Finance Committee & Selectmen Joint Meeting February 7, 2019 FY20 Budget Hearings
Present: FinCom Chairman Rob Hannemann, Eric Glasgow, Susan Murphy, Don Leopold,
Bruce Golden and Marshall Carroll. Vicki Divoll was not present Selectmen Chairman Malkin, Warren Doty, Bill Rossi Others Town Administrator Tim Carroll, Treasurer Melanie Becker, Accountant Ellen Biskis, Diana DeBlase, James Feiner, Makenzie Brooks and MVTV videographer Lynn Christoffers.
At 7:00 PM Chairman Hannemann called meeting to order in the Selectmen’s meeting room.
Minutes: Minutes from the FinCom January 23, 2019 meeting were reviewed.
Mr. Glasgow moved to approve minutes. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion
SO VOTED: 5 Ayes 1 Abstain
Mr. Golden did not vote he was not present at 1/23/19 meeting, 1 not present V. Divoll
Ms. Divoll arrived at 7:05 PM
Chairman Hannemann presented a revised article for annual town meeting pertaining to the Housing Bank. Ms. Makenzie resubmitted the funding portion of the housing bank warrant with revision. Mr. Carroll said the language now is instead of 3% of local excise room tax it will be 50% of any revenue from the short-term rental tax. There was discussion about the Housing Bank and the potential revenues from the short-term rental tax. Mr. Feiner (Chairman of the Chilmark Affordable Housing Committee) and Ms. Brooks spoke about the need for a housing bank and the appropriateness of utilizing the short-term rental tax to fund it.
Chairman Malkin spoke about the importance of an appropriate governance of the Housing Bank. There was further discussion about the Island Housing Bank proposal.
Ms. Divoll moved to recommend accepting late file of the Housing Bank revision. Mr. Golden seconded the motion. FinCom: SO VOTED: 6 Ayes, 1 Nay Ms. Murphy
Chairman Hannemann initiated discussion of the FY20 Budget and warrant articles for Annual Town Meeting.
Ms. DeBlase distributed the recommended changes the FinCom made during the FY20 budget hearings. Accountant Biskis made revisions to the FY20 department budgets per the FinCom recommendations. Ms. Biskis said we are still waiting for the final figure from the Superintendent’s Office with the reduction of the Health Insurance figure. The FY2020 Town budget at this time is $10, 199,663.18, a 1.60% increase from last year.
Ms. Divoll moved to recommend the town’s budget as presented. Mr. Glasgow seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Mr. Carroll distributed a draft of the warrant articles and the possible funding categorization. The current free cash beginning balance is $499,805.40
The following is a list of the articles for the FinCom to recommend:
Chilmark Town Affairs Council & Chilmark Community Center Joint Maintenance $5,000.00 under raise and appropriate. Marshall Carroll moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Finance Committee Reserve Fund $40,000.00 from free cash.
Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Reserve for Compensated Absences $15,000.00 from free cash. Ms. Divoll moved to recommend, Ms. Murphy seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
The following are stabilization articles that Marshall Carroll moved to recommend as a group to come from free cash. Ms. Divoll seconded the motion.
- General Stabilization Fund $70,000.00
- Fire Department Stabilization Fund $25,000.00
- Police Department Stabilization Fund $24,000.00
- Highway Stabilization Fund $50,000.00
SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Adult Community Education MV $7,979.00 under raise and appropriate. Don Leopold recused himself as he is on the board of directors for ACEMV. Mr. Glasgow moved to recommend, Marshall Carroll seconded the motion SO VOTED: 6 Ayes 1 Abstain Don Leopold
Up Island Regional School / District Chilmark School flooring $16,080.00 from free cash. Ms. Divoll moved to recommend, Mr. Leopold seconded the motion SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Up Island Regional School / District Chilmark School windows $169,136.00. Discussion turned to this item to be put on the warrant as an override article as the short-term rental tax should not be considered income till it is received. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Up Island Regional School District / West Tisbury School Egress Decks $11,061.00 from free cash. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Up Island Regional School District / West Tisbury School Parking Lot Design $2,358.00 from free cash. Mr. Golden moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
MV Regional High School Feasibility Study & Schematic Design $63,700.00 from raise & appropriate. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Mr. Golden seconded the motion. There was discussion of this being on warrant as an override article.
MV School Superintendent’s Office - MV Youth Task Force $11,400.00 from raise & appropriate. Marshall Carroll recommended to take no action, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Land Acquisition - EMS Building & Parking - 399 Middle Road $900,000.00 of Borrowing Authorization / Debt Exclusion. Marshall Carroll recused himself from discussion and action as his family owns 399 Middle Road. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 6 Ayes, 1 Abstain Marshall Carroll
Fire & EMS Architectural Services $200,000.00 of Borrowing Authorization / Debt Exclusion. Marshall Carroll recused himself from discussion and action. Mr. Leopold moved to recommend, Mr. Glasgow seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 6 Ayes, 1 Abstain Marshall Carroll
Chilmark Community Center - cold climate heat pumps $60,000.00 from free cash. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Mr. Golden seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Chilmark Community Center - replacement generator $12,000.00 for raise & appropriation. Tim Carroll said this could wait till the fall Special Town Meeting. With this information Marshall Carroll move to not recommend, Mr. Glasgow seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Town Hall - HVAC air handler & condenser $13,000.00 from free cash. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Mr. Carroll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Town Hall - server upgrade 2008 $3,500.00 from free cash. Ms. Murphy moved to recommend, Mr. Carroll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
The following are Social Services articles that Mr. Glasgow moved to recommend as a group for raise and appropriate. Mr. Golden seconded the motion.
- Dukes County Social Services $5,985.00
- Dukes County MV Community Services CORE $9,576.00
- Dukes County MV Community Services Healthy Aging MV $8,193.00
- Dukes County SUD Prevention programs $3,591.00
- Dukes County MV Community Services First Stop $3,747.00
SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Dukes County Sheriff RECC 50/50 Grant Excluded Funds $27,243.55 for raise and appropriate.
Discussion ensued. Mr. Leopold moved to recommend, subject to all island towns approval. Mr. Carroll seconded. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Fire - towards future radio system upgrades $9,000.00 for raise & appropriate.
Mr. Glasgow moved to recommend, Ms. Divoll seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Fire - Replacement Rescue Tools $30,000.00 Tim Carroll said this is an item that could be postponed to fall Special Town Meeting. Ms. Divoll moved to recommend, Mr. Leopold seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 6 Ayes, 1 Nay Eric Glasgow
Fire - bill of prior fiscal year for Bull Dog Fire Apparatus $3,000.00 for raise & appropriate.
Mr. Carroll moved to recommend, Mr. Leopold seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Police - cruisers $66,000.00 Tim Carroll said this can be reduced to $45,000.00 for raise & appropriate because Police chief said that only 1 vehicle rather than 2 is needed at this time.
Ms. Divoll moved to recommend, Mr. Glasgow seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Tri-Town Ambulance -Defibrillators $66,000.00 from revolving funds. Ms. Divoll moved to recommend, Mr. Golden seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Beach - bill of prior fiscal year for Bruno’s $206.50 from free cash. Ms. Divoll moved to recommend, Mr. Leopold seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Mr. Hannemann recommended establishment of a subcommittee to work on wording for an alternate Housing Bank article.
At 9:45 PM Mr. Leopold recommended adjournment. Ms. Divoll seconded the motion.
SO VOTED: 7 Ayes
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase
Document list:
- Draft minutes from 1/23/19 FinCom meeting
- List of changes to budgets FinCom made during the FY20 budget hearing process
- Town Administrator’s list of articles and how to fund them
- Housing Bank documents
Minutes Approved 05/23/19
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