Good evening everyone. My name is Laura Shiffren and I will call the meeting of the select board to order on August 19th, 2025 at 6 pm. Roll call. Veronica present. Val Gage preser. Would you join me in
the pledge of allegiance, please? I pledge algiance 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.
I'd like to thank all of our veterans who are serving and those who are currently serving here and abroad. All of our first responders, as well as all of our elected and appointed
officials and their families who all support our community. 1.4 additions or deletions. I think I'm going to do that as I go along as I have notes on certain things that may be deleted or moved to another meeting.
Um 1.5 review and approve the meeting minutes for May 13, 2025 and July 15, 2025. Do I have a motion? I move that we approve the meeting minutes for May 13th, 2025 and July
15th, 2025. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion on the 7:15 ones? Um I know that we're using the AI notetaker uh somewhat for
these. I believe that all of the motions and seconds, most of them are reversed. So, did somebody let her know that or not? Yes, you did. Yeah. And I think that she was checking she's going to recheck the video and
she'll make those adjustments as necessary. Okay. Um, can we approve subject to that? Uh, hang on. We did make the change. I gave her notes to the 513 that I had uh recommended.
Anyway, yeah, I think that's mostly it. There was one where you were the person saying it and it was me, etc., etc. So, the voices, the AI bot doesn't quite have the voices right now. Yeah. Okay.
But it will learn. I think we're still going to have to look and watch. Um, okay. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Do you want me to amend subject to Yes, please.
Um, I move that we approve the meeting minutes for May, sorry, May 13, 2025 and July 15th, 2025. Um, pending review of the video for slight changes. Second to amendment.
A second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Veronica Kell and Maria Fern. Thank you very much. Okay, I am going to move down to
4.10. And Alex, do you want to join us at the table? And chief 4.10 10 for the audience is to discuss movie scenes being filmed at Cherry Hill Ice Cream on September 8th, 2025.
Alex. So, hi, my name is Alex Miller. I am the assistant location manager on Super Troopers 3. Um, we have been looking at Towns for a long time. Actually, back in April, I was here. We're looking at farms with the Shepherds. U, unfortunately, the farms didn't quite make sense, but we were still pushing to have something made in town for this
movie because we really love the town. And uh you know it's it's uh it's it's very close to our other sets in the movie. So uh we finally we we got Cherry Hill to make sense as uh what's going to be turned into a truck stop in the movie. And basically our our truck stop is uh basically I can't say too too much
about the movie, but essentially it's where our troopers in the movie, if you're familiar with the movies, they they have an encounter with one of what's supposed to be the villain or one of the bad guys. And uh they suspect that there is uh drug paraphernalia and this tanker truck essentially that's at
this truck stop. And um long story short, it turns into this sequence where they have to like send in a bomb squad and they accidentally explode this truck. We're not actually blowing up a truck, but uh they're do it in visual effects, you know, and movie magic style. But we uh the ask is to have
basically this tanker truck and our special effects team is going to have some sort of gag where basically a bunch of maple syrup comes out and and spills all over everybody in the parking lot. So, it's going to be the troopers. We're going to have about probably 20 to 25 background actors in the scene. Um and we are sort of looking the truck will
sort of be parked in front of Cherry Hill and Cherry Hill is supposed to be it's going to be dressed as a gas or it's not a gas station as a truck stop. They're going to they're going to change the signage a bit. We're not sure if we're going to keep the Cherry Hill name yet. There's still some debate about that, but um basically for the weekend uh prior to our filming, it's going to have a slightly different name. So,
basically, people in town will it'll be a movie set for a weekend um until we film it on the Monday. And so basically the ask and I've been talking to Lieutenant Peach uh about basically doing a potential detour on on Main Street um because there's going to be some angles where we're looking sort of
at the road and um for for noise purposes and also for for visual purposes there would be an ask to just sort of reduce the flow of traffic that day uh during during our takes when we're looking directly that way. And there's a couple takes that I think scripted are about 3 minutes. So, we had some discussion about whether we hold
the traffic and uh and then, you know, release it after 3 minutes or or how that would work. And it feels like depending on the time of day, it may make more sense to detour the traffic there just so that we don't cause a massive, you know, traffic jam in town. So, um, you know, we we there's some further discussions to be had about it,
but basically, you know, we we've started the conversation with the police department and we wanted to make sure the town wasn't just like, oh, you guys, you know, we are doing our due diligence to make sure we do it right and make sure that it's done in a way that's safe and that uh we don't cause too much of a headache for for the town. Um, and
obviously it's it's one day it's kind of a cool thing. It's not it's not a boring construction site. So, we hope that people would be be willing to to give us a shot to to kind of do this and make everybody as happy as we can be. Uh, and then, you know, it's a cool thing when it comes out, it's sort of forever ingrained in cinema history.
So, that's that's the uh that's the pitch. And basically, the time frame is probably between our our our total footprint is probably 8 a.m. to like 6 p.m., but filming is going to be way less than that. It's a lot of setup, a lot of prep. And during that time, traffic would flow as normal. Um, it would just be when we actually go to do
the scenes and do the recording that they would, you know, we'd have to interrupt traffic. Uh, and we'll we'll leave it up to the police to decide how exactly do that, whether it's the detour or it's the holding of traffic. And I think I think it will vary throughout the day. If we can just stop time for a minute and let it go, I think that's easier than detouring. But for the longer stuff, I
think we would probably we probably want to detour so we don't cause a jam. So, Lieutenant Peach has probably thought about school hours. Yes. Right. We did discuss the weekend, you said. No, no. So, it's it's going to be dressed on Friday. Over the weekend, it'll be it'll look like this set, but we're actually
going to film it on the Monday. Um, and there So, there was basically we'll avoid shooting during like rush hour, morning traffic, and like end of day stuff. So, it would be midday. I think we try to target sort of the sweet spot of like probably 11 to like 3, 11 to 2, somewhere in that range.
Two, school gets sandwiched, too. Two. Okay. So, we'll we'll work with we'll figure out the school schedule. We'll we'll basically plan our days around that because we also have we also break for lunch at some point so we'll be offsite for an hour or so and maybe we time that out where it's when school's getting out so that we can once
that traffic we'll we'll we'll strategize and plan in a way that's it's as least of an impact as possible to the the overall traffic in town. Okay, Chief. Sure. Yeah, I we've uh we've engaged in conversations already as long as the
details properly staffed. The communication component about best traffic or emergency management or you know fire department ambulances that we can handle that based on who we have at staffing going to make sure it's adequately marked if we do end up doing some diversions and some detours. As you
know, detouring off 119, one way is very easy, the other way it's a little bit of a spaghetti supper type thing. So, we'll make sure we have adequate um signage for when that happens. We also have an outreach that we'll do for traffic interruptions like this where we put put it out on our social media. We have a traffic group on our civilian alert
system that we can put it out to as well. Uh kind of get ahead of it a little bit, but uh given what they're saying and the flexibility that they'll allow, I think we'll be we'll be okay. Uh I again I think adequate staffing is the critical piece of that. But other than that, stopping 119 spirits
sporadically throughout the day is not an unusual thing. We do that fairly often for tree work and for other things. Anyways, doesn't seem like it's going to be a major lift for us provided adequate staffing is in place. To respond to that, we would we would basically work with them to give the amount of detail officers they they feel
sufficient for to do this work. We also have a vendor we use called Vusy Flash. So, if we went the detail route, we'd have them something with whatever the town has offered, we'd also we could come in and put it put up signage beforehand to make sure that like all the the traffic direction is very clearly marked for everybody so there's
no confusion. Um, but I think I think I think Lieutenant Peach said if he thinks three might be, you know, might be do the job, but we can discuss further. Make sure that's are comfortable with it. Questions? Sounds like fun.
Well, I just want to know how the maple syrup is going to be. Yeah. So, yeah, me too. So, that's actually that is actually brought up. So, we're basically going to um the fire department. I think he's either going to help us connect to or maybe DPW would help us connect to a spigot and we basically spray. It's not
going to be real maple syrup. It'll be some sort of thing that looks like it but but easy to, you know, not as sticky and not as messy. So, and and for the sake of having be able to do it again, they have to be able to clean it up because basically, you know, it has to if we reset it and try to do it again, they have to make sure it looks like we never did it in the first place.
So, it has to be somewhat clean up. Movie magic. Movie magic. Yeah. Yeah. And one of the things I got to say before was I didn't know about super troopers, you know, before, but I mentioned it to my daughter because I was at I I met the guys at the Heart Library
and um so I mentioned it to her and she goes, "Oh yeah, that's like slapstick." Well, I never heard of it, but she did and she's seen both of them. So hopefully number three is good and Townson will be part of it. Y this I don't think this requires a vote,
does it? Just think it's just good to just anformational thing. Yeah, I'll I'll check as far as if we end up shutting down a state route, whether or not there's any state notification, okay, as part of that our obligation there, but I can have that done by whoever works the detail to sort that out because I'm I'm I am also kind
of up in the air as to whether or not it will be shut down and if so, how long and where that reasonable line is. So, if there's any notifications on the state level, we will take care of that piece. Okay, I have a question. Kelly, who determines whether or not it will maintain the Cherry Hill name because
that would be great for town because people might want to come like Cherry Hill, you know, right? So, there's been there's been some internal debate. So, basically, that's one of the requests from the shepherds is that they do have incorporated in some fashion. They do understand that we were technically changing from an ice cream store to a truck stop, right?
So, we've we've pushed up the chain to our department about keeping the name, but incorporating like calling it like Cherry Hill Truck Stop or something along the lines. I haven't quite heard back yet, but we're hope we're trying to push for that to to preserve that element of the of the scene. Okay.
Sounds like fun. Yeah, we don't get to do much that's fun at this board. So, thank you for that. Thank you very much. Okay. Thanks. Okay, we are down to
um uh 3.1 is appoint to the volunteer board coordination committee BBCC effective 8/19 2025 until The review
is determined to be completed by the select board. Is there a motion? Um I make a motion for leadership into the volunteer board coordination committee effective 819 2025 until review is determined to be completed by the select board.
Second. Okay. So, just to reiterate, this was discussed at our last meeting to form this because of some um issues with the forms that we have and the process that's not being
completed. So, um we'll go on to the next motion and you'll see who else is participating. 3.2 points in May. Oh, wait. We have to vote. Oh, sorry. Okay. was all excited about getting it over with.
Any further discussion on 3.1? No. Okay. Roll call vote. Uh Veronica I and Laura Shiff. Hi. 3.2. Appoint Harrison May to the volunteer board coordination committee BBCC
effective 8/19 2025 per makeup of the created BBCC until review is determined to be completed by the select board. Why do we have those words in there? Why not just have the same as what we had
for you for the motion? Um I don't know. But I mean it was the last board meeting that that created a select select board member uh the town clerk. Okay. I see that 34 is the same. So just
go with it. Okay. Um move that we appoint Harrisette to the volunteer board coordination committee effective 819 2025 for makeup of the created BBCC until a view is determined to be completed by the select board. Second.
Any discussion? Nope. Hearing none. Roll call. Veronica count. I could I um 3.3 is going to be moved to September 2nd meeting.
Um there was an issue with the um yeah dates on the posting for the position 3.4 four um appoint James Dorian to the volunteer board coordination committee BBCC
effective August 9th 19th 2025 per the makeup of created by the BBCC until review is determined to be completed by the select board going to do so moved. Okay. Is there a second? Any further discussion?
Roll call ver I 3.5 appoint Vicky Tidman as the board of assessors representative to the towns and town properties committee until June 30th 2026. Is there a motion? I move that we appoint Vicky Tidman as the board of assessors representative to
the Towns and Town Properties Committee until 6:30 2026. A second. Any discussion? Just hearing none verifi. 4.1 review of open meeting law complaint
alleged violation July 1st 2025. Um um town council did um uh get back to us. I don't have it in SharePoint. It is in SharePoint. It was there this afternoon. I don't know that it was there earlier.
I don't know when it got put in there, but it was there this afternoon. You put it in there about 9:15 this morning. Um, so town council has drafted up a You don't have access.
One second. Let me check. 4.1 the 71. Can I check that one? There it is. Just had to be tried again. Okay. So, I do know that um Sam did
draft answers to to that one uh as well as two others. And what we have is we have them, but they are still subject to final comments
and review from uh Adam Town Council. They are. Well, that's what I have on here. Uh he he's going to give it a once over. Um but you guys should should also review um the draft responses and if there's any um comments or issues, we
will incorporate that into the final version. Okay. I responded to Sam on all three. I didn't respond. I thought we were voting in this meeting. Um I was good with all three responses. I had seen the first one. I had seen the
only thing I would This is a formatting thing. The first page seemed to be funky. Yeah, it's just nothing on it. Um yeah, so I would want that fixed, but other than that, um and and mine were marked draft. Um yeah, they were all marked draft. all
were marked draft and um so I am good with all three of the responses and I did read them. Um I'll entertain a motion to approve subject to um attorney Costa's
final. Y All right. So are we taking these one at a time? Up to you. Y should. Yeah. So is there a motion? Yeah. I move that we sorry I move that
we approve the response for the opening my complaint alleged violation from July 1st 2025 subject to review by town council and I will second that okay we do I have that in my packet so it should be what you have now I just was missing the first one but now
I see it and it's yeah it's kind of there were there are more than one because it's the thing that'll go so I look at one thing before Okay. Any further discussion on that one? One second. I should have one second for the last part cuz I read the
other one. Okay. Yeah. So, that's 4.1. for first hearing. No other discussion call I ship and I thank you. And then the next
one is two May 23rd. Is there a motion? I move that re um review the opening law complaint alleg violation. Approve the open complaint
alleged violation response for May 23rd, 2025 subject to subject to review by council. Second any discussion hearing none call I 4.3 May 13th.
Is there a motion? Move that the select board um approve the open complaint alleged violation response from May 13, 2025 subject to town council approval review. Sorry. And I will second that.
Any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Veronica and Laura. Thank you. Um, okay. We're not doing 4.4 yet. So,
we're going to move over and go to 4.3, excuse me, 4.5 discuss public relations services. Uh so I did reach out to Capital
Strategic Solutions. Uh they do uh provide uh public relations services and I think the the one that the select board is most interested in hearing about is on call services. So, as needed, if something if an issue were to
come up, uh we would work with um CSS to come up with a um response, you know, either uh a press release or something on the website, um you know, you know, uh putting it on social media
somewhere. Um so, I did speak to the the team over there and they did provide us with a quote which I've um put on SharePoint. and um their on call services is at an hourly rate of $165 an
hour. So there's really nothing to necessarily vote on or agree on at the moment. It's justformational purposes. I think there's something to vote on. Okay. Um I mean I I would want to engage them
as our you know um as needed. As needed. Yeah. Okay. I I trust CSS. Um, have they given you references? When we hired them for ARP, I did call their references because I wasn't familiar with them. I don't know
if we need that now because we have used them for the past four years. Anyway, their quote does have a two pages of references, and we're one of them, by the way. We are. I am.
Um, so they reference Pepper as well and a bunch of other communities. So, so if maybe we can certainly call them up. Um, I didn't realize Pepper used them as well. Um, so I am comfortable with them. I don't need
to do that, but um I don't know about you. Would every We'd have to still the board approve each usage. Um, yeah, but how it would be funded. Um, yeah, but we do have some funds in there in the
in the budget for professional services. Correct. Yeah. Excuse me. I I can't hear you. Uh is are you sure you're not? I can hear you now. Thank you.
I can't hear you. I mean, Harley, I I hardly I can barely hear you. Okay. Um, I can hear you again. Thank you. Okay, here we go. Okay. Is that better? Yes, I can hear you loud and clear now. Thank you.
Okay. Was this this way since we started the meeting or did it just happen? It just happened just for a few seconds when when Veronica was speaking. My apologies. Okay. All right. No, thank you for letting us know. Um, Veronica, can I ask
I I don't have any experience with this, so um and I don't know if you can say, but when has the town used it prior? The town hasn't. Oh, we have not used it. That is correct. But you investigated not in my lifetime.
Okay. But I would want um I we use CSS for art. That's what how I'm familiar with CSS and that's why we're on there as a um a reference because we're a town that has used their services.
Okay. Um so I just would like Nelson to be able to say this has happened. I just got a phone call from whomever and channel 5 wants a statement from the town and I you know
at sometimes it might be okay to say no comment but at other times it might be good to have a comment and I don't know if I'd feel comfortable though with them coming up with a com without us reviewing it that I'm with but I'm okay with that and
we can call an emergency meeting to review um or I'd rather have a professional myself and then because I because a lot of this stuff will also need legal review. So I imagine the fees break up pretty quickly
if they have to also run it by council. I would rather have the fees we could um than have a statement made that puts the town in a bad position. Absolutely. Not that I not that I think Nelson would do that, but but I just
think that it would be good to have this. So just to clarify when you when you said that you know of this because of ARPA funds, it was only that it was set aside
um during that time. I know of CSS because we use them as a consulting company for both the CBRLX funds and for ARPA. We have never used them for PR work.
Okay. Which is why calling a reference or two might not be a bad idea because on that reference list it says what the um municipality used them for. Um so
but it is an on call service will only be build for actual hours worked on assignments authorized by the town at an hourly rate of 165. There is no minimum usage requirement and the town retains complete discretion over the frequency
and scope of assignments. Could I have a motion subject to references? Um, I can make the motion. It's fine. Okay. Um, we're still going to have a little more discussion though. Yeah, we can do that.
Um, I move that we approve the use of what is their actual name? Capital Strategic Solutions as an on call um public relations resource. Second discussion. Yeah, I just want to make
sure that like as I said previously that no statements are going out without it being I agree. I agree. Absolutely. I I absolutely agree with that. But I I think that if we wait two weeks or however long until our next and that it could be too,
right? Yep. And I guess then the the other question would be is there a point after which you know if they say okay this is going to take 10 hours is there a point at which Nelson or someone has to come to us. Oh absolutely I would think that Nelson
is soon I would imagine when when would you imagine letting us know that you had engaged them? Uh I mean I would say right away if if I would expect that if I feel like it's something that um
I'm not able to handle like comfortably then I would first you know speak to the board to see if we can talk to CSS you know and then and then we would uh talk to CSS see if they're able to assist us and we have to give them some background
information. They're not just expected to be able to prepare a statement. would have to meet yes before and and you could call us. This would only be this isn't an everyday thing, right? I wouldn't imagine. So,
you hope not. It is me. And I think Nelson would let us know right away if anybody did call for comment. Correct. And there may be times where we just don't Yeah, that might be appropriate. majority even probably the passes but
yes I have I I just think I would want to not to notify them um that we I would welcome the opportunity with me to meet with you to discuss this proposal in detail. Do
we want them to come in and do that and explore how we can tailor our services to meet their needs? Um I mean we could do that. We could schedule them for they could zoom in and and give us a presentation on the second and we could hold the motion
and maybe Nelson could do some research on who's used them before. I'm good with that and then meet them. So, um, I withdraw the motion and I second the withdrawal and we'll put this on the meeting for the second
and ask Nicole um if they could uh present and we can um come up with our questions and ask further on that and I'm okay with that. And Nelson, can you call a couple of
them or um who have used them for things other than financials. I would call at least three. I would call and until you got a couple of references because you may get we haven't used them yet.
Well, if you get just like Townson's on the list, you know, but we haven't used them yet. Well, we've used them for other things, but the purpose is there. So, yeah. Yeah. Um
4.6 discuss fiscal year 26 step and cola increases for non union employees. Um so given the fact that the override didn't pass um we now need to look at
salaries and wages for reductions. Okay. Um, we are currently, uh, we've met with the union once already to sort of have a kickoff meeting and we'll we'll discuss that in executive session tonight. Um,
but there are um additional reductions that we would need from non-UN employees. Um, and they fall under the personnel policies and procedures um, policy, if you will. Um, so they're
non-union. Um, they could be anywhere from a part-time, fractional, or or full-time employee. Um, and you know, the the the step in cola is subject to solar board um
uh approval. So I think uh in order to get to the necessary reductions that we would need across the board um I think the proposal is uh
effective September 1st that uh non-UN employees in you know that are under the personnel policy and proced uh procedures um that they would uh revert back to
their FY25 rate. So, everyone got their increases on July 1st, but um the proposal is for them to revert back to their FR25. None of the library staff got their increases. Yeah, they didn't get their
So, why why did any non-UN person get their increases on July 1st? Because we didn't know. Um uh because the override had so the reason the library didn't give them is because
that's what the trustees have voted for. Okay. And they they have control over their that part of their budget. So well I had asked for the wage matrix with the cola applied for fiscal year 2026. Do we have that? Yes, it is on SharePoint
where mine says this this folder is empty. Oh, um maybe I put it in the um executive session fold. Sorry. And I wanted a list of all the non-UN employees. Um because what I would like and this is
why I'm asking for this. Um I there was a lot of work that went into getting a single wage matrix for um clerical supervisors and highland. And so with what we're
doing um I would I would expect that the cola would be applied to the wage matrix and that every if in fact our we agree not to give cola and step to the people
um who are non-union. they would need to be um have a new employee action form put in place with the step on the FY26 matrix
that their pay represents. So for some people this will be a step back. In other words, if you're a 10, you are no longer a 10 because a 10 has a 4% increase. You would actually be, I
think, two steps back. Um, so you would be reclassed as a step eight and your salary would be stay the same as it was in FY25, but you would be on the same wage and
class matrix because we don't know where things are going to go with the unions, but there should be one and only one matrix. I would not want to see the town having three different wage matrix. That makes
absolutely no sense. Or four, one for each union and one for or we are back to where we were in 2018. Um and that would not be ideal. Uh so I have some input on that if you would
like. Um do you want to come to the table? No, I'm here. Uh just I think versus altering the current matrix to reflect those changes because it may be difficult to get it back to where it was
and work so hard to get No, it the matrix itself will be exactly where it should be. Okay. I thought you were suggesting changing the no reclassifying employees. Yes, absolutely. um changing them from a
step 10 to a step eight to reflect their actual pay. They're non-union, right? Um that changes a lot of things with job descriptions and a whole lot of things. The other alternative would be to
how does it change job descriptions? The job I'm not saying go to a different um you know, if you're in Right. No, no, stay in the same row. It's just that you're the only place it might be is if
you're in the first step. That might be a little bit hard or the last step. I suppose the last step is fine because you're just going to move backwards. Yeah, it's only if you're on the first step that there might be an issue, but I don't know how many people that really affects
maybe the new assistant town clerk, but that person is in the union and we have to see how that rolls out. Right. I'm just going to offer the alternative. alternative would be to leave everyone classified as they are now and using the same matrix which I
thought originally was suggesting to change and then disclosing that between September 1st to whenever through which this goes the salaries the wages would be frozen
at FY25 during that time so that you don't have to make a new matrix you can Well, some people are actually everybody right now is on the FY26 matrix with the exception of the library,
right? So, but you can you can make a separate declaration that you're retracting to FYI 25 wages between certain time and then at which point and then it's only for certain
people and what if I mean we don't know what the unions are going to come out with yet. um that doesn't help. It means that we're working with two different matrices. We're working with one that has the cola in it and we're working with one that doesn't have the cola in
it. And it makes a it depends on who you are or what position you're in. Not really who you are, what position you're in, what scale you're on and trying to avoid that. Well, won't they be the same across the board? So I mean a decision will be made
whether or not I guess but if the unions not necessarily the union negotiations may mean that it's different. We don't know. So I mean what would I Okay. I bet the decision would either be 2% cola increase across the board or
zero increase. We don't get to pick that. That's the that's the union's decision. it's not ours. We can suggest but we can't mandate.
So, which is what happened. The other um point I I feel I should make is that if if we are to give two weeks notice, I don't have the policy in front of me. So, I'm not sure the regular town policy whether or not
that's required, but if so, then we're past that window. yesterday would have been then it's the next paper you don't I'm not sure if that I'm not sure of a change requires a twoe notice
um I mean you would want to do it on a pay period though you wouldn't want to do it outside of the pay period because then you have two different rates within the same pay period which could be an issue for those doing payroll so you would want to do it on a payroll
bal you had to do that but it is will work. Yeah. Um I I agree. Um September 1st is just it's it's nice and clean. Um I know it's it's actually a holiday and it could be between pay periods. Um, well, I'm I'm
wondering what's the easiest way short of just um voting on September 1st being being the date that it would be effective pay the beginning of that being September 1st is the beginning
right how many how many person we talking about if the library is out of the picture because they've already essentially they've done what they Do we have that list? Do we have a list of non-unate
that? Yeah, I I have that list. Um, can you screen share that? Sure. I think we have some input or question or something over here. I don't know if you take any comments. right now. Let
let him [Music] Hartley, can you uh give me um screen sharing privileges? Oh, I got it. Thank you. See [Music] if I can make that bigger.
So, this is a report that [Music] we [Music] see. These are all the non-union Yeah. Um, some of them don't really apply, so I I
put a X here. Um, one second. [Music] [Music] Okay, let me see. Let me filter it. So, so, uh, before we we begin, I there are
some folks that I feel, um, probably should be excluded from this. Um, the recycling center, please. I'm trying to. Okay. Uh, the, uh, recycling center has, uh, you know, some staff there. They're
called recycling center attendants. um I feel like they should be uh exempt from this so to speak because they are um paid for through revolving fund. So they're not in the general fund. So um
you know whatever savings we gain from that won't translate to the general fund. So there's really I guess no point in uh making those changes. So, um the recycling center
uh would be one. Uh uh the summer help and recreation. I think they're pretty much done anyways, but um in case there's stragglers, you know, between now and that's going to also.
Correct. Yep. Um let me see. Uh there's some uh interns in the water department. I I I don't water department doesn't great. It's not general fund. Um what about in the uh cemetery and parks?
They would be part of that. Okay. They would be um there's uh two staff in uh the police department. Um, I think the chief is working on uh
not filling a vacancy or uh not hiring for a police recruit. So, I think if we did that then, you know, the the staff there wouldn't uh be subject to a all of public safety.
No, not not at the moment. There's there's no one else I think in public safety that would be nonun that would be a part contract. What's that? Contracted employees in No, there aren't contract employees.
There are on call. No, no, no. I mean with the personal services contract. Oh, PSA. Um, no. Well, we're not talking about personal services contract. Make sure we're clarifying what we're talking about. Yep.
So other than that, I think everyone else would be subject to this uh um roll back if you will to the FY25. And is that correct? Except for Yes, it is. Except for the and in the library obviously that we had
discussed. So what is that number? Did you get that number of would be on the roll back for those? Yes. Let me see if I have those numbers
here. And can you put this in SharePoint after the meeting? Sure. Uh yeah, let's see here. So by my calculations,
um if we uh made this effective September 1st, it's roughly about $8400 in savings. 8,400 or $84,000?
No, 8,400. I wish it was 84,000, but our folks don't make a ton of money. So, okay. So, that's just, you know, one piece of the roughly $258,000
that we need to come up with in savings. But I think this is a a good first step. It will certainly show the unions that the select board is um in good faith making uh reductions elsewhere so that
they're not um the only one shouldering you know the the reductions. I want to add another exception Paul Craft facilities facility maintenance his hours were already cut in half. He is part of the calculations
that I would not want to subject him also to a wage decrease. I don't know how everybody else feels, but um we already cut the hours for that. Um and so
is that in is he in town hall or is that the library? Both everything. He cleans and he's only cleaning two days a week now. We'll get to that in my department. Yeah. So, I would not want to cut the
pay for someone whose hours we already cut prior to the um override vote. We did that to get the override down to the minimum that we needed. And um I wouldn't want
to cut his salary as well. I just don't think that's fair. And we don't want to lose a cleaner when we only have a minimum amount being done anyway. That's my thought.
Facilities is already down to Yeah, I know. So just Paul is the number of employees for the non uh subject two. So you exclude Paul, it's 24 staff
members. No, it's excluding library, which correct? Excluding the library, which is like 12. So yep. And some of these folks are probably uh police. Uh I think so.
Yes. Correct. [Music] So that would be the the list. Can you scroll it back up? This is as as the whole Oh, I thought there were people from
building on there and a few of the um uh they are they have a stipen but that stipen does not um go up every year. It's just a fixed amount. But some of them did go up this year. In fact, most of them did. Yes.
For the inspectors, you know, they that stayed static. If you look at the building building department budget. Okay. Yeah. It's just it's in the building department. Just
the ones in the building department. Correct. Yeah. It's just uh they get like $129, some get and are we grouping the highway with everything else in highway? Is that why they're excluded, too? Yeah.
Yeah. Highway is in the they're in the highway union. Okay. Yeah. Or uh well, there's multiple people in the highway department and multiple Look at the tree warden. Is the tree warden on there? Yes, he's the second to last one.
Okay. You know, Natalie Call is also part of it. Um Mary Lerno. Um Okay. Callie, Sabrina. So that counts all of them reducing.
Uh correct. So can we see the um can we see the uh once everybody's done looking at this? I'd like to see the matrices for FY25 and 26. We could screen share those. Sure.
Uh, one second. And outside of that, besides the unions who we started to negotiate with, what else can we cut? Uh, there's personnel.
There's two personal services contract that's uh pending. mine that's later tonight executive session and Melissa the treasure collector which you guys had an initial meeting I think last meeting um still working out in detail
so that's still TBD um besides union non-UN personal services contract um that covers all employees so there's no there's that's it
okay so if you were step four on fiscal year 25 there there's rounding errors that should be accounted for. They're off by a penny. I I believe they're always typically off by a penny at most. And that is a rounding thing.
So, let me just let me just do some something should be fixed with that. So, um, so I've actually seen certain towns go three or four decimal places like so that way it's like kind of to the exact
penny because you know a penny over the course of a year while it's not a lot. It's couple bucks maybe, you know, the math. But it but it makes the scale funky. So I wouldn't do three or four. I would just
um fix it which means maybe looking at it manually but cuz some of them are off and some of them are not off. I think they probably calculated by four digits maybe six digit decimals I'm sorry
I I would I would stick with two decimal places. Um I think that would be why and I would make them consistent across the the fiscal years. But that that's neither here nor there. Go back to where you were with the you
know um with the two digits. So if you were in fiscal year if you were grade A um step four for 1449 in fiscal year 25. In
fiscal year 26 you would be grade A step three. the same way let's say one step so it steps you back one um and that yeah when when you look at it that
way sure um I I don't know I think we won't know how to sort of um maybe do this matrix until the dust is settled with everybody to your point well the dust needs to settle by September 1st if that's when we are
doing Well, but but but to your point, you wanted one matrix. I do. Uh you know, this matrix is this this covers everybody, union and non-UN folks. So, we would need to um
But then what happens in fiscal year 27? Are some people still on the fiscal year 25 scale where if you just changed their step, everybody would be on the same scale and they could advance one or if
we had a godsend of money, two to get them back to where they were. But um but don't we have to wait for the union negotiations for that? Yep. No, we don't have to wait for the union negotiations. It doesn't matter. It doesn't step back.
But that I don't know. I I guess we could if all unions agreed to every fiscal year 25. We could do that. I'm saying are we just um and make it fiscal year 26.
Are we just We could do that. We could call the fiscal year 25 matrix fiscal year 26. Another option would be to rename fiscal year 25 fiscal year 26 and up
everybody's step if in fact they there is no agreement on the step no cola so which might be the better way to do so I guess the question is is like voting for the non-union change versus the matrix change is it two separate
things I I think they are you understand what I'm saying I understand what you're saying, but I don't know that if I want to vote them separately, but can we? But we can't do this until the negotiations are done, right? I think Callie's getting something.
[Music] I just I haven't really thought about it too much. I think I would like the option that's the least confusing to people. Um so that um then let's rename FY25 FY26
and if PE and um keep people where they are um because you know or bump them up if they're taking the step in the cola, bump them up a couple steps. Um I don't if that's better. I just know
that there was an awful lot of time spent in the summer of 21 going from the old matrix to the new matrix and all the many matrices that existed and trying to make it so that um everything was
consistent. And by doing two matrices with different people, they could even be in the same union and have two different matrices. I think it's a mistake. If if I'm sorry, may
if it's determined that some people don't get the cola or the step increase and some people just get the step increase, that would be two matrices. There's no way around that. I I think the easiest way to do this
um I just agree to leave it as it is and to make a declaration that say you're step five right B5 right now fiscal year 26 the declaration would be that between
September whatever until whenever the salary has been you know your increase has been retracted to FY25 rates during that duration and then
after which it would revert to I hope it would go back FY27 rates to be not necessarily because we won't have the funds unless there's an override that allows that to happen.
Um we don't even know if we'll have the funds to go forward a step in fiscal year 27. We don't know. I mean, it's just the nature of the business and how towns are funded.
I Yeah, I think for the non-UN folks, uh the the step and cola is not uh uh well, the it's not guaranteed like in in a union contract because it is it's a contract.
um when you're non-union and you have a personnel under the personnel um policies um you know that's sort of subject to appropriation
theoretically and you know but you know the select board certainly uh vote and and approve it but I think that's where the distinction comes in to play it's But you can't necessarily count on
a step in a cola if you're not in the union. Yeah. Because there's isn't it in personel policies based on reviews as well. It's supposed to be but it just sort of happens.
So the 2% step is supposed to be based on performance. Um the town not to make a decision as far as which increases they get or don't get
based on whether they're union or not because that creates an inequitable situation and that's that's a legal issue. But I mean you base it on the rules or whatever it is that you're basing it on
but I wouldn't base it on that specifically. I I would adopt the FY26 matrix and put everybody where they are on that matrix as far as their pay goes. I wouldn't go
with two matrixes where some people have, you know, this until this date and then we'll see the next date. I just you adopt the FY26 and you put everybody on it based on what their pay is, whatever that step is.
That's what I think. Um, and if in fact it's illegal to make a decision on non-union employees, well, not individually because like you said, like Laura said, I mean, that is
their town's u right to determine whether or not they get those raises. But I'm just saying if it's a blanket decision based on that one determining factor, that could pose
a problem. I maybe it's a question for um town labor council said you know we can um make this decision you know as well the select board can make that decision um you know halting uh or stepping back
the step increase in cola for non-UN personnel. [Music] Yeah, I mean I can understand Veronica's point about the matrix and having one.
I do wonder if it's a slightly separate issue then than we'll call no step and see where the union negotiations play out and then come back to the matrix. I'm okay with that if we wait to enact it until after there's a decision from the unions.
I'm okay with that. I mean there is and you get to be there next week. the you know the sooner we uh make changes um for things that we can make changes to without uh you know uh
involving the unions the the better we are financially because those savings are you know they'll be in you know in two weeks time whereas the union we're estimating October 1st is really the earliest we
can make those changes is to their contract, whatever we end up agreeing on. Uh if if we you know even get to that point. Um so probably take at least that the good news.
So the the quicker we can make changes, you know, the more savings we will get. But I wouldn't want to make a mistake either. I wouldn't want to make a mistake. I guess I guess the question is is like,
and I'm not saying we're all in agreement, but rolling back cola for non-UN employees is what we're proposing cola and for non-unions and then the how
with regards to matrix is secondary. technically right I know it creates this gap right but that's not a permanent gap we can am I correct that that do they like I mean we can work with however many
agencies there are permanently not permanently it is much simpler to work with one as Veronica has stated I don't know how we have one if we have some people of 2% and some people of 4% though unless we unless we use the line in
further maybe delineate what different you just change the step. I mean, let me pick one that has a number that's the same. That's kind of hard to do when it's this way. But in any event, if you're step five on FY25 and you're
making 1479 for FY 26, you're at um step four, making 1478. Well, if you make 2% you'll be at step four fiscal year 26. I'm sorry. Say that again.
If you it's fiscal year 25. If you were what was your example? If you were were at step five and you were making 1479, you are still making 1479 in FY26, but you will be at step four.
Even though it says 1478 there, which is a little mindboggling, but with 2% you would be at step five. With 0% you'll be at step four. Yes. And that's what we're talking about. No cola, no step.
But my fear is that if we recategorize and move everyone down, isn't that how we got into trouble before? I mean, I wasn't even here when this happened, but as I hear it, there's a whole lot of work to bring this matrix up to where it
should be with the salaries and I think that was a lot of work that went into that with Well, there was a call in center and yes and um we get back to where we're supposed to be. It would be the same problem. No, it wouldn't. It would just be that that's what you're making. It doesn't
matter whether it's on an FY25 at step five or an FY26 at step four. It's the amount you're making. It's 1479. And um and it keeps everybody on the same wage matrix. Now, where it gets in
trouble, it doesn't matter which matrix it is, is if the a study is done and you find out that you're not making what the people in the other towns are making for the position that you hold. And that's why the whole Collins thing
was done to begin with was to get everybody up to snuff. But the town is not willing to pay the employees for up to snuff. For up to snuff. Um, but I would want us on the same
matrix. I get what you're saying. I think I'm just stuck on the fact that like when we when we put out the postings, we put out we're hiring, you know, B4, you know what I mean? And then you then they come here.
No, I don't think they do. Usually we do. Don't we do a range? A range? A dollar range. Yeah. Yeah, it does. But it you don't necessarily I don't know what the legality is as far as once you say they're on a certain
step. But I see what you're saying like fundamentally we can just use this grid right here and just say well now your rate is but that's sort of where declaration comes into play. I mean, I guess I'm I'm okay with picking and saying that knowing that we may have to
revisit it come union when the union negotiations are done if I'm not the one who has to figure out who's paying who on what scale for how long. Yeah. I'm just saying have one scale. Pay
people where they are. Um the amount it is what the amount is. Um regardless of the scale, but you are inevit you are invariably going to wind up or inevitably someone is going to be put on
the wrong matrix making the wrong amount and um and that causes bigger problems. So what about if we I want to keep it like it is. So yes and no I'm not don't I mean that I mean keep it as it is and make the
declaration that between this date and this date your wages based on fiscal year 20 but I guess the question is we have no idea we have no idea what will happen next year actually no that's not true it wouldn't because that would be 2% if it is the
same steps well we don't know what may happen to this scale for this year depending on how the negotiations panel. The scale won't change. People might be at a different place on scale, but the
scale won't change. People that get a cola are are going to be maybe their step doesn't change. Nobody's step changes, but the cola is enacted. You'll be at the right place in the fiscal year 26 matrix.
We just have to make them match as far as the penalties go. But um besides that um that's to me it makes more sense. It has everybody on the same scale. Your step
might change and there might be somebody that says, "Oh, I was a step four and now I'm a step three." But your pay doesn't change and you have more room to grow. Well, maybe you do have more room to grow. That's true. you know, um
uh I just I think it it's going to get really confusing. Um that's what I think and I think you can fix it just by reclassing people by their step to make it match their pay. We did that when we did it before.
People's steps changed all over the place. I guess the other trick too that we can consider is is like if in a month this all for some reason that we aren't foreseeing is getting messed up, we can revisit it at that point in time. You know what I mean? If nothing works,
right? But um if there's some that we failed to see or that fails up during the negotiation, etc. There's no reason we can't. I think we're probably saying the same thing. is just that I think her her idea
is to combine 25 and 26 and then determine who is where on that. So maybe we have step you know maybe I'm not combining them. I'm just putting someone on the scale at the place that they are right with that it keeps our wage matrix
moving forward and and you want your wage matrix to move forward. Um maybe your steps need to be adjusted down the line. So someone that's at a three maybe should be at a five and you can do that down the line but you've already applied
the cola and you've kept it up to you know where everybody is economically in the region. Right. That's what exactly what I'm trying to do too. What if we did like a B step three A? No. Why would you do that?
Because some people might have two, some people might have zero. Well, if you're zero, you're just one step down. Well, because it's 2% in between each of them. I'm just thinking of the uh the way that
that sounds to people is going to be okay, but the numbers are all the same. I mean, those numbers don't change. I guess we need to vote go on the pole and no step for
Is there a motion? Um, I move that we institute no step in and no employee increases for non-union employees and adjust the FY26 with the exception of anyone who's
funded through a revolving fund, anyone that's in public safety and the facilities maintenance position which has already been decreased in hours. You okay with the amendment?
Is there a second? Y second. Any further discussion? Yes. Were you supposed to include summer with water? Well, and they're revolving funds. They're revolving. So that's in the
amendment. Did you put an effective date? Are we saying it's effective? September 1st or August 31st? August 31st if it's on a pay if August 31st is the first day of a pay
then that's when it has to be effective. Okay. Motion amended twice last one being till August 31st. Any further discussion? Uh do you need me to second it? Yes. Second. Any further discussion?
Hearing none. Roll call. Uh Veronica Kelly. Yes. Yes. Laura Shipper. Yes. Thank you very much. I will write down the motion, but I'll pull it. I'll work with payroll now to uh get all
the EAFs or the employee action forms for those folks for uh August 31st um effective date. Okay. And then you will have a report um to talk about that plus maybe a little
bit more on the 28th to the unions because we've just voted that. Correct. Yep. And actually, if you're going to do that, they're on the FY26 scale now. So you'll just back them up the step and it might be a moot point.
Well, depending on what we agree on. Yes, possibly. I just think going to two scales is a big mistake. I can appreciate that 100%. If at all possible, noting it. I just make sure that the scales match
in pennies. That's all. Yeah, that's something I'll talk to payroll on because like I said, I've been in communities where they go three or four decimal places. Uh, and I did the math. A penny if you work 40 hours a week, it ends up being like $20.80.
Yeah. But over the years, if you have that, it winds up that you have people at the same step making different rates, it it it's Yeah. So, I'll talk to payroll. I don't I'm not sure how the penny rounding they've accounted for that, so to speak,
over the years, but it is it's always only no more than a penny if it's off by anything. But, you know, it it's kind of all over the place and, you know, those pennies kind of follow forever. Yeah. Yes, they do.
So, I'll talk to payroll to see if they've developed the system or maybe they're using three decimal places. Um, actually, I can have the payroll. That's okay. I'm curious myself. Um, I don't think I took the roll call, did
I, on that motion? No, they only go to two decimal places. Sorry. No, we voted. We voted. We did vote on that. Sometimes you don't, Lori, but that time you did. 4.7
discuss onsite full-time accountant. Um, I'm still waiting to hear back from everybody on the contract itself um with CBiz and town council, but I have
done some uh research. There are um a handful of towns in the Commonwealth that are currently looking either for a assistant town accountant or a full town accountant. And um you know the the town
accountants are you know generally starting about 80,000 um and then it goes up from there up to about how much? Uh
maybe about uh 100,000. But some communities their assistant town accountant is like in the, you know, $110,000 range. So that's very expensive and we certainly could not afford that.
But there are some communities where the assistant town accountant position is about 50 to $70,000. But we're not looking for an assistant town. No town. Yeah. It's just a data point. I was researching it. So um just to give me an
idea to see uh you know how how we you know in terms of were falling out. Yeah. So I think between 85 and 100,000 is probably a fair amount for a town accountant and our contract is set for
90 for the year. Yeah. So pretty I would say that's pretty reasonable. Um, you know, that's kind of the golden rate for a town accountant nowadays. So, I guess the question is, is it worth posting for one to see what we get?
I think it's worth posting. I do, but I want to put a deadline on it. I don't want to have this forever thing. And I think we have we have seiz what did we say through October. So, we agreed to We were hoping to have somebody like October 1st to overlap with them. if we
don't have somebody then they will um extend to the end of the year. So I I just think that if we want to post um we should do that and see who we have. The other option is to wait to
post until October and let's see biz finish out the year, start the new year, get things together, do the it might take a month. It might take a while. We still want the overlap though. Well, yeah. So, we would have the overlap, but we would have it farther
out after we know how everything settles out. Yeah. Um that's the other thing to wait for. I don't know what the job market is for um you know, town accountant. Um I think the the earlier we started you you know,
that might give us some some breathing room. I don't know if you know the posting could be out there for a month and you get like two nipples um so if you start late then you're kind of I don't know you know you're kind of just pushing things out. I think if we can
in the next couple weeks work on a job description that we can all you know review and agree on. Um you know Cali can post it on the various you know methods that we have. um probably like a early September start date on you know
hosting and then you know you probably need to keep it open I would say at least two weeks unless you get you know a you know a swath of um um applicants then you got to schedule them you know meet as a
group probably have um first and second round interviews um so you know you're really I'm good at posting I just don't think No, no, you know, I think we should post it and see what happens. I do too, then we make our decision. I
I think that if we just for everybody um thinking, we're not paying for two people. We have so much money for an accountant because I've heard this discussion and we're not going to be have this is has
nothing to do with the hiring freeze because we already are paying for an accountant. Well, the hiring freeze technically ended the day of the override. Yeah, we don't have a freeze. Sure. But um but um
in any event, let's post for an account and see what happens. Okay. I don't want an endless posting though. Yeah, I suggest that you post now actually because it's only two weeks difference between now and the beginning
of September and we had the whole grow in accounting. Don't we already have a job description? And you can slow the spot also. So if you think there are too many applicants, you know, and just space out the
interview or you can tell them in advance, look, we're really looking to hire in October. They also have to give notice. So I don't think it's too early to post. No, I don't think so. But we do we don't The question is I do we have a job description for the time
Yeah. Okay. So it hasn't been updated. We might want to review it. We'll take a look at it and we'll we'll try to post, you know, ASAP, but at most, you know, probably a week, week and a half before we kind of um
finalize the job description to be posted. So, we can look at it on the second. Are we going to approve the posting before it goes out? I would like to. Why don't we just Why don't you just send to the board and put in CheerPoint
what you've got? We would have to vote it at a meeting on the second if you choose to go that way. If you want to vote for it, then yeah, you would have to wait until the next meeting or subject or can't can we vote on it now?
Now, subject to approval of the documents and the posting going out. Sure. I'm good with that. Is there a motion? And just to clarify, we're not saying we're going to have two accountants. No, we're we're just saying that if we find
someone for an on-site full-time accountant, that's our preference. We use using Cbiz while we're figuring that out. Right. Correct. Correct. Any clarification? No. Correct. Um I make a motion that we post for a
full-time accountant subject to review of job description as soon as possible. Second. Any further discussion or amendments to that hearing? None. Roll call. Veronica.
Yes. Thank you. 4.8 review discuss proposal for town hall fire suppression project. Nelson. Uh so at town meeting uh the
voters there was a capital um project article for this particular project um to replace the fire suppression system. Um so that capital project has been approved.
Um and uh we uh got quotes and the lowest bidder was Impact Fire. Um so my recommendation is that we accept
their proposal and um you know sign the contract and have them start working on it um probably sometime early next month. Has town council reviewed Uh, not yet. So, you can make it subject
to town council review. Is there a motion? Um, Nelson, is this number correct? 39 32 350. Yes, that's what we have.
Uh, 39 320 350. Correct. Um, I make a motion that we approve the town hall fire suppression project as voted at town meeting for $39,323.50 subject to review by far council.
I will second that. Did you say impact fire? Oh, from impact fire. Okay, thank you. Yeah, I don't always catch everything, but sometimes I do. Uh, there is a motion and a second. The amount that capital planning approved
and that was approved at town meeting was 40,000 for this project. Correct. So we're within that. Yes. Correct. So y Okay. Thank you. Hearing no other discussion loc.9
[Music] discuss proposal for town hall painting and repair project also from capital right or it was a move it was capital it was capital um we ended end up um
repurposing uh several old capital articles um into one for 53,784.74. Um the quote is for 68,900. Um but
was there more than a quote? Is this the only quote? No, we received multiple quotes. Yes. Okay. Um, but this is with the the load there. Oh. Um, it actually is uh Todd Arsenal's company here in town.
Yeah. But 15,000 more than what we have. Yeah. So, uh we will supplement it with uh the facilities budget. So, the difference will come out of their their budget. their budget.
Is there a motion? Um I move that we approve the contract from Ars and Suns for the um town hall painting repair project. Um money come from capital and facilities budget for
an amount of 68,900. Is there a second? Um, I will second that. Um, discussion. Yeah. I want to make sure that all disclosures are on file that need to be on file. Yeah. Um, and uh I I would want to um know
that the other bids are available somewhere for review. Okay. um subject to review of all disclosures and pending. Are there bids available for review?
Well, council just comparison. Yeah, exactly. Well done. Did I second it already? Okay. Well, you can second the amendment. Second the amendment. Yeah, because that was part of the discussion.
So, if you could reach out to Arsenal and make sure they follow all the appropriate disclosures on how that went um is that um because he is uh on the a
board. Oh, yeah. Okay. And the town Tom Clark can help. Yep. I'll I'll make sure to get those things and he can also contact ethics is all set. Tell them exactly which forms to fill
out. Understood. [Music] Okay. Is that yall vote? Veronica. Yes. a bit of adjusters and yes, thank you.
Always happy when local business gets gets the vote. Just like to make sure they all get done the right way so nobody's complaining. Understood. Okay. [Music] Okay. 4.11. We're still about a half
hour away. Okay. Uh fiscal uh 26. Select board goals for the town administrator. This is just an update. Where are we? [Music] So I guess the two two we're working
with most are the financial and then the DPTW are first two, right? Yeah. So I I went through we had we had named four primaries and two secondaries. I don't know that we voted on them. Not yet. Um and so what I did and I put this in
the SharePoint. It should be there now. Um and I'm going to give you this. Um I have it in SharePoint. Oh, you do? Good. Good. Good. Can you put on screen? Um the third. The third one. This one?
Nope. Yes, that one. That's the one. So what I did is I I took the four and we haven't voted on them yet. So it was a little premature but um please you know if in fact these are the four
this just gives you an idea of what I had in mind. Um do I get enough [Music] send us to because I have some DPW stuff that
I did get stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Um that's the one that we discussed last time. Sorry, wrong screen. Too many windows open. [Music] Sorry, one second.
I have a question while we're waiting um about department department head reports. I was looking at those today and um there weren't very many. So, I was wondering like when you
were on the board before um did What was your um experience I guess with getting the department head reports? They were pretty much done every Monday
from all of them. Pretty much. Yeah. Well, there's a place in here if you I looked today and that's why I'm questioning because should we put that with the TA update? Yeah, I'm happy to do that if you're
ready. So I what I did is I um back to the goals. So the ones that we had talked about the primary goals were budget process. So what I wanted was what were the deliverables? What were we doing each month? Because they need to be measurable for review purposes.
So um I just made these up. So if if in fact these are the goals that we vote then we need to fill out the matrix and you know Nelson I would expect that you would be filling this out too. I mean I just stuck stuff in there but so for
budget process designate the finance. So in September what happens designate the finance team members and have an initial meeting and then second review the budget process and update of all policies. Uh review um and and select uh
and selection of financial software. Is it clear gov or whatever? um and then present the town's financial status to the select board in the fincom because in December then we roll out the budget
memo to the departments and then we get into the budget process. So um I just took it that far. So that's number one. but for each of the goals. So if you just scroll up um this so and I only
went till April because it's Q4 of the year that we do the review for the TA. So um the DPW restructuring of highway cemetery and parks facilities waste management
um review the DLS report from 2016 or so would be September. then make a recommendation um to the select board for how to proceed with that uh you know to develop the steps needed to make things happen to make the changes that
we have in mind or even to determine exactly what the changes should be and then etc. Then the next one was regionalization of services. So maybe in September it's discussions with Ashb and Peril for possible opportunities
and then identify to the select board what's possible if anything um and then number four was the HR duties uh human resources how is that going to work work with CSS and the US Treasury to get a
response on the unexpended um ARCO funds can we put them towards human resources because that's how we reported it through December 2026 and then determine if it's an HR position or if it's HR consulting or
what it is etc etc and then our secondary goals were policies and communications. So I that's just how in my mind I see things working because if we don't have you need measurable goals for
everything. You could write it up a different way, but this is just how my mind works. Someone else's might work differently and it might be more clear. So I guess then I guess then if we vote on our primary goals, right, then
the TA can come in and fill this out and we just have to approve that. Yes. And you know, and review it. I mean, that's what I'm thinking. I don't know what anybody else is thinking. Oh, I mean I'm fine voting on the the the primary and secondary goals
and not the Exactly. deliverables until Nelson provides those to us. Exactly. I agree. So, um yeah, I'm good with that. Do you want to make a motion? Is there a motion? Yeah, I mot I make a motion that
we um set the central goals for FY 27 to be 26 26. Sorry, I'm thinking budget FY27 already to be um number one. Can you just scroll up so I can make sure I get them right? um to
the budget process being number one, number two being um restructuring of a DPW and I have some materials I'll give to you Nelson that I had on that and then you can incorporate them how you like. Um the third goal being exploring regionalization of services and the
fourth goal being um evaluating human resources for FY27 and then our secondary goals being to review policies and communications and I will second that. Okay. Any further discussion?
I guess the discussion being like whatever's in here is not set. It's just the goals that we're voting on. Exactly. That's exactly right. And then Nelson can come back to this. And these will be part of like an update at each meeting or at the very least each month.
Um well we we would have monthly deliverables so to speak or you know where are we with this? It might have to be adjusted as time goes on. What we would define as deliverables or what Nelson would state might change because
things happen and you don't know just not to be forgotten. Yeah. But if you don't ever write anything down, nothing ever happens, right? In my mind. Okay. So, any further discussion? Um,
no. I think I think the only discussion is is I think we had kind of said that Veronica was going to work with Nelson on DPW and I'd work with Nelson on the finance part of it. Have we kind of said that? I'm good with that. I'm good with that. I'm whoever wants to. And I think the the budget process will fit in with the next topic.
The next topic, too. Yeah. I think as so yeah so the goals primary and secondary the deliverables will come we we need to have those defined okay but um yeah okay
job okay thank you call Veronica yes thank you and Nelson I'll have to send you that information I have I can't get it upload right now it's over and you can run okay 4.12
DLS financial management review discussion. Um so it sounds like uh DLS is going to be coming to towns and need to you know uh
do a financial management review. I don't think there's been a date scheduled yet. um said late fall I last email I can't remember if they actually do the date I emailed him in August I think and I
think he said late fall was we were on the list of towns and so that was the estimate y uh but just so for everyone's um just to provide some historical background they've actually been here before
they last were here in May ofh 2011 It's a service that the department of um local services provides to any town that's requesting it. Um you know they'll come they'll uh take a look
at our financial sort of top to bottom and make recommendations off of that. And in the end there's a report that we come up with with a list of um recommendations that you know the town should look into um implementing or
changing. Um you know everything that they suggest is uh voluntary. It's not uh mandatory at all. Um but you know they have a lot of experience in this area. So, you know, whatever uh
suggestions or observations they might have is, you know, from many years of experience dealing with dozens and dozens of municipalities each year. Um it looks like for me just looking at
some of this in here that um their recommendations have been followed for the most I and I felt I feel the same way too. They had I think a total of uh 19 recommendations last time they were here
and looking through it um you know we've done a lot of them but it's funny one of the recommendations is explore financial software options I I don't know if that's that one didn't happen no it did happen
center created that but it was not used after fiscal year 2020 and we did pay them 39,000 something like that. I can't remember the dollar amount. I mean, I look at any of this as just good information for all of us,
especially with, you know, with goal number one to get everybody on that on on the boat with the same and to create that financial working group that's, you know, the town administrator, member select board, members of finance committee, accountant, hopefully the superintendent in there sometimes.
Yeah, I see because that's that's a DLS best practice anyways. And I think that's kind of fallen because we've had so much transition at least meeting quarterly with that group core group of people. I mean, this is No, I I think it's um it's a good thing
and I think it'll be interesting to see what they come back with. It is not. I think there are people that think, "Oh, it's a financial audit and they're going to find some mis, you know, some errors that have happened and things that are terrible and people are going to be carried out in
handcuffs." I don't think people should get too excited about that, but I hope I hope they have good recommendations because that's not the purpose. I really hope they have good recommendations and I think they should. I mean, like I said, they they do this all the time, uh, for
municipalities and, um, you know, they have a lot of experience, so they kind of know where the weak spots are for each, um, you know, city or town once they looked at everything. And, you know, again, they're just recommendations or suggestions. Um, you
know, we can, uh, follow as many of them as we want. some of it does require money. So, you know, it's not something that we can readily uh enact, but you know, I think it's a going to be a really good educational
experience and they can I think provide some really and I I think it'll be a chance for all of us to work together fiscally to work with them. They'll talk to everybody. So, yeah. Well, they interviewed like 15 people the last time at least in town and uh
and I know them all and I think one of their takeaways which I think actually don't think will change is just what our tax base is limited to. Yeah. And and how two and a half generally are not perceived well in towns and and how
we need strong leadership to this responsible. I think that's kind of one of the main takeaways they had last time and I kind of expect that'll be kind of the same this time. I don't I mean fiscal responsibility
um I don't think there's been a lack of that. No, I think that what we have to look at is what we are looking at. We have to we need to function with fewer employees. And I think that that goal number two and two and three two or four
will help with that. Yeah. And I would look I would I mean if if the select board isn't I would I would hope that they would look at those goals and I know we're working with Pepper and Ashby and regional and maybe they'll make a
recommendation on that even on some regional aspects of things that or the tax base grows or the state allows us to raise the tax rate over 2 and a half% like they do for the schools.
Otherwise, we're we'll always be in a hole. Always. See what happens. Yeah. Um, yeah. Nelson, are they going to they'll reach out to you and everybody once we get started, I'm assuming. Uh, yeah, I believe so. I haven't heard
anything. I know there's also correspondence on possibly getting you know kind of there's some people have offered to help with coordination of all this only if we have an official committee. Yeah. I would not do it with people on the
outside who are offering their services that you know there's a liability right there. And so if there's a committee um that needs to be formed, that's one thing. But if it's oh, I'm just going to call you up and yeah,
you know, and post things wherever, you know. No. So I guess then the question is is with regards I mean it relates to the first goal. Do we want to form a budget committee for this year that would look at that first goal along with the DS review or
do we want to wait and see? I as far as I'm concerned the the um this is me the um I'm looking for there it is the budget committee is paid staff it's Nelson the assessor the treasurer the account
so the the I think that's true does recommend a meeting of quarterly it's school committee school board select board school committee town
administr That is different from what is in the budget review in my mind. That's different. That's review. It's to talk about how we're going to do it. What do you see as your increase? I'm worried about and I wonder I wonder
if they'll come back with us because we just got the DLS. It was like the newsletter last week. I think it was from the TRA board. And so it was basically recommending a quarterly meeting even aside from the budget process. Yes, that I mean that would be good. So
I would like to include that in our budget goal to have that quarterly meeting of that trial committee that the superintendent the finance committee a member from select board finance school with the town administrator and the accountant
that group together quarterly so that we're all on the same page. That's good. I'm I'm good with that. But I think that is it's in our budget documents now, budget process now,
not the loosely loosely. Yeah. But I guess I you know I'm probably getting ahead of myself because we need to review the budget process in tempe and get that started. So yeah, I just think this will I think this will
play into that goal regularly. I don't know where I I printed that page out from the DLS bulletin last week. It was a good suggest and I mean in that group in that tri board the TA is the representative of the paid employees not circumstance
and that's okay. That's different from Yes. the budget process. Yes. Yes. I agree with you. Should we start a work session and then when the chief he was here?
Yeah, he's discussing I guess with the other chief. I I can What do you want to do? Uh well, next up is TA update so I can uh Are they just waiting on us though? I think he calls them out.
What's um Do you want to find out if they're ready or if we should continue our meeting? I think we should finish our meeting. Okay. I'm sure when they're ready, they're going to come to the door. I think. So, yeah, Nelson, do you want to start
with your updates? Um, so at uh one of my uh weekly rural community updates, that's a weekly um Zoom meeting uh for, you know, small um cities and towns throughout the the
Commonwealth that might be considered, you know, rural. Um, I had heard that the community compact grant program might be going away pretty soon, which is um, unfortunate to hear because we, you know, we just recently got a, you
know, $130,000 grant to digitize, uh, you know, town records. And, uh, we had gotten a grant to, uh, install fiber throughout town buildings. and we actually received a phase two grant to
finish up, you know, installing fiber. Um, so to hear about this grant potentially going away is unfortunate because I think we've um, you know, have benefited from it quite a bit over the last few years. Um, so to
see it going away, you know, it might mean certain projects just, you know, can't get funded unless, you know, we fund it through capital capital or free cash. So how much per year is it cost?
Um, let's see. So the the digitization was 133,000. Phase two of the fiber project is about 110,000 and I think phase one was uh over 200,000.
So maybe 200,000 a year about possibly. Is that every year? No, you have to find projects that fit their criteria and then you apply. So um I would say year is that like through the grant writer? Yes, correct.
And who manages a community compact grant? um at the moment. Yeah. Well, yeah, it's due to state, but I I thought you meant No, sorry. Who's authoriz? Yeah, it's the state. Correct.
So, um but once I know more of when this is suns saying, I I'll let the select board know, but it's just rumors. I'm not sure if there's been any actual communication from the state level that's saying it's going away, but that's just the scuttleb.
Okay. Um let me see here. Um so special town meeting on Sep September 25th I have um secured the high school auditorium for that. Good.
The one question that uh we we should decide on is do we want to go live? If we want to go live, we would need to have Peple um assist us. And you know, Dave at TCAM has a good relationship
with them, so he can make that happen. But we kind of need to make a decision so that he can start working that angle. I'm good with it. I'm good with it. Uh it's an option. Um what was the last last few meetings?
Have we? Uh yes. Yeah. because federal help. And just to clarify for people too, this this is primarily because of the MBTA communities act. That's why we're having this in September. That's the main focus. Correct. There's going to be I think there'll be a couple other Yeah, absolutely. But that is why we're
because we usually don't have a September meeting, correct? This is not our special town meeting that we usually have. But you're also announcing, right, that tonight is the opening of the warrant. Yes. Uh, the warrant did open.
It opened at 6 p.m. It closes on the second on September 2nd at noon. Correct. And I've already received some uh ideas for articles. Okay. So, um, it's maybe six in total at the moment. The Deadly Meadows is hopefully going to
be on there. It is. Yeah, that is. Yep, that's on there. Um, so there's about five or six that I've already gotten suggestions for. And planning is going to have their public meeting on
uh September 15th for anybody who wants to attend that which is directly related to what will be discussed at the time meeting correct anybody who everybody knows when it is as well as adding uh was it um single
family to the multif family overlay district that sound familiar it was part of their discussion yeah uh Beth sent me something add she wants that added as our okay along with the MBTA communities act
and where is that meeting and what time uh so the public hearing is is Thursday September 15th uh at 6:35 in the select chambers and uh yeah I think uh Beth had a packet
that I think she might be sending off to the either the select board to review or maybe just planning. What are the other article possibilities? Uh let me see what I have here. So we
got the Dudley Meadows. There was talks of uh adopting a certain mass general law where now um the town has the ability to produce literature uh either for against
certain ballot questions. Um so I know Pepper did recently. I haven't had a chance to talk to the TA about it. He say he says there are some pros and cons to it. So, I haven't had a discussion with them yet, but it just it
if you adopt this master on the law, it it gives the town a little bit of flexibility in terms of um advertising ballot vendors. Yeah. You know, either for or against because at the moment you can't do any of that. It's And it doesn't mean we have to. It would just allow us to.
Correct. Correct. Yeah. So, it gives you the option to do or is this the one where if like a lot of times when on a state Now that you'll see yes means this, no means this.
I believe that would be part of it. And we we can do it for hours for hours. And it doesn't mean that we're pro or con. It means you're explaining yes means this and no means this, right? And then you make your own decision. Okay.
Yeah. I I believe there is certain uh language that you can or can't include. I don't know the specifics, but but at least it gives you some option of putting something, you know, out there. And the town clerk can explain this
because I'm in charge of ballots. Yeah, I Yeah, um let me see. That's a good thing. There were talks about um resurrecting noise bylaw [Applause] um that was voted down I think two town
meetings ago. Um, and that that kind of goes hand inhand with something uh that I put on here. Uh, I feel like we need to potentially come up with a events policy. And what I mean by that is um
I know if uh if there's an event on town property, the selector various departments have, you know, a big say in how that event is run, the hours, you know, the what you can do because they come for a permit.
Uh usually, right? Well, yeah. Well, no. Or is that just alcohol? Alcohol for sure. on town. Yes, alcohol for sure. But you know, uh you're renting the reading room and all there's, you know, policies
in place. Yeah. But what um I feel like is coming down, you know, the the pipeline is uh events on private property. Yeah. that um at the moment there's really not much um
there's not much uh this the town or the select board you know has jurisdiction over and you know if it becomes a traffic issue or you know a noise issue I I know that would probably get referred to you know the
police department but um I'm not sure long term that's you know the the best strategy. So, I think um coming up with some events policy might prevent some of those things from, you know, getting out of control. Um
I've reached out to town council, you know, they've had some experience, you know, crafting language like this. So, it's something I'm kind of just slowly exploring, but I feel like um this would be n town properties, correct? Yeah, it would be private
property. Um, so you but you are exploring it to possibly be on the warrant. Uh, no it would not be on No, it would not or that we should be addressing it. Yeah, the policy of the select board,
but the noise bylaw is something that might be uh at the special town meeting article. Okay. Can we stop here and go to 4.4? Yeah. I'm sorry I forget your
title. Deputy Chief Deputy Chief Welcome. Did you have a plan or should I share one with you? Pass it down. I don't know anybody
got it. Got one. Yes. um just to try to keep the ball bouncing in the right direction. If you want, we could run down this list. Um first thing that I've got on there and I know that
Nelson, you had called and asked for us to come today and you had some questions. I made notes of your questions so that we can attack it somewhat um in sequence. And the first one we have is surplus equipment. So I've got a
letter here. I'll read it. And uh to the honorable select board as chief of department, I wish to have the select board deemed the following pieces as equipment of surplus. One 2015 Generrack natural gas fire generator serial number surplus from station one 10 years old
bad engine. This piece of surplus equipment is property of the town fire. Number two, 1994 Chevy 6.5 diesel turbo ambulance. BIN number X uh which is
surplus to town and emergency management which we have not used or intend to use since taking control of emergency management. We will request that the town deemed this as surplus and disclose of it and I signed it. So I will give this to you and do it as you see fit.
Um, number two on the list are missing. Um, so this is not on the agenda. You know, we, you know, the chief can certainly talk about it, but I think uh
in order to vote on it, we'll probably put it on uh the next select board agenda. I I just don't want um Okay, just so that I read the agenda. 4.4 for discuss resignation of assistant fire chief and fire department slash EMS
staffing. Is that what you want to talk about? That's what I can only talk about. Okay. Um well, you can see but we'll take this and anything else that you might want to have and we'll put it on the next agenda. Would you like it now or not? I can give
it to you now. The next one or you want to not? Yes, please go ahead. All right. I just wanted to say what was it's write off of uncollected medical receipts. Um once again the select boys request the town request that the town write off and dispose of uncollected balance of
$158,457.31 for medical services provided as uncollectible. The reason for these uncollectible amounts are a result for services rendered to those who have received services either not having insurance unable to pay residual amounts from insurance company hardship claims with deceased patients. The settle
number began at 287,768 was consolidated negotiated and collected an additional 129,000 leaving an uncollected balance of 158,000. Unfortunately, I am unwilling and unable to provide names and reasons of each of these patients because of healthcare
privacy regulations and dignity. A written response to myself so that I may address address the accounting services and clean up our accounts would be appreciated. So, I will give you that. I have a breakdown here. Unfortunately, I can't make it public as to what and
why, who has insurance issues, who has whatever issues, who's died, so on and so forth. Um, and I'm not going to expose myself to that. Um, I had asked earlier today and I received
an email from Nelson said, "What is the reduction for the towns and fire EMS department canopy providing a written document?" It came in this afternoon. Thank you for that, Nelson. On the 19th of uh, August around I don't have it with me, you know, so I think it was 74,000.
Is that number still consistent? Um 76 months. How much? 73. 70 73. 73. Yeah. Um number uh four on the list was a succession plan to replace firefighter paramedics. Is there still a
hiring freeze? No. Um so we uh we put out an we had a paramedic resign. he was going to to a hostile environment and he wanted to hire him.
So, we put out an ad. We had 11 or 13 responders. Four of them met the criteria. We brought them in for an interview. Um, we we scored them. We had one that scored very well, ready to hit the ground running. Brought him in today at 1:00 and before we began, he he uh uh
retracted his offer to to for employment. So, um we'd have to go back out again. I'll be back in touch with Cali to redo that. It's it's very much the state of the way right now for for how things are done with emergency services. Folks will look, some folks
may be qualified, many may not have the same qualifications that we want. And um we're back in that place, but right now we will be affected by overtime and a variety of other things that um will impact our bottom line. And that's why I
needed to know what is the reduction you're looking for. Um, so you're down to one paramedic? No. No. Uh, I don't know. You've got I try to have double paramedics. That common, but we may have five, but we're better off when we have
six or eight. We've got one in training, that'll be back up this this fall. And um, we're okay right now, but if we want to run a double medic, if if the town wants to have the type of income that it's been enjoining from our department, we need to get back there.
And um I think November, excuse me, May March 10th's event sent a little shock wave through that um whether it's relevant or not to this or the next part to succession plan of the assistant chief when folks don't feel supported or they think that there may not be
stability above, they're not interested in hanging out. So, um, I think that's that's something outside of our department and they want to make sure that if they take a job that they're able to stay and that people are being supported. So, that's a reality. Plus,
pay is another factor. Um, so if that has been removed and we can begin the other process tomorrow, I'll be back in touch with Cali to refresh that advertisement. Uh, once again, overtime numbers will skew the budget.
succession plan to replace the assistant uh chief to chief. Um Jim was a great guy. Um he uh he had danced the dance. He seen how a city
works and he um had enough insight as to what was going on and where things were going. And we've I've had some very frank conversations with him. We called the death of a thousand cuts. and um so
he um he opted to step up. So I have his letter of resignation. Um it's in effect he uh he has presented to the town and now is out with his close out uh
vacation time. So he is no longer active as of last Thursday was his last shift. Um, this is a challenging environment for chief officers, whether it be uh fire
chief, assistant chief, or deputy chief. Once a chief, always a chief, you own it. You don't go on vacation, you don't go home, you don't leave it away. If there's an incident, whether it be in the fire or the police side, you own it. And um there's a fair amount of responsibility. and Townsen is still
servicing on the ALS side um significant calls to Ashby Groten and Pero. Although PPO has amped up a lot, we go to Lunberg once in a while. Today we were in Brooklyn. Uh when I left the station, we had had 10 calls today. So that's a
extraordinarily high amount for today. Our third ambulance is coming, but um there were times today that the people never got back to the station. they would go on their calls and they would come back and it wears folks down and it wears
those that are responsible for staffing that and making sure that people's heads are in a good place. So, the succession plan, we certainly uh weren't anticipating this. It was my hope that um with a little bit more time that he
would be excited to take my role and I could just wander off into the sunset. Um I really have no interest in looking too far down the road as to my tenure, but I
would like to hope that um we can begin to identify skill sets again and identify potentially interested parties and um put an ad out at some point during the fall, begin the interview process sometime in the spring and have
somebody in play um sometime in the time the um the fact that he has left and the fact that we received today the reduction in our budget um by no means should anyone
expect if we want to continue to operate at this level and to generate this level of income to support us and I've had um calls from uh from folks in town after we after the association made their uh plea to make sure that uh the town was
adequately supported and there were plenty of positive comments more than negative but there were some concern comments that just because you raised more money doesn't mean you get to keep it and I look at it like this that um in 2018
the the amount of contributions from the town as well as to 2024 fiscal year were effectively the same within $30,000 2025 is going to go up. We had a plan in play that we felt could reduce the cost
of operating the fire EMS service. Even if the budget encroached upon 2 million, that would have the cost around $500,000 a year. The uh the the shattering that has taken place and the shift of
confidence has um has left me wondering if we can deliver that. Um, and I would say we can't. And there were comments that have come to me that that's not fire EMS money, that's town money. But if we can keep our costs of operating
low enough and deliver the highest level of service with the right amount of equipment, that that does not always make people warm and fuzzy, but the cost to the town is less. What could happen, and this is not a uh uh any type of
fear-mongering, is that if we shift back to where we were 2021, we've only got six or eight 10 people on the paid call side and you got overtime where some folks are at $180,000 a year. It is unsustainable and it will act much like what we've
seen with the hospital where they collapse. So, um, I believe that we're still in a good position and I think we can stay in that good position and I would like to have a succession plan that understands that because many of the keyboard warrior is in including
folks maybe even in this room don't understand the mutual aid agreements, don't understand the requirements from DPH don't understand the requirements in the fire service which we have to entertain all of those in addition to the federal government reporting. um there are minimum standards that we need
to meet and it's not five people per engine. It's to be able to track and to be able to do all these things with no admin. So when when we lose our assistant chief that not only is certified as an advanced EMT, highly qualified in via suppression um but
understands the clerical side of it. So we have no admin that will need to be able to do that. So his his whole salary will not be a savings if we are to attempt to maintain and manage the level of service that we're providing. Like I
said, 10 calls so far today from 4:00 this morning. I think Brett was on the first crash. We had uh we had an MVA this morning that took out the telephone pole, two vehicles involved, one transport and tied up for an hour and it was nonstop all day. So, um, if we're
going to manage that, not only for us, but for the region, and try to generate between 700 and a million dollars a year, that position has to be filled or we'll have a no response available when we're called to these. And I don't want to see towns and having 911 calls that
we don't respond to. But folks, it's a reality that it could happen. So my suggestion and I hope unless someone here has a better idea and I believe Nelson said to me one day not that long ago this is what we want to do. If you have a better idea on how to run my
department this department and tell me how to do it I'm all ears. But I think we need to understand the skill set. We need to understand what's in front of us. Who's capable of picking up what pieces? Who's capable of doing a variety of these tasks so we can continue to
deliver. then identify what that new scope would look like for a person and put it out there and have someone hired and give them about a year's time so they're ready to take the full position. You will not be getting a next chief at 65,000. Settle in on that.
So, can I ask a question? You sure can. So, um you're saying you want someone in play in the spring. So, between now and then, how are the duties that the assistant fire chief was doing did how are they being covered?
So, um some of us are on double duty and we've got really capable, competent, qualified folks and I intend next month's September meeting, which will be the first Tuesday to put it out there to everyone that anyone that's interested
in added responsibility and I have to give all these folks credit. There was a day that the television was on. It's not. um they're taking the responsibility and they're stepping up, but there is only so much bandwidth when you're not in the station and when you're running the road. So, to answer
that question, Veronica, um I don't know who's going to be sharing what responsibilities right now, but I can tell you these two guys right here are 247 when we're in town and we're we're doing what we can in the command role, but we will need a full-time position.
Whether it's an admin, I I don't know, that can assist in some of the billing, some of the payroll, some of that other stuff so that those that are doing the payroll now and those that are doing all the bill warrants can focus on some of the other reporting that needs to be done. I don't it's not clear. I mean,
this happened very quickly. All right. And to jump into this and say, "Oh, we're just going to revertise and we're going to find this person." I might be looking for a needle in a hay stack. Didn't it take you about a year to get
Jim was with us four years in grooming? Three years before he stepped in and he stepped in. He was with us just over a year. So I I think it's fair then to say that the that the funds for those people that say, "Oh, there's, you know, his salaries out there and it can be
dispersed." It's actually going to be used to pay the people in the firehouse to do the work that needs to be done that Jim was doing. I I I I would hope that that would be that simple, but I'm not sure that it is. Okay.
The the the matrix of the hiring a payroll is not like every other department within the town. I think you're aware of that. Oh, I I am aware of that. Well, I guess what I'm saying is there are duties that still need to be done. Still needs to cover those
and you'll be covering them from within, not with people's existing salaries, but with Jim's salary. Those will help to pay the people that are doing those jobs. So, I think the town made a a big statement and I and I think that once
again, the keyboard warriors did a great job of convincing folks that millions of dollars and the 1.2 too that was extracted out. So what I will hope to identify as far as skill sets as how we can juggle some of the requirements and
responsibilities of those that are already in place to say maybe this person can do this portion of fire prevention and share what they were doing with someone else. So there's a redundancy and an overlap. So maybe we can get some added value out of these
people without added costs. But we're not going to have that clear picture for months. Can is it is it a time when I know we've talked about administrative help at the department before. Is this a time where you can look at that structure and say
is it best to look at how you guys function and re-evaluate if this is the time to do that? that there's cost savings there by taking that administrative burden away from a potential person coming into that position or the people that are there right now. That make sense?
I'm not following you. Me either. Okay. We've talked before about the administrative burden on the upper level staff of the fire department and other departments have administrative help and you guys don't. Oh, it's a different animal. So what I'm
what I'm asking is is is that is there potential there to hire a lower paid person to take that on? So that was my comment val about an admin possibly. That's what I'm just throwing that out there as looking at your org chart right now and your upper level.
But even even taking that responsibility away during during the budget process it was put in that we would get a $70,000 admin in a year. I don't see that possibility. So there comes a point in time where if you're hiring a nokilled person, you're
better off not having that person and having someone that understands it. If you don't know the coding that goes along with this and you've got to train someone and then whether they stay or they don't and the reality of it is not a lot of folks are coming in and less of
them are staying. So I don't have that answer. I would love to be able to say we'll pick up an admin from the selectman's office and and they can come down and do some of our work. I Yeah. No, I understand. I was just
wondering if if it's in your thought process while you're looking at this opening. There's nothing that we won't discuss or look at. Um, but I've had conversations with each one of you independently, individually down
there that um there's a variety of factors that has increased the stress level of our operation, not just because of the closure of the hospital, but requirements on multiple sides, including the federal government,
which has made a new change that we have to have a completely different operating program that we have now implemented before the middle of January 26. So, bringing someone in and trying to ramp
them up into that is is you got to you've got to have some fire background, you got to have some EMS background. And if you got both backgrounds, that's even easier. But if you got none of that for background, it's a vertical learning curve and then the production may be significantly
less. Just how I see it. Yeah. No, I mean so therefore if someone comes to me and says we have a better way then do tell me. But sitting on the sidelines saying well you should do this you really you whoever the person is needs to
understand all of those requirements that we have to work under in the in the in the uh in the lane that we're traveling in is very narrow. Like trust me personally my daughter's an EMT. I understand the world you guys are working right now a little bit. So
I'm not denying that at all. I'm just, you know, the town is speaking and so we're I think we're trying to limit the fallout as much as possible. So, the town has spoken and they want cuts, we'll give them cuts. If they dial for help and we can't come, we can't
come. We'll do the best we can. Oh, I know you guys will not deny that at all. But it just needs to be folks need to be aware. there will be an opportunity like other communities that dial for help that we go to and and we're right now preparing the
the analysis to say how many times have we been to the ABC town, the CDE EFG town or the XYZ town and then how many times have they been here and I can assure you the amount of times that we've been versus the amount of times they've come back is minimal.
Um, so whatever happened with Pepper, have you been in touch with Andrew about any sort of compensation for the I have. Those conversations have picked up over the last several weeks. Um,
there is a desire to um compensate us for the level of support we've provided them over the winter time. I can't say it's going to be, you know, 100% of the resources that we've put
towards that community. Um, that, you know, in a perfect world that would be the case. Um, but, you know, first I don't think they have necessarily all that money to give us. And second of all, you know, it's while it's good practice to do something like that, it's
certainly not um a requirement by any means, you know, when it comes to mutual aid. So I think whatever we can get from them I I think it will help us but um what that amount looks like I don't know at the moment. Um but
it's it's right but I can but I can assure you it's not going to be I will share this with you relative to that is that um I have not been part and parcelled to any of those conversations. They went cold on me sometime in April after we
sent the letter out after the March 10th event and said, "Look at we we got to pump the brakes because this is how it looks." And we still ended up turning back I think $47,000 at the end of the year. And for those that say we've gone up 20%, no, we've gone up about 60%
since I've been in charge, but we've also more than doubled our returns. Um, so we've been able to fund that and I think without the guy or the people sitting at the table that understand the cost, the operation and what is an
appropriate response is probably not going to yield much return. And uh and I would say that during the hospital closure, even though thank you Nelson for going to the governor's signing, I had zero information in time from late
Friday night till Monday morning to be able to change our schedule to get there. Couldn't do it. Um so thank you for going. But that first 250, I was in that meeting the very first day that that happened. And the Department of
Public Health uh director, Dr. Robert Goldstein. I asked him some very pointed questions. He laughed and scoffed and he said, "We're not here to give you any money and I'm not answering hypothetical questions." There were five communities that were involved. We certainly exerted
enough uh what we thought was appropriate information that the first 250 came to those five communities with a caveat on that as to how that money would be spent. And I think without getting too deep into it, there is there
is room for part of that conversation. And I'm all for mutual aid and I'm all for supporting our neighbors, but I also think there comes a point where you go beyond what is a reasonable expectation and then you have to be able to look at that. So there's that first 250 and then
for the the second 350 and with all due respect Nelson asked me what's the criteria on that for those that are sitting on the sidelines saying well we're just going to take that 350 and throw it in the fire EMS budget and we'll take 350 from them and balance it. The criteria on this is going to be
somewhat rigid. They are not going to just say take the 350 use it as you see fit. There will be requirements on shelf time, wall time, which is time that you put with your back against the wall with a patient, distance traveled, a variety of those other things. That first 250 we
had to use for equipment. So the ambulance that's coming in, uh there are escalation clauses in that. There'll be no impact to the town. They've tried to once again escalate. They've tried to push that out for six months. They they've only been able to push it out for two. All of that is able to be
absorbed into that 250. But the balance 150 odd thousand of that is all for equipment, all for ultrasounds, all for um uh monitors at $40,000 a piece, all for uh ventilators, things like that that can do in the back of that
ambulance while we're either transporting to a higher level care or waiting against the wall to be able to get a bed in an emergency room. So, um that first 250 is gobbled up there. the second 350. We don't know if we'll get 250, 300, 350, 400, 450. I think we can
build a case that says we've supported all these other communities, the higher level of care. Therefore, there has to be something in that matrix for that. And being part of these conversations from the beginning over a year ago, you don't step into that in one moment and
have it all understood. So, I can't tell you what what will be available or how we can use it, but you can rest assured from the conversations that I've had to this point in time, you're not going to get a check for $350,000 made out to the towns of towns and say use it any way
you see fit. And for anybody that thinks that, I'd like to know where they're getting their information because from the DPH all the way down to us as at the chief level and there's been no one other than Jim and myself participating in these
conversations, I don't see it happening. So that's not a golden parachute for solving the budget. Have they given you any time frames on when you're going to start getting that information? October. And it's 350 over two years, correct?
No, it's 350 a year plus it could be another 350 next year. It all depends on whether or not So we'd asked for 10 million, they gave five. I honestly didn't think they'd give any. I, you know, after the conversations that we had, they were very aggressive to say, you're getting
nothing. So to get the five million, I'm impressed. but to have another 5 million in a supplemental budget that's sitting in the wings for potentially another year. But that only solves our problem potentially solves our labor problem down there if the town still wants to
see that level of response out of our ambulance reserve receipt account. Now, let me point out that prior to 2021, 350 to 450 was was about what the returns were. And right now, uh last year, we brought in $960,000.
That's more than double. And it's because we've been providing the service that generates that revenue. So, I know that some folks with the public mindset say, "We can't think about this like business." Well, if you don't think about it like a business, then you're going to have a different type of a problem. And we've been able to think about it like a business. And our people
have bought into this and they do their reportings and they do their codings and they do all those things that you can't bring an amateur in that allow us to build an appropriate level to get those higher incomes in. The question comes to one thing.
Do you as a town want to have higher levels of care or are you satisfied with whatever shows up? And the choice of the succession plan hinges upon the person's ability to understand where we are, where we're
going, how to manage that, how to stay in front of it. May I ask a question? Do you feel that it's even feasible we could have a a deputy chief in spring of 2027? And so we posted it in fall and they came in
spring because it sounded like it took quite a long time to groom Kirk for that role. I know it wasn't always full time, but considering where we're located, the salary we can offer, that seems aggressive to me to have someone in place by then. Thank you, Kelly. It is aggressive. Um,
but I will tell you, you will not get a chief at one at 65,000. But the current chief that's doing it for 65,000 is partly insane for spending that level of time. And when I was suggested that I should reduce my pay, I'm all done if that happens.
It's it's it's unfathomable to be on call 24/7 if you're in a community to address that that level of problem. But I also think that if you're 150, $160, $180,000, you're going to attract the type of talent that understands how all
these things weave together. And I also think there are folks I know there are folks out there that have looked at Townsen and looked at the operation and said, "What?" and they called me, what are you going to do with that position? So, we have to be able to identify what
that position is going to be like and then put it out there. Not tailor the position to a person, but to create the position and hopefully attract the right person. I think we can, but you're not going to do it for 65. You're not going to do it for 110. You're not going to do it for 125.
And can any of that 350 or subsequent allocations be used toward salary tell you in October don't know but right now it can feed itself and it can maintain that level. I think the
biggest problem will be if we don't maintain that level and our income or your income drops back to 500,000 then all of a sudden the contributions by the town goes up and you'll have no other choice but to cut and then it's a
downward spiral. But we've proven that this model works and the proof is in the finances. The proof is in the fact that we've been able to deliver almost a million dollars a year. Any other questions? I think we're good. I'm good. If I may,
the equipment status of where we are, which is all part and parcel to this conversation, uh, our assistant chief have been an integral part of the development of our attack line, whether it be on the medical side or on the fire prevention side. And I think where folks have
become incredibly shortsighted and Deputy King has been working with the um with someone in the ISO and we've been attempting to try to get this uh up for review to be able to drive our numbers down. And Brad, I don't know how much
you want to get into that, but when this shift, if this shift happens, it will be a it's like gasoline. and gasoline goes up a lot faster than it comes down, the response to change your insurance rates will go up a lot faster
than the response to lower your insurance rates. So when our shoot times drop and uh it takes longer to get out the door or we start not showing up or we can't put 25 people on the ground in six minutes for a building fire and we have four of them in a course of a
springtime, insurance companies are going to change the risk and then that cost will go to the homeowner with no choice. There'll be no choice. There'll be no discussion. There'll be no debate. Um, but it puts us in an awkward position that we are trying to avoid
getting into. So with that, Jim has worked with Brett and myself. We have a great hierarchy, call it a chain of command, officer core, however you want to look at it, where people have that skill set that we've talked about, how we identify, how we how we how we spread
that out. Um, but it's very critical that we have the right equipment, the right people, and the right knowledge. So, uh, with that, the two CG graves trucks that were supposed to be here in July, uh, we've had pretty regular hard battles about the increases, we know
that those trucks currently would not be at 78, 730, and 850 or 8:15. They're going to be they would be at 1.1. And there are people in this room that thought that they should push these things back and go out. There's a $700,000
delta between buying a firet truck today versus buying a firet truck three years ago. And we did return money to the town and we were grateful that that uh increase that was voted upon in March came from free cash which gave us some back, but we still got to outfit these
trucks and um they told us that we should expect the middle of September for a completion date but add six weeks on top of that. So those two attack engines will be should be available fourth or sometime fourth quarter this year and I hope we can continue to move
on. The the good news may be that we will have one fire engine that I will come to you to put in surplus. Uh you can't get fire engines right now. It's over the 20 year mark. So it's not going to be a level one fire attack piece, but
it will still have some value. And um if we can make sure that we can cross the finish line with a reasonable piece of equipment that is able to be sold to another community within the country, um there could be value
20 to 60 to 70 $80,000. We don't know. We don't know. But if we trade it in, it's only $5,000. And I don't recommend that. I I would recommend that we wait, get that trucks in place, surplus it, and then try to put it in the market. And that
generates some more money for um for the town. The ambulance um has they they are so far behind. It's a national issue. You can you can Google it. You can do very little work to find how far behind ambulances are. They're
three plus years out now. And if you would order an ambulance, they they considered putting moratoriums on ordering ambulances because they just can't turn them out fast enough. uh they break down, they die, they crash. There's so many reasons, but we're still
in play for the spring uh February of 26. And um we still have the equipment for this. We still have everything that appears to be to be working. So, part of our success has been pre-planning and
forward thinking. That would be the role of the next chief or the next assistant chief to be able to participate in that. But I think that it will be both a bittersweet exciting time and sad time in the fall and the spring when the new equipment comes. We got to be able to
outfit to be able to do the job to keep the ISO happy to be able to service the folks when they call for help. Is are they all made in the United States? What the ambulances and the fire and the trucks for sale? Um
are they made here? Excuse me. Are they made here? Oh yes. Well, that's the difference. You have a commercial truck that's made to be a fire pumper or you have a fire truck which is designed like the trucks that we're getting a stainless steel. We instead of having a 20-year truck, we
we've really targeted a 30-year truck. So, it's a stainless steel body and and they're designed to have failproof systems in place so that the pumps will always be able to work with a level of redundancy. And of course, you have regular testing. So those type of fire
trucks at those prices are yes made here in America and they uh they have certain criteria that have to be met. That's why they're so expensive. Are others made outside? Sure. Like Canada. Where are the trucks coming from? Are
they Cra right here in America? Okay. And the ambulance also. Uh so you know everybody has a preference. Do you want a Mercedes, a Ford, a VW? What where do you want to be? And I think we're at the highest
level of what we feel to be competent quality for the price. May not be may not be the Rolls-Royce, but these are these are 30-year trucks if they maintained. And uh I just it's like it's like buying a rescue truck that people complained about in one of the meetings
that we had. We didn't we didn't need it. by putting a $30,000 rescue truck with APA money in play saves an $850,000 ladder truck that's now 1.5 million. Um last lastly I will tell you that with
the 350 we had delinquent in one piece and um and it's an interface four-wheel drive whether you call it a forestry whether you call it something else. Tomorrow we have a task force that's going out to an out of control brush fire. They'll be leaving here at some point tomorrow morning and they'll spend
the day um in central Mass on an out of control brush fire during the day. But with snowstorms, weather events, and a variety of things that are going on, we've always managed to have appropriately placed equipment with our three stations. We we're
lacking a piece in the harbor, which I think we can work through that with some of that grant money to say that in the event of a weather event and we have to get to somebody through a foot of snow, uh, this is how we do it. And the money is short. So, uh, it will be a
conversation that happens, um, but not until we know the criteria. And I will also tell you with the lead time on ambulances, expect a conversation here sooner than later about putting an ambulance in play for three years with the right to back out of it because
other than that, you're going to you're going to have equipment that will be failing. Just know we have no funds in capital. I understand that. But just remember, no, don't need no money. Need no money just to reserve money three years down the road.
Well, in the event that we picked a plan and stayed with it, if the town got behind it, um I really believe that these are self-funding pieces. And I do believe that had we executed without being meddled with that we would have
reduced the cost of the town by 250,000 rather than increase it. And the proof is on the pudding on what we've delivered. Lastly, it's 150 years for us this year. We had a celebration planned. I think the town had spoke. It was all going to be funded through the association and uh
and other folks around town, but we decided to scale that back. There'll be an open house. Uh the museum may be opened up by then on the 5th of October, but there'll be no parade. There'll be nothing else. Oh, that was the 150th for our fire
department. Are you going to rethink that? No, I think the time has spoken. And I also think that um you know, we have to we have to address what they've said. They've asked for a reduction and we got to give it to them
and it's not up to us to use that 350 to balance the budget. They want a cut. Give them the cut. Shut down town hall on a Friday. Reduce this. Reduce that. They asked for it. They claim there's that much money. Show them what they've asked for. Give it to them.
And waiting months more is it's just going to add more agony to it. That's why I was pushing Nelson today. Tell us what the amount is. We'll cut it. And by cutting that, maybe that some of what I told you tonight isn't going to work. Happy for any questions.
All right, so back to succession plan. Um, so um, as far as the org goes chart goes, that job stays open, correct? Until you're ready to post it. Correct. And the position is filled by
the staff that you have the the the um the work that needs done will get done. We hope. Okay. All right.
How do if if I may, how do other fire departments do they have admin? all of them. When I took my job and Veronica was in the room, I said, "I will cut my pay in order to be able to use the left of my
salary to increase wages to get higher skilled and competent folks in work." It did. It did. Yeah. Um we we needed to do that. I don't know about cutting the pay, but we needed to have the we were spending so much money
on overtime and the pay rates in um fire were lower than they should have been and and it really did work over the past few years to get everything up to where it should be. Can I interrupt you just for a second?
Veronica Veronica and I have we're very different in some of our beliefs, but we share the same compassion for the community and um and Margaret Scaledale had called me and I use this metaphor or analogy, however you want to look at it, to say the fire service really hasn't
changed that much in a hundred years. And if the rest of society hadn't changed, we'd all still be driving model A's. We have to change. We have to rethink how we do business. Yeah. And if we say that it's up to the taxpayer to figure it all out, it doesn't work. So, we've got to get skilled and competent,
qualified people in and we do that by paying them and creating an environment. And and I think the reality of it is some folks in town or some people perceive that people that work for the town are not treated well or supported
or protected when they need help and then they leave. So if we can create that culture at least down the street I believe and I believe we were well on our way
and if there's any negative to this disastrous budget that we've been dealing with is and I hope that those folks can stand up and say yeah we pushed this budget down and don't worry about the fact that when you call for help nobody shows up and it's not crying
wolf but I have to go on the record to say that if we can't maintain, hire, and put the right people in place, we can't deliver what we've been delivering, and we can't give back 700,000 a year. Can I um It sounds like we're at the
end. Can I read Jen's letter? Which one? Yes. His resation. So, this is dated July 14th, 2025. Chief Shepard, it is with a heavy heart and
grateful intention that I offer this letter as my resignation from the Towns and Fire EMS department effective August 14th, 2025, 1700 hours. I will always cherish the opportunity that this department has given me and I wish
nothing but the best for its members respectfully. We thank him for what he gave to us while he was here. I'm very sorry that he decided to resign. I understand why.
Like I said, I think that it's it's a cut of a thousand that that and again I had a conversation and I I wrote down two parts of a multiple conversations. And he said, you know, I'm still willing to come and and offer and do whatever
when when he can without getting himself in trouble. for me. He he left his previous job on a very high note and two things that he said that made sense and I wrote this down was um what did you expect? So as we were
talking about what was going on and he would lean in and say what did they expect or what did you expect? You know for those that say oh it'll be fine it's not going to impact me. you make you make big changes and you behave
in a certain way. What did you expect? Right? And the other thing was from a book that he was reading um said, "You can't control it. You can accept it. You can reject it. You can do whatever you want." But the quote there is just let them.
So he went out on a high note respectfully, no regrets other than I thought you do a great job in this role. If May I ask a question? Yes. The question I think in my mind is are
you committed to staying until we have someone in place and ready to take the helm because otherwise we're going to have a huge hole here. So I you know logistically I'm not saying you have to put that in writing but is that your intent?
In my contract, Cali, the town has the right to let me go with limited notification if there any. I have to on the other hand do that. There's no give me no insurance. I get no benefits. I just have to deliver. Um,
nobody would want your job. Not at this time. I will tell you I intended to leave in 2022. Um, I think Veronica can speak to what the conditions were prior to. There was no disparaging comments made towards
anyone or anything else. Um, it was my intent to find a succession plan and to raise us to the highest level of care and service that we could. We got a bump in the road, I'm not staying forever. [Music] Nothing lasts forever. Do
you want to add anything? No. Any questions, concerns? Lots of concerns. Remember, thank you. Our people are our best asset. I agree with and us in the front of the
boat, regardless of what boat you're in, have to protect our people above all else. We can't turn our backs on them. And if we do, there'll be nobody to support us.
Thank you for your time. I'll be back when I have a plan. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hope that wasn't all too much information, but it's a lot at stake. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.
[Music] So, um I was halfway done through my uh TA update and just a couple more items. Um, the kids country playground has reclosed again because equipment has been delivered.
They poured the pad. They put up some footings and metal structures. Um, so they're really moving along. It's already it's only been two days and they're already like, you know, have a lot of that done. So, I think I'm
cautiously optimistic that we might be able to open right around Labor Day. Nice. So, I'm excited. Uh we're going to have a brand new playground for the kiddos to enjoy. Um thank you so much to uh Karen
for all the work you've done and uh um Cemeterian Park and Highway. You know, we've saved a lot of money doing some of the uh demolition work in house. You know, probably in the magnitude of 8 to10,000 at least.
Great. So, um you know, kudos to everyone and parks and cemeteries big part of that highway, right? Correct. Yep. Yep. Yeah. We we did a lot of that with in-house labor. So, has anybody asked where that savings
is going to go? um whatever savings there might be, we're probably going to put it back into the project in terms of um paving and striping the the area right in front of it. Those are ADA requirements and uh
for a while we weren't certain if we could we would actually be able to do that. Um, but I think with the savings that we're gonna realize, we can put some of that money towards um paving and striping the handicap accessible spots
right in front there. Are they going to have an opening ceremony? Um, I'm not sure. That's a good question. Just start playing on it. I'll talk to I don't think you can stop kids from playing on a playground. Yeah, I'll talk to Amy Harrington. Maybe
they uh the kids country playground committee will you know have something very small just you know to you know officially uh christen the new playground ribbon cutting a ribbon cutting.
Yeah, we might have money in the budget at the same time. Um so I'm excited that that might be done very soon. Um, great news. We got a green communities
grant. Kudos to to Kieran. Um, he uh um you know assisted with that. Um this round of grant funding uh most of the work that is being done will be at the um Hawthorne Brook School and it's
going to be replacing uh the lighting there. Oh yeah. Um there's a little bit of money to do a HVAC study in town hall. Um town hall has some really old um boilers and
cooling systems which um the staff here will attest to. You see dripping ceilings from all the moisture and condensation from the AC units running, you know, non-stop during the heat waves. Um, so, you know, it's going
to take a lot of work to potentially replace everything down the road, but we kind of don't really know the full scope of it until we have uh, you know, some HVAC engineers come in and sort of look at the entire building. So, that's part
of that um, grant as well. So, um, so in the coming weeks, we'll, uh, you know, we'll start talking to the school department, make sure they're aware of what's going on. And, um, lighting is typically fairly easy to put
in. So, probably do it during like a school vacation where uh, it's least impactful to operations. and the the HVAC study that can probably be done in in a few days. Um you know with the engineer just walking around
with you know um guidance from the facilities. Okay. Director and uh that was all the updates I had policy. Can I back up to the special town meeting
after the noise bylaw? What were the others? Were there any others? Oh, right. Um, let's see. Uh, the MBTA's Community Act. Yeah. Uh, there's one from the planning board to add, um,
single family to multif family overlay district. And the other one that we're considering, and you might recall this a few few months ago, was um currently um a town employee
um has a 17day aotment for military leave. Um we're looking to maybe increase that um threshold. I don't know to what amount exactly but um isn't there a state
I won't support that right now only because of cost to do that is for a military you meet the minimum requirements currently or are we we currently meet the minimum there was a request for more and there's
an ability to have more and I I support that in general but I don't know that right now is the time to implement that. I think I'm sorry. I think we need minimum for reserves. So to do some
training to weekends a year 17. Yeah, that's good. So we don't have um any other like active duty or anything. So right, I I would just hold off on that. So that's my opinion right now. So there is
one employee that is um coming up towards that aotment. Um the alternative for this individual Well, that's per year, right? Correct. Um but they have some training coming up that is going to um get them
over the 17 days that current policy, you know, will compensate them for. So in that situation, I think what was kind of decided as a stop gap measure is they could request a waiver and that is
probably a waiver that the select board would review and potentially approve. Um the thing the thing is we have to pay for vacation payerson what uh to increase their their military
leave um you know a lotment from 17 days to x amount you know 20 days or so I'm going to have to step in and say let's not do that because with either we changes everyone
I wouldn't make it for one person based on that. If you want to change it, you have to change policy. That's my I'm not sure that we'd want to change the policy. I'm not suggesting that. I just don't do they not get paid when they go
to reserve duty or training or whatever, don't they get paid for their time? We pay by us. Yes. By the employer. By us. Well, we pay the difference between what they make. They get paid from the reserve. Yeah. And you pay the difference in what
to what they would pay if there is a difference. If this is Mr. Salado, he is not is that who it is? So I believe he is at a threshold in the military where his salary is such that when you do the math it's negative. He
makes more working there. So we don't pay him. But then his job right that's that is my concern and I'm not thinking about a particular individual. I'm just thinking in general we still have to pay for the job to be done.
Yeah. And if we had any play in our budget, I would be okay in that. But we don't have play in our budget to cover that. Uh to the extent that we'll have free cash this fall, but my prediction is next
fall we won't have free cash and that puts snow and ice in FY27 in jeopardy. We just don't have the play in the budget to allow that. And that's why I'm a no even though I would normally be
but that was something the police chief a few months ago was going to try to cost out as well. Um but you know but but nonetheless this individual is um coming close to their um a lot and and
if it is true they actually make more if they were you know in the reserves but but the consequence of that is um you know there might be overtime but you know he has this individual does
have a obligation to the reserve so I don't know how you weigh that against, you know, the the potential of added overtime cost. Yeah. Is it okay that the board if I take a comment? She has her hand raised up.
Cindy, you you had a um hand raised. Yeah. I I just want to um I just want to say um which I think you all know me that I mean I'm retired Army. I was in the reserve for many years. I mean, I I'll support veterans all day long, but on this one, I think it's important for
you guys to know that uh the employer support of the Garden Reserve, the the laws uh only require you he he has to have time off. Even if he's gone for five years, it's up to five years. At least the last time I checked that you got to give him the time off, you don't
have to pay him. So, you you can I mean, everything else, you know, this, you know, meeting his, you know, matching his salary and things like that. that I mean it it sounds like I just hope there's no confusion between the department and the select port office that you can't he can't take time off. I
mean if he if he has a military obligation even whether it's voluntary or involuntary he he can take the time off and he can't be stopped. You have to give him the time off but you don't have to pay him any more than what if you've got a twoe plan then that's what the
plan is. I mean, and I I mean, the other side of the coin here was who's going to do the work while he's gone. Well, that's that's that's an employer issue around the world, and you're going to have to deal with that no matter, but he has to have the time off. That's that's the law.
Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Um, you've got events. Are we done with the warrant now or is there more? Uh, that was on Okay. Um, events policy.
Uh, that was Yeah, that was just something I mentioned. I I think we should seriously consider um having a events policy for events on private property. Do we want to Oh, and have you checked with Adam? Uh, he said there are communities that
have sort of similar policies. I will further the conversation with him to have him give us some examples. Maybe he can give us a rough draft of one that we can um look at September 2nd. Yeah. And you know fine tune for
it's a hot topic somewhere now. So correct. So I think we need I feel like I feel like we need to get ahead of it. Um [Music] attracts some people depends and I mean how much
we Oh definitely deter it is but Oh yeah it's not about deterring it's not about that it's about um controlling or having property making sure that are cool. Yeah. So yeah, maybe after a certain
time. I really do think we need to look and discuss something. Um, all right. At least to know what we what authority we may or may not have. I
think a lot of planning, zoning, noise, those those things are already in place. But not on private property, is there? I'm sure there's noises, but maybe that's a topic. I don't know. Everywhere I've lived, there's always
been one I just come back up. We'll see what he has to say. Yeah. All right. Okay. So, now we're under um reports from four leaison.
Um, so, whoops. Sorry, just lost it. I had Okay. Um, I've been uh Oh, I was going to do the thing about department stuff you said to
do under town administrator. I started talking about the department reports. Oh, so can I add that a minute? Sure. Okay. Um, so I was looking at them
when I for some reason I only recalled once about getting like notice that there were town reports, department reports. So I went in to look and in
so far this year January there were five reports February there were six reports March there's three reports April there were no reports May there were three reports June three July four in 24
in March I don't think there was anything um like January and February But in March there was nine reports. Five of them came from the Treasury Department, whoever that would be. And
then in December there were Oh yeah, five of them. And then in December there were five. Other than that there really weren't any reports. So how are we getting department reports? And isn't it every department that's supposed to give a report
the in dairy? Yes. Um I will say um some departments do send them on a monthly basis like clockwork others except April um nobody did others really that they weren't there like I know the
library does them with their trustee meeting they just might not be library facilities is every month yeah sometimes the building highway council on aging um yeah that's about it land use. There's no land use
coordinator. So, someone's going to have to make that report, right? Um, so I would say the reports are probably um lacking. Uh, if you want to call it that. Um, I need to reiterate to the
department heads that it must be part of their job descriptions to be looked at. Department heads probably is they all should be reporting to you. So, How else would you know? And maybe like in the department maybe in the
department had meetings that you have which are supposed to be monthly. Then they can all we basically from the ones that I went to saw us talking about budget and nothing else this year. So that's my
only experience. But I would think it that the department head meetings would be like a team working effort. Hey, we're now doing this here and to the assessor office. Maybe you should know I've got 29 new permits coming in. Um,
you know what I mean? There should be some kind of dialogue between all the departments. Yeah. Um, I'll make sure that's sort of a agenda item where we actually spend time not necessarily going around the room, but certainly
things of note that department heads may want to bring up. Yeah. let them know ahead of time. What would you like to share with everyone? Yeah. You know, kind of thing. Yeah. So, I I think that's a good idea. And, you know, we'll start building that into the monthly department head
meetings. I'm still trying to get a feel for it. Like you said, most of the department head meetings we've been in are all about budget issues. Um I want to get back to a place where we're talking like operational right
projects and issues that we want to share or discuss. So um some progress yeah step forward. Yeah and one of the things I will reiterate to the department heads is they need to provide a monthly report.
Unfortunately a lot of them have not. I I need to um make sure that it's it's a habit they they stick with moving forward. Yeah. um as you're expecting to do with your partner reports are very much
simply you can simply build in what of this report like you know what of already listed here would you like to talk about next meeting or share with the next meeting or whatever just to reduce the
yeah busy yeah and then you can run it from there getting their input beforehand too um Okay. Oh, yeah. Like less. Oh, yeah. Wait, go for it. I'm sorry. No, it's okay. Why is talking?
It's fine. Um, so I've been talking to a lot of leing. Um, and first I'm going to go to the senior center. Um, I met with Elise and Greg and they just wanted to highlight some of the effects that the budget cuts that they've undergone the past year are going to have on the
council on aging. And so just a couple of my notes is that um in January they lost the transportation administrator. So they eliminated that position and Greg who's the assistant became um he started doing a lot of that
responsibility. Part of his his uh salary is now being played by regional transit authority as a result. So they kind of eliminated 21,000 from the municipal budget by that move. Right. Um,
but he only works 19 hours a week. So if he's doing all that transportation work, he's not doing other work. Um, then obviously they lost the chef that was paid by ARPA. And so their volunteer coordinator went back to the kitchen. So that volunteer coordinator
position again is being manned by police Greg. Um um her hours be reduced to also pay for the kitchen assistant. So she has less hours now. Um
her duty is a volunteer coordinator plus other staff. Um obviously the community service coordinator was 40 hours was funded. Um she was handling all the outreach for seniors and now that responsibility is also on the three other staff. Um
they also I mean they had about 3,000 in expenses and just for comparison the day that I met the day before they had had 103 people in the council aging center that day. So you have
ever increasing usage with ever decreasing staff just for reference. And I mean eventually they're going to have to start decreasing hours or services. they just don't have the manpower to do what they're doing right now. So, and that's
within their purview. She's the director. Um, it also relates to something with the library where we've cut the cleaning staff so much a lot of staff in the library and senior center are working outside their job descriptions
in order to clean the facility. And I know that a lot of people are hesitant to do that, but I just wanted to highlight how many people over there are doing that role. Seriously doing cleaning things that are nowhere in their job
responsibilities and that and it is going to become your issue. Cleaning that that facility two days a week, it's a very public facility with hundreds of people some days is is an issue.
So, I just want to keep that on the the alert for coming forward into next year and just so everybody's aware that that's a problem. Um, they get more kids than they get adults.
They get everything. Well, so counseling aging is seniors. Seniors and then library is everything. Yeah. for cleaning services or something to outsource that something. But I mean the the other option too I know and I'm sure the
library director talk on this is is that because of the cuts this year they will have to increase next year in order to stay certified and one thing to consider is do we add facilities to that particular department in some regards to specifically ded because the needs of
this building are very different than the needs of that building. I think we're treating them as one from a facilities perspective. It's so different. I mean any of the schools will have custodial staff, but I mean the employees over there are doing that public cleaning job. If
someone is sick, there's a bathroom accident. You know, there there's a certain degree they won't, but there's a certain degree that they're taking those. So the the the community needs to understand that. Yes. that we have lost that in the
override. Um um and so then other leaison stuff um the school committee met for the first time this summer last week and I know Nelson and the other TAS are I don't know how that letter writing process is going.
Uh I spoke to the the pal TA today. uh he is um in the final stages of like a final draft so to speak uh for the letter to go out to the school district. I have not seen it yet. Um but once I
see it I will share it with the select board get their input and um you know can I throw something in there since we're talking about schools um in talking this is my part of my leaison report. I think that when we
look at the schools, we have to start talking about the school resource officer. The town is only getting reimbursed what 80K for that. And that only just covers salary really. Um what
about benefits? I think that we need to and retirement that the town is paying for that officer and I think we need to consider having the school pay a lot more than 80k to reimburse the town or
the school resource officer. All three towns should be carrying that load. Um and so that's just something to keep in mind. Um and so um I encourage everybody to look at the school community from last week.
Um there is discussion about what they had left over from FY25 and how that can or cannot be spent. What I heard is that it cannot be spent to come back to the town. I'm that's what I heard.
Yeah. So I think that that conversation and I think that's an important part of all the towns coming together with response to the school committee and the superintendent in order to get clarification on that. I think it's really important to get that clarified in writing from the superintendent and the school committee because there's a
lot of people are asking me what it what what is and I know a lot of it has to go into their free cash and D but this is the school committee. it's their vote really. And so I think that letter is really important. If as long as I know it that it's being sent, I can make sure
that it's addressed at a meeting. I can bring it up for public comment if the TAS would like me to just so that all school committee members are aware of it and I think that would be helpful and asking for a response I think is appropriate because I don't want to put words in the superintendent or school
committee as to how that can or cannot be spent. I think that's that that response should come from the school committee. So, you were there? I just watched. You just watch. They don't do them in person. I watched Oh, well, I I actually got some text
messages or something in something. I got a message anyway, a number of them saying that um I guess in the last six months, three people have resigned from the school committee. There has been a lot of resations.
Just one from the last one was Ashby. Yeah, Ashb is no longer up as that was last week. Had a resign resation. Yeah, already had a resation. Ash was last week or the week of the school. And then was the other one from town
before that? There was one earlier January or something I think. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's and I'm hoping that I don't know if the school committee members that are from towns are on our board list. I'm hoping
they'll come to our training too. Hope meanwhile training but I know they are everybody has sent that email I think. Yeah, school committee members too. Um I need to check I need to check with Sabrina. She sent
it out to whoever was in a role that so I I can't say for sure. Just and I'll forward it along to them and whoever he leazison on too. Okay. Um so yeah that was school. What other general government? Um,
yeah, I think that's right. Um, I attended the North Central Mass Regional Coordinator Council meeting this morning. This is the one that
Elise did at least did comment that she no one over there has the time right now to participate in that. Um, that's a shame. Um, I think that pretty much I mean I'm not going to continue doing this. It's really not my role um to do that, but uh I I did get
information. They're working on a mobility master plan which is coming out in September. We saw two presentations. one from the I'll say this wrong, Quobog uh connector um a a busing
situation in 10 towns and also the uh Winenden community connector that they it's a new thing that they've had for about a year. It's pretty cool. Um the goal is that all people who live, work, and visit North Central Massachusetts
can get where they need to go when they need to go. Most of these are on demand services, but in any event, um there's a mobility master plan coming out in September for comment. So I will see that we get that and that it gets
circulated and that people can comment on it. Um it's uh kind of a shame for Townsen to not be involved um to not have uh because we don't send
anybody to these meetings. We won't have opportunities that could exist for the town for transportation. I think it's just that as I they're just stretched so thin that I I agree. um
everybody, but um you know, I was thinking, okay, so who else might be interested in it? If not, I mean, the senior center I know is but what about recreation? What about somebody who's on the rec board? I mean,
because it's for all ages. It's not just for seniors or disabled. Maybe the um if we're getting a uh ADA committee together um commission on disabilities or whatever, maybe someone from that. Uh
I don't know if we if that's posted if we have anyone else that we're pointing to that but um so it's really for they're targeting um elderly,
disabled and youth to get them to places and and there are a lot of good ideas out there. Uh there are new grant opportunities coming out. Um microransit last mile transit grant, the FY26
community transit grant program for operating and mobility management and also a community transit grant program for vehicles. So there are things coming out that um you know uh it would be perfect for a
community services coordinator to be the person that attended this. That's normally what it would be. We just don't have it. So anyway, um so I'll see that we get the mobility master plan and comment on it. They're
planning to meet in September. They're typically every other month and they were going to do the next one in October, but because all these grants open in September and the master plan is going to be available for comment, um
they're they expect to meet in September. I'll get the notice. And um does does the senior center or council on aging do they do their own grant initiatives or do they go through Karen? They would go through Karen too. I mean
a lot of their stuff is from the state funding or the like LRTA is separate things. So that's all separate funding sources. Well, LRTA is the regional transportation out of Wall, which is what Townsend typically did and we are an MPTA community.
Yeah. Because we are with Yeah. Monachus. However, our transportation was coming from LOL. So we petitioned to be part of March. So Townsen is now part of MART and part of LRTA. The senior center was already
doing LRTA, but for MBTA communities, we have to use MART if we're going to provide transportation to get to otherwise they're going to be transported to LOL. Um, which is craziness, but it's what it
is. Um, so we're we're in a a interesting situation and the senior center wanted to keep their relationship with all which they they should have, you know, they should they have that relationship already. But for other
transportation in town, we need to be looking keeping an eye on what's going on there and making sure that we're part of whatever happens. um because the senior center isn't going to be running all the transportation
that that the town could potentially need in the future. But um I am not volunteering to be the person. I'm a volunteer. I'm not paid staff. And it really should be somebody who's paid staff who does this. And I
understand the situation that we're in, but it's what it is. So I'll keep my eye out and I'll get the I hate to see the town moves out, but hey, you know, it's not important
to the people. So, you have anything else? Nope, that's pretty much. Housing trust, Adam? Uh, housing trust. Uh, we're meeting Thursday to do the RFP. I think that, um, Adam has everything he needs. I
haven't looked to see if the deeds recorded. I will do that to check up on him and send him daggers otherwise. Um, but we hope to have the RFP ready to roll here shortly. Okay. So,
so I so I've had um quite a bit with Border Health and so today posted my sticker on my mailbox and I posted it on Towns and what's
going on, what's not going on. Um stating that they have to have their stickers by September 1st or they won't be picked up. Their trash won't be picked up. Um, also I did want to say they have uh
given out or Carla has she's done a great job. Um, over 1,600 stickers and there are still over 250 or more that have signed up online and have not
picked up their stickers yet. So, I have a question. How much money has come in? I it doesn't matter whether they picked up the sticker or not. It's really not by sticker number. I mean, it's it's really how much money 25
sticker that went out. How much money has come in? How much has come in? Can we divide it by 125 and get the number of stickers that have been sold? Because talk about lack of transparency. I mean, I watched the board of health
meeting last week and one of the board of health members asked, "How many have been sold?" Oh, well, here's my sticker. The next one I'm giving out and there's other people to pick it up. So, oh, maybe about 1,500. You should know exactly,
you know, at 5:00 PM today, I've taken in X number of dollars. Doesn't matter what the sticker numbers are. X number of dollars divide by 125. That's the number of stickers that have gone out. It doesn't matter how many have been
physically handed out because who knows if they even went out in order if there isn't a pile of 50 sitting somewhere that weren't open. Well, I was number five to pay and but I didn't get my sticker until I was 203, I think.
You know, so there were people that were getting their stickers before, right? So all you have to do is say how much money has been taken in divide it by 125. That's the number of people that are enrolled. Okay. And and I think that to get that I have
to make a public records request which seems silly. I think a spreadsheet apparently that lost a few times for some reason or another. Are you there's a spreadsheet? I I heard there
was a spreadsheet that she has some technical difficulties with and lost the spreadsheet. I Melissa can tell you more about it. She's offered to help. I I don't know about the spreadsheet. I just want to know how many dollars have been taken in.
Well, like I think 200, but that's different. But I mean anyway, I'll try to find that out. But that makes you glad they don't have Oh, the number that number is what I'm
saying. I would hope the spreadsheet would have dollar amounts on it, too. Beyond me. It's beyond me. Okay. Thank you. My understanding is that there was no sticker given out without payment.
No, I'm not saying that. I I don't care about the stippy numbers. I just want to know how many are okay. All right. Sorry, I don't know. And I'm I'm perplexed that it can't be definite. That's all.
Okay. So, I also heard from some other people that everybody is, of course, there's lines and so people get a little testy in the lines, but there's also some rudeness going on, abusive language going on
when people are picking up their stickers. They're also blaming the selectmen for causing this ruckus. And it's all our fault. Who is they? the people who are picking up their stickers. Let's do it.
That's fine. Okay. So, is what it is. Just um nobody should have to take abuse is what I'm saying. Um we also do have a lot uh let's see, planning board and zoning still have
full seat vacancies and they are posted. Um, and there are other vacancies still available on other boards and committees, and we're still looking for volunteers. Our next meeting is September 2nd at
6:00 p.m. And 5.5. Is there a motion? I I move that review and pay payroll and bills payable warrants out of session. And I will second that. Okay. Any discussion hearing? None. Roll call.
I can call yes. Yes. Or yes. Five. Executive session. 6.1. Executive session pursuant to open meeting law chapter 3A section 21 A3 to
discuss strategy respect to collective bargaining. If an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares clerical union,
supervisors union, highway, water union, police union and fire union. That is my motion. Do it separately or together? Um either way. So both fine. Okay. So,
and to and 6.2 executive session. Oh, and well, no, let me do them both. Let me do them both. Yeah. 6.2 to executive session pursuant to open meeting law chapter 30A section 21A2
to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with non-UN personnel to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-UN personnel town administrator and I so move and we will
um we'll adjourn turn out of executive session. Ask that we go into executive at 9:31 p.m. And we are join adjourning from executive session. Yeah. Our business is complete.
Okay. So, I've got a motion and a second. Okay. Um, roll call. Veronica Kelly. Yes. Yes. And Laura, yes. Thank you all very much, everyone.