Present: Chris Carlin, Tina Augustin, Paul Desmond, Christine Edwards, Peter Fimognari, John Goodrich, Bob Margerison, Maureen O’Sullivan, Pete Ross, Ann Lee (FinCom Admin. Asst.)
Also Present: Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Marty Gilmore (Assistant Town Accountant), John Morrell (Highway Surveyor), Donna Hall-Adams (School Committee)
Absent: Jim Pennington
The meeting was convened at 6:30 p.m.
Prior Minutes Correction: Mr. Fimognari motioned to strike from the minutes of March 21, 2005, in the second paragraph under the heading “Correspondence”, the portion beginning “The budget for Drug Testing is $200…” and ending “Mr. Morrell will look at the contract.” It was seconded and SO VOTED.
New Chairperson and Members: Mr. Goodrich motioned to elect Mr. Fimognari as Chairperson, filling the vacancy left by Mr. Carlin’s stepping down from that position. It was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Mr. Joel Keller was introduced to members. A motion was made to appoint Mr. Keller to the Finance Committee. It was seconded and SO VOTED.
A motion was made to appoint interim member Tina Augustin to the Finance Committee. It was seconded and SO VOTED.
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 5-9-05 meeting as written. It was seconded and SO VOTED.
CORRESPONDENCE
A copy of a letter to the Monson Board of Health from Dorothy Jenkins, Town Collector, was received. May 7, 2005 Bulky Day receipts totaling $3,673.14 were detailed. Monies collected are credited to the Trash Enterprise Fund or the revolving fund for recyclables.
The ATFC June newsletter was received. It is on file.
A bill was received for the ATFC FY06 dues of $155.00. Mr. Goodrich motioned to pay the Association of Town Finance Committees $155.00 for FY06 dues. It was seconded and SO VOTED.
The ATFC annual meeting will be November 5, 2005 at Holy Cross, Worcester.
The 17th Annual Monson Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held August 1, 2005 at The Country Club of Wilbraham.
The June 2005 copy of “The Beacon” was received. It is on file.
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OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
New Vice Chairperson: A motion was to elect Mr. Ross to fill the Vice Chairperson vacancy left by Mr. Fimognari’s new role as Chairperson. It was seconded and SO VOTED unanimously.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Park and Rec Field Maintenance Salary: The amount of $520.00 is requested to offset a shortage that is the result of a computation error. Mr. Margerison asked why the department was not checking the budget. Ms. Neggers reminded FinCom of the e-mail sent by Ms. Mahar to Mr. Carlin June 24, explaining the transfers that would be needed and ascertaining that FinCom did not expect a problem voting for these transfers. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $520.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Park & Rec Field Maintenance Salary account. Mr. Margerison seconded the motion and it was SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to School Van Purchase: The amount of $1,912.50 is requested to complete the current year payment due for the purchase of a new replacement van. This is the same amount billed to and expected from the City of Springfield for van services, expected to be paid by mid-July. The payment, when received, will be returned to the General Fund.
Mr. Carlin asked if the impact on School Excludable will be an increase in the bottom line, and requested FinCom receive confirmation from Ms. Mahar when the payment is received. He also wondered whether salaries and excludables should be broken out within the Transportation budget. Ms. Neggers explained Monson is “lucky to have” that detailed a budget; towns such as Palmer and Belchertown do not. To require further detail could invite unwarranted scrutiny.
Mr. Goodrich stated he realizes this is an accounting issue, but questions doing this transfer with the current “spotlight” on the School. Mr. Fimognari asked why extra funds in the School Transportation budget were used to purchase a van instead of returning the money to the town. Ms. Hall-Adams explained the purchase was voted upon in June when the extra funds became known. Mr. Fimognari asked what the $10,000 in the FY06 budget is for. Ms. Hall-Adams explained it is for the purchase of a used van. Ms. Neggers stated a new handicapped-accessible van was purchased for $17,000. The School’s front line van at the time was one the Senior Center would no longer use. She stated it was a “good purchase.”
Mr. Ross motioned to transfer $1912.50 from the Reserve Fund to the School Van Purchase account. It was seconded. Mr. Carlin stated FinCom needs to get further information on School excludables. The motion was SO VOTED – with Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Fimognari and Mr. Carlin abstaining.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Highway Administration: The amount of $1,100.00 is needed to pay for operational expenses and building repairs for the rest of FY05, in part because of the installation of the new garage doors. Mr. Morrell asked the amount be amended to $500.00. Mr. Ross motioned to transfer $500.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Highway Administration account. It was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Road Machinery: The amount of $2,000.00 is needed to pay for repairs to dump truck #5, which broke down in Brockton, MA and had to be towed to the nearest International Truck facility in Wareham, MA. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $2,000.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Road Machinery account, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Conservation Commission: The amount of $450.00 is needed to pay for advertising hearings in the Republican newspaper. Ms. Neggers noted the increased need for legal ads is a result of the pace of development in the town. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $450.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Conservation Commission, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Zoning Board of Appeals: The amount of $800.00 is needed to pay for advertising hearings in the Republican newspaper. Ms. Neggers again cited the pace of development in town. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $800.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Zoning Board of Appeals. It was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Utility Reserve Fund to School Department: The amount of $18,125.86 is needed to pay for utilities for the buildings covered by this account. Ms. Neggers explained this transfer was voted for at the STM to fill tanks at the end of FY05. Mr. Margerison motioned to transfer $18,125.86 from the Utility Reserve Fund to the School Department, Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was SO VOTED, with Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Fimognari and Mr. Carlin abstaining.
Request for Transfer from Utility Reserve Fund to Municipal Buildings: The amount of $8,283.98 is needed to pay for utilities for the buildings covered by this account. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $8,283.98 from the Utility Reserve Fund to the Municipal Buildings account, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Utility Reserve Fund to Fire House Operating: The amount of $291.78 is needed to pay for utilities for the building(s) covered by this account. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $291.78 from the Utility Reserve Fund to the Fire House Operating account, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Utility Reserve Fund to Highway Administration: The amount of $1,369.30 is needed to pay for utilities for the building(s) covered by this account. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $1,369,30 from the Utility Reserve Fund to the Highway Administration account, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Utility Reserve Fund to Cemetery Department: The amount of $524.17 is needed to pay for utilities for the building(s) covered by this account. Ms. Augustin motioned to transfer $524.17 from the Utility Reserve Fund to the Cemetery Department account , it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Emergency Management: The amount of $200.00 is needed. A motion was made to transfer $200.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Emergency Management account, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Request for Transfer from Reserve Fund to Household Hazardous Waste: The amount of $1,500.00 is needed, as there is no way to know beforehand how many residents will participate in this event. A motion was made to transfer $1,500.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Household Hazardous Waste account, it was seconded and SO VOTED.
FinCom FY06 budget: The committee reviewed its FY06 budget.
Certification of Appropriations: The committee reviewed the Certification of Appropriations for the ATM and STM held May 9, 2005.
Administrative Assistant’s Bill: The committee reviewed Ms. Lee’s bill for 12-6-04 through 6-20-05, totaling $2141,56. Mr. Ross motioned to approve payment, Mr. Goodrich seconded the motion and it was SO VOTED.
Info Share for FY06: Ms. Hall-Adams explained she and Mr. Kaiser are looking at the way other school systems communicate information to towns. She asked FinCom if InfoShare is an effective process and if there are ways it could be improved.
Mr. Ross felt it should be yearlong. Ms. Hall-Adams explained the School Committee does not get next-year budget information until January. Mr. Carlin asked for a Mission statement to be created and presented to FinCom. Ms. Hall-Adams replied she is currently looking for feedback on what is and is not effective. Mr. Goodrich stated there is no clear understanding of the allocation of funds. Ms. Hall-Adams replied she is looking at accountability and would like to see more dialogue, where questions are asked of the School Committee that the School Committee can then ask of the Administration.
Mr. Goodrich stated he feels InfoShare does not need to begin until the School Committee gets its first presentation from the School Administration. Mr. Ross said it seemed only shortages were reported, not revenue, such as the Circuit Breaker. Mr. Margerison asked if the School received any additional money from the state. Ms. Hall-Adams replied it did not.
Fall STM: Ms. Neggers explained there will most likely be a Fall STM. Not all items will be financial in nature. There are unknowns regarding the landfill, land taking, and the South Main Street School.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee will be September 12, 2005 at 6:30.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M. Lee, Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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