Finance Committee
Thursday February 1, 2018
Rutland Public Library
7:00 p.m.
Present: Lyndon Nichols, Karen Nahrwold, Sheryl Vernon, Iain McKinlay
Absent: Tom Ruchala, Carl Bindoo, Deb Kristoff
Others Present: Margaret Nartowicz – Town Administrator, Leroy Clark – Board of Selectmen, Laura Scannell – Secretary
Mr. Nichols opened the meeting at 7:01 p.m. The meeting was recoded for Channel 191.
APPOINTMENTS
7:00 p.m. - Regional Dispatch
Michael Moriarty was in attendance to present the RRECC budget. Mr. Moriarty reviewed increases in grants – Training and EMD/Regulatory Compliance Grants increased by $25,000 and $28,000, respectively. The additional $28,000 was for the implementation of electronic EMD cards and the QA/QI system that automates reviewing calls for quality assurance. Support & Incentive Grant increased $75,000 due to the implementation of wireless 911 direct calls. This grant goes directly to RRECC rather than to the State.
Mr. Moriarty reviewed expenditures for the previous year and contract adjustments. New contracts were signed in November. $14,500 moved from Purchased Services to the Wages account to cover adjustments – no increase to budget.
Purchased Services Account – line items reviewed, majority level funded. Communication Tower Generator Service Contract (5200-02) was reduced by $3,620; they're looking into other backup power solutions such as solar and small generator hookups to bring out and plug in if needed. The system can operate 2-3 hours on battery backup, allowing time to bring out and plug in a small generator.
Internet and Phone Services (5200-04) increased due to purchase and installation of new VOIP system (replaced the previous PBX system that was malfunctioning, lines lost for hours and even days). National Grid Electric (Tower Sites) (5200-08) reduced due to progress of fill-in sites – towers aren't up and using power. Tritech Software Systems (5200-10) line up due to Fire Department acquiring IMC – this line increased $1,500 for annual maintenance for the department. The $14,000 system was purchased by the Fire Department, annual maintenance will be picked up by Dispatch. Ms. Nartowicz stated this provided savings to Police and Fire in year 1.
There was discussion about IT RFPs – the IT Services (5200-12) line is level funded, Ms. Nartowicz believes this should be good based on quotes received last year and regional service pricing. Microsoft Office 365 (5200-13) level funded, the RRECC has 15 software licenses. Verizon Wireless Air Cards (5200-16) level funded, money comes from grant.
Director Vehicle Maintenance, Fuel, & Insurance (5200-17) added to budget for $3,000, may come off – currently being reviewed by CIPC.
Supplies – level funded.
Wages – Dispatch Supervisors (5110-02) increased, Full Time Telecommunicators (5110-03) reduced due to vacant supervisor position recently filled.
Other Expenses – Level funded pending more accurate numbers. There was discussion about the temporary borrowing costs – per Ms. Nartowicz this will be out of the budget, was in place to carry amounts owed by grants which have caught up a lot.
Operating Budget & Regional Assessments – Current operating budget is $898,486.36. The Wireless Incentive Grant will likely increase by taking wireless 911 calls. Calls have increased tremendously with implementation of wireless 911. $25,000 for the Wireless Direct Incentive Grant was deducted from the operating budget – total to be assessed $598,594.36. Town populations were reviewed – all town assessments have been reduced from the prior year.
Mr. Moriarty provided additional documentation on wages and payroll and reviewed the data. Spikes in data were due to three pay periods occurring within one month (September and March). FY18 projected wages were $22,846.94 per period. There was discussion about the RRECC moving to a district model – so far Rutland and Hubbardston would be on board; meeting with Barre soon.
Overall reduction of 5.19%. Mr. Moriarty has yet to meet with the other towns, only Barre has requested to meet so far.
MINUTES
Corrected minutes for the meeting on January 16, 2018 were presented for review; minutes had previously been approved on January 23, 2018. Ms. Nahrwold's name was incorrectly omitted from those listed in attendance.
Ms. Vernon moved to accept the corrected minutes as written. Mr. McKinlay 2nd. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Nahrwold moved to accept meeting minutes from January 23, 2018 as written. Mr. McKinlay 2nd. Vote unanimous.
7:30 p.m. - Library Budget
Ruth Rovezzi – Trustee Chairperson, and Kerry Remington – Library Director, were in attendance to present the Library budget. Some small increases have been added, most significantly to Purchased Services related to a technology upgrade. The PCs for patron use are outdated Windows XP, no longer supported by Microsoft. These computers see a lot of community use for job searches, homework, research – also, very helpful for those without home computers. Childrens' Librarian and Aides Wages lines increased – funded last year by money transferred from Cable, would like to sustain. Hours of operation increased 4 hours over the last year and they would like to continue with these hours. Ms. Remington noted that the Board of Library Commissioners require libraries to be open for 40 hours in towns over 10,000 population. Rutland is
currently under 10,000 – note for future reference.
Supplies budget increased $500 – the library is partnering with a lot more groups and seeing more facility use so there is an increased need for cleaning supplies, etc. The DPW cleans the library, but the library provides the cleaning supplies. Only the library and public safety currently manage their own purchased services lines, all other buildings are through the DPW.
Due to the increased use of the library, Ms. Remington would like to add more hours. There was discussion of increasing hours at the same wage rate – the library could always use more aides. This is balanced out with State aid money.
There was discussion of the request for replacement computers. Ms. Nartowicz had suggested adding a Town Meeting article. Ms. Remington discussed how the library had previously asked local colleges for old computers, but their source for this retired and the library hasn't had replacement computers in four years. Suzor IT performed some upgrades for staff computers; all public use computers need upgrades. Children's computers were pulled due to poor function. The library has an excellent printer, but only the staff printer will print to it currently – many people come to the library to print and they'd like to be able to accommodate this. 10 computers would be ideal – total requested on the budget is 5 for staff, 3 for children's section, and some tablets. There was discussion of security and portability for tablets and laptops.
Tablets could be beneficial for younger kids, better learning tools than laptops. Ms. Remington discussed the possibility of grants through the Gates Foundation. Ms. Nartowicz recommended sending a note to CIPC before bringing this to Town Meeting.
The estimated value in the budget for computers is $5,800. No other department has requested computer replacements as of yet. There was discussion of splitting up the costs between the Purchased Services budget and the Town Meeting.
Mr. McKinlay moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Vernon 2nd. Vote unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________ Laura Scannell, Secretary
Approved on: _________
_________________________ Lyndon Nichols, Chairman
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