Advisory Committee Present: Randy Dinjian
February 3, 2011 Bob Czekanski
Connie Benjamin
Terry Abdalian
Mike Zelenkov
Naveen Rohatgi
Linda Day, Town Secretary
The Advisory Committee met at the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Present: David Lindsay, member of the Board of Selectmen
PARKS/RECREATION COMMISSION
The Advisory Committee reviewed the FY12 budget for the Parks and Recreation Departments with Mr. Wildman and Ms. Regan, members of the Park and Recreation Commission.
Recreation: The Parks and Recreation Commission are a revenue generating entity with all fees for swimming lessons, beach permits and other programs being returned to the general fund. Last year the Commission brought in approximately $10,000 in revenue. The wages line item for the lifeguards is budgeted at $5,911 and represents an increase from the previous year for lifeguard coverage at the town beach directly following the close of school for the summer. The proposed purchase of service line item is budgeted at $8,100 and assumes a 90% enrollment rate for the swimming lessons program that runs from July 1st to the end of August. The swim instructor is paid 50% of the fees collected for the swim lessons program. The equipment line item is budgeted at $4,100 and will
be used for the purchase of a lifeguard chair and emergency phone. This line item also includes funds to replace two or three rotting park benches per year. The supplies line item covers the expenses for the various events sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Commission including the Halloween parade, Memorial Day and July 4th celebrations.
The Commission is exploring a fee schedule for use of the town fields.
Parks: The purchase of service line item covers the costs for the required porta-potties at the town beach and fields.
The Commission is looking at automating the registration for the swim lessons program. If the funds were available they would like to do some clean up at the town beach and clean up and renovate Person’s Park. Another area that will require some repairs in the near future is the playground at Memorial field.
The Advisory Committee did not make any revisions to the proposed budgets.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
This budget review was postponed.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Advisory Committee reviewed the FY12 budget with Mr. Lord, Chairman of the Conservation Commission and Ms. Gumbart, Conservation Commission Administrator
The purchase of service line item was budgeted at $6,600 and represented a $2,000 increase over FY11 for the quarterly inspections for the Fyfeshire dam that have been mandated by the State. The Advisory Committee recommended that this line item be level funded and if it was determined that the cost of the inspections was higher than expected the Advisory Committee would be in favor of a transfer from the reserve fund.
There is approximately $30,000 in the Conservation Fund and the Commission has requested $2,500 for FY12. In the past, this fund has been spent on appraisals and land purchases. The Commission has submitted an article for the Annual Town Meeting on May 2, 2011 for the purchase of land. To be eligible for State grants the Conservation Commission could be required to do at least two or three appraisals which could cost approximately $1,000 per appraisal. Mr. Dinjian recommended that the language of the article be revised to include the cost of the appraisals.
The following revisions were made to the Conservation Commission budget with the understanding that the Commission could return to the Committee for a reserve fund transfer if one were necessary:
Baseline level funded budget: Purchase of Services $6,600 to $4,600
Supplies $500 to 400
Miscellaneous $200 to $0.00
Conservation Fund $2,500 to $100
3% department reduction budget: Purchase of Services $6,600 to $4,600
Supplies $500 to$400
Miscellaneous $200 to $0.00
NASHOBA REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET
Mr. Lindsay reported encouraging news as a result of attending the School Committee meeting this evening. The overall budget for Nashoba is 2.12% with Bolton’s assessment being 2.01% or an estimated $223,000.
They have identified 9 full time positions to eliminate and propose creating nine new full time positions at a lesser rate of pay. This net savings would be approximately $136,000.
SNOW AND ICE
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to
authorize Mr. Brown to overspend an additional $100,00 over the $180,000 in the snow and ice budget. (Dinjian – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Abdalian – yes, Rohatgi – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
On a motion made by Abdalian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee adjourned at 9:30 p.m. (Dinjian – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Abdalian – yes, Rohatgi – yes, Zelenkov – yes,)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day
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