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Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
2/5/15
10:25am – 12:15pm
Present: Donald Clawson, Stanley Ross and Dan Moriarity
Also present for parts of the meeting: Kenneth Basler and Shawn Tryon
- Don provided a copy of the 3 year average spending for several town budget line items which supports why some budget line items are being increased (over the last 3 years some accounts have consistently overspent).
- The proposed 4th highway person/transfer station attendant position was discussed. Kenn explained that it is his opinion that this should be on the warrant to see if the town will approve it. His thinking is that we are currently paying $25,000/year to have the cemeteries mowed which is a good chunk of change and combine that with the $6,500 we pay to have the town parks mowed, if the town were to also purchase a lawn mower and a brush cutter, this person could be doing the mowing on the days he/she wasn’t working at the transfer station in the summer, plowing in the winter and maintenance in the spring and fall. The Finance Committee noted that these mowers would have to be commercial mowers and would have to be maintained. Shawn felt this would be a very good financial move for the town but
felt that there may be some pushback to this suggestion.
- Shawn stated that his crew deserves a raise but feels that evaluations should be instituted and raises should be based on that. Kenn explained that the Board is working on trying to institute evaluations.
- The highway maintenance line item is being increased to purchase gravel to allow for maintenance to a lot of roads in town, residing the shed and painting the salt shed (which is currently unfinished).
- The Finance Committee inquired as to whether or not the Highway Department could function with just 550’s and get rid of the Osh Kosh. Shawn stated that if he were to replace the Osh Kosh tomorrow he would still need a big truck for the winter months.
- Highway capital line item: Shawn is requesting a $75,000 increase to put more money into our roads that has not happened in several years. Kenn felt that this was too much of a requested increase and understands that it hasn’t been increased in a while but suggests that a $25,000 increase would be more realistic; everyone agreed.
- Kenn questioned the requested $5,000 increase to the dam maintenance line item (for the dam at Brewer’s Pond). The inspection that needs to be done costs $8,000 and we pay this over 2 years. At the last inspection the town was ordered to cut the brush off the dam and that is the reason for the increase. This work would be subbed out.
- Transfer Station: Kenn questioned the increase from $106,000 to $110,000 when the reality is that the number should be $86,000 if the 4th highway person is approved. Shawn did not figure that in when he submitted his budget and this figure will be amended. Kenn explained that the Board currently is leaning toward thinking that building a new transfer station right now would be taking on too much but they have had discussions about looking at the existing facility and upgrading some of the equipment.
- Dan asked if the Committee and Select Board should be considering adding administrative help for Shawn. Kenn felt it is a good trail to go down but it should be something for the FY17 budget not FY16. Don suggested that if this position is proposed it should be someone that can write grants and would work for the Highway and Town Hall. Kenn agreed with this idea. Dan added that this person could also help with purchasing or act as the Procurement Officer. Shawn felt that the town as a whole runs as a skeleton crew right now (and does the job well) but it might be time to start putting some of these ideas in place.
- Shared boom mower proposal: The Finance Committee is against this proposal. They have no issue with our town purchasing our own mower but are against sharing our tax dollars with another community. The person that currently does have a boom mower but it is ancient and due to new state regs cannot be put on the back of the machine now. Kenn feels that shared equipment and shared personnel is going to be part of our everyday life in the next five years and the sooner we start the process and work out any kinks the better. Kenn has met with the other 2 towns and has explained that the Board has received some pushback on this proposal but cannot make any final decisions until everyone agrees to place it on the warrant and it is presented approved at town meeting. Don is adamantly against this for many reasons
and would vote today to not place this on the warrant.
- Compensation for training and education is fixed number. Compensation for calls is being level funded. Dan inquired if there is a way to only have EMT’s respond to medical calls based on their qualifications. Shawn stated that we no longer have any EMT’s on the department and everyone is a firefighter/first responder. He also stated that the number of firemen responding to calls has been dropping so the “issue” is fixing itself. There was discussion about the fact that currently all of the firemen have graciously agreed to donate their training and education compensation back to the fire department to help pay for upgrades to the building. Since all the firemen have agreed it was suggested to move the money from line 222 to a new line item called Facility Use and have the
money go directly to the firehouse to avoid the firemen being taxed on it until the loan is paid off at which time the firemen would again get paid for training and education.
- Turnout gear special article request: The Finance Committee asked if the purchase of this gear could be staged. Shawn stated that this gear needs to be replaced every 10 years. He stated it could be but doesn’t feel that it would be a good idea.
- Dan inquired as to what the fire department has done with the boat; Shawn replied that we still have it but he was authorized by the Select Board to sell it. Dan stated that there are several towns that are interested in purchasing it. Shawn feels that the fire department should have some sort of boat to deal with water emergencies but the Board has not authorized the placement of this item on the warrant yet, maybe next year.
- Dan inquired about the warrant article for this special town meeting requesting funds to clean up the milfoil at Lake Garfield. Dan personally feels that this is the wrong time of the year to be requesting these funds (he feels it is in the towns best interest to address this at the annual town meeting) and whether or not the town wants to recognize it there is another lake in town and they have their own tax district to fund projects necessary there. Kenn said he would argue that Lake Garfield is the lake of Monterey because that is the lake that has the public beach and Lake Buel doesn’t because they couldn’t get the support for one. The Finance Committee as a whole has voted to not support the approval of this article.
- The Committee plans to meet next on Thursday, February 12th at 10am to review the library’s FY16 budget request.
Meeting adjourned at 12:15pm
Submitted by,
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant
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