HomeMy WebLinkAboutFINCOM MIN 07092009
Town of Mansfield
Finance Committee
Minutes of July 9, 2009
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Attending: James Lazzara
Charlene Lavin
Andres Gazzola
Karl Chambers
Jack Goldberg
Greg Arnold (arrived late)
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Motion: To Open at 7:30p.m.
(Chambers - Lazzara) 5 - 0 Passes
Mr. Gazzolo said that the acting town manager is in the process of getting job descriptions from the
department heads.
Mr. Gazzolo said that the Board of Selectmen discussed the formation of a consolidation committee at
their meeting. There would be two representatives from the Finance Committee; two from the Board of
Selectmen; two from the School Committee as well as the acting town manager. This group would
discuss consolidation and a structural review. It was decided that Ms. Lavin and Mr. Lazzara will
represent the Finance Committee for this new committee.
Mr. Gazzolo said that he had asked Ms. Baldwin for a charter review specific to labor negotiations. He
said that the previous administration had signed some commitments that are not approved in the budget
that the town is working with.
Mr. Gazzolo mentioned that the annual meeting of the Association of Town Finance Committees is being
held on October 24 and that he would send an electronic version of the notification to the members of the
Finance Committee.
Mr. Gazzolo said that at the next week's meeting they will plan to talk about the model if there is time. He
said that they would focus on the formulas but not the specific numbers. Mr. Lazzara said that the new
software for the accounting system has been installed and said that they should be able to align that
program with the model. Mr. Gazzolo said that Ms. Kearney started that week and that hopefully some
representatives from the Finance Committee will be able to meet with her.
Mr. Gazzolo said that they currently have two signed contracts but no others. He said that they need to
prepare for a three year negotiation and suggested that they go back and review the five year forecast in
preparation for that. Mr. Goldberg said that because of how uncertain the economy is he felt it was
dangerous to make a projection for three years out.
Mr. Gazzolo said that they need to look carefully at the capital budget. He said that he just found out that
the two ambulances were down and that they were borrowing one from another town. Mr. Lazzara
stressed the need for capital because otherwise every little expense becomes an emergency. Mr.
Goldberg suggested that the budgeting strategy be to put money in capital and then make adjustments
elsewhere. Ms. Lavin said that the capital committee has already met and voted on prioritizing projects.
The Finance Committee discussed the assignments of departments for the upcoming year.
Schools - Mr. Chambers and Mr. Lazzara
Electric - Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Ratliff
CIP - Ms. Lavin and Mr. Ratliff
MIS - Mr. Gazzolo and Ms. Lavin
Grounds, Police, DPW and Fire - Mr. Ratliff and Mr. Arnold
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Water and Sewer - Mr. Gazzolo and Mr. Chambers
Airport - Mr. Chambers
Town Manager and Personnel- Mr. Arnold
Assessors, Accounting and Finance - Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Gazzolo
Clerk and Planning - Ms. Lavin
Parking Enterprise and Engineering - Mr. Arnold
Parks, Recreation and Conservation - Mr. Lazzara
Board of Health, Seniors, Veterans and Library - Mr. Gazzolo
Mr. Goldberg mentioned that the auditor is on the agenda to attend the following week's Board of
Selectmen meeting. Mr. Gazzolo said that Mr. Goldberg will be representing the Finance Committee at
that meeting.
Mr. Goldberg said that the town received an application for one of the at large positions on the audit
committee. He said that he also knows of another person who may be submitting an application. Mr.
Gazzolo said that once this committee has been formed they ill need to make a recommendation to the
town manager to hire an auditor. Mr. Goldberg mentioned that Mr. Riccio, the acting town manager,
asked to work together to hire an auditor since the charter allows for the town manager to make that
decision.
Vote
Motion to approve the minutes of July 2 executive session.
(Lazzara - Lavin) 5 - 0 - 1 Passes
Vote
Motion to approve minutes of July 2.
(Lazzara - Chambers) 5 - 0 - 1 Passes
Mr. Gazzolo said that he requested a folder for Mr. Riccio and himself from the town accountant with all of
the changes.
Mr. Goldberg asked is there would be a search committee for the new town accountant. Mr. Gazzolo said
that he didn't know, but that he would ask about that and that he would recommend that Mr. Goldberg be
on the search committee for that person.
Motion: To Close at 8:20p.m.
(Lavin - Goldberg) 6 - 0 Passes
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Signature of Clerk"
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Date of Approval