MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 28, 2011
Present: Jim Pennington, Maureen O’Sullivan, Peter Fimognari, Bob Finnegan, Bob Margerison, Gerry Brayton, William Dominguez, Christine Edwards, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant),
Also Present: Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Deborah Mahar (Finance Director), Richard Guertin (Town Moderator), Stephen Kozloski (Chief of Police), Patrice Dardenne (Superintendent of Schools), Don Smith (Business Manager)
Absent: None
The meeting was convened at 6:48pm
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the 3/21/2011 meeting as written; it was SECONDED and SO VOTED with Mr. Finnegan and Ms. O’Sullivan abstaining.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Updated Budget Overview Worksheet for Fiscal 2012
- Updated Budget Requests for Fiscal Year 2012 dated 3/28/2011
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
7:00pm Patrice Dardenne (Superintendent of Schools), Don Smith (Business Manager) to discuss School Transportation budget:
- Mr. Pennington questioned the number of bus routes and the number of students riding the
buses—is it cost effective or should they raise the fees?
- Mr. Dardenne said that the School Committee voted not to go out to bid for FY12 but said they would go out to bid for FY13. The bid will go out in December early January for FY13. Strong belief that what is being done internally is very cost effective to the town.
- Three important pieces in determining bus routes:
- The number of students
- The time spent on the bus- 30min. shortest, 50 min. longest.
- The distance-17 miles per run is the average.
- They already cut out 2 runs last year, they don’t feel they can cut anymore.
- 16 total big yellow buses in fleet, 12 runs, 2 spares in case of breakdowns.
- Have to provide bus service through the 6th grade, after that they have to pay
- Don Smith is responsible for putting transportation budget out to bid. They will look at past out to bid specs and update to Monson’s needs.
- Ms. O’Sullivan wanted it to be clear that the bid specs won’t include benefits. Buses, routes and number of students only.
- Discussion ended at 7:26pm.
7:31pm Discussion with Police Chief Stephen Kozloski:
- Most of the Police budget increase is contractual, police side and dispatcher side
- 911 grant money available to the town, projected amount $23,000.00
- $5,000-$6,000 training grant for dispatchers.
- Support and incentive grant-analysis for regional dispatching
- Grant to pay dispatchers salaries or certain approved improvements to dispatch center.
- This year they are looking to replace flooring in dispatch area.
- Last year they replaced one big radio console
- FY12 planning to use $10,000-12,000 of grant money to offset dispatcher salaries.
- Update on Quinn Bill: paid out at the same percentage.
- Discussion ended at 8:11pm.
Budget discussion:
Priorities to bring to the Board of Selectmen:
Fire Department budget-stay as is
Police Department budget-stay as is except for dispatchers $10,000 911 grant.
EMT’s-level fund unless override passes.
School Transportation Budget:
Motion made to cut one bus purchase and add small amount to the maintenance budget line:
Motion was SECONDED and vote took place:
YES votes: 3
NO votes: 4
ABSTAIN votes:1
MOTION DEFEATED.
Motion made to recommend to the Board of Selectmen cut 2 buses-$80,000 and add a sum of money to the maintenance budget line:
Motion was SECONDED and vote took place:
YES votes:5
NO votes: 1
ABSTAIN votes:1
MOTION PASSED.
FinCom bringing this recommendation to the Board of Selectmen meeting.
Highway Department Budget:
Motion made to recommend to the Board of Selectmen use $25,000 of Chapter 90 money to offset salary line:
Motion was SECONDED and vote took place:
YES votes: 6
NO votes: 1
ABSTAIN votes:1
MOTION PASSED.
FinCom bringing this recommendation to the Board of Selectmen meeting.
Cemetery Department Budget:
Motion made to recommend to the Board of Selectmen to not fund the Cemetery Position, motion was SECONDED and vote took place:
YES votes: 6
NO votes: 1
ABSTAIN votes: 1
MOTION PASSED.
Police Department Budget:
Motion made to recommend to the Board of Selectmen to use $10,000 of 911 grant money to use towards dispatcher salaries, motion was SECONDED and vote took place:
YES votes: 7
NO votes:0
ABSTAIN votes:1
MOTION PASSED.
Law Department Claims budget:
Motion made to recommend to the Board of Selectmen to cut $4,500.00 from the Law Department claims budget, motion was SECONDED and vote took place:
YES votes:6
NO votes:1
ABSTAIN votes:1
MOTION PASSED.
Open Meeting Law Complaint discussion:
Ms. Neggers filed a complaint against FinCom from 3/21/2011 meeting.
Mr. Pennington will respond as Chairperson to this complaint.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is:
Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:45pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:26pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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