2017-07-11-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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07/11/2017 AC Minutes; Reserve Fund Transfers: The Town appropriates money annually into a Reserve Fund, which can be used, with the approval of the Appropriation Committee, for qualifying expenses. Town staff is requesting two Reserve Fund transfers for FY2017 expenditures, leaving approximately $702,000 in the account. The final balance reverts A DPF wages Reserve Fund transfer in the amount of $56,000 is for a salary that was inadvertently left out of the budget calculations. A second transfer request, related to DPF electricity costs, on to send a $50,000 check to the Town for the excess solar panels rather than crediting the bill. The net result does not change, but the financial mechanisms used to receive the credit are being altered. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Reserve Fund transfers, as requested. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 Salary Adjustments: The Town appropriates money annually into a Salary Adjustment Account in anticipation of future salary and benefit expenses. Although these transfers are the prerogative of the Board of Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee is asked to give its approval, as a courtesy. Town staff requested four such transfers for the Public Works, Community Center, Comptroller and Town Manager departments, totaling $116,133. The latter three resulted from high-level retirements involving vacation and sick time payouts. The Salary Adjustment Account is a continuing balance account, and will have a balance of approximately $2,000,000 after the transfers are made. The DPW request resulted from higher than anticipated snow removal costs. Although FY2017 snow fall was not excessive, costs are impacted by the time of snow and ice storms. Mr. Michelson expressed his concerns about a new process that was used for selecting FY2017 contractors for snow and ice removal. Rather than hiring multiple small contractors, the Town selected one contractor who then hired sub-contractors. It appears that only a limited number of contractors were informed of this approach, there were few bids, and the costs were high. DPW staff felt that there was improved efficiency, but there were no tangible savings and some additional costs. Mr. Michelson suggested there be additional analysis and oversight to ensure the most cost-effective approach to snow and ice removal services. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Salary Adjustment requests associated with the Community Center, Comptroller and Town Manager departments. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 A motion was made and seconded to approve the Salary Adjustment request associated with the DPW. Mr. Neumeier recommended amending the motion to include a plan to send a report to the BoS describing the concerns outlined above. Mr. Michelson agreed to write such a report. A motion was made and seconded to amend the motion, as recommended. The motion passed. VOTE: 9-0 The amended motion, including the understanding that Mr. Michelson would prepare a report for the BoS describing his concerns, was made and seconded. The motion passed. VOTE: 7-1-1 End-of-Year Transfer: By statute (G.L. c. 44, § 33B), the Board of Selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee, may transfer budget allocations at the end of the fiscal year from one line-item to another line-item, provided that those funds are still 2