Town of Becket Finance Committee
March 27, 2008 Minutes
Present: Mike Falk, Ann Spadafora, Jeremy Dunn, Amy Fyden, Steve Labelle
Also Present: Richard Furlong; Len Tisdale (1st part of meeting)
The meeting was called to order at 7:02pm.
1. Review of major changes to the warrant during past week:
a. Free cash certified at $31,938 (higher than ~$6k expected)
b. 3/25/08 version of budget is now balanced
c. ~$200k of requests not honored (reduced or eliminated) to balance budget
d. School budget, + 3.0% for district, has +8.74% impact on Becket, due to declining state reimbursements and DOE wealth formula for apportionment to 7 towns. Budget is likely to pass in all towns but Dalton; will be binding on Becket
e. Some line items should be higher, e.g. tax title s/b ~$22k, was funded @ $15k. Town will go slower on collections unless funds become available for transfer.
f. Winter roads FY08 budget is $160k. Will be approx $60k short. FY09 budget for $170k is probably too low
g. Fuel account FY08 budget $85k will be ~$20k short. FY09 $73k budget is too low.
h. Vocational tuition & transport are best-guess at this time
i. Demolition fund: request $10k, budget 0.
j. Becket Ambulance. Moved from $120k -> $150k over past 4 years. Would like to budget $160k, but kept $155k to balance budget
k. Postage, Short-Term debt also reduced
l. Articles: New dump truck budgeted @ $100k, actually will cost $108k. Stainless steel truck body in FY08 budgeted $30, actually will cost $41k. $19k shortfall.
2. Yokun Pond Rd. bridge
Will be on ballot in May 2008. Current estimate is $230k, to be debt excluded for 1-3 yrs starting in FY2010. Work to be done in Fall 2008 if approved by voters. Money to fund repair will be borrowed; interest on debt can also be debt-excluded. Will add $.50 to tax rate if charge taken in 1 year. Approved unanimously.
3. McNerney Rd. bridge
Hope is that the State will fund this repair. Chap 90 funds not available; reserved for general repair of town roads, frost heaves, etc.
4. Highway Dept. presentation by Len Tisdale
a. Reductions: two trucks (#5, #9) to be removed from service; Maintenance is reduced
b. Will probably remove truck #10 from service. No maintenance budget. Truck is not used.
c. Bill Elovirta retired: payroll, vacation pay, etc. are reduced
d. Projection for FY10: replace Truck #7 (’84 Army pickup) used to plow village. Est $30-35k
e. Truck body: FY08 budget $30k, now costs $41k
f. Truck chassis: FY09 warrant $100k, now costs $108k. $19k shortfall may be covered by Chap 90 funds. Need to see if state will cover a portion of capital expenditure
5. Minutes of past meetings:
a. 3/6/08 Approved
b. 3/13/08 deferred till 4/3
c. 3/20/08 deferred till 4/3
6. Transfers between accounts – None
7. Free Cash Certification
a. due to two real-estate auctions, ~$180k income received in FY08 that was not budgeted.
b. Most of this income offset by tax liabilities (arrearages)
c. DOR initial estimate for free-cash certification was ~$6k
d. Actual certification $31,938 – will be used to offset Winter Roads in Special Town Meeting
8. Elected v. Appointed positions
Treasurer & Tax Collector, recommended to be appointed by DOR audit. This change will give the town more flexibility whenthe need to replace incumbents arises, to get the most-qualified candidate. Both incumbents support the proposal. The article is on the warrant. Mike checked with State ethics committee, and FinCom is allowed to take a position. We believe we should take a position in favor of the proposal, since these two positions have a big impact on town Finances.
TASK: Mike to contact Amy Carr (Berkshire Eagle) and reporter from Country Journal to setup interviews for articles to be written in the papers.
9. Future FinCom meetings:
1st Thurs of each month. April – December already scheduled. Thurs 4/10 added in case needed. Meeting will be cancelled if no business to attend to; to be decided at 4/3 meeting.
10. Audit – still on hold
11. Town Accountant.
Richard believes the issues are resolved; difficult to find another suitable person
12. Review and Vote on FY2009 Warrant
a. p1 – approved unanimously
b. p2 Highway / Cemetary - approved unanimously
c. p2 Education. Passed: 4 in favor, 1 opposed
d. p3 Protection of Persons/Property - approved unanimously
e. p3 Health/Sanitation - approved unanimously
f. p4 Unclassified - approved unanimously
g. p5 School Debt / onetime credit - approved unanimously
h. p5 Articles. #1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 approved unanimously
i. p5 Article 9: Amended @ $11,900 (remove $1200 for Berkshire South). approved unanimously. Someone from FinCom will amend this article on the floor of ATM
13. Center Pond Dam – no $ requested; no article
14. Special Town Meeting warrant
Articles #1, 2, 3, 4, 5/6 – Approved unanimously
There was no public input.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeremy Dunn
Clerk
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