MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 13, 2009
Present: Joel Keller, Peter Ross, Maureen O'Sullivan, Bob Finnegan, Bob Margerison, Jim Pennington, Gerry Brayton, Peter Fimognari, Christine Edwards, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Deb Mahar (Finance Director), Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Richard Guertin (Board of Selectmen)
Absent: None
The meeting was convened at 6:45pm
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 3/16/09 meeting; with the following changes: Mr. Keller remarked that he feels the challenge is to get the town involved. Need to find a better way of dealing with the situation rather just saying no to an override.
Add in Ms. O'Sullivan's discussion with Stephen Kozloski, Police Chief on the Quinn Bill. The Chief said he thinks that the legislature is going to be looking at the Quinn Bill. He said the state gives 50% and the town gives 50%, its split.
It was seconded and SO VOTED with Mr. Finnegan and Mr. Ross abstaining, they were not at the meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Email letter supporting the Library
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
Ms. O'Sullivan attend the Board of Selectmen meeting after the FinCom meeting. Ms. Neggers was discussing options with the Board of Selectmen now that the override did not pass.
Mr. Ross asked Ms. O'Sullivan if she got an idea of a time line from the Board of Selectmen regarding the budget.
Mr. Guertin said the Board of Selectmen is reviewing the budget independently. He said the members will bring their thoughts together at the next meeting on Tuesday night. He would like FinCom to come up with thoughts on the budget and share with the Board of Selectmen to move forward to the town meeting. Mr. Guertin said he had hoped to receive something from FinCom already.
Ms. O'Sullivan said she thought FinCom would be getting figures from the Board of Selectmen. She's not comfortable not having set figures, they are always changing. Mr. Guertin suggested going with the worst case scenario.
Mr. Margerison said he would have liked to see Mr. Guertin's paper showing $200,000 in cuts he mentioned a month or so ago at a meeting.
Ms. O'Sullivan asked Mr. Keller why he apologized to Mr. Guertin at the Board of Selectmen's meeting. Mr. Keller said he stayed for the Board of Selectmen's meeting and at the end of the meeting it was asked where FinCom was with the budget process. Mr. Keller explained his frustration that FinCom couldn't come up with a proposal to present to the Board of Selectmen. He said he apologized to the Board of Selectmen because he thought FinCom had a good process but was unable to come up with a proposal. He said he is trying to move forward with it.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion with Finance Committee regarding budget process:
Mr. Keller explained why this FinCom meeting was televised. He said that the public has commented that they would like to see FinCom on TV, so he thought it would be good to have their meeting televised.
Ms. O'Sullivan continued the discussion regarding the budget process. She said that as a committee it was voted last week to not eliminate an entire department but to make cuts to all departments.
Ms. Mahar stated to FinCom that the spreadsheet was presented to FinCom as a list of possibilities giving FinCom choices.
Mr. Pennington said he was upset at the comment that FinCom isn't doing what they should be doing. FinCom's efforts won't matter until the Board of Selectmen sets their lists of priorities. FinCom makes recommendations to the town only. The Board of Selectmen makes recommendations to FinCom and to the town and FinCom hasn't received Board of Selectmen's recommendations yet.
Mr. Pennington made a motion to take all items ranked 1-4 as discussed as a starting point and make additional cuts as needed, motion was seconded and the following discussion took place:
Mr. Keller said we need to think before making a proposal with all these cuts, doesn't think it will be accepted by the town.
Mr. Pennington said that FinCom has talked about it and prioritized it; if the town doesn't accept it then they will vote it down.
Ms. Mahar responded to Mr. Pennington's comment on waiting for a budget from the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Mahar said that last year the Board of Selectmen did that and FinCom was a little upset that it was done for them. They presented it this way this year to give the budget another set of eyes-FinCom and the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Ross asked Ms. Mahar about how the offices would work with eliminating clerical position in the clerk's office. Ms. Mahar said it didn't work, the office is very busy, it is not possible.
Mr. Pennington asked Ms. Mahar about pooling clerks from different departments. Ms. Mahar said it is something they are looking at but not sure if it is going to work.
Mr. Margerison said to go with the full cuts and if any money is available to start putting back some of the cuts.
Mr. Fimognari agreed to go with the full cuts.
Ms. Edwards said to go back and look at the highlighted items.
Ms. O'Sullivan proposed cutting expenses 10% and salaries by a percentage.
Mr. Brayton agrees with Mr. Pennington's proposal. But doesn't want to vote on a proposal as a budget proposal.
Mr. Finnegan agrees with Mr. Pennington's proposal
Discussion ended and the motion was passed to cut all items ranked 1-4 with eight YES votes and one NO vote.
Mr. Keller stated that in his proposal he put back money into the Library because FinCom has received multiple letters/emails in support of the Library.
Mr. Ross asked for a revised transportation budget or clarification. Would like to ask the school what the impact would be with a 10% cut. Ms. Payette will draft a letter to send to Mr. Kane.
Mr. Pennington asked Ms. Mahar and Ms. Neggers could the Town Meeting be moved until more accurate figures are in? Ms. Neggers said adjustments can be made in the Fall.
Mr. Pennington asked Ms. Neggers if the total tax rate can go up? Ms. Neggers said the total tax level can be raised by 2.5%.
Mr. Pennington said this should be a wake up for the town that our taxes are not paying for everything.
The next scheduled meetings of the Finance Committee are:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 6:45pm
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 6:45pm
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
| 
