I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Um first item on the agenda
is public comments. the board would be u open to hear public comments and if there's further actions required by the board the we will as appropriate to a forthcoming agenda depending on the comment. However, we may if we're able
within the confines of the open meeting law respond with information as opposed to needing to deliberate on the matter. So having said that I will ask first of those here in the room is there any public comments this evening
I don't see anybody rushing towards the dis so online is there anybody that would like to make a public comment and if so just raise your hand or speak up because there's not many of you there don't see anything moving
remember to unmute yourself if you do want to speak I don't see anything so We're good to go. We will move on. Next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. We have four items on this evening's consent agenda. One is a
special one day alcoholic beverages license for Amy's tomb of Winterfest to be held the last Saturday end of January January 31st. I think it's Saturday. Um January 31st, 2026 and on three cemetery.
Um, are there any questions on that or is there a motion? >> Move to approve consent agenda items A through D as presented contingent upon adherence to all federal, state, and local public health and safety guidance authorizing use of digital signatures if
approved. >> Second. >> Any further questions or comments? Hearing none, we'll take a roll call. Chris, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. Mike. >> Yes, >> I am a yes as well.
>> Five are a series of contracts that we have to speak about. Um, first one is not going to be spoken about as I mentioned at the beginning of the meeting. The second one is um the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Green
School Works Grant. And is Rebecca with us? >> Yes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Hi. How are you? >> Good. Welcome. Nice to see you. >> Nice to see you as well. >> So, tell us a little bit about um the
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Green Works Green School Works Grant and what you need us to do to help you to apply. >> Okay. Well, I I um just need you to sign well, not just, but I need you to uh
what I'm hoping to request is a a signature on um there's a form sort of appro they want like the financial body to approve the application to show that we would actually move forward with the project if we received the grant. Um and
I put some slides together uh to give you a little more information. Uh >> please can you >> can I share my screen? >> Oh yeahcca. >> Yes. Looks like I have share share access. Okay great. >> This will tell us a little bit about
what the grant is all about >> exactly. So um let me see slideshow. Okay. Are you seeing the presentation screen or the >> We are Yeah, we're seeing presenter. you're seeing presenter.
Sorry about that. Excuse the technical difficulties. All right. I think you're seeing the right thing now. So, this is um >> so there's a this is a request to sign the application acceptance form is what it's called. And it's just saying, you
know, we accept this applic or you as the the board accept the application and um and that it's, you know, correct to the best of your knowledge. Um so going to the next slide. Uh so little overview
about the grant. Um we're this is in the second round of the of the funding. We weren't um we we didn't qualify it for it before because it was only um open to schools serving 40% low-income students,
but uh after that round they had about 19 million left over. So that's now available for awards that uh minimum is $50,000 up to $3 million. Um and uh some really nice things about this grant is
that up to 15% can be used for design and project management or as they're calling it like the soft costs and then also uh they don't require any community match. So, in theory, if we're able to price our project correctly, we could
maybe do something totally for free or very low uh cost to the town. So, some eligible project types uh we can't do anything, but they they're sort of geared towards electrification. So,
heat pumps uh if we apply for heat pumps, which is what I would like to do, uh they want us to explain uh to show that we've considered geothermal. Um I think geothermal is often like a very expensive and
aggressive way to go, especially in retrofit. It's really great if you can make it happen like we have at the elementary school, but um I think it'll be a little tougher here. uh solar, electric or thermal battery storage, electrification of equipment is another
option. We didn't really have any equipment like hot water heaters that was nearing its end of useful life or that we would really want to be electrifying. And then um they also you can include weatherization, so making your buildings uh better insulated uh
and electrical upgrades as part of a larger project. I'm hoping to get both. We definitely will need an electrical upgrade uh to do heat pumps and then you can also um apply with multiple options. So, are there any questions so far on
what I've gone over? No. >> Okay, great. Um, so after like talking with uh with Tony and and Justin and and other folks, um, we sort of settled on what made the most sense is to focus on
the HVAC in Fowler Middle School. And, uh, just to give a little context for the HVAC setup, this is a picture of the roof. And you can see there's like a a gabled side and a flat side. And the flat side has um what are called rooftop
units. They're basically like giant HVAC boxes that have sort of everything in there like heating, ventilating. Um and actually I think all most of these have air conditioning as well. Um and those are serving like specialty spaces like
the auditorium and the cafeteria. And then everything serving the ca the classroom is in an attic under the gabled roof. And I've got a picture of the drawings, like a cross-section of what it looks like. So, you can see
there's um it's it's kind of jammed in there. There's like a big there's a box like where it said I don't know if you can read where it says plenum, but there's like a where the big red arrow is pointing. There's like a box underneath the roof and it's ducted to a
vent that's like bringing in fresh air. And then um there's hot water coils in these air handlers as well that are coming from a boiler in the mechanical room. Um but uh one but there's no
cooling in the classrooms right now. So, with this grant I and with an HVAC upgrade, I think there's a a few different goals we can achieve aside from just carbon emissions that would make um make Fowler Middle School a
better better place to to learn and to teach. So, we can add um centralized cooling to the classrooms, which would improve comfort. I've also heard that uh they've had to cancel school a couple times in the last five years because uh there wasn't enough or because it was
too hot. So, and when they cancel school at one building, I guess they have to cancel it for the whole district. So, it would help us there. um we could upgrade the electrical capacity at the building because right now there's um it's it's pretty low for 2026
and um there are like right now there are window AC units but they can't actually run all of them because there's not enough electrical capacity in the building. Um, we might be able to do a project that would help prepare for a roof replacement because we're planning
on going for the MSBA roof repair grant in a few years. Um, so anything that could kind of offset that cost ahead of time might be good. Um, we'd like to keep install costs low and energy costs low. Um, and then we also want to make
the H classroom HVAC easier to access and repair. as you saw on the last slide that um those air handlers are are kind of tough to to access. There's like just one double door where if you ever had to take one of those out, you'd have to get it through there or you'd have to take
the roof off, which is probably in reality what you'd actually have to do. Um and then maximize roof space for P for solar and then uh no matter what we do, we're going to reduce carbon emissions because that's the goal of the
grant. and also the goal of of my role as well. Um, so just to make sure we're on all on the same page of, you know, what heat pumps are because I know there's a lot of talk about heat pumps. I think we many of many of us have heat pumps in
our houses. Um, but they're really a class of HVAC equipment that operate like an air conditioner, but they can work in reverse to heat. So, they're pulling um they're pulling heat from a source like either outside air or a
well, and then they're rejecting heat into the source to um to cool. So, um there's a lot of different configurations, which is the only thing you kind of need to know for this. So, we've got uh I've got a few pictures of configurations, but there
are a lot of other options. So, um, we've got the package rooftop unit, which looks very similar to what like we could use this to replace the equipment on the flat roof, and it would look pretty similar, but it would operate as a heat pump instead of um instead of
using gas for heating. Or we could do mini splits or um VRF, which have sort of like a small small HVAC piece on the outside and and another one on the inside. Um or we could do like, you know, dig a bunch of
wells in the the ground and and uh use that as our energy source. And that those are just a couple options. So, um because this grant is kind of a tight
timeline, it opened on December 1st and uh it is the application is due February 13th. We've got um a couple studies going at the same time, but I wanted to, you know, reach out to to the board to
um let you know that we'll need the signature and and sort of give you an overview. Now, um, we may apply with both of these options, but I'm sort of waiting to see what the feasibility studies look like as far as, you know, how much it's going to cost, how much
energy it will save, and and, uh, what's going to make the most sense. Um, so there's sort of the classroom option, which as you remember is the the sort of attic option or like the attic HVAC. And um what I'm thinking is the after
talking to uh contractors, I had sort of two options here where you could um add a heat pump to the current air handler configuration. But um what I'm thinking might actually make more sense is the second option where we add mini splits. So, if we go
back here, uh that's this middle one. And we would put those would not go in the attic, but would be like mount mounted to the um outside walls. And we could have like one um one outside unit
serve like maybe four classrooms. And um and it would like reduce um reduce what's going on in the attic. So, uh, it would also make the air handlers much easier to repair because they would just have to operate in as ventilation or we
we could still have them as backup um until they fail. So then we'd also be able to like have gas backup for um for our systems. And then um the other option is a rooftop option where we could replace the aging rooftop units
and um do heat pump a heat pump option. And then we could also um I've asked the the uh contractors doing the feasibility studies to look into um moving the rooftop units off of the roof, which I
guess Justin has done um did in um at his his last job. And um that would maximize space for solar and also make the roof replacement easier because they wouldn't have to move the rooftop units off of the roof to replace it. Although
uh we'd still be able to replace it and uh that is a pretty standard process, but it would would help reduce costs. Um I guess that's a lot of information. Uh before I go forward, are there any
questions on the grant options? anyone? >> No. >> Okay, great. >> So, um one thing I want to note is especially if we go with the c the classroom option which um is looking
like it's going to be the more feasible option. Uh we would be adding cooling which will add energy cost because it's something that you know we haven't had to use energy for before. um there will be some added efficiency there so it wouldn't be uh a huge cost and again I'm
I'm waiting for one of the studies will that we have going will give us numbers on this but um based on past experience and and uh what I've seen before it'll probably be somewhat this graph will be somewhat proportional to to what they'll
project for us and then um when we do the window replacement or the roof replacement and um hopefully go for window repair at the same time. Uh that will improve the insulation of the building and that'll um improve efficiency and and drive our energy cost
down. And then after that, our roof will be solar ready and then we'll we can install solar and get you know cheaper electricity and that will further drive down the energy cost. So, this project will have um a temporary added energy
cost, but um there will be a lot of other side benefits and cost savings such as maintenance and also um the HVAC on the roof and in the uh in the atrium is all really ending the end of its
useful life and is kind of on borrowed time. So, um, whether we we do it through this grant or not, it will likely need to be replaced in the next couple years, and some of the equipment has already had to be replaced in the meantime. Um, so, as I mentioned, this is a a
tight timeline. So, I know that this is sort of, you know, there's um a lot that's not finalized in this presentation, but um on December 1st, the grant opened. Uh luckily we had already had the grant requires us to
have an energy audit completed at the building and we had already scheduled one for the 9th. Um but that does take about six weeks to to complete their calculations but they were able to expedite it. So there they have a due date of the 6th to finish their um their
calculations. And then uh the following week we had a feasibility study walk through and they're also um and they'll give us sort of a better uh cost estimate for these projects and then um we can use those to um dictate, you
know, what we apply for and how much money we we apply for in the grant. Um so that's that's all I have for you. Um, and then I guess once I have a more finalized
grant, I can um I can send along the application and uh and hopefully get a signature uh certifying it. But are there any questions? >> Yeah, thank you, Rebecca. Um, members of the board, we'll start. Chris, do you
have any questions? >> I do not. >> Jeff, do you have any questions? >> No, not on my end. Very well. Explain. Thank you. >> Anything? >> No, no questions. >> Mike, >> um I just have a couple of I hope easy
questions. Number one, um the you know, we're beginning to hear even more about the the state of the bow route. Um, how much of when when we're doing this kind of planning for for different options here, uh, does the
sequence of whether we replace the roof um before or after some of these other potential changes of equipment uh, make a significant difference. Uh, I'm obviously not an expert on this, but I wouldn't want, you know, in an extreme
example for new equipment to be put in the roof and and and the roof to fail. Uh so I I just wondered uh if you could enlighten me a little bit on on that kind of sequence and and what we need to consider at this time. >> Sure. Um and and yeah, I would I would
say, you know, in an ideal world where we weren't looking for grant money, we would replace the roof first and then do the HVAC replacement because that would improve the building envelope. So you wouldn't have the the cost go up and you might be able to downsize some HVAC. But
um I think for for the classroom side uh that equipment can is very good at you know um I guess ramping down so it it can operate at lower loads and also we wouldn't be installing anything on the
roof so it wouldn't affect the roof replacement and then on the the rooftop side um though that equipment could If we did end up installing new
equipment on the roof, I don't think that would be ideal, but um we could move it off the roof and then move it back onto the roof if we replaced it. I think that I don't think that option if
if I don't think that would make the most sense, though. I think I would rather go for just doing the classrooms. And I'll also add with $3 million, I don't think that'll cover a full HVAC replacement, but it'll probably cover
more than half. So, um I would probably either do the rooftop units or the classroom, but not both in this grant. >> And one other question if I may, do we have either from yourself or somebody um
a current assessment of the state of the route? Is it uh imminent um that it will fail next couple of years? What what are we looking at in terms of immediacy of this problem?
So, um we did have an assessment and they did assess it as failed, which um does not mean that it's about to cave in, but it just means that any repairs that moving forward are kind of um
you're kind of putting cost into a sinking ship. I think um you know what I I've heard from from um Brian and and Tony is that we'll want to um we'll really want to hold out for for
that MSBA grant money because it they'll pay for half of the roof replacement which would make it sort of affordable for this town. Um, I think also it it's also from talking to other um, you know,
people in similar roles in other towns, it sounds like you can get away with having a roof that has failed for a number of years before you actually have to replace it. But I think from a financial perspective, that's where we are. >> Definitely on the near horizon
near horizon. I appreciate that. >> Thank you. Before we close, I have a question and it's more of a political I guess question because whenever we talk schools in this room, um the schools get anxious. Uh especially if we haven't
spoken to them and asked their permission to work on one of their buildings and this is a project that's going to go under the school building. Um, I would hate to win a grant of, you know, $3 million and then have the school say, "You never asked us and then
we lose the grant." Uh, >> we thought about this, so I'm glad you're asking. >> Yeah. So, can you tell us if you have not yet spoken to the grant to the to the grant to the school committee, do you plan on it? And does the school committee need to sign off on approval
of anything that then will go towards a project on their property? Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I I am planning on presenting this exact same uh presentation to the school committee on Thursday. So, you guys are seeing it
first, but um but we'll plan on presenting it to them on Thursday. And the grant uh just requires that either the select board or the school committee sign off on it. Um and it it's whoever is taking financial responsibility for
the for the project. which does in this town usually lend itself to the select board because you present the budget to the voters. But I but I'm really glad you asked. So Rebecca meets with myself and Brian Hos pretty pretty much every week and so we
went over this we asked those questions. It's just coincidence of the timing. We just happen to meet this week before school committee does. Um so that's why the recommended action is to authorize the application but it's not it's not to say like oh you can amend it. the if you really want you can amend the the emojis
say however you want maybe contingent upon the school committee's approval however you want um but I agree with you Mr. chair like we don't want to do anything the school committee doesn't feel comfortable with but I I have a lot of confidence in it and so does Brian like this seems to seem to be >> I I just hearken back to the extended
amount of work that went on to a solar array planning and then failed because we hadn't asked for it even though it might have benefited the community in the long run but >> I agree and I also think particularly about those different options whether it be classroom or
>> we're not educated >> yeah I would let the I would sort of defer or like I wouldn't give my recommendation because how could I know what's best for that school that would defer and by the way when she's saying Tony she means Tony Zart he's the um >> yeah that's not his actual title
>> I think it's director of facilities >> that sounds right director >> so I'm glad to hear that it's going to be approved by school committee I don't know what the board wants to do as far as motion language um I don't think in reality it's probably just semantics
>> yeah Um, so >> yeah, I don't think we should use the word contingent because if for some this is such a tight timeline that if for some reason school committee doesn't have a forum on Thursday or anything happened and then we we limited >> Yep. >> the timeline.
>> I agree. So, if there is a motion, >> move to authorize an application for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Green School Works Grant authorizing use of digital signatures if approved. >> Second. >> Any further questions or comments?
Hearing none, Jeff? >> Yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. And I am a yes. Well, thank you so much, Rebecca. >> Thank you. Have a great night. >> Thank you. You too. >> Thank you, Rebecca.
>> Take care. All right. Second um of our uh contracts that we're actually going to address this evening is the license agreement at 151 Main Street. Steve, you're going to be the one on this. >> I will. Yes.
>> Um from looking at the map, it looks like it's that building that's been there forever. Used to be a gas station, then it was a dry cleaner or whatever. That's what it looks like. That's the location across from or next door if you want to say to Manard Pizza Bar um that
might be redeveloped. Tell us a little bit about u what the plan is and what you need us to do. >> Hey Steve Silverstein, director of municipal services and I have uh William Ners working behind me. >> William is
>> Mark William. Uh but we come before you today for uh your review and approval of the licensing agreement uh between the town and Matt Works LLC. Um Matt Hall who's online is the owner developer at 151 Main Street. Uh and he's looking for
authorization from the select board for a licensing agreement which will enable him to basically perform maintenance on uh a rectangle that is directly behind his proposed building. He's going to
putting up a mixeduse building, three residential units, bottom floor, commercial space. Um, the back of this building and the rail trail are very close and there is, as you could see in the memo, a small space, 276 square ft,
which belongs to the town, uh, but which he would be looking to have rights to maintain, to landscape, uh, etc. And so if you'd like to there and Bill of course can correct me with anything I got wrong or missed.
>> Yeah, >> Mr. Hall, welcome. Nice to meet you. >> You're on mute. >> Good evening. Nice to meet you. >> Um, first off, you said Steve said landscape. is would that actually be
green space on that side of the building or it be just like uh access to be able to put ladders up to get to the roof or whatever? >> So, it's really just a sliver of residual space between the back wall of
the building that we're proposing and the rail trail retaining wall. And we would just be putting a a surface down, probably crushed stone or pa stone that would allow for access between the retaining wall and the building for
maintenance. And instead of having that be a kind of leftover space that the town has to keep uh leaf litter and garbage out of, we would just maintain it as part of our property through the license agreement.
My other question for you, Mr. Hall, is have you been yet in front of the planning board or is that scheduled or where are you in that process? >> Uh, yes, we have and and Bill can certainly speak to that. We've actually gone through a a fairly lengthy process
with MS and the planning board uh for special permit. I think we are coming up on almost a year or so of design development and reworking our proposal to uh meet uh
the town's zoning regulations as best we can while still producing a building uh and the landscape that we think will really improve this property which is in a pretty prominent location. >> Yeah, it sure is. It's been in the
condition that it is now for quite some time. Um, so look forward to uh redevelopment there. Any questions from the members of the board? >> Yeah, we So I'm looking it's we're
talking about a piece of land that's at one end one ft 6 in long or wide and three less than four feet wide at the other end. All right. Okay. But where where will you park?
>> Oh, so we have a parking lot to the uh eastern end of the property where the current garage building is next to Maynard Pizza and Bar. >> Okay. >> So, we would be demolishing that building and that would become a parking
lot for five cars and then we're looking at a lease agreement for additional off-site parking. Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Jeeoff, do you have any questions?
>> No, not on my end. Thank you. >> Great, Lindsay. >> No, no questions. I'm um somewhat familiar with this project because I've been listening in on planning board meetings um and seeing some of the design and I think it will be a vast improvement on the space. So, looking
forward to seeing it. Um I'm just a little bit confused. Does the the plan mean building on the existing bit of parking lot there or just replacing the uh the white building that's there? So, we are proposing to remove all of
the existing parking lot and remove the existing garage building and the new building is pushed closer to the kind of apex of the intersection between Railroad Street and Main Street. So instead of having a kind of uh parking
lot void at that intersection, there'd actually be a building which I think would help to uh enhance the entry to that end of the town instead of having a sort of a mishmash of empty space. There'd be a building
>> directly across from the Mill and Main property >> and shaped building >> and is the um uh the the parking that's there is that just private parking for that building
or do for example residents in Railroad Street do they use that parking? So that property was that the 151 Main Street was owned by Epsilon Associates and they are a environmental consultant with
offices in Milan Maine and so they owned that parking lot and used that for their employees. So it was essentially a private parking lot. And then when we purchased it, we removed the Epsilon parking sign. So now
it is something of an open lot, but it's still private property, >> right? Thank you, >> Mike. To answer your question, the tenants on Railroad Street generally use the municipal space that's directly in front of the town houses or the rowouses
there. And then one railroad also has >> space behind. >> Right. Yeah. I just didn't know if it was considered to be a vital part of that parking. Yeah. private legal
bill. Mr. Chair, I'd just like to add one comment that might help board um clarify one thing. Um the lease agreement has a length of five years and at that time um in in that time the town
is going to seek a permanent easement for the property. that's part of the agreement uh that was uh made and it's included in the license. So at one point within the next five years, OMS will
bring forward um an article to transfer the permanent easement and that will take the place of the license. That is how council it. >> I can just add one thing. This this uh
this space exists because the rail trail retaining wall is not built up to the property line and we're only building up to the property line or a little bit inside of the property line. So there's this kind of effective dead space which
would become I think problematic if it it's not a plan to manage it for future maintenance. Any other questions? If not, you have a look. I will move to approve the license
agreement with Matt Works LLC for the use, improvements, landscaping, and maintenance of town own land in the vicinity of 151 Main Street as presented. Authorizing use of digital signatures approved. >> Second. Any further questions or comments?
Hearing none, we will vote. Jeff, >> yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Yes. And I am a yes as well. Good luck, Mr. Hall. Look forward to uh working with you with the town and uh MS, I'm sure, is going to continue to work with you as well.
>> Great. Thank you very much. Appreciate your time. >> Thank you, Mr. >> All right. Next item is uh annual town meeting performance recognition program. Is that right? >> Sorry that time of year, Mr. Chair. Um so this is just what we've been doing
for the last number of years. I don't actually remember how long we doing it, but um sort of take advantage of the show. We like to present some um you know gestures of of goodwill and appreciation to some members of the community or groups. Uh so this is the
same we've had for the last number of years. I just updated the dates. Um and uh and the general concept is nominations are submitted to um the finance committee, the select board and the school committed and the individual chairs. And we don't usually get that many nominations. So it's usually pretty
straightforward, but then they they you know we kind of look at what names have been submitted. Um and then the three chairs just sort of say this is who we think should be be presented. But there's no it's it's usually it's pretty it's pretty easy. It's not contentious. Um, I think it's a great program and I think people really do appreciate, you
know, just a little bit of recognition. We usually try to keep it a surprise until the night of, you know, hit or miss sometimes on that, but uh, and they get a nice little certificate afterwards, but it's mostly just the the public announcement that we appreciate these people. There's no t-shirts, there's no coffee cups,
there's no So, this is the same same memo uh, every year, Mr. J. >> Okay. We just have to uh essentially approve. >> Yeah. >> Unless you want to do something different. We're not doing it at all.
>> No, I think it's a good idea. I think it's beneficial to the employees, to the volunteers, and to the residents who sit in the town meeting seeing the uh the work that goes into making the town work. So, I do think it's valuable. Um
any questions from anyone? There aren't, I'll take a motion. >> Okay. Move to adopt the application policy and procedures for performance recognition program drafted memorandum in preparation for the annual town
meeting May 18th, 2026. >> Second. >> Any further questions? Hearing none. Jeff, >> yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> I'm a yes as well. >> Great. Now the hard part is figuring out
who you want to submit. That's it's kind of fun. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Um, next item is the uh the fiscal year 2027 budget. >> That's right, Mr. Chair. So, um, the
first of that is kind of a strange one, uh, uh, but it's not as not as scary as it sounds. So, uh, I met with Brian House, the superintendent, um, and the town accountant, Kevin Peterson, and Colleen Ande, who, um, is with the superintendent's office, and we went
over this document, the memorandum of understanding, uh, between the town of Maynard and Mayor Public Schools. So, that's the select board and and the >> Oh, I missed the uh, I was I had skipped it. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, go ahead. >> Is that okay? Can we >> No, go ahead. We're talking just for for the record, we're talking about the
memorandum of understandings. Yeah. >> With the main public schools. Yeah, that's right. Okay. So, um this document was produced uh in a collaboration between the town accountant and the school business manager Wayne White. Um so, the numbers are, you know, fed
between that conversation. Are they the most precise and accurate? You know, timestamped right now. I don't I know I could say that and I don't think I I don't think that's true, but they're meant to be a sort of indicative of the relationship between the two entities, the select board and the school committee, town administrator's office.
My understanding is, and I I don't think we've done this in in my tenure, but my understanding is based on the conversation with the superintendent's office, Desi, which is the state's elementary and secondary um education secretary, they they want to see some sort of formality between that
relationship. Now we do this in execution every year because a lot of the budget is shared costs as we say which is um insurance of different sorts capital items um administrative costs and those are shared between what is the biggest department in town schools and
then the rest of the town hall. So um the school department is a department. So you don't get two different submit. We don't go to the voters with two different budgets. We go to the v voters with one budget and in which Maynard public schools is one line. Um so a lot
of the costs of keeping up in school are shown in more than just that one that one function um which is main education. This sort of represents that. Um, I'm okay with this mo mostly because I my
understanding is uh the superintendent's office says Desi requires this level of recognition. Um, but it's not binding. So, it doesn't if um if the percentages are off, which I know they're not perfectly accurate. So, but if that percentage is off, um, if we need to
update it, we can, but it doesn't but it doesn't we're not held to those numbers as far as I've been told. We are not if uh if there's a certain percentage of um liability insurance um that of between the town and town departments like the
school department um but it's not it doesn't actually come to that hurt every year. That's okay. Um but this is supposed to represent two years FY26 which is which is this year and FY27 which is next year. And the superintendent said he's open to amending this every year if we want but
Desi is only looking for a two-year sort of understanding. So again, it's a little strange. Um, oh, and then, um, school committee had already seen this as well. So they they endorsed the numbers that you see. Um, so we can go back to them, but the superintendent was
hoping to have this in hand to present to Bessie. I don't know if there's a timeline to that. I don't know if there's a deadline. What do we use? >> There's no, you said it's not binding. I don't just don't want to get in a situation where we're having an argument down the road where they say, "Well, you
signed the memorandum." understand point >> because I mean that's true and I I have I had a similar sort of hesitation. It is a memorandum of understanding so which is kind of soft language. It is it is meant to be this like handshake that we have. Um in the end
the light bills are the light bills. The insurance bills are the insurance bills. Like I I couldn't guarantee I'd stick to these numbers anyways because every year our claims change and therefore our premiums are reflected differently the next year. So, how can I how can I make an agreement now for two years?
And my understanding the superintendent's office really they they appreciate that as well. >> Y questions from the board. >> I have questions. >> Um, okay. So, if I'm I'm understanding this like say treasure postage line. >> Okay. For example, what we're saying is
that we spend $32,000 a year on that and approximately 8,000 of it is paying for school related activity >> because it comes out to about a quarter of the amount of Yeah. >> And will these numbers like well and so Desi requires this, but this is the first time we've done this.
>> Uh that's I've done it. I so I don't know if this is a new requirement. I'm not sure. I I couldn't speak to >> I don't remember ever seeing it spelled out like this. >> Right. >> Yeah. Just curious, you know, if it's a new requirement or or what the reason would be for why we haven't done it in
the past. >> I I'll look into that. >> Um, and will this does this somehow change the calculation or there I guess the calculus that Desi does informs like the amount of spending per pupil? >> Oh, wow. >> That they report out on, you know, they report out on a lot of financials that
are related to these numbers. So, I'm just curious if if that changes some of that information or, you know, the way they report out on like how much the schools are spending on administration for people. I think they break down a lot of that. So, I'm just wondering if these numbers inform that because that
um if they do change then that means like people do use that information to inform their their opinions and their ideas about school systems. So, >> yeah, >> if I just want to understand their implications beyond just this, >> that's a good question. I mean my expectations the school committee also
must be sort of advantageous. Um not selfishly but I mean like with rel relative accuracy and not sort of underplay or undermine how much we are advocating to the state for funding. >> I mean yes they'd be advocating for themselves but it but it really does help the whole town because if if they're not meeting their needs then
that money has to come from somewhere. So I I appreciate that and I I can come back I'll I'll ask Brian all these questions. >> I have to assume given that these numbers are quite specific. Well, the budgeted numbers are specific, I guess I should say. >> Yes. From our account. >> Um,
>> but you would think the schools would would be able to show in their line item budget sub budget, you know, that 56,77 is allocated towards the town treasurer salaries. And it's not just a numbers game, you know,
>> and I'm not being schools with this comment. I'm just, you know, I why would think that these numbers are consistent what they budget already and have been forever. So for your answer, I don't have to think that
it's consistent with the numbers that they've reported in the past. >> Who knows? >> I mean, we could find out. I mean, like, I don't I don't see the reports. I could ask, but I haven't asked, frankly, because I have a certain amount of like trust and respect for the superintendent's office. There seems to
be Yeah. because otherwise we would probably hear about it if they were but um um that's a good question. I mean like again this this data is just it's fed between the accountants office and the school business. So >> David, you're you're talking about the
reports that the schools submit to DESIE, not a carrying in in their line item, right? Those school allocations are carried in the general government and the debt line and the benefits lines, not the school line. Am I correct in saying all of that? >> That's how I understand too.
And then I I mean just adding on to Lindsay's comment, a lot of this especially I know the benefits looking at some of the bigger numbers are currently reported for those per pupil calculations by Desi. So I would I would assume that maybe some of this is supplementary to that. Um but I would
I would hope that the reporting that the school committee does to Desi matches what we're looking at here. I would assume that that we would want to match in between those two reports. Exactly. That's that was the point I was trying to make. You made much better than I >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And and we'll it'll be good because other school districts are
presumably going through the same thing and that means better data reporting across the entire state. >> Okay. Sure. >> Um um I have a question on the benefits line. Uh the insurance
makes sense. the percentage um owing to the relative ratio of employees between the schools and and the town side. Why is the retirement number uh so low at 30% there? >> That's a fair point. Um I have a similar question. My understanding is the
teachers union pays into their own retirement. >> They do. >> Okay. So So that which is >> There you go. which is our biggest union. So that probably speaks to that 30% is as you can tell it's a generalized number. It's probably it's probably a percentage point higher or
lower whichever. But yeah that a significant portion of this stuff but it's not to say retirement. I mean that's still $3 million like we're like it's a and as you'll see in a minute when I go over to my budget recommendations you'll see how much it changes every year. >> Thank you
>> Chris. Anything? >> No. Mike. >> Nope. >> Okay. I have no questions. Uh so we have a motion. >> Move to authorize the town administrator to approve the memorandum of
understanding between the town of Maynard and the Maynard public schools regarding shared expenses and allocations for fiscal year 2026 and 2027 as presented. >> Second.
Further questions or comments hearing? None. Jeff, >> yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> Yes. As well. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Um, TA recommended by >> All right. >> FY27.
>> It's the big time, guys. >> It's all leading up to this. So, this this is uh this is definitely my most um as my wife says, heads down work that I have to do for the year. Um, I write a lot of pages, but here's the here's the here's the best part. You only you
really only need to read the front page. If you want the whole gist, you can just read the key takeaways. I'll try to do that. That's what the talisman policy is cool. Every year I try to get better about capturing those key points um in that first page of the of the budget message. Um, you can look at some of the
spreadsheets. Also, here's a here's a big um asterisk, if you will, to all of this is that um these numbers might change. So, if I get different numbers from the state, we have to change those numbers. If we get um
I don't want to say the sword about, but if if accumulation continues and precipitation continues, then we have to change some of our our budgeting for uh for snow plowing and whatnot. So, it's um it is what it is. How that being said, a lot of the numbers I am confident in. Well, all the numbers I'm
confident in they could be they they're all justifiable and data fed. But um some of these numbers are as I say just the bills of doing business. So um we mentioned retirement. So I get I get an assessment from PARK which is our retirement board and they say this is
how much your your retirement costs are going to be going up next year. Um and there's a number of those vocational school um that again they just give you the bill. Um but a couple other really uh highlights uh really important highlights is um the introduction of the
solid waste and recycling enterprise budget. So um I saw a draft of the RFP today uh which is the request for proposals because we wanted we wanted to get a new trash colle or not necessarily new excuse me we want to we want to get a a a new methodology to our solid waste
and recycling collection. We want to go automated want to be modernized and we want to do modernized billing. Um and so we needed to see if you know who might be the right vendor for that. Um and so uh I saw the RP today and then we'll release that and that will inform the
budget presentation similar that you get from the water and sewer enterprise funds that'll get to the SLboard too and that'll reflect building to house funds. So that's that's kind of an exciting change and a lot of the budget hinges on that shift because that's a lot of revenue but it is also a lot of expenses
that general tax is recovering to subsidize the trash. Okay. Um uh and then the override that from last year or like that that is the basis for this fiscal year. I I that's that starts your revenue for the next year. That's
what an override means. It's like a It's a It's a um permanent increase to tax collection over Prop 2 and a half. Um I also had to get really creative u because of some of the large assessments and and premium um costs that that I was
forecasting. So, one of those creative fiscal maneuvers is um looking at ambulance receipts. So, it's not cheap to get a ride an ambulance. Um, most people's insurance covers that cost. Uh, and then we, you know, we send out the
bills and then we get those funds. Uh, unless the unless you have to get advanced life support and then it goes to our our service provider for that. But if you're riding in Maynard ambulance, um, we get that money back. Um, and there's a lot of money in there. So, we were able to look at that how
much we collected. And, and this is not new. like we've known since the main crossing development and the over 55 and or either way we we knew that with the housing back there and the and the and the senior living center like our ambulance rides are up and so with that comes a lot of capital cost and
replacement of equipment um which you know we've been going to town meeting for a number of years to to in that cycle of replacing ambulances and fire trucks um but also what it means is I feel confident that we can rely on some of those on a lot of that revenue um for
equipment, materials, uniforms, like stuff that we have to replace anyways and then all being ridden in the ambulance. So um uh but it's similar to the indirect cost associated with the water and sewer prices funds almost like the shared cost we just talked about
with the school committee. Um annual sheets also supplements um a portion of the of the general fund. So I was just saying oh we're making so much money in that then let's use more of it. >> Just curious, Greg. Yeah. And I should know the answer to this, but I don't.
>> Um, ambulance receipts generally when they come in. >> Yeah. >> U, they go to the general fund. >> No, >> they they go to an ambulance receipts >> sub fund that we have traditionally used to put aside to purchase a new ambulance
down the road. >> That's correct. >> It's capital expense. >> That's correct. >> So, is there something different about this that >> I'm using more of it? >> Because we're receiving more of it. we can now put more money towards more varied things. Is that >> we have been receiving more of it for years and I we have not been using as
much as I feel like we can be using. Um I don't have the numbers in front of me, but let's say we were collecting over uh $600,000 worth of revenue receipts for at least or as a culmination of that's how much we collecting. And then if we don't spend up to that, which I know
we're not, even with the two ambulances in the fire truck that we that we've we did a lease or purchase program and one of those ambulances, by the way, this is our last year paying for it. So $72,000 of those ambulance receipts that we pay for every year. I'm not I don't get that bill next year because we're going to own it outright. So that's at least
$72,000 that I can put towards something else until eventually. I mean, like I feel like I don't know what the turnaround rate is for ambulance is, but we're gonna have to get a new ambulance at some point. So either way, there was an there was not only that ambulance bill, but then some, you know, talking
with the chief, talking with the town accountant, we decided, all right, this this is appropriate. We have enough confidence in the and as you'll see in the TA report, it's not like our numbers going down like the the >> because in many ways seats, it's like free cash is un
>> if you're not spending if you're not spending. So I in in the I had already for years I had already um done it as a transfer. So you'll see in like the one pager of the budget you'll see transfers from other funds that includes um sewer, water and ambulance. So and then this
year I'm proposing it's sewer, water, ambulance and solid waste and recycling. So I'm those costs come you know the the I'm sorry the the monies that we get from those enterprise some of that money comes to pay for admin support benefits and in this case I'm saying that we need
to use it for stuff the firefighters and ambulance drivers use. So it it's I thought it was a pretty direct um but it's not something I'd had to really look into in the past. This year I'm looking into it because of a lot of these other um costs. Uh property
liability insurance is is uh is projected to increase by 8%. Um health insurance is projected to increase by 15%. That's almost a million dollars, which is about how much we've collect two and a half every year. So now that
may change. Um this Saturday is the is the big sort of culminating event for um the Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual conference connect 381 in which they say okay here's the range if you're a MA member because you can be in the MMA and not be a member
but if you're a MA member with health insurance here's here's what you can expect the range to be and that 15% is the high end of the range because we have a real real pretty dis disadvantageous loss ratio meaning we have high claims
in comparison to what we pay in premium. It's no one's fault. It is what it is. People get sick, people have to have operations and get treatment and whatnot. But there's a cost to that. And um and so because we're at we're have high loss ratio, we have to expect a
high premium increase because health insurance providers have to make money and they're and they're going to want to see a return on they you can't just they want to make they want to make more money than you're paying into it. Um and so that that just goes up. So it's like 15%. But that could change if if I find
out the loss ratio the loss ratio is not going to change. That's a set point in time of data. But the if the premium range is different, I I'll come back and adjust this number. I try to be conservative with these numbers. Um because I don't want to have to come back to the sle be like I goofed up. That was too low. So these these numbers
are supposed to be on the high. Um and in the past I've been pretty good. Um not perfect, but I've been pretty good. And then um and then hopefully I can come back to the board and we can have some things to talk about. Um uh retirement assessment. I mentioned
that earlier. the retirement assessment. Again, that's a good bill. I'm not it's not really up for negotiations. That was 6.78% uh over this fiscal year. That's an increase of almost a quarter million dollars. Um so all this adds up because if you look at that one pager that that
money goes really fast really quick um uh divided amongst these sort of um almost fixed costs. um school department um uh school department had requested I can't remember what the what the total
number was uh but I was not able to meet that request. I don't think I ever have been able to meet that request. Um in this case as of today my recommendation is $813,000 over this fiscal year. So it's a 3.34% increase over FY26. I I was
aiming for three and a half%. So it's close um not quite there. But also, as we've already discussed this night, um um this is I guess for the purpose of the public who are paying attention, there's um um that that one line item is not all the school's costs.
It's health insurance, retirement, unemployment, liability insurance, property insurance, capital expenses. I mean, like it's it's a lot. Okay. And then uh looking I'm just sort of scrolling down.
I want to return back to Rockland Avenue in a minute. Uh reserve fund. I'm not heavy about this. Um but as I tried to uh you know try to pay all those bills and try to get people what they're asking. Um I I I reduced my reserve fund recommendation. So I had already done that for this fiscal year. We had
already brought it from $250 to $225,000. I'm recommending at this time another another reduction to $25,000. We've never spent a reserve fund to that. We you know we we we try not to touch a reserve fund. Generally, you don't have to, but I don't I don't like I don't like bringing down our reserves.
It's fine. It's still very healthy amount, but I like it to be high. Um, the only new hire, this is kind of exciting. The only new hire recommendation I'm making is a town engineer. Um, uh, but I think it's helpful to think of that more as like a lateral booth. So, we have a contract
for town engineering services right now. So, I get a town engineer once a week. If we were to make that person full-time, I can buy five days a week. So, um, the cost of the contract is is high. That's just the nature of the beast. So, if and the concept is by hiring a full-time engineer, I'm
reducing my contract costs. So, I should be able to get bigger bang with my buck. If we if we have u I'm sorry making the numbers up, but I don't I think I'm pretty close. Let's say let's say town engineer cost about $120,000 a year.
Um, that might give about another $50,000 on top of that of what I would normally be paying to to only consultants. Now I have a full-time person in the town hall and I get consultants. So it shakes out. But that's the concept. And then um I talked
about ambulance seats. Okay. Okay. So, let me let me go back to uh this other this is kind of a I didn't mean to make this a surprise, but this was a very recent development in discussions with um public works. So, as the town has been trying to address our water
capacity issues, something that I and Justin Demarco, the DPW director, and I think we we've talked about this as a body as well. Um how are we going to pay for the next phase of water? So that so the current phase of water is it's called well eight which is south of the schools and we're trying to you know
that'll help with the the overall circulatory system of water but that's phase one. Phase two is Rockland Avenue which is on the north side of town and and we already have some wells there in a treatment plant but we want to put another well there and we want to increase our capacity of treatment plant. Plus overall we want to increase
or upgrade our treatment plants to mitigate PAS. So um if we want to move forward phase two then I'm proposing for the board to consider a data solution. So most of our
water is paid through for water bills. It contributes to the water enterprise funds and then that's how we pay for almost all our operations. But as we were talking about as a town in the past, it's really hard to bridge that gap between what is our our regular operational um demands and then what is
like large term projects. So yes, we're halfway through an elementary school um and that's a huge undertaking, but we have a bunch of those. We've talked about this at many times. Um whether it be the public works garage, but in this case it's wells. So if we want to if we want to we want to build wells, it costs
money. So I did a quick look at the map. Um uh um I don't I'd have to scroll down till I find it. But if we were going to do like a 30-year bond um and then I I was able to look at what bond council it was a little outdated, but I was able to
look at what bond council said is the cost of the premium and interest, which by the way, you wouldn't have to pay that premium interest until you start building the project. So I'm actually proposing something for FY28 to pay for, but you have to start making those bond authorizations here and and it takes about 3 to 5 years to build a will. So
if the sooner the sooner we have authorization for board um the better because it takes so long to do the permitting, do the construction, get it tested, treated and then get into people's waters plus takes takes time. And then as a reminder, phase three is
uh Old Marvel Road and that's another can of works that I'll let Justin talk about for a long time. And then um all right, so that was a lot. I I might be skipping a lot, but I'm trying to kind of hit to the big to the big numbers uh here. Um the bottom line is the estimated tax revenue is $1.28 million
in FY27. Uh and that projects the average single family households tax bill impact to increase by approximately $33, which is using FY26 assess values and classification shift rates. So that's that's just how we I always try to keep that that bid in for my budget messages to kind of give you a glimpse
of what of where we're at. Overall, um the economy is strong. I know it sounds cliche, but the town is doing well. You can see and I I make an illusion to that later in my report. I talk about how the uh the assessed value of of properties continues to rise like very healthy. I
think it's between4 and $50 40 and $50,000 a year for the last number of years. Um which is good. That means people want to move to Mayor. That means the housing market continues to rise. When that new school opens up, I think it will look even better to move to Mayor. Um but there is a cost of this
business. There's a cost of the service and that's what I try to reflect here. So again, kind of a snapshot in time. Um I feel like this is how it is every year. This is my eighth budget. Um Chris, and uh I feel like every year I come, I have to I have to say like,
okay, it's been two weeks now. Here's what I know and here's what I recommend. It's been another two weeks. Here's what I know. Here's what I recommend. >> Um and then February 7th is the joint budget. I know this is the next topic, Mr. Chair, but >> yeah. >> And so I will try to capture this, put it in PowerPoint form. Um but this is
all online. I put it on the put on the main page. Um um our uh our intrepid reporter Bob McCarthy had asked me about this before um before I went live. Uh so he really he really gave me the pressure to get
this done. Um but I was grateful to get this done before the long weekend. >> So there you have it, Mr. Chair. I'm not I'm ready for questions if you have it or if you just need time to read all this and fall asleep to it. Google that, too. >> No. Um, I will ask Chris or Jeff, do you
have any questions? >> No. >> Uh, Greg, are you proposing an exclusion this town meeting upcoming? >> You know, my question. >> That's a good question. >> I mean, that was a and and it it was something we discussed at the quad
board, but I I just wanted a large softball coming at you, was it? >> No, no. I I was looking forward to this question. Not looking forward to it. I just knew it was going to happen. So, um I think it's up to the board and I know that's like that's a copout, but it I don't I don't I don't know what the
board or the or what the board interprets what the town is going to be comfortable with. So, the the you are paying for the new elementary school. You will continue to pay for the new elementary school. That's just the nature of the beast. Um I love the idea of pacing out big
capital projects. We've been relatively successful with that in the past. The downside is the projects don't they continue to age. We talked about the roof like whe the fowler roof is another is another sort of like on the horizon.
We need to address that. Um um so what I I think what I'm proposing is and you'll see down in my budget message here's an approximate cost. What do you want to do it now? Do you want to put it off until fall? I did I did talk to the town clerk or you can put it off till next year. We
can talk about this in in May of 2027. So, I did talk to the clerk about how if we were going to do this, how we would do it. Her recommendation is um based on logist logistics and costs, her recommendation is to have and I and I concur with her uh and I haven't asked
Downey about this yet, but to have a special town meeting with really one question on it, which would be the status have that before um the May I think it's the first week of May is when we do our annual town election. that's set by the by law. So, um, but it it
that sequence of things generally is understood to like not really help when it comes to overriding dead exclusions because you want to go to town meeting first before you ask the voters to go to the polls and and and our charter, I'm sorry, our bias have it inverse. We go to the polls for elections and then we go to town meeting. So she and I,
Melissa Pellet and I were talking, we thinking, okay, what if we did like a special town meeting to talk about Rockland? Then you go to the polls and on the annual town election, it has uh you know the regular the regular positions that are up for election and then we also throw in a dead exclusion
of my question and then you go to regular annual town meeting um like a week or two later. um that you know again that way you have a special town ele uh town meeting so you can talk about the issue and then you try to get you try to provoke turnout at school we
do that follow yeah >> uh no thank you Greg for that question I have a a separate um question on a much lower the chapter 90 funding that was increased I believe like around 50% from
the when the governor signed it in it was after our town meeting Is that incorporated into the current FY 26 year? >> That question. >> Um Justin and I haven't talked about that yet because he's still working with Beta Engineering to come to it come to the board with the paper management
program. I I I assumed it that increase you talked about. I assumed that level going into FY27. So what you see in my budget message assumes that level of chapter 90 but because it my understanding is based on increased revenues from the
millionaire's tax. So I my expectation is it would be somewhat level but but you but >> but but well let me ask this question first. So our our current year FY26 has a an approximately 50% increase on chapter 90 relative to FY25. Is that
correct? Because I know that that bill >> is not correct. Okay. >> No, no, that is correct. >> I think it is right. I just >> that that bill was signed I think after town meeting last spring. So does that but we do we need not do we not need to adjust the budget because that's not
derived from the property tax revenue rather it's state aid. >> Oh I understand your question now. Um >> let me look into that. I will look into that. >> Okay >> that's a good question. I want to Are you done, Jeff?
>> Yeah. No, I'm When when we see the payment management plan, I think we can dig into that a little bit more, but yes, I'm done. Thank you, David. >> Thank you. I want to follow up on Jeff's question regarding debt exclusion. Okay. >> Um, just, you know, one of the things we
always talk about is educating the residents and giving the residents a heads up. We are now four months >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Town meeting where they would be asked to vote on something that they're hearing >> that members of the select board is
hearing for the first time on January 20th. >> That's fair. >> Um I didn't think that's fair. >> No, I mean it was fair. you know, go further. My followup is the schools mentioned something about potentially moving towards uh debt
exclusion on the roof school and we told them we didn't want to do it following immediately following uh essentially we told them we didn't want to do it immediately following the exclusion and override that we passed last year. >> Okay. And I think would be unfair of us,
let alone to the voters, but to the schools to say, "We're not going to allow yours to go forward, but we have something that we want to go forward with, and we're going to," and I'm using this kind of sound meme, but it's not. We're going to push through ours in three months, but you didn't
have the chance when you mentioned it, you know, eight months ago, but that they wanted to con consider it. >> I can appreciate that. I I do want to and I know you're not I know you know this water is everyone sort of issue. So like I get that. >> Yeah. It's not us or them in this case
but I I agree with you. It is the perception would be and and there is some truth to it that it is like okay so we did the school project but we weren't ready for another school project. So it's our turn. Although and I also agree to that to a degree there there was that pacing I referenced before of of you
know like you know I've talked about this many times where we had invested with water years and years and years ago then the fire station or I may have the inverse maybe it was fire station then it was water rates increase and then it was school school and and so now we're kind of looking to the next project. Um,
I mean, if if the fowl roof happened to be ready to go and that does also require some sort of bonding and it's ready sooner than Rockland, I would recommend that. This is not I I don't I'm not sort of picking favorites um because it's all >> I think on top of it um grand scheme and
again I I think water is the most important thing that we have to deal with but um we're also we're going to hear in a few weeks uh sometime February I would imagine the recommendation for
rad water and sewer and you know you throw all these things on top comes breaking just just literally two weeks ago got their bill for this new impact and are trying to
>> now it's just those are my thoughts but >> I I have similar sentiments to be honest um I feel like we'd be hardressed to convince people that um this is you know it feels rushed this
doesn't feel like It's a like responsible decision. It's being processed because it's a process. Not that it's not not that I'm saying that you're, you know, this is irresponsible. >> This is the decision process. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Well, but I mean for us to say, you know,
similar what David was saying, for us to try to educate people and and put a decision in front of them three months from now, right, it would be April, I think was a recommendation for the special town meeting. Um, and I the other thing I'm kind of
struggling with is we seem to have trouble year overyear. I know we've been talking about water and the expense of water, but I went back and watched the March 18th meeting from earlier this year when we raised the water and sewer rates. And unless
I'm misunderstanding, I thought that, you know, part of what Justin has talked about a lot is increasing the bonding capacity within the enterprise funds. Right? So my understanding was that we would be able to use some retained earnings as to increase our bonding capacity. Correct. And that was part of
the argument for increasing water and sewer rates. So we're increasing water and sewer rates over here for the purpose of increasing our bonding capacity, but then coming back and saying, but also there's a debt exclusion. Yeah. >> So, it's not I I don't think that it is disingenuous or that there's any,
>> you know, ill intent here, but it it doesn't it doesn't look like great planning if you're on the on the receiving end of the bills. >> Okay. So, I'm struggling a little bit with like year-over-year, I don't think we're doing a good job. And this comes up, you know, I think in our budgeting conversations anyway, all the time
around saying people, >> you know, we're looking for this override, operating override or debt exclusion or whatever it is this year, and then for the next two years, here are the other things that we're going to need to pay for. Yeah. And you know, this is I know that Bob McCarthy has been bringing this up since like 2005,
but I think that we are not we're doing ourselves and all the town staff a disservice and not providing that information further out so that people are making informed decisions because if you're a voter and you're not in this day in and day out, what it looks like
is you raised the the rates in March, then you needed an operating overhead to pay for schools, and now you're coming back for debt exclusion. like what's happening? Why every six months is there what looks like new information? >> Sure. >> Um so I don't really know. That's obviously a bigger existential issue
we're not going to solve in this conversation. >> But it is something that I'm grappling with in the context of this conversation that we're we're like it's kind of like the house is on fire and here's why we need to make this decision and so we do it and then six months later it's like oh the house is
on fire again and this other house next door the garage is now on fire. And I I know that's not really how it is, but >> that's how I feel. >> I'm sure put a lot of things on fire. I think the only way that we could really make this palatable to be honest and this is going to be a very unattractive
um proposition is to look elsewhere across the budget and decrease and say, >> you know, if if we're going to increase your taxes by this much or we're looking for this much more in bonding capacity in order to help like manage and balance those expenses, we're going to not pay for this. And those are hard decisions
that nobody wants to make. >> That would probably be manpower. >> That that's not great. I don't love it. But I don't feel like we could go to voters and say, >> "Yeah, >> we need another debt exclusion without saying we're also trying to mitigate
>> these additional costs in this way." And that would be a deeply unattractive >> um proposition in my opinion. But I also feel like again we're doing ourselves and town staff a disservice by not presenting a much bigger over um overarching picture. It's these like
kind of this I know it's an iterative process anyway, but it's kind of like I feel like it's chipping away at at long-term credibility around budgeting. >> Okay. >> So, sorry that was a long speech, but and I know that doesn't solve the problem at all, but these are the things that are running through my head as I'm
looking at this and thinking about this. No, this this was meant to be provocative. Uh this is exactly how No, this is the charter literally without saying such. This is this is the process. The charter says the town administrator presents a recommended capital improvement plan based on
feedback from the capital planning committee to you and this is it. So like you this is a recommendation. >> So the capital planning committee is also recommending the debt occlusion to pay for the wells. >> No, I do. No, that was me. But um I meant that that's what the charter described. So the capital planning
committee is supposed to inform what the capital planning committee had recommended which I did agree to free cash is to not is to not be so uh um oh well actually it's I'm more interested in that relation the relationship as you described too between the water rates
and super rates and general taxes which is something I make a quick reference in my in my sentence here in my paragraph is to say like there can be some combination there too doesn't have to be this year but Yes, we've been trying to build up our our
capital capacity within the rates without going too high. We're trying not to get to that scary 10% water water rates increase. So, how do we get as much as we can within Cumber and still be able to capture a little bit so that we can make investments down the road? But what you'll hear from Justin in a
couple of weeks is okay, if we want to do it's a $25 million project. If we want to do half of that on the tax bill and half of that on the water enterprise bill I'm sorry water. So but that in the end I mean like it's
almost synonymous like most most taxpayers are also water users vice versa. Um uh maybe only like the storage units down a paddle of the road are not using water but like pretty much everyone else uses water. So whether you
see it in one bill or another bill, you're paying for it. But but still we want to be cognizant of like the overall cost of living, which is what you're referring to. I'm also sensitive to that, too, which is why in my front page I talk about this is what your tax bill will show. Um
so it's it's all it's all balance. I I also agree with you, Lindsay. I want to be more sophisticated in my long-term planning. I know that's been a goal of the board. We trying to get somebody to sign up for that new committee. But um um that's not to shock my
responsibilities. That's just to say like I think we could do better too. I I think we can I think we can be more sophisticated in it. Um I just in this case today I'm trying to inform the board of these fires. But >> yeah, certainly when we had that meeting
um when we we had the quad board meeting at the library, this was not a topic when they were talking about here's what's on the horizon for >> for us. And we left that meeting feeling
I think pretty good as proof about where things were heading. And now this sort of puts it changes the plan and you know changes >> does it really change the plan though? I mean this is not out of the blue right what
>> a so no the the need is definitely not out of the blue we've been talking about that for years right >> um and the phased approach is not out of the blue but um accommodating that with a debt exclusion in this school year >> it's not I mean I don't think it's out
of the blue it just feels like a a much shorter timeline >> than would be able to accomplish it successfully and make people feel comfortable with it because as you've noted, we have many other fires that haven't even lit yet.
>> And so I I worry about our ability to continue to um convince people to say yes. Yeah. >> When it feels like a like because we didn't we're not doing the leg work of saying here are all the choices you're going to have to make for the next five
years. Instead, it's every year here's the new thing and here's the new thing. And I worry that we are going to run out of credibility runway >> and when we really do need it, we're not going to be able to get it because we're not making the bigger argument. So to your point, like no, it's the need is
certainly not out of the blue. But this being the financial solution, it does this feels newer than what we've talked about in the last 12ish months, I would say. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And can I ask a question just about the math? If I understanding correctly, for $25 million bond, we need about 1.5
1.535 million. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> To get that >> again, that's an outdated bond sheet, but yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And I want to go back. Chris and Jeff, that conversation sort of went off on a tangent from where you guys had already
spoken. So, I want to give you guys an opportunity to comment back and then we'll go to Mike for your comments. any comments on that discussion that we just sort of went off the rail on the override discussion? I
>> I I tend to agree with you and Lindsay that it's not out of the blue, but it's it's a lot. We're at some point we have to go through one of these processes without increasing uh a debt exclusion or an override or
something in the short term. We can't just keep expecting people to come up with that kind of money. >> Yeah, >> we do. We do try to look for grants. It's just a lot of money. And >> I get that. I I get I get that everybody's doing their best to try and
avoid these things, but that doesn't make, you know, the people that um live in town feel any more comfortable that, you know, we keep going back to the well, you know, kind of, no pun intended, but we we keep going back to
the the same places. We only have one set of places to go. I just it's getting to be a lot for a lot of people, I think. And that's, you know, that's the that's the real talk around town. People don't care about a lot of the other things we talk about every second Tuesday of the of the month, but the
dollars and cents I think are really piling up on people and a lot of people are I don't know if they can't afford to stay in town or not, but you know, it's getting close for a lot of people. >> Yeah, sure. >> Can I just add one thing? I I not
questioning the need in any way. Like we we have more things to pay for than we have money for. That's just how it is. >> It's every town. >> And yeah, and I know that's every town. And I know so I'm not at all questioning in any way that there isn't a need for this. I'm more worried about um the
public education component and how we continue to set ourselves up for success because these needs will always be urgent >> and I don't want us to again run out of >> the credibility we need to be able to accomplish these. >> I I also have a healthy fear of of a
fail boat. So because you only give it like a oftent times you kind of want one shot at it and so either whether and that's why I'm also moving to the strategy of whether you go to the polls first or town meeting or vice versa because I wanted to be successful. So like even that sequence is important. Um
you lose credibility if you lose >> well and I think if you were to look at the last 12 months of conversation like go back and listen to the March 18th hearing >> and the you don't get the impression that we're going to add a debt exclusion to this fiscal year's town meeting. It's not in. So
>> isn't the number from the last quad board meeting in the neighborhood of $130 million worth of needs or something along those lines? >> Yeah, >> it's probably twice that. >> I mean, so so it's it's definitely necessary that we have to do these
things, but you know, I you know, spacing it out. Can we space it out more so people have some relief at some point? That's the only question. >> It's not easy. I mean, it's going to be a trade-off because the um
I'm also still in a drought. So, if we we continue to suffer from low water rates, that means people we're still going to be suffering those dry the wells at the bottom, which means you're getting probably I don't not I I hate to say it, but we'll probably get people who are complaining about the discoloration of water in the spring. That's how it's going to be. And now,
I'm not saying Rockland is going to be the savior. No, it's the full all three phases is what is what's supposed to sort of mitigate that. But it's rock is this next phase towards that. Um and then and overall make us a little bit more comfortable in our water supply so
that we can continue to say yes to certain growth and our our needs. Um so it's all it's all part of it. But but even even if you even if you had said and I didn't think you would be like oh great idea Greg we're going to do a data solution in the spring. It would still be five years of hearing people talk
about disclosures even if we did it today. So I I'm only because you all are very smart and mature. I want to make sure you had the information and now we can have this sort of strategy as we're talking about when we feel comfortable. Can
>> I ask one more specific question? The 2% interest rate from the state's clean water evolving fund, the FRF. >> Yeah. >> Is there is there like like do we lose access to that at some point? >> No, that's every year. >> Okay. >> Oh. Oh. Oh. I don't want to say that because that's if that's if that's
reliant on federal funding. I don't can say um so no I don't want to say that >> but you can see I did not I didn't use that number. >> No you didn't for your math but I was wondering because you got the 4.5% as the assumed conservative rate.
>> Um so I just didn't know if we didn't act now if we lose access to that 2%. >> I don't think that's the case. You'll hear more about >> theoretically maybe not. >> Justin can tell you much more about it. He's in discussion with DP all the time. But the but um >> yeah, as you're saying, obviously 2% would be much it's it's less than half
of the interest rate that I reflected. >> So that would be how much would that actually equate to for the average single family household? I didn't do that math because I want to be conservative. >> Yeah. >> Um uh it probably be a significant change, but but all in all it' be cumulative as you're saying the tax
bill, the water bill, the trash bill you are about to get, it all adds up. the track. Well, I'm not going to go down the solid waste and recycling road. Sorry, >> Mike. >> Yeah, I'm very struck by um with this
conversation, how it's focusing rightly so on a couple of our goals, our select board goals about um good communication with the public and and also uh better management of long-term capital planning. So the question I'm
asking myself at the moment and and the rest of the board is uh can we not uh think that the ball is now in our court for making this happen in terms of you know we've had uh certainly in the time that I've been uh participating here
we've had a number of the the quadboard meetings we've had goal setting meetings we we we have a much thanks to the work of several people we have a much better understanding of the data of of our longerterm planning. Um, so is it now up to us the
board to say, "All right, we've been talking about the need to make tough choices. Do do we now have that responsibility to say, "All right, we looking at all the data we've got. Um here are you know eight 10 different major items the things that are on that
long-term list including obviously the current um the phase two of the water project um and to to think more seriously about how we convey that moving on from the stage or phase that we're in at the moment I believe which
is just a recognition that there are tough choices to be made and I don't think collectively we have taken that next um to presenting to the town. Um okay,
here we are the leaders of the town and this is uh our sense of how the next five years are going to go, what to expect. And guess what? Sorry, but if we're going to have a good water supply over the next I'm going to pick a number, two years, we're going to have
to think seriously about this phase two project. So what I'm unsure is what our internal mechanism is for doing that and and also am I right that this is our collective responsibility to address that more upfront.
So there's my observation and comment. >> Um thank you Mike. Yeah I think we yeah we're the we're the internal mechanism to to put that up there and to to work that through. Um and and we we absolutely discussed the uh potential of using a debt exclusion as opposed to
water rates for phase two at the quad board. I think we didn't have any conclusive language either way on on the timing of that whether it was this year or a hypothetical future year. Um I want to go back to uh something Lindsay remarked on a few seconds ago or minutes
ago on the education. Um 2 years ago at town meeting uh the select board we put out a kind of a state of the town document which included uh not only sales of buildings and and development of of Coolage School and and 6163 Summer Street and ongoing already approved
projects like the Fire Street but also um where we were going in a manner very similar to Lindsay what you were asking for and included um items including the need for uh or or the um deficit spending frankly of the schools that
would eventually need an override. It would include uh the hypothetical DPW garage which we now have a feasibility study for. Um we didn't republish that one year ago at town meeting because a lot of the conversation was occupied by
the very real overrides in front of us. So we had the school override, we had the senior center override. Um we also had uh initially was discussed as an override um and even though it didn't end up there was still a major part of the conversation on solid waste and recycling. So adding on you know another
kind of future-looking plan I think would have been a lot to discuss all at one town meeting. But I think now coming back if especially if we're not going to go for an override uh of any sort we should revisit putting out some sort of message like that at town meeting like we did two years ago um and and find
other ways to continue that education. Um and and we can make a note that we're we're dep prioritizing based on both resident feedback and and and what we think we need as a town on things like the DPW center in favor of water infrastructure. Uh which is very much in line with things that we've been discussing over the past 24 months. I
would say um just to characterize where the schools were from from what I heard if you listen to Brian Hos both at town meeting last year and I think Maro mentioned some commentary at the quad board meeting they I feel they were more self- selecting that they the schools
themselves did not want to go back two years in a row for an override more than they felt hindered that the select board was telling them they couldn't. Um, so I think that was really um them being conscious of what they were asking for rather than them feeling that we were telling them they couldn't do something
based on on language from uh the school committee and the superintendent. Um, tying that all together, I think I think what Chris said was was why is that these are all needs. So the question is, can we smooth it out? How do we do the pacing? And I think that's something that we would really want this kind of
new building committee to do. It's been hard to get that, but we've done a good job, I think, working and and appreciative Benzowski on some of those plans because when it comes to whether or not we do it this year or another year or or when we do it, it's that backlog of projects that's coming behind that that we're not going to be able to
escape from if we push these things or space them out incorrectly or or too long. So, we need to be very smart about that and that needs to be part of that education. Um, and then we need to to bring out the math on, you know, if we're hitting there. And not all of those kind of overrides or roof or HVACs or things are going to be the same
capital amount and and we may be able to take advantage of grant funding. But if we any project that we push, we're in somewhat explicitly pushing things down and falling behind on that R&M budget, which town has pressured us to make sure that we're keeping on top of those repairs and maintenances. Um, and we
also, I think going to the commentary on water rates, we should take a look at the math. What would this mean if we were to fund it through water sewer rates? You know what what's a it's going to be a much bigger percentage, right? So, we're talking about a 25% increase instead of a a seven or a 9% increase of
water rates if we wanted to fund it through there. Um, and I think that should be part of the education as well. Uh but I I think that the public is very well aware due to our efforts and and the efforts of many people around us on the need for water infrastructure relative to um things that in other
towns are or easier to advocate for such as school funding. Uh and so I do think that the town is very well the conversation. It's the specific timing of when this would come up which would be surprising. But I I I think we should credit ourselves for you know more advanced planning than we have done in the past and certainly on that water
sewer piece. Uh, and that's that's starting to come through with the town. Uh, all said, I think the question for us is not, you know, whether or not we do it, but if we do not do it this year, when do we do it? And make sure that we can look ourselves in the mirror and answer that question credibly um before
we do the same answer to um the town. >> Any other comments? correct, thank you for the likely time you put into the prepar preparation budget and uh I guess when we begin to dig into it, have any
questions for you, whatever. And of course on the 7th when we meet, we'll hear even more detail not only from us, but I see there's two members of the finance committee that are on >> um that will be at that meeting as well. will be able to share probably some of
this with this with their uh committee members uh but before that meeting I'm sure. Um so I think we'll move on from the the budget unless there's any other question. >> Um just a timeline question.
>> Yeah. >> So in your last paragraph you got a timeline from the clerk. >> Yeah. Just like if we did want to move forward to that special town meeting on the 13th. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Are we far enough out on like when all those things would be due? Yeah. Legally.
>> That's why that's why I talked about it because you're right. There's notifications you have to do and >> be like March. >> No, we could. Yeah, we could do um >> that we would have to post that. >> Uh Greg and I talked about this too. When would I if you if if you had a
resounding uh uh reception to this and green light, then I would have probably come back in two weeks and said like, "Okay, so you need to vote in this night." I we Greg and I think we got that far. Didn't we didn't we talk about when the board might need to approve? >> Yes, it's I because it's a special town
meeting. It's actually a pretty similar deadline for our annual town meeting uh deadlines. So, it it actually aligns pretty closely Hi. >> Okay. But yeah, good questions. Um,
yeah, I don't know. Maybe Greg and I might talk about like going through the exercise of what what those actual dates look like just for this which would get you know when special town meeting when that would be due and then also when the water and sewer rate hearing. Yeah.
>> Just to see what the progression would look like. >> Okay, good idea. We can do that. All right. Um, on February the 7th, we will be having a our
joint budget review where Greg will officially present his budget to us or maybe by then it's officially our budget to Greg. That's what the summarizing budget he has presented to us. Um so we
wanted to have a brief discussion about the planning of that joint budget review. Uh if there are any topics that well we just had one that uh we might want to add to the discussion relative
to how we're proceeding with this year's f this fiscal year's budget. And Jillian and Peter, if you have anything to add, feel free. Any thoughts about uh what you might want to have on that uh
Saturday morning meetings agenda or topics other than just Greg's presentation? Um, but does any member of the board have any thoughts about any topics that uh we may want to focus on other than J other
than uh Greg's presentation? Julian, I see your hands up. >> Thanks. Thanks for recognizing me. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yeah. Um, I think that talking about these, you know, uh, and it was very nicely already said in the discussion is just talking about all of these
different priorities that we have coming up that may be overrides. Um, I think would be something that would be good for us to talk about as a joint joint group of committees. Uh, and just the priority there and the rationale of, you know, why this one is being prioritized over another one. um I think would be a
very great discussion to have >> to to that end. David, it would be good to have the Benzowski's um you know the slide that he had with all the color coding depending on what timelines they thought that those individual kind of items would be ready
for or would be needed by. Um do you know the slide I'm talking about? >> Um should we reach out to Ben because they're not again >> or even if we just grabbed the slide from the last quadboard meeting. It wasn't long ago enough that that was going to change significantly. I just
think it's a good framework to to discuss exactly what what Julian just brought up and then what we've been talking about. >> Can you grab that slide? >> Absolutely. In the past, it's been um this is the I appreciate you doing this, Mr. Chair, because this is what I was hoping to get out of this meeting.
In the past, it's been usually I go then the superintendent and then capital planning and or finance committee. But usually it's because um like maybe capital planning committee had already been planning on presenting it for a
couple of weeks and months or whatever, but because we've had that more recent, so maybe it's not on their agenda, so to speak. Um or sometimes finance committee previous chairs have said we really want some time at that at the joint budget review because we got some things to say and so we give them a certain amount of
time. Um >> Julian, do you anticipate having things you have to say? >> Uh so we've been modeling I think and future forecasting some some budgets like the enterprise funds and the
general fund. Um but I think for me as one member the most impactful thing is just to sort of align on these really big ticket items which would be in my opinion the overrides. Um, and sort of just understanding and you know knowing or I guess the big ticket items they
might not be overrides like you said they might go in with the sewer enterprise funds or some other funding mechanism but just educating the public as to what they are and what the potential timeline is because I think the the Ben slides that you were talking about um Jeff I think they only covered
capital needs so there was no water sewer anything on there from what I remember except maybe the DPW garage. Yeah, I believe you're correct. Um, yeah. So, if yeah, how how we get that comprehensive view, but at least if we
have those, then we can add, you know, with our our brains the water phasing on on top of it. But how how do you feel, Mr. Chair? Um, so and let me just also preface this. According to the charter, this is officially a meeting between the select board and the finance committee.
>> Correct. In the past, it has been assumed if not directly invited school committee. Usually that's it. Um, and then with that comes, and so I don't mean to be presumptive, but I just want to make sure I'm on the same page when I said the agenda or provide you the
agenda. >> Um, would you like to hear from the superintendent? Is the biggest department generally they have spoken? >> Yeah, I think we should give them the opportunity to speak. >> Okay. Because again in the grand scheme they
might have something down the road that that they want to put on the table for >> consideration. Fowler remove bleachers. >> Who knows? Uh okay. Can do. We got a little bit more time. Maybe some of this will even come up at the um
budget committee meeting next week. >> Yeah. And we have one more meeting prior to us. >> Sure. So we can if if anybody thinks of anything that they want to add to that meeting before our next meeting, you're not going to be here. >> I'll just be listening.
>> Should be here in spirit. >> Stop talking. >> Uh please let us know and uh or bring that idea with you to the next meeting on February the 2nd. That's when it is, right? >> Third. >> Third. >> Third.
>> Third. >> No, it's seven. No, that's the Saturday meeting. The Tuesday beforehand. >> Oh. Oh, sorry. Okay. That meeting. >> Sorry. >> Oh, you're okay. You're missing that one. I can see. >> Yeah. Sorry, I misunderstood you guys.
>> October 7th is uh the joint review. That's a Saturday. >> Yeah. At the fire station was confirmed. Um we've also usually we do it on screen, too. >> Say again, Greg. >> We do it at the fire station, but we also do it remote. Um because even yours
truly has been saved a couple of times. Um >> so what time is that? >> It's 8 am is what we have. >> I don't know. We've done it at nine in the past. >> You want to do it? >> Oh, okay.
So I get my PowerPoint gets shorter every year um because I'm starting to kind of read the crowd and I think we I've been working with the same people for now eight years. So, I kind of I and especially because of these conversations, I have an understanding of like here's the things that people want to hear about. Um, same with Brian
House. And then, uh, and then we can try to quickly get to this bigger conversation. Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh, Green Mountain School building project. Any updates? >> Um, we're still building the school,
y'all. It's moving along. Um trying to I'm trying to work with the uh project manager about when we can get you guys in there. Me too. I I want to see it too. Um but it's still still moving along. >> Yeah. But uh you just mentioned the the
walk through. Did you mention that? Yeah, we'll get to it probably would be until later March, April. So >> that's not old. >> I skipped over the senior center was on there. Um is there we don't have anything to talk about on that right?
>> Not yet chair. >> All right. Um so the next Oh, any questions on the green metal as we stand? No. Okay. Uh correspondence. We have three. Uh any questions on the
correspondence? If not, we can take a motion. >> Oh, and I apologize. The motion was inaccurate. If you could say whoever's about to say it A through C, not A and B. A through A through C. >> Move to accept correspondences A through
C as shown. Second. >> Any further questions? Hearing none. Roll call. Jeff. >> Yes. >> Chris. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mike. >> Yes. >> I am a yes as well. >> We have one set of minutes from December
2nd. >> Any questions on it? If not, motion to accept. Move to approve the meeting minutes of December 2nd, 2025 as shown, authorizing use of digital signatures if approved. >> Second.
>> Any questions? All uh vote chat. >> Uh no questions. I vote yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Chris, >> yes. >> Lindsay, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes. >> I'm a yes as well. uh time administrative report.
>> You got it, Mr. Chair. So, um I will try to be brief. Um I got to give credit um to this professional to my right who is putting forward a new personal change form online trying to modernize as always is our ongoing mandate here in town hall.
Modernize our practices both. Now, this is this you won't you wouldn't see this from an outsider perspective, but for the customers inside town hall in the town departments, this is important. um we're trying to move away from the paper in this case. Um uh so it's it's it's HR related. It's it's on boarding, but it's
really important. It's it's kind of a key point of any organization people and how this would go process. So this Stephanie's done a great job, assistant town administrator Dougen of uh finding this new platform for to sort of expedite and make it more efficient for on on boarding. We got a couple
holidays. We just had one and uh and we're about to have another one President's Day of February 16th. Um, it's already that time of year. Greg Wilson is collecting annual time report submissions. Those are due February 6th. Um, uh, so we put that word out already.
Greg is also collecting, um, sort of like concepts, I call placeholder items for warrant articles. We try to be very, um, real time uh, collaborative and communive with the finance committee. So, as soon as we get potential warrant articles, we try to bounce that over to
the finance committee so they're not surprised. and they kind of already start teing up their questions about them. Um so that's the warrant article placeholders um are requested for February 13th and then the actual articles February 27th seems like it's a
month away but it comes really fast. So we already have an idea of some um annual town meeting is largely the sort of procedural um articles every year. Uh but but it's it's moving along >> and then um I will be at the MMA
conference along with some of you um this this uh this Thursday and Friday and Saturday. And then I'm taking vacation um that right after that President's Day. So I'm going to I'm telling it's the school vacation. So it's uh February 17th through the 20th.
>> You will miss our 17th meeting. >> Was that then? Yes. Okay. Good. Okay. I try to put things on everyone's calendar so that Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And then um town clerk's collecting census forms. So if you got it, turn them in.
And then I appreciate the town clerk um submitting some uh I know the board is interested in when new businesses are registered in town. So I listed some of those. And then I really want to highlight all the good work that the fire department does. So you can see this is a relatively large report. Um so a lot of departments have annual
reporting. This is part of that. Uh but Sienna Hespach was on the big screen at the TD Garden which is pretty cool. And uh and um in that picture is also our our our favorite fire chief Chief Wellness. Um great great work the fire
department is doing. You can see some of the statistical numbers too. I find those interesting about where we're going and and sort of like the trends that you see. Um so I appreciate her time putting into that report. Um similarly with the Council on Aging always doing a lot, very active. Uh I
love it. I love seeing all the work they're doing. And then lastly, I I threw in a beautiful picture of a very wet hole in the ground on Walnut Street. Um that's that's what the guys I'm I'm always sort of fascinated what it looks like when they finally find it. That was
a rough one on Walnut Street um next to Boston Bean. Um uh I mean it's old infrastructure, but fortunately they were able to find it relatively quickly. So they weren't there all night. You can see the patch job. They did it and then they were able to fill it in and move away. But um that could have been really bad.
Uh unless there's questions, that's what I have for you, Mr. Chair. Any questions? All right. Share report. Couple things. Um, Greg, I'm hopeful that um you speak perhaps to the fire department and about
having potential warming stations for this coming weekend. >> Okay, >> they're talking about record potentially record low wind chills and >> god forbid power go out and people need warmth.
>> Yeah. Um, and some people just can't afford to keep their heat on. >> Yeah. >> So, they need a place to go to be warm. So, if we can get and put out an announcement that if it's necessary, >> they go and charge their phones or
whatever happens to be. >> Talk about a a big major snowstorm potential for Sunday into Monday as well. Um, but it's not clear. Cold air is supposed to push down the front that's coming through and keep it
south of us and New York City may get hit with well over a foot of snow. I want to remind folks that the 31st of January is the Winterfest downtown where you meet before then. Um, it's going to be not only the movie that's being put
on uh if you sign up, but also the uh the whole what do they call it when they do which every year is always amazing. So, look forward to that. We just wanted to make sure people were aware and
reminded. Um, that is all. Do are you aware of anything that's going on in town for the state police today? I saw um >> I was driving over to Actton twice today and the first time I was driving over I
saw two state troopers. Then on the second trip over which was 2:00 in the afternoon I saw six state troop trooper vehicles. Uh two were gassing up at Cumberland Farms. The other two were sitting at or two others were sitting at
the light at Con Street waiting to to reverse I guess through the intersection. Just seemed like there were a lot of state police activity. >> I thought maybe something was going on at the uh at the center training or
something but it was it was really evident. Then over in Actton, it got to Actton. There were two others that were heading in Mayor's direction. One put its lights on to get through Kelly's Corner. The other one was uh just
traveling along near Dunkin Donuts down there as you head towards Actton Medical. >> I could tell you all heading towards me. >> Yeah, the people's taking advantage of good gas prices. >> Maybe. >> It's also cheating to get through corner with your lights on.
>> That's true. Yeah, that's not fair. That >> That's really cheating. >> Yeah, everyone wants to do that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't know. You know, it could have been an emergency. >> I don't know. I I saw Chief Archie um this morning, but we didn't wasn't about this. I don't know.
>> But I was sitting at the light and this trooper was across the way and I had already seen the other ones or two of them and the lights went on. I'm like, "What the hell?" He goes right through. We put on the siren for a blip to get by
a car and then I saw him speeding up 27 >> main tide or whatever it's called now stop. >> All right, that's it for me. Um Jeff, >> nothing for me. Thank you. >> I got a family of ducks in the backyard.
It's about it. >> You're down south. I'm keeping I'm trying to keep the fox from eating them. >> The babies. >> You're guarded, are you? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> I was coming home, but I I saw the weather and I said, "You know what? No,
>> you won't need you won't need the warming station. >> I'm not coming home. >> Enough of that cold." >> Uh, just that on the 11th I went to the Eagle Scout ceremony for Joey Rank, which was lovely. had never been scout
ceremony before. So we've now declared that January 11th is Joseph Joey ring day. So congratulations Sam. >> Actually just that one year though. >> Just that one year. >> We're not doing it. Not every year. >> Joey got the one.
>> I just read the um uh the declaration. Kate Hogan was there also. >> Yeah, she's always there. >> Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you for your time, >> Mike. >> Um the only thing really is, uh last week, last Tuesday,
um the uh board of health and the fire department and the Middle Sex Medal Medical Reserve Corps held a a session down in the library about emergency preparedness training. Um there were
about 20 people there. So on the one hand when you think of the the importance of emergency preparedness a bit disappointing on the other hand uh great there 20 people with that and uh so kudos um to um Angela of course and
and I'm afraid I forget the name of the lady from the medical reserve corp but they did a good presentation. >> I don't remember either. Yeah, >> it wasn't our board of health. Probably sometimes I know they overlap. >> Stacey is
healthy. >> Oh yeah, he's >> right. Yeah, he was Casey Health. Katie is our nurse. >> Right. So anyway, just wanted to highlight um kind of work that our fire chief is doing and others to address
these issues. Cool. >> Thank you. All right, we're ready to go. If there's a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Is there a >> second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? Jeff? >> Yes. >> Chris?
>> Yes. >> Lindsay? >> Yes. >> Mike? >> Yes. >> I Yes. Well, thank you everybody. >> Good night. >> Have a great night.