Well, good evening everyone. This is the finance committee. It today is Tuesday, March 10th, 2026. It is 6:40. I'd like to call this meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag >> of the United States of the United
States >> and to the republic for which it stand with liberty and justice for all. Under Mass General Laws chapter 38A section 20F, this meeting is being recorded. On March 28th, 2025, Governor
Healey signed into law a bill which extends the temporary provisions pertaining to open meeting law to June 30th, 2027. Specifically, this further extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a
meeting location and to provide adequate alternative access to remote meetings. The 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, welcome everybody. Um, I want to do a call of finance committee me members that are present tonight. Uh we have Hugh Morton, Al Le,
>> Cindy Brown, Nancy Stanton Cross, and myself, Karen Rouse. Um so absent right now is Gary Carrero, Duncan Law, Christopher Thasher, and
Zach Lubru are not present. So we do have a quorum so we can get started on our meeting tonight. Well, thanks everybody for for coming and so we got a quorum. So that's great. Um I would like to start off with the
first item on our agenda is to start the process to talk about our annual town meeting warrants warrant articles. And uh the first one we're going to talk about tonight is article 17 which I believe it's still 17 which
is the community preservation committee. Um, we're gonna have a presentation and we have uh Betty Slade and uh Deborah, I'm not sure her last name. >> Oh, thank you, is here from the CPC. So,
Betty, I'll I'll turn it over to you. And you've said you've done this 15 years. You know what to do. >> Hi there. Welcome. Thank you for coming. So, I want to say this is the last time I will be doing it. I'm redesigning as
of June. And as uh chair, I will stay on for a few months. Um I'd like to introduce Deborah Chie who has been working with me as vice chair for uh quite a while. So, you'll be seeing her.
She is uh very smart, very articulate, and very dedicated. She is uh the clerk of the historical commission. So she's been a representative to the CPC. So she knows how it works.
So that are that's our plans. Um so this year we have three, four, five, six um six projects divided into the the normal um categories of open space which is
open space with recreation, community housing and historic preservation. Um the first is uh we haven't had for two or three years we haven't had a uh conservation restriction request but
this year we have one for 311 Drift Road. It's 28 acres of land. It is a a beautiful piece of land ecologically speaking and it has historic aspects to
it and um it will we have been asked to share in the cost of that by the Westport Land Conservation Trust. The total amount will be 1.2 2 million and they're asking us for 300,000
and we voted unanimously to recommend to town meeting that we um that they support this this project. Um they there will be it will be open to the public. They will have grounds. They will also have some historic sites that they will
uh announce. The restriction is what we purchase and with CPA funding the town and the holder of the restriction will be the conservation commission. So that's the first project for 300,000
um and it's coming from estimated fund revenues. The second project is um a project with WIAA, the Westport Youth Athletic Association, which has been um is really an excellent
uh organization that's done quite a bit, been in operation since 2002. Uh and um a couple of citizens uh said have been trying to um use the a lot of people have been trying to use the
courts at the middle and high school, but because of the safety considerations, the police recommended that um people should not be on uh the campus doing things like that and other things. uh so they can only use it in
the evening and then um it gets too late etc. So they um there was a a strong feeling that there's some way that they could develop public courts that everybody could use. So this group went
to the WIAA and WIA is giving them land on the um at the American Legion. They're they have their facility at the American Legion last American Legion highway. Um last
night they spoke to the board of selectmen uh about it after I had talked. Um there going to be five tennis courts and the capacity will be 10 pickle ball courts. So this is what they
they have suggested. They're they're working out trying to say how that one of them would be both and then two of them would be just dedicated tennis and two of them would be dedicated pickle ball because it seems like it's very
distracting to have a lot of different lines on a tennis court. So this is what they have decided uh to do. uh it's going to cost them over $600,000 and they have asked the um CPA to
finance 400,000 of that. They have already started um raising funds um and they will be willing to manage it. They're setting up a system, a software system to be able
to manage people coming in and out. And it will be a new a new age group of people coming to the WIA. Right now it's it's mostly students are our young
people who are using um the softball and baseball fields. My husband turned on the TV. Okay. So, um I think that that's very good. And the WA told us last night that they're going to have walking paths
also. So that'll be good for older people. So that's the second project. Um the third is the Mumbre Elementary School playground. Um it's over 25 years old. Um it doesn't have handicapped
accessibility and all the various things that it needs. Uh and so Michelle Raposa came to us and she um also went to CI uh PC. So the joint cost of that will be
about 450,000 but she's asking for the uh town meeting to approve um 300,500 from CPA funds. It will be a completely new elementary school and they're
actually moving at the playground. They're actually moving it closer to the building. Again, it will be used after school hours only after school hours and in the summer, but it will be open to the public,
complete public. So, those are the three open space recreation projects. community housing. Um we have in Westport um an affordable housing trust as you all know but maybe everybody else
doesn't know um that are constantly trying to find ways to support affordable housing and to develop affordable housing. It's very it's a very complicated thing to develop affordable housing. Um and so we we
actually needed the trust to have the um capacity and to hire housing officers who could help them. So the way that it's been going for the last few years is that the housing office which
includes legal um a legal side of it the it it includes the housing officer who they hire from outside an architect. They're asking for 40,000 for that. They also are asking for 60,000 for what they
call prehab. And that's basically um helping uh homeowners who have restrictions on their home and can't afford to do things that will preserve the house like roofs um uh sept septic
well not septic system they haven't asked for that but that kind of thing. It isn't putting in refrigerators or things like that. It's actually to preserve the the building itself. Um, and they're asking for, as I said, 60,000 for that. And then
we for the last few years have been supporting a fund, a trust, these trusts, a conservation can have a fund, affordable housing can have a fund like this. And we put money into the fund. Um it will not be expended for a particular
project that we know about but it will be available to the affordable housing trust um in case property comes up that they could buy. That's one thing. Um so they have funds set aside for that. and also for pre-development and other kinds
of costs. Especially this year, we've said to them that you should be alloc you're able to allocate some of these funds to looking for other properties. I think one of the ones that they seem interested in with the planning board is
uh some kind of affordable housing at the old school. Um so that is we're asking the uh town meeting to approve 300,000 for the affordable housing trust historic preservation. There are two
projects. Um the Bell School, as you know, it's now um a history center. It's a for all of Westport. Uh it's it's been financed um by private funds. A lot of
private funding uh CPA funding has been used through out the process of um restoring this and the building very excellently and also making it into a history center. And
we are requiring that an a um historic preservation restriction be put on the external part of the building. That has already been developed and the historical society and the historical commission which will hold that have
come to an agreement on the terms of it. It is now with the um uh state Massachusetts Historic Commission waiting for approval from from them there when in the process of this restoration they found that their
claborbs had really deteriorated. Um and so they came to the historical commission uh about it and they discussed and the historical commission agreed that this should be a project that um CPC should look at. So, we
looked at it and agreed that we would help them with that uh cost of restoring or mainly it's replacing the clouds for $49,000. So, that's the Bell School. The American
Legion Hall, we have um that is as you know, it's town property, but it is managed by a private group, the American Legion. Um through the years we've given them various funding and one of the ones
that was out there was the question of how do you get access to the second floor and there was a lot of discussion should it be a lift or a ramp and after really careful consideration
uh it was decided to do a ramp >> and the cost of that is going to be 35,000 that's also been vetted by the Westport Historical Commission. Uh CPC always asks the historic comm the
historic commission historical commission to look at projects before we accept them. So that's 35,000. Um it will be wood made of wood. um we have to put in we have to use
10% of the estimated fund revenues for each category of open space, community housing, historic preservation. So we can either use it as um taking money from estimated funds or we have to
put in the amount of money uh as reserves to build up their reserves for the next years. Um so this year we have we have used historic preservation reserves for historic preservation because people
wanted to get this done quickly and they don't have to wait. The funds are available after town meeting. So we're putting in 110,000 so that we meet that 10% that's required each year. Uh administrative funds, we
put in 40,000. Uh we use that for clerks for uh conservation restrictions, all the things that we have to to deal with. Um, we do appraisals. For example, for the
CR, we will have our own appraisal. Uh, and that, you know, adds up in funding. So, we put in 40,000 and and if we don't use it, it goes back into the CP um C funds. We don't lose it. So,
those are the projects for this year. And any questions? No, I ju I I just want to weigh in that when it comes to the U historical society, I'm going to recuse myself from the vote, but other than that, I don't
have any any questions. >> Betty, just a just a quick question. Do you have other do you have many requests that you are not able to meet or are you are you able to to every request that's coming your way to be able to support in
some way? Um we do have requests we can we have not met I've been able to meet I I've kept a list of them about eight or nine and often we catch them right away you know um so that's one they just
don't fit in the category like if um they want to pay for a sidewalk. It turns out we're not allowed to do that and things that we're not allowed to do. In some cases, it's a matter of it's not
quite clear. And so, one of the issues has been churches. As you know, since 2018, the Supreme Court passed a ruling that people thought, "Oh my god, you know, we're not going to be able to help churches." It turns out we can. Uh, but
you have to do it right, you know, and we get we we asked town council and the community preservation coalition for their advice on things like that. Um, there's one right now that's coming
before us. Deborah and I are going to go look at. Uh the the issue there is that this building hasn't really been open to the public and we have to have it's interesting they have to be open at least one day a year the public
>> but that to do a project like that it has to be a very important building. I mean it has to be so important in the history of the town or very old or something like that. But we found that when we bring that topic up, people say,
"Well, we'll open to the public and we'll let them in. We'll do things." So, they try to try to meet that. So, there's there's been a couple of church projects that I've said no immediately because it was inside the sacry.
We can't do that. We can't do things inside the sacra. But we can do um windows if they don't have religious symbols on them. So a lot of towns do
projects for churches and remember last year we did one for Halen Hall which of course passed muster in every way. Um it's completely completely independent. >> Great. Thank you for that Benny. Appreciate that. Um, does anyone have
any questions for Benny? >> Okay, we got a small group, so we'll see less questions. And and and Hugh is on the CPC, so he doesn't have questions. >> Hugh important part for important to us. I could tell you
>> and I would say with all I would need to recuse myself at this level from taking a vote for other reasons. >> Sure thing. Well, we're we're definitely not voting tonight, but uh when when we get to there, we'll we'll certainly honor your honor that.
>> Well, Betty, um thank you so much. So, this is your last year. You said 15 years you've been on CPC. >> I've been on since 2008. Wow. >> But I've been chair in and out as you know. >> Um or deputy or co-chair or abs or or
vice chair. But I I want you to know that Deborah is a very special person. I I'm just thrilled she's willing to do it. It means a lot to me. CPC has for years. We fought battles, as you know,
to keep it. Um, I've enjoyed working with the community. It's it it this community interaction, the town and community where you do things people want done. You know, I mean, you don't say you need to do this. They want to do
things and they say we'll step up and do it. >> I I've found that really wonderful. >> Yeah. Well, thank you so much for your 20 plus years of it. So, >> I'm sure the committee and the town will will miss all your
>> innate knowledge that you have and I'm sure you'll still be offering guidance behind the scenes. So, >> yes, >> you'll be sorely missed. >> Thank you. >> Very much. And welcome Deborah. We we look forward to to to seeing you next
year. >> Thank you. And Betty has very big shoes to fill. So, I hope she continues to provide guidance to me because I'm going to need it. You're a quick learner, Deborah. >> Those those are David's shoes, not not
hers. >> All right. Well, thank you both. Appreciate it. All right. Take care. Thanks, >> everyone. Bye. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, continuing on with our uh just to I just want to note Duncan Law
joined our meeting at 6:56 p.m. Hi, Duncan, you're here. Right. Greetings. >> All right. Greetings. Okay. Great. Um, so the next uh warrant article we'll be discussing is article 2020 20 which is
the appropriation for acquisition of foreclosed tax title properties. And we have Susan Brighten our treasurer here collector. Uh Susan you're here right? I think I saw you somewhere. >> I am. >> Hi there.
uh maybe you can give us uh an update on uh this article. >> Okay. Um the article is um to acquire properties that go for foreclosure. The tax title law has changed
considerably in the last two or three years. Um, there was a lawsuit Tyler versus Henipin County in Minnesota where the owner sued the town for or the county for the excess equity in its
property. And so years ago, what would happen is if a tax title property went for foreclosure, the town would foreclose and if they sold it, they would keep all the proceeds from the
sale. Now we're required to give the people the opportunity to acquire that excess equity and if it doesn't then it goes through another whole process. It doesn't mean that the town will ever end up with it.
But in the meantime, if the town we have I am actively pursuing several properties here in town through um my tax title attorney and so forth. And if the town
were to find a property that forecloses that they feel would be beneficial for town use, the town would need equity to purchase to for the excess equity. And what would
happen? What happens is as soon as it's foreclosed, it's a very tight time frame that they allow in the law. It's 30 days. The selectman has like 60 days from the time that the initial foreclosure is done. There's a 30-day
appeal and then the selectman have to make a decision within 60 days. If they want to keep it, they have to have an appraisal done in the next 120 days. And upon receiving that appraisal, we calculate how much is excess equity.
In other words, above the cost of the appraisal, all the back taxes, interest, legal fees, land court fees, and that amount has to be placed into a separate account at that time
so that the owner can claim that. And so having said that, we would always need access if we ever want to retain a foreclosed property, we would have to have access to funding
>> very quickly. We wouldn't have time to call a town meeting. So, what's if we were to if we don't get the article passed, it just means that the property would have to sell on the open market and then we would turn around and
from the sale they would be able to um claim that excess equity. But for right now, it's that's where we're at. So I proposed an article that I did it modeled it after the A open
space articles that we had several years ago to see um if we get a just a general amount approved and then as properties come available um if the town wants to keep them we can
borrow just the amount each time for the excess equity. We wouldn't necessarily need to go out and borrow a lump sum of money and let it sit there waiting for this. It would just be each one. The drawback is
any money that we spend would have to also be voted at the poll for um a debt exclusion because if we if we don't um each time we borrow it would be
hitting directly against the budgets for the debt payment. Any questions? >> Um, yes, >> it's a lot. >> It's a lot. >> Um, did did the select board last night
determine to keep this article on the warrant? And did they did they recommend a dollar amount that would be >> They went with five million. Um they did put vote to keep it on the um warrant and they said five million
>> and >> which means if >> Go ahead. >> We had a property that was we needed to borrow $500,000 we could. If we had a property that we needed to borrow 2 million we could.
>> And is it to be excluded debt or non-excluded debt? Has that been determined? part of >> that's usually determined as part of the motion on town meeting floor. I would recommend that it should be, but that's
entirely not my call. >> Yeah, I mean I'll speak to that. I think um you know some of the discussion and at least from the board was that it would uh move forward as excluded, you know, if it was being proposed.
>> Great. Thank Thank you. Um Hugh, go ahead. You've got your hand up. >> Yeah. I just want to say that it I Sue has explained it very well. But the difference really is if the town forecloses and sells, the town gets
whole in terms of things that should have been paid and the excess that belong to the person who couldn't pay is available. Their money, they get it. If the town's going to keep it, in essence, the town is buying it from >> correct
>> the uh the original owner. So that then makes sense that the town would out of its funds pay the difference between the cost being recovered and the actual value of the property. It gets more cumbersome as Sue explained in in escros
and appraisals and so forth and so on. But it is perfectly rational that the the past admission case was where the where the county sells it. I think it was a $500 excess or so in taxes not
paid and $150,000 property the town keeps the rest after the $150. That's obviously wrong as the Supreme Court has said. So this is implementing those requirements which are only only
sensible and rational. >> Correct. >> Thank you, Hugh. Uh Cindy, go ahead. >> So I I guess I can see where I'm I'm trying to put my myself in the you know in the seat of a of a person sitting there in town meeting voting on this and
I can see where there would be question. And I know one of the discussions last night at the select board meeting was that there would still be a public process, a public forum if you will, if if it were were to be determined that
the town wanted to retain this property. Uh but it still takes that out of the hands of the voters. So it wouldn't necessarily go to a town vote that this particular parcel
is of use to the town and that the town the the the voters want to consider that piece of property and go to debt for that. This kind of still leaves the town with an open checkbook for a piece of
property that may have been foreclosed upon. all the steps that that Susan just laid out and that there's say we'll just say a $2 million gap there because it's a value, you know, it's a nice piece of property somewhere. It's a very large piece of property, but it leaves it in
the hands of the select board through a public meeting process. Perhaps they would want input from from uh the public, but the final say would still be left with the select board. I can see people bcking at that, saying, "Okay, it
still should be in the hands of the voters whether or not we want that parcel of land and whether or not we want to pay extra dollars for that." So, that's the only part that I think is a little bit of a wrinkle here that um people may not want to be willing,
whether it's excluded debt or not, may not want to give up that ability that they have the they have cart blanch to be able to look at these parcels on their own without consulting the voting group. That that's really my only
comment to that. >> Thanks, Cindy. Go ahead, Hugh. >> I may have missed something, but if it's excluded debt, I think that always requires a town vote for to exclude something from the operating budget. So,
if that's the case, and I'm not going to speak to the to the time restraints because that may or not be practical, but if the town has to vote on >> Well, no. So, she wants but she wants the vote to be taken now because we need
to move quickly once that property is taken. She only has 180 days to be able to make them whole. So, she wants the excluded debt vote. I say s Susan it the process requires that that notice be held in advance.
>> Yeah. Well, this isn't above my pay grade because it seems to me that I don't see how you can vote to exclude a debt that has not already been approved or on a warrant is something that may happen in the future.
>> Well, that's how you can do that. That's what she's looking for, for a dollar amount of $5 million to have the ability to issue excluded debt up to an amount of $5 million without any additional
requirements. So there would be the town meeting vote, a ballot vote, and then it would be chances are, you know, I'm not sure that that would pass, but whether it's included debt or excluded debt, I think it they're looking for a blanket
amount upfront. >> Okay. I I understand you, but I'm still not sure because >> Okay. if it is uh voting to exclude a debt that may be incurred had been incurred. I don't know whether that
legally is permissible to do it in advance. Um but that's a matter of town probably. >> I can see your point. So Susan, just to clarify, so the the process under this scenario would be at
town meeting, there would be a proposal to authorize the borrowing of excluded debt up to $5 million and then within 90 days or some short period of time, it would have to also go to the ballot, right, to then approve
the authorization of excluded debt. And so now under so you'd have town meeting authorization and assuming the ballot passes then then you have the ability you don't need to take out any borrowing at any time until you would actually
have a property and for example it might be $500,000 property. So you you would incur debt only to the extent that you have a property right? So you wouldn't go out and have a $5 million debt. So the
taxpayer wouldn't would only see the tax effect on borrowed dollars, not the 5 million. Right? Is that >> correct? Right. >> Correct. And as to the legality, can
they approve that uh excluded debt? That's going to be one for town council >> to review. Um when it's not for a specific project. Um I uncertain on that. Like I say, this was modeled after
the a open space articles that we had done and those were I think we had done two of them. They were each like 2 1/2 mil and each was you utilized for smaller projects like this. Um there was
a certain amount given for say the Santos farm or for um the Sherman farm up on um Blossom Road and different farms to purchase restrictions and so forth. That one I believe was not
excluded at the time. We weren't often excluding debt anyway. Um but right now if we vote debt and it's not n not excluded um it's definitely going to have an impact on our budgets.
>> Yeah, I'm not objecting to excluding I'm just talking about mechanics and it seems to me >> Chris Vitali has his hand raised. I don't know whether he has an answer for that or not. It's my thought which was
usually this is not going to be something that happens as a surprise. You've got a parcel where the taxes haven't been paid for a considerable period of time. There's been discussion about how do we get it back? What do we do? So forth and so on. And the town in
my experience has not been rapid in trying to foreclose on tax titles. I say that not as criticism but simply that it is not likely to be a surprise that this is going to happen but there's
time to prepare the the selectman the voters etc as to what's going on and so those time limits in the in the statute may be less of a problem because you got time to get a head start before the
clock starts running but Sue is absolutely right this is how meeting. I mean, not that time of your town council. >> Yeah, I I'll just jump in really quick. Um, so, you know, I think something that Sue mentioned, which is important to note, is that, you know, really this has
been triggered because the law and this has changed. And so, every single community is in the exact same position we are with these conversations in terms of, you know, how do we want to address this? um and obviously give the town the
opportunity if there is a property um you know the ability to uh retain it. Now I think um you know I'll refer to council on the language and what would need to be done but again every single town is kind of doing the exact same
thing we are. Um but I guess what I would want to just note is that um you know the foreclosure process um I I I don't believe necessarily went through town meeting in the prior form
you know previously um under the previous law. So I think the difference here is just you know setting aside that funding in anticipation of um you know if there's an opportunity that comes up that the town can go and and potentially
acquire it. So >> um >> yeah the issue is whether the town keeps it or not. And I I know you know this Chris but I think it's worth pointing out this is not optional. The Supreme Court has said, "Thou shalt remit the
excess to the from whatever disposition to the original owners." >> Oh, no. No. I mean, we're in total agreement. I think the idea is that well, you know, the alternative is, you know, if this isn't something that ends up getting approved at town meeting or
at the ballot is the town just doesn't have that opportunity. you know, uh, as part of the foreclosure process, you know, there are, you know, if the town were to sell the property, you know, there's new guidelines on that piece of it, too, uh, in order to make the
individuals whole, whether or not the town retains the property or not. So, I totally agree with you, Hugh, um, >> comment, if you're going to sell it, it's easy. Then the money comes in and it gets split between the owner and the expenses
the town has incurred. It's the retention. But there's another answer to that one. Instead of going to foreclosure, you buy it from the distressed owner and go through usual process of town couns.
They just don't use the foreclosure procedure if the town hasn't acquiring it. >> Unfortunately, with these properties, what most of the properties I've had some success by submitting some of these
out recently. I've had a few paid off and um one significant one re very recently paid off on and what they the property owners when they were notified that we were
submitting them to land court for foreclosure they opted to sell the property themselves. >> Yeah. >> Um it doesn't always happen that way unfortunately. people sometimes for whatever reason they just don't want to
sell >> and I think they're just whether they're in why they don't but they they they're not going to sell it's got to go through the complete foreclosure process >> and once it
>> and once it gets to that point my the whole thing is at that point we really can't present it to town meeting for purchase until it's foreclosed because they have 30 days after the foreclosure to appeal it.
>> Okay? >> So, we can't do it until then. And then after that 30-day appeal period, the selectman have 30 days to make their final decision on whether they're keeping it or getting rid of it. I'm
sure you >> I was only going to say the the stick of the foreclosure in the U booming might encourage people to decide to sell even though they really didn't want to. >> But I'm sure there mechanics,
>> right? It's it's been very effective. Put it that way. Um, I have a few that are um making very good I'm making very good headway with um on payment plans and like I say I've had a few that have
actually paid off. Um I have a few more that are being a little reluctant to do anything. Um that's why I'm presenting this. Sydney, did you have your hand up? Um, >> I I did. I mean, the question was sort
of answered. I mean, I I think that the $5 million amount is going to scare people off. That That's all. I think that it's just going to people are going to be concerned that it's a very large dollar amount that they would have no
control over, that we could be borrowing. And why does it have to be such a such a large dollar amount? And you know, and I get it. I I totally get it because this is not just necessarily for one piece of property, but you could
have a $500,000 piece one year and you could have a $1.2 million piece the next year. This could be prime property next to a current cemetery or one that could be used for a cemetery or some other
public purpose. I I get all of that. Um, I'm I'm just putting my hat on of the person sitting in the eighth row at town meeting. That that's that's really where I'm coming from. Well, one of the options too and I don't
know what the select board it sounds like five million is is maybe but didn't the Susan you had referenced was it the land trust that they had done a million and a half and then similarly but this was non-excluded debt and then a few years later another article came at a
million and a half. Um >> yes they did. >> Could it could something like that be done where maybe it's >> it certainly could. We certainly could amend that amount on town meeting floor to a lower amount if um that you know
that's certainly doable. Um I mean my goal is not to foreclose any property. >> My goal is to collect the taxes. Um, but it's very interesting a couple of the a
few of the properties that are out there that the people just haven't paid and they just aren't making um, you know, despite the fact that the treasurer's office over the years has sent them letters requesting they come
in and set up payment plans. And even when my attorney starts sending letters, they still ignore everything. So, um, yeah, it's just it's a very interesting
process and it takes a long time even to get through Lancot. It's a three, you know, this there's one that's been in there for about almost three years now. Weren't they didn't a few years ago wasn't there um a list that was published in the newspapers of all the
tax properties of unpaid unpaid pro taxes? >> I do have a list of all the unpaid properties in town. There's about 80 of them. About 50% of them are what they call land of low value which does not go
through the same process thankfully. um that's a different process that gets submitted through the state but for foreclosure but um the rest of them are in varying stages. I do have like I say
several people on payment plans. I have some that are very faithful about them, others that have not been quite so faithful and I try to chase them down periodically and try >> Have you ever thought Have you ever thought about publishing that list again? Did that shake some people out of
the tree? >> It I Well, we publish every year when we do the tax takings, they're published in the newspaper any of the new uh new ones that are potentially coming up for tax taking. Um the list I don't know as if I
don't know as if the list itself is um ever been published. It is like I say when we do the takings those have to be published. Um, but the list itself is public record. I do have people who periodically will request a copy of it.
I think it's more people trying to send out letters to people saying, "We'll buy your property type of thing." Um, but yeah, it's public record. Who's on that list, >> right? I understand that it's public record, but there's nothing like a, you
know, a public a publication showing anybody who subscribes to any particular newsletter or journal or whether it be Shorelines or the Herald News or whatever, a list of of those people who are in a rears.
>> I would I'd also say how about the town website, >> right? Put them right on the website. It is public record. Put it on the website. let their neighbors see that they're not, you know, that they're, you know, you can draw a line, you know, whether they're
60 days over overdue or whether they're six years past due. I mean, I I think that if it's been effective to get people to come in because they don't want to see their their name in press, then maybe whatever it takes, it's cheaper than land court.
>> Yeah. Now, the the tax title list is only people who are actually far enough behind to have the lean placed on their property. The um people who are just delinquent a little bit delinquent, you
know, somebody who misses a payment, I'm certainly not, you know, those people are not >> and I'm not condoning I'm not condoning that. But if you have real tax title people, put it up on the website. What's wrong with them? >> Yeah. I mean I I mean th this town is
sitting with very very tight budgets and and any dollars that are due to the town from real estate taxes that aren't collected are just money that the town can't fund its budgets with. So it's money owed to the town. So, you know,
I'm in support of that. Um Nancy, go ahead. Um, I don't I I don't have a problem with the 5 million. You know, properties today and the value of properties are a lot different than it was years ago. What I find in my own
business that the trend, it used to be in our generation that you would be embarrassed not to pay a bill. That's not the same anymore. The embarrassment does not hit a lot of folks and they know their way around the system and
they know not paying their tax is what a town or a city has to go through in order to effectuate a foreclosure um from from that municipality or the town's uh position. People understand what they can happen in bankruptcy and
how to work around that with credit cards. I see it every day. So, we're not dealing with the same thing. I do think that the town of Westport that people that are going to be in that town meeting I I would like to think and I think they pay their taxes and they think everybody else should too. And so
I don't I think $5 million and being able to effectuate the process quicker, cleaner, and people knowing that you might have more people paying rather than have a couple of these rascals not paying. But I don't think five million
is we continually go short-handed all the time in Westport and then we want follow through and then we back having these discussions. But if if you get a lot of flack from the floor about people thinking it's too much then lower the number at that time to maybe let's read
like Dep's 3 million and that's an acceptable number. But I would go in at the five. I don't think if you explain it to people that they're going to have a problem with the town taking that type of position in order to deal with people that are paying their uh property taxes.
So that's just my two cents. >> Thanks Nancy Hugh. Go ahead. >> Mason makes a lot of sense, but I also to point out this only arises if the town wants to keep the property.
>> Correct. used to was simply getting it to be paid. The sale and dividing the proceeds doesn't raise any of these issues and is certainly a an inducement to uh do something about it or see your property sold away. If the town wishes
to acquire a property for say five and it's worth 500 a million, seems to me that's going to be a pretty good discussion on its own merits before you get to it's a property that's being foreclosed and we have to go through this procedure if we're going to raise
the money to do it. It's still going to cost money. It's a matter of whether it comes through loans now or some other way, but only if we're going to keep the property. >> Thanks you, Susan. I I would uh like to request a
copy of the list to the send to the finance committee if it's public record. >> We'll do. I'll forward that to you. >> Thank you. appreciate it. Um and even you know even if uh
looking at the list and and we haven't really talked about the dollars or you know the number the number of um properties in the dollar amount but I think you know as you get to town meeting even if if those that chose to
keep the names anonymous you could be saying there's 70 properties that total X dollars. So we have some sort of framework of how much are we talking that are, you know, taxes that are due to the town. So I think that would be
helpful to have that, too. >> Okay. Yep. The uh numbers it's um almost a million dollars. >> Wow. >> In taxes or about a million dollars in taxes.
>> What could the town do with a million dollars? Thanks. Thanks, Susan. Anything else for Susan on that one? >> No. All right. Great. Thank you, Susan. Appreciate it. >> No problem. Thank you.
>> All right. Um Okay. So, continuing on with our discussion of war articles. So Chris, you are uh you are up for the rest of them.
>> I'm up. Okay. >> So generally what we do Chris um just to and to let Nancy who's a new member and to know so we'll we go through the warrant which we have been reviewing we've had copies of and so the ones that
have financial implications are the ones that the finance committee will ultimately need to make a recommendation on. So there there are some that are non-financial. So they're less important for you to we certainly if anybody has any question on any of them we we
certainly this is a great opportunity to ask you that but um the financial the ones that are of financial are the the ones that we will make a recommendation on and I think they're relatively obvious this year which ones are
financial and non-financial but um so just to so we have the fourth draft of the warrant Right. That is the Oh, we got a fifth draft that you just sent to us. >> We got a fifth. Yes. So, um nothing >> uh there was two,
you know, very minor uh uh grammar corrections with a fifth draft. >> Nothing of nothing of substance. Um but >> I guess as I go and look through it with a fine tooth comb and check and recheck and recheck, uh you know, we'll we'll
update it. But I will also just make a note that uh this is still pending town council review. So uh some of the language you know is very familiar or similar to what we've used in prior years. Um you know but there are some new articles um that are being proposed
for this year. So uh you know with that we do like to have council review that. So um the substance won't change but the language may you know as we get some feedback from council. So, I'll just >> I'll I'll put an asterisk there. So,
>> uh what I'll do is I'll just go through them in order and then obviously for the non-financial ones, I'll just ask at that point if there's any questions and then if not, we can just pass over if that >> Do you want do you want to present or would you like me to present as you talk
through? >> Uh if you're able to present, yeah, that'd be helpful. I have uh I have it up on my other laptop next to me. So, that'd be helpful. And just while that's uh being pulled up, so the select board uh during last
night's meeting, uh they are planning on approving the warrant for posting at their April 6th meeting. >> Um so hopefully that just provides the group enough time to to review everything. And if uh for whatever reason I can't answer a question this
evening, I'm happy to uh get that for you for next week's meeting. >> Yeah. So our our just to so just um on that, so our plan is to get through as many as we can tonight. Uh, and then we also have next Tuesday to go through the
rest of them. And then I'd like the committee to be ready at the end of next Tuesday to to have all their information that they need in order to be able to uh when we make the recommendations on
March 24th to have that. So we'll we'll go through information this meeting and next meeting and again hopefully by the end of next meeting we we have everything then we can sleep on it and we will make the recommendations on all the articles on the 24th. So that would
uh also be um our the budget number to to determine uh to review of the select board budget if anybody has any recommended changes to that budget to that would be different that would become the finance committee budget. So,
>> okay, >> great. All right. So, I see it's up on the screen. Um, so on the first page, it's an index. So, um, 34 articles are being proposed at this point in time for
the town meeting. So, just starting on page >> I can't scroll. Whoops. >> For some reason, I cannot scroll. Um, >> it won't let you hit next page. I am
stuck and I cannot scroll. Um, I'm going to unshare and try it again. For some reason, my uh I have this little sticker is on and I can't get it off. Stop annotating. Let me see if I can pull it up on mine really quick. If you have any issues
with that, >> I cannot move. Do you want me to stop sharing, Chris? >> Yeah, I was able to pull up. >> All right, great. >> Let's try this. It's asking me about my permissions.
Yes. Yes, you can record my screen. All right. There we go. Perfect. All right. Technology. Let's see. All right. I think that should work. Can you see my screen? >> Not yet.
Now we can. >> All right. You can see the warrant. >> All right. Perfect. We are in business. >> All right. So, as I mentioned before, and I can I can scroll. All right. Good. We're in business. Uh 34 articles. Um we'll just go down the line here.
Again, if there's any questions as I go over the summaries, please feel free to stop me. Uh so article one uh this article uh votes to approve paying $890 for a prior year bill. Uh this is required of town meeting for anything
after the fiscal year is concluded. So uh there is currently one outstanding invoice for $890. Um article two. >> Uh Chris, what Chris, what was that for? Do you know? >> Uh unfortunately I do not have that
invoice in front of me. Um, but I can send you just a recap. Yeah, of course. >> I was just curious because I I believe that's a florist. So, I was curious why it was so much >> for a florist. Oh, Nicole. Nicole just raised her hands. Okay. Go ahead,
Nicole. >> It was um for the veterans for flowers for I want to say Memorial Day. Um, but the bill came in later in the year and uh she didn't encumber it, so that's why
it has to go to town meeting. >> Thanks, Nicole. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Uh, so article two, um, line item transfers. Um
again, this article moves 70,500 within the current fiscal year budget to cover expenses um primarily through the transfer station for uh personnel and expense costs as well as moving some funding
from free cash into the reserve fund for unpaid leaves. >> What? Sorry, I'm trying I don't want to be a nurge about this, but what what what fund is that for unpaid leaves? What is that for? >> Nicole, I don't know if you you mind
just speaking to these as well. Thanks. >> Uh so what that is is uh quite a few years ago um we started this fund. So what it is is um money goes in there every year through the budget for people who are retiring. So, we're paying out
their uh vacation time or sick time. It's their buyouts. Um we've had quite a few uh fire and police retire this year. Um including Jim and Denise as well in the selectman's office. So, our fund is a little low. Um oh, I think we usually
put about a 100,000 in it every year. >> So, that's great. And just to um previous so this was a Warren article that came on a couple of years ago. So previous to that when someone in a particular department
was retiring that expense was in the department's budget in their line item and that really really skewed the budgets also. So, um, so by pulling it out into its own, um, reserve account
lets the department stay more true to what their ongoing recurring expenses are and in and there's a reserve in advance that that's helping fund those so that so the town's not um, financially hurt by someone who might be retiring. So, um, that's just a
reminder. I think that was an article a few years ago that that got established Is there funding in the current budget for FY27 uh for the Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. So, it is and uh you know what we
do ask departments is um you know if they are aware of an expected or anticipated retirement to notify us as soon as possible so that we can track that throughout the fiscal year. Um now there is language where for whatever
reason um you know if we weren't able to make the transfer like we're requesting here um you know we could account for that at the time where we are able to replenish that account. So that option is available. Um you know but obviously
with people that have worked for the town for a long time um you know it can uh that 100,000 can get eaten up pretty fast. So, um I see Nancy has her hand raised.
>> Does this fund um for the retirement does it encompass the entire like the school side of the budget too or is it just the town side of the budget that this for those retirements, police, fire, town hall employees? Or is it for retirees in the
school too? Or does the school absorb that into their own budget for retirement? So Nicole, correct me if I'm wrong, but at least from uh this current fiscal year, this is all on the town side. >> Yeah, th this is an account just for the
townside retirements. Um the the school, they do their own thing. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh >> you has his hand up. You have >> ahead. Thank you. Sorry, Hugh. >> Yeah. Is it is uh can accumulation be
unlimited forever? I know some organizations do that many days going out to the Navy, but the uh some also has a use it or lose it kind of thing. The maximum out that you can acrue. How does this work in practice?
So it in terms of acrruels and what's allowed it's it's a little bit varied based on union versus non-union. Um you know generally speaking um you know sick time you know you are able to acrew that
vacation you know again across the different unions uh there is a use it or lose it component to that based on how many years you have in and how much vacation you have. Uh, I believe there's a minimal carryover year-over-year.
>> Thank you. >> Um, all right. So, if there's no questions, so, uh, article three, um, again, this is something where that you've seen on prior town meeting warrants. Um, this article uh would
transfer $182,68 from free cash or surplus revenue into the town's general stabilization fund. Uh, it acts like a savings account. Um, you know, in case of emergency or future need from the town. So, um, that 182,000
is, uh, equates to 5% of the, uh, free cash that was certified back in October. >> Right. And just to, um, just to remind, so Chris has previously given us a free cash spreadsheet, which um, sums all the
uses of free cash, which this is the number that had been on that uh, sheet that we've had had for a bit. >> Correct. Thanks, Karen. Right. Just to make sure because nothing nothing just to reiterate since you gave us the draft
select board budget and presentation and then then the select board made its recommendation there's virtually nothing has changed that. So there's nothing new that we're seeing that wasn't somewhere before. So everything is still the same. So I just want to clarify that that
these are these numbers are no different. >> Yeah. So um just from I think the last time we had discussed um the overall allocation uh I did make a note that the board had uh planned to have this capital stabilization in there. I think there was some uh discussion on that. So
you know just going off our prior discussion article 4 um does add in uh the $182,68 to the capital stabilization fund. again for future capital needs. Um again 5% of
the free cash allocation. Article five is a allocation of $91,34 into the special education stabilization fund. Um I will note that this is
slightly lower. So I know last year uh and this year the goal was 5%. um you know what is being moved forward is 2.5% so half of the 182,000 uh and again this stabilization accounts
to help the town manage unexpected increases to uh special education expenses. Uh as I scroll down get ahead of myself. Um
so articles six and seven um are uh both tied to each other. So article six um this article proposes establishing a new stabilization fund to cover future collective bargaining
agreements as well as compensation adjustments for both union and non-UN employees. Uh this was something uh that we had discussed at prior meetings. Um and so again this creates a special fund
that um you know assists for the costs associated with what I referenced. And so uh article 7 is tied to that. So the first one is the creation of the stabilization fund and this article would actually be making appropriations to it. Um so if our goal six passes, our
goal 7 um would request the addition of a 108,000 from free cash um to, you know, start putting some funds into this proposed stabilization fund. >> Boy, I'm not at all sure about this. Um
only because I'm not a negotiator of contracts back and forth, but My instinct is if I were negotiating on the side and I look at the balance sheet and there's 108,000 whatever sitting
there ready to be used for collective bargaining. That's where I start rather than I start and work up as the money that's available. I just say that's okay. You got that money. Let's see what else you put in what other money you've got. I understand the desire to have it
for the future is perfectly sensible. Just worry about it from a psychological negotiating stance. >> Yeah, I mean that's the fair point. I know that this is um uh something new, right? Um so what I would say to that is
and I think similar to the other stabilization funds, the idea is that um you know going forward that this is a routine investment into the stabilization fund. The other thing I would the the others are under the control the town the town meeting etc.
You want to spend it for this spend it for this purpose here you got a competitor who wants to get their own purposes collect your bargaining. >> Yeah. So I think
>> yeah so I think that this is one piece of it right. You know, I know there's was prior discussions at the last meeting with regards to, you know, how do we go about, you know, looking at employee compensation as a whole and what can the town do to um, you know,
better financially plan ahead. Um because you know the reality is yes you know there are um you know agreements that come up and expire and you know we renegotiate and I think you know the idea is not to say um you know I think
it's to be fair you know go into it and and really try to um you know come up with a a mutually acceptable agreement right and so I think from the town side you know just like we do here you know the our budget and our financial position we're transparent um you know
So again this is one option I think again definitely open to continuing the conversation on this. >> Yeah although I would say as you're right in a rational world but I think the experience I have seen directly and indirectly is that union negotiations
don't start out with a rational view is it starts with how much can we get. So maybe that's the end result. Anyway, I've said my piece and I understand there's another point of view. >> Thanks you. Go ahead, Nancy.
>> Thank you. So again, because you know, I just talked about the retirement thing and that was just the town. Is the vision for this collective bargaining to be used by all of the unions, including the schools union, which is the largest union with personnel in town? So is it
is it intended to just be for collective bargaining on the town side or across the board for all employees in the town? >> So as being proposed um you know obviously I look at it from the side of
the town right I think >> why is that >> Chris? So, I think when we go I guess when we go over and we look at the budget as a whole, right? I think um I guess similar to how we look at the special education stabilization funds,
you know, as I get more um acclimated to the needs of the school and how we can better financially assist and prepare um you know, to support their needs over there. I'm I'm open to continuing the conversation. Um I think from again my
standpoint uh coming in this is something that I've seen as a practice um that's worked in several communities um why I more or less recommended it go forward but um you know the other thing I would just note at least when it comes
to the contracts is I I don't really I don't see that from the school side. So, um, you know, I it it's I guess difficult to to talk about that, but I'm open to talking about that. >> Well, no, I just So, the reason I say
that, first of all, I don't like it at all. I agree with Hugh here. We're agreeing a lot tonight. Um, I agree with you. I don't think it puts us in a fair bargaining position, and I think that it's not fair collectively to do it with
the unions when the contracts come up at different times. So, what's the first the first ones in line because their contract negotiation starts here. Um, they get their first shot at that and then the next people and then they get a shot and then as it goes down the line,
you know, is it and then is it going to be a question of, oh, well, you gave preference to the fire union, you gave preference to this. I think it's a recipe. I think there's a better I don't know what the idea I don't know what the I I like the thought process behind it.
So don't get me wrong. I just don't think that this way is fair to all of the collecting collective bargaining union unions. I don't think it's fair when you're in the position uh the town is and the schools to to make those
decisions. But if you're asking for a funding source to provide additional support for unions on the town side and you're asking for everyone's tax dollars just to go to that and you're not you're not looking at it from a townwide including the school side of the budget
on a proposal of this nature, I think you're going to see a lot of push back on it for that from that perspective. But other than that, I don't like the bargaining position it potentially can put the town in. And I and again, I don't find the equality with the timing
of the unions when they're coming up and seeking contract negotiations. The pot goes and then somebody else doesn't get it. I just I don't like it. So, that's just my two cents. >> Yeah. I mean, I'll just note that the
language itself is um uh it does offer the town and provides it flexibility in terms of how the funds can be utilized, you know, and again, because this is a stabilization account, um you know, with however it's used, um we would obviously
make sure we're mindful of that so that again, we're not um we're not building in deficits within the budget for future fiscal years. So um you know again I think every contract has its expiration date um you know and you know we're
mindful of that right and we do try to provide uh equity when we think about compensation across our various unions. So I'll just I'll leave it there. >> So I um I just want to make a couple of quick points too. So if the intent of
this article is to be for all unions ex excluding the schools union, it doesn't if it doesn't say that, I'm not sure there'll be intentionality to that. So there's no restriction on what unions that it would
go to. So I just I'm curious how that would play out. Um, but I mean I I I don't really love this either because I don't I think if there's dollars sitting there for collective bargaining, it just
doesn't put the the negotiations in a good a a good way. Um, it it the money's there and it's it's going to be earmarked for it and it will get used. So, um I'm all for saving the
money in case there's needs and maybe it's better in the general stabilization fund and where it's not specifically restricted um or specifically called out. In either way, it would need twothirds vote at town meeting. So, um
it could be in the stabilization fund, but just not specifically restricted. Those are just my thoughts, too. So, go ahead, Nancy. >> Just participating on um in a lot of the negotiations when I
was on on the school committee, um one of the very first questions the unions send out through their representatives is what's the stabilization fund? Give us that number. They I mean they automatic I can't imagine that the other unions aren't asking the same question.
Um, so if then if you have a particular fund, I mean the stabilization fund, there's an argument that it can go for a lot of other different uses, right Karen? That what you just said >> as opposed to earmarking a particular, you know, a particular uh resource of
funds for that particular purpose. And again, it's not the the general wording of this could be used by anybody in the town. So if you if the intent is to just have it for the town side, then it's got to say that. Um, and I just think you'll run into a ton of obstacles because of
that. And I don't like it because it does specifically say for that purpose. And I have an issue with that as when you're in a negotiation position and you're the negotiator does put you in a pretty poor position.
>> All right. Well, I think we're we can move on. I think we're all uh had our hard comments there. Uh unless anybody else did, but we'll we as a committee will also have time to deliberate as we make our recommendations, but I think we
all clearly understand what the intent of the article is. So, I think we're we're clear on there. All right. Go ahead, Chris. >> All right. Uh moving on. So, um, borrowing in anticipation of revenue.
This is something again that's been on the warrant before. This allows the treasur to borrow short-term funds if needed before the revenues are collected. Um, yeah, this is a standard practice to ensure the town can pay bills throughout the year.
So, article nine, if I can scroll down here, correct computer is the acceptance of the capital committee report. Um, you know, this was
something that was done in late December and put together, but you can see that the committee brought in a number of projects they're looking to support. Um, 2.29 million in capital projects. such as police cruisers, fire
equipment, uh school HVAC upgrades, IT servers, playground improvements, and town vehicles. Um most of this is coming from free cash or surplus revenue. Um as well as the items at the bottom which are coming from uh the respective
um enterprise funds. Chris, I only have one question about about this, not the items on here, but you've used the term both free cash and surplus revenue. So, is that going to be is that going to be confusing?
>> I can So, yeah. So, I guess uh I my experience is I've used the term surplus revenue. So, I I know but I know again it all depends on what's the common place. I I can add both. I could put in parenthesis if you think that that would
be beneficial for people. >> In in some articles it says free cash >> and in this it says surplus revenue. So >> doesn't matter to me as long as it's consistent. >> No, excellent point. Excellent point.
>> Um All right. Article 10 is salaries and stipens of elected officials. Um again this is on the warrant every year. It sets the FY277 FY2027 salaries and statements for
elected officials including the select board assessors, board of health members, town clerk, and the moderator. >> All right. Well, the next one's the big one. So, let me ask the committee. Do we want to discuss the budget now or do we want to skip over that one and get
through the rest of the articles and then come back to that one? Oh, Q, you're on mute. >> Thank you. I will skip over since that's a discussion on itself. >> Okay, we will. That's what I thought
somebody might say. So, we'll we'll try to get back to it tonight. So, it's already 8:00, but um I think we can get through the rest of these articles because I would like to talk about the budget tonight. Um okay. >> All right. So, I'll just skip over that for now.
Article 12. Uh again, every year, uh we fund the marine services enterprise. Um so, you can see here for FY27, the expected salaries, expenses, uh capital outlay. Um, you also note that we do
from the town side, um, you know, charge an indirect cost. And so, you know, at the bottom you see user charges, um, for $240,428. Um, so with that, I would just note that that um, the cost for the enterprise
fund are through user fees rather than the general taxes. Um as is the same with the one the other ones that we have coming down here. Um article 13 is funding the water enterprise account. Um you know again salaries $2500
uh expenses $300,50. Uh there's indirect cost of 15,000 and uh the two funding sources for this account are user charges of 234,000.
Um and then we are for the FY27 um recommending 83,550 from retained earnings. So I will note here that um this account has been offer berating in the structural deficit. So uh this is
something that the board took action on this past year with a rate increase and it's something that um I expect at a meeting coming up they will also be adjusting rates to account for that for FY27. So, >> what what are the expenses for? 300,000
in expenses. What what is that used for? >> Uh, give me one second. Let me see if I can pull that up quickly. >> Um, so >> is this the payment that was due to the
city of Fall River for the that overdue payment that was there for years? >> No. So part of it is um you know we purchase the water, right? So uh I mean that's the biggest expense there of
about a quarter million dollars and then um you know we have just uh testing equipment repair um you know as I mentioned if we have details if there's any uh work that needs to be done uh software um water meter cost office
supplies. So, it's it's a little bit of everything that goes into it, but the biggest piece of that is the actual cost to purchase the water from Fall River. >> Okay. All right. And then the user chargers are what what backfills that
to pay for the water that was purchased, >> right? >> In addition to other maintenance things and whatnot that need to take place during the operation of the water system. >> That's correct. So what what happened to that payment that was due to the city of Fall River
>> that was negotiated for for a long time? I thought I thought a settlement had finally been reached and we did have to make a payment to them. >> So uh the board did approve and sign the settlement and it is currently with Fall River. So um you know again once that
has fully executed on their side uh the settlement will go over there. But is the funding available for that? >> It is. Yes. >> In what? >> And that's not indicated here because this is the operational budget,
>> right? >> Right. But out of what source will would the select board be paying that? >> So some of it is ARPA and some of it is through the retained earnings from the enterprise account. >> Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Um so moving on article 14 is funding the town beach enterprise. Um again salaries just over 100,000
expenses 60,750 uh with indirect cost of 20,000. Um and the user charges to balance against that would be $11,850. Article 15 um again on the warrant every year is funding our community
television. Um so the total for FY27 uh for the cost is $237,040 article 16. Uh again you see this every year. Um this is setting the maximum
spending limits for the town's various revolving accounts. Um you know these funds are supported by the fees um and the other program revenue that they receive. So uh you'll see that these maximum expenditures they periodically
go up um you know again based on the recommendations that we receive and uh the maximum expenditures uh you can see are in the right hand column for this upcoming fiscal year. >> Would you tell me why the the recreation
department revolving is not on this list? It's never on this list. They operate as through a revolving account for their uh for their expenses, >> but we >> we don't have them on their list on this
list. >> So, I can follow up with town council. Oh, Nicole, >> Nicole has a hand up. >> Yeah. >> Uh because it's a departmental revolving account. It's not a recreation revolving
account under Mass General law. it was it was established differently than these are. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I I will note here that um you know in terms of the revolving accounts year-over-year
um you know as I mentioned before the maximum spending limit changes on these but you know we also um I guess as we put this list together we do look back to see if there was a revolving account established our council make sure that
everything that needs to be on this list is on this list but okay >> um >> yeah so I'm just note on that um >> Al has his hand up. >> Yeah, I just wanted to just want to tee
off on um Hi, Chris. on what what Cindy's uh question was. >> Why isn't it I mean is is it are we talking about a legal definition, an accounting definition, or a practical
definition of where this money is coming from and where it's going? I I I I you know sometimes I think that we can kind of not we I'm not talking about you but in general hide behind the veil of
legality and reality as my grandmother used to say. So why why don't we understand where the uh where the income is coming from on the recck department which I think is really good. I'm not
I'm not beating them up. I'm just saying but there is income coming in and where is it going to and where is it going to? >> So happy to I guess follow up on that um you know and Nicole and uh I can get you
an answer on that >> in terms of what the differences are here >> um you know versus what you see in that the last article on the revolving funds. >> That's fine. that that's a perfect answer to the question, but if you can get back to us, that would be really great.
>> Absolutely. Um, all right. So, continue on. Uh, article 17, I think, uh, unless there's any other questions, it's the community preservation, um, article. You know, I'll note that,
uh, this language was sent over by CPC. um similar structure to prior years uh in terms of how it's displayed on the warrant. Um so now moving on to article 18.
Uh so article 18 is an appropriation from um the retained earnings of the water enterprise account um to be used to um request a rate study. So as I just mentioned, you know, that line has been
operating in a structural deficit. You know, I will also note just in terms of the enterprise itself, you know, the town really doesn't have a water department. You know, if I, you know, I would say that the responsibilities to administer the department are really
spread throughout a few different staff and departments within town. Um, but I think, you know, we look at the operation as a whole. um especially one that's growing. I think that this is something where um you know there uh the
select board has you know put this forward um to support a rate study just to see um you know what the rates need to be taking into consideration the operation and you know expected uh expenditures in the future that that
fund anticipates. So that is article 18. Article 19, this is something that has been on the warrant before. Uh it is a appropriation for replacement rolloff containers. Uh the amount of 28,000.
Um it's for purchasing one uh rolloff container for the transfer station. All right, let's continue down here. Uh, article 20, uh, as Sue had previously discussed that, um, but this
is its location on the warrant. Article 21 is an appropriation for um some training sessions. So, let me just pull up my notes on this. Um, this article is $29,375.
It's funding two joint active shooter training sessions. Um, and this is uh in collaboration with the police department and the fire department. Um, so you know there was discussion in initial drafts of the budget to have this as a separate
line item you know but after discussions um with the prior town administrator um you know both departments felt that having it set aside as a separate article um you know was was prudent. >> Yeah. And I believe both chiefs did
discuss that when they uh did their budget presentations to Fincom. So um we have discussed this article as well. >> Yes. >> And and and and I would you know personally support that completely because of everything that's going on in
this world. >> March 24th you'll have your day in court to that. I'm I'm looking forward to it, Karen. >> All right, go ahead, Chris.
>> Uh, so moving on for article 22, um, this article would set aside 75,000 uh to provide matching funds for state or federal grants. um you know this is
something that the town has done in the past and has helped um us secure additional funding um you know from different sources for our various projects in town. So um again that would be coming from free cash.
Article 23. Um, this article allocates 81,000 to purchase computers and technology for uh the Westport Community Schools, including Chromebooks, laptops, and desktops. You know, I will note that this article came about because
originally this 81,000 um was proposed within the FY27 school department budget. um you know but after some discussions and just looking at that uh proposal um you know again it
felt um appropriate to set that aside here as a separate article. Um so that is article 23. So moving down here. So article 24
um this is a acceptance of a personal property tax tax bill exemption. This article would stop issuing personal property tax bills under $2,000 in value starting in FY2027. Um you know the idea behind this is it
reduces the administrative cost um you know for very small tax bills. So you know for what you are getting back in terms of uh revenue um it's really not worth the administrative um cost to send
the bill. So um that is why that is being proposed for this meeting. Uh scrolling down, article 25 I'll say is uh indirectly finance related. Um you know, but
essentially this article um you would propose replacing the current uh town bylaw language on personnel. And it would um allow the select board uh to formalize a personnel administration
system. Um and specifically of the board would establish a personnel policy that covers hiring compensation benefits um and other things that are currently outlined within the personnel bylaw. So
um with that just >> continuing on is there any questions on article 26? >> No I don't think that's move on. Thank you. Yeah.
>> All right. So, article 27 uh is highlighted because there is still ongoing discussions on this. Um you know, but at a very high level um this article um or the intent of this article is increase the fines for
illegal overnight parking at the town landings. Um allow for officials to create parking restrictions or requirements at those locations. So, um, you know, I think right now the feedback is from both, and this isn't just for
the landings, you know, but there's also been discussions with the beach committee about, you know, the overall amount of some of these fines, you know, $20, uh, in some cases. Um, people would gladly pay that to access some of our
town uh, facilities and, uh, public spaces. So, you know, I think the idea behind this is to um uh to really carry a penalty. Um so, that's the intent of it. Now, I know that the language itself just uh we want
to make sure from a legal standpoint that we're aligned with what uh the request was from the landing commission. And so, um, again, that's why it's highlighted because I know council still has, uh, some additional work on this, but that's more or less the intent of this article that you see here. Um, so
it's the proposal would be upgating these fines from $20 to 200. >> My only comment on that, Chris, is raise it more than 200. That's not even If you're going to raise it, raise it.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think yeah there was a lot of discussion on that just in terms of the amount and um you know I will note that you know although the the beach um the beaches and the landing commission kind of operate separately in terms of how those fees
are established I think their goal is to make sure that whatever that final fee amount is is that they're aligned um because that also helps our police with enforcement as well if there's just a one consistent uh fee
the various sites. So that is 27. Um you know these next several >> next ones are zoning. So I don't um >> Yep. Yep. So these are all um
>> this becomes when we all fall asleep, right? >> Yeah. So a lot of uh proposed amendments at all, right? >> Yeah. Just the last uh thing I wanted to mention on here is just acceptance of Stacy Lane. Um so the hearing on this uh
is planned for later this month with the select board but in anticipation of that you know there is a placeholder here on the warrant for the acceptance of that uh that so that is all 34 articles uh >> not bad
>> for town meeting. >> That is not bad. So, um, thank you for going through. And so, uh, what I'm going to ask is there's three members that were not present here tonight. So, hopefully, uh, I'm going to ask them to
watch this video and, um, then they may have a follow-up question that they weren't able to ask because they weren't here. And then, of course, as we may have a follow-up question or two. Um, but I don't intend next week for you to
redo the whole presentation of going through the warrant again. Uh, unless we have a question on something. So, thank you for going through that. And, um, Al's got his hand up and then we're going to circle back to the budget. >> Just just briefly, I I just I just want
to, uh, reiterate what Karen said about the fines on on the beach and the landings and whatever. You have to smack people in the forehead with a 2x4. You can't, you know, you just can't trickle. So, I'm just picking
a number out of the air. $500 or whatever is is the number that I would use to get their attention. You know, it otherwise it it it's almost like chump change. So, you know, you guys have to
do what you do, but I I think it the number is too low. I have 500 in my head too, Al. >> Go ahead, Hugh. >> You guys are meaner than I am. I do agree the racist principle gets
their attention. But it seems to me for most people 200 bucks, you or going to the beach, sitting in your car gets your attention. However, I'm with that. Leave it up to Chris to be the bad guy. The other question I wanted to ask was
>> in connection with the budget, the conservation and energy for 200,000. What is that all about? >> I'm sorry I didn't catch that last thing you broke up there. >> The budget there's an expenditure of 200,000 for energy conservation and so
forth. What does that buy us? Uh, let me just pull that up. Unfortunately, I don't know what is being referenced here. >> Was it an article, Hugh? What article? >> I don't have them for me now. But we can
pick that up again. Don't worry, Chris. When I saw that, I just wondered what under that category. >> Uh, maybe Nicole has the answer. So, the the energy and conservation, it's a revolving account that was set up quite a few years ago for
um oh my goodness. Um rebates that we were getting for uh green communities. Um so, what we're using the money now for is we're paying the uh electric cost of the
charging station at the annex. Um and some of the uh consultant that we uh Kathy Stanley that we use for our our green communities, they you know, she gets the grants for like the HVAC system at the town hall. Um I think we did some
other um heating elements or something at one of the schools. Um so that's what we're using it for. So that's where we putting the rebates. >> Thank you, Nicole. That's >> You're welcome. So, Nicole, Nicole, on that on that same point, is there still
money coming into that account? Um, at the moment there is not, but I know there are rebates coming for the HVAC system at town hall. Um, >> but the the 200,000 is just the spending limit. So if the money is there, we can
spend up to that amount, but we're not actively putting any money in it unless there are rebates that are coming back from doing the projects. >> Okay. Okay. the uh >> the the other point that I had going
back to the article about the fines for parking. I guess one of the other wrinkles you have is that the town dock uh at the point is you know very it's a very active uh location and there are people that
are to park there overnight, right? So whether or not the, you know, the fishermen that go out on the boat overnight, it's not like they have a parking lot or or a dedicated parking lot that they can use. So I guess some system would have to come up with a way
to identify um you know, whether or not those vehicles belong to workers on the boats that have left their vehicles there overnight at the landing. So, um, you know, I'm sure that they they would not
appreciate getting a $200 or $500, um, ticket if they were there out on their um out on their boat overnight. But anyway, that's just a small piece of that. All right, thank you. All right, so
let's um let's circle back to the budget. Um, so Chris Chris did a terrific job this year picking up where um the previous town administrator left off and kept us
in in the loop of uh changes that uh Chris was making and um provided us with the proposed select board budget before it was uh voted on just to give us a look
and and throughout the throughout the meetings I've asked if anybody had any issues with anything and so we really nothing has come up of any substance that I've heard that some in regards to the bud in regards to the select board's
budget. So certainly the the finance committee needs to make its recommendation on a budget and I'd like to hear if anybody has any different discussion of a change or discuss change of a from the select board's
presentation of the budget. Go ahead Cindy. So, I don't know if this is an appropriate time to bring it up, but it's my understanding that um the schools may want to revisit some additional
funding to their budget and I see that Evan is with us this evening and I would like to um entertain that if if that's what he is here to discuss. If not, then I spoke out of turn, but if he is, I I'd
like to um I'd like to hear um what um what their proposal may be. >> Sure. Um before we do that, I I would like to hear from committee members on what uh their thoughts are on the present budget
as it stands. if if they have um any concerns or challenges or anything in regard to the budget before and then we will certainly open it up to to Evan. >> Okay. So, nothing >> I No, I I I I think it's it's balanced.
Uh would we like to see more revenue? Yes, of course. Um, but that's not going to happen in at least in this fiscal year. So, I think we, you know, are proposing a a pretty good balanced uh
budget to the select board or or at least endorsing what they have have proposed. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you for that. So, so again this this process for us in order for for to come up with a finance committee budget, it's important that we
all share what if if if there is something that that we would like to change um or isn't sufficient. So again, we we've gone through all the departments. Every department has made requests that um may not have been able
to be put in the select board's budget. Um, some of those Chris was able to incorporate throughout the process. One of those was adding a police position into the budget. So, that was one of the one of the items that we discussed. Um,
this the board of health had requested a part-time position and I believe that did get layered back into the budget. Um, it I think was short on some dollars after they uh looked at got their
estimates for some services in and I believe Chris you were able to add that into the budget. So many of the many of the things that were brought up in the department meetings were at least somewhat addressed to the best that we
can. So, um I know uh off the top of my head, uh there was a request for fire department personnel and so that was not added to the budget. So that's that's one of those that's not in the budget.
>> Um so I'm just trying to re make us aware of remind us of what we kind of talked about and some of the issues that that are in there. But I think Cres, you did again a fantastic job trying to incorporate everything that you could into the budget. So, I commend you for a
balanced budget uh as as you presented. Um, go ahead, Cindy. >> I forgot to take my hand down. Al has his hand up. briefly in the in the last packet in the um in the Google docs. I just want to uh
to let everybody know there was a request Nancy made the request couple of meetings ago about CIPC and the um you know where we stand on the one the two and the three requests of of uh capital
expenditures. It is there. Uh it's buried a little bit. Um, I don't have it in front of me right now, but anyway, it's there. So, I I I thank Dick Brewer for and and and Jim and Chris for, you know, putting that in. So, it's there if
anybody wants to do a deeper dive on on on, you know, the current and and especially the future expenditures that we need to uh to do. >> Great. Thank Thank you for that. Um, Hugh, go ahead.
>> Uh, question. We raise various questions about the fund for collective bargaining. No conclusions. It's wired article rather than a budget item per se. How do we raise that back through Chris
back to the selectman? because it's a matter of really of policy rather than the budget per se or is well that's my question how does our reactions get reflected?
Well, it's a good question, Hugh, and and to and it it would seem as though when the finance committee would make its recommendation, we if we
didn't want to recommend it, we could simply not recommend it. >> Good idea. But but we don't want to blindside the selective though with that, right? That kind of inclusion. So, >> right, >> maybe Chris is a reporter having heard and our discussions and can relay the
thoughts. I don't want to put it on you, Chris, if that doesn't work. Well, but what do you think? >> No, I mean, yeah, I mean, and certainly, uh, so the next board meeting is on the 23rd. I know, um, you know, your committee is going to be meeting over the next couple weeks. Um, you know, so
I I certainly update the board, you know, as I go to meetings and obviously if there's anything noteworthy to share. You know, I would also say too if that, you know, if there's anything that you want to send off to the board or, you know, I can pass that along to the
members, um, just in terms of general correspondence, if there's anything, you know, I would say at the time that the recommendations are submitted, you know, the board still has that ability to make adjustments or, you know, take that recommendation under advisement before,
you know, approving the final warrant for posting. So >> that certain you're absolutely right as to that procedure. I think that's right. But it would be nice, I think, better than a letter or something. Your reporting on the tenor. We didn't vote against it. We talked about it various
concerns and the selectmen aren't stupid. We raise those concerns. They may already thought about it, but reconsider that if they come to a conclusion that they really want to do it, okay, they'll respond again. I'm happy to relay that
message. >> Good point. Good point. Um, thank you for that. So, so getting back to the budget, we can certainly hear what Evan has to say, but I I am curious if anybody uh what everyone's thoughts are on the
budget right now. So, I haven't heard from Nancy or Hugh. You I don't think you've um said either way any concerns you have on the budget. That was not No, I just want to mention that issue before I forgot about it.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Go ahead, Nancy. >> I'm still looking at it, but um I mean, I want to hear what Evan has to say. I want to see how close we are with the schools. Again, it it doesn't seem like
Evan made some recommendations when when they presented. Um it doesn't seem like that was received by Chris to make a change. He didn't it didn't move him to make a change and so that didn't go before the
select board. So, I'm going to be interested to see how far away we are apart because I know this is Chris's first year >> and I'd hate to see um meeting thing that we've seen in the past if we're very close to um coming up
with an agreement with the schools >> um because that is again I I don't like surprises. I like to have agreements. So that's why I'll be interested to hear that piece of it. Thank you. >> No, absolutely. And and I and we'll def
I don't want to make Evan wait any longer. The poor guy. It's 837, right? So just trying to understand how everyone's feeling on other departments as well. So um but let's hear from Evan and then and then we can come back to that conversation. So Evan, are you still with us?
>> I sure am. >> Hey, how are you? >> Doing well, thank you. >> Good. So uh as Cindy was trying to uh open it up for you, I I wanted to at least kind of hear from the committee in terms of um just generalities on the
budget. So, why don't why don't you I'll leave the floor to you to talk about um the school budget. >> Well, thank you, uh Karen. Thank you, Cindy. Um I also want to thank the town administrator for working with me and the school department and the school
committee throughout this uh throughout the process. We started this back in the fall, so you know, we're as we start to wind up here, just want to thank everyone that's been involved. Um, so the the total the total gap that's currently between the school's recommended
budget figure and what the select board had voted uh on their recommendation is $135,000. Um, I think if we can help close part of that gap, um, I think that would still satisfy the district's needs. I I had conversations with our business
department and the superintendent and I think that that if we're able to increase the school's recommended budget by um about $80,000, the school department is willing to make internal budget decisions to make up the rest of that. So, um, I I certainly won't opine
on the the source of that since that's within this committee's perview, but I will note that even if that figure were solely from free cash, it would still reflect a decrease of about $52,000 from last year. Um, I think the current recommendation sits at 348 or 350. Um,
and I'll note on that as well that the school committee and the administration shares the goal that this committee has expressed in the town administrative and select board of reducing the school's reliance on free cash and we've built this budget and I think we'll continue to build future budgets around that that
that theme. So, I just wanted to note that and I think that um the gap given given relatively speaking how low it is, I think that if we can help close that at least to a degree, I think that would still satisfy the district's needs. So, thank you. >> Thank you. And can you clarify? And then
the the 135,000 I think the difference and and Chris can also is that that was one a new position that was being proposed that that Chris removed from the budget. Can maybe we can clarify. I
think that 135 specific to something, right? >> Sure. So that was that was a trunch of of that that fall fell under our our service delivery section of our budget. So that was actually a few different um re both reductions there. There were
positions that weren't being backfilled. So that was a that was a net change. Um so it included that career pathways as well as a um social studies u which which we had discussed at our at our presentation because of the the number of students in that particular
department and they're not being um the number of teachers as some other departments had had. So the class sizes were larger. So that's what that covers. It's it's a net number. So it's not necessarily like it doesn't equate to two or three positions exactly because it's a net. Um that's that's us not backfilling a position. That's some
rearrangement on the personnel side. So that's that's a net figure. Um obviously the town meeting approves the the overall appropriation and the school department depending on what what um you know decisions that we make after the approved number comes in after town meeting can decide kind of where you
know what if we're if we're filling those positions or if or say something comes up and we um the committee voted to um make a reduction elsewhere you know that that that those adjustments can happen but that was the I think the trunch that you're that you're referring
to. Okay, thank you. I appreciate that. >> Go ahead, Cindy. >> So, I'd like to just really come right out and say that, you know, we've got a 54 million plus budget. We've been very fortunate this year. Our free cash
number is very um high. Um and it was last year as well. Um I'm not really sure it's going to be that going forward since we've upped our um revenue estimates a little bit and we may not have as good fortune in years going
forward. But as you can see going through the various articles on the warrant, you know, we're filling a lot of buckets that we haven't been able to fill in the past. It used to be that the stabilization fund was an afterthought and it was really anything that was left
over and sometimes it was 30 40 $50,000 that we could put in there. We're we're putting in the 5% in that. We're putting the 5% in the capitalization stabilization fund. We're we're continuing to put some uh additional funds in the uh special special
education fund. We're able to fund many things. I don't want to crater this budget over $80,000. I mean, I think that if the if the schools are willing to trim their 135 request down to 80 and we're sitting
on 54 million, they found 50,000 that they could trim out of their $23 million budget. We can find another 80. I I you know I don't want to go to any kind of pushing and shoving or tugofwar over
$80,000 in a $55 million budget. So, I am totally in support of finding a funding source for the $80,000 to make this process go forward in a in an adult
manner, in a cohesive manner, in a manner that uh you know, we are one town and we are one one funding source for the entire town and if this makes it work, then it makes it work. It is a
reduction from uh previous years um uh reliance on um on free cash which is a good thing. If it were to increase I might feel differently but they have shown the exercise they have uh gone through the exercise to reduce their
reliance on free cash and let's hope next year maybe it'll be down another 50,000 and we can be well on the way to getting to that net zero. But I fully support finding an additional uh $80,000 for uh to add to the school budget.
>> Yeah. >> Thanks, Cindy. Go ahead, Al. >> Yeah. No, I I I couldn't I couldn't have said it better, Cindy. I I I I $80,000 on 54 million or 55, whatever the number is, is is
literally a drop in the bucket. We can find that money. And I always joke around that, excuse me, the lees die young and the grundy side of my family lives forever. So I just hope to split it down the
middle. And that is exactly that's exactly what the school department has done is they they've split it down the middle and they've done everything that they can to, you know, to to move the needle downwards. and we need to support
them and not and and and not just sit here uh and and you know say be niggling about about a few thousand bucks. I mean which is all we're talking about in in percentage
wise. So I yeah I'm I'm in I'm in support of finding the 80 grand. >> Great. Go ahead. Go ahead, Hugh. Thank you. Now, >> I'm a little less enthusiastic than Sydney now. But having said that, it's something we can live with and we need
to come to a conclusion because finding it in the town side can equally argue that could be found on the school side, but I'm not going to get into that and say that coming to a resolution, it is doable, so we should do it.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. And you know, I agree too. I mean, the the reality is what we've been asking is to not increase the free cash
needs of the budget. Um and we've been able to reduce it. So two years ago free cash was 650,000. Last year it dropped to 480,000 and even with this it's down to 430. So
we're making the strides in the right direction. And so I think uh would I like to to bring the free cash down more? Sure. But is eight 80,000 reasonable? I have no issue with it. So
I'm in support of it, too. >> I'm I'm in total support as you all might guess. >> Thanks. Go ahead. Uh Nancy, did you have your hand up and down? >> Yeah, I I just No, I I support it. I I think Thank you, Evan. I I I I think
what you've recommended is making the effort to to split it and I can appreciate what Cindy said of where we going to stand. It's like what hill we standing on and this is not the one. So I did I did want to ask why the
special needs uh budget went only you only funded it by 2 and a half% versus the 5% which was the goal. And the only reason I ask is because this was a year with precash
uh more so than previous years. I can't I mean I was the architect behind that because I saw what happened to school budgets when you got students in with significant needs and what you know the
result is and what you have to do and pay for it. So, I mean that that was my only question like that's not something we can just like the stabilization fund and I'm a big advocate that you need that. I think it's important that special needs fund is really the
stabilization fund for the schools when that happens and it happens more times than not. So, you know, the budget is the budget. I'm not going to push back on it, but you know, move I I don't know why it only got funded by two and a half%. I I And I just had a question of
why that was and everything else seemed to have been funded fully. >> Uh I'll just speak very quickly to that. I know um you know when the board was looking at that uh those recommended allocations uh you know that was a point that was brought up um and that was uh
the recommendation you see here or uh indicated here within the war is where they settled on it. So that was a select board decision. >> Yes. >> Okay, good to know. Thank you.
>> So Evan, you know, I I appreciate your um you and and the new school school superintendent re really focusing on being budget conscious and really driving this down. So, I think as Cindy had mentioned, if it was asking for more
free cash, I'm not really sure I would be able to support that. Um, but I do appreciate every effort that you and the school department is making and you're you are shaving it down. Um, and so, um, with with that continued
support, I you know, it has my recommendation to do that, too. >> I appreciate that, Karen. And I just want to quickly thank again uh you and the finance committee. I know that there's no votes taken tonight um but
certainly if the committee has any further questions, you know, feel free as always to to reach out to me. >> Great. Thank you. Thanks, Evan. >> Thank you. >> Um so, okay, so now back to our budget. So, so um
so I guess settling on a school number. Um, does anybody have any other pluses or minuses or issues of any other departments or anything else that's in the budget? Um, if not, we may be able
to settle on a on a budget relatively quickly. >> Okay. Well, what I'll do, um, I'll take the select board's budget for the next meeting and I'll I'll put a column that would be, uh, a draft of the finance committee's budget. Uh, we're certainly
not voting on anything tonight and we don't have three members to get feedback from them as well. Um, but, uh, you know, we can proceed proceed on there. So again, uh we'll talk about it in next meeting. Hopefully
come to a finalization of that and then the vote, the recommendation will be on March 24th for everything. >> Can't wait. >> Yeah. All right. Wow. Onward we go. >> That means we got the month of April
off. >> Well, I know. Oh wow. Okay. Well, Chris, uh, thank you for everything that you've done. I think you you did a terrific job with the budget and, um, and you left you left it in a terrific place. We're making a
small little tweak. Nothing of of significance hopefully. Uh, but thank you for for everything. Um so we will continue to the next item on the agenda which is we had one
department the town that we hadn't done so we should actually um hear from Nicole really quick still here >> I know >> yeah are you asleep
you don't need to hear from me so um I send you guys the budget in the narrative. Um, it pretty much hasn't really changed a lot from last year, but um, I apologize for the dogs.
>> Um, um, I've increased the 3% for the salaries. I've increased my, um, line for software. Um, the new system is up and running. Um, we still have a few
glitches here and there with reporting. Um, but we're working uh to get it all settled. Um, that's pretty much it. >> And Nicole, this is the year for you for uh Opab Reval, right?
>> Yes, this is the big year. And actually, um, there's a new company. Um Sue is um working on having a new uh actuary for for the coming year. So we put the same amount in the budget, but I think it
might come in a little bit lower. I'm not exactly sure. I don't think we have the final numbers yet. >> Just on that note, talking about um OPED, you know, I know we make a deposit to a contribution to OPED um every year.
the um the audit was just recently um released and um in the uh in the notation our OPED um uh funding is now up over 20%. It's 21 a.5% which is way
above the state average. I mean the state average is still I believe down in single digits. So, um, so we've been doing a good job maintaining our stance on how much we contribute towards, um,
uh, OPE. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions for Nicole on her budget? Great. Okay. Uh I'm going to move on to the next item on the agenda which is a reserve transfer request.
Uh it's coming from the fire department and it is the amount requested is 16,000. So that's 16 462.26 and it is for an emergency elevator
repair. I'm reading off the um off the off that it says this specifically the replacement and repair of the elevator door board and motor. The expenditure is extraordinary for the following reason. The elevator is nearly
17 years old and while preventative maintenance is performed annually the failure of the equipment was unexpected and the cost more than 50% of this entire line item. So that's Chief Baldwin making the request. Yeah,
>> I'm g I I'd like to speak to that for a second. I I talked to I talked to Danny uh a couple of times about that. First of all, I can't believe that it's been 17 years. I mean, you want to talk want to talk about how time flies and stuff
happens. But I do know that they have done regular annual maintenance and this was an extraordinary situation that happened and um I would I would just recommend to the finance
board that that we pull the money out of the reserve fund because there's no handicapped accessibility there. I mean you you you go down the list of things that can't happen. uh you
know without that. So uh this was not negligence. This was not anything to do with other than stuff happens. >> So I'll leave it at that. >> All right. Thank you. Um Cindy, go ahead.
>> Um so I guess I have a a question for Chris. I know you mentioned at last night's um select board meeting the total bill for the storm which we've now managed to forget about since most of the snow managed to melt in the last two
days which is a good thing. Um but it's not going to be erased from us financially. So, you had mentioned at the uh meeting last night that the total cost, and I don't know if that was just overtime related or uh if that was just
excess cost or extra cost for the storm was in the range of $122,000, right? Give or take. >> Um so, our reserve fund, Karen, correct me if I'm wrong, is about $150,000. I know we have what, a $50,000 snow and
ice budget. Um, is there any provision that we could add to the town meeting warrant to appropriate uh some funding to backfill some of that? I mean, I'm not sure when we see
the bills for this whether or not our reserve fund and uh snow and ice fund are going to be sufficient. So, these are two two withdrawals that we've already had from the reserve fund now. And there may be other things that would come up during the normal normal cost
course of business. Go ahead, Chris. >> Yes. So, I was just going to say so on that point, you know, I know I've had conversation with Nicole and we already have received invoices uh for some of that work that was done during the storm. So, and obviously when it comes
to um you know, payroll expenses, you know, that's you know, we process that um you know, again during our regular payroll cycle. So um these costs are you know being incurred. Now I would say one of the concerns
that was raised is well how does this impact the departmental budgets obviously um you know for the rest of the current fiscal year and so I think you know obviously I'm not really prepared to present anything to the finance
committee you know that's a conversation with Nicole and obviously looking at our various line items um in terms of if we you know if it's determined to be appropriate to come to the finance committee But I think um yeah, I mean I'm I guess as I get more
information, have those conversations um about that and the reimbursement timeline for what we're eligible for, you know, I can keep this board updated. >> Yeah. Well, it's not even so much the reimbursement. I'm just talking about if you know there were contractors, there
were outside contractors involved. There was overtime costs involved. So there was, you know, real money above and beyond what their normal budget would pay. So if they're going to come for a reserve fund request, uh, that's in
excess of what's in their snow and ice removal account. Well, my question was, should we have a line item transfer in the warrant that includes a transfer of money from some account into either the reserve fund or the snow and ice removal
account to make sure we do have sufficient money for this current fiscal year? >> Yeah, I see Nicole's hands raised, so I'll I'll defer her. >> Okay, go ahead, Nicole. >> Uh, at this point, it's going to be a waiting game. My suggestion, and this
comes from um others as well, is that snow and ice is the only budget that we can deficit spend by law. Um so I know that the fire chief has already started some uh reimbursements with FEMA and
MIMA because it was a state of emergency. So my suggestion and you know, we'll take a look at exactly what was spending. I know we're still waiting for some fuel costs. Um and um we do
have the option to raise it on the recap in the fall uh when we set the tax rate. Um anything over and above their $150,000, but at this point it's it's a waiting game because we do not know the final number to put it on town meeting
warrant. >> Okay. All right. Fair enough. Thank you. >> Thank you, Hugh. Go ahead. >> Yeah. Going back to the elevator, the asteroid needs to be fixed. I just wonder is there any claim against the
manufacturer someone of it was a manufacturing defect or something along those lines. >> We did Yeah, we did with insurance. >> That sounds like something wrong originally.
>> I I apologize for interrupting. I do just want to make a note that um you know this was something that was brought to me a couple months ago at this point and uh you know Chief Baldwin worked diligently to see if we could file a claim um you know but unfortunately that
claim was denied and I would also make a note that the deductible on that would have been $10,000. So it um you know unfortunately at the end of the day we thought because I think that was even brought up in a prior uh meeting with the finance committee. Yeah,
>> but um yeah, unfortunately that didn't uh pan out. >> Yeah, I was 17 years old, but you think an elevator would have a longer life expectancy, but anyway, you've answered nicely and I do need do agree it needs to be done.
>> Yeah. >> Go ahead, Al. Thank you. >> You know, Chris answered the question actually. You know, I know I know that that uh Chief Baldwin has gone through the warranty. He's gone through the insurance company. He's gone through all
of this. And um I have to say, Hueie, that that, you know, unlike the past, this equipment just doesn't last the way way that it used to. You know, it's there's still one compressor at least
market that is operating since 1977. The rest of them have been trashed over time. And it's because because of inferior equipment, inferior, you know, whatever the heck it might be. And so, I'm just simply saying that that uh
these things have a very short life. And it, as the kids would say, it's it is what it is. you know, we don't have a, you know, we don't have an elevator. It's got to be fixed. Um, and on and on. So,
>> you're sum up, Al. They don't make them the way they used to. >> No. Well, look at look at you. Look at you and me for Christ's sake. >> All right. So, um, does anyone want to make a motion on this? >> Mo motion to approve. Second.
>> Second. Yep. Second. Any further discussion? >> No. >> No. Okay. So, I will go for a roll call. Uh Hugh >> Hugh Morton. I >> Al >> Al le I >> Cindy >> Cindy Brown I >> Nancy
>> Nancy Sten Cross I. >> Thank you. And Duncan >> Duncan Law I >> and Karen Ross eye. Thank you. All right. Um, so the next item is the minutes and I actually uh have all five sets of
minutes that I put in the Google Drive. So if everyone has had a chance to read, I would love a motion to approve some minutes. >> Karen, if they were if they were good enough for you, they're good enough for me. That's right. So So moved.
>> So moved. Yeah. Second. >> Well, thank you. So this is going to be >> this is going to be a motion for the January 20th 26 minutes, January 27th, 2026 minutes, February 3rd, 2026,
February 19, 2026, and February 24th, 2026. >> Yep. Whatever you said. So >> moved. Second. >> Thank you. All right. So if no discussion, I will do a roll call. We can do all of them at once. Uh, Hugh
>> Neworton. I >> Al >> All I >> Cindy >> Cindy Brown I >> Nancy >> Nancy Stanton cross I >> thank you Duncan >> Duncan Law I >> Karen Rose I Oh that's a big monkey off
my back. Wow. >> Cindy, when when you Cindy, when you said it was if it was good enough for her, it it reminded me my grandmother Le wanted to be buried in a pine box because she said if it was good enough for Eisenhower, it was good enough for
her. >> I'll have to remember that one. Al >> Karen, I have kind of a quirky thing that could come up when we vote on the articles of the warrant. Uh, I hope that we have a full committee because as um
Al as Al so rightly um indicated that he would abstain from voting on the CPC article uh as Mr. Morton also indicated he would abstain because he's a member of CPC uh the representative CPC. I too
a member of the historical society. So uh and we are beneficiaries of that article. So there would be three members of us that would prefer to abstain from voting in that article. So uh hopefully you'll get your votes and it could be so
noted that three members needed to abstain. Hopefully you'll have a quorum to be able to vote the rest of that article. I know you know in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter whether we approve or not approve. I mean it's not going to matter to
>> the approval of that. I mean or the passage of that one way or the other, but just so you know for optics >> that could happen. >> Yeah, I mean we're, you know, March 24th is our published date. Um that is our last date and then we need to send
things to the select board so they can wrap things up. So, uh I'm hoping for attendance. I you know, everybody knows the date. So, we'll see how it goes. Hopefully, everybody will be there. All right. So we're going to wrap this up. So just so
next week is March 17th where this was uh reserved to continue discussion with any Warren articles finalize our our fiscal 27 budget. Sounds like uh hopefully other members that were not
here will attend. If there's any last minute questions or if there's any other potential changes of discussion to the budget, we can should be able to finalize that next week. And then again March 24th really is really a meeting to
action to make recommendations on all of the warrant articles. So um not necessarily needing to discuss of significance. We we can certainly time to deliberate um but we'll go through each of the articles and and make
recommendations and then call it a day. All right. So uh I have nothing else on the agenda. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Thank you for seconding that. I was wondering why someone wasn't seconding.
>> All right. >> Having so much fun. >> All right. So, motion to adjourn. So Hugh >> Snort I >> L >> Al le I >> Cindy >> Cindy Brown I >> Nancy >> Nancy Stanton cross I
>> Duncan >> Duncan Law I >> and Karen Ross eye. Thank you everyone. This was a tremendously uh helpful meeting tonight. I think you're