MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 2, 2009
Present: Maureen O'Sullivan, Bob Margerison, Peter Ross, Joel Keller, Bob Finnegan,
Christine Edwards, Gerald Brayton, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Ed Harrison (Board of Selectmen), Hope Bodwell (Library Director)
Absent: Peter Fimognari, Jim Pennington
The meeting was convened at 6:50pm
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 2/23/09 meeting with the following correction to add Hope Bodwell (Library Director); it was seconded and SO VOTED.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Expenditure Ledger dated 2/28/2009
- Expenditure of Funds by the Highway Department for snow and ice removal.
- Amount: $75,000
- Motion was made; it was seconded and SO VOTED.
- School Committee request to attend the next FinCom meeting. Mr. Keller asked FinCom if they agreed to have the School Committee come to the next meeting. They all said yes. Mr. Keller will RSVP and ask for an agenda.
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
NONE
Mr. Keller asked Mr. Harrison if anything new from the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Harrison said it has been quiet.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Discussion on FinCom member’s budget priorities:
Mr. Keller sent out an updated spreadsheet showing FinCom members ratings of 1-4 (1 being the first to cut and 4 being the last they would recommend cutting).
Mr. Keller went through each line item with all FinCom members and attached a rating number to each item. Some line items were highlighted and FinCom members suggested having that Department Head attend a FinCom meeting. The following is an overview of the discussion with the FinCom members:
- Collector Clerk and Assistant Collector money from Enterprise:
Ask Ms. Mahar more information on what the implications would be if reduced.
- Town Clerk reduce assistant to 5hr days: Discuss with Town Clerk
- Police Expense: Discuss with the chief
- Reduce fire department clerk to 7hr days: Discuss with chief
- Eliminate two EMT’s:
FinCom asked Mr. Harrison, if the override fails is Board of Selectmen recommending not filling the two EMT position. Mr. Harrison said that that is a fair assessment.
- Reduce Bldg Clerk to 7hr days: Discuss with department head
- Cemetery Laborer and Cemetery Dept expenses: Discuss with department head
- COA reduce van driver to 7.5hr days: Discuss with department head
- Library and Recreation: discussion on reducing open hours. Ms. Bodwell said this has been difficult to do. She would not like to have to cut more hours. She is trying to keep a balance and keep everyone happy with the hours she has now. Ms. Bodwell said she sent FinCom a memo explaining her situation now. She is the only full time employee; she took two full time positions and cut it to a part time position. Mr. Margerison asked her how much money she gets in aid. Ms. Bodwell said she gets $15,000 is state aid and she did get a waiver. The annual appeal raised $20,000. Mr. Margerison asked if the library pays for speakers. Ms. Bodwell said they do not. Money from grants or donations pays for speakers. Computers are paid for by restricted donations.
- Recreation Expense Line: FinCom concerned with department heads from Park and Rec. and the Cemetery both mowing lawns.
Mr. Ross will request again from the Park and Rec. department what they spend on maintenance.
Mr. Ross will request an updated School Budget and Transportation and will forward it to FinCom to have for March 9, 2009 meeting with the School Department.
Mr. Keller will get an agenda from the School Department to have for the meeting.
Ms. O'Sullivan asked Mr. Harrison about the three different types of overrides he mentioned at the last meeting. She asked what is a debt exclusion override. Ms. Neggers said she believes that a debt exclusion override is used for building projects, school projects.
The next scheduled meetings of the Finance Committee are:
Monday, March 9, 2009 at 6:45pm.
Monday, March 16, 2009 at 6:45pm
Monday, March 23, 2009 at 6:5pm
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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