1
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:13,760
Well, everyone, it is 7:00 p.m. June
10th, 2026. As sufficient voters are

2
00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:17,600
present to open the meeting, the meeting
will come to order. In calling this

3
00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:22,120
special town meeting to order pursuant
to a warrant duly posted and returned,

4
00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:27,400
thank you all for attending. Let's take
a moment to rise if you are able and

5
00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,400
recite the pledge of allegiance.

6
00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:35,440
» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America,

7
00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:42,880
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with

8
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:46,240
liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you, everyone. Please be seated.

9
00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:50,920
If everyone could take a moment to
silence your phones, please. This

10
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:54,760
meeting is being recorded.
The moderator, Jared

11
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:59,640
McDonald-Borboe, is unable to attend
this evening's town meeting. Section 14

12
00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:04,480
of chapter 39 of the general laws
requires that in his absence, the first

13
00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:08,720
order of business is
the election by ballot of a temporary

14
00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:13,520
moderator. The temporary moderator will
have the same powers as and perform the

15
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:17,600
duties of a moderator.
The town clerk understands that Tim

16
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:22,200
Haley is willing and able to perform the
duties of the moderator tonight. For the

17
00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:26,240
election of the For the election, the
town meeting is required to conduct The

18
00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:30,720
person receiving the majority of votes
of those present and voting is declared

19
00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:35,680
the winner. Therefore, if there is only
one person's name in nomination, only

20
00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:39,760
one vote will be required to elect the
temporary moderator.

21
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:43,120
Do I have a nomination for Tim Haley to
act as temporary moderator for the

22
00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:46,840
purposes of this town meeting?
>> Yes.

23
00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:50,480
» I nominate Tim Haley to act as moderator
for the

24
00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:56,120
» Second.
>> Are there any other nominations?

25
00:01:54,200 --> 00:02:00,320
Hearing none, I I the nominations
closed, and I will ask for a vote to

26
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:06,320
confirm the nomination. Do I hear a
motion that the chairman of the Board of

27
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:10,800
Selectmen cast one ballot for Tim Haley?
>> So moved.

28
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:17,360
» Second?
Motion made and seconded. I will ask for

29
00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:21,280
a vote on the motion
that the chairman of the Board of

30
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,560
Selectmen cast one ballot.
All in favor?

31
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,560
» Aye.
>> Aye.

32
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,560
» All opposed?

33
00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:33,160
The chairman of the Board of Selectmen
will cast one ballot and I will review

34
00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,840
the ballot and declare the result of the
election.

35
00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:04,760
I declare that Tim Haley has been
elected temporary moderator and I will

36
00:03:00,959 --> 00:03:04,760
administer the oath of office.

37
00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:20,040
Raise your Raise your right hand.
Oh, sorry. Put your stuff down.

38
00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:23,680
Do you, Tim Haley, solemnly swear that
you will faithfully and impartially

39
00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:27,800
perform and discharge the duties of the
office of temporary moderator to which

40
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:32,160
you have been elected?
>> Congratulations.

41
00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,160
» It's all yours.

42
00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:51,040
» Hello.
>> Hi.

43
00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:53,880
» Um
I guess uh

44
00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:58,720
Let's see. It's been a since I've done
this, but I watched Jared, and so I'll

45
00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:03,320
try to make believe what I he did.
Um

46
00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,320
If um

47
00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:09,040
when I ask for the article, we only have
two articles.

48
00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:12,920
So,
when you

49
00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,400
uh want to speak,
raise your hand, come up to the

50
00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:18,280
microphone,
state your name,

51
00:04:16,840 --> 00:04:23,560
where you live,
and have at it.

52
00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:23,560
It's okay.

53
00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:36,560
Okay, we have Article 1.
>> I move that the town raise and

54
00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:36,560
appropriate an additional $208,020

55
00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:45,960
to supplement the appropriation under
Article 11 of the May 6, 2026 annual

56
00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:50,520
town meeting to fully fund its share of
the Narragansett Regional School

57
00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:56,360
District budget for FY27
contingent upon of a so-called

58
00:04:52,960 --> 00:05:00,160
proposition 2 and 1/2 override vote
under General Law Chapter 59, Section

59
00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,680
21C.
>> Second.

60
00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:08,200
» Okay, we have a motion
to

61
00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:14,160
raise and appropriate
$208,200.

62
00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:18,480
» $20.
>> $200.

63
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:23,840
Wait a minute. $208,020
for the Narragansett Regional School

64
00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:26,600
District budget for FY27. Is there any
discussion?

65
00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:41,480
» Mr. Moderator, Sylvia Daley, 5 Laurel
Road.

66
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:49,560
Um I'd like to make a motion to have
Article 1 voted by a paper ballot vote.

67
00:05:46,919 --> 00:05:54,240
» Okay, do we have a second?
>> Second.

68
00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:57,080
Okay. We have a couple seconds.
Hold on a second.

69
00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,680
Is this an available one or is this not?

70
00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:32,280
Okay. Is there any discussion on this?
>> I'd like to discuss these.

71
00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,520
I'd like to discuss it.
>> The

72
00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:40,600
» the articles.
>> Okay. Well, this is the a motion to fix

73
00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:44,360
the ballot as a ballot vote.
>> I'd like to also have that fixed as a

74
00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,919
ballot vote.
>> Okay.

75
00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,760
» And I want to I want to say to the
people that are here

76
00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:53,040
» Okay.
>> that if you pass these articles

77
00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:56,840
» Hold on a second. Hold on. Hold on.
>> It means

78
00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:59,440
You hold on. I want to talk.
>> Wait. You will have your chance, but we

79
00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:03,840
have to
vote first whether we're going to have a

80
00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:07,480
ballot or not. And then we'll discuss
the article.

81
00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:12,360
So, once we vote on that, then you'll be
up.

82
00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:17,919
» I suggest we have a ballot.
>> Okay. Is there any discussion on having

83
00:07:14,919 --> 00:07:17,919
a ballot vote?

84
00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:24,919
Seeing none, all those in favor of
having a

85
00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:27,400
private ballot vote, paper vote,
say aye.

86
00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:30,960
» Aye.
>> All those opposed, say no.

87
00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:34,360
» No.
>> Okay. It's unanimous. We're going to Not

88
00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:38,840
unanimous.
Majority. We're going to have a ballot

89
00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:43,919
vote when it comes time.
Now,

90
00:07:39,919 --> 00:07:48,400
is there any discussion on the article?
>> This is just a statement. Yeah.

91
00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:53,040
» I would just like to remind
>> need name and

92
00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:59,600
» My name is Brent Alund. I'm from a 45
narrow lane. I've been a resident since

93
00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,600
1993.

94
00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:07,200
The last time I was here I was arrested
for voicing my opinion.

95
00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:13,240
I just want to tell you people that if
you pass these articles that overrides 2

96
00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:18,919
and 1/2, which means there's an
open-ended tax

97
00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:25,280
that can be done anytime
the town or the clerks or anybody wants

98
00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:28,880
to raise or any other thing.
>> Never ends.

99
00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:32,159
» Never ends.
>> Okay.

100
00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:36,640
Is there
Excuse me. Is there any other discussion

101
00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:36,640
on this?

102
00:08:38,680 --> 00:08:41,200
Okay.

103
00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:53,240
» Sherry Rizzo, 450 in Williamsville Road.
I just have a question for um how much

104
00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:58,360
this will cost our taxpayers if um the
override passes.

105
00:08:55,520 --> 00:09:02,240
» Okay. Do we have an answer for how much
it will add to the taxes?

106
00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:11,720
» So, the anticipated increase uh is 51
cents per 1,000 of assessed valuation of

107
00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,720
your home.

108
00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,560
» Okay.

109
00:09:16,839 --> 00:09:19,920
Okay, we have a

110
00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,320
» Uh can you hear me now?
>> Yeah.

111
00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:44,800
» Yeah.
Ken Hurd, fan driver, Royalston Road.

112
00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:50,600
Can we get a number on the average
amount it would increase

113
00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:54,440
the taxes per the average
property value in town, please?

114
00:09:53,320 --> 00:10:00,800
» Certainly.
As of FY26, the average property value

115
00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:06,760
was assessed at $431,400.
That would equate at 51 cents to $220

116
00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,760
per year.

117
00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:15,080
» Okay. Is there any other questions?

118
00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,560
All right. I saw your hand go up first.

119
00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:35,240
» Chris Soyer, 670 Royalston Road.
Is this on top of the 2 and 1/2% we've

120
00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:40,360
already approved?
>> Is this added to the 2 and 1/2% we've

121
00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:44,520
already approved?
>> It's an override, so it would be 2 and

122
00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:49,480
1/2% more if it passes.
>> So, we're going 5%?

123
00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:53,680
» No, we're going 2 and 1/2% over what
were the actual levy is now.

124
00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:01,120
You you can consider it five, but it's
really not two if two it's two and a

125
00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:04,800
half over previous,
and now this would just be a straight

126
00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:09,280
two and a half over that.
>> Okay.

127
00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:15,120
What we approved
a month ago, I guess it was in May, we

128
00:11:11,839 --> 00:11:20,040
approved a whole bunch of stuff.
That tally hasn't been put into this tax

129
00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:25,000
and override.
It's I know it's separate.

130
00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:27,200
But, do we know how much the
the

131
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:34,560
cost was for the first
um

132
00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:38,760
yes or no votes
for the first meeting.

133
00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:41,640
I mean, did we approve $300,000,
$400,000?

134
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:45,680
So, we're going to get hit with that
$250

135
00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:48,800
plus this?
This is just for the schools, is what

136
00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:54,440
I'm saying, I guess. This doesn't
include the increase

137
00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:58,840
that we approved before. So, the taxes
would really go up more than what

138
00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:03,800
people are thinking right now.
>> Well, it'll it'll go up more than the

139
00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:08,040
than the 2 and 1/2 that we're that we
normally vote yes.

140
00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,040
» Right. Thank you.

141
00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:18,000
» Okay.
Uh

142
00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:18,000
Rick

143
00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:35,280
Rick Tenney, Highway Superintendent.
Uh I'm not sure if you've thought this

144
00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:40,480
far into it, and maybe we're not at that
bridge yet. But, if this passes,

145
00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:46,760
um
is there a chance that there could be a

146
00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:51,200
cut on the highway, the fire, and the PD
depending on which direction the town

147
00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:54,560
has to go? I know obviously we would
have to vote it This is probably a

148
00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:58,040
pretty
It's a long question.

149
00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:03,160
Uh we would have to go through another
step of a prop 2 and 1/2 override.

150
00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:07,360
If that prop 2 and 1/2 override didn't
pass,

151
00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:11,760
then obviously the town's got to try to
get money from someplace else. And if

152
00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:16,520
you've only got a gallon coming in, you
can only let a gallon out. So, is there

153
00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:20,760
a chance that I could lose a highway
guy?

154
00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:28,240
PD could lose a police officer, fire
could lose a fire guy. Um

155
00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:33,400
to replace my 2004 1-ton that we rebuilt
seven years ago. That's going to get put

156
00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:37,800
on hold as well. All of these things I
think could happen, but I just want

157
00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,800
clarification.

158
00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:45,280
» I'd have to say because we're not there
yet, we really haven't thought about

159
00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,920
what might have to be cut or where else
we would get these funds.

160
00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,000
» Okay.
But it could happen.

161
00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,800
» Yes, it could.
>> It's on the table. Okay. Thank you.

162
00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:01,800
I can give a little bit of
>> Can I Can I Can I explain the process to

163
00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:06,200
him okay what's going on?
So, if this passes tonight

164
00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:10,800
for the override
we need to have a ballot vote on the

165
00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:16,840
30th of June.
If either one of these fail, then we're

166
00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:21,520
going to go to um a district-wide
meeting. Meaning we got to

167
00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:26,000
go to a meeting with the um
with Templeton

168
00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:29,040
and feeling is that we're going to be
outnumbered.

169
00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:34,800
Um
it could happen, it could not.

170
00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:39,680
Also, if we don't pass this and and I'm
not saying to vote yes or no, everyone

171
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:45,000
makes up their own mind. Um it messes up
the the assessment that the um

172
00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:49,360
the DOR can't
uh certify the amount for the tax rate

173
00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:53,800
to be set
which further complicates issues because

174
00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:57,000
then if we need to borrow money, it's
going to be higher because our rating's

175
00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:00,080
going to be less
and all that. I'm going to try to answer

176
00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:04,920
Rick's question.
Is um

177
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:11,240
if it fails here
and we go to the district-wide meeting

178
00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:15,040
and we get voted against and we have to
come up with it anyway, then we need to

179
00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:18,400
have another special town meeting to
figure where we're going to make the

180
00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:22,880
cuts from.
So, yes, it could affect the um the

181
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:26,280
police, the fire
uh and other services.

182
00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:31,120
There there there may be some other
options.

183
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:38,040
And and when I say that there's some we
we have a stabilization account. It's

184
00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:42,720
not typically used for these kinds of
things. That's a dangerous scenario

185
00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:46,960
because if we don't fix the problem now,
it's only double

186
00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:50,680
next year the problem that we have right
now.

187
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:54,760
So the recommendation from
the the select board and I think the

188
00:15:52,560 --> 00:16:00,760
Fincom was what it said at the time when
we voted for this the school budget was

189
00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:04,000
to give them the 2 and 1/2%.
And we'd see where the numbers came

190
00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:08,960
back.
And the school came back that they

191
00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:13,320
requested this amount of money.
And

192
00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:17,520
Templeton paid my understanding is they
they voted for their share.

193
00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:20,600
So we're we're kind of like in a pickle.
If we don't vote for it, we go to a

194
00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:24,600
district-wide meeting.
And I don't know if anybody's ever been

195
00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:27,760
to one before, but it's probably not
going to turn out well

196
00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:32,400
for Phillipston.
Hope I answered the questions, but if

197
00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,400
you have any more, please ask.

198
00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:42,920
» And I think if I can add a little
clarification too is

199
00:16:39,839 --> 00:16:47,600
if we vote for this,
it won't come out of this year's or

200
00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:51,040
FY27's
budget and take the

201
00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:56,800
anything from the highway that's already
been approved. It'll just be in future

202
00:16:53,360 --> 00:17:01,440
years we would have to worry about that.
If this is approved.

203
00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:04,720
» If if it's if it's approved the
override,

204
00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:10,120
yeah, but if it gets voted down, then we
got to go back and and cut money from

205
00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,120
Okay.

206
00:17:10,199 --> 00:17:15,959
» That's what I was saying. If it's
approved, it won't affect what's already

207
00:17:14,199 --> 00:17:20,800
been a voted at
at the other meetings. It'll just

208
00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:25,880
next year, maybe.
Okay, is there any other questions?

209
00:17:24,120 --> 00:17:28,160
Any other comment? Okay.
>> Sorry.

210
00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:34,760
I'm Carrie Bruso, 415 Williamsville
Road. Um I just want to follow up with

211
00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:40,120
that question. I know you don't don't
really have answers, I guess yet, but

212
00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:45,760
what how many cuts would you be looking
at? I just want to make a

213
00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:48,680
good decision on my vote, um and
what we're looking at because we don't

214
00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:52,840
have I mean, we work so hard to get
these positions for this town. It's a

215
00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:56,680
small town. We don't have a lot to cut.
So, I just want to know

216
00:17:54,680 --> 00:18:00,120
what we're looking at, or if you have an
idea.

217
00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:04,600
Thank you.
>> Okay, does anybody have a

218
00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:08,520
answer to
what would be cut if we had to do the

219
00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,520
cutting?

220
00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:19,920
» Yeah, essentially that's right. We don't
we don't have that many employees for

221
00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:23,440
the in the town of Phillipston, so
obviously you're going to see a bit of a

222
00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:26,240
cut in $208,000
out of the uh budget. You're going to

223
00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,880
see
um you're going to see issues, um or

224
00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:33,240
you're going to see problems, I'm going
to say. And you know,

225
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:37,440
I can't tell you where they're going to
come from, but they're probably going to

226
00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:41,640
come from from the police, the fire, the
DPW. Uh we'll probably share some of

227
00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,760
those things. We we've just got to a
point where we got everything kind of

228
00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:48,960
like working
um pretty people don't make a barrel of

229
00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:53,440
money here. They
they work. They're not Some communities

230
00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:57,480
you go and people are hanging around
with whatever DPW guys. I don't think

231
00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:01,080
anybody can criticize anything that
they've been doing.

232
00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:04,640
Um our police department is like 100%
right now.

233
00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:07,720
If you call the uh fire department,
they're going to be here, the ambulance,

234
00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:11,800
what whatever. We're going to lose some
of those services. We have two full-time

235
00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:15,280
firefighters.
If if we have to

236
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,960
remove one, we might as well remove two
cuz you need two people to to answer a

237
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:22,640
call.
Um

238
00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:27,560
the DPW, they they only have three
three people working on the DPW. Where

239
00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:30,320
where do we cut How do we make up 200 in
um

240
00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:34,680
two 200 and
eight Yeah, two

241
00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:41,920
Anyway, how how do we make that up? We
already kind of like level funded all

242
00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:41,920
the material and expense stuff, so

243
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,760
What was that?
>> You go to the state.

244
00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:50,480
» Uh he's
>> Are you Are you a Phillipston resident?

245
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,560
» No, I'm
>> So, why don't you sit down

246
00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,520
» Okay.
>> and let us have our meeting.

247
00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:02,720
Okay, so the so so the comment that
somebody made, it doesn't make sense.

248
00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:07,920
We're a self-sufficient. We have to pay
our own bills and stuff like that. Um

249
00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:11,000
Anyway, the bottom line is there's going
to be cuts.

250
00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:14,520
» Okay, I
saw you in the yellow shirt.

251
00:20:15,694 --> 00:20:20,960
» [laughter]
>> Hi, uh Cat Buell. I'm 325 Royalston

252
00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:24,560
Road.
Um I used to be on school committee, so

253
00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:29,800
I'm obviously for a favor of schools.
I'm also a teacher, so I know how this

254
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:35,040
affects our children. Um I'm also a mom
of young kids in this district

255
00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:40,120
uh and I don't want to see our young
children growing up without like

256
00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:44,680
adequate education. They're our next to
fill your seats.

257
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:48,840
Um and I just I'm worried about our
property taxes dropping if our school

258
00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:53,600
doesn't fund the way it's supposed to
do. We've had a ton of people move in in

259
00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:58,080
in Templeton and Phillipston, and they
can choose to send their kids to to

260
00:20:55,680 --> 00:21:03,000
private schools and not our school,
which we will lose money on if that

261
00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:07,640
happens. So, I guess um
if we don't pass this budget, what's

262
00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:10,080
what's the alternative for our taxes
then?

263
00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:15,520
And our values.
>> Okay.

264
00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:22,280
Okay.
I think I saw Karen, did you have your

265
00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,280
hand up?

266
00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:31,400
» Karen Perkins, Templeton Road. Um, I'm
just wondering why the school isn't

267
00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:35,160
being mentioned as part of something to
cut. Is that Is this like a done deal

268
00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:37,720
that we have to pay this much for the
school?

269
00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:44,800
» Okay.
Ruth?

270
00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:50,920
» Well, it is what the school requested.
And this extra 208 So, the district

271
00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:54,640
requested of both Templeton and
Phillipston

272
00:21:52,400 --> 00:22:00,200
their amounts to pay
for their total budget.

273
00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:05,080
Templeton passed their amounts.
So, I don't know how how you know, what

274
00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:09,280
Templeton's doing to make up their
shortfalls so that they can pay it after

275
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:15,320
their override fails. But, they're going
to pay it cuz they voted it.

276
00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:18,760
So, now our share, we did make a vote of
uh

277
00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:22,720
uh
uh 2 million

278
00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:27,440
123,561,
but that falls 208,020

279
00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:31,440
dollars short.
So, the fear is is that if we end up at

280
00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:36,240
a two-town meeting
they're going to stay

281
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:39,920
sta- stay uh status quo with what
they've got, and that forces us to pay

282
00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:44,280
the 208.
So, we have to have a town meeting,

283
00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:49,680
which we're doing now, to see if we can
raise that 208,020 dollars.

284
00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:53,800
And the only way without cutting all
kinds of services is

285
00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:58,160
basically with an override.
So.

286
00:22:55,680 --> 00:23:01,480
» We're going back to the school
for cuts.

287
00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:04,480
» Well, we if did go back to the school,
and they did make a cut from their first

288
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:09,680
proposal.
>> Okay, I see Mr. Casavant has his hand

289
00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:12,840
up. Would there be any objection for him
speaking on the floor?

290
00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:23,040
Okay, I've been told that by statute
he's entitled to speak, so

291
00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:34,400
» Totally we come by a statute. Chris
Casavant, I'm the superintendent of

292
00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,400
schools.
Um

293
00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:41,440
So,
we have to kind of take a step back. So,

294
00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:45,520
when the school committee certified its
original budget, budget,

295
00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:49,720
it was very early in the process, but we
had to write uh certify that budget

296
00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:54,920
before the end of March.
What was up in the air? So, we the

297
00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:59,400
school committee certified a level
service budget, knowing fully well that

298
00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:03,040
that was a not a number that anyone was
willing to be able to

299
00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:08,920
to sustain. Okay?
So, through the process we went,

300
00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:14,520
the Phillipston town meeting happened to
be the day before the school committee

301
00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:18,880
meeting that it lowered
the assessment.

302
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:21,720
Okay? They made a cut of $1.3
million.

303
00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:25,640
So, if the question, I couldn't really
hear it back there, but I if the

304
00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:30,040
question was what are the schools cut?
I think that was the question.

305
00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:34,600
Okay, thank you. I wasn't sure.
That regardless with the budget that you

306
00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:38,240
have before you, with the assessment
before you,

307
00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:40,160
it's going to be five element it's going
to be

308
00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:46,680
one, two,
three, four, five, six. It's going to be

309
00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:49,840
a grand total of 13 cent.
So, there are there have been cuts.

310
00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:55,760
There are cuts.
That was what the new number

311
00:24:54,000 --> 00:25:01,080
presented is
in terms of cuts. So, I think I'm hoping

312
00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:01,080
that answers the question.

313
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:08,880
» Mommy.
>> Okay.

314
00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,880
Um, get her then

315
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:16,880
Gerrard Fandral wrote some wrote. So,
um, if I could ask the superintendent

316
00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:22,520
then,
uh, how much So, the number that we

317
00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:26,560
have, the two numbers combined should be
less than what we are approving today,

318
00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:29,960
isn't that true?
>> Correct.

319
00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:34,000
» So, how much because the numbers that we
have are based on the original number.

320
00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,880
» What number? What number
>> Is that true? No?

321
00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:42,040
» No.
The original number we had

322
00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,600
No, this
this is the

323
00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,200
» You don't mind if I'm going to reach
back here to Anne Marie.

324
00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,720
» The
>> Mommy.

325
00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,320
» The question was What was exactly the
question? The number this number and

326
00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:55,800
what number?
>> The first number

327
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:59,960
» The first number was higher, okay.
And so, we're cutting $1.3 million from

328
00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:03,080
that number.
Right? Okay.

329
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,120
Uh

330
00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:12,600
What do you mean? You mean in total or
in terms of cut?

331
00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,440
In total.

332
00:26:17,258 --> 00:26:22,680
» [clears throat]
>> So, if you cut 1.3 and Phillipson's

333
00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:24,920
share is what? 15% of that?
>> Give or take.

334
00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:27,520
» Of that cut. So,
um

335
00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:31,880
I just straighten me out because I'm a
little confused on this myself. So, the

336
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:35,000
original number that we passed and this
208,000

337
00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:38,200
is that
add up to the second number that you

338
00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:41,080
came up with or the first number that
you came up with?

339
00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:45,040
» The second number.
>> Okay. All right. So,

340
00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:47,960
All right. So, now if Okay, that's my
question. All right, thank you.

341
00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,280
» 78,000 more.

342
00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:57,360
» All right, you in the yellow again.

343
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:07,320
» I just know that we had an agreement
back in, I don't know, 1978 or something

344
00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:13,200
like that for our schools, and we really
have not raised many prices. We pay our

345
00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:17,400
bills, but we don't pay more than that
for the school district now. You know,

346
00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:24,720
I'm a resident. I'm happy about that,
except for my kids go to the school, and

347
00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:30,800
I feel like we should support what the
schools do need. And if we are only

348
00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:35,080
paying 15% of a school bill, and we are
a small town, however, we are growing. I

349
00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,960
think that we should be able to come up
with $200,000

350
00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:42,040
of a
$3 million

351
00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:46,960
budget. Um, and is that possible to come
out of the revenue that we have in

352
00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,960
Phillipsburg?

353
00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:55,560
» Um, I hear a bunch of no, that's why
we're doing the override.

354
00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:55,560
So.

355
00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,880
Okay, Luanne.

356
00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:07,480
» Luanne Roy, 3 Samuel Drive. This
question's for Dr. Casavan. My question

357
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:13,080
is, you have cuts that you've taken, but
are all these cuts with teachers or

358
00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:13,080
administration being cut also?

359
00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:24,440
» Chris Casavan, superintendent.
>> Um, the assistant superintendent has

360
00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:27,200
been cut regardless of what budget is
um,

361
00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:33,200
passed. The high school principal has
position has been cut regardless of

362
00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:41,480
whatever budget is passed. Um, and as of
right now, one, two,

363
00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:47,920
two, three teachers, and one, two,
three, I think four. Sorry, I have

364
00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,920
glasses. Four paraprofessionals.

365
00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:57,160
Okay.
>> I want to discuss the

366
00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,160
3.13 custodian.

367
00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,080
» All right, you in the green shirt again?

368
00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:14,440
» As far as the budget, that should have
been figured out

369
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:20,600
prior to this meeting.
Second of all, we found out during COVID

370
00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:26,160
that we don't even need schooling.
Most of the children

371
00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:31,720
are educated on computers by the time
they're 5 years old.

372
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:37,800
We can We can have 12 teachers
teaching our entire

373
00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,800
school system.

374
00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:46,000
So, there is plenty of room
to cut money from this from the town

375
00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:51,360
budget. And most of these people are
making three figures that are working

376
00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:51,360
for the town.

377
00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:02,760
» Now, I'm going to give
Dave a chance then Oh.

378
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:16,280
» Why was this number presented so late
process?

379
00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:21,240
» Excuse me.
>> Excuse me, Dave Mantia, 570 Wilson Road.

380
00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:24,160
Why was this number given to the town
way too late so we couldn't even prepare

381
00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:29,000
it
on our warrant in our normal meeting?

382
00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,760
I mean, it was 22% I believe they were
asking.

383
00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:34,960
I mean, they were That was a wish list
for sure, but they should have gave us

384
00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:39,280
the correct number.
Why was there such a delay?

385
00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:44,160
I mean, we couldn't even prepare it to
cut other things and just make it maybe

386
00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:47,800
a non-override question. I'd like an
answer from that, please.

387
00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:58,840
» Dave, it's because our town meeting vote
was prior to them re-voting their budget

388
00:30:56,040 --> 00:31:01,960
and lowering the assessment.
>> Well, when we put our numbers in for

389
00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:05,680
town meeting, we usually have them
months ahead of time. So, you know what

390
00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:09,400
our budget is in the assessor's office.
Everybody knows. The school can present

391
00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,160
it after.
Why don't they give us the numbers a

392
00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:14,760
month ahead of time?
That's

393
00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:18,480
not a good thing to do.
I mean, how do we prepare for that? It's

394
00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:22,440
ridiculous. If the school can't get
their, you know what together, they

395
00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:25,600
don't need to be here no more. You can
fire the superintendent.

396
00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:35,560
» Okay. All right, it's enough of that.
All right, are there

397
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,560
any other comments?

398
00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:50,040
» I don't have any other questions, but I
just wanted to make a comment.

399
00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:53,840
Um now that I have kind of an idea of
how much it's going to cost taxpayers,

400
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:57,520
which it seems like it's only
a couple hundred dollars over

401
00:31:55,960 --> 00:32:00,000
a year. Um
I think that's [clears throat] fair.

402
00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:07,280
But I didn't really know that that's a
lot right now. So, I'm not making that

403
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:09,720
small for some people cuz we're in hard
times right now.

404
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:13,200
But I do have
four children that are going to New

405
00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:18,240
England school district.
Um if this budget doesn't pass,

406
00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:24,800
athletics is on the table and more
teachers cuts when Dr. cuts them.

407
00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,800
presented.

408
00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:33,320
Um so, I just wanted to say like that.
And on top of that, also like think

409
00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:37,640
about your town. It's a small town. We
don't have

410
00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:42,920
a lot of people on our
um police or fire and all of those

411
00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:47,000
things. Just consider that where that
$200 a year is going to go. Is it going

412
00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:50,640
to go towards your school? Is it going
to go towards,

413
00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:53,320
you know, your town?
Final comments, please.

414
00:32:53,920 --> 00:33:00,600
» Okay.
You can in the yellow. Yes.

415
00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:06,360
Sorry, I forgot your name.
>> Pat Pat Welteroth.

416
00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:11,880
Um I just wanted to go back to the uh
triple digit

417
00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:17,400
income and say that that is absolutely
um astronomical. Actually, Tualatin

418
00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:22,360
teachers make way less than um
teachers in our area and uh

419
00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:26,560
I also know that we've already cut
positions at the school district level.

420
00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:30,760
Uh special ed positions have just been
covered by other teachers. I think that

421
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:36,160
we need to really look at what we're
doing right now, how we're educating our

422
00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:40,760
children, what we're doing to like um
band-aid that situation. Computers do

423
00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:45,800
not educate our child our children. They
do not learn that way. Um

424
00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:51,720
and I just uh yeah, I just feel very
strongly that it's important to see that

425
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:56,000
these are the the people that are going
to run this town one day, just like many

426
00:33:54,640 --> 00:34:02,080
of you that are sitting here that grew
up and lived in this town. So.

427
00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:07,800
Oh, sorry. I also wanted to add that my
son is also huge into sports. We

428
00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:12,960
recently are trying to renovate this
school in particular and the fields to

429
00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:16,760
utilize that. And if budgets get cut for
sports, then all of that is going to go

430
00:34:14,879 --> 00:34:20,159
away. And income for this town will
actually diminish through that avenue as

431
00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:23,240
well.
Thanks.

432
00:34:21,720 --> 00:34:28,159
» Okay.
Thank you. Um

433
00:34:24,679 --> 00:34:28,159
are there any other comments?

434
00:34:29,720 --> 00:34:37,159
Okay.
Seeing none,

435
00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:37,159
we're going to have a ballot vote.

436
00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:41,159
Do we have some ballot takers?

437
00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:16,640
All right. Did everybody receive a
little green piece of paper?

438
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:16,640
It's a capable of of voting.

439
00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:20,520
Okay.

440
00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:43,400
Okay, and

441
00:35:50,880 --> 00:36:03,400
Okay, on the ballot, the little green
ballot, is a yes and a no. And a yes is

442
00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:03,400
for the override. A no is against it.

443
00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:12,200
Okay.
Yeah. Okay, I've been clarified. This is

444
00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:18,200
to appropriate the money that is subject
to a ballot vote for the override. So,

445
00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:21,840
this is just to get it onto the ballot.
So,

446
00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:28,040
if um
This one is start on the first row on

447
00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:32,200
this side, and if you don't have a pen,
they got pens up Got pens on the table.

448
00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:37,400
If you have a pen,
um so we can start with the first row

449
00:36:34,240 --> 00:36:37,400
and go up there.

450
00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:42,600
Okay, we're calling the uh meeting back
into order.

451
00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:47,440
And we have a
54 yes,

452
00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:50,120
31 no, and one blank. This passes by a
majority.

453
00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:53,920
» Article two.

454
00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:07,680
» I move that town raise and appropriate
an additional $2,764

455
00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:12,720
to fully fund the town's share of the FY
2027 debt service for Narragansett

456
00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:15,880
Regional School District roof project.
>> Second.

457
00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:20,440
» Okay, we have a
motion and a second.

458
00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:25,120
» Thank you.
>> Okay, this is just to clarify. At the

459
00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:28,120
annual town meeting, we only voted
22,876

460
00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:37,080
out of the debt exclusion for the roof.
Um, the figure should have been 25,640.

461
00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:42,680
And I will apologize because I missed it
in my motions. So, we still need that

462
00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:47,440
extra 2,764,
but that comes out of the debt exclusion

463
00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:47,440
that we've already voted for.

464
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:57,520
» Okay, can I ask um
What did you Where was the funding going

465
00:38:55,880 --> 00:39:00,680
to come from?
>> That's the debt exclusion.

466
00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:03,160
» Yes, but we have to get the money from
somewhere.

467
00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:08,440
» It's raising a motion to raise an
appropriate

468
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:11,600
» Okay. All right.
I missed that part.

469
00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:16,240
Okay, you have a motion to raise an
appropriate

470
00:39:13,240 --> 00:39:16,240
$2,764

471
00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:24,640
for the
debt service for the roof.

472
00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,640
Are there any comments?

473
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:33,280
Any questions?
Okay.

474
00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:33,280
What's that?

475
00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,440
Okay.
Okay, we have a motion [clears throat]

476
00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:41,880
to move the article. Do we have a
second?

477
00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:45,360
» Second.
>> Okay, there was no We're not going to

478
00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:47,640
move the article.
All right.

479
00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:52,280
All right, we're going to vote on the
article. All those in favor of raise an

480
00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:55,520
appropriate
$2,764,

481
00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:59,800
say I.
>> I.

482
00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:06,160
» All those opposed, say no.
Okay, it passes not unanimous.

483
00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:11,320
» I move we dissolve this special town
meeting.

484
00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:17,760
» Okay, all those in favor?
All those opposed?

485
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,760
Okay, that was unanimous.