Finance Committee Meeting May 7, 2026

We're going to call the meeting to order of the finance committee for May 7th. Uh can you stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance?

I pledge allegiance 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.

And please note that this meeting is in person and is being recorded.

So, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, tonight we're continuing u wrapping up the warn articles for FY27 and then uh we can go right into the uh town uh the letter from the finance committee to the uh to town meeting. There was some drafts that were sent around. So, uh I have the latest version of the warrant uh and then we can go through the articles that weren't voted on. There's a couple we

need to revote. A couple small changes we want to make note of.

There's a couple we have to revote.

Yeah, we'll go through.

We didn't change any U premise, but upon legal's further review, there were a couple words that we need to add in.

I'll go over. They said that last week.

You might have to revisit them.

Okay. So, uh let's see.

Two, three. We'll stop at the ones that

I think the first is the enterprise front. So that where are they?

There we go. So this one here, there was a $100 um addition error. So I sorry I uh I corrected that. important just so that this is tied out. Yeah. On the right.

That's the only change.

Uh well, first motion to resend our previous vote on article 15.

Second.

Any questions or discussions?

Are we ready to vote? All in favor? I.

Any opposed?

This is to resend that vote, right?

To resend.

We already So, we're voting to resend the vote.

Okay. So, I'll abstain because I wasn't present for the initial vote, right?

Okay.

Great.

Um, all right. Hang on a second here. We got one because I have the support.

What is it? Six. Okay.

No, this is to resend.

Oh, that's true.

We haven't taken the vote. We haven't taken the uh um motion to recommend uh article 15 as uh revised.

I'll second funding the water department enterprise fund. I'm sorry.

I'll second.

We get confused when we have to do something over. Uh any questions or discussion? Are we ready to vote?

Yes.

All in favor?

I. Any opposed?

None. None.

Okay. Then the other one was uh let's see.

So DCTV, we cleaned this up a little bit. Um the prior years he's voting.

We we you know, there was sale of tapes and sponsorship sponsorships. They don't really sell tapes. I mean there tapes don't ex exist anymore. So, we kind of cleaned this up a little bit and um buttoned up these numbers after talking with uh with Peter Chase, director of the DCTV.

The cable revenues, as Peter has mentioned to you guys in the past, have continued to decline.

We just weren't accurately reflecting that in this and we felt, you know, an obligation to accurately reflect the what we actually think revenues will be.

Um, so we we got our most recent quarterly payment of the cable franchise fees last week, which really prompted us with some serious concern. So we had to reduce the their DCTV's operating budget by 18 around $18,000.

Uh, and then we also with that we had to adjust the revenues. So that's that's what this does. It it reduces their operating costs. Um, it they reduce some of their equipment. uh they had requested $30,000 in annual equipment.

We reduced that to 20. They do have an article for some equipment. So, we feel okay getting by for at least this next year. Um and then we there's an an inet. It's part of our IT it's part of the uh Fiverr across all of town. So, we took it out of there. Um and if if we end up having to pay that, that'll just come out of our general IT budget and then

the revenues just match that. You know, we've talked about this in the past where a lot of users are now they say cutting the cord and going to streaming and it's kind of what the effect has been.

Not just in Dartmouth, but you change the language.

Gary, what article number is this?

This is uh Thank you. because I'm only looking at the ration while we do this. So, I can't Okay.

626 620 motion to resend our previous vote on article 17.

Second.

All in favor?

I I'll abstain.

Any opposed?

Yes.

Motion.

Motion to recommend article 17 funding down with the cable television TCTV enterprise fund as revised.

I'll second.

Any discussion or questions? All in favor?

I.

Any opposed?

None. Motion passes 70.

Check to see if I did. Just one second.

Check to see if I did.

Okay, I'll look at I'll look at the verbiage. Okay, that's those two.

Yeah, you're just going to go to 21, which is the personnel bylaw.

The personnel bylaw. Um the change here is that one of the positions, the substance use program coordinator. Um, I had the grading I I transferred the grading wrong in the previous version, so it's incorrect grade. We also put together that sheet that John had requested with what they are. Gary can pull that up if you'd like, and I can email it out to you if you'd like. It shows all of the what they are now, the

positions, and where they go.

Yeah, if you could email it to us. Like I said, I think it that question may come up at time meeting. So, I think it's might be useful to have in your back pocket.

Absolutely.

You want to just So, we'll just email it to you.

Yeah, I'll email it to you. That'd be fine.

You want to send it out? It's in the You have it?

All right. Yeah.

So, we need to resend this because the the grading changed of the substance use coordinator. Previously, I had it in as a 10. It's a 12.

Motion to resend our previous vote on article 21.

21.

I'll second that.

I beat you to it.

Her and I, we had eye contact going of who was going next. Jumped right in.

I just want to jump right in.

All in favor of rescending.

I.

Any opposed?

I'll abstain.

Motion to recommend article 21 as revised the personal bylaw amendment position title and compensation changes.

I'll second.

Any discussion or questions?

All All in favor?

I. Any opposed?

Motion passes 70 22.

Yeah. 22 doesn't change the what we did.

Um council looked at it initially the language you had provided last week and said it was okay. They did more research and came back and and needed to adjust the language here. So it the same thing where it allows the select board to appoint someone other than a police officer. It just basically says that if it is a police officer, it still retains that it's on recommendation of the police chief. It's a law. The law

requires it if it's a police officer and we didn't have that in the initial language.

Motion to recommend article 22 resend it for I'm sorry because we voted.

Motion to resend our previous vote on article 22.

I'll second it.

All in favor? I I Are you abstaining?

I'll abstain.

We've got a We've got a rhythm going here. We got a rhythm.

Motion to recommend article 22 as revised general bylaw amendment chapter 134 section 15 dark hearing officer.

Second.

Are we ready to vote?

Yes.

All in favor?

I I. Any opposed?

Hearing none. Motion passes 70.

All right. 23 you had not voted on yet.

This was the um snow to be removed from sidewalks. The language has changed a little bit. Um the the idea of of this was for us to be able to clear the snow and essentially charge a fee.

Technically in Massachusetts, you can't do that. Um you can't directly do that.

So what we've proposed is um it still accomplishes much of that. And so it extends the time frame. You still get 24 hours after the storm. The the existing bylaw also said um it can be extended in extreme circumstances, but didn't define what an extreme circumstance was. So we went on to define that um if a snow emergency is declared, you'd have 24 hours from the end of the snow emergency

being over. Uh and then we keep the language of uh if you're within the mile of the school or the commercial commercial district um that let's see each violation should be a separate offense. Uh it's a so right now it's a $25 fine generally across town. That doesn't change. What we did is we upped it to $300 if you're within a mile of the school or the commercial district.

And then we make it clear that each hour of the violation can be a fine construed as part of the fine. So the idea is we can't directly charge for this service for us going to clear it, but we can fine essentially heavily which then covers our cost if we have to go clear the um the properties there. So the again the violation amount doesn't change for anyone outside of a mile of a school or

in the outside of commercial corridor.

It just changes the violation amount within the commercial corridor in uh within a mile of the school $300. Um and then it's still been forced by police or the superintendent of public works.

The commercial corridor. Oh, sorry.

Can we make a motion before we start discussing and asking questions?

Motion to uh what is it? Recommend article 23 general bylaw chapter 315 section six snow to be removed from sidewalks.

I'll second we can discuss.

Okay. Anybody have any questions?

I have a qu a commercial corridor is what? Wait anywhere zoned commercially. Anyone?

Okay. Yeah. So Route Six Bon Corner Road uh the Dartmouth Street area in village. Yeah, it's commercial if it's own re if it's own commercial.

I go ahead, John, if you want. I have a question though.

So, under the enforcement Cody, what's your the section uh shall be enforced by police officers of the town and may be enforced by the superintendent of public works and any design of the same of public works.

Yeah. So, in the past, I only I've seen um zoning enforcement who has the right to um enforce zoning and there are fines to certain zoning laws won't make a move without town council. Is this going to be the same that this will no one will are there pre-printed tickets? Will tickets get written? And can they do it without town council? because that just will no go anywhere if town council is going to get involved.

Yeah. No, I mean this is the idea of this is it's basically we we should be able to issue a ticket um under chapter 40 which is the the master law that allow So will they be preprinted tickets for these?

Yep. Yep.

And individuals. So will because Yeah. The idea is we want to make it so we can do it because again the biggest we just want compliance. We don't want to find people. We just want complian.

No, I get it. We have lots of bylaws that never get enforced because who enforces them? You know, there's not preprinted tickets and everybody's afraid of lawsuits and town council. So, it when it gets up to the administration, well, I'm not going to get town council involved in this. You know, it's not worth the $250 fine. So, uh, and if that's the case, I'd vote against it because what's the sense of

having something on the books if it's never going to get enforced because the talent's afraid?

No that's showing us that your intent is to have tickets and these people will be able to do their job without asking town council.

Yeah. Okay.

I mean that like with anything I think you'll see um some discretion particularly at first, right? Hey, hey, as a reminder, you know, this is the bylaw. You need to clear it. We'll give you another 12 hours. But if it, you know, it's the idea of this is public safety and so if you're impeding public safety, we're going to find you.

That's that's what it comes down to.

I have a question if I may. Uh we looked at these and then they came under scrutiny by town council. Now just to expedite matters, wouldn't it better to have town council review these before we had voted on them?

So you haven't voted this one for yet?

No, but the other ones that we had to resend and well the only one that you had to resend because of council was article 22 um in which they had just done further research. They do review these. The other ones were were financial saying expediency code. I mean, it would have been nice if we had able looked at them first before we had voted on. Then they could have put in their input and

then we could have They did. That's what I'm saying. They did.

Yeah. The other articles were were financial adjustments. We had we guarantee they had nothing to do with the legal review.

Well, there was language changed that was uh reviewed by council just in the previous article 22. Yeah.

Well, I'm just saying in the going forward be nice if they had reviewed before we voted on that way we' have to resend and revote.

That's all I'm saying.

No, I get it. I They did. They did. They They did further research and came back and said, "We need this additional language."

Yeah. I wouldn't have you vote on something that council hasn't reviewed because the idea is we don't want you to have to resend and revote.

Okay. I because I thought they hadn't really looked at it carefully enough.

The articles that you had voted they had looked at that. We waited on some because they had not. This is one of them they had not looked at and that's okay. They had Patrick. Um, what's the in regards to the the current article number 23?

What's the recourse if somebody didn't pay a fine? Is there like an attachment to their property that can be done or is it just like they rip it up, throw it away, and there's nothing to do about it?

No, we bring him to superior court.

Okay.

Yeah. Under superior court. We can bring him back.

Okay. To me, it's a noncriminal.

Yeah. Noncriminal disposition.

Okay.

So the I'm sorry both the police officer and this could become problematic because if I'm I don't have any sidewalks in front of my house fortunately but people who do and you know they're out there they're like I go do my piece and nobody around I'm tired of this. Well what's that individual going to do now?

Hey my neighbor at 12 Main Street, right?

I want them fine, you know. And there's nothing more frustrating than being a citizen and asks for laws to be enforced and they don't get enforced. So hopefully if we're going to adopt this when a call comes in, it does get enforced. I I believe it well. I mean, this is this is something that came as a direct um conversation from the what the chief and I had was essentially like, hey, we you

know, we we recognize that we need to enforce some of these things. the way that it's currently written doesn't make it easiest for our officers to enforce.

You know, that's essentially why we said, "All right, we need to button this up." And the ar the initial argument was, "Okay, where do you draw the line with enforcement?" Because if we're in for with the way the bylaw was written, we treat everyone the same in town.

Whether you're next door to a school, whether you're on Route 6, or whether you live on a dead-end culde-sac with a sidewalk, it was written the same. We wanted to beef it up in this sense that okay, we're really it's very clear we're prioritizing for public safety commercial and within a in mild within a school and and so I think this will accomplish the concerns from the police department

and allow them to really enforce.

I understand the premise of it is as you've already heard there's a lot of whatifs that go along with this because if you think about what happened before that last blizzard I get it the blizzard was unusual.

Yeah, it was intense. But we all saw the panic of people trying to arrange for snow removal before the blizzard.

Okay. And they might have gotten somebody to agree, but there's no way they could count on them coming within 24 hours because I'm sure they all agreed.

Yeah.

Correct.

That's why we included the snow emergency language in there for extraordinary cases like that.

Right. But it's still at the end of 24 hours after a snow removal. Right. E after the snow emergency is is ended.

Yeah. And do you think everybody got plowed within 24 hours after that?

I mean, we kept this snow emergency through almost the end of the week.

Okay. Maybe I'm just saying there was probably a lot of plow drivers that made a lot of commitments that they couldn't necessarily make.

Yeah. I mean, we we we're cognizant of that. And again, that with that, that's where some discretion comes in. But if school's opening on Monday, for instance, Yeah.

we need those things, you know, we need those things opening up. And generally, we're not going to open up school unless it's safe to do so. Also during that last snowstorm, especially in the commercial district, there were there were intersections.

Oh yeah.

Where snow was piled up on the corners 20 ft high. You can't expect No. Right. Right.

The owner of that corner to go out there and shovel through that snowbank that's 15 and they were that big on you. They were being dumped by front end loaders.

So there is obviously some discretion that's going to have to be used exactly to say hey you know you expect me to do that where's it going to go you know here I suppose my concern is that we have an aging community and what kind of hardship might this put on somebody that might be elderly that live on one of these properties and they're not not shoveling because they want to be a jerk

but they're not not shoveling because they can't and maybe can't afford to then it's the law I mean that's the law right now.

Yeah. But how can they reach out to get some help? We we can't we don't offer anything like that. I mean, we can't we have 34,000 residents. We could it's just I I don't mean to sound that reason alone. I would I would be reluctant because existing bylaw is all of town. You have to want an elderly person to get fined because they can't they can get fined right now.

Yeah. But I think we have to count on them using discretion honestly.

And I think you know and I believe that that's what will happen.

Of course. I mean, a police officer pulls you over for speeding, right?

There's always discretion, right? For any law enforcement, there's discretion.

I mean, how many people are residents are you planning on taking to Supreme Court?

We don't we don't again we don't want to even find people. We want compliance and we're we're saying the commercial in within a school because we don't want people to get hit by cars. I mean, people have been hit on Route 6.

It's understandable to take some action.

I get it. Dear Drew, I'm sorry.

The consideration for the elderly was my point as well with respect to the mile radius around school. It was always problematic for uh neighbors that were with our schools or along our schools. We tried to get head custodians at time when we could, but a lot of times, you know, we couldn't. So, it is the senior pop uh population.

That's my concern.

And and you know, we try to do programs, send kids out, send our our our above school age population that we might be working with. We had little kind of groups that we tried our best to know the elders within that mile radius of our schools. We kind of had them tagged.

So, you know, again, knowing our community, the guys, the police officers are going to know our community. You know, smiley faces, let us know if we can help you know our community. Um, but the elderly would be something to watch out for.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Yeah. Well, this doesn't protect the elderly and that's that's my one concern. We can't put a bylaw signality.

I'm sure if you're over 60 years old, you're exempt from this bylaw. So then, but then a kid walks into the street in front of that house and gets hit by a car. I mean, but if we already have, if they can already get fined, now why do we need this one?

Because this is specific to the onem radius of a school and within so right now it's applied unilaterally higher because they live closer to the school.

That's our priority because kids are walking on sidewalks and in commercial districts people are generally walking on more on the sidewalks. Um, it it really allows for more enforcement from the police for compliance. We could leave it or make a difference.

I would just follow up with the seniors around our schools. They they they love watching the kids. They know their responsibility and they're probably hooking up with someone long before the snowact reaching out to set that up. And if not, we know who they might be to be able to help them. But I think enforcement comes with, you know, the discretion, knowing the community and helping out where we need to and the

senior center and, you know, the guys down there, the staff down there would be f, you know, who are the neighbors that need our help within the mile radius.

You know, let me know. I'll go get them.

Yeah. Make a suggestion because, you know, we have to write ration. And the rationale that's in there is pretty basic as you all saw because I sent them out. So, we could add a sentence just to express some thought.

Um, because I'm not opposed to it because I do believe the town will do what's right. But just just my two cents.

Yeah, sure.

Um, are we ready to vote or we have any more questions?

Uh, all in favor?

I.

Any opposed?

I'm going to abstain.

So, we recommend and I can write a thing of why I abstained.

That's good. Um so recommended is 61.

Correct.

Carrie mention the handicap elderly common.

She has to write it tonight so she'll be mentioning it in front of us.

Oh yeah.

61. Right.

Yeah.

Put one up.

You'll see it. Well, I realize you won't see the recommendations on Gary's copy if I can't display it.

We won't talk about that.

That's right. I can't I don't have an internet. It's not working.

So, site plan review. Um, you had asked that you wanted the language, which is totally understandable. So, the language is essentially it's a um it goes through every single change in the bylaw. What I will say is I'm going to get to what you're going to say, Janine, about the tree bylaw.

No, no. I I was actually going to say that Well, there's that, I guess, because the numbers are off from what I have. So, did we delete a The tree bylaw has been removed.

Okay. Oh, it has. Oh, good. All right.

Excellent. Good.

All right. Sorry. Go ahead.

No, the site plan review. So, this this is the language. However, I will note on Tuesday evening, the governor filed legislation that would directly um be um it it would it would be in opposition of this. Um so, we council and planning director and I are recommending to the planning board that we withdraw this article. They're not meeting until Monday evening. So, they won't be able to vote until Monday evening to

withdraw. But, I do anticipate that this will be withdrawn because the language being it's been filed. It's a bill filed by the governor. Um, conflicts with a lot of what we're proposing here. Um, and we don't want to pass something at this town meeting and then have to come back again in the fall and amend it all.

So, what was the governor's because the this was a lot to provide the planning board to grant waiverss. So, is the governor opposed to waiverss when it comes to No, the it basically the the language she's proposing makes it the site plan review process part of state law and and almost takes it out of the municipalities hands.

Oh, what? I'm sorry.

It makes the site plan review process part of state law rather than a local zoning decision, uh, a local planning board decision. I mean, so planning, you'd still go through the site plan review process, but the process is laid out by this law. Um, and it it makes it so right now our bylaw does technically does not allow for waivers. It doesn't say anywhere in it it's allowed for waivers. The one of the

bill that she's proposed specifically says it can allow for waivers. Um, which is one of the reasons why we're changing this is because our bylaw doesn't say that. And then there's also a lot a few other things that that are proposed in this bill that are in conflict with what we what we're doing. So is there some she's imposing some regulations for individual towns won't be able to have

their own specific regulations for their they can still have their own um criteria for instance but the overarching by or you know the way that it's done maybe state law similar like the ADU rights have your own yeah I haven't had a chance to do a thorough deep dive into it um was just made aware like I said she filed it Tuesday evening and that it's in direct conflict with this and so we're kind of

scrambling obviously at this point with the a week before we finalize the warrant and um we don't we don't want to bring it forward vote it and then have to change it again in the fall it just doesn't make sense to do that so we're not going to vote it I mean technically it's on the warrant right now I can tell you that I anticipate the planning board pulling it

um so if you if you what you could do is you could say no recommendation at this point and if for some reason something changes and they wanted to continue with it. You could provide a recommendation you at town meeting. I I Well, if we voted for it now.

Mhm.

Well, how would that be if it gets pulled after?

None. If you feel comfortable with that.

Yeah. As long you would have to vote on You would have to vote uh you'd have to vote yay and nay on how it's written right now.

Correct. Oh, you definitely familiar with the language.

Yeah, you could change as the planning board withdraws, which is their right.

It's just taken off.

It has no effect on us. Yeah.

Yeah, you could do you could definitely We wouldn't have to meet again.

No. So, I'd rather get get it done this evening rather than take a chance that we'd have to meet again on this article.

I agree.

Sounds like a plan.

Anyway, motion to recommend article 25 site plan review amendment.

I'll second it.

Second.

Any other questions or discussion? Ready to vote? All in favor?

Any opposed?

abstain.

So six I'm going to abstain too. That means it's two two abstensions.

Five 02.

Can you put 25 cuz we had Okay.

I want to know why she filed it.

We had we had been hearing some chatter that it may get filed. Um, we just weren't expecting, we didn't know what it was going to look like and we also didn't know when and we certainly didn't expect it Tuesday evening.

Article 27 29th 29.

Are you going to cover why the uh tree committee thing? I mean the tree uh I can if you'd like. Uh well just generally uh so this has been going on for quite some time that the tree committee we they presented a a bylaw in the fall for potentially on the fall town meeting. There was a lot of legal concerns with it. Um one of the things that that they're they were looking to

do was take language from other parts of the country and and insert it in Dartmouth. Massachusetts has very unique laws. We have a whole chapter 87 on trees and tree warden and and we can't have a local bylaw that conflicts with state law. So council, you know, provided some comments. We went back and forth. We knew it wasn't going to be on the fall. We recognized that it was a priority. So I had council draft a

template bylaw, work with the tree committee and say, "Okay, here's the template, but you need to you can fill in things." They they got that to me in April. Um, and upon further review it, they didn't use the template and so it it was legal and I reviewed it and it it wasn't legal because they reverted back to a lot of their original language and they are not um amendable to the

template language and at the same time I can't bring forward an article that's not legal. Right. So, so can you give an example of what they might have wanted that wasn't a lot of it conflicts with chapter 87 which is the state law. Um and also taking away some of the um under state law, tree wardens in in each municipality have certain authority. So our tree warden is our board of public

works and and that's typically given to our DPW director. A lot of that they were trying to reassign. We we can't again nothing we do in a bylaw can overrule mass general law.

We can't we can't interpret mass general law in a bylaw. So if if chapter 87, you know, interprets a drip line of a tree, we can't then use a different definition to make it clearer. We can post guidance. We can say here's an FAQ sheet of what you should be doing, but in an actual bylaw, we we just can't.

So they didn't like the template that actually used the No, they they like the language of um what a lot of other communities have used and which may work in a lot of other communities, but Okay. Just curiosity.

All right, we have to Are they coming to come back? Any feedback on I don't know. I think they're feeling frustrated um you know with with how long it's taken. I get it. Um but also we have our legal parameters. So we um they're going to share their thoughts at the select board meeting. They're going to come on Monday evening. Okay.

Um to give the select board an update and so we'll see.

Do you think they might appear in the fall meeting as a possibility as a I mean we have a template prepared meeting? Seems like they could.

Sure. Exactly.

Anyway, so the citizen petition article 29. Want to just make a motion before we talk about it?

Um motion to recommend article 29 citizens petition former police station reuse committee.

Do I have a second?

I'll second.

Questions, discussion?

So, um council has had an opportunity to review this. they their legal opinion is that it still um is in violation of procurement because in I'll explain we had a lengthy conversation you know they took out the term RFP process which is kind of the formal process and then solicit reuse concept proposals it's still a procurement process soliciting proposals and our concern is if if you have a committee charge that

they actually soliciting proposals and then let's say this group says Yes, you know, we we want to do build affordable housing right?

And now we get Tom meeting authorization the next year to um to sell the property or lease the property for affordable housing.

Well, the the proposal that they solicited that they brought forward as being the best, you know, the one that they thought was most reasonable, you're you're arguably saying a town committee has already made a procurement decision for proposals that they solicited. Um, so even though the language isn't RFP, you're still soliciting proposals, possible reuse, but you're you're soliciting proposals.

So what I will say is with that, I had a conversation with the chair of the select board today. It's very clear that this is something the town is concerned about.

So on the select board meeting agenda on Monday, we are putting together a charge for a police station reuse committee.

Okay. similar to what was in 2019 um to basically investigate. We're not soliciting proposals. We're going to investigate possible reuse options. So, while this isn't legal um and really can't be if it's voted upon, it can't be acted upon because it's it's not legal, I'm hopeful that if the select board passes this charge on Monday, it accomplishes what I think the community is concerned about.

Agreed.

Cody, what's your feeling on something happening Monday? I saw a bit of that select board meeting when they were discussing this and this is just my opinion. It seems as though there were a number of select board that just weren't interested in moving forward with anything.

Uh it wasn't urgent to do anything because one of the one of the things was the uh EPA is using using the property.

Uh so what I heard and I'm paraphrasing there's no rush. What are we doing there? Do you think an action will be taken like my thought is government works so slow you know that if you form a committee Monday you know it's going to be months before they meet it's going to be months before their recommendation years maybe and before you know it 28 years 29 is here and it's EPA is going to so to me

sooner than later it's it's do you think it's actually going to happen Monday that they will put emergency to it and not I think so. I I think you know the these these articles are definitely driving part of that because again I I think I can only advise the select board. Um but I think there is certainly acknowledgment that this is a concern in town. You know we had a citizens petition and while it wasn't done

legally per se we understand what the concern is and so if the select board has the authority which they do to create a subcommittee which they did before I I do think that there will be a willingness to do that. It was brought up at the last select board meeting to to if if this did not work out to potentially look at bringing up a a subcommittee and so the um we initially

thought maybe we'd bring it back after town meeting but I don't see the need to wait. We we know these going to be ruled not legal. So why wait? We can at least establish the committee and it also hopefully will um provide the town meeting members who would be in favor of this some feeling of comfort that we're still taking action. It's not through the the route of the article because it can't be

because I'm one of them. You know, I'd like to see something done and Yeah. Good.

Yeah. I interpreted that select board meeting differently, John. I kind of thought that they would put something forward. Granted, I didn't know the timeline by any means, but I thought that they were going to do something.

I hope so.

So, ideally, they will.

Um, do we want to So, previously on the article 28 now, sorry, I got my numbers.

I got I'm reing. So, I might be off the one before this. Um, we had voted to just not recommend due to um the wording is not legal.

Do we want to do that type of vote?

Well, you got a motion to recommend already.

Well, we can just vote against recommending right?

So, all in favor of article 29?

Any opposed?

I I Any abstensions?

So 070.

Did you vote?

Brian, did you vote?

Uh, no. I was just I have to ask. So, does this set any sort of precedent for a committee not being able to uh manage RFPs or submit RFPs?

I mean, committees can't. Yeah, there's no It cannot. Yeah, that's that's chapter 30B under the Massachusetts procurement law. Only only a only the chief procurement officer can actually solicit the proposals. You can work with a committee to come up with a scope of work for instance, but the actual um and it's just like the same actually with select a contract selection. The only one that can

actually approve a contract to a a vendor based on a proposal is the chief procurement officer.

Who is the chief procurement?

Right now it's me and it's Jim over at the schools.

Yeah.

I believe it is. Yeah. Everything's got to go through Jim.

It'll be Gary soon.

There you go. But a committee could draft certainly draft an presented to the chief procurement officer. This is what we recommend and absolutely and and it should have legal guidelines to it too before they present it to make sure all sorts of fabulous stuff. Then 149 is a whole other ball game.

Oh yeah.

So to go through one set of eyes and congratulations.

Yeah. So, so something like developing and recommending a scope of work for further solicitation of an RFP or something could be language that you could probably use, but technically speaking, a committee cannot solicit proposals. The the committee itself they can they can review could develop the scope of work in conjunction with the chief procurement officer. Okay. And then a recommended scope of work and the same

with like awarding. You could say that you you know the committee shall serve as a review committee of proposals and recommend to the chief procurement officer which one?

Yeah. The the you know the the winner um the selected candidate.

There's also an advertising component to it. There's something called the goods and services which is the legal bulletin that all 30B procurement in the commonwealth must be advertised in to give fair and la etc. So okay that makes it is quite substantial if the administration and that town fathers agreed with the something needs to be done on a particular project and an RFP needs to be um written in an RFQ

why if you got a committee that's willing to do the leg work why have their chief procurement officer who are paying good money saying hey we got a volunteer who's willing to draft it up and run it through the chief procurement office. So, you know, committee still they wouldn't be able to submit as long as they got the backing of administration and select board. Yeah.

Yeah. That's not that's not an abnormal process. We follow that sometimes. Yeah.

Um, so everything on here is voted on, correct?

Yes. I need to go to the special.

Just one question. If you could scoot back to only because which what?

Article six.

Only because there was confusion about the vote count.

Article six. Okay. Six.

Uh, was that the last one from CPC?

The Dartmouth Cultural Center.

Okay, here we go. Um, so I believe six, wasn't it?

No, it was 701 was what it was when I got it.

Oh, two. You only had one. I only had one.

Correct. But do we know that for a fact? Only because the first number was seven.

Yeah, it can't be seven.

Six here.

Yeah. What did you the minutes here?

I abstained.

Oh, you abstain.

I abain from from Was that from the notes that I sent you? Did I write seven? Yeah, that was just a typo. It should have been fine.

No, no. I agree. I just need to check it though cuz I couldn't think who is it.

Terry we think abstained?

It's got to be five.

No, I know you did, but we have two.

I am I'm not sure about the second one.

No idea.

She was doing Okay. So, it's 70.

That was me. Um All right. No fair. That's fine. I just wanted to make sure.

Yeah.

Done.

I was on a roll with those seven.

You were good. I know. You get typing and that's what it is.

You get typing. Yeah.

All right. So, it's 702. So, it's actually nine people.

Nine people voted on.

We don't have We don't have nine people.

We only have eight. And I was missing Patrick. So, it was 502.

Yeah. No, it was 502. Right. Exactly.

No, it was 502.

It was 502, not 70. The intention was Terry came in half and it's not correct.

Yeah. Okay.

Only seven people here.

Terry came in halfway through the discussion.

Okay. We're good on this one, Gary.

Yep. Okay. So, this one up. We'll go Sorry. We'll go briefly through the special

version two. Yes.

So here we um we left off with we have the three uh articles here and we went through this last week. Uh we were meeting with the um uh DPW director just to go over uh some of these numbers and uh we buttoned up the three numbers both three for the water enterprise sewer and um solid waste.

So again again these are these are only budgeting items. It wasn't that the res wasn't enough revenue. It was just that there wasn't the budget didn't there wasn't enough budgeted plenty of revenues just not enough budgeted.

We also looked back um about 15 years ago this was actually a normal thing the town did almost every town meeting annual they would also have a special and do an additional appropriation to these enterprise funds. It stopped for a period of time.

The 450 is higher than initially last week. Um that's because of a a number of things primarily again in the water. um 299 uh the well there was during the blizzard one of the electrical poles actually snapped in half. Um we had to spend several thousand dollar to get that up and running. They did that and then they realized a lot of the underground equipment was fried during that process. So now we're going through

that to get that um fixed and so that that contributes to some of this uh cost and then a lot of it's just the initial um the water usage. Those wells again because of that some of them are offline and so that results in you know the goal is to get them back online here soon. Uh so before we get into peak season we're not you know we're producing. Good news is um the

where are the other wells? the other wells I can't think of no is it uh 299 and then 299 the ones that down anyways one of the other locations that has been historically down for years we finally got approval from Dere flushing u and testing and those wells should be back online by the end of next week so good news excellent you want to make a motion to motion to recommend article one special

town meeting supplement to the FY 2026 six operating budget of the water department enterprise fund.

I'll second it.

Any questions or discussion?

Anybody have any questions?

Are we ready to vote?

All in favor?

I. Any oppose passes 70?

Same uh situation on article two. It was uh fact that there wasn't enough um budgeted public work. Motion to recommend article 2 supplement to the FY 2026 operating budget of the sewer enterprise fund.

Second.

Thank you. Questions, discussion?

Ready to vote? All in favor? I.

Any opposed? No. 700.

Article three.

Motion to recommend article three supplement to the FY2026 operating budget of the solid waste enterprise fund.

Second.

Any questions or discussion?

Ready to vote. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? No. 700 Z.

Okay. So, um, did the committee want to go over the rationale? I mean, I know we're already on the warrant.

Correct. I would probably do this because I have it open on my screen. Do we want to try and switch? Please get crossed on that one.

No.

Been sitting here plugging in.

No, this works. It worked last week.

I did, but that's not the issue.

It wasn't the issue.

It has to do with it extracting the power and replplugging at some point.

Well, we'll have to see what happens. We want the oil wells come on.

Mhm.

And hopefully we don't.

There he comes. Yeah.

Hopefully no droughts.

We're in one now.

Yeah. I know.

Yeah. I'm telling you. I think it's that plug.

It's the dongle like mine. Yeah. The connection.

It's not actually. This is what I used last week.

Oh, really?

Yeah. All we did when I had help from DCTV was replug and it inevitably Yeah. Sometimes you It was a power thing.

I think it's that power. Who's got the power because it's been on? But I have the issue with mine too whenever I try to use the converter.

Telling you I think something something with this last week for his name.

Reboot. Reset it. Off it went.

Was it dusty?

No.

Only works when it feels like it. If you needed to try another one, this is one.

No, look. It's not that moving.

Hers is reset.

Yeah, I know. Mine thinks it's doing.

If not, I'll just give it back to Gary and we'll be able to see see me type.

That's all.

Right.

You know, when you're ready to call it a day cuz I'll do it for 20 minutes.

Got nothing to do with resetting the computer, right Pete?

No. No. It was truly just resetting.

Is that a pleasing noise?

No, it's that. It's not her computer.

No. And because it wasn't just Janine, it happened to Cody too. Cody's computer. So it seems like whenever trying to use a dongle or like an external device not worked last week.

Yeah. It's the exact same setup as last week.

And I, as I've said before, I have an external monitor at home.

Yeah.

All plugs work.

HDMI.

Just one. And that's not it. You just take it out, put it back in for the last try, and then I'd give it to Gary.

You know, we never had these problems in the other room.

We did.

Thank you for pointing that out, Patrick. It's true. And I did that. I displayed for five years.

You're absolutely right.

Yeah, I have to agree.

Yeah. You want to take a They just won't be able to see me type. That's all.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay.

No, I just said no.

Yeah. I mean it we kind of guessed at that. It was just truly a couple times of plugging in and out and then boom, all of a sudden it worked. As you know, we were like just I came in early last time to make sure it worked before we had a 20 minute disaster.

Yeah, that's pretty.

Yeah, I don't understand why sometimes it Here you go, Gary.

So, you want to adjourn the meeting and wait 20 minutes.

See if it's going to work.

Yeah.

Yeah. When I tried plugging in last week, it did the same thing.

Okay.

How do you get around that?

I don't know. contact the company and ask them what's going on. They installed it because install what the uh projector install the projector and stuff because maybe it's some kind of conflict with Yeah.

projector doesn't like the dongle or Yeah.

or if there's a certain dongle that we can buy that right because we've tried more than one because I have some in my bag.

What's a dongle?

It's the like the Yeah, that's the connection.

Oh yeah.

No, it converts it.

Enables me to use different types of plugs.

She gives it to me.

It's just Okay. So, so she doesn't have a USB on our computer.

Yeah, they minimize what they give you for plugs.

Um, so the special town meeting ration, Gary.

Um, did you send that to me, Jenny?

Yeah. Yeah, I did. I sent it to everyone.

Was this this morning?

I think I sent it today because I put the new numbers in.

You did about 10 o'clock is There you go. 10 o'clock today. Gary probably sent it to Cody, too.

It was uh 7:51 a.m.

I would have sent it to all of Dartmouth something. I just make it bigger.

All righty.

So obviously um this does not have the uh recommendation vote on there which is 700 for all three. The ration are pretty um straightforward.

This article appropriates $450,000 from water enterprise revenues for the purpose of supplementing the fiscal year 2026 operating budget of the water department enterprise fund to cover additional operating costs not expected at the time of original appropriation.

Motion to approve. Um, I don't think I don't think you need a motion to But I like the I like the end.

That was good. That was good.

Well, you can just say Yeah, we don't have to vote on it other than the fact that we all agree.

Do we agree that that sentence covers our recommendation of seven zero?

You love that. Okay, there we go. We have Brian's approval.

So, we abstain this one.

And uh article two rationale is pretty similar except we say appropriates $200,000 from the sewer enterprise revenues. That's literally the difference.

Thoughts, concerns?

That looks straightforward.

Good. Okay. Thank you.

And three, same thing except the number was added for Yeah, it's in there.

$100,000. Same thing for um Oh, wait a minute. Look at that cutting and pasting. Come on. You're not reading it.

Sewer department.

It should say solid waste.

Should it say solid waste?

Yes. Solid wast at the top.

See, nobody was really reading it.

Yeah. Shame. Shame on everyone.

Waste. You need waste. Yeah.

You can leave Enterprise.

No, I'm going to. So, it now says appropriates $100,000 from solid waste revenues for the purpose of supplementing the budget of the solid waste.

Solid waste department enterprise fund.

Okay.

Correct.

Yes.

Solid waste and Yeah, it's all waste.

Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry you can't see it up on the screen, but that's literally all I changed.

Okay, cool.

Is that okay now?

Yes.

Yeah.

Okay, that's okay. Rel's done. Okay, beautiful.

Now longer version the spring town meeting ration was the what was it when when did you send that out? I know I this morning I got mine at 10:00 or something weekend on Saturday.

Yeah.

Oh that one was Yeah. Okay. Bigger point that I had it.

Ryan, are you suggesting you didn't read them?

No.

I can't find it.

Well, I'm sure somebody can tell you the time of it. I'm not going to check my email.

I got or this morning about 10 or something but All right. Oops. Where'd it go?

What?

There we go. Thank you, Carrie. Uh, this article appropriates Community Preservation Act revenues for CPC administrative functions in accordance with state law. This is an annual request from the CPC.

Thoughts? concerns, problems, straightforward. Straightforward looks good to me.

You know, a lot of these are pretty standard housekeeping things. I didn't really change wording from previous years. Honestly, I might have had to change the year. Okay. Article two.

This article appropriates or reserves for later $112,000 from fiscal year 2027 community preservation fund annual revenues to be allocated to the community preservation community housing housing reserve. I can't even read and you have them. So thoughts I mean straight.

Yeah. The dollar amounts right.

Okay, just changing it to black because I know it's been reviewed.

Uh, article three for the DCTV renovations phase three.

Uh, this can you read it? This article appropriates $461,394 from the community preservation historic preservation reserve to the town of Dartmouth for the DCTV renovations phase 3 project at $247 Russell Mills Road.

All in accordance with the terms and conditions of the community preservation grant agreement and referencing the community preservation fiscal year 2027 budget.

Well done.

pretty close to cut and paste for everything. Um, similar one for article four except we're referencing the field.

Can you just make that a little bit bigger? It's just cuz it's red, Gary.

It's hard to read.

Uh, it's going to probably go off the screen.

Okay, don't bother.

Okay, there we go.

Don't bother. Everybody can see it, right?

No.

I don't want to read them all out loud.

Anyone read it? It's the same language except, you know, field property located at Fort Tannery Lane.

that first um 575. Is that missing a zero?

Oh, look at that. Yes, it is. Yes, it is.

Thank you, Patrick, for reading.

Yeah, that was actually that happened the last time you had in front of us, Janine. Now, I brought up that missing a zero.

May I point out that was in the warrant, which I don't write.

I don't care.

But that's okay. We all share the good and the bad.

All right. 575,000. Thank you for spotting them.

Uh 200,475.

Any other changes?

Hearing none.

No changes.

Looks good.

And that wased 600. Okay. Article five capo field lighting 230,000 with 100,000 and 130,000 road Patrick I know you have an eagle eye show is it good?

Yeah.

Anybody have any comments?

No. Oh, okay.

Okay.

What else?

This is all right. Article six.

Yeah, you have to change that one. The recommender 50.

It did. So, it now says 502.

Okay, good.

And the rest is the same obviously. Uh $853,300 1707 175,000 678,300 Just want to make sure the numbers are right. Not missing any zeros.

Anybody?

No. Good.

We add one. No, just kidding.

Just for fun.

Good.

No.

Okay. Article seven appropriates 1,500,000 any preservation unrestricted reserve.

Anybody want to say anything?

Good to go.

To be held. Yeah, that's fine.

Article eight appropriate. Okay. This is literally housekeeping stuff.

Appropriation from the cemetery sale lot sale of lot fund. The $2,000 appropriation.

Yeah, that's perfect.

That doesn't change.

Okay. Article nine.

This is also um the same language that gets used from year to year.

Didn't make it up.

Yeah. Maximum spent and various revolving funds counts, whatever.

And for anybody who's not used to this, I typically say things like full details can be found in warrant article 9.

Right.

So we don't have to repeat the entire Mhm.

Okay. Good.

Thanks.

Okay. Except so I have to note to self look at the warrant article numbers as we move forward because they changed.

Uh but not yet.

And then they may change if we're holding that additional article.

And when will we know that by the way?

Monday night.

Monday night. Yeah.

After the meeting.

Okay. And the deadline is Tuesday.

I'm okay if the select board is doesn't have a final, but okay. I know town clerk needs to have this, but if it get you've already voted, you've already voted on it. Just gets pulled from town meeting the They'll just pull the article.

We still leave. Yeah, we still leave this.

Then they'll re number.

Yeah. You don't It's just the reumber.

Yeah. You're not revoting on those articles.

Oh, you're not even going to It's not going to When we sent it out, it's present. We would be pulling it, right?

Yeah, we would be a lot of times it gets pulled from the floor.

Yeah. Yeah, right.

Let's worry about that later.

Yeah, that's not a big deal. We can always It's just changing number that uh a capital plan uh standard language that's been used in the past except for the number of 3 million $12,560 and then full details can be found in warrant article 10.

Anybody else see any Oops.

Okay. So, I say that twice. See, I can take that up.

Yeah, you did.

I'm going to take out the last sentence because I already referred to it in the first.

Or you can just whatever. Whatever you want to do, Janine.

Yeah.

All right. We're just tomorrow. Yeah. To do that.

Anybody? No.

No.

No.

Salaries and stipens of elected officials sets the town clerk's salary. It's a 3.3 salary increase. Recommendation is based on a recent job classification and composition study for the town of Dartmouth which found the positions pay to be in line with similar roles in other municipalities and fair within the organization.

Next 12 schedule a do can we just go back? Do we want to say on article 11 the this article sets the count county town count clerk salary and because we somewhere we should we say and zero stipens for all elected officials. Well, the stipens is zero.

It's pretty standard. We This is how we've worded it.

Yeah, I know. It's just I'm I'm not doubting that.

No, no. I'm just asking how would you phrase that?

Um, you mentioned that stipens are zero.

Would do we maybe put some How about if I put parentheses?

Yep.

I know you can't see it, but I put stipens.

The only funded position or the only the only position that is actually paid is the town clerk's position. All other elected positions and appointed positions are not are That's a long sentence.

Yeah, she just put zero in the exactly what you just said. Stipens zero for all elected position. Okay.

Yeah.

Um but the town clerk is an elected position.

He's right.

All other elected positions.

Okay, that's good.

Yeah, very good catch on the wording for all other elected positions. I am going to send this out again and I'm hoping you will all take a glance at it tomorrow.

I'll do my best. I will because second set of eyes are good for typos, whatever, or just serious mistakes.

Okay. Schedule schedule a article 12.

Yep. 113 million 515 includes the two staff I don't see anything wrong with that good hold on this yes they have to vote separately inclusive yes see a huddle over there in the corner don't worry because if it's a mistake this year it was a mistake last Except for the number we have to reduce that.

Yeah.

Uh article 13 funding sewer and septic system betterments appropriation for debt services and associated costs. This article is voted on each year.

Yes.

Not a lot of things we have to say.

Article 14, funding solid waste enterprise fund. This article self-funds the operating expenses and indirect costs for the solid waste enterprise fund.

Yeah.

Article 15 funding water department enterprise fund.

Same thing, sell funds.

And then we have an added sentence here.

The finance committee, we used it last year. The finance committee recognizes the need to provide clean water and the costs associated with that process.

Yes.

Good.

Article 16, funding sewer department enterprise fund. This article self funds the operating expenses and indirect costs for the sewer department enterprise fund.

Okay.

I don't say the finance committee recognizes the need to title.

Fine.

You know, I was thinking the same thing.

John Souza insists that I mean to me that's just the other.

I almost want to put it in there to see how many people like comment. Yeah, that you might get a chuckle.

You have a subject system the test reads it.

I just out of curiosity.

Why was that in there for the water? I have no idea.

At some time we felt the need to have water extra thing about clean water.

Okay.

It's always wondering it's always a discussion in town. dirty.

Oh, this I think I think it was also we knew that at that at that point there with with the New Bedford purchasing New Bedford water and the rates probably going up.

It was and the wells and everything else should we say recognizes the expense needed to provide. No, I'm kidding.

We'll leave that out of there. No political statements. Um 16.

No, we did that already. 17. Funding Dartmouth Cable Television Enterprise Fund self-unds the operating expenses and indirect costs for the DCTV Enterprise Fund.

Article 18, funding waterways management enterprise fund. Same thing selfunds operating expenses and indirect costs.

Okay.

Article 19, appropriation for use of collective bargaining stabilization fund.

Appropriates $100,000 from the collective bargaining stabilization fund to offset the costs of collective bargaining within the Dartmouth public schools.

Yay.

No.

Yes.

Appropriation for use of full day kindergarten stabilization fund.

This article appropriates $178,39 from the full day kindergarten stabilization fund for fiscal year 2027 to use for the operating costs of the Dartmouth public schools. I added this sentence because I know I would ask this question. Approximately $188,957 remains in the kindergarten stabilization fund.

Yep. Good. Good. You added that.

Someone else may ask the question.

The only recommendation I have is if you want to do that, which I think is actually a great idea. I would do it with article 19, too.

How much is it going to remain in the collective bargaining stabilization fund?

We can get you the number.

Okay. But I don't know that number.

Sure.

That's a great idea.

We're going to do it. We need to be consistent. I agree.

Okay. Let me just put a note to myself.

Remaining balance.

Good job.

Good question, Gary. The source of the kindergarten stabilization fund. Was that parent tuition before full day kindergarten was here in Dartmouth? Was it a grant full day kindergarten grants when they were coming out? And no, it was appropriations from the the general fund. Yeah, general fun added a long time.

It was when it first went or to to b when they made the change to full day, there was a concern that at some point they wouldn't be able to absolutely continue and they put some money aside.

I don't know if it was tuition money for full day kindergarten and pay a half day and all that other stuff.

Thank you.

So, we're good on that.

I added the note to the previous article to get the remaining balance. Oops. Not what I want to do.

21 personnel bylaw amendment.

So I know you changed some language but it didn't change the amount of change the rationale by no just compensation rate for nine seasonal and part-time positions and five non-union positions.

Uh is that yes is that correct? Please tell me if I'm wrong.

What compensate for nine seasonal and parttime? That's how I looked at those positions. Am I wrong? I'm just happy to correct.

Other than that, well, your question, the number of seats, it might be more. I think um because we have several per grade came out.

Okay.

So, it's um it's more than five. Okay.

Recommendation. Maybe leave the the count out because of I mean I I think maybe just the I'm only going by previous seasonal and part-time positions and and non-UN positions.

Okay, fine.

Maybe leave the count out.

Yep. Yep. Yeah, but if you want to refer back to the article, they can see.

Doesn't it have to agree with the number that's in the article? The Well, there's not a number. It just lists them though.

I know that, but it coincides with Well, we're not listing them here. So, somebody would have to go through and say, "Okay, what you know, I made a guess when I looked at those terms."

All right. Well, honestly, your call, but I just Anyway, as Gary said, compensation rate for seasonal and part-time positions and non-union positions, I should just do Yeah, just take the numbers out.

Yeah, I did. Seasonal part time decision.

All right. Uh based on the town of Dartmouth's recent job classification and compensation study, full details can be found in article warrant article 21.

Okay.

Yeah.

22.

Just making sure my numbers are still right. All right.

All right.

Regarding the dog hearing officer, the amendment adds additional text to allow the select board at their discretion to appoint someone other than a police officer to serve in this role.

Full details in warrant article 22.

Right.

Okay.

I know they changed some text, but it had to do with something else. Doesn't matter on here.

Yeah, it didn't change the No, it didn't change this. Yeah.

Article 23 snow.

Uh yes, snow. Um this article amends chapter uh 315 section six of the town's general bylaws regarding snow removal from sidewalks.

Mhm.

Full details can be found in war warrant article 23. Did we have a comment or we just going to go by your abstension that?

No, I I have a Well, I mean I just I do have a comment. Well, do we want to add it to the rationale or do you want to write it separately and add it as a what is a major minor and put I don't know if somebody wanted to express concerns about so you can write it in if you want but I just wrote the abstension from this article was related to not feeling

comfortable voting yes on increasing snow removal fine one mile radius around the schools.

because I have a concern for financial hardship on persons living in these areas, particularly residents who are disabled or elderly.

It's hot it's a long so maybe it's not that long actually for those of us who are typing live. Um you'd have to email it to me and I'll add it under.

Yeah.

Yeah. I think we have to when you abstain um I'm just thinking about this. When you abstain you you can't it's not a minority. It's not a minor. I was just going to say that we're not a minority, right?

You obtain unless we have no voice. You have to have to object.

You're right. It's either you have to say no and then voice the objection.

Then you then you write an opinion if you said no.

Right. If you said we've written absentions in there before on why I'm okay with not putting it.

No, actually somebody would ask from the audience. They might say, you know, what was the reason that someone This isn't, you know, a government document what we're writing. This is just our rumors to maintain consistency.

Write it if we wanted to.

And no one's trying to stifle you. You have the right to if someone asks, you can make that statement at town meeting.

They'll see that the vote wasn't unanimous right?

Yeah. No, I was I don't care, but I'm just saying it could go in there if we wanted it to.

I I would I would say to remain consistent um that it's either a the majority. It's been always majority minority uh rights to those opinions.

Right. I agree.

I agree.

All right. That's fair.

Janine, if you want to go back to 19, the balance after that appropriation will be approximately 950,000.

950,000.

Yes.

That might generate some discussion.

Um, let me see what it said.

We haven't settled any of our the general government contracts. We anticipate in the fall we'll go back to No, I I believe in transparency. So, it's great. It's in there.

It was a good suggestion.

I'm sorry, Gary. Go ahead.

100,000 for the collective bargain sales. I would put comma the current balance in this account is and then maybe say 1 million 57,000, you know, the current balance in this account.

Yeah. So, maybe do that with the kindergarten stabilization fund too. put the current balance before the appropriation because we don't want to assume we don't want to assume that that is going to be passed.

Yeah. Right. So we can put current balances.

Yeah.

Current balance in this account is Yeah. So the current balance is a million50,000 approximately.

Sorry. 1 million 05 and I have just so the committee knows I have these I have the balances with me at town meeting when if there's questions on what the balances were after.

So the current balance for the other one I'll add it after I'll add those two numbers together. Okay.

24 is going 20 21.

Okay, we just I took out that. That's good. Uh let me change that to black.

22 general bylaw amendment.

That's a shame. Why are these already black?

Did that one. We did 22. We did 23.

Okay.

So, we're on 24. And that's that's being that's gone.

So, I have wor That's right. That one's been withdrawn.

I'm sorry. So, 24 is now the cryptocurrency ATM bylaw.

Right.

It's fine. I've changed my number on here already. 700. Um, this article amends the town's general bylaws, division one, part two, general legislation to add chapter 273, which will prohibit cryptocurrency automatic teller machines. Full details can be found in article 24.

They change that.

Well, warrant or just Yeah, warrant article 24, right?

It's just the numbers got to match. Yes.

Okay. So that's all 24 25.

The article amends the site plan review zoning bylaws with lang language updates outdated section removal and updates to the submission process if it stays.

Yeah.

Then we have to throws off my numbering system.

Sure.

Just when you think you're done.

Yeah.

Uh, article 26 is the accept I'm sorry, Gary. I'm saying article 26 because it's on my I know because I'm typing and that's the old one. Acceptance of general laws chapter 59.

This article authorizes acceptance of a Massachusetts legislation local option law that allows eligible veterans and their families to receive property tax exemptions even if their home is held in a trust or managed by a legal representative.

I look and see if Cody nods because he's going to tell me if it's wrong.

And everybody else, if you have a thought.

Yes.

Yeah, it looks fine.

So for me, article 27, citizens petition, the first one, Allen Street, uh the finance committee voted unanimously to not recommend article bless you.

Town council determined the current wording of the article is not legally valid.

Yeah.

All right. Article 28, which is the first police station reuse committee.

We voted 070.

Once again, the finance committee voted unanimously to not recommend this article. While we agree with the initiative, town council determined the current wording is not legally valid.

Do you all agree with the initiative?

We did last week.

We do. It's just the word. So my question would be we can use the same one for the next one if we still all you know agree with the initiative.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

I try my best Cody not to put words in other people's. I know it's difficult sometimes.

Just confirm it when you let when you let me do the typing. It's hard to say what I'll write.

All right. So we're going to use the same one for the last article 29.

Okay, thank you.

That wraps that up.

That wraps up wrap it up with a bow almost. I will um get some void smithing. So, fix all these.

No, the letter.

Okay, just a couple things and send it to everybody to give it a last check.

Okay, let me just scroll it. I gota fix that. Okay, good.

All right,

we up to the letter.

The letter.

Hang on, let me get it up on my screen.

I sent it out in two versions to everybody just in case the formatting didn't work for you in Word. I saw that.

So, just a overview of some of the changes I made, but I'm hoping we can just dive into the part that really needs to be rewritten. Um, there were some suggestions made in the first paragraph, and please, I beg you to read them if you haven't already, that just wanted to more clearly define our role.

So, that there's a sentence in there that's ultimately says, "Our role is to look at Dartmouth as a whole, balancing the needs of schools, public safety, public works, community services, da da da."

That's probably the main change in that opening paragraph.

And why do we feel why do you feel you needed to put that in?

It was somewhere further down in the document, honestly. And it kind of makes sense because it's the opening. M you know we we still have all the comments about you know the uh initiatives and transparency and that type of thing. So didn't seem like a crazy change. You know sometimes people don't necessarily know everything we do.

Uh the key initiatives hasn't changed.

Please read them. Mm-m. Um, are they the same from last year? Like they're the same from last week.

Last week. Okay.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, unless I found a space that was off.

Okay.

No, no, but please I, you know, you have a little time to review this as well if you haven't had time today.

Um, website question. Um, I maybe remove the um the the URL because once we launch Okay, you're right. I'm sorry. I added the URL.

Yeah, we're going to have a Dartmouth specific once we launch it and that'll just bring you to the general Clear Guard website. You know, it may cause some confusion.

Okay.

Sorry. That was part of that conversation of do we have a screen grab or do we have a H and I did go online because you can go in there and it was nothing good.

There was nothing good to screen grab obviously. Not yet.

I poked around. Yeah.

All right. All right. Good. Thank you.

Uh I This is definitely This is basically what we last week's discussion.

Mhm.

Yeah.

You mean about the initiatives?

Yeah. Yeah.

Oh yeah. Yeah. No, other than adding that that Yeah. which I just took out.

You want to take off the economic development in some manner because it hadn't started yet. We had that discussion talked about that, but we were saying for farm later this year.

So, yeah, that's I think that's a good thing. We just left it. I think it's been said a couple times in public and yeah, it's it's worth mentioning, but you know, it doesn't get it doesn't get into too much detail.

No, it doesn't. It's fine.

It's just enough to say it's coming soon, right? It shows people that we're working on something, right? Um, so I switched two sections. The reason I switched two sections has a lot to do with how this document flows from a physical standpoint because I don't want it to be cut in awkward places when you print it.

I know that sounds crazy, but it also makes sense.

But it also flows. Okay. I think so. Financial policies and why they matter is the next section. Now, now also with some suggestions, I simplified it even more if possible. If that's possible, um, you know, bullets, but descriptions, you know, read them. That hasn't the concept hasn't really changed as far as the words that were used with those um, bullet items, but please, you know, take a look.

addition comes after because we talked about having um some keyword or key term definitions.

Could I ask um Cody and Gary with respect to free cash per surplus extra money left over?

I don't know if that's a if there might be another terminology, but if not, I'm fine with that. And if that's what the constituency is used to calling end of year roll, it sounds kind of Yeah, maybe like extra money left over.

Yeah, we'll keep a simple um surplus funds.

There's a definition in the That's what I was thinking. Surplus is the first surplus funds left over and then take money left over cuz surplus is there.

Why do you even have to say anything to say surplus or surplus at year end surplus at year end?

Something like that.

Just take it out of the title into the body.

Yeah. Surplus. Surplus funds at your end oring at the end of the fiscal year.

Something like that.

Meaning funds or anything like that or just leave out take out extra and just say money left over at the at year end.

Surplus at year end.

Boom.

It's not extra. It's not left over.

simplifying remaining for anyone who doesn't know what surplus.

So now the bullet says free cash colon surplus left over at year end and used for one-time expenses and capital projects.

Sure. Better.

Yeah.

Thank you.

And then the rest of it is still there.

Thank you.

Um okay.

The other section that is new goes to the discussion last week of adding some uh terms and their definitions.

I tried to keep with terms that we're using in this letter. I understand and it's in here. There is a municipal glossery, all 22 glorious pages of it that contains everything you've ever column.

22 pages side by side columns, but it's yeah, too much for the crowd.

Trust me, but there's a link if people want to go looking for it to to learn more. But I was trying to keep it to a the audience that we have and b you know we the terms that might be in this letter.

We see the I like that you have the definitions in here. This I mean or that we I mean I know we talked about something about enterprise funds. So I put that in there. Fiscal year. I know we take for granted what that is but not everybody knows.

Yeah. Can we roll up the screen?

Can you scroll down Gary?

Gary. Thank you. So, we're in definitions.

Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yeah, we're at definition.

I'm sorry. No problem.

There we go. Yeah.

The only one that I would consider adding dependent on again the constituency group at town meeting would be minimum aid.

Can I make talk about the Oh, sorry.

No, that's okay. Just before you get too carried away on the description of it.

No, sorry.

No, I will tell you the space is tight.

We can take one away. We can add one, but I don't want to keep the number any more than this because we're going to lose the whole format. That's all. If something needs to go, I'm okay with that.

Or or here's the thing, Dearra, is further on. Sometimes you can use it in a sentence and the explanation is there in the sentence.

Okay.

Is that good?

Absolutely.

Only recommendation on stabilization fund is choose either extra or surplus.

Okay, hang on. Where were we? Oh.

Surplus I would use Yeah. If you're using surplus for free cash remain consistent with the surplus I'm sorry you want to say where surplus money is stored for future.

Oh take away extra.

Yeah I would.

Yes. Yeah. That's fine. Makes sense.

Yeah. Free cash I mean according to the DO um this is their definition. We know we have a million different definitions of free cash. It's uh the unrestricted unspent funds for the remaining fiscal year.

Exactly. fiscal year is operations surpluses. Yeah, surpluses. Yeah, same thing. Yeah, but the extra kind of was No, no, that was an extra word. Thank you.

I'm trying to get as much space as we can right?

Tell I welcome anyone here to have formatted this letter.

Carry on. New growth, additional tax revenue from new homes, buildings being built. Shouldn't infrastructure be in there? additional tax revenue from new homes buildings being built.

Utility infrastructure comes in and they're building a lot of it.

That's a lot of cash coming in when we tax that.

Yeah, let me think about that cuz even even that is even because new growth is techly anything, right? It it can be small but even if you get new windows and you get siding on your house, anything that'll add a pool and increases the value. Yeah. Any upgrade?

I'm just trying to think of a simple No, me too. Me too. uh uh new homes, buildings, upgrades and renovations.

Infrastructure or upgrades and renovations.

Oh, I think infrastructure covers them.

But if we add to that, isn't it going to bump the debt exclusion out to the next page or No, not necessarily because we're only talking a couple words.

Seriously.

Additional tax revenue from new homes, new construction of residential and commercial properties of new residents of residential commercial commercial uh of Okay. So additional tax revenue.

Yeah. as a result of you know as a result of residential comma commercial um properties and then and also utility infrastructure that's really what's making up the big the biggest piece of growth um and that's I mean that's that's uh if they're putting in pipelines if they're putting in new lines uh electrical lines it doesn't happen every year but once they do like they they did a major they

did they did a major overhaul of of of the gas lines and electric that was a good point years ago.

New homes comma buildings comma or electrical infra or utility infrastructure.

Yeah. Electrical keep the sentence that short and um keep the space residential commercial properties uh incl and including um utility utility infrastructure.

Yeah.

Now you have to say that again.

Yeah. So from residential and residential commercial and commercial stop there and and the and the um utility infrastructure utility infrastructure that covers really all the big and utility infra big points did it stay on one line okay except for I always yes it does so wouldn't it be additional tax revenue from new residential commercial and utility infrastructure Thank you.

Yeah.

Otherwise, it sounds Yeah, those are like like what Cody said, decks and doors and roofs.

Yeah, it's all the new It's all the new construction.

So, I have a question.

Yes.

On the next one. Uh uh operational override.

Yeah. Is that really a operational override? Is that really a term?

That's the term.

It is a term.

That is the term.

It is a term.

It's not just plain old.

It's a term that I heard Gary say last night.

I mean, it Yes. It's what we call it. I I haven't ever seen operation refer the state, right? You can call it an operational override. Um the state refers to as a proposition 2 and a half override.

That's the six towns I sent you. We call them generals. That Martha's Vineyard, we all have generals. They're they're really the nomenclature is so important because it's so different in every community.

It is it is an operational overright.

Yeah.

That's what that function. The function is the function is proposition two and a half. That's how you that's the mechanism.

Sometimes you get proposition two and a half operational override.

Yeah. But the common way that's the common phrase and everybody is proposition two and a half override.

Yeah. That's what everybody think if why are we going to confuse it with operational override?

Well, that's another thing too. Tom and Right. You don't want that to be confusing. Does Dot consider the debt exclusions a Prop 2 and half override or just an operational?

That's okay. I'm just trying to figure out to Dedra's point. Technically, thank you.

Even a debt exclusion is technically a Prop 2 and a half override per the state. It's But however you guys are temporary, understanding it is what you want to make sure.

I I've never suddenly this operational thing has showed up. I that's just what municipalities use. The terms from do are proposition 2 and a half exclusion which would be a debt exclusion in proposition 2 and a half override.

I would I would use well MMA used operational override as a definition. Gary had it last night in his presentation and that's anyway that that but I'm just saying we have to decide what it is and be consist common language. If you teach a second grade a minus and a third grade subtract they're doomed for life.

common language.

They common I would use what the state uses. Why create why?

Be honest. If you're if you're saying like operational override in your presentation, but it's commonly referred to. I would have it in brackets in there so that they know that that's one and the same.

But she's worried about spacing on that.

I was start thinking that too. No.

Well, she has a concern. I was thinking about that myself. I just thought formally two and a half or well just refer to poor choice or refer to two and a half.

Well, I'll do it the same just in brackets. Two and a half brackets and two two and a half% the brackets. That's what I was saying.

I I've been doing this for a long time and I heard this thing come up and I said, did I miss something? What is an operational over?

No, I agree. If you're good operational quote prop period two half I just think you have to Everyone knows prop. It's on bumper stickers. No, this does. This one knows two and a half.

I don't fit all if I shrink it more.

I don't know.

Can also explain at the time.

That's why segregated for operational to debt.

Yeah, it's really two.

There we go.

Then I shrunk something.

No, that seemed What does it say now?

Okay, this is what I put operational override colon and then in parentheses proposition 2 and a half.

You can't see it.

I have a question.

It's cuz it's not up on there, silly.

Because I'm not making Gary type.

Do you use that term anywhere in the letter?

I'm not questioning it. I'm just saying two and a half.

Is the term Is the term used anywhere in the letter?

Proposition two and a half. Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah. I I think that that's good.

Okay, that's fine.

Is is proposition two and a half? Now, now we've linked the two together.

Is is is override mentioned anywhere in the litter?

No, that's chalk. Do we have chalk?

No, this is just a good point.

No, it isn't.

But so, do you need it if if you're saying that you mentioned Proposition 2 and a half as a whole?

We did mention Proposition 2 and a half.

Just above at the levy limit, it says Proposition 2 and that's where that's I scanned it. That's that's about it right here.

These are definitions though. They're not But but if you're But why are you giving a definition of something that you're not talking about?

The town's talking about it.

But and you're a letter. I'm saying I'm more than happy to take it out, but I have to go with the Now I'm really confused. You're going to leave operational in or you going to put two and a half in?

I'm saying the term as a whole, whether you call it proposition 2 and a half or operational override, right? Proposition 2 and a half is referred to later in the letter as a limiting factor type thing.

Um I the operational override is not used anywhere in the letter.

Yeah, this is this is in there, but this isn't all I'm saying is you're defining a term that's not in your letter. I agree. I mean, that's fair.

Everybody else has to I'm fine with that.

Taking it out. How many people?

No, I'm fine with keeping it in. Even though we don't talk about a lot, it's it's small. It's not adding much to it, but it's an opportunity to educate some folks. Why not?

I'll be the first to say it's not a door I like to open.

Something that's coming.

U No, I think we all can agree to that.

But I'm just saying I have to go with what everybody wants in the letter. So, do we agree that that sentence stays?

Not with I don't like operational overrider.

I don't know.

Well, you cannot like the term Brian, which we can't do anything about. I don't think it's the the context that much.

I don't care.

Call it whatever you want, but the context needs to stay.

It's going to confuse people.

No, it's not. Don't you you know, it's not going to confuse anybody. You need to read into it and it can be explained if it's a question.

Absolutely. You think it should stay?

No question about it. You're confused.

I I think you got to put two and a half next to it or two and it is it is to Cody's point in our letter. We don't ever talk about an override and yet we're inserting a definition for an override.

Well, winter is coming, right?

That's insightful, Brian. Thank you.

That'll be next year.

Can I just um on the um Skipping a little bit ahead, I think there might I think No, no, but in regard to this, I think there might be an opportunity to put um there's a there's a paragraph that begins with 96% of DMA's property taxes.

Yep.

Um and how we're limited in how we can um keep up with inflation. Mhm.

And that might be an opportunity to put in like a little blip about the only way to um increase revenue above that would be with an operational or proposition 2 and a half override. Um just to put in that's the only way you can kind of skirt around it outside of new growth.

But new growth you only have so much. Um if you want to make some sort of small mention of it without going into a Yeah, I think that works.

I I support nice Patrick.

Yeah, very nice.

I support what he what Patrick is. It's we need to stop.

It's factual discussion.

Good eye.

Mhm.

So, and I think you could probably squeeze it in there without an issue after this.

There's other parts too like in the um in the revenue constraints paragraph.

Going with you on that. I get it.

Possibly could go in there, too.

So, I'm removing it.

Should go in there right now, which is fine. Stick it at the end right now and we'll worry about it. State the definition top. Don't So we're going to put it twice.

No. We're going to talk about it. So we said that we don't talk about it.

There's a definition in there, but it's never discussed.

Patrick is saying why don't we discuss it when we talk about how how we're limited on how we get our revenue.

Right there. Click. There you go.

I think that's good.

I do too. I So we'll wait till we get to that then.

Okay. Fine. So will we be done with this section?

Yes.

Okay, good.

Shoo.

That was painful. We're not even at the part that really needs more help.

But the scroll back understanding the town's budget.

You have a graph to look at three. Okay. So, this is ultimately the same.

Okay.

I did add if you look to the right hand side, the property tax breakdown percentages, residential, commercial, da da.

Okay. ask one question regarding this chart.

Mhm.

Okay. Can I go up here? Cuz I'm sorry.

Got to get her a laser.

She was She was a school teacher, right?

I love it.

You want to stand on my shoulders?

I swear to God. So, the the email that I sent today about state aid funds provided by the state budget based on revenue collections.

I took that literally and tried to divide assessed valuation in order to come up with unrestricted Chapter 70. The way I read that, that's why I asked doesn't write a state budget based on revenue collections.

But what you're saying that's the churn sheet that's unrestricted a chapter 70 based on revenue collection. Yes.

Yes.

So it's funds provided by the state based on revenue collection.

State revenue collections.

Yeah.

Local revenue collection.

That's actually a good point.

I mean I was like trying to calculate about change the chart then based on the state revenue collection.

Thank you.

Oh it's a picture the whole thing of the chart not the chart.

I do know how please leave it if it it's too much but that's really how I interpreted it.

That's actually a good point of clarification by the state budget.

Sorry for the display revenue based on their revenue projection based on their their revenue. Yeah revenue collections because they're actuals. The other thing that I added because it was requested was the source.

So the only source I had was at the very bottom in tiny little type. Scroll up is Gary Carrero, director of budget.

I love that. It'll work. That'll work.

That's the source for me.

He's getting all the liability on you now, Gary.

Well, there is actually there's a paragraph in in I think we used to put on this letter that uh if there's any information, they can contact my office.

So, Oh, I like that. Can we keep it?

If somebody's concerned about the source of this information, I'd like to think our uh director of budget and finance is a reliable source.

Anyway, that was added and the property tax.

I'll update I'll update this and reset it.

Yes, I added it. You can you can put in I'll update this chart, send it back to you, then you can just Oh, you mean remove this one and then put the new one in. I'll change the the language here on the Yes. Thank a Okay. Uh Okay. And the next chart where the money goes, same thing. Got my source. Only thing I added.

Yeah. And the key here is, as I mentioned last week, we're consistent with these with these graphs and charts.

people have seen them over and over and over again, but that's done purposely because we want people to have the same message everywhere we go.

And I think that once they see them more than once, they look forward to it for the next year.

Yeah.

To see what changes are and stuff for comparison.

Let's hope it's right. It could be a hold on schedule A on finance director's salary.

I mean, they get rid of the sauce and they'll put it in put it next year. You should just have call Gary give his phone number.

Put the 1800 number on there.

Call Gary. He'll let you know.

Um discretionary expenses. We looked at this last week. I only put in the top five and Gary had updated the numbers and anything that was above a million.

Right.

The only um I know you asked for something dear and it was below a million. I know it was below a million but it was relationship to the utilities and I just thought it we were doing so good with utilities why not put it as a fixed cost because then we can monitor that from a baseline perspective. So that's the only reason I put utilities out there but that works just fine because it's not over a

million dollars.

Yeah, we're continually looking at um always we have we have a energy manager that continues to look at this every single year as far as like efficiency.

So that's always a moving target. The expenses go up. Then we look at different different ways to try to mediate that could be rolled into debt service.

Anyway, the fiscal year slide up a little bit there. Fiscal year 2027 budget outlook is a standard paragraph for the most part from other years. Uh Gary looked at my numbers, corrected my numbers.

The section below is directly from the warrant in regards to the summaries of um how they're funded.

I like that the rest is much more uh for discussion.

Okay.

So there's two other sections. There's this one fiscal year 2027 and beyond and then there's a conclusion. I split part of it into conclusion. Mhm.

So it had listed you know the three main reasons why we have budget challenges or yeah so green is what we had yellow was a suggestion same thing in the next section under the green is what was there yellow is what's suggested um

I leave it for your reading pleasure.

We're going to start with the first one now.

Gary, can you cut?

Well, persistent inflation. It stays the same as it was.

Mhm.

What's the red thing? I can't see.

So, I took it out on mine, but Oh, you did take that out.

I did take it out, but this is older.

I asked for, for example, 67% inflation construction costs. I tried to tie some on average, but in my conversation earlier, I said, Jane, let's just take that out. So that's the red.

I agree.

Right. It was a difficult number for me to find a accurate source.

No, I went back to the index. I pulled it from the construction industries.

You know what I mean? It was just difficult to source. That's the only Is that an aggregate?

So I took I I kind of did. It's gone.

It's gone. It's gone. Sorry. The construction materials alone have risen by approximately 12% comes directly from a school budget document.

I consider that accurate, you know, on average of what there's war in we took an excursion in the Gulf. I much better than I It just is worded more professionally.

It just looks better. It reads better.

It doesn't have that negative um sound to it. I would switch it.

Where are I'm sorry. Where are we now?

Discussing the differences between green and yellow.

So green is what we still green is what was there. No. Well, red's out. So, green.

So, I'm confused. What are we talking about?

So, the green revenue constraints.

There's two versions up on the screen.

Yeah. So, the green green was what was there and yellow is what was suggested. Thank you.

Can you scroll up? There's more yellow on the next page.

It's a different It's It is a different category, but that's No, it's the it's the end of this.

Well, it is on that old document, but yeah.

Yeah. Not on yours. on that one before we leave that. Yeah, we're not leaving because in green I know we mentioned the Dartmouth taxpayer and the revised one the burden for service to the taxpayer that again that's the Dartmouth taxpayer because we in that statement we're talking about state we need to separate what's our portion so there should be the Dartmouth taxpayer in the last sentence of that page four

right there taxpayer well it the burden shifts to us. So, state aid decreases and the burden shifts to the Dartmouth taxpayer, not the state taxpayer.

Dartmouth topayer, which we all are.

Mhm.

Who wrote the yellow one? Just out of curiosity.

I did.

Oh, okay.

I like it.

Thank you.

Um, this, regardless of which version we use, might also be a good place to throw in the little tiny blip about the override in some capacity. the the only way to um skirt the uh you know two and a half limit is with an override.

Okay. So, this is what I'm going to do without any so we don't fussing over this too long. I'm going to take out the green.

Yep.

And we'll work on the yellow.

Okay. That that makes sense.

That way we're done with seeing what was there. Okay. So, now we're on revenue constraint.

Gary, can you do that too?

I'm on a PDF. She's on the She's on the Just kidding. We can't connect.

So, we're only looking at the yellow section now.

I wonder if mine would work. The town to grow property tax revenue. The town of Dartmouth is considered a minimum aid community and state aid has not kept pace for education, roads, and bridge.

I mean, it's good. I like the way it's written.

Do we have I'm sorry. Did you What did you think we should add?

Did you want to add anything? Is this something about Proposition 2 and a half more than what it says?

Since we're stating that Proposition 2 and a half limits the ability to grow property tax revenue, I think right after that might or or even at the end of the paragraph might be a good place to put that the only the only workaround for increasing revenue outside of new growth. Um to increase above the two and a half limit would be with an approved override or a voter approved override.

you know, you have to write that sentence for me, right, Patrick? That's the responsibility of that idea.

Just trying to think about where to best place it. Um, and also how to how to put it without being I don't want to get too wordy, but you know, if it's I wouldn't be ftting about wordy now.

We're kind of past the really restricted spots on here.

You're talking about prop the ability to grow property tax revenue. The only other ability to override that I mean to raise raise additional yeah to raise grow no uh to raise additional is through proposition two and a half over override brackets only way to raise revenue is through so after that first sentence the only way to raise revenue Where where are you Patrick?

Over here at the very at the very end of that sentence after right here.

First paragraph both saying two different things.

I think Patrick said the very end right there.

No, I put it after the first sentence.

I think after the first sentence. So the proposition of two and a half limits the town's ability to grow property tax revenue.

Say it again.

The only option after that first sentence the when there ends with property tax revenue.

Yep.

um put the only way to increase would you say the tax levy above the two and a half% increase revenue above the two and a half% would be with a voter approved override.

There you go. That was a nice wording.

I like it. It's succinct.

Very nice.

Yeah.

And then also, I don't know if we updated, but I do agree with John that we should put the Dartmouth taxpayer.

Absolutely. Okay. So, this is how it reads because I know you can't see it on the screen. You got uh I'll just start with the first sentence. Proposition 2 and a half limits the town's ability to grow property tax revenue. The only way to increase the tax levy is with a voter approved override.

We good?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. I put the the passage and I changed Dartmouth. It has Dartmouth taxpayer.

All right.

Had something else like the approval of a voter. But no, not the approval. The passage of a voter approved override. I guess it's actually called an election.

It's hard for me to like when I can't visualize it.

The way you said it.

I would leave it the way it is.

Well, it could say the way it is.

I think you're overthinking it now. Yeah.

Yeah. No, it's good to be succinct and simple.

Yeah. Our audience likes it. It's simple, trust me. Okay, good. So, that's good.

Yep.

Perfect.

So, we're discarding the green. Is that right?

No. No. No. No.

We're discarding the green on top of it is gone.

Oh, the green.

Now, we're going to the next screen.

We're going to the next education.

Oh, not here. Yeah. I'm sorry. Let me We are educational pressures green.

Educational pressures. Yellow.

Okay. I got All right. Very good. Oh, you're yellow again.

I'm yellow.

All right. So, now we're with I'm just going to I know fix it myself. All right. Education funding pressures. Once again, green is what was there last week. Yellow is the suggestion.

And the only reason I did the yellow is to bring in minimum aid community again to start that kind of thinking which is good. Now, I do like to have some facts. that we define what a minimum age.

That's what we need to do.

Well, we can do it here.

We can do it here.

You can put it. Yeah, you can define it here.

So, can someone explain to me the first the green is can you go up the title?

The green is what we had last year.

Funding pressures and now we're talking about this is a total education funding mandates.

It's totally different than so feel free to put the pressures there because that was really just as I was word smithing over the weekend. No, I'm just asking what do we if we eliminate it. That's a totally different It is subject here. Mandates.

No, she's willing to. That's fine.

Yeah. No, I really be the way it goes. So So what is it going to say? It's going to say educational funding pressures.

Yes, that stays.

Yeah.

Well, both here.

And then we're going to add I changed the title.

Okay.

So, and then we're going to define what that is. A minimum Well, the question is if we're going to use the expression minimum aid community, there should be something in there that canate views Dartmouth as having the capacity.

Can I ask a question? I mean, putting that in there.

I mean, is wouldn't it be better just to say something to the effect that the state is providing less aid?

You could just start it then with Dartmouth receives the least possible funding for education.

under the current Massachusetts education funding formula.

That makes sense to me.

Yes. Okay.

Yes, I take out that first.

But I'll get that minimum aid in there somewhere someday.

Well, no. I think I think it's fine, but it's too I get it. I hear you.

Simplifies it, folks. It needs a definition.

You're going to be sitting there going, "A minute," and I can Yeah, but you can't do anything about the way that sounds.

All right. Is green gone? Yeah, you could probably get everyone. Is green gone?

Yes.

Yeah.

You don't get a vote.

What about I'm just trying to be helpful. I swear.

Just teasing her.

Yeah, you can get rid of the green.

Well, the green goes.

Okay, good.

Well done, Dedra. This is a really nice rewrite. All right, I'll fix that later.

D. Okay. So the we like the section now that's going to be education funding pressures.

Yes.

T administration is smiling.

I'm always smiling. Brian rounding up. I love my job. So smiling.

When it turns to a devious smile, it gets concerning.

I've never seen that before. You're so right.

His his cheeks are So the the the paragraph here, I'll the yellow here is mine as well. I I just try to quite frankly soften it a little with respect to the problems that we're having um not just in public schools but our DPWs, all our towns. They've worked so hard this year. So, Dartmouth Finance Committee supports all our towns uh departments.

Um however, we must recognize that in most communities and in the Commonwealth, you can take out the red because I was being overdramatic.

You were.

Thank you.

I can't even read it over 14,000 school districts anymore.

Uh we we're just But I do like the wording.

So question just to go back to the first sentence because it doesn't flow the first two sentences. It either has to go together somehow. Something has to be combined there.

First sentence says finance committee supports strong public schools. The second sentence says the department finance committee supports all our departments.

I think I didn't I'm sorry. I should have stricken the first paragraph. Then you probably you probably could delete all the way from and start and start where it says uh you know the finance committee um recognized that most communities in common across the country schools are the largest part of the DOMA the finance committ the finance committee recognizes that the schools are the largest part of DMA's

operating budget.

So I'm sorry two sentences. It's awkward. It's a little repetitive.

Do we need the paragraph at all? I think it kind of like pits it pits things against other things. I think it's just kind of just take it out all together.

Question gone.

I mean, yeah, you can take it all out because it's right there below in that.

Oh, no, no, it's it's up. It's up. It's up here.

So, that's the point I was going to make, Carrie. It's over here.

So, I'm deleting the whole paragraph that says start. You can see that that's the biggest strong public schools and ends with town budget fiscal year.

But I get what I get the I get the point that Dedra is trying to make. We're trying trying to explain it in words and not you know data.

Okay. So that whole paragraph that the center has that red square is gone.

Okay.

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you.

Perfect. All right. So Yep. Okay.

The next paragraph.

Yep.

this criticism received last week. I didn't go home and cry, but the criticism I received last week on this I brought it down to the most basic of sentences to because I think something has to go with that chart.

Okay?

Something has to be support that chart.

I know the chart is great, but it needs a sentence.

Yeah, I think it explains the

I mean you could you could you could have a million different versions of this. I think this explains but it's I know it's less complicated than what was there before.

Yeah, I think I just as I said, I just think it needs to be some kind of sentence needs to be there.

Yeah, I think that and you're right. This this chart does need some explanation now. And just because I've been moving things around, there is a a source line for Gary. He's you can see it up there.

It's gone. It's gone on my document, but yes, there is a source line for Gary.

Can uh can you go back up to that I just had I just saw uh wait together the the last sentence the these make up limited effects with the town has to keep up with inflation rising expenses and diminishing state aid.

Yeah, diminishing state aid.

Okay, I'll Yeah, that's good.

Well Well wait a minute. Let me I think that's a little confusing and here's the reason why in my opinion uh the town makes up so what what we're trying to say here that that these make up limited flexibility the town has to keep up with inflation rising expenses and needs for new community we're talking about expenses state aid is a revenue source okay so I think maybe combining that with

this might be a little confusing yep you're right I'm just thinking how you could include state aid in here but we've talked about it no we've covered it in I think it's mentioned. Um, all right. All right. So, up to conclusion.

My favorite section. Conclusion. No, I'm just kidding.

I just had to give it some kind of name.

In conclusion, the finance committee needs to get reappointed.

All welcome.

You might consider flipping the yellow and the green.

What?

I don't know what you're saying.

Deleting the green. flipping starting the first sentence. There are critical challenges ahead. There are existing critical needs for our town. Every budget decision involves trade-offs and our responsibilities to make those trade-offs clear and transparent.

Boom.

Same time.

So, that's what I meant by flipping them.

That kind of lines it up. Boom. Boom.

Boom.

Okay. So, so literally cut. Yeah.

Yeah.

Literally cut out there are critical challenges that yellow.

Read it. Say it again, Deerra.

Everyone the the paragraph starts initiatives such as economic development and it finishes uh how resources are managed. Period.

Yeah.

There are critical challenges ahead.

Yeah.

There are existing critical needs for our town. And going back up, every budget decision involves tradeoffs and our responsibility is to make those tradeoffs clear and transparent.

Just switch those two. switch it. So, the green sentence is after the two yellow sentences, correct?

That was much easier saying it that way.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Uh, okay. So, the rest of that is Yeah.

Fine. All right. Good. Uh, see where we are. Okay. Yep. Good.

Depend.

We're on the last paragraph now.

We're on the last paragraph.

So my only comment there was whether or not to include high level of services.

That was one comment. Uh town of Dartmouth was just a a word smithing.

Fine.

Some people might disagree with high level.

Yeah, I just say town.

I just put Dartmouth services.

Current level of services.

Current either.

I would even put that. It's because then somebody's going to How do you qualify the level? Yeah, exactly. I mean, right to get a vote from the town.

There's no metrics to qualify anything.

I just put How about needed level of service just level services? The town finance committ remains committed to parting with town leadership to preserve to preserve level services in in town.

Yeah. Level just services period.

Finance Committee remains committed to partnering with town leadership to preserve level services.

That's what exactly the services.

It needs something before it like a level of service.

The less word the better off you are.

Less questions.

You start putting sort of a hanging thing. No, I agree. I'm just trying to get the right sentence. They're going to ask you feels like it needs an adjective in front of it or just leave out level down that road. Dartmouth services.

What? Unless you got the data to say what just Dartmouth's current services.

Yeah, that's fine.

Oh, adequate services.

The what?

Dartmouth. Okay. Adequate arade adequate. No, cuz what do you mean by adequate?

Services.

Yeah, just services. Dartmouth services.

You don't have to worry about anything, I think. Yeah. All right.

Yes.

You even get rid of Dartmouth. I mean services administrative finance committ remains funding to preserve services because then it's defining whether or not you're going to add services, subtract services. You're just trying to level fund things. So current services I think that that does need a descriptive word in there.

I take out high and call it level of services because the whole sentence the finance committee remains committed to partnering with town leadership to preserve Dartmouth's level of services.

Okay. or while maintaining long-term fiscal responsibility. I'll take out the the yellow piece needs to go. Frankly, I think it's redundant. Yes, it's redundant.

Yeah. And then just take out high took out high.

So, it says to preserve Dartmouth services or did we have a word?

Services.

Just services.

Otherwise, you're going to get longterm fiscal responsibility level.

I mean, if you put a descript municipal services, how about municipal services? local service.

That way it's not a descriptor. It's not a level. It's just at least you're giving the services a name.

Yeah. Mhm.

That's fine.

Thank you. It did need something.

It needed something. It was You should just write the whole thing.

No thanks.

It's not a controversial term.

Everything goes to work.

I think we need more graphs.

We work. Some people don't. So, they have time to write the letter. We just Wait a minute.

That's why I haven't read my emails all weekend.

What?

Listen, this ear is always He was typing at the sale off.

I love that.

It would have been much different if I was way off.

You were doing this. You were doing this in the sale off at the bar.

Think of all the public opinion I could have gotten. It would have been Oh, you would have been there a night and a half, believe me.

Anyway, so I think I think I think the rest of it looks good while maintaining level long-term fiscal responsibility. get rid of period comma uh with a f um with a focus on waiting with a continued focus on efficiency and then the rest of it and the American way including programs like the citizens academy that okay so that's become one sentence now as Gary suggested maintaining long-term fiscal responsibility with a

continued focus on efficiencies rigid plan and they all lived happily together easily challenging English teachers.

I think that that sounds good.

It is a bit long, but I thought, you know, it doesn't sound that bad. It actually doesn't sound that bad, but I hate, you know, run on sentence. Of course, sounds like a run on.

Good way to end it.

Yes.

Sister Mary Margaret wouldn't hit you with a ruler.

Mary, I went to a Catholic school.

Oh my god.

Catholic school influence.

I actually don't think it might need to be two sentences.

Could be. Yeah.

Yeah. You want to run on?

Yes.

I think we need to go back to period at the end of responsibility.

We can't say anything. Okay.

A continued focus.

So, it's back to two sentences.

Honestly, and that's the last sentence unless somebody has a more dramatic closing.

Now, we've got Good job.

So, what is the last sentence?

You guys want to do a picture? Didn't we talk about a picture?

So, it's not picture of everybody.

No, we did not.

Did we talk about that? smiling. I think we did. We talked about a picture.

Good conversation, wasn't it?

A picture of the group.

Yeah. Who's doing?

I can take it.

You're going to be in it.

No, no, it's okay. I'll take it.

You're welcome to be in it. You're making us take something awful by the time it's photo.

I think we should do it right now.

Post office. Why is this place around our next one? Whatever.

There's a booth in Oak Bluff, so I'll kind of send you something.

Okay. Good job, Janine. Just looking to see if there's any and I'll Thank you very very much. Oh, you'll make it fit, right?

Oh, it'll fit. It'll fit when I'm done.

All right.

If I have to shrink the text, make sure you save it before you close it.

I know it's I save it as I go.

The other thing you could rewatch the meeting. Oh, no. Because it would go on every page. Never mind.

What I was going to say? Oh, you could put that as like the B at the bottom. Oh, footnote.

Oh, like a footnote. But that wouldn't Well, that isn't the problem. The first part is fine.

That's fine.

I'm just going to try and get this down to five pages. lines. Yeah, we're at six pages right now, but that's the spacing issues. I I'll I'll deal with it.

You can tweak spacing between paragraphs.

Yeah.

Um, okay. My god, is the letter done?

Oh, wait a minute. After seven. Yay.

Sorry. That's an exciting moment.

It is.

Back to the agenda. Gary, I want to share something.

What?

Um, just two things I wanted to share.

Uh we did some research on overrides recently. Um so far for fiscal 27. This is voted at the ballot box. So some communities are still in the process, but fully voted at the ballot box.

There's been 26 operational overrides in Massachusetts. 15 of them have been yes, 11 of them been no. For all of fiscal 26, there were 74. 36 yeses, 38 nos. So you're seeing But so you're talking there's been 100 overrides so far.

Attempted overrides. attempted. Yeah.

Attempted overrides. Um in in almost 5050 right?

Yeah. In almost all of Plymouth County is going for an override this year.

All of Plymouth County. Yeah. Almost every community in Plymouth County. So really interesting. Yeah. Dedra put it together. Uh the other thing cost-saving measure I'm excited to share is we um have historically had a cleaning contractor throughout all of our municipal buildings. Uh as of June 30th, we will be um ending that contract and taking the service internally. I'm projecting about a 30% savings going into

That's huge. Thank you.

27.

Nice.

It's going to be done by internal staff.

You mean?

Yeah. By We're going to hire one or two part-time staff members and reduce our cost from around $100,000 a year to about 60.

I hope it's the same because I noticed the people here do a great job.

They do do a good job.

They're not going to be here anymore, but No, no, no. But hopefully the town seems the same level of service.

Oh, I think we'll actually see an improved level of service. Yeah.

Maybe you could hire them. Maybe. Yeah, maybe they'll leave the service and comes. All kidding aside, yeah, that's I don't know if there's any conflicts in that but I wouldn't do anything.

That's it.

Uh, do we have any liaison reports?

I do not.

No.

No.

I just want one quick thing. It's not really a liazison, but I went to the citizens academy last night for the extraordinary presentation led by Gary and his team of folks. Um, basic finance stuff. It was good. It was very good actually. I thought it was informative and the group seemed engaged and asked a lot of good questions and and I'd said this to Cody and to Gary that I'd love

to see any new members that join us on the finance committee get that sort of overview before they start diving into meetings because it's a it's a good hour and a half of basics.

No taping. We're purposely not taping them because we want to we want a free and open dialogue for the the members there. We want them to be able to ask questions and feel like they're not being taped. So, I was thinking like if you might might want to put Gary doing something like that on Dartmouth TV and have a constant loop.

Yeah.

Yeah. We could I mean Yeah. I mean that's a good point. I think the people that join the committee uh that that it's a good basic education because some people don't have some do and some don't.

No, but I mean I think it's a good education for everybody in the town too.

Oh, of course.

Yeah. And it was for the people that went I think they all felt like they learned something.

Yeah, they did. I think I know uh good was full. The room was full originally like 20 25 people.

That's awesome. About 20 of attendees, not counting presenters.

The um the departments that I oversee were there and uh they did a really good job.

Yes, they did. And keeping it really basic, you know, so that but there were there were questions and No, they asked good questions.

Very good questions.

Yeah. So anyway, I just wanted to mention that.

Sorry.

Um okay. Anybody else with the liaison report? Is that a no? We have minutes for March 26th and April 2nd, which I just distributed this afternoon to the group.

Yep. I saw them.

Somebody want to make a motion for uh March 26th?

I'll make a motion to approve March 26 minutes.

I'll second.

Thank you.

Questions, discussion, anything?

Are we ready to vote?

I'm not sure. I did see both of them, but one of them I was not here and I don't know which it was.

It was the I think you weren't here for the April 2nd.

Weren't here for the sec the next one.

Not this one. This one. Everybody that's in the room was here.

Okay.

I opened it up and looked. Okay.

Anyway, all in favor?

I.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

Yeah. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from April 2nd.

Second.

Uh any discussion or questions?

All in favor?

I abstain.

And John abstains.

Perfect.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

All righty. Do we have a mo? What?

One. Just a couple things so that we're prepared for um you know town meeting.

Uh we'll have a uh probably a couple of line item transfers and then a couple of um reserve fund transfers. Uh we're going through those um budgets right now so that we can make those change make those um uh transfers. Uh we wait until around this time frame so we can get closer to the end of the fiscal year. Um so what I would plan on doing is uh meeting at 8:30 prior to town meeting uh

posting the meeting for 8:30. We have the discussion there. I'll send out those transfers well before that. So again, uh, June 2nd at the high school.

Um, and, uh, we, as far as the letter is concerned, once that's wrapped up, I know the committee likes to send it out prior to, uh, the packet. Uh, the only thing I would suggest, I think we talked about like maybe getting a couple volunteers. We could print them.

I'd love I'd love a couple volunteers and get them stuck.

We get them printed, but yeah. So, when when will you do it?

Yeah.

Whenever I get we get the whenever I'm able to get the final.

So, tomorrow around we'll do it at the sale off at the bar.

Right.

I could get hot here and lick the envelopes.

Bought drinks. Everyone would get the whole room to participate be done in 10 minutes.

Um, so I think we talked about next week sometime.

It just depends on finalizing.

So just a couple things. Yes, next week.

But just first to mention, I'm going to make go through all these documents that we just did first thing in the morning.

First thing in the morning for me, by the way, is like 7 a.m.

So they'll be sent out early. I'd really appreciate a look at them. I don't care if you find a space or a period. No content. Sorry, we can't change the content now. So, I hope you like it. Um, but yes, any kind of correction correction like that because I do want the documents Cody to go to the ration and um the letter to go to the select board before their meeting on Monday night

if that would be great. Um, I think the goal was the mail date was for the letter would be around here.

Correct. Um and just Okay.

Do we want to send it electronically?

You can send it to department heads.

Sure.

Yeah, why not?

Okay.

I think it's so once again so when that document you can just send it not the ration but the just the letter. Okay. Good. So that's settled and then next week. Okay. So the meeting is Monday night. I know for the select board.

Is it how's people's anyone's availability for Tuesday?

Sure.

No.

You mean stuffing out?

Well, I I mean I need a chance to print them. So, I don't know when.

Well, you tell me when you can have them printed.

When will you get the final to me? Do you think you'll get the final?

I'm hoping to have it done tomorrow.

Okay. So, if you have it done tomorrow because I want to have it go to the select board for Monday night.

Right. So, we could print here and then Yeah, Wednesday.

And then Wednesday.

You want to do it Wednesday?

Yeah, Wednesday. You can come in to stuff them. So, we'll print them here.

Hang on one second.

Let me see what I'm doing.

You can do it in my office.

Yeah, it's a couple hours.

Do we send the town meeting letter to the boards and commissions andor the chairs of the boards of commissions?

Well, we had that conversation just went to department was just going to be department. I thought it was a good idea.

I think it was a great idea.

Well, I don't know.

I'm sorry. What was the comment?

Send it to boards and commissions. All the boards and commissions.

Do we have emails for all the boards and commissions? I know we have he I know Cody has it for all the department heads.

Yeah. Uh, no we don't. I I have access to emails for anyone who has a town email, but as you all know, not every boarding committee has a town email. So, no, we don't have emails for every boarding committee member.

Chair of the board of the each committee or town.

Just so you know, it will also be online.

Yeah. Yeah. I was just going to say it be online be on the website.

No, it'll be posted online. We'll put make sure the letter is posted online.

It's up.

So that's good.

Yeah. It's a it's an attachment of the of the warrant with the warrant and it's also posted, you know, it's a courtesy copy to the department heads now committ.

Yeah, that's we stuff a separate note in the department heads. Please uh distribute email attachment.

Uh please distribute amongst your members. Yeah, we can I can say board members.

We can definitely and you we can't we don't think it's okay for every board in town with we don't have access to their emails.

Okay, look at us. We have personal emails.

Okay, we don't have town emails. Just an example.

Okay, that's the reason why.

So I would have to figure out how to do like I in in that instance I like that example I would have to tell the committee about a letter that went out which we do like CPC sends out notifications. Oh, good.

Any communication with it's a great idea to start talking about these terminologies, the language, all of it.

Mhm.

I agree.

Anyway, availability on Wednesday to put all these wonderful What time would you be starting licking envelopes or whatever?

Um, you have to lick the envelopes.

Yeah.

No, no, no, no. We have a machine that does.

You have to fold them and put them in an envelope. Put them in a box.

I think we need an override so we don't have to lick envelopes. We used to We used to have a stuffer, but Gary, it's broken. So, all right. Thanks a lot, Gary.

We don't have to lick the envelopes.

Don't have to lick the envelopes.

Anyway, I plan on being here at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

All right, I'll be there. Join me.

They can be a hold, right?

10 a.m. on Wednesday the 13th.

Okay.

Write that down.

Next meeting is town meeting.

Yes, I think so. We don't meet next Thursday.

No, we do have nothing.

You won't meet now. hotel meeting because you have to have the meeting our next meeting.

Yeah.

You got the next couple weeks off, dude.

Before we schedule a meeting before town meeting.

Yes.

Should be 8:30.

8:30 for uh transfers and um anything else that comes up between now and then.

So the next time we meet is 8:30 June.

Yeah. At the high school.

Yes.

Yep.

We have a little meeting on the stage.

Yeah.

Before the crowd pours in.

Cuz they have As the crowd pours in, we have Is it on the first row?

No. Stage stage. Right on stage. Right on stage like a table like this.

Wear your Sunday best. Cameras on you.

Don't forget to go to the hairdresser.

Go to the hairdresser. Put your makeup on.

Everything's got to be right. Picture proof.

Eye rolling.

Rolling. In fact, they have a makeup man before a meeting. So all smile on.

No matter what shirt sunglasses sunglasses I would wear. I don't think I'm wearing mask.

No, no, no. Anyway, this are we all set?

Can I make a motion to adjurnn? I'll second.

All in favor? Hi.

Hi.