I'd like to call this meeting of the sled board. >> Then why is potential? >> No, I am so sorry. I didn't remember that. I forgot that the meeting was tonight and I roboc called everybody at
>> so voicemail. I will I'll listen to relate to that. >> Sorry. I have no idea what they're doing. Yeah, we using this screen because all the screens are. >> Yeah, the those screens the same as this one. >> You can sit there though. That's You can
sit wherever you want. >> Cast your shadow upon >> cast. That's fine. >> Well, we lost them. >> All right. Okay. We were calling this meeting to order before we got a little bit disordered and now we are back to order. uh on Wednesday, December 3rd, uh
12 at 6:01 p.m. Uh the first item on our agenda is to review and vote on meeting minutes from the previous meetings. Uh are there any comments about the meeting minutes from the 19th? >> No comments. >> No comments for me. >> Move to approve the minutes.
>> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I All right. Item one, safely. Are there any uh comments on the vendor and pay-per-s? >> None. >> Okay, great. We're cruising here. Great.
Um, next is public comment. Um, this is uh for residents that provide comments up to three minutes per person on items that are not on the agenda. So, if there's something that's not on the agenda, this is the time to speak up. Okay, I don't see anybody there. How
about the people who are on Zoom? Is there anybody raise your hand on Zoom if you think that's something that's not on the agenda? Now, if this was me, I'd be like, "Where's the button?" So, I want to give people a moment that they don't have something.
Okay. >> Oh, maybe. >> Do you have something that's not on the agenda? Yes. >> Amy. >> Um, >> so, uh, regarding the Zipo change. Oh, >> I'm just going to say some if that's okay, say something at the meeting. Like I put something on Facebook, I put
something on our website. Our residents are getting a call. But in regards to the zip code change um as of right now, we are not going to be changing the zip code as of January 1 as planned. The USPS
um was initially supportive, but then they decided to deny the request. We put in an appeal. They denied that, too. I'm So, I'm working with Jim McGovern's office. I'm working with Ed Marquey's office and I'm working with Elizabeth
Warren's office to see if we can do something. So, as of right now, like no residents should be changing anything with their addresses or anything like that until they get further instruction from the town. That being said, the
postal service said that people who live uh for instance on River Road or live on a road where it's also in South Deerfield, they can use the address weight, Mass01373
to try to alleviate delivery issues, but that's only through the USPS. And so they that might not be recognized with like other delivery systems like FedEx and things like that. So residents do have that option if they would like to
do that. But as of right now, no other changes um are taking place. >> Okay. Thank you, Emily. >> Okay. Any other comments? >> Great.
Um now we have our public hearings. Um, so I think there's usually a little script for opening the hearing and that's usually in another place. Um, so that has to be a motion.
>> Move to open the public hearing. >> Second. >> Um, long uh moved and seconded to open the public hearing on the uh tax classification >> from the board of assessors. Yes. >> From and we'll be hearing from the board of assessors um on this. are going to
provide some data first. Um and then finance committee reviewed the topic um and what this we can talk about them after the board of assessors. Um and then we close the hearing and then we take a vote. Okay. So that's kind of the
overall process for our hearings. So maybe first turn it over to the board of assessors for their data. >> You Thank you. >> Yes. I'm Fred Rosski, chairman of the board of assessors. Uh this is an activity that we do every year is
setting up the the the tax rate uh determining the tax rate based on information that we collect during the year on on our our uh assessment of property values. We do that during the year. That comes to to a culmination at
the end of the year that all that data is used to determine the the tax rate. Uh so what we're here today to present some of our findings what what the trends are uh what values have changed in town and and what we're proposing for
the tax rate. Okay. I am the the chair. We have uh one other member here uh Michael Houston here uh is with us from the board. Third member is not here. Uh we also have our we are a consultant
last year and even this year our regional resource group RRG out of uh Lemonster, Massachusetts has been uh doing all of our assessing uh paperwork, evaluations, putting stuff into the
computer system for all the property cards, the records, uh coming up with with the data that's needed to determine a actually uh are as probably known as assessor before retired. So, so we had to hire
somebody to help us do that, to help the board do that. So, that's what we're here for today to present what information we have. Uh if you can spare the Okay, these two making some comments here and then I guess turn it over if
you want to the public or or who else you have comments for. So to start with, I think Mike, you wanted something to say >> at the beginning before >> Oh, sure. Yeah. >> before we uh turn it over to >> Oh, sure. Sure. >> Yeah. RJ's going to crunch our numbers
and uh of course we're here regarding split pass rate. Uh and um I was hoping the board would consider that uh a couple of things. Of course, we we did write a mission statement uh when I first got here and uh it's on the
website and that mission statement is to identify, report and value all residential, commercial and industrial and personal property way acceptable and reasonable quality property analysis for equity across all taxpayers. It does go on to say we would improve we
also want to improve and enhance relations amongst all taxpayers. Um, we're of the opinion that if the split rate happens, it would somewhat conflict with our mission statement to be equitable across
all taxpayers. And we're confident that should the tax rate be peaceful and commercial get hit with a higher rate, we're not sure how enhancing that relationship would be with with the
town. So that that's one consideration. Um, of course, everyone on the board would love to reduce taxes. Uh, this board, every board would love to do that, but uh, unfortunately, it's a it comes at a price somewhere.
Now, uh, if I could, uh, we just don't think it would be fair to penalize commercial to the benefit of a residential. Now, at what point would that be fair? Uh your question Pete and I had a small conversation on that. I
want to get into it other than uh we just have a small percentage of our town that is in CIP commercial industrial uh personal property versus residential about what's 25%. 24
>> 24% and RG has had let us know before that if that commercial CFP would to rise to 40 to 50% that some towns start to consider a split tax rate. Uh so uh that is another consideration we're not
at. We have and I've only been at the board a short period of time from what I understand had the discussion split tax rate in uh it comes up each year and we welcome the discussion. It's not a bad idea to lower taxes but not at the
expense of large businesses. Um >> even small businesses even small. And it's funny you should mention that because uh 50% of all business in the United States is small business. That's a that's a very that's according to Google if you can believe everything's on the internet and I understand
nothing's wrong on the internet. Of course, it's got to be accurate. Uh, but I guess the other thing I wanted to just briefly say is what if Yankee Candle, who by the way pays a substantial amount of tax for the other
large businesses were to decide, I don't have to be here. I've got more money than I ever need. I just want to pull out of town. I don't want to do this or even lose that tax base in hopes to replace it with with something else.
Uh, and I will say as a realtor in Florida for 25 years, working with high-end customers, I learned you can't steal from the bridge. They don't need the money. They just don't. So, would Yankee Candle pull out for a 10,000, 20,000,
any increase in I don't know, it's a what if, but they've got the money to do it. I do believe yank candle does don't need to time but um given what I just said the board doesn't feel that a split tax
rate is warranted given the percentage in town that is commercial industrial and and personal and the somewhat bad will that would have been created for the commercial
piece. they would probably not be particularly happy. I don't know what their remedy would be, I guess, in an amazing time. But overall, we just feel it's going to just hurt small business and that would be our
take on the split tax rate. We would not want this to get >> just as a point of um of I don't I don't know what the right word is. Um we are required by law to have this area. >> Yes. So it's not like we're having a hearing because we all want to change
things. No, >> we have to have the hearing every year. >> So we're doing it >> because we don't have an army and we can't sustain from W from Massachusetts, right? So we have to >> that's a good discussion to have which we would agree with that
one question. >> Yes. >> If Yankee Candle were to pull out, >> what happens with the tax? What happened to the property? Does it still continue to be >> tax at 100%. That's a good question. I don't have an answer. I have to go to >> if it's if it's vacant,
>> it will be taxed on much lower because we have to consider it vacant. Uh so there'll be no income to capitalize. So the value will go down considerably. You will not lose the tax dollars. The tax dollars will simply spread over everybody else. That's just the way it is.
>> Okay. I just want to know what would happen. >> Sure. if the property would make >> well and the other the other big impact I hate to focus on Yankee Candle I just because they're not the only commercial or industrial
uh entity that would that would suffer but uh I guess rather than do positive negatives or yank a candle I think let's let's let's focus on on on the the facts and the presentation here
that RG has put together for us. Uh we have two people here. Ruth Marie the the uh on here they're listed as Derek Grder who's been in the office here one one day a week. He comes in for eight hour
eight hour period and they also check remotely and we communicate uh frequently and phone and and email whatever during the week but he's physically here one day a week and he has staff uh at his office from Linster
that come here frequently. David Burgess is here sitting next to me is is part of our as well. he comes and helps uh Derek uh the same time he's here and other times. So RNG is is present and helps
more than the eight hours that are visible here. So let me I'll turn this over to Derek I mean uh David Burges here to go through the presentation the material he presented and then maybe at the end I like to say some final
comments and then you could turn it over to the public and comments. Nothing. >> Good evening. My name is David Burgess and I'm a regional assessor for RRG. Derek R who behind me is an associate assessor with RG and he he's the one
that works in the office. >> Can you raise your hand D? >> Oh, sorry. Thanks. >> So, uh, next year Derek will be doing this, but this is Derek's fairly new, so I'm helping him and a few other people to get these things done. You've seen this report before. It's the same as
last year's, so no secrets. Um I'll go through it quickly unless you want me to go verbatim and I don't see any real use for that. You know, we've got the terminology of the levy and it's described in the BL. Um the new growth
which this year was only 56,000 because of personal property. We didn't get the personal property new growth that we would normally get for whatever reason. We simply didn't increase it. And by personal property at that level I'm talking about the telephone companies, works or gas and
the uh telecommunications companies. So the maximum the amount of money we could spend this year was $6.5 million. >> Mhm. And after I got things corrected
and the levy was sorted out for me, we've I got an excess capacity of 1,128,435 and the amount to be raised by the time this year is $5,429,1419. So did he take that? Now before I go any further, I'll point out that the
evaluations on residential properties, we use pro properties as sold in 2023 and 2024 and we only use arms length sales and we have to be within 90 to 110% of
market value. >> Obviously arms length sales. Can you say what that is? I'm not familiar with that J. >> There's a willing buyer and a willing seller. A knowledgeable buyer and a knowledgeable seller exposure. There's more there's more than that, but good exposure to the market.
>> No. On the market for one day, it's just not really understand. >> Okay. >> We worked on without cash. >> Yeah. So, not the special cases, the more typical >> inheritance or anything like that, we don't use those. >> Okay. Um so those are what we use to calculate
the values and the value this year uh went up about six about 7% for the residential plants about 10% on the commercial plants and the industrial plants too and the personal property went up a little bit more because we
have um lost some values. We lost some value and some value went up and the other so it just balanced itself out. So tonight you're here as you quite correctly stated the board of select the
select board must make a decision if you're going to have a single rate or split rate between the commercial industrial and personal class properties. Basically, you can pick a figure anywhere from 100% to 150% of market of
the tax rate uh to make those changes. Um in this area of the country or western Massachusetts, the only communities that are close to us in Wley, Adams, North Adams, Sip, and West
Springfield, and they really are not comparable. Excuse me. Did you take Luc Irving and not Q? Well, if you want to include those in, yes, because they have they have huge head equipment for personal property, >> but you said that they're near here and
they're and they have split tax. >> Well, yes, but I I would say we're more comparable to Irving than we are to Adams to North Adams or West we do not they do not have 76% of their base as residential. I'm
not quite sure what it is, but they've got a high uh industrial commercial industrial personal because of the head equipment in each time they look for the um the Irving has one big one big industrial plant and that's that's a big
one and they've also got the personal property that goes with that not um if we go this year we we the values were set the level of assessment was at 95% of
market value. We always stay a little bit below market value because it's easier to tell people if the market starts falling that we're already a bit behind. If we go with the one single tax rate and the residential class and commercial
class, it would be $135. That's down from 1334 last year. >> And that's for the tax year starting January 1st. No, July 30. This is the one that goes bad and
to June 30th next year. >> Uh if you move it by 10% increments, the page four shows you without having and the highest rate is the CIP rate to $19.58. At the same time, the residential rate
would go to $11 down $2 U over the basic rate. And the the column will show you a little bit of the computations what happens. Uh obviously the average the
CIP average tax at one is 6414 and the residential was 5841 and then even just in the 10% range the residential goes down $200
and the uh CIP was up 600. Overall, the maximum decrease in residential average bill is $878 where the average CIP would go $3,29. The next page is simply a breakdown of
some of the um properties showing you the impact directly on them. The first group is the red lights on that show you know what happened the factory which is shipped 10 20 30 40 and 50%
and then you've got commercial and I want to stress here that the commercial you also have all the farmland that's going to go in there commercial yes commercial class so I will agree they don't have the biggest bill to start
with but it would be an impact on them there and the Next one is the industrial and that's where you see a lot with the Yankee candle in there. We've got the u some of the power companies things that got away and then the last group is the
uh personal property and then there you've got some of your solar systems as well. On the next page is just a little bit of a breakdown showing the individual industrial and residential saving 25 and the same 26 if we go that way
as I said earlier the residential increase only 7.3% from last year reflecting a positive market value but then we show the average value average tax from last year and the average tax from this year for residential and that's gone up 271 $1
and at the same time the commercial has gone up $47 >> and that's because of that sort of um you said like 6 point seven rough like 7% for residential and it was 10% in the valuations that's because the valuations >> yes >> good that's what I thought
>> now we also here the recommendations at the bottom page five about the split rate but you have two other things you have to consider you've got to consider about a small commercial exemption. And the small partial exemption allows a smaller
business with 9 employment of no more than 10 people and an assess valuation of less than a million dollars to receive an exemption. We just don't really have anything. And then the open space discount we
moved last year to take the open space and this is a board of assessor decision and they can do it. The open space was getting valued as chapter land anyway. So we put it all in the chamber and the do went along with that. So you have to make those two recommendations as well.
>> Then the last page is sort of our title if you will. It's an Elliot form and it shows you a break of that breakdown of the class by residential uh residential, commercial, industrial and personal
and as you can see the first column is the residential. What page are you? Can you show me the page of penis? >> We don't have the >> I don't have that page. >> It must be in the packet. >> Yeah, it's okay.
>> Yeah, we'll get it together. But yeah, tell us tell us what we're going to see if when you see it. Uh the first lane is single families. We have 570 single family properties and they're make up obviously the bulk of our valuation at
255 million total 415 million and then it's broken down then by condominiums. We don't have any. Thank god. Then we got the miscellaneous which is
something like a hose >> or a lap with two single family units on it and that's there we put 10 of those in town and then it's broken down to six million. Then the two 104 is two families.
104 five is three family. 111 to 125 is 4 to 12 units. And you only got two of those. And then the 130 132 is the land.
Yeah, anything in the 300 class is commercial. Anything in the 400 class is um industrial. Then you come to your chapter lands and as you can see there we have about
100 parcels and the valuation to those which is about 10 million together and then the mixed juice properties of which we've got 16 and a portion of those are 26 million in residential 9 million in commercial and
500,000 in uh industrial. So that's where your totals come from at the bottom. In the right hand column is the evaluations of all the personal property again including all the utilities whether severably
assessed or globally assessed and the communications companies and the 550 is the bottom line the 552 that's the valuations on your solar plants of which is four. So, and that's just the personal property on the solar
plants, not the land value that's included in the industrial and nutshell. That's it. I've got one question going back to the terminology page. Uh, last paragraph is
excess levy capacity. Say the Can you tell me what say the current levy capacity is 167? Sorry. I can say one more time >> on the term on page three terminology page last full paragraph excess library
>> where what is that 167,700 >> that's a mistake it should be yeah >> the bottom excess I say is 1 million that's what >> that's what I thought >> that's what I thought too but I wanted to see >> I thought it understand
>> so that this one is the one that's in the the list is correct Yes. >> And the one that's in the paragraph is incorrect. >> Yes. >> Okay. I thought that might be >> I thought that might be the case, but I wanted to clarify. >> Well, you should have seen the bird.
>> You know, we're having a hard time. >> Okay. >> All right. Fred, do you want to say one last thing? >> Say, uh, I guess we need to keep in mind that a lot of these commercial industrial businesses
uh do other services uh donations for the town. U probably I know I'll reiterate again Yankee Candle has in the past I don't know if they do still give scholarships to Frontier students uh every year with an amount of 20 to
$30,000 total for 10 or 12 students. Uh they also have been given uh uh cash to our uh fire department or the police department every year. They alternate one or the other and it's in
the5 to $10,000 range, something like that. Uh so they do provide other other benefits to the town besides the tax rate. And finally, the other thing that I like to mention that we we we never
talk about or it seems to get lost. Commercial properties are assessed a higher value to begin with. See, every property is assessed by land value and the building value. >> The land value has there's three or four
different land values we we have for residential for around 100,000. The ones for commercial are almost twice that. That's what we've traditionally done for commercial. So a commercial property is paying twice or more for the
lot than a residential to begin with plus the building value on time of it. So there are >> so per acre basis >> per right acre. So uh >> okay >> I guess that's >> okay >> that's all I'd like to like to say.
>> Thank you. Um, we should try and keep u moving along. So, I'm going to ask uh folks out here want to say we had some people who sent letters in. Maybe I should mention that we have one from um it's in this package. Um we got one from
Steven CL who I see is also joined us or was here a moment ago on Zoom. He's still there. Okay, good. um and uh uh saying much the same thing that you're you're saying that a a single tax rate
uh would be better and uh more fair. Um the same sentiments were from Robert Klinger who I don't see but you all aren't wearing name tags so Robert Clinger is out here and I'm okay. Um uh
we've also got one from Skip Goodrich who I know what he looks like and he's not here but and I don't see him up there. Um so we had at least three people write into us um explaining um why they would support us keeping the
the one one ratio. Is there anybody here in person who would like to uh speak up on that? Uh Gary Gary Clark. Um, I want to agree with the folks that sent their letters, especially my brother from the
in a lot of California, >> but I believe they missed out on a few. >> Okay. >> Um, the u I run towns legacy business 12 years bought from the third generation.
Many uh families of hear every day you say, "Oh, this I'm coming here when we're a kid. I'm bringing my grandchildren, >> my grandfather and so on. Affords a work opportunity to a lot of
the youth that have no more opportunity. Put the paper roots away tax revenue and all that. But I've got second, third uh siblings coming through now. son, you
know, little brother, big brother and it's still a great work that work ethic that, you know, it's less and less these kids have the opportunity to get out and not that I want to promote the kid first, you know, but it just instills responsibility
commitment, you know, manage the money and and Mr. Lost brought up a few good points, too. The businesses get hit a lot harder. I mean, I drive the same identical pickup truck as my neighbor across the street.
Commercial isn't go down and get inspection sticker. This is 35 bucks. Mine's 135 bucks for the same test just because it's carries a commercial tag. I got to get >> vehicles have to get sticker on their
plate every year. Have to re-register again every year. And we all been to the grocery store. We things are getting a little better, but they click up three, they might come back one, you know,
and the uh people are constantly soliciting, you know, oh, we've got the hardship in our family, we're having a fundraiser, they're giving out, you know, gifts. I know the weight leaders generous as well in that aspect, too. Um, so we we're there for the community
and we want to be there for the community and I've got another good 10 years of building that business up there. Hopefully I turn it over to somebody
else maybe on my own if I who knows if I was born in town. I've got two native kids working full-time for me, plus the high schoolers getting their work experience. And you know, they're passionate about the place and a
lot of people are. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And the other one is that air. >> Okay. All right. Well, let me get JD's input. Um JD Ross wants something to stay on lately. Um I'm a member of the
finance committee and I abstained from the vote because I own commercial property but the finance committee voted to recommend that we keep the same tax rate as the tax rate. We discussed that in our last committee. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank because that was going to be one of the things finance committee voted for that and I I just
say >> okay. >> Um but as a small business owner in town um small business drives we drives the economy in Wakeley. We're very we this is a community that supports small business and small business is the one like you said is giving money to the baseball team. It's given money for the
parades. It's going to be money for all the things in town and it's really tough on us to make a dollar. We get squeezed constantly everywhere and uh especially by our state government. So recommend that you please. >> Sounds like you like our state
government as much as I did. $3,200 to register my drugs every year. >> That's just for y. >> It's affordable. >> And second on this side of the room. Yes. >> Built for a muffin general market, 28
State Road. Uh refurbished the old uh built tobacco shed back in 2009 when it was laying fow for 22 years. And I just have a worry over the last 3 years. All of a sudden,
this is a big concern every year. And seems like the most concern is over best and Yankee County where they pay their fair tax. It seems like they contribute to the town whenever and all of a sudden we're all
at when you have the boards trying to direct the select board and all of a sudden it seems like an issue about the split tax rate where you're going to save
the residents a few pennies and charge the commercial people a few dollars. And I'm just uh >> yeah, >> it's >> I'm sorry if it seems like the last couple of years that that you're like under a lot of scrutiny that technically
that's been going on all along. >> Exactly. we've always had the meetings and u it wasn't always like advertised out there and it if you feel like you're under threat I'm I'm really sorry about that because it's >> well it just it it really seems like
there's a to go after the two big corporations in town which I think you should be grateful for. I mean Hatfield we have a couple big ones and it's great if to have a couple big ones in town is great. You shouldn't be looking to squeeze them so bad that they want to
move. You know, look at Maril Cabinet where Yankee Candle is now. >> Just to to clarify, the board of assessors has recommend not to split the rate, >> right? >> So, there was no recommendation to split the rate.
>> Yeah. There's nobody >> No, there is no board that's making that recommendation, >> right? There's no board making a recommendation to do a split rate at this point. Um, let me see if there's others in the room before I go back to JP. Is there anybody else in the room who wants to say anything? Well, I'll let JD say
again and then I'll go to the Zoom people. >> Yeah, I would just say that a consequence if this does go through is that everyone's lunch gets more expensive at times >> and at the hot food is phenomenal, but
it's it's you're penalizing all the people that go there. >> That's right. Somebody pays for it, right? It's just getting passed on. >> Okay. All right. I see we have a few people um here. Um if you're on Zoom and you would like to say something, if you
could like unmute yourself and or raise your hand, Jamie, raise your hand and uh so you don't have everybody talking all at once. Oh, I see u Mr. Clock there uh in situ. Uh go go ahead, Steve.
>> He's muted. >> Oh, you're muted. Can you unmute yourself, please? >> There we go. >> So, I'm at work, as you can tell. Um, I know you got my letter. Uh, I just wanted to reiterate, ever since you guys
or the select board voted on no street lights in town, I've been paying for seven of them since two weeks after that happened, which has been 22 years, 20 something years. So,
I don't see unless you guys are going to automatically put street lights all over the place because the tax rate's going to split. Um, I don't understand why everybody should pay their own fair share residential, which I have a house
in weight also. I don't live in it. My mother does, but we have one. Um, I don't see I should have to pay get a little bit less on a house like Bill said and pay more dollars on my business
which has been here since what 1820 um and in my gener I'm the third generation. That's all I really have to say and uh I hope we vote accordingly. >> Thank you Steve.
Is there anybody else who's um who's online there who would like to say something? Okay, I'm not seeing anybody jumping up and down or raising their hand. Move to close the public hearing. >> Second.
>> Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> Okay. So we have I think uh three things we have to vote on if I and correct we have to vote on whether there's a split tax rate heard >> right we have the motions here there's
the first one is split tax rate or no um and if so how much um do we have the open space exemption do we have the small business exemption okay so >> I think five different
>> five different motions Okay. All right. I can only remember three motion specific page two of there we go. That was the number. >> Okay. Uh is anybody care to discuss anymore?
>> No. Okay. Larry, >> I would entertain a motion. >> I move that the Weightley Select Board vote in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 40 section 56 as amended. the percentage of local tax levy which will
be borne by each class of real and personal property relative to setting the fiscal year 2026 tax rates and set the residential factor factor at 1% with a corresponding >> 1.0 >> 1.00
thank you 1% >> with a corresponding that would be interesting with a corresponding CIP shift of 1.0000 0000 pending certification of the town's annual tax recap by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
>> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I move with select board vote to retain a single tax rate for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. >> All those in favor?
>> I >> I >> Okay. I move that the select board vote not to adopt the small commercial exemption for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> I. And the select board vote not to
adopt the open space discount for fiscal year 2026. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> I >> I. >> And I move move that the select board vote to retain no residential exemption for fiscal year 2026. Second.
All those in favor. >> I >> I >> All right. Thank you everybody. Your input. You have a wrote in. You made a fantastic report. I always learn something from your reports and >> thanks for
and and >> I'll say more next year. >> You'll say more next year. Okay. >> And and then thanks everybody. >> Thank you. >> That's important to us. Yes. You got it. >> Hi guys.
>> Thank you so much. >> Thanks. >> Can I just just say something about >> um very briefly because we've done a lot of other things. >> Uh and I think reiterate what somebody here said. Mr. B the last two or three years
we've been going through this exercise of determining splitter rate the impacts and all that. uh before that it wasn't really uh that much of a concern and if the board decides that we should seriously look at it and we did this one
year to to meet before this hearing to talk about it in detail and and to look at the numbers more seriously. Uh if if the trends don't change, which they haven't, I've been on the board for 16
years. the trends to 75 to 80% are the same trends for residential. If they don't change, then really there's no reason to seriously look at a split rate. We can show you data all over the state >> that that supports that. >> I understand. So I'm saying it's a
serious next year. Let's talk earlier about this. But >> okay, >> you would have heard earlier if there was a serious >> Okay, that's my only my my final comment that tonight >> and we're legally required to have discussion regardless.
>> Right. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, friend. >> All right. Well, we are we affect our 6:35 p.m. appointment waiting, but hopefully he's in a warm place because he's on the room with us.
How can you be there and there at the same time? >> They have to present something and that was the easiest way to be able to get on. >> We're messing with the time. You'll have to cut it out. >> All right. So, >> where do you want to go?
>> Sure. >> Yeah. you're a host and the owl will catch you >> and people will be able to hear you better. >> So, I've made you co-host. So, you should be able to should now have the share screen option. Sure. >> Just keep your Zoom.
>> Yep. And make sure that's muted. It is. >> There we go. >> Okay. Okay, I'm here tonight to um I'm joined by the representation here from the Titan Wheatley and we're excited um uh to have that type of representation
on our board that we meet all the time. Um but we have um tonight is just to update you as an information of where we are with a potential school building project and um what the process is, what
the potential um annual assessment might be and try to give you some planning um as it pertains to that. The first question you got to ask is why does Frank County Technical School need a new school? That's what I would be asked.
That's the first thing I'd be asking. Um I'm just going to skip over the that picture and just kind of go to what we've been battling with for the last decade or so. Um five up seven years ago, eight years ago, our lights in our
building started to flicker on and off. We have old electrical switch gear from Federal Pacific. Um we did an assessment and we found out we uh switch gear is not reliable. So, at the building ground subcommittee, we went out and try to
find a manufacturer to rebuild one from scratch since they don't make them anymore. And so, we had that rebuilt. We had it delivered. That was $100,000 just for that one switch. There's like 15 of them in the building. And two days after
that, all the power in the building went out. Fortunately, we had that on standby. It was just a coincidence. And it happened on a Friday. So by Saturday night, we were back in operation. The problem with the way they do the old switch gear. If
one of them go, we're without power for two months. If we don't have something on standby, that means no school for two months. >> So that's what we were battling. We were nervous. So what do we go out and do? Spend another $100,000 and get another one. Put that on standby. And after 48
hours, we crossed our fingers. Okay, good. It's not going to go out. But two months later, it did. We got another one that went out. Replace that one. And here we are again. So, we're constantly to replace the whole mechanical switch gear system and the electrical
mechanical system in our old facility with that type of technology um would cost from the cost estimated third party was about 32 million. >> They're $100,000 a piece. you have 15 of them. >> Mhm.
>> Then that's just where it's all held. That's not the entire electrical system throughout the entire 160. >> So it's substantially more than just >> this. That's just an example on some of the struggles, okay, with that
particular system. Same thing you could say about the sewage system where we had to clear all wings and hallways for a few days until we could find the source of the leak that happened and then it happened somewhere else. And that's a continuing problem as we um begin to go through that. And that'd be roughly $10
million. But once you do a major renovation like whether it's the electrical or the plumbing, you have to put a sprinkle system in. We are grandfathered in, so we don't have to right now, but that would require about
$8 million. Um we are also in the final four or five years of our new roof. uh we put two roof coatings on and by regulations and laws we can't put a third coating on. We actually have to do a complete tear down and rebuild of the
roof and that's estimated to be around $17 million but that would take place over five years. Uh so the cost estimators were saying that each year you wait on these these will go up about 4% per year. So at that point, probably
seven, eight years ago, let's put in an MSBA and let's just see what happens. So we started that process a while back. They came out and did that. So you got a beautiful exterior of the facility. Gorgeous guys really do a nice job keeping it up. I would like to thank our
students for that because they have the landscaping and the plumbing and we try to do our best with that. However, um they said your interior put you number one on the list. Um so they bumped us
right up to number one. With that being said, they said because we have a couple options here. If we were trying to fix our current facility, we could only go out for 15-year bonds. we wouldn't be eligible to go out for a 30-year bond
because you can't, like the estimator said, you can't be taking that kind of money and putting it into a building that's going to continue to need money. >> So, um, if we went with the MSBA, it would be a 30-year. Now, that whole 75 million I just showed you, that's just to put a
band-aid on something that needs an operation. That would come 100% without no MSBA reimbursement. >> Can you would you say what MSBA is again? the Massachusetts School Building Authority that can reimburse uh cities and towns based on the equalized
valuation rate and what have you. So generally um it's fun that can go towards the school bingo, >> right? Okay. So we got together and we were looking at these options and as you can see we the designers put up um eight
options. One of them was just to update the existing facility and that that's what we kind of were going for at first and that would be 103 million but once you do an update you get no MSBA reimbursement to the towns and then you're going to keep pouring money into that whole building. So that didn't make
sense. We eliminated that. We looked at a bunch of other options. To make a long story short, we narrowed it down to three. All right. So we had um a complete renovation of the facility. um not really expanding, just adding enough space for the educational needs.
We don't have an assembly hall. We don't have all those other things that we got rid of to put classrooms in and that would be $22 million. But again, you get a much lower percentage with a renovation reimbursement from the MSBA than you would a core building. So, we're really stuck between two buildings
and they were the lowest of the two. Um option 6A and option 8A were between 196 to 197 million. Um, and that would be a complete brand new facility. And we went through a whole process to um try to
figure out where that would go. And we're looking at our current land and it would go right in back of the baseball field um right in that area. And that so that's where that would go. Um the school as you can see we were going to
select something that looks more like this because if you look at the back part of that which sticks out that's where all the vocational shops would be and it would be kind of away from all the academic shops right now our school right across the hall you're you're in math class you're smelling autofumes you
know you're in I mean it's just the nature of the design so we were trying to invest that >> just a quick question because these are kind of going by fast y um >> in these options that have new building. You're not tearing down the old building. >> Yes. >> You are tearing down the old building.
Oh, okay. So, the place where it says existing school that >> So, when I says art a right there, that will be the new baseball field and soccer field. >> Um, and so the and so that's where that would go. And but this
>> we we got to try to limp along for about a half a dozen years until that would be ready at this point in time. >> Okay. and try not to pump a lot of money into it if we can help. >> Right. Because you can't like shut down for two years, >> correct? Right. So, we're trying to figure that out.
>> Good. I guess that wasn't a stupid question then. >> No, that was good. Could you see in the map there? It says the fields would be there and that's where the district school would be. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, so then when the school is f the existing school is finally no longer in use because the new buildings are
correct running then you tear down that building and turn it into a >> right >> a baseball field or soccer field or whatever happens. >> Now there's hard cost and soft cost. So the hard cost are um the 197 the soft
cost is all the other things that they add the site work the tear down of the existing building resurfacing everything pavement. So the total cost is 246 million. >> Okay. >> And the building will look something like
this. Again, these aren't final designs. We right now have just finished the feasibility study. We're now in the schematic design. So these will look maybe a little bit different, but they're pretty close to what we're looking at. We decided something that made a lot of sense to us.
Um, we have 653 students grades 9 through 12, but we're going to build a building for 600. We're the first in the MSBA pipeline to ever go down. And the reason why we're going down is because we are well aware of 10-year trends and
enrollments and populations. We don't want to we want our existing regional schools to thrive. Could we build a building for 900? Absolutely. Could we fill it? Probably. But that's not we're a community and we
made a decision to go to 600 which is um slightly below what we currently have because that's what's the best for our community at large. Um and I think that will help keep the cost down significantly because the cost per student is really really high nowadays.
>> So the academic wing is right here. I'll have this sent out to you as well. Um, so you'll get a little bit deeper dive at this. Um, this is just all the academic wings. They're separate from the shops that are in the back.
Um, the school might look something like this. U, we made it clear to the designers when we first selected them and went through the process. We are not looking for the Taj Mahal. If you're looking to build a beautiful looking building so you can put your name on it, um, you're
going to the wrong school. We want something that we're a bluecollar community. We have served the districts well for 50 years. You look around all the towns, you see the electrical trucks, the plumbing trucks, the carpentry trucks, all that stuff. Those are kids and they are coming out of the
school and then they're giving back to the community and we've been doing that well. We want to do that well for the next 50 years. um and contribute back to the tax um contribute back to the tax base. Here's some decision- making matrix we
went through to come to the conclusion for the option that we did. And that was not just like a small group of administrators. That was with parents, that was with some school committee members, that was with administration and teachers and students. And we kind of went through, we had a whole night to
kind of go through what we liked and didn't like about each of the buildings. and and if it hit what we needed educationally, communitywise, value, sustainability, energy, facility, character, we kind of went through all of the little exceptions.
>> Is there going to be any solar? >> Yeah. Uh, no. There'll be solar not necessarily on the roof, but off to the side. >> Okay. >> Um, square foot. As you can see back in Southshore boat two years ago, 2026, they have a project at $892 per square
foot. Now, that's supposed to go up 4% a year on average. Um, so they would be well above that today. We just had our estimate. So, ours was at 8.93. So, we're on the lower end of average out of all the MSBA projects that are
going on right now. You give an example what that might look like. You can see the red dot down below. Back in 2013, Greenfield had a high school built for $66 million, $ 160,000 square foot. They were just above the average line right
about there. If you follow that all the way up and you see the other red dot, that's fraing county tech. We're slightly below the average there, but we're 893,000 I mean 800 $893 per square foot. And if
you were to extrapolate that out of a green field to if they were to build that building today, it would cost about 180 million. However, that's 160,000 square foot. We're 220,000 square ft because of the shots. >> Yeah. >> So, that would even be a little ahead of
us at this time. It's ridiculous how expensive these buildings have become. It's it's kind of like they don't even know where we live. We're out here in Frampton County and they have as as soon as CO hit they they shot right up and it
never came back down. So that's where you see that big arrow. Um which is frust which is why we're real careful to go to a 600 person high school. We I mean we got to do something. Um our enrollment trends I said here last year
that we probably hit the tipping point. We'll start to dip back down. So that's where we are right now. uh when I gave that uh total number that includes out of district but our member district on enrollment has dropped off and I expect it to drop off a little bit more as I look at my 10-year trends till it
flattens out in that mid5 range in a couple years. Um and to be true to who we are, Franklin County Technical School serves our communities. We have more than 120 kids out on paid co-op last year. that's
direct pipeline to the world of work when they get out. Um, we currently have about 50 out now, but we as kids get a lot more jobs. We led the entire state and the amount of kids that were declaring their work upon graduation for
the um trade in which they were trained in. That's that's what we're about. We're not a college prep program. schools like, you know, Frontier, Pioneer, and all of the all of those other schools do a wonderful job on the college prep. That's not who we are,
right? Let's stay true to who we are. And that is proof that that's us staying true to our true mission. Um, these are just competitive grants. We have received uh over 11.5 million dollars worth of competitive grants
since 2014, which has enabled us to um get a new aviation maintenance technology program in an industry where our students can walk out of there making $70,000 a year with jobs all over the world. Um and getting them
trained for that. So, we were able to put that up in the last year or two. We have a veterary animal science program. And the reason why that's important, I remember coming here probably 12 years ago and there were few there were probably two or three students going off to Smith Vogue with a ridiculous amount
of money to the cost to the town of Wheatly. So you guys are asking us, hey, what can you Well, let's look into it. Well, here we are. We have an animal science program now. This will keep kids coming to Franklin County Tech at about $18,000 per pupil, which would be the
assessment. as compared to an average of about $68,000 to go Smith book. >> So, this helps us kind of go in that particular direction. We also have a change in the regulations with the lottery. I'll be done in two more minutes, right? Um, this is just the
timeline of the project. I wanted to get down where we are with the assessments for the projected assessments for weight. >> Would you back up to the timeline just Thank you. So, we would be looking to go out for a
district-wide vote sometime next fall, >> five years, >> and then it would take a number of years for them to be able to actually build the facility. >> Great. Thank you. >> Can you say again when was the like you're looking for town meeting votes in
what year? >> Um, we'll go out to vote next fall. Oh, so a special time meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And if we did that, that would be paid for by the district by us. >> Um,
greatly project MSBA assessment. We anticipate it' be in the ball. Again, we're in the schematic design. We don't have the firm numbers, but we're trying to come here tonight to give you an idea what would what it would be around $210 million per year based on the population
EQV. Um, and it kind of explains a little bit uh about about that. Um, actually that number down the bottom is incorrect what you were looking at, but that was at Hawaii Mint around that 65.
Actually, the range for the average student to go to Smith is between 57,000 and 82. All depends on the transportation cost and what have you. Um, so if we were looking at um
if Franklin County Tech did not exist, the 18 students that you currently have would have a legal right to go to a vote tech school. So if they went to Smith Vogue, it'd be about $1.2 million to the town of Wland. And to go to Franklin
County Tech, the assessment there would be about $280,000. If you take the 280,000 on top of the MSBA project potential of another 200 plus thousand, you're talking around 500,000, but it probably be two times
that if all those students chose to go to Smith. So, we're kind of like in that type of um that type of process. I can't believe it's that expensive to go to Smith. It's not that far away, but that's just the way the out of districts work versus
being a member town. um the admissions and lottery process. Um we go through a process to verify their address. That's the most important part. That's the first five or six bullet points. Again, I will send that to you because I don't want to take too
much of your time. But we're having a third party which would do the lottery for us. It's go to CTE. All the applications are done through that third party. Then they go through the lottery and they draw it. right now for the time of Weightley, you have a quarter of 13.
Um, you currently have two applications. Um, you have three seats available for the freshman class. So, basically, you don't have to worry about the lottery because those two kids are going to get in. It's just that's just the way. >> Yeah. Um, so that probably might change by a
car, >> but if we had four, then three would get in and there's chance the fourth one. >> Oh, there's a very good chance depending on where they would be selected that lawn because we have some towns that don't come close to filling their seats and our regional agreement allows those
other seats, right? And that's what generally happens. >> And folks from Franklin County have the priority. >> Yes. >> And then Yeah. the sorry the the participating towns. I don't know if that >> Yeah, you're definitely right. The member towns have the priority. Um we
will then look at out of district towns maybe in May or June, but we're not even like we're taking care of the towns first, see where we fall >> and um we're going to go by the quarter. So that deadline is January 15th >> to get verified applications. if we
don't reach like 165 verified applications that we don't do a lot of just take everyone to apply. So right now we're not at that and I must say who knows we may do a lot of it we may not do a lot of it. All depends on the number of applications which come in. >> Okay.
>> Um and that's it. I kind of got through it quick because I know there are two major topics that people wanted me to talk about. one being how does this whole thing with the lottery go and the other thing was some more information on a potential new building >> and it's just a potential at this point
but well you know we're going through as if it might happen right >> so the I mean when we have to pay for it >> it's going to mean our basically our assessments will go up when the if there's a decision to get this new building is that yes
>> a fair statement >> and I think it would go up um slowly for the first three or four years it would it would start out small until the students are actually like >> I don't know I don't exactly it's like three the first three or four years it's
a slow wind up till you get to the 210 >> okay and then that'll and then so over that >> then it stays that way >> for the life of the 30 years >> and then it comes down after then >> well then it it's over after 30 years >> yes
>> okay and like is this going to roughly double our our pupil cost do you think or is it like >> um right now your ass% you're pretty close because I think right now your
assessment based on the students you currently have which are 13 to 14 the building you're right around on top of my head right around $280,000 and so this would be another 210. >> Okay. So, not quite doubling, but >> Right. >> So, so it's a significant
>> Yes. >> increase. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But you're making the case that it's well worth it. >> And I totally understand where >> the taxpayers are coming from. So, this is not my thing to say yay or nay. It's just
>> I'm going to provide some information that they will have informed decisions and and how they vote I'd respect it either way. >> Yeah. Can you explain what the role of MSBA is? Is Is it a loan source? Is it as a grant source?
>> Great question. So, it is a um it is a grant. >> So, you got to get approved through the grant. So, basically, if you had a $240 million building and we we and we'll qualify for about 65%
reimbursement, but that's not a real rate. You know, you hear people talking about the MSBA, they'll qualify for X number of percentages. When you dive down into it, the soft cost are not calculated. Um, only educational space. So, all offices aren't calculated,
assembly halls aren't calculated, hallway space is not calculated, site work, utilities, tear down, break down old buildings. So, that's why the cost so that that's why the real reimbursement is about 50%. So, uh, $226 million proposed project
would come up around that $123 million mark, somewhere in that ballpark. Um, as the actual cost split up between 19 member towns over 30 years based on the EQB. >> Yeah. And does that $246 million figure
include the estimated 4% raise increases each year? the estimators have put that on by the time they build that's what it would be that's what it so they did the 4% increase all the way up to the time of beginning to the end of construction >> so that would be at the firm price that
price would not change it that's not but the price I'm giving you now is not firm not until the schematic design's done that's I'm told going to be even continue to be refined >> not not in a higher direction but in a lower direction I'm just trying to give
what we have received right now. >> So, so you think that 246 if that was to be the number >> would be locked in notwithstanding any correct >> inflation or >> that would be 100% locked in for 30
years. Correct. And it wouldn't go up because you're just starting the project. Whatever the voters vote on at that time, that's the one. >> That's the budget. >> Yeah. Well, that's the budget, but that would have to cover any increase or cost. >> It covers everything. They only That's
why they do the estimate up there. >> They do it based on that 4% um >> well, yeah, that's based on 4%. But if you get a period like we did two years ago with 8% inflation, right, >> rather than 4%, your >> material costs are going to go well up.
>> It could be 50% inflation. What they vote on, that's the mark. That's the way the MSBA does it. Okay. Are there any questions? Anybody here want to ask me any questions? >> Okay. >> I'll see you during budget season.
>> You sure will. >> All right. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you for coming. I got now. You guys can continue your meeting. There you go. Thank you. >> Thank you. All righty.
Okay. Thank you. Well, our next item is old business. Um, uh, fiscal year 27 budget. Do we have any capital project requests for administration this week? And I have not come up with any
>> seemed like Cindy Cindy and I had a discussion about administration, not just covering administr. >> No, no, no. this meeting and a project that administration would do, not the library or water department
for sending something that she was considering. >> That would be probably request for new chairs, things like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Or like repainting about >> if we were to paint this building. >> Yeah.
>> I don't think >> we were keeping this on just in case somebody thought of something. >> Yeah. That's just I don't >> So it sounds like we don't have any there. Um so uh we this is an item held over from last time we want to review,
discuss and vote to appoint members to the giving garden committee and um we're here. So, um, we were ready to vote and say all this, uh, last week, last time, but they had a scheduled
meeting that rescheduled. Uh, so they they had their meeting while they weren't an official. Now you're going to have to post those meetings. >> We did. >> You did. Excellent. Um, is there any further discussion about the giving garden committee? >> Okay.
I didn't entertain a motion. Am I allowed to even >> You can. Yeah, you can. >> All right. I move that we uh the board appoint Juliana Wagner, Amy Levali, Cindy Steiner, Katherine Gur.
>> She's our development. >> Community. >> Oh, thank you. I'm so sorry. You met her. >> No, I starts next week. >> I haven't met you. Terry Gdamsky, Stanley Gdamsky, and Melanie Scroski to the Giving Garden Committee.
>> Second. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> I. >> All right. Great. Uh, new business. Um, to review and discuss priority projects for FKOG's reference related to potential grants.
Morning. >> Yeah. So, this is one that we we do for the fur hog uh all the communities. up. It's a way for the Bhog to be aware of various projects happening throughout the county or that they that the county
members want to do. Um so that either they develop grant programs or they make us aware of a grant program. Um so we just provide that list of what our projects are and what our top three priorities are. We also update the
current list if we're now designing until we completed construction. So this is the list as it was provided to them last year >> and I would say >> like among the the things that should be priorities are the ones that's we're
closer to having price tags on. Um so in that sense like everything on the second page except for fire department pumper truck um replacement truck looking at fiscal year 2029. So that sort of makes it feel like less
of a priority because it's a little further off. But honestly some of these others may not be funded until 2029. >> I think the three that we said as priorities last time are still their priorities this time. >> Yeah. And like the Haydenville Road project, that's actually in design
development right now. So, and it's already funded. >> That's already fun. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, we can take that off. >> Well, we'll we'll keep it on there, but we'll change it to in design rather than planning. >> Okay. >> Um >> waterline extension. That's the thing
that's going to make it loop. or is that >> but from what I've heard they're not able to do the is it oh no I'm thinking of the connection I assume um this is to extend it oh no yeah this is to do it under the railroad tracks to
create redundancy >> the last I heard it was going to be problematic to actually do go under and do the connection so they may not be doing that project they'll have to find out from me if >> that's right I also talked to Garrett and that that
waterline extension is sort of a prerequisite if we ever want to pave Egypt road that would have the water project would be done first. >> Okay. >> Otherwise they have to tear it up to do it again.
And there there is a state program for paving unpaved roads, but we can't even get to that start with that until >> right. We need a state program for shooting water lines underneath. >> Yeah. Why don't we have one?
There any of these others that have updates associated with them? at present. I think the rest of them are pretty they're at the same stats. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't think the status like on senior center it's still in the
planning and hopefully moving out of planning sometime soon but I don't think we're going to get it through through grants. >> Any other comments? No. Great. This doesn't require a vote. You just want to know, right?
>> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. So, now surprise of all surprises. We're looking for an administrative assistant. It's a job opening. This would be for the uh agricultural commission and the
community preservation uh committee. Um so, we you discuss and vote on posting. I don't see any reason not to post that. >> I don't either. No reason not >> I will we close the position.
>> I'll second that for the parttime assistant for the for the role of the agricultural commission and community preservation submitted. >> Now still seconded. Um those in favor I >> I Okay. Um then that's Upper Valley
Pioneer Veteran Service District. Um we have to like renew our participation in that every so often and there's apparently time for us to do that. >> Um I have not heard a single unkind word about them. I think they've been doing a
good job from everything I've heard unless other people have heard otherwise. Um I would move that we do that. Second. >> Okay. I didn't I didn't read >> that.
I move that the board approved to continue participation and membership in the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Service Center. >> Second. >> Okay. Um all those in favor? >> I >> I All right.
All right. Um so there's um a conflict of interest request. that's coming in from >> uh related to the zoning board um that they're looking at a 71 Chestnut Plane Road. They need my understanding is they need fire chief to have his input, but
the fire chief PLC may have a conflict of interest. My understanding is this is one where if he discloses it, we can chat and decide if we should just move forward anyway. Um or if we need to find some other solution, mental
conflict of interest is too too much. Is that more or less a good >> correct? >> Yeah. essentially and yet if you do find that the conflict of interest would uh make his ability to do his professional duties um he can then designate somebody else
>> okay >> um like the deputy chief so like Keith Barwell the one >> okay >> possible issue there is Keith would likely still need to go to JP for guidance on how to do >> and history
>> which then still complicates it so Really, the question is to the board based on your understanding of our fire chief, the the way that he handles his professional requirements in general um and his experience in the
town and what he'd be required to do here, which is to do inspections um through the the permitting requirements as well as provide feedback to the zoning board as it relates to zoning bylaw implications. um without having the the fact that he
has a financial interest in a budding property. If you feel that that would not complicate his professional terms, then you can make that determination that um you what did we say? You you determine that um that they are separate from and not
substantial and would not affect would not have any effect on the integrity of services. So, it's more of a it's always on a case by case situation, you know. >> Yeah, it's case by case. And then um I read his letter two hours ago.
>> So, but also when I looked at the map, it appears in this case the act where the actual facility would be. It's a large property that said they have and this is will be like close to a half a mile from the house.
The way that it's done is you do it uh 300 ft from the property line. >> Yeah, I know. I know. I'm just >> a large property is then going to encompass >> Right. But then where where the buildings are on this property is up a
very long driveway from PL road. So while but Jason actually Jason had a sister's property on the street from his um >> it's not the property might be drawn differently
he wouldn't even be adjacent >> he's not even adjacent he's on the opposite side he's >> he's a no he's a direct auterist no he's he is a His property I assume is Dan Kennedy's.
They're both property. >> Oh, they're both across. >> They're both even numbers. >> They are 764 >> versus the 71s. >> Yeah. Um >> I have no qualms about his
professionalism. I I have a little bit of a doubt that anybody would have some personal feelings about explosives. being stored near their own home. So I'm on the fence about this. >> Explosives being stored there now. This
is this is just building any new >> building more. >> Yeah. >> For more. >> Yeah. Increase the quantity. >> There are already explosives on that >> right site. >> Um >> like I said, I have no qualms about his professional.
I think it's I think it's important that it's permitted properly and that the the safety issues are really well considered and uh the second in command would really actually have to go to >> the chief.
>> Yeah. Um so I I I too feel like I don't have any trouble. I'm thinking that he would be completely professional about the whole thing. >> Yeah. I have no no doubts about professionalism. I think the
>> the conflict of interest >> worry would be that he would overregulate not wanting more explosives there rather than underre you know letting something go that >> I don't I don't see that as a problem. >> Yeah.
>> I think mostly I think people would fear that they would like try to shut something down and I don't think that would be the case. if it is legal, he's going to make sure they have the proper >> safety, the right kind of build, the all kind of things that he knows and I don't
>> uh about how to make that as safe as it can be, >> right? >> And um I I don't think he would stand in the way of something that is, you know, legal and and um defensible to do. >> No, I have no absolute no doubts about
his professionalism that he would >> Yeah. do the job. Correct. >> Okay. >> I move that the board make a determination that JP Kennedy's financial interest at 76 Chestnut Plane Road and his family's financial interest at 74 Chestnut Plane Road are separate
from and not substantial so as to not have an effect on the integrity of the services for which he must perform as fire chief related to any permits or licenses for 71 Chester. >> Second. >> All those in favor? Hi. >> Hi.
>> Hi. >> Okay, we're at the select from board leaison on updates. Oh, we just keep meeting and there's no real updates or I mean we had another meeting with podcast. Um and they're going to get back to us and we're hoping to wrap it
up by the end of the year and maybe we will or maybe we won't. Um I that it just it just keeps on going. Well, and they have a staff change that seems >> there's a staff change that that if we don't get it done by the end of the year, it could put a big delay on
everything. So, I I I hope we get it done by the end of the year. And I have not heard anything since our last meeting, which was I feel like it was 20 minutes ago, but >> I think it was Oh, it was the week before Thanks. Friday before Thanks. >> Yeah.
>> So, uh so I don't really have any other any other updates. Uh I've got nothing Thanksgiving sort of knocked out most of the meetings last week. Uh the only thing I'd like to say is to thank the highway department for doing a good job yesterday in plowing
and streets. >> Uh let's see. Uh the newly appointed um giving garden committee is meeting tomorrow at 1 uh to discuss further actions. Um I send
>> Lee She was here for what? >> How long did I leave? >> Okay. >> Um later. >> That's interesting. Uh uh she and I met last week. Uh the things that I came away from our meeting with were that the
library services are level funded through the federal government through 2027. That level funding does include cuts that have already been made. So, they're not going to get walked up again, but they are not going to get taken away.
Um, a mini split stopped working at the library and I thought she was here to request that >> and that that's what I came away with. >> Yeah. So, I did meet with the the Bobs. Uh, and essentially they uh they've been
looking at whether or not they can repair the the mechanicals. >> Yep. which are out ofd. They are not uh some of the feature elements cannot be replaced. The company just doesn't
uh they're obsessment of the system. Uh we looked at the accounts and they don't need to make a capital request because they do have funds that are set aside for capital uses. Um we don't have a estimate yet,
right? uh just yet, but it definitely is under a mark that we should be able to do it without doing any kind of capital request because a capital request would unfortunately mean they would have to wait until 27 FY27 or we'd have to do a
special town meeting is that appropriate pre-cash. Thankfully, they do have the money. Uh we're just verifying that dollar amount. then they'll go get a couple more price codes to verify that they have the lowest and then >> if they can get it done and installed by
the end of December, there is a current Massave uh rebate program for these many splits. >> Um if that doesn't happen, Massave is a state funded program that all rateayers go into and Massave does renew those
programs regularly. So although we don't know what next year's rate uh rebate program is, if they don't happen to meet it by the December 31st, likely work next year, there likely is a reate program by next year. >> If I can I missed one meeting I had.
>> Uh there was we had I had a meeting as my liazison with the treasurer collector. We had a meeting the treasurer collector, the uh town accountant and Lynn Sizzley who was former treasures. We went through the entire chart of accounts and
try to figure out what all the most of them are active and current but there are some that are just accounts that have sat there for a while. A number of them are library donation accounts and we hope the account will be able to
consolidate some of these barely used accounts and also came determined that some of the library donation accounts could be used for repairs such as >> such as this. So we all on the same page
now, but the federal collector maybe a year and the accountant who has not been here that long have now gone through the chart of accounts with Lynn who knows the origin of most of them. Uh
and so that should clean things up a bit on the accountant side. Yeah, the library has about four separate >> um accounts that are that were donations where the donation goes into an account
and they are invested and that's considered non-expendable. The amount that was donated. Anything that's earned off of the interest of that u uh the investment becomes expendable. They've earned a number they've earned a good chunk of money off of those four
accounts. We track those separately because we have to keep all four of them in separate accounts non-expendable. So there's really eight accounts four things. So you have to have a non-expendable and an expendable version. Um, but then there is also another donation account uh that has a
large dollar amount in there. And then on top of that, the library has a separate investment account um that can be used as needed that has close to a quarter of a million. Um that one they
try not to use unless there is big ticket things because it's just it's there for >> big almost like000. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, that one they did that one they used I think they had told me $75,000 from in
order to do the elevator. >> It has since that account has since reearned the money that they spent from it. So, it's back up and it's actually above where the was originally. But the library thankfully does have these separate accounts that are there um to
help stabilize and help them with these type of needs. Yeah. Yeah. to I mean >> that's right. >> That's right. Well, you know that I'm doing my best. >> Yes.
>> Right. I think we we interrupted you. >> I wanted to say something. >> Oh, Ian, you you wanted >> if you don't mind. I actually did a complete study of those library separate accounts um that you guys were just talking about and I will share that with James. I'm going to meet with James um
in a couple weeks and they do vary on some of them. You do not we do not have to just use the interest. We can get rid of the principal. We have a $400 one that's almost a hundred years old that we would like to clear off the books. So
there's some little details like that, but I've gone through everything with the help Pete helped me pointed me in the direction of Dara and I've researched the history of a lot of these. So I'm going to share that with you guys when it's finalized. Well, with with James, you know, Pete or whatever.
>> So that way we know exactly where we are. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> That's it. Just wanted to clarify that. Okay. >> And Ann, just um out of curiosity, will you be sharing that with the rest of the trustees because
>> um it didn't seem like they were aware that that research was being done. >> Oh, I Oh, no, of course they were. I did. I already shared it with them and I spent >> 15 20 minutes at one meeting in the summer. >> Okay. >> Um talking. They all got it. So, I'm not sure which trustee you were talking.
>> It was the summer and they just didn't recall that they had these monies. from the summer. Was that from the summer? I'm sorry, Pete. Because >> there was a conversation I had with them today that and they they weren't aware of these accounts.
>> No, they're aware of it. Are you talking about the bot? >> No, they I've handed it out. It's like a five page chart and I spoke about it. >> They've seen it. I don't They may have been thinking you meant something else. I I don't know. >> We call them special revenue accounts.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. And some people have called them trusts, but they're not really trusts. So it's >> um >> but um they maybe the main point is just so that the trustees are aware that what what you can and can't use those monies
for if there are restrictions. I think is >> they already have that I had I have a chart. >> So I don't I don't I'll go back to them and say what maybe they thought you were talking about something else. But I'm going to share the the draft or the final with um James also and you if you
want >> you share that with the finance committee because that might be relevant at budget season if there are library requests. >> Yeah, I mean it all come. all in the accounting information that you guys
give every not you but that you know the town presents every month every you know every one of >> us the numbers in the account but not necessarily if there are any restrictions >> yeah okay no that's fine >> that's fine there are restrictions but they're clearer now than they were
before >> I think >> okay thank you >> yep thank you >> okay anything else Pete Um, just a couple updates. One, uh, Comcast sent out a notice of price changes that
are going into effect for their TV packages, service fees, and equipment fees. Customers are going to receive those notices uh, starting with their statements that uh, started going out last week. Um the town of Ammerst sent a letter of
appreciation for the mutual aid that the 32 communities um that supported the Olympia fire, the Olympia drive apartment fire. Um and since then we actually received um a citation that their town council ended up uh awarding
or granting to the 32 communities and that came in today. Um so and I've provided that to the fire department and given that citation to the fire chief or the the department and on the school zone the flashing light. So there is a programming issue.
The fire chief is working with um he's gotten an update with it but but with the vendor >> it wasn't working so he turned off the lights as far as I'm aware. Uh but he is still actively working to get it corrected but if there is a software
issue I'll >> have for the time being turned on until >> I think that's a great solution and because the like the speed limit sign is still there it's still >> we still have to go 20 during what
>> all right I move that we adjourn second those in favor I