HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Comm. 12/18/2018Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
December 13, 2018
Present: Mr. Walter Wilk, Chairman; Mr. Scott Feely, Vice -Chairman; Mr. Brian Eagle, Clerk; Ms. Kathleen
Aguiar; Mr. Michael O'Brien; Mr. Michael DeSantis; Mr. Yogen Chemburkar
Also Present: Mr. Kevin Dumas, Town Manager and Mr. John Stanbrook, Finance Director
Not Present: None
1. Call the Finance Committee meeting to order and review the agenda
Chairman Wilk called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. Discuss and vote on previous Finance Committee minutes
Motion: To approve January 12, 2017 Finance Committee minutes (DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
Motion: To approve January 18, 2017 Finance Committee minutes (DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
Motion: To approve May 25, 2017 Finance Committee minutes (subject to correction noted by Mr. Feely)
(DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
Motion: To approve June 22, 2017 Finance Committee minutes (DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
Motion: To approve July 13, 2017 Finance Committee minutes (DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
Motion: To approve September 14, 2017 Finance Committee minutes (DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
Motion: To approve May 3, 2018 Finance Committee minutes (subject to correction noted by Mr. Feely)
(DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
3. Review Select Board letter on tax project, discuss and develop plan to address issues and questions
raised and consider next steps to meet March deadline
Chairman Wilk reviewed that during the October 2411 meeting with the Select Board to set the tax rates
including the split between business and residential taxes there was a discussion about how tax rates are set,
does the split impact businesses coming to Mansfield, etc. in response to this discussion, the Select Board has
requested that the Finance Committee investigate these specific issues (tax classification and trends in
valuations) further (see letter). Chairman Wilk suggests having the IDC (Industrial Development Commission)
to come to the next Finance Committee meeting and give their feedback about discussions they may have had
with businesses about the tax split. Further, he thinks the Town's Board of Assessors should come and explain
the state -mandated formulas that they use and any opportunities they have for "wiggle room" in the
assessments. Mr. DeSantis also suggests that representatives from the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce
provide input to the Committee as well.
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
December 13, 2018 Page 1
4. Continuation of 2019 budget discussion including discussion of four revenue scenarios
The Committee reviewed the information provided by Mr. Stanbrook and Mr. Dumas. Chairman Wilk
explained that historically they tried to come up with a budget with level services based on "2 % plus growth"
without having a override. He further pointed out that there is a difference between level services and level
budget. There was discussion including the state rules for deficit spending for snow removal.
5. Review current budget for recyclables and trash, including where Mansfield is today vs. projections and
outlook for remainder of year; consider implications for FY'20 budget effort
Mr. Dumas states that for FY'19 the Town is looking at a decrease of $150,000 for recyclables and that for FY
'20 will trend the same. Chairman Wilk points out that this is an industry -wide issue because China stopped
accepting mixed -streamed recyclables. Mr. Dumas points out that the only glass recycling factory in the
northeast has shut down and we are throwing glass away now.
6. Committee reports (School, Downtown, Audit, Town Manager's Special Economic Development)
Mr. Eagle and Ms. Aguiar spoke about the School Committee's digital learning and technology plan to add
more Chromebooks, etc with a 5-year plan and are just beginning to roll it out.
Mr. DeSantis stated that the Audit Committee had met and they reviewed the Town's annual financial report
and the management letter from the auditor. He states that there are still some items from the management
letter that need to be completed.
7. Items not known within 48 hours
None.
8. Audience Q&A
None.
9. Committee member comments
Chairman Wilk pointed out that this was Mr. Chemburkar's last meeting and Mr, Chemburkar stated that it
had been a privilege to serve on the Finance Committee and it's work truly makes a difference for the Town.
10. Adjourn
Motion: To adjourn Finance Committee meeting of December 13, 2018 at 8:38 pm. (DeSantis/Eagle)
Pass 7:0
"z' /// %, _W154f
Finan o.Tmit erk Signature Date
Minutes Cl6rk Sighture Date
Minutes Prepared by Mary Dalton
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
December 13, 2018 Page 2