March 26, 2004
8:00 A.M.
The
meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m.
School Budget:
The
first item on the agenda was a revisit to the school budget which as proposed
contains an increase of approximately $77,000.
The three people in attendance from the School Committee were Therese
Nelson, Debra Trovato, and Dr. Frank Wills. The members of the School Committee
defended their budget by saying they had gone line by line and they saw no
other cuts possible. They also reported
that they had just lost an arbitration decision the prior week that raised the
cost of one of their out-of-district student placements by approximately
$50,000.
Robert
Vetrick said that the Finance Committee has been very strict about cutting
people and preventing computer upgrades thus if the FinCom were to endorse the
School Department budget, it would be a total insult to the people who have
suffered job losses, etc. Dr. Vetrick
also stated that every time a cut in the School Budget is suggested by the
FinCom, then people are told that this means that sports and academic programs
would suffer (never administration cuts).
The
Finance Committee wondered about possible cuts being made in
administration? Ms. Nelson said that
decisions in that regard haven’t been made as yet.
Motion: Matthew Clark made a motion to recommend the School Budget of $4,185,330.41 (eliminating the $27K increase left over after the $50,000 arbitration decision). Ann Maguire seconded the motion and it passed 7-0-1 opposed (Vetrick).
The
discussion then shifted to the $495K proposal for capital improvements to the
theatre and the gym. In response to a
question in the last meeting, the School Committee thought they could probably
get most and probably all of the improvements to the gym done for $250,000, but
felt that they might not have enough for the floor. Robert Vetrick indicated that the floor would likely have to be
done based on damage it will sustain from the scaffolding required to repair
the ceiling.
Motion: Tom Thurston made a motion to recommend
$250K of the $495K request to finish up the gym of the high school. Ann Maguire seconded the motion and it
passed 9-0-0.
Ruth Gilbert received a call from Hunter O’Hanian and Marian Roth asked the Finance Committee to reconsider their budget.
Motion: Ann Maguire made a motion to reconsider the budget, Robert Vetrick seconded it and it was approved unanimously.
Cherie
Mittenthal, the Chair of the Cultural Council, along with another member
presented their future plans to the FinCom.
They receive $2K annually from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and
would like a budget of $2,500 from the Town.
They plan on having a “poet laureate” appointed for the Town and would
like the poet to open Town Meetings.
They anticipate asking Stanley Kunitz.
The poet would receive a stipend/honorarium of $2K and the remaining
$500 would go for administrative needs i.e., secretary, mailings, and stamps.
Motion: Robert Vetrick made a motion to approve Budget 673 as presented; Ann Maguire seconded the motion and it was approved 8-0-0.
Motion: Matthew Clark made a motion to approve ATM Article 29, without money, with the proviso that the subject be incorporated into the Phase II Wastewater study funded in Article 4-Subpart 7. Tom Thurston seconded the motion and it passed 8-0-0.
David Eliseo presented his proposed budget to the FinCom. He fielded a few questions regarding the John Henry Trust as it referred to Cape Cod Children’s Place. David was also asked about Sight Loss Services, Inc. and if it related to the Lions organization. There was not an answer for that question.
Motion: Robert Vetrick made a motion to accept the budget as proposed, (Ann added that Children’s Place should include a Provincetown person on its Board) Tom Thurston seconded the entire motion and it was approved 8-0-0.
Robin
Evans and Celine Gandolfo presented their plans to the FinComm.
Article 17 – Land Bank Pre-acquisition Expenses– $25K
Motion: Robert Vetrick made a motion to approve the
expense, Ann Maguire seconded the motion and the vote was 7-0-1 abstention (Tom
Thurston)
This property abuts Crowley’s Pond and contains approximately 2.9 acres BUT it has a title problem. It was suggested that the property could be taken by “friendly” eminent domain for $125K. The title then would automatically be cleared.
Motion: Matthew Clark made a motion to approve Article 18.
A
discussion on the motion then began.
Dr. Vetrick said that he felt all of the acquisitions of Open Space have
been in the east end (Keith Bergman cited the purchase near Shankpainter Pond
as a location for the west end). Robert
further said he would prefer little pocket parks throughout the Town taking
advantage of the few open spaces left.
Robert also felt that – thus far – none of the acquired open spaces have
been made “user friendly” i.e., lack of signage, paths, etc
Motion (continued) Ann 2nd
the approval of Article 18. The vote
was 4 in favor – 3 opposed – 1 abstention. (Ruth Gilbert)
Motion: Ann Maguire made a motion to instruct the
Land Bank to make the lands they own “user friendly” BEFORE making any other purchases. Tom Thurston seconded the motion and it
carried 8-0-0.
The Land Bank proposes to acquire this property for over three times its assessed value. After a bit of discussion on the pros and cons of acquiring this property and the owners need to sell it, the following motion was put forward:
Motion: Tom Thurston made a motion to NOT recommend the purchase. Robert Vetrick seconded the motion and the vote was 5 in favor , 0 opposed, and 3 abstaining (Sue, Ruth, and Matthew).
(Robert
will speak on 17 – Tom will speak on 19 – Matthew on 18. Tom will address the school’s capital
improvements and Ann will support the Cultural Council.)
Article 1 – Special Town
Meeting
Margaret
Bergman and Patrick Manning, members of the Affordable Housing Task Force,
addressed the Finance Committee regarding
STM Article 1. Patrick said they
were looking at the cash that CPA offers because we have a major crunch in
affordable housing. The state is
matching CPA funds. He also added that
the whole community gets to say what the money is spent on.
Keith
Bergman then joined in his support for CPA saying it could be used to revamp
and repair the Town Hall. He further
said that the Cape End Manor care campus plans need approximately $1.5M to make
the deal palatable for attracting a group to run it. Ruth Gilbert asked if we are offering the proposed group coming
in CPA funds? Keith countered that the
CPA would only mean $59 for the average house and he further said that people
were amazed that this would be the only increase.
Margaret
Bergman said this has been under discussion for nearly a year and it does
represent the community at large. She
also noted that it won’t pass unless it has a strong support.
Mark
Leach noted that CPA has become a hot button topic along with CEM. People who spoke to him felt they are not
being given all the information related to CPA. No one who spoke with him had signed the petition to get the
surcharge question on the ballot – They had no idea there was a 3%
surcharge. Looking at the article in
the warrant by itself, it appears to be setting up a committee only. The surcharge should be part of the overall
presentation regarding CPA. There is no
overall understanding on what the CPA funds are intended to be used for and
people do not want more money going into a big black hole.
Then
there was a hasty reference to the 11 acres the state wanted to deed to
Provincetown that we turned down.
Supposedly only two people wanted it developed as affordable
housing. Ann M. referred to the whole
matter as a “red herring.”
The
premise discussed was that if you don’t vote for CPA then that means you’re
against affordable housing; the group denied this. They are all in favor of affordable housing but Robert Vetrick
sees it as the buzz word where everything becomes passable if that terminology
is used.
Sue
Buerkel commented that since the CPA is being proposed as a funding
mechanism/solution for affordable housing, then more than 10% of CPA funds as
currently proposed should be allocated to that. The Town Manager agreed and told the Committee that such a
question had been asked of the State.
It has not yet been determined if this can be done. Mr. Bergman was also asked if these funds
could be applied to projects such as the Library. His answer was, “probably.”
Matthew
Clark said there are millions of good things that the CPA could be used for but
there is no deadline for this action.
He said it probably should be done at some point, possibly as soon as a
Special Town Meeting this Fall, but he cannot recommend it now. The Town needs to take some affirmative
steps to address its current fiscal crisis before asking the taxpayers to pay a
new special purpose tax. We would love
to support this but let’s decide what to do with the CEM first. The Town is full of good ideas but what we
haven’t seen is prioritization largely because there has been no real
leadership from the BoS or the Town Manager.
The CPA is a laudable goal, but we can’t do everything at once.
Ann
Maguire said that because we ask questions about the CPA – it doesn’t mean that
we’re against affordable housing. Last
year there was a proposal to raise money for affordable housing but no plan in
place. If you can tell us what your
priorities are for the next year it would be helpful. Patrick is making plans and was asked, “If there were moneys raised by the CPA – how would you get your
list of occupants? On the point system
based on years on being residents? The
144 units you were going to have – does this bring us over 10% - are any
dollars going to be targeted to 40B?
Are you going to prioritize units i.e. rentals?” Ann continued,
“Do
you have any thoughts of elderly who are in need?”
After
a bit more discussion it was decided to table the issue until a future meeting
which was scheduled for March 30th at 8:00 a.m.
Motion: Sue Buerkel made a motion to table STM
Article 1 (CPA) until the March 30th meeting because at that time
the BoS may have made a decision on the Cape End Manor (CEM). The motion was seconded and unanimously
approved. 8-0-0
Mark
Leach left………
The
Committee then began reading over the Town Warrant once again with the
following findings:
Special
Town Meeting
Article
1 – tabled
Article
4 - done
Article
5 – Mark will handle
Article
6 – Ann will address
Article
7 – Tom, Gail, and Sue
Article
8 – Gail handling
Article
9 – Deferral of water charges for low income elderly
Motion: Robert Vetrick made a motion to approve; Matthew Clark seconded the motion and it was approved 7-0-0.
Article
10 – Water Enterprise Fund
Motion: Robert Vetrick moved to approve, Gail Enos seconded the vote was 7-0-0.
Article
11 – Wastewater Enterprise Fund
Motion: Robert Vetrick made a motion to approve, Ann
Maguire seconded and the group voted 7-0-0.
Article
12 – Budget Adjustments
Motion: Matthew Clark moved to recommend; Gail
seconded the motion and it passed 7-0-0.
(Ruth
will defend and KAB will write the script.)
Article
13 – Fund Collective Bargaining Agreements
Motion: Robert Vetrick moved to approve; Ann Maguire
seconded and the vote was 7-0-0.
Article
14 – Use of Parking Fund ……..
Motion: Sue Buerkel moved to approve; Robert Vetrick
seconded and the vote was 7-0-0.
Article
15 – on hold until Tuesday
Article
16 – Road and Sidewalk Repairs
Motion: Ann Maguire made a motion to accept; Matthew
Clark seconded it and the vote was 7-0-0.
(Ann
will speak on it.)
Article
17, 18, and 19 – done
Article
20 – Meals tax
Motion: Robert Vetrick made a motion to reserve recommendation; Sue Buerkel seconded the motion and the vote was 6-in favor, 1 opposed (TT), and no abstentions.
Article 21 – Expanding
Local Room Tax
Motion: Robert Vetrick moved to approve; Sue Buerkel seconded and the vote was 6 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention (AM).
Article
22 – no concern
Article
23 – Home Rule – Assessors
Motion: Tom Thurston moved to accept; Matthew Clark seconded the motion. Voted: 6 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention (SB).
ATM
Article 2 – Operating Budget
The
group decided to reduce the group health line to $4,304,728 – a reduction of
$148,911.
STM
– Article 24 – Pier Corporation
Mr.
Bergman told the group that there had been recent, excellent discussions
between Pier Corp & ProFish.)
ATM
Articles 5 and 6
Keith
Bergman will introduce these two articles.
Ruth
Gilbert asked all the members to look over the warrant and anything they deem
important will be discussed at their next meeting on Tuesday.
The
meeting adjourned at 1:12 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Evelyn
Rogers Gaudiano
Approved by ____________________________on
______________, 2004
Ruth Gilbert