Warrant Committee January 28, 2008
Nineteenth Meeting
Present: k Conlon, T Hurley, B McLaughlin, s keel, b martin, e innes, j conley,
d biagiotti, j pinkus, l dee, K Chase
absent: j o’connor, j folcarelli, l walker
reserve fund: $ 174,111
School Set Aside: $ 92,500
Reserve Fund Balance: $ 81,611
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
The Committee received memoranda from Fire Chief Malcolm Larson regarding unpaid bills and an outline of level service, revised CBO and DPW budgets showing level service, warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting and Cherry Sheets showing the Governor’s proposed local aid and assessments for Milton.
The Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator met with the Warrant Committee for a discussion of the FY09 budget and the potential for a contingent budget recommendation. Among the topics discussed were reserve levels, Firefighter Pickens’ medical costs, utilities costs and the status of negotiations with the unions concerning GIC.
The Board of Health (Roxanne Musto, Anne Fidler and Tim Lowney) and Michael Blanchard, Health Director, met with the Warrant Committee to discuss their budget request. The request reflects level service. The Board expects the amount of the bioterrorism grant to be reduced. Members asked questions about the Board’s personnel and general expenses.
On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Chase, the minutes of January 16, 2008 were approved 7-0-3.
Chairman Conlon asked for a motion to authorize her and Secretary Hurley to ask the Retirement Board to consider extending payment of the unfunded actuarial liability. On a motion by Member McLaughlin and seconded by Member Keel the committee voted unanimously to authorize Chairman Conlon and Secretary Hurley to go to the Retirement Board meeting on Thursday, January 31, 2008, to explore the possibility of extending the payment schedule of the unfunded liability.
The next order of business was a request for a Reserve Fund transfer (RFT) in the amount of $21,176 to cover unemployment compensation for December 2007. A motion was made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Dee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund of $21,176 to pay the unemployment compensation, with the Committee voting unanimously in favor.
Chair Conlon reported on a discussion with Town Counsel about the Carol Blute Scholarship. Subcommittee chairs gave an update on the status of their meetings. Member Innes asked that the Committee send a letter to the School Committee requesting a status report on the hiring of 3.4 teachers for Pierce Middle School, including the level and salary at which they have been employed. Member Dee gave a brief report on a meeting with the School Administration. Member McLaughlin requested that the Committee send a separate letter to the School Committee asking for an explanation of the calculation of the Full Day Kindergarten program and the assumptions on which the calculation is based. The Committee would like to meet with a School Committee member to discuss Full Day Kindergarten. The Chair will
draft letters for consideration at the next meeting.
A motion to adjourn was made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member McLaughlin. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 7:30 PM.
reserve fund: $ 174,111
School Set Aside: $ 92,500
Reserve Fund Balance: $ 60,435
respectfully submitted,
Helen M. Kiddy
Senior Administrative Clerk
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