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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm 01/29/1999Minutes of January 28, 1999 Present: James Noris, Chairman. G�c4'I &W FTNANCE.COMMITTE:E MEETING Joseph Cutillo, Jr. Frank DelVecchio John D'Agostino, Town Manager Beatrice Kearney, Town Accountant Bob Button, MEMA Helen Christian, Town Clerk GENERAL DISCUSSION Assessors Budget Gerald St. Hilaire Margie McShane Louis Amoruso,Selectman Amos Robinson, Selectman Shirley MacPhee, Assessors Office Gail Farrugia, COA & Social Services Leslie Pasch, Library Ms. MacPhee presented the Assessors Department budget. She stated that. one of the increases was due to the fact that a cyclical review needed to be done, Ms. MacPhee stated that she was making an effort to conserve money for the Town by utilizing the 2 people from the Senior Program at $5.00 per hour to do a majority of the fieldwork for the cyclical review. She stated that the going rate to hire an individual skilled in this type of fieldwork costs $16 per field. cardand..that. she. did have one. person. currently working at that rate. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the money paid to the individuals from the Senior Program was paid out of the COA and used toward a $500 -credit toward their Town taxes. Ms. MacPhee stated that she is requesting another half time person. to help in the office. She stated that she currently. has 1 full time clerk and I half time clerk= however between vacation time and sick time taken, she needs another half time clerk to cover when someone is out. She also stated that she needs the additional help due to her increased workload. Ms. MacPhee stated that the request for out of grade pay was a contractual item and that the clerk is paid an additional 25% of their hourly rate to act as Department Head when she is out. Mr. D'Agostino inquired why the Board of Assessors are paid but the Board of Selectmen are not. He stated that a number of the surrounding communities pay the Selectmen. Mr. Robinson stated that it was an agreement that went backseveral years. Mr. Noris inquired what work the Assessors normally perform after the assessments are complete. Ms. MacPhee stated that all of the appraisals need to be reviewed and that it takes quite a bit of time. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. St. Hilaire stated that he had some concerns about hiring 2 part time people, that the skill level may not be there to give the additional support the department needs. Ms. MacPhee stated that she would not mind hiring, another full time person. instead of 2 part time employees. Mr. Noris thank Ms. MacPhee for her presentation. COA Budoet Ms. Farrugia presented the COA budget. She stated that many services the COA provides are done at no cost to the Town such as meal and nutritional services and that much of the funding comes from. grant -money.. She stated that. the department has over 100 volunteers that put in approximately 1100 hours per year which equates to a savings of $77,000 that the Town does not have to pay. Ms. McShane inquired about the figure of 1.0,000 people being serviced on the. monthly statistical sheet Ms. Farrugia handed out. Ms. Farrugia stated that the figure was' actually higher than that, but there are many that come in and donotsign the book. Mr. Robinson stated that the Government is.having.a. difficult time paying.for the burial costs and other benefits for the WWII Veterans: He stated that we need to take care of the elderly because we ourselves will be elderly one day and need- assistance as well. Ms. McShane inquired if the employee hired for fuel. assistance is paid. for by grant money. Ms. Farrugia stated that employee was part of the Social Services budget: Mr. St. Hilaire inquired about the increase in line item 5113, what percentage was a step increase. Ms. Farrugia stated it was approximately 3%, however the steps vary. Ms. McShane inquired if the new full time person was the same position funded at Town Meeting. Ms. Farrugia stated it was the same position. Mr. Noris inquired about the 6-1/2% increase in the temporary support line item. Ms. Farrugia stated that was to cover pay increases. Ms McShane inquired if a 6-1/2% raise was given. Mr. Farrugia stated that only a 3% raise was given: Mr. St. Hilaire inquired why the department was requesting the same amount of funding for line items 5386, 5431 and 5481 when they have not spent close to 50% to date. Ms. Farrugia stated that 5386 was for mental health services and itis difficult to know from year to year how many people will need this assistance. Many health insurance plans do not cover mental health for the elderly. Mr. D'Agostino stated that line item 5431 would be moved to the DPW budget due to the reorganization. Ms. Kearney stated that only 2 months of the fuel had been billed to COA so far. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the Town is checking into contracting out the transportation services for the senior citizens and handicapped people. He stated that liability is a large concern for the Town, however he did not want to cut the level of service these individuals are currently given_ FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Ms. Farrugia stated that the seniors are. currently being charged $7.50 for a pass of 10 rides, however Great Woods has donated some money in -order -to lower thecostto $5.00 per pass. Ms. Farrugia also stated that if the Town is going to continue operate this service rather than contracting it out, that another van would. be needed. Mr. D'Agostino stated this was due to state mandates that the Town provide transportation to handicapped individuals as well as senior citizens. Social Services Budget Ms. Farrugia presented the Social Services budget. Mr. Noris inquired why the temporary support line item had been increased by 20%. Ms. Farrugia stated this was due to merging the line item with the self. -help line. item, which hasbeen eliminated. Ms. McShane inquired why the fuel assistance person is kept on the payroll until May. Ms. Farrugia stated that the heating season is regulated by the Department of Public Utilities. Mr. Noris inquired about the stipend in line item 5112. Ms. Farrugia stated that was given to her when she assumed the additional duties of the Social Services department. Ms. McShane inquired why the departmentwasrequesting $7000 for. item..5381 when only $900 has been expended yeartodate and it is 50%through the • fiscal year, Ms. Farrugia stated that the majority of this money is used in the spring for seminars and that a computer is needed for the fuel assistance person. Mr. Noris thanked Ms. Farrugia for her presentation. Mansfield Emer¢enev Management Agency(MEMA) Budget Mr. Button presented the MEMA budget. Mr. Button stated that the telephone expense line item was increased due to underfunding in the current year. He stated that MEMA tries to keep the expenses down and applies for any grant money available. Many of the expenses in his budget are 50% matched by grants. Ms. Kearney stated that this grant money is recorded as revenue on the cherry sheet. Mr. Button stated that the printing expenses are increased because the Town Emergency Plan must be updated every 3 years. He stated that line item 5581 has increased because of the special rechargeable batteries. Mr. Noris inquired about the life expectancy of these batteries. Mr. Button stated they last approximately 4 years. Mr. Button stated that the uniform line item has increase because there are 3 new reserve members and the expensive items such as jackets and special belts are paid for by the Town. The reserve members do supply shirts and pants out of their own pockets. Mr. Button also stated that part of the increase is for the hepatitis shots the 3 members will need. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. Noris inquired about the office equipment line item. Mr. Button explained that one of the department's computers is not Y2K compatible. Mr. Noris inquired how many computers MEMA had. Mr. Button stated the department has 3 computers each for different functions. Mr. Noris thanked Mr. Button for his presentation. Town Clerks Budget Ms. Christian presented the Town Clerk's budget. Ms. Christian stated that the increase to line item 5710 was for her recertification. Ms. McShane inquired why there was a 112% increase in line item 51-14, Ms. Christian stated thatthe increasewasdue to 2 line items being merged and that the other was eliminated. Mr. D'Agostino inquired about the request for funding, for out of state travel. Ms. Christian stated this was for 3 yearly conferences. Mr. D'Agostino inquired why line item 5301 was lower than the amount expended in 1998 and asked if that line item needed to be raised or was it one-time expenditure. Ms. Christian stated that particularyear a book had to be refurbished and that she should not need additional money this year. Mr. Noris thanked Ms. Christian for her. presentation. Library Budget Ms. Pasch presented the Library's budget. Mr. Noris inquired about the expense of the library opening on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and on Monday mornings. Ms. Pasch stated that the openings on Monday mornings were due tothenumber of complaints the library had received for not being open: She stated that the only additional cost was for 1 person for 2 hours. Ms. Pasch stated that line item 5731 was increased due to more personnel attending seminars. Mr. Noris suggested that perhaps the library and the schools could make a deal for a better price on books. Ms. Pasch. stated. that the library uses the state bid to purchase books and would most likely not be able to get a better price, but that she would check with the schools to see where they were purchasing their books. Mr. St. Hilaire inquired on the amount funded for books as compared to the amount recommended by the State. Ms. Pasch stated the Town was well above the recommended $53,000 minimum. Mr. D'Agostino stated that it may be wise to have the schools hook up to the ABLE program the library is using. Ms. Pasch stated that although it was not cheap, that is was an excellent resource tool and well worth the money. Mr. Noris thanked Ms. Pasch for her presentation. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Mr. Noris stated that he would like a new printout of the budgets once the DPW ` reorganization changes are made in order to get a better idea of the total amount needed for the town. Ms. Kearney stated that she could provide a spreadsheet highlighting the changes. Mr. D'Agostino stated that it would not be a problem to provide FINCOM with the new printouts however, he requested that the old printouts be turned in to be sure they were all workingirnm..the same budget. Mr. Noris stated he did not understand why the Police Department. needed another Explorer. Mr. D'Agostino stated that he would have Mr. O'Neill put his explanation in writing. Ms. McShane inquired if the prisoner transport vehicle that the have requested is the same vehicle that was -voted down at Town Meeting. Mr. Noris stated - that it was. Ms. McShane stated she felt it was deceitful to hide it in the budget Mr. D'Agostino stated Great Waves may be gifting that vehicle to the Town- Mr- Noris suggested that a used vehicle be purchased for the prisoner transport. MOTION: To appoint Jim Noris. to the Capital Improvements Committee. All in favor. PASSES - MOTION: To accept the minutes of 11-19-98. 3 in favor. Frank_DelVecchio 4nd.Margie,-McShane_ahstained_ PASSES. MOTION: To accept the minutes of.1-19-99. All in favor. PASSES. MOTION: To accept the minutes of 1-26-99. 4 in favor. Marie McShane abstained. PASSES. Adjourn me t9g5 Lm. Signat e Date provat Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 2, 1999,.7 p.m.