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Home My WebLink About2018-08-14 Finance Committee Minutes TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date August 14th, 2018 Meeting Location: School Administration Building Timothy Tschirhart, TT, Chairman X Ed MacMillian EM X Jennifer Goldman, JG,Vice Chair X Divya Bhatnagar, DB X Christine Allen CA X Charles Trafton CT X Thomas Ringler, TR X Angela Ciofolo, AC X Liz Gerron, LG X Sasha Weinreich, SW X Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to a re-vote upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table, herein. Non Finance Committee Members in attendance Mark DiSalvo (MD), Town Moderator Joyce Bradshaw (JB), Town Clerk Swearing in of new and/or reappointed members MD: Started off the night with welcoming and thanking everyone for attending the swearing in of some of the members of our Finance Committee. MD: Praised the members stating that his opinion of the Finance Committee Members is extraordinary, they are a group of sterling individuals who have skills, capacity, knowledge, intelligence, experience and most importantly good judgement that has been demonstrated over the years. MD: spoke of the process he goes through in recruiting members to the Finance Committee. TT was the first member to be sworn in for another 3 year term by JB and then it was followed by TT signing the Official Oath of Office book as a reappointed member of the Finance Committee. MD and TT: Acknowledged and highly praised the service of Karen Blake as a past member of the Finance Committee. Karen Blake was not present at tonight's meeting,but a token of appreciation for her service was shown to those that attended tonight's swearing in. 1 August 14,2018 MD and TT: Also acknowledged Chris Nobile for his service and thanked him as a past member of the Finance Committee and presented him personally with a token of appreciation for his service. EM was the second member to be sworn in for a 3 year term by JB and then it was followed by EM signing the Official Oath of Office Book as a reappointed member of the Finance Committee. And finally CA who was the third individual to be sworn in by JB as a brand new member to the Finance Committee. CA then signed the Official Oath of Office Book as the newest member to join the Finance Committee. MD: Again, thanked and praised all the members for their service and then invited everyone to join in for some beverages, cookies and snacks in the hall before the Finance Committee Meeting opens. Call to order and opening comments— Tim Discussion starts on or about 7:14 pm/00:10 on video time TT: Welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the new Finance Committee Season and also thanked JG for being the Vice Chair these last couple of years (JG is stepping down in her Vice Chair position). Election of Chair and Vice-Chair Discussion starts on or about 7:15 pm/00:38 on video time DB: Made a motion to propose TT as chair. CA: Second the motion All were in favor to re-elect TT as Chair. TT: Made a motion to propose SW as Vice Chair LG: Second the motion All were in favor for SW as Vice Chair Public comment(s) Discussion starts on or about 7:17 pm/01:40 on video time No public comment at this time. 2 August 14,2018 Procedural Town Charter, Town Financial Policies, Open Meeting Law Guidelines, Public Record Guidelines, Conflict of Interest Laws, Financial Disclosure by Public Officials and Employees,Association of Town Finance Committees Handbook, and the Finance Committee Policies and Procedures. Vote on Finance Committee Policies and Procedures Discussion starts on or about 7:19 pm/02:25on video time TT: One of the things I want to ask the Finance Committee to vote upon is the "Finance Committee Policies and Procedures"but I want to ask the members to delay the vote on this, so we can all take the time to read and review it in order to amend and edit(if needed), because I feel some things are dated. So I would like to table this vote on the Policies and Procedures until the next meeting. Discussion of issues and concerns regarding the forthcoming budget year process Board of Selectman meeting (Tim) Discussion starts on or about 7:22 pm/04:22on video time TT: Initially I offered (or suggested) to the Board of Selectmen (BOS) to have a joint meeting with them prior to the budget season, but putting more thought into this, I wondered do we really need to have a joint meeting. TT: went on to say that he did want to make sure that the concerns and issues that we addressed in our Finance Committee Letter to the Town (at the Town Meeting) be brought forth in a BOS's Meeting and to be recognized as part of their budget policy,planning and strategic planning. TT: Expressed to the Committee members that he wanted this to be an open discussion. I want your thoughts on this, and then TT passed around a draft that he composed to be eventually presented to the BOS. With that being said the Committee discussed in length and gave their feedback, concerns, and questioned on having this joint meeting with the BOS and what would be the best way to do this along with stressing all of our issues and concerns across to the BOS. The Finance Committee also expressed their thoughts on the Draft letter that was composed by TT to the BOS. TT: I want the BOS to put in their Policy Planning the items that were identified by us as important. TT: Spoke of the main concerns (taken from the draft letter) such as; The School Budget, Retiree Health Insurance (OPEB), and Community Fields and Recreation Complex. These main concerns prompted conversation by the Committee especially the topics of the School Budget and also OPEB. TT: Commented that the formulation of the Budget Policy(from the BOS) happens around early September and then Andrew Maylor needs to craft it. 3 August 14,2018 The Finance Committee members agreed that we want the BOS to recognize and address these concerns. The importance of Communication and working together with the BOS was stressed. TT: Stated that he wanted to talk with the Chair of the BOS on getting on their agenda, and also wanted to find out what is on the BOS's agenda for the next couple of meetings. CT, DB and CA also discussed their concerns and opinions (pros and cons) on bringing added revenue into the Town. TT: Went on to say between him, SW and the rest of the Finance Committee members I would like to focus on putting together concerns, topics and issues that we may want to tackle this year. Appointments to subcommittees Revenue and Fixed Cost Review Committee OPEB Other, such as attendees at School Committee meetings Discussion starts on or about 8:13 pm/58:00 on video time TT: Questioned the Finance Committee Members if there was anyone who is interested on volunteering on the Fixed Cost Review Committee (relating this to new members and those who have never served on this Committee). SW: Responding back to TT stating if no one can do it, she will volunteer. EM: Stated that if he is available, and not traveling,he could go to meetings CT: Stated that he could be an alternate if needed. JG: Commented that she would volunteer to go to the School Committee Meetings. SW: Stated that she could go as well, when JG could not make it. TT: Stated we can have alternates. Calendar Discussion starts on or about 8:16 pm/01:01: on video time TT: Reiterated that he would like to speak to the BOS Chair first and then we can start to set up some meetings. TT: Finance Committee Meetings will be on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. New business/Other/Next Meeting Discussion starts on or about 8:19 pm/01:02 on video time No new business 4 August 14,2018 Minutes from prior meeting: June 14, 2018 Discussion starts on or about 8:20 pm/01:03 on video time CA: Commented that she was looking at the Minutes (top of the first page) where it reads; Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information. stated that it really should read this way; Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to a re-vote upon receipt of new information. JG: Made a motion to approve the minutes as written from June 12, 2018 SW: Second the motion All in favor to approve the minutes Public comment(s) Discussion starts on or about 8:24 pm/01:07 on video time Stan Limpert of 43 Stonecleve Road I really did appreciate your conversation in tonight's meeting when you discussed your role as the Finance Committee and that you are an advisory Board to the Town, but really to the BOS also. Limpert also commented on how the BOS can make the best use of the Finance Committee as advisors to them. Limpert stated that the Finance Committee has an important role. Ad'ournment 8: 32 SW: Made a motion to adjourn the meeting JG: Second the motion All were in favor to adjourn Document Table -Agenda Finance Committee Meeting for August 8, 2018 -Minutes from June 14, 2018 - Town Meeting Adopted Budget Fiscal Year 2019 -Town Charter -Town Financial Policies -Open Meeting Law Guidelines -Public Record Guidelines -Conflict of Interest Laws -Association of Town Finance Committees Handbook; and the -Finance Committee Policies and Procedures -Draft letter to the BOS composed by TT 5 August 14,2018