HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCMeetingMinutes_11.18.14
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TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date November 18, 2014
nd
Meeting Location: 2 floor Conf Room
Bill Callahan, BC Chairman Susan Almono SA
X X
Marta Solof MS Timothy Tschirhart TT
Karin Blake KB Liz Gerron LG
X X
Thomas Ringler TR
X
Chris Nobile CN Pat Sifferlen, PS, Admin
X X
Donald Elliot DE Vice Chair
X
Non FinCom Members in Attendance
OTHERS:
Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information.
Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table, herein.
II. Previous Minutes Approved
October 21, 2014
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AGENDA ITEM A: Televising of Meetings
BC No decision is made for televising.
Set up schedule so we could have meetings televised. We will not forego having a meeting
If it could not be televised. It is our full intent to televise when practical. If we need to add or shuffle
meetings we will be able to do it. How do department heads feel about being televised?
TR thinks dynamics might change with televising
CN What do we lose by televising instead of being transparent. Meetings are always open.
LG There is the perception of being open
DE I think it is important to have an open and frank discussion
SA Could we or are there laws that once we tel- televising.
BC we could vote to change bylaws to allow us to have a closed executive session. Some of the
discussions could be private.
LG If it is an open meeting nothing should be private. Citizens should know everything for better
understanding.
BC Important to play the process out for the public. Public gets one showing at town meeting.
Important that people know this is a 6 months process. lay the process out for them, get more people
involved and more visible
KB Agree we need to amend bylaws to go into executive session permissible by law.
BC every time department heads come to meeting we would televise voting on capital plan not televise
or decide meeting by meeting.
LG Thinks it is an all or nothing
Discussion on Executive session
BC any motions?
KB Motion to televise meetings.
nd
2 by CN
Yes 4 No 2
KB Motion to amend rules and procedures paragraph I pg. 2 Titled Executive session
To read Members of Finance Committee may invoke the executive session law to the extent permitted
by law..
nd
2 by DE
Discussion on Motion
SA reads executive session laws.(chapter 30A)
BC Would anything in our policy and procedures prevent us from going into executive session.
CN Fincom has never had to go into an executive session.
KB would like to amend recent motion to include statuary amendment
Motion: Members of Finance Committee may invoke the executive session law to the extent permitted
by law (chapter 30A sec 21)
nd
2 by SA
Vote taken on KB motion Yes 7 No 0
BC reads rules on excused and unexcused absences
Volunteer board how do you define excused or unexcused absences.
LG Discussion on bylaw F what we did tonight is not in keeping with this.
KB: Move to make a motion to break the rules so that we can vote on issues.
nd
2 by DE
Yes 7 No 0
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AGENDA ITEM B Review of Budget Policy Statement
Brief discussion on the 125 Corridor development project.
CN How do we make it more transparent to Community?
DE gives background on prior year discussion on 125 sewer project
KB Gives brief discussion and handout (FY16 Revenue projection detail) on RFCC meeting attended
Projections are relied from our experience from last year.
Pg. 4 cherry sheet very little change based on a 4 year average.
Numbers were as of October. Well put together, reasonably conservative.
One more meeting of RFCC
Full 2 ½ % increase in taxes
Discussion on payments in lieu of taxes.
Has anyone ever asked for more?
TR If there was a downfall in budget where would it likely come from
1)State may not give funds
2)Special Ed
3)Snow and ice.
Brief discussion OPEB and fund.
CN spoke to Andrew about reserves/slush funds/coffee cans
Would like to see on a piece of paper of all the reserves, how much is in there and what they could be
used for?
.
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AGENDA ITEM C: Review of Key items for Department to address in their budget
presentations.
BC Take upon ourselves to put in what we want to see from department heads.
Tim will be putting together some things.
Headcount, how can you reconcile back to prior year?
Shared services What shared services exist.
What would be better as a shared service?
CN 2 simple questions I would like to ask
1)What is your number one threat? The thing that could really mess you up.
2)What is something that could make a difference?
This is an investment, money to buy value
DE We like to ask them what is not on here that you need. That would make a big difference.
TR: Would like to ask how the employees are? Happy employees make a happy service.
Discussion on lease vs buys.
IV. Next Meetings
December 10, 2014
V. Adjournment-
Motion: CN
Seconded: LG Time: 9:00
TYPE FROM TO SUBJECT COMMENTS
ITEM #
1 Budget policy
statement
2 FY 16 revenue
projection detail
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5
6
7
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