HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Comm. 04/16/2021Budget Subcommittee Meeting Minutes j
April 29, 2021 t�
Present: Jenn Walsh; Lynn Cavicchi; Frank Delvecchio; Michael A. Trowbridge; Sara Walsh; an� 4 Ik
Also Present: Barry LaCasse, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director; Teresa Murphy{!SUpgrih ern FME
Edward Donoghue, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations and Kevin Dumas Town Manager
1. Call the Meeting to Order AT 5:00 PM t611 SEP 22 P 6- 55
o Call Budget Subcommittee, Select Board, School Committee, Finance Co m tWSFIELD
Ms. Sara Walsh, Chair called the Budget Subcommittee meeting to order at 5:04PM. Mr.7 ank �4VU ,;TS
called the Select Board meeting to order at 5:06PM. Ms. Lynn Cavicchi called the School Committee meeting
to order at 5:06PM and Mr. Brian Eagle Called the Finance Committee to order at 5:0713M.
2. Acceptance of meeting minutes from March 24, 2021
Motion To approve the March 24, 2021 Meeting Minutes. (J. Walsh/Trowbridge)
Roll Call Vote:
J. Walsh — Yes, W. Wilk — Yes, M. Trowbridge — Yes, L. Cavicchi — Yes, F. DelVecchio — Yes, S. Walsh — Yes
Passes 6:0
3. Presentation of Town Budget
Mr. LaCasse presented the Town's operating budget and noted that the updated documents are available on
the Town's website for anyone who wants to review them. Mr. LaCasse began his presentation by showing a
detailed time line of the FY22 budget process which began in December of 2020 with a $4.8 million -dollar
deficit and ended with a balance budget as of today. Mr. LaCasse explained how the federal funds were
applied to balance the budget and what remains available in federal funds. Mr. Lacasse added that there are
no additional full-time employees on the town side and no reduction in staff. He also stated that there was a
decrease to the annual contribution to OPEB of $280,000 and the reserve fund by $125,000,
4. Presentation of School Budget
Mr. Donoghue presented a summarized version of the School's budget presentation. He stated that the total
budget request for the schools for FY22 was $54,814,117 which is a four percent increase over last years
budget. Mr. Donoghue stated that the school budget included 4.6 in proposed new employees. Mr. Donoghue
provided a consolidated spreadsheet that compared FY20, FY21 and FY22 so that the Committee members
could see the difference in the major budget lines. Mr. Donoghue also stated that the biggest budget driver is
the contractual obligations of the six union contracts and another large driver is the increase to technology.
S. Subcommittee Questions
The members of the Budget Subcommittee asked some questions and shared similar thoughts that the budget
as presented provided the flexibility and adjustments could be made at Town Meeting.
The Finance Committee members then asked their questions and made comments followed by the School
Committee and Select Board members.
Ms. Sara Walsh summarized items that the Committee will need to look at next year. The SMHG funding
model, the Special Education Stabilization Fund, funding OPEB and the contribution to the Stabilization Fund
as part of the next budget cycle.
6. Subcommittee Vote Discussion
The Budget Subcommittee took the following vote.
Motion: To support the budget as presented and will look in the fall for the amount to be put in the Special
Education Fund, $1.5 million returned to the Stabilization Fund in the spring and discussions of the SMHG
funding. (Trowbridge/Wilk)
Roll Call Vote:
W. Wilk — Yes, M. Trowbridge — Yes, L. Cavicchi —Yes, F. DelVecchio — Yes, S. Walsh —Yes
Passes 5:0
The Finance Committee took the following vote.
Motion: To support the budget as presented and approve the items as discussed for consideration at the Fall
Town Meeting. (Feely/Cooney)
Roll Call Vote:
S. Feely — Yes, J. Cooney — Yes, W. Wilk — Yes, S. Walsh — Yes, B. Eagle — Yes
Passes 5:0
The School Committee did not have a quorum to vote, but they would consider this at their next meeting on
May 18, 2021.
The Select Board took the following vote.
Motion: To support the budget as presented and will look in the fall for the amount to be put in the Special
Education Fund, $1.5 million returned to the Stabilization Fund in the spring and discussions of the SMHG
funding. (Trowbridge/Rhein)
Roll Call Vote:
N. Rhein — Yes, M. Trowbridge — Yes, F. DelVecchio — Yes
Passes 3:0
7. Items not known within 48 hours meeting
There were no items.
S. Adjourn
The School Committee did not have a quorum and did not need to take motion to adjourn.
Motion: To adjourn the Select Board meeting at 6:51PM. (Rhein/Trowbridge)
Roll Call Vote:
N. Rhein — Yes, M. Trowbridge — Yes, F. DelVecchio — Yes
Passes 3:0
Motion: To adjourn the Finance Committee meeting at 6:51PM. (Feely/Wilk)
Roll Call Vote:
S. Feely — Yes, J. Cooney — Yes, W. Wilk — Yes, S. Walsh — Yes, B. Eagle — Yes
Passes 5:0
Motion: To adjourn the April 29, 2021 Budget Subcommittee meeting at 6:52PM. (Trowbridge/Wilk)
Roll Call Vote:
W. Wilk — Yes, M. Trowbridge — Yes, L. Cavicchi — Yes, F. DelVecchio — Yes, S. Walsh —Aye
Passes W
Sign
Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne
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