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Hardwick Board of Selectmen Meeting: Governance, Finance, and Infrastructure

Original title: Hardwick Board of Selectmen Meeting 2/28/22

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

March 1, 2022

Duration

1h 31m

Decisions

2 recorded

Action Items

3 assigned

Summary

The Hardwick Board of Selectmen met to discuss the transition to in-person meetings, the upcoming Comcast cable franchise renewal, and the potential consolidation of the Treasurer and Collector positions. The Board approved the removal of mask mandates and the return to in-person meetings with a virtual component. Discussions regarding the financial department emphasized the need for software integration and administrative support, while the Board deferred signing an emergency management plan pending corrections to outdated information.

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Discussion Highlights

The Board discussed transitioning to in-person meetings effective March 1st, while maintaining a virtual component for accessibility.
04:01 06:02 09:51
Eileen from Comcast addressed the cable franchise renewal, noting the contract expires in October 2022 and discussing coverage for unserved homes.
11:06 12:02 13:36
The Board reviewed the potential consolidation of the Treasurer and Collector positions, noting strong recommendations from the state but highlighting the need for additional clerical support.
27:36 28:21 43:16
Concerns were raised regarding the accuracy of an emergency management plan document, specifically regarding outdated contact information and incorrect town references.
1:27:32 1:28:40 1:30:26

Transcript (15,931 words)

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

00:00:00
Please be advised that by the order of the governor s 2475 and act relative to extending certain covet 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency this meeting will be held virtually in access through the zoom link provided on the agenda on the website or at my mytowngovernment.com
00:00:20
I guess we can just get rid of this stand for the pledge of allegiance pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america to the republic for which it stands one nation
00:00:38
Under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all okay we'll take any uh visitor comments if there's anyone on
00:00:56
And barnes here i am hi i want to ask if the uh free comcast is only for libraries or other town buildings too i i don't know that and that may be a question we can ask
00:01:16
When we get to the comcast cable renewal how's that good thank you okay perfect anybody else okay is julie on yet
00:01:35
Okay i don't want to jump into the next thing start the mask and virtual conversation without her
00:01:55
Well i guess um eileen quickly while we're waiting for julie to reconnect that was ann barnes asking a question about free comcast for libraries uh versus town buildings is that something that you can answer is she talking about cable services like
00:02:14
Courtesy drafts and yes yeah so some of the town yes we do provide courtesy drafts to town municipal buildings and some in some of the town buildings are receiving it right now but the community building is eligible for

[00:00:00] uh please be advised that by the order [00:00:02] of the governor s 2475 and act relative [00:00:05] to extending certain covet 19 measures [00:00:07] adopted during the state of emergency [00:00:10] this meeting will be held virtually in [00:00:11] access through the zoom link provided on [00:00:13] the agenda on the website or at my [00:00:14] mytowngovernment.com [00:00:19] um [00:00:20] i guess we can [00:00:22] just get rid of this stand for the [00:00:23] pledge of allegiance [00:00:30] pledge allegiance to the flag of the [00:00:32] united states of america [00:00:35] to the republic for which it stands one [00:00:37] nation [00:00:38] under god indivisible with liberty and [00:00:40] justice for all [00:00:44] okay [00:00:49] we'll take any uh visitor comments if [00:00:51] there's [00:00:52] anyone on [00:00:56] and barnes here i am [00:00:59] hi um [00:01:00] i want to ask if the uh free comcast is [00:01:04] only for libraries [00:01:07] or other town buildings too [00:01:11] um i i don't know that and that may be a [00:01:13] question we can ask [00:01:15] um [00:01:16] when we get to the comcast cable renewal [00:01:19] how's that [00:01:20] good thank you [00:01:21] okay perfect [00:01:24] anybody else [00:01:32] okay is julie on yet [00:01:35] okay i don't want to jump into the next [00:01:37] thing um [00:01:41] start the mask and uh [00:01:45] virtual conversation without her [00:01:55] well i guess um eileen [00:01:57] quickly while we're waiting for julie to [00:01:59] reconnect [00:02:01] um [00:02:02] that was ann barnes asking a question [00:02:03] about [00:02:04] free comcast for libraries uh versus [00:02:08] town buildings is that something that [00:02:09] you can answer [00:02:12] is she talking about cable services like [00:02:14] courtesy drafts [00:02:17] and [00:02:19] yes [00:02:21] yeah so some of the town yes we do [00:02:23] provide courtesy drafts to town [00:02:24] municipal buildings [00:02:26] um [00:02:27] and some in some of the town buildings [00:02:29] are receiving it right now but the [00:02:30] community building is eligible for [00:02:33] um a courtesy drop and basic cable to [00:02:36] that location [00:02:40] would that would that cover wi-fi [00:02:43] no [00:02:44] this is just pro cable um wi-fi is a [00:02:47] separate service [00:02:58] dan does that answer your question [00:03:02] uh [00:03:03] would i have to get cable to to to get [00:03:07] wi-fi or just what [00:03:09] no you so are you looking are you are [00:03:11] you talking about the townhouse [00:03:13] yes [00:03:14] yeah that would have to be so you would [00:03:16] have to um get internet service there [00:03:22] in order to you know get the wi-fi [00:03:24] that's what that would be through so [00:03:26] comcast offers internet they offer cable [00:03:29] tv [00:03:30] and phone [00:03:32] i have a lot of i was at home [00:03:34] you can either bundle it or you can you [00:03:36] know you can get it [00:03:37] separately [00:03:40] so that would have to be worked into [00:03:41] your budget [00:03:44] further thank you [00:03:47] okay [00:03:48] um [00:03:50] so julie are you with us now okay [00:03:54] yes she is [00:03:56] okay um i am here [00:03:58] okay perfect so uh the next thing that i [00:04:01] want to talk about is the masks [00:04:03] and um virtual meetings [00:04:09] we have to make that decision you know [00:04:11] for [00:04:13] first [00:04:16] i don't want to have a discussion [00:04:20] i have been keeping track of the cases i [00:04:24] the board of health hasn't updated [00:04:26] the town's page since february 6 but as [00:04:29] of that date the cases have been going [00:04:31] down and overall they're going down and [00:04:33] i think it's probably [00:04:34] um [00:04:36] i think it's safe to say that we can [00:04:38] remove the mass you know the mass [00:04:41] restrictions in the buildings and go [00:04:43] back to in-person meetings [00:04:46] um i'm not opposed to a virtual concept [00:04:50] you know of that meeting i i think the [00:04:53] governor i think there was a date nicole [00:04:56] do you remember i i saw an email [00:05:01] i think it's july [00:05:03] yeah so we could do that until july at [00:05:05] this point [00:05:06] unless something changes correct [00:05:09] yeah okay [00:05:10] um how do you guys feel about that [00:05:18] i'm okay with uh getting rid of the [00:05:20] mask mandate [00:05:23] obviously i'd recommend it [00:05:27] still for a while but [00:05:29] that's people's choice um [00:05:31] in the virtual meetings i'm fine with [00:05:34] we don't we don't have that many people [00:05:35] that go anyhow so [00:05:40] it is what it is at this point [00:05:42] yeah i think if people obviously feel [00:05:44] more comfortable with masks that's [00:05:45] definitely i'm going to keep wearing my [00:05:47] mask at meetings to be honest with you [00:05:50] guys [00:05:51] um i don't mind going in person but i [00:05:53] will [00:05:54] i will continue to wear mine [00:05:59] um i'm in favor of the virtual meetings [00:06:02] i think we should continue to have the [00:06:03] virtual meetings or at least a component [00:06:05] of it um just because it makes it [00:06:08] i don't know for those who want [00:06:09] participate in person or those who want [00:06:11] to participate you know [00:06:13] um by zoom [00:06:14] i think it's [00:06:16] you know selfishly easier for me [00:06:18] because i don't you know i'm in west [00:06:20] springfield and i don't need to drive [00:06:21] back but [00:06:22] if i need to that's fine um but um [00:06:26] you know i i think on the same [00:06:28] perspective i don't think we're out of [00:06:30] the woods yet so [00:06:34] yeah i would agree with that [00:06:36] um curious to see how [00:06:38] coming back after school vacation goes [00:06:40] but you know it is i think like what [00:06:42] said it kind of is what it is and [00:06:44] um [00:06:45] you know if everyone's on the same page [00:06:48] then [00:06:49] i would take a motion [00:06:58] i i moved that we [00:07:02] remove the mask mandate for town [00:07:04] buildings [00:07:06] and [00:07:06] allow [00:07:08] virtual meetings [00:07:09] as of march 1st [00:07:16] um i'll second that [00:07:19] so we want to add the virtual meeting to [00:07:22] that [00:07:23] and to go well [00:07:26] i think the problem is if we make it [00:07:28] part of the thing and people aren't able [00:07:30] to do the virtual meetings [00:07:33] it's kind of like a component that if [00:07:36] people are able to do them [00:07:38] like this board's able to do them but [00:07:40] some of the smaller boards have trouble [00:07:42] hosting virtual meetings [00:07:45] i don't want them to become [00:07:47] a snagging point for them to have [00:07:49] meetings [00:07:50] so last last time we said if it was if [00:07:53] they were able to have a virtual [00:07:55] component then that's fine [00:07:57] so we're not asking them to do both [00:08:00] i think we're just saying that we'll go [00:08:02] as a board we're going to go back in [00:08:03] person [00:08:05] with a with a virtual component for our [00:08:08] meetings and if other boards [00:08:11] want to do that and have the capability [00:08:13] to do that then by all means they should [00:08:19] does that make sense [00:08:21] it just seems long [00:08:23] that's [00:08:24] fine i think we're all trying to get to [00:08:27] the same place here [00:08:30] could we just say an ad remote [00:08:31] participation [00:08:34] if a board chooses [00:08:36] it possible [00:08:39] yeah i mean that's that's kind of what [00:08:41] we said [00:08:43] last meeting uh well the last time we [00:08:44] made the recommendation we as a board [00:08:46] decided to keep our meetings virtual for [00:08:49] the whole month [00:08:55] so to clarify for us are we going to go [00:08:57] back in person and have a virtual [00:08:59] component [00:09:02] i thought if that's okay [00:09:04] yeah everybody's okay with that i'm okay [00:09:08] rob [00:09:10] yeah no that's i think that's what we [00:09:12] need to do is [00:09:14] get back virtually but we need to have [00:09:16] some kind of get back to [00:09:18] physically but be able to be virtual but [00:09:22] yeah [00:09:26] nicole you are you good with still [00:09:28] hosting meetings [00:09:30] okay as long as you're you're good with [00:09:31] that too then um i guess [00:09:38] all right i'm going to restate my motion [00:09:40] then i guess um [00:09:43] as discussed i don't care i mean you [00:09:45] know there's a lot there [00:09:49] um [00:09:50] that we [00:09:51] discontinue the mass mandate [00:09:54] and allow in-person meetings [00:09:58] but [00:09:59] if possible [00:10:01] we recommend that committees and [00:10:04] commissions have a virtual component [00:10:09] i'll second that [00:10:11] all those in favor [00:10:13] all right [00:10:14] bye [00:10:19] and i will i'll try to intend it in [00:10:21] person as much as i can [00:10:24] yeah right we and we understand that [00:10:26] your busy your busy time is coming up [00:10:28] julie well one one meeting at a time [00:10:31] we'll tackle it how's that [00:10:33] that's good [00:10:36] uh is there any other old business [00:10:39] nicole i don't have any [00:10:41] okay [00:10:42] so new business comcast cable renault [00:10:46] eileen you're up [00:10:54] thank you thanks for having me on the [00:10:55] agenda tonight um and tonight my name [00:10:59] of government is for comcast [00:11:01] and um [00:11:02] one of my communities that i represent [00:11:04] so the renewal um [00:11:06] your contract the lights expires with [00:11:08] comcast on october 29 2022 which is [00:11:11] october this year [00:11:13] so i had a meeting early on some time [00:11:16] ago [00:11:17] um [00:11:18] regarding the renewal and i just wanted [00:11:20] to get back on track so we can discuss [00:11:23] um [00:11:24] kind of what the needs of the community [00:11:26] are what they're hoping for in this next [00:11:28] place and [00:11:29] just get the problem [00:11:32] so we can renew this in a timely manner [00:11:35] um i i believe i had asked for [00:11:38] a coverage map yeah i did send you some [00:11:42] i did send that i can send another one [00:11:43] too but that was sent some months ago [00:11:46] oh yeah i never saw that so that would [00:11:48] be [00:11:49] that would be super helpful yeah can we [00:11:51] send that [00:11:52] um okay great it was said like i don't [00:11:55] even know what month but [00:11:56] so the town's all covered except for six [00:11:59] or seven premises don't have correct [00:12:02] and it's [00:12:03] 25 000 to service those seven [00:12:07] okay [00:12:08] is that something that um comcast is [00:12:10] willing to do [00:12:12] it within this [00:12:14] i mean i i [00:12:16] depends what all they ask are the [00:12:17] community it's something we would look [00:12:18] at [00:12:19] and see what we can do um there is i [00:12:22] don't know if the town received any [00:12:24] upper money but arpa money can be used [00:12:26] towards that as well [00:12:28] so um [00:12:29] i don't know if you know but we have a [00:12:31] huge sewer project that we are [00:12:33] undergoing and those funds will [00:12:36] most likely you know be used there [00:12:39] um [00:12:40] but you know that's that's just a need [00:12:42] that the town has i'm more concerned [00:12:45] about getting everyone hooked up um [00:12:48] you know i know we we really pushed for [00:12:50] it last time and um [00:12:52] you know you guys did a great job [00:12:54] there's just like you said six or seven [00:12:57] um [00:12:58] and they were out there they were [00:12:59] reaches [00:13:00] you know understandable [00:13:02] but um [00:13:03] they're definitely you know [00:13:06] far off or i don't know [00:13:08] but yeah they're [00:13:11] yeah i mean but it would be it would be [00:13:14] nice to get everybody covered um you [00:13:16] know i just i even think of it as a [00:13:18] resale you know selling point for homes [00:13:21] it's just it's crazy that it's 2022 and [00:13:24] and you know they don't have access to [00:13:27] to comcast or any other you know [00:13:29] provider except for satellite [00:13:34] that could be spotty at best so [00:13:36] and we can certainly look at that again [00:13:38] and i'll do a deeper dive on that [00:13:40] um [00:13:41] for sure [00:13:47] obviously we need to have a public [00:13:48] hearing right [00:13:50] yeah you do need to have a public [00:13:52] hearing prior to the expiration and [00:13:54] the town can schedule that [00:13:56] and when it at whatever time they want [00:13:58] some communities do it right before the [00:14:00] license is signed other communities do [00:14:02] it earlier on to gather aspartame and [00:14:04] what the needs are and the wants of the [00:14:06] community [00:14:07] so it's really however the town wants to [00:14:08] deal with it there's really no wrong way [00:14:11] but that is something that needs to be [00:14:13] done [00:14:18] it was also discussed when we last spoke [00:14:20] about um [00:14:22] hooking up or activating your peg [00:14:24] channel [00:14:25] and i don't know that's something the [00:14:26] town is still interested in or wanting [00:14:28] to go forward with we've gotten a [00:14:30] different avenue [00:14:32] so you're not interested in that anymore [00:14:34] no okay [00:14:39] i was going through the contract kelly [00:14:41] if you don't mind yeah go right ahead [00:14:43] people um [00:14:45] and i was just wondering um you know [00:14:47] because it is 10 years old have the in [00:14:49] section 9.4 there's the license fees [00:14:52] have those gone up at all [00:14:55] in the last 10 years or 50 cents per [00:14:57] scriber right now statutory that's set [00:15:00] by the state so it's 50 cents per stop [00:15:02] so if you get that check every [00:15:04] they're gonna you get repeated based on [00:15:06] the numbers from december you get around [00:15:08] march 15th [00:15:10] so it's still the same [00:15:14] um and i was i got a i got asked about [00:15:17] uh from somebody a different town [00:15:19] regarding free internet for public [00:15:21] buildings do you do that anywhere in [00:15:23] massachusetts [00:15:24] i can't speak for the state of [00:15:25] massachusetts there's no [00:15:27] and i'm not [00:15:29] i'm not aware of anybody in western [00:15:30] massachusetts getting free insurance [00:15:32] probably a building but i couldn't speak [00:15:33] for the whole state [00:15:35] okay um [00:15:37] and [00:15:37] is there still a senior price [00:15:41] like a price for [00:15:43] 65 and up or something for basic [00:15:45] so [00:15:47] hardwood doesn't have a senior discount [00:15:49] there are there's a very few number of [00:15:51] communities who have senior discounts [00:15:53] that have been continued or [00:15:54] grandfathered in from [00:15:56] all their own franchises but as a [00:15:58] general rule we don't [00:16:00] we don't normally offer new senior [00:16:01] discounts um [00:16:03] and certainly that's what you guys are [00:16:04] asked for today i can bring back and [00:16:06] discuss internally [00:16:08] okay please [00:16:09] and then there's the the six point four [00:16:11] the peg access support [00:16:13] so it's the percentages for each year [00:16:16] it was two percent year one two three [00:16:18] three percent four five six seven and [00:16:20] four percent eight nine ten yeah it's [00:16:21] not four percent currently yeah we can [00:16:24] gross annual revenues yep and that's [00:16:25] what we get that quarterly [00:16:27] so [00:16:30] is there [00:16:32] negotiating [00:16:33] uh is there a possibility [00:16:36] okay excellent [00:16:45] oh one more thing in 10.3 [00:16:47] for our address it's the wrong address [00:16:50] it's um it says 207 but we're 307. [00:16:55] okay 307. [00:16:58] so i have it right now quickly 307 main [00:17:00] street po box 575 [00:17:03] gilbertville [00:17:04] 01031. the rest of it's right just the [00:17:06] number okay [00:17:12] can we certainly i would suggest to the [00:17:15] board that we have a public meeting [00:17:18] before it's negotiated and finalized [00:17:21] because that's what i think the public [00:17:23] hearing would be for what to get the [00:17:25] public's input [00:17:26] i i was just going to suggest the same [00:17:28] thing called [00:17:31] so we can do that pretty soon [00:17:34] okay [00:17:39] are you [00:17:40] present for that i know i went through [00:17:42] it and palmer but i forgot [00:17:44] um yes i always go to the public hearing [00:17:47] so if it's in person i'll be there in [00:17:48] person if it's virtual i'll join online [00:17:50] whatever [00:17:53] okay [00:17:54] and um [00:17:55] i think i think i know the answer to [00:17:58] this one but i know and nicole mentioned [00:18:00] she she's been asked recently about [00:18:02] boston stations versus springfield [00:18:05] stations [00:18:06] for this town [00:18:08] right so that's um [00:18:21] right and people we used to get [00:18:23] springfield okay some parts [00:18:25] yeah and then they so now everyone gets [00:18:28] boston and some people are you know up [00:18:29] in arms about that but i thought at one [00:18:31] point we had this conversation [00:18:33] and that was kind of out of your control [00:18:36] yeah it is out of our control but it's [00:18:38] based on the market [00:18:39] those would be [00:18:40] you're in market channels and it's [00:18:42] really just how the state how the [00:18:45] it's more of a technical thing really [00:18:47] but so i think hardwick warren and [00:18:49] probably where i'll pick up are part of [00:18:51] the boston gma which is what they call [00:18:54] it you try the springfield dma [00:18:56] um [00:18:57] and there's really nothing it's kind of [00:18:59] about microphone i mean i can look at it [00:19:01] like this people can turn within the [00:19:03] town to get the [00:19:04] sprinkle news station and i understand [00:19:06] that circles are sprinkled in boston but [00:19:13] okay yeah i mean i thought you had said [00:19:15] that before but i just forgot to ask the [00:19:17] question again of course [00:19:21] uh rob or julie do you have any concerns [00:19:24] or things you want to bring up [00:19:26] regarding the renewal [00:19:35] now just do we want to kind of pick a [00:19:37] date for the public hearing [00:19:40] now as opposed to [00:19:43] waiting because this is up [00:19:46] sooner than we know [00:19:48] yeah i know [00:19:50] october will be knocking on the door [00:19:52] i'm fine with picking something um [00:20:02] julie for you is it best [00:20:06] is there [00:20:07] any 15th of the month that's better to [00:20:09] go after [00:20:11] of any month [00:20:13] it's fine i'll make it work i mean you [00:20:15] you always you always been to my [00:20:17] schedule and you know i need to be i [00:20:19] need to be available so [00:20:21] um if i could stay away from march 15th [00:20:23] that would be great [00:20:25] any other time it's fine [00:20:29] i mean do we want to do something at the [00:20:30] end of at the end of march [00:20:35] well it needs to be advertised so yeah [00:20:38] oh yeah yeah okay um how many days does [00:20:41] it have to be advertised for [00:20:46] i don't remember [00:20:47] i think it's two weeks two consecutive [00:20:49] weeks or something and that's gonna be [00:20:50] in the paper for two weeks and then you [00:20:52] can have the hearing [00:20:53] after that [00:20:55] within seven days so since it's on a [00:20:57] thursday we could have it on a monday [00:20:59] but it have to be the earliest it could [00:21:01] be would be march 28th which is a [00:21:04] regular meeting [00:21:08] advertised the 10th and the 17th [00:21:10] i'm i don't want to complicate your [00:21:12] lives but i'm out of the office that [00:21:14] last week of march um [00:21:16] okay i mean somebody could cover it for [00:21:18] me but i prefer to either because i like [00:21:20] to hear what the public has to say and [00:21:21] get the field [00:21:24] do you think that we could include it as [00:21:26] part of our meeting and go into a public [00:21:28] hearing [00:21:30] yes to do that right i mean [00:21:33] so do you want to [00:21:35] shoot for [00:21:37] one of our meetings in april then [00:21:41] and i'm assuming julie maybe the 25th [00:21:43] would be better than the 11th [00:21:46] again i'll work around whatever i need [00:21:49] you guys are patient with my schedule [00:21:50] and i appreciate that [00:21:53] it is all about me so [00:21:55] why not [00:21:58] it can't be [00:22:01] there's three of us so it's all about [00:22:04] the three and there's actually four [00:22:09] four of us [00:22:11] let me say that [00:22:12] the 11th is election day so [00:22:15] are we gonna have a meeting election day [00:22:18] last week [00:22:20] we [00:22:20] did last year [00:22:22] yeah [00:22:26] 25th is fine with me is that what we [00:22:27] want to do [00:22:28] for rob do you want to do that april [00:22:30] 25th that's fine [00:22:34] okay that'll be good because we won't be [00:22:36] in the budgets completely yet either [00:22:38] yeah [00:22:40] okay [00:22:41] so we'll we'll go with that eileen if [00:22:44] that does that work for you yeah that's [00:22:45] perfect i appreciate that so i'm gonna [00:22:48] clear the takeaways um kelly do you want [00:22:51] me to email the coverage map to directly [00:22:54] or to nicole either [00:22:57] you know just so that we have it the [00:22:59] review again [00:23:01] okay like you said if if you sent it i [00:23:03] apologize because i don't remember what [00:23:05] you're saying about not a problem [00:23:07] so i'll send that and then um [00:23:09] the other request was um [00:23:12] to take a deeper dive looking at those [00:23:13] unserved homes [00:23:15] yes correct [00:23:16] okay [00:23:19] and you're not looking to activate a peg [00:23:30] and look to see if we can get a [00:23:32] springfield channel so we can get some [00:23:34] local news yeah for dma i just wrote [00:23:37] that down springfield channels okay [00:23:43] and was there anything else you wanted [00:23:44] me to follow up on are you concerned you [00:23:46] have at this time [00:23:48] are we looking um [00:23:50] so are we looking for some kind of [00:23:51] assistance to get those other [00:23:54] folks online or some other um [00:23:57] some other concession or something from [00:24:00] comcast to try to get those other people [00:24:02] um [00:24:03] you had mentioned you know i mean about [00:24:05] 25 000 to get those folks online are we [00:24:08] looking for some assistance there from [00:24:11] comcast or [00:24:13] i was i was in and out on the [00:24:15] conversation so i apologize if i missed [00:24:16] but i don't know what we are looking for [00:24:18] there if we're looking for anything [00:24:19] kelly [00:24:21] yeah i had asked if we could possibly [00:24:23] negotiate getting those additional homes [00:24:26] covered that were not covered in that [00:24:28] last build [00:24:29] so she was going to look into that she [00:24:31] she thought you know she had gotten an [00:24:34] estimate of 25 000 so i asked if it was [00:24:36] something that you know they would be [00:24:38] willing to do [00:24:40] in this renewal [00:24:44] so could we put that on the left eileen [00:24:46] also yeah i do i have that on my list [00:24:48] thank you no problem um [00:24:52] and then the only other thing i know you [00:24:53] mentioned uh maybe increase in the [00:24:55] franchise be we just always need some [00:24:57] sort of ascertainment like what are your [00:24:59] needs for having increased that the [00:25:01] percentage amount so if you can provide [00:25:03] me some sort of aspecting and i'd be [00:25:05] greatly appreciative of that [00:25:25] so i will work on those items [00:25:30] okay is there anything um [00:25:32] when we when we put out the hearing is [00:25:35] there anything that you know we should [00:25:36] be [00:25:38] you know putting out to the public you [00:25:40] know [00:25:41] i know there's certain things that you [00:25:43] you can't help with so i don't i guess i [00:25:44] don't want to innovate a meeting with [00:25:46] requests that [00:25:48] are not what you're you know capable of [00:25:50] doing anything about you know like the [00:25:52] pricing and stuff like that yeah so [00:25:54] pricing channel lineup [00:25:56] there's nothing all that's negotiated in [00:25:58] this license is um [00:26:01] it's capital like any capital grants [00:26:03] franchise fees [00:26:05] um line extensions [00:26:07] length depends on the contract [00:26:10] um but you know nothing you have no [00:26:13] control over pricing channel no [00:26:16] packaging anything like that okay [00:26:18] that's what i thought [00:26:19] just [00:26:19] people know so [00:26:21] yeah they can't come and complain about [00:26:22] their bills right yeah yeah okay [00:26:26] um [00:26:28] there is language that is usually read [00:26:29] before the public hearing kind of laying [00:26:31] that out and slide it down just saying [00:26:33] you know this is what the publication [00:26:35] will address and [00:26:36] i don't know that's sort of the btc or [00:26:38] what but i know it in every public [00:26:40] hearing i've been to it's pretty much [00:26:41] been the same scriptures and read [00:26:42] beforehand [00:26:44] okay i'm sure we can sign that and yeah [00:26:46] we read that [00:26:48] yeah and then you just kind of like the [00:26:50] ground rules and what the public [00:26:51] learning is about right [00:26:53] okay good enough and we will see you on [00:26:56] april 25th um i would probably say six [00:27:00] uh [00:27:01] i guess we could open the meeting with [00:27:02] that what do you guys think [00:27:07] so we'll say 6 30. [00:27:09] and most likely in person [00:27:12] yes unless something changes with you [00:27:14] know okay great and where do you guys [00:27:16] meet in the town hall [00:27:18] correct okay perfect all right great [00:27:21] well thank you for your time i [00:27:22] appreciate it [00:27:23] thank you very much eileen for coming no [00:27:26] problem have a great evening [00:27:28] you as well thank you [00:27:29] thank you [00:27:32] okay [00:27:33] next up uh discussion about collector [00:27:36] position [00:27:37] combined with treasure position clerk [00:27:39] position for finance so i'm gonna [00:27:42] hand that over to you nicole to [00:27:45] thank you talk about [00:27:47] so we haven't had any luck with hiring a [00:27:50] collector we haven't had any [00:27:53] um [00:27:54] any qualified applicants [00:27:57] um i've been so we have the outside [00:27:59] vendor and i've been doing a lot [00:28:02] too [00:28:03] [Music] [00:28:04] of turnover because there's some you [00:28:05] know exercise has tons of taxes that [00:28:07] come to uh tons of bills sorry that come [00:28:10] do [00:28:11] so um [00:28:12] i you know i've been i was forwarded an [00:28:15] article that i forwarded to you guys by [00:28:17] cities and towns and um where the dls [00:28:21] and the dor recommend that you combine [00:28:23] these positions especially when there's [00:28:25] a vacancy so as i was reaching out to [00:28:27] zach blake [00:28:29] to do a financial review in the spring [00:28:31] for us from dls [00:28:33] he said [00:28:35] well i sent the article to him who he in [00:28:37] turn got me in contact with the author [00:28:39] of the article so i was able to talk to [00:28:40] her [00:28:41] but he also said that they absolutely [00:28:44] will [00:28:45] strongly recommend that we combine them [00:28:47] and if we hire somebody now especially [00:28:50] when there's [00:28:51] a vacancy that it's not it's not going [00:28:53] to be looked on favorably so if you have [00:28:56] a vacancy you should be combining them [00:28:58] um [00:29:02] i [00:29:04] i think we have a very capable employee [00:29:07] uh so the other thing is sorry let me go [00:29:09] back to that article i asked her i asked [00:29:12] the the author of the article i can't [00:29:14] remember her name [00:29:15] um [00:29:17] how to go about combining it so she went [00:29:19] back and told you know gave me the legal [00:29:21] history of the modernization act in 2017 [00:29:24] where elected positions if they were [00:29:26] both elected you would be able to [00:29:28] combine them through your um town [00:29:30] meeting however [00:29:31] since they're both appointed they they [00:29:33] got left behind unfortunately and they [00:29:36] have to go through special legislation [00:29:38] so [00:29:39] i have written the special legislation [00:29:41] and sent it off to council and i'm [00:29:43] waiting to hear back from him [00:29:44] among other things um you know that [00:29:48] you know the next step in the process [00:29:50] but what she did say was that you it's [00:29:52] certainly not um [00:29:55] illegal or inappropriate to appoint the [00:29:57] same person to both positions [00:29:59] so you can do that so even though we [00:30:01] can't combine them you can appoint the [00:30:03] same person [00:30:04] um [00:30:05] jessica crawford is our treasurer she [00:30:07] also worked in [00:30:09] the collector's office in barrie before [00:30:11] she came here [00:30:13] um she knows all about collections [00:30:16] and [00:30:17] i think that [00:30:18] i all i also think that [00:30:21] historically we haven't really been [00:30:23] taking care of our financial team as [00:30:24] well [00:30:25] and you know there with one person in [00:30:27] each department it's really hard to keep [00:30:30] the [00:30:31] the whole [00:30:32] um [00:30:33] this whole department moving [00:30:35] um [00:30:36] you know flowing well with if somebody [00:30:39] takes a vacation or they're off or [00:30:41] whatever it is and um [00:30:43] you know i think that [00:30:44] first of all my suggestion will be in [00:30:47] the coming months [00:30:49] to combine this position however we can [00:30:51] whenever we can do it [00:30:53] um and then and then appoint jessica to [00:30:55] both possibly appoint her sooner um the [00:30:58] only thing is she can't do two jobs is [00:31:00] one person [00:31:01] so in in our [00:31:04] there's no line item for a clerk for a [00:31:07] treasure collector clerk [00:31:08] so i'm not exactly what [00:31:11] sure what to do in the meantime [00:31:13] but [00:31:14] i think that you know in the coming [00:31:17] future we could appoint her [00:31:19] and you know [00:31:21] she even had an idea possibly doing like [00:31:24] instead of just this whole salary just [00:31:26] why she's doing the collecting [00:31:28] take an hourly pay you know why she's um [00:31:32] down doing the collections versus her [00:31:34] salary that she gets from the treasure [00:31:36] um we can't necessarily afford [00:31:39] um [00:31:40] muni mass muni finn [00:31:43] uh too much longer um [00:31:46] you know she's she's doing what she can [00:31:48] but it's not affordable for us for sure [00:31:51] um so [00:31:52] i'm not exactly sure what to do we don't [00:31:54] have [00:31:55] we can't hire a clerk [00:31:57] we can't have jessica be alone in two [00:31:59] offices [00:32:01] so [00:32:02] um i think that i also think that it's [00:32:05] not so crucial now that these excise [00:32:07] bills have have gone out and now i'm [00:32:10] actually turning them over because [00:32:12] um the next set of bills goes out for [00:32:15] may so we have a little bit of time [00:32:18] uh [00:32:19] but i'd like maybe some input on what [00:32:21] you guys think and what you think of [00:32:24] um [00:32:25] my idea here and then also hiring [00:32:28] i would like to add in another [00:32:31] clerk position in the finance department [00:32:35] um [00:32:37] so quickly do we know what what is left [00:32:41] in the collector's budget right now [00:32:44] and how much we you know spent [00:32:48] is if we were to [00:32:50] um [00:32:51] you know separate [00:32:53] the tie with [00:32:54] mass muni is there still money left in [00:32:56] that budget oh yeah there is [00:32:58] um [00:32:59] but [00:33:01] you know it's [00:33:03] it will be [00:33:04] depleted [00:33:06] quickly i don't i could look it up [00:33:08] um [00:33:12] okay um and then um my next question [00:33:15] would be for for jessica [00:33:18] and just how you feel about this [00:33:22] if we were to combine them and [00:33:24] um [00:33:26] you know i think [00:33:27] the only way we could combine it is with [00:33:29] an additional clerk and we would have to [00:33:31] find funding for that town meeting [00:33:33] unfortunately [00:33:34] our hands are tied right now to do [00:33:36] anything with that untilton meaning but [00:33:38] that is literally around the corner and [00:33:40] i think about it and i'm like ah how did [00:33:42] that already come up so fast again and [00:33:45] we've already talked about doing your [00:33:46] town meeting earlier than not um for a [00:33:48] couple of other reasons so [00:33:51] it literally is right around the corner [00:33:53] um i just don't know if we can [00:33:56] you know kind of hump along in the [00:33:58] meantime [00:34:00] you know until we can you know [00:34:03] if we decide to combine it you know [00:34:05] do the pro do the process what it takes [00:34:07] to do that [00:34:08] and then um [00:34:10] you know [00:34:11] like [00:34:12] and find a qualified clerk to help [00:34:16] obviously we struggled with this you [00:34:17] know [00:34:18] um we you know we just don't know what [00:34:21] we will find [00:34:22] so that will take that will take time [00:34:24] too [00:34:25] you know in the meantime if you were [00:34:26] going to do this [00:34:28] um [00:34:29] i guess i just wanted to hear from you [00:34:32] how you feel about it [00:34:35] yeah i have put a lot of thought into it [00:34:39] i would definitely want [00:34:42] software that we currently have for the [00:34:44] tax collector converted to radar [00:34:47] and i don't know what the cost of that [00:34:48] is i reached out to them to see [00:34:52] that i'll let you guys know [00:34:54] um [00:34:55] i want to convert the [00:34:57] data there [00:34:58] program and then [00:35:00] definitely would need a clerk so i [00:35:01] thought about [00:35:02] you know how could this be done [00:35:04] efficiently with [00:35:06] a clerk and i would i would definitely [00:35:08] need to find a good clerk hopefully [00:35:12] 32 hours a week i mean [00:35:14] i don't know that would be preferable um [00:35:17] even if it was 20 though [00:35:19] um you know i still thought about this i [00:35:21] would probably have them do like payroll [00:35:23] and data entry and probably [00:35:27] uh payments from customers [00:35:37] yeah well we could come up with a job [00:35:38] description of course and we'd have to [00:35:40] discuss jessica's salary um [00:35:43] but i i feel like between these two [00:35:46] positions it wouldn't be that much more [00:35:48] to have her [00:35:50] as the treasure collector and then have [00:35:51] a clerk [00:35:52] right now it's about 90 000 for both [00:35:55] positions [00:35:57] so you know i don't we certainly can't [00:35:59] talk about money and things like that [00:36:01] right now but i don't feel like it would [00:36:02] be that much of a stretch to [00:36:05] you know have that whole department yeah [00:36:07] combine and then add the yeah so i have [00:36:10] job descriptions of course and uh i [00:36:12] hired one in palmer so i i have that job [00:36:15] description too [00:36:16] um but [00:36:18] um [00:36:19] you know i mean yeah all these things [00:36:21] would have to happen we certainly no [00:36:23] matter who comes on we have to convert [00:36:25] this old [00:36:27] not junkie but all just different [00:36:29] software really should all be with the [00:36:30] rest of the finance team on vadar which [00:36:33] is our financial software so we should [00:36:35] we need to do that no matter what no [00:36:37] matter what yeah [00:36:39] we've had that conversation several [00:36:40] times and um [00:36:42] we tried and it got kind of pushed back [00:36:45] so yeah [00:36:47] i think having software that talks to [00:36:49] each other is huge [00:36:51] and um sorry lori i kind of left you [00:36:54] hanging over there after i answered you [00:36:56] look up [00:36:59] okay okay i figured i'd jump in when it [00:37:00] was appropriate there's 24 left and [00:37:02] that's probably not [00:37:04] all of sarah's laid out yet right [00:37:07] right yeah probably not okay so six [00:37:09] percent of the budget as of now [00:37:11] okay [00:37:12] i'm just thinking like you mentioned the [00:37:14] hourly you know if if jessica was gonna [00:37:17] take on a little bit of it it you know [00:37:19] maybe we did hourly or something to get [00:37:21] us through [00:37:22] um so there is some some wiggle room [00:37:24] there that's all i was more worried [00:37:26] about is if we even had the funds to [00:37:28] entertain that [00:37:30] um [00:37:33] so um [00:37:35] for sarah is sarah no longer working [00:37:39] with us she is [00:37:42] okay [00:37:43] so um [00:37:46] it doesn't make i mean we can't i don't [00:37:48] think we can afford to have her at the [00:37:49] end of the year i think we would [00:37:51] completely deplete that line item more [00:37:53] than that that's definitely an issue [00:37:55] yeah and she may not have the capacity [00:37:57] to do it either so um [00:38:00] i guess a couple of questions and [00:38:02] um do we have to post this position [00:38:06] um [00:38:08] if if we do um we probably should be [00:38:11] thinking about whether we have to post [00:38:13] it or not and getting that done [00:38:15] um [00:38:16] because it's going to come up pretty [00:38:17] quickly [00:38:19] what position sorry julie which position [00:38:21] do you mean [00:38:22] the combine well if we're combining the [00:38:23] position do we have to [00:38:26] um [00:38:27] is there any posting we have to do i [00:38:28] just want to be clear that we sort of [00:38:30] know what we're yeah we can't do [00:38:32] anything yet because it's it's still [00:38:34] with the attorney first of all [00:38:36] um with the special legislation that has [00:38:38] to go through the state um [00:38:40] but that's where it has to change it [00:38:42] can't change locally [00:38:52] no but you know i think these are all i [00:38:54] think these are all really good um [00:38:56] questions i don't know [00:38:58] you can appoint i don't think that you i [00:39:00] don't know that you'd apply i don't know [00:39:03] every answer to all of the questions i [00:39:06] also want to do some of this an [00:39:07] executive session [00:39:09] um [00:39:10] to kind of so [00:39:11] i think we could appoint [00:39:14] for both positions yeah [00:39:16] um and and [00:39:19] then go into executive session to [00:39:21] discuss salary [00:39:23] i think that's a i think we could do [00:39:25] that yeah there's a there's other things [00:39:27] that just salary that i'd like to [00:39:29] discuss too [00:39:30] before we go into full on session yeah [00:39:37] um [00:39:39] but i really just wanted to get this in [00:39:40] front of you like i said we have a [00:39:42] little bit of time and i'm kind of [00:39:44] limping along doing it obviously my [00:39:46] office is right across the hall and i um [00:39:49] i don't have a problem doing these [00:39:51] turnovers it's not difficult work you [00:39:53] know it takes a little time but it's not [00:39:55] hard it's not like really skilled work [00:39:58] to turn over checks [00:40:00] um [00:40:01] and we've had some assistance from mike [00:40:02] quinn valen with the build creation and [00:40:05] things like that because that's the [00:40:06] software [00:40:07] um [00:40:08] so you know our hum we're getting along [00:40:11] we're [00:40:11] we're getting along okay right now but [00:40:14] i'd like you know this is something that [00:40:16] i think that we should address before we [00:40:18] get our financial review from dls [00:40:21] so are we getting along [00:40:23] so much that [00:40:25] you know we can [00:40:27] not keep sarah on well not really [00:40:31] because she has to answer some questions [00:40:32] when she gets into the software like if [00:40:35] somebody whatever they oh you know i [00:40:37] can't get in there and i [00:40:39] can't do [00:40:40] both either so i we still need her i'm [00:40:42] trying to use her less and less which is [00:40:45] why i um right i guess turnover so i'm [00:40:48] not she's not i'm not paying her to do [00:40:51] that i did it you know over the weekend [00:40:53] and stuff so [00:40:55] i think we originally said six weeks [00:40:57] i think we're about four or six we're [00:41:00] going into [00:41:01] right um so my concern [00:41:04] is um [00:41:07] you know money and being able to [00:41:11] yeah [00:41:12] do we have any senior workout people [00:41:14] that can at least help with the process [00:41:17] nicole [00:41:18] i i don't i don't know i i mean i i can [00:41:21] reach out i don't know [00:41:23] what everybody's skill ability is [00:41:26] uh [00:41:26] without someone like just a suggestion [00:41:29] would paula be interested in that paul [00:41:30] has done turnovers from her [00:41:33] her office yeah maybe yeah [00:41:36] can we ask her if she'd be willing to do [00:41:38] something or um yeah you know maybe [00:41:40] there's other folks that could at least [00:41:42] they don't have to do the whole process [00:41:43] but they could at least help you know if [00:41:45] you train them and teach them probably [00:41:47] knows how to do turnovers she's had to [00:41:48] do them for her off from her office for [00:41:50] years as uh [00:41:52] as the um [00:41:54] clerk but you know maybe she'd be [00:41:55] willing to give a little bit of time [00:41:58] um certainly we could figure out how to [00:42:01] compensate her um [00:42:04] to do that or [00:42:06] i don't know [00:42:07] just some suggestions of getting you a [00:42:09] little bit of help with some skills [00:42:11] folks that understand [00:42:13] um you know his name is [00:42:17] yeah so that i mean that was what i was [00:42:19] thinking too that possibly if we [00:42:21] can appoint jessica at some point then [00:42:24] she can sit with [00:42:25] um [00:42:30] sarah [00:42:31] for a little you know to kind of learn [00:42:33] what he's doing right now and jessica [00:42:36] will certainly know the process in radar [00:42:38] but right now just right now why if [00:42:40] somebody says what do i owe or [00:42:42] um it's completely different [00:42:46] how much do i owe in penalties or [00:42:48] something like that that i can't answer [00:42:52] i can collect no problem yeah [00:42:54] um [00:42:55] so i guess [00:42:57] so just so i understand and rob do you [00:43:01] do you want to add anything at this [00:43:02] point [00:43:10] you're muted i'm not sure if you're [00:43:12] talking [00:43:13] i'm just just a little concerned [00:43:16] about [00:43:18] trying to make two positions into one [00:43:20] and [00:43:21] even though you're gonna try to [00:43:23] put somebody in as a clerk [00:43:26] to make sure [00:43:28] to keep the right caliper person [00:43:30] in both seats [00:43:33] and not have turnover [00:43:35] the problem you're going to have as we [00:43:37] often have with clerks are [00:43:39] it's kind of a [00:43:40] intermediate position [00:43:43] people are either a retired and just [00:43:45] doing it kind of as [00:43:47] the [00:43:48] part-time timing [00:43:50] or they're moving up and doing it as a [00:43:52] fill-in thing as a part-time thing [00:43:54] and if we train somebody on these jobs [00:43:57] for this town [00:43:59] it's going to be very specific you may [00:44:01] have high turnover [00:44:04] by doing this it's going to be [00:44:06] going to be highly recommended by the [00:44:08] state and most towns are doing [00:44:10] towns with less than 5000 people [00:44:13] you know i want technical [00:44:15] and i don't want that that pressure [00:44:18] to be so what's going to happen is [00:44:21] jess is going to set step into a [00:44:23] situation that she's going to be [00:44:24] responsible for both jobs [00:44:27] that are going to have to be completed [00:44:28] in a timely fashion [00:44:30] and if somebody leaves [00:44:33] in an untimely manner she's going to be [00:44:35] pressured to do this herself [00:44:39] um [00:44:40] and i know you guys are going to [00:44:42] whoever's within the town is going to [00:44:43] help her as much as possible i just [00:44:46] i want everybody to be aware of that [00:44:48] so whatever plan we make here [00:44:51] we should really we just need to think [00:44:52] it through and be sure that we're [00:44:56] we're not just trying to [00:44:59] ease one problem because we have create [00:45:02] another problem to ease one problem [00:45:06] go ahead [00:45:08] i think um in a small town unfortunately [00:45:12] it it's the nature of the beast [00:45:14] like nicole doing a lot of the [00:45:16] collecting right now right [00:45:18] i think no matter how you shake it up we [00:45:21] can always have an empty spot and we've [00:45:23] had an empty collector's position now [00:45:25] for over two months [00:45:27] um so [00:45:29] i do think we need to act on something [00:45:30] and we're not getting we're not getting [00:45:32] resumes that [00:45:34] you know fit what we're looking for [00:45:36] um [00:45:38] lori [00:45:39] do you want to add anything any insight [00:45:42] like how you're seeing other towns [00:45:44] or you know [00:45:45] your thought of jessica taking on both [00:45:48] roles and [00:45:49] you know [00:45:51] again it does depend on finding a good [00:45:53] clerk [00:45:54] one that fits well with jess and i mean [00:45:56] that you know that could take time yeah [00:45:59] that that's my concern too i share rob's [00:46:02] concerns there um i just as we were [00:46:04] sitting here i was just going through [00:46:05] all the towns that we work with and [00:46:07] literally out of the six towns three [00:46:09] have [00:46:10] an appointed [00:46:11] treasure collector and three [00:46:13] don't [00:46:15] so [00:46:16] yeah [00:46:17] yeah and one of them is appointed [00:46:19] they're two [00:46:20] part-time appointed positions [00:46:23] so i mean it's kind of mixed you know [00:46:25] throughout and that's just a handful of [00:46:28] towns [00:46:29] um [00:46:30] i've been talking to jess about this for [00:46:32] the you know since i was there last week [00:46:34] and [00:46:35] you know yeah it's [00:46:36] you're kind of putting all your eggs in [00:46:38] one basket you know like rob said but at [00:46:41] the same time [00:46:42] like that's what you do in a small town [00:46:44] you know that's what you have to do but [00:46:46] i agree that it might be a lot [00:46:49] for jess in the short term especially on [00:46:52] her own if we can't get her assistant in [00:46:54] this soon [00:46:56] so that's what worries me like that [00:46:58] you'll like rob said you'll be doing [00:46:59] both jobs [00:47:01] and you don't have an assistant [00:47:03] and you got to do both jobs [00:47:05] and they're both full-time jobs [00:47:08] so [00:47:09] that worries me a little i told you [00:47:10] would be there to support you help you [00:47:11] do whatever we need to do to get you [00:47:13] there [00:47:14] um [00:47:15] but um you know i gotta be honest that [00:47:17] it does concern me a little bit not that [00:47:19] we can't do it you know but [00:47:24] i do have a little bit [00:47:28] of concern [00:47:30] more so because we're not on beta too so [00:47:33] you know the guy that runs the system [00:47:35] that we use can we you know [00:47:37] contact him directly and work with him [00:47:38] to get just familiar with at least that [00:47:40] software like [00:47:41] you know like i feel like we need to [00:47:43] we can't rely on sarah either to [00:47:46] reach out [00:47:47] to you know get balances for us you know [00:47:50] so there's gonna be a way that we can [00:47:53] do that in-house without having to rely [00:47:54] on [00:47:56] other vendors to get that force [00:48:00] so i mean that i mean i feel like that's [00:48:02] the biggest thing like you know when i [00:48:03] was there last week a bunch of people [00:48:04] came in and called and like we couldn't [00:48:06] help them [00:48:07] like that that's the worst thing to do [00:48:09] when you have to answer the phone and [00:48:10] say i'm sorry i can't help you you know [00:48:12] we don't want to do that to the [00:48:13] residents but what else do we do you [00:48:15] know so [00:48:16] somebody's gonna teach us i mean i'm [00:48:18] willing to learn it too you know just to [00:48:21] it must be a standalone system i don't [00:48:22] even know what it is [00:48:26] we just employment he sends us a file [00:48:29] so [00:48:38] um i guess from a control standpoint [00:48:41] coming from the accounting sort of world [00:48:43] usually the treasurer and the collector [00:48:45] are supposed to reconcile together when [00:48:47] you've got the same position doing that [00:48:49] what is that from a control standpoint [00:48:52] i mean you're you have two separate [00:48:53] systems that are trying to reconcile to [00:48:55] each other and that serves as a control [00:48:57] although in the past it sort of serves [00:48:59] as a roadblock perhaps right um [00:49:03] but did we lose some control there i [00:49:05] just sort of looking at it from a big [00:49:06] picture [00:49:08] no i mean [00:49:10] everything that jess and the collector [00:49:13] did are reconciled with the account [00:49:15] anyway [00:49:16] yeah i mean so like the accountant [00:49:17] reconciles both of what they do anyway [00:49:19] so now it's just coming from the same [00:49:21] person [00:49:22] so no okay [00:49:24] okay good [00:49:26] i mean it would be an issue for me to go [00:49:28] in there and collect money [00:49:30] and you know do [00:49:32] just his job but no not treasure and [00:49:34] collector thank you [00:49:38] i mean i definitely you know i think [00:49:40] just can do it i told her that you know [00:49:42] i definitely she has the ability to do [00:49:44] it she [00:49:45] knows you know hard work she knows the [00:49:47] software she's been there you know like [00:49:49] she [00:49:52] but she needs help you know she'd not be [00:49:53] able to do it on her own and [00:49:55] [Music] [00:49:56] how do you [00:49:57] do that [00:50:02] without setting you up to fail [00:50:07] so can we [00:50:09] can we post for [00:50:11] for a clark position [00:50:15] and fund you know use what's left in the [00:50:18] collector's [00:50:20] line item is that a possible i'm trying [00:50:23] to [00:50:24] you know i'm trying to get to a spot [00:50:26] where we're covered [00:50:28] you know before because we can't even do [00:50:31] we can't make that a combined position [00:50:33] yet right nicole until we hear back from [00:50:36] legal and then go to the state and you [00:50:37] know blah blah blah [00:50:48] [Music] [00:50:51] 32 hours a week at [00:50:55] 15.69 an hour [00:50:57] that would be around 26 [00:50:59] 000. [00:51:03] except for the rest of the fiscal year [00:51:06] the whole [00:51:14] so if we have 24 i mean even if we don't [00:51:17] have 24 even if we had 20 or whatever is [00:51:19] left in the budget that seems right [00:51:30] and i would definitely be willing to [00:51:35] you spawn maybe 10 hours a week [00:51:38] eight hourly until we got [00:51:40] a clerk [00:51:44] we want to see what it would cost to uh [00:51:47] for everything [00:51:49] that would make everything so much [00:51:50] faster and more efficient [00:51:52] yeah [00:51:54] i think we need that number for sure [00:51:57] you're probably not going to do that so [00:51:59] it's july 1 anyway right [00:52:01] yeah [00:52:02] yeah i would say um [00:52:08] [Music] [00:52:10] if we have a clerk more than 20 hours a [00:52:12] week [00:52:13] it's my benefit [00:52:16] yeah you gotta [00:52:22] okay [00:52:23] so it sounds like we still have a lot of [00:52:25] unanswered questions and um [00:52:28] maybe we can you know certainly this is [00:52:30] going to be an ongoing discussion [00:52:32] especially when we need the special [00:52:34] legislation for this [00:52:36] so um [00:52:38] maybe you know we convene on this um [00:52:41] when we have that information nicole [00:52:44] yeah um you know [00:52:48] so [00:52:49] there's you can appoint the same person [00:52:51] that you can do you don't have to do [00:52:53] anything but do this but appoint them [00:52:55] um there's no clerk in the budget so the [00:52:58] town meet town people did not approve [00:53:00] something like that so i don't think [00:53:02] that we can just do that [00:53:04] now [00:53:05] could we pay somebody [00:53:07] a clerk hourly uh you know a temporary [00:53:10] position i think so [00:53:13] um [00:53:14] do i want to see jessica working 50 [00:53:16] hours no [00:53:18] i mean she gets paid for 32.5 but i [00:53:21] think she's been more up more than that [00:53:23] and [00:53:25] you know i can help too but my work is [00:53:28] going to suffer too and already is so [00:53:30] um [00:53:32] you know [00:53:33] we have to do something we don't we're [00:53:35] not getting and and it's all across i [00:53:38] know it's every industry but it's really [00:53:41] take a municipal world has really taken [00:53:43] a hit [00:53:44] on um people working he you know we [00:53:46] don't pay as much [00:53:47] never mind it's a small town all you [00:53:49] know the whole commonwealth doesn't pay [00:53:51] that much you know they they try to rely [00:53:53] on retirement and things like that but [00:53:56] people don't care about that right now [00:53:57] they care about the dollar that they're [00:53:58] getting today so [00:54:00] um you know [00:54:01] it's really hard that we are going to be [00:54:05] strongly um [00:54:07] recommended by the state to combine the [00:54:09] position [00:54:10] like i said every i know she uh laurie [00:54:13] has a couple of towns that aren't aren't [00:54:15] combined [00:54:16] um all the ones around here are [00:54:20] so [00:54:21] you know i think i like i said i i [00:54:23] really wanted to get this in front of [00:54:25] you [00:54:25] i um [00:54:27] you know i can see if we can get some [00:54:28] work off people i've done the bulk of [00:54:31] of the excise and [00:54:34] how [00:54:35] you know [00:54:36] it's sort of just plugging along until [00:54:38] we go to the next billy may so um you [00:54:41] know [00:54:41] yeah we can i can try to look into all [00:54:44] of those things but ultimately [00:54:46] if we really are going [00:54:49] i'm going to hope you know strongly [00:54:51] recommend also that we don't wait for [00:54:54] the state to tell us [00:54:55] um that [00:54:57] you know we already are privy to this [00:54:59] information and that you i sent you all [00:55:02] the cities and towns article [00:55:04] stating where they're strongly [00:55:06] recommending the [00:55:09] combination [00:55:10] and especially when there's a vacancy so [00:55:13] you know the fact that we're working [00:55:15] toward what they are suggesting i think [00:55:18] is good [00:55:19] um but [00:55:20] this is why i think we can get there i [00:55:22] just think we need a little bit more [00:55:24] information [00:55:25] monetarily on how we can make this work [00:55:29] yeah and yeah we have to offer benefits [00:55:31] to me i don't you know i don't see that [00:55:35] so much as a deterrent [00:55:37] i mean [00:55:39] there's a lot of people that are [00:55:41] entitled to right now that don't they [00:55:42] come so [00:55:45] you know [00:55:58] that's another question maybe [00:56:00] a clear 15 [00:56:01] it's not somebody working full-time [00:56:03] making a full-time salary you know it's [00:56:05] gonna be a moms hours kind of thing [00:56:07] um so [00:56:09] you know [00:56:10] probably have an executive session and [00:56:13] kind of [00:56:14] talk it all out but i just want to get [00:56:15] it in front of you that this is really [00:56:16] there's a lot of [00:56:17] we can't just go into executive session [00:56:20] and [00:56:22] unfortunately [00:56:23] it's the parameters that may not be [00:56:25] there [00:56:26] just to have been working out you know [00:56:29] appointing and making the position [00:56:30] combined and talking salary then [00:56:33] you know yes but then it becomes public [00:56:35] knowledge yes that's all i mean by if we [00:56:37] if it does become jessica [00:56:40] you know that we have more discussion [00:56:42] before it becomes public knowledge [00:56:46] um [00:56:46] but it's entirely in your purview to do [00:56:49] that [00:56:51] um [00:56:54] in light of everything else we have [00:56:55] going on [00:56:57] i i guess i'm just going to say my [00:56:59] opinion on this um in light of [00:57:00] everything else we have going on and the [00:57:02] importance of our numbers [00:57:04] i really do not want to miss step here [00:57:06] um our finance team is going to be [00:57:09] our finance team has always been [00:57:10] important you are going to be more [00:57:12] important coming up [00:57:14] fairly quickly and i hate to be [00:57:16] skimming it [00:57:17] and really shoot ourselves in the foot [00:57:20] because we [00:57:22] you know if we can't get a clerk in [00:57:23] there and you know um just ends up [00:57:26] getting behind [00:57:27] and it's going to create an issue a [00:57:29] larger scale issue for us so it's not [00:57:31] something i think we [00:57:33] although i [00:57:34] i also don't want nicole working a [00:57:35] million hours either um [00:57:38] i think you know i think we really need [00:57:39] to put some considerations because it [00:57:41] has some big ramifications we have [00:57:44] gotten slammed in the past [00:57:47] and um and you know whether rightly so [00:57:50] or not rightly so about our the [00:57:52] financial situation in hardwick and what [00:57:55] our finances have looked like [00:57:57] um [00:57:58] and frankly our team in the past so [00:58:01] i don't want to take these decisions [00:58:03] lightly um [00:58:05] and [00:58:06] because of what we have at stake [00:58:10] i completely agree yeah [00:58:13] but i don't know but i also don't know [00:58:15] what the right answer is [00:58:17] with that with me saying that i i i [00:58:22] think we should be my opinion only we [00:58:24] should be [00:58:26] um [00:58:28] ultra careful with regard to this [00:58:30] because [00:58:31] you know there are people watching us [00:58:33] and that has been you know quite frankly [00:58:36] and this is you know i i'm not saying [00:58:38] anything out of school [00:58:40] um we've been criticized [00:58:43] in the past by the lack of [00:58:46] and i just don't want this to be [00:58:48] another [00:58:50] not because no one's trying or because [00:58:52] we but because someone's overwhelmed [00:58:55] that we're not hitting the mark on this [00:58:57] i think it's more important now than [00:58:58] ever that we are hitting the mark on [00:59:00] everything that we do [00:59:02] and if it's hiring an interim clerk to [00:59:04] do the [00:59:05] um collector position until we can [00:59:08] figure this out [00:59:10] i think lori could we do that with [00:59:12] within the confines of what we have left [00:59:15] and maybe that's what we do maybe [00:59:16] there's someone from a neighboring town [00:59:18] who doesn't work full-time that could [00:59:20] come in and [00:59:21] we could have them [00:59:24] you know [00:59:25] work and just help us get over the hump [00:59:27] until we can figure this out [00:59:33] i don't know that's my thought [00:59:36] well that's what we have sarah but well [00:59:38] we can't afford sarah [00:59:40] right [00:59:41] i think what julia was asking is if we [00:59:42] could um [00:59:44] if we could hire that clerk [00:59:47] with you know through that line item [00:59:50] until we figure out how we're going to [00:59:52] combine them and and make the next step [00:59:55] and then make you know come budget [00:59:57] season come you know meeting [00:59:59] you know if we combine them then that [01:00:01] becomes [01:00:03] the salary you know [01:00:05] whatever it is and then the clerk [01:00:08] instead of the collector [01:00:10] you know it becomes a clerk position [01:00:15] i think nicole spoke to that i don't the [01:00:17] tom meetings didn't approve a clerk [01:00:19] right so can we just hire no [01:00:23] but we're so i mean financially you can [01:00:25] use those funds for that position [01:00:28] right it would just be hiring an [01:00:30] unqualified collector i guess [01:00:33] right because they'd just be a clerk [01:00:35] well maybe they could job maybe they [01:00:37] could be [01:00:39] maybe they could be a collector with [01:00:47] can we look to other towns i mean i'm [01:00:49] happy to reach out to other towns and [01:00:51] see if there's even if somebody can work [01:00:53] for us eight or 12 hours a week [01:00:56] you know whatever it might be at least [01:00:58] it would be something to take the [01:00:59] pressure off until [01:01:01] um [01:01:02] because the reality is [01:01:04] this doesn't work unless there's another [01:01:06] person there [01:01:08] that's right i mean it it would work [01:01:10] maybe like for a hot second and then [01:01:12] again [01:01:14] then it's too much for one person [01:01:16] without that clerk there um [01:01:18] i don't care if you're superwoman or [01:01:20] whatever it's too much for one person [01:01:24] unless you're working 80 hours a week to [01:01:26] try to make it and that no one should [01:01:28] have to do that [01:01:29] um so if we advertised [01:01:33] for the clerk that we want [01:01:36] a financial clerk [01:01:38] you know if you [01:01:40] nicole you mentioned putting together [01:01:41] that job description if we advertise for [01:01:44] that person [01:01:48] it gets the ball we just have somebody [01:01:49] here to pay taxes so i'm just gonna meet [01:01:52] myself for a minute [01:01:56] is am i making sense with what i'm [01:01:57] saying [01:02:01] basically we need to hire a temporary [01:02:03] collector that's what we need to do well [01:02:06] and i also think that we actually [01:02:09] but we tried we tried wrong it's been [01:02:12] advertised for two months [01:02:14] well i know but they'd be a temporary [01:02:15] collector right now until they become a [01:02:17] clerk after we can change the vote in [01:02:19] the funding [01:02:22] i mean can we reach out to the [01:02:23] applicants and see if they're interested [01:02:28] in that [01:02:31] so maybe we can reach out to other [01:02:33] surrounding towns and see if their [01:02:35] collector would be willing to [01:02:37] you know work [01:02:39] on a part-time basis or whatever at [01:02:40] least to get us over the hump if we [01:02:42] don't have anybody that fits the bill [01:02:44] right now [01:02:45] um because realistically people you know [01:02:49] we don't want people to burn out trying [01:02:50] to get this [01:02:52] trying to get the job done [01:02:54] and also i think you know the issue with [01:02:56] the software is you know maybe we have [01:02:58] somebody who can help us with the [01:02:59] conversion there's no depending on what [01:03:02] the cost is on that you know it sounds [01:03:04] like we need to probably get on that [01:03:05] symbolism later especially if we're sort [01:03:08] of at the mercy of mike quinlivan to [01:03:10] help us with [01:03:11] do we clink over that i mean that's [01:03:13] really not efficient for us [01:03:16] hopefully [01:03:21] hopefully i'm paid but you know the [01:03:23] point is you know we should be able to [01:03:24] know what our residents owe us [01:03:26] without having to rely on somebody else [01:03:29] but can we use mike [01:03:31] nicole i don't know if you've spoken to [01:03:32] mike but can we use mike like [01:03:35] on an hourly basis to answer us [01:03:37] questions and show us how to use the [01:03:39] software and [01:03:42] does that pass me [01:03:45] he gets back to sarah sometimes so [01:03:48] it's just sporadic [01:03:52] so i don't know [01:03:56] there was some expense built into the to [01:03:58] the collector's budget for dealing with [01:04:00] mike so i think we do have the funds in [01:04:02] there for him to [01:04:05] um [01:04:05] you know show us [01:04:08] we should be able to run those reports [01:04:10] since there's no reason why we should be [01:04:12] able to run reports show us who else [01:04:14] what [01:04:18] that is true [01:04:20] and that's why if we have vadar you know [01:04:23] like [01:04:24] my other town um my other software i [01:04:27] could get into everybody's module so [01:04:29] um yeah i think we should absolutely do [01:04:32] that [01:04:33] it makes so much easier to [01:04:36] run you know the tax titleist [01:04:43] a couple different times [01:04:46] but i mean especially even before [01:04:47] somebody starts we can just be like yeah [01:04:49] the software you're going to use [01:04:52] it absolutely should be vader no doubt [01:04:54] about it i couldn't believe it when it [01:04:55] wasn't and um i have zero issue um [01:05:00] putting it on my computer too [01:05:02] and [01:05:03] you know it worse comes the worst we can [01:05:05] use arpa funds if it's too expensive [01:05:12] sorry i don't think it's that expensive [01:05:14] to convert i have no idea [01:05:18] i don't know the number one shop i had [01:05:20] but it was [01:05:22] under 10. [01:05:24] so i think we definitely we need that [01:05:26] information and then um [01:05:34] i i guess then we need to you know [01:05:37] put together a job description [01:05:41] and and see about posting [01:05:46] and in the meantime i can see if there's [01:05:48] any senior work off that can um [01:05:51] do some turnovers [01:05:53] here in the office [01:05:56] you know um [01:05:58] jessica and i had already talked about [01:05:59] it and she did reach out to radar to see [01:06:01] the process so we're waiting for them to [01:06:03] get back to us [01:06:04] um [01:06:06] you know [01:06:07] i'll try to find other [01:06:09] small towns that have part-time [01:06:11] employees [01:06:12] i mean i i would think that whoever's [01:06:15] looking for a job would be looking on [01:06:17] these sites that i post them on but [01:06:21] yeah i don't know i i wonder if like i [01:06:24] mean it sounds silly but just like the [01:06:25] local little newspapers i [01:06:28] you know [01:06:30] i wonder if that's worth a try [01:06:32] um and then and then if it's possible if [01:06:36] if we want to have an executive [01:06:38] executive session if it falls within the [01:06:40] parameters [01:06:41] um [01:06:42] you know [01:06:43] the board and and unico and been just [01:06:46] then yeah i'm happy to do that [01:06:51] okay then i'll come back next meeting [01:06:52] with more information [01:06:55] or sooner if you know if you want to [01:06:57] email us and if we want to get this you [01:06:59] know now you're in debt we're you know [01:07:02] the middle of march next time so the [01:07:04] longer this goes the more we're spending [01:07:06] you know with sarah and the you know um [01:07:09] i do think we need to come up with a [01:07:11] resolution [01:07:14] okay [01:07:15] all right thank you [01:07:16] because it it is a lot on everybody so i [01:07:19] mean unfortunately that's the nature of [01:07:21] the beast with us with a [01:07:23] it was a small town it just [01:07:25] everybody wears several hats sometimes [01:07:27] and um i will say that i appreciate [01:07:29] everything you guys are all doing to [01:07:32] to keep it all going so [01:07:33] um thank you [01:07:36] thank you we will figure it out though [01:07:41] thank you jess and laurie for coming [01:07:43] thank you [01:07:48] okay um [01:07:50] the next item is the warrant process [01:07:55] and nicole i will [01:07:57] hand it over to you again [01:07:58] okay [01:08:02] so the warrant process is just basically [01:08:05] everybody submits [01:08:06] their [01:08:08] um [01:08:10] their [01:08:11] bills or their own little tiny warrants [01:08:14] to make the big warrant to jessica [01:08:16] and then it goes [01:08:18] to the account [01:08:20] and then the accountant sends it over to [01:08:22] us [01:08:23] so i was talking to laurie and laurie [01:08:25] said that you know before approving [01:08:27] everything she could send it to me and [01:08:29] then i can go through it and any [01:08:32] questions i have you know if if [01:08:34] something needs to get pulled out then [01:08:35] we can pull it out instead of just [01:08:37] you know automatically [01:08:39] just [01:08:41] either [01:08:42] paying everything that maybe we don't [01:08:44] want to approve or [01:08:46] um [01:08:48] you know [01:08:49] i don't know if it's already been paid [01:08:51] lori will know that but [01:08:52] um i was looking in the financial policy [01:08:56] handbook [01:08:57] that i i also wanted to ask i don't know [01:08:59] if that was um ever formally adopted [01:09:03] i asked brian [01:09:04] um and he was going to look it up but [01:09:08] it's not anywhere that's really [01:09:10] convenient and easy for him to find we [01:09:12] were talking about a different process [01:09:13] that we're going to do starting in the [01:09:14] next fiscal year to [01:09:16] just write resolutions for any kind of [01:09:18] important decision that's made in [01:09:20] anything monetarily that will you know [01:09:22] we'll be able to reference back to [01:09:24] pretty quickly [01:09:25] um [01:09:26] but [01:09:27] as far as this goes this is from 2017 [01:09:29] and after every [01:09:31] after every um section it says [01:09:35] effective date this policy was adopted [01:09:37] on with parentheses and date and and [01:09:39] and so it doesn't seem like it was [01:09:41] completed [01:09:42] um [01:09:43] but [01:09:45] there is a section in here that talks [01:09:48] about um [01:09:50] disbursements [01:09:54] and that you're supposed to sign them [01:09:56] all but i think obviously as me working [01:09:58] as there's let me make sure somebody is [01:10:01] um the staff that i should be reviewing [01:10:03] these before they just get sent out [01:10:08] um [01:10:11] i'm just trying to action just give me [01:10:14] one second [01:10:21] and i send the warrant i email the [01:10:23] warrant back [01:10:25] to you guys [01:10:26] after we re you know melanson does bad [01:10:29] thing we view everything enter [01:10:30] everything and then it's on its way back [01:10:32] to jess [01:10:33] so there's still an opportunity for it [01:10:35] to be reviewed you know adjusted at that [01:10:37] point [01:10:39] yeah so that's why i suggested that i [01:10:40] could send that to nicole nicole could [01:10:42] review it and then nicole and i would [01:10:45] sign it [01:10:46] and send it on to the board [01:10:49] or i mean i don't know if you guys are [01:10:50] coming in now because i think we started [01:10:52] emailing it because you guys weren't [01:10:53] coming in to town hall because they all [01:10:55] did so i don't know you know that's why [01:10:56] we were like is that process going to [01:10:58] change too or [01:10:59] so we did when because back [01:11:02] you know i sent you those minutes we'd [01:11:04] authorized um teresa to sign off with [01:11:06] them due to coven yeah and [01:11:09] we were getting them emailed [01:11:11] just so that you know we saw what was [01:11:13] going on and i mean sometimes i shoot [01:11:16] you a question [01:11:20] um [01:11:21] but [01:11:22] so [01:11:22] i guess i just want [01:11:24] clarification [01:11:26] because by the time [01:11:29] by the time you have everything [01:11:32] you've already put it you've put it all [01:11:34] together [01:11:36] and [01:11:37] chances are [01:11:39] whoever's submitting for payment they've [01:11:41] already [01:11:42] maybe gotten whatever that is or [01:11:44] or [01:11:47] am i you know if it's a purchase like a [01:11:49] lowe's purchase or whatever they already [01:11:51] have that material yeah [01:11:53] i mean if it's a if it's a renewal for [01:11:56] you know a certification or something [01:11:58] then that may be a little bit different [01:12:00] so i guess i'm [01:12:02] wondering [01:12:05] um [01:12:07] if i'm understanding [01:12:09] maybe nicole what you're [01:12:11] suggesting i i thought i i don't want to [01:12:14] be i don't want to like micromanage but [01:12:16] i feel like we should have one more step [01:12:19] in um [01:12:21] in the purchasing process [01:12:23] so when they submit their [01:12:26] i guess everybody calls them a warrant [01:12:28] or their bills to be paid [01:12:29] um [01:12:31] it even says you know the policy says [01:12:33] that the town account and border [01:12:34] selectmen should review and approve it [01:12:37] so if i if they're coming to me each day [01:12:39] i can review it [01:12:40] and you know i can can look at it for [01:12:44] whether it's appropriate you know [01:12:45] obviously most things will be [01:12:47] appropriate sometimes i think you know [01:12:49] things might need a little deeper dive [01:12:52] um [01:12:53] you know and i also [01:12:54] just asked [01:12:56] lori to create um purchase orders so [01:12:59] anything you know over 10 [01:13:02] under 50 [01:13:03] we can have [01:13:05] um [01:13:06] back up to what they did to you know do [01:13:09] the proper procurement process because [01:13:11] you don't have to go out to bid for that [01:13:13] so [01:13:13] um you know i just think that a little [01:13:16] more um a little more a little more [01:13:19] oversight again [01:13:20] i'm certainly not asking for more work [01:13:22] but i think that yeah people will think [01:13:25] about you know their spending if they [01:13:28] know you know they don't just send it up [01:13:30] if there's an extra step yeah no i i [01:13:33] i see what you're saying in there [01:13:35] might just make people think a little [01:13:36] bit [01:13:38] yeah um [01:13:40] you know for the most part [01:13:42] and i did this in my other town i get [01:13:44] and i guess it and i feel like it was it [01:13:47] was beneficial i didn't certainly didn't [01:13:50] sit there and [01:13:51] scrutinize every single line it was more [01:13:54] like [01:13:55] um [01:13:56] you know if it's not signed then the [01:13:58] accountant's gonna [01:13:59] push it right back you know and say well [01:14:01] okay well you um you know you bought [01:14:04] pens for 75 [01:14:06] why wasn't it signed off by the town [01:14:08] administrator well you know i was like [01:14:10] no you're gonna have to use our six [01:14:11] dollar pens you can't use expensive pens [01:14:14] from the public money you know it just [01:14:17] and that's just a stupid example but um [01:14:20] just a little bit more uh [01:14:23] like i'm i'm seeing it a little a little [01:14:26] closer before it actually goes out to [01:14:28] laurie [01:14:31] you want to see it before it comes to me [01:14:34] is that well [01:14:36] like [01:14:37] when you send it there's no backup [01:14:39] there's just the bill there's no yeah [01:14:41] but remember i told you the all the [01:14:42] backups on base camp [01:14:46] but if i [01:14:47] you know if i gave it i got it before [01:14:50] you got it [01:14:51] and you know to make sure that it's an [01:14:53] appropriate purchase [01:14:55] that's what we're doing [01:14:59] i just think you're gonna do it again [01:15:03] oh i'm gonna you know what i mean like [01:15:05] that's up to you if you want to do power [01:15:07] against less [01:15:09] i don't i i don't ever see that you even [01:15:12] questioned anything [01:15:13] oh we quit ask your department heads [01:15:16] what we question [01:15:18] every single day i see julie shaking her [01:15:20] head everyone laughs that nothing gets [01:15:22] by diane in fact i have one of my [01:15:25] inbox to ask you about tomorrow [01:15:29] so yeah believe me nothing nothing will [01:15:31] get by okay well that's good i um i'm [01:15:33] not on those emails so i certainly [01:15:35] didn't see it i mean another thing to [01:15:37] the board was that i think we should put [01:15:39] this financial policy manual in front of [01:15:41] you again to see what you want to adopt [01:15:43] what you don't informally adopt it [01:15:46] sarah um [01:15:48] you're holding a paper copy of it is [01:15:49] there a scan of it i do have a digital [01:15:52] copy that i asked dls for because this [01:15:54] is the okay i just found this randomly [01:15:56] in this drawer way back [01:15:58] and so i asked them and they don't make [01:16:00] books anymore but he sold it to me [01:16:02] because i feel like i remember there [01:16:03] being talk about that and i'm to be [01:16:05] honest i couldn't tell you if it was [01:16:07] ever voted in i i couldn't okay [01:16:11] that's just something else i think that [01:16:13] we should think about if it was done it [01:16:15] was completed five years ago and [01:16:17] you know we should be following it and [01:16:18] referencing it and [01:16:20] i don't know [01:16:21] now you think i'd remember that um [01:16:24] i remember them coming in and doing [01:16:28] different things um [01:16:30] i don't remember [01:16:32] actually adopting [01:16:33] you know voting to adopt them rob or [01:16:35] julie do you want to interject with [01:16:37] anything [01:16:44] i thought we did [01:16:46] but i don't i don't remember [01:16:51] in so long as the accounting team is [01:16:54] just really looking closely at the [01:16:56] warrants i certainly don't have to [01:16:59] and again that's like when i send you [01:17:01] that before you get it [01:17:03] look at it just scan through it that's [01:17:04] why that's why i put it in that format [01:17:06] so you guys can just scan through it see [01:17:08] the vendor see what account we're [01:17:09] charging it to the dollar amount [01:17:10] anything you have a question on just [01:17:12] tell me ask me and i'll just i'll tell [01:17:14] you what it is i'll tell you what we [01:17:15] talked about [01:17:17] i know i've asked you a couple of [01:17:19] questions here and there normally i you [01:17:20] know it's pretty self-explanatory [01:17:23] um but i also nicole i do get what [01:17:25] you're saying [01:17:27] um [01:17:28] about you know the department's [01:17:31] sending [01:17:33] you maybe what i don't know i i do get [01:17:35] what you're thinking like [01:17:36] make people think a little bit before [01:17:38] you know um but again if [01:17:41] if the accountants are doing that yeah [01:17:45] i i certainly [01:17:46] i'm not sure you need more work right no [01:17:49] i think as long as somebody's doing it [01:17:51] that is the thing you know when i see [01:17:53] the warren and i go through it and i um [01:17:55] you know of course i look at every [01:17:56] single one um but i'm i'm under the [01:17:59] assumption that all that has already [01:18:01] been sent through and paid [01:18:03] no [01:18:07] because we mail it back when do we mail [01:18:08] it back just [01:18:10] recording mail tomorrow you'll get it [01:18:11] thursday and she prints the checks on [01:18:13] friday [01:18:15] right up until i print the check we can [01:18:17] pull something from the warrant yeah and [01:18:19] even if she prints it we can just void [01:18:21] the checks they don't go out like the [01:18:22] minute you print them so yeah there's [01:18:24] still time [01:18:25] okay [01:18:26] nicole are you thinking though like um i [01:18:29] know some towns will have to [01:18:32] almost like ask permission after like a [01:18:34] certain dollar amount [01:18:36] um no i don't that's not in the [01:18:38] financial policy manual it's more of [01:18:40] just the two signatures but [01:18:42] um i mean seriously i don't i i don't [01:18:45] want to um [01:18:46] take up too much time i just wanted to [01:18:48] make sure that that's happening so if [01:18:50] the accountants are doing it and they're [01:18:51] emailing the departments and asking them [01:18:53] questions um [01:18:56] absolutely as long as it's being done [01:18:58] then we have two levels of review diane [01:19:00] does it and then i review it after she [01:19:02] does it so [01:19:05] okay good [01:19:10] we're happy with that then [01:19:13] yes [01:19:14] okay [01:19:15] perfect [01:19:17] keep that status quo [01:19:20] um um [01:19:23] can you see any committee reports on uh [01:19:26] your report [01:19:27] if you want to go through that yeah [01:19:28] we're having a department meeting [01:19:30] tomorrow so hopefully everybody will [01:19:32] give me reports and then you'll have [01:19:33] them for the next [01:19:34] meeting um so zenica farms is still [01:19:37] seeking to secure a host community [01:19:39] agreement with the town of hardwick for [01:19:41] 228 berry road [01:19:42] um they're still working on their hca [01:19:45] they keep asking to get in front of you [01:19:47] guys but there's they keep wanting to [01:19:49] change the host community agreement i [01:19:50] finally spoke with [01:19:52] rebecca adams last week and said you [01:19:54] know the other two that were done [01:19:56] certainly didn't have this back and [01:19:57] forth and [01:19:59] your 5000 is going to be gone because [01:20:01] you are working way too much with the [01:20:03] attorney but so you know i kind of just [01:20:05] said [01:20:06] get it done and and we can get in front [01:20:08] of them but you know this volume back [01:20:10] and forth between [01:20:11] the um attorneys and and her attorneys [01:20:14] is too much so [01:20:16] i will [01:20:27] they're basically the same they just [01:20:31] because yeah [01:20:32] nicole at kp we've done the same yeah [01:20:35] right [01:20:36] yeah she's kind of pushing back a little [01:20:38] bit so they're they're working on that [01:20:40] oh that's what we pay [01:20:42] yeah confidential mediation with usda is [01:20:45] still ongoing [01:20:46] it's confidential so i can't really talk [01:20:48] about it right now um [01:20:50] i did receive a call from epa on [01:20:52] thursday [01:20:53] uh they're keeping a very close eye on [01:20:56] us [01:20:58] there are [01:20:59] you know enforcement actions that they [01:21:02] are still looking into because you know [01:21:05] it's been a while it's been a couple of [01:21:07] years [01:21:08] but um you know i've reassured them that [01:21:11] we're we're making progress and we're [01:21:13] working diligently [01:21:14] and to please [01:21:15] not sue us or give us any happy practice [01:21:19] so [01:21:19] there's they just want updates uh [01:21:22] periodically so they're okay but it was [01:21:24] a pretty serious phone call and um [01:21:27] they're not [01:21:28] looking too favorably on keeping this uh [01:21:31] at bay and just leaving it here um [01:21:34] without you know actually enforcing it [01:21:37] so we'll we've got a couple of eyes on [01:21:39] us [01:21:41] the town audit is ongoing staff [01:21:42] continues to assist with documentation [01:21:44] we're affording forwarding things all [01:21:46] the time to them [01:21:48] um the youtube for viewing meetings at [01:21:50] home has been created so we have a [01:21:52] channel but the supplies have been [01:21:54] delayed as everybody can probably [01:21:56] understand [01:21:57] um so now we're hoping to have it up and [01:21:59] running by the end of march i didn't i [01:22:01] didn't really see um any point to [01:22:05] putting it on right now without being [01:22:07] able because we're gonna meet in person [01:22:09] and without being able to see anything [01:22:11] you know on youtube you have to be [01:22:12] filming it and we don't have the [01:22:14] equipment yet so i didn't think that was [01:22:16] worth doing it [01:22:18] once again this was in my last report [01:22:20] too the town census has gone out please [01:22:22] keep an eye out please return it [01:22:24] these forms are extremely important when [01:22:26] we're considered for grants [01:22:28] uh we had the second municipal [01:22:31] vulnerability preparedness meeting last [01:22:33] wednesday [01:22:34] we established who will be invited to [01:22:36] our charettes we'll be at the town hall [01:22:38] march 24th and the 31st from five to [01:22:40] eight [01:22:41] um and then i'll be able to update you [01:22:43] shortly thereafter if you're not [01:22:44] included in these tourettes um where we [01:22:47] have breakout groups and we meet for [01:22:49] about six hours three hours on each day [01:22:52] um [01:22:53] and [01:22:54] and kind of really brainstorm and and [01:22:56] try to get the plan together [01:23:00] uh planning board is finalizing their [01:23:01] solar bylaw they're working on it at [01:23:03] their last meeting for the town meeting [01:23:05] so then we're um [01:23:07] eligible for the green community grant [01:23:09] again in the fall you can only apply for [01:23:11] in spring or fall so it was a good time [01:23:13] to update that solar by law because we [01:23:15] are as i expected [01:23:17] getting uh you know a lot of interest in [01:23:20] solar because there's so much open space [01:23:21] out here and this the bylaws just [01:23:24] weren't um tight enough i think um so [01:23:26] the [01:23:27] planning board has been working on that [01:23:28] and they've been working on that it's [01:23:30] their thing [01:23:31] um the ambulance committee will be [01:23:33] meeting march 7th [01:23:34] i will give a formal update and invite [01:23:36] the chair to give recommendations on [01:23:37] american emergency medical sentence i [01:23:40] mean emergency medical services at the [01:23:42] march 14th meeting [01:23:45] um and tuesday tomorrow night the east [01:23:47] east club and land trust and mass [01:23:49] division of ecological restoration will [01:23:51] be facilitating a meeting regarding the [01:23:53] proposed wheel right pond dam removal on [01:23:56] the ware river [01:23:57] i agree to host it here at town hall and [01:24:00] anybody is interested [01:24:02] is encouraged to come [01:24:05] i don't know anymore about that either [01:24:07] i just like what i read from the flyer [01:24:09] so if anybody wants to hear more [01:24:11] information about the bot about the pond [01:24:14] um the removal dam removal please come [01:24:18] and i will meeting with finance [01:24:19] committee march 7th hopefully have the [01:24:21] budget to present to them i don't have [01:24:23] everybody's budget yet the biggest ones [01:24:24] i really don't have yet so [01:24:26] um [01:24:27] and uh i've been working with the uh you [01:24:30] know as in the tax collector's office [01:24:32] so um [01:24:34] that was kind of on the back burner but [01:24:35] it's definitely gonna be priority over [01:24:36] the next few weeks [01:24:38] um our it contract is coming due [01:24:41] this june [01:24:43] and none of the staff are happy with it [01:24:45] and it's getting super expensive [01:24:48] it's um [01:24:50] it's probably at least 1500 more a month [01:24:53] than we should be spending so [01:24:56] i've reached out and got some quotes and [01:24:57] i have to put it i have to put an [01:24:59] invitation for bit out [01:25:00] but uh i think that we're gonna get some [01:25:03] good um [01:25:05] um interest [01:25:07] in hosting our it [01:25:09] um [01:25:10] paragus just isn't really cutting it for [01:25:12] the town they may for other towns but [01:25:15] for our town [01:25:16] they are um [01:25:18] you know they're just not sufficient [01:25:19] they're not up to par up to what [01:25:22] most of the staff i can't tell you [01:25:24] almost every staff has come to me with [01:25:27] issues with this with this it group so [01:25:29] um i mean i realized that from the day i [01:25:32] started that it wasn't it certainly [01:25:35] isn't what i want to see in an it group [01:25:37] so [01:25:39] and then on saturday march 12th our town [01:25:41] resident grant [01:25:42] biggs will be presented with this eagle [01:25:44] scout rank at the where high school the [01:25:46] board is invited to attend and i have a [01:25:49] proclamation for you to sign and present [01:25:51] to him [01:25:54] that's all i have [01:25:56] any questions [01:26:02] um [01:26:06] i don't have anything [01:26:13] i think lori hoffman sent over a report [01:26:15] today so we need to look at that [01:26:20] yeah she sent over a report like [01:26:24] their wrestling before yeah yeah which i [01:26:27] was going to show you uh march 14th when [01:26:29] i have everybody's reports [01:26:31] okay thank you [01:26:34] okay [01:26:47] presentation i think [01:26:59] i think his full name is grant thanks [01:27:02] pelletier i think it's grant pelletier [01:27:05] biggs right [01:27:06] yeah just so that i don't know [01:27:08] it's on the proclamation like that i got [01:27:10] it from the email but i know when i [01:27:11] looked down i was going to say it and [01:27:13] then i didn't but it is not the problem [01:27:15] okay that's the way that dan sent it in [01:27:16] the email perfect okay and so if you got [01:27:19] you you [01:27:20] all three of you are on there to sign [01:27:23] um because it's next saturday so you're [01:27:26] not meeting before then and then there's [01:27:28] one other thing from um eric fullheim [01:27:30] that i sent you in the box to be signed [01:27:32] yeah so i have a couple of questions [01:27:34] about that [01:27:35] um [01:27:36] within [01:27:38] within the plan um i just [01:27:40] questioned [01:27:42] like this [01:27:43] before the signature page [01:27:45] it says [01:27:46] that the plan was posted 2 16 [01:27:49] and it says phillips ohio posted it [01:27:52] i don't know [01:27:54] to be honest with you i didn't go [01:27:55] through it i just um [01:28:00] i'm not opposed to signing it i just um [01:28:03] i want to sign something that's [01:28:05] accurate i don't [01:28:06] know if [01:28:08] if he has a i don't know it goes by [01:28:10] phillips i don't know i don't think so [01:28:13] um i just might probably the state did [01:28:16] it and it might they might have had a [01:28:18] different name there and made a mistake [01:28:20] yeah [01:28:21] i think we just we probably want to just [01:28:23] make sure it's cleaned up before we sign [01:28:25] it [01:28:25] um [01:28:26] nothing kind of annoys me more than [01:28:29] big typos and well julie you always [01:28:31] catch the typos too so i'm [01:28:34] sure you can [01:28:35] respect that um [01:28:37] and then the attachments that were part [01:28:39] of it [01:28:40] are very outdated [01:28:46] so i you know because it it still talks [01:28:49] about [01:28:52] hardwork rescue squad [01:28:54] and contacts for them [01:28:56] so i just i guess maybe it would have [01:28:58] been good for him to be here so that he [01:29:00] could explain what in fact all this is [01:29:04] because there's there's a [01:29:06] not the [01:29:07] so the community point of just re [01:29:10] distribution survey not that but there [01:29:12] was another [01:29:13] attachment that you sent that had a [01:29:15] whole bunch of tabs at the bottom [01:29:17] it listed like businesses in town um [01:29:20] buildings in town [01:29:23] the town roots [01:29:24] um [01:29:26] there's a fair amount of it that's very [01:29:28] outdated on here [01:29:31] so i don't know if it's pertinent to [01:29:34] this report [01:29:36] um so i'm just not sure [01:29:38] about signing off on okay i'll ask him [01:29:41] that's not yeah [01:29:43] and so maybe [01:29:45] if he wants to just take a peek at that [01:29:48] then maybe we can sign it next time [01:29:51] okay [01:29:56] i don't know if anybody else has any [01:29:57] questions about that [01:30:11] no [01:30:12] everybody good [01:30:15] it lists mike how is the highway [01:30:17] department [01:30:18] i just saw that just cherry patches [01:30:23] so just [01:30:24] there's just things in there that should [01:30:26] probably be updated if in fact it's [01:30:28] pertinent to this plant [01:30:31] but [01:30:32] i don't know if the state gets this or [01:30:34] you know we want our information correct [01:30:36] on it [01:30:40] okay [01:30:42] anybody have anything else [01:30:59] sorry [01:31:00] i can't some reason you guys keep [01:31:02] breaking up what she's saying [01:31:04] oh [01:31:05] julie said [01:31:12] i think [01:31:14] yeah i think it's i think it's trying to [01:31:16] stick a fork in it um so i'll i'll make [01:31:19] a motion to adjourn [01:31:22] a second dad [01:31:24] all right they're all in favor [01:31:26] hi hi [01:31:28] thank you everybody