Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of May 26, 2005
Senior Center Long Pond Room
Present: Berta Bruinooge, Chair; Nancy Bone, William Carlson, Carl Caruso, Pat Foley, John Makely, Sylvia Smith
Absent: Mac Hay, Arlene Kirsch
Chair Berta Bruinooge called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Carl Caruso and John Makely shared their impressions of the Board of Selectmen’s wrap-up meeting regarding Town Meeting. They said that both the Selectmen and the Town Moderator were pleased with the Warrant organization and definitions as well as the one-night Town Meeting.
The Finance Committee discussed the override, snowplowing, an error in Article 2 of the STM Warrant, and the Computerization Budget. While the Committee does not intend to overstep their authority by micromanaging, they would like to be more informed about costs. They were particularly interested in the Computerization Budget, to which they had attached a caveat for FY06 in their STM recommendations. They determined that the former Computer Committee no longer is in existence. Pat Foley suggested comparing detailed budgets from Truro and Eastham with attention to computerization. William Carlson asked about Town inventory of hard assets including computers. Chair Bruinooge said that the Charter dictates that the Town Administrator keep the inventory list.
Returning to the subject of the override, Bruinooge stated that it is not a good idea to live outside of Proposition 2 ½ . Not every town in Massachusetts passes their overrides. FinCom would like to see departments stay within the recommended 3 % or 2 ½ %. Bruinooge finds it distressing that every bit of Free Cash is used up.
Chair Bruinooge also said that the Juice Bar should be handled in the Human Services Budget next year.
The Committee set some goals for the coming year. John Makely suggested that time lines could be established at the June meeting, but they should aim for completion before next year’s Town Meeting. The three areas of focus, as summarized by Chair Bruinooge are: 1.) Computerization costs to the Town, 2.) conservation of Free Cash, and 3.) examination of the Town inventory. Their wish for FY06 is to stay within the Budget.
Bruinooge said she would make these goals known to the Town Administrator and ask for the inventory list. Sylvia Smith promised to obtain the budgets of the neighboring towns, and John Makely said he would talk to the Assistant Town Manager about Computerization.
Mail
Mail of interest included the following:
1.) A Police Department report dated April 19, 205, which reported a shortage of $18,000 for salaries which had been anticipated and which will be covered by the Police.
2.) A letter from Tim Woodman dated April 27, 2005 urging that the Town plans for 335 Main St. yield a source of revenue rather than more “community space.”
3.) The Fire Department’s April ’05 report which indicated that their revenue was down.
4.) Copies of the Beacon, which no longer contain advertising of the position for a Wellfleet Water person.
5.) An announcement of a Financial Forum to be held June 3, 2005 in Auburn, MA at a cost of $35 per person. (Carl Caruso plans to attend.)
Minutes of 4/14/05 and 4/25/05
Caruso moved to approve the minutes of April 14; John Makely seconded. The motion to approve the minutes carried 7-0.
Foley moved to approve the minutes of April 25; Caruso seconded the motion. The Committee voted to approve the minutes 7-0.
Other Business
John Makely had a thought on budget management which was well received and quickly became a motion. Makely moved that FinCom offer a Fiscal Management Award to the department head who best manages his/her budget in FY06. Carlson seconded.
The motion to offer the incentive carried 7-0.
Sylvia Smith mentioned a newspaper article regarding the Town of Bourne’s deficit. Bruinooge stated that decreasing state and federal aid contribute to the problem.
Adjournment
Nancy Bone moved, John Makely seconded, and all voted to adjourn 7-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Berta Bruinooge, Chair
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