MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 9, 2007
Present: Peter Fimognari, Pete Ross, Chris Carlin, Joel Keller, Bob Margerison, Maureen O’Sullivan, Jim Pennington, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Deb Mahar (Finance Director), Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Ed Harrison (Selectmen), Jen (Journal Register), Karen Patenaude (School Committee), Michael Kane (School Committee), John Morrell (Highway Department), Paul Lovell (Cemetery Department), Shawn and Dave (Cemetery Department)
Absent: Tina Augustin, John Goodrich, Christine Edwards
The meeting was convened at 6:35 p.m.
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 4-2-07 meeting, as written. It was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
Memo to FinCom from Judith White, Executive Director Monson Council on Aging regarding FY 2008 Budget. The Monson Council on Aging request changing the figures in the expense and salary accounts, as recommended by the Finance Committee:
Finance Committee Recommendation: Salary: $144,500 Expense: $11,660
Council on Aging Recommendation: Salary: $146,779 Expense: $9,371
The recommended bottom line of $156,160 does not change.
Request For Transfer From the Reserve Fund dated March 23, 2007.
Amount Requested: $4,250.00
Appropriation account: Cemetery Unemployment 491-5172-E100
Present balance in said appropriation: $-340.00
The amount used to cover the unemployment expense for the cemetery department
· Request For Transfer From the Reserve Fund dated April 9, 2007.
Amount Requested: $13,000.00
Appropriation Account: Emergency Repairs
Present balance in said appropriation: $6,600.00
The amount used to assist Mass Highway with installation of temporary bridge on Bunyan Road. Mass Highway ordered the bridge closing.
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS
Info Share Meeting: Mr. Fimognari attended the Info Share meeting. Mr. Fimognari stated that Ms. Patenaude (School Committee), requested FinCom to revisit line item 301 School Excludable in the budget. School Committee requested $737,841.00 and FinCom recommendation was $710,000.00. Ms. O’Sullivan asked if line item 301 includes health insurance costs. Ms. Mahar said no it includes salary, fuel oil, operating expenses for buses and van driver’s salary.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Meeting with Mr. Lovell, Cemetery Department at 6:45pm: Mr. Lovell was invited by FinCom to discuss his Request For Transfer From the Reserve Fund dated March 23, 2007 for unemployment. Mr. Lovell plans to change the work schedule this year to 16 weeks /19 hours a week to avoid having to pay unemployment in the future.
· Mr. Ross requested the balance in the reserve fund: $22,740.00. He made a motion to transfer $4,250.00 from the Reserve Fund to Cemetery Unemployment it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
The issue was raised as seeing how Mr. Lovell is out of money for part time seasonal helper until July, if he does not use all of the unemployment money can he move the remaining balance over to the seasonal fund and bring in a seasonal worker?
Ms. Mahar said he could not use unemployment money for salary.
· Meeting with Mr. Morrell, Highway Department at 7:00pm: Mr. Morrell discussed his Request For Transfer From the Reserve Fund dated April 9, 2007 for $13,000.00 for Emergency Repairs. Present balance in said appropriation: $6,600.00.
· This is to assist Mass Highway with installation of temporary bridge on Bunyan Road. Mass Highway ordered the bridge closing.
· The amount of this job is $83,000.00. Mass Highway wants The Town of Monson to contribute $18,117.96 and Mass Highway will pay the remainder.
· Ms. Neggers said they are trying to do a transfer of $13,000.00 back into the town’s reserve fund.
· Mr. Margerison made a motion to transfer $13,000.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Emergency Repairs account it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
· Mr. Morrell wanted to discuss the override article of $125,000.00 for the Highway Department. He requested FinCom put this amount in a separate account ie: Road Repairs Account.
· Appropriation will be done if an override goes through.
· Meeting with Ms. Mahar, Finance Director at 7:15pm: Ms. Mahar discussed the Actuarial Study and the additional $11,000.00 to the Audit line item. This is not a recurring charge. This is for one year only and next year the amount should return to the Audit amount. Ms. Mahar will note this occurrence.
· Ms. Mahar received a call from Marshall Harris, Fire Department. EMT Position will not be filled so deduct $400.00 from Line Item 226, Ambulance Expense for EMT uniform.
Discussion re: FY08 Budget and the School Committee:
Mr. Kane asked FinCom members if they had any questions:
· FinCom requested a copy of the transportation budget from the school committee. Mr. Kane will give this to Mr. Fimognari at Wednesday’s meeting.
· Mr. Ross wanted to discuss the newspaper article regarding the three different packages for 1.4 million. Mr. Ross suggested putting a teacher in the first package rather than the third package. Mr. Kane said he just received the resignation from the Technology Director. They might be looking at the possibility of a different line up from what was in the paper. He said the school committee is still working on this, looking over the three packages and scrutinizing all the issues.
· Ms. O’Sullivan questioned Hillside revenue. Who is in Hillside and can they move to a different building?
Ms. Patenaude stated that there are several factors to consider before you close a building like Hillside. To reopen a building requires a large amount of money.
· Mr. Kane said that the school committee is checking every line item very carefully, before going to
the town for an override.
· Ms. Patenaude said the school committee has come up with some policy changes for the Superintendent of Schools such as preventing any contract negotiations without the school committee and a deadline of April 15 given to look at the administrative side for some money.
An updated proposed budget was sent via email to all Department Heads.
The next scheduled meetings of the Finance Committee are:
April 17-Dept Head meeting
April 24 and
April 30, 2007.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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