Advisory Committee Present: Terry Abdalian
February 4, 2014 Randy Dinjian
Bob Czekanski
Connie Benjamin
Brad Cote
Stacia Downey
Julie Costello
The Advisory Committee met at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
Abdalian stated that the Advisory Committee reviews each department’s budgets and capital requests and makes recommendations on all articles at Town Meeting.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Present: Nancy Federspiel, Lorraine Romasco and George King
The proposed FY2015 budget for the Nashoba Regional School District is $50,516,022, an increase of 3.72%. This is a level service budget. Bolton’s assessment would be $12,546,551, an increase of 4.83% or $577,873. The budget should be finalized and voted on at the 3/11/14 meeting.
TREE WARDEN (294)
Present: Mark Caisse
The budget requested for FY2015 is $47,345, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
TOWN BUILDINGS (190)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $36,850, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
TRAFFIC LIGHTS (293)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $2,700, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
HIGHWAY (421)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $764,589, an increase of 1.5% over FY2014 primarily due to step increases in wages and a new mower. The Advisory Committee asked them to look at the part-time EMT wages and report back. There were no changes made in the budget.
CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE (422)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $215,100, no increase over FY2014. The department requested that $5,000 in miscellaneous be removed from the FY2015 requested budget.
SNOW & ICE (423)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $180,000, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
STREET LIGHTING (424)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $6,750, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
TRANSFER STATION (433)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $180,265, an increase of 13.2% over FY2014 primarily due to a request for new containers. Trash disposal was decreased from $60,000 to $59,000, Recycling hauling was decreased from $18,000 to $16,000 and Equipment was decreased from $22,000 to $1,000 for a net decrease of $24,000. They will look into leasing containers as opposed to purchasing them.
LANDFILL (439)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $7,440, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
WATER (450)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $7,000, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
CEMETERY (491)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $8,000, no increase over FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
CELEBRATION/MEMORIAL DAY (692)
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
The budget requested for FY2015 is $1,300, a decrease of 65.8% over FY2014 primarily due to the software being purchased in FY2014. There were no changes made in the budget.
SNOW & ICE AUTHORIZATION TO OVERSPEND
Present: Harold Brown and Michelle O’Toole
On a motion by Czekanski and seconded by Cote, the Advisory Committee approved to allow the DPW to overspend the snow and ice budget by an additional $100,000. (Abdalian – yes, Dinjian – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Cote – yes, Downey – yes)
ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Other Business:
- Minutes had not been reviewed by all committee members. Abdalian stressed the importance of reviewing and approving the minutes on a timely basis.
- The Veterans’ benefits line item will be reduced to $12,000 from $14,500 based on the meeting between the Town Accountant and Veteran’s Agent.
- The Advisory Committee agreed to increase the motor vehicle excise estimate on local receipts from $710,000 to $800,000. Dinjian stated the committee will take responsibility for the estimate.
On a motion by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to adjourn at 10:23 p.m. (Abdalian – yes, Dinjian – yes, Czekanski – yes, Benjamin – yes, Cote – yes, Downey – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Julie Costello
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