TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Joint Meeting with the Finance Committee

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2008, 10:00 am

JUDGE WELSH HEARING ROOM

Vice Chairman Michele Couture convened the meeting at 10:00 am noting the following Board of Selectmen attending: Michele Couture, Austin Knight, and Lynne Davies

Other attendees: Town Manager Sharon Lynn, Asst. Town Manager David Gardner, Municipal Finance Director Alix Heilala, DPW Director David Guertin.

Fincom members in attendance: Chair Gary Delius, Vice Chair Ruth Gilbert, Robert Vetrick, Virginia Ross, Thomas Thurston, Walt Winnowski, Edward Gage (joined at 12:57), Thomas Coen, David Bedard, Alice Foley, Alternate, Frederic Biddle, Alternate

The following are meeting minutes, in brief:

Presentations by Mark Abrahams, Consultant, on the audit of the Waste Water Enterprise Fund and the School budget requirements from DOE.

FY09 Schools Spending Requirements from DOE

Mr. Abrahams presented the FY09 Required Net School Spending (RNSS) for Provincetown as calculated by the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE). Key points raised during the presentation are as follows:

· The DOE changed the formula for calculating RNSS in FY06 resulting in a dramatic drop in Provincetown’s RNSS.

· Provincetown’s actual school spending is 109% of the State requirement; statewide, the average is 14% above.

Lengthy discussion ensued about possible ways to close the multi-million dollar gap between the State’s RNSS and our actual spending. No firm conclusions were reached.

The joint meeting adjourned at 11:50 am.

The Fincom meeting reconvened at 12:57 pm without a Board of Selectmen quorum.

Minutes by Thomas Coen, Finance Committee

Submitted for approval to Board of Selectmen by Vernon Porter

May 5, 2008