Town of Rutland
Finance Committee Meeting
Meeting Minutes: 4/07/16
Finance Committee Meeting Opened: 7:00 pm
Finance Committee Attendance: Lyndon Nichols, Karen Nahrwold, Debbie Kristoff, Carl Bindoo, David Bigelow and Tom Ruchala
Skip Clark and Margaret Nartowicz were also present.
Carl made the motion to accept the meeting minutes from 3/31/16. Debbie seconded the motion. Unanimously accepted.
Margaret discussed that any growth over 2.9% increases in budgets will be looked at and discussed over the next week. Increases in benefits and fixed costs are not necessarily going to be able to be reduced.
Karen Nahrwold questioned if the TA recommended budget as presented included the Town Clerk’s salary at the remaining 2/3 of the raise as asked for or if it was at the 1/3 of the increase as discussed and agreed upon by Finance Committee and Selectmen at the October STM. The amount in the budget as recommended is the remaining 2/3rds of the increase.
ARTICLE 2: DOR says that a municipality cannot finance deficit spending. Rutland would have to fund their amount of this article ($47,567.45). If the Director of Communications salary is expected to be funded through the budget modification to the grant, then we would be able to finance this piece of the article as there is a funding source.
Deputy Fire Chief Seth Knipe was present to discuss the $42,966.58 deficit spending on the Ambulance Wage Account. He stated that, as written in his letter to the Town Administrator, the call volume is up 20% and although working to keep overtime to a minimum the wage account line will be overspent at the end of this fiscal year. Two employees had extensive use of sick time. One employee was out on IOD which was backfilled by insurance, but wages paid to the employee weekly were $1,270 and the VFIS only reimburses $800, causing a deficit situation. Jackie is looking into increasing the weekly payout by VFIS, but has to be conscientious of the increase in premium that this kind of a change could trigger.
Seth mentioned that an override of $150,000 was done in FY15 to fully fund the ambulance. The ambulance wage account was $432,000 at the end of June 2014.
Tom Ruchala recommended that the Finance Committee send a letter to the BOS to recommend looking at the rates that are charged for the ambulance. Margaret stated that she will look at rates both in this town as well as towns around us.
ARTICLE 12: Snow and Ice Guards Margaret is waiting for quotes. Margaret recommends using balance of Naquag Green Repairs article to fund this. Finance Committee will wait to vote on this article until the quote is in hand.
ARTICLE 19: Server Equipment discussion was that a breakdown was needed as to what portion of this equipment is for the regional dispatch phone system Rutland would need to know this so as to appropriately charge other member towns for their share of this cost.
DPW requested that the Finance Committee approve their ability to deficit spend an additional $40,000 on snow and ice removal. Carl recommended that the Finance Committee approve this additional spending if necessary by the DPW for snow and ice removal. Dave seconded the motion. Unanimously accepted.
Discussion on the memo Margaret distributed to town in regards to spending. All invoices will be reviewed and all departments have been notified that essential spending only. Finance Committee to send a letter to BOS in support of Margaret’s memo.
COMMITTEE VACANCY: Karen made the motion to take no action on replacing the committee vacancy. We are only a few weeks away from the ATM and at that meeting the Town Moderator can appoint a new member. Carl seconded the motion. Unanimously accepted.
Carl made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Tom. Unanimously accepted to adjourn at 8:04 p.m.
Submitted by: __Karen Nahrwold___________________
Karen Nahrwold, Secretary
Approved on: ____April 14, 2016_______________________
____Lyndon S. Nichols________________________________________________
Lyndon S. Nichols, Chairman
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