Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – February 1, 2010

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room—7:30 P.M.

Members Present:  Maria Anderson, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone, Charles

                               Goodman, Jonathan Hitter, Josh Kiernan, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller,

                               Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:   Keith Garte, Donald Gilligan, Laura Nelson

1. The agenda was to discuss the FY’11 budget with various department heads.

2. Peg Arguimbau, Chair, Conservation Commission, and Greg Meister, Administrator, were there to present the FY’11 budget for the Conservation Commission.  Primary budget was the same as FY’10.  Option 2 was 1% salary and steps.  Provide level services up to 5% increase.  Legal for FY’10 was $8,300.  Just over 85% of budget was salaries.

3. There was some discussion regarding Cedar Swamp project and how much would be needed to complete it.  The Conservation Commission will come back with up to date report.

4. The upcoming schedule of meetings was announced as follows:  Feb. 8 – School—General discussion on FY’10 budget.  Feb. 22 – Planning Board budget; Selectmen budgets with Police Chief, Fire Chief and DPW Superintendent, Eric Hooper.  Mar. 1 – School—FY’11 budget.

5. The next item on the agenda was the Board of Health, FY’11 budget.

6. Linda Rosen, Administrator, Board of Health, and Andy Stead, Vice Chair, Board of Health, were there to present FY’11 budget.  Total budget, $162,900, level funded, $145,000 salaries.

7. There was some discussion regarding Public Health Nurse, Sheila Miller, on medical leave, and need for fill-in nurses.  Some discussion regarding inspectional services.  Board of Health to provide costs of municipal buildings dumpster pick-ups of past few years.

8. The next item on the agenda was the Personnel Board FY’11 budget.

9. Len Sacon, Chair, Personnel Board, was there to present the FY’11 budget.  A total budget of $3,400 was submitted, primarily for secretary.

10. Len Sacon explained the Personnel Board salary reviews.

11. COMMITTEE UPDATES

12. Ira Miller reported on the last Priorities meeting.  Priorities had agreed not to increase taxes on the operating budget.  The allocation amount was a 2.47% increase over last year’s budget.  6-0 vote.  Amount to each sector:  Board of Selectmen - $11.6M.  Finance Committee - $463,500.  School Dept. - $35.8M.

13. There was much discussion on the Priorities report.  The next meeting will be after new information is received.

14. Brian Fitzgerald and Gordon Gladstone reported on the last Capital Outlay meeting.  There was a list of high cost items requested by various departments.  Need to determine priority.  Discussed percentage of budget, possibly 6%-6.5%.

15. There was much discussion on the Capital Outlay report regarding the requests.

16. OLD BUSINESS.  Format of Annual Report.

17. Gordon Gladstone is to get information from Bill Fowler regarding the salaries and how they are to be published.

18. There was some discussion on the Governor’s proposed budget regarding the distribution to cities and towns, schools and other.

19. Ted Philips stated that two accounts were held at level funded.  Chapter 70, school, and unrestricted.  Governor allocated funds from lottery and extra from state.  Those numbers identical to previous fiscal year.  Chapter 70 and unrestricted stay the same.  Sales tax increase will directly affect MSBA.  That is funded through large portion of sales tax.

20. The next meeting will be February 8.

21. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

22. VOTED:  9-0-0.

23. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.