Chilmark FinCom & Selectmen FY2016 Budget Hearing March 17, 2015
Joint Meeting Minutes
FinCom Present:, Frank Yeomans, Jim Malkin, Linda Coutinho, and Susan Murphy. Chairman Marshall Carroll, Vicky Divoll, Bruce Golden were not present
Selectmen Present: Chairman Bill Rossi, Jonathan Mayhew, Warren Doty.
Others: Tim Carroll, Melanie Becker, Diana DeBlase
At 6:03 PM Acting Chairman Coutinho called meeting to order in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room.
Minutes:
Draft minutes from the February 10, 2015 budget Hearings meeting were reviewed. Corrections were made. Mr. Malkin moved to approve minutes with corrections. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion. SO VOTED: FinCom: 4 Ayes 3 not present, Selectmen: 3 Ayes
Mr. Yeomans wanted it to be noted that the town can choose to lower the Snow & Ice budget if we have raised the budget too high after a 1 year lag.
Draft minutes from the February 11, 2015 budget Hearings meeting were reviewed. Corrections were made. Mr. Malkin moved to approve minutes with corrections. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion.SO VOTED: FinCom: 4 Ayes 3 not present, Selectmen: 3 Ayes
Draft minutes from the February 12, 2015 budget Hearings meeting were reviewed. Corrections were made. Ms. Coutinho moved to approve minutes with corrections. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion.SO VOTED: FinCom: 4 Ayes 3 not present, Selectmen: 3 Ayes
Mr. Carroll distributed budget sheets for all of the changes that have been made throughout the budget hearing process. All of the following were budgets with changes: #131 FinCom ,#176 Zoning Board of Appeals, #196 Selectmen’s Maintenance, #230 Tri Town Ambulance, #241 Building, #295 Harbor, #300 Education, #430 Waste, #491 Cemetery, #510 Health, #541 Social Services (was Council on Aging & Center 4 Living), #630 Beach, #691 Historic, #710 Retirement of Debt Principal, #751 Retirement of Debt Interest, #910 Employee Benefits.
All of these new budget sheets should replace the ones we had started with at the beginning of the budget hearing process.
Mr. Carroll then distributed a summary of budget and warrants page indicating that with all that is presented today would be a 2.82% budget increase. Discussion ensued.
At 6:30 PM James Weiss and Robert Lionette arrived.
Mr. Malkin spoke about the process he went through during his meetings for the school budget hearings and his great concerns about the (school) building (s) conditions and safety concerns. Mr. Malkin asked Mr. Weiss to address the repairs since we last heard from him. These repairs are a greater concern to the Chilmark FinCom prior to supporting Administrative Office Building a 3.9 million dollar building for 22 administrators.
Mr. Weiss discussed the immediate improvements that have been made to the assorted island schools and plans moving forward. Mr. Weiss said that the West Tisbury School has since requested that the towns remove their playground warrant article.
Mr. Weiss then spoke extensively about the need for the new Superintendent Administrative Office Building.
At 6:58 PM Dennis Jason arrived.
Mr. Lionette spoke about the repairs to be made to the MVRHS and that they are not near the time for the major repairs to be made but is reassured that Gil Traverso (MVRHS School Principal) is working hard to achieve the repairs.
Mrs. Murphy challenged the quality of the buildings the school system gets with the current bidding processes. The two buildings with which she is most familiar - the Chilmark School and the High School - have been riddled with structural problems. Also, the timing of this new administration building project comes before we know the extent and cost of the repairs to the high school.
At 7:04 PM Pam Bunker, Elizabeth Oliver, Edie Prescott and Rosalie Hornblower arrived.
At 7:05 PM Selectmen Chairman Rossi opened the public hearing on tax classification and recommended moving to postpone till completion of the budget meeting. Mr. Doty moved Mr. Mayhew seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 3 Ayes
Ms. Coutinho asked to vote on the budget at this time. Mr. Malkin moved to recommend the Budget of $8,909,091.39. Ms. Coutinho asked Mr. Carroll if this revised budget was under 2.5 prop. Mr. Carroll said yes. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion SO VOTED: 4 Ayes
The FinCom then addressed the warrant articles that were postponed/ tabled at their earlier meeting 2/19/15.
The Police vehicle replacement at $37,000.00 FinCom Mr. Malkin moved to recommend. Ms. Murphy seconded. Mr. Mayhew asked for discussion. After discussion SO VOTED: 0 in favor 3 opposed and 1 abstain article was not recommended.
Nab’s Corner fire suppressant tank. (Submerged fiberglass water tank) Mr. Malkin moved to recommend. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 4 Ayes
Highway paving there was extensive discussion. Mr. Malkin moved to recommend $100,000.00 go into the stabilization for road paving (highway maintenance). Ms. Murphy seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 4 Ayes
Two articles are place holders if the Selectmen don’t get the land acquisitions accomplished in negotiations they will be put to the town voters to decide to take. Mr. Malkin moved to recommend both articles about the Squibnocket Land acquisition. Mr. Yeomans seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 4 Ayes
Bond Authorization for the 3.9 million dollar Superintendents Administrative Office. Discussion ensued. Mr. Murphy moved not to recommend, Mr. Yeomans seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 2 Ayes 2 Nays = no action taken
Ms. Murphy recommended that the Superintendent purchase the old Visiting Nurse Association building if all the island towns don’t agree to purchase for Center for Living (C4L).
At 7:36 PM Mr. Malkin moved to adjourn, Ms. Murphy seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: FinCom: 4 Ayes 3 not present, Selectmen: 3 Ayes
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase. Selectmen Approved 04/07/15
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