MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2011
Present: Maureen O’Sullivan, Peter Fimognari, Bob Finnegan, Bob Margerison, Christine Edwards, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant), Deb Mahar (Finance Director), Patrice Dardenne (Superintendent of Schools), Don Smith (Business Manager)
Absent: Jim Pennington, William Dominguez, Gerry Brayton
Did not have a quorum to open meeting until 7:30pm; the meeting was convened at 7:30pm
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 2/7/2011 meeting; it was SECONDED and SO VOTED with Mr. Finnegan abstaining.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Fiscal 2012 Projections spreadsheet from Ms. Mahar.
- Department Budget Requests spreadsheet from Ms. Mahar.
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
- Mr. Dardenne and Mr. Smith said they were at the meeting to be available if FinCom had any questions regarding the school budget that was just sent out. They said they would be available to come and discuss the school budget in more detail once FinCom had a chance to look it over.
- Ms. O’Sullivan said that FinCom would like to see the School Transportation budget go out to bid.
- Mr. Dardenne said that if they go out to bid it would be in the neighborhood of about $1million.
- It was asked what if any effect would be on the next school spending amount if school transportation goes out to bid.
- The answer was nothing, School Transportation budget has nothing to do with Net School spending.
- The last time the School Transportation budget went out to bid was four years ago.
- Mr. Dardenne said the school will sit down and consider this request.
- It was asked if FinCom could please receive a report on the bid.
- Mr. Dardenne said if they decide to go out to bid, FinCom will be kept updated on the process.
- Ms. Mahar gave an update on the Health Insurance rates:
- The rates came in much higher than they had expected.
- Ms. Neggers will be contacting the insurance company to see why so high—maybe an error?
- 231 people are covered by the town’s health insurance.
- Pathfinder Budget Presentation meeting on March 16, 2011:
- Ms. Payette will reply for Ms. O’Sullivan, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Mahar to attend.
Agenda items for next meeting:
Continue to review department budgets.
Invite Department Heads from the Parks and Recreation, Highway and Cemetery Departments to attend March 14, 2011 meeting to gather information and discuss budgets and potential of combining departments and what that would look like.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is:
Monday, March 7, 2011 at 6:45pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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