001Okay, we are live. Um, welcome to the budget and finance and warrant subcommittee meeting. The date is May 5th, 2026. The time is 11:41. Chair statement. This meeting is being recorded by the budget, finance, and warrant subcommittee. If any other persons present are also recording, you must notify the chairperson at this time. Um, we're open. Call to order. Um, roll call of members. Um, Mel, are you here? >> Here. >> McKenzie, are you here? >> Yes. >> And I'm Ann. I'm here. We're very formal today. Public comment. Um, we have no members of the public present or online, but if anyone shows up at a later date, we'll go ahead and give them a shot. Okay. Um, approval of March 30th, 2026 draft subcommittee uh minutes. Do we have a motion to approve the minutes?
002So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Do we need a moment to look or are we ready to vote? >> Okay. Um, do we have to do roll call? How about we just I think >> All in favor? Okay. It's unanimous. >> Um, okay. Now, discussion of warrants paid and received in April 2026. Uh, member Goodwin, I know that you had some questions. So, so these are old ones and it looks like beer. I sent them my questions ahead of time. >> Uh, got answers from beer. So, MCOR HVAC services, was that just for cleaning them? I mean, that's $51,000 made me like, >> yeah, the heavy details of some of these >> Okay. I mean, we can tell you who's paying for it, but >> Right. I I saw what was I mean, the bills,
003but um it didn't really I just have never seen, you know, in all my years as a principal, a bill like that I've never seen. So, I'm not sure what was done at each school. I mean, especially the 30,000 at the high school. It's a brand new high school. We're still paying 1.8 million a year on it. So is that just >> so emerald? >> Okay. >> This year 51,000 >> y00 and they maintain our hacks. >> Okay. >> And including like they change filters um belt inspections. Uh so they be performed some tastings just bunch of um >> okay >> we there's an attachment >> I saw that >> there that shows the proposal that they submitted and the dates obviously for this year seven >> no it won't let me look at it
004denied access Um, I guess so. Is this an item that was put out to bid and they were the winning contractor? >> So, how do we find that out? Because that is an overwriting question from people. >> Where where the bids are, >> the bidding process >> and who does them? This is just a really basic question. >> What have you done by council? >> So I asked them that and they said that they were done here. So I'm trying to a thank you answer the >> some of them done by here by not much. >> Okay. Now I know snowing suns done by town hall and >> okay >> I haven't been in >> also airport was done by um >> okay so do you know how old this is because I can't see
005it because I'm denied access so like >> what date the access because I have this file >> you just says I'm denied >> you request the How many >> I brought in for a few minutes. >> Okay. >> Start the stopwatch now. >> Yes. >> Encore is like $51,000. >> Correct. >> So, how long have we had a contract with MCOR? Do you know? >> We've had we had a three-year contract with them and we extended it last year an additional year per our contract. That's what we could do. >> Okay. So, right now I have B&G Mechanical. >> Okay. >> Putting together a quote. I should see it the end of this week or beginning of next week. >> Okay. >> Thanks. At B&G Mechanicals putting um a quote together to do the same
006thing. I asked MCore to give me a quote a new quote because we should technically go out the bid for them. But if I get ahead of it with the quotes, it'll be a quicker process. But it's something we're going to have to do fairly quick or extend it one more year because um they know to start with their PMS and all that stuff in the summer. >> So So there was a bid done three years ago, six years ago. >> Three years ago, >> four years ago and then they redid the price >> 2022. They redid the price last year to include some carrier units that we had carrier doing. So, we had two vendors for no reason and I don't know if they couldn't handle the workload during CO or something. Um, so
007I had them take that eight or 10 units and put it into that bid and it that's where it came up to $50,000 roughly. Can you explain to us the bidding process, how you go about that for >> So, basically, um, I work with the with Vera and Andy and we tell them what we want. So, we want to have air filter change once a year. We want you go through and do a run of maintenance. So you're cleaning coils and and checking belts and tightening things and making sure everything's operational, everything works, everything's responding correctly to the controls and and all that stuff. So we put a requirement out there of what they need to bid. Okay. >> And then Andy will put it out there to have anybody can bid it and then
008we take the best option. >> Is there like a website that other people find it on to bid on or do we send it to people? I believe I believe it's a public notice that they put out, but I'm not 100% sure. You might know more than me. >> No. Okay. >> Yeah. Through city hall, right? >> Through Andy. >> Not always from sometimes through city hall. >> So, does it depend like what it is? Like for example, if we're talking something that would be like in house like the HVAC that we're talking about HVAC, >> it's all based up. >> So, the H I'm just let me finish. The HVAC is done inhouse, but when we were talking about like the grounds at the high school, which is a hot topic right now, that
009is put out by the city, >> right? We don't do it HVAC in house. >> I understand that. So, we put that we put that out to bid. It doesn't go through the state to go out to bid. >> So, the question is, how do we decide who does what? It may be as simple as that. When does Andy step up and when does the city step up? Who makes that decision? >> You might not know that. We're not sure who puts it out the benefit if it's Andy or the city. They put it up to bid. They get the results. They bring it to the school. I review it with the business manager andor the superintendent. We go over the quotes, make sure they're they're all quoting the same thing, and then we typically
010go for the lowest price one as long as their references and things check out >> and that's the correct process. Yes. So, you actually get to see you and the superintendent get to see the bids. >> Yes. And so are the bids kept here in files here? >> I don't know that. >> I don't have them for I have another but >> right import. So I'm assuming it was with the city. >> Those are good questions. >> So So >> we can get you an answer. Okay. >> We cannot get you an answer. Um like that is not here. Mom passed away last year. >> Oh, I'm sorry. That's awful. was here yesterday. >> So, we'll get you that answer as to where it actually sits, >> right? Because we're being asked a lot of
011questions and I know there are have been public record requests and other things about bids because there are local people who are wondering why um you know, they're not and I don't know if it's just not where it's posted um because there are local people who do HVAC. Um but I am questioning the amount for the high school. It's a brand new high school. Um, and I do know when you build a new school that fancy technology is put in it, but 20 grand for the HVAC. >> I think it's closer to 25. But um, >> the reason is there's so many units. There's like um there is more units at the high school than all the other schools added up or equal. >> So they're going into each room and opening up every blower.
012rooftop units alone there is like uh probably 20 rooftop units at the high school 25 rooftop units >> where we don't have that many all the other schools added up >> correct >> and then you have 16 mini splits at the high school we don't have that many and all the other schools add up okay >> and and suck like that so >> just the amount of hours it takes them to PM the high school >> is I believe it's like three and a half weeks working eight hours a day 40hour weeks for two to three guys or girls, technicians, >> humans, >> technicians. >> And they do that during school hours. >> They do that during summer break. So, we try to start it >> um by the 1 of July and have it
013done before school starts because the thought process behind this, most of it's heating. We have very little air conditioning. So, if they're changing air filters and all that stuff, the heating units are for the most part down during the summers. >> So, when they fire back up in the in the fall is when we want them to be clean and fresh. Correct. >> And then by the time they get running, a lot of the stuff in the air is is like dust and pollen and all that's not there. So, we can go through the winter months um with that and make it through into the spring. So, we're typically only eating four to five months. So, only doing 1 PM. It'd be great to do two, one in like January, February, but if you did
014all the filters and another PM, you're probably going to add another 10 to 15,000 onto that. So, in good practice, you do twice a year, but we're doing once a year because of the cost of it. And then the once a year while they're in there, they're changing belts, checking belts. >> Okay. >> Um, and all the other mechanics and making sure everything's working, the gas, burning the right temperature, and things are checking, checking out. >> I get it. we all do as a homeowner, you know, >> right? So, but so the the second filter would be a lot less, but we don't even do that one. And see, we have a short window, we feel is always fine to do one. So, um it's just the amount of units we have. We have a
015lot of units. And then if you go to, for example, Federal Street School, a lot of them have the old units that in Newton Street and stuff have units that are up against the window. There's one for every single classroom. >> Correct. >> So, they go through every single classroom >> and the plants are on top. the motors and to change the filter and and go through the squirrel cage blower because pencils down there and >> and things like that. So um you know that takes some time too. So to do the whole PM process takes about two two and a half months. >> Um >> so I guess in my head um I know from living at Newton that that was done by some a city employee. Um, you know, George used um >>
016go through and do the second air filter change. >> Yeah. >> Um, I think the primary one was done by an outside contract >> because I think George did have a go and do air filters and stuff. >> Yep. Before school started, George would do it. >> Okay. >> I mean, you could you could put a team just to do air filters, but you still need somebody to do some of the other work. So, you might be able to reduce the cost some. Um, but you're still going to have to have somebody doing that too. >> Okay. >> And some of not so much just company, but just to branch out a hair on say for example the high school. >> I know there was talk about the fields and snow and suns and stuff.
017>> One of the things you got to be super cautious about there is we have an irrigation system there that somebody has to service and maintain. >> Did snow and suns put in the irrigation system >> where they service and maintained it. I don't know if they actually did the original work. >> I wondered if that was the confusion. So that they like in the the construction of the high school, did Snow and Sun get the the bid to do all the plantings? No. I just wasn't >> Well, no, no, no, no. I don't know that. But then >> and then they just continued. >> No, they didn't do all the plantings. So that was that was a state job and it was awarded out. They did not do all the original plantings. >> Okay.
018And I'm pretty confident they didn't do the irrigation. They're your most local company that can do it all. Where you got to be careful is if you have irrigation. Um all of those fields are varity fields that a lot of kids play on. There's a lot of money spent to keep those fields. So we do a fourstep um fertilization and grub control and all that process to keep them in their shape that they are. And then they do the mowing and stuff like that. Snow and Suns will not come just to work on irrigation system. They won't come just to do fertilization. They get the whole thing or nothing. So, you have to be cautious that you have a company that can do all three of those aspects or you can jeopardize getting that done.
019To have somebody like the DPW come, I don't know if they can fertilize because they probably don't have a fertilizing license. You got to have a chemical license to do that. So is it as somebody who had poison ivy on her playground and they refused still there? >> Okay. So So they refused to put chemicals to get rid of the poison ivy on my playground and goats were talked about and the whole thing. So can we put chemicals on a field that kids are going to play on? >> Absolutely. Because they're all they they're licensed for it. They put it on. They give a warning. They give so many days for before people can get on it and and it's it's a public record and they do it to certain levels they feel are safe
020because they're licensed application people. >> All the schools, all the big schools, Frontier does it. They have an application person that do it. They hire it out to all the Turner SWS does it. The tech school does it. They all have somebody that's certified in and they have to do it. If you want to keep grass, you have to do it. And that's the problem. You go to vets field, the fields are real spotty. They're dirty. They don't They're a lot of dirt. Not as in dirty, but a lot of dirt showing. And they're not in great shape because >> you need two things. You need water and you need chemicals. But the chemicals are a big thing. You keep the crab grass out, the dandelions, all the other stuff. So, if you want good
021playing fields, you have to treat them. >> Okay. So, I want good playing fields. There's no question about that. I guess my question is there's rules for one playground and there's rules for another. You might want to check out the poison eye because it's a big padoo. >> Yes, I of it the other day and down there last year we had the same issue and we tried to get the DPW to do it and they refused to do it because they couldn't take risk of having any of their employees get poisoned to have people out because they're already short staff. So they just said you need to hire an outside contractor. >> Probably where the basketballs bounce. >> So now my next step is call no Snow and Suns. Now snow and sons will have
022to go down and give us a quote what you can you do to remove it. They're they're hazard too. A lot of people just don't like touching it but seeming we use them at the high school they will go down there and take care of it. And then all the other schools, DPW when they're mowing and possibly short staff, public possibly not, you know, being monitored as closely maybe when they come in and they mow, there's certain days of the week they mow and they mow regardless if they need to be mowed or not because they mow on Mondays and Fridays at the middle school and that's their schedule. They hop in their truck and they go and do it. >> But they don't they do very little weed whacking. They don't big tables to
023mow around them and they certainly don't blow anything with a leaf blower or anything. Um, if you go over by central office entrance, you see leaves on both sides. Oh, I moved it. >> That's not going nowhere. That's going to stay there unless somebody does it. So, um, what I do once a year before school starts is I hire Snow and Suns to go around and clean up all the entrances, put mulch in, clean everything up, make it look nice at all the schools, new elementary, that whole turnaround area, still pull leaves and stuff. We're towards the end of the school year, so we wait till fall or not fall before school starts. and we spend $1,000 $1,500 per school, sometimes close to $2,000 a school. Snow and sons come in and clean that all
024up. Um, if we don't do it, it doesn't get done. So, we do spend money at other schools, but not to do the entire mowing in the field and all that stuff. So, if we don't use snow and we're not going to do all the small schools, too, so it'll compound, get worse. >> Okay. We're just concerned that the process is clean. Um, >> snowense does need to go back out the bid also because we did deleted a contract extension there. >> Um, but that's probably another one that needs to be looked at to go back out. >> But you just got to make sure everybody's qualified to do >> correct >> all the steps there. Irrigation, >> fertilization, and mowing and trimming and stuff like that. And also something to keep in mind, and
025I don't know if this applies here, but I know that sometimes unless you have union workers or sometimes like a union contract, there are only certain things like we can send Hback out to bid and we can have like 10 HVAC people in Greenfield to do HVAC, but none of them meet the state requirement to do it. So therefore, we're paying more and we're paying prevailing wage. I think HVAC would be prevailing wage likely. Um, >> I don't know. They're driving from Connecticut. So, there are some companies that I have dealt with. It's $1,000 when they get in their truck to drive to wherever they're going. >> And of course, several locations. I think they got one in Westfield. >> Their bills are and that's South Windsor, Connecticut. >> Bills come out of there. >>
026I I saw one end. >> We also use Jamro a little bit for space and and some refrigeration stuff and they are not union >> and we've not thought of any reason on that and we we can use them for preventive maintenance too if we wanted to. Um one thing that I know the city side does with Joe um he doesn't put his out to bid because I think he does something for each individual building. So it's a dollar figure. If I if I hire out the PM for Federal Street School and it is $5,000, you don't have to go out to bidder to do $5,000. But if you take all our PM at $50,000, you have to go out to bid. I don't know if that's a fine line or not. I'm I'm not
027up to speed on that stuff, but um I know the city does not have they do not have any HBAC texts. I guess the you know it's I mean the people at city hall are all new so for snow and suns to go back um the number of years to find those those papers to make sure the bid was clean. >> I think moving forward we just need to make sure that we're following the rules. >> Well I think right now the the other question for both of these is who did the initial bidding? Was that us or was that the city? And who will be doing the next round of bidding, us or the city? >> I think we had we went to the city from my understanding when I first came it was
028I was on the tail end of a couple things, but I believe we go we were going to the city to the procurement person because they had a procurement person. >> How many years ago was that? >> Three years ago. Two and a half, three years ago. And and so they went to procurement person. We told them what we needed. They did the actual bid stuff. They got the bid stuff back, gave it to us. There was a discussion amongst us all and that's where we made the decision on who did the work. So the procurement person in the city did it but then you lost your procurement person. I don't think you technically have straight up procurement person in the city. You think it's someone that's doing multiple jobs. >> There's lots of multiple
029jobs. >> So for the MCO versus BNG, are we going to be the ones putting it out then? >> Um we should put something out. We're Andy. >> Okay. >> I think we I'll give Andy these as a kind of a >> We have >> um >> they'll be able to submit those bids, but I got them just as a reference to see where we're going to be at for budget reasons. >> Okay. >> They're they're they're a pretty accurate budget thing. If if they come in close and I'm assuming everything goes up every year, unfortunately, it probably be 55,000 this year, you know, and and that's probably where they'll land. What makes me incredibly sad is that Green River to fix the furnace, the first boat was like $50,000 and a whole building has
030been left to rot because people couldn't come together to >> and that's what we we got to be really careful if if you decide to close a school or something. >> You can't say, "All right, it cost us $100,000 to run that school. We're going to take,000." You really need to keep a maintenance person going there >> twice a month and keep the boilers running, keep the water on, keep the electricity on because once you shut that stuff down, you get mold, get other issues and stuff like that. So, you know, you just got to be very cautious. There's no value to the building if shut everything down and then >> it goes the other way. >> Well, thank you. That really did help clarify. So, three years ago. I mean, I mean, the records
031at city hall, >> it would actually be four years ago. >> You you do have attached to hopefully you can open it, but no one's on contract. >> I I got it from Becky, too. And I was able to open that. >> Yes. Thank you. Um Okay. >> And I think their pricing is did not really increase. We added some scope work to it. >> Oh, that's good to know. >> But the price really hasn't gone up. They they're actually really good with the athletic director. >> I hate talking about names. Ed Snow is one of my favorite people on the face of the earth. >> Kyle does a great job. >> All my houses have been Snow and Sons. And Ed, I mean, Ed has taught a lot of people how to be a
032great business owner. Um, yeah. So, I have a lot of respect for what they do. >> And the nice thing, Coach K, he will work with him directly on when he has games, when he doesn't have games. this is a good time to mow, this is a good time to put the fertilizer down, and then they'd run it by me and we all agree. So there there is a real good communication process with snow and suns. >> And so the answer to the concerned citizens is that uh when these bids were originally put out, it was city procurement. So >> that's so they're the ones who have the information. And um the next round we do not yet know if it will be city or school but we will have that information in the near
033future. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So that is where we currently are. Wonderful. >> That was wonderful. >> Any other things for >> I have something for Mike before. >> Um I I took a note and it was about the gym floor. It was in one of the warrants from 410. Uh, PO number 261316 I wrote down, but I thought we did our own gym floors and there was something in there. >> We used to do our own gym floors. Um, >> okay. >> And then I um noted some uh PO numbers for the water damage for the elevator for Federal Street School. That was also in the warrants. >> Correct. Soda first. >> Okay. Flooring first. um >> just so we don't grow on us. So I was having that conversation. >> Two two schools
034um the middle school and high school are very big gyms. Y >> our staff just doesn't have time to get it done. It's and some of the old school guys were very familiar doing it. The newer people are not. So, for the cost of having them scuff the floor and put a fresh coat on top is um it's roughly around 45 4,4500 I think to do the high school and I think it's like 3,000 do the middle school. Um the materials alone are each 5gallon bucket is uh like $500. So, it the price of it, the labor is not a lot compared to having our own staff do it. So, it's just cost effective to have an outside company. Plus, we're using oilbased uh sealants. So, there's a lot of smell in the air and
035we would have to be concerned about getting respirators and stuff for our team to comply with the new standards and stuff. So, it's just safer and easier to send it out. We do have the elementary schools that are in need of it. So, that's something we should potentially get a quote and then determine if we can do it inside and switch over to a water base for those particular schools. But the three, they're really small gyms. They're not in horrible shape, but they do need some attention. And what it'll do is it'll just lengthen the life of them. Like this middle school one went uh 30 years plus with the original stuff. Every year you keep adding to it, it'll start getting cloudy and then it'll turn a yellow color and then it starts getting
036unlevel. So, uh, last year we stripped it down to bare wood. We resealed it. So now every year you should put another coat over the top of it and you'll work your way back up and it's a quick refinish. It was $25,000 to strip this one down. It's going to be $3,000 to do a coat on it every year to keep it looking beautiful every year. So it's just a maintenance thing. You really need to coat it once a year and we didn't feel it was cost effective do it in in house. >> Okay. >> And then the federal street I think you may I think I don't want to speak for what but maybe insurance, >> right? So, we have we have invoices that we have paid for um the elevator and MCO and
037potentially one other vendor. I'm trying to think who would it be. Our mechanical ones that that we have maintenance contracts with and stuff. They won't work for outside vendors or if they do, they won't get the quick response we get. They won't come right out for a new customer. So, we we'll pay it. We're going to submit those the insurance and we'll get that money back, >> right? And that money would go like back into the maintenance budget is my guess. >> I Yeah, I would guess. But there is a $5,000 deductible. >> Yeah, we've talked about that. >> So, we just one of those calls is probably going to cover it. You know, I think one one was 3,000. Maybe the other one. So, it'll cover our deductible. So, anything else that goes in,
038we'll get back. >> I don't think I've seen anything from the water remediation team. >> No. >> Okay. So, >> and won't is that >> No, that's all insurance where like the elevator will come through us and then circle. >> Yes. And and David Neans I I've just started printing it today. Today or tomorrow. I'm going to send him all the invoices that we've paid so far including stuff from WB Mason or I think it was WB Mason that we had to replace in the classrooms that the teacher needed. Um, and that is close to covering the deductible. So, we will be getting money back. >> So, this isn't the first time that Federal Street has flooded. So, um, I can think of two other times in my history in Greenfield. Same spot. So, have
039we gotten to solve the reason why it does that or do we know why? I mean it's it's a repeating problem >> and it's it's a common thing with those ventilators that go in the walls. So what happens and and a lot of this has happened since co I know we've had preips before CO but you need to take outside air in and they were upwards of 20% outside air when during CO because they had to air exchanges per hour where before you only needed 10% 8% of outside air they doubled it. So you have this register that goes along the outside of the building and it sucks direct air in from the outside and it go through the coils. So if that actuator that adjusts your outside air >> gets stuck >> faults or
040something happens it it'll sense it but then it will automatically open up the heat valves and just circulate heat through so it'll prevent it from freezing. But sometimes what they call a freeze stat fails like any other mechanical thing and then it doesn't protect it and we get a cold snap and you don't find it until it it's frozen. So it's just one of those things when you're taking outside air and running it across a hot water coil, it's a high risk. So that's why we like rooftop units and stuff like that where you you take it's all happening on the roof. It's in a control box. >> So what's the best way to avoid this again? Because I know it's happened multiple times. Yeah, have them go through PMS. And the only struggle with
041that is to really test that outside air damper, you got to have somebody here from the control company, which is Seammens. So, if you're having a Seaman tech here at $190 an hour and he does every single classroom at Federal Street School, it's going to take them a day. You're going to send $1,600 per school. >> So, it's not just one. >> There's one one for every single classroom. And it so every unit. So you we try to check them as you're going through with the PMS and making sure that they look like they should be in the position they should be in and sometimes cycle to one or two when Seammens comes in because they come in twice a year. >> Yep. >> And and they can only do so much. So we have
042them try to do >> Isn't it all computer- based? >> Yes. >> So where where is the computer? Is it here or city hall? >> There's one computer in every school in the basement. A set area. Um, I can get it from my and Joe can get it from his at central maintenance. So there's six school ones and then central maintenance and that's it. And they can get into it remotely somehow with seammens. >> So So that computer program can't sense there's a problem at federal. >> It will it does send out alarms, but typically by the time it sends out an alarm, >> it's too late. And there's also a lot of false alarms. It'll have a fault but then clear itself. So in a standard day throughout the winter, I may get 25
043faults, 30 faults from >> I remember the year they put it in. I was in this building and we froze on the third floor in the middle of winter. And then finally they got Semens to show up >> and George told me that the third floor wasn't even in the computer system. So that's why we didn't get heat because it didn't exist. Um, I mean, again, you you're purchasing something fancy that's computer-based. I would think that would be something that could be asked of them if there can be a early warning system for federal. >> I mean, this has just happened multiple times and it's hard for teachers like everything gets flooded multiple times. I know that um the art teacher there, she's been flooded out a couple times. >> Yeah. And sometimes the actuator
044thinks it's at 100% closed, but it's not because it's stuck or it failed. >> Okay. >> And then there's nothing to send an alarm. It doesn't realize it has a fault. But we already spend >> $13,000 a year with Seammens and that's to get them to come in twice a year and just do health check on all the systems and go through and then us be able to call them in on service at a reduced rate of $190 an hour and to have them have a 24 to 48 hour response time. If you don't have that contract, it could be a week or two before they come in and we can't wait that long. So that's the that's the uh toughest system we have because you don't get a lot for your money other than
045a commitment from them and when they do come in it takes a while. It's very expensive. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other for Mr. >> Gro? Thank you. Thank you. >> You solved a big mystery. That's why I'm here. Thank you. >> Well, we've I already cleared up all the questions that I had for the warrants. So, >> I have a couple You want me to? >> Yeah, I'm okay. I'm sorry. >> I'm just over here listening stuff. >> So, the bills from Frontier. I mean, so we're only paying it looked like $7,000 for phone bills. >> I can >> So, what is that about? >> I can speak to that. So, there's a a regional train. Oh, okay. >> We are the fiscal agent. Is that the right word? We are the fiscal
046agent. So, we do not receive all the money, but we pay it. So, we >> we hold the money in this grant, but other dish other school districts, >> mind you, right? Frontier, etc. Franklin County are part of this. >> Okay. >> So, they spend some of the money and then we pay them their portion. So we hold the cash in cash, right? Okay. >> And we're running that bill. So you'll you see the whole bill >> at$7,000. We're really only paying them 16471 for that phone bill to pay their portion of it. >> So we're getting the whole amount and we're just >> the distributor or the grant. Somebody had to act as they say the fiscal agent. >> Got it. seven bill and also some uh reimbursement for some payroll people that they
047work on particularly on this grant. >> Okay. Okay. Because that's a big phone bill. I was like >> the phone itself 1647. >> Okay. Okay. Got it. >> And who is Walker Solutions and why are we giving them money? special education tuition. >> Okay. Um >> so similar to a question that you had asked about St. Agents, >> right? That is um >> I've been there beautiful place >> that was student was placed by DCF and then now that we are financially responsible for the suit except >> parents living in Greenfield. >> Wow. I was not allowed to place a kiddo there. >> We did not place food there. DCF >> it's an amazing place. So this child is in a good place which >> cuz I've tried to do the same thing. Um, okay.
048That's interesting. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Larry, that's all for me. Thank >> I I didn't get a chance to go over the warrants that came out during April break. So, >> I just had a question right now about what up out of this batch the R I >> read the copiers. >> Yeah. >> Is that for all those press in your email password >> BS that everyone's already annoyed with five minutes later? >> Yes. Question for Ian. >> So what was what was that it or what? So now all of our copers >> R I C H. So now all of our copers, >> you have to punch in >> a user >> user ID. You don't even punch it in any user ID. >> No, you don't even do that. You take your badge and
049just >> Yeah. >> You just not even scan. It's a >> you know you some of the doors you just >> wave. That's what you do. >> So what is your question? So the reason we did >> I just didn't know what that was for. I mean it could be for thousands of dollars. >> It could be for that and it could be for the high school received a couple new copies as well too because on the second floor there was only one >> and teachers had to walk a long way and we did find that it was >> cost efficient doable not doable and we agreed with them on that. The reason we're doing the badge printing, we'll call it that, is because prior to this, people were sending things to printers. And at
050times, we all get busy and things go to printers and you're walking into, I'll use the word, copy rooms, labs, wherever the printer was. And people have lots of things laying on the table that they come in >> and it's human nature to stand there. and I would stand there and look and see an IEP or I might see an angry email from a parent to a teacher or I might see things that shouldn't have been for my eyes in that scenario. What this batch printing does, it eliminates that, right? The you can send things to the printer and what the great part is before you only could send to one printer. Now you send it to the printer and no matter where you go in our schools, if you hit that it will print
051out for you. So if I send something from my office to generally I use the printer right outside my office but if I go to the high school I can hit that badge hit it right there it will print for me right there and we eliminate you know a lot of confidentiality privacy issues and it helps everybody doing that. >> Third bill that um show like 3337 is actually our um monthly recommends our monthly monthly basis. I just >> every month every month would pay like similar amount. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then I had one question. You know, I look at the bills and are are we buying supplies for next year already? It sort of looks like we may be, which is fine. I just >> want to place a paper border soon.
052>> Yep. >> So, yeah. were in May. So, I have to request >> I use 20 cases every year. >> Um I think this this is not on the agenda, but it's a question I'd really like to just have answered. Just curious where everyone is standing at for their field trip fund. So, I know each building has a field trip fund and I'd just be curious to know. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I know where the building I'm in frequently, >> but I'm curious. I just want to make sure our kids are going on the field trips if we are putting money towards that and that's being used for what it's intended. I will say having worked in many districts, I know you have as well too. Some of you been parents in other districts,
053pretty amazed that we pay full for most of our field trips here. I've really never seen that done before where people don't have a stake in the game. And I'm not saying they should have to pay, right? But where you charge somebody5 or $10 to go to the museum or something like that. Um, >> it was a commitment. I mean we all for years we um >> so I'm applauding you right saying it's pretty good because that does not happen. >> Poverty in our community is real and um it's a commitment to the children. Um we were lucky enough we had millions of dollars of grant money that helped with a lot of it and then that just a superintendent decided to kill that off. So now it's more it went into the budget and
054I was one of the the mouths that said you just killed my grant. What are you going to do about it? And so that was there. So um and I don't know if this is in the warrants. So I I is the question are we prepaying any special ed tuitions? Okay. Because I wasn't sure when I saw the bills. So those are this fiscal year. >> This fiscal year. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Um, can I I want to bump off a Roland's comment about the field trip funds. Um, that is not 100% true. Um, some field trips at GMS families have been asked if they would be willing to donate5 or $10, but it says right on the form, this is not required, but we, you know, we're going to go to an
055IMAX theater. if you could help us out and donate $5 and like it's saying like your kids's going to go see this. They're going to go ice skating regardless, >> but if you can help out, please help out. And I think that's a really better way that we should start phrasing things as a school and probably hopefully a conversation we can have with Carol >> um later but about you know phrasing it like hey you're still going to go on the field trip but if you could kick in >> you know because some some parents it makes you I don't know MJ was like $4 to go to the going to the planetarium through Boston Science Museum was $4 for the planetarium and I gave her like $5 but It makes parents feel good >>
056when they are able to kick in even if it's just a dollar that they were >> you know helping support stuff. >> We always tell principles you know like if they need money for a field trip always contact business office you know because some grants or some help that we can help them. >> Yeah. So, um, as of today, AL has available budget $1,75. >> What did you say? 1,00 >> 1075. >> Okay. >> Pedro Street, 14617, four corners 3,87831. >> Wait, wait, wait, hold on. You said Okay. Federal Street was 1,400 >> 617 >> 1406. >> There we go. >> 17. >> I missed a zero there. >> For years, >> y >> 3,87831. Middle school 92950. Uh, middle school 4,85136, high school 3,49718. >> And we are getting I don't have to tell
057any of you into the height of >> field trip season. We were just talking about buses. We had 18 this morning with all >> post MCAST MC. Oh, today at high school >> and it's tomorrow and >> it's today at third and fourth is doing it today and tomorrow and then high schools. >> Best year ever as I sent all the little kids on a field trip while my big kids took the young kids. >> It was a great day. and they were coordinating this morning buses with bus and asbescus and >> lot more days >> it's great to hear because you know for many years we didn't do a lot of field trips across the district >> so I'm glad to hear that like we are okay do we have any other warrants questions
058or are we ready to move on to the next item >> next item >> okay next item is discuss session of setting our next subcommittee meeting date because with uh the mayor's budget and us needing to revise ours, we will need to consult and give our opinions. >> Owens over here. >> Um so I talked to Aaron this morning. She is going to not yet send me the mayor's budget. We haven't received a copy. I know it's she's printing a version that's going out to print. Uh but electronically I said we'll take the electronic copy and I talked to our chair and obviously we haven't received anything that was out Thursday night. We do have a sense of the the dollar amount though too and I looked at the committee chair's agenda which was their
059meeting was yesterday I believe uh today sorry it's today and down on that agenda and I called for clarification to the mayor's office this morning. it looks and I'm going to use the word looks if I can read all this documentation properly that on May 19th I'll use the word we the Greenfield schools and Franklin County Tech School are a discussion item for the 2027 operating budget >> May 19th >> so nobody has called or said anything but trying to with Chair Saxon and I we're all trying to like lock this down so we can and like you mentioned set some meetings, do some different things, all that kind of stuff. >> June 15th is coming fast. >> I'm waiting for clarification, but it appears when I read this that we would be on May
06019th, which is two weeks from tonight. >> So, the question is, would we want to meet before or after that or both? Both would be a lot of meetings though, and I don't want to just unilaterally decide that I'm stealing everybody's time. >> I think I would like a sense of where you're headed. before. >> Okay. So, >> even if it was that >> So, we need a meeting before the 19th. >> Have we had like a regular meeting >> the 13th >> or do you committ regular? >> Not a full committee like >> we just like our >> we have to regular is the week before the full meeting doing the warrants. >> Okay. because I know we had um wanted to this is not on the agenda by the way. Um I like
061to announce those things before I say them. >> Oh yeah. >> I know we had discussed wanting to bring forth having the full committee task us with vehicles. >> Yes. I'm trying to >> like the threeear cycle. >> Yeah. I mean we have there's there's at least a year of builds in there. I think that the thought on that was we wait until after this budget to do that so that we aren't juggling the two balls at once. >> Are we putting forth a voting item for this meeting for them to for the full committee to vote to charge us with that? >> They have to Well, in my report, I could ask them to charge us that. >> Could we do that? I think it's going to take time. I don't think it's like
062an overnight process anymore. >> But don't we want to see if we have money to do that? >> Well, we have money in the transportation revolving account. >> But I bear has a number in front of >> my thought there is that we wait until >> So because we are coming up to the budget deadline and have a lot of budget work to do. >> No, no, I get that. I think it's going to take time. I think it's going to take time to do this, but I I want like >> you want the charger. I want the charge early so then that way when we do have time we're able to just jump in and not like wait for like oh well not that we're ever we're not going to have anything to do
063during these meetings. >> Okay. So what I'm always that as part of our report for next week we will be asking the full committee to charge us uh with how are we phrasing it? Doing a study on transportation and vehicle replacement fine. >> No creating a replacement schedule. >> Yes. Yeah. with the transportation department. >> There should be one one for technology, one for vehicles. >> Okay. So, >> one for curriculum >> committee for a charge on transportation replacement schedule. >> Okay. Now, going back to the scheduling. Um, so the 19th is two weeks from today. How do we because we need to make sure that we have enough >> buffer time. So, how would we feel >> the 19th? or will that be talking the 19th, not the 18th? >> I thought the 19th
064was the full committee. >> Yeah, 19th is full is for the >> um 19th looks like it's a city. I can't tell if it's I I can't read it. I can read, but it doesn't say it. It's a ways and means or what it is, but it looks like >> like I said, Franklin County Tech and Greenfield schools are there. Then on June 2nd, there's city clerk council on aging energy. So, it looks like they might be slotting >> people on different nights from what I can take. So my question is, do we want to try to meet at the end of next week or do we want to try to meet like on the 18th, you know, the day before that 19th meeting? Um, we might want to have a day when Andy will
065be here. So what would we be looking at? >> The 18th probably. >> 18th. >> Today is the 5th. Yeah. >> I have a meeting in the morning from 9 to 10 >> for the 18th. >> Yeah. But I could do um >> we can do later. >> Yeah, I could do like the 11:30 I think would be fine. >> Okay. >> It's for the longterm subcommittee, >> but we were we're really sticking to a hard hour. >> So, uh 11:30 on the 18th is our plan for budget update meeting. >> Yep. And my last question there is um how to balance between things that would need to be executive session of talking about specific people versus things that need to be open session. >> We can post as long as we know ahead of
066time prior to posting, right? We can post session and list the proper reasons why we would go into it. Go ahead. >> The question is do we >> do we need to >> that's a >> like if you're going to we're going to talk about positions and cuts and stuff. Should that happen in an executive session? >> Um talking generalities you probably don't but if you think that may get into >> that's what I thought or job title description >> where where it would be obvious that >> right there's only one person. >> Yeah. So for that, what I I guess the answer there is that when we get closer to time, you would be the one who would know if we're just general or not. >> Okay, great. So I'll work with >> Yes.
067>> Okay. >> Great. Thank you. >> Wonderful. Um in that case, are we ready to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> We are unanimously adjourned. and give me a moment to pause recording and then we can get back to shenanigans. I should not say that on the record, but I do because I'm back >> now.