June 16, 1992 Present: James R. Haggerty
Judith Murdoch
Robert Crowley
Robert Andrews
Joseph Frisoli
Police Chief, Fire Chief, Exec. Sec. Town Accountant, Finance Com., John Currie, Paul Vaitkus, and Barbara Burt present for the meeting.
Announced would be discussing police, fire and utility budgets only. Proceeded to ask for explanation of Police Chief of estimated funds he feels he needs to end of year. Chief Berry stated he estimated needed 4100 to get through. 1,000 for overtime and 3122 for unused vacation buyback as per contract.
Fire Chief talked about expenses and explained he was trying to manipulate until after first of year. Salaries he is in the hole 194 dollars. 500 payment due to mechanic in contract and 5500 obligated in overtime to cover shifts for vacation until the end of the year. 6000 in the hole. Question also came up over stipend for call firefighters. Chief and Exec. Sec. going to look into that.
Town Accountant gave breakdown of utility bills and explained there were no savings on the schools at all over the past year with the new boiler- cost about 2000 more. Utility bills on library/Senior center did not come in on a timely fashion and we just received a gas bill for several thousand dollars which she was unaware they even had gas in the building. The library/senior center cost the town approximately 26,000 in utilities.
Board discussed a few options, Mrs. Murdoch commented to Police Chief she still hoped there would be discretion in filling shifts. Chief Berry stated there has been right along. Exec. Sec. commented that based on the request of the Board several weeks ago, both Chiefs had submitted letters and described a number of situations where overtime was needed in order to serve the Town. The Fire Chief commented about trying to estimate exact figures about overtime in the public safety field and stated for the past several weeks, kids getting out of school, graduations, accidents and so forth it has been a fairly busy month. He stated that the Fin. Com. and Board of Selectmen should realize that at any time prior to the end of the year even with the estimates talking about tonight, a major event could totally wipe
out the funds. Mr. Andrews stated that both departments needed to have the flexibility of budgets that allow for these types of emergencies. Pointed out a current news story in Pembroke which he went on to state has probably impacted their overtime greatly and yet they are only a back up source of investigation. Mr. Vaitkus, Fin. Com. stated that he felt we should try and plan as well as possible in all these budgets. He questioned the planning on the utility line and asked why an article was not put in the May Town Meeting. The Town Accountant explained at the time of the close of the warrant, it was decided in discussions with Exec. Sec, Fin. Com, and Board of Selectmen would try to get through the year with the utility line intact. By the time she received the bills for April and some cases for May, there was no avenue available to seek a transfer through town meeting. Mr. Haggerty agreed that we had had discussions along those lines. The Exec. Sec. suggested that the
intent of tonights meetings was basically one of discussion concerning these issues and he pointed out with the Board of Selectmen aware and the Fin. Com. aware, it did not necessarily mean they had to transfer money this evening. Instead they should hold off until the last possible minute and continue to monitor the spending within the various departments.
Agreed by all parties the Fin. Com. would discuss this issue next Tuesday night, and the Fire and Police Chiefs should be present at the Selectmen's meeting as well as the town accountant to update figures on salary lines.
The Chairman asked members of the Board to state if they knew when they might be on vacation. He would be out of town and on vacation from July 3 to 13th. Mr. Crowley will be out from July 1 through 13th. Mrs. Murdoch out of Town Aug. 15 through 27th. Also Exec. Sec. or Town Accountant or Department heads will notify Fin. Com. directly should any specific emergencies occur over the next week or two.
Motion by Crowley, 2nd Andrews to adjourn, 5-0 vote.
9:15.
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Robert Crowley, Clerk
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