MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 30, 2007
Present: Peter Fimognari, Pete Ross, Bob Margerison, Maureen O’Sullivan, Jim Pennington, Christine Edwards, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Deb Mahar (Finance Director), Nancy Morrell (Town Clerk), Craig Jalbert (Water/Sewer Department)
Absent: Tina Augustin, John Goodrich, Joel Keller, Chris Carlin
The meeting was convened at 6:35 p.m.
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 4-24-07 meeting, as written. With the following corrections:
· Under ATM Recommendations Education: Motion was made to accept Education in its entirety, it was seconded and SO VOTED, with Mr. Fimognari, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Pennington abstaining, and one NAY vote. Corrected to: Motion was made to accept Education in its entirety, it was seconded with Mr. Fimognari, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Pennington abstaining, one NAY vote and two YES votes.
· Under ATM Recommendations Education: Change “IAP” to “IEP”
· Change the order of the minutes to show discussions with Departments before the ATM Recommendations
It was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
Memorandum from Gerald Paist, Superintendent-Director of Pathfinder Regional Vocational-Technical High School District, to Municipal Officials Pathfinder Member Towns, dated April 23, 2007 RE: Revised FY08 Assessments. Revised assessments amount for Monson: $715,098.00
Ms. Morrell presented State Ethics Commission Letter to FinCom. She explained that a town employee cannot sell items such as raffle tickets, cookies, crafts, etc during town working hours.
Copy of the Municipal Advocate
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS
None
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Morrell, Town Clerk met with FinCom to revisit her budget. Her original request for Clerk expense was $2,217.00 and Elections and Registration was $13,375.00. Her revised request for Clerk expense to $9,367.00 and Elections and Registration to $5,605.00
Mr. Ross made a motion to amend Clerk expense total to $9,367.00, it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Mr. Ross made a motion to amend Elections and Registration expense total to $5,605.00; it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Ms. Morrell stated to FinCom that the state has mandates that she has to follow. Mr. Ross responded by saying at some point the town does the best it can but we are not going to meet every state mandate issue. Ms. O’Sullivan also responded that the town can’t keep up with all the state mandates; we just don’t have the money.
Discussion regarding School Van: Mr. Fimognari asked what happens if the student does not use that van. Mr. Ross responded by saying that he feels the school committee is working very hard to keep things in line.
Annual Town Warrant Recommendations The committee reviewed the omnibus and voted as follows:
Education: School Department-
Motioned was made to accept $10,203,056 raise and appropriate; and $150,00 transfer and appropriate from Free Cash, it was seconded and SO VOTED, with Mr. Fimognari, Mr. Pennington abstaining.
Education: School Excludable (TRANSPORTATION)-
Motion was made to accept $700,982 raise and appropriate; and $36,859 transfer and appropriate from Free Cash, it was seconded and SO VOTED, with Mr. Fimognari, Mr. Pennington abstaining.
Public Works: Highway Department Snow and Ice-
Motion was made to accept $100,000 raise and appropriate; $25,000 transfer and appropriate from Free Cash; it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Unclassified: Health Insurance-
Motion was made to accept $1,464,300 raise and appropriate; and $105,000 transfer and appropriate from Free Cash; it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Unclassified: Annual Capital-
Motion was made to accept $249,330 raise and appropriate; and $17,180 transfer and appropriate from Overlay Surplus; it was seconded and SO VOTED, unanimously.
Discussion with Mr. Jalbert, Water/Sewer Department:
Special Town Warrant Article 18 and 19. Mr. Jalbert said they are hiring two appraisers so they have two sets of numbers. He said that when the two land owners were originally approached they were co-operative, but when the discussion of money started, they requested more. Each parcel of land is 1/3 acre that can’t be developed and is not being used for anything now. They are planning on putting the new tank next to the old tank. The first storage tank was built in 1966; the two homes were built afterwards. Mr. Jalbert said if the town takes the land by eminent domain, the owners have three years to sue to the town. Monson has to have ownership of the land by October or they lose the funding. Mr. Jalbert asked FinCom to vote a recommendation on the water project article 17, but
understands if FinCom defers Articles 18 and 19.
Annual Town Warrant: The Committee voted as follows:
Article 6 SO VOTED to change amount to $715,098
Article 12 SO VOTED
Article 16 SO VOTED to change “Free Cash” to “Overlay Surplus”
Article 26 SO VOTED – To defer to the Planning Board
Article 27 SO VOTED – To defer to the Planning Board
Special Town Warrant: The Committee voted as follows:
Article 1 SO VOTED -$1,000.00
Article 2 SO VOTED -$1,000.00
Article 3 SO VOTED -$2,000.00
Article 4 SO VOTED to transfer $1,500.00 from the Blanket Insurance Account
Article 5 SO VOTED -$3,000.00
Article 6 SO VOTED -$7,000.00
Article 7 SO VOTED to transfer $11,000.00 from Free Cash
Article 8 Three YES, One NAY and Two abstain to transfer $3,600.00 from the Veteran’s Benefits Account
Article 9 SO VOTED -$1,800.00
Article 10 SO VOTED to transfer $2,000.00 from Selectmen’s Salary Account
Article 11 SO VOTED to transfer $18,000.00 from Free Cash
Article 12 SO VOTED to transfer $7,000.00 from the Blanket Insurance Account
Article 13 SO VOTED -$250.00
Article 14 SO VOTED to transfer $1,500.00 from the Assessor’s Expense Account and $3,012.00 from the Assessor’s Encumbered Account
Article 15 SO VOTED –$8,500 from the FICA/Medicare-Town Share Account and $4,500 from Interest on Borrowed Money Account.
Article 16 SO VOTED -$20,000 from Free Cash with Ms. Edwards abstaining
Article 17 SO VOTED-$1,800,000.00
Article 18 SO VOTED
Article 19 SO VOTED
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is:
Monday, May 14, 2007 at Granite Valley Middle School, Teacher’s Room
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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