Uh, welcome everyone. This is Tuesday, January 6, 2026. It's 6:35 p.m. This is the Finance Committee meeting and I'd like to call the meeting to order with a pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States and to the stands nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. under MassGL chapter 30A section 20F.
This meeting is being recorded. On March 20 28th, 2025, Governor Hilly signed a law into a law which extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the open meeting law to June 2027. Specifically, this further extension
allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of public body physically present at a meeting location and to provide adequate alternative access to remote meetings. This language does not make any substantive changes to the open meeting
law other than extending the expiration of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from March 31st, 2025 to June 30th, 2027. All right. Well, uh, welcome everyone. So, tonight we have, uh, four budget
meetings that we're going to, uh, do, which are, uh, veteran services, library, council on aging, and then it. But before we get started with that, I would just like to, uh, wish a warm welcome to our new town
administrator. Chris Vitali is here. So, hello, Chris. Nice to meet you. if you want to say hi to everybody, we'd appreciate um uh in getting your introduction. >> Absolutely. Well, uh thank you for the invitation tonight. Uh week two in the
position as town administrator. I know uh that Jim worked very closely with your committee and the preparation of the budget at a town meeting annually. you know, um I appreciate the work that each of you do in preparation for the town meeting, especially uh this time of
year where there's multiple departments coming before you with their request. Um and you know with that you know my hope is you know as I dive deeper into the budget and we finalize our figures um you know we can have some good
discussions and present something to town meeting that will get their support and approval. So with that thank you. >> Thank you. Well welcome welcome to to Westport. So we'll be seeing a lot of you in the next couple months. Uh so
thank you. Thank thank you very much. All right. So, we are going to get started. Uh, and Chris, do you go by Chris or Christopher? What's your preference? >> I'll take Chris. >> Chris. Okay, great. Good to know. Um, so
we're going to talk about budgets and um, as we do that, we feel free to raise your hand and chime in if you can offer any qu answers to anything. We don't expect that you have all the answers yet, but since it's been a week, but uh any any just raise your hand and we'll
make sure we we address it for you. Um all right, so we are going to start off with the veteran services with Carol Freighus. Hi, Carol. >> Hi. How are you? >> Good. How are you? >> Good. So, I do I do have my
presentation. If you'd like me to share my screen, >> that would be terrific. I will let you run the show. Okay. Can you see that? >> We can. >> Okay. So, basically um my present my my
budget has a very very minimal increase uh 0.55%. The majority of that is just from my salary line. um as per per my contract. Um the other $50 is from a software
increase that I didn't find out about until after I submitted my budget to Jim and he just said, you know, modify it and don't worry about the $50. Um so there's um a 10% increase in software
for $50. Like I mentioned, what that is is um actually I'm I'm not going to jump ahead. I'm sorry. 60% increase in travel, 13% in meetings and schools, but I'm offsetting the travel and meetings and schools with decreases in postage
and office supplies. Uh so my total budget request is 416,000 um from 414,000 and change. Uh so this is the overview of the budget. You can see the the FY27
proposed how much I'm requesting, what the difference is, and what the percentage change is. Um, so the the veterans benefits and the medics line, as you all know, is the majority of my budget. It's $330,000,
I believe, this year. Uh, so I'm not making any proposed changes to it. Just to refresh, it is a statemandated program, the chapter 115, and any eligible recipient who applies must receive the benefits, which is why I'm
always hesitant to reduce the line item because if I do increase my case load and we need the money, the money has to be found. So, I have been overfunding it for numerous years just in case there's
any, you know, huge increase in numbers. Um it it is difficult to predict the expenses for this. As an example, in the last couple of years, we've had just two recipients who have received multiple like thousands of dollars in dental
work. One was about 12,000, the other one was about 3,000. And I just never know who's going to need that kind of comprehensive dental work. Hearing aids, which could run, you know, $3,000 a pair. Uh so it it is difficult to predict that. And again, we are getting
reimbursed by the state 75% because I am certified. I just completed my three-year certification again in September of last year. Uh we do currently have 28 active cases with 31 recipients because three of them are
married couples. Uh it is down from a high of 47 in 2019. And that decrease is a statewide trend. Unfortunately, um, you know, people are aging, they're passing away, they're moving to nursing homes, and so across the state, the
numbers are going down substantially. So, the Medex line that we use to payarmacies, uh, so it's vendors directly, soarmacies, dentists, hearing aid providers, but we also pay funeral homes occasionally. We don't do a lot of that
here in Westport, but I just put that in there to note that that funeral benefit is not just for Chapter 115 clients. That is for any veteran or veteran spouse who dies without the means to pay for the cost of their funeral. Um the
funeral the maximum reimbursement is $4,000 and the total cost of funeral cannot exceed $5,000. Uh, and then I just put in here that the average age of the current recipients, the 31 recipients, is 82 years old. We
have one who's 50. Um, beyond that, they're all 70 plus. The highest age we have is 97. So, it is likely that the funeral benefit is something that we may be paying more of going forward as
unfortunately the recipients do pass away. Uh any questions so far? Uh so the benefits line I put in here just kind of some averages. This is for December what we've paid out. Uh and I
broke this out just so you can see um within the chapter 115 program. We can pay what's called like a shelter benefit or they call it ordinary benefit. We can help with fuel heating costs for their homes. we can reimburse for medical premiums um including like life alert um
necklaces, things like that. So, I broke it out by how many people are receiving each combination of benefits. So, if they're just receiving the shelter benefit, um if they're receiving just shelter and medical, shelter and fuel,
or all of them, or if they're just receiving fuel and fuel and medical. medical only is for people whose income is too high and they don't qualify for the fuel um fuel and shelter. Uh and the number of people receiving that on there and how much is the average monthly
benefit. So you can kind of see, you know, about what we spend. It's about 19 to $20,000 a month is what we're we're spending right now. Um, I did want to mention down at the very very bottom that of the 31 recipients,
29 of them are have Medicare Part B and are enrolled in the Medicare Savings Program. So, that's a program for lowincome um Medicare B recipients, regardless if they're a veteran or not. Um, anybody who's in in Medicare and meets the
income criteria can apply for that and it saves the town $185 per month per recipient because we're no longer reimbursing that. That's paid by Mass Health. So that's about $64,000 in savings just in 2025 because every
Chapter 115 recipient who is eligible is enrolled and I make sure that they stay enrolled. So, uh, I'm saving the town substantial amount of money. Uh, and that's a big reason why we've been under like we we haven't spent nearly as much
as we, uh, have been budgeted because of that savings. Uh, in addition to that, when you have that Medicare savings program, their Medicare Part D prescription premium is often reduced or eliminated, and there's a cap on their
prescription co-pays. So, that's a huge savings as well. Um, so then getting into my other line items, celebrations, VFW and American Legion, excuse me,
telephone dues and miscellaneous. I'm not proposing any changes. Um, the celebrations that generally is used to purchase the wreaths for the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. the VFW and American Legion that is per state
law national law chapter 40 section 9 uh where we pay um it's been budgeted 20 $2,100 for as long as I've been here I've never increased it. Uh we used to have four then we went down to three and now we have two veterans organizations
who receive it so I just split the cost between them. Uh the telephone, that's the reimbursement of my cell phone because I do use my personal cell phone for for work purposes quite often. So I get reimbured $50 a month for that per my contract. The dues that is for the
associations that I belong to, the Massachusetts Veteran Service Officer Association, Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran Service Officer Association, and Knack VSO. I do have a little bit more in there. um for American Legion. They sometimes have been paying for my
membership, but just in case, I put that in there. Um and then the $500 miscellaneous is for if there's any budget shortfalls somewhere or if I have to make any kind of a miscellaneous purchase. So, no changes to those line items. Um the postage and office
supplies, I am requesting decreases because I don't do a lot of mailings. I don't need the $500 postage budget. and the office supplies. I don't do a lot of really big office supply purchases either. So, I am decreasing those to
offset the increases in the other line items that I'm going to mention. Um, which is again the software support. The state requires that we use this uh web-based software called Tyler Veterans Benefits to do VA claims. So, that is
increasing from $500 to $550 this year. And then the travel, I'm requesting an increase of $600 in the meetings and schools uh just by $150 increase. And the reason for that is, you know, the mileage goes up. I do uh I'm very active
in the associations. I do go to all of the meetings. We have a conference down like the Cape Plymouth area every year. We have a conference in Lemonster every year, multiple conferences in Lemonster every year, plus quarterly meetings for the Southeastern VSO Association that we
rotate around our region. So, I do travel quite a bit. Um, and then the hotel registration, you know, is increasing the food increases. So, when we go to the conferences and we have to pay for food, those those costs are higher. So, that's why I'm requesting those increases.
Um, and that's my presentation. >> Well, thank you, Carol. Um, >> you're welcome. >> And we had the presentation in advance, so that's very helpful that we can look at all those numbers that are really hard to see on the screen. So, thank you. >> Um, and I did I did just want to
mention, I know Hugh has his hand up. I just want to mention for the veterans graves, um, which is for the flags, I am not requesting a change, and I believe that's $2,000 this year. uh and use that to purchase the cemetery flags for Memorial Day. And again, that is also
reimbursed at 75% from the state. >> Great. Thank you. Uh Hugh, you have your hand up, so go ahead. >> Yeah. Well, it's a very good presentation, Carol. Thank you. I'm generally familiar as you know, but what is the ceiling or where's the cut off
for eligibility for this program? >> So, right now, uh let me get that for you. Um, so right now for a single recipient, the income limit is $2,935
a month. And for a married recipient, it's $3,966 a month. In addition to that, there's an asset limit. So for a single recipient, the asset limit is $8,400. And for a married couple, it's $16,600.
Uh, so the asset limit is a hard limit. So if you're above it, you can't be on the program until you spend down some money. The income is a little bit flexible because if somebody's, you know, maybe $50 over, $100 over, then we
do we we it goes into what we call a spendown where we take however much they're over and subtract it from one of their Medicare premiums and then reimburse the difference. Mhm. >> Is there a 8,000 obviously is not much
of assets. Is does that not include a home or something like that or is it a hard dollar value? >> It it does not include their home and it does not include one vehicle. U but if they have multiple vehicles, multiple homes, it would include those.
>> So you can't have a house and a car and be eligible. Thank you. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. Does anyone else have any other questions for Carol, Carol, I think you're I think you're good. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your
presentation. Appreciate what you do. >> Thank you so much. Have a great night, everybody. >> Have a great night. Thank you. So before we go on, I I uh I failed to do a quick roll call of who we have present for the finance committee. So we're required to do that since we have
a remote meeting. I I did it before we started the meeting. So uh we have finance committee members Cindy Brown, Duncan Law, Hugh Morton, Christopher Thrasher, Nancy Stanton Cross, and myself. We're all here. The three absent
are Gary Carrero, Zach Lew, and Al Le. So, I just wanted to do a roll call for the record. Um, okay. So, the next budget we're going to do is the library. And I believe Bonnie is here. >> Hi, Bonnie. >> Hello,
>> everyone. Hi. >> Hi. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. So, well, I'll turn the turn it over to you. We received all your materials in advance and so we we have all those. So, uh I don't know if you were going to present anything on screen or just talk us through whatever
whatever you'd like to do. Okay, I was just going to talk through um what I had sent over to you already. Um I thought I would start going over a couple of our really big projects that we finished last year and then I'll get into the uh the financial portion of it. Um last year we received a grant from the Manton
Foundation to do an upgrade on our security and accessibility to the building. So we have brand new automatic doors. Uh we had security cameras installed and we had a walkway down to our outdoor seating area. So, we can now officially have programs over there,
which is great. Um, and we will be having in the spring. We kind of ran out of time in the fall, but we're getting some landscaping put in. Um, we see received a grant from Bay Coast Bank, and we got a generous donation from the estate of Richard Anderson, which allowed us to get all new carpeting
throughout the entire building, which has made everything look so much newer. We got new signage. It looks great in there. I would invite, if you haven't been over to the library in a while, I invite you all to come see what we have done. Um, and then finally, uh, last year, last time I spoke to you, or I
tried to spoke speak to you, my computer was not working. Uh, we had asked to spend some of the money that had been put aside for staffing that we didn't use to get the study pods, which I attached pictures of in the packet, and they are amazing. Um, they've made a huge difference in our library because
we are a big open space. Quiet spaces are a huge problem for us. So, they have been great. So, thank you for that. And then our friends of the library have their huge book sale every year and raise a lot of money for us. And they have given us um some donations to we do
our children's section. So we have a new play area um new toys for our play group on Tuesday mornings and we are very appreciative of them as well. Uh for dayto-day beyond our big projects
uh we have seen an increase in all of our numbers this year. uh the amount of people coming into the library. We average about 5,000 people a week coming in. Um and we had our biggest circulation numbers which I I'm really excited about personally because um that
includes digital items, but everyone always wonders is you know are physical books going to be going away and I can very much say that they are not. Our um circulation last year was over 95,000 items and based on the numbers for the first half of the year, I think we'll be well over 100,000 items next year, which
I think is fantastic. The people in Westport are big readers, which is great. Um let's see. So, when it goes into our actual uh budget request, most of our budget is for staffing. We have four full-time people. uh myself, the
assistant director, and two uh we call them principal clerks, but basically they um run the circulation desk. And then we have three part-time library aids who work about 15 hours a week and one custodian. So our major portion of
our budget request, uh $331,619 would be staffing for next year. And then the rest of the budget, the rest it's $31,850 is basically just to run the building. Um I kind of think of it as the town uh
funds give us, you know, electricity, um internet, telephone, things like that for the physical building and then um our friends of the library group and our grants and things like that pay for the library parts of it like books and things like that.
So, uh, we have I think basically it's the same as it's been for the last two years. It's level funded. I did move um tuition and training. I was getting the $500 tuition reimbursement, but I graduate in May with my masters in library science. So, uh, for next year,
we won't be needing that. So, I moved $50 down to postage and $450 to the professional services. And, um, that's actually I I feel one of our most important line items. The $11,000 goes towards the projected um the projected
cost of our membership assessment to the sales library network which actually will be $17,813 for FY27. Um the town paid has historically paid 11,000 for that and that allows us to be part of the sales library network which
is all the libraries in the south coast area, Dartmouth, Fall River, uh New Bedford, all of those. And that allows all of our card holders in Westport to get reciprocal uh borrowing privileges. So they can go into any library in Massachusetts and be able to use their Westport card there.
It also gives us um through the network things like we get extra IT support and things like that. Our databases are all through there and our um if anyone reads ebooks our Libby subscription which is our big ebook um app that is through the
sales network we all um pitch into that and it's not something that we would be able to afford on our own. So that is very important also. Um let's see. And then that's basically um what we are asking for from the town this year. Um
everything else is paid for with the grants we get as being um state certified and then we get you know we have um some trust funds that people have donated that all of our book purchases are paid for out of those. So
um is there any questions? That is basically what I had to say. >> I've got a question for you Bonnie. So, thank you for that presentation. So, and you might have said it, but I um or I might have missed it, but could you explain the total expenses of the
library? How much those are and what is the percentage that the town pays for in terms of those expenses? Did you go over that? Did I miss that? >> No, I didn't actually get into that too much. Um the town pays for all of our staffing and then they pay for basically
utilities. um office supplies, things like that, which is um the request is for it comes to about $363,000. We also have to pay as part of our state accreditation. Um we have to spend a
certain amount on materials every year. So for next year, the minimum is $52,000. So that $52,000 has to come mostly from the friends of the library and also from the grants we get from the state because we are state certified. So
that's um I have to apply reapply for that every year. So they require a minimum amount from the town for the library and then we have to hit certain benchmarks for other things we've spent. So, anything extra that is library
specific, books and materials, programming, things like that, those all come from um either donations or trust funds. So, um I don't have the number in front of me, but it's I would say probably about 70% comes from other funding and
about 30% comes from the town. >> Okay. Thank you. That that was an important I think that's an important piece to show. Absolutely. Yes. >> Right. because so so little of the town is actually funding the library. So um thank you for for that. So just an
approximate that's that's an enormous >> uh an enormous number or or small number I should say. >> Yeah, thank you for that question for in in relation to the whole. So thank you. Go ahead. I just want to know as every other thing
knows the library could not live entirely on donations and such because this to get the state contribution requires a minimum amount from the town. >> Yes. >> Not only did the town
nice to have that combination of town and private but the town is essential not only for the dollars but for proportion that the state requires. Yes, we have to have a certain amount of money to remain state certified. Um there is, you know, there's always a
process. We can appeal it, but it um and being part of the sales network is the number one thing that we absolutely need to be able to run the library effectively. Um we get a lot from that, not just the grants and everything that we're able to get, but all of the things that are um you know, the reciprocal
lending and things like that. So, yes, it is very important that we get our minimum requirement from the town. Somebody get off the set. >> Karen, you're on mute. Karen, you're on mute. >> I'm on mute.
Thank you. Thank you. I was ask actually asking Duncan to go on mute because he had some background but he he must have heard me without me even uh saying um does anyone have any other questions for Bonnie? I don't see any other hands up.
Um nope. Well, Bonnie, thank you very much for your presentation and all that you do at the library. So, uh, it's impressive to see your stats are just continuing to stay consistent and increasing with the number of users that
keep coming into the library. So, that's that's phenomenal. >> Yeah, it's wonderful to see and I think with, you know, the prices rising everywhere else, having free options at the library is going to be so much more important for people coming up. >> Definitely. >> Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Thank you. >> All right. Our next budget meeting is the Council on Aging and Beverly I believe is here. >> Hi. Hi everybody. Good evening. >> Hi there. >> Hi.
>> Um Cindy, the last form that I sent you, did you send it to everybody? >> You're on mute, Cindy. >> Sorry. It's in the It's in the drive. Uh it was it was uploaded to the uh drive. So you I think it will automatically
open to the same sheet that I had mistaken. So we'll just have to direct people to open it to sheet two if you uh if you reference it. But it is in the drive. >> Okay. Um because I want to start with that one because that's the one where I made a change. Um actually the um the
budget that I put in for 27 um and the town administrator's uh recommendation was exactly the same. There wasn't any changes. But the biggest change pretty much my um um expenses haven't really gone up very very much at all. They went
from uh 50,026 to 53,027. Um but my um wages the driver's line item um almost doubled. And the reason
for that, if you happen to see that sheet two, um the cost to the town in 25 for just drivers was $58,743 and I had been allowed
um let me see. Um oh, I don't have what I think I was allowed 33,000 or something like that. Um, and the reason we spent 58,000 there, um, and I had that money to spend was because I had two full-time uh, two, uh, longtime
stavers leave and I had extra money in their line item so I could put it over from from my, um, principal clerk, uh, Josh left to go to the library, I believe, and I didn't have a principal clerk for six months. And then my
janitor also went to the library. um and he he left um and both of those were at the top of their pay grade. So by the time I hired somebody in the um salary was much less than what was needed and I was able to use those funds for the drivers. Um one of the things I
typically try to do is use our transportation revolving account because there's one two three four five six different ways that we can get transportation money in for the whole transportation program itself. So you
have formula grant, arw uh Bristol um elder services grant, the town supportive day program and transportation revolving and um I didn't get any money from a um I didn't have any expenses with Arw, but I did get
some money from ARW because they're paying supportive day program clients to go in. They pay for the transportation service from for us. Um, and I had a grant from Bristol Elder Services this year. I'm not I applied for two grants.
I'm not getting the grant from Bristol Elders this year for transportation. Um, I'm I'm not getting the AARP grant um for transportation like I had applied for. The only thing I am I did do this this coming up year and I'm hoping to get it because um there's much more
competition on the grant side everywhere across the board. So, I applied for six grants in the spring. I got I got one I got the uh DOT transportation. I got the new van and it's coming in in June of 26. I got none of the others. Two from
MCOA I did not get. Two from Bristol Alders I did not get and I did not get the one from ARP. So, considering um let's see, 60% of my budget is paid for by grants and 40% is paid by the town.
Um, I I think we would struggle if I couldn't put that in. I don't have it in this year. Um, and I'm I'm afraid I'm I'm hoping I don't have to struggle, but I did apply to DOT this year. This is the first year that the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority is allowing
us to apply for operational funds. They, Southeastern Regional Transport never allowed operational funds, only funds for vans. Um, but like GA gatra and other trans regions did, but they've changed that this year. So, I applied
for $75,000 for operational funds. I I won't find out until probably January or fe, you know, the end of January or February. Um, and I'm not exactly sure when that starts. Each one starts different different fiscal year. So, um, I'm kind of hoping that that goes through. Um,
>> so Beverly, >> can I just ask I just want to you've you've you've given us a lot of information already. I just want to >> try to summarize it in a way that helps me understand and maybe everyone else can understand too that so your your
budget is similar to what the library is where your total expenses only a portion of you're asking the town to fund your expenses and you you cover your most of your expenses. You said 60% of your expenses through other sources of funds,
right? >> Yes. Donations and grants. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. And so what you're you were specifically talking about the drivers because on your budget, everything else that you're asking for the town is flat with the exception of the drivers that
you you've gone from 38,000 to 60,000 is your request. >> Yes. That's a and that's a function of not necessarily that you need more drivers, but the fact that you don't have a funding source that you had in a previous year to cover them. Is that is
that is that correct? Is that >> Yes, that's correct. and the transportation revolving account. Normally we were seeing a little bit of an increase, but we've had to use some of that and um I only had $12,000 starting this year out and that's very
very low. Um my transportation revolving account is is what we get from people giving us uh reimbursements for and it's all donations to transportation. So, the other thing that happened in 2025 is we
spent uh $12,000 on vehicle repair because we have older vans. We have a 2014, a 2018, a 2021, and two minivans. And of course, you know, we have to keep them running. We had over six, we had just about 6,000 uh rides in 2025. 5,900
and some change um uh for for folks. And those rides are critical because I I say this every year, there's 160 mi of roadway in Westport and there's only six miles of public transportation on Route 6. So people would be stuck if they didn't have any other options for
transportation. And many of our folks can't we do doortodoor. We don't do curb to curb. We do doortodoor. So when somebody comes down the stairs and they have a walker, we have the drivers get out of the van and they assist people to make sure that they can get into the
van. Most of our most of our transportation is supportive day program and medical appointments. We do um shopping and errands and other things you know in between. But you know I would say probably 75 to 80% is
supportive day program and medical appointments for people. Now be Bev Be Beverly, you um you assess a fee for the for the transportation or is it only donation? >> Only donation. Well, I can't say that it's donation for anybody that does medical appointments comes to the
center. But when we have um we have a an agreement with um one of our funders um Ar the Association for the Relief of Aged Women, they pay for low-income women to come to our supportive day program and they give us an amount for
the transportation also. So they pay that daily fee and they pay for transportation. And in January we just increased our fees. Um, and the supportive day program, we were doing $5 one way and $10 round trip, which, you know, really is very, very minimal. We
went to 750, I think, one way and $15 round trip, I think. Something like that. Um, I I I don't have that those numbers in front of me, but we just went up a small increase. >> But you also increased some other fees at the Senate, correct? >> Yes, we did. Yes, we did. We uh our
supportive day program went from $50 a day to $60 a day starting in January. and we had an increase since June of 21. So, it' been quite a few years. We increased our exercise classes from 25 a month to 30 a month. Um, our balance and
bones class from $12 a month to $15 a month. And we wanted to keep it reasonable for people because we don't, you know, we're not trying to make money, but we want to be able to cover our costs. So, that's that's why that's why we looked at everything. And I did I was very careful with looking at what
other centers get for transportation and get for their supportive day program. Some of the centers are getting $75 to $95 a day for their um um supportive day program and some some places are paying $18 to $20 uh round trip for
transportation. So you know I wanted to make it reasonable. We try to we try to consolidate trips. So if we have people who are Tuesday is our shopping day. So now we're not doing two, three and four days where we're going to the same place. We just do shopping on Tuesdays.
So we usually have five, six, seven people who go together and they're going to the same the same places. Now how many uh how many do you keep a census as far as how many um unique individuals how many individuals you serve through
the town? I know you also serve other communities. People from other communities come here as well. Yes. But uh in total, how many individuals are have you serviced out of the uh center? >> We usually there's
there's my number for my formula grant right now is 5,890ome people over 60 and older. We probably serve 2500 of those people out of Westport. But some of those people come two, three days a week. They do exercise
programs. They do supportive day. Some of those people come once a year to do their taxes or every three months to go to the podiatrist. So, it's very very individualized with with how many people we serve. There's still a whole group of people out there that we don't reach.
And it's really interesting because we're we're getting out in the community more. We're now doing our um month uh monthly uh select board um I'm sorry, advisory board meeting on cable so that people can see it and we'll have people come into the center to look for some
medical equipment and they'll say, "Oh, I didn't know you had a supportive day. I didn't know you did exercise." And some of the people that come in to support a day with their family think it's a nursing home and we have beds and we say, "No, nobody stays overnight. We don't have any beds. It's okay. You just
come for the day." So, um, you know, the it's really interesting that the perception as long as we've been doing this and as much as we try to get out there, um, and outreach, uh, we, you know, there's still a lot of people who don't know about us. We'll get referrals from the police or the fire department because they've been to somebody's home
who fell or need some assistance. The police or fire will call us, do a referral to our outreach program, and outreach will get out there and put some services in place to help them. And then they say, "Wow, I didn't know you that you did that." And it's just it's hard
to to get to everybody to reach people. Oh, you're on mute. I I might I might be a bit premature in saying this, but uh just for the uh the benefit of those either watching the call, listening to the call, and certainly our members here. This is your
final final season here um as director. Is that correct? >> It is. I sent in my um I will be sending in my resignation for August 31st, 2026. >> So this is your last budget year. >> This will be my last budget year. So I want to I want to go out with a bang. I
want to make sure that things are in place so that we can you know we we can help. >> You are certainly a very resourceful uh person and uh there are no dimes left on the on the carpet after you've gone through the room. That's for sure. I
mean, you you managed to find uh the resources that have served so many of the seniors here in town and beyond in just getting the word out. So, thank you so much for all you've done over How many years have you been the uh director? >> Um I'm in my 11th year.
>> Yeah. So, thank you so much for all of your hard work and hopefully you're going to be able to enjoy your retirement. >> I hope so. Um and I did send over a PowerPoint um presentation. I don't know if people had a chance to look at it. It just talked about the wages being 40% of
the town pays 40% of the wages. Um the expenses, they pay 43%. Um and then it talked about revenue and expenses. And of course, if you look at that 20 and 21, you kind of have to throw that out because of COVID. That that just doesn't make sense. But um you can see that the
revenue since 22 or 23 has been decreasing a little bit. and the expenses have kind of gone up. Um, so, you know, I'm looking at that those trends um and saying, "Okay, we need to be really careful with with how we're
doing this." And then the percent of town funds versus the percent of grant funds. Um, the during COVID, the town paid a lot because there weren't as many people here. The the supportive day program was closed. We didn't do activities. So, the town paid for the
staff. They pay for uh two full-time staff, one part-time um janitor, and then the drivers, and they pay for that. And then the the grants weren't coming in as much either. We didn't need them. We had formula grant and others. Um but as you can see, um it goes up. The
town's the town's percentage goes down and the grant amounts go up over the last like three or four years. So, the big the biggest amount like last year was my budget was 241,94049. Looking at this, I need a magnifying
glass. It's so small. Um, and it's going I'm I'm proposing 270,000. And like I said, that biggest increase is in that driver line item. Most of the others are just a a little tweaking here and there, but not not a lot. Extens expenses are still pretty reasonable for
us. Anybody have any questions? >> Uh, can I just wanted to ask you Morton is your I assume your population is not declining. >> Oh, no. >> Grants fewer grants. Is that why revenues are have declined? I know
they're hit or miss. You get them when you get them. >> No, it's not. >> It's not fewer grants. It's more competition. So like I applied for two for MCOA for SIG grants which is a service incentive grant and I didn't get
those and I've been getting those one or two every year. Uh Bristol Elder Services, Bristol Aging and Wellness now I applied for two title three grants didn't get those and I've been getting those since 2020. Uh my technology I don't really need them for technology
but I applied for supportive day um scholarships and transportation. I didn't get either one of those. They had um MC just as an example, Mass Councils on Aging, they have a service incentive grant. They have $600,000, I believe, in their budget to spend on u grants for
people um above and beyond the formula grant. And this year they had over $2 million in um requests for the 600,000. So um again there was a lot more competition and I think they're trying
to spread some of the granting to newer COA directors who have started so that they can kind of you know bring them in into the fold. Um so um but I'm always looking like I I like I said I applied for 75,000 for DOT because I found out
that they were going to do the operations uh grant so I applied for that. I'm hoping to get some of that or or even if they give me a partial, I said that would be okay. And I did just apply for $250,000 with the cultural council um about this has nothing to do with my budget, but
about possibly assisting us with refurbishing and reappointing the old high school. So, I'm hoping to get that. That would be great if we could do that because then I'd have some money for the town to be able to work on that. That's what I said my goal was for this year is
to get that um get us into the old high school for our activities and our events um our activities and our classes. You know, I want to keep the center, the 75 Reed Road Center as our social service center with our outreach and our
supportive day. And I would like some of the activities to go over to the old high school. Um and it's it's you know, and our education and it falls right within the code. Um, so I'm hoping that some of those funds come through. >> Well, thank you.
>> I just Oh, go ahead. Sorry, Hugh. >> Say thank you for the background. >> Thank you. Um, Bev, I just have a just a really quick question on the you were mentioning that you didn't get some of the grants this year. Is it is it
because other COAs got the grants or did the pool of dollars decline? So, are the funding sources dwindling and so there's less dollars to to go? >> No, the funding is the same. It's $600. It's been pretty level funding across the board. It's that usually they have
maybe 30 there's 351 towns and cities, which means there's 351 COAs and anybody can apply for uh if you're a member of Mass Councils on Aging, which most of us are, they can apply. But instead of having like 30 different COAs, I think
they had somewhere like 150 to 200 different COAs that applied. So it was over $2 million that people were asking for money. So again, it's the competition because other things I I think are are I think people are finding that it's more difficult. Maybe they're not getting donations. Maybe, you know,
the formula grants going up. Uh it's going up to $16 per elder. It was at 15 last year. So that's an extra um uh 56 $6,000 in our budget for the year. But my concern is this year the formula
grant was $15 per elder. I got half of it in November and they're supposed to be giving us the second half somewhere February March. But I'm concerned because they're also talking about 9C cuts. And if they do 9C cuts that might
be on the block. So that's why I'm a little cautious on what I'm using right now and how I'm using the funds to make sure that I don't run out of I mean I'm you know I I I think we're in good shape but there's always those 9C cuts that could come through with the state and
then then I would have to you know or I would have to use like my Salvador fund or use um you know use use something else. I do have extra and I try to be frugal around some things. That's one of the reasons why I did increase the fees this year in January, knowing that if we
don't get that extra money for the 45,000 from formula, that I have other fees coming in for transportation and others. Um, one one year uh when funds were tight, we had to shut down transportation uh one day a week and it
I mean I told people call the town hall, call the select board because you know we don't have a choice. we don't have the funds to do it and and I don't have anything to draw from. Um that was our um our money that came in through Bonnie Frank. That one that grant went away. We
used to get I think we got $150,000 in like 2010 or 11 and then every year we'd get three or 4 thousand more sort of to to um re you know refurbish it. And and when I was here started in 2015 by 2017 I believe it went away. There was
nothing. that and the building fund, both of those like were gone. So, it's it's been about looking at where I can get money from. >> All right. Well, thank you. Thank you for that answering that. Um I don't Does anyone else have any questions for Bev?
And then we can let her enjoy the rest of our night. >> Nope. Bev, I don't see any more questions. So, thank you very much for everything you do and congratulations >> everybody. Happy on your retirement. Yeah, thank you. Well, you know, it was
it was supposed to be October last year and because of some of the I had a new principal clerk and the town administrator changing and everything changing, everybody said, "Can you still hold on?" They still don't want me to go. I mean, they're still telling me, "Oh, you can stay another year. You can
stay another year, but in Jul I mean, in July, I'll be Stephanie, so I'm kind of ready, you know, so I'm I'm I'm ready." So, >> all right. Well, thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
>> All right. So, our last um budget meeting of the night is it and I think I saw Chris Novo is here. >> It's Keith. I'm here. >> Keith, did I say Chris? I said Chris. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Keith. I know
that. I was looking at Chris right above you. >> Gotcha. >> Hi, Keith. How are you? >> Hi. Good evening. >> Good. Well, I'll let you um take it from here. >> All right. Um I know that I sent you the
budget and the um memo explaining it. So, I'll just call that up just so that's something that we can look at and talk to. >> All right. So, as I described in the uh in the
memo, um the budget for FY27 did go up um by about uh 34,000. um you know to cover uh some of the new expenses that were there. Unfortunately, after I submitted the the budget and everything, I found out some of my
services like the um the cloud services and everything are going up about 10,000 more. So, that was not captured in in this budget here. So, right now, I'm I'm projecting to be a little short for for next year.
Um so for personnel it's myself um right and so we included um the um increase in that for myself and then we have a part-time technician. Uh we did ask to increase his hour from 16 hours to 19 hours. So that way he'll be there at
least half time to be able to support the uh you know the employees of town there. Uh so that was included in the budget. Um you can see we have equipment repair. So that's things like keyboards, monitors, all of that stuff. Um as they break uh to do that um software
maintenance uh that did go up um uh there was a 28.7,000 increase um for uh switches and system maintenance. There's some new MFA u multipun uh multiffactor authentication services that were required to by the
state and and parents and all that stuff. We had to install some of those things u in place. So that captures all of that in um all of that increase. Um we have our online services. So again like I mentioned our internet uh email
uh our email services are going going up more than what was actually um you know projected to be here. Um I had just found out about that like I said right after the uh budget was submitted. Um you can see we have uh telephone
services. So there was just some um minor inflationary uh services. Um printer copier, multifunction copies, all that stuff. Uh I provide that pay for that here. That stayed the same. Support services that um there was some
uh inflationary increases. So I captured that and in the uh budget and then additional equipment um so some non- capital items um you know were included in there. So, at a high level, um that's what the budget looks like.
>> Thank you, Keith. Um you you may want to um speak with the town administrator potentially of asking for, you know, the extra funds that you're short since the the budget is still in process. It's not final by any means, but you might want to have a
conversation on that. So, >> that would just be my suggestion to you. Sure. >> Yeah. And I'll I'll certainly sit down um you know um prior to Jim's departure, you know, there are a couple line items that um you know, we did flag just
because there might be some last minute changes and we do know that some of the numbers that we have just because it's so early in the fiscal year in the grand scheme of things. Um you know, we're still running on estimates. So, as we get closer to the submission deadline, you know, we'll firm up a couple of
these other numbers so that our estimates are as accurate as they can be and we'll get you the updated >> request. >> Okay, >> great. Thank you, Cindy. Go ahead. >> Uh, hi Keith. Uh so in the in the in the
big picture, >> do you feel that >> with the even with the increased hours with having a part-time person, do you feel that there's adequate staffing to deal with the day-to-day issues, tech
tech issues that occur throughout town hall? I mean, everything gets more and more sophisticated all the time. uh you know there new software new problems you know things don't work the way they thought people don't know how to use them I mean are you seeing that
there's more and more demand for time from someone like you or your assistant >> there's there's always more more demand right like you said everything is um technology based now you know our phones
are you know printers everything is is all um very much technology based and and having a person there um you know is certainly helpful on a on a potentially a full-time basis so that way you know they're available whenever
someone has a problem. So having like um my technician there for half the time, right? So half the day if they have the problem, he can respond right away. Otherwise, you know, he would respond at a later date or I would address something later that evening or so, you
know, later that that day um in order to resolve that. So uh we do try to cover everything, but there's always a demand for, you know, for assistance. I guess I bring that up because, you know, we're going more and more online with so many
fees and applications that we didn't do even, you know, two, three years ago between beach passes and now building permits and so many of the other um uh certificates that people are seeking are now available online. And if if that's
not working, then either we're not getting the revenue or the public isn't being served. So, >> um, you know, it's it's it's a little bit of a problem, but at least with the increase in hours, that person works pretty much roughly half a day every
day, or is there some day that they that he's not there at all? >> Um, try to keep them there half half a day every day. Um, so that way, >> um, help is not more than, you know, half a day away kind of, >> right? Okay.
>> Okay. Have you encountered any problems like that that were significant enough that things had come to kind of a grinding halt? >> Um it depends. Um you know from a a desktop if someone's having a problem with their application you know that's
one person right it's it's an inconvenience for them but it doesn't stop the entire town. whereas you know if a a server went down right then that would be >> that would be a major you know major issue major inconvenience for a lot more people. So um some of the things that
I'm trying to do is to build more redundancy into the infrastructure so having redundant network switches and redundant servers and and all of that stuff so I can try I'm trying to keep the our uptime from a systemwide perspective you know as as available as
possible. Um, so we're looking to use um technology in order to, you know, to better better serve the the town, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Before Chris, one second, I just want to
follow up Keith on um Cindy's question and point. So there's the user help, right? But what about to me there's so much with malware and fraud and just there's so much going
on. I I know where I work, we have a a separate IT service that supports us and sends us trainings weekly on the newest, you know, the newest digital
malware or just every and it's even inconceivable to me. I barely understand the training because I barely understand how do these people figure these things out and get away with it. And so how how are you doing on that aspect because
you're just one person and you can't be an expert in everything. How do you how do you help the town stay safe? >> So we we put a lot of technology in place like we have endpoint protections which is basically like antivirus software, malware um you know catches
malware and all of that stuff. So that's in place. We have um you know firewalls that are in place that block us from the internet and stop a lot of the you know malware from coming in, people hacking our systems and all of that. Um like I mentioned, we're um we're in the process
of setting up the multiffactor authentication. So everyone will get like a little uh token, right? And then they'll, you know, when they log into their email, they'll have to use the token that says, you know, that they're who they say they are. Um, so we're in the process of putting all those things
in. Um, as far as help, we do have the the help desk, right? So, um, when people have an issue u on their computer or something, they can call the help desk, they open a ticket. Um, if that person at the help desk can can um fix it, they help them right away. If they
can't, they'll notify myself or um, you know, the a technician and then we'll respond and and address those issues. Uh, so we work uh very closely with the help desk. They monitor all of our systems on a 24-hour basis. So, you
know, I obviously can't be there 24 hours a day, but um you know, if there's um a network switch that goes down or a server that goes down, they're monitoring that and then they'll notify me and then I know to to either they try to fix it and if they can't, then they notify me and then I'll go in and and address the issue and um fix it. So,
that's been working out pretty well um you know, over the years there. I think was done uh really get into um you know where that's beneficial to to all of us there. >> Do you do you are you able to do employee trainings?
>> Um we do send out um excuse me. We do have um cyber type trainings. We we send out um what they call campaigns, right? So, they'll um send out what looks what's could be a malicious email. It says,
"Hey, you know, you should click on this email, click on this link, it, you know, if you want to win the $500 or something like that, right?" And you click on it and you go and it tells you, "Oh, you shouldn't have clicked on that. That was, you know, that was bad for you." So, we we kind of do those kind of campaigns um to help people understand
what's, you know, what's good and what's bad in an email. So, that goes out I think every quarter or something like that. Um, so we do do those uh campaigns as part of the the services that we get. Excuse me.
>> Thanks, Keith. Um, I'll go ahead, Chris. Go ahead. Thank you, Keith. >> Okay. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, you know, really just to piggyback on some of the things that Keith said. So, you know, our, uh, part-time technician, you know, he has a
set number of hours. um you know he's more or less set up a process where people can send him um you know instant messages you know so for whatever reason if he is away from his station um you
know people can connect with him so he's set that up um and he's made himself fairly accessible in the short amount of time that he's been in the town hall um and that's very helpful for I guess consistency purposes that people know hey I can go and I can get the assistance
Great. You have that um you know that one-on-one support. You know, like Keith said, you know, we are also backed up with uh an IT firm, you know, for emergencies or just general assistance if you're stuck and you need assistance on an item. But, you know, in general,
cyber security, there's so many facets to it. And I think as we go on, you know, not necessarily showing up in the operational budget, but on the capital side, you know, as we move forward, you know, what are some of those investments, you know, whether it's dual
factor authentication or it's looking at workstations, you know, um, you know, endpoint protection is one thing, you know, making sure that I don't go and click on a malicious link, you know, but also making sure that, um, you know, the software we have is an end of safe,
right? You know, because they don't do security updates on those things anymore. So, you know, those type of protections, those things, you know, we'll plan out for. And um you know the last thing I'll say at least with regards to you know capacity and it and
Keith's time um I know it's been a short while and so Keith and I we have our a one-on-one that we're going to be planning very soon. But um you know Keith has more or less sent me kind of a breakdown of his time and um you know
while it is more or less set hours and it's a contractual position um you know sometimes it goes over that and consistently I'm sure Keith would say it goes well over that in terms of the type of matters that he's dealing with day in and day out. So, um, you know, there's a
lot of value that's coming to the town. And so, what does that look like in future fiscal years? Um, uh, TBD, at least from my seat. However, um, you know, we'll we'll make sure that we're putting the right investments into
it. >> So, >> thank you for that, Chris. Thank you, >> Cindy. You've got your hand up, right? >> I forgot to take it down. Sorry. >> Oh, okay. I wasn't sure if it was newly up or >> um Anyone else have any questions for
Keith? >> I just, you know, Keith, I want to point out you you um put together a memo and send and the select board had it and we have a copy of it too. So I think it's important for all of us to read that as
well of all of um it's a highlevel summary of accomplishments that it has done over the last few years. So I think um you've done a phenomenal number of projects with you know such limited staff and again your contract basis and
not full-time. So, congratulations for all the efforts to to getting the town of Westport uh as current as possible with all all the projects that you've done. So, thank I I I hope everybody, you know, reads reads through that. So,
thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. I I know when I put that together that um when Jim had asked me to put it together so he could provide it to the slick board and after I'd given it to him, he's like he he was actually stunned. He he like I had no idea. He said, "I I know that you send out my, you know, monthly reports and
all that stuff." He said, "But seeing it all in one place," he said it really kind of, you know, struck home for him. So, >> um, so yeah, I hope I hope you do get a chance to look at that and see. Uh, we have we have upgraded quite a bit in town. Uh, I think that we're in a a a
fairly good position, I'll say. Um there's still some things to be done, but um I think in general uh we have u a pretty good system, you know, comparable to um or better than you know, other communities. So I think that's good.
>> That's great. Um I see no other questions. So Keith, thank you again for um for coming. We appreciate all that you do. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Good night. Bye. Bye. >> Good night. All right, that's our four budgets for
tonight. Um, so our next item on the agenda is just a very brief discussion of the 2027 budget. Um, I didn't circulate I just got from I uh before when Jim had left I
think I never got a copy of his most recent round budget that he put together for the select board which was mid December. So Chris just forward forward that to me. So I'll forward that along to to you all. Um but as we know it's
still relatively early in the process so we don't we're awaiting state aid which is the biggest element of what the revenue is going to be. Chris do you have any has the state given any indication when when the first round would be available? Have they given a
timetable? So it typically um you know the first estimates come out end of January from the state aid side. Um you know also just you know we're still waiting obviously benefits you know we have a very rough idea of what those increases
may look like but those numbers over the coming weeks you know hoping to get a little more firm information. Um and then just with regards to schools you know um plan to have a conversation with Dr. Roy here uh in the coming days and
you know just want to keep the line of communication open with you know what they're seeing for increases in expenses. So those are the big outstanding items and then the the smaller things you know um you know small increases across the department unanticipated
increases in licensing or software um you know we'll capture those as we go. And then there's uh Diamond and Bristol Aggie are the two other assessments that are um Jim puts a good usually a pretty solid placeholder in there, but we we
just never know, right? >> Yeah. >> So those are and then health I think you mentioned health insurance, right? And benefits is still open. >> Yeah. So um you know just looking at and you know discussing with Jim um his
initial conversations it's going to be a substantial increase. you know, they tapped into their reserves this past year. Um, you know, coming from Dartmouth, we we got the full brunt of it last fiscal year. Um, and unfortunately, it's it's going to hit home here, uh, in Westport this year
with those same type of increases. Um, you know, we're probably looking at double digits. So, >> um, you know, it's something that's already built in, you know, to this first draft. you know, we're expecting that, you know, but where that comes in ultimately, you know, we want to make
sure we're on the conservative side versus, you know, the higher end of that range. >> Right. Right. Nope. Appreciate that. So, um, so that's where I think that's where we stand every year at this time. Um, and
as we know, the select board would need to approve the budget by February 20th, I think it is. So I think you probably have a meeting midFebruary that that would be the select board's uh time to approve. Um and again there'll
be unknowns even at that time but we we continue we continue to work >> with you and the select board that if other things come through then you know we can push it through either you can provide a a a second select board budget
or we can incorporate it in the finance committee's version. So, um, depending on what it is or how extensive it is. So, we'll It's not like the door is shut and then you can't talk about anymore. >> Yeah. Yeah. No. and uh
>> and you know certainly first week um you know obviously I've had uh introductory meetings with the departments but you know some of the one-on-one meetings you know if there are you know pending items with regards to the budget you know I want to make sure I'm going to dedicate time to sit down with each of the
departments and make sure it's captured as best to my ability you know against things come up and um you know if I need to come back and you know retool some numbers you know I will definitely do that. But with regards to the select board schedule, uh they have a meeting
later this month, I think the 26th. Um it'll be on their agenda for discussion again. Uh we did have some good conversation last night just with regards to some of their priorities um things that they want to look at on uh their line, select board line. Um
you know, and then again, I'll any updated estimates, you know, we'll put that in and we'll send it out as a formal update. >> Yep. Perfect. And I think and I'm sure you've seen in in the in the past Jim has has done had done a great job that
as each uh budget got revised, he would have a quick little memo that kind of highlighted here's the major things like we took out the this position or added this position. So that's helpful from a change management point of view so we can kind of help keep track of what's
changing. So um I'm sure I'm sure you'll be doing that and that's helpful for us too. So, >> and you know, I guess just for all the members on the call, you know, if there are suggestions or how I can best serve this committee, um, you know, please feel free to reach out to me at any
point because again, I'm here to serve you as well. Uh, so yeah, >> I appreciate that. >> Thank you for the feedback. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, so that's that's it for the budget update. So, um, any
anything else for Chris? Anybody want to have any questions for Chris? All right. I guess we can let you free, too. Or you could stay, but it's, you know, we're we're on the home for our >> meeting. Sure. Yeah. Just the last thing
I'll say is I do know that over the next couple weeks you're deliberating um on the other budgets, you know, similar to tonight. No, I'll plan to be on as well in the coming weeks. So, >> that'd be terrific. We appreciate you being >> I'll be seeing you soon. >> Yeah. Thank you. We'll see you next
week. All right. Thank you, Chris. >> All right. >> You as well. Bye. >> Um, all right. So, um, the next item on our agenda is, is there any committee or leison on updates that
anyone has to share? >> Hi, good evening. >> Hi, Nancy. >> I talked to um Sean. >> Oh, great. So, uh, he would I think 127 is a date for >> Okay. >> So, if he would like to present then
they just have they have a draft. He just needs to get his board to approve it and he would be ready to present on 127 and would appreciate if you could put him in the first position because he has some other things. >> Okay. Sure. Yep. Let me write that down.
Okay. First position. Sure thing. Thank you for tracking them down, Nancy. >> Not a problem. >> Uh, Hugh, go ahead. >> I just want to say I've talked to Chris P. I have a date on Friday to talk about the budget, etc. I'm pretty sure they're
up to speed, but that's what we tend to do usually. So, I think you're all set to go. >> You talked to who on Friday? >> The police department. >> Oh, Kristen. Okay, great. Thank you. >> Great, Sydney. Go ahead.
>> Um, and also I'm going to uh reach out this week to the representative for um Diamond uh to get a slot for him. I'll ask him if he has some preferred dates.
I'm sure it's not a lengthy discussion. hopefully we'd be able to fit them in into any of the weeks that are um are available. So, um I'm reaching out to him this week. I figured I'd wait until after the first of the year. And he is
running for reelection this year, too. So, I'm sure that he will um be anxious to um uh have some air time with us, >> you know. And it'd be helpful if they if when they come out they already have
their numbers would be nice, but >> Oh, I don't Yeah, I don't I don't I don't know if that will be Yeah, I I don't know. >> I don't know. So, typically I was I was only going to invite Jennings who is the representative. I know in the past we've
had some other members of the full board. Um, I guess I will leave it up to him as to whether or not he wants to include >> other people that he might feel are um better suited to speak to us about the
the the budget. So, um I his first name escapes me. His last name is Jennings. His first name escapes me right now, but um but I'm going to reach out to him this week. I know Paula has his contact information. So, >> maybe Paul or Peter. Does that sound right? Paul Jennings. Yeah. Yeah, I
think that's right. Yeah, Paul. Paul Jennings. >> Yeah. >> Something like that. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for any updates? >> Uh, Madam Chair, I just did have one question. Um, I had emailed you about
the possibility of switching the school department's budget to uh present on the 3rd of February as opposed to the 10th. Um, was that something that was going to be uh possible or
>> Yeah, we addressed that right away. I sent an email out confirmed the date. We switched the date. It's um on our agenda schedule is the third. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. The last the last schedule I said I I saw still had the 10th. So that's what I thought. I just want to
double check. All right. Thank you. >> We got you. Yes. Yes. It's official. Yes, we're officially the third. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. So, we've got five weeks in a row of meetings. No break. Yes. All right. Um
All right. If no other Cindy, you've got your hand up, but that's probably from before, right? >> Yeah. I'm not quick with the thumb today. >> Okay. No, that's okay. >> Sorry. >> Um All right. So the next item is the minutes of December 9th. Can we hold on
those? And the reason I always battle with the minutes that they become conversational and they should be a little uh less and I think there since we have such such discussions with the budgets it tends to
be this big conversation but um I'm not sure the minutes should or necessarily reflect as much conversation that's in there. I don't know what other people's thoughts are on those. edit away. >> Okay, I will. All right,
>> you may remember me saying in the past, a good summary is sometimes discussion is sued. >> Right. >> Right. >> Exactly. And I think that's that's I think the key that we had a budget discussion to discuss the budget with X department and then if something
extraordinary came up as a follow-up item or something to note that in the minutes but otherwise um but otherwise not. But thank you. I'll I'll uh I'll I'll try to edit those down a bit. >> All right. Uh thank you for that. Any
other comments from anybody on those? No. Okay. Um, next item is correspondence. I have no correspondence. Um, the so the up the upcoming budgets. Um,
just to let everyone know, it's on the agenda, too. Um, and Christopher, I think you're right. I think the draft I sent may have had the Oh, wait. This one seems wrong, too. Uh, maybe I have the old one. Sorry. Um, I think you're right, Christopher. I think the first draft that I'd sent still had the wrong
date, but then we fixed it for the posting. Um, so January 13th, we have police, town clerk, register, voters, treasurer, collector, and debt. On the 20th, we'll have fire, recreation,
assessors, and planning board. On the 27th, we have highway, town accountant, and we will have the beach committee. And then on February 3rd, we have Westport Community Schools. And that should take care of it. >> All right. So, um
I have nothing else. So, if anybody has anything else, otherwise the motion >> Oh, Karen, I will I will ask the question when I speak with Mr. Jennings. >> Um it looks like many of those other weeks are, you know, were pretty full.
>> So, do you want uh you know, the 10th of February? Um, you know, it's I know that we would still be meeting on going over some of the budgets. We would still So, I'll start him with the 10th
of February because it looks like our other our other nights are pretty >> right or pretty >> pretty full. >> Pretty busy. Um, >> yeah. You know, and it's this is the thing with diamond because it's it's non-critical to the fiscal budget
because it's not as though anything's discretionary. So, right to load it. >> It's more informative. It's more right. It's more informative than anything else. >> Right. >> Yeah. So, I'll I'll start I'll start him out with the 10th. >> Yeah. Okay. Or even, you know, a little
dates out later in February. >> Correct. But no earlier No earlier than the 10th. >> Right. Right. >> Okay. That's good. >> I say that I say that's good. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, because maybe we could have a week off somewhere in there, >> right? I wouldn't wouldn't be opposed to that.
>> Um Okay. >> All right. Thank you. Um All right. So, I'll send off. >> Can anybody hear me? I can't hear Karen. >> Oh, yeah. We can hear you. You >> or anybody else for that matter.
>> Oh, you can't hear us? >> No. Can everybody else hear it? Hear >> I can hear. >> Yeah, I can hear. >> Yeah, I hear. >> Karen, I need to have the link resent to me for the uh access to the Google
Drive. >> Sure. >> For some reason, I I was getting it at first and now I'm not because I like the I like to put these budgets in hard copy in a folder. I like >> that's how I like to operate. Sure. >> Even during trials, I don't care how
much they get. copy. >> There's nothing wrong with being old school. Nothing wrong with that. >> Coming back very faintly. >> Yeah, >> there it is. >> I'll send you the link. Absolutely.
>> No idea why. >> Right. >> All right. No worries. Um >> um motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> I suspected that was what was next. I wasn't sure. >> I'm ready. >> All right. We have a motion. Second. Yeah.
>> All right. So, I'll uh All right. So, Hugh, >> now I can't hear anybody again. >> Oh, >> we're adjourning. That's the most import. >> Well, we don't need we don't need his vote. >> All right. >> There you have thumbs up. Yes. Okay.
>> Cindy Brown. I >> Thank you, Nancy. >> Nancy Cross. Eye. >> Christopher. >> Christopher Thrasher. I >> Duncan >> Duncan live >> and Karen Ross eye. I got everybody right? >> Yes. >> All right. Good night everyone. See you
next week. Repeat performance. >> Thank you.