Finance Committee Minutes – 9 January, 2007, Hapgood Room
Meeting called to order at 7:35 p.m.
Finance Committee Members Present: Colwell, Donovan, McKenna, Ricci, Russo, Sobalvarro
Selectmen Present: Dean, Marinelli, Wallace
Administrators Present: Leonard, Bragan
The minutes from the 11/28 and 12/7 meeting were reviewed; minor changes were made and they were unanimously approved as ammended.
Beach Septic:
- Jim Lee presented the progress of the beach septic. No hard updated estimate was available at this meeting; Lee projected that it would be in the $20k range, and that he expected an estimate within 2-3 weeks.
- Lee was reminded of the prevailing wage law regarding contractors.
- The $375.00 fee for the Nashoba Boards of Health for inspection would come of the earlier FinComm approved $2500. budget.
- Lee believed that the new septic would be in place during this fiscal year.
Library:
- Ginger Kendall presented a series of revised documents highlighting the requested staffing changes and incremental facilities operating costs.
- The additional FTEs (+2 for direct library services, +1 for Facilities Manager), and the requested changes in grade/step (7 grade changes, including one for a new hire between FY07 and FY08) for existing staff require approval of the Personnel Board.
- The Library Committee to (a) meet with the Personnel Board and resolve grade/step changes and inclusion of Facilities Manager (or shared role with DPW); (b) update handout for FinComm indicating incremental costs for FY07 (in addition to the 24.5k warrant approved at town meeting), and incremental costs for FY08 (full-year) and (c) return to present updated information to FinComm on 1/30.
- General discussion followed that the library should consider putting in staff for fewer than 20 hours a week, which would reduce benefit costs and increasing flexibility for vacation coverage.
FinComm noted that an estimate/placeholder for the operating costs of the vacant library for FY08 will need to be included in the FY08 budget.
Selectman Wallace (Town Center Planning) indicated that FinComm should assume for cost estimates that the old library would be vacant for a year.
Selectmen Budgets:
- Leonard distributed the revised Selectmen’s Budgets with actual FY06 costs.
- Minor addition of adding $3k to DPW budget for Nota’s mileage reimbursement.
- Sobalvarro to follow-up with Pond Committee regarding their earlier $20k estimate for pump operation.
- Additional operating expenses for Departments to be included as available.
- TBD whether FY07 call stipend for Fire will be overbudget, and if existing FY08 budget at 85k is a reasonable estimate.
- Bragan to follow-up with the COA re. basis for requested additional hours
- Upcoming meetings: 1/23 with DPW, Water Department, CPC, and small warrant articles
- 1/30 with Library
Other Business:
Debbie to send a note to the Selectmen indicating FinComm’s support of the Town joining the Suburban Coalition lobbying group.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
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