Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 5/20/2020

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

MAY 20, 2020

MINUTES

ATTENDING MEMBERS:                      ALSO ATTENDING:                                                                  GEORGE CAIN, CHAIR                       KENN BASLER, CHAIR           MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC 

JON SYLBERT                                  DON COBURN                     

            REBECCA WOLIN                           STEVE WEISZ                       

                                                                   MELISSA NOE                     

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 10:02 AM VIA A REMOTE/VIDEO SYSTEM

There was a discussion of the current status of the FY 2021 budget and how that information might be adjusted in terms of meeting the Covid-19 challenges as we move through the current virus issues and their impact on the next fiscal year.  Except for the issue of one vs. two DPW trucks (and the related impact of these vehicles on the Stabilization and Free Cash Accounts) both the Select Board and the Finance Committee were in general agreement.

In order to move forward with a Covid-19 FY 2021 Budget Proposal, there was an agreement to delete any new DPW trucks from the FY 2021 Covid-19 Budget.  In addition, it was agreed to reduce the DPW Capital by $25,000, to reduce the Fuel budget by $6000 (in recognition of greatly reduced fuel costs), and to reduce the Parks Budget by $14,000 (in recognition of the cancelation of some projects and the planned reduction in the use of the town’s parks facilities.

The proposal to hold the Fire Department Budget at the FY 2020 levels was tabled until Kenn could reconfirm with the Fire Chief access to Covid-19 funds to finance the Department’s planned changes in shift staffing.  Since the Shift change concept was not tested until after the Covid-19 hit the States, the rationale for charging these costs to Covid-19 allocated funds makes perfect sense.

In a review of the Warrant Articles, The Select Board approved to delete the FD Capital Account in the amount of $30,000, to reduce the Ambulance Budget to $5,000.  The Finance Committee will review these reductions in its next meeting.

The SB voted to hold Free Cash at $70,000.  The FC will review this recommendation. 

Minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting from May 12^th were reviewed and approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:31 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

George Cain, Chair.