Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-09 Finance Committee MinutesMinutes of the Finance Committee March 9, 1992 Meet nf) k;,,) C L CE D tt / 3i Present were Chairman William Burditt, Vice Magness, members Gerry MacDonald, Nate White, McMillan, Dick Coco, Liz Greene, Town Hechenbleikner, Assistant Directors of Public Robertson, Maria Silvaggi, Gloria Hulse, Keigley, and Ron Wood. t h, ~rmaFred Van Pete Dahl, i y mall Manager Peter I. Works McIntire and Lucky Hulse, Jim Carroll McMillan indicated that he asked a question at the last meeting as to why the ladder truck requires two people when .it was "sold to the Town" based on it being a one-person operation. He has talked with a number of people in Town who felt that it was intended to be a one-person ladder truck. Bill Burditt responded that the comments to Town Meeting were that one person would be required to operate the truck to get it to the scene, but that it requires more people to use it at the scene. Fred Van Magness agreed. Carroll McMillan also asked why the Board of Selectmen are meet- ing on the budget at the same time as the FinCom. He has checked the Charter and the Board of Selectmen have no role in the budget process. Bill Burditt indicated that the Board of Selectmen is the Town Manager's boss. The..Town Manager has the right and respon- sibility to request whatever input that he needs in order to make up the budget. McMillan further asked why the Board of Selectmen sits up front at Town Meeting since it is the FinCom budget that they are voting on. Carroll McMillan also indicated that he had previously asked for copies of all contracts and had not received them. The Town Manager indicated that he was not aware that the request had been made. Fred Van Magness asked for a copy of the new Firefighters contract. Dick Coco asked if a notice of a "Public Hearing" on the budget had been posted. The FinCom began its deliberations of the Public Works budget at 8:08 P.M. The Engineering budget was the first one discussed, and the Committee asked what was projected for FY93. Major projects projected are reconstruction of South Street, reconstruction of upper Pearl Street, reconstruction of Ash Street, Ash Street relocation at Main Street, West Street im- provements, Washington and Main Street improvements, Salem Street at Main Street, Woburn Street at Main Street, :Charles Lawn Cemetery completion, Nike Site improvements, and improvements to the Senior Center. All of these projects involve surveying, development of bid documents, evaluation of bids, and inspec- tions. On motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald, the :Committee voted to recommend Line Item H-4, Engineering Salaries in the amount of $124,214. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0-0. On motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald, the Committee considered a motion to approve Line Item H-5, Engineering Ex- penses in the amount of $4,200. On motion by Coco, seconded by FinCom Minutes - 3/9/92 - Page 2 MacDonald, an amendment was offered to approve an amount of $4,000. The amendment was approved by a vote of 5-3-0 and $4,000 was recommended for Line H-5. Regarding Line Item H-6, Street Lighting, it was suggested that perhaps unused light fixtures could be moved to other locations to save money. On motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald, the Committee approved a recommendation of $168,164 for Street Lighting by a vote of 8-0-0. Line Item H-7, Rubbish was discussed. The Town Manager indicated that the proposal is to provide for continued legal fees and recycling as a municipal general tax expense, and that all other expenses would come from a fee from a private collector. It was indicated that the pass through costs collected to date was in excess of what is needed for FY92 and 93. The Board of Selectmen will be considering either refunding the unused fee for FY 92 and then re-billing for a pass through cost for FY93, or encumbering funds to pay for the FY93 pass through expense. Concern was ex- pressed for illegal dumping and the need for there being a heavy fine for illegal dumping; that the per bag expense has advantages and disadvantages to it; and that the compost hours should, perhaps, be modified. On motion by White, seconded by Van Magness, a motion to recom- mend $177,300 for rubbish removal was made. On motion by McMil- lan, seconded by Coco, a motion was made to table this discus- sion. The motion to table failed by a vote of 1-7-0. The main motion failed by a vote of 3-3-2. On motion by Van Magness, seconded by Dahl, a motion to reconsider the vote on H-7 was defeated by a vote-of 3-4-1. On Line H-8, Public Works Administration Salaries, a motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald to recommend an amount of $77,297 was approved by a vote of 8-0-0. On Line H-9, Public Works Administration Expenses, a motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald to recommend the amount of $3,000 was approved by a vote of 8-0-0. There was a motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald to have the School Committee come back to the FinCom Meeting next Wednes- day. The motion was defeated by a vote of 1-6-1 with Greene abstaining. On motion by Van Magness, seconded by MacDonald, the Committee voted to go into Executive Session to discuss an item of labor negotiations and not to come into Open Session. On a roll call vote, White, MacDonald, Van Magness, Dahl, McMillan, Coco, and Burditt voted in the affirmative. Greene abstained, and the mo- tion was carried. Respectfully submitted, Secretary