Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of September 20, 2007
Town Hall Hearing Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Patricia Foley, Chair; Nancy Bone, Robert Kelly, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely, Dennis Murphy, Sylvia Smith, Berta Bruinooge
Absent: Mac Hay
Chair Patricia Foley called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Town Vehicle Rollover Policy
John Makely distributed the latest draft of the subcommittee’s status report on DPW vehicles. FinCom reviewed the material point by point, asking questions and making further suggestions. Makely stated that the FinCom’s draft policy was due to the Board of Selectmen by Oct. 1. He also discussed his meeting in Eastham with the Eastham DPW department head last week in which he found out that that hauls such as SEMASS trips were subcontracted out, and not done by Eastham staff.
Points:
The FinCom determined on Murphy’s suggestion that vehicle fuel consumption rates needed to be added to the report text and to Attachment 1, the draft form that could be used by the DPW Director to point to appropriate decisions re: vehicle rollovers.
Re: vehicle insurance, Smith reported that the Peterbuilt is now listed at $88,000 (not $880,000); the road grader and Spectech are now listed as insured; and three ATVs are not on the list of insured vehicles and therefore should not be driven on a road (they have to be trailered). Dennis pointed to a 1965 semi-trailer whose “cost new” is listed as $90,000 rather than about $35,000, and he questioned the “cost new” of the 1999 semi-trailer listed as $100,000. FinCom members agreed that while we can point these out, our focus has to stay on the draft policy.
Mark Vincent will follow up on disposal of excess equipment (vehicles) stored at the transfer station.
Foley reported on her meeting with Mark Vincent and Joan Baker on computerization of vehicle maintenance records and project management. The bottom line is that the software that has been proposed is not good for several reasons, including that it is expensive, it includes much more than our DPW needs, and especially, it requires frequent updating. At the next FinCom meeting, Pat will present a report on her findings. She has found at least two software packages that cost less but the better option may be to have a consultant design software specific to our DPW’s needs. The DPW asked someone to do this a few years ago but it was not done. The Director believes he
may have $6,000 available in encumbered funds for this.
Makely emphasized the third paragraph under the draft’s “Maintenance Procedures” heading as being very important, especially in light of the fact that there is one licensed mechanic and he sometimes does the hauls to SEMASS. Looking at the draft’s section on “Maintenance Records,” several FinCom members said that maybe the SEMASS hauls and similar work could be subcontracted—as Eastham does—and allow the mechanic to do more vehicle maintenance/prevention work.
Kirsch moved and Murphy seconded that the subcommittee report be accepted as amended during the discussion period. The motion carried 8-0.
Makely outlined the next steps: He would show the draft once it is revised based on this meeting’s discussions to Mark Vincent for input, and then to Acting TA Rex Peterson. Then the FinCom would present it to the Board of Selectmen.
Preparation for Next FinCom Meeting
Kirsch had a folder for each member and Foley asked each member to review it in advance of next week’s IT discussion.
Adjournment
Robert Kelly moved to adjourn. Murphy seconded, and the motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Arlene Kirsch, FinCom Clerk Patricia Foley, Chair
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