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Home My WebLink AboutFCMeetingMinutes_03.18.15 1 TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date March 18, 2015 nd Meeting Location: 2 Room Bill Callahan, BC Chairman Susan Almono SA X Marta Solof MS Timothy Tschirhart TT X X Karin Blake KB Liz Gerron LG X X Thomas Ringler TR Chris Nobile CN Pat Sifferlen, PS, Admin X X Donald Elliot DE Vice Chair Non FinCom Members in Attendance OTHERS: Lyne Savage, Andrew Melnikas, Ray Santilli, Paul Gallagher 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 March 4, 2015 as amended 2 Agenda A Meet with departments Police, Fire and Emergency Management Emergency Management (pg. 156) RS: Status quo budget. Continuation of a couple projects from last year. 1)Re-outfit all emergency management volunteers 2) update radio equipment 3) Inherited Car 20(old ambulance) from fire department update and outfit that vehicle for their use. Stevens Estate garage updated to house Car 20 work being done in garage to be able to plug in There is 1 stipend person SA What year is ambulance? RS it is a 2002 MS Where are they getting training and education? RS Emergency management is a civil defense they do have a specialized classes. KB explain Capital Outlay line item RS used for outfitting garage for plug in for radios. Police Department KB Reserve Police Officers, would like a brief background PG These are officers in training to supplement police force. These are part timers. KB How many reserves do we have? PG currently we have 2. They are all mandated by Mass Police Council. Brief discussion on the newly established Merrimack Valley Police Recruit Academy KB In the significant changes there is a negotiation with the communications officers union to implement part time communications officers that can work per diem. PG we currently have 9 communications officer to fill slots the part timers will cover sick days Vacation time so that we are not paying a premium pay we are paying a per diem. CN What falls into other charges and expenses? RS there is a dramatic drop this year due to reallocation of different expenses to their proper location KB: What are the capital purchases for 45K? PG this is phase 1 of the revamping of our communications center to have microwave and fiber optic attached to town. To solve problem on reliance on Verizon for communications and emergencies. LG brief discussion on NEMLEC PG This is a regional task force. North Andover is the command center for all. 62 other Departments we can use. LG NEMLEC overtime? PG this is for training which is done once a month. TT Special assessments for $4825.00 who manages this? PG they have a business officer. KB materials and supplies up 24K? RS this is part of the shuffling of expenses to correct location. SA K9 budget has gone down could you explain? PG prior years we have had 2 dogs. We will only have one dog next year. KB What is selective enforcement? PG targeted areas where there is suspicious activity. KB Read that there is a program for NAHS students Police Academy PG we used to have students come to police station now we are integrated in school and Students get credits for class taken 3 CN Do you see this being extended to the Youth Center for Middle School students? PG spoke to Rich Gorman about doing this. TT 2.5% increase is budget is it good enough, wish you had more? PG I am happy our programs can be sustained with this. KB: Discussion on overtime as a percentage to salaries roughly 13% compared to a few years ago which was at 17% RS Combination of factors, per diem officers help, also the reserve officers that we can put into full time positions and fill slots that allow us not to pay overtime. Fire Department New fire station should be complete by October. Move in sometime in November. CN: great opportunity to show off to that off to community and schools. AM traditionally have always welcomed community to Fire Station. Also do an annual Open house at Fire Station. TT Holiday pay took off more than personal costs. RS: Holidathem get extra pay in checks for holiday. Salaries also include fulltime deputy chief that will be appointed. KB Sick time buyback is this a new line item? RS New line item in latest contract. In order to try and save on overtime encouraging them not to take sick days and allowed to buy back or be paid for sick days (3) KB EMT Pay are they part time? -assigned. LG Contract services, what kind of contract services does town use? AM this would be advanced life support services out of Lawrence General. Also includes ambulance billing company. KB Training and education looking at 2014 actuals to 2016 recommended quite a jump. AM there are 2 items that make up this 1)21 hour additional education either in classroom or online used to be a $500 flat fee now it is time and half firefighters would get $700 Lieutenants would get $900. 2)Individuals who continue their education in fire and science that counts for their course and books. TT What is covered by Fire Alarm? (15K) AM Group that work fire alarm on line poles. Currently still have some Master box systems and are converting to radio box systems. 15K is for materials. KB Capital Outlay for 50K and Protective Equipment AM buying 8 new SCBA Harnesses. Protective equipment is an agreement each year will buy 9 sets of protective gear for firefighters no one will have gear older that six years. LG What is announcement of Retirement? Line item blank across board. RS When someone announces retirement. They receive a payoff of unused sick time. It is now under public safety reserve. 4 Agenda B Finalize questions for Public Hearing. KB postponed till future meeting Agenda C New Business No New Business IV. Next Meetings March 25, 2015 V. Adjournment- Motion: TT Seconded: SA Time: 7:46 TYPE FROM TO SUBJECT COMMENTS ITEM # 1 Budge book Town Manager 2 3 5 6 7