MINUTES
BOARD OF FINANCE
NOVEMBER 28, 2006 (Adjourned from November 21, 2006)
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Finance, adjourned from Tuesday, November 21, 2006, was held on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, members of the Board of Finance Daniel Farley, Bruce Cornish, Mark Bushka, and James Zeller, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Fleet Manager Michael Michaud, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Tax Assessor Donna Patchen, and Tax Collector Robert Crovo. Board of Finance member James Nichol, and Joseph Nader were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Farley, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held October 17, 2006.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #020
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Bushka, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
RESCUE TOOLS # 030
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Zeller, the board voted unanimously, after a brief discussion, to accept the Council’s recommendation to award the bid entitled “Rescue Tools” to Shipman’s Fire Equipment Co. for $53,861.00 ($60,410.00 less trade-in), and to approve the borrowing of $10,122.00 from capital reserve.
WRIGHT-PIERCE #090
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Farley, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $2,240.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Wright-Pierce for work performed on the South Main Street Pump Station and Sewer - Final Design.
OVERTIME HOURS: ASSESSOR’S OFFICE #100
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Zeller, the board voted unanimously to authorize payment not to exceed $4,500.00 plus taxes, from Contingency, for overtime hours in the Assessor’s Office for three staff members.
Under a discussion, Mr. Cornish asked if other considerations were made within the Assessor’s budget itself.
Mayor Bingham indicated that the Assessor’s Budget had no funds to offset this expense.
Mr. Cornish inquired whether the vacant position in January would free up enough funds to cover the expense.
Mrs. Patchen indicated that the plans were to immediately fill the vacancy.
Mayor Bingham stated that, reducing the hours which they are open to the public will allow them time to work on the abatements and tax freeze.
Mr. Zeller asked if this would be a one-time request to get caught up with the new programs being administered.
Mayor Bingham indicated that the cap of $4,500.00 will allow them to reassess their manpower needs when they reach that point.
MERCURY ASSO. #165
On a motion by Mr. Bushka, seconded by Mr. Farley, the board voted unanimously to accept the Council’s recommendation to waive the bid process and hire Mercury Associates as the consultant to perform vehicle replacement and fleet management practice, as requested from the Vehicle Replacement Committee, to be paid from Vehicle Replacement Contingency.
It was noted that the total cost for Mercury Associates to perform all three phases is $74,152.00.
BUS: MAYOR AND MEMBERS #395
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Farley, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Mayor Bingham and members of the Board of Finance.
Mr. Bushka inquired about an item which was removed from the original agenda to authorize the payment of $6,320.38 to purchase GIS software from Environmental Systems Research Institute.
Mayor Bingham indicated that we were able to use the state contract and funds were directly reimbursed. Therefore, there was no need to vote on the matter.
Mr. Cornish said he mentioned at their last meeting that the Board of Education was experiencing a deficiency in Out-of-District Placements and Transportation, and it continues to grow and be an issue. He stated that the Board of Education was closely monitoring the situation and had a plan to close the gap with spending reductions as well as a potential for a request for some of the revenues that will come from the increased reimbursement from those Out-of-District Placements.
Mr. Zeller informed the board that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee will meet in December with representatives from CRRA. They will review how CRRA is impacting the transmission and disposal of solid waste.
ADJOURNMENT #590
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Farley, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 4:20 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
| 
