Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 1/3/23 - 5pm
Minutes of the meeting 1/3/23
Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Meeting Opened at 5:05 pm
Finance Committee members present- Ilene Marcus, Frank Abbott, Michele Miller-Chair
Select Board members present: Susan Cooper
Select Board members present remotely: Justin Makuc- Chair
Also Present: Laurie McArthur (Select Board secretary).
Also Present Remotely: Micky Jervis, Jeff Zimmerman, Ken M
Meeting opened at 5:05 pm
Agenda:
Budget Review
Michele recommended having a joint meeting after the special town meeting to discuss this item. There will be a joint meeting on January 17th at 5pm after the Finance Committees regularly scheduled meeting at 4pm.
Capital Plan Review
Michele recommended having a joint meeting after the special town meeting to discuss this item.
Warrant Review
The Select Board and the Finance Committee reviewed each of the individual Articles for the Warrant and discussed budgetary amounts and reasoning for the requested amounts.
Article 1- Transfer the sum of $35,000 to from the Highway Capital Account to the fuel account. Frank presented the information he had and inquired about the projecting costs and how that number was determined. Justin asked about reserve fund transfers and the Finance Committee presented those numbers.
Article 2- The Fire Department will take an additional $20,000 in funding from their reserve account and $15,000 from free cash. The Finance Committee discussed the information that was presented to them by Shawn from the Fire Department.
Article 3- The Assessors will transfer $1,224 in additional funding from the unemployment insurance rather than utilize the free cash account. The Finance Committee did pay some previous expenses using the reserve account. The Assessors expense account will cover the shortfall they had for supplies.
Article 4-There is a request to transfer $5,409 to the building inspector wages account due to an increase in work and hours. Don put in for a certain amount of hours each week and wound up working additional hours in relation to the time clock system.
Article 5- will transfer the sum of $52.50 to conservation. There is a request from the Conservation Commission to increase the agent’s wages to $35 per hour from $25 per hour. This will not be able to come out of the revolving fund, and therefore a new account will need to be created to pay the individual. Susan discussed requests by ConCom and the various issues that arose surrounding the agent and the need for a wage increase. Justin suggested taking this from the health insurance account to pay the expenses due to having an overage in this account.
Article 6- $29.30 will be transferred from the Unemployment Insurance Account to pay a bill from a prior year.
Article 7- Transfer the sum of $400 or any other amount from the Unemployment Insurance Account to the Library wages account to account for overages for the time clock. Justin reclused himself from this item.
Article 8- $30,000 for cash to litigation fees for the Hume case, which has been transferred to the Supreme Court. Ken suggested someone reach out to the Massachusetts Municipal Association for advice and additional information. The initial argument is due to be held February 6, 2023 at the Supreme Court.
Article 9- Transfer $1500 from the Town Clerk Account to the Election Account.
Article 10- Vote to rescind the remaining amount of $353,405 for the unused portion that was not utilized for the library renovation.
Justin said that the Select Board will vote tomorrow on the Warrant items
Michele made a motion that the Finance Committee accept the amended articles, and move Article 8 into the 3rd position. Ilene seconded
Call a vote. Michele-yes, Frank- yes, Ilene- yes
Michele made a motion to adjourn the Finance Committee at 5:48pm
Call a vote. Michele-yes, Frank- yes, Ilene- yes
Documents used at the meeting
- Draft of the Warrant