WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=a6pgtRI96ls

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: a6pgtRI96ls):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order, Introductions, and Agenda Overview
- 00:01:40: Senior Community Center Update and Warrant Article Discussion
- 00:04:33: Warrant Articles: No Position and Unpaid Bills Approval
- 00:06:41: Warrant Articles: Operating and Capital Budget Approvals
- 00:08:46: Warrant Articles: Capital Budget Continued and Gar Joins
- 00:12:45: Warrant Articles: Senior Center Discussion and Vote
- 00:15:46: Warrant Articles: School Budget and OPEB Payment Approval
- 00:19:54: Warrant Articles: Revolving Funds and PFAS Funding
- 00:27:17: Revolving Funds Discussion and Capital Project Articles
- 00:30:55: Warrant Articles: Bidding Cap and SRF Discussion
- 00:37:09: Revolving Fund Cap Question and Tapen Street Funding
- 00:44:08: Tapen Street Discussion and Article Order Revisions
- 00:48:25: Warrant Articles: Simpson Street Culvert and Grant Status
- 00:56:12: Street Funding Approval and Harbor Dredging Discussion
- 01:01:30: Warrant Articles: Rotunda and Snow & Ice Deficit
- 01:09:16: Warrant Articles: Bond Notes and Bathroom at Library
- 01:17:43: Warrant Articles: Approvals and Zoning Discussion
- 01:23:31: Driveway Entrances and Land Transfer Discussion
- 01:25:13: Warrant Articles: Citizens Petitions and Vote
- 01:26:37: Warrant Article Discussion and Finance Committee Report
- 01:31:54: Finance Annual Report Overview: Budget Increase Analysis
- 01:35:32: Budget Increase Analysis: Understanding Percentages
- 01:41:28: Budget Percentages and Calculation Clarification
- 01:47:12: Budget Analysis: Identifying Key Drivers of Increase
- 01:55:17: Further Discussion and Finance Annual Report Continued
- 02:01:41: Moving Forward and Explain to Select Board and Taxpayers
- 02:09:22: Town Administrator & Finance Director's Updates


Part: 1

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is 7:03 on Thursday, March 26th and I will call the finance committee meeting to order. Um this is a hybrid meeting and it is being recorded. I have with me in the room from the finance committee

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um Moy Kraton, Peter Twining, Dean Nades and myself Sarah Melish um Andy Olderman and John Karate were not able to attend. I'm expecting Well, Gar might have said he couldn't attend, too. I think Gar

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said he couldn't attend. So, I think >> he's in South Carolina. >> Yeah, that's right. Um, also in the room from the select board is Annne Harrison and John Round and from the town town administrator Tony Bar. And I gather that Andrea is home with a

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sick kid. >> She is. Um, so the fiscal year first item is the fiscal year 25 unpaid bills. It's my understanding that's a warrant article, so we'll cover it when we get to that

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warrant article. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, same thing with the snow removal budget. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, anything to discuss on

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the fiscal year 27 budget or are we locked and loaded based on what we vote for? >> We're locked and loaded. >> Locked and loaded. >> Yes. >> Um, next is the senior community center

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update on the closing. >> Okay. So, we had uh a meeting with the Masons and their council and our council. Yes. Was that yesterday? >> Yesterday afternoon

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>> was it was yesterday afternoon >> in this room. Uh I locked the door and uh didn't let anyone out until we finished. So we we left the room in agreement of the people in that room. You know, we were all in

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agreement with the language. So the next step is for the Masons to bring it to their building committee. Uh they'll be doing that this weekend. and then to get a green light vote. And then we're having an executive session Monday night with the select board to have a to have

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that vote. Um, and then should those things go well, uh, it'll probably take a week or so for the attorneys to put together all the closing documents and file with the registry of deeds. So,

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it's unless some unforeseen thing comes up in either of those two meetings, we're we're on track for about a week or so out. >> You expect to close a week after that? >> That's Well, that's what they said. I mean, always when you file with the registry of deeds, they could come back

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and say you got to, you know, you're missing this or change that and they could bump it out. But I think if the building committee meeting goes well this weekend and the select board meeting goes well Monday, I think we can

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>> we can say that the deal is done. It's just pending. >> Until it's done. >> Yeah. >> Like we heard this >> we're a little skeptical. >> This is this is sort of for a PNS that then marches toward a formal like

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closing or is this a was signed two years ago, >> right? So >> these are the closing >> documents. Okay. >> Yeah. So we have a master deed, a declaration of trust, a side agreement and plans.

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>> And then whatever other paperwork is required. >> Condominium. >> That's the condo docks. Yep. And then they've already completed their deregistration process. So, it's recorded land now. So, it'll be easier

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as far as the process goes with the registry. Okay. So, I guess we'll address that when we get to the warrant article. What we want to do, >> which brings us to the warrant. You want

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me to go through the one? Okay. Article one. This is one where we normally take no position. >> I move that we take no position. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I

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number two to pay these big salaries. >> Oh yeah. >> Usually recommend. >> Do we recommend? >> Yes. No. Let me look. I would think you would take no position because there's no financial invest.

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>> I'm inclined to recommend you take page last year. >> That's a lot of work. >> I think that's right. >> Yeah. Okay. Page 20. >> No position. >> Page 20. >> Okay. I have a vote.

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Uh motion for no position. >> So moved. >> Yep. Second. Okay. All in favor? >> I article three is the unpaid bills. So, we'd seen this the the last two

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before. The new one is the um audio for town meeting which is 1937. Is that for one year or two years? That's for two years for a total of 21237

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and it's coming from free cash funds. >> And we do have the bill for this right at this point. We're not waiting. >> No, they came in this all in hand. >> Yep. >> And that's resolved. It's a final bill.

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>> Yeah. Yes. So, do I have a motion to approve? You do >> second. >> This is for the whole group, right? 21,000. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Any discussion? All in favor?

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>> I. >> That'll be a four vote at town. >> Next is article four. which is the operating budget

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which we have previously voted on every section of this budget and it has not changed since we voted on it. Correct Tony? >> You typically it's section by section I think total section by section right?

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No, no. We just re we've already voted on the sections. We're just recommending this article. We don't go >> correct. I'm sorry. Town meeting does that. Yes. Correct. >> Yep. And I'm missing that line here. I'll put it in.

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>> Right. >> So, page five is the end of that article. >> Make a motion that we approve the budget as presented for article four. >> Second. >> Any discussion? This is the operating budget.

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>> It's the same that we had through and voted >> section by section. >> Yep. >> Basically saying we recommend approval. Correct. >> We've already approved it ourselves. It's recommending approval on town meeting floor. >> Yep. >> Do you want to recommend

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>> include the funding sources in your recommendation? >> Yeah, we're including the entire article which includes the funding sources. >> Okay. The funding sources are at the bottom. >> Yep. >> So, we're approving the budget and the funding sources just to

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be clear. >> Y sorry. >> Okay. >> Um a vote. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Motion second and vote. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. >> We recommend this one. Article four.

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>> Article five. is the capital V. >> Yes. >> Which we have approved and does not include the senior center which was on the last we saw. That's now a separate

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>> separate article >> article. Excuse me. Senior SL University. >> I read today in the paper that you're not supposed to use senior in any name anymore. >> I know. the state's moving away from it.

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>> Whatever. >> Um, so this is a budget of 2,152492 and it has the funding sources. So this excludes the capital projects that are being bonded, >> right,

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>> under separate warrant articles. Those are separate warrant articles. Yeah. So, these are the capital items being paid out of general fund taxes, fund balance, sewer funds, and other funds, which is the 17,000 perpetual care funds.

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>> So, >> for the cemetery software, >> so we recommend that the finance committee recommend approval of this article. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> It won't be unanimous. Not with the

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harbor improvements in there, but you still recommended that way in the meeting, too. >> So, you're not voting on the entire warrant? >> Well, if it's all one warrant and that's in it, yeah, I wouldn't I wouldn't support it personally.

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The the committee might vote to recommend it, you know, as majority be to one. So I think we're talking about two separate things here. We voted collectively as a finance committee on this all this this whole article, but what we're voting on right now is

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whether we recommend approval on town meeting floor, which is kind of a little different thing. >> So um it's a majority. It's >> we we have a fifth member of the um committee on Zoom.

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>> Gar >> Gar is on Zoom. Hello. >> Hi, Gar. Um, we're on the article number five, the capital budget. >> Okay. >> And we're we're voting on there's been a

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motion and a second to recommend approval on town meeting floor. Um Dean has said he's not going to vote for it. Um, what's your position? Uh it was my intention that uh we would

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either approve or not approve this. Um and are there any changes to this motion that from our last meeting? >> The senior center is not included in this article. >> Okay. Well, that's good to know. >> So it's the it's the capital items that

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we approved in prior meetings. >> Okay. Um, so are you asking me to vote or >> Yes. >> Just my point of view? >> No, I'm asking for a vote. Um, right now the vote stands at my says yes, Peter

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says yes, I say yes, and Dean says no. >> Okay. Well, I would my vote is yes. >> Great. So, it's approved for one >> for recommendation on town meeting floor. >> For recommendation on town meeting floor. See, I I might want to strike the

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harbor on on town meeting floor. So, I would be kind of a hypocrite if I approved it and then >> Okay. >> It's just that we need four for a majority. >> Yes, >> you got it. You got it.

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>> Um the next is the um >> senior center. >> Senior center. the 350,000 from the recreation revolving fund. Um

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my tendency is to say we'll make the recommendation on town meeting floor um because we don't own it as of today. >> May I ask a question?

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>> Yes. Um, the question is, uh, have do we own this property or not? >> Not yet. He's he's hoping to close within a week or two. >> Okay. I would I would not be supportive of this. >> So, what we're what I'm suggesting, Gar,

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is that we wait in the booklet. We say we'll make a recommendation on town meeting floor and that at a later meeting we'll take a vote on whether or not we support it once we own it.

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>> And to own it means to go to record. >> Yes. >> So mechanically we usually meet before town meeting. Well, >> hopefully we would have the information then and then >> yeah, >> we could vote as a committee and say we approve this and then you and your

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comments could say the committee has learned information and approves this or recommends. >> We also meet on April 16th, >> right? >> Ah, that's useful reminder. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay.

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So, I make a motion that we make our recommendation on town meeting floor. >> Yep. I had a second. Peter. >> Yes, you did. >> In favor? All in favor? Yes. Peter? >> Yes. >> Dean, >> are you in favor of that car?

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>> I think you heard you. >> What? >> I don't know if he's muted. >> This doesn't seem to be. >> Are you asking Are you asking for my vote? >> Yeah. >> No, I vote no. We're voting on whether we're going to

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whether we're going to make our recommendation on town meeting floor. We're not voting on whether we're supporting it or not. >> I understand. It is my feeling that the process, the governance, the procedure that has been undertaken to this date is

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unacceptable. >> That for us to put off for another two weeks is foolishness. And that's this just my personal point point of view. I I don't think it's been wellrun and I don't feel comfortable giving them an

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extra 3 days, 5 days, 12 days. I think they've blown it and I'm I'm not that's the reason I'm not voting for it. >> Okay, that's fine. Next is article 7, which is 171,435

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for the Essex Northshore commercial and technical school for eight students. recommend second. >> I >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> Are you in favor of that guard?

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>> I article eight >> is the school budget. >> I recommend approval. Now, do do we usually get this in writing for the book or not? >> No, it's in the motions. I wanted they

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have three motions, don't they? >> Yeah, they have three motions. So, >> all right. >> Um, >> operating capital and >> operating capital and the dis and the regional agreement. >> Yeah. >> So, the numbers haven't changed since we approved them before, right? Okay.

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>> They are the numbers from um, >> right? like three >> three weeks ago. >> We could include the motions in the book. I don't think they're going to change. >> Okay, that's a good idea.

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>> We could do it as an appendix, you know, in the back of the book. Um, if you wanted bit more intense because we don't typically put motions, it doesn't seem like we've typically put motions in this part of the book. >> Right. Right. So we could put it, but usually it's a handout, I guess, at town

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meeting. So we could put it in the back of the book. >> So let's we could say we recommend x amount of dollars for the school, right? And x amount of dollars for debt service. >> That's the key part right there. And the approval of the regional agreement we do

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by clockwork every year. It's just if if the numbers change, it's also kind of in the book, which is great going back and looking at. Okay. where the regional agreement just requires that affirmation every year regardless whether there's any change or

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anything. Right. >> Okay. So, we want to make a motion that we approve the school operating budget assessment

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in the amount of 18 million 0587.5 and The debt service the capital budget which is the debt service in the amount of 2 million 573

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924.16. I think we normally round to the nearest dollar. I don't know. We'll just put that in because that's the numbers we have. Okay. >> Yep. Do I have a second? >> You do. >> Any discussion?

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>> A vote. >> I Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Because I think there's room to put it right in with our recommendation. We've had things with our recommendation before with comments.

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You want the actual motions for town meeting floor? No, we are just these the finance committee recommends the operating budget of the 18 million and the capital budget of the two million.

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We want those dollar amounts in there. >> Okay? >> So that everyone knows what we're approving. >> Okay? And that way if they come in in the next two weeks and say we want another $400,000 we >> right. >> All right.

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>> Don't want to go there. >> Um next is article nine which is the OPE payment of $420,000. Um

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where where are we paying this from? That's coming out of um taxation. >> I think it is. >> I asked to have this specific as to where it was coming, but make

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it's always been In the past, we've used fund balance, but not this year. >> Yeah, >> we we vary, >> right? >> We varied each year. >> Um, as let me look at the estimated tax recap and see if I can see

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Is it under pensions? >> No. >> OPED's not in the budget. It's always separate, which is why it's a separate article. So, it's other articles four,

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which she is Okay. So, article five using 225 from Sun. >> I can't either >> because it's coming out of we've got all this. Oh, wait a minute. free cash. The

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only free cash we're using is 225 which is covering >> the um the 88 bathroom was 250. >> It must be going towards road resurfacing. >> No, >> there are five. It says taxation and

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fund balance for Oh, no. I'm sorry. 75 for so the 225 from fund balance is a combination of the 75,000 for general building upgrades

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and a portion of the road resurfacing. 150 upper floor 50. So it's not being used for open is coming out of taxation >> which is consistent with what my understanding was. Okay. >> So what's the number is 420 and it's and

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what were the sources >> taxation? So next is would you like you know kind of like what we had >> we eliminate the transfer from available funds line or >> do you want we could do a chart you know a ch like in article six you know it

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would have the the amount and the funding source put something like that right in underneath it >> that would be great >> that chart So I have a motion to approve the OPEN >> trust fund contribution of 420,000 from taxation.

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>> Yes. >> Yes, you do. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Well, I I will say that I know this has been a big goal of the towns for many many years. This is a big moment here.

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>> Yes. >> Uh you know, voting to recommend funding to finally >> complete the Is this the final or do we have next year? >> No, this is it. Oh, we ought to have a cake or something. made we made so much in investment earnings >> that we thought we were going to have to

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pay 150,000 but we were able to increase the 360 to 420 and >> there's not a lot of towns I know we always get close like another year so that's why >> we have a swing of like 700,000 next year because we won't put into opth

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except for the hundred odd thousand for >> active employees and then >> we're like under 1050,000 of retirement Yeah. >> Well, you just explained why I was confused in your text. There's a 100,000 still going for active. >> Yes. Yeah.

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>> Okay. That's what I didn't understand. >> Do you have a vote? >> Yes. >> Okay. Article 10 is revolving funds. Recreation 550 max and health 50,000

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max. >> Those are the same as the past year, are they not? >> They are. >> Okay. That's what I all I want to announce. >> So that is program fees. I mean payments coming into those funds. So then they can spend their expenses

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out of it. And we added the help last year I think um for their vaccination clinics >> that they needed this in order to take in the reimbursement from the insurance carriers

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>> as I recall >> just a question it's probably an Andrea question but this is basically this cap or limit is at the end of the year when all expenses and revenues have been realized >> because yeah >> because At any given moment, this

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revolving fund may go above a certain amount with revenues coming in >> limit. So they can't spend more than 550. >> Okay. >> It doesn't say >> on the revenue side, >> right? It can carry more. >> Yeah. Yeah. Only spend 550 out of

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>> it doesn't count the amount that can go in with the senior side. What >> which we found out with the senior side, right? So just um we can talk about it another time. I was thinking you know for fields

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and stuff like that you know some of the expenses for returf might be but we'll we'll cover that down the road. >> I think you would do it like we're proposing for the senior center you'd have a separate article >> because the amount would be big. >> Yeah. >> This would be the funding source for bigger

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>> I think that I think that next fall >> we need to have it on an agenda an item on an agenda. right? >> And kind of discuss what's available in the revolving fund and what possible capital items it might

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be expended on. >> I think that's what we need to do because I don't think that we've been receiving reports on the revolving funds to understand that

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there was a significant amount of >> available cash in it. 5 million in the sewer and water and sewer. >> But water and sewer I get every year and I put into the report. Yeah. >> It's not that much anymore. >> We're down to 900 at the end of this

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>> if we're making a transfer, >> right? At the end of this budget. Yeah. So it's not >> Okay. So do I have a motion to recommend >> article 10? >> Yes. >> So moved. >> Okay. All in favor?

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All right. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> That that article, I believe the MUN modernization act allows you to take a vote at town meeting that would

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set those limits in place and that you wouldn't have to vote on them on an annual basis unless you were changing the cap. >> Do we have to make that a bylaw? >> No, it would just be a town meeting vote, you know. So, it's something that if you wanted if you wanted to reduce

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the number of articles that you have to vote on at town meeting, it's something that you could consider. >> I don't think we ever get a whole lot of discussion on this one, but we >> probably not just focus on >> Probably not. >> Okay.

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>> It's a limit of spending. >> Yeah. >> Now, we're getting into >> capital items. So article 11 is PAS 16.5 million

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and Tony this has this covers both the local bylaw I mean does this language do it does the job both departments >> both has to bans >> yes it allow this language would allow

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us to borrow borrow on our own or borrow through SRF >> and meet the local requirement for borrow or spending that you mentioned at the start of the meeting. You said there's a bylaw that requires vote when you

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>> Oh, that's for the that No, that is for the ballot. >> So the ballot Yeah. And I did look up >> that language does need that language on the ballot. >> I did look up 2024 and it was two votes on the ballot. Good. >> I I wonder if that's,

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you know, at a minimum for next year's discussion, you know, for that bylaw, you know, maybe you only require a ballot vote if it doesn't already require it because of a Prop 2 and a half exclusion requirement because it it's going to be confusing. There's 10

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>> there's 10 questions. >> Yeah. >> For five projects, >> right, >> on the ballot. So, it's confusing. I mean, what if vote one yes on one and no on the other? >> Then where do you stand? >> So, it might be worth something next year to look at. >> Okay. >> Particularly when you get people who are

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tired and they say, "What are we actually voting on?" And then you have to repeat >> or didn't I already vote on this? >> Right. Or am I am I approving twice as much money? >> Right. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to recommend article 116?

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the funding source. Wasn't something coming out of the balding account? Is it all going to be the override or are we going to >> We No, we're hoping for money from other sources. >> But this allows them to charge 165.

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>> This is so that they can go out to bid. So again, all this is doing is setting a cap. >> A cap. >> So they can go out to bid and the bid cannot exceed this cap, >> right? But the actual cost to the town

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will depend on what it actually costs to build less any type of grants or litigation settlements we might receive. Um, which is something that I addressed

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in the report I said that um or we could have some state reimbursements. >> All of that is is true. that will just reduce the actual amount of bond you go out with. >> You might be thinking of the state revolving fund.

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>> I was thinking >> SRF. That's what SRF stands for, >> right? I was thinking that we were transferring some of the 5 million in the revolving fund. >> What revolving the water and sewer >> enterprise >> enterprise noting I used the wrong word.

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>> Yeah. No, no, this is all debt exclusion, >> right? So, we're going to keep the five million in the bank and >> we don't have that at the end of this after the um if you look on the information under fund balance in my

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report on July 1st, 2026 with approval of the fiscal year 27 budget, we accept expect reserves fund balance plus stabilization to be a little over 4 million and 900,000 in the water and

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sewer enterprise funds as retained. earnings. So that's all we're going to have. >> Okay. >> In the water and sewer, the total will be 4.9 million between the reserves and the water and sewer retained earnings. So we don't have 5 million. >> Okay.

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>> Last year we had at the beginning of the year we had 1.1 million of retained earnings in water and sewer and we're spending some of it >> on capital projects. >> Okay. Because some in the financial

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highlights you do mention 5.4 million of retained earnings >> but that is the total of the fund balance plus stabilization at 4.3 million and the water and sewer at 1.1 million.

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>> That's all reserves. >> Yeah. It's the total of the two. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And we're spending down the fund balance and stabilization down to about 8.7% of the budget. What are we spending on?

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>> 200 The only amount we have is the 225,000 that's going forward capital. We we spent all our excess reserves last year. >> Well, I was just in the the enterprise fund. What is making our retained earnings go from 5.4 million?

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>> They're not. That's not the retained earnings. That's the total of >> the fund balance, the stabilization. Okay. >> And the retainer. >> So then that that paragraph might be

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using in your letter. >> Question. >> Yes sir. >> Uh so uh this is at 16.5. It has gone out to bid. Is that sub? >> It has not gone out to bid. >> It is. It's on the street. >> Oh, it's on the street. Okay. >> And I I understand numbers will come

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back before the meeting. Is this 165 subject to what might come back? Are we going to stay with 65 no matter what? >> I think it's too complicated to test it. >> The the problem is is that the uh >> the bids come in two days after the

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deadline for the ballot questions. >> So even if we adjusted the number for town meeting, the ballot question is >> it's 165. >> It's 165. So it probably just makes sense to leave it. Uh it's just >> I mean all we're doing is appropriating

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a maximum amount. >> We don't we don't we're not have to block. >> Yeah. So >> we hopefully don't >> if it comes in less than we know we we'll be bonding for less. >> As long as it's conservative. >> We have tariff tariff induced bids now,

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>> right? >> Yes. >> That'll be a new ball game. >> Yes. The the scary part is if it comes in higher than that, right? This is the article where they went out to bid for two possible scenarios. One is with the SRF

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which has a 2% bond repayment but you have to use domestic sourced equip um >> materials. So the upfront cost would be more. And then they included the option of

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bonding locally at the 4 to 4 a.5% with lower material costs and they're going to take the total bid that costs the least amount of money overall. >> It's my understanding. >> Yeah. The tariffs might be a neutralizer on the

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>> Exactly. Yeah. We don't know. Right. >> Um but they did they were going out to bid both ways. So, do we recommend approval of article 11? >> We do. Yes. >> Have a motion. Second

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>> vote to >> Yes. >> Thank you, >> sir. Can I ask one question? I'm sorry to back up, but on >> Oh, no. >> Yeah, I know. But bear with me. On the revolving fund question. >> Yeah. >> The revolving fund for parks and wreck

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is listed at 550,000, right? But last year the town it was listed at 450,000. >> So it did increase. >> So did we increase it? It was late in the meeting. >> We weren't aware that it was increasing >> or did more people enroll in the

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>> Oh, this is the cap. This is the cap. >> So it was article 18 at the end of the meeting and you know typical 162 people voted for it and five against. Nobody want to get out of there, but um

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I don't recall it being increased. So I'm wondering if this is a typo that we want to or what we know about. to Andrea. See if she gets me an answer. >> I have parks and wreck

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me. I was pulling this from what was printed in there. >> I'm giving I'm looking at the memo she sent us that when we discuss the budget to see if she talks about revolving fund. >> She did not ask for an increase. >> Should we be asking also

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>> they she spent 360,000 in the past year. it the it this one from last year just said 450 was the cap, >> right? And she actually >> healthboard cap >> 50,000. >> Okay. >> And she actually spent

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>> 360,000 well under the 450. So I >> she did not request an increase in her memo >> and board of health didn't increase and there's any indication. >> This is a parks and parks of health

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memo. So >> I know I know just asking you to be sure we cover the whole barnyard here. And he said increase in programs offered enrollment in summer camp mostly an increase in an afterchool program. So

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it's it's uh there's a need for an increase. >> Yeah, it's I guess it's not a typo. It should have been higher last year, she said. >> Okay. >> So maybe from the year before. >> Yeah, it's hard to know. I mean, the

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problem is is their cycle on expenses does not fit into a fiscal year. I mean, they're collecting. >> Oh, I'm I'm not worried about is the cap. The cap is something we vote on and presumably we voted on it at some point and the selectman voted on it at

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some point. And that's the number that should just be there until somebody decides to change it. I'm just confused about >> why the number is changing. It's probably a It's probably a >> No, no, no. I think Andrew is asking for it to change. >> Yeah, she said not a typo. Yeah. >> Okay.

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>> Is there any request we should put into the health board about requesting any change in their number? >> No. >> No. >> Not go there, Pete. >> No, they they they haven't come close. >> They're still working on building up that account so that it can >> fully fund their vaccine in the future.

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That's been like a fiveyear process. >> I'm curious if um If the expenditures were like 375 >> 360 >> why why wouldn't 450 be enough? >> I don't know. >> Right. >> What I mean Andrew is saying it was too

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low last year. I mean but it wasn't. >> Well, this is for fiscal year 25. >> There's a >> So the problem is is it crosses fiscals. So it may be that >> in the fiscal year 26

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they're spending more. they only have 450 to spend, >> right? >> Because the funds come in >> pre the old fiscal year and they spend the money in the new fiscal year, >> right? So this

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>> the the fiscal year 25 expenses are really from the summer of 24, >> right? >> Yeah. And this goes through 27.

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>> It's probably just worth checking with Andrea and if it's a typo, just get it. >> Okay. Andrea. >> Yeah. She said it's not a typo. They've >> Last last year's was a typo. >> No, >> they increased it 100,000 because of the change in the programs.

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>> Okay. So, anybody can change it. We don't have to vote on a change. >> Yes. That's why it's on the ballot. That's why it's on the warrant. We're voting to approve it. >> Okay. I thought we were approving it as a mechanism that we approve every year,

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not that we are increasing it. That's my question. >> We approve the dollar amount every year and it can change. >> Okay. >> This is our chance to approve or disapprove it. I guess the cap the cap and spending. But so it sounds like the

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current fiscal year that we're in should have been more and there's been an increase in programs offered cost >> and enrollment in summer camp and after school program has gone up. >> Okay. >> Yep.

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>> So it is it was intentional to ask for 550 on >> trouble in fiscal year 26. >> Yeah. >> Maybe. Yeah. They'll just have to stop spending. >> They seem to find more. >> No, that's fine. >> I can see the headline now.

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>> Lifeguards on. >> Sorry. Sorry to take us off mission here. Um I just thought that was something clarification. >> We're on board. >> So we get it now. >> We got it now. >> Whether we like it or not. >> We got it. >> Okay. I'm getting lots of piles here.

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>> You're on article 12. >> Yeah. for storage. >> Article 12 is 4.1 million for Tapen Street. >> Make a recommendation that we >> suggest approval.

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>> Y have a second. >> You do. >> Peter seconds. Any discussion? >> I can't approve this. I I I wouldn't support it. >> Okay. I've been on record about it. >> Okay, let's take a vote.

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>> Yes, >> Peter. Sarah Gar. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, finance committee recommends. I don't know if you put the vote in or not. I don't think so. >> No, I don't. This is

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>> Okay. The next is >> May I ask a question? >> Go ahead, Ann. Um would it be possible for the select board to change the order of these articles at our next meeting so that oh it was supposed to be done

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before it came to us. >> Okay. My >> is possible. My my reasoning is that Tapen Street could be delayed by a year without doing any significant damage.

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The PAS has to get started as soon as possible. >> The rotunda has to get done before it ends up on the beach. Um the dredging has to be done before the permits run out. So I would like to have the particle that >> happened to be at the end

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>> happen to be at the end of the capital so that in case the meeting gets ironed of capital items we they take off something that is not of immediate importance. >> So tapen would become 15.

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>> One thing that is of immediate importance is the resurfacing of the roof. So that's something that I've been saying. Let's wait 15 years for the pipes and do the road now and wait for the big sh that boat is not before time.

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>> No, I know that's just the mechanics. >> There is there is money I think for road reserve >> elsewhere. >> Right. There is. So what we were just saying is is that article 13 becomes 12, article 14

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becomes 13, article 15 becomes 14 and article 12 becomes 15. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> And it is the the man was tapping for the a not the end.

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>> Yes. because I >> I corrected that before. >> Oh, >> right. The catch. >> So, we don't that that works fine for us either way. If the selectment say no, let's keep it the way it is or not. We don't care. >> It's clear

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>> what we're making our recommendations on because in some earlier years we had problems because we just state the article number and then they all change and the question was what did we approve? But now we're stating what we're doing >> in your report.

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You you do list them in order in your report. So you might want to change the order. >> We don't list them in order, but I could. >> Sorry, I thought I thought I had read that you did. Never mind. >> I listed them in order of amount.

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>> Okay. I think. >> So you go >> I have dredging, then I have rotunda, then I have tapen, then I have central street, then I have the pas. >> I can switch the order to go with the warrant articles if you want. It's not a big deal.

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>> I keep it to keep the logic you have to work. >> That's fine. All right. >> That's a lot of cutting and pasting. >> Yeah, I'm sure it is. Okay, we're on to new 12, I think.

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>> Yeah, we're on to the >> 13. >> We're on to the 5 million for the Simpson Street. >> Okay. And this one, we don't know. We have a brick grant that's due to expire April 30th. We

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don't know. We've requested an extension. We don't know if it would be extended. Um, the Noah grant was awarded and pulled. Is that correct? >> We have the Noah grant in hand if that's what you're What do you mean by and

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pulled mean taken away? >> No. >> No. >> No, it was not. >> Okay. >> So, you want to change that? So why are we asking for five million? >> That's the the um

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the birth grant was 4 >> five >> 4.5. So we we asked >> already paid a million which is 5.5. The Noah is 1.5 which is 6 point I mean I asked what the total

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central street culvert project was and I was told six million. >> So that's incorrect. Yeah. >> Is Chuck on Chuck? Damn. >> Mayor, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, we still have the Noah grant.

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>> I think the the the kind of where people get hung up is the Culvert is the, you know, 5 million project we're asking for. the pond on top of that is the 1.5ish for the which is kind of the Noah grant

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is earmarked for just the pond work. So I'm not sure you know where you guys are drawing those lines but that's we're trying to replace the brick grant with this bonding uh you know as a backup to the MVP grant which is a 5 million and it's

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all just to cover the culvert not the pot. Does that help or is that make it more confusing? >> So I guess I shouldn't mention the Noah grant >> probably

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>> but then but then I have I'm trying to make these numbers make sense to people and so I'm trying to give the total cost of the covert And then I said we've already paid a million. Is that not correct?

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>> I'm not we haven't paid a million for anything yet. Uh we town meeting has appropriated probably close to a me million which we still have over half of that left I think or around half of that left. The other half has gone to the

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various design and permitting process. So you know that it's true that we've appro the town has appropriated a million We still have half of it. We've spent half of it on the design and permitting to get to where we are.

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The the funding for the bonding and Noah is construction related, not design and perpet. >> But the covert, if we're just trying to replace the brick grant, that's only 4.5 million. We

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I think we >> asking for five and >> I think it's more >> just rounding. >> I think we adjusted up because it's two years later that we're going to be doing >> right to cover just to cover. We don't

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want to ask for 4.5 and have it come in at 4.6 or 4.7. >> How much contingency is in the 4.5? >> You know, >> I'd have to look back. I mean it like you said like Toy said it's it's a two or it's at least a two-year old estimate

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now and we you know we're kind of >> and again we hopefully we're not borrowing any of this. If we are we're adjusting it downward for the true cost of the >> so the 5 million we're asking for and the 1 million prior

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appropriation comes to the six >> and then you have a and then you have a Noah grant. >> Yeah. I know I'm not going to include, >> but if you were talking about like the total total cost of the entirety of all the, you know, it gross when you lump in

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the town appropriation, the brick grant, >> I'm trying to be consistent as to the numbers we're giving the public. >> The consistency would be replacing the brick grant and adjusted for inflation, I think, would be the consistent way to

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do it. >> That's not what I'm doing. I'm giving the total cost of a project and then saying >> how it's raised, >> right? So, you're saying that we need an additional 5 million.

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So, even if we get the brick grant, we need another half million. >> Sure. Which is why we're asking for five, right? >> Yeah. If if the cost of the project

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increases because it's behind schedule and we need the other five, then yes. >> Yeah. When the this project is >> Yeah. I'm not arguing that, Tony. the the the problem we have is we keep

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throwing out different numbers and I'm trying to throw out not and I'm trying to give the residents a number that makes sense and so they understand exactly what we're asking for. Um

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>> yeah, we we that's the approach we took with the MVP grant is we applied for close to 5 million. I believe it was 4.9 something. Um because we had, you know, anticipate the cost of the job to be

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increased by the time we actually get in the ground because it's two years removed from the original cost estimate. >> Okay. So the five million does not include the pond because we have the nog grant. >> Correct. >> Okay. So I'm going to say the culvert is

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six million. We have prior appropriations of a million and we need five million if we lose the brick grant. >> Exactly right. >> Okay. That's the numbers we got. >> Do you want to do you want to mention in your report that we've applied for five

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for MVP as a secondary backup? I I say 5 million regional grant applied for status unknown. >> Yeah. Great. >> Okay. And for the brick grant, I said it expires 4:30 2026 extension request pending status unclear.

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>> And then I'm saying >> perfect, >> which is a subtle way of saying >> I'm saying town net to bond with no grants is 5 million. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Right to me. >> And that's what I'm trying to say.

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with these and for the link of the PFAS I say town net to bond worst case is 16.5 >> and giving the two options okay >> very succinctly

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>> can go into detail the meeting >> okay >> that good >> so do we recommend do we have a motion to recommend the 5 million for co >> central street co >> second >> second any more discussion now that

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we're totally confused >> I'll try to be recommending a straight article 13 town >> 40 years of bridge engineering I have to share my knowledge of the town what a travesty this is >> okay you you have to be very careful

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>> when you speak on town meeting floor >> that you're not speaking anything to do with the finance committee I agree. >> Yours is a personal opinion >> and it's not appropriate for the member a member of the finance committee to get

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up and speak against something when the finance committee has voted for it unless they're doing it as a >> I would I would say pre-qualifying that this does not have any influence on my finance committee. Okay, that's fine. Um Gar, where are you on the Central Street

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Culver? >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay, next one is 1.9 million bridge. >> Boy, why is this worded this way? >> Bond council is what we got all this

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from bond council. What do you uh which part? What do you >> Well, we're saying it's for dredging. And now you're saying, well, maybe not. Maybe it's going to include other things. That doesn't tell the town what we're spending money on. It says pay costs of capital improvements to

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Manchester Harbor, including but not limited to dredging. Well, this is supposed to be for dredging, not for other things. >> Yeah. I think it's just >> we can't recommend this wording. I can't

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I can't recommend this word. >> We can get rid of um we can say pay cost of you want to just get rid of uh but not limited to. No, I want to include to pay the cost of dredging >> improvements to Manchester Harbor

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dredging >> to pay costs of Manchester Harbor dredging. >> Yes. >> To pay costs of >> where? >> Manchester Harbor dredging. >> Yes, Ann. >> Okay. So, dredging includes

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bringing the equipment in >> and taking the spoil out. Yeah, that's fine. >> Okay, fine. Because because I think of drenching as the process of removing the soil, >> the following language is including the payment of all costs incidental and

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related there too. We would cover that as well. >> Yeah. >> But the way this wording >> I I I understand your objection. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, does this this get changed automatically or does this go before the select board to get approved?

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>> Yeah. Select board will approve the warrant on Monday. So I'll make the change and >> Right. So it's obviously pending this change. >> I don't think Yeah. >> But you don't anticipate any problem with that. But

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>> will we vote to approve the 1.9 for dredging with that clause including but not limited to stricken. And we're going to say the source is taxation.

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>> No. >> Or however. >> It's not. It's bond. >> But who's how are we going to pay the ball through? >> It's a debt exclusion. A debt exclusion override. Each one of these separate capital articles is a

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debt. >> Promise that the harbor would pay for it. If there's no guarantee of that, then >> it's not being paid by waterway funds because there's not enough money in the waterway funds to pay for the dredging. >> Not yet. >> And the plan is to dredge every 10

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years. So, they're accumulating the money to pay for the next round of dredging because they didn't start assessing the dredging fee early enough. >> Correct.

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few residents that we're voting to recommend approval >> with that clause with including but not limited to stricken. >> So moved. You need a second. >> Second. >> Second.

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>> Any discussion? >> We did >> vote. Gar >> my >> yes. >> Peter >> yes. >> Sarah votes yes. Dean >> no. >> Dean votes no. Okay, next item is $2 million for the rotunda.

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>> Do I have a motion to recommend this article for the >> approval? So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Yes. >> Any discussion? >> Should we give the amount that we've already paid and what the total is going to be? >> That doesn't go in the warrant. I I have

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that in >> in the report. >> I have that >> right >> I have the total cost is 3.65 million saying that the town and the CPA last year approved 1.3 million and that this

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year the CPA approved 350,000 and that I say previously excluded grants are not available. Previously expected grants are not as sorry >> right now. >> And so the town net the bond is 2

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million. >> Um ready to vote. >> We are >> my >> yes. >> Peter >> yes. >> Gar >> yes. >> Sarah votes yes. Dean >> yes. >> Dean votes yes.

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Okay. Next item is article 16, which is Oh, wait. You're you're you sure you're with the new numbers? >> Yep. Because I'm at snow and ice deficit. >> Okay. >> We already voted on 12, which is just

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going to get red, right? >> Okay. So, 15 is the old 12. >> 15's tapping, correct? >> Okay. >> Yeah. 12 becomes 15. Um so article 16 is to transfer from

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revail available funds which is free cash or fund balance whatever we want to call it 250,000 to pay for the snow and ice deficit this year >> and what do you call it in your material

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fund balance or free cash just to keep consistent terms >> I say fund balance throughout my thing. >> So, I suggest that say that here because I always find >> there's something that Andrea gave me and there's one point where I put in

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parenthesis free cash. >> Okay. It's just because I think some >> I don't know which term the state uses. >> I I've always used free cash. Yeah. Me too. Right. >> I think the state uses fund balance. Is that the problem? >> They do.

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>> Word cash has a lot of connotations. Greg Greg didn't like the idea that cash was free. >> Yeah, I would agree with that. >> It's a fair point. >> It's not. >> So, I've used fund balance throughout this except for one. >> I like the school's term. What's the

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school's terminology on that? >> Excess and cash and disclosure report says >> wanted view of it's not free is a very good point. So to triple the budget like that is I'm

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curious how this 250 compares to like 2015 compared to the other high snow. Well, so what I say in the report is I say that

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um under financial highlights, is that where it is? Because somebody made me change it as >> I suggested you put in the budget amount and then we're 250 over so people know

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that we're Right. I have a section I have a section for fifth fiscal year 26 snow removal budget. >> Right. >> And in that I say this year the snow removal costs exceed the budget of 140,000 based on a 5-year average by

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250,000. The state allows us to deficit spend this account and include the deficit in our fiscical year 27 budget provided we encumber a portion of the fund balance equal to the amount of the deficit.

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Therefore, we recommend a $250,000 appropriation for fiscal year 26 from the fund balance to avoid a deficit in this account. Did we use a lot of third party vendors more or I mean that's a lot of

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>> a lot of snow. I paid >> we had a lot of snow but >> I paid I paid $6,000 personally and last year I paid 2,200. >> So this is not out of line. >> I can having been on this committee long enough there were times before COVID and

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219 where that number was 300 400 more. Okay. >> And we had a lot of independent vendors. We had independent vendors doing half of Union Street, turning around by Crosby's going the other way. It was crazy. And I remember we went to the select board at the time and said, "What if we just plow

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half the streets within the first 30 hours or whatever?" And we saved like $150,000. So, we've we've been up and down this hill a few times. Um, >> and I >> frankly, I think this number is pretty reasonable given the amount of snow. I

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mean, it it's been >> Oh, but my number's wrong. crazy in the past. >> I've got to change it. The budget was 145. >> Oh, is that 140? >> Yeah, I'll change that in the report. Um, but I think the problem this year

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was all of the the little bits of stuff we got and then very cold temperatures. So, they had to salt a lot. >> Sarah, can I I can speak to it a little bit if you guys want to. Thank you. Go ahead, Chuck.

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>> Yeah, I mean the the the bulk of that 250, I'll just say, is the snow removal. So, remember, we had backtoback storms where we had well over a foot of snow and there's just no place for it to go in, you know, 90% of our town. So, the idea was we had to get rid of it. So,

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that's where we spend a lot with third parties and we and it has to go. Um, and so that, you know, that's a that's a premium cost with premium equipment that we just don't have. So that's most of it and then the rest of it is just what you guys said. I mean it's a it was a long winter so that's all.

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>> Thank you. And they do the snow removed mostly at night. >> Was our new loader able to help offset that third party vendor? >> Yeah, we all of our equipment is out but it's just there's no there's no way you're getting that much snow removed in, you know, an overnight shift without

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any many more pieces of equipment coming in. Our front loader in DPW trucks has removed all the snow from Mascanola Park park parking lot. >> That was done in house. >> But that shouldn't be part of this budget because it was so far after a

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snowstorm. >> I mean, >> right. It's not that was that was done that was done on hours. >> That was done on hours by our people. That's not part of this number. This number is all >> you know January February like really.

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Okay. No, that was part something that was bothering me whether it was part of the snow budget or not, but thank you. That that helps. >> Okay. Um, so would we recommend this 250,000 from the undesated fund balance free?

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>> Second. >> Second. >> Gar. >> Yes. >> Mory, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Sarah votes yes. Okay. Article 17 is60. What?

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>> This is the the matching funds. No, this is the 164,000 in connection with the bands dated 2025 that mature June 26 26 and we need to raise the money to pay

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the interest on the notes that's due June 26 26th. So this is fiscal year 26 which is why it's a separate art and is being taken out of the water enterprise retained earn.

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>> So that's where it's coming. >> Yes. >> And this is bonds for what is this? The 7.5 million bond that we already approved. >> Yeah, it would have to be.

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So by approving that bond, we didn't approve the interest for it, right? >> No. What happens is is is we approve the bond and then every year the repayments are in the debt service section,

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>> right? >> So we're every year we're approving the actual repayments on those bonds we appropriated. The only reason we're voting on the bond is to authorize the t town to spend that much money, but then

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to repay it. It's just like on the school budget, >> right? >> Every year we're voting to repay those school loans. >> I I would recommend maybe identifying what the costs are rather than just outstanding bond notes. May maybe we say

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what what the work was. It might be easier for voters to approve. Just a suggestion. I don't I don't know if there's too many of them. >> So what you're asking is what it was used for. Yes.

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>> It was used for >> rather than say something vague like bond notes. Let's say what projects the bonds funded. >> So wait a minute. Wait a minute. I think this is the water meters. >> Okay. Then we should identify it as

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such. >> Is that correct, Chuck? This this money is coming out of the water enterprise fund. So isn't this to pay those we issued the bans in anticipation of receiving the water meter fees in. So

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now we're authorizing spending those water meter fees. >> Yes, I believe that's the case. Basically, we're using we're taking money from the enterprise account to pay down the bonds that we've built that we >> so we don't have to reissue that from

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the capital fees or the right the rates. >> So, can we put in someplace here new water meters? >> Yeah. Just say maturing June 26 for the use of or for the purchase of or whatever you want to say. I don't I don't know if I would put it in the warrant language, but we could put it we

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could put something underneath the warrant language that explains >> we don't want more legal fees by having them look at the damn war. >> Well, the warrant language is very >> right.

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You know, we can we can add some language underneath that's not part of the act. Yeah, >> that's fine. I think it's a good suggestion. That's why we're so anxious to conserve water.

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>> So, the total in this in this article. >> Yeah. Do we know what the Yeah, >> the total is the 271 plus the 164. So, we're paying the 164 from the fund balance

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and we're paying the 271 for the principle on the notes. >> Yeah. >> From the water meter fees. >> Interesting. It's cool. to pay down the so we and because the plan was to use the water meter fees

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to pay for those water meters. So she's been using bands um to avoid the long-term debt. So the hope is that we will have expended all the water meter fees by the end of the project and never have to enter into

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long-term debt because you have three years to do it before you have to start paying principal. And we're paying the water beating fees for three years. >> So who's going to explain that on to town meeting four? That's your job, right?

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>> Me'll be ready to go. >> Yeah. >> Do we want to use the word available funds there or is it fund balances? >> They always use available funds in the world. >> Okay. Yes. I don't like it. But

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>> I know >> but it's a transfer from available funds which means it's not trans taxation. >> I understand that >> the motion the motion will be specific. >> Will it >> motion will specifically say where it's coming from. >> Okay.

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>> Yeah. The warrant article council always advises that the warrant article include all possible funding sources and then the motion is very specific. >> Yeah. Mine was just a a technical term. Do we going to use fund balance, free cash?

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>> Yeah, you know, whatever. >> Do I have a motion to approve this? >> So, we're happy with this. >> So, I approve it. >> You make the motion. Do you second it? >> I'm just going to suggest we list the total amount funding sources consisting

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of >> the total of the two numbers. It's a total of two numbers >> for for the purpose of water meter >> consisting of these two payment. >> I think the reason it's separate

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is because this 164 of interest was inadvertently not included in the fisc year 26 >> 26 budget >> and I'd say leave it as it is. Whereas the principal was expected was expected

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to pay down the principal every year. >> Okay. >> But I think that's what she said is this 164 was erroneously not included in last year's budget. >> It should have been. >> If a hand or two comes up, the recommendation will be town

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administrator hand at this point. >> If this was a 26 bill, does it require that >> it's not a 26 bill? >> Okay. It's an appropriation to to pay interest on debt service >> from 26 26

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>> which is different than a bill. >> Okay. >> A bill is from a third party source. >> Ah okay. Thank you. I didn't know that. >> Yeah. >> So I would second whatever's been writing. >> I simply move that we adopt a recommendation of approval on this

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article. >> Okay. And we can't wait to explanations. That's all. Tonyy's gonna do a fabulous job. >> I listen. >> Yes. >> Lori. >> Yes. >> Peter. >> Yes. >> Dean. >> Yes.

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>> Sarah. Yes. >> Oh, next is 250,000. for the ADA compliant bathroom at the library, which is a capital

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expenditure exclusion. >> Well, this is excluded. >> You saw the cricket today. The excitement is profound. >> I tried. I tried. >> It didn't jump off the page. >> Good. I thought it was a first class

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job. So, do we have a motion to approve this article of 250? >> I move we approve the 250,000 for the ADA bathroom for the library. >> Thank you, God. Do I have >> Gar takes the easy one. Oh, boy. >> Do I have a second? >> Yes.

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>> Peter seconds. Any discussion? Vote. Gar. >> Yes. >> Lori, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Sarah votes, yes. Next is CPC funding in the amount of

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594,200. I believe we have previously approved this >> because one thing on this the bathroom I thought because we had previously obligated it and then deobligated it went to free cash that we were going to

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fund this through pre free precash. >> We spent it on other things. Oh, >> that was that. Yeah, that money was uh >> Yeah, we did put it into free cash, but once it becomes free cash, it can be spent on anything, >> right?

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>> So, we didn't earmark it. If we if we hadn't released it, it would have still been earmarked, >> right? >> But we wanted to use it. >> I I looked at the motion was contingent upon getting the grant. It was supposed to be matched to the grant, right? Oh,

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>> we didn't get. So then it kind of had to fall on cash. >> We were irritated because they hadn't spent it for so many years, >> but we hit the money. >> Okay. So, do I have a recommendation

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to approve this? >> We already did. >> Yeah. This said we recommended it, so we're good. Okay. Um, next is a zoning article. Town Center and Harbor's Edge District.

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I would suggest we take no position. We never have taken a position on zoning articles because zoning articles are merely what one might be able to do, not any type of actual project. So there's no

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real financial consequences until something happens. >> Agreed. doesn't change tax implications for anybody. >> No. >> Do I have a motion for no position?

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>> Yes. >> Second. >> Second. Yeah. >> Um vote Gar. >> Yes. >> My >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes.

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>> Sarah, yes. Next is the zoning article on senior housing. No. >> I mean I move we take no position. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> I second.

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>> Okay. Dean can second. Okay. Vote. Car. >> Yes. >> Lori. >> Yes. >> Peter. >> Yes. >> Dean. >> Yes. >> And Sarah was yes. >> You're right. Peter, I'm taking the easy ones. Next is

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a zoning bylaw on ins. >> I vote we take no position. >> Thank you, Gar. >> Boy, that's a great car. >> I'll second. Take a vote. Mory, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> And Sarah was yes.

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Next is ADUs a change to allow I think this is the change to allow ADUs in D1 and D2 uh large ADUs.

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I requested the change because we had come one be come one would one come before the the ZBA and we couldn't >> we couldn't approve it because we can't give a use variance and this was >> I move we take no position

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>> thank you I have a second >> second >> second >> vote Gar >> yes >> yes >> Peter >> yes Dean >> yes the next is general bylaw driveway entrances I make a motion. We take no position.

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>> Second. >> Okay. Vote. Gar. >> Yes. >> Lori, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Sarah was Yes. >> Sir, what does this do to the driveway entrances? Do you do you know what? >> I believe it is putting it in the

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responsibility of the DPW. >> That's what I think you said before. >> It it it was in the zoning bylaw. We took it out of the zoning bylaw to a general bylaw and we had to first pass the responsibility of TPW, but if they

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didn't meet all these stringent conditions and it had to go to the planning board and it was problematic. >> It's a procedure process. >> Yeah. So, this is basically saying DPW's in charge. Isn't that right, Chuck?

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>> He's not on, but he left. I'm looking at it. Yes. support. Ah, completed for >> Okay, >> this bylaw shall be enforced by the director of public works. >> Yeah, >> there's a few other changes in there,

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but I think that's practically >> it's still a zoning article that we would take a position on. >> It's a general, but yes, same. >> Oh, right. Sorry. Exactly. Um, we don't do drivers. Mhm.

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>> Um, the next is the transfer of the 914 square foot property which we've discussed before. >> I did get a I had the assessor do an estimated value. >> Yeah. >> Um,

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looking at other listings um, similar to, you know, undeveloped undevelopable land, the land average was 93 cents per square foot. also looked at paired sales uh and concluded the

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additive value of an additional square footage to be $1.31. Given these, I would estimate the subject lot to be a dollar a square foot or about $914. Now, if approved, usually there's uh

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an appraisal um >> right >> paid for by the person making the request and then that helps the select board dictate what the minimum value for the procurement process is. >> Yeah. We don't need this for assign

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anywhere. >> No. And we will and part of that value is because we're going to retain access rights for maintenance purposes. >> Yep. >> To maintain the channel. >> Yeah. Where the there is a wall along

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the brook there that >> we want to make sure we can access. >> Um do I have a motion we take no position? >> Yes. >> Second. >> Yes. My >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes.

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>> Sarah, yes. >> The next one is a citizens petition for establish a study committee to examine the feasibility and effects of adopting rent choice voting. I make a motion to take no position. >> Second. >> My second. Vote. Gar.

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>> Yes. >> My >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Sarah votes yes. The next citizens posit petition is uh recommendation to take four parcels of land and move them to a different

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zoning district. I make a motion we take new positions. >> I agree. >> Second. >> Um Boar >> yes. >> Mory >> yes. >> Peter >> yes >> Dean >> yes

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>> Sarah yes. And then there is another citizens petition which is a resolution in support of the US Constitution. I make a motion we take no position. Do I have a second?

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>> That seems controversial in and of itself. >> Take a vote. Gar. >> Yes. >> Mory. Uh. >> Yes. >> Peter. I >> I agree. Yes. >> Dean. >> Yes. >> Sarah. Yes.

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Um the final one is >> town meeting floor. >> We make it on town meeting floor. And just so people remember what this is, this is the article where if somebody in

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town amends an article which increases the cost to the town that would put us into a Prop 2 and a half override situation,

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we have the right to have that discrepancy paid from free cash. >> Do we have the free cash to pay for it? >> I know it depends on the amount. >> Depends. But even I mean we are right on the >> We can go to 5% if we wanted, but we

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want to stay at eight. You know that's our >> Yeah, I know you said it's 8.7 >> with our reserve, >> but we can spend we don't we can pull it down under 8% to avoid >> Okay. >> an override that hasn't been >> okay. Um I mean we've we've got

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>> Well, you said it's 8.7 is is the I believe the >> Yeah, but we've we've got a total of 4 million in the fund balance and stabilization. I can't believe anybody would bring something before town meeting that exceeded 4 million. >> Right. I was asking a simpler question.

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>> But if hypothetically, let's say the PAS bid comes in more than >> this doesn't cover the PAS bid. No, this is >> But if it did, could you supplement >> that with this? >> No. >> Like if it came in at 17? >> No, no, no. This is only if at town

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meeting somebody raises an appropriation that would put us into an override. >> I think he's asking a different question though. >> Let's say from let's say let's say bid comes in at 17 million. We don't have to go through this. I was just

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>> because it's not a we're only appropriating the 16.5, >> right? But we could >> add another 500 into another article and then use this article to >> pull it from the stabilization or free cash if we had to instead of trying to

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adjust the amount that we're debt excluding. >> You you want to do that if when are the bids coming in? two two weeks before. >> There's no way we want to do that. You you'd have to wait till special town

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meeting and do a second appropriation, >> right? I'm just asking if we were to do that, could you supplement or you need to go back and just cleanly vote for new bonds? You could amend the on the town meeting four, you could amend

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>> the bond article to increase the amount of the bond because that would impact >> the fiscal year 27 budget. >> Yep. You can do that. >> Yeah. The problem is is that the ballot question is fixed at that point, >> right? So you

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>> and honestly Sarah, this is not the process that we're looking for here. >> No, no, not right. I don't know. >> It's they just if the bids come in too high, we have to start over. >> Um

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>> hopefully they don't, >> but we've never gone back on >> I mean the if Yeah. town meeting >> with additional money at an additional separate town meeting.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, I move we do not support this motion or this uh >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We have to wait till we're on town meeting floor >> and it's usually >> usually just bypass it or or take no action because there's no action needed

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on it. >> Good. Sorry. Yep. I take I withdraw my whatever I said. >> It's my understanding that we have used all of the Prop 2 and a half money and

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all of the excess levy capacity. So, if somebody changed a warranted art an an article and increased it by $500, we would want to be able to pay the $500

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out of the fund balance to avoid a $500 override. >> Say they increase the pin compares salary. >> Right. >> Right. Right. >> So, that's the purpose of it. And we did we did have to use it one year. >> We have had to do it

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>> but not for a long long time. >> So Sarah on a lighter note that maybe just a senior moment here the top of the report you've put together says 2025 annual report. >> Right. >> Is it 25 looking back or is it 26?

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>> Thank you. >> Okay. 26 didn't want to get it all. >> Believe me, I've done I've done what you're doing and you copy and paste from prior years to roll roll things. >> Yeah, I had there was something else I

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thought had been incorrect in last years with some date. >> Yeah, I said I guess nobody noticed it. >> Okay, so now we move to the fin annual report. Um,

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I've incorporated all of the recommendations except for deans because they came too late for me to incorporate. >> There were a lot of just comments. There wasn't like >> okay >> you know accept changes take

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>> we can discuss them. >> I'll take a look at them. But one of the things that I highlighted under the 27 budget overview the last the second paragraph which says and design and construction

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documents for the senior community center. Do we want to delete that clause because we have not made any recommend because we're not going to make a recommendation

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till town meeting four and if it doesn't close before town meeting. >> It's here. It's in yellow and it's uh about twothirds way down first page. >> It would be the one we sent out. >> Yeah. >> I sent out in the afternoon. I would

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recommend we strike construction just because I know they're for the construction, but usually if you just say design that means it's not going to fund construction. >> No, it says design and construction document. >> I know it's just a little >> Well, we've already approved design

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documents last year. >> Well, 50 grand, >> right? Well, that was a conceptual design. This is for final design. just put a clause in front of it saying subject to >> okay >> something something but you know or is it too complicated?

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>> I think it needs to be adjusted because we're not yet >> I'd leave it out. >> That's what I'm thinking. >> I'm just going back to Gar's comment. You know I mean we've rolled through this for two years. It'd be great to have approval and and be able to add it in, but

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I leave it out. >> And this isn't really a large capital project. You're right. Correct. >> It's not like the other ones that are asking for >> exclusions. All the other ones are asking for a debt exclusion or the the

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library is the cash capital exclusion. Okay, we'll leave this up. Um, I added I had had under financial highlights some things in parentheses next to the 11% town increase. And I've taken those

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out and instead I added a paragraph just under where this yellow highlight was that said the increase in the operating budget is impacted by health insurance legal expenses state pension retirement plan contribution a new trash collection

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contract snow removal fully preunding the OPEC unfunded liability and additional staff and then I go into the added the new staff. I thought that just kind of dealt with >> I have to meet with Andrea

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um to get at this 11% number. I personally was shocked when I calculated it. >> Well, they put everything on a excludable bond. >> No, that doesn't include the

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>> Well, that's accounting. >> It's not. >> That's just That's staff. That's the operating budget went up a little insurance. >> I was surprised when I read that. I thought it was a typo when I >> I was shocked and then I looked because

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>> I mean we're not >> unfortunately and it frustrated me because unfortunately this report didn't give us the percentages. So it was when I went to sit down to do this report and I said

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>> um that the operating budget is increasing 11%. Well, I totaled all your >> Sorry. Go ahead, Dean. >> I was going to say that I totaled all the um

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approximate annual costs from the bonds and came up with is about a 6% increase. Oh, >> it was the whole budget. So, we have the 2% in operating 6% from this exclusion. >> No, we have

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we have the health insurance that came in at the 15%. That's part of the 2%. >> No, >> the overall budget tax rate it's going up 2% but then outside of the tax. >> No, the the debt service uh the debt

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exclusion is included in the tax rate. The two it's in the two because it's part of debt service. Look, we don't >> for fiscal year 27, she has included the cost of bond anticipation notes for all of

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these capital projects. Plus, she assumed that the dredging would have a long-term bond within fiscal year 27. >> Includes interest on the bands of all of these

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capital projects. So it's not in addition to this. >> Okay. >> It's included in this number. >> Then why is it excluded from the budget? Why is it an exclusion? >> It's an authorization for the town to go out and issue

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long-term bonds because once once the long-term bonds are issued, >> they're going to be outside of Proposition two and a half. >> Right? So you have to authorize the debt exclusion before you bid on the project.

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>> You just say once more for me. >> So the increase in the operating budget is the sum of all these things listed. >> Those are the things that are outside the normal increases.

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>> Okay, that's the key word normal. So the so the OPEB is 200 is 420,000. >> That is 1% is about 390,000. >> So that's over 1%. >> The key is you said normal.

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>> Yeah. But what I don't understand is how we still fit within the proposition 2 and a half% guidelines >> even though we had some excess >> with the town budget going up. I know that we decreased

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the cash capital exclusion from 660 down to 250. Um, >> and you don't include the school one. The operating budget is >> well the school >> is impacted by >> was the 3.33,

341
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>> right? But I don't see it listed. It it says health insurance. >> I'm talking top town operating budget. Do I need to add in town? >> The word town would be important. >> Should we have our auditors check Andrea's spreadsheet before

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>> I I I think I just have to sit down and look at the numbers. >> I know. Yeah. >> And and figure it out. Um because the and I need to get from Andrea something updated because I don't have the final numbers yet.

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I was I was surprised at that earlier, Sarah. I looked at this earlier this morning and I went back to our budget book that we got the most recent >> and on page five, it lists expenditures for everything, government, public

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safety, public works, human services, all the way down the list. And it's >> but it includes the school. >> It includes the school. It's true. But in 26 the budgeted number was 44,88,257 and the recommended this year is 44,140

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and and it >> includes it includes the capital >> and the operating it the differences in the capital when you when you see that number um because the capital expenditure has

346
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decreased by a 1 a million1 153. So that's now in >> I was just pulling the school out of the equation. >> That's now in the operating. >> Correct. Yeah. Okay. I see. >> I think the big thing was when we didn't have the 660,000

347
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annual exclusion that we've been using because that would have not so that would >> that's just a little bit over 1%. So, so what I have to do is sit down and figure out how this all fits within the two and a half%. >> Right. Right.

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>> I mean, it just And I think it's So, if the capital dropped 1.1 million, we're only using I got to look at the taxation of the capital between the two years. And I think that's what the difference is.

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>> Taxation capital. Wouldn't it be this estimated expenditure number minus capital and minus for both 26 and 27 and compare the delta? >> No, I what I'm reacting to is the operating budget went up 11%.

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But the overall tax rate is going up 2%. >> Yes, I understand. Uh I'm this is going to sound stupid, but how much has the assessed assess assessment base gone up during >> that doesn't impact this because the estimated tax rate is based on last

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year's assessment. >> And what about last year and the year before? >> Right. >> No, no, no. That doesn't impact any of these calculations. Gar. >> Okay. We're what what we're calculating is the increase in the dollars spent in

352
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the budget as a percentage of the prior year dollars spent >> that calculated >> and the town operating budget increased 11%. and to derive that. >> So the the capital

353
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expenditure through track taxation had to define in order to get within proposition 2 and a half the portion of capital your point. Yes, >> from taxation. >> So that's right. That's why Lori says doesn't work.

354
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>> 660,000 in capital exclusion last year. >> It's only 1%. It's not the capital exclusion. It's the portion of the capital budget paid from taxation. Last year we used over a million dollars from from the fund balance,

355
01:43:27.360 --> 01:43:44.639
>> right? This year we were using 225 and >> that's >> so I think that when you start adding all that together that explains >> why you get such a high percentage >> what a high percentage in >> a most you can support a high percentage

356
01:43:44.639 --> 01:44:00.639
in operating because you're spending much less in capital. Yeah. >> So 11% >> that's a big >> growth >> in dollars. How does that compare to 2%? >> No. No. The 2% is calculated based on dollars too, Tony.

357
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>> No, but I mean 2% growth of the tax rate compared to 11% growth in the in the general fund. Is that what you're >> No. So, our total tax rate is going up 2%.

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>> Which equals 1 point, would you say it was about 600? 1% is uh >> 2% it's about 800,000. >> 800. >> Yeah. But our operating budget

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is increasing 11%. which means that we have a negative percent from taxation going to the capital >> right because

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>> plus plus that 1% from the decrease in the capital exclusion >> and my question >> and also I think there's also an increase in the revenue assumption I think Andrea said something about an increase in the revenue assumption >> a little bit yeah because we're doing Um

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my question is does that need suppose it gets recalculated confirmed and all the rest and remains a big number that needs a paragraph >> well or I need to speak to >> technical issues >> or it needs I think it's something I need to speak to at town meeting

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>> ah >> okay >> people going to see this 11%. I know that's why I'm saying what I'm saying. >> I mean, we know that the health insurance went up 15, but it's it's the difference between the 2% tax increase

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and seeing an 11% increase in the operating. >> Uh I I still have have to ask the question, how much is have our tax revenues increased? >> We're we're not Gar. We're not talking about actual revenues.

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We're talking about an estimate based on what we're spending in fiscal year 27 against the current assessed value that we used in 26 because we don't know the 27 assessed values.

365
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So the um this the the tax rate in So it's 2%

366
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it's 2% of the it's $800,000. increase in taxation for fiscal year 27. Um, but we're bonding we're, you know, we're got capital with bonding.

367
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Um, our capital is down. Can I toss out something here, Sarah, that might be helpful? >> So, if we look on our budget book, page five, it summarizes expenditures, >> right? >> I added up general government, public

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safety, public works, other environmental, human services, library, parks, and wreck. I stop there. I did not add debt and everything else. Just >> you got to add debt because that's in the operating, >> right? Okay. So we can add debt and the the delta there is going to make this

369
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even different. But okay, I came up in 26 with 15 million $13,918. >> Yeah. >> And then in 26 uh 27 our our TA recommended budget, it totals 16,573

370
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685. Those two differ right there by 9.7%. And I think you're right. If we add the debt in there, it was871133 last year and the recommendation this year is

371
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>> 300,000. >> 300,000 >> more. Yeah. Which is another 1%. >> Yeah. I mean that the the amount the budgeted amount was 871 and the recommended amount this year is 1.1 1,171,000. That is going to bring us up to about

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11%. >> Yeah. So that's so when you look at that budget book and you pick up the first one two three four five six seven eight line items that pretty much gets you to the 11% we're talking about. Look, wait a minute.

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Wait a minute. I didn't get the floor on the number. What's it? Um, >> no. I I wonder if I took the 11% from general government.

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Oh, I'm gonna just tell you right now what the general government delta is. It's >> 11.09. That's what it says on page five. >> Right. Right. >> I bet I took it from general government. So Andrea has to give me >> what the percentage increase is in the

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town operating budget for this year. So that wouldn't it's page five but it's page five if you don't include enterprise school the three school capital improvements CP >> I don't want to do that calculation I

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want Andrea to give me >> I know I'm just asking is if that's >> it's the operating budget >> which is it article four, right? It's it's article four in the

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warrant is the operating budget. She didn't react to it, would she? So the operating budget in so article 4 last year was 17767.

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>> Yeah, that's that's it shows it there. Last year's number >> and then what's it this year? >> 19 600 223. >> So is that 11%. But some of those so the funding source

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matter there in that number because some of it is >> No, >> we're talking operating budget. We're talking operating budget. >> Okay. >> So sir, I just ran that again and I added in debt service for both years >> and it comes up to 11.1%.

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And and there are definitely some big drivers here. The big general government is up 11%. Public works is up 11.5% and debt service is up 34%. >> It's a $1.8 million increase.

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>> Yeah. >> Um >> so almost half of that is trash and and health insurance. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's okay. >> Just have to explain that. >> You have to explain why taxes are only

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going up 2%. >> Yeah. Yep. >> And I think some of it's coming from expense um revenue assumptions, >> right? >> Um and some is coming because we're not spending as much taxation on capital, >> right?

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>> But you know, usually we we estimate usually we underestimate revenues and overestimate costs. >> But that >> but the overestimating of costs here at 11% means the revenue has got to be really optimistic. I'm guessing

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>> well we we increased inspectional fees to cover the added position and we increase well we haven't yet but the proposal is to increase that and bag fees >> to cover some of the uh increase costs on the trash.

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>> Right. Well, I'll have >> I pull anything up last year's estimated I don't have any information either >> as to what the >> seems >> the tax rate >> still >> calculation >> that doesn't cover I yeah

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>> what >> the 11's high >> no I'm just if >> you also have >> if estimated expenses gone up a million >> you do have you have another you know in the in the fire department girls and staff there we're covered one state

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Right. And that's only three quarters. We're only >> minimal. Healthcare must be the big big driver. >> It's $270,000. >> Everything up. >> No, I'm just trying to figure out how we

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got to this 11% on um expenditures. I mean it's like question the school went up three and a half just like the whole budget. So how do we know we've been coming across maybe 20 prior years?

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>> No but school is in code school with 2% increase in tax. I mean really that's the budget >> fire department >> fire department trash and health insurance >> and you've been saying that all along at least trash and health insurance.

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>> I'm not including the position inspectional services because it's covered by the fee >> oped for the difference between last year. We are putting more towards OPED this year >> than we have before

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>> 20 versus 360 in years past >> the debt that so the debt service >> that's the interest on the bands for those five clean projects that's why it went >> so that's a that's a big >> it went up it's 1% on almost 1% on the t

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that tells that's a lot right there. Well, when I when I first of all had not included debt service, we were at 9.7%. Just looking at at the five items above it, six items above it,

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but general government is a big one as is public works. I think that's probably drag. >> Well, it was the the state retirement contribution.

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The other ones are thousands. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, there's 300 there's 300,000 almost exactly in public works, which is probably trash. >> Yeah. Trash was I think 280 something

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like that. It is as a matter of fact in public works the increase trash is more than everything else combined that increased but you had a decrease in disposal costs right >> so the overall cost went up even more

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than what trash went up >> y yeah trash was 280 41% increase >> trash is up >> my question is what's the best way to explain that's my question >> so last year from taxation we spend

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1.8 8 million to >> on taxation. Okay. >> Well, this year we're spending 1.3. So, it's only 500,000 difference. >> Oh, I think it's about 300,000. You're right.

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>> Debt service last year was 800,00 payment of taxation for capital. Yeah. >> Which is a difference of 500. I don't know. I got to sit down and do these. But it's driving me crazy when I saw that 11% number. >> Write the 71 to check it tomorrow. Should be a

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>> little I mean I've got to talk to Andrea. >> Should we have another meeting? >> No. What are we going to discuss in the meeting? >> The t the percentage. >> This is a roll. This is a roll up of all our meetings through the year,

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>> you know, and as I was just saying, I don't remember any question. It's just it's just an I there's no question these numbers are rough. >> Yeah. >> Okay. How do you explain an 11% increase in the operating budget, >> right?

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>> The question is why are our taxes only going up 2%. >> Well, I think you just explained most of it >> and it's just a matter of >> explaining it. I was wondering how they because that explanation fairly sophisticated

402
01:58:01.280 --> 01:58:18.159
>> and I noticed it and >> when you're when you're >> went into shock when I saw it and then I kept rolling on the report and I didn't touch base with Andrea and >> when you're when you're calculating the 2% increase you're comparing last year

403
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that's right in which includes last year's capital exclusion No, >> it does not >> because Oh, wait a minute. Let me look. Let me look. Yes, it does.

404
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>> And then So, are you comparing it to does this year's number include the potential capital exclusion of 225? >> 250 this year. >> 250. >> Yes, that's included in getting to the

405
01:58:49.920 --> 01:59:09.040
2% fees. So that so that's bringing just bringing it down only 400,000 only 1%. >> Yep. >> I guess the question is is what's the dollar amount change in the general?

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>> Yeah, that's just like way down at the very bottom. If you add up everything is 44 44,888,000 last year. That's school everything. the whole nut and this year it's 44,140

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which is not that big a change when you look at the big thing >> right >> when you pull out the subsection of the seven article the seven items that make our operating they're all increasing quickly but other things are >> as a percentage of the overall picture that's not as big as the whole as the

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school which is level kind of >> pretty level and um >> right the school is level >> and our and our regular capital is less >> by 500,000. >> Well, >> is is more is less this year in taxation

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by 500,000. >> Correct. But I'm adding up. I mean, last year we were at 3.55 million and this year the recommendation is 2.4 million. So, we've actually pulled effectively a million out of capital on a on an operating like year-to-year basis.

410
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roads, roads, street, not the big stuff that we're special articling on. >> Yeah, but you're not raising you're not including the payment on those debt >> correct

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>> exclusion articles in your tax rate. >> Right. Right. >> So, the issue is what you're including in your tax rate. >> Right. I mean, warrant articles went down 2026. The warrant articles were around

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990,000. Now they're down to 421. So that's 500 off there. So when you start looking at the whole picture, a bunch of these things are lower than town operating. >> Yeah. And that's what I have. >> And that's what's that's that's sort of

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your answer is it's just like some things are growing and a bunch of other stuff is sort of The one thing we need to cut to pay off interest bills is operating costs. >> Well, I think

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capital is what our annual cap is. I said this a few >> that it's the the annual capital that suffers at the end of the day. >> Yeah, exactly. And it's going to continue, right?

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But okay. Well, >> we were talking about the annual report. >> I think it's good the way you've written it. Um, I think I notice you have put in a little bit of information about a forward look >> because, you know, we we're asking the

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02:01:56.800 --> 02:02:14.080
voters to prove 30 million in capital. And this is this is not this is this is not going to be the first time. We've got maybe Essex Elementary coming up in the fall and then I'm sure in the next five years there's going to be another Tapen Street and there's going to be another

417
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>> street. >> Yeah. >> So I changed the the first paragraph and looking ahead to fiscal year 28 in the final report >> to better. >> Yeah. >> And I added in the new Essex Elementary School which hadn't been in there.

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>> Yeah. So basically saying we feel we can pretty much stay within two and a half if the things outside our control don't create a problem but for a fiveyear capital plan demonstrates the need for future debt exclusional.

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>> Yes. Yeah. >> And then listed the stuff. >> Right. Start of the capital. >> Right. Sarah. >> Yes. >> When you've talked, would you come to the Slack board on

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Monday after you talk to Andrea and explain this to us? >> Sure. >> I can go ahead. >> A lot of assumptions going in on that. >> Yeah, I can do that >> because it's going to be People are going to ask. I I I understand.

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You could explain it just fine, but I'd like to hear >> hear the chair of finance committee. I'll look at it tomorrow. I'll send if if I can't resolve it, I'll send Andrea an email. I'm sure she'll

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respond to an email tomorrow. Oh, yeah. Pretty She's pretty good. Yep. I'm gonna be doing math all night now. This is good. I gota I have to solve this puzzle. >> I just didn't spend on it. >> Yeah.

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>> And it it just if I were a taxpayer, I would say how can we increase the budget by 11% and my taxes are only going up by 2%. >> But this is not unique. This happens a lot. This happens like every year. there's something that jumps up really really high and then compared to the

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prior year it doesn't work and then when you look at the overall picture it's pretty consistent. >> Is that true? Because we're moving so much more to where we fund capital from. I mean there are many and we're using up the full

425
02:04:43.360 --> 02:05:00.560
>> like some years of school capacity coming that's because of the the cash capital exclusion. So because we dropped the cash capital exclusion by over 1% of the taxes,

426
02:05:00.560 --> 02:05:16.800
if we hadn't done that, the tax rate would have been over three. This tax rate increase would have been over 3%. So that impacted the tax rate >> sure increase which is why

427
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it's lower than two and a half plus the excess level capacity. But I asked I did ask that question. >> Well, like three years ago, we had a town increase of like 1.7%. >> But we had a school increase of like 3.7%.

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>> Right. >> And and it all it just kind of >> it's always a surprise when you roll everything up and >> that 11% is a big increase. >> It's very high. Then any resident who reads that in this book, >> right, >> is going to say, "My god, why are we

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increasing 11% and why are my taxes only increasing 2%." >> Exactly. And as we've gone through say 11%, not focusing on what you've gone to the next step, >> right? >> So >> that's what I just want to be able to >> explain. Explain it.

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>> And you think the best is to explain it as opposed to write anything further. Well, I'll I'll see if I can figure it out tomorrow to put it in the report >> because I think it needs to be in both places. >> I I agree, >> but >> because it's a fairly complicated thing

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here. >> Unfortunate that this this >> does the this budget thing doesn't give us clear numbers, right? >> I hate having to add everything up. >> Andrea, we'll give you the answer. Does the um does the transfer of uh funds

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from enterprise to pay off some of that debt weigh into that a little bit because that's not tax money that's >> going in towards >> you're talking about the warrant article or the 161 moving I mean it's not a lot of money

433
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but it factor in a little bit right >> but the debt service went up a chunk that's probably >> 3500% that's a contributor 100,000. >> It all adds. It's just all there. And you're, you know, >> it's just that we're adding additional

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dollars in the operating budget. So therefore, we have to be offsetting those increase in dollars to the operating from other articles.

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>> We're kicking more capital to exclude >> that doesn't impact it. I think to your point, it'll be a good next year to have percentages in this report. Yeah. >> Because going through I have I've been always looking for things that have huge jumps and I don't feel like we

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>> had a Oh my gosh, this is way outside what we've done in the past. I don't feel we've had any of those moments and the 11% is a little surprising here. >> Right. Okay. I want the agenda.

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>> She has she has percentage in on the in the notes on the right side like if you go department by department, >> right? >> Yeah. But not the total. >> No, I I know. But to Mory's point of like when we were going through

438
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department by department, a percentage didn't stand out to you, right? Is that what you >> No, we paid attention to that. I just It's a discrepancy between the tax increase

439
02:08:41.679 --> 02:09:01.679
and the increase in the operating budget. And part of it is because an increase in the operating but is not synonymous with a tax increase >> which would explain why nothing jumped out during that process.

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>> That's right. It's all kind of Yeah. >> Right. So I just have to look at that. Otherwise, I think the the report you've written, Sarah, is good. Strong. Thank you for >> Thank you.

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>> tearing up heavy rocks on that one. >> Um, okay. So, I guess the only other item on the agenda which has vanished, >> you might next thing is town administrator and finance director's updates. >> You have anything Tony?

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in space. >> That's a general question. >> You narrow it down. >> Got an update on the >> Okay. >> Senior center. >> So, yeah, we already so minutes. >> Yep.

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>> People had a chance to look at the minutes. >> Yeah. >> Minutes look fine to me. Question. >> The only minor minor comment was the meeting to adjourn. Um, John Croft took abstained from that, but in the

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in the uh vote to approve minutes where he wasn't present, it said unanimous. So, I think our AI machine is flipping >> mildly. It's it's a it's a detail. >> Okay. >> I thought the minutes were fine.

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>> I thought the minutes were fine. I moved. So you approved the minutes with an amendment that >> John Croft abstained from approving the minutes >> and the vote to >> and he voted to adjourn. >> Ajourn was unanimous. >> Okay. >> Okay.

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>> Yeah. >> Second by me. >> Okay. >> Have a vote. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dean Gar. Yeah. His hand is raised. Okay. We're good.

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Anything else? Next meeting is the 16th. >> Right. >> People let me know if there's anything specific you want other mental health. >> Um with that I'll take a

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motion to adjurnn. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> Okay. Thank you. I'm I am uh I'll be hosting uh some town meeting informational session.