Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, August 25, 2008
1. FinCom Present: Raymond Szczepan, Gary Maynard, Roland Lavallee, Joseph Collamati, Henri Masson, Toni Picariello
2. FinCom Absent: Carol Dill
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
4. ARTICLE 3 - CONSERVATION COMMISSION – CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION TRUST ($15,000)
Cliff and Anne Matthews appeared. Amount requested is $15,000. They request this amount of money each year to add to the Conservation Land Acquisition Trust fund. The balance in the Trust Fund is $166,000 as of today. The ConCom can use the money for land appraisals, Town’s portion of matching grants, surveys and to purchase land. In order to purchase land, they would have to go to Town Meeting.
Roland Lavallee is not crazy about the transfer this year considering the financial situation the Town is facing. Raymond Szczepan thinks that, at least, $5,000 should be transferred since the ConCom members had given up their $5,000 stipends in order to add it to the Trust Fund years ago.
Joseph Collamati/Toni Picariello motion to transfer $15,000 to the Conservation Land Acquisition Trust fund. Funding from Free Cash. VOTE: 3/3 (Raymond Szczepan, Gary Maynard, Roland Lavallee voted not to transfer).
Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to reconsider: VOTE: 5/0/1 (Joseph Collamati abstained)
Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to transfer $10,000 to the Conservation Land Acquisition Trust fund. Funding from Free Cash. VOTE: 5/1 (Toni Picariello voted not to transfer).
5. ARTICLE 3 - PARKS COMMISSION – PLAYGROUND UPGRADE ($15,000)
Bill Roberts appeared and handed out the specifications of the requested mower. Amount requested is $15,000. They are requesting a Kubota ZD331P-60, 31 HP, 60” Deck Diesel Zero Turn Riding Mower and Grass Collection Bag in the amount of $14,390.00. This will be purchased through a MA State contract. This mower will replace an 11 year old grass cutter, which would be traded in. The old one lasted so long, because they take care of and clean the equipment after use. The Park Commission has 51 acres of grass to cut.
Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to recommend $14,390 for the riding mower. Funding from free cash. VOTE: 6/0.
6. ARTICLE 12 – CFO - STABILIZATION FUND ($0.00)
ARTICLE 13 – CFO - TAX STABILIZATION FUND ($0.00)
Marilyn Mathieu mentioned that she wants to wait until the May 2009 Town Meeting to transfer money into these two accounts to see what the financial picture is at that time and if the Town can afford it.
Toni Picariello/Henri Masson motion to pass over Article 12 and Article 13, per CFO’s request. VOTE: 6/0.
7. ARTICLE 14 – PURCHASE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT (BOARD OF SELECTMEN) ($5,300.00)
Marilyn Mathieu and Denis Fraine appeared. $5,300 is requested. See Donald DiMartino’s email, dated June 13, 2008 below that explains what is requested, which was emailed to all FinCom members:
The DPW has done some cash for steel yard clean up. We have collected $5,300 for junk cars, equipment, and other metals.
In the past we have done well with purchases of pick up trucks from the government surplus auctions and our pick up fleet is aging. Therefore, I ask that consideration be given to placing at least $5,300 into the Surplus account at the October meeting thereby allowing us to see if we can get a new used truck to update our fleet.
Joseph Collamati believes this is not a wise transfer. There is $1.00 in the account and if the DPW finds good surplus equipment, they can request the money at that time.
Joseph Collamati/Raymond Szczepan motion not to recommend the transfer of $5,300 into the Surplus Equipment Account. VOTE: 6/0.
ARTICLE 15 – EMINENT DOMAIN TAKING (BOARD OF SELECTMEN) ($0.00)
Denis Fraine explained that the Town owns all the land requested and it is in front of Walgreen’s. The land is being turned over to the State for the reconstruction of the Rte 140, Rte 126 intersection. Toni Picariello was concerned about the eminent domain and the property owners. See Denis Fraine’s email dated August 15, 2008 below:
The State is actually taking from the Town. This was part of the widening on 140 for the Town Center/Signal in front of the access road and Walgreens project. We received land from the developer in order to provide it to the State for the widening.
Denis Fraine passed out the “plan” showing what land would be taken, which will be added to the booklet.
Roland Lavallee/Joseph Collamati motion to recommend the eminent domain taking as requested. VOTE: 6/0
ARTICLE 16 – UNPAID BILLS - BOARD OF SELECTMEN – TRASH ENTERPRISE (ALLIED WASTE) ($6,671)
Marilyn Mathieu presented an unpaid bill from Allied Waste Services for a fuel surcharge for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. This surcharge was noted in the contract. The surcharge is now included in the current contract price.
Raymond Szczepan recused himself from voting on this item, because a relative works for the company.
Joseph Collamati/Roland Lavallee motion to pay Allied Waste Services $6,671.00. Funding from Trash Enterprise. VOTE: 5/0
8. GENERAL DISCUSSION
The FinCom received a bill from the Association of Town Finance Committees (“ATFC”) for the yearly dues in the amount of $226.00.
Henri Masson/Raymond Szczepan motion to pay ATFC $226.00. VOTE: 6/0
Adjourned: Roland Lavallee/Raymond Szczepan motion to adjourn. VOTE: 6/0. 7:50 p.m.
(Accepted October 27, 2008)
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