Date of Meeting: Monday, June 9, 2008
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:39 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Ken Sydow, Roger Deal
Others Present: Suzanne Olsen, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; others as listed on sign-in sheet
Meeting convened at 6:50 PM.
Appointments – voted All in Favor.
ADA
Board of Registrars
Council on Aging
Earth Removal Board (A. Gibree)
Historical Committee
Senior Tax Rebate Committee
Town House Committee
Finance Committee/Budget Meeting
Jim: the Regional School Committee reduced its FY’09 budget requirement to $6,753,299, resulting in Boylston’s assessment at $3,140,603. That still leaves a deficit of approximately $300K. Jim has had several meetings with the Superintendent in the past week. The School Committee rejected a series of cuts proposed by Dr. Connelly, including using $150-$180K of E &D account money to help reduce the Boylston assessment. If so, that would leave $150-$200K short. The Superintendent proposed part by School, part by Municipal cuts. The Board of Selectmen can either accept or reject. Jim thinks there’s another alternative: go back through Municipal budgets and made cuts recommended by the Superintendent, which brings school budget into balance. Offer vote at Town Meeting to accept that budget of what School Committee presented (can’t support with Town revenue). Would like Finance Committee recommendation and thoughts. Results in two percent Municipal budget cuts.
Karen McGahie: is this in addition to cuts for previous $110K? (For one half of Vocational Ed budget.) Sue: No.
Eric Brose: tried to come to consensus prior to Annual Town Meeting. Superintendent was fair and reasonable in budget. Town budgets already cut, so it will be difficult, since we’re already working “lean.” But it does make sense. No longer cutting to a reasonable budget, we’re cutting into the budget.
Jim: if we give two budgets, it gives an opportunity for the Town to vote and have alternatives to resolve the issue. The meeting is posted for Wednesday evening to vote on final June 30 warrant then.
One glaring thing in last week’s meeting was different language being used,- becomes confusing (e.g., level-funding versus level service). Would like Board of Selectmen to form a Revenue Study Committee (short-term); various representatives (Town Accountant, Town Administrator, Finance Committee, etc.)
Briefly report on historical revenue (to 2002)
Briefly report on how revenues distributed among departments
Establish common terms to be used throughout all departments
Projected revenue flaw (FY’10 – FY’13).
ID revenue gaps in funding versus needs (to level-service Town departments going forward.
September/October time frame.
Follow example of Shrewsbury…override vote prior to Annual Meeting, before budget defined. Then work based on Townspeople vote.
Eric: agrees it’s a great idea.
Jim: asking Board of Selectmen (1) decide if going with two budgets on Special Town Meeting warrant or decide alternative; (2) endorse and establish Revenue Study Committee
Ken: would support Study Committee – logical way to bring issues to light for voters. Opportunity for Special Meeting prior to Annual Town Meeting would give people knowledge.
Roger: concerned Regional School Committee would not accept recommendations from their own Superintendent.
Larry Brenner (School Committee): other people on the school administrative staff couldn’t support this.
Bill Filsinger: stated he was at the meeting. The first thing the Superintendent said before proposing cuts was “these are the least painful cuts to make but administration doesn’t support them.”
Jim: the Superintendent recommended cuts on his own. The Town also made several cuts. Nobody wants to make them, but the budget needs to be balanced. Trying to make something that’s painful as painless as possible.
Dave Butler: the right approach is for the schools and the Town to “share the pain.” The override failed, so everyone, including the School Committee, needs to make cuts.
Eric: The taxpayers are concerned about the permanency of a 2½ override and want to avoid it at all possible costs.
Carolyn Zagame: Said she was at the last School Committee meeting and some members didn’t seem to be on the same page; the towns were divided. One comment, made by a member, was “you people in Boylston should have passed the override.” She felt as thought they wanted to take it to a Regional Town Meeting. Cooperation seemed to be lacking at that School Committee meeting. They don’t seem to have the best interests of the kids in mind and are not on the same page.
Jim: Some communities are not at their levy limit so they can raise taxes/money without an override. Boylston is already at its levy limit, so an override is the only option to raise taxes.
Maria Zammitti: Berlin is also saying they feel like Boylston put a band-aid on the situation with free cash. They are also concerned about losing their kids to school choice due to repeated cuts.
Jim: Boylston’s Tahanto budget increased by 6.9%. Berlin has the mall, large revenue payments and tax base. Boylston doesn’t have that.
Renee Moller: We are losing kids due to cuts and added fees. She’s frustrated that the override ddn’t pass, but the Special Education Director, Judith Vaillancourt, received an 11% pay increase. As a citizen, she’s frustrated with cuts while these raises happen.
Letty Ridinger: If the School Committee doesn’t agree with the Superintendent’s cuts, the community should still go forward with his recommendations.
Barb Zaleski: Faculty is also frustrated.
Letty: If the School needs to use money, they use it as they wish?
Jim: If we were not part of the Regional School system, this would not be an issue and the Town budget must be accepted as voted at the Annual Town Meeting. But, since we are with the Regional District, the Regional School Committee has 30 days to respond to the Town vote and re-present the same or a new budget request. The Town then has 45 days to call a Special Town Meeting. After that Town Meeting, the Regional School Committee has the option to accept the budget. If not, they can call a joint town meeting where both towns vote. However it is voted, the towns are required to fund that jointly-voted budget. If nothing is agreed to, the state sets the budget as of December 1. If a region has more than two towns involved, then it is a majority vote of the towns.
Maria Z: Total deficit?
Jim: Approximately $250-280K, based on a conversation with the Superintendent.
Karen Carter: $261,960 according to her notes (total assessment).
Jim: Boylston’s portion is about $160K. The Superintendent suggested that amount be cut by the municipality and school together.
Karen: Suggests committee state reasons why money is delegated to departments, historically.
Sue T: What will happen between now and June 30?
Jim: Between now and Wednesday, June 11, we need to look through the budgets to find cuts. On Wednesday they will vote to approve the warrant. A question could also be addressed to the Regional School Committee as to whether or not they accept the budget after June 30.
Roger: The ball is in their court.
Stephen: We will need to confirm that both alternatives can be presented.
Budget -- Sue Olsen proposed budget cuts totaling $225,101.
Ken: Is Sue retiring June 30 as full-time Administrator?
Jim: Proposes that on June 23, they see what July schedule looks like
Ken: Also put in the number of hours per week required. Should be done on a monthly basis.
Reviewed: Jim proposed some changes:
$5K out of reserve fund (from $900)
+ $23,000 Regional Assessment Fund
Ken: Regarding Mosquito Control: If the Board of Health recommends we cut this, then the Board of Selectmen would support it; it should not come from the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Health should make the recommendation. Roger agrees.
Jim (to Sue): Given the state of the economy, can we look at building services and cut hours from five days to four days? Or leave at five days and take clerical services away.
Town Administrator’s Report –
- Agreed to MIIA General Insurance bid. Ken made a motion to accept the Town Administrator’s recommendation. Motion seconded, voted All in Favor.
- Earth Removal Board needs to reorganize. Jim (to Sue): Ask Dennis to coordinate a meeting. Give him background information; resolve ASAP.
- Capital Investment Overseer Committee: Sue recommends it be formed to assist Treasurer.
TIF Committee: Roger made a motion to appoint the Board of Selectmen as the TIF Committee; motion seconded, voted All in Favor.
Warrant Draft:
Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal:
Ken asked if all sidewalks in Town plowed. Sue said no, just some sidewalks. He would like to have Don come in Wednesday (June 11) to discuss sidewalk maintenance.
Stephen Madaus noted it’s viewed as discretionary function.
Jim asked what the cost would be to do just the accepted roads; or just Route 70.
Roger noted not all residents are capable of clearing sidewalks in front of their homes.
School Superintendent --
- Reviewed tonight’s School Committee meeting.
- Elementary reduced $175,699 if items voted.
- Regional: items 7 and 8 approved tonight. The Teacher’s Union voted to support increased co-pay (from $5/$25 to $15/$50).
- Additional anticipated changes to save $18K, based on pending changes.
- $194,821 – Regional budget reduced (additional $43K). $133,647 – Boylston’s assessment reduced.
- Jim clarified -- numbers not the same as they spoke of last week. After E & D funds are used, a $154K gap exists. Thought $50K from each, plus Assabet tuition. Joe Connelly: The School Committee did not approve $157K use of E & D account.
- Jim: Municipal is to find $110K toward vocational education and part of $154K deficit (approximately $70K).
- The Warrant need to be finalized Wednesday night. Need Regional Committee vote on budget.
- Stephen: The assessment letter needs to be amended.
- Ken asked if E & D account at a maximum. Joe: No, well under five percent minimum allowance. Money used to pay for textbooks ($73K) and also to balance some other expenses. $157K balance left in E & D account after spending. Jim understood balance was over the five percent allowance.
John Roy email to Jim: $352,799 in E & D.
Maximum amount allowed -- $321,776.
Excess E & D -- $31,023, to be distributed to Boylston and Berlin ($21,847 to Boylston)
Also, Special Ed prepaid (will get it back next year). $74K applied to 2009 textbooks.
$81K plus $157K equals balance in E & D.
- Jim asked for a copy of year-to-date expended funds.
Ken made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded; voted All in Favor.
Meeting adjourned at 9:39 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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