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Finance Committee <br />Minutes <br />February 1, 2024 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. McKelvey asked what the average cost to a homeowner to hookup could be. Mr. Meader said it varys on <br />the type of system. Whether it’s a low pressure system or gravity along with the location of the septic. He said <br />between $8,000 and $10,000. <br />Mr. McKelvey asked what will happen to the system that is currently on the property and Mr. Meader said that <br />it will have to be abandoned. There are a number of different ways of abandoning a system. <br />Mr. Weiner asked if it will be the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain the system and Jared responded that if <br />they have a gravity system it is the homeowner’s responsibility. If they have a low pressure system the Town <br />will be responsible for maintaining the system. <br /> <br />Mr. McKelvey asked if they are any closer to determining what the yearly operation costs will be. Jared stated <br />that the initial estimate was $800,000 and he believes this figure is definitely in the ball park. <br /> <br />Mr. McKelvey asked if once the mains and laterals are in place will it be mandatory for every home on the street <br />to connect to it and Jared said yes, it will be mandatory. Jared stated that at this point homeowners will have 90 <br />days to connect. He is currently working on a plan to offer early connections. <br /> <br />Mr. Weiner inquired as to whether the condominium communities that have existing treatment plants will <br />eventually be hooking up to the Town’s system. Jared responded that there are a lot of factors involved and <br />that they are in the very early stages of discussions on that topic. <br /> <br />NEW BUSINESS <br /> <br />1. Review and Discuss FY2025 Department Budget Requests. <br />Mr. Collins stated that there has been a preliminary review and that there is no question that the requests need <br />to be reduced. He said that there are two components. Primarily CIP. He said they have calculated the amount <br />that the bottom line needs to be reduced by. They have met with staff and requested that they get the numbers <br />down in order to avoid a 2 ½ override request for May of 2024. He said he is confident that they will get there <br />but it will not be easy. He stated that he is in need of finding out what the health costs will be. Mr. Collins went <br />th <br />on to state that he will be presenting a tentative figure to the Select Board on February 12 and will submit it to <br />th <br />the Finance Committee on February 15 for the Committee’s review. <br /> <br />Mr. McKelvey asked if Mr. Collins could speak about the Police Department renovation design and the DPW <br />replacement design. Mr. Collins stated that in terms of the PD the initial problem was the HVAC system and <br />upon bringing in a company to review the HVAC system it was determined that there are air quality issues. He <br />also stated that the Department is failing inspections with the State because of the holding cell area. The scope <br />was changed to reauthorize the money that was going to go towards the HVAC system to determine what, if <br />anything, they need desperately right now. There were two approaches to it. One being renovations and the <br />other was a new facility. He stated that the figure between both was not as high as he expected. He said he <br />needs to be sure the figures are accurate. Mr. Collins said that both the PD and DPW are the only two facilities <br />that are in need of significant renovation or replacement. He went on to state that they are always going to look <br />at options at are viable and if it’s feasible to look at a unique option they will do that. <br /> <br />Chair Pettengill asked Patty Deboer when she will be available to present the school’s budget to the Committee <br />th <br />and she responded that the will not be available on February 15 and it was agreed that they would be <br />th <br />presenting on February 29. <br />3 <br /> <br /> <br />