Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of April 13, 2006
Senior Center Long Pond Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Carl Caruso, Chairman; Nancy Bone, Berta Bruinooge, Patricia Foley, John Makely, Arlene Kirsch, Sylvia Smith
Absent: Mac Hay, William Carlson
Chairman Carl Caruso called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Warrant Discussion
Town Administrator Tim Smith said there were additional transfers from Free Cash included in Special Town Meeting Warrant Article 1. The new total is covered by available Free Cash. Town Accountant Marilyn Crary and Tim Smith answered other questions concerning Free Cash.
Caruso asked about the Fire Department transfers in Article 1, and Fire Chief Daniel Silverman explained coverage of shifts for an injured full-time staff member and the other transfers requested for the Fire Department. Caruso also asked about insurance for staff out on disability.
Arlene Kirsch asked about the short-term interest borrowing costs, another transfer in STM Article 1.
There was a long discussion of Question 3 and its tie in to Articles 32, 33 and 34 in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Tim Smith and Selectpersons Helen Wilson and Ira Wood explained plowing, sanding and sweeping issues for private roads.
Caruso asked about Article 12 for CPC Open Space funds. Marilyn Crary said that the Open Space money is presented in the Capital Budget, and she explained the figures.
Chief Silverman spoke to questions on Article 13 on design for the new fire station. Arlene Kirsch said the more information that voters were provided, the better the outcome would be. She wanted to be sure this was presented cleanly, and people understood there was no longer any tie-in to an easement for the bank on Main St.
Caruso asked about procurement procedures for Gutsy Bender’s property. Tim Smith said that other properties had been considered, but under procurement law, the property across the street from the existing facility was the best choice. Tim Smith said he hopes to have a deed in hand at Town Meeting. Appraisals had been negotiated by the Town.
Town Administrator Smith and Fire Chief Silverman discussed issues of the police sharing space with the Fire Department while the police station is rebuilt.
New Warrant Articles & Articles Reserved for Town Meeting
STM Article 1
Special Town Meeting Warrant Article 1 had been recommended with a small number of transfers. Because Article 1 now contains eleven transfers, FinCom wished to reconsider the vote. Nancy Bone moved to withdraw the recommendation. Arlene Kirsch seconded. The motion carried 7-0.
Patricia Foley moved to recommend STM Article 1 as it is now presented. Sylvia Smith seconded. The motioned carried 7-0.
ATM Article 13
Kirsch moved to recommend Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 13. Makely seconded. The motion to recommend Article 13 carried 7-0.
Article 14 revisited
Kirsch move to revisit petitioned Article 14. Bone seconded. Because of a misconception of what the Lower/Outer Cape Community Coalition does, FinCom had voted to not recommend, according to Kirsch. Helen Wilson and Ira Wood attested to the impressive work the organization does. Berta Bruinooge said she was opposed to the Article, not because the organization lacked merit, but because this would open the door to other organizations wanting to place Articles that don’t belong on the Warrant. The motion to revisit Article 14 was defeated 3-4. Tim Smith said money could be provided to the organization through another means.
Article 16
Article 16 had been tabled for lack of information. Berta Bruinooge moved to not recommend Article 16. Caruso seconded. Ira Wood and Helen Wilson explained why this was in the Warrant. Wilson said she was prepared to pull the Article at Town Meeting because the Gutsy Bender property is the preferred location for the fire station. The motion to not recommend Article 16 carried 6-0-1.
Article 32
Kirsch moved to not recommend Article 32. Bone seconded. Kirsch said she didn’t feel the sweeper was necessary. Bone and Kirsch didn’t think the extra personnel would be needed either. Caruso discussed the sweeping schedule as it exists now and liability of the sand on the roads. Crary said the last debt service payment for the existing sweeper is up in 2007. The motion to not recommend Article 32 carried 5-2.
Article 33
Bone moved to not recommend Article 33. Foley seconded. Bruinooge said if there was no sweeper, additional personnel would not needed.
The motion to not recommend carried 5-2.
Article 34
Bruinooge moved to recommend Article 34. Kirsch seconded. Tim Smith said this would be a separate line item. The motion to recommend Article 34 carried 7-0.
FinCom Section for Charter Review
No one knew what would happen at Town Meeting regarding Article 19 proposing Charter Review changes; however, FinCom decided to consider the draft of the changes in Chapter 7 in order to be prepared to give their opinions if necessary.
Kirsch said the idea of alternates would be particularly good for training purposes. Bone also pointed out that board members sometimes need periods of relief, which this would facilitate. Alternates were considered desirable. Ira Wood asked about using the expertise of non-resident taxpayers on FinCom. Charter is silent on this. Bruinooge said 7.1.1 is what FinCom wants.
Parts 7.1.2 and 7.1.3 were okay. Part 7.1.4 cleans up language but says the same regarding service on other boards or committees.
The calendar on 7.2.1 has changed. This now calls for Select Board and FinCom to prepare a joint policy statement regarding Budget. FinCom was in favor of 7.2.1. There was discussion of the voting process when the two boards meet concurrently. When they meet together, they still vote separately. The deadline for the joint statement is basically the date the TA uses to start the Budget process.
In 7.2.2 Bruinooge said the date certain of December 15 makes sense as it is four months before Town Meeting.
FinCom also considered 7.2.3, 7.3.1, 7.5.1, 7.5.2 and 7.6.1 changes. All of them met with the Committee’s approval.
Makely moved that if the Charter Review changes go forward at Town Meeting, FinCom is in favor of these changes. Caruso seconded. Kirsch said alternatively FinCom can read a statement that says its in favor of the changes and would like them considered for future approval. The motion to accept the changes in the Charter Review that apply to FinCom in the draft document carried 7-0.
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Report on Revenue Raising Committee
John Makely presented highlights of the Revenue Raising Committee’s ideas. Even though no proposal for an override will be presented at this Town Meeting, there will be more overrides in the future. Makely said new revenue ideas to help avoid overrides will require hard choices. Recreation, Building, ambulance, harbor, parking meters and room tax were all considered. Makely hoped to gain greater community awareness and involvement. Ira Wood thought a brain-storming session with concerned people would be a good starting point. Arlene Kirsch suggested that Elizabeth Bridgewater was a good resource person to contact. After Town Meeting the Town Administrator and department heads can start looking at ways to raise revenue.
Yearly Finance Forum
Carl Caruso said he would be attending the annual Finance Forum to be held June 8. Tim Smith has the applications for other FinCom members interested in attending.
Letter from Brewster BOS
Wilson said the letter from the Brewster Board of Selectmen regarding room tax had come before the BOS. Wood said it would be something to discuss with FinCom, but could be done through the Revenue Raising Committee.
Flex Route
Chairman Carl Caruso will amend Article 6 on the floor of Town Meeting. The amendment is that the $25,000 will be transferred from Free Cash. The Flex Route hand-out will be available at Town Meeting. Carl will amend that the $25,000 will be transferred from Free Cash.
School Update
Sylvia Smith reported on school water line, the free solar panels and a new student with an IEP program.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of FinCom was scheduled for May 25 at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Senior Center.
Bone moved to adjourn. Makely seconded. The motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________ ____________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Carl Caruso, Chairman
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