Select Board: March 22, 2023

Transcript captured from MHTV’s Vimeo auto-captioning. No speaker labels; proper names and dollar figures occasionally misheard. Click any timecode to jump to that moment in the source video.

0:00 You’re a little bit muted. Emily I will speak Up. It may be us. Hang on one second Emily. We’re gonna turn up the volume here. Thank you.

0:12 And Emily we have the presentations in front of us and have it, you know had a chance to review them. So but assume you’ll use that for a structured conversation here. Yes. Share my screen. There you go. Great now we can hear. Okay, excellent. And can you see my screen?

0:34 Okay, perfect. Well then with your permission I will get started. I understand you do have a long agenda and I would like to thank you. First of all for the flexibility to appear virtually tonight. I just had a number of conflicts. I would actually much rather be a Marblehead right now. But with that I wanted to bring you up to date with where we were with the planning process for the Marblehead Harbor plan, which does of course also include the West Shore just to introduce myself a little bit talk about the planning process and then talk about the public review process that’s going to kick off tonight. So I am one of the two Consultants that have been working on this project. My name again is Emily and it’s from Ennis Associates. I am the lead consultant and

1:19 I’m an urban planner and designer have also been working with tie and bond and they’ve been looking at the infrastructure and preparing the infrastructure inventory that goes along with this plan. So we started off with a number of goals, which you hear see up here on the screen for the planning process. These were things that at the beginning of the process we were asked to look at and of course this has morphed a little bit as most things do over planning processes. We’ve also were asked to incorporate a number of recent planning efforts and one of the more interesting things about this process was that parallel to planning for the harbor as a whole and then later adding the West Shore the town was also doing resiliency planning for specific areas of the harbor. And

2:07 so we incorporated both in practice and by reference the planning that had been done up to the time that the draft plan was written. We know that process is extending Beyond but the point is that this plan references that process and the Assumption for anybody reading this plan is that they would continue to incorporate the towns. work on resilience This gives an idea of what we did last year. So we’ve had we had a harbor plan working group and met with them sixth time actually seven times throughout the process six of them last year. The hpwg will shortened version also sponsored a couple of different workshops. We had a stakeholder Workshop,

2:54 which is people stakeholder or people who have a particular expertise in matters of a planning process. In this case. We’re looking for Town staff members people who ran a selection of people who ran businesses or owned property in the area. And then we did that same Workshop open to the public in may we also had a public survey that asked many of the similar questions, but when a little bit more in depth from May to July in July and August time Bond was doing their inventory of the infrastructure and that was bringing work that the town had already done up to date and then That taking the costs from initial work that the town had done several years ago bringing those up to 2022 dollars. I met

3:42 with the harbor water Harbor and Waters committee on September 12th. We had a working group meeting on the 14th and a public meeting on the 19th to talk about draft recommendations. And then in this year met again with hpwg to talk about the draft plan. They gave us comments February 1st. The plan went out to stakeholders who had been part of that original meeting their comments were due actually in the last week meeting with you today and this kicks off the process of the plan being available online. I’ll give the links to that afterwards and we’re hoping that people who have participated in the process will give us their comments by April 21st. And at that point, I will wrap everything up into the final document.

4:28 This just gives you an idea of some of the things that we did at the workshop. So the first one was really about visioning the second one about recommendations based on what we had heard from the survey from the people in the workshop first Workshop from the work that Ty and bond did from additional research on my end. And then time Bond created the harbor inventory now normally inventories are a static pieces of paper. In fact, your last sets of inventories were reports. This is actually a product that arcgis which is GIS geographic information system software that most municipalities including Marblehead has there’s a function in there where you can build something called a story map and that allows you to provide information as

5:15 we did for this Harbor plan and then zoom into that information and really look at things at different scales. What time Bond was able to do is actually load your inventory into the story map. So in addition to looking at appropriate maps for Marblehead and for the harbor in the West Shore you can actually do in on the parcels with the inventory and see the documentation of that inventory photographs that tie and bond took. So this is something that will over to the town at the end of the project and you can maintain and keep we feel that this would be a more interactive way of people understanding what the process what what’s happening in the harbor now and then can be updated in the

6:01 future.

6:03 As part of the draft Harper plan, we developed a vision statement that tried to wrap everything that we heard from people and I think the key thing that we heard is how much people value Marblehead Harbor the West Shore the ability to access the water the importance of the water to the community. And so this Vision really speaks to that desire to support additional access to the water for people of all ages abilities really to protect the environmental area or the environmental aspects and also to protect the economic aspects recognizing that Marblehead has

6:48 a commercial fishing industry and there are a number of businesses who are water dependent and water adjacent. So they have or water Focus. They have a reason their business has a reason to be added with the water. And so this future looking all Visions are written in the future. So we’re standing in the future looking at where we are now really speaks to how the Central Health Central the Waterfront is to everyone. We identified five major issues in the plan and that led to the five major goals. So the Deferred maintenance obviously came out of the inventory side and this is deferred maintenance. You see it’s an issue one and

7:34 issue five at sea level rise. So there’s the maintenance that needs to be done before you can address sea level rise. There is the issue of unequal Public Access and in some cases that was related to physical access and some economic access the idea that the economy was shifting both for commercial fishermen and for other entrepreneurs and business owners and the need to address public and safety and health Marblehead Harbor the West Shore they’re not big areas and there are a lot of users and how to address Public Safety on the water and in many cases, what we’ve done is we’ve created the an implementation plan. Sorry, I’ll jump to that in a minute. The implementation plan looks at what the town can do to address these and what

8:19 Murders can do to address these and we’ll talk about that in a minute. I did want to touch on the estimated cost of repairs and the Marblehead current was kind enough to share these images from the storm in January 2020. I noted that the estimated costs from previous planning efforts had been brought up to 2022 dollars and all in all in all the costs about 6.5 million dollars and then obviously to address sea level rise to dress issues of increased funding those costs are likely to go off. And again, the the town has been working on that what this plan does. And again, this should be seen in concert with the other work is this plan does identify some funding sources there is

9:06 federal and state money out there for resiliency. And so the idea of looking at different actions that need to be taken and overlapping them with funding sources is really important. In addition, we identified two physical areas on the land side that need additional attention one is of surprisingly. I’m sure given the community conversations that have been around this the how Parker’s Boatyard could continue to support water uses and act that to the water and stretching that down to the Cliff Street boat yard, so that there is a coordinated plan. So this plan recommends a land use plan for those those areas that stretch

9:51 your area and also for State Street Landing this shows some funny flooding risk to it, but I’m so I’m sorry. I meant I I flipped the maps on this is actually the flooding one for the previous one. I’ll send an updated slide Deck with us, but just to let you know for State Street Landing. It is a reorganization of the commercial docs and areas to make that more workable for the commercial fisherman. Was on the advice of the Harbor Master and also a refresh of State Street Landing so that it becomes a more Central more attractive area for visitors while remaining useful for the commercial fishermen. I mentioned that implementation plan. One of

10:38 the first ideas on it is an implementation committee yourself the planning board the harbor and water board all have day-to-day responsibilities. We find when doing plans at having a separate ongoing committee that is responsible for implementation can make the work of all the boards easier. So this just lays out the one way of doing an implementation committee and then the other thing in the implementation plan, which I saw the covers so I know you have it before you is that the implementation plan identifies the actions the partners and the anticipated timeline. And for those of you who may be reviewing this yourself the Blackboard or any members of the public identify helping

11:24 us to confirm the partners or identify new partners, who’d be a really helpful comment to hear. And then finally as I mentioned there is a public review period the draft plan is on the town’s website. You can see the link here and there is a related survey which we’re using Survey Monkey that just asked a few questions about people’s reaction to the plan and their participation in the process. So we know if they’ve been part of it or if they’re just reaching it for the first time which is fine. We welcome all input and with that I am going to turn this over to you again. I know you have a long agenda tonight. And so I want to give you the opportunity for questions but also for your other agenda items

12:16 bringing together a wide array of stakeholders that we’ve never had in the past. I think this was the bet with this committee is that we would be able to do that and you’ve been you’ve done a great job at structuring discussions integrating past, you know efforts in the intellectual discourse and and creating some tremendous visuals that actually help them in kind of visualizing what’s going to happen to the harbor. So it’s really want to you know, commend your strong integrated effort. And you know, I think I think it bodes well for our implementation committee as as we move forward, so so thank you for that. And you know, I’ve had the pleasure of of watching you in action so much appreciated. Well, thank you very much. It has been a real pleasure to

13:02 work with this community on something that this is so important to the community. So I appreciate that opportunity.

13:12 You know, we here in Marblehead, you know really value and and feel very passionately about our Waterfront. So this for sure was a laborious process, but and by all accounts i i attended some of the residents the public forums Etc. And again, just thank you very much for Doing what you do, so well and being such a good consultant with our community. Thank you.

13:50 Emily thanks again. You’ve really provide us some great strategic direction for us when we appreciate. My pleasure, and I look forward to comments from you and from members of the public.

14:01 Thank you. Agenda is cultural counsel, and we have some some interviews and appointments to be done. And what I’d like to do is start with the cultural Council and I we have I believe three applicants right as Marca. here tonight He’ll come to the next meeting. Okay, but what we’d like to do is just kind of in an informal process invite first Kathy Barker up to the up to the table and just you know to the table, please yeah, I’m speaking to the microphone. So folks can can I know it is kind of a Hot Seat but

14:49 But just really it’s just to get to know you and informally basically to just you know, tell us a bit about yourself and you know why you’d like to serve on the cultural cancer.

15:03 Love the town recently moving towards retirement still doing something work and reinsurance Industry. So have some time to give back to the community. I’ve served on a lot of insurance company boards, but I’ve also done more with the Festival of the Arts. I was on secretary helped develop their website and currently volunteering law office. So it’s like to be able to participate in expanding the great culture. We already have here and some different aspects of more black. Sorry for my voice. Well, thank you for stepping up and you’re you know, your eminently you’ll be eminently valuable on this on this on this Council so much

15:50 appreciated any other.

15:54 Thank you so much for volunteering your time to do this. Okay. It was great too. That’s it. Thanks. Yes. Thank you for volunteering. That’s right. And Marjorie is is next if come on have Marjorie. I just

16:17 I was blown away by everyone’s resume. I know. It’s amazing to have this kind of group. S. Thank you. Yeah, just basically the same question just thanks for having me. I’m Marjorie Norman. I grew up here at Marblehead took about a 20-year hiatus. for my career recently retired compriser Pharmaceuticals and moved back to help so my mother could age in place. So I’ve moved back to town and wanted to get involved again and activities as a teenager. I was involved in the Arts Festival in the me and Lee in various things said moved away did somewhere things in other places was on the cultural Council in Duxbury for a number of years back in the late

17:02 90s boy seemed so far.

17:08 Welcome back to the cultural. Look. I worked at New England School of Art and designed for a number of years taught some courses there did admissions there. So I’ve always been involved in the Arts community and would like to continue doing that now that I’m settled back in town.

17:28 Thank you Marjorie any questions or no? Any questions? We’re so lucky to have your family in this town. You family have given so much in terms of that’s really nice of you to say, but I think you’re talking about the other Normans. Outcome just like talking about the Martins. You never know quite sure which I thought I me in the theater. Okay, I’m talking about the sorry the fogles. That’s all right.

17:57 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you so much and Lauren Boyd.

18:07 Yes.

18:11 That’s why I’m here. I am wonderful Boyd. I am offspring of fogels. artists and theater people So my interest in the cultural council is obvious. My child is also super artistic. I’m working with Popa at the high school and I keep reading in the paper that there were five open spots on the cultural Council.

18:37 I’m not she said I will come and offer my services if there’s anything I can do. And I have you know a resume, but I’m not an artist myself. I’m a writer so

18:49 so I feel like I can’t really draw that. I know what I like. And that’s that. So anyway, if you’re if you’re interested in me working for you.

19:02 Thank you very much for the volunteering. Wonderful. Appreciate it. Thank you for coming up.

19:15 All right, so I guess we need to appoint one candidate for a term expiring in 2024 and two. For terms expiring in 2025 I could do this randomly. And just put my pencil down or is there any preference for for terms?

19:39 Oh and it landed on Lauren. For the first motion, so I’d like to entertain a motion to a point Lauren Fogle Boyd to the Marblehead cultural council with a term to expire in June 2024.

19:57 unanimous And also I’d like to entertain a motion to a point Kathy Parker and and Marjorie Norman to the Marblehead cultural council with a term to expire in June 2025.

20:13 Thank you very much.

20:18 Thank you. Okay next item. our agenda Is the Marblehead forever committee? There’s one vacancy and Meredith Reardon is here. We’re so pleased.

20:33 again, we’re gonna put you through another grueling, you know interview question if you just tell us about yourself and Your interest. Okay. Well, I have lived here my whole life. I’m proud to say I was born in America. I have went to school here. I did take a few diversions and lived over places, but

20:55 The most and I wound up working at my alma mater. I was a guidance concert at Marblehead public schools for 13 years. in middle school and high school Prior to that. I was a Swampscott High School. And then prior I was an exhibit for an exhibit farm. So I did a lot of event planning either. Oh not only in the public schools, but also before

21:24 so I was interested in this job because I’m retired in 2021 and I want to give back to my town.

21:36 Thank you very much Meredith. While you’re sitting here, I just like to entertain a motion. to a point Meredith Riordan to the Marblehead forever committee with the term to expire in June 2023

21:49 thank You thank you very much. Thank you very much for stepping up.

21:57 Okay, and I think this next yeah, I think we were going to jump straight to agenda item number five. And this is an attestation. To good moral character slash Fitness for employment. This is a Thatcher’s I understand a requirement by the state. for chief Dennis King and it’s part of the reason my change for peace officers standards and training and so the chief has to review all of the offices in the department and do it similar. station for them, but as the appointing authority, obviously this board has to do the same for him and so on on

22:44 your behalf, you know, I met with the chief and reviewed his career with him in regard to the to the requirements and one, is that the

22:59 What we’re attesting to is that the individual below is of good moral character and fit for employment and law enforcement. and furthermore the agency has provided post to all the required discipline complaint reports relative Chief agency. And so in my report to you is the chief far far exceeds the standards required that are enumerated here.

23:27 I recommend his attestation. We concur without having gone through the extensive review process that you went through. But but with that I’d like that entertain a motion to authorize the chair to sign an attestation to good moral character slash Fitness or employment on behalf of the police chief for recertification.

23:52 And thank you. Okay. This next one is a memorandum of understanding for this the speed for Speed feedback signs and my understanding this is a gift from the mass Massachusetts Department of Transportation giving us the signs, but we will have to install them right is that right Patrick? So Yes. so these we applied for this there were I think of all the applicants only 50 awarded so we

24:26 Met that challenge. And so I think it’s three of these signs on the last page of the document you get a visual. Basically. It’s the the speed signs that has I guess the built-in radar that tells you how fast you’re going. Compared to the speed limit with the flashlight. It’s solar powered. So it’s pretty much a self-contained in as part of the application. We had to specify the specific location had to meet the criteria of this signage being necessary. The only obligation on us we the mass drop provides all the equipment and everything. Our own Crews will be the installation our DBW folks. I don’t know if there’s any other normal cost that we

25:13 may occur, but it’s part of the installation and that’s Our obligation.

25:21 How many signs will we get? I think it I read this. I think it’s three.

25:28 Okay, so it’s somewhere buried in the well, we’ll get recognized. Yeah, we’ll get recommendations somewhere to where to install them. Right? Yeah, that’s actually that’s that’s already set. And it’s around this I think schools. Yeah, so it’s it’s an area that has you know, high demand.

25:49 What do we give credit to for seeking out this grant program? I think the chief obviously yeah in this that’s great. I always have that’s great any our planner our engineer our DPW it’s a team. Yeah. It’s just so great. What we have department heads are out there fetching these grants for us. And yeah. Yeah, I’d like to emphasize this there’s usually one of them is the lead. And the others are all supporting to pull information to help fill it out. You know it not just the physical form but making the decision of what would be the best spot to meet the criteria. Where do we need it and doing that? Announce, so I’m always impressed with the collaboration amongst the departments on all these

26:37 things. Revenue outside of our tax basis

26:44 okay with that like to entertain a motion.

26:49 To for the memorandum of agreement between the town and the Mass DOT for installation of speed feedback signs in existing Municipal school zones to enhance roadway user safety and to authorize the chair to sign on behalf of the board. Second, please.

27:09 And that’s kind of curiosity can find the daily. When when will we take possession? I will be the implementation of us.

27:24 As soon as possible. Yeah, hopefully before next. Yeah. Yeah, I can find I mean

27:34 90 days of its delivery to the municipality. Yes. I know there was some language in there, right?

27:48 Next on our agenda item is an open meeting.

27:54 White and this is a motion to approve and delegate the response to the open meeting law complaint filed by Alan Walker response.

28:09 So again, I think the motion is pretty straightforward. It’s to approve and delegate the response to the open meeting law complaint filed by Alan Waller on March 9th 2023 to Town Council.

28:25 second

28:28 discussion

28:31 So, you know. I can appreciate that Our Town Council. You know, it’s always in our advocating zealously for and on behalf of the town, which is exactly what we want.

28:46 I think you know being an attorney I could have also written in a alternative legal management memorandum that you know, maybe took a little bit more nuanced approach. I think that

29:01 I think I think it’s okay to not be perfect. And I think it’s okay. To strive to do better. I think that you know, I would like us to kind of I would prefer something that had said, you know, you know. Kind of point taken we could do better. We could have a policy around this. I think I could have written a legal memorandum that called this subcommittee because our Town Administrator was there at a very important Financial planning meeting we talked about the independence of the finance committee, you know, and I think it’s it’s okay to make mistakes and and it’s okay to kind of to grow from that and and do better and so You know, I think.

29:46 you know, we can adopt like a policy around our attendance at the board as we have on our agenda like something to talk about actually later, but You know, I guess. I think I could have I would have preferred it to be a little bit more of acknowledging of.

30:07 You know the fact that there was a quorum, you know member SPO. We had our Town Administrator there. So, you know for that reason I’m not going to vote in favor of it, but and I but I understand.

30:21 You know, it’s I think reasonable Minds could just bring. Yeah and Jackie, I’m just wondering what you would have changed because there was no forum. because Alexa better off before I think the reason that Alexa got off was because she realized I’m not gonna speak for Alexa, but that’s I think she realized that we a little bit stepped in it. And so, you know, I think it’s okay like in and by the way, I mean just the two just two members of our board with our Town Administrator being present at a public meeting and making comment is a subcommittee at the I mean, it’s very gray like, I mean you can He wouldn’t be able to come nature. It’s really useful and I that was the way I mean, I understood as it was kind of right? Listen. I mean, it’s okay.

31:08 I think you both have good reason why I’m just a rate in my opinion. I think you both have good points, you know, my view is that this is really a recapitulation of basically, it’s understood and I think what’s clearly happened Thatcher discussion about this is that the state is being more is being I guess stricter in the application of You know oml meeting the meeting law 2012-6 which basically says a quorum of a public body May attend the meeting of another public body without posting notice. So long as the visible visiting public body members, listen and participate as members of the audience and do not deliver. it so that that’s pretty clear, but I think

31:55 Patrick right there. It’s it’s being interpreted by the state in a stricture sense. And I think we’ve always been operating under that assumption that it’s actually your personal conduct. In the joint meeting that matters, so there’s a you know, but that’s less that’s less than meetings. So to be fair, I mean what it might what I heard from it there, you know recounted which was secondhand hearsay, but that comments went a little bit more than simply thing the finance committee there. You know, I think that that was well, I think Jackie and I both I think you know, you know, we can we can always you know, just post a meeting or like we you know, I think we can always learn from experience. Well, we’ve gone ahead and done that right for the next video exactly. Just exactly because especially since there’s a high level interesting here. Yeah.

32:41 Typically we’ve had one or two. It’s like board members go in the past. So to cover our bets that’s what we’re gonna do and then I think if the select board member still exercising that is right, but that’s if we just acknowledge that and the thing and that’s fine it But I think that is important to acknowledge what you just said. No sure. I mean, I think I think but I think there’s yeah.

33:07 I think I think the the response I think is fine. I think it’s pretty comprehensive than

33:16 You know we’re responding. The way we are we don’t need to do anything on this. This is just a oh we do. Yes importantly. Okay. So I’ve got a I’ve got a motion. I’ve got a second and all in favor. I just

33:39 Really do want to fix something subject to fix the finals subject to fix it. Yeah. I did not have a name change. So

33:52 important to note for our board and for all boards that as we have pivoted more to this hybrid tight meeting scenario that You know things are different than they were before and it’s amazing that we’re having hybrid. But I think that you’re unaware of who’s another places until those moments arise. And so I think that is, you know, for our board to recognize and for all boards to recognize that, you know, sometimes we might have to take additional steps now recognizing that you know, things have changed and nothing really just an awareness. It’s fair enough. I did not I could not see other people. No, you can’t. Yeah. But anyway, we have to take precautions. Yeah, and that’s different. That’s what we’re doing now,

34:39 right? So if you think the key thing though is and I’m just score this a little bit is that if we’re sitting on a you know, how to put it in appointed committee, right? That is it has its own independent kind of prerogative. Right. I think it’s Useful for this like board members to exercise your strength and those situations and not kind of way in over the head of our designees. That might be in the meeting, you know. Yeah and to be, you know kind of respectful. That’s you absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I think that’s basic to cool. Yeah. No, I think that’s right. so we can just put

35:23 That okay. Let’s see. So now we are moving to our selected. Oh, we got a cheaper. Sorry. I had to do the name change server that all in favor. before

35:38 okay. You got that perfect. Okay. Now we’d like to move to the select board statement. No, I’m sorry. It’s the Apple line utility. Sorry contract. and That’s right. Now this is a water main water main extension line on Pleasant Street, right? It’s an extension of pleasantry. Yeah project in in due to weather delays and such. So all it is an extension of the end date of the contract to allow them to finish up. Does that have any Financial nothing? questions like to entertain a motion to amend the contract between alkaline utility and the town for Pleasant

36:23 Street utility work by extending the period of the contract to July 31st, 2023 and authorize a chair to sign up.

36:32 Okay.

36:36 Okay. Now we get to the select board statement of intent on the fiscal year operating override and we did have the initial presentation of this statement at our last select board meeting which was on Friday last week. And we have since returned comments to Thatcher who is integrating. So what we have here is a draft of that integration effort, and I’m going to Go ahead and and read this just for the benefit of anybody listening and for the record. So this is the Marblehead select board statement of intent town of Marblehead fiscal year 2015 24 operating override. The town is entering the fiscal year 24 season with a deficit that has resulted in fundamentally from increases and salaries benefits

37:24 and operational costs where the cost of providing Services is outface. The revenue growth allowed under prop two and a half percent two and The town has also been aware for the last four years that it’s over Alliance on free cash to balance its annual operating budget would be unsustainable and that ultimately an operating override would be needed to address an underlying long-term structural deficit the covid-19 pentemic also placed burdens on the town’s operating budget as the town augmented and redirected its operating capacity as efficiently as possible at the height of the pandemic in fiscal year 21 and 22 the municipal government school district have been careful to deploy one time federal and state covid-19 funds number one into one time sustainable capital projects to enhance the town’s resiliency and tour two into one-time capacity salary cost

38:12 increases with limited durations, which would be operative for the periods of the covid-19 pandemic as a result time is avoided using one-time federal and state money for embedding permanent additional operating costs as we move away from the covid-19. Notwithstanding, the town’s fiscal discipline regarding one-time monies the costs associated with the town’s operations has accelerated recently as a result of sustained price inflation labor shortages and increases in the cost of contractual Services. The town is facing two Financial challenges at this time providing the current level of Municipal Services while operating with a financial structural deficit and secondly securing sufficient Financial reserves to maintain its Triple-A Bond rating while relying too heavily on decreasing free cash as a revenue source.

39:00 So under the heading addressing fiscal year 24 budget structural deficit. Through the fiscal year 24 budget process the town will present a balanced budget. That assumes no override funding. To present a balanced budget the town will propose cuts to operational line items that eliminate the fiscal year 24 structural deficit. Town will determine a final structural deficit amount as part of the fiscal year 24 budget process and will identify the specific cost savings used to eliminate the fiscal year 24 structural deficit. Endeavoring to cut services with the least impact on the town’s operating performance and Service delivery. So the override Under The Heading override to address the fiscal year

39:45 24 structural deficit. As part of going through the process of developing a balanced budget without an override the town will determine the final structural deficit amount to be proposed as an override. The structural deficit is basically defined as the difference between fiscal year 24 revenues supplemented by available free cash minus expenditures. Revenue increases our essentially limited by proposition two and a half to a two and a half percent increase in the tax levy from the prior year plus new growth. And expenditure increases are essentially driven by employee contractual obligations and inflationary increases in costs for goods and services. The unsustainable balance between revenues and expenditures

40:31 has been covered in the past years by relying on the use of free cash. As the Town Administrator outlined in the state of the Town address fiscal year 24 is the first year since 2005 that available free cash is no longer sufficient to cover the total difference between revenues and expenditures. The proposed override would affectively balance the fiscal year 24 budget by plugging the structural deficit amount to assure level Services funding for one year for all Town departments including the school department. Level service will include maintaining the same current level of service to the town and any positions necessary to provide that service or access additional funding. To pass the proposed operating override will require approval at both the annual town meeting

41:18 on May 1 2023. And on the ballot that the annual Town election on June 30th 2020.

41:27 June 2012. Thank you. And under the hide end of the tide out addressing the town stabilization fund. To maintain a healthy balance sheet to maintain favorable Bond ratings and to have reserves to deal with economic and other variations in revenues the town needs to address funding these to address funding sufficient reserves through systematic allocations into a stabilization fund a proposal. To sufficiently fund the town stabilization rests on three goals to move cash away from free cash as a revenues to move away from free cash. As a revenue Source free cash is a municipal Finance number then includes actual receipts in excess of Revenue estimates and unspend amounts in Department budget line. And it’s the last year ending plus unexpended

42:12 free cash from the previous year as such it is not designed if I’m going operations the town should maintain an appropriate an appropriate and recommend free cash balance. And as you should be limited to appropriate one-time expenditures on a year to year basis. To offer the town a transparent operating Reserve funding source, because no monies can be allocated from an existing stabilization fund except by two-thirds of the sorority at town meeting a stabilization fund brings operating stresses into the public eye and requires a credible process for explaining any stabilization uses of the funds in the public forum. We also consider the use of a stabilization funds the best practice viewed favorably by Auditors and credit rating agencies. So with that there’s the heading fiscal year

43:00 24 operating operating override proposal. As a result of this context the town’s current intent is to propose a single override for the fiscal year 24 budget that prioritizes addressing the fiscal year 24 structural deficit and significantly reduces. The town’s Reliance on free cash as a revenue source. Our intent is to offer on a proposed.

43:27 Was that yeah. Oh sorry, sir. Our intent is to defer on proposing a second override to accelerate funding of our stabilization funds so that we don’t overburden the taxpayers this year by addressing the stabilization fund this year which could add more complexity to the override in consideration of future challenges and two to allow our newly installed Finance team utilize utilizing our new information systems time to develop a longer term strategy to do address our financial challenges for consideration at our annual town meeting next year by taking this slower and more prudent approach. We believe we can take the time to address our financial challenges and streamline the override process this year.

44:14 So in terms of the longer-term finance strategy going forward. The above proposals are designed to offer the taxpayer more conservative option for fiscal year 24 which highlights the Practical service cuts to eliminate the structural deficit and override for this year’s structural deficit to maintain existing services and a commitment to pursue a best practices stabilization fund enabling future growth. The fiscal year 24 budget and override proposal will also allow the following commitments. Commitment to the completion of a multi-year plan, utilizing upgraded budgeting software and completing the Final Phase of adopting gfoa best practices commitment to Accurate And Timely budget forecasting while considering changing economic environments and inflation in

45:00 fiscal year 25 and Beyond composition of financial. completion sorry completion of financial policies and procedures including the usage of free cash and utilization funds this year’s investment in the cleargov platform a financial analysis and budgeting solution will allow the finance department to provide vastly expanded capabilities in fiscal year 25 to contextualize and clearly explain the town’s historical Finance Financial Evolution multi-year budget projections and a full gfoa budget presentation embedding all the pounds budgets within a strategic plan. We will compile information. Thank you. We’ll compile compile information resources and frequently asked questions on the town’s website page to help community members learn more about the fiscal year 24 budget process

45:47 and override proposal and continue to post additional information and opportunities for public engagement over the next few months. So with that I think you know hard to summarize. Couple of the revisions, you know, the major one is that we are this year not pursuing a stabilization override. And I think at the point Aaron’s point last time was well taken and I think there are also some, you know planning that we need to really think about in funding a structural override. So, you know, and that’s something that Not necessary this year but something I think was very important to introduce into the public discussion at this point because ultimately we

46:34 do need to move away from free cash. So with that I will open up. sort of thoughts

46:48 Thank you. here only

46:55 so look, I think the only jacket you have anything, you know, just

47:04 two goals not three. Yeah, there are a couple of minutes. Yeah affiliate with the potential civilization over right? So I deleted that I didn’t correct that they’re two goals laid out for the stabilization. No, that’s right, and I was reading verbatim so I don’t think I caught.

47:25 Yeah, and I think the other thing is there is a bracketed item. that I noted for yeah, it’s level. So yeah, right in the middle of this level services will include maintaining the same current level of service to the town in any proposition it you know, I think I think that is essentially, you know explained in the in the prior sentence. It might be a little bit redundant. So you agree with that, okay?

48:06 I just propose that place.

48:10 outstanding okay, I think subject to

48:15 these edits I think are we prepared to? to vote the approval of the statement of death. Yeah, I think just one of the things too, I think.

48:33 It’s MC. It does specifically list the school department. But as I know that was a concern and the community and that. directly I think that’s right. I think making That explicit is not

48:49 a focused structural vaccine made it acceptable to all the parties. a good solution I don’t I’d like to emotions to adopt the aforementioned Marblehead select board statement of intent.

49:08 I would like as amended and go ahead and propose that. that

49:17 Motion absolutely. Okay. Sorry. I thought you needed the motion. No. No, I don’t know I was about I was about before we table we had last time what’s that? We table that oh, we have to get it very first of all, we have to take it off. That’s right. Okay, we’re jumping out a little bit. Okay. So the the first motion sorry just pack us up a little bit. First motion would be to take the the table motion. from our last meeting off the table take the matter off the table so and second paper. Okay now I’d like to entertain a motion to adopt the Marblehead select board statement of intent town of Marblehead fiscal year 24 operating overrides.

50:02 As an as Amendment. the second all in favor thank you all for your Collaborative effort on that it’s outstanding. Okay.

50:18 You have a motion today. Because we have a very special day coming up and that is the hundred. anniversary of the Rotary Club of Marblehead significant milestone an outstanding one and and I’d like to that’s pretty self-evident it self-explanatory. We have a letter from the co-president of the Rotary Club. Nancy Gwen but to entertain a motion to Proclaim May 11th, 2023 Rotary Club of Marblehead day in honor of rotaries hundredth anniversary. all those in favor Okay, so the ceremony date important to note for this event is is

51:04 on May 11th that very day at 11 am. and the Rotary Club of Marblehead will be presenting a two-faced Town clock in honor of the anniversary. Yeah, and that will be located at the Chamber of Commerce boots. So it’s right there right up from National Grand Bank. So that’s really going to be a special event. And I hear the clock is it’s accurate to happen at home. The face is and that is unusual in and of itself. So and it’s yeah, I think Mark the Avatar clock is unique pretty much. The replicated anyway, so

51:50 again, May 11th at 11 o’clock.

51:55 Okay, this is all this is all great to do we have Three Eagle stick out that are getting their court of honor and have requested avat Hall. To to conduct the ceremony. So it’s our honor to to do that. And the three Eagle Scouts are Cristobal Christopher Vasquez, Tyler Callahan and local and we’re happy to entertain this motion. Which is, you know to approve on request a vote on a request from Andy Barnett troop 79 BSA to use Abbott Hall Auditorium on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 from four to seven PM for an eagle scout Port of Honor subject to

52:42 the usual rules regulations fees and receipts of the required Certificate of Insurance. They asked that they eventually used to be waved. You yes.

52:58 And that is part of this motion and is understood as such. do I have a do I have a first movement? Yeah and second. Okay, all those in favor? outstanding

53:19 okay this next vote which factual brief is on but it’s basically kicking off the plan the study plan for the 12 million dollars and in that we funded in our override last year for

53:38 infrastructure work So this is part of the buildings. Repairs so it’s two projects. The DPW Garage in the police station roof projects roof replacement projects. So this contract is for the architectural services. Basically the first step. to the funeral processes to design do the design and the specs which gives us the estimated cost project and then we put it out into an rfpo into the street and Contractors bid on those projects. So this is the the first step to to any of these projects is to do the design design work and build the specs so that we can put it out for our Peak. The cost of contract is 28,000.

54:30 So the vote is to award the contract for architectural services from Municipal roast at Derby Square architects of Salem Mass in the amount of 28,000. Dollars and authorize the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the board.

54:50 Thank you. This next motion is regarding the Tedesco Country Club of Marblehead. It’s it we basically received confirmation from to death from the Tedesco Country Club. Of the availability of the club for the semi-annual golf day. At the club, and this is really the benefit of Marblehead Counseling Center. and it’s really a great tradition and a great trip a gift from from the country club and it’s and it’s much appreciated. So with that emotion to award like the entertain a motion to award the semiannual golf day at Tedesco Country Club to the Marblehead Counseling Center and to notify the death and to notify the Tedesco

55:36 Country Club of the award.

55:40 second holes in favor second. I don’t know why I raise my hand. I know it’s all good. I know what that wave. Where’s my hand and seconded it away.

55:53 Okay, we have another next agenda another really important cause Sclerosis Society and this is for the for the Run Or the walk event I should say. And the motion is pretty explanatory, but we received a very nice level from the letter from Samantha Boland. the manager of event production for Multiple Sclerosis Society to the motion is to approve the request from Samantha Boland National Multiple Sclerosis Society to hold the annual multiple sclerosis walk on Saturday, May 6th, 2023 subject to approval from police fire schools Recreation and Parks police details and

56:38 receipt of the certify required Certificate of Insurance. No permanent markings are allowed on the streets and All Temporary marketing. She’ll be removed at the conclusion of the event the remark the walk will start. and end at Marblehead High School second, please. Okay.

57:04 Okay Thatcher. If you could give us a break we do have the brief here. Thank you on the opioid settlement participation. Yeah, so as you’re all probably well aware that over the last several years has been. at the national level lawsuits against

57:22 pharmaceutical manufacturers and Distributors and other entities that in regard to the opioid epidemic that the country has been dealing with so that their negotiate the national level, Massachusetts through the Attorney General’s office. Has signed on with other states to participate in these in these suits and then when there are settlements the subdivision cities in towns of Massachusetts, then have the ability to opt in under the Massachusetts under the Attorney General’s. efforts To receive the proceeds. So as part of the settlements there are Financial awards that are then distributed out through the states of the Season towns.

58:10 in order to help communities address the impacts of The opioid epidemic Marblehead has previously. Approved and participated in settlements to date we’ve received 154,138 dolls and 44 cents in proceeds as a result of earlier settlements. What’s before you tonight? Is a vote to opt in to the more recent settlement? That’s been done that involves Teva. elegant elegant CVS Walgreens and Walmart in which they’ve settled at a little over 20 billion dollars

58:56 We’re not going to get the whole 20 million billion, unfortunately, but after the lawyer fees and costs and such about 17 billion will be distributed out. By opting in it means we we are eligible to receive the proceeds if we decide not to opt in then we’re on the outside looking in.

59:20 Part of the settlement. So I provided all a bunch of information that you’re welcome to Deep dive into if you so choose.

59:33 This authorized by authorizing chair to sign to allow Marblehead to opt in on the, Massachusetts.

59:41 agreement participate at the national level for these sounds I can just ask you. How does It ultimately get distributed.

59:50 So it comes through the state and then we’ve we’ve signed agreements and they they wire transfer funds. one of the decisions

1:00:04 last year last summer. Was that they have a sort of an annuity plan where you can receive payments over number of years at a certain dollar value, or you can agree to take take funds up front. We chose to take the funds more up front. We still get some additional funds but we took a larger a lot mean I think we receive three payments that adds that total there are and it’s in the back of the packet. The criteria what these funds are eligible for and then primarily working through our police police department and our health department. We are pursuing a number of programs that are El igible as described to to utilize and

1:00:51 and draw from the funds. Just is that something that we would kind of expect the Board of Health to undertake or will obviously the police department would play, you know would maybe obviously we have uses for for the funds as well. Yeah, so the criteria that’s in the back kind of hits. I would say primarily health and Public Safety are the two I guess to generalize the the venues of what the opioid impact did on communities. So they’re most of the Criterion here is focused on those areas. So again the collaboration of working together to identify. What’s what’s the best use of

1:01:37 these funds? Do the programs and then we have to report back on the utilization of these funds.

1:01:52 No other questions like to entertain a motion to approve participation in the new National opioid settlement with Teva allergen CVS Walgreens and Walmart and to authorize. The chair to sign on behalf of the board.

1:02:18 More mundane item here. Just passed the boat on the minutes.

1:02:26 like a motion to approve the minutes of March 8 2023

1:02:34 second

1:02:36 in favor two

1:02:47 okay number 17 is An item regarding policy procedures guidelines and kind of just I think we just want to have a discussion about this Aaron I think thank you for putting it on the agenda. So I just wanted to it’s something that you know, I took it Jackie and I spoke with like last year, but we were kind of in a transition with John mcginn and and I just as something as you know, as a new member coming on to the board, I think you know while the handbook of sleckman is a great is a nice resource. You know, I kind of was poking around at like other towns and it’s in I think

1:03:33 I’m kind of wondering I did send out obviously the resources. I don’t have people have time to to take a look at them as examples of. It’s kind of ubiquitous about rounds like boards kind of making taking, you know, some of the best practices from the handbook, but also making it, you know. Individual making it Marblehead specific. You know how we do things kind of thing just kind of rules of the road, you know ensuring compliance with with that and as people come on the board, it’s something that they can kind of, you know, look to even just, you know people coming before us for a hearing having, you know, kind of a policy on

1:04:15 You know like how those are conducted, you know, obviously there’s statute around it, but you can kind of we can kind of make that a little bit clearer to folks, you know. There’s you know some of the topics in these that it can get specific rules and rules and organization of the board of responsibility of the board. Standard of conduct regular board meeting dates, you know executive session volunteer boards and process of appointments and reappointments. Public comment liaison, you know joint meetings, you know. Some you know, maybe there’s a process for setting annual goals for the board and or for the Town Administrator. So just kind of codifying the working relationship among the members of the board between the board and the Town Administrator and the board and other Town boards where we are so just you know decentralized and

1:05:03 so I just wanted to know if there was appetite on the board for us to undertake that process and I think either you know, I’d be happy to you know kind of get it going and like, you know, if we if there was the will it was the will of the board either we could you know, ask Our Town Council to kind of draft us some boy like the standard some standard ones and then we could You know personalize them or you know choose to kind of adopt them over the course of like a period of time.

1:05:44 So, you know or like, you know, I’m happy to take a crack at it and bring it to the board to you know, depending on like how we wanted to proceed it. Just kind of wanted to see if there was an appetite for for doing that.

1:06:04 I mean, I think I’m not a first guidelines matter of fact, I remember when I joined fincon. I kind of said, you know, okay. Should I have some but what I found quite quickly, is that one side, you know read the thing and what you realize is by that’s why.

1:06:27 What you realize is that you know by Statute as well. It’s completely frames up pretty well kind of the you know, the purpose of a given board and kind of the authority of the chair will say and the individual members and how voting should be conducted. I think results a lot of stuff there. My only concern is kind of making sure if we do have guidelines that they’re kind of advisory, you know to some extent right number one and number two that it doesn’t become a codification for things that should be debated. betting stuff in there that is you know, it is kind. Of it’s kind of like. the castle that’s and I think also to be very very careful about,

1:07:15 you know, imposing kind of You know restrictions on the latitude of the Town Administrator in particular to execute against and and use his or her. better so I think So I guess what I’m saying is not. opposed Is at all but just basically I would be very very personally very sensitive to these guardrails because I think we have a you know, we have statute. That’s pretty that’s pretty good and I think Part of the challenge is just pulling out the elements of the statute. So it’s people then when they read them they can kind of understand it. Right. I mean, I think that’s part of the channel. So look, I mean if I think for that it may serve as a clarifying thing, but I just want

1:08:03 you to know that I’m going to be super sensitive about anything that kind of codifies stuff. That should be open for debate. Yeah, I think one of the biggest. Things that is helpful to is like like you said like the role down the illustrator Visa B. the board and you know, the member the member of the board vis-à-vis, you know other towns and like I think that that’s I totally agree and I think obviously it would always up the statute would be embedded in everything and then, you know, it would be subject to you know, kind of annual, you know adoption, you know, and people obviously can review them revisit them they can evolve over time or you know, and you know Actually, look I’m not impressed by

1:08:50 Boards who have these long. Lists of policies and procedures. They’re still dysfunctional. It doesn’t help, you know. It’s so much of this is based on the on a spirit more than anything within kind of the you know, the proper reading of the law. So I mean, I I understand completely what you’re saying. And I totally get the fact that I think a lot of the people who have sat in our seats here have had you know long experience. I think it’s just a kind of there is a very strong tradition, I guess right unspoken and Unwritten to some extent. How we conduct ourselves and it’s I think it’s worth. I think it’s worked very well, but you know look you want to go. I’m sorry. I didn’t see you. I would just say that.

1:09:37 there is a benefit in my mind to having a place where I think the statutes are important and we’re not looking to change statutes but to put something in a place where it is Consolidated where you know, you’re in that’s you know, this statute might be here. That might be here. This might apply to a bilob this might apply to this to have it in a place. Where as you are you looking to I know when I first came out to the board, I was really looking for something that was more of like an onboarding type document where I you know, I had the selekman’s manual before I came on and used that as a template to understand the position holistically, you know to say, okay, this

1:10:24 is the job do I believe I can execute it before I made that decision, but then now you’re in Marblehead and this is Marblehead. And to me there was a gap in between there and between that of you know, there’s the local bylaws statue. How do we traditionally handle this and consolidating all of that information? Into a place where it’s easy to identify and follow in a way that you are. Setting up, you know set up in a place where you’re being the most productive and I think from my place there is always the option of

1:11:11 obviously things have to be subject to change. There has to be this is you know, this is a summary of the guidelines and if you’re looking for information on You know Capital planning or this or that here are the statutes. This is where this is. What we would reference. This is our this is our template on this section. This is our template on this section. Like for example, just something that comes to mind right now as we’re speaking right now one of the sections in there that discusses specifically Capital planning. There’s six or you know, three four five different options of you can go through a moderator. You can do this. You can do that. So then I take that, you know to me it’s like you took that in for I would take that information and then say, okay. Well, you know well, and it also I think helps to eliminate.

1:11:59 Some of that, you know back and forth of saying, okay. Now I can properly educate myself without you know, overburdening new member new members not overburdening current members and do Allow that transition to happen a little more streamlined in that. It’s just my takeaway from looking at this over, you know, however many months that I have looked at this but and I’m also someone who enjoys that Bigger piece of information so then I can bring it together and say okay. Well, at least I have looked at this in a way that I feel like I’m doing my due diligence so When I approached this concept, that’s where I really come from is just looking at putting that information into one location.

1:12:46 Whatever those statutes are. That’s my original thought on this.

1:12:56 I’m not at all in favor of this. I have never in the 18 years that I’ve been serving I have never. Lost my way. I’ve never fat not found something that needed to be found. I I don’t I don’t appreciate although I know you do it with the best of intentions there and I don’t appreciate always being looking at other towns to see what’s better because I think what we’re doing is working and I just I think there are a lot of very There are people who are working in this office who have tremendous.

1:13:36 they have a lot of work to do and I think this is just something to be a pet project and nothing else. I really don’t see the benefit of of any of this seriously

1:13:52 Why wasn’t I wasn’t I wasn’t suggesting that it would be anybody in the office. It would be the work of our board. Not any of our our staff our like

1:14:06 work. Thank you.

1:14:11 This is this is a very useful discussion. I think.

1:14:19 Thatcher

1:14:23 seeing if there’s the appetite to move forward. Yeah, and I just think too one of the things just from the time that I have been here. I believe some of the things that

1:14:38 You know the scene or different things that perhaps having that information Consolidated would have helped and it’s just my understanding, you know, obviously Jackie know you we’ve had a very different experience and that’s fine and I completely respect that. Our our experiences have come to this place in a very different way. But I you know, I feel like it’s a really important for me to voice that from what I have experienced in the time that I have been here and also that. 2023 and where we are in coming in in the middle of a pandemic was a uniquely different time frame and with a lot of challenges and a lot of change on the federal level the state

1:15:24 level the town level holistically globally, so That 100% was my experience. and that what I have witnessed and seen having some of that information Consolidated and having some of those kind of checkbox type items perhaps would You know have a allowed.

1:15:50 So can I just have are you saying that outside of a pandemic you wouldn’t have wanted this or you what about you wouldn’t have needed these? No what I’m saying is that in light of whenever you’re having these types of fluctuations, it’s even more a reason where yeah, where You know, there’s there’s so many things that are just changing in real time. So and that’s you know, I I respect that. everyone, you know went Moses, you know, you were here 2017-2018, you know so different periods in time different experiences different situations, so I’m can only speak to where I am in this moment in time and What might and what I think would be helpful moving

1:16:35 forward?

1:16:43 right

1:16:50 it’s a good discussion

1:17:08 Okay, so with that.

1:17:12 18 which is the

1:17:18 Festival of Arts 5K run Saying run, I think it is a run. race run Okay, this is an annual event to to raise money for the Festival of Arts. Very important event that the tracks 100 to 200 registered Runners possibly. 50 walk-ins and the motion is pretty self-explanatory to approve a request. Sorry about that from Joan Clem Festival of Arts to hold a 5K race walk on Saturday May 13 2023 subject to approval the Marvel at police Recreation and Parks receive the required Certificate of Insurance named Marblehead as additionally insured. And police details the event will start

1:18:04 at on Smith Street in front of the post office and finish at the community center. Start time is 8 am with completion of event approximately 10 am no permanent marking. She’ll be made on the streets and any temporary marketing removed.

1:18:19 It’s almost in favor.

1:18:25 This is really to put in the record letters of Interest received at today’s meeting from Rick Keller for the task force against discrimination. And Bridget Duffy for the task force against discrimination or and or disability. so we have a number of current applications on file. I just want to note it notify that. For possible and we should think about scheduling interviews for decaf and a disabilities commission Dan Albert from the MBTA advisory committee Edward McCarthy for the MBTA advisory committee Arnold Cohen from task force against discrimination rate Keller task force against discrimination should

1:19:11 just read and Bridget Duffy isn’t just read task force against discrimination or disabilities Commission.

1:19:19 Kyle are we thinking of

1:19:23 Setting a deadline for additional letters of interest for April 7th. I think we ought to go ahead and do that. So set a set of deadline of April 7th 2023 for letters of interest for the disabilities commission and the MBTA advisory committee and we’ll go ahead if everybody would look at their calendars and interviews will be conducted on April 12th. Which is that second Wednesday?

1:19:54 April 12, we have a meeting man. Yeah, so that’s that’s

1:20:01 I’m good for that. How are you guys looking is everybody else said for that? Pretending that okay good. So we have the deadline of April 7th with an interview on April 12th for the disabilities Commission in the NBA advisory committee. And then for the task force, let’s set a deadline for April 21 2023. which is the Friday preceding our our meeting on April 26th So April 26th is the fourth. Wednesday of April and that’s our next meeting. So again for task force against discrimination. interview For the letters due on April 21st, and for interview at the select board meeting on April 26, and you’ll promulgate that.

1:20:49 People are all notified. And again just to remember Mark Phillip will be coming on April 12th for the cultural counsel. He’s not able to make it today. All right, that’s just for notification.

1:21:07 At a point we are at a point in the agenda. Where we are opening up to public comments. Can I pause you for a second? Yes, please. Go ahead. I just thought something we can go back. the in for the

1:21:25 open meeting lot vote. There just was a sentence that I missed originally. Yeah, I just wanted a contract. Um, yeah, I don’t know. I didn’t number seven. Oh, yeah. I don’t know if we need to revote it or it’s just I think we amended by Amendment. Okay. Yeah, so just amend it there was just a small sentence I missed the last second to last paragraph Kyle. squared just it says that I left before greater and belt Becker made the comments I was on and there was no deliberation or speaking but just strike that The statement because I was on the I was on remotely. during that comment so that there’s like one son. So take away members singer

1:22:12 left the meeting. Yeah before yes before those two coins before so strike out the is that is that right? That’s it. And then leave their was it no time during the meeting any discussion between any of them? Okay. So starting from there was no time discussion. Yes. Yes. so technicality, but and what was it? What was the first part after moreover? What’d you say was the first part moreover. There was the moreover through comments and okay. Now this was put together. I guess you spoke you spoke to Alex, right? Yeah. Oh you did. Yeah. Oh you spoke to

1:22:58 And Alexa, yes. Yeah, I’m talking about Alexander Castro. Yeah, you didn’t speak directly. No, I didn’t. Subscribe to popular Sonic just clarify that piece. That works that okay. Yeah. Otherwise, I’d ask you to speak to. To counsel again, but that’s okay. Yeah. No, I didn’t actually I just want to make sure it was great. That’s great. Okay, are we now any other comments? Open public comment anybody? on

1:23:34 here

1:23:55 Percent, aren’t you aren’t you aren’t you involved in the in this? Yeah. Okay, so that’s why okay fine. Yeah you are you gonna coordinate with Emily? Are you coordinate with Emily or what’s your

1:24:12 you know, I had a well Becky’s Becky. That’s right. We’re all kind of involved in all okay, but that’s so you just pointing out that there’s yeah.

1:24:24 Yeah, 100% Well, you know, it seems like it seems like you’re fitting within kind of a strategic discussion. So that’s that’s great. Yeah, okay. Okay. Right, please. Yes.

1:25:35 Mary Administration set up if that’s working. On time was released. his iron

1:25:54 just one day consideration.

1:26:02 using that

1:26:11 Thank you. Brad. Look I don’t. I don’t think I think this letter is really a broad letter of intent. I’m just going to respond to you. Normally I wouldn’t but broad letter of intent, I think it’s probably inclusive of that and I think it’s up to the Judgment of the Town Administrator ultimately to determine whether Consultant, or that resource is used, so but appreciate and it’s taking under advisement of consideration. Thank you.

1:26:36 any other any other comments for online nothing? All right. So I think that leaves us with a favorite part our favorite part of evening. You know Factory the Thatcher keys are show. Sure. Thank you.

1:26:56 So let me give you some updates, you know, the primary topics is where we are in the budget process and where we are removed right process very much follow on context to the discussion earlier this this evening. So there’s been much work done lots of input. the department heads to terrific job of providing, you know. the inputs and their needs

1:27:26 myself and now with Alicia on board which is wonderful to have have hers and incredible resource very knowledgeable and so many things

1:27:38 I think she’s starting to give me answers before I even asked the questions at least it feels that way which is wonderful having her on board and the rest of the team. I mean the whole finance department team. We’ve all been working. Closely together and it’s been enjoyable doing that but the work the work that we have is putting together. Basically two two versions of a budget or two budgets. However, you want to describe it. as we’ve talked about our effort has been to develop a what I’ve been calling a balanced budget, but I know you know working with our school friends also to try to get the common language. So I think I’ve changed it to the reduced budget just

1:28:23 to have some common language on that which is the budget that assumes no override it works with the revenues that we have identified and it drives to have a bottom line on the expenditure side that does not exceed the the revenues that are available in and we have pretty much achieved that of creating that budget. I’m going to go over the revenue side a little bit and then I’ll talk about where where we end up on the experience side. So that’s the reduced or balanced budget the other budget that we put together again working closely with each of the department heads and literally walking line by line by line and each budgets

1:29:08 to determine a what a level Services budget. What’s the actual cost of providing the services that? Currently provide to the residents and businesses of Marblehead. That’s That was the effort and so we’ve done that and and have that column of numbers and it has as I’ve said.

1:29:31 And as there’s outlined in the earliest statement what that effort achieves is the Delta between those two. budgets informs us as to what what an override number would look like. And to be able to itemize line by line. where the cuts that have been made to get from to the between the level services and a reduced budget. So we have achieved that I will say we we are still combing through we’re tweaking the small numbers. I would describe it. So we you know, we we’ve narrowed in on the big numbers. We’re cleaning up a few places here and there calculating, you know, the the salary calculations would be different depending on when employees

1:30:19 have their annual step increases. So we have to you know do the math. and so there’s there’s some of that scrubbing still going on so I will warn that I’m going to share some numbers. They are going to change you know it to a small degree, but it’s going to pretty much tell us where we’re sitting over.

1:30:43 So on the revenue side.

1:30:46 Overall, you know, I gave a presentation in February 1st couple of the changes from that night. So I’ll start with local receipts. and as I described in the past

1:31:02 The the calculation of estimated local receipts which was what was used to plug into the budget was significantly lower than the actual receipts which generated free cash the following year as a mechanism. There was a large bump up last year or in the current fiscal year. to do that and I said my intent is to adjust the local receipts closer to the actual receipts basically no longer use that as a revenue source for free cash. But to do what I’ve seen in most of the places of doing a conservative number to calculate what

1:31:48 our local receipts are. So the number I’ve used. What I’ve done is I calculated a three-year average. Of our actual receipts and took 95% of that average and that’s the number I plugged in. So that’s 6,307,231, which is about a 715,000 increase. On local receipts from what we use in the current fiscal year.

1:32:20 making that that change it the fact that the town was just using that that the lower number in generating free cash and putting the budget. It doesn’t change anything on the bottom line. It’s just labeling it what I believe as to what we should label it accurately as it’s a local receipt. Let’s count as a local. We see rather than underestimating and counting it as free cash. I one of my goals is just simplicity. and clarity to the numbers

1:32:54 The other I’ve spoken about the the state aid and on the flip side the assessment charges those numbers are going to change. I expect not large changes as it moves from them Governors budget to the house budget to the Santa budget to a final budget. So so that those numbers will change the other significant number. However is is what we’re plugging in for free cat. We still don’t have certified free cash. We are closing the books imminently.

1:33:30 Take this week. I don’t. I should be this week. That’s that that’s the statement. Alicia has said we are going to close this week. And so that’s the expectation and there’s probably some finance department folks or sweating right now on that, but they’re working hard at it based on our best. Assessment at this time of where we stand we’re using eight million dollars as the free cash number. Again, last year’s number was 10,200,000.

1:34:09 Then there’s the the Municipal light and the water sewer Harbor transfer funds that made up the the 10.8 which was a total of funds use to offset the levy so eight million free cash and keeping the other the other numbers constant. It’s about 8.6 million. And again, there may be some small tweaks in in the water sewer Harbor transfer numbers were calculating those.

1:34:46 I had I had 8.5 as a number plugged in there. and I we do we actually do not want to overestimate that so we need to be conservative. and overall one of the imperatives of setting these numbers and putting in our Revenue bottom line and what our targets are in these French side is we need to lock these members in so that the fin calm can do its work because it’s already meaning with the Departments. So already looking we need to lock these numbers in if there are changes. to these numbers if they’re if the revenues increase by some amount because the state aides up.

1:35:28 What it will do we’re not going to we’re not going to change our numbers it up until the time that the select board votes to set an override to actually set the number in the override. Any additional revenues up to that point we’ll just reduce the override number. once the override numbers locked in any revenues that come in over what we set will simply be free cash and roll over to the next year, which is the mechanism that

1:36:00 use in that regard so all so in other words with these numbers are expectation is to the good on that so bottom line revenue. As of right now get some minor tweaks to the number, but it’s 105 million 328,000. I’ll leave the rest of I said that little Tweet now to calculate what we have a total the net available revenues to budget against because we have we have to take out the dead exclusions. So that shows up the interest in the in the payment of the the borrowings shows up on the cost side, but because it’s a debt

1:36:48 exclusion voted on the ballot the equal number shows up on the revenue side. So what I done is pull those numbers out because it I think The Debt Service increase 800 some one thousand which shows an 800 1000 increase in the towns expenses, but it I had to net those out to make all else equal. So with that it’s bottom lines 94 million 545,000 again just rounded off at that level because that’ll tweak. So that’s that’s the revenues that we’re working from. on the expenditure side

1:37:26 I’ll start with this looking at some of our What were the big costing cost drivers? Of what we were dealing with. The first place everybody wants to go do is salaries. Well salaries is one of the largest portion. It’s not the biggest cost increased driver because those are set at the the increases are 2% And when you calculate in, you know, step increases such it’s slightly above 2% That’s manageable. What is more significant is our health insurance costs the GIC gave an increase overall of 5.7%

1:38:07 the actual cost increase we we need to drill down and it’s depended on the number of employees that are in the different plans some and family some in single and what the cost increases for each individual plan is so there’s a whole Matrix to That we have that we’re building out that will give us more accurate, but that’s the general overall. Increase the other one is energy costs. The schools are estimating 35% on their end. I’m using 30% on the energy costs and so those are Those are the biggies that drove up everything else is pretty much. the inflationary costs of doing business. I think the chief some of the there’s some vendors you talk to who had about

1:38:54 20% increases on particular. I was equipment of services that it’s not you know, it’s a small portion of the budget, but it’s a These things added up. So those are the drivers so On the level services are I’m sorry. Let me start with the reduced. budget the increase from comparing fiscal 23 they were in to the bottom line. Is 1.523 million which is right in line with what was projected February 1st? of the increases but to state within the rebels and hold it, you know

1:39:41 there and given the cost Drive is an increases and some big line items. I spoke about we had to details where to make that happen.

1:39:51 the level Services budget

1:39:57 and go into that whole process and really holding the department heads accountable to to level services and and I I will say stepped up and met the criteria of what level Services as we talked about. So the total increase The that budget is just over four million dollars in increased four million 46,000 and change.

1:40:26 So when we compare the Delta between oh, let me mention all so I have to calculate in in. Calculate the cost that has to tuck under the bottom line is the cost of all our warrant articles. Because those have to fit in under that Revenue the revenue number we’re estimating right now again, there’ll be some tweaks 1.688 million. In Warren articles, which is actually down. It’s down about 439,000. So what you’re going to see is is a little bit of a Slowdown on some of the capital side sort of catch our breath in given the fact that

1:41:13 we had the we had the debt exclusion that the overall 12 million so so it so we’re not stopping doing projects. It’s just we’re gonna focus on the projects that are funded through through The Debt Service the dead exclusion. and and get our arms around our Capital plan, and it’s sort of In order to balance that bottom line I had to pull back, you know someone on on the capital project. I mean we’re still going to be replacing vehicles. And doing some some Building Maintenance projects and such that are necessary in fact the meeting with Department.

1:41:53 Okay. Should I pause is there any or is there anything any connection any audio? most of these

1:42:05 lost

1:42:15 So it’s not a requirement.

1:42:21 How many how many viewers did we have?

1:42:25 18

1:42:33 Well, there’s no yeah, if you’re listening, it’s all long around.

1:42:41 please we’ll have a brief recess so so

1:43:02 you

1:43:13 slash it doesn’t always works. He not paying okay.

1:43:23 I guess they over the thing is we and we can continue to ask you.

1:43:35 Yeah, this is over here. Yeah.

1:43:56 recording in progress

1:44:11 All right. Excellent. Thank you Kyle. In the meantime. We’ve lost two board members to to a temporary recess anybody who’s rejoining Us online here. Sorry about that interruption.

1:44:28 now how many folks have we lost anybody we had 18 before but

1:44:37 So folks are back folks folks are back on. Hey James.

1:44:44 Looks like we want to. That’s correct. Well, that’s why they’re still on. Yeah, okay, but they weren’t listening yet.

1:44:52 Okay, great.

1:44:56 Okay. We are we are connected and ready to resume. So let’s go ahead and do that right where you left off if you want to rewind the tape ten seconds. Okay, so I moved to the the numbers on the level services so-called level Services budget, which is a little over four million dollar increase from the fiscal 23 budget.

1:45:20 and then it doing the bottom line math taking the difference between the reduced budget. of 94.5 million compared to the level Services budget, which is just over 97 million.

1:45:41 basically, the Delta between the two is right around two and a half million 2.522 on the current number again, that’ll be some twist to that, but it’s Which that would be the proposed override number? Is about two and a half million dollars. I kind of thought of the Symmetry two and a half million dollars to deal with a two and a two and a half issue Is where the math land into two and a half? Million decline in free cash, right? Yeah, and there’s lots of yeah, it’s interesting. Yeah, and that’s about the decline in free cash in that we did not drive at this number by looking at the kind of free cash. It was truly.

1:46:28 the Delta now free cash Is what supplemented it? So that’s no relationship. Right? Right. So that’s that’s where We’ve Ended up. With the two and a half million dollar override. And given the allocation between the school and the town. Let me call it the raw number of how much of the override would be for the town. How much for the school? And the numbers would tweak a little. That on the town side would be about 1.388 million. and on the school side, it’d be about 1.134 million. So if if An override went on the ballot and it had passed.

1:47:16 That’s the amount that We’re back into the town in the school budgets. now Let me say this. That’s the raw Breakout. However, you know in some folks would say wait a minute the town’s getting more of the schools schools, you know a big part. Be aware that a large chunk of there’s a large part of the school cost. That show up on the town side budget. Mainly the biggies are health insurance and Medicare payments so the obligations of all the School Employees the cost for for the

1:48:02 the town’s portion of the health and the Medicare cost. Show up on the on the town side Ledger will we calculate that out and break it out that’s equivalent to 976,000. Of school costs that are on the town side. So if you do the math it really the split is actually pretty even when you when you make those adjustments. So I don’t want anybody get you know. Misguided by the raw numbers because there’s some math to be done to to allocate for the school costs that actually show up on the on the side, right? So that’s the bottom line at this point.

1:48:48 My intent is to comb through the some of the final numbers. Like I said, there’ll be some changes, but they’re relatively small. And then we’ll be ready to to put out a detailed level. Breakout of the budgets and and exactly where all all the cuts are. So Thatcher thank you for your around-the-clock effort on this and it has been so

1:49:20 it’s my everybody.

1:49:22 Thank you for that and thank you for articulating in such a concise way. I think it’s it’s followable. I think the the great thing that you did was set it up in the state of town in the way that was comprehensible to folks. So I think coming up with a number. that we have right now is it’s good to get that clarity. Any other comments thoughts? I just wanted to also acknowledge your Enormous effort, you know seven day work week for many many weeks onboarding a new Finance director playing that role up to that undertaking a conversion to clear gov which basically effectively double the job. So I want to just like, you

1:50:10 know, just commend you for that and just total gratitude for helping us at this time. really showing up for Marblehead

1:50:25 I just had a couple things. I just want to talk about. Just everything that you said and just where we are and looking at the growth opportunities and stuff. Both of them are kind of timely talking about like what Aaron just like I’m boring Felicia and stuff like that in the work that that takes away from you. I know we brought this before too but talking about human resources in general and just all of that of what they do in light of where we are with budget cuts to with like looking at

1:50:54 Class and compensation studies and looking at Union negotiations and making sure we have a streamlined process and that we are working on utilizing. Some of that work that has to be done with employee satisfaction too, you know right now with you know, as it’s been turned, you know, the great resignation, you know, it’s very difficult and municipal government right now to attract really qualified people and keep them when we want to make sure that we’re consolidating all of those options. So anyway, we’ve brought that as a concern before so I just wanted to kind of reiterate that and one of the things I saw which I thought you know is I wrote it down so I didn’t I didn’t forget to say it but it’s there was some of the research I was doing on this organizations, you

1:51:42 know and municipalities that have the human resources department and work through that positive employee experience or five times more likely to bring in employees and also retain them which you know that as we’ve seen in the last couple years really helps move our system along as far as municipal government. So I just wanted to highlight that the other thing was in that you know, this is timely with what we saw tonight for the harbor plan study and just All the work that we’ve done so far, you know, we have the hazard mitigation plan. I was on the call last night and watched that presentation and then you know, we had the climate Vision which you know started with Judy and moved into the Net Zero, which we have just finished the vulnerability, you know, we have all these great plans in place, which

1:52:29 is awesome because we’ve done the work and I think it’s important to note for the board. You know, there’s three major bills that are coming out we have the climate change inflation reduction act infrastructure, you know, the inflation reduction act Excel is looking at greenhouse gas reduction housing Transportation Community buildings residency Workforce Development. I mean, there is a lot that we have access to that’ll flow through the federal and through the state but you know, I think for us this is a once and generation opportunity with funding, I mean even just in that one act alone, there’s 20 grants capacities like many of them are, you know billion dollar grants. So I just think it’s important for us to consider having that point person responsible, you know

1:53:14 ready to access the funding and to you know your point you just looking at that special projects all these special projects and consolidating access to these grants when things that came up in the great Marblehead. Work was the fact that with some of these grants that you know, they have become really complicated and you really need someone who has the expertise to access that so I think this all ties in together and I just wanted to make sure we highlight that and look at that. We are capitalizing on any growth opportunities that we can get. And as we’ve done all of this good work those grants are looking for shovel ready projects and someone who’s there to implement it. So

1:53:58 to take the work that we’ve done and you know and and have it ready to go and meet the moment. I think it’s important. Those are just my two additional thoughts of all the things that we’re considered. Thank you one of the things One of the things I’ve always looked for in this business. There are there are cost drivers as I Demonstrated before and I guess the easier path is to shrug. Our shoulders say that’s what’s happening to us. You know energy costs are up. These things are up. Not much we can do about it. We just pay. The approach I prefer. is bringing in a resource that helps us. To lessen the cost increases. We we may

1:54:44 not generate hard savings, you know, the the dolls may not go down. But what we need to avoid is the big increases to the extent possible and that’s that’s the goal of both an HR directive position coming in because we have we have two Collective bargain agreements and the the pack or personal employee committee, which negotiates our health plans. the employees all those expire this next fiscal year and so having a person with the specific knowledge and resources and and be at the table and organize on behalf

1:55:31 of the town will be a benefit. to control the costs that you know, they’ll be cost increases but to help us control. Is going for and have that expertise. So in the same, you know, there’s a lot of time about sustainability coordinator in driving down our energy costs as well as meeting the goals. you know our carbon footprint and those things but what I’ve structured is to create those positions and to fund them. By actually for the example of eight the HR Director and looking at the increase of our healthcare costs and what those members are.

1:56:18 I am deducting. The cost of the salary and benefits from our health insurance account. To offset the estimated salary and benefit cost of having that person because an HR director’s job will be to help us to manage those specific expenses. And I I think it’s an easy bet to put that you know. An HED director salary and benefits costs. Will be easily covered by the savings by better managing all of our planets. Same concept with the sustainability coordinator looking at all our energy accounts. They’re embedded in all the department budgets as

1:57:05 well as there’s the utility Reserve accounts and energy Reserve accounts what I’ve put in places estimated the salary and benefits of an individual and have deducted. Taking our estimates our projections of what the budget should be for those energy line items and deducted by the amount of the salary and benefits of a person again. For a person whose job will be to help us manage. And control those costs going forward and so it’s it’s buying. It’s painful those positions that will put us in a better place to through the work that they do and that would also put us in a place to you know to access.

1:57:51 The hopeful, you know getting in touch with trying to access these grants that are part of this your funding. So they generate Revenue they produce savings. I will say those are the only positions that are new they’re paid for in the proposed budgets. There are in some other departments some changes in positions. based on needs but those those are the only two new and they’re fully paid for in the manner as a

1:58:26 Yeah, I mean, I think that you know every opportunity that we have to tap it to revenue sources and streams that don’t rely on our tax space. We absolutely should. Go all the way with it and sometimes you know.

1:58:43 A little investment pays off in enormous dividends and you know, I think to not have these positions or be able to find these positions that I appreciate you finding the room and the budget for them because you know moving forward without these positions in 2023 seems to be a little Pennywise impound foolish at this point. So, you know,

1:59:08 Um again Bravo for your efforts in that positions, I think the way structure was really interesting. There is an expected Payback. So they’re really positions of activity based. So to extend that you do get a return on that I think and pretty short order. General speaking. Particularly if you get out. I think from that perspective. It definitely makes sense. I don’t even really visualize those just kind of adding kind of cost center. They’re really more of a re

1:59:42 your value creating students and I think it helps us capitalize on you know, we’re in a great place. We’ve done some amazing planning and this, you know this access to funding happens to be coinciding as we’re putting all these plans in place. So having someone who can access that Finance Implement take this work and consolidate it and get us Ways to pay for it that aren’t part of you know, taxing. Our tax base is amazing.

2:00:09 our includes my Well, thank you very much. Good okay.

2:00:15 I think next is if we have any additional. Board of member announcements

2:00:28 to Adorn so moved