August 20, 2026 – Finance Committee Appointing Board – Video & Transcript
August 20, 2026 - Finance Committee Appointing Board
All right. Well, let me, it being 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 20th, 2026, let me call this meeting of the Finance Committee Appointing Board to order.
We are meeting only via Zoom today, so there is no in-person attendance.
Our agenda is posted on the town's website, and you will note that we are working from a revised agenda.
There was just a revision to a year listed on the agenda. The annual report year was the wrong year, so that's the only revision.
We will take public comments as part of our meeting, and again, that will be via Zoom.
And let me just say that today we have a full board here. We have Carol Martin, Miranda Jones, and myself, Cherry Karlson.
And I think those are all the things I have to check off and say.
So I'll review the agenda for the public. We'll take announcements from the board and any public comment.
We'll go over the minutes from our last meeting, the annual report.
We'll talk about the need for our next meeting, any reports and concerns, and we'll adjourn, you know, around about 1030, depending on how long we need to edit our documents.
So are there any announcements from the board?
Okay, you're none. Is there any public comment?
There are no other attendees.
Okay, thanks, Abby. So, yep, so no public comment today.
So we'll move on to our minutes of our July 14th meeting, the last one.
This is where we interviewed Krishna Khanda, and also appointed him.
Thank you, Miranda. And somebody doing for you today?
Yep, I've already sort of drafted a lot.
You've already got us going. Okay.
Good thinking.
They're half done.
I move.
They're half done. You're right.
I like it. They're done.
I move. We approve the minutes of, oh, I lost the thing here, too.
July 14th.
July 14th.
Thank you. It was on the one thing. July 14th, 2026, as, I'll say, as written.
Okay, and I second that motion.
Okay, so we have a motion in a second. Any comments on the minutes?
Mr. Khanda's, I was surprised when I read the minutes. Mr. Khanda's wife currently serves on the Whelan School Committee?
No, a friend, someone on the school committee. I missed that.
Oh, I'm sorry. I thought he said it was his wife.
Oh, no, it's a friend, a friend on the school committee.
Oh, really? Are you sure?
Yes.
Okay, I'm sorry. Then I will. I thought he said his wife, too.
We could just eliminate the sentence.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
I'm going to change my motion to the as amended.
Yeah.
And Miranda, will you change your second to the as amended?
Yeah, I think I will.
Yes.
Thank you.
All right.
All right.
Yeah, it just for the record, a friend of his, it could be that it was a friend of his wife's. Maybe that's where the term was elected to the school committee. And so he just became more aware of the need for volunteers in town. And so that was how he became aware of this.
I didn't, don't think I had anything else. And Carol, did you see anything else? No, that was just my question, because I was surprised to read that. I said, I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, I missed that. No, we're good. Okay. So we have a motion. Yep. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of July 14th as amended. If there's no more discussion, we'll do a roll call vote. Carol? Yes. Miranda? Yes. Cherry? Yes. So it's a vote of three to zero. Thank you.
Great. Next on our agenda is to take a look at the annual report. I did take the liberty of drafting it. I just followed the same format as last year. I don't know if you want something like that or different. It's not due until the end of September. So we have plenty of time if there are changes. I loved it. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks for getting it done. I have one quick question, though. Do we really? This is the only question I have. On the summary of activities and accomplishments where it says we met via Zoom, do we really need that? Yeah. So other than that, I'm good. And I'm going to make, I'm going to go on the limb here and make a motion that we approve the, well, it's not going to be the draft. It would be the report now, right? Yeah. All right. Finance Committee appointing board annual report for 2026 as amended. Okay. Okay. Great. I will second that. Yep. Sorry, Terry. That's bad. No, I was just, I was just reading and you guys, I just kept the same goal as that we had before, but I figured that's really the only thing that we're supposed to do is find good people for. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. That's great. That's great. Thanks. It was perfect. Beautifully written, clear, concise, bam, we're out of there. As if this wasn't your first one. It wasn't our first one. And you know, we run, we have good meetings. We do our things on the agenda. You just have to look at the agenda to know what we've done. It's all good. There's no sparring. There's no, you know, who wouldn't want to be on this committee? It's a good one. Why would anyone want to leave, for example? I know. And you saw, you saw the note at the top that it is a template formatting era that Jalen's very aware of that the second page says Belmont. So she'll fix that. Yeah. Okay. Well then I will, we have a motion and a second to approve the annual report as amended. Not hearing any other discussion. I will do a roll call vote. Miranda, we'll go to you first this time. Yay. Yeah. Yeah. I say all in favor. All in favor. Okay. Carol. Yes. And Cherry. Yes. So three to zero. I didn't even notice the Belmont thing up top. That is so funny. Yeah. Belmont's hit me up a lot today. A lot. Are they? No. I tried to fix it and I couldn't do it. So Jalen said it. Yeah, no. It's just something else came in through Belmont. They've, they filed a home rule petition on, um, uh, remote participation, but they're representative town meeting. So it doesn't matter, but it's my hometown. So it's, I feel like Belmont is inundating me today. But at least it's moving in that direction. So yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Let's move. Good. Um, so at this point where FinCom is fully staffed and we've done our annual report, you know, pending a resignation, I think that, you know, the board's work is done until like March next year, you know, sometime before town meeting gets busy, but just to put a recruitment statement and to talk about, um, um, you know, just what needs to be done for next year. So I wasn't going to put a meeting on the calendar right now, unless we need to be together again, so, um, well, I don't know if this is the time to bring up the fact that your term is, is over on September 30th and in terms of, yeah, September 30th, right? Yeah. Let me just check the date, but I'm sure that's what it is, Miranda, but let me just check so you have it accurately. So while there's not a meeting required, because if you, if you choose to, oh, no, September one, Miranda. Oh, September one. Yikes. Okay. So it's good thing that we get the, um, I know the annual reports on due until I'll get that. I'll send that in. Yeah. Yeah. And you'll, you'll revise it and send it in then. Yes. Yes. I'll copy you guys on it. So you have the, um, so Carol, I, I chose not to, um, reapply to continue on the, the committee. Um, yeah, it's such a horrible experience. These last three years. Oh, somebody called me and told me that I said, no, no, no, but you got that. So yes. Ms. Carlson, you are full of surprises. You know, it's got to keep you on your toes, Carol. Well, listen, I just have to say that I fully appreciate all of the work you've done for the last three years on this committee, because you really, you, you never cease to amaze me. You just keep things moving and, and in just so well organized. I just, um, it's amazing. And I'm so glad that I appointed you, but I will be very sad to miss you. Well, I will miss having discussions with both of you here, but as you know, we all bring different skills to the table. And as I told you in my interview, this would be a very easy thing for me to handle this side of it, the recruiting and interviewing, you know, we all do on our own way, but yeah, that I could be of assistance there. Well, I appreciate your service. Um, not to say that I'm moving along before the body's even cold, but I, no, no, no, no. But if we're not, but I'm talking to somebody at 11 about you. I actually thought that it was September 30, but given that it's September 1st, I'm glad you're talking with someone and I will get the annual report in and copies to you guys. Yep. In, uh, 51 minutes. I'm talking to this person. Okay. Okay. Well, good luck. Fingers crossed. Yeah. Um, okay. So I'm not going to put a meeting on the books then. Yeah. Um, and I think the next step would be then, oh, Terry, if you're leaving, well, it would be for Miranda to call the meeting. The next, I think Miranda can call the meeting and I'll call the meeting and then the three of us would just, I can put a draft agenda together. Right. Just to start off with that, you know, so that you have something to go with. Um, and then you can just add whatever you're meeting about. So, but yeah, your first order of business would be to elect a chair and then do your minutes and then whatever you're meeting about. So it's not hard, pardon Miranda. It's in my, in my, in my strong suit. So we're good. So in the back, in the back of my mind, I think that to Sherry's point, and we had talked about this the last time. So I think the next agenda should include a strategy, developing a strategy, fulfilling the positions too. Can you remind me how many are open next year? One, two. Um, do we know a little bit? Well, it, it sort of depends whether, um, as Carl Barnes and I want to make certain we're staying on agenda. This is all sort of determining in our next meeting date, but, um, when we appointed Carl Barnes, I think we appointed him to a two-year position and he had sort of indicated one and Iris wasn't certain if she wanted to do the full three years, but she was appointed to a three-year position. So I think some of it depends on. Yeah. Well, the current members, how the year goes for them and where they are, you know, personally and, and professionally and on a volunteer basis and where they are. Um, so you could have two, you could have four. I think it'll just depend, but I think there's two up for me. Yes. I think there are two up. So I think we should look at, look, Miranda, my suggestion would be that we look at that and then we do what we talked about the last time is just be a little more proactive rather than waiting till May. Yeah. Um, maybe the B and to Terry's point, it's a little early to be recruiting for May, but maybe around, uh, the next meeting we, we say, okay, we put out a statement, maybe we put it out for January where we're looking for some folks to get on the finance committee. Okay. And so that it gets out there. Sometimes it takes folks a while and they need to talk to someone and Terry knows they want to talk to people and they want to look, maybe watch a few meetings. Which would be beneficial for us for the recruiting. If they watched a few meetings, particularly during the town meeting, uh, process, which is their fullest time of the year. So, all right. Well, so I think that that discussion fits nicely under, you know, reports and concerns for next year, this whole piece of how do you go forward? So just from perspective, so we're not going to set a date, but those are sort of the reports and concerns of things to talk about when you do meet next. Yeah. So you've served four years, Terry? Three years. So it was put together in 2003. Um, but it was a bylaw change. So it had to go through the attorney general's office. And so it came through that summer and Miranda interviewed in August and appointed September one of 23. So then I'm done September. Yeah, because it was a 2023 town meeting that this board was created. Right. Yeah. So there was one year with Bill was the appointee. I know it's been two. No, it's been two for you. Well, I'll finish my second tier. You'll finish your next. Yeah. So I don't know if the code says it's select board or select board designate. So unless select board chair. Select board chair. So it will, I will be rolling off. Yeah. So no, it is the select board. And they already, have you already changed chairs? I'm sorry. Carol's continued. This is her second year. Right. But do we know who the chair is next year on select board? Yeah. So it'll be something else. That's a good reason. But that's a good reason for you guys to meet while Carol is still on the board and get the strategy stuff done in place for recruiting. Yep. Right, right, right. Okay, good. Me and two newbies and that's all. Yeah, no. So you should get it all set. And then the interviews might be you and two, as you say, newbies, but they're they will be people who have great experience with the town. Unless, of course, you do some interviews next April and May, in which case I would still be, you know, on the committee. Yeah, until after town meeting. Right. Yeah, I'm good to meeting after the town meeting at which we take the vote. The last two years, we haven't done it until the second one, but the bottom line is you're right. So you've got to tell about the first of May. Yeah. If you want. I'll put something in my calendar. I'll diary something in about around January to sort of start rethinking about. What our strategy is and putting out a solicitation. Maybe I'll have a better sense of which look at which FinCon members are just by their terms are expiring. And maybe we'll have more information from Carl and or Iris about what they wanted. Yeah. Yeah. So I do think you'll get I think you'll get another year out of Iris. I think it's more the third year that's in question for her. Unless things change. You know, everybody has come up. So you're off to a smoother start this year as well. We've done as their liaison. Are we on reports and concerns? I can give this as a report off the chart here as their liaison. I've been working with them, you know, one on one and what have you. And I think we are off to a much smoother start this year. Both them and another committee that that gives them a report. So I think we'll see. When there changes the leadership, sometimes it takes a little time to get rid of them. And with that, I will make a point. I had to mute because they erupted. Oh, we missed them. All right. Is it okay if I take a motion to adjourn at 10, 20, 15? 10, 15. So Carol with the motion, Miranda. All right. And as of my last order of business, we'll do a roll call vote. Carol. Yes. Miranda. Yes. And Jerry. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you, ladies. Hopefully I'll see you. Thank you.
Yeah, it just for the record, a friend of his, it could be that it was a friend of his wife's. Maybe that's where the term was elected to the school committee. And so he just became more aware of the need for volunteers in town. And so that was how he became aware of this.
I didn't, don't think I had anything else. And Carol, did you see anything else? No, that was just my question, because I was surprised to read that. I said, I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, I missed that. No, we're good. Okay. So we have a motion. Yep. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of July 14th as amended. If there's no more discussion, we'll do a roll call vote. Carol? Yes. Miranda? Yes. Cherry? Yes. So it's a vote of three to zero. Thank you.
Great. Next on our agenda is to take a look at the annual report. I did take the liberty of drafting it. I just followed the same format as last year. I don't know if you want something like that or different. It's not due until the end of September. So we have plenty of time if there are changes. I loved it. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks for getting it done. I have one quick question, though. Do we really? This is the only question I have. On the summary of activities and accomplishments where it says we met via Zoom, do we really need that? Yeah. So other than that, I'm good. And I'm going to make, I'm going to go on the limb here and make a motion that we approve the, well, it's not going to be the draft. It would be the report now, right? Yeah. All right. Finance Committee appointing board annual report for 2026 as amended. Okay. Okay. Great. I will second that. Yep. Sorry, Terry. That's bad. No, I was just, I was just reading and you guys, I just kept the same goal as that we had before, but I figured that's really the only thing that we're supposed to do is find good people for. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. That's great. That's great. Thanks. It was perfect. Beautifully written, clear, concise, bam, we're out of there. As if this wasn't your first one. It wasn't our first one. And you know, we run, we have good meetings. We do our things on the agenda. You just have to look at the agenda to know what we've done. It's all good. There's no sparring. There's no, you know, who wouldn't want to be on this committee? It's a good one. Why would anyone want to leave, for example? I know. And you saw, you saw the note at the top that it is a template formatting era that Jalen's very aware of that the second page says Belmont. So she'll fix that. Yeah. Okay. Well then I will, we have a motion and a second to approve the annual report as amended. Not hearing any other discussion. I will do a roll call vote. Miranda, we'll go to you first this time. Yay. Yeah. Yeah. I say all in favor. All in favor. Okay. Carol. Yes. And Cherry. Yes. So three to zero. I didn't even notice the Belmont thing up top. That is so funny. Yeah. Belmont's hit me up a lot today. A lot. Are they? No. I tried to fix it and I couldn't do it. So Jalen said it. Yeah, no. It's just something else came in through Belmont. They've, they filed a home rule petition on, um, uh, remote participation, but they're representative town meeting. So it doesn't matter, but it's my hometown. So it's, I feel like Belmont is inundating me today. But at least it's moving in that direction. So yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Let's move. Good. Um, so at this point where FinCom is fully staffed and we've done our annual report, you know, pending a resignation, I think that, you know, the board's work is done until like March next year, you know, sometime before town meeting gets busy, but just to put a recruitment statement and to talk about, um, um, you know, just what needs to be done for next year. So I wasn't going to put a meeting on the calendar right now, unless we need to be together again, so, um, well, I don't know if this is the time to bring up the fact that your term is, is over on September 30th and in terms of, yeah, September 30th, right? Yeah. Let me just check the date, but I'm sure that's what it is, Miranda, but let me just check so you have it accurately. So while there's not a meeting required, because if you, if you choose to, oh, no, September one, Miranda. Oh, September one. Yikes. Okay. So it's good thing that we get the, um, I know the annual reports on due until I'll get that. I'll send that in. Yeah. Yeah. And you'll, you'll revise it and send it in then. Yes. Yes. I'll copy you guys on it. So you have the, um, so Carol, I, I chose not to, um, reapply to continue on the, the committee. Um, yeah, it's such a horrible experience. These last three years. Oh, somebody called me and told me that I said, no, no, no, but you got that. So yes. Ms. Carlson, you are full of surprises. You know, it's got to keep you on your toes, Carol. Well, listen, I just have to say that I fully appreciate all of the work you've done for the last three years on this committee, because you really, you, you never cease to amaze me. You just keep things moving and, and in just so well organized. I just, um, it's amazing. And I'm so glad that I appointed you, but I will be very sad to miss you. Well, I will miss having discussions with both of you here, but as you know, we all bring different skills to the table. And as I told you in my interview, this would be a very easy thing for me to handle this side of it, the recruiting and interviewing, you know, we all do on our own way, but yeah, that I could be of assistance there. Well, I appreciate your service. Um, not to say that I'm moving along before the body's even cold, but I, no, no, no, no. But if we're not, but I'm talking to somebody at 11 about you. I actually thought that it was September 30, but given that it's September 1st, I'm glad you're talking with someone and I will get the annual report in and copies to you guys. Yep. In, uh, 51 minutes. I'm talking to this person. Okay. Okay. Well, good luck. Fingers crossed. Yeah. Um, okay. So I'm not going to put a meeting on the books then. Yeah. Um, and I think the next step would be then, oh, Terry, if you're leaving, well, it would be for Miranda to call the meeting. The next, I think Miranda can call the meeting and I'll call the meeting and then the three of us would just, I can put a draft agenda together. Right. Just to start off with that, you know, so that you have something to go with. Um, and then you can just add whatever you're meeting about. So, but yeah, your first order of business would be to elect a chair and then do your minutes and then whatever you're meeting about. So it's not hard, pardon Miranda. It's in my, in my, in my strong suit. So we're good. So in the back, in the back of my mind, I think that to Sherry's point, and we had talked about this the last time. So I think the next agenda should include a strategy, developing a strategy, fulfilling the positions too. Can you remind me how many are open next year? One, two. Um, do we know a little bit? Well, it, it sort of depends whether, um, as Carl Barnes and I want to make certain we're staying on agenda. This is all sort of determining in our next meeting date, but, um, when we appointed Carl Barnes, I think we appointed him to a two-year position and he had sort of indicated one and Iris wasn't certain if she wanted to do the full three years, but she was appointed to a three-year position. So I think some of it depends on. Yeah. Well, the current members, how the year goes for them and where they are, you know, personally and, and professionally and on a volunteer basis and where they are. Um, so you could have two, you could have four. I think it'll just depend, but I think there's two up for me. Yes. I think there are two up. So I think we should look at, look, Miranda, my suggestion would be that we look at that and then we do what we talked about the last time is just be a little more proactive rather than waiting till May. Yeah. Um, maybe the B and to Terry's point, it's a little early to be recruiting for May, but maybe around, uh, the next meeting we, we say, okay, we put out a statement, maybe we put it out for January where we're looking for some folks to get on the finance committee. Okay. And so that it gets out there. Sometimes it takes folks a while and they need to talk to someone and Terry knows they want to talk to people and they want to look, maybe watch a few meetings. Which would be beneficial for us for the recruiting. If they watched a few meetings, particularly during the town meeting, uh, process, which is their fullest time of the year. So, all right. Well, so I think that that discussion fits nicely under, you know, reports and concerns for next year, this whole piece of how do you go forward? So just from perspective, so we're not going to set a date, but those are sort of the reports and concerns of things to talk about when you do meet next. Yeah. So you've served four years, Terry? Three years. So it was put together in 2003. Um, but it was a bylaw change. So it had to go through the attorney general's office. And so it came through that summer and Miranda interviewed in August and appointed September one of 23. So then I'm done September. Yeah, because it was a 2023 town meeting that this board was created. Right. Yeah. So there was one year with Bill was the appointee. I know it's been two. No, it's been two for you. Well, I'll finish my second tier. You'll finish your next. Yeah. So I don't know if the code says it's select board or select board designate. So unless select board chair. Select board chair. So it will, I will be rolling off. Yeah. So no, it is the select board. And they already, have you already changed chairs? I'm sorry. Carol's continued. This is her second year. Right. But do we know who the chair is next year on select board? Yeah. So it'll be something else. That's a good reason. But that's a good reason for you guys to meet while Carol is still on the board and get the strategy stuff done in place for recruiting. Yep. Right, right, right. Okay, good. Me and two newbies and that's all. Yeah, no. So you should get it all set. And then the interviews might be you and two, as you say, newbies, but they're they will be people who have great experience with the town. Unless, of course, you do some interviews next April and May, in which case I would still be, you know, on the committee. Yeah, until after town meeting. Right. Yeah, I'm good to meeting after the town meeting at which we take the vote. The last two years, we haven't done it until the second one, but the bottom line is you're right. So you've got to tell about the first of May. Yeah. If you want. I'll put something in my calendar. I'll diary something in about around January to sort of start rethinking about. What our strategy is and putting out a solicitation. Maybe I'll have a better sense of which look at which FinCon members are just by their terms are expiring. And maybe we'll have more information from Carl and or Iris about what they wanted. Yeah. Yeah. So I do think you'll get I think you'll get another year out of Iris. I think it's more the third year that's in question for her. Unless things change. You know, everybody has come up. So you're off to a smoother start this year as well. We've done as their liaison. Are we on reports and concerns? I can give this as a report off the chart here as their liaison. I've been working with them, you know, one on one and what have you. And I think we are off to a much smoother start this year. Both them and another committee that that gives them a report. So I think we'll see. When there changes the leadership, sometimes it takes a little time to get rid of them. And with that, I will make a point. I had to mute because they erupted. Oh, we missed them. All right. Is it okay if I take a motion to adjourn at 10, 20, 15? 10, 15. So Carol with the motion, Miranda. All right. And as of my last order of business, we'll do a roll call vote. Carol. Yes. Miranda. Yes. And Jerry. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you, ladies. Hopefully I'll see you. Thank you.