Wellfleet Board of Selectmen/Finance Committee
Minutes of Joint Budget Meeting
February 7, 2005
Library Meeting Room
Present: Board of Selectmen – Ira Wood, Chair; Dale Donovan, Jerry Houk, Michael May, Helen Miranda Wilson
Finance Committee – Berta Bruinooge, Chair; Nancy Bone, William Carlson, Carl Caruso, Patricia Foley, Mac Hay, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely, Sylvia Smith
Also attending: Tim Smith, Town Administrator; Marilyn Crary, Town Accountant
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Ira Wood called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Wood announced that Bernardo & Doherty would be at the BOS meeting Tuesday, Feb. 8 to discuss a Wastewater Treatment that would be an entirely new entity for town government.
DPW Budget
DPW Director Mark Vincent and Joan Baker, Administrative Assistant, presented the DPW budget.
#190 Beach Facilities – This is a new line item of $21,000. It covers new partitions and handicap railings at the bath houses.
#294 Forestry – This is level-funded at $4,000. Helen Miranda Wilson asked about it remaining the same. Vincent explained that NSTAR and the DPW had done a lot of trimming in recent years, which helped reduce power outages in the recent storm. Marilyn Crary gave a figure of $2,870 spent so far for FY05.
#299 Traffic – This is level-funded. John Makely asked how this fund for street signs and lines compares to “General Highways.” Joan Baker said 299 could be blended with it, but 299 was primarily for signs.
#417 Facilities – This had an overall increase of $950. Tim Smith gave a corrected figure of $93,000 for current Contract Services and a corrected current total of $204,150. Vincent discussed pricing of fuel oil and diesel fuel. Marilyn Crary supplied a figure of $6,558 spent on fuel for FY05 through January. Arlene Kirsch questioned the $3,000 for “Other Supplies.” Vincent said it was for grounds keeping. Wilson asked which buildings were covered by fuel costs. Joan Baker said the school is not included, and the COA is heated by propane for $7,500.
#420 DPW Operating – This had a $2,100 increase with everything but the salaries which are set by contract. Tim Smith said the non-Teamsters were still in negotiations; he planned a 3% increase for the Teamsters. Wood asked about the 0 figures. One is for a Water Systems DPW employee, who is budgeted in at $60,000. This job is currently being advertised as it has been in the past, but no one qualified has applied for the position. Carl Caruso wanted to know what happens to the $60,000. Smith said Town Meeting is asked to transfer it to DPW Contract Services, which is in the red. Vincent would like to see staffing at the Transfer Facility increase. He suggested two part-time or one full-time gatehouse keeper. One full-time gatehouse person is reflected in
the budget.
A question by Dale Donovan related to Charter specifications for DPW maintenance and cleaning at the Marina raised a larger issue: should departments pay for expenses such as maintenance and fuel or should they all be put into the DPW budget? Smith said a change would create an accounting nightmare. The Town Administrator, however, can provide a breakdown in a year-end statement.
#422 General Highways – This is level-funded at $42,000.
#423 Snow Removal – This is budgeted at $35,000. Baker and Vincent answered questions regarding recent snow removal, the state of emergency 48 hours, and projections for the future.
#424 Street Lights – There is a decrease from $26,000 to $23,500 through Cape Light Compact and Republican Electric.
#425 Dikes, Bridges, Parking Lots – This remains level-funded at $4,900. Nancy Bone wondered if this covered loss of part of the Newcomb Hollow lot. Vincent said patching, stones and minor repair were covered. Total repair would be in the Capital Plan. Wilson asked if Uncle Tim’s Bridge was included in this line. Vincent said it was good for small repairs of boards and railings.
#426 DPW Survey & Engineering – Sometimes the DPW needs to use Slade, but this is level funded at $5,000.
#433 Transfer Station – The increase in cost is mainly for the tipping fees at the Bourne Landfill. The rate is going up to $10 per ton July 1, 2005. Also SEMASS rates are going up from the present $19.20 per ton. Kirsch said these figures should be presented to the public to encourage them to recycle, but Vincent said there’s cost for recycling too. Wilson said businesses could do a better job recycling. Vincent said letters go out to them; Houk said the By-law Committee can draft a bylaw to force people to recycle.
#442 Wellfleet Municipal Water System – Contract costs with Whitewater are the largest increase. There is an increase from $6,850 to $7,060.
#443 Wesley Swamp Pump – The pump, located in the center of town, is level funded at $1,600.
#692 Holiday Celebrations – The fund covering holiday lights, prizes for the Fourth of July race and wreaths for veterans is level funded at $1,500.
Library
Head Librarian Elaine McIlroy came back before the Joint Meeting to present some options for increasing library hours. The 45-48 hour plan is the more feasible one. The afternoon openings before 2 p.m. and the additional evening would be helpful, according to McIlroy. Wilson asked about a later closing time at 9 p.m., and Carl Caruso asked about adding Sunday hours, possibly in winter. McIlroy could make trial adjustments to the schedule if the plan is approved. The increased hours could be handled as an override with a Warrant Article, or they could be put into the Library Budget.
Town Hall Budgets
#146 Town Tax Collector – Town Collector Marianne Nickerson explained that the $700 increase for a new software support system raised the Contract Service line from $5,300 to $6,000.
#141 Assessor – Town Assessor Nancy Vail said expenditures were level-funded except for salaries, which were up.
Town Clerk/Treasurer Dawn Rickman explained the items for the following budgets:
#135 Town Clerk/Treasurer – Salaries were up, but expenditures were level funded.
#158 Tax Title – When property taxes go unpaid, the Town Treasurer puts a lien on it and petitions for foreclosure. Fifty-nine such properties went to “low value” sales last year. The $15,000 figure, which is level funded, may be high, but there is no way of knowing how many properties might be foreclosed on this year.
#162 Elections/Registration – This is level funded. Chairman Wood asked if costs varied according to voter turn-out. Rickman said that whatever the turn-out, state elections are held 13 hours and town elections are 7 hours. There are ballot expenses for town elections.
#753 Short Term Interest – This is needed for the Landfill closure until it becomes permanent debt.
#911 County Retirement – Rickman had a figure slightly lower than printed. She reminded the assembly that town employees do not have Social Security. County retirement started sometime in the 40s or 50s.
#913 Unemployment Compensation – There is $15,000 budgeted for this.
(Helen Miranda Wilson recused herself from the discussion of #914 and #915.)
#914 Group Health Insurance – There is an increase from $698,740 to $803,500 budgeted.
#915 Group Life Insurance – This increased because there are new employees. Retirees get Life Insurance at 50%.
(Wilson returned to the discussion.)
#916 Medicare Town Share – This goes up as salaries go up. The figure increased from $62,180 to $68,600.
#940 Debt Service Costs – Basically this is level funded, according to Rickman.
Town Accountant Marilyn Crary presented the #121 and #135 budgets that follow:
#121 Audit – The $20,000 figure is for the Powers & Sullivan report.
#135 Accountant – This is level funded. Although Crary had requested an additional part-time staff member, the Town Administrator did not recommend this position. Smith said he had not added any new personnel across the board for FY06.
Council on Aging Budget
C.O.A. Director Jacqui Wilde presented Budget # 541 and Budget #520.
#541 COA – Wilde requested an increase of 13 hours for her part-time staff. The “Contract Services” and “Telephone” lines also had increases. Ira Wood questioned Wilde about revenue, and she said that the C.O.A. does not generate any. She was pleased to announce that Wellfleet in a consortium with Cape Manor and the Orleans C.O.A. had been chosen as a model site for a program called P.A.C.E.
#520 Human Services – Wilde projected level funding. They are contracting with fewer vendors for less money but getting more services. Two added contracts are with Children’s Place and Gosnold. There is now a Gosnold counselor at the C.O.A. every Thursday. Chair Ira Wood asked if any money was coming in from the programs. Wilde said no, but there was the future possibility of a for-profit Community Kitchen program and an Infant/Toddler Day Care.
Marina Fund
(Michael May disclosed that he works at the Marina.)
Harbormaster Michael Flanagan presented the Marina Enterprise Fund Budget. He said salaries went up 3% with the Teamsters contract still in negotiations. Other salaries were level funded. He gave a line by line explanation of each item that went up or remained level, answering questions about fuel, the Marine Reserve Fund, and credit cards. At Berta Bruinooge request he broke down the $95,000 Capital Outlay expense line of $95,000. He is asking $25,000 engineering for dredging projects, $20,000 for a new trailer, $10,000 for computers, and $40,000 for a fuel dock. Chairman Wood said Flanagan would be coming to the BOS about raising fees. Flanagan reported on grants he has received.
Other Operating Budgets
Town Administrator Tim Smith presented the remaining Operating Budgets. First he clarified that the Fire Department’s line for “Other Supplies” referred to air masks, a contract negotiated issue for #220 Fire.
#114 Moderator – This increased from $470 to $553.
#115 Constables – The department is level-funded at $110.
#122 Selectmen – Video services increased the budget.
#123 Town Administrator – This increased 3 %. The Assistant Town Administrator’s salary increased, the Auto Allowance increased, and Travel decreased.
#124 General Administration – Supplies and services are level-funded.
#131 Finance Committee – FinCom remains level-funded.
#132 Reserve Fund – This is level at $50,000.
#151 Legal Expenses – This increased to $85,000.
#152 Personnel Board – The 0 totals are level-funded.
#153 Computerization – Last year’s figure of $75,000 reflects a transfer, so essentially it is level-funded. Contract services include a DSL line, the website, and Stephen Penny’s contract services.
#174 Planning Department – This is level-funded.
#176 Board of Appeals – There is an increase from $1,950 to $2,000.
#177 Open Space Committee – This is level-funded at $1,500.
#178 Herring Warden – Wilson said the BOS would soon appoint a new Herring Warden and consider a raise for next year. The budget is now level-funded at $300.
#183 NRAB – The request is for $1,000.
#189 Housing Authority – Wilson said there was over $10,000 left over, but the budget is level-funded at $5,000.
#191 Town Property – Smith said grants would be used for 335 Main St.; therefore, the 0 totals are level-funded.
#195 Town Report & Warrants – This is level-funded at $12,200.
#196 Consultancy – A Town Meeting transfer provided the $10,000 total.
#292 Dog Officer – The salary increased 3%.
#302 Cape Cod Regional Technical School – Wellfleet’s share is $264,209. With 19 Wellfleet students in attendance, Smith calculated a $13,900 cost per student. Cape Cod Tech uses the Education Reform formula for each towns’ contribution. It is unlikely that the other towns will change to a per pupil basis.
#543 Veterans’ Services – There is a slight increase from $14,180 to $14,954.
#690 Historical Commission – The increase to $600 was to help prepare the “Wellfleet Monuments and Memorials” booklet.
#691 Historical Review Board – This increased from 0 to $200.
#944 Insurance Reserve – This is level at $3,000.
#945 Liability/Property/Comp Insurance – This increased to $206,879.
Totals
Smith provided the following overall Operating Budget totals:
Current appropriations $10,938,234
Department head requests $11,583,948
The Town Administrator’s recommended total $11,547,491
An additional $38,895 for Fire, COA and Library are not included in the figures.
Shortfall
There is a shortfall of $367, 755. Smith said this means a $400,000 override, not even considering Warrant Articles. He would put the only remaining salary increase, the Teamsters’ 3% raise, on a separate Article for a fall Town Meeting.
Capital Budget
Smith reviewed increases in the FY06 Capital Budget – Appendix B.
Computerization was up with networking at the DPW.
Shellfish increases included $25,000 for a pick up truck and $5,000 for an ATV.
Wellfleet Elementary School was close to budget.
Police had an increase for replacement of defibrillators.
Fire had a $42,000 increase to replace a duty truck which is about ten years old. Donovan and Houk wanted to be sure that old vehicles are disposed of, not left at the landfill.
DPW requests include a sander at $14,000 and a wood chipper for $35,000. Vincent said a road-side chipper would save on getting the branches to the landfill.
Recommended DPW Projects include an upgrade of the transfer station, Town Hall parking lot paving, tennis court resurfacing, replacement of the Library HVAC system, Town Hall windows replacements, exterior lighting for the Library, and repair and replacement of recreation fields. DPW projects totaled $286,000.
In answer to a question from Wilson, Vincent explained that the $20,000 request for recreation fields covered fences and clay for the baseball field. Donovan had a question about paving. He wondered if permeable paving was an option, particularly at the transfer station.
Debt Exclusions
Smith said the Police/Fire Station would go into 2007-2008 debt exclusion. Proposed Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusions for capital equipment and facilities for FY06 include:
a dump truck at $65,000, a refuse packer at $92,000, Transfer Station engineering and design services at $50,000, a front end loader at $120,000 and an extension to the Library at $100,000.
Roads
There was also discussion of buying a grader for improving dirt roads. Mark Vincent returned to the table and distributed a memo on plowing private and public roads. He presented three options: A) stop plowing all private roads; B) plow all roads which means new equipment, employees and unknown contract costs; or C) along with the public roads plow private roads that meet certain conditions. One such condition for plowing might be that the road is paved. Chairman Wood said the BOS would be discussing these options at the Tuesday, February 8 meeting.
Minutes
Wilson displayed two sets of minutes from the Joint Budget meetings which needed to be approved.
Final Joint Budget Meeting.
One more Joint Budget Meeting to wrap everything up was set for Monday, February 14, 2005 at 7 p.m. at the Library Meeting Room.
Adjournment
Houk motioned to adjourn; Donovan seconded. The motion carried 4-1 (Wilson dissenting). The meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary
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Berta Bruinooge, Chair Ira Wood, Chair
Finance Committee Board of Selectmen
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Michael May
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Jerry Houk
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Dale Donovan
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Helen Miranda Wilson
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