300 p.m. on Thursday, March 12th. And I have all the financial committee meetings to order. This is a hybrid meeting is being recorded. Um I have with me in the room from the finance committee, Dean Nadis, Andy Alderman,
Mory Kraton, Peter Twiny, and myself. I expect far more to clear shortly. Well, John Croft is not going to make it tonight. Also in the room is Andrew Mainville, um, finance director, and Ann
Harrison and John Brown from the select board. Um, Tony Barleta had a conflict tonight, so he won't be here. Um there's um so the first item
on the agenda is the Manchester Ests Regional School District budget. I think I sent it out to you today and it's the one dated March 3rd
which includes the final changes on the health insurance and it was approved by your school committee. So on this handout
we've already met with the school district. Um and on page 13 is the operating assessment calculation. which for Manchester is it a little over 18 million.
They're saying the increase is 581, but I believe we were 40,000 over last year. So, it's more like 540 for us for the increase. So, it's not 3.33%.
is more what is that closer to >> 3.01%. >> 3.01. So about 3% increase. >> Talking about >> Yeah. >> Um and as I recall from the original
budget, there was circuit breaker money of 215 odd,000. The health insurance is now under 10%. Isn't that right, Andrea? >> I believe so. Yes. >> Um, and what was the third thing? >> Don't recall.
>> Not sure. I think that's it. Of course, I'm on my laptop today. >> Okay. >> Well, it went down. >> Yes. >> Yes. So it's the Oh, and the other thing is when the health insurance this most recent wave the health insurance is the
thing that went down and so they increased their contribution to OPED up to 425. I think it was down at what 350 was it or >> yeah it was in the 30s and so they've buffed it to 425 and then the balance of
the savings from the reduced health insurance it's come back in the assessments I have a question >> yes sir >> do we have metrices to measure the efficiency and the effectiveness our school department I know this sounds
absurd so I I will take the blame than that. How much does it cost us to educate a child in our and I don't expect answers. I'm just raising these questions for fun. Um, how much did it
cost us to educate a child in our school system? And has that number increased or decreased over the years? And what is the metric we use or does anybody use for figuring out is this a good
education and are we getting bang for the buck is I don't know what I don't know what the derivation of that uh >> relying is the state where it puts it in >> we're relying on the state
>> de did an audit of them. >> Yes. um when Essex wanted an audit to be paid for by Manchester and the Essex and Manchester refused.
We didn't feel there needed to be an external >> Yeah. >> audit. Um, so the cost to educate a student has increased. And the way I calculate the cost to
Manchester is I take the $18 million assessment and divide it by the Manchester
students. >> Seems reasonable. and our total students are 622. So if I take lost my page 13 now
if I take um what did I say 632 >> 22 comes out to 34,620. >> Okay. >> I don't know. I haven't done it. I just made I made that up. I just made that up. >> Password that didn't work.
>> $29,32. Mhm. >> Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. And the >> that's actually mean the capital. >> So we know the cost. >> Yep. >> And do we know the quality of the education? And I again this is stupid.
Yeah. I agree. I agree. You don't It's hard. >> I think that's for us to measure. I I think the challenge we have when we have a regional school district is we don't really have control over the education program. We can push back on finances
which we have done over the years um particularly a number of years ago when our assessments were going way up and Essex wasn't going up as much. Um now Essex has been pushing back more but I I think that they're
doing a much better job myself at looking at the budget and making it as lean as >> Yeah. when we had the uh superintendent here, I thought her answers were were quite quite good. >> Yeah. >> Um and I said, "Are you satisfied?" And
she said, "No, of course I'm not satisfied. We can we'll do better." Which is great. >> Um I'm just I'm just uh you know, being a >> Yeah. Yeah. Exact. Those were the words
I was searching for. think that um I did receive a newsletter from Lindsay Banks and she did say that they're for the class of 2030 they're adding in uh half a credit
requirement in the arts area which makes sense >> but other than that it's it's business as normal. I think that they on school choice, which we haven't been super supportive of because it costs us more
to educate than we get in. Um she said their plan this year was to just replace the number that were graduating and not increase the number. Um
>> one thought on that is um is I I just calculated a slightly different way. I just took the entire school population and divided by the total which is combining estimates or did you include everyone? >> Um I included the 121
>> the resident total is only 1,081 >> but there are other folks in there but >> yeah but >> so just the average cost per student is about $27,030. that's an operating only >> doesn't include the the loans on the building
>> doesn't include debt and then what's interesting is I think like five years ago that number was more like 23,000 but the denominator was bigger I mean they've lost 70 students >> right >> from so you know you're dividing that an
increasing number by a fewer number of students so >> and I insist on only doing the resident total because of the fact that with the school choice we're not getting the revenue in to cover them. So, >> right, >> I don't think we should be including
though them cost. >> Yeah. >> Because they say it doesn't cost them anymore. >> We get what seven 7,000 or 5,000 per choice student. >> Five. >> Five. So 5,000 and if our average cost
is 27 where it's a loss it's helping take a little bit off. I think I think the goal the goal though is to is they're not adding them if it's driving a teacher count you know so >> right >> it's the capacity unusual capacity >> so that's why I use the resident toner
because I'm saying >> but as a subnote on that it is um it is a lottery right and and you could end up with somebody who has special needs >> that in that case the cost goes back to the sending district
>> only if it's out of district No. >> Oh, both ways. >> Both. Okay. >> Thank you. >> So, the other question I would have and I'll stop after this um is should we have representatives
of the student body um and be willing to talk about their experience? >> No. >> In the school system, >> no. >> To the folks in the town. >> A teacher. I am a teacher. >> We had
a public forum or something at one point. >> Yeah. >> Over in the Essex cafeteria. I think it was an absolute total disaster. >> They had one at at the high school.
>> Well, maybe it was at the high school. >> It was disaster. I think I think it was I think it was >> it was very lopsided. It was not. >> No, but it but it but it was an opportunity for those students to speak up to an issue that mattered to them. I think it's important. >> Yeah. But it was, you know, it was when
they were talking about dropping >> Yeah. Okay. >> some art music or >> Yeah. Something like that. Some program. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And and it just became a gripe session that was it wasn't >> for the kids against the town. It was
long to teachers. >> Okay. teachers and I just didn't feel it was value added because it was not impartial. >> Um, >> and they were recruited. >> Oh, of course. Yeah.
>> To make their point of why the district budget should be higher. >> Okay. Right. I mean, kind of two thoughts on that is I mean anecdotally, I mean, I listen to this all the time and I ask people, "Oh, you've got kids in the school system. are you happy with
this experience? 14 times out of 15 they say yes. Our kids, we started at Brookwood, it didn't work. We're in Manchester. I know of one family who's had one person leave district, but for the most part and and
our boys contemporaries who all went to different colleges said we were amazingly well prepared particularly in writing, critiquing other people's writing. and a lot of our fellow classmates in college were not that well prepared. So I don't know I keep maybe I'm biased but I keep hearing that story
which is I think really really good. >> The other thing is our job you know as much as we'd like to pay attention to the school. They hand us two bills. They hand us an operating bill and they hand us a debt bill and our job is to say yes or no.
>> Not necessarily to go in and say there needs to be more French or let get the robotics team doing more. >> That's thing that people need to remember is >> the towns are merely approving the bottom line. the school district can
make changes within their program any way they want as long as they hit the bottom line. >> So for somebody to tell us what they're go and many years, you know, they tell us they're doing A and they end up doing B. And so it's not like we can logically
make a decision on the budget >> based on what they're saying they're going to offer because they have the option of changing it. Um, >> so >> I'd like to like respond why I said great is because I think size matters
and that we have a smaller district and a lot of people like that but it's going to cost more per student, >> right? >> So I don't mind the comparisons with the state being a little bit higher because I like having a smaller school. There's other benefits. Um, one metric we might
what we are competing with is parents whether they're pulling their kids out to go to private school, >> right? >> Um, we have to keep our standards up to prevent that because that's a very, you know, >> so I think we're doing all right in that we during COVID we might have had some
setbacks, but you know, I think a lot of people are satisfied to keep their kids here. The other thing I'd like to comment on is the horror show that other towns have gone through recently with strikes that we don't have and I don't
mind um making sure that doesn't happen because that's Beverly went through it >> so we haven't had that. >> It's a good point. The only thing I do question is, you know, they they keep
relying on reserves and what keeps recharging these reserves that they rely on. I think their budgets are are robust so that because they don't want to end up short because that costs children and what they do is they put a sizable
amount every year back into so >> which is what we were doing before we cut back on our revenue. I mean, it goes goes to your comment about how they're they are talking about doing a certain thing and then things shift during the year. They end up doing some different things and and there's, you know, the
the money moves around a little bit. >> Well, they don't know how many students they're going to have in each grade until October, long after the budget's been approved. So, >> it's challenging. >> School budget is a very complicated thing. Well, one other thing
>> um >> to to Mory's point, um I don't think our job is to just rubber stamp or deny. I think we need to do due diligence to make constructive crit uh suggestions. Um I mean, I I think that's part of our job.
>> Well, and that's why we have the school district come in so that we have the opportunity to ask them questions. That's the point of that. Um Ann, you were going to say something? >> I think you've got about 17 things. Some students don't cost very much to
educate. Some co students cost $200,000 which I think is about the level and above which we get um re reimbursement. >> Is that what >> it's it's huge. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. >> It's it may not be quite that big. It's at least four times the average per pupil
cost that we have to swallow when we get a kid who needs a lot of help. Well, I know there's a kid on my street who was going away for day school and he's now in a boarding school year round. >> Yep. Yep.
>> And we have them until >> we have we have them until they're 22. >> Yeah. >> So, the number of students who are enrolled in the high school does not necessarily reflect what we're paying for. Um, and
this is not unique to regional school districts. Even a state a a city school district. The the school district itself handles its education plan. Um, and and the mayor can and the city council can cut their budget, but
>> they can't do anything about how it's spent. So, that is not a unique problem that we got into by regional tax. I have heard stories of families moving to town renting um whose children go to Landmark school. >> Really?
>> We we don't send kids to Landmark. >> We don't. Okay. So that's not >> um the the one of the decisions that the school made was that their special education would emphasize literacy pro um problems and that's what Landmark does and I believe we are no longer
sending anybody to Landmark >> because we have I mean because we have the capability >> there there are examples of of people that move into town temporarily to you know to be close to Landmark so their kids can go there but it's a dependent of the district. I'm aware of people who
rented apartments even though they owned a house in Gloucester so their kids could go to Manchester >> school which >> when when Pam first started she and a couple of other administrators were
going around to apartment buildings looking for buildings that were dark at 8 o'clock at night meaning that they were not actually living there. Mhm. >> I think they've sol they've solved some of that. Um yeah, they're they're very quite rigorous about making sure that
people who are enrolled in the district >> are living >> the district. >> Okay. Anything else on the schools? >> No, but thank you that the budget's down. >> Has six approved the budget? I think that's push back. Do you know? Probably
not. >> Doesn't seem to me like there's as much push back as there was. I believe they're going to have an override, but their total increase is 389,000. Plus, that's offset and ours is offset
some by a reduction in debt. you know, the net amount is a little less, but I believe they're still planning on an override, but I don't think it's contentious like it was a couple of years ago, even last year.
>> I had one last question on the budget. On page 18, bottom, there was some debt payment um bond anticipation number. Yeah, that's what we do.
>> Yeah. >> So, that is and I talk about it in my little write up on the tax rate. Um that the bond anticipation note is what we're going to be doing um during construction,
>> right? >> So, we pay only the interest, >> right? >> And so, and the short-term rates are cheaper. >> Okay. Um, and so then you lock in the long-term rates either if long-term rates become less than the short term
>> or at the end of the construction process. And we had a meeting this week and it sounds like the the school is going to issue bans for the the Essex school construction, which is not what
they did on Memorial School. memorial school, they locked in long-term bonds because the rates were great >> were lower. Yeah. >> Whereas now the long-term are higher. So, and I think that um if you look at our debt service and the stuff that Andy
has done regarding capital that her assumption is on our capital projects is that it's going to be banned in the early years until we finish construction. So, we're approving some funding for that project this year. FY26. >> What project?
>> The elementary school. >> No, it's going to be done in a special town meeting probably in the fall. >> Okay. That's what that is. Yeah. >> But this ban is related to the Manchester Memorial School. >> So, and then I talked to Michelle about
the $650,000 ban. That's what you were asking about. That's next year's um they're finishing up like some of the last paperwork and they're waiting for a reimbursement from MSBA so that that'll be paid off next year. >> So I'll see that again. >> Yeah. Because that's the other thing is
the re reimbursement from the state >> is after the fact, >> right? Yes. >> And so we don't want to do the long-term bonds. >> Yeah. Same thing Foxboro went through the reimbur. Yeah. Yeah.
And I have the list of the changes in the budget. It's um they reduced 250,000 from cir circuit breaker. >> Um 255,000 in health insurance and then the OPED decrease. >> Okay. >> As well to make up those difference. Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> And what did they put into OPED? >> I think it was like 300,000. >> Now they're doing 425. >> 425.25. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, they're still doing a little bit better >> because they had additional um health savings.
I >> mean, we've had three iterations of their budget. >> Yes. >> Um and this most recent one has >> Well, they had 761,000 for OPAD, then they dropped it down to 425.
No, they dropped her down to 300 and then they put it back up to 425. >> Yes. >> But now health insurance is less than what was last. I heard that they said that they their decrease in health
insurance was 255,000 >> from a prior from a prior >> I thought that was the decrease of their estimate from their estimate. No, >> the first time prior >> and it's come down again. >> Oh, I see. And what this is showing
is health insurance benefit rate increase and other insurance has dropped 69,000. So that doesn't make sense to me. I believe Michelle said it was came in at under 9% increase.
Nine Well, page 11 it shows it being 10%. >> I don't know is locked in, but it's a group. >> It is. >> It is locked. That >> was my understanding. It's locked in that they got their final number. Okay.
Page 13. Do I have a motion to approve the school operating budget 18 million581 18750? >> So second >> more seconds. Any more discussion? >> Vote. Yes. >> Dean.
>> Yes. >> Andy. >> Yes. Mory. Yes. Peter. >> Yes. Sarah. >> It's the right number, right? Andrew, it is >> triple check. >> And then later
is the capitalist. looking the total. Where is my total? BJ on the second box from the top. >> Okay, thank you. So the total is 2,573 924.
>> I have a little bit higher but I think that's should go with their number. They advertise which I didn't include >> what >> they I have 2,ion590 but I didn't think they had the original
bond anticipation principle and interest and the amortization. Yeah, the premium. >> So3 accurate. >> This page 18 adding up the Manchester amounts. There's four boxes.
>> No, I put the second box down as a total. >> Okay. >> All right. Right there. Right. Yeah. Okay. >> It's the one without the green bar on the top. So, just out of general curiosity, Andy, do you have an idea of what
Essex Elementary is going to look like? >> Because I mean, just just kind of looking at this, just as a heads up, we're about a million dollars finishing up the high school debt, which will go through about 2030, 2031. >> And we're about $1.5 million a year, 1.6
6 1.5 million a year through 2045 on Essex Elementary. >> Okay. The the meeting I went to this week which was talking about the funding >> was talking about doing maybe a million dollar ban
May of 27. So that would be when should we pay interest on a million dollars at like three and a half%. May 27 >> May of 27 a million dollars for the work to be done. It may be less than that
Andy but a year from now. >> I'm trying to correlate that with when construction is happening and it's >> I think that's for something to do with design maybe. >> Oh no additional design services beyond the feasibility study. No, >> right the the design services beyond the
feasibility study. >> Yep. No, that makes sense. Um, and that would be about that might be a million dollars to cover the costs >> for a year. >> Mhm. >> And then >> and the interest is due at the end of the year, >> right? The interest is due at the end of
the So that the interest payment would be in fiscal year 28. >> Mhm. And then they talked about another ban being issued in 28 >> to take the million plus what they need, >> right,
>> for construction. Um, and >> what kind of a number is that? >> They said 15 million, but I don't I don't know if that's accurate. And this is for the total school, not just Manchester. >> I understand. Yes. Um and
they they were saying that you can do bands up to 10 years, but in year starting in year three or four, it wasn't clear to me which was
accurate. You have to start paying 128th of the principal. So they were talking about looking continuing to look at long-term rates versus short-term rates and continue using bans as long as those rates were lower, >> right?
>> I mean, my general >> they came up they have a whole schedule which I haven't received yet and they were fine-tuning it based on input they received this week, but they're going to have a whole schedule for us >> of anticipated costs each year. Yeah, I
think the general just question I'm asking is, you know, we're sort of looking at about two and a half million a year on two existing schools and and those run for I'm more less interested in what happens in the next one year or two or three. What happens year five to
30 going out? >> Yeah, >> that's the schedule we need to wait to begin. I mean, we can theorize about it all, >> but that's kind of the rough nature of the question. Do you think that Essex will be about the same cost as Memorial >> and could we effectively just kind of double the number for thinking?
>> I think it's going to be a little more. >> They the numbers they were throwing out which I don't know how accurate those were >> was a total of like 54 million. >> Okay. I was hearing higher was too >> that's what they were using based on information they received but I don't
know how good that was. >> They're about to get some estimates on the various options that have been >> Yeah. They haven't made the decision yet as to >> which design, right? >> They they've decided, >> my understanding is they decided to put it on the same location as the current
school, >> but they have not yet decided whether it's going to be a new build or a reconstruction or some third option >> or code upgrade upgrade. They >> they they have to by MSBA rules. They they have to look at
>> code upgrade of existing >> um addition renovation and then new construction and then but they're not limited to looking at just one of those options. And so I think at the moment there's >> don't know >> I don't know like this is >> seven or eight
>> variations at brush stroke. >> Yeah. >> We're probably looking at like 1.6 6 million a year for Essex if we just model after that for about 30 years. >> Yeah. >> You know, it might be more, might be less, but that's kind of the ballpark. So, and
that would take us out to probably like 2050. >> The only reason I'm asking is as we think about >> Yeah. >> water treatment moving and all these other things, what what's kind of on the table >> is not a discussion for long-term
capital. No, >> we've had this discussion before. We can't discuss it unless we're looking at real numbers. I I I think to theorize about stuff and raise the angst of people when we really don't have
information. >> I'm not I'm not trying to raise the angst. I'm just sort of saying where do we think we're going to be in 10 years from now? Where do we think we're going to be in five years from now? That's what I'm asking. And we need to get the numbers from Hilltop regarding their
estimates of the cost for the school because they're going out every year, >> right? >> Um and I think that's what we need. >> Hilltop >> Hilltop is the bond. >> Oh, that's the people that do the bondage. >> Another question though that at town
meetings they agreed to fund the feasibility study. Do we need to get another approval to do the design or to for the the whole project before we start spending money for design? >> The November special town meeting, it's
my understanding that will off that is to authorize the full amount anticipated cost of the school. >> We'll be ready by then. >> Yeah, >> that's what they said. >> Okay. and and then they'll make the determination as to how
much they need to spend of that a year. >> So we just do the initial >> Okay. >> From now on we have one vote is my understanding. >> You actually have two. >> Well at the ballot box. >> Yes. Yeah. But you know >> so we're not voting to spend any of this
design money at this meeting? >> No. So there'll be a special time. >> Yes. >> Targeted for May of 27. Right. Okay. No, there's going to be a special town meeting in November of 26, >> right? But >> once they know what the school's going to cost, >> right? And this this uh ban is started
for February 20 May of 27. >> That's what they're assuming, >> right? Okay, that's fine. That works as long as we're just bound to have a special. >> They need approval from the towns before they can start spending more money. >> Okay. because it's my understanding
they're using up most of the money that's already been approved, >> right? Because we only authorize the feasibility, >> right, >> amount. And if for some reason one of the towns doesn't approve the project, then it's, you know, it stops and they have to potentially re-engage with MSBA
to kind of go back and get authorization to take another try. Yeah, it's Pam seemed to indicate that by April 29th of 27, >> yeah,
>> they're required to file some type of report >> to the state. >> To the state regarding whether the towns have appropriated the money. >> Okay, >> that's what it sounded like.
>> No, April of 27. April 29th of 27. which is why they didn't want to wait for an April town. >> Right. Right. >> The votes. >> Yeah. >> But they had I it seems like at the end
of April of 27, >> they have to commit to the the MSBCA, whatever it is, >> MSBA. >> MSB. >> Yeah. >> Whether or not the towns have approved the funding. I'd like to go back to though where my
was talking about and he wasn't saying we need to have exact numbers >> for our planning but he was sort of saying looking at the capital position and the debt position of the town over the next 20 or 30 years which sounds
absurd think about that but those are the kinds of things that good planning require and they're always wrong they're always That's 25 year plan we worked on last year and we haven't worked on it again this year.
>> Correct. >> We're going to need to do that in the summer. >> We are indeed. Well, I think we agree on that because we need to have wide >> picture of where this town is going to be years from now. >> That's what we worked on last year,
>> right? >> To do a putting in all of the projected >> absolutely project. We know a lot of the numbers won't be right, but >> but we're going to try to >> use these, you know, a thick crayon
>> dollars, I think. Yeah, it was big money. >> Yeah. And so it's it's worth taking a look obviously. Thanks. Sorry. >> Yeah, >> it might affect some of the capital projects I want to approve this year. >> We've already voted on the capital
budget. >> Yeah. for this year. >> Well, you said there was something on the agenda. >> I mean, we still have to deal with town meeting. >> We voted on a capital budget. We're not going to >> Was my vote included when I wrote into you?
>> Were you at the meeting? >> I gave you my notes. I was late where my plane is. >> Yeah. So, if you're not at the meeting, >> you don't get to vote. Well, my notes should be included with the minutes, right? >> No, they weren't part of a public
record. >> So, but I do I do agree that we need to have a overall look at where we're going and we have to move the sewer plant to >> we need to do that.
>> You No, we don't. No, but those are the kinds of whatifs that we should be folding into a strategic >> long-term plan. And >> I think it will help us a lot when we get more definitive numbers on the
school. >> Yeah, because we have flexibility on when we do >> right >> some of our projects. Um, and we'll discuss that a little bit when we come up to look at the warf. This is
a little footnote in there which is of interest and I had a discussion with the town administrator. >> So, you have a motion for um capital. >> Yes. >> In the amount of 2 million 573,000. >> Is it the number in the sheet here or is it the one?
>> It's page 18. 2,573,92416. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any more discussion? Vote. Gar. >> Yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Andy, >> yes. >> Mory, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes.
>> And Sarah will Okay. And if we look at the Where's the budget? This does this May 5th one have those new numbers? >> Yes.
>> It's page 53. >> Don't rush it, Sarah. >> It would be done meeting. >> We'd be done. >> It's a journ. >> Okay. 53 for SX Tech. Yeah, because we got to
vote on this anyway because it says 10. So, you're going to change this number for the bonding. Is that correct? >> The 2573 724. Um and so the
the the school operating went up 525 but the debt has gone down 75,000. Right. >> Right. So the net increase is 450
which is what percentage certainly much more 2.2%. >> Yeah, the increase came in under 2.2 is too low.
All right. I did it right. Clear. >> Yes. Thank you. >> The 176 compares to the 194 >> 20,63211 divided by >> 21 million.
>> Well, the delta shown at that last call, >> right? We change the noise. >> Yeah. What page is this on? >> 53. >> Thank you. And this is the budget uh from your uh >> book
>> her book from >> March 5th >> March 5th >> education >> debt needs to be reduced to the 2 million 573 which I'll Ouch. We get 2.2. So now
technical changed. Do you know why that changed? >> Um I had estimated uh more students. So we had an estimate I put an estimate of 194 and 060 based on the um total school um per student number. Uh but actually
we have eight students. So the amount came in less. >> Okay. >> Do I need a motion to approve the Northshore Agricultural Technical School in the amount of 171,535 435? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Okay. Any discussion? That's for eight students. >> Correct. >> Vote. Gar. >> Yes. >> Dean. >> Yes. >> Yes. Andy Mory. >> Yes. >> Peter and Sarah. Yes. >> So that is just out of
that is 171 435. >> That's 21,429%. >> Yep. >> I understand it's very hard to get in there now. I wonder if that down. I mean, if they went to Wakefield
or another one. >> No, no, they've changed the whole program. It's now based on a lottery. No eligibility, per se. Um, and Manchester has 10 slots. >> Okay. >> Each year, >> for each grade,
>> so we currently have a total of eight students there. >> All the grades have 40. >> Okay. So >> we should um >> which obviously will impact the school district if they lose 40 students but it will be some each year and if we don't
use all those slots >> we'll have to pay for >> then they go back someplace else. >> Okay >> because for years for years we paid for five students even though we had less than five students because there was a
minimum charge for five students. Um, and I don't know I don't have any information on how many students from Manchester have applied and not gotten right >> not been accepted. I don't know what >> it's not a huge number I don't think but
maybe if it's maybe if it doesn't maybe if they don't look at grades and don't look at a whole bunch of stuff maybe more people will apply. Maybe it was intimidating for people. I don't know. I think there's a group from Essex that
goes appreciates it more from >> Okay. >> Do we have any budget edit edits? >> Yes. I don't have final numbers until next week. I was talking to um Chuck and he's putting together numbers
for snow and ice. Uh currently with the numbers we have right now, we're looking at a $200,000 deficit. Um we're already looking at the um legal line deficit, probably around $100,000. I don't see right now that I have $300,000 of money that I could possibly transfer
at your end. Um so they're they're finalized putting some of the numbers together. So, we're getting some of the last minute, you know, um, vendor invoices in to see what the total cost would be uh, for that, but it'll be in the 200 below 200,000.
>> More than what we budgeted or >> more than what we budgeted. Yeah. Yes. >> It was a bad year. >> Yeah. >> So, >> mine was more than what I budgeted also. year kind of adjust it over what do you
>> over next year or what how do you deal with >> so normally um nor if it's like a smaller deficit normally I can do those year-end transfers and cover it right >> um and I prefer to cover it in the fiscal year that we can um because otherwise if I carry that deficit over
at the end of the year I have to raise it on the tax recap >> in the fall and then as part of our free cash calculation, they reduce our free cash. >> It's like a double hit. >> Um, so if we can head that off and, you know, use free cash now, then we don't
have to raise it on the recap in November. >> So you're you're contemplating having an article at the April town meeting to fund >> 26 snow and ice. >> Correct.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> That's what I was going to add. you have to have that >> um in writing quickly if you missed a deadline. Are you coming up on a deadline where you can do that or can you toss that in like right there? >> We can toss it in before. So, um, we we
Tony met with legal and we have an article in there right now that says like, you know, to transfer a sum of money to be specified. And so then in the motion we can say, you know, so we we could get that in, you know, a week before town meeting >> because I'd rather vote the exact amount
and not, you know, more than a week. >> Yeah. And not carry it over have an effect for cash. And then the another item that came up um actually this week was another prior bill um but I'm working with the vendor on that
>> still >> to see what >> that >> how much >> right now he's he's um I've heard it's around $10,000. Um it's two years worth of bills that he didn't get into us, but we did ask him for it. So
>> does there come a point when we don't pay it? >> We can we can say no and then they can take us they can take us to small claims court and then we pay them plus like the legal fees and things like that. So sometimes it's worth it just to >> hey >> is this an important vendor?
>> It relates to town meeting. The AV vendor >> it's what? >> Oh boy. >> Yeah. Audio visual. >> I guess we need AV. >> Yeah. >> A town meeting is a hard time. Yes. Yes. >> Machine didn't work. Do they have >> 163 studio?
>> No. >> Oh, they're using something else. Okay. >> He doesn't do their own voice. >> But they failed to bill us or something. >> That's correct. >> But it's slide. >> Yes. >> Great management. >> The bills that are supposed to be to us
by like July 14th or something of 25, right? Or whatever the date is. >> Well, the money for that theoretically went into the rain, correct? So far that's all I have. >> Okay. Um, now Tony sent us the warrant
articles. >> Mhm. >> Um, they're not final, >> right? >> Because they have to go to select board on Monday, >> right? >> So, they'll be final hopefully by our
meeting next Thursday. Um, and if you look at article five, you'll notice that there's a little comma that says it did not include unfunded requests for the community center,
aka senior sector. Um, and the conversation I had was, "So, apparently the people raising the money are looking for more money to have more definitive plans."
And my reaction was, "Well, last year we gave them money to do schematics because they needed it to raise donations, >> right? And I didn't think that the finance
committee would support giving more money for the project unless and until they at least had letters of intent or something from people >> able to do to pass.
I think your your instinct was pretty good in this regard that just just you know personally speaking >> it's my understanding that the total cost has also risen and that
now they're talking about using portions of it for the town. So therefore maybe the town should fund part of it. So this will be a subject next year.
>> What size senior senator was left? >> So but this is this is something brewing and they don't have final numbers but I think the I think the estimates went up quite a bit. I can't remember. Was it five or six million or am I making that up? >> No, I think it's a little bit more than that now.
>> Oh okay. Do we know if the >> that scope >> PNS has been signed >> is not on this >> that's what I saidly >> bad management I mean when you this is >> this is what people lose their
>> roles for on boards for making decisions >> the ramp project >> sorry >> yes low ramp >> yeah exactly >> is is the increase in uh uh the estimates is that scope driven or or like are they changing the program
they're doing more or >> No, I believe >> just >> I could be wrong. So, you can speak some more about this next next week, but um >> from what I've been told it's they the um architect that they were using, they wanted to have like professional um estimate
>> companies. >> Um and then that came in back a much higher square foot um dollar figure. So, oh, so they projected a different number that than had been carried. Yes. Okay. >> Whatever happened to the little woodframe building over by the train
station? >> Oh, that is being leased to a company that >> uses it for storage. >> Yeah. Uses it for storage. But they they sell >> games. >> Antique game.
>> Does that come from leasing the building to them? >> We don't own it. >> It's not. >> No. No. It's owned by the conduct >> because they they own the land and they succeeded to the ownership of what was on top of their land from them. >> No, they didn't steal it. That's the way
the world works >> because we didn't move it. They didn't. >> No, no, no. That's not that's not right with the town. >> Yeah, >> just to make it clear the finance. >> No, no, it was the community center board as it was.
>> So, we lost it. And is there some indic what is going on in sale? Do we have Is this still being negotiated? Is that what's going on? >> There were details. There were details still being negotiated. I don't know what that means. >> I don't need to know it.
>> But there is apparently >> a redline draft >> that the Masons had not signed off on any of the red lines that they had agreed to. So, it wasn't clear what
issues were still outstanding or >> Hey, hold on. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um, >> yeah. Okay. So, still being in document still being negotiated. >> Where where does is the decision lie with the select board?
>> Is the attorneys, >> right? The attorneys are trying to iron out issues because we have to anticipate issues that are come up won't come up for 25 years. Um what happens if the Masons decide to
move out and put in another Mason lodge there versus the Masons decide to sell um versus if the Masons decide to lease it to somebody who's not a Mason. Um and there are also some issues around the time between
we sign the purchase and sales and the time we've finished the um reconstruction um and and who gets to use what in particular we're taking over their blue room they get a new blue room but until we start doing the building they have to
use their own their current blue room which doesn't leave us with a lot of space >> so other than that I don't think there are more than 50 or 60 small questions >> so this this could go on for another year or We should we should just sort of like I
think freeze >> focus on this something >> generation gets resolved. >> Seriously Tony thinks that they are within a very few questions of of closing and they have told him that they will close by the end of March.
>> I think we heard that last year. >> Yeah. >> I'm just glad we've restored the funding to the van, the Council on Aging Van. You know, we'll do what we can for these poor seniors >> because they paid a million dollars. They were >> You didn't pay anything.
>> Oh, we did. >> Yeah. Well, guess who paid for that? >> We haven't seniors that lived here. >> Yeah, we haven't paid it yet. >> Oh, we haven't? >> No, it's still sitting in the car. >> We could blow it up. Sad story. >> It is.
>> Well, anyway, I think your instincts were accurate. >> Okay. from my point. >> Well, we had been so contentious about last year when we had to appropriate something. As I recall, we dropped the number from 150
and I didn't see why we didn't see why they needed more detailed plans. They've got floor plans. I don't know. >> They were able to do what they sought to do, which is >> plans. They've got everything. I don't know what else one would need to raise
money. >> What did they want? Renderings or something? >> Those they have those. >> They were looking for con costs for construction documents. >> Yeah, they don't have that. >> Right.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Okay. Got it. >> I think they were operating on the theory that unless and until it was ready for construction, people wouldn't donate. And that's not how the real world works. >> Is there still this notion that the town
might front pay it and then they'd look for donations to pay the town back? So, I don't think that one's going to fly either. >> I don't know. Haven't got I don't think they've gotten that far. >> I think that's a I think that's a non-starter. But >> I think the issue is is
if they go out and get letter of intents, what volume of money is it? um >> with respect to what the the total cost of the project is. Is it you know million dollars? What is a $6 million project? That could be problematic.
Um >> back in the old days T. Jefferson Culage gave a library, >> right? >> And he just wrote a check and I think they hired Shepley Bullfen or some whoever it was who who designed it.
>> Yeah. Those were the days, >> right? >> We mine the rock press from Norwood down. You bet. >> Yeah. We need somebody to do that. 6 million, 7 million, whatever.
>> We need to own the place first. Need less complexity. >> Yeah, >> this is throw away. No wonder I'm using this. >> Okay, so we'll do the warrant next week. Okay. So, the other thing is I sent out this tax rate calculation thing.
>> Yes, you did. >> Which I was thinking of including this type of thing. >> I think it's good. >> In the in the finance book, >> and I was trying not to make it super
detailed. So like I said, miscellaneous assessor because I figured nobody cared about the whatever those assessor things are. They might ask us what they >> So the intent is though the larger intent is to give people a sense of how
complex this is or what what is the intent for including it since it doesn't actually calculate something. And I suggest that people probably won't know, most won't know most of these terms unless they've spent more time just
being informed. >> Well, Gar suggested >> adding numbers to it. >> I hear that, >> which could do. I think the intent is so that when people are voting on things, they understand
what the impact is. Um, >> I don't think they do. So my thought my thought is this is the kind of thing would be great if you had a question at the top. How do we calculate your tax rate
>> or how does your how does the town's taxation burden get figured out and then and then this becomes the answers make or something. Well, it it's the something that I don't
>> the the big thing that jumped out at me is we've never reviewed the estimated taxes to be raised from new growth or new construction or renovation, the assessed stuff. Have we ever audited that or is that just something that they can plug in at will? >> Andrea, how do you come up with that
number? >> Usually, it's based on, you know, her um permits that have been processed and like building permits and things like that. And then like um anything else that's been added as a property or thing anything that's hasn't been assessed
previously that now has been created gets added to new growth. So like >> we've been pretty accurate or not. >> But it comes through the assessment through what we're doing then. >> Yeah. So I do like I kind of do what I do with Snow Ice. I take like the you know fiveyear rolling average and we've averaged about $200,000 and that's what
I plug into the budget every year. So that is >> the taxes we've received from the increase in the salary growth. >> Yeah, >> but it's something like I never really looked at that
what it is, but >> well I think >> good to know. Yeah, that's it was good for this. >> It's like all the revenue, you know, all the revenue we see that >> it sounds like a small thing. So it's not a work. Yeah, it's it's not a it's not a huge number and it's consistent. I
think that if we had a year when we had CST come on >> Mhm. >> then it's a much bigger number, but I think that a lot of that may be in the rearview mirror that >> Well, I I don't think we know when
they're going to be applying for a building permit. Um and that's big bucks when they do. Um right. >> Yes. Um but luckily like I mean the do will let us you know say they have poured a foundation we can say okay well
we have 25% new growth you know you haven't finished finish the project yet but you do have like the start of a building. So it can you can include that. >> We usually do a separate building permit for the foundation >> right. Um, and I think that one thing
that Michelle does is for anything that's in the process of being built, >> she goes and looks at it on June 30th and determines the assessed value of
inrogress construction and that's what's included in this estimate. I mean the big thing that's concerning is the downturn in that that cell signaling technology industry. You know there's a big session throughout Cambridge
>> which is which is why we're not including estimates for that revenue in anything we're doing. >> Right. >> We're hoping for it >> right or not. >> It'll be a bonus. >> Yeah. And then I think as soon as they start
applying for building permits, then I'm assuming we'll have a better idea of progress to assume as far as the impact on tax revenue. That will be hard for Michelle because
it's not like we have a lot of that type of property in the >> Well, I know we didn't have any money to do anything on that water app for next year, so it's at least that far away. And can the money be assessed when the building permit is issued? You don't
>> you don't have to when the building is issued, they'll be paying about 500,000 in fees depending on >> how valuable the project is. But then once the construction goes along, she then makes an assumption of what she's
going to assess it at for the year through partial construction. >> Through partial construction. and she usually goes out and you know checks it to see okay how much is the you know foundation been done how much of you know the walls have been done things like that >> and she does that
>> I know when I was doing my edition I was mad that they were slow but then I said oh good they're slow it's not being affect my taxes but guess what she came out June 30th and it did impact my taxes okay I guess I messed that up um yeah so
it's it's building fees These are separate from the assumption on the assessed >> value. >> Yeah. My question was the latter part. >> Yeah. >> And if Andrea knows building fees are coming in,
then we can include it in the estimated revenue for a given. But I'm not sure. I I usually have to have some kind of like concrete like we are definitely getting this in if I'm going to use it as an estimate because the do wants something to say like yes like you have a good basis for
>> knowing that you're going to get that money in. >> So it's more likely that it's going to the building permit fees will end up in free cash. >> Yeah. Yes. Exactly. >> Any other comments on this? >> I thought it was I I liked it. I enjoyed
reading it. >> Okay. >> I wasn't sure what it was going to gain us, but I don't have any concern of that. It's fine. >> I I >> Well, and on the debt stuff, I was trying to explain the beings and stuff. So, that um >> I appreciate all of the things you're
trying to explain. I just to me I don't know if it adds confusion. I don't know if it advances things, >> but it's fine to have it. It is clear in and of itself. >> I look at it as a good jump on our annual newsletter. Right.
>> I think the idea of adding numbers to it is that could either go one way or another. >> I was afraid it was too complicated. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think it is. I mean, you could you could start with a you know what's the impact on $100,000 of valuation? But this
>> Well, wait a minute. $100,000 of valuation. I know you're back in 1953. No, I figure it's better than a thousand because people can multiply by smaller numbers. >> Better go to a million. >> Do you ever estimated tax rate calculation in the finance booklet?
>> I do. >> Yeah. So, she's got the calculations in her >> right >> in the booklet. Anyway, >> they have right numbers. >> They have the numbers and this is just trying to explain. >> I appreciate that. That's good. I just >> I think I think it's good. It's a good
roll up. The um Department of Revenue has a finance u management resource bureau that's fairly new and they've really been working hard on putting like new videos and like um up and they have like short little like two to five minute videos on Prop 2 and a half like
what is it and this is how your tax rate is calculated. So I don't know if you want to include like a link or tell people that that's there if they would rather see a video of it or that's too much. Don't know. >> We'll see. But it's very helpful. They have a lost. They've really been working
hard on that. >> Maybe that could go on the website. >> Yes. >> Where it's a live link. >> Yes. >> We have a page. Right. >> Right. >> But it's not very well developed. >> Background.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'll have to look at that page. Yeah, I can send I can send you all the links to that video. Look, will a project have to stop if we don't um have enough bond
appreciation in certain? >> What what what are you talking about by project? >> Well, like Essex Elementary, if we estimate, you know, two 20 million in a certain year and they go to 25 million, do we have to >> Okay, so
>> we'll pay the interest. Let me step back. Okay. So, on all of our capital projects, we're going out for an appropriation in order to bid, >> right? >> The bid cannot exceed
>> what we've appropriate. So, we can't begin construction >> if it's coming in too hot, right? >> We'd have to come back and get more money from town. And I think the same thing with the school is we're going to appropriate
the whole amount and then it's going to be up to the people running the building project to determine how much they need each year. And they can always issue they can issue a ban whenever they want, >> right? So that if they estimated they
needed 10 million and it turns out they needed 20 million then they can issue a second van >> right for a year tax rate. >> Yeah. >> But for the for the for the project as a whole whatever amount gets approved by
the MSBA this fall and presuming both towns approve it uh in their votes and talent. If the ultimate bids a year later come in above that amount >> Yeah. Then it it would go back, they would pull some value out of it and they
would rebid it. >> Okay. So they would get a new bid down to what the appropriation was. >> Yeah. The design team is responsible for delivering a project that >> Okay. Is within >> Yeah. >> the vote. Okay. Okay.
>> So that would involve changing some aspect of the project to enable that. >> Yeah. By your engineering a bit. Yeah. get rid of some of the glitz. >> Okay. >> So, what would you like on the warrant?
Same architect. >> Well, did people have a chance to look at it? >> Yep. Did you want to go over which one is maybe I mean there an awful lot on there with us? I guess I'm a little confused. I
thought we were we had to like park it until it gets revised. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Park just park it for now. >> Park it for next week and then we'll go through it and I think ask people to look at it in advance. >> Yep.
>> To kind of notate those articles >> which you think might be appropriate for new recommendation. >> And there are a lot. >> Yes. And because most of the financial ones that are in here,
we've already voted to approve them. >> That's that's a little bit why I was asking the question because we Yeah, >> we've already voted them to >> we have to when the warrant goes to print in the fin booklet. >> Yes. We usually have a line at the
bottom of each warrant article that says whether the finance committee recommends and whether the select board >> Yep. >> recommends. >> No, no, I understand. >> And that's all we're doing. >> I didn't know if we needed to do it again. That's all. That's all I'm asking. >> Yes. We have to do it on the warrant.
>> Can't assume. >> It makes meetings go faster when you've got that in print. When it's on town meeting floor, that's when you get all the questions. Everybody raise their hands and go, "What do you mean by this or that?" >> Usually. >> Yeah.
And Okay. So, do you have anything that we need to cover, Andy? >> Not. So, we're good. So, we have fine-tuning to do on the warrant and these
special articles, snow and ice and prior year bills. >> Can you get an update on what specific capital budget edits to look into for next meeting? >> There aren't any at this point. >> Okay. but was on the agenda,
>> but just in case there's one right there, >> like a placeholder >> that was operating capital budgets, both of them edits if there were any, but there aren't any at this point. >> Not until next week. Too early for edits,
>> right? If the select boy changes something >> from what we've recommended, then we've got a dilemma and these two items that she's still working on the snow and ice and the prayer your bills.
Okay. >> There was a minor tweak on the CPC on the leazison upd. >> Yes, there was a tweak. Um, we earmarked $16,000 for >> signs >> at Reed Park and Pine Street Field. Uh,
at the select board meeting, they wanted to include singing beach and now the warrant is reading recreational signs. So, it might be a number of signs. Um, >> isn't there a different number? >> No, it's still 16,000. It's just the
scope. It's more than just what we voted on, I guess. >> Okay. which >> more signs >> make makes sense for that number 16,000 for two signs. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But the numbers are the same. >> Yeah.
>> Do we have to revote it if >> No. Yeah. >> I think the numbers are the same. >> And plus, >> it's just you have to be careful those last minute wording slips when you after things have been voted. This is more a question of just general curiosity, but CPC
um put the current sign in I feel like relatively recently and I'm wondering >> Singing Beach. >> Yeah. I'm wondering how long we keep a sign at Singing Beach. I don't couple years. Couple years. >> Kathy might have had a plan something on Singing Beach the
That's what I got in notes. But >> yeah, just maybe it's um signs up beach street singing beach this way. >> Guessing that the meeting a question might come up on town meeting floor. I hope somebody's ready to answer it.
>> That's just me preparing for the future. >> New sign for Mory's house. >> Okay. So, Peter's asked me to make the Fin Kong booklet shorter. >> Yes, I that's what I asked. >> So, I'm gonna attempt to do that.
>> You already did a few years back. >> I did. I know. >> Well, I've been on long enough. >> I've been on long enough to each time. They've all been shortened a little bit. I mean, and I'm very happy with the trend. >> Like the trend. >> I've tried to cut boiler plate every
little fluff that Greg Well, >> get rid. So, I'll make a No, get me a bluff. Do I thank people or not? >> Of course. Thank you. That's not >> You can do it in one sentence. >> Okay. >> Thanks for everybody. >> Two key players.
>> Okay. >> I think the thanks are really important. >> Yeah. Uh leazison updates. Anything? We got CPC. Anybody else have anything? nothing more than once mentioned. >> Okay. And where are we standing on the
facility stuff? >> So, um, we met I think a couple of weeks ago and I think Chuck actually came we had a little bit of back and forth with Chuck last meeting. I think he's not on today.
>> Doesn't seem to be a huge audience. >> Yeah. But um so he was you know he's trying to you know sort of push forward a little bit on the question of DPW DBW plus public safety. >> Yeah.
>> And I I did caution him that you know in the conversations that we've had that given the you know the Essex project and some other things that are going on that there might not be an appetite to tackle that project you know as as soon as he's hoping. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Unless he wants to put a pine tree, right, we're politics. >> Andy, what is he hoping? >> Um, I think he's hoping to uh pursue one of those two strategies either, you know, at least a DPW up on the school
street site >> within the year, within two years. >> I think in his, you know, if everything was was on a glide map, I think he'd say, "Okay, let's appropriate the design, the full design money uh this year, and let's That gives me a sense of what the expectation.
>> Yeah. But I don't, you know, I I'm not sure we collectively see that happening. Not sure if the select board has discussed any of those options. Be interesting to know >> if we could encourage them to do like their own plans as opposed to farming things out to third party vendors. We
might save enough to be able to, you know, >> they don't have >> they can stamp plans if he's a professional engineer to draw the >> civil education. >> Well, we have we have all this pipeline plans. Do do
we need to keep hiring someone to do more or haven't they learned that we can just put together our own plan? >> I think there's a lot of risk in that. >> There is. There is. >> But it's a small town. That's usually how this This is off the topic a little bit, but I was with the town of Ready
today with the town manager and the head of planning and the head of economic development and we were talking about municipal service buildings like DPW buildings and fire department buildings because we we have an interest in I'm
interested in the town of Reading. And so one of the subjects we talked about was whether Reading and Wakefield because they're but against each other >> could build a a garage. We were talking about a BDW garage
>> and whether and and the the new woman she's just been appointed as as town manager is really quite a she's quite smart and enlightened and she said, "Yeah, actually that's a great idea. That is something that we are pursuing
and to try to figure out are there some economies of scale that we could achieve by building a garage that we would mutually use with another town. And I said, you know, it's funny because where I live, it's it's a tiny little town and
you know, in many ways there might be economies that could be achieved by considering uh you know, that kind of stuff. Perhaps there've been feelers put out over time and I think that I mean Essex certainly
is the town that would make the most sense and I think I get the sense that they're big on capital and like their own buildings. >> Yeah. Yeah. They built a beauty out going up towards Ipsswitch there. >> I I don't know what the numbers work
out. >> They're having troubles. >> Okay. Okay. Now they have to grow the town of government to fix it. >> No, no, they have to keep the roof on. Siding falling off. Yeah. They've got some construction issues.
>> So on that end, one of the things that I was, you know, when both Essex and Manchester bought fire trucks and now we both need pumper trucks. I was wondering if there wouldn't have been >> could one town get a pump. Well, I know we're there's a need
>> engine >> engine truck. >> We don't need the pumper truck as much as Essex because more of our people are on town water. They have huge sections of Essex that have no water, >> right? They need >> So, they need the pumper. It's my understanding. We don't need the pumper,
>> but with shared use, it would have been nice if one town had a new fire truck and the other town had a new pumper. >> I I agree. >> We're trying to converge these departments. I think I think there was an attempt at some dialogue of this fact and it fell flat. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You know,
>> I I won't deny Essex the new fire truck because it's it is a safety issue. The old ones are kind of rickety. >> So, it is interesting. I mean, if you go to other parts of the country, I think New England is very much like town by town by town and every town has to have its own little infrastructure and off
you go. Um, you know, you get out to places like Colorado, I mean, Denver and surrounding communities all do things by county, >> even New Jersey. >> And and you know, maybe we think about this like, okay, our partner is Essex, and yeah, firet trucks probably don't
matter, but you know, we've talked in the past about a street sweeper, >> you know, and a street sweeper is a pretty heavy duty piece of equipment. I think we pay a lot to have it rented, but what if Manchester and Ipsswitch and Groveland and
Rowley all co-owned a street sweeper and it gets used by us, you know, three weeks a year and everybody else and it gets parked someplace like Brolin where they have a great big heated garage, >> you know, but I mean I think that's more the model rather than how do we why do
we always have to think about well if it doesn't work with Essex, we can't pursue it. Yeah. you know, go further. Um, so >> that's why I begrudgingly approved the the dispatch when we went to county because that's the trend that
that will be more efficient. >> Yeah. >> And that saved us an enormous >> amount of money >> and it works. >> I haven't heard I certainly haven't heard complaints. >> Well, let's call the cops and see if they show up. I've heard people say
another ambulance now and that we have to um >> and have you heard any >> our insurance billings don't match what we pay on the u all that the out of town stuff >> I guess I I have heard a few complaints but they're
more on the it was really great when we back when we had the >> those I've heard too yes when I knew the dispatcher Yeah. >> When you could call, let's select Mayberry RFD.
>> Call dispatch an awful lot of times in order to know the dispatcher. I haven't quite figured out how people knew the dispatcher so well >> because they drank with him at the lead. >> Exactly. >> That's right. >> I >> So if you want if you want an inside
scoop on what happens with um you know all this, just get yourself a scanner and listen. >> Yeah. And it is I will say it is very very interesting. Um so dispatch does not have the ground local knowledge of
this town and and other towns. And so you hear them dispatching and explaining where certain things are which is interesting. It's probably not like we used to have here where everybody knew exactly where nor would have one a be back deck was.
So, so there's that and then there's another interesting thing which is language. So, some of the dispatchers have different dialects and it is interesting that they have to repeat. >> So, you know, if they're doing quote unquote a wellness check, they will
oftentimes repeat some of the specifics like we've been to that house five times before and you ought to be cautious about X and they'll repeat that. So, you know, it's like everything you you you have changes and they evolve into things. But, um,
>> yeah, a scanner is an interesting thing. >> I don't know. I just have a little cheap one in it. Scans like Middleton and >> there's an app. >> Yeah, there's an app you can get on your phone called Scanner RX. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> There's one for airlines, too.
>> Listen to it. New York City uh dispatch. >> So, you don't go to work each day. You sit back. >> I do. I'm sitting at home in my bark lounge or listening to the scanner. >> Okay. Are we gonna set a new record for a length of meeting here or
>> we have minutes to approve from May from >> May they made the adjustment. Uh they had missed attributing to my >> Yes, I saw that. you know, a intelligent question which they attributed to me. >> I thought I'm getting all the credit
here. >> Authorship makes no difference. I just get the info and >> I I move we approve those and I second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I I
think we're up to date on the minutes. >> I think we're up to date on the minutes. >> Minutes are good. >> Isn't that amazing? roll. >> You're doing much better than you have prior year. >> Bunch here. Yeah. >> Okay. So, next week, March 19th,
>> we're going to do the final bullet booklet. Hopefully, you'll have something and the warrant and then any remaining budget items. Right. Is there anything else? >> Pretty much some bills from 1870 or something.
>> I know, right? And then the 26th is basically the same type of meeting to finalize the income booklet and if there's any other last minute budget changes. Um and then I was wondering is if should we have a meeting
on April 16th? >> Why? >> Thank you. Thank you. That's the question. Yes, exactly. >> I know you guys want to be the auditors and Dan chairman's come in April. Oh, >> I mean it doesn't have to be April. >> I was thinking of having a meeting
before town meeting. >> I think that would be useful because don't you have to open the meeting and then >> so that I thought on the 16th we might kind of go over what my comments going to be. >> Oh, an anticipatory meeting for the event. >> Okay.
>> Dry run. >> Yes. >> Always good. >> Yes. I Yeah, I think it'd be useful to discuss the comments. what I'm going to say since I'm kind of representing the team. >> Yeah. >> So, this would be on um the 16th. >> Yeah. Thursday, April 16th. Does that
work? I didn't do it the next week because the next week is school vacation week and >> Yep. >> I'm already loaded with meetings that week. >> Okay. And the skin may be very busy that week. Could be. >> Yeah. >> And so, are we going to have Dan Sherman and all that?
>> I'm going try and get them on the 16th. >> 16th. >> Yeah. Great. to see where you found >> nothing on the back. Okay. >> Uh I move we adjourn. >> Do I have a second? >> Yep. >> All in favor.
>> Thank you all.