Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – January 3, 2005

High School Library – 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, David Fixler, Kenneth Goldberg

                              (late), Charles Goodman, David Hearne (late), Ira Miller, Paul Pietal,

                              Gregory Sydney (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Jonathan Hitter, Gloria Rose

 

1.      On the agenda was a budget review of the Town Clerk’s budget.  Marlene Chused, Town Clerk, presented a level funded budget, level funded plus salary increases, and level funded plus 2 ½.

 

2.      Marlene Chused:  Most of the budget is mandated by law except passports.  The salary negotiations with Assistant Town Clerk is straight salary, no overtime.  There has been a 70% increase in fees collected compared to last year.  There were no complaints for increases of fees.  Other towns are charging for business certificates, passports, and dog licenses.  Most of budget is salary driven and with budget #1, 96%; plus, 92%; plus 2.5, 95%.  The budget is compromised even in the plus 2.5 in the areas of postage, binding of vital statistics, printing of information and new forms of marriage licenses.  Only salaries increased.  The rest is level funded.

 

3.      Discussion continued on salaries of Town Clerk, Assistant Town Clerk and Election/Registration Secretary/Clerk, the only other full time employee.  Town Clerk is an elected official and comes under the Finance Committee management using guidelines from the Personnel Board.  Salary has to come from town under Mass. General Laws dealing with compensation and is entirely under the finance sector.

 

4.      Paul Pietal:  Last year we did go forward with a 10% increase for Marlene that reflected a number of things.  Principally, the excellent job she does reflected by the input from other departments, employees, and citizens of town.  Second thing, we held Marlene down when there was a budget problem.  Regardless, there were some lean years in the middle, and we held back so we gave 10%.  Even with that adjustment her salary is still less than the midpoint of other comparable towns in the area.  An additional 8% increase would bring her to the mid-point.

 

5.      OTHER BUSINESS

 

6.      Discussed Minutes of December 6, 2004.

 

7.      MOVED and SECONDED to approve Minutes as corrected.

 

8.      VOTED:  4-0-4.

 

9.      Review of Capital meeting:  The Board of Selectmen brought forward issues of civil defense, police and fire, animal control, DPW.  The Capital tour has been announced for Saturday, January 15.  Discussion on these issues, including approaches to borrowing, and big demands for borrowing.  It is the Finance Committee’s responsibility to make its own determination.

 

10.  Discussion on items from meeting of Selectmen in Executive Session on Rattlesnake Hill, Recreation Department, and the Satter case.

 

11.  Next meeting of Priorities is Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.  Why is free cash going to be more than originally projected?  Presentation going to be made by Town Administrator and Treasurer.

 

12.  A MOTION was made by Charles Goodman and SECONDED to recommend that Elections and Registrations budget that comes under the Selectmen to come to the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee starting in FY’07.

 

13.  VOTED:  9-0-0.

 

14.  Discussion was held on jurisdiction of the Personnel Board to oversee all Executive positions in town.  Also discussed Article 9 from last Town Meeting.  The Finance Committee’s motion may not have been appropriate with respect to what was printed in the warrant, but it can still be done.

 

15.  Selectmen meeting tomorrow night.  Anything remotely financial should be brought up.  Meeting held about Selectmen policies and procedures.  That may give an idea how it works and who’s responsible to it.

 

16.  The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 10, at 7:30 p.m. for the Board of Health budget review.

 

17.  MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

 

18.  VOTED:  9-0-0.

 

19.  Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.

 

Open Action Items

Action Item

Responsible

Start

Due

Discuss with Mr. Hooper the process for maintaining the Library sidewalks for snow and ice removal

Pietal

12/13/04

1/3/05

Check with Joan Leighton on State Aid for library to get accounting.

Rose

1/10/05

1/24/05

Determine number of union contracts

Group

12/13/04

1/31/05

Worksheet needed for abatement for overlay.

Goodman

1/10/05

1/31/05

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

Group

1/10/05

2/15/05