TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN ‑ BOARD OF SELECTMEN

 

SPECIAL MEETING - MONDAY – NOVEMBER 20, 2007

 

 

JUDGE WELSH HEARING ROOM

 

 

Chairman Mary-Jo Avellar opened the meeting at 5:00 PM, noting the following attendees: Board of Selectmen members: Mary-Jo Avellar, Michele Couture, Austin Knight, Pam Parmakian, and Lynne Davies

 

Other Attendees: Town Manager Sharon Lynn, Asst. Town Manager David Gardner, Town Accountant Alix Heilala  

 

 

Recorder: Vernon G. Porter, Secretary to the Board of Selectmen

 

The following are minutes, in brief.

 

1.         Town Meeting Update - Options

 

Town Manager Sharon Lynn - $69,689.80 is needed to balance the budget.  This includes the Union Contracts that were negotiated after the budget was adopted for this year. 

 

A seven (7) page handout listing two different scenarios was distributed for discussion. (See Attachment #1)

 

Open discussion ensued.

 

Lynne Davies – Willing to drive every day to and from MMA Convention in January to save money.

 

Michele CoutureThese are not isolated incidences. Town meeting overwhelmingly voted to spend money on Firehouse #2. Where is that money to staff bathroom going to come from?  We are going to have to make some hard decisions in the coming future, and people have to know what the consequences are if they do not pass overrides. 

 

Sharon Lynn – We are not the only City or Town going through this.  They are costs that are going to continue. 

 

Mary-Jo Avellar – They are State mandated.   People need to get over blaming others.  

 

Austin Knight - Would like to see the figures as to what it cost to run the transfer station,   Ambulance and Emergency services – many people have not paid their bills and we may need to take a look at this. 

 

Pier Corp question by Michele Couture, therefore Mary-Jo Avellar recused herself and left the room as her husband works for the Provincetown Public Pier Corporation.

Question – the Pier Corp said they would be willing to give a payment shortly.  Have we received the Embarkation Fees, and will this help with this shortfall?  Answer:  Alix Heilala  No.  That money is put in to a reserve account and it can be used for FY 2009.

 

Mary-Jo Avellar - Delay Police Chief search.   Need to talk about it in greater detail. 

 

Michele Couture – Need to have more Public Forums.

 

MOTION:  Move that the Board of Selectmen vote to have Public Forum on Monday, December 17, 2007 @ 6 PM.

 

Motion by:  Michele Couture          Seconded by: Pam Parmakian             Yea  5    Nay  0

 

Motion to adjourn by Michele Couture at 6:13 PM.

 

Minutes transcribed by:  Vernon Porter, Secretary

     November 20, 2007