Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 4/7/2020
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING WITH SELECT BOARD
APRIL 7, 2020
MINUTES
ATTENDING MEMBERS:
GEORGE CAIN, CHAIR KENN BASLER, CHAIR MELISSA NOE
JON SYLBERT STEVE WEISZ MICKEY JERVAS
REBECCA WOLIN DON COBURN
The Call-in Meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM.
The Finance Committee met with the Select Board to discuss the FY21 budget items.
The Finance Committee has agreed to support the revised Fire Department duty shift proposal.
The Finance Committee and the Select Board are in agreement on all the operating budget items.
The issue of one vs. two DPW trucks in the FY 2021 budget remains a point of difference between the Select Board and the Finance Committee.
Don made a motion to remove funding the fire department stabilization fund and bridges, roads and culverts stabilization fund for FY21 and use that money toward the 2 trucks. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously by the Select Board. George then made a motion to leave the funding for the 2 stabilization funds and only purchase one truck. The motion was not seconded and therefore failed. Rebecca made a motion to removing funding for the 2 stabilization funds. The motion was seconded and passed 2 – 1 with George voting no.
Mickey Jervas had questions about the $100,274 in the budget for the library loan. Kenn explained that this number is a placeholder, the actual interest amount owed in November of 2020 is $28,674 plus $500 for consultation fees and anything above that would be an additional payment toward the principal.
Discussion ensued about who decides what goes on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Don explained that the warrant is the Select Board’s and the Select Board is the ones that prepare and sign the warrant and therefore they decide what goes on the warrant after consultation with the Finance Committee. Jon and Rebecca made very strong comments about the fact that the DOR confirmed in writing in 2018 that the Finance Committee submits the budget to Town Meeting.
Left open was whether, and if so, how, any particular item differences between the Select Board and the Finance Committee would appear in the warrant, a matter to be reviewed at the next joint meeting.
There will be another joint meeting on April 29th at 10am.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 5:05 PM
Respectfully submitted,
George Cain, Chair.