TWENTY-EIGTH MEETING WARRANT COMMITTEE MARCH 1, 2006
PRESENT: K. Conlon, D. Biagiotti, J. Conley, W. Connors, H. Crichlow, T. Hurley, S. Keel,
L. J. Walker, L. Dee, P. Nolan, J. O’Connor, C. Winston, T. Lowney (arrived 9:00 pm)
ABSENT: N. Gray, B. Mason
RESERVE FUND BALANCE: $264,370
Assessors Set Aside $5,123
BALANCE $259,247
Chair Conlon called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Member Paul Nolan recused himself prior to the conference with the Police Auxiliary. A conference was held with Mark Williams of the Auxiliary Police and Paul Hopkins of the Auxiliary Fire who discussed the MEMA budget. They explained that the group was run entirely by volunteers and that their budget consisted of replacement costs for some equipment as well as the addition of “turn-out” gear for the auxiliary fire volunteers and foul weather gear for the auxiliary police volunteers. The Chair thanked Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Williams for their presentation. Member Nolan returned to the meeting
A conference was held with Building Commissioner Stephen Crawford who discussed the Building Department budget. Questions were answered regarding the changes made during last year’s departmental re-organization and budget discussions. Written answers to questions from the sub-committee were provided. The Chair thanked Mr. Crawford for his presentation.
A conference was held with Fire Chief Malcolm Larson who discussed the Fire Department budget. Chief Larson presented the Committee with a list of incidents responded to by the MFD in calendar year 2005 as well as an overview of the capabilities of the current equipment being utilized by the Department. The Chief answered questions that had been posed by the Public Safety Sub-Committee as well as clarifying a newspaper article which stated that new positions had been partially grant-funded. The Chair thanked Chief Larson for attending.
The Committee discussed the school budget that was presented prior to the Special Town Meeting. Chair of the School Sub-committee reviewed items which had been discussed and asked for questions that would be forwarded to the Superintendent and the School Committee Chair to be answered at a future meeting. A request was made to have all answers provided to the committee in writing.
The RFT from the Cemetery Superintendent for a $10,024 Reserve Fund transfer to the Cemetery General Expenses for payment of an October 18, 2005 to February 1, 2006 water bill was discussed in light of further information provided by the Director of the DPW in response to questions regarding how each department was charged for water. The decision was deferred pending a meeting with the Director of the DPW for further information.
The Chair updated the Committee members on recent meetings which lead to a discussion of the creation of a contingent/non-contingent budget and which would be created first. A motion was made by Member Winston, seconded by Member Biagotti that the Committee create a balanced, non-contingent budget before discussing a contingent budget. The motion passed 12-0-0.
There was a discussion of the upcoming meetings of the Warrant Committee, the need to create additional meeting times and maybe begin future meetings earlier. One meeting was added on March 14th at 7:30 pm. All sub-committee chairs are requested to have their preliminary non-contingent and contingent numbers available on March 15th for discussion at the March 18th meeting. The Chair reminded members that the Saturday meeting is posted for 9:00 am March 18th at the Council on Aging.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
The next meeting of the Warrant Committee will be on Monday, March 06, 2006 at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia J. Winston, March 1, 2006
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