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Home My WebLink AboutFCMeetingMinutes_04.04.06 Finance Committee ("FinCom") Meeting Minutes April 4,2006 Attendance: Eva Hamori joined the group at 6:40 pm. Mark Nichols was the only Finance Committee •nember not in attendance. Also present were Town Finance Director Linda Casey and Citizen"B" Fink and two other unidentified citizens. 1. Call to Order: Chairman Mitchell ("CM") called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. 11.Minutes: A) March 30,2006: Vice Chairman Batsimm ("VCB") made a motion, seconded by Jack Watkins ("JW"), to approve the minutes as provided in the handout. Members agreed to defer the vote until Steve Dawe could review the changes. At 7:15pm the FinCom voted unanimously to approve the minutes (8-0-0). III. Old Business: A. Board of Health &Mosquito Control Warrant Article: Board of Health Chairman, Dr.Trowbridge, Public Health Director Susan Sawyer and Public Health Nurse Debra Reillahan discussed their article to reinstate in the Mosquito Control program. Dr. Trowbridge stated this was purely from a control point and to mitigate the risks of catching Mosquito diseases such as West Nile or EEE. The State run program is a very comprehensive program which includes monitoring, early preventative treatment and spraying, if needed. In addition, Dr. Trowbridge highlighted the history behind Mosquito control and the difficulties experienced last year in trying to find a contractor to actually spray the perimeter of the fields. He was able to locate only one contractor willing to spray that had to come up from Rhode Island. Dr. Trowbridge did address why there were no tick control measures to reduce Lyme disease. Agreeing to reenter the program will require a three year commitment, costing approximately$250,000 in total. This amount is in effect, a purchase of an insurance and monitoring program. Susan Sawyer added that those who run the program at the State are much more knowledgeable than she is and are extremely helpful in answering the publics question; very accessible to the public. The discussion shifted to the Department of Health's budget. A discussion ensued over the change in purpose of the Health Revolving Fund. The verbiage should include"programs"which would allow the Revolving Fund to pay for the nurses wages in which to administer the program. Under the existing structure, only supplies are charged against the fund and a portion of the State reimbursements sits unused. The Health Department wants to use these funds to help restore the lost hours of the nurse. Redirecting the fiends will allow the department to continue providing the program while obtaining money from the State, approximately $18,000 per year. Linda Casey will follow up with the Department of Revenues to ensure this change is legal. Also discussed were other options to fund this position while enhancing duties. Debra Reillahan also discussed how the nursing position has changed since 9111 and the workload increasing three times what is was 5 years ago. Paul Stewart asked the three Health Department members what is more important, the staff or Mosquito Control. Dr. Trowbridge thought this question was unfair but would have to support his staff. B. SpEd Budget Request Update: CM announced Paul Szymanski will take over answering the budget questions and a meeting is set for Thursday morning at 9am. The New SpEd Director Cheryl Raimondo, School Committee member Barbara Whidden, Accounts payable clerk Camile McLaughlin, Town Accountant Lyne Savage, CM and Melinda Coppa will attend this meeting. C. FY2007 Recommended Budget: CM finally received copies of the School Department property valuation reports. However, Bradstreet was not in the package. It appears there is no plan as of yet, and the report only valued the asset and looked at best uses. The conversation switched over to the Capital Improvement Plan. Steve Dawe questioned whether the CPA was going to fund the Library repair item. Melinda Coppa offered to follow up with the CPA Committee. Following the discussion JW made a motion to recommend favorable action. The motion received a second from Paul Stewart. It was noted changes could be made should any items .—come off the list. The voted passed unanimously (8-0-0). D) Outstanding Warrant Book Issues: The first order of discussion was on Article 11 explanation to the voters. While discussing this, Eva Hamori brought up the grandfathering of the Stipend. She expressed her feelings that not paying the Elected Officials some form of stipend is wrong. CM stated the reason to suspend the stipend was to give an incentive to get this law changed quickly. He added his willingness to put an Article Finance Committee Meeting Minutes from April 4, 2006 Page 2 on at the Fall Special Town Meeting for an even higher amount should the law change by that time. The FmCom also discussed inequities in payments to elected officials when you combine the stipend with health —insurance for one and a stipend only for another. The group then began discussion on Article 12. Linda Casey provided handouts identifying FY06 Budget Deficits/Surpluses. Paul Stewart expressed concern over the deficits equally the surplus value to the penny. Members noted the omission of the FinCom Reserve and current snow/ice deficit spending. JW noted, for the eighth year in a row, a deficit in Fire Department Salaries. He added that the Police Department chose to reduce staffing during the evening shift and questioned why the Fire Department couldn't reduce the hours the second ambulance operates. The members agreed to ask Chief Dolan in for an explanation. Linda Casey also provided the FinCom with updated budget requests for Stevens Estate(FY06) and Sewer Enterprise Fund (FY07). More information on the Stevens Estate adjustments will be available at the next meeting. The Sewer requested their original budget, $33,344 more than the Manager's original recommendation but now equal to the Manager's revised recommendation, to fix odor problems encountered around Sutton Street. The FinCom then took the following votes: Article 21 —Jack Watkins, seconded by Mike Batsimm, motioned to recommend favorable action on the Department's requested budget. Passed unanimously; 8-0-0. Article 22 -Jack Watkins, seconded by Mike Batsimm, motioned to recommend favorable action. Passed unanimously; 8-0-0. Article 23—Mike Batsimm, seconded by Paul Stewart, motioned to recommend favorable action. Passed unanimously; 8-0-0. Article 35–Jack Watkins, seconded by Steve Dawe, motioned to recommend favorable action if`not to exceed$12,000'was included Passed unanimously, 8-0-0. Paul Stewart moved the discussion back to Mosquito Control. CM stated he is leaning towards voting in favor sof the Article. JW asked members whether they thought Mosquito Control was more important than a Communication Officer answering emergency phone calls. Steve Dawe added his perspective that this is more of a health decision than a financial one. The members agreed to incorporate this as part of the overall budget discussion. The CM them gave a brief update on the report to the voters and noted a section entitled"variables" was added. Paul Stewart requested assistance in writing up explanation to some articles. He advised the group he will send out a list of assignments. IV.Adjournment: The FinCom will meet Thursday, April 6, at 6:30PM. VCB made a motion to adjourn at 8:40pm. Steve Dawe gave a second to the motion and all members voted unanimously in favor of adjourning. Approved: Vote: X: