HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm. 05/25/2017RECEIVED
TOYYIN CLERKS OFFICE
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 1018 SAY 16 P 4 I S
May 25, 2017
Present:
Walter Wilk, Chairman
John Scott Feely, Vice Chairman
Brian Eagle, Member
Michael O'Brien, Member
Yogen Chemburkar, Member
Michael DeSantis, Member
Not Present:
Liz Christo,'Member
Also Present:
Mike Ahern, OPM/Public Buildings
Minutes Clerk:
Christopher P. Walsh
MANSFIELD
MASS ACHIUSETTS
1. Call the Finance Committee meeting to order and review the agenda
Mr. Wilk opened the meeting at 7;05 pm.
Mr. Walsh was introduced at 7:06 pm.
3. DPW/Public Safety Complex and School Projects update - Mike Ahern
Mr. Ahern said DPW foundations are complete along with front parking areas and some
utilities. Mr. Ahern said they're planning on pouring inslabs and having buildings come in next
four weeks. Mr. Ahern said he hopes to have the building occupied by December. Mr. Ahern
said everything is on schedule money wise, with few change orders.
Mr. Wilk said they will have some involvement in replacement of school windows. Mr. Ahern
said they have been approved for a preliminary study for school projects (that they have the
money) capped at $40,000. Mr. Ahern said he needs the money improved for the schematic
design and taking leftover money and putting it in the reserve fund
4. Current year transfers- John Stanbrook
Motion: To approve the transfer of $65,000.00 from the General Fund Reserve Fund to the
General Fund Education Employee Benefits (Feely/Eagle). Passes 6-0.
Motion: To approve transfer of $121,657.00 from the General Fund Reserve Fund to General
Fund DPW Snow & Ice Other Expenses Salt & Calcium (Feely/Eagle). Passes 6-0.
IS. Tax Title Properties Discussion- John Stanbrook
Mr. Wilk said rule with tax titles is that under state law where people don't pay taxes, town
takes property. Some properties dating back to 1987 have been delinquent. Mr. Wilk said these
titles fall into three buckets: 1. Lots perfect for building 2. Lots requiring more research 3. Odd
lots. Titles between 12 and 15 can go to auction. Mr. Wilk said housing market is hot, and we
should get tax titles into auction (preferably by June 15). Mr. Wilk mentioned we should
consider getting them into auction due to health care costs next year.
Motion: To have Wilk send a memo to the board of selectmen on the tax title properties
(Feely/DeSantis). Passes 6-0.
6. FY17/FY18 Discussion to include Town Meeting feedback, FinCom presentation next steps
and revenue sources
Mr. Wilk said feedback from town meeting is that Steve got selected for board of selectmen to
study health care. Mr. Wilk recommended Mr. Eagle join the health care board given his
background in public policy.
Mr. Wilk mentioned people had issues with health care slides but that they got health care on
the radar.
Mr. Eagle mentioned various sources of revenue. Mr. Wilk mentioned short-term options like
auctioning off lands. Mr. Wilk suggested a meeting with the zoning board and IVC. Mr. Wilk
mentioned that we need Mansfield to be business -friendly in terms of having a vision (i.e. we
could zone a Starbucks here). Mr. Wilk said we need to look to other towns to be innovative,
compared to cutting services and raising taxes. Mr. Eagle mentioned sources that were turned
down (i.e. fast food), but that was due to the voters. Mr. Wilk again reiterates that we need a
vision, where a revenue source fits in. Mr. Feely emphasized that we need to get voter backing.
Mr. Feely mentioned that the little things ongoing in the town (i.e. DPW construction) will help
revenue sources in the long run. Mr. Wilk wondered if we could open zoning to get more
businesses in. Mr. Wilk said some things do work out, like the industrial park, but other times,
you lose out on a prospect (and reasons why). Mr. Feely said some of the revenue options will
depend on the capabilities of the new town manager.
Mr. Wilk brought up citizen petitions, and the need to have leadership when voting on citizen
petitions (i.e. especially when there's discontent over options, like citizen opposition to the
billboards) when there's a financial interest.
7. Board Updates (CIP, Audit, Budget, School Committee, DPW/Public Safety Complex,
Downtown Strategy
Committee)
CIP: Mr. Feely mentioned a meeting next Tuesday at 6 pm, and needing to spend $50,000 by
June 30 (or it goes away). Mr. Feely said a carpenter is putting together a list on how they can
spend the 50 grand, on items like benches and bike racks. Mr. Feely said focus will be on
portion of property that is a park -type facility (money used for it) and then can get work done
within a timeframe.
Audit: Nothing happened
Budget: Mr. Wilk said this committee has been disbanded due to the large size of people and
complexity.
School Committee: Not covered.
DPW/Public Safety: Already covered
Downtown Strategy: Flags and banners will be put up. The rails to trails funding is ongoing.
8.. Items not known within 48 hours
Everybody mentioned there was nothing else to cover for items not known within 48 hours.
9. Audience Q&A
No one was in the audience for a Q&A.
10. Committee member comments
Mr. Wilk said they will see who wants to show up on committee or not next time. Mr. Wilk
mentioned next meeting dates of June 22 and July 13.
11. Adjourn
Motion: To adjourn the Finance Committee meeting on May 25, 2017 at 8:47 pm (Feely/Eagle).
Passes 6-0.
ll AV/ 7
Date
Minutes Clerk Signature Date