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Board of Selectmen/Finance Committee
Town Hall Hearing Room
September 16, 2003
Minutes
Present: Board of Selectmen - Dale Donovan, Chair, Jerry Houk, Ira Wood, Michael May, Helen Miranda Wilson
Finance Committee - Berta Bruinooge, Chair, Patricia Foley, Arlene Kirsch, Sylvia Smith, MacGregor Hay, Carl Caruso
Town Administrator Tim Smith also attended.
Absent: Finance Committee - Deborah Davis, Anne Suggs
Board of Selectmen meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Dale Donovan.
Finance Committee meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Berta Bruinooge.
Chairman Donovan apologized for comments he made relative to the Finance Committee's "role in budget review" and corrected his misstatement by noting that it is the Board of Selectmen's role to set policy and the Finance Committee's role to question expenditures.
The Town Administrator noted that the budget presentation portion of this evening's meeting is to address programmatic issues so that questions may be asked regarding current level of services prior to development of the budget message.
Beach Administrator Suzanne Thomas presented the Beach Department. Ms. Thomas' presentation included the need for the beach program, functions of the Beach Sticker House, staffing, parking, restroom facilities, trash removal and interdepartmental cooperation. Ms. Thomas outlined her recommendations including outsourcing restroom cleaning or replacing the permanent facilities with porta-potties, additional steps at Newcomb Hollow, closing the Sluiceway to vehicle traffic during beach season on a permanent basis and opening the beaches beginning June 15th. She indicated that calendar 2003 revenues of $531,129 were up $89,000 and noted that a decrease in sticker sales of 18-26% could be attributed to a decrease in rentals and possible resistance to recent beach sticker price increases.
Chairwoman Bruinooge introduced new Finance Committee member Carl Caruso to the Board.
Police Chief Richard Rosenthal and Lieutenant Ron Fisette presented the Police Department. Chief Rosenthal presented an outline of the functions of his department, services, overtime, compensatory time, departmental vehicles and noted the need for a new Police Department facility. He recommended that services be continued at the present level. Discussion included training costs, court costs and staffing levels with suggestions of creation of a "swing shift" and sharing an employee with an adjacent town.
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Health/Conservation Agent Emily Beebe presented the Health and Conservation Departments. Ms. Beebe presented an overview of her departments including structure of the office and the responsibilities and statutory authority of the Conservation Department, Conservation Commission, Health Department and Board of Health. She outlined departmental programs including Assessors' maps/master well and septic location updates, Estuaries Project, beach water testing (funded by Barnstable County), restaurant inspection program (through Barnstable County) and complaints. She indicated that future departmental needs include a sediment study, erosion control (Keller's Corner), GIS (have base maps, need training and hardware) and establishing an annual licensing inspection program.
On a motion by Kirsch, seconded by Foley, the Finance Committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
The Assistant Town Administrator, Rex Peterson, addressed the Board to request signatures on the Koessel property conservation restriction. He distributed maps showing the location of the property and indicated that with this conservation restriction, the property, purchased with Land Bank funds, will remain open and undeveloped. On a motion by Wilson, seconded by May, the Board voted unanimously to approve and sign the conservation restriction on the Koessel property.
The Town Administrator recommended that the Board consider additional work on the Coles Neck water system extension project as follows noting that these items were originally considered and put off because of budgetary considerations, that they will save money in the future if the system is expanded, and that there is a five-year moratorium on disturbing new roadways if SRF funds are used for a project. He estimated the cost at $100,000.
1) cross connections for several intersections - beneficial if the system is expanded, enables connection or isolation of a street.
2) back flushing of existing four inch main
3) 37 service connections to the curb for each property from the corner of Old Chequesset and Pole Dike Roads to Aesop's Tables.
Donovan moved and Wood seconded a motion to authorize these additions. Wilson requested that the Board consider each item separately. On a motion by Donovan, seconded by Wood, the Board voted unanimously to authorize back flushing of the existing four inch main. Donovan moved and Wood seconded a motion to authorize the 37 service connections. Wilson noted that in the proposed area there would be only one municipal hook-up at the 335 Main Street property and that private hook-ups were not authorized by town meeting. Houk suggested that the Board seek an opinion from Town Counsel to determine if authorization of these additional items would be out of the scope of the town meeting article. Houk moved and Wood seconded a motion to amend the motion by adding "pending an opinion from
Town Counsel." Wilson cited Article III, Section 5 of the General Bylaws and the vote of town meeting. Donovan, as the mover of the motion, and Wood, as the seconder, each indicated acceptance of Houk
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Wilson indicated that Ashley Johnson is available to tape Board of Selectmen meetings on Mondays. The Town Administrator will look into this matter.
On a motion by May, seconded by Wood, the Board voted unanimously at 9:40 p.m. to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Smulligan
Administrative Assistant
Dale Donovan, Chair Berta Bruinooge, Chair
Board of Selectmen Finance Committee
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