Chilmark FinCom & Selectmen FY2016 Budget Hearing
February 12, 2015 Joint Meeting Minutes
FinCom Present: Chairman Marshall Carroll, Frank Yeomans, Jim Malkin, Vicky Divoll,
Linda Coutinho, Bruce Golden and Susan Murphy.
Selectmen Present: Chairman Bill Rossi, Warren Doty, Jonathan Mayhew was not present
Ellen Biskis, Melanie Becker, Diana DeBlase, Jennifer Christy, Richard Osnoss and Jessica Bradlee.
At 6:00 PM Chairman Carroll called meeting to order in the Selectmen’s meeting room.
Chairman Carroll recommended postponing the minutes to later and started with Planning Board budget since they (Ms. Christy & Mr. Osnoss) were ready.
#175 Planning Board:
Administrative Assistant Jennifer Christy and Chairman Osnoss presented the proposed Planning Board budget for FY16. Chairman Carroll said this position was also re-graded this year bringing the salaries line up but the rest of this budget is level funded.
Mr. Doty referred to the legal line 5305 and asked for a brief explanation of how they use this budget line. Mr. Osnoss gave a description. Legal counsel policy was discussed. Ms. DeBlase referred to the legal cost analysis Ms. Christy prepared that can be referenced to help explain the expenses since 2009.
Mr. Osnoss said there are 2 positions vacant on the Planning Board and asked if the Board and Committee members here tonight could help to recruit new members. Mr. Osnoss said the budget line 5303 for Professional Development is available for new members, to attend the Citizen Planners Training Collaborative which is given each year at Holy Cross College. Mr. Osnoss said he attended when he joined the board over 12 years ago and found the training very valuable.
Mr. Osnoss said that Ms. Christy’s professionalism and continued assistance for the Planning Board is invaluable and said having Ms. Christy as our Admin. Asst. makes him want to continue on the board.
#161 Town Clerk:
Town Clerk Jennifer Christy presented her proposed FY16 Town Clerk budget.
Chairman Carroll said this position was also re-graded this year bringing the salaries line up 7.28%. Ms. Christy said the Clerk Expenses are level funded. Ms. Christy reorganized some line items but the total cost remains level. Ms. Christy spoke about the election costs and also about the election workers.
Ms. Christy asked if anyone had any questions about the budget. Mr. Malkin said he had concerns about the wooden ballot box that the town uses and asked if there was a contingency if it were to break.
#161 Town Clerk Continued…
Ms. Christy explained she has a second identical antique ballot box she will use if needed for replacement parts and has contacted Brian Cioffi to do some woodworking repairs to the existing ballot box.
Ms. Christy said that Mr. Cioffi has also offered to make a small 1/3 size ballot box for the secret ballots “Australian Ballots” when needed. Mr. Doty said that smaller box could also be utilized for when we have Home Site lotteries in the future.
Mr. Malkin said “for the record in Australia it is called a Massachusetts Ballot, because the first official secret ballot was held in Massachusetts.”
#699 Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council (MVCC):
Ms. Christy also presented the budget for the MVCC. She is the Chilmark representative on the MVCC board. Chairman Carroll said the budget is unchanged at $2,500.00. Ms. Christy explained that this had been a record year for grant applications. Ms. Christy said $2,500.00 was awarded to Chilmark applicants. Ms. Christy said there have been science applications this year not just the arts. Chairman Carroll thanked Ms. Christy for her presentation.
6:25 PM Tim Carroll, Clarissa Allen, Pam Bunker arrived.
#146 Tax Collector:
Chilmark Tax Collector Jessica Bradlee presented her proposed department budget for FY16.
Software Maintenance / license line increase of $472.50 because the contract with Zobrio increased. Ms. Biskis said the intention of having the screen and projector was to be able to project the changes when necessary and apologized that the figures that Ms. Bradlee proposed did not get put into the budget numbers we have in our books. Ms. Bradlee made the following changes in her budget:
- Subtracted line 5303 by $100.00 leaving a total in the line of $900.00.
- Line 5306 increased by $70.00 with a total of $150.00
- Line 5582 Computer supplies increased by $25.00 with total of $225.00
- Line 5730 Dues & Memberships increased by $5.00 with total of $65.00
Mr. Doty asked about the revenues line 4140 Tax Liens. Ms. Biskis has put this into Collectors budget but it is Treasurer’s office revenue. This line is for properties that are in arrears with tax payments. Ms. Bradlee discussed how the collections of tax revenue with the new system have been going. This year will have a different time table because the tax rate has not been set yet. Ms. Bradlee said 30 days after the bill is mailed is when they will be due but she cannot say when at this time.
Assistant Assessor Pam Bunker said she estimates that the tax rate will be set March 20, 2015 and bills would be due May 1, 2015.
Chairman Carroll thanked Ms. Bradlee for her presentation.
#141 Assessors:Clarissa Allen, Elizabeth Oliver and Pam Bunker were present for the Proposed FY16 budget for Assessors. Ms. Bunker spoke about the change that the Board of Assessors are bringing to Chilmark this year (within 90 days).
#141 Assessors Continued…
The assessed values will be available on line on our web page managed by P K Appraisers. With this change comes an increase to the Software Maintenance / License 5248 budget line of $2,551.00 with a total of $16,945.50. Another increase will be for the Mapping Services line 5313 of $400.00 bringing the total to $1,200.00. Discussion ensued about the process to have this program completed.
#131 FinCom:
Tim Carroll said that the budget line 5420 Office Supplies should be increased $200.00 with a total of $400.00. That brings the total for the entire budget to $550.00. There was discussion about the budget book and the presentations from department heads and improvements to implement for the future budget hearings.
#241 Building Inspector:
Leonard Jason Jr. presented the proposed budget for FY16. The budget line 5710 In State Travel increased $125.00 for a total of $200.00 and budget line 5303 Professional Development increased $300.00 for total of $800.00. Mr. Jason said he recommends these increases to cover training and travel to keep our inspector (George Apostolides) updated in state requirements. Extensive discussion ensued. FinCom members recommended that since the Gas and Plumbing inspector is a subcontractor he should pay for his own expenses to be qualified for the job.
Mr. Jason recommended increasing the permit fees to $50.00 across the board for electrical, gas and plumbing for July 1, 2015 this increase should cover the increase for travel and training. Mr. Jason said that the inspector should then get paid $70.00 per inspection up from the $65.00 that he is paid now.
Tim Carroll said that there will have to be a public hearing prior to implementing, but for the purpose of this budget Mr. Carroll said to put $500.00 into the salary line for the Gas & Plumbing inspector ($250.00 in each)
After much discussion Salaries lines 5147 & 5148 were recommended to increase by $250.00 each. The earlier additions to lines 5710 & 5303 were struck (no longer recommended).
#135 Accountant:
Town Accountant Ellen Biskis presented her proposed budget for FY16.
Ms. Biskis said this position was also re-graded this year bringing the salaries line up 7.27%. Ms. Biskis recommended decreasing line 5420 by $25.00 with balance of $50.00. Increasing line 5248 Software & Maintenance / license by $622.00 with a total of $5,518.00
Ms. Biskis discussed the need for electronic feed of revenues and information. Ms. Biskis had hoped we would have cashbook software in place and if we don’t her need for a part time data entry employee. Ms. Biskis said this is for discussion purposes. Discussion ensued.
#136 Audit:
Ms. Biskis recommended a different auditor to benefit our process. The company we have used has done a fine job but recommends changing in principal.
#910 Employee Benefits:
Treasurer Melanie Becker said at the latest Cape Cod Municipal Health Group it was voted that the health insurance premiums will go up 10%.
There was discussion about OPEB (other post-employment benefits), unemployment and loss prevention courses.
At 8:52 PM Mr. Doty moved to adjourn. Mr. Malkin seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: FinCom 7 Ayes Selectmen: 2 Ayes 1 not present.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase. Approved 03/17/15
| 