Wednesday, July 8th, and I will call finance committee meeting to order. Um, I have with me from the finance committee,
John, Peter, Amy, and myself, Sarah Melish. Um, this is a joint meeting with the select board. We also have a run finance in 25.
>> Yeah. And we have the select board here in this joint meeting of the select board and the finance committee and those in attendance from the select board are Harrison, Jeff Delaney, I see Kathy Bada online,
myself, John Brown. I don't know if Brian did Brian say he was making it or not making it last night. He's not here essential four. >> Okay, that's good enough. Okay,
the first item on the agenda is to discuss and vote on the fiscal year year-end transfers >> and thin reserve transfers. And I think Andrea sent information out um which was
a very good summary of all of the items we're going to vote on. Does everyone have that? >> Yep. Yep. >> I'm going to need a hard copy of that that Andrea, I will turn it over to you.
want to start off with the top total amount of transfers. Um so after 26 in this list was like $486,5447. Um I found um over $630,000 available on these
transfers. >> Meaning that the under spending in various accounts adds up to the 630. >> Yes. >> Is this number are these numbers similar to prior years? >> They are. >> Yeah. I mean, this is pretty much I know the account there.
>> Yeah, last year we had a little bit more. Um, this year's >> and I I just will remind people that we don't have 1623 tonight. So, our only microphone is at the top of the >> TV. So, we speak >> no mumbling.
>> I don't feel like I'm in the right direction. Can you hear me? >> Andrea, does the 630 include reserve fund or is that separate from the surf >> rightclud?
So just for people who don't work with us all the time, the next time you do it, it'd be handy to have the major categories so that it's easy to tell that you in fact transferring within a major category. Okay,
the list of the transfers um numbered that might be helpful. Uh the first one is the selecting salaries. Um we needed to cover some additional hours and rate increase for the communications coordinator that was not included in the FY26 budget. Um it had started in January 2025. Um and we also had the
benefit payout for the former town administrator that hit FY26. That was also not budgeted. Was he had not taken vacation? Is that correct? Okay. Why wasn't that already
in the budget from the years when he didn't take it? >> Well, um because like we acrewed vacation and so since he didn't take it, he had acrewed that vacation. So when he retired, he was due that amount. Um and
we thought he was going to retire in June. Hi team. longer after that. >> How much can you acrew? >> It's depends on your like how many weeks you get per year. So if you have four
weeks per year, um you can crew up to six technically because you're allowed to carry over >> but it doesn't go beyond I mean that's it. That's >> the post you're allowed to carry over two weeks.
Well, here's the thing though. I mean, after if he didn't make the transfer before he retired, would it be like a pension thing? I mean, if there's no money in the budget, it breaks. >> No, it doesn't work that way, too. >> It's a contractual right to to be paid
your acrewed vacation. >> But >> it happens in business all the time. >> There's no money in the budget. >> Yes, there is. We're doing a transfer to cover. You you can't you can't just not pay a contractual
obligation. >> No, I I agree. You can't. But I mean, if he didn't make the transfer, then it could be part of his pension. >> Well, sometimes >> even a preloaded thing. So you're, you know, the the fiscal year that you plan
to retire in is budgeted and build on the previous year. You may not have even made a decision to retire yet. And at that point, you couldn't really determine how much payout is going to be needed at the end of the year. So it's it's kind of
hard task to plan for in a sense. So we plug in the average number every year and there might be some people taking more vacation. >> He can't carry it over. That's the problem. >> Why can he?
>> Because contracts allow. >> Okay. Maybe we need to look at that. >> We we we in my previous town we budgeted a like a vacation by a line item each year. Um,
and then if you didn't need it, it would, you know, fall to free cash. We didn't have the ability to incorporate that into this year's budget, but it's something that you could think about in the future want. >> That's just one more patterned item in the budget as well.
>> Right. But it is it is a common item, corporate America. I think it's a it's a it's a useful benefit to provide portions. >> Is it says including vacation time is sick time or something included there?
Is it all vacation time? >> Sick time as well. Yeah. Would that be it? Any other categories? Just those two and together it added up to $25,000. No, it's 14,100. >> Oh, okay. All right. The >> difference was for the communications
board. Oh. Uh right there two two items. >> Yes. >> Which we did adjust the communications coordinator salary for the current fiscal year in the previous budget cycle. So we shouldn't come have that issue. >> Why didn't
>> I don't plan on retiring either. So it shouldn't be an issue. So the increase started in the middle of the year so we can budget in fiscal year. >> I'm impressed the line it's coming from.
I always think health insurance is only the last drop. Is that because less expensive? I I I'm just bought by that. >> I think we we lucked out. Um we usually have a pad of a couple family plans, any kind of health insurance, and we thought
for sure like, you know, within the hiring of like the fire um department um staff and things like that, but um it's not >> the big is the lag between why you get the rates and when you kind of have to
tapped that a lot of times here. Yeah. Uh the next one is select an expense. I hope you recall last year um we also need to transfer because we had originally planned on going from right now we have 10 like 10 hours and we did
when we first started with this agreement with the town of Hamilton for shared HR services. Um but then we had said okay like well maybe we don't need that many maybe we need to do eight per week. So we were negotiating that. it ended up falling uh falling through. Uh
so we stayed at the 10, but we never pledged to. We bud based off the eight for 25 and 26. Uh so we've adjusted that for 27, but that's why this is here. >> So was that just an oversight when the 26 budget was being done? Seems to me,
>> right? It was. >> Okay. Um the next one is IT expenses. I spoke with you before about um we have a lot of additional Adobe licenses. Um we were fortunate enough about to hang on for a long time with getting like the one time
Adobe fee. Um you know where you could just like you know buy CD and like download it stuff but that's no longer the case unfortunately. So now it's all subscription based. um we did like know do a review of who needed what and you know put people in the levels that they
needed so please it's not just one blanket >> this context what is website accessibility and I don't know what that means in this context >> so the website accessibility is um the state is requiring ADA accessibility for our websites
>> um so this was like a kind of like okay well this is the first step of what we can do for it so um this allows like that you can go in change settings on the website so that it becomes more um accessible and friendly. Um and so that that came up
was original question. I know I think there's more requirements coming down the pipe for that that we're working on. >> They did they gave us an extra year or two to become compliant but it's going
to be a big project. It is all documents past and present >> past and present and future have to be meet this ADA compliance. >> So to me >> to me this kind of expense as a after
the fact I mean this should have been a big expense. I I'm sorry, but uh if you can't plan this in a budget, why this is like to keep the budget process honest, we should like try to make a conception out of this year's budget to cover some of this because why wouldn't this have
been in last year's budget? But >> it's a license. They have a schedule when you expire and when you renew them. And >> why are we exceeding that all of a sudden at the last minute? What's the emergency? No, these transfers were not
exceeding the approved budget. We changed the way we budgeted a few years ago um so that we're budgeting in groupings with the anticipation at the end of the year we would move money around
>> within a group. >> Yes. So, so we're not exceeding anything we budgeted. It's just the line on which it appeared. Um, so it's not like it there's nothing to fund from this year's budget because we have the and we're
still putting about 140 odd,000 into reserves. >> It just seems like the residents are at a big disadvantage with the system. Maybe we need to look at the structure. Well, in the
to Sarah's point, it's a moving of of funds from one account to another to cover a cost which may have been appropriated inefficiently in that particular line item. But at the
end of the day, we have underspent what was appropriated to the tune of 630,000. And the transfers that we're talking about is 486,000. So we're we're actually to the we're actually spending less than what we
appropriated by 43 >> 43,000. >> Normally any overages just go into the rain barrel. And this is like picking the pocket of the rain barrel. >> Go ahead, Kathy. >> Hi. Um so I understand uh Dean's
concern. I guess the way Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I guess the way I'm viewing this is that um as as long as these decisions are made during the year and we are just doing
the cleanup financially, I'm okay. My concern is that I want to make sure the department heads understand when they are spending more on a line item in their budget and they're at that time
they are understanding where the overage is going to come from rather than you know so I'm assuming that if you know you know Todd or you know Jake or whatever had a had an overage in one line item before they overspend in one
line item. I'm assuming they would go to Andrea and say, "Hey, I need to spend a little more here, but I think I've got it covered under this other line item." As long as those conversations are happening, I'm okay. If those conversations are not happening, then
then I think we need to um you know, consider the process that we have, reconsider the process we have. I mean, >> let Andrew respond to what Kathy said, please. >> Say, yes, they Kathy, they are those conversations are happening on a
continual basis. >> Good. Okay. That's what I that's what I, you know, I didn't want to assume. I wanted to ask, but I presume that the department heads, if they have to overspend in one area, they're talking to Andrea to make sure they've got the money covered somewhere else so that
they're not overspending as a whole, right? Because otherwise, we we'll get into trouble. And and to be fair, Andrea has raised a lot of these issues to the finance committee during the year. So these are
not surprises to us. We were aware of, >> right? >> The surprise is that there's no overtime in it. >> Which is a good surprise to have, right? Just want people to understand my perspective from a resident that's
saying, "Oh, so I couldn't get a a senior couldn't get a ride to the doctor because the employees needed fancy upgraded licenses, you know, because that's what it looks like though, >> right? Indeed, the alternative to this is during the budget season, we raise all
the numbers of the budget. It doesn't get spent and it all rolls to free cash, which is not what we wanted. We've been fighting that issue for years and will be. So, I mean, coming up with Andrea telling us through the year, we always ask, "What's going on with the budget?
What are you worried about? What things are running a little heavy?" And you tell us about it. So, none of this is really a surprise. And then we sit down within the last two weeks of the year and we move things around within categories. And I believe the first one was a surprise.
>> I don't think that was enough. One last >> I think we also just to add to that we also like this past year looked back at previous year transfers >> like in legal for example and identified
that as like a consistent trend, >> right? And so we made changes in the budget planning for the upcoming fiscal year to you know uh increase the line item in legal to rightsize it for the budget so that it's not you know so
we're kind of adjusting for those trends as well. >> Y >> um so I think there's like that extra layer too that's planning ahead. >> I also want to add to to see like your your point about like some of these and how how they're not in the budget. the
Adobe licenses we like we did not know that Adobe was going to stop with their like model >> and then switch to subscription based in order to like we could have I could have said no like I did say no to some people for their Adobe licenses and we did a
review for review of okay who needs what and you know do you really need Adobe or can you use just a PDF reader um it wasn't just like a you know we need some licenses for everybody and it was you know and it's it's something that is helpful for our business and how we operate like, you know, we need Adobe,
we need like the signing, we need, you know, watermarks, some stuff like that in some departments. Um, so that's why it was, you know, it's just an additional cost that was not >> a lot a lot of the volunteer professionals on all these boards would
know better that something like blue beam is what's coming up and this is an antiquated system that >> Yeah. So that's on our plan. to look at. >> So Andrew, >> Andrew did this for that point for or number three, you just happened to put COA salaries there. You know the running rate whenever this hit, maybe it was the
middle of the year or something and you said, "Oh, the subscription deal is moving around. I need more money." >> And it wasn't there in the budget, but you're looking at all of the other items and you said, "This isn't a problem." At the end of the day, you said, "I'm going to tap the COA because you well, I don't know if you knew at that time there was
going to be extra money there because I'm not sure when you had left, but I know where that money was coming from here." And at the end, you say, "This is most convenient to take from that particular plot." >> But you weren't thinking that necessarily when you said, "Oh, the idea expenses are going up and I think I'm going to have to do this."
>> Okay. >> Yeah. The the COA is really like when I go and do this, I go through and I say, "Okay, like this is where my concerns are. where like estimates I think it's going to be but I don't want to ask for a transfer if I don't know what the total amount is because some of these actually went down from my original
estimates. Um and so then like then after that I just go through and I look at like okay what big pockets of money that I can take. Otherwise I don't if you remember last year I had some transfers that I was taking like $500 here $1,000 here. Um but just for ease that's why you assign certain
>> based on certain categories here because there are fewer entries >> and that provides a very good paper trail for me because you know knowing that because there was a personnel change where you knew a lot of money was >> because people couldn't get rid and she
may not have known that at the time because that person may not have left at the time you said I need this >> No I get it there was extra money when we had the person there. Um the next one is assessor expenses. So um most of you know there assessor left and we have an inter principal assessor
that we paid through as a vendor. Um so we need to transfer the salary portion of the salary to the professional services to cover that inter person. So when you have that situation,
I mean obviously you you don't have enough in the assessor salary budget to cover the full amount, but aren't I correct? You also have savings in benefit accounts because you're not paying benefits to the contracted employee. >> Correct.
No health insurance. Correct. >> No retirement. Correct. >> Right. Like normally that's why it looks like you know when normally when I have these kind of things happen the vendor rate is higher than what the employee rate would be but that's because like we're kind of paying their benefit a
little bit but it's still a savings to the town. >> So with these funds are you tapping the benefit lines also or just simply the salary line? >> I picked the salary line and I I the lady had some expenses. So I just use their profession services kind of related.
>> Okay. uh legal professional services. We kind of talked about this before. We have a lot of CDA cases. Um we have the 4B uh there's a planning board case, a health department case, the central on Colbert um and some
others. So I have those in front of me ask questions on that. How amazing you found $80,000. Um, did we allocate money last November to the legal
services budget? We did not. Okay. So, we haven't done any adjustment. We didn't do any adjustment to the legal service budget during the fiscal year 26. Correct. Okay. >> That's a I'm just looking. The budget last year was 185.
They took a lead over that. So, can I raise a point for the assessors? Um, if we still don't have a new assessor and we're paying extra for an interim, can we like suspend the policy that calls for assessing every
year? Maybe the state only recommends every 10 years. So, maybe we can minimize some >> I don't think we're paying. your total dean because we're paying we're not our benefits are we're saving in the benefits and the health insurance.
So even though it looks like it's more >> this is the assessor >> right for the assessors when we pay the contracted employee we don't get any other expenses attached to >> I'm saying we can reduce our invoice to them because we have like extra
assessing power right now it doesn't seem like it's required >> I don't agree >> I'd like to sp ship more money on permitting because I'm still hearing a lot of complaints about delays in permitting And I don't understand why that all this
effort is in assessing when the residents need permit. >> Well, they're bringing they're making a full-time person in the building permitting area. >> Well, just just wanted to bring awareness that's still the case.
>> I agree that the permits are an issue, >> but every time we throw money into it, it goes recessive. No, it's not. Well, the past couple weeks >> they're now separating positions, so we shouldn't have that problem going forward,
>> right? I'm unaware of the problem that's um I guess I want to know more about what it is that you guys are hearing about. Well, but I'm happy to. Yes, we will have more staffing power to address
whatever that issue is. >> I mean, you look online and some of the building permits take over a month to issue. I don't know the particulars behind it, but that's a long time. I had a building permit issued in a day. >> Yeah. But sometimes it's because not
everything is sometimes because not everything's submitted. You never know what the but I've always heard a I've received a lot of positive commentary about how quickly things get
processed there. But um if there's stuff I don't know about, I want to know about it and happy to try to address those. >> Yeah, stupid question. Does the assessor medically assessed or do we get assessments through Patriot? >> The it's a it's a combination. Um most
towns most most towns have gone to a model where they lean heavily on like a Patriot properties to do your initial assessment and then the assessor is basically doing a review and maybe a closer look at particular properties to
ensure that it's accurate. Um, we're taking a closer look at the entire formula and with uh adding of a full-time assistant clerk for assessing
uh you know if we if we do hire a full-time principal assessor, is it possible that we can bring some of those consultant costs inhouse and do more work in house or you know some alternative? But >> so if that happens mid year, we'll see
other problems because you'll have expenses that go with salary and >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I think that the next one is land use salaries. Um I under budgeted HC park hours. Um I'll
admit I also did the same thing for 27 28 note now when we originally talked about hiring a land use clerk that land use clerk was going to do the historic district commission as well as the other
functions they're doing. Are we looking at that again? and they were going to do affordable housing trucks. We were getting rid of a lot of the part-time. >> When we hired the most recent land use clerk, we did make amendments to that
job description, but I don't recall exactly if historic commission was part of that. I I'll double check, but I remember we upgrade updated that um job description
to include the things that it was, you know, the committees that are supposed to handle, >> right? for land use land use expenses lower. >> It like we combines all departments like
those um conservation, historic district um zoning and planning and historically like all of those had like some kind of balances left over and just it just so happens that adding all those together is a little bit more. So I'll get my
honey. Well, I think in this fiscal year was when we hired the land use clerk which took over the administrative pieces of the other boards like ZBA used
to have its own administrative person. Now it's a lame juice clerk doing so they would have ZBA would have saved on expenses. >> Okay. So, so their the arrangement with the their assistance was contract and
not salary. Now, they were employees, but they were part-time employees. >> So, expenses, >> less supplies, less things like that. >> Yeah. >> Next one, number seven, is facilities expense. I should have renamed that.
It's actually town hall title. So this is the town hall seaside one of electricity. Um most of it is from like last the end of last summer. Um there's a lot of heat rates. Um I'm still in the process of
doing analysis on that. Um this year are we looking at more control over the temperatures that are in town hall? >> Yes. >> Yeah. because I mean when we switched to
be this new system, it was going to save us money. Um, and it just seems to me like every time I walk into town hall, in the summer it's cold, in the winter it's hot. And I personally keep my thermostat
down during the day. I don't keep it in the mid70s. Sarah, Sarah, >> go ahead, Kathy. >> Yeah, sorry. I had a question. Um, so Andrea, how much of the electricity cost that the town hall is spending is due to
the free electricity we are giving to electric vehicle uh charging. The first two hours of any electric vehicle charging is free. I've asked repeat and I am an electric vehicle owner. I'm an electric vehicle household, but I'm
telling you, we don't need it to be free. Okay? So, I don't know how much we are giving away, but I respectfully again ask that we stop. >> We're we're that's definitely on our list to take a closer look at that and
make some sort of proposal of how to adjust accordingly. What what electric vehicle owners care about is reliability and accessibility. We have that. We don't need it to be free. It's much less
than spending filling up the tank at the at the gas pump. That's one of the reasons why we have it. We don't need it to be free. Thank you. >> But I mean, how much over the budget was it? This is like 50% over, isn't it? >> It is. >> I mean, we weren't even close.
>> No. So I I think there's some of the process again they lowball the electric to get other things and then you approve it and this happens. >> Well, didn't we change it in fiscal year 27 so it's more centralized? >> Yes.
>> But maybe that will help. >> But we were saying we're seeing rate increases as well. >> Was that was that part of the equation? >> That's part of the equation. Let's use the G rate increase. >> Yeah. Do we know that they decreased?
>> That's what I'm putting together. I'm working on a place like we have um a lot of accounts. So, I wish it was like one master account. Um but they're all separate meters and the those rates change every six months. It's usually
August and April. We say >> October. I think something changing with national gradu Andreas 72k um I presume it doesn't include
enterprise funds like water and sewer that's counted those two >> yes transfers >> the next of the property insurance. Um, you have the marina policy. Um,
I added for points. It's like it's I looked back and I I know I started this policy like like right before the season, but it was like half. So, I asked for a transfer last year because the budget was already set
for F25 and 26. I started the policy at the end of FY25. wanted to get it in place before the voting season and make sure harbor was covered for the insurance policy. Um because our regular property insurance that does not car
cover the ears anymore we're talking about. >> So that's what we're talking about and tell us that if any should be found in launch or other other budgets. So the the the launch is
really is covered under our property insurance. It's really it's like the um peers and like the the moing like the other stuff that this should this be funded. I'm I'm sorry if I should. But
should it be funded out of the harbor? Is this is this a taxation item? >> Right now it's a taxation item. >> It is good discuss. It's not that you have a harder >> That was my the funding source, you know, it's just Marina. So instead of
workman's compet, but that that's just for next year. So as long as this year have money are insurancees generally consolidated, they are. >> Yeah. Marina policy is something
>> but I mean you what what I mean is when somebody when you need insurance even specialty insurance it generally goes through the town hall budget rather than >> yes it's like an overhead >> it's you know like benefits of
>> so the cost to cover police and fire is not charged to their cuts >> because it's too difficult to break it down >> right yeah okay >> so you So you said that marina coverage was in the polic pre policy previously but the carrier says I'm not in that
business anymore and when we put the budget together we didn't know that but what they said is we're still keeping the number the same but now we're not covering the marine so that's why the number went up >> otherwise we'd have enough money but they were like no but we'll cover like
for this point but then after that we don't cover any >> all right I understand it >> yes insurance. >> The next one is police expenses. Um they had additional ammo that um increased in
price yet again. Um and they need to buy for the new guns that they um purchase. Um they also had additional training for some of the new hires that they had. Um they had some uh failed equipment that was replaced and then they had one got
to be um training from about $7,500 that's what is the 25 break down 25 break down in all those >> so the ammo is about um
14 >> I thought the training would be this substantial >> yeah We usually we use five in the fall and the spring but they end up putting like another order in because like we get it for the we need different ammo for the events
and then the price increased >> um I don't have that exact price that's okay but you thought the training would be the dominant feature >> the only feature >> I'd like to say that I have no problem
with this item because of the funding source I was very excited to put >> that matched up very >> talk about those discussions with the the department heads and where it's coming from about that. Uh the next one is the
parking. Oh no, sorry. I skipped fire. Uh the next one's fire expenses. Again, their electricity was um $8,000 higher than we had budgeted. Um we had some medical evaluations uniforms for entire we switched our ambulance billing collection company um and they are
collecting more and our fee is based on a percentage of how much they collect. Um so that that so like we're getting more money but we have to pay them a little bit more >> a little bit $50,000. >> But will we learn our lesson from the
parking meters on that stuff? a little electricity in this year. Do you found not in that budget? I mean, now that you've centralized electricity in a we've gone to centralizing electricity bills, >> not all the way. So, like for FY27 budget, we left the budgets in each of
the departments for that have electricity this the same and then we added a line item under my budget for like anything that. >> Yes. >> So, they're not centralized. No, >> if they go over then like they have to
see me and like >> centralizing it. >> That's been a since I've been here, one of the discussions has always been like the um the want for departmental costs >> true cost >> true cost per department.
>> Um that's why we still have like postage like I I think of post as kind of like an overhead item. Um but it's in every single department. We used to have we used to have paper like the town hall paper here um allocated to each department and
stop that because we all use paper and just started okay um and you can't like you know it's a little hard to tell with some of the copers like how much did you actually use um and things like that >> unless you pull it out every time you use it and have to put your own paper
that's especially do rates have fluctuated a lot in previous years. And so we found even my last time and even this this this year department heads, you know, coming in with
different percentage increases in their proposal because they are trying to anticipate, you know, what their electricity might cost that upcoming year. We said, you know, just everybody go with the same percentage increase and then we'll put extra in
under Andrea's control instead of it becoming a budget line item that has potentially extra bumper that gets you know because we it's an expense it's under the total expense number >> yeah I was driving towards the question have we centralized electricity and the
answer is we have not because we really want to know what it cost to run a department I mean that's what you're really saying >> right well and it's good that department aware of what that energy cost is right so that they there's a better opportunity to think about it. >> Yeah.
>> Have we considered solar on the fire station that has a beautiful big south facing roof? >> Who knows? Green communities. Fire departments don't like rooftops or panels.
What is the electricity budget roughly for the fire department in their AK? And I guess >> yeah, >> I know they're run fine, but we're not seeing it with police and we're not seeing it with DPW. So I know it's very spotty, but I'm just curious.
>> Electricity keeps coming up. >> It's like how do we get around? >> So like for um police and they're part of the town hall building, so there are they're part of >> this. So that's why it's not in their budget. >> Um DPW, they have the garage um and that
goes under their DPW budget. >> Yep. um the sewer and wastewater treatment plants go under you know those enterprise questions so like it's kind of hard like especially for town hall like you want
like per department it's like I don't allocate that to accounting things like that >> I know yeah >> is there electric for the police department for that it's part of the
part of the town hall. Yeah. >> But anything part of the town hall should be met. >> You know, I I do we talked about this a lot, but I I would be nice to see sort of a concerted effort on focusing on potential installations because I mean
the town hall is all electric. Um fire department is got a boiler, but there's also electric in there. The water department and the sewer sewer both have tremendous amounts of electric in them, you know. So, wherever we can pop some panels on them
is all together. I think it' be nice with the old dump site or the black earth like the sooner we get active and you know comfortable with
using solar the better off we're going to be. Even if our first foray is not too successful, but the sooner we get into it, in the long run, we'll be much better off. This
is a this is a very efficient way of covering some of our energy costs and it is the future. So, we got to kind of start taking it's hard to do it because it's you don't know what's going on and
who to who to deal with and that kind of stuff but sooner we do it I think the better. >> I mean I think to your point guard Kan really does have a concern serious concern about electricity. >> Yes. I mean cell signaling is worried about this varian excel supply you know
applied materials huge consumer of electricity and they run their stuff at night because yeah so this is only going to get more interesting as we go along we had a great big building where I work uh
quarter of a million square feet and uh it took a lot of work to get solar on the top of that building. The output was immense. The tenant was General Electric
>> the financial company. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> This uh the sighting of it. So there's as you know there's a ton of different layers and complexity. >> Absolutely. One of the challenges that
we run into is the size of the system that we're likely pursuing is then triggers a process with national grid as to whether their substation can take on that size
of generation. And national grid is not usually >> sell equipment >> like you put it on your house, you know, it's up. It's usually those are such small panels that it doesn't trigger that type of requirement. But, you know,
we've looked at it in the past and they'll they'll require that you pay for a study analysis on the local substation and then the results of that analysis will require some sort of capital improvement on the substation that
they'll make the town pay for. And so, it kind of throws off your early returns on the investment. And it the bigger challenge is that they're just very slow to leave that process along because
they're not slow. >> Yeah. >> Well, they're not interested. >> But the interesting thing is that I have solar and I have a battery. I was just >> and they're continually coming to me and
saying, "We'll pay you $1,200 a year if you will let us use your excess capacity in your battery during peak peak command." >> And I choose not to do it. So, they're obviously looking for excess capacity. >> They are. So I don't see that it would
be a big issue >> that a solar system with battery uh storage attached to it is where you really >> that's the true that's the true benefit but it's a huge investment up front and
there is some there is some tech like sighting of battery storage is is Another Yeah, we went through this large. >> We're looking to maybe use our school
buses as so we can store it >> during off P. >> Mhm. >> And then, you know, put it back to the grid. >> Well, you got to have enough buses to do that have that.
So, it's obviously it's a the amount we're spending on electricity is something that we have to figure out. How can we do a true job at this? >> It's very hard to do. >> It's It's a pain in the neck, but if you
do it, it's pretty good. >> I think Chuck Chuck has his hand raised. >> Sorry, I can figure out how to change my name. Yeah, we we have looked at solar at at least the water and wastewater treatment plant and we likely would do
it as part of a roof replacement on the wastewater treatment plant and potentially the water treatment plant. The issue that we've run into is the the paybacks aren't as good in terms of years, you know, the ROI uh as it was once was when you could get like 25 to
30%, you know, back in federal rebates. So that's, you know, it's it's still it still pays over the long term, but the 20-year payback for, you know, the capital is very, you know, is still kind of a tough pill to swallow when you're looking for, you know, like Tony said,
big this kind of big numbers that you're looking for. Um, so that so we have looked at I can't remember if we've looked at all town buildings, but we've definitely looked at like the the plants and and those types of things. And um so that that is just kind of the the
barrier to entry right now is the with the rebates gone uh the all the leasing programs uh don't have you are even worse payback. So you're really going to be able to pay for it you know kind of all up front. >> Okay.
>> Did you just simple question after all these complex ones when you say health expense that's health insurance. imagining the the upfront cost going into the budget of installing lots of solar and batteries.
You got to do one building at a time. Just I guess we could borrow to do it to do everything else. >> Not true. You never borrow for songs. >> I grant you our debt is going to go
anywhere. >> You don't have electric. picking up that solar >> might be areas where we can put up panels that aren't necessarily roofs mean capping landfills
very very popular >> my my recollection is that that we did look at the transfer site um before we leased it to uh black earth and I don't know how biased the assessment was but
the decision the the assessment was that Black Earth was would be a better use for that site given its location and terrain straight vines. >> That's that's that's correct and and it
Hamilton put one in right next, you know, right next door to our landfill. The same idea, but they had much more acreage and so their payback was better on that one. We did not have nearly the payback on on our area. Let's move on.
Next one is parking source expenses. We talked about the parking sticks. Um I was the one I sent you. It says year two or actually year three of a 5year contract. Um and we have like a slight increase of um for residence stickers
about we revisit this residence sticker. This has been a disaster ever since we did it. Um, and we did not save the money we were supposed to save when we switched
from having the town clerk do. I mean, we had residence stickers for every car and then you had separate beach stickers that you bought at the town clerk's office. It limited the number of cars at the beach because parents didn't buy a
beach sticker for every single one of their kids' cars. Um, and it we're paying so much for this service um to do these stickers and they didn't even do the ones with the green plates.
The select board brought this up a couple meetings ago and added to our action item list. Let's not take another look at how we do stickers. I think similar comments comments from the select boards.
>> It's just crazy. And you have to go in there. You go in there anyway or it's now parts and rare to get your walk on things. Your tags just as easily get because you used to get a beach sticker which
included two tags. And um how much of this 485 is the uh resident stick acres? 3,000. >> So that brings up the other point of how
this contract was negotiated without any consultation with the finance committee and um if that's a violation of that administrator's contract which would allow us to take this 580 off of his 25 that we're given >> um >> because of the contract violation. I
disagree with that dean. >> Okay. >> These parking stickers sticks were brought to a finance committee meeting. We were aware it was occurring. >> There was no details of the negotiation
with this deal with none of it. And I've heard he has an interest in the company. So he's not conflict. >> It's water of the day. >> Okay. Well, we could go after his pension. Is is that is there a requirement that contracts of the town
sign of vendor be approved by the finance committee? >> We're just advisory. >> No, >> that's I think we're more advisory on on the IKEA. So, we talked about the idea. Well, we just we you may be happy to hear we just sent the we just sent the
contract over to legal this week and I asked them to go through with a fine tooth comb and see if they can find us anything that we can maybe bring this company back to the table here >> because it's it isn't it's not a great deal.
>> I mean, it's doing a good job as far as >> the parking issue, but it's not a great deal as far as how we get charged. Originally, it was tested for free, right? >> Yeah. Right. >> It was tested for free. >> That's how they
It's an interesting anomaly that the more they work at turning over cars, the less we get, the more we pay. So yeah, >> it's not a great deal for >> well it also
also the less because of the way it's structured with the 90day average in some cases the less tickets they write if you don't meet a minimum it costs us more.
>> Well you write fewer tickets a better term. >> Yeah. So, >> weren't there for us to bond with this? >> No. >> Well, if we're I That's why I sent this to legal find out. We're in year three of a five-year contract. See if we have
any way to either amend or get out or see what our legal options are first. Yeah. >> Kathy, go ahead. >> Yes. Um, from a service standpoint, the the objective is to turn over parking
spaces and um ensure that violators receive a ticket. Those are the two objectives. So when we are looking at the contract and the expense, I think we need to look at it holistically and include what we spend on human parking
um attendance, you know, parking enforcement. You have to look at the whole service to see where you're spending your money, where you could do things a little bit differently. But when we put the parking sticks in, we
expanded the places where the the human parking, you know, clerks are or not clerks, not the right word. Um, uh, what's the right word? >> Yeah. When we put the sticks in, now we're getting parking enforcement on
streets where we did not get parking enforcement before. So, all I'm saying is when you look at it, Tony, you got to look at the whole thing. not just the contract, but how much we're spending on on on the meter maids, you know, to to answer.
>> They're they're also walking right by those stick spots. It's not like it's out of >> No, but as an example, we are getting enforcement on Pine Street. Okay. Never got enforcement before where, you know,
13 years I've lived here. The only time we got enforcement was when we put the sticks in and the humans were free to walk up Pine Street. So, I'm just suggesting we look at holistically where do we want the enforcement? What what are the objectives and and and the contract is a piece of it, but it's only
a piece of it. We need to look how much how much we're spending on the humans as well. Thank you. >> We ask for a map, right? That's >> I mean but the humans are going by these stick places so it wouldn't cost that much more for them to look at cars
>> without the sticks. >> The sticks are very reliable. >> They are. So are you working on a study for this or some sort of a summary because we have mentioned that in one of our meetings last month or so. >> No, we're not we're not doing that yet.
Right now I'm trying my first stop, but we're we're happy with the ability that that the sticks has given us to turn over. What we're not happy with is the contract terms and what we're spending on sticks. So my first stop is
can we can we maybe negotiate a different contract term to get a better deal? Uh if the answer is no, then do we, you know, start planning for when this contract expires and how we might
want to do it differently? >> Well, I know we've got a we've got a we we added a parking uh monitor this year for five and I'm not sure the hours increased, but we've increased the the volumes. >> Yeah. Are they the only show in town as far as this goes, or are there other
companies doing this? Uh, I'm not sure if there's other companies. There's there may be other companies that do parking sticks. There's certainly other companies that are, you know, parking kiosk, pay by plate type stuff
like Beverly, but >> shop in Beverly if I park on the street. But if you if you don't have the thing with the kiosk is it automatically writes a ticket once you >> exceed speed. Whereas >> element I know it's like that too. They
have an app and then you >> Yeah. >> Right. But if you >> if you exeing enforcement officer doesn't come by, you know, you you could get away with an extra half hour. It's all dependent on whether right
>> they are you know signaled that somebody is overextended their pay their >> their time in the spot or if they go by and check it and run the plane that says that they're beyond their time. So this is
this is definitely the most efficient way to issue tickets is the sticks, but it comes at big complex. >> I mean, it looks like we're basically the taxpayers are paying $45,000 to help the business community turn over parking
downtown. That's what it amounts to. >> This is only a piece of it. >> Yeah. >> That's not the whole cost. >> Right. Right. This is the extra. >> That's the extra cost. You may need to see the whole picture. >> The next one is health salaries for the
um the next one is harbor expenses. Um there was a float repair. Um one of the biggest ones was like right out um up the ramp when the clothes was um ready to fall over. Somebody ran into it. >> Are these charged to taxation or to the
harbor? I'm confused about how we handle harbor stuff. >> So in this case, I don't have any other harbor money to transfer. So it is coming from taxation. >> But would it ordinarily be part of harbor expense? >> Right. >> But we've run out of money.
>> I get it. I get it. >> I see. So try to manage like see if they can manage this year's budget to you know absorb like split it. If you cut your budget this year 6,000 we'll pay 6,000
for can you do horse trading at all. Are these costs reflective of the harbor crew doing work as we kind of understand that they do?
>> Yes. It's like we've done a lot of the work. >> This is like the lumber. It's the >> materials. I I just question why we have an overage for new uniforms if
it wasn't included with the budget. Why would they buy new funds that wasn't included in the budget? Why couldn't they wait them? >> Uh I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna guess on this one that it's due to change over staff and we are bringing in folks who
are postcertified so that we can technically enforce uh our rules and laws and those folks need different uniforms. technically
is required to be postcertified to even >> address an issue. Stop. You know, once you ask someone to pull over or stop to inquire about something, that's considered seizure and you're supposed to be postcertified.
>> This isn't a even bigger problem because I know the harbor this year is way overrunning the fuel expense. It's going to be ongoing, you know, so we can't really take it from this year's harbor budget. They're already in trouble.
That's what concerns me particularly is that the harbor funds are exhausted. I I thought we have begun to have lots of revenue from visitors and or sol is this this is new to me to my ears.
There's something particular that's made this year or is this I don't remember this happening previously. I guess it's what I said. And this past year has been a kind of like a conversion year if you will too because the master is training the new
like the deputy um and they've just they've a lot of things happen this year. Um as far as your question about the uniforms um they spent a total of $6,800
for uniforms and budget was a thousand. So is that post certification telling me is that allow to write tickets and citations that we heard a year ago or so that they could no longer do. >> Okay. And it it also provides some help with
instead of having to pull a an officer off the road to you know to get onto a boat you know that sort of. So I think maybe a postcertified harbor employee is less expensive than a
citation providing for the town of state tickets to voters. >> That's it's a good question for >> Yeah. I I would assume it depends on what the Yeah. what the fee is for, but um it's a good question.
>> Well, tell them they have to write $6,000 of tickets to pay to their uniforms. >> The one thought process on this is sort of what is our hours of you know with fire and police for 24 hours for good
reason. But the harbor is it weekend coverage and weekdays? It's kind of whatever. And I I guess where I'm going with this is if the budget and expenses are going up, maybe we don't have to cover 247 on the harbor. We leave out
Tuesdays and we leave out Thursdays. Yeah. Get a little relief on the budget. Obviously want to cover weekends, but presumably you're thinking about coverage time. I think it's easy sometimes to say got to cover it all, but do we need to do that and are we obligated to do that on the hard front?
>> Well, I don't think we're not covering 24. >> I know. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But >> but are we over covering what we >> That would be it would be interesting to compare with the coverage with other
>> salary. this salary over just sort of staying it in context with >> you know >> how often are we ready to get the boat go out
>> you know deal with each >> we've always been close up a little bit differently >> we've always been told that the revenue coming into the har is sufficient to cover their expenses and that's what
we're seeing more recently is that's not true and I don't know why but it's all of a sudden the harbor is becoming a lot more expensive and we're not getting
apparently not getting the revenue in to cover those additional expenses. So it's something that needs to be looked at. >> What did we ask Chris? And we've talked about taking a look at the moing fees that the with moing fees we have to do look at that now and
introduce that now in order to um implement that for the next season. Uh because when you program it into when the when the when you get charged for your new boring fee for the
>> look at expenses also I think we're looking at revenue and expense for >> Yeah. Yep. And we're also hoping on the revenue side once we have the float the repart flow expansion we'll have more revenue coming in for you know race tense rental.
>> Have we done a study recently on what we're paying for the people on those transient dots versus what we're getting in for revenue. >> How much is going to third party vendors? >> Yeah. I think we need to do that because, you know, we keep being given
these stories, don't worry, it's not going to cost you money. And now we hear that the harbor fund is out of money. And so, obviously, it's starting to cost us for whatever reason.
And how much do we want to spend for transient dock space if we don't have the transient people using it to cover our expenses? To to that argument, when they expand
the flow space agree, they will add services, specifically electricity and sewer. And how much is it going to cost us? That will cost us something, but that will allow us to charge more per foot. And it will make the dockage much more attractive. >> Yeah.
>> You're putting an unsupervised hotel in a in the middle of a neighborhood. How can you do that? >> Pretty easy. It's trail of the rescues. >> Okay, let's move on. Going down that rabbit.
>> The next one is a launch. um looked at was the winterization of storage of the boat uh came in about $500 more than we had originally anticipated. Um and then there was some like minor repairs and um sanding and painting of the bottom of
the boat. That was around like $500. So we did all the work was just the the materials that sufficient from user fees to cover. >> Yes. And this expense is included in the summaries you give us of the March
services revenues versus expenses. >> I thought we started on our own properties. >> I say that again. >> I thought we started put our own property. >> Yeah. They they get they get the most ready to store like we don't like do the covering like we store them physically
but we don't do the like >> plastic stuff on top. Yeah, with all the fluid all that all the >> a big over sometime I I would like to have a lead
to format reporting on our launch harbor etc in a consistent fashion so that we could see what's going on and compare year to
year. And it really is going to I hate to burden the harbor master, but he's got to kind of be like a business manager who, you know, has got revenues and expenses and capital items and
things and he's got to be able to kind of explain this. And Andrew, you should not be burdened with >> No, I know you're going to not be so the somebody and maybe it's the harbor
master needs to be the manager of this business. It's like a discrete uh activity and be great to have a regular approved type of reporting that we see on a you
know periodic basis. It would be wonderful. Do you want to break it out into its own category? >> I was going to say in the fin those quarterly the financial reports that I provide I do have um those categories but it's not by itself. >> Okay. It's like it sounds like you're
looking for something >> by itself. We do have those. >> Oh my god. >> Who want the board that we are keeping up to date on a calendar year basis too that >> that's great >> which tries to compare to the project
you know the >> business plan that was presented before. Yes. The only thing that I am strug what I was struggling with updating that was this this transfer you know. So there's savings and launch salaries to cover
this maintenance launch expense item but this is a fisc year 26 transfer and we do our analysis on a calendar year basis because the season splits the fiscal year.
Mayor I attribute that to this is confusing. >> I can explain when we put together the business plan for the launch. We saw when I did that we started down the road looking at the
harbor the whole business of itself to just build on what's being said here. And I think that next step is what we're talking about taking at this point. launch is just one of the services that's just been in this business. Just really think we should look at
high-end slip space that you get 200 bucks a foot for a year and no overhead cost. It's just you can get residents moving off the warning list. It it doesn't make sense this transient boat
stop. The harbor is not that big. the the line at boats is going to be like going over the Tobin bridge. >> Okay, let's go move on from this. We can discuss this at a different time. >> Great. My friend,
>> so these expenses, additional expenses in sewer and water are taken into consideration when the rates are set. But normally what I go by is we go set the base for the sewer and enterprise funds. I keep a total um including all
transfers of general fund and everything else and capital um and come up with a percentage increase. Um, so these 10 million are flying in the because we've always said that
payments out of the fincome reserve fund should be for unexpected budget items that arise during the year and not for overages. that that's supposed to be like we we
did something for the fire department because it was something I can't remember what it was for but um things that CDA >> right you know because that wasn't apparent and so it it disturbs me that
we're using the fincom reserve >> well for sure >> for these items >> we have well we have anotherundred 42,000 that we're not tapping. That's going to free cash, right? So, you could
pull it from those and this goes to free cash, but at the end of the day, it's the same >> theoretically is different >> psychologically >> since it's going to a different fund than the general fund. When you talk about the categories, that's why I take
it from the reserve fund. You don't have so you're not so many transfers outside of the major categories >> right so I plan on using reserve fund for the sewer and water >> don't have enterprise reserve fund >> yeah we do we talked about >> yeah I thought we have reserves in the
enterprise fund >> we do not appropriated >> right by the town >> retain earnings there right >> but it's not like a reserve fund >> right it's not it's going to appropriated. So we can't just tap it.
>> We can't just for the expenses >> right >> now. We ought to not take it out of the reserve fund but say well let's go back into these unspent budget categories and try to find it >> that will violate
what the town voted for >> in terms of budgeting. Yes. >> Yeah. >> And it's got to fall within these >> groups. So this is a problem. So >> this overage on the water and sewer and how do we >> avoid that in the future and
>> catch it next year. So you raise rates, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean obviously you've got rates and you've got usage. Usage is a variable depending on how sunny it is, how much water people use, and how many times they flush their toilets. But at the end
of the day, it's usage and rate. And presumably >> unrelated to the rates. The problem is is because we didn't appropriate more, >> right? But in the budget cycle next year, you would presumably expect to see
$80,000 more on the budgeted expenses >> the appropriate >> coming out budget so that this doesn't happen. >> Is this is this a function of like increased consumption based on a change in operations? just increasing
these electric rates and chemical costs. >> I know I've checked the rates and drastically change not speak yet to the consumption. Um >> that's why I'm putting like spreadsheets together
>> of that just utility rates. There's a there's a line out of T companies have it for for fuel fuel, right? That's that's a that's a
very old car that happens based on what they're seeing. >> Is is anyone else have expecting a lot of money to show up because of the new water meters? I mean, other towns other towns people are complaining about their bills going up. I don't know. Has has
there been Chuck on if there's any feedback on the new water meters or any increased income? >> I'm here. Um, so we're definitely capturing flow that was never captured before. Uh, we have not received any
complaints about the about bills uh yet. Um, we've we have had a couple, you know, people have big bills that, you know, didn't expect them, but it's basically been because they've had leaks or, you know, other usage that they just didn't realize they had. So, um, you
know, it might result in more revenue, but I'm I'm kind of taking a wait and see approach on it. I'm not kind of counting on it for anything. And we did say that we would um you know outside of this conversation we did say uh next year we would uh you know once the meter
project was fully implemented we would do a deeper dive on the rates. Um but you know that's yet to be determined. >> So if I understand this so the budget really had covered these shortfalls at the start. Any extra monies that would
show up would wind up in the reserves of the enterprise funds. >> Yes. But since it's low and we have to cover that, it's not coming from the enterprise funds. It's coming from the town reserves. So the enterprise fund really makes up pretty well. >> Yeah, makes up great. Um
I'm a water user and a sewer user. So okay, >> is that is that a legal um reserve might be used for enterprise? You can >> the alternative is you can leave these deficits and how they fit your retained
earnings to the enterprise. >> I like that. >> Oh, why don't we do that? >> Yeah, >> I like that. >> I mean, it should stand on its >> What are the pros and cons of what are the pros and cons? So it depends on what like if the enterprise say the sewer
enterprise fund had a very low um earnings balance go negative and we have to raise it our bond rating go down it's not a good it makes more sense me too
>> is it not to be mean about this but is it sort of a discipline approach to thinking about this that leads to better budgeting in years ahead. And I'm not I'm not trying to create a whipping here. I'm just saying if this
is the solution to this, does it mean we think about our budgeting for enterprise funds for how do you budget for chemical price? like there's tariffs, there's some kind of war and compress went through the roof
electricity similar similar situation budget >> I think you know Chuck does go through his budget and we talk about checking all the time about it >> this goes to the general reserve account instead of
coming out of the final reserve and goes to the enter funds and we've got 124,000 more to spend on capital next year which brings all down to this approach right unless you want to appropriate like we have in the past from sewer
water funds but it only can be for sewer and water stuff. But when when do we approve the sewer and water the race? Uh before the next billing cycle. So you know church right? >> All right.
>> So you got to take this into consideration >> right people are listening. So strike please these >> based just off the top of your head based on revenue from these enterprise funds water and sewer what do you think
it would be in the rate to make up this difference you are we talking like a cent or two a few pennies a gallon a few pennies a >> look at that is it just like lost in the radar or is it actually >> well the total revenue from Sure. Got to
be $10 million. Yeah. But historically the town's funds >> we're not we're not making 10 million a year. >> Like Yeah. We're in the >> 1.1 to two to you know on a good year 1.6.
But like you said, it's the the the issue that we have is like, you know, if if we weren't, you know, having water bands and in drought and not a drought and then we had a well pump failure, like, you know, we make the money by selling the water during the, >> you know, so people can water their lawns. Like that's that's very
unreliable revenue. So, um, and it's hard to predict, you know, how the how the revenue is going to come in. So that's why keeping the money in the reserves kind of usually um will kind of flatten that out and you know we don't really have to have to worry about it.
I'd say this is an anomaly year in terms of the you know the the transfers we're looking for tonight but um either way >> well if this water expense did it covers that variable message sign blocking the
high sidewalk downtown. I recommend we cut that expense. What do we have? >> I think we I think we have like a couple hundred thousand in sewer and a couple hundred thousand in, you know, a little bit more I think in the water last time
we looked, Andrea. Right. But I I think the the issue is like Andrea said this year the money that came from the sewer I think predominantly uh was on the on the capital side was from the retained earnings. So if that money is not there
to draw on then I'm going to be asking for it right back uh you know from the general fund from you know some other form of taxation. the on July 1st 2026
we were expecting 900,000 in returns for retained earnings on the two enterprise funds >> is in there in the text of the report >> that's the number I was given and I printed >> so it's a lot
>> that's for both right >> 900 total >> right so that's not a because we had like 600,000 I think is what we asked for at town meeting right Andrea and that's from retained earnings on the sewer so that 900,000 number >> no no this one 900,000 in retained
earnings after approval of the fifth fiscal year 27 budget >> okay >> so this is the 900,000 was supposed to be left after the budget just approved >> well I I think that's also potentially misleading because of the uh capital fee
Like I don't it it definitely wasn't that high in previous years but it's there now. So I'm fine I'm fine with whatever you guys want to do. I'm just saying >> it's a residual number that gets increased by overages. >> So it seems to me there's enough to
cover these two items. >> Yeah. >> Is what I'm saying. take a lesson and make sure that when we're budgeting, we have a little more, you know, a shock absorber in case that the chem
chemicals go up a little bit for something like >> Yes, >> I'm I'm on board and I'm I'm saying this tongue and cheek, but Andrea and Tony, please write that down that when they get the water and sewer budgets on, you know, in six months from now that we remember this conversation. But I was
going to say in fairness we we we worked with the previous found administrator for years to get them to right size for us and so this does so this is kind of a potential outcome of that process >> right
thought of enterprise funds as being essentially totally self-contained and and when you spray out an eye of an enterprise It's fun for sewer or water something's off. That's why I'm surprised I don't feel
like this. >> You have done some transfers from not in this amount. In addition like like for the water and sewer debt historically 100% of water debt has been paid by taxation
and sewer debt. So >> kind of what my thinking is like, you know, we can cover the stuff that um like Chuck said, it's a phenomenal year. >> Um we can keep, you know, some of the sewer retain earnings um like the combination of that like the sewer has
struggled. I I estimated about $200,000 in the sewer at the end of the year and then we take out the 80,000 down to about 100. Um I don't know kind of goes to our capital planning as well like you know so we want to bring
up the um you know sewer retain earnings and water retain earnings to pay capital um the water fund retain earnings is higher because um I'm accumulating that so that we can pay off down that ban. Um, we just did the 271,000.
Um, but now I'm building it up again so that next time I'm meeting I can ask for another what we collected from the retain earnings. Um, so like you know that there's more going on in retain earnings than just covering. Yeah, I
guess my concern is is I was under the understanding that generally operating expenses were coming out of the enterprise funds. And these are operating expenses. So I have a concern that they're coming out
of the town general funds. >> Well, I know a few years ago we we we re revamped the water rates and increase the rates higher for the bigger users. And of course the problem is is that when you go on some sort of a when when
when you uh restrict water use the money that you lose first is the water that you lose first is the most profitable. In other words, we didn't increase the the regular the lower water uses. In fact, I think we may even lower but we really jacked it up to the higher uses that were using it for irrigation.
And then >> and and what we were trying to do with social engineering. >> Well, that's correct. We wanted to get people to be more environmentally minded, be more and serve >> and what that leads to is people putting in irrigation wells. >> I don't know that that changed very much
in terms of customers, but when you uh when you put restrictions on watering your lawns, the profitable profitable water goes away. >> So, what's the resolution here? I'm still a little confused about where we're coming out on these. Is it going to be taken from
retained earnings or not? It's up it's it's it's up to the two boards >> here from >> because I propose it dete I understand
wants the cap. >> Yeah, it will help justify a punk. We're going to make a >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. Um would you >> let's >> you could split the you know you could
do some for me. >> Let's discuss the first 14 items. >> Is there any discussion on items 1 through 14? with respect. >> Okay. So,
I'll make a motion for the finance committee to approve the transfers listed in numbers 1 through 14 from the funds indicated to the funds indicated.
>> Second. >> Take a vote. Any discussion? Take a vote. Mory, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Andy, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Dar, >> yes. >> John, >> yes. >> Seville, yes. Okay,
>> so we've approved the first 14. >> So, does the does the uh select board have do the same? >> Yeah. >> I move that the >> select board approve the items 1 through 14 transfer list in the amounts and in
the sources and um recipients listed. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> Nan, >> yes. >> Kathy, Darren, >> yes. >> John, yes. >> Okay,
so we've done one to 14. Now we're down to the last two. >> Feels like we discussed it. >> Well, I I'd like to make a motion. >> Okay. I move that we take items 15 and 16 and and use the source for those as
the retained earnings in each of their respective enterprise funds. >> So we will not have a reserve transfer out of the finance. I'm just going to have a deficit at year. >> And I second that.
>> So we just vote not to approve the uh for the select board. I move that we not approve the transfers listed in 15 and 16. >> Second. >> Yeah. So this is Yes. Right.
Kathy. >> Yes. >> And John is Yes. >> Okay. So, I make a motion that the finance committee does not approve the transfers listed in number 15 and 16. >> Second. >> Vote. Gar. >> Yes.
>> John, >> yes. >> Dean, >> yes. >> Lauren, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. Andy chess >> that just winds up as kind of mathematical entries when you put in the spreadsheet the math comes out that you know retained earnings drops
>> and you guys have to increase the water >> Josh get >> what >> the motions less than >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, finance committee has more items
after their agenda. Is select board staying for some of them or are you journal? >> I I move that that we adjourn the select board view. Okay. Second. >> Second. >> Deathy. >> Yes.
>> Deb. Yes. Dan. >> Yes. >> John. Yes. We will stay if we so desire but on the record. >> Okay. >> So the next item on the agenda is an update on the sanitation contract and
the impact on the fiscal 27 budget. Um, according to my records, we budgeted 633,039 for collection. And we had 335,000
revenue from bags and 45,000 expense to create the bags. And which expense? 45,000 to >> make the bags >> 35 >> 45 to make the bags and 335 335 uh
revenue was included in the fiscal year 27 budget and we included 633,039 collection. These numbers do not include disposal which is outside the contract. Correct.
So where do we stand in relationship to those numbers? >> So our contract that we are committed to with Cassella >> Y >> um is less than
630,000 as of right now. The total number for that cost is $613,080. pretty close. However, um the total amount for dumpsters that that goes into that 613,000
is currently listed at $60,000 59,000. And one of the things that builds into that numbers is the individual rate of each size of dumpster and how often it's hauled. uh our previous dumpster
amount amount that we spent on dumpsters was about half of that. So we've asked the seller to give us the breakdown of how they you know per unit price and we feel that we'll be able to rightsize that amount. So that 613 should come
down. >> Okay. Additionally to that uh dependent on how we arrange the automated collection, if we go to every other week recycling, the cost of that contract reduces by
$70,000. Um now the other element of that conversion is the bag rep. So we have 3 35,000
in projected revenue from banks. Uh just it'll be >> that there's 45,000 for printing out of that. >> Yeah. Where is that sh >> would be debited out of that?
>> 290. >> 290. Okay. Yeah. It's a little bit uh keep in mind that this conversion is happening midway through the year or even on the early side of the year. So it's not a
clean analysis, you know. >> So bags are we're still we're buying bags right now. Uh we're collecting revenue from bags, but that revenue is expected to drop significantly once the conversion occurs.
Um, so how do you make up that difference? >> So before you go there, let me ask one other question. >> Barrels. >> Yes. >> Is the cost of the barrels in the contract or is the cost of barrels outside of the contract?
>> Outside the six. No, that that is the $70,000 less that I mentioned is a collection cost reduction if we go to every other week recycling
collection. >> You mentioned the cost. >> Okay. >> Oh, downstairs. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, the barrels is outside of this cost. >> Yes. Sounds like we'd have to just briefly
charge $150 a year for barrels to >> replace the bags. >> Barrels would be a oneshot deal, >> right? Every year. Well, maybe you need a sticker every year. >> Okay. >> But you're not far off on,
you know, if you take two 2200 households, the 33 thou the 335,000 and divide it by the 220 households, it's about $152 per household. So, if we had an annual fee
around that amount, it'd be making up the difference, but maybe even less when you take the 45,000, >> right? But one of, you know, one of the things we looked at is in next year's budget, we should be able to cover that shortfall in revenue because we're
decreasing our cost so much for Uber. And you might want to consider because this is an unusual year is at the November town meeting do a withdrawal from reserves for that loss revenue from the banks
because it was in unanticipated to get through this year. >> Yeah I just contract increases 5% this year. Um, I'm I'm comfortable with that approach for this year, but I I I
am uncomfortable with depending on the general fund alone to cover the cost of this contract over the length of its term. I do think that some trash fee is uh some sort of standard trash fee,
annual trash fee uh can be incorporated. We would try to come up with a fee that balances what people spend on bags today. >> Are you saying is there any kind of way to do it as a volume based charge rather
than just I mean a fee is just tax, right? >> Yeah. But different was like you buy. So it would be you could have a standard a a standard fee for a standard barrel
setup and then that fee could be reduced or increase if you got a small barrel or a second barrel. You know, there's there's a couple different ways you could do it to try to get closer to
point. Um, we still have bags for overflow for trash. So, you may, as a consumer, you might make a different decision when it comes to the recycling barrel, especially if you went to every other
week collection, but you may not want to pay a higher fee for a second barrel on the recycling side when you can just take your recycling to the transfer station for free. You don't need a bag for that. >> So, that brings a good point. Suppose I have whatever size barrel I got, but then I have a big party on the 4th of
July. It doesn't fit in my whatever size barrel I got. Now, >> real plates and it all goes to black. >> If it's trash, >> orange bags
to the to the transfer station. If it's recycling, you don't need orange bags. Tony, did other communities give us some experience in how these kind of questions were dealt with? >> Yes, because we're not the first to do this.
>> Yes, I'm experiencing it in Beverly. Uh we met with Toppsfield today. Uh we're looking at North Reading who's in a similar scenario done this >> Hamilton.
Um this what we're proposing is you know if you're at $100 $150 you know that for a standard aiming rate that's going to be the cheapest thing anywhere close. Um Beverly's at
three 300 but you could get down to 200 or go up to 400. North Reading's at 600. Um, >> my sister has houses in Texas and Pennsylvania and they pay nothing. >> I was going to say >> it's all in the taxes
they pay is the trying to pay for the 5% increases or why it all just >> because we're losing $300,000 in bag. Well, we can tell that next to your freaking town. What do we think
that that's I mean that's that we're paying ourselves. >> The one thing is the value. >> You're I get that. >> But I I'm not saying a clean way for doing that. >> I I think that we deal with the lost bag
revenue in our 27 budget because we're going to have extra money. >> It'll be interesting to see that. >> We need to take that into consideration. But you're saying that years down the road, we're going to have that money. >> We should other big developments coming
along to raise more tax. >> Okay. Can we just say for this fiscal year we aside from the cost of the barrels? >> Yeah. Right. Um, we just put it on the
tax rate and we spend the next six months figuring out how to handle it for the future. >> Exactly. >> So for fiscal 27, you want to add it some tax rate. >> Yes.
>> No, no, you or pay it on >> November town meeting. >> Yeah. You would need town meeting action. We can't just do it. But any number >> we could use think time research. >> Yeah.
>> Where would you be taking the budget from? I would take it out of general reserves for this year. It was an unexpected >> expense. We know we have more than that going into the reserves from the excess
this year. The interesting thing will be to see if the trash volume increases without the bags. You know, becomes easier. that I I
my approach right now is to try to mirror the split between the general fund paying for trash and the residents paying for trash. >> And I I disagree with that.
>> I I think that you're going to a new system of automated collection. you have very little control over the volume like you used to have. So now your disposal costs are going to go up. If you do recycling every other week, guess where the recycling's going to go? It's going
to go in the trash barrel because that's easy. I want >> You don't have to go to every other week. That's >> No, but I mean, you know, if my recycling bin's too full and I got space in my trash, it's going
to go in my trash. actually less. >> That's actually a cost savings. Recycling is really expensive, >> but you know, so so I think that >> it's one thing, >> you know, you're you're
see across the street and puts five orange bags out every single week. I don't even have one a week. >> I might have one a month. A little one. >> No, but he's happy to pay for that. And he's paid for it basis.
>> They want to pay for it. >> Well, and I don't want to pay for it either, >> right? >> This used thing, right? >> You can't come. >> They're doing it in Beverly. >> So, what the fee is is around depends on the size of your barrel.
>> Okay. Just does Beverly. Beverly was Beverly was a $100 annual fee uh for >> and you got >> before they went >> you got limited trash unlimited recycling and you used your own barrels.
The barrel sizes were limited but um two 35 you could have two 35gallon but you bought barrel yourself. Now you're getting a standard of
$300 fee for a 65gallon recycling and a 35gallon trash. And then if you want to alter that and go up in size on trash or up in size on bulls,
it's going to increase your rate accordingly. Or if you want to reduce a size of that barrel, it will reduce your rate. But basically it's a spread of going from 100 either to 200, 300 or 400 per year.
>> Does everybody have to get a barrel >> in in Beverly? Yes. Uh Toppsfield today. They allow people to opt out. >> There people who regularly take their fresh food. >> Yeah.
>> Transportation. I mean, the person that's in Florida for six months of the year, >> right? >> Well, first of all, those people could probably afford a $300 barrel, but you know, just on principle, that barrel is sitting in your garage doing nothing barrel, but I have an issue with an
ongoing fee where we, you know, it it just doesn't make sense. >> Commercial and retail like commercial people buy their own trash services, but >> but they also pay taxes. Now you're saying you don't get any trash
collection but you pay taxes for trash collection and the split is different and the split will change if we don't do some kind of febased system >> but we're just a fee for people who use it like if you use it you pay a fee if
you're a commercial person you get your own ideal >> but that but that would be taking the total cost the service and putting it into a fee. Right now we >> No, it could be split. Yeah, I mean it
could be we need to split the seven essentially right now. We're okay with the previous split. Probably okay now. Well, it was split. I mean last year what did we spend? 800 $700,000 in trash and we got $300,000 in bag. The
bags were used use uh related to use and uh >> the revenue was >> the revenue in bags broke down to 99,000
bags which was about 44 and a half bags per household which is less than 1.8 8 bags per household per week, which equals $171
per year, per household on average. If we did a fee of $100 per year,und anything less than $170 on an average households actually seeing the savings
only the ones and that's and only if they're >> yes enough, >> right? But I have to come up with something >> that satis that tries to satisfy the
bulk amount of people in town. There's no there's no work. >> There's no matter what we go with, it's not going to work out great for >> everybody across the board. So you try and hit your >> you know the bulk of it. Um
we have to we have to go through it. But I I the more we shift to the general fund, the more burden we put on the general fund, >> even with potential new revenues down the road or oped savings,
it >> I just it to me it doesn't I just >> that makes me more nervous than putting in the effort of you know trying to come up with a system that isn't overly taxing to the residents.
And >> I in this rare instance, I agree with the tax ministry. >> I know. >> I just I just think that trash collection is a basic service and the
town should pay for it because if the town's not paying for it, you're going to get into a problem. Trash all over the place, people using the dumpsters for their trash. Um, >> people are paying for it now. You don't
have We don't have >> We do. We do have a problem with people putting personal trash in dusters >> in town. Yeah. Yes. You're going to have that, >> right? >> No. If you didn't charge for it, you wouldn't have that. >> What if What if What if you give them a
barrel, but you just keep the bags? >> They're not going to check the bags, >> right? Yeah. They don't Yeah. They can't see it. They don't see one other question. >> I went in Ambers one day going to the
doctors and it was quite a process. I have one other question on the sanitation. Is are we still at five down five? >> Um >> or have to double check what
>> not more than once a week too. some of them. >> Well, we once we get these per like this unit rate uh schedule for the dumpsters, we have talked about trying to rightsize some of that set up.
>> I see Kathy has Kathy, go ahead. >> Yeah, just um even if it's a nominal fee for this first year, because I think we're all struggling with what's the what's the how to right size any potential fee and we don't really know what that is right now. we don't have a
lot of time to figure it out. I would still advocate for even some nominal fee even if it's $50 something to make it clear to the residents that we you know we the objective here is for all of us to try and minimize the amount of trash
that we produce. So that that's the reason I'm not in favor of having no fee whatsoever. Um because I I I do think we need to incentivize people to limit their trash. Um, I like looking at the opt out and and all of that other stuff,
but we we need more time, I think, to figure out the right model. And I'm hoping we can get some lessons learned. Not from the new communities that are doing this. I I personally I don't care what Beverly and Gloucester, you know, the the new communities. Uh, I don't care what they're doing. They're
figuring it out, too. I care about learning from the communities who have been doing this for quite a while, and there are many of those. Let's look at those lessons learned. Um, is the trash collected? Is the weight of the trash going down? Volume, is that going down?
Is it going up? Those are the lessons I think we need to look at. And uh I I do think we need a little more time to to do. >> That's right. Uh Toppsfield that we spoke to today, Kathy, converted uh five years ago,
>> something like that. uh they had 18 months to put together their plan. >> Yeah. >> Which we don't have that time but but there are a lot of lessons learned there that you know we we talked at a length
about >> um you know I have a lot that we can save that for another night. Um >> but we're looking at that. Um I certainly if
we even if even if uh there was there should be no fee if someone opted to get a second barrel. >> There should be a fee for >> Oh, I agree with that. I agree. >> Yeah.
>> Yes. Yeah. >> So that was over and above one for trash. >> Perfect. Right. >> Yeah. So yeah, I mean we basically 96gallon barrels are a nightmare. Most communities don't want anything to do
with it. >> That's about this high. >> It's bigger than >> I can see trying to get it out. >> On the trash side, >> they're heavy. On the track side, DP will only provide grants for 35 gallon
barrels, but you can you can offer get a second one. >> Yeah. >> Um and on the recycling side, they may still provide grant money for any size recycling as long as it's made of recycled materials. >> Yeah.
>> Um but our thoughts was 96 was going to be just way too big. Uh we we think 35 trash and 65 recycle them is your default and then you allow people to buy
a second of each uh if they want. Um there may be a a need to purchase some smaller recycling like a 35 recycling for seniors that might need that accommodation if we needed to do something like that. Just out of
curiosity, the big orange bags, how many gallons holes? >> Those are 34. >> Okay. So, approximately you're talking about the same. >> Yeah. >> It's a lot easier to stuff a extra bag
in a barrel than the than the 33 bag, too. >> But we have to buy the barrels for the individual. You said we might get grants, >> right? >> We might get grants, but that's not in the $615,000. >> We have funds in the current fiscal year
that we can encumber to help cover >> Yeah. >> the cost of barrels. We'd like to utilize grants though to not do that. >> Understood. >> But as far as this upcoming budget goes,
we have enough appropriated to cover the cost. Um it I feel even better about it once we rightsize the dumpster number and if we were to possibly go to every other weekly. >> Yeah. the the challenge is going to be
that re you know when we do the conversion and the drop off of revenue from bags is going to be the even even if we did that in September
and we were going to do a fee an annual fee that annual fee isn't going to it would be attached to your water sewer bill >> I don't think that works >> because we have people who are not on the water and they don't have super
>> it's like 98 9 >> needs to go with the real estate. >> Yeah, >> I don't think we can do that. >> Being a tax increase. >> So we about 98 99% of people are on water. The other
>> folks would have to figure out how we how we invoice them. But but the point I'm making is that that first water bill or ability bill comes later in November. >> October is just October.
>> I think we pay October. >> Um so if it's so you >> so then you'd only have October. You'd have what? two quarters in this fiscal year with so you're not going to get the
full so there's some nuances there. So, just going to cancel the question, if if your average use is um 35 gallon trash a week and then you have a week or
two where you've got say double that, you stockpile and stuff it in the barrel or you make a trip to the transfer station, right? Or you hire somebody. >> Yeah. Where you talk to buy a bag, you buy a bag for that excess,
>> but the Yes. So you buy a bag and go to the trash. >> On the trash side, you would buy a bag and go to the transfer station. You or you know or where you have to if it if that's a regular thing,
>> get get a second. Um it was me, I would just buy bag and bring it to the trans next week or >> see if I need a barrel.
Um on the recycling that's my house is different. You don't you don't need an orange bag for the transfer st. So that's where to me I feel like trying out every other week recycling even at a 65gallon
barrel. Most towns that do it they do the 96 but we have a transfer station that's free recycling. To me, I think it's worth trying. And if it's we can always go back to every week recycling if we need to.
>> I think it's worth trying. And another gallon in my car, right? >> I I know it's a very small practical question, but >> probably >> I had to transfer all of my recycling out of my barrel into those little green
things in order to go to this center. >> If I can't, >> plus I can't lift it up. I like my recycling shelf, >> a small one for recycling and for trash and I really like to have the collection from me weekly. I mean just cuz getting
in my car if I do that I'm going to be less inclined to be aggressive recycling. >> How much how much how many gallons of recycling do you think you >> I feel I have just I don't know normal you know barrels out there like this
round plastic things. Yeah. >> And I fill one a week recycle. >> And I don't fill the trash much more. I think sometimes regular once every 3 weeks or so. >> And I so I occasionally end up something take over. I like to stand it up in my
car. >> I don't have a truck >> and I just wonder a little bit about that slight practically. >> Yeah. >> So there'll probably be growing pains for this obviously. What happens? But how does Cassella treat us if someone says I don't I have too much trash. I'm
gonna throw my trash mark. It's site do we get fined or is that just kind of like go under the radar or is it like UPS bills you a month a day later? you there's you you can get fined for
contaminated recycling but you're not going to get fined for recycling you put into the trash >> right I'm more like if somebody does two bins and they can't get everything into one
they cross against the other what are the repercussions for the this Yeah, >> can I just say Tony to happen? >> Go ahead, Chuck. >> I was just gonna say if if that were to
happen, like we're getting a better disposal rate on the recycling because we have clean recycling. If we start having trash in the recycling, then that that tonnage rate is going to go up across the town. And we have about, you know, almost 900 tons annually. So if it
goes up, you know, a couple bucks a ton, you know, that we're going to feel that. >> I'm not advocating this strategy. I'm saying how do they deal with >> Right. So if it if it happened at a large scale, like it would definitely be a problem. >> What' you say, John?
>> I was just say if that happened at a large scale, it would definitely be a problem. >> Okay. Okay. the it's getting late. Uh the next item on the agenda was the
status of capital of contracts for capital projects. Are those still out to bid or are they in >> uh like the ones that we just approved? >> Yeah. >> Uh Tapen Street is Tapen Street on out to bid right now, Chuck, or is it
>> will bids are due in two weeks? I think two weeks from today or tomorrow. >> So we'll ask that question in August >> and um that's the only one of those uh other than that from the you know the override
questions of this year that bid. >> Okay. >> Uh Culver we're aiming to put that out this fall. Um it's possible that we won't need much of the override,
>> right? >> Um maybe if we get some cost, if we have a contractor on Tap Street that's interested in the Culver job and save some money on mobilization, maybe we get some we don't
have to touch it at all. But it's too soon to say. Um, I would say it's safe to say that we expect not to use most, you know, very, very little amount of that override for the co.
>> That's a flag. Those are two specialty contracts. >> Are did the PAS come in under the override? >> Chuck, I'll let you I'll let you uh >> Yep. >> Explain that. >> 11.5.
>> Uh, yeah. So the the the costs were below so far. We still have a couple outstanding items that would be included in the 16.5. So uh utility uh relocations that we have to pay national grid, so for the electric and the gas on the street, th those are, you know, in
the budget but yet to be determined. So we're hopeful those will come in. Uh and then the media as well as uh the vessels, we are going to bid those outside of the uh SRF program, which uh they're definitely not going to be covered by the SRF. Uh but they we do
have to meet the requirements. So um DBD on those, but anyway, the long story short, the we're we're right on schedule. The general bids came in a few hundred,000 under budget, so we're trending well. Good. So,
I'm hoping that we'll be in a position for the April 27 town meeting to understand what the overrides we won't need so that we can take the proper action at town
meeting to resend those. >> Particularly if we're looking for additional overrides for additional projects. If we can go into the town meeting and say, "Okay, we're lucky. We got some grants. The bids came in low,
>> right? >> Um, we can withdraw those or whatever you do to get rid of those overrides." I think that would be really great. >> Mhm. >> Everyone else agree with that?
>> Absolutely. Because the big elephant is the elementary school coming. >> Yeah. But the elementary school, they're talking about doing it in phases. So that bill is not going to hit us up front. And they're talking about doing
bans in the interim, you know. So it's that's not within the next couple of years that it's going to hit us up tax rate. It will hit us, but >> we have to vote for it. And we still expect the town meeting was called to authorize.
>> My understanding is whether it ves to authorize or not. >> Okay. So, >> so real quick before we move to the next agenda item. >> Yeah. Since we're kind of on fall, uh it is possible that fire engine
uh may may be an item that gets added to the fall town meeting because it's moving faster than expected as far as production goes and we do have to pay. >> Do we have any money? >> We I think we have a third and we this
past year we didn't do the second third, right? So it probably be going for 23. >> How much money are we talking about here? >> 600 something,000. >> That's total, right? >> No, I think >> we have 300. So we need
>> Right. >> We're paying 900,000 for >> Oh, yeah. at all. Okay. >> We we ordered that without appropriate. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We the contract is just as long as
that we appropriate the funds I think before taking delivery. So our our approach was to split that into three years appropriate a third for three years leading up to
when that would be completed based on the schedule. But then la this past year we said >> we didn't have the funds for so we didn't include it but now >> expect but we don't have that much in the
reserve fund we can't do over engine we'll figure out how we Um, reging and rotunda any sense on time frame vendors or is
that next year? >> I got some feedback to check on that meeting. um mid August tucks. Um the dredging there's still a permit, but they're looking to have proc the guy do
u the tux, the dredging, and the warf is what we talked about yesterday. I don't know if you guys want to add to that, but >> yes, pending permit. We're possibly going to be bidding that out later this
fall and uh then pending his schedule whether he could do it over the winter or if it's going to be >> so November usually October
>> depends on permit and then contract is scheduled but but they're lining up that all could be bid together. Um, and then we have we have that other older
dredging >> that we need to get rid >> that we could get rid of too, >> right? >> Right. So, I'm not sure if I heard the question right, but we're definitely planning on bidding them all together. We're just going to do the alternates so that dredging would be awarded last. And
it will have a a disclaimer in there that you know we want a price for this year dredging or next year's dredging >> because we don't have the permit. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Do we have the permit for the Cobra?
>> Uh it's chapter 91 has been approved. Uh there's just some final signatures needed at the governor's office and then uh CZ's already signed off and I think Army Corps needs to sign off but they need
the chapter 91 permit to see their sign off. >> So not yet. >> You've cleared people. Yeah, we're we're still we're still proceeding now because of the chapter 91 domino with bidding,
you know, like uh Tony said, early fall, but um so hopefully uh you know, by the time we're ready to put it on the street, it's in the in the bid package. >> Yeah. >> And our hope is to get that project going this winter.
Next item was an update on the launch service subscriptions. >> Yeah. So I I reprinted this sheet you guys had before, but all I added to it was right now we have 65 launch customers.
Um >> we had 68 last year. >> Yeah. Three shy right now, but those could still come. and we charge the same rate that we did 75 season.
Um, I also just added a note here that the red, white, blue breakfast serviced 374 individuals for free. It got a lot of use that day, >> right?
>> But, uh, this is just an updated, you saw this like a month ago. This has that embedded number of hybrid course is included in the total revenue but this is just showing calendar years
24 and 25. Okay. Brian did say that arbitur is a pretty popular. >> No, I don't need a bunch of people. >> Well, this is 84. 24. There must be one that says 25. Well, this 24.
>> Okay. Any questions on the launch? I think my primary I think I just wanted to hear the subscription number because >> earlier we they didn't it was too early in the season. >> That's right. >> So
>> So I have a question. Where's the revenue on here? Oh, the bottom. >> Yep. It's the bottom. >> Okay. So, our expenses in 25 are 44492 and our revenue is 45.
Okay. And we're going to do not quite as high in 26 based on current uh >> under 18. Yeah. Drop, 1800. >> Makes it a little tight. >> Yeah.
It's tight. >> More than tight. We're going to open the second >> or they also have the people who use the launch not on the season. >> Yes, they say >> there's Yeah. Something. Yeah.
Okay. Town administrator and finance director updates. Do you have anything else for us? We're we're still going through contract negotiation with fire uh CLA goal and DBW.
Um we really should be getting started on police because our goal should be to have that negotiated before during >> Yep. But it's
it is a it is a timely or it is a timeconsuming effort. Uh and this trash situation is obviously a large draw. I don't think they're big but keep we'll keep working on.
>> When will collection resume? Next week or you don't know. We'll we will we'll make an announcement at least by Friday, but we expect to hear something tomorrow. We we want to let people know before Saturday whether
to expect trash collection next week. >> I'll get a I will get a call tomorrow from the ops guy for sure. So hopefully that will solve that question by early tomorrow. I I will say your broadcast was very
well done. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And the second thing I'd like to say is I'm glad we have uh Black Earth. I think Black Earth is a pretty good organization and the the representative
they have on site is is a good person that the woman who she does a good job. That's another thing that we could >> we talked a little bit about, you know, how we could potentially
if we do offer people an option, you know, whether they still have their compost bin or not and whether we want to include that as part of this roll out and try to push composting more too with Black Earth. Um,
but just one thing I didn't mention about the about trash contract. Republic Republic's five their offer of 554121 also included a monthly fee for every month we didn't convert to
automated collection of $14,331. And then and then if we converted to automated collection before they had their new truck purchased and ready to go, they were going to charge us $5,400 a month
rental fee. >> Yes, we were ready early >> because we were ready early and there was no cap on when >> how long that would last. >> We know how long it took provided. We tried to we tried to negotiate that we
should split that cost and they said no. Um put a limit on it. I mean any really >> nothing. >> This was this was your >> this is we didn't filter the ones in some place. >> No.
>> No. >> I mean >> it was just a Yes. But >> the the headache that came with that >> Yeah. uh was overpowering the feeling. Yes.
>> Um but they also basically the they were unwilling to amend their contract terms in any way that would provide us protection or incentive to not have interrupted
service. while the the neighboring towns and their presence in the area was reducing as well. So >> it was concerning that a year from now, two years from now, we
would be stuck again and have no recourse. So, >> right, >> um, the contract, you know, if you did the comparison financially, I think that Cassella could end up being cheaper anyways, but even if it were a little bit more expensive, the contract terms
were worth it. And that's >> well, plus the fact that there's other towns are not using. >> Yeah. >> If everyone's bailing the public, >> they're not exactly want to keep the Manchester as the only place. So it sounds like the public doesn't care about this region as much or they would
maybe work to adjust his contracts and I think you're exactly on the right pathility support set go through this two years from now. >> Okay. Thank you. So where does the whole trash
topic go from at this point? >> We're we're having a public forum on Tuesday. talk about what you know we have to make some decisions quickly. >> I understand that. That's what I'm asking the question. >> What size barrels and and all that
stuff. So, we're going to start that process Tuesday. We're probably going to have some sort of regular occurring public meeting process to work through what that plan is. Um this decision has to be made by September one.
>> Well, that's the other that's the other answer we're waiting for. Cassellas, there's got to be some lead time to get the barrels, you know, stamped and prepared for delivery. So, um, we may need to make that decision even sooner,
you know, August. >> So, we have a lot of work to do in in a short period of time. Um, is there any equipment for this >> possible way to get sample barrels so people can
you know you say 35 I understand what 35 gallons is because I work with that all the time but a lot of people don't realize what size >> we're we're we're on be able to have them for Tuesday night and then >> keep them here for people to see.
>> That's good. That's good >> because they get awful big and when they get heavy >> see the 96. Okay. If we as a transfer station, I would understand like having to consider
the 96. But with the with having a transfer station on it, I really don't think we need to go down that road. And if you offer people the opportunity to if they really want to buy a second barrel instead of
it all depends on your use, but >> and the frequency of your service. I mean I to me the frequency of the service is another player in that in that decision. >> Yeah. >> It remains weekly is a different field than I'm in but >> y
letting people see where am I going to put it? Will it fit in my garage on the street? Go ahead. >> Okay. Next. >> And next item on the agenda is to appoint the chair and the vice chair.
The amended agenda I posted yesterday. I said, "Oh yeah, I said, "Oh, we need to appoint." >> That'll be one more year. move this vice >> show.
>> Okay. >> Did anybody list the minutes? >> I did. They were very good. I looked at and I got some I don't know whether I'm on the committee or have not been >> I
>> I may have been a fraud moderator right >> moderator >> Debbie Powers is checking I asked her on Tuesday I said well I'm looking at do I is John on the committee
is gar >> and so she said John had been reappointed June 16. >> Okay. >> And that she was checking on you. >> I haven't been vetted yet. So >> yeah. One thing that interesting about
you know those one of the is 20 25 and June ones are dated they are dated June 11th 2025. I didn't realize we admin that. >> No, no, that's a mistake.
>> Okay. Well, then >> so we need to amend those minutes to June 11, 2026. >> Okay, >> that's fine. Fine. I just have to get all the way out of the
saying 25 is pretty basic. >> So, we have what are the dates? The three dates are >> they are >> April 16th was it >> the sec they are April 16 May 21
>> and June 17 >> and they all look fine to make >> No. Did we meet in June? >> No. Well, that's why I thought we I didn't think we did. That's why I thought the 25 was >> we were supposed to be getting the ones from April that were joint with the
select board. And we did April 16 here again. >> April 27 423 >> 423. Yeah, that's the meeting. >> So it was April 16th. The joint meeting
was April 23rd and then 521. >> 521 and then there's a 416 year too. >> Yeah. 416, 521, and 423. >> Okay. Well, somehow I have a >> Okay. So, the June is correct. >> Okay. Make a motion to those three
noted. >> No, we didn't amend it. That was >> No, that was the June one that doesn't exist. >> Um, all in favor? >> Okay. And our next meeting is
>> August >> August 20th >> 20 the Thursday Wednesday >> right because we're supposed to be meeting on Thursday because some reason we switched this one which I didn't realize until Tuesday we switched it I said oh shoot >> oh is that oh because I wonder whether >> yeah
sudden I pulled up I didn't write the agenda and I was it Monday >> Monday I get is it the the 8th of the Hey, this was like June 202.
>> Yeah, this that's what it said. It says June 17. >> Yeah, there isn't 11 2025 meeting on your previous agendas. >> And then it says well on the it says 11 on the document. It says 17 on the
middle email. So, so if people can send me agenda items for August, I'd appreciate it. What you'd like to cover? >> Okay. I think we need to capital. >> Yeah. If you can send that to me. I'll take a motion to
Thank you. >> Good night, everyone. >> Hanging in there. You have now I'm here. So, okay. So, I I just wanted to show you talked about like, you know, >> having a list of where all these legal
fees kind of come from and all these legal cases. So, we have it in this format. I mean, >> I don't feel stupid comfortable like getting into details. No, but if you want to like go through this at any
point, you know, case by case, >> I think it needs to come to the entire finance committee. >> Yeah. But but but just like limiting conversation about legal strategy >> just name of the case. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Just name of the case and which board it
impacts. >> Yeah. teach which ones are burning heavily and is there discussion how salt works sometimes as you get >> I don't know why
you know I got sent you maybe to that point >> somehow and still closed or still open. We don't need to say those go down a hole and I just don't want to.
Yeah, it's not good for >> So we'll we'll add that. Uh what makes you