Finance Committee Meeting

February 13, 2006

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

Members Present: Ruth Gilbert, Chair, Mark Leach, Robert Vetrick, Walt Winnowski, Tom Thurston, and Ginny Ross

Members Excused: Matthew Clark, Gary Delius, Ed Gage

Members Absent: Alice Foley, Sue Buerkel

Also Present: Keith Bergman, Town Manager

Meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

Town Manager reviewed February 10, 2006 memo regarding budget cutting strategy in the amount of $315,000 (does not include 2.6% increase requested by School Committee) so as to avoid a Proposition 2-1/2 override.

FY 2007 Budget Review Hearings

Division III-Public Safety Budget

220-Fire (Mike Trovato-Chief and Adam Wolf)

7.7% increase to $437,980

Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend budget of $437,980 . Ginny Ross seconded and it passed 6:0:0.

Tom Thurston was excused.

210-Police (Ted Meyer, Chief; Warren Tobias, Staff Sergeant; and Andrea Poulin, Admin. Asst.)

0.2% decrease to $1,637,838

A tentative agreement—still subject to ratification by both labor and management-- has been reached for a two-year contract which would add $96,778 to the baseline of the 210 Police budget request for FY 2007.

Options considered included filling 2 full-time vacant positions and cutting summer officers vs. leaving vacancies and hiring full compliment of summer officers. Full-time vacancies lead to mandatory overtime which affects employee morale. Civil service requirement makes it difficult to hire full-time officers.

Meeting adjourned at 12 p.m.

Meeting called to order 1 p.m.

Members Present: Ruth Gilbert, Chair, Sue Buerkel, Alice Foley, Walt Winnowski, Robert Vetrick, Mark Leach, Ginny Ross, Tom Thurston and Gary Delius

Members Excused: Matthew Clark and Ed Gage

Also Present: Keith Bergman, Town Manager

210-Police con’t

Chief stated that only having 8 summer officers means a reduction in services such as traffic control. Ruth Gilbert took a poll of member’s opinions on staff cut options. Chief’s preference is to fill 2 full-time vacancies and do with just 8 summer officers.

Walt Winnowski made a motion to recommend budget as level funded for 8 summer positions. Alice Foley seconded and it passed 6:3:0. Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend budget in hiring 1 full-time position. Gary Delius seconded and it passed 6:2:1. Tom Thurston made a motion to recommend reducing budget of $1,637,838 by $41,549 for a total of $1,596,289. Gary Delius seconded and it passed 5:4:0.

211-Police Station (Ted Meyer, Chief and Andrea Poulin-Admin. Asst.)

Formerly DPW budget, covers all expenses associated with maintaining and operating the Police Station at 26 Shankpainter Road.

Level funded at $39,200

Gary Delius made a motion to recommend budget of $39,200. Ginny Ross seconded and it passed 9:0:0.

296-Shellfish (Tony Jackett)

The Shellfish Department's primary function is to provide, protect and nourish the shellfisheries in Provincetown Harbor.

0.7% increase to $41,408

Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend budget of $41,408. Gary Delius seconded and it passed 9:0:0.

295-Harbormaster

Second year of five year contracted positions with the Pier Corporation. 1.5% increase to $137,000

Mark Leach made a motion to recommend budget of $137,000. Robert Vetrick seconded and it passed 9:0:0.

294-Harbor Committee

0.5% reduction to $1,545

Tom Thurston made a motion to recommend budget of $1,545. Ginny Ross seconded and it passed 9:0:0.

231-Ambulance Service (Keith Bergman)

$249,200 is requested for the FY 2007 annual assessment proposed by the Lower Cape Ambulance Association. This is a 15.21% increase over the FY 2006 assessment of $216,200

Provincetown and Truro contract with Lower Cape Ambulance Services. Provincetown contributes 70% and Truro contributes 30%, which is based on number of calls.

Gary Delius made a motion to recommend budget of $249,200. Tom Thurston seconded and it passed 9:0:0.

299-Parking (Ted Meyer-Police Chief, Pat Benatti and Deborah Gonsalves)

The Parking Department generated revenues totaling $1,385,553 this year, to be deposited in the Parking Fund. This includes parking permit sales, meters and lot revenues, as shown in the tables below. The Department will also collect $165,940.09 in parking fines, which is deposited in the General Fund.

2.3% reduction to $348,968.

Various options of increasing revenue were discussed.

Robert Vetrick made a motion to recommend budget of $348,968. Walt Winnowski seconded and it passed 9:0:0.

Reschedule Public Works review for Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 1-4pm.

Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Phyllis Lutsky

Phyllis Lutsky

Recording Secretary

Approved by______________________________on_______________