FinCom & Board of Selectmen FY2015 Budget Hearing Minutes February 6, 2014
Present: FinCom: Bruce Golden, Riggs Parker, Linda Coutinho and James Malkin.
Frank Yeomans, Alan Porter & Marshall Carroll absent. Selectmen: Warren Doty,
Jonathan Mayhew, Bill Rossi. Others: Tim Carroll, Ellen Biskis, Melanie Becker,
Diana DeBlase, Don Hatch, John Flender, Rodney Bunker and Seth Karlinsky,
At 7:00 PM acting chairman Bruce Golden called meeting to order in the Selectmen’s meeting room.
Waste Collection #430:
Martha’s Vineyard Refuse District director Don Hatch presented the MVRD FY15 proposed budget. Mr. Hatch said that the fees to the public have remained the same for years and there are no changes to fees for FY15. Mr. Hatch did say that there is a change on the horizon; August 2016 the contract with SEAMASS (the incinerator plant on mainland) will be up for renewal and the fee per tonnage will be going down from $111.00 per ton to an estimated $55.00 per ton.
The MVRD budget for FY15 will be $530.27 less than FY14.
Cemetery #491:
Chairman of the Cemetery Commission John Flender presented the cemetery FY15 proposed budget. The following are the proposed changes to the budget compared to FY14:
Line # 5136 Cemetery Superintendent up step and COLA increase of $93.96
Line # 5241 Buildings / Grounds Maintenance to increase $1,800.00 with a total of $14,300.00.Mr. Flender explained this line is used for mowing the cemetery.
Funds for Advertising, Postage, Facilities Maintenance Supplies, Mileage Allowance, Additional Equipment and Replacement Equipment will be removed.
The final budget is up $908.96 with a total budget of $21,963.18 (4.32 %).
Mr. Doty asked if there was an unused warrant article the town could sunset. Mr. Flender said there was $3,400.00 unused warrant article that can be sent back to the town. Mr. Doty said that will be done.
Discussion turned to how many plots are still available, cemetery expansion capabilities and fees for plots. Mr. Rossi said that the abutting property owners are only interested in selling at retail value. Mr. Rossi said he thought the retail was too much for the town to purchase for cemetery plots.
Mr. Flender said that the plot fees are low and recommended increasing the cost over a few years. Mr. Flender estimated approximately 40 plots available in the plotted area with more land still not surveyed yet. Mr. Flender said most lots are sold to summer residents.
Mr. Doty asked if there was an electronic copy of the cemetery lot owners that could be available for record. Mr. Flender said he has that on his computer at home and a copy is with the Town Clerk.
Comfort Station #199:
Mr. Carroll said that the Comfort Station is maintained by a town contract. Mr. Karlinsky has been our provider for this contract for the past 3 years. Mrs. Biskis said she believed this contract is up for renewal and will go out to bid for FY15.
Seth Karlinsky reported on this past summer history at the Comfort Station and Menemsha cleaning in detail. Mr. Karlinsky said he cleans up and empties garbage receptacles from the beach, to West Dock. He reported this summer as of July 4th weekend the weather was exceptionally nice bringing up to 200 people an hour using the Comfort Station facilities. The garbage runs were up to 9-10 runs per day.
Mr. Parker asked how much of the trash is from the retail establishments on the bulkhead. Mr. Karlinsky said it’s hard to say precisely but he figured 50% tourist drive up and boaters and 50% retail stores including others not directly on the bulkhead. Mr. Karlinsky said the retail establishments do supply and maintain their own garbage containers beside their stores.
Mr. Parker said that the Town leases on the waterfront are ridiculously low and would like to see some of the cost of garbage cleanup be included in the lease fees.
Mr. Doty said Mr. Karlinsy has maintained the Menemsha area very well and asked him if he had any recommendations to make. Mr. Karlinsky said he would recommend easing the comfort station congestion by adding a few port-a-potties near the beach on the dunes side. Mr. Karlinsky said this could ease the foot traffic that currently goes through the busy parking lot too. Mr. Karlinsky said If the board did not favor the port-a-potties, there should be serious thought about adding waterless urinals and a forth stall in the woman’s room.
Mr. Rossi suggested a designated path for foot traffic to and from the Comfort Station along the dune side rather than port-a-potties.
Mr. Karlinsky suggested starting to update the Comfort Station’s interior; wall panels, toilets…
Mr. Doty thanked Mr. Karlinsky for his suggestions and good work in Menemsha.
Town Office #192:
Executive Secretary Tim Carroll presented the Town Office FY15 proposed budget. Mr. Carroll said there is a general increase to the electric, heating, and pumpouts. The big increase was
Line # 5306 Advertising: increased by $1,100.00 with a total of $1,500.00
Mr. Carroll said this was due to MV Times raising our agreement to what they charge all other towns. In the past we had an agreement that was considerably lower than the fee now.
The total increase to this budget is $1,654.40 (1.07%) with a total budget of $156,979.82.
Rodney Bunker discussed some of the challenges he has had with the air exchanger heating / cooling system this year and said some improvements need to be made.
Discussion turned to articles for repairs and updates to the Town Hall building. The front of the building needs repainting but it has to be de-leaded first. This will increase the cost considerably.
Mr. Doty said that the daily maintenance that Mr. Bunker provides to the town buildings is very good.
Community Center #194:
Town Custodian Rodney Bunker said the immediate improvements planned for the Community Center are to screw down the floor and lay a plastic seal down on the ground and remove the disused ductwork that is under the building. Then monitoring the moisture levels under the floor
Mr. Parker asked if anyone has tried to bore down under the CCC to see what might be causing the moister. Mr. Bunker said most likely ground water. Mr. Doty said Kent Healy said there is not an obvious answer to the moister problem and that is why we will collect data for 12 months.
Town Buildings #198:
Town Custodian Rodney Bunker and Executive Secretary Tim Carroll presented the Town Buildings FY15 proposed budget. Mr. Carroll said the only change is Line # 5210 library electricity will increase by $1,000.00 with a total of $11,000. The total proposed budget for town buildings is $20,200.00 (up 5.21%)
Mr. Bunker discussed proposed warrant articles for repairs and painting town buildings.
Mrs. Coutinho recommended looking into using CPC funds to fund the repairs to the police department building bell tower. Mr. Doty thanked Mr. Bunker for his continued effort in the upkeep of our town buildings.
Selectmen’s Unclassified # 196:
Executive Secretary Tim Carroll proposed a new line: Departmental Reserve. Mr. Carroll said this line would be $10,000.00 and would include collective contingencies of:
Dog Officer Medical Services $250.00
Dog Officer boarding costs $250.00
Waste Collection- Engineering Service $ 2,500.00
Waste Collection- Inspections $5,000.00
Emergency Management # 291:
Emergency Management Director Tim Carroll presented the Emergency Management FY15 proposed budget. There are no changes to this budget; the total budget would remain at $5,150.00.
Mr. Parker moved to start the February 11, 2014 FinCom hearing half an hour earlier to review the liability coverage to the town and hear the Highway and Snow and Ice department budget that did not happen tonight. Mr. Malkin seconded the meeting to start at 6:30 PM February 11, 2014. SO VOTED: 4 Ayes FinCom, 3 Ayes BOS
At 9:12 PM Mr. Malkin moved to adjourn, Mr. Parker seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 4 Ayes FinCom, 3 Ayes BOS
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase. Approved 2/12/14
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