##VIDEO ID:mvkPPiB4Jbk## I pledge OB to the flag of the United States of America and to the for stands one nation God indivisible liy and justice for all okay I'm going to suspend the order of the agenda tonight and I'm going to take first at 7 o' um the tax classification so we have a tax classification hearing um in accordance with chapter 369 acts of 1982 Section 1 in chapter 40 section 56 the select Board of the town of Newbury will hold a hearing on the determination of the percentage of tax levy to be borne by each class of real property for fiscal year 2025 the hearing is to be held on Tuesday November 26th at 7:00 p.m. at newbur municipal offices um 12 kentway uh second floor hearing room Byfield mask 01922 so uh Jason uh deio is our assessor and I welcome Jason do we need to open the hearing and close the hearing I'll entertain a motion to open the hearing all right I motion that we open the uh hearing class ification hearing ta classification hearing second all in favor hi hi well good evening everybody um and I'm just going to recap a few things then uh and with a a vote on the items that we have to address but um in your packet that you received I just wanted to remind as we talked about a little bit there the purpose of the classification hearing is for the select board to determine the allocation of property taxes amongst the different classes of property uh real and personal whether it's commercial industrial or um even open space and these uh residential factor is used to determine the percentage of the levy that is applied to each of these classes of real and personal property um some general facts about fiscal 25 that this was still another interim year we do quinquennial revaluations so though we updated our values we didn't change our methodology in doing so so when the Department of Revenue approved dollar values uh that's what they were approving just that we were at market value um one of the figures that I give you on page four is New Growth you see our three-year average is uh just over 240,000 this year we uh just made it over 200,000 uh the reason only bring this up is you know could be a sign things are slowing but what growth is really important for us because that's what allows us to grow our Levy every year you know prop two and a half allows us to grow from last year for 22% but New Growth allows us to increase it by that that figure so things are slowing that could be you know less of a ceiling on that Levy um so our total taxable value for the community uh is up again uh 6.9% on average um that's from the previous year of fiscal 24 however our proportions didn't change um and are you know virtually the same in every sense where were uh you know 95 5.7% residential and only 4.3 um the commercial industrial and personal property so that fits into all the other C categories you know it's predominantly a single family community um on page five we just talked about the the levy a little bit where I went over what our growth was for the year and this is how we kind of figure and back into what our tax ratees going to be um you know the budget set we know what we need to to raise in tax tax dollar and um then my values get you know approved and certified by the Department of Revenue and so we we have to come into this the estimated Levy and that's how we're able to calculate what we need to to raise in taxes and that is if you you follow that that down at the top of page five basically just talks about what last year's Levy is plus the two and a half and the new growth and we were able to come out to um for this year estimated at uh you know 20, 670,000 I believe that Eva currently has the um the levy just below that now maybe about 10,000 less so um if anything I always put it in here for the presentation when I submit the material really the worst case scenario that's the maximum that we'd have to raise so that back for the tax rate um So based on that information what we have to raise uh you know the fiscal 25 tax rate is estimated to come in at $745 per thousand that's a uh an increase to the average tax bill of about $189 and uh the value again was up uh about 6.9% so it brings up the average single family home is about 925,000 here in Newberry doesn't seem very affordable when I say it out loud but all right so the the options that we have to vote on one or the residential factor and that's the whether the community wants to adopt a shift in uh the uh residential factor meaning that you can shift the burden onto the commercial and Industrial and personal property uh component of the the community as we talked about that's only about 4.3% so if you flip to page six I go through the options on if you decided that you ever wanted to shift this is what it would do and the the net effect that it would have so shifting you know uh to a what do they call a residential Factor 1.1 um meaning that you would text the commercial industrial you know another 10% more it would alleviate the average single family about $28 but the average commercial property would pay another $661 and that's you know the whole chart right there goes in through uh what what the effects of having adopted anything other than a factor of one the board of assessors does recommend sticking as we historically have with a univers uh uniform rate and a factor of one with no shift [Applause] the residential exemption um the residential exemption is allowed regard to page seven um to to allow up to a 35% shift born within the residential class and what this does is it allows you to shift from the uh pay the the higher value properties end up paying even more of a tax than the lower value properties because it's born within the residential class so you can give an exemption to up to 35% of the average value uh residential value and the effects of doing so um are right there at the top of page seven where you would uh really effectively on a $500,000 house you'd save about $1,400 a year but you would then have to increase the uh property that's already paying more in taxes another thousand plus to be able to to shift that burden the board of assessors does recommend uh you know that the No No residential exemption given and getting to one of the last ones is the small commercial exemption small commertial exemption works very similar to how the uh residential exemption works it's born within the commercial class and allows you to give a small exemption of up to 10% for commercial properties that have less than I think it's 10 people working for per year we have to get the statistics from the the uh the labor board at the state would have to tell us who who would qualify for this and you know part of the problem with that is it's not even given to the business if they rent it it's you know it's given to the landlord because it's for the real estate so um just one other option that you have but you know the board has consistently recommend that that we do not adopt a uh small commercial exemption I did skip over the uh the open space which is one of the options um and the reason that I skip over it is because it is up to you know the board of assessors to Define and classify any property as open space should they want to um or feel that it's necessary and really the definition of open space is at the back of page8 we currently do not have any open space or property considered open space uh for tax purposes do varry so any uh exemption given would be uh moot um so in conclusion to all that info that I just threw at you um the board of assessors is unanimous in the recommendation to retain at one a uniform tax rate um and two uh a residential factor of one and two no open space discount three no residential exemption and four a no small commercial exemption um and then if you have any questions please feel free to ask me but um at the end of that that the board should vote uh and take a roll call vote on each item and um you know vote for the four classification items thank you um before I entertain comment from the public does anybody board have any questions just a couple of comments yeah back it's interesting to me I was looking at the history on the the I guess that where that 2,125 bucks comes from Y and it was a it it was less than 2024 and I just happened to I you know I really haven't noticed this before but I went looked down to like 2019 2019 was a significant drop and and then it slowly came back increasing up until 2024 do you remember what why that happened so I it was pre me you coming to Newberry you know I came here in fiscal uh 21 the end of 2020 I don't know what was going on in Newberry at that time um and that is you know really post crash because you know that crash that happened in 0608 lasted till about 2012 but we didn't feel the effects of that really in valuation till about 2014 is where that started you know to to kind of really start to turn around you can see that it was an uptick right from there the 2014 2015 um growth is really a byproduct of what uh you know building it's you know building permits only add so much right you know like I improve I redo a kitchen I might improve the condition of my house but if I'm not building a new house in changing land you know from one lot to 20 lots I'm really not getting a lot of growth in the community um and you know sometimes a significant amount of our growth will also come from the uh utilities the personal property side which we had significant amount this year with the solar coming online uh about you know $30,000 of that was you know from the solar solar project that we have I can tell you that in 2019 the tax rate was $10.81 so it may not have been attractive to some people tax-wise to be here and you see so that's a byproduct because again you know as the value goes up the tax rate seems to go down but then the new values are multiplied against that lower tax rate so you really got to get more value you know and so order to be able to obtain the revenues probably is a reflection of the rate because of the reduction in the values I guess rate is is a byproduct of value that's all it is value and obviously Levy Jeff very good presentation thank you can can I ask one more question this and this might be unrelated if I we can't talk about this that's okay but the the hero act that just passed with the state and the uh the exemptions uh by the way I want to thank you for working with us to give our veterans the dis AB ility exemptions that they got uh last year um and that being said um is the the CER piece of the hero act are we going to get that automatically or is that something that we would have to vote on have to vote on so any of these so exemptions work on the statutory exemptions chapter 59 Section 5 and then the subsection to what they are so all the ones that are standard that are given out by like that the government said you know the state of massachusett says well you have to administer these are somewhat reimbursable by the uh the the Department of Revenue gives us money back every year when we do a local option those amounts such as doubling any of the amount that we double you or you know will increase on the exemptions we get no money back that doesn't mean you do or do not want to do them so what they say is you know if you want to do that you have to do it by local vote as we did with the you know the the local option to double so any of the other options that were not mandated by the state under the here hero act would would be that and so real estate exemptions under the hero act there were no additional ones just local options that we'd have to so the answer to that it's not going to be automatic unless we put it on the warrant and vote for it ran all the way around to answer yes that's correct thank you you're welcome any questions there not a question but it's just um you know I like the way you explained it because I have a feeling some people think that Town leadership picks a number out of a hack to establish an a rate I hear it all the time tax rate yeah tax rate it's really a calculation I'm going to raise there because we need more taxes it has I'm not going to do either one it's they're bifurcated completely it's mathematics and it's also reviewed by the Department of Revenue to make sure our mathematics are correct yeah people need to realize that okay Jason that was very well done thank you great so yeah I just asked that after you do the questions again you know a roll call vote for the four options but I just want to see if there's anybody in the public that wants to come up because it is a public hearing I just have one question it's probably for Tracy do you want to come up Dale say who you are please for the TV Dale Williams Scotland Heights uh the fact that we have the same commercial as residential rate it's been that way for years is that that an attractive thing that people looking to bring a business to this town pay attention to or are we not attracting new business for lack of space or utilities or I think we would attract Less business if we did have a split rate for sure yeah absolutely but we're not really attracting much new business we don't really have a lot of utilities to provide new businesses that's our issue think plus to to have the single rate but we don't have the land that has utilities attached agreed thanks thank you D okay so I'll entertain a motion I'd make a motion that the town of Newbury retain the uniform tax rate for fiscal year 2025 for the residential factor of one there a second second okay any discussion all in favor oh uh I need a roll call vote I don't know I don't know if it has to be roll call I think with you know what I'm still hanging on to that from uh Co you know we had to do the so it doesn't just you know an individual vote on each item I don't think it has to be a roll call okay all in favor I any opposed any extensions it passes okay you good I make a motion that there will be no open space discount fiscal year 2025 second okay moved and seconded any discussion all in favor I I that would unanimous I motion that there will be no residential exemption for fiscal year 2025 second moved and seconded any discussion isn't that commercial residential no the residential exemption commercial is another exemption that's the the next motion so this okay the residential you got the verbage over there I'm sorry I apologize okay so we have a a motion in a second to the uh that there'll be no residential exemption all in favor I I I motion that there will be no small commercial exemption for fiscal year 2025 Motion in second all in favor I and now I'll move to close the public hearing um motion close the public hearing there a second second second all in favor hi hi okay Jason thank you very much thank you I you all Happy Thanksgiving Happy Thanksgiving okay so next um here we go I'm going to actually go back and ask for public comment so to receive oral Communications from members of the public members of the public May address the sele board for up to 3 minutes select board shall not engage in discussion on topics raised during public comment but may choose to address the to add the topic to a future agenda this SE agma agenda a this agenda segment will be limited to 15 minutes is there any public comment no okay grants gifts and donations approval on behalf of the Newbury cultural Council to accept the allocation of $5,700 from the Massachusetts cultural Council I'll entertain a motion to motion to approve from the new cultural council is there a second donation of 5700 second okay any discussion on this I I do I I this the paperwork that we got what is this about so the Massachusetts is just our application to be part of the Massachusetts cultural Council um we're part of it anyways it's just their allotment of it's just the paperwork that comes with the grant but does it doesn't the paperwork doesn't mentioned $5,700 any place right uh Joy do you have any comment on that oh I should have introduced Joy can I go back for minut I am so sorry Joy is our new assistant Town Administrator Joy Stanton welcome Joy thank you um so my apologies the original packet that we received um um did talk about the $5,700 that was awarded but it had David's name all over it um and it originally had a deadline to respond of November 22nd um I was able to get it extended so that we could have it before the board tonight for approval to accept um and then change the um documentation to reflect a new signatory um but that's why the documentation was was revised um Tracy do you have more history on the no what you see in front of you is just the application summary it's an annual allotment right Y and it looks like it was all it's all electronic and it was all electronically signed and approved and that's why we don't see any of that in in here yeah I I I I got that part I just was wondering you know and and thank you Joy for uh the primary contact I also noticed that it used to be David and not yourself and I was happy to see that it was fixed actually so yeah um yeah so getting back to the motion we're just approving accepting accepting the money that's what we do as a board do you have a motion in a second Joy okay I'll in favor I I I okay approval on behalf of the C Council on Aging to accept a donation of $50 from Dennis and Alana Casey motion to accept a donation of $50 from Denis and Alana Casey second any discussion all in favor I approval on behalf of the council and agent to accept a donation of $25 from David Winters motion to accept the donation of $25 for David winter second any discussion all in favor I I approve on behalf of the cultural Council I mean the Council on Aging to accept a donation of $30 from Raymond and ail Merrick Mo to accept $30 from Raymond and ail Merrick second any discussion all in favor I I uh approval on behalf of the Council on Aging to accept a donation of $20 from Susan Hay motion to accept the donation of $20 from second discussion all in favor I I approval on behalf of the Council on AG to accept a donation totaling $2,300 from the central congregation Church up a donation totaling $2,300 from the central Congregational Church Second any discussion yes I I I've never I've seen this before in other boards but this is a restricted donation and my my question for the and Bill might be able to answer this I don't know if there's anybody here from the Council on Aging but it was given by the the central Congregational Church and it's it's this is cool I I like it the the the Restriction is for transportation and prescription refill assistance is what the is what the money was donated for how do we how does the COA keep track of that is there a separate fund for restricted versus non-restricted donations CU I'm sure and I'll have the Town Administrator answer that but I'm sure she keeps a separate line item and you have to show proof that you right qualify under and we have it accounted for separately in our general ledger as well thanks you're welcome okay and we have to vote all in favor I I I okay um next under item under new business I'm passing over the tax classification hearing because we just had that is the adoption of fiscal year 2026 organization wide goals so those are in front of you these are goals this is not select board goals these are very high level overarching town of Newbery wide goals um they're pretty much the same year after year um with a little bit of tweaking uh this this time we have now there is something new so so the first under governance um and organizational structure we have Charter bylaw review to ensure that the town is governed by best practice that's ongoing it's expensive and we pick away at that as we can um the second one is new this year it's establish Americans with dis Disabilities Act compliance by developing an ADA self self evaluation and transition plan and working cooperatively to remove programmatic and physical barriers to access to ensure that nubis is accessible to all residents um does anybody have any questions on that one I'm just assuming we have a long ways to go yeah well we just because you're talking crosswalks and curbs and curb cuts and all of that Tracy do you want to speak to that so what we're proposing here is having the um performing a self- evaluation to identify those areas where we're deficient and then we with an eye towards seeking grant funding to remedy those situations without a plan like right now we don't even have a plan no so we need a plan first so we can know how to get there a lot of places in New we have to find a curb to cut good point that was a figure of speech okay the financial management um there's eight goals under this maintain a level service budget while continuing to offer the same Services residents have come to enjoy and develop creative means to improve in all areas of M Municipal service um protect and improve the town's overall Financial condition develop a budget that conforms with the new's financial policies and does not rely on one time funding sources or unsustainable practices identify options or expense reductions Andor identify new Revenue sources including grant funding to balance projected expenses with funding um to develop I mean to protect the town's longrun solvency beyond the immediate immediate budget cycle by developing clear policies regarding issues such as debt adequate funding of reserves OPB liabilities and capital investment um number six um develop Financial policies that meet or exceed the department of local Services best practice recommendations and align with new's goals and objectives um Tracy I think we we already have Financial policies we do we we accept that the select board adopted them a number of years ago so my suggestion is for this one is to eval rather than develop Financial policies I'd like to this to read evaluate our Financial policies to ensure that they meet or exceed the department of local Services best practices short recommendations the board okay with that yeah because we've already developed them they're already developed I don't want we just need to keep them up to speed yeah well and they constantly shift and change and I just didn't want the public to think that we don't have any Financial policies we already do have them I think makes sense because you're also comparing them to the Department of local Services they change something we need to make sure we're in Lo step with them right uh develop a financial forecast that guides new's leadership in making current in future financial decisions in alignment with Town goals and objectives and develop an gfoa budget and submit for the gfoa distinguished budget award in fiscal year 2026 so we've won this award already twice we ran it so on seven um we actually have we have a f we we actually have done seven also already haven't we Dev Financial forecast develop a financial for we do one every we try to do it every year right because I you know I I you know not getting in mixed in with other communities or whatever but I think we we we uh because I remember some of the scary conversations we've had about this kind of stuff so right and that changes every year so that's why we have to develop a new one every s year oh so that's why it's developed versus every year that's right the policies are are there um our financial forecast is shifting sand so right okay thank you you're welcome okay capital in infrastructure when we start to think of these things too I'm just going to mention so that it comes to people's radar that Education costs are going up and we're looking at new school buildings just so people are going to have to you know face the fact that those things are coming yep and they're going to be part of how we design all that forethought that we just went through that you read okay thank you Jeff all right capital and infrastructure we develop a capital Improvement plan um we have that it's um updated every five years it's going to guide uh in and instruct capital projects over the next 5 years address identified building Capital needs and fund a reasonable amount of capital projects as funding affords in aligns with the capital Improvement plan we do that under Human Resources uh we consider intentional succession planning for a variety of key department heads and positions to prevent Staffing disruptions due to upcoming retirement or Staffing changes and ensure seamless customer service um begin uh class and compensation assessment of positions to ensure job descriptions and Duties are accurate in fairly distributed amongst all personnel and that newb remains competitive when attracting talented emplo employees um that's something else that we do every year we have to assess compensation and look at it and job descriptions and make sure those are line correct correctly emergency management support vital Emergency Management functionality by continuing to Advocate and pursue all funding options available via Regional and state levels to reduce the taxpayer burden whilst maintaining an excellent Emergency Management response team and to work to improve and update Public Safety facilities as needed and in accordance with capital planning goals uh infrastructure and economic development maintain Newber as a quality and affordable place to live and operate a business by continuing to maintain and improve vital infrastructure encouraging Economic Development and growth and developing Andor supporting local and Regional programs for new's business business owners um so I kind of was kind of speaks to what Dale just spoke to about how we're going to encourage new growth and stuff but I think that um we keep our tax rate low that's um keeping it affordable um our roads and our infrastructure are are top top notch um I think we do we do work we do try to maintain Nuy as best we can okay under communication and community relations in accordance with um Mass general laws chapter 41 identify goals annually to coordinate protect and develop land use housing opportunities Economic Development natural and cultural resources open space and Rec Recreation and services and facilities in accordance with the town's master plan improve communication with residents and encourage citizen part participation identify and fill vacant seats on town boards and committees by identifying effective methods to promote citizen participation in local governance coordinate website and social media review and updates to ensure accuracy and relevance of all content standardized procedures for website and social media posting so on that note I have asked Joy if she could take a good look at our website and she's already begun revamping it and it's my hope that um when she rolls it out it will be a much more user friendly because I don't think it's user friendly that's just me if I can clarify I am working with Jonathan the the technology director to do that together thank you thank you thank you so that's that's coming so these are our these are our pretty much overwatching organization wide goals by categories does anybody have any additional goals that you want to see on here is there anything that you'd like to see removed um any comments at all before I ask for a vote I'll go down the line Jeff you're good with the status quo good was what I said yeah Dana I just as far as the communication and community relations and up dating the the town website those kinds of things I know you know how much money we pull lot of Peg annually to support our it and and that kind of stuff if the if there's things that we want to do or need to do above and beyond that kind of standard budget that we do every single year uh would we or could we maybe ask the residents to pull some more money out of that to to improve even more than what we're doing now with that amount of money you know that's so the issue with that it's a good idea um the way that the accounting right now works for that line item is it can only be used for public educational or governmental programming you can't use it to update a website you can't do anything like that it has to be and correct correct me if I'm wrong Tracy it has has to be specific to that we had a warrant article at town meeting to um revoke that restriction on that line item and have it go back to the operating budget general fund the general fund which then it could be appropriated to do something like that which failed So currently right now that monies those monies cannot be used um but tuck that thought away and when we talk about budget uh pretty soon it's budget season we'll have that conversation again because we have to set set the warrant again yeah so I I I just I would like to in the future discuss more about you know it it seems like there's a gray area in there somewhere where you know you you obviously there's some things we can't use the money for but I think there's additional things that we can use the money for that we may or may not be tapping into those things and just thinking out loud like why public Wi-Fi like on that's not public that's not broadcasting has to be bro broadcast we we can have this yeah we'll have this that's not that's kind of going into the weed but we'll have that separate conversation any other comments on these organization wide goals no I'm going good okay so I'll entertain a motion to um approve these organization wide goals as we discussed I make a motion to adopt um for fiscal year 2026 the organization wide goals is there a second second any further discussion all in favor hi hi okay uh we have a request for public property use uh special permit um back stop at the upper green um Iain a motion motion to allow second it's the Ralph Johnson discussion the Ralph Johnson the Newbery Port Coral society would like to have it up from November 29th till December 16th all in favor I I I okay now under old business we have two very patient gentlemen waiting here um the the uh town of Newbury voted and town meeting approved um aggregation power our to um our electricity become Municipal aggregation for our electrical um energy in our Comm community and we have Mark uh cap kadana here tonight from colonial power group thank you Mark and you're going to um explain to us an update on the community power Aggregate and any next steps good evening Mark capora with colonial power group I'm I'm here tonight to discuss the the municipal aggregation for Newbury so I'm just going to start with where we've been then I'm going to get to where where we've gone so back in April uh 20 uh 25th in 2003 uh town meeting approved this um as a concept the concept is on the supplies portion of your bill town will go out and procure energy on your half then allow you to make a choice the program this is the hot button item I want to make sure that everyone in this room understands it's an opt out aggregation meaning if someone doesn't do anything they'll automatically be enrolled so I'm just going to run through the steps that you've been through then tell you kind of where you where you are sign a consultant agreement in in May of uh 23 with Colonial uh we created a plan you hung that plan from July through August of 23 um this board approved the plan in in August of 23 we had a doar consultation uh in January of 24 uh and then believe it or not you just received your a couple of other filings just due to administrative things at the Department of Public Utilities and you received your order on November uh 5th of 24 which seems like a very long time but believe it or not it is light spe by the Departments um in the past I expected much longer than 3 years so what does it mean you you have an approved order now that means you get to go out now and check the marketplace and see where the market is compared to where National Grid will be and then talk about what products you might like to see so what we've done is we've we've gone out to the marketplace and um started what we call indicative pricing all that is is just pricing just a test run to show you this is your load this is what it's pricing then we're going to bring work with joy just to show her you know here are 6 months 12 18 24 30 36 with a basic Service uh type uh renewable product exactly a match with uh National Grid that that that's one product we'll give you a national product we'll give you your local product we'll give you some more green at that point the board will have to make some decisions about how you move forward meaning yes we'd like to move forward with final pricing at that point you need to give some Authority and and some um some guard rails uh for Tracy so that she could sign off um it it's a little bit of a fire drill that day on Final pricing the one thing I want you to know the good thing about aggregation it's Monday morning quarterbacking so the reason we're getting pricing on on December 5th uh National Grid goes out on December 11th for their final pricing we'll know that by the 18th we'll have some time to discuss about what's going on where the market will be that pricing that National Grid will have that that final pricing on the 18th will be effective on February 1st so the town will then need to make a decision um whether or not they decide to move forward if the market is above uh with Nal grid of course we're not going to move forward at no point do you are you required to to sign anything till we say Yep this makes sense the big it's a big enough uh uh uh difference in price we go forward I'm going to give the The Rosy scenario if nothing happens everyone's going to stay where they are but let's just say the the pricing comes in um a a penny or two below basic service and we decide to move forward what happens to you that the the resident and and at the town before the program ever starts every single person will receive an opt out that's on basic service so this program is only if you're getting a supply from National GD if you're on 30 party supply we're going to notify you we just won this battle with the Department we'll send you a postcard to program started but we can't switch you because we'd be slamming you but there would there would be a postcard that goes out at that time we'd also have a an article in the newspaper we'd push out anything on a website uh through yeah I don't know if you use Twitter or Facebook then we' also have a series of in-person meetings that anyone could attend excuse me and ask questions no uh you know no questions that wouldn't be answered everyone can show up at at that point 30 days if you did nothing I want to repeat that if you did nothing You' automatically be enrolled they do this so it's easy on the customer this program the way it's set up there's there's no fear or penalty to leave the program or return to the program I'm going to give you a quick scenario so the program starts and you're nervous oh I think the lights are going to go out I opt out of the program no problem three months later you say gez I never should have opted out I think I'm going to try to opt in s simple phone call to us go online and you opt back in the program on your next meter read you're going to be enrolled two years from now basic service is down below um the the uh aggregation rate I wish to opt out of the program I can opt out of the program what you're really doing is bringing a choice that did not exist in the marketplace just let me explain in case people's memories are short this town felt at full bore same town I I was in na National Grids rates went to 33 cents when you set your rate you're setting a ceiling on Energy prices for the fa you know for the term of that contract no one in town has to pay more than that price at any point but that doesn't mean they have to participate just want to explain if back three years ago an agregation was in place and there was a 10-cent rate at the time everyone could have enjoyed that 10-cent rate they didn't have to but they could have if they opted out of the program they could have opted back in again no fee or penalty to do so it's about choice and this is a choice currently Newbery does not have because the aggregation isn't running hopefully soon at some point the market will be in your favor and we'll get it started but what I want to say is this is about Choice it's not about trying to move anyone it's just the most effective way to move customers at at a price point that actually works in the marketplace so of those third party and I met many a customer here very astute um citizenry here that actually play the market and they change suppliers this program probably not for them but they I guarantee you they'll use it at certain points as they moving around in the marketplace again no one's trying to hold anyone in or out this is just about a choice so what we're looking for today would be yes we can move forward with that indicative pricing and have the discussions and I don't know if they plan on bringing that back if Joy or Bally plan on bring it back in front of the board and then after that once we found out what National Grids pricing was we would come back and say we're going to go to final pricing if you were looking so this there's some things about aggregation right there's a lot of setup with the utility and whoever the winning supplier is so we need every bit of 60 plus days before an aggregation starts so if if you wanted to start in March you'd have to sign a contract before the end of December which again the 18th we'd know the price there happens to be a little thing called holidays here that I I'm sure everyone would like to participate in whether or not you do that it's completely up to you if not we just kick the can down to April that just means we sign a contract before the end of uh January and in doing so we would then you know get that ball rolling at that time frame meaning contract would be signed sometime in February we'd already get the list with the Opel period would happen in February say I'm just going to make this up February 15 through March 15 during that time period once everyone got the mailing get on the newspaper push some stuff out I don't know if we do anything on a local cable station but then we'd also have all of those meetings so that everyone would understand what was going on in town there are any other ideas I'm really here to answer questions and make sure everyone understands kind of what's in front of them thank you you're welcome um I'm going to start this before I asked the board questions I I I'm a little bit familiar with aggregation and how Supply and and demand works in the electrical market so I'm think I'm a little bit more um educated than than I don't want to say that my board's D because they're not what do you mean because your family does it yeah so here's my question and and this is going to be like clarifying question so that the public understands what what I'm talking about currently in the town of Newbury when you receive your electricity you buy it from the the utility which is National Grid or you purchase it National Grid will always deliver it to you but you could also purchase it from a third-party vendor like Dominion or another type of con St right right correct those are the only choices right now that residents of the town of Newbury have that's a correct statement once we move forward with this aggregation and the Town Administrator signs the the contract residents of the town of Newbury will have a third place to look for their pricing they'll have to look to what the National Grid rate is they can look out on the open market to Constellation Dominion who whoever else wants to supply the energy supplier and they can look and see what the aggregate rate is and they have to choose now when you say there's no I know with third party suppliers there's contracts involved so residents and I believe that's why you can't switch a resident off of that is already on a third party contract they're contractually obligated correct with that supplier so they cannot Choose Or you cannot not move them off of we would be slamming that customer correct that is correct well that's I guess a term slamming but you you can't do that that is correct but you can do it to the utility that's what the program is about from the the customer getting their service their supply service from National Grid those customers can be moved to the Aggregate and will be moved if they don't opt out of the program okay now what I think is different about aggregation Municipal aggregation and what's coming to the town of Newbury is currently when you go with National Grid if you don't have a supplier if you don't pick a supplier to supply you energy you automatically default to National Grid because you need to get energy so that's where that that comes from corre um there's no contractual obligation between the resident and National Grid and what I believe I just heard you say that there's no contractual obligation between you the Aggregate and the resident either the only way they would have a contractual obligation is if they went with the third party vendor and signed a contract is that an accurate statement all of it is accurate okay um so let's I'm going to just stop there there's more I want to talk about but let's just start there does anybody does everybody understand what I just said was I clear right do you have any questions I only have a thought okay and when you refer to the board and we talk about the board and we talk about making decisions I think we have oversight but we were directed by town meeting to do this right so I'm not sure you have a lot of choice to say no well no we're doing this down meeting voted us to do it as tonight I heard we're going to vote on it you know so it it's a vote to allow the the administrative to sign off on a contract I think we've been told by town meeting that that we're going to vote Yes right yes right no no no we're going to do this we've been directed by town meeting to to do it this this all came from like when you said it was 33 cents a kilowatt hour or something when that was really high um and new wasn't part of an Aggregate and surrounding communities were and I believe newb P was paying cents and and it's just another tool in the tool belt I see it as just another tool in the tool belt you can choose to use it and you can all right any other questions about that piece of it before I go to the next piece that I want to talk about yeah I just want to talk under this is under old business right you're briefing it doesn't say that any votes required for anything no no this is just on the agenda yeah well you just said we're going to vote on it well you don't need to vote tonight do not need to vote tonight some point in the future I think we already voted to have you sign this I believe you may have I was going to say yeah I don't believe I think yeah you go before front of a lot of different towns we've already I I believe and she'll go find the vote that we've already directed The Town Administrator to sign on behalf of us so I I do have more questions but you go ahead and and you done with well as it has to do with pricing and and contractual stuff or what is your what I don't really know but you want me to but but but here's here's my question I I know that we've talked about solar energy and we we talked about in the past that I'm a I I have solar and I I don't have batteries so I sell my kilowatts back to National Grid yes so if if I did not opt out the aggregation is going to accept my kilowatts just like National Grid does so believe it or not your contract is with utility will stay with the utility you'll still put your your um your kilowatts back on the grid and and the utility will pay you the utility basic service rate when you're using kilowatts if you stay decide to stay in the program you'll be paying uh the U not the utility sorry the the aggregation rate so there's a little bit of a difference for anyone on solar it works seamlessly thousands of customers have particip ated the whole time when you put a kilowatt back on the grid I'll just use today so let's just say we got a rate of 13 current rate of basic service 16055 they're going to pay you 16 for anything you put on when you're using it you're going to pay 13 this is not a utopian world the knife Cuts both ways if at some point in the future just the opposite happened we had a 13 cent rate and basic service was 12 when you were using power you'd be paying 133 and they'd be paying you when you were putting kilowatts on Grid at 12 make sense yes no you don't need to change a thing it will work identical just a little bit of an enhancement because they always pay basic service the utility okay um for solar for solar for solar that is correct right right um and I had another question I don't mind okay well it'll come to you in a minute go ahead so for our for so to je tail on what he just said so our residents that have solar powered solar panels on their roofs and that are tied into the utility they'll still generate their power and they'll still use locally what they use and any excess will still go back to the utility on their contractual obligation with the utility correct and then when you consume energy if you consume more than you generate locally by your own house you still may have the option if you choose to to go on the aggregate that is a correct statement okay is that clear yes I have a question well statement question number of citizens who have electric vehicles and National Grid offers an incentive if you charge a vehicle at home during off peak times 9 9900 p.m. to to 100 p.m. okay is a discount that you receive is in incentive it's not a lot of money but I just wonder can can I if if it's a utility program and I want to make sure that I'm clear it's a utility program the utility program will continue to exist perfect so so I just if you have a low-income discount budget billing automatic withdrawal um a farm discount any of those same thing with solar and I believe this program I apologize I have not heard of this program as of yet I know it's fairly new we're talking about car charging that's a utility program and that would that would be on your tnd or your distribution side of the bill you'll continue to receive it thank you you're welcome okay any other questions um the only place I foresee and this is taking it out a little further complications it's kind of like I mean I like choices kind of like the Jorge Jones country music song choices but it's going to become I I think it's going to be a little unwieldly to bring people that probably 15 people watch our meetings at how are we going to make sure everyone understands their choices a post we need more than the postcard are we having public meetings that's where the rub here who's doing it are you doing it that's the next piece okay yeah that's the next piece talk I can wait I I can wait as well so that's the next piece that I wanted to talk about was how how we're going to let our constituents and residents in the town of newbry know that this is coming and they have a choice and they have to do something and they're not going to feel informed enough from us well that's right and we have been told that several times that we don't communicate well enough so you're going to help us with that that is true what are you going to do so by law there's an an actual letter that goes to everyone it has an Apples to Apples comparison it's going to tell you here is the town of newbury's rate and here's the basic service rate if you do nothing you'll be enrolled couldn't be easier inside that letter is an opt out card simply sign it put it in a stamped dress uh uh envelope that's inside that card put it in the the mail and you're out of the program or you wait you can go online you can call a 1 1800 never in case anyone's uncomfortable in any of those ways you know you can always call Colonial to get out of the program you can also call National Grid now from the from the next step what we have found most effective is when the mailing goes out within two weeks we want to start having information sessions things in the newspaper what we have seen work most effective is the inundation of information the mailing goes out it's mentioned at a select board meeting there might be a local cable station you also are having information sessions there's an article in the newspaper we're also pushing out things for you know Twitter and you know Facebook and those kind things all that social media all of that is happening at the same time and there's a buzz everyone's talking about the aggregation and so forth that I've plugged in I'm going to I don't need to tell you yes as it is electricity is pretty dry and then when you don't have people engaged in local government which not an easy thing to do some people are not going to know because they just won't be paying attention that's not out of lack of effort by this board or us it's just it's one of those things to get people to pay attention to uh electric aggregation it's it's not what I would call a juicy subject so okay I I will tell you we will do whatever you ask us to do about in person we'll give you all of the Articles you know here's a press release it works best we we know this we put a press release out probably doesn't get picked up the town puts out the press release it probably gets picked up this is through trial and ever and then like I said any of those other things Colonial does not think that we know your citizenry better than you so we say to you tell us where you want when we'll have information sessions I promise you ask any community that we've done an information session in nobody leaves there without full understanding but getting the horse to water is the difficult part right and we have not mastered that I think if I had great faith that we're going to be successful it probably would have worked the other way where you're automatically opt in it would have been that you had to opt in if we were going to be able to get the information out in the way we think we can well and the reason and it's okay I and I understand business is business but no well believe it or not the way energy works it's very very difficult as you'll see with third party supply to actually get pricing as good as you can as an aggregate y just let me explain so as a we're going to we don't generate electricity right oh we're your broker at this point we're going to have the suppliers bit on it but if we said we're going to opt in how much energy would the supplier have to buy we don't know who's going to opt in well what's the price I'll opt in if I if I know the well I don't know the I don't know how many people that's the Chicken and the Egg so when we do it like thank you that the person writing this legislation understood deeply how energy works and it allows us to actually compete in the marketplace and actually as a whole aggregation does better than basic service right because the risk is less for the supply community and um when you when we had this as a town meeting warrant um article when we passed it I remember you did these little Community yes talk about and they were attended and people did ask question people that pay attention pay attention you have a lot of people in Newbury yeah that are very educated that are paying attention we did two meetings and it fantastic you don't see that everywhere no I remember that different let's play a little what if game here please what if I got your your letter and I threw it away and I'm a national gr customer I threw it away so I'm I I I become an agregate person that you're still National Grid but your supply is so then at some point in time I get an electric bill and I look at it and I said Gee my bill went down you know is that going to upset me no if I looked at it and my bill went up you might get my attention so I mean the worst thing that can happen to someone who fails to opt out who is a National Grid customer is the bill is probably going to go down well at the beginning of the program 1,000 we wouldn't start the program over so I know that to be the fact originally what I can't do is predict what will happen with National Grid in future terms but we would not start the program over so just out of the gate delivering some savings that is correct but then once you receive the bell and you say it's high then you can make the phone call and you can opt in opt in yeah opt out so that is correct you only got one month that you I'm just trying to throw the net out to the people that aren't going to go to the informative meeting who want to look at the post post card who throw it away who just stay with status quo they may they'll have an opportunity eventually when they see their builds come in to to opt to make a choice make a choice exactly make a choice and they can go the other way if the bill is high if the aggregate for some reason is up higher they can out choice they can go out and then the next time you look at it again and you can opt in there's some people that do that all the time they just in this town you are 100% correct there are people that do that constantly and switch supplier to supplier very impressed with the amount of knowledge that I of people I met here what they find overall people using third party supply pay more than basic service because rates rise unless you're paying attention unless you're paying attention about $500 million more than basic service over the last four Winters is what the attorney general has said be very careful buy or beware believe it or not aggregations are just the opposite so over the last seven to eight years I couldn't speak to all but just Colonial aggregation customers have saved $620 million Visa basic service Alicia yeah granted with some third party there seems to be some penalties contractually you know encounted um with the advate with Colonial there is no penalty let me finish this but if we're switching back and forth in National Grid is there a penalty going to come from National Grid there is none no I do want to say this positive very positive I want to say this but when it comes on the postcard letting so if you get the the the notice the opt out notice that means you're on basic service no fee penalty nothing to worry about if you get the postcard you're just being notified hey the town has a program you need to contact your supply to make sure there isn't a fe or penalty to leave your program that third party supplier may have a fear or penalty to leave that program but National Grid doesn't have one that is a correct statement National Grid does not have a a Reconciliation credit any longer correct that makes a good for guys I also want people to understand that when they they do do this when you look at your electric bill it's cut out into a lot of different things you will see you can opt out at the National Grid supplier and you will still see National Grid as a as a component of your overall bill because they distribute you use the utilities infrastructure to get your energy so you're not never going to see anything from National Grid you're just G to it's a very small line item portion on your electric bill that says the supp Bas service right now right right now yep it it is the supplier it says basic service right now the people that we will be mailing to yeah and that will change to say I'm is going to Dominion Newbury a so that you know that you're in the a it's definitive on the bill whoever the supplier plus the the name of the town and and AG aggregation y so it'll be okay so it'll remove toal built now in our town National Grid can anyone remember what are we P now 1655 for a residential customer and that's delivery and and that's Supply alone what is what is dely cost uh probably very similar probably 15 cents so we're still like 20 28 plus almost close to 30 we are in the island of Massachusetts oh my God no no that's how expensive it is it's the island of masses they they probably do very similar on islands like Hawaii scary but true yes around 30 cents a kilowatt hour all in all this and it's a just a question why is that that way here is it politics and that's enough said what is it well I can you don't have to say no no I will only tell you that that portion of your bill is handled by the Department of Public Utilities the tnd D portion all of those increases are approved by the Department of Public Utilities and it's not my business I'm saying to you they seem to have a friendly relationship between the utilities and the Department of Public Utilities because it is astronomical the amount and I have some bad news the we're building a lot of offshore wind we need to get that electricity to um all across New England and that's going to come with a massive upgrade in the tnd system that's the Transmissions the big lines so there's an increase coming to a build near you soon D just stck did you have a question Dale yeah this is just a question about the public session yes will this be a third party making these presentations so it doesn't look like it's the town selling something or colonial power selling something it's an unbiased presentation 100% I just want you to know no one is trying to keep anyone in the program the goal here is simply education and with education I believe most people will stay in the program but make no mistake if somebody doesn't want to stay in the program we're going to make sure that they know how to get out of the program how to get back in the program those kind of things that's the beauty of this program it's about a choice that didn't exist prior there's nothing to sell here it's just about education and then whether or not you're comfortable or not and then we just have to talk you through your decision that's all okay I have a question Yeah couple how of can you switch like monthly so great point I just want to say it's a great point because we don't have smart met today we can only switch you every every meter you know once a month you get your bill if you I don't know if this happens to you but I look at my bill every once oh what did my kids do right and now I'm looking at my bill I can't opt out of the program until the next meter read I just got my bill that means my meter was just red so on the next meter read you can get out of out of your but you won't see that on your bill until the following meter read so it is you can opt out each and every other month right but only on the metor it's not a light switch either it is not a light switch unfortunately it's a delayed but when we get to smart meters which they're saying in the next five years we'll get there within three days of that they'll have you switched I think I think right because of my solar I have Smart Meters right now I'm pretty sure but I do think that they come out and actually read them but well they probably don't I can I can show you on my phone what I'm creating right now in in power in what I've given National Grid today yeah and that you you do have a smart meter so you're the exception not the rule today yeah but okay and this is unrelated but um the um your your bidding Pro your research process for us yes when you when you come up with let's say we're in we've accepted it you've negot neate a rate with whoever the lowest bidder was correct CU that's what you're going to do for us that is correct how often do you do that process for us again Advantage aggregation Advantage Colonial we work with a hundred different communities across Massachusetts we are in the marketplace each and every day so I'm just going to give you a scenario let's just say the first contract was signed for 24 months and for whatever reason I'm okay so we're going to say 25 and 26 for whatever reason the following month the market in 27 for the electricity Futures is it just falls off the off a cliff and we can get 7 Cent power I'm going to pick up the phone immediately I'm going to call Joy let her know what the situation is so she can fill in Tracy to say Hey listen we'd like to take a look and see what we can do we can sign a contract the following month for 2027 um electricity at 7 Cent power right away that's the advantage of having the marketplace I know most people think National Grids out there procuring energy on your behalf unfortunately they're not they're just performing a process the Department of Public Utilities told them to do so we get to look at the marketplace and use the marketplace that's why I think we've been as successful as we have been with the utility is just throwing two dots a year they're told exactly by the dpu you're going to go out on this day you're going to buy half of what you need for 12 months six months later you're going to go out and buy 50% of what you need for the next 12 months the two overlapping months gives you that 1655 right now on December 12th they're going to buy that next 12 months and that overlapping from the last buy and this buy will give us the new rate starting February 2 1 excuse me very simple and when he talks about contract he doesn't mean a contract with the residents he's talking about contract with the town yeah no I understand that I want the res I want the public to understand that yeah the town side it says as long as you follow these terms and conditions you're able to serve our customers customer gets a free opt out there's no fees and penalties there it's consumer contract but again the power lies in the person's hand whether they choose to participate or not so I think the next step would be is you're going to go out and you're going to look at what pricing is correct and you're going to have a conversation with the Town Administrator y and then and then on the 11th National Grid will go out we did we got a no reason to start a program without knowing certain right by the 18th we'll know that rate this is just me I'm happy to get you pricing between then in the end of the year but no reason to rush it and we can just at after the New Year get you some final pricing if things work out then we can actually work through the details meaning I expect believe it or not I expect that 16 5 five to come down we're probably looking at uh maybe middle 13s somewhere in there but again they have a buy from before where the market is below it now I'm fairly certain you will have the ability to start your program starting in you know April time frame at less than what national gr that is correct otherwise we would never St the program right yep okay correct me if I'm wrong yes for people that aren't as savvy is some of the people that you've referred to that kind of just think their electricity has come from National Grid National Grid has always had that contract with the town of Newbury anyway is that true so uh by default it's their territory so they in 1997 National Grid had to sell off all their assets if you do not purchase uh electricity somewhere else they buy it for you uh Visa V basic service that's just the service they're required to perform if you don't buy it on your own okay they deregulated energy Massachusetts we miss not to have at least two choices to everyone which this will give us that is correct you got a question sir don't take this personally no what's what's in this for Colonial it's not personal at all that's a great question so Colonials fee is is a mill what we call a mill in the in the business it's a tenth of a penny to make very clear if the price of energy came in all in at 10 cents what would be on your bill would be 10.1 C the way would work you just pay your bill all of that money would go to National Grid National Grid would then take that 10.1 cents out of the full you know I'll call it 28 cents send that down to whoever the winning supplier is the winning supplier would then then turn around and give us that on10th of a penny Okay thank you you're welcome great question any other questions now Tracy what do we need tonight just information that we've gotten or do we need any yeah I think that's all we need for this evening I know you have given me authorization in the past to contract on behalf of the town so I don't know if you want no I I just want to thank you for coming oh happy to be here thank you for having this discussion um I hope it people learned from what we discussed um when we decide to move forward uh with the contract I look forward to scheduling we'll go look over a whole slew of absolutely things to get I wanted in the newsletters from the library newsletters to the Council on Aging you know 100% everything one and hopefully we'll have a meeting at all yeah yeah great thank you thank you very much Happy Thanksgiving Happy Thanksgiving appreciate it thank Youk you okay the Town administrator's report thank you madam chair um so we recently got our notification from the Department of Revenue we have certified our free cash at 2,536 375 um I don't know if you recall but we had over we had about 1.1 million left over that we didn't appropriate from our last certification so we added about 1.4 million um interestingly enough you know evaluating Trends um I think Jason alluded it to it earlier that um New Growth slowing is kind of an IND an indicator of what's happening in the market and we typically averaged around 3 and a half million or so in our free cash certification obviously we're seeing that decline that's another indicator of um of the economy slowing our our local economy slowing so um budget process is underway we talked about that briefly the managers were supposed to provide to me this week their budgetary requests so I'll be reviewing those next week and starting to put together a budget document the you may have noticed over at the Central Street recreation area that there are new electric vehicle charging stations there are two stations with I guess they call them ports four ports um in total and the fee is going to be 35 cents per kilowatt hour so that's the first we expect to do another one at the library as well now can I ask a question about that how does the town get paid on that no we don't get paid at all they they just they put a credit card in and they fill their exactly okay that's my question yeah we're we're not a middleman on that one okay thank you um the Caldwell Farm trail so pleased to announce that it is underway after many years yeah it's taken us frankly far too long but here we are um very excited I think the DPW is about halfway through it they're hoping to complete it tomorrow the weather cooperates um that will be something that will require annual maintenance on their part um but very excited to get this project completed uh Central Street playground update so uh Chris Huntress has met with the contractor and they have mobilized their equipment and they expect to Begin work on the week of December 2nd so you should be getting going with that and if you recall the equipment and everything won't be delivered and installed until the spring but the site work should be completed the uh lower green Schoolhouse window project should be starting uh December 9th the schoolhouse roof I mentioned to you we had um two successful biders so the low bidder both the low biders both bid $55,000 for the project which um obviously resulted in a tie so we flipped a coin um on the advice of council to in in one way to handle that and it resulted in the uh party that did not win filing a bid protest with the Attorney General's office so that hearing will be scheduled for 12:17 it's kind of unfortunate because they were ready to go we were hoping to get this completed before the snow flies but so we'll have to it may not be able to be done we'll we'll keep an eye on a b it may be a spring project depending on how long this takes to get through the B's process uh I have a request for you for arpa funds so we have had a number of projects that closed out balances and one of the most significant recent ones was the Board of Health money that they had um requested Co is kind of over um not not that we're not going to get it but the the emergent part of Co is over they don't need those funds any longer so we're going to close those back out and one of the things that is appearing on our Capital plan for this year that happened to just work into we have about 80,000 left this this uh request is for um $77,000 to purchase a wood chipper it's replacing a 1998 morbark wood chipper um that is at the end of its useful life so that is for the DPW I thought that we already voted so we did we voted to spend the balance on um the playground which we've committed and we have um encumbered but now we have another about $882,000 so the the playground's going to come in it's within y we've already taken those funds off so that is yep you have enough money to complete that yeah that was like w it's like 244 out of the 250 exactly we had like 6 or 7,000 left over from the 250 that we authorized no we authorized to spend any extra but we don't need it so the total project cost of the playground was 236 to $236,200 okay and that's not going to be and it won't be over budget no not that that's under contract so okay um so now we have with Board of Health closing those funds out and you know we only have through this December to contract so to appropriate every day we're reconciling anytime anyone completes a project if there's you know $200 left in the project we're adding it back and we also can expend the interest on those funds too so there's some interest funds so this will be you know getting us right down to the wire and then we'll see probably you know mid December if there's anything else left we have to be under contract it's not just that the board votes it we have to be under contract for that before December 31st so you need a vote from us I do okay I'll entertain a motion motion to purchase the wood shipper with the arber funds second any discussion I have a how this came out of human resources that the money that they did ofth of Health Board of Health I'm sorry Board of Health yes that's I that's what I meant to say yes how does and it was it was they it was granted to them out of arer funds correct for covid issues or whatever correct how does that go to award CH I mean by what you just did by taking the vote so so what happens is and the when would would is that a is that a legal thing that we can use our funds any Municipal purpose you absolutely I would never bring it before the board if it was not legal you can use it chip is are a lot safer than so what happened was I believe I believe and correct me if I'm wrong on this amount but I think it was around 3 $50,000 that we allocated or $250,000 250 I think for the Board of Health because we had when Co first hit we first got our Opera monies we had no idea what to expect so we encumbered that money they only spent like I don't know not even 46,000 somewhere around there not even $50,000 but they had that money encumbered so now they've cleaned all that out they've only going to spend this that money has to come back and we can use it repurpose it for any Municipal purpose yeah okay and so the just to get the numbers right it we we they had 250 is that what you said I'd have to pull it out somewhere it's okay and and and you said that there's about 80 something left over right right now with the interest yep so they so they in their they spent the difference between around 250 they spent it down to about 80 no they spent no no the 80 is not just bard of Health projects it's all projects all of it combined yes yes and include some interest right that the money are and we've spent we they had already previous released some of of their funds which you committed to other projects the only reason I chose the wood chipper was because I was looking at all the capital requests that have come in to date and that one fit within the budget the available funds um if we get to you know the third week in December and there's $700 we'll get a cont contract for something that the town needs get that committed and then you'd have to vote that as well the goal is to not spend not send back any funds right we'll have to we might need to have a special meeting is that what you're telling me um we have to vote before the end of the year you would have to vote before the end of the year so we might so everybody don't go on vacation till last week well and we we would need a a contract yeah I'd have to have the contract you'd have to have you'd have to have somebody accept y the contract before the end of the year yep not just us voting on it you could probably vote it after the fact but I have to have a contract in place before December 31st yes yes okay so it would have to be something that we you know know we need to based on the budget proposals and the capital plan proposals okay so I have a motion in a second any further discussion all in favor I thank you um nope I've got more um let's see uh the annual bonfire at the Spen Spencer P little farm has been cancelled I don't know if you're aware of that and been replaced with a Christmas tree chipping event I think uh it's still going to be held on the 11th but the hours are now 12 to 5 Department going to be involved in it still I I don't know the extent of their involvement we you want to uh explain that a little bit do you know what that means um so it was Newbery Port fire department that was in charge of it um but I I what I understand and it's just anecdotally I was not part of the process that um Spencer Pierce little farm had issues with it due to the dry conditions um did not this yearh well it makes sense Newberry fire was not sponsoring it it was I believe it was Newberry ports Fire Department it was probably still I don't know I saw a social media post but I don't know what you believe on social media it said that there was there were having issues or concerns about carbon emissions yeah did you see that too I did and they actually they they posted that themselves spenc spenc B did yeah on Facebook we just we just received the notification of the change so I and what was interesting to me was it says and in conjunction with the fire department and you know what fire department and and and and you know Newber fire I would understand with all the dry conditions that we've had why they wouldn't want play a B fire yeah before this rain you know but it didn't but but but but just that being said they did not on their Facebook post they didn't talk about that they they they really they they specifically said due to the emissions that the fire is going to is you know creates so you know I I so the bottom line for us is there's no bonfire for us it will be a tree shipping is is the stockpile going to go in the same place I I really don't know it's that's the property because tender crop leases that field from Spencer Pierce maybe we could ask them if you you know but I would go to Spencer Pierce if you have any questions to see what exactly it's going to be yeah so we don't even know where the chip where where we're going to stockpile our trees we don't stockpile trees well they we do in that field not the town of Newburn yes yeah we stock pile trees I think we do yeah we take our all the ones all the ones that get picked up we put in front of the fire station they go to the tree pile yeah well that's because the fire department which was Protection One I believe it wasn't the town had a fundraiser or they did the that thing at Spencer P little farm where they would collect trees and burn them but that was a protection one that wasn't a town sanction event the town of Newby didn't have anything to do with that no you're talking about what the bonfire the bonfire you're talking about the bonfire we all are talking about the talking about the fact that there's not going to be a bonfire that's what Dana is saying the bonfire is what those trees went to yes but that's because Protection One put that call out the town of Newbury didn't do that I don't believe I don't believe it was a town and new res sanction event I could be wrong but I don't think it oh now I see what you're driving at meaning that it was the fire department so it's the volunteer fire department they have their own I guess my only beef about it is is okay so so it's not a new event no because I'm saying to myself how can Spencer Pierce cancel them I mean spenc Pierce has got every right to say we don't want this Burning to be on our property their property right I understand that but I mean to me that's what they should have said and and but that's okay because I understand that they didn't and then we we do we have an option of having the bonfire on another piece of property the town doesn't run the bonfire um that's my point Chief Evans said they are not sponsoring the tree chipping oh so yeah right well that makes sense to is the DPW you going to be doing who's doing the chipping Spencer Pierce now we got a new chipper we can use not yet we don't but I knew I knew that was coming so you would have to call Spencer Pi sound of nubri nothing to doely be on their social media on their website um all the details but I just wanted to let you know it was good the hours had changed and that's that's another thing that if you have a tree you can't get rid of it it's been super unless you want to chip it so you got to find out from them it's a gasoline off diesel chiper [Music] too an electric chip anyway so onto the tree lighting which is our sponsored okay we have a sponsored event a tree lighting on December 8th let's talk about that on December 8th at 3:30 p.m. and they are currently testing the clicker and we'll have it in your hands very soon okay good okay so we're going to light the tree on December 8th at 3:30 with the children from newb Elementary School singing and and Governor's Academy is going to be providing hot chocolate hot chocolate and cookies I think cookies yep and um the town offices are going to hold their um annual employee holiday party on Thursday December 19th so the offices will be closing that day at noon Orchard Street covet replacement is underway and obviously um you know everyone's aware of that but it still on target for completion the end of December as of right now I don't know how this rain this past week will impact it but they're still scheduled for completion the end of December and the library Collective bargain the agreement discussions are still ongoing that's it oh thank you Trac we did receive this CL we are now I think I mentioned to you we got our GRE communties designation so is the Plum Island Bridge complete no not that I'm aware of I heard I heard it was I I heard it was but it's not done no I I crossed it yesterday yeah and taken down the light still there and it's only still one lane right now no today it wasn't no it was open to it was open today today yeah everything was gone yeah they were early if um someone said they were done we'll wait and see congratulations I think they were projected to complete December 16th the construction trucks are still on the side road they are okay both lanes were open maybe for the holidays so under correspondence we the town has been notified that pursuant to general laws chapter 61a section 14 there's um the sale or for or conversion to residential or commercial use a notice of intent to send to the to the city or town we've been notified um of uh specific to chapter I mean to 170 Orchard Street in Newbury so that will be coming out of 61a there's more to come on that um we got a letter from Xfinity Comcast regarding price changes which we are writing again to share with you the emergency trouble reporting procedure in the event of a municipal building experiences problems with down cable drops signal transport is issues with inet or video return lines public education government access channels or have our technical construction staff on site during the emergency so this is specific to the municipality so Joy has that um on is there an agate for this that's something different yes while streaming um there is the city of new report we also received under a correspondence the city of Newburyport Watershed based plan for lower artichoke Reservoir um the meac valley Planning Commission is seeking feedback by Friday November 6th um all feedback must be submitted by December 6th uh any members of the board that want to send um feedback there's a lot of information in your packet regarding it that's mostly what this stuff is um send your feedback to Tracy or Joy uh and she'll compile it and send it off to uh marac Valley planning so if it's going to come from the town of Newbury and if anybody has has comments they need to go to the town to be submitted from the town not individually Jo you might know more about this than anybody but I I just reading through this quickly uh new report is going to get into like a through this a share program with like Asbury and Salsbury so and I'm assuming that if one town or one city is got a deficit in the future if this goes through they may be able to use water from the other adjoining towns if like and I'm only talking Asbury I believe in Newport was was part of this um because let's say the aoke gets low for example and new report has got a water issue this is this talks about them to be able to use salsbury's water or am asbury's water in vice versa where they would you know they would cooperate with each other depending upon who has the most resources kind of like a water sharing program it that's the way I I read some of this public safety mutually yeah yeah yeah so I'm just I'm wondering does newb have anything to we're not we're not AR going to be part of that correct well they're asking us because part of Newber is in the Watershed so what they're what they're right they out of Choke I believe I believe we're in a b some of it is part of it it goes through US yeah so so this is this is they're going to be forming a plan it's a watershed plan um they're drafting it now and they're looking for comments so and some of our residents are serviced by Newberry poort water Handover Street High Street too but right and it's it's classic I don't know if this was um if this occurred in other towns or if it occurred at bfield water which I don't know and that's why I'm asking but EPA just had a new uh regulation that was passed and it's kind of like a zero tolerance so we just got a notice for a mail that you know we have lead in our water yeah that happened to me for a property that I own outside of so it wasn't yeah so 5 field water didn't have to cuz probably things AR old enough I don't know but and they asked you to let the water run for a certain amount of time did you happen to get that in marac um not in marac but in Hampton in Hampton so a lot of other towns got it so and that's a new ruling and it's kind of scary you think do I really have to pay attention and it probably because it's a real minute but any lead your water is not particularly great so it was kind of an Awakening we have aging infrastructure sure do across the whole country okay um we have to review and approved meeting minutes October 8th October 22nd November 4th and November 18th I'll entertain a motion to vote on approval of meeting minutes motion to approve second second all in favor I I and I need a vote to assign warrants we have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 warrants to sign motion to assign or sign second all in favor I I and now I'll entertain a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn there a second second all in favor I I