Town of Mashpee
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
March 3, 2016
Waquoit Meeting Room
Committee Members Present Members Absent Also Present
Christopher Avis, Chairman Thomas Murphy Rodney Collins,
Jeffrey Pettengill David DelPonte Town Manager
Theresa Cook
Oskar Klenert
Michael Richardson
Call to Order
Chairman Chris Avis called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Recited
Public Comments – None
Approval of Minutes – February 18, 2016
Motion: Mike Richardson moved to approve the Finance Committee minutes of February 18, 2016 as presented, seconded by Theresa Cook. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Old Business
Committee Liaison Reports – None
New Business
FY 17 Budget Review/Town Meeting Warrant
Mr. Avis read the budget line items for FY 17 which included columns: Department, FY 2016 Department Budget, FY 2017 Department Request, and FY 2017 Town Manager Recommendation.
Holds were put on line items:
2 – Selectmen Salary-Elected (held by Chris Avis)
11 - Assessors – Salary and Wage (held by Chris Avis)
17 – Human Services – Salary and Wage (held by Oskar Klenert)
33 – Planning Department – Expense (held by Chris Avis)
DPW – Total (held by Chris Avis)
50 Street Lighting – Expense (held by Oskar Klenert)
Health – Total (held by Chris Avis)
Library – Total (held by Chris Avis)
It was noted under item 35, Town Hall Expense, in the column headed Town Manager Recommendation that the $274.00 was not listed.
There was a discussion on the held line items.
DPW - Rod Collins, Town Manager, stated he spoke to the Library Director and one of the trustees regarding their new position and reached a compromise to the funding of the position. The compromise was $24,657. He said he offset it in DPW which explains why the numbers are a little different. The bottom line for the entire budget didn’t change. The DPW position was reduced by $25,657.
Line 2 – Selectmen Salaries
Mr. Collins stated he proposed the raise for the Selectmen’s salaries. The Selectmen didn’t propose it. He said he didn’t think it was prudent to wait for the Selectmen to request a pay raise for themselves. He noted Mashpee is at rock bottom with the exception of Brewster. The proposal brings the pay from $2,000 to $3,000 for each Selectman and the Chair is going to make $3,500. These ladies and gentlemen are truly volunteers and are dedicated. They attend functions and go to events and take money out of their own pockets. This has not been adjusted in probably over 20 to 25 years. He pointed out with the exception of one selectman who is grandfathered, the Selectmen don’t get insurance. Mr. Collins pointed out that the Selectmen were not aware of this.
(Mr. Avis removed the hold)
Line 11 – Assessors – Salary/Wages
Mr. Collins stated in the Assessing Department the department request did include an additional full time position but under his recommendation it is not there. He noted the increases are contractual driven and the numbers have been looked and verified by the accounting department and human resources. (Mr. Avis removed the hold)
Line 17 – Human Services – Salary/Wage
(Oskar Klenert removed the hold)
Line 34 – Planning - Expense
Mr. Collins stated this is professional development and now it is for two individuals, not just one. Mr. Collins said the increase in the Planning Department wages was due to the hiring of an Assistant Town Planner. (Mr. Avis removed the hold)
DPW – Total
Mr. Avis questioned the increase in the DPW Total. It appears most of it is in the expense line. Mr. Collins said he would give them a breakdown that gets into a little more detail. He will give them a breakdown on line 47 and 48 – DPW Expense and Building and Grounds (Mr. Avis removed the hold)
Line 50 – Street Lighting Expense
Mr. Klenert spoke about how dark his street is (Lowell Road). He felt the town should spend a little more on the safety of the people. Mr. Avis noted he was on the Street Light Committee and would bring this up at the next street light committee meeting. Mr. Collins said the street light committee will address any request or respond to any questions as to whether or not it is feasible. It was noted the decrease in the budget was due to the savings using LED lighting. (Mr. Klenert removed the hold)
Total - Health
Mr. Collins stated we are obligated to pay an assistant health agent for overtime so that is one of the adjustments under salaries. (Mr. Avis removed the hold)
Also included is the sick time buy back and because is it contractually driven it was factored into each budget. Each department head has been instructed if it is not used the monies go back into free cash.
Motion: Theresa Cook moved to recommend the Town Manager’s recommended total budget number of $54,508,856, seconded by Mr. Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Town Meeting Warrant Review
Special Town Meeting
Motion: Article 1 - Theresa Cook moved that the Finance Committee recommend Article 1, seconded by Mike Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; ll, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Article 2 - Hold
Motion: Article 3 - Theresa Cook moved that the Finance Committee recommend Article 3, seconded by Mr. Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent. It was noted to be consistent to use either DNR or Department of Natural Resource.
Motion: Article 4: Michael Richardson moved that the Finance Committee recommend to approve Article 4, seconded by Theresa Cook. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Article 5 thru Article 11 – Hold
Annual Town Meeting
Motion: Article 1: Theresa Cook moved to recommend approval of Article 1, seconded by Mr. Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Motion: Article 2: Theresa Cook moved to recommend approval of Article 2, seconded by Mr. Richarson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Article 3: voted on at prior meeting
Article 4: hold no number
Motion: Article 5: Theresa Cook moved to approve Article 5, seconded by Mike Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Article 6: Hold
Motion: Article 7: Mike Richardson moved to approve Article 7, seconded by Theresa Cook. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Article 8: Hold
Motion: Article 9: Theresa Cook moved to approve Article 9, seconded by Mike Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Motion: Article 10: Michael Richardson moved to approve Article 10, seconded by Chris Avis. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Motion: Article 11: Theresa Cook moved to approve Article 11, seconded by Mike Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Motion: Article 12: Mike Richardson moved to approve Article 12, seconded by Theresa Cook. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Mr. Klenert requested a report to see where the monies are spent.
Motion: Article 13: Mike Richardson moved to approve Article 13, seconded by Theresa Cook. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Motion: Article 14: Theresa Cook moved to approve Article 14, seconded by Mike Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Motion: Article 15: Mike Richardson moved to approve Article 15, seconded by Theresa Cook. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Article 16 thru 21 – Hold
Additional Topics
Theresa Cook noted for informational purposes only the Superintendent of Schools buyout is $425,000. It was noted this would be coming out of the School Committee’s budget.
Motion: Mr. Klenert moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mike Richardson. Roll Call Vote: Avis, yes; Pettengill, yes; Cook, yes; Klenert, yes; Richardson, yes. Vote 5-0 with two absent.
Meeting adjourned 7:49 p.m.
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