The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutFINCOM MIN 06042009 Town of Mansfield Finance Committee Minutes of June 4, 2009 _IVED O::-F1'eE .; v Attending: James Lazzara Charlene Lavin Andres Gazzolo Karl Chambers Jack Goldberg Tommy Ratliff Greg Arnold 7nnn ~!.JU 1 I 0 I~. 10: 5 g Motion: To Open at 7:30p.m. (Lavin - Lazzara) 7 - 0 Passes Waste Water Enterprise Budget Mr. Azinheira presented the waste water budget to the Finance Committee. He said that they are at 0% from last year. He said that the one line item that is increasing is sludge hauling and that they will be beginning that project during the next fiscal year. He said that the rate for waste water is increasing to 12%. Mr. Azinheira stressed that they are working to get grants to fund as many of the projects as possible. He said that it would be at least another two to three years before they are ready to begin construction on the in line project. Mr. Gazzolo requested that the Finance Committee receive information in regards to the financing sources for these projects as well as the financial risk factors for the town. Mr. Azinheira said that volume of flow is down somewhat; he said this is a result of a reduction in water use as well as some conservation efforts made by some of the users. Mr. Lazzara asked to see a breakdown of percentage for residential versus commercial users. Mr. Azinheira stated that they are looking at potential ways to slow the costs for the coming years. When asked by Mr. Gazzola how many employees there are in the waste water department Mr. Azinheira replied 11.4 FTE which is down 1.6 FTE from where they were and that there are higher flows than there used to be. Water Budget Mr. Azinheira spoke to the Finance Committee in regards to the water department budget. He said that there have been two changes since the previous year's budget. Those changes are the cost of chemicals has gone down and there was a request for capital of $145,000 that has now been reduced to $95,000 for the new storage tank for water. Mr. Azinheira said that they have had to scale back on the construction of the water treatment plant and that because they do not want to drastically increase rates the projects can not all be completed at one time. He said that right now the water department has a vacant skilled labor position but that he anticipates leaving that position vacant for the time being and evaluating whether they require an additional operator. He said that the rate increase will be 4%; and that they do not want to continue to raise the rate. Mr. Ratliff asked for an estimate on the cost of the two new water storage tanks; to which Mr. Azinheira replied that they would likely be a few million dollars but that it will still be a little while before they have any specific numbers. Budget Mr. Gazzolo stated that with all of the work that has been put into the budget over the last week he believes that they now have a balanced budget for the town and that the schools have met and are planning to meet the numbers requested by the Finance Committee. Mr. Gazzolo said that the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager stressed the need to fund an EMT position and that they have been able to do so. He also said that they have requested to find the funds to T retain the firefighter position that was cut from the budget. He said that as of that time they do not have the ability to do that. Mr. Lazzara said that the schools are planning an additional three layoffs to their previous number. He said that as of right now they do not know the number for the circuit breaker reimbursement. Mr. Gazzolo said that he and Mr. Lazzara are planning to meet with Mr. Vozzella and Ms. Hodges on Wednesday to realign the forecast for fiscal years 2011 through 2014. Mr. Gazzola said that for fiscal year 2010 he had come up with a list of things that they need to focus on. This list included; financial exposures, the fact that there is no money for salary increases, there is no money set aside for maintenance, there is no money in capital, there is less revenue, there is less money in snow and ice for the upcoming year, and the schools are facing a $3.5 million deficit. Mr. Lazzara said that the schools know that most of the money to make up the deficit will need to come from salaries. Mr. Gazzolo said that the state has already used most of the stimulus money set aside for 2011 to cover deficits in 2009 and 2010. Mr. Ratliff said that the schools are looking into what can be done and that they have redone their block scheduling and plan to readjust it again for the coming year. Discussion Mr. Arnold said that he would still like to find the money for the firefighter position. Mr. Gazzola said that he has relayed that information to the schools and that they are going to look into it more after the town meeting. Mr. Arnold was concerned with the risk involved with waiting until then, since they are unsure of so many things right now in regards to the stimulus money and the circuit breaker reimbursement. Mr. Arnold said that he is not entirely comfortable with all of the stimulus money going to the schools. Mr. Gazzolo said that there will likely be big changes for fiscal year 2011 and that likely those changes will be beneficial to the town and worse for the schools. Ms. Lavin asked that if they do not receive the information needed by town meeting they would vote on the budget with the cut to the firefighter position. Mr. Lazzara said that they would vote that way but then the money for the firefighter position could be voted back in during the fall town meeting. Mr. Gazzola said that the Finance Committee needs to prepare a presentation for the town meeting and that if any of the members had any key statements that they would like made to please email the information to himself and Mr. Goldberg. Mr. Gazzolo said that hopefully the next meeting the Committee would be able to vote on the warrant articles for town meeting as well as the budget. Mr. Goldberg said that he has finished the disclosures for the unfunded liability and that they would be effective the first day of the new fiscal year. He said that he went through them with the Town Accountant and asked that they be sent to the auditor. He said that they would also need to be presented to the Board of Selectmen. He said that the Electric Department Commissioners would need to vote to establish a trust for the electric department similar to how the town is working to establish a trust. Mr. Goldberg mentioned that the town auditor's contract has expired and that it should be addressed. The current auditor has submitted a proposal for another three year contract. Mr. Chambers asked the stimulus money will be explained at the town meeting. Mr. Gazzola said that they schools are planning to explain it. Mr. Arnold said that someone is likely to ask why the schools are getting 100% of the stimulus money while the town is losing a firefighter; he said that the explanation that was made to the Finance Committee the prior week was not the best argument. He said that there is likely to be an issue with the stimulus money and that the town should be prepared to answer questions surrounding this issue. T Vote Motion to approve minutes of May 21 Finance Committee meeting. (Lavin - Chambers) 6 - 0 - 1 Passes Vote Motion to approve minutes of May 28 Finance Committee meeting. (Lavin - Ratliff) 7 - 0 Passes Motion: To Close at 8:55p.m. (Lazzara - Arnold) 7 - 0 Passes ,.------','., ',I ..\ /'1 ( Ii) / ,; "'! 'i'" I ~ -1/: ...., d~ t/ l) AJUiU If [ J.~U( iJ fU'Lj}:\lt\A~ Signature of Clerk T t / :.~;"\ {'I I 'l/"- () Date of Approval