Accepted 1/21/16 L S Nichols
Town of Rutland
Finance Committee
Meeting Minutes: 1/07/16
Finance Committee Meeting Opened: 7:09 pm
Finance Committee Attendance: Lyndon Nichols, Karen Nahrwold, Debbie Kristoff, Carl Bindoo, Tom Ruchala and David Bigelow
Finance Committee Absent: Matt Hadley
David made the motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of 10/26/15. Carl seconded the motion. Unanimously accepted.
MMA meeting in January – notice was received in the mail. Lyndon will scan and email it out to the members of the committee if anyone wants to attend.
February 8th at Glenwood School is the WRSD Budget Roundtable long term strategy meeting
The chairman asked Karen and Margaret (Town Administrator) to give a synopsis of the WRSD budget roundtable discussion that occurred on Monday evening.
It was reported that WRSD Administration reported that there will be an increase in Regional Transportation as well as Contractual Wages. Rutland has 28 new students joining the WRSD system.
WRSD administration has requested all towns to provide their projected revenues for their budget retreat that will be held on the 25th.
Margaret provided us with the rough first draft of the budget. Departmental budgets received were a blend of level funded, level service and some with increases.
Margaret informed us that she is having a Managers Matrix developed. This study is being funded by the Town Administrator’s budget. This study will include job descriptions and wage classifications.
Margaret told us that at this point, she is not recommending a percentage COLA but rather perhaps a flat dollar COLA.
The Shared IT Director position is expected to be on board by the end of January. Contracted services will no longer be required. This IT Director will be shared between Barre, Rutland and Regional Dispatch. 12-12 ½ hours per week. Questioned by the Committee as to how that would be managed, Margaret informed us that there will be set hours in each entity and a ticketing system will be in place.
Margaret has asked each of the departments with collective bargaining to provide a contract cost analysis. Wages, current sick, vacation, personal time as well as off book time. This analysis is also to include backfilling of leave taken.
Accidental and Medical Insurance has been moved from the Fire Department budget and put to the town. Claims will be processed through the town rather than the Fire Department so that it is not treated differently than any other town related insurance policy.
Question from Debbie as to how Workers’ Comp claims were processed. Is the money given to the employees or to the town and then given to the employees through payroll? Margaret to get us the answer and report back to us.
We were informed that $200,000 for reimbursement for Regional Dispatch has been secured.
Finance Committee requested an update as to the goings on at the RDIC property. Barton Associates is still interested, but is looking at different plot. RFP’s have been sent out, unsure as to will come in. Finance Committee members requested that RDIC be added to the schedule for meetings.
Finance Committee requested that adjustments be made to the meeting schedules so that longer meetings can be available for the bigger departments. Margaret to send out updated schedules once she has completed.
Finance Committee requested a snapshot of Tax Title at 6/30 and at 12/31 so that we would have a better understanding when meeting with Becky.
The capital stabilization fund has to be set up through the Town Meeting process. Margaret highly recommends that this be done in May.
Financial policies – there have been a few revisions by the CIPC. Margaret will send to Committee for review.
Finance Committee requested revolving funds detail to be provided prior to meeting with those departments. Margaret will work on getting that for us.
Dave made the motion to adjourn at 8:33 p.m. Carl seconded the motion. Unanimously accepted.
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