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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFin Comm 05/02/1974FINANCE COMMITTEE, TOWN OF MANSFIELD Minutes of Meeting: 5/2/74 Call to Order: 8:00 p.m. New Business:. 1. With regard to the Finance Committee's Article 2 controversy the following events have taken place (for background see minutes of 4/22/74). Attachment #1 Finance Committee Chairman, John Gilleran sent a letter to the Association of Town Finance Committees to obtain some clarification concerning the Finance Committees role and.authority in preparing Article 2 for the Town Meeting. This reply was sent to the Board of Selectmen who in turn informed the Town Manager. As a result of this action the Town Council (Mr. Jim Grady) was requested to give his opinion on this matter (see attached letter dated April 29, ; 1974.) Reverend Wilbur B. Sadlier - President for the Council on )�`� �� . Aging notified the Finance Committee that they were being served an eviction notice from their landlord (see 0V�(� E i Attachement #2). This action will result in a change in the Council's Budget request at the Town Meeting. 3. Received a letter dated April 30, 1974 from the Town Manager explaining his actions in regard to the change on the Finance Committee's warrant report included with this letter was a copy of Mr. Grady's interpretation on the General Laws I€ governing this matter: 2 4. Finance Committee received a copy of the proposed articles for the special Town Meeting on Monday, April 29, 1974. The Town Meeting date Has been changed to May 8, 1974. See Attachment A. 5. A joint meeting between the Finance Committee and.Capital Improvement Committee was convened to discuss the Finance Committee's budget recommendations. Attachment#5 contains " the basic data for this discussion. It includes the notice of the meeting with an attached summary of the Finance Committee's recommendation for the .Capital Improvement Program. Also, included is a.bid summary for the various equipment requested by the Capital improvement Committee. Present were all members of each, Committee along with Selectmen* Herb Levine and NewspaperReporterAlan Johnson. Town Manager (Chairman of the Capital improvement Committee); started off discussing the bid '.summary on the equipment; with the final bids in the expected increase is approximately $1650 over that, originally requested. The Town Manager before proceeding with a discussion of the Finance Committee's recommendation wanted to clarify a misnomer on CIP summary sheet. The $0 Finance Committee recommendation for the street sweeper should be changed to $23,000 as this money was being recommended thru Article 13. 3 y- i The following newspaper, article accurately presents the events which occurred during the remainder of the meeting: The Sun Chronicle, Friday, May 3,1974 5 Mannon Accus��IsW�qns`� i PQ By ALLAN JOHNSON comprehensive budget reviews.' .his mind is "why after seven Sun Chronicle Staff Writer He noted Selectmen had to keep months of work with, a tremen- MANSFIELD — Town him in line on some requests.and dous amount of detail the FinCom Manager Dennis Hannon accused there had been some strong . could make recommendations for the Finance Committee of discussions on others to prevent other porjects that didn't get as "breaking ranks" _ Thursday exceptions to the CIP budget, highpriority." night by not recommending over The CIP committee is made up He suggested that budget cuts $300,000 in the Capital of members .from the Board of - were made to pay for the high Improvements Program. Selectmen, Finance Committee, school � roof. Hannon said. he Hannon said he was "disap- Planning Board, Hannon andthough it was a consensus of the pointed, the CIP program is by Planning Director Chad Maurer: committee that water would be far and away one of the most Hannon said the big question on the major project this year. 4 John Gilleran, chairman of ting shouldthe y first find find out dhow the town p FinCom replied by "apparently the feeling is that cessful the operation is at Fulton the FinCom has made its Pond. Gilleran charged there is recommendations by whim no control or accounting for the rather than careful con gravel being removed from t sideration." Fulton Pond. Valid Reasons Spot Checic Gilleran said there are valid Hannon said there is an reasons for the recommendations engineer on the job to spot check and the FmCom was on record trucks and the twon can ascertain that they might not recommend how much gravel has been r part of the CIP program. removed by g plumb Gilleran said, "by its very readings and cross sections of the nature, the CIP committee is pond. structured so that any opposition Gilleran said the $30,000 to the town administration view deleted for an aerial truck in the would at best achieve a fire department was deferred stalemate." He noted that until next year when $60,000 will Hannon and Maurer are staff be recommended to complete the members hired by selectmen. fund for purchase. The FinCom chairman stated The bucket truck for the fire ,items taken off the budget have department was not recom not emasculated the CIP mended since the FinCom feels program He noted the basic the light department should be ` item was the South Main Street doing the fire alarm main- water main which was originally tenance, "they already have the supported by the MnCom. equipment," said Gilleran: "It was supported onthe basis Money. to repave the tennis, that we were given an accurate courts at' Memorial Park and the estimate which was far from the driveway are not a prioity item case and still at best a said Gilleran in explaining this guestimate," he said. recommendation. The original request was The $7,500requested for stream se $105,000 which did not include improvementwas the verYu� cut engineering work to replace the we are opposed water main. Hannon said the ception," said Gilleran. Funds estimate now is $200,00o and he is for Maple Park are not recom- also disappointed at the revised mended since "this project is still estimate but the work, must be uP in tile said he FmCom is not done. - Gilleran said the $1,500 cut for recommending $30,000 for well Kingman Pond was "no great exploration since existing roblems such as the Witch Pond well Maurer Maurer proposed sources which was challenged by Basch. both site should be resolved first. siddes meeting fareapart on CIP Upset Director Chad requests, David Camey ofuh Planning the --Fi*0o+n-"-noted all recom� was also upset over cuts. He stated the n d mendations are lunanniimoouu�sd wl o plan ahead for new Ovate annon said"he capital improvements and how other com have capped wells in his own program next year if necessary munities anticipation of future water but preferred the present com- demand. Maurer said the Fin- mitte. "It has got to be done right and com was "irresponsible" if its rendation is based upon together", Hannon said. n ecomplant rumors of a bottling p locating in Mansfield. It was stated during the meeting that the bottling firm owns land in the Mansfield industrial Park but would not be allowed into Mansfield since there are no sewerage facilities capable of treating effluent from such a large operation. Maurer continued by saying the town should plan ahead and noted portions of the Canoe and Wading Rivers have not been tested as future water supplies. Hannon stated there would have been a tax decrease this 'year with the propsed CIP budget if it weren't for expenditures needed to replace the school roof and pay deferred salaries of teachers. E. Fred Basch of the FinCom and Maurer exchanged views on meeting the needs of residents now and future growth. Maurer said the. CIP recommendations are based on the orderly growth of the town under the com prehensive planning program A _TRUE COPY Ronald R. Montaqutla dtd„ U pj �1 pp C Il�.C�N✓Y�,.�N�(1��`. 11 i ky� ASSOCIATION of 'TOWN FINANCE COMMITTEES s 10th Floor `+ 84 State Street Bosf on, Massachusetts 02109 Stuart DeBard, fxec. Sec. PRESIDENT Tel, 617 742-9310r�. i�.. Y dr, ,.5-1� k 'h "'j` Domenic J. Sansone Weymouth t,= FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Arthur L. .Coburn, 3rd Lincoln SECOND VICE PRESIDENT. Joseph. S. Barresi Cohasse+ April 251 1974 DIRECTORS f George Holiworth Mr. Douglas Z. Titus ' Plympton � o: Rober+ W..Kell y Mr. Antonio 0aponigro, Jr. Wa+er+overt Mr. Herbert Levine Ms. Joan B. 'Becher Jeanne L. McKenna Framingham. Mr. Frank Collell.a Town Office Building Western oiyision 131 North Main Street PRESIDENT Mansfield, Mass. 02048 James F. Morrisey Lenox Re: Town Finance Committee Report VICE PRESIDENT James A. Carmichael Pelham Gentlemen and Ms. Becher: : SECRETARY '. Guy Woston Your finance committee has asked whether this Hinsdale Association believed it was lawful for your board to delete a schedule of municipal salaries from the text I 1 of their report to the voters for consideration at the j 1974 Annual Town Meeting. I wish to tell the board, in no uncertain terms, that the statutes are clear that the finance committee has the right and duty to accompany its recommendations on 'budget items "with such explanations and suggestions in relation there -to as they may deem desirable for the proper information of the inhabitants." I read about ' 150 town reports each year and perhaps 8-10/ of them include a,list of salaries of some or all town officials. A few towns print the salaries of all employees of the school depart- ment,also. I>have never seen anything to indicate that this is "improper" information of the inhabitants; the figures area public record for anyone who wishes to go to the treasurer's office in any ,event. G.L. Ch.41, Sec.60 does :provide that the selectmen shall print and distribute; this document at or before the annual town meeting but, 'while such a claim is made once or twice a year to I my knowledge, 'I have no doubt that the selectmen are bound to print it as presented absent libelous matter or inadvertent typing errors.:' The fact that you have claimed the right to censor the finance committee which has been asserted perhaps two or three i i x j PPE , Cr TOWN OF MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS COD =� m OFFICE OF TOWN COUNSEL FIFTY-FIVE SOUTH MAIN STREET ttl 9s9 Oa AS��•, MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 02048 gTOWN �N` 'BOSTON OFFICE JAMES T. GRADY 376 BOYLSTON STREET TOWN COUNSEL BOSTON, MASS. 02116 TEL (617) 5368667 April 29, 1974 Dennis A. Hannon, Town Manager Town Hall Mansfield,,,Massachusetts 02048 Re: Town and Finance Reports Dear Dennis: In reply to your letter of April 26, 1974, I would advise as follows: General Laws Chapter 41 § 60 clearly provides that the responsibility for the printing and distribution of the report of estimated amounts necessary to be appropriated at or before the Annual Town Meeting lies with the Board of Selectmen. Further, it is provided in § § 2-5 of the Town Char- ter that the Annual Report on the Warrant shall include the Finance Committee report and other matters. General Laws Chapter 39 § 10 provides for the prepara- tion of the Warrant..."under the hands of the selectmen...." Thus the preparation of the booklet entitled "Warrant for the Annual Meeting, Town of Mansfield and Report and Recom- mendations of the Finance Committee" is the responsibility of t4Le Board of Selectmen. Accordingly, exactly what the context, order or 4rrangement shall be is the responsibility of the Board of Selectmen. ( g The Charter, in § 5-13, requires the Finance Committee P to report on the proposed annual budget and all financial articles. In my opinion, the Finance Committee's Report is ! i N k Dennis A. Hannon 2 - April 29, 1974 F exactly that as so provided in the Charterj i.e., its report on the budget and financial articles. whether material submitted by the Finance Committee which is in addition to or exceeds its Charter responsibilities may be included in the .printed Warrant is a matter of discretion for the Board of Selectmen to determine. Certainly material wholly unrelated to the Town Meeting budget or articles need not necessarily be printed; however, each case will have to be decided by the Selectmen as it occurs. The Warrant should not be confused with the Annual Report which is also prepared by the Board of Selectmen under Chapter Four of the Town Bylaws. I trust this clarifies the matter for you. Very truly yours, aures T. Grady J'TG/c f CC: Board of Selectmen Finance Committee 4 COUNCIL ON AGING 179 North Main Street MANSFIELD. MASSACHUSETTS 02048 <REV. WILBUR B. SADLEIR. PRESIDENT April 30, 1974 MR. JAMES TARTS, SECRETARY -TREASURER MEMBERS - - MISS HELEN BURNS ' MRS. SYLVIA MORO. MRe. LAURA CHAPMAN -MR. GARDNER ALEXANDER MR. PAUL F. SPLIT, Ex OFFICIO MRS. EDITH ENNIS Finance Committee. Town Offices North Main Street Mansfield, Mass. 02048 Gentlemen: I have just received notice that the Council on Aging must vacate 179 North Main Street, Mansfield, as of June 30th. This wi11 necessitate a change in the Council's budget request at the Town Meeting. The Council.will begin investigating rental,costs for a Drop -In -Center immediately. Very truly yours, Rev. Wilbur B. Sadleir, Council President r rn � O 4 N O O Y W +j cl) O O y \1 4D C x 0 U w F7 rc w+ o x 4-0IcO A ' o ,G ro ir+ 3 u y ul ID N 4 (� ,C •� N O I.. 31 W i3 w p ^O P F O w<'r. 0 224 uz Or G ^C L 7 TOWN OF MA OFFICE :C P, The Charter, in `§ 5-13 requires the Finance Committee to report on the proposed 'annual budget and all financial articles. In my opinion, the Finance Committee's Report is j/ SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WITHIN THE 1974-1975 (7/1/74 TO 6/30/75) ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MANSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM EAST STREET MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1974 7:45 P.M. Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money which is the balance of expenses not to be Taii3 from the 1973-1974 Transfer Fund for the re- l place�ent and vaer,J m%nt of the chlorinating facilities and sludge (u, retufn _pu:,ipsng sg: eia recently destroyed by fire au th Mansfield thereto. ' Sewage Treatment P",aa.xt, or take any action in relation Sponsor: Board of Selectmen Article 2, ` To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the payment of salaries of school teachers and any other professional 1974: but employees of the school department earned prior to June,30, and to determine whether such f. payable in July and August of 1974, appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise, or take any ., other action relative thereto. Sponsor: Board of Selectmen i� Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to'rhise and appropriate or ,i ,= " transfer from available funds the sum of thirty thousand three hundred and 00100 (30,300) dollars for 'renovation of the Park Row School, or lf', take any ;action in relation thereto. i i Sponsor: School Committee and Municipal Building Committee 5. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Mansfield,Massachusetts Notice of Meeting Date: Thursday, May 2, 1974 \Time: 8:00 P.M. Place: 131 North Main Street, Room 7 i Agenda 1. Call to Order 2.; Review of Finance Committee Recommendations*' 3. Presentation for Town 'Meeting' 4. Adjournment ::Copy of the Finance Committee ci Program is attached. ee ves "Isee neper, F I or -Eo Discount: none Exceptions: nor C.N. Wood Co., Wa.tc Nef': $"' roo 1 r;r: 30 ,lternat r 740 - 00 iyi: See Ui, Choc. c; 'i see bid form" Gmonths arranLy: 50 C