really important that we get it through um in one night to in order to preserve um attendance at town meeting. Okay. Um Okay. Now we have consent articles 7 8 9 and 10. The unemployment compensation fund sick leave for road construction reconstruction and improvement and uh conservation fund. Meech Budro will be making a motion and Sarah Kenny will be uh seconding. I don't expect Have you heard anything? >> No. Yeah, these are pretty traditionally the consent items. Um if if if for some reason that doesn't the consent vote uh people don't agree to consent, then we do also list them individually on the following pages if necessary. Otherwise, you can just skip to article 11. >> Great. Thank And there's not going to be a presentation on the article 5 park and wreck. I know I'm behind. >> I had a question on that actually.
I believe in light of information we've been given that as a board we should look to amend any direction that we've given the superintendent to sign to work with School Services of California until further discussion can be had. So, I'm going to make a motion to um table that action that we gave as a board until we can uh hear back from our certificated staff as far as um what the the company they would choose to move forward with the budget. I'm trying to understand um the budget that we are trying to adopt is not a certificated budget. It is a district's budget. So, if we as the board the board that is making a decision about what we do as a district, we are the fiduciary agent of the district. And and so, we are not just servicing the certificated, we're servicing the classified and we're servicing the management.
Uh >> what am I? >> Oh, 11th grade. And I was a state runnerup this year. >> At what weight? uh 128 D1. >> Hey everyone, my name is Dallas Robinson. I'm a senior this year and I was a state runnerup at 157 pounds. >> I'm Rebecca Ponet. I am a junior and I won state at 100 pounds. >> I just saying these guys Thea's not here, but these guys are leaders. The boys took fifth. Probably not what they wanted, but they beat Liberty's 15-year string. They'll hold on a section title. Meet them for the first. They won 15 section titles in a row. The girls took four girls of state and placed third place behind Campover in second. So, it's been fun traveling around the country with those guys. Wrestling with the girls, too. But I'll just say these guys work work. 4.0 I know students years and years of giving in that by this kid and Athea is not here tonight but since probably kindergarten to reach these goals.
With that context, the advisory committee worked with the select board, town staff, and our school partners to put forward a proposed fiscal 27 budget of 37.2 2 million, a 5% increase over fiscal 26. The goal throughout was straightforward. Maintain core services, meet our obligations, and make choices that we can explain and defend. We also reviewed several capital requests to address aging infrastructure and public health and safety. These are necessary investments, but they carry real tradeoffs and real impact on taxpayers. I also want to note that this budget has broad support across the town government. The department heads, boards, and committees have all agreed to their respective budgets, a reflection of the collaborative spirit that makes this process work as well as it does. The recommendations in this report reflect months of careful work, but the decisions are yours, and that's exactly how it should be.
Again, I'm trying to figure out how you determine um what is a fair and equitable level of compensation. The market data does not take into account um size of community, but the comparable committees are ones um that do feels are in their regional um salary um market data position based like data. >> So, so it's demographics and um sometimes budget wise there's similar budgets and sky. So, so it's really communities that we would be competing with for open position, >> correct? Yes. >> So, it's a true market assessment of compensation then, >> right? You know, we we've talked about before. Um, do is very special. We say that all the time, >> right? Well, we know that >> and and part of that being special is we are very small in a very large uh surrounded by very large communities. There's not a lot of very similar communities.
Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean I can I have slid. >> Okay. Cuz you're not here. I saw you. >> Um but yeah. So that's okay. I mean I know in the past I think you have speak an extra vote I believe. Oh, to allow him to speak, >> right? >> Jim can authorize that. Jim, >> yeah, you're a town employee. So, so as a town employee, you are permitted to speak. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. So, yeah. So, uh, >> right. >> Um, I I did submit a few slides, so it's just four slide. I think it's five slides. >> Okay, great. Good. Thank you. Article 11, uh, stabilization fund. Sarah Kenny will be making a motion. Uh Nina Green will be seconding. Any uh any expectation that there'll be a lot of discussion on that? >> No, I mean that's a yearly article.
So, to have one one body, one of three of the bodies making the decision, is that the the best way to go or is the best way to go um to look at what the board wants to do and not what the certificated or classified or management wants. Because we are supposed to manage the funds of this district, not the funds of one bargaining unit. So, I'm a little bit confused that School Services is used by every school district that I'm aware of um to be able to look at their budget very clearly. And why is that suddenly a problem? I'm just curious. Yes, thank you for asking for clarification on that. So, last time we met as a board and we gave direction and recommendations, Superintendent Nelson's recommendation of utilizing School Services of California, it was with the understanding that we would be using them as a service as part of the agreement with our certificated staff that we came to this year and it it was clarified for us that maybe there was more information to be had um and that as part of their agreement that they should have some say in the School Services being that chosen entity to be able to speak on our budget and provide clarity for the board, provide clarity for our certificated staff if it was part of their agreement that we came to this year.
These two didn't start wrestling till high school. Dallas is a four-time state placer, two-time runner up, three time second section champ, and he's going to Grand View College, which is the best NIA wrestling school in the country to wrestle in the fall. Becca didn't start wrestling till high school. She's probably she has a 4.0. you know, she'll probably become the first girl with 200 wins next year. She's a three-time state placer and a state champ. So, I I'm blessed. I'm lucky to have him. So, thank you guys. Well done, Des High Wrestling. Congratulations to all of you. If you'd shake hands with the board, we'll take a picture. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> That's awesome. >> Coming up here to the middle and we'll gather around you guys. Well done, D. NEXT, if I could have Coach Bishop and the Campo wrestlers up. >> Yep. Girls, too.
We're glad you're here. We welcome your questions and we look forward to a productive meeting tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Bonder. Now, I will briefly review the procedures we will follow during the meeting in order to conduct this evening's business in a fair, orderly, and predictable manner so that the various views will be heard and the meeting moves along without unnecessary delays. The agenda for this meeting is the warrant which was prepared by the select board and it's contained in the advisory committee's report to the town. That's what this looks like. It was mailed to each household and is posted on the town's website. For each item on the warrant, the advisory committee will initiate the item by making and seconding a motion. Debate will follow and then a vote. For some articles, there will be a brief presentation by the proponent of the article who is pre who has previously informed me that they intend to make such a presentation.
So, you know, are we directly comparable to need them or native? No, we're not. Right. >> Um, you know, is uh are they on our list? Yes, they are because we do compete with them. But we understand we're not a need them. Um, and that's why, you know, I think they'll talk about later. We're also not aiming to match those high salaries, right? We're aiming for like a 60th percentile kind of match to help account for some of those differences. >> Right. But I think you know what we've seen as we've been out in the market is to get good qualified candidates we've had to go to the top end of our range to bring people in. So I think you know so certainly the results of this comp study not to cut to the chase reflected that but I was just curious as to you know how they evaluated what market was because they did give us a peak at the next slide and you could see that you know some of the towns are a lot larger than us >> question that's very slower market engine compared to 10 similar Massachusetts communities.
>> Pretty regular. >> Okay. All right. Good. >> The only reason it's not consent is because it is a more significant amount of money, but >> it's pretty for the past few months. >> Okay. Article 12, the OPED stabilization fund. Sarah will be making a main motion. and Nina will be seconding. >> And that'll be actually to dismiss that article. >> Okay. Great. Okay. Uh, article 13, unpaid bills. Um, and we do have some four fifths vote, Nina. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, that should go through pretty quickly. Article 14, supplemental appropriations. >> We're going to go to dismiss. >> Okay. [snorts] Okay. Article 15, revolving fund for electric vehicle charging station. Nina will be Nina Green will be making a motion. Kevin Bowman will be seconding. Um, how much is this going to require in terms of timing do you think? >> I think it'll be quick.
So, I just think it's important because we have the agreement with our certificated staff specifically that we go forward with our part of our agreement which was allowing them to have say into who is coming in and discussing budget and bringing clarity to AVUSD. First, you asked for a motion and then you wanted to table, but this is not an agendaized item, so I don't know why we're having a discussion on And there was no second. Well, I said and there was no second, so you're right. There should not be discussion. Well, we're having discussion because it said that we gave direction. Um I believe we reached consensus to move forward with the understanding that our certificated staff had agreed that this would be the entity we would use to bring clarity in light of our budget. And so, I believe given the information that we've received as a board so far, we should go ahead and pause any direction we gave to move forward with School Services of California until this additional information that has been brought to the light of this board is addressed.
Here they come. Hi coach. >> Hi guys. Coach, would you like to talk and let the students introduce themselves? Remember if you saw name, rank, serial number? No. What weight, what grade, and what place you took. >> I'm Coach Bishop. I'm the head boys coach. >> My name is Trey Kassinger. I'm a senior this year and I want to stay at 113 pounds. two-time state champion and he was he also all-American at a national tournament last month and he's also signed at Arizona Christian. How you doing? Uh first off, I want to thank you the board. I appreciate you guys having us out. So, I'm Coach Norton. I'm the girls head coach. Um so, I'll let the girls handle it from here. Hi, I'm Becca. I a senior and I was state champ at 132. >> Hi, I'm Brillan. I was fourth place at 128.
Presenters will use the microphone here in front on the right side of the auditorium from your viewpoint. After any presentation in the motion, I will open the floor to voters who wish to speak to the motion currently on the floor. To speak on a motion, I must recognize you. To be recognized, please step to either of the microphones below the stage or the one at the rear of the auditorium. For anyone who's not able to get to a microphone, please raise your hand and a microphone will be brought to you. When I recognize you as the next speaker, please state your name and address first and immediately begin your comment or question. Please don't approach the mic until there are only two other people in line ahead of you. Comments must be relevant to the motion at hand. There is a two-minute limit on each comment, but in the interest of completing our business tonight, if at all possible, quickly, please keep them as brief as possible.
Those communities were selected based on factors like size, location, staffing structure, and the services they provide. It gives a strong basis for understanding diverse compensation levels, how they compare regionally. We also use a point factor evaluation system to review positions internally and consistently. That means positions were evaluated using the same criteria such as knowledge required, level of responsibility, decision making, supervision and complexity of work. This helps ensure internal equity and a fairation structure. At a high level in the study, we found that many different positions fall low market levels when compared to similar communities. We also found that the current five grade structure limits differentiation between roles and can create compression in certain areas. There were also opportunities to update some job descriptions and classifications. Based on those find items, we recommend modernizing your current structure. That includes expanding the pay grade system, creating more consistency within the salary schedule, and positioning compensation closer to the competitive market.
Um, I think town meeting is pretty familiar with revolving funds. It doesn't require any budget funding. >> Um, so I I don't envision >> there'll be no presentation. >> Okay, great. >> Okay. Article 16, uh, climate action plan from the S sustainability committee. Kevin Bowman will be making a motion. Dick Malcolm will be seconding >> and there will be a presentation as you say. >> How long will that presentation be? I'm sorry. >> Anna Anna will be making the presentation. >> I don't want to use the whole time, but it's a planning document that's going to take over. >> Okay. >> And then Felicia, I think Dick's last name is spelled wrong here. >> Yeah, there's no L before the M. >> That's my fault. I'll fix that. Thank you. >> I've I've had probably wrong everywhere then. I think I copy and pasted. So, I'll fix that everywhere.
What information has been brought to the light of the board cuz I'm not aware of any concern that there is an issue. Um there was an email that was sent to all of us. From Sabers? Mhm. The board received an email from um Avutha? Indicating what? Are you guys not recalling the email? Well, we have to try and figure out your concern with it. >> Yeah, I Um there I I wish she was here so she could speak to it, but she expressed very clear and delineated concern over the assumption that School Services of California was the entity that our certificated staff had agreed with using because she clarified that school services of California was not what they agreed to use and as part of their bargaining agreement it was that they were going to have say in what entity comes in and speaks to our budget.
Hi, I'm Mia. I was a runner up at 107 and I'm a junior. >> Hi, I'm Katie. I got fourth place at 100 lbs and I'm a senior. So, we have we have two that aren't here tonight. Uh, also another runner up. There was a sophomore and then a junior that was our heavyweight who could not make it. But with the culmination of the six of them um hanging out with Coach Jackson all all day at state um right behind Sunnyside. So, it was our first year as a team to be state runner up at division one. Well, congratulations. And I want to uh say one more thing. Coach Bishop here has been awarded the National High School Strength Coach, Regional Coach of the Year for the Rocky Mountain Division. This award is given annually to a high school strength and conditioning coach in recognition of his or her coaching achievements and passion for the profession.
Please comment only if you have new information to add what has already been said. You may speak a second time once everyone has had the opportunity to speak once, but again, please speak only if you have new information that moves the debate forward. Uh Abby Fisk will be our timekeeper here at the front. She will signal with a red card when the speaker is within 15 seconds of the time limit and she'll hold up a yellow card when they're uh when they're a minute into the presentation. I ask all speakers to be aware of that red card. When you see it, please just finish up what you're saying. I intend to be fair but firm in enforcing time limits. Please be gracious and considerate of your neighbors by winding up before I would need to speak speak up to you. All alternative motions and amendments to motions must be submitted in writing to the town clerk who's sitting down in the front row.
We also recommend updating certain job descriptions and maintaining the system through regular review. Is this a good time just to ask that for again the public that >> if you would please just describe uh or explain what the steps are, what lanes are uh and all the terminology that we all live in but the general public won't understand >> and maybe differentiate between non-union grades >> grades and steps steps. >> Okay. So greed um is basically the level of responsibility and authority and um it describes how the position fits within the organization from a hierarchy perspective. So a grade one position is um would be the lowest level of responsibility and um their task in the overall organization compared to a grade 10 position which would be um in ouration DW director or assistant town administrator. Do you know what? Sorry. Go ahead. I don't know if why do we have only five versus more >> that it was done during the last study.