FINAL
FinCom Meeting Minutes – 3/11/13
Members present: J. Collamati (Chair), J. Allam, J. Cibelli, A. Elliott, R. Szczepan, K. Shkreli Absent. K. Quinn Guests: DPW Director D. DiMartino, CFO C. Laviolette, Town Moderator R. Singleton
Meeting called to order at 7PM by Chairman Collamati.
1) First order of business was to install Kenneth Shkreli, a local Bellingham businessman, as a new FinCom member.
2) DPW Director Don DiMartino reviewed his departmental budget requests and Annual Town Meeting (ATM) articles. Note: Revolving Fund budgets were deferred, to be discussed at a future time.
After discussion, the following DPW/Highway budget items were approved:
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Account: 421 Administrative ($126,217)
Account: 422 Maintenance ($690,336)
Account: 423 Snow Removal ($100,000)
Account :424 Lights ($160,000)
Account: 425 Highway ($115,000)
Account: 426 Gas ($189,420)
Approved as presented.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
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Account: 450 Water Operating Fund (Article 3 - $2,243,511)
Approved as presented.
Cibelli/Allam 6/0
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Account: 460 Sewer (Article 4 - $963,579)
Approved as presented.
Szczepan/Cibelli 6/0
After discussion, the following DPW-related ATM Articles were recommended:
Article 8 - Chapter 90 Spending in anticipation of $545,000 in State monies.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
Article 8 – Trash Enterprise Fund $1,531,682
Allam/Cibelli 5/0 (Szczepan recused)
3) Following discussion on each, the departmental budgets below were approved:
Account: 114 Town Moderator Dues & Subscriptions ($350)
HOLD 122 Board of Selectmen (further discussion to take place on 3/25/13)
Account 131 FinCom ($5,807)
Account 132 Reserve Fund - Emergency Funding ($100,000)
Account 135 Finance Department ($278,508)
Account 137 Assessor ($135,132)
Account 138 Treasurer ($109,675)
Account 139 Collector ($205,349)
Account 151 Counsel ($85,000)
Account 154 MIS ($302,251)
Account 156 Tax Title ($40,000)
Account 161 Town Clerk ($106,616)
Account 162 Elections ($42,175)
Account 163 Registrars ($11,500)
Account 171 Conservation ($43,608)
Account 172 Planning ($59,870)
Account 173 Zoning ($8,127)
Account 183 Disability($2,800)
HOLD 189 - Building Maintenance (held pending further discussion)
190 On-the-Job Injury ($15,000)
191 Workers’ Comp Agent ($6,000)
192 Sick Time Buy-Back ($25,000)
HOLD 193 – Liability Insurance (held pending further discussion)
194 Municipal Retirement (Option 1;non-teacher; $1,892,217)
195 Medicare ($340,000)
196 Printing of Annual Report ($3,000)
197 Occupational Health ($32,000)
198 Deductibles ($1,000)
199 Damages ($1)
Approved as presented.
Allam/Szczepan 6/0
HOLD 210 – Police Operating Budget
HOLD 220 – Fire Operating Budget
HOLD 251 - Inspector
252 Sealer -Weights & Measures ($2)
253 Plumbing ($32,157)
255 Electrical ($28,200)
292 Animal Control ($111,318)
294 Tree Warden ($30,826)
299 Auxiliary Police ($5,766)
Approved as presented.
Allam/Elliott 6/0
HOLD 302 BVT
HOLD 303 Transportation
HOLD 433 Waste
439 Landfill ($4,000)
491 Cemetery ($9,900)
Approved as presented.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
510 Board of Health ($110,852)
HOLD 541 COA
543 Veterans’ Agent ($26,250)
HOLD 549 Grave Agent
Approved as presented.
Cibelli/Szczepan 6/0
HOLD 610 Library
630 Parks ($148,578)
650 Historical Commission ($4,500)
651 Art ($7,500)
660 Memorial Day Parade ($12,000)
Approved as presented.
Allam/Elliott 6/0
HOLD 991 Unemployment Insurance
992 Group Insurance ($5,238,664)
NULL 996 (no budget)
997 ABS - Compensated Absence ($50,000)
Approve as presented.
Allam/Cibelli 6/0
4) Discussion took place on the following ATM Warrant Articles:
Article 5 – Conveyance/Easements
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
Article 6 – Surplus Equipment
The FinCom recommended this article, with $1 in funding from taxation.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
Article 7 – Right to Auction Properties for Non-Payment of Taxes
Allam/Elliott 6/0
5) CFO Chris Laviolette revisited a discussion that took place at the 3/11/13 meeting regarding deposit account policies vis-à-vis custodial risk.
Chris expressed his belief that DIF and SIF is sufficient and quoted specific history of bank failures resulting in no losses for the Town. Currently, all Town funds are deposited in local banks.
Mr. Laviolette further indicated that DIF and SIF protection appears to be standard procedure by towns in the Commonwealth. He indicated that legislation to require collateralization of municipal funds has been introduced repeatedly for the past 17 years, but no legislation has been forthcoming.
J. Allam noted that he would feel more comfortable investing Town deposits in 30, 60, 90-day Treasury Notes. Mr. Allam further recommended that an investment advisor be consulted by the Town to advise with risk minimization.
The discussion will be escalated to the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator. Mr. Allam will be invited to present his concerns to the Board of Selectmen.
6) Old Business
Minutes of the 2/25/13 FinCom meeting were reviewed and approved.
R. Szczepan/J. Allam 5/0 (Mr. Shkreli was not yet a member on 2/25/13)
7) New Business
No new business at this time.
8) Adjournment
Having no new business, a motion was made to adjourn.
R. Szczepan/J. Allam 6/0
Meeting was adjourned at 8:58PM. Next meeting is scheduled for 3/25/13 at 7PM in the Arcand Room at the Bellingham Municipal Center. It will be a joint meeting with the Capital Improvements Committee (CIC).
Proposed future meeting schedule leading up to the ATM:
4/8/13 – invitees: COA, Library Board of Trustees, Building Inspector; presentation on Debt Principle/Interest and Unemployment Insurance by
C. Laviolette.
4/15/13 – invitees: Bellingham School Committee, BVT Liaison, Grave Agent.
4/22/13 – invitees: Fire Chief, Board of Selectmen, private citizen (regarding Solicitation Article on ATM Warrant; unpaid bills.
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