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MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 25, 2011
Present: Maureen O’Sullivan, Peter Fimognari, Bob Finnegan, Bob Margerison, William Dominguez, Christine Edwards, Kurt Kaiser, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant), Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator), Deborah Mahar (Town Accountant), Richard Guertin (Town Moderator), Nancy Morrell (Town Clerk), John Morrell (Highway Department), Leslie Duthie,
Board of Selectmen-Edward Maia and Richard Smith
Absent: Jim Pennington, Gerry Brayton
The meeting was convened at 6:52pm
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Request for Transfer from the Reserve Fund:
- Amount requested: $2,000
- Appropriation account: Heating Fuel
- Present balance in said appropriation: ($1,919.10( as of 4/20/2011
- Motion was made to transfer $2,000.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Heating Fuel, it was SECONDED and discussion:
- Mr. Kaiser asked Ms. Mahar the balance in the reserve fund:
- Ms. Mahar said as of 4/25/2011 the balance in the reserve fund is: $24,187.00
- Discussion ended and it was SO VOTED with all FinCom members voting YES.
- Memo From Ms. Mahar, Dated 4/13/2011, To FinCom and Board of Selectmen, RE: 53E1/2 Revolving Funds, To make adjustments to the spending limit on the following Revoloving Funds for this fiscal year to end of June 2011:
- Mr. Fimognari made a motion to adjust account limits:
- Collector’s Report $5,000 to $7,000
- Electric Inspector $34,000 to $39,000
- Recycling Bulk Material $10,000 to $14,000
- School out of district transportation $30,000 to $50,000
- School Transportation $60,000 to $53,000
- Ms. Edwards SECONDED motion and it was SO VOTED with all members voting YES.
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS:
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
7:05pm Discussion with Leslie Duthie to discuss warrant articles for Town Meeting:
- CPA articles III: Mr. Margerison asked if the land is strictly agricultural land and not to be built on, Ms. Duthie said yes, this is not a change of use for the land.
- Mr. Kaiser commented that this is would be selling off the development rights not the land. Ms. Duthie said the state would pay $256,000 and the town would pay $13,500, there would be no loss of tax revenue.
- CPA article IV: Ms. Duthie said this will probably be a three part project. The $100,000 will fix most of Thompson Street.
- The CPA balance is $218,100 (this is before the two proposed articles of $13,500 and $100,00)
- Conservation articles V: Mr. Finnegan asked Ms. Duthie about how much in taxes were paid on the land. Ms. Duthie said about $3,500.00.
- Conservation articles VI: Fin Com noted their concern about future lots being donated to the town and if it would become town responsibility/liability. Ms. Duthie said they think about this and take it all into consideration and think about what is best for the town before taking land donations.
Discussion with Richard Smith and Edward Maia, Board of Selectmen on budget recommendations:
Board of Selectmen recommendations:
Budget Reductions |
Amount |
Priority # |
Notes |
Departmental Cuts |
~ |
~ |
~ |
Board of Assessors |
1,000 |
~ |
reduce mapping program projected need, 3 yr avg |
Collector |
3,000 |
~ |
budget request exceeds projected need |
Town Clerk |
2,310 |
~ |
cut 3 hrs/wk for Asst. Town Clerk (33-30) |
Elections & Registration |
~ |
~ |
# of elections? |
Police Salaries |
5,000 |
~ |
budget request exceeds projected need |
Police Expense |
5,000 |
~ |
budget request reduced, 3 yr avg |
Emergency Dispatch |
12,000 |
~ |
use of E911 Grant |
Building Dept |
1,000 |
~ |
PT Inspector line never used |
Emergency Management |
500 |
~ |
eliminate expense account |
Animal Control Dept |
1,000 |
~ |
budget request exceeds projected need |
School Transportation |
4,000 |
~ |
budget request reduced |
Highway |
25,000 |
~ |
use of Chap 90 |
Recreation/Cemetery |
|
~ |
redistribute work force into Maint Department |
Cemetery |
5,370 |
~ |
reduce Director to 35 hrs/wk |
Cemetery |
3,790 |
|
reduce Labor to 35 hrs/wk |
Recreation |
6,250 |
~ |
reduce Director to 35 hrs/wk |
Recreation |
4,770 |
|
reduce Labor to 35 hrs/wk |
Board of Health |
2,720 |
~ |
cut 3 hrs/wk clerical (34-31) |
Greater Spfld Senior Services |
101 |
~ |
reduction per Dept. Head |
Council on Aging |
4,000 |
~ |
reduction per Dept. Head (adjusted) |
Library |
7,000 |
~ |
reduction per Librarian (adjusted) |
FICA/Medicare |
3,000 |
~ |
budget request exceeds projected need |
Capital |
28,000 |
~ |
FY 11 final year of sch lang. lab lease; could use for other purpose |
124,811 |
~ |
(744) |
FinCom recommendation
Budget Reducti |
ns Amou |
t Priorit |
# No |
es Departmental C |
t |
|
|
~ High |
ay 25,0 |
0 |
~ use of Chap |
90 Emergency Dispa |
ch 10,0 |
0 |
~ use of E911 Gr |
nt School Transportat |
on 80,0 |
0 |
|
~ Cemetery D |
pt 2,5 |
0 |
|
~ Law D |
pt 4,5 |
0 |
|
~ Council on Ag |
ng 4,0 |
0 |
|
~ Libr |
ry 4,0 |
0 |
|
~ To |
al 130,0 |
0 |
|
~ Discussion took place: Mr. Fimognari asked about the $28,000 from school language lease, why wasn’t FinCom made aware of this money; that would have been at the top of FinCom’s list. He asked the BOS, if they have been in touch with the department’s they plan on cutting hours from. Ms. Morrell spoke about the 3hrs a week from the Assistant Town Clerk. She said that her office has more mandates and the reduction in hours will greatly impact the work load in her office. Ms. Morrell said she can find $500 in her budget and Mr. John Morrell, Highway Department said he would reduce his budget $1,800 and would ask that money be put into the Town Clerk’s budget to make up the $2,300 in proposed cuts to her budget. FinCom asked the BOS what they felt about that, both members said they have no problem with that offer.
Discussion regarding School Transportation bus purchases: Mr. Maia said that for the last time, the only reason the school transportation bid didn’t go out to bid this year was because it was too late, not enough time. Mr. Fimognari concerned about the BOS giving money for the schools to buy buses and cutting hours to departments. Mr. Dominguez stated that the schools really need the busses. He asked FinCom to recognize that they would know better than FinCom that they really need new buses.
FEMA money-Ms. Neggers said they have not heard yet, but if they do get money it will likely go towards fuel. Discussion ended at 8:25pm.
8:26pm Discussion with the Water and Sewer Commission:
- Ms. Mahar sent an email to all Department Heads that there is a 2% cap on non-union increases.
- Commission is here to request Craig Jalbert receive a 4% increase to bring him up to medium pay range. His salary does not come from the general fund.
- FinCom stated that the budget numbers they have reflect a 2%. They would vote that or vote the budget amount plus 2%.
Discussion on Warrant Article for open aired FinCom meeting:
- Mr. Guertin spoke and said if FinCom meetings were televised, it might give voters more knowledge of what the articles are before town meeting.
- FinCom felt it would give the people of the town more information about the issues the town is facing.
- The only concern is the meetings would be in the Conference Room and Ms. Mahar has her information in the Town Accountant’s office for FinCom to refer to.
Agenda items for next meeting: Vote on Special and Annual Warrant Articles.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is: Monday, May 2, 2011 at 6:45pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:22pm. Respectfully submitted, Brenda I. Payette Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committ |
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