All right, it is 7:01. I will call the May 5th uh meeting and finance committee to order. Uh present we have Paul, Gavin, Bonnie, Paula, Trace, Zach, Kevin, Brandon, and myself. And I don't think anyone's
on the media center. All right. Are we all set, Mike? Get started. All set. Ready? Y. So, I just wanted to go over a couple things that came up at the last meeting. Um, there was a member of the school committee here and he was saying,
you know, uh, do we have direction from the select board? Well, I did have direction from the select board. That was 3% general government, 3% town. So obviously that has gone by the wayside. So that was the direction in the select board and also there was a question
about chapter 78 goes why doesn't that go right to the school budget and I did mention you have to look at the expense side too and when you take the increase in chapter 78 and then deduct from that the increase in
out of district tuitions and charter school tuitions the net is like 56,000 with the increase in health insurance this year. The teachers or the school department is like $500,000 worth of that. So to say, well,
they should get that $56,000. There's a lot of other expenses to be covered. That's why chapter 78 is a general government revenue source. Um if you want to if we can we'd start with the
um special town meeting on the special town meeting um under article three operation budget supplements. So, um, we sent you a new sheet earlier today cuz James, uh, came
forward with that there's interest short-term loan on the window project, uh, $3,812. Uh, snow removal, $103,723 and, uh, the finance committee um, recording secretary, $1,400. Um, so those funds, I'm
recommending $18,935 from free cash. And then below that, two other items. Um I'm recommending that 70,000 come out be transferred from the unemployment
um account to the reserve fund and um also from unemployment 20,000 to the Medicare expense account. Now with the 70,000 we may not need that. Um, we have 36,000 left in the
reserve fund, but after town meeting, there's still almost 2 months left in the year just in case an emergency happens. One way or the other, it's going to free cash if it's not used. So um just a some security for for
us questions on we have pretty much supplements. So Mike just a clarification we already so we have 100,000 we originally knocked it down to or I forget what it was originally in the spring we added to it in the fall. Um and then to add to it again and
that's coming from um the account is that the unfunded account? It is. Yeah. Right now there's um in the reserve fund I can tell you the exact amount. There's
37,600 and you've used 112,400. Any other questions? Are there specific line items, Mike, that you're looking at that you think might go over? I mean, we have the up to March 75% of the year. Are there certain specific line items that
you're thinking are getting too close to that you might need to later? Um, not right now. Um, I think we hopefully are fine with the Medicare expense. Um, but I just don't know. Police and fire could
have an emergency. I don't know. No, this is coming from unemployment going into the reserve fund. Any other questions? Yeah, Madam Chair. Yes. Quick question. Um, the recording secretary secretary
for finance committee $1,400. That wasn't budgeted. I think a small amount was budgeted, right? Usually like $2,000 given she had so much to catch up on. Okay. Right. She had too much.
Yeah. Any other questions? open now, right? Yes. Madam Chair, yes. Make a motion that we transfer uh $1,400 from free cash to the finance committee budget and from uh free cash
the snow removal $13,723 for a total of 105123 from free cash on those two items. Oh, I'm sorry. Wait, I don't see and uh and also three $3,812
uh from uh free cash from interest on a short-term blow window project for a total of 108 935. There's going to be one motion for that first half. Okay. Second. Oh, you want to do the whole thing first? So,
also transferring from account number 001-911-570-5172 through 001910 570-5173 uh $70,000 for the reserve fund um and $20,000 to the Medicare expense for a
total of $90,000. Second. All right. I have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor? All opposed. All right. On um article two, separation expense. I
recommend no action. special. Madam Chair, yes. Make a motion that we take no action on article two of the special. I have a motion by a second. Second. All in favor? I. All closed.
And uh all you have left something special, right? All right. All right. So, um, in terms of the budget, I I thought we could I feel like last week was kind of whirlwind with um lots of numbers being thrown
around. Um, so for myself, I just I did this spreadsheet and I just figured I'd pass around to anybody who wanted it. I also included on there um numbers for um Paul had asked up to March 31st, I think, is the most recent. So it's 75%
um year to date is what you know with the the anticipated at that point. Um so you can kind of see where we're at now in terms of all those and also see where we're at overall. Um you know by the end of all of this we
did uh to Mike's point we we kind of blew that 3% out of the water. Um town is now looking at well if if approves all of the rest. So, I just I highlighted in and you can't see it's in yellow and um this is the fin vote anything we haven't voted for and I just
put in there right now um if we were to vote um based on the town man town manager's recommendations where we would be at. So, we would be at about 5% for the general government um 4.4% for the uh public schools um and then the rest I
don't think we played around with too much to begin with. So, a total of 4.82% overall. Um, I do think though that the idea of a 3% budget, um, and we keep talking about last year being a 1%
budget, but it really wasn't, right? By the time the fall of supplements came in, um, you know, we we ended up, um, our total increase last year from FY24 expended was 7.35%. The year before from FY23 to FY24
was 8.69%. So 3% has never really been anywhere close to what we've had for um you know for our increases each year. Um per personally I don't I the biggest
issue I have with what we vote on last week was was the um reserve fund money because I know we talked under the stabilization money sorry because I know we talked about this initially when Mike proposed it. Um a lot of us were opposed at that time and concerned at that time.
um it does affect the bond rating. So I think that's that's for me the biggest concern that I have right now. Um, and if we're we haven't going on a couple of the budgets, two of the budgets that have an increase, um, personally, you know, I could I
could be persuaded in an inc, uh, new position that was, um, a replacement, but to add a brand new position into this, again, that concerns me cuz we're we're really I mean, this is not what we did was not some magic act, right? It
was it was just a stop gap. Um, so you know, sitting on all this and looking at all these numbers, I definitely have some concerns um again about long-term and how feasible this is. Um the one question like I had for you is if I pass this
out, I'd asked you for the the local receipts um numbers over the years. So, actual FY23 um was 14 million. I'm sorry. Uh I'm going to go without water because I don't really I don't count that. the 7
million for the um actual FY23 um 8.5 million 24 and then we've been budgeting much less the last couple years. Um it was increased this year to 5 million but I guess my question would be um is I would rather see that number I
appreciate that we're we're trying to be conservative. We don't know what's going to happen. To me though the the the trend has been much higher. Um, and I would rather be a little less conservative if we if we have to if something goes wrong and we have to do
the stabilization then that will be the time rather than now. Right? So if you know we keep talking about tariffs and all the other things that are going on and then we don't know what's going to happen with excise taxes but if that happens that to me is what your stabilization money is for. Um rather than now trying to borrow against it.
Um, so I guess even at the risk of having our free cash next year being less, I would rather see the increases coming from uh coming from the voting receipts. So I'm wondering if there's any way we can bring that number up at
all. Like what is going on? I'm not actually I'm not someone's liv. Yes. Can I ask what the balance is of stabilization right now? Madam chair. Yes. The the balance is 4
million73511 and that's before the 500,000 potential transfer. So even if we leave it as is and we take 500,000 we get $4.2 million. That's above the 5% mark. that won't reflect debating one iota that that's not what's rating to to
take um stabilization money and use it towards your budget is what um has a negative impact or can have a negative impact. It's one of the questions they ask when you're filling out. Whenever they fill out is that Yes. Okay. I mean,
last fall we all sat here in the joint meeting and the recommendation from the town manager was a million dollars of stabilization and I said, "Let's make it 1.5 million." And I think it was unanimous vote to do so. For me, the reason for putting in stabilization was
he obviously got free cash if they just used it. for because when you leave in free cash, it's like chuming the waters. Everybody sees it and everybody's after it. And for me, I would rather go into stabilization every year and refund stabilization in the fall because
spoiler alert, if we have free cash in the fall, I will make a motion to put more in because I think it's harder to get to. It keeps everybody from uh you know, chuming the waters. And that's my thought around it. And I even if we
didn't replace this 500,000 for some reason that all these projections were wrong, we're still not in a disaster situation. So, you know, I think we're getting into semantics at this point, but just my view. I'm sorry. Can I just
get Mike, can I just get your input on what you think about the local receipts? Um, we increased I I think 500,000. We increased the local receipts by 500,000. Um, and when we look at the
local receipts, we look at each category over the last 3 to 5 years and see what the average is. Um and do we speak as long and uh so we have to justify our increases with uh
the division of local services uh when they come out and I I really don't think that we can go any higher. We're we're in a a stage right now we don't know what's going to happen uh with the auto industry. Um so a big driver of that is
auto excise and uh we don't know what's going to be out there for cars um with the tariffs. So um it's a lot of uncertainty when it comes to uh the local receipts. I'm even seeing in licenses licenses and permits
that that number is lower than what it's been the last couple years that estimate. Yeah, we've been fortunate. You know, we've had uh the last few years we had the Blue Star Park um which drove that quite a bit and then
we had the um apartments on Mainfield Lab, another big project that drove that um right now. I don't see a lot of big projects. We have a lot of individual homes, but um other than uh possibly in
the center of town next uh where the old bank was, um a project going in there, um I don't see a lot of large projects that are going to drive things, Madam Chair. Yes, James.
So local receipts is the only place where we can uh you know budget for free cash pretty much. So we budget low amounts for the for the estimated revenues. Any excess revenue that we collect over the estimate becomes free
cash. That's the only safe place to have it because if you have it on a departmental budget, it could get spent. It probably will be spent. Um as far as the 500,000 uh being used on the stabilization fund, the problem is that that now becomes
part of the budget. Uh the base budget will be 500,000 and higher. So when we go into 2027, if we don't take 500,000 plus whatever the percentage of the increase for next year will be, let's call the 58,000. If we don't take that amount out of the
stabilization fund, we would have to cut budgets 58,000 as a starting point. If you look at the revenue and expenditure sheets, uh what it shows, last year we use a total of $1.99 million out of free cash uh into
the operating budget. That includes the October town meeting. That's for the whole year. That's how much we used for 2026. We're using 1.817 plus 500,000 from the stabilization. We're already using if we
go through with this over 2.3 million. Where is that money going to come from next year? If cash is only, let's say it's only $3 million, we're going to put 500,000 back into the stabilization. So, we're at two and a half. We have to set money aside for snow and ice deficits.
There's quite a few uh out projects that are not, you know, approved yet, but we have the highway roof. The fire station roof is going to be uh bonded out. The principle and interest for those projects will be
funded out of free cash at the October town meeting. This is not the final the main town meeting budget won't be the final budget. there are some pending items that you know that's why we have the authorative meetings to clean up um the budget and and and make the final um
appropriations needed to to finalize the budget and you know I know it's going to be at least 30,000 in principle and interest for the fire station roof uh the highway department I believe is 600,000 for the project depending on
when we go out to borrow the funds there may be some interest that we're going to have to account for it. That's not part of the um current budget. So, you know, it is a dangerous game. I'm not saying we cannot do it,
but don't be surprised if, you know, next year we're going to have to cut the budget significantly. So, instead of a 3% budget, we may be looking at a 1% budget or zero or maybe negative depending on where everything falls. Cuz I don't anticipate free cash will be $6
million like it was last year. Madam Chair. Yes. So I think it was two years ago. I'm sorry. Yours kind of blend together now keeping on income for so long. Um I think we did the same thing where we borrowed from Zach. I remember we borrowed from stabilization
for the schools um to give them their level service budget and we did the same thing. We put the money back in the fall and also asked them to not request any supplemental money. Um, and I think that was 2 years ago. And then last year, obviously, we saw what happened with the
school budget in 26, 29 layoffs. So I, you know, James, I guess to your point, yeah, we could be in this pattern now where we're borrowing and then next year she may have to lay off 30 people and then, you know, and then here we go,
circle around and around. Um but at the same time I also it doesn't feel good to have to lay off employees from the town from schools or anywhere. Um but if we don't take the money from stabilization you know where else could we take it
from you know there's I guess nowhere. Yes sir. I think James the difference this year I think at least to date which has happened every fall that I've been here and I think it's been five or 6 years now we've made subsid we we
subsidized budgets to the police station the fire station the schools everything else right now by using the stabilization money and I know you're opposed to it other than what you said the roofs and some other things there really shouldn't be any requirements. The
schools shouldn't be coming back with anything. There should be nothing. I mean, it should be even if we have $3 million and I'm just drawing that number out there, $3 million in free cash. Let's just assume we put 500 back in stabilization. We fund the capital budget, 500,000, and then you have
another couple hundred,000 in miscellaneous stuff. You're still rolling, you know, couple million dollars into next year, free cash. So, would you I know it's not good, but we can only deal with what's in front of us. This is
what's in front of us right now. Do I have a crystal ball to know next year what the revenue is going to be? No. And I and you know and I I hate to say this, but it is it is the truth. We have this mentality and it's
it's ethnically here. It's municipal government that we bring a person on, let's say we we hire the person for the senior center, we own them forever. That means we own them forever. That's that's not the case. And you know, I I've run businesses since I was 25 years old. I've hired and fired and not laid off
thousands of people. Revenue changes. You know, you gain an account, you lose an account, no difference. You don't have the revenue, you don't have the revenue. You got to make adjustments. I don't see that as a big deal. It happens every day, everywhere. This notion that we bring on somebody
and we own them forever is only a municipal government thing because that does not exist anywhere else in society. Madam chair. Yes. I don't think we own anyone. But if we add a position to for
example who is requesting it, the COA, we do not next year want to have to cut that position. It's not necessarily I mean there's a real person obviously and that person is going to mean something to the seniors and to the people who come in to the to the community center but we do want to own the position or at
least have consistency among our departments. We don't want to say the hideway department. Well, you can clean the cemeteries this year with your extra person or this per not extra but an additional person that's been needed for the department but next year we're not going to have enough for um to fund that
position. So, we're just going to cut that back and maybe cut some other areas because we don't have the consistent recurring funding to be able to fund our departments. So, I don't think it's about individual people um other than what the services are that are provided
to the town that people come to expect. And if they're going to the senior center and they're really happy with this one position for one year, they're of course going to come back and they're all going to be sitting here when there's any talk of cutting that position because now there isn't any money anymore. And of course they should
because they've come to expect that and they wanted that. They came here and lobbyed for that last year and last week and the week before. So you know when the schools were having 26 positions cut parents filled this room because they were upset about that. I mean that's what happens. It's not about owning it.
It's about the consistency of what our positions are for this town in any specific department. I mean certainly the smaller the department the bigger one person makes a difference because you know there's only six people that say that work for highway cutting one
person is you know 15 20% of their workforce so that I mean that's how I see it yes you're not wrong but again they're pring that position the whole year if you have the money you can do it you can do it this year if you can't do it next
year you can't do it next year and we don't we have consistent revenue. Last year we made $6 million of free cash this year. Maybe 2 million. I have no idea. I mean, if that's the case, then go 3% across the board and build up a a massive pile of cash. I mean, I don't
know what the revenue is going to be next year other than the 2 and 12% that we get from uh from, you know, the prof 2 and a half uh real estate taxes. I have no idea how many cows are going to be bought. I have no idea if we're going to go into depression. You know, nobody knows this. We can deal with what what's
in front of us. this is what's in front of us today. If next year we don't have the revenue, we make those adjustments next year that goes on every day. I just, you know, I I guess I I'm not from this world of of uh you know, you make
adjustments as you go. I'm in business. I have 100 employees. It's my money that writes that, you know, six figure payroll every week. If I don't have the money, unfortunately, I have to let somebody go. Do I like it? Absolutely not. But it's the facts of life and if I I
you know if I couldn't deal with that then I'm should I shouldn't be that position. But that's you know my thought on it anyway. So Zach I don't think for me it's about necessarily oh is that Bill?
That's Bill. Go ahead Bill. Thanks Madam Chair. Um, can I just kind of uh second what that was saying? Um, you know, if if we have money
today, we should try to, you know, we should try to do what we can today. And if next year we're falling off the cliff, then you know that
this that may get people's attention that that we're not really getting at the moment. and maybe against the greater body of
um voting people and get their attention that you know we're we're on a path that can't sustain and eventually you know eventually something new has to happen.
So, if we can do it this year, great. Next year, that's a whole new thing on season to worry about. Madam Chair, yes. Go ahead. Um, I respectfully disagree with Bill and
Zach. Um, the town voted no on the override. Um, they came out in uh uh force. I just uh I don't understand. We're on an
unsustainable path and if we have a way to try to fix it now, let's try to do it now. We keep kicking the can down the road. I know departments want to hire people. I've been vocal being against any new hires. We We just need to start
now. And if residents lose services, they voted no on the over, right? And I think now is the time to start to get people's attention. So, can I just respond to to something that both Zach and Bill said about if we
have the money? I I I would argue we don't have the money, right? We're we're taking out a loan right now, right? We're we're like but we're dipping into the stabilization. We're we're dipping into the free cash. I mean, we could we could dip into more stabilization if we wanted to and say we have that money. Where does that end? So for me, dipping
into those things like less of an issue to dip into them for a level services. Again, there's a stop gap for one more year. And I mean, kick the can down the road for one more year. I mean, I know it's not a solution, but at least we get level services and then maybe I I don't
I don't think any the vote will ever change in this town. Um, so I'm not I don't think that'll be the solution, but maybe there's another solution. I don't know. But either way, um I would I would advocate for level services this year. I and and using
whatever we can to get level services. I wouldn't advocate for um using all of these different, you know, this little shell game that we have going on for anything new. Um, Zach, you made a comment about the 2 and 12% uh increase that's across the
board. And I don't know if James can explain a little bit more about it's not a 2 and a half% of the overall budget, it's 2 and 12% of the assessed value. So, it's look at the revenue expenditure sheet on the top where it says $48
million of base tax levy, the increment, that's the 2.5%, the 1.2 2 million. That 1.2 million is the total 2 and a half% that we get. We don't get 2 and a half% on our close to $80 million budget. The rest of the revenue has to
come from local receipts which were increased by 500,000 which is more than 10%. Um state aid which doesn't go up much for fortunately. and uh and then fund transfers which is the free cash
stabilization the ambulance account that which the ambulance account I think is also being overutilized um and once you take those uh fund transfers and make them part of the budget they're there to stay forever the day they're not available
you have to cut the budget by that amount so if for instance if we say from now on we're not going to use the ambulance account anymore we would we would have to cut the budget 1.23 million. If we were to take the 500,000 from the stabilization fund, then the 500,000 will go away from the budget and
so on. You also have to keep in mind every time the budget goes up 5 6% interest compounds. So next year the base budget is much higher. So even if you do 3% next year or the higher amount rather than 3% of the lower budget,
you're growing the budget exponentially. I mean, I know it sounds like it's uh going up a lot and it's beneficial. I would love it. It would benefit. It would make my life easier, but it's not sustainable. That's the problem. We're only getting 2 and a half% on on the
base budget. Um and if we're lucky, we get uh get a high new growth amount, and those are the only two items that are operating recurring revenue um as part of the budget. Everything else is pretty much one-time funds.
I haven't. Yes, sir. So, I've been in town here, I think over 30 years now. And for 30 years, I've heard the same tune. It's not sustainable. We can't keep doing this. I can't We can't keep doing this again. Oh, we're going to go
broke. We're going to do this. 30 years. 30 years. Go back to minutes from 30 years ago. We've heard the same tune. Yet, we're still here. The lights are still on. We still have good schools. We have a great fire department. We have a great police department. So, you know what?
Contrary to the doom and gloom that's I hear continuously for 30 years, we're making it work. We're making it work year to year. Yeah, it may not be everything we all want, but we're making it work. And it's not, you know, it's not going to crash and burn next year or
all these scenarios that I've heard for the last 30 years. This is what you got this year. This is what you can spend. Next year, you deal with next year. That's it. 30 years from now, it'll be the same thing. We'll all be
dead and be saying the same story. Surrounding communities that have passed override after override after override are doing the same thing. 100 teachers go on at Bridgewater Arena uh over the weekend. And I keep, you know, I hear
override and override, but somebody needs to tell me how, you know, this is not a political organization, but it keeps getting brought up. Tell me how override is going to fix the problem. You bring in an extra $2 million, you hire all these people, they then increase health insurance, everything
else is 6 7 8%. The next year, you're in the same boat. Override going to work. If you don't anybody else, you do the override and say, "Okay, we're going to freeze the budget and we're going to get a few years." You want to pass an override and hire 20 people, one year later, you're going to have the same
problem. Similar to what you see in every community, just look around. Look around all the surrounding communities. They're looking for more money. After they've passed over, after they brought in businesses, built industrial packs, on and on it goes. Just the same old broken record. This is what you've done.
This is what you can spend. Can you fully fund the school level service this year? You can do it. Can't do it next year. You can't do it. the people have voted. Why don't we keep working it up? Yes. So, I don't to disagree with you, Zach.
I don't really hear anybody saying we shouldn't use stabilization to fund the schools. Like, you know, I hear people saying we should use stabilization to stabilize, not to expand, not to add new positions, which could rob next year. Next year, we could be, as the town account has told us, in a much worse
spot if we overspend this year. And to use your words against you last fall when you were talking about stabilization, you said, "Hey, do I keep 5% and consider that good?" No, that's not enough. Right? So, I think we need a whole lot more than 5% to to be stable
and safe and have a good savings, right? So, why would we cut into it? Why, you know, why is it being above 5% okay? I agree. I'm the one who proposed to the 1.5 million. And in the fall, as I said, if there's more money than that we anticipate, I'm going to be the first one standing here and saying, "Let's put
a million dollars of stabilization." I'm the ones going to make that motion, right? But right now, this is where we are. If I hadn't made that motion, that $500,000 free cash, and that would have been okay. Everybody in this panel would be great. We have free cash. We'll spend it. But just because I moved at the
stabilization, now the sky is falling and we're go and we're going bankrupt. I Zach, can can we go for the chair and like give Yes, I'm asking direct getting excited about this topic.
I I guess I would point out 30 years ago, the sky's been falling for 30 years. 30 years ago, we probably had our class. We probably have a lot of things that the town no longer has. So I don't think that saying, you know, I I used some hyperbole a few weeks back and talked
about the town dissolving. That's obviously not what I meant. I meant this slow erosion that we're seeing. And that's what I would like to stop. And I think this this whiplash uh uh spending every penny and then you robbing from next year and then next
year we're laying people off and back and forth is is not it's not good for the town. It's not good for the people that rely on the town services. I see your point. I've said it before. Hey, 6 months with a par professional in the schools, maybe that intervention changes a kid's life and then that person's get
gets laid off, but that kid's life is still changed. So maybe that's I can see that point. But from a financial uh responsibility standpoint, I I I don't agree. I don't I think we need to be a little bit more uh prudent here. And
having positions isn't is prudent. Any other general thoughts before we start taking some votes? Madam Chair, just real quick, um I forget who said I don't know if it was James mentioned that um you know
borrowing from stabilization for the operating budget could have um you know bad effects on our bond rating or whatever. Did that happen last time? Did you notice when we had borrowed I think it was 2 years ago um from the stabilization for our operating budget
did you notice anything negative happen then um madam chair uh I don't believe we were out in the bond market when that happened so it did not affect us at that time but we are going out to bond next month and they're going to be asking
questions about the fiscal year 26 budget and while I'm talking I just want to add something else the sky has probably been falling for 30 years like you said. We did have negative free cash probably 22 years ago. Okay. And then uh
the finance committee at the time implemented policies to try to avoid that happening ever again. Um cuts have been made every year as you all know. Uh the the school department every department has suffered through all the years. Why are we still here? because
we've made financial sound decisions that have prevented us from having to go bankrupt. Uh we're not in the business of going in in in a deficit. You know, we want to maintain even it's better to have a a slight increase in the budget
and keep a positive uh cash flow going in than say, "Oh, let's worry about it next year." If you start worrying, you know, worrying about what may happen next year, knowing that you're overutilizing your your reserves, you are going to set yourself up to uh to be
in that position next year where the cuts are going to have to be way bigger. That's just my opinion. You know, it's not You guys are free obviously to to do whatever you think is appropriate. Thanks, James. Any other questions, comments?
Just if I could just when we get to the highway budget, um the select board brought up a couple things at their meeting and they had a hick fun meeting also. Um and they increased the amount
of the Hicks fund to the budget to 80,000 so that the highway department could add one of the two positions. And they also um re request that we use 10,000 from free cash on um repairs from
private ways because of an issue they're having on a roadway in town. So that'll come up when we get to the highway. Okay. Anyone have questions on that? is Mike is a hex fund um when they I mean we heard how this is all sort of this gray
area that we're in right now but if we do use hex fun money should that go to highways is that cemeteries highway is that the idea yeah it's for the cemeteries okay madam chair yes m uh quick question I I
don't think we agree to that additional position yet for the highway department so Oh If we don't agree to it, I mean, is there an issue with the hex fun money? It would just remain
unspent. Okay. Mike, did you get the sense that they will continue to fund that position with fix money, but they will increase that going forward or is this just a onetime thing? We did tell them that. So hopefully they're confident in
their interests that they'll learn. Any other questions on that? I think there were um a couple other changes that you made too to your recommendations. Can you just go through those the um EMS
you went back up to the request that was I thought was your vote, right? Yeah, that's our vote. But I noticed you changed your your recommendation as well and you didn't do that for anything. So I just But you didn't because you didn't change
the recommendation on the um fire or emergency plan of just the EMS. So was there something about EMS that you felt that that was just just Okay. And that was the one actually the budget
that I had a question on too. Um right now year to date we're about 58%. And we did add to that in the fall. I don't remember why we added it to the fall in the fall and um why it's a little bit lower right now. It seems like we're going to have extra money there. Is was there a reason we added
money there in the fall into the EMS? EMS. Yeah. That was one of the supplements. I know we had been cut in May and we're just putting it back to Okay. So, if they are only if they are lower right now, then do we think that
there's a need next year? Why I guess why are they lower right now? I would tell you Sandy, I think he's being conservative in case he can turn back instead of just spending and stocking up on the supplies to I know that Chief Simmons is working on a
conservative major. most of them. I probably did. Okay. So, he's not is there's not some big thing he's going to be spending that on your eyes at once. Okay. Any other questions? Do we want to start going through
the different budgets. So, I think select board is first. Okay. Select board. Um there's uh under personnel services $80,120 and under charges and expenditures
$2700. uh for a total budget of $82,820. Anyone have questions on that? Are we doing them individually or at the other page? So, it's I mean it's kind of weird cuz we did some of them on the first page already. We could do several at a time
if you wanted to several on the rest of them on that page. Madam chair. Yes. I'd like to make a motion that we recommend the total for select board account number 122 at $82,820.
Have a motion. Second. Second. All right. Any further discussion on that? Yes. Adam? Yes. Honey, yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes.
Brandon, yes. Steve, yes. And Bill, yes. Um, next is town manager personnel services 335,984 and charges on expenditures $21,000 for a total of $356,984.
Yes, Mike. Unfortunately, I'm going to ask you to repeat yourself uh from last week because I wanted to rewatch the the video to understand a little bit more of what you're trying to explain to me and unfortunately couldn't because of certain events. What happened? I don't
know. Um so, pause a screenshot. So, you mentioned um on the assistant town manager some additional payments being agreed to. Can can you explain that to me again? Sure. So let me
uh much green again. So, um, back in April of 2024, we received a salary survey from a company that we hired. And,
um, in their salary survey, they had a proposed salary range of 95,500 133,700 um, was the range uh, for that position. And then uh we found that there were
four positions that were below the 50th percentile um in the salary ranges. Um and that was that town assistant to the town manager uh the assistant uh treasurer
collector and then uh the inspections uh the building commissioner um the human services COA director uh those are the positions that we're
under and how we determine if the uh assistant to the account manager just like we did with all those other positions. Uh we received the range data from uh the company and we did use the average. We used the 50th percentile
um in order to determine what uh the salary would be. In this case um the 50th percentile was $121,399 and the current pay was $118,150. So then these were the adjustments. Uh so
the union positions, the building commissioner, the COA director and the assistant treasurer collector. The union agreed to um take those in two installments. So the total the building commissioner was under was
$4,021. So, um, one payment was, uh, voted, I'll show you later at the October town meeting, and one, uh, would be this year. Um, and then the town clerk, uh, we took care of that with the hiring of the new town clerk, uh, within
that range. And, uh, the one position that's not, uh, that's not a union position. And the assistant to the town manager is not a union position. Uh so we stretched that over three years, three
payments. Okay. Then uh so there's the agreement. It's three payments. 4,333.33 over three payments. And then um get
to in October um operating budget supplements. These are the supplements that were approved at the fall town meeting. And you can see under the town manager, uh, $4,333, which is that payment one.
Um, under, uh, the inspections department, $2,10.50, which is uh, payment one. When you say payment, you it's an increase, right? Not a one time payment. Okay. Increase one of two for that, one
of three for the assistant to the town manager. Uh the Council on Aging um received $3,945.50 just so the the intention there is to get that position up to the 121 that was like
okay. So this year looking at 126 127 really as the updated salary that's 6,000 more. So I was I'm
still I I think I understand where that was all coming from now. But it does seem like a large increase despite that. Is that because we're adding maybe like like a normal cost of living percentage plus?
So next year we would anticipate or was this two or two out of three? So next year be similar. Yes. How does that work with the salary band capping on 133? A similar increase would be over that right. Um it would still be
close. Um it it still should be below that. Well, 108 to 116 is 8 grand. 116 to 126 is about 10 grand. If we follow that from 126, you're at 136, which is above the salary
cap. The cap is 1337. which is less than 136 which would be a commensurate increase next year like 126 adds room for the leaves room for the 30 4,000 or so in that agreement but not much more and then at
that point this position will just hit that max and sit there until the town approves an increase right you have to they would have to go to a town meeting and change the wage salary plan. Okay.
All right. Thank you. Yeah, there's I think 90 positions in town wage and salary plan that have to go to town within the ranges. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions?
Uh madam chair. Yes. I just want a clarification, Mike, if you could. Um, when you got those comparables, were you only looking at assistant to the town manager positions or were you also looking at assistant town manager positions? Cuz those are two different
positions. I saw it was like ATM/ assistant to town manager. Yeah, we made it clear to them what we were looking for. Yeah. Um and uh I mean the position may say assistant too, but if
you look at um what the position has evolved into, it's rarely an assistant town manager position. um comparing job descriptions with uh I mean the
Yeah, I can give you this but the essential functions are huge. Mike, are there any non-managerial um pieces to that role to that position? Any what managerial? Is is there any
management that that of staff or anything else? Um, so the position does a lot of handling a lot of the uh since we don't have an HR director handling a lot of uh employee issues that come up.
Um, does all the invitations for bids. Um, handles all the drug screening, the standard stuff that you see all the time, the budget. Anyone else have questions on that?
Madam Chair? Yes. So, Mike, does will this person if you were to get sick or whatever, take over your your position as the assistant? Okay. So, but as a town, did we vote to have an assistant town manager? You have an assistant too.
coup, which is the I would think an assistant town manager could step in just like an like my assistant could step in. Yeah. Versus my admin stepping in. Well, I would say that I would look
at um the position under the select board's budget as more of an admin and this position I would look at more as a managing position. Any other questions, Madam Chair? Yes. I move the amount of 3
thou $356,984 for the town manager account 123. Mhm. Motion a second. Second. Paul, yes. Gavin, yes. Honey, yes.
Paula, no. Trace, no. Zach, you missed somebody. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I have my list here. I can't It's hard to see now. I was going to capture it. Brandon, no. Zack. Um,
come back to you. Yeah, you can come back to me. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, here. And Zack. Oh, Stain.
Oh, come on. Madam Chair, yes. If I may, I just want to say I know I brought this up repeatedly over the last few months, you may be surprised, but I I do feel after Mike's explanation, I I didn't want to single anybody out
given and I think the explanation, well, I don't necessarily love it makes sense. So, just wanted to explain that to my fellow board members. All right. And I I get my I guess. So, I think that was three nos, right?
All right. Next we have board on that one. Town account. Next. U. Next we have town accountant. Um personnel services 256,997. um p uh that's for two full-time people
and one part-time person in that department. Uh purchase of services 30,000 and charges and expenditures 2,770 and the 30,000 is that all the audit James? Yeah.
Yeah, that's for the audit. There any questions on that budget? Madam Chair, yes. I move the bottom line amount of $289,766 for the time account number 135.
Motion to a second. Second. Yes. Kevin, yes. I Yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zach, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill,
yes. And I Yes. Next, we have assessors, personal services, $237,640. Uh there's three full-time people in that department. And charges and expenditures, $153,635. And the big increase there is 110,000
that was part of an article previously but moved into the budget this year. Um any questions on that one? Madam Chair? Yes. I move the amount of $391,275 to the assessors account number
141. Motion by a second. Second. Yes. Kevin, yes. Hi, yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, Nigel, yes.
Next is Treasurer Collector's Office. Um, under personal services, $317,78. Um and that is for three full-time people and the new part-time position. Um and then uh charges and expenditure
is $50,565 to office. And just a reminder that we eliminated a part-time position in the um board of health so that we could fund this position.
Any questions on that budget? All right, Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am. I move the amount of $368,273 for the treasur collector account number 147. I have a motion by a second. Second. Paul, yes. Gavin, yes.
Bonnie, yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, yes. Yes. Um, data processing, um, we have one
part-time position, $34,445, and charges and expenditures, $473,816. Any questions on that budget? Madam Chair. Madam Chair. Yeah. Yes, ma'am. Um, this is more of a procedural
question. Um, purposes of just not in minutes, all that kind of happy stuff. Do we need to separate personnel services from charges and expenditures
when we're making these motions or just the bottom line? Um, you need to separate them. We should vote for Y. Yeah, you could say that too. It was
written by the town. Where are you at? Yeah. 15. Madam Chair. Yes. I move as Mike presented the bottom line of $58,261 to data process signal 155. I have a motion by a second. Second.
Second. Paul. Yes. Kevin. Yes. Yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zach, uh, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, yes. And I Yes.
under um town clerk 161 under personal services 510. Uh 169,52. Um this is for two full-time and one part-time person in the office. and under charges and expenditure $5705,925
uh for a total of $175,427. Any questions on that? Madam Chair, yes. I move the bottom line amount as presented by Mike of $175,427 to the town clerk account 161. Motion by a second. Second. Paul, yes.
Kevin, yes. I Yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zach, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, yes. And I Yes. All right. in the department of 171
conservation personal services 510 144,59. Uh there are two full-time staff people in the conservation office and charges an expenditure $570
$11,000 for a total of $165,59. Mike, can I ask a question about conservation? Um I was looking at James your report that from all the uh appropriations we've had for E3 that the line spent um I know when we talked to
the conservation agent um he did not seemed like that was a priority right now to um to work on E3 or to you know um rent it out or any of those kinds of things. So, and it doesn't ne have to be a discussion for tonight, but just like for food for thought that if I feel like
we either need to spend that money or put it back, right? Because it's it's kind of just been sitting there. We just keep we have maybe three different appropriations, I think, for E3. Um, so just a just a thought for the future,
Madam Chair. Yes. Can I add to that? Yes. Mike, can you politely ask the select what what their intention to do with that E3 property is? I mean, it is uh a diamond, but it's rough. I'll put
it that way. Been wet. Yes. Madam Chair, Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am. Um over the Uh the phone line here it sounded like
personal services was 144,000 154 it's supposed to be 154 right 154059 Thank you madam chair I move the waterline amount is present commended by Mike of 165,50
$165,59 to the conservation commission count 171. I have a motion or a second. Second Paul, yes. Kevin, yes. Bonnie, yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes.
Bill, here. And I Yes. Uh, under planning board 175, under personnel services 510, 159,792, and that's two full-time staff people, and under charges and
expenditures, uh, $3,375. Any questions on that budget? Madam Chair, I move the bottom line amount presented by Mike 163,163,167 to planning board account 175. I have a motion to have a second.
Second Bob, yes. Kevin, yes. Bonnie, yes. Holla, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, yes. Okay, next we have uh municipal building
maintenance $127,000. Any questions on that? Madam Chair. Yes, sir. first I just want to know Mike um what the department asked was 171,000 and your request your recommendation is
127,000 so what was the what are we getting away what what is he not getting um a few things um one we're getting credit solar credits that will reduce the electricity and uh the other thing was some of the things that were in this budget before we've now moved to the
fire department for example will handle their own electrical bills and gas bills where it used to come out of this budget. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. All right. Any other thoughts back to your question? Yeah. What what exactly
just to follow up on on Trac's question. What exactly is left? What is that covering, Mike? The money that's left, the 127,000. What is that covering? That get to it. and hopefully we have less bills uh as
far as maintenance for the new building. So it will cover electricity, um, propane, natural gas, which before we had a high amount because in that building he was, uh, natural gas, but
here we only have it for uh generator. That's it. Um it covers our water and sewer bill, uh repair maintenance of equipment, repair maintenance of buildings, trash and garbage removal,
uh coffee and duplicate expenses for the coffee machines and charges and expenditures for cleaning the cleaning company. And that's for the senior center here. Just just here. Just here. Just here.
Any other questions? Madam Chair? Yes, ma'am. I move the amount of 127,000 is presented by Mike to the municipal building maintenance 192 budget. I have a motion. I have a second. Second Paul, yes. Kevin, yes.
Bonnie, yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zach, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Did I hear Steve? Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Next. Okay.
Under highway under uh personal services 1,41,940 under charges and expenditures $168,250 under surface treatment $13,000 and repairs to private waste 11,000 and
as I said before that was 1,000 and um the select board has asked that we increase the free cash amount uh by 10,000 to add money into that. Um and
the personal services um that's an added position at $71,389. U Mike the the 10,000 for the um repairs. What's that? What's that going to do? Is that I imagine that's not going to fix everything, right? Or
no. Um, it's not going to it's going to take a bad situation and make it a little less bad. Uh, fill some of the more severe areas that uh keep the potholes filled. And
Madam Chair, yes. So, this um figure, Mike, that you just moved for personal services includes the um additional filling of of an open position, not a new position. Correct. I mean, it's the adding of a um open spot from that was
there was last year there was one position that was eliminated. This year they were looking for two positions. That one plus another one. This one just fill one. Madam chair. Yes. So, Mike, this um personnel services recommendation does
not include the extra $80,000 from the Hicks fund. Um it will when we do our revenue sheet, we'll add that in, but right now it's just for one additional position. That's a position that's being fund with the
added funds from the Hicks. We're able to do Okay. Um and then just one more question about the um repairs to private ways. Is that something that we could use capital for?
Um, eventually if they were going to do something major to that road, they'd have to go through capital and have capitals. Okay, we did go to capital. Um, and they also agreed just to do this
for now. um while we look at what we legally can do and how much it's going to cost. Okay, Madam Chair. Yes, Mike. To that point on the $10,000, the reason we're putting it in the actual budget itself
instead of an article, it's just too late for an article we need to address, right? So, we'll have notations for next year. What this is potentially a one-time expenditure that we put in the budget. Yeah, it potentially is a one-time expense or I know the select
board did say, how come it's been 1,000 all these years and it's now gone up. So, might be something they look at in the future to increase it somewhat more than a,000. Um, you know, you can't buy much
payment for $1,000. Okay. Any other questions on the highway budget? Madam Chair, yes. I move the amount bottom line amount as presented by Mike
of 1,234,190 to the highway account 420. I have a motion to have a second. Second, yes. Kevin, yes. Bonnie,
yes. Paul, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, no. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, yes. Yes. Sponsored by Cyrus H. All
right. Next is council on aging 541 personnel services um $238,941 and this would include a new uh assistant position uh $70,000 position.
Um difference was that was put in by the uh department as an $80,000 position. Um and then under charges and expenditures uh $60,20
and the the same thing here. Um the request was $103,720 and I think most of that was electricity and uh our energy credits will take care of a lot of that. Any questions on that budget?
Madam Chair? Yes. I just want to uh remind everyone we've been talking about not getting in this position year after year and you just voted to add a new position for the highway department and now there's another new
position being proposed. So just tossing that out there. Okay, Madam Chair. Yes. I move the amount um presented by Mike of $298,961 for the council on aging 521 account.
All right. Can I just take a second first and then I'll do discussion? Yeah. So, do I have a second? Second. Uh further discussion. I get a question. Uh sorry. I guess I just wanted to agree with Brandon. Um, I
don't I don't think that this is the time to be adding positions um that didn't exist prior, especially Yeah. $70,000 um full-time position. Um so, I guess I don't know if we have to make a motion to recommend a different
amount here. Do we want to see if this We can do further discussion, I guess, and then I think maybe we vote on this one and then Okay. It doesn't pass, we can figure out what to do from there. Any other questions,
Madam Chair? Yes. Um, I would just point out I share Brennan's uh discomfort with adding acquisitions. I think on the highway department we got two differences. One is that it's a pre-existing position which obviously it wasn't funded. So, it is a new position financially, but um we're kind of
getting back to level services of years past is kind of one way I look at it as opposed to this one. The other thing is the bigger bigger difference being the fixed account money um which as much as I have discomfort with using it uh it is it is it has been approved at least for
this year it sounds like. So um I see that as being a distinction here uh as far as adding positions. Any other questions or comments? And Jerry, if I uh just um I understand
that the physicians um but we really are in need here. Um the services that are provided in that building, not just for seniors, but for people in need um are really taxing on
the small staff that we have right now. And as I said, when we were directed to do a 3% budget, when I did my budget of 3% for the town, there were a lot of cuts that were made around all
departments so that we could fund this position. Um so it really was work to do that because of the need that was addressed by um the COA director and the
people that utilize the services. Anyone else? Madam Chair? Yes. I know I probably sound like a jerk here, but those type of cuts that you mentioned, Mike, should be done to help us improve uh the position we're in with our budget.
And they're al they're also done in order to provide the services that people need and this is a desperate need. So So personally, Mike, I don't disagree. Um I don't you know anytime we have a we can't increase something or we
have to decrease something um it's it's a hardship and I think that there's a lot of departments we could say the same thing for um so I I don't think any you know there's anything personal or anything any anybody voting against this not necessarily saying this isn't a need
um but for me personally again going to level services already dipping into money for that that to me is the the priority to get the level services established And then I mean if we can find a way somehow to generate revenue for next year that
that would be you know I'm not opposed to adding that in the future. Madam chair. Yes. I just want to add to emphasize what you said. It it is nothing personal. It's just numbers. Madam chair. Yes.
Yes Brandon. It is just numbers and the numbers are 200 300 call it $300,000 for argument sake of an 80 plus million budget for 30 35% of the population in town. So
I know a lot of us are caught up on percentages. They're on the right side of the column. But I don't know how anybody can look at this and say we're treating the seniors fairly when we're giving them what onetenth of 1% of the
entire budget and they're paying their taxes. They don't get any relief because they're seniors. So, I mean, if we're looking at it from a fairness standpoint, I don't think that I think it's it's a gross misjud mis
misjudgment to say that we're going to take it out on these people that are getting onetenth of 1% of the budget. It's my opinion. Anyone else, Madam Chair? Yes. I do want
to add a data exclusion was approved for the seniors so or part of it for a brand new senior center to support them. So I don't want to I don't want sorry Pet Thank you. So tossing that out there too. Madam chair. Yes. I don't want to
go back and forth but that wasn't the only one that was done under that exclusion. This building the fields. We built a new high school. We put new windows. We did a lot of things all over town. So to sit there and the the seniors again are paying the more than
30% of the population in this town, a third of the population, they're paying the taxes and they got the debt exclusion as well on their tax bill. So I'll leave it at that. Anyone else?
I guess I just want to also say state that this is not personal coming for me either. I mean, I don't know where everyone else works here on this um finance committee, but I work in human services. I work for a nonprofit agency. I understand the need out there for more
staff. Um, you know, we also fight for that every year at my agency, but um we also have to live within our means um and do what we can. And again, this really is about adding a big position to the budget at this time and not being comfortable with that.
Bill, did you have something? Um, yeah. So, you know, let's go back a few years when this whole center was being
proposed and you know, I recall asking, you know, getting a brand new center. You're not going to need any more new personnel. Nope. We got it under
control. So on on that hand, I I should be, you know, just saying, "Hey, you you told us a couple of years ago you had it under control with the staff you
had, but they do serve a need. They do serve um a needy population just like you know teachers serve a needy population young kids. Now
we're serving older adults and if the director of of state center and to Zach's point 30 a third of the population of this town is
saying hey I need help and you know money budget whatever I need to be able to look myself in look at myself in the mirror
and say, "Hey, I did what was needed." And you know, if it's a one-year position, so be it. So for that one year, that person, this center serves
the population that they're there to serve. and maybe to help someone who otherwise would not have gotten the help they needed. And you know, Lord knows what would happen. If it gets cut next
year, so be it. But I I I think it's numbers aside, it's it's minuscule or rounding error in this overall budget. And there there's no reason
why we can't say that. They're really different. Anyone else? Oh, did you make a second? Oh, I'm sorry. Totally forgot about that. Okay, so we'll do the vote. Paul, yes. Gavin, no. Bonnie,
no. Paula, no. Trace, no. Brandon, can you skip me? After all that, Yes. Karen, yes. Steve, yes.
Bill, let me think about it. The potential 66 right back to you. I should pull a Zach and obstain. I abstain. Did you abstain? No. I'll I'll go with yes.
And I am a no. But that is five. Five. No. Six. Yes. Um ne next we have um veterans agent 543. Um under personal services 510
$109,581. Uh that's for one and a half people in that office. Um charges and expenditure 5 570 um $3,700 veterans benefits uh $579 $120,000.
Yes. Um Mike, just a quick question. Um on the veterans benefits, that's a reimburseable amount. we get 75% back. Correct. And if we don't I see we were cutting from 150 requested to
120 where the expenses for 23 and 24 were more than what we're recommending now and with that 75% reimbursement. If we go over that amount, are we limited here saying we can only reimburse or
provide benefits to veterans up to 120? If it goes over, we have to say no. No, we'll have to cover it. Um, so I was just looking at um in uh 2024 we spent 124,000 and where we were um at the time
we were preparing the budget, it looked like 120 would get us there. Obviously, we don't know um she doesn't know how many clients she's going to have come in during the year and what their needs are going to be. Um but under the law, she
has to cover those needs. So, if uh if we ended up having to spend 150,000, we'd have to come back to for reserve fund transfer or amend that budget next May. And does the veterans agent feel comfortable with 120,000 budgeted right
now? um she probably wouldn't say that but um because she really doesn't know. But my biggest thing, no matter what happens, we have to provide the benefits. We will provide we will provide the services. Yes. And it's an
automatic 75% reimbursement. Yeah. Madam Chair, yes. To Steve's point, um on your spreadsheet that you nicely did for us, there is 85,000 spent as of um March 31st. So, they've got a ways to go to get to the 120 even
speed for this year. Any other questions on the veterans project? Madam Chair, yes. I move the amount as presented by Mike, $233,281 to the veterans agent 543 a motion by a second.
Second. Paul, yes. Can yes. Bonnie, yes. Paula, yes. Trace, yes. Brandon, yes. Zack, yes. Kevin, yes. Steve, yes. Bill, yes. And I told him yes
and I'm going to recuse myself on the next one. All right. So um so if I can just mention uh this budget recreation 630 personal services 510
31,895 and charges and expenditures 21,590. I will say that that um 31895 is based on 25 hours. If we were to increase that to 30
hours, it would be 38,274. And um just to talk on that a little bit, James and I met with with her today with Melissa today. And under the state law, uh, the recreation
revolving account, it can only have $10,000 at the end of the fiscal year. Um, and whatever is left gets turned back to the general fund. And right now there's $50,000 in
that account. But she's done such a good job. So, I mean, if that continues, which I don't see why it wouldn't with what she's doing year after year, it would almost fund this position with the extra
5 hours easily. Um, so if you wanted to um go to 30 hours, I I think she she would be willing to work that. Um, it would be $38,274. Madam Chair, yes.
Mr. M. Can you explain, Mike, what the 50,000 fees that she's collected from all the different uh activities that she's been running? Um, and shouldn't 100% of that go right back into the into the parking
budget now. We're taking that and putting in operational funds. I mean, I I think I have no problem with that. She's working hard to to try to find a department. And now we're taking that back. I mean, it just seems we're municipal government. We're a business. Yeah. And a lot of it's the
rentals that a lot of our people rent out the pool on the weekends that brings in a lot of money. Um, and we don't set that's a state law. I mean, it's not our revolving account law. It's a state law. We're having founders day. How are we
paying for fireworks? You know, we we shake down everybody for donations and we have money. Uh, I I just it just seems still different. It just seems a little I don't want to use the right word, but uh
little slippery. like how about a community rotating event anything picnic Mr. vice chair. Um Mike, the it's a revolving account, right? So what what's brought in for the pool
rentals is paying for the lifeguards, right? It's a revolving account. Yeah. Any other questions? And there's two proposals on the table. Really? I know who wants to move. Well,
um, as far as discussion, I mean, I think we should determine what we want to do before we before I make a motion with discussion. Does that make sense? Mr. Chair, can we repeat option A and option B again, please? Option A is to
keep the position at 25 hours dark. Yeah. And option B is to increase it to 30 hours at a uh possibly a 5,000 and change increase. It's about 6,000 38 274 I think was going to be for
the additional 5 hours plus the 2159 if my math is right. 59864. Look at that. That's that Catholic education would have cost. Somebody check that place. All those years are going wrong. These are bad chief. I finally go the right
way. All right. Any discussion on either option before we move forward? Mr. Chairman, I would option I'd go for option B give the extra hours. Is that a motion? I think Bonnie wanted to do a motion. Sorry. Well, I just want to make sure there's no more discussion before I
made the motion. So, it's up to you. Officer, Mr. Chair, Mr. Chair discuss. Mike, I just want to confirm. You said willing to work those additional hours. Is that an option? What? What's that? When you said about the hours, you mentioned the person who's willing to
work those 30 hours. Is that an option? Well, I when we're talking about going to 30 hours, I just said to the person that we have there right now, is that something you'd be interested in? And they are. But that's an option. If they choose not to work those hours, they
don't have to. It will. Well, yeah. They're going to if they don't need a lot of one day liquor licenses, Mr. Chairman. Yes. Have we asked her, Mike, if she wants to be honest? I did.
And your answer was yes. Okay. Mr. Vice Chair. Yeah. To my memory, when Melissa met with us, she this was her department request for the 30 hours. Mr. Chair. Yes. If she's turned her department into a profit center, I don't see any reason why we wouldn't give the
department their requests. Having been in the position myself uh many years ago, I can tell you that she probably works more than 30 hours now. Mr. uh vice chair. Yes. Going to 30 hours, does that mean she's eligible for
benefits now? After 30 after 20 hours, you could 18. Thank you. Any other comments before we move into a motion? Bill, anything? You awake?
Yeah, I'm awake. Poor Bill. Bill can hardly hear, too. He's like, "What happened with COA?" I text him quick. All right, Mr. Vice Chair, I'd like to make a motion for recreation 630 and personnel services 31,890. No,
sorry. $38,274 for 30 hours each week. Uh charges and expenditures $21,590 for a total of $59,864. Motion has been made. Do we have a second? Second.
Okay. Yeah. Yes, Sandy. I'm recusing myself. Bonnie. Yes. Brandon. Paul. I can't even see you. Paul. Yes. Yes. Brandon. Yes.
Zack. Yes. Evan. Yes. Steve. I just find it interesting how much time we spent on Council of Aging and adamant we weren't going to increase any positions, but here we go. But I'm a yes. Bill. Yes. And I'm a yes. That'll be a 10 and
one extension. Wonder. All right. Thank you. See, it's hard to see down there, isn't it? It is. Back to these chairs. Moving different ways and then you miss somebody. Is that last one?
[Applause] All right. The report to the finance committee on the new town meeting. My understanding is that's the vice chair's only responsibility. Is that correct? [Music] that you'll be with.
All right. Anything. Was there anything else on there about that, Mike? You just want me to do it? All right. All right. Um, anything else? Um, no. So, the next meeting um I figured I wasn't sure how long this was
going to go. So, I'll I'll send the minutes out before that because I think you gave me a couple. Mike, did you give me more than one or just one? Yes, you give me I gave you quite the last group I sent. Okay. So, I'll I'll go through those and
send I haven't reviewed those. Send them right. All right. Perfect. All right. And we had we just so you know, we had a meeting Wednesday. We can cancel that. Correct. feels. Yeah. Well, I um Yeah, they I was asked just in case if we wanted to put something on the calendar in case we
didn't tonight didn't go so well. So, I think we're in good shape and we can cancel that meeting, right? Madam Chair, when is the next meeting that you referred to that we would be reviewing minutes? Um, are we meeting next Monday or between? Is that the only thing we have in the agenda is just
minutes? I can't make it next Monday. And it wasn't aware we'd have a meeting next Monday because they're going to meet before our town meeting. We just don't meet want to reconsider. We have to reload on something. Okay. We
do typically meet in July though once. So, okay. Mike, did you have anything else for the next meeting for next week? No. Did anybody else have anything they wanted to discuss next meeting? Next week. Mike, Madam Chair, just a question. Normally, we have voted as a
committee on the uh report of the finance committee. In the last few years, it seems to have been taken as a one-off. Okay. So, I just want to really level set. Is it the committee's memo or is it one person's memo that we all take a look at? So, just more curiosity on that. Like to get back to traditions.
Yeah. Question. If if you want if the committee want or you could just do a quick zoom meeting. Okay. I can't set that up later. All right. Do you want Do we want to do that, Steve? Do we want to do a Zoom meeting next week then? Fine. Just as
long as we get a chance to review. Last few years we have not. I'm sorry. Say that one more time. I just want to make sure the committee has a chance to review what's being written. Last few years we have not been able to. Do you want to Do you want to vote on it or just be able to review and give input on it? I think we vote. Okay. You want to vote on it? Okay. But Madam Chair, when
is it due though? because I I feel like in the past couple years we've gotten it done like right when it was like due to be printed in the war. So I don't think there was we weren't meeting and so there wasn't time for us to all review
it before it needed to be submitted. Yeah. As long as uh we have it 10 days before the town meeting. Well, we wouldn't be meeting again then because that's in like four days. Unless you meet unless you get it done
and we meet Wednesday to review it this Wednesday. That would be the only option for us to review it before it would be finally submitted. It's due before next Monday. Yes. Correct. Okay. Can it be done before Wednesday?
Can it be done before Wednesday would be the first question because if it can't then we would be gathering for nothing. Madam chair is everybody. No pressure is able to
madam chair. Yes. I don't know the procedure for this, but there's a a resident in the audience that has some numbers. Um, I was wondering if they could come up or it's regarding the
MDTA overlay. So, I don't know if I have to make a motion for something or if they can come up and speak. I just pardon my ignorance. I mean is is the we we have already voted on this on the
MTA. Is it to ask us to reconsider that vote? Right. You can come. All right. Do we know what article number that is? 13. I'm sorry Peter. 17. 17.
17. Yep. Mark 2014. Young man is correct. Mark 2014. Marlin, I'm was hoping that the finance committee would take one one more look at article 17, Peter. Yep. Art, the
MBTA overlay, reszoning overlay article. We voted what? 7 to three. Yeah. Last time I was hoping that you'd take one more look at that. Um, I think that
the we're finding that the the there's going to be a lot of no on that coming up on May 19th, 17th. May 19th. So, that means we're going to it's going to go down right now as it is. Um,
and that means no grants. We're going to lose millions. So, I'm hoping that you'll reconsider the article. Um, and then hopefully we can go with a a motion on the floor to go back with
Red Mill Village because then there'll be no work done later on or no property taking later on and that we can still qualify for the the grants cuz right now as it stands, you're not going to get it. So, I'm thinking that we can try to
avoid that. We're going to be in a big boat, a big mess and a bad boat come the next day. So, I'm asking this board again, your weight is everything. They're going to go with what you say among other things, but just one
more one more helping set stone setting stone or helping stone to make sure that we get the grants by voting no or voting the what was proposed and approving that 7 to three. that's going to go down in flames that night. So, I'm hoping you'll
reconsider that. So, Mark, you're asking for the finance committee to make an amendment to the article itself? No, you're asking us to vote it down. Vote it down. And then and then with what with what end goal? End goal is to put
the over put an amendment at the town meeting for that article to bring it back to Redm Mill Village, which was the uh the a second option, I guess you want to say that that did lose with the planning board, but we're going to bring it up one more time. So, I don't think
there's anything stopping anybody from making an amendment whether we do what whatever way we vote. I mean, I imagine if there are people that are going to do that either way. Um, so I don't know what revoting for us would do. Just that your power,
you give us a lot of credit. I a lot of people come in. I don't I don't think on this issue, Mark. I think people are pretty are pretty uh a lot of people will come a lot of people do sit there in the space and say, "All right, what did the what did the finance committee say?" True. Okay. You you do
swing a lot of weight. If they don't know, they're going to go with what was what was said already by the finance committee. Okay. Um Yeah. So, all right. Thanks, Mark. Um does anybody want to reconsider the vote? Does any I guess
does anybody change their mind? Is is I would hate to reconsider if nobody's changed their mind. I make a motion to reconsider. You can make a motion by a second. Second. All right. I have a motion to second to
reconsider. Go through. Paul, yes. Gavin, no. Bonnie, no. Paula, no. Trace, no. Uh, Brandon, yes. Zach, yes. Kevin, yes.
Steve, yes. Uh, is Bill? No, I think you're still on there. Bill's here. Bill, are you still there? Bill, you still there? I'm still there and a no. Okay. And I am a no as
well. One, two, three, four, five, six, six. No. So the the motion to reconsider fails. Um so again 665 56 m. Can I say something? Yes. I would
just like to say if folks are afraid of this uh terrible outcome and did not pass a town meeting, I recommend you hop on Facebook and you educate your neighbors about why this isn't such a bad idea. Thank you. Is everyone so afraid? Keep
talking. That's like the new thing around town. Oh no, we're going to lose our grants and it's finance committee's fault. And that's an absurd rating of the situation, frankly. Yeah. I I don't think we're going to take any
more votes. So, no, no. I just wanted to add to the mic. Yeah. Just forformational purposes. Jim Sham identify yourself. What's that? Your name, please. Uh Jim Sham, 56 Mansfield Avenue. Um the the
grant thing is actually not as simple as it looks. Um we're going to lose the ability to get some fairly minor grants. One of them is major. Mass works is major. Um that $3.5 million that
basically nobody wants to take which makes it minor. Um the issue and I did just for fun bring papers. Paul likes papers. Can I just ask a question? Sure. There was there
was a vote not to reconsider. So why there's just information about this just just information for Gavin's point those are minor the major grant is the school
reimbursement and if you cause danger to the bud budget which I just redid the projections I did last year which uh the planning board did improve it quite a bit we're only short a million dollars instead of two and a half So, they've improved it. But if a million dollars
puts Chapter 70 funds at risk, you've robbed um No, you've paid Paul and Peter ain't paying you. So, thank you. Thanks, Jim. Madam Chair, yes. I'd like to make a motion we have a motion
second. All in favor? I thank you.