##VIDEO ID:https://vimeo.com/1033661862## Hand it back over. Are you able to take it from here? Mr. Chairman, you're on mute. He's on mute. I can make a motion. Is he coming in? He's driving. Okay. We can make a motion for a five minute recess. Second. Motion made Second. And all in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. Good. I'd like to, uh, call the meeting to order of the November 26th special meeting of the Westfield City Council Board. Call member singles. Here, here, here, here. Here. Zooming. Maggie, we think Thank you. You think you did? Us And Sue Harris. Here. Matthews Kane. Here. Meow. Here. Here. Morgan Valley. Uh, have not heard Osky. Here. Sullivan. Here. Adams here. Here, here. Okay. Communications from the mayor. Item one is requesting any consideration of appropriation in the amount of $1 million. Complete cash. 1 0 0 0 3 5 9 0 0 0 to the fund balance reserve for expenditures account. 1 0 0 0 3 2 4 0 0 0 To reduce the FY 25 T three. Second. Okay. Motion made it second. Any discussion? Can I, I I would just, uh, first off, I think everybody in this room, um, should take a lot of credit for this happening here. Um, it's only on, um, everybody's position in terms of wanting to reduce the tax rate. Um, I can say and was in agreement with, uh, councilor Harris and Councilor Figgy, myself, who were pretty clear and had been told directly that this was not something that was going to be able to happen. Um, but this body, um, pressed the matter, uh, anyway. Um, and there's certainly, um, those sitting around the table, councilor Harrison in particular, that have always been looking to reduce the residential, um, tax factor and the tax impact. And I think tonight with this million dollars, you can see by some of the options that we've got on the table that happened. So I don't think that, um, we should walk out of this room without, um, understanding that I think, um, everybody, um, in this from this body did a really good job, um, in, in trying to help the residential Taxpayers. Well said. Anybody else? Go ahead. Okay. Uh, this is very difficult because I have never done this in 11 years. Oh, we gotta vote in yours. Yep. We have a motion. In the second further of the discussion, we call City Clerk Hall. Yes. Be yes. Yes. Burns Yes. Yes. Peggy, are you still there? I don't hear him. Yes. No. Yep. Yes. Harris? Yes. Matthew? Yes. Meow. Yes. Yes. Relevant? Yes. Adam? Yes. Okay. Unfinished business item twos vote on fiscal year 2025. Tax You knowledge. 10. Board Open. Go ahead. Mayor. Councilor Mayor Sullivan said, I'm always for homeowner for 11 years. Over this year is extremely unique because of the money that has been infused by the mayor. So I'm going to propose a 1.65, which I know you have never heard me say. Um, that gives the average single family, uh, house $4 and 17 cents, uh, a year increase, and it gives the commercial a hundred and one ninety two increase. I will caution that although a single family house will go up $4 and a little change, two family houses will suffer a little because they will go, many of them will go up $170 because of the way that it has to be factored, dictated by the state mandates. Also, certain styles of houses had to be adjusted due to construction costs mandated. The assessor is well aware of everything that has to be done, and she has done what she has to do fiscally and, uh, legally. So that is my proposal. Um, $4 and 17 cents for the average single family home. 1.65. The commercial goes up $101. That means Walmart, Gulf Stream, home Depot, and the owners of the shopping mall pay an extra a hundred dollars Second Motion. She made it second in any other, Well, I would just add that, I mean, not only just the big box, which every business Mm-Hmm. So although we do point to ones, obviously, but smaller ones get affected as well. Any other considerations? Ner No, I, I, I would agree with Council Harris, but it's like when you look at the breakdown of what each, um, shift would be, it seems to be address. That's option. Okay. There's nothing else woke on there. City clerk? Yes. 1, 6, 5 Be Yes. Yes, yes. Andy? Yes, baby. Can I just ask question? Are we, are you, you, are you just gonna equ the residential factor? No, You'll do this and then you'll give the other, you guys Do both. Okay, good. Sorry, Peggy? Yes, Harris? Yes. Yes. Meow. Yes. Wanna see? Yes. Yes. Adam? Yes. Okay. Patrick, I, I would make a motion to approve the residential residential factor a 0.8586, which corresponds to the 1.65 vote. I think Motion made it second and we further discussion. I just wanted to add that, I mean, clearly at the end of the day, this has been a team effort and certainly thank the mayor for, um, coming to the table with this, um, as well. I think it's a good deal for the Taxpayers. Yes. I have a lengthy conversation with him this morning about this. I agree. I'd like to make one more comment that the assessor is doing an excellent job and that if anybody has any questions about their individual, uh, assessments and tax, um, taxes, that they can call her. And she is a absolutely, uh, willing to help anybody and to understand what she had to do legally. Councilor, And I'd like to make one more comment. I know even with this rate and the extra million, some people might be struggling. I just want people who are over 70 to know There are two abatement programs for those who need income and assets restrictions. People who wanna learn more can call the assessor's office. She's happy to work with people to see if they qualify. There's another tax relief available from blind residents and disabled veterans. Also, through the assessor's office, there's a senior work off program. People who are interested can reach out to the senior center for more information. There's also a veterans work off program and pe, which can be accessed through our VSO Junior Barns. And I just hope people just actually call and just ask questions and find out if they might be eligible, especially if they're strong. What else? Okay. Time to vote on factor for residential. Allie? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Tanya? Yes. Fa Yes. Yes. Matthew Ka. Yes. Me? Yes. Yes. Wanna speak? Yes. Sullivan? Yes. Adam? Yes. Thank you. We are we good? We are. Motion. Motion. Motion to adjourn. Second. Motion made it second. All in favor, Ajour.