Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of January 24, 2008
Senior Center Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Berta Bruinooge, Mac Hay, Robert Kelly, Arlene Kirsch, John Makely, Dennis Murphy, Sylvia Smith
Also Attending: DPW Director Mark Vincent and Assistant DPW Director Paul Lindberg
Absent: Patricia Foley, Nancy Bone
Vice Chairman John Makely called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Open Space Request
Jan Plaue of the Open Space Committee was present to explain the Open Space Committee’s Request for comments on the designation of Map 28, Parcels 80 and 82 as conservation land under the control and management of the Conservation Commission. She answered questions from FinCom about possible uses of the land. Mac Hay said FinCom should be looking at the proposal from a financial point of view. FinCom had no comments at this time to recommend or not recommend the request.
Preview of DPW Budget
Mark Vincent and Paul Lindberg were present to discus the DPW budget with FinCom in advance of the next joint Budget session with the Selectmen. Vincent distributed the DPW 2009 Capital Plan request summary and discussed with the Committee specific vehicles, their uses and maintenance needs. Makely expressed appreciation for the new approach to budgeting for vehicles that Vincent had presented this year. Kirsch expressed the opinion that this is a transition period for budget planning. Providing the total inventory of vehicles was a suggestion for the January 29 Budget session.
Vincent discussed difficulties with vehicles in the past and expressed
his effort to make the DPW vehicles more reliable and safer. He’s proud of improving the department’s standards, Vincent said, and he would hate to see that reversed.
Other DPW Budget items were for salaries, Vincent said. Vincent discussed the price of paving. He anticipates increases again this year. Many other towns supplement their Chapter 90 fund. Vincent has never done this before, but he says that in the future he can’t count on Chapter 90 money for paving.
Budget Sessions
Berta Bruinooge said that she’d like to see every department head present their revenue along with their requests at future Budget sessions. Kelly said that the department costs could be included. Makely said a Selectmen had suggested to him that an examination of department revenues might be a new project for FinCom. Kirsch pointed out that new Town Administrator will see that this is done.
Murphy discussed paving materials and practices in Town. FinCom suggested that Murphy further investigate Chapter 90 money for paving, discussing it with the DPW Director first and then the Town Administrator.
Berta Bruinooge suggested that the presenting department heads include their income generation in the January 29 Budget session. The secretary will ask that an addendum on revenue be included in each of the remaining presentations.
Computerization Policy Update
Kelly moved to support the revised Computerization Policy subject to minor tweaking. Bruinooge seconded, and the motion carried 7-0. Makely distributed the up-to-date Computerization Comparison with other Lower Cape towns.
Mail
A memo dated January 16, 2008 from Superintendent of Schools Michael B. Gradone was distributed and discussed. Assessments had gone up in all towns but Eastham, according to the statistics. There was a discussion of Truro and Wellfleet Elementary Schools.
Minutes
Kirsch moved to approve the amended minutes of November 29, 2007. Makely seconded and the motion carried 6-0.
Kelly moved to approve the minutes of January 15, 2008. Kirsch seconded and the motion carried 6-0.
Smith moved to approve the Budget session minutes of January 15, 2008. Makely seconded and the motion carried 7-0.
Adjournment
Bruinooge moved to adjourn. Makely seconded, and the motion carried 7-0. the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ _______________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary John Makely, Vice- Chair
__________________ (Date)
Finance Committee approved these minutes at the meeting 2/14/08.
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