Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of October 28, 2004
Senior Center, Long Pond Room
Present: Berta Bruinooge, Chair; Pat Foley, Arlene Kirsch, Mac Hay, Sylvia Smith
Absent: Carl Caruso, John Makely, Nancy Bone
Chair Berta Bruinooge called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
Transfer Request 05-02 - Budget #945 Liability/Property/Workers’ Compensation – $300
The Town Administrator requested $300 to pay the second quarter Workers’ Compensation premium of $10,182.00 and to keep a small balance in Budget #945 to allow for payment of runner’s fees should Town vehicles be added. In addition he anticipates a Reserve Fund transfer to fund the 3rd quarter workers’ compensation premium for $10,182.00 due at the end of January. The Finance Committee wants this request submitted as soon as possible and will send a memo stating this. Patricia Foley moved to approve the transfer request; Mac Hay seconded.
Transfer Request 05-02 for $300 to buy 2nd quarter Worker’s Comp was approved 5-0.
Discussion of Charter Review Committee’s Recommendations
Chair Bruinooge presented recommendations that the Charter Review Committee had made to “beef up” the Finance Committee chapter of the Charter. The Charter only permits amendments, not inclusion of whole new sections to the document. The Charter Review Committee meets again on November 16 and will deal with Chapter 7 “Financial Provisions and Procedures.” FinCom took a look at the Chapter to consider revisions.
Section 1 “Finance Committee”
Finance Committee members suggested other wording for “each postal district” in Section 1,
7-1-1. This could be revised to “geographic diversity” or “members from Wellfleet and South Wellfleet.” Section 1, 7-1-4s stipulation that a member of FinCom can not hold office on any other town board was considered too limiting by the CRC and the Finance Committee. This could be changed to membership on any “regulatory board” (Planning Board, ZBA, Board of Health).
Section 3 “Action on Proposed Budget”
Committee members felt that the time line needs to be lengthened in 7-3-2. Arlene Kirsch recommended that Warrant articles that require a Proposition 2 ½ override should be in Annual Town Meeting. Kirsch also suggested the wording for “the Committee may require any Town Division, Department, Board of Office to furnish it with appropriate financial reports and budgetary information” be changed to “the Committee shall require….” Kirsch said the 30 day time provision in 7-3-1 should be changed to 60 days prior to Annual Town Meeting.
Section 5 “Capital Improvement Plan”
A new Capital Planning Committee had been suggested to implement the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan of 7-5-1. This would consist of seven members with the Town Administrator. FinCom members liked this suggestion and further recommended that one member of FinCom serve on the Capital Planning Committee and another serve as an alternate. Kirsch suggested a substitution of “60 days prior to Annual Town Meeting” for “30 days” in 7-5-2. Kirsch recommended that CPC could request information from any office, town board or committee same as FinCom.
Section 6 “Notice of Public Hearing on Capital Program”
Bruinooge suggested that the seven day notice of public hearing be specified for the Capital Planning Committee the same as FinCom in 7-6-1.
Section 7 “Annual Audit”
FinCom discussed recommendations for this section. Hay said that a three-member appointed Post-Audit Committee would be creating a “Sub-Finance Committee.” Bruinooge doubted that FinCom needed this other layer. The Committee wanted to require performance audits of all departments on a periodic basis, perhaps one department per year.
Chair Bruinooge said that FinCom was invited to the Audit Exit Interview with the Board of Selectmen. The Committee turned their attention to the Powers & Sullivan Management Letter and Report of Examination of Basic Financial Statements dated June 30, 2004. Arlene Kirsch moved that a memo be sent to the Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen requesting the recommendations of Powers & Sullivan be implemented, especially the one calling for computer back-up of the Town Clerk’s records. Sylvia Smith seconded.
The motion carried 5-0 to send the memo.
Representation at CRC meeting 11/16/04
Arlene Kirsch will represent FinCom at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Charter Review Committee.
Definitions & Mission Statement
Chair Berta Bruinooge said the definitions and mission statement preparation could be revisited at the next meeting. Pat Foley felt there was a need to simplify the definitions. Also there would be time to talk to other towns about their mission statements.
Thoughts on Special Town Meeting
The Committee briefly discussed STM and the election that became moot the next day.
Minutes
Kirsch moved to approve the minutes of 9/23/04; Bruinooge seconded. The Committee approved 4-0. Pat Foley moved to approve the minutes of 10/18/04; Arlene Kirsch seconded; the Committee voted to approve 4-0.
Mail
The correspondence file included:
7-page revenues report FY03 & FY04
Receipts Reserved sheet FYs 2003, 2004, 2205
WIAC memo to the Water Commissioners
COA monthly report from Jacqui Wildes with Transit Authority information
Fire Department Activity Report
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held Thursday, November 18 at 7 p.m.
Adjournment
Foley made the motion, Hay seconded and all voted to adjourn 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________ ________________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Berta Bruinooge, Chair
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