MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 21, 2009
Present: Joel Keller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Bob Finnegan, Bob Margerison, Jim Pennington, Gerry Brayton, Peter Fimognari, Christine Edwards, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Fred Warman (Town Moderator)
Absent: Peter Ross
The meeting was convened at 6:47pm
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 3/23/09 meeting; it was seconded and SO VOTED.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter from Mass. Coalition for Jobs and Growth
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
None
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion with regarding budget process:
Mr. Brayton remarked about the spreadsheet of cuts sent via email by Ms. Neggers. He said it was a lot of work. He was concerned because the item to eliminate truck replacement-$37,400 was not in the budget proposal FinCom saw.
He said that it would be helpful if FinCom was kept up to date with information.
Mr. Fimognari said that FinCom needs the most current information.
Ms. O'Sullivan stated that FinCom was working with figures given back in February and nothing more recent until after the override failed, then FinCom received updated figures.
Mr. Fimognari stated that after the override failed, FinCom voted to go will all the cuts without having more recent figures.
Mr. Keller commented that he thought the process FinCom went through was good.
Mr. Margerison stated that he felt Mr. Keller withheld budget information.
Mr. Keller denied withholding any information from the committee. He stated that as soon as he receives any information he passes it along to the committee.
Meeting ended and FinCom went downstairs and joined the Board of Selectmen for a joint meeting.
7:10pm Mr. Guertin opened the Board of Selectmen meeting with the Finance Committee.
He explained the format of the meeting:
The Board of Selectmen came up with a proposal for a budget and passed it along to FinCom for their recommendation.
Ms. Neggers presented two budgets:
One that was balanced to Governor's budget with taxes and
One that was balanced to Governor's budget without new taxes
Goals:
not to close any department and
retain current active employee's in turn trying to maintain these goals still providing services to town’s people.
Mr. Margerison asked if the Town Collector's assistant hours were reduced? Ms. Neggers said that FinCom brought in the Department Heads and it was evident that reducing assistant’s hours would not be feasible.
Mr. Guertin stated that the spreadsheet FinCom had to work on was a list of potential cuts, giving FinCom options on places to cut.
Mr. Margerison stressed the FinCom's desire was to save people's jobs.
Mr. Guertin commented that in Ms. Neggers's opening statement no one was laid off, only reduction in hours.
Ms. O'Sullivan said under Public Safety-Police Salaries: the Chief is going for a grant to restore an officer. The grant would be for three years on the fourth year the town would have to fund it for that one year.
Mr. Pennington said that given that wages were frozen, was the union contacted through the schools for no salary increases? Mr. Guertin said yes they were contacted and they said no. Mr. Pennington said it is a shame that the teacher's association said no.
Ms. O'Sullivan said that the Department Heads are going without raises in both budget scenarios. She would advocate giving raises to the Town Department employees first before giving to the schools $100,000.
Mr. Pennington asked if any changes happened in the school transportation budget.
Mr. Goodrich said that net school spending for FY10 is below level funding for FY09.
Mr. Keller asked Mr. Morrell about General Highway and Bridges reduction of $37,000. Mr. Morrell said that was to buy materials.
Mr. Fimognari asked if discussions happened with the town unions on changing the co-pays? Ms. Neggers said that discussions are under way and all three unions need to agree.
Mr. Guertin asked FinCom if they had anything else to discuss and if they supported this budget before turning it over to the audience?
Mr. Fimognari acknowledged the hard work from Mr. Keller, Ms. Mahar and Ms. Neggers.
Ms. Neggers said that they waited for the results from the override before putting together a more serious budget.
Ms. Neggers credited FinCom for having the Department Heads in to discuss issues that were on the potential cuts spreadsheet.
Mr. Guertin said lets agree that we can do a better job and acknowledge that this was a tough year.
Mr. Pennington stated that this is a perfect example that the town cannot sustain itself with the current tax structure. At some point we will have to increase taxes.
Discussion was opened to the floor at 8:20pm
Mr. Morrell credited Ms. Mahar and Ms. Neggers; he said the cuts were spread throughout all departments.
No other comments were made.
Mr. Guertin put the budget up to vote, no changes made. Do we all agree to bring the budget to Town Meeting and support it?
Mr. Pennington asked worst case scenario, where else would cuts come from. Mr. Guertin said they would have to go back and look at it again; it would all depend on the amount needed.
Mr. Guertin made a motion to approve taking the budget to Town Meeting, with the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee agreeing; it was seconded and SO VOTED.
The next scheduled meetings of the Finance Committee are:
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 6:45pm
Monday, May 11, 2009
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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