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Town of Wellfleet
Finance Committee
Meeting Minutes January 28, 2004
Present: Berta Bruinooge, Chair, Carl Caruso, Sylvia Smith, Mac Hay, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely, Nancy Bone, Christine Bates, Secretary
Regrets: Patricia Foley
Meeting called to order at 7:32 pm.
Transfers from the Reserve Fund:
04-03: Liability/Property/Compensation Insurance (Audit Adjustments). Marilyn Crary stated this is a transfer from one budget line to another. $35,000 was budgeted for WorkmanPassed 7-0.
04-04: Request to transfer funds to purchase beach stickers as well as support a dedicated mailing
(Berta Bruinooge disclosed that she works for the Beach Program) Suzanne Grout Thomas called to state she was ill and could not attend the meeting. Due to the impact of people using credit cards to purchase stickers, there is a cash flow problem and Suzanne needs to purchase stickers. There is also going to be a dedicated mailing which will be separate from the tax bills. This will eliminate the number of errors found on the forms last year. John Makeley Moved and Nancy Boon Seconded approval of Transfer #04-04 to transfer of $3,000 for the stickers and dedicated mailing. Passed 6-0
(Arlene Kirsch abstained). It was noted that Berta does not have any financial association with this request; therefore, she participated in the vote.
04-05: Computerization Rex Peterson stated his original request of $10,100 will be reduced to $3,000 to cover the expenses for the month of February. He is working with a computer consultant who is supporting all the TownPassed 7-0.
04-06: Liability/Property/WorkmanJohn Makeley Moved and Carl Caruso Seconded approval of $9,000, Passed 7-0.
There is $18,360 left in the reserve fund. Arlene Kirsch suggested we write a letter to the Town Administrator and Selectmen about the money left in the Reserve Fund and that there will be future requests for transfer of funds against line item 945, as well as computerization and Medicare. It is important for them to know how the money is being utilized.
Other Business:
1. Discussion on Finance Committee Budget meetings with the Selectmen: Some departments have come in with level funding and others have not. Berta asked if anyone had seen the Selectman
Members of the Committee expressed their opinions on the joint meetings. It was noted the information presented in hard copy and the questions we asked were very good. Feel the presenters still need some help in preparing their presentations to meet our expectations (detailed information) and we can use this as an opportunity for education next year. Some people appear to come before us with their own budgets, not the TownCapital Improvement plan and not allow the infrastructure of the Town to run into trouble, even at the expense of services. It is felt there are too many employees and that some departments need to cut back. There is concern with how much data is not being shown in the budget. Much information is stated verbally, but not defined clearly on paper. Not aware if the salaries are firm or negotiated. Department Heads are not being clear on this issue. There was discussion about a Capital Budget meeting for next week, and it feels like that would be a meeting all by itself without all the other agenda items. There is a concern that new employees do not equal level services. General feeling that the meetings are going fine. It is very valuable to meet with the Selectmen and the Department heads. We have a problem going to the voters asking for an override, unless the Department Heads have done everything in
their power to keep expenses down. It is important to upkeep our buildings and assets. Instead of hiring a new water monitor, it is our understanding there are three people qualified to perform the testing. A suggestion was made to write the Town Administrator asking Department Heads to look for ways to make revenue (revenue versus costs). Most of the Department Heads did supply us with revenue projections in the October meeting. Last year it was determined to go without an override. We spent everything in the budget. In the past, for three years in a row, we level-funded the budget. At the end of the budget process last year, the Selectmen asked the Town Administrator to cut the budget by 10%. There was further discussion regarding the department heads looking for ways to generate revenue. People come here and want to use the services we provide, and we should look at ways to make money for the Town through
the Recreation Department, possibly Ambulance Services, etc). We will plan to write a letter to the Town Administrator with constructive ideas (after the Budget process). If there is any free cash left over, could we put it on the ballot to have it put into the Reserve Funds.
2. Finance Committee Position to the Public: Timeline: Our budget recommendations have to be ready for the Town Administrator by March 1. Article recommendations are due March 12.
February 18: Work session, go through the budgets line by line. See if we are matching the SelectmenMarch 17: Work Session March 24: Capital Improvement Plan Hearing and Regular meeting
April 21: Regular Finance Committee Meeting
3. Regionalization of Nauset School District: The district is not fully regionalized; each town has its own elementary school. Wellfleet only has one vote at Nauset. It was suggested we write a letter to Mike Gradone and ask what the advantages of full regionalization are: how much money would we get from the State? The Town is assessed based on the number of students in the region. We have the smallest amount of people in the school. If there were regionalization, would the elementary building go to Nauset? All towns would have to agree on the regionalization. Meetings between Finance Committees of the towns could be held. For future planning, John Makely suggests we focus on information such as
number of people having children, number of teachers, quality of education, school boards, etc. There are approximately 300 people we would need to influence. Ms. Kirsch Moved to draft a letter to Superintendent of Schools Michael Gradone; Seconded by Mr. Makely, Passed 7-0.
4. Meeting minutes of November 19 were approved. Ms. Kirsch asked that the meeting minutes of December 17 be amended as such: 1st Page, #3, 4th line: Counsel (spelling error) and add
5. Mail was reviewed. A letter from Ginny Crossman, regarding her concern with the budget process and transfer station, was handed out to each board member. The contract for legal services is coming up for review forthcoming. Board recommends discussing with Selectmen if there are alternatives which may be less expensive. Joan Platt
Ms. Kirsch Moved to have Ms. Bruinooge draft the memo regarding the reserve fund and funding the line items; Seconded by Mr. Makely; Passed 7-0.
Ms. Kirsch Moved to adjourn the meeting; Seconded by Mr. Hay; Passed 7-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:48 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________________ Berta Bruinooge, Chair
Christine Bates ______________________________________ Date
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