board sance committee meeting joint meeting and um is there a call please oh later uh we'll call the finance committee meeting for March 26 open as well you want to read the uh this meeting is being recorded the listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting not all items listed May in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion the extent permitted by law stand for the pledge flaged States and justice for all did anyone mention that being recorded this meeting okay car Easter office manager for the zoning board of appeals and the planning board um our budgets straightforward there is no increases with the exception of um the salaries uh or the yeah the salary for clerical so it was a clerical Union yeah we got a lot of people sure so it's it's Department 175 sorry um so the the increases uh for the office manager that's a clerical so that falls under the clerical Union um then there was some uh so they under the clerical Union contract they no longer have the quoting allowance so that's taken out but but then with the new clerical contract we now have some siphons which you'll see is for notary and [Music] education rest of it is pretty straight forward I have one question sure the stiens for um this chairman and members St um did we have this discussion last year about spons we were going to recommend that they take mon okay so there would be no spon increase this year great thank you not education that's all education uh no there's actually two separate lines so there's an education line um and then if you go it's right underneath my salary op office manager so you'll see the education and then if you say the request it says 240 go ahead I'll just clarify so on the budget document it is together in one line and then on the Arrow base it's two different line okay my apologies she's working on a different Excel sheet so yes they're all in one line professional and Technical it's just in case yes well some of it we do use um legal opinions what not for the professional and Technical and then any anticipated appeals that you guys in the last three months of this year do you anticipate anything last let's see I don't because we don't have any outstanding uh decisions right now so the budgeted 15,000 but you've only used about 3,000 you're going to see that hit a little bit that's what I was going to ask you have you used that much in the first three months of this year um first three months I would say probably a little bit more than usual cuz we had some solar batter closer to the 15 by you're going to be closer to the 15 by the end of this fiscal year I don't think we'll quite hit the 15 um I'm not sure where we're at right now for um so for planning board at the end of March spent $511 out of the 15,000 and then I just bills for Signature so there'll be some more hit on that as well I want to say around 1,200 so you think 1500 is too much 15,000 is a little high to budget for next year when we got a pretty much a low Trend yeah um yes and no so I would like to say no we don't need the 15 but I do um we anticipate quite a few battery solar um applicants coming in that's going to require some legal guidance um because it's going to be standal on battery storages which is something that's new versus how many battery storage right now there's two potential applicants okay $1,000 a piece 2,000 it's hard to predict on that so those yeah like those issues are really like a new frontier in Massachusetts if we do have any applications we will be I believe the fourth town that I'm aware of in the state that um has an app and yeah so the process and the legally intense process that we have to go through the cing board would is really I like it's really difficult to predict because it's such a new frontier at this point yeah and those are M yeah and if we do have an application those would be major projects [Music] okay any questions on 175 no 762 1762 y so for the increases for the same thing with the salary office manager and the benefits or the uh stiens would be the notary and the education and forgive me I probably should have let you know that those two stens are split between the two boards so it's 60 40% 60 goes to planning 40 goes to zoning so my apologies for not clarifying that um and and that is which Ty in the notary so for the notary and the education okay thank you y um and then so there was a increase for the member siphon so I'm assuming you didn't do the same thing for no increase and then the um office manager that's the clerical Union increase on that one what do you anticipate for Zoning for professional technical to be 10,000 again so that's the same thing that we've very similar to Plan yeah so it would be very simar to what the plan does so if zon has any appeals um we do have arbest coming back y so we have that issue we also have Forest Hills um but I think we have a special account yes for the legal on that but Forest Hills is not I'm sorry that's planning sorry under the CBA the hearing that happened and the process that happened in February with strawberry fields would that Strawberry Fields as well yeah that plan would probably get hit as a result of that work we probably haven't been go for yet I assume no okay actually I'm sorry yes there's one bill that's going to be processed this week when I submit my um things I want to say it's about $1,000 um it sounds like they're wrapping up their decisions at the court at least at the state level or um with d I'm not sure where we stand right now margarite was hoping she'd have a better update for us at our last meeting but still not there yet excuse me yeah wa I know the planning board has their own um attorney where is that fee in in this is that in there so for the planning board um we pay our attorney fees out of the professional and Technical line for that and we do the same thing for zoning um so both of them get taken out of the professional technical question no that's it thank you thank thanks you're welcome thank you you're welcome have a great when you ready everybody um this be my first uh incom and Mee um like to start off first start the top as far as the uh L those or any any concerns that uh everything has been pretty much level funded um there's been no major changes to our to our budget this year PA to last year um it was a reduction in the Communications line um that I discussed with Mr Mullen but that was also the money was also reduced there for because of the jpr is uh reducing reducing our cost that um our office supplies line we requested to be at 4,100 um the the recommendation that came down from the Town Administrator was 25 I'd like to try to request to be around 3,000 in that line just because we're not even have the we still have a few ons left and uh Caren printed up a print out for me for some things that we still have to have purchased by of the air um like parking ticket parking tickets um postage envelopes that run about $45 a couple other items on there that's going to put us in the red um already um so keeping us around 3,000 would probably be a safer mock than the 2500 that's been recommended that would be line 5420 can I question um in the overtime line it says tsg reimbursement I'm sorry I don't have notes for what that is what is it TS s g reimbursement 7,422 the overtime line mhm is it just something that maybe was from last year that didn't um so what are you looking at s or on over line on the backup or yes zero 131 yes 131 the last comment I can give you my copy it says tsg reimbursement 7K fy22 yeah I think might just not taken out last year I apologize probably so that's gone yeah I I say I [Applause] have so then with that line item cost of 273,000 be uh reduced by 7,000 over time line yeah I have the over time line that's 5131 right yeah at 82,000 that that wased from um last year I believe and right now our over time line with um we have injuries and whatnot we'll like we'll running at the B minimum um with the unknown of when officers are coming back um it would be nice to stay at that that number um being a contract here as well um the offic haven't settled on the contract yet so I'm not sure like where they're going to be so that's why we haven't we haven't gone up on on that so I have 82,000 on right 5131 we Sorry Sorry looking at the sorry I have I get on to the police department yes okay so 273 20 right mhm y that was what the number was I believe last year I don't think we I don't think we went up on that line so this 7,000 though that we scratched out at the end of that explanation then there the 7,000 taken off that's 273 in there here's our overtime account right there okay this is where we are right now what I did is I out about $2,000 we that6 we've been a 6,000 a week now training three more months for those officers to return so this is for next year's budget starting in July right would it beely the time stop I would I would hope so I would hope so so I guess the question is why why are we going to fund it the same as this year versus next year when we should have those offices back by then do you think they will I do think they return but with it being a contract here I mean there's also going to be an increase in in in salaries right so that would that would that would contribute to overtime and vacation as well so we didn't that's why that was fund rather we didn't go up on that yeah vacation if we have to replace those guys for the vacation time that discussion vacation time every year everything above that we buy that well most of the guys don't buy back time so tell them so basically what I did is I took our overtime line and I brought it up to March 9th where we were I averaged out basically what the overtime could be per week to week number 52 so it left us with about $50,000 left in the account averaging five like $3,000 however last week we did 65 uh the week before was over 5,000 um so so what we have is weeks could be more than that then at the end of the year right now we still have a lot of officers that still have vacation time on their books so if they start using their vacation time they're gonna someone else is going to come in for overtime for them right so if they were to do that that would give us another $559,000 of overtime which we probably won't do that but it could that will bring us from the figure that we have right now $7,000 in the red okay okay so so um that's kind of like how I looked at it so I would say and Serena do you know way we ended up with overcome last year at the end of the year do you have last because I could bu last year 23 250,000 so 250 last year so did you just say that if every officer uses their vacation between now and the end of the year time be at 2 yeah well about 7,000 now was more so probably a little over 280 I I will say typically every guy I mean not I can't speak for everyone but the majority of the officers carry over two every yeah so majority so I'm figuring we won't hit that 59,000 P for overtime but it could happen I don't know what that that fy22 was that's fine thank you yeah yeah just to the chase Point yeah you can actually like see how the increased training requirements and mandates from the state have also have also continued to increase in terms of what it has Cost Plus financially in overtime in fy22 after furnes were were 218 uh and then in 23 they jumped up there uh just over 250,000 like just how tring we did have we do have a twoed on duty we have a two in on duty issues um that we've that we've been faced with in FY 24 so that has actually skewed it's actually skewed up our alliance on the OT uh but yeah I mean as we had like hour there the potential that will be ending fy2 f24 with an expense uh it could be as high as $28,000 it's so it's really finding a sweet spot there that is practical based on the increased mandates in training how also as the chief mentioned as well it is it is aony like so any adjustments that we do make in terms of in terms of cost of living or anything else it does it does actually compound into the overtime line as well ex me for last year I know that uh right around this time you guys you had a lot of uh overtime because of a federal issue do you have rough idea of how much that ended up costing um off the top of my head I do not I I said um I I did not have to look up those numbers I I want to say it was on 12,000 just for that event itself yeah was I wasn't even in the state for was that was UN uning um but I know I know some of the things that I had spoken to um the Town Administrator about certain things um we worked we had worked together to keep those those things down and like you had said you know to find that sweet Squad as the over time line again I iiz at the wrong sheet um and then the only concern I did have was the office supplies and stuff and that's mainly because we we spend for postage for ltcs ltcs have gone up um as far as the number of people applying for gun licenses so we're mailing out so many more ltcs since Co instead of people coming to the station we just been hit mailing them out so that's kind of gone up a little bit too and then someday we go back to having them pick them up in the station but then we run into the issue of them sitting down there for months at a time calling people back time and time again they come pick them up because they just sit out this so I mean if that's something we can you know explore on the road in the next coming year to having them pull back up dispatch cut down some cost in that line I wouldn't be against that either there's nobody else hasn't on me method I've asked around um I've asked other departments and they they mailed them out they may actually cost more because they mail out um they do have a different mailing method I don't want to discuss but they have a different mailing method that actually costs more so um but yeah it's we can't explore that really so I try to I try to be the most creative way to get them in and get turn around time as well you know people want their license so you try to be quick and prompt so they Comm the day they arrive so the only thing that I wonder about is let's say let's take State like Texas to where it's a get still have to license things um so the amount of Licensing is a lot so I want they do you know like Virginia you know states that are really the state taking it over together and whether that's going to happen I don't know a lot of Chang [Music] so if I'm not mistaken um after the prior Chief resigned yes do you have a net loss of one officer in that case or did you hire somebody to take your place you know right now yes be we'll be down we'll be sh one up so you're one down there yes sir you that reflected in the that that was fulltime officer salary that that number is in the fulltime officer salary correct okay sens please same you the tuition allowance are you expecting guys to utilize it so that's a good question so since the state started the new um the new program where 25 and older can go to school for free a lot of guys have been exploring that through the state program and um taking schooling right now so do I see it um changing from this point um I don't think we'll go over that number um because there are a couple in that maybe a master class Master programs that may exercise that but maybe one or two k just really quickly to Pigg you back on what the chief mentioned we do have a contractual requirement to uh to like at a minimum fund that to L for Union for like Union offices like Union offices for six gr a year however like how also in line with the new Chief's contract too we do have a like $5,000 investment oh like line um and like oh yeah that explains the rationalization uh for the $5,000 increasing that line the communication increase here doesn't have anything to do with any of the other communication changes no in terms of Comcast and everything else now we have the we have the soal com account for B and like everything in the PD Communications and cly PD related Communications issues probably ask this every year but other supplies and equipment um so out of that line this year I've um I've purchased um new ballistic Shields um rifle rated shields for cruises um miscellaneous items like like that it's a very helpful line that has been helpful and I'm looking to purchase a couple more going into the next year um things like that out of that line getting supplies is that is that EAS at all getting supplies as far as you had any issues we haven't any questions on10 thank moving on to oh excuse me can I there was just one more thing on line 5300 professional and Tech 15% contingency unexpected is 15% of the 479 is that 15% of the whole which would be about a little over 7,000 yes it's actually the the 15% of the line because it's yeah 15% of the line itself uh and what would that cover I don't yeah like any any unexpected issues um there quite a bit of pulling the sheet up right now making sure I get she I all right so um out of that out a professional Tech just to give you the a lot of things that do come out of the professional Tech um that weren't included on the sheet um which came up today with the ads which are two over $2,000 that comes out of that line um the um irrigation irrigation um items that out of that line uh Sim um comes out of that line which is um couple couple of thousand dollars a few big out of this we have quite a bit Yeah quite a bit there is a lot here do you have that sheet that one yes all right yeah I was just wondering where the budget is so tight and we're accom 7,000 for contingencies y yeah yeah just as an example like one of the things in FY this this fisal year that we had to deal with from that line we in um August we had like anure driver dve into the god of the PD um and and based especially on public safety issues because that God actually does prevent people from driving in the building like we had to expend especially um based on as I mentioned because the driver was uninsured you know insurance deductible is actually is actually $5,000 you it cost $3,000 cost $3,000 to fa the god rail that's an expense that we had to take from there because that was completely un the scene we also we based the a few the legal issues espe we've had a few legal issues uh in the PE this year but one of the uh the UN anticipated on has been the uh the continuation of the uh uh the continuation of sh follow yeah like in terms of of the legal council for public records request and a whole bunch of other things that were that were associated with that whole issue that were completely unexpected okay and it has been yeah I've been actually I guess I I guess fascinated is probably not the adequate word but uh one event all last ail has really has really continued almost the present day in term with it can I one more thing to our prisoner also come out of that line so we could have like okay not many but then all we could have so we've had we've had we' had a month where we've had and then we have a bill for $75 per person that get shipped down to the house Corrections so you get sometimes 5 six seven month that also thank you that helps a lot one more before we go to the next J GPR yes yeah that is that is um that is a contract of John GI for public relations like it's especially Val like that that service is split between the town administrators budget uh the police department budget and then and then between the like fire and ambulance budget where that is especially valuable is actually with regards to Public Safety because they have the ability to basically serve to serve like as a public information office to serve as and they do serve as a public information officer during an event and like it really like allows our law enforcement professionals to do to do the law enforcement work without having to worry about and deal with media and a host and a host of other things and we've seen it time and time again like especially in the last year how that how that service has basically allowed our has allowed really our Public Safety professionals to really do the job of Public Safety without having to coordinate andage all the media response that does come with events they are excent I mean they'll call you like Mr M was saying they'll call you in the middle of a a meteor had a missing kid they'll reach out here um they play like the middleman as far as the media directing us directly we'll speak to them their reps because we're they're paying customer contract obviously um and they also help with weather related issues so we child L sometimes they'll do joint process between myself and the fire chief there's weather related things coming up that they want make the public aware of so they're just really really on the ball as far as social media aspect go so their their cost being in 5300 and 5340 is that because of different things different contract that's that is I'm sorry George yeah the total the total the total annual cost uh that we were projecting for ggpr I beginning of our f25 planning was actually 17,000 like we've already worked with them to reduce it to to 13,000 and I found that 13,000 we've already we've already proposed actually up until Friday like up until up until this past Friday that 17,000 was actually split between the four between the four budgets I just mentioned now the 13,000 split um split between the four budgets menion so my budget the police budget I I an ambulance budget as well it split a third like or is it it's yeah yeah yes it's split like it's split in third but then in but then in the fire fire and ambulance budget that third is split in half between the two does that make sense yeah yeah so in 5300 it looks like there's 4,000 5340 another [Music] 4700 we can I 5340 is there and I gu and 5300 is also listed yeah the second third one okay we will also yeah go back and we oh we confirm that it's only in one place okay thanks yeah thank you for Communications okay um so there's been nothing there's been nothing that has changed um on this year's budget um versus last year there was nothing that there was any major concern that we we discussed during meeting for the uh the Town Administrator you got you having any issues finding people um that's a good question um prum yes PRM mainly because the training uh for 911 school is during the week um and I've a couple um adult um people in town that citizens that would that expressed interest but when they get down to the PD they speak with dispatcher cost who's to Liaison they find out that the training is Monday through Friday a lot of people in the private sector don't have Aon time off so trying to um get them into training um during the week is tough so because it is quite a bit of hours and then the the hours in dispatch itself is quite a bit so I'm hoping this summer I'll have two candidates to uh bring in get them trained and the uh while they had the sum was off to be able to to utilize them we had a uh remember last year that worked at the school she had done the training but she was in school at the same time so we're hoping to get her back this year too um pum status but yeah it's been kind of it's been kind of a challenge one question so with pum we don't have any health benefits corre correct so yeah so they just work as filling like they have floor open tomorrow they before so it's like a part time for them so there's no benefits paid and you said you're hoping for two so so my fingers are crossed I'm hoping to get her back for sure it's is great it's a it's actually a good it's a good um job for kids that are in school because it's flexible with all kinds of hours but it's also good to like if there were school officials that will like you know have something to be able to go to the training school to take time off right when everybody else is taking vacation exactly [Music] okay vacation sick in communication is that where that's a new [Music] line oh um do time and buyb 19 retirement the 50 the that's the yeah 19 5155 that's [Applause] for questions on 25 um I have one question on the training 5190 um that 10,144 does that just cover the training and not the overtime pay or it does uh cover both that that covers both I believe okay y thank you yes George what's the replacement equipment replacement equipment 587 y look matter right now so that was for that line is for like um when the zon um and dispatch went down this past year that was like $3,000 okay that that line is pretty much established well anticipation of anticipation of it going down again well we've had we've had a lot of issues out there yeah with uh the equipment going down um so there's been so that line there was uh we we used that this year it was like $3,000 replaced was it the zetron chief that that we placed up in the special sale like three grand yeah so that line there is what we used for for any um for any replacement of the uh dis equipment one thing came out that one here too was the chair yes they that's that's a good thing too uh they have like these um 247 chairs there's a lifetime guarantee on most of the chairs but they've also used those chairs too for parts and whatever else too so the RAR and te um because they're so costly use that that line as an equipment also but that was in the past good chair well well they still have those they still have those chairs I mean if they break I mean that's what we would take those that's what you said there's a lifetime guarantee well with I'm saying with Po and stuff like that they would they would use that line for PS and whatnot quick question like on that like yeah like I mean to dat expenses mat actually shows the debit like of the $3,200 for the z um like in the FY 24 budget we had also anticipated the purchase of a chair um that was in the zero base a breakdown for 24 has that happened in 204 yet do we know at all no okay that just your Communications no that's that comes out of that my only point is only looks like expend expended 1% of the budget so far this year in in March is 3,000 it oh thank you yeah yeah I want to clarify that because it does give a false question thank you brings us to so in the the biggest uh concern for that um in this department is the 5300 line um which is the an1 welfare healthy welfare line which was uh which is at 5,000 and it was uh again level to 5,000 for this coming year um we did want to try to increase that by a th um just because of the already in the red um in that line we still have three months to go um already the negative I should say for that um um just because of the increase in animals and cost of food and all the other things that Mrs F has to um take these um animals to the vets and what not so we're looking hope we're hoping to increase that $1,000 just because we're already in the negative you say 53 yes that was the 5300 line yes I have one question so we are taking the animals in how are we adopting them out we are or how is that going well slow um adoptions in the state of Massachusetts most animals staying in the shelters 18 months before they even see a person wow um that's the statistic even with the big shelters that you think I'm moving a whole bunch animals they're not um there's a shelter now that's pleading for people to take puppies because nobody's adopting um Health and Welfare is one of those things that I have to do I have to take them to the vet I have to have this sped before we can let them go they need to have their bab's vaccine they need to be healthy before I let them go um sometimes it's rather cheap if you get a kitten a male kitten it's very cheap if you get a female dog that weighs almost 100 lb it's almost $3,000 and that's with a discount so it you never know I had M it last year that sort of brought into this year that was very sick that we didn't know because somebody dumped her I had St neutered and we found out that she has kidney issues skin issues I have finally found somebody that's going to adop her but we're never going to recruit those cops never um that's one of the reasons and Kim season's coming up so I'm already in the red I see that being even worse because I get kittens I get them up to date but we still have to SP neum which I make an appointment at our rets and I make sure they get there when they're open enough to be stay so so the funds you get for adopting goes right back into general fund general fund sty taught me something sweet I know those kids K like question how do people go about adopting um a lot of people call me um asking if it's just a location because if doesn't have something they give them numbers around so if I don't have it I give them swansea's number or's number um but there is an application online under the police department okay everybody hear that how about uh the the car vehicle um I know we've got 1, 1500 infa brakes and rotors next year but at least through December I hadn't spent anything in there any of that that can be done in in this year's budget um yes I have had it there a couple times I don't know if that's gone in oh I mean because I don't get the bills to car um I've had I did a whole bunch of work on my recent two ago was it the department yes so I don't get those bills um I don't know if we did breaks and rotors last year but if it's something that needs to be done yes we can have them have it done right now my vehicle's running okay so the highway department faes the V yes go [Music] 2023 so it's not 292 probably just the police it's not the 292 vehicle repair it comes out of ours what happens is the highway department does work however the bills are set up so that they would come through like they say police on them they don't have one for ACO but usually detective Richards who works ones will let me know that it's he knowes the fleet pretty much in charge of the fleet so so it's a possibility like the C who was just recent the bill might not have filt it over to me yet or we might have to change it if it turned out that got hit on police yeah rather than ACO so I'll have just have to research back to see what was transpired or whatever that might be a good uh exercise anyway because one of the things that we've asked for in the past typically is U really list of the vehicles mileage and rough idea what you spend on a year on that car so okay that might point out that yeah some of the ACO is going into Cruiser okay okay questions on [Music] thank you how we doing how often do we go into negotiation every three years we um are we just actually ending a two-year contract um we we uh typically between between between two and three years um uh between two and three years based on what really uh based on what our financial position is as well um we also just in the contract in the fire contract that's wrapping up we wanted to actually after Fray three years ago it was important to the town to get the public safety unions all on the same B schedule um so that's why I I got the time to had a threee we Bas we basically sted the uh uh we basically we sted the fire contract to end at the same time so we have an ability to B in with both out with both units separately uh yeah at the same time thank you you're not you're not owed any Vehicles right now everything that's uh no no not that we're good I got actually I have a new truck being delivered hopefully this month the new engine will be delivered hopefully the end of this uh middle the end of April it's in Westport or hington right now hington that's already halfway paid for basically it will be are we doing both fire and ambulance now fire first okay so just to like 5106 the change in that is that just based on a different week scheduling 25 and 24 so that was just um anticipation of uh people finishing their degrees but again that could change depending on negotiations Supply you guys aren't having any issues getting anything oh yeah we are you are delays on things everything has a delay right now for us like uh I just waited four months for fire gear um I waited a few months for hose I weed a couple months for scva bottles so everything has delay right now yeah they they don't build anything to have it on the Shelf anymore especially in the fire service because it all has a a year ending so things have lifespan so they won't build it until you order it what's the typical weight four months depends on what it is for fire gear it's going right now roughly 3 to four months um H sometimes they'll have it you can have it within a month or so it just depends on what you're ordering now I see what he is for both [Music] two the zero budget is together yeah so jump it to ambulance how have receipts been yeah not not a lot of pay I mean there's there's unpaid debt sure there is but it's always the way it is um but no it's collection going great so El is like 80% or we don't know that oh yeah we have house person that collection everything to that point is actually going like so well it's um it's yeah I mean like a double Ed but based on how we're planning for f25 and what we have to close in terms of the Gap the uh the the volume in the collection that we oh yeah I mean the chief and H oh like in the chief and his Department of a SE I like like it is why we have been able to increase or like I to propose increase Reliance on the ambulance F to the to 275,000 I like FY 25 it's not IDE because we're very cautious of that because of where we've been oh oh yeah oh exactly where we've been in the past it we yeah like we did just in terms of revenues look very closely at that and thankfully we do have that opportunity right now and do you think that is due to the software they've brought in that's a $450 a month fee so is that software the big difference yeah know that's actually fire permit software is that no no no that so the billing software just is something that we have Rebecca has to use to to be able to send the bills out um it's just that's increase invoices it um no really Rebecca's efforts and I'll take no credit for any of it Rebecca Works diligently to stay on um insurance companies and all these other payers to make sure that we're getting the money that we needed she spends a lot of time and works very hard on it um and her credit we're doing very well right good any questions up to 20 2 231 just the emergency C 29999 any plans for this here do I have any just um try to continue with what we're doing um price of the code red went up so that's the the biggest thing and then we tried to cut off some fat the m a little bit with the budget I probably ask this every year too what is the emergency preparedness equipment uh so we we buy traffic cones and stuff like that so when there's big storms we assist the highway shutting down roadways blocking off places that people can't access stuff like that so um plus all the shelter equipment we have Cs and beds and and not beds but um pillows and blankets and stuff like that so we we try to buy a little bit each year so we're not taking a huge price every year each um with the communications line the software is $2500 $3,000 we're asking is the $500 training or no so the the increase there was I didn't I only got the increase like yesterday so there's an increase in that code red software that I wasn't able to reflect on this that's what the $500 increase is to $ 2984 so that's all that is thank you okay thank you than have a good night is stillin Right still Kevin yeah I would go to you guys next just see you Kevin we're up to Park and W you want to CH in hi guys how are you good how are you not too bad um so let me just reorganize my paperwork here so so we're essentially uh um level funded with the exception of uh there's a $500 increase and that comes from a shift um there was a $500 line item under the ad commission for the James briak James Briggs Garden which um I had talked to administrator Mullen about um shifting that over to our budget because parks and wreck is going to be taking a little bit more of a lead on that project um and then we just renamed our line item 5850 which I think used to be additional equipment and just changed that to be the Briggs Garden so that reflects properly um and then I just wanted to note there's like kind of one discrepancy in what we've spent so far this year I mean typically our equipment repairs and maintenance this is we're getting into the hot time of year where we start actually spending some of that money so that's always kind of um we always have quite a bit remaining at this time of year but under Recreation um you'll see well let me just go back one second so we actually want to decrease equipment repairs and maintenance from 15,000 down to 135 and then shift that 1,500 into Recreation and the reason behind that is it shows that we've expended um $2,456 so far this year but we've actually expended more than that um the what what it doesn't reflecting like our latest Ledger is um 1,488 uh for the Easter egg hunt and then we have kite day coming up for the elementary school which is $850 so we're um really at about 4200 bucks for the year and we're not even you know close to to the end of the fiscal year so we wanted to shift a little bit more money to so we're just not really up against the fence as far as our recreational budget one thing we are doing too is trying to introduce a little bit more like payto play type things like we did a painting in the park where you know individuals actually paid for it we weren't um covering the cost so we are trying to be you know not increasing our budget and uh and doing more programs kind of based on that as well firecracker festivals at in the summer firecracker Festival was we first two years we did it in July um last year we moved it to September um so that's going to and that's I think that's going to be the norm um is running it in September so um like last year it was it cost us just shy of um 2000 um last year and both the last two years I actually applied for Grants through the Dion cultural Council the first year we got reimbursed all our entertainment cost for that but last year we um uh we didn't get that Grant so like it actually end up costing us you know the the $1,800 for entertainment but I always try to be conscious of applying for those things to try to cover that cost but I still need it in the budget because that that Grant is a reimbursement Grant stupid question for you uh for the recreational sports activities what kinds of equipment are you guys buying um we've been trying to so it's been a lot focused on the Courts Facility um because that's like our heaviest used we've um last year we bought new well not just the Courts Facility um last year we bought new backboards and rims for the Palmer Street um playgrounds basketball court but a lot of that ends up going towards the courts um and we're just trying to um help supplement really the the growing sport of pickle ball the people that played on there do a great job of fundraising and trying to meet most of their needs but we always try to you know help out if they need you know some extra funding for Nets and things like that did you just buy nets last year yes so what would be buying Nets again this year for well we wouldn't well like this there's um it wouldn't necessarily be pickle ball nets um the I know like one of one of the two street hockey necks is starting to you know reach the end of its life those are about 4004 to $500 last time I checked um and then Recreational Equipment uh other things could just be um playground equipment that that fails too so it's not necessarily you know sports related equipment it could be um any piece of our equipment that that that breaks throughout the course of the year and we need to address 22 counts is $20,000 question I I have one more question 5240 the material such as mulch grass car and does our uh Highway Department do those Services the highway department um typically performs the work um and we Supply the material any specialty material um that we might need um so like if we question following up with this is you know such as loan mulch seed um Town highway I would imagine orders these materials too would it be in our best interest to do bulk purchasing of such materials I usually check with Mr Ferry before I order anything because sometimes we actually have things on hand so we try to use what we have like Loom is a great example there's a giant pile of loom um behind the Sprat field so we try to you know utilize that before we purchase anything um that's kind of like that material is kind of like a blanket statement some like um tricentennial parks parking area is clamshell so we might need something for that we might need um you're talking with the other um Town entities to work through that yes use materials we've already got on hand anybody else 6:30 we're all set than thank you Kevin thank you is uh tril also Rachel okay that's Department 174 Rachel we're ready for you if you're you're ready for us hi there I'm not can you hear me we hear you now I'm uh pinch hitting for Jeff who usually does this so um I'm not sure what you want see it's U would it be right to assume that most of your money ends up coming out in the springtime yes that's correct [Music] okay thank you Rachel that's it I don't need anything else tell make sure tell Jeff how hard it was I have one question one question are these trail maps um are they available online or on the town website they are made available on the town website yes thank you Rachel all right thank you [Applause] hello has everyone met Mark by the way he new library director toet nice to meet you how's the renovation coming very good yeah I was just there today and I every time I go in there I'm really impressed the progress being made so yeah I'm excited about it but then again a easily excitable person but yeah no I'm really impressed hopefully we're on track and no one's told me anything to even temper expectations so that's a really encouraging sign when are we hoping for I'm hoping Renovations com up by the end of this year and I can start moving in at some point beginning 202 calendar yes yes correct and the day I get occupancy to move in is the day I start so where we're going to be we're going to go into a third year with the benefit sick buyback M this year we think maybe yeah I yeah yeah as in this current pH or the next pH so this 25 will be the third third stream yep y it will correct [Music] 11,000 19 Grand I was going to say 17 177 something so it's it's it's five we spend all that in books just to get back yeah well not just books so there's also um electronic material so people you know like Kindles subscriptions so ebooks audio books there's also hotpots Hotpot basically hot spot is new to me so basically what it is it's like internet in a can so you can actually check out the ability to have portable internet wherever you go it's something that that we have and that's that's fun to do that um so it's not people think books you're right that is a good chunk of it but the increase on I made to the uh audio materials um ebooks that as well that's all in their materials how many of those unit have um we had have about four four to six yeah depending on what's available what's not checked out yet how long can they be checked out they can be checked out for like any any other book um you for about a week two weeks yep and we're fine fore so we're not if you have it longer free we are fine free because we have a multiple locations going on and we want to make it easy on patrons to actually um return materials when we get in the new space going to reassess um but right now with the multiple space multiple location going on we want to make sure that this is painless and as easy for patrons to get what they need and return what they need without any sort of CLE and that's just with paper materials if we go electronic with the Kindle and stuff once your book borrow is over you lose the book electronic Electronics yeah yeah shuts it up yeah yeah the fine free was uh initiated in particular during the pandemic and then when libraries reopen many libraries chose to continue the practice so we're not unique in that regard and we're going to reevaluate that when we get the new facility and actually have everything under one rofie reevaluated that time private won't find free do you remember what kind of Revenue we raised I do not that was done before little before I started I I don't have that you don't have follow I think uh I think there might be a book SE section that's got my wife's name on it well if she returns to now there won't be any the time absolutely yeah [Laughter] my um 5350 uh Rec yep one program per month m movie Under the Stars is separate one so two in that month yes and what are the program materials did we already purchase them and we use them year over year or it's it's sort of the same thing year-over year I mean for example when children's programs uh do that thing it's mat buying materials for that um like for example is movie nights so snacks you know little um tickets are printed up which which really which is the kids really like you know because they like going to a movie with the ticket so that's pretty cool put it up like that I know April vacation February vacation um we do special programs um for families for children and so supplies a block for that I know summer reading program um prizes are given out to students or students kids who read x amount of books x amount of spend x amount of time um so that's that's that's for that as well so these are really materials built spe B specifically um to enhance or for a particular program so while we're waiting for the library to be finished are you carrying on with pretty much the same um schedule and offerings yeah so there was a bit of a there was a bit of a well because when Johnson my predecessor decided she would leave you know accept another position she didn't schedule any programs and then in the interim before I came on there were no program schedule but when I start when when I started I began again bringing that back in and actually Old Town Hall is reserved for library programs on the fourth Thursday of every month and I've been continuing I just want to I'm keeping that going and so I started booking programs again so there was a l now there is not and I have programs booked all the way out through the end of this calendar year so I've started booking into the next fisical year as well looking ahead yeah and how long have you been on I've been oh yeah yeah I've been on I started it was the third week of December okay I C the last two weeks of calendar year 23 yeah yeah just in time for Christmas you wouldn't have any idea though he's he's been a quick read and I keep coming back so I have M and I keep getting invited back right right now where we've got the building off of town hall utilities are just running off of yeah yeah I saw the utilities for the modular the the coming utility line um and yeah I yeah 192 was the other night the public building line the $220,000 were you been carrying so I think will be the third year f25 will be the 30 of the modula um and I will have that probably for most of f25 to make sure the transition into the new building is complete I can then I that can go away for good as well so that where if January 1st we're able to the the library is the building is open and running and we're starting to transition into that is that utility costs is that all in public building utility as opposed to library yes yes I mean like generally yes because we are already paying to heat in to Electrify into to Electrify the building now uh we won't actually have real updated Baseline until we're actually in there seeing what those operational those everyday operational costs are and like will have an ability to adjust accordingly the end but we do have a pretty yeah I would like like I would say especially based especially based on the fact that I like I like we're already using currently oil he to heat the building and we're going to actually have have a high efficiency HV installed like I would actually venture to say what we're paying now uh just an oil and a very anticipated like system well will give us a pretty good place for for utilities [Music] there any questions on 610 did we already cover 5510 there 34124 remaining and I proposed increase of 3400 materials yes this six months you're going to be from January to June y y I have subscriptions that are going to be coming up that going to be yeah it's the digital resources that that cost the most most subscription will be coming up very soon yeah so those when you you acquire a subscription the same time every year yes yes is that the same for like any type book or is it each book is different yeah so so these subscriptions um they're they're like essentially they're basically databases um so I just subscribe on to the database and what it's up for Renewal that that's paid there as well and actually when I when I buy ebooks that's a little bit different because what I do is I go through I I get I get a write up as to um who in the Consortium that would be all the neighboring libraries who's looking for specific electronic resources so I know which ones are popular in the area so I can go and buy those those actually cost more than the actual hard copy books but that's what that's the way things are going now so it makes sense that that's going to cost more people want to see electronic stuff and so electronic stuff just BL man cost more so I want to give people I have a question with electronic copies you only pay once I yeah I I pay once typically it's for a year some some books we can pay for two years whereas if I buy a standard actual book you pay once I pay once and I get it first so what they are annual subscriptions for each book you know that's a good way to look at that's a good way to look at it yeah yeah yeah but we wouldn't buy the same book each year because different office come new books um interest shift year to year maybe even month to month um but getting that WR up on what people looking at and what they're actually want to check out is very helpful making sure I spent that allocate that money on resources that are actually going to get used right but that is interesting though you're paying more for a oneyear use of a book where you have a printed version yeah yeah yeah now is the 3,400 increase because we got more subscriptions or was there the cost of that's because well that that goes for the whole that's the whole thing that for hard copy books and digital books as well um I have to have that line hit a certain percent um in order in order to qualify for St and that percents 19 at I'm about I'm at 18 I'm I'm the low in um I would like it to be higher but ask for the v um I do have hit a certain percent and that that that's that that that was what was behind the increasing and can you have multiple um so if I want book a and then there's three or four other people out there this is electronically wanting book a how many people can be on book a at the same time if it's electronic it would just it would just be one unless I would have buy multiple copies of the same electronic book so you still have to yeah so they are treated in many ways like an actual hard copy book but there are there are differences in in how it's managed on the questions on 610 thank you thank you was nice to up 155 data processing Bas on really like a budget position I really wanted to really put a money multipli in terms of identifying CS off the bat that would be practical like maintaining like a network equipment and maintenance and the network security provisions that we have to provide for maintain um however like like we did I mean we do have some increases here how however however as you also see we also took a stample at other parts of the budget as well um we uh uh uh basically year to year we treat the line in 50 5240 and uh uh 5306 really as the same line item like we basically use the 536 historically and really like really a safety net to deal with any unanticipated network issues um that we have um we have in 52 like in 52 like 40 like just based like my current trends Bas on current trends I'm requesting um that we increase 5240 um actually by $500 but Al also reduce 536 by $3,000 um okay we also uh rather than actually we do in Prior years we have we have back we have actually divided out EV our accounting software Financial software we have historically divided that up in three um between uh between accounting um uh let's between accounting The Collector uh like in the assessor's office but just like for cloudy we want to show what oh yeah really the true cost of having a financial software which like is really the life blood of in terms of how we how how we account for and I process everything in terms of the day-to-day budgeting and accounting that we need to do U uh but we wanted to show a CL clost of that and that why like you can see that we Sho uh uh that we post the true class while we offset um while we offset those clost in like in actually the collective budget uh like uh of the Town accountant individual computer budget I can also and can also and also the assessment budget as well we we do one issue we just actually we just realized this afternoon and double checking and doing our due diligence um in terms of the town website subcription um that is actually increasing an FY 25 by $500 so um so the line that is currently projected uh like for 7,49 continue to build out the system one of the things that we have really been focused on is including like really the town hall like finite that pering software as well so we so we do have a buildup platform for the assess office to to integrate an interface with that I and also I can I also with the treasur collector's office as well because they have to do the tax checks um they have to do the tax checks on oh uh we got different types of applications and payments that need to be checked basically to make sure they up toate with taxes so we want to make sure we do have the resources to continue monetizing that whole process um we have as you here like does the evening uh the com on Aging has actually like an fy2 like for this FIS year they uh they they uh they have received a really good Grant they've received a really good gr I forget the amount which has actually allows that has that has allowed them on a one time only basis to have a lot of their technology needs in FY 25 funded by the Grant and so that's what you'll see here that we were able to take out the out the $800 I'm sorry the $1,800 subscription software for the for so EXC me for the software called my senior software this year I can FY 25 it will help us because it's been one it's been one time Grand funded however we do have to pay attention to FY 26 because all those cost will be built um actually back into the budget I can we do it and we do um I can we do as part of annual building permit software that we use uh we do have a $1,000 user fee for the Department that utilize that software and so that's why you'll see so that's why you'll see the conservation department has a user fee of $1,000 for that the uh the planning department has a user fee of $1,000 for that um the uh what what health they they have a user fee they have a user fee refunded it uh like an F like 20 for like $2,000 but they only really need one login so that's why we were able to decrease that down to $1,000 there um and oh like and you'll see as I mentioned uh we have also built that user fee into the collector's office and into the assess office budget as well so this network equipment yes is rather generic term yep so what is can you give an example yeah yeah this year one of the the Investments we like we made was like Investments like Investments like Investments like investments in like a multiactor authentication like oh yeah system and software so there always a you always have a need to replace different switches I like oh me upgrade FW subscriptions as well oh yeah like I mean like everything we've been facing with MFA has been I mean as we know that whole process is evolving by the day in terms of really what oh yeah yeah in terms of what the best practices and requirements are that as well you've been spending seven what 20 22 7 so every year we spend 7 or $8,000 yeah yeah that's why we made a lot of progress which will like allow us to drop off and pull back a little bit from those what are you trying I come from this background okay so what are you trying to do this do all the Departments uh connected to a local network in the building someplace it's that you're doing this yeah yes as of as of right now as of right now today yes but as we ALS but but as we also speak to today we're having like a f Line run from Lincoln actually like actually actually from the corner the corner of Lincoln I like side have like all [Music] all up to the Village oh oh oh down 207 Main Street and one and that we a lot of the a lot of the individual flag walls we have now will have an ability to move away from the to so you have more than one local you have a number of local networks we do yes okay and then um these computer fees are what uhing licensing fees yeah yeah those oh oh yeah those are for the individual user account for like the building per software like so for yeah yes for the assistant office to have a log into that permit software it's essentially $1,000 per log so the um Network administration at 5306 that um is there someone identified that does that work here yeah yeah we do uh we do uh we do have a contract outside it consultant weze we don't have that experience in house okay oh yes there's just a hand rais so I think that's I think that's the no I think that might be a cat oh this is the hand hope to reduce cop cost oh oh okay like yeah I think that was on the library comment yes okay I'm sorry like we just like have an ability to react in real [Music] time any other questions on data processing yeah if it's oh wait just while up here if we can move over to tuition um it's it's it's rather like self-explanatory but we do have we do have a town tuition reinvestment program and policy um that allows that allows in funds up to up to $3,000 a year per employee we um in the current FIS f24 we do have it funded at only $3,000 based on interest based on interest that we received in tring like 20 I'm planing for fy4 yeah foring for fy2 we 25 we have received interest from three employees and so I would the net net increase of $6,000 question yes Theiss government policy yep is that they have to get approve CL class approval yes yeah that aligns with their current job function all the the sometimes Blends in at the end the yeah can just SE in terms of weef I actually had a tuition um reimbursement policy since 1991 that was last updated in 2018 uh but the policy specifically says that the employee must request and receive by approval of the department head of the department head in the board of s before registration attendance the town must have appropriate funds in the budget for any employee to be eligible for reimbursement uh the courses must be related to the position and or Department of the employee the reimbursement will will be paid upon the successful completion of the courses employees must provide detailed proof of payment and a valid transcript Dem demonstrating successful completion employes must maintain a c average of better um eligible reimbursement shall be limited to tuition books and required fees specific to the course being taken there shall be no Exceptions there shall be a cap of $1,000 per course per employee and there should be a fiscal year cap of $3,000 per employee I have a question yes so we play tuition reimbursement and um take the courses M and then usually there's an increase in Pay once they get their degree or whatever the baining agreement will like if the position is Union and nonunion yeah no yeah but P for occasional yeah then to have yes we have had that happen but we have integrated into all the contracts and even non-un contracts that we do and we have Incorporated a cloud provision in there as well based on the other few issues that have happened over the last few years we've learned from them so we do have a CLA back provision in there as well that if they do leave we CL it back oh yeah can on their way out we take that we take that funing back because we how long is that CLA back been in place for it's yeah yeah I want to say in general for the life of the for the life of the agreement right now we just actually because of different issues we fac we just act we just actually began to implement that and so in general uh in general we do typically have threee contracts and so if we were going to go contract yeah yeah but however however like if we were going if we were going to rec contract someone and that same employee and if that same employee did receive an educational benefit yeah we would want to carry that over in we' want to carry that over for some time anyways for some time into the new contract as well it's only it's only right I mean you know we made that investment as a town yes so thank you any other questions on any of that so it's increasing by 6,000 you said yes why because our actually like in f 25 we do have actually two additional employees who are interested in utilizing that benefit n FY fy4 we only get one I we used to like fund that I like really I like I like really just as a general cou thousand that was there regardless however we really tried to really um I could do a better job of funding that on like an as needed basis rather than just having money there just because and having oh yeah oh yeah having any the approv fun just turn back yeah yeah you can like see how just from I like by 22 to 23 alone you know do a shift shift yeah I've seen the 1500 that's still left but apparently that's been spoken for that's going to be used yes I'm almost positive it has yes any questions thank [Music] you yes Sor question um the commission Disability should be fa fa for as I mentioned as I mention at the end last week we have I actually have in my fy2 budget proposal I have proposed to incorporate the um the uh the current lines for the 8 different other things related to that like into the administrative budget 124 um we do we do we do we do still have we do we do still have a we do still have a standing we do still have a standing Commission on disability Group which is now it's now made up of four or five members I think five right now am I correct and um so Commission of disability Commission of disability itself they did request like actually a total a total of $600 for different type of outre and materials and I'm I'm I I'm actually recomending refund at this point that is in line 549 sorry at the top of page eight in the budget any questions that at this point no okay um well I'm up here and I am actually still l i did provide to both uh members of the like f uh both the members of the F and the S oh yeah kind of like an overview of you really the highlights and the general like fiscal like position of the Town heading into planning for heading into planning for FIS year 25 as well uh it does really like give an overview of oh yeah I mean like a real we did have where we do have the ability to make increases in Revenue Productions um it also highlights it also highlights really all our I'm heading into fy2 as well and um we and yeah like especially like we know oh oh yeah oh yeah we know like at this point that one of the changes heading into fy2 like5 that is different different from is we do have basically a we do actually have a d assessment that's basically doubl in oh oh oh is double oh yeah just oh yeah what that is doing to aysal position based on the ability to raise revenues we have it's like it's really having it's really having a profound effect and um I did highlight like can give additional oh [Music] yeah addition context and background on that as well then as like like as like as of right now actually like we oh yeah 3 weeks ago when we met uh get in the DI Auditorium we were talking about having a projected FY 25 deficit um like actually like actually heading actually heading into the meeting that deficit was approximately $550,000 and then based on what we heard from the superintendent that evening Al we were we had information that would bring it down to 450 um uh it's my under it's my understanding tonight that the school committee met oh superintendent was going to propose another um he was going to propose another updated preliminary budget that oh that would decrease our assessment by approximately another $100,000 so so that basically brings our like where we were yeah few weeks ago at a oh yeah with a with a 300 on secondry oh yeah $550,000 deficit you know just with the di changes alone I brought it down to approximately $350,000 from that we been I gave to it I mention we've been able to make t we've been able to make additional Target Revenue increases we Al oh oh yeah we Al I didn't make some of my own budget recommendations that do I I do right here now get us down to the deficit of $221,000 uh which is oh yeah which is like thanks to the school district thanks to the other work that account and I who was amazing by the way um oh all those efforts have brought us down so far with brought us down so far with those updated recommendations down to $220,000 um we do have options like do not really the most comfortable of options really the balce they options that are yell oh oh I do hope oh yeah I do hope over the next few weeks to month or so we'll have an opportunity well an opportunity to be able to find consensus on the balance and yeah and then like really like at that point continue planning for FY 26 as well because that just yeah based on the information we have with BP based on the information that we have you know about the state budget and revenue picture as well yeah like I mean like yeah like I mean like if we thought FY 25 was bad FY 26 in my opinion is going to be worse so I just really wanted to give an overview like of all that like it makes like sure like everyone has an opportunity to like read yeah like oh yeah read through those and the different options that we do have at this point no we have some time but I just wanted to I oh yeah TR to Hope show we having these discussions now so we can plan and yeah have an opportunity to be transparent about that too so any questions on any of that generally thank you last for tonight questions public input and Woody I I told you I would always ask for public input so we have we have three people still on anyone have any questions or or want to want to chime in I do I have a quick question Mullen did you did you say you were going to recommend the cood budget be 450 $50 yes $450 you scamed me for a minute I thought you were loing $450,000 but no $450 Kevin okay thank you thank you I'm good to go Peter thank you guys for doing a great job appreciate it thank you Woody have a good night you too yeah thank you guys moot make motion to Second all in favor I yes have to down second thank you