I want to know hear your thoughts. I have to make we have to make rough decisions and we need to know what each other are thinking. So I think we it has to be in public if we all meet. We can also do Could we do that virtually? Are we allowed to have a virtual in public meeting for the budget? >> You could >> we could do that as well. This way you guys can all be in the comfort of your home. >> Yeah. My only concern with naming particular positions like that would be that then people would think oh if there's an issue next year then I know that my job is next or >> why why committee >> whatever mindset that is. Yeah. So >> all right. So we can also do committee or the three three and three virtual and then we can bring it back.
Is there a motion? >> I'll make that motion. >> There a second. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Zero. That's four zero. One absent. Very good. Thank you. >> Okay. So now, uh, before you leave tonight, there are some documents that need to be signed. If >> you would do that, that would be great. Next is to uh this. >> I'm okay. A reminder, in-person early voting for May 19th, 2026 annual town election is to be held Saturday, May 9th, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and during regular business hours from May 11th, 2026 to May 14, 2026. Uh that'll be on the town website as well. I believe I believe Michael already had it on his newsletter just in case you want to vote early, you can vote early and often. >> You jumped the bench. >> Yeah, we got to get we got to get back to the bench.
The discussion has to come back. We have to read a a committee report. Just commissioner ra. >> Yeah. A little different. Again I don't know if the whole if majority of the board needs to be on board with this but if administration could look into that in-house for substitutes thing at least just look into it hiring an HR specialist the possible savings for it next year. Um you know >> I I have a question about that. um previous to through you Dr. Roboti to um assistant superintendent lever. I'm trying not to be rude. >> Are you rolling away? >> I'm rolling away. No, I'm trying to I'm trying to let people see her and I because they actually people from the audience have actually told me they like that when they see you talk. >> Um >> you have a very soothing voice. >> We just like I like hearing voice.
>> Oh, no, no, I know. I know. I just want to I highlighted it so I wouldn't forget it. Sorry. >> Oh, >> okay. >> Next is discuss and review uh the donated bench policy. And I think all of you have a copy of that policy. Okay. Um, it's pretty clear. Um, and it's it's not a hard policy to uh to provide for people who want to donate. Uh, we're trying to keep it so that it stays uniform throughout the town so people don't start buying benches and putting them here, there, and everywhere without town's approval. Everybody has good intentions. make sure that it's done properly, accurately, and have to make sure that they're not blocking NADA accessible sidewalk or whatever. So, we want to make sure all that stays stays part of the uh stays part of course. So, the town of Ashland welcomes donations of benches and dedicated to individuals, families, and organizations.
Um, if could it be doable that we hire a special s person, not a secretary where it gets thrown out and and I'm going to let Mrs. Kalevage talk. She'll speak much more eloquently than me. But here's the budget. Here's what you should know. When we did this on our own, which was just two years ago, our coverage rate hovered between 40 and 45%. meaning we could only get coverage for substitutes at that rate. Kelly, because of their vast network, was able to get that coverage rate up to a whopping 97 98% >> 95 96 97%. >> Which was they solved the problem almost too well, right? They were getting we were getting subs for positions that maybe necessarily didn't always need subs, right? So, we could do it. We would just have to find a a better way of of recruiting staff. Kelly's a large company.
Donated benches provide a meaningful way to commemorate loved ones while enhancing public spaces for community use. To ensure consistency, safety, and proper installation, the following protocol must be followed. Once donated, the bench becomes the property of the town of Ashland. And you want me to continue? This is the initial request. The individuals and organizations wishing to donate and dedicated a bench must first contact the town manager's office to initiate the process. All requests are coordinated and processed by Diane Mortonson at the town manager's office. Her email is D. Mortonson mass.com. The town manager will review and requ uh the request and coordinate with the department of public works to evaluate the proposed location. All benches locations must be reviewed and approved by the town manager in coordination with the department of public works and see bench locations and there's a list of sites that are available.
They have vast resources. That's all they do, right? That would just be a small piece of what we do. And that's we didn't we didn't do it very well for whatever reason. So, >> if I can just comment, it's not that Kelly was too expensive as to why we stopped why we cut the subs. the that contract was the only contract that we could just stop spending on. It's not that we the money was built into the budget to pay for substitutes, but bec and and the money was there to cover and keep substitutes all year. But that was the only contract that we could just stop because of this massive spike in health care costs that happened in the months of December and January and a massive spike in teacher absences that month due to illnesses. So it's not that the the contract itself was too expensive.
I don't know if you want >> No, I think we're good. I I do like the fact that um there's very specific bench locations that that people can choose from >> and I assume when they reach out to Diane, Diane will tell them where the available benches are, you know, like >> and then they will um pick a pick a place and pick a bench and >> um and then she'll she'll help coordinate the whole process. if there's two benches that people can choose from. There's an on street and an in park. Um so they match like our current so our on street are like the current ones you see downtown. Um so just to stay uniform um we've invested so much money into our downtown. Um that's the idea and then the impark. Okay. The only question that I have with respect to this because we promote local businesses, especially businesses in town, and the two approved bench vendors, one is in California and the other one's in Indiana.
What Kelly does for us we could never replicate. It's not just it's not just getting the subs. We're still spending a ton of money on Kelly because they're providing us with 70 of our para profofessionals who we would otherwise not be able to hire. We were also under hiring paras because we hire our par profofessionals at a part-time uh basis and we are not allowed to due to the American uh the ACA act make them full if we make them full-time we have to pay those full-time benefits. Kelly can offer benefits to people without that cost to us. They're able to sell the benefits to those people. So then they're more willing to work for us. There there are many layers to using Kelly services. They are also providing us with a I want to say it was 14 the last time I looked staff members that we have not been able to hire due to the teacher shortage.
We can't find anyone any closer. They get >> benches. >> They get benches. Seriously, I just Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm nitpicking. I I don't know. I, you know, I would love to see we say shop ash line, you know, shop local and here we are not not doing that. >> Does this have anything to do with our procurement process and what bids came in? >> Those were the benches that were in the downtown project. >> Okay. >> Um, they were already >> those were the ones that had been procured and so we would just want to keep them. >> Okay. >> Got it. >> Matching. >> But is there anyone that has a similar bench or a same bench that's maybe maybe closer? I'm I'm just asking because I just >> I'd love to see local businesses get get the job. >> I mean, that's to me that's >> that's a no-brainer.
So there are many layers to this. It's not that we stopped the contract or or we didn't stop the contract. It's not that we pulled back on the subs because they were too expensive. We pulled back on the subs because that was the only flexible line where we could stop spending immediately overnight with no other repercussions while still keeping all of our paras all of the other um we're still using subs and we're slowly adding them back. The problem was that massive very unexpected spike in other areas where we had to find funds to recoup in um and this was the only contract that could just be stopped at the moment. I don't know if Mr. Jussi wants to add anything to that. >> Um honestly I just I concur with everything you're saying. um the the cost might we we can do an analysis the cost might be greater with the whole hiring paris or um substitutes at more than 30 hours a week because then we have to offer benefits with the affordable care act.
>> Maybe we can amend it down the road >> if need be. >> Yeah. I mean, I I like the idea of keeping it consistent. >> Yeah. No, I don't disagree >> because like Beth said, we we have invested so much into our like downtown and we don't want like random rogue benches, you know, because that that doesn't help anybody. >> Yeah. And you know, some of these ventures might be made locally, too. I mean, >> yeah. >> But yeah, I mean, we can imagine >> because it looks like this, you know, the names of them seem sort of generic, right? Like maybe like maybe they are. I don't know. But in any case, if you found one that was made by a local vendor, it would probably be okay. Yeah. >> Looks good as hand. >> That That's the only thing I wanted to bring more than anything else.
So that's a huge factor to that weighs into this >> and we've looked at that in the past that's millions more um in order to be able to provide those power professionals from that in that direction. So yes, there is a cost to Kelly, but there's also a huge savings to Kelly. And it's not like this was the only reason this was chosen was because this was the only place, you know, we can't like stop a computer programmer in the middle of a year, you know. So um and many other things are massive contracts that were were tied to this was the only one that could be paused like this. There's money. The money is built in for next year. And and Dr. Roberts is 100% correct. going from a 45% fill rate to a 97% fill rate. Prior to Kelly, that was the teacher's biggest complaint that we could not get enough subs to provide coverages.
I just >> I'd rather buy it locally >> or from Massachusetts one way or the other. >> So, one of um Oh, wow. Luke. Yeah. Um the um the money that goes towards the installation, the $1,500 for for DPW installation. So, do they do like a concrete pad and they're install? They're It's not just like popping a bench. >> Correct. Yes. They have to pour the concrete pad to make sure it's ADA accessible. Um Yeah. It safe. Yes. Yep. And I did have Dan um sort of do a little research to see um you know what where it falls in line and as far as pricing goes. Um and that is the lowest end um cost like just to to have our staff Yes. to have the product and the staff time to do it. So, it does take time. >> Okay, >> sounds good.
So, what they're what the what's happening now is what was happening just before Kelly as well. It's actually a little bit better now because we are still providing some subs. Elementary teachers prior to Kelly weren't getting um their preps. That was the big concern. they didn't have any preps at all. So there there's there's more to it than it's not just that it was that Kelly was too expensive that it's a it's a it's a far more nuanced um situation. >> Thank you very much for the response. >> Any other discussion? >> Okay. I'm going to look for a motion. First I'm going to read my statement. At this time the Clinton Board of Education will move into executive session pursuant to the posision provisions of New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. the majority of NJSA 104-12. The matters to be discussed are of a confidential nature and may include but not limited to personnel matters, contractual negotiations, attorney client privilege, communications, and/or matters involving litigation or anticipated litigation.
And will this we just talked about budgets and stuff. Will this go into a certain line item in DPW or is it like just part of their general budget? >> That is a very good question and I do not know. I I really it's on you right now to sort of decide if you'd like to in put this policy through and then we can certainly look into that. Yes, it would probably be into going. >> It's interesting. Some of the bench locations that they have listed here is the National Arboritum, >> Stone Park, Mil Pond Park, the dog park off of Memorial Drive, Marathon Park, Pleasant Street, housing for the elderly Park Road, uh Marathon Park on Pleasant Street, and uh downtown Green Square, 25 Front Street and Montenegro Square. So, I'm thinking that maybe that could be part of the the field group. >> The buildings and grounds.
These discussions are not appropriate for public disclosure at this time as they may compromise the confidentiality of individuals, the board's legal position, and ongoing negotiations. No formal action will be taken during executive session. Action, if any, will be taken upon return to open session. We anticipate returning to the public session in about one hour. It's 9:03. So say uh with the fivem minute recess 908 uh for board members to have a break. Uh with that being said, can I have a motion to go on executive >> motion? >> Second motion by Commissioner Brunzak. Second by Commissioner Suarez. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Brunak, >> yes. >> Mr. Kenova, yes. >> Miss Eric Barnes, >> yes. >> Mr. Paris, yes. >> Mr. Ragdell, >> yes. >> Mr. Ciano, >> yes. >> Miss Suarez, >> yes. >> Vice President Santiago, >> yes. President pass. >> Yes, we are recessing right now.
>> Yeah, buildings and grounds. Just just a thought off the top of my squash. >> Sure. >> Because there's not much left up there. >> Um any any further discussion? >> No, I think it's great. I think I think we should have a have a bench policy. >> So, >> do we need to take a vote on this? I think we do, but this is the first time this was brought up. So, we usually don't vote on a policy on the first night that unless we change that. I don't think I >> I don't know if that's >> So, I mean, it's not affecting anything right now. So, if you if you want to >> Yeah. Well, I mean, we can put Why don't we um Why don't we plan to to put the vote because we don't we didn't even we didn't put a vote on our agenda for tonight.
Thank you. We back at about 10:08. Okay, welcome back. It's 9:54 p.m. We're returning from executive session. Could I have a motion to approve G1 through G7? Oh, so roll call. Sorry. Oh, roll call. >> Mr. Brunette, >> here. Mr. Kenova >> here. >> Missric Barnes >> here. >> Mr. Paris >> here. >> Mr. Mr. Ragdell here. >> Mr. Ciano, >> present. >> Mr. Wararez >> here. >> Vice President Santiago >> here. >> President B, >> I'm here. >> We have a quorum. >> Okay. Uh, could I have a motion to accept G1 through G6? >> Motion. Mark. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Brunzak, second by Commissioner Ciano.
>> So, we can do it on the 29th. >> So, let's let's put a vote >> for the 29th. >> Vote the policy on the 29th, >> but we're all in a >> Yeah. I don't think that I don't think that there's any need for any particular changes to it. So, >> Okay. >> So, thank you guys for for pulling this together. >> Great job. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. um discuss uh the select board scholarship policy and I know Claudia and I u over the past couple of years have done it. It's always a great venture to get it going. We need to actually start letting the schools know that we plan on doing it again. That's that's the desire select board to do it. >> Do we Oh, we do have somebody with Oh, there Luke is gone. Sorry. Luke left. I'm sorry, Luke.