Community Preservation Committee Meeting January 13, 2026

All right. So, we want to get started.

We have a quorum. Remind everyone that our meeting is recorded and so these microphones are on. Um so, mind your side conversations.

Um and first order of business are the minutes that we all received um via email. And if I could have a motion to accept the minutes.

So moved.

Second and second by Margaret. Um any discussion any um additions, corrections to the minutes?

I noted one thing that um is uh the minutes are correct. What I reported was incorrect. So we'll need to we'll need to fix that. Hi Susan.

On page seven in the Dartmouth Heritage Trail, um I reported an unexpended balance of $7,174.28.

Um that was a a typo or mistake on my part.

It's really $7, and 7428. So it's 100 bucks off. Um so what we'll need to do is um uh in at this meeting we'll take another vote just to correctly uh align with the proper uh um correct where I'm sorry to um from instead of 717428 7074 is it's correct what's that I don't mean to be a pain in the ass minutes are correct correct yes you can't change technically that minutes. That's an incorrect statement.

You never said that.

Uh maybe proper thing to do was attach something to the minutes. That that was an incorrect but the minute stand.

Yes stand that's what was act that's what was said inaccurately or accurately that what was said at the Yes. I agree. So I don't mean to No, no. I I I'm agreeing with you. What I need what we will need to do we can prove the minutes as they are and then we'll need to take a separate vote vote. Right.

That's what I That's what I meant to.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Amendment not to the minutes.

No.

Right.

Amendment to the meeting maybe.

No, just a new vote saying buddy screwed up and based on that we should Sorry.

Um, great. So, um, a motion to accept the minutes as presented.

Second.

All right. All in favor? I I Excellent.

Abstain.

And one abstension, Mr. Susan. Very good.

Okay.

Uh, invoices and correspondence.

Um, let's see. We have an invoice.

Okay. an invoice in the amount of $50,000 which represents the outstanding balance for the Mendy's Montero U project which um we've received the certificate of occupancy and the closeout report information which we had already received back in December. Um so we are good to release this um project with the remaining balance of funds.

Uh any other invoices?

Okay. Um thank you.

One thing I want to remind folks I think everyone got the email about the doing the conflict of interest training.

No. So, just a reminder, um, if you haven't seen it, kind of look in your email. I got mine, I think about within the last week.

I did get it, but I also got one after that saying that that was sent in error and that we're not really due until July. Did you get that?

I don't know if I got that one. I'll have to check.

Okay.

So, we'll have to do it, but check your email to see when it's expect. The first one says do it within 30 days, right?

Um but I'll look and uh Okay.

So if we got one that gave us a little more of a reprieve, great.

Oh, I don't I didn't get that.

And not not everybody did get it. And that was true on the historic commission, too, because Robert Robert didn't get it.

Well, I didn't get But it may be because I've done it. I don't know. I've done it, too. But it says you're supposed to do it annually.

Annually? I thought it was every two years. I believe it's annual.

Okay, then I better look and get it done.

Yeah, I didn't get it either.

I didn't get it either.

See, maybe they just have concerns about me in particular.

No, no, I got it.

Oh, okay. Or you and I. Okay. Um All right. Well, look for that because the um the email link about questions was back to the the clerk's office. So, um Okay.

Do you want me to check on it? Yeah, if you don't mind just check and see if you know should all of us or it could be that others in their other capacities are all set.

So because I do have to do it for the housing authority, right? Right.

And planning I have to do it too.

So maybe that's why.

Yeah. So you could be all set. Okay.

Yeah. If you could just check and make sure that everyone who needed to get one could get one.

Okay.

Um, next thing on our agenda is um the discussion of the uh agricultural preservation fund. Um, and are there folks here to who can speak to that? I would look to the audience and if if so you would need to come up to the podium and state your name because that really that helps um DCTV in terms of their recording and stuff. So I wonder if someone could kind

of speak to this and I think what we look look for is just you know what the concept is what you all may be thinking about bringing forward to the committee and this is our opportunity to give a little bit feedback. Um, but it's not a proposal review because one hasn't been submitted yet. Okay. So, anybody who would like to do that?

I'm getting an elbow.

Is this going designated hitter?

A payment. Yeah.

Yep. I haven't seen it yet.

And I'm supposed to introduce myself.

Correct. Yeah. Um, Sue Gaduchi, uh, Dartmouth Agricultural Commission.

Um, we were informed over the summer, I believe, that there has been new legislation created for a commissions to have a uh, a fund um or receive donations for a fund that uh, for farmland protection.

So we thought that maybe our best place to start would be um and this is under CPC.

So supposedly we are able to get funding through CPC for just farmland protection and we've discussed figures. Um, I just want to share a little bit of history for those of you who haven't been um haven't been part of this uh committee, but in 1998 the we the we went to the town to create an agricultural preservation trust fund.

when it was voted, it was a town town vote, townwide vote, um that we were giving we were given the ability to borrow on 2.75 million for for just farmland protection, which became funding that we were able to leverage other entities, uh for example, the APR program. So, we've been working off that. We have asked for what the balance is, and unfortunately the um town accountant wasn't available last week,

so I'm waiting to hear back from the accounting office as to what we have left. But with the 2.75 million, and granted it goes back way back to 1998, we were able to um put a restriction on almost 500 acres.

So, I thought that we did a a pretty good job. And also with the A preservation trust fund, it came with its own set of criteria and operating procedures. So all of these procedures are in place for the agricultural preservation trust fund which I think can be utilized also in this application as well.

The one thing that we weren't able to determine was or at least not yet is the the figure that we would like to start with because we don't want to leave the open space pocket of these funds empty um because there are organizations like DNRT that look for that funding in order to protect open base. So, we wanted to be we wanted to do it in a in a sensitive way.

Oh, yeah.

Shouldn't be the only one on fire.

I do want to clarify that the APR program is the agricultural preservation restriction through the MDAR. So, the Mass Department of Agriculture say something.

Good evening. I'm Nick Wildman, the executive director of Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust. DNRT is a named participant in the charter of the agricultural preservation trust that was created in 1998 with the funds that Sue described and was part of the decisions uh and the direction of those funds leveraging uh other money to protect those 500 acres in the uh we I also participate in meetings of the

agricultural commission when I can to stay current on agricultural needs.

needs in the town, especially with regard to land protection. And I don't think anyone here needs a lecture on the price of and value of our land here in town, considering the development pressures that we have. And nor do I think the committee members need a lecture on how important farmland is to numerous elements of our open space open space and recreation plan and stated in

um the needs assessment that you all put out every year. So, uh, from DNRT's perspective, we think this is a a critical way to engage not just the community preservation committee, which, um, I'm glad to say we have a good rapport with and, um, work constructively to bring, uh, projects that meet your goals, u, but, really to pull in more directly the agricultural commission. I think this is an

opportunity to do that. And it's, uh, it's not a new thing. We're not uh, proposing to reinvent the wheel here. As Buddy and others know, this is something that has been done by many other communities in Massachusetts. So, um there is some question about what the appropriate figure to fund this would be. And I say fund that because I think the understanding is that this CPC contribution would really be seed money.

Much as the previous uh 1998 trust fund was established to leverage other funds, I think that's the intent here. Um, DNRT is happy to participate and advise and and support that work of course, but you know, we know the the cost of of land in this town. And so, you know, in discussing what the needed investment is to protect the remaining unprotected farmland that we have here in town, um,

I think Sue brought up the fact that even just adjusted for inflation, the 2.75 million that was allocated in 98 would be over 5 million today. just adjusted for inflation.

Now, money doesn't grow on trees and nobody expects that there's a suitcase of of money hidden somewhere in town hall that we can just pull from. So, uh, as Sue said, it's important for DNRT as well as the rest of the community, of course, to have any allocation of seed money from CPC be reasonable for the committee's other goals.

Yeah. Can I can I ask a question about just kind of procedural just so I understand how it would all kind of work. So the fund it gets seated with whatever dollar amount and then who's the enduser of the dollars? Is it who are the like you know is it the the the agricultural commissioner itself who's using those funds to buy land to put the preservation on it or is it a different

party or who's the user of the funds I guess and and what's that process if there is a process I'm going to say this as a question because I haven't been involved in all of the discussions I just wanted to take some of the heat off of Sue here but my understanding and others in the room can correct me if I'm wrong is that this this funding would be administrated created by a group similar to but

different from the trust fund. That trust fund was identified through a specific charter. So it can't just be re you know it can't just be suddenly grabbing money from different places. My understanding is that this fund would be administered uh after approval by town meeting for the award uh by a group set up probably an interdep departmental intercom committee group like trustees or something that would oversee

that's my understand and they'd probably put together some sort of either application process or something for those funds and a guidance document I would imagine that you know clarified what the priorities are and what that process is.

Okay, thank you.

Sure. Yes, I know that the um the Yag Preservation Trust Fund Council won't apply to this this fund, but we did discuss the possibility of utilizing the the trust fund council as an advisory group to this fund. Mhm.

So although we can't put the funds in the trust fund, we can utilize the people that are designated for the trust fund council as an advisory group. And there was one thing that I did fail to say. Um when we started the work um started to educate the town about the value of of farmland and how important it was and how it played into the the um the master plan and open space. Um, in I

want to say in 1987, Dartmouth was in a report that was done I believe by Audabon, we were the town with the highest rate of conversion from farmland to development. So that's what we were up against starting in the late 80s all the way through to when we were able to, you know, encourage the town to allow us to borrow the money for specifically for farmland protection.

Um we were losing mostly dairy farms because of the nature of their size, their acreage and uh people felt very strongly that we shouldn't let we should not let as many of those properties go as possible.

Questions?

Yeah, John. Um so if the fund is um accepted at town meeting um I'm understanding there would be a separate group that would oversee um the expenditures of that fund outside the a commission which I'm in favor of.

Um but I envision and I don't know if I'm vision correctly that that committee it will be made up probably of other committee members somebody from select select board finance right right so um those folks over the years so that fund's just going to sit there none of those folks are going to have their finger on the pulse is the ad commission going to be the one who's going to have their finger on the

pulse and If so, and I hate to criticize, we're all volunteers. It's disappointing to me that the ACT commission doesn't know how much funds are currently in that other um um the trust there. Yeah.

Trust fund that was established in 1980.

And it just my belief and again I hate to criticize volunteers. You folks should know that. I mean that should be reported on an annual basis or you folks should be seeking that on an annual basis. What's there? What's left? Has anybody touched it? Not that that I can't believe that would happen. But so I'm hoping if this gets established that that oversight is there and the ad commission keeps their finger on the

pulse and maintains that. And then my last question is, can the ad commission seek um other funding opportunities that can be deposited into that fund such as state grants, federal grants, or private donations?

More than likely, it we would be going to the a preservate the uh the agricultural preservation restriction program through the department of a resources. That's usually how you you they expect you to be leveraging those funds. Um but quite often, as you probably remember, we can't act fast enough because sometimes the funding from the state isn't there or it won't come up for another two years. But this

might give us a mechanism to at least hold it in hold a place which we don't which we can't right now.

And the reason that we started the a preservation trust fund was because Boston wouldn't look at us down here.

The cost of real estate was too high and they could get a bigger bang for their buck in the Connecticut Valley. So, a lot of the protection was out west and it wasn't until we came up with that strategy for the fund that they finally started to come around.

Mhm.

I've uh so when we talked to um town administrator and Kerry right?

Yeah.

Yeah. So the the fund is set up under the adcom and we did ask we would like to be able to leverage that money and so so the the money that would so that fund can just get started like we don't need um because that's in chapter law like we don't need town um approval to to set up that fund. We need it to capitalize it.

Um, and we did request that they look into being able to accept um, donations, grants. Um, so it it would be the CPC money would have rules and boundaries around it, but we'd also be able to put other funds in there.

Good.

Um, and the I just want to clarify the current a preservation trust fund trust group um, that although we have two adcom members on it, is that right?

Technically it's it's it doesn't exist anymore, right?

The or does, but Oh, it exists, but is there's only one one ad commission member. Um, but we have we have often had a um a farmer who was a member at large because that's part of that group.

So, that's one difference is that's not under the purview of although there's adcom has a member on it, it's not under the purview. This would be under the purview of the adcom, but we recognize the benefits of having that advisory group with everybody representatives from the different parts of of the town.

And I, you know, I would say that yes, the adcom would take full responsibility to monitoring that fund and and making sure, you know, it is that we have, you know, a pulse, you know, that we know what's going on and and we're not we know what's going on with that fund.

And then I just have one more question that popped in my head while we were talking about this. So, I think early on we were talking about the amount hasn't been established yet, but I assume it's the agricultural commission who's going to be determining what that initial request amount would be. And I guess my question is, has there been any discussion on how you would arrive at

that number? Like what types of things are you looking at to try to figure out what that math might might be?

Or maybe it hasn't been fully vetted yet, but I'm just curious. That's all.

Well, for example, we have a we have in the past had what was called a prioritization group that would get together and it was not only the members from the adcom but parks and wreck uh conservation to look at all of the open space primarily the 61A, 61B and 61 properties and and decide for lack of a better way of describing it, it's who who's interested in what parcels and in some cases there's a crossover.

So you could have a parcel that was good for farming but also good for playing fields. So, but that wouldn't come into play, of course, unless that land would come up for sale or we knew that there was some interest in selling it. So, yeah. So, and actually we're implementing that this coming Friday. We have a meeting. This is the first time we've had that meeting in a number of different years. So, great. Thank you.

if I could. So, in translating some of our questions, I think what's useful here, you know, in having this conversation now prior to the application is one, it sounds like it would be very helpful in in an application to one, you know, state a dollar amount. Um I think it would be helpful if if there's some anticipation that this would be uh a multi-year kind of effort to capitalize.

Um I think there was a question about just for clarification um a question about how much fun how how much funding is available and what it is restricted for.

So, um we're going to talk about this later in our meeting, but as of um our latest financial report from the town, um the open space reserve, which can only be used for open space, is um a little more than $219,000.

our unrestricted balance, which is where we tend strategically to keep most of our money because that's available to any project, including, you know, more open space. Um, that as of the December 31st was just a little bit short of $3 million.

Um, so theoretically or um there's about $3.2 2 million uh that in our reserves that can be used for open space. Obviously, we have all kinds of competing proposals, but just theoretically, that is the that is the universe of CPA funds currently that are available um for open space. And likewise, I would say in housing, it's the housing reverse uh reserve plus any all any you know, anything in our

unrestricted and the same thing for historic preservation. So just as a matter of clarification, that's kind of the universe that we're we're talking about and that figure is going to continue to grow through the rest of the fiscal year. So projections are somewhere around 3.6 million is probably what by the end of uh June um is when the rest of the searchcharge revenue comes in from the town. um we'll

probably be somewhere in that ballpark of unrestricted and which is going to be projected somewhere around 3.4 million and then of course the open space was over 2002,000.

So that's just to understand what we're working with. Um the other the thinking of um Mike's question is what I think would I would take away is um any requests for funds would be extremely helpful to understand the logic and how that how that number um came about. Um that would be really important. So, how that number came about is this um a multi-year capitalization um that's anticipated. Um

and then I think the other thing um go back to some questions about who does what who has what responsibility is um I think one of the things we've worked hard as a committee is going into town meeting with projects that we are feel very very good about the their viability and preparedness to go forward.

So, it would seem to me that one of the things that's really important about how to go forward with this is that there is that the the A commission and the town um and the A trusts are on the same page about the concept of how they're all going to work together and what the mission of the fund is, how those decisions will get made. It may not be

the detail of it, but we don't I would say we would not want to go into town meeting and have town meeting approve money and then the parties just really don't agree and can't work together and so nobody knows it can't function. So how to function between January and June when town meeting is would be an important thing to then really hammer out. You might need town council to look

at it. You might need the select board, whoever. But we'd want to know firmly that indeed everybody knows how this money is going to work. And you know, we will then have a memorandum of understanding which will have the details of how to ensure that this that CPA eligibility is maintained by when making those decisions. But that's more of our kind of technicalities of reporting back to us and things like

that. The key thing I think is is really and would be great to have for the application. Certainly the description of the concept of how these entities, the a commission and the a trust is there role in the select board in you know cutting a check. Do you have to go to the select board? It would be good to have conceptually that laid out um with the idea that then there's time

to nail down some of those details before town meeting. Um and then I guess my other piece of all that is I would suggest in describing the fund and its mission I would try to stay as as close to the statute language as possible. um just not to introduce a whole another idea um for us to grapple with like you know and we want to buy school buses you know

it's if you just looked at the statute the statute's really clear about the kinds of things that the fund can be used for and I think just reiterating that will help us be sure that this is the kind of fund that you're asking money for other feedback back for folks as they sort of going to prepare an application.

Um because this is kind of the ideas now which saves them a whole lot of scramble in February to answer questions before March. Yeah, I do want to clarify a little. We um excuse me.

We have been talking about numbers. We have been talking about valuations of the properties that uh might come up in town and we've talked about recent properties that have been um bought by Buzzards Bay Coalition and preserved for farmland. So I think um we have been talking a lot about what it looks like and what the structure looks like. We've met with Buddy and we've met with a town um

administrator. Um, so I I know it seems like a a little handwavy and vague right now, but we we have been having these conversations and we have been basing our thoughts on on the numbers we're seeing in town. Um, and and obviously the knowledge that Sue has and the experience with going back to the um the a preservation trust um there's a lot of knowledge there as well.

and how that functioned.

Any other Yeah. Jim, um I'm I'm comforted in that I I can relate this to a a structure that I knew in another town's community preservation committee. Um the town had a housing development entity.

um was a committee of of people who were in the field who knew knew what they were doing in in in this case it was for housing knew what they were doing in in the development of housing in the development of port affordable housing and in the um in the procedures around um uh around doing an affordable housing project with you know people's income and that kind of stuff. Um, and so here

we have some people who are experienced in in the in dealing with the programs for preservation of agricultural land separate from you know creating uh community housing.

Uh and so what happened in there was that there was this housing development corporation and uh uh years and the housing and development corporation has had the advantage which um the egg trust has had that if you have an opportunity to do a deal whatever that deal is you can do put in in the timing that's required without waiting for 6 months for a town meeting. And this same advantage was present with that housing

development corporation. So what happened is that the CPC would go to town meeting and have an appropriation of a sum of money to the Housing Development Corporation for them to have in the till if they when they came when they came across a uh an opportunity that they thought was uh in keeping with first of all community preservation charter for community housing and and and the existing state and other

structures under which such a deal might be pushed. Um, so I mean what this seems to me is like an opportunity for us to uh solve the problem of uh of an opportunity that won't last as long as the delay till the next town meeting when we could the community preservation committee could go to town meeting and and um propose an appropriation and uh you know We vet the process ahead of time

and go to town meeting and say fund the a kitty or um people who know about agricultural land uh to be able to judge what's a proper thing to do and um it seems seems like a plausible idea.

Um and we can discuss as to whether it would be good to say okay and um this fund would have to have to come back to the CPC for their approval. I'm not sure that's a necessary thing but have I understood this in any sensible way?

I think you have. Yep.

Okay.

Do you have any questions for us about putting together an application?

I don't think so.

I have a question.

Yeah, you come up to the podium. That helps DCTV and apologize. I came in late.

And and your name?

Oh, excuse me. My name is Jeff Kinder.

Hi.

I'm on the ad committee commission. Um Um, yeah. No, I just was wondering and sort of a question for Sue and you guys. Um, the the last time that funds were appropriated to um be sort of used I think it was around Dutch Belt. Is that right? And then um the farm where Claudia is now is that there were multiple Okay. Right. So you you had the the last time we had the kitty. Um is that

application available? Is that something that we have on record?

Different.

Okay.

Yeah.

And then are there any other applications that we could look at as a boilerplate or we're kind of making this up as we go?

Great question. Um that's a great question. What would be perhaps an example?

Can't think of one that we have at this point. Um that would be helpful just as a model just a framework just where to where to start kind of.

Yeah. Um let me give that some thought. But if what I can do is email because we have them electronically that's public public record. U let me give that some thought and we could send a couple of examples email them and I'll I'll follow up with Michelle. But that's a great question.

So we'll we'll and then you can look and just for people want to know so how are these applications kind of assembled and stuff like that. All right. Thank you.

Great question. Yeah.

So now we're not talking about our application to you. We're talking about a property owner's application to us, I believe.

Yeah.

I was talking about our application.

Yes.

Okay. All right. Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah. I just wanted to be clear. While while you're up there, Sue, to put you on the spot, are are we discussing a number tonight or are you reserving that for the application?

That's a that's up that's up to the rest of the commission as well, not just to me.

When do we when do we have to have a number up to you for the application? Well, application the 28th I believe is a deadline in which you submit an application asking for a certain amount of CPA funds.

Okay.

No other questions. Let's can we shift for a moment really now to the broader uh topic of how's it going out there in the farming world. Um we wanted to stay in touch with the ad commission at least once a year. Um and January seemed to be one of the quieter times. Um to do that and so if we just have a few minutes um it's helpful for us. Um, open space

agriculture preservation has been a big uh uh part of the CPA work over the last 20 some odd years. Um, so I think what would be helpful is just to hear some thoughts, educate us a little bit about what some of the current concerns and priorities might be amongst the farming commission if not the egg commission.

And anybody would like to share that because it's super helpful to us. And if and if you want maybe we can lend you one of these microphones so you don't have to keep parading up and down to the because it may it may feel more like a conversation if you can pass around one of those babies. Yeah.

So, what would you say to us about what the biggest concerns faced in the, you know, farming community in Dartmouth are at this?

I feel like I should go sit with them.

Would you be comfortable sitting with them? You could, you know, I'm taking it with me.

Take and take your microphone with you.

Two microphones.

This could start a new trend. people just walking out of the table with their microphone, but we'll see. Yeah. Um, but Susan being on the ad commission is appropriately uh sitting with her.

Yeah. I'll I'll start. Uh, my day job, I'm the executive director of the Southeastern Mass Agricultural Partnership. So, um, I interact with a lot of farmers throughout southeastern Massachusetts. And I would say one of the themes that is coming out of 2025 is that while it was a good growing year, people did not make their mark on sales. And it's for a number of different reasons. Um for some people

there was something called an LFPA grant, which was federal funds that came out of the pandemic. What it did in practice is the money came to the state and then the state was able to distribute it how they saw fit and the money was used to buy food directly from farmers at a reasonable wholesale price that supports farmers and give that directly to people in need. So it went to food pantries, it went to PACE, it

went to, you know, kids start programs.

Um it was a great program. It was a win-win. it was an economic development program that as soon as January hit that was taken away. Um so there's a lot of growers in our area that worked with Coastal Foodshed and they lost that income. There's uh Coastal Food Shed is a a local food hub in New Bedford um that works with farmers throughout southeastern Mass and is really important. Um

some people lo lost grants directly with NRCS that was paying them paying them for ecological services. It's part of their income. It's it was a really great program that was also canceled. So, there was a lot of programs that were buying food from farmers or paying farmers for services that were cancelled in January or shortly after that farmers lost and had planned their farm on. So,

there's a lot of farmers that lost that.

There's also just with inflation, there's a a lot less buying of local food. Um, so some people didn't see the same sales at farm stands or um at farmers markets because of communities or or consumers pulling back because they think of local food as a luxury instead of a necessity. So there's in general I can't say every farm some farms had really had a really great year but in general the vibe is um

and also the the cost of everything. So the stat is that for every dollar Massachusetts farmers spend producing food they get 96 cents back.

So in general overall farms are not doing well. And then within the and and so I'm just everyone's going to have a slightly different take on this, right? Um what I'm seeing in the town of Dartmouth um are a lot more people that don't know how to live near a farm and a lot more conflict between farmers and people living in town and making it harder for farmers to be here.

Um we've we've lost um Russell's Mills Flower Company who's now moved to Rochester. They have a big piece of land there that they're renting. Uh they still have a presence here. They still own property on Barney's Joy Road, but they've moved their operation elsewhere. Um, I mean to me that's a big kind of seeing the forecasting of of what's happening to farms and um seeing farms having more difficult time

in town existing um is is another reason why we need to fund the egg preservation trust.

I have a question if I could. Um I'm familiar with the flower company.

Mhm. What was the main reason that they moved? I don't think the neighbors used to walk by there every day and so do a lot of my neighbors. No one they love to see the flowers.

There's a there's a lot that I'm not going to go into, but it definitely there there's a lot there that you don't there's a lot. Yeah, it it definitely give a hint. I mean, is it is it was it noisy? Was it I mean why wouldn't I I'm not going to get into the details but access to land was the biggest thing they've been renting land so they were renting pivars they were renting right

um from right Ron and so land tenure and access was the biggest piece of the puzzle right they need a big piece of land they are the second largest dia farm in the United States They they grow 30 to 40 acres of diaas.

Um they need land security. They need a big piece of land um at a price that they can afford that is currently not available in Dartmouth. And we don't the town doesn't have the funds to help someone like that get on a big piece of land. And and you know those are complicated land buys anyways at that size. the land tenure was the biggest reason why they left. They're renting the Curvelli's farm um in Rochester,

but there's a lot of other things that made it hard to stay here.

So, they have do they have a long-term lease on that farm in Rochester?

No, they've been on a year-to-year they've built a business that they're now the second largest farm in the United States on year-to-year leases.

Um, and you can't you can't build a business that large on year-to-year leases.

That's why I asked.

It's not sustainable. Yeah.

I um my name is Andy Burns. Uh Jordan Farm on Jordan Road and we raise grass-fed beef. Um I would absolutely second what I think we're talking about here tonight in terms of trying to put together a vehicle to facilitate land purchases of farms. Um Nick who had to leave to go down to a meeting at the conservation uh commission tonight said that they have uh DNRT has been able to

close on preservation of a a beautiful farm piece of a beautiful farm the go property on on Jordan Road a neighbor of ours that we actually use that land now there I think that the issue of of land access is really critical and DNRT stepped up. DNRT made a commitment and I think that if we can structure um this relationship with CPC, it will facilitate that type of uh transaction.

Even though they're probably, you know, not very many large transactions uh that Russell's Mill Flowers could have been involved with, I think you're going to see more smaller transactions like the Go Farm, which is now preserved or most of it preserved. That was a complicated uh story and one that has taken years to unravel, but I think that if the relationship had been set up with CPC,

that might have facilitated that to move forward a little bit quicker, if you will. Um because I know that DNRT was nervous about they stepped into um you know, a 61A right of first refusal and then it got tangled up in all sorts of legal problems after that. The second thing I would um what we've run into exactly the in terms of sort of the day-to-day farming on what we do with

livestock is that the whole support for um you know the local food system um you know the coastal food shed was just you know they were thriving and then all of a sudden they're off and they were our they were literally our I think one of our biggest customers in 2024 and it's just they just plummeted. It's been uh really unfortunate. But obviously that's the federal funds.

Yeah. And it um but the state funds are still have they been have they resurfaced again, didn't they? I mean it was a sort of a combination of state and federal.

It was all federal.

It was all federal. Yeah. But any thank you for listening to us tonight.

Come on, Fred. We want to hear from I have no more to add other than the fact that um I'm Fred Dabney from uh um the ad commission as well and um I am a retired farmer at this point but there are so many farmers who have a desire to purchase and operate in the town but the cost of property has made it impossible for them. Not only that, but every year

the cost of production is increasing faster than they can increase their prices. So, it's it's a really challenging situation. You have no idea how critical your input will be in here.

And for us to come up with a number, I guess it's a very difficult thing. We're afraid to ask you for a number when we don't want to lose the opportunity to do that. But we are somewhere in the neighborhood of obviously around two to $3 million is what we need with a capitalization over um a period of of years to refund that to get a bunch of that upfront and then recapitalize it

over uh over a period of years. But we're not sure we've we're not in total agreement on that at this point because we don't know quite where your funds stand and how much that would be a reasonable or unreasonable approach and be that would be the that would be the give and take of our proposal review process. So um I I think that's probably becomes then an open question as opposed

to um a a you know thumb up, thumb down and you know that tends to be part of a review. How much money is being asked for? Um it makes sense what can we you know afford. So I think you should anticipate that that's just becomes part of the review process. Um, I got one question I have. Um, and I am cognizant of the time of moving on, but what do the demographics of Dartmouth farmers

look like? Uh, is do, you know, are they look like me more? Uh, there going to be this, you know, because I'm looking, you know, at some point if I was a farmer, at some point I would be wanting to retire or step back from farming. Are we are there is that where are we is that what the future looks like in terms of the existing farms the average age of uh farmers in Massachusetts is 58

Jeff Yeah. Um I think well yeah so I'm Jeff Kinder. Um I in regards to what you said about retiring.

Yeah.

Um oh gosh that's not I don't know that that's a thought that crosses the mind of I mean I guess some farmers but I mean for me personally I'm trying to lead a lifestyle that can support me. in my health and do something that I'm passionate about and that I love, which theoretically would carry me in good health into retirement. Uh it's not a traditional approach to retirement, but um I do think that, you

know, land ownership in that scenario is is pretty important. So I think based on my understanding, farmers in Dartmouth have traditionally been land owners. I think the actual definition if you look it up in the Webster's dictionary is a land owner and then everyone else is technically a tenant farmer.

Mhm.

So there's a distinction there. Um we've expanded the definition of farmers because it's it's pretty trendy right now and like it's kind of hot you know to be a farmer um amongst young people.

Um so there's more tenant farmers, I would say, than there are landowning farmers in Dartmouth. And this is that land access piece that Susan was talking about. This is one of the challenges.

So, it's a lot of energy and a lot of time to be a farmer. Um, and it's in a lot of ways, it's a young person's game to to get it going. We're seeing more and more old people, older, excuse me, come back in to that because they see that lifestyle. So, one story that I've seen a number of times is someone goes out, makes their living, maybe is successful in their profession,

and then at age 40, 45, 50, they decide they're going to become a farmer. Now, that's great.

They don't have the knowledge base, and they're trying to learn something when they're already kind of running out of energy. So, like there's some there's some there's a backwardsness to that.

Um, it's great that they have that energy to do that, but we're that's what we're up against. And I think a lot of that has to do with the real estate values here. So, you can't get onto land here with that sense of security until you achieve that financial security to. So, it's it's backwards in a way. And theoretically, you know, even if the town even if we found these funds, we realized these

funds and it gave an opportunity to and you know, identifying that young person who we can empower to have ownership um would be a challenge for sure.

Theoretically, that's someone we could recognize, identify, recognize and and and and put into that place. But that could be a huge huge benefit for the community. I think it's hard to really quantify um what that could be, but there's an element of faith there. And this is one of the things I found so much of the real estate speculation game is about just simply not trusting someone, right? Like at a certain point,

the trust has to return to this thing that as a town we we we love to celebrate our agricultural character. Um so to keep it alive is is it's a complicated challenge. Mhm. Great. Thank you.

I have a question.

Yes.

Uh Susan, I'd like to ask Susan a question, please. We have a lot of uh land, Susan, under 61A.

A lot. Okay. I'm always amazed that we have all that land under 61A.

Why isn't it possible that farmers can lease that land on a long-term basis, 5 years, 10 years?

they can and I'm sure that Susan will have something to add but it requ again again it requires some like somebody that facilitates um there's an organization called land for good which marries uh farm owners or land owners with people that want to start farming. Um it's there's there are a lot of moving parts and that's and and you're right there is a lot of 61A land a lot but people the land owners need to be

willing to rent it or lease it to a young farmer or a farmer. Well, do you think uh and this is a question that you know can't be answered probably or uh changed for a while, but don't you think some of the provisions maybe of the 61A should be changed?

Well, then are people go I mean depending on what the size of the lot is, are they all going to be putting them up for sale?

No, I mean I don't want to I don't mean that. I mean, there's a lot of uh people that put their land in the 61A and have a farmer that just hays it for whatever you pay. Well, I don't know what it is, Jeff. 500, 700 a year. I I don't know what the 61A is now.

Right. So, um a lot of farmers either pay people to use their land or they do it for free.

Well, a lot of the a lot of the land that I see under 61A uh isn't owned by farmers, per se. It's large chunks of land. And there's a and like Susan, I'm not going to get specific, right?

Because I'm in the business, so I know what's a 61A and what's a good 61A and what's a not a good 61A.

It's an issue that we've talked about.

I think that that has to be looked at.

So to change anything with 61A, you have to change the constitution and and yeah, the state constitution has to be changed. So right now there are some efforts at the state level to change the size that um a 61A property can be because right now it has to be 5 acres or more. And now realizing that we don't have a lot of land left and also there's a lot of urban farmers out there

that can't qualify. So, you know, they're in city environments where their property taxes are really high and they can't qualify for the benefit of 61A because their property is too small. So, there's actually an effort to change it down to 2 acres or maybe less. But, it has taken I don't know at least a decade to even get it to the state that it's in. So, the idea that like it is really hard to change 61A.

Um, and Margaret, it's an incredibly good question. A lot of people ask this.

There's so much land out there that people can rent, why don't you just rent land? So, the research shows that to actually build wealth for a farmer, and I'm I'm not saying like being super rich, I'm just saying building wealth to be secure and to have a viable farm. Um, you really need to own your own land.

And there's some key reasons for that.

One, if if you're not the land owner, you are not able to make the best decisions for your business. Because at the end of the day, you have to make the decision that's best for your land owner. I've rented land from a lot of different people in town and I was told, "Oh, you can't put chickens there. You can put chickens there. You can't put in a well." Um, and I know a lot of times I

don't own any land. I know a lot of times I am making a really bad business decision that is going to really hurt my farm, but I have no choice because I don't own the land and I have to go with what the land owner says and I need a good relationship with my land owners um because I want to stay there and it's mutually, you know, it should be mutually benefit but one you're making

bad decisions for your business. Um two, you can't access the equity in your land. So if you want to build infrastructure or you want to make improvements on your farm, you want to do anything, the best way to do that is access the equity that is in the land you own. And if you don't own land, you don't own a house, you can't access that equity.

You can't get a mortgage, you can't do anything. I understand that.

Yeah. So and and then you know the it is really it's about building generational wealth. If we want to get attract farmers that are going to stay for a long time, possibly pass it on to a relative, you have to own the land. So, owning land is is quintessential to building that generational stability and that generational wealth. Um, there's I I don't want to take up more time, but

there are a litany of reasons why it's so important for farmers to own farmland. And what we're seeing is first generation farmers that are able to purchase, and this is in Massachusetts in general, um first generation farmers that are able to purchase land are more likely to make it in the long run than people who are just renting land. And there's multiple ways of owning land.

There's, you know, I mean, Nick will know there's, you know, you can have a ground lease. You can have, you know, so you can have a 99-year lease and you own everything above the ground and you build equity in the buildings and things like that. There's lots of ways we can do it, right?

Um, but you need to own something.

Could I make one more comment on I know yall are the time and stuff. Last thing to say just quickly about chapter 61 is from an investment of town resources and even the brain power and time of this committee.

Chapter 61 is a great tool but it's not a durable tool that can go away like that. We can have a lot of a lot of land in chapter today and then tomorrow those folks can sell out of that. The kind of protection that we would advocate for as part of this plan would be more permanent protections, conservation restrictions that are recorded on the deed, fee ownership or durable leases

and uh rights that Susan just described.

Those are better investments of taxpayer money because they're durable and they'll travel on with the property. Um, that's all I'll say.

Thank you. Um, and so any last comments?

I don't want to cut folks off, but I do know we have to move on with our agendas but I could keep talking about this for days.

It's been very interesting.

January.

Fascinating. Yeah.

So, the application deadline is the 28th of this month.

Is that am I right? Sometimes I don't know what day it is.

I think that's what we said last month.

Yes. Okay. We said it last month.

Sticking to that.

It's on It's on the meeting minutes.

should be published in our uh should be published on our web page, but I think the 28th is is correct.

Okay, John, one comment.

Yeah.

Um I'm not saying be unrealistic, but just because you asked for it doesn't mean you're going to get it.

Mhm.

Or the full amount. There many times we've awarded something less than what was asked for.

It's a stop.

Well, thank you.

Thank you very much. Appreciate. Thank you for coming. And I think this has been very helpful for us to understand, buddy.

Yes.

Uh I know a little out of order, but do you need me to make a motion for this?

Okay.

On the uh I'll make a motion to pay Partners in Housing, Inc.

Uh the last installment payment of $50,000 for the Meny's Men Duro project.

Right. Um a second.

So move.

Um any uh questions, discussion?

All in favor?

I opposed extensions. No, that's unanimous. Thank you.

Yeah, I totally forgot it was out there.

I just wanted to send it out.

Really? Thank you so much.

Okay. Um, next on our agenda is the um, historic properties inventory report.

Um, and Chris, is that you're going to do that?

I can still talk about the report because I have all the materials here.

The invoice is another matter.

Yeah.

And and then the other part is um the number six without Robert here. I'm not sure if you want to do that this month or wait until he's here next invite him back next month, right?

Because I think he had something he was going to do for that.

Yeah. Okay.

Um, we've got a completed set of form B's and a form A which is an area which is a Smithville Mills camp. Um they were completed by Lynn Smileage and thank you.

Um a whole set of these was also delivered electronically and on paper to the MHC Mass Historical Commission. Um but I thought I'd just give you an example if I can manage to get them out of the box um of what a completed form B looks like. If you promise not to take it all apart too much, feel free to have a look. Just a couple of different ones.

Um, pass that one.

The um the list of form B's included properties all throughout Dartmouth. And um the chair Robert has prepared a map um that I think got passed around. I'm not sure if everybody got a copy, but you can see how there's a spread.

And it's um also included is the fact that we had two commercial properties that we were talking about a little bit before the meeting. Tamods from my memory um which is now the Bougie Bean and then the there was a dance studio that was up on Bliss corner right at the meeting of all the corners there that has a really nice storefront on the bottom and apartments up above. um they've

actually come to the DHC for some work that um they wanted to do on that.

So, we tried to spread it throughout Dartmouth and not just concentrate on one style of home uh or not one particular area. We definitely hit some of the Bliss Corner neighborhoods which hadn't been done before. And in a couple of cases with Hemlock Street and Brandt Street and Puritan Street, um we did several related buildings to get, uh any family histories that might have been

interconnected. We learned quite a bit about different um neighborhoods and how they were developed over time. And that that material you'll be able to see in some of these, not sure if they're in the ones that I sent around Um, but let's see. This one's a good example.

For example, this one here, which is on Brandt A, shows the neighborhood as it was developed. So, it's in a context, which we think will be helpful whether this property comes up for renovation or if people need to hear more about the history. Um, there were, uh, title investigations and research going back to as the earliest deeds that could be found. She investigated old maps.

Um, and you know, she did a really professional job at a very good rate and we were very pleased with her work.

Very good.

So, we'll be filing these in the office.

The AMHC has them.

And I don't know, Sue, do you want to add anything else? Um, we had also included a Come up to the should have kept it.

You need your microphone back.

Um, we had also included a um a boat builder up in North Dartmouth, which I don't think people were aware of. Most of the boat building that we see of course was in Peyton area, but this particular boat builder was up on Quanop Road which is right on the Freetown Dartmouth line.

Are these accessible online?

Yes.

Yes, they will be. They're they haven't been um uploaded to the MHC, but they'll be in MACRIS, which is a searchable database. There's a link on the DHC website for that.

Yeah. And I think we have a link now on our web page that'll get you there as well. Yeah.

Yeah. Which is very nice.

Um Yeah. So some some of the notable properties. So there's some of these which you have a neighborhood kind of context for. Um Right.

Can I ask two questions real quick? So, one of them just on this it says 22 properties um on the in the inventory and is it 11 of them? So, half of them were the at the Smith Mills camp. Is that how I'm reading that?

No, the Smith Mills camp was a separate that's a form A which in includes many buildings in one form.

I see. Okay.

The form B is one separate property, right? Okay.

So, what what what can you say about the Smith Mills camp?

Um, at this point maybe I'd turn that over to Sue who who knew a lot more about it to begin with.

Well, I mean it was it it was a uh definitely a movement in the late 1800s.

So there were these camp meetings were all over. Actually, the reason that we ended up choosing Lynn Smileage to do Smith Mills was because I had attended her presentation in Marian because she had done the Tmont uh camp meeting out in Marian for the historical commission in Marian. And um so she was the likely candidate to then do this one because some pe actually some families spent

their summers going from one camp meeting to another. And it was, you know, it as you can well imagine there were a lot of there was a lot of fire and brimstone and um speaking in tongues and you know singing and you know the usual what you would think of that would take place at a camp meeting. And there are dormitories and um every it was usually they were tent they were tents

initially and then they started to add the families would set up a an actual cottage and then that became the layout of the um of the camp meeting. If you're in at all interested, there's a fascinating property in Portsouth um on Hedley Street which runs between 138 and 114 I think it is and it's it's a a rather large um camp meeting and it most of them are still functioning at

not maybe at the same at that they did in the late 18 early 1900s but they are still they're still doing it. So, and the Smith Mills camp is that's an active site.

It is they have a youth camp.

Yeah.

In the summer.

Um actually, uh Nate Silva, who I'm see I think most of you are getting to know.

He's on the finance committee. He's he's very much involved in in uh Smith Mills.

Are there any other questions about this uh inventory? I It sounds like you're very pleased with the work that was done. I'm I'm It's having seen some of the um earlier kind of form B's, you know, both technology and professionalism has like upped these to a level that, you know, it's pretty pretty remarkable.

Now you kind of go and look up some of the some of the ones that were done, you know, 20 years ago or 30 years ago, it's like, you know, the best the best that was available probably, but they they don't compare in terms of how this material is presented and stuff today.

Yeah, it's true. I'd also just like to say that it's very tempting once you see some of the old ones and see what can be done now to want to go, you know, go back and do those over again instead of picking new ones. But the thing with the 75 years and there are new ones that become old every year and you know just trying to get us up to 1900 at this point

that's that was a priority at one you know before my time and now I I think we're trying to spread it out a little bit more but um yeah there's always more every year So, we hope that this process will continue.

We think it's really important for the town to have this inventory and uh as a resource whether somebody's looking up something about their own house or whether we need some information when somebody comes to do some changes.

I think money well spent.

Um now you have been the representative for the DHC as the kind of the contract liaison. We have an invoice for um uh for this now that it's completed.

Yes.

Um can you say now more about about that?

Well, what happened? We the contract called for 23 form B's and a form A.

We always had a list of 22 formbs that we wanted to have done. And I'm not sure how the number 23 got on the contract.

I don't know whether it was just a typo or whether in somebody's head they took the 22 form B's plus the form A put down 23 and then said yes and Smith Mills.

The point is that the invoice is for an amount which would match 23 form B's. We have 22 in a form A. The form A was a flat rate.

So the bill is actually $315 over the correct amount for the work she did.

And so I guess you know Buddy and I talked about it and you can say more.

Yeah. So, you know, um kind of how the committee would like to proceed. So, a couple of options. Um one is we could um approve um an amount that's equal to the work completed um and which is uh 300 and something dollars less than this invoice.

Um and and then Chris will need to um circle back to Miss Smileage and say, you know, we we are able to approve the payment for the 22 form B's and the one form A. Um but at this amount um or we can have you know Chris will follow up with Miss Smileage and get a new invoice submitted with the correct amount but we'd have to take that up in February. Um

those are probably are kind of two ways to go about that.

I did call her before the meeting but I just haven't been able to voicemail.

Um, yes.

Is there a third option? Is there another form B that she could do? Is there another property?

Great question. Yeah.

Yes. And we did actually talk about that before the meeting. Um, the thought was that if we did that, the contract is already beyond the original scope of time.

Oh, okay.

So, it would postpone it until she could get to do one more property, which we have not determined what that property would be because our list was always 22 of them. I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult to come up with one, but it would kick the can down the road a little bit.

And we're hoping, and we've already spoken to her about this, to come up with a new list and come here and ask for more money for another set as soon as we can.

So, there is probably conceivably there is least attractive option.

Open any of those options are you whatever you think is easiest.

So, the invoice is is actually $315 more. Correct.

Correct.

So, I'm confused all of a sudden. Why if you added another B, it would just be more money.

No, it would it would match the number that's actually on that. Okay. All right.

There was a mistake in the contract. It should have said 22 form B's and one form A, but it didn't. Just But it didn't. It said 23. Okay.

So, we're paying for 23 if we paid the full amount.

If we paid the full amount, right?

But since we only have 22, we're see we're seeking basically an amendment to the invoice.

Right. Right. For $315 less.

Yeah.

Or I can get her to do another uh invoice after I speak with her and we can go next month.

Preference or thoughts on that? we so we could approve an amount that's equal to what she was done at the rate that is in the agreement um and she would have to then you know just resubmit the invoice um and that would square that or we could have her resubmit the invoice and take up a vote on that when we get the new invoice.

That sounds like the cleanest to me.

I I think she's done a nice job. I'd like to see her get paid for the 22 and then come back with another invoice.

No. What do you think?

She got the money from the 23 spent or or is she is she going to feel abused?

I have no idea, but I think if she realizes that there was just a mistake in the contract and she actually did do 22 at the rate. I I am not sure.

Well, If it said 22, fine.

This said 23. We gave her a list of 22.

Yeah. Plus the 4 A.

So I think it was just a mistake of adding the 22 and the 4 A and coming up with 23. I think um yeah, I think she worked hard and did a great job and and it would be great if she could get paid promptly. I I just wish I had gotten in touch with her to let her know before today. Do you have any thoughts one way or the other, Sue?

I don't I mean I I agree that I'd like to see her get paid at least for the 22.

Okay. I think then that's probably where I'd come. I agree. I think she'd be happy to get paid for all that.

We could do that. Of course. You what what that would do? We we could do that.

um it couldn't be a check couldn't be processed until we had a corresponding invoice. So she would then resubmit the invoice at the amount. But if we have approved that and she resubmits the invoice, then the check can be cut between now and the next, you know, between now and uh February. Um otherwise we wait till uh till February and then it'll be processed later in February. Um,

how would she get paid for the for the A?

How would she get paid for the additional 315?

She wouldn't because she didn't do the work for it.

Oh, okay.

Yes. Right.

She didn't do the work. So, she wasn't even asked to. The number on the contract was incorrect. We gave her list of 22 and she did 22 plus a form A.

Okay.

The contract was was on the table.

the contract had the wrong number on it and I don't know how that slipped by but there it is.

Okay.

So, should we make a motion to to pay for the 22 for the completed work?

The completed work and then that way when you get the revised invoice you can it would just be processed.

That would be my preference. And S just so you know I'm just going to do this. So it's 315 * 22 plus the 2500 which was the form A correct is done that would be 9430.

All right so you there's a motion is there a second on the motion to I'll second it.

Okay. Uh any discussion just clarification you know we our vote will mean we'll authorize payment but the payment can't go through until we have the matching invoice and Chris will as a liaison to the contractor will take care of that conversation itself I will okay so all in favor I I motion what's that second uh John seconded Yeah.

Okay.

Um project updates. Uh this is one in terms of the heritage Dartmouth Heritage Trail. Um, if I would uh for us to align correctly with the accountant's office and um recapturing the unexpended balance of that project, the unexpended balance is $7,048.

And where are those minutes?

Get it correct.

$7,04820 uh $74. See, I'm going to have to look at this. $7,7428.

And I have a motion to approve um recapturing that outstanding balance of $7,74.28 from the Dartmouth Heritage Trail Project. uh transferring it to the open space and recreation reserve.

So moved.

Second.

Second. Okay, that was Chris. Any other questions discussion?

Okay, all in favor?

I I Okay, back on that. Um, we received by email the closeout report for the dog park. Um, and that included some photographs, the uh financial information and description.

Um, any questions on that? Um, I think the the vote before us would be to entertain a motion to accept the close out report and then that will close that project out as complete.

Make a motion to accept the report.

Second and second. Any other questions?

All right. All in favor?

I.

Okay, that's unanimous. Um, looks good.

And it looks like that in the spring, um, there will be an open an open house.

Um, so, but it looks it looks really good. Yeah, it does.

And um the um in terms of project status reports, we the only ones that we are missing is um for the second um second quarter which is October 1st through December 31st is um um one on the harbor dredging project and one for the cultural center.

So, I'll follow up with folks and just make sure we get at least one project status report per quarter on where things stand. Um, everything else we've received, all the rest of the projects we've received some project status report either with their invoice or with their close out or just giving us the update of where things are.

Okay. Um, any update on the housing production plan? I haven't seen or heard a thing since Christopher Tally left, so I don't know what the status is on this.

No, we have we have not. I No, we haven't. Okay, we're waiting for it.

Um, you know, I did share what I had.

Yes, but I don't have anything else yet. We were supposed to get We were supposed to get at the end of middle December, right? U Yeah, but we haven't um Sorry.

I think with the turnover that's fine, right?

Yeah.

I don't know who's coordinating with Serpentid right now, for instance, because they were the ones doing the I don't know who's the point person for them.

Well, the town planners been working too with them, but uh he was out he's been out sick. I don't know if he's back today, but he was out sick last week and then the planning board had two um kind of emergencies.

Yeah.

Uh so we haven't really had a real stable meeting.

So TBD.

There we are.

There. Yeah. So, I'm passing around the financial um one of the documents from the financial report. Um, we all received the email uh uh attachment of Donna Fernandez accountants um um report on the CPA funds through December 31st.

Um and then I had sent along um a year to date in terms of um for fiscal 26 what our budget projections look like.

Um there are a couple of things in my um in my spreadsheet that uh I did not carry over correctly. So I put yellow on those. Um um so we have the actual you'll see in those fund balances the actual means they are the figures from um the accountants report. Um and this is also something I'll just explain to you or remind you. Uh folks may have heard this in different times in the

past. So we start the fiscal year with balances.

Um that's the and based on the town accountants report as of 6:30 2025 those are our balances. Our balances then shift us typically by the 31st because we've have now the commitments for projects that were made by June and October town meeting. We've had revenue from the the state match revenue has come in during that part of the fiscal year. So there's things that shift our uh account

balances between June and December.

Once we get to December and the rest of the fiscal year, um the community housing or historic preservation or open space um account balances don't change because all of our activity is done. We've already set aside money in them and things like that. The only thing that would change is like when we do a recapture of a project that is closed out and has unexpended balance and then it goes into so very typically

there's not a lot of change in balances for the in those restricted funds. What does change over the fiscal year is unrestricted because what's happening is searchcharge revenue continues to come in. So they've collected maybe about half of the fiscal 26 revenue that they think they're going to get. Um so this is as we go along that unrestricted account will start to grow a little bit more. So based on the

money that's come in from the accountants report um and what we project to get in revenue from the search charge. Um that's kind of how I ballpark where we think we'll end up with the unrestricted fund. So, I figure like, okay, we have it's about another two, you know, $490,000 um to come in and searchcharge revenue.

We're about halfway through the collections and stuff as they come in.

They come in a little bit more rapidly than that, but that's kind of how it's going.

Um, so that's where where I end up with that figure.

The town accountants report also includes other revenue that comes in. Um, and generally that's I don't sweat that out so much. So if you um in the town accountants report when you look at collection activity the other stuff that still happens during the fiscal year is um late payments from fiscal 25 search charge. So people are late on paying their taxes, they're late on paying their search charge. Um so

like for instance, as of December, there's about $4,000 in fiscal 25 late um um receipts. Um there are CPA lean receipts. I don't know ex 800 bucks. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but it might be leans on properties that haven't paid taxes, which also means they haven't paid their search charge. I don't know.

I think it's maybe something like that.

Um, penalty and interest on the CPA charge. So, that's about another 700 or so bucks that came into our accounts because of the penalties for being late on on um filing. And then the big number though is uh 74,87 bucks uh which represents investment income. So any um any earnings on our accounts um can have to fold back into the CPA.

So the town can't keep the interest on our restricted on any of our fund balances. So given the amount of money we have, it's not a it's not an insignificant number. So, but that's one of those things. I don't sweat it out, but they do bump up our numbers in ways that I don't uh necessarily I don't actually include in our projections, but as you go through the actuals, we we

account for this these other this other money that comes in.

So, um, looking forward and we'll we'll continue to look at this, um, going into, um, June 30th, so ending this fiscal year. Right now, the projection is we would have a total of $4.6 million in reserves.

3.4 of those are unrestricted.

Uh and then 367,000 in housing, 636,000 and some change in historic and about 212,000 in um open space. So that's kind of where it looks like we're headed into fiscal 27.

And um I'll do a fiscal 27 projection um that also includes some estimate on what kind of state match we might get, what this what the fiscal 27 revenue might look like. So there's some other figures and we'll look at that in February when we're talking about projects and stuff, but I thought I'd just give an opportunity. This is kind of how it all comes together. Um and then an old business um

I do not have anything further to report on um just the process for the open space preservation. Uh I think where we left off is the town was looking at um you know how to or preparing for how they would um uh contract for jointly holding um conservation restrictions in the future for projects that might be coming through um the CPA. Um and then the only other thing is Mark Mark

Garrett has um uh left so the conservation officer. So, when did he leave?

Um, when was his last day?

He'll be working three days a week.

He'll be working three days a week.

Um, just consulting. He won't be.

Okay.

So, he's here Tuesday and Wednesdays and Thursdays.

And is that for that's for an interimm kind of period until he's replaced? Is that the idea?

Till he's probably walk the new person through also.

Okay. So, he has three fifths of a foot out the door. Uh, in, you know, two- fifths of a foot out the door. Um, two fifths of I'm sorry.

Um, he's being fresh.

Yeah. I don't know what two- fifths of a foot looks like.

He's here three days a week.

I mean, you got five toes, so just That's true. Yeah. Okay. That I can comprehend.

Okay.

Um, next um next month we will have proposals. So proposals are due the 28th.

Um and then Michelle, you will scramble to then get them to us. Um, can we remind Michelle are those of us that would like to have hard copies or who would that would be important to let Michelle know if you need a hard copy as opposed to the um um electronic copies emailed to you.

Um and then February we will we will review proposals um come up with questions information we need um with the idea that March would be the um public hearing where people would present um and we'd get comment and then make recommendations typically make recommendations on um town meeting warrants in March.

um could have could be an active round.

Um I think that you know the the town has already um submitted um I think Becky has already submitted something on another um cemetery restoration.

Um you know that's not to be distributed until all the other the application deadline then we'll get it. But I know that's come in. Um, sounds like we'll get something from the ad commission.

Um, there may be some other things. I think we will get something from the cultural center on the next phase of work there. Um, so it could it could be active. Uh, if it looks very active, I will bring some refreshments.

So, we'll think about that. Um, anything else before we close?

All right, meeting you all. A motion to adjourn.

Next meeting. The uh Yeah. What is that? The 10th.

10th.

10th. February 10th.

I will not be here next Febru next meeting. I'm sorry.

Okay.

All right. A meeting to a a meeting a motion to adjurnn.

So moved.

Second.

All right. All in favor? I I thank you so much for your time.

Thank you.