Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm 01/12/2017Finance Committee Meeting January 12, 2017 RECEIVED ���� rr Present: Walter Wilk, Chairman; Scott F'ealy, Vice Chairman; Liz Christo, Clerk; Members: Brian Eagle, Nl BiB `3rrdY4l MF- DeSantis NA FEB -b P S= 01 Also Present: William Ross, Town Manager; John Stanbrook, Finance Director and Town Accountant MANSFIELD Not Present: Yogen Chemburkar, Member j°fASSAcHuSETTS 1. Attend the continuation of the Mansfield Public Schools Public Hearing for the proposed annual budget Town Hall Room 3 A/B -'if needed The Mansfield Public Schools Public Hearing concluded on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 and a second night was not needed. Liz Christo handed out copies of the presentation to all members. 2. Call the Finance Committee meeting to order and review the agenda Chairman Walter Wilk called the meeting of the Finance Committee to order at 7:00pm. A quorum is present. 3. Municipal budget overview regarding additional FTE — Town Manager William Ross Mr. Ross discussed all the proposed FTE changes that where presented in his budget letter to the Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Mansfield. The proposed positions are: Minutes Clerk: One part time person to take minutes for several of the boards and committees with the net budget impact of $0. The appropriation of $10,000 to cover the cost will come from the budgets of the committee and boards. Bookkeeper: For the Finance/Town Accountant's office, to help with workload and as recommended by the auditors in the management letter. This Bookkeeper will relieve the Finance Director's workload and allow him to perform duties more appropriate for a Finance Director. There is an anticipated retirement in this department. Finance Committee recommends that the Town develop an appropriate department organization with job descriptions to meet the staffing needs of this department. Mr. Wilk feels the Finance Director's compensation needs to be increased and Mr. Ross agreed. Procurement Officer: This position, at this time, is for municipal purchasing. Mrs. Christo feels there needs to be a joint conversation with the schools and municipal departments regarding the sharing of personnel. Discussion of DPW staffing needs to ensure the oversight of DPW/Public Safety Building project, management of capital improvement projects and school projects. MIS Technician: This part time person would provide support for the police department to support all the technology in the department such as the video cameras in cars, tablets and finger printing equipment, Mr. Ross feels very strong about the need for this position. Discussion around one technology department for supporting the needs of the Town as a whole with the growing technology needs of both the Schools and Town. Discussion of a grant writer position but as of now there is no one designated, each department applies for grants as they are able to. EMS Coordinator: In the Fire Department there is currently two firefighters doing this work in addition to their regular responsibilities and are getting a stipend, The workload has significantly increased to ensure the Department is in compliance with State requirements. Discussion of development for future years, through the Fire Department, home health services using paramedics to provide additional health support in the community. This would be a new source of revenue for the Town. On January 25th, the Police and Fire Departments are presenting their budget to BOS. 11 Page Iin II Coin 1n I i�c_ N)oetirr lanoary 12, 2 1) 1 7 Two skilled labor positions: The Highway Department is requesting two additional skilled laborers positions, one funded out of the Wastewater Collection budget and one in the Highway Division budget. With the addition of these positions, the department is still below staffing levels of 10 years ago before budget cuts. increase hours for fuel assistance office: The demand on this office has increased due to the increased need for assistance and coverage needed when the Social Worker is on vacation or away on work related business. One part time librarian: The Library Board has asked for this position, there are times at the library when there are only two people working, which is not enough to meet the needs of the Library and not a safe staffing level. Full Time Park and Recreation Director: Mr. Ross recommends restoring this position to 37.5 hours from 25 hours. This department is increasing its offerings with great success and these hours are needed. This increase will be funded from the recreation revolving fund. These positions were not presented in a prioritized order. Mr. Ross said that they have assumed minimal increase in revenue from the State in the current budget proposal. He also factored a 10% Health Insurance increase but hopeful not that high. Each 1% change in health care is around $140K. Bristol County retirements did decrease and $400K is in the budget to fund OPEB. Budget stabilization will be up to 5% with the transfer from free cash that is in this budget, which has been the goal we have been working towards for 7 years. The CAFR as of June 30, 2016 was distributed to the board. 4. Revenue forecast with three scenarios —John Stanbrook The proposed budget uses the moderate assumption for revenue, for the past few years this model has been the most accurate. 5. Discussion of next steps on Municipal and School budgets The DPW, Fire and Police Departments will be presenting their budgets at upcoming BOS meeting. Chairmen Aptowitz was in the audience and invited the Finance Committee to attend. Mr. Ross will send Mrs. Christo the dates. The Budget Subcommittee is meeting in the next few weeks, after that meeting there will be a budget update. CIP: A Panels Project was budgeted at $65K and is too small to get any one to bid on it. We are now able to include it in the larger grant project. For this project some engineering is needed so the $65K will now be used for to fund that work. Audit: Mr. DeSantis attended his first meeting a few weeks ago. Financials were filed ahead of schedule. CAFR was filed on time and the Finance Committee received copies tonight. Budget: No update, meeting is next week. School Committee: Mrs. Christo handed out the budget presented at the hearing and noted that it will be updated online to reflect some budget changes. Also, she was asked to sit on the Assistant Superintendent/Finance Director Search Committee. DPW/Public Safety Complex: Contractor on site. Anticipating an October completion and on budget. Coming up, there is a Verizon hearing to move the telephone poles to the other side of East Street. Downtown Strategy Committee: Mr. Wilk shared that new flags going on poles, cleaning up parking lots, new lights, and new signs. Mr. Ross updated that the Chocolate Factory has put their financing together and started working on permits. 12. Approval of Meeting Minutes 2Page F1 50n _ Comini[[ee tdma.ing J.vnue I V 12, 2.0,17 Motion: To approve meeting minutes of October 5, 2016 (Feely/DeSantis) Passes 5:0:1 Brian Eagle abstained 13. items not known within 48 hours Carrie Champagne has been hired as a minutes clerk. 14. Audience CVA None 15. Committee member comments Mr. DeSantis asked what the property tax not taxed line item in the budget is? Mr. Ross said it is the amount not levied this year. Mr. O'Brien will call and ask for the Association of Town Finance Committees for the Finance Committee Handbook on disk for the board. Mrs. Christo asked about aligning Finance Committee terms with budget cycle. Mr. Ross said it would require a Charter Change. Mr. Wilk stated the next meeting is January 26 and asked Mr. Ross to get to Mrs. Christo the dates that the Fire and Police and DPW are presenting their budgets to the Board of Selectmen. 16. Adjourn Meeting Motion: To adjourn meeting at 8:48PM. (Christo/O'Brien) Passes 6:0 Date Minutes prepared by: Elizabeth Christo Documents Used in this Meeting: 1/12/17 Meeting Notice Mansfield Public Schools FY18 Budget Presentation Town of Mansfield FY18 General Fund Revenue Summary Using Moderate Assumptions as of 1/12/17 Town of Mansfield FY18 Revenue Assumptions Summary as of 1/12/17 Town Manager's Budget Letter to the Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Mansfield 3Page cin., n<.. Como, Ittee 14 [Ing 1a r.uarV 1 2, 2017