Standish Budget Committee
Monday, March 31, 2014
The meeting of the Standish Budget Committee was called to order at 6:05 pm.
Attendance - Carolyn Brown, Jane Cirone, Martha Hurd-Call, Katherine Post, Ronald Richardson, and Walter Wasson - all present
Chairperson Jane Cirone reviewed the answers to questions the Budget Committee asked the Town Council.
Two of the answers prompted follow up questions to the Town Council. Town employees are required to contribute to their 401k after one year – what is the initial start-up contribution and what percentage does the Town match those contributions?
The public works uniforms are currently being purchased from Unifirst which has a longstanding relationship with the Town of Standish. Ron Richardson would like to see this process go out to bid.
Budget Review Process
The following items are questioned throughout the process. Jane Cirone will take all questions and concerns back to the Town Council to get answers for our next meeting.
Why do the salary increases for all departments exceed the current Cost of Living Adjustment, which was 1.1% for the previous 12 months ending February, 2014. Martha Hurd-Call said the MMA does salary comparisons town by town. She would like to see those numbers before decisions are made on all salary projections.
The Budget Committee would like to see actual expenditures, year to date, for FY14. We have numbers for actual expenditures for FY12 and FY13. The FY15 Budget requests funds in excess of actual expenditures, many of which are carry-over items from previous years. The actual expenditures for FY12 and FY13 show all funds requested are not used. The Budget Committee would like to make reductions for funds not needed.
The Budget Committee would like to know how many of the numerous meetings and trainings are actually attended by Town employees. The actual expenditures for FY12 and FY13 show all funds requested are not used. The Budget Committee would like to make reductions for funds not needed.
Assessing
Salary Adjustments were left open
All other items under this section were accepted as presented – unanimous
Code Enforcement
Salary Adjustments were left open
The Budget Committee recommends reducing Fuel and Lubricants, leaving a total of $600 for that line.
All other items under this section were accepted as presented – unanimous.
General Administration
The Budget Committee recommends reducing Other Commodities by $3,300, leaving a total of $1,000 for that line.
The remaining section was left open for additional review because we would like more information before making a decision.
Cable Television
The Budget Committee agrees with the Town Council reduction of Contractual by $2,000.
The Budget Committee recommends reducing Other Commodities by $500 leaving a total of $1,000 for that line item.
The remaining section was left open for additional review because we would like more information before making a decision.
Town Council
All items accepted as presented – unanimous
Ron Richardson would like to see the Council members use laptops or tablets. This would decrease the amount of paper the Town uses by a considerable amount.
Town Clerk
This section was left open for additional review because we would like more information before making a decision.
Finance
This section was left open for additional review because we would like more information before making a decision.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Respectively submitted,
Katherine Post
Secretary, Standish Budget Committee
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