Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – November 8, 2004

High School Library – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles Goodman, Ira Miller,

                               Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Michael Feldman, David Fixler, David Hearne, Jonathan Hitter,

                               Gregory Sydney

1. SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET REVIEW:  This review is being done to prepare for Spring Town Meeting.  The School Department budget is the largest and hardest to digest but well presented in both Special Education and Regular Education.

2. Attending the meeting from the School Department was Claire Jackson, Superintendent, and Barbara Dunham, Assistant Superintendent, and Andy Nebenzahl, School Committee Chair.

3. Barbara Dunham gave a detailed report on the School Department’s mid-year budget which shows current trending in departments as well as other information through MUNIS.

4. There was a serious discussion on transferring funds within set categories and how money is spent within departments.  The Department of Education requires reporting in a different way from Town budget.  A new detail with summary sheet will be printed.

5. Responding to the question “Globally, what do you see as a struggle for the schools over the next few years”, Dr. Jackson  said that the Town needs to determine what its spending priorities are regarding either building up schools, police and fire or the infrastructure. Mr. Nebenzahl offered that next year the teacher contract will be up for negotiation. He suggested that the present contract was a good deal for the Town and the next one will be more challenging.

6. OTHER BUSINESS

7. UPDATE:  Last Thursday evening Paul Pietal attended the Personnel Board meeting.  A suggestion was made that Fincom review Executive budgets and interact with the Personnel Board regarding concerns so they have context budget-wise before Town Meeting.  An invitation will be extended to the Personnel Board, Len Sacon, Chair, for a joint meeting in order to be better prepared to discuss Executive salaries at Town Meeting.

8. Pietal:  The Assessors met during the week of Town Meeting.  The tax rate has been submitted to the State in the amount of $15.58.

9. Goodman:  The Assessors are elected officials.  All elected officials come under Finance Committee with the exception of Selectmen.

10. Pietal:  A few others that are not elected come under our sector.

11. Priorities Committee Meeting on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the School Administration Building.  The agenda is the Five Year Revenue Forecast.  Capital meeting tonight.  There should be a report from our members.  Tomorrow night Don Hillegass and Robert Uyttebroek at Selectmen’s meeting on MUNIS.

12. The next Finance Committee meeting will be November 22.

13. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

14. VOTED:  6-0-0.

15. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.