TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH FINANCE COMMITTEE

MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008, 5:00 PM

JUDGE WELSH HEARING ROOM

Chairman MaryJo Avellar opened the joint public hearing with the Finance Committee to discuss the proposed FY2009 Operating Budget at 5:00 PM.

Noting the following Board of Selectmen attendees: Mary Jo Avellar, Michelle Couture, Lynn Davies, and Austin Knight.

Noting the following Finance Committee attendees: David Bedard, Frederic Biddle, Thomas Thurston, Walt Winnowski, Thomas Coen, Robert Vetrick, Gary Delius, Edward Gage, Philip Gaudiano. Excused Absence: Ruth Gilbert, Virgina Ross

Other attendees: Town Manager Sharon Lynn, Municipal Finance Director Alexandra Heilala

Recorder: David Gardner, Assistant Town Manager

Joint Meeting with Finance Committee.

MaryJo Avellar and FINCOM went through the Operating Budget identifying concurrence and differences with each budget item recommendation.

The BoS and Fincom are in agreement with the Division I budget as presented.

Public comments: Astrid Berg.

The BoS and Fincom are in agreement with the Division II budget as presented.

Public comments: Astrid Berg seeks clarification on the following budget: Town Managers budget and identifies a typo in the FY2007 budget.

Barbara Rushmore comments on debt service increase over FY2008, and inquires as to whether our borrowing include fixed interest rates. Would like the Town to look into refinancing and how the creation of a reserve fund would impact our bond rating. Also would like the Board of Selectmen and Fincom to provide more direction on how the Town can increase its revenues, its not enough to just cut services and employees.

Carrie Patterson questions the need for the Fincom reserve fund. Seeks clarification on the following budgets: on the Assessor’s Office and Debt Service.

Marcene Marcoux questions whether the budget includes any retro active raises for town employees.

The BoS and Fincom are in agreement with the Division III budget as presented.

Carrie Patterson seeks clarification on the following budgets: summer police officers, ambulance service costs, Community Development, Harbormaster, Parking budget.

Astrid Berg seeks clarification on the following budgets: the Inspection Services, Community Development, Parking Department

The BoS and Fincom are in agreement with the Division IV budget as presented.

Clarence Walker seeks clarification on the sewer betterments for Town Owned buildings. Town should carry full cost of the debt for the betterment for Seashore Park development not the amount minus a grant not yet received.

David Guertin responded to the issue and recalled that Mark Abrahams made the recommendation to account for the probably grant to both the Fincom and the BoS. The DOR will be asked if this is an appropriate accounting practice.

Carrie Patterson questions the betterment cost of $816,700 dollars to the Seashore Park. Seeks clarification on the following budgets: DPW administration, Highway, Snow removal, Solid Waste recycling, Waste disposal.

David Guertin explained the sewer betterment charges.

Astrid Berg seeks clarification on the following budgets: Building and Grounds.

Marcene Marcoux feels we should try to renegotiate the Seashore Point betterment question. Of all the review, the Fincom and the BoS could not find $153,000.

Rick Murray seeks clarification on the override requests.

The BoS and Fincom are in agreement with the Division V budget as presented.

Clarence Walker questions the former expense of the Seashore Point.

Carrie Patterson seeks clarification on the following budgets: Council on Aging, Veterans Services, Public Service Administration.

The BoS and Fincom are in agreement with the Division VI budget as presented.

Carrie Patterson questions the number of students and the cost of students for the Provincetown School system, Cape Cod Tech.

Barbara Rushmore comments on the quality and importance of the school system in Provincetown.