Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of March 14, 2012
Senior Center Conference Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Dennis Murphy, Chairman; Sam Bradford, Janet Loewenstein, Stephen Oliver, Stephen Polowczyk, Sylvia Smith, John T. Morrissey
Regrets: Liz Sorrell, Robert Wallace
Also Attending: Town Administrator Paul Sieloff, Town Accountant Marilyn Crary
Dennis Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Explanatory Presentation for Articles 16 – Clover Property
Dennis O’Connell of the Wellfleet Conservation Trust presented an information sheet 1 on Article 16, the Clover Property/CPA Open Space Project. Finance Committee had previously voted to not recommend the Warrant Article. O’Connell reviewed how the transaction would work between the Town and the Wellfleet Conservation Trust. He said property tax loss if the transaction took place was around $1,700 per year. O’Connell asked if Finance Committee would reconsider their previous vote.
Oliver moved to rescind the first vote. Smith seconded. The motion carried 4-2.
Oliver moved to recommend Warrant Article 16 for the Clover property. Polowczyk seconded. There was discussion of use of the property for building or conservation. Robert Hubby, Chair of the Open Space Committee spoke in favor of using CPA money for the Article. The motion to recommend Article 16 did not carry 3-3. .
Article 18 - Mayo Beach/Baker’s Field Wastewater Project Presentation
Curt Felix came forward to explain Article 18, the Mayo Beach/Baker’s Field Wastewater Project. He presented an information sheet and diagram for the area.2 Felix discussed the background data information on water quality in the vicinity. The bath houses are designed for nitrogen removal, Felix said. The approach would eliminate the construction of a large, traditional wastewater facility. Ned Hitchcock of the Wastewater Committee explained the workings of the composting toilets. Dennis Murphy said there would be $! 72,200 of debt service in addition to the requested $790,000 for the project. Curt Felix mentioned the annual fees for servicing the facilities. He discussed the conceptual phase which the project is now in, and the design phase or design/build phase which
would follow if the Warrant Article is approved. FinCom members asked about: frequency of cleaning, cost, timing of the project, grant possibilities, Port-a-potty use, Marina bathroom needs, fertilizer effects, restoration of water quality and the existing facilities. Dennis Murphy said either the Wastewater Committee or the Finance Committee should inform the voters on the whole cost. He suggested that Wastewater should provide the true total expense to the public.
Article 18 – Mayo Beach/Baker’s Field Restrooms Vote
Bradford moved to recommend Article 18. Loewenstein seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Budget
Finance Committee reviewed changes to the Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Budget. 3 Paul Sieloff explained some of the differences to the updated Capital Budget and the earlier version. The Fiber Optics, Library HVAC, Fire Department Jaws of Life, COA lights, Interest for the Nauset School District, Recreation Floats, and DPW Vehicles were new items on the Capital Budget. FinCom discussed the items with Paul Sieloff.
Loewenstein moved to approve the 2013 Capital Budget (Article 3). Bradford seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
Town Meeting Warrant Recommendations
There were several Articles that Finance Committee needed to make recommendations for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
John Morrissey joined the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Article 17 – Sidewalks and Paving of Bank St. & Commercial St.
Paul Sieloff discussed the Sidewalk project. An information sheet prepared by Environmental Partners Group was available. 4 Dennis Murphy had calculated the real cost including debt service. Murphy requested a price per ton for a measured distance for comparison purposes with costs for paving Town roads.
Loewenstein moved to recommend Article 17. Polowczyk seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Article 19 – Rehab of Old COA or South Wellfleet Fire Station
FinCom took discussed the debt service addition to the total cost. Paul Sieloff reviewed the purpose of the Article. He said there was a design flaw to have the Building/Health/Conservation offices in the DPW building. Sieloff considered an alternative approach for solving the problem of air quality at the DPW building.
Polowczyk moved to not recommend Article 19. Oliver seconded, and the motion did not carry 3-4.
Loewenstein moved to reserve the recommendation until Town Meeting. Morrissey seconded, and the motion carried 6-1.
Article 20 – Room Occupancy Tax
Finance Committee discussed the scope of Article 20; each member offered his/her opinion of the proposed tax.
Polowczyk moved to recommend Article 20. Oliver seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Article 21 – Gifts
Polowczyk moved to recommend Article 21. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Article 22 – Collecting Taxes by all means
Polowczyk moved to recommend Article 22. Loewenstein seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Article 23 – Regional School Agreement
Bradford moved to recommend Article 23. Loewenstein seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Article 31 – Appointed Position for Town Clerk/Treasurer
Paul Sieloff explained the time factors involved in changing the charter to make the Town Clerk/Treasurer position appointed instead of elected.
Loewenstein moved to recommend Article 31 - Town Clerk/Treasurer as Appointed Position. Bradford seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Paul Sieloff asked that Finance Committee be advocates for the change. Dennis Murphy said FinCom will speak in favor of the Article.
Articles 26 & 29
Smith moved to reserve recommendation for Articles 26 and 29. Oliver seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Warrant Message to Voters
Finance Committee drafted the message to voters for the Warrant.
Polowczyk moved to accept the message Janet Loewenstein had prepared. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
Minutes of 2/29/12
Polowczyk moved to approve the minutes of February 29, 2012. Bradford seconded,
Adjournment
Polowczyk moved to adjourn. Oliver seconded, and the motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________ _________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Dennis Murphy, Chairman
Finance Committee approved these minutes at the meeting held 5/9/12.
Public Records of 3/14/12
1,) Information Sheet on Article 16 – Clover Property
2.) Mayo Beach/Baker’s Field Wastewater Project information sheet
3.) Capital Budget for FY2013
4.) Sidewalks and Paving of Bank St. & Commercial St. information sheets
| 