Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of March 26, 2009
Senior Center Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Chair Patricia Foley, Berta Bruinooge, Dennis Murphy, Dan Wexman, Robert Kelly, Sylvia Smith, Stephen Oliver, John Makely
Absent: Arlene Kirsch
Also Attending: Town Accountant Marilyn Crary
Chair Patricia Foley opened the hearing at 7:00 p.m.
Finance Committee Recommendations for ATM 2009 Warrant Articles
Article A Transfers
Marilyn Crary discussed the amount of Free Cash. She also explained items that had been cut from the first draft of Article A. Bruinooge moved to recommend Article A as printed. Makely seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Article B Operating Budget
Crary provided a figure of $13,524,030, which represents a 3.2% increase. FinCom wanted to know what cuts had been made to arrive at the new figure. Bruinooge referred to the Charter on presentation of Operating Budget and Capital Budget. Capital Budget expenses need to be shown in the Capital Budget, she said. Bruinooge said that, according to the Charter, the Budget has to be presented in a FinCom-approved format. Bruinooge suggested getting an opinion from the Town Moderator Harry Terkanian on the Budget presentation, and Foley called him. After a phone conversation with him, Bruinooge reported that Mr. Terkanian said FinCom had the right to insist on their correct method.
Article G –L WEA Contract & Retro Pay
Smith moved to reserve recommendation on Articles G-L for Town Meeting. Oliver seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Article Q CPC Percents
Makely moved to recommend Article Q. Murphy seconded and the motion carried 7-0.
Article R CPC Housing
Wexman moved to recommend Article R. Oliver seconded and the motion carried 6-1.
Article Tb Procurement
Kelly moved to recommend Article Tb. Oliver seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Article W MGL c91 Herring River Indemnity
Oliver moved to recommend Article W. Makely seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Articles Z and Za Wind Turbine Bylaws Article Za Wind Turbines Bylaws
FinCom does not vote on bylaws and had no recommendations.
Article AA Water Tank, Well & Expanded Lines
Water Commissioners Emily Beebe and Jean Schaefer were present to give further information and answer questions on the Water System Articles.
Kelly moved to recommend Article AA. Wexman seconded and the motion carried 7-0-1.
Article BB Water Enterprise Fund
The Water Commissioners and Marilyn Crary discussed the Enterprise Fund with FinCom. Bruinooge moved to reserve recommendation for Town Meeting. Makely seconded, and the motion carried 8-0.
Article CC Town-owned Properties
Kelly moved to recommend Article CC. Bruinooge seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
FF Charter Appointments
FinCom discussed having elected officials in Town Hall. FinCom did not want to revisit their earlier decision to not recommend Article FF.
Article B Operating Budget
FinCom returned to the Operating Budget and calculated numbers according to their recommendations. FinCom did not have a copy of the Budget that the Selectmen had voted on with $150,000 in cuts. FinCom prepared an Operating Budget total without cutting the Fireworks and Amnesty Day.
Bruinooge moved to revisit the vote on the Police Line 210 in the Operating Budget. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 6-2.
Bruinooge moved to vote the Police Line as $1,328,185. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 6-2.
Smith moved to recommend a total Operating Budget of $13,455,057. Bruinooge seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Article C Capital Budget
Smith moved to recommend a Capital Budget of $2,294,931. Oliver seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Article D Marina
Kelly moved to recommend Article D at $928,027. Murphy seconded and the motion carried 8-0.
Warrant Comments and Budget Message
FinCom edited the Budget Message for publication in the Warrant. Bruinooge suggested printing a separate flyer explaining the Finance Committee’s Budget recommendations. Members will prepare a short message for a Town Meeting hand-out.
Other Business
Pat Foley said that she had received a phone call regarding procedure for FinCom’s Budget decisions.
Foley mentioned getting out a press release before Town Meeting.
Murphy discussed other towns’ strategies for Free Cash and recommended meeting with the Selectmen sometime after Town Meeting to review possibilities.
The next Finance Committee meeting will be held April 23, 2009.
Minutes of 3/19/09
Bruinooge moved to approve the minutes of March 19, 2009. Oliver seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Adjournment
Makely moved to adjourn. Murphy seconded, and the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________ _______________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Patricia Foley, Chair
__________________ (Date)
Finance Committee approved these minutes at the meeting held 4/23/09.
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