FINANCE COMMITTEE – PUBLIC SESSION
Minutes of the Meeting of Thursday, January 12, 2012
Committee Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present:
Christopher Avis, Chairman James Condon Joyce Mason, Town Manager
Charles Gasior, Vice Chairman Tom Mayo, Asst. Town Manager
Mark Davini, Clerk
Oskar Klenert
George Schmidt
Robert Challker
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Christopher Avis called the meeting to order at 6:36 PM.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
George Schmidt made a motion that the minutes from the meeting held on December 15, 2011 be approved as presented. Charles Gasior seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Transfers.
- Charles Gasior made a motion that the Finance Committee approve a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Human Resources Expense Account in the amount of $8,644 to cover an increase in unforeseen required employee medical tests. Mark Davini seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
- Oskar Klenert made a motion that the Finance Committee approve the transfer of $2500 from the Reserve Fund to the Board of Selectmen’s expense account to cover costs for participation in the MMA Conference and seminar in Boston from 1/13/12 through 1/15/12. The Professional Development shortfall of $2500 is due to increased interest in participation of the annual MMA Conference this year. Mark Davini seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
- Mark Davini made a motion to transfer $8000 from the Finance Committee reserve account to its expense account to cover any shortfall of the cost of the mailing of the Annual Reports. George Schmidt seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
2. Appropriations Report – Mark Davini
No report.
3. Committee Liaison Reports
- Transfer Station Report – Charles Gasior
Mr. Gasior distributed a report on the Transfer Station recyclables (in tons) for the year 2011, which reflected an increase to 909 tons from 775 tons from the year 2010. Mr. Gasior stated that Catherine Laurent is putting together a comparison analysis of the savings realized with recycling versus non-recycling.
(Committee Liaison reports cont’d)
- Capital Improvement Committee – Charles Gasior.
As liaison to the Capital Improvement Committee, Mr. Gasior reported that in addition to other requests, the Police Department is seeking funds for a “pump out boat”, which would replace an existing boat previously purchased using state funds. The request requires a town appropriation to apply for state funds to make this purchase. This boat is used to collect sewage from boats, rather than having them discharge their sewage into ocean or bay waters.
Mr. Gasior explained that the capital budget is comprised of two parts: the capital improvement budget which includes items that will be paid for in that year; and the capital plan which includes items to be paid for over the next 6 years. The big item on the capital plan for Mashpee is the sewer system. The bottom line for the entire capital improvement budget for 2013 is $17,000,000.
Oskar Klenert inquired about the status of the Santuit Pond project approved at the October 2011 Town Meeting. Joyce Mason reported that an initial down payment for the equipment had been made, with an expected delivery of the equipment by March/April of 2012. The town is purchasing the equipment with the understanding that if, within the end of two years, there is no significant change in the quality of the water in the pond, the company will repurchase the equipment from Mashpee. George Schmidt reported that the color of the water in the pond has visibly improved.
- Sewer Commission – Oskar Klenert
Mr. Klenert reported on the sewer connection project from the high school to a housing development on Old Barnstable Road. He stated that after the sewer construction is completed, the Town takes on the maintenance and ownership and liability for the pumping station. Mr. Klenert reported he has never seen an actual construction plan; he has only seen the preliminary permitting plan. Mr. Klenert raised the following concern to the Finance Committee:
- The Housing Committee, a new and relatively small organization with a revenue stream of $500,000, is going into this large project. Right now, the committee project is fully funded by the state. Should the pumping station develop problems down the road, the town will shoulder the liability responsibility. Mr. Klenert is concerned that the construction materials used for the pumping station should be the very best available, to prevent major breakdown problems at a future date. Mr. Klenert stated his bottom line concern: liability to the Town if the pumps don’t last.
-School Committee – George Schmidt.
Mr. Schmidt plans to attend the next School Committee meeting on 1/18/12.
4. Solar Energy Project Report – Tom Mayo
Mr. Mayo stated that American Capital Energy is filing permits with DEP for the solar panels at the Transfer Station. In a meeting with Town Assessor Jason Streebel, the projected earnings from the solar panels for the first year are estimated at $60,000.
5. Finance Committee Public Forum Suggestion
The committee members discussed the idea of scheduling a public forum at some future Finance Committee meeting to provide a forum for the townspeople to ask questions of the committee. The purpose of such a forum would be to establish a closer contact with the public. It was noted that the Finance Committee agendas and minutes are posted on the FinCom website, and the meetings are televised for public viewing. The public is always welcome to attend Town committees and Boards. Oskar Klenert observed that it is not the intent of the Finance Committee to be connected to the voters, but it is to serve in an advisory capacity to the public.
6. Summary of FY 2013 Appropriations in the Town Manager’s Budget
Charles Gasior distributed to the committee members a copy of the FY 2013 Appropriations Summary report.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Finance Committee is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 6:30 PM, in the Selectmen’s Conference Room 1.
ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ina G. Schlobohm
Recording Secretary
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