All right, folks. Um, it's uh, happy St. Patrick's Day. 3 p.m. 3:02 p.m. I'm going to shift to uh, Vice Chair, Miss Kell. Um, Lori has not joined us yet, but we'll uh, get things rolling here just so we can uh, keep time moving. So,
>> all right. I'd like to call the meeting of the Town of Towns and Select Board to order at 3:03 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17th. Could I have a roll call, please? >> Good. present >> and Veronica Cal present. >> Excellent. Pledge of
>> allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Um I'd like to announce that
the meeting is being recorded and it will be uploaded to YouTube. Is there anyone else who is recording? >> Yep. >> Thank you. Real deal. Um, moving on to number four. Um, reviewing
the meeting minutes. Uh, we have 310 2026 to record to uh consider. Is there a motion? >> Um, I val move to approve the meeting minutes of March 10th, 2026. Um, Veronica Keel second.
Are there any comments? I sent them to Spring already and she reflected mine. I I um also applied my comments. I switched the um community compact and
and whatever it is. I want to say MIR, but that's not it. Um I switched those two and I wasn't sure of the name of the ad hoc committee. It said ad hoc housing. So I changed it to the ad hoc um
uh bylaw committee for um mixed use housing. >> Okay. >> But uh I don't know if that's >> I think I saw that one by the time I was in. So >> Okay. >> My change is reflected here. So >> All right. Good. Good. All right. So um
are we ready for a vote? >> Yeah. All right. >> Valai >> and Veronica Cali. Thank you very much. Um, we have a meeting with the finance committee at 6:00 pm. So, I am
>> going to go back go down to 5.2 the free cash updates. >> Yeah, free cash update. Um, I will um recollect that this was in regards to the sale of own land and its abilities on free cash, right? That's what I
remembered we were discussing. Um I will share some things on the screen if uh Tam you can just allow me to share some uh different things here. Um so couple things you'll look at here do all the clicking is uh here's our
current balance and that is very small. So, let's zoom in a wee bit and hope I don't break the computer. So, you can see here what we have in our sale of town owned land account $356,000
3564. Um, so I know we had touched on this in terms of how it can be used. Um, it is important to note that there's two sort of categories. Some of them are, you know, if you just sell a piece of land that wasn't through tax collection, you could, you know, you can determine how
you use those funds. If it is related to tax collection, um, and I'll share in a moment Adam's email in terms of how he broke it out in terms of how he's suggesting we um, look at these things. I shared this, I think, with just Veronica at the time
because she had had a question. Um, but Essentially, the sale of town owned land is specifically designated for infrastructure type items. Infrastructure can include the purchase
of more land. Um, public safety gear, um, you know, there's a variety of different things you can use for the sale of town land related to infrastructure type items. You could you could purchase software, excuse me, if it were for like
a capital plan for like a a more than one-year project. >> Clear gov in its implementation phase would not necessarily it be it's not black and white, but it's more gray to no than gray to yes, if you will. um
doesn't say doesn't mean to me that's not a good purchase or a good usage of it but it's not exactly how it's defined and a little AI research helped me with some understanding of this as well. So something to be aware of. Um,
>> does when you say you mentioned public safety, you know, my question is going to be probably bunker gear. >> This would fall under that category, >> which is good. I have a question that has more to do with funds.
>> Um, some of the properties that were auctioned in the spring were tax title and some of them weren't. Correct. >> And you made a distinction between the two. So in the account that you just projected, >> was that a mix of the two or are they
>> that's a mix >> held separately? >> That's a mix is my understanding from the account. >> So then how do we know how much we can use for the allowed uses and how can we how what can't we >> after getting Adam's email and again a little internet research we should
really break that apart. >> Yes. So, we know like and I know the the sale of the water department building was the primary chunk of change in that account and not the only chunk. >> Correct. And I I know that the water department was not tax title. >> Correct. >> And so I would like to see that broken
out. >> Okay. >> Um so that's I guess a task for the accountant. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'll work with the accountant and just have her clarify. And it may be just simply saying of the 356, you know, $10 are, you know, tax taking and the rest of the money is
through the sale of water department. And I know um there might be some notes that folks have out there for the exact amounts. We'll try to get those to all line up. >> That's exactly where I'm going. >> Yep. So, I will get that documentation. >> Yeah, I remember sitting next to you at that auction. So, um
>> I Yeah, I do think we should use it. That's my opinion. You should consider using it for a couple of those purchases that >> Yeah. To me, >> I do not disagree with that. I agree with that. >> Yeah. To me, the the bunker gear really comes to mind. It's the it's the proper
>> multiple years a request out there. >> You could also say, would this be a year to use this fund to buy a police clear the police car lease 102 >> and that gives you 100 >> then you get 100K back into the budget. >> Yes. Yes,
>> please. >> Yeah. And then, you know, as I demonstrate the budget later on, you'll see why that might be a potential plan. >> Yeah. >> Um just sort of food for thought um as we consider it. You know, Adam will be here in the next 20ish minutes or so, so he may we may be able to pinpoint him to
speak up again on this, but um I didn't quite prep him for talking about this today, but he's pretty sharp off the cuff. Um so, maybe he can um you know, touch base on this. My homework will be to get you a, you know, breakdown of that 356 and I'll email it all along.
Um, and anybody at home who wants a copy, feel free to email me. So, um, I'm liking that rather than records requested. People email me. This is People email me. I'll send you whatever I got. So, >> I've gotten a couple people who just email me now and it's if it's a public record, I'm happy to email it on.
Sometimes it's quicker. >> Yeah. Can we go back to that account just quickly or if you know how much was in it because my notes say >> 400. >> It was 240k was the water department. >> Yeah. So they can that that's the big number. >> The other
>> that's the unrestricted >> because it's not tax title. >> Not tax not unrestricted but less restricted. >> Yeah >> because that was not tax. So if you did I think the bucker gear was running around 160 and then the police cru was
135 >> 135 and then police cru 110 >> 102. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I always short >> in my head. So that's you know you're looking at 250 out of that roughly 230. >> What are you using for
>> I said if if we were considering taking the police cruisers out of the budget >> I would not do that. I think that's a bad idea, >> but it could for this year. I mean, you'd be you'd be kicking the can for next year, so not a great philosophy, but >> we kicked the can before. >> Yeah.
>> Um and um I I don't think it's a good idea. I don't agree with that. >> Yeah, it's just another way of reabling free cash. >> It's it's a way of >> it is a municipal strategy. That's one of the things that come a couple times.
I mean, Jason brought it up to me when we were like talking about the budget. Like that's really often a capital. It's not a budgetary item. >> Well, we do approve it in capital, but because it's something that is spent every year, you can't not pay for your
cruisers. And if you take it out of the general budget, you wind up juggling to pay for your cruisers, which we have done. >> And it has helped to exacerbate the budget crisis that we have.
>> Yeah. just and so I don't agree with that thought >> something we can continue to ponder but I will get the breakdown of these um and I'm guessing it will align pretty closely with some of your notes from >> so we could have this all balanced out before annual town meeting to present
special tummy before >> well we have to make some decisions >> we have we have some placeholders on the tummy >> okay >> we do >> great >> I got a text she text from Lorie She'll be here shortly. Um, so just as an FYI.
>> Um, but I will uh look to you guys to keep us plugging away if you want. >> Yep. Please do. >> Um, >> anything else on the pre-cash update or have we done that? >> No, I mean other than you'll see in the presentation of the omnibus and recap budget, you know, things where my head
goes for um pre-cash, you know, and I'll touch on snow and ice and things like that. So um you I'm just making sure Lori was okay. So, okay. >> But, you know, we'll we'll revisit the
rest of that um you know, 558 we have in free cash um a little later on tonight. So, >> Okay, sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Um next on your agenda is 5.3 candidates night update. Um I'll do another screen
share here. So >> John is considering doing it again. >> Yeah, I you know touched base um with town moderator Mr. Barrett um and it sounds like he was interested in hosting it. He was sort of thinking that it would be nice to do it in person and I kind of echo that. I think you know we
are well past sort of the COVID times. Um, it might be something we could record, but I think there would be, you know, it'd be really nice to have folks in person and um, if the folks are willing, if the candidates are willing to take questions off the cuff, sometimes that's a bit more organic.
>> Um, but I will let me screen share this for you. And this was a email that he and I were uh, having fun talking about St. Patrick's Day. So, um, you know, I just reached out to him and he said, you
know, we've done it by Zoom in the past. You know, we come up with seven or 10 questions for each candidate. Um, we only have one contested race for select board. Um, it's Mr. Harrison May and Miss Sarah Logan. Um, so those are the
two that are probably the the big the big ones that most people have their eyes on. Um, we also have candidates that are, you know, we have Miss Hoffus, Carol Hoffus is reupping for planning. Um, you know, Harrison, M. Mr. Mayott's
going to be the the town clerk again. Um, there's no one that's not a contested race. This won't proclude people from doing writing campaigns. I don't think that's really the intention of candidates night in this current environment. Um, but >> I'm sure someone could talk to John,
too, if they were intending to have a writing campaign. Yeah, I mean I would leave that up to the resident. You know, you gota um the moderator take you got to own what you want to do. >> Um but in general, these were the questions that were used in 2025. >> Um
you know, sort of how it it shakes out. >> Those primary selecting questions were the bow questions because that was the only one there. >> Yeah. Um >> there was stuff I think he'll probably change it. There was a lot on there was a bunch on trash and stuff. So
>> it probably but >> yeah. So um I don't know if it's our place necessarily to amend these questions. I don't think I would suggest >> I don't think so. I think >> yeah I think it's the moderator and um he may hear from residents who say hey
Mr. moderator you could ask this and if that sort of builds some momentum what's wrong with that? Um, >> and if it's in person, you can ask open questions. >> So, that's good. >> All right. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um,
5.4. I have not had time to do much on 5.4 in regards to annual town meeting warrant articles. Um, >> there's not a huge rush on that right now. >> Not a huge rush. The ballot questions will be of more focus. Um currently for
the town there are two ballot questions. Um one being the shift from a threeperson board to a fiveperson board and the second related to the police override. Um you know I'm thankful right now that as we get to the budget and I know it's
a larger discussion. You know we can balance it without an override um with about 100k. Um I know that's not a policy that the town wants to follow but it's something we could do this year. Um, not everyone will agree with
>> you have a budget with that because the budget you with the 2% for the police. I haven't seen that. >> Oh, I haven't done that one because I was going to wait to do that one till next till Thursday. >> And you can say that we can balance it
because I don't think you can. >> But the number is going to be less than >> uh but look at the recap where you put in the 197. You wouldn't. The 197's built into the recap. >> And if if the override doesn't pass if the over
>> we have 20. >> That's all you're gonna If article 4 passes, it's $20,000 more because you're using ARPA for the offset. >> No, >> if article passes, >> we'll talk. >> Okay. Um,
so >> that's true for FY25, but it is not true for FY I mean for FY26, but not for FY27. >> But you wouldn't have an agreement for 27. So you'd go back to the negotiating table. >> Oh, no. If four passes,
you're making the exact same mistake. >> You're thinking it's the evergreen rights. So is that what it's called? Like you think they get the four because that was the four that was given. >> Yes. You have to read the contract. >> We'll talk. >> So four. Yeah, I could >> I I >> So you'd still be using free cash. You'd
just be using more of it. >> You'd be using It'd be another It'd be another >> 671. >> Yeah. You'd be using another 60 >> more than that because that only covers up through doesn't cover the remainder of the fiscal year. We'll talk.
>> Yeah. >> Um that'll be fun. >> Sorry. >> Okay. So 5.4 warrant articles. Um and then we were talking about the two motions. So one motion is the three to five board
members and the second motion is for the police override. Um I was saying that you know like we can balance the budget with some free cash TPD if we have a police you know issue. Um but we might
be able to carry that on. Um and we would revisit that to try to figure it out. um and go from there. So, >> I also um with regards to the ballot questions, I do have a response from Adam on how the five person board would play out that we can talk at a future
meeting and I'll put in >> SharePoint next time unless you want me to reference it now or >> Well, he'll be joining us at 3:30ish today depending on traffic. Um so, we'll um we'll go from there. >> I may have us pause for a second so we can let Lori get settled if that's okay.
Um, so TKM, we're just going to pause for one second so we can uh allow Mr. to uh >> 3:25 is now. >> All right, we're back, TKM. We got our bearings. >> Hi everyone, it's 3:25 and I apologize for my lateness today. Uh, we are in
discussion of 5.4. >> Yep. >> Continuation. >> Correct. Yeah. So 5.4 before we were discussing um the town meeting and warn articles which I'll have fully baked out for you on the 24th. Um and even then they're still going to move a little bit
because of timing. Um >> could we just move that to April 7th? >> Good. >> Yeah. >> Is the board agreeable? Oh, yeah. Already. Thank you. >> Yeah, we do need to have our ballot questions completed by then. Um again, I I say this earlier, it's the ballot
questions look like the three to five person board. question. And then the second one being the police override in the event article 4 passes at town meeting. >> Do we have time to do that on April 7th?
>> We have to have it done before then. So >> the ballot questions have to be done before then. Can we finish those up on the 24th? >> No, I thought they're due on the 23rd. >> So we have to do it on Thursday or Yeah.
Yes. because the 23rd is Monday and you are not going to be coming. >> Okay. So, >> are we meeting before Thursday? >> Are we meeting before then >> the special? >> That's we don't have it on the calendar. >> We don't have it currently on the calendar.
>> Yeah, but we have time to post. I I would then think that we should make a motion to have um uh our interim TA vet the questions with town council after the meeting on Thursday night and put them forward for placement on the
ballot. Do we need a motion? >> I would just say so moved. >> So moved. Veronica Keel second. Just those two valid questions at this. >> That's all we have. >> Okay. Very good.
Who made the motion? >> A second. >> No, I mean Karen cannot make a motion. >> I made a statement. >> She said so moved. >> I said second. >> I did hear that. >> Okay. The person who said so moved. Your name
>> Valerie Goodrich. >> What's your name? >> What's your name? >> All right. And and Veronica seconded. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. Roll call vote. Veronica. Gai and Laura Sheper and I thank you.
That takes care of 5.4. Uh we have a 3:30. >> We're supposed to have a 3:30 with Adam. I'm going to send him the Zoom link if you want to. >> I can take something else if you like. >> If you want to chat about 5.8.
>> Oh, yes. That's what I've been working on. Mhm. >> Um I sent >> I thought we already appointed >> there's two more people and we I have them from housing and I reported their names. >> Yes, you did. That is Beverly. Not
Beverly, David Orland and Cindy Bounty. >> Correct. Those are the ones that needed to be appointed. I stated them last week, but they weren't on the agenda. So now they're on the agenda. Is there a motion? >> Yep. Do you have you have the names written down? Would you like to make a motion?
>> It's David. >> I will make it. >> And I Okay. >> Veronica Cal, I move that we appoint um David Worland and Cindy Bounty
uh as members of the ad hoc committee on housing and economic development. The completion of the work of the committee. Seconded. Any further discussion? I do have a question which I have
emailed out and uh since my email today I've not gotten an answer. So just for clarification the ad hoc committee are they considered appointed and need to be sworn in and every meeting is
posted >> the committee? Not a question I know what answer to, but I saw your questions and I know Jack from the town clerk's office had shared some feedback. I would >> I didn't see it. >> Yeah, I would stick with what the town clerk office designates their requirements are for an ad hoc
committee. >> So just the town screening committee and Jay and AC and I all got sworn in. It's all >> Oh, the screening committee did. >> It's ad hoc. So I it's required by charter. >> Okay. Okay. I just wasn't sure because
those best practice maybe I don't know. Those are not and I'm good with it. That's not bad. >> But those are not um my concern is trying to get 10 or 12 people together whether it's in person or even virtually
and some of them only having certain days. So I'm trying to put something together and didn't know. In other words, I have to have them all sworn in beforehand and then um be able to get a Zoom together. But
okay, now and then I know what to do. >> Be pretty big because how many members are on it? >> Um it's either 10 or 12. >> So then if you calculate your quorum, I mean there can be a fairly decent amount. >> We'll always have I'm sure we'll have a Yeah. So that was but thank you for the
discussion and a roll call vote on the motion. of Kell and Laura Shiff and I. Thank you again. We are at 3:30. Do you want me to go on? >> I would until Adam confirms he's going to join us. He may have gotten tied up. So, let's let's keep rolling.
>> Did we skip 57? We did. >> We did skip 57. Um that's a memorial hall rental request for an ethics training here at the town hall. um great idea for a lot of our boards and employees to um take an opportunity to
learn about a you know a state-run ethics training. Um >> I think it's beyond towns and too I think it's Pepper. >> Yeah, there's opportunities for neighboring communities to join us. Um you know just a good practice in general. I think it's been about nine months since the last one we had. But
we've also had a lot of turnover. We've met some new committees. Um, you know, I know the town clerk's office was interested in um helping get this organized. >> Is this with town council? >> No, it's >> it's not with town. Not with town council, with the state um agency. So
>> So the state agency is the one providing the training. >> Correct. >> Yeah. So really just I look to support that and uh utilize motion. Yeah. Um I Good move to approve the use of Memorial Hall window for ethics training on April
21st, 2026. Okay. Any further discussion? >> I I guess I'm wondering if there are people outside of the town. Is there anything else that needs to be in place >> insurance wise or um you know uh safety
wise? Well, we wouldn't ask, you know, just a visitor for safety. You know, someone from Dunville came here and said, "Hey, can I just come walk around the building?" >> That's true. >> You know, it's a public space. >> It's public >> and uh I'd be thrilled if we had some
other neighbors come by. I think that'd be great. What a win that would be. Um just to sort of broaden our, you know, reach in the community. So, >> yeah. Um Mr. Costa's here, so if you wanted to >> just take the vote, would you mind? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Roll call vote.
>> Veronica Kell and Lora. Thank you very much. >> Um 5.5 was discussed order of operations um for the annual town election and annual town meeting um with Mr. Adam
Costa, our town council. Um the goal being here to answer some questions about timing process and what the implications are. Um Adam, you're up. Hi, Adam. Good >> good afternoon. How are you, Madam Chair, members of the board? Nice to see
you all. Nice to >> see you. >> We got you loud and clear. Um I can let I know Val had some questions. I know maybe other board members have questions. Um do you want me to shift to you guys first or how do you want me to sort of lay this out um with Adam here?
>> Can I ask first? Are we talking about any town meeting or are we talking about the special town meeting or are we talking about the annual town meeting? Yeah, the the focus here would be for the annual town meeting and then the annual town election was my understanding and I think I shared that
with Adam. I hope um along the way, but he's pretty resourceful so you never know. He might be able to speak off the cuff and go from there. So, >> Adam will speak. >> Yeah, Adam will be joining us uh Thursday night um for our special town
meeting as well as for our May 5 annual town meeting. I pinned him down and said you can't can't not be with us that day. cyber leaf. Okay. >> Who wants to go first?
>> Veronica, do you want to go first? >> Nope. I always go first. >> Okay. >> Um I think Adam, um you and I had discussed briefly with the ballot question if um the three to five member board, correct? and um how that would play out
if it was approved at the ballot. And I didn't know if you wanted to give a brief explanation of what we had talked about for everybody here and the public listening too. >> Yeah, >> sure. So, I'm I'm actually I'm actually going to pull up your email here so I can remember the specific question you
asked cuz your your question I think was in multiple parts, but it >> primarily related to uh timing and what obligations the board uh might have with respect to um when it would conduct the election for filling the new seats made
available by virtue of the the the ballot question if it's successful. Can Can I ask a question about this before >> You said you were going last. >> I I did, but I just changed my mind. Something popped into my head.
>> Um, this was a citizen petitioned article. >> Do we write the ballot question or does someone else write the ballot question? So there's no mechanism um by which
members of the public can place a question on a municipal ballot. Um there there there's no initiative process. There are some cities that have um have defined processes pursuant to city charter. Um but generally speaking there
there's no process by which citizens or citizen groups can require a question to be placed on a on a municipal ballot. uh in a mechanism, for example, similar to the citizens petition process that exists for warrant articles on a annual
or special town meeting warrant. And so, um it is the responsibility of the select board to craft the ballot question and to ultimately vote to place that question on the ballot. Um I suppose that um though you would be
doing something contrary to the will of the voters as expressed at at a town meeting. anyway or those voters in attendance at at the town meeting. Uh I suppose there could be a circumstance where the select board would refuse to place a question on the on the ballot.
Um but this is the process while it was initiated by uh a group of residents by way of a citizens petition uh this is a process that is uh contemplated by your by your charter. >> Thank you.
What does it say in the charter? Only the select board can place an item on >> only the select board can place the Oh, >> and I wasn't speaking so much to the process of placing items on uh on the ballot being referenced in the charter. I'm not sure the charter speaks to that
at all because Mass General laws already does, but the charter does speak to the process for increasing the membership uh uh available membership of the select board. >> It does. Yes. >> Right. >> Yeah. And that's that was the process that the citizens followed. When I I I
recall it because when I first saw the proposed citizens petition, I said to myself, I think what any municipal lawyer would, which is citizens can't do this. If you want to increase the membership of the of the select board, you've got to do so by way of a charter amendment. Um because the membership is
established by charter. It's a special act charter. The citizens can't force an amendment of the charter, but they could propose a warrant article for special legislation. But I then read the specific provisions of your charter and your charter does contemplate a process by which the select board membership is
increased from 3 to 5 pursuant to this this uh these two steps. First step being the town meeting vote and the second step being uh a vote uh a referendum vote effectively at the ballot. Um so there were a few things Val that I
had referenced in um in our email exchange relative to um to the process. So, you had asked a specific question about um the request um that this item
be placed on the ballot within uh 90 days, I think it was. So, the way that article 7 uh at at town meeting read, it said to see if the town will vote in accordance with section 3.2 of the town charter. Uh and then it goes on to quote that section to change from 3 to five
members um the the membership on the select board. And then the second sentence says, "Should this article pass at both annual town meeting and the the annual town election, we request that an election be called within 90 calendar days to elect one selectman for a
three-year term ending at the annual election in April 2028 and one selectman for a 2-year term ending at the annual election in April of 2027." And so there was this additional sentence wasn't really part of the warrant article. it appeared after the language or take any
action in relation there too. And it was structured as a request and I I remember seeing it. It was printed on the on the warrant because it was part of what got submitted in the citizens petition. And as you know from the past advice I provided to the board. I always recommend that the citizens petitions be
printed verbatim as they're submitted because that is what the statute contemplates. And so it was included on the warrant. Um, but again, it appears after the the the true text of the warrant article and is structured as a quote unquote request using its own terminology. That's not my
characterization that says we request. And so when Val asked this question to me, are we do we have an obligation to place this on the warrant? And if you don't mind me quoting your your email, Val, um you you said, you know, looking at the election calendar, there is an
early September state primary already scheduled, which would put us just past the 90 days, but of course would help the town avoid the additional expense of a special election without the matter being delayed too much. And so, um, what
I explained, I agreed with, um, your your suggestion that this was not obligatory in light of the word request. I agreed with that that characterization or interpretation of the article. Um, I did also go on to say that it's the select board's um, role and and and
discretion in determining when town election should be called. That's solely within the purview of the select board under two different statutes in Massachusetts. Chapter 54 section 63 and chapter 39 section 10 which is the the same section of statute that deals with
town meeting warrants. Um that no other individual, no other town official, no group of citizens has the authority to require or call an election. Um but then I did point out something that I think is important again um I'll say unique to Towns and not that you're the only
community that has it but it is in your very specific towns and special act charter. If you look to section 3.1F2 of the charter, which deals specifically with vacancies on the select board, there is this quote, and I'm going to read it verbatim because I think it's
important to understand it. It says if there is a failure to elect or if a vacancy otherwise occurs on the select board and the next annual election is not to be held for not less than 6 months following the date of the vacancy. The remaining members of the
select board shall forth with call a special election to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy occurs in more than three months but less than six months would elapse before the next annual town election, the select board may call a special election, provided, however,
that upon receipt of a petition signed by not less than 200 registered voters, the remaining members of the select board will forth with call a special election. So you notwithstanding the the um the discretion um that is vested in you as a select board under state law,
Massachusetts general laws, you do have this specific provision in your charter that requires the calling of a special election if the next annual election is not to be held for 6 months or more or more more than 6 months I guess I should
say. And there's als and there's also a petitioning process where 200 registered voters could require you to hold a special election even if you're not required to otherwise do it. >> Can I ask a question, Adam? >> Um, for the move to a fivep person
board. I'm I'm looking for it right now, but I can't find it. You might be able to find it directly. I thought that it was um termed and that any such vote shall be ratified by the voters of the
town at the next annual town election. So in other words, we had the vote at last year's annual town election. So this is >> yeah annual town meeting. Sorry. Um, we had the vote for the citizens petition
article. And if I'm reading this, if it were not a citizen petition article with other words in it, then the vote would be at the next annual town meeting. >> So I I I think that we're confusing two different types of v votes at the ballot
box because the fact that it's a citizens petition doesn't change the analysis at all. So what that provision and I'm looking for it here as we as we speak to I think it's 32 is that right? Yes. So section 3.3-2A says the composition of the select board
may change from 3 to five members as determined by a 2/3 vote of an annual town meeting provided however that any such vote shall be ratified by the voters of the town at the next annual election. So that's a ratification vote of the increase in membership. That's
not actually electing individuals to fill those seats. That's simply ratifying the available seats that the membership number of the select board. Once that occurs, you then need to fill those seats. And I think that the and again I don't want to speak for the citizens petitioners but based upon that
request that they included at the end of the citizens petition. I think what they wanted to avoid happening is you go to the annual town election in May this upcoming May which is the next town election after last year's annual town meeting that voted to increase the
membership. Let's say that at the ballot box the voters do ratify what occurred at annual town meeting and therefore increase the membership of your board to five. I think the sponsors of this article didn't want another whole year to elapse and not have to wait until uh
the the the spring of 2027 before you're actually filling these seats. Is there a way that we or do we need permission without being violating something
that we go with the spring the fall election in September? I mean I don't think the >> we can do whatever we want. We >> could do that technically. >> We could do that and then >> because that would fulfill everything
>> the petition as well as the spirit of petition >> and and it also does it we have to be conscious of the budget and holding >> the whole thing. >> So I mean that was >> it's close it's close to 90 days. It's likeund and something I look at. >> Yeah. It's not that far. And I think I
think the only thing that I would change then in just the way that warrant article was written was it said, you know, one member ending in April 2027, but that would that wouldn't even be six months at that point. So I think we'd just have to look at that >> how the things would lay out.
>> I think we would go with the >> a two year and a three year. >> Yeah, >> we'd have to see how we'd have to work with the clerk and see how our everything laid out rolling. So, >> okay. Hopefully that's clear to everyone. >> Yep.
>> And you know, still in the spirit of everything, but hopefully a little less money out of our coffers um to make it done since there isn't very much difference in timing. Um >> that was my question regards to that
stuff. >> Okay. Then next, >> was there anything for town election and then now town meeting to be chatted about? >> How um something that piqu your interest?
>> Yeah. And I don't know if I maybe just missed it in my time in the hallway, but I I would if I may pose a question to council. Um, it's my understanding that for ballot questions we can put them on the November ballot but not on the September state primary. Can we put
seats on the November bet? >> So like the two select board. Did >> you hear that question? >> I I I did not. >> We held a separate special because >> the town clerk joined us. So, you had a question about when >> the ballots,
>> the names or the Yeah. put on the ballot, right? >> Yeah. So, in the past, we've had a separate special November election. I'm wondering if because we still have to pay all the cost of that separate election. Um, if we could put the the seats on the November general election
ballot, much like a ballot question, we could have the state put on >> because it's not allowed on the September one. >> Correct. So, >> because it's a primary. Correct. >> Oh, >> that's my understand.
>> Oh, >> Adam, any thoughts there? >> So, I don't know. I'd have to consult with the elections division to see if they have any issue with that. Um, I I don't know the answer to that. >> I mean, didn't we when we did CPA and when we did the elections for me and
Lori, we did that. So my >> what I can't remember whether it was the same ballot or separate I think it was the week later want to say November 16th the same >> the election was on the 16th I can tell you it was exactly November 16th
>> it was a Saturday yeah >> so yeah >> so we'd have to figure out the details >> yeah but I was just curious if if it has been contemplated or if the elections division could be asked if we could put it on the general ballot much like We would put a um would because we are
allowed to put general uh local ballot questions on the November general election of additional. >> Yeah, we could put the seats on then that would stay. >> So we have to pay for those two anyway in li of having another one within the 90day request request.
>> Well and and there are some savings for it to be a state election. There are additional costs because of vote by mail and things like that, but um we don't have to print the separate set of ballots. um which is a couple thousand dollar cost. Um so if the state can bear
the cost of printing those two extra seats on, you know, it's already going to be a massive um you multicard ballot. Yeah, they if they can do that, then that saves us a little bit of an expense. >> That's all I want to add. Yeah, I think
>> I love the idea of being efficient and the state should get on board with that. I hope >> hopefully >> DBD that's >> well it would be coming out of their budget and ours so I don't know they'll be so excited we'll find a way >> we are good with that >> since theirs is a lot bigger than ours
>> um cool >> what else do we need from >> that was all I sort of asked Adam to meet with us on was the order of operations for town election and town meeting was there anything for town meeting you wanted to cover >> in regards to annual town eating Cinco
de Mayo May 5 >> right now I may serve >> tequila shops all around >> there likely will be something before then I'm sure this is sounding so >> well good thank you for that
clarification Adam very helpful >> sure and I'll check in with the election division concerning the town clerk's question and see if I can get some guidance there regarding the uh the primary and the general election and what flexibility we have >> thanks with you. >> See you on Thursday. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> So other than that, that particular uh question situation doesn't have to come up until >> Sounds like we have some time. >> We have some time. >> Yeah. >> Until after the election for sure. >> It does bring up a question and I'm not
sure if this is just a formality or not because Adam mentioned it. Did we specifically vote to put those two questions on the ballot or do we need to formally take that because we've been talking about them now for months. Those two questions as the two questions that
are going to be on the ballot and we just gave you permission to work on the wording. >> We voted on the police override. I thought >> I thought we did that at the last meeting. >> I know we did that but do we want to formally make a vote on the three to five member board just so it's there? I mean it is we are we can take those and
It is on the agenda. It's the annual town election. So, it's up to you guys. >> If we haven't voted on it, then maybe we should. >> Just to >> I thought we had, but if you guys >> I know I know we did the override, but I'm not sure we actually formally voted
on the three to five member board. I just feel like >> up to you guys. >> It's up to you. >> Codify it. >> Let's codify it. >> I don't know. Word of the week be in violation because we're codifying. Votes may be taken. >> Reaffirming something.
>> Yes, lots of vote. Vote. >> Okay. Um I would make a motion to place um on the annual town election the ballot question to change the towns and site board from a three member to a five member board >> and also >> and also to place um a composition two
and a half override question for the police union salaries. >> Is there a second? Any discussion? And just so that everybody knows that's under 5.4 of our agenda.
>> No. Yeah. 5.5. >> 5.5. >> 5.5 of our agenda. >> Here are we discussed at 310. >> Yep. >> But here's what they look like. >> I can zoom in. >> Okay. And that's uh subject to Adam's
>> Y review. >> Review. And we also voted I don't know if you were here to have Yeah, you were. It was the one to have um Kieran sign it and get it off. >> Okay. >> After the meeting.
>> Okay. Hearing no further discussion. Roll call vote. >> Veronica I get a check and Laura Fern. So now I think that brings us to 5.2.
Um, we we did 5.2. >> Oh, you did? Oh, that's right. I'm sorry. >> Yep. So, for your >> again, I apologize. >> Background. We got through 5.2. Got through 5.3. >> Oh, when is the candidates night? >> Um, we're going to wait to see when John has availability. Um, so he's going to
look at his calendar and I'm going to >> work with him. >> I was trying to cipher all the emails. Yep. About it. >> Um, and then I'll have warrant articles for you guys on 47. That's 5.4. four. Um we just did 5.5. Um
motions for special town meeting is 5.6. That is one that we could probably jump into um if you were okay with that. >> Okay. >> Um so I prepared motions. I'll also share with you guys the uh slideshow that I had emailed out.
>> Yep. >> Um just because I think it would be good to see. And then if you're okay with how it looks today, I'd love to share it with the town clerk um Jack down there. if you'd love to get things printed. Um going to print about a hundred of them. >> Um we are aware that a couple of our
signs are not fully working all that well right now, the blinking signs, but um highway signs. >> Yes, ma'am. Yeah, Jim was going to take a look at them. See if we can get the battery kind of tweaked and um go from there. But let me um share with you right now
the special town meeting. Um so here's the I'll start with the PowerPoint. just because that could be a bit more fun. Let me share my screen here. >> Are you planning to do that PowerPoint at the beginning of the meeting or are
you doing it as we go along? >> As we go along, slide by slide. >> So, you'll probably need your own place markers with the warrant. >> I know >> this meeting loves to see the wording of whatever we're proposing in between sometimes. >> Okay. >> We're going to print that out.
>> Yeah. So if people can look at a print out, they can look at a screen. >> Okay. >> Um, >> sounds good. >> Yeah. >> So, um, some beautiful eagles here. Um, welcome to town. This is sort of a snapshot of articles to be
discussed. Um, it's all 11 of our articles um here. So clear gov oped town council trusts article four FY26 police wages with ARPA five fiscal year 27 police wage adjustment via prop 2 and a half
override article six le lease authorization for meadows article seven is board of health but we're going to take no action um town clerk article eight town clerk cotification of ro um I'll highlight that when we get to that one he's asked to table that for now
hopefully I'm using I saw that Yeah. Um, >> article 9 is election account replenishment. Um, 10 and 11 are technical code corrections from the town clerk to um, you change board of selectman to select board two words throughout all our naming conventions
conventions. And there was another e-code one about nonsubstantive and yeah um you know clear of article one you know was going to be the request um the transfer you know $41,600
from free cash or sale of town owned properties. I do believe that it is not eligible for sale of town owned properties for this to cover that cost. So, I'll likely pull that sentence out or that last few words there. Um, but I
did want to pinpoint, you know, what the purpose of Clear Gov is. >> Um, transparency, long-term financial planning. Um, you know, there's an onboarding and first year subscription fee built into that, you know, 40, >> you know, $41,600. um and what the outcome is. It provides
the town with a modern look for you know planning budgets, tracking finances, um doing projections which I know is a really powerful tool which I can do in Excel but um you know I think clear gov would probably be a little bit more efficient and a bit more reliable than
just the old Excel spreadsheets here that we've become so dependent upon. Um >> and that's also what finance is using. >> Yeah, finance is using. Yeah. And you know it's none of us are perfect. So if you you know if you if you fatten finger you know a zero and you lose it it could
go from you know $1 to $10 you know there's a consequence. Um >> I also wanted to share with um the residents the other communities near us um towns and cities that do use clear gov you know Lunberg a or little witch
in yeah I think it just sort of tells a story that um other towns are embarking on having implemented this and then are using it as a tool. Um, it's also someone we can call if we're unsure about something that we have a question on. We can call our friends in piling a
great >> um so I think that helps. >> Um, article two is related to other post employee benefits. Um, OPAD it's an actuarial study. Um, and what we would be doing is asking for about 4750 $4,750
from free cash. Um, and that's a this is a free cash item to hire an actuarial consultant to calculate the town's future retiree health insurance u liability. And why this is important? Um, it helps the town understand a long-term
financial obligation related to providing retirement benefits and maybe even pension benefits to its employees that retire as of X date and moving forward. um why this is important for us to do it. Um about 93% of municipalities in
Massachusetts provide this benefit to their employees. It supports retention, long-term workforce stability. Um we are just one of a few that don't offer it to our employees. Um you know, >> and that's because we just never had the money.
>> Yeah, it it's it's expensive. Um there are some strategies for funding it um that you know the actuarial may share in terms of what the phase one would look like. This is just the study portion of the process and then there's a second phase um in terms of how it can go. Um
you know the study is to be completed within about 120 days you know approximately um so that we can you know review it and figure out what to do from there. So >> okay >> I you know I know folks on the town meeting for may say like well what's it going to cost us? We don't really know.
That's the purpose of this study. Um, so I certainly anticipate those questions of like, oh, you're gonna burden the town with all this expense. We're not sure yet. Let's have an actual, you know, >> actuary as part of a future budget. >> Correct. >> Um, article three with a beautiful
beautiful picture of our town common um is transfer from free cash um to establish a fund for town council legal services. Um we've utilized this type of trust in the past before. Um we've spent just about all the funds in that um this
past fall. Why it's useful for us. We have three unions we're actively negotiating with as of today. Um you know, we're sort of waiting on the swing of police in terms of that being ratified. And then in on the horizon, we
have fire um fire and EMS folks to work with on their um next negotiations. Um, we've also been relying upon labor council's expertise for non-unit personnel letters, interimm TA, um, consultant, um, you know, things with
other things going on within different buildings in town for town council to be a resource for, um, you know, police chief contracts, stuff like that. Um, you know, we do have, you know, some utilization of town council when it comes to land use management questions.
Um I used town council just this past week to help help me understand the do amendment for um properties that are church owned and they're needing to do some things in regards to you know right away and land and stuff like that just up the street. So, um we are relying
upon town council and their expertise to make sure these things are done correctly and legally and um with the interest of the town. Um also for RFPs for the town and you know just sort of the catchall for other unanticipated legal matters that come up for the town
questions. I do have a question and I I Okay, so let's just keep this stabilization fund in mind and let's keep going. So I do have a question. I think you know what the question is going to be. >> I can I can imagine um I am going to create a little pause on town meeting
floor to say these next two articles are going to focus on the police department and sort of a I'll call it a special presentation within the special town meeting presentation because you guys like a special town meeting within the annual town meeting. Um, you know, the landscape is Townsen and the Townsen
Police Bargaining Unit ASME Council 93 local 3470 have been negotiating for over 18 months. Um, Townsen has been out of contract with its police officers since fiscal year 25. Um, here are the different things we're going to come across. Um, we're going to share with
the audience to help understand um, the asks here tonight. Um, you know, average police officer salary by department. We are at the bottom of the barrel there. um sort of helping a pie chart really illustrate what's going on. Um
similar with sergeant salary. Um and it's going to be something I'll note on the town meeting floor is this is based on a Collins Center study done. Um this is probably out of date now. So we're probably still even farther down the rung uh in terms of our competitiveness in the marketplace um for police
officers and retaining police officers long term. Do you know what FY this is? >> Um Warren article 4 is going to ask for um fiscal year wage adjustments um by utilizing our wage ARPA fund bucket. It's one of our last bit of ARPA funds
we have as a town. You know, it's going to cover July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Um the officers are currently working without an agreement. Um, the vote would authorize the town to pay, I'm calling it back wages of 53,500
and then update the wage rates for the remainder year at 4%. You can see the math over here. Obviously, people's eyes going to say, well, interim administer Karen, the math doesn't add up. And I'm going to say, you're right. Um, the differences are due to lag time and
shift changes as officers sort of come and go. Um, you know, we have we have lost another officer who has just shared his res resignation with us to finish up his service at the end of the month. Um, and I'll say this a couple times, it's
due to he trained here. Wonderful officer and you did his time here and then is off to greener pastures where it's a little bit more money, a little better shifts. >> Can't blame folks for that. Um, we do want to be competitive in the marketplace.
It kind of speaks to why not just economic comparisons but geographic are good too because if you're even if your economic comparisons are similar if they're so far away from you some someone moves for geography and if you're surrounded by towns that offer more you can't really escape that.
>> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. it and you know um broadly speaking on a macro view like folks of you know certain I'm not sure what J age bracket I'm in but folks move for money and there isn't a lot of loyalty these days unless it's you pay for loyalty um
it's just what the world has become um you know so warrant article 5 a much larger impact um to the town as well as the police budget um it's going to ask residents to consider on town meeting floor for a contract a proposal to
increase the wages by 14%. Um, important to note that this will go from a 10% wage adjustment to a 4% on top of that. Um, and why that's important, it's 10 and then four. So, there's a compounding effect there. Um, you know, you're going
to see here the differences. It's just a few dollars under $197,000. Um, the original warrant article had asked for 327. Um, after me understanding math a little better, um, and working a little harder, uh, to make sure I had the right numbers, um,
assigned, we're at 197 approximately. Um, you know, it is important to note that the last year in this in this two-year agreement here will be a 2% cola for officers within the bargaining unit. >> So, that should be able to be a normal part of our budgeting cycle. >> Yeah, it's less than two and a half. So,
we're still, you know, working with Prop 2 and a half. that will be you know I'll call it doable in air quotations for us to afford um so that will help again the math is not perfect um it shifts based on officer enrollment um lag time shifts
um and you know we are again losing another officer um that we've spent quite a pretty penny on training um which will lead me to um why this override is important um you know an impact of $197,000 override to our
residents. Um if you look at the assessed value of 450, um your current estimated annual tax bill is 61.8750. Um the proposed estimated tax bill with the passing of this $197,000 override.
We increase your tax bill for the year estimated based on DLS current annual rate estimates $54 for the year. Again, these are estimates. This is, you know, ballparking assessed values for the town. Um, and helping folks
understand that if you get a tax bill four times a year, you take that $54 and you divide it by four. And if you're me, I'm going to ask myself, how many Dunkin Donuts iced coffees is that within, you know, a month. Um, >> Starbucks would be less amount of
coffee. >> Yeah. Depends on the day. Um, but you know, it's a friend of mine lives down the Southshore and their their town's having to go through an override and they're talking about he goes, "It's one less Starbucks for him each week for him to afford an override for their school."
And he's like, he's on, you know, select board down there. He's like, "It's helping me understand what that means to me." >> Um, so I know it's times are tight. Cost of gas is going up. Um, fuel search charges are everywhere. Um, things aren't getting any cheaper at the grocery store for me. Um, but you know,
we are we are investing about 127 $125,000 to recruit, train, and officially get an officer ready to go out on the road. We're looking for what, 75% of one officer to be trained, recruited,
and get ready to go on the road for an override. And we're losing officers after that two years and three months here. you know, whatever the ballpark is for them to move on, it's happening routinely. Um, I think it's a it's a tough ask of the
department to remain successful without some wage adjustment support. Um, I also think it's tricky to um, you know, ask your taxpayers to pay more, but then you see that cost to recruit train and you're like, well, what are we
doing here? Like every time you lose two officers, it's the it's more than the override. and we we're down four come April 1st >> and now we have to pay again and >> so we're looking at you know you just do the math you do 125 time 4
>> we're in the whole 600k or no what's that 500k sorry uh the math doesn't check um so I I I'm hopeful residents feel strongly about this at town meeting but also um when they go to the the booths they will act so
>> and vote >> fail failure to pass um I hope it doesn't get to this if it if we don't succeed um if the town doesn't succeed in passing this override um a couple things will happen um article 5 would be to go back to negotiate you know with
the police um bargaining agreement folks um to add more months to the 18 months that's already been spent on it um if we didn't pass article 4 then um we would have some implications in terms of revisiting that and figuring out how to
use that ARPA money to try to bridge that gap. Um, if article 4 passes, but article 5 doesn't pass, I know Miss Kell has a question in regards to the budget impact that would look like. And I believe she's right. So, we would offset
part of it in the current in the fiscal year 26 and then in 27 it would be a 4% increase because that would be there's a union phrase for ethic evergreen rights. So whatever was the agreed or upon rate there would carry forward. >> Um you know our other folks in the other
asking unions will also um have that as an aspect of their negotiations. So I think it would be a 4% on top of the fiscal year 26 number that was already approved and what that would look like in the individual segments on the bucket on the budget. It's um we would it would
be 4% on top of the on top of the article 4 dollar. >> It would be 4% on top of that. >> It would stack. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yes. For the police, it we're looking
only um this increases only in the um salary lines, not the expenses lines. Okay. the override only only affects the personnel lines, not the expense lines. >> Correct. >> So, >> yeah, there's some math and that'd be some homework for me to do.
>> Yes. >> In the next few days or so. Um hoping we don't need that, but >> let's do we'll be realistic. >> Um >> we probably have to prepare even the draft if it doesn't because it's the ballot, too.
>> What do you mean? >> We'd have we'd have to know if it doesn't pass the ballot. >> Correct. because that's a week before. >> Yeah. >> So, failure to pass. Um, article six, um, just being the time >> Yeah. >> mindful of time, um, is a lease for the
author authorization for Squanic Cook Meadows. Uh, the purpose is, um, for the select board to enter into a new 50-year lease agreement with the Townsen Ashby Youth Soccer Association for the use of town owned land known as the open space
at Swan Creek Meadows. Um, it's also identified as Holly's playground. Um, and it's a space for different recreation, soccer, walking, um, you know, general outdoor activities. Um, you know, you can't do that when there's a soccer game going on, per se. You can't throw a Frisbee while out there.
There's an active soccer game going on, but in general, it's recreation space for the town. Um, the benefit of this lease, uh, you could see sort of pinpointed in the red, uh, highlights, if you will, is these would become, um,
conservation restricted spaces within this parcel. And why that's important is we do have endangered species um, calling this space home. Um, you know, whether it be a turtle um, of different, you know, different breeds, different
different types of turtles. was like a wood turtle species. That was the word. Um so this would be um really calling out these spaces to ensure protection to the best of our ability for these um critters. Um it would also maintain the
open space and um it would also continue the use of space for recreation. I think that's important. I think the other benefit is that it um it highlights the use of that area circled
with the dotted circle for a town well. It preserves the use of that area for a town well as well. >> Yeah. And that might be something I can share on the town meeting floor. There's folks asking, you know, for a bit more detail. Um, you know, I know there are
questions in terms of, well, what if it's not everyone plays soccer? I'm like, okay, you know, I understand that. Like, um, you know, I think the goal here is we're continuing, um, preservation of space that's for recreation. Um, there's a world that in
30 years I'm not here and the world's looking a little different and maybe Tesa has decided to hang up the cleats and >> like we're going and negotiate a new lease, >> right? And well, you'd also say that if that was no longer um an effective group, it just goes to recreation space
at that point. Um it is truly a recreation complex for all to enjoy. Um soccer is not a year- round sport, so you can still go out there and walk your, you know, kiddos out there and have a nice time and fly a kite, you know, in mud season. It's up to you. It's >> open space. >> Yeah, it's open space. Um and, you know,
there is um really a nice way to preserve this. Um, as someone who was out walking late last night, I know I saw numerous, you know, white or sorry, yellow spotted salamanders. There's all sorts of little buggers out there that we all enjoy. So,
>> um, article 7, um, this was the board of health article originally, um, but they have asked us to subsequently not take any action this time. So, um, more just a pretty map of the state of Massachusetts in some different counties. Uh similar for article 8, uh it was
initially going to be an ask from the town clerk's office to help codify some different aspects of the role. Um the town clerk, I hope I'm quoting this right, has asked for a motion to table this at this time. Um also looking at an old image that I found on the internet of
>> Yeah, this is the church that the harbor and then the old uh bridge right there and the South Harbor Bridge. So I thought that was fun. Um, article 9 is an election account replenishment. Um, the purpose is to transfer from C from
free cash the sum of $35,000 to replenish the balance of an appropriation established under article 4 of the May 7, 2024 annual town meeting for expenses associated with special town meetings and required elections. Um, I made a point to bring in I made
some uh edits recently. You know, this is STM article 4 um 5-7204 elections. Um that account is currently showing about $8,200 um available as of the town accountants
report um earlier this week. Um the elections that the town clerk's office is looking at are required. Um he quickly touched on them earlier, but >> what was the cost of those? >> You know, there's >> $35,000. So he he did say he was going
to speak on Tom meeting floor to help um share sort of more specific details behind the cost breakdown. Um so I said that would be great and that would really help um share some different background on it. So >> um so my question this is the question
that I had earlier when we were talking about the town council account. Mhm. >> Um I I guess my question and I'm sure other people will have it too is why is the town council account a stable legislation account when in the past we
have also had a similar article to that? I think it was 2017 2018 and that we um used for council expenses and we just recently there may even then be more money in that account. I'm not sure. Uh
there was 10,000 in it a year ago >> for is this for town council one? >> Yeah, >> I I have pulled up right here. It was 10,000 and we're down to 2,140. >> So there is money in that. Why are we replenishing this when we are starting a
new stabilization to do the same thing for town council expenses? >> I thought you would ask that. >> I did. And I think I think if I can be so bold and I'm not I don't want to speak I don't want to speak on behalf of town clerk for this one. I think it's
because we are sponsoring the one that we got reviewed by Adam which he said oh this really should be a stabilization account and so we are going to present it as such and he may advise on the same thing to this. I do not know. >> Okay. So I that's true this was not brought on
>> because they both in in this expense report they both are the same category of fund >> and if there should be a stabilization account then let's make them a stabilization account >> my answer >> would be my thought >> my answer from Adam was that you could
not do these special accounts >> we can't do this we can only do it if the um requesting department, which is typically how it happens, says here I have I need this
much money and I want it from free cash and it is expended within that fiscal year. >> Mhm. >> Instead, what we have are accounts that carry over and over and over the special accounts. >> Mhm. >> Which I don't think
>> in the in the list. Most of them are those one-time accounts. The ones that aren't are the anniversary celebration, the special town council, the elections. The rest of them look to be last year coming in and going out.
>> No, that's not true. There are many of them that are from many years ago. We've been cleaning them up over the years. And traditionally, I didn't know there was an issue with it because it is how it has always been done here in town as
long as I can ever remember. And you hold on to it like the sidewalks. >> Um, you hold on to >> Oh, so those are >> those are 04. >> I'm going to put my foot in the mouth. I thought it was all >> No, no, they are not.
>> They carry over for 20 years, sometimes 25 years. and the money just sits in them and I am told or my understanding from town council is yeah you can't do that >> it's one year and then it's a sweep back to free cash
>> and that's why we have to have stabil have to have the count we requested a stabilization um and all those others need to be given up >> so I guess I'm sure someone there needs
to be a discussion because that is how it's always as far I never looked up laws on this but no one ever >> I don't think town council ever looked at those accounts. >> Yeah. No. >> When I said it's a it's one of those
specialists accounts that carry over over time. He just hold on to them. He said, "What are you talking about? You cannot do that." >> Yeah. I mean, my mentor said the same thing. He goes, "Oh, you got to sweep that right back into the general fund." He goes, he goes, "And if you don't do that," >> he goes, "Maybe you sweep it into your
stabilization account." He goes, "Because it's a capital project." And if it didn't come to fruition, put it back in there. Find another project for it. >> There there are accounts with $3,000 that have been there for years. >> You know, there's like 15 20 of them. >> Yeah. There's a whole ton of them. So,
we've been looking >> Some of them are like I remember the some of them specifically say when it was voted on even in here. someone trust accounts and there was like I I was looking at this last night 60s something accounts separate that Melissa
had done the report on and many of them are under $500 >> over 30 are under $5,000 many of them being one in $2,000 >> I think the trust funds are different they are different from these special accounts
>> because they could be for like a scholarship if you don't if you just if you run out of money in the scholarship. >> You saw my question. >> Yeah. >> How much accounting is done for these trust things like that hang >> I can know the library has a lot of trust and it's managed by the department head and she knows how much is in one of
those trusts and what it can be used for >> and she brings it to the trustees that she wants to use and then she'll see and it goes up and down because it's invested and it sits there. Some of them say you can only use the interest >> and so over time the interest could be $32 or whatever.
>> I saw that depending and so it's not really >> well that's what I'm saying to do all that accounting and keep track of. Yes, the library may to keep track of it because it's just
there and you just print out the accounts. >> It's not like anybody's using them. So anyway, that's all I have to say about this. And I've never seen one of these be replenished. >> Yeah. >> Um that is something that has never
happened in the past. >> I've seen things merged into a different account. I'm giving up this one and this one and this one. I'm going to take those monies and I'm going to use them for and it creates a new account.
>> Yeah. Perhaps a resident will ask if it should be a stabilization. >> Yeah. I mean, and that would be >> and we're kind of asking for a friendly twostep on ours. Create a stabilization and funded separ. >> Yeah. So, that might be where we want to go.
>> So, article 9. Um, and again, the town clerk, having chatted with him earlier, said he would um he would stand up and share sort of the makeup of why it's $35,000. So, I was appreciative of him. I'm gonna say
Mr. Town Clerk, you're up. So, um, >> because it was 20. >> It went to 20 and then he had it shifted in the motion. So, again, the motions can always move on the floor. It's >> the good thing about having that election and not having it in the
general fund is because there are there are we always know we're going to have one election, maybe two, >> okay? But these are the ones that are over and above. And so it does make sense to have it. The question is, is it in one of these special accounts or is
it also in a stabilization? >> Yeah. >> And is it $35,000? >> Yeah. I mean, I don't know enough about what an election cost. >> He's going to Yeah, that's the town court knows that world much better than I. Um, article 10, I put it on one
slide, is um 10 and 11 is shifting from board of select bin to select board, two words. So check your signature lines. I have to do that myself. Um and wherever there's references to select Ben select board members much more inclusive. Um and then uh article 11 on the right hand
side is the code of town code of the town of towns and by making I guess I got to clean up my wording code of the town of Townsen. >> I'm not sure what I was thinking when I made that. >> Yeah. But um changing some words with
nonsubstantive with you know this the hyphen and insure with and in and yeah >> and and this is not a money article >> even though you request that you this is just requesting the changes and then he'll take care of that through the
ecode line of the general. >> Correct. Yep. We have it we have that within the budget. And then um a friendly reminder, the annual town election is April 27th, 2026, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. here at the town hall and annual town meeting May 5 at North Middle Sex Region High School. And I
assume it'll be at 7 o'clock. >> Always. Yeah, it always is. So, um that is how that will look that night. Um I do have the motions here. We did go over these once before. You >> just want to divide them up. >> You can either do that or I can just
read them all out. I'm good with that. We've always done boom boom boom, but you could It's up to you guys. >> I mean, it is a new experience and the presentation is great. I think that it
will be refreshing to the residents. Um, I guess to Valerie's earlier point, you putting the question itself, >> yes or no, >> that's kind of why I was asking whether you were doing it all at once in the front
>> or whether you were doing it piece by piece. If you're doing it piece by piece, I would put the question up because even though there are handouts of the Warren article, >> just something you can >> and handouts of this presentation, >> I I history,
>> I don't I would give this presentation to be printed >> for by the town clerk, >> right? Before I put the question, >> then you put your own little >> or have a separate one interjected. Okay. >> One or the other. Do you want So you
want the question in there, not the motion. You want the question? >> The motion. >> Oh, that's a good good Sorry. >> It's always been the question before, but the motion might be better if we have them and we know that. >> So, I could do both. I could say, you know, >> which we better be two days before.
>> It's usually just a blank >> one slide, you know, just the motion. So, people that's what we've done in the past, but I'm open to >> I think it's the article that's been there in the past, not the motion. >> Yeah, the article itself. Um, >> so if you like look here, we have
article one and then I can insert the next slide and say article one and then it would say warrant article and motion the next slide. >> So logistically speaking, you would read the article first and then discuss.
Correct? >> Yes. Yeah. The article. >> So the moderator say I'll take a motion. >> So read the so Okay. So read the article. say article one >> blah blah blah blah blah >> here's what was posted >> here is the proposed motion
>> and now here in the inter time administrator will say here's why we're discussing >> it and then I'll go back a slide to say here again is the warrant article and the motion >> you pine residence go from there let me know >> exactly so not not to be printed out but
just in your version >> right >> and then it gives us one of us a chance to second it >> and then we discuss deliberate blah blah Yeah, I I agree. >> So, I'll send this PowerPoint off to Jack the town clerk to print. He was going to print the 100 copies with three slides on each page with a little space
for notes >> with a couple of changes that you stated. >> The only change >> might come I thought there was two of them. >> Is that the bottom >> not to come from the sale of the buildings?
>> Where do they go? >> Well, that could stay in. I mean, >> well, no, in one case it can't. >> Yeah. So, here are the motions. >> Yeah. But here are the motions. >> Yeah. >> Um, I move that this is for article one
clear. I move that the town transfer from free cash the sum of $41,599.79 for the purchase implementation initial subscription. Okay. Y that's right. Looks good.
I think we're ready to go. He's ready to vlog with you, right? >> We'll let the residents decide. >> Always fun. back up to motion. I I guess I can look here. Motion six council. >> Okay.
>> Mhm. >> The water thing is there. >> Yeah. >> We'll take no action. I'll end up editing this one to say we move the table this motion at this time. >> I'll change this one to 35K as requested
by the temp clerk and then our technical code corrections. >> Yeah, like what happened that that went up 15,000 and there's still a balance of eight. >> I think we've been changing or two on the budget too. So >> So we reflect our budget reality.
>> Yeah. in in the proposed omnibus budget, there's not a lot of money for elections. So, I think he's trying to leverage utilize free cash to make up that difference because there is a difference. Like he he had asked for um >> okay, >> some funding there and we went to level
funding and I tried to match 26 with 27. So, um you know, I think that budget took a hit. >> I'm okay with if it if it's actually used for elections. Looks good. Ken, >> I will again I'll send that PowerPoint
off to town clerk. I'll probably do that while we're sitting here tonight. Um and then we'll um I'll put my own version together and I'll probably send it out to you guys just to make sure I don't seem crazy. Um again, if you see any changes, I'll just work to fix some on the floor that night.
>> I just say print one test copy first. Last year they looked they changed some stuff and we should have stopped after one change. >> Yeah, they did. I think I said the Sabrino Jack let me know if this looks wacky. So >> test a few first. >> Yeah. Um I took a lot of your time there
for 56. You are at 59. >> Um Tam, we've had some great meetings um internally with ourselves, myself, Lori, and Mr. Bill Solomon who's going to help us be our legal counsel to work with TCAM. Um we've had one initial kickoff
meeting um with TCAM and Mr. Dave Finoli. Um and uh with Lor's great help, we now have a they have a functioning board which is wonderful and that would really help ensure a plan for them. Um
you know, we're sort of kicking through a few different um ways to work with them on a contract. I think you we still have a few things to really bake out before we really have a meeting of the minds where it's attorney Solomon and Tam's council sort of hashing out some
terms. Um, so I think there's more to come unless I'm missing anything. >> Well, where I just wondered if Veronica was going to have any input since you were a part of >> Yeah, I would like to see what the agreement Well, I see the agreement here.
>> Mhm. >> Um, >> this is what you had before, >> right? Um and then we had my understanding our last meeting uh Friday with attorney Solomon was that we
do the draft first. We present to them what we want. >> Yes. >> And then it goes to TCAM. I met with the TCAM board as liaison um yesterday and their council was
there. They're expecting the same thing to see the draft first and then once it goes >> once it comes from us to them and they do have a full they have they have a operating board of directors now for
their corporation which was part of an issue and then um they're still having trouble I'm going to mention this again because he keeps mentioning it and I know it's been asked before regarding Comcast and who the call at Comcast to
get um the reason why every year it only seems to be 34 of um the actual money that's supposed to be coming in versus four quarters. He keeps he keeps saying
that it's because we're TCA's on a fiscal year. Uh no, TCA's on a calendar year. Yeah. and the board is on a fiscal year. But still just listening to him say that I
mean if you have it one year eventually you have to get all all four quarters. Can we can't find out? >> Yes. What? >> Yes we can. >> Yeah. Um we get four quarters in. Okay. We can only All right. So we are on a
July 1st to June 30th. Mhm. >> So we can only give out what we get in. >> Mhm. >> But the we get in the um so we have Q1, Q2, Q3
>> on the third, but we should also have Q4 from the prior year which comes in in our fiscal year, >> right? >> Um in that fiscal prior fiscal year. So when we go to town meeting, we should be
able to disperse Q4 from FY25 that came in in FY >> agreed >> and the three >> he seems to thinks that has not has that has not happened. I don't understand. >> Well, what has happened is that at
annual Okay, so the you can't dispense the money in a special town meeting. So we couldn't do it in the fall. What the first time we did this was actually like 2022 or something like that. >> This didn't exist before that.
>> Correct. >> So um so the first year they got all the monies. The second year they did but for some reason at annual town meeting the past two years it has only been the three quarters of the current fiscal
year. they haven't included the quarter >> the ending the Q4 that came in in the for us the next fiscal year. >> So we have to account for that in the motion that we make at town meeting and
why that hasn't happened is beyond me. But we have also had accountant you know juggling >> and so it could be that could also be a reason for it. Um, and so we just have to see how much money is there in that
bucket, what it's from. And I don't think they have been requesting it quarterly. >> I don't think they've been requesting it quarterly. So, we have to find out what monies are going to be there on
the date of town meeting, what quarter they come from, and specify that in the motion that we make. >> Yeah. Can you get that information? >> That would be like two weeks from now. >> Okay. The only thing we got from Elizabeth last week was what she says
she actually >> has >> has and that's the 155. >> So, doesn't Comcast and I thought they had started doing that. They started um sending the we've sent you this much money. I thought I've seen two of those.
>> Okay. I saw one quarterly report from Comcast. I can't find it again in my emails, but I saw not personally, but to the town. >> I think I've seen two of them in the past. There must be something >> I don't get them. So, >> if you can if you can find that, if one
of us can >> Sabrina probably gets them. >> I think it probably goes into a TA bit bucket. That's that's what I think. Um, but that's what I think. >> Just a jump someone's old eastel at townsma.gov is my guest. based on the
fact that he saw >> which we don't have access to. >> Correct. >> Ah, >> so Sabrina would have a copy. >> No. No. Sabrina, it just get kind of just it just goes away. Just is like it's in the ether. >> How did we happen to have to get one,
let's say, >> because we questioned it >> when all of this started. >> Can we ask Sabrina? >> Let me see. Let me see if I can help her real quick. Oh, you guys. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so one of the things I was thinking, so this was
signed with the whole new thing in 2020. Zoom meetings were new. Is this a place for us to look at like how the process happens with TCAM recording the Zoom meetings and the boards? Because what's happening right now is people are going
to outside channels to view town meetings, board meetings, because they're available there first. And so they're not going to the town or towns and channel, they're going to a different channel because our select board meeting doesn't show up for three
or four days on the towns and channel. And right now we have the way it works. We have and this is this is not personal anybody. We have someone who has to sit downstairs for 5 hours while we have our Zoom meetings. And I'm wondering if there's kind of a reverse order where we
record the Zoom meetings and they get sent to TCAM to do whatever they'd like to do with them. >> I I don't see why they can't just be be posted live. >> And the reason for that is these used to go out to the TV. >> Yeah. When we signed this, it went to
the TV. So I'm saying I think this is a chance to update that process so that >> the this >> say that again because Karen's going to pass that along to >> Bill Solomon. Say that again. >> It's process. >> Yeah. Right now Tcam sits in front of
town any board meetings and I'm saying flip that. So the town logs into Zoom. We host Zoom. Whoever's here can share their screen. They can connect to the CPA guy who's in here. Come on over. Email me a thing. I can share my screen because they're that chair. They're in charge of the Zoom meeting. And then it
gets sent to Tcam. They can do with it whatever they want to do. Gets recorded. Just thoughts because this was this was done when it was still going to TV. >> It was going to TV. The live feed, even the live Zoom was going on out on the cast machine that's right in that
corner. >> So, I think it's time to look at that and update that process if you guys agree. the meetings to be broadcast live, however that happens, >> and then the recording put up on YouTube after the fact. Okay.
>> But there needs to be interject alive. >> For the last two years, they've not had a functioning board. The director has thought because of that and he really didn't have whatever
reports from Comcast that he could not spend money for capital issues and he's lacking equipment to do certain things that he actually has the funds to do. So that's the next step in their board of
directors is he's to come before them with what he needs to do what. Now if we want those functions, we make that known. >> Okay. And then that will be incorporated in the new contract. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. Efficiency.
>> Yeah. Well, it also it also prevents, you know, when you have when there's a technical TCAM problem, you know, it's I was we had our first um TA screen committee meeting and >> yeah, >> TAM got left out so it could be recorded. And if I had just
>> like if I had set the Zoom link, I just would have put it. It would have been just my face if I hadn't been killed, but at least it would have been that recording would have been available. So, just thoughts for because we have to negotiate on our behalf. >> So, >> for some services that may be easier for our boards. >> Correct. >> Yeah.
>> Absolutely. >> Worth noting for our legal trust folks, we have to pay our attorney and it comes out of town council dollars. >> I philosophically have a problem with that because because of Comcast, we have to pay an attorney now to broker an agreement with somebody.
Yeah. >> Well, that's what we did last time, too. >> Yeah. I mean, it isn't a change in >> I'm just, you know, in in the world in a new budget reality, I think we can't leave anything off the table. And just if we can make things more efficient, even here, I think it's the time for us as a board to advocate for that. In the
Comcast agreement that we have, the new one, there is an outline for capital spending that Comcast actually is going to give additional funds outside of the subscriber funds which are for operations
for cap for increasing the product that they have for increasing their efforts, you know, in be able to get well advanced technology. If they could put something on the TV channel, it
would be a reason an incentive maybe for people to keep Comcast because you can get the local stuff live >> even if you don't have a computer. So I I think >> you Yeah, I'm gonna
>> We're spending probably a little too much time on TCAM for what it's worth. Um, >> but you guys have the idea of what we're do. You want me to write this up and block out the old thing and say we need this, this, this, and this. Do you want me to do that? Cuz I will if you want me
to. >> I'm happy to see that. >> I don't have time for that. And I think >> you can, Veronica. >> Yeah, >> because she's already had the experience with that. >> She knows. Yeah. And in general, Yeah. I'll leave it at that. That's fine. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. This would be like a May thing I could work on for you guys. This is not between now and >> after town meeting. >> Okay. The the only thing we really need for him is to have the correct amount for the warrant article on annual town meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is that
>> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Um >> I don't have an update for you on 510. That'll be an April item as well. >> Um do you want April 7th?
>> Yeah. or April 7th, April 14th. >> What do we need, Veronica? >> There's not a rush. Um, so whichever meaning it fits. I don't think there's a rush on that. >> Unless we hear otherwise April 14th.
>> Sure. >> For that issue. >> Yeah. >> Um 511. So, um, in after we met last time, in trying to find out how in the world we would pay
for a recruiter, it's becoming a little more difficult, I think, as our budget gets tighter and tighter um, with some changes. I The only place I can see at this point in time is asking Fincom to use the reserve. I'm nervous about using that because I think there's other places based in the BVA that we're going
to need it. I'm just being completely blunt and honest >> such as >> I just looking through that, you know, when I was looking to BVA earlier, some things are up around 90%. >> Some of the insurance numbers, there was one that came out. >> Yeah, insurance is going to be high. Um,
communications is going to be high. Um, legal will be high. Um, >> I we can ask them. I just think it's gonna so and there's also the factor that um I talked to Jason after last meeting a
little bit more about the process and if it's 10 to $20,000 we're going to have to put an RFP for it. >> So this I mean it's a process that if we as a recruiter like I I understand your guys rational for it 100%. It's just it's going to be a while to do the whole
thing. So, if do you want to ask income from anything you reserve or we need we need to know where the funding is going to come from if we're going to put it out? >> Do we absolutely have to do it?
>> No, we we recruited two TAs without it. >> You know, I felt a big deal. I I I when I met with so the committee is the library director, the police chief and myself and um they had amazingly good feedback in our first meeting and the
minutes will be available because it wasn't available to be recorded. Um just they've been here a long time and some thoughts on what the town needed. Um structure longevity are the two common things. Lots of structure oriented thinking to get processes in place was
probably the main thing that came away with it. I'll leave it in you guys our hands to figure out what you want to do. I >> I think it's going to be way more work for your company. >> Yes, >> that's what I think. Um and if you're willing to put in the time, fine. I
think we've been unsuccessful in keeping a TA after doing the search the past two times around. And I think it's important to have someone who is gonna stay in the I think I think that three of us want
you know do the sign >> other than structure is longevity. >> Um >> what else? >> But I do think I do think and we all agreed getting that salary a little more in line is probably the first step to that to to a comparable.
>> It's one step the first probably the most important right in the terms of the financial aspect. So, like I said, I I'm the >> takes out a lot of the other uh incentives >> that have always been in place for a TA,
>> like a car allowance, those sorts of things. They're gone. Um we don't have a lot in there for um for uh >> training, >> training, right? I mean, it's not in there. And if this is a budget
discussion talk, but if we aren't willing, we don't have anywhere else to go. Um, so it it is it is going to be >> it's going to be a lot more work. >> It is going to be more work. And I actually think it might be a little bit
quicker just because knowing now that we have to go up, we have to get the approval for hiring a recruiter. >> The the um advantage to a recruiter is they know the people from whom they recruit
>> and they know the um backgrounds of those people and their likelihood of um taking on challenging work. I think everybody on that board too is definitely how >> diplomatic of you. >> Very very I think I think we all agreed
references were one of the primary things we all needed to check also. So >> and and maybe presentation ability. >> No, we actually we actually we we were we were and one of the things we were talking about was actually giving your give us a fiveminute presentation on X
as the interview a big part of the interview. You know here's your template give us five minutes. What do you got? Because talent needs that. We need a systems process communicationoriented person. That's >> and we need someone who's going to be
willing to um regroup. >> So, um >> I believe the person is out there. Yeah. >> So, >> um did they have did you speak to them at all about um possibly consulting with
Jason >> for a bit or >> I I spoke to him more about the RFP process that would happen if we got a recruiter. >> We can bounce questions off of him. I mean I at this point in time I've got about 10 TAS that said call me if you have candidates that you want me to
start. Amazingly they've been so helpful just >> talking to people. They're shockingly good. The um >> I think it's important, but if you guys are willing to do the work, fine. It'll be interesting to see how it works out.
>> See, and you know the trick times the charge. >> I have faith in them. >> Yeah. Two months from now, we came back come back to you screaming, "Oh my god, please give us a recruiter." So, you never know. >> True. >> I know. That's the problem. >> There isn't any money anyway, so you might as well have that. And so that
would be we can get a job description and a vacancy post and hopefully going soon for me. Next Wednesday we're going to open up a pretty robust public comment at the beginning for anybody who wants to pop in for two three minutes. >> My one last parting shot because you guys love a special town meeting within
your annual town meeting is you could use $20,000 let's say from free cash in that special town meeting >> if we don't have anything going on by then. Oh, well there gives you some time >> gives you a little leeway to play that out. >> I think I think it's a great group and like I said, we're gonna have I'll put
the agenda out and I might actually ask if the agenda can go on like employees and maybe Facebook just so people know we're actually going to take public comment next week and um and there'll be a note there. If you can't be there, send an email. >> When is the day of public? >> Wednesday. Next Wednesday 6 o'clock. So
that'd be the 25th, right? And I'll get the agenda out tomorrow. I just needed to know where we were going with the recruiter before I put the final agenda together. And if you can't make it, employees are welcome to submit comments to um and they'll be read at it's not going to be a forum. There won't be any back and forth because that is a
different thing. Just saw the comment and the topic at hand is the tangent admin if people have feedback on what they think would be helpful. >> Good idea. >> That's it. So we can take that off the fin. >> Excellent.
Um, next on your agenda is 512 conservation restriction committee update. I think that's Miss Kell. >> It is. I'm not exactly sure why it's here, but I can give an update. Um, >> you to get some water while you do that. >> Can I go back just for one second? Do
you guys want me to come back to you with the job description and posting? >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I was going to say that while you were saying that, isn't that something that we all would have to approve? >> So, that would be April because I mean
I mean or I can just bring it to you guys for next week >> if you have it next week. >> Okay, I'll try and get that done. >> If not, >> no, I'll no this is important. >> April 1st is fine. April 7th. The first meeting in April. >> Okay. So, you're you're going to be back on the 24th. If you need to delay, it'll
go to April 7th. >> I I want to get it out. So, >> um >> So, you're back on 24th. >> Sorry. on the conservation restriction thing. Are we ready to roll on that to to go to that topic on the agenda?
>> Yes. Sorry. >> Okay. If you are fine. >> Um >> I I guess it this is more of a committee status update, but um the the uh CR is in MISA review to see it has to go to
MISA review before it goes to EOEA. So they're reviewing it to see if the format of it is meets their requirements. >> Just for the public, could you state what the acronyms are? >> Conservation Restriction is a CR
>> and MISA. >> Um, that's harder. Massachusetts Endangered Species. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Just so that they have an idea. division of natural heritage
endangered species program at the um department of uh environmental and ea >> it it's them >> okay >> okay so uh it's going because Squanakook
meadows is priority habitat which means you can't do much out there without a permit from them they are the ones that review Um so it's there. Um we're looking for funding for um a
baseline document um report the BDR that's baseline document report uh that needs to be part of the process and um DCR has a conservation assistance
grant and so we need to go out for um quotes for that document. because an environmental uh analyst has to
um do it. They they walk the property. They look at what's there. They look at all the corners. It's what's used to monitor the property in the future. Um and typically those are around $5,000
>> and it can be funded through um the DCR grant process. And so, but to apply for the grant, we need to have quotes. So, we don't have to go with one of the quotes, but we have to have quotes to show what the cost.
>> So, your committee is getting quotes. >> Well, you go for the grant. >> We would actually like um our interim TA to get the quotes for us. >> Okay. Is that agreeable? So, that's not an emergency. We're not in an emergency.
Well, the emergency is >> when's the grant? >> It would be good to have it in before the end of April. I checked and there are still funds available. >> End of April is doable. >> And um so that's put the grant in. That's to put in the grant. >> Yeah.
>> And I should not be the person putting in the grant. It should be our grant person which is also our interim TA. >> Okay. >> So, >> so I will have that >> and I have a list of companies. >> Yeah. which I don't think I've provided to you. >> How about April 21st?
>> And that's just what I put on here. April 21st. >> And do we have any current EA grants? I don't think we do. We haven't applied for any in the past year. >> Um, >> we've probably applied for one or two, but I'll >> Well, if there's a login that we have
the link, too. >> Um, so I would need to know that. >> Okay. I'd like to. >> So that's the that's the updates. >> Okay. Thank you for that. And now we'll get a report on that on April 21st.
>> Thank you. We are now on 513 RFPs to be to be activated. Do you want to quickly just tell us? I don't think that's anything we're voting on. >> Yeah, not a voting matter. Um three RFPs currently going on for the town, which is great. Um, for those that are listening at home, um, one is an older
one that we just didn't have any hits on for the Towns and Affordable Housing Trust, um, for a lot on Hannes Road, lot 34-80- for the sale of a approximately a 3acre parcel. Um, that will be going up online as well as a few different spaces for
procurement purposes. Um, so if anyone knows anyone looking for a parcel of land, uh, feel free to recommend that. That's incoming. Um the second one is town of towns >> and it doesn't have to go to auction. >> No, because it's trust owned, not town owned.
>> Okay. So RFP >> is out for soliciting for bids based on >> to sell the property. >> To sell the property. >> Yeah, it's the dispersement of property. Okay. And town council has cleaned that up for us. >> Second, >> will all the RFPs be put on our Facebook page and our website?
>> The they'll be on the website. I don't know if I would link them to Facebook. >> I would definitely put them on on the website. >> I don't know that I put them on Facebook, >> but it's not interactive. It's only informationational.
>> Yeah. >> Uh then if it is, it's it should be my opinion our current RFPs, Facebook page, I mean website, something more than that. That's all I do. I wouldn't put it be >> nothing more than that.
>> Yep. >> Anybody's interested, they'll look. But I mean, it's just one more place that you can advertise it. >> Yeah. >> The only other places you'd be putting it on the bulletin board. >> Uh bulletin board, combis. Um and usually you should run it through the paper like the Graphen Herald or the
Enterpel is the other one. Um so those are different there's different requirements for that procurement side of things. >> Okay. Um so I can >> has to be in print somewhere. >> It does. Yeah. >> So that's the cost of the town to do that. >> It is. Yeah. It comes out of um town
administrator select board um >> communication. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Uh second one, town of towns and solicitation for concrete slab um for on Jeff's court here for our NFC project for $30,000. Um town council has also given me some feedback and that will be going up shortly. U Miss Margaret
Scarsdale was here yesterday and said, "Hey, use that money." So, we're going to do that. Um, so that's how that one will shake out. Um, the third one is a larger one is the towns and Brooklyn streets sidewalk project. Um, that is a complete streets project that um, they
have posted that we're working with, um, GPI engineering. Um, they're actually going to collect the bids and then we're going to unseal them on April 14th. Initially, it was April 9th and I'm not here. Um, so we will create an addendum that say it's April 14th to open up the
sealed bids for that project. Um, there's various information on SharePoint and um, to Lor's point, I'll work to get that on our website and then um, the Brookline Street one may already >> present for opening the bids. >> It's me as the chief procurement officer
and any of the people who who solicit bids or share bids can come and watch the unsealing and sort of go from there. So it'd be me um probably highway superintendent because he's sort of the lead on this project. Um GPI would have a person
either here with us or a remote for opening the bids. Um in terms of what the project shakes out to be >> and for the public purposes GPI >> is the engineering firm. >> Okay. >> 14. Are we are we good with that now?
Are you done out with that report? >> We are. Yep. Good to go. >> 514. Review discuss agenda approval process and agenda template. I think I had this put on here because in beginning to use the template that we
all approved. Um, this wasn't exactly how it was approved. And we're going to go back to how we were with the new business, old business as we were the example basically except
for the header. We were the example for the agenda, we being the select board. So the only thing um that we have taken out because there's really no reason to put it on here because if we wanted to do it, if we had an emergency thing, I
could do it anyway as chair. And that is additions and deletions. It's rarely ever been used and it seems to cause some kind of um I don't I don't know what I want to call
it, but it's some kind of conversation over it. And um if there was in fact something that comes in within 48 hours of the meeting that I didn't know or any chair didn't
know any chair didn't know before the meeting and they felt an urgency to bring it up or announce it, it could be done. Um if it wasn't going to require a vote, it could be done under announcements. Um and that's all I had. Just to let you
know, we're going to go back to the new business, old business, >> and again, old business stays on until we move it off, >> and then we don't forget it. Uh 5:15, town administrator updates reports, invoices requiring future transfers.
>> Oh, fun topic. I will bring these up on the screen. Um Kevin, which one of you asked um how spending has been going? >> I was talking about that for the recruiter there. So, you know, we we've gotten there's a reason I thought
>> Yeah, we've gotten some bills that um will require year- end transfers. Um notably, trash bill um is one of, you know, it's almost $4,300. Um >> why is that? I wondered why it hadn't been paid. >> I think it it had just gotten lost in
the shuffle, whether it be, you know, with a new TA, you know, it's a new new project we're doing, a new avenue. Um we we now have the bill and um the TA office is going to work to get it paid. It's not something we have in our line items.
>> We don't have the municipal trash. The >> municipal was always there. >> Was budgeted. >> We all remember this from the book. >> We talked that's what I'm looking for. We talked about that many times >> over
town meeting. pay for our own trash. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Figure that out. >> Town meeting, board of board of health meetings. We pay for our own trash. >> We'll figure it out. >> We've talked about it at this table. >> Mhm.
>> Yes, we have. >> We have the funds for municipal trash. Now, maybe we weren't looking at the budget. >> Yeah. >> But we pay for our own trash. >> Well, there was a question of is it on the board of health budget? Is it in the town administrator budget? Where does it live? It was always in the board of
health budget. >> We'll go >> take a peek see if we can give you any insight here. >> So, uh >> I can give you the lawyer right there. >> Is it in the board of health or
>> it's under solid waste and is it two line items? One for municipal. >> It went from 825,000 to 10,000. And this is the account number. You've just made him very happy. You >> made the budget really happy.
>> Hopefully, it's still there. >> Yeah. So, that >> I don't know what happens. >> Well, let's figure that >> we have a line item number now. >> We have a line item and at $4,300 for half a year, we double that up. We got $8,600. That means we'll have about $1,400 available there for free cash for
next year >> or transfers. >> That's a win. Um, >> whatever you say. >> The next big one, and Sabrina's working hard to figure this out because her and I both have some questions on this, but I wanted to bring it to your attention because it's a large number, is $31,491
for a workers's compensation premium audit that was done um about a year ago and it was to be paid in December. We've been asking questions of this Brayley and Wellington group. They've gone through a couple iterations of mergers
and acquisitions. So, even they aren't quite sure if we paid this already, but they're going to work with our town accountant to figure that out. Um, >> is that the bill that I asked about? >> I don't remember. >> The audit. >> It might. Yeah, it might be that one. >> It was in our >> It's always
>> It's always in the fall. >> It's always done in the fall. >> And um sometimes we get funds back. >> That's the one. And sometimes we have to pay it. >> Well, this >> and this is not necessarily the company.
>> So this is to the point of mergers and yeah they they bought out the previous person this and Wellington group. >> This was >> Do we know who the previous person was? >> Um but we can find out >> with the screen share. I I don't remember it off the top of my head. I
just want you to looking at home. Looking at these is what made me come back to you guys about that that recruiter because I was like because there's so many like this like you don't have it. >> Yeah. I mean this gentleman Jason Farro really wants to come here and talk to us. I read I just finally had Sabrina
was going to work with him today. I said just have him send us an email about what we owe what it's for and you know how it got to be 30 >> $315,000 because that's a lot of money. >> And what was it like the year before it must have been paid? That's what the
attorney's going to look into. >> This is >> Yeah. >> Premium audit workers compensation. But that's just that's a it also said something payroll audit. >> So is that like every year you audit the
payroll and then it's $32,000 to audit? >> No, that's a different audit. >> No, that's different. >> That's the treasure collector audit. So >> that's and we're meeting next week. Yeah, >> this is Oh, that was I thought I was looking at something town was like, you know, if this were
around 17K, that would make sense. >> 31,491 is a substantial increase from what it been. She's like, I'll dig in and I catch up with her on Wednesday morning. So, I'll chat with her tomorrow. >> Elizabeth. >> Yeah.
>> So, >> maybe we do want to talk to Jason Pharaoh if he is our >> Okay. insurance agent. >> Kelly, did you something about this? >> Well, Bailey Wellington is our insurance agent >> for
that's our new insurance agent for all of our insurancees. >> Oh, >> because Jason Farah went to a different company. Is that what happened? >> I I don't know. I was just reporting that they were our new insurance company. >> They are our agent. >> Agent. Yeah.
>> Dug in on much of this. Wonder if it happened in the transition time or something. >> Do you remember who it was before? Because you were here the year before. This was always part of our insurance premiums. It was never a separate charge.
>> Right. So that's like Elizabeth saying, you know, that's she's like, you know, I have the 17ishk available. She's like, but you're short about 14k then. um that >> so this this number can't be right because we sometimes pay we sometimes
receive money back >> that's after the audit >> after the audit >> but this is for the audit itself is what I'm saying >> right so this looks like can I see the second page of this >> there's only one page >> there's only one page um
>> but like Sabrina was working on this for most of the day trying to figure this out so th >> this was always part of our insurance package >> and the audit happens I mean the we pay as part of our insurance package for a
workman's comp audit to happen and that h that audit typically happens in the fall if I'm correct about stuff and then what you're describing is what happens after the audit sometimes we get monies back sometimes we have to pay money but
it's Not the big money like this. >> It's usually small money. >> There was one email I saw that they had been the billings have been broken out at times. So it wasn't just the 315 all at once. It was broken into smaller charges, but that was before this merger
and acquisition that went out. >> Yeah, this is different and it and I think we need to see what our insurance package is >> these days because this is new. and they switched to Jason Farah while
Teresa was on the board that they the insurance it was always Bruce Haymon who had been our insurance person >> and um and the switch to Jason happened after I was off the board
um because we were still um the other way and I'm not sure what happened there. I really don't know. >> So, it's something for us to investigate. Yes. Just kind of be mindful of time for everyone. >> Going to keep going. Thank you, Cali.
>> Thanks, Kelly. Um, while I have you under TA reports, um, so we touched on invoices, I'll quickly share with you. Um, touched on invoices, department updates.
Um, officer Stelato has submitted his resignation. We'll leave at the end of the month for the police department. Um the town continues to invest roughly $125,000 to train new officers um highlighting the importance of remaining competitive in the marketplace. Um the department uh thanks to Chief Sartell
will also submit a letter regarding the motorcycle donation which we will which will be shared and acknowledged for signatures. We're very excited about that. Great opportunity for the police department to add another asset to their um to their resources. Um, Jay Sartell
is here, but I won't I don't think we need him to speak up on anything because we he's going to share with us. >> Yeah, he's here for executive session. >> He's not not for executive session. >> Okay. >> Well, that's usual discuss. >> Not you, Chief. Sorry. >> Yeah. You might be just be listening or
driving home. Um, union negotiations. Um, we had a ground rules kickoff today. Uh, myself, uh, Miss Veronica Kell, um, were there. Uh our labor council gave us some ideas and it was a productive meeting I thought. Um
town administrator's office is continuing prepare for special town meeting and annual town meeting. U masta update. Um we've been named a finalist for a speed feedback sign on Canal Street. Um highway is reviewing the details and we will be notified if the town receives the award.
>> Um which kind of exciting. That is kind of a I've heard it's a a speedway there uh canal street there and it's a tighter bridge. It's a tighter bridge. I've never seen speeding. It's like, how do you speed?
Oh, you do. It's It's so narrow. It is narrow. But >> okay, >> there's the challenge. >> There's the challenge. >> Quicker to get by quicker. Apparently, >> it is important to be mindful that fuel
costs are spiking right now. Um I'm starting to hear from some of our department heads in terms of uh what the consumption level look is looking like on those fuel lines. Um you know we're it's going to cause some uh some burdens to our budgets just like electricity.
The cost is going through the roof. Um with the increase in fuel we all should be mindful of driving less, finding a different way to do something. Ride a bike to go rake leaves. I I don't know. um it when it goes up to 75 cents a gallon, the repercussions are going to
be significant. So, we're in a tricky spot. So, >> it's a good thing it's not eight or nine a gallon. >> Let's hope it doesn't get there. So, >> we've been there, done that. >> Yeah. Um so, that's I know a brief look at that quick report there. I'll also
share with you the snow and ice breakdown. Um, I'm not trying to create, you know, v any more voodoo for winter. I'm sure we're going to get another storm. Um, but currently, um, we have spent nearly $500,000,
which means we're about $246,000, uh, in deficit right now. I had been working on that 350 number. Um, it's important to note that there's a truck that needs a pretty sizable repair for about 10K for one of our regular pickup trucks and one of the big trucks um is
going to have some engine work done on it and that's going to that's going to take a pretty good chunk of change um to do that. So, you know, on ballparking, fingers crossed, God willing, we stay right at the 300K number hopeful. Um,
you know, it does, you know, make you really think about projections and looking at next year's budget and, um, what we do there, but it is the one sort of channel you can do deficit spending on. It's not a wise budget practice. It's not a solid way to do things, but
>> No, it's not. It's um you know, it's just kind of part of the the bigger strategy that we're working on now as a town. So um hopefully we get there. Um my only other thing I had for you guys in my neck of the woods uh may have been
this larger this might go back to that mega um audit item, but that was in your SharePoint. So you can um take a look at that in terms of all the different makeups here um and where how it all came to be. So um I don't know enough
about how this insurance works. So I it just not something I'm very familiar with. So um I'll work to get more >> that's right. >> It is a good thing. >> If anybody wants a copy of it, you know, feel free to share. >> Yeah, it is in the SharePoint.
>> Okay. Um so that was TA updates. >> Any reports from leaison? >> Not this week. >> No. >> Um >> oh we did 5second school. We did get the final numbers and the letter officially
didn't. But we did we did end up the official letter from their treasurer should be coming in soon. >> Maybe I just took the number in the email. >> Yeah. But we did get the number in the email and they they did a lot of work. But yeah, >> really was less than so yeah, it was
less than the initial and so it was I mean it was the number that we had was >> the number that I had >> that Kieran and I had gotten from them more recently. So yeah. So but they I do want to acknowledge that that really was >> probably a herculean effort. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do we have any announcements?
>> That was it. >> I did um in the announcements I did put a draft letter to um the first responders. I think you guys might have seen that. And is it okay if you guys approve me sending that out?
Yay. Yay. >> Where? >> Oh, I saw >> Yeah, just just a draft letter from the chief. >> No, I I had a draft letter responding saying thanks for all Harvard basically nicely from
>> the board of selectman. >> I said on I didn't it was on behalf of board of selectman. we can >> and it's under announcements and communications. >> I didn't get to see it. You can read it out loud,
>> please. Um, sorry. >> Is Jane coming to executive sessions? Okay. >> I'm sorry I put in there. >> No, but we want to have probably about 40 minutes to talk about that stuff.
>> We're going to do that next >> um >> quickly. We can do them on quickly and move it next week. >> Um, this is just a uh, do you want me to read this out loud? March 226, dear fire, EMS and police department staff, on behalf of the towns and select board, I would like to offer my sincere
appreciation for your efforts during the recent fire at Burgess Road. Your swift and coordinated responses are a testament to the training specialism of the first responders throughout Townsend. While this specific event is a reminder of all the risks of the risks all first responders take, it is also a chance to thank you for the work that often goes unseen on patrol, responding
to medical emergencies or educating kids at events like Tracooa. Your dedication helps keep towns and safe. Those efforts do not go unnoticed and we are lucky to have your departments as a cornerstone and making towns in the place many of us call home continue to stay safe out there. Sincere thanks click. The change
I would make is I would say the Townson Select Board would like to offer our sincere appreciation. >> That's fine. >> Um and and you signing it is fine as the clerk, >> but I would make it that as opposed to the I piece.
>> I did respond on my own. >> This would be so they can send it to staff. >> Oh, okay. That's okay. We do need a motion, right? >> And I think that's good. Yeah. Cool. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'll change that for a sec. >> Okay.
Appreciate that. No problem. >> So 517 announcements, communications, volunteer respons. >> I would like to go over the Okay, go ahead. Where are you at? >> 517 for announcements, communications, and
volunteer response forms. Yeah, >> I was going to list those positions that do not have any candidates and therefore are available for writeins. So, just for the public to know, Amanda
Dwight Entertainment Fund, the board of assessors, these each have one position. The board of water commissioners has a three-year term and a two-year term. Uh planning board has a 5-year term. Planning Board has a one-year term. Recreation
Commission a three-year term. Recreation Commission a two-year term. Towns and Housing Authority has a two-year term. Trust Fund Commission three-year term. And Trust Fund Commission 2-year term.
All of those positions are uh vacant and no one running for. So, if anyone out there is interested in an elected position, you can get right in and let as many people know as you know
that you would like to do that. We're happy to see you uh come forward. Does anybody else have an announcement? Um I will have this go on Facebook because this is the notification of a public hearing for the vegetative
management plan that the state um mast shared with us in regards to um vegetation management plan in the zoom they're going to have. I will post this because it's kind of exciting for those that are interested. Um you know otherwise it was the resignation of
officer Alex Stallato. Um, we had a resignation notice from Miss Mary Jane Churchville from the recreation um committee and um, Townsen also received a response to an open meeting law um,
appeal that was um, filed and then reviewed on by this the office of the attorney general >> and they did not find that the towns and select board uh, violated an open meeting law >> and we have that as a record as well if folks are interested. Thank you.
>> That's all we have for now. >> Veronica, did you pass? >> That was exactly what I wanted to make sure that those things got voted. >> Very good. Our next meeting will be March 24th, 2026. And of course, our special town
meeting is this Thursday, March 19th at 700 p.m. at the high school. And is there a motion under 519? I valich move to review and sign payroll and bills payable words out of session second.
>> Okay. Roll call vote la. We will be going into executive sessions but we will be coming out at 6 p.m. for the joint meeting with bank finance. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. So is there a motion?
>> Yeah. I'll read out loud. Um the motion is um >> so we're going to enter move to enter into and move to enter and adjourn from uh >> Do you want me to do it? >> I'm trying to figure out where she wrote it. >> This is
>> No, you have to write all of it and you have to read all of it and then um I'll put my glasses on. >> Yeah. Executive procession uh executive session um 6.1 executive session pursuant to open meeting law chapter 3A
section 21A part two to conduct strategy uh sessions in preparation for negotiations with non union personnel or contract negotiations with non-un personnel police chief um 6.2 2 executive session pursuant to open meeting law chapter 30 uh section 21A2
to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or contract negotiations with non-union personnel and non-un personnel. Uh 6.3 executive session pursuant to open meeting law chapter 38 section 21 uh part three to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting
law may have detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares ask me local 93 clerical union supervisors um highway union um we will return from
this executive session back to regular session. Hi, Laura Shiffren. The chair so declares we are moving into executive session at 5. >> 5:24
5:24 p.m. >> Veronica Cal second. Uh, all in favor roll call. Veronica I >> and Laura Shiff I thank you Keith sir. >> Okay. >> Hi everyone. Thank you for your patience
from our executive. I am resuming and calling to order the joint meeting with the finance committee here at 6:02 p.m. Roll call of uh board president
>> and Laura Shiffen present. Done. >> Okay. are called to order the meeting the joint meeting with the finance committee with the select board 6:01 p.m. Roll call attendance, please.
>> Sam Grant here. >> Mary Jane Churchville here. Carol Hawk is present. >> David Walker present. >> Sperford present. >> Don Hayes present. And I'm sorry if somebody is connected. Can they see if Carolyn physicus is on live? >> She is not yet online.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Hope she's having fun. Sound like she was going someplace cool. Do you have any meeting business you take care of or do you want me to jump right into uh >> We did have an item that we had um we we had wanted to discuss because
we didn't have the opportunity last week. It wasn't on the agenda, which is the driver position for the senior center. Um they had a driver that was a Monday, Friday driver. Um and um that driver is now only able to do Monday. So
they have a request for an exemption to the hiring free so that they can hire the driver for the Friday >> and that's funded from >> local regional. >> Didn't we decide that
>> because it wasn't coming out of the budget that >> we we couldn't make a decision because it wasn't on the agenda. So that's why it's on the why it's on the agenda. I I mentioned it that we were going to discuss it at our next meeting and since we're here with the select board, I thought it was a good time to put it on the agenda.
>> Right. So, we're going to ask the board of select board to consider um any positions that are not coming out of the Tom budget um that we don't that they don't have to ask for an exemption if they're if they're funded by revolving
funds or or an alternate funding source >> like so I defer to thinking of a higher increase to me and the process we took that evening was we made an exception after you guys made a recommendation and
deliberated and then you know you made a recommendation to say yep we you know we feel police for these roles has an exception and highway for these roles has an exception um and then we shared that with the departments I think that's a good process right now sort of where
the town is at fin I I totally hear from the COA that you know this is a a position that's funded through grant funding >> it's just I think it's important for us to know for checks and balances what's going on even if it's a revolving fund just so we're in the know um and it
keeps us apprised of what's going on in those groups they should >> yeah I mean the discussion came up with us mainly because we also we met with the board of health or not I'm sorry recreation we met with the recreation committee >> to consider their request for their summer program
>> um we voted to make the recommendation that we approve their request and a big part of that was the fact that that also comes out of their revolving fund it doesn't come out of the town budget Mhm. >> And then when when we heard of this request that we're going to that we were
going to have to discuss tonight, some of us thought, well, for these requests that don't affect the town budget, >> maybe we don't need to go through this process where we've got to go, we've got to consider it, make our recommendation to you, and then you have to consider it
and make the decision to allow it or not allow it. kind of seemed like is that really necessary for positions that do not affect the town budget? That was that was where we were coming from. >> Yeah. I mean, Fincom is more than welcome to take that approach. Uh I I
I'm a like I think someone said at your last meeting a good believer in the checks and balances of things. So that's sort of where my head goes on this practice. I know it's a little bit more laborious for your board, but also the group that's looking for the seasonal employee or whatever, you know, the grant funed position, but I think that's
probably a good practice. But, um, you guys could you make a decision otherwise. So, >> we we voted last week to I think our vote was to to hire this position if you guys recommended it. That was our So, we because we had it on our agenda, so we said continue upon your recommendations.
>> Okay. Okay. So, just we motion. >> So, yeah, I I make a motion that we recommend to approve the hiring for that position for the the driver position. >> Second. >> Okay. So, we had a motion and a second to recommend the hiring for the
additional driver for the Friday. Um, so the finance committee would recommend to the select board to to hire the position on the Friday to continue the full schedule of the bus availability. >> Excellent. And I can catch up with the
lease. >> Okay. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. Like I'm sorry. >> We do it all the time. The the vote in the affirmative is to
recommend to the select board a driver's high for the Friday. >> Roll call vote. >> Mary Jane Churchill. Yes. >> Carol, yes. >> David Walker, yes. >> Thank you for directing me. Unanimous.
The recommendation to select is to is to do the hire for the driver. Yeah. >> Um I will be happy. >> Did we communicate our recommendation on the >> We did not because because I thought we were doing that meeting. Yeah. Okay. >> At the finance committee meeting, we we
also recommend to the select board approval of the exemption to the hiring increase for the recreation department to hire slashrehire um positions to cover the summer program and not to exceed the 17 new hires which was the maximum they were asking for.
um and allows them the flexibility to put them into the appropriate of the three positions that they have open. And >> can I ask a question? Is that like 17 full-time equivalents? >> No, it was 17 total
part-time part-time temporary positions. >> But do any of them, >> you know, like they work? >> I don't I don't believe Yes. I don't believe any of them become full-time positions and they're also it's not
>> there might be 19 in order to make up the 17 positions that they have 17 part time. >> Yeah, 17 includes the part-time and they'll only hire what they need. If they only need >> 11 people, they'll only bring on 11
people, right? >> Depending on their >> depending on their Right. depending on the enrollment and what they need from enrollment. >> What they had showed the enrollment of students was 85 87 um and 89 for the past three years. So if it goes on that same trajectory, it's only going to be
91. So they don't see the need for any more than that than the 17 to cover. Okay. >> Yeah. I think the 17 builds in a buffer. If they get to 100 110 kids, I think 17 would fulfill what they need. >> Yeah. I believe
>> I believe they they figured that that gives them the flexibility. If >> enrollment is higher than they expect, >> then they'll still be able to cover that. >> And the discussion was age based. If it's all kindergarten, they need it's a 1:5 ratio on the hiring. So, they may
need to come back and they understand that they may need to come back. But, um, other than that, I think the ratio of student coverage is 10 to one after that. So we can put that on our next
>> it'll be the April >> just to vote for the exception. >> Okay. >> Just because she >> she has to wait for the approval before she can start >> before she can start and posting
>> taking revenue. >> It might be. >> Yeah. Yeah, I asked it just quickly. >> My question is are we catching any indirect costs because that's labor for our HR. So when we say it doesn't cost anything, it does cost money and I've got to sign
every EAF. So just that's why there's checks and balances here for >> it. Does it is it really seven? Is it rehires or >> No, it's a mix. It's a mix of rehires
and and new hires. >> So, >> but do they still need EFs? I think they do. >> They do. Everybody does. That means >> if they're new, that means we have a you know, and I don't know if the wreck revolving fund covers the cost for drug testing, the Corey check, all that
different stuff. Like, >> oh, I wish we knew. >> I think it was I didn't bring the sheet. >> I thought they said that it did. That would be great. I want to say it one of those talking. >> Yeah, but I think it was in the sheets that they provided.
>> Do you have the sheets? I think I think it had a list of things >> is normally each department does pays for their own quy check. >> So when I started for towns in as your fractional employee, I went and I believe it was build to land use.
>> Yes. >> And it was a both a drug test, a full physical corey check. Like that's close to a few thousand dollar worth of stuff >> and then it was sitting with HR to go through all the paperwork. So that's time. >> But doesn't it come out of the revolving fund to pay you extra? You're getting
paid extra for that? >> You would want to know if I would want to know if the revolving fund is covering those costs to onboard a new employee who isn't a rehire or you know you need to do a background check every year on someone. I believe that it did but I'm not I'm not sure on that.
>> Yeah. So in the event that it's 17 new people that all require this type of work. >> Basically, what you said is every season it's a rehire period. >> Other words, at the end of that season, >> everybody start all over again on the
rehire. Therefore perspective nothing chang so the drug testing is covered by the revolving funds. Um not sure about the >> is there a cost of the quy >> I don't know is there because I think Cy
check for the PTO. Well, you know what? Not always. >> Not always is required. >> So, I mean, >> not always. >> We You made the approval, which is great. Just >> that was my only question for the select board to understand. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> It was in on the original, but we didn't recommendation on the first day because >> because we didn't have details. Yeah, we I'll just I'll ask Emmy for whatever material she's given. >> She knows it pretty well. She may say, "Oh, it's all covered." Great. Good to go. >> I'll just ask for the same material she
gave in comment. I'll stick them on for you guys. Thank you. >> Yeah. And we'll get that on 324. >> If if it's all covered by the revolving account, why is it >> We don't know if it is. If it if it if
everything is covered, great. >> Why would it not be? because some of that's like on boarding stuff. So, it's hours that you're going to spend like we just hired a recycling person for the waste the solid waste group. He came in here a number of times and sat with HR to be like, "All right, what do I need
to do for onboarding?" And that's an indirect cost. Like we charge our water folks indirect costs. We charge board of health for indirect costs in order to support their department. So, and like if they were to sit with me for four hours, then you guys pay me $62
an hour. That would be an >> indirect pay out of their revolving fund, right? >> It would depend on how the revolving fund is defined. >> But we were told innumerable times that that department was 100% selfunding
except for Emy's position. So now it has additional costs outside her position. So if Emmy were to sit with me for four hours and ask about her summer seasonal stuff, that's an indirect cost. >> So that would not come out of a revolving fund.
>> It should because it if Dave from water department sits with me for four hours, we have a line item for indirect costs on his budget and that's why we get $471,000 from the water department. So it's how it's defined within the
revolving but I think Carol had the paperwork. So it sounds like it's covered which is wonderful but it you have to think of indirect cost >> then I would say you need to go back to recreation. >> Yeah. >> And understand what the cost is for 17 on boardings for people to be brought in
and how they're paying for it. Right? because you figure it's $500 if we're being really conservative. $500 person is $8,000. >> Does that include for rehires? >> That's does that because what do they need to do? They do they they need to
redo their core. They need to redo the drug test, right? >> No, I don't think I think they're good for a year. It's kind of like and >> Well, depends on when you took them, >> right? Well, that's the thing. It's kind of like we have some of the the um the discussion was some of the college
students are coming back. So they were here last year. So they're >> they took them in June and they're only good for a year. They're going to have to take them home. >> Yeah. >> Right. And then the others are the the rehires from >> I think this is very interesting to know because either that revolving fund
covers everything or it doesn't. And if it doesn't, we've been misled dramatically by the powers that be all of them because we were told everything came out of the involving fund except for over and over again. We were told that
>> am I not right? >> Yeah. So I believe all of that should come out of their revolving sounds. >> It's usually build to the department that does the hive >> and they pay >> and that would be them. So they wouldn't be paying that out of their revol. And I
don't think the queries that we did are charged. >> They're not. >> It's only if you're doing something there. There's like an indepth >> if you're going to be the constable that that was charged when we had those,
>> you know. Um there was a fee for that which we didn't budget. Yeah. >> Um, so there were but other than that >> it went back to the department and they were to be budgeting for that and their professional services.
>> So I mean I don't have a copy of a revolving fund budget but if you if you did and you saw professional services on there then that would be the catchall for it. But I presented budget >> on her budget >> on her revolving definition.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Um they did state that all those employees were covered by the revolving fund. Um we didn't necessarily ask that question >> that specific question. >> Yeah. >> Looks like what >> but I I would guess that they are if
that's the in the practice I would think that they are. >> We really should try to guess >> let them figure. >> We recommend that they hire the people. You handle that. We'll take your >> recommendation as we get make sure as we recommended
meeting. >> Well, we're here to discuss the budgets. So, um, with our fincom folks here, do you want me to go line by line omnibus on this screen? Is that helpful for everybody? I can I can go right to the recap if you
rather me do that. >> I think we should go line by line. >> Okay. >> No, we won't. Hasn't a lot changed over last year. So >> um so hopefully that's large enough for folks to see. It's gotten a little bit
bigger >> as that seems to be the longest. There was another one on here for the review um for the reverse reserve fund request. Is that >> we're not doing that? >> Sorry. >> Okay. >> I had to talk to select first. I wanted it on there if we wanted to request it,
but our budget's >> okay. >> Thank you for so on the screen up front. Um those can see um I I shared this with Don. Um >> and and I just got it out so you haven't seen it.
>> Okay. >> But if >> is this the one you sent us >> just a few minutes ago? >> A few minutes ago. >> Yeah. It's kind of like I >> Oh, so this is not >> right. So how how many how much of this has changed since last week's >> uh you were very wise and full of Sage
consulting feedback on me. So I did not have the $75,000 in there from the assessor's um Hero Act exemption. So that has now been incorporated into the recap and then I nipped and tucked in some other places on here to try to make the math check. >> Okay. >> Um
>> so that's the piece there will there will be some changes in there. Um but the car we talked about last >> Thank you for bringing it. I mentioned that night I was tired and drunken. I was like a son of I was so close. >> Um >> 75 is a lot to find.
>> Yeah, that's a tough not to crack. Um, >> okay. >> So, you starting at the top and this will resemble other budgets you've seen. Um, you know, looking left to right, um, you have your account name, you have your GL's, which we're not as focused on for now, but really the account name,
um, the fiscal 26 approved budget, um, and then department requests, um, that I'd worked with, you know, all our department heads on, and then sort of the fiscal year 2027 TA proposed budget. Um, you know, having worked with you guys, select board, different
departments, um, you know, having gone to a few different department head meetings, we've sort of come in at this sort of ballpark, um, numbers. Um, you know, not all our departments will be thrilled. Um, but this is trying to get us to a place where we're less reliant
on free cash and more sustainable. You know, trying to firm up things so we can do some projections for down the road. So, I could take this, you know, between now and April and May and sort of see what next year looks like in the year after and start to tell a story for the
town. Um, I'll call out some of the larger jumps along the way and speak up, yell at me, wave. I see a hand in the air already. So, how can I help you, sir? >> How can you find out?
>> Uh, you can't. So essentially, you'd be finding um a staff member to create a stipen and have them take care of website updates and very basic improvements. >> They get a second job here as well. >> Well, it would be someone internally
like you said >> they get a second job. It just happens to be at the same place. >> Yeah. >> Um okay. >> Yeah. Is is that in lie of the web master position we already have or the contract or is this >> mean guardian? Yeah, guardian does.
>> No, no, no. This is not guardian. This >> No, no, no, no. Anthony is in it. It was always a stipen position. You It was a salary position until 3 years ago and then it was moved to an expense line. >> We gave them last year
>> and it was outsourced, I believe, to >> Harrison >> Harrison's company. So, this is just that >> stock. >> We don't have that anymore. >> Correct. Okay. So that contract was cancelled and this is >> so it's 6,500 way
>> just to be clear. >> Yeah. Reduced it to 5K. Again, we're trying to piece the budget together as best we can. Um and you know, I had had a dream, you know, if you're looking at that 7500 there, hiring a little firm or a small marketing company to help us come up with some ideas. You know, that
didn't really shake out as a reality. So, um >> I have a question. >> Sure. >> On the TA salary. I think 180 is very very high over high and um I did a study on from 10 towns
surrounding towns and Lancaster is the only one that has 185 I think it was. >> Do you have numbers? I do you guys want me to I can why don't I come I can come to next then if we don't have a meeting and present what I did because I had the
TA screen committee and I presented all the information and went to tone I mean pull up real quick just >> I looked at all the surrounding towns and I think 180 is exorbitant for our population for our tax base for our demographic and I really think it should
go back down to maybe maybe tops 150 >> so >> and that would put us in a ballpark. Um, towns are equivalent to ours. I mean, Graten's 175. Why would we want Graten's actually 200 right now? >> Oh, they went up this year.
>> No, that was so two choices. You guys decide. We can I can pull up the presentation I have now, which I gave to the select board. Um, >> can you give a synopsis of it? So, we don't >> What can I email it to all you guys? I can email it to you, too, because it's >> I want to make recommendations. I I
>> um so I'll just give you >> one minute. Let me just pull this up. It's just going to take me a second >> because this is our thing. Um so my comparisons were I did two comparisons. I did by population and economic. So I compared towns similar population
similar income capita and DLS gives me Douglas, Lancaster, Rutland and West Boilston for income. Okay. If we look, West Boilston right now has town administrator search. They're one year in and their job posting is 140 to 180.
Lancaster is 175. >> Rutland is 146, but they have a 4day >> town hall. Douglas is 180 and Townsen is 126 right now. So that's kind of our economic comparisons.
If you go to geographic and I'll send this out to Don so we can give it actually I have um geographic comparisons we have Ple at 180 Grten at 200 Moenberg at 169 Ashby's at 115 but ASB is a third of our population and
they have half days in their town hall Monday through Thursday >> they didn't they didn't partner with Lunberg. So, in terms of our comparables, geographically, Lunenburgg is the lowest, but they also they're I also
have in here their um executive assistance and I think theirs is around 90. So, like I'll give I'll give you guys this presentation and then next week on Wednesday, we're having public comment on the TA screen committee. >> But isn't >> if you have questions you want to ask, you can email. They'll be reading is
this is the search committee for the town administrator. I know but don't we have to recommend to >> not this week. >> Okay. >> This is for um meeting on >> so that's why that's the so consider that the upper range >> right. So >> yeah yeah I understand that
>> because yeah >> we you know if we if we come up with perfect camera 160 then >> but we can't I can't we can't do a search up 180 unless that's in there and >> right >> but I'll I'll send you guys a presentation and you're welcome to ask
questions too. I mean, it's just going to be public comment. We're not going to have back and forth, but send your question to the screening committee. We'll address them. >> We we've also removed the auto allowance, which is something that's in there in a lot of other towns.
>> What if you did the 4 day? >> At this point in time, I don't think we feel that the town administrator, our town administrator could do the job at 4 days a week. >> I don't think so. >> I'm currently working seven days a week. I'm not even like half like it's seven days a week. I know budget season I'll do that.
>> Yeah. So I I do I mean that may be something as budget that's changed over the next couple years that we have to negotiate. I'm not saying we won't but if we right now knowing we have a posting that's going to be going out in two weeks. I don't I mean
and I ran this by a couple nearby town administrators and they said yeah. >> Of course I >> Well, yeah, of course. But you know, DLS, >> I'd also say check with West Boilston because they have not found a candidate. >> I saw that >> in any way, shape, or form that's
qualified for a year >> and their interm is not looking to reup. >> So that when when their interim contacted me and he said 1480 is our search and he's expecting >> is a recommended only or is it required by
law? It's our charter in our charter >> and there are um >> and the duties are set forth in our charter. So >> I'm sorry is very valuable. >> I mean the executive assistant
>> the assistant or the DA who are you talking >> both? >> Yeah. So again if if you put 160 in there >> Yeah. >> and somebody comes in that's the candidate you can't up it to the the 180. There's no room in the budget. So,
>> yeah, but wouldn't they know that before they came >> and then they wouldn't come or they either they would or they wouldn't come. >> It But that's again part of the negotiation. >> But how much did you how much did you allocate last year when you hired Nelson
before what was that? Um it was like 135 but that was what Eric was making I think in his second year >> and it was just kept that >> and he was fine in that appointment and he didn't make
>> he got less than whatever >> he auto >> didn't we have more applicants than Nelson >> oh yeah we did right we did >> the screening committee will usually screen all of the um candidates that
submit and then they make a recommendation to the board of selectmen or say they talk to a candidate >> and then the board of selectment do the final interviews where they >> where I think I'm going is if you only had it up at 136 and you had more than one candidate
>> we got 22 applications >> at 136 >> not really qualified >> not all qualified but we did >> we only interviewed maybe four or five of them for the job and then once we gave the
two best of what had come only for the select board to interview them, they made a decision. the night they made a decision, we had interviewed another um candidate and well the day before and so I showed
up there and I because I had sent an email I was chairing that at the time sent an email um to the chair select board saying you guys really need to interview this person that we just interviewed because that was the last
person we did and that we all said that night, we would hire them. We would hire that person if we could. So, I tried to stop the and it's it's it was a public hearing. I mean, it's still on tape somewhere. I tried to stop their vote
and they didn't. They had already we had already recommend I was on the search committee, too. >> Yeah, I know. >> We had already recommended to the board of selectment and they had already interviewed, >> right? and they were making a decision,
>> but it was at that 136 number. That's my point. You had people that you could hire. >> Um $50,000 is a lot of money. I think when we're in a spot, >> I think we wouldn't get anybody who's
experienced if we don't >> offer that. >> A year or so ago, >> a lot more valuable than it is today. That's exactly >> I think if I can speak to I think the one thing that at our first meeting the screening committee said and you guys probably who deal with this building
every day agree would agree with this is >> someone who's going to stay. We need to if we can we can't guarantee it but if we can encourage someone who actually stays for three years everything runs more smoothly and what we're seeing is
is when we are at this lower end we get someone who's new brand new Eric great two years off you go to increase his salary you know we could all make assumptions about our last TA what what worked what didn't work we can't keep going down
this path of we So the two department heads I was talking to, they've seen five TAs over the course of their >> I've worked with five department heads from 2020 till now. >> So the goal is >> it's not all about money too. It might be other factors that are contributing to the people saying I want to get out
of here. >> So if you pay them, they may be more likely to stay. >> But I'll I'll send you guys information and send your feedbacks. I just think that $50,000 is a lot of money right now when we're crying poor
out. We don't have enough money to do anything else. I just think a jump of >> Well, 30 is high. I think I I think 40 to 50 is >> and that's like I said that the posting is probably going to be 140 180. >> That's what the posting is likely to go out at.
>> Let me see where we go from there. Yeah, but if someone if >> what if you get an allstar though at 175 and it's someone who's going to stay for three to five gonna say they want 175 people 180 on the list. >> Well, that's
getting this posted. They're getting the job posting. >> You're required in mass law to put postings on all salary wages. >> Yeah. So, it's going to say 145 to 180, right? >> And and they know it's commiserate with experience. That's so that you know you
walk in here, you've had five amazing years at Town XYZ with a brilliant performance. You're expecting the 180, but that's kind of where the basis is. >> Okay. >> Okay. So,
>> um so that was line one. Um you know, as we pages, >> I love it. Yeah. Bring it up. >> Yeah. Um, so as we continue to shift down >> human Okay, so this was confusing.
>> Did you know my IQ? I'm not. >> So this I didn't put the I didn't put the number. >> I put human resource manager 25,000. Did you change that one? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Oh, you put it zero. >> Okay. Okay, good. So I don't have to
worry about that number. Um, oh, then I wanted to know about accounting the C biz from 95 to 30. >> Do we want to finish on the board selection before we >> I think there was another board of >> Then you have expenses. >> No.
>> Okay. You have something on the >> Okay. Can you tell me one time line 5120? So you've got 7500 requested by the board 500 1,750 by TA consulting one time for help with TA
office. I don't understand what that means. >> So because you're going to have a transition time from one TA to the next, you're going to need to compensate the person on the outgoing to cover some of those costs. >> The out mean like Nelson? So, as I
finish up in July, >> if I don't if I'm not your chosen candidate, if I apply, >> you're going to pay me to help train that person and get them up to speed. >> That's not including >> July. And I've got other nurses looking to
hire me. So, like Okay. Well, tell us who they are and we'll go take care of the L. But >> so the so once they June in the new starts July 1, he's no longer getting paid. So you couldn't pay him for that
>> time after the contract. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. >> I'd also add too just as not that I'm justifying things completely, but you have to realize when you're taking out like that when you're zeroing out that HR resources that's flowing up to your TA, >> right?
>> All those responsibilities. So, we're adding to that. >> It's still a task that needs to be done. >> We might have to put it in there. >> So, she's saying >> she's saying the HR's job. The HR will
but we will do it. >> No, they're saying those responsibilities that were in that position to the town administrator. >> They're not included in the TA's job description. >> They are. They are. Now the TA manages the human resource manager. >> Without a human resource manager, it
will become the TA such as I'm also the manager of the land use department right now because there is too. Oh >> yes. >> Because there is no one. >> Wow. Okay. >> So again additional responsibilities
going into the job than what were there today. the economics >> for the on top of why the salary's increasing the responsibilities and the hours required to do do all of the work we're asking them to do this hire
>> I'll keep shifting down and let me know of questions as they arise >> the board induced membership you said how how did you how do we wind up doing And we spent about $3,500 in it last year. >> Okay. So, we just said, "Let's reduce the line item." >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Don. >> Yes. >> You like it to be 50? >> No, no, no. He um he's still up and the board is still up to do some memberships. >> Oh, okay. >> So, >> so >> So, yes, >> we get down to Fincom reserve.
>> No. >> Well, yeah, do some membership in the same the reserve fund. Um, >> didn't they take it down? Yeah. To 40. >> We We had it to 40 in FY26. We were requesting the 50. We were trying to go back to that, which is a half of 1% of
the budget. It's kind of late. >> Yeah. >> Um, and the TA is proposing 325. So, a little bit of an increase. >> Um, when we look at >> a little bit of an increase, >> little bit of a decrease from 40. I'm sorry. It was 30. It was 30,000 a week
ago. >> Oh. So little little little increase from the 30,000. >> Oh, okay. But a decrease in the 40. >> But a decrease from the 40. >> Bigger decrease in the >> right. And and typically the best practices will tell you when you read
the manuals that when you're getting title on a budget, usually your reserve fund goes up rather than down. So that if if we do go down um we have to c codify I think what would be approved by a reserve fund that is now reduced. We
did have one year where we signed out $46,000 worth of um requests. 325 would not cover that. >> Right. So if we don't spend the full 50s that we used to have for a little while
and half a day, um the rest goes into the precash to be pulled out again next time. But at least it's there for those unexpected, uneven, anticipated types of expenses, which is what we use
it for. And like you said, it's it's it's hardly any part of the budget, but these expenses come up from time to time >> and sometimes they come up in, as you said, 40ome thousand. >> Uh that's the reason it was pushed up
that high. um because of that kind of emergency hoping we don't get there. It rolls into the free caps for the following year and then continues to roll and then back into so the 50,000 we have this year we only use
20 30,000 goes back into the next 50 for the following year etc. Well, it it >> or two years ago because of the spin of free cash, >> it goes into the free cash certification cycle, >> right? So, >> Don, in in FY25, we had 50.
>> What did we send out at the end of last year? >> You guys, >> no, no, for FY26, we have 40. For this year, we have 40. >> We haven't sent any out, as far as I know, >> but last year we had 50 in the in the FY25 budget. We let 16,000 and change go
because the 200,000 of free cash was used at town meeting. We didn't have enough free cash to cover snow and ice. So that was used to cover the snow and ice. >> So we use some of that 50 to cover snow and ice. >> Yeah. >> Did we did we send any other outlays?
>> No, not last year. >> Not last year. Okay. >> But then we get it back into the budget for the following each year. >> But Right. So that's >> So where would you take away the uh if
you want 50 where would you take the 18,000 from in the budget? >> Yeah. >> If you're going to >> Well, no, that's why I asked the question what we spend in FY25. >> Right. Right.
>> So we we did the average over the last I think FY22 to 2025. And so far in 26 we haven't done any. So, >> right. But typically those all come in towards the end of the year, right? Didn't they come towards the end of the fiscal year? I thought
>> um yes, but I think you're thinking of m municipal transfer requests which are only eligible in the last two months >> of the fiscal year. This is the reserve fund which can be tapped all the whole year. So that that's the flexibility,
>> right? But I I I guess I thought it was typical that it did not get tapped until typically the towards the end more. >> No, I think if we go back and and it's heavier at the end, but but >> because I know I mean the purpose is to cover unbudgeted items that are that are important enough that we feel that they
should be covered. >> Yeah, I see Chief Sel there. So the we had a lightning strike on one of the antennas one time and we had we paid it early, you know, there were so there were there are just times that >> Yeah. No, I I get that. I'm just >> didn't have money in a budget that
covered it. But >> again, that that gets you to the if you underfunded a a building repair, >> right? No, I >> it's kind of like we >> I'm just trying to think of >> set up for that. But we have >> Doesn't anybody else have any money like
that? >> Emergency fund, >> right? We are pretty >> We have stabilization as a town, >> right? it. And then if you need stabilization, you have to have a special town meeting in and two/3. >> Oh, so this is like grab and go. >> This this is this is a Yeah, this is money that we
can approve and then >> without a town, >> right? >> Yeah. To keep money. >> So it's >> and that's why I wanted to understand what we've used before to to your point of if we wanted to take it to 50, where do we get the 175? All right, man.
>> I did a fiveyear look back and it was about 20ish,000 over the last five years. I think Don over three years had about 25ishk spent each year. >> Problem each year. So that problem is there's no savings for that emergency.
And that's what the 50,000 was for that emergency because it keeps rolling back into the town budget year and the free cash and what it takes two years to get back. But then we're getting but then once you got it going which we have had
it going it's always there to put back into the budget. >> But your budget policy is not to use free cash >> right. No I'm saying when the money go No it's not available. Okay. When free cash comes up at the end of the year, this June, July, it okay, that 40 that
we had goes to free cash. It takes a year and a half before that gets available to spend again. Fine, but it's a year and a half every time. So, it just keeps rolling. >> But it's there for that specific emergency like we had a few years ago,
whenever it was two years ago, something like that when we needed nearly 50,000 comparatively speaking. So, it was needed at a certain time. And the whole reason for pushing it up to that number to make sure that the town is able to
cover that emergency now whether it's a building going away or what and emergencies are getting more expensive >> kind of like costs have gone up. So, it's kind of like we do need to be we'll keep an eye on it and come back and know that we
>> What happens if an emergency goes more than 30,000? >> Yeah. Then then you have then you have to call a special town meeting and move money from the res on the stabilization fund. >> So, it becomes a much more cumbersome
process and not immediate. Um, so that's >> that would be >> wrong can't even be started to be rectified until the town meeting is >> correct and that and that's a you know doing the warrant opening the warrant posting it for two weeks before you have
the special time. Well, we I mean we are what we are from a fun >> we we are. So let's >> we're rolling the dice. >> We we are definitely rolling the dice and as I said the M&A book or DOS's recommends when you're having a tight
budget that you increase reserve fund not because you anticipate more things that it's going to get worse. >> It's that's their recommendation. So to increase it >> to increase it. Yes. Because
>> we we don't have enough nitrog. >> That's that's >> that's our conundrum. >> Yes. We we are at the point where we would like more, but where are you going to get it from? >> Why don't we keep going down the budget? >> There's a lot of places I'd like to have
more. >> I'd like to have more in my own bank. Yeah. >> Yeah. Me, too. >> Okay. So now okay now go to see this. So is this because we lost our accountant that were paying the 95 to see this.
>> No we were always paying. >> Okay. So last year what you have to look at is what we paid the accountant and what we paid CBS. So the total we were paying was 93,000 last year for to have a town accountant and that incl that
doesn't include benefits. So now by >> figure another $15,000 in benefits. So by taking those two lines and taking the benefits out and doing a contract with CBiz is our town accountant. >> So we did not pay C 95,000 last year. We
paid the gating part and C right when you say last year 267. >> Yeah. So FY26 the the accounting salary and the C biz are being paid to pay bill. >> Well I guess I looked at 30 30 and 95
and I said oh what happened? Mhm. Right. So the 30 is added to the 63 on line 37 of the budget, line 40 in the spreadsheet. So the 62. >> Yeah. So we're taking that 63 and this
30 to come up with the 95,000. And again, what you don't see is benefits. Um so that taking that >> they don't get benefits. >> They they don't. But when we had the accountant get it. So that 63 becomes 78
and 78 and 30 is more than the 95. >> That's on the low end. That's if she's one person. If she had a family, >> right? >> Number goes up to about 25. >> Okay. So I just want to be clear on that. I'm looking at this from taxpayer. So I I don't need sales pages.
I just need to be able to justify my mind if somebody asking why did you recommend this? What are you doing? I try to defend myself. So, okay. So, then the 35 audit is that the audit we get at the end of the year?
>> Yes. Yes. >> Separate from CBS. >> That's separate from CBZ. Um, and one of the reasons why we wanted to go they were mar before and that was who the company was I think or there was
>> it's kind of like and so resilient came at that point and that that is what that is for. Oh, okay. So, that explains the zero accounting because that's including the CIS. >> It actually saves by having seiz you
save another $2,000 on training >> because you were training the previous accountant in person. >> Yeah, we would there was there was training um she wasn't certified and so the training was to take classes become certified and with the idea of
eliminating >> the seb contract. >> Correct. Now we've gone the opposite way. >> Y >> yeah posted or no? >> No, that was taken down with the freeze. >> And overall we've got the accounting
department budget is down is is down a thousand. Down 1300 >> down 13 down 1300 >> from 26. And again that excludes 25,ou you know 15 if she was a single person to
>> 25 that the benefits calculation. >> Yeah. >> So I'll keep scrolling down to our assessors. Any questions on the assessor side? >> And just just to mention it so the
people it's it's a 2% salary for people. So yeah, I'm required to give 2%. >> Currently, um we're in the midst, we just started negotiations today with those collector parking folks. So more to come. >> So that's that's what you're seeing from me for salary,
>> correct? Treasurer collector um the treasure collector um Miss D is on a personal services contract. So um that's why it says contract here. Otherwise, her staff
um would be at 2%. Um there is some notation down below that we we spend quite a bit on when people come and pay their taxes or anything in cash, we have to account for that and bring it to a bank. Our bank is not in town. It's uni bank. So I think
it's in Lemonster. Um so we have mileage there that we have to have our treasure collector or one of her staff drive to the bank. and we spend about a thousand dollars on mileage. She may work with her office to see if
they can do a cashless policy so that they don't have to spend as much driving to the bank. >> You're saying they would stop taking cash? Are they allowed to do that? I thought there was I thought there were laws that said they had to take cash. They had >> I don't know all the laws, but she said, you know,
>> she's working on it. Um she may say, you know, if you want to pay cash, go to the post office for a money order. or go to the the little space across from Appliance there. They do money orders in there, too. >> I don't quote me on all the rules and regs. I I don't know them. >> Um but the goal would be to reduce that
thousand. If we could get it down to 200, we save 800 bucks and that sort of ripples down through the budget. >> What about the other departments payments? >> Yeah, we may it it may be kind of a a broader discussion for other groups that
have cash. Um, >> yeah. I just got my fire department I just cut my fire permit the other day and I paid him cash. >> Yeah. And really for like the auditors when they give us their report, they're going to point to the fact that we take cash and there's no tracking of it.
>> Well, and well, so so I will point this out. One of the reasons >> I get the fire I get the fire permit by cash is because if I go to do it online, they charge me a convenience fee. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, so >> you don't have to use gas to go down.
>> Well, but as long as they're going to charge me a fee to to save them time, >> I'm going to pay the I'm going to go pay in person. >> You know, take a check. >> Dollars and you have to pay a $250 or $395 fee to use a credit card
>> and I don't want to do that. >> Yeah. >> You can pay cash by check though. >> I know. But that's >> Yeah. Go to the state. I think $20 for that convenient. >> I'm just >> to me $1,000 for people in the mail and
they haven't cashed it yet and I like it that way. >> We also have the security risk that on a given day if you have four people pay taxes, you may have $10,000 in cash. >> Yeah. No, I I mean I I understand I understand why we why we as a town want to move away from accepting cash. I
guess what I'm saying is >> if you reduce if you reduce if if you eliminate the fee to do things online then you might get people more willing to say okay I'll pay it online because it doesn't cost me more money. >> I don't think the town sets that fee. That's the vendor >> right. Yeah.
>> Yeah. That's usually >> the vendor set up field the visa and the stuff. >> Yeah. The state now makes you file your corporate stuff online, your annual report and whatever fees you owe them.
>> And it's an automatic. They won't take cash. They won't take a check, but you have to pay the convenience to >> I just sent for the LLC annual. um printed it out,
signed it again, even though I typed in my name and um put a check in with it and it that's what I used to do in years past. >> Yeah, me too. >> Uh and um I kept I kept it up because the I I somehow missed 2025 so I had to
do that and I did it through the bank and then when I saw that $20 charge on my credit card account, I said, "Thank you very much. I'm mailing it. I'll pay that dollar postage or whatever it is and and be done with you. Not only that, but I also know there may be some error
on the form. So, they'll send it back to me and I have to do correct the error and send it back to them. So, that money is mine for a couple of months. >> Yeah. >> Anyway, okay. So, you So, you're basically you're saying we're spending
about $1,000 to take cash to the bank, >> right? And if we could stop taking cash, then we could eliminate that light item >> or reduce it, you know, make it 250 rather than 750. Make it 200. >> Well, if we don't if we stop taking
cash, why would they need to go to the bank? >> You could. Yeah. >> So, I mean, when anyway, it's their vendor. Who are who are they if they're not us? It's the ones that we have set up the
the UNI unipe. Uh >> it's the municipal bank. >> It's the when you when you click on a link to pay something online. >> Yeah. >> That so that's will they take the extra money? >> Unless what
did you tell you? I can't read the name. No, no, no. It's Yeah, you're saying they charge me nothing to pay them monthly. >> I'm not sure. >> They They have a customer charge on your credit card. You're paying it. You're
just not paying it on your transaction. >> Okay. I don't see any deduction. I don't see anything on the bill. >> Everybody gets their money. What I'm saying is you're paying it >> the service. >> So on line 83, um the tax collector
equipment rental, what does that include? That's being dropped down. >> I mean, they requested 1670 and it's being dropped down to 500. So what is that? I do not know what they use their
equipment for. Um, so don't have an answer for you there. >> I mean, if because if they have fees for rental like the postage machine and it's more than 500, that's not going to work. >> Yeah, I based it off the fiscal year 25
spending. >> Yeah, >> they have asked pretty consistently for 2,800,600 for several fiscal years. So you just follow the BBA last year. Yeah.
>> Yeah. You last year result was really low and bumped it up a little bit. >> Yeah. It on on the background sheets that were submitted. She had there'll be a list of what's included in it.
>> Did we get those >> for the department request? Even right even the beginning ones that we had >> in January. >> When did you get them? >> Yeah, those are back on your You guys got those in January. >> We didn't we met with
>> we didn't meet with Melissa, >> but she submitted. >> They were submitted in our for and last year we didn't have it but kind of >> but that was before the parameters changed, >> right? But the equipment,
right? So, we'd have to take a look and see see if it's changed, if there's a drop in some equipment, but we can go back to her. What what was submitted? >> Well, it' be nice to have the department budgets that they submitted. >> I think we're supposed to have them.
>> I think we gave those to you guys, D. That's what the rules >> find everyone's email address. >> Sure. >> Or you guys could just have like a list served. So it could just be like FinCom. That would be >> that would be good. That would be on your end, right? >> Guardian or whoever. Yeah, that's that's
the way it's supposed to. >> Yeah, >> that would be appreciated. Sometimes D's out of town, sometimes don't get right. >> Right. >> So just saying it will be nice.
Okay, that was Melissa, right? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, so shifting down from tax collector to legal. I had increased this to cover some of
the union labor negotiations. They'll also come up as a special town meeting warrant article uh Thursday night um for additional funding. Yeah, I have a question on that negotiation. So, your negotiating team for the union is partly the court of select one and a
lawyer from >> it's your town council. >> It's yeah, town administrator, a select board member and labor council. >> Okay. So I just want to know is there ever a conversation that the town would consider hiring a union negotiator, a
municipal union negotiator in lie of one of them or all of them or none of them or just added to the board? >> You mean like adding another >> what I'm talking about? No, not another. I'm talking about a union negotiator for
an employer. Municipal employer. Union negotiator. >> I would want them to be an attorney. >> Well, okay. They might be. I mean, I whatever, but >> but we get a better rate because it's all under one umbrella. I'm really talking about more of a seasoned um
professional that does this only all day long, >> which was what the labor labor council the only thing she does is union and personnel contracts >> for which side >> that's all she does negotiate. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> Any other questions on town council? Sliding down, we get into MIS. This is that Anthony line here with a 2% increase. Um, here we shift
into Guardian placeholder. >> Placeholders. >> So, Guardian is the IT provider. They provide like all the backend security, customer service for computers. It's a contract that was signed in 2025 for three years. Um, so that is the the
number that >> that's the number that we're allowed to spend with them. We may we may not spend that much. >> We may go above it sometimes, too, depending on the level of calls, it software issues, hardware issues on computers. >> How we doing this year? What's the BVA showing this year?
>> We're a little ahead, but we'll be okay. So, um, we do have sort of a stop gap where you go to Anthony to ask a question because he's in house. um check with Sabrina because she's in house and then anything beyond that gets >> sort of rolled up >> and and just so that we're clear also
covered in there it's the software licenses from Microsoft so it's not just the hardware and support it's the software that's going going >> what Microsoft are we using is it office and teams and that kind of thing >> yeah and like we we kind of put the nip
on it with um this computer here where they wanted to add Microsoft all the software here for was like $499. I was like, "Come on." Like, "We're just going to have people plug in their computers and figure it out, right?" >> Yeah. >> Because I know um it's driving
>> there are there are I don't know about Teams, but I know that there are free Office equivalent packages out there. >> That's what I have in my home computer because I'm like I'm not paying $300 for all this crap. Yeah. and I downloaded Open Office, >> which is a free package that basically
has all the the same functions as Microsoft Office um maybe except for maybe email and it it does not I don't know of a I haven't looked I don't know of a teams equivalent. I'm not saying that we should do that. I'm just saying that
that there is an alternative that we could consider. >> Yeah. >> Hiring a person. >> Well, no. >> Is it compatible? >> Yes. like with >> yes you can open up any any Microsoft office file in open office and then you
can leave it in that format or you can convert it into the open office format >> I if with guardian guardian supporting us they have a list of the software that is supported so it's kind of like so that would have to get certified >> okay so you're saying if we wanted to
you to switch that they would have to say yes we can support that >> correct yeah we support it. It It doesn't fit in in the um security software >> and Okay. You know, >> but that's I that was just something >> it it is
>> I don't know how much we pay for Microsoft. We have like a townwide license or something like that. >> We don't. It's for individual users because then that's how it's secure and then everyone has their own one drive so you can log in from other places and things like that. >> Yeah. I don't know that open office >> for the lic.
>> Well, if this computer was going to be about $500 for that individual user license, it's within that ballpark per user >> because we used to have Adobe that we could use and now we don't.
>> Adobe is another $22 a month per person. >> Well, I know it affected the office that I worked in. >> Yeah. I couldn't I couldn't use my computer outside of the building that the S garden came on. >> Yeah. >> They could never get it going for me.
>> Yeah. >> So, I'm I'm in favor of hiring somebody to come be here to do their job. >> Yeah. >> Just for reference, the BBA is at like 67%. >> That's not bad. >> 67% through through February. No, that's
this is 3:11. >> Oh, 3:11. Okay. So, February and a little bit of March. >> It's on schedule. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, you know, the other lines here are, you know, kind of reduced a few. Um, in regards to other services, IT
replacement of equipment, you know, I think everyone's got pretty good working laptops. So, so said Guardian, so kind of kept that number flat. um communications has gone up because um it covers our printer leases, um town
cell phones, um town photo system, and we are well over um our allocation of $5,000 there. Um so I added some a few dollars there to catch that up. Um >> so is that all printers within or is
that just >> just the big ones? >> Two big ones. Okay. So other departments still have Yeah, some some folks have their, you know, little mini ones that they like I know building building department was going to get rid of the big one and they were going to get a smaller one and that was going to save
their budget, you know, a couple grand, but that was he made that decision as a department on his own. So, okay, >> Xerox is someone that we have to negotiate with. That contract is a lot and it's coming up for renewal. You know that >> we we'd have to make a decision.
>> Where is that contract? Is that in is that >> it's in it's in the communications line there I believe >> communications line >> and and that's the click click charge one or or whatever you want to call it every time the property is >> yeah they do a tracking and guardian
helps with the tracking so they're aligned with the Xerox to say all right I enter code 1704 and that's you know charges to the select board you know office supplies or you know board of health is one 1234 and it charges the board of health office supplies I'll continue shifting down to the town clerk.
>> So, everybody needs a code to make copies. >> Some departments do, like this one we leave open because people will be here for meetings. We don't want to handcuff anybody. So, if you also need to make a copy for a finan meeting, it's just got to be open for everybody. >> So, but >> yeah. Well, we have to have codes.
>> Yeah. I mean, >> have a budget. >> Yeah. Right. And you know it' be a little it'd be tough to tell everyone to start remembering codes while also trying to juggle a meeting and >> volunteers, >> right? Yeah. It would cause more it's probably worth. So um you know town
clerk department um we did the 2% for the town clerk as well as the operation staff. Um you know he had asked um for you know from justifiably a lot of good increases. I kept it flat because we
it's just sort of the situation we're in. Um so um >> not flat 2% right. >> Well for his wages but I mean for his um expense items you know maintenance professional services um things of that nature. Um and you know he was really
blunt with me which was great because he said hey this may not be enough. I said I hear you just trying to build a balanced budget. Um, so >> if postage is zero, how are they going to send out the um voting and um
sens how how does that work? >> I wasn't sure and I have to ask them like how that shakes out or is it a you know one of those year end transfers to cover the the cost? So >> was last year last year also >> it but the year before was higher. It was written down last year to try to save money.
>> Yeah. >> But yeah, it was 975. It depends on what you have for elections and how many ballots you send out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> April, you're going to be sending out probably a thousand ballots. >> Yeah.
>> And that's not that's not reimbured by the state. >> Yeah. >> Mailing votes >> and half of them don't come back. >> But does that fall under elections though? Because there are funds under elections. It's only $1,000 under election.
>> Census wouldn't be elections, I don't believe. >> And no, I don't believe census is election >> and it may have been reduced because this um >> but we also have drop notices too that
go out in June >> and it's generally around 14,500 that don't respond to the census. Yeah. So, this, you know, there's definitely ones and parts of this budget we're going to be revisiting
along the way. So, >> Oh, yeah. How about the police detail? >> We better revisit that because don't we have an election coming? >> So, he will have his he'll have his special town meeting warrant article where he's asking for $35,000
>> and a lot of that will be covered here that >> and there's 8,000 in the existing special article. they come in. So there are >> five not there's there's an account you don't see here. This is the on the bus budget.
There's a there's several accounts that have been seated with money and we did election and one for elections several years ago when Eric was here to try to make this budget flat year over year and the ex the differences you still have to
pay for all elections so you have to make sure there's money. So, but in order to keep the budget flatter, you put a warrant article that puts money into the other election budget that the clerk can move around >> into into there. So, it's it's money
that's set aside for elections, >> but it's one of those things that's going to be required because we have to pay for elections. um then we don't have money to pay for the elections and so we're >> they wouldn't be happy about that
there won't be people happy about that and that's why we have to be very clear that some of what some of the money that is here you're not seeing on the budget if you want to see it in the budget then this the elections line is going to have
to include that that extra 35,000 But by doing it and putting into that into that account, you make it a little more flexible for moving it to where you need it for the elections >> because some years you're going to have four, some have one, some have two.
>> Right. Exactly. That's that was the idea of let's put the base in the budget and the extra anything that's above that. Um if you have a second election I have you know it's kind of like um as we have
with um um that cross two and a half overrides that's an extra election so we have to be prepared for those potentials. So you got your postage covered. You get the police details whether you want.
>> Okay. >> As I go down, you get the registars and street listings. >> Those are pretty standard items. >> Oh yeah. I had a question on conservation. >> Sure. We go to conservation. >> Oh yeah. Um the question is on
professional services. I guess the professional services now that I look at it could have been that. >> No, I guess I don't have a question. >> Okay. >> It may have been >> professional services.
>> Oh, $600. Professional services dropped down to 250. Okay. >> It hasn't been touched yet this year. So, so the >> So, professional services that like a catchall or does that defy something? >> So, that might be if um the conservation
agent determined they couldn't delineate wetlands the right way or they had a question for like a review. >> So, they call you know someone who has >> okay >> who's you know has a wetlands expert. I'm just kind of shooting from the hip
on that but >> no that makes sense. Yeah, we haven't spent a lot there. >> That makes sense. >> But I did reduce all these significantly. So, >> yeah, >> I'll keep scrolling down. >> Why Why is that hard to use? This is for
you, Lord. Why are those Why is that so expensive? >> So, >> we get way back. We get a lot more in benefits than what we pay. >> Oh, we do. >> Oh, yeah. Oh, for sure. >> Oh, okay. >> DT. The TLT grade. the DLT grants, you
know, rail trail helps. They they're pretty good. They help us with some planning >> technical assistance. >> Yeah. >> Digital through them, too. >> Digitiz, >> how much we get from special?
>> Uh, yes. Maybe that should be in our report anyway for the >> Yeah. Um >> we'll revisit >> I know you're not thinking about that uh planning board. Um
again 2% and then um sort of nipped and tucked on some of their professional services. >> What's the tech service and planning board again? Is that like an engineering thing? >> Yep. So it be like an engineer giving them an opinion on a subdivision plan or something like that. Um,
you know, pretty standard dues and memberships, mileage. Um, they planning board does planning and board admin does utilize mileage because she will go and visit some sites in town. So, you do need to have a little funding in there for that. Um, $100 should be okay
though. Um, zoning board of appeals, just a small wage increase here for that staff member. Um, shifting down the land use You notice that wages went down to 7500. >> Correct.
>> Whereas reduction. >> Oh, you wanted 15,000. >> I had had 15,000 in there as a request because I thought it would be useful for that department to have a department head >> and for someone to help them be a >> We don't have a department there in that do we?
>> We do not. It was me for a little while >> and now it's me as the intern administrator. >> Responsibilities. Yeah, but that you know those departments have some really interesting projects going on and it ends up you know requiring a lot of time
and sometimes legal council take to understand the bylaws and the zoning impacts and things. So it's not >> so those three line items >> the wages the grant oh the grant writers. So there's different people involved in that
>> but now it's all you. So, I was both your land use coordinator, your housing and grant administrator, and Beth, your planning board admin, was an administrative assistant land use person. She does a couple hours a week for paper processing side of that.
>> No, I understand Beth. Yeah. Um, okay. >> And so, yeah, it's going away now. >> Basically goes away. And for what it's worth, you're not just me as a grant writer, but your other previous grant writers are net positive for the town.
>> You know, they get a $10,000 grant, >> you you're net positive, >> but you know, I think in tough times, you know, grant grant work and the timeliness of putting all those things together is probably something to push aside. >> But we are keeping a,000 on it, right,
for housing >> currently. Yeah. Cool. >> So, I'll keep scrolling down. Again, some professional services. Um, introductions here. >> Oh, yeah. This got a little weird. So, we have a maintenance and then we have a
custodian and then we have an assistant. >> I mean facilities. I'm talking. Sorry. So, we have a person, a tech, a custodian, administrative. We have all those people. >> Okay. Detective. Detective. that's been
zero for a while that was brought in. I believe it was co time. >> So you have one department head there that's a custodian. >> Yep. That's one individual who cleans your police department, library and town hall at night >> and they went from 40,000 to 9,000.
>> He had asked to have to bring them back up to their precoid wage which was about 20k and 20 hours a week. And then they wanted to add another person. wanted to add >> another part-time cleaner and I said, "You know, Rob, that's just not something we have in the budget." Um, so
he said he'll make do. Um, and you know, >> so what's contract cleaning? >> Contract cleaning might be specialized cleaning if it's, you know, um, steaming the carpets, >> but that doesn't go to Rock. >> No, it goes to, you know, John Smith,
you know, Stanley Steamer or whoever it might be. and communications. >> I have a question. I don't know everything that goes into his communication line. Um, so I'm going to find out more from him what that looks like. So, >> it used to be that the telephones in
town hall got paid out of that line. >> I have no idea >> what happened around the time of um when I left before. Okay. >> So, I don't know, but that is what that used to be. I don't know what it's used
for now. >> Does it have a BBA? >> Yeah. Mom, get it up. >> Getting there. BA patrol over here today. Um, yeah, we're at 54% this year on already.
>> So, that's probably it's probably it's probably arms. Yeah. Okay. So, you're going to find out just >> Yep. Um, you know, other building supplies, pest maintenance. Um, those are all pretty, um,
pretty useful for how, you know, Rob, the facilities head operates. Um, he is anticipating a significant increase in utilities. That's why he went from 125 to 135. He asked for 140 for electricity. Um, I think we're going to
see that in almost every aspect of life right now. Like my national grid bill is wild. I'm sure are crazy, too. Nuts. >> Um, so I don't know what to do about that. But >> solar panels. >> Yes, that's exactly correct.
>> Right out there. >> Could the roof could the roof handle them though? That's >> cuz that's where you need to put That's where historic building >> that's that's where you need to put the back the back field. Oh, the back. >> You got the back field. >> Yes. >> Anyway, >> no, but you don't want to put them in
fields. That's a waste of >> Yeah, >> you want to do um parking lots. >> Yeah, I was going to say parking lot >> to me. Parking lots and buildings are the only place that solar panel makes sense. >> Yeah,
we put something up at the old land >> because it's not going to get better. >> And and I think it's just pushing the can down here with This building needs a new roof anyway. So maybe we can >> This building needs a roof.
>> Um as I continue moving on, we shift to the police side. Um, you know, this number does include the hopeful override pass, um, a new contract for the police chief. Um, and
you know, some other, you know, increases related to, you know, stipens, longevity, overtime, things like that that are all part of that overtime, all part of that override um, increase.
>> Um, wait a second. Do uniforms go up normally like that? >> The union agreement. So it also includes like ammo >> uniforms. >> Yeah, it was what was negotiated. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Just a question because they do need
uniforms. I mean I see uniform for police way before I can see it for >> Yeah. So I >> Okay. you know, the overtime number is a big increase, but that's just what's anticipating with the cost of doing business there. Um, >> so if if those new people are brought on
board, that number would come down. I'm not saying we change it. I'm just saying >> it may, but because we just got our fourth officer who's going to resign before or before the end of the month, that number is likely to go up. >> Where where's the BVA with overtime
right now? just out of curiosity since you're the BBA person. >> BBA. Oh, one second. >> While she's doing that, it is worth noting with the increasing gas prices, all departments are sort of forewarning me that their fuel lines,
>> police, fire, highway. >> Yeah, >> it's going to go through the roof. It's up what, like 60 cents a gallon today? I don't know. >> Can't we do it the old fashioned way? Get a little tank outside the police station. We have one. >> Can you drive? >> Oh, yeah.
>> Oh, you meant like an actual gas tank. I thought you like like a military tank. I was like, "Oh, that'd be so fun." >> Can they get more Can they use the handler one instead? Is that what we do use? >> That's what we use. >> They They came. I don't know if that's 24/7 up there. There's still a cost to
fill those tanks. >> No, no, I understand that. But you get a boat break. >> Yeah. And then you add on, you know, and you go to Pittsburgh for 319 or Mr. Mike's for 379. Police over time right now is at 3.13%.
>> Yeah. So we're >> like you're likely to see that spike with the loss of another officer at the >> same time. I'll keep um >> keep explaining that to us, >> right? >> Jay's got a dump hat. He knows his
stuff. >> Yeah. >> He does this. >> Yeah. Um shifting to fire. >> Um >> yeah, I want to ask about this. I know I'm going to get crucified, but um how is it that the achievement from 6791?
>> Yeah. So >> that's not jump. >> It is. So my thought is it's the role and >> the role being >> we are what we get for a fire chief in the regional area. We're not paying a lot for that role. And I'm a believer in
you should pay for the role. And this would be getting a contract that says, you know, our fire chief's there 32 hours a week. It's 2 and a half% or 2% for the three years. So it solidifies the role because they're going to be coming up for negotiations this time
next year. Um so I was trying to be proactive about it. Get the number up so that it's more marketable. similar if you're a TA in your >> so next year it'll be 2% on the 91 >> correct >> cheaper to do it now than it is next year. >> I was comparing you think that is enough.
>> Um >> it's still really >> I think the trick is 32 hours. If it was 40 we'd have to >> wait. Yeah. I think Yeah. Okay. 30 That's a 32hour position instead of a 40. It's also knowing that almost all firefighters, I don't know
all of them, like in the event that there's an emergency, they're going to get themselves out of bed and show up and that, you know, they like the police chief if something really bad was going on, he's showing up no matter what, you know. Um, so I think, you know, it was just bringing the role up to at least somewhat in the ballpark of what it
should be in this marketplace. Um, you know, kind of like makes you think of NFL contracts. It was always cheaper to pay Tom Brady, you know, two years ahead than it was two years later. Um, so that's sort of what I think on this. >> But then he left and they still went to
the Super Bowl. >> So close. Um so and you know this is also you recognizing that in fiscal year 26 we kind of um cut in half the assistant fire chief role and that added responsibilities to the to the you know
full fire chief. Um we have zeroed out that assistant fire chief role the uniform allowance and the stipen for that assistant fire chief. Um, so you'll see that we're catching some of it back um into the, you know, 32 hours a week for three years in that position while
zeroing out the assistant fire chief role sort of in perpetuity. >> So there be no assistant. >> Correct. Um, you know, though the the chief has seen this budget and as all all the departments have, he wasn't thrilled about some of the other nipping and tucking I did, but you know, we're all
trying to be collective on this and get it to the finish line to understand that taxpayers don't want to see an override is my suspicion. So, >> fire overtime so far this year is at 126%. Yeah, there's been some pretty
significant structure fires and vehicle accidents and things like that in town. So, unfortunately lost somebody a couple weeks ago, which is tough. So, up on purchase. So, um you know, otherwise these expense lines are pretty standard from one year
to the other. A little bit of shaving in a few spaces, um but overall pretty consistent. So, Teima director, same thing. It's the emergency management director. Um, you have some maintenance and equipment there in the time of emergencies and
such. Um, communications, this has just been blank for a while. >> Yeah, that was when it was in house. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And so that that's historical, I think, at this point. Yeah. >> Because it's not outsourced. >> Yeah. We do have some. >> So it's outsourced for $277,000.
>> Correct. So that is >> we couldn't get anybody to do it for $277,000. >> This is Patriots. >> This is this is Patriot. This is not just a single person. >> This this is a crew that's 247 meaning all of your emergency services. And so
it was be and and the technology to support it and dispatch it. Oh, >> so that wasn't including before. We didn't have any of those services. remember what it was. >> We had our own communication center. >> We had our own communication center. We had our dispatch center,
>> right? And and equipment was going obsolete. You replace it. It's kind of like But now we're doing we're doing >> Yeah. Yeah. They were based in purple. >> So that's our third or whatever it is. >> Um I think they're they're continuing to add on. I think they did some just
recently. So >> yeah, they're part of our Patriot. Yeah. Yeah. So they they will continue to try to involve and if they can bring in bring in more then hopefully that reduces. >> So does everything go to paycheck the
whole >> all of that? >> 800,000 >> 358,000. >> Okay. Not quite all of it. >> But how did you vent these numbers? The the drops in repair and maintenance.
>> I just based it off the BBM. So >> Okay. um shifting down the building. Um he recently had a some of he had his admin retire um and he came to us with a solution last week um for sort of bridging the gaps for the next handful
of months to see how it goes. Um so you know as part of you know looking at reductions um this employee you know retired and we're going to try not to backfill that full-time position. Is that a free is that part of the freeze?
So it went >> okay. >> What about the uh alternate buildings but that's down to zero? >> Yeah, that was based on the building commissioner giving us those numbers and he thought that the department would be still be successful
>> with that number in a building. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Because he'll likely pick it up in professional services. >> How does that work? So he'll hire a company to be a Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's cheaper than paying benefits.
>> Yeah. >> The alternate was bas. >> No, but it's cheaper for us to hire it out than it is to have it in house. I don't believe that. >> I Yeah, I would like to see the numbers on that just to make sure it works
because I I thought the alternate only came in one day a week for like three hours or four hours, something like that. >> You could write down your questions and go ask the building inspector. >> Oh, okay. All right. Yeah. See, we would have been able to do that if we had a
meeting, but didn't have it. Okay. So, I hear one thing over there. Um, professional services and training. Okay. So, you're saying that the alternate is being picked up in professional services
because you're going to hire a third party outside. So, it won't be a local person. Okay. with >> then the training is what he has to do to get his license
>> or he could be going to learn more about electrical work >> new I'm just concerned about that 12,000 I don't outsourcing >> how much have they used in the professional services line
>> this year include their um their permitting program. >> This year they're at 50%. >> So, and that's $12,000, right? So, they're not far off from using it all. So, how is that going to work?
>> Per links is typically a pass through. So if you pay to get a electrical permit on permy links the consumer you're so someone was asking about uni pay and then you pay the service charge you pay them and then the money goes out through that that function. So that's how we do
it in my town. You pay permix and then they take it and then go from there and get the paperwork filed for you. So >> does that come back to your town? It's something >> the permal link will take a per portion
of >> but the permanent the perman link outsourcing has nothing to do with the alternate inspector right >> correct >> it doesn't that's just a >> it's a paperwork software >> human being it eliminates the need for
for doing that work manually >> so the ultimate is not going to be the ultimate >> right when he needs help I I would assume He's going to take vacations >> and he's going to need coverage for that. So, you need an alter to cover
>> when he's unavailable. >> Is he going to be working more hours here then? >> Yeah, Bob put his hours down there and I shared it with all the departments. He was going to be here I think four to eight hours a week and then available on cell phone and then um you sort of take
it from there. So, >> he's posted that >> he posted it on on the com website. It was part of the blast >> and downstairs. >> Yep. Yes. >> And if you watch our meeting from last week, he he was on and described what he was going to do.
>> Keep scrolling through the building sides here. >> Yeah. What on this seals and weight? What what supplies just >> It's a building department. I know nothing about seals and weights. I know we have to have our measuring spaces.
and stuff. >> Yeah, I don't know much about it. >> I was just curious. I mean, it's not a deal breaker by any means stretch, but >> Yeah. Well, um I I believe we're um we're using the state program and that's
why there's no labor. But for your town, you have to have the label for things when you go to the guest. >> Oh, I see. Oh, to put on the elevator, >> right? Um well I I mean there's the elevated um but >> also the gas pump.
>> Yeah. >> All the scales in town. >> All the scales in town. >> Anything we making a measurement with especially with >> and there's the the BVA is at zero for all those lines this year. >> Yeah. We're using a state program. We
started doing that several years ago. >> It used to be I can't remember his name. lived on. Yes, that's right. >> Excuse me. Jay has his hand up. Jay, did you want to say something? >> I did. If if I could get back go back to communications a little bit. It's the
first time I'm seeing those cuts. Just wanted to talk about that real quick if we could. >> Sure. >> Just want to make the blanket point. Couple things. That is the old dispatch budget. And right now for the last 5 to 7 years or whatever it's been, it
functions as our IT/ communications line. So those lines pay for all of our dispatch services and the IT for both the fire and police department. Some of the cuts that I'm seeing and I it's super subscript. I can barely see it. So I'll have to meet with
Karen offline about it to to get a little bit more granular. But suffice to say some of those costs are contractual. Our IT services are contracted through one of those lines. the cuts that are represented there may not be able to take place in the manner in which they're um suggested here. We pay a per
head fee for our emails for both fire and police. There's a bunch of stuff that goes into those lines that budget is super super tight. Um, and I know you guys are focused on the BVA, but I will say on the BVA when it comes to comm lines, and this is al also the case as
it pertains to a bunch of my lines as well, is the budget versus actuals don't mean what they think what you think it may mean because we were given a mandate to stop spending relatively early last fiscal year. So, what that did is it kicked a lot of our purchases to the following year um where we're being
frugal about it clearly this year, but there are some equipment needs. I know the generator and one of the antennas just today I was told was offline and we may end up having to replace. So those those uh those cuts to those items I'd have to look at a little closer to see
what is plausible there. But that's a very lean budget that really costs are um are mostly contractual. >> Okay. Thank you Jay. You can get with Kieran. So addressing that, if he has an issue
with his general and he doesn't have the money, does that come out of finance reserve? >> It there would be a request probably written to the reserve like why wasn't this planned for
you for an emergency? >> Well, that becomes the thing. If every department puts say an extra $10,000 into maintenance, now you're you're blowing up your budget by every department putting in $10,000 and you're inflating it. So it's kind of so it it
becomes a that kind of trade-off. You you take the money from there instead of having it $10,000 in every budget and make it in the reserve line which can go across to any any department. So again, the flexibility of where the
money is and how you can transfer it out. >> I'm going to be excusing myself. I have a hard stop tonight. So Veronica, if you would take over. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks everyone. >> All right. All right. So I'll jump back down the building department, which is
where we were. We were at sealers and weights, electrical inspector. Again, these are the members from the building, you know, commissioner himself. Um, he felt pretty confident in them. That leads us to animal inspector, animal control.
>> Okay. Um, sorry, the wages for electrical go. >> Um, only for the alternate for all of them, I believe. >> Okay. You zeroed them all out. So, >> yeah, usually I'm used to seeing the the lead first and some when I saw zero one
the top line and animal inspector. Um, animal control kept those things flat. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, >> animal inspector is the one we don't have. Is that right? >> Correct. >> That's the one nobody wants a job for because you have to get a rabies shot. No, I I don't think it's you have to I
think it's more you have to deal with rabies and so you might want to be proactive, but >> Well, I think the animals were written that the barn book. >> Yes. Yeah. So I um I was going to say I know when I looked um online they had
somebody listed for it for talent. So I'm assuming that's somebody that's old and no longer doing >> it. Used to be Mary Lerno. No, no. Come by once a year, count how many horses, pigs, and livestock.
Whatever kind of >> There was a full list of all of the animal inspectors for all towns in Massachusetts. I wonder if we couldn't going to reach out to somebody on that list in an adjacent town to see if they want to pick up. >> I believe that's good idea. >> I believe Nelson, try that in the
promises. We don't pay enough. Yeah. >> And so we up to 24 at some point. We upped it to 24 >> and that didn't work. >> Mhm. >> I think we just did it. We just agreed that we would do 24 and we posted it for
that and it didn't matter. >> Yeah. >> So >> was that a freeze hiring freeze? >> It would be. It's not posted. >> Okay. So don't have to worry about it. Is that required to have by state? >> I Yes. I believe >> what do we need? Well, sort of. We
haven't had one and we haven't had one and they haven't asked, but >> like an unfunded mandate. >> I love that. >> What do we actually need the animal inspector for? It's not the same as a, you know, the animal control, you know,
the person you call when you got a problem, you know, you know, too many dogs on the street or something, whatever it is. I call her tomorrow. Um uh but I don't understand why this guy has to come around and count my horses.
>> It's 1823 1923. I can understand 2023. >> You know there are basically speaking check the amount of real livestock farms in town
and even $1,200 seems like a waste of money. Well, do they do it, Sam? Maybe because of disease. >> I I think that's a that would be a key. I mean, we're not much of a farming unit anymore. >> Yeah. So, if there's birds, people have
chickens in their backyard and >> it's kind of like >> they know who you are. >> They know who you are. It's kind of like you can get >> having disease. I'm kidding. It's kind of But that could
be why you need this book so that you know where your livestock is. >> I mean that's but again that's a state it's a state mandate. I only brought it up because I thought you have a curiosity. >> Some things they come because Okay.
>> Right. I'll keep keep going down here from animal control to tree warden. >> A little bit of money paid more than Walmart. If I want to be a greeter, >> you know, this is one that >> and I don't want to be a greeter.
>> I reduced the equipment rental on this. Um, you know, like Don, I think it's Mr. Mazuko. Don Mazuko. Nice guy. Um, >> you know, he kind of shrugged his shoulders. He's like, I'll do the best I can, you know, real soft guy. So, >> right. Yeah. But again, if there's a big
need and it needs to rent the equipment, kind of like that. >> Yeah. Um, we also find that highway chips in quite a bit there, too. Some of their own equipment >> and and water. Water's been pretty um resourceful for that group to help out
when the time arises. So, um, you know, we sort of have a collaborative effort there, which is nice. Um, I'll keep scrolling down. you know, burial agent, parking clerk. Um, those were pretty standard, just the 2% there.
>> Um, the big one is our schools. These numbers are confirmed from the school side of things. >> Um, you know, there's not a for what it's worth, you know, speaking broadly as in the macro state level, your regional school did a fantastic job of
really reigning that budget in. you know, it's a significant budget, but the the lack thereof of growth is is impressive. Um, you know, the tech school did add five towns and uh kiddos to their enrollment, so you saw the enrollment shift there and
transportation and such. Um, but you know, your regional school district deserves a round of applause for the hard work they did. So, very >> Did they get more Did they wind up squeezing a little more money out of the state? Is that >> No, actually they they they've been taking a fine tooth comb to their
budget. >> They are hopeful for some additional supplemental funding in the fall, >> right? >> Um so I'm just, you know, taking this number now. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. The number they gave you, that's >> Well, we all should grab our pitchfor
as far as the school district is concerned. >> Yeah. Um you know, jumping down the highway. What's Kim Craven on on the board? >> You know, 2% here for the majority of their of their folks. A little bit of nipping and tucking here and there. Some
extra uniform allowance for the mechanic. Um, you know, the superintendent wasn't thrilled that I pinched a little money from here and there and variety of things, overtime, things like that. Um, but just tried to, you know, keep the budget as flat as possible and reduce
where spending sort of historically. >> I think something that might be helpful is if we knew how many positions >> so operating staff, how many is it? One, two, three, four, 15.
But for police Jay does that we get a report on that. >> So for highway it's six. We don't. But it' be I just think it'd be helpful for the people in the audience to know, oh, this is six, right? We have six people. >> Okay.
>> It's we don't really know how many captains or what because you look at that it's like well how many in each position? >> Yeah. I think that would be very helpful to the taxpayer. >> Yep.
>> The person who's paying little like you know. >> Yeah. Just just a little something. I just think it would be helper to Yeah. to know. >> I think that's a great idea. >> Well, I just like the way Jay did his because he knew how many lieutenants.
>> Oh, he gives you everything right down to >> nanoc. >> Yeah. >> Um, so we can add that in for some additional budget context. Um, >> maybe you could train. I know Lolly's
training. >> Yeah, you sitting doing a training. >> Um, so I'll keep scrolling down through here. Jump in the snow and ice. I don't have to go with snow and ice. That's going to be horrible. >> No. Well,
>> what are they up for now? >> We just like 126. >> Oh, so it's it's by like 500 for >> 500. Of course. Yeah, it's like 482. So >> for the total >> for the total. So that'd be I mean
Kieran said he's shooting for 300 for pre cash hopefully to balance it. >> Yeah. Okay. For next year's budget I did add in and I'll happily explain some of the reasoning. Um we are very reliant on cemetery and parks shoveling and
clearing sidewalks throughout the town. So that's why temporary help went up. um operation stipen went up overtime is for our highway superintendent and um the other folks that help plow you know extra hours during those real heavy
storms. >> Um equipment rental is another catch for or another name for the private plow people we we pay in town. So, you know, uh, Veronica's plow company, if you had a plow company, you were hired by the
town as a 1099, it' be equipment rental, and then we would pay Veronica's plow company to go out and plow roads for us with their own pickup trucks and such. Um, we are well below the state rate that's set for that. And we have heard
from our private plow folks that they're not interested in working for Townsen anymore. They're getting more money in Ashby, Petrol, Lunenburgg, Graten, Dunable, Tingsboro. >> So that saves on the budget, doesn't it? >> It does. There's an answer. >> I keep saying leave myself alone.
>> It's It saves on the budget, but then our overtime goes up, right? Because those guys like Jim Smith still got to plow the road and then it's, you know, it's so >> So how much do you pay them now? >> The the private plow guys.
>> Yeah. 80 bucks an hour and the state rates 100 >> and that includes equip the equipment. >> So it's $20 we're talking about here. >> Yeah. $20 an hour. >> So So are you saying that by changing that number from 38 to 49? You think
you'll get some of those people to stay? >> Hopeful. >> I mean if if Ashby says, "Oh, Townsen's going up. All right, we're going to go up another five bucks." They're going to go with the money. So
I also added um another 25% to our salt line because we run through about three orders of salt a year and that's part of that is a significant chunk of our deficit spending. So in honor of projections and you know not just
blindly walking into a snow and ice deficit I tried to build that up a little bit um because we sort of leveraging one year against the other to cover that. It's not the best practice. Um, irregardless, everything's going to be more expensive this coming year than it was last year.
>> Yeah. >> Because it's oil's going up. Everything's going up. The salt going >> diesel fuel this week. >> 92. Yeah, I know. Five bucks a gallon when I'm >> Yeah, it's kind of I mean it goes goes
up what 36 roughly 35 change. So, you know, those are some areas that I increased the spending. You know, I got, you know, I'm appreciative of um of Kim Smith's hard work. >> You know, I was concerned hearing that
we're the lowest rate in the region. >> You This is based on his research because he's talking to the guys and he's seeing what the state rate is and he's like, "We're low." >> Yeah. >> And these guys are telling me, "We're not you're low on the priority list in a storm because you can go to Ashby and get a better rate. You can't blame them.
You know, you're going to be working at 3:00 in the morning. You get 20 bucks more down there per hour. >> Yeah. >> Probably. >> You're probably going down there. We all would, right? >> Yeah. I've seen a change over instruction. Who's following my street this year?
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, you know, other things were pretty, you know, street lights standard. Um, you know, landfill. Um, you know, we have some different costs here. Um it's occurred to
us um late this afternoon that solid waste curb pickup probably needs to be $10,000 because that includes the trash hauling from the town hall which we had not factored in. I definitely had not factored in and we kept the bill for it. >> Whoops.
>> So you got to put 10,000 on that other column. >> Yeah, that's for the pick up. >> Yep. So that'll be a >> Yeah, it says town hall, but I mean it's town hall fire.
>> Yeah, we knew that. >> We didn't know what the number was, but we knew it. >> Yeah, the number ends up being about 8,600. So 10k will be that may go up with fuel search charge. I don't know if there's a fuel search charge in that contract, but I could probably just baseline it.
>> So that'll be a 10k in there. So take our number and add 10k. Um I'll keep scrolling down. call out any questions on cemetery and parks. Um, you know, they sort of work their own budget. Um, you know, I made it 2%. >> Um,
>> with with his summer help, is he going to need exemptions to the hiring freeze? >> He may he may have some of those guys already because >> No, he already said >> the plowing and the shoveling they did all fall. >> Ah, okay. >> Already in the roster. >> So, it's not it's not seasonal like for
recreation. >> He has a front. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. >> Um, housing authority I cut in half. That was a role I was doing for you guys. Um, in land use, it's not really
an active group in town. You know, you you want to maintain a housing authority, but there isn't a lot of action going on in that group. So, I just sort of nipped and tucked some sensations there. similar with housing trust you know as
you know things on the budget required versus nice to have this is a nice to have >> but I don't think we're in a nice to have year >> I thought of your word compassion last week so >> um so again I would be going back to
these to cut back um you know board of health um you know it's Carlos group and the work they do over there 2% um in some of their professional services and supplies um
you know longevity clothing etc. um NOA board of health where every town that they're a part of is in a rocky spot with their contract increases um but they do provide you know nursing you know check on restaurants title five um
you know monitoring things like that so that number is pretty pretty firm can't move that much landfill engineering is a contract with and Samson for monitoring um our landfill and professional services.
Um, Council on Aging, um, you know, they are heavily funded by the LRTA for resources. Um, and pretty, you know, >> pretty low grow, pretty low growth in general. Um,
but, you know, they're providing some great services over there for our seniors and visitors in town. you know, veterans agent. Um, that's a stipen. Um, but they are, you know, active with our veterans and the DFW
and, um, you know, that that benefits and things. A question I had for you, Don. >> Yes. >> Is if I identify the 75K on the recap sheet, is there another 40K in that other services? >> No, this is this is >> Are they the same?
>> No, they're not the same. This is this is a budget line for the veterans agent. Got it. >> And you can see it was I thought Yeah, it was cut to 48 last year and it normally had been 75 and that's
why people see the 75 and it match. >> Yeah. All right. So, >> yeah. >> So, we do reimburse for some of that, right? >> Some of it we do. We are about a year and a half behind right now on reporting. Um, so our treasure collector has sort of taken the reigns there to get that reporting in.
>> Okay. So that's how that's shaping up for now. >> So who does that reporting? >> Uh the agent is responsible for it, but um it's been a bit of a an ask to have them, you know, kind of piece it all together with all the other things going on. So our treasure collector has
stepped up to um >> it's actually a job and that's part of their duty. >> Uh she's all online reporting. Oh, >> okay. Got it. >> So, that's how that's shaking out.
>> Um, shifting to library. Um, you know, they've worked with us and they've worked with us last year to keep their wages in check. Um, I also have in the back of my head that, you know, minimum number they get for their, you know, community consortium. I'm not sure if I'm using the right words because I know
Val knows, but you know, certification. Certification. That's what I'm trying to get to. another C um to get to the certification. >> So their number is the absolute minimum they need for that certification is good. >> Um they've also had um you know some challenges with um you know seasonal
issues with custodian type stuff over there. So I did increase their you know custodial service custodial supply line to sort of help offset some of that. >> You think they don't take facilities? >> Facilities does go over there but you know on a given day you get that heavy snowstorm people are tracking in all the
salt. It's beating into the ground. You know, they're cleaning the bathrooms. You they're trying to keep it. >> There's not enough hours in the day for what we have in in facility staff to cover all buildings for >> only have one person, right? >> Correct. We have one plus in Paul, >> one part time.
>> One person in Paul. >> Yeah. So, um the hope there is that, you know, they'll be able to I'll use the example of buying another swifter to do the floors a little bit on their own. Um because they're doing some of that work now, but they're they're cutting into their budget to do that. So this may help our facilities guy.
>> A good ORIc is all we need, right? >> They have a couple. >> Um I'll keep scrolling down again. Shout out any questions along the way. Um we're at recreation, you know, 2% um you know, clothing longevity. Um you know,
Emmy had been looking for supplies and services. Um but I just carried what fiscal year 26 had. Um and it's kind of a zero Memorial Day uh band Memorial Day and band concerts. >> Okay, let's talk about this.
>> Sure. Um >> Okay, so you've been to the band concerts? >> Well, I have not. I go to my town's band concerts. Um, I really think should take a recommendation vote on this because personally
I don't think it's serving the town's needs. It's not an essential. We're in a bind. I know she's been doing it for 70 plus years. No, it's not true. Quite. But
that's a number. and a and the crowd, I wouldn't even call it a crowd. I mean, I think the Memorial Day cuz remember she came to us last year and she really wore a Memorial Day with the flowers and all that and I understand that and I think that's true. But the
other thing is she's getting union paid musicians from outside of town. I thought we were towns and first so and we have a high school that has a band. I mean, I think that's I think that's a a necessary expense right now because
we're in a bond, >> right? Alternatives, although it's being cut. >> No, but not enough. Like last year and I went and I talked to her and when I talked to Emmy, I told them to get together so that they could combine and do fundra >> like whatever.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> And that was a bust. Didn't happen. So, I I think that's that could be spent somewhere else. I think part of it, I'm not saying take it all away. Give her the Memorial Day, but I think she's got to get a little more creative with the
um the band members. We've got a band that now we have the band stands redone and we have a truck on the back to add extra people. Just my thoughts. >> I mean, there's this township tends to be pretty generous with private
fundraising, too, when requested. At least I've seen. So, >> there's an option to still have big concerts in different ways, I imagine. So, >> well, the predible gets a lot of people at theirs. I've gone by and not been able to go through the street because it's packed. >> And it's not public funding, correct?
>> No, we just do it all through private. >> Yeah, exactly. So does Pepper and Penny out of the town. >> Mhm. >> And we you we get like food trucks there. And >> we're not allowed to have food trucks. >> We make a we make a little slip we make a little sliver off the food truck. There's no food trucks. >> Well, what they do with food is they
different charity groups in town. >> They can still do cookies. We could also have like the pickle guy who brings like the pickle truck. I just >> I think if you're going to talk that we really are in a bind and nobody wants to come here because we don't pay enough.
>> I think this is extraneous and I don't think we need it right now. Not saying get rid of it forever, but I think for this year should be a freeze or >> well I'm looking at a water cut when you get the FY27.
>> This might be one of those ones that we have some time. Yeah, we have some time is maybe invite that those folks to come in and sit with you guys at a meeting in between now and April because this this is >> I'm not looking for you to
>> iron stamp this budget but present it say hey like can we can we reduce you by twothirds >> but see we would have done that if we could have her in front of us because last year she was very cooperative about that she said I you can do cuts but I don't want you to cut my memorial fund
she she was very much and I understand it cuz she does flowers and they do the two boats in the canal and the river and it's very moving and I think it's important but she pretty much gave up the rest. I mean she Sorry, Betty. I know you didn't give it up but she didn't hide and fast.
>> Yeah, >> she wasn't hiding fast. >> But of course we didn't get to chat with her but maybe you can. I've chatted with her a few times already and I can tell you >> and there's still we have a month and a half to bring bring her in ask her to
come in and sit at the ice >> or you can you can say God makes recommendation to zero it out. You tell me. >> Well, I mean we are we discussing are you all right? >> Yeah, I'll live. >> Sorry about that.
>> Sorry about the living part. >> It's like very deep. Um yeah. Okay. So, I guess I said my piece on that, but but I think 14,000 is a lot. >> Well, that was the ask for the
department and >> No, just that's just the band services, >> right? No, we cut that down to 9,000 already. >> Okay. >> So, the the was 14,000 and the TA is saying 9,000. So, there's a 5,000. >> Well, that would make up for 10,000, but we have to put
a $10,000 hole in my head. >> There you go. There you go. has already got experience. >> But the question is who is going to um do the fundraising for this? Where does that happen? How do other towns do it? Where you know
>> capital's done through their business association. >> What's done? >> Recreation. It's a revolving fun recreation business. >> Oh, well that won't happen. So we already tried that. >> We also use our cultural grant for it. Like you guys get $9,500 in cultural
funds from the LC. >> But I don't think we should take tax money and give it money. >> Yeah. That's like that's a cultural. >> It's a cultural council >> comes from the state. >> Oh, it's a state. >> You guys use it for an art project. Yeah. >> But you could use it for your bands,
>> but >> which has the greater impact. >> What's the art thing? >> Well, >> it's for an art scholarship. I think >> the art. Yeah, the artwork. >> It might. Yeah. I mean, you get 50 people at the band concert, you have a crowd. >> I don't think they get that. >> No, they probably don't.
>> At least not when I've been there. >> No, not anymore. >> Years ago, not even used to be the community spot. I think that's the thing. >> So many kids, families. >> It was the down that tree. >> Let me tell you
about shutting down Main Street on Wednesday nights and they probably should because I get stuck in a pain. It's brutal. So mad >> sometimes I get stuck in there. Yeah. >> So, I was stuck there. >> I just wish you would do it an hour earlier and then spray because mosquitoes just swarm. >> No, absolutely. She's got to do it six
to eight. >> But, you know, I I agree looking through this that when I see a grant administrator that might bring in a million dollars and their hours cut in half, I have a hard time with this. >> If we're all honest about it, we all
have a hard time. >> And I understand the historical >> Well, guess what? I've lived through the historical thing and it's more sad to have it looking like it is now than it would be to not have it at all because it was a hu it was like dunable pepper
huge and now it's sad >> devastating >> but it's the fundraising piece of it but if if we can raise funds somehow if someone in town would raise funds to have it that would allow the nonprofits
to do They can't go to recreation like um Kieran says it should be part of recreation because it's a recreation thing >> or the business association because it's also a business thing >> in in a sense.
>> Well, if we're using tax dollars to pay for the band, >> they could advertise the businesses, >> right? >> I I remember the snow cones or whatever over the shave ice. There would be someone selling that over in front of Evans, you know,
>> 5050 raffles. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah, >> that's right. >> That can and a lot of times in PEL I know they whoever wins it donates it right back. >> Oh, that's clever. >> So,
duck is right here. We use >> Oh, we had races before Pepper did a uh >> this is what the recreation department should be doing. >> Maybe you should brainstorming. Sorry. It's kind of like >> Yeah, I know. >> Well, only because you just said that
about the ducks the Friday night they're because my granddaughter's playing basketball against the teachers. Yeah. >> And they're doing a 50/50 raffle and they're doing duck duck duck >> something. I don't even know what it is. you buy so many ducks.
>> I mean, you know, I mean, maybe the might have ideas, >> right? Yeah. It sound like that almost sounds like the chuck. Will you will you buy the duck or how do you recommend keeping this or not?
>> No, I think Do we have a motion? >> We did make a motion. I like Let's make a motion. >> Okay. Make a motion. >> That's right. Make a motion before you talk to the mayor or >> Right. Or is the motion to talk to Benny May
and see? >> Okay. Well, all right. Make the motion to talk to Benny May and see if we can come to some kind of a collaboration >> who runs the Towns and Business Association. >> I don't have a clue. >> I I Last I knew it was Kim. >> It was Kim. >> Is it still Kim?
>> I don't know. Yeah, that's that was a couple years ago. >> But I think she did the uh ceremony the tree lighting, >> didn't you? >> Kim did the tree light. What's that got to do with >> it's business? >> Oh, it wasn't TEO.
>> No, >> no, that's business association does the tree lighting. >> All right, we'll talk to Kim. >> So, is she the only one on the business? >> Oh, I don't know. That's a good question. Right now it's Kim, Marcia,
Ronald, Wanda Pero, Cath. There's a bunch of people >> really. >> I was going to say is uh >> do they all own businesses? >> Rebecca Hill. >> How many are there? >> I think there's four officers. >> Four, five, six, seven, eight.
>> Eight times $100 each. That's 800 bucks right there. >> Eight board members six what? >> 4,800. >> Go. So you got five grand right now. Two minutes. >> All right. They were also done. >> They can be done. I make a motion that we need to
>> I would like to make a motion that we meet with Betty May to discuss collaborating on the band content to reduce the tap burden. >> Yeah. Use it for >> I may suggest make a motion to meet with
the leadership for Memorial Day concerts. >> But we know there's Betty. No, but sometimes I like the role rather than the person. >> So leadership. >> Okay, I'll take it to meet with leadership to
>> what was >> collaborate. Oh, collaborate. That was the word I was >> to reduce the >> to reduce the child's burden >> of the memorial day >> concert. I don't think we should catch Memorial Day, >> right?
>> Or just the band concerts. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I mean, I get it. She's got to have the buses for the people. She needs the flowers. >> Yeah, but I was just going to say the buses could not be touched. >> Discuss it for >> Yeah, >> I would talk to her about all the
>> All right. Okay. So, I'll second the motion. >> Okay. So, we had a motion and a second. >> Any further discussion or questions? >> Um, roll call. Roll call vote. I
>> George. Yes. Yes. >> Walker. Yes. >> Well, we have to set our next meeting like that. One of the last things. >> So, so I guess that that's something we want to add to the try to add to next
agenda and see if we can if she'll come in. >> She she'll be cooperative. >> I'm not saying she won't be, but she might be busy that night. Yeah, we can do a road trip. >> I did um >> looking at flag committee, I did take
about 200 bucks from them. So that's about a >> What do they actually do? >> I'm not sure, but >> I think they're the one they put the the flags at the cemeteries and stuff. >> No, they put up the flags along >> Oh, the flags along the street. >> They have to replace the flags or whatever.
>> The people who put the flags at the um cemeteries, the volunteers. >> Okay. For personal experience, I know we just made it every other poll in town rather than every poll. >> Oh, what do you >> We made it every other poll rather than
>> We don't have that many polls. >> Maybe one every four. >> No. >> Oh, no. Cuz you don't have too many. >> Have this much space. >> Four shorten the distance. >> The distance is from distance. Did they spend the money in
FY25? >> I have up to date today. >> Okay, let me see. Oh, well, there you go. >> But I think they but I think that's something that probably happens in the memorial that time June 12th >> and then when the plates get all the
expensive >> they shouldn't be, but they may be >> anyway. Okay. All right. Now we're >> um so now we're at in our debt part of the budget. Um I don't have a lot of ability to change unless it is important
to note that the fire department um has an ability with some of their resources to pay off the ambulance that was approved in fiscal year 23. >> There is a belief that this may save some money on our debt
>> numbers. maybe small because if you prepay your credit card, you don't pay the interest to that effect, >> right? >> Um so our treasury collector is working with the fire department to understand if there's any realized savings by prepaying this bond off early and if
that helps us at any of these numbers here. So >> which one is one of those? >> I think it's going to be your long-term long-term debt because I think we're prepaying >> nonexempt. >> Correct. the 43,000. >> Yeah.
>> And and this is where our treasure collector will report back up and share any changes. It's not anticipated to be a big change. Might be a few thousand if we're lucky. Maybe 10 or it could be zero. But I'm just sort of hopeful. Um
it may help us a little bit. So >> Okay. >> Um >> so you'll get that too. But that one if they can if that succeeds then that may save that's that'll be >> that may cover the trash. >> Well, but it but it also would save it'll save this year it'll save next year. It'll save the year after or
whatever however long that term is. >> Correct. >> We would be getting rid of. So >> correct. It helps our credit helps our Moody's rating a bond rating. >> Right. It helps that that would be help even if we only save 5,000 this year but we save 10,000 next year >> and you know or whatever that would be
worth doing. Um, I'll keep scrolling down into the retirement insurance section. Um, county retirement system, I don't have a lot of control over that. That's a pretty standard increase. Um, unemployment insurance, the rule of
thumb is about $12,500 per employee. Um, you know, sometimes an employee may be let go for performance reasons. You still have to pay unemployment. Uh, perhaps a funding resource dried out, you still have to pay unemployment. Um, so I sort of
>> How long do you have to pay now? >> Oh, it's a it's a while. Like you can end up paying for two years usually. >> Yeah, but >> I thought it was 269 cover that >> I just was just basing it off two
employees. >> Yeah, but you lose two employees, you're going to be paying more than 25,000. Well, you only pay a portion. >> Yeah, you pay a portion of the insurance >> and it's based on how many hours insurance for that, do we?
>> I But you still pay a fixed rate. It's No, we don't have insurance for it. You're right. We're self-funded. >> Yeah, but it's a fixed rate that you pay off. Correct. Based on their salary. So, >> isn't it like 60% or something? >> No, it it's based on number of hours.
office. >> This is a number I got from our consulting TA and he said, "Well, unless you were going to lay off a bunch of people, because if you were laying off eight employees, that should be 150." But >> well, I mean, we should really plan for
the worst. >> Well, >> well, but I So, right now, we're not planning anybody off. We're just not hiring people. >> Correct. >> That's step one, >> right? Well, but I'm saying yeah, that that seems that seems okay.
>> Yeah, I can increase it. >> Is there a kid somewhere? >> No. >> Well, you're free cash. >> That's how we have to pay because we don't have >> Well, but no, but we're not planning on laying anybody off. >> We So, yeah,
>> like this don't carry over from year to year. It It reverts back to free cash if you don't use it, >> right? You don't have a kitty for that. >> Our town did say you can create an unemployment trust. >> Yeah, that's that's what we don't have. >> Or stabilization.
>> That's what I would think that one would ever do is a trust. Yeah. Or some fund. >> Maybe that's something that we should look into so that if it's not used to something years. >> Yeah, definitely.
>> I don't think we're going to be back. >> Yeah. No, you you got a few years I think of a >> I'll put it on my long list >> consideration list. I think that's being prepared, >> right? And I think it would be a good move to be prepared.
>> So, okay. Okay. So then for the retirement and the health insurance, are those numbers including the fact that we are that we have the hiring freeze or do those numbers anticipate filling the open positions that we
currently have >> filling the open positions we currently have. >> Okay. Police and things like that, >> right? But like it but like the that the uh town accountant and positions like that it does. So okay so so these numbers
take into account the hiring freeze >> and then obviously the exemptions to the hiring freeze would also have to be accounted. >> Correct. Yeah. So but if an employee were to fall off as of July one and they were they were me I'm only one person and I don't have any family on the plan
that would save you about $15,000 ballpark for the year. Oh, wait a minute. So, we pay the family plan the full quote >> no full amount the town picks up 70% I think it is 75
>> 75 which is incredibly generous >> of the health insurance costs >> of the entire family >> well if you have a family plan yeah depends how many you are >> 2500 or whatever town pays 75% the employee pays 25%
>> it's one of your main reasons why the town retains people. >> No, I I'm just trying to understand it. You know, just because I ask your question doesn't mean I'm against it. Let's like clear the board on that. >> All right. So, have we looked at our plan? I mean, are we in the a gold plan?
Are we in the silver plan? Are we in the >> or like the the bronze >> participation trophy plan? >> Okay. >> Not great because it's still pretty expensive and the co >> Oh, look. you're talking to the choir
here because I think the whole thing is horrendous. >> Yeah. But >> you know what? And I wouldn't mind if you didn't if you got great health care. >> Um >> Yeah. And it doesn't matter what your insurance is, >> right? >> The health care.
>> So how can this be in any way mitigated to not be so expensive because it's only going to get more expensive? Yeah. >> Well, there's what you're seeing happen in like Peril Dunstable. Is it aer maybe they're going to try to pardon the term
bribe employees off the town insurance. >> So like >> we figured out in dunable that if we were to offer everyone 200 bucks a paycheck >> they may they may sign off the town sponsored and health insurance plan.
>> It would companies I work for would do that too. If you don't sign on, sign on to your spouses or you know if if they're available. >> The private schools nearby do that. They offer about 500 bucks a paycheck for you not to be.
>> I know we had a town administrator that once um I think he got $2,000 a year >> um because he was covered under his wife. Mhm. >> So, >> because it's so like again,
you guys cover my health insurance. I'll throw myself under the bus. I contribute and I think it's about $90 a pay period towards it. >> $200 a month. >> $200 $400 a month. >> Pay period.
>> And that's only 25% of the actual cost. The towns up the rest. So >> that's very generous of us. >> It is. It's incredibly generous. >> It might be on the top generous. >> Well, what he's saying is that's one of
the reasons we that people haven't but see we're we're also not at the same pay rate as a lot of the other towns are as we've heard tonight. >> Oh yeah. So that's the golden handcuff. >> Everything that's helpful and
>> but somewhere we've had to make other administration has had to make that the employees aware of that when they were kind of like how can we you know make this much less when we did the whole >> well maybe we should revisit the look with somebody who really knows what
they're looking at to would it be more advantageous to raise the salary and drop the you know what I mean change >> then people leave me ask let me ask a different let me ask a different question
is is our health insurance costs are we basically is the town in a pool by itself >> part of the Maya program so it's the state >> okay so so our our our uh actuarial risk is grouped for the whole state >> whoever's a participant within the Maya
program yeah whatever the majority of >> okay so we're so at least we're not we're not like aund >> No but I mean we're not like a 100 person company going out and getting insurance for 100 people because if we were doing that >> this would this rate would probably double. >> Yeah. So other communities that are I
think it's called GIC which is what's the I don't know what the acronym >> general insurance some of those towns are going up 25 30% this year >> but you know it's going to go up next year and it's going to keep going up. So at some point >> can't we talk to employ because I know
there are some people who are working for insurance. I I I understand that demographic, but is there a way that you can balance? >> Yeah. Well, and what he's saying is if we offer us if we offer a stipend
>> that says if you don't if you decline >> because they're saying right now if if if you were on your wife's insurance instead, >> you wouldn't be paying the $200 a paycheck, but you also wouldn't be getting anything extra. >> Right. So what's the incentive for me to be off? >> Right? So there's no incentive for him
to say, "Well, I'm going to get on my wife." Unless his wife's insurance only cost them $100 a paycheck, then that would be the only that would be the incentive for him to get off. But if that but assuming that's not the case, what he's saying is because other my
previous company would do this. I was on my wife's insurance and so I got I might like one or $200 a paycheck. I got added back as a st basically as a stipen for declining the health insurance.
>> Yeah. No, that's what I mean. And and when you get the family plan because you're one person, >> but you'd be a family plan. >> So if you take the one person and you subtract out the family plan and only pay a portion, I don't even know
what I'm saying. >> You have one plus two. >> You have a 2 plus two plan >> or one plus one. OnePlus one. >> Oh, it's either or. >> It's family or single. Yeah. >> Right. >> And the and the oneplus 1 would save a lot of money.
>> Oh, so you don't have that choice with the one >> because I was paying like 370. >> Why don't we have a oneplus one? Is that not offered in this program? >> Sure. >> Can we find out? >> Yeah, we're likely to see some changes in that neck of the woods um in general.
So um if you remember the top part of our budget talked about HR >> but um because a lot of the state program >> and then you don't want to pay a TA you're starting to see the whole story here. >> Yeah. Why hasn't that been done? I mean
why and you know we talked about this last year. >> We did >> before you came. We talked about >> and we were told what were we told? We were told oh my god you know how horrible that would be. you know how hard it would be or you know what sorry I think that's some kind of study that
should be done somehow some way >> and you also have to have your unions approve it >> right >> if you make a change in in in health insurance benefits your unions have to approve it >> if if you're negotiating your contract >> if you're are you
>> go my negotiator >> are are you saying that if we offered say a a stipen for declining the insurance that that would have to be negotiated or are you just saying if we everything would have to be that would have to be negotiated? I I'm I I'll tell you what I live in
fear of about this whole tax thing that these union wages are going to keep increasing increasing increasing increasing and to the point where even if we did have a override of a million dollars that it still wouldn't be enough
>> and and the services would not be escalating and getting better. It would just be pinks salaries and their 4% whatever. I mean, I could see that escalate. It already has, >> which I think is part of our problem right now. >> Yeah. Level services not not being able
to have enough money in a budget to increase services or anything offered. >> So, >> this is all in m right now trying to be maintain the current level services. >> Well, like you said last week, these are
not required. They're recommended. So, let's get rid of them. Bang, bang, bang. Check them off. So no job is better than X. >> What do you mean? >> No salary is better that losing your job
is better than being more lower insurance benefits, lower salary. >> Yeah, you could. I mean, but you're what you're comment. You're asking just to identify the required positions in the
town. Well, no, but you you Yeah, I I'm not asking you to do that right now, but you had listed them all at the last meeting. The ones who were not required, >> correct? >> So, if we would talk to those people >> to the non-required employees. >> Yeah.
>> Who are both protected by union personal policy procedures. >> So, the union says you can't get rid of people. You can't get rid of the job. uh you there's a real there's a strategy to it and it's >> something we can do and it's something that before the school number changed I
had spent a lot of time on but then when the school number changed by almost $250,000 it became a bit more feasible for us to for me to present to you a balanced budget that didn't involve layoffs. >> I'm not talking about this year's budget. I'm talking about >> years to come.
>> Yeah. I'm talking about >> Yeah. What I would say is to Val's earlier point with a town administrator that's locked in for three years earning enough to live in this part of Massachusetts and is willing to stay and go through those processes that would be
worth a lion's share of money because it would create a plan for the town. Not just, you know, I'll throw Nelson under the bus in case he's listening. He just kind of jumped ship and realized it wasn't for him. And if he had been here for 3 years, maybe he would have come up
with a plan for some restructuring within the building and some efficiencies here and there and plan. >> So select had tasked him with that last July. But so something like that just for context if we restructure anything to a certain degree certain degree the
select has some tools that we can use but restructuring requires special town meeting vote. So there's that has to be planned out in the summer special time being in the fall winter. So then you can budget for it for the next cycle. That's I think all these things are
going to be on the table come F528. >> You've got a very cumbersome charter to work with. >> I thought they just changed it. They did. >> Oh, they made it harder. Yep. >> And then you magnify it with the the importance of unions and what they mean
to the employees here because I don't think they have a lot of goodwill is what I've been told anecdotally for the leadership of the town. >> If you look at the overrides that failed over the past 20 years, several of them were for pay increases for um this staff
or pay increases for that staff and they failed. So, I think that's kind of how we wound up with unions. I don't know, Kathy can maybe talk more about that, but I think that was part of it. I mean, it's been that was probably over 10 years ago, 15
years ago. I guess my point is I think some of the things you're talking about I think a lot of us agree with and we just need consistent leadership because it's a year-long process to get a lot of those things done and it's constant meetings with the select board executive session
regular session budgeting sessions meeting with you guys and it's just it's not it's >> multiple years yeah >> it's a multi-year process I think >> several meetings in this room over the last 15 plus years or however long I've
been here um about this is a you got to work on getting an X number a year plan which never happens. That's why we need >> Yes, we need somebody to >> manage
everybody. Not giving orders or anything, but manage the the the concept of um these are the kinds of ways we should need to go. You all think about it and bring it
together and get a consensus to move on to the next particular problem. But yeah, I mean I you said the other day town trash is not necessary. It is necessary, >> but it depends on who I recommended. >> But who?
>> Right. >> No, I mean necessary. >> It's part of what I moved into. It's um the town has worked out a way to handle the problem. Um but everybody's got to get rid of their trash. I mean, you have
no problem coming out and going over my septic system. So, that part of my trash is taken care of. And the town has a, as far as I know, it's mandated from Beacon Hill that they have to take care of that. What is it? Title five.
Yeah. Okay. So, that I mean, it's very hard for you to tell. I mean, I know it's not on the mandatory because it came down from on high and it's in the books that this has to be done. But it is still a necessary
thing. We've got somehow to get rid of our trash. Not just our septic systems, but the other stuff that doesn't go down the safe, >> but you could pay a private caller to do it, right? >> Yeah. Well, why can't I get my foot out after that? That would be a private
hauler. >> But >> but the town pays for that. >> The t like if you don't use the town services for trash, you're subsidizing it because your tax dollars go into the landfill engineering and into the, you know, look up at the budget into the
board of health admin salary. You're subsidizing those wages. So, of course, like people who aren't using town trash just contribute because they're willing to. >> It's not required. >> You have a different idea what's
required and what isn't. >> Why are we giving 90,000 plus or minus dollars to the recreation committee when there are other recreation, you know, teet takers in this community? >> That's a good question for you guys to ask if
>> I kind of think it's in the It's pretty much it's being handled properly. We're only giving a stipen to the recreation committee. We haven't really seen the books, but we've had a going they've at least given us much more information about how what they do
and how they do it, who's paying for it. Um, then we're just helping as a town. You know, if I take you down to Pariffany, New Jersey. >> New Jersey. >> What? >> New Jersey.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Let's Let's come back to We're almost >> Can I say something on unemployment insurance? This is from last year when we asked this question. You are paid half, you have to make at least $6,300
per year to apply. You are paid approximately 50% of your average weekly wage up to a maximum of $1,51 per week. >> This is of course a year ago for a
maximum of 26 weeks. >> Oh, it's 26 weeks. >> And so it depends on what you make, but that thousand a week is your maximum. >> Yeah. >> And then the state the state upset to 30 weeks if the unemployment rate goes up.
Yeah. So there is that >> and sometimes the vote accept >> but it's 26 right during the pandmic. >> So the insurance that's the end of the that's the end of the spreadsheet. Yep. Here's your number. >> That's it. >> So with with schools you're at 2871911.
Subtract schools you're at 11491688. And if you look here >> this is your recapture. This is >> Yeah. Okay. >> Well, this is the new >> new one as of today. >> So, I reduced snow and ice to 315
because I'm going to trust Jim Smith to help me there. Um, I've got our 75K in here because Don would have beat me down if I didn't do that and gave me some wise words last meeting. Yeah, it it doesn't necessarily need to be under the
Hero Act every year, but >> it needs to be part of >> it should be just going to this overlay. >> Yeah, >> it should just be you make that 195, but >> yeah, it's kind of but it's covered. So, we know what our >> amount to be raised. >> So, for illustration purposes, it's here. >> Yeah.
>> So, a total amount to be raised is 29,59154. Um you I'm jumping right into revenues. You know, here are your cherry sheets. um your indirects from water is about 471 your local estimated receipts which
I have about 6 and a half% pre previously that was at 9% which is very very high and it was brought back to a little bit more realistic number of 6 and a half%. >> So that's that's basically the the sales taxes of local businesses.
>> Yeah, it's your question on receipts. So on the Warren article, there's a Warren article that's talking about um leasing the town feels in >> excuse me please >> for special town meeting
>> or for it's for Thursday night's meeting. >> It's for Thursday night's meeting. Yeah, it's on the warrant. So what my question is, why is Townsen, which is so desperate for money, giving out these leases for $1 and not getting an amount
of lease worth the tax or a portion of the base tax? I don't I don't get that. >> So for that parcel, the way the deed's written, it is deemed to be for recreation purposes. >> Okay? >> And there's also protected habitat for endangered species in that area.
>> Okay? So, in this situation, the town is going to would be leasing, if the town meeting approves, leasing it to the Pesa soccer folks >> so that they will receive the 50-year lease. They will build another soccer field there. >> And as part of the agreement, there's
also a conservation restriction which is going to fundamentally protect the endangered species that are on the outskirts of that area and in the sandy spots. >> Okay. >> Um that back up into Horseshoe Drive >> and also protect the well. It'll also call out the water department well which
is in the back sort of >> okay and because that's identified within the deed as a water resource for the town. >> Okay. And they're going to rent it for $1 from us. >> So then >> and make money. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. And so why can't we rent it for an amount? >> Well, they're not really making money. They're using it for the soccer league. >> The soccer league makes money. >> It's a not for profit. It's a nonprofit. Doesn't matter. It's a nonprofit. A nonprofit can make money. They just can't have over rich. They make money.
There's a lot of nonprofits that make millions of dollars. >> So, I think from a town side, you're you're enhancing your your soccer association. So, that's that's one thing. You're >> But it's not just towns and it's Ashby also, right? >> Correct. But you're also um protecting
the endangered species with the state of >> I totally get that. What I'm trying to get to and I really should you should get this because you're a real estate agent. We you shouldn't give your real estate away. I mean it it's an asset. >> I wasn't there to negotiate it. So
>> there's the answer. >> Well, but but it's up lease hasn't been negotiated. >> Exactly. Exactly. >> Um it's a three-year and we lease it for a dollar. >> Yeah. >> Um it's a public service for the people here in town.
it, you know, it the kids it may even be a reason that people would stay in town um because their kids are involved with that activity. >> Okay. Now, that's >> and it's >> it would cost more if we charge more to
lease it. >> Know what their what their bottom line is. I mean, >> they're a nonprofit. You can look it up on the state website. Tesa, >> what's it called? case and asked for youth soccer association. So, someone else had asked like, "Well, what? Why
can't we make Why can't we use it to create revenue out of?" Yeah. I said, "I love that idea. >> Who's going to take care of those turtles?" >> Because that's what's driving a lot of this. >> Well, isn't that in the deal? Isn't that in the lease? >> But that's part of the deal. But Tesa
gets it and then they the protected land goes to land. >> What about the one across from Spalding? Does that have a um protected species? >> I don't know. The one across from one across from AC
kids baseball fields. >> I think that's a I don't even know that there's a lease on those baseball fields. The school and I think >> what school property >> it is school property but I don't think >> that's not property. Um,
>> kids country is not >> and nobody's trying to make money off kids country as far as I know. >> Well, I'm not saying make money. I I'm saying we I keep hearing that we're in a bad spot. And I think that if you have real estate and you give it away to a company that is making money, I know
nonprofits, most people think they don't make money, but they do. I'm not sure how much in it would increase, but I think that we're being very kind of pound foolish to just give it up for a dollar >> when we need the money.
>> So, I think on that one, we can't we as a town don't have the resources to take care of that habitat no matter what. The town will never be able to afford the necessary work required to protect those species. Um,
>> so the dealation may or may not >> get um with without may or may not get um the permit to use that area as recreation because the whole thing is
priority habitat except the part where they're putting the new parking lot. >> What about the harbor fire station? Isn't that just for How much is that least? >> That's a dollar a year. >> So why isn't that more?
>> No. >> A harbor fire station. >> So that's the museum. That's a >> recreation. >> Is that the historical society? They are the historical owner
EMS relief association I believe that >> um is leasing it >> and they're keeping their their lease is to upkeep to the building. >> I mean they have to keep that building up. They can't let it fall down.
>> I think there's a balance here too. Like if you look at some of the other properties that we've put up RFPs for a lease on and going into leasing something like the Heart Library, the amount of money someone's going to have to spend on it. >> So is there a balancing here where we risk a building
going into nothing because someone can't maintain it and if if and I'm not saying this to happen with that library and I don't know all the past history. If someone's going to maintain a building that the town can't afford to maintain and we can't get someone to lease it because they'd have to do so much improvement on it,
>> is it worth is it worth having that build? I don't know. I don't know the answer to your question. prior to the lease that is currently on that building that was leased to DCR for no money and their deal
>> no old harbor fire station >> and the de they could keep a truck in there for you know maintenance fire maintenance or whatever on the state forest the DCR land in town and the deal
was that they were supposed to keep the building up. >> Yeah. But being in the state, they didn't keep the building up. >> We are in way better shape now >> as a town and what the town looks like when you drive down the street than we were before. And that's how I see it.
>> We've done a lot of great work on that. >> That's got nothing to do with my question. My question is why are we not making money with our real estate? And every time I talk to someone, they say, "Well, you know, they they maintain it." Well, yes, they do maintain it because they're using it for their financial benefit. of course they're going to
maintain it. That argument doesn't work for me. So, I don't understand why we wouldn't ask a stipen them out. I'm not saying do market value of $10,000 a month. >> I'm saying take what the base tax may have been
and somehow work it just a suggestion for a town that's crying poor all the time and they don't know how to get money. >> I don't understand letting your real estate not work for you. people might come to play soccer and see towns and then say, "Hey, this is a really great
town. I think I'll settle here." I mean, you don't know. I I think that there are some things you do for community purposes, and I think this is one of them. That's just >> And I think this is saying, too, that income is the new board of housing and
economic development for this next year. Bring some of these ideas down. This is probably right in the wheelhouse because they're looking at how we build and how we lease Kingston Powerland is and they have planning building. Everybody is on that board. So
>> I don't disagree with you. >> Well, I don't >> but I'm a capitalist so that's >> I mean >> Well, so what about the fields in Dunable? How much do they charge the the Dunable? We pull in about 100k from the grind dustful regional soccer association
>> and that offsets that offsets the >> towns and Ashby pulls that >> but our recreation department does it and they sign all the contracts to manage it. >> Well, what do you think of it? >> And then you have to pay a recreation department. >> No, he's all revolving. So he >> Oh, is he all revolving? >> He's all revolving.
>> There's a I rest my case. >> Same with my port health. It's all revolving there. >> Just totally rest my case. Well, >> and I mean, you're asking the taxpayer to pay more and more money. I hear you. >> And you've got assets that you're not using. It's just not right.
>> That's why we're going to sell the heart library. >> No, we're not going to sell. We should lease it. We should not sell it. We should lease it. >> Nobody wants to >> No, let's try it again. Let's try a different way. Karen, >> the capitalist in me says, "Sell that after having walked through it." >> I was going to say that here and there.
>> Yeah, but you don't know who wants it. >> Nobody wanted it last year or the year before. was a year before. >> It was up for lease a couple years back. >> It was the same RFP. >> Same RFP round as >> Oh, that was the old hard village game.
Yeah. Yeah. That didn't work out on >> probably $2 million worth of work to get. >> So, you don't know who's interested in what their what their deep pocket is. So, >> let's put it up for auction. See what we get. >> That's a one time shot. This could be a
revolving account. >> Keep coming in every year. >> So you lease it to somebody that would come in and do the rehabilitation. >> Yes. Give them a tax deferment for three more years. And >> do you want to go through your recommendation on that? >> Um so shifting down to the
>> Oh, that was >> revenue section. Um >> you know, you see our ambulance receipts. Um though Veronica will kill me. I'm using $105,000 currently um to free cash fund our budget. Um you see
the snow and ice equals out here because Jim's going to keep that to about 315. Um you'll see this scenario when I scroll down a little farther of about $42,000 in other reductions. That might uh make some folks smile along the way. And then I
carried the numbers if the override for the police um checks out. And that leaves you with a positive number of $897. Um >> just >> just the Yeah. So looking over here to the right is your free cash. We have 558
$559,000. You're going to, you know, potentially use 4750 for OPED. Uh the town clerk will be will be asking for $35,000 for that elections account. The select board is suggesting that you as residents vote
to put $50,000 into a town council trust. >> Why? >> The same reason as town elections. So if you have a year in which you have four union negotiations and a year in which you have one, that council number is going to >> fluctuate.
>> Go like this. It was I can pull >> I think we discussed it in the town council section the budget. >> It was um it's in the BBA too because it's been previously done. We're just trying to stabilize it. >> If you I this is also the $315,000 that
mirrors the snow and ice deficit here from your free cash. Um and then here's me calling out the $105,000 from free cash to balance your budget. Um, it leaves you with about 49 just over $49,000.
However, >> we can get our 40 back. >> Yeah, we can get our >> You can get your 40 back, cover the town trash, and peace meal. A couple other things. There are other reductions. >> Don't worry about it. >> Yeah, there are other reductions over here that I had come up with. Um, so
your comment about paying a TA too much, maybe you get a deal. They're at 174500. you reduced the TA web master because maybe you're paying your TA so much that they just do it. Um I went back to FinCom reserve and you know brought you
down the 20 what's 325US 4500 is 27750. Um I reduced town council because if you vote town council yes here you just bring it back to >> 82 >> 825 I reduced your grant writer down to $5,000. I took some money away from your
land use coordinator. I got rid of your trust housing expenses because that's a nice to have. And I'm potentially thinking that if you had a reduction in staff for retirement, you'd save about $15,000 in insurance. Couple other ideas down here because you
can deficit spend snow and ice was to rather than do the 1.25 loads of salt, just do one, have it match, level funded, and then maybe you cut your tree warden in half and you tell your highway guys to do more.
It still leaves you without clear gov. This was me thinking clear gov could be >> it's on the warrant. >> It's on the warrant. So you could potentially take clear gov now. >> But won't scenario one have you already accounted for the scenario one? I assume
that's the sum of those other ideas for reductions. Is that true? >> Yes. >> Um you've already applied that. >> I have. >> Um well that's not helpful. So okay um yeah
>> why aren't we looking at other software before we go to clear gov investigate other software software >> there isn't any >> I mean there there's lots of lot >> um well betar maybe but it's kind of
like but then you don't have to do any transfer um of data because it's in the system you're using. Um there are about eight other um municipality um software packages out there. Clear happens to be
one we tried wasn't successful for us when we tried it for the first time. >> Get tell me exactly how that happened because I have yet to hear why it was that when you got clear gov with a grant and we all had loginins back before I
didn't run again. How is it that we that it wasn't successful? Because when I left in April, my understanding was that there were trainings that were going to start right after town meeting. >> Training trainings didn't start. The data that was >> Why not?
>> Would that be a question for that sitting board at that time, don't you think? >> There was a on the sitting board. >> Well, it was constantly requested. Um and the town administrator was driving through with clear government never got
the training to anybody in in the town or on the finance committee. The data that was loaded we ran reports we couldn't equate the numbers that were being generated by the reports to the town numbers that were in the reports.
So without a onetoone correlation, the data wasn't ever validated that you could use that software to show what the town >> So it means that the town had to adjust some. I don't think you'll ever get a onetoone correspondence. Well, you you
you should be able to put in data if you if it's supposed to be the data that was loaded and your last year's numbers, you should be able to generate a report department by department and do the validation of this is how much matching
let's say to the BBA how much was in each department. That never happened. You couldn't and they never got to the point of being able to explain why there was a difference between the numbers. So just just a data validation then it
>> sounds like it wasn't really it it was work that people didn't expect to have to do and so the effort to do it without the training. I mean that is something I would have thought
would go to clear go as a question and see what they would have come back with. We were we were not interfacing. We >> we were interfacing with >> we were not uh the town administrator was was the person at the interface
>> with we never had direct contact with anybody from CL. Well, we also just voted earlier for recommendation that we had after the sales pitch that we wanted two other >> companies to give us some kind two plus
and the recommendation was even better even. >> Oh yeah, >> you know, so there were two two plus beta, right? um just to see what it was because here and and again if the betaar contract is up this year what's the full
picture look like for it you know it's kind of like um clear gov also has modules where you can where you can do your online permitting so we're going to have pieces of software here and there that patch that are patchwork um that
you have the ability to put things >> well down >> and and it could be as simple as that but to permanently >> well I'm I'm not I'm not saying I'm not
saying take it out I'm saying there needs to be a clear solution and picture of the total IT infrastructure within within town >> because if you could do one software package that would take care of a
multitude of tasks. Say you're working with one >> in including some of the unibus. It it can do the licensing for dog licenses within there. So instead of having four or five or six different software packages that are need to be and tied
together. Is is there is there really can there be clarity in that the business system you use to do your daily trans your transactions are on all of your accounting can it be used for budgeting as well as all these other
pieces and have an integrated solution in the town? I don't know. There are a lot of towns that use clear go right around us a whole lot and they seem to have been able to work out how you could I mean you might have to make changes in
how you're doing things and how you're doing the accounting you know to accommodate the way the software reports um and it may not be a onetoone the first time around and so if you're expecting it to be a onetoone you will
probably be disappointed No, we we didn't expect it to be one. We we expected it to reflect the prior year and it didn't ever seem to come out to be able to say this is how much it was and this is this is what the town spent.
So there was no match to it be able to have have that proration of yes this is what the town did last year. >> Was that discussed in a meeting anywhere ever? because I looked and I can't find
any discussions of clear gov beyond, hey, here's your login. Hey, we're going to have the training after this. And I never saw either in the select board or the um where where there was a an
analysis that said, "Yeah, let's send it back." I think it was a time issue in the end. That's what I >> could be. Um, >> but isn't it best practice to get more than one company to come out >> and see what the prices are, compare
features and and what it is and what they >> Of course it is. That's >> that's >> we have Var. We do have Var, but I looked at it at the MMA conference with the Vader guy who told me, "Yeah, you're towns. You have this already and it's
there and it is the clunkiest soft budgeting software." Is it the is it because of the version of so of the betar software that we have loaded and we're using and there's a newer version that >> he told me he was he's the guy he's the
betar guy and he knew town >> um >> so you're saying we already have that in place the the >> we're just not using it we're just not using it it's like an old FileMaker system if you know what FileMaker is >> FileMaker Pro it's like FileMaker Pro
which I coded at a school And it's really >> but it's not IBM 4. >> Yeah. It's not like DOSS or but it's it's >> program. >> No SQL.
>> No. But but those those were the problems we had and and again it's kind of like most everybody is new. Sam was the only other one there at at the time. >> I remember getting password and all that going home and playing with it. great toy, but it didn't really tell me what I
wanted to know. He couldn't answer the questions, but I really didn't know what I wanted to know at the same time. So, don't get me wrong here. I'm just saying I can't answer yes or no on any kind of competency of it because we never went to what you're saying. There was never
any recall to our committee to individually from the collection from >> you're where you are and if you don't do something about getting some sort of budgeting software to forecast
>> you're not going to forecast. >> And and again that's just all there is to it. We can stay right where we are and and what you see is what you get. But what could there be a different path forward um between AI? I I just talked
about co-pilot with some of the Excel. There's there's the checkpoint mentioned, but they are tools and they are available and you're not paying they're already integrated in with what you're using. It's kind of like so
>> is it a training and and um match piece with all of it? It doesn't matter what it is. >> Correct. Whether it's clear gov or whether it's that. But the the difference of of how much are we paying and what's what's the use cheerleader for all of this like the town doesn't
have a cheerleader to like get this get people to actually do it >> because it happened. You guys had it. You had it lined up and no one ever did anything of it. >> Right. So to to your your greater questions of compensation for people, you don't have a cheerleader in that
corner office. Nothing will happen. >> Can I maybe one piece that maybe we able to do bunker gear? >> Oh, maybe >> you can use the sale of town own land for bunker gear. >> Can use the sale of what? >> Sale of town owned land for the bunker
gear. I hope so. >> No, it is important. >> I mean, you did this. >> Oh. Oh, the bunker could get >> you probably have rated gloves. So, they're
somehow you got to find the money for the >> I thought it came out of ambulance expense. >> But if if you do that, >> you can quite literally use the sale of town own land for public safety equipment. And then what are we going to do next year when we don't have any more town own land? >> Bunker gear is not a reoccurring.
>> We don't have any more land. >> But the bunker gear is like you buy it every 10 years. >> Yeah. >> It's not a It's been on the list for a while, >> right? And and it's there already been town owned land sold for that. >> Last last spring you guys auctioned 10 or 12 properties. Okay. But that's that
money is in free cash. Is that has to be put in its own little account. >> Yeah. Special spending requirements. Oh, okay. >> Public safety infrastructure purchased that we had that money that we could look at. >> We didn't we just found out what it can
and can't >> account help us understand the different things that can be used for. >> Okay. Because we were some of it can't even be used for capital like it's >> so we have so we actually have the money available from a different source >> just like
>> does that have to go through a >> town meeting town meeting article? So it would be annual meeting. >> Okay. So we so we so we'll put an article for the annual town meeting for that. >> So that's my good news. >> Well yeah that's one thing I >> Okay. So we don't have to worry about
taking that from the ambulance receipts any we do that because if we do this correctly. >> All right. Well that's a good thing >> by the bunker gear from the other >> the town property sales. >> What if they don't sell? >> No they already sold. This is money
that's already come in. >> I go to the most recent one and see what it's looking like. You know this special kind of >> I don't >> that night or that day. >> We're too close to it. It's kind of like
the >> Okay. So, are we are we are we I think we've about exhausted ourselves here. It's kind of like we're talking. >> No, no, no. To >> So, we need a motion to >> I'll make a motion to join the spectator
meeting at 9:01 p.m. >> I think I'll second >> and that's the joint. >> That's the I'll make a motion to the finance committee. >> I'll second that meeting. >> What you going to say? Veronica.
That is the joint meeting and then we'll have to make a motion to they adjourn and then we'll >> my motion to adjourn. >> Sam seconded >> All right. >> Motion to adjourn the select board meeting.
Second. All those in favor. >> Thank you TK. Have a good night.