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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFINCOM MIN 06112009 Town of Mansfield Finance Committee Minutes of June 11, 2009 Attending: James Lazzara Charlene Lavin Andres Gazzolo Karl Chambers Jack Goldberg Tommy Ratliff Greg Arnold //7 \..; i-~ /- let::' ... !"wo r) , I Motion: To Open at 7:30p.m. (Lavin - Lazzara) 7 - 0 Passes Articles for Town Meeting Vote Motion to approve Article 1. (Lavin - Ratliff) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 2. (Lazzara - Ratliff) 7 - 0 Passes Mr. Gazzolo stated that the Board of Selectmen voted to not support Article 3 and that it will likely be withdrawn. Mr. Dentino commented on this article stating that the town had wanted to buy the land the article refers to for storage but that in this economy it was not the best idea. He said that the only land the use has for the town is that they drive on part of it; it is currently owned by National Grid. Vote Motion to not support Article 3. (Goldberg - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Article 4 was withdrawn. Vote Motion to approve Article 5. (Lazzara - Arnold) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 6. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 7. (Chambers - Lazzara) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 8. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Vote T Motion to approve Article 9. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Mr. Gazzolo suggested that in the future they look at the areas referenced in Article 10 more closely. Vote Motion to approve Article 10. (Lavin - Lazzara) 7 - 0 Passes Articles 11 and 12 were withdrawn. Mr. Goldberg noted that Article 13 is for an excise tax exemption for residents that are on active military duty. Vote Motion to approve Article 13. (Arnold - Goldberg) 7 - 0 Passes Mr. Gazzola noted that Article 14 keeps the VFW tax exempt. Vote Motion to approve Article 14. (Goldberg - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Mr. Gazzolo said that Article 15 refers to a revolving account for the police that they can use to purchase bullets, etc. They would like to expand the use of these funds to make the money more useful. Ms. Lavin said that it important that this fund would still be used for smaller purchases and not items that would generally be CIP. Mr. Gazzolo said that this change would be in effect for one year and then it would be revisited. Vote Motion to approve Article 15. (Arnold - Goldberg) 7 - 0 Passes Article 16 does not pertain to the Finance Committee. Vote Motion to approve Article 17. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Articles 18 and 19 were withdrawn. Mr. Gazzolo noted that Article 20 was intended to establish the value of the two properties being looked at for the water treatment plant. Mr. Dentino said that Mansfield would be paying for the cost of the appraisals up front and they would bill Norton and Foxboro for their portion of the cost. Vote Motion to approve Article 20. (Chambers - Ratliff) 7 - 0 Passes Article 21 was withdrawn. There was some discussion on whether this article should be voted on even though the town does not have the money to fund the project. Mr. Lazzara pointed out that they are not able to vote because they don't have the funds to pay for the project. Articles 35 and 36 the Finance Committee did not vote on but did discuss their implications. '~""~"';"~"'-'~'._"-'._~""---'~ ... .... T Vote Motion to approve Article 37. (Lazzara - Goldberg) 7 - 0 Passes Articles for the Special Town Meeting Article 1 was withdrawn. Vote Motion to approve Article 2. (Lavin - Chambers) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 3. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 4. (Lazzara - Chambers) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 5. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Article 6 was withdrawn. It was discussed that Mr. Goldberg would explain the unfunded liability at the town meeting. Vote Motion to approve Article 7. (Goldberg - Ratliff) 7 - 0 Passes Article 8 was withdrawn. Articles for the Special in the Special Town Meeting Vote Motion to approve Article 1. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 2. (Lazzara - Chambers) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 3. (Lazzara - Arnold) 7 - 0 Passes Vote Motion to approve Article 4. (Chambers - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes .,. It was decided to wait to vote on Article 5 until there was more clarification. Mr. Gazzolo said that any lease of more than three years had to be approved at town meeting. Mr. Ratliff questioned whether there was any money to be gained by consolidating copy machine vendors. It was discussed that Article 6 is in regards to the $60,000 for the Foxboro Lodge and that it should have been voted at the last fall town meeting. Vote Motion to approve Article 6. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Schools Mr. Lazzara said that he met with the schools to discuss their five year plan. He said that they have a presentation that they are preparing to present at the town meeting. He said that they had difficulty meeting the numbers that were established for this year and that it would most likely be a worse situation for next year. He said that they need some long term projections for revenues and expenses. He said that the schools are in agreement for fiscal year 2010 and that they are currently working on fiscal year 2011. Mr. Gazzolo said that he would have liked to see some of the stimulus money postponed for use next year, since it will be needed. Mr. Lazzara said that to do that would have meant cutting ten more positions this year. Mr. Chambers said that they are already anticipating approximately 30 more cuts for next year. Mr. Lazzara said that he was concerned that the $2 million from the stimulus money will be gone next year and that difference will more greatly impact the base number for the schools. Discussion Mr. Gazzolo said that the town is cutting eleven positions; two are unfilled positions in the police department and one is an unfilled unskilled labor position. Mr. Gazzolo said that they should look into what the other towns in the area are doing in regards to health insurance for retirees. Mr. Gazzolo brought up the town information system and asked if it can be maintained outside of the town since it is already up and running; this could potentially save some money. Ms. Lavin said that with MIS the towns and schools will not be compatible and shouldn't they be looking at streamlining these things. She said that before they buy a new system for the town they should look at consolidating again. The Finance Committee looked at the two transfer requests; one for $18,000 for the steamer for the middle school kitchen and the other for $30,000 for the fire alarms at one of the elementary schools. It was decided that the reserve fund could be used for the $18,000 request. Vote Motion to approve the transfer of $18,000 from the reserve fund for the middle school steamer. (Ratliff - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes Motion: To Close at 8:45p.m. (Lazzara - Lavin) 7 - 0 Passes 'I' 0"\ "J lSd . ! i~U{(~Utc f/U'};:i))yn,,-) Signature of lerk ~, /-, '"\."'- I ' >) , U" . II ,. Date of Approval .,.