Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – November 29, 2004

High School Library – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Jonathan

                               Hitter, Paul Pietal, Gloria Rose (Hamilton)

                Absent:   David Fixler, Kenneth Goldberg, David Hearne, Ira Miller, Gregory

                               Sydney

1. A preliminary review of the Planning Board and Board of Assessors budgets was discussed with a view toward level funding, plus contractuals, plus 2 ½% budget.  The Board of Assessors is scheduled to come in next Monday evening.  It is small in size and fairly straight forward.

2. PLANNING BOARD BUDGET:  Last year the budget stayed flat.  We are asking to stay flat this year plus 2 ½.  The plus budget includes reaching out to neighborhoods.  There were questions on types of fees collected and updates needed with actuals on FY’04 and FY’05.

3. ASSESSORS BUDGET:  Mark Mazur, Administrative Assessor, did FY’04 budget and FY’04 actuals.  Level funded FY’06 salaries plus 2 ½.  There was a request last year for a Ten Year Program:  $165,000:  $33,000 every year over five years.  Project must be completed in 2009.  Re-evaluation in 2010 is part of FY’2000 as a capital request:  $142,500.

4. Every three years re-evaluation needs to be done.  Many questions regarding re-evaluation, commercial and mixed property, salaries, legal services, and state travel.  Regarding amounts of $33,000 and $25,000:  One is for evaluation, one is for measurement.

5. Paul Pietal will prepare two other budgets:  Finance Committee and Personnel Board.  Fincom: $43,080 in total; Personnel Board: $33,021 in total, $3,000 for secretary.

6. One of the issues is to talk about allocation between different sectors.  The re-evaluation and web post are two small items.

7. OTHER BUSINESS

8. Discussed minutes of October 18, 2004.

9. MOVED and SECONDED to approve minutes of October 18, 2004.

10. VOTED:  6-0-0.

11. Discussed minutes of November 1, 2004.

12. MOVED and SECONDED to approve minutes of November 1, 2004.

13. VOTED:  5-0-1.

14. MOVED and SECONDED to approve minutes of November 22, 2004.

15. VOTED:  4-0-2.

16. The next meeting will be on December 6, 2004, to continue budget review.

17. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

18. VOTED:  6-0-0.

19. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

20. ACTION:  Analyze effect of union contracts on different departments and on budgets overall.