Joint Meeting of Chilmark Finance Advisory Committee
and The Board of Selectman
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Present for the Finance Advisory Committee:
Marshall Carroll, Chairman, Frank Yeomans, William Randol, Frank LoRusso, John Maloney and Richard Williams.
The Selectmen attending: Frank Fenner, J.B. Riggs Parker and Warren Doty.
Others in attendance: Tim Carroll, Executive Secretary, Melanie Becker, Treasurer, Nina Lombardi, Acting Accountant and Todd Christy, Recording Secretary
Call To Order
Marshall Carroll called for a vote to elect a chairman of the Finance Advisory Committee. A motion was made and seconded and unanimously approved to re-elect Marshall Carroll as chair. Mr. M. Carroll called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
November 25, 2009:
Minutes postponed until January 13, 2010
December 4, 2009:
Minutes postponed until January 13, 2010
Review of Budgets: Hearing # 1: Health Insurance and COLA
Health Insurance: Options and Costs:
Ms. Becker was present for discussion concerning Town Health Care Benefits for employees and retirees. Mr. Yeomans of the Finance Committee handed out a detailed list of available programs to employees with varied costs and benefits. The list defined the various Health Care Programs and their individual benefits to employees and their families. The discussion centered around the most expensive health care program currently offered in town, Blue Cross Blue Shield Master Medical, which is currently being used by two town retirees. The Town of Chilmark currently pays 75% of employee’s health care plans. The question was whether or not to continue to offer such an expensive program that has limited benefits to the employees and was it more administrative work for the Town to offer so many plans? The Town could offer an
incentive to former employees to leave BCBSMM and go with a less expensive plan that would have a greater benefit to both the employee and the Town.
>Motion was made to recommend to the Selectmen to not offer Blue Cross Blue Shield Master Medical as of July 1, 2010 and grandfather two current recipients.
There was further discussion concerning incentives to former employees to change plans. It was suggested that the Committee vote to request the Selectmen to discontinue BCBSMM.
>Motion was made to not offer Blue Cross Blue Shield Master Medical. That motion was seconded and brought to a vote. The vote was unanimous.
Employee Cost of Living:
0% COLA is recommended by the Formula. There was some discussion as to how the formula is derived, including the fact that Chilmark did not follow that recommendation in FY10 COLA.
>The motion was made to offer 2.8% COLA. That motion was seconded and brought to a vote. 2 in favor, 4 opposed.
After more discussion concerning the process used in FY10; that recommended COLA was twice what was offered to town employees. It was suggested that the cost of living has gone down nationally and at one point may have been in the negative numbers.
>The motion was made for 0% COLA. That motion was seconded and brought to a vote. The motion passed 2 opposed, 4 in favor.
(It was noted that this recommendation can be altered on Town Meeting floor, but that is at the Town moderator’s discretion.)
Special requests for Reports in Budget Book:
It was noted that the Harbor and Beach committee do not have their budgets in at this time. There was a brief discussion concerning Town Departments getting their budgets in on time or penalties could be considered.
Executive Secretary noted that the summary page, including the past 10 years could be included in the budget books, but it appears as though only the past 2 years will be included.
Budget Book:
Budget Books will be available to all joint committee members as of Friday, January 8, 2010 by 5 pm.
Administration
-Next Joint FinCom and Selectmen’s Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday January 13, 2010 at 6 p.m.
With no further business to discuss, Mr. M.Carroll adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Todd Christy, Recording Secretary.
Approved February 3, 2010.
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