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Town of Becket Finance Committee
March 5, 2009 Minutes
Present: Mike Falk, Ann Spadafora, Steve LaBelle, Jeremy Dunn, Amy Fyden
Also Present: Richard Furlong, Kathy Hayn Burtt
Present for first 30 minutes: Purr McEwen & Zina Jayne representing Becket Athenaeum
The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm.
- Becket Athenaeum presentation
- The Athenaeum requested an increase from $24,000 in FY2009 to $49,000 in FY2010, due to an anticipated sharp drop in their endowment revenue. The value of the endowment has declined; it is of course unclear how long this situation will last.
Task: Bob Podoski to send MikeF details on the endowment principal and earnings
- Have they considered a direct appeal to town residents? Yes, this is presently done. Average donations are $25-50/year from full-time residents, $100-200 from summer residents.
- What is the impact in programs & services if the town cannot give additional funding? They intend to apply for grants to fund new programs; money would be available by Sept 2009. They may also offer less services and/or fewer hours. They do not intend to close.
- What is the contingency plan at different funding levels? Zina & Nancy already give 12 hrs/week as volunteers.
Task: Purr & Zina to give more information to FinCom about contingency plans
- Minutes of 1/8/09 FinCom approved
- Special Town Meeting warrant review
FinCom voted unanimously in favor of all articles:
- Fire Tanker. Was grant-funded at 95%. We owe $9,334
- Vocational Transport & Tuition. Added 1 child; it was rebid; underfunded this year. $35,832 total due
- Volunteer Fire Stipend, underfunded due to misunderstanding. $1,700
- Winter Storm cleanup. FEMA/MEMA pay 75%; town owes 25% of estimated $200,000. Only place we have this money is in Stabilization. Requires 2/3 vote at STM to use Stabilization funds. We do not have a contingency if this vote fails
- Detailed review of budget draft #2 Lengthy discussion, but no decisions. Some changes requested of RichardF for draft #3.
- Review of town employee budget suggestions. Since the budget draft #2 is balanced, not necessary to cut any hours or people at this time. Other suggestions noted for future consideration.
- No transfers from the Reserve account.
- STRAP grant for Bonnie Rigg/Algerie Rds. RichardF sent additional information required for the application. A determination is expected soon.
- McNerney Rd. 9 Bids received by deadline, ranging from $840,000 - $1,200,000. MassHighway will award within 3 weeks. Work will start when snow melts; done by late fall 2009
- Yokum Pond Rd. Bridge. On Mass/Fed stimulus list, but low priority.
- CBRSD. Dr Harlan & Marge (bus. Mgr. ) will attend 3/19/09 FinCom meeting per their request
- Ambulance Grant.
Maddy Elovirta is nearly done writing the grant application. Paid from ambulance account. We will need to transfer money to this fund near the end of the fiscal year.
- Additional grant-writing expertise
Amy Fyden’s husband received a grant-writing certificate; he may be willing to do pro-bono work for the town to gain practical experience. No town grant need writing at this time. Perhaps he could assist the Athenaeum with their proposals?
Task: AmyF to discuss with him; connect him with Athenaeum staff.
- Reductions in FY2009 state aid. The governor’s latest budget cuts approximately $11,000 from Becket’s cherry sheet revenues for FY2009. This will not materially affect the budget. Offset by local receipts and other revenue sources that are higher than budgeted.
- Community Preservation Act funding. There will be an article on the warrant for CPA funding. It is not within the town budget. CPA funds are held by the town in trust but are accounted for separately.
There was no public input.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeremy Dunn
Clerk
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