So I have a 704 and um want me to start just say your name and we'll >> Richard Keys >> Erica Jacobson Steve >> Amy >> Steve Kenny >> All right. Uh we have quorum
and Frank will also likely be here. Um I'm not even sure we're going to have enough to have There we go. So our first order of business is we have established quorum and the first order of business is to review and approve the meetings from our
OSON meeting on May 5th which was um at premeating before annual town meeting. There are no minutes I'll say this for the record. There are no minutes for our meeting because our meeting was annual town meeting but this was our premeating. Motion to >> second.
>> All those in favor? >> I great approved. >> Um and then uh public comment to receive oral communications from members of the public. Members of the public may address the finance committee for up to three minutes. The finance
committee will not engage on uh in discussion on topics raised during public comment but may choose to add the topic to a future agenda. This agenda segment will be limited to 15 minutes and the chair will share all written and oral communicate or all written and email communications received since the
last meeting. Seeing no members of the public here, we have no public comment. And I will confirm that we did not receive any written or email communications um since the last meeting or since town meeting or anything like that. So, it's been pretty uh pretty
quiet. Some years not so much. This year been easy. Um in front of us tonight for new business is we have a reserve fund transfer. Reserve fund transfer.
um that is requesting 134,733.15 to be transferred to the snow and ice removal account for the purpose of covering the snow and ice deficit for FY2026. >> Yes. >> Um we typically the this is the only line item in the budget that can be
underfunded. Um, in past years we would have done we could have done like a free cash to pay it or anything like that, but we are using reserve fund. It'll bring the reserve fund down to like less than $5,000. But again, that's okay
because the reserve fund gets um is a line item in the budget for FY27. So there will be a reserve fund um going forward. So, uh, I'll entertain entertain a motion to discuss.
>> Make the motion to discuss. >> Second. >> All right. Any questions? >> I think we all pretty much know why the snow and ice budget. >> We like our cleared streets. >> I was going to say thank you. >> Thank you to everybody. I mean, I think
this is >> usually we don't have this. So all those in favor of the reserve fund transfer. >> I opposed. >> No no abstaining. Excellent. Amy, can I borrow your pen? >> Absolutely.
Leave this here. So we are excellent. Thank you that to not have Tracy get mad at me for not sending it to her. Um so that is the
uh new business. Um actually one other thing I have under new business is as this is my last meeting I would like to know if someone will take minutes from tonight's meeting or use the recording to make minutes and
do the posting for the next meeting. >> The posting next week. >> It's pretty easy. It's >> I will send this form and it's this and you write the agenda which you can just follow this and then
you send it to the town clerk and to the members of the committee that I just do that email. That's all you have to do. I don't I no one has trained me on the new um I used to have to upload it to the website. No one's trained me on how to add anything to the website. So I just
send it by email and somehow it matters to get there. If you if you send me an email with what you just said written down, I will take care of it. >> Perfect. Excellent. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Because you guys can decide at the, you know, your first meeting of
2027 roles and responsibility >> for uh leadership and note-taking and things like that. But I figured that since there's not that many people here and there will be a new member. I do not know any status
of that. I think I have a couple I think a couple of people um uh a couple of >> Hello. Here's Frank. Um >> a couple people did send letters to the
select board for consideration, but I do not know who's joining. >> Are you okay? I am. I am. >> So good. >> All right. >> Poor woman had her car for 3 days. >> She hit me in the back. I was stopped in traffic. >> And she hit you?
>> Yeah. My hitch is a little scratch, but her >> That's a shame. >> New loot. It was really nice. It was a nice >> Yeah. >> Where did that happen? >> She was on the phone, I think. 4.95. >> Always$4.95. >> Always.
Well, thank you. And you missed the part where we asked for volunteers to take minutes for the meeting. So, Vaness is going to do it. >> Yeah. And we approved the snow and ice deficit reserve fund transfer. >> Yes. That is >> that is a that was our
>> inevitable. >> Yeah. Once every five years. That's it's that's okay. I think that's just so we don't have another bad here. >> Um, so Vanessa is gonna I'm going to send her by email the instructions on how to do the minutes and posting and
Gretchen and Joy and everybody and Tracy will be happy to walk you through anything that you need to know. Um the next item Tracy isn't here so we don't have town administrator's report but I did want to just see if there was any
followup from anyone thoughts on the annual town meeting election budget process anything back on the process this year anything that we'd recommend changing going forward >> no so the the only thing I heard at the
at the polls was what was the results of the town meeting because the minutes weren't posted yet and they had no idea what had passed would. >> So Oh, really? >> Yeah. Interesting. >> So that was you know
>> just the timeliness of Was it is it was it different from other years? Was it like slower than other years? >> Well, we were it was a week difference. Normally the election's like two or 3 weeks later. So it was like the week after short amount of time. >> And short amount of time. And I know I
think Gretchen does the the minutes from the town meeting >> and she of course was busy with the election. So they had to get that >> certified. >> So >> and I think there's also usually the video production is the other part of it that they have to edit it together.
>> Is there's some part of that I I know that in past years that it hasn't always been like it's not instantaneous. I mean, our whole world is ready for everything to be ready. >> Yes. Yes. And and then they said they saw nothing in the paper, so they weren't sure. They were seeing stories for Salsbury and Raleigh, of course, and
it's anything on Rubbery. So, >> yes, we don't control the newspaper. >> No. No. And we don't control voter turnout either. >> Yeah. Exactly. That's the other voter turnout this year. >> 7% of the people of the voters. So, we
had 194 people vote in precinct one and precinct 2 had about 28. >> Oh my god. >> What do we have? We had 285ish at town meeting.
>> I asked I asked to >> but there wasn't anything contested, right? So, I understand why that would be low. But even at town meeting, I thought that one thing narrowly passed that had more people been involved in paying attention
at town meeting would not have been that close. I thought >> um it shows the power of I mean if you had a specific cause and you rally the troops >> on a on a low turnout town meeting,
>> right, everything's pass. Um, >> so the next election we should have, it's September 1st, so it's a primary, so you'll have contested in both Republican and Democrat parties, so you'll have bigger turnout. And then the general election is November 3rd.
>> So yeah, that was Yeah, 194. I knew it had to be low because I when I when I went over there at what should have been prime time did I did they close the polls early there's more cars to the butchery
>> I was the only car in the parking lot >> there was there was the largest group that we had was when Erica came in with her husband and son >> and uh >> and is it was it less >> less >> less Yes. As I'm talking to him and so we're talking and then all of a sudden
he realizes that >> he was in the Peace Corp or Yep. >> Vista >> Vista Erica's parents out in Arizona and he remembered when Erica was born >> cuz I was born I was born on the reservation that they were all list of
volunteers. >> Wow. Yeah. >> And Yeah. And then my parents So then I independently got him in touch with each of my parents cuz he's like are they alive? Are they okay? like divorced but alive. So yes, >> because we're divorced. >> Yeah, that's So yeah, that was crazy. >> Yeah, and that was his first time
working the polls. So I got him he was interested, so I got him in. And >> that's funny cuz both my my both my mom and my dad divorced both work polls in different places. >> Yep. So the civic the civic duty runs
runs deep in our family here. >> So yeah, but yeah, that was Dad. That's I didn't realize how low a turnout it was. I also knew there was really nothing that was none of there were >> no no >> there were no >> no contestants. >> It was very Yeah. >> A lot of people after they voted they
said there's no contested races. Why did I vote? I said because you're a civic >> Exactly. >> And it's a good habit to get into. >> I know. I used to take the kids in. I used to wait until after school and I'd come over because we were in this we
were at um the library. >> Yeah. The last couple years have been like >> pick it up and bring them over. >> Not this year, but weird. >> So, um, yeah, I didn't get any feedback at all. Sometimes we get the, you know,
>> what kind of, you know, you get the like, you know, now that we passed that, how are they going to build the new roof for this or that, and you're like, oh, that's not on us. But nobody even came with that this year. So, that was interesting. >> So, I think we're good. It >> was a pretty quiet town meeting in general.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Non-controversial this year. >> Ju just the the governor's academy. >> That was interesting. >> That was that was spicy. >> That was a little spicy. >> So I was tell at at school I was told some of the teachers about that because they didn't realize that the governor's
academy had housing that was uh nonprofit so they don't pay taxes, property tax. And what? Yeah. They should be paying >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I thought I thought they misread the room. >> Yeah. So, I'm quick with the uh smear campaign thing. We're not there yet. We
never get there in our town meetings. We don't get to >> right. >> We don't get to vitriolic, you know, hurling hurling insults back and forth. We don't get there right there. Yeah, it was uh Yeah, that was uh my husband was sitting with a friend who
obviously lives here um and had one had a kid that went to Gubs and she was like, "Yeah, he he she's like >> she's like he he had an argument, but he did not really put it forth in a way." Yeah. She's like and I and it made me
then wonder about >> the school my kids in that's similarly but they don't have housing so it's a different but now I'm curious like what did they do >> in that in the town in Massachusetts that they were in do they contribute >> yeah so it just made me think >> super different because they don't have
housing and they don't have >> um well they they don't have many faculty living on campus >> right >> yeah and they own all the buildings >> they own all the buildings And yeah, and yeah, there's no Yeah, there's just one
one maybe two family, but yeah, >> it's it's one thing not to collect property tax. It's another to cost the schools 300k. >> Yeah, >> that's a very different thing. And there's >> I would say just not to contribute at all. >> Yeah, >> I think is Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Like forget what what they cost us, but like to not contribute at all I think says a lot. >> Yeah. Yeah. He he he wasn't wrong in some of what he said. He just I agree. It wasn't said well or directly.
>> I stopped myself from asking him a question directly. >> I was biting my tongue as me. >> I'm like, "Oh my god." Yeah. So yeah, I I stopped myself before I embarrassed anybody, including myself.
So yeah, I did. But and you know something to get attention. It's they the town got to vote on it. They got to decide what they wanted. So >> yeah. >> Um do we have any DC or CPC updates? I'm
thinking CPC probably has nothing because >> no >> I think everything except for the um study >> right COA study did not >> the COA study did not but that's an opportunity to come back with a
different >> I was just going to say that to me is an opportunity more than anything. So >> yeah and DCC so we we met the 21st of May of Triton. So, um I think the big thing is so we our new school committee rep for Newbury was there. So, and if
you remember last year's town meeting so he was the vice president of the PTA that got up and >> Oh, Brett. >> Yes. >> So, he's the new school committee member for uh for Newbury. >> Excellent. >> So, he was there. Um so, Brian gave a
quick overview. next year. So, school since uh Labor Day is the 8th or 7th, school starts September 8th. >> Oh, lucky kids. >> Yes. Yes. September 8th. And the class assignments at the at the high school,
our middle school high school will be uh available August 22nd by the 15th and normally the 15th, but since they're starting so late, uh he did give us an update on the uh on the budget. So, of course, the governor had put in $75 a
student. Senator Tar put in $200 a student, and now it's down to about 160 per student, but they're still going through the >> negotiations. So, little in any >> Right. Right. So, that was basically the
the latest on the budget development and then u the the update on the uh MSBA. So, they've got the project manager, the architect, and the designers. They they're all in place. They reviewed the schedule that was there, and they think
they can accelerate that. They There's a lot of dead time in there, and they think they may have a number by November of 2027 instead of the spring or the fall of 28. So that was the the major news
>> in the coalitions that needs to pass to start the young the young >> you know the kids who are barely in elementary school are the ones that are going to benefit from the school. So it's that's those are the parents you got to talk to >> right get them engaged.
>> So maybe uh Brett can do that from the school committee. And then I think the last thing they talked about was the regional agreement and it was we're not going to talk about it tonight. So Bill Deo and I were there. They had a small group. So of course it's the last one of
the your startup back in September. But the regional agreement they want to go debate that again. So I think they're going to have like one rep from the finance committee and one rep from the from the select board to meet on that.
I um literally cleaned out my office about um not about four weeks ago and I shredded I brought to shred all of my old finance committee stuff. So I've got electronic copies and whatever we have but I
>> I don't see a I don't see a a way to change the region agreement to change the funding formula. >> No, >> I will. >> No, >> I'll die on that hill. Yeah, >> there's no way >> the weight structure is not possible. It's not possible to It's just not I don't know how it would ever pass and
I don't know how we never just >> too many hours of going around in circles to realize that voter if we can't make sense of it in a room of two representatives from each town and two or three people from the district and we
can't make an argument in that room that we could sell the voters easily. >> Right. Right. >> Who's going to vote for something that would have cost the town more in some years? >> Right. Right. Someone will always get the short end. >> Yeah. That's
>> And you're asking someone You're asking the entire town to vote for the short end of the stick. >> Like, >> yeah, you're asking Yeah. And all three towns have to pass it. All three towns have to agree that we're all going to willingly take the short end of the stick, >> right? It's >> we already do.
And and if you're just looking at and you can debate the topic, but if you're just looking at it from >> a fair and equitable standpoint, if if you just took this put it in a vacuum, had nothing to do with these three towns or else. It's like, well, the way structure, you got to you got to paper head.
All right. It's kind of the way that's how life works, right? You paperhead. That's >> how many people I'm bringing to the fair is how many how many tickets I hit the door. Uh it's just how it goes, you know. That's that's the way it's what everyone is accustomed to and
understandably so. >> Um it's really not pushed to be tinkered with there. >> No. So and then that's it. Then of course all the the groups will meet and make their
assignments. So the select board and us to be the rep. I was telling everybody earlier that graduation for TR is Saturday 11. All the seniors were in today practicing.
>> Very good. >> Yes. >> Excellent. Um I don't did anybody have any questions on any of the financial? I mean, these are all as of March 31st, and I think >> nothing was
out of whack. I mean, as you see, there's no there'll be some they'll be able to do any year-end transfers without the finance committee, and that's usually just, you know, small amounts of money that move between You may have come this, but what is the
breakdown of the 135 override or 135 uh overage for um snow and ice? Is it is it supplies or is it labor? >> It's both. It's a combination of both. >> Yeah. Just that we we didn't budget. I don't think we budgeted anything for it.
>> We have a formula plan, right? We have a formula. >> It's basically like every time you have a easy year, >> that's your number. >> Yeah, it's Yeah. And that's I think I want to say >> is that 200,000? >> Yeah, it was definitely less than that.
>> It was far less than that that we allocated. I wanted to say we budgeted usually want to say like 50,000 is usually >> in our snow and ice. >> So it's usually under public works snow removal responses.
200,000 >> 200 >> 200 >> and many years we uh we end up taking it back as free cash >> right >> yeah I the it's just wheels turning the only reason I thought of that is
>> like I know that we don't buy additional supplies in down years because of storage issues >> right >> but I always wondered like what's the math Can I throw up a giant pole bar? Can you
Does it Does it What's the ROI on that? Does it pay for itself in a relatively short period of time because you're buying salt and sand on the Jeep for those years or what is the what is the difference? >> We had so much
winners with land. I think it was full. So, >> right. >> That's the Yeah. like at some point and not only kick you probably have some sort of >> pole barn to get it passed here. Okay, just be realistic.
>> Yeah. Yeah, it looks like our It looks like the total expenditure is looking at um Yeah. Yeah, it was 108 at the end of uh at the end of um
>> at the end of >> March >> and then it went up a little bit more after that. So >> yeah, because that was uh 426 is the date they actually put it in front of us. >> So I think at that point they realized all the bills were in.
So the snow >> Saturday morning I was worried. >> Oh yeah. >> So I think that is it for our agenda. >> Okay. Um, I will
communicate with Vanessa on when the next like trying to figure out what the the first Tuesday in July is July 7th >> is probably the next time there'd be a scheduled meeting, but I you know you guys
you're vice chair, so I think you get to decide for that meeting if there is a meeting and uh talk to Tracy. >> Okay. >> Talk to Tracy. Vanessa can help with posting uh doing the agenda and getting it posted. It needs to be posted
two business days I believe is the rule. >> But Gretchen will y >> she'll she'll send you all the rules. >> Y >> um >> uh when do we find out about the >> a new appointment?
Um, someone on the select board should tell you when they do it. I'll ask. I haven't seen it on agenda, but I haven't really read the agendas either, so that would explain why I haven't seen it. Um, but um, they definitely know that they need to do it before the end of the fiscal year, so I think they have a
couple more meetings. I'm not sure where they've landed yet, but I'll also I can text Alicia and find out if any decisions been made. >> Could we add to the minutes? uh the committee's uh thanks and appreciation
for Erica's 15 years of >> dedicated service to the committee in town. >> You are welcome. It is >> for now. He'll be back. >> I'll get pulled in somewhere. I'm sure >> I'll get pulled back in somewhere, but it'll be a little less and make time for
some new people, some new new new webs to people to have like ways like I have a group of people I can tell things to, but it's there's so many things that are coming up that the town needs the people who are going to want to be here and raise their children here and be here
for a long term. It's a great time to >> Well, you made a great call for that at annual town meeting. Hopefully, >> right? >> I've learned a lot of town meeting was >> set the gener. And then there was then there was a
suggestion for like a revote at the end of the >> try everybody with half the people going >> and that I mean that's not that I assume that's like not understanding how things work. That's not necessarily like >> Yeah. I don't think it was nefarious. I
don't think there was ill intent for goodness sake. >> It was like half the room was left. >> Yes. >> That was the o'clock. >> Yes. >> Poor poor Woody. I talked to Woody and said, "I'm just reading along." He said, "Yeah, when we're up there watching everybody leave
cuz he couldn't see the people leaving cuz he was reading plus his portion of the warrants was like half a half >> information booklet and people like that. >> He needs more like a summary." >> Yeah. >> That's it.
>> Is it the or is the order determined solely by the select board? >> Yes. and they but they're influenced by um influenced by town council and Tracy and moderator can set like they can kind of like because that's why like we moved around the numbers on some of them
that's gentleman that came here about the historical society didn't didn't think it was still there but it's because it got moved >> right >> but >> yeah I do think the we've come a long way from reading every line item of the budget and people putting a hold like
you know mosquito control hold what are you using for mosquito control like that was like so we've come a long way from that level of detail but >> can always used to be more efficient. >> I entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? I >> we are adjourned at 7:32.