Thumbnail for 5/20/24 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

Hardwick Select Board Addresses Budget, Bylaws, and Administration

Original title: 5/20/24 - Hardwick, MA Select Board Meeting

These meeting notes are AI-generated and unofficial. They are provided for convenience and are not official Town records or approved municipal minutes. Verify all details using the source video and official Town documents.

Meeting details

Date

May 20, 2024

Duration

1h 29m

Decisions

6 recorded

Action Items

12 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Select Board meeting covered a range of municipal topics, including the formal acknowledgment of private roads for town mapping and E911, approval of amendments for Lost Town Brewing Company, and the processing of sewer abatements. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the town's budget, revealing a $50,000 discrepancy between the Select Board and the Financial Committee, concerns regarding IT and 'all boards' overspending, and discussions about the Town Administrator and assistant positions. The board also reviewed proposed changes to town bylaws concerning meeting minutes transparency and Capital Planning Committee composition, concluding with the scheduling of a follow-up budget meeting to resolve outstanding financial issues before the Annual Town Meeting.

Browse meeting notes

Now viewing

Discussion Highlights

A visitor requested formal acknowledgment of two private roads (Pioneer Path and Gracius Way) to facilitate their inclusion on town maps and E911 systems, clarifying that acknowledgment does not imply town maintenance responsibility.
Lost Town Brewing Company's application for multiple amendments, including a change of stock interest resulting in majority woman-ownership and a change of manager, was reviewed.
Discussion occurred regarding vacant properties, specifically one owned by Soltis and another by Douglas and Maria Taylor, with the latter undergoing remodeling for rental purposes.
A proposed change to increase the Board of Health's revolving fund cap from $10,000 to $20,000 was discussed as a funding mechanism for departmental operations.
A Citizen's Petition proposing $8,000 for the Gilbertville Library's salary line (Article 15) raised legal concerns about funding private entities and governance concerns regarding the library's lack of an election process for its directors.
Discussion centered on cleaning up the Capital Planning Committee (Article 16) by replacing a School Committee member with a Planning Board member to broaden the committee's understanding of town-wide capital needs.
Article 17, allowing the moderator to use handheld electronic devices for secret ballots or other vote tallying means, was discussed for its potential to improve voting logistics.
Article 18 proposed enhancing transparency by removing an additional 45-day posting period for approved meeting minutes and formalizing Open Meeting Law and Conflict of Interest training requirements for all board members.
Concerns were raised about the official posting location for town documents, noting inconsistencies between '01031.org' and 'mytown.gov', and the lack of consistent updates on the official site due to staffing issues.
An intermunicipal agreement with Rutland for ambulance lending, following damage to West Brookfield's ambulance, was reviewed.
The board discussed the Town Administrator's salary and the necessity of an assistant position, with concerns about the combined cost relative to the town's operating budget and the administrator's evolving role.
Significant budget discrepancies, including a $50,000 difference between the Board of Selectmen and the Financial Committee, and overspending on 'all boards' and IT services, were a central focus, attributed to historical underfunding and new software upgrade costs.
The impact of operating without ARPA funds for the first time was noted, with an estimated $30,000-$50,000 remaining in ARPA funds being considered for capital expenditures like a roof repair.
Debate occurred regarding the necessity of an Assistant to the Administrator, weighing the need for secretarial tasks against the Administrator's overall competence.
Strong concerns were voiced about the limited time available to properly review and decide on budget and staffing changes before the upcoming town meeting, with some members stating they had not seen current budget figures.
Discussion on budget funding methods highlighted disagreement on whether foregone capital funding impacts the current operating budget and the role of 'new growth' funds in the budget process.

Transcript (15,245 words)

Lightly cleaned for readability. Each timestamp opens the video at that point.

00:00:01
First thing on the agenda is Pledge of the allegiance if everyone would stand I pledge allegiance of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank
00:00:19
You everyone okay visitors comments de I'm just looking to get two roads acknowledged so they are private roads and they just need to be acknowledged by the Selectmen and forwarded to Ryan and Jen
00:00:38
The assessor so that we can get them on the maps Okay I was under the understanding that this was being taken care of by Kevin landine for safe like for emergency response purposes yeah and that we reached out to Town Council and there's nothing that we need to do so
00:00:57
Brian told me and the assessors office told me which is it goes through landing and the building inspector talk about it the building inspector assigned the numbers to the homes so that's already done and he sends it back to the assessor's office to get on the maps Okay but without the town acknowledging
00:01:15
That they are private roads and going through the clerk's office as well to acknowledge that their private roads and get them basically written down on our charts we can't move any further so Ryan is also by our charart do you mean like the towns like Ryan's files yeah getting
00:01:34
It down on fessor maps and Etc okay so what so I you know Devon reached out to me and just said that you know she wanted these accepted and I didn't say accepted acknowledged acknowledged no I saw the emails I was difference between I was included on the emails I I saw I
00:01:53
Saw so I reached councel because I know because in in you know my hisory my experience in this is private neighborhoods private roads uh you know in my last town there was a giant mobile home park and on our on our assessor cards it just looks like one big parcel there's no roads there's no homes

[00:00:01] first thing on the agenda is Pledge of [00:00:03] the allegiance if everyone would stand I [00:00:06] pledge [00:00:07] allegiance of the United States of [00:00:09] America and to the Republic for which it [00:00:12] stands one nation under God indivisible [00:00:16] with liberty and justice for all thank [00:00:19] you [00:00:22] everyone okay visitors [00:00:25] comments de I'm just looking to get two [00:00:29] roads acknowledged so they are private [00:00:32] roads and they just need to be [00:00:33] acknowledged by the [00:00:34] Selectmen and forwarded to Ryan and Jen [00:00:38] the assessor so that we can get them on [00:00:40] the [00:00:41] maps Okay I was under the understanding [00:00:44] that this was being taken care of by [00:00:47] Kevin landine for safe like for [00:00:49] emergency response purposes yeah and [00:00:52] that we reached out to Town Council and [00:00:55] there's nothing that we need to do so [00:00:57] Brian told me and the assessors office [00:01:00] told me which is it goes through landing [00:01:03] and the building inspector talk about it [00:01:05] the building inspector assigned the [00:01:06] numbers to the homes so that's already [00:01:09] done and he sends it back to the [00:01:11] assessor's office to get on the maps [00:01:13] Okay but without the town acknowledging [00:01:15] that they are private roads and going [00:01:17] through the clerk's office as well to [00:01:19] acknowledge that their private roads and [00:01:20] get them basically written down on [00:01:24] our [00:01:26] charts we can't move any further so Ryan [00:01:29] is also by our charart do you mean like [00:01:31] the towns like Ryan's files yeah getting [00:01:34] it down on fessor maps and Etc okay so [00:01:38] what so I you know Devon reached out to [00:01:41] me and just said that you know she [00:01:43] wanted these accepted and I didn't say [00:01:46] accepted acknowledged acknowledged no I [00:01:49] saw the emails I was difference between [00:01:51] I was included on the emails I I saw I [00:01:53] saw so I reached councel because I know [00:01:56] because in in you know my hisory my [00:01:58] experience in this is private [00:02:00] neighborhoods private roads uh you know [00:02:04] in my last town there was a giant mobile [00:02:06] home park and on our on our assessor [00:02:08] cards it just looks like one big parcel [00:02:10] there's no roads there's no homes [00:02:11] there's no nothing and so you know [00:02:14] thinking that's the way it's supposed to [00:02:15] be I reach out Town Council and they [00:02:16] said there's absolutely nothing that you [00:02:18] need to do um they didn't you know know [00:02:20] anything about it I said that they they [00:02:23] um claimed the Dober Amendment so we had [00:02:25] no jurisdiction over it and the attorney [00:02:27] flat out said I didn't say that you know [00:02:30] that the Dober Amendment applied here so [00:02:32] but it's all built and it's all done I [00:02:34] think that's there's a little confusion [00:02:36] with the Dober Amendment there and what [00:02:38] we're so anyway so we didn't have any [00:02:40] you know we as far as we know we don't [00:02:43] even know what's going on there I mean [00:02:44] building inspector does but you know the [00:02:46] town doesn't um and the there is [00:02:49] absolutely no reason that the town needs [00:02:52] to acknowledge a private road it's not [00:02:54] going to be on our Maps it's not going [00:02:56] to be on anywhere really does it so how [00:03:01] if it's not on our map then how does the [00:03:03] 911 get there hold on I have a question [00:03:07] does [00:03:08] it does it do any harm to just [00:03:11] acknowledge that they exist I'm sure it [00:03:13] doesn't do any you can acknowledge they [00:03:15] exist whether we pay our surveyor to go [00:03:18] out and put them on our Maps is another [00:03:20] story I already gave Jen the assessor [00:03:24] all our maps and basically all of our [00:03:27] stuff so um I does that you know you the [00:03:30] town isn't going to accept a private [00:03:33] person no we not accepting anything well [00:03:35] I I mean I mean I mean the surveys and [00:03:36] things like that right I don't we don't [00:03:38] have to do anything that's we don't have [00:03:40] to do anything no right but just [00:03:42] acknowledging them so that you can move [00:03:44] on with what you need to do I would so [00:03:47] move we do have from previous years of [00:03:50] the board of selectman and the clerk's [00:03:52] office acknowledging private roads I [00:03:55] recall doing this in the past so I I do [00:03:57] recall Ryan is just waiting so that we [00:04:00] can update it because also it's faculty [00:04:02] housing so it is people living in there [00:04:05] which would then get census and [00:04:07] everything else mailed to them [00:04:09] technically just like in our dorms they [00:04:11] get all that mailed to them for the [00:04:13] residential counselors that are Town [00:04:15] residents in those dorms yes can I ask [00:04:18] what the names of these roads [00:04:20] are the Loop Road going all around [00:04:23] campus which landine wanted us to name [00:04:27] is Pioneer path and then the fact The [00:04:30] Village which again landine wanted us to [00:04:32] name and same with the building [00:04:33] inspector is graus [00:04:36] way graas like it's a donor for the okay [00:04:42] just making sure I heard you C thank you [00:04:45] I have them written down if you want I [00:04:47] don't need them I just if if there's no [00:04:49] harm in doing them you know to be good [00:04:52] neighbors I I don't have an issue with [00:04:55] accepting acknowledging rather [00:04:57] acknowledging that they exist at this [00:05:00] point we can't put them on e911 if [00:05:04] they're not anywhere on the town's map [00:05:06] so there's no you know there's no way [00:05:09] that they're going to get there or find [00:05:10] out where they are because it's not [00:05:12] coming up anywhere mhm okay I know that [00:05:15] we we had a motion on the floor that we [00:05:19] acknowledge I need a second all right [00:05:22] I'll sit in [00:05:24] okay all in favor all okay so we [00:05:30] acknowledge that they exist for you okay [00:05:32] and I will follow up with an email to [00:05:34] you and the town clerk so that Ryan [00:05:37] knows the next steps that he can take [00:05:40] and basically this isn't going to cost [00:05:41] the town anything right this is not [00:05:43] costing the town anything and that's the [00:05:45] difference between accepting a road and [00:05:46] acknowledging a road because if they [00:05:48] accepted it then we have to maintain it [00:05:51] maintain corre this is just [00:05:52] acknowledging basically that is there we [00:05:55] have our own Engineers we have our own [00:05:58] surveys for building specs and all that [00:06:00] which the building department does have [00:06:03] um and everything else so like it's kind [00:06:05] of two different things there okay [00:06:09] that's thank you thank you any other [00:06:12] visitor [00:06:15] comments whoa sorry there sorry jeez a [00:06:18] wild pen on my hand here all right so [00:06:23] um we can go into it we can't go in [00:06:25] early but we can go in late so I [00:06:27] apologize for keeping you waiting [00:06:29] persuade it to Massachusetts General Law [00:06:31] chapter 138 section 12 the board the [00:06:35] select board will hold a public hearing [00:06:37] on May 20th 2024 at 6:30 p.m. municipal [00:06:40] office building 307 Main Street [00:06:43] Gilbertville Massachusetts on an [00:06:45] application for multiple amendments [00:06:47] change of stock interest and change of [00:06:49] manager for ltown Brewing com company [00:06:53] located at 483 Main Street Gilbertville [00:06:56] copy of the application has been [00:06:57] available at the Town Administrator [00:07:00] office at the municipal office building [00:07:02] 307 Main Street in Gilbertville so the [00:07:05] hearing is now open k just whenever [00:07:08] somebody talks just ask them to come up [00:07:09] and because for the minute she's having [00:07:11] a hard time so come up say who they are [00:07:13] like she's not sure where you're from [00:07:16] and just so that the the recording is [00:07:19] picking it up sure is it just verbal or [00:07:22] is it you can just sit up front so that [00:07:24] just right [00:07:26] yeah so I'm Pam spel and I'm with lost [00:07:30] Town's Brewing you're fine everything [00:07:33] moves around [00:07:37] y so you're um changing manager [00:07:42] and change of stock interest right it's [00:07:45] it's the proportion so it now it's now [00:07:48] it's now a woman it's now a women a [00:07:50] woman-owned business majority um we'd [00:07:53] had a third stockholder um who had been [00:07:56] uh our Brewer and he stepped away from [00:07:59] the business [00:07:59] uh family commitments uh health issue um [00:08:04] kind of things and so he stepped away [00:08:06] from the business and so we bought back [00:08:08] his stock and uh that's been reallocated [00:08:11] to myself he was holding the poor [00:08:13] license at the time so I'm also manager [00:08:18] right so I'm taking that over as well [00:08:20] and here is the folder if anybody I have [00:08:27] everything eyes and te and everything [00:08:29] yes I got it all and so you would just [00:08:32] need to sign the license Authority [00:08:35] certification [00:08:37] okay if you [00:08:40] so I don't have any issues do anybody [00:08:42] have any questions or concerns or [00:08:45] anything no anyone from the audience [00:08:49] have any concerns speak up now okay I [00:08:52] close the hearing first correct before [00:08:54] we vote okay I will now close the public [00:08:58] hearing [00:09:03] 641 and I move that we uh Grant the uh [00:09:07] petition [00:09:09] second any discussion all in favor I I [00:09:21] I thank you good luck you're wel thank [00:09:23] you and this is Alex that's with me he's [00:09:26] my current Brewer hi nice to meet you [00:09:28] good to meet you as well with us for [00:09:30] over 2 and A2 years and he went and got [00:09:32] certified out in [00:09:34] Chicago and has his Brewer certification [00:09:37] certificate there we go certification so [00:09:41] yeah it's issued by seil they're a [00:09:42] organization out of Germany nice yeah [00:09:46] but we thank you very much we'll I'll be [00:09:48] in touch with you great thank [00:09:50] you all right this is sewer uh [00:09:53] abatements yep there's two abatements [00:09:56] here um both are [00:09:59] vacant properties um the soltius is the [00:10:03] hairdresser so her daughter brought that [00:10:05] in and then Douglas and Maria Taylor [00:10:07] heard from their neighbors or somebody [00:10:10] that if they had a vacant property [00:10:11] they're remodeling it right now so [00:10:13] that's why it's vacant so they [00:10:16] understand that they will be um renting [00:10:18] it out and that the town the select [00:10:20] board are not you know real big [00:10:22] proponents of just having vacant [00:10:24] properties to have vacant properties so [00:10:26] they will be um they will be renting it [00:10:29] out when when it's when it's [00:10:31] um all renovated the the the salon is [00:10:35] now closed she passed [00:10:38] away o up here yep no not Su [00:10:42] not well I don't know I she said it was [00:10:45] Salon might the only Salon yeah it's [00:10:48] couldn't be no cuz it's hold [00:10:51] on beans it's not the it's not the right [00:10:54] name Lind Linda suus was a hat I don't [00:10:57] remember where she was and Shell's on it [00:10:59] yes and they submitted both of these [00:11:01] applicants submitted everything that [00:11:03] they supposed to which is right too if [00:11:05] anybody wants to see [00:11:07] it and so if you move to approve these [00:11:11] abatements you'll need three signatures [00:11:13] on each page the amounts what's on them [00:11:15] the 964 69 and [00:11:18] 85733 that's [00:11:21] right [00:11:27] motion a motion [00:11:30] for the sore abatement to approve the S [00:11:32] batement make a motion to approve the [00:11:34] sore [00:11:35] abatements uh second it any discussion [00:11:39] all in favor I [00:11:46] I closing the annual town meeting [00:11:51] warrant you need a motion for [00:11:55] that uh yeah we're going to go through [00:11:58] it yeah we going to discuss it or [00:12:07] mhm well there's no other there were no [00:12:10] other submissions it's now closed so I [00:12:12] mean yeah the the time the deadline has [00:12:15] passed right so there's no no way to add [00:12:17] anything [00:12:21] else the only change that I will say [00:12:24] Ryan and I have been going through this [00:12:26] constantly um is the revolving fund for [00:12:30] the Board of Health not to exceed 10,000 [00:12:33] but it should be not to exceed [00:12:35] 20,000 because that's how they were [00:12:37] going to fund their department now was [00:12:38] through right revolving F so you're [00:12:41] going to change the cap to 20 I'm going [00:12:43] to change it to 20 yeah well I'm [00:12:45] proposing that the board changes it's 20 [00:12:48] thank [00:12:51] you um so everything is pretty much [00:12:55] standard um that is on every Year all [00:13:00] the articles there is a Citizens [00:13:03] petition [00:13:05] um sorry you know what do you have [00:13:12] I did you what about I sent you earlier [00:13:15] today did you get that one I'm trying to [00:13:18] that's what I'm trying to find any last [00:13:21] minute [00:13:23] changes no but the the budget is being [00:13:25] talked about by the finance committee so [00:13:28] you're looking for for a hard copy here [00:13:30] we go here we go here we go here we go [00:13:34] Warr is it in the packet it is it's [00:13:38] right in the packet that I sent today I [00:13:39] sent a new one with everything in there [00:13:41] yeah okay here it is okay so all of the [00:13:46] Articles up to article 14 are the [00:13:50] standard articles thank you here's your [00:13:53] ba oh thank [00:13:55] you um [00:14:01] Article [00:14:02] 15 is new it's a Citizens [00:14:06] petition [00:14:08] to take [00:14:11] $88,000 from somewhere and give it to [00:14:15] the Gilbert the library for salary line [00:14:18] and we received a legal opinion that I [00:14:22] forwarded you that is um you know it's [00:14:25] frowned upon to fund mhm any PRI well [00:14:29] it's actually illegal to fund P Private [00:14:32] Industry or private businesses um but [00:14:35] this considering it's a public library [00:14:37] and it's open to the public it's for [00:14:39] free there's a few of the um [00:14:43] requirements that they do not meet they [00:14:45] don't submit their financials to us they [00:14:48] don't circulate with other libraries so [00:14:51] there's a few things um but this is a [00:14:54] Citizens petition so it will be on the [00:14:56] floor right and we [00:14:59] my point well we've been through this [00:15:01] remember before but um there's no way to [00:15:06] know who their direct how their [00:15:08] directors are chosen there's no election [00:15:11] so it just seems again continues to seem [00:15:16] wrong to me right I I I don't disagree [00:15:19] but what I will say is that um if it [00:15:22] goes to vote we need to be prepared to [00:15:24] fund it from something oh yeah it'll go [00:15:26] so y okay yeah I mean I'm still waiting [00:15:30] when when I ask for you know some Mass [00:15:34] General law where it's not legal I mean [00:15:36] because even you know I made the our [00:15:38] seasonal employees have to pay into [00:15:40] retirement they have to pay into oped [00:15:42] right so why we just give it to them and [00:15:45] they do whatever they want with it I [00:15:46] think that's where the legality gets [00:15:48] hooked up and unfortunately it's been [00:15:50] done for years um right and but then it [00:15:52] was stopped because of an audit an audit [00:15:55] was done and they said to not do that [00:15:56] anymore so they cut the funding for the [00:15:58] salary but they continued to fund the [00:16:00] operating budget yeah as we still do [00:16:03] correct correct so um yeah I don't I [00:16:08] don't think it's good practice yeah um [00:16:10] but if it goes to a vote again it'll [00:16:13] probably fly we need to be able to fund [00:16:16] it you know that's my comment on that [00:16:18] I'll speak against it but I'm also chair [00:16:21] of the trustees and last time we did [00:16:24] this I gotus of having an affair with [00:16:27] Sonia Craig right [00:16:30] okay just want you to know that didn't [00:16:32] happen so article [00:16:34] 16 is um basically cleaning up the [00:16:38] capital capital planning committee um [00:16:40] there's somebody on there from the [00:16:41] school committee and they didn't think [00:16:42] that was as appropriate as putting [00:16:43] somebody on there from the planning [00:16:45] board so they were removing the school [00:16:47] Committee Member and taking them from [00:16:49] they're they're not no um cuz the school [00:16:52] it's oh sorry it's it's he was supposed [00:16:56] Ryan was supposed to fix this okay and [00:16:58] he didn't [00:16:59] is Ryan here no oh it might be in here I [00:17:02] I have it might this is the original you [00:17:04] have to sign so it might be in [00:17:07] here yeah one member of the school [00:17:09] committee we decided today should but [00:17:12] it's still yeah it's it's here [00:17:15] I'll right and just like I suggested at [00:17:18] the meeting today let's just leave it [00:17:20] for now but no anyway yes so the [00:17:24] committee voted to bring it to the board [00:17:26] to change from school committee to play [00:17:29] board so it'll say the committee shall [00:17:30] consist of seven members which shall be [00:17:32] comprised of one member of the select [00:17:34] board one member of the finance [00:17:35] committee one member of the planning [00:17:37] board one member of the board of [00:17:38] assessors one at large member [00:17:40] representing the town's people the town [00:17:42] Treasurer is a non voting member the [00:17:44] Town Administrator as a non- voting [00:17:45] member the Corum shell consists of a [00:17:47] majority of the voting members so it did [00:17:50] just change just the planning [00:17:52] board if you want to do that again it's [00:17:55] your call it's just their recommendation [00:17:57] I think we should take a vote on that [00:18:02] so I will just say the capital planning [00:18:03] if you don't mind me um giving a little [00:18:05] explanation obviously you're here you [00:18:07] can too um they just thought you know [00:18:09] with capital going on there to have the [00:18:12] school here just because they represent [00:18:14] 50% of the budget doesn't mean that [00:18:16] they're going to help represent uh the [00:18:18] capital needs of the town so uh planning [00:18:22] since they are involved in all of you [00:18:24] know zoning and you know any kind of if [00:18:27] you're going to anything anything [00:18:29] happening changing ones to twos changing [00:18:31] you know the planning board typically [00:18:33] knows about all of the development and [00:18:35] things like that so that's why they [00:18:36] thought that that would be more [00:18:37] appropriate that's all some of us did [00:18:40] some of us feel that with school [00:18:42] committee members from towns actually [00:18:47] working to change the way the school [00:18:49] does it the school is not monolithic the [00:18:53] school does a lot of things that it [00:18:55] wants to do and could change all sorts [00:18:57] of things to save money but you know [00:19:01] it's kind of like a done deal and [00:19:03] they'll never vote for that and [00:19:04] everything so I'm I've been kind of [00:19:07] against that but if we decide to put it [00:19:10] that way the way Nicole just read we [00:19:14] should probably vote on it to have it in [00:19:16] the minutes that we did so cuz what [00:19:20] we're doing is changing the layout which [00:19:22] comes to us from a town meeting in the [00:19:25] past correct correct so [00:19:29] do I have a motion to vote on this I [00:19:32] would make that motion I don't mean to [00:19:34] step all over okay you you can make the [00:19:37] motion [00:19:39] goe I'll second it well he hasn't made [00:19:41] it yet has he yeah I move that uh we use [00:19:45] uh Ryan's new language I [00:19:52] second okay any discussion other [00:19:55] discussion just more complaints okay and [00:19:59] then I oh I'm so sorry favor I are I [00:20:03] okay so we're putting that on to that's [00:20:06] going to stay on the warrant it's going [00:20:07] to stay on the warrant the way [00:20:10] it correct okay um and then SE article [00:20:14] 17 is so um it's allowing the moderator [00:20:18] to use handheld electronic devices [00:20:20] secret ballot or other means to make and [00:20:22] tally votes and that was by a Citizens [00:20:24] petition as well okay okay I can also do [00:20:28] a [00:20:31] vote well that's not a secret no doesn't [00:20:35] have to be secret well that's that's [00:20:37] what this is trying to this is what is [00:20:39] trying to accomplish so people can vote [00:20:41] right the way they want it's up to the [00:20:45] moderator to call whether it's going to [00:20:46] be a secret ballot or not but if it's [00:20:49] going to be a secret ballot there's a [00:20:51] lot of logistics to go to go into so [00:20:54] this tries to smooth that out yeah U [00:20:57] last time we went through through this [00:20:59] there was a lot of standing ballot [00:21:01] standing voting Stu which I thought was [00:21:03] outrageously unfair but that's just yeah [00:21:08] well it doesn't keep it secret that's [00:21:10] the if that's the purpose Campbell had [00:21:12] us facing each other so everybody could [00:21:14] see each other oh good [00:21:17] okay so are we good with this one you [00:21:19] want to I am everybody okay with this [00:21:24] was [00:21:25] fine um and then there's one more [00:21:27] article and that's article 18 and that [00:21:30] was submitted by Bill M [00:21:33] um pretty much I believe it's kind of [00:21:37] redundant because this is already [00:21:39] required but Bill if you want to explain [00:21:41] it yep um in the existing bylaw there's [00:21:43] a clause that it say um an additional 45 [00:21:47] days after [00:21:49] approval [00:21:51] and and basically I'm taking that [00:21:53] language out and we just follow the open [00:21:55] meeting law and um put in a requirement [00:21:59] that everybody does the train that's [00:22:02] available the open meeting law training [00:22:04] conflict of interest training and the [00:22:06] record keeping and basically it's it's [00:22:10] worded so the board itself or committee [00:22:13] or [00:22:14] subcommittee once they approve the [00:22:16] meeting [00:22:17] minutes they Pro they put it to whatever [00:22:21] town website we use that's approved and [00:22:25] and then they send a copy to Ryan so [00:22:27] Ryan doesn't have to do all this orate C [00:22:31] for that [00:22:32] matter um so everybody does have to take [00:22:35] open meeting all training that's for [00:22:36] sure and they also have to take conflict [00:22:38] of interest R yeah everybody has to do [00:22:40] that that's part of it yeah so I mean it [00:22:44] just clears it up I mean if you [00:22:49] um does this change you've changed the [00:22:53] number of days I no it follow those the [00:22:56] Mass general laws which are [00:22:59] Che out the existing days that are in [00:23:01] our bylaws currently so I give you an [00:23:03] example if if we have a board that meets [00:23:06] once a month and let's say the first [00:23:08] meeting is in January they have their [00:23:11] meeting by the third meeting they're [00:23:13] allowed to approve January's meetings so [00:23:17] you're talking March and then we have a [00:23:19] town bylaw that allows another 45 days [00:23:21] on top of that for it to be posted so [00:23:24] you're talking miday for a January [00:23:27] meeting [00:23:29] so where's the transparency like if [00:23:31] somebody wanted to know what's going on [00:23:33] in these board they don't [00:23:34] know so it just I say we follow the [00:23:38] master General law an open meeting and [00:23:40] make it you know transparent just make [00:23:42] it more upfront people want to know [00:23:45] what's going on they can they can find [00:23:48] out can I ask a question H can I ask a [00:23:51] question yeah um so I'm just so if [00:23:53] you're what are you saying now if if [00:23:55] they have a meeting in January and they [00:23:57] only meet once a month when do they have [00:23:58] to have their minutes in by technically [00:24:00] March according to P law they have three [00:24:03] meetings by the third so you're just [00:24:05] trying to get rid of the extra 45 days [00:24:07] that's it pretty much yeah and you gave [00:24:09] me originally you gave me the new one [00:24:10] and I was like I was hoping you were [00:24:11] going to redline it because I I'm not [00:24:13] going to go through it though well I I [00:24:15] gave you the existing bylaw right and it [00:24:17] and it and then I gave you the the new [00:24:21] version that I wrote up yes exactly but [00:24:23] what I meant was is you know it was [00:24:25] today and it was too late for me to sit [00:24:26] and go through both to see exactly what [00:24:28] was changed right and I just I don't [00:24:32] know Ryan kind of thought it wasn't [00:24:34] necessary I can show you where it's [00:24:36] required by the law when I spoke like [00:24:38] you know what I mean it's in here he's [00:24:40] saying training is not required training [00:24:42] is required training is a big thing and [00:24:45] it like so how do you know if you're [00:24:47] doing something right if you're not [00:24:48] school or having an idea of what you're [00:24:50] supposed to be doing well we have to [00:24:51] take the training for open meeting and [00:24:53] conflict of interest regular I mean [00:24:56] every I I've done it it does [00:24:59] yeah mhm so I don't know about record [00:25:01] keeping training okay is that what we [00:25:04] talking about here with the minutes to [00:25:07] some degree yeah cuz it goes to Ryan the [00:25:09] clerk after they're approved so he has [00:25:11] to take record training yeah but he's [00:25:16] he's a certified cler do I have to take [00:25:18] record no you you don't you just have to [00:25:20] do open meeting law and conflicted so I [00:25:23] have to do that anyway right okay so and [00:25:26] I just want to be clear cuz some times [00:25:29] cuz I just took minutes today [00:25:32] so so we're at uh a trustees meeting of [00:25:36] the library MH and we go through what [00:25:38] happened now the minutes are voted on [00:25:42] ideally at the next [00:25:44] meeting but if something happens then we [00:25:49] have two more [00:25:52] meetings to vote on those minutes of [00:25:55] January we have till the March meeting [00:25:58] correct [00:25:59] it's January February be a month [00:26:02] February to March be two [00:26:04] months 3 [00:26:09] months we meet on the first Thursday of [00:26:11] the month so we meet the first Thursday [00:26:14] in [00:26:15] January and we have minutes of that [00:26:18] meeting to look at the first Thursday of [00:26:22] February and if there's a question or [00:26:25] something we have to put it off we don't [00:26:28] make a quarum or whatever then we go to [00:26:31] the first Thursday [00:26:33] of [00:26:35] March and that's the drop dead date yeah [00:26:39] to be in compliance [00:26:40] yeah you have three [00:26:43] meetings well I have three meetings the [00:26:46] minutes come out of the first meeting [00:26:48] right you can't vote on the minutes of a [00:26:50] meeting no I get that but you you have a [00:26:53] whole month right and you hope you have [00:26:57] it within that month [00:26:59] before generate a meeting or meeting [00:27:01] minutes right to discuss at the next [00:27:05] meeting to be discussed at the second [00:27:07] meeting right right but the first [00:27:10] meeting you can't do anything no cuz [00:27:12] you're making [00:27:16] that so basically it says after it's [00:27:19] approved in our town B it says after [00:27:22] it's approved by the you know the [00:27:23] meeting the whatever board okay you get [00:27:27] 45 days on top of that to post it and [00:27:33] and basically you're granting okay 45 [00:27:36] days you're talking another month and a [00:27:39] half on a board that say meets once a [00:27:43] month well as far as the posting goes [00:27:46] pretty much it happens [00:27:49] quick when the the it's it's voted [00:27:53] on just and you say that this three I'm [00:27:57] just going if the three meetings are [00:27:59] being counted correctly cuz some that [00:28:02] that could seem sudden well I don't want [00:28:04] to go to Town Council for everything [00:28:07] right no I mean you can actually the [00:28:11] well you can send an email to the [00:28:12] attorney general and ask them for [00:28:14] clarification you like so if you have a [00:28:16] meeting in which you take minutes mhm do [00:28:19] you have three meetings from that [00:28:22] meeting I see where you're going with us [00:28:25] well we can't vote on the minutes [00:28:27] tonight of the meeting tonight [00:28:31] correct and I don't know if it's fair to [00:28:35] make people well you can't deliberate on [00:28:38] it till the next [00:28:39] meeting so you can't go over the minutes [00:28:41] until that meeting right and then then [00:28:46] easily there could be you know we don't [00:28:48] have a quote on that yet so we don't [00:28:50] know how to do with that and that makes [00:28:53] it you're up against the wall on that [00:28:56] last meeting [00:28:59] or is it three meetings after the [00:29:02] meeting in which the minutes were [00:29:06] taken oh [00:29:12] right regardless I mean [00:29:15] I I mean what I'm suggesting is the 45 [00:29:20] days removal of the 45 days and and [00:29:25] basically I I changed the language as [00:29:28] far as the approved town website which [00:29:30] is you know cuz let's say down the road [00:29:32] we vote to approve a certain website for [00:29:35] all our local government broadcast and [00:29:37] know publishing we don't have to change [00:29:39] the bylaws it's the way it you know what [00:29:42] I mean it's still in here it's the [00:29:45] approved by the board whatever is [00:29:47] approved at that time yes right instead [00:29:50] of listing the actual website or the the [00:29:55] address so right now it's like my town [00:29:57] go [00:29:59] SL [00:30:01] 01031 m.org or town of [00:30:06] hardw that's not the official posting [00:30:08] but that's jly posts everything on there [00:30:10] but the official posting is my because [00:30:12] we don't have a full-time clerk okay to [00:30:15] be able to be available to stamp stamp [00:30:19] agendas a lot of times use it and I just [00:30:23] I'll just follow up with the clerk says [00:30:25] that this is unnecessary so if you want [00:30:27] to go by with the clerk says who is the [00:30:29] keeper of records that I just wanted to [00:30:31] put that out there well just he made [00:30:34] reference that it's it's not required by [00:30:37] law and right in here it is required and [00:30:41] this is the document he gave me guide [00:30:43] for members of public boards and [00:30:44] commissions no either way you know if [00:30:47] we're going to put it on I guess I'll [00:30:48] just take a motion to accept it into the [00:30:50] warrant [00:30:58] I make a motion that we add this to the [00:31:14] warrant I'll second it any discussion [00:31:18] any further discussion I think it's [00:31:22] unnecessary I worry about breaking the [00:31:24] law all the time or being accused of [00:31:30] so just just [00:31:33] transparency nothing wrong with [00:31:35] it all in favor all [00:31:40] I opposed yeah I think it's [00:31:49] redundant [00:31:51] okay well I have it for you to sign then [00:31:58] Sandy always has this sign here but I [00:32:00] took them [00:32:05] off do you want just this or you want [00:32:07] the whole thing no just the signature [00:32:13] pages going on [00:32:15] there oh it's stapled but then you had a [00:32:17] paper clip some some of it was [00:32:20] stapled [00:32:23] still is this the one this okay do you [00:32:26] have to sign all of these [00:32:33] no you just have to sign one yeah or how [00:32:36] come I have so many copies I don't [00:32:39] know how many copies do you have and I [00:32:43] feel like four to post I have [00:32:47] um [00:32:49] six plus the [00:32:51] original and this is what he gave you oh [00:32:54] maybe he was I'm sorry guys this is the [00:32:56] one he wants you to sign [00:32:58] paper that's what I was looking for [00:33:00] these were just copies for you [00:33:02] sorry sorry [00:33:04] sorry so you don't need to sign that [00:33:06] bill cuz you have to sign [00:33:08] again you just practice you can practice [00:33:11] there you [00:33:16] go this is the fancy paper it's heavy so [00:33:21] I was that's what I was feeling for when [00:33:23] you handed me the paper oh okay thanks I [00:33:25] this doesn't feel like that Brian just [00:33:27] handed this me when I was at the capital [00:33:28] meeting I'm like what is this okay now I [00:33:30] see okay okay so here's that [00:33:34] for okay so [00:33:38] um I mean we went through the warrant [00:33:40] but we're going to have to go through [00:33:42] everything with fincom um all the money [00:33:45] right and the wees and the whats I [00:33:49] assume they'll come in when they're [00:33:51] ready or no I can go get them do you [00:33:53] want to um or we can go through a few [00:33:56] and then yeah yeah um [00:33:58] intermal agreement I know I don't know [00:34:01] how late this will be for you Scott um [00:34:05] intermal agreement with [00:34:08] Rutland well oh yes um things I don't [00:34:13] know if you recall a few months back the [00:34:16] West Brookfield ambulance was went to a [00:34:18] call and they were coming back and a [00:34:20] tree fell right here on Main Street I [00:34:21] actually saw it happen and destroyed [00:34:23] their ambulance so while they're waiting [00:34:26] for another one because obviously [00:34:28] they're not just ready for everybody to [00:34:29] take they can uh borrow one from Rutland [00:34:33] and KP law wrote the intermunicipal [00:34:35] agreement and Rutland agreed with it so [00:34:38] um you just have to sign it and then [00:34:41] Rutland will sign it and uh and they'll [00:34:43] be able to borrow the bus so I did give [00:34:45] you um the letter from Dan Mcall today [00:34:50] so it's just explains um that they're [00:34:53] going to be you know just borrowing it [00:34:55] um p y yep it's got an insurance binder [00:35:00] and then there's the the intermunicipal [00:35:02] agreement that again David Jenkins wrote [00:35:05] up [00:35:06] so I don't have any issues with [00:35:09] this no I it's great it's a great thing [00:35:14] you just you you'll just vote to for her [00:35:16] to sign it I move that we uh that we [00:35:19] sign this agreement [00:35:24] I um all in favor all right all right [00:35:27] all [00:35:39] and accepting the Memorial Day [00:35:42] schedule that uh Ryan sent [00:35:45] us earlier or last week I think he sent [00:35:49] us the schedule if everyone's okay with [00:35:50] that we'll just take a take a vote to [00:35:53] accept the going on [00:35:58] I move that we uh accept the uh uh [00:36:03] proposed [00:36:05] approval proposed [00:36:08] festivities [00:36:10] par all in favor [00:36:16] I day approval of the May 6 meeting [00:36:20] minutes [00:36:30] does any everybody [00:36:35] them any [00:36:38] issues I look that we accept the minutes [00:36:41] from May 6 a second [00:36:44] motion all all in favor [00:36:54] I okay more scholarship the say no and I [00:36:59] um reached out to superintendent muha [00:37:02] today and she assured me that she was [00:37:04] going to get back to me um she was going [00:37:07] to reach out to guidance but I I hadn't [00:37:09] heard back so I don't know um but [00:37:11] Pathfinder I sent you the email that [00:37:13] they didn't senors no and um and so I [00:37:17] also said you might want to just give [00:37:21] the scholarships to the school and let [00:37:23] them decide who gets them at the end of [00:37:26] the year or you can say not this year I [00:37:29] guess not this year yeah I think I I [00:37:33] just assume get just to have an essay [00:37:36] them and and we can certainly justes how [00:37:39] does anyone feel about putting it out [00:37:41] there that we would take them at our [00:37:43] next meeting see if a little extension [00:37:45] can okay prompt progress yeah I mean yep [00:37:49] we reach out to the school and for the [00:37:50] guidance and well that's what she's been [00:37:52] doing um but yeah just put it back in [00:37:55] their lap that they can have until the [00:37:57] next meeting and if we don't get them by [00:38:00] there I guess we just keep investing the [00:38:02] money money will pile up I I mean I [00:38:06] didn't know it would be so hard to give [00:38:07] away money the superintendent's name is [00:38:10] mua yes call [00:38:13] M and I see we have some um uh committee [00:38:18] reports committee reports yeah um any [00:38:22] other signatures yeah one signature um I [00:38:25] did want to just go through the M um [00:38:29] miscellaneous correspondence if that's [00:38:30] all right um I got an email from it's in [00:38:33] your packet but I got an email from um [00:38:36] Eileen Ley at Comcast regarding [00:38:41] um funding that's you know it winds down [00:38:45] through the end of the year but Comcast [00:38:46] is offering $14 credit to all customers [00:38:49] Comcast now offers affordable prepaid [00:38:52] Internet um so there's there are [00:38:56] different packages that are available to [00:38:57] people they just need to contact Comcast [00:39:00] if they um feel that they would be um [00:39:04] eligible for any of these programs and [00:39:06] um and try to get into one of them I [00:39:10] have to call Comcast and then uh [00:39:12] Solitude Lake management will be on [00:39:14] Hardwick pond on May 30th conducting [00:39:17] treatment using a sonar Genesis and [00:39:20] there will be no swimming until May 31st [00:39:22] no livestock watering until May 31st no [00:39:24] drinking until May 31st and no [00:39:26] irrigation until August [00:39:28] 14th [00:39:31] okay that's been an ongoing project for [00:39:34] y [00:39:37] okay um and then the only thing to sign [00:39:40] is the um certificate of appreciation [00:39:43] that you had asked for at the last [00:39:45] meeting for um Frederick and Jane de [00:39:47] Bross oh okay perfect yep good and I [00:39:51] will go get the finance Comm [00:40:00] she was born and raised in [00:40:04] anoi French same thing right [00:40:08] M you got to jump around yeah that's the [00:40:12] only that's the downfall that's what I [00:40:13] was saying to you the other night like [00:40:15] it's hard that's why like I I printed [00:40:18] out an agenda because it's like trying [00:40:20] to find it all in the yeah it's like [00:40:23] reading through the you know [00:40:26] hey okay [00:40:28] yeah you know you know we typically go [00:40:31] in order so it's not a huge deal but [00:40:33] then you know you're looking for your [00:40:35] agenda or at least you know I am because [00:40:38] I'm trying to stay on a task [00:40:50] but we're meeting again tomorrow night [00:40:53] yes at 6 yes [00:40:58] very nice yeah that's sure I'll [00:41:00] appreciate that thanks ni [00:41:05] M Scott did you bring your proposed [00:41:07] contract yeah do you know how to use the [00:41:10] copy machine yeah who needs a copy of [00:41:13] Scott's contract if it's the last one [00:41:15] you sent I the one I made a copy I'm [00:41:18] good and it's in your packet Bill do you [00:41:20] want it um please if you don't mind can [00:41:22] you make copies how many three okay I [00:41:26] forgot to make copies I sent it [00:41:27] digitally but [00:41:32] I've can you guys sit up front for the [00:41:35] microphones [00:41:48] absolutely no [00:41:52] guns slots [00:41:57] Madam chair thank you for having us in [00:41:59] thanks for coming yeah I appreciate you [00:42:01] uh putting us together so we can kind of [00:42:04] walk through yeah this is this is good [00:42:07] and I I I will I want to thank you for [00:42:09] all the work that you have been doing on [00:42:11] this but I also want to say can we meet [00:42:14] earlier next year yeah please cuz I'm [00:42:17] having like anxiety over town meeting [00:42:19] being in 3 weeks yeah and we're just [00:42:21] sitting down for the first time [00:42:23] essentially together to go through this [00:42:25] yeah absolutely so it would be a huge [00:42:27] goal to work [00:42:29] on maybe meeting at least in in April [00:42:32] yeah [00:42:34] yep so uh one of the things that was [00:42:37] really holding us up was the school yeah [00:42:39] um and um we had an opportunity to meet [00:42:42] with the school Glenn and I actually did [00:42:45] uh we had a very very productive meeting [00:42:46] with them um I have to say that they [00:42:49] were um very open and [00:42:51] transparent um watch we spent what [00:42:54] almost two hours 3 [00:42:55] hours um went through the entire process [00:42:59] with them um really got a good [00:43:01] understanding of what they have to go [00:43:03] through what their budget process was [00:43:05] all about um we did a lot of listening [00:43:09] asked a lot of questions uh we presented [00:43:11] a bunch of uh questions in advance they [00:43:13] provided all the information for us we [00:43:16] were pretty happy with with that yeah um [00:43:20] and uh surpress look forward to working [00:43:23] with them going forward that's good yeah [00:43:25] yeah good real happy with [00:43:28] and they came in with what what we [00:43:29] needed yeah which is excellent yeah so [00:43:33] yeah oh [00:43:35] yeah it is and it typically is um it's [00:43:39] just always it's a big budget and [00:43:41] they've got a big job to put that budget [00:43:43] together I I I get it just you [00:43:46] know now we got a big job we're a little [00:43:49] town yeah right the rest of the budget [00:43:50] we don't want to right we don't want to [00:43:52] have to you know really cut our services [00:43:55] because of that so I think we're I think [00:43:58] we're there where there's a couple of [00:44:00] items that are open for discussion [00:44:02] tonight okay did did you all did you get [00:44:05] did you send in the balance sheet all [00:44:07] right so um based on uh uh based on the [00:44:12] balance sheet we're we're coming up with [00:44:15] a [00:44:16] $23,000 actually a little bit less than [00:44:18] that $8,000 um difference that we have [00:44:21] to put in so it's going to be about [00:44:24] $115,000 um Surplus so we can balance [00:44:27] this budget with articles for [00:44:31] stabilization Capital stabilization snow [00:44:34] and ice unid bills okay the difference [00:44:38] that we have right now though is there's [00:44:39] a we have a $50,000 budget discrepancy [00:44:43] between what we're [00:44:45] recommending and what um what's called [00:44:48] the uh the board of Select me have on [00:44:50] their budgets now we have fully funded [00:44:54] schools fire police [00:44:57] Highway based on the everyone's [00:45:00] everyone's budget request we have done [00:45:02] that okay the two items that are open [00:45:05] for discussion um the town clerk it's [00:45:10] definitely one that we absolutely [00:45:13] understand where Ryan's coming from we [00:45:16] agree with uh what he's what he's asking [00:45:18] for we just don't know how to fund [00:45:21] it um and then there's Mark you want to [00:45:24] go through the uh kind of the Delta that [00:45:26] we're coming up with [00:45:28] that Delta [00:45:33] is it Services [00:45:37] $6,000 all board expenses [00:45:42] $6,000 [00:45:44] administrative uh Administrator salary [00:45:48] $88,000 and town clerk of 31,000 yeah to [00:45:53] that's a total of 51,000 so it's just [00:45:55] four items that we [00:45:57] we don't have a full agreement with the [00:45:59] numbers that the board is s over to [00:46:05] us so is there a line any you want us to [00:46:09] refer to to do we just go through it I [00:46:13] hate to be whatever yeah all boards [00:46:15] expensive start at the top and just work [00:46:16] our way those are the four items those [00:46:18] are the those are the items we have [00:46:20] discrepancies with that we have to [00:46:22] figure out how to fund um we have some [00:46:25] ideas we have some thoughts we have some [00:46:26] comments [00:46:28] um but that's where we got to B come up [00:46:31] with 50 [00:46:31] grand um yeah I don't [00:46:36] know so question on the IT [00:46:40] services what exactly is that providing [00:46:44] you like remote login taking care of [00:46:46] your stuff all of that so our it [00:46:48] provider is offsite so they are remote [00:46:50] or they come in it's um our emails it's [00:46:55] software it's equipment our finance all [00:46:57] the Vadar everything that we have that [00:47:00] is computer related or you know [00:47:04] information technology related is in [00:47:06] that line item and that's a $50,000 [00:47:09] request by the select by the select [00:47:12] board we just don't understand it was 36 [00:47:15] last year but we're over that budget [00:47:18] already [00:47:19] ni [00:47:21] um who had it you had you had the um can [00:47:25] I see your packet [00:47:27] I sent them all of the line items oh we [00:47:31] have those and you had the um you know [00:47:35] the oh [00:47:37] that's we leave that [00:47:41] in I think they're over by it's over [00:47:43] like 14 and to be honest you know the [00:47:45] way that the town builds their budget [00:47:47] isn't the way that the new finance [00:47:48] committee does right so this is the [00:47:51] little Bible that the town is used that [00:47:53] Jen is most comfortable with and [00:47:57] um [00:47:59] so oh thanks so we funded [00:48:03] um you know we funded everything the way [00:48:05] that we thought was appropriate with [00:48:07] still being under 2 and a half you saw [00:48:09] that so um they took all of the revenue [00:48:14] and then disperse it out I didn't take [00:48:17] any free cash or you know I just used [00:48:19] our our tax money and our state money so [00:48:24] um you know there there's 50,000 [00:48:27] difference [00:48:28] because you know they're they have oh [00:48:30] thanks they have more than um what we [00:48:34] have in free cash being allocated to [00:48:35] articles so they're taking some of the [00:48:37] operating budget money and putting it [00:48:39] toward the Articles so that's where that [00:48:41] difference is [00:48:43] right um well we just there a $50,000 [00:48:46] difference in the budget that's where [00:48:48] it's that's where it is right because [00:48:50] again I don't have any I don't have the [00:48:52] articles in [00:48:54] here well the 50,000 has nothing to do [00:48:56] with [00:48:58] so oh I see what you mean so I see okay [00:49:01] so the $50,000 difference sorry you're [00:49:03] right is what he's taken out he took [00:49:05] $9,000 out of town [00:49:07] administrator he wants to take the rest [00:49:10] out of it you know back to 36 so that's [00:49:13] the difference I can see in here okay so [00:49:15] that's what you want to talk about those [00:49:16] are the decisions that you guys have to [00:49:17] make actually the [00:49:20] $36,000 we we moved it up to 44 because [00:49:23] you took 8,000 out of the accountant [00:49:25] software the contract m and put it into [00:49:27] the right so that that would give you [00:49:31] 44 but if we're already 14 over this [00:49:34] year that's the six we have to recognize [00:49:37] that and figure out that's it we're over [00:49:40] by about 14 right now Kelly understand [00:49:42] we need to understand why you over this [00:49:44] that's what I'm asking the same question [00:49:45] no I'm asking the same question when we [00:49:47] get a good answer as to why you over and [00:49:48] why you have to spend it then maybe [00:49:49] we'll budget more next year maybe we had [00:49:51] some extraordinary items this year that [00:49:52] cost to go over right or you know who's [00:49:55] controlling that budget who controls it [00:49:57] spend who's watching [00:50:00] that Nicole I'm watching it I watch [00:50:03] every budget so over $6,000 why are we [00:50:05] over by $6,000 we're over by [00:50:08] 13,700 so why are we over again and I [00:50:11] said it I said it to them earlier it's [00:50:14] because we consistently underfund line [00:50:16] items and they're going over we there's [00:50:18] nothing on here that's o [00:50:20] extraordinary um there it's all [00:50:23] everything's going to CM Geeks Who is [00:50:25] our it paragus who is our email and [00:50:29] um and zoom which was 900 um that's you [00:50:33] it's it's all it is everything here is [00:50:36] because of um what did we spend last [00:50:39] year I don't have that okay if we know [00:50:42] what we spent last year that would and [00:50:43] what we spent this year and why we were [00:50:45] roll I want to know the differences if [00:50:46] there $6,000 difference give me the [00:50:48] $6,000 and then we can make a decision I [00:50:50] don't have that I don't have that right [00:50:52] now either I could have gotten it [00:50:54] earlier but well those are those are [00:50:55] simple questions that need that need the [00:50:57] answer the all boards expense $6,000 [00:51:01] same thing why are we over you why are [00:51:03] we overspending on all boards is [00:51:05] somebody watching that who watches that [00:51:07] how how are we controlling that those [00:51:09] are simple things that we can control as [00:51:10] a [00:51:12] town you know yeah I mean we [00:51:15] can it's [00:51:17] $6,000 it's a lot of money yeah said [00:51:19] $500 a month M we have our budget our [00:51:23] operating budget is you look at the [00:51:27] components that make up our operating [00:51:31] [Applause] [00:51:36] budget our operating budget for for the [00:51:39] town is $2.6 [00:51:42] million now that excludes School W the [00:51:46] County Retirement Debt Service and [00:51:47] benefit insurance costs that's all we're [00:51:50] managing here is $2.6 million $6,000 on [00:51:52] 2.6 is a big number [00:51:56] okay [00:52:00] mhm so that's why we need to we need to [00:52:03] understand we just we we we're okay with [00:52:06] if it's a legitimate increase but again [00:52:09] how are we going to fund it the the [00:52:10] discussion that that we had and this is [00:52:13] kind of an interesting perspective that [00:52:16] I can see the board's taking here our [00:52:17] board is taking we have [00:52:20] $130,000 for for fire $843,000 for [00:52:24] police 5008 86 or is 56 5 86,000 for [00:52:31] Highway and and finance department at [00:52:35] $316,000 what funding [00:52:38] employ competent managers of all four of [00:52:41] those [00:52:42] departments they should manage their [00:52:44] budget that's if if it includes those [00:52:47] expenses that are called all other [00:52:50] expenses those people should be [00:52:53] responsible for controlling that part of [00:52:55] the budget so we're talking about [00:52:56] something that's fully funded we had a [00:52:58] percent was it 71% 7% of the budg 70% of [00:53:01] the budget is in the hands of people [00:53:03] that are being paid quite a a fairly [00:53:05] good amount of money to manage their own [00:53:08] departments MH they don't need help [00:53:11] managing the Departments it's these [00:53:13] other things that are killing [00:53:16] us so if you look at um it all boards [00:53:20] that's every Department every Department [00:53:23] uses that and I will say yes the police [00:53:26] they have big budgets they they they go [00:53:28] into deficits on certain line items and [00:53:30] go and fund them with different line [00:53:32] items I mean it's the way that it [00:53:35] is and I believe that with the way that [00:53:39] we had done it Kelly I know you have [00:53:41] gone through this um that we were able [00:53:44] to comfortably put money into these line [00:53:47] items to be able to you know just have [00:53:50] our government services adequate and not [00:53:53] always um you know I know that there was [00:53:55] a time when people would would bring [00:53:58] their own pens from home because there [00:54:00] was no money to put to fund it we're not [00:54:03] in that situation right now we've had [00:54:05] two Reserve fund transfer requests this [00:54:08] year that's it if we were overspending [00:54:10] every single budget as you say we'd have [00:54:12] a line outside of our door doing re [00:54:15] Reserve fund transfers we don't we had [00:54:17] but two for the year two for the year so [00:54:21] I feel that we have that the budgets [00:54:23] that we had last year are fully funded [00:54:26] there's been some increases that we we [00:54:28] took into account this year police was [00:54:29] one of them Highway was another adding a [00:54:33] um a [00:54:34] superintendent um we we were able to [00:54:36] comfortably do that with this budget [00:54:40] process the only difference we have [00:54:42] right now are those four line items that [00:54:44] we we're we don't [00:54:47] have a way to fund it and I think it's [00:54:50] absolutely fine if you level fund all of [00:54:52] the services the it the what are the [00:54:56] other three besides the administrator [00:54:58] that's going to be a conversation but [00:54:59] what are the other ones it all it all [00:55:03] board's expenses administrator in town [00:55:05] clerk that tells 51,000 okay so Town [00:55:08] cler count there's absolutely nothing [00:55:10] wrong with [00:55:12] um level funding those all boards in [00:55:16] it so is the it like a set contract for [00:55:19] the year or as services are used so they [00:55:21] say this year is going to be 50 and then [00:55:25] no we have we have a threee contract but [00:55:26] then they do other they [00:55:28] do anyone goes down if anyone breaks the [00:55:31] computer die you know it's it's all that [00:55:33] come and there extra [00:55:39] chares are we using an [00:55:42] unusually Antiquated system that reques [00:55:45] that much or is that noral no and um you [00:55:49] know definitely one of the reasons is [00:55:50] because we upgraded our software to [00:55:54] merge so all the department can talk [00:55:56] because they couldn't [00:55:58] before so they were they were walking [00:56:00] hand in hand with paper and it was just [00:56:03] there was too many mistakes and this is [00:56:04] the first year we've gone with the [00:56:07] coordinat this is the first full year [00:56:09] that we've had that system but is that a [00:56:12] reoccurring will that be reoccurring so [00:56:16] this like a a subscription fee for the [00:56:18] software or yeah okay we again we pay [00:56:22] Vadar which is our software company [00:56:24] based on the amount of seats that are [00:56:26] yep right [00:56:31] exactly but if we level fund it we're [00:56:33] going to be we're going to be in the [00:56:35] same I have a question or I have a [00:56:38] question we just put out there for an [00:56:40] idea um would the town be open to [00:56:44] volunteer services on it like we put it [00:56:48] out to the community I actually know an [00:56:49] IT guy was a a professional like [00:56:53] topnotch kind of person and we follow [00:56:56] voluntary services so you could level [00:56:59] fund it and then the six grand and other [00:57:02] services and stuff like that he and he [00:57:05] could come in and and work with Nicole [00:57:08] and go over all your systems and and [00:57:10] tell you how you getting your bang for [00:57:12] your buck can look at these contracts [00:57:15] and tell you I [00:57:17] mean Jeff I mean this is Jeff's [00:57:20] wheelhouse I can show you his resume [00:57:23] everything I mean well I mean we have [00:57:25] one more year with this company so [00:57:26] there's no way of getting rid of them [00:57:28] but if you wanted somebody to come in [00:57:29] and do an overview system saying on the [00:57:31] $6,000 part that you you're having [00:57:33] trouble funding the $6,000 is is [00:57:37] is what we're trying to understand is [00:57:39] what did we spend last year what did we [00:57:41] contract before this year and why is [00:57:43] there a difference we don't know what [00:57:44] that answer is right so if we can get [00:57:46] that analysis done and it says Hey [00:57:48] literally it's going to be $6,000 [00:57:50] increase then we have will to make that [00:57:52] change but right now we don't know what [00:57:54] that is and once we know what that is [00:57:57] then we can figure out whether we're [00:57:58] funding it appropriately or not funding [00:58:00] it [00:58:03] appropriately just making a suggestion [00:58:06] all yeah using using local people in [00:58:09] town that that's an expert in this field [00:58:11] if you had somebody that could look at [00:58:13] what contracts we have in place and what [00:58:15] sort of services we're using it might [00:58:17] might help it is one of those uh magical [00:58:20] things that just happen but the retain [00:58:22] services are a fixed fee it's the excess [00:58:25] service so maybe that's that's where [00:58:28] this suggestion here [00:58:32] help we just have to nibble away right [00:58:35] I'm just saying if we level fund it and [00:58:37] put the six grand [00:58:38] aside you know ask me if your volunteer [00:58:44] services from last year was it just we I [00:58:48] think the original was original was 36 [00:58:51] so I [00:58:54] see wasy 23 budget was [00:58:58] 34 20 then 24 was [00:59:02] 36 okay so we are Level [00:59:06] yeah but if we have a three-year [00:59:08] contract and it was 36 last year then [00:59:09] why are we going because we're over like [00:59:11] for whatever reason we're over by almost [00:59:14] 14,000 this year well let's if we can [00:59:16] get an idea of what that is I think that [00:59:18] would help I can get you that answer [00:59:20] tomorrow okay that [00:59:24] great so essentially was it was over [00:59:27] service additional services or whatever [00:59:30] right cover [00:59:32] in [00:59:36] um yeah the the $1,500 on selecting [00:59:40] salaries I'm good with for going I'm [00:59:42] fine with your recommendation did we get [00:59:44] cut again I don't well no it just stay [00:59:47] the same we l a fund you Eric thanks [00:59:50] there was a formula in there for like [00:59:52] $100 a meeting per every meeting that [00:59:54] came to $7,200 [00:59:56] and instead it's $5,700 between the [00:59:58] three of us whatever I'm numbers in [01:00:00] numers out I'm not going to argue about [01:00:02] that the Town Administrator salary [01:00:05] though that is going to be negotiable at [01:00:08] some point when we make a decision [01:00:10] tomorrow or next day [01:00:13] soon we we certainly have some it's why [01:00:16] we some questions on this it's why we [01:00:19] you know um went with the 90 to give us [01:00:23] room to negotiate mhm um [01:00:27] I feel like we have we have to find [01:00:30] that so that we can negotiate [01:00:34] properly so you're going to hire a [01:00:36] $90,000 person with an assistant of 20 [01:00:40] something, to manage a $2.6 million [01:00:43] budget of which 71% of that budget is [01:00:45] being managed by competent [01:00:48] managers so it's just the budget they [01:00:50] work on the town the town runs no it's [01:00:53] not everyday day-to-day stuff it's [01:00:56] Personnel it's HR it's a position that [01:00:59] has certainly come a long way in the [01:01:03] past decade okay and to go without it [01:01:08] we're not saying go without it we're not [01:01:09] saying go without it but we're having a [01:01:11] we're having a hard time swallowing [01:01:15] $111,000 to fund two positions to manage [01:01:20] a $2.6 [01:01:21] million town of how many how many [01:01:24] employees do we have [01:01:30] question 30 people yeah probably so it [01:01:34] it's over it's over 4% of the budget so [01:01:38] you're going to spend 4% of your budget [01:01:41] to manage 30% of for a competent person [01:01:45] to come in and and maybe write grants [01:01:47] for us and get us money absolutely [01:01:51] okay because that's what we're really [01:01:53] focusing on so one of our one of our [01:01:56] ideas or recommendations would be take [01:01:58] the [01:02:00] assistant salary and give it to [01:02:08] Ryan you know I came up with an idea [01:02:11] like this MH and then I went to Ryan and [01:02:15] he wasn't agreeable have you talked to [01:02:18] Ryan about this no we just talking about [01:02:21] today he's very not agreeable to to for [01:02:24] what to doing more work [01:02:27] or having to pick up any of that I'm not [01:02:29] saying I'm not saying doing more work [01:02:31] yeah I'm saying if you want to fund his [01:02:33] you want to fund is increased to $31,000 [01:02:35] you can give him $20,000 of that by [01:02:38] eliminating the [01:02:40] assistant you could also fund Ryan cut [01:02:43] it in half and just say Okay this year [01:02:45] you're we're going to fund you for an [01:02:47] additional 8 hours a week versus 16 and [01:02:50] and he's fine with that as well he just [01:02:52] needs to know what we're going to fund [01:02:54] him at and he'll work [01:02:56] yeah so that's an option yeah we we we [01:02:59] talk all right just it's not like the [01:03:02] end of you know this we got to give him [01:03:04] 31 or whatever the number is we're [01:03:06] thinking you take the assistant salary [01:03:09] like 21 Grand and you find that for for [01:03:15] Ryan been here I've been here a long [01:03:18] time and not having that position was [01:03:21] not a good [01:03:24] thing when not saying to go without it [01:03:27] we're saying to go with a different [01:03:31] role to spend [01:03:34] $90,000 [01:03:36] for managing a an operation that's $2.6 [01:03:39] million is seems a little excessive to [01:03:44] us well I can assure you that I work [01:03:47] well over the hours that we are open um [01:03:50] and there is no way I would be sitting [01:03:52] in a chair if there was no assistant [01:03:54] there no way [01:03:56] that and that was that was your role and [01:04:00] that's what you needed um going forward [01:04:02] we don't we don't see we don't see how [01:04:05] you can how one can afford to have an [01:04:08] assistant and why you would need an [01:04:09] assistant I was um nobody has asked me [01:04:13] what we do on a day-to-day basis never [01:04:15] once when I work when I was on another [01:04:18] board another town we had a transition [01:04:21] of a um Our Town Administrator it was a [01:04:24] $20 million [01:04:26] budget we had our own school system K 12 [01:04:30] we hired a part-time guy who did more in [01:04:34] half the time than we did when we had [01:04:36] our [01:04:38] full-time the idea is is we have 90 [01:04:41] we're going to spend [01:04:42] $90,000 to fund a position for a $2.6 [01:04:46] million budget I just don't know how we [01:04:50] get [01:04:51] there honestly the smaller the town the [01:04:54] more responsibility the Town [01:04:56] Administrator [01:04:57] has I think the observation we made look [01:05:01] at it this is just an observation you've [01:05:03] got you a police department that have [01:05:06] two very confidently paid uh manager [01:05:10] managerial positions have a highway [01:05:12] department in fact some of these [01:05:14] salaries are are greater than the [01:05:15] $990,000 pay talking [01:05:18] [Music] [01:05:20] police and the highway surve all we're [01:05:23] saying is they should be confident [01:05:27] enough to manage their part of the [01:05:29] business down to the penny they do the [01:05:31] money ask them right now what I do for [01:05:33] them I do work for the police in high [01:05:37] maybe they should responsible to do it [01:05:39] instead there's a lot of confidentiality [01:05:42] stuff that not everybody's supposed to [01:05:44] be privy to and I literally worked with [01:05:46] the highway and the police today on two [01:05:48] issues so it's not just because they're [01:05:50] running their budget that's not what's [01:05:52] running the town right we're we're not [01:05:54] discounting the value of added to the [01:05:56] town po what we're saying is we have an [01:05:58] opportunity with your departure to look [01:06:00] at what the role should be going forward [01:06:03] and when we looking at a a a position [01:06:05] that makes up 4% of the budget 4% of the [01:06:08] operating budget of this town do we do [01:06:11] we have an opportunity to look at it [01:06:12] differently okay do we look at what do [01:06:15] what type of person we bring in what [01:06:17] sort of things should we should that [01:06:18] person be doing over and above what you [01:06:21] were doing or not doing and putting some [01:06:23] of that accountability back to a very [01:06:26] competent team that we have here we're [01:06:28] lucky to have the people we have we're [01:06:31] lucky to have Marty and we're lucky to [01:06:33] have [01:06:34] um yeah all all all the we have in those [01:06:37] positions so do we look at how do we [01:06:41] continue to manage our budget in a way [01:06:44] that we're able to grow stabilization [01:06:46] we're going to be able to uh to support [01:06:48] these departments like we did this year [01:06:50] we supported everyone's request mhm okay [01:06:53] we have an opportunity to maybe do [01:06:55] things a little think outside the box a [01:06:57] little bit how do we do that and that's [01:07:00] our role is to give you some different [01:07:02] perspectives and ultimately this [01:07:03] decision is [01:07:05] yours but we back to the balance sheet [01:07:08] which is you know I got a quick question [01:07:11] just looking at the numbers so on the [01:07:13] police chief and and I'm just looking at [01:07:15] these numbers it's 618,000 for their [01:07:18] entire department and their two salaries [01:07:19] are roughly 190,000 for the two [01:07:23] managerial positions that's 30% of their [01:07:26] budget so what's left as far as like out [01:07:29] of the operating fund 2.6 million take [01:07:32] away that [01:07:33] 70% so how much are you in control of [01:07:36] MoneyWise and we can do a ratio of [01:07:39] management like just looking at numbers [01:07:42] their numbers are 30% and I'm only [01:07:44] looking at it because it's right in [01:07:45] front of me and I haven't had time to go [01:07:48] through this at [01:07:49] all just yeah [01:07:57] but it it is a key position I mean our [01:08:00] town has to comply with regulations [01:08:03] Municipal law Mass General law all these [01:08:06] things and the USDA water treatment [01:08:08] facility with Scott is reporting all the [01:08:11] stuff on the grants it's not like hey I [01:08:15] I come in here and I have a cup of [01:08:16] coffee and I relax and I send a couple [01:08:19] emails you know I mean it's it's it's a [01:08:21] lot more than that I don't know exactly [01:08:23] what it is cu I'm new to this position [01:08:27] and I've only worked with Nicole for a [01:08:29] little [01:08:31] bit just I'm just saying this it's an [01:08:34] important [01:08:36] position [01:08:38] yeah but I I I can analyze you know I [01:08:41] can look at numbers I can talk with you [01:08:44] and we can kick around ideas and this [01:08:46] whole board can you know we we'll work [01:08:49] out a solution we'll come up with [01:08:50] something we don't have a whole lot of [01:08:52] time to do well unfortunately we don't [01:08:54] that's the problem that's why I I can't [01:08:57] stress enough that we cannot be doing [01:08:59] this in May next year we just can't cuz [01:09:01] I don't know when we're going to figure [01:09:03] this out now between now and town [01:09:05] meeting I I just I I don't I don't know [01:09:09] how to fund Ryan's position that was [01:09:11] that was new to even seeing that I [01:09:14] didn't know that he was looking to go [01:09:16] full-time because like this is the first [01:09:19] week we've seen this budget we haven't [01:09:20] even seen a draft along the way you [01:09:23] guys like same to along so we under the [01:09:27] assumption that those that's that those [01:09:29] were your numbers yeah so this is the [01:09:33] first time you seen it then anything you [01:09:35] sent to me I've sent to them okay I've [01:09:37] been sending you my budget's all along [01:09:39] so anytime you sent them to me I sent [01:09:41] them to them they've had them they [01:09:43] didn't look like this right they're your [01:09:45] where well this is the proper way to [01:09:47] look at the Town you the balance sheet [01:09:49] we have to look at the the inflows and [01:09:51] the outflows and how things are going to [01:09:53] balance out so that's what we did we' [01:09:55] been working out this since December of [01:09:58] last year M um okay [01:10:03] okay and I know you've been working hard [01:10:05] your whole [01:10:06] board showed up I do thank you for that [01:10:09] because I know you put a lot of hours [01:10:11] into doing this and this is our first [01:10:12] year without the benefit of our profit [01:10:15] okay we spent we spent a lot of our [01:10:18] money y yeah and it made it kind of [01:10:21] glossed over the real problem yeah [01:10:23] absolutely it did yeah [01:10:27] so if we get back to the balance sheet [01:10:28] other than the $50,000 budget difference [01:10:31] that we have between the uh board s in [01:10:33] fincom MH we have some articles that we [01:10:36] need funded so we're [01:10:38] requesting um Reserve account transfer [01:10:42] uh fincom Reserve [01:10:45] $35,000 we're requesting [01:10:48] um we know that is we know that unpaid [01:10:51] bills is $12,000 [01:11:04] so we have uh prior bills of [01:11:07] 12,157 snow and ice of [01:11:11] 78020 Reserve account [01:11:14] 35,000 stabiliz stabilization account 50 [01:11:18] and capital stabilization [01:11:22] 25 where is all this coming from well [01:11:25] some free cash the budget the difference [01:11:28] in uh the budget difference and New [01:11:31] Growth that's how you fund [01:11:36] it so what do we have in three Cash in [01:11:43] 118 200 yeah you you have that there [01:11:45] that's [01:11:58] So when you say the difference in the [01:11:59] budget you mean the 50,000 [01:12:10] 50,000 which one what do you do just the [01:12:16] um what we have and [01:12:20] everything I have it on my wall but this [01:12:23] one how they have it [01:12:28] cuz you know I was just thinking I it [01:12:29] could go the same way if you had 50,000 [01:12:32] in reserve and you only spent less than [01:12:33] 10 then why do you need 35 this year I [01:12:36] want [01:12:37] 50 cuz that's going to ensure that we [01:12:39] have free cash in up [01:12:41] share well and that's what we do with [01:12:44] accounts when we maybe over budget them [01:12:47] we expect to have money at the end of [01:12:49] the year we plenty of money in our [01:12:50] Reserve account to make sure that there [01:12:52] any anything that catastrophic happened [01:12:54] from the we have $50,000 we can [01:13:00] fund so we're only asking for [01:13:04] 35 and the balance goes into the other [01:13:10] accounts that free cash went into the [01:13:12] police crew yeah we spent $45,000 for [01:13:14] police crw which was not in our Bud we [01:13:18] weren't none of us were anticipating we [01:13:20] wanted to have that go [01:13:22] through um through a financing but [01:13:25] because of the Grant and everything else [01:13:26] we to do that which is [01:13:28] fine um but that that took $45,000 out [01:13:32] of our equation this [01:13:36] year which is about equal to the [01:13:40] $50,000 would have been we would we [01:13:42] balanced this thing back in January we [01:13:43] was like good we're we're good we know [01:13:46] what we're going to do and [01:13:48] then this thing came up and then we had [01:13:51] police and we had some fire I mean we [01:13:52] had Highway that we had to deal with [01:13:55] yeah so all of a sudden we started to [01:13:58] when you look at it it's it's we it's [01:14:01] not that big of a divide between us the [01:14:03] problem was that the free cash kind of [01:14:05] threw us into a bit of a tizzy [01:14:10] Yeah in our first year without [01:14:14] arpa we never funded the budget with [01:14:16] arpa though we just bought Capital with [01:14:19] arpa you find it snowce you find snow on [01:14:22] Ice M yeah that's right we did that and [01:14:27] there's some Mar left [01:14:29] right we were told not much very little [01:14:32] is matter I think there's probably about [01:14:35] between maybe [01:14:38] 40,000 can we get a firm number on that [01:14:40] cuz that's a pretty big [01:14:43] number the year we have to we have to [01:14:45] spend it allocate [01:14:48] it December of [01:14:52] 25 there's put put it into the roof [01:14:55] yeah put in the [01:14:57] roof I will talk to Lori it was a very [01:15:00] difficult transition when we lost [01:15:03] Markham and we had no accountant for a [01:15:05] while and so there was no they weren't [01:15:07] reporting or they weren't um keeping [01:15:10] track of it so you're saying there's 40 [01:15:14] in in ARA right now we were told there's [01:15:16] about 50 yeah but we have we have um one [01:15:22] more year of our website that were [01:15:25] funding through arpa that was purchased [01:15:28] through arpa for 3 [01:15:30] years so let's see what that [01:15:38] number yeah we can't that cannot be used [01:15:40] for funding any any operating [01:15:43] budgets it be good to know what that [01:15:45] number is yeah I'll email ask her I [01:15:48] should go to fund capital and [01:15:51] then um [01:15:55] we could have used that to run the the [01:15:57] police [01:15:58] cruiser could have and we have free cash [01:16:01] we wouldn't be we would discussion we [01:16:04] wouldn't be here talking right now and I [01:16:07] then is that these are the things that [01:16:10] we we need to know but I did ask that [01:16:12] question about the Opera [01:16:14] funds you know I wasn't on the board at [01:16:16] the time I was just a citizen in the [01:16:19] audience as far as what the standing was [01:16:21] on it what was your understanding well I [01:16:25] wanted to know if it was completely [01:16:26] allocated because if it wasn't you could [01:16:28] use it right yeah and I was [01:16:31] told we that's what we thought we were [01:16:34] told G last she was still working any [01:16:38] Grand ideas I just asked about ARA I [01:16:41] thought that was all right yeah it's [01:16:42] pretty good and I'll try to pull another [01:16:46] rabbit mostly I have to listen because [01:16:49] this I I can't find my way through this [01:16:52] stuff plead stupidity [01:16:56] but [01:16:56] arpa did you say you had something B [01:16:59] from Lori no she's working on it she was [01:17:01] working on it last week she was had to [01:17:02] go back to Markham back to the old files [01:17:05] make sure everything's accounted for she [01:17:08] does the reporting I just ask the [01:17:10] account what's in there [01:17:13] so we don't have anything hanging from [01:17:17] theme up from all that Co stuff no [01:17:20] that's how Clos out y [01:17:28] well I don't even know I don't even know [01:17:32] no well the answer might be in the ARP [01:17:35] number at least for your board to make a [01:17:39] decision we [01:17:41] are we're $50,000 off yeah I mean 30 of [01:17:45] it is Ryan [01:17:48] yeah Ryan I'm behind on that he wants to [01:17:51] go full [01:17:53] time so he's is proposing to go [01:17:57] from 30 so of that 50 31k is Ryan okay [01:18:05] yeah do you are you going to need the um [01:18:09] the assistant to the [01:18:12] administrator if you hire if you hire a [01:18:15] competent person Kelly do you think [01:18:16] they're going to need an assistance yes [01:18:18] I do I don't see it I don't know how we [01:18:20] can even we we transitioned from not [01:18:23] having one for years and and it was [01:18:27] necessary we fought for that so hard for [01:18:30] an administrator or for an administ [01:18:32] assistant [01:18:33] yes the the the you know the the tedious [01:18:36] things the the meeting minutes the you [01:18:39] know things like that that get we fall [01:18:42] behind on them as as we all know those [01:18:46] things those are the things that you [01:18:49] know that that you know those really [01:18:52] secretarial things is what that person [01:18:54] does [01:18:58] the two finalists are coming tomorrow [01:19:01] right if you want to come listen to her [01:19:04] question abilities we're we're listening [01:19:07] we're not offering we're not allowing [01:19:10] questions from the audience I will just [01:19:12] I will preface that right now anyone [01:19:14] going to be I can't attend cover up [01:19:16] Glenn will be here yeah he's part of the [01:19:19] the committee well you got to you're [01:19:21] going to have to find we got to find 50 [01:19:24] Grand somewhere 20 grand somewhere okay [01:19:28] so [01:19:35] um and six that was the it well no that [01:19:39] that we've already said we would level [01:19:42] on those yeah so it's 12 Grand right [01:19:44] there okay all boards in it is 12 Grand [01:19:48] that's 20 it's difference of oh no cuz [01:19:50] the eight had to go back in right so [01:19:53] that's really 44 [01:19:55] yeah okay [01:19:58] yeah and then decision on [01:20:01] Ryan's yeah yeah even if you go [01:20:06] halfway yeah are you fund [01:20:08] it well I guess I guess you what ARA's [01:20:11] money is go make you can't use use yeah [01:20:16] how can you fund anything with ARA at [01:20:18] this point through the budgeting process [01:20:20] next year you're going to be even that [01:20:21] deeper that you're just kicking a can [01:20:23] down the road [01:20:25] when depending I mean if we know we have [01:20:26] it like you said we can use it for the [01:20:28] roof or something we know that it's you [01:20:30] know but it I don't think that we can [01:20:33] offset our our operating [01:20:35] f using it on the roof and the roof is [01:20:38] going to be less than that so perfect [01:20:42] thing for then [01:20:44] take right then we use that then we just [01:20:47] we're already replenishing that Capital [01:20:51] um so that's the difference is that you [01:20:53] know historically you funded the budget [01:20:56] and not the capital and that's what [01:20:57] they're changing so that's what's [01:20:59] changing not changing anything which is [01:21:01] you have a $50,000 Delta that's what [01:21:02] we're talking about yes but in the past [01:21:05] we have [01:21:06] foregone putting fing capital capital or [01:21:10] even stabilization but that has no that [01:21:12] has no impact on the budget [01:21:15] zero I'm going to I'm going to disagree [01:21:18] and that's fine yeah because you're [01:21:20] taking the you're taking the grow right [01:21:23] newow we're using for the budget show me [01:21:25] in the [01:21:26] budget where that capital is coming up [01:21:29] H it's a reserve it it it says it's it [01:21:33] has no impact on the budget whatsoever [01:21:35] we have a [01:21:36] budget you guys have come up with a [01:21:38] number we've come up with a number with [01:21:39] $50,000 Delta in [01:21:42] there you're using free cash New Growth [01:21:46] right funding the funding has no has no [01:21:49] bearing on the [01:21:51] budget where the funds come from is it [01:21:54] relevant to the budget not in not the [01:21:57] way that Hardwick has always done their [01:21:58] budget they're using the new growth for [01:22:01] the operating budget you're not [01:22:03] understanding then where are you funding [01:22:05] those articles from if you're not take [01:22:07] if you're not using New [01:22:12] Growth the balance sheet explains how [01:22:14] the F where the funding is coming from I [01:22:16] know but you lump it all together and [01:22:17] here they take the two and a half they [01:22:19] take the taxation in the state [01:22:23] funds you guys your budget Nicole is [01:22:30] 6,579 my budget is 6 million 520 [01:22:33] actually it's [01:22:36] 528 so it's $50,000 Delta that's what [01:22:40] we're talking [01:22:47] about I am I'm definitely not following [01:22:49] it because the formula that is used here [01:22:53] has always been local receipt [01:22:54] raise an appropriate that's appropriate [01:22:57] that's what you get to use for to to [01:22:59] build your budget and that's fine you [01:23:01] can how you fund your how you fund the [01:23:02] budget is one thing the actual budget [01:23:05] the expense is something different what [01:23:07] do you have um I don't know you called [01:23:09] it a Delta what do you have this under 2 [01:23:11] and a half [01:23:13] 58 we have I don't have your paper I I [01:23:16] didn't print one out for [01:23:17] myself we have four Lins we have fine [01:23:20] yeah know no I meant the what are you [01:23:22] over or under what are you under 2 and [01:23:24] have [01:23:26] by uh [01:23:31] $155,000 well this isn't getting [01:23:33] resolved tonight now is it so I'm going [01:23:35] to propose that we need to meet the week [01:23:37] before the time meeting that's fine CU [01:23:40] this is not getting resolved and Scott's [01:23:43] waiting to go into executive session and [01:23:45] it's almost 8:00 so [01:23:48] um what do we need for that next [01:23:52] meeting a miracle [01:23:55] your I think these easy solutions here [01:23:58] we just have to we have to we have to [01:24:00] agree we just don't agree on it that's [01:24:02] the problem so we we don't agree on it [01:24:06] right is so there something else has to [01:24:12] change I something else is going to have [01:24:14] to be figured out on where to come up [01:24:17] with that money [01:24:18] from okay I don't know what else to do [01:24:22] okay [01:24:28] Wednesday June [01:24:33] 5th we have a Personnel meeting that day [01:24:36] anyway could be we could just write it [01:24:40] out or we could go home and eat [01:24:42] something and come [01:24:46] back I can do [01:24:49] june can we do early can we do five I [01:24:52] can do five [01:24:58] we're here for right so we can just [01:24:59] stick around and it will be just for the [01:25:01] budget you know I mean if something [01:25:03] little pops up we can add it but let's [01:25:06] just concentrate on figuring out the [01:25:08] budget [01:25:11] okay post both yeah I I already posted [01:25:15] the Personnel committee meeting and [01:25:18] someone from fincom is going to come to [01:25:21] that you responded What's happen to the [01:25:23] personnel [01:25:25] committee what is that is that June 5th [01:25:28] as well yeah that's the one at 4:00 okay [01:25:31] you did respond to me yeah I was I've [01:25:33] been away for two weeks no I know um cuz [01:25:37] a member of the fincom is on the [01:25:38] personel but no one not ever like has [01:25:42] been coming that's why I put it put it [01:25:45] out to you [01:25:48] okay all right so you want to do 5:00 [01:25:51] that'd be great cuz then we can just [01:25:52] roll out you know do an hour of [01:25:55] personnel and then so the Personnel is [01:25:57] at 4: and then the second meeting at [01:26:00] correct all right and [01:26:04] then 5th of June Wednesday and what's [01:26:08] the Personnel meeting of about just we [01:26:11] still have we're ironing out a few of [01:26:13] the uh policies within the [01:26:16] um [01:26:19] handbook and [01:26:22] um reviews process of reviews okay for [01:26:26] departments [01:26:28] that's job yeah yeah like yeah like dep [01:26:31] right performance reviews thank you [01:26:33] that's at 4:00 correct yeah as well [01:26:39] yeah [01:26:41] okay now Chris would you mind sending [01:26:44] like an Nicole email explaining your [01:26:47] whole end of it as far as your Delta [01:26:50] number and how you have Fund in these [01:26:51] reserves accounts and where's this money [01:26:53] coming from [01:26:54] it's all in this packet I don't have the [01:26:56] balance sheet so oh it was sent today [01:27:00] yeah yeah and I can I can walk you [01:27:03] through how it all works maybe more all [01:27:06] you guys and explain to it how it how it [01:27:08] works [01:27:10] okay you can see you know how we fund it [01:27:14] but the [01:27:15] budget expense and the funding are two [01:27:19] separate apples and oranges okay so [01:27:22] we're going to spend x amount of money [01:27:23] mhm we have to fund that [01:27:25] money that comes in through raising [01:27:27] appropriate free cash other sources mhm [01:27:31] um that's how we balance it that's the [01:27:35] balance she for anything else okay okay [01:27:39] yeah and then in that packet you show [01:27:41] you free cash what we use you [01:27:45] know here where it all comes from and [01:27:48] then all the department sheets y that's [01:27:52] the one so that's the one that gets [01:27:53] handed like that's the one that the town [01:27:56] has always used and that's what gets [01:27:57] handed out to the public because that's [01:27:59] what they're familiar [01:28:01] seeing so all that details behind that [01:28:04] that builds the budget all the way up [01:28:06] yeah so you can kind of look at the [01:28:07] summary of like what's police what's [01:28:09] fire what's select cuz it rolls them up [01:28:14] and and you have like like the cherry [01:28:15] seeds from the state how much money [01:28:17] they're going to give you and like that [01:28:19] all the links to the to the those on [01:28:22] those tabs there a link to what the [01:28:25] to where it is on the Stak you can click [01:28:26] that and go right to it I would suggest [01:28:29] if you want a more detail to reach [01:28:31] directly out to Chris I do want to get [01:28:33] Scott going F just it's getting late [01:28:37] thank you guys I do know that you put [01:28:39] I'm not supposed to say guys I know [01:28:41] thank you all for coming thank [01:28:45] you [01:28:49] ladies [01:28:52] thanks I take a roll call to go into [01:28:56] executive session to conduct strategy [01:28:58] sessions in preparation for negotiations [01:29:00] with non-union Personnel or to [01:29:02] Collective barting sessions for contract [01:29:04] negotiations with non-union personnel [01:29:06] adjournment there from we will not be [01:29:09] going back into Open Session William [01:29:11] Tinker William Tinker I Eric volheim [01:29:14] Eric volheim I Kelly Kemp I