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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCMeetingMinutes_04.10.03 AMENDED FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES April 10,2003 ATTENDANCE: The following members were present: Jack Watkins, Chairman, Bernice Fink, Vice Chairman, Paul Stewart, Keith Mitchell, Mark Nichols, Melinda Coppa, Paula Porten, Steve Dawe and Mike Batsimm. Mark Rees, Town Manager, Joyce Bradshaw,Town Clerk, Al Perry, Chuck Ormsby, and Bruce Baker, School Committee members were also present. CALL TO ORDER: Jack Watkins,Chairman,called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. APPROVAL OF MINUTES After a brief discussion on revisions to the Minutes and Public Forum Report of March 27, Keith MOVED to approve the Minutes as amended. Steve Dawe seconded and the vote was unanimous. The Minutes of April 3 were then discussed and revised. Keith MOVED to approve the Minutes as amended. Mike seconded and the vote was unanimous. After a brief discussion, Paul MOVED to approve the Minutes of April 5 as amended. Keith seconded and the vote passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Proposed Retail Development on Route 114 Jack noted he spoke with State Representative David Torrisi about the proposed retail development on Route 114. The FinCom discussed this issue then Mike MOVED to have the developers of the proposed mall give a presentation at a future Finance Committee meeting. Melinda seconded and the vote was unanimous. Mark Rees then distributed his updated Recommended Budget for FY2004. He described the minor changes made to this budget including revisions from the Youth Services and Library Department Heads. WARRANT BOOK The FinCom then began discussions on the draft Warrant Book that Paul distributed. Al Perry, School Committee,then arrived at the meeting. Discussions on the Warrant Book resumed after Al made his presentation. Foster Farm Al Perry began by saying that under Governor Romney's budget for FY04, all funding from the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Program was cut. On April 4,North Andover was one of twenty-eight municipalities reinstated into this program. The Board of Selectmen's regular meeting is Monday,April 14. At that time,the Board has the right to re-open the Warrant, but only by unanimous vote. Al stressed the urgency of this issue because the Town Warrant has to be re-opened in order to insert a new Article before Annual Town Meeting. If the Article is placed on the Warrant, it has to be approved at Town Meeting. if an override has to take place,the Town must vote and approve it by June 30. North Andover could lose $15M toward the school if the Article does not pass. The preliminary design plan and architectural drawings must be submitted to the state by June 30. Al distributed the Warrant Article write-up for the FinCom to review. Chuck Ormsby then informed the group of two trigger mechanisms that have to be in place before the Town begins the project. The first is the state notifies the Town the funds are available for reimbursement at a rate of no less than 54%. The second mechanism is enrollment for grades one through five must be at 1,925 as of the most recent certified October I" enrollment report. Keith then made a MOTION and Mike seconded to recommend the Selectmen re-open the Warrant to place a Foster Farm School Article on it. Steve Dawe made a MOTION to amend the motion to include the three triggers described to the FinCom (enrollment to reach 1,925, state notification that the funds are available for reimbursement, and that the rate of reimbursement is no less than 54%). Paula seconded to accept the amendment to the MOTION. The vote was unanimous. Jack then asked the group to vote on the amended MOTION. It passed 8 to 1 with`B"Fink abstaining. WARRANT BOOK The group reviewed the Warrant Book and made minor additions/revisions. Paul emphasized that Thursday, April 17 is the last day for any corrections or changes. Paula Porten left the meeting at 8:50 pm. FUTURE MEETINGS The next Finance Committee meeting is Tuesday,April 15 at 7:00 pm in the conference room at Town Hail. ADJOURNMENT Keith MOVED and Mark seconded to adjourn the meeting. The vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm. APPROVED AS AMENDED FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES April 10,2003 ATTENDANCE: The following members were present: Jack Watkins, Chairman, Bernice Fink, Vice Chairman, Paul Stewart, Keith Mitchell, Mark Nichols, Melinda Coppa, Paula Porten, Steve Dawe and Mike Batsimm. Mark Rees, Town Manager, Joyce Bradshaw, Town Clerk, Al Perry, Chuck Ormsby, and Bruce Balser, School Committee members were also present. CALL TO ORDER: Jack Watkins,Chairman,called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. APPROVAL OF MINUTES After a brief discussion on revisions to the Minutes and Public Forum Report of March 27, Keith MOVED to approve the Minutes as amended. Steve Dawe seconded and the vote was unanimous. The Minutes of April 3 were then discussed and revised. Keith MOVED to approve the Minutes as amended. Mike seconded and the vote was unanimous. After a brief discussion, Paul MOVED to approve the Minutes of April 5 as amended. Keith seconded and the vote passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Proposed Retail Development on Route 114 Jack noted he spoke with State Representative David Torrisi about the proposed retail development on Route 114. The FinCom discussed this issue then Mike MOVED to have the developers of the proposed mall give a presentation at a future Finance Committee meeting. Melinda seconded and the vote was unanimous. Mark Rees then distributed his updated Recommended Budget for FY2004. He described the minor changes made to this budget including revisions from the Youth Services and Library Department Heads. WARRANT BOOK The FinCom then began discussions on the draft Warrant Book that Paul distributed. Al Perry, School Committee,then arrived at the meeting. Discussions on the Warrant Book resumed after Al made his presentation. Foster Farm Al Perry began by saying that under Governor Romney's budget for FY04, all funding from the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Program was cut. On April 4,North Andover was one of twenty-eight municipalities reinstated into this program. The Board of Selectmen's regular meeting is Monday, April 14. At that time,the Board has the right to re-open the Warrant, but only by unanimous vote. Al stressed the urgency of this issue because the Town Warrant has to be re-opened in order to insert a new Article before Annual Town Meeting. If the Article is placed on the Warrant, it has to be approved at Town Meeting. If an override has to take place, the Town must vote and approve it by June 30. North Andover could lose $15M toward the school if the Article does not pass. The preliminary design plan and architectural drawings must be submitted to the state by June 30. Al distributed the Warrant Article write-up for the FinCom to review. Chuck Ormsby then informed the group of two trigger mechanisms that have to be in place before the Town begins the project. The first is the state notifies the Town the funds are available for reimbursement at a rate of no less than 54%. The second mechanism is enrollment for grades one through five must be at 1,925 as of the most recent certified October I", enrollment report. Keith then made a MOTION and Mike seconded to recommend the Selectmen re-open the Warrant to place a Foster Farm School Article on it. Steve Dawe made a MOTION to amend the motion to include the three triggers described to the FinCom (enrollment to reach. 1,925, state notification that the funds are available for reimbursement, and that the rate of reimbursement is no less than 54%). Paula seconded to accept the amendment to the MOTION. The vote was unanimous. Jack then asked the group to vote on the amended MOTION. It passed 8 to 1 with`B"Fink abstaining. WARRANT BOOK The group reviewed the Warrant Book and made minor additions/revisions. Paul emphasized that Thursday, April 17 is the last day for any corrections or changes. Paula Porten left the meeting at 8:50 pm. FUTURE MEETINGS The next Finance Committee meeting is Tuesday,April 15 at 7:00 pm in the conference room at Town Hall. ADJOURNMENT Keith MOVED and Mark seconded to adjourn the meeting. The vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.