MONSON FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 26, 2012
Present: Peter Fimognari, Jim Pennington, Bob Margerison, Gerry Brayton, Bob Finnegan, Kurt Kaiser, Christine Edwards, Maureen O’Sullivan, Brenda Payette (Administrative Assistant), Deborah Mahar (Town Accountant), Gretchen Neggers (Town Administrator)
Absent: William Dominguez
The meeting was convened at 7:00pm
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Request for Transfer From The Reserve Fund dated 3/26/2012
Amount requested: $130.00
Appropriation Account: Accounting Expense
Present balance in said appropriation: $372.81
Amount to be used for following purposes: To pay for travel expenses regarding changing of health insurance; attending GIC training sessions.
Ms. Edwards made a motion to transfer $130.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Accounting Expenses account; Mr. Fimognari SECONDED and SO VOTED.
- Expenditure Ledger print date: 3/1/2012
- A Senior Moment Newsletter March 2012
- Ms. Payette handed out the most current budget worksheet information and FY13 Projections.
OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS:
Meetings attended:
March 21, 2012 Ms. Edwards and Ms. O’Sullivan attended the Pathfinder meeting.
2.6% with capital
3.9% without capital. The difference between the two is about $22,000.00.
Monson has about 91 students.
Leslie Duthie: 7:10pm
Ms. Duthie spoke the three CPA projects proposed for Annual Town Meeting on May 14, 2012.
- Purchase of 139 acre Quinlan Memorial Conservation Land-$21,180 from CPA fund.
- Preservation and binding of Marriage Intention books, 1907-1997-$16,200 from CPA fund
- Restoration of St. Patrick’s church interior. Varnish wood beams, trim and pews.-$83,000 from CPA fund
Ms. Duthie said the total cost of the projects is $120,380.00. She noted that they would not be spending all the funds in the account.
Update regarding FEMA/MEMA money regarding tornado and October storm.
Ms. Mahar said regarding the Tornado-to date they have received all anticipated FEMA and MEMA money. She said they are still waiting on Highway money between $517,000-$535,000. If they receive $517,000 from Highway, the town’s responsibility would be $115,000.00.
The October storm-Bills received $2,536,760.00. Town borrowed 2.5 million for the time being. Ms. Mahar is waiting to receive the test tickets.
Town Hall condition: Ms. Neggers said the Board of Selectmen is in the process of a square foot cost analysis to see what the next steps are.
Budget Updates:
Ms. Mahar said she did away with the snow and ice deficit, she increased the budget for snow and ice by $25,000 to $200,000.
GIC Insurance: savings for the town about $500,000.
Maintenance Department: Ms. Neggers said that Town Counsel is looking into to see if it is possible.
She said the severance package for non-elected officials is two days from accrued sick time for every year of service. Elected Official salaries are set by Finance Committee then it goes to Town Meeting to be approved by the voters.
Ms. Neggers noted to FinCom that the budget figures they have now are preliminary, they are constantly moving; given that she suggested FinCom look at some topics to discuss:
Elected Official Salary
Pathfinder amount
Water Department budget-additional staff hire
School Department
Maintenance Department
FinCom decided to request the following:
Ms. Payette will request the School Budget with Transportation Bid electronically. And will forward to FinCom members.
Invite the Water and Sewer Commissioners to attend April 2 meeting.
Invite the School Committee, Superintendent and Business Manager to April 2 or 9 meeting.
Request to meet with the Board of Selectmen at their April 17 meeting.
The next scheduled meeting of the Finance Committee is:
Monday, April 2,9,23,30, 2012 at 7:00pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda I. Payette
Administrative Assistant to the Finance Committee
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