Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – January 10, 2005
High School Library –7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Michael Feldman, Brian Fitzgerald, Kenneth Goldberg, Charles
Goodman, David Hearne (late), Jonathan Hitter, Ira Miller, Paul Pietal,
Gloria Rose, Gergory Sydney (Hamilton)
Absent: David Fixler
1. On the agenda was a budget review of the Board of Health’s budget. Present were Linda Rosen, Administrator; Anne Bingham, Chair; and Sheila Miller, Public Health Nurse. Budget is to be level funded, level funded plus projected contractual obligation, level funded plus 2 ½.
2. Discussion on salary portion of budget. Board of Health chose the option that is essentially a 3% salary increase. Negotiations not finished yet. In reality it is a 5.4% increase.
3. It was stated there is likely to be a lot of legal expenses because of variance requests, 40B coming forward with plans, and 94% are septic issues. Anne Bingham, as an attorney, has been helping to keep legal costs down.
4. Discussed municipal trash contract that is going out for bid. Board of Health feels recycling is still a money making venture.
5. Because of this year’s flu vaccine shortage, needed part-time assistant to work additionally and a volunteer. Since the calls were nonstop, used answering machine a lot. Also billing for Medicare and Medicare HMO that is time consuming. Money is reimbursed from HMO for flu shots that is used for staffing of clinics, postage, supplies, and advertising. Used revolving fund that can be built up to a limit of $10,000. Board of Health did a great job on this year’s flu clinic.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
7. Paul Pietal announced that the Government Study Meeting is this Thursday at the Library. Received step increases from Joan Leighton. It is more than 3%; it’s 5+%. It is worth the effort to project obligations for the town that are currently in place and those that are going forward on negotiations.
8. Much discussion continued on step increases, lanes, and starting salary negotiations earlier.
9. Discussion of Minutes of January 3, 2005.
10. First Action Item: Paul Pietal spoke with Eric Hooper. DPW is responsible for maintaining the Library sidewalks for snow and ice removal. Schools are first priority before Library. Suggested Mr. Hooper and Barbra Nadler discuss this issue.
11. Second Action Item: Find out about the State Aid account for the Library. Assigned to Gloria Rose.
12. Third Action Item: A lot of union contract information is available.
13. Fourth Action Item: Assigned to Chuck Goodman.
14. Fifth Action Item: Barbra Nadler still compiling information.
15. MOVED and SECONDED to approve the Minutes of January 3, 2005, as amended.
16. VOTED: 8-0-2.
17. Discussed Minutes of December 13, 2004.
18. MOVED and SECONDED to approve Minutes of December 13, 2004.
19. VOTED: 7-0-3.
20. The Capital Outlay tour is on Saturday at 10 A.M. starting at the Middle School.
21. The Priorities Committee meeting was last Thursday night. The meeting is getting better each year. Looked at Revenue Forecast. An effort was made to start early in the process. The discussion was very good on what the Revenue Forecast should be. May have 5% available. Discussion continued on the issues raised at the Priorities meeting including question of levying or limiting taxes and having a larger percentage of tax base being commercial.
22. A suggestion was made that it would be helpful to be more active in Selectmen and Planning Board meetings. Particular items were Rattlesnake Hill negotiations and the Satter settlement. Also, having elections and registration in the Finance sector and not the Selectmen, and whether Finance has a role in labor negotiations. Suggested the Finance Committee’s views be discussed and represented at Selectmen’s meeting with input into the process.
23. Ira Miller will provide summary for the Town Report.
24. The next meeting will be two weeks from tonight on January 24, 2005.
25. David Grasfield announced that this Thursday, January 13, there is a Government Study meeting. It includes improving what we do have. Thursday, January 20, there is a meeting set up about affordable housing—relates to 40B State mandate. Capital Outlay meeting at 6 P.M. next Tuesday, January 18, and Priorities.
26. MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
27. VOTED: 10-0-0.
28. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
Open Action Items |
|||
|
Action Item |
Responsible |
Start |
Due |
|
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 |
|
Develop a model for salary projections |
Pietal and Grasfield to help out |
1/10/05 |
3/31/05 |