Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of December 15, 2005
Senior Center Long Pond Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Carl Caruso, Chair; Nancy Bone, William Carlson, Pat Foley, Mac Hay, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely and Sylvia Smith
Excused: Berta Bruinooge
Chairman Carl Caruso called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Comcast Cable Franchise
Tom Cole, accompanied by Susan Messina, John O’Hara and Betsy Williams, members of the reactivated Cable Advisory Board, presented information of current franchise fees, a proposed contract change now and plans to utilize Channel 18. O’Hara distributed an information sheet of 2005 Lower Cape Cable Franchise Related Costs. Wellfleet’s license fee for 2005, based on 2,220 subscribers is 41,110. This is the only income the Town receives from Comcast. Betsy Williams reported on lower Cape towns’ cable advisory committees’ plans to get Channel 18 going. Tom Cole welcomed FinCom involvement, and Carl Caruso said a representative would be available when necessary to help make Channel 18 functional.
County Matters
Roger Putnam, Wellfleet’s delegate to Barnstable County’s Assembly of Delegates handed out the Barnstable County Fiscal Year 2006 Approved Operating and Capital Budget and a one page spreadsheet on the budget and expenses. He pointed out how the County surplus was being spent on Human Service initiatives, instead of being returned to individual towns. It is the County Commissioners who refuse to return the money to the towns, he said. Assembly members meanwhile are campaigning for more media coverage of this situation. He recommended that FinCom talk to, write letters and send email to County Commissioners Mary J. LeClair and William Doherty. Mr. Putnam also addressed FinCom questions on how Massachusetts Education Reform affected school funding.
Annual Report
Because Berta Bruinooge was unable to submit a 2005 Annual Report, Pat Foley will revise last year’s report and email it around for suggestions.
Performance Audits – Benchmark
FinCom members need the audit to discuss this. It will be an agenda item for another meeting.
STM Follow-up
Nancy Bone presented her notes on reaction to Special Town Meeting. She will draft a letter or letters to the Town Administrator with copies to the Select Board regarding issues that could become Town liabilities.
Liaison List
Liaison positions were reassigned with the inclusion of a separate Board of Water Commissioners and the new Community Preservation Committee.
Charter Review
After discussion of sections 7-2-1 and 7-2-2, Arlene Kirsch moved to insert a change into 7-2-2. Bill Carlson seconded. The motion carried 8-0.
Bill Carlson moved to add a different section 7-3-1 and renumber the sections that follow. Carl Caruso seconded. The motion carried 8-0.
FinCom discussed changes for 7-5-2 but decided not to alter it.
Computer Survey
John Makely provided a correction to a response on the computer survey. He said he would like to see closure to this study.
20/20 Survey
So far Arlene Kirsch focused on the responses of families with children and those without children. She said their responses for what they desired and what they were willing to spend on were very similar. She will carry forward her data analysis to a future meeting.
Seashore Payments
Bill Carlson reported that the payment in lieu of taxes by the National Seashore is determined by an elaborate formula in place for all National Parks. Truro and Wellfleet, having similar acreage, receive similar payments. Carlson also said that there is no formal snow plowing plan in place within the Seashore.
Management Letter
Sylvia Smith said she would keep following up on a number of unresolved issues from the Management Letter.
Correspondence
The minutes of various board and committee meetings will be given to Berta Bruinooge.
Bill Carlson asked about a letter from Ginny’s Place.
Minutes
Arlene Kirsch moved to approve the amended minutes of November 17, 2005. John Makely seconded. The motion carried 5-0-3.
Other Business
Committee Secretary Mary Rogers will find out when the Department Budget presentations are scheduled and email FinCom with the date(s).
Sylvia Smith said that a water line at the Wellfleet Elementary School broke in November. They will be looking for a transfer from the Reserve Fund for this unforeseen and unexpected expense.
Two storm related issues were brought up. Arlene Kirsch said the Town should consider providing the COA building with a generator to make it an emergency shelter. While this is a policy decision first, it will become a cost issue. John Makely wondered about the financial impact of the storm to shellfishermen who lost their crop.
Adjournment
John Makely moved to adjourn, Carl Caruso seconded; the motion carried unanimously 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ ___________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Carl Caruso, Chairman
___________________________(Date)
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