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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFin Comm 04/09/1979FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING April 9, 1979 Members Present: Ms. Cheney, Messrs. Cooney, Powers, Flannery and Houghton. Ms. Cheney called the meeting to order at 8:00 PM. We met with the Board of Trustees of the Mansfield Public Libra 1 to discuss the Finance Committee recommendations for the I ZY,s budget for fiscal year 1979-80. The following points were discussed: 1. Usage of the library has increased dramatically over the past four years. Adult circulation has increased from 22,000 volumes in 1974 to approximately 40,000 in 1978. The Trustees felt that any reduction in hours at the library is unwarranted. 2. The Trustees have recommended 7% salary increases, however; they would agree to reduce those increases to the same per- centage granted to other Town departments. 3. To qualify for State Aid to Libraries, the library must be open a minimum of 40 hours per week. Current State Aid is approximately $4,600 per year. The discussion then centered around Article VIII of the Special Town Meeting which requests the sum of $10;000 for Engineering Studies, preliminary plans, and budget estimates for renovation and expansion of the Public Library on Union Street and Park Row. State Aid to Libraries and receipts from Dog Fund�'approximately $5,000 will be used to offset this $10,000 request. The Trustees explained that previous studies were directed towards altth"ate sites and a completely new structure, whereas, the proposed study is for an addition to the existing building. A previous report concerning library needs (the Bloss Report) did not recommend an addition to the existing structure. The Committee then listened to a presentation by Mrs. Jellenik concerning Article II of the Special Town Meeting. It is Mrs. Jellenik'scontention that the transfer of $25,131 from Account 730-4 Dustin Well is illegal because such funds represent unexpended proceeds from a Bond Issue. Town Officials contend that the excess money in the Dustin Well account is not from unexpended proceeds of a Bond Issue but instead from available funds. Motion by Joseph Houghton; Seconded by William Flannery to investigate the source of funds from the Dustin Well account and to trace such items to the accounting records of the Town. Approved 5-0. Motion for reconsideration by Joseph Houghton, No Second. Motion failed. Finance Committee Minutes of Meeting, April 91 1979 2 We then discusseN confusion and controversy that has resulted from press coverage of the error in computation of the current year's tax rate. The Committee believes that Town Officials have not accurately-'presented the facts or researched the options available to the 'Town.- An official letter from the Town Manager explaining the error is to be published in the local newspapers. A motion was made by Robert Powers; Seconded by Edward Cooney that the Finance Committee would like the opportunity to review the Town Manager's letter prior to its.release. Approved 5-0. Ms. Cheney will convey our request.to'the Town Manager on Tuesday; April 10. The resignation of Matthew Williams has created a vacancy on the Finance Committee. Seven names has been submitted. Motion by Robert Powers; Seconded by Edward'Cooney to write, a letter to the Board of `Selectmen requesting a meeting with them on April 18, 1979 to appoint a new member to the Finance Committee. Approved 5-0. A second Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting will be held to see if the Town will vote to raise or appropriate the sum of $10,000 for a rate study for the Water Department. The Finance Committee has no recommendation at the present time until the Article is presented.to us for our recommendation. We then reviewed certain Articles on the Special Town Meeting as follows: Article I - Acceptance of'anti-recession funds in the amount of $15,524. Moved by William Flannery; Seconded by Robert Powers to recommend acceptance of such funds. Approved 5-0. Article VI- To see if the Town will vote to set-up the Water,/ Sewer Department on a self-sustaining basis. Moved by William Flannery; Seconded by.Robert Powers to recommend the Article. Approved 5-0. Article VII -To see if the Town will establish an Historic Commission ! and to raise and appropriate $500 for expenses of such Commission. Moved by Robert Powers; Seconded by Ed Cooney to amend the Article to reduce the appropriation. from $500 to $200. Approved 5-0. Moved by Robert Powers; Seconded by Edward Cooney to recommend the. Article VII as amended. Approved 4-1. Finance Committee Minutes of Meeting, April 9, 1979 3 Article VIII -To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for an Engineering study for an addition to the Public Library. Moved by Robert Powers; Seconded by Joseph Houghton to reject the Article. Vote 4-1. Articles not approved at this meeting will be followed-up by members of the Finance Committee as follows: Article II and III Article IV Article V Article IX - Ms. Cheney - Mr. Cooney - Mr. Flannery - Mr. Powers Chairperson Cheney brought the members of the Committee up-to-date on certain other matters as follows: 1. The Police Department is requesting $1,000 for a breathalizer. 2. The Fire Department's request for gasoline and oil is now $7,000 compared to the Finance Committee's recommendation of $3,500. 3. The Fire Department is considering a fee for cellar pumping. Moved by Robert Powers; Seconded by William Flannery that the Finance Committee recommend to the Fire Department that a fee sufficient to cover costs relating to cellar pumping be charged. (Salary cost plus 25%.) Approved 5-0. 4. Since 1976, unpaid ambulance fees aggregating $20,000 remain uncollected. 5. The Fire Department request for fire alarm maintenance, Account 357-0 has been reduced to $2,220. The Finance Committee's recommendation will be reduced accordingly. 6. The Department of Public Works request for Sewage Treatment Plant Expense, Account 472-0 has been reduced to $47,920; and Account 501-0 Highway Division Expense has been increased to $48,530. Moved by Robert Powers; Seconded by William Flannery that the revised requests by the Department of Public Works be approved. Voted 5-0. Finance Committee, Minutes of Meeting, April 9, 1979 4 Mr. Powers then made a suggestion that the Finance Committee be prepared to present at the Town meeting three budgets. One representing a zero increase in appropriations -,the second a 4% increase in appropriations; and the third, a budget with no cap on appropriations which would be subject to two-thirds override by Town Meeting vote. Members of the Committee agreed that this was a good idea and such budgets will be prepared at a subsequent meeting. Motion by Robert Powers; Seconded by Edward Cooney to adjourn. Approved 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Joseph F. Houghton, Jr. Secretary