Town of Mashpee
16 Great Neck Road N.
Mashpee, Massachusetts 02649
FINANCE COMMITTEE – PUBLIC SESSION
Town Hall – Conference Room 1
Minutes of the Meeting of Thursday, February 24, 2011
Committee Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present:
Oskar Klenert, Chairman Christopher Avis Joyce Mason, Town Manager
Charles Gasior, Vice Chairman William Johnson
George Schmidt, Clerk
Mark Davini
Robert Chalker
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Oskar Klenert called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
OPENING STATEMENT – Oskar Klenert
Oskar Klenert introduced the members of the Finance Committee to the audience and followed with his opening statement:
“The financial health of the town has to be credited to both the management and also the citizens and demographics of the town. Mashpee, having its roots of early American history evidenced by the home base of the Wampanoag Indian Tribe, has during the past decades accomplished what other towns have only dreamed about. The challenge today is that for which we all have worked so hard both to preserve as a gift for the next generation, it must be our goal to leave behind a better town than the one we inherited. Thank you for participating in the affairs of the town.”
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2/10/11
George Schmidt made a motion that the Committee approve, as presented, the minutes from the Finance Committee meeting held on Thursday, February 10, 2011. Charles Gasior seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
CORRESPONDENCE
1. Joyce Mason reported that the Selectmen will be reviewing the town budget warrant article being considered for the May Town Meeting on Monday, 2/28/11, and will set a date for the Finance Committee to meet with the Selectmen to review the proposed budget warrant for FY 2012.
2. Summary of 2012 Municipal Appropriations in Town Manager’s Budget – Charles Gasior
Mr. Gasior distributed to the committee members a copy of the summary of municipal appropriations in the Town Manager’s budget for 2012 which will be reviewed by the committee during the meeting tonight.
(Correspondence, cont’d)
3. Strategic Plan Review and Update: Monday, 3/07/11 - 4 PM to 6 PM - Quashnet School Library
Oskar Klenert reported receipt of an invitation to attend a review of a strategic plan established in 2006 to establish a vision for excellence and a plan to achieve the vision. A group of 40 individuals including school committee members, local officials, school staff, parents, students and community members participated in development of the plan.
4. Human Services Offerings to the Town - Reminder
Oskar Klenert stated that there are tremendous services offered by the town regarding Human Services. For information, contact the Human Services Department at Town Hall.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Request from IT Department for Transfer from the Reserve Fund – Joyce Mason
Joyce Mason explained that the Finance Committee has the authority to appropriate funds from its $100,000 Reserve Fund to cover shortfalls or unforeseen issues that may come up for which the town has no money. Joyce stated that the town is requesting to tap into that reserve fund for $5,000.00 for the IT Department. Most of the shortfall comes from the unanticipated maintenance contracts that the town has picked up as a result of the new library which opened in May 2010, after the FY 2011 budget was approved. There also have been some unanticipated major equipment repairs in the IT Department.
Charles Gasior made a motion to transfer $5,000.00 from the Finance Committee Reserve Fund to the IT expense account, to cover the unforeseen maintenance expenses that have occurred during the year. Mark Davini seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
2. 2012 Town Budget – Joyce Mason
Joyce Mason stated that the Town Manager’s budget increase of $85,553 represents the salary of the Assistant Town Manager position currently vacant. Joyce stated that the overall budget includes filling the positions of one firefighter, one patrolman, the assistant town manager, and one fulltime DPW employee. It also includes some seasonal and some part time DPW employees, not entitled to health benefits. Joyce added that her recommendation for additional town employees is significantly less than what the department heads requested.
As to the impact on the 2013 budget, Joyce stated that there has been an unanticipated new growth of $400,000 that is going to be a constant for 2013 because it is new growth. Joyce stated that there is some one time funding being used for the operating budget so in order to sustain that in 2013, a more than normal amount has been set aside within our free cash.
George Schmidt inquired as to how many people were requested by the Police Department to be added to the staff, and whether their request is being accommodated. Joyce Mason stated that to bring them to full staff, there were 4 staff vacancies, 3 patrolmen and one dispatcher. Joyce stated that the Police Chief was comfortable about having one additional staff at this time, with careful monitoring of the situation. Joyce stated that the Fire Department had also asked for 3 additional staff, with just one additional employee included in the 2012 budget.
Charles Gasior asked about what was included in the $41,000 increase in the library budget. Joyce stated that she is recommending that the town fill two of the newly created positions on a part time basis: a part time circulation assistant for the Children’s Library, and a reference librarian
(New Business, cont’d)
on a part time basis. The library is being heavily used, additional staff is very much needed, and because the 3 new employees are part time, there will be no increase in health benefit costs. As a result of the additional staff, in order to maintain accreditation of the library as well as grant funding, the library budget will be increased by 16%.
Joyce Mason commented on a new Rate Saver Health Plan being rolled out, which gives employees an option to pay a slightly higher deductible but with much lower premiums. Joyce stated that the newer, younger hires are choosing the Rate Saver plan which puts more money back into their paychecks. The Master Health Plan is still an option for new hires. Employees pay 25% of the cost of their health care plan.
Joyce Mason stated that the new employees will be given the existing pension package plan currently in place.
Joyce stated that six students from other districts have chosen to attend Mashpee schools. The school receives $5000 per student; however, the per-pupil cost to the community is roughly $14,000.
Joyce Mason stated that she is recommending that $250,000 be taken from the free cash to start a new trust fund to offset an unfunded liability the town is responsible for. The trust fund would be a separate fund that could be used for that purpose only. Although $250,000 is only a dent in the liability amount, it is a start, and the state is not too far behind from dictating the establishment of such a fund. Charles Gasior stated his feeling that such a trust fund is too limiting, and that the $250,000 might better be used to add to the tax stabilization fund, giving us the flexibility to use the funds where needed.
Joyce Mason commented on the $300,000 increase for the school budget, and stated that because there are increases in the General Government budgets, it is only equitable and fair that the School Department should also receive an increase which will go toward closing their $600,000 budget gap.
Joyce Mason stated the town will be presenting a small capital budget this year, but the difference this year is that the town will move forward with a $1.5MM 15-year capital maintenance bond based on the report received from consultants that reviewed the entire town’s building repair needs. This will not impact the taxpayers; it will all be within the operating budget.
3. Important Future Meeting Dates in March/April/May
March 10th – next Finance Committee Meeting
March 14th – Finance Committee Warrant Review with BOS
March 24th – Public Hearing
April 1st – deadline for final budget report to Joyce Mason
April 4th – newspaper entry deadline
May 2nd – Town Meeting
4. Review of Warrant Articles for May Town Meeting
Charles Gasior stated that any of the Petition Articles, those warrants submitted by town residents, cannot be removed unless requested by the residents.
(New Business Contd)
5. 2012 Budget – Charles Gasior
Mr. Gasior asked that the committee review the Summary of Municipal Appropriations in the Town Manager’s 2012 budget in order to approve or question the line items in the proposed budget.
Charles Gasior made a motion that the committee approve the $200 recommendation for the Moderator. Mark Davini seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
The committee agreed to postpone approval on the following line items where there were questions, until all committee members were present:
General Government
Bd of Selectmen/Off. Of Town Manager - $361,757
Finance Committee - $154,780
Human Resources - $288,153
MIS/Tech Information - $373,420
Town Clerk - $192,699
Maintenance of Public Property
DPW - $3,471,607
Maint. Of Public Properties - $233,040
Transfer Station/Recycling - $887,000
Land & Property Development
Conservation Commission - $112,004
Public Safety & Enforceent Agencies
Police Dept. - $3,842,558
Fire Dept. – 3,108,766
Tree Warden - $500.00
Resident Services
Health Department - $213,016
Human Services - $107,919
Other Departmental Appropriations
School Department - $300,000
Library - $394,517
Historical Society - $8,423
General Expenses
Interest & Principal on Debt - $4,973,693
Pensions/Unemployment - $2,149,358
Med. Insurance/Medicare - $6,178,776
Charles Gasior made a motion that the Finance Committee approve the following 2012 budget line items:
General Government
Legal and Engineering - $242,000
Accounting - $183,589
Assessing - $229,332
Treasurer/Tax Collector – $270,174
Maintenance of Public Property
Maintenance of Cemeteries - $12,000
Street Lighting Expenses - $36,900
(New Business, cont’d)
Land & Property Development
Planning Board & Dept. - $95,603
Building Inspections - $268,383
Resident Services
Council on Aging - $218,106
Leisure Services - $296,230
Veterans Services - $93,226
Other Departmental Appropriations
Cultural Council - $90.00
Sewer Commission - $113.00
General Expenses
General Insurance - $591,000
George Schmidt seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Finance Committee Web Site – Mark Davini
After discussion by the committee, it was agreed that the simplest and most efficient use of the Finance Committee web site would be to maintain only the current agenda for the upcoming meeting, as well as the latest set of approved minutes. The recording secretary for the Finance Committee will be responsible for forwarding the agenda and approved minutes to the Web Site technicians.
Mark Davini made a motion that the Finance Committee web site will show only the current agenda for the upcoming meeting, as well as the latest set of approved minutes, making reference to the availability of all past minutes at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall. The current agenda and approved minutes will be forwarded electronically by the Finance Committee recording secretary to the web site technicians for posting on the Finance Committee web site. George Schmidt seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mark Davini added that the Mission Statement for the Finance Committee will be included on the web page.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Finance Committee was scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 2011, at 6:30 PM in Conference Room 1, Mashpee Town Hall. As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ina G. Schlobohm
Recording Secretary
OLD BUSINESS
1. Regional Tech High School – Superintendent of School / Business Manager
Oskar Klenert stated that he had sent an email to the Regional Tech High School Superintendent and the Business Manager, inviting them to attend tonight’s meeting, but did not hear back from either one. The purpose of the invitation was to discuss the increase in the school’s budget, in view of their decrease in student population. Oskar voiced the hope that the Finance Committee will receive an explanation of the budget increase from the Regional Tech Superintendent.
2. Letter of Invitation to the State Reps and Senators –Christopher Avis
Oskar Klenert stated that the news media has been inquiring as to the date of the proposed meeting with the state reps. As Mr. Avis was absent from tonight’s meeting, Mr. Klenert stated that discussion on the topic will be postponed to the March 10th Finance Committee meeting.
3. Review of Letter to the Voters – Charles Gasior
George Schultz asked whether the Finance Committee could make a recommendation that employees pay more towards their health insurance, limiting the health insurance benefits to employees only and not their families, more in line with what private industry is doing. Mr. Gasior suggested that as we approach the next round of collective bargaining negotiations, options be explored to reduce the cost of medical insurance through different plans or increased employee payments.
Charles Gasior asked whether the Finance Committee could suggest to the Town Manager that a member of the Finance Committee act as liaison and receive notification of collective bargaining sessions to represent the town at these bargaining sessions. Oskar Klenert stated his concern that the town has less than the minimum required in its emergency fund, and feels that the recommendation from the Finance Committee to the Board of Selectmen should be to put the excess cash into the tax stabilization fund to bring it up to its statutory minimum.
George Schmidt voiced his concern over putting money into the Tax Stabilization Fund if it is restricted, and the town is not legally able to withdraw funds for an emergency.
4. Web Site Address Change
Mark Davini reported that the Mashpee web site address has been changed to: www.mashpeema.gov.
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