Good evening. Welcome to the March 26, 2026 warrant committee meeting. This is an in-person meeting in the basement of town hall. Karen, can you do a roll call to start us off? >> We have Jay Fondling, Ela Craighead,
James Gassi, Loren D, Grace Dhy, Larry Johnson, Julia Maxwell, Brian Maguire, Lee Michael Mlan, Ronia, Cecilia. >> Okay.
So for tonight, we have approximately 30 warrant articles to address. Uh I want to do this with efficiency but not rushed. So for each article, we'll look at it. If the expert on that article has a few words to say, they can say them.
If they have more than a few words today, they can say them. If not, that's fine, too. We're not looking to fill air for no reason. And uh since we're all in person, we can do voice votes. So, that will speed things up. It's my
expectation that we'll finish tonight with plenty of time left over, but we do have a Zoom only meeting booked for Monday just in case. So, if an issue comes up and we need to discuss it, my goal was not to say, "Nope, sorry, we're
rushed. We have to vote vote tonight." We do have Monday as a pressure release valve. But, uh, I'm going to start. I'm going to share my screen. Uh, I think I'm going to share my screen. This always takes me a second. I'm going to share the warrant
and then we are going to Can you see what I Okay, then we're going to start discussion. Uh, Mr. Molatto, you're welcome to join us at the table or come up when needed
as you choose. All right. So, the first article in the warrant is to hear the report of town officers, which is pretty straightforward. It's just a place in town meeting when we can have various reports from various people. Uh, I'd like to have, all right,
to make things go even more efficiently, I'd like to have from this side of the table a designated motion maker and from this side of the table designated second. Who's going to be my designated motion maker? >> I'll be it. >> All right. Who's going to be my designated seconder? Okay.
>> All right. Hearing the port of report of the town accountant and other officers. >> I would like to move that we accept article one as written. >> Oh, second. one. >> Good job. You did.
>> Um, and I'm hoping people will interrupt if they have questions. I don't expect questions about an article like this. >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. Abstain. Raise your hand. >> Karen, we good?
>> You're good. Carries. >> Uh, article. I'm using the old numbering article. what I'm calling article three. You're good with me, Karen? >> Uh, authorize a town treasurer to enter into essentially this is every once a year we have to tell the town treasur yes you can open bank accounts.
>> Um, Jay, can you expand it a little bit? Um, I move that we accept article three as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> All oppose? No. Abstaining, raise your hand. Okay.
>> Article four. We've already done that's a capital article. >> Article number five, municipal audit. Ron, I think you're assigned to this. As I said, we're not looking to talk just to fill air. Ron, I think this is your article. Do you have anything to say
about it? >> No. I mean, >> okay. >> All right. We're paying for an audit. >> I'd like to move that we accept article five as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All oppose? No. >> No.
Okay, raise your hand. >> Somebody for comment. >> There's always one. >> Uh, this is the wage set aside. Um, I had Andrew listed as the expert to this. This, um, Mr. Milano mentioned it the other day. This, I would put it in one
sentence as there are some, uh, union contracts that we haven't agreed on yet. And so we have to set aside money. Um we have to set aside money because even though those people didn't get a raise in the past year,
they'll get a retroactive raise once their union contract is approved. Andor their contract for FY27 hasn't been approved. So that's not going through their salary line item budget. It's going through this one. And it's an estimate of what their salary increase
will be once the contract is approved. Mr. Did I do an adequate job of that? >> Um I sort of muddled that make sense around the table. >> Yeah. One question. So that money contract agreed to and then it's distributed.
>> Uh if that if the contract is signed in the next year. Yeah. If the contract takes another year, then we'll do a bigger appropriation with >> Can I ask a question? >> There's nothing in F27 for this. Should there be? >> There is. There is
>> the one I'm looking at. 16. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I see. Yeah, >> I must have the old one up. >> You must have an old one. Yeah, >> I sent this out on Monday. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> You guys working on the echo? >> Oh, that works.
>> I kind of liked it. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept uh article >> Can you scroll up a little bit? >> Oh, >> article six as written. >> Second. >> Discussion. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> All opposed. All abstain. Okay. Uh, article seven is employee benefits, which I'm the expert on this. I could talk till the cows come home about employee benefits. I used to be a retirement actuary. Um, which covers
unemployment insurance. Uh, the next two lines are both the pension fund and the retirey medical fund, which the pension plan we paid off. We paid that off a couple couple years ago, but now we still have to put
money in for the pension benefits that people are earning every year. The next line is retiring medical, which we have like a hund00 million liability, and we're chipping away at that a little bit every year, as are other cities and towns in the Commonwealth. And then
health insurance which health insurance where self-insured program uh they've set the rates and the rates are 8% higher than last year which is a lot but a lot less than we thought it might be. Uh questions might be
>> I will note well doesn't matter. Uh no questions. >> Um Mr. Chair I move that we accept article 7 as written. Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed.
>> All abstaining. Okay. Article eight. There was somebody reached out to me this week with some confusion. This is a list of our I believe our non-union employees. Um it's something that gets reuped every year in the warrant.
And then at the bottom we talk about the raises we give to the non-UN employees. Uh if you want to look at you know how many employees does each does each department actually have you want to look at the individual department's budget which we
all got back in December. >> These are just I believe the non-unes. Was that pretty close Mr. Milano? >> I'm sorry. >> Do you want more space? >> These are some of these are union. I think >> I don't think this article lists out all grades of all employees.
>> Um the unclassified list at the bottom of non-union employees. The set aside is just for the non-union employees in this article, but the listing that you see is all the town employees. Uh >> all current employees or just >> they're I shouldn't say employees, the job titles and positions that we have
established in the grades that they're established for since they're all predominantly collective bargaining positions. It's really determined by the collective bargaining agreements. Um but this is a process on the master general law that we have to follow to list it and have it approved annually. Jay, for an article like that, if you
want, I think if you scroll to the comment while you're talking, people can refresh their memory as to what that article is for. >> You're right. You're right. Okay. >> Who wrote the comments on these, J? They just copied and made sure >> I believe copied from last I mean, no
town hall. >> Yeah, >> we didn't tweak much. We probably just changed the years. We actually changed the comments, >> right? Yeah. So, grab from last year. >> Okay. eight, right? >> It's uh
>> Mr. Chair, I um move that we accept article 8 as written. >> Second. >> I was just looking for what number it was. >> All in favor? >> I I opposed. >> All abstain. Okay.
All right. Number nine is public safety, which includes both police and fire. We have our fire expert, uh Larry here. I don't believe we have Macy here to talk about police. Um, one thing of note is that, you know, the only the only position added in the
whole town structure this year was the police IT person. So, that's in this budget. >> Uh, Larry, anything else of note? Again, I'm not asking to fill the air. I'm just >> uh No, that's it. I mean, I'll review my
notes before I read the comment, but um >> I think inspectional I think we added they added somebody to that too, did they? Well, >> it's my recollection. Maybe more. >> I mean, I didn't hear about any audio being added.
>> I mean, they added four positions to >> something added to inspection, Mr. Mono. >> That's why we appropriate some free cash for additional hours for >> Yeah. >> Did I do eight? >> Great. What? >> Old eight. You >> are we on we
>> I'm saying nine of these. >> Uh Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 9 as written. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> All abstaining. Okay. Number 10 is general government which
had has a lot of things under it and had a lot of experts for it. I think Grace was the general general government person, but Larry looked into it, Brian looked into insurance, Macy looked into legal. Uh, as you all saw, we got an
email from Brian earlier today with a description of some of our insurance coverages, which I appreciated. >> I've been working on this for years and haven't gotten as much information as he got. So, >> appreciate that. Uh, Grace or anyone else, do you have comments on this?
>> Um, the only thing I looked at was I saw that we increased the the ice and snow removal for this year and when I talked to Amy she said that once we get that that's like becomes the level set so are we okay with that increase it went from 160 to 250 >> oh you're saying that I I remember
hearing something from previous years that like it can never go down >> right well but you once you set it at that level you can't bring it down so that's why I mean I know we're going to be >> meaning like next year after so next year it'll be starting at two >> I think we're kind of bought into the fact that we have increased that line a
lot over time. >> My understanding is that in the past couple years where we had essentially no STO, we still spent half a million. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Milano, any comments on Well, first of all, is that in the general government budget or is that in DPW? >> It's in public works, so it's separate
article. >> Okay. >> Because I talked about general stuff, but Okay. >> And I'll just note, we could reduce the snow and ice budget if we wanted to, but then you're not allowed to deficit spend it. So it's it's a quirk of your municipal finance law. It's we often say
you can't reduce it. You can reduce it. That means you can't spend it and it's a deficit. So we don't reduce it. So that just further explains that. >> Okay. But that's not under this article back under general government which includes lots of various things.
The experts don't have any comments. I'm open to a motion. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 10 as written. >> Second. Okay. All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose say no. All abstain. Okay.
Going on to number 11, boards and committees, which is also a big catchall. I believe uh it was Lee Michael covered the Council on Aging, which is one of the boards and committees, and Ron covered everything else. Do either of you have things to
say that you haven't said before? >> No additional comments. Just reinforce the Council on Aging's doing a great job. I agree with Lee Michael on the council of aging. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 11 as written.
>> Oh, I second. Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. >> All abstaining. Okay. I moving on to number 12. There is number confusion because article 2 is going to go away. So what
we're voting as article 12 right now will eventually be article 11. We're all adults. We can all deal with that. >> No. What do you you want me to call it 12 or 11? >> I want you to call it 12 because that's what's written in front of me. >> Okay. >> Is that okay with everybody?
>> Uh so Nick Tangy, I've got numbers 12 through 17 as saying you're the expert on those. Um >> sweet. because I I in my mind I lump them all under DPW. Uh but the first one is actually DPW including snow and ice
budget. Uh questions, comments? >> I'm sorry. Why is the snow and ice why has it dropped? I mean, it was 800,000. >> FY25 is actual. That's the That's the difference between these three FY25 is actual. We actually spent 800,000 in a
year with almost no snow. Yeah, >> last year we appropriated 160. This year we're going to appropriate 250. >> We're doing incremental update. I remember that from last week. Okay.
>> Okay. I'm open to a motion. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 12 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. I. I. >> All oppose say no. All abstaining. Okay. Article 13, the water enterprise fund.
This is um pretty much your water bill goes in and water and money comes out to pay for things that your water bill pays for including but not limited to MWR water and the some people in town. Uh
any other comments, questions? >> Mr. Chair, this doesn't happen often. I'll just note that the appropriation for this budget is going down year over year. So, >> okay, that's cool. >> Do you know what's driving the decrease? Is it um >> uh debt services dropped? So, that's
largely where the come from. >> Okay, >> cool. Mr. Chair, I move >> Hold on, Grace. You had some questions before the meeting. Are those >> Yeah, but the water enterprise fund is just all the re the revenue that we get from water bills, right? It's not a separate
fund. It's just >> uh it's a separate fund in the sense that the tax dollar taxpayers aren't supporting it. It's truly rate driven by rateayers. So it's not it's part of the town the overall town budgets but it's not funded by the general fund in the
sense that it's supported by taxpayers or anything else purely supported by the water that you consume. >> Okay. >> But it's not like it's a reserve fund or anything. No. >> Okay. That's >> it has its own reserves within it called retained earnings, but it's
>> so it is self-supporting, self-sufficient. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 13 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> All abstain. Okay.
Article 14 is very similar. That's the sewer enterprise fund. Is this also going down? No. No, it is not. I'll entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 14 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I.
>> I. >> All oppose say no. All abstaining. Okay. Article 15, uh, storm water enterprise fund. >> I'll entertain a motion.
>> Um, ask a question. I'm sorry. >> Like the last two did maybe I missed it but the one before this I don't recall we ever did some did we have a presentation on this like the sewer enterprise >> like why the ones went up and also this one too like they are both going up and
I'm not saying it's wrong but I just um >> it's going up a bit more than normal. >> So I mean >> maybe some explanation would be >> uh Mr. or Miss Dexter are you prepared to speak to that? >> Sure. So sewer, just going back to article 14, which is sewer, um the
increase that you see there is a couple hundred,000 or slightly more than that. It's largely driven by the MWR assessment. Um that is just what we pay. It's based on um you know, prior year. It's based on Milton's prior year usage,
prior calendar year usage is what we're paying for in this fiscal year budget. So um sewer is more expensive. It's generally tracked going up higher than on the water side. Um, so it's largely driven by the MWR assessment. Um, there's a slight increase in general
expenses for an asset management plan that the department is undertaking. It's a grant-f funed project. We have a local match. Um, so it's like a $26,000 appropriation that is seeing increased on the general expenses to help match the uh what's required for the grant for
the asset management plan. both of the tweaks there in debt service obviously as you can tell is um almost flat on storm water um no we didn't talk about storm water much
so um you know obviously salaries are flat mostly flat debt service mostly flat the increases are in debt service or I'm sorry in general expenses the what the Stormmont enterprise fund covers is our federal requirements for
MS S4 compliance which is the storm water uh rules and regs. So it's very intensive in the amount of testing we have to do. So those costs are really starting to creep in. So we have an increase this year in general expenses largely for federal compliance with um
the MS4 regulations around storm water. Um so that's that's where the increase is driven by uh in fiscal 27. >> Okay. Thank you >> Mr. Chair. I move that we accept article 15 >> as written. Second. >> All in favor say I.
>> I. >> All oppose say no. >> Standing raise your hand. Okay. We are approximately the halfway point for tonight. Not to jinx it or anything. Uh this is Mr. Milano. Can you speak to number the
next two which are the improvements? >> Yes. These are um essentially uh bond authorizations for first water and the second for sewer. Um the numbers are what they are because that's what we're allotted from the MWRA. So we'll access
in the case of water $596,000 from the MWR on a 10-year no interest loan. So what the department will do is we'll pull a couple of these together and then access the money through the MWR. We expect to um actually do a water main project this fall um and secure fund
financing from the MWA. So, it's a benefit of being um a part of that institution and and having our water come from there is that we have access to uh cheap debt. >> Okay. Cheap debt. Okay. Um there any questions? I'll entertain a
motion. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 16 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. All post say no. All abstain. Okay. Number 17, which is sewer borrowing. uh
similar the program here is a little bit different where it's a 75% grant 25% loan. So we have to authorize the full amount $1.15 million. um will get funding from M MWR for free uh grant funding for 75% of that amount
and then we will borrow 25% which is about $250,000 um which we will again have to pay back 10 years uh no interest and that's for uh upgrades to sewer lines largely lining pipes for preventing inflow and infiltration of groundwater and storm
water into the sewer systems that then we have to pay to have treated. >> Great. Any questions, >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 17 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I.
>> All oppose say no. Raise your hand. >> Number 18, the board of health. Julia, you were the expert on this. Any comments? >> None. In addition to what Cecil and I presented already. >> Okay. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article
18 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Hi. All >> post say no. >> Staining raise your hand. Thank you. >> Number 19, public library. >> So this is me. I just want to note that
um there are some financial needs at the library and we were not able to meet the requests this year or last year I think. And so I hope that we'll be able to keep an eye on that and hopefully get some fun additional funding towards the li headed towards the library soon.
Thank you. Any questions? >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 19 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. I. >> All post say no. >> Standing raise your hand. Okay. >> Article 20 cemetery. James Lee, is this
yours? >> Yes. >> Do you have any comments? >> Um, so cemetery very similar to the library, very flat level funding for the past couple of years. Although they could use a little bit more cash because, you know, salaries don't staying flat for a couple years hurts. Um
hopefully selling some of the old equipment will will offset some of the expenses that they have. >> Okay, any questions? >> Mr. Chair, I re I move that we accept article 20 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I.
>> I. All oppose, no. >> All abstaining, raise your hand. >> Article 21, parks and recal, was this you? >> Yeah. No additional comments aside from the presentation. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article
21 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> All oppose say no. All obstaining raise your hand. >> Article 22 consolidated facilities. Brian, I believe you were the expert on Yeah, a lot of it was um well the
increases from 25 to 27 is mostly due to addition of fire station and um >> okay >> the uh animal shelter I mean that really makes up the bulk of it with uh cleaning maintenance equipment m uh contracts
that's that's basically it. >> Thank you. >> I'll entertain a motion. I move that we accept article 22 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> All oppose say no.
>> All abstaining raise your hand. >> Okay. Article 23 is the schools which you already voted on. >> Yay. >> Article 24 is the Blue Hill Regional Technical School. Elaine, I believe you're the expert on this. >> Uh yeah, it's just going down a little bit because we don't have as many
students attending. >> Okay. Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that we accept article 24 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> Uh all obstaining, raise your hand. And
I am curious because Miss Dexter came in late. I wonder if she uh appreciates how orchestrated we are. >> Oh, come on. >> Now you said it. um interest and maturing debt. Uh Nikki the
finance professor was our expert on this. She is not here. Um I mean this is you know we have bonds we need to pay the bonds. Mr. Milano I'll turn to you. Is there anything more you'd like to say about this one? Uh I think only to
I've talked about it a few times just that um we are having more debt come on in fiscal 27 and again in fiscal 28 just because of a number of large projects that are several years old that haven't been financed yet because the projects haven't been complete. A new ladder
truck for $1.6 million. Um two new engines are coming on at the same time. The lower gall project still not moving forward so that's something we still have to issue debt for. and then the Cunningham collot uh library and classroom project that was um probably going to come in around $4 million. Um
so all that debt's kind of hitting around the same time. So um it doesn't look sign when you total it this way. Um but in fiscal 28 we do expect another jump up in debt service just as all that debt comes on. So just a kind of ward of
what to expect for next year. >> A question on that. Um, do we have like a policy or amount that we're allowed to take in terms of total debt for the town or like are we going to max out at some point? >> We don't have a policy. We've drafted a debt management policy are still working
through it. >> We're not at risk right now. Usually when communities there's a state limit. Um, but that's pretty high. >> Yeah. Not even close. But so we so even though we we're adding debt, we feel like we'll still
sustainably be able to meet the performance on the debt the next couple years. >> I think there's a check on that too because wouldn't our rating go down at if our debt started getting too high? That's what I was asking. >> Yeah. Okay. And it it'll likely that conversation will um when as we approach
if we approach that a middle school project or a new school project where those are $100 million, $200 million depending on the time type of project that conversation from the ratings agency might be a little bit different, but it'll be at that point a debt exclusion supported by the voters and it'll be separate kind of from the
general fund a little bit. But no, we don't have concerns about that. Um and actually it's a place where in order to invest properly in our capital assets, we should be trying to increase where we can. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article
25 as written. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> Abstaining, raise your hand. Okay. Article 26, resend uh authorized but unissued
debt, which I think is just what it sounds like on the title. Mr. Milano, you don't have to comment on this, but is there any He want to do this, right? >> Yes, >> he wants to do that. >> Mr. Chair, >> I move that we accept article 26 as written.
>> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> All say no. >> All obstaining, raise your hand. Okay. >> Uh then we've done stabilization funds. We did those the other night.
>> Next, uh the reserve fund, which for those who don't know, this is I mean it's it's similar in concept to the stabilization funds, but it's a lot more short-term. It's just like a one-year thing. Uh money goes into it, and it can be used for two things. One is if
there's an emergency during the year, like a couple years ago the wood chipper broke, they come to us, meaning the warrant committee, and ask for money out of this. It's one of the few things we can actually do instead of just recommend. Um, the other thing it's used for is at the end of the year,
you know, the year ends settling up all the budgets. If department X went over budget by $10,000, you can take $10,000 out of this to settle up their budget. That's really what it's used for. It's an emergency fund if things break and then whatever is not used out of that
would go to free cash the next year. Um that was a lot of words. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 28 as written. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All oppose. No. >> Allain.
Uh number 29 authorize revolving funds expenditure limits. Revolving funds are I don't know if anybody in the room wants to describe it more than I do, but it's like for example, look at the library. You know, they take in overdue
fines and trash sticker sales and they can spend that on purchasing new books. You know, it's it's funds for taking in certain things. Grace, I believe you were asking me before the meeting, you know, what different funds do we have? I think this is a bunch of them. uh you know the board of health takes in
fees from the flu clinic and they can spend it on the purchase of flu vaccines. So they're individual funds. We've got a handful of them. >> It's income for the town. >> No, because it's just sort of self-contained >> for that.
>> It's a kitty for the department basically. >> Oh. >> So J, question for you. Where does the override sit? I mean, does that sit up here in the >> the override was from last year, right? That was in last year's, >> right? But that's supposed to go into
the stabilization fund, right? >> Oh, you're talking about the $700,000. >> Um, that is not in the warrant at all, I don't think. Is that in the warrant at all? The $700,000? >> Yeah, it's in the stabilization fund article that you voted the other night.
It was >> Oh, >> it was combined with free cash infusion. So it was like a 2 million77. >> Oh, okay. So it's in the operating budget stabilization. >> Yeah, it's in the stabilization fund. It says >> Okay. What's operating budget stabilization fund? That one 27.
>> Yeah. And you see how in the comment in the recommendation 77,000 will be raised by >> Okay, that's >> people at home can neither hear Miss Dexter nor hear me nor see me point. But the stabilization fund one, it says
we're raising 700,000 from the tax levy, 717,000 from the tax levy, and a bunch of others from free cash. And if you look up a little bit, you see, okay, we're putting we know we're putting a million dollars of free cash into the operating budget stabilization fund. And
we know we're putting 717,000 from the taxes of the operating stabilization fund. So that's where it is in the water. Good question. Thank you. Uh, but we were talking revolving funds. Uh, c can I ask on this because I don't quite understand it. I don't remember
this from last year, >> but like the library gets is that saying that they get 65,000 in from overdue books and fines and they can spend that on new books. Is that all that says? >> Oh, sorry. I I apologize. Okay. The recommendation literally says
recommended that the town vote to set a limit on the total amount which may be expended from each such revolving fund in the fiscal year. You're basically giving them a budget >> for that revolving fund. >> Okay. >> And that's the max >> the maximum they
revenue. >> Cut it. >> So it might not be 65,000. It might be 5,000. >> Right. >> We're just Yeah. >> If they bring in more than the these this budget the limit column then what happens >> they can make money they can't spend it
>> correct >> what happens >> right but what happens to the money they made >> it stays in the revolving fund >> it grows >> for next year >> okay thanks >> uh Mr. Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 29 as written. >> Second.
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All oppose. No. All abstaining, raise your hand. >> Okay. The Peg Access Enterprise Fund, which funds our delightful friends at the back of the room at MV.
um they make the money goes into that fund from money that is on your cable bill and it comes out to run MATV. So we are voting to take money out of that fund.
Any questions? >> What do we What's it going to do? I'm just I'm sorry. >> Um how do we call this one? >> Uh we talked about it a good bit last year because >> I remember last year but this year is a different Um, I mean it pays for MIT MATV. They
upgraded the uh fire station. I think they might have borrowed >> just to pay for access Milton Access, right? >> Well, Mr. M, you're recognized. >> Yes. So, we take in money every year from the cable fees as J as uh Jay was
describing. This town has an written agreement with Meg Access, Inc., which is the nonprofit known as Milton TV. Um where we transfer um all but a small portion of that to them. So whatever comes in, all but a
small portion goes to to the nonprofit for their operations. So it's it's basically a direct transfer from town to the Meg accessic to support MATV salaries and equipment purchases and and other costs. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 30 as written.
>> Second. All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose say no. >> All obstaining raise your hand. >> Number 31. Uh okay. So 31, 32, and 33 all related to
the community preservation act which both Cecil and Ron looked into. Uh the first one I'm I'm I'm shooting from the hip here. The first one is just uh just your total budget. Is that it? Yeah, it's the the revenue and then where to appropriate. And so for some
quick background, the search charge is 1% of the tax that the town collects. And so that number has gone up quite a bit from last year, but it's just the 1%. The second row, the state trust fund distribution,
they collect, they set aside money from certain things like titles and deeds, and they distribute it to the CPA communities. Um, so that's just set by the state. And then the distribution, the three lines for historic community and open
space. That's just um the CPA requires at least 10% of the income be distributed to each of these categories. So you'll see it's pretty much just 10%. Um and then the undesated can go to any of the three purposes.
>> Okay. >> So question. So we looked at there was a group that presented to us about the the war, right? So it's not >> okay. So that would be >> there's a third article >> a different article. >> Okay, >> but within this budget >> it is within the
>> Well, I mean this is how they operate. This is their funds, >> right? >> But then they were looking to >> take out debt. >> Take out debt. Yeah. >> So that's not reflected here. >> No. All right. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 31 as written. >> Second.
>> All in favor say I. >> All oppose say no. Obstaining raise your hand. Okay. Okay. 32 is longer. Uh it is a list of all the things that the CPC
CPA is spending their money on. Um in previous years, we'd have them come through and talk about all these things. And I am certain that they'll stand up in front of town meeting and talk about all these things. I didn't have them do that this time because in a certain sense it's it's their money and they get
to decide how to allocate it and we just sort of nod wisely. But again, we had our experts discuss this. Uh any anything you want to mention of note? >> Uh the only thing I thought was interesting was the historic preservation doesn't have that much
allocated, but that's just because of the the people that came forth with projects. there weren't that many for the historic category. So the funds allocated there will just be used at a later time for another historic preservation project >> because as you said at least 10% of the
budget has to go to that. >> Yes. >> And since this doesn't add up to that >> it'll be set aside but it needs to get used for historic preservation in the future. >> So then the total funding of 1.05 does not add up to the one. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you for pointing that out. If I may make a suggestion in the comment, if you feel it's appropriate, it might be nice to recognize these folks for advancing these community projects on behalf of the town. >> Um, Mr. Chair, I think I might see a typo in the recommendation. If you go to
the bolded stuff below the table, >> okay, >> one, two, third line down after the word recommendations. Do you see an errant? >> Oh, yeah. >> I see a period, a quote, and a >> I think the I think the rest of it belongs. I think the period is inappropriate.
>> Well, let's see what what did the heading say? >> I agree with my colleague. >> Somebody fell asleep on the keyboard. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, would you like to make a motion? >> You took one more comment. >> In the past, I think Tom, who was the
chair, had explained that community members or or people submit requests that the committee doesn't go out looking for this. That's why, you know, they just respond to what was presented to them. That's why there's always a ask that he he makes to ask
people bring ideas in bring submissions and then you know if more people have ideas then then this committee can consider them and find the best way to allocate the money. >> That's a good thing to put in the warrant too because we if we educate people about the process then more people can participate. Thank you.
>> Um Mr. Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 32 was written >> except >> ex that we >> except for the >> Oh, I thought you made the change with with the change of removing the period after the word recommendations in the recommendation. >> Second.
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> All abstaining, raise your hand. >> Can I interrupt? Sorry. >> Yes. I just wanted to um we made a change I think today on the C on prior CPA article um based on an update
regarding what the state dispersement will be. So if you see in the second line where it says state trust fund distribution it's actually going to be $16,000 higher. So we've made an adjustment to reflect that. So or $18,000 higher. I'll just let me get the final numbers. I just want it. So we'll
make that change in the final warrant. I just didn't have it reflected in the version we had shared. So it would be so that line where it says state trust fund distribution is it says $140,000 it will say 156 550. So just that just takes in more
up-to-date information is what we expect that to be. >> Okay. And does that mean that uh and so this this will then be different? >> Yep. >> These will then be Whoops. These will then be different because they'll be 10% of a different >> everything will be slightly higher. Correct. >> Okay.
>> Just give you a copy. >> Uh Sure. Yeah. Let me type it in here so that you know we know what we're voting on. Um and I'll just share the the deadline for
eligibility applications for the community preservation committee is May 29th. Um so if anybody who will be watching this meeting is interested or if you want to include it in your comments, that's the first round to determine if your project idea would be eligible. So that would be submitted May 29th in the application forms on the
town website. >> Can I ask a quick question about this? I'm sorry if you already explained this, but what is the unrestricted fund balance? >> Undesated. >> Oh, okay. >> Um it's just so you have to proportion
10% to each of the three categories. >> Rest can be undesated. You can spend it in any of the three categories. Okay, I see. We have to wait for him to make the changes. >> All right. So, you can see on the screen
that things have changed. 65. Things have gone up by a little bit. Uh, I think that I think what I would like to do is entertain a motion to reconsider and then if that is approved by this
body, then vote again on this. There might be a slightly easier way to do it, but that's pretty darn easy. I'll entertain a motion to reconsider the vote on article 31. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we reconsider our vote on article 31.
>> Second. >> Okay. All in favor of reconsidering the vote on article 31. >> I. >> All opposed? No. Abstain. Okay. So now article 31 is I think undone. Now we can do it differently.
>> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> I move that we accept article 31 with the exception of the red numbers replacing their corresponding black numbers. >> I second. >> Thank you. All in favor say I.
>> I. All oppose say no. All abstaining. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Milan, Miss Dexter. >> Oh, no. I appreciate you rolling with us. So, we were looking at the next one. >> Oh, and we had a mo we had a motion. We
were I'm sure I did something procedurally wrong by halting midmotion. Can you make your motion again? >> There. I think I see the same period. >> Shoot. >> I didn't Okay, I'll delete it. Okay, I deleted it. >> Okay,
>> Cooper. Um, Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 32 as now written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. >> All abstain. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. >> Article 33 is the wararf park which we've discussed. Cecil or C can I ask a question on that? >> You can. >> So, the park is going to cost um 1.7 million. Very nice, very nice job, I
think. Very nice program. Um and maybe it's a question for Nick, but we're going to get a take out a bond for 750. Um and who's paying the other million? >> I thought we were paying 750. I think I thought the bond was from um
>> Let's ask Mr. M. >> Yeah, CPC money. The 750 was CPC money and there's a million left. That's the question. >> Yeah, it says we also authorized them to bond and so that would be the million I think. >> So the limit No, the the town of
Milton's contribution to this project is $750,000. Any additional >> bonding? >> Um and that will be financed by a bond. any additional work or budget scope items either they will be contributed by private parties in a private public partnership or they'll be kind of valued
engineered out of the plan. So there's private partners actively involved in fundraising as well as um in donating materials etc. >> So the town 750 >> CPC is a piece of that right? >> That's all CPC is the 750 and that's that's entire town of Milton CPC
contribution. There's no other town dollars lined up for this. >> Okay. >> Construction of this park, >> but in future years, it'll pay the bond that >> Yep. That's Yeah. So, CTC budget starting in fiscal 28 most likely would start paying principal and interest on
this bond that's issued for the Warp Park project. >> So, there's a million left, right? >> The numbers they've been trying to whittle that number down and down and down. Um, so it's >> but they the quote they had was 1.7, >> I believe. So,
>> so there's roughly 950. >> It's been I thought it was low. >> Is it 1.2? >> I thought we were paying like sorry I thought the town was going to pay about 3/4 and they were going to fund raise the other quarter and I rounded it for a million for 750 but I think it was like 1.2 and they're going to fund raise the
difference between that what the town is going to get from CPC borrow >> it. So they're going to privately raise it from >> others, >> other businesses and stuff. >> What if they don't raise it? Who pays?
>> So we're we're actively engaged in a conversation with the group to ensure that when we go out to bid, we know exactly what will be built and what is committed and what is actively raised so that we don't have a half-built project or anything like that. So that'll all be
resolved and we'll be at a place where we agree as to the what will be the final product with what's been committed and fundraised, you know, prior to our actually starting the project. >> So you'll know before shovel hits the ground >> who's paying for that.
>> And it is 1.2 million. >> It's 1.2. Okay. Sorry about that. >> Oh, thanks for checking. >> Thanks. And I think it's a combination of, you know, private donations of money, private donations of materials. Um, you know, there's been some talk of people willing to donate some labor to help out
as well. Um, so, uh, it'd be cobbled together by a variety of outside help. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I think you can delete that highlighted text. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we accept article 33 as written. >> Second.
>> All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. No. All abstain. Okay. Uh to see if the town can accept easements. I sort of know what easements are.
You want to put a sidewalk in somewhere on a private property and the person who owns a private property says, "Yes, you have my permission to put that sidewalk there." Is that >> pretty much? >> Yeah. Yes. Excuse me. Yeah, >> that's an example. And the limitation being that we um I think there's a line
that it'll be at no cost to us. Generally, it's like relocations where a project is going in and the private um owner has town infrastructure on their property and we have an easement over their property to get to our infrastructure. Well, they'll they'll ask us to if they can move it and then
we have to move the easement and then we accept a new easement. So, it's it's largely easements where that um comes through. >> Yeah. And in the past before, like what was it 10 years ago, >> they had to come to town meeting every time one of these happened. So now we just have an annual article saying
>> for most for most of these um the usually the comment is just carried forward from the previous year and it used to have a little explanation if that isn't coming back. I would suggest copying that from a previous warrant just so >> Yeah, I think I signed myself this comment and I'm definitely going to copy
from last year. >> Okay, cool. Uh Mr. Chair, I recommend that we accept article 34 as written. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose, no. >> All abstain, raise your hand. >> Uh Karen, do you agree that we've voted
on every article? >> Oh my gosh. >> Okay. >> Wow. You didn't even notify us that was coming. >> Should have warned us to reconsider. I I will note that uh speaking of every article, the historic preservation article about tearing things down, I
believe that the people who proposed that article have taken it back, so that will not be in the warrant this year. >> Yay. >> Um so now let's talk comments. I sent around an email. Huh? >> The sign by >> Oh, no. No. >> Oh, sorry. The signed by will. We voted
on that on Monday, right? >> Oh, okay. >> That was further down at the end, probably. Right. It's the last It's the last article and you voted Monday. >> Oh, okay. >> It's the historic preservation one that's been pulled, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, comments. I sent around an article
yesterday saying pretty much write and by write I mean copy from the previous year comments uh on your articles. Now, for the last 10 or so that aren't budget articles and aren't similar to previous year, those will actually have to be
written. Uh, some people's burdens are more than others. We would like them, Mr. Milano, I've asked people to give us a pretty good draft by Monday. That way, we can work on mocking it up over the next couple days. That way, we'll get it to you and plenty of time to go to the printer. Does that sound I'm seeing
nodding. >> That sounds good. >> Okay. Can I ask the committee? I'm I'm not trying to ask for the impossible here. Speak up if you need help. uh you saw you saw your assignments or at least you know what articles you
worked on any concerns questions >> um I just have a question so like there's that general article or whatever sort of at the beginning that has the IT budget now I worked on the IT budget okay am I expected to write a comment about the IT budget I mean I don't I'd have to see what the comment was last
year but that seems like a little detailed >> I think the general government was grace and boards and committees was And then several of you also were. >> Yeah. >> So I guess you have if you have a thought about the IT budget, send it to Grace. But >> okay. All right. >> So you want him to send it to me. And
>> here's what I'd say. Copy last year's. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then if you hear from Larry that he has some strong feelings about commenting on the IT budget. >> Like listen, >> that's true. You can just show the window. It might it might uh benefit the chair
if folks would just grab that uh formatting from the warrant last year and use it to make a new word document so that you don't have to reformat everything that you get in email. >> Uh I don't quite follow I'm not I'm not worried about the reformatting
>> or no. >> Well, we're going to send you our comments via email, right? >> Yeah. >> I'm saying if people pre-format them to to what's right there, if you just copy that formatting, it might be easier for you rather than getting a bunch of different things. be italicized. >> Sorry, I just don't know
>> the font. The size of the font. >> I only use comic sand. >> Unless you want to tell us >> of all the things I'm worried about. That's not >> there's no comic sed. >> No way. >> Oh god.
>> Fine. He doesn't like my my idea. That's cool. >> That's cool. >> I get it. It makes sense. >> Okay. I'm gonna send you a very large purple font >> and then I'll hit control A and have the right >> really weird. >> Last year's wart is on the internet,
right? So >> no, he sent it to us to us as a word document so we can copy and paste. >> Yes. >> And I'll be writing the paper >> the three or four or five or whatever page introduction to the warrant that is from
the warrant committee. So, I'm going to I mean, there's a limit to how much we can all have input into it, but I am saying right now I'm going to send it out to all of you by let's say I don't know, Sunday at noon. I guess I just set a deadline for myself. So, um I'm not
saying it'll be the final version, but it'll be a version to let you see how things are going. If you have a strong objection, please speak up. That's never, you know, it's never great if the front of the warrant has a letter from the warrant committee and you read it and you say, "Ah, oh, this is what we're
saying." Okay. >> So, >> by speak up, you mean reach out to you individually, >> right? Yeah. >> Yeah. Yes. >> It's not really going to be five pages though, right? O >> open your front door, start talking. >> Yeah.
So, I'm hearing no, you know, again, please speak up if you can't do it. I don't blame someone who can't write their comment. I do blame someone who can't write their comment and doesn't speak up in time to let someone else help them out. Uh, you know, the hardest ones will be, you know, again, the last
10, Brian, like five of those are yours as far as I'm concerned. You can write one solar comment and then for the next four say see the previous article or something like that. >> Okay, I'll probably figure it out. Hey, >> Jay. >> Yes, >> I'm all set. I I think do we have to be
careful about I know you're joking but if we reply all and we get into a back and forth on edits with open meeting law. >> Uh well I mean >> that's why I said reach out individually. We should not have a conversation. >> Oh um >> good point. Although we're not really
del since it's not going to lead to us voting on anything. I don't know if it's deliberating but it's always safe than sorry. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean I was going to reach out to Nikki for help on the African >> Yeah. Great. >> You know for the finance stuff because I don't want to >> Yeah. I don't want to try to explain that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But I can do that.
>> Yes, please. >> Well, I think I asked for it to go to me, Macy, and Julia. You said you're not really available. >> Sorry to put you on. >> Throw me on there. >> Send it to me, Macy, Julia, and Karen. Please. >> Yes, Amy. >> And as always, if you guys need any help
with numbers or something within those comments, it >> Okay. Appreciate it. Yeah, for the budget ones, with the exception of the schools, I'm not trying to limit your artistic muse, but you can pretty much copy last year's and read
it, read it and update it as needed. Um, >> okay. So, I guess I've beaten that to death. So, people will work on comments through the weekend. Thank you. Uh, we do have a Zoom only meeting booked for Monday. I booked that in case something
came up tonight that we weren't ready to vote on. I'm not going to cancel the meeting yet because who knows, you know, things like like this popped up at the last minute. You know, things can pop up at the last minute that you know, maybe between now
and Monday at noon, Mr. Milano, Mr. M. Dexter will find a typo and then we can change it Monday night. I'm not going to cancel the Monday night meeting. Sure doesn't seem like it's going to be needed at this point. Uh, so then what we do over the rest of the month, um, sorry I'm riffing off the top of my head here. One thing that we've talked about
before that I think we should present at town meeting and I've discussed this with Mr. Milano. I think I want to present a forecast. When I say, you know, a forecast, maybe not the forecast, I don't know if I'm repeating myself, but present a forecast to town
meeting saying, "Okay, here's how we see the money going for the next couple years if these assumptions are met." I think that's important, especially because last year we had an override and then things were surprising the next year. We don't want surprises. Um, and also in that same vein, I think we need
a um a a plan for using the operating budget stabilization fund. Again, I'm going to work with Mr. Milano about this. I think we're, you know, very close to being of the same mind. So I, you know, if I'm going to stand up and say here's a forecast, I at least want
the warrant committee to I would love the warrant committee to vote and say we approve of it. Now having 15 people look at 12 different assumptions and say is the health insurance going to go up by seven or seven and a half. I mean, you know, that may not be a recipe for success, but I'd like to, you know, put
together a forecast. I've already talked to some of you who are interested. Any of you who are interested, give me feedback. Uh, and then we'll present something to the warrant committee over the next month, vote on it, present it at town meeting. It's not an official vote, but if I'm standing in front of
there saying, "Here's a forecast," I'd rather it be something other than just me going off on my own. >> Are you going to include in that forecast things like uh the possibility of a new school and fire station and increase in the debt service that Mr. talked about tonight? the debt service
will be increased will be included because that's in the budget forecast that I have from Mr. Milano that I'm building on. Uh the new school and the new fire station override will not be but those will be caveed. Good questions.
So guess what I'm saying is usually it's it's very slow between now and town meeting for us and it will be pretty slow but I want to have at least one maybe two meetings to talk about that. Okay. >> So, I think we're good. Yes, sir.
>> Mr. Chair, I move that we adjourn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All opposed. Okay. Thank you very much. >> Was great.