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FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES – MARCH 12, 2003
TOWN HALL – 7:30 P.M.
Members present: Tuck, Pietal, Grasfield, Bergeron, Fixler, Gillen, Goodman, Sirkin, (Garza). Members absent: Atlas Gordon, Bluestein, Hearne, Heitin.
1. Library Director K. Roberson, accompanied by the Library Trustees, presented a budget spreadsheet showing a FY04 level services budget of $682,990 with the transfer of the library custodian from the DPW to the library budget and a F04 budget without the transfer of the custodian meeting the State minimum of $660,525. He reported that he and the Trustees were opposed to the transfer of the custodian. He documented cuts of nearly $7,000 in order to still meet other accreditation requirements in the $682,990 budget, saying that additional cuts would have to be in salary and would be drastic, compromising service and safety. He explained the consequences of loosing accreditation. The $660,525 budget would require the additional $35,000 approved by the Capital Outlay Committee for the Finance Committee Sector while
the $682,990 budget would require $22,645. However, the higher budget would become the base for future accreditation requirements leading to a need for higher future minimum library budgets. Discussion ensued about the use of library personnel. Grasfield reminded the committee that the funds come from taxes and thought the standard should be level services. Pietal thought that the custodian belonged in the library budget in any case. Executive Secretary B. Puritz said that the Priorities Committee recognized the library budget as a quality of life issue and the Selectmen recognized the effect on the public. He did not think the amount requested for the minimum budget would have an appreciable impact on other services. Fixler viewed the decision as a Priorities issue.
2. Moved and Seconded to request a total of $42,000 be added to the Finance Committee Sector including the previously approved $35,000 needed to meet the Library minimum and restoring $7,000 to be cut from the other Finance Committee budgets. Vote: 5-2-1.
3. Moved and Seconded that the proposed Fiscal 2004 Reserve Fund be reduced by the extra amount needed by the library. Vote: 4-1-2
4. The Executive Secretary requested a Reserve Fund transfer of $15,000 to Unemployment. He explained that Unemployment is billed monthly, is unpredictable and shows a downward trend. Moved and Seconded to transfer $15,000 from the Reserve Fund to Unemployment Insurance. Vote: 7-0-1
5. Pietal reported that the Capital Outlay Committee unanimously recommended borrowing $390,000 for police communication. Capital thought grant money would be available. He added that Board of Selectman Chairman A. Garf said that the Selectmen are withdrawing their request for athletic fields at the landfill. Selectmen Roach had expressed a definite need for a replacement DPW pick-up truck. Capital recommended $25,000 for the truck. Pietal stated that Capital Outlay recommendations amounted to $1,804,000, 7.17%of the budget.
6. Gillen urged that the Reserve Fund be quantified, possibly by a percentage of the budget. Several people pointed out that the schools now had their own contingency for SPED. It was suggested that the school contingency be incorporated into the town Reserve Fund or established as another separate fund in the future. Moved and Seconded to recommend a Fiscal 2004 Reserve Fund of $350,000. Vote: 7-0-1.
7. The meeting adjourned at 10:00.
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