Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, June 8, 2009
1. FinCom Present: Carol Dill, Roland Lavallee, Joseph Collamati, Gary Maynard, Henri Masson, Raymond Szczepan, Toni Picariello
2. FinCom Absent: N/A
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
4. Reorganization of FinCom Officers
Secretary/Clerk
Toni Picariello was nominated, there were no other nominations.
Henri Masson/Joseph Collamati motion to appoint Toni Picariello as Secretary/Clerk for the FinCom. VOTE 6/0/1 (Toni Picariello abstained)
Vice Chairman
Roland Lavallee was nominated, there were no other nominations.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to appoint Roland Lavallee Vice Chairman of the FinCom. VOTE: 7/0
Chairman
Gary Maynard and Roland Lavallee were nominated as Chairman.
Henri Masson/Joseph Collamati Motion to appoint Gary Maynard as Chairman. VOTE: 4/3
Raymond Szczepan/Carol Dill motion to appoint Roland Lavallee as Chairman. VOTE: 3/4
5. DISCUSSION WITH BOARD OF SELECTMENT & CFO
Marilyn Mathieu appeared.
Article 1 – Salaries and Expenses (and Mileage ($ .40/mile))
Registrars clause
The Highway Budget went down. $46,000 was reallocated to the Parks Department.
Regarding the Sewer budget, Charles River Wastewater costs have increased. There was a 17% increase in the actual flow.
The salary figures reflect:
ASFME Clerical accepted a 6 month freeze in salaries.
ASFME Department of Public Works also accepted a 6 month freeze along with the Professional Association (which is not-union).
The 6 months salary freeze reflects holding off in receiving the 3% increase until January 1, 2010. This will not be retroactive.
Teachers Union voted against the freeze, but accepted the increase in the health insurance co-pay.
There is not agreement with the Fire and Police department to date.
Under the Quinn Bill (Police) the state would reimburse 50%. The state did not budget reimbursement, but Bellingham will have to pay the state's share, since the provision of reimbursement is included in the contract. This provision will need to be renegotiated, with no Quinn Bill reimbursement for new hires.
With regard to Budget No. 189, Public Buildings Maintenance, the question on the vehicle expenses of $4,800 to the town carpenter was brought up. The $4,800 is for tool replacement and acquisition. This provision is included in the Association Agreement.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend that the mileage with regard to Article 1 remain at $ .40/mile for Article 1. VOTE: 7/0.
Roland Lavallee/Raymond Szczepan motion to recommend the following note under Article 1, Item 163, Registration:
"The Board of Registrars is authorized to appoint one of its members, excluding the Clerk, to serve as Census Updater and to pay said Registrar $10.00 per hour, not to exceed $1,000 of the total expense budget"
VOTE: 7/0.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend the Town Budget at $43,821,212. Funding: $20,559 from Title V Receipts and $43,800,653 from taxation. VOTE: 7/0. Please note that Gary Maynard abstained from the School Budget and Toni Picariello abstained from the Tax Title budget.
Article 2 – Trash Enterprise
The Trash contract will expire at the end of the 2010 fiscal year. The contract will be sent out to bid and the cost could go down.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend the Trash Enterprise budget at $1,529.761. Funding: Trash Enterprise Receipts. VOTE: 6/0/1 (Roland Lavallee abstained because his brother is involved with the trucking company.)
Article 3 – Water Enterprise
Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to recommend the Water Enterprise budget at $2,027,937. Funding: Water Enterprise Receipts. VOTE: 7/0.
Article 4 – Sewer Enterprise
Carol Dill/Henri Masson motion to recommend the Sewer Enterprise budget at $786,336. Funding: Sewer Enterprise Receipts. VOTE: 7/0.
Article 9 - Amend Article 1
Board of Health
$2,900.72 is requested to fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase) and step increase for 1 Clerk.
Public Buildings Maintenance
$1,185.00 is requested to fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase) for 1 person. This person also works for the School.
Raymond Szczepan/Joseph Collamati motion to recommend the above 2 budgets as written. Funding for both from Debt-Interest. VOTE: 7/0
Article 11 of the October 8, 2008 STM, Attorney General's Letter dated 1/27/2009. - Amend the Article at the next Town Meeting? (See Annual Report 2008, Page 56 & 57)
6. GENERAL DISCUSSION
Reserve Fund Transfer: $1,500 requested for Veteran's Services. This is for 2 veterans who are receiving benefits, which include living expenses.
Raymond Szczepan/Roland Lavallee motion to transfer $1,500 from the Reserve Fund to the Veteran's Services budget. VOTE: 7/0.
Denis Fraine will be attending the FinCom meeting at the end of June for an inter-department transfer for municipal buildings - $10,000-$15,000 will be needed for expenses.
The FinCom will meet on June 22, 2009.
A. Accept Minutes for April 27, 2009
Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to accept the April 27, 2009 minutes with corrections. VOTE: 7/0.
May 4, 2009 (Carol Dill)
Roland Lavallee/Raymond Szczepan motion to accept the May 4, 2009 minutes. VOTE: 6/0/1 (Carol Dill abstained because she was not at the meeting).
May 27, 2009 .
The FinCom will act on these minutes at a future meeting.
B. FinCom Clerk Stipend
Roland Lavallee/Raymond Szczepan motion to pay Clerk's stipend for February, March, April, May and June 2009 at $239.00 per month for a total of $1,195.00. VOTE 6/0/1 (Toni Picariello abstained since it is her stipend)
C. FinCom Expenses: Supplies, Alternative Printing
Expenses will be voted on at the next meeting. The invoice from Alternative Printing still has not been issues.
D. Toni Picariello reminded the committee members of the ATFC Annual Meeting on 10/24/2009 @ Tri-County Regional Voc. School, Franklin.
Adjourned: Raymond Szczepan/Roland Lavallee motion to adjourn. VOTE: 7/0. 8:30 p.m.
(Accepted September 14, 2009)
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