HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCMeetingMinutes_05.22.02 FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
May 22,2002
ATTENDANCE: Members present: Michael Garron,Chairman;Bernice Fink,Vice Chairman,Stephen Dawe;Keith
Mitchell;Paula Porten;Paul Stewart;Jack Watkins;Mark Weber. Also present: Mark Rees,Town Manager;Chuck
Benevento,Finance Director.
Other officials,board members and residents present: Board of Selectmen:Rosemary Smedile,Don Stewart,James Xenakis,
Susan Haltmaier,Wendy Wakeman; School Board Members:Chairman Dan Murphy,Bruce Baker,Al Perry; School
Superintendent William AIlen and approximately two dozen residents.
CALL TO ORDER: Michael Garron called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:-No Minutes approved.
FY03 Budget Update
The Town Manager handed out and presented a draft of his updated FY03 Manager Recommended No Override Budget. He
discussed the line items that showed increases in Revenues as well as increases and decreases in Expenses and compared them
to his original FY03 Manager Recommended No Override Budget. On the Revenue side,he pointed out that State Aid total
was changed to$9,776,666,which is a$156,247 increase over his original no override budget.
On the Expense side,he pointed out the following increases: $53,900 in Public Works to add back two DPW workers,$84,289
in Police to add back two officers,and$100,000 to fund the personnel needed to keep the second ambulance operational at all
times. The decreases on the Expense side were: $580,000 for Unemployment with an assumption that there would be no
layoffs,and$150,000 for Group Insurance with the money coming out of the Insurance Reserve Fund. The Town Manager
also added$1,734,933 to the Public School Operating Budget and noted that he had concurred with Paul Stewart on this item.
The updated Total Revenue was increased to$59,144,450,which is a$1,413,098 increase from his original recommended
budget without an override. The updated Total Expenditure was increased to$59,176,385. He noted that the budget is still out
of balance by$31,935.
Paul Stewart handed out a spreadsheet of the Finance Committee's Updated Draft FY03 Budget,which coincided with the
Town Manager's Draft Budget.During a Iengthy discussion,the following was pointed out:
• The Town Manager felt that the Town would get the State Aid amount that is in the updated budget.
• Funds for a half time position in the Town Clerk's Office and a half person in the Assessor's Office are still in the
budget. Another$15,000 would be needed to hire a full time person in the Town Clerk's Office.
• The School Superintendent told the Committee that he has to move by July 2.
• According to Diane Huster's calculations, there might be another$150,000 in Trash.
• School Committee Chairman,Dan Murphy,said that there still could be additional staffing.
• Several committee members voiced concern in taking so much money out of the Stabilization Fund.
The Finance Committee voted as follows:
Paul Stewart made a MOTION,seconded by Mark Weber,to accept the Updated FY03 Draft Budget as shown on the Finance
Committee Spreadsheet dated May 22,2002,with an increase in Line 22 under Police Expenses from$80,289 to$84,289 and
an increase in Line 19 under Miscellaneous Revenues/Stabilization Fund by$4,000.
Keith Mitchell made a MOTION TO AMEND,seconded by Paul Stewart,to reduce line 26,Maintenance/Operations under
Education Expenses by$150,000 and to reduce Line 19, Stabilization Fund under Revenues by$150,000.
Vote approved 5— 1—2. (Michael Garron opposed. Jack Watkins and Paul Stewart abstained.)
Bernice Fink made a MOTION TO AMEND to further reduce Line 3l,Textbooks,supplies,etc.,under Education Expenses
by$243,620 and to reduce Line 19,Stabilization Fund under Revenues by$243,620,to make the Stabilization Fund Revenues
amount$300,000.
No second.
Vote on MOTION as amended: 6—2—0. (Michael Garron and Bernice Fink opposed.)
ADJOURNMENT
No adjournment. The meeting will be continued on Tuesday,May 28,2002,in the AV Room,North Andover High School
at 6:30 p.m.
Submitted by:Carol Ritchie, Sr.Confidential Clerk