Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 5/3/22

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, May 3, 2022

FINANCE COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING JOINT WITH SELECT BOARD MINUTES

Meeting Date:  5/3/22

Finance Committee Members Present:   Michele Miller, Chair, and Katrina Fitzpatrick

Finance Committee Members Absent:  John Sylbert

Select Board Members Present: Steve Weisz, Chair, Justin Makuc and John Weingold

Others present: Barbara Dahlman, Don Coburn, Mickey Jervas, Gary Shaw, Nancy Tomasovich, Terry Walker, Jeremy Rawitz, Shawn Tryon, Peter Murkett, Hillel Maximon, Gerry Clarin, Jim Hunt, Roger Tryon, Mary Makuc, Frank Abbott

Also present remotely: Paula Hartstein, Susan Cooper, Heather Bellow, Jon Levin, Peter Grealish, Brian Maser, Janet Maximon, Carly Detterman, Rob Hoogs, Richard Killingsworth, Chief Backhaus, Sergeant Fahey, Emily Johnson

Meeting opened at: 6pm

Michele Miller, Finance Committee Chair went line by line on the budget to see if anyone present had any questions about anything.  No one present had any questions.

Michele noted the communication from Sheffield Selectperson Rene Wood regarding the 30% increase to the school’s transportation budget as well as the rebuttal from the school committee.  She suggested that everyone should read it before town meeting.

Michele recommended using the same process for budget prep and if any changes are to be made they should be discussed at the beginning of the fiscal year.  Shawn noted that when he first started 16 years ago the budget process was a disaster but the way it has been the last couple of years has been a much better process, more efficient and friendly.  Susan Cooper concurred with everything Shawn expressed.

Peter Murkett would like to add items to the capital planning with regard to the work the renewable energy working group have been researching which will require a consultant to assist.

The following reserve fund transfers were approved by the Finance Committee 2 - 0:

  1. $823.83 to fuel,
  2. $265 to insurance and
  3. $1342.86 to fuel

A motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at: 6:42pm