I'm at All right. Oh, no. Okay, I think I got it. I got it. All right. I got to let everybody in the end. You've got it. I'm in. Two people entered the waiting room. Now I got to figure out how to let
everybody in. Where's I'm not getting a message to people. You're Are you in the waiting room? I was, but now I'm admitting people. It says, can you just go to Can you just I've got them here. I'm pretty certain.
April Stein. Yeah, I'm here. Uh Howard Spettner, you should be able to Howard, unmute yourself. And someone S Vivier. So, wait a second. You're all in?
I uh while you were trying to get into Zoom, I got in. I'm hosting the meeting. You're hosting the meeting apparently. Howard, you can hear me, right? And April can Yeah, I can. Yeah,
you can see them all on the screen. Yes. Okay. Is that you? I got to get out of what I'm doing. Is there someone asked on mute? Susan S. Vivier. Is there someone named S Vivier
who wants to get in? That wouldn't be me. Yeah. I'm asking her to unm or I say her. Yeah. Who is that person? I can I could make you the host when you get in. Uh it doesn't matter the host.
Once I get in, it doesn't matter. It's we I just need to get in and it's not letting me in. And the thing is, I've tried so many times it keeps messing up my computer and I gota All right, here we go. This I don't understand why this isn't working.
I gota reboot my PC. It it Can you just call Can you go to shootspray.org on your phone and then go to meetings? I'm rebooting my PC. This should work now because I've been trying to log in and start the host. How can we hear you if you're not logged
in? Um, start the meeting without me. No, you can listen. You're in. You can probably hear everything. That's true. You're in. You're in the meeting. The meeting. Okay. And where's David? David's right
here. I think I need a little more volume, though. I I thought I had the volume up to a nice level, but I need a little more. So, hold on for just a minute. Okay. And if David could move to his right. So, yes. Thank you. Okay.
Okay. Uh let me see if I can get the Okay. I'm I'm on my work computer and it it's hard for me to get documents up, but I will find them. Okay. Howard? Yeah. Howard? Yeah, that's fine. Can you
speak a little louder because um maybe I can hear. Maybe I can. That's not what I want to do. Wait a minute. All right. You need to let me in. Okay. George message that says Georgia. Somebody's waiting. No.
It says host has joined. We let them know you're here. Okay. host tools. Uh up on the right it has who's in. So let me go to host
tools. Allow participants. Oh it's it's connecting now. It's now it's something's going on on my PC. Try if you have your phone right there, George. The way I used We'll keep talking the meeting. I'll let you. It
was there. It was saying waiting for the house. Now it's doing something. It says it's connecting. I don't know what it's doing. Okay, Howard, you can start the meeting. Okay. Um, so just to be Okay. Um, I'm
going to call the meeting to order. Um, attending our is board member April Stein. Um, board member George Ravenas is at this time attending uh only by audio, not by video. Um,
chairman Howardner is here. Um, assessors clerk Leslie Bracebridge and administrative assessor David Burgess. Um the first order of business is to review and approve uh the meeting the minutes from our February 12th meeting
and the April 4th meeting that we had that related specifically to hiring a new assessor. Um has has everybody had a chance to review both sets of minutes? Yep. Okay. Um George, you had a chance.
George, can you hear me? He said yes. Okay. Um, I move that we accept I move that we approve those minutes. I'll second. Okay. I vote I
and Stein I. Okay. The motion that was for both sets then. Huh? Yes. Yes, it was. Okay. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is old business updates for meeting minutes review. Um, Leslie, what
did you have in mind? I just didn't I guess I wanted to fill people in a little bit about the um actions following the April 3rd meeting where we were discussing how to staff the assessor's office
and uh I guess the only solid information we have right now is that uh the the Irving assessor who's retiring is not interested Uh the Pelum assessor has not
had not gotten back to our town administrator as of Monday and I tried to connect with her today about that but she was tied up with other stuff be that she had to do and David has told me that
we need her to contact our RG to get a definitive answer about them. And Howard, did you contact Roy or did you decide to wait for this meeting? Um, I have not yet contacted Roy. I have
a question. I thought that R I thought that RRG that David had talked to RG and that RRG had said that they they were stretched too thin to take on another town. Is that true? Okay, that's what they're discussing. But they have not had a formal approach. It was just this
is just this was just me and my boss. A formal approach might be something different. And who knows, maybe they'll hire someone between now and then. So, we we're going to keep every stone going. And I wanted to know from every stone going, you know what I mean? I
wanted to hear from April when the personnel board would be doing the job description. Yeah. I have tried to get the board together earlier. We have a meeting a week from tomorrow. Okay. And I Yeah. April 24th, right? And
the where was it? the uh wait a minute, where is it? I'm running out of um this was last done of May of of
2019. So I I mean I'm we'll we'll certainly review it, but I can't imagine it's going to be hugely different. I had a couple of suggestions and I don't know but that
we should um I I would rather that we just talked about right now while David's here. They weren't major. Yes. And uh I would love to offer to uh put documents up on the screen like
George would have been able to do easily, but it's just too much for me right now. And I think I can just as easily describe my comments. Okay, I'll take some notes while you're talking. Okay.
So, basically uh in the first bullet it says update property records from deeds and typically the clerk has been doing this. Okay, that's the very first bullet. Then
I wanted to talk I thought that I thought that David did that. I thought I thought that when when information came in um David does it everything everything else. Yes, we don't I don't enter the deeds. I I analyze them once
at the end of the year. David values property and puts in values. Entering the deeds just means when someone sells a property, a deed is recorded at the Franklin Registry of Deeds that says who who sold, who
bought, and the amount that they paid. That information is all wrote and the clerk does it. Anything that requires interpretation of values or any of the what did you call it? tabulations
anything complex David does. So we don't have to sub that. What about subdivisions? What about subdivisions? Yeah, that's all David David would sell and you do those during the year. You don't just wait till the
end of the year to do those. Well, I like you do because the law says that you can't make any changes during the year. Everything for FY26 has to be uh recorded in FY fiscal calendar 24.
Okay. Fine. So um so what if there's a subdivision like tomorrow and and the information comes in? Uh does any of it get recorded or you just wait till the end of the year? It gets recorded but we don't do the split until the end of the
year. You don't go into vision until the end of the year in other words. Right. Okay, fine. And the same with um what am I? Uh somebody puts an addition on there. How somebody gets a building anything with a building permit. Well, now you're talking a different thing.
Okay. We I think it might be just easier to skip that at a at length. You could talk about It's up to you. I'm just thinking that you do so much. Yeah.
Yeah. Okay. So, we're just but we're talk but we're talking about what has to go into the job description and a reason we want a reasonably accurate version of the job in the job description. That's all I'm saying. Yeah.
Have you got the 2019 Have you got the 2019 job description? Yes. Right here. And I was I was going to have her delete that, but I'm saying don't bother because you could any town
administr administrative assessor could be updating records to say that they would. No, I would I would leave that in. Leave it in. Y So good. David says leave it in. The the next thing is this. It says experience with Patriot
Assessing. I don't think they even use Patriot anymore. No, I don't want to have experience with a chem software. Well, I was going to put that here, but I I didn't know if that's just too much. The chances are you're not going to get
anybody's experience with both of them, right? So, just a state with a C system state just put state with with a with a computer assisted matter mass appraisal system preferably vision. And where
would you put it? either one of those places you've gone online. Okay. Uh let me just say that uh I will send out mass appraisal system. I will um write it in and scan it and send it
to all three board members as David recommends after the meeting. Does that sound better? That sounds perfect. Can you check and see? Okay. And do we need to include cyclical inspect in the waiting room? You are. Thank you, George. George is joining.
Okay, everybody hide. Okay, that was painful. Hi, George. Hold on. I got to hang up. Okay, are you captured? Hostage. He hung up on me, though. All
of a sudden, I did hang up on you. Don't take it personal. Do you want me to transfer hosting to you so I can focus on what I'm doing? Uh, I don't think it matters, but sure. Oh, I see. Cuz no one else. No, at this point, nothing's going to happen. And if you want to look at documents, you can
just hit the share screen button at the bottom. And I be I can share documents, too. So, no need to change host. Okay. And I don't know how to do the share. Yeah. Anyway. All right. So, I'm gonna skip it. If we
need it, then I'll figure out how to do it. So, let's if we need it, I can I can bring up let's just say for uh the followup business from the meeting from my
perspective and maybe other people have other things that I will go over the edits that I thought might be important for the 2019 job description. have David look him over before he leaves tonight and
I'll scan it in or take a picture of it and send it to everybody. Yeah. Does that work? Totally. That's fine. Okay. Just do we want something about cyclical inspections in there, David? It's it's in there. It's in there. Okay. Okay.
Thanks. Okay. So, does anybody else have anything? I know sometimes George says he has some comment about meeting minutes. No, no, they look good. Oh, and the
other thing I I do also have I found the January 2nd, 2025 email from Roy Bishop where he says because George uh Howard had been asking me uh would does Roy Bishop do this sort
of thing? And he he said, "Hope your Christmas was merry and bright and happy new year. I have attached our invoice for FY25. We would be happy to assist the assessors again in FY 2026. Let me know.
Our fee will remain the same. So he please call with any and all abatement questions. So at least he's planning to do he's would be willing to do the the
solar and the utilities. But nobody has called him to say yes, we want that. unless you No, I didn't mean because you were you were debating what you were going to do with the position. Yeah. So, you mean there was even a statement I think it said something said if need be,
we won't use her. That's right. So, you may want to get this sort out before you contact me. Sounds like a good plan to hold off. Yeah, I I I didn't quite get all of that. Um, let me just It sounds like given
that we don't have another option right now, uh, we might want to talk to Roy about contracting for everything that we need done. That sound right to you. Do that. Okay. Um, we can do it now. Like, and I don't mean tonight. I don't
mean tonight, but you know, I mean, I don't know of any town that Roy does it in where he does everything, but you could certainly talk to him. He may be able to. Did you understand what David said? Uh, is that he said that um he knows of
no town where David where where Roy Bishop does everything, but um that doesn't rule out that doesn't mean he wouldn't do it for us and we should just talk to him about it. Yeah, no harm in asking. Um I got that right. Right. Okay. Um so my question my question is
this. David, do do you want one of us to do that or do you want to do it yourself? Do you because you know the job better than anybody? I'm sorry. Brian knows the job. He just doesn't do it in other towns. I mean,
his wife's an assessment. He knows it inside out. So, I think one of the board or Haley should contact him. Okay, fine. Okay, we'll take care of that. Okay. Um, my guess is it'll end up being me.
Okay, that's just my guess. Um, unless Leslie, do you want to do it? Yeah. Right. Right. Definitely does not want to do it. I'm okay doing it. I sure want to.
Hilly indicated to me on Monday that it would be a great relief off her shoulders if somebody from this department would make that call. If somebody Yeah. If somebody besides her made that call is what she's overwhelmed.
Um that's fine. Um I'll do it. Yes. The only reason why I'm uh I'm slightly hesitant right now because I feel like I'm not quite as on top of the job as I need to be to talk to somebody sensibly about getting it
done. Um, well, let me ask you, maybe David and I can have a convers if you call Ry and tell him you're interesting interested in him taking over the job of a supervisor assessor, he certainly knows what that
I don't have to he'll fill in all all my gaps. I don't have to be well he know he knows all about I if I think he knows what Leslie does and he knows what the assessor's office does. So he knows the gap between what Leslie's doing and all the other stuff
that needs to be done. So I have a feeling he's going to have a very strong understanding of what you're asking him. He will for definitely. Okay. Okay. It also sounds like it's a bit of a long shot but certainly worth asking. Well,
and you never know. He might It might be a long shot with him, but he might have some suggestions. He might have some contacts. He might be thinking of somebody none of us are thinking of. I I that's a long shot, too. But you never know. You never know. Especially if we ask him if he says no, if he has other
suggestions. and Howard, if you would want to come here and call on the speaker phone and if he asked you a question that you weren't sure of, maybe we'd have an answer between us. Okay. Um, yeah, we'll see. Think about
that. Let's see how. And there's another thing here, too, that it would have to be the a time when David's in I'm thinking outside of the box. And one other thing, we might not be able to find an
experienced person or a person who's even been trained and they might need to be trained. And would it be good to have somebody who's an expert doing that training? What if he said, "Well, I can train somebody for you between now and through the recap for 2026."
There, you know, he might be able to do other stuff for us. And it's possible he knows somebody who would fit that bill. Who would somebody who wants to make the next step? Yes. Okay.
There might be. Yeah. Okay. So, um I think we can move on to the next item at this point. That sound okay? Yes. Okay. Um the next item on the agenda is to uh approve or deny um
applications for personal exemptions. Um we have two applications. Um Leslie, do you want to talk about those or should I do it or either way?
Okay. Um, I'll start in and if I make mistakes then just uh just correct me if I do anything wrong. Uh, one application is from uh somebody named Jared Watkins who owns property on Baker Road. Uh, hold
on. Two parcels. Howard. Howard, hold on. What did I do? We can't I David to hold for a second. We can't we can say the you can't say their names, but you can talk about the
exemptions. Let's just Well, I think we can can we just can't get into the detail. But anyway, let's limit that. We have one application for 118 Baker Road. Uh the the buildings at that address are
not habitable. The person does not live there which is a requirement of the exemption. He has been invited to uh offer the board
documents proving that he lives there and he I encouraged him to get anything at all. He has no voter, no nothing. And he is. So, uh, I think we either have to
put it on hold and wait and see if documentation comes in, but the it was due on April 1st. Yeah. How long you going to put No, you've got to put the MDM in very short soon. Yes. Oh, we have to by the end of the month. Yeah. So, beyond that, it's it has to be denied.
David's right because it has to go into gateway. So he does my understanding there's no proof of live living there which is a one of the
shoots residency requirements. Yep. Yeah. So my understanding is recommended and it would be Is it my turn yet? No, it is. Is it my turn yet? Okay, good. Um my understanding is that everything
that's on the property card envision is public knowledge. Yes, that's correct. Okay. His name is on the property card. His name is But the form that he files for the exemption which could or may not
have information any the forms that he files for the exemption contains personal invitation information. Right? And none of that is public information. Right. But if it's on the prop property card, then it is right.
Okay. Fine. So, I think his name is on the property card. I have that right. Names are on Yes, they are. Okay, good. Um, okay, fine. Um, there are no houses. There's no
residences on that property. There's no place where he could live. There's a couple of outuildings. There's a shed. Uh to begin with there, this sorry, he owns two parcels. It's one piece of land, but they've been subdivided. They
were subdivided in 2008. Um there are two buildings. One there's a two buildings, a large shed and a small shed. And the large shed is something like
$30,000. and the small shed is like $1,300 and the entire thing with the land comes to $130,000. So his taxes are on the order of 2,000 but he can't possibly be living there and his mailing address is in Rhode
Island. [Music] Um again public knowledge so I don't there's no way that we can approve this because there's no way that his doicile is at 118 Baker Road. We have to deny. Okay, we have to deny. Yeah.
Um, any questions about that? No. No. Okay. Um, I move I move that we deny Jared Watkins application for a personal exemption. Second. Okay. Just to be clear, by the way, he is um
I'm going to take that. That is not on the property growth. Forget about all that. Um, the second application is from Leslie. I don't can't say his name. George, somebody. We haven't voted on this first one. We I I'm sorry. You're right. No,
you're right. Um, that's okay. We can Okay. I I vote I I And Stein I. Okay. Okay. The motion passes. That application is denied. Um Leslie, the
second application second application is for 2011 Lever Road. It's uh a TW clause 22 application. The uh all the
documentation was reviewed by the administrative assessor Burgess who recommends the board to approve it. It is avail all the documentation is available for assessor's eyes only in the assessor's office.
Okay. Veterans and this is an application. This is a veterans application 22 clause 22 or veterans. Yeah. It's new. It's a new application. We haven't seen it before. But um yeah, I've seen I've seen it. Um Okay. Is that
No, I've heard about it. It's legit. It's legit. And he and he definitely lives there. Well, and if David thinks so, then I'm I'm fine with it. Me, too. Okay. So, I move that we accept uh that we approve uh this application for a
personal exemption and I'll second. Okay. I vote I I vote I. Stein. Okay. The motion passes. Um, next item on the agenda is to approve or deny the motor vehicle excise tax abatements. Um, those are on the
accountant reports, right, Leslie? There was just one one motor vehicle. Okay. And that's from March and it's got like 12 or something like that. That's correct. because it uh they were processed in March, but essentially they
go all the way back from applications that were started on February 12th when I was that was the last time we met. Okay. And um these have not been stamped yet. I'm sorry.
These haven't been stamped yet. No signature stamps yet. No, wait. We need to approve them is what I'm Okay. waiting to approve. Okay. Um I move that we approve these motor vehicle abatements from March of 2025. I'll second. So this is the one that totals
64724.77. Okay. I just want to make sure I had the right one. Okay. Yeah, I got it. Yeah. I vote I Okay. I vote I and Stein I.
Okay. The motion passes. Um the next item on the agenda is to review um edit and approve the accountant reports to to review edited and approve the accountant reports. Um there are four accountant reports. One is the
motor vehicle abatements that we just approved. The second is uh the personal the veterans exemption that we approved a minute ago. The other two, I believe they have they don't have anything on them. I got that right. One
is a CPA abatement. Um, one is a real estate abatement and they're both and they're both blank, right? Yeah, they're both zeroed out. Yeah. Okay. Um, I move that we approve the four
accountant reports. A second. Okay. I vote I I and Stein I. Okay, the motion passes. Um the next item on the agenda is to review, edit,
and approve the uh motor vehicle excise tax commitment. That's the second one for calendar year 2025. Um does anybody have any comments, questions about it? Uh so what's the total dollar amount on that? 34,373.
That's correct. Okay, that's all right. Okay, I got that one. No issues for me. Um Okay. Um somebody want to I made a motion, right? Somebody want to second? I'll second that. I'll second it. Okay.
I vote I sign I So in all the things we Okay, the motion passes. I have a question. There was one exemption request for a person for $400 on real property. Did
we? Was that included in the for that was that was that that was the personal that veterans exemption at 2011 led. Oh yeah. CI2. I see it. Okay. Yep. Okay. Because that was the document.
Okay. The next item on the agenda is to rep review, approve or deny the chapter 61 applications um leans and lean releases. Leslie, what do we got? First of all, we have
two applications from previous years that were just that it nothing has changed. They were just late with their applications for chapter 61B. Do you want more information? The names or addresses or anything?
David is just I'm sorry. Just how many? These are two renewals and they're 61. Chapter 61B. Yes. Okay. Sure. And that's that's all there is or is there more? And
then outside of the meeting, uh, we got a urgent call from attorney Richard Evans, who was representing a buyer for property on Wendell Road,
H46, had been in the Greenbomb family. Back in November of 22, the board of assessors approved a release of the lean. Uh,
and it has not been in chapter 61B since then. the buyer wanted to be sure and and at that in November, the board of select the select board [Music]
um released their right of first refusal. The book and page that was used by the select board and the book and page in the release were different and it's they were both right. It's just the
way the deeds work back because the green bombs, the historical resources incorporated, the uh Hilda Green Bomb Trust were all changes in ownership, but
really the same property. So the buyer or the the buyer's attorney wanted a a release with the same book and page that the the board of the select board had used when they
uh release relinquished their right of first refusal which I don't think was necessary anyway because it's only if the property changes use that you have to do this but nevertheless Howard was my hero.
and I showed him the documentation that it was already released. The sale was scheduled for April 10th, which was Thursday. And because the board in 20 November of 21 had 22 had already
released the same property, but just with a different book and page number. Howard signed it. I notorized Howard's signature and delivered it to the attorney. So it was called a confirmatory
release of um the chapter 61 lean. So there's no vote necessarily. It's all signed, sealed, and delivered here. Okay. So the only things that we need to vote
Yes. No. No. Go ahead. The only things that we need to vote on are the chapter 61 are these two chapter 61B applications, right? Well, yeah. And it wouldn't hurt to vote to support the release of the same
property second time. Uh, sure. Okay. Um, I move that we approve the two new chapter 61B applications and the re-release of the property that Leslie just told us about. I'll second. Should be. Okay. I vote I
second. And Stein I. Okay. The motion passes. The next item on the agenda is to review, edit, and approve or deny um the town meeting articles um related to
chapter 178 of the acts of 224 um which is the hero act. Um are have people had we've we got two the hero? Yes.
Yeah. The hero act one, two, J and I and J. Iing and J. That's okay. Wait a minute. No. So, I think you're right. I Yeah, it's IJ. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And as everybody had
it, everybody Leslie sent out the the the memo from the state explaining what we had to do here, which involved those two those two sections. Um and and David sent us a summary of what the effects
would be on the town budget. Um everybody had a have some familiarity with that at this point? Yes. And Leslie also sent us drafts of Okay. Um familiarity and questions. Okay. So,
um my understanding is that there are basically two articles that we would need to vote on. and one is the the cost of living adjustment for all existing veterans exemptions, which I get which I'm assuming is going to be a fairly
minimal effect because the the COA is generally on the order of 2 to 3% these days. Okay. And I think that was a no-brainer. I think we need to prove that one. We should everything should be indexed for inflation. Okay.
Um and and as far as the wording goes of that particular one um has everybody I haven't looked at it much have I looked at it quickly once. Um the warrant article that Leslie sent
us seemed fine to me for that one. It was recommended by the department of revenue. Okay. Yeah. It seemed like it seemed fine with me. I had no issues with that. Yeah, it looks fine. Okay, Leslie, I'm sorry. Did you say that was that this draft was provided by the do?
Is that true? Yes. If you followed all the links, you could get to it. Yeah, they they tend to hold the times. Okay, fine. Okay. I didn't know that. Okay. Okay. So, um I move that we
um approve the the first sorry the first exemption clause first exemption amount for clause 22i. I I move that we approve that. I'll second and third. Okay. I vote I
and Stein I. Okay. Okay. So that motion passes and then we have to look at the second one and the second one has to do it looks like an it's a so um David let me ask
that that COA exemption that we just approved or the addition to the C the COA addition uh is the state going to pay for that or do we have to pay for that? State is not going to pay for any of the these are all local options.
Okay. So, okay. So, we have Okay. So, we So, we have to factor that in like we did for the MT. That's right. And the next one is is also like that, but it's it looks like it's going to be more consequential. Yeah, it's going to
I'm sorry. Yes, it will be more consequential depending on what you decide to vote. Have you got that memo? Yeah, because we have different levels that we can vote. Yeah. Right. So, who's going to again is
this is the select board going to decide on the final percentage like with the MT. What was going to happen is what has to happen is you recommend to the select board if you want to and it's up to them if they want to put it on the floor of
town meeting and then you can decide the percentage. But of course you would put for you would recommend a percentage but it could be changed on floor of town meeting up to 100% as you know. Okay. And we also should probably give a recommendation as to whether we want
this at all on the town meeting, right? Or if we just send it to if we send it to them then it's then it's sort of implied that we're approving it or That's correct. Do we have the option? Go ahead. Do we have the option of ignoring this?
You do? Okay. I don't think we should I don't think we should just decide by ourselves, but it's an option. Okay. Um, now the mo the most the hair will cost you is $4,200.
I was interested to hear you say that. That would be you said that in your memo, but you added up when you when you when you showed um you all the different things the numbers added up to 14,000
and they're not they're not only they're not all um okay don't get confused. I'm only talking about the hero ax. I'm only talking about the clause 22a. The first line is eight. Yep. Eight clause 22s at $400 each for $3,200. Yep.
And then we have one 22E at a,000. That's the 4,200 for the Hero Act only. And the 22D doesn't count. 22D does not because that's a total exemption and you can't double a total exemption. Right. Right. Right. Got it. Now I get it because that
was what was confusing me. Okay. Got it. Okay. there there's two clause 22 B's as of last year you got the 24 gateway number so it's going to change
and you also is everybody clear that for the straight clauses the state reimbures like for 22 we the state sends back 275 yeah they
give you a portion back from when you originally adopted them. 75% of that 4200 in this example would come back to us at a later date. No. Uh none of that additional 4200's coming back then. Okay. You're already
get there's 4,200 out there, they'll reimburse you on a portion of that. The additional 4,200 you vote, they will not touch the Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. So then we'd be cutting that percentage to 37 and a half effectively, right? Okay. I'm sorry, but I'm having I'm not
following all of this. Okay. Um in terms I think I got it. David I'm looking at I'm looking at what David sent us. What David sent us begins with, "Hi Leslie, here is some information." And
then we have and then we have the um the exemptions that are being currently paid out. Okay. Right. And so 3200 and I'm and the idea is that I should ignore that 8,300 because that's not that's not going to be part of Okay.
So I'm adding 32 42 uh 4400. Okay. No, it's only the 22s. All your Got it. Sorry, my mistake. Got
it. 32 40. Got it. Okay. So 4,200. That's where it stops. So the maximum is 4,200 and it's also um there's a limitation on that in that if anybody's taxes were to drop before
if that 4200 lowered anybody's taxes below the FY25 level then that would be cut out. You know what I mean by that? No not not in the case of the HeroAct. Don't get don't get the heroac
confused with the chapter 59 5C and a half which is also an option in here. Okay. So the hero if you vote a percentage they're getting that percentage whether their taxes go up down or whatever on that veterans.
Okay. There's something at the very bottom. You have this the town votes 100%. You have you have an example. The town votes 100%. You're saying that I should that the Hero Act does that does not affect the Hero
Act. No, but if you vote the Hero Act alone, only the veterans are going to get it. If you want everybody to get it, you would vote the next one, the 5C and a half. And then you would not vote the Hero Act because the veterans would benefit
anyway, the same as everybody else. Okay. Can I ask a question? There's a third there's another local option here like 595. You're saying that there okay that also was passed this year or
was No, this is this has been around forever. Is that But we never voted on it. No. Did we did Did we ever vote on that? No. You have not there's only one two
communities that I know of that are doing it and that's Amherst and Shoes. Not too calm. We discussed this one in the whole state. No, in this area I don't know where else in the state. No.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Fine. Okay. We discussed this when we discussed we forget about it for now. We discussed this back in
20 when we went forward. I'm not sure which members of this board when Kevin was still here, we went forward with revamping all possible exemption options.
The 41 C5 and a half. 40 59 41 C five C and a half. Mhm. was uh
contentious because there was no limit on assets and the board at that time felt that if people have unlimited assets, they shouldn't
be getting a benefit on their taxes just because they have low income. low enough income to qualify because if you've got unlimited assets, chances are you're not going to be out there
working. Uh, and at the time that board said, "We're not going to touch that one at this time." But for veterans, it's a little bit different because for veterans, their qualification is based more on the
service they provided the country and their disability and their disability. So, it's not exactly the same thing. And I'm I'm not sure if the board is ready to take on 59
5 C 41 C and a half. No, 5C and a half. 5C and a half at this time. Um, okay. That's a separate issue. Yes, it was put there so you could see it. That's all. Okay. Separate issue. So,
okay. My question. So, just to be clear, if if they vote, if we were if the select board were to vote 100%. It really would be $4,200 that comes out of real estate revenue that we would have to cover
out of the overlay. Yes. Out of the overlay, which is adequate to cover that, right? Okay. Right. It's probably got 40,000. And so the mtre does mtre does not come out of overlay. I got that right.
Yes, that's correct. The one that we mean the means testing does not. Oh no, that's no that's no that's not the means testing we add additional two cents I think it is to the tax rate right but so we won't have to do that for this this
is one vote on the percentage one time by the town meeting and it David suggesting that the select board can put whatever percentage they want on the warrant article and town meeting would go back and change the percentage to at
a different time but it's not annual vote of percentage by the select board. It's just if if you were to decide to put this article forward, recommend this article to the select board, you probably would recommend a percentage
that you would want it to be at, right? And the select board would have the opportunity to keep it at that percentage or raise it or lower it up to 100%. Yeah. And that would be go to the town
meeting. I for one want to know who will explain this to town meeting if we if you decide to uh recommend it to the select board because I do not feel confident in explaining it to the town. When you talk
you would on on March April 31st. No May 301st. Saturday May 31st. Yeah. you need me to help. If they think I explain it, so the only reason we would need to be able to explain it at town meeting is if we move forward with it.
Explain the one that we just approved. And I understand I think how this works. What I don't understand is what changed in the last year. Why did it change? More importantly, it what changed was the state said you can double it. You can increase it up to
double. will only reimburse you 75% of the base, but you can increase it. So why did the state do that? And if we're going to make the decision, a policy decision, what's going to be the driver for us? Once I understand that, I'm happy explaining it. I don't think we
know. I'd imagine the state was lobbyed by the veterans to do it. And this is just a way of I mean veterans are very much in the news at the moment with everything that's been going on over the last few years. Was there Yeah. And and and did the
veterans say, you know, this just isn't adequate. It's you know, we need more and we're doing so we're going to do this out of the goodness of our heart. Of course, we all appreciate what veterans do and how difficult, you know, things have been for them and I'm supportive. I think the town probably
would be supportive. I just want to understand this is strictly it's just what they've described. There's no other variables involved and it won't impact the tax rate because it's all coming out of the overlay. Right. Well, if if our
overlay grows, we would have to increase it at some point. That's right. And then that would mean we'd have to increase tax levy by that additional $10,000, let's say. Yeah. which would be pretty darn small spread across our tax base.
George, you're going to scare me. What? What do you mean? You're not having any problem with numbers. I've been on the phone for a while. I I think you could take the job. No. Um, if I I'll tell you what, three years ago
when I couldn't wait for retirement, I would have been able to retire two years early and maybe learned how to do the assessor's job, but at this point in my life, not interested and it would take me time. I mean, I I I could to get I'll never be able to get
to Dave's level know how much I did, but certainly the mechanics in some of it I certainly do understand. But anyways, yeah, I mean, we know we're not going to get reimbursed for whatever decision we make here. I would I don't know if I want to go 100%, but I'd be okay with
like maybe 50% for this year and then we revisit it next year. And yeah, this would be for 26. And and also, David, I just correct me. I thought you said this could be increased on top floor. If there was a movement by the voters, why
don't we give them 100%. We can make that decision as a town. I mean, time meeting anytime somebody puts an article on the floor, it can be amended. Well, I know with the budget, you can't amend numbers up. So, if we come with a budget of seven, you know, of 7.8 million
thrown out a number and somebody wants to add $10,000 to a line. We can't do that. We might. Yes. Exactly. So that that's why I asked that question. But if we can increase this percentage,
um we we can let everybody in town know. And if people feel like 50% isn't enough, then we can we can make an amendment. It's going to roll through the select board. So they have the option of changing everything. And this this time you're passing it
forward to the select board to go to town meeting. So they're going to get a crack at this. Excuse me one second. I think I have My guess is that at town you have to move.
He's not at home right now. It's okay. Um George is mute. George is muted according to Yeah, it's okay. I'm gonna mute. I'll unmute when I when I Okay, it's okay. Um Okay, fine.
Um, it seems to me offhand just town meeting is not good. There's I don't know how many articles on the warrant, but my guess is that town meeting is not going to especially want to ponder the percentage of the the they're going to
be this is going to be brand new to them on Saturday town meeting. They're not going to especially want to ponder the intricacies of 50 versus 75 versus 100%. What they're going to want, I could be wrong. What they're going to want is a number that they can just sort of go up or down on.
Um, anybody want to weigh in on that. Yeah, sorry. Yeah. Wouldn't it be um I'm blanking. This has been a long day. Um, is it that's not the select board's
decision to make the 100% versus 70. Wouldn't that be their decision meeting? No, the select board. The select board puts articles on the
warrants and they can recommend we could recommend, right? My understanding is that the actual formally the town meeting has to decide on the percentage, right? Because they're voting on the thing. They're voting on the entire thing. So, you
know, they're they're approving the percentage. My guess is that we're better it'll go it'll go more smoothly. It'll be the process will be better if the select board makes a recommendation and then
the warrant article has a number on it as opposed to the warrant the warrant article having a blank space on it. That's my guess. Yeah, I think that makes sense. I don't think we I don't think we I don't think we want to like give town meeting a warn article with a blank space and say go figure out the
percentage. We don't. But I I will tell you this. I would not be surprised if we said 50% and somebody at town meeting said these are veterans we need to give them more and then there's a movement in town. So I wouldn't say that people in
town aren't when you talk about veterans people get passionate. You you're talking about 42 fine they can get fine let them get passionate. Yeah. Want to just give them 100%. Yeah. So, you think if we went 100% it really wouldn't be a problem for the
overlay? No, I would I Well, the overlay is the overlay's got like 30,000 in it or something like that. 40,000 I think. Yeah, that's what we're putting in the budget in our revenue est. That's what
you use, right? Yeah. What? In addition to what's there now? In addition to what's there now. No, it's 40,000. So th that $14,000 of items that are in David's memo. Yeah, I
have those come out of the overlay. So if it's 14,000 right now that we know of, then we still have 26 left. So if we go 100% that brings us to 22. We still have $22,000 in overlay, which is according to what I'm
reading from David and more than enough. Oh no. I can't say that somebody couldn't walk with a major,000 piece of paper. So the $40,000 of overlay that you're talking about. Is that what's in the budget for this year? That's what we use
every year. We've been using it for many years. And it's been adequate every year. The actual comes in and it's always lower. Yep. because as I understand it there's like $35,000 there was $35,000 left over in
the overlay from previous years like even if you even if there was nothing in this year's budget for overlay the uh what I don't know that number I think it's my grandson can we have him join the meeting that's
your grandson He's trying. He believe me. Okay. Okay. Fine. Okay. I make a motion that we I make a motion that we approve 22.
What was it, Jay? Yep. At the rate of 100%. And I will second that. Okay. Um, I vote I Could I just say that what you're doing is making a recommendation to the select board? Yes,
that's what you're doing. Yes. Yes. Using the language that you have attached in your email for that particular item and again that was the state's recommended language that you use. Correct. I vote I okay and Stein. What about I
your grandson frying also. I'd like to get home December. Charlie, yes or no? Yes. He's not answering. My wife's got him. My wife's got him tied up right now. Okay. That's what it
takes. By the way, on the end I need to be on I don't think so. I'm going to leave you. Okay, David. Thank you. Thank you, David. I will not be available next week, but I will be available the week after.
I have a company from Ireland. Oh, nice. Very good. Okay. Wonderful. Enjoy. Yes. Well, it's unfortunately only here for a week, but that's the way it is. Yeah. Okay. All right, guys. Take care. Thank you. Have a good night. Okay. Thank you,
David. So, the next item on the the motion passes. Yes. Um, so the next item on the agenda is topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Any such thing? Leslie, we got anything we need to do? I
was wanting to recommend to you folks that um the there the new department the new administrative town administrator Haley Bolton has called it she's calling it a
department head meeting on Tuesday uh May 6th um at 9:30 a.m. I know from Gabriel and even Becky before that even though they say department head everybody would be
welcome to come. Um and the second thing is that uh tomorrow there will be a zoom free zoom presentation on the role of assessors at from 10 to noon. I
registered and I will be listening to it while I work in here. uh if anybody's interested, but I think it required pre-registration. So if you're elsewhere, I don't think you can do it. It I think it came through the do
announcements which you all would have gotten. That's all I have for 48 hours notices. Okay. Thank you. Um so we need to schedule in our next meeting.
Um. Huh. Leslie, how far how far out do you want to go? Uh, doesn't matter to me. Okay. Um, you're you're not anticipating anything? It is. I'm
sorry. Of course, by June 30th, we'd need a meeting, but in answer to George's question, but I don't see anything crossing between now and nothing and nothing between now and town meeting,
unless there's something that comes up with the hiring. These are beautiful tropical fish. I love the different colors. April, would there be an appropriate time for this? Yeah. Do you want to do it in four weeks or
four or six weeks? What do you think? Just to keep ourselves covered. I think it's a good idea. Yeah. So, that would be May 7th. 14th. 14th or the 28th or the 21st?
Actually, maybe the 14th because that gives us a few weeks before town meeting, especially if we have to make a last minute adjustment to a warn article or something. I like that. That's fine. 14th is fine. Yeah, it works for my schedule. 6:30.
Okay. And if we come up with anything more urgent, such as somebody wants the job. Yes, we'll schedule earlier. I would do that for that. I sure would, too. Yeah.
Okay. All right. Okay. Nice. So, the next meeting is the 14th at 6:30 and Uh I move that we adjourn. Second. Second and third. Third. I vote I sign I. Okay. Okay. The meeting is
hereby adjourned. Thank you all. Take care everybody. Leslie, thank you for pulling it off. Yes, George. I appreciate it. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Great. As you can see, when I'm going to scan that document and keep it on my PC. Okay. Yeah. There's
it's good that we have actually when you actually apply things it's more complicated than the 101 book suggests for sure. And and the big problem as we learn the big problem that we learned tonight
was that technology is often the big monster for us all. My concern with this is we do every three months. So, you got to remember because this the only time I host a meeting and it's like it just wasn't
sunk without that piece of paper. Mhm. But I appreciate now I have the new Okay. Well, that piece of paper Oh, yeah. Why didn't Why did we not have passwords tonight?
My piece, my the password I have is written down on a document that I got from Grace in my file cabinet. Good, right where it belongs. Nice and safe. But uh I should put on my PC. There was
no to to George. There was no password for the meeting tonight. There's not for you, but to set start it as a host, you need the password. And I needed the password to start it.
That was the first time that you're breaking up. But there was no password for the first time. I did not need a password to join the meeting. I was just wondering who how that got changed. That's all. Typically, Howard, when we go to meetings, the host starts
it. We don't have to know the passwords. Yeah. Typically, the host just lets us in. So, typic maybe there was in the beginning things were different because we made a big change in January. January everything changed. So, in the past, you may have need to do
that, but starting now you don't. Only the host needs to and the host failed us today. Okay. Okay. I could say that Grace confirmed from that same question with George's answer.
And to George's credit, even if he didn't leave the password in the closet, Grace had sent us a new password anyway, and I'm not sure that how I would I would have been stuck anyways. Okay. Well, that's a little consolation. I'll
take that. Thank you, Leslie. Anyways, nice job. I'm glad we should be okay. We can do it now. Yes. Okay. All right. I gotta get home. All right. All right. Yeah. Take care. Drive safe. Bye everyone. Bye. Good night. Take care. Okay. Good night
everybody. Bye.