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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm 02/16/1999�N"Sf1 AF 'P.0 SAo�st,1^N �WN� Minutes of February 16, 1999 FINANCE COMMITTEE -MEETING Present: Gerald St. Hilaire Andy Gazzolo John D'Agostino, Town Manager Richard Boucher, Town Treasurer Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer Mark Cook, DPW GENERAL DISCUSSION Selectmen's Budget Dennis Grady Margie McShane Shirley McPhee, Finance Team Betty Ainicone, DPW Michael Ahern, DPW Mr. D'Agostino stated that line item 5345 has.been overspent the past few years and therefore has been increased to reflect actual usage. He stated line item 5381 is funded through the MBTA parking revenue and is used for police details. Mr. Gazzolo inquired if the amount requested should be lowered. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the expenditures were not up to date yet, but that usage may be lower due to negotiations with the Police Union and the amount requested may be able to be reduced. Mr. D'Agostino stated that line item 5311 will be overexpended this year and was last year. Mr. Gazzolo inquired how may cases the Town currently has going. Mr. D'Agostino stated approximately 6 or 7, including the Town of Foxboro and the woman who fell due to the Town Hall steps. Mr- Gazzolo inquired if a list of pending litigations was available. Mr. D'Agostino stated it could be done. Town Managers Budget Mr. D'Agostino stated that a salary adjustment would be made to $81,918 per ijis review from the Selectmen. He stated that line item 5114 reflected a 3% increase plus a 3% merit increase for both Selectmen's Secretary and Town Manager's Secretary. He stated that they are both eligible for longevity now that the Selectmen have approved the new personnel policy. Mr. D'Agostino stated that line item 5301 would be used for sessions with the businesses in the industrial park. A breakfast presentation will be held this spring with the Department Heads and local businesses. A brochure is being developed about the various services and attractions the Town has to offer to incoming businesses. Mr. D'Agostino stated that line item 5311 would be used for ongoing Union issues. He stated that the Town is looking into a new phone system and he will have more information later. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Ms. McShane inquired how often new by-laws need to be printed. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the by-laws would need to be reprinted because the Planning Department has 5 articles on the warrant. Mr. Grady inquired about the mileage reimbursement. Mr. D'Agostino stated that he wasn't actually reimbursed, that his gas and vehicle parts were charged off to that account from the DPW. Mr. D'Agostino stated that an account was going to be set up for merit increases for department heads. He said that if it were a 3% increase it would be $15,995 and if it were 2% it would be $10,332. Ms. McShane inquired if the increase would show up in the department's budget. Mr. D'Agostino stated it would not because he did not want it to be considered an entitlement. Mr. Gazzolo inquired if this amount would become part of their base pay or if it would be considered a bonus. Mr. D'Agostino stated that he needed to discuss that with the Selectmen and the department heads. He stated that his intention was to have this be in addition to their base salary, not added to their base salary. Mr. D'Agostino inquired if there were any question regarding insurance. He stated that the 16.5% increase was due to the value of assets. He stated that the amount requested was an estimate, but that the Town would be going out to bid. Mr. Grady suggested hiring an insurance broker to put together the whole package. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the health insurance cost did not reflect the new or proposed employees for the school. Mr. Boucher stated that the Town is considering breaking the School portion of insurance out and putting it in their budget. Mr. D'Agostino stated that this is now possible under the reform. Mr. Gazollo stated that a total breakdown of the expenses should be put together for Town Meeting. Ms. McShane stated that the Town should break out School expenses and have them pay their share if it's possible. Mr. Grady stated that the health insurance cost appeared to be high for the market. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the Town currently belongs to a group in order to save money. Mr. Grady stated that the Town might be able to get a better rate if they go out to bid. Mr. D'Agostino stated that if the Town did go out to bid, they would have to be sure that employees received the same coverage they currently receive. Mr. Boucher stated that the vendors couldn't be changed unless negotiated with all of the Unions. Mr. D'Agostino stated that he would like to have one line item for tuition reimbursement in order to control the costs. Mr. Grady inquired how they carne up with the $5000 figure. Mr. D'Agostino stated they combined all the line items for tuition for the various budgets. Mr. Grady stated that the Police had $12,000 in professional development. Ms. McShane stated that only $2000 was for tuition reimbursement, but that should be deducted from their budget. Ms. McShane inquired if the Fire Department had a reimbursement and if they did it should be deducted from their budget and added to the Town Managers. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. Grady stated that if one line item is increased, the other should be decreased to reflect the transfer. He stated that the Town should use the same accounts for the same expenses in each department. DPW Budget Mr. D'Agostino stated the hand out outlined the changes made by the reorganization and how they effected each department. Ms. McShane inquired why there was an $11,000 increase in the DPW Director's salary. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the job description had changed and additional requirements and responsibilities had been added. Mr. St. Hilaire inquired where the pay for the Water and Wastewater clerical personnel was in the budgets. Ms. Amicone stated that the Clerk and Billing Supervisor were half in Water, half in Wastewater. She stated that the Office Manager and Administrative Secretary were in the DPW Director's budget and that a portion of those salaries was charged off under internal services. Ms. McShane inquired why the Sub -division Inspector was going to be paid half the amount of the DPW Director's salary for working part time. Mr. Gazzolo added that he did not understand why someone would be paid that much for performing only one duty. Mr. D'Agostino stated the Sub -division Inspector position was important because the Town has inherited many problems in new subdivision in the past that have cost a substantial amount of money. This position will save the Town money in the long run. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the waste budget had been moved to the DPW Director's budget and that the cost of collection and disposal have increased. He stated the Town has the option of renewing the current contract for additional years. He stated that the current company's performance will be reviewed and that we may choose to go out to bid. Mr. St. Hilaire inquired about line item 5878. Mr. Cook stated this money would be used to rebuild dump truck bodies for the Highway Department. Reserve Fund Transfers Mr. D'Agostino stated that there was a request of $19,000 for a reserve fund transfer for the tennis courts at Memorial Park. Ms. McShane inquired if this project had been put out to bid yet. Mr. Ahern stated that the Town will be putting the Plymouth Street and Memorial Park tennis courts out to bid together in the hopes that it will save the town money. He stated that they found unsuitable material under the existing courts that will need to be removed and replaced with proper material in order to ensure the job is done correctly and will last. MOTION: To transfer $19,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Memorial Park Capital Account. All in favor. PASSES. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. D'Agostino stated that there was a request of $25,000 for culvert repair at School, West and Willow Streets. Ms. McShane inquired if this project was funded at Town Meeting. Mr. Azinheira stated that $125,000 had been funded for this project at the Town Meeting, however the bids had come in higher than expected. Ms. McShane stated that she did not feel comfortable supporting this transfer when the citizens had voted to fund only $125,000 at the Town Meeting. Mr. Cook stated that this was a safety issue, if those houses flooded again, the Town may have to replace their furnaces, etc... MOTION: To transfer $25,000 from the Reserve Fund to Account # 31941A. 3 in favor. Margie McShane opposed. PASSES. _ —_��-- Date of pproval