TWENTY-SIXTH MEETING WARRANT COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 22, 2006
PRESENT: K. Conlon, D. Biagiotti, J. Conley, W. Connors, H. Crichlow, N. Gray, T. Hurley, S. Keel, B. Mason, L. J. Walker.
ABSENT: T. Lowney, L. Dee, P. Nolan, J. O’Connor, C. Winston.
RESERVE FUND BALANCE: $271,354
Chair Conlon called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
On a motion made by Member Keel and seconded by Member Crichlow, the minutes of February 8, 2006 were approved 7-0-1.
The Committee received a revised Board of Health FY2007 preliminary salary sheet in the amount of $141,818 due to the reclassification of the Health Inspector from Level 4 to Level 5 from the Chair of the Personnel Board and a copy of a communication from the Chair of the Personnel Board to the Town Administrator regarding reclassifications.
The Committee received a memorandum from the Town Administrator regarding employee reclassifications and the Personnel Board’s request for an appropriation in FY 2007 for a non-union/non-school employee reclassification study.
A study prepared by the Boston District Council of the Urban Land Institute regarding the revitalization of the Central Avenue and Eliot Streets intersection was received by the Committee.
The Committee received a revised FY 2007 Cemetery Department budget in the amount of $599,983.
The Committee received a copy of a draft handout to Town Meeting Members relating to Article 1 (School Building Project) The Committee will review and, if needed, offer suggestions to the Chair prior to Monday, February 27, 2006. The Committee also received a copy of a letter to the Department of Revenue from the Chair of the Board of Selectmen, Marion McEttrick, regarding the DOR’s retroactive calculation of prior fiscal year debt service costs. In addition, the Committee received bonding costs for the school building project along with debt service analysis of the Collicott-Cunningham gym project prepared by bond consultant Lisa Dickinson.
A conference was held with former Selectmen John Michael Shields and Marvin A. Gordon, who discussed with the Committee their opposition to the Committee’s recommendation under Article 2 of the Special Town Meeting as it related to transferring $611,822 to the Stabilization fund from the Landfill Escrow Account. Mr. Shields and Mr. Gordon also discussed their plan to introduce an amendment to allow any remaining monies in that account be appropriated to the Capital Stabilization Fund to be used for capital needs only rather than the Stabilization Fund. The Committee will await the Moderator’s and Town Counsel’s ruling on whether a motion to appropriate $611,822 to the Capital Stabilization Fund rather than Stabilization Fund is within the scope of the article.
The Committee also received a letter from the Board of Assessors releasing an additional $109,648.19 from the Assessors Overlay Account.
The Committee, on a motion made by Member Connors and seconded by Member Keel, voted 9-0-0 to reopen Article 2 and add $109,648 to the original $270,000 to be transferred from the Overlay Reserve to meet the appropriation and reduce the appropriation to be transferred from free cash by $109,648.
The Committee received a request for a $7,687 Reserve Fund transfer from the Board of Assessors due to a shortfall in their FY 2006 salaries and wages appropriation caused by the replacement of their Senior Administrative Clerk with one at a higher step as permitted by the Southeastern Public Employees Association contract.. On a motion made by Member Biagiotti and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 8-0-0 to approve a $7,687 set aside from the Reserve Fund and requested an analysis of those positions which were affected by the bumping rights and information relating to last year’s reorganization..
On a motion made by Member Connors and seconded by Member Hurley, the Committee voted 8-0-0 to approve a $6,984 Reserve Fund transfer to the FY 2006 Unemployment Compensation appropriation for payment of the January activity.
A request 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 deferred pending further information.
The Committee discussed updated information concerning Articles 1 and 3.
The Committee received and reviewed recreational facilities construction cost estimates totaling $339,704 from the Board of Park Commissioners as requested by Article 3 of the February 27, 2006 Special Town Meeting.
The Committee received and reviewed spreadsheets involving FY 2007 expendituret and revenue projections.
RESERVE FUND BALANCE: $264,370
Assessors Set Aside 7,687
$256,683
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
The next meeting of the Warrant Committee will be on February 27, 2006 prior to the Special Town Meeting at Milton High School.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol A. Blute, Senior Administrative Clerk
February 27, 2006
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