Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting, Thursday February 13, 2003 Judge Welsh Meeting Room, Town Hall

The meeting was called to order by Chair Sue Buerkel at 4:07 PM

II. Members present: Chairman Sue Buerkel, Gail Enos, Alice Foley, Thomas Thurston, Virginia Ross, Ruth Gilbert Ann McGuire,Jennifer Bedard

III.Minutes from January Secretaries report read with corrections.
Motion to approve as corrected. Moved Ruth Gilbert, seconded;Thomas Thurston                  

IV.Minutes from February 11,2003 read. Corrections under New Business; Statement corrected:Alice Foley opened discussion to determine the use of $400,000.00 endowment funds from the estate of Mr. John Henry for underprivileged children of Provincetown.Attorney Roslyn Garfield clarified terms. Suggestions for use discussed; i.e. childrens room at the library to be named for Mr. John Henry,Dispersal of funds of the amount to encompass other supportive issues; Medical, Dental, Shelter, Food, Clothing, Education assistance.

 

Motion; Direct the Selectmen to distribute funds for other purposes. Moved Ruth Gilbert, seconded Ann McGuire

Alice Foley to write memo to the Selectmen

Minutes accepted as amended. Moved Ann McGuire, seconded Thomas Thurston

V. Town Manager Keith Berg man spoke on subject of School Budget for FY 04 to clarify formula

of calculations. Identifying the debt service of $

140,000.00 deleted from 2.5 budget to show actual spending increase 1.5.

Motion: Bring school budget back to the table to amend new figure $4,134,462.00 showing reduction of $140,000.00.

Moved by Ruth Gilbert,seconded Virginia Ross. Unanimous

VI. Continued Review of FY 2004 Budget and Articles General Government

113 Elections and Town Meeting

            Town Clerk Greta Holman addressed the amount of $8496.00, reflects two elections

   Motion to approve #133 as printed. Moved Ruth Gilbert, seconded Ann McGuire.
Unanimous

>   #161 Town Clerk Budget

$49,475.00 reflects 0.6 increase. Ann McGuire questioned line items. Computer services reviewed by Gary Delius.Fee structures addressed by Greta Holman; Noted working with other Cape towns.Voter registration,Property Tax , Parking fees, Meal tax, marriage intentions, fuel permits,underground commercial tanks, dog licenses, fish and wildlife licenses,room tax, short term rentais.user fees currently under review.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved Alice Foiey, seconded Ann McGuire. Unanimous

#122 Board of Selectmen

Town Manager Keith Bergman addressed increase of $300.00 .

Motion to accept as presented. Moved Ann McGuire, seconded Gail Enos. Unanimous.

 #123 Town Manager

Position of Assistant Town Manager. Not to be filled. Grant Administrator is funded throughout coming year. Special projects can be spaced out among other departments. Travel budget; cutting $2,000.00 Motion to accept as presented. Moved Gail Enos, seconded Ann McGuire.

>#151   Legal Budget

1.   Clothing Optional Beach

Town Manager Keith Bergman proposes to rescind Spaghetti Strip as legal beach. Expenditures reviewed for legal services.

Ann McGuire suggested In-House Lawyer. Discussed: Too many specialties involved; need multi faceted law office.

2.   Telecommunication sites: Central water tower, Mt. Gilboa, Pilgrim Monument, Waste water plant. Suit from Nextel discussed.

Ruth Gilbert asked about any revenue from cases settled FY02. Two identified. Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ruth Gilbert, seconded Virginia Ross.

>#156 General Government Administration

Gary Delius urged purchase of photo copier: truly needed, used by all departments. Chair Sue Buerkel questioned about leasing instead of purchase. Discussion ensued. Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ann McGuire, seconded Virginia Ross. Unanimous

> # 482 Airport Commission

Thomas Thurston recused himself: employed by Cape Air.

Airport Manager Butch Lisenby and Steve Tait addressed questions on expenditures: downturn on

passengers since 9-11 -02 and the fast ferries. Budget comparable to other small airports.
Motion to accept as presented. Moved:Ruth Gilbert, seconded Ann McGuire. Unanimous.

>#

Motion to accept as presented items:#171Conservation Commission, #173 Housing Partnership, #174 LCP, #175 Planning Board, #176 Zoning Board of Appeals, #179 Historical Committee. Moved:Ruth Gilbert,seconded Virginia Ross . Unanimous.

> #499 Cable Advisory

Addressed by Town Manager Keith Bergman and Gary Deluis.

New Cable Contract: new revenue coming in: Goal and Functions - professional services. One year lease at Whalers Wharf (2nd floor) through January 2004. Other town space discussed. Determined this is most cost effective for short term.

Recommended to look for dedicated space within town owned building.

Motion to table. Moved Ann McGuire,seconded Gail Enos. Reschedule meeting with chairman.

> #136 Vender performance regulations

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ann McGuire, seconded Thomas Thurston.    Unanimous

> #131 Finance Committee

Reserve Fund addressed. Total not spent.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ruth Gilbert, seconded Gail Enos. Unanimous.

>#136 Division II Finance: Information Systems

Computers, Internet services, remote retrieval, security, information recourse discussed.

Remote units in police cars: cell phones. Discussion on hand held computers: Service not available in our area yet. Barnstable County mandates all Fire Chiefs be issued 17 article of equipment. Continuing program under one capital technology including more software and license to be maintained by one department.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved:

> #135 Town Accountant: Bruce Miller

Addressed additional expenditures: staff paid overtime. Input data entry for receivables. One year expenses.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ruth Gilbert, seconded Ann McGuire. Unanimous.

>141 Board of Assessors

Bruce Miller stated they are level funded. Valuations up 17 - 20%.Plan to update assessors website with GIS capability.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Alice Foley, seconded Virginia Ross. Unanimous

>145 Treasurer Collector: Jon Fitzgerald

Spoke on increase in Professional collectors fee; contractual services.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ruth Gilbert, seconded Alice Foley. Unanimous

>#710 Debt Service

15% decrease. Summarized $1,480,133.00. Short term borrowing.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Virginia Ross, seconded Gail Enos. Unanimous

> #820 Tax Title

Addressed by Jon Fitzgerald; uncertain number of foreclosures: fees.

 

Motion to accept as presented. Moved:Thomas Thurston, seconded Gail Enos. Unanimous.

> #910 Retirement, Benefits, Insurance

Group Health $3,780,629.00; increase of 18%.

Motion to accept as presented. Moved: Ruth Gilbert, seconded Thomas Thurston. Unanimous

>         Motion to adjourn. 7:20PM. Moved: Ruth Gilbert,seconded Virginia Ross.