Town of Becket Finance Committee
May 1, 2008 Minutes
Present: Mike Falk, Ann Spadafora, Jeremy Dunn, Amy Fyden
Absent: Steve LaBelle
Also Present: Richard Furlong
The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm.
1. Approval of 4/3/08 minutes, with some corrections.
2. Transfers from Reserve Fund
Reserve Fund balance is presently $9426.96. The following transfers were unanimously approved:
a. $1000. to Liability Insurance. An item is on the Special Town Meeting warrant to spend $8000. This is due to an unforeseen bill, and bond payments that are due. Current Liability Ins. Acct balance ($7516.50)
b. $1300. to Ambulance expense, should close out the year. Current balance ($318.55)
c. $700 to Zoning Board of Appeals Expense. To close out year. Current balance ($166.26)
Reserve fund will have $6426.96 remaining after these transfers
3. Review letters sent to two newspapers and town website, re Appointed v. Elected positions
4. Audit update / Town Accountant
The Accountant is now actively working with the Auditor. Auditor will not be onsite until all materials are ready. This is a fixed-price audit, so no additional costs due to the delay. Richard is actively working to improve the situation with the town accountant.
5. Wahconah High School capital cost
Mike took 1.5 hr tour of Wahconah, and found “shocking” conditions. For example, the Chemistry laboratory is non-operational. Even the best students cannot take AP Chemistry. The school was built in 1961; there is quite a bit of deferred maintenance.
The original proposal was a $5M bond, which the school board rejected. New proposal is just to cover repairs. The proposal is on the ATM warrant. Mike will present at ATM.
Estimated impact of the proposal on Becket tax rate is $.03/$1000 for the first year of a 20-year bond, starting in FY2010. Amount should reduce as bond principal is paid off.
(Approved: See #6 below)
6. Warrant review
Line 41 – Voc Tuition – probably underfunded by 1 student ($13,000). Students not yet accepted to voc. School. Will transfer $ later in year if necessary
Line 50 – Fire Call Stipend. $6,600 is an error. Should be $11,000. Richard F will amend at ATM
Line 53 – Demolition. Funding is inadequate. Town needs funds for demolition of four properties recently acquired through addressStreetLand Court. Select board will make transfers at end of the year, probably from Transfer Station Acct which has some excess
Article 6 – Wahconah HS Bond. Unanimously approved to Recommend
Article 7 – Yokum Pond Rd bridge repair. $250k. $.25/$1000/year for 2 years.
Unanimously approved to recommend
Article 10 – needs to be amended on the floor of ATM.
Total amount reduced to $11,900
Change Town Hall repairs to Fire Station Generator (new, pressing need)
Change wording on Weed treatment
Eliminate S. Berkshire community center
7. McNerney Rd. bridge
Mass Highway is scheduled to attend the Select Board meeting, to make a presentation. Not known what they will say at this time.
8. Becket Ambulance – possibility of grants for equipment?
Jim Kupernik says we may need a new ambulance in FY2010. Grants are not open ; period (March-April) has passed. May not be worth preparing now, for next year.
Madeleine Elovirta wrote grant for fire truck, which was awarded. Worth asking her if she’d help with possible Ambulance grant proposal.
9. ATM Comments – draft
Very good draft by Mike. The comments related to Highway / Police facility may or may not be included, depending on outcome of meeting (see #10 below)
10. Highway / Police facility
Richard communicated to architects that the proposal was unsatisfactory. Committee meeting 5/5/08 with the Architects to discuss next steps.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeremy Dunn
Clerk
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