Present: Chris Carlin, Richard Crane, Paul Desmond, Peter Fimognari, John Goodrich, Michael Laferriere, Bob Margerison, Maureen O’Sullivan, Ann Lee (FinCom Admin. Asst.)
Also Present: Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Deb Mahar (Town Accountant), Dorothy Jenkins (Town Collector), Nicole Souci (Journal reporter)
Absent: Christine Edwards, Jim Pennington, Peter Ross
The meeting was convened at 6:30 p.m.
A motion was made, seconded, and SO VOTED to accept the minutes of the 1/31/05 meeting as written.
CORRESPONDENCE
A letter from the Monson Public Schools Dept. of Guidance & Student Support Services, dated January 20, 2005, was received. The members of this department wrote in support of continued funding for the School Resource Officer position, currently held by Officer Kristin Marciniec. The letter is on file.
A letter from Richard Guertin, Selectman, Chairman of the Long Range Financial Planning Committee, was received. He details he is still in the information gathering stage. Mr. Margerison and Mr. Fimognari stated they have volunteered to be a part of that committee. The letter is on file.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Info-Share Meeting of Jan. 31, 2005: Mr. Goodrich shared his findings at the Jan. 31 meeting.
The new format of the transportation budget was reviewed. It was suggested that additional line items be added. Overall, the new budget format will follow a more standardized format.
The preliminary school budget is over $400,000 over Net School Spending. The School Department understands that this is not a budget that the town can afford. It will continue to be a work in process. Mr. Goodrich believes Superintendent Woodbury will look for ways to eliminate any amounts above Net School Spending, in order to maneuver down to the NSS figure. Karen Patenaude, School Committee liaison, added that most members of the School Committee agree. Mr. Carlin asked Mr. Goodrich if there is yet a schedule established for the Info-Share meetings. Ms. Patenaude stated the next meeting is February 16 at 6:30 P.M. Mr. Goodrich continued that the school budget is to include a line item for 20,000 for the SRO position. The budget as it stands is approximately $473,000 above
NSS, $300,000 of which is earmarked for Special Education.
There was a discussion of the schools nearing capacity. Granite Valley’s capacity is 500; there are currently 503 students. The High School is not at capacity, but if eighth grade were moved to the High School, it would be over capacity. Quarry Hill is not at capacity; however, if an entire grade from Granite Valley were moved to Quarry Hill, it would be necessary to move the pre-school grade to Hillside. Mr. Goodrich stressed that the issue of capacity was brought up in a broad sense, in order to make the community aware that the school administration is looking at possibilities. There is currently no intention to move any grades. Mr. Carlin asked what criteria is used to determine capacity. Mr. Goodrich answered the square feet of rooms is one factor. Ms. Patenaude
added the state determines the criteria for capacity. Mr. Carlin asked how many years ago Granite Valley was renovated. Mr. Goodrich answered “three.” Mr. Carlin asked if there was an unexpected spike in growth that put us in this position. Mr. Goodrich answered that the projected numbers are low, and do not account for actual growth. He added that Monson is currently in a building “boom.” Mr. Carlin asked from where the data was collected when projecting growth, and added that three years is a very short period of time after the Granite Valley re-hab for the school to be above capacity. Ms. O’Sullivan noted that Granite Valley used to house six grades and now only has four. Ms. Patenaude said the question is, if anything was structurally changed during the re-hab. Mr. Fimognari stated that when the High School was in the planning stages, and the state set the capacity of it lower than that of the
middle school, he warned against setting the capacity too low. He added that he recommended building a new middle school, but the belief was to make the high school the “flagship” of the school system. Ms. O’Sullivan added that some high school students go elsewhere, that not every middle school student attends the Monson high school. Mr. Fimognari reiterated that the renovation might have resulted in lost space, and therefore lower capacity. Mr. Goodrich shared the enrollment figures he received at the Info-Share meeting.
Enrollment figures from 1994, compared to 2004, increased 10% to 15%
2001 to 2001 increased almost 40 students
increased 15 students
increased 70 students
increased 30 students
**these figures include pre-K figures
The student increase from 1999 to 2004 totaled 140. The projection for 2004-2009 is only 70. Mr. Goodrich questioned the validity of this projection because building increased greatly in 2001-2002. He believes the data used to make the projection does not take into account recent accelerated new growth. Mr. Carlin asked, from 1994 forward when was Kindergarten included in the enrollment numbers, and if Pre-K was included, from when. Mr. Fimognari answered that only when Kindergarten became full day was the number included. Mr. Carlin asked Mr. Goodrich to ask for clarification of that at the next Info-Share meeting. Mr. Fimognari noted that having built the new school should accommodate student population spikes because of the ability to move grades among the schools. Mr.
Goodrich again stressed that the discussion of school capacity was not meant as an alarm. It was very preliminary. He reiterated that Hillside’s availability is a positive thing, as it allows for student movement. Mr. Carlin asked Mr. Goodrich to ask about the capacity of each school at the next Info-Share meeting.
Mr. Goodrich changed the subject to busing. Next year is the last year of lease on six buses, and then the town will own them. Buses have a ten-year life cycle, so there will be four years without payments. The School Department intends to lower their budget request for buses for those four years. Mr. Goodrich believes this does not make sense. He believes there should be a bus-specific account that includes the regular payment amount, and those funds used to buy new buses as needed. It would keep the budget numbers stable. Ms. Mahar agreed. She said that if the School’s budget decreased, the money would be used elsewhere, and then there would be a shortage of funds when it came time to buy new buses. Mr. Carlin asked if there was any consideration of re-visiting bids
for buses. Mr. Goodrich said no. Mr. Carlin asked Mr. Goodrich to question that at the next meeting.
Mr. Goodrich said he had a question on the line item “office supplies and expense for buses” for $5288. Ms. Patenaude drew attention to the footnote that explained the amount was for “office supply and technology upgrade”. Mr. Goodrich responded that as it is for a new computer system, he asked the School Department to add a capital expense line item to the bus budget.
Highway Department Snow & Ice Removal: The Snow & Ice removal account needs additional funds. Mr. Fimognari motioned to allow the Highway Department to deficit spend for $50,00, the motion was seconded, and SO APPROVED. It was signed by all members present.
Budget Schedule: Mr. Goodrich suggested the starting point be to decide how much Free cash be spent, then monitor what the state does in terms of the budget. Mr. Desmond agreed. Mr. Fimognari also agreed. He added that FinCom need only meet with those departments that have requested anything more than level funding, and those that wish to meet. Mr. Carlin asked if the Pathfinder amount was included in Ms. Neggers budget presentation. Ms. Mahar said the change in their budget request was not, so the amount will increase. Mr. Margerison motioned to send a letter to Barbara Beaulieu for an update on Pathfinder’s FY 06 budget, and ask her to meet with FinCom at a future Monday meeting. The motion was seconded and SO APPROVED. Ms. Lee will contact Ms. Beaulieu.
Override Discussion: Mr. Goodrich asked if there is a “confident and accurate feeling” by this committee on the town’s vote or perception of a 2 ½ override at this time. Mr. Carlin stated that as that would be a matter of opinion, it would be better for FinCom to stick to more concrete ideas. Mr. Laferriere noted that overrides were voted down almost everywhere in the state. Ms. O’Sullivan added that last year’s vote was indicative of the town’s feelings. Mr. Goodrich explained that last year’s vote was very department-specific. He noted that we are funding operational budgets with reserves, not revenue, and the continued current trend will necessitate a significant override in the future. The other option might be a smaller override
with a reduction in services. Ms. O’Sullivan stated we need to look at our spending, not revenue, and to find ways to reduce spending. Mr. Margerison asked how that could be done. Ms. O’Sullivan responded that health insurance coverage could be negotiated. Ms. Mahar explained the town offers three health insurance policy options: the worker pays 15% for a single plan and 29% for a family under the HMO, which costs the town more, and the worker pays 50% under the other two choices.
Mr. Margerison suggested each department should request a specific amount for an override, and voters can then decide by each department. Mr. Carlin noted that is not the scope of FinCom. FinCom’s purpose is to decide how much free cash to spend.
Mr. Carlin asked Ms. Mahar if we should use the House 1 Budget. She said to use House 1, and she will have the cherry sheet available for the February 14 meeting. Mr. Margerison asked for the “ground rules” for examining departments’ budgets. Mr. Goodrich stated we should look at end figures, decide how much free cash is needed, and decide which budgets need to be scrutinized. Mr. Crane noted it is not FinCom’s responsibility to make each department’s budget; we decide how much we can give each department and let the department head make any necessary cuts. Mr. Carlin reiterated that once we determine how much is requested, and how much is available, FinCom cam determine how much free cash to use.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is February 14, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Accountant’s Office.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M. Lee
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
| 
