Bellingham Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
October 28, 2013
Finance Committee Members Present: J. Collamati, J. Allam, J. Cibelli, R. Szczepan
Finance Committee Members Absent: 2 vacancies (see below)
Also present: C. Laviolette, CFO, R. Oakley, R. Lavallee
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Collamati.
A brief discussion regarding completion of the new turf sports field took place. J. Cibelli was the only FinCom member present at the opening festivities, and reported that the opening ceremonies were “very nice”.
A proposal for a Permanent Building Committee was reviewed. This committee would preside over the construction of any municipal or school building in town. A new bylaw governing the committee would be based on existing bylaws implemented in the towns of Medfield, Walpole and Weston. The question of a stipend for committee members will be discussed at a later date. A letter to the Board of Selectmen encouraging the formation of said committee will be drafted by FinCom Chair Collamati and CIC Chair Lavallee.
A motion was made to recommend, to the Board of Selectmen, the formation of a Bellingham Permanent Building Committee consisting of 5 members, each serving 3-year terms.
Szczepan/Allam 4/0
CFO, C. Laviolette reported that balance in the General Reserve Fund was $47,286,619.68 at the end of FY2013. An audit is currently being conducted by an outside firm, and a draft copy is expected sometime in December.
Mr. Laviolette also announced:
- FY2015 budgets will be zero-based.
Of the $15.8 million dollars allocated for the Water Treatment Facility, $600,000 has been expended for engineering; borrowing for this project will be done in two stages (construction loans).
R. Oakley reported that the roof at the South School, and insulation at the high school would be worked on in FY2015 at an estimated cost of $1,000,000. Preliminary consideration was given to borrowing from the Capital Improvements Trust Fund.
There was a review of FinCom’s FY2014 budget and expenditures thus far. Keeping zero-based budgeting in mind, 2014 line items were scrutinized and a budget figure for FY2015 was formulated. The total FinCom budget for FY2015 will be $5625, plus any stipend increase in accordance with town wide trend.
A motion to amend FY2015 FinCom budget down to $5625 (plus any stipend increase in accordance with town wide trend) was put forth.
Szczepan/Allam 4/0
Minutes for 9/23/13, 9/30/13 and 10/9/13 were reviewed.
A motion was made to approve 9/23/13 minutes as written.
Szczepan/Allam 4/0
A motion was made to approve 9/30/13 minutes as written.
Szczepan/Allam 4/0
A motion was made to approve 10/9/13 minutes with minor changes.
Szczepan/Cibelli 3/1 abstention (J. Allam was not present at 10/9/13 meeting.)
A motion was made to assign a member of FinCom to the School Advisory Board.
Allam/Cibelli 4/0
Chairman Collamati announced that Town Moderator Singleton had received letters of resignation from two FinCom members: Kenneth Shkreli and Gary Young, effective 10/23/13. Two positions will be advertised on the Town website.
Next FinCom meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 28, 2013, pending submission of agenda items.
CIC members were reminded that the next CIC meeting will be held on November 12, 2013.
At 7:55 PM, having satisfied the full agenda, a motion was made to adjourn.
Szczepan/Allam 4/0
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Larry Sposato, FinCom Clerk
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