Finance Committee Meeting

March 22, 2006

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

 

Members Present: Ruth Gilbert, Chair, Mark Leach, Tom Thurston, Ed Gage, Walt Winnowski, Matthew Clark,

Members Excused: Alice Foley, Sue Buerkel, Robert Vetrick, and Ginny Ross

Also Present: Keith Bergman, Town Manager     

 

Meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m.

 

ATM-15  Tax Relief for Income Eligible Seniors 

Valerie Carrano from COA explained proposed changes:

-Increase exemption from $500 to $1,000.

-Increase minimum age from 65 to 70.

-No change in income

-Increase estate amount from $28,000 single/$30,000 married to $40,000                  single/$55,000 married.

Provincetown is only town on Lower Cape that has not yet adopted these proposed changes. Based on estimated calculations the net cost of these changes to town would be $26,000.

Tom Thurston made a motion to recommend. Walt Winnowski seconded and it passed 6:0:0.

 

STM-3  Land Bank-Open Space Acquisition of 74 Harry Kemp Way: $340,500 borrowing

Dennis Minsky, Celine Gandolfo and Robin Evans from Open Space Committee. Issue of access and mapping was discussed and it was decided that Open Space Committee is only responsible for purchase of land and that Conservation Committee is responsible for management and mapping, etc. Robin Evans and Dennis Minsky are also members of Conservation Committee and said that committee is functioning well and is now aware of their responsibility for this land. Ruth Gilbert questioned viability of this land as a “public park” and current condition of land. She again stated her concern about locking this property into Open Space and therefore eliminating possibility of affordable housing. Keith Bergman stated that he would require cleaning and clearing of property by Theater Company in Purchase & Sale agreement.

Matthew Clark made a motion to respectfully request, in keeping with past votes and in the spirit that public monies should be spent on public benefits, that the Conservation Committee publishes maps and access points of public properties on the town web site prior to Town Meeting. Walt Winnowski seconded and it passed 6:0:0.

 

Gary Delius arrived at 2:00 p.m.

 

ATM-32  FY 2007 Human Services Grant Program: $53,799

Jim Pipilas speaking on behalf of Human Services Committee which is responsible for making recommendations to town in the granting of funds.

Received 13 applications, all have received funds in prior years.

Mark Leach made a motion to recommend. Gary Delius seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

 

ATM-7  FY 2006 Capital Improvements Program

2. Police Fleet Replacement Program: $47,332 which would cover 2 new cruisers.

Ruth Gilbert would like to recommend only one vehicle.

Gary Delius made a motion to recommend $23,666. Tom Thurston seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

3. Parking Program: $35,200 ($10,000 for used truck and $25,200 for new computers)

Gary Delius made a motion to recommend $25,200 for new computers. Mark Leach seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

4. DPW Stormwater Master Plan Improvements: $150,000

Tom Thurston made a motion to recommend. Ed Gage seconded and it passed

7:0:0.

5. DPW Road Reconstruction Phase I: $400,000

Concern that work is still years away and current working estimate will be outdated by that time.

Mark Leach made a motion to not recommend. Matthew Clark seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

6. Water DEP Water Management Permit/New Source Development: $500,000

Tom Thurston made a motion to recommend. Gary Delius seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

 

ATM-11  Cape End Manor Transition Costs: $400,000

Matthew Clark made a motion to recommend. Mark Leach seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

 

ATM-13  Fund Collective Bargaining Agreements: $249,115 is needed to fund collective bargaining agreement with police union for retroactive pay raises for FY 2005-FY 2007.

Gary Delius made a motion to recommend. Matthew Clark seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

 

ATM -28  Nathan Freeman Building

Gary Delius made a motion to recommend. Matthew Clark seconded and it passed 7:0:0.

 

Important issues in Finance Committee Budget message to voters were discussed.

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Phyllis Lutsky

Phyllis Lutsky

Recording Secretary

 

 

Approved by_______________________________on_____________