Budget Committee - Regular Meeting

I'll call this meeting of the Bristol budget town of Bristol Budget Committee to order at 6:05 on Tuesday, December 16th. Thank you all for coming. We'll go ahead and get started with our pledge. Cheryl, would you please lead? [clears throat] Sure. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. So, okay, good.

Sorry. I think today I think today is probably the busiest meeting of our schedule. So, we'll I'll try to keep things going. But, as usual, I'll you know, if I'm going too fast, please speak up and let me know. Our first section today is section 4140. Town tax collector, town clerk. So, I will make a motion to advance the budget for town clerk tax collector section 4140 in the select board recommended amount of $214,756. Second motion by Paul, seconded by Buzz. Cheryl, [snorts] what we typically do now as I stop talking, we'll give you a chance to bring up anything that you want to bring to our attention or any changes or, you know, things we need to know about.

Okay. Then when you're done with that, we'll go around and see if any other committee members have any questions and uh and then we'll finalize a vote and approve it. Okay. Is there anything you want to bring up and tell us about? Yes. So, I I'm not sure if you guys are aware, but we had been um we had money in the budget for the um town clerk new uh equipment [snorts] and we were able to order the new ballot counting machine.

Yeah. Just for everyone else, that's line 810. I think we originally budgeted in 24. We didn't buy the machine. We budgeted again in 25. I think what we had heard was that the Secretary of State had to finalize the choice of the machine and it didn't [snorts] happen in 24, but correct. It it they have chosen and we're getting the new machine. Yes. Excellent. Yep. Yep. We ordered it in October. We probably won't receive it till the middle of January or so. Okay.

Um so there's that. Um we did we ended up putting two lines together. Um, we put the 414620 and 414625 together. So, it does look like it it the line went up, but we just ended up putting them together cuz they're both um postage and office supplies. It's kind of all together. [snorts] Okay. I saw that when I was looking through. So, 625 and 680 I think are Yeah, 625 and 680. The billing, I'm sorry. 680 is zeroed out and 625 looks like it has an increase, but if you add that together, it's [cough and clears throat] level funded.

Yep. Yeah, cuz it was the billing expense and it was it was what we paid uh for postage and then to to mail the tax bills and things like that. I was just going to add when Cheryl and I were going over budget, it seemed that they were being mixed. So, it was we felt it was cleaner to make it one line for the for both like for everything and that was much cleaner. So, okay, great. [snorts] Anything else you want to

um No, not not really. That's Well, there was only one election this year, so it did go up a little because of um there's three elections next year. Um and I think that's [snorts] right. So instead of just the town election in March, we have a state primary in September and a state general election in November, right? Yep. Okay. Okay. Any other The members have a question, Joe? Um just about the postage and office supplies. So the 2025 budget in total 56

11 6900 [snorts] no 625 and 680. Got it. Okay. I thought it was I misspoke it. No worries. And um we haven't build yet for the tax bills. Those are coming out this month. So yeah.

Thank you. Okay. So I I think I can guess, but I'm not I don't like to guess. So I'm going to ask. I see that the line 110 and line 130 both have significant changes. That's the salary for the for for the town clerk tax collector and for the deputy town clerk tax collector. One went down and one went up. Mhm. Is there any I mean I don't want to get into personnel issues here so I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty details but is there a little further explanation you can give us for why those big changes happened?

Well the um town clerk tax collector went down because Rama had retired and with all those years she was making a lot of money and you don't get to pay that much. Not yet. [laughter] in Car's um uh the deputies went up because um she transferred from what she was making at the water department. Okay. So, she was already hired. So, she and the board approved the somewhat somewhat lateral move. Yes. Yep.

Okay. something else. But I guess that's it. Does anyone else have any questions, comments? Are we ready to go ahead and vote on the budget? Not hearing any. We take a final We'll take a vote for final approval. So, we're voting on section 4140, town clerk tax collector. We haven't made any changes, so it's the original amount of $214,756. All in favor?

I abstain passes 70. Thank you. That was spectacularly fast. I was thinking it would take longer. [laughter] It was great. Thank you. All right. See you tomorrow. Yes. So, in the idea that we try to take things in order so people don't have to spend more time with us than they are required to, I'm going to jump to cemetery because Chuck is here to talk about cemeteries and we can do that. Chuck, you're welcome to stay, but that would allow you to get out and leave if that's what you wanted.

It's going to be tough. I know it. [laughter] Excuse [cough and clears throat] me. Yeah. So, I'll make a motion to move the budget section 4195 for cemeteries in the select board recommended amount of $800. Second. Motion by Paul, seconded by less. This is not a very big thing. So, this is anything you wanted to say. We just want to make sure we don't

So, what we're looking at this year coming um we need a a somewhere to put all the the stuff that we use in the cemetery, weed eaters to do the help out with the um the cemeteries cutting, the cleaning stuff. Um, we have a building that we got from the transfer station and I bought a new one at the transfer station and then gave the one to him and it's too small and he needs a bigger one. So, we're hoping to take the money this year and just go ahead and purchase a bigger one. So, that's where 800 comes in.

Okay. So, that's it. Okay. I will point out it sounds like we have different plans for how you're going to use the money, but it's it's a level of funding and we [snorts] you didn't you're not doesn't look like you're on we're on track to spend 800 this year, but that was that is the budget for this year, right? Well, we were going to we were going to do that this year, but I had that building over there and I just gave it to them and so we didn't use the money like we wanted to. So, we're we're going to actually ask the board to encumber some of that money for the cost of the shed towards it. Yeah.

But, um, they'll still So, they'll still need to split this year and next year to buy the shed. So, okay. Um, if you if you have this shed that's too small, is is it does it have any value to the town? Can it be sold? Mhm. Uh, it's a it's a plastic or not plastic. It's um probably this big wide. It's a small. It's not that big. What I was going to do is take it back to the transport station. I can use it back. So, I was going to take it back there. We could potentially probably use it in our our trash. Yeah.

area. Yeah. Um, we'll we'll figure something, but I could use it. It is really too small. It's um moved over here and needed a little TLC. We were going to put it on pallets and it's still too small. So, um, we're going to either dispose of it or find another use. Yeah, there's probably this table about like right here. Yeah, that's all. I haven't for putting shovels, snow shovels and stuff like that. I had a couple little ladders and we just outgrew it. So, [snorts] but So, but yes, if we can sell it, we would

any questions. Yes. I'm going to say any I'll just say I'll abstain from this vote. Okay. Just follow. Yeah, I know. [laughter] Anyone [clears throat and cough] else have any questions? Not hearing any. I think we're ready to vote on the on this bottom line. So, we're going to make a vote for the final approval of section 4195, which is for the cemeteries in the original amount of $800. All in favor? I opposed. Abstain. Passes 601. So, thank you, Chuck.

Thank you. All right. Well, I obviously miscalculated because the library had asked me for a specific time so they wouldn't have [clears throat] to sit around and wait. [cough] I said, "Well, sure will be about a half an hour. Let's make sure." I told them 7:00. So, we'll go back to the beginning of the list and we'll start with executive, work through as many of those as we can until we get to 7:00 and then we'll do the library. If anyone has a objection or alternate plan, speak up. But I think that makes sense. So we will go to I make a motion to move section 4150, which is No, that's wrong one. Sorry.

I got a bunch of tabs open. There's I got so many I can't read. 4130.

Yes. But um if we set it up ahead of time, it's not turned on now. Does somebody want it? Bailey was just asking. Oh, she can watch him on YouTube. Oh, here we go. 4130. I got it. Make a motion to uh consider the executive section of the general government section 4130 in the select board recommended amount of $250,763. Sorry, that you Scott. Yep. Okay. I wasn't looking. It's a motion by Paul, seconded by Scott. Um Christina. Um you want to give us a walk through of things you want us to know about call to our attention?

There really isn't a lot of change in this. There's a lot of few numbers that were reduced. Um the line 120 is the executive administrative assistant. Well, excuse me, the administrative assistant. Um we revamped um that position. It is shared with the transfer station. Um and they did um with the transfer station they did receive a slight bump up. So they're getting a little bit more than the 4%. Um but this pos this part of the budget um if I remember correctly hold holds the majority of it. And I'm trying to remember the number of hours I think. Um, good god. I probably should have looked at this. I think the number of hours here is 30 30. It's like 90% of the budget and 10% of the budget went into the transfer station. So, this administrative assistant covers both places. In the past, the administrative assistant that covered the transfer station and the highway department and assessing and land use, right?

Um, she had two she was covering multiple positions and it was starting to um overload her. So the board agreed to swap swap them out and we've got one person doing assessing land use and highway now and we've got a different person doing um upstairs reception and the transfer station. Is this effective June January 1st or is this already been implemented or it's already been implemented that that person is now the transfer station assistant. So, the budget um you're going to see is going to be also in the transfer station when they come in um and present their budget.

Okay. The thing that I Okay, I'm probably being too analytical here, but the thing I don't understand is so they were budgeted for a salary in 2025, which was a full-time position, 100% of their time, 40 hours a week. And now for 2026, this line is going to pay 90% of their salary, but the line still went up 4.8%.

They were they were you didn't hear me say they received a bump. They received an in a pay adjustment already [clears throat] to take on additional roles. So they they received a pay increase this year. So that's why you're seeing a larger increase when they took on the new roles. Um, I I I did I did hear you say that. I just what if they've got another 10% in the land use in the solid waste section? They basically had a 14 almost 15% increase. That was just more than I was expecting, but that's not my job, so I'll stop talking.

And line 114 is down 9.8%. Did And um I was just trying to think, too. I was thinking this position was transferred to full-time. When did we transfer to full-time? Do you remember? 2024. Yeah. So, we did transfer to full-time at a lower rate in 2024, but that was only for um was that for a full year or was it for April? So, that was only April to the end of the year. So there would be a little bit more of an increase because this is for a full year at the full-time at the new rate. Okay. So you're saying that the 25 bud the 25 budget that wasn't a full-time position for all of 25. Oh, no.

I I didn't remember that. Thank you for bringing that up. I I can't tell you the exact date, but I can look it up and bring it back to you just to make sure. I I appreciate that. and you know that I [clears throat] have details, but I don't really want to get into personnel details of town employees, so don't bother for me. And then other than that, there's really not much more to put out um point out. Um the FICA is there's a new rate for FICA and that's adjusted based on the wages. So what's the new rate? Just curious. Um, it went from 062 to point I don't remember.

Oh, that's okay. It's 7 something. Um, I have it in a spreadsheet, but good god, I need to

Yeah, it's been a large increase. What? It's been a large increase across the board. It's 0765. So, it was 062. So, um, it's like 01%, but you wouldn't think it would be that much, but it does add up. So, on a percentage basis. Yeah. Yeah. It's [snorts] like a 14% increase. What? It's like a 14% increase. Yep. And when it's a smaller number, it probably looks worse or bigger, vice versa. But I don't know if there's any specific questions about lines. Um, those are the main ones that went up the most. No, I looked through. I don't have any others. Anyone? Brian does. Go ahead, Brian.

Just just a question for a little explanation on the retirement rate. Uh Christina, yeah. You had mentioned in an earlier meeting that that that had gone down. Is this the employer share of the retirement? This is the line 230. Yeah. This is the total cost of the retirement. No, the total cost of the town. Yeah. Right. So there there's two different rates for the retirement. There's the individual rate for the employee and then there's the town rate.

The um so this is the town rate for the retirement and that percentage is depending on what category you're in. Um it v it's different for different departments but for the town it is um 12.75%. And how about the employee? Um I don't know that number that comes out. Um so that's set up in Harper. So I don't know what the percentage is. Um if I just may Is this the New Hampshire retirement system? Yes, it is. Y and so the 12 something% is that rate higher or lower than the previous year? Lower.

And was that based upon legislation on why it went down? Yes. They've had um I can't tell you what what bill it was, but over the years it's been they calculate out what the retirement should be over the years and this year everybody went down. Um and then we don't know um and it will be for the next two years the same rate. Okay. Just just a comment from the group. Um I think it's about $1.2 billion shortfall in the New Hampshire retirement system. And the only reason I'm familiar with that is I sat on a committee when we were looking at this a few years ago. So, um I would just point out that in the future, this is going the other way.

Okay. To make up for the shortfall. Yeah, sure. It'll be the same for two years. It changed in July 2025, I believe, and it goes straight through for two years. So, but you're right. It we don't know the new rate, but most likely it'll go up. So, Anyone else have a question, comment? And again, I just will say that 12.75% is only for um category one police and fire are a different rate. Um and those are by those are by NHRS rates. Those are anything we set the state sets. So, [snorts]

okay, we're ready to vote on the bottom line, I think. So, we'll take a vote now for final approval of the executive section of town government, section 4130. We didn't make any changes, so it's the original amount of $250,763. All in favor? I opposed. Abstain 700. That passes. I was waiting for you to change line 130. Did we want to? Let's see. Line 13. They wanted me to change it up. [laughter] We can do that.

Can do lots of things. It's just very good. I think what's the standard line? I'll let the voters decide, right? [laughter]

[laughter]

All right. So, next on the list is financial administration. So, I'll make a motion to uh advance consideration of the budget for the financial administration section, which is number 4150 in the select recommended amount of $219,492.

Second motion by Paul, seconded by Les. Christina, you're on again. Um I will point out um line 120 there was a new staff member hired at the end of 24. So the bud the number in the budget wasn't probably accurate for their pay rate at that time because um the position was v was vacated almost 6 months to a year before that. So um this budget includes the corrected amount and the 4%. So that's why it's a little bit more money. um finance officer position is what we brought the new finance officer in. So um it that it and the 4% so that it was fine. And then um overtime went up 100% because there are two full-time positions in here. So we at um we've estimated about 500 per person approximately. We don't do a lot of overtime in the town offices but sometimes it's required. So, um, FICA is the same thing, adjusted based on the wages and the new rate retire, uh, retirements, the new the new rate, but it did go down a little or didn't go up a lot, excuse me, based on the wages. Um, the audit the there is a new amount there. Um, we're going to have to, we thought we would have to do the one-time audit this year, but we didn't spend the amount of money this year, but I mean, we didn't spend the amount of money in 2024. That was when we thought what we're paying for for an audit is 2024 out of this year's budget. So, we are definitely going to have to do the one time because we will have expended those funds on the Central Street project. So, that's incorporated in this as well. Um and also we have to do an a special audit as part of our

annual audit of the uh audit of retirees and liabilities. So that's an extra fee now that cost us as well. So those are all included in that that new number. um meetings, uh memberships, trainings, office supplies, both those lines went up because we eliminated the welfare office supplies and we put so um out of the welfare admin when you could get to that budget, we removed those out. So, we increased this to um accept welfare as well as finance as well as um HR. So when you reference the Central Street audit, is that [snorts] a single audit? Yeah.

Okay. Yep. It's um 2.9 million. Okay. Yep. And so and if you spent over a certain amount of money within the year, you have to do a single audit. And we're going to have spent um over we're right now we probably close to 800 grand that we spent. So 750. Yep. I think it's 750. So, so we're spending that money in 25. So, 26 when we do the audit for 25, we'll have to do more work.

We'll have to do the special audit plus the regular audit and plus the Nighheart um audit on retirees. So, I guess the thing that I'm not clear on or or wonder about is if we have increased audit expenses due to a sewer project, can we fund that out of the sewer? Do we have to fund that out of out of financial administration general revenue? There is an increase in the sewer budget as well. Um did and um I'm foggy tonight, so I apologize ahead of time. Um Jeff hasn't presented yet. No, no, he is not. He's not.

So there is an increase in the sewer budget on the audit line as well. Um but the budget the central street project is 50/50. It's town and sewer, right? So we've increased this side and we've increased the sewer side to cover that. Thank you for reminding me of that. Okay. So the so the sewers like the whole project the sewers being split 50/50 between general governance and specifically sewer enterprise fund. Okay. [snorts]

Um I understand you've increased the overtime and the membership training because of two people. The fact that somebody just resigned and we don't actually have two people. Do we have an opportunity to do it? We're interviewing in January. We already have eight applicants that are in the position. Okay. So, fingers crossed. I was guessing you would say no, but I thought I'd ask. Well, and it might be a month. Yeah, that's

there could be some savings there. But, um I know that the the HR fees for the the GFOA and the HR fees have gone up a little bit. So um which is the shroom HR is the shrim membership. So that I hit that one up a little bit this year but GFOA is um so you will see more money coming out of this. GFO is the is the government the finance officer finance officer

will um we have another bill coming out of this. You will see closer to that 1,400 being spent this year. And then the welfare the welfare association and trainings isn't quite as drastic, but it is does add a little bit more money in here for that as well. So, okay. Yes, I did notice that the we still have a welfare administration section. I should do it later tonight, but it's zero. All that's been moved into here yet. Um, I can't eliminate it until probably next year if that's

Oh, yeah. Because we have to look back at historical. I understand that. Yeah. Yeah. [snorts] Even though it's zero, we still have to have it for at least a year. All right. Anyone else have any questions or comments? Not hearing any. We'll go ahead and vote on final approval for financial administration budget section, which is number 4150. We didn't make any changes, so it's the original amount of $219,492. All in favor? I second. Let's opposed. Abstain at 700. Who seconded that the first time when you opened it? I think it was seconded the opening of it.

It's in the recording. I said I did say motion by, seconded by. I'm pretty sure it was. It was. You did? Yeah. Yeah. I [snorts] just didn't write it down. Okay. I try to say it out loud because I thought it helps. So, I'm going to take her to have it said to specifically so she doesn't have to. All right. So, we're done with financial administration legal. This is 4153. So, I'll make a motion to advance consideration of the legal budget section with number [clears throat] 4153 [snorts] and the select board recommended amount of $80,000. A second motion by Paul, seconded by Sue.

Anything? I don't think so. You got anything you want to sell out on sale? Tell us. Um, we did level fund it. We are going to be close to either going um spending the full 80 or slightly over. So, um, not a lot going on this year. So, but so we left it alone. We just don't know what's going to happen next year. So that could mean the first year you'll see 2024 we finished the year with savings but this year we're going to be closer. So okay [cough] comments um is Barber still legal housing who Bobber

no we have um Donut Tucker is for our employee matters. Okay. Um there you and then Drummond and Woodsome is for our like training land use utilities. Um so Dr. Woodsome we have Sean Tangy who is the main person but we're getting new people now because um some of our attorneys have shifted or gone to other places. And then Donnie Tucker is attorney Mansfield. So Okay. So there's a series of firms. Yep. The Sean guy is the guy who is technically showed up at town meeting. Sean will be at town meeting this year, too. Y So,

did you have something? No. Okay. Not hearing any other comments. Not having a crystal ball that I can give you more precise number. Go ahead and vote on this. So, we're going to vote on final approval on the legal expenses section of the budget, which is number 4153. We didn't make any changes. So, it's the original amount of $80,000. All in favor?

I opposed abstain. None. Passes 700. All right. Next is personal administration. So, I'll make a motion to advance consideration of the personnel administration section of the budget, which is number 4156 in the select board recommended amount of 837,287. 404. Did I say it wrong? You said 4155.

837,287. Did I say it? You just you said 4156 for the line. Sorry. 416 4155. I said the line number wrong, not the not the dollar number wrong. Second. Motion by Paula. Thank you, Joe. Seconded by Joe.

Thank you. Let's keep moving. [laughter] [snorts] Um the main impact, there's a couple of spots. Um the mean the biggest one is the health well the health insurance is really the biggest number. Um it overall increases 20.6% for our health insurance costs. Um we don't we budget them half a year. So we put half those costs in um at 10% for half the year. So um then and then um the other line that went up is tuition reimbursement. Um we we actually will have spent the full 2,000 this year. Um the board agreed to add another thousand. Um people are starting to utilize the tuition reimbursement. Um so we added a th00and which makes it 50% more. Um unemployment costs compensation costs went down but workers comp and um went up and so did um employee testing screening costs went up. So I don't know if it's a budget. I mean, just reading in the paper about these um I don't know if I use the right words, shared risk pools that we get our insurance through and one of them ran into problems and this and that. So rates are going up, but we're confident they can we're they're going to continue in business and keep we can keep getting insurance through them. Or is there's a potential crisis coming?

Um they you don't know either. I don't I don't have the crystal ball, Paul. They um are guaranteeing that they're going to continue business since the since the bill was changed. There was a bill that was going to affect them and the bill was changed quite a bit. Um could they could health trust could anything happen? Yeah.

Um health trust is the majority of towns, cities, some of and I believe schools are also um they go into this pool and um it's supposed to save money but um so our contract goes from July to I mean from yeah July 1st to June 30th with them, right? So um could We are anticipating hopefully when we hire in the new HR person to try to go out and see what we can if we can get better rates next year. So, okay. Thank you. That's I think good to know. And yes, share. Brian, go ahead.

Christina, because it's the largest item in in this particular budget segment, what is the percentage of the employer contribution versus the employee contribution? The employees are 12%. Okay. They pay 12% out of pocket. The board has chosen not to change that rate. Does the town offer health savings accounts for the employee? We have a flexible spending account, but not a health savings account. So, we have a flex and we have a few people that do take advantage of the flexible spending. So, I don't think your plan allows for an HSA. No. No, they don't. Those are tied into deductible plans and that's

the deductible is not high. So, so it's 12% for the employee, I think. 12%. Yeah. Out of pocket. So, the cost that went up in here also goes up on the employee side for them. So, [snorts] I guess I'll just comment that even though there's a 10% increase and it sounds like there's some trouble in the risk pool that I'm not familiar with, almost all commercial insuranceances are drastically increasing this year. So, a 10% increase actually is [clears throat] pretty much Yeah, it's the best rate you're going to get right now. [laughter]

I hear you, Joe. I don't like it, but I wasn't going to complain about it because I didn't think we had an opportunity to do better. Yeah. All right. Anyone else? I think we're ready to vote then. So, we'll vote on final approval for the personnel administration section 4155 in the original amount of $837,287. All in favor?

I oppose abstain. There are none. 70. We pass that one. Vice President General Government 4194. I'll make a motion to advance consideration of the general government budget section which is 4194 in the select board recommended amount of $445,147.

A second. Motion by Paul, seconded by Sue. General, [cough and clears throat] excuse me. Yeah.

Um, general go the I can touch base on the biggest increase which is really the biggest increase is really the line 430 maintenance repairs grounds. Um, that was increased to cover for by approximately $4,200 to cover Belnap landscaping. Well, it ends up being 4500, sorry. But it covers billut landscaping to continue to treat the oak tree at the new property. Um they that includes they're supposed to be doing pruning um sometime this month, the beginning of January, and then it'll there'll be a couple of more treatments that we'll have to pay for next year, and that wasn't budgeted anywhere. So that's why that line went up is to cover those, but it covers all of those other things as well that you see in the notes. So, whoops. Sorry, Sean. That's the line I'm talking about. Sorry. Uh, other than that, um, I don't know if you have any specific questions. I can, um, touch base on them. There was a slight, um, increase, very minor, on the technology and computer management. Um, I believe we are in our fourth year of the remediation process. So um we have one more year after this but um that includes software, computer replacements and remediation. So on the chemical toilets, it looks like we spent more than what we budgeted last year. Is that going to continue into next year?

I'm going to double check that. Um I'm wondering if fireworks get charged here. Oh, that's awesome. Um, yeah, I'll double check it and make sure. So, for line 413, you'll check on actual spend for this fiscal year and get back to us in less than look right now. Okay. Actually, I can't because I don't I have to look at each bill. Um, did we add any extra I don't do the board potties anymore, so [laughter] I don't Did we add a board potty for any extra events? at the park little stream one we had already had.

Yeah. So, um I'll double check the and make sure the rates haven't changed. I'm wondering the fireworks might have charged here. So, did do they do the maintenance, you know, the cleaning I should say of those? Yeah, because I I the milstream [snorts] one was quite had an issue last year that was quite a mess. People using it. Well, one of the issues I think with that one is the heavy use it gets on Saturdays now. Yeah, with the craft fair. So, well, this was even before the craft fair. We had come on and so it had been happening through the weeks and this happened like three weeks worth of stuff. It wasn't It was before we even got there. So, a lot of people couldn't use the toilet. What day did they empty it one day a week typically?

Um they do Monday, Tuesdays, and Fridays I believe um that they do it. But we've had to Oh, so some of this we've had to call them out for extra cleanings and we have to pay extra for those. Yeah.

Um, we are going I talked I did talk to Ashley who does these with the highway department about us doing an RFP next year. Um, sorry, I just saw electric bills, but those were deducted back. Um, so I did talk to her about trying a new vendor next um, next year. Um, we've had really good service with this company, but I've been approached by another company who's more as local. Um, so we're going to try and do RFPs to see if we can reduce our costs. Um, but it does look like they might have called for extra cleanings if that was the case. Yeah, we did have to pay extra cleanings and I think we had to pay one repair.

I think that was part of it.

On the uh IT equipment, are we still [snorts] locally hosted for all of our systems? Um we will won't be by hopefully the three uh quarter of the way through next year is the plan. Um we're doing right now we're in the middle of two phases that are switching us to um cloud printing and um one drive and then the next two phases we're still negotiating but um there will be a phase taking us to um an online server because our server is failing all um it won't be the police department yet but it will be all of the departments um and then um SharePoint. We've already moved the Slackboard to SharePoint. So

that's good. That's a very good thing on top. So I was going to say this makes it look like we haven't spent the budget, but some of this is some of the phases we're doing now. So I [clears throat] won't cover those phases um so that we're not paying for those next year. This is 342, right? Yes. Okay. Just want to be sure I know what you're talking about. Just want to make sure we're not in the same boat that like Peter Burrow is. Some of the towns that have been hit by cyber attacks moving to the cloud offers bit more security than a server in a closet somewhere in one of our tech buildings. So,

um, over the past couple of years, we've done, um, some pretty big remediation projects and, um, we've gotten all the same platform now of of equipment, which makes it much easier than trying to log in and out of multiple platforms. Um, so we did we're able to do that with a substantial discount from um, a slot board member, [clears throat] but um, it actually has been a big savings there. Um and then we did move to those platforms have way more security um than what we've had. So and we actually redesigned the network because we also have the fiber and there was a big exposure in the fi fiber previously and so we redesigned the network to eliminate that exposure. So [clears throat]

excuse me I just want to go back to line [cough] 430 again. Sorry. 94 430 the one that has the increase due to the tree fixing. Y was that was that anticipated when we decided to buy the parsonage if that was going to be an issue or was that a surprise after we took control of the property

when we bought the property? We weren't sure what we were doing with the tree at the time. Um but we did have someone um come out when we were looking to plant the trees in the square. And when they came out and gave us a quote, um I that we agreed that we wanted the tree treated to be kept, but I think what we didn't realize was all of the the pruning costs that it's going to cost the plan. We saw the plan, but I don't think we realized what those costs were going to be. So, I had to put them in the budget. So, I don't I didn't realize what those costs were going to be. Let me rephrase that. Okay. So, Sean probably did. Well, Sean's an expert.

Because Sean's an expert. [laughter] The reason I'm asking is that I'm a big fan of consistency. And so since last year, we had a separate Warren article to raise an appropriated funds to do trees. [snorts] Putting this money into the budget kind of strikes me a little bit off. If we in order to get money to print to to to buy and plant and maintain the four new trees, the three deciduous trees, and the one evergreen tree. Now, why would we put $4,500 in the budget? because we've already started treating the tree. To stop treating it at this point would cut, right?

Right. Um the tree, by the way, what we put in what we used to maintain the tree was part of the Warren article um in the past year, but the cost to keep that tree, it's a beautiful tree. Um and to keep that tree is a little bit more than we anticipated. Just to clarify, when you say warrant article, you're talking about the buying the parsonage warrant article, not last year's tree warrant. Buying the parsonage warrant article. Correct. Okay.

There's a 65,000 of that warrant article ended up um covering the cost of the demolition and the addition um a demolition and the paving and the widening of the driveway. And then there was 2,700 and something of the war article that went towards the maintenance of the tree for the property. So I think if I think that I have to just remember that if the tree went away, I would be disappointed. So suck it up. Also, [laughter] go this maintenance is to save the tree right now. There's been no treatment of that tree for

many years. And when we demoed the building, um there was a concern that the demolition would cause damage to the tree, the roots. Um we've had to dig up the property twice since we demoed the building. So that's a it's a goodiz tree. It's nice and I just have to remind myself that if it went away, it would change the look and and I would be disappointed. So you got to spend what you need to spend if you want to keep it healthy and there. And then I don't this won't obviously be the cost going forward. This is just to finish up the contract we have for the maintenance um which includes that pruning and then the two more treatments in the following year which is next year.

But it's not it shouldn't continue to be a big burden. No. No. Thank you, Sean. Yeah, that's good to know. That's all going to be a followup question. This isn't an ongoing every day we're going to do this. I had specific directions for the demolition crew and anytime they got too close to the tree, I yelled at them. Yelled at them. [laughter] I'm like, "Stay off the roots. Don't go on the roots. Please stay away from the tree." All right. All right. I don't I don't think I have any motion. You just got yelled at. I don't think I have any motions to amend. Anyone else have a have anything that want to bring up?

All right. I think we're ready to vote on final approval. So, we're going to have a we're going to now vote on final approval for the general government section of the budget, which is 41.94. We didn't make any changes, so it's the original amount of $445,147. All in favor? I I posted abstain 0. It passes. I think your library crew is outside. Oh, I don't know if they know. I texted and told them they could come in anytime. They're folks. Okay. Sorry.

They were just they were early, so they were working through some I didn't realize you were out there. We were waiting for you to come in. All right. So, we're a few minutes early, but I think rather than doing another section, we'll go ahead and section. The next section is actually pretty short. insurance property. You want me to do that? You want to do that real quick? Yeah. All right. Uh maybe we've already done it. So I figured Oh, we both have the same.

All right. I'll make a motion to advance consideration of the insurance property liability section of the budget which is 4196 in the select board recommended amount of $80,779. Second. I'll get Buzz in here. Motion by Paul, seconded by Buzz. Uh Christina, anything you want to I mean it speaks for itself. Um the insurance um cost did go up for um 5% approximately. Um, we have not received the full update, so there could be a change, but for now it's 5%. All right. You will let us know if we need to put it on the agenda for the reconsideration meeting in January. Yep.

Okay. Anyone else have any questions or comments? Not hearing any. I think we're ready to vote on final approval. So, we're going to vote on final approval for the insurance property liability section of the budget, which is 4196. We didn't make any changes. So, it is the original amount of $80,779. All in favor? I oppose. Abstain. 700. Insurance property liability is approved.

So, you want me to keep going and making a a motion and then step aside or you want Okay. [snorts]

All right. Our next section is the library. So I will make a motion to advance consideration of the library section of the budget which is $4550 in the select board recommended amount of $295,279. Second motion by Paul seconded by Joe. We are now have a motion. Before we start discussion, I will bring up again the fact that I am actually a trustee of the library. I'm trustee one of the tr one of the nine trustees of the library and the treasurer for the library. So I've asked Sue, who's our vice chair of the budget committee to take over running the meeting because I need to step back because I have different viewpoints and some conflicts and we don't want to uh dominate this meeting. Thank you, Sue, for it's us all stuff.

Sure. No, that's that's great. Um, I'm not sure who's wants to come to the podium, but that will be me. And I actually had printed out some info for you guys if you would like. I only did six instead of seven. I'm so sorry. I missed one. You just wanted to say some of us can share. I know. And I brought Is this the updated one right here that I called you about? Okay. Did you talk to Shannon? No, I just left your boys know, which is I didn't get to. I know. No, it's okay. But Shannon got you that. She's great. Shannon's also really happy. She's back here.

And if you could introduce yourself because I we don't know all you who you are. I'm Patty Hayward. I'm the library director. Okay. All right. So, I figure you have questions for me and I have a couple questions for all of you as well. So, [laughter] I caught myself. YOU DID. YOU DID. So since I never so uh so to start with I don't know if you want to go over the budget with us first and kind of explain some of the

Well, there's there's two points that um that were big that were kind of missed because I was really sick and did the select board meeting from home and I think there were some things lost in translation that day. So there were two budget lines that I wanted to go over with you. One is a nice easy one. Oh, I forgot my glasses in the car. That's okay. Do you have just readers? Yes, like twos. Thank you. [laughter] Oh my gosh, this is going to be much easier now. All right.

All right. So, the easy one was uh line 641, library custodial service. I think that I failed to um really mention that they did ask for a raise. They went into this job in 2023, summer of 2023 where they hired before I got there. Mhm.

Um at a $65 per clean of the library. So they clean the whole library for $65. um which is out a little bit outrageous. Um and they were told going forward that they would be making more than that, but that was not communicated to me. Um finally this year they said, "Hey, it's been, you know, it'll be 3 years. Could we [snorts] possibly get a little bit of a raise because even the cost of their cleaning products has gone up and they're really losing money cleaning the library at this point." Um, and I just suggested it go up 10 $10 per clean. Um, which brought our budget line up to 7,800. And I would like that to be reconsidered if possible. So, that was the first one. That was pretty easy, straightforward.

Yeah. I'll make a motion to amend line uh 455641 uh to the department requested amount of $7,800.

Good. Did you say it? It was a Scott can have it. [laughter] Okay. brought up by Joe to addend amend the um custodian service price from the 72 recommended uh select or sorry price of 7220 to 7800. Um and if you could speak to it I mean I just think $75 per clean for a building that big is steal. Um so even though it's an increase I think we are we're getting a great price. I don't think there's any like would probably do it for that. So,

I agree. [laughter] Any anybody else have a comment or any time? No. Good. So we can take a vote on that whether to amend um that amount from 77 thou the recommended I should say from the select board from 7,220 to 7,7800 uh the original request. All those in favor I so that would be six and zero six. Yes. Are you abstaining or

no? Yes. And zero one abstain. Okay.

Okay. And then the other Thank you. By the way, the other budget line was number 194, our youth services librarian. Um the select board did decide not to um go from a grade nine step one to a grade 10 step one. So that's not what I'm asking. Um what I am asking is that I think the miscommunication came in here. Um our 2025 budget was for a 20our children's librarian. We now have a full youth services librarian who works with children from baby all the way to the age of 18. And the handout that I gave you details the current responsibilities of her job. And as you can see, that's [snorts] a 40hour a week job. And I'm not even asking for that this year. Um, I'm just asking, we hired her at 30 hours because she is qualified with a master's in library science and an undergraduate degree in education to be a full youth services librarian. She has done a fabulous job and she does a lot. And this budget reflects a 20our. I would like for it to reflect a 30 hour without the grade and step change that I requested. Just the regular um percent increase that anyone else is getting. Um but to retain her 30 hours, the price for that that we worked out would be 35143. And that's a big ask. I know that. But it's definitely worth

it. She deserves it. and she cannot do her job in 20 hours. I'm sorry, Betty. You said 35 35 143. That also slightly raises FICA and Medicare, which is what you and I went over. Yeah. Did so the 30 can I'm sorry, Madam Chair, can I ask a question? Yeah, sure. Um the 35143 that's the new that's the additional hours but does that include the 4%. That would go in in April. You did this math for me. So

do don't ask me to remember that [clears throat] [laughter] right now. Hang on library. I'm kind of more a literacy girl. So that was and then you did also give me the updated um FICA um 220 line that would change slightly and the 225 line that would change slightly. Actually it does sorry it does include the new So okay I can remember now.

So it does include the the it would be the hours but it would also be the 4% that would be in April as well. number if you agree to it. So, okay. So, that anyone have any questions?

Ju just a question. Um, of course, I don't know if I'm correct or not, but whatever dollar amount the town approves at the town meeting, uh, that amount would be set aside for the library. And do the library trustees then have the ability um even though this is a nice budget plan, they have the ability to move monies within whatever that dollar amount is. I think we do. Yeah. There's not a lot to be spared. I mean, I couldn't cover that from another point in my budget. You can kind of see that this budget's pretty tight

like everyone else is. I definitely don't overinflate. If I may, Sue, just to follow up, um, traditionally for the library, um, at the end of the year, is there funds that are left over that go into a reserve account or is is it the library budget is spent and you're basically just going year to year? Well, I've been in charge of the budget. This will be my second full year this year and it we're looking to come in just under the budget. Just under. Last year we went over a little bit because of a broken furnace. So there if there's any money left it goes back to the general fund currently [snorts] the way it's set up. So

Okay. So So can I do a follow? Okay. So does the library have any funding other than the municipal funding that comes in? I think that might have been a question but I'm not sure.

I did get a couple of grants this year um that went through the friends. Um, next year Paul has found a different way for us to do it that's adheres more to um, keeping everything so that the town knows exactly. Although I did do I was pretty um vocal about all the grants and listed them specifically on the website, social media and in the newsletter so that the town the people in Bristol [snorts] would know exactly what we got other than our and it was for our snack bag after school snack bag program got paid for. Um it kept some of our hotspots on without having to ask anyone for budget money for that. Um my gosh, I don't remember. There was a couple other little things, too, but um nothing that was going to come really come out of the budget anyway. Um I don't think so.

Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Any questions? Do you do you want to explain to the budget committee how this problem came up? Why?

Well, I think I did at the beginning. We had a 20-hour children's librarian that left in March. We hired a we found a fully qualified um youth services librarian. And I actually put off hiring for 3 months and and we tried to fill it ourselves just to save the money so that we wouldn't go over budget this year. Um, but it should have been laid out better by me to say this is going from 20 to 30. If I had been here in person, I think that would have been communicated more easily.

You mean you you forgot you you Yeah. Weren't able to lay out that when was that last year's meeting or what? What are you talking about? To the select board. To the select board meeting. Yeah, sorry. Yeah, at the select board meeting. I was home sick with the flu. Okay. So, I I dialed in for the select board meeting and I think the communication wasn't as good as having me here. You Yeah. So, I think um that's where that kind of got lost in translation. Okay. So, the person that you hired was doing 20 hours, but then you promised them that they would be going up to a different level. No, I hired someone at 30 hours. Her offer level Yeah. Her offer letter said at 30 hours.

Okay. That's what we um we really need her for 40, but that's a whole another kettle of fish with, you know, um but she thought she could do the job in 30 and she's excelling at doing the job at 30. I would love to offer her more at another point, but definitely the job cannot be done in 20 hours.

Anyone else? I there's no motion on the table. No, I get Is there a motion on the table? No. No. No. No. My only question would be the trustees as to whether you're in favor or what your thoughts are. Entirely. Absolutely. Very much. She's wonderful. Because I don't think you've approved your budget yet. Is that correct? Oh, no. Yes, we have. We've been working on this.

Okay. the the this the story that I have to tell you [cough] is the as [clears throat] treasurer I'm the person who identified this misunderstanding and lack of the budget. So it came up at the library trustees meeting in November and we talked about the fact that the person in the job is doing a great job and she's currently being paid for 30 hours a week and we don't want to ask her to take a huge salary increase that means to it. I don't disagree. I think it needs to do. My proposal was that I thought that the overall budget increase for the library is already over 6%, which is definitely on the high side amongst departments. So, I said my recommendation is we go back through the budget and we ruthlessly look at needs versus wants. we probably can't offset all of it, but we offset as much of as we can to minimize the net increase to the budget. And there was some disagreement on that. There certainly wasn't agreement, but there was no formal vote. So I'm frustrated that I'm not entirely clear whether the trustees as a whole agree with my recommendation as trust as library trust treasurer to cut other things in the budget to minimize the net increase or to do what is being proposed here which is just add the 9 or $10,000 because it'll take it up from a 6% increase to like an 8% increase. I mean I think my context on that though is like with most of the departments it might be a 6% increase but the majority of that is payroll related right it's the the increase we do the cola right the cost of living adjustment and then the increase on FICA is a good chunk of it too um

I also just there's an offer letter out there at 30 hours I don't know what kind of employment. Yeah. Issues might pop up if you try to reduce that. Right. I don't think anyone has recommended or proposed that or is even considering it. Not even a cheap person like me is considering that. All right.

Well, I have a couple other questions and I just need to have clarification. So on line 196 library and technical service services librarian uh is you're saying it's a not a new um it's an existing position but I don't see anything prior to this uh with your ask of 30,000 30,000.3 [snorts] whatever that is 30,000 310 whatever that is not quite sure what that number is that went up other than the 4% that went up about 7 cents it was Not. It's really just trying to reflect the level of education. That librarian also has a master's degree. Okay.

Well, it was to show a history. Your face. She's working on it. Yeah. She doesn't have it yet. School cover. She does not have that degree. It was part of line 191, but it was broken out into a new line. And then Yeah, I'm answering the question. increase the grade in step. Yeah, because it doesn't it doesn't even look like it applies anywhere. It looks like this is known pre-existing. So, I'm not quite sure where that that amount comes from. Uh the same with line 195. Uh I'm not quite sure on that one. Maybe the increase [snorts] is for, you know, 53,477 from That's an existing line. Yeah. Is that just a That's just a raise for That's just the regular 4%. Yeah, the regular 4%.

Yeah, that's all. Yep. Sorry. the the one I'm sorry to step in. No, that's okay. 96 was originally part of line 191. It is a difference though because it did there's a grading step change as well here. So there it's more than just a 4% increase for this position, right? And Patty can explain that. But very very little. [cough] When we did the math, was it seven cents or 17 cents? It was so small. I was Are you talking about for the total year? Are you talking about to the hourly rate or I don't understand.

I think it was um to the hourly rate. It was like seven cents or something an hour. It wasn't anything. It wasn't um as much of as an increase as I wanted to give her. I'm certainly willing to make a motion. I don't know what the total number should be because of the FICA. It's good. I do have the FICA number if you need that. You would have to do them by line, Joe. There would be three. Yeah, we'd have to change line 190, four, and 220. What was the new number for line?

225. The the new number for line 194 is 35143. 35143. Okay. I'll make a motion to amend line 45501 194 um [clears throat] to [snorts] the amount of $35,143. Second. [snorts] Would you like to explain how you

um I think you know we've committed to a town employee 30 hours. Um I mean my daughter is an avid user at the library. Absolutely loves the [cough] do a fantastic job with children's programming. [snorts] She sings like library songs at home non-stop. Um so uh I I mean I that's I think one of the the populations in town that probably utilizes the library the most. I think it makes sense to have a a youth librarian. Uh so just on many fronts it just makes sense to me. Sure. Okay. Um [snorts] anybody else? Just a question.

Just so that I that I don't misunderstand Patty. Yes. Did did the library trustees take a formal vote that's in their minutes on the budget recommendation or is it something that you sort of support? I'm not sure we took a formal vote. We have to look at the minutes initial budget. We did vote but each position on the initial Oh, we did. Yes. Right. So to clarify, when the budget was originally put together, if you look in the call for the department budget, the trustees [snorts] voted on that that Okay. Yes.

Just a comment aside, the library is doing incredible programming. Yeah, it's one of the most active libraries I've seen. So, it's a good thing. I didn't realize until I had three-year-olds. [clears throat]

The the point that I need to make is, and I've said this in our trustees meeting, is I'm going to abstain, but if I were to vote, I would vote for this. My concern, my [cough] my frustration is not with this line. My frustration is I believe there are other lines in this budget that could be cut that would make the total increase not as ownorous on the taxpayers of the town. [snorts] So that would be additional motions. So that's not just something that we need to talk about right now. Um, well, let's go to this one first. We could ask you, I guess, if if there are any other areas in the budget that you could see that could be

There's a motion on the table. We need to Yeah. Oh, sorry. Okay. Yeah. So, um Okay. So Joe, it uh asked for the motion of uh to increase the amount from well their original request was 36266. This the select board is [clears throat] 2 26500 uh and the request is to now be 35143. All those in favor. So that would be six and one. Thank you.

Yep, we do. This is one of the ones that you and I worked out. Yep. 1633 would be the new FICA line. I'm sorry. What was that? Where is that line? Yeah, I'm sorry. That is line 220 16 1633. Thank you. Yep. I'll make a motion to amend line 4550-220 uh from the current select board recommended amount of 15,672 to a new amount of 16,333. Sounds good.

Okay. Well, I could just since we've already approved the the line, um I guess I can ask just if you want to vote that. Okay. And so all in favor? Okay. Again, that's 6 and one. 64 and one abstain. And the Medicare line 225 would also slightly change. That would be like 225. Yeah.

225 would change to 3,96. I'll make a motion to 4550 225 from the select recommended amount of $2,970 to a new amount of $3,96. A second. Why did it go down if we're adding It's going from 297 to 30 297 for the new number of 39 but they recommended

yeah 3001 the amount of them what we approved is less than what they had asked for as well right that's what they 30 hours so why so why are it was at a higher pay grade. Yeah. They asked for 36,266, but you only put back 3514. Oh, okay. Okay. So, where are we at?

Oh, yes. Okay. We just need to vote. All those in favor? side. Boom. So again, that's six and one abstain. So now the overall budget would change. What was the final tally on that? I added that up. I can get I'm just running a report right now. Yeah. Can I ask Betty on Can I ask?

Sure. On uh line 455390 library security. Um there's a comment there about adding $540 for fire monitoring which was previously in a different department budget line. Was that pulled out of the other department's budget? Yes, we were paying for it under general government. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Sorry, I clicked the wrong part. That's okay. So, can I ask one more question, too? Of course.

So, do you see anywhere else? I think I've asked this before. We were ready to go to the fin finale there. Um, any place that can be cut something? There's one line that I had added 300. That was line 674 for programs. Um, I could take that back to this year's um I mean back to the 2024,500. I could cut 300 out of that because I can write a grant or have a fundraiser. Sure. I don't I think I could do without the whole 1,800 even though we have a ton of programming. You you did 1300 last year. That would be 500 down though.

I know. I was Maybe you'll give it back. Yeah, I'll give it back. [laughter] I'll give it back. I'll do the whole 500 because I feel confident that I could probably do some grant or fundraising to cover that. So the final would be you're saying you would I would go back to um 1300. Yeah, I would go back to 13.

Am I going to be the motion? Mr. Motion, you're so good at it. Yeah. I'll make a motion to move line 4550674 from the select board recommended amount of $1,800 to a new amount of $1,300. You take it. You take it. Do I have to say who says that? I'm sorry. I It helps It helps Shannon when she does the minutes if you say it out loud. A motion motion made by Joe and seconded by Leslie. any discussion? Not really because we just need to tell this one. I just trying to [snorts]

you just need to on the final. Yes. Okay. 694, right? Okay. So, for 67 uh line 6 674 74. Yep. Um we have a uh vote of um 1300. All those in favor? Okay. So six 4 and one abstain. Do you want your new number? [snorts] New bottom line. New bottom line. Yeah. It's 304789.

[snorts] [clears throat]

And I make a motion to increase the amount recommended in the budget from 295 279 if I'm reading it right. to 374 304 304 789 789 that's the one 304789 second never mind [laughter] all those in favor I

I want there's a pencil Oh, perfect.

Okay, back to you. [laughter] Thank you for coming. Thank you. Thank you very much. Can I keep this question? Okay. I I I know this will be a joke. you we thank you for coming. You have a good night. You're welcome to stay, but [laughter] thank you. Thank you. Have a merry Christmas. Okay. Insurance, right? Animal control, right?

Yeah. Make a motion to approve line 4414 animal control in the amount of $200. Second motion by Scott, seconded by Paul to advance animal control 4414 section. Um, not hearing any comments or discussion. We will now vote on final approval of this. [laughter] Speak up if you want me to stop, but I think this is the right. Okay. So, we just love that.

This is the same every year. So, it's okay. Um, to make a final vote on final approval on animal control section 4414 in the original amount of $200. All in favor? I uh against abstains passes 70. So, welfare administration 40. Do we need to approve this even though it's a zero? Um, yes. Okay. I'll make a motion to uh advance consideration of the welfare administration section of the budget, which is 4441 in the select one recommended amount of $0.

Second. Motion by Paul, seconded by Joe. I think this is like animal control. Let's just vote on it. Yeah, I don't think there's anything to say. So, we'll have a vote on final approval for this budget section. Welfare Administration 4441 and the original amount of $0. All in favor? I against abstain. None. Passes 700. Just just a quick question. Where does that come out of now? Finance. Finance. It's part of um so it's part of the HR position. So rentals and everything come out. Um no you have another the next section is is welfare payments. So So this was just the administrative part of the person.

Okay. I make a motion to advance the consideration of the doesn't say welfare just says vendor payments but we know that it's okay welfare vendor payments which is section 4445 in the select board recommended amount of $27,650 second motion by Paul seconded by Scott Christina anything um you want to

No not really um I can just welfare for burials is line 810. We did double that because the cost of we we are getting more requests on burials. Um so that pays for two. Um and we've paid for two this year already. So um and then the board did reduce um we the department asked for 20,000 and the board did reduce that to 15. So and we're going to come in pretty close to 15. That was going to be my follow my followup question is that what do you have a feel for what the end of year 2005 I'm sorry 2025 actual

um one of our biggest costs probably for welfare was we had 22 applicants the first um we transferred this into HR and the first month she had 22 applicants in the first month um 11 of them came from one property um so once we were able to closed that property. Um things have set settled down a little bit, but we probably have about five or six applications right now. So this is for rental assistance, rental, heat, food. So is is the welfare burials, this is kind of probably a crazy question. Is that just an assist in in the burial? Is it [clears throat] a burial or is it just

It's an assistant by statute. We pay we can pay we pay up to 750. They qualify for assistance. Okay. And that's that's a burial or is right on the plot of land or or is it could be burial or cremation? It is either. Okay. Yeah. So it really the 750 is if it's a burial obviously it's going to be a lot more money um than a cremation. So right statute is 750. 750. Okay. [snorts] And I would assume that the rent goes directly to the landlord.

Correct. Um actually even burials goes directly to the funeral home. We do not um the only time an applicant would get the direct payment would be we're giving them a voucher to go to the store to get food or something or gas card potentially. We we do do gas cards on occasion to make sure that they can get to their appointment um if they need to for medical reasons or to even to a job. [snorts]

Anyone else comments, questions? Not hearing any. We'll vote now on final approval for the welfare vendor payment section 4445. They didn't make any changes, so it would be the original amount of $24,650. All in favor? I against or abstain. None. 700 Z. That passes. [snorts]

Go to beaches. Right. Make a motion to consideration of the beaches section of the budget. It's section 4521 and it'll be for this voter recommended amount of $46,43. Second. Motion by Paul, seconded by Joe. Before I ask any questions, Christine, anything you want to bring up?

Um, contracted services in um, which is line 301 um, increased slightly. Um, we have to um, I can't u, we might have a revenue to offset this. Um, I've got to talk to the board at their next meeting about anything that's being done. Did I let me rephrase that? Being passed to the towns. So um but um they're c the cost did go up on the contract services. We have to install the lines and the moing lights and we have to remove the lines and the remoring lights and then there's an adjustment for repairs there. We do have to occasionally repair the lines if they get cut by boat or um vandalism um during the year. So, um, other than that, um, the FIC bill was the new rate. Um, for some reason, it adjusted everybody up in some of the budgets. Um, but other than that, it those are the two lines that are up. Um, we did leave, let me, um, in line 430, we did leave it level funded. Um, because we are going to be, um, we're replacing the beach signs. So instead of reducing it after replacing the swim lines, the proposal is to replace the beach signs that they need to be uh two of them need to be replaced. They're starting to fall apart. So we're going to be replacing them. We have a quote to do that. One at Avery and three at coming speech and they'll all be similar in um theme to the new new found week sign. So,

so that was the that was the line I was going to ask about line 430. So, it went up significantly this year because we were told that the swim lines were in horrible shape and it wasn't just installing, we needed to buy normal lines. So, I was anticipated that was a one-year bump and it would go back down this year. So, the fact that it didn't go down is disappointing. Um, I [snorts] read the explanation at the bottom and you just said it. So now we're we're talking about signs. Could we could we spread the signs over two years and then and and and take some money out of there? Is this is this a is this a want or or a need? I mean I guess I would ask Scott. I mean you guys discussed it. I don't know why

you don't know either. If you Well, and we aren't these aren't even addressing we have more than this that needs to be done. So we are not just the beaches by the way. So, we are um the if you've noticed the welcome to Bristol signs, the nice painted ones, they're looking really bad. Um and those aren't even being projected to be replaced. So, we are doing them in stages. It's just that this is the beach. Um and there's only one Avery Krauss, but there are three at Cummings that have to be replaced. So, um which include in your entrance, your exit, and then the main sign. I don't know if the recraft sign will make it much longer. Okay. Um,

you're you're giving me the answer I expected, but I needed to I felt I needed to ask in case you had a different answer for me. We we tried not to make a impact by being able to replace those signs and level bending the line. I know you wanted it to go down, but [laughter] I don't get everything I want in life. This is not unique. So those signs that are already going bad, how haven't has it only been a couple of years that went up there? No. Which ones are which ones are those? These are the the speech signs. They say Avery Krauss Beach and Cummings Beach and then the entrance and exits. Okay.

So they aren't the main signs that are around town. These are the actual beach signs. So they haven't been done. I think they were done before I became town administrator. They would have been painted though, not replaced on. I think she just painted over the wood when she did it. Do you remember, Les? I think she just painted over the wood when she did it. Yeah, she didn't replace the wood. So, um, it is probably time to replace them.

They get a lot of wear and tear at what? Well, we take them out in the winter and then we store them, but they're pro they're stored in cold storage, which probably isn't helping them any any either potentially, but and then we put them back out and then we take them back. So, that is probably adding to the wear and tear, too. So, I don't know. [snorts] But probably better than being lakeside all winter, though. Yes. Especially Crest that gets brutal down there. So, Anyone [snorts] else have any more questions or other lines that they like to ask a question or make a comment? I'd

like to also point out right some of this is offset by beach stickers.

Yes. We did um I don't have the revenue in front of me, but we do I would say probably [clears throat] a quarter to I think quarter to 20,000 maybe is offset by beach stickers off the top of my head. Um, we are going to I'm going to talk to the board about a new thing that we're going to have to we have to apply for moing permits now at Avery Krauss. Um, so that we can charge a fee. Um, and we can and we might be able uh to offset some of the increase in the contract services by the fee that we can charge, but we have to figure out who's going to be doing that job. just some passed on by the state. Mhm. I met with the moorings, the state state moing they said um and because we own the beach that we have 21 moorings in four different groups that will be applying and I have if so say it stays with me I have to gather all of those applications and I have to submit all of their documents to the state and make sure it's a completed application

um under the town's And who was doing this before? No, the moorings were the their individual owner was well the group. Yeah, they were going directly to

so the Morren company I believe we used to have to do this before because I [clears throat] remember in assessing doing this application before and having to come to the board um it has changed a lot since then. So they sent me um the I asked them for a sample of the application um so I could see and there are four groups with 21 moings total but we can charge a fee per moing. So it's something I've got to talk to the board about. So I don't know what that would be. Do I think it's going to be a huge impact? No. But it is there is a little bit more that we'll be able to assess there. Okay, that's a that's been a historically challenging relationship anyway.

Yeah. Okay. I think uh not hearing any more questions or comments. We'll have a final vote now on the beaches section of the budget which is 4521. We didn't make any changes, so it is the original amount of $46,43. All in favor? I against abstain. None. 700. Beaches passes. All right. I make a motion to advance consideration of the economic development committee's section of the budget, which is 4651 in the select board recommended amount of $1,450.

Second. Motion by Paul, seconded by Les for EDC or um this will ch this title is changing so it's really not just these are technically economic development committees but we are revamping the economic development committee and they will be now economic opportunities but I'm going to find out if there's a better name that we can change this to in the budget because it is economic development projects it meetings members memberships energy committee and the pemmy path committee which will now be its own committee not a subcommittee anymore.

Um so um I'm going to double check a better name for the whole budget. So I just don't know what that will be yet. Sorry.

And the limited activity this year is really just related to the fact that there we've had a hard time staffing this committee. Right. um economic development um very we've had our time but we also not given enough direction to them. So there have been some work sessions with the select board. Um and we are actually thanking the current economic development committee for their hard work and we are starting a whole new committee. Um the whole new committee right now the title of the new committee is economic opportunities right Scott economic opportunities. [snorts]

Oh good look the reason we switched it is because it's not just about development it's about um soliciting opportunities that will help. So, um there'll be an advertisement if anybody's interested um that we'll put out to the public um soliciting membership um when the time comes. So, um I'm hoping to have something to the board this week maybe. But um this again there was no place to put anywhere really in the budget the energy committee or the pemmy path committee and it was felt that they were both under economic um maybe it should be economic resources something like that but um we felt that they all originally they all kind of tied together and they were all subcommittees of each other and so now it's been changed that they're not. So,

okay. I'm not I mean I asked the question when the when we were putting the agenda together. So, I'd like to know the answer, but I don't think it really changes things for us. So, let us know when the decisions made and we'll update documents, but but uh I don't think we have any changes. I heard anyone make a suggestion for a amendment to change any numbers. So, we ready to vote? No. No. Buzz, you asking. Somebody want to say something?

Yeah. Um I'm um chairman [snorts] of the Pemmy Path Committee and there's $250 in the budget now, but um we are um after I don't know I how many years of effort we are um this close to signing a use agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers. Um and um we have also [snorts] um in order as a quid to us um agreeing to go to a five-year term instead of 20, they are paying the full cost of the the required national um environmental policy act um tier [cough] environmental [clears throat] review. Um although it's kind of on hold because their budget is in limbo due to everything that's going on in Washington. But um we are going to be going into the design phase um sometime hopefully in 2026 and that's going to necessitate um significant um dollars paid to the town consulting engineer. Um I have asked him um to prepare um a new cost estimate for the for the path but also um a new estimate of his total all the fees for the design phase [clears throat] monitoring and construction. The one thing that u from a budget standpoint that that um you probably all should know is that we have stopped chasing grants. It's a waste of time. It's never yielded any success for the path. And we are um when we get a signed agreement and uh a satisfactory NEPA study, we're going to be forming um a four 501c3 friends of Pemmy path committee and

doing a a public fundraising campaign to pay for this. And I have been in contact with the number and Sean is Sean is sleeping through this, but He is he is I met with Sean as a resource too, but I've talked to a number of excavation contractors in town um and they're all willing to do two, three, four days um work on this for nothing. So, uh fundraising [clears throat] will be hopefully just for the cost of material and uh that could be under 100,000 or it could be closer to a million if there's there's a significant bridging involved in the first portion of the trail south of Bristol. And if the core of engineers [snorts] insists on something akin to what we have at the millstream, um we'll be closer to the million figure if they if they allow us to do what John has proposed as a very elegant fix, which is a concrete block and timber timber bridge, which is more than adequate to to ferry snowmobiles on their way. um will be and and if we can get [snorts] um some of that material donated um will be will be significantly low. But in any event, this $250 is I don't know what the number is, but it's not $250. And I've asked for number, but Mike hasn't come through with it. Um, I will be talking to him tomorrow. So, I'll see if I can get a number from him tomorrow, but um, but we don't have it for tonight. The 250 was just if there was any kind of memberships that they needed or if they needed to get supplies or something like that during the year. We didn't have any other numbers at the time we broke out this

budget. So, and historically, just two years ago, um the economic development um committee budget line was it $3,000, I think. Yeah.

And then last year we we added more. That money is Mike McNal just submitted um his his um estimated cost and it's under $3,000, but he was tasked with um redoing um in part thanks to Sean's work um redoing the trail map to make it more specific and he's added topographic lines to it um to because it was um the the core requested that and he's he's done that and that's in his bill and he's also as I say he's working on um updating the cost estimate and um that's covered in that that money. So um that money hasn't all been spent but it was there and we've we've tapped it.

It's fantastic work. It's super exciting. Well, it hasn't happened yet. Well, all my fingers are crossed. Yeah. [snorts] So, thank you for that update. I [clears throat] I think what you're are you saying that you think that the design cost for the penny path should be paid for with town general funds out?

Well, I'd like to fund raise the whole thing, but I think we'd have to we'd have to have the design before we could fund raise. So, I'm not going to write a check [laughter] and I don't think anybody I we're we have not we we I have talked to an attorney and and we have an attorney all set when I tell them to go and set the but we cannot fund raise until we have a signed agreement and we have a satisfactory NEPA because we otherwise it's and there's another issue that Christine and I are addressing that that may also factor into this but we can't go out under false under a false makes sense. I just

So I think the town's [clears throat] going to have to cover Mike's initial expenses.

I He's funny. He must know we're talking about him. He just emailed [laughter] but he didn't email the quote yet. I just So I just emailed it back and said, "Hey, do you have this?" I should note that we're also going to um if the campaign is is successful and everybody that I've talked to has assured me it will, but um we're also going to raise money to have um to cover ongoing maintenance. We've I've talked to Victor and he will make available space at the transfer station so that we can have a a store a pile of of the crushed gravel that is used. um um to to refresh the trails. The Northern Rail Trail floods every year in portions and they have piles stationed along the trail and they just go out with a Bobcat every spring and fix it. And we'll [snorts] we'll store ours at the transfer station. The highway department has said they'll they'll convey it to the to the trail as needed and um and do the work. So, uh, we're trying to set it up so that there will be no ongoing expense to the town, but the we we'll fund raise the construction amount and then and then if our campaign keeps going, we'll we'll put some money aside in trust for for maintaining it. And we can als the the the the 501c3 won't go away. So we can always have future capital campaigns as needed.

So I you haven't said this, but what I'm what I think I'm hearing you say is that you work with Christina and the town to get a cost estimate for the design work. And we might need to bring this up in the January reconsideration meeting to increase this number. But at this point, we don't know what to increase it to. So, we're not going to take any action tonight, but it's fairly a lot larger than Okay, you're giving us a heads up. And I think I'll say the same thing Joe did. Thank you for all your hard work and I think it's great for the town and I'm personally excited. I want to go out and hike it. So, this be great.

Lunch wasn't enough. [laughter] Lunch for me. You can hike it now. Last year, he and I got snow for [laughter] It'll be more fun with the with it with it level and the snowmobiles packing. They won't much be as much work next time. We we actually hooked up at the Heland Fair with um snow. Yeah. And they're they're working with us to have a a formal snowshoe event this winter. We we've done a lot of outreach at the Hebrew Fair the last three years and we now have a mailing list of over 70 people. Um, [snorts] it's it's catching on. Great news.

I think we're ready to vote on final approval. So, we'll have a vote now. Final approval of the economic development committee's section of the budget 4651 in the original amount of $1,450. All in favor?

Opposed? Abstained? None. 700. That passes. All right. So, we've got three debt sections coming up and then we'll be done. I think I make a motion to advance the debt principal service um debt service [clears throat] section 4711 and the select board recommended amount of $365,167. Second. Motion by Paul, seconded by Joe for principal payments on long-term debt. Anything you want to say, Christine?

Um, these are all updated based on the debt schedule. Um, the we did not put a number in under the 997 yet. Um, right. The bond we're planning the bond anticipation note that we have with Franklin Savings Bank covers the project until we finish it and then USDA will kick in and pay that bond note off and we'll be bonded with USDA.

I don't we don't anticipate because the project won't be finished until probably July now um that we'll have a bond payment until the following year now. So that's why there's nothing in that line right now. But the rest of those numbers are updated based on the death schedules. [snorts]

So my I guess my question is more a more general one. I know that if the schedule says we have to make these payments, we have to make these payments. But I but I'm a little confused because I see when I looked at this, I see that for this year's budget, we're at 334 and the proposed number for next year is 365. So it went up. So I said, "Oh, I don't think we did any new projects." And then I said, "Oh, it must be we do a a level payment yeartoear and as we pay it down, the ratio of principal to interest changes." So we pay more in principle, we pay less in interest. But the next section, the interest number goes up. Now, I know that that's got the additional line for Central Street project, but it still seems like it went up more. I don't understand how both principal and interest would go up with no new project. So what am I seeing wrong here?

I'm following the the schedules, the debt schedules. So these are the numbers that were given on the debt schedules. Um I can not fully answer your question because I don't know how they were negotiated, but these are the payments. I got you. I already knew we weren't going to change anything. We're not going to save any money here. I just am being a pain. Give you some I was just going to pull up the debt schedule. I was going to give you some information about some of them that are coming up. Oh, the uh Oh, I did put it in there. There you go. So, um the first one, Central Project, uh last payment is 2027. Yep.

Um the decor is until 2039. The dump body and plow is 2026. Um public safety building 2042. Um town office building is 2030. [snorts]

Um, I don't know on the treatment plane improvements. That one doesn't um didn't have a a date on that, so I'll have to double check it. Um, and then the sidewalk holder is 2028. So, there is one coming off next year, which is the 5-year lease on the dump body, and then it looks like one the year after and one the year after that. But, it just depends on what we do with any kind of replacement vehic. So, Okay. Anyone else have Yeah, I'm just I'm just a just a quick question. So, when we were saying about the um the public safety bill, let's say, right? Yeah.

Why are they I I know I don't know understand what you're saying about the um adjusted budget numbers or debt schedule when you're when there's a loan, aren't they all the same payments from the beginning? They're not they don't change. It's not like a personal loan. It's not like a No, it all depends on the bond financing agreements. So, they can change it at any time. No, we get a schedule for the year. Oh, we get a schedule set up for the years. And that this is the schedule. [clears throat] Um, let me just pull municipal bonds typically, right?

Long-term municipal bonds typically have a feature called a syncing fund, which kicks in midway through the bond typically and and it's basically an accelerated payment in the principal. So your principal amounts you may pay when the syncing fund kicks in the syncing fund may require you to do an extra 10% of principal a year or something. So over over the term of some of these some of these have [snorts] a syncing fund feature the principal the principal portion of the bond will increase.

So if I just look at the public safety building as an example let me go And I don't know these agreements in specificity by any means, but I know that nonprofit bonding or it's probably going all through the municipal bond financing association and there's multiple different types of arrangements you can pick when you do these. So

um public safety building principle it was 1983 350 for next year. The year after it's 204300 the year after it's 210429. That's the principal. So so what happens is as the as the loan amount goes down the interest that you pay gets reduced but you you you're essentially between the two making the same payment. Yeah. So you're accelerating the it's like it's like a home mortgage. Typically it's a level payment over years and the ratio between principal interest changes as long you pay more in principal than interest.

Yeah. Your payments are the same but that goes down but these are these your payments but you're paying more to principles too. That's the insurance, but you're not going to have that on the public safety building while we're in year two. I just I just want to make No, I just want to make it clear [clears throat] these numbers are principles only. And then the next section is interest. So the total payment is principal at interest. So this isn't principal total payments. This is just principal payments, right? Gotcha. Well, and looking at this just to give you

the last year, the principal payment is $318,000, but the interest is 9,500. So they schedule they give us a schedule and a due date and we we book in booking when you go. So right. Okay. I think I spent enough of our time on that. Thank you for answering that. Hopefully it was helpful. Let's take a vote on final approval for the debt service uh principal payments section 4711 in the original amount of $365,167. All in favor?

Opposed [clears throat] abstain? None. 700. That's 4711 [snorts] is approved. Then we'll go on to 4721. So, I'll make a motion to advance consideration of the uh interest payments on longterm debt, which is section 4721 in the select board recommended amount of $189,151. Second.

Motion by Paul, seconded by less. So, this should be the same list. And the only real difference is that on Sorry, I'm stepping on your toes here. But the the only real difference is that line 997 is not zero because even though we don't have any principal payments on the new sewer project, we have to pay interest costs while the construction's going on. [clears throat] So, we're paying interest on the bond anticipation note. And just for we just used the bond anticipation note for the first time, but we've had it in over a year.

So we did have to use it recently. So um so the interest payment um for 20 the for 2025 was estimated that we would be 20,000. So we we don't know what our interest payment is going to be. Um how much it's based on how much we draw down. So Any other questions or comments that anyone would like to make? [snorts] The only comment I'll make is just that interest would have gone down substantially if it weren't for that increase on that one. So to your point earlier, [snorts] interest did go down even though principal went up. Well, that's the thing that I didn't understand. We're budget.

Sorry, we budgeted $20,000 last year and we had a total of 190,000 and this year we're budgeting $30,000. I see what you're saying. So, it should have gone up by 10 and instead it went down by one. Correct. I got you. Thank you. Y I misread that. You're right. [snorts] So, I said both one up, but it's not true. Interest did go down, which is what I expected, which is why I was confused and I asked the question in the first place. All right, enough justification with my rambling. Let's move on. Um, Whoops. [sighs]

We're ready for a final vote, I think. Speaker, [clears throat and laughter] we disagree. We're going to make a vote for final approval on the long-term interest payments on long-term debt section 4721 in the original amount of $189,151. All in favor?

Against abstain? None. 700. That passes. The last section to discuss in our new business section is I'll make an I'll make a motion to advance consideration on the interest cost on tans which is section 4723. It says it a little differently but that's what it is in the select word recommended amount of $18,000. Second. Motion by Paul, seconded by Joe for interest payments on tax and revenue anticipation notes of $18,000. Um, do you want to say anything before I ask my question?

You can ask your question. How's that? So, so I already know the answer. So, there's no question. You sure? Well, what I was going to say was we we had to take out a tan last year because we had the problem we had a problem with the tax build into the school. We had to take out a tan this year. We've taken out a tan twice this year, right? And what I was going to say is but in 26 we shouldn't have to take out a tan, but in 26 we have to pay the interest on the 25 tan. So, we do have to have money in the budget. So,

yes. So, we just had to um we have to set the tax rate. I have to I have to remember that the money in the 26 budget isn't for a 2610 tan. It's to pay the interest on the 25 tan, which we definitely took out. So my like I said, I I already figured out my question was wrong before I I got it out of my mouth. But I will let you know we did just take the full tan that we had the ability to take because um it doesn't matter when you collect the taxes, you still have to pay the county on time. So we have to pay the or pay a significant fee.

Yes. So, we have to pay the county tomorrow $1.1 million and we haven't collected a scent of taxes. So, we needed to take the TAN out um to pay the county bill and we took the whole TAM because you also have to pay all your capital reserves by Monday or we by statute. So, we by by state

statute you have to make [snorts] those. So, we cut $460,000 on Monday and we cut 1.1 million today and um the TAN is paying for those. Um we haven't paid the school in two months because we haven't collected any money either. Um but we're hoping soon. Now, we should have the bills out by the I would think by next week before Christmas. People probably won't get them till after Christmas though. Um can we go back a little bit for a second here?

Sure. Yeah, we can. Um, last year, and correct me if I'm wrong, the board and with your help, Christina, were unable to set the tax rate because the school district was unable to provide the financial information to DRRA, which is a 40% component of a tax rate. Correct. And as a result, the board wasn't put in the position where they had to borrow money, tax anticipation note to keep everything going.

For the amount that the town is budgeting going forward, how much is the school responsible for that in terms of causing that borrowing?

I was going to ask that question myself. probably if I estimated high I would probably say 100%. But I think that's a high number. I mean the we are late this year for two reasons. To start off we would have been late because it's a reevaluation year. So usually we do not get tax bills done um by normally normally they're done October, November roughly, but with a revalure it pushes it off closer to December. the school just finished their stuff. So, the school made us late again,

right? And I just like to make a point, and I'm not sure folks will agree with it, but um you know, if we have two years in a row where the town is put in a position, a cash flow position, because one of the important parties is unable to produce the financial information they need to create the tax rate. Um does the town Is the town going to consider through the board of selectment to bill the school for that portion of the interest that's being paid because of the fact that they were unable to provide their financial information to create the tax

or even a penalty. I was just thinking of a penalty, not necessarily the whole thing. I know that another town tried this and and they couldn't do it. Um, honestly, I think part of it is also the town. Um, it's the town's responsibility to have cash on hand as well. So, um, I think it it could go both ways. I don't believe that statutoily we can do that though, right? It is something we want to check into, right? The only reason I bring up this point just um I've had a little experience in this particular field and the schools financial reports are due in September. So are the towns,

right? And [snorts] when they can't be produced, then the Department of Revenue obviously can't set a tax rate. Um, so it [clears throat] just seems to me that if the town finds itself in a reoccurring position when when one of the parties is contributing or causing the tax rate to be delayed, then I think Sue used the word penalty. I think they should uh rightfully share in the cost of the expense. Um, and that's, you know, something that maybe would signal the school district like other SAUs in the in the state to have auditors come in in July and early August, do the financial statement and do the balance sheet. Then they would have the information to produce the DOE 25 form in September and as a result they would not put the board of selectment in a position to have to go out and borrow money. So their reasons for the delays isn't just attributed to the DOE or the financial statements they've caught, but they are catching those up. I believe when Paul came he said they were caught up to the current year.

Do you remember? Yeah. Um part of their problem is two years ago roughly they were hacked and they lost everything. So they're still they're they actually filed revenues and they filed their DOE 25. Last year they didn't.

We had a DOE25 that just said see an Excel sheet. So [laughter] something like so they did file those this year. So, um they filed revenues and they filed um the paperwork, but they had to pull in two um a business administrators in addition to their business administrator to help get that work caught up this year. So, I don't know if this is live or not. So,

I find this conversation very interesting and I'd love to go out and have a beer with you and talk about it, but I think it's not within the purview of our responsibility. So, in some respects, we're kind of not spending our time wisely to have this conversation. So, I I I also want to say something. So, go ahead first and for the board standpoint. Yes, please. It's still Bristol's tax money. So, you just Robin and Peter Pay Paul. So, and we're also trying to partner and be good stewards with the school district and them allowing us to use their buildings for voting in such instances. So,

they're not charging us now either. So, you wanted to say something. Go ahead. your select. I'm I am 100% uh uh um in line with your reasoning and your thought uh on that um in terms of how frustrating it's been in the last couple of couple years. I I've been

a a cheerleader for them, but also a pretty big critic uh in certain cases. Um, but it's important to note what Christina said just a few minutes ago. We haven't paid the last two monthly bills to the SAU. They are letting us slide on that to until we get our tax money. That's $900,000. 1.1 million

$1.1 million that we're basically for two months getting a getting a pass until we get that big chunk of money that comes from our tax bills going out uh at the end of at the end of December. They've done that for us on many, many occasions where we would have had to file a TAM and we didn't file a TAN um because we would not pay them for a couple months until until the tax revenues came in. So,

and so you know too, we are not the only town that hasn't paid them. Um, they did ask us when we'd be able to make a payment and I [cough] laid it out for them and they said, "I'm sorry. I don't think we can make a payment till we start collecting taxes till January." Yeah. Um, which they've been very gracious about. I think if they really pushed it, we would still We're a collector. We have to pay Yeah. whether we collect the taxes or not normally. So, they've been very good with us. I know there is another town that also owes them 1.1 million. So that's 2.2 million they don't have. Well, apparently their their cash flow is better than the towns because if they can

from what I've heard. Well, if they can afford liability, they're not buying it. They're not. No, they backed out. I thought that I heard a rumor, but I haven't heard anything. I thought it was And it has to go to a vote anyways. It has to be approved. So, there's nothing to say. I thought I thought they were going to put it on the ballot for March, but I mean, we haven't voted. They can't do it. I have to double check. I swear they somebody said they just took a vote. Oh, maybe the school board voted to I'll double check and I'll email you if I if it's not just a rumor. So the only point I was trying to make is just to create some discussion that

the four entities that contribute to the tax bill should be sort of on their game so that it doesn't force one of the parties to borrow money versus establishing the tax rate say in November and folks pay the tax bill and then then you don't then then you don't have the situation [clears throat] having to might I might I please suggest that you go to our uh state representative and have them have him file a bill uh so we can uh pay the county monthly. Uh that would be fantastic because it's actually set up in the legislature in statute that they get paid on x day of December

for the whole year for the whole year, right? all at once. And not to argue with you, Sean, but if you look at DRA's tax rate tax rate scheduled for 2025, you'll see that some towns set their tax rate by the first week in October. 100% agreed. Yeah. Yeah. Which we've done. No, we've done before. We've set it in usually o usually we're setting the tax rate late October when we're on time, but but we haven't been able to be on time for a couple years. I we don't and let me just tell you too, we don't have a choice about being on time in the spring, right?

We don't set the tax rate, but we don't have a choice in we have to send our bills out. We have to send our information on our bills to the tax collector by May 15th and the bills are always July 1st. There's no choice in that. That's also statutory, but it's the fall that process.

I was just going to ask for help cuz I've lost track. Did Did we actually vote on the final? Okay, so that's where I'm going to jump in now. We need to do a final vote [clears throat] on this section of the budget for paying interest on the TANS and other revenue anticipation notes. So, we're having a final vote on section 4723, which is interest on tax and revenue anticipation notes in the original amount of $18,000. All in favor? Against abstain? None. 700. We are through the governance. Hallelujah.

Um, meeting minutes. So, we had a meeting last week on December 9th. Draft minutes were sent out. Thank you, Sean. Good night. Thursday. Before we get into the detail, does anyone have any comments or things they would like to see changed or clarified? Go ahead. Oh, okay. Yes. I'll make a Thank you, Christina. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of the December 9th, 2025 meeting of the Bristol Building Committee. I'll second.

Second. Motion by Paul, second by Sue. Approve the minutes. Buzz. Um, at the top of the second page, um, four lines down, there's a at the beginning of the line, the word increase. Yep. Is should be deleted. Crossing guard was proposed. Proposed page 24. Okay. It's just an extra word. Yeah. Crossing guard was proposed to increase significantly. Gotcha.

And um the other is on the fourth page. It's under emergency management. And this will show you how ridiculous my mind works. But in the third line at the end, the word federal. Yeah. When you're talking about the federal government, it's a capital F. Okay. And that's it. Not that.

Okay. Um, so again, any other Okay. Not hearing any. Christine, you got those two uh changes. I'll make uh we'll do a now we'll do a vote for final approval of the minutes as amended. So we're voting on approving the minutes of the December 9th meeting as just amended. All in favor? I I against abstaining none 0. That passes. This isn't as horrible as I thought it was going to be.

Uh correspondence. I don't have any correspondence. Does anyone have any correspondence they want to share with the rest of the committee? Joe wasn't going to be here. [laughter] Well, I I faster than I thought. I appreciate you being here, so I was going to give you a degree. [clears throat] Christina, do you have any other correspondence? That's No comments. Uh comments. Usually we start with you, Scott. Anything you want to Joe? Anything you Oh, we set the tax rate. Yes. You haven't heard? I think Christina mentioned it a few minutes ago. The bill should go out next week and we'll probably get them right after Christmas.

It was the original last year's tax rate was $2362. Y um the new tax rate is $1316. The town portion last year was $975. The new town portion is 511. There was actually it's actually posted I think it's on a blue piece of paper in the lobby. I'll have it on the website. all over the New York community. Oh, no. Okay, you've already seen the thing that I noticed was that the that in last year the town and the school had gotten pretty close and now the school's back out in front again for who's charging more money. Well, we had the reassessment the re No, no, but I mean, but the but the dollar for the ratio

10,000 of Yeah. The ratio of those two numbers. Um

I have nothing. Okay. Buzz, anything? I I'm going to take a moment. I know we're still in public session, but I want to thank you for what you did with the So, this is a comment I can make this for what you guys did with the library. What What happened with that position? we won't get into an open meeting. But it what I said to Patty I was frustrated about because she's like, "How could the SL board do this?" And I said, "But you're your your your your note at the bottom didn't explain that in 2025 24 we budgeted for 20 hours a year and now you hired someone to we've hired someone to do 30 hours a year." Without that information, what was done wasn't horrible. That was but it needs to be fixed. But I was still I'm still frustrated because overall I mean you asked about or maybe Brian asked somebody asked. Yeah. The there are funds and tax money that isn't spent doesn't stay with the library. We don't get to have a reserve fund. It has to go back to the town. But when people donate money to the library and we don't spend it that goes into a bank account. There are bank accounts that under the under the control of the trustees and the treasurer. There's a report in the annual there's a report in the annual town meeting many minutes meetings you can look at it and see that the library trustees have access to a considerable amount of money. The other thing that frustrated me and I'll just tell you I don't know if I'm going to make a motion in June when we in January when we reconsider the last so the library has two full-time employees and then the youth services librarian which is in a line and in past years the other three employees who are all part-time were in one line 191.

No, did I get the line number wrong? Yeah. Well, It's not the youth. Youth services was in its own line. And that's what I said. Youth services. It was the ill library. She was in her own line. She's full-time. Yes. So, those two were in there

of the of the six staff members in the library. There were four lines. There were three lines for one person and there was a line for part-time people and the other three employees were in there. And the library director made a decision Just real I'm trying not to ramble too much more. Made a decision to separate that up and my frustration is as a budget committee member when you change the structure of the budget it's harder to see trends. So, what what you don't see, what most people don't see, and I only know it because I'm on the line. I'm I'm upset because you can't see that there's a proposal in there to increase the number of hours per week for one of the part-time people. She doesn't talk about it. And I've said I want to I if it were me I would take that back out because we we we were in a meeting in September. I think it was September. And she said we we have excellent staff. We have enough people right now. We're only open on Tuesday evenings. I want to propose that we start opening. Oh, it's probably the August meeting because we decided in August, but we waited till after Labor Day to implement it that we would now be open on Thursday evening. So now the library is open 2 nights a week till 8:00. Instead of closing at 6:00 on Thursday, it's now open till 8:00. And she said, "We have plenty of staff. They're willing to adjust their schedule so that we'll take some of the hours that they're doing in the day and we'll put in the evening. We can expend expand the hours that the library will be open and we need no new staff time." And the trustees approved it. And then we went to the meeting in September where we first reviewed the 26 budget and she said, "I want to increase this person's hours from I believe 20 hours a week to 24 hours a week." And

I'm like, "Why are we We just agreed to expand to to we just agreed to expand the hours of operation because we had enough people. We didn't need more staff. Now you're proposing to increase the staffing levels." And she said, "My proposal to increase the staffing levels have nothing to do with the operation of the budget. I just want that person to be available to help." And I'm like, "But I'm a budget person. [clears throat] Why are we spending why are we increasing this person's hours by 20% if it's going to it's going to hit the budget and none I'll tell you slway. when you when you guys met as a select board to review the budget and you made the cut to the youth services librarian because you didn't have all the information and what you did made sense. I said to Christina, I said, "Did the select board go back and cut the extra hours for this person and the over 4% increase for this other person who was hidden in the line?" And she said, "No, because when the structure changed, they didn't realize it was there. They didn't know that they had that opportunity." And that's why I'm losing my mind. And I've said this to the trustees. I think they I think they're happy with me because I pay attention to detail and I found this problem. we hadn't seen this problem that you guys fixed tonight until 26. The library would have been in a really tough position. So, they're happy that I'm doing all this detail work. But then when I tell them I want to spend less money, they're like, "Oh, Paul, you're just a Republican asshole."

I mean, they don't use that word. I shouldn't say that in an open meeting. I need to apologize to word Republican. [laughter] All right. I need to stop. I need to stop, but I need to I need I We can feel an 8% increase. I I think I'm I'm maybe not as much as your daughter, but I'm a big user of the library. Sure. I'm there. I'm there quite a lot. Sure. But an 8% increase is a lot. I I guess my take on in particular, you know, certainly that they have they have a trust fund. In almost every organization I've ever worked for, you don't use your trust fund for operating. No.

Right. The trust fund is not meant to supply operating costs. And so in my mind, the town is supposed to be providing the funds necessary to operate and the trust funds are for you know whatever the specific donations are for. So um Christmas day today. So I think like that partition makes sense and um you know I don't know if it's the budget committee's place to really weigh in on the the trustee the the library the details of the library operation and fiscal structure. Yeah, I did forget we were live. has always been a concern over [clears throat] the years where there's been butdding of heads because they want autonomy. Yeah. But they also want the municipal funds.

Sure. And so it has cropped up over the years a number of times that there's going to be some conversations probably between the library trustees and the select board going forward. Y um but partly because of some information we've discovered over the past few months. Paul took some training in August and September and have learned some new RSAs and some things are going to have to change. Sure.

And I said that to the trustees and they said yes, let's work on it over the next few months so that by next year we're we're more better compliance with all those rules we just learned. But the other thing that's interesting is the RSA says trustees are not allowed to own property. So even though the trustees are responsible for the library and operating the library, the trustees don't own the library. The library is still a town asset and therefore is owned by the town which is so it's kind of funky that you would argue that one of the things that I'll be doing just so you know is that one of one of the trainings I talk about that as much as possible you want your policies to be clear written understood documents. the cooperation between the library and the rest of the town mostly is is nods and winks and handshakes and smiles. And so I went out and got a document from it's from Trier signed by the library trustees and the select board talking about here's how these two groups are going to operate co cooperate and the division of responsibilities. We don't have that. Hopefully in a year sometime in 26 that will be created. All right. Motion.

I was going to say I was going to say I was going to say before that I was just staff comments. Thank you. Now last motion. Anyone want to second? Second. Scott. Okay. Motion by less. Seconded by Scott. All in favor? Thank you. Have a good night. Merry Christmas.