, thank you. Clarification. >> Provide a truck.
>> Yes, harbor has a truck. >> So, we have a truck. Uh, I the truck we have can haul uh the boats with the exception of the same one that requires a much larger 3/4
to one ton truck. Um and uh we do we do use it for dock maintenance for storage of crap that floats in the hab removing kayaks and paddle boards from where they don't belong. It's it is a
serviceable serviceable vessel >> but in order to become fully self- sustaining with maintenance and transportation the truck that's proposed would need to be purchased.
>> Yeah. Right now what we've done to that ranger we should be pulling some of that. Um, this would give us the capability to do a lot more, store a lot more equipment that we need, not only from the
department itself, but kind of the police side of it, the enforcement we do. Uh, there's a lot of stuff built into this truck that would allow us to do our job there instead of trying to drive back over here, do reports, everything else. You'd have the
capability in there to do it. And plus now we have more trainings because we're required to have I'm required to have more training than police officers. I have to have 40 hours plus 20 hours plus in in service and then outside trainings. So I'm always
all over the place and currently I can't take the ranger because the guy's needed here. So I take my own person. So to have a company vehicle that we use to do that and also to respond would make a huge difference. >> Well, maybe you can make a deal with one
of the other departments in town to give up a vehicle. >> They did that for me, but I finally gave it up because I was afraid. >> Okay. >> And then public safety boats, we applied for a grant, but we weren't successful.
That would have been the match for that grant, >> right, >> Tony? Which ones would have been replaced if we had gotten the grant? >> Go ahead. >> So, the safe boat and then my thought was we get rid of Liberty,
the small six passenger launch, right? >> Yes, that's right. The eastern moves into backup launch and that allows the town to continue to have the shallow water response which we would not have
had with the two brand new vessels that we were seeking. >> And what is the name of the backup launch on this list? >> Liberty. This is just a small six passenger
launch. It's It's fine, but it's >> What's the Duffy? >> What's that? >> What's the Duffy? >> Oh, the Duffy. Oh, yeah. That's the Freedom. That's >> That's the big one. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Comes from Maine. >> Okay. >> So, I rather than get two deep water
ones, would you want one deep water, one shallow? >> Well, uh, so it's two different emissions. >> Yeah. So the 26 that we were looking at is is harbor and fire. >> Um the reason we were looking at that
you get the fire pump, the monitor, a lot more equipment. The smaller one would have been more reinforcement. Um and we we have the eastern eastern's capable boat, >> but it can also be used as a back launch, right? So it just made sense to
go this route and keep that boat >> to add more of the fleet. Well, we're not actually adding. We're just subtracting two boats and adding two boats. So, >> I see the shaft. >> Yeah. Because because we actually end up having more capability
actually getting rid of that. One of my rescues was in a spot where only the eastern could respond. Quite literally, I was able to respond to two people who on the ground at Lobster Cove
with big breaking waves, the boats on top of the rock, and it couldn't get from the mainland over. I was able to come in and climb out of the eastern in water just over my knees. Eastern is so
shallow that it was just fine. We were able to get those people onto the eastern and back to the yacht club where they could be where medical assistance could be entered. >> That that shallow water
response capability is invaluable. >> Okay. Any other questions on proper capital? Um, >> I was just wondering if you could give us a quick summary of Morse Pier and
then also uh dredging. >> So Morse Pier, we uh received the 80% initially this the 20% match I'd asked to be on last year's warrant for the town
meeting didn't get on. So, um, I asked again knowing that we would be getting the 80% grant from the Seport Economic Council to pay for the construction. So, we're looking
for the 20% match uh to the grant that we have received. Um, but in the paper I read that that 20% match was a little over 90,000 and there >> she was taking 20% of um the grant fund
>> rather than the >> rather than the total project cost. >> So you only need 11300 >> 113. >> So we'll change this >> 113,300. >> So we'll change this. >> Well, >> okay. >> I would like to make a suggestion. >> Can I just ask? So this is for the
floats that connect Reed around to Morris, >> correct? Yes. >> In front of Captain Dustin. So it creates like a water loop. >> Yes. And that that is for the commercial fisherman. That is the fisherman's facility. >> That entire loop for the commercial. >> Yes. Yep.
>> That's not deep enough. >> Well, that's the thing. We're pushing the fisherman into shallower water. We're spending 116,000 for maybe five fishermen. And we have already promised the residents the rotunda. I would recommend we put this
116 for the rotunda. Um, so >> that's my first of all, the engineering for this has moved the floats out. So the boats are actually in the area that was dredged in 2017.
So it's plenty of water. The rotunda is not our project. That is a park and wreck. >> It's a town project. >> Oh, I don't want to get into that. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, it's a town project. >> We're talking about, you know,
a harbor project. So, >> actually, we've classified under the DPW, the rotunda. >> Okay. That's the floats that go all the way out towards the bridge already. That's all done paid for. >> So, we're waiting on
But that's fully covered by a grant. >> 100% of the cost of that project is covered by the state in >> 100%. But yeah, >> 1.168 >> and then on the dredging, >> this is mud bag.
>> Yeah. back to the walkway before. Um, just has anyone looked at what the insurance increase would be when the adjusters see this walkway with no railings and steep ramps and
>> Well, the ramps have railings and docks don't have have railings because you fall in the water. Has the insurance looked at our new the the warf expansion we've had and had any >> no no change
>> or it's like a blanket? >> No, really. We a few years ago we had um we actually went out for a separate policy to make sure that we covered everything. Um and that's all included in that policy. >> This new one? >> Yes. As well? >> Yeah. >> Because like our general Yeah. Our
general policy doesn't cover like on the water stuff. It'll cover like up to a certain point. Um and then we wanted to make sure that we cover it out on the water. So policy for that pretty >> dynes it right. So what's the total amount of
that grant? >> Right. So our duding project in 2017 2018 set the model that exists today. Mass works grants will cover 50%
of construction costs for dredging up to $5 million. This project is estimated at 3.8 million. So we can reasonably expect to get 1.9 million
uh from the state >> and then >> is that in jeopardy? >> Is the mass works program in jeopardy? >> We have no word right now that there's any issue with the mass works >> state funded. >> Yeah, it's state funded. Uh no no risk
right now. SEC has become more involved with the mass works seort economic council. Uh so actually some of the grant funding we received for dredging engineering and permitting $25,000 came through SEC. So the two of
them are working closely on dredging. Seapport used to be in charge of dredging uh a couple of decades ago and then it was actually Manchester that set the set the model. So 1.9 million is what we
can expect. Uh if it's if we get estimate of 4 million you know whatever the estimate is we can assume we'll get 50% of that. >> Um do we have all the permitting done to the dredging? We are
I think we're still waiting on the chapter 91 DP permit which is the same one we're waiting for for lead part typically the one that takes longest to get. We have we have our suitability permit. The suitability permit is a
permit that says your material is clean enough to dump offshore and not truck to Ohio. >> Ah okay. So that is that is extremely important. We have that in hand. Uh so is it going to be 3.8 and not 13.8.
>> So is there any reason why we wouldn't be starting the dredging this fall? >> That last permit. So, we've been advised by the engineers that permanent agencies
may not issue that in time for us to go out to bid for dredging this fall. So, that >> how will you know that? >> Nate question. >> That's a neat question. >> I mean, I don't want to include this in the budget if we're not going to be doing it. That's where I'm coming from.
I don't want to do it on a we hope to do it because our budget's so tight this year that if we're really not going to dredge until >> 2027, >> right? Then it would be the 28 budget. >> Well, I can get an answer for you from
Nate on that before when we come back to capital later in the month or so. Um when we spoke with Nate earlier today, you know, we were talking about if these all these projects are permanent and
funded, um the idea would be to go out to bid >> with um >> and Reed as the base bid >> and Rotunda and dredging as the adult one >> elements,
>> which could save a lot of money if we could do it all under one contract. Um, so let me double check with him if we're allowed to add put it as an adult in a bid document. >> Right. >> Even if we don't have that last permit. >> Yep.
>> I'll double check with him. >> Would you put the priority project as the base and then the add-on as the >> uh the bid? Well, we would put the ones that we have permitting for. funding, right? >> And um and have funding for
>> the ones that the residents want. >> Yeah. >> The savings is that it just takes one startup. I mean, because you're doing >> that's where the savings is. >> Yeah. Not not just that. Um there's a
lot of ad I have the whole I can send you Nate's whole uh explanation to it, but there's also the oversight from the engineer. >> Yeah. um the processing of all the paperwork and all of that, the mobilization. And then the larger the
project, the more competitive the bids will be because now you're talking about a company maybe coming down here for a summer or two or I'm sorry, maybe a winter or or longer. Um they only have to mobilize once. They have their stuff
here and it's all doable by the same type of contractor. on these projects. There are contractors that could accomplish all four projects. There'll be some that will bid that can't, but will be getting prices from ones that
can to be sub for contractors, which is part of the expense cost issue we ran into with filing and dredging. So, we we need to
we know we have some projects ready to go. Is that correct? >> Yeah, >> we know we have some ready to go in in fall of 27. >> Well, Reed >> Reed's ready. >> Um Morse is dependent on funding.
Ratunda's dependent on funding. Dredging is dependent on funding and that last permit. >> But who else is missing the chapter 91 park? park is missing. >> We're expecting that. >> Okay. >> This spring, late spring. >> Okay.
>> Which would mean that it could go out to bid June, July with the rest of it. >> So, we need the appropriation to go out to bid for everything even though we might not be able to
start a portion of it until the next winter. >> Right. Is that accurate? >> Yeah. I I again I want to double check with Nate. I you know >> let's make >> how long a contractor will hold a bid
price based on when you get that final permit is that's coming in my head. So I got to I would double check that with me. >> Let's let's make sure we talk about it when we meet with DPW. Okay. >> In a couple of weeks. >> Yes. Well, >> can I just ask a question? Um, so we're talking about four projects, but there
are three here. So there's more. So I think we've talked about that's the connection to the floats. >> Yeah. >> And then we've got dredging and then we got the rotunda. What is reed? >> Reed the extension >> by the railroad track >> and it's fully funded by a grant. So it doesn't go on the >> Yeah.
>> And the approximate value of that is >> the rear project. >> Yeah. >> One point. It's just shy of 1.2 million. >> Okay. And that was pilings. >> Pilings >> going out to the railroad bridge. >> Right. So the pilings the water and
power for that uh last the the new 500 ft and then the pump out station out at the far >> at the end. Right. >> Have you done a rendering of that for the people to show what a sewer line along those pilings is going to look like? >> So this is pretty common. They do these
all over the place. The sewer line runs underneath the dock. in the water. >> Nope. It's attached >> floating dock. It's kind of out of the line >> inside the dock. >> Okay. Well, I wanted to go back to the
dredging. Um the 1.9 million we have under borrowing. Um I think there's an agreement that that's those pay those bond payments will be made by the DOC surplus and not be taxpayer funded. Is that
isn't that what we were gearing toward >> one way? Funding. >> Yeah. Right. >> As a funding source, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Do we tie that in with this budget if we approve it? I'm >> so we need to look at that to see whether it's
>> what's the what what agreement is that that you speaking of? I don't know. I'm not aware of it. >> If we expanded the the harbor docks that that would fund the dredging. No, I don't think that was I think that the flooring holders are being charged a dredging fee.
>> Dredging. >> Well, there's going to be a dredging fee. Okay. >> There's one being charged and I'm assuming that would be >> Where is the dredging fee going? >> Uh, waterway funds. >> So, we need to have a portion of this
covered by waterway fund, right? on the when we finally do the the funding for the capital, >> I'll probably do the same thing I'm doing for the water um meter project. >> Okay. >> Like whenever we assess for the water capital fee for our dud assessment um
collect it and pay down the borrowing before >> So you just don't show it on town meeting. That's something you're doing behind the scenes. >> No, but wouldn't so in town meeting article five we vote on capital and it always says the fifth column, sixth column funding source and it would just say waterways fund. No, she's saying
bonding and then the amount that's bonded will be reduced by >> that dredging fee that's been collected just like we did for the water meters. >> Right. Right. >> We we appropriated the full amount and then the actual amount of the bond is
going to be reduced by >> okay >> those water meter fees collected. She's doing it >> on the books like the full bond authorization >> right. So once you clear the 27 fiscal year 27 transaction then the bond
payments the town will cover >> on and on and on but the harbor involvement with that is done. It becomes a town debt, >> right? A debt service but not connected to the waterways every year. >> Split it depending on how much the
waterway fund like how much collected for the dredge fee in that year. Um kind of like what we do for a sewer fund. >> Um >> right. It keeps adding but that's for the next round of dredging. >> Yeah. So I mean it's a decision that we make at that time. um
>> what we want to do whether we want to you know sock away that dredge fee and then have you know the borrowing paid for by taxation um that's when we can decide >> right to that debt service budget >> and to add one more wrinkle onto this um
in 2016 town approved authorization to borrow a million dollars for dredging that we didn't ever use because we got grant funding to pay for that project. So, we still have authorization of a
million dollars in 2016 that we have not utilized. Um, so >> how do we take that off the books? >> You have to go to Tommy and rescend it. >> Or you could reduce this borrowing ask to
900,000 and and and use them both. >> Okay. And if and by if it's borrowing, if it's just borrowing and it's not capital exclusion um and it's under a million dollars, it
doesn't trigger a ballot question. >> Okay. >> And I just have to verify that million dollars is good to go still. Um it was voted before the municipal modernization act. So I don't know some language for that or not, but >> yeah, not exactly.
No. >> Well, recommend against that regardless of whether it's legal or not. >> Yeah. I just wanted to put it out there. >> Yeah. No, that's fair. >> Either way, you know, we >> we could deal with rescending the old article this year or future or not.
>> Times look, you said we could spend this. We didn't spend it and now we need >> I think just offset it. I think if you if you resend it and you I I think it's too complicated for people. >> So, but we did a while ago. We did a while ago have various appropriations
that we didn't use for whatever reason. >> But that wasn't a bond. >> No. And we rolled it back. >> Right. That's different from a bond. >> Right. But I think tax saying we're going to do something in 2016 and waiting on it and then hitting it 10 years later.
I I would think there wants to be an explanation. And we know who gets paid the big bucks to do the explanation. But town meeting four. I do think we want to come >> exactly the amount because we have a prior approach. >> Explain why we're doing it.
>> Yes, I agree with that. I don't think that we should resend it >> and then do a new one because if I'm sitting in that audience I'm saying >> took you so long. >> Exactly. Are we getting any additional warnings
after this dredging anticipated? >> I get that question a lot. And so the uh >> could you just review for me what's being dredged? What areas? So >> So the channel >> Yep. >> from pin five where it needs it.
>> Yep. >> Rock your co the channel all the way into Norton's point and park your co. Okay. >> This project. So in answer to your question Dean, I'm not being fresh but the we are we are going we are digging
down we are not digging out. So we're not >> we're not increasing the production. Having said that, it is the perfect time to rid Proctor Cove
and realign so that the boats there sit where they should. We don't have problems with watch circles. We have light vessels near each other working our way from next to the channel all the way into the smaller roads that are
going to be along the shoreline. >> And I put the little dock things. >> So floats. Park certainly. Uh you could do that. Uh the way we would increase gain and get
more space for vessels is alignment and balance stern. >> So there's no plan to do like days creek or anything like that. >> No. So we'll never get a permit. >> It's a >> our children our grandchildren.
No one will ever get a permit to dredge in there. U the last opportunity was 1956 when Dr. CO was stretched for the first time. >> Well, I >> I was under the understanding that the
um the waterway fees would fund the annual payments for the bond, not reduce the amount of bond, >> but the fund, you know, we take the bond and talk about that at a future time. I I don't want to bog this down with a funding discussion.
So to your question about just timing, I think this is pretty key. What we have limits for and what falls onto this year's >> capital budget or what might have to push to next year. So that's pretty critical by the time we vote on capital. >> Right. And I think we have to weigh it
with do we need to do if we have to spread it over two years. >> Right. Right. Do we gain something by appropriating everything this year in order to go out to bid for the whole >> and that's explainable because you've got mobilization, demobilization, you
know, monitoring and the actual work. >> Difference with the bonding is we're not hitting the tax rate till we actually issue the bond. So it's not like the cash exclusion where we're actually
taking the money out currently. And so therefore, I think we can explain >> y >> a difference. I'm not as concerned, but I am concerned with us getting appropriations, >> right? >> If we're not going to be starting it during that fiscal year.
>> Sure. We >> at least a piece of it. >> We're putting on put this on ice for until we hear back. >> Well, we're not going to vote on capital. >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah. I mean, we're just waiting for Tony's answers to a few things. That's the key. >> And we'll talk about it when we meet
with DPW and do the capital. >> We'll we'll circle back around on this because Nate's the one that's talking about including everything in one project. >> Well, a lot going on in the harbor. a lot going on. But uh
yeah, you found him a lot. >> Get a picture. >> Okay. So, we done with Harbor? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> If I don't if I don't have to come to the next capital meeting, they're nice knowing you.
>> Farewell. >> Thank you, Brian and Andy. Thank you to our questions. >> We truly would have been. >> Hey Paul, thanks for coming.
>> Wow. >> Lot of pieces. >> 27. >> That's what I finance department. >> Yes. >> Good luck. Good luck. Thank you. >> Good night, guys.
>> Good night. >> Andrea, I can't remember what the little red triangles mean. >> They're just my notes in the budget. I figure out a way to like not >> secret sauce rely on my memory 100% of the time.
They're really not. >> So, am I cor correct? We've never hired the accounting clerk. Correct. So, we really need the person. Yes, we do. >> Yes. and we just um
settled the side agreement with the union that that is a factor in it. So we'll be we will be putting that out a bit higher in the coming months. Now it's really just
you know the finance department gets really busy is really busy now and then really busy at the end of the fiscal year. So bringing someone on in June would be a tough time to start someone. So our goal would be to kind of set it
up so that they're coming on in July. Uh but we're probably working on putting something out for that position in the next couple months. >> Okay. >> Did did the money that we appropriated for the finance
the assistant go back in the rain barrel. >> We haven't gotten to the end of the fiscal year yet. It was approp It should unless we need it for transfers for other, you know, stuff. >> Oh boy.
>> Okay. So, what do we need to know about this budget? >> What do you need by it at the moment? Um I mean it's really pretty much the same um as far as like salaries. Um
the um assistant town um accountant did reach five years. >> Can you speak up? I'm sorry I can't hear you. >> Um the assistant town accountant reached five years. So her um longevity went up. Um, as far as expenses, um, we did
increase the travel meals just because the, um, we try to attend the Mass Municipal Accountants and Auditors Association meetings. They have one in, um, March and one in June and then like a day um,
kind of workshop in November. Um, we've been try I've been trying to get like Aaron to go, like our assistant town accountant to go. I'd like the finance clerk to do some of his Chinese as well. Um, you know, I'm sure they'll treasure collector tradings also. So, that's
going to be pretty there. Um, and then the Tony King board, he talked about how like used to use a utility reserve account. So, kind of shaved off some utility costs in other departments. Um, I didn't add those up. I didn't do that. Um, just so that like if they go over
then they have to come to me and then I would pay it out of this. >> It's basically a standby account. have all the utilities in your account. >> Well, because you you still for each department, you want to try and have a true cost.
>> Okay. >> You know, of what that department costs. >> Y >> the thing about utilities is the rates and how cold it is, they fluctuate. And it's really, you know, we had a year a couple years ago where the rates went skyrocketed up and then
every department was coming in for major increases for that account. >> Okay. >> It's voted as a bottom line expense number and it, you know, if you don't end up needing it, it ends up being a lot of extra unnecessary funds. So that's why
we came up with the utility reserve. So we try to level increase their utility budget in each of their departments and that extra amount counting. So if they expend all of their
utility budget in their own department but still have utility bills to pay because it was really cold, the money is available in the accounting office. So it's it's just more of like a a control really >> like a thing probably.
>> Yeah. So at the end of the year, the last two weeks of the year when we can adjust things around, is this is utilities one of the ones that we have latitude on? Like if fire department utilities is low, it can be put toward equipment and that sort of thing. And
because I always think of utilities as one of those things that we can move around a lot or under on >> it's voted under an expense, right? So if you're if it's staying in their expense use, >> y >> it doesn't even need a vote of the finance committee.
>> If we're shifting it from fire department expense to fire department salaries, it would. >> Or if we were going from fire department expense to select board something, it would. And that's kind of what we've done in the past is we get within the last two weeks of the fiscal year and
you usually give us a list like okay this is high this is low >> hoping for shorter >> we're hoping for shorter list but utilities always seems to be kind of in that mix a little bit. So >> maybe what's the travel that is provided
for? >> So the travel meals that's like our conferences um the account non honors um conferences um We are we cutting out some compasses by the $1,200 difference in the recommended versus the requested
>> um the 1,200 is the difference between um last year and this year's request. >> So it's increased. >> It's increased 1,200. >> Excuse me. Increased. That's right. It didn't decrease. >> Um why is the >> salary for Oh, sorry.
>> Sorry. Let me just So that's just simply an increase in the travel costs in general or more conferences or more training >> more people going to trainings >> training. >> Thank you. >> Also, I'm sorry. There also professional development like I'm a certified
treasurer and a certified collector to maintain that I need to attend these three out of five years. >> I thought Yeah, it was mostly training and development. Yeah, >> but it's required in order to maintain a certification. >> Thank you. Y >> Thank you, Sarah.
Why is the accounting clerk salary going up so much when we don't even have a person hired? >> You know, >> doing really well. >> That's what it'll take to hire one. >> Mark, >> it's more than anybody else in the
department. >> Well, it is under the clerical union contract. They did have That's more than 3%. I I'm not sure. I thought we just put a >> the same two and a half% increase on
that. >> Did we do >> Well, I think I want to I was clear if my memory is certainly right. I believe last year I only budgeted for like 10 months because we weren't going to be able to hire right away. >> Okay. So, this is 12 months. >> I want to say this is 12 months.
>> Um just trying to double check. >> There's no red triangle. >> I'm sorry. There's no red triangle boxes. >> Nope. >> Apparently I focus on everyone else's budget. No, >> that was a reason. I I was curious that that going back to
that reserve fund and just might have overlap with what you were asking Mory, but is is our like the general fund not sufficient to kind of accommodate that random overage that might happen versus
>> what general >> like the our our finance >> the fincome reserve? >> Income reserve. Yeah. Sorry. So, so like this utility reserve would be more like I can use it on on like a as needed basis whereas the finance committee reserve I need to you know submit it's
finance committee and the select board to get that vote in order to then spend it. So it's just >> like a city >> and I think I think the purpose was is to cut back >> am I correct on the base utility budgets
under each department and move >> excess into this account? >> No, I got it handling it at one spot. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. just curious. Yeah, >> that kind of helps with like, you know, saying like increasing those utility costs, but then all a sudden like, you
know, he rates go down and then they're like the department's like, "Oh, great. I have extra budget." >> Yeah. >> And they spend it. Yes. >> Um, Andrea, where is I know you have a lot of computer software you use. Um, you know, this is where that's not in
here, but where do we pick that up? Or maybe >> it expenses. >> Okay. >> So, it's under the select board budget. >> Okay. >> Oh, let's contact the one I was concerned about. as a capital item for it. I think we're not doing it.
Were were all the um departments like guided with a the standard 2 and a half% increase with extraordinary plus or minus justifications or >> Yes, essentially definitely on salaries and then when we asked them for their
operational requests, we asked them to separate out any significant increases or decreases uh so that it wasn't just a percentagebased approach >> from a previous year.
>> Yeah. >> Sometimes, you know, last year a department may have gotten extra money in a expense line item for a project they were doing that year. We don't want to build off of that number this year. We want to come back down to
>> right, >> you know. >> So, we we gave the finance accounting a big boost last year. I was surprised to see it again another three and a half but you know if it's justified it is >> but one other thought a more global thought is
>> what are the would there be any um efficiencies gained by combining the finance accounting with the treasur collector >> making it one department >> yeah I just didn't do a budget it is combined so we're going to talk about both >> that's why Jen's here
>> I was a little even going on there. >> And to go back to the um the finance clerk, county clerk position, it's full 12 months and it's a portion of I was estimating on when this person might
start and so I also um included a step increase that one year anniversary they get up a step. the one here. >> Yeah, that's standard. >> So that's okay. It's a full
step because you're expecting you're going to hire them before the beginning of this fiscal. >> I hope so. >> Maybe. >> We're busy. >> Maybe. Yeah. Are you having difficulty finding people or is it you are just busy and don't have the time to
>> We haven't advertised it yet. We we were >> um well me just starting was part of it and then also the changes in the finance department and working that out with the union >> um took took some time to get through.
Any more questions in this? >> Not here. >> You ready to vote? >> Sure. >> So, do I have a motion to approve the finance accounting of 295669?
>> You do. Is it 285? >> 295. >> Look at the TA recommended blue box. Oh, sorry. Darn boxes. >> Excuse me. >> Second, if you haven't got
>> any more discussion, I'll take a vote. Dean, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> Andy, >> yes. >> My >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Now we go to page 30.
the treasurer collector. >> Do you want do you want to uh touch on accounting capital first or come back to capital after we get >> Let's come back to capital. >> 30. >> Yeah.
>> I don't know. I suppose so. Andrea asking a little few words for I think we need to look at what a toner and paper budget is. So agree.
>> Are you going to be in your same space? >> Uh yeah. >> Just merging the two in a little hole in the wall. Well, I personally feel like the way this town hall is
set up that there's a lot of opportunity for more efficient use of space. >> Agree. >> Yeah. It's just entryway and all. >> It's a weird setup. >> Yeah. >> Do you want to give us the highlights of this?
Um number one well so the first part is about the merger because nothing happens quick again we don't even have time right now to advertise there once we get the time we'll advertise there's training nothing is is fast putting a hole in the wall this will take a couple
of years to level out and start humming is my guess um I I personally believe it takes solid year at least to train a person in our department some things in municipal government only happen once a year so you need to be there a full year at least
Okay. Uh my personal department, however, my biggest concern was what highlighted at the bottom. Yeah, there's going to be a lot of violence coming up. Yeah, there's going to be, you know, staff in my hotel technology and the changes it's having in terms of banking, um security of
employee data, everything like that. That's where I'm pretty much I'm going to be focusing highly on that. >> You have been because you just got that anti-fraud. Oh yeah. I mean, so there's the chip wash. So I, you know, got the micro
toner. Um >> Oh, >> yeah. I try and avoid as much AC wire as possible at the moment because that is where the highest level of this is occurring. >> Okay. >> Um, so I'm sticking with manual and
checks. I got the micro toner. Um, it makes it hardest to have right now until the rest of the world figures out the learn how to do the rest. Yeah. >> So, I'm glad you're vigilant on this
because I asked the question to the town clerk, but maybe it's more appropriate here, but it's concerning to have to register to so many different payment sites from a resident's perspective to put their information on all these different sites. And I asked if there
was a way we could consolidate that to just have one place to to send the payments. Sounds dreamy, but sadly that's not how municipal works. Um, it is all about divisions, >> right? It's just that's where the internet identity theft comes from now.
Those little third part >> that's why I am push and check. Come see me. We take a lot of them. Um, yeah, I'm with you. I don't know what else to say. I mean my vendors that I use I use city hall systems for taxive and some um I do
encourage departments when you're going to collect things online to use unipay those two vendors are PCI compliant and on it unipay is its own RTI you know their own remote transaction interface so it limits all those possibilities but when the fire department decides to go
out and you do a permit collection software and it's >> I know >> they can use whoever they want to use I suppose You know, that's not really up to me. >> Why can't we control that more centrally? >> Because the permanent product he like that he'll be using, but
>> a lot of them talk like different softwares talk to their systems differently than other departments. Um, >> yeah, >> there's still the there's always the Dropbox option though, right? >> Yes. Yeah. >> 247 out. Yes.
through the song. >> Yeah, >> it's a chance to show up quarterly and chat, you know, if you slide them in the window and catch up on the news. >> I actually came in a day early today because I was afraid to notori
>> and I figured Jen would start charging us interest not till Tuesday. Don't exaggerate. But yeah, I thought we'd be cement that same reason today, but >> yeah, not so well. >> A couple people comments. >> Yeah, I guess most people feel it's
going to be a wash telling us. I hope so, too. >> Not another 2015. I hope that is not right. >> That was past June date. >> Okay. So, are there any questions on the treasure collective budget?
>> Not here. >> On longevity. So, you have or steps. How does that work under the contracts? >> So like >> step one after one year. >> Yeah. >> Well, you start off at step one. After one year, you go to step two. >> Yeah.
>> Um and then year three, you go to step three. >> And then like it depends on the contract. So like um clerical union, that's exactly how I mentioned it. And then once you get to 10 years, you go to step four. Once you reach 16 years, you go to step five. Um and then there's the
different grades. Um so each job has classification of different levels of grade and then steps within that. Um >> and then longevity kicks in year five. >> It depends on the contract. >> Depends on okay >> I think it's pretty much getting a lot
contract with clone. I mean in a way the step a step step at 10 years that's another way of saying longevity too you know um steps in my mind are designed to help you get to the top of your game in your job that's why three years I think is very fair amount
to assume somebody's going to take some good three years most steps are around three added ones at 10 16 they're designed to help people stay >> private sector we don't do I >> mean, it looks like a big part of the expense increases are just this new
utility reserve, which theoretically should somewhere. >> We're on treasury collector. Yeah, >> there's no utility reserve in >> Well, I was looking at them both together. >> The first one.39 under the 2.5. I thought probably
thought I would be done by >> Oh, no. No. We're just getting going. No, she's all right. >> Any questions? >> I'll make a motion to approve Treasury Collector for the amount $242,525. >> Second.
>> Any more discussion? Take a vote. Dean, >> yes. >> Don, >> yes. >> Andy, >> yes. >> My >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Sarah, yes. >> What? >> No, we're going to capitalize.
Oh, I'm sorry. >> I didn't I didn't want to say anything about the income side of the treasure collector page. >> Well, it's kind of hard because they collect income for all these other areas. >> Yes. I And I didn't know if there was
anything to be discussed there. >> I'm grateful taxes are too high. >> Yep. What type of entities do you pay in the li of taxes? >> Yeah, too nonprofit. >> Yeah, it would be nonprofit housing
authority school if it was like a maybe Gordon. I don't know if they >> No, we have two right now. Landmark. >> We have two. >> Yeah, it's just the housing authority and another >> another property.
>> Another housing property. the housing. >> Hey, I believe Jenny had worked on the board time. >> Michelle started looking at again um this past year >> some of the private schools. >> Do they or do they pay taxes? >> They pay tax. Oh, I believe so.
I know they don't pay a pilot payment. >> We have a $1 dog. >> That's what the number said. any do you I presume most of these are kind of fixed but are you able to do benchmarking on any low public
communities and whether we're low or high and what I think most of this is kind of like regulated right but guess where I'm just going is are there any is there anything here on this list
that we're we're not charging enough on >> the lean fees >> or that we're notably different fees. >> We do about five things that can go up.
>> It's limited. It's definitely limited. It's not a huge money maker. Maybe five years ago it would have been great and everybody financing, but >> um that's not a huge money maker at this point. You might do one lean a week. >> Okay.
>> I mean, one MLC a week, right? >> Um all the rest pretty >> I mean I was dreading this question someday waiting for everybody to come to me and say hey you need to generate more money which typically people don't come
to me and say especially when interest earnings have been great and this and that but if it ever got super tight I would have to responsibly present to the town the option to increase demand fees which is not popular to me since I'm the one collecting them from but it is an
option we are minimal in demand fees in the state. Um it stinks though if somebody's late with a $10 payment and you want to double it with the fee or triple it, which you could. Um >> yeah, so I have not pushed that one, but
it's an option at some point. >> Collection for that versus the negative will like >> bad tradeoff at the moment. >> Everybody's late at some point. Yeah, you know, people used to, this happened in my last community and they were so irate about the fee. >> Yeah. >> And I and they voted for it at town
meeting and like everybody thinks they're not going to be late when they vote for it. Inevitably, everybody's going to be late at something. >> So, >> yeah. And the collection I hear is really good. I see no need to penalty. >> Fantastic. >> How are we doing on auto exercise? I
feel as though that one can be quite variable and and increase. >> That one is about to go out February 9th. Everybody watch for your bills. It is a lot of work in my office. It's almost three real estate billings in
one. There's about 5,000 cars plus, you know, and it brings in This one's going to bring in 985,000 if I collect 100% of it. It's not even a million, you know. It's a lot of work for not the biggest thing, but >> but it's all rates are controlled by the
state. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. All state. >> Okay. >> It's controlled by that and how expensive cares. >> Yeah. >> You know, $62.85 doesn't help you. >> No, but it's $2.50 more than mine.
I guess that sort of just begs the question, are there services or software that you don't have or could have that would make that job easier >> or vehicle >> like AI? I'm not going there because that puts it all in the public realm. But I don't know. I always perk up when
I hear somebody say, "I'm spending a whole lot of time for not >> a lot of time." Because as you can imagine, 5,000 bills, >> somebody submits a check and it's not signed. Oh, we have to. somebody takes three of their cars bills, adds them together, and adds wrong,
>> you know. Um, putting people pushing them towards online would make that a little better because the amounts pre-populate in there, but I understand people not being comfortable paying online, right? >> So, it's just a lot of individual bills, 5,000 individual things that could go wrong, and it's just me and the
assistant there. A lot of people come in in person to ask questions. A lot of people get rid of a car. I don't have this car anymore. I total this car. So it just that's until the state gets rid of excise and just throws it all into real estate or whatever then we're gonna deal with that. Yeah.
>> Unfortunately. >> And we collected 1.2 looks like here roughly last year and you're talking about 900,000 in bills. >> So multiple commitments go out throughout the year. So this one going out in February is what we call the big car.
>> If you don't make any change to your vehicle, you're only going to see one if you do. But throughout the year, people do make changes. They register new vehicles and that creates new commitments that go out and eventually it gets over that all year round. But this one commitment is one month
collecting 5,000 bills in one month. >> That's where the March >> March. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Yes. >> On the um the revenue from parking
fines, the 368, does that is that the net after we pay the vendor who collects it or is that the target? >> I think you're looking at town clerk. Yeah, >> we're looking at treasurer collector. >> Town clerk.
>> We're on page 31. >> Okay. I flipped the wrong way. >> It's a good question though. I happen not to answer. >> Never mind. >> Anything else on revenue? >> That's
>> okay. >> Capital. So two uh capital requests from accounting municipal financial system software replacement at 150,000 which is not included in the recommendation and
then computer IT upgrades and assessments for 65,000. So do you want to explain those two Andrea? >> Sure. So, we kind of talked about the music for financial software. The one they currently have is um
still being supported but not improved or um enhanced or anything like that. Um so, we don't know when the company is going to be you know sundowning the product. I know a lot of other I keep in constant contact with you know my peers and other trading too about like you
know people switching from this software. Um, so you just I keep putting it out there just to, you know, keep it on the radar because I know it's a big thing to convert. Um, I threw it, you know, once here and then I helped two other communities uh, do a conversion.
So, um, I know the the lift that it takes. Uh but like I don't know I know the budget constraints are happening and >> when I pushed on this a little bit last time I was concerned about the lack of support for the current I think the
current software that was more my concern and I >> right so like so we don't have lack of support right now we there's two people that we can call and like right now I just >> even I talked to the uh our rep um and you know like hey do you guys have any
plans are you is talking about, you know, trying to switch us over to they have another product. Um, unfortunately doesn't have, you know, motor vehicle X size. Um, so there's like issues with that. >> Can't use that. >> Can't use the software that doesn't like why would we go to the software that doesn't have what we use, right? Um, so
we've been we have demoed a couple other ones. Um, so I'm just like throwing it out there because I know it's going to come and I'd rather do it sooner than later because I don't want, you know, to keep kicking it like I'll kick it down, you know, so far, but there's going to be a time where like everybody that's
still on it is going to be leaving at the same time. >> That's what my fear. >> What's the duration of the contract? >> It's a um year-to-year contract right now >> based on fiscal year >> or off. Okay. >> Yeah. So it's like if there's not a term ending date, it's just um we renew like
annually within 5% increase every year. >> So they have to give you a year's notice, I would think. >> So >> but even a year like I I would prefer a full year to >> Yeah. >> Um convert because I would like to review our chart of accounts, review our
operations um to make it, you know, the most efficient that I possibly can and also satisfy all the reporting requirements um and things like that. companies want like six months to work on a conversion at least. I I prefer a year >> to be honest.
>> I've only been three. >> So, do you think it's a ton of work? >> It's a lot of work. >> Seeing this next year, I mean, what? So, >> so I I hope to do it next year. Um it end one of the other reasons that I mentioned before that I want to push it off is that um our regional IT
initiative got a grant um to ch help you know the communities in the consortium to change our web domain address um from you know ma us to.gov um and that just helps with like security. You have to go through an
application process to get a.gov domain name. Um it helps any of our emails go like if we send a resident an email um it's less likely to get you know into junk or spam or anything like that. So it helps communicate um because it's more secure. It's harder to spoof.
>> Um and so it's just a it's it's a good thing to do even though again another conversion all our login are going to change. It's going to be um redirections on the website and things like that. But it's I think it's a smart move to do now for the future.
>> And there's probably fees annual fees as well. Um there is but they'll probably have like it'll switch from what our current domain is charging to the you know it might have like a double you know we'll have to pay for two for one year
>> I think you'll have to pay for two for a lot longer >> but it won't be the full price >> um two full websites mostly we'll just be paying for the domain name to move us over to >> so hopefully if
software you're currently using, you're going to have like 12 months notice that it's stopping as opposed to, hey, it's going to stop being supported and we have a problem and it's crashed and we've got three months of runtime. So,
okay. >> Yeah. But like even if they did give us like 12 months, they're giving us plus >> 30 50 other communities 12 months. >> Yeah. And there's only so much bandwidth that there's very few municipality um
municipal financial software that can handle Massachusetts general laws and compliance things like that. So that would >> it'll be really hard to switch over to another company that >> is also trying to >> we want all their attention not while they're working on other does the
contract give you the advanced notice that Mory was just mentioning? >> I've not seen that language in our contract. It was one of those things where we got into the contract, the company sold, the company sold again. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's my concern.
>> Right. Exactly. >> They don't have to shut down. >> Software. >> No, they don't. I was just wondering if the contract actually gave you the benefit of what was talking about. >> Create a software that's they can build up and then sell.
>> Yeah, >> that's happened to >> They'll stop. They'll stop offering support. >> Yeah, that's >> you'll still be able to use the the software. But >> yeah, >> I hope so. But still, >> actually, they give notice. I mean, it's not something they do >> right
>> today and say, "Sorry, we're not going to support you starting tomorrow, >> right?" >> No, no, there's notice. Yeah. >> They'll push us to their their other platform. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. and computer IT upgrades. Can
you just remind us what that is? >> So that is um uh we're due for a um vulnerability assessment. Um we did an inter I don't know if you remember like last year we did um an internal one. Now we're going to be doing an external one. Um it's highly recommended um for us to
do that to test our systems to make sure that we're not getting anywhere things like that. Um the other thing too is we are overdue for our um computer replacements. Um it's been we originally when we bought the last computers, we
wanted to be on like a um three four year cycle. We're past five. Um so we've been replacing ones that have been like in dying. Um but it really desperately need a full replacement. >> So we're hoping Yeah. How many? Yeah,
>> it includes about u 35 um desktops and I want to say 10 laptops. >> We're still using desktop. >> Well, we're going to we might switch. We might just do laptops. Um >> and how many >> because most a lot of our staff are
here. They're not remote. Um so a desktop is cheaper than a laptop. >> Yeah. But a day like Monday, people could have worked from home with a laptop. Well, some of us did. I mean, you know, but I'm serious. Companies switched to laptops. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Years ago,
>> even though even though you were working in the office, you still switched to laptops to give you flexibility. >> Yeah. >> That's what we're looking at, too, because there's only a handful of us that have VPN access um to our server here. Yeah. >> Um and we're looking to switch our VPN
um provider to anotherly more secure and one that works more consistently. >> It's a work in progress. >> Yeah. But like my assistant, she's here to serve the public and on a day that you're closed, there's no public. But also, you don't bring things like checks and money that you work on. So,
>> not everybody, but >> most of the people that can. >> So, how many pieces of equipment do we have? Computers and laptops. >> Um, We don't do virtual machines. People don't do that at all.
>> I want to move to that. Wow. >> Yeah, >> I really want to move to that. That's >> still maintained servers. >> I mean, eventually the plan um I'll have to get you that information, Sarah. I don't want to hold up the whole meeting, but um the one of the plans like we used to have four servers here, we're down to
two um just for the redundancy, but the plan that we'd like to have is now that we're done with the fiber loop um through the school and Essex and down to the um the Danver it is that we'd like to move those servers to Danvers. So that way it eliminates our server cost
um they maintain it and it'll be just part of our assessment to them. Um and they have the economies of scale. They're already doing ESC Essex's um servers. Um I know the other communities in the consortium are also looking to do that as well because it makes sense. We
don't have our open it in house. Um they do and they have the capacity and they're able to build out um their capacity to help all of our other communities as well. >> That would be a lot cheaper. >> Yeah, it is. It's it's saved us so much money. Like our even our cyber security
alone um has saved us thousands. Um, and we have like the top rated cyber security. Um, >> I mean the box because like buying a laptop is way more fun than just having a basically a monitor. >> It is.
>> So I get my question by asking about the number of pieces of equipment is what are what is our plan to replace everything get back on track of having a routine replacement schedule. >> So >> so the ones I'm proposing right now are the ones to get us back on schedule. Okay. Um, and then the plan is to like
in three years hopefully by then we'll be in the virtual server system so that we won't need to close. >> The other thing is like >> need the little boxes. >> I use stuff for work like the machines now are so powerful you don't need I don't need all the power. So like
updating them every three years used to be a thing because you know you kind of got to their limits. Now >> you don't have to do them every three years. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Unless they they break obviously you gota >> Right. Right. that but they're >> they're so have so much power plates memory all that kind of stuff you never
use it all >> so you don't have to keep upgrading >> it's like the doesn't do anything different isn't one of the challenges the whole window 10 window 11 thing and are there is an vulnerability on that or >> um we did but we were able to handle
that project >> okay good okay is that on capital finance department. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> And has to say >> thank you everybody.
>> Thank you. Thanks. >> So it's after 9:00. itself. >> Well, he was suggesting we do nonappropriation, but maybe we put that off to another week. >> It's not Isn't nonappropriation like three or four items? >> It's MBTA. And >> yeah, we can do it.
>> Although I have changes. >> The state came out with their F27 Friday. >> What changes? 18 >> 18 the governor's property case, the governor's fur came out, right? So
that's they'll go there'll be changes to the to the state budget as they go through the house and the senate, but we have the governor's numbers, you know, those changes that uh Andrew made. >> Should we wait until
>> the budget won't be approved by meeting? They usually don't sign that until July. You kind of get the almost where they're going to be. >> Yeah. >> It they don't change significantly.
looking at page just what I just updates the numbers in that bottom section anyone >> I'm sorry what >> so on the page on the that bottom section that starts with 0180 00.
>> Yeah. >> Um, state and county assessments, motor vehicle park search charge, mosquito control, etc. That total is 195,840. >> Do that. >> Um, so this paper that I just handed around, it replaces those numbers.
>> So the FY27 governor's local aid proposal is 196,754 for Manchester. >> Why not? >> Yep. >> Not down. She was giving one of the tens.
>> She might give us more receipts to mosquito control. Uh, >> that's mandatory. We're There's >> It's optional. Is it optional? >> It's optional, but we still have to pay for it. >> Do other communities, >> but we have to pay for it even if we don't use it. >> Yes.
>> I think it's a passive essentially, right? >> Oh, I thought you had a right to say yes or no to it. >> You have a right to say yes or no to use it, >> but you still pay for it. >> Everyone pays. >> Motor vehicle parks search charge. We
got a lot of motor vehicle parks here. >> And Andrew, air pollution districts, is that I don't even know what quite that is but yeah I guess the answer is it is what it is just regardless. Yeah. >> So saying these are the things that we
allocate to communities. >> Yeah. Pay us >> to pay >> to pay. >> Exactly. >> What are we going to do? >> Cost a little more than this congestion. >> Non vehicle nonrenewal search charge.
Might I who know I'm all too aware. So if we add this 196 754 and 100 and we add >> 312 >> I'm confused about this 312 total at the
bottom. I didn't see nobody to that. Uh it's because I include the allowance for abatements and exemptions of 100,000 >> but 100,000 to 196 is only 296 and this was 312 >> 169 1649 >> other 16. Yeah.
>> So what's the new total? >> New total is 33,500. >> Thank you. I didn't feel like adding. >> Well, I have a move a motion to approve the 313,503 and the nonappropriate expenses.
>> I guess you do. Yeah. I mean, yeah, >> we don't have much option. And I guess you have a second. >> Second. Okay. Take a vote, Dean. >> Yes. Done. >> Yes. Andy, yes. Lory, yes. Peter here. Yes. Okay.
done. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, minutes from January 22nd. >> Yes. >> Do I have a motion to approve the January 22nd, 2026 minutes? >> Muted. Peter. Oops. Mory seconds.
>> More seconds. >> Discussion. Take a vote. Mory. >> Yes. >> Peter. >> Yes. >> Dean. >> Sting. >> John. >> Yes. >> Andy. >> Yes. >> Sarah Roach. Yes. >> Question on minutes, not about content.
Can we download them? >> So, um, we can link in to the site to get them, but can we can we make a copy and just store it in a folder? >> Yeah. I can go to um I sent out like a little image. I can send it out again where you go to a tile and make a copy. >> Okay.
>> And then you can see where >> save as your own copy. Okay. >> And just wait till they get put on the website. >> That's fine too. >> I find I can I can search very quickly by putting in a keyword
pulls up anything relevant. >> Okay. The next meeting's got a pretty big lineup, right? It's got the fire department, recreation. Yeah. >> Yeah. And veteran service. preferences. Easy skezy. >> Yep. >> Well, guess. Okay. >> You want You don't want to go through TA
and select board tonight? >> No, it's too late. Too late. >> I had it for tonight, but I can I can bump it down. That's That's something that we can always >> I didn't understand I didn't understand that that was a separate thing. the the
way I had the last the way the the one before was written, it was just on the line below, it was like I thought maybe the select board and the town administrator were going to be there. >> Oh, >> I didn't was a budget. So, >> that's okay. We can do it another
minute. >> Yeah, >> I'll I'll circle it to make sure that Yeah. Okay. Oh, I didn't post the I was going to post the agenda today for next week, but I didn't do much. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Well, this is the agenda for next week
as far as departments like >> I just have to officially post an agenda. >> Got it. Yes, I >> create a little Zoom >> Zoom. >> Do we hear any rumblings from the school about evolutions or I mean they >> uh they went they did come back and and
ask for 226. So that's we bumped them down. The last time I don't know if you talked about this last week. I wasn't here, but >> we did to my knowledge. >> The last time I was with you, we were hoping to do them on 219. >> Oh, he's telling you the date
>> the the date. And uh they asked for February 26th. So we swapped assessor and school. And I I was asking about >> Tony Tony and I have a meeting on w next Wednesday
Thursday next Thursday >> with the school committee finance subcommittee one rep from that one rep from the Essex Fincom one rep at the Essex TA I think Ann's on it as a
rep from the select board and they have one rep from their board of selectmen And so that's to discuss the budget again. >> So we'll report back on our meeting next Thursday if we find out anything of interest.
>> I should have a report from the most recent school committee meeting, but it was virtual, so I decided I'd watch it over the weekend. Um, and then >> I know that they're working on reducing their budget and they have specific areas where they think they can they can
make reductions without affecting the program. >> And then just a quick update on health insurance. >> Yes. >> Um, Maya board met and voted to not uh
to exclude GLP1s starting July 1st. Oh. >> Uh, so >> I don't know what that means. >> GLP1s are uh like diabetic weight loss medication. That was epic and things of that nature which have completely
uh exploded you know the market. >> Yes. Yes. Um so with that change their range of potential increases uh their max was at 20.2%
if they continued to support GLP1s. Now the max is at 14 a.5%. Um so uh I we expect based on our loss ratio that we'll be closer to the max. Um so what
we have in the budget right now is a 20% increase. So we'll know in midFebruary what our actual um assessment is. But we're running numbers to see, you know, we're now like closer to the 15%
increase range is more comfortable. Um, so that was a big >> Yeah, that's a that's an adjustment. >> Um, so for next week, >> they don't make any more money. >> Can we have some of these updates put in and get the new tax estimated tax?
>> Yes. >> Thing and what our gap is on the school. >> Yes. >> Okay. I like to I like to keep watch >> news on account. >> Uh they're working on it. The public's
working on it. Um I didn't expect it to uh be so hard to ask them to give us, you know, numbers to renew a contract. Uh it's like we have to keep >> keep poking them, you know, where are
we? But they they uh they came back and said, "Yeah, you know, as long as there's a commitment to move to automated, we could we could deal with it for a year, but we'll get we'll put together numbers for you." So, >> we don't have those yet, though. >> And was there a water thing break in
before the town hall? I know that we were digging >> it was National Grid. It was an electric outage. Yeah, >> it was there really >> a Sunday morning. Yes. >> I walk by to go to church and there's two National Grid. This is it right
before the storm. There's two National Grid guys kneeling on the street looking in the hole. >> Yeah. And that was >> that was like 10:00 and the storm hit like 11. I said, "Oh, this is not good."
>> But it actually it actually started the week before when I was on vacation. Yes. Was when the first issue started. And >> yeah, >> and they trouble. >> They were there this afternoon on >> Oh, is that really scary?
>> Okay, thank you. >> You want to um CPC update? >> Oh, sure. Yes. >> Um we had a meeting tonight. Um there's four housing authority members on that committee. >> I know. >> And they voted they kept the 200,000.
Um, um, Jack's going to be talking with you, I'm sure. >> They also felt like the signs were valuable expense. So, um, they really did. >> So, what did they do about the redundance?
>> Well, they're still in a holding like you had said that you wanted to bond it outside the CPC >> and we were going to try to minimize the the total amount >> and then have CPC fund
the the the bond payments. No, >> but then at the end then that came out that we couldn't do that >> talking CPC funding the bond payments. >> We weren't like chipping in. >> No, what we discussed last week was for them to make cash
payments to offset the amount of the ultimate loan we'd have to borrow. >> Right. That we were trying to drain the kitty, >> right? And I confirm with me the timeline of that like the project will be done um prior to us going out. So
like >> um but you could wait and issue debt on July 1st of 28, wouldn't you? >> Not not without >> July 1st of 27th. >> Not without hitting our free cash. I can't have a deficit in a um in a
capital projects fund at year end. Um so that's why I usually borrow or ban at at June 30th so we have the money for our balance sheet purposes. >> So there was a big >> Oh yeah. So it's I mean if I could then yes like I could you could do the
>> there was a big cloud of uncertainty at the meeting over how we were going to still but ongoing. Yeah. So if if town meeting
if the April town meeting, April 27 town meeting voted for it, then you probably could zap free cash because CPC would come in the next day, right? >> You're talking like CPC funds that they
have. No, I'm talking about we know they don't have any reserve left. So, it's new dollars in and so if we took a vote at April town meeting 27 for let's say 400,000.
>> Mhm. >> And that's going to be funded to us on July 1st of 27, which is the first day of the next fiscal. Couldn't you zap free cash for one day so you didn't have a deficit? Why not?
>> State law department your account, right? >> The only day they look only anyone looks at >> it send three blue lights instead of just one blue light. Not one.
>> So Jack's coming to the select board meeting on Monday. I wanted to run the proposal that you had talked about last week by the select board before I gave Jack and the CPC any sort of confirmed direction.
>> Wow. >> Well, I think that They weren't going to vote for bonding this year. They were going to put it in next year, which would be too late, >> right? >> Yeah. I mean, you could still >> Yeah. I mean, you need bond
authorization then, but it doesn't mean you're going to spend the money that fiscal year. >> I don't know. >> I think finance committee was really dead set against CPC CPC. >> Yeah.
>> I just, you know, being that it's a town application to CPC, I want to make sure the select board's comfortable with that approach before >> telling CPC what which way we're going. >> Understand. I understand that. >> That's your job. >> Okay.
>> Go to your boss first. >> Yes. Exactly. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Peter moves seconds. All in favor? I >> thank you. Thank you. for help.