Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – March 14, 2011
Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Maria Anderson, William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Gordon Gladstone,
Charles Goodman, Josh Kiernan, Alexander Korin, Joel Lessard, Ira
Miller, Laura Nelson, Edward Philips (Hamilton)
Absent: Keith Garte
1. The first item on the agenda was to approve meeting minutes.
2. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve the minutes of November 1, 2010, as written.
3. VOTED: 6-0-5. For: Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Korin, Lessard, Miller. Abstain: Gladstone, Goodman, Kiernan, Nelson, Philips.
4. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Laura Nelson to approve the minutes of January 10, 2011, as written.
5. VOTED: 7-0-4. For: Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Gladstone.
6. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by William Brack to approve the minutes of January 24, 2011, as written.
7. VOTED: 8-0-3. For: Anderson, Brack, Goodman, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Fitzgerald, Gladstone, Nelson.
8. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve the minutes of February 7, 2011, as written.
9. VOTED: 8-0-3. For: Anderson, Brack, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Korin, Lessard, Miller, Philips. Abstain: Gladstone, Kiernan, Nelson.
10. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Maria Anderson to approve the minutes of February 28, 2011, as written.
11. VOTED: 6-0-5. For: Anderson, Fitzgerald, Goodman, Miller, Nelson, Philips. Abstain: Brack, Gladstone, Kiernan, Korin, Lessard.
12. There was some discussion with Bill Fowler regarding the budget process and question on ways to improve it.
13. The next item on the agenda was the Library budget. Barbra Nadler, Library Director, was there to make the presentation.
14. Barbra Nadler reported on line items, keeping State Aid, maintenance issues and future work to be done in the library. A comment was made from the committee that salaries were going up 3.7% not 2%. An encumbrance was made from FY’10. Therefore, money was available for projects that hadn’t been done.
15. There was some discussion that the budget increase from ’09 to ’10 was 7% and the request for ’12 was 9%. Also discussion on health insurance regarding how many are covered by town policy and how many are eligible but not using.
16. Laura Nelson left the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
17. The next item on the agenda was the DPW budget. Eric Hooper, Superintendent, made the presentation.
18. Eric Hooper stated that approximately $275,000 was over the budget for Snow & Ice as of March 14, 2011, plus invoices that were submitted today. Spring clean up of catch basins comes out of Snow & Ice that was not included in the current Snow & Ice budget.
19. Eric Hooper reported that his primary budget request was 1.78%. Salary 2.5%.
20. There was much discussion on the DPW budget.
21. The next part of DPW budget was Water Department.
22. Eric Hooper indicated that the proposed budget included 2% steps and raises.
23. There was some discussion on the Water Department budget.
24. The next item was the Street Lighting budget.
25. Eric Hooper stated that this budget was to pay for electricity costs for town street lights and traffic lights. Switching out of incandescent to LED.
26. There was some discussion regarding this budget.
27. The list of items to be cross referenced: (1) Encumbrances by department last three years by line item. (2) Town salaries ’08, ’09, ’10. Total spent. Longevity, actual spent. (3) Budget amounts for people on Workers Comp. or Chapter 111F. (4) Revolving Fund for Community Center, expense and revenue. (5) Number of people eligible for insurance vs. people on insurance. (6) People in union positions not paying union dues. (7) Actual out of pocket cost for salaries for ’08, ’09, ’10.
28. Ben Puritz reported on follow up items. Ira requested information proposed to Cell Committee. Report by committee and consultant. Tomorrow night Selectmen adopting position on articles. Discussing petition articles for two articles: (1) School busing. (2) Change of use at Sacred Heart property. Discussing receipt of articles. Selectmen will be receiving presentation from various article proponents. Selectmen meeting tomorrow, March 15. March 29 scheduled to sign Warrant. Finance Committee to complete recommendations following week. Expecting petition tomorrow with additional signatures verified. We reviewed Labor & Statistics June to June. Wage was 2.2%. December to December that figure is holding.
29. Joel Lessard read a letter from Southeast Regional School regarding renovation. Three information meetings at high school, Colonial Room. No increase in assessment. First one tonight; March 16, 9:30 a.m.; March 31, 6:30 p.m.
30. The next meeting will be on March 21.
31. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.
32. VOTED: 10-0-0.
33. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.