Hello everyone. Good evening. Um, I would like to call Hi. I would like to call the finance committee meeting to order at 700 p.m. on March 2nd. Uh, I will now read the script for
remotely conducted meetings. So, in accordance with open meeting law regulation 940 CMR29.10, 10. Please be advised that all FINCOM members are attending this meeting remotely. In addition, because FINCOM members are attending remotely, all
votes taken at this meeting will be by roll call vote. Lastly, if any FINCOM members are not clearly audible to fellow members or to any members of the public, please notify me immediately and we will do our best to remedy the problem and inform the public whether the meeting will continue.
Um, as a preliminary matter, uh, I am Jillian Prrenagast. I am the chair of the finance committee. Um, please remember me to confirm that all members um are present and can hear me. When I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Linda,
>> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Male, >> yes. >> Nathan, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes.
and Nathaniel let me know he's not able to make tonight. Um we do not have any anticipated speakers tonight. Um so I will continue with the rest of the open meeting script. Um so good evening. This is an open meeting of the finance committee is
being conducted via Zoom. Speakers on the agenda will be participating remotely and the chair may allow for the public to provide comment. Um, please note that while option for remote attendance and participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public, this meeting will not be suspended or
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recording later. You can also find this meeting posted to the WAVM YouTube channel. Thank you to WAVM for your support. For meeting materials, you can find them on board docs. Um, and we recommend that the members of the public follow the
agenda as posted there, unless I note otherwise. Um, and we will now turn to our agenda. Um, so I was hoping to keep tonight a somewhat abbreviated meeting, um, since we'll have another meeting on March 9th.
Um but we did get a lot of town articles or draft articles I should say um that I shared earlier today. So um the first item on our agenda is going over the annual planning for the annual town meeting. So this
includes recommendations and outreach we might um like to do um discussion of the um draft budget and any updates. Um, so for example, I know Peter, you shared that Excel spreadsheet. I don't think we've talked about that as a group yet.
Um, and there's also, as I said, the draft articles. We received um, a handful of those. Um, we will have our special guest at the next meeting on the 9th will be the
Maynard Public Schools and also the retirement board. Um, I would propose that we talk to the retirement board first, um, and talk about their article, which I did get clarification from Lisa Meade, um, and from town council that
there is no prohibition about this being a repeat article. So, um, there is no restriction on bringing this matter back without a substantive change. That only applies to zoning articles. Um, so absent a bylaw preventing this, they can bring this article back as many times as
they want uh legally. So I did get clarification from council on that. So I did want to share that. Um, we do have >> Yes, please. >> Um, can you just clarify or are they coming to talk about that or are they
coming to also talk about a larger than normal increase in the pension assessment? both. >> Okay. Um >> they can address our questions to both. So if there are questions that we want to share ahead of time, I would like to
do that. >> Can we get them to set So I'm more interested in a larger than normal assessment. Um and then I mean I would just if they have anything on what is the source of the
number how you know what was the communication to them can they share that with us you know anything they have on why it's larger than normal uh would be useful to see before you know we meet with them.
So they did share that to us already. So >> okay, sorry. Fine. >> This um from um Turak saying about the uh >> the So this is this should be on board docs. Uh I think it was also on board
docs maybe for the last meeting too. >> So um this goes over it's quite quite a lengthy article or document. Um, but it does go over why um why that number has changed
>> in here allegedly. So, um >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> That's fine. I can read it. I don't mean that we have to read it together as group. >> Um sorry, I just had noticed it yet. So, >> okay.
>> Yep. Yeah. So, but that's what I wasn't entirely clear about because it talks a lot about the like acrruel and how much this earns, but I don't I need to read it again, too. Um,
yeah. Okay. So, but I can share to them that we're definitely interested in sort of talking more about that document and assessment. Um, and I'm not aware that that has anything to do with the recent audit they've had. So, I don't know if
we want have an appetite to follow up on that too. Yeah, I'm not clear on the audit and you know maybe they can say but my sense is it was just I I bet they have an annual audit the same as the town and it's not
any issue of anything except that every year they have to do the audit an audit because they're like you know 50 to$100 million or thing. >> Yeah, I I think it's every I had an email about it. Um I think it
was every 3 to five years, but yeah, same difference. >> Oh, well, that would be I mean, actually, >> did you send the email or >> Yeah, it's not every year. >> Yeah. >> All right. Sorry. Somehow I missed that
one too. >> Yeah. Um, I'm trying to find the exact time when I sent it, but but yeah, they did have a separate um, audit done and I was aware of that back in like
we were aware of that back in the the fall or the winter of uh, last year. So, I think the audit was for OPE, though. I I don't think it was having to do with the um the some of the other items here.
>> Um sorry if this is a silly question, but I was just sort of skimming the PARK letter. So, is it is it just that like the like the COLA base valuation change? Is that the the cause of like a larger than normal assessment? Cuz just from like a quick uh skim like that seemed to be the main thing that was you know a
substantive sort of dollar amounts change in there. Uh you know whereas the rest is sort of you know um more of a descriptive kind of thing. Is that is that is that like cola change like the cause of the the different assessment or
am I am I off base there? That's what I'm not entirely clear on and that's why I wanted to have them come talk to us. >> That makes sense. All right. Um, are there any additional questions about or things you'd like me to bring to the
retirement board? Um, attention. >> All right. So, I'll email Ken so he'll have some context. Um I would propose that we talk to them before we talk to the school board manage school board because I think their presentation and discussion will be a bit longer. Um
that talking about that topic is I'll reserve that for our future meeting uh agenda since they don't have uh an ATM article. So I'll stick on the ATM article topic right now.
So, let's see. So, let's see if I can make this bigger. All right. So, these are all of the anticipated articles. So there could potentially be like 31 articles or 30 30
articles so far. Um so a lot of these will be sort of um routine articles like ones that we see every year. Um we did get some drafts.
So the ones that have a date here are the ones that we've received. So we have some community preservation ones. Um, we have like the golf transfer receipts. These are sort of routine as well. Um, the new the article we have uh for
the retirement board that we've gone over in past meetings to add a stipend to their um board. And then there'll be some sewer water um enterprise return um
transfers and things like that. Uh, and we have some of these articles, but not all of them. Allegedly, there is the authorization on here for a potential construction. And
that's either 2 million, 2.5 million to 25 million. I don't have a draft for that yet, but it's allegedly on the list as a maybe. Um, and then
there's some additional articles. Um, so I think for me that this article V being on there is a little bit of a surprise. Um, a lot of the other ones are sort of routine articles so far.
>> Sorry, what did you say was a surprise? that they actually have the an art a placeholder on here for an article for me having >> Okay. >> Yes. for for the um >> the water bonding.
So yeah, so this is this is sort of the layout. Um, it's quite a few articles, but I would say a lot of them are routine. So, I think that they should be straightforward for us to research um, in the next couple of weeks. There's
also one article that's not on here yet that the town clerk um, reached out to me about. She wanted to get our opinion on first before she made it an official article. Um, so she would like to
propose um a certain order for uh let me look at my notes here. So she would like a bylaw. She's proposing a bylaw that would move the annual town meeting from the the third Monday in May to the first Monday in
May. So it' be a shift of two weeks. Um and then so then the town meeting would be the first Monday in May and then the town election would be on Tuesday after the second Monday in May. So this would ensure that the election always occurs
eight days after annual town meeting. Um so this this bylaw proposal would switch the dates so that you don't have an election before a town meeting. Um, and it could potentially also be
cost-saving. Um, because then you don't have to hold a special election after the town meeting. Um, the challenge is that we would have all of our deadlines would move up two weeks. So, we would have to
have our written recommendations printed two weeks earlier. we'd have to have our um obviously we'd have to have our public hearing like the week before that. So like the last week in April. Um
so um Dick Downey I guess she shared a draft with Dick Downey and he was concerned that we wouldn't have uh enough time to make our recommendations. So, in the past, we've met like on average three times a month in February, March,
April to like sort of make sure we covered all of the articles and as many recommendations as we can, which is more than our usual two meetings a month. Um, but I sort of wanted to get the committee's temperature on this
proposal. I think if everyone else's deadlines are moved up two months that it could work. But if it's only our deadlines or sorry two weeks. If it's only our our deadlines that are moved up two weeks, I don't think it would work
personally because we sort of come together at the last minute sometimes for our recommendation. But I did want to kind of get people's temperature about it because I told um Michelle uh the town clerk Melissa that
I would uh bring this up as a topic. >> I suppose like at a at a general level like any difficulty that we've had in sort of meeting those deadlines hasn't really been due to like a lack of capacity on our part but more so like our our colleagues you know getting us
articles on time. So at, you know, sort of a general level, if we can get articles on time, which I think we haven't always necessarily gotten articles on time, it would kind of maybe maybe be doable, but obviously if we're getting articles like even later than we have gotten them in the past, that
would, you know, be a problem. Um, >> yeah, >> my concern was too that Oh, sorry, Katie. >> No, you're fine. Go ahead. Well, was was does the town administrator get the information he needs for the f like the FY27 budget? Because all you know, right up until
seems like almost the last minute, he doesn't know the final healthc care numbers. Um the freecast just got certified. Would he know everything to to move all those deadlines up two weeks? um because you don't want to get to town meeting
like we did last year and they're changing tons of numbers, you know, on the fly. It just doesn't seem like the best policy. I know it might save a little money on elections. Um but I had some concerns too.
Was there what was the rationale aside from saving money for having the elections after town meeting rather than before? >> Um so this the theory is that it would streamline everything. Um it would increase transparency and give residents
more time to understand and consider the questions before they have to vote. like they'll be able to hear the discussion about it before they have to vote on it cuz like sometimes they have to vote on it and then they go to annual town meeting and see the presentation. So it's not as like transparent as they
would like. That's more the reason than the money. Um so because they said an average election costs about six or $7,000 and in a presidential year that can increase to like maybe like $10,000 because of the mail mailin ballots. So,
it's not it's not a huge number. Um, it's I guess um Melissa was stressing it's more having like giving people the information before they have to vote on it.
>> But, so I echo all of Linda's things. I besides our schedule, I think the real issue is um we won't have the information we need to do a very good, you know, budget
because we are waiting for information often until May. But then on your thing, Jillian, what the town clerk said, I'm trying to remember, but maybe someone correct. I don't think we've
ever done the, you know, so this is mostly about an override and I don't think we've ever done a vote on the override before a town meeting. We always do it as a >> special election. Yeah.
>> Which, you know, we could argue is unnecessary, but I mean to me the more obvious thing would be why don't we change the date of town election? Who cares when that is, >> right? just move that to June 1st. Now, it may be that we need to amend the
charter or something and that, you know, it's a harder thing to do that, but I don't like the idea of town meeting being earlier. I think we're hardpressed to have accurate information. And it's
not just us getting articles in time. It's that, you know, Greg is actively trying to get information. You know, the state budget, Lord knows that's never set. You know, not ne we're never going to wait for that. But, >> um, so yeah, I'm concerned about moving it
earlier. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And that sort of echoes my concerns too because I'm like if that's two weeks earlier then I think everything will have to be two weeks earlier at least. Um you know I don't know how >> but some of it like you know insurance
rates we don't control. >> I mean Greg's got his estimate but >> you know that always comes down the later into the spring we go. Okay. So, I'll share to her that we have concerns that um not only for um getting
our recommendations in time, but also for making sure that all the information that we don't always have direct control over, like budgeting information is um is received by all the people who need to get it. And I'll also ask though if we can
change the date of the election instead of >> Yeah, that like Some ways we should elect the select board after town meeting anyway. Then we can take it out on them. We don't like town meeting.
Okay. Uh are there any other topics we want to discuss on or any other items for that topic of discussion? No. All right. Um,
okay. I'm not hearing any. So, I don't know if we want to take the time tonight to go through each of these articles. Um, I can pull them up. I want to go over them. Um, it would be great if we could maybe start assigning people who would be interested in writing draft
comments for them. Um, I mean that might be a good idea to to divide the work of really carefully looking at them and drafting comments. >> Yeah, I agree. >> Yeah. So you can see on this um this document
the ones that have a date in the column are ones that we they have received. Um so I think the town report acceptance and obsolete materials I think is like just a line like it's always the same.
So I don't know that we need to assign anyone to that. Um, is there's two community preservation articles as is tradition. So, one's the budget and one is their reserve fund appropriations. Is anyone passionate about the CPC?
>> Uh, I think I've written those for like the last two years, so I'd be happy to do those again. Okay. And then we should have the golf course receipts transferred as well. Feel like I don't remember seeing that
one though. M. Oh, we do have that. Okay. >> I'm happy to take that one as well. >> Okay. Um, I think we can, if unless anyone is very passionate about the retirement board
stipend, um, I would propose we we can wait until after our meeting next week about it. Um, and then there's quite a few water, sewer, and water articles. Um, so we got the operating reserve funds.
We haven't gotten all of these yet. Um, but it looks like R and S are for a service truck. Half of it will come from water and half from sewer. Um,
I feel I did those in the past, the the water and sewer ones. So, I can take those on. Okay. So, >> you'll take on the the first two. Do you want to take on the other two that we have as well?
>> Sure. >> I feel like R and S are related. So, I don't have that one yet, but it looks like half will be from one and half from the other article. >> Right. Right. Um, and then I don't have these this road replacement tank yet or
this. I think this one should be a separate one. Like I don't think you should have to write that one, Katie. >> I don't want to. >> We don't have that one yet anyway. So, um, the PAS one will be
pretty straightforward. It's like it's similar to the PAS article we had last year. So, um, >> uh, I can do that one, Jillian. I actually I think I did the PAS one last year anyway. So, >> okay. Um,
and then some of these other retained earning ones like DU and X. I don't think Katie should have to do all eight water articles.
>> I I can uh do those two as well then the whatever the those uh TNX I guess since those are or yeah whatever is received and stuff. Yeah. Okay. Um, great. And then we don't have any of
these ones yet. Um, so but uh we did get this we did get a zoning bylaw update for the marijuana one and we did also get the solid waste enterprise budget,
but it does still need numbers. So it's not finalized yet. I can take either one of those. AB or AC. Um, it looks like AB is more complete. So, >> okay,
>> maybe we can wait for the next draft of AC. All right. And then the Summer Street lease. Um, I can can do that one. Um, okay.
All right, great. So, I can also send this around after. Um, and all of these ones were in the packet for this this time. So, instead of uh going over each one tonight, I might propose that we do a little bit
of looking into it. There's a lot of water stewart articles, so I might actually reach out to see what Justin's um ability to come to one of our meetings is like later in March. um and get a meeting set up one 2 3 4 for the 23rd.
So we'll have Aphabet come talk to us on the 23rd as well. So let me stop sharing and double check what our timeline is to get our written recommendations in. Pull up that document.
All right. So our I'll share it. So, so our public hearing will be on May 11th. We have to submit our recommendations by April 15th.
>> So, that's not too many meetings from now. >> So, uh so this is why pushing things up I think would make me nervous too if they wanted to do it the first week of May. Um, >> so the deadline for all articles is
already passed. >> Wow. >> Right. And we don't have them. >> We don't have them. Okay. Yeah, >> we don't have them. >> So these are the articles I just got from Greg on Friday. So >> yeah. So, I think pushing up the deadline even
more would not be great. And we only have about half the articles that are in in the agendicated um town meeting warrant tracker. So, okay. I think that's that's really helpful. So, thanks for that everyone.
Uh, Peter, do you want to go over the the FY27 budget with all the notes that you had or should we pause that until we get an updated version from Greg? >> I'm not sure we'll get another updated version. >> Um, you know, I
>> I just think, you know, this is a particularly detailed version. You know, he's not going to map out all the detail every time he makes a change. And there, you know, really should just be big changes. >> Um I don't um I forget what the heck I
sent for a file. Uh >> so I pulled it up for you. Helpful. So >> yeah. So I mean this is just you know detailed line items. I haven't meshed this in.
Oh god. But I haven't done what I said I was going to do. Put this in like with 26, 25 and prior years just, you know, so you can more easily see changes. But I mean, I think it's still useful
to, you know, this is the most detailed version of the budget that we get. So okay. >> Yeah. I think if there's anything that struck out that's uh changing quite a
bit. I mean I think there will be some I don't know how to describe it. there'll be weirdness because we'll be taking the solid waste and recycling out of the general fund. Uh and sort of understanding where that
goes I think is something that we should definitely keep an eye on in future budgets. So, but I don't I didn't have any particular line item other than uh I think the new
assistant was it assistant fire deputy chief person >> isn't in this budget. >> The deputy chief is not in there. So, I think that was the only thing I wanted to point out. So,
are there any other line items that people wanted to point out? I can scroll to them. Otherwise, I stop. >> Can we tell if if we're in um if the budget's in balance, are we still in the
red? >> This budget is in balance. >> Is in balance. Okay. But it's in balance before. Let's see. There was an increase to aset. >> Yeah. >> Yes.
>> And I think that's the big change. I don't know that there's been any change to health insurance or you know state aid for instance. >> The free cash certification was half as much as Greg projected. >> Yeah. >> But that doesn't affect this.
>> I don't remember. Yeah. >> Um >> yeah, which Yeah. I don't know where we want to go. Maybe we look at it after town meeting. I am a little concerned that free cash
is only half. >> I mean, >> yeah, me too. I it should be that we do it and the state signs off on it. If the state is changing our numbers, it means we did something wrong. >> Yeah. Or we budgeted too razor thin.
>> Yeah. But I mean we should know that before we submit it to the state. >> Yeah. >> It's not like >> um so at some point Yeah. I I don't know that I want to, you know, get Greg all in it, you know,
or make Gregie respond to a bunch of stuff now. But I do think it's worth reviewing afterwards after town meeting to say, hey, you know, what did the state change because uh it indicates some issue. So,
>> yeah. >> And does this one have the full-time engineer? That's one thing that it I just don't kind of get that that why we would need to go from someone who works one day a week to five days a week.
That just it never makes sense to me. Why do we even need, you know, if we want to could we have a part-time one share with another town? Um, so yes, there's some. So, row 361. Oh, yeah. Right there. Look at that.
>> Uh, sorry, I have the file open in Excel. Um, so that is new. What we're not seeing though, and I can't because FY26 isn't here, is presumably there's some reduction to a consulting line.
>> Yeah. Uh based on the uh quadboard meeting, Greg said that the contract right now is about $170,000. So this would be going down to 120 plus whatever the benefits wind up being.
So it's about 20%. And then he said you'd also still need some consulting services because not no engineer is going to know have all the specializations. >> Yeah. I don't think the one >> I don't think the 170 line item goes to zero. >> Yeah.
>> Um but I don't actually where the heck would the consulting be Is it MS? Is it option uh municipal services? No. Or why wouldn't we want even if if if he's only consulting one day a week, why
wouldn't we have a part-time engineer instead of a full-time engineer? Just it uh engineer arch. >> It's probably
um row 379. Um, that's probably So, it may be that he went from 170 down to 50 and then really the only extra cost is the benefits. Um,
yeah. I mean, that's I I have to look up what that line used to be. >> Looks like it was60 this year. >> Okay. Yeah. So, I think that is the reduction. Um, so
Huh? So, it was going to be 170 and now it's 120 plus this 50. That's the same thing. Plus, we're paying for uh benefits now. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think that's why it'd be good to talk to Justin to understand if that new position might also offset
some engineering costs that might be associated with some of these other >> potential articles that are coming up. like if that person could be used to help with designing of like some of the like the override project or
some of these other new what are they called? Oh, I felt frozen for the like different engineering um phases coming
up for the water plan. So, >> I got to stop sharing. See if I can unfreeze it. So, >> right. But part of me would say if we're if that's what the engineer is going to be doing, then we should have the engineer in the water sewer enterprise
fund. >> Yeah. >> Um Yeah. So, I can see what Justin's availability is like. >> Julian, can I go back? This is this is also on the schools. The other thing that they the the superintendent keeps
talking about is retirement savings or they didn't have enough retirements. they their the retirement savings wasn't what they expected. And my question was, did does he have any authority to offer a a retirement incentive or does anyone in the town
have the authority to do that or would we have to vote that at town meeting? you know, to say if you retire, we're going to give you a cash 10 grand or whatever, five grand that might be offset by those retirement
savings to balance his budget because I don't know how it is now, but that we were off by about 300,000, I think. >> So, you you want to know if there's retirement incentives for high-step teachers.
>> Yeah. or if they have the authority to do that, you know, to do that to to to reap those savings. I don't even know if they would they have the authority to do that.
>> I I doubt they have the authority right now. The I mean, we we we could ask, you know, what would be the process with doing something like that. >> I suspect the issue is quickly going to be the school contract, though. Yeah, >> that you know it's a union contract.
>> Um, >> so it would have to be something negotiated. >> Yeah. >> Which then just will make it more expensive and less >> Yeah. >> You know, to our advantage, I would think.
>> Yeah. I know the state does it periodically and I don't know how they how they do it if the legislature has to let them do it or how they do that. But actually that yeah that could be a I mean we should ask you know Greg I think
what would be involved >> but Superintendent Hos definitely he talks about that's kind of in his budget you know in his budget thinking is those retirement savings that sometimes they fall people's stay on
that they wasn't expecting. >> Yeah, I can definitely ask that. Um, >> yeah. >> Yeah, because the mayor schools will be coming to our next meeting. So, if there's any >> school budget related questions we also want to ask too, I can bring that up as well.
>> That would be great. Thank you, Julian. So I think my main question is you know the reconciliation between the town administrator recommended budget and the school recommendated recommended budget. Um >> so I think last time I remember they were like three or 400k different. Um I
have to find the number >> and Green Meadow will not is not planned to open in FY27. It would be FY27 goes from now through next June June of 20.
So it wouldn't open till fall of 27 into FY28. No, I I thought Green Meadow was supposed to open next January. >> So, it is. So, yeah, we just want to make sure we're covered for that.
So, it would be January 27. So, it'll be half the year the kids would be in the new school. That might be a question just you know that yeah I think we should ask about that >> about when green meadow is opening >> when it's opening and as and if there's
yeah if it if it's during FY27 if we're sure the budget is taking that into count. Um, somewhat related but slightly different. If um Jill, actually, can you ask Greg if
there's an updated FY27 budget? >> Yes, I did. Um I only got these updated articles. I haven't gotten an updated budget yet, but I can definitely ask again for our next meeting. >> Yeah, I think we want to push. I mean,
I don't know. was the tri board or sub meeting or I guess it was budget subcommittee you know so the increase in aset and I'm sorry I'm going to muck the numbers up but I think is like two or 300,000
which then you know likely means we have to reduce costs elsewhere >> y >> which you know is going to you know some piece of that like is likely to hit
school budget, the town school budget. Um, and so whatever difference between, you know, what they requested and what Greg funded is likely to get bigger unless Greg, you know, I don't know what
he's doing with health insurance. Maybe he thinks health insurance can decrease there will cover the increase in aset. Um, but I'm concerned that all of a sudden it'll be, you know, 4 days before town
meeting when we're getting the final budget numbers to vote on and nobody's had a chance to react to them because I have in my calendar the next budget subcommittee meeting isn't until March 11th,
which is after our next meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But he doesn't I don't think that's even a deadline for him. I mean, >> he's got the town charter deadline of, you know, January 26th or whatever it is >> that he has to present a budget
>> to this select board and there's really no >> the select board's budget. >> Yeah. But there's really no other budget deadline until town meeting. And so I just
I want to know how that as thing is going to play out. Yep. Okay. All right. So, that's really helpful. I have gathered some questions we have for the school. I mean, I'm definitely going to ask Greg for updated budget as well.
Hopefully, we'll have that all for the next meeting. Uh, we sort of assigned some placeholder people uh that will help with the recommendations for the v various articles. So I can send around that spreadsheet as well. Um we did get from Aphibit um an updated
um budget information from them directly um that I shared. So this was just um in uh like a couple weeks ago. So, um
it's talking about the the town's share of the assessment um based on how many people we have and this is like the most updated information we have for math.
Uh so, I was double checking this against the number that Greg sent me last time. Um, and so this is the overall just 1.3 and I think he was
counting for it to be 1.27ish. So, this is something we can definitely talk to them. They're going to come on the 20 23rd of March. um >> 23rd
>> in the FY27 detail aset is 1098. >> So that's $250,000 increase. >> Yeah. So this is this is more the last time I think we got a number from Greg
it was one 1 million uh 277 914. So that's what um Oh, wait. I'm sorry. This is the um excess and deficiency. I'm looking at the wrong line item. Sorry to be confusing.
That's That's not the budget. I'm just going to close that file. Okay. Yeah. So the difference that they're asking for is is almost the same difference that the Maynard schools is asking for. Um and if I stop sharing. So that's sort
of the the letter that ASB sent us. They also sent us ahead of our upcoming meeting like um their usual like a PowerPoint presentation talking about like the budget overviews and all the drivers. So, this is something they said that they can walk us through when um
we talk to them, but it also breaks out sort of the budget facts about sort of what's what's increasing um and what the drivers are. Um so, this is something that I did
circulate. So we can we'll have our meeting our next meeting to sort of see if there's any specific questions we have for Aphibbit um that we want to talk about uh and talking about this is for me I really like looking at this chart here because it sort of gives you an idea of the breakout of the different
um persons that are in the different grades and how that sort of that budget um and what the difference is. So even though we have like 10% less um participants um
the budget uh our minimum contribution requirement did still go up because of other factors that are detailed um in this presentation. So, and then it talks about, you know, how how they determine
what the MLC is, the minimum local contribution. Uh, and it's sort of like a formula. Um, and then they sort of break it down about how how that works and you know, it's going up. Nothing
ever goes down. Um and then it talks about some differences in the budgets um between the foundation budgets and things like that. So and some of the other grants that they get as well. So
So this I think the 1082 that's the number you were talking about Peter originally. Um, so this 1082 has since been updated is my understanding to this 134826.
So this is >> that's not but I mean this is >> originally the 1348 was supposed to be 1098. But something it's not not to do with
the foundation. >> Okay. Yeah. So that's why I want them to talk a little bit more about the foundation stuff cuz that >> Yeah. If you go up a few pages and uh further further further further
further further further right wait stop down I think. little bit further down the next page I believe. So this I think No, no, that was it. Go up
right there. So that 13.2% increase in minimum local contribution is what's killing us. I mean, that's what gets distributed to town. I don't know. I mean, I have I
don't fully understand it. Maybe I'll read it this year and try to understand it more. But I mean, that's what the killer is. I mean, there's no budget in our town that gets 13% increase.
And that's what, you know, they're saying is required by state law as far as I understand it. >> Um, but it's crazy. I suspect it has something to do with um on that page that Jill was highlighting
earlier that showed the total student enrollment. I think the blue highlights are the towns that are in district and the white is um unhighlighted are the out of district placement and >> Yes. >> Yeah. So they those went down by like 40
students or something, right? 40. they did >> five. Um, so and that's the I think that's the second year in a row when they've had so much demand in district there have been haven't been any out of district placement. So I think that might be part of what's driving the
increase in cost for us >> and that's definitely something that they've cited in years past. Um, can you go down to the budget? Actually, I'm sorry. I should just open this on my own. Uh, no. Down >> budget overview.
>> The budget. Uh, that uh further further further further. Uh, further uh this wait up one I think right that page. So I think
so Maynard went from 63 students in 26 to 58 students. So down five and I guess our assessment did go down 20,000 but you know from 11:02 to 1082.
So, I don't know. I I mean, plus, you know, I'm sure the per pupil went up, so it's not like it's $4,000 per student, but um I guess there is some reflection of the decrease in our students.
So that part went down, but the other add-ons, the busing, the debt service. >> I don't know if that changed that. I mean, there is the debt service was always there. Uh, if you go down one page, Jill, >> do we get We don't see prior year stuff
there. >> No, >> but I mean, I remember, you know, it was roughly 60,000 last year for that section in orange. And I mean the long-term debt service
we're going to owe whether we have zero students or >> you know an extra 50 that's set you know based on you know like FY18 numbers Yep. So, I'll um I'll take some of these
questions too and and share them to ask a bit. So, we had a question about the decrease in the out of district uh students increasing the indistrict town's costs. Um and then I'll stop sharing this
>> and then >> and then just understanding if this is the final final number because it was based on January 28th um state numbers So it might be easier to look at actually on the spreadsheet. So
this is sort of the snapshot summary. You don't have to look at as many different things. So okay, any other questions uh I can bring to Aphabet? All right, not hearing any additional
questions. All right, I'm going to close some stuff here. I'm getting lost in the windows. All right. Um, yeah. So, we talked about the draft articles. We talked a little bit about the budget. Um, I talked a little bit about who will be coming for the next meetings and outreach we're
doing for um, bringing people in that are sort of experts on the articles so we can do our research uh, and make our recommendations and vote at a future meeting. Um, so if there's no additional topics on ATM, we would be moving into the routine
agenda. Right. I'm not hearing any. So, I will pull up. We have two meeting minutes to approve tonight. Um the first one is from um
the February 7th meeting. So, I might instead of titling this finance committee meeting, I don't I think we might have to title it like joint meeting like uh how did the select board title it?
Um, this I can look. I got it right here. They called it joint budget review, select board and finance committee. Joint budget review, select board and
finance committee. and they listed everybody who was there all and I I didn't when I >> Okay. Um I would propose maybe to amend it like that. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> And then is this this looks kind of similar the first couple paragraphs? >> Oh yeah, it's very similar. It's like >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. This is >> yeah, >> pretty much almost very similar to the the select board meeting minutes for the
first part. >> Oh, uh I think there's a typo. Senator Eldridge's name is misspelled um right at the top of that second page. >> You just scroll down. >> Whose name? >> Uh Senator Eldridge. You're missing a D.
>> Oh, >> sorry. Go down a little bit. This one right here. Right. >> Yeah. Right. Uh uh. Yes. Yes. You just fixed it. >> Okay. >> All right. Um,
okay. And then these are the same minutes from the select board so far. And I don't remember that we took any formal votes to open or close the meeting. I mean our our part of the meeting.
>> Well, we were >> I think we did at that point. I think you had um >> we had everybody >> and we were zooming. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But it was we did call it to um I did call to close the meeting. Um, I
think at that point you might have logged off though. >> Oh, maybe I did. Yeah. >> Do we have any further feedback on the meeting minutes? >> I would just say uh attendees apostrophe civility rather than attendee apostrophe
s civility. Uh, the attendees as a whole. I suppose for a civil uh at the bottom sorry >> uh and these so it's not an apostropheist >> s apostrophe because uh plural I suppose
a minor edit but uh >> yep it's been updated thank you for that >> all right would we like to vote on the meeting minutes as amended >> I move to approve the meeting minutes as
amended. >> And I will second approving the meeting minutes as um amended. >> Right. We have a first and a second. Any further discussion on the meeting minutes? >> No. All right. So, I will take a roll
call vote to approve as amended. Linda, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Male, >> yes. Nathan, >> yes. >> Peter,
>> yes. >> Uh, and I am also a yes. >> So, they are approved. Um, Linda, I can send this uh amended version. So, then you don't have to worry about >> Okay. >> changing the things I change. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you for drafting the minutes. Well, thanks the clerk for writing it for me. >> And then we have our meetings from minutes from February 9th. Um so we are talking about the cost of living
talked about the power choice program budget meeting and annual count meeting and how we only have like not a lot of meetings before a meeting. Um, and then we did our minutes and updates.
>> Do we have any additional feedback for the meeting minutes on February 9th? There's a comma. >> Yeah, there's where it says 1.4 million. I think that's a comma. Uh, >> we're doing the European version,
but I will update it. >> All right. Any additional comments? Right. We'd like to take a roll call vote to approve the meeting minutes of February 9th as amended. >> I think we need a first. >> Oh, I will first to approve the meeting
minutes for February 9th as amended. >> I have a second. >> All right. We got a first. We got a second. Um, I will take a roll call vote to approve. Linda, >> yes. >> Katie,
>> yes. >> Yes. >> Nathan, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> I am also a yes. Um, so I will send
these back to you, Linda. I can I can make that one change, Jillian. >> Yep. The comma. >> Okay. >> Yep. Thank you. Yep. >> Um All right. Uh now we are on to updates
from chairs and members. Are there any members who would like to kick off the updates? All right, I can kick off the updates. So, um I think I talked about this last time. So, the energy efficiency aspects of the new school will yield incentives from Eversource. So, that will be $1.4
million in incentives that will be payable at the end of construction. Um and then one year post occupancy we'll look at the buildings um look at the energy um efficiency for the first year of occupancy and if it tests out to meet
like um that energy efficiency they'll get another 135k from Eversource. Um we got like sort of a note an a note about that. Um
and we also got a note uh like as a follow-up from the select board meeting. So in that select board meeting they were talking about um there was an earmark from representative Hogan of 50K that um will be for programming. So that
will be expansion of new programs at the senior center. Um, so that will be potentially for the Council on Aging Funds in addition to the general fund for FY26 to 27. Um, so my understanding
of that 50K, there's um $42,735. Um, and it's potential for this formula grant, I guess, is what it's called. And it's potentially going to go towards like fitness classes or newsletter postage or art activities or office supplies. So um so that 50k will be for
the ear marking for the programming. Um and then I guess there's additional 17.5k and that's the remainder from the UMass study. So that'll be probably amended for free cash. And then there's um a little over $19,000. So $19,000 700
$726 um gift donation fund. So 10,000 of that is going to be targeted for a new kitchen needs in the senior center, the new senior center. So that was sort of a little update I got about some of the
various ear markings and potential activities for the new senior center and related activities. Um, and we also did get a notice from the state attorney general. So, their office approved a number of the zoning article bylaw amendments from the
special town meeting and that was sort of in that letter that we got from them. >> Um >> um yeah, >> can we just clarify with Greg um the money from NSAR for the energy
efficiency? I assume that it just reduces what we end up bonding for that it gets applied to construction expenses, but I don't know that for sure.
But >> you want to know if that will sort of decrease the cost of the quote unquote override to to pay for the building. I want to know what happens to that money and I think the answer is it reduces construction or it gets applied to
construction costs but want to confirm that. >> Okay. >> This could also potentially be a question for the schools because we're definitely going to talk to them next week or Yeah, next week. Okay. Uh, do any other members have updates
you'd like to share? All right. I am not hearing any updates. Uh so for future meeting agenda planning um so on our as I said on the March 9th meeting on the next meeting will be the retirement board and we'll talk to the schools. So I'm going to propose that I
ask the retirement board to come to the start of the meeting at 7 and that we have the schools come at like 7:30 or 8:00. Um, I was thinking 7:30. I'm not sure if
we'll need a whole hour to talk to the retirement board on our on our topics for the questions unless someone wants to do a really deep dive with the retirement board. That's that was my main question. I >> think 30 minutes sounds good, too.
Okay. Okay. And then um for the following meeting, so that's our March 9th meeting, which is next Monday. Um our following meeting, which is the fourth uh Monday of the month, is on the 23rd. And I have confirmed that Asphet
can come and talk to us on the 23rd. Um, I can also see what Justin's availability is for DPW articles, but I might suggest we try to talk to him. It's hard because technically we'll have the meeting on
the 9th on the 23rd and then we'll have a meeting on April 13th. And on that April 13th meeting, all of our recommendations and votes are due because that's due on April 15th. So, it's it's not looking super great because we don't have all the final
articles of all the draft yet. >> Um, >> would it make any sense and we could wait till next week to do it, but you know, should we just decide now whether we want to add March 30th or
April 6th to our >> list of meetings? That's what I my main question is. Um I don't know if April 6th would be a busy time for anyone because April 5th is Easter
if people are traveling or otherwise. So the 30th might be potentially less stressful. I don't think Easter Monday is technically a holiday, a state holiday. So, so we couldn't meet on either.
I could see what Justin's availability is on the 30th versus the 6th, but I would like to talk to him and we can decide from there. Does that sound like a fair? Unless anyone is like, "Oh, I'm definitely traveling. I can't do either."
>> I could do either. I could do either. >> I think I could do either. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I'll ask him if he's around on March 30th or April 6th. Okay,
that sounds great. All right. So, I think that's pretty great planning. Um, I have questions that I will share to the retirement board and to the Maynard schools as well. Um, so I think that's all the topics I had
for tonight unless other members would like to bring up any other topics. All right. I I'm not hearing any. Um would we like to adjourn our meeting at 8:20 p.m.?
>> I'll move to adjourn. >> And I'll second adjourning at 8:20 p.m. >> All right. We got a move in a second. Any further discussion? No. All right. not hearing any. So, uh I will take a roll call vote. Uh and
before I take the roll call vote, I will send out our materials from tonight with the articles that people have volunteered for. So, if we could if you all could um eyeball those and maybe don't have to make a perfect draft or anything, but um just start thinking about that and if we need to bring
anyone else in, uh we'll bring it up at our next meeting to talk about the articles. Okay. So, I will now take a roll call vote to adjurnn. Linda. Yes, >> Katie. >> Yes, >> Miguel.
>> Yes, >> Nathan. >> Yes, >> Peter. >> Yes, >> I am also a yes. Thanks everyone. We're journ for tonight. >> Bye. Good night. Good night. I