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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm 02/02/1999Minutes of February 2, 1999 Present: James Noris, Chairman Dennis Grady Andy Gazzolo Frank DelVecchio John D'Agostino, Town Manager Richard Boucher, Town Treasurer Beatrice Kearney, Town Accountant Richard Feeley, MBC Shaun Burke, Planning Bert Cook, Building Joan Crotty, Building Dick Lewis, Conservation GENERAL DISCUSSION MBC Budo Mr. Feeley stated that the increase. in.the secretarial line item is. due to the fact that MBC would like to give her a 50/6- merit raise. Mr. D -Agostino sta_ted..that the secretary is in the Non -Supervisory Union and there are step increases in their -wage acale. Mr. Grady inquired if the MBC had assisted in putting together the presentation for toe request of the additional $700,000 for the Schools.. Mr.. Feeley stated.that the MBC and the Schools worked together on that presentation. Mr. Grady inquired what authority had required the upgrade on the sprinkler system. Mr- Feeley stated that it was required by the Fire Department. Plannino Budoet Mr. Burke stated he was requesting..funding for 2 -new. file cabinets and that all other expenses outside of personnel services had. been flat funded. Mr. Burke stated that the boards and commission secretary line item was new to his budget this year, however the money had been carried in the overtime line item 5131 in previous years. Mr. Noris inquired if the Planning Director needed a uniform. Mr. Burke stated the money was for boots, jackets, etc... needed for fieldwork_ Mr.. Gazzolo inquired if the department had a typewriter. Mr. Burke statedtheydid. Mr.-Gazzolo inquired if it was necessary. Mr. Burke stated it was necessary for various forms -they had to 1311 in. Mr. Gazzolo suggested that the Town eliminate the service agreements for typewriters and get rid of them when they break down rather- than repair them. Mr. Noris thanked Mr. Burke for his presentation. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. Grady stated he was concerned that even if a budget is flat funded it does not mean it is a good budget, it may indicate that not much preparation has been put into it. Mr. Gazzolo stated that some. departments are requesting the snore amount of funding as the previous year and yet have not expended any money from the line item. Mr. Noris stated that a motion was made at the meeting of 1/28/99 to appoint him to the Capital Improvements Committee. He stated that he would be willing. to recorl.§ider the motion if anyone else were. interested in the position. Mr. Gazzolo and Mr. Grady stated they were not interest in the position. Mr. Gazzolo stated that the FINCOM Chairman needs to be loose in order to steer the -other committees to understand the financial aspect of the proposed projects. Mr. Noris stated that Mr. Moretti hadinformedhim that Mr. Gurek hadresigned_as Financial Manager. He stated that Mr-. Moretti would be putting together a -screening committee some time soon. Building Department Budget Ms. Crotty stated that they are requesting.a fulLtime secretary to replace cuem part time position. Mr. Cook stated the demands on the department were growing with the growth of the town. Mr. Grady had. suggested cutting down on paper records. Mr. Cook stated that he had requested funding.for a microfiche system in the past but had been denied. Mr. Boucher stated that he was currently looking into -new document imaging systems that would allow existing forms, etc... to be input on the computer. Mr. D'Agostino stated that in. order to streamline the efficiency of the Town, a GIS program should be considered. It could generate all records for all departments through the computer. Mr. Grady inquired if there was a master plan to purchase a GIS system soon. He stated that if the system were going to be bought soon, perhaps the additional personnel various departments. are requesting would not be necessary. Mr. Gazzolo inquired if the expense could be shared with the different departments. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the expense could be shared. He stated that the Town is currently in the process of a needs assessment. Mr. Gazzolo suggested that-. presentation be put together for the next town meeting in order to inform the public. Mr. Cook stated that he needed additional assistance now. Ms. Crotty statedthatif a full time secretary was hired, that the overtime could be eliminated: Ms. Crotty stated that the telephone line item had been increased due to cost increases. Ms. Crotty stated that the office supply line item was high last year because they purchased a new computer. Ms. Crotty stated that the vehicle supplies line item has increased due to the fact that vehicle supplies had beenpurchasedout of the equipment repair line idem previously. Mr. Grady stated that if that money had been added to vehicle supplies, then it should be cut from equipment repair. Mr. Cook stated that vehicles were handed down to him from the Police Department and some of them are in rough shape. He is currently using his personal vehicle to do field work. Mr. Gazzolo stated that perhaps the Town could find a better vehicle for Mr_ Cook to use. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. Noris inquired why professional- development line item had been flat funded_ Ms. Crotty stated that they did not expect the fees to be increased. Mr. Noris thanked Mr. Cook and Ms. Crotty for their presentation. Mr. Noris requested that a memo be sent to the BOS to inform then -of his appointment to the Capital Improvements Committee. Conservation Budget Mr. Gazzolo inquired about the funds requestedin.secretarial.services when -very -little had been expended year to date. Mr. Lewis stated the same amount was requested because the amount expended. varies according.to the number of. meetings.- Mr.. Noris inquired what the uniform allowance was -used -for. Mr. Lewis stated that he doesfield work and needs boots, jackets, etc... Mr. D'Agostino stated that Mr. Lewis, Mr_ Burke- and Mr. Leite were instrumental In acquiring the grant money for testing of. the contaminated land near the train station. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the BOS would be looking for support on the article for a landbank. He stated a portion of the-revenue-generatedeould-be-used to -p -.—chase conservation land. Mr. Gazzolo stated that a presentation about the proposed land bank should be made before the TownMee"g. Mr. Noris inquired if the increase in line item 5113 was contractual. Mr_ Lewis stated it was contractual. Mr. DelVecchio inquired about wetland fees. Mr. Lewis stated that approximately one half of the fee is- placed in the wetland reserve account and a portipn is typically transferred to the general fund. Zoning Board Budget Mr. Noris inquired how many meetings are held annually. Mr. Lewis stated the number of meetings varies aceording.to. the. number of applications. received. Mr. Noris thanked Mr. Lewis for his presentation. Accounting Budget Mr. Noris inquired about the increase in the management salary. Ms. Kearney stated the increase was the contractual 3% plus a step. She stated that she had not received a step increase since she started with the Town. Mr. D'Agostino stated he was in support of her receiving a step increase. Ms. Kearney stated that the out of grade pay was contractual and is given to the clerk when she is away for business, on vacation or sick. She stated that the audit expense increase is estimated due to the fact that the current contract ends this year. t, FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Ms Kearney stated the Town is currently using Brown & Barrett_ Mr. Noris stated that he was present at the last presentation Brown & Barrett had given and they seemed to be good. Mr. Grady stated. that he had some concerns with the way they explained some of their practices in the past. Ms. Kearney stated that the Town could go out to bid for FY'2000, but are not required because it is a professional service. Mr. D'Agostino stated that perhaps going out to bid would be good to see .what the -market has to offer. Mr. Noris thanked Ms. Kearney for her pr_esentaion. Mr. Noris inquired if the Electric Departmentwouldhe supplying. handouts for.tbeir budget review. Mr. D'Agosttno stated they would_. Adjournment: 10:00 OLM. Signature Dateof/Approval Next meeting will be Thursday, February 4, 1999,. 7 p.m.