Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 14, 2005

High School Library – 7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Brian Fitzgerald (late), Charles Goodman, David Hearne (late),

                               Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Paul Pietal, Gregory Sydney, (Hamilton)

               Absent:   Michael Feldman, David Fixler, Kenneth Goldberg, Gloria Rose

1. The first item on the agenda was the BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUDGET REVIEW.  Present were Ben Puritz, Town Administrator, Selectmen Joe Roach, Chair, David Grasfield, and Bill Heitin..

2. There was a recap on the discussion regarding the Town Clerk’s budget, department head salaries, and union contracts, which was to be an agenda item for tomorrow night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting:  It was reported that according to State law, it is designated that Selectmen negotiate salaries.

3. Pietal:  Department head to start.  Participant or listener.  Would like to limit to department heads to start.

4. The Finance Committee would like to see uniformity of budgets.  The Board of Selectmen has 31 budgets to either prepare or oversee.  These budgets are based on Maintenance of Service.  There was continued discussion increases in gasoline, salaries, contractual obligations, and a wish list.

5. FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET REVIEW, Chief Dennis Mann present.

6. Discussion was held on a Maintenance of Service budget and indexing, which is reviewing a peer group salary and indexing to that group for a median figure.  Indexing covers cost of living only.

7. The Board of Selectmen will provide the Finance Committee with a list of a Department Head Survey which includes the peer towns.

8. It was stated that the Fire Department is limited as to who is eligible to cover on  emergency recall for overtime.  Most of sick time is used for injuries.

9. The Finance Committee stated there is a need to make the case for what needs to be done making sure what is needed is in the budget.  This could include replacement equipment, additional equipment, Paramedics, and EMT education on a supplemental wish list.

10. POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET REVIEW.  Chief Joseph Bernstein present.

11. Chief Bernstein gave a summary of the budget which was classified as a barebones Maintenance of Service budget.  This department is considerably less in staff than area communities.  Officers can only work a maximum of 32 OT hours, 16 hours back to back in a day, with four days on and two days off and a full weekend off every six weeks.  Therefore, a lot of overtime, which sometimes must be required, accrues.  With more personnel, overtime would decrease.

12. Discussion continued on assignment of officers in schools, for DPW, on patrol, and the need for more personnel and funding.  A supplemental budget with a list of what is needed for the town with costs should be provided to the Selectmen and then Police Department budget again reviewed by the Finance Committee.

13. The next meeting will be February 28, 2005.

14. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

15. VOTED:  7-0-0.

16. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M.

Open Action Item
Action Item	Responsible	Start	Due
Determine number of union contracts	Group	12/13/04	1/31/05
Analyze effect of union contracts on Different departments and on budgets Overall	Group	1/10/05	2/15/05
Develop a model for salary projections	Pietal and Grasfield to help Out	1/10/05	3/31/05
Follow up ZBA budget for more Concrete numbers	Pietal	1/31/05