===PAGE 1=== Lunenburg Finance Committee Meeting Minutes Bilotta Meeting Room Lunenburg Town Hall February 25, 2025 Present Members: Chair Chris Menard, Vice Chair Jean Russell, Clerk Tom Gray Committee Member Tanya Dall, Committee Member Ana Lockwood, Committee Member Mike Rupp, Committee Member Jay Simeone 1. Call to Order The meeting opened at 7:00 PM. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Announcements Chris Menard welcomed Anna Lockwood and Mike Rupp to the Committee. 4. Public Comment There were no comments from the public. 5. Town Manager & Finance Director Reports There were no reports. 6. Scheduled Meetings a. Police Department Chief JeƯrey Thibideau provided the presentation. The department runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including nights and holidays. Currently the staƯ consists of 18 full-time oƯicers, 3 civilian oƯicers, 2 reserve oƯicers, 1 animal control, 8 civilian traƯic oƯicers. There are 2 unfunded vacancies due to retirements. Capital plan updates - The K9 cruiser and traƯic cruiser are currently in production. Capital funding was used, totaling $147,254. - There are currently 30 body worn cameras in service. This was purchased though ARPA funds totaling $44,722. - The Milo Training System is in service. This was purchased through state earmark funds, totaling $33,910. Future goals include: - Filling the staƯ vacancies and maintaining accreditation standards. - MPTC state mandated training. Each oƯicer completes 40 hours in service training, 16 hours of firearm training, 16 hours of taser/less ===PAGE 2=== lethal/handcuƯing, 16 hours of professional development. - Community policing - Employee evaluations FY2025 budget is $2,848,314  80% of the budget is personnel: $2,331,947 - 58% funds the salary totaling $1,672,862 - 9% funds the incentives totaling $265,787. This includes the K9 2026 request for comfort dog program (Canine Cody and Comfort Dog Hank). - 10% funds overtime totaling $294,389  Training is 3% of the budget totaling $98,909  Purchase of services is 1% of the budget totaling $23,450  Police supplies are 1% of the budget totaling $35,015  Other expenses are 1% of the budget totaling $37,238  Animal control is 2% of the budget totaling $46,125  Lockup is 1% of the budget totaling $20,600  Regional dispatch is 8% of the budget totaling $216,098  Vehicle maintenance is 2% of the budget totaling $67,000 Chris Menard inquires when the union negotiated contracts are up. Chief Thibideau states the contracts are up this year. Jay Simeone questions why 30 body warn cameras are needed. Chief Thibideau states there needs to be a spare in case 1 breaks and needs to be sent to the company for repairs. Each oƯicer gets their own body camera as it creates a personal file for every video Chris Menard inquires when a Chief will be hired. Jennifer Warren-Dyment confirms there is a screening committee meeting starting tomorrow. The interview will be in the next 2 weeks, and we are hopeful of having it filled by April. Chris Menard asks about the previous mental health co-responder that was hired in prior years. Chief Thibideau states we have lost the funding as it was pulled back from the state, so it no longer exists. Rhonda Lizio, 181 Reservoir Road, inquires as to why the town switched to a drug sniƯing dog as opposed to a tactical dog. Chief Thibideau states that K9 Cody is a tracking and narcotics dog. Comfort dogs and patrol dogs have completely diƯerent training. ===PAGE 3=== b. Fire Department Chief Patrick Sullivan provided the presentation. The fire department consists of 1 Chief, 1 Administrative Assistant/EMT, 3 career OƯicers/EMTs, 5 Call Fire OƯicers (4 EMT’s), 6 Career Firefighter/Paramedics, 27 call Firefighters/EMTS/Paramedics. The fleet consists of 3 engines/pumpers, 1 ladder, 2 forestry, 2 ambulances, 1 water rescue unit, and 3 support vehicles. The proposed budget is generally level funded. It includes 100% paramedic coverage. The above target requestions include EMS supplies, IT related software and hardware, radio maintenance. EMS supplies are an additional $5,000 for stocking and state regulation. IT software is an additional $1,000 for maintenance and licensing. Radio maintenance is an additional $10,000. Chief Sullivan is proposing a 4th shift. It’s estimated to cost $464,369.26. This estimate includes the cost of new staƯ, expected increased in OT/Holiday, and 1 promotion for a new shift. This would provide better coverage for the Town and the department would no longer have to rely solely on per diem coverage on Sundays. Capital Plan FY25 update  Phase 1 & 2 of radio infrastructure replacement is underway. The upgrade is estimated to start in the summer of 2025.  Replacement of Rescue 1. This vehicle is expected to be delivered within a week. An FY 2026 proposed capital plan includes the replacement of car 2 totaling $75,000. Car 2 is a vehicle for the Duty OƯicer/Fire Prevention Vehicle. The replacement will be a ½ ton 4x4 pickup chassis with cap. Use of ARPA funding includes:  New ambulance and associated equipment: $506,000  Power stretcher and autoload system for other ambulances: $73,000  2 ambulance IV pumps: $7,500  Power stair chair: $23,000  15 fireground portable radios: $50,000  Replacement of furniture in station: $20,000 ===PAGE 4=== Grant Funding for FY 2025  State grant for firefighting equipment totaling $18,960. These funds will be used to replace protective clothing dryer, 3 thermal imaging cameras, forest fire helmet, and extrication gloves.  EMPG Grant totaling $3,750 will be used as a training aid for “Stop the Bleed” program.  S.A.F .E/Senior Safe Grant totaling $7,430. This is used to fund the Fire Safety Education Awareness for grades K-3, Senior Safety program, and the Smoke Detector Project. Ana Lockwood questions when the full-time paramedic program started in Lunenburg. Chief Sullivan stated the schooling and training started back in 2020. A paramedic was on 24/7 starting April 1, 2024. Tom Gray questions if the fire fighters and EMTs departments should be separated. Chief Sullivan states for a small community he would never advocate for separate services. It serves a dual purpose and saves the town money. In the past the town tried a 3rd party service private ambulance for ALS and there were challenges including staƯing and billing. Ana Lockwood inquiries about an enterprise fund for ambulances. Ezequiel Ayala will look into this further. Glenn Mcleod, 436 Reservoir Road, thanked both Chiefs for their service and work provided to the town. Glenn Mcleod encourages the Committee to look further into the 4th shift proposal. Mike Rupp inquires if there is a staged plan related to the 4th shift proposal. Chief Sullivan states a plan could be implemented quickly and would be staged. c. Land Use Department The Land Use Director, Chris Reilly, provided the presentation. The Land Use Director oversees planning, conservation, buildings and ZBA. The fees required for all applications oƯset a lot of the expense for staƯing. The staƯ provides expertise through recommendations not decisions. The FY 2026 budget is generally level funded, and the budget request is as follows: - Planning: $163,595 - Conservation: $90,080 ===PAGE 5=== - Building: $181,722 - ZBA: $4,500 7. New Business There was no new business. 8. Old Business a. FY26 Budget Discussions Chris Menard confirms a drafted warrant article has been uploaded to the SharePoint. b. FY26 Warrant Articles c. Budget Task Force Recommendations 9. Minutes There were no minutes to review. 10. Committee Reports Chris Menard wants to review now that there is a full board. 11. Actions and Topics for Future Meetings The Committee wants to look further into a possible ambulance revolving fund. 12. Important Dates & Upcoming Meetings a. Thursday 2/27/2025 b. Thursday 3/6/2025 c. Thursday 3/13/2025 (Public Hearing) d. Thursday 3/20/2025 e. Thursday 3/27/2025 13. Public Comment Glenn Mcleod,436 Reservoir Road, thanked the Fire Chief for his honest and straight forward answer regarding overtime. Ana Lockwood requests a breakdown of the sources of free cash certified from the Town Manager. Jennifer Warren-Dyment will provide those documents in a week but confirms we are in the right place according to the Department of Revenue suggestions. 14. Adjourn There was a motion to adjourn by Ana Lockwood, seconded by Tom Gray. The meeting closed at 9:34 PM.