Good evening. I'd like to call the December 9th meeting of the cable advisory board to order. Uh let's uh have a pledge of allegiance. Algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Thank you all for joining us. I know it's been a while um actually almost a year now since we've met. So, I hope
everybody's doing well and uh thank you for coming out on this cold night. Um we'll start with the approval of the minutes from February. I don't know if everyone remembers what we discussed back then, but um if you need a copy of
it, we have it. And uh >> it's on the phone actually. >> What's that? >> It's on the phone. >> Oh yes, that's right. Everybody should have gotten it emailed to them. And um so if I could just have an approval of those minutes.
>> Make a motion accept be the means. >> Okay. And do we have a second? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. >> I'm abstaining for absence. >> Yeah. >> Um and then next we have the director's
report. So, you want to take that? [snorts] >> Sure. >> All right. Going to start with some staff changes. Um, we've hired John Maddock as the new production assistant. He's replacing David um who gave us a good year and a half. So, I want to thank David publicly for that. Uh, John
is um he's a Dartmouth resident. He's got a strong video background. He came from um he well he has a part-time job still at Providence College, but that's on the weekend so it doesn't interfere with what he's going to for what we need him for. Um so far so good. He's a very
um chill person. He's um doesn't seem rattled at all. I kind of threw him to the wolves and uh he just was so calm about it. So >> he's working tonight. >> And he's working tonight. Yeah. Yeah. As we speak. Right. Yeah. So, um, we hired
Casey, um, AO as a camera operator. He's a senior at the high school. And, um, there's another Junior I'm going to ask to hire another student, and I'll get into that later. Um so this year on school side I started uh Wildcat news
and what that is is um a group of freshmen who every single day live stream at noon a um live uh school news program. It's only about 90 seconds but um they're very dedicated. It's almost
at the point now where I can just sit back and watch them. I'll sit in my chair and they do everything. and they turn all the equipment on and they write the scripts and they and they do it. So, check those out. They're all over the Westboro Community TV YouTube page. And um I mean, I'm not completely um factual
on this, but I looked around and I couldn't find any of the news programs that stream live daily, any other high school programs in the area. So, I could be wrong, but what my little research did, I couldn't find anything. Not many schools even do it. Never mind doing it
live, but they do it live every day. And they're freshman, so hopefully I have them for three more years, and I keep telling them that. Um, so year two of uh there's an eighth grade teacher called John Bernier, [snorts] and him along with Carol Fergus
from the veterans office have gotten veterans together. Um, she's calling it um I forget the title so I won't even try to figure it out. What they do is students, eighth grade students in Mr. Bernie's class will interview veterans and the kids film it. The kids work the
control room and once they're done with we keep them as an archive, but Mr. Bernie takes them and they write a book about it. So the kids all take interviews, they watch the interviews and they write up a book. So they did a book last year and he's got another grade doing it this year, but we're helping them on the video on the video
side of it. And it's really good because um these veterans come from all different wars. So it's something it's something good to have archived. And [clears throat and snorts] let's see. And that's all I have now. And
Valerie's going to talk about a few things if that's okay. >> When did we when did we last meet? >> Rene said about Yeah, almost a year ago. >> Okay. So since then, this has been a lot. Um I've done the annual Memorial Day, uh the Fourth of July parade, the
Veterans Day, um recent things was um the duck for the Mass Ottabbon, the duck dirty and um and then the Bell School for the historical commission uh historical society. They just had the
grand opening, so I did a little walkthrough tour and uh good another program historical society on the Mac of a turnup >> and uh that was that's all online and people can watch that that was well
attended and uh continuing with the many meetings committees uh the week before Thanksgiving I produced nine meetings in three days so uh that was really hopping that week uh continue to put everything on YouTube
uh most of it is live I can go live to to from both places. So, we're going out right now on for both meetings at 5:30. Uh the shellfish is going on going on now and then um most of them are live on
TV and then they play back at a later date if if um you know if it doesn't go out live. There's a couple of meetings that still record on the Zoom or Meet Meet >> Google Meets uh that I get and then
produce those and upload those and put them on TV and um air everything. I try to air about one to two times a day. Um different times during the week on the 190. And uh
that's got to other Oh, we did the Christmas tree lighting. Carrie did that and she did something today for the um historical society. Uh that was >> start transcribing the >> those um
>> the town meeting minutes to have to do with the Westport um >> all the >> 250 the country's 250 >> y >> the historical society is >> participating in that. >> Irene's involved in that too as well.
>> Oh yeah. I recorded the the kickoff meeting of that too at the library. >> Yeah. I'm just curious, do do you guys have like a count of the amount of programming that you guys produce? Like
a week, a month, you probably pull a report from the server um to show exactly how much you guys do >> over the course of a year. Um I can imagine a lot of meetings and you know
all these extras are you know are important to the town. >> Well you you usually say there's about 20 meetings. >> Yeah. >> Yeah about 20 government meetings a month but that's a number if you want I can get because YouTube has the you know the analytics from all. So yeah
gohead. >> I mean I think people underestimate you know exactly the volume of of work that >> it's hundreds. Yeah. I mean, she does hundreds of meetings >> a year. >> I really views the views also. >> Yeah, I was just going to say um there's
no no way on TV of doing it, but the the YouTube >> uh views are pretty good and you can see that on the radio. I mean, anybody can see that on the >> Yeah. >> West Community TV >> and so Bo gets a lot of the mid 100 200.
>> Yeah. No, that's that's that's good. I mean, for for a town this size gets a lot. >> Yep. >> Um yeah, they get they get pretty good health. Yeah, they get, you know, double digits, triple digits. >> Mhm.
>> One of some of them that you need to check. >> I haven't gotten into it yet. >> Surprisingly, the most watched thing ever is the mock car crash. For some reason, [laughter] every month, every month it's the top. It's the top of the thing. It's got
close to 8,000 views, I think. >> Um, >> but that number at the top was good. We've had So, this month, >> yeah, last the last four weeks, uh, 2,800 views. And this is just the West Park
community. It's not her meetings. It's not the government side either. So, >> right. >> So, I would probably double that or I can I can get that right now. >> We're just going to Westport community. Um, Westport Government TV. Not that, but just go to like a person would go to.
>> Here's Jay. >> This is riveting TV [laughter] right now. >> 2,800 views a month is pretty good. >> Yeah. No, that's >> I mean, if you go to content, it'll show you like just content >> and government's 2100. So almost What's
that? 21 20. What was the first number? >> 28. >> Let's see if you go to five grand. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, and I would imagine that the views are probably more on on YouTube than >> on on cable TV. I would imagine people
have more access to that and people are just cutting the cord with cable >> because it's on it's on demand too. >> Open what? >> Content. >> That's right. You're on it. >> Oh. Oh, it's different than >> Yeah. some >> Oh. Oh, you're you're on the you're not
on what the viewer sees. >> Yeah. You're not on what the residences. That's what it where it says how many they watch. >> Right. But I think it's a benefit and I'm glad Shauna you're representing the select board and at least you know >> I think fantastic. >> Yeah.
To be able to see that. So I'm sorry we can continue. >> No, that was unless you have any other Well, that was a question but any other questions? I'm sure I'm leaving something out. I just wrote it down quickly. >> You did a lot over the summer. A lot of extra.
>> Yeah, over the summer. Yeah. >> Does the committee have any questions for John or Valerie upcoming programming? >> Basketball season. >> Okay. >> I'm going to try to record the decorated
houses and streets this year. Yeah, there's a lot up. >> Yeah, >> I did that one year years ago. I just kind of went around just for filler. >> I reached out and asked people to message me an address or street. >> Good.
>> Yeah. Now in terms of cablecast will that provide you that'll provide you with the analytics of the shows and >> it'll provide us the shows but go on >> and and how many replays you have how
how many hours of programming you have. >> Yeah. It won't show viewership. >> No no yeah I understand. Okay. >> Yeah I can't get it cuz it's u I should be able to get that but >> well I don't know. Do you save logs all along? >> They're there
>> because I delete shows. So, >> yeah, just to, you know, maybe for the committee to get an idea of exactly the volume of of shows that are produced and what's airing per week if they're not. >> Do you want me to run write up a little? >> Yeah, I mean, at some point you could do
that and Sure., >> you know, get it to the committee. That probably be great. >> Um, >> okay. So yeah, the next thing on the agenda, we'll keep this moving along, is the 26 budget update. So I know revenue comes in usually the
checks come in what? In April, spring. Yep. In the spring. >> Spring. So um as far as FY20, well 26 is already in the that's already been settled. Um 27 FY27 Jim hasn't asked me
for anything. And I know Jim's not here much longer. Um, and it usually is this time of year when he asks me for something, but um, I haven't heard from him. So, I'll reach out to him. >> Yeah.
>> Cuz I have no numbers for 27 to even >> to give you, >> right? >> He's already put together the budget, though. >> So, it's usually Right. Usually, it's 3% increments. He puts every line item goes up 3%. That's how it usually is.
>> Okay. But he could he has you have access to your budget numbers presently, right? >> Yes. >> How much is in the account and what you've spent to date? >> Yep. >> Um Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> What is it exactly you want me to get to? >> I just wanted to make sure you're still in the black. That's all >> we are. Yeah, we are. >> Yeah. And you have funding to do what what you need to do. >> Yep. >> Uh coming up if there's equipment that needs to be purchased. I know you're bringing somebody on. So I mean to just
make sure that that >> I'm frugal that that's going to work. >> Do you have the numbers? >> I'm frugal. This laptop's 11 years old. >> So you need a new >> It's on my wish list that we're going to get to. >> Okay. >> Do you have the numbers for
the the budget or >> for last year or the current year? for the Oh, >> for the current year. >> What? Oh, yeah. It' be for >> Oh, yeah. I guess it would same for 27, but you haven't done that yet. >> No, he hasn't asked me before. I mean,
I'll reach out to him and >> I'd like to get him. >> I would talk with him because my understanding is that he he had met with all the department heads, but maybe he's missed a few. >> Yeah, I didn't. Yeah, I haven't even heard from him. Yeah, you might want to reach out to them and just, you know, check at least so you get your wish list
in for stuff and, you know, see, um, you know, for purchases and what you might want to do. >> Yep. I'll write them tonight. >> Okay. So, um, not really a budget update
because we don't know numbers, right? So, we'll have to just find that out. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Maybe you can email that to the committee as well. >> I'll get that soon as I hear back from him. Yeah. And I'll even do a uh first draft of something if it stays 3% before anything's official.
>> Yeah. Just before the meeting, I was online because at one point there was and this is related to budget. So, I'll kind of slide this in there and maybe at at the next meeting we can actually have it as a separate agenda item, but um
there's some legislation um up at the state house um to address the funding shortfalls that that cable TV is that the revenues are are are seeing because
people are dropping cable services. hence reducing your funding. Um and so the thought process and I think we might have discussed this at the February meeting is that the legislaturator is looking to
um get revenues from streaming services um and have those offset some of your your losses. And so I I wanted to see if that is still active. And the last um
the most current um notice that I saw was from um January of 2025. I have not seen anything since. And I don't know I don't think it's it it's um it's dead
yet. Um but it is kind of re been revised to streamline um the the actual wording and um I will copy you on all uh copy you all on this.
Um it's basically an act to modernize funding for community community media programming. So, um I think we should keep an eye on this and see, you know, hopefully at some point, um we might
need to reach out to our own local delegation and encourage them to kind of keep an eye on this for us as well. um and and support it obviously because I think you know the future of of you know
community television and what you what you do is uh is at risk eventually. Um and who knows what the landscape's going to look like in 10 years, right? We we just don't know. Um cable's probably not >> It'll be gone. >> Yeah. It'll be gone. It'll be streaming
services and it'll be wireless or whatever it is. But >> you mean tolerable streaming? Uh in terms of in terms of programming, you mean? Yeah. I mean, you know, traditional cable is not going to look like it does now.
>> I was just going to mentioned it. Uh Spectrum now has a whole load of apps streaming. They have Discovery. They have Paramount. It's only I feel sorry for the older people that don't know because you got to set up an account. Same with
Paramount. All you do and a username, right? >> And a password, right? Then you can stream it for free. >> Yeah. >> And child, I mean, Stress's come up in a bunch of them lately. They've got Hulu, they've got >> uh Paramount, they've got uh whole bunch of them.
>> Yeah. >> And you can get movies sports >> for free. It's all part of your package. Yeah. >> A lot of people don't know about it. He started advertising about two weeks ago on their ads for Spectrum on there. >> Yeah. >> And it's great, but you have to know what you're doing. >> Yeah. Yeah. Donald, I struggle with
that, too. And I mean, my biggest struggle with all of the streaming apps, and Spectrum does have their own app that you can actually look at all the program because you get all the streaming from the app. They've got a ton of them. >> Yeah. >> In the last two or three weeks, they keep adding it. It's all free.
>> Yeah. >> But the trouble is you got to have a password, username, and set up an account, which is >> for each one. >> For each for each one. >> Yeah. Each one is >> and I was going to say my biggest struggle is remembering the passwords to all of them because
>> and then all of a sudden they change them. >> Yeah. >> Every so often let's go and automatically got to renew it. >> Yeah. >> The security reasons. >> Yeah. But but Rene, our funding is is actually secure through our new or the
contract we re review renewed a few years ago which that's that's really fixed by our contract. >> Sure. Um and I want to clarify that because uh Bob um capital funding
uh which is in embedded in the contract in the cable license for the next 10 years is is solid and that's not going anywhere. It's the operating funds that are based on on gross revenues of of of
the subscribers and what they pay. Yep. And that that is what is diminishing. And that'd be interesting to see um maybe John you can get those numbers um to see the difference maybe in April or whatever uh to see if the checks maybe
over the last three years what the checks have been you know to see if it's actually >> uh diminished significantly. Mhm. >> Um so anyway, um does anybody have any questions about any
>> question on on that streaming now? Will that affect uh viewership? I mean people that subscribe because if they go to say your charter decides they're not going to go with cable anymore, you know box they have to stream will not affect people. >> Well, especially people that don't know
how to do it if it's going to say well they got to stream from somebody else. >> Yeah. They'll have to have the internet. >> Yeah. You know, my a lot of it are funding because if they stop subscribing to chart or spectrum will
lose the money. >> Well, that's what that >> Yeah. >> proposition thing that he was talking about was >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, we'll have to see how that all shakes out. >> That might be, you know, five 10 years down the road, but you never know tomorrow, you know? >> Right. Um
>> have mercy. Yeah. Yeah, >> you only have one. Go to for Boston. I think Boston's got three or four cable companies. >> Yeah, >> you could flip, you know. >> Yeah, I mean there will definitely have to be an internet service provider in
Westport and you know um now it's either a Verizon or >> or Cox. >> Yeah. >> Or Cox whatever. >> Your cell phone services too will do. >> Yeah. Or your hotspot on your on your cell phone, right? if it's T-Mobile or
whatever the carrier is. So, we'll see how how how it'll all shake out, but um but yeah, um does anybody else have any anything to say? Okay. Um um yeah, I think u I don't recall the exact
numbers, but we've always had in the cable advisory um budget, oh the cable budget, we we've always had a very positive balance and and I think even in declining revenues, I
we we will have to live with that with that with the net balance, but it's it's still been positive. >> Sure. Sure. I I mean, I think John's been very prudent in terms of his spending and not buying things that, you know, he doesn't need. I mean, um, some
of the equipment and, you know, you just said your laptop's what, 12 years old or whatever, >> 2014. >> Yeah. So, um, I think that's a credit to you and, you know, again, who knows what the landscape's going to look like. I think it's important to keep the the
equipment, you know, up todate and state-of-the-art and, you know, especially for the students at the at the high school. I think that's, you know, they're learning on this stuff and, you know, for some of them it might be a career path. Um, that's, you know,
important that they have equipment that's that's current and >> I mean, >> that they're going to go to college and see the same thing. >> Exactly. Exactly. Or go out into the industry and see the same thing. I think that's important. And and some of that equipment may be purchased by the school
and by the school department budget. Um if it's built into the curriculum, I mean there's some ways to kind of, you know, work that angle, I think. [clears throat] >> Um but I mean you have connections. Have
you met at all with the new superintendent? >> I have. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. um wondering who that is. Uh yeah, I have we had a sit down meeting. Very nice lady. Uh great great first impression from her and uh she seemed she was very
supportive of the uh the daily news program that the students are doing. >> Good. >> Yep. >> Good. Sounds great. >> And filming the school games and all that stuff is has really been very very good. >> Good.
>> Yep. Excellent. Okay. Um, next on the agenda is the request to hire Madden Hawk. >> So, uh, Madden is a junior. Um, he's number one in his class. And a good thing about Madden,
he's doesn't do drama or sports, so he's available all the time. Um, he's Olivia Hawk's brother, who Olivia is now in college, but Olivia's worked for us the last two years. Um, great family. Um,
Madden always would show up at basketball games and take still pictures. He has an interest in photography and all of that. So, um, I spoke to him about coming to work for us and he wants to do it. So, I'm
requesting that we move on with this and get it to the select board. >> Okay. So we need a motion to >> make a motion to hire Mer to John staff. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I
>> I >> thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thanks. >> One more step though. >> Um so that now goes to the select board. Correct. Or how does >> Yes. All
right. Um, next on the agenda, future purchases. >> So, uh, Ren asked me just to, uh, make a list and, um, I have nothing huge to buy. We had bought the server two years ago. So, the server is still brand new
in my opinion. That's two years. And that's the most costly thing a a department [snorts] like mine can buy is a server. So, we still have we have that. Um, so I just made a list of just some backup things. Um, new MacBook Pro. I'd like to get two, but Valerie doesn't
like Apple, right? Um, and the other things are, um, I'd like to get an iPad to run my ATM, my Switcher software portable cart because at school committee last week, I use a PC. Don't ask me why.
And um I had turned it off before the meeting cuz I set up 4 hours before the meeting and I just shut everything off and it took what 10 minutes you guys were waiting for me for a PC to start up. New PC too. It's maybe 3 years old tops. But I just don't like PCs. So I
want to definitely get an iPad to run that or a new MacBook Pro. Other than that, it's just like I said, some backup things I use every day. Um the things that uh allow me to stream live from both the court and from the control room. And um that's it. Maybe a couple
of lighting kits and uh backup recorder. And um that's it from my side. I'm not sure. Me and Valer briefly talked about what she needs. And do you have anything? >> I I don't know what you want to do with the third meeting room.
the thing down the hall >> down the hall because that's >> standard definition >> cameras to a DVD. >> So that's thing we could we could >> we could improve that >> town administrator wanted that room cleared out.
>> That's what I'm afraid of. >> Other uses that they have in mind for that or >> right >> or what but occasionally that is in use for >> somebody has a desk in there >> a third meeting. Well, that's um the uh zoning board, but she's there at, you
know, night off hours. >> Um but yeah, I don't know >> if the cable board has any input on on that. This, uh sometimes there's three meetings going on and we're just down to the, you know,
the two big rooms. We cleared out the basement at town hall. So, >> we only record four days a week. We never record on Fridays. Is there a reason people don't like to have >> Don't encourage it. Yeah. [laughter]
>> It it would help with that problem. >> Yeah. >> For just more more uh you know planning coordination in the plan in with other committees and yeah >> what rooms are being used and what times. >> I know sometimes committees have to
holidays and they have to shift and >> so who who caught a couple of times. I did uh do it setting up all the um the uh the equipment in there, but with the redoing all the heating and
everything, the room got all messed up and dusty and so the last time they had a meeting in there, I just did one camera, >> right, >> just to get it recorded. So, >> yeah. Um, so we just have to determine if there's somebody has their eyes on
that room or what or it's going to be a another recording room or cuz we will have to up upgrade. So that's a thought. >> Do you know how many times that room gets used for third me a third meeting?
>> Um, I haven't really not as much now, but It it has been a couple couple times in the last um I had the new guy do a meeting there recently and then we decided not he did it with the the switcher and then he
decided to do another one was a harbor harbor advisory I think. >> Do they use that room because something's going on in the big room and here? >> Yes. Um so right now for your um for the uh rooms that you can do recording in you
have the select board meeting room you have this room and then there is there something at school department the school department school has a room right that does >> yes okay well they do from the auditorium but I can I can go live from there >> so so this but the school has a
>> okay so you have the auditorium so I think part of the um I can't say I'm going to solve this anytime soon but I think what you're bringing up as a problem we have no scheduling. We don't have scheduler, right? So, nobody's scheduling meetings like in my office. You do it in Outlook and you schedule your meetings. So, we're not doing that
here. So, >> um we should talk I can take that back to the select board about um >> if nothing else we can you should be able to schedule meeting rooms, right? That's >> is that although for this I had to confirm with Kristen and Josh's office.
So there is like a final >> right >> we don't make the decision on we just post what is given to us. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I think um like Paula and Carla probably swap around probably the probably the people who've been around a while know if they're doing something
weird they're going to talk to people. But >> um but we I mean >> can we >> you can do it in Google calendar. You can have meeting rooms like and and like where I work, you can tell which meeting rooms have the teams equipment and which ones don't. So, we do the same thing
here. So, >> that seems like a no-brainer. We'll get the new town administrator small room. >> Can we get it up on the website? >> Well, there there's that small conference room at the school, but does it that can do meetings, but it doesn't do video >> upstairs? Yeah. >> The one you can see from the road. Yeah.
>> No, I can go live from there. And then um we even have to go live because we weren't going live from down the hall. >> And then what about the um like the police station conference room? >> You you don't have anything to go. >> Oh, there's no equipment in there. >> Yeah, I don't think so. Okay. >> Right. I mean, if you're going to
record, just record and not have to have live capabilities, then your solution of just bringing camera in and putting a conference table mic down is >> I mean, if it's a smaller meeting, >> but if you think the room's going to get used,
>> you know, regularly, >> yeah, definitely have to keep um track of it over the next >> Yeah. like, you know, does it justify having a whole setup? You know what he's saying? >> Right. Right. Right. because I go to the library and I record them with a one
camera and I record uh housing authority with a one camera because those are remote, >> right? And those are all HD, right? Those >> with the regular >> current current equipment cameras. >> Yeah, because I don't see the need to do
DVDs or anything like that anymore on standard definition. >> We don't do that. >> Yeah. >> Well, I was doing it because to switch from one camera to the other and have the title on and everything, >> right? Right. to make it look a little bit >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But it's it's getting it's falling
apart, you know, and then I have the microphones and people come in there, the auditors come in, you know, whatever, and they move the microphones all off. Right. >> So, um, so yeah, to to have people either adjust their schedules to make
this room and and oh, I added um council on aging board just came aboard. So, there's been two months now. Uh, November and then this morning I recorded them at 9:00 in the morning at
um at the town hall. So uh tomorrow at 3 is CIPC. So they are getting you know during the day um disability is during the day like 4 4:00
order health is 4:00 so they are kind of shifting but then we have a lot in the evening. >> Yeah. So, we'll have to if you could just let us know in terms of, you know, potential issues with with rooms and, you know, if
we need additional equipment, then we should probably speck some stuff out for for that room. >> Well, if we're not having a room, if we're going to have a room, then we need equipment. If it's decided not to have the room, Yeah. then we really don't need >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Um or there's a smallest setup that would be good. I did I was using it at the um for the library but then they got so they were only doing like half hour meetings and I thought to take all that you know two cameras and a little mini switch you know that's a nice little
small setup that would that would work you know that would be good >> the black magic >> the little black magic >> and a little monitor and >> yeah it's amazing how portable this stuff has become like you know at least in my
30 some odd years at doing this stuff. Um you can do it on your phone now, right? On stream live anywhere, right? >> Um >> so um next on the agenda is next meeting dates. So we're moving through this and
I like to keep the meetings moving although I've been laxed this past year and my apologies to the committee. have had a lot going on and uh my goal for my Christmas wish list for next year is to meet a little bit more often. I mean, I
don't want to bring people here just not to talk about nothing, but um you know, I do at least want to give John and and Valerie the support and the uh the platform for them to get their message out. So, um, you know, I'd like to try
to at least at a minimum maybe do quarterly meetings and, um, >> we set a quarterly. >> I think initially we did and then, you know, I I again I I lost my mom and you know, this past year with me has been
been very busy with uh some personal stuff and um but you know, no excuse. I mean that we we still >> go about March avoid the cold you know the winter weather of January February
doing March mean like I mean say a quart a little over a quarter but it start quarterly after that. Yeah, I mean whatever the will of the committee is, I'm I'm I'm fine with and and >> middle of March somewhere, >> you know, I I think it'd be good to and and you know, I'll make a point maybe of
starting this where we just get the information out like I'll I'll email everybody this this legislation um information, but and then John's going to email the committee in terms of at least communicating a little bit more to
to the committee in terms of um you know what's on the table. Um I think you know that'll be helpful to to me and and and this committee I think so we can communicate that way and this way we're not tied to bringing everybody in out
you know in the cold. So >> well I I I I think our next meeting should be uh but I I think the quarterly meetings are a fine idea but I I think also >> unless something comes up we >> we need we need
whatever we need for the budget to get to the select board and finance committee if we need to sit on that then so the select board sorry >> is it the quarterly how's the budget for the cable.
>> It's fiscal year based >> by the end of the year. >> Uh no, fiscal year. >> It's fiscal year is uh July to June. So um the budget calendar um the select board has to finalize and send the budget to the finance committee by
February 10. So, um we're on the December 15 select board meeting and we're going to get the first pass from Jim on the um budget and then um then we'll have meetings in January and February to talk about the bud budget.
But the final budget is due the 10th. So I don't know if you're going to >> so we might need to meet >> if if you want to if well the the budget the budget to the select from the select word to the fincom is due the 10th of February but then the fincom after that is when they would be talking to the departments. Do you usually go to
finomecom? >> No. >> No. So um the finance committee you'd want to go to finance committee if you're asking for anything unusual like more than just like the 3% that you're talking about. Um, so if you do find you need something more than just like the
standard whatever, talk, my suggestion would be talk to Jim, see what he's budgeted for you, see if it aligns with whatever you were planning. >> Okay. >> Um, if it does, then you're probably fine and we just and I think meeting in the middle of March, like like makes sense because it's before a town meeting. It's before the finance
committee will finalize everything. >> So, I think that is fine. But [clears throat] if whatever he's proposing is dramatically different than what you were then I think we would need to meet. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'm writing him when I get home tonight. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So I think I think you should if I don't
know if you guys are doing the first the second Tuesday or I don't even know what's your normal meetings. That would be like the 10th or the 17th of March. >> Yeah. We h we were meeting in on Wednesdays, right? >> Yes. But wasn't there a conflict with
>> I think well school committee meets on Wednesdays now. They changed it. They used to meet on Thursdays and if I'm correct you Jay I think it's third third Thursday but they've been switching around with these budget workshops and all these other things.
>> Yes. Uh we're now meeting on the the original is the second Wednesday of the month. Um but as you said Sharon, the um the budget workshops are what's kind of throwing a wrinkle into things. So we
seem to be meeting um practically every week. But um according to the calendar that I'm looking at right now for March, we do meet the second Wednesday, which is March 11th. >> And that's our only meeting for the month as of right now. But I think again any >> budget issues,
>> ask them tomorrow. >> So So we do meet Wednesdays typically. >> Okay. So, do you think we're clear if we meet maybe the 4th, March 4th, the week before tentatively, and then if we need to
>> Sounds good. >> If we need to adjust it, Sharon, you can let us know. >> Yeah, because Wednesdays are better for everybody than Tuesdays. >> Yep. Um, >> yeah, I mean I'm I'm okay
either day depending on the week and I think the committee probably would say the same thing, right? Um but yeah, if we can tenatively put in March 4th, 2026 as our next meeting date and
um unless John, you you think you have some budget concerns. >> Mhm. >> In which case, we'll we'll try to get a meeting in at the end of January. >> Okay. >> And I should know that answer tomorrow.
>> Okay. Does anybody else have any to discuss? Any new business or >> We said on March 4th. >> March 4th, technically >> have a vote on it. >> Sure. Um >> yeah, make a vote on it. >> We'll have a motion for a meeting.
>> Okay. Uh anything else? You guys want a motion to adjourn? >> All in favor? >> Happy holidays. Merry Christmas to everybody. We'll see you in the new year.