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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCMeetingMinutes_03.02.06 Finance Committee ("FinCoW) Meeting Minutes March 2, 2006 Attendance: All Finance Committee members were attendance. In addition, Town Manager("TM") Mark Rees and Citizen`B" Fink were also present. Call to Order: Chairman Mitchell called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. II. Old Business: A) Special Town Meeting Warrant Article Recommendation: Chairman Mitchell opened the meeting asking for a motion to either recommend or not recommend appropriating the Community Preservation Act ("CPA") funds as written in the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Steve Dawe made a motion to recommend appropriating the funds and Vice Chairman Batsimm gave the motion a second. Jack Watkins led the discussion against this appropriation due to the size of land and lack of affordable housing and historical preservation projects undertaken to date. Chairman Mitchell disagreed with these statements and added the CPA Committee has spent money on other projects that fall under Historical Preservation, as well as Parks and Recreation. Further, Chairman Mitchell added that the purchase of this land is within the scope and mandate of the CPA and the purchase price represents fair market value of the property. Steve Dawe stated that he would not support this article if the property could not be developed, since it can be developed he will support to preserve it. Vice Chairman Batsimm highlighted that this issue was looked at in depth and there are ways to develop the parcel. Melinda Coppa discussed the process she took to come to her decision to support this article. She highlighted the $861 thousand dollars currently available for affordable housing projects and noted that it is the CPA Committee's role is to review proposals put before them, not come up with them. With respects to having additional revenues from"new homes", she highlighted her belief that educating two kids per household would use up those additional revenues and could end up costing the Town more to service. Paul Stewart didn't believe this property was important to acquire since it fell out of the watershed and the reason for 'the purchase boiled down to the view. He outlined his intention to vote"no" and speak against this purchase during Town Meeting. The motion passed 6-1-2 with Jack Watkins voting against and abstentions coming from Mike Giarratano and Paul Stewart. N.New Business: A) Request for Deficit Spending--Snow& Ice Account: Due to timing and having the TM present, Chairman Mitchell took this topic out of order. TM asked to FinCom to authorize the continuation for funding this expense into a deficit position. TM addressed the reasons for this request and clarified any confusion from previous discussions. Paul Stewart made a motion, seconded by Jack Watkins, to authorize the Town Account to continue to pay bills on this account. The motion carried unanimously. III. Special Town Meeting: The FinCom went into recess at 6:55 PM and returned at 8:15 PM with School Committee members Dr. Charles Ormsby and William Kelly, Superintendent Dr. Harry Harutunian and Eagle Tribune reporter Davin Wilfrid joining the group. IV. New Business: C) Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article—Citizen Petition: Chairman Mitchell announced his intention to file a citizen petition to remove elected officials insurance. Paul Stewart then discussed his Citizen Petition which would authorize the establishment of supplementary revolving funds under MGL Chapter 44 Section 53E'/ or similar applicable sections to allow certain Town departments to raise and expend funds to make good certain budget cuts or deficiencies in FY07. A) Town Moderator: Town Moderator Charles Salisbury joined the group at 8:16 pm to discuss remaining on the FinCom while running for office. After discussing this with other Town Moderators,he announced that he would support Steve Dawe's decision to remain on the Committee while keeping a watchful eye on the situation. Finance Committee Meeting Minutes, March 2, 2006 Page 2 TZ. Old Business: b) FY2007 Recommended School Budget: Dr. Harutunian announced that 103 staff members have received notification that their position may be cut in FY07. He handed out the Plan A and Plan B cut lists to the members while highlighting that if these cuts come true then he will have lost 82 people in two years (FY06 &FY07). This is primarily due to the fact that 86% of the School Department budget is labor. Reiterating a statement made by Selectman Donald Stewart, Dr. Harutunian added that the cuts facing the whole Town are bigger than those made in 1991. In addition,he discussed Governor Romney's desire to direct $65 million towards funding of AP courses, as well as math and science programs. However, the legislative body does not support this proposal and would rather direct the money back to the schools. Dr. Harutunian sited the need to get our legislatures to appropriate this on a per pupil basis. Dr. Harutunian then answered Vice Chairman Batsimm's questions regarding the cuts. Jack Watkins directed his question to the two School Committee members as to why they did not support the motion asking the Board of Selectmen and FinCom to consider an override. Dr. Ormsby thought this motion was a political dodge and not necessary; highlighting the need for fundamental reforms. He further added that an override would not force reform. Chairman Mitchell thought this question was unfair to ask. Paul Stewart then requested a copy of the motion, which Dr. Harutunian read aloud, and then noted that motion referred to "other finances". William Kelly supported the comments made by Dr. Ormsby and added his belief that an override now is premature and doomed to fail. He further added that the override is just a Band-Aid approach and will not fix the problem. At the next School Committee meeting he will unveil a Plan C. He further added that he voted in support of the teacher's contract because it was measurable. Steve Dawe then stated the School Departments need for$2.9 million to provide level services. In response to a question posed by Steve, the TM stated the municipal departments would need $750,000 to $l million of additional money to provide level services. Questions shifted back to Dr. Harutunian with Steve Dawe asking why the cuts only pertained to FTEs. Dr. Harutunian stated nothing was left to cut. Chairman Mitchell questioned whether an analysis has been done on outsourcing custodial services. In response to a salary request from Mike Giarratano, Dr. Harutunian explained that this information is not available in excel and only resides in the School Department's accounting system; thus the details are not available for review. The discussion shifted over to Special Education and Circuit Breaker monies. Dr. Harutuman stated FY05 for Special Education was unique in that it was the first time he was able to budget for all expenses and then with the addition of Circuit Breaker allowed him to come in under budget. Dr. Harutunian continued to answer the FinCom's questions as best he could. In addition, he agreed to come back to future meetings should the FinCom request him to. V. Adjournment: The FinCom will meet next Thursday, March 9 at 6:30PM. In preparation of this meeting Chairman Mitchell instructed all members to meet with their liaisons. Jack Watkins made a motion at 9:45pm to adjourn. Mark Nichols gave a second to the motion and all members voted unanimously in favor of the motion to adjourn. Approved: Vote: X: