001sell the hospital records. I'm sure it's fine. [laughter] >> All right, I'm going to call me in order at 6:30. I thank everyone for coming on this short notice emergency meeting. I appreciate it. Special welcome to our Norwich colleagues in this room making a difference. >> Um this is a call emergency meeting for several reasons. Um first for the sake of time a quorum does not have to be physically present which is why we have board members on Zoom right now. Currently Renee and Tara are with us. We have eight people and less than 24 hours notice is okay as long as it is evident need to have this meeting. We have a reasonable means to inform the public of the meeting which we have and the minutes will eventually be available. We also have
002agreement among the chair, myself, the vice chair Rodell, superintendent Robin Steiner and other board members that determined that an emergency meeting was necessary. Any other questions on that pass? Seeing none, so the goal of what we're trying to do is at its core maintain confidence in the Dresden budget. We will have a similar conversation tonight at the handover meeting about the handover budget. We have received emails from the handover finance committee which I forwarded to every wrong Monday. So check everything that was very powerfully worded. I think it was fair to say at some of these meetings and and we're finance committee members, our own board members, handover town leadership, etc. and the polar and we have very little time remaining to make sure everyone was satisfied with our budget area. We do not want
003things coming to light in newspaper articles or both confidence and things like that. We wanted to call this meeting together to move the for the budgets forward in a positive manner involving board internal administration and external personnel review >> and open to the public >> and all these will be open to the public as this meeting. So thank you for that Kelly. So um when I when the folks were meeting to discuss whether we need to have an emergency meeting, one of the ideas that became evident was to create a new committee that we are calling the budget review committee as of this moment which is a committee that extends beyond the pre-existing handover and resident budget committees to include board me board members handover finance committee members who Rob will talk about in a
004second. the public including people that we know to be interested in schoolboard things and we generally trust their geological sense or opinions and we do not take their thoughts lightly and there's personally wrong a second if these changes are found and the meeting is currently planned for Friday morning we have very limited time to require a weekend meeting of the board if we have to change things like net assessments or tax rate calculations we need a 7-day notice which we have already arranged for the Tuesday's dress in meeting which Neil will chair in my absence as I'll be out of town and that meeting is already scheduled. We also need detailed clarification of experienced folks in the room read budget amounts changes in handover tuition counts and ration for those changes. And lastly, we need
005to get things to the printers by Friday. And in addition to that, we need the chairs need to know things about the budget and what we're going to write about as does Robin as do the principles. And the Friday deadline is the following deadline >> this Friday. this Friday. >> Following Friday, so before the meetings. >> Okay. >> So, one thing we need to work on is what sort of committee do we want? The specific personnel on the committee and Robin, I'm sure I didn't want to hear everyone else has to say on this and us. I know I just threw a lot of information at you in four minutes in which I do apologize. So my thinking as the Dresden chair is to appoint Neil as that chair, the budget chair, the budget review
006committee chair if he agrees with it. And I also would like Renee Sullivan to be involved as well. Robin, would you like to test who would be the administrators on the external personnel that have been invited? >> Yes. Um it would be include Teresa Taylor, our business administrator. me. I've invited Kari Asmus who's been involved with the board before and the finance committee and currently still um works with our our scholarship accounts and she has agreed to serve on the committee as well. And I've contacted the finance committee and um they are going to also send a representative. They haven't decided the person yet, but they were sending representative. So, >> so by my accounts, assuming we make them all board member or all committee members, which we can discuss because committee members can be
007non board members and not administrators. We have Neil, Renee, you Teresa, Krie, one HFC member to be determined that since we'd like to add a seventh for an odd number in case it comes to an eight vote. >> I would recommend that. >> Anyone have any immediate thoughts who they want to add? I don't know if I feel the need to add anybody. I don't I don't let me come to vote. >> I don't know that it would come to a vote. I I think the per I see the purpose of this committee as being more exploratory in nature and making sure >> Fact based determinations exactly um because I think any decision making really would be the responsibility of the board subsequently. >> Yeah. It would be an advisory committee. >> Exactly. So, I
008think those six people might be sufficient. >> Um, Kelly convinced me of that reason, but now I'm thinking of another reason to add somebody new is that to have a new fresh perspective. It feels as if most of those people on the committee have been involved in the budget before and it might be an opportunity I don't know to have some fresh eyes look at how we do things and what's going on. So, >> suggestions? >> Not really. other than I don't know if like I'm thinking of like tuck students who have financial backgrounds. I don't they don't have time but I just I'm trying to think of someone like in on the younger side who might I don't know I I don't have anybody in mind. It just occurs to me it might be
009good to have somebody on the board who has not been involved in previous iterations of budget discussions. So >> uh Mr. Chairman, I'm just trying to determine right now. Do you want to talk solely about the composition of the committee or would you welcome discussion on the scope of the committee's work? >> I would say that both our Congress said that >> we sit here at an emergency meeting. I agree that there is an emergency. Um, as best I can understand it, uh, we are days away from our requirement to produce a budget, right? >> And we do not, we believe that we need to convene a committee to validate those items. So my first question about the scope of the committee is are we handing them our budget and they're doing the due diligence
010and checking the workpapers to make sure it's correct or are they making suggestions for how the budget ought to be constructed? >> Neil as possible board chair committee chair of that. What would be your suggestion? >> Yeah. So I'm going to make a recommendation. Um I don't I at this moment in time I don't see a need to back to go back and go through the expenditure budget development piece. Um the questions and some of the um uh things that we've been looking at recently really happen after the expenditure budget through the revenue calculations and then the tax rate projections. And so my recommendation is that we don't reopen expenditure budgets that we take those final numbers and then work the calculations through you know revenue and tax rate assessment. That's where a lot of
011the churn has been recently. >> Yeah. >> Hold on one second. Tara's had her hand raised for a while. Uh Tara, can you speak and also Noah, can you add Gina Donier to the panel? My question my question besides scope which the discussion has just been initiated upon was timeline for this particular group and whether or not not it was feasible or practical to include any new outside member on the committee based upon whatever the goal is for the timeline. Michael, >> I my I appreciate Neil's answer that this is really when I think of auditors coming in and taking a look at word papers and validating all the numbers entirely comfortable with that. I'd be uncomfortable with the scope that absorbs the policy making um >> duty of the board. >> Um and then
012I my next question was going to be exactly Tara's questioning the precise timeline that needs to happen for all of this to work. Yeah. And are you a question is that beyond what I already said? >> I mean I think I just want to understand we are going to convene this committee. This committee will meet Friday. It basically needs to be done with its footwork. >> Yeah. If it does not have a designated end time. >> Got it. >> And I guess I what happens if the committee finds if it is not able to successfully validate numbers on Friday? I've definitely been involved in analytic problems that are not solvable in one day. And so I was just trying to understand um the scope of the task and the realities of our requirements for a
013calendar and like what would happen if we were unable to complete that task. >> It was definitely going to be challenging indeed. >> So did you want to respond to that first now? Sorry. >> Um I can jump in line. Yeah. Um, two things. One is, um, uh, I hear your concerns, Michael. I think the best that I can say is if we gets to the end of the day on Friday and there's still outstanding work left to be done, I think we'll need to make a determination at that point. Um, I do understand that information needs to get to, you know, printers and certain other places by Friday, but I also wanted to point out too that we've got a meeting scheduled for the 27th to finalize the warrant articles. >> And so really
014that in my mind is the is the drop deadad date. So I do think that we'd have a little bit more time available to us if we don't complete the work by the end of the day on Friday. Robin's raising your hand. maybe um that >> I'm sorry, >> but I was just going to add to that my recommendation is that we do not add um additional members to this committee at this point in time, especially people that may not be familiar with the tax rate calculation. Um because the amount of time spent to try and get somebody up to speed is going to be nonproductive time for that committee. too. >> Yeah, Kelly, >> I was gonna say, yeah, my sense is that gosh, barring I I don't even I can't even imagine what
015the goal of this committee would be to come out with numbers on Friday, right? I think that is their goal. Um, so I I'm I'm optimistic with the scope that we've laid out that that will be achievable. Um, I did just want to say I agree and others have said this. I agree with M. Michael was also >> suggesting that long term, not long term, in the short term for our regular meetings, I think we have work to do to discuss changing the process, improving our process, and making sure that we're making some adjustments going forward. But that's not the work of this committee or for right now. >> Right now is get through time. >> I'll do Robin and then Devon. One other thing I would say in terms of the mailers, so much
016revolves around the warrant article specifically. So we can do a lot of work in terms of preparing for the information that needs to be included in that. And even many of the graphs and charts relate to our expenditures. So a lot of the work we've already been doing in preparation for that. a majority of it. I would say it's nest. >> So, >> well, I with everything that has been said, I just want to make the point that since Robin has a group of people who've agreed already, >> yeah, >> they can get the information tomorrow and we know a couple of them will start looking at the at the data. >> They don't know how serious. >> Yes. Yeah. uh car >> whether or not they're actually invited to be a member. I would
017suggest that someone from the town be consulted who's familiar with tax rate calculation for our validation purposes. I don't know if it needs to be a member or just a step in the process. >> Fair point. Um that it is a public meeting like all of ours are so anyone is welcome. We just had to watch out for the board not having to speak specifically state that prior. Um, anyone else thoughts on this? Would anyone like to try to make this a vote? >> Yeah. I move that we establish a budget review committee composed of the individuals identified by Superintendent Robin Steiner to convene on Friday and period >> Friday January 23rd to review the budget information. >> Anyone like to second that second by Lisa? Um any further discussion? Can I just take just
018a small amendment that's >> or at a time that is mutually convenient in the next two days? >> I'll say that. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. First we'll just stay. >> I'm fine with that amendment. >> Any further discussion as amended? In that case, I will take a roll call vote starting with Michael and then I will get to the board members who are present remotely after that. >> Costa. Yes. >> Oh yes. Nelson, yes. >> Christy, yes. >> Ordo, yes. >> Yes. >> Sullivan, yes. >> And Gina, >> uh, Deon, yes. Hi, everyone. >> All right. Thank you all for that. Everybody appreciate it. We all, I think, look forward to the committee's discussions and findings. And so I may ask Neil as chair to post some sort of return notification to us presumably
019on Friday as I'm told. >> Yeah. No, we will absolutely let you know. Yeah. And what they'll work on Friday. >> Thank you for that and thank you for all the members of that committee. It is much appreciated. Uh the second thing we need to discuss tonight and we are doing pretty well on time so for that is I know you may have known there were some delays on the service staff contract getting back to us. The contract is now here and if anyone would like to discuss the particulars in non-public we may do so. If there is no need to discuss the non particulars we make a motion to return the meeting. >> Oh we have to vote for it obviously. Thank you. >> So I don't I don't know if you can answer
020this in public session but I'll ask it and you can say I can't answer that in public session. I'm just curious if the reason for the delay was purely administrative getting people together or if there was something else that was concerning. >> I think it is fair to say there were no concerns. These negotiations were either positive low key. I think it was just getting okay thank you >> Michael and then you confer him. >> Uh I I am not seeing any details about either and so it's a bill as well. I think we need to >> for information. >> So I I am unwilling to vote to approve something of which I have no idea what I'm approving. >> That's a reasonable objection. I >> just know that. Um so there were some dates
021on the on the record that were it was sent back to them anyhow because there were some dates that were incorrect. The starting date of the contract said 2027 and then the ending dates had 2028. So I fixed those and had sent that back. But we have not received this accurate yet. And unfortunately that's you know when we got it back today, you know, or when I said we got it back, I started looking over it like okay well the dates the starting and ending dates on these are not correct. So they had to be fixed >> and they haven't. >> Yeah, I I've corrected them. Yes. And then sent the documents back, but they reviewed just to make sure that they understand that the dates because what they had was um showing as if
022it was a two-year contract instead of three. >> So with these changes, do we have the ability to make a vote to approve those? >> Okay. Thank you. >> And and we don't have any material switch. Clar I am not voting on something that if I have not reviewed it. >> I know what was um do we have any material similar to what you and Amy and I have discussed a few times. >> Yeah. I mean I the when I talked to Ryan today and I said to her >> sorry if the document if we got it back then I would let her know and everything else but otherwise I I can't to the best of my knowledge without them going and approving it again. Um, it's to my knowledge that we wouldn't be approving
023it. >> Okay. >> Um, Ryan, would you like to chime in here at all? I see you there. >> Thank you, Noah. >> No, thank you. I don't need to chime in. I will put it on the agenda for the 27th for approval. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Ryan. >> Um, thank you, Ryan. Okay. We will do our best to get documentation on that. I wish I was here tonight. I do apologize to all board members particularly since this was the emergency meeting. Additionally, I am the only board member who was on that committee and that will not be at Tuesday's meeting. So, I would ask Robin if you can arrange for yourself or Tara not Teresa or Amy to be president to walk us through particular. >> I can do it. >> Okay. Thank you
024all for your feedback on that. I hear you. My apologize again. >> Okay. that I can make a motion to adjourn and get our colleagues out of your 10 minutes early. Michael, >> um I apologize for delaying us. Um are you sticking around? >> Basically, >> um >> I would like to make a motion under RSA 93 for a non-public session under 91 A32C. Anyone know public at any time? Would anyone like to make a second to go on public? Second by Deb. Roll call vote. Michael ship to the online folks. Costi yes. >> Nelson. Yes. >> Christie. Yes. >> Yes. All right. Renee >> Sullivan. Yes. >> Sorry. Gina Deon. Yes. >> Po. Yes. >> Thank you. All right. Um, no. Can we take the Zoom stuff into nonp Okay. All right, guys. Let's
025leave our stuff here. [sighs] Renee, I I need to go. Um, so can but I I vote to uh adjourn the meeting when that happens. Okay. Okay. Thanks. Bye. the public comment to address the board. I think that items already on the agenda for new folks who are coming to the address meeting that is just wrapping up. It'll go ahead for a momentarily >> and that little public com at 7:07 p.m. >> Yes. Seconded by Lisa going around Michael >> McCosty. Yes. >> McConnell. Yes. Nelson. Yes. Christy. Yes. DeLasi. Yes. >> Yes. Honor. Yes. Sullivan. Yes. >> Yes. Ladies, you're nervous again. Going into disasters. Oh, um, you were kind of Are you part of the >> Yeah, thank you votes to move places. [laughter] >> We are. Thank everyone for your time on short
026notice.