Present: Peter Fimognari, Tina Augustin, Chris Carlin, Christine Edwards, John Goodrich, Joel Keller, Bob Margerison, Maureen O’Sullivan, Ann Lee (FinCom Admin. Asst.)
Also Present: Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Deb Mahar (Town Accountant), Ed Harrison (Selectman), Dot Jenkins (Town Collector), Donna Hall-Adams (School Committee), Kurt Kaiser (School Committee)
Absent: Paul Desmond, Jim Pennington, Pete Ross
The meeting was convened at 6:35 p.m.
A motion was made, and seconded, to accept the minutes of the 2-13-05 minutes as written. It was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
A letter dated 2-6-06 was received from Dr. Gerald Paist, Pathfinder Superintendent. Their FY07 proposed budget presentation meeting is scheduled for March 15. Jim Pennington and Maureen Sullivan will attend.
A letter was received from the Association of Town Finance Committees announcing dues for FY07 will be $165, a 2.5% increase over last year. A bill will be sent in July.
A letter dated 3-2-06 from the Massachusetts Municipal Association was received. The 2006 Spring Regional Update meetings are scheduled and FinCom members are invited. Mr. Keller will attend.
ealth HH
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Request for Transfer from Conservation Commission: A request for transfer for $800 from the Reserve Fund to the Conservation Commission is requested. The funds are needed to cover the cost of legal ads. Mr. Margerison motioned to transfer $800 from the Reserve Fund to the Conservation Commission. It was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Request for Transfer from Zoning Board of Appeals: A request for transfer for $500 from the Reserve Fund to the Zoning Board of Appeals is requested. The funds are needed to cover the cost of legal ads. Mr. Goodrich motioned to transfer $500 from the Reserve Fund to the Zoning Board of Appeals. It was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Finance Committee FY07 Budget: The FY07 budget is level funded for Reserve Fund and Expense lines. Salaries increased 2%.
School Budget Deficit Figures as of 3-3-06: On Friday, 3-3-06, a memo was e-mailed to Peter Fimognari from Dr. Ameruoso, Interim Superintendent, detailing the budget deficit resulting from the implementation of a new program of services for autistic children. The grand total budget deficit for Special Education is $136,865. Dr. Ameruoso explained the events that led to the deficit, adding the School department is working toward reducing the shortage by the end of the year.
On Monday, 3-6-06, a memo was e-mailed to Peter Fimognari from Dr. Ameruoso. The document, which FinCom assumes was sent schoolwide, imposed a “moratorium on budgetary expenditures. Only those expenditures which are deemed critical to the operation of the district such as fuel oil and electricity will be approved in addition to any contractual obligations such as salaries.”
The committee, greatly distressed by the news of this deficit, requested a letter be sent to Dr. Ameruoso asking:
What is meant by moratorium
Does this affect the general student population, and how
Are these unexpended funds then diverted to Special Education
Mr. Fimognari asked about the School’s fuel budget. Ms. Mahar explained it is approximately half expended, and the last delivery was in January.
Mr. Goodrich noted that FinCom is being notified of this shortage at the same time they were notified last year of last year’s shortage. It is almost too late in the school year to do anything meaningful to offset the deficit. The committee discussed this point and agreed the scenario is indeed disturbingly similar.
Ms. Neggers explained she, Ms. Mahar and Dr. Ameruoso met in December to discuss the deficit, which at that time was approximately $80,000. Dr. Ameruoso estimated it would decrease; yet it has risen to approximately $137,000.
Mr. Goodrich mentioned the proposed “budgetary reserve” to be built into the School’s FY07 budget. Ms. Neggers noted that Selectman Norbut is inviting the School Committee Chair Norma Germain, FinCom Chair Pete Fimognari and Interim Superintendent Dr. Frank Ameruoso to a meeting on 3-21-06. Selectman Harrison noted the question should be asked if the School Committee looks at the budget monthly. Mr. Carlin noted it should be clarified if Special Education dollars “follow” a student moving into the district.
FY07 Projections: Ms. Mahar presented the FY07 revenue projection. The numbers are based on the House 1 budget, which is likely to change.
Ms. Mahar also presented the FY07 budget worksheet. A few items to note are:
The Highway Surveyor removed a requested 2.5% additional salary increase
The Highway Surveyor removed a request for a computer
The School budget is at net school spending
School transportation is level funded
Pathfinder is rounded to the nearest hundred thousand
Mr. Goodrich asked Mr. Harrison if the Selectmen discussed the added EMT’s and formed any opinion. Mr. Harrison replied it is hard to argue against the positions, adding it is worthy of an override, if necessary. Ms. Neggers explained the Selectmen moved the request forward in the budget, as was done last year.
Discussion with School Committee members: Ms. Adams and Mr. Kaiser arrived to speak to FinCom. Mr. Goodrich asked why there was a delay in the reaction to enrollments in the autism program. Ms. Adams clarified the enrollment occurred 10-17-05, 10-26-05, 11-21-05, 11-27-05, 11-13,06 and an estimated 4-29-06, not from last July on as Dr. Ameruoso’s memo said. She reiterated what the memo explained, that the deficit is comprised of
Program for children with autism |
($57,363) |
Speech |
($17,000) |
Out-of-district placement |
($59,502) |
SPED tutoring |
($3,000) |
Total deficit |
($136,865) |
Ms. Adams $62,637 was found in line items, bringing the shortage autism program shortage to its approximate $57,363, as explained in Dr. Ameruoso’s e-mail.
Mr. Goodrich if a student comes into the school system, who is already in a SPED program, does the money for services come with the student, and conversely, if a student leaves the system, does the amount needed for services decrease. Ms. Adams explained that if a student comes into Monson, with modifications in place, from a MA school system, the transferring school pays for services for the remainder of the school year. The next school year it becomes Monson’s responsibility. If a student leaves Monson with modifications in place, and goes to a MA school system, Monson is responsible for the cost of services for the remainder of the school year.
Mr. Kaiser explained that the spending moratorium does indeed hurt the general student population. For example, aides are not being replaced as vacancies occur.
Mr. Goodrich again noted the issue is one of time. He asked where the accountability is for such a delay in getting this information to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Harrison asked that when budget dollars are re-allocated for use by the Special Ed department, do those expenditures show as SPED expenditures. He questioned whether the accounting trail shows that SPED actually used those dollars; not the department originally slated to use that money. Mr. Kaiser said the accounting shows those expenditures as SPED ones.
Ms. Adams noted that last year the town approved $90,000 for SPED deficit, and the following day a shortage of $294,000 in SPED was discovered. She explained the money was found to cover the shortage. Mr. Goodrich stated that only points to poor management and budget practices.
Presentation by Selectman Richard Guertin: Ms. Neggers explained Selectman Guertin is ready to present his initial findings on departmental budget needs and the town’s annual capital needs for the next 20 years. Ms. Lee will e-mail Selectman Guertin to invite him to present this information to FinCom.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is March 13, 2006 at 6:30.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M. Lee, Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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