HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm. 12/21/20236
Melinda Tarsi
Not Present: Ms. Greta Thurston and Mr. Michael Flaherty
Guest: Mr. Barry LaCasse, Assistant Town Manager, Mr. Matthew Violette, Assistant Town Manager, Ms.den
Davis (need title from Clerks office), Mr. Josh Reinke, DPW Director and Shawn Precourt, Water Operations
Manager, Town Planning Director and Mr. Chris McDermott, Economic Development Director_
Minutes: Sharon Varricchione
1. Call The Meeting To Order: Ms. Sara Walsh, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:01pm.
2. Approval Of Minutes: 11.16.2023 CD
Motion: To adopt the meeting minutes 11.16.2023
Passes: 5:0 (Feely/Cooney) a
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Financial Updates and Discussions: t oim
3. Introduction of new Assistant Town Manager and transition planning: na ci> 77 l
Ms. Walsh recognized Mr. LaCasse and wanted to take a moment to cobWula4 hint:ftnis retirement,
thanked him for his service, she stated that he has served in a diligent caring*anor,'trtjat hTwill be missed and
that it had been an absolute pleasure and privilege to have you as a part of the Towr[Ehistoly. She then wished
him the best of luck. Mr. Feely said Mr. LaCasse has been amazing especially how he's Worked through the
Capitol Improvements process. Ms. Tarsi stated that she teaches public finance and that she's used some of
the practices that he's used In her classes to show her students what good financial management leadership
looks like. She thanked him and hope that he enjoys his retirement. Mr. Cooney agreed with what everybody
said and that he was appreciative to how he was able to help describe items in a simple way to help explain
and make things easier to understand for everyone and that he appreciated his knowledge and expertise and
that he's always been a gentleman even with the harder questions. Mr. Wilk said he will miss the conversations
and the financial jousting and that he enjoyed very much working with him and that Mr. Violette has some big
shoes to fill. Mr. LaCasse responded saying that the Finance Committee would be in good hands with Mr. I`
Violette, he thanked all of them and that he strongly believes that their relationship has benefited the Town of
Mansfield tremendously. He enjoyed the open-door policy and their willingness to come in and ask those hard
questions. He then stated that this was his 32 meeting with them and that he's enjoyed everyone of them. He
told the Committee that they are always prepared and he was always willing to answertheir questions. He said
it had been a pleasure and that they have been good to him and he thanked them. l
Ms. Walsh welcomed Mr. Violette and they were collectively thrilled that he accepted the position and she
looked forward to maintaining this good relationship. Mr. Violette said he's very happy to be there and that
he's worked with many of them. He then thanked Mr. LaCasse for the past three years that they have worked
together as it had been a prenominal experience.
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4. Town financial updates:
Mr. Violette gave the update for this meeting.
General Fund Revenue:
The big commitment for motor vehicle excise tax will not be showing up until February. The hotel/motel tax L
were already at 35% of our estimate, meals tax 32%, cannabis tax 46%, which are all tracking well.
Fees:
Motion: to approve the FY24-6 transfer of $11,000 from the General Fund Reserve Fund to the Town
Clerk— Non -Vehicular Equipment Account
Passes: 5:0 (Feely/Tarsi)
• Water Division Reserve Transfer Request
Mr. LaCasse stated that this request was for an emergency repair of a watermain break that was on
Town property at the Jordan Jackson Elementary School. This is one Town so we help each other out
and the Water division helped out and repaired this watermain break and that is why they are
requesting the money to returned into their operating budget. Mr. Reinke, the DPW Director added
that it was Water Division Employees and a contractor in a 12-hour day, on Saturday, Veterans Day.
Mr. Feely asked if going forward do you think we will have future issues after the repair. Mr.
Precourt, the Water Operations Manager stated that he spoke with Mr. Jaques the operating
"manager at the Schools and he would be setting up a meeting to discuss this with him and with the
Superintendent of Schools, Teresa Murphy. He also added that the main was in bad shape and that
he would be recommending replace a larger section. Mr. Wilk talked about how these requests in
the past usually came later near the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Precourt added that they have the
funds now but they are getting closerto the end and Mr. LaCasse added that they tryto avoid getting
into the red (deficit). Ms. Tarsi asked before these two requests, how much money isthere now. Mr.
LaCasse stated $770.000.'She also pointed out that this was unforeseen and is the true nature of
what the Reserve Transfer Fund is all about and what the Department of Revenue says too. Mr. Wilk
addedthat it was done differently in the Business sector and Ms. Walsh added that she would rather
know about these requests now. Mr. Wilk asked Mr. Violette start tracking these requests.
Motion: to approve the FY24-WI transfer of $23,310.28 from the Water Enterprise Reserve Fund to
the following accounts. $19,586.91 to the Water — Prof. & Tech.Service, $3,103.37 to the Water —
Unscheduled Overtime and $620.00to the Water —Construction Supplies.'
Passes: 5:0 (Feely/Wilk)
6. "Discussion of reserve fund balance and watch list for remainder of fiscal year:
Ms. Walsh stated that they now know the Reserve Fund is $750,000 and then asked what the watch list was
for the remainder of the year. She also asked Mr. Violette to put guidelines in place for how the Reserve Fund
is to be used as we are using it more.
Mr. LaCasse stated that we discussed the Water Reserve fund of $750,000 earlier and the actual balance of the
"General Reserve fund was $602078.92. The only watch list item in the operating budget is the Fire fighters
overtime usage based on Fire Fighters out on leave usually due to injury and back filling those firefighters but
" the Fire Chief seems to think they will be ok. For now, it will be on our watch list. Other then that the General
Fund is tracking around 50%.
Mr. LaCasse and Mr. Violette thanked everyone and left at 8:23pm.
7. "(Discussed after #2 Approval OfMinutes)TOD Project funding review
Mr. Dumas thanked Mr. LaCasse for his years of service and that he will be greatlymissed. He then introduced
Mr. Violette as Mr. LaCasse replacement as the Assistant Town Manager, Finance` Director and let the Finance
Committee know that they would be in good hands.
Mr. Dumas then stated he was there to discuss TOD and provide a project update. He talked about a memo
that he's drafting that talks about the project start back in 2014 when the TOD did it's overlay. He then worked
with a committee to get this project back on track and to the point where they could provide a zoning change
but then that stopped due to Covid. They did however create the 2020 Master Plan which was based on public
input and stewarded by the Planning Board, to develop and redevelop this area. The Planning Board worked
with BETA a consulting firm to get ready for the MBTA communities in order to do true TOD development. This
was approved in June 2023. He then stated that they are creating an internal working group and that is why
8. Questions from Community: none
9. Survey Discussion:
Ms. Tarsi said that two instruments might be better, one that would be more demographic and more about
the residents themselves and how they want to receive information. The other one is more holistic regarding
all of the projects that are coming in the next several years as a part of the Master Plan and Capital
Improvements. Ms. Walsh reiterated that the first part would include some of the existing questions with
modifications to include all the departments and to get the read of the Town. Ms. Tarsi stated that she will
have the survey ready for review at the next meeting.
10. January Meeting Planning:
Ms. Walsh stated that the next meeting would be January 18'^ and the first item on the agenda would be to
reorganize.
11. Committee Updates: j
Ms. Walsh stated that the Budget Sub Committee will be meeting in February as well as a Tri Board meeting.
12. Items Not Known in 48 Hours: none
13. Fin Corn Member Comments: none
14. Adjournment:
Motion: To adjourn the meeting at 8:29pm.
Passes: 5:0 (Wilk/Cooney)
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