7:35 p.m. on July 14th, 2026. Uh this is the personnel committee and we will be addressing two auditors tonight. Uh we have in attendance member councelor David Ducet, council president
Michael Oing and members the mayor and the two people we being interviewed as well as our comproller. Um I'll start off with the way it was set up. Order number 26-109764, the appointment of Lynn FA to the zoning
board of appeals as an alternative member for a two-year term from the date of the city council confirmation. And just so Dave, you know, I may be asking for suspensions tonight. Sure. Um because we're meeting next week and like
to get this on that agenda. Okay. And I'll read the letter from the mayor. to the council president and counselors. Appointment to the zoning board of appeals as an alternate honorable president Austin and counselors. This
alternate alternate position alternate position has been done in the past and if there is not enough ZBA members, the alternate can step in for a quarum. As you can see, Mrs. Fouse resume, she has previously served on the ZBA. She has
extensive work in many facets facets with her career including engineering which is a great asset to the ZBA. She has served on numerous boards within the city and will bring that commitment, perspective and experience to the board. I want to thank Lynn for wanting to
continue to serve the community by rejoining the ZBA. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, J. Christian Dumis mayor. Uh Lynn, if we can just have you go up front. Um there's little buttons. Just make sure
the green buttons on. Thank you, Lynn. Welcome, Lynn. Um we know each other through Rotary, but um I don't know if the other members do know you. So that's why we asked you to come here just to explain your your wishes or what you would like to do as an
alternate member of the ZBA. But you've already been there so I presume you pretty much know what you'd like to do. Uh but I will open it up to the committee member first for any questions and other members such as counciling. Um but go ahead council det.
>> Thank you very much Mr. Pres Mr. Chair. Um, thank you for volunteering your time for the zoning board. Um, so you you were on the zoning board for quite a while, actually, almost 20 years. >> Yeah. Um,
okay. So, here we are 13 years later and you want to come back again? >> We're empty nesters. We have some time. I do run a nonprofit corporation as a fulltime employee, >> but I do have time.
>> Do you have your mic? You got to speak closer to the mic. Bring it closer to you. There you go. >> It does move. Okay. Can Can you hear me now? >> So, uh, yeah, I I think I do have time to um commit to the zoning board of appeals again. Uh, I loved serving
previously >> and um I think I have a lot to offer to the board. I I did notice that, you know, you've been board members of different uh organizations, historical commission, uh CDA. Uh what is the Metro Community Development Corporation? I
haven't heard about that one yet. >> Well, we're a local nonprofit on the other end of Main Street in the old post office. Uh we work on self-sufficiency programming to help disadvantaged people to uh get more employment um to um to to
retain their housing. >> Um to be more self-sufficient in general. Okay. So we serve about um 2500 uh people per year. >> Okay. So your focus is on people not businesses. But that's >> Yes. It's very people oriented. We're
not an economic development. Yeah. >> or business development organization, although we do deal with housing. >> Um, our organization used to redevelop housing. >> What we found is that there's plenty of developers that are out there doing that. >> And so, we're working with the people so
that when they do get affordable housing, uh, they can afford to be there and earn the incomes to pay their mortgage. >> Great. Okay. Thank you for that. I appreciate that intro. >> Thank you, councelor Duced. Councelor Rossing. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair Lynn, welcome back.
Glad to have you back on the ZBA. Um, I guess my one question would be, would you be interested in becoming a full-time member should a spot open up on the ZBA? >> Yes, I I hope so. I I'm not um uh aware of how often the board has been meeting.
Uh when I served previously, we we met practically every Tuesday and I could not do that um at this time, but I could probably uh depending on how busy the board is, meet a couple couple Tuesdays,
two or three times a month uh with my current schedule. >> If this will make it feel any better, they meet like maybe two or three times a year. It's it's really it's really case dependent. So the >> um I don't want to say the chaos of the earlier years when you were there uh
things have slowed down. Folks kind of follow the rules or we find them violating the rules and they come beg for forgiveness but usually it doesn't work so well. But it's only a handful of cases a year. It's not and it there is no set schedule for ZBA. It's when
someone applies. >> Okay. Yeah. When when I served, we had many 40bs and so we had weeks after weeks after weeks of hearings. >> Yeah. And I mean that I mean the mayor can correct me, but we we haven't I mean
I know they got one case on conquered road that they're looking at right now, but prior to that, you can go on the website and look at it. It's it's been it's months between meetings. >> Okay. If that's the case, then I could, if need be, be a permanent member. Mhm.
>> Okay. No, I'm just gauging interest so the mayor knows in case he needs to fill a spot. Right now, right now we're full, but you know, we don't know what the future holds, but this the alternate position is kind of like the bullpen to get folks ready and prime so they can
step in should uh someone decide to leave. So, >> Right. Right. Right. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You're welcome. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, Lynn, you and I know each other and I was just curious, you've got quite a commercial background, quite a
resume, electrical, you work, you graduated with an engineering degree in electrical engineering. In your work now, it's more public work, but do you see any conflicts that may arise with being on the ZBA as an alternate?
>> No, most of my work now is um outside of the city of Marboro. Uh I work statewide um from the Birkers to the Cape uh into Boston and uh there we we really do very little work in in Marbor per se and it
has nothing to do with zoning the work that we do. >> Excellent. And I would agree if you're ever interested in a full-time position. I hope the mayor is listening. Uh that would be great. Uh, but curious uh in your resume and I know but maybe no one
else knows. You're not a veterinarian, right? It says you had pets trainer. You were trained with pets. >> Oh, no. No, that would be for >> What was that all about? >> Oh, it has to do with Rotary International. Um I I um am an expert in
mobilizing volunteers and I did a lot of work um with Rotary International uh doing volunteer work. >> And that pets trainer was more or less the presidentele training is that stands for I trained a lot of um future
presidents in Rotary International. Yes. >> And I've enjoyed being a fellow of yours for these many years and look forward to it. I hope I'm sure my fellow counselors will agree that you will make a great alternate person for the ZBA at this time and maybe someday of permanent. But
with that said, are there any other questions at all? >> No, I think that's it. Motion to approve. >> Okay, a motion's on the floor to approve Lynn Faustst as an alternate member to the ZBA. All in favor? Opposed? There's no one opposed. So,
congratulations, Lynn. And this will be in Well, I was going to ask for a suspension. >> Yep. So moved. >> Okay. A suspension has been so moved. All in favor? This will be suspended for the next city council meeting, which will be next Monday. You're welcome to
be here. You don't have to, but uh we want to make sure we get you enrolled as fast as we can. So, >> thank you so much. Thank you. >> Thank you, Lynn. Thank you for your time and all that you do for the city. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Lyn. Okay, the next order on the agenda is
order number 26109779 and I'll read the letter from the mayor uh related to this order. Okay. Dear council president Aing and councilors, I am pleased to submit for
your approval the appointment of Aaron Ragusa Kaitton as a city of Marble's city collector and assistant finance director. Throughout her municipal career, she has served in treasure, collector and finance related roles for communities ranging in size from 3,400
to 23,000 residents with budgets exceeding 115 million. Mrs. Regusa Kaitton experience includes managing tax collection, utility billing, debt and cash management, accounts payable and
receivable, payroll processing, reconciliation mun of mun of municipal leans, certificates, and resident services. In Hudson, she played a key leadership role in the complete restructuring of the treasurer collector's office and the transition to
the Munis financial system. Her experience as an executive assistant, human resource support professional, and public information officer has strengthened her leadership, customer service, communication, and organization skills, which I believe will be an asset
serving the residents and businesses of Marbor and support the financial operation of the community. Enlo is Mrs. Reagusa Kaitton's resume and letter of interest for your review. She will be available available at a future person which is this meeting at a future
personnel committee meeting to answer any questions you may have. Sincerely J. Christian Dumis mayor. Erin, would you like to come up to the well? >> I hope I said your name right. >> Yes. >> Good. Oh, yeah. Sure.
>> Thanks. All right. You betcha. And you know how the mic works. If it's too far away, it won't work, I guess. So, uh, with that said, uh, Councelor Ducet, >> thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Um, you have a very impressive resume and, um, I
really do appreciate the background, um, in different municipalities. Um, so you're currently working for Hudson. How far away do you live? >> I actually am here. Um, so I I >> Do you live in Malboro?
>> No, I I've actually I I've been here for I guess I'm a little too close. I've been here for a couple weeks. Um, just doing an acting collector position right now just to fill the spot that was currently vacant. I live about 40 minutes away. So, um, my distance
commute-wise from where I previously was in Hudson is only less than an additional 10 minutes. So, it wasn't a big difference in commute-wise for me. So, um, I like to take the back roads. >> Sure. I listen to my audio books, listen to music. So, it's it's a nice ride.
>> Yeah. I was just looking at you were at Dunable Barry, you know, Hobbitson, Rutland, Philipston, uh Templeton, pretty much all over the state. So, I'm just figuring out in back of my head I'm like, what type of commute did you have it back then? >> So, basically, my home was uh centrally
located from all of those. So, basically make a circle with all those and plunk me right in the middle and that's where I am. >> Okay. So, you're you're north of us, right? >> Yes. A little bit north. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Um I mean the work that you're doing in
Hudson and allen aside um transferring a financial system from one to another I give you great credit for that into itself. It doesn't matter what business you're in that's always a huge process to undertake and it's a necessary one too. So good. >> I appreciate that because yes it
definitely is. >> Yeah. So um but uh you know I I think overall your background experience matches it. I mean it's you know th this leverages the experience you have while getting more financial deeper dive and
you got a hell of a teacher over there to to learn from. So don't go any far further will you? Um but yeah that's all I have to say. Uh >> thank you. >> Yep. >> Awesome. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, so
Erin, looking at the resume, looks like you've I called steadily progressed in population and budget, right? So from you're now going from 23,000 residents to 41,000 and 115 million to a $226 million
budget. So there's a significant amount more of tax collection activities that will take place in Malro than what you've seen previously. any challenges that you see in addressing that? I mean, you got a staff
of two and so why I mention it is your ability to work the counter is going to be important because it's it's not just in the office, but you've got to have I call it you're the you're not the most popular person when people come in to pay their taxes, right? I mean, it's
it's it's, you know, I feel bad sometimes for Jeff and Dan because they're the ones that have to, you know, confront some maybe not so happy residents. Your philosophy on working the front desk with your team. Can you just share
some of that insight for me? >> Sure. So, I have worked the counter many, many times. Um, some of my smaller offices, it was either just myself or myself and one other. So being at the counter is something I'm very comfortable with and don't have a problem with doing at all. Um mostly the
biggest challenge is just helping people. They they might be frustrated over a situation and you're just trying to help them understand how to correct whatever their problem is and move forward with that. Um the volume so far has been a little bit more than I expected. Um or I shouldn't say more
than I expected but more in line with what I expected. So more than what I was currently used to. Um, I am waiting to see what the spring excise is going to look like. I I'm that will be the biggest challenge, you know, because it's always the big one that comes around in the spring. I have a great
team. They really are wonderful. Um, I've taken some things off of their plate so they can focus more on the window and then I've stepped into the window when they've been working on things for me that it's like, okay, let me just take this and we can get this processed so that obviously we are servicing the people that are coming in to see us.
>> Okay. Good. So that that's to me that's an important feature of the collector to be visible if you will in the office. So so I I appreciate that. Um my second comment centers around the uncollectible portions of the taxes. The
city's done relatively well in keeping around a I'd say 1 to 3% of uncollected taxes on a yearly basis, but we've done well with the process of my version going after people that don't collect their taxes. Now, do you have experience
in that realm and can share some of your thoughts on that portion of the program? >> Um, it's a challenge in all offices, you know, regardless of the size of the community. So, it is a challenge. You have just some that are habitual people that do not pay until the end of the fiscal year. Um, and you kind of give
them that little nudge of uh here's a demand notice unfortunately. Um, and then you sometimes just make a phone call, which actually occurred this week where I literally just picked up the phone and said, "This is what's outstanding. You know, this is what's kind of being held up right now." And they were down into the office within
five minutes and paid what they owed. So sometimes it's just a friendly conversation of this is what's being held up right now. You know, would you like to move forward with this? This is the process that you need to go with. Um, it's a standard, you know, you go through the process. Um, some of it they just forget. You know, life gets busy
for a lot of people. So, sometimes it's just those extra notices or maybe just a a notice of, hey, this is what's out there. We kind of give reminders while they're in the office. The next one's not going to be due until. Don't forget the water bill will be out coming. You shouldn't have to worry about. Those are
kind of the leading conversations that we have. Sentences of either greeting or leaving depending on how the conversation goes with each individual resident. So, it's always just a little reminder of this is the schedule. Um, those that might have a challenge budgeting those things. Um, we give
them, you know, kind of notices of, you know, maybe you want to set up a calendar invite. It's always a very set schedule. This is what you kind of should remember. Gee, if it's Valentine's Day and the registry hasn't said that they love you with an excise bill, maybe you want to reach out and go, hm, something seems a little off. So
those are just some odd things that kind of stick in people's minds of going, "Oh yeah, so I won't be late on that. Yep, I can get that over there." And obviously the biggest with excise is the abatement process. And we work really closely with the assessors and we make sure that they get over to the assessors so they can get through that process of it so that
they don't have these uncollectible things out there that may not really exist because they might have not had the vehicle anymore. So, so I I mean I see the collector's role as to basically collect the the property taxes and funds that owed the city, but then also to be
on top of the funds that aren't uh collected and to have a good system to uh monitor, track, and enforce the collection of uh receivables that we don't have. because that that's we build
a budget expecting we're going to get x amount of money in and it usually doesn't happen and but by collecting prior years that kind of makes up for us. So we're kind in my mind we are almost we're usually floating about 1 to
2% of our revenue that we don't collect in any given year but making it up with prior year's collection because of the activity of the collector's office. So to me that's a very important feature to be on top of and I would encourage you to you know work with Brian and the team
to make sure that uh the uncollectible stuff does get collected because you know we're running a business here and we we we th those funds are important to be collected because I I tell anybody that asks you you're part of the community your responsibility is to pay
your share. um if you don't like it, there's a process to abate it or discuss it, but you know, you've got to pay your share to to to live in the community. So, um you know, that that's something I look at and I work with Brian on to uh make sure the uncollectibles get
collected. >> One of the most easy things that we do in the office, which is something probably a little newer to them, that they probably just didn't have the guidance to use. The staff just didn't have the guidance to know that this is a a different way of doing it. So, um, in my first week here, I actually worked
with with Dan and we had a resident that came in that wanted to pay their real estate taxes, the ones that are currently out there right now due in August. And when we pulled it up, I said, "Oh, well, you know, why don't you just give her the whole parcel balance, and you you can see that these are the other things that are outstanding." So,
rather than paying the bill that wasn't quite due yet, we actually collected on everything that had been due prior. Um, so then she was like, "Okay, now I know and that I'll be back here for the August 3rd due date to go through and move that." So it's a very simple thing of just let's give a parcel balance so
that they can see everything outstanding and they can go, "Oh, I didn't know that." Or, "Oh, I missed something somewhere." Um, so it's just a nice little little easy friendly reminder right there and then as to while you're here, just remember this is what's
outstanding. You know, this is what's earning interest. You know, the best route is to obviously pay what's earning interest first if something isn't currently due and then move from there. And then just a gentle reminder again as they're leaving and don't forget this is what's going to be due by that August 3rd date so that you don't have to pay
the interest because essentially residents don't want to pay the interest. That's obviously um helps the city, but it's their pocketbook that they're going how can I save some money and the best way is to obviously not have to pay interest or fees on their current bill. So, if they can pay on time, that definitely helps their own
budget at their own home. >> Erin, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. I'll go on with the uncollectibles. Um, I like your approach. Uh, I feel bad sometimes people are limited to their budgets, especially our elderly population. So, I
like your friendly approach and explaining maybe pay up the the uncollectibles that you're costing you interest uh that just so they know. And I know in other towns I've worked in I worked in municipal government for years
as well and u they put out a list. I work for a small town right now so it's not a large list but u it's sent to I'm in a permitting agency. I'm in the board of health and they tell us don't issue any permits because these taxes are not paid yet. So I don't know if that's
something you've ever looked into or plan on doing. >> So I have done this in multiple communities and actually we do a form of it here as well. It kind of depends on what your format is of what it is that you're you're using. So some communities had a software system permal link open
gov different things like that where there's a built-in workflow that will say okay every the very first stop is the collector's office do they owe outstanding taxes you know that will stop them from getting some not all but some type of permit or license that
they're trying to move forward with. And when it's things like that especially construction wise that's the biggest time that it pops up where people are trying to do some type of work on their home. they can't because oh my god I forgot that I didn't pay this water bill from last year or something along that
lines or they have a small balance because maybe they paid a little late and they had some interest that was still outstanding. So that's a nice way to be able to collect that as well. Others are maybe it's a form a work form that goes around and that's currently what's being used here. Um, and so we
use that to make sure that they are current if they want to get a license, a certificate, or any type of permit. And they have to again stop here in our office before they go to the other ones. >> That's usually very helpful, too. That usually wakes people up to, oh jeez, I need to do that before I get a permit.
>> Um, you worked with Munice. Um, I worked with Munice and but many years ago. I hope it's improved since, but um I don't know if that could help us in Marro or not, but your background in Munis um as you explained uh seems very good. Um I
don't know where you find time to enjoy yourself because I read here that you have was it a 100 plus certificates? >> Yeah, there there's a lot. So um I I like to learn and so I you know a lot of my different positions especially since
it has varied between both the finance side as well as the executive side of things has branched out in a lot of different areas and while there's a significant overlap with personnel with human resources depending on your community size it could be done on the finance office or it could have been
done in the executive office and then adding that into COVID occurring um I had to get certified very quickly in quite a few things um to become the information officer in the community that I was in at the time. So um the state had regulated what it is that you needed to do and my position in that
community was okay you now need to get certified in this because you are now going to be the information officer to handle whatever the state happens to throw at us at that time. >> Very important position. >> Yes. >> Public information officer. I I served it a few times when we did clinics,
vaccine clinics and so forth. Um what else was there? there was uh that and the fact oh the team we talked earlier just before you came into the meeting. Um and I'm very happy to hear that you're already getting to know your team. You have a great team. Brian
sitting your comproller. I mean you couldn't be in a better situation in my view to be working with the team you're going to be working with. And uh with that said uh do I hear a motion? >> Um one other question. >> Oh sure. Um, actually I'll catch you
worked at Conquered Data Systems. >> I'm sorry. I worked >> You worked at Conquered Data Systems? >> Uh, no. Um, >> says Oh, sorry. That was Lynn. >> That's Lynn. Yay. >> Yeah. No, no, it's two resumes. I was going on the wrong one. It's like, wait, I'll catch up with her later. Um, no. Sorry. Motion to approve.
>> Okay. Motion's on the floor to approve. I'll second that. All in favor? >> Hang on. Hope the suspension. >> Discussion. >> Oh, the discussion. Yes, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh there was a request from the mayor to add an additional week vacation. So I don't
know if you include that as part of the motion to approve. >> We can if you think that's appropriate. We didn't see the letter but it was in his email. So >> the letter is in our mailboxes now. It'll be on. >> So I apologize. So I would like to see if we can >> motion to approve an additional week
vacation and make sure uh we do a special order to get it done uh uh next meeting. >> Okay. And with that, and thank you, Mr. President. I didn't realize the letter was in our box. Uh, with that said, uh, that motion has been seconded. All in
favor? >> I, >> it's approved. Now, if I could ask for a suspension. >> Suspension. >> Suspension for the next meeting has been voted on and seconded. Seconded. All in favor? >> Yep.
>> Now, with that said, I guess >> motion to adjurnn. >> I guess a motion's in order to adjurnn. All in favor? >> Yes. We are adjourned at 8:02. two.