MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 26, 2007
Present: Peter Fimognari, Pete Ross, Chris Carlin, John Goodrich, Joel Keller, Bob Margerison, Maureen O’Sullivan, Jim Pennington, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Deb Mahar (Finance Director), Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Judy White (Council on Aging Director), Ed Harrison (Selectman), Glen Peck, Don Fagen, Hope Bodwell (Library), Dot Jenkins (Town Collector), Kathleen Norbut (Selectman), Jennifer (Journal Register)
Absent: Tina Augustin, Christine Edwards
The meeting was convened at 6:35 p.m.
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from John Morrell, Highway Surveyor to Mr. Goodrich. At the request of FinCom, to provide prices for catch basin cleaning. Mr. Morrell received only one quote for a three-week minimum of $29,250.00 (quote attached to letter).
Request for transfer from the reserve fund dated March 23, 2007. Ms. Mahar will look into this.
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
· Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Phillip B. Royce II, regarding specific issues with transportation of students.
· Massachusetts Municipal Association Spring 2007 Regional Update Meetings:
No one from the FinCom will be attending.
· Association of Town Finance Committees Spring Workshop May 3, 2007 at the Amherst Town Hall
If anyone would like to go please let Ms. Payette know.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Meeting with Judy White, Council on Aging Director: Ms. White stated she submitted a budget for what is needed.
She added a part time clerical position at $7,686.00
Additional hours for outreach coordinator, lost outreach person this year
Cook position increased hours and minimum wage increase-mostly grant funded-so you will not see this on the budget
Discussion re: FY08 Budget Priorities: Mr. Goodrich stated the overall goal is to give the town a balanced budget and to get a working budget back to the department heads.
Mr. Fimognari started the process off by going around to all FinCom members and asked them what changes they made to the budget worksheet.
Mr. Ross made the following suggestions:
Removed from the budget $225,251.00 and used $315,000.00 free cash with a shortfall of $80,316.00
Mr. Fimognari suggested the following reductions:
Line item 163 Elect. & Reg. Salaries to $6,000.00
Line item 163 Elect. & Reg. Expenses to $8,375.00
Line item 171 Conservation Comm. to $5,013.00
Line item 195 Town Report level funded
Line item 491 Cemetery Dept. Expense $18,070.00
Mr. Carlin questioned what has been spent from line item 009 Petro Prod. $132,470.00
In FY06 $116,000.00 was spent
So far this year $124,000.00 spent, the remainder from $132,470.00 will go into free cash.
Mr. Carlin also questioned what was spent from line item 144 Land Court $7,500.00
$2,900.00 spent so far this year
$5,200.00 spent last year.
Mr. Carlin asked if the most cost effective benefits were being available regarding line items:
911 Pensions, 914 Health and Life Insurance and 915 FICA, Town Share
Ms. Mahar stated that she tracks and audits these accounts.
Discussion regarding Line item 422 Gen. Hwy. & Bridges:
Mr. Ross suggested removing $74,250.00 and
Mr. Carlin suggested going back to the FY06 amount of $179,685.00
Discussion regarding Prior Year Tax Bills: It was reported that nothing is outstanding for FY06.
Ms. O’Sullivan, Mr. Margerison and Mr. Pennington stated that many of their suggestions regarding the budget worksheet were the same as other FinCom members.
Mr. Keller suggested the following reductions:
10% across the board with a total of $228,000.00 in reductions. He asked Hope Bodwell, (Library), what the savings would be if they closed the library two days of week, Ms. Bodwell was not sure of that amount. Mr. Keller did a rough estimate savings of $70,000.00 for a total of $298,000.00 total reduction.
Mr. Keller stated that his three priorities were the Police, Environmental issues and school issues. He is concerned about the image Monson will have to potential new comers. Mr. Goodrich responded by saying that his primary focus is to protect those people who have lived in Monson for many years, helping it to grow to the town it is today and to help it continue to grow for years to come.
After FinCom members stated their suggestions Mr. Ross went through each line item and updated the amounts. Ms. Mahar entered the FinCom recommended amounts for FY08. Ms. Mahar will send via email an updated budget worksheet to all department heads marked as DRAFT.
Discussion with Ms. Norbut: Ms. Norbut reviewed a few items:
· Schoolteachers getting 2.875 over 3 years. Ms. Mahar said she would be talking with a Representative from MTA to get a clearer understanding of what that percentage increase is.
· Ms. Norbut stated the town has many options and the town will survive without an override.
· Legislature is getting a lot of pressure regarding Chapter 70
· School committee voted to ask the Board of Selectmen for a 1.4 million override just for the schools.
o $470,000.00 chapter 70 money and what is needed to provide level services
o $417,000.00 to get additional staff/teachers
o $100,000.00 for text books
o $100,000.00 for Special Education positions not provided by grants
The next scheduled meetings of the Finance Committee are April 2, April 9, April 17-Dept Head meeting, April 24 and April 30, 2007.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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