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I'm going to call the advisory committee
meeting to order this August the 5th at

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7:39. Uh all members are present looks
like except for Howard

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believe. Uh Howard may not be joining us
tonight because he's actually on

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vacation. Um
so the first order of business tonight

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is
Tim. We're recording, right? Okay.

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» Yep.
>> We are we are recording.

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All right. Did I hear Howard or who was
Okay. All right. Um, first order of

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business is to review the minutes. We
had four meeting minutes uh to review

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starting with March the 10th, which is a
joint select board meeting.

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Um, does anybody have any edits or
comments on the March 10th meeting

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minutes?

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All right.
If not, uh, I'm going to we can approve

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let's try to approve them all at once,
but we'll move on to anyone have any

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edits for the March 16th meeting?

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No. Okay.
I take silence is is [snorts]

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uh concurrent. Okay. Anyone have any
edits for the March 25th meeting

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minutes?

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No.
And last but not least,

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uh, April 6th. Any meeting minute edits
at April 6? No.

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All right. If not, do we have a motion
to approve the meeting minutes from

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March 10th, March 25th, March 16th, and
April 6th?

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» So moved.
>> All right. Second.

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» Second.
>> Thank you. Well, roll call vote.

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Tim
>> I

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» L
>> I'm going to abstain because I wasn't

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there.
>> All right. I thought you might uh Eric.

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» Hi. [clears throat]
>> Larry.

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» Hi.
>> And Barry.

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» Hi.
>> And Marcy is I. All right. Let's say

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here unanimous. No edits.
Okay. Thank you guys. All right. Moving

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on to the second item on our agenda
tonight is the town policies. Um I did

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speak with the slug board chair earlier
today and we will be receiving

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additional time. I know that everybody
spent some time working on these this

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past week which is good and we will go
over that. Um but we will have a few

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more weeks uh for additional edits,
additional feedback,

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etc. if needed. And um we expect that
they the budget policy at least will re

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be reviewed at an upcoming meeting in
September by the select board u but not

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next week uh as was originally planned.
Any questions, concerns or comments

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about that
thoughts?

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» Marcy was just curious I mean great
[clears throat] to have the additional

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time but what was the basis for the
extension?

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» [snorts]
>> Well, last week we talked about um we

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may need more time. Yeah. [laughter]
>> And the select board chair and vice

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chair agreed that you know advisory
plays a big role in these budget

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policies. So they wanted to give enough
time. Got it.

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» Um yeah. So we were asked uh sort of on
short notice to turn it around. As

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pointed out there's se there's been a
trickle through of several budget sorry

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several policies. So there, you know, we
were happy to hear that this wasn't as

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urgent as we may have thought in terms
of for next week.

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» Thank you.
>> You're welcome.

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All right. So, moving on then to
the budget um documents. Let me see

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here. I did pull up the budget
documents.

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One second. I'll see if I can share my
screen.

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We were thinking that Claire would be
here for this, but I don't think she's

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going to be. So,
>> she might be in the audience. Give me a

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minute.
>> Okay,

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» looks like she is.
She's got somebody named Hannah Sro has

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their hand raised.
[laughter]

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» Okay, that is probably clear.
>> There she comes.

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» Thank you, Tim.

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Hey guys.
>> Hello Claire.

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» Hi. I don't know what happened. So Tim,
you kind of figured this out.

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» God bless you.
>> Yeah, we'll we'll figure it out for next

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time. Claire.
>> Yeah, I was I was Andrew's backup when

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he when he was
>> Oh, that makes sense.

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» Yeah.
>> He was Andrew's backup.

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» I gotcha. Okay. Um, so I have the the
document pulled up that you're talking

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about. Um, you want
>> you want me to share it if I get um

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um I can share it.
>> This is the version that Al had sent to

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all of us that had feedback from
multiple people. I believe I'll let you

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speak.
>> First off, thank you so much for the

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work on this. I I have comments and it
it looks very good. Thank you.

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Um, yeah. Actually, silly question.
Claire, if I send something to the

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advisory committee, do you get a copy?
>> Yes.

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» Okay.
>> Oh, somebody um

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» I'm not sure I get a copy, but
>> yeah. Or

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» we figured that out today, Al.
>> Okay.

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» So, [laughter] you should be able to see
your copy on the screen.

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» Yep.
>> Okay.

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» So, we will we will fix the issue of the
advisory email committee group. Uh we

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learned today. Thank you, Claire, for
your keen eye that Al is not listed yet

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in our group. So, um I don't think
you've missed that many emails, Al, but

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that was one of the reasons you might
not have received some things. But I did

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forward you anything for this meeting
today.

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Oh, no. I think something's showing up
here. Claire. Okay.

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Maybe you could just pull it off the
screen. I don't know. Um,

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I I have it up and it says that I'm
sharing it, but I'm just wondering if

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I'm sharing.
>> You are you are sharing, but the little

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box with the Microsoft is is blocking
some of it at least.

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» Can you see that?
>> Okay. So, it's doing something wonky.

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How's that?
>> All right.

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» It's going to keep bothering you until
you log in with your town credentials.

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» Oh, okay.
>> All right. Maybe maybe not. Okay. We

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look pretty good for now. Okay. All
right. So, I think um Al, I'll turn it

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over to you quickly.
>> Oh, [laughter]

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» well, if you want to comment, I mean,
you just want to set up the stage like

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what what's happen?
>> Yeah. So, um I I had taken uh the the

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the document that Andrew drafted and um
then I tried to uh incorporate um the

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comments from uh
[clears throat and cough]

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Larry and um

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and Barry. Larry and Barry. I should
remember that. and um

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» and then sort of put my own edits in
there as well to to really I took out

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some of the what I would describe as
sort of u

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let's all be nice and play together
>> and sort of said you know look this is

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the process and then you know the
process documents should describe who's

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responsible and what they're supposed to
do so I sort

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took some of that out. I made a couple
of substantial

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edits, particularly uh when it comes to
uh free cash and the the uses of um

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surpluses,
>> which I think we need to chat about.

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But um you know, maybe we should just
sort of walk through

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» uh part by part. The first thing I did,

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» it just does not like you, Claire.
>> I know. Let me see if I can share it,

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Claire. Hold on.
Let me try.

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» I do have it up here on the screen.

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Oh, actually, so the trick thing I did
was um

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» I said, well, if this is really our
policy, then one of then we ought to be

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at least one of the adopting entities.
The select board, I think, should be the

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other adopting entity because they have
resources that are under their control

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that are critical to provide critical
administrative support.

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And so that that was the first one. Um
then

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» can you guys see that?
>> Yes.

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» Okay. Is that helpful?
Maybe just

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» um I think uh I I don't remember who
suggested we put in the words priority

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under purpose. Um
>> the next one is to sort of talk about

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roles and responsibilities. I mean, I
think our goal here should be to have a

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budget process that incorporates all of
the uh the entities that that

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participate in the budget and that
includes the school committee

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» school committees because after all, you
know, that's twothirds of the money we

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spent on an operating basis. Um, so I
said, you know, the select board is the

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town's executive body responsible with
setting policy and establishing budget

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priorities within the domains under its
control. The select board has no

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authority to set budget policies or
goals for the schools or for that matter

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the library um because those are
independently elected executives.

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» [clears throat]
>> They do however uh supervise the town's

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finance team and which provides critical
technical and financial services and

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developing the town's budget. Then
>> do you want do you want to make edits as

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we're going through or do you just want
to talk?

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» Um well let's see here. Claire, can you
edit while we go?

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» Yeah, I just wanted to add an apostrophe
in towns. That's all.

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» Oh,
>> I'm editing [clears throat] right now.

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Actually, I think my screen I can't see
you guys.

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» Accents to edit it.
>> Yeah, hold on. Hold on a second.

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» I apologize. Who is
Are you guys looking at my screen? Yeah,

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you should be. Okay. It's me, uh,
Claire, not you, right? Okay. Just

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making sure because you're talking about
Claire sharing the screen, but I'm

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sharing now. So, I'm going to edit as we
go. So,

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» uh, Larry Towns,
>> no. And the third in the third line.

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» End of the third line. And the third
line with a capital T.

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» Yep.
Okay.

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Yep.
>> And I'll throw in the last line.

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» Yep. Thank you. And I can correct that.
I mean, I think it Okay. Town budget.

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Yep. All right. Keep going.
>> Okay. So then the adi the advisory is

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the town's independent and I think Barry
was the one who insisted on on that word

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which I think is good
>> is responsible for reviewing analyzing

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and modifying as appropriate and
recommending

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a budget.
>> Al may I

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» Yes. Um, just a just a note I think for
the advisory team since since our our

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our our chair is showing her screen, she
may not see hands raised.

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» So, you'll just have you'll just have to
butt in.

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» Oh. All right. Um, yeah, that that's
fine by me.

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» All right. We'll we'll uh keep an eye on
that or just say we've got a hand up.

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Thank you guys. Sorry, I'm Yeah, I can't
see everybody now that I'm sharing.

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» Okay,
>> keep going.

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» I I think that's very good what you say
here about the advisory. The budget

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00:13:00,399 --> 00:13:07,279
presented to you and read and read onto
the floor to town meeting is the

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00:13:04,639 --> 00:13:10,399
advisor's recommended
meeting.

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00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:14,800
» I agree. I I agree with it too, Al. I I
I I've always felt that there was a a

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00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:19,120
weird disconnect though that advisory is
not somehow plugged in at the beginning

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when the policy when the initial
policies are being decided for the year.

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» So,
okay,

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00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:34,480
» that may be a discussion point with the,
you know, when we review this with the

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select board. Yeah, I I do agree that
it's the select board's area, but I do

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like
if they decide that from the beginning

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that they want a level service budget
and then later on advisory disagrees,

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like a whole lot of work's potentially
been wasted.

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» I think we would need concurrence up
front, right?

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» Yeah. I'm not saying I want to take
anything away from them. I just I I feel

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that advisory needs to be
>> officially like in the past the chair of

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advisory has been informally invited
>> to all of these meetings and I I think

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it needs to be more formal.

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00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:23,040
» I'm going to uh notate other comments
that aren't really about you know in the

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00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:26,040
document but that we want to raise.
Okay.

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So,
>> it's a great point, Tim. Thank you.

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» So, then
a quick one. So, a question about sort

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of contextualizing the rest of the
edits. Um, and again, I'm probably

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00:14:38,079 --> 00:14:46,480
coming at this because my my more um
shorter tenure on advisory does advisory

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00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:50,720
there. There seems to be that the
language as I'm interpreting some of the

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00:14:48,079 --> 00:14:55,199
later um passages is about we own the
budget and develop it, I think is a

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00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:59,279
specific word. My my understanding was
we advise on the budget and review but

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00:14:57,199 --> 00:15:04,000
we're not responsible for creating it.
Correct.

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00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:07,040
» No, I disagree. I think we are.
>> So we we create the actual budget or

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00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:11,680
does it come from the finance team and
we review it at

193
00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:16,399
» well [clears throat] the the the
technical work which is to say you know

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00:15:13,839 --> 00:15:19,839
the adding up of the numbers and
tracking the numbers that's done by the

195
00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:25,680
finance team.
>> But but at the end of the day

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00:15:22,959 --> 00:15:33,600
the budget the one that goes to town
meeting is the budget that we approve.

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00:15:31,519 --> 00:15:36,560
Uh, does everybody agree with that?
>> But we are a formal approving mechanism

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00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:38,079
for the go to town meeting. Is that
right? I guess that's the point I'm

199
00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,959
getting at.
>> Yes,

200
00:15:38,639 --> 00:15:43,839
» that's Yeah, that's right. That's what
I'm trying to remember.

201
00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:48,320
» Yeah. Is that you know, well, let's put
it this way. And and what that may mean

202
00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:55,680
is
that there will be a budget printed in

203
00:15:51,600 --> 00:16:00,000
the warrant that may not be the budget.
And so we would have to have a separate

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00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:03,199
budget document which would be the
budget that's read onto the floor of

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00:16:01,519 --> 00:16:06,399
town meeting.
>> Got it. So the only thing I think where

206
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:12,399
I was confused was the notion of how it
gets created and then when it gets

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00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:15,440
handed to us to review the debate and
then make it you know make the approval

208
00:16:14,079 --> 00:16:19,440
part of it but we can talk about but
contextual that contextualizes the rest

209
00:16:17,279 --> 00:16:27,440
of your feedback for me. So thank you.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think you know the various

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00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:32,600
uh elected executives and the
departments under their control make

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00:16:29,199 --> 00:16:32,600
budget requests

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00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:44,320
of various amounts and
and both operating and capital and at

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00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:50,880
the end of the day it's our job to sift
through those and come up with a un a

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00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:53,920
balanced budget. Yeah, that part I was
clear on. You'll see on the next

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00:16:52,641 --> 00:16:57,120
[clears throat] word develop is where I
get confused because that implies that

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00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:59,839
we're involved in the creation of it. I
think that's my interpretation, but we

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00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:03,440
can talk through that some more when we
get to that next page.

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00:17:01,759 --> 00:17:08,240
» All right.
So then going on to the key

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00:17:05,919 --> 00:17:13,199
distinctions, the select board
establishes

220
00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:18,079
priorities within its domain and
establishes overall financial direction.

221
00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:22,079
So you know the site board is
responsible for setting the priorities

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00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:26,079
of the DPW, the police department, the
fire department and all of the other

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00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:31,600
departments that are under its main
domain and providing

224
00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:35,440
financial direction. I think but the
town administrator and the finance

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00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:40,000
director develop a proposed budget
consistent with those priorities. The

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00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:44,720
advisory committee independently reviews
that proposal and makes such changes as

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00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:50,160
it deems appropriate and submits its
budget.

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00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:53,160
Did I its budget recommendation to town
meeting?

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00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:59,440
» Yep.
>> Can you spelling error and I'm not sure

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00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:05,347
the apostrophe on the but
>> the apostrophe has to come out. We can

231
00:18:01,679 --> 00:18:08,320
always do uh word smithing too later
[laughter] give you that feedback

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00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:10,160
because I think obviously it'll get
scrubbed before

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00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:13,600
» I [clears throat] would say maybe the
budget or instead but anyway I'll fix

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00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:19,039
that.
>> I would yeah I

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00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:24,200
» Al you're saying that that the
individual line item numbers are ours?

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00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:33,360
» Yeah.
>> Well the line Well, let's let's be clear

237
00:18:28,559 --> 00:18:39,200
about that. the line. So, you know, in
say the uh police budget, you know that

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00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:43,840
they have
great detail underneath the number

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00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:47,360
that's in the budget for the police
department,

240
00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:50,160
right? I mean, they've got salaries.
They've got

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00:18:48,559 --> 00:18:52,960
» Yeah. I'm talking about the rollup that
goes to town meeting.

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00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:56,640
» Yeah, the rollup. Yes.
>> Okay. Okay. So, I think we should remove

243
00:18:54,320 --> 00:19:04,320
the word recommendation because that
could be construed as in advisory

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00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:06,880
approves or doesn't approve, right?
>> Okay. Yeah.

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00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:13,039
» So, we can say just submits to budget
>> or submitted submitted to town meeting.

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00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:16,640
» Submission to town meeting. Budget
submission to town meeting.

247
00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:20,160
» I think it's submit submits the budget
to town meeting.

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00:19:17,679 --> 00:19:22,960
» Yeah.
>> Okay.

249
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:28,640
» Marcy. Yes.
>> Could I suggest that you turn line

250
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,640
numbers on to facilitate us making
comments?

251
00:19:29,919 --> 00:19:41,000
» Hold on.
>> If you go up to the layout in the ribbon

252
00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:41,000
» and just click line numbers continuous

253
00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:47,200
» magic.
>> Yay. [laughter]

254
00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:52,160
» Every day. There you go. I love that.
>> Woohoo. Okay. Thank you.

255
00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:56,640
» Hey. Hey guys. I just got a quick
question.

256
00:19:54,080 --> 00:20:02,480
I think I'm looking at a different It
says I'm screen sharing and I'm making

257
00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:06,000
edits, but it's not the same thing.
Should I just stop screen sharing?

258
00:20:05,213 --> 00:20:10,480
[clears throat]
>> You should stop.

259
00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:16,080
» Oh, okay. All right. Because I I think I
took over Claire somehow, but maybe you

260
00:20:13,039 --> 00:20:18,160
maybe it looks like you are. Okay.
>> Um

261
00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,480
» All right.
>> All right. So I I think those roles and

262
00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:26,160
responsibilities look good and you know
we'll do a final document with without

263
00:20:24,559 --> 00:20:32,480
track changes and send it along to
everybody but I think this looks good.

264
00:20:29,039 --> 00:20:35,520
» All right. So then under the policy uh
town officials

265
00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,200
» Oh, hold on. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Go
back up.

266
00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:43,039
» Oh, okay.
>> Line is that just a typo on line 30

267
00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:49,080
after budget
>> recommendations.

268
00:20:44,799 --> 00:20:49,080
The creation of the budget ID.

269
00:20:50,159 --> 00:20:55,520
» Yeah. Oh, sorry. Line 30. Sorry. Um, the
creation is okay.

270
00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:58,640
» Is is is
>> Yeah, that's that's my bad.

271
00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:00,480
» Okay.
>> Yep.

272
00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,559
» Sorry.
>> Oh, good.

273
00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:09,799
» I thought you were getting technical,
Al. I was getting concerned. [laughter]

274
00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,799
» No, no, it was fumble fingers.

275
00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:15,919
» Okay.
>> Okay. Okay. So, town officials work

276
00:21:12,559 --> 00:21:21,120
collaboratively to prepare a balanced
budget for the approval of the voters at

277
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:25,840
the annual town meeting. Uh the annual
town meeting should be capitalized. I

278
00:21:22,799 --> 00:21:30,679
believe that's we're
>> um the creation of the budget.

279
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:38,279
» You can keep going out.
>> Yeah. Sorry. The creation of the sorry

280
00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,279
you just [laughter]

281
00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:45,840
the creation of the budget
is guided by and reflects all of the

282
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:51,200
other financial planning policies
adopted by the town and contained in its

283
00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:56,480
policy manual. I'm okay with that. The
town meeting has the sole authority to

284
00:21:53,280 --> 00:22:00,559
appropriate funds for the budget except
for specific instances where

285
00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:05,280
appropriations are not required by
statute such as grants, gifts, overlay

286
00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:08,480
reserve, offset receipts.
>> I think this would also be capital laws

287
00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:12,880
here.
>> Yeah.

288
00:22:10,559 --> 00:22:17,760
Okay.
Then uh it is the responsibility of the

289
00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:22,320
advisory committee to develop, present
and defend a balanced budget to town

290
00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:27,760
meeting. In doing so, the advisory
committee will work with the executive

291
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:31,440
boards and officials and their staffs to
review the proposed operating and

292
00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:35,200
capital budgets for the purposes of
developing a budget to be presented to

293
00:22:33,919 --> 00:22:38,799
town meeting.
>> Yeah. And now that's where so that the

294
00:22:37,039 --> 00:22:41,440
the word develop in there that guy was
getting at what I was asking about

295
00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:46,080
earlier. So
>> um we will receive a deliverable that is

296
00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:49,039
comes from the finance team and then we
begin to review it. So I guess the

297
00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:52,895
question is that your your intention of
develop what what is that what's your

298
00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:57,520
intention by putting it there?
[clears throat]

299
00:22:53,280 --> 00:23:03,480
» Um that's a good question.
Um,

300
00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,480
let's see.

301
00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,799
» I'm only asking because if we're
involved with finance to create the

302
00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:12,640
initial deliverable, that that's my
interpretation of it. If that's not how

303
00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:16,159
it works, then yeah, I don't want to get
too hung up on the words, but that that

304
00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:20,720
word to me implies that we we're
involved in creating the initial

305
00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:24,480
deliverable versus reviewing it and then
providing feedback and making

306
00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:29,919
adjustments after we receive it.
>> Yeah. No, I I I get what you're saying.

307
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:36,640
Um and and I think I agree with it which
is you know this it's it's the

308
00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:46,159
responsibility of
the various elected boards and officials

309
00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:51,080
to prepare an initial budget request
>> which is coordinated through the finance

310
00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,080
department.

311
00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,960
» Could we
>> and that handed over to us at some

312
00:23:53,919 --> 00:23:58,400
point? Yeah.
>> Yeah. I [clears throat] mean, could we

313
00:23:56,159 --> 00:24:04,480
say it's the responsibility of the
committee to evaluate and modify as

314
00:24:01,919 --> 00:24:10,400
appropriate, present and defend a
balanced budget to town meeting?

315
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:16,799
» Yeah, I think that would work.
>> Barry, just repeat what you said again.

316
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:19,200
» Writing develop and just say evaluate.
>> Yep.

317
00:24:18,799 --> 00:24:22,240
» And
>> take out develop and and present. Just

318
00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:25,840
put evaluate.
>> That's appropriate.

319
00:24:23,679 --> 00:24:30,320
» Okay. I think that's helpful. Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think the other thing we can do

320
00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:34,320
is we can add uh in in the next
paragraph

321
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:39,200
um to the responsibilities of the the
finance team the uh assembling of the

322
00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,279
initial budget requests.
>> Yeah, there you go. That'll make it

323
00:24:40,799 --> 00:24:44,880
clear.
>> Yeah.

324
00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:48,440
» I'm making sure I'm taking out the right
parts here, but

325
00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:57,320
» evaluate and defend a balanced budget.
So evaluate and modify

326
00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,919
as appropriate.

327
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:09,559
» Okay.
>> Um

328
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:09,559
present and defend.

329
00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,919
All right.

330
00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:22,360
Okay.

331
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:29,440
I think it would be and right and
present and defend balance budget detail

332
00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:32,799
meeting. Is that right?
>> Yep.

333
00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:37,039
» Okay. In doing so, advisory committee
will work with elected executive boards

334
00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:38,799
officials. Everybody good with that?
>> Yep.

335
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,159
» Okay.
>> All right.

336
00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:44,640
» So then the the next paragraph really
sort of talks about the town's finance

337
00:25:43,919 --> 00:25:47,360
team.
>> A couple of quick typographical things

338
00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:52,000
before you go.
>> Sure.

339
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:58,000
» You go back to line 34. I think it was.
>> Okay.

340
00:25:52,960 --> 00:26:03,559
» Uh yeah. So um I think uh annual,
special, and meeting need to be

341
00:25:59,679 --> 00:26:03,559
capitalized in that line.

342
00:26:05,467 --> 00:26:07,487
[clears throat and cough]

343
00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:20,559
And in the next paragraph that we're
going to talk about on line 42

344
00:26:16,559 --> 00:26:25,039
um above you changed towns uh with an
apostrophe to town with a capital T and

345
00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,159
I think it should be the same way in
both places.

346
00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,600
» Yeah.
>> Um

347
00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,799
» I agree,
>> but I don't know which way you prefer.

348
00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:35,039
Okay.
>> I think it's town finance team.

349
00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:38,720
» I just wanted them to be the same.
Thanks.

350
00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:44,320
» All right. Perfect. Thank you.
All right.

351
00:26:41,679 --> 00:26:47,320
supervised shouldn't be capitalized in
43.

352
00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:54,720
» Okay.
>> Okay. So, critical to this process is

353
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:59,919
the support provided by the town's town
finance team. The finance team is

354
00:26:57,679 --> 00:27:04,000
supervised by the town administrator and
led by the finance director with other

355
00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:08,000
town employees responsible for
accounting and the management of

356
00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:11,520
revenues.
The finance [clears throat] team will

357
00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:17,559
work with the advisory committee and the
elected executive boards and their staff

358
00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:17,559
and is responsible for

359
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:23,760
um I think actually the first maybe the
first thing we ought to say is they're

360
00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:27,520
they are responsible for assembling
the initial

361
00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:33,279
um
budget requests but both operating and

362
00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:38,159
and capital budget requests from the
various uh departments.

363
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:41,360
You have you have that as line three,
right?

364
00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,400
» Oh, do I did I
>> Okay.

365
00:27:42,159 --> 00:27:45,840
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right. Never mind.

366
00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:51,840
» You do. You do. Okay. But good point.
>> Way ahead of myself. [laughter]

367
00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:55,720
» Line line 44. You should change is will
work to just works.

368
00:27:58,399 --> 00:28:08,399
» Works. Yeah. Okay. Keep going.
Yep.

369
00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:13,279
Okay. So then uh developing with the
support of the select board and the

370
00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:17,279
advisory committee the budget calendar
um assembling and tracking the operating

371
00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:21,709
and capital budget requests from each
department and organization with a line

372
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:25,200
item in the budget
[clears throat] coordinating with the

373
00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,760
capital budget committee and their
recommendations.

374
00:28:26,399 --> 00:28:32,600
» I think it should be its
recommendations.

375
00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,600
» Okay.

376
00:28:39,039 --> 00:28:46,159
Um, [clears throat]
sorry,

377
00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:50,960
» sorry, typo here. Okay. All right.
>> Estimating sources of revenue from

378
00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:55,600
sources other than the levy.
>> Oops.

379
00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:58,720
» Is that what just happened?
>> Z

380
00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,679
undo and
>> Sorry. [laughter]

381
00:29:00,159 --> 00:29:04,720
» I don't know what's going on. You know
what? On a mind of his own,

382
00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:09,360
» Marcy, this would be a good time to
>> save occasionally. [laughter]

383
00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:12,799
» I will save. I can save. Okay, keep
talking. Now,

384
00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:19,640
» Al, for number four, are you including
state aid as well as nonprofits?

385
00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,640
» Um,

386
00:29:19,919 --> 00:29:28,159
yeah, you know, I mean, we we we've got
to, you know, estimate this state aid.

387
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:31,600
Um, you know, we get um new growth, for
example.

388
00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:37,520
um
the uh

389
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:40,159
money we we get from the not nonprofits.
Um you know there's there's a consider

390
00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:43,919
that
>> excise taxes um

391
00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:49,679
» uh
lodging taxes you know there there's a

392
00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:52,000
there's a whole paniply of
>> then do you have a better word

393
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:55,279
» revenue?
>> Yeah revenue like that's not revenue

394
00:29:54,159 --> 00:29:58,880
right?
>> Pardon?

395
00:29:55,919 --> 00:30:03,360
» That's not revenue right? the gifts from
um

396
00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:07,520
from the schools for example.
>> Yeah,

397
00:30:04,559 --> 00:30:12,799
» I don't think so. I think those are in
the past

398
00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:16,159
they've been for specific purposes, but
I don't know. I'd have to go back. We'd

399
00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,520
have to go and look at that.
>> Yeah, because that's always been like

400
00:30:17,679 --> 00:30:23,200
their their thing like dealing with the
nonprofits and dealing with state aid

401
00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:27,520
and
>> Yeah, that you know, we we don't have

402
00:30:25,679 --> 00:30:31,760
the wherewithal to do that. That's
something that the finance department

403
00:30:29,679 --> 00:30:35,919
finance team really has to be on top of
because

404
00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:38,080
» you know I think we'd be useless in that
process.

405
00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:44,159
» Yeah.
>> Um okay. So

406
00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:49,679
let's see. U then number five is
tracking the current estimated levy

407
00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:54,240
based on the requests and the advisory
recommendations

408
00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:58,159
including the impact on of the levy on
the median assessed home.

409
00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:04,240
me talking property tax
>> be home value. Would it be home value?

410
00:31:02,799 --> 00:31:10,279
Sorry, Eric.
>> Okay.

411
00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:10,279
» The it would be the uh

412
00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:17,679
it should be uh on the tax bill of
>> Yeah.

413
00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:21,720
» on the median that SS
>> property tax. Yeah. Sting.

414
00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:29,720
Does that make sense? The property tax

415
00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:38,720
» impact on the median assessed home
>> or property tax due on the median

416
00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,720
assessed home.

417
00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:50,880
Um then there is uh number six is
maintain the long-term forecast of

418
00:31:49,279 --> 00:31:57,080
revenues and expenses as well as
monitoring economic trends which may

419
00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:57,080
impact future operations

420
00:31:58,559 --> 00:32:05,880
» and somebody account operations. Yeah, I
I don't need to get that specific but

421
00:32:09,919 --> 00:32:13,600
Yeah,
>> I'm sorry.

422
00:32:12,272 --> 00:32:17,240
[laughter] Somebody was messaging me
too. Okay.

423
00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:24,640
» Can you just repeat what you just said?
>> Oh, I think for number six, that's

424
00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:28,559
broadly the entire town operations, not
would encompass DPW and and all the

425
00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:32,577
other folks within the town. Is that
needed for clarity or you think it's

426
00:32:30,399 --> 00:32:34,597
clear enough for number six?
[clears throat]

427
00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:40,360
maintaining.
>> I can go either way on that.

428
00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:45,039
» I I think it makes sense the way it is
probably.

429
00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:48,559
» All right. Good.
>> Then number seven

430
00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:54,399
» should operate. Would it make more sense
to say instead of saying future

431
00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:59,080
operations say future town finances?
>> Yeah, actually that would be better I

432
00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,080
think.

433
00:33:11,919 --> 00:33:17,360
All right.
>> Um, so number seven, provide financial

434
00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:23,039
guidance with respect to expected
sources of income, financing costs and

435
00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:26,559
options.
And then sort of a catch all

436
00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:32,519
» should there should there be a comma
after income?

437
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,519
» Yeah. Yes, there should.

438
00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:40,880
» Okay.
>> Okay.

439
00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:45,039
» And then number eight is just sort of a
providing financial analysis and guiding

440
00:33:43,279 --> 00:33:49,919
guidance.
>> Can I ask when you say options like

441
00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:56,480
options for what?
Um well so for example um

442
00:33:53,440 --> 00:34:00,240
if we were to take a position with
respect

443
00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:04,399
all right I'm reading f financing cost
sins options together are are lumped

444
00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:08,240
together in the concept of financing
considerations

445
00:34:06,399 --> 00:34:14,560
» okay now now I get it now now it's clear
to me I [clears throat] missed that

446
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:18,560
» okay then uh starting on 61 all parties
are expected to work collaboratively and

447
00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:21,359
provide the required information in a
timely fashion

448
00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:26,240
While it is desirable for all of the
parties to arrive at a consensus budget

449
00:34:23,839 --> 00:34:31,679
that is presented to the to town
meeting, there is no requirement for the

450
00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:35,679
presented bud for presenting such a
budget in the event that the elective

451
00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:40,000
executive disagrees with some portion of
the budget adopted by the advisory

452
00:34:37,919 --> 00:34:42,560
committee.
>> Yeah, you got

453
00:34:41,119 --> 00:34:44,399
» that was a duplicate.
>> No. Okay. Yeah.

454
00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,960
» Yeah, I'll take that.
>> In the event that Yeah, that's my my

455
00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:52,480
bad.
>> It's okay. I had that on my list of

456
00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:55,280
edits and I didn't put them in yet.
>> All right.

457
00:34:53,919 --> 00:34:58,960
» In the event there's such a budget
disagreement

458
00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:02,800
of of such a budget disagreement,
>> the advisory recommendation shall be

459
00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:07,200
read onto the floor of the town meeting
in the normal process and then advocates

460
00:35:05,119 --> 00:35:13,640
for a different sum may make motions
related

461
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:13,640
to the amount in the normal process.

462
00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:19,040
That's kind of the hub of what we're
talking about.

463
00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:28,400
I think that gets to your point you were
asking Eric

464
00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:32,800
like we can come forward with a budget
and perhaps if others don't agree with

465
00:35:30,240 --> 00:35:36,079
it they have the chance to change it on
the floor of town meeting.

466
00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:41,760
» Yeah. Now that part that that Yeah. And
then so now I think the the the

467
00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:45,839
sequence or the cadence of steps when we
get involved I think is now it's clear

468
00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:50,880
to me that we'll receive it review it
recommend submit and then people can

469
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:55,760
agree or not or disagree that's fine but
we have our view and that's our view.

470
00:35:54,880 --> 00:36:02,480
» Yeah. [clears throat]
>> Okay. All right. So then I deleted a

471
00:35:59,359 --> 00:36:07,440
whole bunch of stuff. saw that
>> is the word some appropriate there at

472
00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:12,240
» advocates for
>> advocates for a different

473
00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:17,760
» you could probably say advocates for
changes uh or something like that

474
00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:25,760
» or advocates for an alternative budget
or something like that.

475
00:36:21,359 --> 00:36:30,000
I mean some some just seems a little bit
>> ambiguous. Well, we are talking about

476
00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:37,119
money and
>> yeah, I I I think it is a sum,

477
00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:42,800
» but yeah, a different amount would be
just as fine.

478
00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:47,560
» That may make more sense. Okay.
Yeah, different amount. Okay.

479
00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:54,960
» All right. [clears throat]
>> Then on to 86.

480
00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:58,800
» Yep.
>> Okay. So all parties under this policy

481
00:36:57,119 --> 00:37:04,160
are expected to comply with the annual
budget calendar's milestones deadlines

482
00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:11,280
when they are set each year. As part of
the part of this, department heads and

483
00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:15,359
other budget proposers must
must in a timely fashion provide the

484
00:37:13,839 --> 00:37:20,400
finance director with all of the
information needed for the creation of

485
00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:26,480
an informative budget document which
will be made available to the voters at

486
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:31,280
least 7 days prior to town meeting.
>> Does um does the term department heads

487
00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:35,320
include the schools?
>> It does. Um

488
00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:41,520
it up in the U if you go scroll up to
the top.

489
00:37:39,839 --> 00:37:47,599
» I believe you. I believe you up.
>> Yeah. [laughter]

490
00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:52,160
Yeah, it was there in the preamble
that that was Brian's work, not mine.

491
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:54,000
» I think it's also in the sequence of
events, the

492
00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:57,359
» Yeah.
>> sample calendar.

493
00:37:55,920 --> 00:38:02,280
» Yeah. Okay.
>> And you can delete the word be in 89.

494
00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:09,280
near the end.
>> Oh,

495
00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:15,599
made available to voters needed for
>> which is which is made available.

496
00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:21,119
» Oh, sorry. Yeah, it was hiding there on
me. Okay. Yep.

497
00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:27,680
I think this is very good because I I it
seems as if in the past we've, you know,

498
00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:31,359
had budgets that went to the town meet.
you know, if you pick up the the

499
00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:37,359
documents at town meeting, it may be the
first you're seeing of this. So, um I'm

500
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:42,560
aware that other towns actually do a
mailer to voters like

501
00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:46,560
» weeks in advance. So, I think this is a
minimum good a good time frame.

502
00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:50,280
» And town meetingings should probably be
capitalized in 90.

503
00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:54,800
» Yes.
>> Yep.

504
00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:58,880
If we miss any of these, I'll tweak
them.

505
00:38:57,040 --> 00:39:06,000
Um, all right.
>> All right. So then the budget goals,

506
00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:11,200
this gets a little soft, but and um at a
minimum each year, the town's budget

507
00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:16,320
goals include the following from the
general fund. The goals for the general

508
00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:22,000
fund include assuring that the funds are
efficiently and effectively utilized.

509
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:27,520
That was I think that was uh Barry
preserving core services, fulfilling

510
00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:32,880
required mandates and maintaining and
enhancing local quality of life while

511
00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:37,839
ensuring reserve levels that allow
flexibility to respond to changes in the

512
00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:42,160
economy and other unanticipated
issues that could potentially affect the

513
00:39:39,839 --> 00:39:45,160
town's physical health.
>> That's

514
00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:51,280
» Yep.
>> Okay. Okay. So then capital

515
00:39:49,119 --> 00:39:54,720
» Oh, I'm sorry.
I didn't change anything there.

516
00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:58,480
» Yeah.
>> Nor did I change anything under the

517
00:39:56,480 --> 00:40:03,359
water enterprise funds.
>> Yeah.

518
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:11,599
» Um so then uh the principles for
sustained budgets.

519
00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:16,560
Um I deleted the first line
because yeah. And um assuring that the

520
00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:20,640
creation of a budget is structurally
balanced and sustainable for future

521
00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:25,599
years requires the town to support
recurring expenditures in each annual

522
00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:30,400
operating budget using only recurring or
current revenues. Current revenues are

523
00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:38,160
those revenues that the town brings in
during the budget budgeted fiscal year

524
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:43,280
and they taxes excise fees yacht and so
forth and free c and I added in and free

525
00:40:41,280 --> 00:40:47,640
cash. Mhm.
>> Um that's kind of that

526
00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:55,839
that's that's a this is going to be I
think a substantial debate

527
00:40:52,000 --> 00:41:02,560
which is good. I I have my own view on
free cash which is it's was money we

528
00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:08,079
raised in the prior year that we told
the voters was absolutely necessary for

529
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:13,440
the town to operate that turned out not
to be so. And so I'm adamantly opposed

530
00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:16,240
to sort of trying to stick that into
little slush funds.

531
00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:21,680
» Mhm.
>> Um but other people may feel I think you

532
00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:26,079
know it ought to be used as quickly as
possible because we took it from the

533
00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:30,000
taxpayers because we said we absolutely
needed it so we better we should use it.

534
00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:38,720
That's that's my two cents.
>> I mean free free cash went up when town

535
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:43,839
meeting voted to reduce the reserve.
Right. That that's that's what it is,

536
00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:51,680
right?
>> Well, yes, it um it's gone up because

537
00:41:48,079 --> 00:41:58,640
we've had some good news uh on a few
items and we haven't necessar and uh in

538
00:41:55,520 --> 00:42:02,880
a couple of years it was because um we
had turnover and you know there were

539
00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:07,359
budgets turned back budget money turned
back.

540
00:42:04,720 --> 00:42:11,440
» So it comes from a variety of sources. I
I guess what I'm saying, Al, is if you

541
00:42:09,119 --> 00:42:14,079
want, there's always a way to increase
your free cash year-over-year.

542
00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:22,960
» Yes.
>> And and ways were found to offset

543
00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:28,160
the lowering of the reserve is is all
I'm saying, right? There's a there's a

544
00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:34,319
strong desire within certain segments of
the town to have this reserve

545
00:42:31,359 --> 00:42:39,040
available, which is why Al, you're in
for a fight.

546
00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:47,280
Yes. And and you know for that matter
this body may not agree with me. um you

547
00:42:42,079 --> 00:42:54,960
know uh there. So
I guess my observation and I I I'm not

548
00:42:49,599 --> 00:43:00,480
trying to be uncharitable here is
>> the town officials and employees would

549
00:42:57,040 --> 00:43:04,720
like to see a bigger reserve fund
because it provides them with additional

550
00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:06,640
security
and

551
00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:10,560
» Right.
>> And and now who who controls the reserve

552
00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:17,040
fund?
Uh uh I'm sorry uh the state it's it's

553
00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:20,720
not reserve it's stabilization st
>> okay yeah okay you use the word right

554
00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:24,000
word here
>> stabilization yes

555
00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:27,119
» yeah we control the reserve fund but
it's the stabilization fund and the

556
00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:32,560
desire to put
>> to to to take the free cash and put it

557
00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:35,760
into the stabilization fund
>> other words move it from operations to

558
00:43:34,319 --> 00:43:37,200
the balance sheet
>> yes

559
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:40,079
» right
>> and you

560
00:43:40,319 --> 00:43:47,200
Yeah, but you know using free cash for
that. I mean my my personal opinion is

561
00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:50,960
is I mean if if we want to have a
stabilization fund, we should create a

562
00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:55,520
stabilization fund and fund it to the
level that we agree it should be. But

563
00:43:53,440 --> 00:44:00,800
using free cash
>> stabilization fund strikes me as being a

564
00:43:57,680 --> 00:44:05,960
little bit misleading. But that's the
point, Larry, is like

565
00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:15,520
the the lowering of the of of our
reserves

566
00:44:11,359 --> 00:44:17,680
resulted in this new policy.
Right.

567
00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:22,440
» Mhm.
>> Yes.

568
00:44:18,079 --> 00:44:22,440
» Right. And so

569
00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:33,319
um we need to decide
if we want to collectively fight this

570
00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:33,319
battle or not. Um

571
00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:40,480
you know town meeting voted to lower the
reserves.

572
00:44:38,240 --> 00:44:45,040
Um the town does not want to lower the
reserves. So this something that I think

573
00:44:43,839 --> 00:44:49,040
people should think about and how they
feel about it.

574
00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:51,760
» Yeah.
Yeah,

575
00:44:49,839 --> 00:44:55,880
» line 121. You should get rid of those
commas around or current.

576
00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:08,319
» All right.
>> Yeah. I mean, this is a substantial

577
00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:12,640
» Yeah.
>> question. You know, I have my my view,

578
00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:17,079
which is that, you know, I'm not I'm not
a big fan of stabilization funds.

579
00:45:17,119 --> 00:45:25,599
Uh, I mean, you have to admit, Al, that
they're handy. In certain years, the

580
00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:28,800
stabilization fund has helped us avoid
>> Prop 2 and a half overrides.

581
00:45:27,680 --> 00:45:32,319
» Yeah.
>> Yes. Well, we used

582
00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:35,119
» I think even just last year.
>> Yeah.

583
00:45:33,839 --> 00:45:37,280
Yeah. [clears throat]
>> But

584
00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:41,040
» so,
right, I mean, on the one hand, you're

585
00:45:38,720 --> 00:45:46,240
taxing people now for a benefit to
people in the future, right, which isn't

586
00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:52,800
fair. On the other hand,
it does give you flexibility.

587
00:45:48,960 --> 00:45:57,440
» Although I mean the the the normal use
of a stabilization fund is is

588
00:45:55,280 --> 00:46:02,640
stabilization. That is to deal with
situations where there are potentially

589
00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:08,000
large year-to-year changes in a
particular area. So for example, special

590
00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:12,160
education strikes me as being, you know,
a perfect area for a stabilization fund.

591
00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:16,960
It's very hard to forecast from year to
year and it changes a lot. Um, but you

592
00:46:15,119 --> 00:46:21,760
know, most of the things that we budget,
you know, salaries for the fire

593
00:46:19,119 --> 00:46:25,680
department, you know, we should know
what they are. We should be able to

594
00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:30,880
budget them. Um, and mo I think most of
our line items fall into that category

595
00:46:28,079 --> 00:46:35,520
that that we're we're we're smart enough
after many years of budgeting to know

596
00:46:33,119 --> 00:46:41,200
what the value should be and shouldn't
need a large reserve to cover unexpected

597
00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:46,480
changes. But there are clearly things
like special special education that I

598
00:46:43,520 --> 00:46:50,160
believe it makes sense for.
>> What order of magnitude of dollars are

599
00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:53,520
we talking about? Typically
>> couple million.

600
00:46:51,200 --> 00:46:57,040
» No, I think the stabilization fund I
think has like the last time I looked,

601
00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:59,839
which was a while back, was like
$600,000,

602
00:46:58,319 --> 00:47:04,880
» right? But free cash out.
>> Oh, free cash. Yeah, it it typically

603
00:47:02,319 --> 00:47:09,359
runs somewhere between one and a half
and three million. I mean, it's not it's

604
00:47:07,359 --> 00:47:11,920
not chicken feed. No, I say that's not
trivial.

605
00:47:10,240 --> 00:47:15,599
» Yeah. And stabilization used to be
bigger.

606
00:47:12,720 --> 00:47:20,560
» Yeah. Several million at one point.
>> Yeah. So you guys can piece together

607
00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:23,040
like the story of what happened here.
>> Uh

608
00:47:21,119 --> 00:47:28,480
» so Tim, are you saying that we used to
have an official stabilization fund?

609
00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:30,640
» We still do. It just used to be fun.
>> Okay. But now it's just called free

610
00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:34,960
cash.
>> Yes. There was a there was a large

611
00:47:32,319 --> 00:47:41,200
debate a long time ago
to lower the stabilization because

612
00:47:38,400 --> 00:47:43,680
you're basically holding citizens money
>> instead of letting citizens have their

613
00:47:42,720 --> 00:47:45,200
money.
>> Right.

614
00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:49,440
» Right.
>> And the citizens chose citizens that

615
00:47:47,119 --> 00:47:51,839
town meeting chose to take their money
back.

616
00:47:50,800 --> 00:47:54,319
» Okay.
>> Yeah.

617
00:47:52,240 --> 00:47:57,680
» But the finance process I mean like any
company you have some level I mean I I

618
00:47:56,079 --> 00:48:02,720
use the term contingency is what I'm
used to for from finance. did some

619
00:47:59,920 --> 00:48:07,520
contingency is a good thing just to your
point the flexibility but I guess the

620
00:48:05,040 --> 00:48:11,359
quantum tam as you say people didn't
they wanted their money back but at some

621
00:48:08,960 --> 00:48:13,520
point you have to have some money for
for unknowns of course. Yeah.

622
00:48:13,200 --> 00:48:22,720
» Yeah.
>> Well we so we do have the reserve fund

623
00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:26,319
and and most years we don't spend
the majority of that.

624
00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:30,160
» Yeah.
You know, I think in the last couple

625
00:48:28,559 --> 00:48:35,680
years we've done a little better or
worse depending on on your point of

626
00:48:32,720 --> 00:48:40,119
view, but you know, where where did the
reserve fund end up this year?

627
00:48:40,559 --> 00:48:47,760
Do you do you recall?
>> Yeah, I think we had two I think Tim was

628
00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:51,813
right. Like $2 million. Oh, the reserve
fund. I'm sorry. Um I had it written

629
00:48:50,079 --> 00:48:53,833
down from last meeting. One second.
[clears throat]

630
00:48:53,839 --> 00:48:59,200
» Did we say 180? I think it's
>> I think it was 180.

631
00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:04,640
» We have 180. And how much do we actually
spend out of that?

632
00:49:01,359 --> 00:49:07,280
» Uh I think it was 72.
>> Yeah. And that that's that's pretty

633
00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:10,960
normal.
>> Yeah. I mean,

634
00:49:08,720 --> 00:49:15,119
» we could certainly argue about the
reserve fund and whether that's an

635
00:49:12,480 --> 00:49:20,559
appropriate amount. I think that's, you
know, that's that's that's

636
00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:23,800
a debate that should happen within the
budget process.

637
00:49:24,880 --> 00:49:33,599
It it's I think it's true that last year
having free cash did prevent us from

638
00:49:31,440 --> 00:49:36,480
laying people off.
>> Yeah.

639
00:49:34,160 --> 00:49:41,599
» Yeah.
>> Yeah.

640
00:49:38,720 --> 00:49:47,839
» But that's not I mean, you know, I'm not
advocating laying people off, but using

641
00:49:44,720 --> 00:49:54,720
free cash to prevent it simply pushes
the problem to the following year.

642
00:49:51,040 --> 00:50:04,000
Um, and This is your free cash uh in
doing so. So it it if if you

643
00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:08,000
if if you don't treat it in in a
reasonable way, all you're doing is

644
00:50:05,599 --> 00:50:11,040
pushing it off and avoiding the
eventually you're going to have to do

645
00:50:09,599 --> 00:50:14,559
the thing that you're trying to avoid
anyway.

646
00:50:12,480 --> 00:50:19,839
» Yes. Eventually you're going to have to
either lay people off or cut capital.

647
00:50:18,160 --> 00:50:22,319
» Well, or or have a two and a half
override.

648
00:50:20,720 --> 00:50:25,680
» Or two and a half override, right? which
has never

649
00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:30,800
» you know well yeah and you know we're
knocking on that door this year

650
00:50:28,720 --> 00:50:34,240
» or next year um
>> right

651
00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:39,119
» but you know yes I think it would be
proper to say that the use of free cash

652
00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:44,800
allowed us to delay
requesting a two and a half override by

653
00:50:41,680 --> 00:50:47,800
by a year
>> and

654
00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:56,559
all right um well let's let's Let's
press onward and

655
00:50:54,240 --> 00:51:02,880
» yeah, this is obviously
>> one

656
00:50:57,359 --> 00:51:09,599
» a big one. Let's see then. Um I didn't
change much other than sort of changing

657
00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:14,599
the the tents which Larry provided us in
in the next section.

658
00:51:11,599 --> 00:51:14,599
» Yep.

659
00:51:15,599 --> 00:51:23,280
with the exception of um you know when
the forecast predicts that annual

660
00:51:21,119 --> 00:51:29,725
revenues will exceed annual expenditures
which as near as I can tell is never

661
00:51:26,079 --> 00:51:29,725
going to happen. [laughter]

662
00:51:31,119 --> 00:51:38,480
We could explore uh levy reductions.
Just tax relief was

663
00:51:37,599 --> 00:51:45,720
» um
>> I think it would be it would be more

664
00:51:40,240 --> 00:51:45,720
helpful if we did the opposite exercise.

665
00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:58,920
I mean when uh the forecast predicts the
revenues will will will fall short of

666
00:51:55,440 --> 00:51:58,920
expected expenditures.

667
00:52:01,040 --> 00:52:10,480
Yeah. What's our what's is is should we
have a policy about

668
00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:11,680
the priorities of
>> right

669
00:52:11,200 --> 00:52:16,240
» where
>> right because because there are options

670
00:52:13,280 --> 00:52:23,119
right you can you can abandon a level
service model

671
00:52:19,520 --> 00:52:28,000
you can purs you know pursue layoffs you
can abandon capital like there are you

672
00:52:26,240 --> 00:52:32,680
can you can say screw it let's just have
an override right Yeah.

673
00:52:32,960 --> 00:52:38,640
» Are you suggesting we should add a line
like another number here with the

674
00:52:37,440 --> 00:52:44,720
opposite or no?
>> I just I just have a feeling that the

675
00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:47,920
town like the the near the near future
advisory and select boards are going and

676
00:52:46,559 --> 00:52:51,839
school boards are going to have to talk
about this anyway.

677
00:52:49,920 --> 00:52:56,160
» And I think it's a great idea. I think
adding it in there for complete

678
00:52:53,599 --> 00:52:59,359
visibility I think will be there would
be very helpful.

679
00:52:57,920 --> 00:53:04,240
» Yeah.
And this is partly why I feel so

680
00:53:01,200 --> 00:53:09,440
strongly that advisory should be on the
call when the initial financial policies

681
00:53:07,520 --> 00:53:13,599
are being set for the year.
>> Mhm.

682
00:53:11,520 --> 00:53:18,559
» Yep.
>> So we would uh have a section

683
00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:23,359
six.
>> Yeah. Exactly.

684
00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:27,280
» Yeah. I think that's important. I mean
number number five basically tells you

685
00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:30,720
all the things that you should do in a
very low probability event and we don't

686
00:53:29,520 --> 00:53:34,880
say what you should do in a high
probability event. [laughter]

687
00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:38,800
» So how do we want to phrase this guys
like when a a forecast predicts annual

688
00:53:36,960 --> 00:53:42,319
revenues to
>> fall short

689
00:53:39,599 --> 00:53:45,280
» fall short or I'll come up with a better
word later but fall short

690
00:53:43,839 --> 00:53:50,240
» just reverse the words from the previous
line annual expenses to exceed annual

691
00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:52,319
revenues. Yeah, just
>> okay.

692
00:53:50,800 --> 00:53:54,720
» Just reverse the two items from the
previous one.

693
00:53:53,280 --> 00:53:57,960
» Copy paste it and just move a couple
words around.

694
00:53:58,559 --> 00:54:03,920
» Revenue
>> expenses

695
00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:11,920
» annual expend annual expenditures to
exceed annual revenues

696
00:54:08,079 --> 00:54:16,640
or or expected annual revenues or or
with Yeah, that's probably fine.

697
00:54:14,319 --> 00:54:21,160
» We can tweak it a little bit.
>> Yes.

698
00:54:18,160 --> 00:54:21,160
Yeah,

699
00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:28,079
» I heard uh
>> uh

700
00:54:24,319 --> 00:54:35,640
» abandoned level service.
>> So consider cuts in service levels

701
00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:35,640
» of reductions in service levels.

702
00:54:38,000 --> 00:54:48,359
» Something like that.
>> Cut back on capital plans. Yeah. Yeah.

703
00:54:45,359 --> 00:54:48,359
um

704
00:54:50,640 --> 00:54:55,359
layoffs.
>> Oh, you could say uh tableabling new

705
00:54:54,160 --> 00:54:58,359
initiatives.
>> Mhm.

706
00:55:01,920 --> 00:55:09,920
» You could say hiring free slash
>> just placements.

707
00:55:08,640 --> 00:55:13,760
» Yeah, I think we're going to talk about
that a little more later as well, but

708
00:55:11,839 --> 00:55:17,920
» yeah, I agree. Hiring freeze. And what
else did you say, Tim? Sorry.

709
00:55:15,520 --> 00:55:21,040
» Lash displacements.
>> Are payraises generally contractually

710
00:55:19,839 --> 00:55:22,720
obligated?
>> Yep.

711
00:55:21,760 --> 00:55:23,760
» Generally,
>> they're [clears throat] not going to

712
00:55:23,200 --> 00:55:28,000
touch that.
>> Most of our most of our employees are

713
00:55:26,800 --> 00:55:30,640
unionized and
>> Yeah.

714
00:55:28,400 --> 00:55:35,760
» Yeah. So, there's
>> Yep. You're not going to touch that.

715
00:55:32,319 --> 00:55:38,760
» And then you should add override as a
bullet.

716
00:55:38,960 --> 00:55:44,319
» What? Tax increases and overrides.
>> Yeah.

717
00:55:46,720 --> 00:55:57,200
And in the headerline six, I would add
um just like five um after the word

718
00:55:54,880 --> 00:56:01,680
revenues, I'd say, comma, the following
options should be considered

719
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:04,920
um to address the shortfall or something
like that.

720
00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:14,240
» Should Sorry, not me.
been doing a better job at typing than I

721
00:56:11,839 --> 00:56:18,640
ever would in real time. [laughter]
>> Considered to address

722
00:56:16,720 --> 00:56:23,799
» I don't know the short call.
>> Yeah.

723
00:56:19,839 --> 00:56:23,799
» Yeah. We're having a short callus.

724
00:56:26,319 --> 00:56:31,028
» I don't mind typing. It's hard not to
see anybody. [laughter]

725
00:56:31,040 --> 00:56:38,359
Um, so hopefully I'm not
>> The other thing I think we might want to

726
00:56:34,160 --> 00:56:38,359
say is um

727
00:56:38,960 --> 00:56:51,920
financing versus uh
expendit expend what's the right word

728
00:56:48,000 --> 00:56:55,359
fin for capital items. Uh
>> you mean

729
00:56:52,640 --> 00:57:01,839
» expensing for for reductions of capital
plan and financing options.

730
00:56:58,720 --> 00:57:04,079
» Okay. Would sell assets ever be
seriously considered for a budget

731
00:57:03,280 --> 00:57:05,760
shortfall?
>> Yeah.

732
00:57:04,960 --> 00:57:08,400
» Yeah.
>> Yes.

733
00:57:07,839 --> 00:57:15,569
» Okay.
>> We're going to sell Main Street between

734
00:57:10,799 --> 00:57:15,569
Levama and um [laughter]

735
00:57:18,160 --> 00:57:24,680
» I mean just for clarity obviously town
owned assets. Yeah.

736
00:57:21,680 --> 00:57:24,680
» Yeah.

737
00:57:28,880 --> 00:57:31,960
All right.

738
00:57:32,480 --> 00:57:40,440
» Yeah, that's a good point.
>> Uh, you know, the other one is would be

739
00:57:35,680 --> 00:57:40,440
uh transfers from stabilization

740
00:57:41,520 --> 00:57:45,680
» or free cash.
>> Sorry,

741
00:57:44,319 --> 00:57:49,599
» I'm going to put that down here.
Transfers from stabilization.

742
00:57:49,440 --> 00:57:55,240
That's
>> pretty fun.

743
00:57:52,240 --> 00:57:55,240
» Okay.

744
00:58:03,359 --> 00:58:08,160
Yeah, that's helpful. That
>> any others? Yeah, this is very helpful.

745
00:58:06,079 --> 00:58:13,920
» Yeah. Um,
what do you think of regionalization?

746
00:58:11,040 --> 00:58:21,520
» Uh, we can certainly talk about
alternative uh forms of organization.

747
00:58:19,359 --> 00:58:24,520
» Yeah.
Should

748
00:58:26,240 --> 00:58:32,920
I say organizational structure or
something like that or

749
00:58:29,920 --> 00:58:32,920
» Sure.

750
00:58:35,440 --> 00:58:38,440
» Yep.

751
00:58:38,480 --> 00:58:45,520
» Okay. So then number seven,
>> okay,

752
00:58:42,240 --> 00:58:51,839
» is board of assessors will vote to
authorize a contribution to the overlay

753
00:58:49,599 --> 00:58:56,240
account to offset the town's liability
for unpaid property taxes caused by

754
00:58:54,000 --> 00:59:02,559
abatements and exemptions. This amount
should be based on the these those three

755
00:58:59,280 --> 00:59:05,960
factors. That's kind of that's up to the
board of assessors.

756
00:59:06,559 --> 00:59:17,040
Then, um, the budget calendar, I really
didn't change much of anything in this,

757
00:59:13,920 --> 00:59:20,960
» except for I misspelled publish.
>> Publishes

758
00:59:19,119 --> 00:59:24,880
» line 179. Yeah.
>> Yeah.

759
00:59:22,400 --> 00:59:28,559
» Yep. I think that's already fixed when
we do the direct changes. We'll get rid

760
00:59:26,480 --> 00:59:34,359
of that.
All right.

761
00:59:30,319 --> 00:59:34,359
sample calendar I

762
00:59:35,920 --> 00:59:43,359
» and um
that that was the end of my you know I

763
00:59:40,640 --> 00:59:46,880
propo I would propose that we delete the
appendix although I think it was very

764
00:59:45,119 --> 00:59:53,520
helpful
>> I um that was my biggest comment Al um

765
00:59:50,319 --> 00:59:57,920
on my document is this required I feel
like it creates confusion I think it's

766
00:59:56,000 --> 01:00:02,799
helpful for the review process but I
don't think we would want it in the

767
00:59:59,119 --> 01:00:07,359
final document. It's just my two cents.
>> Yeah, I agree. We've got the citations

768
01:00:05,359 --> 01:00:11,680
to all the authorities are there. We
don't need to

769
01:00:08,640 --> 01:00:16,960
» just lay all this out there.
>> Yeah. Okay. It's advised we agree that

770
01:00:14,960 --> 01:00:20,160
collectively the maybe remove the
appendix what we were referring to as

771
01:00:19,200 --> 01:00:24,640
appendix. Okay.
>> You got the citations as

772
01:00:24,079 --> 01:00:27,760
» was mentioned.
>> It would end here then at at six.

773
01:00:26,880 --> 01:00:32,720
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think that's better. It's the

774
01:00:30,319 --> 01:00:36,640
rest was just a lot of stuff.
>> Okay.

775
01:00:35,119 --> 01:00:41,280
All right. I'm going to stop sharing for
a second. Well, any final Does anyone

776
01:00:39,119 --> 01:00:44,599
want to look at this again? Any final?
We'll get a

777
01:00:44,720 --> 01:00:52,000
» I I draft over, but go ahead.
>> On the the calendar that's there.

778
01:00:49,760 --> 01:00:56,960
» Yeah. Um, I didn't scrutinize it, but is
that the calendar from the old days or

779
01:00:54,079 --> 01:01:01,040
is that the calendar from when we when
we meet

780
01:00:58,799 --> 01:01:06,720
collectively
on Saturday on a Saturday to review to

781
01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:12,240
to talk to department heads.
I feel like it's an all well here it is

782
01:01:09,920 --> 01:01:16,079
like the 28th of February advisory meet
with department heads but I didn't see

783
01:01:14,480 --> 01:01:19,079
unless someone else did like the
Saturday

784
01:01:19,280 --> 01:01:25,680
» as we call it I think it's an old
version Tim probably

785
01:01:22,640 --> 01:01:31,280
» this is just a sample I think I don't we
treat this as

786
01:01:28,079 --> 01:01:36,160
» what does it do we say this is a sample
>> yeah I think it does it says that

787
01:01:34,880 --> 01:01:41,119
Yeah.
>> Okay. Thank you.

788
01:01:38,559 --> 01:01:48,920
» Yep.
Any other

789
01:01:43,359 --> 01:01:48,920
clarifying uh questions or comments?

790
01:01:50,640 --> 01:01:55,480
All right, I'm going to stop sharing
this one.

791
01:02:03,040 --> 01:02:10,400
Let's see.
I'm back. Um,

792
01:02:08,240 --> 01:02:14,799
thank you guys for that. Uh, the next
one,

793
01:02:11,920 --> 01:02:21,119
where are we at on time board? 8:41.
So, the next one will not uh be

794
01:02:17,280 --> 01:02:25,520
discussed, you know, anytime soon I
think at the uh select board and it's

795
01:02:23,119 --> 01:02:29,920
also our policy. So, but it's also very
much uh a shorter document. So, does

796
01:02:28,079 --> 01:02:36,960
everybody agree to push ahead? You want
to review the reserve fund tonight?

797
01:02:34,079 --> 01:02:39,680
thoughts.
I couldn't hear anybody say anything.

798
01:02:39,088 --> 01:02:45,480
[laughter]
Okay. All right. Hold on a second. Let

799
01:02:42,000 --> 01:02:45,480
me find the document.

800
01:02:46,559 --> 01:02:50,359
Let's see here.

801
01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:54,680
The

802
01:03:00,559 --> 01:03:08,599
actually I don't think I have the review
document with one second let me find it.

803
01:03:12,960 --> 01:03:18,319
I think you mailed it out just a little
while ago. So

804
01:03:16,799 --> 01:03:22,000
» I have the original but not the edits
pulled up. I did. I had the edits. I

805
01:03:20,640 --> 01:03:28,720
didn't have the edits pulled up. One
second. All right. Now I found it.

806
01:03:27,119 --> 01:03:34,799
Larry, I'm gonna let you talk some about
this if you don't mind since you

807
01:03:31,359 --> 01:03:39,200
» since you provided some uh helpful edits
here. Think I have the right screen.

808
01:03:37,119 --> 01:03:45,079
» Put the line
number on.

809
01:03:39,760 --> 01:03:45,079
» Yeah, we'll put the line on again. Okay.

810
01:03:47,760 --> 01:03:54,440
Actually, do we need the Let me see.
I'll try to do that.

811
01:03:59,680 --> 01:04:04,960
All right.
>> Back of a cursor you got there.

812
01:04:04,894 --> 01:04:09,599
[laughter]
>> I know. Don't ask me why it's like that.

813
01:04:08,160 --> 01:04:11,440
It's a long story, but I'll tell you
later.

814
01:04:10,079 --> 01:04:16,000
» It changes the meaning of the term
Ibeam.

815
01:04:12,799 --> 01:04:21,599
» I know it. I know it. Um, so again, I'll
uh Yeah, I'll tell you guys later. next

816
01:04:17,599 --> 01:04:24,960
week in in person. All right. Uh Larry,
you wanna

817
01:04:23,200 --> 01:04:29,119
» help lead the discussion on this one?
>> So, um in the first section here, you

818
01:04:27,599 --> 01:04:32,559
know, again, this was the first time I
read this and it could just be, you

819
01:04:31,440 --> 01:04:38,480
know, that I don't have a lot of
context, but I just thought that this

820
01:04:36,319 --> 01:04:43,440
seemed to just be a lot of disconnected
pieces with terms

821
01:04:40,880 --> 01:04:50,319
um that, you know, referred to things
that I wasn't quite sure of. So, um, you

822
01:04:47,839 --> 01:04:54,720
know, for example, number two, it says a
copy of meeting agendas. The the

823
01:04:52,960 --> 01:05:02,640
advisory committee sends the town
administrator a copy of meeting agendas.

824
01:04:56,960 --> 01:05:07,760
What meetings are we talking about um
there? Um,

825
01:05:04,880 --> 01:05:11,319
» I mean, it would it would be our our
schedule, right?

826
01:05:12,240 --> 01:05:16,960
» I agree with you. I'm not even sure what
that means, but

827
01:05:16,480 --> 01:05:21,680
um
>> I mean I'm I'm this is in the context of

828
01:05:19,359 --> 01:05:23,200
somebody requesting a reserve fund
transfer.

829
01:05:22,799 --> 01:05:28,880
» Um
>> I think it means like after we vote

830
01:05:26,240 --> 01:05:32,079
um we would send a copy of the we we
would have it on the agenda. We would

831
01:05:30,319 --> 01:05:38,160
send a copy of the agenda and then I
think we have to send a copy of the

832
01:05:35,039 --> 01:05:43,119
minutes. the the the process I think is
that

833
01:05:40,160 --> 01:05:48,839
we inform the the the town administrator
when we will act on the request

834
01:05:48,880 --> 01:05:57,119
which is typically via the agenda
>> agenda.

835
01:05:53,119 --> 01:06:01,799
» So it would be a copy of the meeting
agenda addressing the request

836
01:06:02,799 --> 01:06:05,960
and p

837
01:06:07,039 --> 01:06:14,559
should be agenda.
>> Yeah.

838
01:06:12,240 --> 01:06:20,400
» Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> The ne the next one I I just thought it

839
01:06:17,119 --> 01:06:25,440
should say uh when the request is
scheduled to be discussed.

840
01:06:22,960 --> 01:06:30,240
We're we're not scheduling the request.
We're scheduling the discussion I think.

841
01:06:27,280 --> 01:06:32,319
Right.
>> So is scheduled for discussion.

842
01:06:32,000 --> 01:06:35,119
» Yeah.
>> Yeah.

843
01:06:36,640 --> 01:06:43,680
Okay.
>> Um then the next one

844
01:06:41,039 --> 01:06:48,160
um
what I Okay. Does not identify other

845
01:06:46,000 --> 01:06:52,720
sources for the requested funds. Oh,
instead of saying identifies no other

846
01:06:50,319 --> 01:06:57,839
sources for the funds requested, which
seems like somewhat tortured wording, I

847
01:06:56,000 --> 01:07:02,440
think something like does not identify
other sources for the requested funds.

848
01:07:02,559 --> 01:07:05,559
Yeah.

849
01:07:05,680 --> 01:07:08,680
Okay.

850
01:07:14,480 --> 01:07:20,000
» If the town administrator does not
identify other sources for the requested

851
01:07:18,799 --> 01:07:23,520
funds,
>> I'm I'm sort of baffled by that whole

852
01:07:22,160 --> 01:07:26,880
sentence.
>> He only comes to us if he hasn't

853
01:07:25,119 --> 01:07:30,720
identified.
>> Yeah, that's that's a good point.

854
01:07:28,720 --> 01:07:35,680
» Yeah. I said I would say the town
administrators expected to explore other

855
01:07:33,200 --> 01:07:40,400
sources of funds prior to the making
this request.

856
01:07:37,039 --> 01:07:47,119
» I mean we we've had we've had people
come to us with requests and then they

857
01:07:43,599 --> 01:07:52,720
got it somewhere else
like it's it's kind of like a push back

858
01:07:49,440 --> 01:07:55,839
make it's kind of a you know you sure
are you sure you don't have the money in

859
01:07:54,640 --> 01:08:00,079
your budget? Are you sure there isn't an
inter departmental transfer you can do?

860
01:07:58,480 --> 01:08:05,440
Um, do you really need advisories
reserve?

861
01:08:02,880 --> 01:08:10,000
That's what that's what that is, I
think.

862
01:08:08,240 --> 01:08:13,119
» Well, so um,
>> should we leave it like that or do you

863
01:08:11,200 --> 01:08:18,080
want more of a declarative statement?
I'd make it more declarative which is

864
01:08:15,440 --> 01:08:23,520
the town administrator is responsible
for identifying if other sources of

865
01:08:20,799 --> 01:08:28,480
funding are available
>> or or that there are no other sources of

866
01:08:25,839 --> 01:08:31,199
funding available prior to making this
request.

867
01:08:29,520 --> 01:08:36,239
» I mean it would not be number four then
right? would

868
01:08:33,040 --> 01:08:42,880
» well I would delete number four and say
and and replace it with the town

869
01:08:39,359 --> 01:08:48,960
administrator is res responsible for
making sure that no other sources of

870
01:08:44,640 --> 01:08:54,920
funding are available for this request.
>> Yeah. I mean it seems to me it should be

871
01:08:50,960 --> 01:08:54,920
between one and two,

872
01:08:54,960 --> 01:09:01,920
» right? you it
>> we shouldn't get the request until the

873
01:09:00,319 --> 01:09:06,560
town administrator has done this
>> right

874
01:09:02,319 --> 01:09:10,719
» yes yeah you're right
>> right so it should be after one it

875
01:09:08,880 --> 01:09:14,960
should be number two I guess
>> right

876
01:09:13,040 --> 01:09:19,400
» advisory committee so after say should
be number two basically

877
01:09:30,960 --> 01:09:40,400
Yeah. So I think it should say if if if
the town administrator cannot identify

878
01:09:37,199 --> 01:09:47,279
other sources for the requested funds,
it notifies

879
01:09:43,040 --> 01:09:53,520
the advisory he notifi or he she it
notifies the advisory committee. um and

880
01:09:50,799 --> 01:10:01,320
somehow combine it with number number
four about comments. I'm not sure how

881
01:09:55,840 --> 01:10:01,320
that plays into the whole thing. Um

882
01:10:01,760 --> 01:10:07,040
» okay. So the town administrator is
responsible for identifying no other

883
01:10:06,000 --> 01:10:10,320
sources of
>> No. Well,

884
01:10:08,560 --> 01:10:15,280
» that doesn't make sense. that. No.
>> If if the [laughter] if the town if the

885
01:10:12,640 --> 01:10:20,600
town identifier if the town
administrator cannot identify other

886
01:10:17,600 --> 01:10:20,600
sources

887
01:10:23,920 --> 01:10:30,000
cannot identify other sources for the
requested funds.

888
01:10:40,239 --> 01:10:50,000
other sources for the requested funds.
Uh the town administrator forwards the

889
01:10:46,800 --> 01:10:55,440
request to the advisory committee
with comments if appropriate.

890
01:10:53,600 --> 01:10:58,080
» Supportment.
>> Yeah. I mean I would

891
01:10:56,400 --> 01:11:03,520
» supporting documentation, right?
>> Yeah. I would take advisory committee

892
01:11:00,320 --> 01:11:07,280
out of number one,
>> right? It goes to the town

893
01:11:04,800 --> 01:11:12,640
administrator. He determines whether
there's no other available funds and

894
01:11:09,040 --> 01:11:14,640
only then does he send it to advisory.
>> Yes.

895
01:11:13,120 --> 01:11:17,640
» But that's good call.
>> Yes.

896
01:11:20,880 --> 01:11:29,679
» And supporting documentation.
>> Yes. to the advisory committee.

897
01:11:27,760 --> 01:11:34,159
Um
and then

898
01:11:31,840 --> 01:11:38,719
um number four can go away completely
now I think.

899
01:11:36,000 --> 01:11:43,640
» Yeah.
>> I'm sorry my computer's up here.

900
01:11:43,920 --> 01:11:53,000
» And then we can say um actually the
current number four I think can also go

901
01:11:50,000 --> 01:11:53,000
away.

902
01:11:57,440 --> 01:12:04,320
And number three probably makes sense to
say the advisory committee notifies the

903
01:12:02,400 --> 01:12:07,600
town administrator.
Um

904
01:12:06,080 --> 01:12:13,199
» I think we just notify the town
administrator and let him

905
01:12:10,960 --> 01:12:17,280
» notifies the town administrator of the
meeting of of the meeting at which the

906
01:12:15,679 --> 01:12:21,000
request will be discussed or something
like that.

907
01:12:18,000 --> 01:12:21,000
» Yeah.

908
01:12:23,840 --> 01:12:33,159
notifies the town administrator of the
date of the meeting that the request

909
01:12:29,760 --> 01:12:33,159
will be discussed.

910
01:12:37,600 --> 01:12:44,960
» Well, let's see at the meeting
uh

911
01:12:43,440 --> 01:12:51,000
when discussed.
>> Yeah. At which at which the request is

912
01:12:47,520 --> 01:12:51,000
will be discussed.

913
01:12:53,600 --> 01:12:59,560
Okay. So, I think this this sequence now
makes sense

914
01:13:00,800 --> 01:13:09,679
» and and the only change I had to number
four was I think affirmative is better

915
01:13:05,040 --> 01:13:14,679
than positive there. But it's a minor.
I think it's just a following vote.

916
01:13:17,120 --> 01:13:24,480
» Following an affirmative vote. That
would be the only time we would sign the

917
01:13:21,040 --> 01:13:27,480
form, right? Or or
>> Okay.

918
01:13:27,520 --> 01:13:32,400
» And it doesn't require unanimous. It's
just simple majority.

919
01:13:31,840 --> 01:13:37,199
» Yes.
>> Majority.

920
01:13:35,280 --> 01:13:41,679
And I would send it just to the town
administrator and let him distribute it,

921
01:13:39,920 --> 01:13:47,120
you know, rather than putting the
administrator. We should not don't put

922
01:13:44,880 --> 01:13:49,520
the administrative burden on us.
>> Mhm.

923
01:13:48,960 --> 01:13:52,880
» Okay.
>> Yeah.

924
01:13:50,239 --> 01:14:00,360
» Just say sends
a copy to the town administrator.

925
01:13:57,360 --> 01:14:00,360
» Yep.

926
01:14:01,920 --> 01:14:08,600
for
I don't know distribution or Yeah.

927
01:14:13,760 --> 01:14:19,520
» Okay. And I'll I'll let you worry about
all of the bold letters in number two

928
01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:23,440
later. Yeah, I'll take I'll [laughter]
take

929
01:14:21,600 --> 01:14:28,880
» um I didn't
>> I didn't have anything in the paragraph

930
01:14:26,000 --> 01:14:37,840
at 17 or 22.
Um on 29 I suggested that you put after

931
01:14:33,600 --> 01:14:41,600
uh Department of Revenue uh put do in
parentheses because you use that later.

932
01:14:40,719 --> 01:14:45,320
» Yeah.
>> Uh in the document.

933
01:14:47,520 --> 01:15:00,239
Oh, sorry. Did we need typos here?
>> Um, and then another minor issue in 37.

934
01:14:58,000 --> 01:15:06,239
In all of the other places, you had 40
section six without spaces between them.

935
01:15:03,440 --> 01:15:10,040
And here you put spaces in.
>> Okay.

936
01:15:07,040 --> 01:15:10,040
» And

937
01:15:13,040 --> 01:15:21,600
I think it's out without. Okay.
>> Yep. Um,

938
01:15:17,920 --> 01:15:26,480
another minor thing, uh, I would in 43 I
would set off in essence, [snorts]

939
01:15:23,920 --> 01:15:29,480
uh, with commas,
um,

940
01:15:32,640 --> 01:15:42,239
since it's it's
descriptive. And then in

941
01:15:38,960 --> 01:15:46,000
54 I thought it was ambiguous the way it
was written and it said and should not

942
01:15:44,159 --> 01:15:50,320
be used for any other purpose or be
transferred to the reserve back into the

943
01:15:48,080 --> 01:15:54,000
reserve fund. I could easily read that
as also saying and should not be

944
01:15:52,239 --> 01:16:00,159
transferred back into the reserve fund.
>> Yeah, we need a comma. So, uh, I

945
01:15:57,440 --> 01:16:07,199
suggested that we,
um, if you click on my comment to see

946
01:16:03,199 --> 01:16:12,880
the suggested wording, I think,
um, yeah, so I suggested that we break

947
01:16:10,080 --> 01:16:16,560
it into two sentences. Um, any
unexpected balance should should be

948
01:16:14,560 --> 01:16:21,679
earmarked or transferred back into the
reserve fund. Period. They should not be

949
01:16:18,960 --> 01:16:25,600
used for another purpose. And that gets
rid of the ambiguity.

950
01:16:23,920 --> 01:16:29,239
Let's
copy that over.

951
01:16:30,400 --> 01:16:33,400
Sorry

952
01:16:35,199 --> 01:16:39,960
all the way back to any at the beginning
of that line.

953
01:16:47,920 --> 01:16:57,239
Um,
>> of course I command Z. We're out.

954
01:16:52,480 --> 01:16:57,239
» And well, do a command Z.

955
01:16:57,920 --> 01:17:02,320
» Oh,
now you can't do a command Z. Okay.

956
01:17:01,199 --> 01:17:06,480
» Sorry. Sorry.
>> Control.

957
01:17:04,000 --> 01:17:11,199
» You're trying to do an undo.
>> Well, I wanted to undo it and do a paste

958
01:17:08,640 --> 01:17:15,320
and match style so that you didn't get
the strange font.

959
01:17:16,080 --> 01:17:22,239
» I don't think it's gonna let me do it
now. Well, do I'll do it.

960
01:17:27,679 --> 01:17:32,719
didn't work. Okay.
>> Well, I can do want later. I'll do it

961
01:17:31,840 --> 01:17:38,400
later. It's fine.
>> Okay. Um

962
01:17:35,360 --> 01:17:43,520
and then in 60 you want to capitalize
reserve fund.

963
01:17:40,719 --> 01:17:47,440
» Can we go to 56?
>> Sure.

964
01:17:44,880 --> 01:17:52,080
» I would make it stronger.
I wouldn't say should always be worded

965
01:17:49,280 --> 01:17:57,719
to request funds. I would say requests
should always be for unpaid or future

966
01:17:54,719 --> 01:17:57,719
expenses.

967
01:18:08,480 --> 01:18:13,440
» Is that right? What you were asking,
Tim?

968
01:18:10,880 --> 01:18:19,400
» Yeah. Like don't buy a car and then come
back to us asking for us to pay for it.

969
01:18:16,400 --> 01:18:19,400
Yeah.

970
01:18:20,320 --> 01:18:23,320
» Sorry.

971
01:18:23,520 --> 01:18:26,880
» All right.
>> All right.

972
01:18:25,040 --> 01:18:30,719
» Okay.
>> Actually, uh let's go back to that one

973
01:18:28,880 --> 01:18:36,080
again.
It shouldn't even be for unpaid.

974
01:18:33,679 --> 01:18:38,400
You should not be making a commitment.
Unpaid means that you've already bought

975
01:18:37,760 --> 01:18:43,280
it.
>> Yeah, that's true.

976
01:18:40,400 --> 01:18:49,280
should be for should always be for
future expenses not reimbursed

977
01:18:47,520 --> 01:18:53,120
versing an account for expenses that
have already been paid or otherwise

978
01:18:51,199 --> 01:18:56,120
encumbered.
>> Yes.

979
01:19:05,760 --> 01:19:11,960
» I think that's a good change.
>> That makes sense.

980
01:19:08,960 --> 01:19:11,960
Yeah.

981
01:19:12,320 --> 01:19:19,400
» All right.
>> Okay. Um

982
01:19:21,760 --> 01:19:28,640
64
>> you capitalize the G and 63.

983
01:19:28,000 --> 01:19:31,679
» Oh yeah.
>> Or do you or or do you leave it lower

984
01:19:30,719 --> 01:19:34,080
case?
>> No, I think it's

985
01:19:32,480 --> 01:19:38,480
» it's a title still. Sure.
>> Title.

986
01:19:35,600 --> 01:19:43,760
Um, request for transfer from the
reserve should be completed and full

987
01:19:40,000 --> 01:19:48,840
signed. And I asked what prepared meant
>> seems like an extra word that didn't

988
01:19:45,280 --> 01:19:48,840
really add much,

989
01:19:49,440 --> 01:19:58,560
» right? Presented to the advisory maybe
would be a better way of saying it, but

990
01:19:55,280 --> 01:20:04,480
» um, yeah, that would work. Should be
completed in full, signed and present.

991
01:20:01,199 --> 01:20:08,239
No, it's presented to the town
administrator. administrator. Sorry,

992
01:20:07,100 --> 01:20:13,159
[laughter]
>> that was number that was number one at

993
01:20:09,920 --> 01:20:13,159
the top.

994
01:20:22,159 --> 01:20:30,320
» All right.
>> And then I had a comment on 72. Just a

995
01:20:28,320 --> 01:20:36,159
little wording thing. I thought at which
it was better than where where the

996
01:20:33,040 --> 01:20:40,400
request is scheduled.
Uh it I think at which the request is

997
01:20:38,719 --> 01:20:47,640
the meeting at which the request is
scheduled.

998
01:20:42,400 --> 01:20:47,640
» I I don't like lines 74 and 75.

999
01:20:48,239 --> 01:20:52,800
» Okay. If the advisory committee has
major questions that cannot be answered

1000
01:20:51,199 --> 01:20:55,520
is very likely that the request will be
deferred or rejected.

1001
01:20:54,239 --> 01:21:02,640
» That's fine.
>> Okay. If being present is a hardship.

1002
01:21:00,400 --> 01:21:04,880
» Yeah, I feel like someone has to be
there.

1003
01:21:03,520 --> 01:21:08,000
» Yeah,
>> I would just get rid of that.

1004
01:21:06,239 --> 01:21:12,880
» I mean, the distinction between major
versus any other question. I mean, I

1005
01:21:09,760 --> 01:21:20,080
guess it's probably nit, but what
defines a major question versus not?

1006
01:21:16,960 --> 01:21:23,280
» We can get rid of the word major, too.
>> So, take this out. Correct.

1007
01:21:22,880 --> 01:21:31,159
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. I mean there there certainly have

1008
01:21:25,360 --> 01:21:31,159
been cases where you know uh

1009
01:21:31,520 --> 01:21:36,719
it was a fairly minor request and it was
you know the documentation was more than

1010
01:21:35,679 --> 01:21:41,760
sufficient.
>> So there's no hard and fast rule

1011
01:21:38,800 --> 01:21:45,440
somebody has to attend or
>> and with Zoom it's made it an awful lot

1012
01:21:44,480 --> 01:21:48,440
easier.
>> Right.

1013
01:21:48,560 --> 01:21:55,280
» Also occasionally this has been
presented multiple times in different

1014
01:21:52,080 --> 01:22:00,000
meetings. So, we had the information
um in advance. We were aware of the

1015
01:21:57,360 --> 01:22:03,120
request like you said. It didn't we
didn't need somebody to there. But

1016
01:22:01,440 --> 01:22:06,639
taking it out makes sense. That way you
don't have to

1017
01:22:04,080 --> 01:22:11,120
» Yeah. And we and we've by by putting the
word suggest in line 71, we've we've

1018
01:22:09,280 --> 01:22:14,159
left it open. You know, we basically
said exactly

1019
01:22:11,920 --> 01:22:17,600
» this would be a really good idea, right?
But if you can't do it, you know, you

1020
01:22:15,920 --> 01:22:20,480
just run the risk of us rejecting or
deferring,

1021
01:22:18,400 --> 01:22:24,320
» right?
>> Yep.

1022
01:22:22,400 --> 01:22:30,280
Um
>> and then 77 special town meeting should

1023
01:22:31,280 --> 01:22:37,159
» um and then the same thing in 80 for
annual town meeting.

1024
01:22:38,000 --> 01:22:41,000
» Oops.

1025
01:22:44,960 --> 01:22:49,880
All right.
>> And

1026
01:22:53,360 --> 01:23:02,080
I can't see my next comment, but it's
>> it's it's on that line. It's on line 82

1027
01:22:59,280 --> 01:23:07,360
with what did it say?
Uh this is worded funny. Um after

1028
01:23:05,679 --> 01:23:14,239
several years of additional funds
needed. Um yeah. So I would say

1029
01:23:11,040 --> 01:23:18,400
something like after several years of
requests for the same or similar

1030
01:23:16,960 --> 01:23:20,960
purposes.
>> Yeah.

1031
01:23:25,440 --> 01:23:36,199
It would f you'd be in danger of failing
the uh unexpected or unusual standard

1032
01:23:32,560 --> 01:23:36,199
for requests.

1033
01:23:37,679 --> 01:23:45,760
» It say purposes.
>> Yeah. Yeah. It may be difficult for the

1034
01:23:42,880 --> 01:23:50,080
advisor to consider
um the request as extraordinary or

1035
01:23:48,560 --> 01:23:57,120
unforeseen. You can get rid of now the
line another request for the same reason

1036
01:23:53,199 --> 01:24:04,280
in 83 and just change that uh to
consider the request

1037
01:24:00,159 --> 01:24:04,280
as extraordinary or unforeseen.

1038
01:24:08,159 --> 01:24:19,880
» Okay. And then the last one I think you
can strike may or may not in 87

1039
01:24:15,520 --> 01:24:19,880
um whether the reserve funds

1040
01:24:21,199 --> 01:24:28,400
are available.
>> Yeah.

1041
01:24:25,600 --> 01:24:33,199
» Okay. That's all I had.
>> Yeah, I looked I liked all of your

1042
01:24:30,080 --> 01:24:37,280
comments, Larry. So, um I had sent this
out to everyone as is. I I didn't

1043
01:24:35,520 --> 01:24:41,520
receive any other feedback on this one
yet, but we we do have time. So,

1044
01:24:39,840 --> 01:24:45,360
» the only other thing that I would do, I
think I noted was in the first two

1045
01:24:43,600 --> 01:24:50,400
titles, you have a colon at the end, and
that's just a strange place for a colon.

1046
01:24:48,080 --> 01:24:56,000
» Yeah, I agree. Yeah,
>> this isn't my document, but [laughter]

1047
01:24:53,920 --> 01:25:00,639
» I have a I have a potential suggestion
to consider.

1048
01:24:57,440 --> 01:25:07,159
» Okay. Um, if the request is for a
capital item, then we should at least

1049
01:25:03,600 --> 01:25:07,159
invite CIPC.

1050
01:25:09,679 --> 01:25:14,600
» Sorry, that was screwing up. I'll take
that out. Um,

1051
01:25:15,199 --> 01:25:21,360
we always do that. Are you suggesting it
should be listed here somewhere?

1052
01:25:18,719 --> 01:25:24,880
» Yeah, I think that's probably
reasonable.

1053
01:25:23,120 --> 01:25:28,560
And in that case, it should probably be
up in that initial part under the

1054
01:25:27,520 --> 01:25:33,520
process.
>> Yeah,

1055
01:25:30,560 --> 01:25:35,760
you could put it here. Maybe
like

1056
01:25:34,639 --> 01:25:42,120
» um
>> capital request may trigger a joint

1057
01:25:37,679 --> 01:25:42,120
meeting with capital CIPC.

1058
01:25:42,960 --> 01:25:52,159
Well, you could just put a parentheses
after the town administrator

1059
01:25:48,639 --> 01:25:57,639
and [clears throat] say and capital uh
in cases of requests for capital items.

1060
01:25:58,400 --> 01:26:05,199
» Are you talking here? Just put a bullet
number four

1061
01:26:02,239 --> 01:26:09,199
» or number three in between said in the
event that the request is for a capital

1062
01:26:07,199 --> 01:26:16,280
item, the town administrator shall also
notify the CIP, the capital planning

1063
01:26:13,280 --> 01:26:16,280
committee.

1064
01:26:19,840 --> 01:26:28,040
Not there. I think it goes. Okay.
>> I think I think it's a new number three.

1065
01:26:24,719 --> 01:26:28,040
So we now

1066
01:26:29,360 --> 01:26:35,360
Does the town administrator Does the
town administrator notify the capital

1067
01:26:33,520 --> 01:26:42,000
committee or do we
>> I I let the town administrator

1068
01:26:38,080 --> 01:26:43,920
do the work. He gets paid.
>> So we

1069
01:26:43,600 --> 01:26:48,239
» So
>> do you want it between two and three as

1070
01:26:46,000 --> 01:26:51,280
a new number three or between?
>> That was what I was suggesting.

1071
01:26:49,600 --> 01:26:57,120
» Okay.
>> I think

1072
01:26:53,760 --> 01:27:03,280
um if the request
is a capital item.

1073
01:27:00,560 --> 01:27:08,679
The town
administrator

1074
01:27:05,679 --> 01:27:08,679
notifies

1075
01:27:09,440 --> 01:27:13,960
capital
sorry

1076
01:27:16,560 --> 01:27:21,320
improvement. It's improvement right?

1077
01:27:21,520 --> 01:27:25,840
» I think so.
>> Okay. [laughter]

1078
01:27:24,080 --> 01:27:32,000
» Thank Would it make sense rather than
saying notifies

1079
01:27:28,239 --> 01:27:38,159
also forwards the request to so it's
sort of parallel to what's in line two?

1080
01:27:35,760 --> 01:27:43,719
» It's it's CIPC.
>> I'm sorry.

1081
01:27:39,679 --> 01:27:43,719
» Right. Right.

1082
01:27:44,880 --> 01:27:51,520
» I'll double check the exact
>> It's a capital improvement.

1083
01:27:49,199 --> 01:27:54,159
» Improvement and planning. Okay.
>> I think

1084
01:27:52,080 --> 01:27:58,880
» capital improvement. I always call it
capital planning. So I'm probably um

1085
01:27:56,480 --> 01:28:00,880
» So they used to call themselves CPC.
>> I know.

1086
01:27:59,760 --> 01:28:02,960
» That's why, right?
>> That's why I'm so confused. Okay.

1087
01:28:02,560 --> 01:28:07,840
» Yeah.
>> All right. I'll I'll double check that.

1088
01:28:05,280 --> 01:28:13,199
But I think that makes sense to be here.
Should I say capital expenditure or

1089
01:28:10,800 --> 01:28:16,199
capital instead of item? Capital
expenditure.

1090
01:28:16,239 --> 01:28:23,280
» I think that's fine.
>> Capital item. Leave it as. Well, how

1091
01:28:20,719 --> 01:28:25,679
about if the request is for a capital
item,

1092
01:28:24,000 --> 01:28:29,679
» right?
>> All right.

1093
01:28:27,040 --> 01:28:32,480
» So, the request isn't a capital item.
It's

1094
01:28:31,199 --> 01:28:35,560
» Thanks, Larry.
>> All right.

1095
01:28:37,199 --> 01:28:41,600
» All right. That looks good.
>> We'll have to We'll have to make certain

1096
01:28:39,679 --> 01:28:46,480
CIPC doesn't think that they're the ones
approving it,

1097
01:28:43,840 --> 01:28:51,120
» right? But, you know, just like the the
um

1098
01:28:48,719 --> 01:28:55,760
the truck that we approved, it it was
vetted through capital first. They they

1099
01:28:53,199 --> 01:28:59,840
voted on it, then it came to us. So,
this is the process that I think we've

1100
01:28:57,440 --> 01:29:04,560
normally been following as well. But it
just I agree like ultimately

1101
01:29:02,960 --> 01:29:06,719
» to the capital improvement committee for
their review.

1102
01:29:06,000 --> 01:29:12,080
» Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah. I don't see I don't I don't think

1103
01:29:09,040 --> 01:29:19,239
CIPC should do any work until we've at
least indicated that we're

1104
01:29:15,040 --> 01:29:19,239
potentially going to approve it.

1105
01:29:21,280 --> 01:29:27,920
» I think that's one where the chairs talk
speak to each other and

1106
01:29:25,360 --> 01:29:33,840
» yeah,
it could it could make sense to do it

1107
01:29:30,960 --> 01:29:39,080
either way depending on the request. I
think

1108
01:29:36,080 --> 01:29:39,080
um

1109
01:29:39,679 --> 01:29:46,880
Tim, are you suggesting we move four up
to three and three down to four? If

1110
01:29:44,800 --> 01:29:49,679
that's the case, if that's No, no, no.
Sorry.

1111
01:29:47,280 --> 01:29:53,280
» Okay. Okay.
>> I I don't know if I would put the, you

1112
01:29:51,520 --> 01:29:58,400
know, the sequence here. It doesn't, you
know, it could

1113
01:29:56,080 --> 01:30:01,639
» it could happen different ways for
different things.

1114
01:30:03,360 --> 01:30:12,719
Okay,
I will

1115
01:30:08,320 --> 01:30:15,960
I think stop sharing for now.
Go back.

1116
01:30:16,000 --> 01:30:25,360
Can see you guys again. Thank you for
your patience with my typing and my big

1117
01:30:20,960 --> 01:30:31,920
mouse and shaky keyboard here. We got a
lot done. Um, I'll get out the um,

1118
01:30:29,600 --> 01:30:35,600
revised what I will call drafts to
everybody

1119
01:30:33,760 --> 01:30:40,719
and
pass those along for sort of a final

1120
01:30:38,080 --> 01:30:43,760
review before we vote maybe at our next
meeting.

1121
01:30:42,239 --> 01:30:50,880
Also, there's members missing, so we'll
give them a chance to weigh in. Everyone

1122
01:30:46,320 --> 01:30:58,560
agrees that next step. Okay. All right.
All right. Moving on then to number four

1123
01:30:54,320 --> 01:31:05,600
on our list of items tonight is the FY28
budget proposed override. U just a quick

1124
01:31:01,840 --> 01:31:11,199
recap. Uh select board had a a very high
level discussion on this on July 7th. Uh

1125
01:31:08,960 --> 01:31:16,480
Brian Balentine is working on projected
budgets for 28 293032 according to the

1126
01:31:14,560 --> 01:31:21,199
minutes of that meeting or the the
recording of that meeting. Uh we are

1127
01:31:18,800 --> 01:31:27,440
invited to attend the select board
meeting joint have a joint meeting with

1128
01:31:22,880 --> 01:31:33,280
select board next week uh on the 11th to
discuss a few things. um as I understand

1129
01:31:30,639 --> 01:31:38,960
them and after discussing them as well
with the chair of select board um the

1130
01:31:36,239 --> 01:31:45,440
sort of the idea of that meeting is sort
of providing some more info on the

1131
01:31:41,199 --> 01:31:50,080
process uh and advisory to have input
into and an get questions answered if

1132
01:31:48,080 --> 01:31:55,280
there's um sort of a way of doing that
within the group also what each

1133
01:31:52,719 --> 01:31:59,040
department will need to put together or
what would be the expectations and the

1134
01:31:57,280 --> 01:32:03,760
overall philosophy
uh and is there any concurrence on that

1135
01:32:01,120 --> 01:32:10,320
in terms of either if there is an
override what does that look like? Um so

1136
01:32:07,440 --> 01:32:14,480
in summary of our last meeting um feel
free to chime in if anyone has other

1137
01:32:12,080 --> 01:32:21,280
things they wanted to add but I have
written down our recommendations or our

1138
01:32:16,560 --> 01:32:25,840
thoughts so far in general terms were um
advisory would uh like to have a set of

1139
01:32:23,760 --> 01:32:32,960
expectations for increased efficiency
from every department. Uh we want to

1140
01:32:28,960 --> 01:32:36,719
review the possibilities of combining
combining any departments possible which

1141
01:32:35,120 --> 01:32:43,520
has been thought about and talked about
but not really uh tackled and we would

1142
01:32:40,480 --> 01:32:50,000
like to look more at how to deliver the
same set of services for level service

1143
01:32:47,360 --> 01:32:56,239
or less um things like payroll
automation etc.

1144
01:32:52,080 --> 01:33:02,239
And we did discuss potential um our
thoughts on whether or not we would be

1145
01:32:59,120 --> 01:33:08,639
in support of a shorter duration such as
one year versus a five-year sort of um

1146
01:33:06,239 --> 01:33:15,760
$10 million override that would occur
over five years upfront in terms of the

1147
01:33:11,920 --> 01:33:20,159
proposal and vote upfront uh versus um a
shorter duration. uh and we would like

1148
01:33:17,840 --> 01:33:24,480
to see options
if that's the case.

1149
01:33:22,880 --> 01:33:28,320
So
I I don't know if that's helpful. Does

1150
01:33:26,400 --> 01:33:32,400
anyone have any other things to add? Did
I miss anything from last time just in

1151
01:33:30,320 --> 01:33:36,639
terms of setting the stage for tonight's
sort of initial thoughts?

1152
01:33:35,840 --> 01:33:42,159
» How?
>> Um so I think you know one of the things

1153
01:33:40,159 --> 01:33:46,480
I think
we need to give serious consideration to

1154
01:33:44,480 --> 01:33:52,639
is a hiring freeze.
Yeah.

1155
01:33:47,120 --> 01:33:59,760
» Um, you know, I I I I I'm reluctant to
extend offers to people with the

1156
01:33:56,960 --> 01:34:04,239
knowledge that
the sources of revenue to support those

1157
01:34:02,000 --> 01:34:10,480
those payrolls
are um unclear.

1158
01:34:08,159 --> 01:34:17,840
And so the other thing that a hiring
freeze does is it provides

1159
01:34:14,719 --> 01:34:22,560
um [snorts] flexibility
in the event that an override did not

1160
01:34:20,719 --> 01:34:30,400
pass.
Um in terms of you know essentially pro

1161
01:34:27,760 --> 01:34:36,480
it provides a measure of protection for
the our existing employees if we are

1162
01:34:33,520 --> 01:34:42,719
operating at less than our
full staffing levels we get a degree of

1163
01:34:40,880 --> 01:34:50,000
uh flexibility
then um and the other thing I think

1164
01:34:47,120 --> 01:34:55,199
we are that sort of a companion to that
is

1165
01:34:52,080 --> 01:35:00,800
Every open position ought to be reviewed
and approved by an executive by the

1166
01:34:58,639 --> 01:35:08,960
relevant executive
prior to posting. And particularly this

1167
01:35:05,120 --> 01:35:13,120
is particularly true for people who are
administrators

1168
01:35:11,040 --> 01:35:17,440
or department heads because those are
opportunities for departmental

1169
01:35:15,360 --> 01:35:22,080
consolidation. I think we had one of
those a few la last year and we did not

1170
01:35:20,239 --> 01:35:28,639
take advantage of that.
>> And so, um, I think we need to be,

1171
01:35:26,719 --> 01:35:34,719
» you know, I I don't want to be the guy
that that hires somebody and then six

1172
01:35:31,280 --> 01:35:40,080
months later lays them off. That's that
that's not being a responsible employer

1173
01:35:36,639 --> 01:35:45,840
in in my mind.
So to piggyback on that, El, I agree

1174
01:35:42,880 --> 01:35:50,000
with you. Um
on on the premise of this, it's one of

1175
01:35:48,159 --> 01:35:55,920
the items that I have had listed here in
my notes to discuss on the 11th. Um and

1176
01:35:54,320 --> 01:36:01,920
particularly when it comes to
backfilling if someone leaves um you

1177
01:36:00,080 --> 01:36:07,920
know I think there should be some sort
of process for vetting the need of that

1178
01:36:04,880 --> 01:36:13,040
resource uh redistribution of those
functions to others if possible or

1179
01:36:10,719 --> 01:36:17,280
consolidation and I had raised this in a
public comment on a select board meeting

1180
01:36:15,199 --> 01:36:22,960
uh relative I think to the position you
were mentioning Al um that's pretty

1181
01:36:19,600 --> 01:36:26,560
standard issue it in many places. Uh,
and I would agree if we're looking at

1182
01:36:24,560 --> 01:36:32,480
overrides, I think we should be doing
more of that. Um, if somebody is

1183
01:36:29,679 --> 01:36:39,040
promoted, is their back fill needed, uh,
as an example. So, and and sort of the

1184
01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:44,400
the case, not just a automatic we we've
always had this, we're always going to

1185
01:36:40,560 --> 01:36:49,679
have it kind of thing. Um, so I I concur
with that as an initial thought. I don't

1186
01:36:47,520 --> 01:36:54,880
know if others want to chime in. I I
would I would suggest that maybe

1187
01:36:53,040 --> 01:36:59,280
we we spent some time on our policy
tonight talking about things that we

1188
01:36:56,639 --> 01:37:01,920
should consider when times are bad.
>> Yep, we did.

1189
01:37:00,239 --> 01:37:06,159
» Yeah. And so that we should we should
roll the conversation back to that

1190
01:37:04,400 --> 01:37:10,800
because instead of just proceeding with
an override conversation, right, we

1191
01:37:08,960 --> 01:37:14,080
listed how many things that should be
considered.

1192
01:37:12,239 --> 01:37:15,600
» I think it was six.
>> Yeah.

1193
01:37:14,480 --> 01:37:20,000
» Six or seven.
>> Yeah. And so I don't I don't know that

1194
01:37:17,199 --> 01:37:25,920
we should proceed with just the override
solution at this time. I think we should

1195
01:37:22,320 --> 01:37:30,719
really dig into which of those six or
what combination makes the most sense.

1196
01:37:30,159 --> 01:37:34,639
» Yeah.
>> And I think the framework is helpful. So

1197
01:37:32,639 --> 01:37:37,119
I'm glad that we
put that down on paper at least in the

1198
01:37:36,400 --> 01:37:42,800
draft.
>> Go ahead. curiosity since you know I'm

1199
01:37:39,679 --> 01:37:48,480
I'm relatively I mean this is I think my
third year on advisory but I'm

1200
01:37:44,639 --> 01:37:56,800
relatively new to the process um just in
terms of identifying where the issues

1201
01:37:53,119 --> 01:38:01,760
really are do we ever
I mean looking at it analytically um it

1202
01:38:00,239 --> 01:38:08,000
seems to me that you know the first
thing I would do is say okay you know

1203
01:38:04,320 --> 01:38:12,400
these six line items
are, you know, 90% of the budget. I

1204
01:38:10,400 --> 01:38:17,440
don't know how whether it's six or 10 or
four, but there's probably, you know, a

1205
01:38:15,520 --> 01:38:22,880
relatively small number of line items
that constitute a large portion of the

1206
01:38:20,800 --> 01:38:26,719
budget. Do we ever sort of take those
and say, okay, we're going to go back

1207
01:38:24,400 --> 01:38:32,239
five years and figure out what the
growth trend is for that budget to

1208
01:38:30,480 --> 01:38:35,520
identify which ones really are the
problem. You know, if we if we look at

1209
01:38:34,000 --> 01:38:40,000
the police department, for example, and
say, well, it's grown pretty steadily at

1210
01:38:37,679 --> 01:38:44,960
1% a year. I know that's not the case,
but then, you know, we can see, well,

1211
01:38:42,719 --> 01:38:49,119
that's probably not the problem. You
know, the school budgets been growing

1212
01:38:47,360 --> 01:38:56,080
exponentially. It's been going up, you
know, 26% a year. And, um, you know,

1213
01:38:52,880 --> 01:39:00,159
using past data to try to foresee where
the problems really are rather than just

1214
01:38:58,239 --> 01:39:05,440
ri pushing back on everything
necessarily. Um,

1215
01:39:03,360 --> 01:39:10,400
I don't know if we if we do things like
that or not or whether we're just

1216
01:39:07,679 --> 01:39:14,239
looking at it in the moment, which is
>> all I've seen to date other than for

1217
01:39:13,040 --> 01:39:19,920
capital.
>> Yeah. Well, I think there's a potential

1218
01:39:17,199 --> 01:39:24,320
to do both. Um,
>> you know, certainly

1219
01:39:21,920 --> 01:39:28,080
where I work, that's what we do, but we
do both at the same time.

1220
01:39:25,679 --> 01:39:32,159
» Yeah. I think your point is like I think
Al's point around and the higher that's

1221
01:39:30,400 --> 01:39:36,000
a process consideration around which I
think is a good process to use I

1222
01:39:33,679 --> 01:39:39,440
completely agree do you need to backfill
if somebody departs that's and then

1223
01:39:37,840 --> 01:39:43,679
you're getting at sort of understanding
trends which like I agree is probably a

1224
01:39:41,280 --> 01:39:48,639
separate point very valuable but not a
process consideration per se but I I

1225
01:39:46,080 --> 01:39:52,719
very much agree that those are very two
and I think it will be very well

1226
01:39:50,400 --> 01:39:57,280
received by the public for to have that
put out there explicitly in addition to

1227
01:39:55,840 --> 01:40:01,679
the point we just put in our proposal
that section six. I think it will be

1228
01:39:59,119 --> 01:40:06,560
very helpful for people to see that this
is that that component is getting

1229
01:40:04,320 --> 01:40:10,320
attention [snorts] versus just thinking
about the revenue side as the cost side.

1230
01:40:08,639 --> 01:40:13,920
» Yeah.
Y

1231
01:40:11,520 --> 01:40:20,880
» I I did also um I think this was
actually Tim's idea of um potentially

1232
01:40:17,280 --> 01:40:26,800
looking at at a at a debt exclusion
borrowing

1233
01:40:22,400 --> 01:40:32,320
um for our pension liabilities and I I
just a few minutes before we started

1234
01:40:28,960 --> 01:40:40,159
sent you some information Sam Styver had
sent me. Um it is possible to do a

1235
01:40:36,480 --> 01:40:45,920
borrowing to cover our uh unfunded
pension liabilities. It does require a

1236
01:40:42,800 --> 01:40:50,560
special act of um
the legislature and a certain amount of

1237
01:40:48,320 --> 01:40:55,760
supervision. And the other sort of
really interesting thing is the debt

1238
01:40:52,880 --> 01:41:01,760
that's issued for this purpose
uh is not taxexempt. Oh,

1239
01:40:59,040 --> 01:41:06,000
» so it does it
the the I I would recommend reading the

1240
01:41:03,520 --> 01:41:11,440
document. It's actually quite good. Um
it it it does say that there is still an

1241
01:41:08,400 --> 01:41:17,679
arbitrage opportunity
but it's um and it it it also provides a

1242
01:41:15,520 --> 01:41:22,560
cautionary tale which I I mean I said I
I thought it was very instructive but I

1243
01:41:19,840 --> 01:41:27,600
think it's worth a serious consideration
because I think that's an alternative to

1244
01:41:25,840 --> 01:41:33,600
you know a two and a half exclusion
maybe not forever but for some period of

1245
01:41:30,000 --> 01:41:36,400
time since it would free up um
levy capacity.

1246
01:41:38,639 --> 01:41:43,679
All right, I'm pinning this down in
terms of our thoughts. I'm going to add

1247
01:41:41,840 --> 01:41:48,080
I'm going to create a document I believe
for us um going into the meeting

1248
01:41:46,639 --> 01:41:53,040
» for next week.
>> Dr. Brian just asking what that number

1249
01:41:51,119 --> 01:41:58,639
is and what it looks like and I haven't
re I haven't heard back from him yet.

1250
01:41:55,920 --> 01:42:02,360
» I I saw that. Thank you for that.
>> Everybody see that email?

1251
01:42:04,880 --> 01:42:12,800
All right. Any other items to add to our
thoughts that we want to capture for the

1252
01:42:09,360 --> 01:42:17,520
meeting on the 11th?
>> We can add them uh later as well. But

1253
01:42:16,239 --> 01:42:20,400
I mean, I think that's a pretty good
start because this is going to be the

1254
01:42:18,800 --> 01:42:26,000
preliminary meeting, preliminary
discussion. Um we spent time talking

1255
01:42:23,440 --> 01:42:30,400
about it over two meetings.
I think particularly revising the policy

1256
01:42:27,920 --> 01:42:35,239
tonight was helpful uh in terms of the
draft and the thoughts on the number

1257
01:42:32,239 --> 01:42:35,239
six.

1258
01:42:36,320 --> 01:42:40,679
Anyone have any other thoughts,
comments?

1259
01:42:42,719 --> 01:42:47,840
All right, one more to come next week. I
would like to get if you guys could just

1260
01:42:46,320 --> 01:42:52,719
let me know who's going to attend in
person or who's going to attend in Zoom.

1261
01:42:50,239 --> 01:42:58,080
Um you don't have to do it now, but just
uh just some ideas. I but I I would like

1262
01:42:55,679 --> 01:43:01,040
to make sure we have a at least a group
of us there in person. I will plan to go

1263
01:43:00,000 --> 01:43:04,800
in person.
>> Yeah, I plan to go in person.

1264
01:43:02,800 --> 01:43:08,320
» Yeah, I'll try to go in person also.
>> Okay.

1265
01:43:05,360 --> 01:43:12,719
» All right. All right. So, I think Howard
said he's coming in person, too. Um so,

1266
01:43:11,280 --> 01:43:19,280
we'll we'll see everyone there, but
there will be a Zoom remote option if uh

1267
01:43:15,920 --> 01:43:24,880
that's not possible.
All right. Uh any other comments on this

1268
01:43:22,000 --> 01:43:24,880
tonight?

1269
01:43:27,520 --> 01:43:35,440
Thank you for the u thoughts and work on
that. Uh number five on our agenda

1270
01:43:32,800 --> 01:43:41,261
tonight is to
uh consider add a liaison to the

1271
01:43:37,440 --> 01:43:45,040
elementary school uh building committee.
[snorts]

1272
01:43:41,920 --> 01:43:50,080
Um I did put that on the agenda at the
request of uh some of our thoughts last

1273
01:43:47,760 --> 01:43:57,040
week about things we needed to look at.
Um I did make sure I fully understood. I

1274
01:43:53,280 --> 01:44:02,400
went back um Andrew FAF as a member of
advisory was not um we've had

1275
01:44:00,639 --> 01:44:08,320
representatives from advisory on the
various committees uh for the Ner

1276
01:44:04,800 --> 01:44:13,440
School. Um, but he actually applied uh
through this select board interview

1277
01:44:10,080 --> 01:44:18,560
process to be I I guess you would call
it a member at large or a member uh and

1278
01:44:16,719 --> 01:44:24,880
was interviewed by I think the school
committee and select board uh for that

1279
01:44:21,040 --> 01:44:29,280
and then his the vote here was simply um
us granting permission for an advisory

1280
01:44:26,800 --> 01:44:33,679
member to be on an ad hoc committee. So
we didn't send him to that committee but

1281
01:44:31,760 --> 01:44:38,000
he was partic or he he will remain I
guess on that committee for now. So just

1282
01:44:35,920 --> 01:44:43,679
to clarify that we're not replacing
Andrew there. We are simply trying to

1283
01:44:40,560 --> 01:44:50,320
set up a liaison who will track uh the
progress um and sort of review the

1284
01:44:47,199 --> 01:44:56,639
financials etc and keep this board
committee up to speed uh with with that

1285
01:44:53,280 --> 01:45:01,679
information. Um I want to you know
clarify Al is that that was your intent

1286
01:44:58,800 --> 01:45:05,119
in raising this I believe. Yeah. And I
don't know what the current practice is

1287
01:45:03,600 --> 01:45:09,760
for
uh you know the

1288
01:45:07,280 --> 01:45:16,159
for for liaison whether you the
committee is currently doing it or not.

1289
01:45:12,400 --> 01:45:21,440
But um I I think we need to stay on top
of this and probably

1290
01:45:19,119 --> 01:45:26,159
um maybe chime in from time to time if
we think

1291
01:45:23,040 --> 01:45:31,119
» you know
the direction is is is teetering in one

1292
01:45:29,119 --> 01:45:37,280
one one way or another that we're
unhappy with or concerned about

1293
01:45:35,360 --> 01:45:41,840
» for sure and have you know meetings we
could invite the representatives from

1294
01:45:39,679 --> 01:45:47,760
that committee to our meeting etc. So,
somebody monitoring, keeping an eye on

1295
01:45:43,600 --> 01:45:53,360
it, chiming in would be helpful. Um,
does anyone have any uh interest or who

1296
01:45:50,560 --> 01:45:56,600
would like to maybe be the liaison to
this committee?

1297
01:45:58,560 --> 01:46:03,199
» I have an opinion of I'm happy to share
it.

1298
01:46:01,119 --> 01:46:07,760
» Sure. I mean, Al, and I'm not trying to
create work for you, but I thank like I

1299
01:46:05,280 --> 01:46:12,320
was involved with the first round
getting to the options, which was very

1300
01:46:09,840 --> 01:46:16,560
informative, and it came out of my my
desire to be close to that given my my

1301
01:46:14,320 --> 01:46:21,760
own views. But I think the more recent
discussions on keeping the committee

1302
01:46:19,040 --> 01:46:26,000
honest, if you want to call it that, or
in in ensuring that they're being

1303
01:46:23,840 --> 01:46:30,800
inclusive of the options that were
agreed through the warrant at approved

1304
01:46:28,400 --> 01:46:36,480
at town meeting, if you're willing to do
that, I think your continued voice, I

1305
01:46:33,920 --> 01:46:41,280
think, will be as strong as anyone's to
ensure that the town's interests are

1306
01:46:38,880 --> 01:46:45,920
being met, right? to have options that
are true options versus trying to and

1307
01:46:44,320 --> 01:46:50,800
I'm not suggesting anybody do anything
nefarious, but if you're willing to do

1308
01:46:47,760 --> 01:46:53,679
it, um otherwise, you know, I be if it's
just a matter of attending meetings and

1309
01:46:52,159 --> 01:46:58,239
listening in, I'd be happy to raise my
hand, but I would put Al um ahead of me

1310
01:46:56,560 --> 01:47:02,639
because again, I think his voice is
going to be crisper than mine just

1311
01:47:01,199 --> 01:47:05,520
because I have that that prior
experience. But Al, I'd welcome to hear

1312
01:47:04,480 --> 01:47:11,320
your thoughts if that's something you'd
be willing to do.

1313
01:47:08,320 --> 01:47:11,320
Um,

1314
01:47:14,159 --> 01:47:21,520
» I'm willing, but I'm not sure I'm the
best person.

1315
01:47:17,840 --> 01:47:27,880
» Only because uh I have a pretty clear
view, but um we can't really send two

1316
01:47:24,320 --> 01:47:27,880
people, can we?

1317
01:47:30,639 --> 01:47:36,400
» Anyone have any thoughts? I don't know
why we couldn't have two liaison. I

1318
01:47:34,719 --> 01:47:41,840
mean, it may make sense to have one so
that we're not spread too thin, maybe

1319
01:47:39,760 --> 01:47:47,280
focused effort.
>> Yeah, I I would do it, but um you know,

1320
01:47:45,520 --> 01:47:52,880
I would actually have suggested Derrick
was the right right person only because

1321
01:47:50,960 --> 01:47:55,880
» I'm I'm sort of Johnny one note and I
have

1322
01:47:58,639 --> 01:48:03,679
» Eric, would you be willing would you be
willing to

1323
01:48:01,679 --> 01:48:06,639
» Yeah. Again, the time commitment is just
it's going to be very different. So, in

1324
01:48:04,960 --> 01:48:09,840
that sense, yes, I'd be willing to do it
because I think it'll just be a

1325
01:48:07,760 --> 01:48:15,440
different experience. But, no point out
point taken, but like I I respected your

1326
01:48:12,080 --> 01:48:18,639
position to ensure that the option would
be it would be included as an option

1327
01:48:17,199 --> 01:48:22,719
regardless of whatever the town votes.
The whole point is to give people the

1328
01:48:20,800 --> 01:48:25,679
option to make a choice versus just
having one thing rammed down their

1329
01:48:24,480 --> 01:48:27,920
throat again, which I don't think is
going to happen because we all learned

1330
01:48:27,040 --> 01:48:32,480
our lesson and [clears throat] I know
Andrew is is in I think close to that

1331
01:48:30,960 --> 01:48:36,080
thinking as well. So yeah, I'd be I'm
happy to do it. If if that's the extent

1332
01:48:34,080 --> 01:48:40,080
of it is really just reporting back,
then I'm fine doing it.

1333
01:48:37,520 --> 01:48:47,600
» Well, I also think
maybe every other month just asking for

1334
01:48:43,199 --> 01:48:50,960
somebody to come and give us a briefing.
>> That might be an opportunity to read

1335
01:48:50,320 --> 01:48:57,280
messages.
>> Yes, I think that's a great idea.

1336
01:48:55,040 --> 01:49:01,679
» I I've been critical of the select board
for not doing that with committees.

1337
01:48:59,840 --> 01:49:06,719
Okay.
Do we want to pursue both or that in lie

1338
01:49:04,639 --> 01:49:08,639
of a liaison?
>> Both.

1339
01:49:07,679 --> 01:49:12,880
» Both.
>> This is a this is a major

1340
01:49:11,280 --> 01:49:16,400
» chunk of debt.
>> Yeah.

1341
01:49:14,080 --> 01:49:21,199
» Just just bear in mind that if if the
select board agrees with the policies

1342
01:49:18,560 --> 01:49:25,760
that we've we've talked about tonight,
right, then our work on the budget's

1343
01:49:23,520 --> 01:49:29,360
going up a lot.
>> Yeah.

1344
01:49:26,800 --> 01:49:32,800
» Yeah. So, you know, don't burn
yourselves out is what I'm saying.

1345
01:49:31,440 --> 01:49:36,639
» Yeah. Which is my point, Tim, is really
if it's just a matter of attending the

1346
01:49:34,800 --> 01:49:40,560
meetings, then then I'm fine with that.
And, you know, I followed it a little

1347
01:49:38,800 --> 01:49:43,199
bit more closely, just paying, you know,
watching the stuff on Zoom. But that's

1348
01:49:42,080 --> 01:49:47,440
the extent of it. If it were more than
that, I would agree with you. I would uh

1349
01:49:45,920 --> 01:49:52,000
I'd probably just do it as have them
show up every other month or something

1350
01:49:49,840 --> 01:49:56,080
like that.
But I'm I'm fine for now. I'll raise my

1351
01:49:53,600 --> 01:50:02,000
hand if it ends up being too much.
>> Okay. So, we could start with that and

1352
01:49:59,440 --> 01:50:06,000
um Eric can sort of monitor the
progress,

1353
01:50:03,760 --> 01:50:10,159
ask questions as needed and we'll have
an opportunity we'll we'll we'll book

1354
01:50:08,320 --> 01:50:15,360
the we'll speak with the chair of the
committee and have a rep um brief us

1355
01:50:13,760 --> 01:50:20,920
every
at regular intervals. I'm going to say

1356
01:50:17,920 --> 01:50:20,920
um

1357
01:50:23,119 --> 01:50:31,199
so we have a motion to uh appoint
>> Eric as our liaison.

1358
01:50:28,000 --> 01:50:37,199
» I move that we appoint Eric Glitter as
our um

1359
01:50:34,400 --> 01:50:41,040
our liaison with the Ner building
committee.

1360
01:50:38,719 --> 01:50:46,080
» Second.
>> All right. All those in favor? Tim

1361
01:50:43,920 --> 01:50:49,760
» I. L
>> Hi,

1362
01:50:49,040 --> 01:50:52,159
» Eric.
>> Hi,

1363
01:50:51,119 --> 01:50:54,159
» Larry.
>> Hi,

1364
01:50:53,199 --> 01:50:58,480
» Barry.
>> Hi,

1365
01:50:55,280 --> 01:51:02,880
» Marcy. Is I
>> the Marcy is a process matter formality.

1366
01:51:01,040 --> 01:51:06,960
Will they get informed and then I'll get
the invite list or the mechanics of

1367
01:51:04,960 --> 01:51:12,080
that? How does it actually work?
>> Um, we well to Al's point like we don't

1368
01:51:10,080 --> 01:51:15,920
we haven't done this as much as or often
as probably we should. We do it around

1369
01:51:13,840 --> 01:51:24,159
the budget season. Usually we have a
liaison. So I'm happy to draft an email

1370
01:51:20,560 --> 01:51:26,239
uh with you on it to the committee just
saying

1371
01:51:25,119 --> 01:51:27,679
» it's [clears throat] here's what we're
asking.

1372
01:51:26,800 --> 01:51:32,719
» Yeah.
>> At the meetings or if I get the however

1373
01:51:30,400 --> 01:51:35,280
whatever is easiest but just more
curious.

1374
01:51:34,400 --> 01:51:37,840
» Sure.
>> All right.

1375
01:51:35,920 --> 01:51:41,040
» I'll I'll follow up with you offline.
>> Thank you.

1376
01:51:38,639 --> 01:51:48,719
» All right. Um
meeting schedule. We have a meeting for

1377
01:51:43,840 --> 01:51:55,199
next week with the select board. Um so
everyone I think everyone knows that. Um

1378
01:51:52,320 --> 01:52:01,360
beyond that we don't have any dates set
up yet. Um

1379
01:51:58,800 --> 01:52:05,119
I would be in favor of
talking next week when we're at the

1380
01:52:03,440 --> 01:52:09,760
meeting in person and coming up with
more dates for our calendar if that

1381
01:52:06,880 --> 01:52:15,199
works.
>> Sure. we'll have a better idea, I think,

1382
01:52:12,480 --> 01:52:20,440
of, you know, where are we heading next?
What we what do we need to work on? Um,

1383
01:52:21,119 --> 01:52:25,679
any other thoughts on that or
preferences?

1384
01:52:24,239 --> 01:52:30,880
» That works. Yeah.
>> Okay. We will we will take care of that.

1385
01:52:28,639 --> 01:52:34,800
But 8:11,
I'm assuming at the regular time, 6:30,

1386
01:52:32,960 --> 01:52:40,239
we'll look and see where we're at on the
agenda with the joint discussion. I know

1387
01:52:37,360 --> 01:52:45,599
it's a very packed meeting uh according
to um some feedback I've heard. All

1388
01:52:43,440 --> 01:52:53,520
right. Uh number seven on the agenda
tonight is other businesses um other

1389
01:52:49,360 --> 01:52:59,119
business brought forth to the committee.
I do have one item here to share

1390
01:52:57,040 --> 01:53:02,880
uh for awareness.
Uh we don't have it on the agenda so we

1391
01:53:01,040 --> 01:53:07,360
won't talk about it but just an
announcement. Uh the ZBA is holding a

1392
01:53:04,880 --> 01:53:13,199
meeting next week, August the 12th,
public hearing, uh to talk about um

1393
01:53:11,119 --> 01:53:18,480
making making it easier for
discretionary permits uh for two

1394
01:53:15,119 --> 01:53:24,560
families in most zoning districts. So,
this is definitely something that um if

1395
01:53:21,360 --> 01:53:28,800
this is headed to, you know, potential
warrant at town meeting, uh we should

1396
01:53:26,639 --> 01:53:34,880
definitely
start getting informed now. So that is a

1397
01:53:31,679 --> 01:53:41,360
hybrid meeting both at the townhouse and
on Zoom. So um probably not

1398
01:53:40,159 --> 01:53:48,840
we have to be careful not to have a
quorum there but um it's a public forum

1399
01:53:43,679 --> 01:53:48,840
so folks want to join if you can.

1400
01:53:49,760 --> 01:53:56,639
All right just another reminder uh
Saturday October 17th and March 20th is

1401
01:53:54,880 --> 01:54:02,199
a tenative upcoming dates of town
meetings. um just for your calendars.

1402
01:54:03,040 --> 01:54:06,520
Any other business?

1403
01:54:07,199 --> 01:54:13,400
» If not, moving on to public comment. Any
public comment this evening?

1404
01:54:14,080 --> 01:54:20,000
» You got anything to say? Sam,
[laughter]

1405
01:54:17,280 --> 01:54:26,000
» any hands up? Okay. One panel, one
participant there. All right. Yes. Nice

1406
01:54:23,040 --> 01:54:30,080
to see you, Sam. Um
if no other uh comments for tonight,

1407
01:54:28,000 --> 01:54:35,040
thank you everyone so much. Uh big help.
A lot of work got done and um do we have

1408
01:54:33,119 --> 01:54:37,840
a motion to adjurnn?
>> So moved.

1409
01:54:36,480 --> 01:54:43,040
» Second.
>> Second. All right. Roll call vote. Tim

1410
01:54:40,320 --> 01:54:44,719
» I
>> Eric.

1411
01:54:43,679 --> 01:54:46,960
» Hi.
>> Larry.

1412
01:54:45,599 --> 01:54:48,960
» Hi.
>> Barry.

1413
01:54:47,840 --> 01:54:51,520
» Hi.
>> And Marcy is I. Thank you. I'll see you

1414
01:54:50,719 --> 01:54:54,080
Tuesday.
>> Thank you. Bye.

1415
01:54:52,960 --> 01:54:58,920
» Bye.
Night.

1416
01:54:55,679 --> 01:54:58,920
» Good night.