Town of Sturbridge

Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes

March 17, 2009

Senior Center

7:00 P.M.

Meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm with the following members present: Kevin Smith (KS), Larry Morrison (LM), Bob Williams (BW), Mike Serio (MS), Virginia Stallone (VS), Mary Redetzke (MR), Mary Dowling (MD) and Patricia Affenito (PA).

Chief Senecal present to discuss the FY10 Fire Department budget:

$1000 in Dive Rescue and $9751 in Equipment were not restored to the budget.  Chief Senecal says that he can live with these decreases unless an emergency arises.  At that point he would have to request a reserve fund transfer.  Service should not be impaired at this point.

The new fire truck has been funded with a borrowing article in FY09 but was put on hold for purchase.  They ‘go ahead’ had been given and the specs are ready; however, there is still some question.  KS to followup with Jim Malloy and Barbara Barry to check on the debt service allowed in the FY10 budget.

The 1981 Ford truck has a rusted tack and is used only for water supply because the rust gets clogged in the hoses.  There are 3 engine trucks and 1 pumper that are used providing over 5,500 gallons of water without hydrant use.  Sometimes they use the lakes as well.

7:30pm - 8:45pm: Steve Mullen: Board of Health discusses budget and newly created Revolving Fund:

BOH bought Quicken and is compiling and entering the necessary data.  He has worked with Barbara Barry on how to accomplish this but much more work is needed.

Current balance in the Revolving Fund is $7000 consisting of the permit fees from the Tattoo festival, restaurant and lodging fines and temp permit fees from an event at the Host Hotel.

Inspector stipends will come out of this fund: temporary inspectors receive $50/hr and the public accommodations inspector supplement has not been determined yet.

Health agent (Alyssa) oversees the temp inspectors who provide a written report on there service.

The Rules for the Revolving Fund are still being written: How will they track and tie permits to payments, especially for multi year permits?

The ‘Due to’ account is still being worked on as well: to pay pool inspector, and plumbing inspector

The Public Accommodations inspector should really be an Asst. Health Inspector with fee and commissions. Does not have an estimate on what the total pay for this inspector is (stipend + %).

BOH will address these issues at the 4/6 FinCom meeting.

Nonprofit organizations do not pay fees: OSV, Meals on Wheels, Senior Center, Burgess

Can there be money moved between departments within the town:

Full transparency is important

Is there a cost of friction? And how much?

There are no dept chargebacks, but should there be?

Examples: DPW work on police cars, fire trucks and school buses.  Plowing of public parking- schools, offices, senior center….

Discussion about department requests for staffing:  should there be a more structured process or just let whomever wants come and ask?

Motion to reconsider FY10 budget line #11352-54000: Town Accountant: Supplies made by LM, seconded by MR, so moved 8-0-0.

Motion to amend FY10 budget line #11352-54000: Town Accountant: Supplies to $3925 made by LM, seconded by MR, so moved 8-0-0.

KS to followup with Mike Caplette on format for ‘consent agenda’ and how to handle objections and look to post a sign at the town election advertising the pretown meeting meeting.

Motion to accept all modifications as noted for ‘other budget & Town meeting’ lines in the Town Administrators memo dated 3/17/09 10:32am to Kevin Smith regarding: ‘Consent Agenda & Other Town Meeting Stuff’ which includes no substantive changes to the Articles made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 8-0-0.

Motion to accept ATM Article 35: Landfill Closure Account Appropriation made by MR, seconded by VS, so moved 8-0-0.

Hold vote on Article 36: Non Binding Question until next week.

Notes: Cancel 3/19 meeting, add meetings for 3/24 and 3/26.

Meeting adjourned at 10:05 pm.

Respectively submitted,

Patricia Affenito