Finance Committee Meeting Minutes for Monday, February 27, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.
In Attendance:
Don Clawson
Jonathan Sylbert
Also in attendance:
Stanley Ross
Mark Makuc
Mickey Jarvis
Willie Morales
The Committee discussed and approved the minutes from the February 6th meeting. They requested that the letters sent to the Select Board at that time be included with these minutes when they are published.
Mark Makuc and Mickey Jarvis representing the Monterey Library addressed the Finance Committee regarding the bond request for the Library Expansion Project. The entire bond will need to be applied for at the Town Meeting in May 2017. By applying for the entire bond at this Town Meeting there will be a savings for the project and the Town rather than applying for a grant for the design phase for this year and applying for the rest of the bond in 2018. The Committee members had questions regarding the borrowing process and the interest payments and, also asked who will be funding the project. Mark will contact other towns that recently had projects like this and will report back to the Committee. Mark and Mickey report that the Library Fund has been doing very well with their own fund raising. People
have been very supportive. They plan to do an article in the April issue of The Monterey News again describing the project and explaining the bond. Jon also suggested that the Library Committee and the Finance Committee draft a letter explaining all financial aspects of the expansion project and have members of both committees sign the letter. In addition, there will need to be a vote at Town Meeting to rescind the original $1.9 million vote.
Willie Morales came to the meeting to discuss the point raised at the February 6th meeting regarding sharing the administrator and town administrative assistant’s salary and benefits. As it stands now the Town is paying for two benefits packages. The Finance Committee discussed with Willie ways to alleviate this issue.
Willie then informed the Committee that he plans to resign as the part-time Town Administrator effective on Wednesday, March 1st at the Select Board Meeting. He has concerns with how the Town is being run. He feels that the Select Board is improperly using their authority and will not follow Massachusetts General Law. He is concerned that staying in this position could damage his future career plans. Willie is the Procurement Officer and the Town will be out of compliance when he leaves. He has contacted the Inspector General’s Office regarding this matter. He has also been working closely with James Podolak at the Department of Revenue who is aware of the issues here. He will inform Mr. Podolak of his resignation on Wednesday. Willie is concerned that Town Counsel is
representing the wishes of the Select Board and not the needs of the Town.
When Willie resigns, the Finance Committee will resume the administering of the budget process. All departments must work with the Finance Committee for budgetary concerns. Willie will send the Excel documents with the budget information to Don Clawson.
Willie also informed the Committee that the Accountant and Treasurer will possibly resign as well. Alice Boyd who is working with the Town on the Community Block Grant has concerns as well and may not pursue the grant with the Town.
The Finance Committee is concerned and very disappointed by this news as they felt that Willie was an important member of the administration of the Town and recommends that exit interviews be held with Willie and if necessary, with the Accountant and Treasurer. They recommend that these interviews be administered by an impartial person or committee.
Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
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