MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2009
Present: Bob Margerison, Gerry Brayton, Peter Fimognari, Bob Finnegan, Jim Pennington, Maureen O'Sullivan, Christine Edwards, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant)
Also Present: Deb Mahar (Finance Director), Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Ed Harrison (Board of Selectmen), Craig Jalbert (Water & Sewer Department), Joan Simmons (Council on Aging)
The meeting was convened at 6:50pm
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 10/5/09 meeting as written; it was seconded and SO VOTED.
Mr. Margerison discussed FinCom’s policy on getting three quotes from Department Heads on expenses over $1,000.00. At the 10/5/09 meeting it was requested that Ms. Payette follow up with Ms. Neggers regarding this. She replied that she passed this information on to the Department Heads at a meeting verbally. She suggested that FinCom be the ones to put this policy in writing. She also sent as information only to FinCom the Procurement Law, suggesting that they might want to include an exception regarding an emergency situation.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Expenditure Ledger dated 9/30/09 and 10/31/09
- Town of Monson Fiscal 2010 projections. Ms. Mahar discussed and reviewed the spreadsheet with FinCom. She explained school NSS appropriated $147,000, replaced with $114,000 of stimulus money leaving a shortfall of around $33,000 to bring schools up to net school spending.
- Happy 250th Birthday Committee for the Town of Monson letter from James Duggan, Hope Bodwell
Town of Monson Annual Town Meeting May 11, 2009 Finance Committee Recommendations
Request for Transfer from the Reserve Fund dated 11/2/09 from Joan Simmons, Council on Aging in the amount of $500.00 to pay for Council on Aging Director Job advertisement on the MMA site and the Republican.
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
Mr. Finnegan attended a Long Range Capital Planning meeting. He noted that the School Department would like to move to Hillside School. This he said will cost thousands of dollars in order for them to reopen: new roof, new windows, heating system. The reasoning was that it would be more efficient for the School Department to be under one roof.
Mr. Finnegan also noted that the pool filter replacement bid is coming.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion regarding the Town of Monson Fiscal 2010 projections:
Mr. Fimognari asked Ms. Neggers if the talk of furloughs has been mentioned. She said that the Board of Selectmen has not brought it up, due to the already reduced hours that departments have had to endure.
Mr. Margerison asked about school transportation budget. Ms. Neggers stated that the Board of Selectmen has asked her to get more information and that is in process. The School Committee is in charge of the transportation budget and they handle putting it out to bid.
Ms. Neggers stated to FinCom that the Pathfinder enrollment went up by 13 students.
Discussion with Joan Simmons from the Council on Aging:
Joan Simmons is chairing the search committee for the new Council on Aging director. She presented to FinCom a Request for Transfer from the Reserve Fund dated 11/2/09 in the amount of $500.00 to pay for Council on Aging Director Job advertisement on the MMA site and the Republican.
Mr. Brayton made a motion to transfer $500.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Council on Aging; it was SECONDED and the following discussion took place:
Mr. Margerison asked what the salary is and if this is going to be a full time position. Ms. Simmons said the starting salary is $40,600.00 and yes it is a full time position. She also remarked that this was an unforeseen expense, did not expect the Director to retire.
It was SO VOTED.
Mr. Pennington asked what the town can do to bring in more revenue. Clearly taxes are not enough. Ms. Neggers answered that their options are very limited.
Finance Committee members voted as follows: Special Town Warrant
Article 1 |
Wait until next week |
Article 2 |
Wait until next week |
Article 3 |
Wait until next week |
Article 4 |
Wait until next week |
Article 5 |
Wait until next week |
Article 6 |
Wait until next week |
Article 7 |
Wait until next week |
Article 8 |
Wait until next week |
Article 9 |
Wait until next week |
Article 10 |
Wait until next week |
Article 11 |
SO VOTED $500.00 |
Article 12 |
SO VOTED $782.00 |
Article 13 |
SO VOTED |
Article 14 |
Wait until next week |
Article 15 |
SO VOTED $63,968.81 |
Article 16 |
SO VOTED $50,000.00 |
Article 17 |
SO VOTED $75,000.00 |
Article 18 |
Wait until next week |
Article 19 |
SO VOTED $50,000.00 |
Article 20 |
SO VOTED $14,500.00 |
Article 21 |
SO VOTED |
Article 22 |
SO VOTED |
Finance Committee asked Ms. Payette to invite the following people to the next meeting to discuss in more detail their Articles on the Special Town Warrant. They will wait until the next meeting to vote on the article.
Ms. Payette will invite Leslie Duthie, Community Preservation Committee, A member from the Planning Board and Dr. Paist from Pathfinder.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is:
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 6:45pm
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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