WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=NMm4vJuY--4

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: NMm4vJuY--4):
- 00:03:43: FinCom Meeting Call to Order; Review Agenda Items
- 00:10:03: Capital Planning Committee Report Intro and Schedule Overview
- 00:15:36: Highway Department: Grader Replacement and Chapter 90 Funding
- 00:23:51: Highway Department: New Tractor, Sprayer Capital Requests
- 00:28:15: School Elementary: Parking Lot Engineering Assessment Discussion
- 00:35:50: School Elementary: Snowblowers and Gymnasium Curtain Mechanics
- 00:41:23: Fire Truck Engine Replacement, Financing, and Discussion
- 00:55:03: Fire Truck Grant Questions, Town Meeting Clickers Discussion
- 01:03:24: Data Digitization at Town Hall: Plan, Rationale Discussion
- 01:06:06: Capital Committee Project Review and Planning Discussion
- 01:14:18: Building Committee Role, Oil Tank Remediation, and Concerns
- 01:19:23: Warrant Articles, Oil Remediation, Dam Issues Discussions
- 01:24:05: Funding Assumptions and Debt Service Considerations Discussion
- 01:35:04: Operating Budget Review, Free Cash Discussion for FY27/28
- 01:40:10: Review Action Items, Preparing Warrant Articles Discussion
- 01:41:03: Budget Updates: New Growth and Transportation Assessment
- 01:44:26: Single Family Tax Burden Discussion, Library Funding Requirements
- 01:48:47: Mitigating Strategies for Increasing Tax Burden Consideration
- 01:55:34: Review Schedule and Fiscal Snapshot Items, Wrap Up
- 01:58:49: Fiscal Snapshot: Snow and Ice Deficit, Maintenance Overages
- 02:05:31: Equipment Purchasing, Revenue Sources, CPA Funding Utilization
- 02:14:14: Capital vs. Stabilization Funds, Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

1
00:03:43.040 --> 00:06:39.039
Good evening. >> Hi, Susie. Good. fresh air. >> No, it's okay. You're going to listen to this. >> Great. Intent. All right. Hi everyone. I'm gonna

2
00:06:39.039 --> 00:06:56.479
call the fin comp to order at 7:16. I think Molly is gonna she mentioned that she would be able to log in late. Uh I haven't heard from Laura, but um >> Laura's traveling.

3
00:06:56.479 --> 00:07:13.360
>> Okay, Laura's traveling. So I think this is it for at least a little bit. Um okay, so um let's just quickly review what we want to get accomplished tonight. So, most

4
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:31.120
important order of business is for us to get a report from the capital planning committee about um projects that have been approved by the committee for um a vote at our annual town meeting.

5
00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:49.440
So, we'll um we're going to pull up our uh capex planning document that we always use this time of year. to make some help us make some decisions about proposed funding for those items

6
00:07:49.440 --> 00:08:07.039
and then um we can see kind of how that impacts our reserve accounts. So that's I think the most important thing. Then um I think we also want to just quickly sort of take stock of where we

7
00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:24.319
are in terms of the budget. Um, a couple things um have uh I think have actually I'm not even sure. Yeah, a couple things have changed since we last reviewed it. Um,

8
00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:40.000
and then I want us to just make sure look at the schedule and make sure we're all clear on sort of what our time frame is for getting this um done. Um, and

9
00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:57.200
uh I also wanted to pull up um Haley, I just was reviewing the fiscal >> snapshot, so I'm going to um forward that. Uh let's see to the full committee.

10
00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:14.160
>> Well, I have it. >> You have it? >> I think she did. >> Oh, I think good. Okay. Um, and I think there there are a number of I think issues related to FY26

11
00:09:14.160 --> 00:09:29.920
overages and whatnot. And I just wanted was hoping that you could kind of summarize all that for us. And then I don't know if there are any that we need to take action on tonight, but um, >> no, I don't think we need to take action tonight.

12
00:09:29.920 --> 00:09:45.839
>> All right. But, uh, it'd be good to kind of get make sure everybody's kind of on the same page as far as, um, what those items are. So, that was my plan for tonight. And so, I know we're getting a later start than normal. Hopefully, we

13
00:09:45.839 --> 00:10:03.040
can end more or less at our usual time, but I guess we'll see. Um, all right. So, George, I know when I saw you at at uh the four towns meeting, you had a plan for how we would um I think you guys are going to sort of share the

14
00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:18.240
load. Could you could you remind me how we're going to do this tonight? >> Yeah. So, Nate and I are here and Nate and I split we'll split um we'll have um we'll cover different items. There's a pretty extensive list. It's pretty long list. So, I think the best thing to do,

15
00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:34.079
AJ, is to bring up the schedule you were talking about and put that on the screen. I've updated it. We met about an hour ago and I updated it for all the conversations. I've got the the best dollar amounts we have and the dollar amounts we can put on the Warren articles at this point. Um, >> okay.

16
00:10:34.079 --> 00:10:49.040
>> The only one that is subject to change, we don't really know, is um one of the highway items. So, I'll I'll talk about that in a minute. >> Okay. But all the rest I think are pretty straightforward. Yeah, if you

17
00:10:49.040 --> 00:11:07.920
might want to make it a little bigger. >> How's that? >> Yeah, that's good. Um, yeah. So, I'll just tell everybody, you know, um, we had a special >> Sorry, just just so I can get uh clear all the ones that say capital planning

18
00:11:07.920 --> 00:11:23.279
approved in column B. >> All right. So, I'm just gonna just for now I'm going to highlight these. Okay. and I put the financing of all of them in the ca in the free cash column. That doesn't necessarily mean that's what we have to do. Uh the two items that I

19
00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:40.399
didn't are items that were really not we will have no effect on FY27 because we won't take delivery until sometime in FY27 or even 28. And so, um, I don't think that we'll still have to

20
00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:56.800
make a decision how to finance them, >> but, um, because I >> are they going to be warrant articles that need to be approved. >> Yes. >> Is coming. Okay. Yeah. >> Yes. But we want you, you know, obviously the fire truck, we're going to

21
00:11:56.800 --> 00:12:13.519
have to use debt >> to to mo, you know, mostly debt. We might put something down maybe. Um, but for now I just put them in the other column. And I I put the other ones in the free cash column because I know I mean we're probably going to say free cash for most of them, if not all of

22
00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:30.000
them. And um, you know, I'm jumping the gun here, but we know the highway department also has chapter 90 money. How we use that is really dependent on whether we get the grant for the greater or not. But um, >> yes. >> Anyways, so that's that's the list. It's

23
00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:46.399
pretty extensive. This does not include other things that we all know are floating around. Um the dam work for instance is really not come to us through the capital planning. So um we're looking at $133,000

24
00:12:46.399 --> 00:13:02.399
uh dollars if we were to fund all this stuff with free cash anyways. >> Okay. And this includes like um the operate the the cash reserve items >> that's down. Yeah, that's where you are right now. Right. And so the total use

25
00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:20.000
of free cash would be 300,000 if this is the way we uh approached it, >> right? Got it. Okay. >> Which what 8.7 it looks like would be of our budget. >> Yeah. So for anybody who

26
00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:34.399
uh doesn't remember or has seen this for the first time, this section of this planning tool tells us what starting balances for our three

27
00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:51.360
um cash reserve accounts are. Free cash, capital stabilization, and stabilization. Then this shows us um that we used roughly $19,000 of stabilization funds or uh expended

28
00:13:51.360 --> 00:14:10.560
$19,000 at a special town meeting in September. And then that brings us to these balances. And then here's the 302,000 um dollars, which is the sum of

29
00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:27.680
all of these cash free cash items, which I guess we should talk about whether we that's how whether whether we want to fund them that way plus this um amount here. And so just as a reminder,

30
00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:43.760
our our guidelines, our fiscal guidelines do include language that recommends that we maintain uh stabilization funds that are equivalent to at least 5% of

31
00:14:43.760 --> 00:15:02.160
our operating budget. So we would be right there or just above that and that we maintain free cash reserves that are uh equivalent to at least 10% of our operating budget. So this would leave us

32
00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:19.920
at 8.7. So we would be falling below that recommended level in this scenario. But um you know we we probably will add some free cash

33
00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:36.560
uh based on um operating you know unspent uh or under spent lines in our um FY26 budget. So how how much that'll be I'm not you know I guess I'm

34
00:15:36.560 --> 00:15:53.040
not sure but All right. Do you want to just kind of talk us through at least it' be helpful to just kind of know what these items are? I think we most of us kind of have some sense. >> Yeah, we can do a brief synopsis on

35
00:15:53.040 --> 00:16:09.600
each. You know, I I know we don't need to get too detailed. >> Yeah. >> You know, we all know about the greater. Um the highway chief has two options for greater is a four-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive. This is the all-wheel drive which is what which is his preference. $370,000. If we went to a

36
00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:27.440
four-wheel drive, it would be about um it would be uh $297,000. So there's there's a decount of difference between the two. And um I asked him, if we don't get the

37
00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:44.639
$250,000 grant, can we go would you be okay to go with the four-wheel drive? And he and he said yes. he would prefer the all-wheel drive when he's when he's grading uphill. The all-wheel drive does a better job and the four-wheel drives tend to have trouble. So, he really does he thinks

38
00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:59.839
for Shootsbury all-wheel drive is more appropriate. Um, but he understands the finances and he is willing to go with a four-wheel drive if we don't get the $250,000 grant. So, you know, um, we might want to have him come in once we

39
00:16:59.839 --> 00:17:15.679
know that story and and talk about that more. But, you know, the current one is very old, as you all know. We we put aside $16,000 last year to make repairs to it, which they which he he did. It was down again. Um, but it

40
00:17:15.679 --> 00:17:31.679
looks like he's going to have it up and running. He wants to get new tires for it. Um, and that's pretty much the story. He needs to keep it running because it's going to take quite some time to get a new grater in, and it probably wouldn't happen till after the greater season is over. So that's the

41
00:17:31.679 --> 00:17:47.520
story with the greater. He did he was in our capital planning meeting today and he did say that he feels very confident um that he's going to get win the grant. I I read in the paper and I think probably a few of you saw that the grants about 80 towns applied for these

42
00:17:47.520 --> 00:18:05.360
rural um road grants and 20 or so are going to be awarded the grant. But he said our town has as much as many dirt road miles as any other town. He said ours has a lot. And his conversations with the state, he said we're very

43
00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:22.160
positive. >> Okay. Susie, >> do we have a time frame for when the grants are going to get awarded? >> No. Um, it could it looks like it's going to happen in it's going to happen probably in the next two to three weeks,

44
00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:37.679
but the the paper wasn't really clear and he didn't necessarily know. He didn't know. >> Okay. So, can we just sort of play through the two scenarios? So, if we if we win the grant, um that'll cover $250,000 of this

45
00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:54.160
expense and the plan would be to utilize chapter 90 funding for the balance. >> Yes. >> Okay. And if we don't win the grant, uh the plan is

46
00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:09.760
to opt for the more economical uh four-wheel drive uh um graater and that has a price tag of 250 250,000 >> 296 297 I think I said.

47
00:19:09.760 --> 00:19:27.600
>> Okay. And would we would we utilize chapter 90 funds to pay for the full cost of that? Is that the thinking? >> Um, it depends. No, probably not. >> I don't He doesn't have that much.

48
00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:44.799
He does definitely does not have that much in chapter 90. >> Yeah. What is how much do we do we have? So, I asked him today to consider he's he's he hasn't told us how much chapter 90 money he can he can dedicate. I'm

49
00:19:44.799 --> 00:20:00.880
having trouble. Hold on one second. There we go. Um, so I asked him, "How much chapter 90 do you do you think you have available for capital purchases?" Because I also raised the question about the tractor, which we haven't discussed yet. Um, and he has to go back, he's got

50
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:17.679
to go to drawing board and figure that out, you know. um the 120 that he would need to pay for the four-wheel drive. He all-wheel drive, the 370 that we have here. He thought he could do that. So, if we go to the if we go to the smaller

51
00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:33.520
one, it seems to me we could probably use the same amount of money, but he's going to work on that and try and get more. He's also going to try and determine whether he can do the tractor and the grater at the same time. because you when you use chapter 90 for capital purchases, you

52
00:20:33.520 --> 00:20:49.520
have to apply with this state. I'm not sure do I assume and so he wasn't sure if he could apply for two things in one year. He was going to look at that. Um so he's still doing a little leg work on that. So I don't think we're necessarily in a position tonight to make a decision

53
00:20:49.520 --> 00:21:05.760
about how to fund this particular item, which I understand could be a difficulty for us >> um and all the others because it's all tied together. But >> yeah, and I guess one of the questions I have is do we do we write the warrant article

54
00:21:05.760 --> 00:21:21.200
um in and I guess specifying the $370,000 um cost and do we write it contingent on us

55
00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:38.080
obtaining grant funding um to to partially pay for that? Or do we write the article assuming that this, you know, we we don't win the

56
00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:53.919
the um the grant >> and we fund, you know, a $370,000 expense through borrowing, cash. Yeah. So, >> um I guess we'll we'll we'll talk about

57
00:21:53.919 --> 00:22:10.400
that at our next meeting. Do do we do we think we'll have more information between now and next week? >> Uh our next meeting is when? >> Uh >> the 24th. Yes. >> Yeah. 24th. Okay. >> Yeah. Um I'll keep in touch with Dave. I I don't know. >> Okay. >> I really don't know. It's

58
00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:26.480
>> I think I I think I have to draft um articles. So, I think I might I might bring it to our next meeting two different versions of this. One that assumes

59
00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:43.280
um the $370,000 cost and us winning the grant and then one that is the alternative, which I'm sorry, you've said it three times now. Can you remind me what the cost? >> 297. >> 297. I said it three times. That doesn't mean I remember.

60
00:22:43.280 --> 00:23:00.159
>> Okay. It's 296. >> 297 sounds right. It's 296 something. That's That's right. Okay. All right. >> All right. And so then, uh, Susie, >> so I just looked at what's in the, um, highway, chapter 90, and there's, um,

61
00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:17.520
two parts that add up to 384,000, and then there was a fair share boost of 84. So alto together there, it's um, uh, 468 198. So 469 basically. Um so I you know I think that

62
00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:34.320
>> I it must be hard for him to keep track of doing all the roads and the numbers but I think if we give him the numbers maybe that will help. >> Well he's he he actually is aware of that number. He knows that and he but West Pelum Road is is going to be worked on next year. That's his next big

63
00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:51.039
project and he said that could easily be $300,000. So that's where he's got to do some of the he's got to do some of the back of the envelope. Do some of the calculation, but he >> Well, we also expect more highway money for next year, right? >> Oh, yeah. And I told him that, you know, think about that. Uh, you know, don't

64
00:23:51.039 --> 00:24:06.640
worry about getting low knowing that you have more money. And he he referenced that today in the meeting, as a matter of fact, so he is aware of it. >> Okay. All right. Um, should we go to the next item? The tractor. >> Yep. So, the tractor, you know, um he

65
00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:22.960
definitely needs a tractor. He said, uh it's it's it has a lot of attachments. He got a good deal on it. He got it through an organization that um for state highway departments, uh municipal highway departments can purchase through

66
00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:40.640
this particular um I don't know what to call it, association, um but it support group. But basically it was over 70 I think $72,000. It was more than that. It was like $78,000 and 16 off I think or something like that. Anyways, so he was

67
00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:56.640
able to get a really nice discount, but it basically he needs a tractor that he can use that's versatile, which this will be. It will be able to do an augur, snowb blowing. He doesn't have a snowblowing attachment, but he does have the augur and the York rake. And um he,

68
00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:12.080
you know, basically he says he needs it. Um, >> okay. >> And in particular, he was going, he said it's going to be very helpful um plowing the library, which he's he's having a problem with right now with the equipment he has. >> Got it.

69
00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:27.039
>> And um his other tractor, he does have another tractor, but it's very old um and expensive and requires maintenance. And he really feels like he should have two tractors. >> Okay. Susie, >> so you said you used the verb he got it,

70
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:43.679
but you you mean he he has a lead on it where he can purchase it, but he has >> Yeah. No, he bid. He's got bid. He went out and got bids. He showed us bids for like five or six, and the prices range from 64 to 70 something. >> He has a bid on it. >> Yes. I think the lowest price was 62,

71
00:25:43.679 --> 00:25:59.600
but this is the machine he really wanted. Um, and for $2,000 and it's more versatile than the lower priced one because it can handle it has a wide range of attachments they can use for all kinds of uses. >> Got it. And I'm assuming they'll honor

72
00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:15.919
the bid. >> Yes. No, he's he well the guy told him he'd give him a little more time on it. So, you know, I I'm not sure. But um last year he mentioned that he bought a lawnmower and it ended up being more

73
00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:32.000
than what we passed and he used his maintenance line. In fact, like $1,800 I think he said. So part of his maintenance line, the problem we had with the maintenance was because he used that. So he sounds like he's a little he's pretty creative. Actually, he he is very creative. Um when we talked to

74
00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:47.360
Dave, I got to say he does his leg work. He's done quite a lot. He's working with other towns and talking to other towns. There are other things that he's he he one of the trucks we have he thinks he's going to sell, doesn't need. It was he thought it should have been traded in when he bought when we bought our last

75
00:26:47.360 --> 00:27:02.240
dump truck um plowing big plowing truck and he thought it was going to be traded in and he was surprised it wasn't. He's going to try and sell that and he might even barter for that to get some plows. He originally requested plows. I'm getting off the track here, but he did

76
00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:19.360
request plows. Um, but he could not stomach the prices he was seeing for those and said he's better off going out and finding a used one. So, he said, "I'm I'm withdrawing the request and I'm going to try and get them and use my maintenance bud budget to pay for them and he's also going to try and sell the

77
00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:36.799
tractor to get us some free cash." >> Get us some cash. So, I I give him a lot of credit. He really has been doing his work. >> Okay. Uh, next item, the sprayer. >> Yeah. So, um, he was able to get a, uh, so, you know, last summer there were

78
00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:52.240
real problems for the residents of the dirt roads, Montigue Road in particular, with dust in the air, um, with the drought that we were experiencing. And so, he from Amoris was able to get his hands on a tank and what he needs is a

79
00:27:52.240 --> 00:28:07.279
sprayer that he can attach to it and then he can basically treat the roads. And so that's why the request for the sprayer and and we supported it. We certainly understand the issue and we know it was an issue last year. >> And the fact that we got the tank for

80
00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:22.960
nothing means that we'll actually be able to use it. >> This will allow us to use it. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh so I think we've got three school

81
00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:38.159
elementary school related items here. >> That's where Nate comes in. Yep. >> Hi Nate. Thanks for thanks for having me. Um yeah, so this first one is the SCES parking lot engineering assessment.

82
00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:56.559
It's for $15,800. Uh this is a quote I received from uh the Birkshare Design Group. >> Um I reached out to them. Uh Haley and I met with Carlos um Nato um of the

83
00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:12.960
Berkshire Design Group uh over a month ago. Um and um I reached out to him uh last week um when a lot of this uh oil tank stuff was going on and uh Frank and I

84
00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:31.360
discussed uh getting a um an engineering assessment that that's kind of the first step. Um, on Saturday I received a a quote for $40,000 from him. Uh, I read over uh his quote and talked to him yesterday. Um, and we looked at um just

85
00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:46.480
the task one um which would be the site survey for $7,800 and asphalt testing testing for 5,000 and uh base map preparation and site assessment.

86
00:29:46.480 --> 00:30:03.440
Um the survey um is an extensive survey that they do. They he said that most surveys go like every 50 feet and he has guys going every 10 feet. Um then he comes back after their survey and goes along with his laser level and all his

87
00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:21.279
equipment. Uh he takes uh a lot of care in looking at the gradation between two and 4% for sidewalks and stuff like that. So it's a very extensive um survey. you know, he did say that we could go out and find our own bid um for

88
00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:36.159
less. We may find another bid for, you know, $6,000, but um again, they're they probably won't be as good. So, that's that first part. The asphalt testing for 5,000 is um a core sample that they take

89
00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:51.600
of the driveway um where they do a bore hole and they see what's the substrat of that u of the driveway is. And um and then finally the base map preparation and site assessment. That's kind of what

90
00:30:51.600 --> 00:31:10.960
we really need um especially now given the um the tank. Um, so that total um comes to $15,800. Um, I met with uh Scott Barlo today um of Barlo Paving out of Greenfield. Um,

91
00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:27.360
and uh he his first response when he looked at the driveway was that yeah, this this needs to be dealt with. This is a real problem. So, the driveway needs to be redone. Um Scott, we have money set aside um 24,000 from capital

92
00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:44.159
planning um that we're hoping to uh that will limp us along um because obviously this is going to take several years and probably won't be um any kind of uh you know the driveway construction won't be

93
00:31:44.159 --> 00:32:01.039
until 2028 or 209. Um so yeah um this will be like the first step in this. >> And does this does the is is one of the deliverables of this engineering study to

94
00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:17.919
um develop a bud a kind of a an estimate or a budget for what the actual repaving project is going to cost. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. He gave me uh two uh estimates for that. So, um the one is so if this core

95
00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:35.279
sample comes back and the and the lower um substrat is good and he just has to do a mill they do like a mill run and they grind up the asphalt and then they put um another layer on top. >> So he said that's that would probably be around 300,000

96
00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:51.120
to do that. And then if they you have to go down to the ground um and take up all that that would be somewhere around five >> 100 to 550. >> Okay. Why why wouldn't this be So So you

97
00:32:51.120 --> 00:33:07.519
laid out a pretty long timeline there. So why wouldn't this be an FY28 pro project? Is it because it's just >> I think that the from what I understand like say if we put this whole thing uh

98
00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:25.039
at town meeting um right now um that we wouldn't be able to bid on it till the following um year and then scheduling you know you have to really schedule between >> you know the school you can't do it when school's in session so it just kind of

99
00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:39.519
>> you know that's the frustrating thing about this it just bumps everything back. Got it. So, it's possible that we do this study in FY27 and then that gives us a clear

100
00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:56.320
understanding of what the scope of the project is going to be based on the results of that testing and whatnot. We have a cost estimate for whatever the scale of the pro project is and that

101
00:33:56.320 --> 00:34:14.480
will get voted on at town meeting in FY27 and potentially the work could be done that summer if not the following summer and FYI. >> Yeah, hopefully. I don't think it would

102
00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:29.520
be that summer. I think like I said I think it would have to be the following. >> Yeah, >> I remember you know we we had discussions in our capital planning about that but yes that's exactly >> that's the timeline. Okay, got it. >> Susie, >> I got confused. I thought you threw out a number at some point in this

103
00:34:29.520 --> 00:34:46.800
discussion of 40,000. What was that? >> That was the original um quote that he sent me on Saturday. I like scrambled down to uh meet you guys down at uh Four Towns because I was just kind of in this uh soup. Um, and later

104
00:34:46.800 --> 00:35:02.640
that day, uh, I got that quote from, um, Berkshire Design Group for $40,000. And that would entail, that's a larger survey. That would be the design, that would be a lot of and putting out bids. That would be a lot of u stuff that

105
00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:18.800
we're not really even there yet. And I was just what we're looking what I talked to Frank about was we're really looking for that engineering assessment. Um, and that's kind of where we are at with the oil tank and the driveway is just this first step to see where we're

106
00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:35.359
at. We can get >> So, the oil tank though isn't involved in the um 2008. No, >> no, it is separate from that. >> Okay. >> So, we would be taking the um you know, Frank would take the D survey and and and and all this stuff and we just kind

107
00:35:35.359 --> 00:35:50.560
of combine this information to try to assess amongst ourselves what we're going to do. Got it. Okay. Um, you want to tell us about snowblowers?

108
00:35:50.560 --> 00:36:08.079
>> Snowblowers. Okay. So, this is um to supplement what the highway department doesn't do. So, this is really clearing um the sidewalks. >> Um right now they have a um do it with a

109
00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:26.320
tractor. Um, and this tractor uh is uh at the end of its life. Um, I think last year Matt Foster said he had um had to get some hydraulics fixed and it took forever. It was out of commission. They had to send it up to St. Johnsbury,

110
00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:42.720
Vermont. So, they were without a machine. Um originally he wanted a replacement um for that uh tractor um that was would cost $34,000. Um I brought that to capital planning.

111
00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:57.839
Um we discussed it. I think uh Michael Bour asked if uh this was just used for snow removal and you or was it um something that was used throughout the year and I went back to Matt and Matt

112
00:36:57.839 --> 00:37:14.800
told me that no that is uh just for snow removal just to supplement what the highway department um can't do. Um, and I had a discussion with Matt and we um, you know, we looked at alternatives. What what could we do instead of, you

113
00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:31.760
know, because that seems like a lot of money for um, for just doing sidewalks. And he said, "Well, I could do it with these two Aryan snowblowers. Um, I have a few bids." He sent me a link and I looked at, you know, other places like home, you know, you can get them at Home Depot or Lowe's or Tractor Supply. These

114
00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:49.119
things are are pretty great machines. They have Caterpillar treads. Um, he'd get two of them, so they're 3,000 bucks each, and he and uh his other uh custodian would do the do the sidewalks and clear them out um in a timely

115
00:37:49.119 --> 00:38:05.280
matter. Right now, they they have two guys doing it anyway. You know, one guy shoveling while the other guy's on the tractor. This way they can probably get it done in uh a lot lot less time and lower uh easier to store. They'd still

116
00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:20.880
have the tractor, you know, and they have that thing till it it it's at the end of its life. So >> they're probably not going to put more money into it, I assume. >> No, that's the idea is this would be that. >> Okay.

117
00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:38.400
And then what is this next line? mechanics for the SCES. >> So, right now, um we have uh in the gymnasium there's a curtain that spans the gym. >> Um this is uh the mechanics for for that

118
00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:54.480
are at the end of their life. They're they're really um in a in bad shape and um they don't want this curtain to go up and down. They have to keep it down because of a food allergy. And so it's been a protocol um

119
00:38:54.480 --> 00:39:11.599
this whole year where they're separating the gym side and the cafeteria side. And um what's end up ha what's end up happening is that um folks have been complaining who want to come on the weekends and play pickle ball um and are

120
00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:28.079
complaining that they can't um move the curtain and is adamant that they don't raise that curtain for pickle ball um because you know we're going to be you know like I said there's a a serious allergy that we're trying to maintain um

121
00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:44.640
this child's life. Um and uh yeah, so that needs to stay down. Um the 15,000 >> when you say curtain, it's the it's the divider that um >> That's right. >> That's fabric. >> Yeah, it is fabric. Okay, got it.

122
00:39:44.640 --> 00:40:00.079
>> Um >> and it's not like the curtain on the stage in that room. It's >> No, but those all need to be replaced. I mean, Ann did say that. Now, I've talked to Frank uh and buildings committee um about this. This is on their radar, and

123
00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:15.359
they said that they're going to um look into this and go through the procurement process. Um the $15,000 is from a quote from 2022 that I got for the mechanics. Um Frank and and the building committee

124
00:40:15.359 --> 00:40:31.520
um are looking into what's called a walk walk curtain. Um, so it would be not using the mechanics and not like a analog curtain. Um, and so we'd look into that. Um, as well as um, like the

125
00:40:31.520 --> 00:40:49.839
stage. Um, he's he gave me a whole um, bunch of information about that I can share if you need. Um, but he said that would run somewhere between 3,000 and 10,000 for a walk draw. So, this 15,000 is kind of uh hoping that um it's going

126
00:40:49.839 --> 00:41:06.000
to be significantly less, >> right? Got it. Okay, understood. And then uh and so I I guess that's just going to simplify the process of of opening up the room and closing it down, which is a problem

127
00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:23.440
right now. Is that >> That's right. >> say. Yeah. Okay. Got it. >> Okay. Any questions about any of the three school related projects? Okay. Uh

128
00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:37.839
George, do you want to are you going to walk us through the last three here? >> Yes. Well, I I actually um Haley's I I think um Nate can talk about the clickers and I can talk about the firetruck and Haley if you'd like you can talk about the digital >> I can

129
00:41:37.839 --> 00:41:54.079
>> visualization. So, which puts me um give me one second. So, the the fire truck um >> did you have a question before George goes into the fire truck? >> Yeah, just a a general question and uh

130
00:41:54.079 --> 00:42:10.400
and then George, I know you you are the you know, our liaison and you work on the capital planning committee. Uh but why wouldn't somebody like a uh like an Allen be part of this discussion? Um you know, this is um >> Sure. Yeah. No. So, yeah, because there

131
00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:25.040
was confusion, we had scheduled our meeting for five o'clock to prepare for this meeting, which we did, and Ellen was present and Michael Broad was present. Un unfortunately, Laura, I can't make it just like this meeting. And we prepped for this meeting.

132
00:42:25.040 --> 00:42:41.920
We also had a meeting scheduled for 6:30 to coincide with the finance committee, but the finance committee ended up meeting at 7:15. So, we can't So, um, we basically cancelled that meeting. We can only have

133
00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:56.800
two members here because if we have three, we'd have a quorum. But because the capital planning committee doesn't have a meeting scheduled for 7:15 and we couldn't change our meeting because it was with within 48 hours, we decided that two people from the committee could

134
00:42:56.800 --> 00:43:13.440
come here and represent the um recommendations. >> Okay. And Ellen was fine with that and Michael Broad was fine with that. >> Yeah. I just think that's Ellen being the lead of that team. Um, and this is a big meeting for the year, you know, reviewing this whole this whole project,

135
00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:29.440
right? >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. You're 100% right. And she was going to present some of these items, but you know, I'm comfortable talking about the firetruck and Haley's here, so she's got the utilization and, you know, and Nate's been in he could answer any of these. So, um, that's why.

136
00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:43.920
And again, Ellen was fine with it. And was a vote taken at the meeting? >> Yeah, we voted on all these. These are all approved by us. >> That's why they're here, >> right? >> Okay. Thanks, George. >> You're welcome. Yeah. So, for the fire

137
00:43:43.920 --> 00:44:00.640
truck, uh the chief um would be replacing engine 2, which is currently 30 years old. um almost double um well about 15 years older than recommended life for for firet trucks,

138
00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:17.520
but you know in towns like ours, it's not uncommon to have trucks last longer. The truck he wants, the truck he's requesting, uh I it was about 776,000. We're using 800 to make sure that he has enough because that's an old quote. Um

139
00:44:17.520 --> 00:44:33.760
he thinks it'll be under 800,000. the truck he wants would not be customized in any way and that is going to save us. He said customized trucks can run up to a million dollars and he does not need any customizations. His only concern was this truck's a little bigger than the

140
00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:50.800
current truck, but he thinks it will still fit in the bay. So, he's okay with that. He um said that um truck two, he did look into having repairs made to it. And basically it was $400 to

141
00:44:50.800 --> 00:45:07.440
$500,000 range. He he didn't have an exact number, but he's figuring it's somewhere in that range. And it makes no sense. And our thinking in the capital planning committee was it makes no sense to spend that kind of money on a truck that's 30 years old. um we're just going to have, you know, within 5 to 10 years,

142
00:45:07.440 --> 00:45:21.760
we're going to have trouble and it could end up costing, who knows, close to $800,000 just to keep that running. So, um that was really, I think, the crux of why we made the choice we did. Um see if there's anything else here.

143
00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:38.000
>> What happens to the old to to engine two if this >> He's going to try and trade it in. He's going to try and get something for it. there are towns that buy them and you know or he said he might see what he can get on a trade in but a lot of times they just put an ad in the paper and somebody buys them and you'd be

144
00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:54.720
surprised who buys them. Uh he told us one I can't remember what it was but I know I've seen I've ridden my bike by farms and I've seen them in the fields and farmers will buy them use the pumps in them so they are you can get something for them but you know I don't

145
00:45:54.720 --> 00:46:09.920
think he said more than 10 15,000 I don't know Nate if you remember but he wasn't expecting a lot it's not in his notes here so >> got it okay >> yes so yeah he will we don't we don't hang on to it though and it's not like

146
00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:26.160
an item we have to continue to maintain. Uh >> that's right. He doesn't he needs he wants two trucks and he's replacing his oldest truck. >> And of course he's got other equipment, pickup truck, um his his his vehicle, but um he definitely and same

147
00:46:26.160 --> 00:46:40.079
conversation I had with Dave in the highway department. He doesn't want more trucks than he needs because it affects his maintenance budget and it it just becomes another thorn in his side. So, he um Lenny definitely wants to um sell the old truck.

148
00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:57.599
>> And what's the age on uh engine one? >> Engine two we're replacing. Oh, engine one. >> I don't know if I know the age of engine one. >> Um we purchased it probably about 10 13 years ago. The debt

149
00:46:57.599 --> 00:47:13.760
service on it ended a couple years ago. So, >> maybe it's in the notes. Let me look. That's all right. I was just curious when we might have another one. >> He No, he Yeah, I'm I'm sorry that is not in here.

150
00:47:13.760 --> 00:47:29.920
>> Okay, that's fine. >> You know, but he was when we were talking about this, I will tell you this, you know, he is thinking about the long term in staggering the purchase of his trucks. So, he al always has a midlife truck and a new truck, if you will, and then um keep rotating it. So

151
00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:45.040
he sees this as a good time in the rotation of the trucks. I think it is approaching 15 years to truck one because he was talking in those terms. >> Yeah. >> Got it. Okay. Um I'm wondering for this planning document, should we

152
00:47:45.040 --> 00:48:00.240
should we move this over to the borrow column because I'm assuming that's >> actually if you delete the 800,000 it will automatically um calculate the borrow. I just put that in there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. just click and just delete it and

153
00:48:00.240 --> 00:48:15.520
it's going to calculate the borrow. >> And the reason it's built that way, the reason I built the spreadsheet this way is if we decided to put a down payment from free cash or any of the stabilizations >> Yeah. >> then what would be left over would be the borrowing, >> right? Got it. That makes sense. Okay. I

154
00:48:15.520 --> 00:48:29.839
think for the purpose of I mean it's nice to consider that as an option. Um but I think for for I guess well I guess we can open this for discussion but my

155
00:48:29.839 --> 00:48:47.440
my my feeling is that you know our our reserve funds are getting uh kind of low right now. So I wouldn't I wouldn't be inclined to recommend using any cash reserves for this at this

156
00:48:47.440 --> 00:49:05.960
point. But curious what if if others have a different view. >> Susie, >> just as a fact, engine one was bought in 2016. >> Okay. Got it. >> Yeah. So 10 years. >> 10 years. Okay.

157
00:49:06.079 --> 00:49:22.559
>> All right. >> Um what what I would say is what I'm trying I'm having trouble with my PC. I don't know what's going on here. I'm trying to get into um that spreadsheet again and I'm having trouble. But I wanted to go in that spreadsheet that you have open.

158
00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:39.359
>> There we go. I got it. I see what I did. So you've got 800. So if you if we go to the right >> Yeah. >> over here, the 800 comes in. It's at 4.5%. It's a sevenyear. >> This divided by

159
00:49:39.359 --> 00:49:56.880
seven. So, the principal payment if if we borrow for seven years, and I'm not even sure if that's an option. Something like this, I would want to go longer. >> Uhuh. >> Um, >> oh, I see what's I see what's going on. Never mind. Hold on one second.

160
00:49:56.880 --> 00:50:12.800
I see what I did wrong. I'm sorry. Um, here we go. So, if we went, let's say, six years, and we'll have to talk to Ryan about that. Principal would be 133. Interest would be I want to make sure that's right. Yep.

161
00:50:12.800 --> 00:50:30.480
Interest would be 36. So annual debt service on that firetruck is going to be a buck 69. That's going to be a big challenge in our operating budget. >> Yeah. >> And so there the options could be a large down payment,

162
00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:44.240
you know. So just indulge me here. I I don't necessarily know that that's what we would do, but if we did that, you know, two, let's say a h 100,000, every $100,000 we put down saves us, it looks

163
00:50:44.240 --> 00:51:01.200
like 20,000 21,000 in debt service. I would think for something this large, it would be good to talk to Ryan and talk about our financing. You know, we we've we've got a lot of items here. We

164
00:51:01.200 --> 00:51:17.599
got a lot items a lot of items in the background. PAS the dam and who knows what the the parking lot is going to end up costing and I think we really do need to take kind of a comprehensive look at the whole debt service picture >> to just get a better better idea of it.

165
00:51:17.599 --> 00:51:32.559
Um >> he's joining us uh next at our next meeting next week. Um >> so we could Yeah, we could mention that. Um >> I'm sorry. You said Ryan's coming to our

166
00:51:32.559 --> 00:51:48.079
next meeting. Yeah. Our next meeting. Correct. >> Yeah. And and what can we do for years? Because you can see as I change the years, these numbers really >> change. >> There's big difference in what we do. One year is about $19,000 on its own. So,

167
00:51:48.079 --> 00:52:04.800
>> was the LA was the last truck financed over for seven years? Do do you recall? Yeah. >> I don't recall. I don't know. Susie. >> Um, I think that part of our goal tonight is to say,

168
00:52:04.800 --> 00:52:17.440
should we put this in front of town meeting on a warrant article because we feel that the firetruck needs to start being in motion. It needs to be on their minds and we need to support that that is a need for the

169
00:52:17.440 --> 00:52:37.119
town. And then um then and it will be um I guess because of the war the way you word the warrant article is is part of that is part of what we're debating now. But I I think that we certainly know or I think we I think we could come to an

170
00:52:37.119 --> 00:52:51.599
agreement or decide if we want to say yes, it's time to put this in front of the town. Mhm. >> I'm assuming that he can't actually negotiate the purchase unless

171
00:52:51.599 --> 00:53:08.640
the town approves it, right? And so whatever whatever the timeline is for him for us to actually get this thing delivered, it doesn't begin that that clock, I'm assuming, until he can sign a

172
00:53:08.640 --> 00:53:25.119
purchase agreement or something. and he's going to need the town to approve it right at a a town meeting. So, I'm assuming that we have to take this up at our next town meeting in order.

173
00:53:25.119 --> 00:53:41.680
>> Yeah, it needs a warrant article. >> Yeah. And we need if we are going to be using this as a warrant article then preparing Ryan for our next meeting on the 24th. It would be saying to him this is this is the ballpark figure. Tell us some

174
00:53:41.680 --> 00:53:58.720
numbers and tell us the probably the best way to proceed that we would need to know for the warrant article. Right. So he should come to the meeting with that information because we're trying to nail it down. >> Yep. Yeah. No, that that I think that makes sense because I'm also wondering

175
00:53:58.720 --> 00:54:14.720
like did does Lenny need to put a down payment um to actually >> a deposit? >> A deposit, I should say. Uh >> that's a good that's a good question. He didn't mention it. >> Does he need cash? >> He might not know. >> Yeah, he might not know.

176
00:54:14.720 --> 00:54:31.200
>> Yeah. Okay. you know, for municipalities, the these people uh companies that sell to municipalities probably understand that, you know, we're not real flexible and real fast >> um with money. So, I they probably are flexible about that.

177
00:54:31.200 --> 00:54:46.480
>> Got it. >> I think if you build a fire truck, and this truck is not customized in any way. It's going to be built right off the conveyor belt the way they >> faster. >> And so, they'll be able to sell it. I don't think they're worried about not us not um accepting delivery.

178
00:54:46.480 --> 00:55:03.920
>> Got it. Okay. All right. So, we've got the clickers are next. Who's gonna >> Yeah, the clickers. So, uh town moderator has uh >> just a quick question on the firetruck before we get off. Sorry. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry.

179
00:55:03.920 --> 00:55:19.760
>> Yeah. Just just a general question. Um we talked about a grant on the truck on a on a grater. Uh, what's the potential for something like that in a firetruck? A grant of some type. >> Oh, I don't know. I I'm not aware of any. I know we didn't use a grant in the

180
00:55:19.760 --> 00:55:35.760
last one. I don't know if the state provides grants for that. I assume Lenny looked into that. I I don't recall that we asked him. >> Maybe Haley should check it out, but I I don't think Lenny would have >> I think there are >> Yeah. So, they do that kind of thing.

181
00:55:35.760 --> 00:55:51.839
>> I think we're prepared to time. They would do that type of thing for a greater but not for a firet truck. >> Well, there's bit, you know, statewide if you're watching the state legislature, there's a lot of pressure on them about roads and bridges and the the crumbling in infrastructure is in

182
00:55:51.839 --> 00:56:08.640
the news a lot. And you know, if you drive around the valley, you find yourself if you drive through Monagu last summer, you found yourself having to take detours because of all the bridges that were out. And that's a statewide issue. And so and that's why chapter chapter 90 has been getting

183
00:56:08.640 --> 00:56:24.160
extra money >> right and official >> right >> anything they can do to improve the infrastructure yeah roads and highways and bridges >> but not fire trucks >> you know in a couple years when firet trucks become an issue >> maybe there'll be grants

184
00:56:24.160 --> 00:56:40.400
>> um Jim I just did a quick Google search and it looks like the only option would be federal programs >> what what the yeah what the state will pay does not go that Hi. >> That's hard to believe. >> Okay, let's not go there. >> Yeah, thanks, Haley.

185
00:56:40.400 --> 00:56:55.920
>> I think I think we've we've taken advantage of the um like the safety equipment. I think there is a safety equipment grant that um we've I think we've taken

186
00:56:55.920 --> 00:57:11.280
advantage of before. Is that >> that's how we did the communication tower and and all that stuff. >> Yes. Yeah. Right. >> Certainly worth looking into. >> That that's a modest I think I think you know we're talking much smaller sum of

187
00:57:11.280 --> 00:57:27.760
money and for those grants than um what it would cost the for the fire truck. Okay. >> Let's tell them the clickers are a safety issue. >> Yeah. Right. >> Uh okay. So >> so who's going to tell us about the

188
00:57:27.760 --> 00:57:41.920
clickers? So the clickers are presented by the town moderator. They're 250 clickers. >> Um we were given um clickers by to from

189
00:57:41.920 --> 00:57:59.280
Amherst when they changed their uh form of governance. Um and they are there's a little window that we have now to trade those clickers in for newer ones. Um,

190
00:57:59.280 --> 00:58:14.640
and Netti uh has uh presented it uh in that way. It's kind of time that this is a kind of a one-time shot to get this uh rebate for the 250 to replace them. Um

191
00:58:14.640 --> 00:58:31.359
it does require a annual fee of $495, a subscription fee. um she held a a mock town meeting to um for folks to try try it out. I attended and Laura also uh

192
00:58:31.359 --> 00:58:46.559
attended from CAP planning. Um we attended it on that Saturday to try it out and see what it was all about. Um it seemed to go pretty smoothly. I think uh we had uh 15 seconds

193
00:58:46.559 --> 00:59:05.200
um to count the votes um which was uh significantly less than what the 10 to 20 minutes it can take um to count votes um by hand. Um let's see. Uh you'd save u money on I

194
00:59:05.200 --> 00:59:23.440
think it's $15 an hour. Uh you pay two to four people to count those votes. Um this would be one person would get trained. That's part of the 495 subscription fee would be be to pay someone to man the computer um be

195
00:59:23.440 --> 00:59:39.040
trained on this first excuse me first charge 5,700 would be uh to help train um someone from the town um on this system. Um,

196
00:59:39.040 --> 00:59:56.319
and uh, yeah, you'd have an A, they had an AV setup. We could borrow the projector from the library. Um, you could have it um, the questions, the warrants, whatever. Um, projected on the screen and then the results come up. Um, yeah, immediately 15 seconds later, you

197
00:59:56.319 --> 01:00:11.280
have the breakdown of the vote. Um there was concern uh she brought up concerns about like uh anonymous voting pressure from uh neighbors when you're doing a um a public vote like that. Um you know

198
01:00:11.280 --> 01:00:26.720
that was debated in our in our group but you know it seemed like this was uh a good idea to do. Was that the the sort of primary

199
01:00:26.720 --> 01:00:42.880
like I guess justification in terms of a sort of problem that this is solving was the notion of like this is a more anonymous form of of voting than

200
01:00:42.880 --> 01:00:58.880
raising cards. Is that >> um I think time was the was the main factor in this. Um, you know, what I heard like a while back was, you know, that uh Sunderland um had uh you know, a

201
01:00:58.880 --> 01:01:14.640
town meeting that lasted what an hour and a half recently and they had like 34 warrants to go through and because they had this clicker system, they were able to just bang through these this meeting. Um so, you know, I think Netty's concern is just like who's coming to the

202
01:01:14.640 --> 01:01:31.040
meeting. um that not a lot of people are coming and wanting to spend 8 hours. Um not a lot of parents, a lot, you know, a big thing she's trying to figure out is uh um child care for um folks. So, she's

203
01:01:31.040 --> 01:01:47.839
just trying to get, you know, the town meeting to be more inclusive. >> Got it. Now, what happens if we have more than 250 people attending? >> Um I think that came up. Um she said that usually we have 180 uh at town

204
01:01:47.839 --> 01:02:05.920
meeting and that the most um that we had was 230. That was what um a few years ago when we voted on the library and had that outdoor event where you know tons of people showed up. So the most was 230 that we've had. So this should have uh

205
01:02:05.920 --> 01:02:20.799
should should cover it. Um she also said that we can rent these out when we're not using them. Um, and that other towns are interested in that. Um, so we might be able to get some money back somehow to, you know, to pay for it. >> Got it.

206
01:02:20.799 --> 01:02:36.799
>> By renting these out. >> All right. Um, and so Okay. So, the five the $5,700 that's the the upfront hardware cost. Is there >> and training?

207
01:02:36.799 --> 01:02:51.599
>> And training. Okay. Yeah. >> Is there a subscription fee for FY27 that needs to be added to our >> I believe that >> the five 5700 that's baked in.

208
01:02:51.599 --> 01:03:08.400
>> Okay. Got it. So that's our year one cost in >> Okay. >> All right. Any questions about that? The clickers. >> Could could you just clarify that the 495 is included in the 5700 for the first year? >> I believe so. Yeah,

209
01:03:08.400 --> 01:03:24.880
>> we'll have to remember to budget that in FY28 though somehow. >> Yeah, that >> we should maybe put a line in and just fund it at zero. >> Yeah, good idea. >> With a note that says next year it'll be 495. >> Otherwise, we're going to forget >> like the mosquitoes.

210
01:03:24.880 --> 01:03:41.839
>> Yes, which I'm happy to forget mosquitoes. >> Yeah. >> All right, Haley, do you want to tell us about the data digitization? >> Yeah. Um, so one of the first things that the select board had talked to me about when I started was, uh, you know,

211
01:03:41.839 --> 01:03:57.440
what do we do with all of our records? We have so many files at town hall. Um, so I worked with a company, I guess like data tree solutions. Um, and so basically what they'll do is they'll come in and they'll take, you know, file

212
01:03:57.440 --> 01:04:14.079
folders, boxes, and they'll go in and they'll digitize everything in the file. So that could be notes that someone scribbled in a margin. That could be post-it notes, the documents themselves, but they'll scan everything and um you know and say somebody had a public

213
01:04:14.079 --> 01:04:30.559
record efforts request while they're handling a specific document. We can actually reach out to them and say we need this, you know, can you provide it to us so we can fulfill that request? Um but essentially the benefit is we can eliminate some of the space. You know, we're talking a lot about you, how do we

214
01:04:30.559 --> 01:04:46.960
modernize? How do we, you know, adapt town hall space and a lot of it is just taken up by boxes of files that we don't need to have paper copies of? We can just have a thumb drive where everything is located on. So, what I have um I had

215
01:04:46.960 --> 01:05:01.760
them come in and price out like the whole building, but um for this specific request, we're focusing on the downstairs meeting area. And there's a selection of filing cabinets outside of Gail um the accountants's office. And so

216
01:05:01.760 --> 01:05:17.200
that's what we want to clean up um and digitize so I can free up space. >> Got it. And then what h do we do we destroy the physical files after or do we >> Yeah, they they'll give them back if we

217
01:05:17.200 --> 01:05:31.760
want them, but we don't need them. All we need is the digital. >> Yeah, makes sense. Okay. So then I'm assuming that in in that you're you're gonna and I think this note implies that

218
01:05:31.760 --> 01:05:49.039
that you're going to include other areas of the building in future years. And so like for at least the the next few fiscal years there'll be some component of doing this um for a certain set of

219
01:05:49.039 --> 01:06:06.400
files. Is that that's the idea? Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um, any questions about any of the just in terms of the kind of rationale for approving these items? Are there any questions

220
01:06:06.400 --> 01:06:27.760
about that? And then we can talk about funding. Okay. Uh, Jim, you're muted, Jim. >> Yeah. Maybe a question for you, George, and maybe Nate. Um, as part of the capital planning committee, were there

221
01:06:27.760 --> 01:06:43.039
some projects you all batted about that were close or on the line on the margins as far as getting approved, but for whatever reason weren't that ones that we should be thinking about or concerned about for future needs?

222
01:06:43.039 --> 01:06:58.319
uh or was it a pretty clear a pretty clear line that these are the ones that are needed and none really fell off fell off that were really needed? No, everything these this is pretty much everything that was requested. The only

223
01:06:58.319 --> 01:07:14.720
other item was Nate was originally had a the actual parking lot repaving in here, the park parking lot job, but realized there just isn't enough time, especially with the snow, nobody could do an analysis of the

224
01:07:14.720 --> 01:07:31.520
of the parking lot in time to put that in here. So, instead, you know, um we're going to get an engineering study and really so we really understand it. And as Nate said, there's a lot of moving parts because of the issues with the the oil, the water tank and the the oil

225
01:07:31.520 --> 01:07:47.200
>> and um >> so but yeah, it it went pretty smooth. I think >> part of the reason was you know the greater and the highway the fire trucks are just so old and well be beyond

226
01:07:47.200 --> 01:08:02.640
normal years. And as far as the capital planning schedule goes were due to be purchased already >> and so you know fit into that and you know I think the other ones because of the dollar amounts we didn't debate too

227
01:08:02.640 --> 01:08:19.199
much the snowblowers as they pointed out was a better deal than what we initially were going to do with the tractor and so there was a big savings there. So >> pretty much it. >> Yeah. Also, uh to go back to uh the greater um last year when we had a vote

228
01:08:19.199 --> 01:08:34.880
on it, you know, there we were told that we couldn't use chapter 90 money um for the greater and there wasn't a grant for it last year. So, um yeah, so this year it seemed like a no-brainer. >> Okay, maybe a follow-up question and

229
01:08:34.880 --> 01:08:49.920
that is was there any energy around the team this year regarding a longer term capital plan? you know what what different departments are going to need over the next five years or 10 years so that we as a town can understand what's

230
01:08:49.920 --> 01:09:07.120
coming down the line beyond this year and think about how we need to support these types of projects in the future. >> Yes. >> Any of that kind of discussion? >> Absolutely. >> Yeah, we did. Yeah. and we're going to be meeting um we're going to continue to meet even though we're done with these

231
01:09:07.120 --> 01:09:23.600
requests and we are going to meet with department heads and we are going to we we started that spreadsheet and we have um basically took the old one which was very outdated um some you know a it didn't have all the current inventory

232
01:09:23.600 --> 01:09:41.359
and b the prices were just the grater was on there for $90,000 so it it needs work And so we're going to meet with all the individual department heads and get their inventory straight and try to get the dollar amounts and the lives the inventory the

233
01:09:41.359 --> 01:09:57.840
life of each in item and when they expect to replace each of those items. in other words, and then um the anticipated costs. And we're going to put it, you know, we're kicking around the idea of putting an inflation factor in it so that, you know, when somebody says, "It's $70,000, but I won't need it

234
01:09:57.840 --> 01:10:13.760
for 5 years," it's going to end up showing up as $84,000 in five years so that we can always keep up with that and have a better understanding of what the Rio dollars will be. >> Yeah. And on that, you know, the um the

235
01:10:13.760 --> 01:10:29.280
driveway uh is kind of the third thing that needs to happen with the school. Um and this assessment kind of gives us that long-term plan. Um this same assessment was done for the roof. Um

236
01:10:29.280 --> 01:10:45.199
that was $35,000 to have an engineering assessment of the roof. um uh the exterior was painted and um you know fixed up. So those things uh have happened at the school. Um those

237
01:10:45.199 --> 01:11:01.280
have a you know a 30-year lifespan. This driveway is the third big thing and this the driveway has needed to happen 10 years ago. You know uh I met with uh Scott Barlo today of Barlo Paving. he's

238
01:11:01.280 --> 01:11:18.800
going to put together an assessment um to get us to 2028 or 2029 to get kind of patch the the frost heaves and get our sidewalks into shape. Um you know so I think this you know as far

239
01:11:18.800 --> 01:11:35.120
as the school like those are the three big things that we're looking at um that has been on Ann's radar is this oil tank um is you know what's what's where are we moving to with that? are we going to ground source heat pump? You know, what's happening there? So, I think this

240
01:11:35.120 --> 01:11:51.840
uh you know, assessment is the first step in kind of answering those questions and seeing what our long-term you know, plans are. So Nate, in in terms of the the oil tank and the

241
01:11:51.840 --> 01:12:08.480
the heating system for the building, is there anything that is going to be happening in FY 27 that um is going to need to be funded through

242
01:12:08.480 --> 01:12:24.800
the capital planning process or >> uh yeah, probably um Frank um was going to put forth uh an uh an engineering study uh for us tonight um but he

243
01:12:24.800 --> 01:12:42.640
withdrew that and kind of gave us um gave us some information about what's going on there. I'm like looking for it now. >> I have some of it Nate that would be great. Thank you. So we're kind

244
01:12:42.640 --> 01:12:57.760
of in the first phase of the oil tank remediation and so that basically involved the you know collaboration with DP, Western Mass Environmental, Thai and Bond and Royal Steam I think is the company name.

245
01:12:57.760 --> 01:13:16.000
>> Um so we have that mitigation we has has happened. The contaminated soil is in barrels ready to be picked up. What has to happen next is that we have to assess how much if any oil leaked into the ground and then you have to further

246
01:13:16.000 --> 01:13:32.640
assess there's a specific chemical that I don't remember the name of but if that's positive in the oil that would necessitate automatically that we have to get a hole in the oil tank. So yes there will be FY25 expenses but it's not clear right now what those will be

247
01:13:32.640 --> 01:13:48.000
because we don't have those questions answered. you know, we're not going to really know very much how much more cleaning until we get it tested, which the oil company has to come out and do. And, you know, again, with, you know, as far as the oil tank

248
01:13:48.000 --> 01:14:03.360
goes, I think the quote that I have from Frank is about $45,000 to study heat pumps. Do we even want to spend that if we're going to have to spend, you know, a new oil tank can be upwards of $400,000. So, you know, those are kind of the costs

249
01:14:03.360 --> 01:14:18.400
that we're looking at. But again, unfortunately, there's just not enough data right now >> to say what those will be. >> Probably going to be a special town meeting, a fall town meeting. Is that what it sounds like? >> Yep. >> Got it. >> All right, Jim.

250
01:14:18.400 --> 01:14:34.480
>> Yeah, I just help me with my understanding the building committee and and their role, if any, or how involved were they in this process this year? And they pretty much on board with this list. >> Huge. Hugely on board. >> Okay. >> Well, at least with the oil tank. I don't know about the capital planning list.

251
01:14:34.480 --> 01:14:49.600
>> Yeah, I talk about the whole I'm talking about the whole list. >> Yeah, the whole list of projects. Yeah, >> I think the only the only item on here that's, you know, like an infrastructure >> item is the parking lot, right? Is the

252
01:14:49.600 --> 01:15:06.320
is the And I think Nate, you mentioned that Frank is been involved in that discussion. >> He has. And he's also uh they're taking the lead on the mechanics for the curtain. >> Oh yeah, of course. That's right. He mentioned that too.

253
01:15:06.320 --> 01:15:22.880
>> So they're they're very much uh you know a part of it. Uh talking to Steven Dalmus. Uh I talked to Anna Cook. Uh I try to you know communicate with all those everybody on the buildings committee. So I've talked to uh Jeff Kraken Bush. He's the guy who

254
01:15:22.880 --> 01:15:38.480
recommended um Birkshire Design Group. Uh so yeah, we we've we've tried to keep them in the loop and um yeah, they've been really helpful. >> I think they've been absolutely been very helpful and very involved. Um this

255
01:15:38.480 --> 01:15:52.960
issue with the tank is a serious issue and you know talking to Frank today, it sounds like those guys are really they're really putting their effort in. They're really doing the work. Um, and just for everybody, a little side on that. Um, I learned today that we no

256
01:15:52.960 --> 01:16:10.000
longer have Jamrock as the um, company taking care of the boiler system, the heating system at the school. They've been replaced by someone who apparently um, has a good reputation and everybody felt um, was the right choice. Um, I I think we all know about Jamro and we've

257
01:16:10.000 --> 01:16:25.520
heard Jamrog's name more than once in conversation. And I think the feeling the what I heard today was the feeling was that they were they would come in when we had a problem, but they weren't really helping us with solving long-term solutions. They it sounded to me like

258
01:16:25.520 --> 01:16:42.480
they come in and repair. We need an organization that's at the next level that can give us advice that has long-term positive benefits. And that's the people who I'm not even sure who it is in our town. I think Jeff might have been one.

259
01:16:42.480 --> 01:16:58.320
know, you know, have know their reputation and feel good about the replacement company, which I don't remember the name. >> It's Royal Steam. Royal Steam out of Gardener, Mass. Uh, I looked into them. They're they're a great company as well. I from what I can find.

260
01:16:58.320 --> 01:17:14.159
>> Susie, >> I have a couple of concerns. One is that um the whole bidding and procurement thing, even though you can get good advice, there is there are some rules and and Haley would be guiding um people

261
01:17:14.159 --> 01:17:30.000
making sure they follow procurement um bid rules for things like engineering studies and on from there. And we do know um at the meeting at the select board meeting Haley identified that there's about $23,000

262
01:17:30.000 --> 01:17:45.920
of costs for the current oil tank um remedi mitigation process and 10,000 we have an insurance policy that'll cover um it has a 10,000 deductible. So

263
01:17:45.920 --> 01:18:03.280
there's so so without even doing bids, just the kind of response you need to make in an emergency is we do know we have about $10,000 costs in front of us. And then that's not saying what the long-term part of this is. And the other

264
01:18:03.280 --> 01:18:18.719
item that's like that in in some ways is the dam. It has some immediate needs. There's a contract that's being um reviewed I believe. I'm not sure if it's signed. Um

265
01:18:18.719 --> 01:18:34.000
>> it's signed. So it so we have some commitments. That doesn't mean that all these capital things aren't need these need to be dealt with too. But just in terms of informing the town, we should make sure that we are saying and um that

266
01:18:34.000 --> 01:18:50.640
these these are costs. Some are happening. Some um we are getting engineering studies to find out what they look like. And um and sometimes people think that you know you you just try to put it off. But one thing we have

267
01:18:50.640 --> 01:19:05.920
learned is that putting off um certain costs doubles the price. So, um I just want to make sure that we really do have the things that are not on the plan that are happening identified to town and

268
01:19:05.920 --> 01:19:23.480
then other things that in the in the um capital planning working out a better long range thing that will be a big help to us and we'll be able to share that with the town and and and show them that we are paying attention.

269
01:19:23.679 --> 01:19:38.719
So, do we need a warrant articles for either the oil tank remediation costs that I guess that you've already expended?

270
01:19:38.719 --> 01:19:55.040
Um, yeah. How how is that getting paid? Yeah. >> So, we haven't paid anything yet. No invoices have come in. These are just estimates from the different companies on what it will cost. I don't think that we have I'm not as

271
01:19:55.040 --> 01:20:11.840
concerned about phase one >> because I think with our deductible I think we'll we'll be able to pay for that. I'm I'm more concerned about the later phase. Yeah. >> And so one of the things that I also had talked about at the select board meeting and this certainly applies to the dam is that when you declare a state of

272
01:20:11.840 --> 01:20:27.360
emergency you can not only deficit spend but you can also bypass procurement policies. you know, we didn't have to go through those steps for the dam because it's an emergency and it has to happen now. So, I don't think we need to get to that. We did declare a state of

273
01:20:27.360 --> 01:20:43.440
emergency for the dam. I don't think we need to do that at this point for the oil tank, but we might want to revisit that in the future if it's looking like this is going to be a huge cost to the town. It would allow us to have some flexibility in terms of when we

274
01:20:43.440 --> 01:20:58.719
appropriate the funds and from what source. Okay, got it. Uh, April, >> I I just wanted to comment on the on the uh the potential for the oil tank to be and maybe there's some PTSD from the gas

275
01:20:58.719 --> 01:21:15.920
tank at the fire station, but that ended up being huge and involved with the EPA and is there any sense that of how far the the uh the oil has gone? So they have managed to successfully clean up all the oil on the exterior like on the

276
01:21:15.920 --> 01:21:33.280
surface level. So that they've contained it's in uh you know big gallons drums. Um as far as the underground testing so pretty much within hours of finding out about the spill, we were on the phone with D. They came

277
01:21:33.280 --> 01:21:50.560
like the same day that we called them. Um so they're actively monitoring. They're supporting us in this process. Um, so they, so I'm not as concerned about that level because we have their guidance through this whole thing. Um, and like I said, so for the testing to

278
01:21:50.560 --> 01:22:07.040
see how much leaked, the the oil company, which I think we use Dead River, um, they come in, they'll calculate it based off of when was the last time they delivered oil, how much oil was used, and then you can find out how much would have spilled. Um, and so

279
01:22:07.040 --> 01:22:22.800
we just don't know that yet. And I'm I'm really hesitant to throw out numbers because I don't want people to get the wrong idea. Um, so we just have to wait for that assessment. >> Frank said that we benefited from the fact that the ground was frozen and so

280
01:22:22.800 --> 01:22:38.080
when the D came to excavate, they only had to excavate the first uh 4 in of top soil because the ground was frozen. So he seemed to think and um the guys he talked to seem to think that

281
01:22:38.080 --> 01:22:55.840
you know cross fingers it's it's not seeped into the ground. Uh George, >> Susie was talking about the other issues that we have to consider and I was curious about where we are with PAS and

282
01:22:55.840 --> 01:23:12.480
does that also fit into these, you know, these other items that we have to figure determine because we haven't really talked about PAS in the budget and I can't remember where we were with that. Are we going to have to appropriate more

283
01:23:12.480 --> 01:23:28.239
funds for PAST? >> There's quite a lot left in that line. I'm not sure what that means and and Gail would be the person to say yes, they've given us invoices or no, they haven't. But for some reason, that line is very unspent in the budget. >> Okay, good.

284
01:23:28.239 --> 01:23:44.800
>> But I have a question. If FY26, are we going to need to spend the 10,000 for the insurance deductible? Is that And we can do it out of Fincom reserves. It doesn't we wouldn't take that to town meeting I don't believe if it's an FY26

285
01:23:44.800 --> 01:24:05.040
expense for 10,000 which is the deductible. >> Yeah. I mean that fits the criteria of a finan reserve transfer. >> Is that when it will hit in FY26? >> Yeah. So yeah the work happened this year. So anything we get would be for this year.

286
01:24:05.040 --> 01:24:23.440
>> Right. We just haven't gotten the invoices but they're coming presumably. Okay. All right. Um, so I thought the assumptions you made, George, about um how to fund these items

287
01:24:23.440 --> 01:24:41.120
all looked right to me. I don't think it makes sense to um allocate any cash reserves for the greater or the fire truck at this point. So, but that

288
01:24:41.120 --> 01:24:57.280
was just my you know my my instinct. Does anybody have any concerns about these initial assumptions that are made here, which are basically that we're going to fund everything with free

289
01:24:57.280 --> 01:25:12.960
cash with the exception of the fire truck, which he's going to get borrowed, and we may end up needing to put some cash down for down for for a deposit, but we'll get some more information about

290
01:25:12.960 --> 01:25:31.120
that. But for now, we're we've I you know, we've kind of slated this for um fully borrowing for that expense. And then for the greater, I think for now, we're going to assume that we can fund

291
01:25:31.120 --> 01:25:49.040
this with a combination of grant funds and chapter 90 funds. George, >> uh yes. So to the latter of thing you just said, yes, I think we're we're hopeful that we can handle the greater without a warrant article for the financing piece. Anyways, I don't and we

292
01:25:49.040 --> 01:26:05.280
may not need Yeah. warrant article at all. Um historically, we've kept that service at about $113,000 a year. And in those years when there was no debt or there was less than that amount of debt, to

293
01:26:05.280 --> 01:26:19.840
the extent that there wasn't, we were funding stabilization. And that's how we got the stabilization balances we have now. Our debt service is well over that 113,000 excluding the library because that's funded through a debt exclusion

294
01:26:19.840 --> 01:26:36.880
override, but the other items were pretty much pushing that 113. I think we're a little over it and we never adjusted it for inflation. So, you know, maybe it should be 120, 130, 140 over time, but we're looking at a very big capital purchase with this firet truck.

295
01:26:36.880 --> 01:26:53.840
Um, and because we weren't didn't start the debt service on the three items that we're paying debt service on now, um, we didn't start them on time, they still have two or three years left. And so we really need to look at FY28 and FY29, a

296
01:26:53.840 --> 01:27:10.000
long-term picture to see what our debt service is going to look like because that is going to be a pain point on our operating budget. And that's where we're going to have really large increases like we've seen with health insurance and um well that scale if you will. And

297
01:27:10.000 --> 01:27:26.639
I think meeting with Ryan, as I said earlier, I think it's not only in the context of the firetruck, but what does our debt service look like over the next four years? For instance, he knows what we have currently have loans for and what the debt service is for. It would be good if he could bring that and show

298
01:27:26.639 --> 01:27:42.480
it on the table for each year. >> And then we could see what's the effect of the fire department, how much does that add, what drops out when. You know, the covert's going to go on for a long time. I I don't know how long that debt is. I think it's more than 10 years. But

299
01:27:42.480 --> 01:27:58.639
the backhoe and I think it's a highway truck. Those items are four, five or six years. I think they're probably four years. So, they will drop out. And you know, I I know I kicked around the idea if we use stabilization to pay one or two of those off, we would free up a lot

300
01:27:58.639 --> 01:28:15.679
of debt service in the operating budget. and that might be able maybe enough or substantial amount that the fire truck coming in won't be so painful or maybe we use a lot of stabilization on the firetruck because we know that we you

301
01:28:15.679 --> 01:28:31.280
know again we're going to have that pressure on the operating budget. So I just think meeting with the treasurer and looking at debt service in that way is going to really inform us on the best way to finance these things. Yeah.

302
01:28:31.280 --> 01:28:47.440
Yeah. Okay. >> I would also add that I mean these these are these are really unprecedented times that we're in and we're really struggling and I know we have these limits that we want these balances we want to maintain in our

303
01:28:47.440 --> 01:29:02.239
reserves. But I really feel like we're getting to the point how many more large increases are the taxpayers going to be able to absorb? I mean we knew the library was coming this year. Everybody knows it. Everybody who went and voted yes for it was willing to pay that. And

304
01:29:02.239 --> 01:29:19.040
so that's fine. That's 150 140 out of the increase we're looking at this year. But um I'm not afraid to use more reserves than what we typically do because I we're in that situation.

305
01:29:19.040 --> 01:29:35.120
>> Yeah, >> that's me personally. >> Of course. Um, one one thing I just had a sort of random question that popped into my head, which is do do these stabilization balances,

306
01:29:35.120 --> 01:29:51.679
they don't grow unless we >> right >> unless we allocate money in our operating budget. >> They grow slowly with interest, but that's it. Just the interest that they earn. >> Yeah. But >> without an appropriation, they get nothing else.

307
01:29:51.679 --> 01:30:08.800
But it's it's growing quite I mean it must be a very modest interest rate that we um that that we're earning on on those funds because it doesn't look like they've they grow

308
01:30:08.800 --> 01:30:25.360
uh they've grown much. Um >> well let me just let me just say this to you. Um when you look at the free cash 1,43 that was certified at the beginning of the year that doesn't have interest added to it. But if you look at the cash stabilization and the regular a capital

309
01:30:25.360 --> 01:30:40.400
stabilization and the other stabilization I update that number >> every I wouldn't say I do it every month but I update it when we work on the schedule from the most recent accounting schedule. So those two balances in the start balance aren't actually July 1st

310
01:30:40.400 --> 01:30:54.239
numbers. They're really the current numbers. They're just before start think about start balance before we vote on using that >> right before >> I do update those every time we do this and I probably should update it now. >> Got it. Okay. So, yeah. So, these

311
01:30:54.239 --> 01:31:10.560
starting balances are are actually not it's just the it's just that we haven't appropriated funds from from those sources >> and that increase is really not going to cover much of anything. It's not going to make them more robust. That's for sure.

312
01:31:10.560 --> 01:31:26.960
>> Yeah. It's easy. >> So, I just want to check. We're gonna ask Brian to come or he's coming next meeting. We're gonna ask him for a debt schedule of the current items. Yeah. >> And then we'll ask him for his best option on um the fire truck financing.

313
01:31:26.960 --> 01:31:43.120
>> And then the other thing is um >> does the free cash gain um interest where it sits and is it gain the same kind that capital stabilization does? >> I believe not. I believe the uh interest on the free cash is that interest that

314
01:31:43.120 --> 01:31:58.719
we use as revenue on the operating on the uh operating budget, the revenue page. Remember we talked about that number being 72,000 or whatever it is. >> 70 Y. >> Yeah. I mean, where does that come from? What what's earning that interest? I believe it's the general fund, the free cash.

315
01:31:58.719 --> 01:32:16.000
>> General and I did get I did ask Ryan and he emailed me that he he thought our current placeholder of $70,000 was the the correct assumption to to build into our budget. >> Okay.

316
01:32:16.000 --> 01:32:33.120
Yeah. I I'm I'm thinking we may get I mean we did the placeholder things and we'll come to see next fall whether we ended up with more cash reserve free cash than we thought and I don't know if it makes any difference to put it in capital stabilization. That's a vote at

317
01:32:33.120 --> 01:32:50.080
town meeting. Um I don't know if there's any real benefit for it. um because we've spent money on capital items out of free cash. Yeah. >> And you can see that. But maybe maybe for something that's a little longer term, we might think about building our

318
01:32:50.080 --> 01:33:07.040
capital stabilization by funding that $113 level higher or just stashing some free cash next year if we are riding if we have actually accumulated some. >> Yeah. I I think I think the thing we

319
01:33:07.040 --> 01:33:23.920
need to do is and and not for this budget, but I think this is a this is an offseason thing, but I think we need to revisit our whole um sort of policy for um funding the stabiliza capital

320
01:33:23.920 --> 01:33:40.000
stabilization account. So that that whole process of you know whatever it was the $17,000 you know that was kind of an arbitrary number um you know to begin with and it

321
01:33:40.000 --> 01:33:57.760
hasn't grown and we haven't you know we we our debt service has been above that level the last couple two years three years maybe I can't remember now >> well I think just last year I think that we were we maybe the year before but I last. Yeah, maybe the year before, maybe

322
01:33:57.760 --> 01:34:12.239
two years. >> Okay. >> So, and it's it's kind of hard to imagine at this point given the items that are on our horizon that we're we're going to have any point in the near in

323
01:34:12.239 --> 01:34:31.199
the next several fiscal years where we're going to get below that amount, right? I mean, I that seems unlikely. So, um I think I think it might make sense to um to go to to revisit and build a you

324
01:34:31.199 --> 01:34:48.719
know a line in the operating budget to to continue to build that those um those balances. But I guess we we can talk about that after the budget has been resolved for this year. Uh Jim,

325
01:34:48.719 --> 01:35:04.400
>> well you all to that point I I I would say um we're really in the opposite situation now because you would fund that stabilization from free cash or or basically >> and and we're going the opposite way with free cash. We're draining we're

326
01:35:04.400 --> 01:35:21.040
draining free cash. Um so I'm not sure where that that funding would come from this line um when we're we're struggling managing the lines on the budget we have today. >> Yeah, certainly. FY27 that would be the case but maybe maybe things improve in

327
01:35:21.040 --> 01:35:38.159
FY28. I don't you know that's probably optimistic but where we could we could imagine you know adding um you know uh some some money to that operating budget line and we can fund that through tax

328
01:35:38.159 --> 01:35:53.199
levy. But you're right for that would be the case if we were to be doing that for in this budget. Yeah. >> Yeah. The reason I raised my hand is I think uh Susie talked about the reasons for Ryan coming by, but there was also the the f the how the the the the

329
01:35:53.199 --> 01:36:09.280
library um going through his exercise. He's going to review his exercise that he went through on the 10 year versus 15. >> 15. I've asked him to to just to just uh yeah, kind of give give his perspective on that.

330
01:36:09.280 --> 01:36:29.120
>> Yeah. Uh George um so um the 113,000 that we were doing wasn't necessarily arbitrary. I think it was 2% of the budget >> and I think you know we probably want to keep that service at 2% of the budget and always make that kind of our goal. Um

331
01:36:29.120 --> 01:36:45.840
there is a line in the budget for trans for paying funds into the stabilization accounts from the operating budget and again like I said and when that service was low we would do that. The other mechanism is Jim pointed out you could

332
01:36:45.840 --> 01:37:01.440
make a transfer for free cash and if you find yourselves flush and free cash and well above our percentage you can use that. The other option is you can make a debt exclusion transfer. So you could vote a debt exclusion override on an

333
01:37:01.440 --> 01:37:19.199
amount to fund stabilization and it would go in the budget as an expense and it would go on the revenue side as um a revenue item added to the tax the maximum tax limit levy just like the high school um or the regional school debt service and the library are. And

334
01:37:19.199 --> 01:37:36.960
towns do that. And it's a in that case you could do it over a number of years or you could do a big a big addition if you knew something was coming. So I just wanted everybody to know there are there definitely other options to consider in that conversation that you know you're talking about having later on in the

335
01:37:36.960 --> 01:37:55.199
year. >> Yeah. So 2% of our operating budget this year would be $167,000 and I our total debt services in the budget is $265,000.

336
01:37:55.199 --> 01:38:16.320
But if we take out the library, that's uh >> 265 >> minus 78 191 minus 426. >> Check out the library. You're looking at about >> 140 45,000 basically.

337
01:38:16.320 --> 01:38:32.400
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> So anyway, um so I guess maybe >> not too bad. >> Yeah. you know, may maybe there's maybe there'll be an opportunity in FY28

338
01:38:32.400 --> 01:38:50.000
to re to establish a new baseline for that policy, you know, of 2% of the budget. >> Well, that depends on, you know, how how how big our def deficit or, you know, Yeah. >> you know, the whole the whole game. It's

339
01:38:50.000 --> 01:39:04.560
it's funny you were pretty optimistic a minute ago. Um the the state is still feeling pressure. Well, we got we just got to keep pressure on the state. I'm I'm sorry. Don't >> I I I the one thing I want to say is

340
01:39:04.560 --> 01:39:22.800
what everybody's aware that the Quabin bill and in the governor's budget, she's making a $50,000 down payment >> for 10 towns. Is it? Yeah. >> Yeah. For 10 towns. And I'm thinking if that's how much and so I'm wondering does that is that revenue I mean or are

341
01:39:22.800 --> 01:39:39.199
we just going to let that go to the free cash? I guess we can't really count on it as revenue for the operating budget at this point, but what that tells me is they're not thinking big, >> right? >> I think there are 11 towns. >> I think there were >> I think there there are 11, aren't

342
01:39:39.199 --> 01:39:54.239
there? >> That's not right. I don't know where Hardwick pill out. >> I think I saw a newspaper item saying it was 10 towns and the 50k. >> Yeah. And who knows how they're going to allocate the 50k, >> right?

343
01:39:54.239 --> 01:40:10.239
>> And the governor's bill is not is not the final say. So there is still room to push. >> Yes. >> I'd like to look at the the debt the budget numbers that we're going to be wrestling with. >> All right.

344
01:40:10.239 --> 01:40:26.320
>> Do we um Okay. So we're going to I don't think we need to take any votes on this because we're going to do that next week with when we're actually looking at the warrant articles. So, I'm gonna I'm going to draft warrant articles that correspond

345
01:40:26.320 --> 01:40:44.320
to these capital items and and I'm going to follow all the assumptions that are built into the the sheet. Right now, I'm not going to write I'm not going to draft one for the greater and I am going to draft one for the fire truck.

346
01:40:44.320 --> 01:41:03.520
>> Yeah. that that that specifies that we're going to borrow for that project. Yeah. For that expense. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. The if we decide that we want to put something down on it, we just have to edit it. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh so, let me

347
01:41:03.520 --> 01:41:19.040
share budget now. Okay. So, I emailed this to everybody, but I think I don't I think the two updates that were made happened since we last

348
01:41:19.040 --> 01:41:35.520
since our last meeting, and those are a new growth a new growth uh >> growth is 40. >> Yeah. That um that Haley got from the assessor. And then

349
01:41:35.520 --> 01:41:50.560
um we got an updated uh elementary transportation assessment which I think you all saw was a significant increase. It's a 44%

350
01:41:50.560 --> 01:42:08.000
increase over FY26. And um I asked Shannon for an explanation and I think I everybody's got forwarded the email. So um she gave a very detailed response that showed us

351
01:42:08.000 --> 01:42:22.400
all the math. Um so I think we're confident that this is the correct number. U but it is you know it is a it is significantly higher than the place I should take this out than the placeholder that was in there before.

352
01:42:22.400 --> 01:42:44.239
So, where that leaves us right now is um we're we've got a budget that's let's see using uh $123,000 worth of excess levy capacity

353
01:42:44.239 --> 01:43:03.560
>> and is going to result in an average single family tax bill of $7,35 which is $535 above what the average bill was in FY26.

354
01:43:04.239 --> 01:43:22.800
So, um that's where things stand right now. Um I think we're pretty close. Like I don't think there are any new any items that need to be updated. Um

355
01:43:22.800 --> 01:43:38.000
I uh I I the place I did ask the select board about our placeholder uh for the town administrator and I think for now that's that's a reasonable

356
01:43:38.000 --> 01:43:53.760
assumption to build into the budget. Um and I don't think we're going to be doing any of the salary adjustments. the salary alignments because I think we're still trying to,

357
01:43:53.760 --> 01:44:09.920
you know, gather the the information and update the math and I don't think that's going to happen, it sounds like in time for um our our ne our last our next meeting uh which is when we're going to vote on

358
01:44:09.920 --> 01:44:26.560
the budget. Um I don't think Yeah. So So I think that's where we stand. Uh let's take a couple questions, George, and then Molly. >> So the um remember last year we because

359
01:44:26.560 --> 01:44:43.920
personal property depreciates >> and um more of the tax burden shifts to residential. Uh in our meeting last night with the newest with the assessors um and um he is working for

360
01:44:43.920 --> 01:45:00.400
Belchuretown, but he's been coming to our meetings. he hopefully will soon be our assessor >> and he said that that will be an issue for us this year too >> because the new growth the new growth just isn't big enough and the growth in personal property tax isn't big enough

361
01:45:00.400 --> 01:45:17.199
so we have to take that into account in the calculation for the single family tax bill and when I w asked him well how do towns do that he basically said it's it's a wag it's it's just there's no easy way to do Um,

362
01:45:17.199 --> 01:45:31.600
>> and so we really got to we got we can't go with 535 or whatever that is. >> We we we need to raise that. Last year the difference was like $60 on the average single family.

363
01:45:31.600 --> 01:45:48.080
>> So I don't I'm not sure I can tell you what we should be reporting, but this method that we're using just to calculate it is the only way I know how to do it. And it's not it's not conservative

364
01:45:48.080 --> 01:46:07.520
>> and the assessor can't give us um some >> he didn't have any answers. He didn't he said yeah that's a tough one. >> I mean yeah he said it's a tough one. I mean again last year's was about $60.

365
01:46:07.520 --> 01:46:23.920
So, you know, if this says 535, we might want to tell people anywhere from 550 to 575, you know, something like that, and frame it that way. >> Is this is last year's is this 6,770? Is that the actual correct

366
01:46:23.920 --> 01:46:39.760
>> number or is that a legacy of what we had put in? >> No, that's No, that's if you look at the heading on that column, that's based on the recap, the final recap. >> Yeah. Got it. And the only thing that doesn't have is the CPA ad. >> Okay.

367
01:46:39.760 --> 01:46:56.159
>> Uh Molly, >> so I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to to look at this, but unless the um library operating costs got increased by like $151, they're not going to make the municipal appropriation requirement.

368
01:46:56.159 --> 01:47:12.320
>> Okay. So, we just need to make sure that it's their total um is two and a half% over last year and it when I looked before it was like it was $151. >> So, all right. So, let's >> we should probably go ahead and change

369
01:47:12.320 --> 01:47:30.639
that, right? Um so, can can you >> is it okay if you double check the numbers and just email you afterwards? >> Yeah, let's do that. >> Okay. Can you bring that to the to actually can you can you email me um you

370
01:47:30.639 --> 01:47:48.159
know by the end of this week and I'll I'll I'll >> Yeah, I can do it tomorrow. >> Okay. Yeah, great. Okay. So, I will email an updated budget and but it sounds like I'm gonna like what we're going to do is just take this library expenses line and increase it by

371
01:47:48.159 --> 01:48:05.119
hundred something based on whatever number you you come up with. >> Okay, got it. Thanks. >> All right, >> AJ, on the revenue page, I did see one thing I forgot to mention. >> Yeah, >> if you if you scroll to the top, it's just a formatting. If you look at cell

372
01:48:05.119 --> 01:48:21.520
um the percentage changes, one of them needs uh formatting, >> row seven or six. >> Uh >> row six and column P. >> All right. >> Or or line number six. >> Oh, sorry. I see.

373
01:48:21.520 --> 01:48:47.520
>> Yeah, see that 19. That needs to be formatted. All right. All right. So, >> I guess you know I think one thing I would like folks to think about so so next week we are we have to vote on a

374
01:48:47.520 --> 01:49:03.199
final budget. That's our time frame. uh because we're in the following week we're meeting with the select board and um we're they're going to vote on warrant articles. So I think between now

375
01:49:03.199 --> 01:49:19.119
and next week if if you all have any suggestions for other actions that we might take to um you know mitigate some of this

376
01:49:19.119 --> 01:49:34.639
increase. Um please bring those ideas to to the meeting next week. Um because you know I think we had talked about a a goal of getting this under $500

377
01:49:34.639 --> 01:49:52.719
notwithstanding the caveat that George um mentioned which is that you know this is this might not be the best way of calculating the average single family tax bill. But but um you know we're above that right now because of the elementary transportation

378
01:49:52.719 --> 01:50:09.760
increase. So, if you have any other suggestions or ideas, um, please give it some thought and and bring it to the the next meeting. Susie, >> and I think that, um, our suggestions or our understanding of what this budget

379
01:50:09.760 --> 01:50:25.119
really looks like includes that we're using cash reserves for operating expenses more than we did last year. So it may be that the tax levy increases higher and the spending of cash reserves

380
01:50:25.119 --> 01:50:41.119
in the operating budget and I we have good reasons, we have good thoughts but I think um in terms of thinking of any other mitigating strategies um we should sort of keep in mind but we are presenting and those two pieces kind of

381
01:50:41.119 --> 01:50:58.239
weigh heavily. The other question I had is um that cost for the SCES transportation. Is there any indication that that cherry sheet is going to give

382
01:50:58.239 --> 01:51:15.360
any better um transportation costs? I mean, they're talking about it, but I don't know what the the give and take is when we see that expense. Could we see could we be going to see some revenue increase? >> Interesting. Because there's a

383
01:51:15.360 --> 01:51:34.719
transportation line. >> Yeah. >> On the cherry sheet. A revenue line. >> Yeah. Um well, I don't think the the um the January preliminary cherry sheet in included any significant

384
01:51:34.719 --> 01:51:52.480
change, but um maybe we can look that up while while we're talking. >> Well, um for transportation. Yeah, I remember looking at it and it was like

385
01:51:52.480 --> 01:52:08.000
>> Well, I mean it's in here, right? Uh I don't know that it is. >> I I just don't know if they're even linked as an idea. That's >> Yeah. No, I don't think there's transportation because if you look if you look at the revenue page, >> if well, if you go to the revenue page

386
01:52:08.000 --> 01:52:24.800
and you look at lines 20 through 27 and then the the reductions below that, that's how the cherry sheet breaks out for chapter 70. So, well, I don't think transportation is a part of chapter 70.

387
01:52:24.800 --> 01:52:40.719
And I'm looking at all the other >> state aid items and I don't see transportation, >> right? Yeah. >> So, I'm not sure what that maybe it's only talking about regional contracts. >> Yeah, it might it must be that because there is a there is a trans a school

388
01:52:40.719 --> 01:52:56.560
transportation line. >> Yeah. >> In the in the receipts section of the cherry sheet. Ours is zero. >> Yeah. And I can see that in the governor's I mean for the entire all municipalities. >> Yeah.

389
01:52:56.560 --> 01:53:15.040
>> The total amount awarded is $317,000. So it's not a lot. Uh there's not a lot of money for transportation. And you might be right that whatever is there is given to regional district. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because on the on the cherry sheet from the governor, the regional

390
01:53:15.040 --> 01:53:32.880
transportation is 1,04 one uh 1,14. So all of the noise and all the advocate that's going on for trans regional transportation or for transport school transportation is at the region, not us

391
01:53:32.880 --> 01:53:48.480
locally. Well, that's great to find out, >> right? Yeah. Um, you know, I think I did give it a little bit of thought and and we can talk about it more next week about maybe absorbing some of that 40% increase in

392
01:53:48.480 --> 01:54:04.400
the in the transportation cost. Um, funding that through through cash reserve wouldn't do much, but you know, it'd be, you know, maybe 20 $20,000 or something like that. Um, so I'm I don't know. I'm going to give that some more

393
01:54:04.400 --> 01:54:20.880
thought. But that that was the only sort of idea, creative idea I could think of for justifying using some more free cash to lower the the tax levy because that is a

394
01:54:20.880 --> 01:54:36.400
big, you know, we've done it before with items that are increasing by over, you know, or around 40%. We did that with health insurance last year. That was a 40% increase. Um, so you know,

395
01:54:36.400 --> 01:54:52.960
>> and that's a new contract and there's a cl is there a clause built in for following years in the contract? >> That is a good question. I don't think Shannon addressed that in her email. >> I think we had a a fuel rider on the

396
01:54:52.960 --> 01:55:08.800
previous one. >> Uhhuh. Yeah. But I I think I mean I sort of one good news is it shouldn't I'm pretty sure it's about a new contract. That's why it jumped. >> Yeah. Um

397
01:55:08.800 --> 01:55:34.239
okay. All right. So um just just want to briefly mention um our schedule. Let's see. Insane. >> Where did it go?

398
01:55:34.239 --> 01:56:06.480
>> Oh, sorry. Okay. So, here's the schedule. So, we're going to meet next week. We're going to finalize the budget. We're going to vote on warrant articles that have a financial component to them. The

399
01:56:06.480 --> 01:56:22.880
following week on the 31st, we're going to meet with the select board. They're going to finalize the the warrant. They're going to vote. >> Is that 6:30, >> AJ? Uh, that's a good question. I don't think it it's earlier than that, right Haley?

400
01:56:22.880 --> 01:56:36.080
>> Five o'clock. >> Five o'clock. >> But probably we won't meet be be first on the agenda. >> Yeah, let me find out when they want us to join that meeting. Um, but uh and and

401
01:56:36.080 --> 01:56:52.239
I'll I'll I'll update you guys. Um, then I think the select board's going to need to vote on the warrant on April 7th. It gets posted on the 23. I don't know. This is this is what I got from an email

402
01:56:52.239 --> 01:57:10.400
Brennan shared. Um, you know, sometime in that week before uh town meeting on May 9th, we'll we'll do our public information session. In the last few years, we've done it on the Thursday before. So somewhere in in

403
01:57:10.400 --> 01:57:25.920
after, you know, somewhere between March 24th and May 7th, we'll need to update our annual report. >> Do you mean April? >> Did you mean April 24th?

404
01:57:25.920 --> 01:57:43.040
>> Uh, I meant >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. Sometime between >> our next meeting and >> and when and the public information session, whatever happens. Actually, we're going to need to Yeah, we're we're going to need to update the report, post

405
01:57:43.040 --> 01:57:59.520
it on the website, and and probably probably want to give people a week before the the information session. >> Yeah. >> At least. Um if not, I mean, but you know, we might be able to do it significantly earlier this year. Um

406
01:57:59.520 --> 01:58:15.199
Okay. I'm just I'm noticing that that Tuesday, April should be April 21st, not the 23rd. >> Okay. >> I just >> All right. >> Slight detail. >> Yeah. No, that's that's good to know.

407
01:58:15.199 --> 01:58:32.080
>> So, I haven't put I mean, obviously, we're going to meet after March 31st. We haven't put those, but we can, you know, we'll talk about what what our meeting schedule will be for April. Um, you know, at one of our

408
01:58:32.080 --> 01:58:49.599
next meetings. All right. So, that's the schedule. Um, it's past nine o'clock, which is pretty late. Um, did we want to look at the the fiscal snapshot or Haley, did you want

409
01:58:49.599 --> 01:59:05.920
to at least kind of alert us to some of the issues that we're going to need to be thinking about? >> Yes. Um, so one of the warrant articles will most certainly have to be for the uh snow and ice deficit that we have,

410
01:59:05.920 --> 01:59:26.960
which currently stands at $32,512 >> will change. >> Um, and let me see. So when you look at it, I tried to color code the expenditure categories. So the things that are in orange and red are over 80% expended. As

411
01:59:26.960 --> 01:59:42.239
you can see, snow and ice were already in the deficit. Highway maintenance, fire maintenance, we're at, you know, 99 and 91%. Um, someone had asked about, you know, what accounts do we use all right away? The

412
01:59:42.239 --> 01:59:56.719
typ, you know, or what are we at 100% utilization for, unemployment benefits, assess our computer maintenance, we've almost expended all the retirement budget. Um, I think for me when I was going over this, the the critical piece

413
01:59:56.719 --> 02:00:14.159
when you scroll down to page two >> is really the the snow and ice and the maintenance. Um, and you know, we've been talking about all things maintenance and things breaking and you know, it's happening quite a bit. Um, you know, I think that's the highest

414
02:00:14.159 --> 02:00:30.320
priority for us is how do we, you know, how do we track this? How are we measuring um this gap that we have? Because I looked back a few fiscal years and it seems like um FY21, FY22, FY23, those were all years where we

415
02:00:30.320 --> 02:00:48.239
overextended our maintenance lines. Um you know, that's certainly something I would want to keep an eye on. Um I would need to The second bullet point under risk indicators is the school transportation. That's only at 25% utilization. So, that's a conversation I

416
02:00:48.239 --> 02:01:04.239
need to have with the regional school about why is this delayed? Is something pending? I'm not quite sure what that means. Um, and then a question for Ryan would be, you know, what's the timing on our debts? I suppose right now shows that it's at 0%. So, I want to got to

417
02:01:04.239 --> 02:01:21.280
find that out. Um, just to circle back to what we had talked about earlier in terms of the dam um oil tank and snow and ice. So, we're looking at about what 125,000

418
02:01:21.280 --> 02:01:38.159
in overages. Um, you know, snow and ice we can legally run the deficit on. So, that one I don't think is as concerning. But, we do have, you know, over 83,000 in dam repairs. Again, that's phase one um that we're talking about. Um, in a

419
02:01:38.159 --> 02:01:55.679
later page, you know, I talked about maybe we need to do a draw from stabilization to cover that expenditure. um making sure that we don't pay any more than our deductible for the oil tank um at least as best we can. I don't know once we get into that phase two of

420
02:01:55.679 --> 02:02:12.880
the groundwater, you know, the ground testing and if we had to repair it, obviously that's going to I changed the picture a little bit, but for the time being, we can hold ourselves to that figure. Um, you know, and we we've almost exhausted

421
02:02:12.880 --> 02:02:28.159
you, just to reiterate, uh, highway machinery maintenance, fire department maintenance, and building supplies. And that's the building supply line that the town hall uses. Um, so at the end there, thank you for scrolling. um you know maybe you know I think this issue has

422
02:02:28.159 --> 02:02:43.440
come up before but you know we do have generalist stabilization we have capital but maybe we want to start isolating these maintenance costs and taking a deep look at what does this actually cost us um you know and set up a separate account for that u because that

423
02:02:43.440 --> 02:03:00.080
would give us better um tracking information better I think better oversight you know we don't really understand what our problems are if we're not tracking them uh in some way. So, >> Haley, could you repeat that? You're talking about isolating what costs from stabilization?

424
02:03:00.080 --> 02:03:17.679
>> Maintenance. Um, and particularly all these like unexpected things. Um, but even just our general, particularly highway and fire this year seem to be the ones that um were expended the fastest. So, so one thing I I wanted to

425
02:03:17.679 --> 02:03:32.880
just kind of remind everybody is that we did >> and I think this I I I think this definitely feels justified. We we kind of encouraged the highway superintendent to boost the machine the highway

426
02:03:32.880 --> 02:03:51.199
maintenance line by 43%. So, it's going from 28,000 to 40,000. this feels like very justified and you know I think I think there's a question about whether you know the fire

427
02:03:51.199 --> 02:04:06.960
department and I think that that's something we should we should maybe just look at next year about whether that line is um is getting over spent like um repeatedly year after year and so

428
02:04:06.960 --> 02:04:23.440
maybe we can take a look at that line and look at the last few years of data to see if if if there's a similar because the pattern we were seeing on highway is that every year in recent years they've been they they've been overspending and that that was just an

429
02:04:23.440 --> 02:04:39.440
obvious point that we needed to address and I don't know if it's the same thing for the fire department but it's worth taking a look. Susie, >> we did boost the fire department last year and in fact, somebody at town meeting wanted to know about it and um

430
02:04:39.440 --> 02:04:55.760
we did boost it. Um and also that the that it's spent out is how he chooses to do it. It's um I'm not sure that it's in any difficult situation. We can ask him next year, but we did boost it for FY26.

431
02:04:55.760 --> 02:05:12.960
Yeah, it looks like it went from uh $11,000 in FY25. That was what was budgeted, but he actually spent $21,000. So that was overspent by $10,000. So that led us to increase

432
02:05:12.960 --> 02:05:31.520
>> the F the line in FY26 by to $16,400. >> Yeah, you're right. And then we we further increased it another $1,600 this year. So, it's gone from 11,000 to $18,000. >> Yeah. So, I think our budget is in is

433
02:05:31.520 --> 02:05:47.360
moving along. And how will it pan out? We'll see. But I feel like we've thought about this in FY27, but we've thought about it in previous years. And the other piece is that we are buying new equipment and we always buy new equipment and maybe people want us to buy it a little sooner, but I think

434
02:05:47.360 --> 02:06:03.520
we're doing okay. >> Yeah. Uh George and then Oh, sorry, Susie. Was that >> Yeah, that's it. Okay, George and then Jim. >> So, you know, given the given all the large expenses we're facing, the

435
02:06:03.520 --> 02:06:19.920
difficulties we're having with controlling uh you know, um taxes, the tax impacts, we need to look for all sources of revenue, right? Something we all know, grants when we can find them, utilization and stabilization. And I'm suggesting we we go deeper than we

436
02:06:19.920 --> 02:06:35.199
typically would. And we have CPA and the CPA fund balance is huge. As far as I'm concerned, it's a very large number. I know this year there's quite a number of requests and I know that those requests will put a

437
02:06:35.199 --> 02:06:51.920
little are going to put more than just a scratch in the surface, but there's still quite a bit of money. And I know Haley, I sound like a broken record, but when I see DAM and I see DAM costs and I know the DAM repairs, I think fit under the CPA requirements. I understand

438
02:06:51.920 --> 02:07:07.760
there's a process and a timing for CPA, but it would take pressure off the property tax bills. If we could utilize, exploit, however you want to put it, use those funds. Um, I think,

439
02:07:07.760 --> 02:07:24.719
you know, they get funded every year. the taxpayers are putting into it, but it that amount that they put in doesn't fluctuate and the state matches, which is wonderful. So, the CPA is a great I think it's a great re a great revenue source and I think when something fits

440
02:07:24.719 --> 02:07:42.400
into it, we have to look at that first. >> Yeah. So, that is a really great revenue source. Um, it doesn't really address like this current iteration of the dam issue because again it was emergency. So CPA is only going to work if we can plan for it. So like the phase 2 project once

441
02:07:42.400 --> 02:07:59.199
we have a better understanding of where we need to be. I think that's definitely an appropriate use of CPA. But when I but in the suggestion for this the maintenance stabilization account is really these emergency things that are popping up because one thing you know and I this is just my intuition. This is

442
02:07:59.199 --> 02:08:13.760
just me you know having sat with this budget for the last year is that our margins are really thin and I know that we we do a good job. We do the best with what we can. We look for grants. We, you know, we we buy new when we can, maybe not the right speed, but our margins are

443
02:08:13.760 --> 02:08:30.159
really thin. And I would just, you know, if we don't want to do a separate account, I think maybe just making sure that we can add a little bit more to stabilization would be helpful because there are going to be problems that we don't foresee that we can't use. There's

444
02:08:30.159 --> 02:08:46.719
not a time to apply for a grant or to apply for CPA. and I just want to make sure that we we have ourselves covered for that. >> So, there will be a warrant article for $83,000. >> Mhm. Uh it looked like it because I don't I don't know at this point. I

445
02:08:46.719 --> 02:09:04.159
couldn't apply for CPA because the um the event happened this year. It would have had to happen. We could have planned it then I could have applied. Um but yeah, so we we are on the hook for the 83. When we when we get through that phase of completion and we can look at

446
02:09:04.159 --> 02:09:22.480
the phase 2 design study, then you know we can um we'll have a little bit more time so we can prepare the CPA application that >> all right so then we are going to need to have to talk about a funding source for that $83,000.

447
02:09:22.480 --> 02:09:37.920
Yeah, >> we got to reflect that in our >> Yeah, I was going to say that. Yeah, you've still got it open. >> Oh, AJ, if I may, just on that point, I I'm going to update that schedule. I I saw some it's got a couple messy items.

448
02:09:37.920 --> 02:09:54.400
I'll I'll clear those up and I'll take the operating budget items that we're going to find with cash. We had $169,000. I'll break it out so we can see them all on it. >> Okay. >> Those will add up to that number. And yeah, and then we do need to add the dam.

449
02:09:54.400 --> 02:10:10.480
What What's the exact number, Haley? Do you have an exact or should we just >> um >> assume 83? >> Let me let me just pull up what the contractor sent me. >> I thought there was something about the the earlier contract was going to cover some of this.

450
02:10:10.480 --> 02:10:26.719
>> So the So we were awarded a grant in the amount of about $40,000 that covered only the design and permitting. We did not have enough funds to cover the actual construction cost because we had to change our plan. Initially, we were just going to do the study, but then

451
02:10:26.719 --> 02:10:44.159
this event happened in late November, so that changed the whole course. >> So, this $83,000 is the is the construction cost like the that that So, that's that's what's not

452
02:10:44.159 --> 02:11:00.239
available from that previous grant. Yeah. But >> correct. Okay. >> Well, all right. I >> It's not really the construction costs. It's the repair cost repair new problem that we discovered. >> Right. But >> just be clear. Okay. >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. You're right. Um but

453
02:11:00.239 --> 02:11:17.599
the point being that that's not we don't have another we don't have an existing source for that. That's the amount that we have to identify a funding source for. Yeah. >> Okay. So he quoted me

454
02:11:17.599 --> 02:11:35.360
$83,000445. >> Thank you. >> And so one other thing just to keep in mind with this is that we because we have to align the permitting with when we're going to receive the trash rack, which is what's getting replaced. We're

455
02:11:35.360 --> 02:11:50.159
not going to initiate permitting process until probably late March, early April. So, I don't know if anything is going to change in that time period. Obviously, I hope not, but I just want to throw out there that we haven't actually started

456
02:11:50.159 --> 02:12:07.520
yet because we have to wait for that. >> So, is this going to come out of FY26 or FY27? >> Come out of FY26. >> Do you hear that? >> So, >> well, how is that possible though, right? I mean, we're going to need Yeah.

457
02:12:07.520 --> 02:12:23.679
I mean, if we're gonna if we're going to have a warrant article at town meeting, uh, I guess it doesn't. Yeah. I mean, >> well, so the the select board did declare a state of emergency. So, we are allowed to deficit spend. So, what town

458
02:12:23.679 --> 02:12:39.040
meeting could correct is just where the funding source is coming from. >> Got it. Okay. >> And so, basically reimbursing when we after we spent. >> Yeah. >> Yes. comes out of the general fund and then in after the town meeting or July 1st whenever the funds are available

459
02:12:39.040 --> 02:12:55.360
>> transfer yeah I think I'm my inclination is to is to recommend using the um capital stabilization funds I think or stabilization funds for this >> in which case it could be an article

460
02:12:55.360 --> 02:13:10.800
>> on this town meeting >> to do that right for FY26 can Yeah. >> Um any and there's really no difference if

461
02:13:10.800 --> 02:13:25.840
we're recommending between stabilization and capital stabilization, right? Those both have the same threshold that 2/3. >> Uh no. >> Okay. >> One of them is one of them uh there was a lot change. One of them is 50% uh is

462
02:13:25.840 --> 02:13:42.880
un majority and the other one is 2/3. And Donna told us what it was last year at town meeting. And you know, my brain ain't so good. >> Yeah, I'll see. >> I mean, to me, it makes sense that the stabilization would be 50%, but I you

463
02:13:42.880 --> 02:13:58.560
know, and not, but I don't know that for sure. >> Well, I don't know. What can I say? Yeah, capital stabilization has a higher balance. So maybe for now we can just >> Yeah, I think that we get the money from

464
02:13:58.560 --> 02:14:14.880
the voters. They don't want it on their tax bill. >> Yeah. You know, again, this is this is putting us below the 5% guideline, but you know, I think as George mentioned earlier, >> yeah,

465
02:14:14.880 --> 02:14:33.599
>> there's no, you know, this is these are unusual times. There's not There's no great options here. Yeah. >> Right. >> Okay. All right. Uh, anything else before we wrap up? We can do minutes next meeting.

466
02:14:33.599 --> 02:14:51.119
Um, >> uh, no. You had a good fourtown meeting the other day. Nothing new or different, right? >> Yeah. I I will say I I was impressed by I mean you hear a million you know

467
02:14:51.119 --> 02:15:07.760
million dollars worth of cuts required and then you know it seems it seemed to me like a lot of work went into figuring out how those cuts could be applied in a way that was going to have minimum impact on

468
02:15:07.760 --> 02:15:24.000
student experience. And I felt like um very I I I felt very good about the explanation of how they were going to get to that get to that. >> And I think they followed the request that it had the specific details so

469
02:15:24.000 --> 02:15:40.480
people knew what the effects would be. And even though in the past they said they don't like to do that because it scares the workers to hear some of the numbers on the block, they had it much more pinpointed. So there I guess at the when it was in front of the regional school committee it didn't sound like

470
02:15:40.480 --> 02:15:56.719
there was a parent push back either. So I feel like that that helps to not have it blow up. >> Yeah. And I think this all contributes to a better budget process this year than was in place last year when you

471
02:15:56.719 --> 02:16:13.360
know we we we left a four towns meeting thinking we we had a budget and then you know it ended up being a completely different one that the region ended up passing. It doesn't seem like that's you know there's no indication that anything like that is going to happen this year.

472
02:16:13.360 --> 02:16:27.599
So >> yeah, >> uh seems like they've improved the process. >> I also like that um they really were they had 570,000 worth of non-recurring revenue in there. And so we we look at $1.1 million, but

473
02:16:27.599 --> 02:16:42.880
it's not really 1.1 million in cuts, >> right? >> They are funding things that they're not sure they'll be able to fund next year. This is where we got to keep pressuring the state to try and bring in those funds. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, I look back at last year's warrant

474
02:16:42.880 --> 02:17:01.120
and there was an item that was transferring from capital stabilization and it required a twothirds vote. >> Okay, >> there you go. >> All right. So, that must mean the stabilization is the 50%. Okay. All right. Anything else

475
02:17:01.120 --> 02:17:18.479
before we uh wrap up? >> Let's go have a beer. >> All right. Thanks for sticking around late, everybody. I'll make a motion. Okay. >> Uh, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second fight is I

476
02:17:18.479 --> 02:17:34.240
>> Cashew I >> Moer I >> Moss I >> Walton I. >> Good night. >> Thanks. Have a good night. Have a good one. Bye.