FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES – MARCH 24, 2003
TOWN HALL – 7:30 P.M.
Members present: Pietal, Heitin, Grasfield, Bergeron, Bluestein, Fixler, Goodman, Gillen, Hearne, Sirkin, (Garza). Member absent: Tuck.
1. Proponent C. Heinberg explained his proposal to allow an accessory use for parking in a residential district with a special permit from the Board or Appeals. Planning Board Chairman A. Cohen reported that the Planning Board has held a public hearing on the article but postponed the vote until the next meeting. He viewed some of the issues as: Although the zoning bylaw allows for parking spaces in other parcels to meet the minimum number of spaces required, that is not the purpose of this article; and the article may meet the definition of spot zoning. (They may consult Town Counsel in regard to spot zoning.) In answer to a question from Grasfield, Cohen responded that the Planning Board is considering other professional districts on North Main Street at Bay Road and South Main Street across from Shaw’s
Plaza. Sirkin pointed out the need for business if it does not infringe on other parcels. Grasfield also pointed out the need for business. Heinberg viewed his lack of parking spaces as a safety issue and as interfering with attracting tenants.
2. Personnel Board Chairman D. Friedman said that the Personnel Board deals mostly with the Executive pay scale and is recommending no raises. In answer to Bergeron’s question about overtime for the Police and Fire chiefs, it was pointed out that the Personnel Article stipulates “no more than” and that the amounts agree with the budget. Other changes, such in vacation time, were proposed for non-union personnel in order to be in parity with the union contracts. Grasfield did not agree with the parity issue, stating that some of the previous agreements were made as trade-offs.
3. Town Treasurer R. Uyttebroek requested a separate account to transfer money from receipts from the low interest septic loan program to the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust to pay debt services. He described this as an accounting function. He explained that the loan program was started with a state grant to lend to homeowners to bring their septic systems up to code. He suggested that details of the program be gotten from the Board of Health Administrator.
4. Executive Secretary B. Puritz reviewed potential Reserve Fund requests, the largest of which would be for the DPW snow and ice budget. He expects a FEMA subsidy of 75% of the defined cost of that short fall.
5. Council on Aging Director N. Fitzgerald alerted the Committee of a potential Council of Aging shortfall of seven hundred dollars. Emergency repairs were needed on two vehicles and the bus driver will be out for weeks due to an injury. She is trying to keep the driver’s hours down by using volunteers.
6. Fire Chief D. Mann requested a Reserve Fund transfer of $55,716 to cover short falls in ambulance recall, ambulance billing, EMT stipend and paramedic wages. He said that there have been 158 unanticipated ambulance runs, each costing four hours of overtime. He replaced two paramedics who left for other towns. Both new paramedics are due a stipend and one was in need of training. An injured paramedic was covered with overtime. He explained that there is no contractural agreement that paramedics remain with the Department for any period of time beyond training and the only cost of training is overtime to fill the shift. Grasfield suggested that the cost of billing be transferred from the Ambulance Reserve by Town Meeting as the funds collected go into the Reserve. The cost
of billing is 5% of the collections. Mann thought that the billing expenses, coupled with the proposed Fiscal 2004 budget, would deplete the Reserve. Puritz said that there was a time imperative because, if the request were not approved, there would have to be a Special Town Meeting to transfer the funds.
7. Moved and Seconded to transfer $55,716 from the Reserve Fund to the Fire Department. Vote: 7-2-1.
8. Moved and Seconded to recommend acceptance of Chapter 32B, 90 ½ to allow payment of more than 50% of health insurance for a surviving spouse. Vote: 8-1-1. Grasfield questioned that it appeared that the funding came from estimated increases in excise receipts. Puritz saw the overall capacity for surviving spouse insurance in the revenue projections and viewed it as a matter of equity and responsibility.
9. Bergeron expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of the water budget. Puritz pointed out that the budget process was too far along.
10. Grasfield reported two letters received taking issue with not carrying money over within budgets from one year to the next.
11. Puritz reported that the Council on Aging Director and the Assistant Assessor will be presenting the exemption articles to the Selectmen on March 27. He said that the circuit breaker article has been withdrawn due to the potential cost. The circuit breaker legislation has not yet been passed.
12. Puritz explained that, as a result of proposing a Fiscal 2004 Reserve Fund of $350,000, there was a $40,000 remaining revenue capacity. This led to a proposal to raise and appropriate $40,000 for the stabilization fund. Goodman pointed out that the $40,000 would be raised in taxes. Gillen suggested that criteria be set for the stabilization fund, possibly based on the changes in state aid. Moved and Seconded to recommend to the Selectmen that the amount to be raised in taxes be reduced by $40,000. Vote: 9-0-1
13. Grasfield remarked that the sectors had gotten together to discuss negotiations and the School Department went with wage increases. Puritz reported that the Selectmen made no provisions for wage increases, only, with one exception of 2 ½%, a 2% allowance for step increases.
14. Grasfield reported that the only significant difference between the revenue projections and the governor’s figures was a $188,000 increase in the Southeastern Regional School assessment. The Executive Secretary expected that figure would be reduced.
15. Grasfield said that it appeared that the Library Fiscal 2004 salary line was increased beyond step increases. Fixler said that no decision should be made that might effect staffing without knowing the facts. Grasfield will verify the salary line with the library. Moved and Seconded to recommend the following Finance Committee Sector Fiscal 2004 budgets:
a. a Moderator’s budget of $50 for the salaries of elected officials;
b. a Finance Committee budget of $4,380 for salaries, wages and expenses;
c. an Assessors budget of $179,521, of which $6,800 shall be for the salaries of elected officials and the balance shall be for other wages, salaries and expenses;
d. a Personnel Board budget of $3,321 for wages, salaries and expenses;
e. a Town Clerk’s budget of $97,333, of which $48,800 shall be for the salaries of elected officials and the balance shall be for other wages, salaries and expenses;
f. a Conservation Commission budget of $68,375 for wages salaries and expenses;
g. a Lake Management budget of $2,375 for expenses;
h. a Planning Board budget of $13,208 for wages, salaries and expenses;
i. a Board of Appeals budget of $14,778 for wages salaries and expenses;
j. a Development and Industrial Commission budget of one dollar for expenses;
k. a Board of Health budget, excluding waste management, of $214,856 for wages, salaries and expenses, and
l. a Library budget of $660,525 for wages, salaries and expenses.
Vote: 9-0-1
16. The minutes of March 17 were accepted. Vote: 8-0-2
17. The minutes of March 19 were accepted with the following changes: In # 3, after “some other accounts” add “ but shouldn’t be”; in #4, add “including not filling unfunded positions” at the end; in #5, delete “in a better situation”: and in #7, delete “few years” and add “beyond the state limit” after “extra exemptions”.
18. The meeting adjourned at 10:45.
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