Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of October 25, 2007
Town Hall Hearing Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Patricia Foley, Chair; Nancy Bone, Berta Bruinooge, Mac Hay, Robert Kelly, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely, Sylvia Smith
Absent: Dennis Murphy
Chair Patricia Foley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes of 10/11/07
Bruinooge moved to approve the minutes of October 11, 2007. Makely seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Recommendations & Comments for STM Warrant
Using the October 25, 2007 Draft, FinCom made recommendations and drafted comments for the December 3 Special Town Meeting Warrant.
Article 1 Fire Station
Recommendations on this Article had previously been reserved for Town Meeting.
Article 3 Shellfish Truck
Kirsch moved to reserve recommendation to Town Meeting. Bruinooge seconded, and the motion carried 8-0.
Article 4 Police Cruiser
Kirsch moved to recommend. Makely seconded. Kirsch referred to a memo from Police Chief Rosenthal. Bruinooge questioned a statement in the memo regarding an assurance from the former Town Administrator that the cruiser would be replaced. The motion to recommend tied at 3-3-1. When FinCom member Robert Kelly arrived, Kirsch moved to vacate the previous vote and revisit the vote. Bruinooge seconded. The motion to revisit the vote carried 7-0.
Kirsch moved to approve recommend the Article as printed in the Warrant. Makely seconded. Selectman Ira Wood explained some background on the memo and documentation on the vehicle in question. Kirsch discussed criteria for emergency vehicles. Financing the vehicle was also reviewed. The motion to recommend Article 4 carried 7-1.
Article 5 “Landing Strip”
David Rowell of the Wellfleet Planning Board came forward to explain the Article for funding to gain access to the parcel within the National Seashore known as the “Landing Strip” (Map 42, Parcel 601). Rowell gave a brief history of the lot and suggested possible uses for the property. The money for the undertaking would come from Certified Free Cash. Rowell said the legal expenses would be for Land Court or Federal Court. From the floor, Ira Wood discussed potential use of the property for a land swap with the National Seashore. Mac Hay moved to recommend Article 5. Makely seconded, and the motion carried 8-0.
Article 6 Vehicle Trade-ins
Article 6 recommendations had previously been reserved for Town Meeting.
Article 9 Purchase of 2082 State Highway by Housing Authority
Pat Foley explained that the Article 9 no longer was requesting CPA borrowing. Kirsch moved to recommend. Makely seconded. The motion to recommend Article 9 carried 8-0.
Article 10 Historic Museum
From the floor, Helen Purcell of the Wellfleet Historical Society spoke on the merits of developing the section of the building for the Wellfleet Historic Society Museum. FinCom asked about historic restrictions placed upon the deed. Makely moved to recommend Article 10. Bruinooge seconded and the motion carried 7-1.
As an officer and director of Wellfleet Preservation Hall,
Berta Bruinooge recused herself from consideration of Article 11.
Article 11 Preservation Hall
FinCom had previously reserved its recommendation till Town Meeting, and the vote to reserve recommendation remained in place after a discussion of percentages of money going to historic and housing projects; WPH as the only bidder on the purchase of the building; revitalization of downtown Main St.; plans for the building as a community cultural center; Town Meeting’s approval of the gift of 335 Main Street; using CPC approval to help raise more funds; having a performance & payment plan in place; and the building as a central feature of Main Street. FinCom would like to see purchase and sale and surety bond before making a decision.
Bruinooge returned to the meeting.
Article 13 Chequessett Neck Rd. Land to Housing Authority
Kirsch moved to recommend Article 13. Smith seconded. Kelly had reservations about transferring Town-owned land to a non-profit organization. Elaine LaChapelle of the Housing Authority explained that there would be a deed restriction and that a home owner would hold the deed. The motion to recommend Article 13 carried 6-1.
Article 14 Old King’s Highway Land to Housing Authority
Elaine McIlroy from the Housing Authority said that Housing would defer to the Water Commissioners if the property was a site for a water tower. However, Affordable Housing would certainly like the property if it is available, she said. Bruinooge moved to reserve recommendation to Town Meeting. Smith seconded, and the motion to reserve carried 7-1.
Article 1 Fire Station
Fire Chief Daniel Silverman requested that FinCom return to Article 1 on the Fire Station. Silverman corrected and explained figures that have been revised for the estimated costs. Silverman asked if the differences in totals would make a difference in FinCom’s recommendation. Kirsch said that FinCom comments could indicate the need for the project, but she said that FinCom would not be willing to make a recommendation without firm numbers.
Articles 10 & 11 Revisited
John Makely wished to revisit Articles 10 and 11. Bruinooge moved to vacate the vote on Article 10. Bone seconded. Makely said that the treatment of the two requests should be fair. The motion to vacate the vote carried 8-0. Bruinooge moved to reserve recommendation. Makely seconded, and the motion to reserve recommendation on Article 10 carried 8-0.
Comments for STM Warrant
Kirsch read the Special Town Meeting Overview comments that she had prepared for FinCom’s discussion and approval. Kirsch will expand on the comments she made during the meeting regarding Article 1 on the Fire Station. Chief Silverman gave more figures on the value of the property. She offered comments for Article 2 and 3, but had no comments for Articles 5 and 6.
Article 6 on Trade-In Vehicles Revisited
Bruinooge moved to vacate previous Article 6 vote. Bone seconded, and the motion to vacate carried 7-0. Bruinooge moved to recommend Article 6. Bone seconded, and the motion to recommend carried 7-0.
There were no comments for Article 9. FinCom comments for Articles 10 & 11 will reflect the need for additional information. Mac Hay suggested a future checklist for FinCom approval of CPA Articles. Kirsch reminded FinCom that minority viewpoints could be added. The Article 12 comment will say that funds should be raised elsewhere.
Kirsch explained the rationale for putting the Vehicle Rollover Policy in the Warrant. After FinCom discussed placing of the policy in the STM Warrant,
Bruinooge moved to not put the vehicle rollover policy in Warrant. Hay seconded, and the motion carried 6-1.
Water and Wastewater Planning Financial Concerns
Ben Gitlow came forward to present a document he had prepared on Municipal Water and Wastewater. Gitlow’s point was that the Town should recover all or some of the expenses for a water system. Center of Town needs were of special concern, Gitlow said. The high costs for an expanded water system and for a wastewater system were Gitlow’s concern. Mac Hay spoke about the connection of water to economic development.
Computerization
The computerization study will be continued at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 1, 2007. FinCom has not yet addressed the response memo from Acting Town Administrator Rex Peterson and needs to do so before the November 13 meeting with the Board of Selectmen, Foley said.
Mail
A Police memo on Board of Probation Reports was distributed.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ _______________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Patricia Foley, Chair
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