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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-16-1977Board of Selectmen ( Minutes of the Meeting March 16, 1976 The Board of Selectmen met in a specially - posted joint meeting of the School Committee, Finance Committee, and Capital Improvement Program Committee. The following people were present: Selectmen - Robert DeLong, Frank Colella, Tony Caponigro, Herb Levine, and Douglas Titus. School Committee - James Hindman, William Bruno, Richard Blandori, and Mary Lou Cotton. Dr. Collins, Superintendent of Schools, was also pre- sent. Finance Committee - Ronald Montaquila, Calleen Gross, Michael Murphy, Robert Powers, and Lyman Avery. Robert Tighe, John Dunn, and W. Chadwick Maurer of the Capital Improvement Committee were present. Also present were Town Manager Dennis Hannon and Town Treasurer Joan M. Cutillo. Chairman of the Selectmen opened the meeting saying that last week the Finance Committee had projected a $1.5 million deficit, with a possible $24 per thousand tax increase. He asked that the FinCom and the Town Manager explain their figures, and then the Boards and Committees would talk about further possible cuts. Ronald Montaquila, Chairman of the Finance Committee, reviewed the esti- mated receipts, revenues, and expenditures of the town for the next fiscal year. He said that after further cuts in the last week, the Fin - Com now estimated about $17.70 or $18 tax increase. Mr. Montaquila ex- plained that the orginal Capital Improvement Program request was approxi- mately $463,000 and the FinCom had cut it to about $208,000. James Hindman of the School Committee said that the School budget last year turned back $55,000 to the Town at the end of the fiscal year, and wanted to know why it did not show in the Free Cash figure ($0). The Town Treasurer explained that the Town now has a $170,000 deficit which must be covered before any Free Cash can be certified. Ronald Montaquila said that the FinCom would be recommending the follow- ing cuts for the School budget: deleting $121,000 for new personnel, deleting the program for night football for $3600 and transportation for $11,400. The Town Manager recapped his presentation from last week to the Board - $9 million for expenses and a moderate figure of $7.7 million for receipts, leaving a deficit of $1.3 million. He said that there might be some op- tions for cutting the deficit: cutting back or deferring some Capital Improvement items, deferring debt service on bond issue for the school additions, and on Dustin Well, possibly deferring the debt service. Mr. Hannon said that the Cherry Sheet, showing the receipts to the town from the State, would be in at the end of March. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen suggested that each committee or board meet separately in another meeting room to caucus. Selectman Douglas Titus suggested that both the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen try to pare $600,000 off their respective budget pro- posals, and that a goal be set for a "zero" tax increase. James Hindman of the School Committee said that before any drastic cutting, -1- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 16, 1976 Page 2 he would prefer to wait until the Cherry Sheet comes in. Town Treasurer Joan Cutillo reviewed the debt service on various bond is- sues that the Town had floated. Robert Powers of the FinCom said he thought it would be "unrealistic" to expect a "zero" increase with a deficit of $1.3 million. Selectman Herb Levine suggested that each Board or Committee go through their budget, and set priorites. There was a discussion of personnel cuts, and Selectman Titus said that he did not see the point to having the personnel on staff if there were no funds to carry out the program. Lyman Avery of the FinCom said that he could see a possible freeze on wages. He also said that he did not think the tax rate could stay at the current level, that a $5 - $10 increase might occur. Selectman Levine suggested that the Town Meeting be put off until May 3. At this point, the Boards and Committees split up and went into caucus. In their caucus, the selectmen discussed possible cuts and whether a figure should be set as a goal for cutting the budget. Selectman Levine moved that the Board start going through the budget, starting with the Capital Improvement items. _ Selectman Colella moved that a figure of $600,000 be set as a goal for the amount to be cut from the Selectmen's budget. Selectman DeLong said that he did not want to set a figure now, but wanted to start going through the budget. Selectman Titus said that he would set $600,000 as a goal, also. The Chairman said that $450,000 was a more realistic figure for him. After further discussion, the Board members agreed on $500,000, with Selectmen Levine and DeLong opposed to setting any figure now. At 9:05 p.m, the other committee members returned, and the Chairman of the Selectmen explained the Board's consensus. Ronald Montaquila said that even after the cuts recommended by the FinCom, that another $362,000 would have to be cut to have a $10 increase. He reviewed the items his committee would cut from the School Budget, and said that the only articles they would recommend would be the following: $10,000 for drainage; $16,000 for unpaid bills; $7,000 for the Town's M.D.C. Contract; and $2,000 for a scholarship. Selectman Titus said that the ratio of the School /Town budgets was approach- ing 60 -40 and that the Town government would bear a greater burden in their -2- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 16, 1976 Page 3 cutting. James Hindman said that the School Committee had discussed Selectman Titus's proposal, and would not set an amount, although they would go back through the budget and establish priorities. He said that his Committee would not approach the Union regarding cutting or freezing of salaries until more definite figures were known. He also said that if the amount of $121,000 for new personnel were cut, the cuts might not necessarily be for all the new personnel, that some of the present personnel might be out if a new personnel position were more important. Dr. Collins discussed the quality of educational programs and reimburse- ments to the Town from the State. Selectman Titus asked Dr. Collins about the cost per pupil for the Town of Mansfield. Dr. Collins stated that he would not have the exact figure for a couple of weeks, but said that it was below the State average. Board and committee members discussed the possibility of changing the date of Town Meeting. After the discussion, Selectman Levine moved that the Town Meeting be delayed until May 3. Seconded by Selectman DeLong, and voted 3 -2, with Selectmen Titus and Colella opposed to changing the date of Town Meeting. The School Committee said that they would meet with the Board of Select- men on March 31 during the regular meeting of the Board. At 9:42 the Boards adjourned for a recess. During the recess of the Selectmen's meeting, the Capital Improvement Program Committee met and took the following action on the program for FY 76 -77: General Government - Revaluation of Real Estate - original recommendation, $80,000 - entire amount deferred for one year. Protection of Persons & Property - Modular Ambulance - $38,000 - voted 5 -3 to delete; Police Cruisers - $8,000 - voted all in favor to keep original recommendation. D.P.W. - Highway Division - Equipment - orginal recommendation was to re- place 4 pieces of equipment at a total cost of $67,600 - voted 5 -3 to recommend $38,000. Library - Refurbishing Public Area - original recommendation was for $10,000 - voted unanimously to delete this year. Recreation - Storage Garage - originally $25,000 - voted unanimously to delete. Conservation Land Acquistion - originally $10,000 - voted unanimously to delete. Major Projects - Street Improvement Program cut from $100,000 to $50,000. -3- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 16, 1976 Page 4 Major Projects(continued) - Drainage cut from $15,000 to $10,000; Sewer Infiltration - cut from $30,000 to $15,000; Water Main Re- placement - cut from $10,000 to $3,000; Well Exploration & Testing - cut from $30,000 to $15,000. Great Woods Land Acquisition - $35,000 original recommenda- tion was deleted. South Common Improvements - $5,000 original recommendation The Town Manager asked that the Com. reconsider the vote on the modular ambulance. Motion by Tony Caponigro, seconded by Mr. Hannon, but no action was taken. The Meeting of the Board of Selectmen resumed at 10:47 p.m., with Selectmen DeLong, Colella, Caponigro, and Levine and the Town Manager present. Three members of the Finance Committee met with them also. The FinCom reviewed the articles that it would be recommending. Also dis- cussed was the printing of the warrant report. The FinCom said that they had included this in their budget because they felt it was their responsi- bility to print the warrant. There was discussion on this, and a written opinion will be obtained from Town Counsel. Selectman Levine read a memo from the Town Manager requesting that the Board rescind its vote of February 18 to recommend that the Town Manager's salary be raised to $25,000. He also suggested in his memo that part of the Town Manager's salary should come from the electric rate, since the Town Manager is also manager of the Light Department. After discussion, Selectman DeLong moved that the Town Manager's salary be recommended at the original $23,243. Selectman Levine seconded the motion; and it was voted 4 -0. The Public Safety Out -of -State travel was recommended at $450. On the Treasurer's Salary request, the $1600 was discussed for the part -time worker. The Finance Committee said that in keeping with the policy they had established in not recommending any new personnel, they would recommend against it. After discussion, the four Board members said that they would go along with the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Selectman Colella moved that Account 160 -1, the Town Manager's Salary, be cut back to $21,000. There was no second to this motion. Planning Director Chad Maurer met with the Board to discuss his request for a salary raise. He said that he had been hired in 1970 and had received no merit increases since then, although he had and informal agreement with the Town that he would receive a 5% merit increase over and above what the Town gave as a cost -of- living raise. The Town Manager said that Mr. Maurer had put time over and above what was normally required on the Regional Sewer application. The Board decided to take this up when all five members were present. -4- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 16, 1976 Page 5 Ronald Montaquila said that the Finance Committee has recommended against this. At 11:13 p.m. Selectman DeLong moved that the,meeting be adjourned. Seconded and voted all in favor. -5-