FINANCE COMMITTEE

MINUTES – February 2, 2004

TOWN HALL – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members present:  Pietal, Heitin, Fixler, Goldberg, Goodman, Hearne, Miller, Rose, Tuck

Absent: Feldman, Hitter, Sydney

 

Reviewed Board of Health’s Budget – Linda Rosen and Anne Bingham

1.   Budgets – Level, 2.5% reduction and 5% reduction

a.       Salaries comprise 94% of budget

1.      Administration, Nursing, Sanitary Inspection, Enforcement

2.      Areas to Note

a.        Budget shortfalls have been addressed

b.      Costs for Lake testing has been moved to Recreation Dept. and camps

Jim Andrews, Health Agent for DPW does the testing

c.       Current budget does not allow for coverage when PH Nurse is on vacation or to adequately staff monthly clinics

d.      Contractual rights to salary increases for paid staff include 3% increase, merit increase and earned time - would like to add another day to 6 up from 5 days

e.       Sanitarian is a contractor - been on job for about 30 years

f.        Cost of Put Backs - $1680 for vacation coverage, $987 for Administration, $918 Nurse, $546 for sick leave coverage

g.       Fixed and uncontrollable costs - Residential Waste pickup-Municipal Waste Dumpster Pickup

h.       No Capital Request this year

 

 

Committee Business

1.   Report on Priorities Committee Meeting – January 29, 2004 [Goodman]

      a. Issues discussed: Allocations (School Committee deficiency in Special Education), Fixed and Uncontrollable (what is and what isn’t),

      b. FY ‘04 numbers look better.

      c. Spreadsheets, documents are easier to follow,

      d. Fire Department salaries are not in parity with surrounding towns,

      e. Fund Assessors request for $33,000 per year in budget instead of Capital Request

      f. Fin Com offer to aid School Committee to determine how to address SPED shortfall and fund unknown obligations - meeting on 2/4 with Pietal and Hearne,

      g. Rainy Day / Stabilization Fund

 

2.   Goldberg - depreciation of regular expenses should be charged to depts. / accountability

3.   Tuck - where do we stand with long range plan for Town buildings

4.   Heitin - Capital Meeting 2/3

5.   Fixler - Government Study Committee Forum report

Reviewed Library’s Budget

Kip Roberson and Sandra Goverman (Abigail Marsters, Pat Olken, Marcia Leibman)

 

a.       Budget presented – Minimum State Level, 2.73%

b.      Waivers from State Minimum Standard Level

1)      State changed rules after we submitted our request last year

2)      What’s at risk - loss of $18,000 state aid, use of neighboring town libraries, databases

3)      If we level fund town budgets at less than 2.73% - waiver would probably be accepted

c.       Areas to Note

1)      Salaries increase is 3.7% due to contracted step raises

2)      No Capital requests this year - Will replace 25% of computers and add    security system with existing funds from previous state aid

3)      Sources of funding – State aid, Town of Sharon, Friends of the Sharon Library

4)      Without Wilbur Renovation – building needs are to repair roof drains and 1st floor drainage – will submit estimate for the Town 5 year Capital Plan

5)      Due to space limitations – for every new book in, an old book must go out - either sold, recycled or given to school libraries

6)      Sunday hours are still requested

7)      Circulation has leveled off – but high – use close to towns with population of 25,000 residents

1)      Areas under funded - book budget (could be $110,000) employee hours (library assistant additional 10 hours/wk)

2)      Budget is spent at approximate rate of 1/12 per month

 

Next Finance Committee Meeting – February 9, 2004