Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 12/13/23

Finance Committee Meeting – Final MINUTES

Meeting Date:  12/13/23

Finance Committee Members Present:   Ilene Marcus, Roger McDonald, Jeff Zimmerman.

Other Individuals Present:  Justin Makuc

Call to Order at 5:32 pm

Opening Statement by Chair:

Its been 7 months, since we started to work together, and we have made a lot of progress on the reports we review, the dashboard and the budget cycle process and calendar as well as the fiscal reserve policy, capital policy and transfer and reserve fund appropriations face sheet. Now entering budget season, we are poised to go deeper into what is working, and to make decisions that are best for the long-term fiscal stability of the town.  The best part is we respect each other, listen to each other and formulate actions based on the data we have.   Very much enjoy working with all of you.

Ilene Follow-up Items with Town Administrator:

• Finance Committee Members request to receive all budget-related emails that go to all staff, boards, commissions, and departments. 
• Can you send us the link to where the Capital plan policy is posted on town website
• Regardless of who is attending budget meeting all Finance Committee Members should receive all materials for meetings

New Business and Public Comment

• Discussion on options and consideration from the Select Board to add additional funds to the Town Administrator budget Line to make the salary competitive before the end of the fiscal year. 
• Members discussed and agreed we would get more information and comparables and advice on the process and discuss at next meeting after we each do some research on this topic.

Budget Meetings Prep

• Discussed the upcoming budget meetings, starting Monday December 18, and that only Roger received budgets for his meetings, and that was discussed and covered in follow-up items for the Town Administrator.  All Materials are need by FC members well in advance of schedule meetings.
• Ilene briefed on how the process worked last year, the issues and concerns that were on the table, the actions taken to support staffing and retention as well as upkeep of vehicles and maintenance of effort in all departments.
• Ilene noted that these are preliminary meetings and with the big ones or those with outstanding projects such as Library, Highway, Policy, Fire and Community Center – there will be follow-up meetings and conversations and last year the Finance Committee worked in tandem with the Select Board to explore and decide on most issues.
• Ilene recommended that in departmental meetings to focus on their budget, operations, use patterns and then think about larger town-wide concerns for efficiency such as fuel management, lawn and mowing expenses, light costs, and other contracted or vendor items that may be done more efficiently. 
• Jeff raised the issue of fundraising from different entities like the Library and the Firehouse.
• Ilene has some analysis from last year on the transfer station and costs and will send to rest of committee. 

Minutes

The minutes from 11/29 were reviewed, Jeff made one adjustment and they were adopted unanimously. 

Next 2 Meetings for Posting

January 4^th at 4 pm

Town Hall (Melissa let us know if available).

Agenda:

• Budget Meetings Reports and Prep
• Reports
• Minutes
• SB inquiry to adding funds to TA line
• New Business and Public Comment

January 10^th, at 5:30 pm

Town Hall

Agenda

• Budget Meetings Reports and Prep
• Reports
• Minutes
• New Business and Public Comment

Adjourned. 7:21 pm