Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of November 30, 2006
Senior Center, Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Carl Caruso, Chairman; Nancy Bone, William Carlson, Patricia Foley, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely, Mac Hay, Sylvia Smith
Also Attending: Fire Chief Dan Silverman, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Dale Donovan and Selectman Ira Wood
Absent: Berta Bruinooge
Chairman Carl Caruso called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Berta Bruinooge will compose the Annual Report, which is due December 16.
FinCom members scrutinized information which John Makely had extracted from the Benchmark Report. Makely explained how he had prepared the spreadsheets of selected data for Wellfleet and its peer group. FinCom would like to have the figures recomputed by household instead of per capita. Makely said the report opened up an avenue of exploration of how other towns handle things more efficiently. Caruso said he would distribute the full Benchmark Report to all FinCom members as soon as it was ready.
Fire Chief Dan Silverman addressed unanticipated budget matters in the Fire Department caused by two staff injuries, the termination of an employee in his probationary period, and the failure of Engine 95’s pump test. Because pumps need to be tested and certified on an annual basis, this will require an additional $12,000 to have the pump rebuilt. Silverman said he had advertised for the opening in the department and discussed the need to fill the position. Caruso asked about further insurance coverage.
Silverman offered an update on the new fire station. He said the architect had submitted the preliminary submission. The energy consultancy and demolition of the building are being planned. The fire department will do some practice drills in the old building before it is demolished.
Caruso said that each year the department heads come before the BOS and FinCom with their budget requests, but Dale Donovan had suggested a new approach. Donovan said the boards could examine the services and functions and brainstorm for more efficient handling across departments. Donovan suggested reorganizing the approach to the budget hearings to include this. When questioned by FinCom about how this would be worked into the budget schedule, Donovan suggested that a task force could brainstorm in advance. Caruso said that the Town Administrator could get involved in planning the new approach and notify the department heads. Donovan said he would relay some of the FinCom concerns to the Town Administrator and discuss improved efficiency.
At the December 14 meeting FinCom will review last year’s budget. Makely and Kirsch will study the budget in a preliminary work group on December 13.
In January FinCom will meet with the Wellfleet Forum. Makely and Bruinooge will prepare an agenda for this meeting. Caruso made some recommendations of topics.
John Makely gave an update on his meetings with department heads, but he didn’t have a full report at this time. He commented on Recreation, the Marina and the Fire Department. Kirsch said FinCom should reach out to townspeople for more cost savings and revenue generating ideas and requested that the Banner reporter present include in her article that suggestions be emailed to the Committee Secretary.
Donovan discussed conditions at the Marina and the grant that the Harbor Master expects. FinCom would like more information on improvements needed at the pier. The improvements would generate more income on the operating end.
John Makely had prepared a Town staff payroll comparison some time ago. He said that it showed there were not that many new positions. He discussed some of his other findings from the past five years taken from the Annual Reports. Foley suggested bringing the report to the budget hearings.
Bill Carlson and Sylvia Smith attended the last School Committee meeting and observed that the school at this time was more interested in sustainability and MCAS scores than in revenue generating ideas. Caruso said he attended the sustainability meeting which dealt with health care benefits for teachers. Dale Donovan said he attended the second sustainability meeting and suggested that Wellfleet consider a Town sustainability meeting with the state. Kirsch suggested that Barbara Gray would be a good resource person to contact.
Caruso read an invitation for a walk-through tour of Nauset Regional facilities on December 4, 2006.
Caruso addressed the reversal of the snow line budget at Special Town Meeting. Ira Wood and Dale Donovan discussed FinCom’s amendment and expressed concern that FinCom had not notified the Selectmen in advance.
Caruso distributed a list of definitions which had been handed out at the School Sustainability Meeting.
Carlson reported on the Library’s revenue generating ideas. There is a grant they hope to receive this year. He also quoted the revenue that they generate each year.
Sylvia Smith handed out items of interest from the mail file.
Kirsch moved to approve the minutes of September 28, 2006. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.
Hay moved to approve the minutes of October 16, 2006. Carlson seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.
The next meeting was scheduled for December 14, 2006. The agenda will include the Exit Audit, Capital Projects projections and a new format for Budget hearings.
Makely offered to make copies of the ICMA Report for other members to peruse. He read a few selections of interest regarding spending and results.
Makely moved to adjourn. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Carl Caruso, Chairman
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