Date of Meeting: Monday, April 7, 2008
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 7:00 PM –- 9:10 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
Financial warrants were signed in approval prior to the meeting.
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
6:40 PM
Jacques Personnel
Gary Jacques
Interviewing with Selectmen for possibility of his firm to conduct Town Administrator search.
· In business since 1983
· They design the process to fit the unique needs of the community
· The scope of their services includes resume review telephone interviews and assessment.
Candidates participate in a series of job tasks over a period of one to two days. A panel of trained assessors evaluates the candidates’ performances. Roger: How is that set up? Explain further. Gary: Typically, peer support interactions (e.g., Board of Selectmen interaction)such as budget preparation exercises, problem employees. Situations depend upon what is expected of the candidate.
Jim: What percentage of candidates comes from recruitment and what percentage from ads? Gary: Most are from ads or web sites. Jim: Does your price include all services? Gary: Yes. Except expenses for ads. Ken: Do you have any thoughts for potential candidates? Gary: Has a couple of names in mind, but it depends on your criteria and what the Town is looking for. Ken: What should the salary/benefit range be? Gary: Would review for this area.
Finance Committee FY’09 Budget Review (7:00 PM): (Present: Herb Cronin, Karen McGahie, Eric Brose)
Notify Assessors Line #141-5780 changed to $13,455 (reduce by $9,000) based on YTD use. Invite to come in next week to explain, if necessary.
Highway Department : Jim: What is the plan to fill three open positions? How long has the mechanic position been open? Don Parker: It was never filled. Jim: Foreman position? Don: Might be filled when operator position is filled. Jim: Reduce the foreman and mechanic positions to $25,000 each, so they’re only partial year (eight months of the fiscal year). Then the positions aren’t eliminated and attempted to put back later. Town Garage budget is over, due to heating oil, lights, etc.
Board of Health Budget: Jim: Landfill testing? Dennis: Seven-eight year series of testing, annually. Should be finished over the next few years. Jim: Can this be put out to bid for the balance? It’s truly a capital expense and is required. Dennis: Probably, but the final year might be very expensive. But we could put together a two to three-year plan. Over last year, and this year, BOH has encumbered funds. Jim: What if (Seven years at $7K) Special Article for $50,000 were requested? Then this could be taken out of the operating budget going forward. Dennis: Take it out of the budget? No, in case the Article doesn’t pass.
Parks and Recreation Department: Level-funded at $15,200
Library: (Nick Langhart and Sue Therriault present)
Less $500 for supplies and less $100 for postage and printing. Not all expenses are level-funded.
Jim: The Board understands fuel and electricity increases. Response: MBLL requires 20% of the total budget be spent on library collection materials in order to maintain certification. Ken: Can we reduce supplies by an additional $1,000, based on past year’s spending? Also, equipment repairs? Jim: Salaries – 3% increase – Shrewsbury 4.1% on finance sheet. If we still can’t fund everything and we need more cuts, might need to cut. Reduce to $57,100.
Police Chief: Ask to look at dispatch expenses.
Building Inspector: Jim: Level-fund to $5,400.
Fire Department:
· Change $15,329 to $12,000
· Still need to cut $92,462
· $5K from ambulance reserve fund toward a firefighter
· Want to show total salary, then subsidized ambulance fund amount, then bottom budget line.
Parks and Recreation ? Reduce funding to closer to previous year.
Warrant Draft: Capital Planning list: free cash start = $487K
Highway loader: Jim: Doesn’t feel it is prudent to put debt exclusion for loader on the ballot at the same time as an override for the school. It puts both at risk. Herb: The lease plan is an attractive option but it would need to be in the operating budget, or risk the free cash article being denied year to year.
Ken made a motion to put the override question on the ballot as proposed in draft warrant. All In Favor. Ken: Yes. Jim: Yes.
Motion made to adjourn; seconded. Voted All in Favor.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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