WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=yJG0PMHITmI

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: yJG0PMHITmI):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order, Pledge of Allegiance
- 00:00:51: Public Comment: Town Meeting Updates and Finance Committee
- 00:02:46: Public Comment: Budget Overrides and Select Board Roles
- 00:04:40: Public Comment: Early Voting and Caucus Turnout Update
- 00:06:20: Public Comment: Finance Committee Positions Update
- 00:07:07: Administrator Report: Open Enrollment and Select Board Reports
- 00:08:25: Accept Resignations from Committees: Hart & Johnson
- 00:09:14: Greenway Committee Courtesy Letter Discussion: Grindstone Mountain Farm
- 00:15:56: Discussing Draft Warrant Articles: Budget and Override Complexities
- 00:37:57: Override Vote Strategy and Amendment Processes Discussion
- 00:44:23: Appendices and Budget Details: Clarifying Number Presentation
- 00:56:17: Reviewing Article One (Base Budget) and Hampshire Regional Budget
- 01:04:08: Setting Date for Potential Special Town Meeting in June
- 01:04:41: Enterprise Budgets, Free Cash and Elected Officials Salaries
- 01:06:50: Free Cash Transfers, Highway System Borrowing and Citizen Petitions
- 01:08:48: ADA Commission, Bylaw Revisions, Caucus Elimination and Wetland Bylaw
- 01:12:08: Treasurer Position Transition, Unpaid Accounts and Health Department
- 01:14:08: Community Preservation Committee Funding: Multiple Projects
- 01:17:30: Article Review, Meeting Scheduling and Ballot Approvals
- 01:23:35: Discussion on CPA Tax, Minutes Approval and Personnel Changes
- 01:29:17: Audit Update, Miscellaneous Business, and Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

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This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. All right. I'm going to call to order the meeting of the Southampton Select Board for April 14th at 6:00. So, if we could uh all stand and say the pledge of allegiance, please.

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>> 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.

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Do we have anyone here for citizens speak? I didn't do a sign up list tonight, but if there's anybody Yeah. Come on up. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Find a piece of paper at the time. >> Yeah. Put the mic around and Robert. Sorry. I think it's maybe not it toward you a little bit. >> Better. >> Very much more.

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>> Hopefully. I don't know how. >> How's that? Is that better? >> That looks like it works. >> Oh, great. Robert Floyd, Tom moderator, college highway. I have four points I'd like to share this evening. I'll be brief. The May 2nd annual town meeting needs the war needs to be posted Friday,

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April 24th, which is the week Friday. And on that day before that day, the 23rd, Thursday, at noon, we need all visual presentations to be presented at the town meeting and the town clerk's office. Just one copy by noon of

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Thursday the 23rd. And later that night, a popcorn special is the town moderator annual town meeting information center session, which will be held right here 7 o'clock. Scott and I will read the articles. And the most important I'd

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like to share is that we have a new member of the finance committee in a future. I've appointed Miss Margaret Larson as as the member and she'll be available on the 20th of May. She'll be sworn in that day hopefully and then her reign

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will be for 10 days because that's the term and then I'm appointing her for another three years effective June 1st. >> Okay. Okay. And anybody else who needs or desires to be on a finance committee, please send me a cover letter

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application which again on the town website volunteer under volunteers and resume to town moderator at townofs southampton.org. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right.

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Yeah. Tammy >> Tammy Molunis 298 College Highway. Um, I'm been seeing I'm trying to get caught up and I've been seeing a bunch of things being said about the budgets and everything and I just

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want to make sure that we still have in the back of our heads last year we tried to do an override for the safety complex. And if that had gone through, where would we have been now with all this scrambling trying to keep the

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school afloat and our safety? I >> think the override last year was also for the school as well. >> Yeah. But I >> there was more than one. >> Yeah. Well, it >> anyway >> was more towards that. Um, and then my other question is, can select board

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members run for other offices? Um, and be cuz I know we had an issue once where we had a um finance committee member that was also >> someone who's on finance, they're restricted. They

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>> they're restricted. Okay. So, it's just the fin ones. >> Perfect. >> And just to be clear, because I have a feeling that's directed towards me, Mass General law is very clear on this. If you're on finance committee, you can't be on any other committee whatsoever. Period. Everything else is open if the public vote for you and the public put you in.

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>> It's up to the public. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> But I think our bylaw check the bylaw >> which referred for finance. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. Sure. Sorry, Lucy Dalan, town clerk, 10 Strong

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Road, South Hampton, Mass. I just wanted to update everybody that um we're going to be having early voting May 11th through the 18th. We're going to have mail-in voting. Um hopefully we'll get

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the ballots the week of May 4th. So, we'll have to update people on the day they come in. Um, but early person in early in person voting is May 11th through May 18th. >> Mhm. >> Um, >> during office hours or

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>> during office hours, we might do it on Saturday the 16th from 9 to 2. Um, we're still working that out. Um, if anybody needs ballots mailed to them, we need the application, voter mailin application. So, if you

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want one of those, we will send it to you. Just call our office or email email us um and voter registration >> is May 10th. >> No. >> Yeah. No, May 9th. Sorry.

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>> May. So, if people have not registered to vote, they need to >> they have until May 9th. Yeah. May. >> Yep. Um, I just wanted to also comment about the caucus. We had 30 people here last Thursday, so I think that's the most since I've been here, and I've been

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here for 12 years. Um, and it was a big turnout. I mean, every seat was filled. So, thank you for all attending. And, um, I think that's it. Yeah, that's it. Thanks. >> Thank you. All right.

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>> Yes. >> Can I amend or add something to it which I left off? The two future finance committee positions. Uh the terms end this May 19th. And so the two finance

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committee members both their terms end on the 19th at election day. And the hope is to appoint somebody before but by the 20th they'll have two terms available. Okay. >> In the future. So, >> okay. So, they would be appointed before the 19th.

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>> No, I The point is that the two positions would be effective from the 20th on 20th. Okay. >> The two positions would be ending on the 19th, not carrying through. Okay. >> Okay. Clear. Thank you. >> All right. Uh Scott, anything administrator report? Other things that

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are going on besides budget and finance and >> we're in the middle of open enrollment. Um so, our voluntary insurancees uh kicked off open enrollment today. just got the final um cell sheets for those about a couple hours ago. So, I'm going to update the website later >> later tomorrow um and just remind

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everyone so >> and you've had various meetings with town employees to sort of give them the orientation to all of that. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. People are generally receptive or

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>> um well I so far so good. Guess we don't really know till two people signed up but anyway so now is the time until what the end of the month >> first. All right, good. Anything else off hand?

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Just focusing on budget, I know, and articles. Uh, how about any select board reports? Anything, John, from your end? Anything? Any reports? >> Any committees that you've no >> met with the last >> in a lull in the last month or two? >> All right. Well, in the last couple

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weeks since we've met again, it feels like we haven't had time for any meetings actually. >> A lot of each other, >> right? Yeah. No, and there's been nothing on the uh nothing on the grant committee side either. um or other other ones that are relevant to my assignment.

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Okay. So, we have uh on the agenda just next up we have a couple of resignations. Uh someone would like to make a motion. Anybody? Go ahead. >> Make a motion. Uh we accept the uh reservation from the capital committee of Sharon Hart. Uh the resignation

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effective April 7th, 2026. >> Second. >> Second. All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> All right. Go ahead. >> I'll make a motion we accept the resignation of Steven Thor Johnson from the Board of Water Commissioners. Resignation effective March 30th.

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>> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> I All right. Both motions pass. So, thank you both for your service on those committees and uh we will move forward and most likely see if we don't rope you into something else. But, okay. So,

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we'll move on to our main business. Uh we've got two or three items on the uh agenda for discussion today. >> Madam chairman, can I make a motion to uh move the greenway letter that rhymes up to the first? >> Thank you.

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>> Uhhuh. Okay. I Yeah. Okay. I see the uh person's here. Okay. >> Uh anybody object to just moving that up? >> Great. >> All right. All right. So, with that, uh, we have, uh, I think both Aaron Tasher and and Mark Cass is here from the Greenway Committee, uh, and wanted to

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share a draft courtesy letter with us, I guess, and, uh, get our okay or whatever we're looking for here. So, go ahead. >> Perfect. Thank you. Uh, yeah, Aaron Tower, chair, a pome extension, also chair of the greenway committee. Um, so for a bit of context, we provided a

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letter uh, from the committee to the select board uh, simply for review. Uh really this is uh ultimately a uh courtesy a heads up to uh Grindstone Mountain Farm. Uh we we hope to kind of just give uh some official attention to their access that they're using. Um they

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they're in a unique scenario. They actually have property both on the the north and south sides of the the train tracks. Um they're using uh a route parallel to the tracks now to to access the property on on the opposite side. Um we realize that this will actually be intercepted during construction and of

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course post construction as well. they may actually lose access if they don't create an alternative option to get to this other section of property. So really ultimately for long-term planning for a courtesy heads up uh and just to be as transparent uh as possible and as far in advance as we can be uh we wanted

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to write a letter just to say that during construction uh access uh may be restricted or cut off post construction when we have a paved path in place uh just a few years out uh access will probably uh not be possible without an alternative route. So simply putting

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that in into text for the group. >> So you guys are getting a a good jump on this. You're not expecting construction until probably July of 2028, right? >> Correct. We're a couple years away. However, we've seen, you know, how powerful grant uh funds can be. So I don't know if the farm is intending to work with grant funds or seek funding or

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do some long-term planning for uh bridges, access, things like that. But uh >> helps them. >> So for help. Yeah, of course. We Yeah. I mean, like I said, we're we're doing our best to be uh stewards of uh you know, I guess of the project, but be helpful and respect uh respectful of the abutters.

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So, we are uh well well in advance here. >> Mhm. >> I do have a small map too if if the select board wants to share it. It's ultimately just uh showing just south of Lost Pond uh between the pond and where it says Tom Cross. This is where they're

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using the the rail bed to cross just in case the board wants to see it. is this little strip right here where the tracks are. >> Okay, got it. >> Erin, are you aware of other rightways, especially agricultural rightways that

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are going to be impacted during construction? >> Uh, well, so, uh, rather than impacted, I know Grindstoneone is planning to have at least one crossing, uh, possibly two. So they they will have uh access uh over the tracks where we're factoring in uh

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both gates and crossing uh signage and things like that with our engineers now. Um so there will be crossings but not to the extent I'm kind of guessing it's a couple hundred yards uh that they use the length of the uh the rail bed now. Um so they will have crossings though I

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don't know that they can get to this particular piece of property simply because of the the water and uh other limitations. So, Grindstone may have two outside of that ownership. I'm aware of at least one other egg right away. And

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just want you to think about sending courtesy letter to all of them. >> Correct. There's at least one more in mind. Uh yeah, closely related to Fletchers. Um so, yeah, we'll we'll be in touch with uh Butters, especially those more significantly impacted as we

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move forward. Mhm. And this this is something that needs to come from the select board rather than the greenway committee. I mean that's >> it was kind of a request for support, but we like I said to kind of maintain relationships uh and and not to look as a threat but more as just a helpful

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notification that >> y >> Mark has 19 road on the greenway committee. Also, what's different about this property, we should notify the Fletcher family also, is that they're using a long stretch parallel to the rail bed on the town that's now part of

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the rail bed rather than just using the rightway. So, we felt this was another level above that and the courtesy of letting both families know is definitely appropriate. >> Mhm. Okay. >> All right. Does anybody have any objections to this or any other questions? >> There's also a photo on the back side of

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that to give some sense of where Yes. price. Oh yeah. Okay. >> Two copies. >> If you're ready for a motion, I've read the letter and I think it's appropriate. Um I would make a motion that we sign it as submitted.

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>> Okay. All right. Could I have a second on that? >> I second it. >> All right. Right. Any further questions on that? We probably up, I guess. >> Go ahead. >> So, we're going to support the letter. >> Mhm. >> Who's signing the letter? Well, it's got

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all of our names on it right now, so that's the question. >> Yeah. >> So, I think the maker of the motion should have been his motion >> to uh have it cause this to be printed on select board letterhead. >> Mhm. >> Right. And sent under the chair's name,

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that the chair sign it on behalf of the select board. >> I accept that as a friendly amendment. >> Okay. And we'll update the date and put it on letterhead. Okay. Y >> Okay. and designating the chair to sign. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Works fine. >> Try to get the four of us together to

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sign something outside of >> I know that's it's difficult. That's true. Okay. Does anybody have any further comment about the amended motion? If not, okay, I'll take a vote on that. >> I >> I All right. So, we will work on that

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here. You can have one of these bags if you want to leave one with us maybe. Scott's got one anyway. So, >> thanks everyone. >> Thanks very much for taking the initiative on that. And uh like I say, it's it seems a bit early, but in reality, time goes fast and it does allow for people to do some planning,

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especially when you've got farm property and you've got, you know, different things that are happening. So, it's a little bit different perhaps. So, thank you for doing that and uh if you have others, just let us know. All right. >> Thanks very much. >> All right. Very good.

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>> Okay. Thanks. Um All right. Next up, I guess go to our draft of the warrant articles so far and see where we are. We have them in our package that was handed out here as well. Scott, you'll put them up. Okay.

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So, I'm gathering that we have got several of them just about done, but there's others that we're waiting on some numbers for. So they aren't really Do you Is your intent that we I It doesn't feel like we can vote on these tonight or I mean >> I mean some of them you can but I mean I

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would after tonight I would send it to Michelle to get the review from the rest of them for town council. So >> um >> so I mean it may mean that we have to have yet another meeting on next Tuesday to do this because we've got to get this >> signed and and ready, right? because

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that would be on the 21st before >> I know but the 21st would be a Tuesday. Your meeting is on the 23rd. So we would have to have this >> Yeah. >> as the warrant anyway to be posted. >> Yeah. >> Posted by the end of that week. Yeah. Right. So all right. Well, let's keep

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that in mind as we go through this because we may have >> double conflict on the 21st already. >> Yeah. Okay. On Tuesday. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> Select board make three. Oh, >> really? Okay. Then maybe Monday the 20th. We'll see. >> That's a >> Oh, Monday's a holiday. Yeah.

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>> School vacation two week two. So, I'll be virtual. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, as long as you don't need a wet signature for me. >> Yeah. We may have to do a Zoom or something on that. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll do that. Okay. So, let's uh lead us through this and see where where we are here.

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>> So, obviously the uh the biggest ones are going to be the budget and the override questions this year. And I asked town council Michelle Randazzo to uh quote keep everything as simple and straightforward as possible. If there's a better easier option, let's do it. So that's that's those were the instructions and that's where we're coming from. As simple and straightforward as possible.

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Unfortunately, if you're talking about quantum physics and stuff like that, sometimes it's just no easy way to talk about it. Sometimes there's just the least worst option. Um so looking at the articles, um there's going to be a multi-step process for uh

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for approving the budget this year. Um if you look at step one, so step one is going to be article one which is going to be the base budget and passing the base budget at town meeting is is really important because if it doesn't get passed is passed over

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or table for whatever reasons uh essential services, you know, will be cut on July 1st regardless of a 112th budget. 112th budget does not equal level services or continued services. So there would be reductions and there would be layoffs both the schools and the town side. Uh there'll be significant confusion throughout the

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town. We're in the middle of an override process as well if there's not going to be a budget that's going to be passed on May 2nd at town meeting. Uh and then it goes to a ballot on May 19th. There's going to be a lot of confusion at the ballot box on what exactly is going to be an override. Um it's further going to destroy employee morale more than it

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already has been. Uh we've already been about 2 months into this budget process with significant cuts with reductions, people losing their livelihood with their jobs having reduced hours, uh dozens of people. uh it will only drag it out more more time that people won't have any answers on what's going to be

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their livelihood. Uh employees are going to start to leave without knowing if funding is going to be approved or not. We we're already tired hearing talks about, you know, senior staff potentially leaving. If there's not going to be a budget and they're not going to have any answers for July 1st, what's the point of sticking around? Um it's going to damage the hopes of the

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override pass. Again, as I mentioned before, if there's not a base budget, then it hurts the argument that we're going to need to have an override to continue on. And it's going to be a major gamble. You know, the the number one primary reason for having an annual town meeting is to pass the financials in the budget. And that's the number one

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goal. If we gamble on passing it later on a special town meeting, if we don't get a quorum, if the weather is bad, if we get 99 people and not not meet the enough people, if something happens and there's confusion, um you know, there's there's a real possibility that we're putting all of our eggs in a basket uh

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if the base budget doesn't pass at the annual town meeting. And essentially, the base budget is exactly that. It's the base budget. You can't add the overrides onto something that doesn't that doesn't exist. So when you look at the uh article

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it's very straightforward. Now the first thing is it's reduced bigger >> sorry it's reduced by the amount of the um Hampshire regional assessment. Uh if the select board votes to go forward that way if they don't want to do a separate article for that then I would

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just simply put that back in. >> So that took out the amount for Hampshire regionals >> into a separate question. >> Yep. Um, so the one thing I wanted to just note is that this does require a twothirds vote. So with the stabilization funds, um, all stabilization funds except for the one

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primary operational one only require a 50% vote. The operational requires a 2/3 vote. Uh, so taking it out, that would, uh, raise the threshold to 2/3. So once the base budget is passed, that's essentially going to be um, step one.

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Now, if the base budget doesn't pass, we're going to have a little bit more of confusion, a little bit of a problem. Things are going to be a little bit more messier at this point. So, step two is going to be the override article. >> Are we going to talk about question one or are we just going through >> the overview first and go back to it?

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Yeah. >> So, with the article two, uh, presenting the article two has two options. The first option one is going to be the $ 1.9 million override and the option two is going to be the $2.5 million override. The motion, and this is coming from town council, uh the motion should

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be if you want, you know, obviously with the to move forward with the the higher one, uh the motion would be for $2.5 million override. Now, if the $2.5 million override passes for that article, the smaller 1.9 is

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automatically. So, that would include it. Now, if it looks like option two will not pass or if it doesn't pass, there's a couple options. People can either amend the 2.5 on the floor to 1.9 million and move forward with that question. So obviously it would take a

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majority to do that and then the 1.9 million would be up or vote and then that would be an up or down vote again. Uh or if the $2.5 million does fail, then it could potentially be reconsidered by the town moderator if allowed. Um town council, there's

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nothing in our bylaws that would uh prohibit that from happening. Uh however, it would be up the town moderator's discretion. So essentially um the motion would be for the higher amount for the art for the second article on the overrides and if the 2.5 million goes forward that would include

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and carry over the 1.9 million. Now one thing I have to say that you have to separate what town meeting does from the ballot questions. Those are two completely separate things. Um what town meeting does is different from what the ballot question does. Now if the overrides are to pass eventually they're

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going to have to match one way or another. So the third step would be obviously Hampshire regional and that would be a separate uh article for that. Um and I can show you the let me just show you the article. So that's the base

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budget article and then what we're looking at is the um override. Now I also want to state that in the warrant I'm going to put this. So this is a synopsis of the uh differences in options A, B, and C. the base budget,

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the 1.9 budget, and the uh $2.5 million budget. So, a lot of towns will include that. So, I will include that as well into the um into the uh second article to show everyone where the money is. I'm also going to be able to print out and also electronically put the whole article, whole budgets A, B, and C to

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make it available as well. And it'll be on file, >> but that would be a handout. It wouldn't be that wouldn't be part of the warrant. >> That would be a separate handout. But this this overview of each of the budgets column by I mean ABC would be an attack or part of the article or >> exactly

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>> written in in there somehow. Yeah. >> Yeah. If I did the whole budget it would be you know 500 pages. >> Right. No. No. >> So but that will show on where the money is going operational and personnel wise. So we'll add that. >> So one thought on that is we should probably have a total on the each of these each of these budgets so they can

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see where the additional money is made. I don't know about that, but okay. So, this is Okay. >> And then the third the biggest obviously another the biggest piece of our budget is the Hampshire regional budget uh which was which would be a separate one

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as article three um with the $6.2 million >> and that was the one that they voted at at the end >> and that's the same across all three budgets. >> Okay. So just back on two for a second because I guess I had been assuming that there would be two separate

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questions for that. Um where where we got confused I think last year was combining combining two things into one article. But as I I went back and relooked at it today we had combined a base and an

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override in the same article which was part of the confusion. So what I'm seeing a little bit differently, it's a little similar, but it's a little different, right? So the base is put out by itself, but then because we have two overrides,

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then we have the choice of both overrides in one question. But you could vote, but what you're saying is people would not vote necessarily at all on the on the one nine unless they made a motion on the floor, >> right? So move forward with the 2.5 and

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if that passes or moves forward, that would encompass the 1.9. If it were to fail or be amended, it could be amended down to the 1.9 and then that could be voted on. >> That could be voted separately. >> Okay. >> So, if there's the first vote is to go for the higher amount and see if that

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encompasses everything. Yeah. And then depending if that passes, then we just move forward to the next article. If it doesn't pass or if it's amended to the 1.9, then obviously it would take a majority for that. So, because I would envision that we would have people that would be maybe okay with, you know, going to an

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override and and maybe that that 1.9, but they may not be willing to go for 2.5. And >> well, are we discussing >> see how they'd have a choice for that? Yeah, John. >> So, that's not quite what I just heard. And if we're going to start with article two, on article two, what I heard is if

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option two, if article two, option two gets approved first, >> Yeah. at 2.5 million >> and you don't vote on the one line >> at town meeting, right? >> But at the ballot, two questions. >> Oh, yeah. No, no. >> So, for those listening at home, >> yeah, you can put the 2.5 forward, which

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merely voting in favor of that merely moves it out of town meeting and allows all registered voters now that we've heard from our town clerk roughly 2 and 1/2 weeks to come in and cast your ballot versus trying to fit this in to meet the 15minute window that we'll

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discuss this at town. Yeah. >> So, >> two separate paths completely in terms of town meeting, >> but it's how we deliver it because >> that needs to be clearly articulated that voting for the 2.5 doesn't say you're not going to get an opportunity for the 1.9 at the ballot. You will get that.

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>> You will at the ballot box, but it wouldn't you wouldn't necessarily get it here at town meeting. The way I'm hearing this, >> right, >> unless somebody said or unless the 2.5 >> doesn't pass at town meeting and somebody amends it on the floor to say we would like a vote on the one nine.

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That is possible to do. >> That's correct. >> And that vote could happen at town meeting. >> Mhm. And then the 1.9 that could be up or down and if neither then >> Yeah. >> And that's what would advance to the ballot. >> So the ballot is completely separate. So you're going to have a second question later on tonight that's on the ballot

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question. um the select board can put any ballot question forward. So the select board is putting forward the override onto the ballot. So that is separate from what town meeting does. Now in order for whatever is voted at the budget at the ballot to be effective, it has to align with what

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town meeting does. So either you can do the town like West Hampton did it before um or most communities do it after. But as they have to align. >> So align define that. I mean, obviously the the numbers are going to be the same, but what do you mean by a line? >> So, if the 2.5 passes at the ballot, but

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not at town meeting. >> So, town meeting could either have another bite at the apple to increase it to the 2.5, but if they don't, then it would still be at the 1.9 or or base budget. >> If the 1.9 passed at the ballot,

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right? Right. If neither passes the ballot, town meetings spent a lot of time job boning and we're back to >> catastrophic. >> We're back to base. >> Yeah. >> Without a separate question, uh, coming

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to conclusion about the regional high school. >> Yeah. And when you're saying another fight at the Apple, >> how would that happen? >> Well, you can see what happened in Hadley. So Hadley, they passed a they went forward with an override. um >> at the bot. At the ballot or town

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meeting? >> Uh at the town meeting and then they went to the ballot and it failed. >> They had a special town meeting. >> Then it went to a ballot and I believe that one failed as well and now they're on their third bite of the apple to make it a line. >> But how many more special town meetings

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did they need to have? >> I know that's sadly, but there's >> Well, I mean, let me request, let me restate this. Did all those votes happen at the single town meeting or did they have to have special town meetings as they went through this process? >> They they had special town meetings. >> Oh, okay. So, back to article one.

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>> Yeah. And so, this I mean our challenge here, let me think. >> I think the issue here is going to be it's not well and I'd like to hear from the moderator because normally you can't amend. Are we going to be able to if option I

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guess we take this backwards. It's going to be posted article two. Option two for the first vote. >> It would be article one as the base is the first. >> No, we're past article one. We're on article two now. >> Article two. >> Article two. Option two will be the first vote. >> So the body should that be reversed in terms of how it's printed up there or

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>> uh I mean that would be the the motion would be article the option two would be >> article two. Option two is the motion >> is the first motion. Okay. >> And if that if that passes, we're on to the next article. If it fails, let's not even talk about amending yet. If it

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fails, do we have to do we have to have a written amendment ready to file because we can't amend anything on the floor unless we have two copies. >> You can either amend it if it looks like it's going to fail or you can ask for reconsideration depending on the moderator.

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>> So, but it is still our policy. >> So, what does a reconsideration mean and need from us? Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. As long as you ask the other question too >> of the could the moderator approach the podium through the chair. >> Sorry.

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>> Yeah. So tell us how you see this happening. Could usually we don't do uh people have got to have a >> this is new to me. >> Two copies >> and new to structure for town moderators. This is a new system. >> Yeah. So two copies would have to be in writing to do any kind of amendment on the floor. That's always been the

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>> that's according to our bylaw. >> Right. Okay. And reconsideration would mean what? >> Reconsideration is tricky. Reconsideration is usually when something was overlooked the first time it was voted on or something has changed and somebody

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forgot to tell us. Like one time the water department they voted it down and the water department representative stood up and said that means nobody has water in three days or something like that. So we reconsidered the article but it needs to be reconsidered for a reason.

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Southampton's philosophy. >> Would we be better to do article two option two on its own and then article 2a option one? And if if the fir if the 2.5 passes then we could just take no

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action on the next one. >> We don't need anything for one. >> We don't need any. Right. >> Versus being having to be prepared to have two written amendments to get them in. Follow. >> Well, the structure John the structure set up. So having the amendments beforehand is, you know,

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>> you could have formality amendments ready for the nine just in case >> and certainly would allow the amendment for that. >> I mean, I think we'd go in with that prepared and not >> Yeah. >> not sit there and do it at the last minute. But I guess I was curious why in

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option one, why wouldn't option one, Scott, be the first, the 2.5? Why why is the lawyer recommending it that way? It seems just a little bit backwards. >> Just a miracle. I can I'm sure I can >> but it does need to be explained very

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well by everyone. So there's no confusion. Everybody's on the same page, >> right? >> So people can so say the 2.5 is is really option one just reversed from what you have. >> So people would vote on that. People

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could vote it up or down. If it passes, we're fine and we don't need to vote on the one nine. >> Right. >> Right. >> Because it's already encompassed in there. That I'm just repeating what I think I heard because every five minutes. >> Yeah, that's what I understand too.

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>> Okay. Um and then if if the 2.5 did not pass as the first option, do we then go to option? So you it's not a menu item. So you have to amend it before it doesn't pass or reconsider

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>> or rec. So you can't just go if it doesn't. So that's my question. If the 25 doesn't pass, >> I'd rather have article two option two article and then the very next article article two option one. >> So there was a reason >> they tried to do that with town council and that you cannot do it that way. This

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is the way that um town council >> then they make it cumulative and the override would be four point something million. No, but >> that's according to their logic. >> We wouldn't allow if the if article if the 2.5 passes, we would not allow a vote on the 1.9. It would stop. We would

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cast that. Correct. So now it's not cumulative. The max is 2.5 and then separately the ballot breaks it into two separate. >> Well, technically there's something about now allowing if you read the motion for that 1.9 million. There could

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be a movement on the floor to want it vote on and debate it and pass it. Oh, yeah. I I do think you're going to get a lot of people there with amendments to amend appendix B and appendix C that we've got to get through. >> I was trying to think of this >> total dollar amounts. It's going to be

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the buckets that the money goes into. >> I was trying to think of this as an Asian menu, one from column A, one from column B, but it's not working. >> Mhm. Yeah. I mean I think the challenge because I think you had said that you had tried that with the legal and they they were saying that if you separate

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them out because that's that's why I had thought it was going to be article two and then an article three for so each of these >> but according to what advice we have from legal by having those separate out >> and each article stands on it >> cumulative number so we definitely don't want that >> but so John you were saying article 2

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and 2a as as part of that article is that what you're saying >> well what what I just heard Scott say and again I'm only going off of what what he's saying is that if during the course of discussion >> on the 2.5

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>> the reading of the room which >> right >> just leave it the way it is the reading of the room somebody needs to decide oh okay I really don't think this is going to pass now we need to reconsider or amend it it's so we're not even potentially even going to

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allow a vote on the floor on This >> is what I just heard. >> I don't like the answer from town council one bit. I think there must be another way to solve this problem. Now, I know it's hundreds of years of

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town meeting history and law. >> Massachusetts law is not >> and I do not have a law degree. >> This is a new procedure that I have not seen in over 20 years in town moderator gavvel line. Well, I think if I hear Scott's representation of what town

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council says, it's not really option one and two. Option one >> is a reference because we've spoken about that kind of a lower threshold in the community. But procedurally,

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town council says we can't do except by >> I won't call it subtrafuge, but this odd process where we have to be prepared, >> but they're they're saying that yeah, the 25 you you'd go with a higher one first. Different from the different from the ballot box. The ballot is going to

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be two separate questions, >> of course, >> each on its own merit, right? But >> and it's obvious 25 includes the one nine, right? And see this is when as we've done this before we we've never had two override

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>> numbers in >> to my knowledge at least while I've been on select board we've had an override right >> but we've had one number we haven't had two override numbers >> and so that was our challenge if you recall >> I think coming out of the of the budget task force we were recommending one override but we've ended up with two and

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so that's why this has gotten I think more complicated the way this is looking to me but >> but the solution is that it can be reconsidered just that this moderator has not had time to think about that until this evening. >> But under the circumstances, the moderator could allow reconsideration.

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>> But what does what does a a person in the audience have to say? Do they have to have a piece of paper? Do they >> No, just want to reconsider the article and then make an reconsider the vote and then make an amendment that I can work out with Scott. >> But that's after the vote. >> Reconsideration only takes place after

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vote. >> Okay. versus withdrawing the motion >> and making a new motion for the 1.9. >> Uh-huh. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Wouldn't we almost expect an amendment

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from the floor to specifically one nine or >> hopefully nothing other than that and that on itself as an amendment would pass or fail. >> We don't have a history of that. That's certainly possible and plausible, but we

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don't have a history of our budget being amended on the floor. >> Yeah. >> The override amount being amended on the floor so that it can fail so you can go back to the original motion. >> I mean, it sounds like normal course

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except for the subject matter. >> Well, it's easier to do when you've got one override. I don't know if you how you do it with two overrides. I think that's where >> No, exactly what Stephen just said, right? You make the mo you make the motion for 2.5 and if you feel it needs to go to 1.9 it get the the motion is

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amended. It's seconded. Then we vote on >> the amendment the amendment. >> If the amendment fails we're back to the 2.5 for consideration. >> Correct. >> Mhm. >> Is this the one? >> The ballot question we can't add any language but the article questions we

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can put summaries and positions in. Right. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Right. So, and >> yeah, this is just the article itself. So, we'll have the motion written out hopefully more clearly and a summary. Yeah. >> Well, the summary, this is this one is where the summary really needs to be specific. >> Y

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>> and that, you know, again, going with the 2.5 >> the result of if that's favorable, the result will be there will be two single separate standalone ballot questions. >> Mhm. that I think that's the key because voting at town meeting isn't saying yes

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I I may not support the 2.5 but I'll support it at town meeting to get it to the ballot right versus the 100 people voting on it let the 3200 registered voters vote on it >> and I I think that's the messaging for town meeting piece >> and as long as the motion is in the four

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corners of the article and within the scope of the article then the motion can be very >> explanatory Sorry. >> Mhm. >> So for clarity, I would like to see

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option one, appendix B kind of deep six except as a historical note and a thank you to the finance task force and that could be in the summary as well.

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So, uh, let's play let's let's talk that one through because if >> the 2.5 is approved, we're we're moving on to the next article, right? >> Yeah. >> Article >> the still. So, as long as the overwrite

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as long as the ballot at the ballot box, if one of those passes and it is the 2.5 million and change or less, it takes effect. Scott. Yep. If the ballot so town meeting sets at 2.5,

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>> anything up to that level. >> Yep. And the ballot either approves 1.9 or 2.5, that would be in effect. >> So if if at the ballot the one nine got the most votes >> if not the most votes, if 1 nine passes

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and 2.5 does not pass >> at town meeting. >> At the bottom remember the ballot are two separate unique questions. >> Okay. Okay. So, town meeting town meeting passes the 2.5. >> Yep. >> Then it's up to the voters, >> right? And at the at the ballot 25 2.5

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>> fails. >> Mhm. Then the maximum that can go up is the 1.9. >> But one 1.9 is the is the alternative. >> Because that's the other question that we've approved to be on the ball. >> Two separate two separate questions there. >> Okay. I think

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>> but we're looking at never explicitly doing one nine at town meeting. Correct. Just parson 25. >> This is why that has to still stay there to show people that it's part of this. This is why these this column across shows what's added each time. So I

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wouldn't I would >> because it's going to be deep. >> Would you move it over to the ballot discussion, not the annual town meeting warrant discussion? >> Yeah. >> Correct. >> Well, >> I mean, >> yeah, at the ballot. Yeah. Okay. I mean,

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>> that number isn't going to come up in the normal course >> at the ballot. Those two numbers will be there. Yes. But not >> we keep going back and we we agree. >> Yeah. But at at town meeting I think the voters have to see okay here's your base budget. Here's what happens with 1 nine.

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Here's what's added and here's 25 the other stuff that's n without a amended motion. >> But under the summary of this article >> mhm >> that could be in great detail. >> Should 25 pass >> the following two questions will be on

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the ballot. Yeah. Appendix B for 1.9 or C for the 2.5 or whatever. >> Yep. I agree. I agree. >> And referencing John's concern a couple meetings ago, the moderator will allow discussion of the three budgets, two overrides in the basic budget at the same time

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>> because it's complex. >> Yes. >> And we have to just get very very very clear on the summary part of this, right? >> Yep. Teamwork. Well, in the process, right? Because

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>> well, it's not even what we'd imagined before this meeting. >> Yeah. No, I had imagined two separate >> right separate articles. >> And we want to be clear >> even as we may challenge >> some of the things we're assuming or hearing is

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>> law. Well, I have I have a question. I >> I have a question on appendix A, B, and C. >> Mhm. >> I just want to make sure I understand this. Yeah. >> So just between A and B >> Mhm.

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>> So if A passes >> Mhm. >> the Let this go for information technology because it's the first line that's on both sides. >> Yep. >> What does that 139450 mean? >> Is that a cut to existing or is that the dollar amount that they would be funded?

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>> That's the dollar amount they would be funded. And the 152 300 is not in addition to the 139. >> It's the new number in a >> Yeah, it would be the new number. It wouldn't be added to the 139. Right. >> That's right.

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>> Yeah. Right. So, >> so it' be another 12,000 or or whatever. >> So, that's what I think needs to be. I think it needs to be the step up. >> Uhhuh. >> Versus the 152. >> Oh, I see. >> I think it's clear. Hey, if A passes, you get $139,450.

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Yeah. >> If if uh B passes, I know you get 152, but it's it's really 11,000. >> So, you want to show the additional amount rather than the >> Well, it's almost how you're layering it. >> Yeah. >> From a numbers guy, that makes more

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sense to me. But >> if this makes more sense to everybody else, >> okay, >> my only concern is DLS. If you show like it's only a $12,000 increase, then you're going to say, "Oh, well, they actually voted for a $12,000 budget, not a $156,000 budget. Yeah,

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>> which doesn't make sense to me. I think what you said makes the most sense, but when you're dealing with DLS, >> did did we did you create this or is this what the lawyer? Yeah. So, I mean, could appendants be have two columns. Here's the additional money which gives

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you this total. >> You know, insert the number next to >> you can split the column a little bit and just put in, you know, plus 12,000 or something before you get to the 152. And >> if it doesn't look too busy. >> Yeah, I know.

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>> That's my concern. >> I mean, but I see what you say. People might, if I'm hearing this, people might assume that, you know, it's it's 139 plus 152, which is definitely not the case, right? So >> I mean >> well and all the dashes mean carry

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forward the prior number but then it doesn't appear to total. I think that it needs to be re imagined. I mean we understand the data is right but I don't think it's communicated right. Not for John, not for me.

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>> The only thing I can think of would be to split the column a little bit. You know have a a a smaller piece in in B and C that shows the you know plus whatever plus 12,000 plus 80,000 I >> I think we know what truth we need to

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convey but it's >> there's a whole art form for okay >> conveying numbers and changes >> we can talk about that and figure that out a little bit better maybe but that's a point yeah okay >> all right >> can I just say something Chris hey >> I just want to make a suggestion that

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you eyes really get this clear information out to people because there's a lot of wondering out there and please try to push hard for meeting next week either Wednesday or Thursday if I need to come

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in and witness signatures or whatever. >> I I really want to post this on next week. >> So, please decide on a good date. >> We'll work on it. Yeah. Got to get all the together. >> Okay. So that's where we are with that.

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Okay. And then back on article one, you want to go back to that. So this is the base budget that was the basically matching the revenue at about the 22 million if I'm remembering. So now this takes out the 6 million

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something for HRHS to be its own separate vote. Okay. So then this is everything else minus that. So 15 million. >> Okay. >> So So my my

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>> question >> on this is and maybe it's going to show up somewhere else on this page. But as Scott, you alluded to a two-thirds vote for this article and it's what cuz we're relying on like 38,000 or something.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. >> From stabilization, but where 60 >> where are we telling the people that other than this is a 2/3 vote? Is it down here? >> That's in the appendix in the revenue section of the budget.

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>> Uh I have two. Well, I have double expenses. >> I don't see any revenues. at least on what was printed out for us tonight. >> That's the base budget. >> So, it wasn't allocated to any specific department or line at this

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point in time. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. No, it's it's listed in the other sources in the revenue section >> just to get to that 15 million and change. >> It's in the in the revenue sign. Okay. And I can make note of it in the the mo in the uh column as well.

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>> Yeah. But it's not that 63,000 or whatever it is. It's not included in column A here. >> Or is it >> correct? Because what we have here is just expenses. >> Those are expenses. >> Those are that's in the revenue side, >> right? Okay. >> Yeah.

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So, and because we needed to figure out how to balance this and what we came up with was using the 60,000 out of operational stabilization that is normally that is required that we have a 2/3 vote on that >> whereas normally this would be just a majority vote for the base. Is that

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right? >> Right. >> So, do we do the same thing? Do we have a an A, B and C for revenue >> to provide the public? >> Right. The appendix for B and C are are similar except for B and C there's no use of stabilization fund

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right but you already you you have this for the revenue >> right >> this is the expense one but you have you just showed us that version in revenue >> right that's in each budget >> Mhm. >> Right. But I'm saying for the for the public at town meeting, is it possible

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we get another two-pager? >> Here's expense. Here's revenue. Right. Because then that calls out that number down the bottom. >> Mhm. >> Which >> Yeah. Because at the very bottom, you're coming out to your 22 million or whatever, right? Total

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>> right there. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So that's coming out because of the base budget because we put that amount in from stabilization. Then in the the revenue side for the 1 nine and for the 25, we're going to see that bottom number there too, which is going to match the number the one nine

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figure and the 25 figure that people are seeing in the article number two and it'll be the same number as what's on the ballot. >> Right. So in options B and C, the override would go here, >> right? >> Obviously with the no override, there's no override, >> right? Yeah.

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So this is the base budget with no override but using the stabilization. Yeah. And so for the revenue side of those two. So yeah, I think we need to have >> because I mean >> it is what it is. I mean >> I don't know where you're going to find

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another 60,000. But the the fact is by voting to create that base budget and if nothing else is passes >> Mhm. We're already $60,000 in the hole for next year because the operational money is not replacing itself. >> Quite true.

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>> Yep. Not ideal >> process question. I know this is all integral to the base budget, but you've got two quanta of vote required and I thought you had to separate out questions

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>> rather than promote them. >> Yeah. All the all three budgets require this and the overrides all require twothirds now. >> And I am questioning >> the base budget. >> All the other budgets are at 51%. >> Including >> at town meeting.

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>> No, >> the only budget that relies on stabilization is the base budget. The other two rely on >> I understand that. But to pass town meeting, do they not need a twothirds vote? >> Only the base budget. >> I thought the overrides did too. No. >> Um I'll have to double I'll double check. I have >> I thought they did. Sorry if I'm

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confused. >> I have to Yeah. >> At the ballot box, I understand the majority, but I thought at town meeting >> the other two already had to have a twothirds vote and we're we're jumping the base from a majority to a 2/3 because we're putting in the

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stabilization fund. That's how I'm understanding if that's wrong. >> So the the base budget it's 2/3 because the use of stabilization and then you're asking for the state for the overrides if that if the threshold for an override is 50% 51 or 2/3. I lost you right there. 51 at at

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>> It's a two-step process. At town meeting, all we're asking is for permission to place budget B and C before the voters at a ballot. That's 51%. Cuz we're not approving a number. It's not it's not a revenue approval, >> but Select Board's going to be the one

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putting it up on the ballot before town meeting. you >> I mean I think >> well we are for printing reasons but if if it doesn't pass the town meeting there's no sense in voting on it because it's it's a dead question but the it

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goes to town meeting you ask for permission to go before all the voters that's 51%. Once those get on the ballot it's 51%. >> Right. But I I thought the vote for an override had to be the twothirds vote at town meeting. Twothirds of those that are in attendance. That's

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>> is that debt exclusion only? >> Maybe. Okay, I could be wrong. >> I do agree that the the base, >> yeah, simple majority. >> Okay, >> I do agree that the base needs a 2/3 because the stabilization money is in there as a revenue source. >> Yeah. Okay. >> The only way to get that money out of

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stabilization is by a two-thirds vote. >> Yeah. No, >> does that not need to become article one to set up artic the base budget as drafted? >> No, it's included in there already. It'll be part of the motion. >> That's the problem. If if we approve the

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stabilization fund use at 60,000, >> we've already voted on that. That is our base budget. We did that. We voted on that >> at Select Work. We This is the budget we've put forward. That's what's been published out there. >> We We voted on this, >> but it it's not real until the voters

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>> I know, but this this has got the stabilization in it from from what we did after the budget task force. We were charged to balance that budget and restore as much as we could. >> Yep. >> To Norris and did that and all we were stuck >> for the base budget.

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>> We're still stuck with six >> because of the transfer and for the either of the two overrides wherever we end up. Uh simple majority >> I guess I thought >> with no reliance on. >> Okay.

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>> Well, okay. Here we go. It's not getting any simpler. >> Yep. And this is supposed to be the simple version. And I don't know if it would have been simpler if we only had one override. That was my fear is that we're going to get ourselves in complicated things. >> We have some explaining, but we have one

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override. >> Uh we have two ballot questions. >> We have two amounts for an override. >> We sure do. >> Okay. We were trying to do just one from the budget task force, but we ended up with two. So that's why we're having to parse this out in >> some crazy language here. But okay. So I

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think we're Is everybody on the same wavelength of what we are so far here? >> I >> I will I will agree that I understand the philosophy and where you two are trying to drive this. >> Yes. >> Okay. Well, we start with a base and then we go for an override and then

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we've got Hampshire Regional pulled out. >> So So does the sect board want to treat Hampshire regional budget as a separate article? >> We've talked about it. I don't have any particular reason not to, but I mean what happens

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when we what happens with that then? How does that scenario play out? Is this part of what John scenario is if that shoots down here? We have a base budget of 15 million and that's all we've got. >> Y >> and then they've got the month or two 10 days two weeks to come back with a new

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budget. Is that right? >> Well, one other community has cut it down. Right. But if if if if Southampton is the only community that does one of two things, either takes no action on it

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or votes it down, we we're still obligated to pay the 6.2 million until another community does a similar action, >> right? >> And we're the first town up. >> That was just a town meeting. >> Those are the separate is not the is not

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the authority to approve any budgetary items. It's not until West Hampton's town meeting approves or does not. >> So the um >> Right. So I mean again my recommendation is going to be that we p we pass we take

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no action on this article. I mean, it's my recommendation here that we keep it as a separate article because that keeps it cleaner, which was part of the issue two years ago >> when we pulled out the the money and then we had funded with stabilization

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and now we're done a debt repayment plan. But the um I think it needs to be separate. It's it's a different elected body who puts this question before us. It's not coming from the select board. We're required to put it to the town to the legislative body for an up or down

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vote >> and that's what we're doing. >> And if if it votes okay at town meeting then it's it's done irrespective of what any other community does >> unless two other communities vote it down. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> And if it happened to fail at town

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meeting for us, we have to still wait for another community to knock it down. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Right. But we've secured the funding so we we can pay that 6.2. too because we backed it off of our revenues, >> right? >> I mean, that's that's where I think we fell apart one other time, right? We

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didn't pull that money aside. >> We had it in the same question. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> So then if this happens to make it all the way through, then at the end we end up just recombining this into the base budget. Is that the idea? >> No, >> it stands alone.

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>> It stands alone. So, >> which is fine. >> I mean, we still have our county could approve it or not approve it. >> Yeah. Right. But we still have our total total base budget to start with. >> I mean, the the total minus the 6

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million. >> And if if unless another community, two other communities shoot it down, >> Yeah. >> we'd still be on the hook for 6.2. Right. >> Right. which we would have. >> I'd have to check with town council then

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to make sure it doesn't require an affirmative action of town meeting. >> So this gets up to where I wanted to start with article one but now we're article four here. I think the whether we do it now because it's appropriate that we're talking about it so I think

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it come up or we do it under other action. I think we need a calendar we need a placeholder in the calendar in June for a special town meeting. Mhm. >> We need we need to set that date on when it's going to be. >> Um so that a we secure it at Norris because more I would suggest June 20th.

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It's a Saturday after school ends but before the recess that at least should should this particular article start failing through multiple municipalities. It gives the Hampshire Regional School Board a line. Hey, we've got this date

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coming up. They have to do it within 10 days. We're giving them 15 or 20 day window to do it. >> Yeah. And I I would just suggest I I don't disagree with you. I think we can do that on on the next meeting. Just set a date. Just take a look and see what dates are. >> You don't want to set one tonight. >> Well, I didn't actually put that on the

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agenda to do tonight. >> Well, it's I know >> any other necessary business that cannot wait until the regular schedule >> would be considered an emergency. >> Would be considered an emergency. >> Okay. So, this is an issue if because I

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brought this up before and if if non me if members of the board who are not chairs can't get things added to the agenda when they're brought to both the chair and the town administrator's attention prior to the publication of the agenda. >> Didn't realize you wanted it on the agenda, John. Sorry. >> Well,

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okay. >> If we meet next week, I mean, we still got time. We're going to have to meet next week to vote on articles. So, we still got time to put it on the agenda. I I don't see what the fear is of of picking a date and putting the residents on notice other than the fact that we're going to run into some time clock issue

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here and then we're going to say, "Well, no, we can't do it. So, let's go back and get these things passed." >> For the sake of the audience at home or in the room, I have the sense also that as this plays out, we will likely by law

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and process need a special town meeting. We can't set the date perhaps, but can you explain what triggers that just so it's really clear >> to me or Chris? >> Yeah. No, John, I think because it revolves around the school budget issue.

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>> Why do you expect that we will need in the annual town uh special? >> Why I think two again this is my thought process is I think question one and question four are going to be the controversial ones. I don't think it's the it's the override, not at town

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meeting, but you know, the override's going to go to the ballot and then we'll see what that is. But I think because of the data points that are missing and will not be known to us until potentially 24 hours before the town meeting, I don't see how we can act on a

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base budget when the day before we are just going to have open enrollment closed. Is that we going to have a $400,000 deficit that we have to make up? Are we going to have a $400,000 credit? that could be applied somewhere. Not knowing that data point the day before we vote and not having that data

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with us on top of this, I think it doesn't make any sense for me to to vote to support a base budget >> or the Hampshire one without those numbers. >> No matter what whether that scenario happened, we still have only 22 million or whatever in revenue. We can't do

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anything else. What we would have to do would be I assume then if we had a major change in in the insurance as your example >> say there's a credit >> we'd have to come back and do some readjustment within those budget lines >> right >> and have a special town meeting.

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>> Yes. >> So let's just get it on the books for June so I get it. >> I mean I you suggested the 20th. We can certainly take a look at that as a possible date. I mean I don't know if that's too far out or too far in. I don't know. I mean, if

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>> Well, to Scott's point, I do think that >> after the town election. So, >> well, yes, but the last community to vote on the Hampshire regional budget is the first week in June. >> So, say if I want to say it's Williamsburg, but maybe it's not, but whoever that last one is, if that's the community that votes it down and

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triggers it, that starts the 10day clock. >> 10 day from there. Okay. So, it's not the 10 days from the next one that votes it down. It's 10 days from It could be the last community. Yeah. It could be any community in any order that votes it down. Correct. Well,

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>> so keep Hampshire Regional separate, >> I think. So, yeah. Are we all in agreement to keep Hampshire Regional separate? >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Okay. We'll keep it separate and we'll look at possibly do this. >> Next up is the uh enterprise um budgets,

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transfer station budget and the water department budget. They're separate because they're enterprise accounts. They're not from the general fund. And we're still waiting on numbers from the water. >> Yeah, I have them from Brett today and I just have to input them. >> Uh, next one would be any transfer from

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pre-cache operational stabilization >> and transfer any from OPED? >> Are we going to have free cash or should we just strike those articles? >> Is there any free cash? Do we anticipate it? >> More than likely not. Probably won't be that much if there is.

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>> Well, whatever there is, we should put it there. I mean what you said that Bradley and Megan are >> right at the point of final reconciliation. >> So we should have it at least the a number whatever that is right we'll know that I mean I favor leaving it in even

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if it's minimal and I think it's part of our normal process >> but is is it anticipated that we'll know that >> by the time we vote next week? Yeah. Should Yes. Depending if DLS how quickly they turn do the turnar around. >> Yeah. >> We normally spread

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>> Monday sorry Monday being a holiday they're going to have to get it in like this week. >> Sorry. >> Correct me if my memory is wrong because it probably is. But I thought that we routinely whether by bylaw that's the

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question or custom allocate x% to each of those funds out of free cash. Now, we may be dividing by zero, but are we paying attention to our bylaw? >> That that's what Scott has set up to do it. And then he applies the calculation.

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>> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Next up is elected official salaries. Um, as you see with the other question with the uh transition to the appointed treasurer, I'll explain the zero later on. >> But on this one though, well,

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I think this is where it it would be appropriate to add in the section as to why I'm right in here. >> Well, whether you want to do that in a different order, I don't know depending on the question. >> Um, I'm trying to keep all the budgetary

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items together. Yeah, understand. Uh the next one is transfer free cash to the Hampshire Regional School. This is the three-year contract. I have to double check the 150, but this is a three three-year contract that we owe uh at the Hampshire Regional for the payback from three or four years ago >> when we

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had the problem at town meeting last time. >> So, this was like a three-year agreement, was it not? Or something like that. >> Year two. >> We paid last year some >> This is year two. So, next year we're going to have >> a similar amount and that's the end of our payback to them. So that's what we're, you know,

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we don't need to be in that situation again. It's mine. >> Oh my goodness. And talk about being out of our control. I mean, we've had our own challenges with staff turnover, accounting accuracy, but this is absolutely remarkable.

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>> Well, and the fact that we rely on them for central office services. I I don't I don't disagree with you, Stephen, but that error was caused on the town side. Now, it it was it was a year-end journal

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entry. So, some payroll wages should have got acrewed. It it got missed. I I do believe it was an honest mistake. >> That's why we're only in year two because we already did that other thing that I described. Yeah, >> both are general, I believe. Anyway,

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>> uh the next one would just be amending last year is borrowing for the highway heating system. We need to add a vaporizer which is about $25 to $27,000. So, this would be the final part of it. So, it's to increase >> fix the second $30,000 that's in there.

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>> So, this would be adding on to what we'd already approved for borrowing because we've got a new piece of equipment that we need. >> Right. Exactly. Uh the next up would be the citizens petition to reduce the community preservation search charge. >> Excuse me.

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>> Um still working on this one. But the next would be to adopt the ADA or the commission on disability according to the mass general law as suggested from our ADA report. >> Yeah, that was due to the self-evaluation ADA report that we got. before we can take any action and form a

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committee, we have to actually adopt the the law regarding that. >> Uh the next one would be repealing the capital improvement committee bylaw and then that would be immediately followed by the amending the finance committee bylaw and incorporating the duties and

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responsibilities of the capital into the finance committee. >> There are four different ones that the bylaw committee recommended there. The next one would be to eliminate the town caucus. >> So

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yeah, do we need registered? Yeah. Is there a number of registered voters that are required or >> for you to pull on the nomination papers? Is there a minimum number? Um >> it's it's usually the amount that the

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voter the turnout for the governor vote is like say we have 3100 it would be 31 um >> 1% >> 1% of the turnout on the on the former previous governor's election.

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>> Okay. >> So some back up there Scott sorry just for a second. So we're crossing out some of the We're crossing out reference to the caucus >> and just keeping it with nominating papers.

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>> No more caucus. >> Okay. >> Is what that's saying. >> Okay. >> Can I Well, I just want to know let you know that there's only 25 municipalities out of the 351 towns in

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Massachusetts that have a caucus. >> So, that can be part of the summary. >> Okay. Sure. Yeah. Okay. >> But it was only a 17-minute caucus. >> That's true. >> I'm just saying. >> And you have record numbers.

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>> Maybe they like it. Okay. Yeah. And then we have an amendment. Yeah. >> Yep. Next is amendment to wetlands protection bylaw. >> There's basically just one big section at the end number five that they were asking. Uh there's a small small uh strikeout in the beginning, but one

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section of here was to do things during the winter time that they were asking for that are being spec specified that you know if they had a request to do a an NOI or an RDA or something during the winter time that things cannot be acted on from October to April with snow on the ground or the

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ground is frozen. >> They could be acted on but they can't well actually they wouldn't do that. They might not even delineation. Yeah. And this is recommended I think uh by D policy as well. So they wanted to actually >> absolutely >> include that more specifically in there.

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So that's really the change. >> Next up is the transition from elected to appointed treasur collector. Uh currently national law there has to be a 60-day uh span between the annual town meeting and the election and the annual town election. So, um, if it was voted

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on this town meeting, it would not take effect until the next annual town election if approved. Uh, what I asked town council to do is add a section that would allow, uh, pending legislative approval to go on to the November ballot >> to avoid having to wait till May of

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2027. >> 27. >> Yeah. Uh, next up is unpaid accounts from the previous fiscal year. Um, the transfer of enterprise fund. So, this is the $60,000 that we discovered

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last town meeting. Nor one more step is that we actually have to transfer now into the actual account from water department into the grant account to zero it out. >> So, this was refreshment. This was this was paid by the town but should have been paid by the water department.

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>> That's correct. >> So this is reimbursing us to make that grant full. >> So it was already approved but now in order to transfer it into the account it has to be approved by town meeting again. >> And so and we we took a ding on this right. So once this is all done

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>> Yep. >> Does it come back out? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Next up is the uh health department transfer funds from the revolving account. So from two years ago, we still have the revolving account funds. Um that is in limbo for purgatory right now

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until the town meeting action. This would transfer it from that um revolving account into uh the health department line item. >> Why why are we doing that? >> Uh this is for the uh consultant that we

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hire as well. So, this would uh continue to pay the consultant. >> But isn't the consultant paid out of 10 out of the revolving account? >> No, the revolving account was discontinued last year. It was a line item. >> We didn't have it last year. We did it two years ago

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>> and then we put them back in the budget last year, >> the consultants back in the budget. >> We did. >> Um, next up is the uh CPC um programming. So, we have the annual budget for CPC. We have uh $20,000 for gravestone

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restoration. Each one I I asked if we could combine them, but we have to do them separately. So, Scott, could you back up to the very top, please? Um, debt service. Just thought there are outstanding

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obligations bonds that are serviced by the CPA funds. It looks like a bond payment at 68 Pomeroy Meadow Road 48, >> want to call call that out. So that's a

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20-year obligation with about 15 left to run less than you remember better than I wasn't in town yet. So I mean it was only it was when that property on on Palmer Meadow was acquired you know the closest one to the school um >> that one

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>> the smaller waterershed area that's been since my time been within the last 5 years so >> no before my 5year time >> so right in right in there so maybe 14 years left to go >> I don't know how long >> but that outstanding obligation relies

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on the continued income Then we have the CDC for increase and restoration. We have the cabin house for painting. Uh funding for the affordable housing

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trust that was just established. Um for the trail improvements um match for this is the match for the greenway for the bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike bike path that we're continuing to move forward >> the new grant that was put in issue >> and then um the purchase of the triple

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property that would be contingent on the grant >> and that one is totally contingent on getting a grant though right so if the grant is does the grant cover the whole thing on that or is that a portion Not the holes. >> I have to I'll check with Mark

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>> 198 there. It's a difference about 60 grand. >> Yeah, it's the same. There's little left over. >> Okay. So, they would be applying for the land grant on that. Yeah. >> And then they'll cost me

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So, but we just moved some something out of revolving for the consultant for health. >> That was two years ago. >> So, we're not putting any in there this year. >> Mhm. >> So, there was some residual from that that we can still access, >> right?

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>> But that requires a town meeting. >> I see. Is that all that was in there left? So those are the >> pulling up the cushions and looking for nickels. >> And that's those are the articles.

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>> How many are there? >> Got a number of those. We're probably around 25ish. I'm going to guess. We got a number them obviously. Um so something like that. >> It's closer to 30, but >> it might be. Yeah. Well, actually

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>> look here. Anybody have any questions? You want to go back and look at any one in particular? So, the reason that we can't I mean this we're not there's no more articles to come. We don't believe we've missed any. >> I don't think that we're aware of >> this is everything that we should have

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on here for this meeting. So, there's nothing more to come. We I guess I was telling Scott I wasn't ready to to vote on anything because we didn't have final numbers in this as as much as we can get more numbers. I know we've put in in the past we put in placeholders on the free cash if we didn't have the free cash,

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but we need to do something to try and get those numbers. So, I'm hoping that by the time we do vote, we'll have real numbers and this is this is the way it is. So, 1 2 3. >> We will meet next week.

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>> 8 9 10. Um, it's 17. >> You want to do minutes? >> Yeah. Just uh question. >> We got to go to the ballot questions first. And so while we're talking about that, do we want to while we're on this, do we want to set a a day for our meeting next week while we're doing this

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while we're to come back to this because at some point Fincom has got to meet their schedule too to do their blessing or not on the on the financial articles for but that's they don't need it for us to post the warrant but at some point they will have to schedule us a time. So

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if the Could we So the 21st by Zoom, Stephen, is that work at all? No. >> Um >> John, >> if if that's the only time I'll make it work, but >> yeah, 21st I'm away

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>> and available by Zoom or not? >> On tw Not on 21st. >> Not on the 21st. >> 20th is a holiday. How people feel about that? >> The 22nd, right? 6:00. >> Well, the moderator's on the 23rd, I

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think. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Well, I think the Concom is going ahead with the meeting on Monday the 20th. >> No, they're not. >> Oh, they're not. >> How about the 22nd, Wednesday? I guess we certainly have to do this by Zoom,

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but >> can we is I mean, >> yeah, >> 22nd is better for me for sure. >> Well, you're going to be working. I was going to say, could it be a different time of the day? Would that help anybody? Or >> Wednesday, I'm back in town in the evening. >> Oh, sorry. >> Wednesday, I'll be back in town. >> You'll be back in the evening.

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>> Okay. All right. >> I probably after 2:00. So, >> so we might hybrid in or something, Stephen, if you're >> family in town. >> Yeah. >> On Wednesday. So, I'll probably be available or I'll make myself available is what I'm trying to say.

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We make this the only agenda item is to vote on the Warren articles. >> I thought we were going to also talk about a special date for the to special town election. >> I'm just but but not Oh yes, we are but not anything else beyond that. Nothing beyond that. We're not going to do you know a whole full agenda.

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>> Okay. So if that were it shouldn't take that long is my point. That's what I was trying to say. >> Want to do at 4:30 right at the end of the day for town hall employees. >> Um work right. Oh, >> I'm at I work from home on Wednesdays. I can I can >> All right. Maybe 4:30 on Wednesday. We

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can try that. >> Okay, let's try that. >> Robert, when's your session again? >> Thursday. Thursday. >> Thursday. >> Thursday. >> Okay. All right. Well, that might might work out. Okay. All right. Very good. All right. So, thank you, John. All

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right. So, we will pick up next on the Ballot approval. >> Scott, go for it. We have the language in front of us here. >> Yep. So, this is the standard basic language approved by town council. It does include some instructions that that have been used statewide as well and again approved by town council. Um,

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again, this is uh it is two questions. The highest one that is approved prevails. So if the 1.9 is approved and the 2.5 is not, the 1.9 prevails. If the 2.5 is approved, then

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that prevails. If neither is voted majority, then both fail. >> So those are the ballot questions as as is. You need to put 2026 on there. July 1, 2026. >> July one.

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>> All right. So you may vote for or against each question independently. Each question requires a majority of those voting on that question to pass. If more than one passes, the question with the highest dollar amount will prevail. Okay.

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>> Move to approve. >> Okay, I'll have a second. >> Second. Okay. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I All right. All right. And so by that approval, this will be the these will be the ballot this will be the ballot

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language for Lucy then, right? >> Yeah. >> Great. So we can go forward. Sooner rather than later. >> Yeah, >> that's even better. >> Yeah, that seems like that's Yeah. Are there any other instructions that come? I know at the top of the ballot usually there's some instructions

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from Galvin's Secretary of State's office. You know, this is Those are the instructions right there basically. Okay. >> State elections. >> Oh, yeah. Maybe that's what I'm thinking. Okay. Thank you. >> So, the other the other ballot questions or not questions, it'll be to the offices. >> Yes. >> That are available, right? Yeah.

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>> Okay. And can we just talk about the elephant in the room for a moment? >> Which one? >> Why Why is there I know the answer, but for the public record, why are we not anticipating a ballot question on the CPA tax? I think there's a logical

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reason for the record. >> Mhm. >> So, the CPA tax has to exit the same way entered, which means it has to have prior approval by town meeting before it can even be considered on the ballot. Because the ballot questions are due tonight and town meeting is not until

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May 2nd, we cannot put on the ballot until town meeting either approves it or disapproves it. >> So, it would be on the ballot like what you were suggesting for the for the treasurer. It would be on the next available ballot, >> right? Which

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>> So is is the is the Well, >> you say potato, I say potato, cuz I just heard two different things. So if it passes at town meeting, >> would is it the chair's intent to seek the special legislation to put it on the

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no on the state ballot with the treasurer? >> I think that's what it would be, right? Well, see, >> so then at the special town meeting, >> so what what do we understand? I thought it would come up on the November ballot or anything earlier that was leg while

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Scott's looking that up. Lucy might be answering the question. >> Yeah. So, it has to pass at town meeting in order for it to go on the November ballot. It cannot go on the September ballot. >> It has the primary ballot. Yeah. Right.

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cannot go on the primary ballot. It cannot go on the annual town election ballot for this year because it's not within 35 days of the town meeting vote. >> But do we >> So it can go >> there's a section under the appointment of the treasurer collector to revert

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back that references allowing the ability to seek special permission to put it on the state ballot. >> That would be in November. >> But that wording isn't in this article. So, so I would interpret that as for

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what it says there, it has to go on the on the next town regular ballot court. >> Yeah. Yeah. It would have to go >> which is not the state ballot. >> No, >> it could go on the November, but it should go on the local election ballot which is in May of next year because um

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the last time we did the CPA ballot question whatever change for I forgot the date. Um, it was approved at town meeting, but it didn't go on to the ballot until the

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year later, >> following year. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. My ass, sorry. I'm My assumption was that it would go on the November state ballot. That's not true. Then >> it could, but it can't. >> But is there something we have to do specially? It can't. >> We have to We'd have to send legislative

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wording to the state >> which would have to be incorporated into this article question. >> Yes. Yeah. >> To be vote. So >> short of that being amended on the floor at town meeting >> M >> it could not go on the state ballot. >> It would have to Yeah, it would have to

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>> wait until the next election, >> right? Yeah. >> Is that clear? >> I mean I can get the dates if everybody wants to know when we when we last passed it. I do have the dates. >> No, I I just want to >> Yeah. >> want to again there's a lot a lot of

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conversations happen outside the public meeting. So now we're in the public meeting. >> Yeah. >> Let's just map it out and >> Right. >> Y >> So if it passes, it won't be on a ballot until the following >> Yes. next election, >> right?

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>> Okay. >> Everybody got that? Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> All right. >> Clear? Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh let's see. We have some minutes to approve, I

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think, for March 17th. >> I'd like to move approval of the minutes of March 17th, 2026. >> All right. >> Those in favor? >> I I All right. Very good. And we have a couple of PC uh a PCF and um let's do

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the PCF first. So, we have >> Let's one of these. I move the PCF for Scott Hibbert Highway Department resignation truck driver HO effective April 16th, 2026. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I Okay. And then Scott, you were saying

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we don't have any PRFs in our >> Right. Those are the same as before. So, they're union positions. Nothing's changed with the job description. >> So, we do have a recruitment that will be going on, right, for highway department truck driver, equipment operator, a replacement person.

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>> Yep. and one for the laborer which is a new position. >> Um vacant that will be filled >> vacant position. Okay. So these are personnel request forms that have there's no change of job at all. So we don't need to look at them in terms of >> right just for posting. Yeah.

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>> Just for posting. So these could actually go to posting. Does that sound right? I think so. >> Yeah. If it >> if the underlying facts haven't changed since the last time the PRF was >> then they should go. Okay. So those can be posted up on our website. And then uh do these go up to Indeed or any place

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too or they >> and Lucy gets them on our bullet board and whatever else. Okay. All right. So we don't have to take any action on those two PRFs. Those are just for acknowledging that those will be recruitment actions. Okay. >> Great. >> As replacement people for one of them

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and a new person, a new position. Okay. Um old business. Anything up on the audit? How are we doing with that? I know they've been working on other things. Nothing new. >> Free cash. Yeah, working on that first. Okay. All right. Is there any other business? I don't think so.

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>> Um, Madam Chair. >> Yeah. >> As I'm your designate to the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, would you please divide these uh tip projects out? There are three.

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>> Mhm. >> And they each come out of different pockets and at any given meeting. >> Yeah. >> They are extremely organized and they present an enormous amount of data and we get one out of the three projects

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spoken about. So we're always chasing. They are three distinct projects. >> Street Greenway and then we've got the um safe street. >> Um I think Safe Street is the school. Yeah. >> Okay. We can separate those out. Very good. Thank you. >> It's driving me crazy.

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>> Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Good point. We can separate those out. We don't >> Well, not you. There you are. >> Yep. >> Because No, but even we can separate them on the agenda to have that >> right >> look more clearly. Okay. All right. If we have nothing else, we will endeavor

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to meet at 4:30 on Wednesday, which is going to reconvene shortly, >> which is let's get that little date again. Uh, April 22nd >> at 4:30. We will reconvene here in person. Is that what we decided?

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>> People are around >> most likely. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. I will take a motion to adjourn. >> All right. I have a second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> All right. We are adjourned at about 72.

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I get them. All right.