Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – June 24, 2013

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

Members Present:  Aaron Agulnek, William Brack, Arnold Cohen, Michael Fish, Gordon Gladstone,

                               Charles Goodman, Ira Miller, Edward Philips (Hamilton)

                Absent:  Patricia-Lee Achorn, Alexander Korin, Laura Nelson

1. Bill Brack, the new Chair, welcomed the newest member of the committee, Mike Fish.

2. Mike Fish gave some background information on himself.

3. The first item on the agenda was the minutes from the last meeting on June 3.

4. A MOTION was made by Ted Philips and SECONDED by Aaron Agulnek to approve the minutes of June 3, 2013.

5. VOTED:  6-0-2.  For:  Agulnek, Brack, Cohen, Goodman, Miller, Philips.  Abstain:  Fish, Gladstone.

6. The next item on the agenda was a Reserve Fund Transfer for the DPW.

7. Eric Hooper stated that a Reserve Fund transfer in the amount of $290,857.40 was needed.  The vast majority was for Snow & Ice, $164,000.  He went over all the areas that had overrun the budget and came to the total of $290,857.40.  There was some reimbursement from FEMA for Tropical Storm Irene, $18,000 towards salaries.  More is expected from the February storm, but it is not due for a few more months.

8. There was considerable discussion on the overruns, the difficult winter, cost of contractors, gasoline, salt and sand, and equipment breakdown and repairs.

9. A MOTION was made by Gordon Gladstone and SECONDED by Ira Miller for a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Department of Public Works in the amount of $290,857.40.

10. VOTED:  8-0-0.  For:  Agulnek, Brack, Cohen, Fish, Gladstone, Goodman, Miller, Philips.

11. The next item was a second Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $59,142.60 for the Town Treasurer.

12. Bill Fowler explained that the money was needed for a bond issue that came up early instead of the planned one in August.

13. There was some discussion on the reason for the need for the transfer.

14. A MOTION was made by Ira Miller and SECONDED by Ted Philips for a Reserve Fund Transfer to the Town Treasurer in the amount of $59,142.60.

15. VOTED:  8-0-0.  For:  Agulnek, Brack, Cohen, Fish, Gladstone, Goodman, Miller, Philips.

16. There was some discussion regarding Le Petit Prince on Lakeview Street.  The lessees were still paying and going to be improving the property.

17. There were numerous items presented for the committee to consider in upcoming meetings:  (1) Benchmark.  (2) Developing by-law to manage Warrant process.  (3) How to improve the budget review process.  (4) Looking to improve the level of boards.  (5) How do we improve communication?  (6) What are the goals of various departments?  (7) Improve Finance Committee performance at Town Meeting.  (8) Own article you write up and advocate.  (9) Role of liaison.  There was a suggestion to have a joint committee meeting with a group of boards and committees.

18. There was some discussion regarding Deborah Sampson Park, the water rates, and trash collection.  The contract with SE-Mass is expiring in 2014.  George Aronson, professional consultant, Gordon Gladstone, and Ben Puritz are on the committee working on SE-Mass.

19. Regarding liaisons, only to have when the need.  Issue by issue basis.  Water rate will impact the town.  Someone take a role and watch that project.

20. Regarding the benchmarking.  There was a suggestion to think of what criteria the committee wants to compare.  What is the key criteria that makes comparable towns effective?

21. The next meeting will be on July 8, 2013.

22. It was MOVED and SECONDED to adjourn.

23. VOTED:  8-0-0.

24. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.