[0:01] Good evening everyone.

[0:02] Welcome to the Thursday,

[0:04] April 9th, 2026 Town Council Budget Workshop.

[0:08] Tonight we'll be discussing the fire, police,

[0:10] and animal control and all of the public works.

[0:14] We'll start with Pledge of Allegiance.

[0:16] Councillor Mills, would you lead us in the pledge please?

[0:20] I pledge alle to the flag, United States of America

[0:25] and to the Republic await the stands under God,

[0:30] liberty and Justice.

[0:31] All

[0:37] I thank everyone in the room tonight knows this,

[0:39] but just a reminder exists are at the back of the room

[0:42] and to the side in case of emergency.

[0:43] And we have lots of help in the room tonight,

[0:45] so we should be good.

[0:47] Please silence your cell phones.

[0:49] We'll do a quick roll call. Councilor Mills,

[0:52] Good evening, Councilor Webb. Good

[0:54] Evening, Councilor Chase.

[0:56] Good evening, Councillor Foot. Good evening.

[0:58] And I believe we have Counselor Healy on,

[1:01] on Zoom. Are you there? Something?

[1:03] Yes, I am here. I'm participating by Zoom

[1:06] as I'm feeling ill today I can hear everyone in the room

[1:11] and I'm alone in, in my room here.

[1:14] Excellent, thank you. And good evening from the chair.

[1:18] Alright, we will get right into it. Mr.

[1:20] Paolo, did you wanna start things off? Yeah,

[1:22] So, so let me make an opening statement

[1:25] and then we can get each one

[1:26] of the departments on their way tonight.

[1:28] So tonight is gonna be the kickoff of the two

[1:33] budget sessions.

[1:35] They're workshops.

[1:36] So these are designed to be questions and answers.

[1:39] Obviously if you have questions,

[1:40] we have staff here tonight to try to answer those.

[1:43] If there's anything that's maybe a little bit more

[1:45] of a complex analysis, I'll take notes on that.

[1:48] I, mark Fleischer could not be here tonight

[1:51] so I may need to consult with him.

[1:53] Exactly. Oh, nevermind.

[1:54] Oh my God, you're six foot two and I can't find you.

[1:57] Sorry about that. I thought you were still at that seminar.

[2:00] But we, we would convene

[2:02] and be able to bring those back at the meeting on the 21st.

[2:06] And then we also will have our public hearing on the 23rd

[2:10] for both the budget and the CIP for the public.

[2:14] All the information that we have are,

[2:17] we're presenting this evening will be up

[2:19] on the town's website.

[2:20] The budget is in the finance department line for FY 27.

[2:24] So again, same situation.

[2:26] If anybody from the public has any questions

[2:28] that they would like clarifications for, certainly feel free

[2:32] to reach out to us via email

[2:33] or phone call to the town administrator's office.

[2:36] So with that, what we will start

[2:38] with is the fire department.

[2:39] And I'd like to invite Greg Laro up to the podium

[2:42] to make his budget presentation.

[2:56] Evening Counselors.

[3:10] All right, so to jump right into it trending more

[3:13] or less where all the rest of the town departments are.

[3:16] We are 93.5% personnel costs,

[3:19] which leaves us the 6.5% for operations and maintenance.

[3:24] You'll see as we move along that

[3:29] Personnel related costs have

[3:30] gone up significantly this year.

[3:31] I think Town Administrator Fowler has done a pretty good job

[3:35] of articulating to you folks at this point.

[3:38] Some of the changes, but the 27% healthcare increase was a

[3:43] dramatic impact for us as well as the recently negotiated

[3:48] CBAs with the unions.

[3:49] And then this year we brought our overtime costs up to

[3:54] what we project our actuals will be in

[3:57] this coming fiscal year.

[3:58] Historically, we have been under on our overtime line,

[4:01] and this is this year, we attempt to bring it more in line

[4:04] with what we're projecting we will expend next year.

[4:09] This is just a little bit of a graphic representation of

[4:11] what our historic overtime costs have been.

[4:13] So with the red you'll see is

[4:15] what the annual approved budget has been

[4:18] and the gray is what our actuals have been.

[4:21] So over the last couple years you'll notice that we've kind

[4:23] of brought those columns closer together in terms of

[4:27] what the expense, the actuals and the the budgeted are.

[4:31] And this year we hope to close that gap completely so

[4:35] that we're not relying on unfilled positions to,

[4:40] to fund the overtime costs.

[4:42] Do you have a No. Okay.

[4:47] So then that will bring us

[4:49] to the operations and maintenance side.

[4:51] This is where we really drill down

[4:52] and get to the stuff that we need on a daily basis

[4:55] to keep the department running.

[4:57] So a couple things new this year.

[4:59] One of 'em I'm pretty excited to talk about is our annual

[5:02] wellness consultations.

[5:04] So part of the 2002 update

[5:07] to NFP 1582 included a mental health,

[5:10] behavioral health annual component to it.

[5:13] So what these are is we're budgeting

[5:16] to bring in every single line employee for a one hour.

[5:20] It's called a consultation.

[5:22] It's an opportunity for them to meet with one

[5:23] of the two clinicians that we have contracted with

[5:26] for these consultations.

[5:28] And it allows them to express to the, the clinicians some

[5:32] of the things that might make their life better.

[5:34] So resources that they may need,

[5:36] whether it's behavioral mental health, it's nutrition,

[5:40] it's weight loss, it's a personal trainer.

[5:43] These clinicians have a, a very thick binder

[5:45] with all the resources

[5:46] that they can connect our members with.

[5:49] So on an annual basis, our members will come in,

[5:52] they will sit down with the clinicians,

[5:53] they'll have a brief chat about what they can do for them,

[5:57] and then they'll leave and follow up

[5:58] with the resources that are provided.

[6:00] So we're very, very excited.

[6:01] We've already started that process this year

[6:04] with half the department.

[6:05] We found the money in FY 20 six's

[6:07] budget to move forward with it.

[6:08] And then in the FY 27 you'll see the increase to fully fund

[6:12] that program on an annual basis.

[6:16] Additional changes.

[6:18] The other real big change in

[6:21] the operating budget this year is I budgeted

[6:24] to replace our airbag system.

[6:26] So we have rescue airbags that are significantly outdated.

[6:30] The recommendation from the manufacturer

[6:33] is to sideline them.

[6:35] So we're going to try to replace them in this coming fiscal

[6:38] year out of operations.

[6:39] And that is to try and preserve the CRF

[6:42] because we have, you'll see a couple rather large

[6:45] expenditures this year for apparatus.

[6:47] And so in an effort to maintain the health of the CRF,

[6:50] I think we're, I think I can do,

[6:52] I know I can do it from the operating budget this year.

[6:57] And then uniform costs are something

[6:59] that we obviously have no control over.

[7:01] One that you'll see from the graphic representation here.

[7:04] The pants are a bit of an outlier because we changed vendors

[7:07] and we changed pants last year to try

[7:10] to bring cost under control

[7:12] and come up with an alternative that would meet our needs.

[7:15] So that's why you'll see the dramatic

[7:17] drop in the green line.

[7:18] But other, the other items that we issue to our members,

[7:21] they've just trended upwards significantly more than

[7:24] what the CPI has been over the last five years.

[7:27] And so with the increasing costs,

[7:30] we also have replaced a bunch of our members as well.

[7:34] So we're still about 68% with less than 10 years.

[7:38] But when you look down at the less than one year,

[7:42] we're still looking,

[7:43] I believe about 16 employees in the last

[7:45] two years that we've replaced.

[7:47] And so every year those new employees require a complete

[7:51] compliment of uniforms sitting on four three,

[7:54] currently three open medic positions.

[7:56] So I'm anticipating we're gonna have

[7:58] to outfit those three members

[7:59] with complete uniforms in the coming fiscal year.

[8:01] Hopefully if we can find those employees.

[8:06] You will note that our energy projections have gone down.

[8:10] So one of the things that we did last year was make a best

[8:14] guess estimate at

[8:15] what the new facility would be using for electricity.

[8:19] We've only been in there now

[8:20] for almost just over four months, I believe it is.

[8:23] And so we have a little bit of a better picture

[8:26] and I'm comfortable coming down to the 200 kilowatt range,

[8:30] 200,000 kilowatt range, sorry for

[8:34] electricity consumption at the place this year.

[8:35] The new place, we'll have a better idea

[8:38] after a full year of where those,

[8:40] where those energy usages are.

[8:47] So that brings us to the CIP

[8:52] Coming up in this fiscal year.

[8:55] These are the projects that we have slated to complete.

[8:58] We're in year two of replacing all of our turnout gear with,

[9:02] it's not PFAS free.

[9:04] It is reduced PFAS and it meets the regulations.

[9:07] And so we started that process this year with

[9:10] replacement of 25 sets.

[9:11] Next year we would ask you to continue to fund it

[9:14] for another 25 sets

[9:15] and the price has gone up by 5%,

[9:20] I believe from year over year from this year to next.

[9:23] So, but that is typical for the industry.

[9:26] And next up we have fire hoses and nozzles.

[9:29] So all of our primary apparatus,

[9:31] our front run apparatus have what's called

[9:33] cross lays on them.

[9:34] The hose that we've historically put on that has been

[9:38] on the lower end of the budget scale

[9:40] because it was the cheapest alternative that we could get

[9:43] that would meet our needs.

[9:44] And at this point, the hose we're,

[9:46] we're recognizing some early failures in it.

[9:49] It's not ergonomically friendly for our, our folks

[9:52] that are advancing these hose lines through structures.

[9:55] It tends to kink very easily.

[9:57] And so we're going to move forward with replacing the,

[10:01] the primary cross lays on those apparatus

[10:03] and their nozzles in this coming year.

[10:06] CPR devices. Those have reached the end of life.

[10:09] So that's, this is year one of two

[10:11] to replace the four Lucas CPR devices that we have.

[10:15] And I apologize, I meant to keep moving along

[10:17] with pictures as we went.

[10:19] So what these do is they free up a rescuer instead of having

[10:22] to do chest compressions, it allows them

[10:24] to perform other functions during a resuscitation.

[10:27] And the machine is honestly,

[10:29] consistently better at providing high quality

[10:32] CPR than a human is.

[10:34] We tend to, as humans taper off in our effort in,

[10:37] in administering CPR whereas the machine does not.

[10:40] So we have four of those, two of them

[10:42] to be replaced this year, two next year.

[10:47] Cardiac monitors, I think many

[10:48] of you have already been sitting on the council over the

[10:50] past four years as we've worked through trying

[10:52] to get our outdated cardiac monitors replaced.

[10:55] Unfortunately, as you know,

[10:56] we we're not successful in our grant application to a FG

[10:59] to replace four of them.

[11:01] We have through the opioid fund

[11:04] and through operating budget, we've replaced two

[11:06] of the oldest ones that we own currently,

[11:09] but we have two more that are not eligible

[11:11] for service plans anymore

[11:13] and they're actually becoming difficult to find parts for.

[11:16] So we need to replace two of those in the coming year.

[11:19] The technology that we tried out with our first purchase

[11:23] of a life pack 35, we've determined

[11:25] that the technology just isn't where we need it to be yet.

[11:28] We're having some difficulties with the unit itself

[11:31] and how it interfaces with our technology.

[11:33] And so we're going to actually move, take a step back

[11:36] to the Reliable Life Pack fifteens that you see here

[11:39] and purchase two refurbished models through boundary

[11:42] for half the cost of what it would be

[11:45] to purchase two new ones.

[11:46] So trying in, in an effort to be fiscally conservative

[11:50] with the the CRF, we are happy to to move forward

[11:54] with the the referred models.

[11:58] Next up is the hydraulic rescue tools.

[12:00] So we actually have some

[12:02] of these hydraulic tools on our apparatus

[12:04] that are 36 years old now.

[12:06] They have more than done their job,

[12:08] they've served their purpose.

[12:10] They are newer, lighter,

[12:12] more functional alternatives out there.

[12:14] We would be looking to move forward with replacing these

[12:17] with battery units.

[12:19] So these have hydraulic lines that have to tie back

[12:22] to the main power unit at the truck

[12:24] or as close as we can move it

[12:26] to the actual scene of the incident.

[12:28] And so the battery ones are a self-contained unit.

[12:30] They have all the capabilities that, of the ones

[12:33] that we have right now

[12:35] and the without the being tied to the power unit.

[12:38] So that is funded in this year's CRF

[12:43] and I don't have a photo

[12:46] of it from our fire prevention bureau,

[12:48] but we have a fire extinguisher training prop

[12:51] that we've used very successfully through the years

[12:53] to train Parkland staff to provide the, the training

[12:57] to other non-profits in town.

[13:00] We've done it at pro for-profit companies in town.

[13:03] We bring it out, we show them how to train them, how

[13:05] to use the extinguishers

[13:06] and let them extinguisher an actual fire.

[13:09] It's propane fed fire.

[13:11] The unit that we've had has been out of service for a couple

[13:13] of years now, so we haven't been able to provide

[13:15] that service to the community.

[13:17] We're looking to move forward with replacing it

[13:19] and getting back out

[13:20] and offering that training to the community.

[13:24] And so then the next two items,

[13:27] they're in reverse order from what they're listed as.

[13:29] But the next one up is the 2011 Pierce Velocity Rescue

[13:32] pumper that's currently stationed at station two.

[13:36] That truck is 15 years old now.

[13:39] The intent was originally was

[13:41] to replace it at the 10 year mark

[13:42] where it still held some value for trade-in.

[13:45] Unfortunately, with the economic impacts

[13:48] of the apparatus procurement process, the four

[13:50] to five year turnaround times after we order,

[13:54] and the dramatic almost a hundred percent escalation in cost

[13:59] over the last 10 years, we have not been able to keep up

[14:02] with what our plan was.

[14:04] The the funding has not been able to keep up with the plan.

[14:06] And so the, at this point,

[14:08] the truck has 120,000 miles on it.

[14:12] It is, as I said, 15 years old.

[14:14] The value has, it just doesn't have it right now.

[14:17] And so this truck needs to come get back lined

[14:20] and we need to replace it with a new rescue pumper.

[14:23] One of the things that we're looking at doing this year

[14:26] for the first time in quite some time is I'm going

[14:28] to actually do an a, a bid spec

[14:31] and a RFP for this so that we can expand beyond just Pierce.

[14:35] So for anybody that isn't familiar in the industry,

[14:38] Pierce is a very proprietary company.

[14:41] A lot of their parts only work on pierce apparatus.

[14:44] You can't install anything that isn't pierce manufactured

[14:47] and it, all those things come with a price tag.

[14:50] They are a very, very good solid truck.

[14:54] But we are at the point now where we're going

[14:56] to ask everyone to sharpen their pencils

[14:58] and we're gonna look at some of the other main

[15:01] main manufacturers

[15:03] and see if they have a product

[15:04] that will meet our needs as well.

[15:06] One of the, another area that we can improve this is most

[15:10] of the major manufacturers as you'll recall.

[15:12] It's basically down to three groups now through,

[15:16] there's the rev group that owns the majority stake

[15:18] of the industry of individual companies, Oshkosh,

[15:22] who owns Pierce and then Rosen Bauer as well.

[15:25] And so each of the manufacturers is offering some type

[15:29] of a program where you can purchase it is a little bit

[15:33] above a stock factory right off the,

[15:36] the manufacturer line truck.

[15:37] You can customize some of the cabinets,

[15:40] but it is not a true custom apparatus like we are used to.

[15:44] We're customed to ordering.

[15:46] We've always, we've always specked out

[15:48] what meets dairy's needs the best.

[15:49] And unfortunately we're just not able to do that anymore.

[15:52] So we're, we're going to pro very likely have

[15:56] to go in the root of a semi stock truck for a reduced cost

[16:00] to, to fall in line with what we're asking for here.

[16:04] And finally is the 2014 international ambulance.

[16:09] So along the lines of the fire apparatus, our goal was

[16:13] to replace these after 10 years when they still held some

[16:16] value and before they started escalating their maintenance

[16:19] and repair costs.

[16:21] This one obviously we we missed the mark

[16:23] by a couple years on that again, just

[16:26] because of the, the funding

[16:28] and the turnaround time for these.

[16:30] So this year we need to move forward with replacing this,

[16:32] this ambulance, this ambulance has 118,000 miles on it.

[16:37] It's due to be replaced.

[16:38] And so we would ask again that you, you fund

[16:41] that in this year's CIP as well.

[16:50] So those, that's a a pretty quick overview of expenses.

[16:54] I'll touch on revenues very quickly.

[16:56] One of the things if the council will recall from last year

[16:59] is there was a RSA passed in the state of New Hampshire

[17:02] that affects ambulance billing across the state.

[17:06] And so that went into effect the beginning of January.

[17:09] We have a, again, a, a limited amount of data

[17:12] to look at for this.

[17:13] And so we're still not a hundred percent confident

[17:15] what this is going to, the impact that this is gonna have

[17:18] on our revenue through ambulance collections.

[17:23] I, what I put in this year is a conservative 4.1% increase

[17:27] in projected ambulance revenue.

[17:29] We have historically always over collected that,

[17:32] but without any certainty with what the,

[17:36] the RSA changes are going to do to our revenue through this.

[17:40] I wasn't comfortable going beyond the,

[17:42] the 4.1% increased projection.

[17:46] We additionally came up

[17:49] 17% in inspections and fees.

[17:53] That equals out to about $17,000.

[17:55] And so that is based on fees that we collect

[17:59] for burner

[18:00] and burner permits, installations, that, that type of thing.

[18:05] And so I meeting with our Bureau of Fire Prevention,

[18:09] he was quite comfortable with the, the increase

[18:11] that we reflected in this year's revenue as well.

[18:17] So that brings us to the bottom line, the net end of it.

[18:20] You'll see that we came up significantly over FY 26,

[18:25] but again, that is primarily driven by personnel costs.

[18:29] The healthcare and the COLA increases

[18:33] for the CBA being the primary drivers.

[18:37] So on the fire budget, do we have any questions?

[18:41] There's three out of five of us or firefighters.

[18:43] Of course there's questions. Who wants

[18:46] to go first? Councilor Foot.

[18:49] Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you Chief,

[18:52] on the EMS collection rate, what, what roughly any idea

[18:56] what the uncollected funds are for, for ambulance? For

[19:01] What we don't collect Basis.

[19:03] I I don't have that number in front of me right now.

[19:05] I'm happy to get that to you.

[19:06] What is not up to date?

[19:07] Like what has not been collected and that's still

[19:10] Historically the town

[19:11] of Dairy Fire Department does a very good job.

[19:14] We are in the, the industry, the high end in the industry

[19:18] for collection rates through our billing company.

[19:21] But I will, I will get you that collection rate number

[19:24] And then two more quick ones.

[19:26] And as far as the old monitors

[19:28] and the Lucas, what, what do you do with those?

[19:29] What happens with those?

[19:31] So the monitors, we're going to keep one for

[19:35] the new pumper tanker

[19:37] that we put in service the engine four.

[19:39] And the other one would, there's no trade-in value to it

[19:42] to the company because we're buying refurbished ones.

[19:45] And so we would look to keep that as a spare

[19:48] for emergency use in the event one

[19:50] of the other units went down.

[19:52] And the same, I'm not absolutely certain if there is any

[19:55] trade-in on the Lucas CPR devices.

[19:57] I was told no, but we haven't been able to confirm that

[20:01] with the, the manufacturer yet.

[20:03] And then as far as the refurbed refurbished equipment,

[20:08] same life expectancy on those, the same, same warranties,

[20:11] everything is the equivalent?

[20:12] Yeah. So we actually explored this with re

[20:14] and they even offer a service plan, service

[20:17] and repair plan for the refurbed units.

[20:20] And so they do come with a comparable warranty.

[20:22] They come with an optional, a purchasable service plan for,

[20:26] for a reasonable amount of money.

[20:27] So we're very confident that they would meet our needs.

[20:30] Thank you.

[20:35] Just to another question on vehicle purchases,

[20:41] what is the expected turnaround time

[20:45] of a new pump right now?

[20:47] That's a great question. So if we were

[20:50] to proceed the way we normally do

[20:52] and purchase a custom vehicle, we're still in the three

[20:55] to four year turnaround time from the date of order

[20:58] with some of the programs that I spoke about.

[21:01] We are looking at around 12 month turnaround time

[21:04] to get the truck in hand from the time we order it.

[21:09] And just on, on the fire hose, just

[21:14] that's still annually tested to determine

[21:17] whether it's failing or not.

[21:19] The fire hose. Yeah. Yeah.

[21:20] So we still use the third party vendor

[21:22] to conduct all annual service testing on hoses, ladders,

[21:25] aerial devices and fire pumps. Yeah.

[21:28] And the turnaround time on the ambulance, is

[21:31] that gonna be a custom or semi-custom vehicle or,

[21:34] So the ambulances are a little bit different,

[21:37] a little bit more of a unique apparatus for us

[21:38] because of the way that we do EMS here.

[21:42] However, we do have a a, a good design for the box

[21:47] that's the, the back of the ambulance where the,

[21:49] the real work gets done.

[21:51] So we have a design that very much works

[21:53] for us through Horton.

[21:54] So the box itself would remain the same.

[21:57] The the delays usually are in sourcing the chassis.

[22:01] One of the things that we have found,

[22:02] we've just been notified of this year is the, in the intent

[22:06] by GM to discontinue the C 5,500 series chassis.

[22:10] And so the ambulance that we currently have on an order,

[22:13] they're rushing that to try

[22:15] and get the chassis that we had ordered and requested.

[22:19] So that one we may actually see much earlier than the 2027,

[22:24] August 27 projected delivery date.

[22:27] But ambulances are historically running between two

[22:31] and three years for a a build time.

[22:34] So a 2014 ambulance we ordered in 26,

[22:38] we're typically looking at 28 or 29

[22:43] before we actually see it. That's

[22:44] Correct.

[22:45] So that ambulance would then be 15 years old

[22:48] by the time it actually gets replaced.

[22:51] That's correct. Thank you.

[22:56] Council case, Excuse me, on the

[23:01] rescue tools, are you looking at replacing part of them?

[23:06] All of them?

[23:07] So would, would the money that I put in

[23:10] for the CIP this year, I believe, let me find my notes page

[23:13] 'cause I actually have this written down for specifics.

[23:32] All right. So the average cost

[23:34] of the individual components is between 16

[23:37] and 20,000 per unit.

[23:38] With the money that I've requested in the CIP,

[23:41] that would allow me to outfit all four primary apparatus

[23:45] with a battery tool of some type.

[23:48] And then additionally do the expanded capabilities on the

[23:52] rescue pumpers the engines with rams.

[23:55] So I believe for the money that's been requested,

[23:57] we can outfit all four app, all four front run apparatus

[24:02] with, with battery tools.

[24:03] Okay. And how many apparatus set, how many pieces

[24:08] of apparatus carry the rescue bags?

[24:11] The rescue airbags? The airbags? Yes.

[24:13] We have three apparatus.

[24:14] We have the rescue itself,

[24:16] which very seldom leaves the station.

[24:19] We have the two trucks, the two engines, the rescue pumpers

[24:23] that carry the, the compliment of airbags on them.

[24:26] So you on the, sorry.

[24:27] So you'd be replacing three sets.

[24:30] One of the things that I'm going to charge our committee

[24:33] with evaluating is if airbags themselves

[24:36] are the best alternative.

[24:37] There's some new technology out there that meets the same,

[24:41] the same abilities as the airbags themselves.

[24:44] So the airbags will be replaced.

[24:47] They'll either be replaced with the comparable product

[24:50] or something that also meets the requirements.

[24:53] Okay. And my last question is,

[24:56] and this has been asked of me by members of my constituents

[25:01] is on the ambulance, we used to in the past

[25:08] recirculate the box, put the box on a new chassis.

[25:11] I know times have changed on that,

[25:13] but has that been explored in the last couple of cycles?

[25:15] It, it has and we are, as I mentioned, we've gotten

[25:20] to the point with the Horton boxes where we, we very much

[25:24] value the way they're laid out and the ergonomics of them.

[25:28] And so we will in the future, in the,

[25:30] in the coming CIP years when we have a full compliment

[25:33] of boxes, look to reach chassis them once.

[25:36] So the ambulance chassis itself would be replaced once

[25:39] with the same box mounted on it and then

[25:41] after the second round we would probably need

[25:44] to replace the box and the chassis.

[25:47] Okay. Unfortunately, sir, it doesn't represent

[25:52] as much of a savings as we had hoped.

[25:55] We, when we explored it, we were hoping for a,

[25:58] a very significant cost savings.

[25:59] Unfortunately that just wasn't there.

[26:02] It's, we're floating around the 70% mark

[26:07] is what I've been told by our fleet mechanic.

[26:09] Yeah, that's what I've heard industry-wide

[26:12] and that's what I was trying to get out to the public is

[26:13] that there's really not that much

[26:14] of a savings for an old box.

[26:16] It's better off to just Yeah.

[26:19] 'cause you're still running with old wires such like that,

[26:22] it's not like putting a dump body on a chassis or something.

[26:27] Council mills, do you have anything?

[26:29] I'm fine. Leave it to the professionals

[26:30] to ask those kind of questions.

[26:32] Alright, counselor foot, you had question?

[26:34] Yeah, I had one more question and I, I do,

[26:35] councilor Haley, I have not forgotten you.

[26:37] We

[26:39] Chief on the personnel side.

[26:41] Aside from the current vacancies,

[26:44] are you have any projections of any upcoming vacancies

[26:47] that in the next fiscal year?

[26:50] The interesting thing about public service is the

[26:52] employees generally don't like

[26:53] to tell the boss when they're leaving.

[26:55] For some reason, retirements are, are preferred to be kept

[26:58] quiet until the last minute.

[27:01] I have heard rumblings that there, we have one paramedic

[27:04] that is looking to retire in the, in the coming fiscal year.

[27:07] And so that would bring us back

[27:08] to the full four medic vacancies.

[27:11] On top of that, we do have an a vacancy

[27:13] for an assistant chief right now.

[27:14] Right. But other than that I have,

[27:18] I have asked if anybody has intentions

[27:20] or desires to retire in the coming year and

[27:22] Or retirement eligible, like as far as, you know,

[27:24] the 20 year mark type thing.

[27:25] Yeah, so we have, we have, I believe it was five,

[27:29] five employees that are, are very eligible,

[27:32] very likely to retire.

[27:34] We have a few more that are eligible,

[27:36] but very unlikely to go.

[27:40] But I, it's hard, it's hard

[27:42] to project based on eligibility when they've been eligible

[27:46] for 5, 6, 7 years now.

[27:48] But I see some smarts about the not

[27:53] wanting to tell the boss that they're retiring.

[27:57] That's why I asked the question.

[28:01] Counselor. Haley, do you have any questions?

[28:05] I do not just like counselor Milts.

[28:08] I leave it to the, the few

[28:10] that have been with the fire department.

[28:11] I think everything that I heard makes sense,

[28:13] especially the replacement of vehicles and things like that.

[28:16] But no real questions.

[28:19] Excellent, thank you. Did

[28:20] you have another question? Council? W

[28:22] This is not so much a question as if you could

[28:25] because this is a chance for the public to also listen in,

[28:28] explain about your a d program.

[28:31] You're talking about the a d loaner program? Correct.

[28:33] Okay. So as as you mentioned, we have

[28:37] what is called our a ED loaner program.

[28:39] Through the, the generous funding of a grants

[28:42] through the Alexander Eastman Foundation, we were able

[28:45] to purchase some AEDs that we can loan out

[28:48] to the public anytime that they want to use them.

[28:50] They basically come in, sign them out,

[28:52] and then they're free to use them

[28:54] for the duration of their event.

[28:55] We see a lot of usage with the sports teams in town

[28:59] and so we're actually hitting the season now

[29:01] where we're expecting to see a couple

[29:03] of those go out on loan for the duration

[29:05] of the spring sports season.

[29:10] I had one question and I I may be misremembering

[29:13] so if I'm off, just tell me we're moving on.

[29:17] I remember feel like, I remember when I was getting the tour

[29:20] of the news station that there was talk about kind

[29:23] of the regular gear, but then having backup gear

[29:26] and there may not be like, we may be a little

[29:28] behind on having enough of that gear for,

[29:31] for making sure everybody is ready to go each time and safe

[29:34] and things have dried or whatever.

[29:36] Is that, am I remembering something to that effect?

[29:39] And I guess the question behind that is, is if we are in

[29:41] that situation, like is there a plan to future state,

[29:45] get us, get everybody to full complement of what they need?

[29:49] Sure. Fortunately we're not, we're not in

[29:52] that situation where we don't have a second

[29:54] set of gear for everyone.

[29:55] I think maybe what I said at the time was we would have then

[30:00] one set of p reduced PAS gear for our employees. That's

[30:03] What it was. Yes.

[30:03] Okay. Their second, their backup set

[30:05] of gear would not be PFAS free yet.

[30:07] That's, that would require another three year project

[30:10] through the CIP to replace.

[30:11] Okay. So they have the backup, it's

[30:13] just they still have the P fs, the backup

[30:14] Would be worn in the event that they were laundering their

[30:16] primary set and then once their primary set was cleaned

[30:18] and dried, they would go back into their

[30:20] primary set. Okay. Outta their

[30:22] Backup.

[30:23] Thank you. Any other questions?

[30:27] Alright, thank you.

[30:29] Alright, moving on to emergency management.

[30:33] So emergency management saw very,

[30:36] very minimal changes this year.

[30:39] On the personnel related side,

[30:42] there was actually a 0.9% reduction in expenses.

[30:47] And then when we get to the operations

[30:49] and maintenance side, we came up 0.2%, 500,

[30:53] $545.

[30:55] The primary driver behind that is the, the fire chief's car

[30:59] as the EMD is assigned to the Emergency Management Bureau.

[31:02] And so the repair costs for that vehicle come out

[31:05] of the emergency management budget as you'll,

[31:09] as I'm sure you're all aware,

[31:10] with the rapid increase in costs for

[31:16] materials and goods related to anything petroleum based

[31:20] tires are a natural victim of the inflation

[31:24] that we see from that.

[31:25] And so when we go to replace a set of tires, now they're,

[31:28] they're anywhere from 50

[31:30] to 80% more expensive than they were five years ago.

[31:34] So that's, that accounts for the creep in that.

[31:37] And as additionally there's a dues

[31:39] and subscriptions, those go up annually

[31:42] anywhere from three to 5%.

[31:43] And so that's reflected in this year's EM budget

[31:47] and there are no new capital projects in em this year.

[31:55] Do we have any questions on emergency management?

[31:58] Any questions? No, I have none.

[32:02] Councilor Haley, do you have any questions on this one?

[32:07] No questions. Excellent. All right.

[32:10] That was easy. Thank you very much. Yes.

[32:12] Should we? Alright, so we didn't have anything

[32:14] to flag on that one, so be good as we'll.

[32:18] Move on to Chief Ley and police and animal control.

[32:52] Alright. All right.

[32:54] If you could just hold please for one second.

[32:56] We just decide to add back in a step.

[33:00] So we'll just for each, each group

[33:03] before we move on, if we're comfortable with it,

[33:05] we'll do just a motion to kind of accept the bottom line

[33:09] and then if we have any that we have flags

[33:11] or things that we need to get more information on,

[33:13] we can do that as well.

[33:14] So we'll entertain a motion to accept the bottom line

[33:18] for the fire and emergency.

[33:20] So moved. Alright. Is there a second? Second.

[33:25] Oh, sorry. The number. Yes.

[33:26] The bottom line of what do we have?

[33:30] 14,585,451. So moved.

[33:34] Alright, second. Second on the motion. Councilor Mills?

[33:39] Yes. Councilor Webb?

[33:40] Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Foot?

[33:43] Yes. Councillor Healy?

[33:45] Yes. And chair votes? Yes.

[33:47] Okay, now we're moving on to please. Hello.

[33:50] Thank you. Good evening Councilors.

[33:53] George Oli, chief of Police.

[33:55] I have Captain Dave Micho with me in the audience behind me,

[33:58] captain Bre and Lieutenant ue.

[34:01] If you ask us any questions that we can't answer, they will

[34:08] Very vanilla budget this year.

[34:11] My, my budget request includes no new staff

[34:14] or programs this year.

[34:16] We currently have 61 allotted full-time officers.

[34:20] We're not fully staffed,

[34:22] but we do maintain funding for all

[34:24] of those officers in the next budget.

[34:26] We have five, five part-time police officers

[34:29] that are currently working

[34:31] and we overall have 74 full-time employees.

[34:34] And if we add the activity center for a CO in there,

[34:37] that's 75 full-time employees and four part-time civilians.

[34:43] In the police personnel accounts this year

[34:48] we seek $12,657,213.

[34:52] That's an increase of 8.9%.

[34:54] That is primarily driven by collective bargaining increases.

[34:57] And the already mentioned 27% healthcare increases

[35:06] the all.

[35:07] We also include two school resource officer at Pinking

[35:10] Academy that have a corresponding revenue

[35:13] and which is about $304,000 in this budget.

[35:17] The increase in overtime costs in this year's budget

[35:22] are due solely to contractual

[35:24] and other increases.

[35:28] I actually sought less hours

[35:30] for overtime this year than we did in the previous year.

[35:37] And the o and m accounts, well, let me back up one minute

[35:42] and talk just for a minute.

[35:43] I'm unlike the fire department, I have a 96.27%

[35:49] split between personnel and o and m.

[35:52] So I only have 3.7% of my budget. That is o and m.

[35:56] That's $490,000, $490,915 this year.

[36:01] That's an increase over last year, 1.65%.

[36:05] We have two new portable radios that we seek in this year.

[36:08] This year's budget in one mobile radio

[36:12] uniform increases mainly due to replacing new staff

[36:15] and having outfit new staff.

[36:17] As the fire chief indicated,

[36:20] training costs increased marginally

[36:22] and we do include a reduction in gasoline costs

[36:25] for this budget because we now have a hybrid fleet,

[36:28] which we're bringing online now.

[36:30] I think as of today we have four

[36:31] or five of those hybrids online.

[36:33] We have four four and we have 10 of them that will,

[36:38] and so six more to be put online

[36:40] before over the next few weeks in the capital projects line.

[36:45] This year we're seeking $494,627.

[36:48] That's a reduction of 30 and 5% almost.

[36:52] Now that looks like a big number, but that's

[36:54] because last year we replaced our mocked vehicle fleet

[36:57] and we only do that every three years.

[36:59] So that's, that's really not a, an unexpected reduction.

[37:04] We include, as the fire chief indicated,

[37:05] a Motorola communications maintenance system of payment

[37:10] of 59% of, of the payment is from the police department.

[37:14] That's 'cause we host what's called the core,

[37:16] the major network components.

[37:18] They were at the police department

[37:19] for all the public safety network

[37:21] for radio network, police and fire.

[37:25] This year we requested six unmarked police cars

[37:29] for the detective fleet to replace the 10-year-old fleet

[37:32] that we have in detectives.

[37:33] Now they will also be hybrids.

[37:35] So if, if, if that fund, if that project is funded,

[37:39] we'll have 16 hybrid vehicles out of our fleet, which

[37:42] is gonna provide significant savings and fuel usage.

[37:47] And we do seek one new canine vehicle replacement this year.

[37:52] And you'll see that's cost 59,957.

[37:57] There is no death service in the police department.

[37:59] Overall expenses, we're seeking

[38:01] $13,151,129.

[38:06] That's an increase of 8%.

[38:07] Again, that is primarily driven by personnel costs

[38:11] in our revenue accounts.

[38:13] We seek, we we budgeting

[38:15] $479,591 in revenue.

[38:18] It's an increase of 3.2% over last year.

[38:21] Primarily that's the Thinking Academy contract.

[38:23] And we also have a contract with the town of Chester

[38:26] to provide prosecution services.

[38:31] Our net budget, $12,671,538.

[38:35] It's 800, excuse me, 8.19% over last year.

[38:39] Again, personnel cost drive that.

[38:42] A new slide for us this year is the police

[38:44] detail detailed billing rate.

[38:47] Typically we come to you once a year and,

[38:50] and advise you of the new billing rate.

[38:52] For the police details this year it's gonna be $98 an hour

[38:57] and includes a a 22 point $22 91 cents an hour.

[39:02] Cha charge for a cruiser that's based on the FEMA rate.

[39:05] If Cruiser is requested for the detail,

[39:14] That's the police budget.

[39:15] If anybody has any questions that begins on page 1 7 3

[39:18] of your workbook and I'm happy to address any questions.

[39:24] Any questions? I have none at this time.

[39:27] Council put Thank you Madam Chair.

[39:30] Just on the hybrid vehicles chief, do we have any, is there

[39:34] any diminished life expectancy

[39:35] or is it, is there any downside that we know of

[39:39] with the hybrids at all?

[39:41] We don't know of any downside.

[39:43] And as a matter of fact, I can tell you that Ford,

[39:45] when they build police cars, the first six months

[39:46] of their line is gonna be hybrid vehicles.

[39:48] Yeah. So that's all police departments are gonna be able

[39:51] to buy for the first six months of the,

[39:54] So the durability and all

[39:55] that is pretty much worked out the, the

[39:57] Kinks.

[39:58] Yeah. I I don't have any reason to believe they won't be

[39:59] as durable as the regularly naturally aspirated gas engine,

[40:03] whatever you, however you term that.

[40:05] Thank you Counsel. What,

[40:09] Just a really quick question that's not too much budgetary

[40:12] is what's the status of the PPE program for the canines?

[40:17] We are waiting for our second,

[40:18] we bought protective equipment for the first lauds.

[40:21] First canine. Yeah. And we're waiting for

[40:23] the second canine Freddy to kind of fill up and mature

[40:27] before we, we order the next one.

[40:29] They are fit to the dog. Yeah.

[40:31] So he needs to mature a little bit,

[40:33] but we expect we have the money appropriated,

[40:35] we expect we're gonna buy that this year.

[40:38] You know how tough it is to

[40:39] buy those baby clothes, you know? Yeah.

[40:43] And I didn't see the third dog in the budget.

[40:46] I don't know.

[40:49] Sorry, I didn't have any questions either.

[40:51] Counselor Haley, do you have any questions?

[40:55] No questions. It seemed pretty straightforward to me.

[40:57] I mean, the biggest increase being the,

[40:59] the personnel in health insurance,

[41:01] which is all, all across.

[41:05] So no questions.

[41:08] Excellent. All right. I have,

[41:12] Yeah. Oh,

[41:12] Sorry.

[41:13] Back to the hybrid vehicles on, do you have to

[41:17] plug those in to recharge them?

[41:20] No, did not plug in those, Those are the non

[41:21] Plugin did not plug in vehicles at all.

[41:23] Okay. Yep.

[41:25] So that answers my second question.

[41:30] All right. Is there a motion to, except

[41:34] bottom line on this one?

[41:36] I would make the motions, but I'm having a problem finding

[41:39] the, the dollar figure that you were using

[41:43] on, on in my book.

[41:44] I'm looking at total for 2027 Recommended. Yeah.

[41:49] 13 2 83 9 14.

[41:52] Okay, so where, where we can guide you here is look on

[41:55] page 1 77.

[41:56] Yep. Yeah, there's a crystal report

[41:59] and what's the number that you're gonna look for,

[42:01] particularly in this department?

[42:03] You'll see it in a few other departments

[42:05] to the far right town administrator recommended

[42:08] because in some cases in this budget,

[42:11] it comes in at the department number

[42:12] that I've adjusted it downward.

[42:14] So the number you're looking

[42:15] for is 13 million

[42:17] one hundred fifty one one hundred and twenty nine.

[42:20] So move that number and thank you

[42:22] Second.

[42:23] Alright, we have a motion and a second on motion.

[42:25] Councilor Mills?

[42:27] Yes. Council Webb? Yes. Councillor Chase? Yes.

[42:30] Councilor Foote? Yes. Councillor Healy.

[42:33] Yes. And chair votes? Yes. Motion passes. Six zero.

[42:36] Thank you. All right.

[42:38] All very briefly on the next

[42:40] activity Center Animal control personnel accounts

[42:44] that this year and animal control

[42:47] equal $121,655.

[42:50] That's 91.6% of that budget.

[42:52] That's an increase over the last year of 9.1%.

[42:56] All salary

[42:57] and benefits related increases animal control, operations

[43:01] and maintenance this year is $11,130.

[43:05] That's a 4% decrease from last share.

[43:08] And o and m is an 8.38%

[43:11] equal share of our budget this year.

[43:13] It's a slight decrease due to gas, decrease in gas

[43:18] and electricity cost based on yearly average usage.

[43:22] No capital projects requested.

[43:24] No debt service in that operational budget.

[43:27] Animal control overall expenses will be $132,785

[43:32] A, an increase of 7.86% over last year.

[43:36] Revenues are stable. 2300 year over year requested

[43:40] animal control net expenses $130,000 485

[43:45] and 8.1% oh one increase.

[43:48] And that's begins on page 200 of your budget

[43:52] and I'm happy to answer any questions about that.

[43:55] And the crystal report for that budget is on page 2 0 3.

[44:00] Questions on Animal Control Council,

[44:03] What, this isn't so much a question,

[44:06] it's more of a comment.

[44:07] It may not be appropriate for this budget,

[44:09] but for the future, I just have concerns that the $500

[44:12] that you've set aside for a training conferences may not be

[44:16] sufficient and just something for us

[44:21] to consider moving on.

[44:23] But beyond that, I have no problem moving the bottom line.

[44:27] Councilor Haley, do you have any questions or comments?

[44:32] None. Alright.

[44:36] Councilor Webb, you wanted to

[44:39] All I move that we accept the animal control budget

[44:43] of $132,785.

[44:46] Second. All right, motion and a second. Council Mills?

[44:50] Yes. Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes.

[44:53] Councillor Foote? Yes. Councillor Healy? Yes.

[44:57] And Chair votes? Yes as well. Thank you very much.

[44:59] Thank you very much.

[45:01] Alright. Seems like we're almost done with just,

[45:05] we just have one department left, but No.

[45:09] All right. Public works.

[45:18] I was like He's

[45:39] Good evening.

[45:41] Good evening counselors.

[45:45] Tom Carrier, director of Public Works.

[45:48] This is my first solo budget for the department.

[45:51] I've been around for a while with the water

[45:53] and wastewater budgets over the past years.

[45:56] I just wanna go over some general comments, overview

[45:58] of the department and then as we get into the individual

[46:00] activity centers, I'll invite the individual supervisors up

[46:03] to answer any more in depth questions on operations

[46:07] or more substance within the budget if the council show.

[46:10] So has any questions? Okay.

[46:14] Overview of the department, we have 11 divisions.

[46:17] We include the Enterprise Funds water wastewater, as well

[46:20] as Health

[46:21] Department FY 26.

[46:25] We currently have 68 full-time

[46:28] and four permanent part-time positions.

[46:31] The FY 27 budget does include one new position

[46:34] and that's a new building.

[46:35] Inspector Public Works is responsible for a broad range

[46:40] of public services based on our responsiveness, efficiency,

[46:43] and cost effectiveness to the taxpayers.

[46:46] Our proposed gross FY 27 department expenditures are

[46:50] $12,379,718.

[46:55] That's up 5.9% over FY 26.

[46:59] That's driven by both personnel costs as well

[47:01] as commodity expenses.

[47:04] The net FY 27

[47:06] of revenues we're at

[47:08] $9,162,675.

[47:12] That's 5.4% up over FY 26.

[47:19] We at Public Works historically just sort

[47:22] of compare it compared itself with the growth

[47:25] of our expenses versus the annualized consumer price index.

[47:30] Over the last 10 years, the CPI has gone up 2.4% annually.

[47:35] That's versus the department's gross expenses

[47:37] of 1.4% annually.

[47:40] And actually it's only 0.7% net of revenues.

[47:44] So that's a pretty efficient lean budget

[47:46] over the last 10 years.

[47:49] And that's taken into consideration that we're subject

[47:51] to the same inflationary pressures of our commodities

[47:54] of salt and asphalt fuel impacts of tariffs

[47:57] as well as the personnel costs.

[48:01] DPW continues to manage many

[48:04] ongoing capital projects into FY 27.

[48:07] The FY 27 budgets reflect the settlement

[48:10] of the collective bargaining agreements for the Teamsters.

[48:13] Pat TE and AFSCME all fall under the

[48:16] Department of Public Works umbrella.

[48:19] We're seeing the significant increases in health

[48:21] and workers' compensation insurance

[48:23] and with the one new

[48:25] position we are netting a 10.6% increase in

[48:28] overall personnel costs.

[48:30] And our non-personnel expenses are up 1.2% gross

[48:34] and actually down 5.6% net of revenues.

[48:38] Unlike police and fire, we are about a 50% split

[48:41] between our personnel costs as well as our operations.

[48:46] Electricity rates are expected to decrease into the,

[48:49] the next year with the

[48:50] New Solar project coming online at the landfill.

[48:53] Our contract with Encore includes a rate of six

[48:56] and a half cents per kilowatt hour

[48:57] with Eversource credits up to 11.20 cents per kilowatt hour.

[49:03] We are seeing offsetting increases in the delivery

[49:06] charges from Eversource.

[49:07] So that will offset some of those savings.

[49:10] We haven't done it in in-depth analysis going into the next

[49:13] budget, but we will be reviewing that as as we go forward.

[49:18] Fuel and asphalt pricing

[49:20] and FY 27 is of course volatile as you can all imagine.

[49:23] Due to the global impacts,

[49:25] we are seeing paving increases from $70

[49:28] and 15 cents a ton to $86.

[49:32] Just over $86 a ton over the, just the past five years.

[49:34] That's 4.7% increase annually.

[49:38] FY 27 we're estimating at about $96 a ton.

[49:42] That's about a 10% increase. We're looking at.

[49:45] Our state bid for road salt was $79

[49:48] and 79 cents versus just $49 and 50 cents back in FY 21.

[49:53] That's an annualized increase of 7.6%.

[49:56] We're projecting a five point a 5% increase in FY

[50:00] 27 1.

[50:02] One important thing to note is over the last 18 months,

[50:05] the Department of Public Works has transitioned

[50:08] 29 positions.

[50:10] It's 43% of the department is actually new to their roles.

[50:13] So we've had eight retirements

[50:16] that included two division

[50:17] supervisors and three crew chiefs.

[50:19] So we lost a lot of institutional knowledge.

[50:21] There's a lot of people coming on board.

[50:23] We've got an excellent staff there.

[50:25] They're really getting up to speed very quickly.

[50:27] They were very helpful in putting together this budget.

[50:30] We've had 13 promotions, 16 new hires,

[50:32] and we currently have four vacan vacancies

[50:38] in dealing with all the new personnel transitions.

[50:40] We're also unprecedented.

[50:41] Number of capital projects going on in town.

[50:44] The exit four A.

[50:45] Contract B, as you all know,

[50:47] continues along Folsom Road in unido.

[50:50] That estimated completion date is around 2028.

[50:54] Contract C, which is from Pinkerton Street out to 1 0 2

[50:59] that's in design right now.

[51:00] That bid date from what we are hearing, may be pushed out

[51:04] to 2029 possibly.

[51:06] That project is funded in, in large part through DOT funds

[51:11] with some town funds going for some

[51:12] of the utility upgrades we have.

[51:15] The Ranch Shepherd Hill Water project is ongoing right now.

[51:18] Now that included the Morningside Drive in

[51:20] Barland Acres neighborhoods.

[51:22] That's a $9.3 million project

[51:24] that's continuing along Route 1 0 2 eastward.

[51:28] That project has interconnected

[51:29] to neighborhood water systems, adding 60 new connections.

[51:33] So those neighborhoods now have access to

[51:35] clean safe drinking water.

[51:37] We secured $4.9 million in New Hampshire DES

[51:40] grants towards that project.

[51:43] We're also in the middle of the Southern

[51:44] New Hampshire Regional Water Project.

[51:45] Having completed phase one, our contracts D one

[51:48] and D two, which was funded

[51:49] through the state for $6 million.

[51:51] We are now in phase two A with contracts D three, D four

[51:55] and D five, which are totaling $15 million.

[51:58] Those are presently out for beta under construction.

[52:02] The council just accepted in digital $5.5 million

[52:05] that we'll be using towards the phase two B work,

[52:07] which will be beginning design work over the next year.

[52:11] And that's estimated about $30 million total build out.

[52:13] We're in the process of right now trying to

[52:16] find opportunities of funding

[52:18] for the remainder of that work.

[52:20] And of course the Abbott court redevelopment

[52:22] and the parking garage project is, is underway.

[52:27] Upcoming, we've got the Rail Trail

[52:29] connection into London Dairy.

[52:31] It's just about a million dollar projects.

[52:34] We'll be working with New New Hampshire DOT.

[52:37] We have 80% funding coming from them.

[52:40] We're looking at the Route 28 Ryans Hill sewer

[52:43] extension project we had designed in our current fiscal year

[52:47] at just over $500,000.

[52:49] We'll be asking for just over $6 million going into the

[52:53] next fiscal budget.

[52:55] $3.2 million of that is coming through EPA grant

[52:58] through the congressionally directed spending approval,

[53:02] as well as the wastewater treatment plant project,

[53:05] which is a 14 to $15 million project.

[53:08] We are going into preliminary engineering right now

[53:10] with a 100,000 to grant from New Hampshire DES.

[53:16] With that, I would invite Clint Havens up.

[53:19] To begin more detailed look at the highway budget.

[53:23] That's at page 2 0 9 within the council.

[53:27] Clint is is the veteran at almost 18 months on his,

[53:31] his position right now, he took over for Alan Cody on

[53:36] in November of 2024.

[53:38] So Clint is in, we had a little bit of a reorganization.

[53:40] So he's still in charge of highway.

[53:41] He also will be, he also supervises vehicle maintenance

[53:45] and the cemetery divisions as well.

[53:48] Good evening. Good evening.

[53:51] So highway page two nine a hundred sixty six road miles,

[53:54] 332 lane miles that we maintain through our department.

[53:57] 20 miles of sidewalk, 3.2 miles of bike path.

[54:02] The revenues $927,955.

[54:06] Expenditures are at

[54:08] $4,332,499

[54:13] just under seven.

[54:14] 725,000 comes from a highway block ramp from the state

[54:21] as town administrator referred to

[54:23] during the presentation on Tuesday.

[54:25] We are looking at a temporary one year deferment in roadway

[54:28] management from the 1.65 funding

[54:32] to $1.4 million in this current budget.

[54:35] As again, the town administrator referred the,

[54:37] the PCI value in town right now is at 88

[54:40] and it's rated excellent.

[54:42] The council has adopted under the Government Accounting

[54:45] Standards Board requirement GA P 35, about 34 I think it is

[54:49] adopted, A PCI goal of 68 to 80.

[54:51] So we're in very good shape there.

[54:54] The last five assessments we've done reflected an excellent

[54:56] PCI rating of the town of roads.

[54:58] You just have to drive them to, to see that that's the case.

[55:02] Ongoing capital projects between exit four A,

[55:06] the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project,

[55:08] the Ranch, shepherd Hill, there's a lot

[55:10] of paving work going on embedded within those projects.

[55:13] So that will also have a positive impact on the PCI.

[55:17] So we feel comfortable with, with what we've proposed here.

[55:22] Some highway projects in capital, again, roadway management

[55:26] that's funded outta the operations at $1.4 million.

[55:29] There's an additional $75,000 under the Dairy commerce

[55:34] corridor TIFF district.

[55:35] That's target targeted to paving projects within

[55:38] that specific district.

[55:39] You'll see that in your TIF budget. It's presented later on.

[55:44] Sidewalk improve sidewalk improvements, $50,000.

[55:48] That's funded through the expendable maintenance

[55:50] trust budget.

[55:53] We're looking at replacing the cabin chassis for one

[55:56] of our sidewalk machines.

[55:59] That's vehicle 6 0 9.

[56:00] It's a 2012 that's funded through the capital reserve

[56:04] and an estimated cost of $200,000.

[56:07] We're requesting to replace our wood chipper vehicle.

[56:11] 6 0 8 2012 at $75,000.

[56:14] Also funded through the department's Capital Reserve Fund

[56:17] and a 2017 5,500 plow

[56:21] and wing $165,000 also funded

[56:25] through the Capital reserve account.

[56:28] This is, this, I apologize, says FY 26 is actually FY 27.

[56:32] These are the list of the rows that we are proposing.

[56:36] You know, these are fluid, these depend

[56:37] upon several factors.

[56:39] The utility work not only by the town

[56:42] but by other gas lines, power lines, et cetera,

[56:47] drainage work, things like that.

[56:50] So that's the baseline that we're going with

[56:53] to maintain our PCI.

[56:55] We also have identified Pearl Street within the Commerce

[56:57] Carver as as being that project

[57:01] for $75,000.

[57:03] And we also have budgeted 25,000

[57:05] for some work on the access driveway up to the cemetery.

[57:10] So with that, if the council has any specific questions

[57:13] within the line items of the department,

[57:16] I'll be happy to answer those

[57:19] Questions.

[57:20] Yeah, I, I'm sorry ma'am. Chair, I have one question.

[57:22] As far as the proposed roads,

[57:25] do you still have that rotating?

[57:27] How, how many miles that you, you walk each road every year

[57:30] and then identify 'em?

[57:31] Or do you have it on a regular percentage

[57:34] base of how you do every year?

[57:35] They still walk the roads. They

[57:37] Still walk the roads. Thank you.

[57:39] Yep. The, as again,

[57:42] town administrator Fowler mentioned Dave Blanchard,

[57:44] he's our roadway management guru.

[57:47] He actually, we have a software program.

[57:49] It's a combination of that

[57:50] and also his, his expertise of, with the years

[57:52] of actually walking these roads,

[57:54] we will be continuing that with staff.

[57:57] So there is a process that goes

[57:58] into identifying those roads.

[58:00] Thank you. Council, what,

[58:03] Just a, a couple questions.

[58:05] Do you feel the, I know you covered it in your slide,

[58:08] but it was one of my concerns.

[58:09] Do you feel what you budgeted

[58:10] for asphalt will be sufficient based on

[58:15] projected increases?

[58:16] Do you wanna talk a little bit that they have looked at

[58:18] that in depth with Dave and, and Clint? Yeah,

[58:21] Obviously I'd be the biggest proponent

[58:23] of the road manager program.

[58:25] Right. Other than the town administrator

[58:27] making his decisions.

[58:29] Clearly the other, the other projects going on, I,

[58:32] I think we'll be, we'll be fine.

[58:34] This, there was a similar trend during the Russia,

[58:37] Ukraine issue.

[58:38] Yeah. A couple of months later

[58:39] and it spiked but then dropped back down.

[58:41] Okay. So given the time I'm, I'm good.

[58:43] Yeah, they built in a factor into that, that tonage rate

[58:47] so that we feel comfortable with any

[58:50] changes within the, the market rates.

[58:53] Good. On the rail trail, you had mentioned that.

[58:56] Could you just please go a little more in depth with that

[58:59] Wish we could.

[59:00] So presently we are waiting

[59:03] official word from New Hampshire, DOT on the status of

[59:07] the tunnel, I guess.

[59:09] So presently right now we are out for our FQs

[59:12] to select the engineering firm.

[59:15] I think those are due in the next couple weeks.

[59:19] Once we select the engineering firm, then we go into design,

[59:22] we'll be working with the state,

[59:24] but of course, you know, to really get further into, into,

[59:26] there's a, there's some

[59:27] property issues and things like that.

[59:28] So that, that will be a process.

[59:31] But how that interconnection will work, we still have

[59:34] to wait for final design coming from DOT.

[59:36] But that'll be all out of this FY 27 budget.

[59:40] We're hoping Yeah, some of the work anyway.

[59:44] A lot of the preliminary design work.

[59:45] Yeah, I am being able to go out to bid.

[59:47] I think we should be get most of

[59:48] that done in the next budget.

[59:51] And I just want to thank you.

[59:53] I think your crews did an excellent job this winter.

[59:56] I know everybody wants to complain about things,

[59:58] but I think there were some challenges

[1:00:01] and I think your crews did a really good job. So thank you.

[1:00:04] Appreciate that. We had a

[1:00:06] lot of new drivers on the road.

[1:00:08] I think they, they really stepped up. I was very pleased.

[1:00:14] Councilor Chase. So Council Webb touched on

[1:00:18] the asphalt costs.

[1:00:20] What about the fuel costs? Same, same thing.

[1:00:24] Do you anticipate that you'll have enough fundage

[1:00:26] for the fuel costs?

[1:00:27] I mean, the diesels especially is really taking a hit.

[1:00:31] I, I took a look at what we're actually currently paying

[1:00:33] and you gotta remember where, where net of taxes.

[1:00:35] So we, we don't pay the taxes.

[1:00:36] We get our fuel from the, the shed

[1:00:39] over DOTI did look at the rates

[1:00:41] and we are actually below

[1:00:43] what we have projected going into the next fiscal year.

[1:00:48] We're actually a little,

[1:00:50] little less right now than we were about a year ago.

[1:00:52] Okay. So again, we built in some number,

[1:00:56] some factor into that number.

[1:00:58] But it's like anything else, it's a bottom line budget.

[1:01:00] If we find ourselves at a large increase in, in in fuel,

[1:01:04] we're gonna have to look elsewhere in order

[1:01:05] to, to offset that.

[1:01:07] Okay. And I'll ask you the same question

[1:01:10] that I asked fire on the 20 17 5500.

[1:01:15] I noticed you guys have stainless steel bodies on 'em.

[1:01:17] Do you intend on putting that on the new chassis rather than

[1:01:19] buying a new body or,

[1:01:22] So, I've been accused of being a little bit of a hoarder.

[1:01:25] I don't get rid of vehicles when I do the,

[1:01:27] I don't have much life expectancy left.

[1:01:28] So that vehicle still, it's,

[1:01:31] it becomes not a frontline vehicle,

[1:01:32] but a backup secondary vehicle.

[1:01:34] We still will be using it.

[1:01:36] I certainly would take every part off of it

[1:01:37] that I could use on another vehicle.

[1:01:39] Okay. That's all I have.

[1:01:43] Other questions? Council, we

[1:01:44] Yeah.

[1:01:45] That just stimulated another question for me.

[1:01:47] I had asked this to fire,

[1:01:50] and I know in the past there has been a pretty long

[1:01:53] turnaround with some of the Public Works vehicles.

[1:01:56] Are you still looking at the, some of the same problems with

[1:01:59] between the time you ordered

[1:02:00] and the time you actually received the vehicle,

[1:02:02] and about how long do you estimate that to be?

[1:02:04] So we haven't had to purchase too many

[1:02:08] significantly large vehicles.

[1:02:10] Yeah. The one tons we've been able to get off the, the

[1:02:14] showroom, for lack of a better word.

[1:02:15] Yeah. It, it might be one year sit still new,

[1:02:18] but sitting on the, on the purchase, which is a good place

[1:02:22] to be from five years ago

[1:02:23] and couldn't get anything off the lot.

[1:02:25] So sometimes ordering them it,

[1:02:27] they can't give you a specific time.

[1:02:30] But as far as the one tons,

[1:02:31] we've had no problem getting those. Yeah.

[1:02:33] The, the vehicle maintenance maintenance crew has been

[1:02:35] great at finding the chassis on the lots.

[1:02:39] So then it's a matter of doing the upfit.

[1:02:42] So most of these things we can put together

[1:02:44] in less, less than a year.

[1:02:45] The, the upfits are a little bit

[1:02:46] slower just with the tariffs.

[1:02:47] That's, that's the only thing that's really impacted those.

[1:02:53] Councilor Haley, do you have any questions or comments?

[1:02:56] Yeah, I, I have one question on the proposed roads

[1:03:00] for paving where it says portion of,

[1:03:03] do you have a list somewhere that describes like

[1:03:06] what addresses through that?

[1:03:08] Those proposed portions of our

[1:03:13] Yes.

[1:03:14] Yes. Some of them,

[1:03:15] like road ended at Long Meadow in Wyndham.

[1:03:18] So from Long Meadow to the Wyndham Town line,

[1:03:20] that's gonna be our next piece.

[1:03:21] So each, these are just a, a screenshot,

[1:03:24] but yes, we have breakdowns of each one.

[1:03:26] Okay. Could I be sent that, I mean,

[1:03:30] I don't need it tonight, but whenever you get a chance,

[1:03:31] could you send me the portion of, I just, I'd like to know,

[1:03:35] one of them I saw on the list is Scenic Drive,

[1:03:37] which is the road I live on,

[1:03:39] and I'd just like to get that, that info out.

[1:03:42] Yep, we can do that. Okay.

[1:03:44] Council here, Caius is Mike, can I ask a quick question?

[1:03:47] Do you want all of the roads

[1:03:49] or just the scenic drive addresses?

[1:03:52] Scenic Drive would be helpful,

[1:03:54] but if, if there's, if there's a list already created,

[1:03:57] it could just easily be sent.

[1:03:59] If, if not, then just for now, scenic Drive would

[1:04:02] Be fine. Okay. Fair enough.

[1:04:03] Okay. All right. Council Mills,

[1:04:08] If I'm reading this finally correctly, I'd like

[1:04:12] to move the figure of

[1:04:13] $4,332,499

[1:04:18] for the Highway and Streets department.

[1:04:21] I'll second On motion. Council mills? Yes.

[1:04:25] Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Foot?

[1:04:28] Yes. Councillor Healy?

[1:04:31] Yes. And chair votes? Yes. Next up

[1:04:39] Vehicle maintenance.

[1:04:40] Doesn't matter.

[1:04:42] You can stay. I'll go. I'll,

[1:04:43] I'll stay in. I'll stay in here.

[1:04:45] Stay in. Okay.

[1:04:49] Transfer station Next activity center.

[1:04:52] That's page 2 22 in your budget.

[1:04:54] Books our transfer station.

[1:04:58] Be again, part a little bit of a reorganization.

[1:05:00] Over the last year with the re

[1:05:04] the vacancy of the engineering environmental engineer,

[1:05:08] last year we reorganized

[1:05:09] and brought the transfer station under the environmental

[1:05:12] coordinator position.

[1:05:13] Josh Brown. Josh has been here a little less than a year.

[1:05:16] Josh is not with us this evening,

[1:05:17] but he's also been very involved in the operations

[1:05:21] of the transfer station as well as, as the,

[1:05:23] the environmental duties of his position.

[1:05:28] With regard to some, some data, 16,219 tons

[1:05:32] of solid waste handled in calendar year 25.

[1:05:35] That was up two and a half percent from calendar year 24

[1:05:39] calendar year 25, we saw 9,707 tons of trash,

[1:05:44] non-recyclable trash.

[1:05:45] That's about a 0.3% increase from calendar.

[1:05:48] Year 24 in Cal fiscal year 27 were projecting

[1:05:51] about 10,000 tons.

[1:05:53] The revenues in transfer station are

[1:05:56] $1,254,734.

[1:05:59] Expenses are $3,240,171.

[1:06:04] Construction demolition debris disposal is up 35%.

[1:06:08] That's our cost for disposal.

[1:06:09] The town's cost, that's went from $96 a ton back in

[1:06:14] March of 2025.

[1:06:16] With environmental and fuel surcharges,

[1:06:18] we're paying about

[1:06:19] a hundred forty eight eighty three right now.

[1:06:22] However, the revenues, the offsetting revenues continue

[1:06:24] to be strong with $644,000 a year to date.

[1:06:28] The metals recycling market seems to be fairly stable.

[1:06:31] So no, no big changes in in revenue projections there.

[1:06:35] The other markets are not consistent, so we're just sort

[1:06:38] of maintaining status quo right now.

[1:06:41] Trash disposal costs is an increase estimated at $110

[1:06:46] at 55 cents per ton.

[1:06:48] That's up 5%.

[1:06:49] Our contract with Covanta Re World

[1:06:53] actually expires at the end of this calendar year.

[1:06:55] So we're in current negotiations conversations

[1:06:58] with them right now on what

[1:06:59] that rate will look like next year.

[1:07:02] As far as capital projects, we have one proposed to replace

[1:07:07] what was a quo hut, which is a place

[1:07:10] that we store the trash trailers out of the weather in prep

[1:07:14] for maintenance or for just to keep them dry

[1:07:17] before we ship materials off to their disposal locations.

[1:07:22] That was a few years ago, maybe 2021,

[1:07:27] where the storm took it down.

[1:07:29] The town did receive some, some,

[1:07:32] some funding from Primex through the insurance.

[1:07:34] About $25,000 that will be used to partially offset this.

[1:07:40] That's, that's the highlights.

[1:07:41] If there's any specific questions on the line items,

[1:07:44] I'd be happy to answer them.

[1:07:46] Thank you Madam Chair. On the c

[1:07:48] and d disposal cost, is that projected

[1:07:51] to be stable throughout the year

[1:07:52] or is that, is that basically gonna be something

[1:07:54] that's very fluid and the Delta changes regularly?

[1:07:57] Well, based on environmental

[1:07:58] and fuel surcharges, so there is a little volatility there.

[1:08:01] So we will be going back out to look at alternatives.

[1:08:05] There's not a lot out there that I'm aware of,

[1:08:08] but, so for now

[1:08:12] that just is sort of status quo.

[1:08:15] I I don't suspect there'd be any more significant increases.

[1:08:19] We'll wait and see.

[1:08:24] Councilor, Just a a quick question

[1:08:26] because I know there are some rules.

[1:08:30] What about lithium batteries?

[1:08:32] So those are no longer accepted within household trash.

[1:08:36] There is a collection box at the facility

[1:08:39] and they are taken offsite for recycling.

[1:08:42] So, but they, yes, no, no.

[1:08:43] Lithium batteries are allowed

[1:08:44] to be disposed of in the trash.

[1:08:46] There's signs at the transfer station designating that.

[1:08:50] Has there been any issues with some of the

[1:08:53] trucking companies bringing them in

[1:08:55] and, you know, when, when people have, you know,

[1:08:59] just dump trash in their curbside pickup

[1:09:02] and do private curbside pickup, have there been any issues

[1:09:05] with lithium batteries in the curbside

[1:09:06] pickups that they brought in?

[1:09:08] Not, not to our knowledge. Obviously we don't sift, sift

[1:09:11] through all the garbage that comes through the facility,

[1:09:13] but we've not been made aware of any

[1:09:15] of our disposal facilities of issues.

[1:09:18] And do we get any income from lithium battery recycling?

[1:09:23] Sometimes I believe it's nominal. Yes. Correct. Okay.

[1:09:31] Officer Chase Back on this c

[1:09:34] and DI see you see revenues as strong at 644,000.

[1:09:38] How do they equal out to, I know

[1:09:44] anybody that brings in c and d has to pay, does it zero out?

[1:09:48] How are we, are we in the red, are we in the green? We're

[1:09:50] We're in the black.

[1:09:51] So we're in the black. Yeah.

[1:09:52] So obviously the revenues do outweigh the disposal costs.

[1:09:56] Okay. We will be looking at that particularly in light.

[1:09:58] 'cause that was one of the first things I looked at when I

[1:10:00] saw the increase in the disposal costs is

[1:10:02] where are we at versus the fees

[1:10:04] that we're charging both the in town outta town.

[1:10:06] So we're still ahead,

[1:10:08] but it's something we may wanna re reevaluate.

[1:10:10] Okay.

[1:10:13] What else? Councilor Healy,

[1:10:17] Councilor Chase just kind of hit on

[1:10:19] what I was gonna bring up is the construction

[1:10:21] and demolition fees, if that's something

[1:10:23] that we'd wanna look at to maybe increase a little bit to,

[1:10:27] to get some more revenue.

[1:10:29] But it seems like that's kind of already in the works,

[1:10:32] so I'm good.

[1:10:35] Excellent. That's the great thing about going last

[1:10:38] as you guys ask most of my questions to ask them.

[1:10:40] All right,

[1:10:42] Madam Chair, I'll move the figure

[1:10:44] of $3,240,171

[1:10:50] for the transfer station activity center.

[1:10:54] Is there a second? Second. All right on the motion.

[1:10:56] Council mills? Yes. Council Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes.

[1:10:59] Councilor Foot? Yes. Councillor?

[1:11:02] Yes. And Chair votes? Yes. Motion passes. Six zero.

[1:11:06] Thank you. Next one.

[1:11:11] Gonna invite Clint Havens back up our new

[1:11:13] supervisor of vehicle maintenance.

[1:11:16] That's page 2 33 in the council's budget.

[1:11:19] Books 111 units, pieces

[1:11:23] of equipment maintained.

[1:11:25] We have three mechanics.

[1:11:27] We that equipment ranges from pickup trucks, loaders,

[1:11:30] dump trucks, tractors, trailers, et cetera.

[1:11:34] One of the points we did wanna mention, we do

[1:11:37] and will continue to conduct the safety inspections on

[1:11:41] our DOT vehicles.

[1:11:42] That is still required through, through federal laws,

[1:11:47] our expenditures for the department

[1:11:49] or $740,250 continuation

[1:11:53] of our preventative maintenance.

[1:11:55] Our age of fleet is,

[1:11:57] is trending favorably at about eight to 10 years.

[1:12:01] As, as Clint sort of alluded to earlier, our trend is

[1:12:04] to keep the vehicles that we are replacing

[1:12:08] a little bit longer and not dispose of them.

[1:12:11] We're finding that the value in

[1:12:15] less wear and tear on the newer vehicles

[1:12:17] that we're purchasing will out out wear any,

[1:12:23] outweigh any value on the vehicles selling

[1:12:27] them on the open market or iron planted

[1:12:29] or something to that effect.

[1:12:31] So we, we think that's gonna be positive.

[1:12:33] We'll see how that, that pans out.

[1:12:35] Obviously when maintenance costs anything significant comes

[1:12:38] across, that becomes the time that he'll make the decision

[1:12:41] to, to deadline that particular vehicle.

[1:12:45] Six 60 line item, the actual value

[1:12:47] of repairing those equipment is at 208,740.

[1:12:51] That's a 7.1% increase.

[1:12:55] Of course we're talking about cost of tires, lubricants,

[1:13:00] just any type of material in, in,

[1:13:02] in commodities in this field are, are feeling the pinches

[1:13:06] of inflationary costs as well.

[1:13:10] We do have one capital item replacing 6 21.

[1:13:14] That's a 2014 pickup truck in plow that spun it

[1:13:18] through the capital reserve at $65,000.

[1:13:22] That I'd open up to.

[1:13:24] Any questions on the specific line items of the budget

[1:13:28] Questions?

[1:13:29] I have no questions. I have one,

[1:13:32] but it's really not for you.

[1:13:34] It's for Mike. Apologies.

[1:13:37] And it just triggered a random thought

[1:13:39] and thank you for continually do the ins

[1:13:43] DOT inspections on your commercial vehicles.

[1:13:48] Are we doing that as well

[1:13:51] because we have commercial rated

[1:13:52] vehicles, for instance, in fire.

[1:13:53] I think police has one. Are we continuing

[1:13:57] with the inspections for them?

[1:13:59] And also, I know we have a person on the Public Works

[1:14:03] committee here and somebody from

[1:14:05] the transportation committee.

[1:14:07] Is there a liability concern

[1:14:09] for the town not inspecting even its

[1:14:12] non-commercial vehicles?

[1:14:14] So, so I think the answer to that,

[1:14:16] and I will verify this with both the police chief

[1:14:19] and the fire chief as well,

[1:14:20] but despite the impression of the mandate

[1:14:24] to not have passenger vehicles,

[1:14:26] we have a very robust program that all

[1:14:29] of the vehicles are inspected as they go along.

[1:14:32] So if you can imagine like if you had a pickup truck

[1:14:34] that was just being used by code enforcement,

[1:14:36] Right?

[1:14:37] That is brought in at least on an annual basis

[1:14:40] for a looksy for tires and brakes and and windshields.

[1:14:44] So they don't necessarily go through the process

[1:14:48] that you would see it maybe as rigorous as that.

[1:14:50] But there is a log that that vehicle was in that facility

[1:14:54] and reviewed at that point

[1:14:55] for just massive liability concerns.

[1:14:58] Yeah. 'cause somebody could turn that

[1:14:59] around if it was involved in an accident

[1:15:01] and say, well gee,

[1:15:02] when was the last time an attorney would grab

[1:15:03] that and, and ask that question.

[1:15:05] So we should have logs of, of when these vehicles come in

[1:15:09] as part of the DOT mandated inspections on the larger

[1:15:12] trucks, there's pre-trip inspections that are done.

[1:15:15] Correct. If a driver operator finds a deficiency,

[1:15:18] they take it to vehicle maintenance to, you know, have

[1:15:20] that reviewed and and taken a look at immediately.

[1:15:23] So there's a lot of overview on all of the vehicles,

[1:15:27] but I'll confirm with the police chief

[1:15:29] and fire chief what they do specific to those departments.

[1:15:32] Now with the commercial vehicle inspections,

[1:15:39] is there a federal requirement?

[1:15:40] Did they have to be stickered

[1:15:41] or anything like that to meet the

[1:15:42] federal requirements? Yeah,

[1:15:44] We have.

[1:15:45] We have the stickers on the, on the trucks

[1:15:46] and we also have backup paperwork at the

[1:15:48] shop in the file folders.

[1:15:50] Yeah, so probably again a concern for that.

[1:15:53] That's also carried through

[1:15:54] with all the commercial vehicles throughout the town.

[1:15:56] Yep, absolutely. So

[1:15:59] That's it.

[1:16:01] Council Chase and my question piggybacks on his,

[1:16:04] so compared to the annual state inspections,

[1:16:07] which I'm sure used to be done with you,

[1:16:10] is there any cost difference

[1:16:11] between the New Hampshire State inspections

[1:16:13] and the DOT inspections? No.

[1:16:15] Okay. 'cause we're an inspection station,

[1:16:16] so the mechanics do the inspections. Right.

[1:16:18] So the no paperwork

[1:16:20] or fees are different from the feds than nom

[1:16:23] From the state.

[1:16:24] Yeah. Nominal for picking up the

[1:16:25] stickers to put on the trailers.

[1:16:26] Okay.

[1:16:29] Did you have anything? Nothing. Thank you.

[1:16:31] Council put, do you have anything? No. Councilor Haley?

[1:16:35] Nothing from me. All right. Nothing from me either.

[1:16:38] Thank you.

[1:16:40] One more time, Madam Chair,

[1:16:42] then I will move the figure

[1:16:43] $740,250

[1:16:47] for the Vehicle Maintenance Activity Center.

[1:16:51] I'll second that. Alright, on the motion Council Mills?

[1:16:54] Yes. Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes.

[1:16:57] Councilor Foote? Yes. Councillor Healy?

[1:17:00] Yes. And Chair Votes? Yes. Motion passes.

[1:17:02] Six zero Building and Grounds

[1:17:09] Buildings and Grounds is page 2 48 in the council Budget

[1:17:11] books our Buildings and Grounds division.

[1:17:17] Tim Gillespie is sort of heading that division.

[1:17:21] He is one of the newer members.

[1:17:23] When Rob Robinson re retired

[1:17:25] a little less than a year ago, Tim took over.

[1:17:28] He, he and his crew provide custodial services to,

[1:17:31] to five buildings, about a hundred thousand square

[1:17:33] feet of space.

[1:17:35] They provide maintenance support to another 15 buildings,

[1:17:39] another 145,000 square feet.

[1:17:41] That includes the four fire stations.

[1:17:43] We do provide custodial support, partial

[1:17:48] for the new headquarters building

[1:17:50] and we do some very basic

[1:17:53] maintenance over at the old fire station.

[1:17:57] The one on East Broadway,

[1:17:59] the revenues buildings grounds is $150,335.

[1:18:03] That's primarily from rentals and cell tower leases.

[1:18:07] The expenditures are $1,129,385.

[1:18:13] The F four 30 line items within the budget support routine

[1:18:17] contracted maintenance including fire alarm testing,

[1:18:20] elevator testing, window cleaning, et cetera.

[1:18:24] The remainder of the items in the budget, personnel,

[1:18:27] fuel supplies, and repair parts.

[1:18:30] We do have one capital item within the budget

[1:18:33] to replace truck number 6 28 A 2015 pickup truck

[1:18:37] and plow for $65,000 funded from

[1:18:40] through the department's Capital Reserve account.

[1:18:45] That I would open up to.

[1:18:46] Any questions on the specific line items within the

[1:18:48] budget Council may have

[1:18:50] Questions.

[1:18:51] Council Chase one, how are we doing lately with

[1:18:56] personnel that are

[1:18:59] in the trades, electricians and such?

[1:19:02] How are we doing compared to the public?

[1:19:03] I know it's been a problem keeping

[1:19:05] them in the public sector.

[1:19:06] I mean in the town sector as,

[1:19:10] as into the private sector.

[1:19:13] So the department

[1:19:14] through the years has been very proactive as far

[1:19:16] as providing training.

[1:19:18] We did, the council did support the addition of an HVAC

[1:19:23] position for the department.

[1:19:24] So that's been valuable to us.

[1:19:26] They're continuing schooling on different

[1:19:29] aspects of that trade.

[1:19:32] The prior crew chief had his electric license.

[1:19:36] We do have one electrician on staff through the water

[1:19:40] and wastewater departments.

[1:19:41] We're in the process. One

[1:19:42] of the other vacancies we're trying to fill right now

[1:19:44] and finding it a little bit difficult

[1:19:46] is another electrician.

[1:19:47] So we're finding it very difficult competing

[1:19:49] with the private sector, the

[1:19:51] through the council support and the town administrator.

[1:19:53] We did recognize that in the, in the collective bargaining

[1:19:57] agreements and there was some adjustment made

[1:19:59] to be a little bit more competitive.

[1:20:00] So we're optimistic

[1:20:01] that we'll be able to fill those positions.

[1:20:04] But yes, we do, we do provide the training in addition

[1:20:06] to the other personnel

[1:20:08] and they, they do take advantage of that training as well.

[1:20:10] Okay. I'm just thinking about the future.

[1:20:12] 'cause having somebody that's licensed on staff,

[1:20:14] whether it's electricians, plumbers, whatever, is

[1:20:17] to me would be more cost effective than having

[1:20:18] to go out into the absolute private sector

[1:20:21] and have hire them to come in. Yes,

[1:20:23] Definitely.

[1:20:27] That's What, just a general comment.

[1:20:32] Your staff does a great job.

[1:20:33] I every time you go in the building,

[1:20:34] it's a really professional looking

[1:20:36] and I think well maintained.

[1:20:37] Thank you. And between the streets

[1:20:41] and here, I think it, you know,

[1:20:43] shows off the town really well.

[1:20:44] And my other general comment is just a concern

[1:20:47] and it's not for you, it's just

[1:20:49] looking at some of the wages.

[1:20:51] And the scary thing about it is that

[1:20:53] we're looking at a plan point where family plan,

[1:20:57] health insurance costs may soon exceed some of the wages

[1:21:01] of your, of our custodians.

[1:21:04] And that's just scary to me. So thank you.

[1:21:10] No questions. Councilor Haley, do you have anything?

[1:21:15] Nothing. Alright,

[1:21:19] Madam Chair, I would like

[1:21:20] to move the figure

[1:21:21] $1,129,385

[1:21:26] for the Buildings and Grounds Activity Center.

[1:21:30] I'll second that On the motion. Council mills? Yes.

[1:21:34] Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Foot?

[1:21:37] Yes. Councilor Healy?

[1:21:40] Yes. And chair votes? Yes. Motion passes. Six zero.

[1:21:46] Moving on counselors, the cemetery division.

[1:21:48] Page 2 63 in council budget books.

[1:21:51] I'm gonna invite Clint up one last time.

[1:21:55] Clint is also the supervisor of the cemetery division.

[1:21:59] We have 35 acres of grounds

[1:22:00] that are maintained within that division.

[1:22:03] We endeavor to keep the cemetery open year round.

[1:22:06] This year was particularly challenging in that regard.

[1:22:10] We have 90 internments

[1:22:12] and fiscal year 25 that included 42 full burials

[1:22:15] and 48 cremations.

[1:22:18] The cemetery still has over a thousand

[1:22:19] full burial plots available.

[1:22:21] So we don't have any capacity concerns.

[1:22:24] The revenues within the budget is $113,200.

[1:22:28] The budget requested is $191,246.

[1:22:33] The revenues are primarily from perpetual care

[1:22:36] burial services, lot sales and trust income.

[1:22:40] The expenses are primarily the full-time

[1:22:42] and seasonal employees along with tools

[1:22:44] and supplies to maintain the grounds.

[1:22:49] That's It. And with

[1:22:50] that I'll open up any questions on specific

[1:22:52] line items by the council?

[1:22:54] Council Put just a comment

[1:22:56] just to reiterate what you said.

[1:22:58] So it's a year round cemetery, so many

[1:23:00] around us don't do year round burials.

[1:23:02] So we are fortunate that we do do that.

[1:23:04] So just wanted to highlight that for those at Home

[1:23:09] Chase And I just wanna make a comment

[1:23:10] that the cemetery staff does an excellent job down there.

[1:23:14] They're always polite, they're, you know,

[1:23:17] courteous if you're,

[1:23:18] because that's a tough place for some people

[1:23:21] and they're always out of the, if you go in there,

[1:23:22] they're always outta your way.

[1:23:23] They don't come mowing your flowers down

[1:23:26] or give you a hard time or anything like that.

[1:23:28] And they do an excellent job.

[1:23:29] Appreciate, don't wanna commend 'em for it.

[1:23:33] I Have no questions ma'am.

[1:23:34] Council F? Nope,

[1:23:36] Come on.

[1:23:37] You don't have any question.

[1:23:40] I'm just dying to ask a question, but I won't. Oh.

[1:23:44] Alright. Moving on. Councilor Healey,

[1:23:48] I have no questions.

[1:23:50] I did have one question and this may or may not copy yet.

[1:23:54] With all the work that Councilor put has been doing along

[1:23:56] with all the others to kind of find all those

[1:24:00] headstones that have been covered up.

[1:24:02] And I know some have kind of sunk and things are going on.

[1:24:04] Are there, are there any plans for kind

[1:24:05] of maintaining those once they're,

[1:24:08] or is there anything to be done

[1:24:09] to maintain those once they're, we,

[1:24:10] We get calls pretty regularly

[1:24:12] from people that stop up there.

[1:24:13] If they can't find them or they see just a small portion

[1:24:15] of it, the cemetery staff will pick 'em up.

[1:24:17] Veterans markets we do when they come in

[1:24:20] and obviously a lot of volunteer

[1:24:22] groups have come in and help out. So

[1:24:24] Thank you.

[1:24:25] No problem. There's been quite an effort too of,

[1:24:27] of continuing mapping the cemetery

[1:24:29] through our GIS department, Doug in it, as well

[1:24:33] as some private organizations where the veterans are,

[1:24:35] are linking those databases.

[1:24:38] So this is, there's a lot

[1:24:39] of work continuing on that as well.

[1:24:40] Awesome. Thank you

[1:24:43] Madam Chair.

[1:24:44] Then I will move the figure $191,246

[1:24:49] for the Cemetery Activity Center.

[1:24:52] I'll second that. All right. On the motion.

[1:24:54] Council mills? Yes. Council Webb?

[1:24:57] Yes. Councillor Chase? Yes. Councilor Foot? Yes.

[1:25:00] Councillor Healy? Yes. And chair votes? Yes. Motion passes.

[1:25:04] Six zero Thank you. On to Code Enforcement

[1:25:10] Councilors.

[1:25:11] Code enforcement. On page 2 71 in the budget books.

[1:25:13] I'm gonna invite Carrie Owen to come,

[1:25:15] our director of Building and code.

[1:25:18] Kerry has been with us since almost a year now.

[1:25:21] Getting close. Yeah,

[1:25:23] Good evening.

[1:25:24] Good evening. Somebody new in the chair.

[1:25:28] I was wondering why he bothered leaving all the time.

[1:25:34] Permit activity remaining strong to say the least.

[1:25:38] In FY 26 fiscal year 26 year to date

[1:25:43] revenues at $368,000 FY 25,

[1:25:46] we saw 1,476 building permits,

[1:25:49] generating 600 just over $600,000 in, in revenues

[1:25:54] this year we're projecting 470,320 do $25 in revenues.

[1:26:00] We are requesting a budget of 615,000 thousand $936.

[1:26:05] The permit revenue estimated increased in FY 27

[1:26:08] by about $135,000.

[1:26:12] The budget does include one full-time building inspector

[1:26:15] to support inspection and enforcement demands.

[1:26:18] And we have one capital project, a new 1500

[1:26:22] for the new building Inspector

[1:26:27] Chevy Pickup truck.

[1:26:28] Or similar for $60,000 that would be funded

[1:26:30] through our capital reserve.

[1:26:32] This is a quick snapshot of our building permit history,

[1:26:35] which, you know, obviously requires a little explanation.

[1:26:39] If you look over at the permit column, you see it's sort

[1:26:42] of stagnant or even goes down a little bit.

[1:26:44] But the complexity

[1:26:45] and the extent

[1:26:48] of those permits are significantly more than they have been

[1:26:51] in the past, which is why it generates the higher,

[1:26:53] higher permit revenues.

[1:26:59] With that, I will open it up

[1:27:00] to any specific questions the council may have

[1:27:03] on the line items within the budget

[1:27:07] Questions?

[1:27:09] No, just saying thank you

[1:27:10] for adding a full-time voting Inspector

[1:27:15] Council.

[1:27:16] Haley, Eileen.

[1:27:18] Yeah, so I do have a question on this budget.

[1:27:21] I'm glad to see there's a building inspector in the

[1:27:23] budget right now.

[1:27:26] What's the turnaround time on if someone requests a permit

[1:27:29] or if they put in a code violation?

[1:27:32] Is, are we behind on that? Is it a, you know, a week or two?

[1:27:37] What's the average time from when a violation's reported

[1:27:42] to when someone goes out

[1:27:44] and the same for say, a building permit?

[1:27:47] What's the average turnaround time

[1:27:49] and with the, the one full-time building inspector,

[1:27:54] if there is kind of a lag, take care of that.

[1:27:58] Absolutely. So for permit review

[1:28:01] and turnaround, it depends on the, the type of permit

[1:28:04] and if it's a complete submission application.

[1:28:06] So generally for smaller permits

[1:28:08] with residential renovations, sheds, decks, things like

[1:28:13] that, it'll be a three

[1:28:14] to a five day turnaround depending on the workload.

[1:28:18] And then new construction, residential,

[1:28:20] commercial new construction

[1:28:22] or renovations do require additional internal

[1:28:25] department sign-offs.

[1:28:26] So that review does take a little longer

[1:28:27] because it has to touch a variety of hands.

[1:28:30] It can take anywhere from, I would say on average three

[1:28:35] to six weeks, depending on the level of review

[1:28:38] and how many departments are required.

[1:28:41] And then as far as code enforcement right now,

[1:28:44] I would say on average when we receive a claim complaint,

[1:28:47] we try our best to inspect

[1:28:49] or at least make contact on that complaint within that week.

[1:28:54] Sometimes it may spill out into that second week

[1:28:56] and then generally we're following up within that week span

[1:29:00] or the following week

[1:29:01] with any additional enforcement that's necessary.

[1:29:06] And the last question, I'm sorry, counselor Healy, I,

[1:29:09] if you could remind me what that was?

[1:29:12] I, I I think that was it. Okay. That helps.

[1:29:15] And I think what the additional building inspector will be

[1:29:19] even a quicker of a a, a turnaround.

[1:29:21] But I just wanna make sure that we weren't,

[1:29:23] you know, way behind.

[1:29:26] And I think you answered my questions. Thank you.

[1:29:29] You're welcome. And if I can elaborate kind of on

[1:29:32] that additional inspector, the way that I see this, kind of,

[1:29:35] the goal would be to bring on somebody who's expertise in

[1:29:38] that third trade and then kind of allowing the inspectors

[1:29:43] to focus on in inspectional services heavily

[1:29:46] and some plan review and permitting process

[1:29:48] and code enforcement allowing the code enforcement director

[1:29:51] to heavily focus on code enforcement as well as plan review.

[1:29:55] And then also

[1:29:56] that third inspector offer those additional services

[1:29:59] during our busiest times when the demand is at its peak.

[1:30:04] It's just to further elaborate.

[1:30:06] So presently we are one building inspector down temporarily.

[1:30:10] So Carrie's been pretty much

[1:30:11] holding down the fort right now.

[1:30:13] We are, have a contract service that we have in right now,

[1:30:18] a few days, a few hours during the week they come in

[1:30:21] and they assist in, in specifically just inspections.

[1:30:24] We're looking at bringing, bringing on another individual

[1:30:26] part-time, a veteran who will be assisting

[1:30:31] with the plan review process again part-time

[1:30:34] and will help us onboard the new individual.

[1:30:37] So that'll be great. We'll have some of

[1:30:38] that institutional knowledge

[1:30:39] to help onboard the, the new position.

[1:30:41] And then we do have embedded in this a a $10,000 line item

[1:30:45] for a building inspection services,

[1:30:48] which could be either something during a peak time

[1:30:51] or very specialized,

[1:30:52] but there's a dollar for dollar offsetting revenue

[1:30:55] in the budget for that as well.

[1:30:58] Thank you. Council

[1:30:59] Web, This is a totally random thought

[1:31:02] so I apologize for it.

[1:31:04] But with, at least with the fire inspectors,

[1:31:07] when they go out, they have the emergency

[1:31:10] board on their radios.

[1:31:12] Do your inspectors when they go out there, have any way

[1:31:15] to do a emergency alert if they find

[1:31:20] themselves because they're by themselves,

[1:31:22] if they find themselves in a hostile situation?

[1:31:26] Nothing beyond just our cell phone at this point time.

[1:31:29] Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if there's any sort

[1:31:31] of technology out there in how expensive, but it might be.

[1:31:35] But it might be a good idea

[1:31:36] because it's pretty obvious when you grab a cell phone

[1:31:40] versus when you can quietly hit

[1:31:43] just a emergency alert button, at least for the fire side

[1:31:47] or a police side on a radio

[1:31:50] or being able to just, you know, reach into a pocketbook

[1:31:53] or reach on your hip or wherever.

[1:31:55] Just, just like we have here in town hall,

[1:31:59] the emergency work buttons for lockdown.

[1:32:05] And again, this is a random idea,

[1:32:06] but I think it might be worthwhile to look into.

[1:32:13] Certainly. Excellent. Okay.

[1:32:17] Looks like there's no other questions.

[1:32:19] No other questions. Madam Chair.

[1:32:21] I would like to move the figure

[1:32:22] $615,936

[1:32:27] for the Code Enforcement Activity Center.

[1:32:30] All right. We motion a second on the motion.

[1:32:32] Council mills? Yes. Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase?

[1:32:35] Yes. Councilor Foot? Yes. Councilor Healy?

[1:32:38] Yes. And Chair Votes? Yes. Motion passes. Six zero.

[1:32:41] Thank you. Thank you

[1:32:43] To it.

[1:32:46] Or come back. Yeah. Thank you.

[1:32:53] Moving on to recreation page 280 in the

[1:32:57] council's budget books.

[1:32:58] I'm gonna invite Kim Walsh,

[1:32:59] our Director of Parks and Recreation.

[1:33:01] Good evening. And

[1:33:02] It's truly the veteran of the department.

[1:33:04] Yes. Six years Recreation.

[1:33:10] Kim's crew and team coordinate with 10

[1:33:13] over 10 sports organizations.

[1:33:16] They sponsor over a hundred events and programs annually.

[1:33:21] The budget is presented with a projected revenue

[1:33:23] of $150,772.

[1:33:27] We are requesting a budget of $797,494.

[1:33:32] The budget includes all leagues, programs, events

[1:33:36] that were fully operative in 26, continuing into 27.

[1:33:40] Revenues are based on service fees and trust income.

[1:33:44] The summer concerts and fireworks.

[1:33:46] Two of the largest items within the budget are fully

[1:33:48] supported in F FY 27.

[1:33:51] Many of the expenditure items have offsetting revenues such

[1:33:55] as concessions and program fees.

[1:34:00] With that, I would open up

[1:34:01] to any specific questions in recreation

[1:34:04] council may have. Council.

[1:34:06] Thank You Madam Michelle, senior programs,

[1:34:09] are there any, I know last year the senior trips were kind

[1:34:13] of dwindled down a little bit.

[1:34:14] Is there any plans for senior field trips this year?

[1:34:17] So as I state every year for the past

[1:34:20] four years since COVID, we have been doing our best

[1:34:24] to bring senior trips back on board.

[1:34:27] We are still looking at

[1:34:30] alternatives, smaller buses.

[1:34:33] We've had Melinda, who works in our office,

[1:34:36] I believe had worked on

[1:34:39] and put out four different senior trips

[1:34:42] and we had eight signups.

[1:34:44] So two fund a trip to be able to at least break even.

[1:34:49] We need 40 participants.

[1:34:52] But unfortunately with the cost of the bus, the cost

[1:34:55] of everything, it's running about anywhere from 90

[1:34:59] to $125 for these seniors.

[1:35:01] And it's just not affordable for them.

[1:35:03] So right now I'm really hoping we can do something a little

[1:35:07] more local and looking at, you know, we, we'd like

[1:35:11] to have a van with a driver where maybe we could do a 15

[1:35:15] to 20 passenger van or smaller bus.

[1:35:20] I know that there, there are the seniors

[1:35:22] that really want to do it.

[1:35:23] It's just, it's just not affordable for most of them.

[1:35:27] So we're doing our best and,

[1:35:28] and really hoping that we'll get at least one

[1:35:30] or two on board for this fiscal year.

[1:35:33] FY 27 I should say.

[1:35:35] And then any update on the disc? Golf?

[1:35:41] We do not have an update.

[1:35:43] You had made me, made the introduction

[1:35:46] and I haven't heard anything since.

[1:35:48] Okay. From the, the folks that were interested,

[1:35:51] we're still open to the idea.

[1:35:52] I think. I think the hill over at AC

[1:35:56] Alexander Car Park would be phenomenal.

[1:35:59] It's not a lot of work and expense.

[1:36:02] And if you do have any conversations with the folks

[1:36:06] that have reached out to you, we're more than welcome

[1:36:07] to revisit that. Take

[1:36:09] Care of it tomorrow.

[1:36:11] Excellent. Are you gonna play?

[1:36:14] I don't know anything about it.

[1:36:16] I used take regular golf my first time last week

[1:36:18] And that was a very good, I'm very good.

[1:36:19] I don't think you'll see me out there, but

[1:36:22] Council, thank You.

[1:36:23] Just a question on the Elder Way programs,

[1:36:26] have we ever done a, a community survey tool at what some

[1:36:31] of our senior citizens would be looking for

[1:36:34] as far as recreation?

[1:36:36] Because you, I, I get the thought with

[1:36:39] Councilor foot's questions.

[1:36:42] When you said that you only had about eight

[1:36:43] signups for these trips.

[1:36:45] Correct. And that might not be

[1:36:48] what people are looking for anymore.

[1:36:51] Do we actually know what people want for recreation?

[1:36:55] I think when you're talking recreation

[1:36:57] and you're talking the senior bus trips,

[1:36:58] that's more of an activity.

[1:37:00] Right. We have a lot of communication.

[1:37:02] We have a lot of seniors that come in.

[1:37:04] I mean, they're regulars. They're five days a week.

[1:37:08] They're very vocal. They do come into the office

[1:37:11] and these are the folks that have taken the senior

[1:37:14] trips every year.

[1:37:16] Yeah. Prior to, to myself coming on board.

[1:37:19] And they beg the same people come in, they want these trips.

[1:37:22] We do lobster trips, we do boat, you know Right.

[1:37:25] Destination to a boat, trip Lake, Winni Pasa.

[1:37:29] And they, they say they're interested and,

[1:37:32] and I just feel like the money is

[1:37:35] so tight at this point in time that

[1:37:39] they just can't afford it.

[1:37:42] We could certainly put out a survey,

[1:37:44] but most of the seniors that are interested

[1:37:47] and then back out or don't have the money, are the ones

[1:37:50] that we're seeing every day.

[1:37:51] Yeah. So, and we really would like it.

[1:37:54] I mean these, these, these folks that come into the,

[1:37:57] to vets hall and to the gym and that we correspond with.

[1:38:01] I mean, it's, it's their life. It's their social life.

[1:38:05] We see them every day. Yeah.

[1:38:07] We know the ins and outs of their families.

[1:38:09] So we really, really hope

[1:38:10] that we can get something up and running for them.

[1:38:13] You think we're getting to the point again, I'm thinking

[1:38:16] of several years from now because of the, of the budget.

[1:38:21] Are we getting to the point where we need a senior center?

[1:38:26] That really is a great question.

[1:38:29] I think that the seniors of our community would love that

[1:38:34] we have, as far as as the job that I have to do.

[1:38:38] We have the senior portion

[1:38:42] for recreation.

[1:38:44] We I see a need more for and we could make it multipurpose.

[1:38:48] Yeah. But we need, we need, especially

[1:38:51] with the New England Sports Center shutting

[1:38:53] down, we need a facility.

[1:38:54] We need a ba, indoor basketball, soccer, you know,

[1:38:59] something that may be down the road, you know,

[1:39:02] wishlist Yeah.

[1:39:03] Is to, is to combine the two.

[1:39:06] And I, I do, I do think that, that people ask for it.

[1:39:11] The Mary Gar Center does a phenomenal job.

[1:39:13] They have so many incredible programs for the seniors.

[1:39:16] So they do supplement for

[1:39:18] the things that we're not able to do.

[1:39:20] But I don't think you'd see the seniors turning

[1:39:22] down a senior center.

[1:39:24] So maybe down the road, something we can look at.

[1:39:32] Councilor Haley,

[1:39:37] I have no questions.

[1:39:38] Alright. And mine got asked again, so. Okay. Thank you

[1:39:42] Madam Chair.

[1:39:43] Seeing no further questions, I'd like

[1:39:44] to move the figure

[1:39:45] $797,494

[1:39:50] for the Recreation Activity Center.

[1:39:53] I'll second that. Alright. On the motion.

[1:39:55] Council mills? Yes. Councillor Webb. Yes. Councillor Chase.

[1:39:59] Yes. Councilor Foote. Yes. Councillor Haley.

[1:40:02] Yes. And chair votes? Yes. Motion passes.

[1:40:05] Thank you. I have question. Oh, sorry.

[1:40:07] People answer. And is there any formalized pickleball

[1:40:10] league in town, like through the recreation department?

[1:40:13] So we have, we have a private rental on Mondays.

[1:40:16] A group that has been in for a year and a half.

[1:40:19] We now have a program through St.

[1:40:22] Thomas' Churches gym, gym

[1:40:25] that we've run several nights in during the day

[1:40:29] and have built that up.

[1:40:30] So we do have indoor pickleball for,

[1:40:34] and then it's not just seniors anymore,

[1:40:36] it's all age groups now that are really just

[1:40:38] Someone asked me anybody.

[1:40:39] So can they just reach out to you to get more information on

[1:40:40] and you can Those leagues

[1:40:41] They registered through our,

[1:40:43] through the recreation office.

[1:40:45] Okay. And we make arrangements with, with St.

[1:40:47] Thomas to set up those times

[1:40:48] and rental fees and, and whatnot. Okay.

[1:40:51] Thank you. Moving

[1:40:56] on to the parks department,

[1:40:58] page 2 93 in the council budget books,

[1:41:02] 132 acres of parks maintained by, by Kim and her team.

[1:41:06] Nine multi-purpose fields. Eight baseball, softball fields.

[1:41:12] Dairy is proud to have a beach, a splash pad.

[1:41:15] Two basketball courts, five tennis courts,

[1:41:18] two pickleball courts, three playgrounds,

[1:41:20] the dog park and the skate park.

[1:41:23] We are projecting revenues at $99,967.

[1:41:28] We are requesting a budget of $1,173,072.

[1:41:33] Revenues are primarily from the use

[1:41:35] of the Alexander Car Trust.

[1:41:36] $84,000 of, of those revenues costs

[1:41:41] include electricity for field lighting and operations

[1:41:43] and field maintenance expense categories.

[1:41:47] Again, personnel, field maintenance and related supplies.

[1:41:50] We do have two requests for capital items.

[1:41:53] The first is a new field pro groomer

[1:41:57] for $45,000 that's funded through the Capital Reserve.

[1:42:03] It's, it really will dramatically improve our ability

[1:42:07] to maintain the, the ball fields as well as

[1:42:11] in consideration of the better manpower use,

[1:42:15] more efficient use of manpower.

[1:42:17] We're also looking to replace vehicle 6 34.

[1:42:20] That's a 2 5 20 15, 2500 pickup truck with a plow.

[1:42:24] $65,000 funded through our capital reserve account.

[1:42:29] And one thing we wanna just kind of touch on really quickly,

[1:42:33] 'cause it's been mentioned in, in budgets past in 2019,

[1:42:38] there was quite an extensive conversation

[1:42:41] with regard to recreation.

[1:42:43] There was a, a bond, the balance

[1:42:46] of which is just about a million dollars right now.

[1:42:49] We are looking and investigating with, with, with Kim and,

[1:42:53] and her team on how to best allocate that the,

[1:42:56] those remaining funds.

[1:42:58] One of the, the bigger projects

[1:43:00] that we looked at over the summer is the ability to get a,

[1:43:05] a code compliant stair access up to the skate park.

[1:43:08] We bid that out. It was, it was a $70,000 project.

[1:43:13] We were looking at different types of security

[1:43:15] and lighting upgrades at both Hood and Alexander Carr.

[1:43:18] We think those are priority

[1:43:19] before we started doing any major investments at,

[1:43:22] at those facilities.

[1:43:24] The Alexander car tennis courts need some work.

[1:43:28] We're estimating that about $65,000, the Hood Park

[1:43:33] Street Hockey Court resurfacing as well

[1:43:35] as the Hood Basketball court and the hood Tennis

[1:43:38] and pickleball court, all resurfacing projects.

[1:43:41] Other things that we are looking at

[1:43:43] that Kim's been doing a little bit

[1:43:45] of research on is some other improvements to Hood Park.

[1:43:49] Maybe an, an ancillary misting pad.

[1:43:52] Not not quite a all out splash pad,

[1:43:54] but something that would work in conjunction

[1:43:56] with an enhanced playground facilities.

[1:44:00] We do need to put some money into the building over there,

[1:44:02] do some renovations, kind of bring

[1:44:04] that facility back to life.

[1:44:05] So we're gonna put all of that together

[1:44:06] and come back to the council with

[1:44:09] technically repurposing some of those funds for some

[1:44:11] of these projects and get some

[1:44:13] input from the council as well.

[1:44:19] With that, I would open up

[1:44:20] to the council any specific questions within the line items

[1:44:22] of the Budget Council.

[1:44:24] Thank you Madam Chair. In regards to Hood Park,

[1:44:27] I know no fault of anyone here,

[1:44:29] but Hood Park revitalization has con fallen through

[1:44:32] to the victim of the times and the, you know, the economy

[1:44:34] and whatnot and just a lack of interest in people,

[1:44:38] contractors wanting to do it.

[1:44:40] Do we know, has any of that changed currently?

[1:44:43] Like is that an option that we can re-explore to try to

[1:44:47] revitalize that and, and maybe put out new bids

[1:44:50] and see if anyone has

[1:44:52] Slow down enough?

[1:44:53] So I think I, I think initially when Mike had put out the

[1:44:57] Hood Park bid, it was a very large,

[1:45:00] it encompasses encompassed the entire park

[1:45:04] and many components where we did not get any bids on that.

[1:45:08] Since then, I think we've looking at as,

[1:45:11] as Tom had spelled out in, in one of the pages that

[1:45:15] we're looking at, okay, let's, let's piecemeal.

[1:45:19] And we do, we have to those, all those courts,

[1:45:21] whether it's AC or the Hood Park courts

[1:45:24] are used tremendously.

[1:45:27] I mean, if you go by there any night they're used.

[1:45:29] So that's a priority.

[1:45:31] But as far as what you're asking,

[1:45:34] we were thinking about trying to narrow down, okay,

[1:45:36] what could we do to show the community

[1:45:41] that we're making the efforts on?

[1:45:43] And maybe it's little by little, maybe it's year by year,

[1:45:46] but we had thought about, you know,

[1:45:49] upgrading the playground equipment

[1:45:51] and then having sort of in conjunction with that,

[1:45:54] a misting pad and, and as, as far as a large splash pad

[1:45:58] and not being a full destination.

[1:46:00] And this is really just my opinion and what I think we need

[1:46:03] and what we can, can, can really host over there is,

[1:46:07] is the misting pad would be with the playground

[1:46:09] and kids run through it as opposed to our large, you know,

[1:46:13] don wall splash pad.

[1:46:14] So I think for us, if we could

[1:46:19] kind of hone in on, on a few of those adjustments and,

[1:46:24] and put out to bid maybe the playground, a misting pad,

[1:46:27] I think that would be something

[1:46:28] that the community would see.

[1:46:31] They would appreciate.

[1:46:34] We, you know, we have the older, we have adults

[1:46:38] and we have the older demographic as far as teenagers in,

[1:46:41] in high school using those basketball,

[1:46:44] basketball courts and whatnot.

[1:46:46] But where this would, this would kind of gear to the,

[1:46:49] the younger demographic to the families, to the young kids.

[1:46:54] And in that we need better security

[1:46:57] and lighting at Hood Park too.

[1:46:59] So to me those are like sort of the priorities

[1:47:02] that maybe we could look to go out, put together

[1:47:04] and go out to, to bid on those pieces. Right.

[1:47:07] Because I'm thinking with now with Abbott Court kind

[1:47:09] of underway and taking taken off,

[1:47:11] there might be some more viability

[1:47:13] to Hood Park utilization Sure.

[1:47:15] In conjunction with Abbott Court. More of a draw.

[1:47:18] Absolutely. And you know, within walking distance it might

[1:47:20] be that destination that we were looking for initially

[1:47:22] that kind of fell to the wayside.

[1:47:24] So I think, you know, I think

[1:47:26] that's why I think now is a good opportunity to,

[1:47:28] to re re reexamine that overall.

[1:47:31] And you know, and little Steps is fine. Right.

[1:47:34] As long as we're doing something to like you,

[1:47:36] I No, we agree.

[1:47:37] We agree. Absolutely.

[1:47:38] 'cause I, those are one of the, I I get, I'm sure you do.

[1:47:41] Oh yeah. We get questions often.

[1:47:42] What are you doing with Hood Park?

[1:47:44] What's going on with Hood Park?

[1:47:45] And, and we had all that time put into it

[1:47:48] and that effort into the complete project and, and the RFP

[1:47:53] and then that went flat.

[1:47:54] So I think that's really our next steps. Yeah.

[1:47:58] And you know, just in my experience only here for six years,

[1:48:02] I feel like when the public sees efforts being

[1:48:04] made, that goes a long way.

[1:48:06] So I think that's where we would start.

[1:48:08] And I think in, in Tom's last bullet line, the presentation

[1:48:12] to, to council would be sort of to organize those items

[1:48:16] and show you where we're kind of looking at. Because

[1:48:19] In the most recent years, that's always been one

[1:48:20] of my priorities on the, the, when we do our goals,

[1:48:23] that's Hood Park is always,

[1:48:24] and I think now this again, just that needs potential

[1:48:27] for more liability right now to, to reexamine that.

[1:48:29] Right. And then park wise,

[1:48:33] projection wise, how's it looking

[1:48:35] for the summer help and all the

[1:48:37] Oh, we're looking great.

[1:48:38] We, we we're very, very blessed that we have returning

[1:48:44] what I call veterans.

[1:48:45] They could be 17 years old. We start hiring at 14.

[1:48:49] So on the recreation side, I mean we are,

[1:48:52] we blow away numbers for lifeguards.

[1:48:54] I mean we have a good, really good incentive program,

[1:48:57] which I definitely think helps to retain our lifeguards.

[1:49:02] We just like anything else across the board, years ago we,

[1:49:06] we changed our hourly rates to be competitive.

[1:49:09] I think that's made a big difference.

[1:49:11] But we are, you know, aside from maybe some

[1:49:15] reliable supervisors up at Dumbbell Park, I mean we're,

[1:49:19] we're, we're good with staff.

[1:49:21] Still looking for some, some park seasonal crew.

[1:49:24] They need to be 18 plus.

[1:49:26] But I still think we're gonna,

[1:49:27] we're gonna be in a good position for the summer for sure.

[1:49:30] Great. Thank you. Yeah. Sounds

[1:49:33] What, I'm gonna move on to the ball fields.

[1:49:38] Okay. I had seen some plans for improvements at Vets Fields.

[1:49:44] Is what's happening with that?

[1:49:46] Is that, that moving forward? Or

[1:49:48] So are you improvements,

[1:49:49] are you referring to the parking lot?

[1:49:51] The parking lot. They were gonna change the configuration

[1:49:54] of the field to add some parking

[1:49:55] and make it a better field collapse.

[1:49:58] The, the elk field was so big

[1:49:59] that they were gonna shrink it up to,

[1:50:01] to make it a more viable field and add some parking to it.

[1:50:04] So the, the parking portion is still,

[1:50:07] we have not moved forward on, on that part of the project.

[1:50:11] The field itself is a youth only field.

[1:50:14] I'm gonna say maybe two, three years ago.

[1:50:16] We had, actually,

[1:50:18] before I started there was a men's league out there.

[1:50:21] We've really sort of want

[1:50:25] to deter any adults from using that field

[1:50:27] because the residents that are very close by

[1:50:30] or behind the out field.

[1:50:32] So we did make changes to that vet's field years ago.

[1:50:36] Made it smaller. It's specifically for youth softball

[1:50:40] and we have new batting cages that were put in.

[1:50:45] We're looking right now, we should be putting in

[1:50:50] electrical to the, to the scoreboard for the softball side.

[1:50:54] We redid both vets in O'Hara.

[1:50:58] We have all new LED lighting, which should be cutting a lot

[1:51:02] of costs on our electricity bills.

[1:51:05] And the plan is still to increase the parking,

[1:51:09] the parking's very limited there.

[1:51:12] So that, I would say that's probably our next step

[1:51:15] with regards to projects out at Vets Field.

[1:51:18] Okay. And the other two, kind of my

[1:51:21] pet projects being a little league veteran is now

[1:51:26] that the SAU is moving up into the former DER Village

[1:51:28] school, is there any plans to coordinate trying

[1:51:31] to make Smith and Bz tech a little more?

[1:51:34] 'cause they're kind of the redheaded step children

[1:51:36] ball fields make them a little more appealing and,

[1:51:40] and accessible than what they are now.

[1:51:43] So I have a twofold answer.

[1:51:47] So when we maintain those fields

[1:51:51] for baseball, they don't use them as frequently

[1:51:55] as the other fields.

[1:51:57] So it makes it harder to maintain.

[1:51:59] So if they're not on the fields, the weeds are growing in,

[1:52:03] it makes it that much more difficult when it doesn't get the

[1:52:06] use that the other fields get.

[1:52:07] With that being said, the ball field maintainer

[1:52:11] that is in the budget would be, pardon the pun, a complete

[1:52:15] game changer for my parts division.

[1:52:18] We would absolutely be able to maintain all the fields

[1:52:22] at a very high level.

[1:52:24] It's very time consuming.

[1:52:26] It's a labor intensive, a lot of work for the crew.

[1:52:30] And I think those fields would definitely get more inten

[1:52:32] attention with the equipment, the new piece of equipment.

[1:52:35] So a thought that I had is now that it's not being used

[1:52:39] as an elementary school, has there been given any thought as

[1:52:43] to moving them further out

[1:52:45] of the swamp up towards the forefront of the property so

[1:52:48] that they're, you know, more visible,

[1:52:50] more accessible than where they are now?

[1:52:53] 'cause you don't have to worry about the,

[1:52:54] the playground component of it now that it's not a school.

[1:52:56] It that's an e excellent point.

[1:52:59] I don't believe we've even visited that.

[1:53:02] I mean, I, from what I understand, the, we didn't know

[1:53:06] what the use of the Dairy Village school was gonna be.

[1:53:09] So conversations haven't even gotten that far.

[1:53:12] Now that we know that they are gonna be moving in there,

[1:53:14] we didn't even know if we were gonna have these fields.

[1:53:16] We thought depending on who,

[1:53:18] who was moving into the facility, we were nervous

[1:53:20] that we were gonna lose those fields altogether.

[1:53:22] Definitely something to consider to keep them for, you know,

[1:53:26] I don't know what that would cost

[1:53:28] or what that work would, you know, would be,

[1:53:31] but it's certainly something we can look at

[1:53:33] to pull 'em away from the, the woods and the wetlands Yeah.

[1:53:36] And, and whatnot for sure.

[1:53:38] Okay. Thank you. Council mill.

[1:53:42] Yes. I have a, a just a couple small question actually.

[1:53:46] It's about community participation in,

[1:53:48] in parks and recreation.

[1:53:50] Do you still have, do we still have the program as far

[1:53:54] as cul-de-sacs and little pocket parks

[1:53:56] that are all over the town?

[1:53:58] Do we have the, the program that homeowners can call up

[1:54:03] and ask for bark mulch in the spring

[1:54:07] and they, they, they will maintain that cul-de-sac

[1:54:10] and they used to give them a,

[1:54:13] a sign saying this property being maintained

[1:54:16] by such and such family.

[1:54:17] Do we still have that program?

[1:54:19] So to my knowledge, since I've been here for six years,

[1:54:21] I'm not even aware of that program.

[1:54:23] Wow. So I guess my answer is no.

[1:54:25] So my 30-year-old sign

[1:54:27] and my cul-de-sac is not gonna get replaced.

[1:54:31] So there, they're actually, so Clint, that's

[1:54:34] what I was just looking over my shoulder here.

[1:54:35] He does get calls from time to time of homeowners or,

[1:54:39] or groups and particularly in cul-de-sacs that want

[1:54:42] to do some improvements.

[1:54:43] Right. Those can be fine and great

[1:54:46] and it's as long as they're continually maintained.

[1:54:50] But obviously that's where we store snow,

[1:54:52] that's where the drainage goes.

[1:54:54] So it's, it's something that we have to look at individually

[1:54:58] to see what they wanna do and how we wanna support it.

[1:55:01] I'll, I'll invite you down to the Bonnie Ling cul-de-sac

[1:55:04] that I've maintained for 37 years now.

[1:55:06] And I have, I have an original old cement bench

[1:55:09] that Don ball dropped off at my house

[1:55:12] 'cause he'd never had a question like that.

[1:55:15] He said, seriously, I'll come down and look at it.

[1:55:17] And he dropped off and I've maintained it there for 37 years

[1:55:21] and my neighbors finally said, by the way,

[1:55:23] we can't read your sign anymore. Said,

[1:55:25] Sounds to me we might need to make a time,

[1:55:27] maybe a trip tomorrow, maybe

[1:55:28] It's time to get this program going.

[1:55:32] Okay. There used to be one at, at ed cone's house in

[1:55:36] that cul-de-sac there.

[1:55:38] Ed Blanche Carone maintained there.

[1:55:40] So maybe it's something we could start up again.

[1:55:43] A beautify dairy.

[1:55:46] Awesome, Thank you.

[1:55:48] This is for the town administrator on the

[1:55:50] initial recreation bond.

[1:55:52] I know it came with the structured timeline.

[1:55:54] So you said, I think Tom said there's a million

[1:55:55] dollars roughly in there.

[1:55:57] How, how does that look right now? So

[1:56:00] At the top of the slide

[1:56:02] is just a little bit over $1 million.

[1:56:05] It's 986,000 plus a hundred thousand dollars of interest.

[1:56:09] One piece we would have to examine on the net

[1:56:12] that's available to us

[1:56:13] because anytime that you, there's such an old or

[1:56:15] or bond that we have, you have potential

[1:56:18] for arbitrage penalties if you don't spend it

[1:56:21] within a certain amount of time.

[1:56:22] So I, I look to Mark when we get back around

[1:56:25] to talking about what we can afford,

[1:56:28] but again, the arbitrage penalty probably is, you know,

[1:56:31] 50,000, 75,000 if it even, you know,

[1:56:33] still exists at that level.

[1:56:34] But bottom line, for purposes of what you were bringing up,

[1:56:40] pursuant to our procedures here,

[1:56:42] we should do a repurposing hearing

[1:56:45] and have you take a formal vote on the specific items

[1:56:48] that would be included within the repurpose bond proceeds.

[1:56:52] Right. And that would give them direction to move forward

[1:56:54] with the bidding and, and whatnot

[1:56:55] of the specific projects that you've endorsed.

[1:56:58] Okay. Yeah. 'cause I, I'm pretty confident

[1:57:00] that the timeline is gone by the wayside.

[1:57:03] The initial, the initial plan anyways. Right.

[1:57:06] Okay. Yep. Councilor Healey, do you have anything?

[1:57:14] I don't have anything. I did just do a Google image

[1:57:17] of the cul-de-sac on Bonnie Lane.

[1:57:19] It looks pretty nice with the bench and everything.

[1:57:21] No, No questions.

[1:57:26] So no further questions Matt?

[1:57:27] Sorry, hold on one second. Before do that,

[1:57:29] I just have a quick question on that number.

[1:57:31] On the PowerPoint. I think it said $1,173,072

[1:57:37] and our book says

[1:57:38] one thousand one hundred one million one hundred seventy two thousand thirty nine dollars.

[1:57:42] So 30 minimum amount. But is the 39 30 accurate 1 39

[1:57:45] Is the amount you wanna go with? Yep.

[1:57:47] Okay. Now, now you can go for it.

[1:57:49] Well thank you for correcting that number for me madam.

[1:57:51] Sure. I moved the figure

[1:57:53] $1,173,039

[1:57:58] for the Parks Department activity center.

[1:58:01] I'll second that. Alright, on the motion.

[1:58:03] Councilor Mills? Yes. Councilor Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase?

[1:58:07] Yes. Councilor Foote? Yes. Councillor Healy.

[1:58:11] Yes. And Chair votes? Yes. Motion passes. Six zero.

[1:58:14] Thank you so much for your time this evening. Thank you.

[1:58:22] The Health Division. Page three 10 in

[1:58:25] the council budget books.

[1:58:26] I'll invite Carrie Owen, our director of Code

[1:58:31] and building who also oversees the health division along

[1:58:34] with Courtney Bogart, who is our health officer.

[1:58:37] It's a fairly straightforward budget.

[1:58:41] Courtney inspects some 214 establishments.

[1:58:45] The revenues are projected at $48,950.

[1:58:49] The budget requested is $159,698

[1:58:54] and that encompasses, encompasses primarily personnel costs,

[1:58:57] the mosquito control program at $40,000.

[1:59:02] So those are the primary costs within that division.

[1:59:04] And if there's any specific questions on the line

[1:59:06] items, we'd be happy to help.

[1:59:10] Questions I have one just we do have,

[1:59:14] we do now have a full-time food inspector then

[1:59:18] for the health department, for all the restaurants.

[1:59:20] The health officer Courtney Bogart is our fulltime nurse.

[1:59:22] Okay, thank you. Now is that to dairy standards?

[1:59:26] Is it to New Hampshire State standards?

[1:59:29] Yes. Yeah.

[1:59:31] Okay. So it's in court with this the town.

[1:59:34] Yes. Yes.

[1:59:35] Thank you. Awesome.

[1:59:38] Councilor Haley, do you have any questions?

[1:59:42] No questions. Okay.

[1:59:47] So no questions Madam Chair.

[1:59:48] I'd like to move the figure $159,698

[1:59:53] for the Health Department Activity

[1:59:56] Center. I'll second that.

[1:59:59] Okay. On the motion. Council Mills? Yes. Councilor Webb?

[2:00:02] Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Foot?

[2:00:05] Yes. Councillor Healy?

[2:00:06] Yes. And Chair votes? Yes. Motion passes. Six zero.

[2:00:09] Thank you. Thank you.

[2:00:10] I'll just note, I'm glad that we have the full-time.

[2:00:13] Yes. As am I for sure. Big off read.

[2:00:20] Moving on to the Wastewater division budget,

[2:00:22] that's page 3 46 in the council budget books.

[2:00:24] I'm gonna invite our deputy director, mark LaRue,

[2:00:27] who has direct supervision over the

[2:00:29] water and wastewater divisions.

[2:00:31] Good evening. Evening

[2:00:34] Wastewater.

[2:00:35] 66.3 miles

[2:00:36] of sewer mains maintained 3,339 sewer connections.

[2:00:41] They maintain 10 lift stations throughout the system.

[2:00:44] Expenditures equal revenues at

[2:00:47] $10,340,334.

[2:00:51] Revenues are primarily generated

[2:00:53] through usage and base charges.

[2:00:55] Again, enterprise fund, not supported by taxes,

[2:00:59] but through the, the wastewater users

[2:01:03] wastewater in town.

[2:01:05] I'm sorry, the FY 27 approved wastewater accessibility fee.

[2:01:08] That's the connection fee for new

[2:01:10] or expanding users on the town.

[2:01:12] Sewer system is charged a one time fee of $4

[2:01:15] and 48 cents per gallon per day,

[2:01:17] or $747 per residential bedroom.

[2:01:20] The council two years ago had approved a three

[2:01:23] year increase, step increase.

[2:01:26] So this is year three of that increase.

[2:01:29] We are proposing this budget with a usage rate adjustment

[2:01:34] to $4 and 25 cents per hundred cubic feet.

[2:01:37] That's up from $4 and 5 cents per hundred cubic feet.

[2:01:41] An adjusted out of town wastewater.

[2:01:44] London dairy customers would be paying a rate

[2:01:47] of $4 and 89 cents.

[2:01:48] That's up from $4 and 65 cents per hundred cubic feet.

[2:01:52] The base charges would be $50 per quarter.

[2:01:56] That's up from current $47 per quarter.

[2:01:59] And we are proposing the out of town London dairy users

[2:02:03] a base charge of $57 compared to their current rate of $54.

[2:02:09] The wastewater capital, the budget includes the Route

[2:02:12] 28 Ryans Hill sewer.

[2:02:14] It's just over $6.1 million.

[2:02:17] The engineering of

[2:02:18] that project is in the fiscal year 26 budget.

[2:02:21] We just finished a qualifications based selection process

[2:02:25] for an engineer to move forward with that design.

[2:02:30] That project will be funded through

[2:02:33] a combination of sources.

[2:02:35] We had a couple years ago now secured a congressionally

[2:02:41] directed spending EPA grant.

[2:02:42] It was for 80% of the project.

[2:02:45] 80% was a fixed number some three years ago.

[2:02:48] Those costs have since escalated,

[2:02:50] but that's 2.7 2,724,000 will be

[2:02:54] coming from that grant.

[2:02:57] Another 306,000 will be coming from

[2:03:00] the Economic Development Trust.

[2:03:01] That's an account that was set up by the Town council

[2:03:04] that is funded through the wheeling charges from the

[2:03:07] Southern Hampshire Regional Water Project.

[2:03:09] Every, every year

[2:03:11] that funds are transferred from those wheeling

[2:03:14] charges into this fund.

[2:03:16] For one of the designated purposes

[2:03:17] for which it was established is

[2:03:19] for the Ryan sale sewer project

[2:03:20] and the balance of that would be

[2:03:22] through a state revolving loan

[2:03:24] or a bond in the amount of 3.15 that would,

[2:03:27] those are all reflecting the construction costs.

[2:03:31] We have in this budget a $1.4 million upgrade

[2:03:36] to the wastewater effluent force main.

[2:03:37] It's about 1500 feet of, of Maine.

[2:03:40] It's a project we had actually included in the budget a

[2:03:43] couple years ago, cost escalations

[2:03:45] and just the complexity of the project

[2:03:49] resulted in it being way over budget.

[2:03:51] So we are back this year to secure the additional funding

[2:03:54] to move that project forward.

[2:03:56] That is funded through a, a combination of capital reserve

[2:04:00] and fund balance of 750,000

[2:04:02] with 650,000 coming from the, the rate payers.

[2:04:07] We are moving forward with the wastewater treatment,

[2:04:10] plant improvements, pre-engineering.

[2:04:11] That's the upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant.

[2:04:15] We had sort of been deferring that project

[2:04:17] until we secured our EPA discharge permit,

[2:04:21] which we did get over the last couple of months.

[2:04:23] It goes into effect actually this month.

[2:04:27] Fortunately, there are no significant changes,

[2:04:30] no treatment requirements.

[2:04:32] So we're ready to move forward with the final design of,

[2:04:35] of the upgrades to that facility.

[2:04:37] So we are in pre-engineering right now.

[2:04:40] We did secure a $100,000 loan

[2:04:43] with principal forgiveness from the state to advance

[2:04:46] that part of the project.

[2:04:49] Quick look at the rates as adjusted.

[2:04:51] Again, the FY 26 rates of 47

[2:04:54] and $54 base charges going up to 50

[2:04:57] and $57 respectively for our in town

[2:05:00] and out of town customers.

[2:05:01] And the rates $4 and 5 cents

[2:05:04] and 4 65 up to 4 25

[2:05:06] and 4 89 again respectively for our in town

[2:05:10] and out of town customers.

[2:05:12] The actual impacts on a quarterly bill

[2:05:16] for the average single family users, $6 and 86 cents.

[2:05:20] That's $2

[2:05:21] and 29 cents a month impact as a result of that

[2:05:25] requested adjustment.

[2:05:28] Just looking at where, where dairy would land in comparison,

[2:05:31] we look at our rates every year on where we are respective

[2:05:34] of our peer communities.

[2:05:37] With the increase as proposed.

[2:05:39] Average sewer bill will be about $524.

[2:05:43] As you can see that, that's favorable.

[2:05:45] It's about 24% less than the average of those,

[2:05:47] those peer communities of $692.

[2:05:50] So, so dairy's in the top four, well,

[2:05:53] I should say the bottom four as far

[2:05:56] as having the least expensive sewer rates.

[2:06:00] So with that, again,

[2:06:02] we will be having a more detailed conversation

[2:06:05] and public hearing at the council's May 5th meeting

[2:06:08] to go more in depth on the rates,

[2:06:11] but they are embedded in this particular budget.

[2:06:14] With that, we'll open up

[2:06:15] to any questions the council may have on specific line

[2:06:18] items, not qualified to

[2:06:22] Answer a question on waste water.

[2:06:24] Thank you. We

[2:06:27] Yep. Council.

[2:06:28] Thank you. Madam Chair on the lagoons.

[2:06:30] How are the lagoons looking? Are they in good shape?

[2:06:37] So over the last couple years we've done some assessments.

[2:06:40] We are being told that the liners, which again,

[2:06:44] there are three ponds out there.

[2:06:47] We had replaced one of the liners in the ponds, some,

[2:06:51] some several years ago that has already begun

[2:06:54] to deteriorate that.

[2:06:55] So was a high densely polyethylene HEP liner compared

[2:06:59] to a hypo on liner, which are in the other two.

[2:07:01] But the other two are also at their useful life.

[2:07:04] So it's sort of a process.

[2:07:08] In order to replace the liner, you have

[2:07:10] to remove the air system.

[2:07:12] In order to remove the air system,

[2:07:13] you have to remove the sludge.

[2:07:14] In order to do all of that, you have

[2:07:16] to take the lagoon offline and put the other lagoon online.

[2:07:18] So it's sort of a domino effect. But we, we have time.

[2:07:22] We figure this is going to be a multi-year process.

[2:07:26] So we haven't had any issues

[2:07:28] with the other two, two liners yet.

[2:07:30] So we're being proactive.

[2:07:32] So I guess I'm getting, so is that something

[2:07:33] that would be under the capital improvement

[2:07:35] or is there grants for that, something that, does

[2:07:37] that fall under any kind of grant at all,

[2:07:38] or is that just gonna be on us to

[2:07:41] put in the capital improvement?

[2:07:42] So we, we will continue to look at funding sources

[2:07:45] that congressionally directed spending seems to be,

[2:07:47] have res seems to have been resurrected recently.

[2:07:49] So that is is one option.

[2:07:53] State grants with PR principal forgiveness, 20

[2:07:58] to 30% reimbursement from the state seems

[2:08:01] to be the going rate right now.

[2:08:03] So as far as I know, those are the two potential sources of,

[2:08:07] of offsetting revenues for those projects.

[2:08:10] So operationally this, we should, we're not

[2:08:14] anticipating any kind of problems currently with

[2:08:17] the way things are right now. Our,

[2:08:19] Our flows are less than half

[2:08:22] of the treatment capacity right now, so we're in good shape.

[2:08:25] We're not actually worried about the treatment capacity

[2:08:29] of the treatment quality right now.

[2:08:31] So we're in good shape there.

[2:08:32] Thank you.

[2:08:37] Councillor Haley, do you have anything? Nothing. Okay.

[2:08:43] Madam Chair, I'd like

[2:08:44] to move the figure

[2:08:45] $10,340,334

[2:08:50] for the Wastewater Activity Center.

[2:08:53] Second. All right. Motion a second on the motion.

[2:08:57] Council mills? Yes. Council Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes.

[2:09:01] Councilor Foot? Yes. Councilor Healy?

[2:09:04] Yes, I vote yes as well.

[2:09:05] Motion passes, six zero, not least water.

[2:09:11] Moving on to the water division,

[2:09:13] page 3 72 in the council book, 4,520

[2:09:18] service connections within our water system.

[2:09:20] We have 90 miles of Maine.

[2:09:22] We've had some pretty significant

[2:09:24] expansion in the last few years.

[2:09:26] That's, that's up from 72 miles back in 2017.

[2:09:30] We have three community water systems,

[2:09:33] six booster pump stations,

[2:09:36] 700 municipal fire hydrants throughout the system.

[2:09:38] That's also part of the expansion.

[2:09:40] We're up from 614 hydrants back in 2014.

[2:09:44] So the system is, is growing

[2:09:46] our expenses equal revenues at

[2:09:48] $4,391,599.

[2:09:52] Similarly with water, we are looking at adjusting the rates

[2:09:57] with the in town rate at $3

[2:10:00] and 88 cents per 100 cubic feet from $3

[2:10:04] and 47 cents.

[2:10:05] With the out of town lending dairy user rate at $4

[2:10:08] and 45 cents from $3 and 99 cents.

[2:10:12] Base charge also at $36 up $34

[2:10:17] for the in town users and $41 up from 39 for our out

[2:10:21] of town users revenues include

[2:10:24] 398,356 in hydrant rental charges.

[2:10:28] That's a fee that we, the water department

[2:10:33] bills the town of dairy as well as the town of London Dairy

[2:10:36] for municipal fire protection

[2:10:37] that remains unchanged over the last couple of years.

[2:10:41] It also includes $271,000 in, in revenues

[2:10:45] and gross revenues from the Southern

[2:10:46] Hampshire regional water sales.

[2:10:47] And that's based on a current flow

[2:10:49] of about 557,000 gallons a day.

[2:10:52] Their current capacity is, is 1 million.

[2:10:55] What we seeing them do is pull closer

[2:10:58] to the million gallons a day in the,

[2:10:59] in the summer months when they need it, and then,

[2:11:02] and then drop to their minimum usage

[2:11:04] in the, in the winter months.

[2:11:06] So the, the revenues in average out to just a,

[2:11:10] a little over half a million gallons a day.

[2:11:15] The budget includes $300,000 in water main replacements.

[2:11:19] It's a also includes a $220,000 increase

[2:11:25] for the first loan payment for the

[2:11:26] Ranch Shepherd Hill Project.

[2:11:29] When the council approved the Rand Project two years ago,

[2:11:33] I believe it was, there was a resolution that was passed

[2:11:37] to offset the cost

[2:11:38] with a 41 cent per hundred cubic foot increase in the water rate.

[2:11:42] And that was reflected

[2:11:43] in the number that we just showed you.

[2:11:44] Again, we'll be coming back on May 5th for a public hearing

[2:11:48] and talk a little bit more in detail about that.

[2:11:51] It also includes the use

[2:11:52] of $46,000 in unrestricted water fund balance.

[2:11:57] Again, a quick look,

[2:11:58] we charge different rates based on the meter size,

[2:12:01] but for the average residential, you see it going from 34

[2:12:04] to $36 for in town

[2:12:06] and 39 to $41 a quarter for our out of town users.

[2:12:11] And the rates at 3 47 and 3 99 to 3 88

[2:12:15] and $4 and 45 cents for our in town

[2:12:18] and out of town users respectively.

[2:12:20] Again, we'll go into that more detail on May 5th.

[2:12:24] Looking at the rate impacts as presented, $9

[2:12:29] and 77 cents would be the impact on the average quarterly

[2:12:32] bill for the single family user.

[2:12:34] That's a little over $3 a month.

[2:12:38] And that, again, is, is based on the average.

[2:12:43] Average users. Again, looking at where dairy compares

[2:12:47] with its peer communities,

[2:12:49] average water bill would be about $439 a year.

[2:12:54] That compares 20% less than our peer communities at

[2:12:58] $551.

[2:13:00] So we're in the, again, in the top four here.

[2:13:03] And when you look at both the water rate

[2:13:05] and the sewer rates as adjusted

[2:13:07] dairy's annual charge would be about $963.

[2:13:12] That would put us in the top three

[2:13:14] of our peer communities in 24% less than the average

[2:13:18] of those other communities, which is $1,261.

[2:13:23] So we're still very favorable as far as our,

[2:13:25] and competitive as far as our water

[2:13:27] and sewer rates are concerned.

[2:13:29] With that, I turn it back to the council

[2:13:31] with any specific questions on the water budget.

[2:13:35] Council mills. So I take it that these figures still

[2:13:39] do not include the CHU system

[2:13:43] and East Area, or do they,

[2:13:46] So the east, That the Penant Chuck system

[2:13:48] that's owned by Nashua?

[2:13:50] Yes. So they pay the same in town rates.

[2:13:54] So we treat them as a single user, a single dairy user.

[2:13:57] So they pay the same rate as the dairy,

[2:14:00] dairy water customer does.

[2:14:03] Thank you. Council Web. I

[2:14:06] Had the same question, so I'm all set.

[2:14:07] Okay, great. Well then I'll have a follow up question

[2:14:11] is, is there, because this was years ago

[2:14:13] that Nashville bought this

[2:14:15] and back then there was an opportunity for dairy to buy it,

[2:14:20] purchase that system from them in the future.

[2:14:22] I take it, we've never really considered it is of no benefit

[2:14:25] to the town of Dairy.

[2:14:28] So in order to make that happen, we would have to pay the

[2:14:32] PUCs market rate and the Public Utilities Commission sets an

[2:14:35] assessment of, of the value.

[2:14:38] So in order for us to pay for that system as well

[2:14:41] as recover the operation

[2:14:43] and maintenance costs, it would actually cost more money

[2:14:48] to the users of, of that development.

[2:14:51] One of the things that Pench actually went through,

[2:14:54] they went through a big rate change.

[2:14:55] So they used to have, well they still have Pench East

[2:14:58] Utility and Pench Waterworks

[2:15:00] and their Pench East utility rates were significantly higher

[2:15:02] than Pench Waterworks.

[2:15:04] So they sort of equalized those rates

[2:15:06] that actually re resulted in a cost savings for the town,

[2:15:09] for the hydrant rental charges that they were charging us.

[2:15:13] So right now I think

[2:15:16] they're paying competitive rates.

[2:15:20] Still dairies are favorable,

[2:15:21] but if we were to add on the cost of purchasing that system,

[2:15:25] it would put those rates much

[2:15:27] higher than they currently are.

[2:15:29] Thank you.

[2:15:32] Councillor Healey, do you have anything?

[2:15:35] No questions. Me either.

[2:15:41] So no further questions.

[2:15:43] Madam Chair, I move the figure

[2:15:45] $4,391,599

[2:15:50] for the Water Activity Center.

[2:15:53] I'll second that. Okay. On the motion. Council Mills?

[2:15:57] Yes. Council Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Council Foot?

[2:16:01] Yes. Councilor Healy? Yes. And Chair votes? Yes.

[2:16:05] Motion passes. Six zero. Thank you. We did it. Council.

[2:16:10] Appreciate. Thank you. We aren't done. We forgot one.

[2:16:13] We forgot to move the, on page 17, the emergency management.

[2:16:17] We just need to vote that bottom line.

[2:16:22] I, I skipped it. I was thinking it was

[2:16:24] encompassed in the fire.

[2:16:28] I dunno if, would you like to make that motion?

[2:16:33] Council Mills?

[2:16:35] I'm getting to it. Page what?

[2:16:37] 1730

[2:16:40] Pages into my book.

[2:16:41] I'm on page five, eh? Yep.

[2:16:44] I'll give you a hint. It's 48,300.

[2:16:50] Yep, That's what I said. I moved the figure.

[2:16:53] $48,300 for emergency management.

[2:16:58] I'll second that. Alright. On the motion.

[2:17:01] Council mills? Yes. Council Webb? Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes.

[2:17:04] Councilor Foot? Yes. Councilor Healy. Yes. And chair votes?

[2:17:09] Yes. Motion passes. Six zero. Thank you everybody.

[2:17:12] We did it halfway there.

[2:17:16] So we will meet again on April 16th at 6:00 PM

[2:17:20] to do the executive and finance operations. Yes.

[2:17:25] I just have one comment.

[2:17:27] I wanna follow up to that comment

[2:17:28] that I made on the emergency work system

[2:17:31] for building inspectors.

[2:17:33] And the more I thought about that,

[2:17:35] I think it's probably something that important to consider,

[2:17:37] maybe even as part of this budget, as

[2:17:41] they're out in the field, they're by themselves to be want,

[2:17:45] some of them are women and they're at higher risk.

[2:17:48] And I think there has been a

[2:17:53] history of assaults in other communities with inspectors.

[2:17:58] So I think it would be a prudent idea

[2:18:01] to figure out some way we could protect them, at least

[2:18:03] with an emergency alert system.

[2:18:06] Or if there's better ideas out there,

[2:18:09] be welcome to those as well. Okay.

[2:18:11] That'll be something that I'll touch base with Carrie

[2:18:13] and Tom and see what some

[2:18:15] of those options would be in report back to the council.

[2:18:18] Thank you. Is a time for my favorite motion?

[2:18:22] I believe it is. I move to adjourn.

[2:18:25] Second. All right, I'll, I'll,

[2:18:27] no, it's, we're not all here.

[2:18:28] Yes. On the motion. Councilor Mills? Yes. Councilor Webb?

[2:18:31] Yes. Councilor Chase? Yes. Councilor Foote? Yes.

[2:18:34] Councilor Healy. Yes. And chair votes? Yes.

[2:18:37] We are adjourned. Have a good evening everyone.

Town Council Budget Workshop #1 - 4/9/2026

Agenda

Transcript