Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of February 9, 2011
Senior Center Duck Pond Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Dennis Murphy, Chairman; Sam Bradford, Robert Kelly, Janet Loewenstein, John T. Morrissey, Sylvia Smith, Liz Sorrell, Robert Wallace
Also Attending: Town Administrator Paul Sieloff, Town Accountant Marilyn Crary
Dennis Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Fiber Optics Presentation
IT Consultant Cristian Patapie presented information on a Fiber Optic Municipal Area Network (F/O MAN). He had submitted a memo dated January 25, 20111 regarding the estimated cost savings and benefits for the system. The proposal will be an Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article requesting $121,000. Patapie explained how the system would work and anticipated savings to the Town, and he answered questions on maintenance. A completion date would be the end of 2012, Patapie said. There is a USDA grant that could be obtained. Patapie also explained insurance situations and costs.
Cultural Council’s Request
John Morrissey recused himself from the discussion and left the table.
Cultural Council Chair Kim Shkapich came forward to give several points on the Cultural Council funding and activity. Shkapich said the former chair had received recognition from the state for the Wellfleet Cultural Council’s activity. Paul Sieloff said that the $2,000 requested would be encumbered from his fund.
Morrissey returned to the table.
Wellfleet Elementary School Budget Discussion
School Committee Chair Jan Plaue and Principal Marybeth Rodman and other members of the School Committee were present to answer questions on the FY12 WES Budget. Discussion topics included: teacher salaries; good faith bargaining during the current negotiations with the teachers’ union; step increases; salary increases over the past eight years; new requirements for IT curriculum mandated by the state; per-pupil costs and comparisons with other small schools; Special Needs; introduced international statistics that place U.S. schools 23rd in mathematics; and ongoing work on transportation costs.
Sam Bradford distributed a worksheet on Kindergarten Statistics for Area Communities2 and discussed the small numbers in WES Kindergarten. Principal Rodman explained their commitment to a research project on kindergartens. Liz Sorrell suggested a consolidation of the Kindergarten classes with a reorganization of staff.
Plaue said the School is requesting an Override to cover the Budget. FinCom was concerned about failure of an Override and whether to keep WES separate from Nauset Regional in an Override vote.
Revenue Worksheets
Marilyn Crary had prepared spreadsheets that listed Revenues by Departments for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010. 3 Smith requested the accompanying Budget Outlook to go with the revenues. Crary answered questions and explained other Budget changes.
Other Business
John Morrissey had questions on the Marina Fuel Budget. In an e-mail message3 Harbormaster Michael Flanagan had provided statistics for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010. Flanagan will be invited to the next meeting to discuss the fuel budget.
Paul Sieloff discussed the Warrant Articles and getting FinCom recommendations for the financial Articles. There was more discussion of putting together the School Budgets or keeping them separate for an Override and overall School Budget.
The Fire Department Overtime memo to the BOS and letter to Chief Silverman will be sent.
Minutes of 1/26/11
Kelly moved to approve the minutes of January 26, 2011. Loewenstein seconded, and the motion carried 8-0.
Adjournment
Smith moved to adjourn. Loewenstein seconded, and the motion carried 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________ _________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Dennis Murphy, Chairman
Finance Committee approved these minutes at the meeting held 2/23/11.
Public Record Materials from the meeting of 2/9/11
1.) Cristian Patapie’s memo dated January 25, 2011
2.) Kindergarten Statistics for Area Communities
3.) Revenues by Departments for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010
4.) An e-mail message from Harbormaster Michael Flanagan
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