So, good evening everyone. Um, we're going to get started tonight with a rolled call to establish quorum on our April 7th meeting. That is the right date today. Yes. Um, so let's just start at one end of the table and
>> alphabet. >> Just go ahead. Just say your name. >> Joseph Ali present. Richard Keys present. Frank Con. >> Erica Jacobson present. >> Vanessa Rossy present. >> Amy Crouch present. >> Yeah.
>> And I know Steve is not here. So we have a quorum and we will be a voting body of six tonight as we go through. So first order of business is to review and approve the meeting minutes from Tuesday, March 10th, which is attached. Um, and then
also just want to note for the record too that there there will not be meeting minutes produced by the finance committee for the Tuesday, March 24th joint meeting with the select board because the select board's meeting minutes are the official minutes. So we don't do a separate and we don't do any
sort of approval. So those are only by the finance committee. Any suggested edits or amendments to the meeting minutes? >> All right. I'll entertain a motion. Move to approve. Second.
>> All those in favor of approval. Approved. Um, so um, 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 in discussion on topics raised during public comment but may choose to add the topic to a future agenda. This agenda segment will be li uh limited to 15 minutes. Would you like to address? >> Sure. >> Welcome. Please say your name and your
address. >> My name is Richard Morren. Uh I'm for Courtney Drive. Uh I'm on the historical commission and um my question for u for the committee is what happened to article 20 which is not listed in the agenda.
Article 20 is hold on the >> Was it was it the historical it was the it was the >> historical commission special fund that was reallocated to free cash and we were
trying to get pull it back in >> the warrant >> I'm going to say on article 20 I have on this one is a citizens petition about the commonwealth health and petitioning Congress. >> Um well, if you if you look at the
agenda, um it goes from article 18 and 19 to article 21 and 22. >> Oh, yeah. >> Because we don't vote on the article 21, right? Article 20 is >> this one is states article 20 on the
approved version from the f from the from the select board last week says to see if the town will adopt the following resolution re resolution expressing the conviction of the town of Newberry Massachusetts regarding the conduct of the president of the United States and the members of his cabinet and calling
upon Congress to exercise its constitutional oversight authority. So you don't have >> we don't have a financial interest in that. >> No, no. I'm saying you you you don't have any proposed article regarding uh special fund for the historical commission.
>> Yes, sir. We do. In article 14, historic committee celebrations restorations for $3,500. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Yep. That's in Yeah. Article. It's within one of the >> 14. It's within 14. >> It's in within free cash.
>> Okay. I just wanted to make sure it was still being considered. >> Yes, it's still in there. Yes. Absolutely. Yeah. There's a the draft that we reviewed on the 24th of March with the select board was just a draft ATM warrant >> and the so there's things get renumbered
when the select board actually approves it which they did last week. >> Okay. >> So that's it's just under a different spot. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. and the other part tonight. So, process notes. So, um tonight, uh the we're going to be doing
our annual town meeting warrant review. And the purpose of this is the purpose of the annual town meeting is to vote on the budget recommendations and bylaws changes for fiscal year FY27 or fiscal year 27 which begins on July 1, 2026.
The finance committee is required to make recommendation to town meeting on those articles that call for the appropriation/expenditure of funds. To this end, after the warrant articles are approved by the select board, the finance committee reviews each article.
We will ask questions about funding sources, timing, estimates, and then take a vote on each article. Our votes and ration are then presented in the finance committee appropriations booklet that will be available for residents of head of the annual town meeting. All of our votes are recorded as yay, nay, and
abstain in the booklet. For example, 4 2 1 would mean four members recommend, two members don't recommend, and one member abstained. Tonight, because our body is six, all of our votes will total a six
instead of a seven. Um, we will public comment will be accepted for each of the designated groupings of articles before the committee discusses each article. Article groupings have made for been made to allow for relevant public comment. And since the finance committee will not
discuss or vote to recommend or not recommend, there will be no public comment for the following articles 1, 2, 17, 20, and 23 to 29. I believe I got that right based on the
warrant. So, >> thank you. >> Each of those sections will be can address for up to two minutes and each segment is limited to 10. I don't know if you're going to talk on all of them, but you can a couple minutes on
each if you want. Um, but that's and we have received no written communications about any of these um since our last meeting either. So, without further ado, why don't we start at articles three and four. Let us
know if there's anyone you want to do public comment on and we'll we'll allow that. Um so article three is the salary and there have been no the only one that had a change from FY
26 is the town clerk one. Correct. any um >> any uh any questions or I think on some of these we can kind of
I'll entertain a motion to take or actually why don't we just we're going to just kind of work through and then we'll do vote to recommend. >> All those in favor of article three vote to recommend. I >> opposed. >> Madam chair, did you have a second?
>> Uh, did you? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And then the next one is article 4. Let's uh I'll entertain a motion. to see >> what do we what
>> uh motion to uh vote on our recommendation. >> Okay. So we don't have to go over par and discussion. >> We can talk about it. Yeah. That's >> I just I didn't know if there's a formality you have to add. >> Yeah. We have to basically we make the motion and we can talk about it and then >> Okay.
>> Yeah. >> Motion seconded. >> Second. >> Perfect. Okay. So let's talk about this one. This is our total budget and this has this number has not changed since two weeks ago when we talked about it. >> No.
>> And this will when written uh when um presented will use free cash as a funding source. Correct. >> 250 for free cash.
>> Yep. And our rationale in the past just says article seeks approval for annual town operate towns annual operating budget. See appendix for full budget details. Um
any discussion on this? It represents a 4.6% increase over last year. and will require $250,000 from free cash, which
I just want to kind of go on record as saying that um I am going to vote to recommend this myself um tonight. I'm going to vote to recommend this because looking back at
our free cash balance of $3,285,964 um a substantial portion of that is from the transfer of the money from the town meeting voted last year of the PEG money to go into that. So going against one of our financial principles which is to use
free cash should be used for operating expenses. That is one of our principles that we that we use it for onetime expenditures given the will of the town last year to move that money and the significant support for education that was expressed
during the discussions at that meeting. I feel that for this year this is the right decision to be made to use that as a funding source. >> Right. >> Great. Yeah. >> I think the majority the 250 is really what in addition that we're paying for
the school education. >> So, >> yes, I think that given the will of the town, the support for the override last year for education, um that this is in this fiscal year, this is the right thing to do.
>> Any other comments, questions? >> Then I think if this one passes, then the article later on asking for 500,000 Yes, >> this becomes we'll still have to vote on it or someone can pull it at town meeting if they if the citizens could
want to, but we'll make that recommendation >> because we're doing that here free cash. >> Yep. >> Ready to vote? >> Yes. >> All those to recommend >> I >> opposed or not recommend? No. Abstain.
All right. 600. All right. Um, article five, 50,000 to be added to stabilization. Entertain a motion to discuss and vote. >> Miss recommendation. >> Motion. >> Vote. Motion to vote.
>> Perfect. Uh, any discussion on this one? All those in favor of recommending. I >> opposed. >> Abstain. All right. Um, article six, see if the town will vote to transfer from
available funds 200,000 for post uh other post-employment benefits. Motion anybody >> to discuss? >> Perfect. >> Great. Any discussion on this? This is
the um this amount is consistent with last year. >> All those in favor of recommending I >> opposed abstain 6 0. Okay. Um
keep track of all my papers here and all my notes from all the other years. Um article 7, this is one that we have to do by annually. This is the bianual OPED actuarial evaluation for $7,400. Motion. >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Second. >> Uh any discussion? Has it ever bring you one up, Tracy? Is it always $7,400? >> Um, the last time it was 7,400. It goes up about every third time. >> What a beautiful business. >> Yeah.
>> Seven minutes. >> Well, I don't know. Reports. >> Pizza software. >> Probably. >> Motion to discuss. >> Uh, motion to discuss. Second. >> Second. You have all those uh any any
discussion? >> All those in favor of recommending >> I >> I opposed abstain 600 recommend. uh article 8 revolving funds, 50,000 to the recreation revolving fund and municipal
wall of ways improvement fund otherwise known as harbor master for 7 95,551 95,251 >> motion motion >> second >> uh any discussion
vote to recommend >> I >> I >> oppose I'm saying 600. Uh, article nine, see if town will raise an appropriate or transfer um for to operate the an ambulance enterprise
for the fiscal year. >> Motion to discuss second. >> I Yep. Uh, any discussion on this? I'll just note that this has been a
great way of running the ambulance fund for all the years that we've been doing this. It's self- sustaining. It pays for we'll also see that it does also generate free cash that can be used for their own investments. So, this is uh a good fiscally responsible way to do
this. So um all them in favor of recommending I >> opposed abstain. Um article 10 to see if the town um this their expenditures from enterprise free cash for $147,000
900 for lease payment on the ambulance cardiac monitor monitor defibrillator and Lucas check compress chest compression device. Motion >> motion second. >> Uh discussion all those who want to recommend
>> I >> oppose. >> I just wanted to mention that a question came up at the select board meeting relative to this article and the question was are there any opportunities for us to seek grant funding and and you know it's worth mentioning that we do
seek grant funding. There are um they will apply for grant funds through foundations. If we receive the funding then these funds that should get appropriate, you know, if they got appropriated at town meeting would end up closing back >> back out to free cash within the
ambulance enterprise. Free cash. Yes, >> it's their free cash. >> It's their free cash. It would go back into their account. >> They're responsible for all the grant writing, everything else. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> We helped. This is year three of seven, right, for the ambulance. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Article 11. Um, see if the town will vote to transfer from free cash the sum of $250,000 for a feasibility study/conceptual design plan for the senior center. Motion to discuss.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Excellent discussion. I don't >> I think um I feel like that's a lot more senior center and if we were talking about a civic center um it would be I think a little bit more palatable but I
feel like for a one-off project it feels like a lot. Sorry. I agree and I would I would add to that in that we it points to a larger points to a larger
um sort of holistic view that we need to address in this town. that is what facilities do we need when and if we're going to out and spend that kind of money on quote unquote feasibility
studies or architectural input or whatever it is we should be looking opinion to bundle that with anything else that we deem that we need
done and it may well be that other infrastructure will be of a higher priority than senior center or may not either way. But either way, it's should be bundled and and just this is not the
right time to spend another quarter million dollars on a project that realistically we have no reason to believe there will be a shovel in the ground for any time in the foreseeable future with all the things that we have going. So, so I
think um I'm I'm not opposed to exploration, but this is really expensive exploration. >> Yeah. >> So, >> Tracy, have they explored a cheaper way to do something along the lines of a
some kind of a study to a lesser extent? They completed a study to the lesser expense extent that you described and they presented it in a Saturday meeting um probably about a month or so ago, might have been longer. This would be
the next phase. If if you wanted to move this project forward, the next phase would be feasibility and conceptual design. I I think what you if I if I understood your question correctly, you were you were asking if they explored
something less less formidable >> than than a standalone building. >> So no, they didn't. >> No, I'm sorry. I thought >> you were talking about lesser extent preliminary plan. >> Preliminary plan. Yes. >> Yeah. Joe was asking about a lesser >> a lesser structure.
>> Yes. No. >> Okay. >> No. No. They did they've done over the years. I think this one that was recently presented was the third. They did space needs and then they looked at site selection
and then culminating with the recent report. So this would be the next step if it was something you wanted to move forward. >> Okay. Then in addition to that, going back to Frank's point, >> it took $50,000 for them to agree to do
another study for now $250,000. No, they didn't spend any money. They didn't spend 50. >> They didn't spend anything. >> No, on the first one. >> No, the first one was just like you and I talking right now. >> Yeah. Okay. >> A committee. A committee of >> all of us talking right now. >> Council and agent committee. >> Yeah.
>> Got it. >> And and that's and the the next according to them the next logical step for that idea they came up with is to drop 250 on >> facility study. So this would not look
at this is just a standalone >> it would look at using high road or use having a joint town hall council on a >> this particular study what they're aiming for is the location here on Kent
way which I believe is about a 4 acre parcel and it has enough funding in it. Initially, they talked about doing a town hall senior center on that location that
would provide funding to look at both on that lot. The previous work that had been done, the previous feasibility studies for town offices were all at the 25 high road location. Um so if it was
just the select board decided that they only wanted to entertain um senior center for this particular article. So the town hall reference was removed >> and the expectation would be that the 250 was a not to exceed amount and it
would likely be less. >> So the motion would be a lower amount. Was there opposition on behalf of the COA committee to being on high road? >> Yes.
>> Just because they don't like the location or >> um space issues. >> Oh, no. But I mean assuming assuming like they initially came up with a town hall idea. Yes. >> If the town hall COA idea that they envisioned fit on High Road, they have
no problem with High Road. Uh, no. I thought you meant the existence. >> Yeah. No, no, I was just Yeah. No, no, no. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But can any of that be clarified here about I mean because >> I don't know. I Yeah, I think every
reason it's not palatable to to just this number stated this way. But any of the nuances that you just said about the it being possibly an extension of what's already established here um that it would most likely be considerably less. I mean
>> that would if if it moved forward, which it is on the warrant. So the select board voted to leave it on. So someone a supporter of this would make a motion >> and then they'll have a presentation at town meeting. I I would imagine the
chair who's Damon Jesperson would likely make um a short presentation. The moderator likes to keep them to know more than you know to keep it between three and five minutes. They don't want to you know do a 20 minute presentation at town meeting. Um so they would
mention what's been completed to date >> and why they want to move it forward. And >> in order to get to that presentation, we have to >> Yes, >> that's the problem. >> Yes. >> I um concur with most everyone who's
spoken here is that um I just cannot see us in looking at how much we had to compromise for this budget this year. Our free cash is a finite
amount >> and the idea of spending up to a quarter of a million dollars to even go down the path of a standalone senior center at this point in time that we pay.
We only fund it with $200,000 between salary and services. Mhm. >> It's not that they don't deserve a spot, but the idea of building a separate building for it when we don't when we rent space here for a town hall and town
offices, this just seems like the wrong priority at this moment in time. I can't get behind the priority prioritization of we're looking at a new having to fund a new school. We have a no permanent home. We have a building that's decrepit on
High Road. And let's drop 250 to think about what we might want to build for a senior center. And I'm closer to senior center age than I am school age. So, you know, it's great, but I just don't think we don't have the like I just don't see us needing that
>> much of an infrastructure. I feel like if we need something, we need it more than this, right? Like it needs to be more robust if you're going to spend that, >> right? We are going to need to like look at like we need to look at all of our needs. If this was a disagree with this, I just disagree with this specifically. >> Yeah. Like I think I could even get
behind spending more than this if it was a comprehensive if it could feel combination. >> It could be Yes. something to deal with our ongoing >> capital building needs here. We don't need to build another standalone building right
now. >> No. And to be fair, any major, you know, construction is going to need a a feasibility study, you know, at some point. But I agree like it needs to be group, you know, it needs to be grouped with other things because the amount,
you know, will be high no matter what to get started on. Yeah, >> I I would just add finally because it should be noted for the record is that we are quote unquote violating our own previously said
economic principles this year. >> And I'll paraphrase that into Peter P. Paul in terms of just making the budget which is a deeply compromised budget from
school perspective. which happens to coincidentally be the same. We're rating for cash for the same amount that they're looking for a feasibility study. Like >> couldn't be a worse year for that idea. Um,
I don't think it makes I don't think it makes a bit of sense in in light of where we are fiscally right now and certainly in light of our capital needs moving forward
>> which are which will only grow >> and they are already stunning. So >> facilities facilities facilities that is going to drive most of most of our budgeted available capital for the next
>> how many years I mean we've been talking about it for 15. >> So that's definitely a significant driver. >> Excellent. Um so we're ready to do our recommend not recommend. All those in
favor of recommending zero. All those all those who do not want to recommend this >> I >> that's six abstain zero >> I think the select board one
>> we have and Tracy we can work on um I think you'll have a good paraphrasing of our >> yes >> our rationale there and then we can word smith it as we need to but yeah I think that that's a >> I think that noting what we talked about is going to
more the committee is more in favor of taking more comprehensive >> okay administrative right >> because now we get into article 12 which
is a transfer from free cash in the sum of $914,000 for public safety capital purchases including uh emergency management response vehicle of 69,000. Morgan Avenue fire station repairs of
611,000 hydraulic extraction tools two sets for 134,000 total and fire department record software for 100,000. I'll entertain a motion to discuss.
>> Second. >> All right. Discussions. >> Um I can only speak from my own perspective after having uh talked with people who have convinced me that they are in the
know. Um the truck needs to be replaced. It is what it is. That's what an F250 runs you. Um the hydraulic extrication tools apparently cannot be reertified as is, >> right? >> They cost what they cost. Uh they're
expensive. Again, another beautiful business. whatever they say the price is what it is. Um software again you get hung up with a license you got to h license the cost of cost >> the software actually I can add to this >> um they have to manually input right now
all of their information >> um >> and it same goes for the police department if I'm to understand correctly so it's a lot of like manh hours where they should be doing other things too >> right probably pays for itself over time and and the big one um
>> if If sources are to be trusted like this is a it needs to be done b again for the record I'm told that this buys us a very long time
that we don't need to talk about replacing a firehouse per se or we don't need to talk about that this buys am I do you feel comfortable I >> I I don't know that we saw that in the report I think the conversations at the select board meeting were that it could
buy us um 10 to 20 years. >> Yeah. Right. 10 to 20 years to >> 10 to 20 years for 600,000 feels like a >> 10 to 20 years puts us maybe past
>> maybe past a school, maybe past a town hall, >> maybe past smart, but I'm but I'm not going to do that. >> Uh this I hate spending money to buy time. I hate it. But this to me seems like
good capital spend if it buys you that amount of time. And and and uh firefighters shouldn't have to work in a dump. And and uh and from what I understand, the bathrooms are a dump. So you got to fix them. >> It is. It is what it is.
>> Is the word uh repairs maybe not the right word? Because if we're talking about I mean just for that high a number and we're actually I mean should we call it a renovation or something that actually you know implies or speaks to the fact that we're not just things up
because >> I do worry that if we you know we have been repairing over the years this you know here and there and people see this number and you're we are talking about 10 to 20 years it's more than >> you know >> yeah as I say looking at last year's
work on this and I know this is the approve approved. So selector this can't be changed the motion the motion can be because what it was said last year was Morgan Avenue Morgan a fire station upgrades >> right >> here it says Morgan a fire station
repairs um I think would recommend that the you know the >> because I think we all know that this is going to result in upgrades it's not replacing same with same it's replacing wiring. It's It is actual upgrades. So,
I think that might be a good clarification point. >> Yeah, it it seems like a subtle thing, but it will speak to the nuance and might make it more palatable for this number. >> Yep. >> Yeah, we can make sure that's in the motion. >> Yeah, I think that should be in the
motion. And I think that we can speak to the, you know, estimation that this this investment, this is not going to be an investment. We're going to come back next year for another 611,000 for more fire. Like this is >> at this point in time is getting us to a
period of >> longer around that 10y year mark or longer. >> Yeah. >> Longer than the 10, >> you know, it's as high as it is because this is the culmination of many years of deferred maintenance because we kept saying >> we don't want to put all this money into
it if we might be doing a new building. So we kept kind of deferring it a little bit and and this is >> municipal bathrooms are crazy expensive. They just are. And and I mean considering now you could spend 60k on a bathroom in your house without too much
effort. >> And municipal bathrooms to code are really >> Oh yeah. >> So >> I'm not a code enforcement officer, but I've seen the bathrooms over there in their shower facilities, all of that. That is not We aren't close. Yeah, >> even if you put the number at just 10
years and it cost you 60k a year, >> like Frank said, that's that's one money spent, >> right? >> Yeah. I think that that's um part of the rationale on this is definitely getting us to that position. Um >> I think it's the upgrade since we went
to full-time >> Oh, yeah. >> firefighters. We're actually modifying the building to accommodate the fulltime >> firefighters. And having a boy scouts out there with shims isn't going to get us anywhere. >> I'm not much on tiling.
>> Um, all right. Do we want to um vote to recommend? All those in favor of recommending >> I >> opposed. Zero abstain. Zero. Okay. Next one is article 13 transfer from
free cash to some of 72,000 for the following specific capital purchases. Um PEG equipment purchase $10,000 town dock piling replacements $22,000 COA transport vehicle $40,000.
Entertain a motion to discuss. >> Motion to discuss. >> Second. >> Perfect. All right, go for it. Looks pretty straight. >> So, so the peg equipment purchase is just moving it from high road over here, right? >> Correct.
>> Buying >> equipment too. >> So, it's no longer there. >> And again, that is money from free cash came from the PEG account. That seems absolutely reasonable. Town dock piling
replacement seems absolutely reasonable. I'm >> and >> less convinced. I'm less convinced. I will hate to say it. I don't want to sound like I'm coming down on the Council on Aging, but I again in the year that we're in adding a second
vehicle for that service seems >> I will say the way she described it at CAT planning made a lot of sense to me. Right. So, they currently have a van, right? And they need a van driver. So the only way they can do anything here
is with that specific van driver and then if that van driver is not available because they have other >> volunteers, right? >> Well volunteers I think that they sometimes contract out people. Um so it's mainly just so they can get everyone to and from like anything local
things into Boston where it's like harder. So I can understand it. My feeling is like I'm okay with it. We don't need a brand new vehicle I think for everybody. Um, but by way of hopefully saving money at some point, it
would be nice to Yeah. So, I just wanted to add some clarity there. >> And I I appreciate that. That makes sense. I I thought this was going to be split out on its own. Um, again, not accusing anyone of anything. If I needed 40 grand for a car after I
just spent a buck 40 on a bus, I would sneak it in here next to the Peg Equipment and the Pilots, right? That's what I'm >> Nobody snuck in. >> I don't understand. I understand that. But I just You just spent 140K on a bus,
right? 140 was the number. >> Um 140 was the cost, but we had a significant amount significant amount of grant funding for that. Um, we got state grant funding. We got funding from the friends. I think Newber's portion was
not much in terms of what we paid for it. I'll I'll send you the exact numbers. I don't want to quote it off the top of my head because I It was a couple years ago. >> I It just stinks my car. I, you know, if it were me, I would be going two
different directions before I would be trying to spend 40k on a supposedly used SUV. I would I'd look at refying that bus. I would look at, you know, trading the bus for two alternative vehicles. I would look
at a gas stipen for the volunteers. Pay a buck a mile. volunteers will make money on the deal if they particularly if they have a fuel efficient vehicle. Um, and even and and have the town pay the stipens directly if it makes you
feel better. I just it's not the 40k. Anybody who owns vehicles knows that that is the ticket to the entrance to the Toppsfield fair. All the expense comes after you go through the gates, right? There's maintenance, there's registration,
there's insurance, there's you name it, right? It's that number needs to be looked at as as the baby with, you know, that that will need additional care and feeding. I
just I don't get it. I I I just I I but it but that said, I wasn't at the meeting. So maybe they did talk about a gas tip and maybe they did talk about maybe we don't need a big bus, you know? I don't know. It just seems like a lot. It seems like a lot. And it's yet
another vehicle in a town that we seem, if you look at the increase in capital equipment just in vehicles, we got a lot more vehicles than we used to have. We don't need any more vehicles, you know, to my mind. But um but that said, I'm
I'm this is hyperbolic, but I can't think of anything else. I feel like I'm being held hostage because it's like because yeah, we need peg equipment and yeah, we need we need pilots at 22 years old. No. Right. So, >> yeah, I'm sitting here like literally back and forth like, do I vote to
recommend? And usually I'm like, yes, these are needs. They have come before capital planning. They've been vetted. That has usually been my thing of that. We have talked we've usually talked these things to death by the time we get to recommending. I'm like I I don't want to see the peg equipment sit in high road. No,
>> but you can always, just so you know, you can always amend the motion. and support a part a portion of the article on the floor. >> Yeah. >> Um and even in your um in our discussion >> public you can make a recommendation
that >> you know the the peg equipment and the dock filings move forward and that the other the van you you don't approve the van. >> Okay. I'll put my name on that if somebody chooses to do it. But
>> you get a bunch of old Exactly. >> I have a long draw with the camera. >> Um, yeah. I just, you know, it's a third rail topic. I understand that. I just and and again shame on me for not maybe these things were discussed
>> discussed to be clear they were not discussed. I don't want to interrupt you but I think that that's fair is I don't think that those options were explored and I think you bring up a good point. >> I just I just love a gas typing idea. >> I wasn't to make money. >> Yeah. Yeah. I wasn't at the meeting
either, but it I I feel like this could be like it could easily be explored whether there's a demonstrated need or not. Like, oh, you know, this many times in this past year, we couldn't give somebody a ride because we didn't have the like I I feel like you
could qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu quantifyum >> and I tried to with Marshall. >> Okay. >> And and it's not Marshall's fault that he didn't know. I said, "Well, how frequently?" And they said, "Well, >> as I understand it, pretty pretty frequently." And I was just like, "All right, well, >> but like it seems like it would be kind
of not that hard to find out what the demonstrated need." >> Has to be data around it. >> I agree. Has to be correct. >> So, yeah. >> So, Tracy, I forget the name of the program. Wheat or neat or >> neat? >> Neat. So, because my wife volunteered
for that, she used to drive people. So, but she used to drive. about 10 years ago, they would call and say, "Can you take somebody two days from now?" And she would say, "Yes." >> They'd give her mileage money. >> Yeah.
>> So, up the mileage money. I mean, >> but they had multiple a list of multiple drivers that they would call to try and get >> see if they were available. >> But that was through the council on agent when it was in Newbury Elementary.
Mhm. >> Wasn't there some restriction that people who needed assisted technologies like wheelchairs or canes or rollers weren't able to access that program. >> That that was the one of the major issues.
>> One of the issues >> cuz if you had a car and they were in a wheelchair. >> Yeah. >> That that that brought about the the need of Okay. All right. Okay. So, do we vote
>> as written? I think we write on it as written. >> As written. >> Okay. >> And then we can word Smith. So, all those in favor of recommending as written. Zero. Do not recommend
>> as written. I as written. >> As written. Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Eddie Epstein. Yeah. Okay. All right. Article 14. This is uh transfer from free cash
25,700 for specific purchases. Uh municip municipal offices security system 9,000. Public safety website update 6,000. Library printer $7,200. and historic committee celebrations and
restorations, $3,500. Would you like to address us on this, please? >> I I hope you'll excuse me for not being well prepared, but um I found out this afternoon that I was coming here tonight, so >> welcome. We're we're a friendly bunch. Yes. >> So, just just to make sure that you you
have the history on on this $3,500. Um, in 1985 of the 350th anniversary, there were commemorative coins that were made by the town and sold uh to raise money. Um, and it was a successful program. Um
and then uh September of 2012, the historical commission uh requested of the uh town to sell the remaining coins um and to move the proceeds into the budget of of the um the historical
commission. Um that suggestion was uh taken up in the May 2013 uh town meeting. Uh funds were identified in the historical commission budget as a special account. The finances of the historical commission are divided into three funds. There's
the general account which is the annual town appropriation for the operations of the historical commission. There's the gift account which is the money that uh that people donate mostly to the schoolhouse. Um and then there was the special account and and the special account and the gift account are really
for um special activities. And these activities that we're talking about include uh special activities associated with the 250th anniversary of the United States, which now we're already in the 250th. And um we're one of the things we're talking about doing is is if
you've ever heard of a a Liberty Pole or Freedom Poll down on on the lower green u to celebrate the 250th anniversary, um there would also be special activities associated with the 400th anniversary in 2035. Um, and believe it or not, we're already
talking about uh, as a matter of fact, that's uh, one of the items that we'll be discussing at at t uh, Thursday's meeting. Um, and then we also have special restoration projects uh, including the replacement or restoration um, of the schoolhouse doors. Um, and
they are in pretty rough shape. We would prefer to restore which would be more expensive than replacing with something similar. Um, and that gets very pricey. Um, and the other thing that we are considering is the restoration of the
1850 harmonium. That's the organ that's in the schoolhouse. So, we we have had and do have plans u to use this money. I have not seen the article uh as written. Um my understanding from what you read
to me is that the money uh would simply be restored to the special fund of the historical commission. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. Well, uh I'm on behalf of the historical commission, I'm I'm hoping, uh that we'll have your support. Um and we're looking forward to uh especially
looking forward to uh the 400th anniversary in 2035. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh entertain a motion to discuss this one. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Excellent. Um, I see all of these as
being extremely reasonable requests and necessary expenditures. Um, all across the board. Any other? >> All those in favor of recommending. >> I >> opposed. Zero. >> Abstain. Zero.
>> You got our you got our recommendation. >> Thank you. >> Where are those coins? You mentioned coins. >> They were sold. >> They were all sold. Wow. Cool. >> That's my understanding. This all happened before I was on the commission, but that my understanding is uh they were um there were there were gold,
there were silver, and there were bronze coins. The gold and the bronze sold right away. >> The ones that they had left over in 2012 were some of the silver coins, and they sold those and they made 3,500 some odd dollars. >> I saw them. >> Excellent.
>> Trace, you got any of those coins? >> There may be some bronze ones left if if there would have them. They're either in the town clerk or there might be one or two in the library. >> In the library? >> Yeah. >> Interesting. Cool. >> I've never seen I've seen pictures of them. I've never actually seen a coin.
>> What a great time to print some more and sell them for the 250th anniversary on one side and the town of Newberry on the other one. >> Yeah. >> Think of all the money we can make. >> Now we're talking 400 2035.
>> Excellent. Next article. Article 15, vote to transfer from free precash $5,600 to pay the following outstanding bill from fiscal year 2025. >> Motion moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion?
I think we need to pay our bills. >> Um, vote to recommend. All those in favor? >> I oppose. >> Abstain. None. 600. Okay. Um, article 16 to see if the town
will raise an appropriate 25,000 for the establishing a reserve compensation fund. This reserve compensation fund will require authorization by the town administrator and approval by the select board of the human relations human resources board serving in advisory
capacity when appropriate. Motion to discuss. >> Motion second. >> Uh, discussion. >> I didn't ask the other night Tracy when um when they were outlining the purpose for this
>> is there no >> um and I have to be clear I have zero issue with the with the counter offer fund but and but I know that it's it's it's a mechanism being put in place because we have a rather delayed and
ownorous >> tell me >> system that to appropriate funds right annually >> is there know rather than this must have been discussed but I'm I'm wondering what the outcome was because this is this needs to be
essentially updated every year. >> Is there an easy is there an easier way? Is there a is there a mechanism that can be put in place for let's just say you to to be able to offer a counter offer without having to
do all the things that you need to do to make that happen in place rather than establishing a fund that needs to be refunded every year and and all that. Uh you could have an individual line item, but because of the way we appropriate in
our budget, y >> if the town council explained to us that you would have to have one under each and every department. So if you wanted to negotiate with police if there was an issue with the fire department contract,
every single department would need a line item that would have to be voted as part of the omnibus budget. This comes up infrequently um enough that we felt by doing an
individual article having it in front of town meeting annually. >> Yep. multiple levels of approval. So, it's not just me with eyes on it. It would be me, the select board, and in some instances, a recommendation by the
human resources board. >> How do you get those faster? >> How do you get those? >> That is part of the problem. So, that was part of the problem that we struggled with when we had an issue with the assistant tenant clerk's position this past year, and that's kind of what brought this all to light. So does
having this fund actually expedite the process? >> Yes, because we have funds now. So we can >> But you still need those same you still need those same mechanisms of approval though, right? >> I would still need a town meeting vote. I don't need an HR board vote. >> Okay. >> I need select vote. So twice a month.
>> They're twice a month. So they and they can convene on a shorter basis because it's five of them. Yep. >> If there's needs, they they can put together with a with um >> if you get a job offer, are you waiting two weeks? >> No, but we can get the the select board
will when there's emergencies, we'll put an emergency meeting as long as they post it. They can call an emergency. They can call a like a special like off calendar. So that's but they're able to do that much easier than we are for a reserve fund transfer which is the other
mechanism by which we've tried to do this in the past is that we don't need often enough >> and I had prefer prepared a reserve fund transfer but by the time this meeting was coming up >> there had already been an acceptance so um this gives us the funding available
which is a big hurdle >> um the ability to react within 48 hours, you need to post a select board meeting if it was something urgent. >> Um, and it would also the flip side give town meeting
>> hopefully confidence >> um that we would report out next year if we used any of the funds in the finance committee. We would say during fiscal year 2026, $2,500 was used
>> to fund a salary increase for this. And then this year and it's in the operating budget is that the new level or >> Right. Right. And and they also felt the HR board in their recommendations that it would be important that it would it would sunset. So it would close out at
the end of each fiscal year and we would see this appropriation again in a subsequent year. Get some historical data. Is 25,000 enough? Is it too much? Is it how does that track? Um, but it just seemed like it would make sense to
have something cuz we've had three or four different things come up. We've had lots of years when there was no there were no issues, but we've had three or four things come up where it would have been really handy to to be able to make those counter. >> And we know that we have a town that is
kind of known for being a training ground. Mhm. >> Lot of in a lot of roles and this is one way to help keep good people >> that we don't have to then >> put out a hire train
>> every time. So yeah. >> Is it important to note what you said about this being sort of put back in >> we can definitely put it in the rationale and talk about it during the presentation. Yeah. These are the types of things where we say that this 25,000
if it goes unused, it closes right back out to feed cash. And so it's >> Yeah, I think that that's >> and we'll probably as we um work through that rationale kick it back to the HR just to look to felt comfortable with
the language. >> Perfect. >> Any other discussion? All those who want to recommend >> I >> opposed. Z 600 Z. All right.
All right. That is 16. 17 is not us. >> Nope. >> We don't even weigh in on it because if there's no financial implication. 18 to see if the town will vote to transfer. This is a citizens petition, I should note. um transfer from free cash 500,000
for the purpose of playing full assess share of education assessments for the fiscal year beginning July 1st blah blah um uh entertain a motion to discuss >> motion second >> all right um
number one if we pass article 4 this one is not needed if we tr and even if we did even if the town voted to transfer this money from free cash for education. We can't actually pay Triton it. It doesn't go to Triton. That doesn't
happen because we can't pay more than our assessed without it there being like implications. We can't. It's not like we could vote this and give Triton $500,000 more money or
change our operating budget. So, this is even if it passed, it would take $500,000 out of free cash and then it would close back out to free cash because it would never get spent. >> Right. >> Yep. Yep.
>> Anyone recommend? Any vote to recommend? >> Not recommend. >> I abstain. All right. Um, article 19, this is a citizen petition
that was not discussed by us or anyone because it had not been received yet. Um, is a citizens petition for a pilot bylaw. Pilot is stands for payment in lie of
taxes. >> Voluntary. >> Yeah. Voluntary pilot. Motion >> motion to discuss. >> Second. >> Okay.
>> As I understand it and this is this is very much paraphrasing and don't take anything I say as gospel. Um not that you would anyway.
uh we have, you know, a lot of properties and and things that are not on our tax roles. Um I'll just use one example, not single them out. Governor's Academy, it's got a lot of buildings over there that are not
in the tax roles and a lot of land is not in the tax rules. Um yet they are utilizing resources. Uh we had a hazmat call over there last week or the week prior. We have you know we our fire has
to protect them. Our police have to respond to things. They also on I believe on average put something like 13 kids into the schools annually um at whatever our cost of cost of
education is now 20,000 21,000 per student something like that. Um so there are significant expenditures that the town is eating for um you know people living in non-
taxed um entities over there and the the pilot program as Mr. Congress has presented it would be um annual negotiation based upon uh you know here's what the assessment
of your property would be. This is what it would cost in um this is what it would cost in property tax where you're paying taxes. And then there's a formula um that it's half again that number
it's it's half of that number and then could be another half of that number if the entity again I'll just use the example of governors. If the entity provides um things, services, uh items, whatever
that that the town finds, uh amendable or agreeable or suitable or whatever the right word is there and then that would reduce the number to 25% the original assessed. >> Frank, do you know where that formula came from?
I want I want to say that Bob looked at talked to other towns to see how they do it because it is not this is not we we're not pioneers in the space here. Other towns do this and maybe Tracy has some insight into uh how it works
elsewhere or how it has worked elsewhere. >> So we we we're not the we're not the the groundbreakers here. Um, so I think that he got them from other towns that are doing pilot programs for >> tax. So Tracy, specific to Newberry, do
we have an idea of how many we do? How many properties this is or >> handful? >> Yeah. >> How many actual parcels or how many entities? >> Full of entities. There are quite a
number of parcels. Um, but it it this would this would be voluntary. I think we have to stress that because under the general laws, the film they're not required to, right? They're they have this exemption that that they're entitled to. And I and I know in the past the governor's academy has
partnered with us. They've given us gifts of >> dump trucks, um, >> cruisers, >> cruisers. >> Uh, they've also made financial commitments. They've um given us payments towards our debt service and we
have had conversations with them. The petitioner was in these conversations. So, we are negotiating with them um in the hopes of coming up with a more formalized plan. >> Could we ask for a COA vehicle this year?
>> Um >> I'm more than happy to go over there. Yeah, but unfortunately the timing is such that their board of directors doesn't meet until after our town meeting. So, um we are engaged with them and um I I think in all
>> it's been a few years correct since they donated anything. It's been >> um uh there 2025 there was no um contribution. >> Uh but before that >> and thus far in 2026 there's been no contribution. >> Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. So, this is this is an
opportunity for us to have a more formalized arrangement with some of these um exempt properties. >> Yep. And as outlined there, the the the formula is all outlined there and it's and it's and it's more complicated than I'm giving credit for, but more well
thought out than I'm giving it credit for. Um to me it seemed like particularly in light of the fact as Tracy said it was voluntary. >> Uh it is really um it's it's giving a
thumbs up or a thumbs down basically to an exploratory to see what can be done to try and mitigate some of the expenses that the town incurs. uh to to accommodate non- taxable
entities and oops >> I personally have no issue with export I I like >> I yeah I am I I like it I wish that it had come via the select board um or via
another like official channel. It feels it just that's about the only thing is that um it kind of feels awkward in uh the way that it came in through a citizen's petition but I also see the the value in it coming through in a citizens petition is because citizens are recognizing that we have a you know
there is a large elephant in the room that is the governor's academy that is you know sitting on lots of parcels and you know has children in the schools. So I think that it's a good step. It's voluntary and you know I'm I I you
probably spent 10 years here thinking we needed a pilot program and we haven't as a as a town itself by leadership haven't moved it forward. So it's good to see a citizen and citizens taking a stand to try to make this voluntary program come
to light. Uh, everyone who wants to recommend article 19, >> I don't do not recommend. Zero. Abstain. Zero. Okay. Um, we're
going to skip article 20 because I I don't really know what it has no financial implication. I'll just say that. Um, it's probably not wrong, but I don't really know what I'm supposed to do with it. Sorry. It was just my at this point in
time in the day. Um, we have two more that I believe are under ours. And then Tracy, I realized that um I did not put the reserve fund transfers that you had sent to me that I had said would be on this agenda. They were supposed to be on this agenda. >> I thought they were in your >> They're on the agenda.
>> Are they on the agenda? Okay. >> Can you believe us? >> They're on the >> Oh, yeah. They were Oh, we actually skipped over them. Okay, good. All right. Thank you. All right. >> Good job. Good. All right. Thank you. So, article 21, uh, local meals excise tax. I
>> motion. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> I'm fully in favor of this. >> Yes. >> All those recommend. >> I >> oppose. Zero. Um, article 22. I'll take
a motion. This one is to um authorizing the uh exosition of a local excise tax upon the transfer of occupancy of a room in a bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, lodging house, short-term rental, or motel located. Basically, this is a 6% tax on the amount of rent for
short-term rentals such as Airbnbs, hotel rooms. Motion >> motion second. >> All the uh discussion. So Tracy, does this have to go to the the state to get approval or >> So we have to certify town meetings
approval and let the state know. >> Y >> and this is the same program Newberry Port has >> correct. >> But the same amount, >> correct? We can't go in. >> State sets a number, right? Doesn't the state >> state ours has a number? >> No, the state sets the number. >> The percentage the number.
>> No, we do whatever you want. >> We We're just going along. >> There's a max. There's a cap. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I once again I like to see us trying things that are not putting it just on the backs of residents and homeowners. This is all of these things. This and
the meals both are voluntary. If you choose to spend your money on it, you pay a tax on it. So, >> um it falls along with our additional revenue sources that we talked about last year. So, >> uh vote to recommend. All those in favor of recommending. I
>> opposed. Zero sustain zero. That is it for us. >> Yes. New business. Tracy reserve fund transfer. >> Yep.
Um first one um Plum Island beach management account for $4,500. >> Correct. So we have a beach management plan and one of the requirements is that
we monitor for shoreirds turns. We have a contract with Mass Ottabbon that does the monitoring for us under the regulations we're required to do so. Um we received a contract
proposal this year that had about a 26% increase. We whittleled it down. It's still more than we had available. We had only appropriated la last April. We appropriated the same amount we spent
last year. This is the increase over what we spent last year. >> Who requires a DP? >> Uh the Commonwealth of Mass and the federal government. >> Do we have the animal warden who could do it? I'm just curious. >> No. >> Okay.
Like is there somebody else who can do this? So, one, it's interesting that you mentioned that, Amy, because we are we are talking about um what alternatives there are to monitoring. Is it something that we could do? So, our conservation
agent and um perhaps a few other members of our staff uh may be interested in taking the training and assisting, but that kind of a program, if we should be able to get it off the ground, which is still questionable, is a year out. Okay.
>> And we also did, I should mention, um we pursued uh every alternative in terms of who else could give us quotes and all of the other quotes were significantly higher um than this even with the reserve transfer. It's another one of
those >> I'll do it for less. >> My dad was a clover warden for a while. A lot of turnover. >> Yep. A lot of turnover. It's really boring.
>> And you're probably don't get more thanks than you get. >> No, you're just yelling at children when they're trying. >> Say totally yelling at kids trying to get whatever. >> It's Yeah. >> Not for the faint of heart. No. All right. >> Get a sweet tan. That's >> But I think he has a hat.
>> They all have hats. No question. They all have hats. above your head. That's what >> Yeah. >> Excellent. >> You don't want to get melanoma out there, counting birds. >> Um motion to vote on the reserve transfer. >> Motion. >> Motion. Second.
>> Second. All those in favor of the reserve fund transfer. >> Opposed? None. Abstain. None. 600. And then reserve fund transfer for Essex Tech assessment for $7,216.
$7,216. And this is because we had one extra student. So it was off of the number we had in the budget. >> Correct. >> So this >> like a half a year they transferred into town. >> Yep. And that does happen to us periodically. >> Yep.
>> All right. Motion. >> So moved. Second. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor >> I >> oppose >> abstain. 600 Z. >> And just to let you know, we have a snow
and ice deficit of a little bit over 120,000. That's not the end. Um >> it snowed today. >> Yeah. >> How much? >> Over 100 121,000 right now. So um I will be coming to you once once all
>> once we do all the end of year transfers and okay >> if there's any balance beyond that >> learned a lot about snow removal this year. >> I bet you did. >> Who knew >> Tracy? I remember it like it was
yesterday two years ago. We had that mild winter 50 grand on the wow gonna save $50,000, >> right? >> Never open my mouth to go.
>> So, um, looking ahead, we have no more meetings on our agenda until ATM, until annual town meeting. Um, if the group is good with it, what I would like to do is
ask for um, two other people. I will take the lead. Tracy's going to do the appropriations, like she helps us get the appropriations booklet. Um, and then I usually take the cover letter and the
FC the our presentation for town meeting. Um, I'd love to have at least one other person um to kind of bump up the basically run the drafts by and also work on it, but it doesn't have to be the full committee so that we
don't all have to meet to approve it. We've never all approved the >> the commission. Um, but Amy, would you be willing as a representative from capital planning to help with that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, absolutely.
>> I think that would be great. And if anyone else is interested, we could have like total of me plus two others to want to weigh in on this without getting over quorum or any open meeting law violations. Yeah. So, if anyone is interested, you can be, but you don't
have to because I think um I have to say too, I also am not available. I'm out of town the ne next three Tuesdays in a row with work travel. So, but we can we can coordinate offline. Everyone's in agreement on that. And
>> yeah, absolutely, >> we will share the final drafts ahead of time, but it'll be very much in line. the appropriations bucket I see as being very similar to what we did last year. I will probably in the letter kind of call out the um our discussion of the COA um
>> 250. That that'll be one that I'll probably kind of like call out in the letter and in the presentation. But I think Amy, I think you'll be a good partner on this because with the capital planning, I'll have you'll kind of divvy up that way. >> Yeah, absolutely. Erica, if you need somebody to review,
just I'll >> We got you. Perfect. Amy and Richard, we will we will rock and roll with this. >> I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion second. Second. >> All those in favor? I
>> Perfect. We are journing at 8:17.