This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. All right. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call to order the meeting of the Southampton Select Board for Tuesday, October 14th at 6 p.m. If we could stand
by start by standing and saying the pledge of allegiance, please. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Thank you. Okay. So, we have a quorum tonight. Uh John is not going to be able to be with us tonight. So, we have the three of us. Uh do we have anyone here for citizen speak? Anything that is not on the
agenda? Seeing no one. Okay. I would like to make a motion, if anybody doesn't mind this, to move our appointments and resignations category up above the audit presentation. Since we have our two candidates here in the audience, uh I'd like to have them
>> have them uh join us and not uh if you you're welcome to stay for the entire meeting, but I definitely don't want to uh put you uh at the very end of our meeting here. So, let me uh get going here. We have a an application from Amy
Alton and David Alton for the Greenway Committee. And this will be a three-year term to expire at June 30th, 2028. And uh how about each of you just come on up and take turns just introduce yourself and your address and just tell us a little bit about your background and why you'd like to volunteer for the
Greenway Committee. >> Absolutely. Pleasure to meet you all. I'm David Alton. Um my wife and I live at 22 Coleman Road. We just moved in last October. Um before that we spent 10 years living on a sailboat and um having some fun adventures and decided this part of Massachusetts would be a fun
place to settle down. So, um, we have really enjoyed the Manhan Rail Trail going north and, uh, part of the reason we actually chose to live in this part of Massachusetts was because of the rail trail system >> and to find that there's an opportunity to be able to work and help Southampton
to develop that further south is something we're definitely interested in being a part of. So, um, it is definitely a passion of ours to be able to be out outdoors and enjoy um, the beautiful area we live in now. Um so yeah like to be able to be a part of
what we can. >> That's great. And I think in your application you mentioned that you have a background in finance and commercial negotiations. So >> do I studied finance in school and uh upon graduating actually worked for um Shell Oil Company in Houston and had a background negotiating commercial contracts and stuff like that. So uh it
has it has been a while since we've since I've done that since we lived on the boat. But it is a part of my past history that I do have some experience with. >> Very good. Wonderful. Good. Amy, would you like to? Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Hi. It's nice to meet everyone. There's
not much I can add other than what David said. We both enjoy the rail trail a lot. Uh David in particular has picked up a lot of biking and I'm meeting friends and taking family out for walks on it all the time. And I look forward to someday being able to venture into Southampton and enjoy the rail trail
along there as well. >> Mhm. And your professional background? Um, I have a engineering degree, mechanical engineering, but I only did that for less than a year. And then I started working in my family business, which was in the hospitality and entertainment industry, dinner cruises
in Houston. Uh, and now I am an author. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Wonderful. Well, wow. All right. >> Thank you. >> Good. Great. Thank you. >> All right. So, I think, uh, we have two candidates for the Greenway committee. >> Would you like to make a motion? >> Sure. I'd like to move uh two
appointments, Amy Alton and David Olman, new appointments to the Greenway Committee, each three-year terms to expire on June 30, 2028. >> Okay. Have a second. >> Second that. >> All right. Any further discussion? If
not, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> I All right. Thank you. Very, very simple in that regard, but thank you very much for stepping up. Uh I applaud you as new residents to town. So welcome to town as well and uh it'll be great to uh have your input on this committee.
It's a very uh very active committee and I know you've met a couple of the uh the members especially you've been attending a couple meetings from what I hear. So uh you've got a sense of what you're walking into and uh I think uh now is an appropriate time to get involved. They've been very busy and they will uh
keep on working. They just got some good news recently. So I'm sure you'll hear about that at the upcoming meeting. So >> fantastic. Great. >> Good. Thank you for coming and thanks for stepping up. >> Do what you love. >> Yes. Very good. >> Thank you very much. >> All right.
>> Okay. So with that uh let us turn to our main presentation for tonight and that is the uh presentation from CBiz formerly Markham LLP formerly Meansen >> and all the names yes
>> and we have Tanya back with us and she's going to be talking about our FY23 audit uh financial statements and action plan and anything that we might need to take into consideration. So welcome back. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes. Um my name is Tanya. I am the partner on
the town's audit and here tonight to present the results of the fiscal year 2023 audit. Um I already went through the all the name changes over the years. Last year it was Markham. We're back we're up to C biz now. Um and we should hopefully
be done done changing names going forward. Um going to start by giving just kind of a brief overview of the audit process and the roles and responsibilities of the three parties in this room for the audit. Um and then we
can talk a little bit about the financial statements and some of the key numbers um and go over the um the comments we had in the back of the report as well. >> Um definitely just stop me at any time as we're going through and if there's something you want to talk more about or
um touch on, just let me know. Now, in terms of our responsibilities as your independent auditor, we are ultimately responsible for expressing an opinion on the town's financial statements. We're also responsible for
planning and performing our audit to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free of material misstatements. Please keep in mind that an audit does not provide absolute assurance. We don't look at every single transaction. We
don't pour through every single record the town has. We would never leave town hall. Um, and that's not what an audit is designed to do. When we're planning and performing our audit procedures, we use a concept known as materiality, which is a numerical
calculation um that tells us what we need to test and look at in each fund that the town has. Um so using that number along with um evaluating the risks and looking at different things that's what drives our
testing. Now as part of the audit process we perform um a couple different kinds of testing. So we obviously were um looking at the town's internal controls. You know what processes and procedures do you have in place? What controls do you have? Um
we're also looking at analytical procedures. So, you know, budget versus actuals, year-over-year trends, things like that. And performing what we call substantive testing where we're actually like drilling down and looking at balances. So, you know, the cash balance per the general ledger. Does that agree
to what your treasurer has for reconciled cash? You know, things like that. Um, we also do some sampling, looking at invoices, payroll, you know, the full gamut of of things. um the
responsibilities of management, excuse me, as part of the audit process, they are ultimately responsible for the financial statements. Uh we assist in preparing them, but after they've been prepared, they're they have to take responsibility for them at the conclusion of the audit.
Management is also responsible for establishing those internal controls that we look at and test as part of our audit procedures um and making sure that the town complies with all the various laws and regulations that are applicable to the day-to-day activities.
As part of the audit, management is responsible for providing us with documentation and information that we need to complete our audit procedures. And at the conclusion of the audit, they're responsible for providing um a letter that confirms the various
representations that were made to us as part of the audit process. So any inquiries we made, the documents that were provided, they're essentially saying what they gave us is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
Now, in terms of your responsibilities, um you're responsible for overseeing the entire process. So, at the start of the audit, we reach out and let you know, you know, we send our um engagement letter. Here's what what our procedures
are. Um during the audit, we make inquiries to make sure there's no concerns that the board has or um any allegations, fraud or or anything that we should be made aware of um as part of our audit. And at the conclusion, we meet and discuss the results of the
audit. Does anyone have any questions so far? Okay. Now, in terms of the financial statements, they are presented under rules established by the governmental accounting standards board, also known
as GASBY. They are the ones responsible for telling us what needs to be reported in the financial statements and how it needs to be reported. So, if you flip through the pages, pretty much every other page has some kind of a reference to a Gazsby standard and and the
requirements um of what needs to be reported. There are essentially five components to your financial statements. The first is the independent auditor's report, which
is where we express our opinion on the financial statement. So, that's one of the only pieces of this financial statement that actually belongs to us. Um, in fiscal year 2023, we issued the town an unqualified opinion on the financials, which means that based on
our testing, we found that the town was in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. So, that is that is the opinion that you you want to have. Following that you have management's discussion and analysis which is
essentially like a brief overview of the financial statements. It provides um some descriptions of what's included in the the document as well as some of the key numbers and results of operations from the past fiscal year
that we have been auditing. It's like an executive summary if you think of it that way, like what is included and and that's that goes through and describes that kind of in a in a much condensed manner. Following that, you have your two sets of financial statements, your
governmentwide statements and your fund basis statements. And we'll take a look at um one of each of those in just a minute and kind of talk through some of the numbers there. Following that, you have your notes and your required supplementary information which provide more detail and
disclosures on the actual numbers that are reported in your governmentwide or your fund basis statements. So, you know, the town reports a net pension liability that is one number in your financial statements. There's a lot that goes into that liability and your
footnotes and your other disclosures talk about what that liability is, what the actuarial assumptions are that are used to calculate it and also provide like a 10-year history of what that liability was, what your contributions to the system was, things like that.
And in this document, there's also um what we call the yellowbook report, but is basically um a report on internal controls and compliance in accordance with government auditing standards. So in fiscal year 2023, the town was not required to have a federal grant audit
because there was not more than $750,000 in federal expenditures. So we did not need to to do perform those audits, but we did still perform this audit in accordance with government accounting standards and test for um compliance with laws and regulations and
things like that. So um that is that. So in terms of looking at the actual financials themselves, I don't know if you have them in PDF, it is on
page 19. Okay. >> of the actual PDF uh document. So, if you Yep. The balance sheet right there. >> I'll give you just a second to flip there.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, the balance sheet is one of your fund basis statements. And your fund basis statements are the set of statements that most closely resemble the town's internal records.
If you're looking at this page on the left hand side, the first column there is your general fund. That is the main operating fund of the town. Um, also presented in that column are the town stabilization funds. So, Gazsby requires us to group those all together when we
report them in the financial statements. Uh, it's it's page 19 of the PDF if you want to. >> Yeah, I'm just flip to that. Sorry. >> No, it's okay. >> Is that the same one, Scott? I'm not sure. >> No, no, you were you were fine, Scott. Um, I was just
>> Yeah, I think Christine looked like she was >> different here. >> Struggling. Oh, okay. Uh, >> we have a different page number. I think that's all >> we might be. >> It's page the page number in the bottom is 16. Like on the actual page itself. >> Okay. >> But on the in the Adobe document, it's page 19. Okay. Yeah, we got it.
>> Okay, perfect. Sorry. Yeah, I know it is. There's a lot of numbers on that page. Um, so this is the one that more closely resembles the town's internal uh records. Um, going to focus a little bit on the bottom leftand corner of the page in the
fund balance section, specifically your general fund unassigned balance, which at the end of the year was just under $1.7 million. That number was made up is made up of two things. The first of which is the town's general stabilization fund which
at the end of fiscal year 2023 had a balance of about $550,000 in it. Um last year I had mentioned that that you know it sorry let me back up a little bit. That balance grew about $140,000 from the prior year which is great. I mean last
year we had a conversation about how it was a little bit on the lower side. Um, you know, I know the town can only do so much in terms of putting money aside, but it is good that that balance is growing and it now represents about two and a half% of the town's annual operating budget. So, you know, did make
make improvements from the prior year, which is good. The other piece of that number, about $1.1 million, is your general fund unreserved balance, which that's what's left at the end of the day after you've, you know, all your revenues and
expenditures have closed out, you've set aside all the funds that you're required to set aside, you've encumbered everything, like that's what's left. That is the starting point for the town's free cash calculation. Um and that number pretty much doubled
from the prior year which is very good. Um you know so that balance represents just under 6% of the town's annual operating budget. So much healthier than it was um in the prior year which is a good sign.
That was really all I had for that page to talk about. Um, unless anyone had any other questions there. Okay, then >> anybody questions? >> Okay, >> we're going to flip back two pages. >> Mhm.
>> To the Yep. the statement and net position. This is actually the second page of your statement and net position. The first page lists the t the assets of the town, but we're going to focus um on the liabilities, unfortunately. So um the statement of debt position is one of
your governmentwide statements. Um the governmentwide statements are Gatsby's way of taking your governmental operations and showing them like a business. So if you think of the page we were looking at previously and had all
those columns listed across the top, you take and you consolidate all those together and those get reported in your governmental activities column. The business type activities represent the town's enterprise funds. Those get consolidated together and reported as business type activities.
After consolidating all the numbers together, we go through the process of adding things like your capital assets, your long-term debt, your other long-term liabilities. Then those get reported on these set of
statements. So, the governmentwide statements do a great job in terms of showing the true assets and liabilities of the town, but they're they're not meant to be used when you're making day-to-day decisions cuz you guys don't operate like a
business. You know, you're pay as you go. Every year when your debt comes due, you pay your debt. That's part of the process. Um, you buy a capital asset that gets expensed as part of the budget, you know. So, um, so these are good, but shouldn't be used
when making kind of day-to-day decisions. Um, and kind of at the bottom of that page, you know, unrestricted number there of a negative 11 almost $12 million, that is not uncommon. Just FYI, the main
reason you have such a large negative number there is because your net pension or net op liability. were required to record those big liabilities. Um if you did not have those, you would have a positive um unrestricted net
position. Um not uncommon at all. Most of our towns that we audit, that's that's it's they present the things things the same way. Sorry. Um >> would you mind just repeating that again? So that negative 11 ision inclusive of the OPED contributions that
we've reserved >> that No. So the reason that number is so big, so that's that's essentially like your retained earnings, right? Which you don't want to be a negative number, right? >> Um but the reason it's so big is because we have to record um the net pension and net oped
liability and those are offset with your with your unrestricted fund balance. So if we got rid of that $15 million of liabilities, you would obviously have a positive um net position down there. So I just want to point that out because it is a big number. It's a big negative number. It's
not uncommon especially because because of those two big liabilities that you're required to record on these set of statements. So, and like I said before, you know, your the fund basis statements we were looking at previously, those are more indicative of your day-to-day operations
and how you operate. You pay health insurance every month, right? So, um, you know, this liability that we're going to talk about in a minute, your oped liability, that's, you know, if you had to pay everyone out, what would you have to pay them, which is great to know, but that's not how you're going to
operate, you know, on an annual basis. So, >> so while we're talking about OPIB on this page, could you make that a little bit bigger, Scott? Sorry. >> Yeah, we're going to focus on the non-current. Just curious when we talk about the def deferred inflows >> of revenues with related to OPED. What
is Could you explain that a little bit? >> Oh, sure. We have an hour, right? No, I'm just kidding. Um, right. So, your OPED liability is calculated by an actuary and they use various assumptions, right? So, they say, "Okay, we think your investment rate of return
is going to be 5%." And we think health insurance costs are going to go up 6%. whatever that was number there's a there's a >> we wish yeah that's sore subject I know um so obviously they're making those
assumptions and calcul calculating that liability and then every year they say okay well what actually happened did health insurance go up 7% if it did they don't they don't make you change your liability by that full amount in
one year because you I mean your liability would just go like this every year basically if they did that. So they average it out and they smooth it over um a period of time somewhere around six years usually. Um it's a little bit
different for every town. Um and so they defer it and so you end up with if the assumptions aren't exactly what they thought they were going to be and they can be off by a substantial amount depending on you know what numbers they're using and how things come in.
that's essentially just sitting there and it's going to go away and get amortized each a piece of it each year. >> Got it. >> Um I think that's >> Mhm. >> Does that make sense? Close enough. >> Okay. Yeah. And there there's deferred
outflows as well. Um which when things go good then you know good and good and bad there's um there's both that get kind of amvertised um and factored into expense each year.
Otherwise you would have a really big um adjustment to your your expenditures every year that you know is would be really hard to understand the financial statements. it was all over the road like that. So, they're trying to smooth it out. Um
there's if you actually look at the footnotes of for OPED, it shows what the what those deferrals are and if it's a change in assumption. Oh god, I don't know if you want to go there, but um >> that's good. >> And then it shows how they're being advertised. Okay. >> Like over the five years or so.
>> Um so yeah, that's that's a that's a tricky one. That's a good question. Um, so if you want to scroll back up just a little bit, we're going to look at the net pension and the net oped liabilities. So at the end of 2023, your
net pension liability, which is your share of Hampshire County Retirement Systems unfunded liability, was about $6.5 million. That went up about $2.1 million from the year before.
The reason for that um was the system itself incurred market value losses in calendar year 2022. So they operate on a calendar year basis while you guys are in a fiscal year. Their c calendar year 2022
figures are what's used to report your net pension liability for 2023. Everyone across the board saw losses in calendar year 2022. So again, this is pretty consistent from town to town.
Everyone's pension liability went up in fiscal year 2023. On the plus side, looking ahead, we already know it's going to go down because the market the market did much better in county year 2023. So you're going to see the opposite next year. Um
but you know just the the town itself you know represents um just over 3% of the total system itself and your liability only you know your liability only changed by $2.1 million. I mean it's it's a decent amount but um
there are some that jumped like tens and 20s of millions of dollars uh because of the market value losses. So, um, that's that number. Uh, right below that, you have your net OPED liability,
which is the town's share of retirey health insurance. You're not required to fund that liability. You know, unlike um unlike the net pension liability, which you have, you know, the funding schedule for the retirement system. Um,
that may change at some point, but I don't see you know, anyone mandating that at this at this time. You know, the town has established an OPED trust fund and does put some money into it each year when you can. So, that is good. Um, and
that's kind of what the the bond rating agencies want to see. You know, the fact that you've recognized there's a liability out there, you've established a trust, you're starting to put money aside, like every every town situation is going to be different in terms of how much you can put in, but at least you recognize there's the liability and you're going to put money towards it.
though, so that is good. Um, that liability went up uh about $700,000 from the prior year. There wasn't anything drastically that caused it to change. It was just some change slight changes in assumptions and um in the calculation,
but for for the most part stayed consistent um from the prior year. Does anyone have any other questions on these statements? >> Wish John was >> I know I know he knows how to get in touch with me
any questions. >> You didn't send me any questions. >> Okay. All right. >> Not that I know of anyway. >> Um yeah. So, the last thing I was going to talk about is um at the end of the report it
and that's the um the the yellow book report which is what I'm going to what I'm going to call it. It's probably it's on page 75. So, it's probably 78 of the actual like PDF document. Yeah. So, okay. So this is this is
reported actually probably want to go a couple pages farther down. Um >> right after your signature page there. >> Yeah. Yeah. So so there wasn't a formal management letter this year. I know you guys received a copy of you know some of the verbal recommendations that we had that
are really just things for the departments to consider um in the next fiscal year audit. Um we did have two findings this year. The first one related to the um transfer station. Um yeah, so the
at the end of the fiscal year, the expenditures were over the budgeted amount by about $15,000 and in addition um revenues were less than budget by um $3,500 4,000. So there was an operating deficit at the end of
the year in that fund. And I know it's kind of gone back and forth over the years when you know when we do come in and do the audit. Sometimes it has good years, sometimes it doesn't. It's always I think it's pretty consistent for these types of funds as well um from town to town, you know, that have a separate
transfer stationation fund. >> I think part of this occurred too before we made a significant change where >> we took the the cost of capping the landfill out of the transfer, sorry, out of the transfer station funds itself. Yes. and put it back on on our backs as
the town, >> right? >> So hopefully this will look a little bit better next year. >> It should resolve itself. Yeah. Next year. Yeah, I did see that that you know the town provided responses to these comments um and that was you know part of the response. So so that is good. Yes. Um the next comment
it has to do with um how revenue is recorded specifically in your water and sewer enterprise funds. So, as uh we were talking a little bit earlier, but um if you think of when water and sewer meters are read, they're you know read
for pre a previous time frame, right? Um and then you go through the process of preparing a commitment, setting up bills that doesn't get done until, you know, after that time frame had ended and you're billing for a previous period. Um,
in the past, you know, in discussions with management and stuff like that, like if you look at those on a annual basis, overall from a revenue standpoint, there's not really a big difference where if you're adjusting for the prior year and adjusting for the current year, you're backing out last
year and adding in the current year, and you're not there's not really a net difference in the revenue that's reported in your financial statements for the water and sewer enterprise funds. may change slightly based on consumption and changes in rates and things like that, but overall it's fairly consistent year-over-year because
you're just moving both of those to the right period of time. When you look at it from the receivable standpoint, even though you didn't bill those until after year end, those technically should be receivables in the in the fiscal year
where the actual readings and the occurred. Yeah. So because that's a bigger number, we had to adjust. We're adjusting for that. It's a one time like one and done. It won't be an issue going forward. Like it's good to go. But um so that's that's
where this comes from. Um so it's not super concerning to us and it will be, you know, will not be repeated next year. Um but that's that's all I had unless anyone had any other specific questions.
Okay. >> All right. Anybody questions, comments? Yeah. >> No. And I know we're >> working on starting the fiscal year 2024 audit and getting things more caught up. So, >> right. >> Right. I think we had Scott had already
provided the response letter. So, you've got that. So, this is actually considered the final >> this is done. >> The final audit for 23. Okay. >> Yeah, we are done. Everything's been submitted to you guys and the state. What can we do to facilitate a quicker process for the
current? >> Um, yeah, I mean that's a good that's a good question. I haven't I haven't had any conversations with our team yet or um you know the town account. I know you guys have a new treasure collector. Um so certainly
maybe having a conversation with them and setting deadlines. I know that, you know, sometimes that works well for people, other times it doesn't. Like you need to have everything to us by this certain date. I mean, part of the problem, too, is if we set a time to get stuff and work on the audit and then we
don't get it, then we're pivoting and I mean, we we're scheduled back to back to back to back with audits and stuff right now. So, if we have a set of time to work on it, like we need to be able to focus on it and get through as much as we possibly can. So I we can certainly
coordinate with with um you know the treasurer, the town accountant, Scott and you know include you guys in the loop on like you know here's the set timelines. If you get us everything by this point, we will get you financial statements by this point.
So >> I think our challenge has been we've had a lot of input from the captain's office I think and I think probably from you Scott and we've had some from the treasury collector's office but obviously with the turnover that's been a a bit of a learning curve so we've been a little bit behind the eightball but I think we were also
>> assuming that CBIS was not ready to take this on until you really finished 23 right so no yeah we can't the slate for that anyway for us and it was clear so if we can do whatever we can do to help >> with with Megan you know finding whatever documents she may need to provide to you so that you can at least
get started on it. I think that will be our our biggest challenge probably. >> Scott's been working on the kind of timelines and schedules. >> Yep. >> Across all the finance responsibilities. So, >> right. >> I don't know if it's Tuesday afternoon and our time slot comes up.
>> Right. Right. Yeah. No, >> call us. >> Right. Well, >> right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> yeah, we can definitely um we definitely do something like that. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> Anything, Ellen? Any questions? >> Okay. Scott, any
>> comments? Good. >> All right. >> Well, thank you for coming in. Much appreciate it. And u >> we will do our best to get you what you need for FY24's audit so we can >> keep that moving. We're we're certainly on a mission to get our free cash certified far ahead of wherever we've
done it in the last three or four years. So, um we will keep on chugging on that direction here. So, good. Thanks for coming in, Tenny. All right. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh let's see. Next up will be uh town county town county town county town county town county town county town county town county town county town county town administrator report. Scott
[Music] um so we're as last meeting um the board voted to move into 32B section 23 negotiations with the unions. We're going to be negotiating starting our first one on uh Thursday uh within 7 days of the vote. Um
and we're going to be moving forward. I'll start the 30-day period. Um, and we're going to move forward with the negotiations. So, probably by the the end of uh mid November, um, we'll have a hopefully an agreement in place. Um, moving into the GIC >> just just to move into that a little bit
more with a little bit more clarity for those that are listening just because we had an executive session last week and then voted in in public to adopt the 32B, but maybe just give a two sentence explanation about what that meant. Per Massachusetts general law, there is
a process in which towns can join the GIC by sharing a percentages percentage of the cost savings with the unions um and the town can automatically transfer subscribers uh based on that percentage, its
mitigation fund and potential savings. Mhm. >> So basically our vote was to leave the current system. >> Um not yet. >> Not yet. >> Yeah. Uh if we come to an agreement and everyone agrees. Y >> but we've given you the go-ahhead to start exploring that with the unions
with the idea that we might join the GIC. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Um and just some from HR County Group Insurance Trust News. Uh the executive director actually just tindered the resignation today. Um the bids for the
uh highway department came in last week. Um looks like we're going to be moving forward with a bid of uh $213,500. Uh we're going to be borrowing about 190,000 worth and we have some uh funds available from the original capital expenditure uh to cover the um the uh
additional fund. So we were hoping it would come under 190 to 200. Um but um we're still able to kind of move forward with this. And if we don't if we don't go go forward with this, we're not going to be able to plow streets. So >> um cuz we got to keep the equipment in a
temperature controlled environment. If not, then the diesel fuel will gel up and then we won't be able to use the vehicle. So um last week, uh Hampshire County Group Insurance Trusty approved 19% increase for our Medicare plans and that will be effective on January 1st.
Um, want to congratulate uh, Sip and Spin. Um, so I had the name wrong there for a second. Uh, their grand opening was October 2nd. So, we have a new business um, over at the Red Rocks Plaza. Um, >> when are they applying for a liquor
license? >> Just coffee right now. >> Well, then it could be sip. >> Oh, sip and spit. >> Sip spit and sods. Yeah, >> I think they're on to something. Okay, moving along. >> Um, the chairperson and I, we went to the MVP award uh ceremony at uh
Beaverbrook last Thursday, attended by the lieutenant governor and a lot of the state delegation. It was a pretty interesting project over there. It's a uh former golf course of close to 300 acres that they are reing uh letting nature kind of take over. They're also
moving the trustees are moving their headquarters there as well. So, um, Southampton received a little over 80,000 for their >> their Northampton headquarters, not their >> their Florence. Yeah, >> their Florence headquarters. >> Those headquarters. >> Yeah, the trusties of those. >> Okay, thank you.
>> So, that was a that was a nice event and the weather was actually really good. Um, and then uh some good news and slightly bad news is we finally got in the award letters for the greenways. So, we were awarded the uh $324,000
for our greenway. Um big thanks to our um our committees that worked very hard on getting the uh the drafts together for that. Um the unfortunate part is um our request for the manhand metals bridge replacement project was not
awarded map. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any comments or questions to Scott? >> All right. Has anybody had a meeting of your committees that you're delegated to? Ellen, anything in particular? I was due to vote tonight, but I believe there wasn't much of an agenda. We've moved
that to the 28th as well. >> That was the >> committee reservation reservation. >> Yeah, I saw that they had moved their meeting. >> Yeah. Okay, >> good to know. Um open space committee met last Wednesday night, but
>> so did we. So, it knocked me out. It I think it was a very important um set of topics that were taking up very timely. So, I look forward to circling back on some current acquisition updates. >> Water commissioners um meet on the 20th
of October and we have um high hopes of hiring a water tech. So, um, we'll be coming forward with a job, what is a PQCB XYZ form and make sure that we're in
line for for all that. >> Good. Okay. And, uh, on my end, nothing um nothing too much. We will have a bylaws meeting probably in the next 10 days um hopefully before our next select board meeting just to catch up on a couple
things that we're working on. uh both the um scenic roads bylaw and the finance committee bylaw uh that were going to be either drafted or modified and um the grant committee will probably meet just to catch up and see what else
is coming down the pike. We have started as Scott has mentioned um to receive notification of awards which is great. So, besides the MVP and the mass trails, now we're still waiting on uh the big one from um two from one from land
grant related to the open space committee uh another one related to the assistance to firefighters grant which is a FEMA grant and this is the one two of them actually that we put in one for the U tanker truck and the other one for um SCBA breathing apparatus units. We've
not heard a thing on those and those are normally advertis not announc sorry sorry they're usually announced the awards are usually announced in July and August and September. Um and that's a nationwide grant so we're not sure we have not heard that it was canceled. So we're still holding out hope for those
but um we have not started working on any new grant applications at the present time. I'm just trying to take stock of what else may be coming up in terms of deadlines for potential grant programs that some of the town departments andor committees might be interested in >> in Thank you. We need to talk.
>> Mhm. Okay. >> The land the site development planning next steps. >> Okay. So that's basically that. Nothing else on that regard. >> Okay. Uh, next up, I guess, um, under new
business, special town meeting. I think we need to talk about this again and, uh, decide if we're when we're we're having this and, uh, open up the the warrant and and talk about the schedule. >> I'll turn it over to you. Yeah. >> Mhm.
>> Um, so the school is available for November 15th. I checked with uh the principal. So, uh, that is available. Um, >> that's a Saturday. Is that right? >> That's a Saturday. I know we want to try to aim for the Saturday. Um I know Robert your concern was there might not be enough time as well. >> Yeah. Come on up Robert.
>> Thank you. Hi. Good evening. Robert Floyd, College Highway moderator. We have two dates. November 15th possibility and December 6. I vote for December 6 because it's a three-way win. Uh it gives everybody more opportunity
to dot the eyes and cross the tees. the meeting will run smoothly. But more importantly, it gives the people in the town to find out about the meeting to study the articles and to be prepared and discuss it among themselves. And so it gives us three extra weeks and it's
away from the holidays December 6. So I think it's a win-win December 6. >> Yeah. Because Thanksgiving this year is the 27th, right? >> Yes. And the 22nd the school has a fair occupy the school. >> Right. So, the only day in November that's available for us was the 15th, I
think. Yeah. >> Have we checked on the 6th at all? December 6th. No. >> Um H. >> Yeah. Well, >> and generally I hear people not complaining, but wishing we had more
time in any past town meeting to process the articles. >> Well, hopefully. I mean, we'll I think we probably have to take that under advisement tonight then because I think we'd have to check on the availability of December 6th to figure out if >> Oh, we don't know that already. >> If we have a choice on that. >> Okay.
>> So, I mean, I think we'd been leaning toward the 15th, but I don't know anybody's thoughts regarding holiday time and people being in town, out of town. I mean, I don't know. Um, it's kind of a toss up in some >> never a perfect uh time for
>> Yeah. Yeah. without any particular ideas. I think maybe we could I don't know it might not take us too long to check on December 6th, but I mean we've been leaning on the 15th. I think let's let's talk about opening up the warrant or we'll come back to this maybe. Robert, thank you for your input. I think let's open up the warrant and talk
about what the articles will be and then you know I yeah and see if we have you know levels of complexity maybe that you know align with with your your thinking.
>> Are there magic words for that motion? >> Um not I don't know. Are we do we need to take a motion to open the warrant yet or you're going to tell us what's on there? >> Um I can go over quickly. This is the one from the the proposed September one, >> right?
>> Um I haven't haven't edited it yet. Um article one, obviously the biggest one would have been the senior center, >> right? >> Uh so that would be deleted. Uh we have the health insurance funds. Uh the PQB uh personnel policy um
reforming the uh PQB um we have a transformation transfer for conservation salary. um transfer health agent salary. Um I know there might be an updated one but the appointment of the finance committee.
>> It's an updated bylaw. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. And then we have the um uh article 8 9 10 and 11 were for the acquisition of the floric and >> properties. Yeah.
>> These are open space going to community preservation right I think. >> Yeah. Uh then we had the um article 11 um unpaid previous fiscal year bills and then the uh $60,000 from the water retained earnings for the um
the previous grant that we were charged for. >> Okay. So, um, so we know that we've got these on on tap >> as we would have done for September
minus the the, uh, authorization for the senior center funding, right? >> Yep. >> Um, but we still need to vote to open up the warrant to see if there's any additional >> articles that would be taken, right? So, I think we should then with this in in
our mind just open up take a motion to do that. So, Stephen, you want to >> I'd like to move that we open the warrant for a special town meeting in fall of to be held in the fall of 2025. >> Date to be determined. >> Yeah. Okay. Ellen, >> I second that.
>> All right. Uh, all those in favor? >> I >> I All right. So, let us consider that open. Um, how late? Well, so here we go. So on uh November, if we were to do November 16, we need a week ahead of time, >> two weeks ahead of time.
>> Two weeks for specials >> for a special town meeting. So we would have to close that certainly by the 28th of this month. Yeah. At our next meeting. >> Yes, you can. I I believe you can set a date for closing it now. >> Yeah.
>> If you if you'd like. I don't expect anything major to >> I was going to ask are do you have an idea of anything else coming your way? Have you heard of any other >> No, we have a department head meeting a Thursday that I was going to talk about it but I haven't heard anything else other than maybe something
administrative. >> Warrant to close October 28th, 2028. >> All right. Feels like that should give us enough time. Um. >> Mhm. Yeah. Everything's pretty much done for 95% of it already, >> right? >> So, >> cuz you
>> Well, that's where I was going to go. I didn't want to interrupt that. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> we know we're going to strike article one, >> right? >> Um, it's refreshing that we've all seen the other however many articles before and
we don't anticipate substantive or perhaps any changes. Are there additional items that you expect we'll need to take up? >> Not hearing yet. >> Not that I know of. Not >> aware of. So, >> well, then with um due respect and
consideration to our town moderator, I think we've been here before. >> Mhm. Well, let's I mean, I think no matter what, since we don't totally have the the idea of the date possibility on December 6th, if we close on the 28th of
October, we're still in time for >> the November one in case we end up going that way in case something's happening at the school or or whatever's going on. Right. So, I think let's entertain a motion. I'll make it if you'd like to close the warrant on October 28th at our next
meeting then. So, I'll make that motion if somebody would second that. Please. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> I Okay. So, let let's have it open for two weeks and then that >> in the meantime, we'll figure out exactly which which date, but we need to
figure that out within the next 48 hours, I would say, so people really understand. >> Is there a preference if the sixth is is available? >> I'm kind of a tossup, frankly. Um I don't know. There's an argument to be made about people being busy with the holidays and you want to get it done
before the holidays. I suppose there's that argument to be made, but I >> we don't have any election nonsense going on. >> No, no town election or state election this year at all. No, >> I think we move ahead
>> with >> I don't I prefer November to December in the abstract. Uh, I can't gauge the various competing interests around. >> I think if we had something else that was coming up that we needed to look
into that we needed to entertain that, but I don't know of >> Mhm. >> If we were ready for September, then should be ready for November. >> Life is short. Don't buy green bananas.
>> Do we do we have most of the mot the um what do I want to say? Yeah. motions and summaries written up. So, you've got a just very little bit to do to finalize that. >> Yep. I mean, the biggest one was obviously the senior center. So, >> right. And then the and then on the land acquisition for the open space perhaps.
We've got that already. >> Um >> we dropped one or more of those motions if we hear on the land grant. >> Right. So, I'm going to say, yeah, I'm thinking that between now and the end of that's exactly where I was going. between now and the 28th, we should hear
something on that land grant that might alleviate one of the motions around the um >> you had your lobbying opportunity. >> Yeah, I know. Around that uh time frame. Um >> Yep. >> But um h I don't feel strongly one way or
another, honestly. Um, one of the things I'm going to bring up tonight is um just getting more word out through code red and doing a robocall, which I know had been an issue for some people. Uh, so I'm going to bring that up a little bit later, but I think if we can get this
out and post it on the town website. Um, feels like we've got enough time. Um, >> our constable is absent. >> Yeah. Do we want to just give it, you know, maybe 48 hours? Scott, let's say that we're kind of in favor of the November
date, but if the December date is open, could you just let us know and then do you want to do you want to approve it pending availability of the school? >> Well, we know the school's available for November. We don't have a on December,
right? Um, if the December date was open, December 6th, I'm not hearing a strong >> I don't have conflict. Um, I express my slight preference. >> All it would do would just to give it an extra extra couple weeks of time. I
don't know that there's um >> Well, Robert has done a pretty thorough job of providing access to all the information. Um perhaps we need to be a little more proactive.
Um perhaps I don't know. Um crafting the message is always the issue. Just the facts, ma'am. But you know, it's wrapped in haven't we done this before and didn't we tell you no? No. No.
That's not exactly how it went down. Um so I don't know. I don't know. >> I mean, this is of course the Oh, I'm sorry. This is a meeting that we never held. >> So, how >> widely did that warrant get noticed?
>> That's the difference this time around. >> You didn't do television. >> So, we we canceled it too early for them to really digest it. >> Yeah. >> And then it was cancelled. So, those who did, you know, >> I stand corrected. I'm thinking of your usual expose. I think this is another
reason why we need extra weeks so people can >> Mhm. Okay. >> confusion. >> I'm sorry. I was operating on the wrong premise. >> Okay. Then I think I will if I could revise my my motion to say that we'll
ask the town administrator to find out if December 6th is an option >> and if that Sorry, just make sure that's the right date. Yeah, December 6th, which is a Saturday. So December 6 from 10:00 to whenever um
would be available >> 10 to 11 >> 10 to 12ish >> keep it official >> whatever uh at at Nor School uh if that date is available uh I make a motion that we go with that date and give the benefit of the doubt that that allows us to contact more people or more people
have chance to look it up and get themselves informed. So now my preference is swung. Thank you. Um to the December date, but I'd like to get it settled and if the December date does not work, I'd like to have it
>> we don't really have a choice butt but the 15th, right? So okay. So let me reword this again a little bit. So we'll have Scott check in with the school to see if the December date is a December 6th date is available for the special town meeting at Norris School. Uh if
that is available uh I'm gathering that all the three of us are in favor of that. Am I correct on that? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. >> Um and if it should not be available, we would all be accepting of the November 15th date as the fallback. U because
there really is no other date that we can do it without conflicting with holidays and other events at the school. So I'm making that motion. I hope that's clear. So let's go with the six if it's available. If not, fall back position November 15th. >> I >> I
>> Who seconded that? >> I second that. >> Okay, Ellen seconded that. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I All right. Okay. Is that clear, Scott? >> Okay. Thank you for that. >> Thank you, Robert. >> I'm so used to emailed your principal. So, maybe we can >> television show that I thought we'd seen
it. >> Yeah. We had >> not for this subject matter, but every prior to you do a wonderful job and I appreciate it. Yeah. So anyway, so the motion is has been u made and the warrant though it will be open for the next two weeks and so Scott will let you
bring that forward to right >> department heads and see if there's anything else floating out there that maybe we don't know about right now but uh hopefully that will take care of it. Okay, next up um we have the 25 holiday closures on here but I think
this is not really an issue. Uh if you wanted to go to the select board page, Scott, and just show people on the town website. >> So we we had actually decided on holiday closures last year. So if any of the Oh, there you go. So on the uh town website under select board, there's a section
called policies uh and holiday office closing is there. So if any of the town departments who are listening are confused about that, please go to the website because we acted on this last year. I gather there was a question about it already in terms of >> complicated >> in terms of uh
>> Thanksgiving and so forth, but we we are um we've taken care of that as of last year. So, uh again, go to the select board page on the town website and look for select board policies and you will find it there. Uh land use planning updates. Scott,
anything happening on that that we need to be talking about in terms of schedules as well? um accord Oh, a lot of stuff happening but not for um public distribution yet. >> Oh, okay. >> Very shortly though, I think.
>> Yeah. Do you think this will be a a meeting of sort, not another open meeting or we don't know yet? Uh >> I think we're going to have an Yeah, we're definitely going to have an open meeting one way or another. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, we'll know by our next meeting maybe or >> hopefully. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I think so. >> All right.
um 250th anniversary. Um just very briefly, we had another uh great hike up Palmer Mountain. Cindy Palmer did her thing and led the last hike for the for the year, I think, uh up the mountain and had I don't know, probably a dozen people or so. >> So that um happened on the weekend and
then um >> Thank you, Cindy. >> Yep. And on October 25th, the Hampshire um hello um the Christ Community Church of Hampshire County, there we go. Uh is having its fall bazaar and so the um 250th
committee is helping just to co-sponsor that and we will be there selling merchandise. We have our last merchandise available. So please, if you haven't gotten your your Christmas gifts yet, your pipe glasses or your mugs or your t-shirts, uh come find us. We'll be there. Uh other than that, we've got a couple of things organized for November.
Uh which include a another musical bingo night. Uh this one will be at Tinan Alley Lounge over at the bowling alley area. Uh and then that's going to be right now it's looking at a Sunday afternoon, November 9th. Uh and we'll get some information out on that. And
then a church service um on November 23rd at the congregational church which will be a service of gratitude talking about the relationship between the historical relationship between the town and the church uh way back going into the 1700s. Uh and then it also will
commemorate the 15th anniversary of the community cupboard in town. So those are a couple things that are happening in October, November. We got a big bunch of things happening for December and we'll get to that once we finalize some plans. But stay tuned. We're still working. We got a few more few more events to go.
Um, okay. Any other business that can't wait for the next regular select board meeting on the 28th? I just have one thing. Um, we have in front of us this letter. If you recall, we had our joint meeting with the various five towns um talking about
other select boards of the five towns talking about um our health insurance crisis that we're all facing. And um there was a movement made to motion made rather to have a letter addressed to uh our senator and rep as well as the senators and reps that represent the
other hilltowns uh to um request legislative support uh to help us with this um insurance crisis. Uh and uh we have a letter that has three or four uh
particular uh requests in there which is to expand and stabilize rural school school aid uh reform unrestricted general government aid cap or offset assessments and transparency in state finance. Uh and so we wanted them to advocate for these
reforms in the FY27 budget process. And so this is a letter that uh each of the select boards for the towns of Chesterfield, Gan, Williamsburg, Westampton, and Southampton are being asked to sign to send off to our various uh legislators. So in our case, Senator
Vis and Representative Peas. Um they would like to get this done sometime by next week. So it would need to go in before our next meeting. Um, if everybody's had a chance to take a look at that, uh, I'd like us to make a motion to sign this and we'll just get it out on letterhead and maybe in the
next day or two we can just formally sign it. >> Um, okay. >> Second that just because I'm particularly slow tonight. Uh we've been focused on Hampshire County insurance and a variety of cost
overruns or unexpected increases in Hampshire regional school budget. >> And this is different. It's not insurance related. Um it's our take on statewide >> school budgeting issues. State aid to
schools in general. >> Right. Yes. but also inclusive >> but also talking about this you know massive you know 40% increase in health expense you know health insurance that you know all of the regional towns um in our Hampshire regional district are facing so yeah it is a little bit more
focused on on um uh school aid and other >> schooling >> other aid coming in from the state exactly >> thank you so you have a second >> we had already addressed an actual letter on the insurance crisis to uh senators we had done that ourselves earlier on so this is more of a
collective letter feeling that perhaps if five towns got together, the select boards of the five towns got together and addressed one letter that maybe that would carry a little bit more weight than each of us doing it individually. >> And I just want citizens of Southampton
to know that we're raising the cry because uh we can't do it solely on the backs of the taxpayers in Southampton, >> right? So um yeah, >> do you want to call the vote? So, yeah. So, I think we we have a motion to uh accept the the text of the letter, I
believe, and >> second by Ellen. Okay. >> Second. >> Yeah. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I All right. So, we will uh just get this out on um on letterhead and then Scott, you can just let it know, let us know it's ready and we'll come by and sign it sometime. >> Mhm. >> Before the end of the week. Okay. Then
we can get it off to >> West Hampton, I think, is the one championing this to get it to uh our powers that be. This is probably the right place for my random question, but we've talked about asking the Department
of Transportation for traffic count on Route 10. >> Did that application get completed? >> It did. Randall and I completed it online. I don't know when it'll happen, but I think he had asked for it as soon as possible. Right. >> Uh, and it will be basically a traffic count.
>> A count perform. >> So, it's it's more volume based on and that's what they offer in terms of the free one. Mhm. >> And so that will happen hopefully sometime in the next 2 3 weeks I would think. >> So yeah, that did >> Yep. Okay. >> Closes that loop.
>> Wonderful. >> I'd like to move a one day one malt permit for Nicole Goldsmith for Parallel Skin Spa 285 College Highway, Friday, December 12th, 2025 from 4:30 p.m. to
700 p.m. for a party. Okay. Looks like everything is in order here. Paperwise, could we have a second on that? >> I'll second that. >> All right. Okay. All those in favor? >> I Okay. So, that motion passes. So, this is for December 12th. Okay. We will sign
that tonight. Thank you. >> Right. I move approval of minutes of September 2nd, September 9, and September 23 of 2025. >> Have a second, please. >> I'll second that. Second by Ellen. Okay.
Just um two two tiny corrections on uh just typos. Very very tiny. And I can catch Judy on them. Or you found one, too. Okay. >> Um go ahead if you found what you had. >> Um it's so tiny it doesn't even matter. Um let's see. On on the 23rd, we have a
roll call. Leer I. Johnson. I Paul's eye. Ellen De Bruan. >> Oh, >> I need an I after Ellen De Bruin on the 23rd. Okay, we got it. Uh and also on the that much. >> Also on the 23rd, uh just a typo on on
the name of uh I think it was another alcohol and um wine permit. Um uh gas gaspar. It's a not a B. It's not gas bar, but gaspar. So it's a P instead of a B. And then on uh September 2nd, uh
just mark Cass. It's a K A SIS, not a CA SSI. So I'll get with Julian. we can make those tiny corrections. So with that uh with those corrections um all those in favor of approval of those three sets of minutes >> I >> I
>> I Okay, thank you very much. Uh where are we at here? Next up, old business. Is that where we are? Sorry, I lost my track of my >> I think we are old business. Y >> okay, uh FY24 audit. So I think we heard
a little bit about that tonight. Scott, is there any more to add on that? How how well is um Megan doing? How how how is she able to catch up on any of these things that are required to to be able to get something in there? >> No, I think I think Megan will be able to do it pretty quickly now. She's got a
a hang of everything. I met with her again today. So, now 23 is out and she's a little bit more used to everything. I think uh it shouldn't shouldn't be too too long. >> Okay, that's great. I hope that we can we can do that. But I really I know Bradley had told us that he wanted to be
able to get the um free cash in by by mid December. So I'm hoping we can keep on that timeline. I I really like the sound of that. We need to definitely get on top of this and be >> Are there enough hours in the work week for Megan to do the audit and keep
current with reconciliations of current accounts? >> That's the question, right? Because she's only parttime, right? Um I I think with with Angie and payroll being a little bit more time on on that, you know, she's outsourcing the bills and things like that. So I think she'll be able to we're going to start um having a
third party do all of her mailing and kind of for our water bills or tax bills. Um I think it's Robert um I forget the other Robert um I think Robert Half I think >> or something like it's um they they're
they're the uh collector >> service >> and they'll mail them out. So instead of having staff take three days every two weeks to do all that stuff it's going to be able to u make a little bit more >> and that's a >> easier >> a cost effective service for >> y so I mean things like that. So, I
think she'll be able to do it. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, that would be helpful. I think if we can if there's any other ways that we can be of support, let us know. Um but um and right now she's on Remind. She's there two days a week. Is that right? Or >> Yeah. Uh sometimes three.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. But usually Mondays and Wednesdays are the primary day. >> Okay. >> She's here the entire day of those days or not quite. >> Um if there's a third day, then it's reduced. >> Right. Okay. Good. All right.
Um, next up, um, code red enrollment. Um, and I'll ask Scott if you just bring up the town website. Um, I know folks, um, there was commentary after our last town meeting or somewhere in between about people not getting roocalls. Um,
so I just want to throw this out. The system that we have is called Code Red. It is primarily used for emergencies. It is able to be used for other things. And I know in the past we have used it to announce to residents when there is a
town meeting coming up or a town election. Um so I'm proposing that we get back on that schedule and and do that going forward. However, um I have checked today and the code red statistics um show that we really don't
have a lot of up-to-date numbers. Um according to our police chief who manages the the um the page, I guess related to that, uh we have 3794 people actually enrolled in Code Red.
>> Oh wow. However, our messages have only reached 1997, which means that about half people of the people, I'm guessing, have changed from a landline to a mobile number >> and have not gone in and updated. So,
where Scott just was on the homepage of the website, sorry, Scott, I'll kick you back a minute. On the homepage of the website, just scroll down under that nice picture. You'll see a thing for code red. Hit that and it will take you to the page where you have to update your information. And it's not only
phone calls, it's also texts and emails. So, you can choose what you want to do. But if you don't have your correct information in there, you're not going to get a rooc call. So, if you'd like it for basic emergencies, which I would highly recommend, let alone uh some routine information such as town
elections or town meetings, this is the time to get it updated. So, I'm really guessing that a lot of us, I know myself included, I had when I first enrolled in it, I had my landline in there. So, I went back in and changed it to my mobile. And I have a feeling a lot of us are in that same boat where we just haven't updated it. So, please uh take
advantage of that. If you have any questions, reach out and let us know. But, it's very easy to >> Thank you. >> to update. >> Thank you for going this next step. You can enroll without downloading an app. >> Yeah, I believe that's an option. >> Yeah, you can go enroll right online. You don't have to download the app. You
can download the app. You don't have to, I don't believe. >> Yep. >> Darn right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for that. All right. Um, next on the agenda for just old business, I put a couple things on here that I just want to be sure that we
don't lose track of. Um, we had at the um, I guess it was one of our town meetings, I forget if it was the May one or before that, uh, we had adopted the prudent investor rule. Um and we needed to set up a a trust fund for looking at
um uh basically a management recommendation body I guess to help our investment company Bartholomew to understand um how we want to manage our our various trust funds. Not our general fund, not our you know everyday money fund but the special trust funds and
these are usually funds that have been left for example to the library to the park commission to the conservation commission. uh these have been usually bequeathed through somebody's will and so these are special ones that are managed differently through our investment process and I believe the
prudent investor rule um now allows us to go outside the basic categories of investing that Bartholomew has been locked into for all these years and allows them to go out and explore other other possibilities other options for
our investment is that correct Scott >> so we need to get back on that whole process. And again, it's another issue most likely at the treasurer's level. And given all that Megan's got to go through with getting ready for the 24 audit information, I don't want to dump
this on her at the present time, but I know that this is something that we do need to get back onto. Uh, and it fell through the cracks, I think, with our changing of our our treasurer collector. Um, but let's keep it on here just as a reminder that we want to not lose track of it. Okay. Would it would January be a
time to hear back action items on this? >> Um, possibly. I I guess we can see how well we do with getting in Yeah. getting in all the first audit information for 24, but that sounds reasonable that by January maybe we could see where where we are in that. I don't know. >> We would need to uh also fill the commissioners, right?
>> We have to do a call for volunteers. >> Okay. We would need to call for volunteers for the commissioners of that and we need to understand a bit more about their role and and responsibilities probably on that as well. Okay. So, we'll we'll circle back around on that. I just wanted to tag it so that we don't lose track of it al
together. Okay. Um, anything updating in terms of the stormwater enterprise fund or the East Street uh tip thing? I think you said that the East Street folks were out recently or >> Yeah, Randall did meet with the um with DOT uh about one and a half, two weeks ago. >> Okay. >> Just to move forward with that. So,
>> East Street rehabilitation, whatever is still on the books for for what they've said. Okay, good. And nothing yet on the storm water enterprise fund. >> No, that's going to be a little while. I mean, ultimately, it's going to be another >> um it's got to go before town meeting and there will be a cost to that,
>> right? Okay. All right. So, we'll hang on to that one for a while. But again, these are just kind of in a holding pattern more just to be sure that we don't lose track of anything. If you know of other things that we've talked about at other select board meetings that you'd want to not miss, then shoot them at me and we'll get them on the agenda, too.
>> Piece related to the East Street rebuild. >> Mhm. Um, we've approved a water line, a water mane upgrade in Route 10. >> Uhhuh. >> And it would need to coordinate
East Street and tie in this campus, >> right? >> And so the time and coordination of those things is critical to have the trench open just once. And so, um, while the East Street project is moving along
with a reassuring or more definite timeline, the borrowing and construction bidding and so on for the waterline is needing further attention and approvals.
>> But it it it's really a coordination issue and they're in two different jurisdictions, >> right? And right now they've still got to work on getting it from the water line from Clark Street to East Street first as the next phase I believe. >> I think that's the next phase. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. So yes. >> Mhm. Okay. >> It's it's the very next thing on the water commissioner's list, the water department's list. >> Good. >> And it'll be a very expensive miss if we don't coordinate with these project. >> Yeah. Well, and again, there'll probably
be some grant money available toward that, too. I mean, I think they've had some grant money in the past on that if I'm not mistaken, but I could be wrong. I could be mixing it with something else, but anyway. Okay. Um, yeah, and if you attend the, you know, the water commissioners meeting coming up, then I'm sure you'll have an update on that
the next time around or something in terms of, you said there's a water commissioner meeting coming. So, >> yes, >> you know, we'll have an update on terms of any information there. Um, >> good. Okay. Um our next select board meeting, regular select board meeting
will be October 28th. Um and then at this point in time, we will be going into executive session. Um uh so the reasons for executive session are per MGL chapter 30A section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to
collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. And the chair so declares and this is related to health insurance and MGL chapter 3A section 21A number two to conduct
strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel and this is for the police union. Uh so with that I'll take a motion to move into executive session
and not return to open session. >> So moved. >> All right. All those in favor roll call please. >> Johnson I >> ruin I. >> Fouls I. Okay. We will be moving into executive session in about a minute. We are adjourning here at 7:15 in open
session and we will not be returning.