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Finance Committee Minutes 3/20/15
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
3/20/15
10:15 – 11:15m

Present:  Stanley Ross, Donald Clawson and Dan Moriarity
Also present for part of the meeting: Kenn Basler

The Finance Committee reviewed the draft annual town meeting warrant with regards to the following financial warrant article items:
  • Transfer if necessary to cover any overspending of the salt & sand account – once there is an actual number of how much this line item has gone over the Committee will reevaluate this article.
  • The article requesting permission for the truck for the highway department:  This was previously approved at the February Special Town Meeting however the vote was not done by secret ballot as is required by our bylaws when borrowing.  The Finance Committee is still in support of approving this article.
  • Article requesting permission to borrow $350,000 to construct a new transfer station – Don prefaced his comments by saying he is not opposed to the premise however he doesn’t know enough about the condition of the present town transfer station to make an informed decision on whether or not a new station is needed.  Don is violently opposed to asking for $350,000 when there isn’t any supporting documentation to for this figure.  The Finance Committee has requested these figures from the Select Board and Director of Operations but has not received anything to date.  The Finance Committee did not support this article being presented to the town without more information and if the Select Board keeps it unanimously agreed that they do not support approving this article.
  • The request to use $60,000 of stabilization to purchase turnout gear for the Fire Department – Stan feels that stabilization funds should only be used for large purchases.  Don asked what the alternative should be seeing as we do not have enough free cash to cover this and borrowing would increase the budget, he recommended approving it as is.  Seeing as there aren’t other sources of funding available to purchase this needed equipment the Committee unanimously supports approving this article.
  • The request to use $44,218 of stabilization to purchase a new 4WD cruiser for the Police Department – Stan reiterated that he feels that stabilization funds should only be used for large purchases however for the same arguments as above the Committee unanimously supports approving this article.
  • $18,000 request for an audit – The Committee stated that this was mandated for every three years.  Don stated he supports this article with the caveat that it be for the last 3 years.  The Finance Committee unanimously supports approving this article.
  • $40,000 request for repairs to the library dam – Don would like to see documentation that supports the $40,000 figure; he is not opposed to the request but would like to know what repairs are necessary and documentation that supports the estimate.  The Finance Committee unanimously agreed that they do not support approving this article.  Kenn came in later in the meeting and stated that he has had several conversations with the Army Corp of Engineers and it looks good that we might be able to get funds through them to cover any repairs however this may not all occur this year.  With this new information the Finance Committee recommended that this article be struck from the warrant right now and should the dam break before we receive monies from the Army Corp of Engineers we could always have a special town meeting.  Dan suggested that if the town is going to apply for this grant money that the town really needs to look at hiring a grant writer.  It was noted that a grant writer may not be necessary as there aren’t many grants available to cities and towns like there used to be.
  • $10,000 request for repairs to the Monterey School – The Finance Committee again felt that there wasn’t enough information about what repairs would be covered with this money and therefore did not support approving this article.  Kenn came in later in the meeting and stated that this amount will cover the repair of the floor and the bathroom and the Select Board has documentation to support the figures.  With this new information the Committee amended their original vote and voted unanimously to support approving this article.
  • $500 for the Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee Town Assessment – approved unanimously
  • $3,800 for repairs and maintenance at Bally Gally – The Committee stated that the request last year was for the same amount and wondered why the same amount was being rolled over and questioned what repairs were necessary.  It was also noted that we receive $12,000 a year in rent for this property which should cover any repairs necessary.  Without more information the Finance Committee does not support approving this article.  Kenn came in later in the meeting and stated that this amount has been the average amount of what has been needed to cover unexpected general maintenance that comes up throughout the year.
  • $4,953 for the septic loan payment – this is a given that we have no control over and the Finance Committee supports approving it.
  • $50,000 to the stabilization account – Don stated that he supports approving this article but wanted it noted that he felt the amount should be much higher ($100,000 minimum) however he understands that if it were to be raised it would put the town in the situation of needing a Proposition 2 ½ override.  
  • The Committee inquired about the Board’s decision to remove the request for monies to replace the roof on the town hall.  Kenn stated that the Board hasn’t fully decided and may put it on the warrant to have half of the roof done.  Don does think the roof needs to be replaced as the other day pieces of shingles were falling off; he will not support the article however without supporting documentation.  Kenn noted that the Board does not agree with the Director of Operations recommendation to put a metal roof on but they are open to shingles.
  • Kenn informed the Committee that the Select Board is looking at holding a special town meeting a week or 2 prior to the annual town meeting to specifically deal with the WiredWest bond article.  The Finance Committee stated that they feel strongly that at this special town meeting the articles for any overages in the salt & sand as well as the revote on the truck should also be handled then.
  • Transfer $3,000 from overylay to the reserve – The Finance Committee unanimously supports approving this article.
  • $20,000 request to fund the retiree stabilization fund - The Finance Committee unanimously supports approving this article.
  • $13,247 request to pay for retiree health insurance benefits – The Finance Committee unanimously supports approving this article.
  • The Finance Committee unanimously approves supporting the 3 loan payments for the salt shed, grader and rescue vehicle.
  • Using $170,000 of free cash to lower the tax levy – Using this amount will leave the town approximately $150,000 in free cash.  Don also corrected a previous statement he made at a Select Board meeting; the State actually recommends that a town of Monterey’s size should have a balance of a minimum of $500,000 in free cash.
  • Don inquired why there wasn’t an article for the estimated $400,000 necessary to repair and replace the culverts on RT 23.  Kenn stated that the state will be coming up with more money as well as there is Chapter 90 money available that together will cover most if not all of the expense.
  • The Committee will be reevaluating the capital plan in the coming months.
  • WiredWest bond article – At this moment Stan does not support approving this article however it was agreed since 2/3 of the Finance Committee were not present at the presentation last week at the Select Board’s meeting that they would abstain from voting on this article.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15am

Submitted by,
Melissa Noe, Administrative Assistant