THIRTY-EIGHTH MEETING WARRANT COMMITTEE MARCH 23, 2006
PRESENT: K. Conlon, T. Lowney, D. Biagiotti, W. Connors, H. Crichlow, L. Dee, N. Gray, S. Keel, B. Mason, P. Nolan, L. Walker, C. Winston
ABSENT: J. Conley, T. Hurley, J. O’Connor
RESERVE FUND BALANCE: $249,893
Assessors’ Set-Aside 5,123
BALANCE: $244,770
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
The Committee received communications from the Board of Assessors and Treasurer/Collector Kevin G. Sorgi regarding the Warrant Committee’s draft non-contingent recommendations for their FY 2007 budgets and a description of the role of Finance Committees prepared by the Association of Town Finance Committees.
Approval of the minutes of March 22, 2006 was deferred to March 27, 2006.
Secretary Lowney recused himself from the meeting. A conference was held with Health Agent Michael Blanchard who reviewed with the Committee the role of the Board of Health and its expanded State mandates. He stated that under the $139,672 FY 2007 non-contingent budget recommendation of the Warrant Committee, the Health Department would be unable to meet these mandates. Following the conference Secretary Lowney returned to the meeting.
A conference was held with Town Administrator David Colton and Assistant Town Administrator Annemarie Fagan. The Town Administrator distributed a chart indicating possible methods the Fire Department could use to reach the $3,765,263 draft FY 2007 non-contingent budget recommendation of the Warrant Committee. These would involve reduction of personnel and new equipment. In response to a question asked of him at the Committee’s March 20 meeting, the Town Administrator distributed an FY 2007 alternative contingent FY 2007 contingent budget for the Committee to consider. Prior to discussion of the Police Department budget, Member Nolan and Mason recused themselves. The Town Administrator advised the Committee that the proposed alternative contingent budget for the Police
Department would result in the layoff of the Youth Coordinator. Following the discussion of the Police Department budget Members Nolan and Mason returned to the meeting.
Daniel Biagiotti, Chair of the Zoning Subcommittee, presented its recommendations on the following articles: Article D -Demolition of Buildings and Article F -Drive Through Food Service Facilities. The Committee voted on a motion made by Subcommittee Chair Biagiotti and seconded by Subcommittee Member Gray to recommend a yes vote on Article F - Drive Through. The Committee voted 10-1-0 to Recommend a Yes Vote on Article F - Drive Through. On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Biagiotti, the Committee voted 8-3-0 to Recommend a Yes Vote on Article D - Demolition of Buildings.
A conference was held with Town Clerk James G. Mullen, Jr. who reviewed with the Committee the effects that the non-contingent FY 2007 budget draft recommendation would have on his department. He could possibly increase some fees, but this recommendation would result in the reduction of services mandated by the State.
Member Winston moved, with a second from Secretary Lowney, to reopen for discussion the previously approved FY 2007 contingent and non-contingent budgets and using as a guide the Town Administrator’s suggested contingent budget which he had previously distributed.
Secretary Lowney made a motion, seconded by Member Walker, to increase the Information Technology contingent budget to $238,953, with an amendment made by Member Keel to increase it to $211,473. The motion failed 4-7-0.
Member Winston made a motion, seconded by Secretary Lowney, to recommend the Town Clerk contingent FY 2007 budget of $213,284. The motion passed 11-0-0.
Member Winston made a motion, seconded by Secretary Lowney, to recommend the Treasurer/Collector contingent FY 2007 budget of $278,858. The motion passed 11-0-0.
Member Keel made a motion, seconded by Member Biagiotti, to reduce the FY 2007 General Insurance contingent budget from $779,250 to $719,250, as recommended by the Town Administrator. The motion passed 11-0-0.
On a motion made by Member Nolan and seconded by Member Crichlow, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to recommend a contingent appropriation of $30,000 under Article Y -Tree Appropriation
On a motion made by Member Keel and seconded by Member Winston, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to recommend an FY 2007 contingent Department of Public Works budget of $3,644,464.
Prior to the discussion, Members Nolan and Mason recused themselves. On a motion made by Member Keel and seconded by Secretary Lowney, the Committee voted 8-1-0 to recommend a contingent FY 2007 Police Department budget of $5,526,724. Following the vote Members Nolan and Mason returned to the meeting.
Secretary Lowney made a motion, seconded by Member Mason, to recommend an FY 2007 Library contingent budget of $895,036. The motion failed 5-6-0.
On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Dee, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to accept an FY 2007 total deficit contingent budget recommendation of $3,421,848.
Member Winston made a motion, seconded by Member Gray, to reduce the Town Clerk stipend to zero on the FY 2007 non-contingent budget recommendation. The motion failed 3-8-0.
On a motion made by Secretary Lowney and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to recommend an FY 2007 General Insurance non-contingent budget of $719,250.
On a motion made by Secretary Lowney and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to recommend an FY 2007 Town Reports non-contingent budget of $6,300.
On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Walker, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to reduce the Randolph Avenue Consultant FY 2007 non-contingent request to zero.
On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Walker, the Committee voted 10-1-0 to reduce the GASB 45 FY 2007 non-contingent request to zero.
On a motion made by Secretary Lowney and seconded by Member Winston, the Committee voted 6-5-0 to recommend a Capital Article non-contingent appropriation of $61,000 for the repair of the East Milton branch boiler and roof repairs to the East Milton and Central fire stations.
On a motion made by Member Connors and seconded by Member Winston, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to recommend an FY 2007 non-contingent Board of Appeals budget of $27,102.
On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Dee, the Committee voted 11-0-0 to recommend an FY 2007 Personnel Board non-contingent budget of $37,562.
On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Dee, the Committee voted 10-1-0 to recommend an FY 2007 Assessors non-contingent budget of $190,621.
On a motion made by Member Connors and seconded by Member Winston, the Committee voted 8-3-0 to recommend an FY 2007 Unemployment Insurance non-contingent budget of $100,000.
On a motion made by Secretary Lowney and seconded by Member Nolan, the Committee voted 9-2-0 to recommend a Board of Selectmen FY 2007 non-contingent budget of $385,781.
On a motion made by Member Winston and seconded by Member Dee, the Committee voted 8-3-0 to recommend an FY 2007 non-contingent School Department budget of $28,820,034.
At this point, the non-contingent budget was again balanced and the consensus of the Committee was to make no additional changes to the budgets and to circulate the revised budgets to Town officials and department heads. The Chair reminded the subcommittee chairs to submit drafts of comments to the articles as soon as possible.
RESERVE FUND BALANCE: $249,893
Assessors’ Set-Aside 5,123
BALANCE: $244,770
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m.
The next meeting of the Warrant Committee will be on March 27, 2006.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol A. Blute, Senior Administrative Clerk
March 27, 2006
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