Finance Committee Meeting

Monday, March 14, 2005

Judge Welsh Hearing Room, Town Hall, Provincetown, MA 02657

Members Present: Ruth Gilbert, Sue Buerkel, Ed Gage, Robert Vetrick, Gary Delius, Ginny Ross and Matthew Clark

Members Excused: Gail Enos, Walt Winnowski, Mark Leach,Tom Thurston

Also Present: Michelle Jarusiewicz, Acting Asst. Town Manager

Meeting was called to order at 1:35 p.m.

Visitors Services Board (Steve Melamed, Chair, Lynne Davies, Pat Fitzpatrick, Tourism Director)

ATM-32 Expenditures from Tourism Fund $406,073

Ginny Ross questioned why VSB is not paying for Fourth of July fireworks, which evolved into a general discussion on VSB mandate, duplication of efforts, etc.

Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend. Matthew Clark seconded and it passed 5:2:0. (??????who is speaking???)

The Committee, not being sure if having recommended ATM-32 it also needed to vote on the Tourism budget decided to do so just in case.

699-Tourism

Robert Vetrick made a motion to approve budget of $406,073. Matthew Clark seconded and it passed 5:2:0.

ATM-30 Fourth of July Fireworks $23,000

Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend. Gary Delius seconded and it failed 3:4:0. Ginny Ross made a motion to recommend with the following amendment that town vote to transfer from available VSB funds the sum of $23,000 to be expended under the direction of the Director of Public Works for the Fourth of July fireworks display; and costs associated therewith, or to take any other action relative thereto. Gary Delius seconded. After discussion Ginny Ross withdrew her motion as FinCom members felt that they needed to clarify the actual cost of the fireworks with the Town Manager before making a recommendation.

ATM-31 Reconstitute Visitor Services Board as Council on Tourism and Economic Development

Matthew Clark made a motion to not recommend based on the fact that doing so would be premature in the absence of a clear economic development plan and questionable given that the VSB needs to put its full attention on reversing the declining tourism trend of the last years. Ed Gage seconded and it passed 7:0:0. (Matthew Clark)

ATM-28 Human Services Grant Program (Terry Nezbeth)

Gary Delius recused himself as he is on the board of Outer Cape Health Services.

The Human Services Committee’s recommendation for FY 2006 grant funding to nonprofit organizations and agencies serving Provincetown totals $53,674, an increase of $1,930 over the FY 2005 funding level.

Aids Support Group of Cape Cod

FY 2006 Request: $7,000 Award: $7,000

Cape Cod Children’s Place

FY 2006 Request: $3,375 Award: $3,375

Consumer Assistance Council

FY 2006 Request: $250 Award: $250

Gosnold

FY 2006 Request: $14,000 Award: $13,000

Helping Our Women (HOW)

FY 2006 Request: $6,000 Award: $6,000

Independence House

FY 2006 Request: $4,700 Award: $3,800

Interfaith Council for the Homeless

FY 2006 Request: $2,649 Award: $2,649

Legal Services for Cape Cod & Islands

FY 2006 Request: $4,400 Award: $4,300

Lower Cape Outreach Council, Inc.

FY 2006 Request: $5,000 Award: $4,000

Mass-A-Peal

FY 2006 Request: $400 Award: $400

Outer Cape Health Services

FY 2006 Request: $25,000 Award: $5,500

Sight Loss Services, Inc.

FY 2006 Request: $400 Award: $400

Soup Kitchen in Provincetown (SKIP)

FY 2006 Request: $4,000 Award: $3,000

TOTAL AWARDS $53,674

Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend. Ginny Ross seconded and it passed 6:0:0.

Gary Delius returned to meeting.

Gary Delius made a motion to approve minutes from March 11, 2005. Robert Vetrick seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

Discussion on FinCom’s message to Town Meeting ensued.

Robert Vetrick made a motion to adjourn. Matthew Clark seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Phyllis Lutsky

Phyllis Lutsky

Recording Secretary