2010-06-30-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 30, 2010 Minutes Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee June 30, 2010 Place and time: Town Office Building, Room 111, 7:30 p.m. Members present: Alan Levine (Chair), Glenn Parker (Vice - Chair), John Bartenstein (Vice Chair and Secretary), Rick Eurich, Mollie Garberg, Susan McLeish, Joe Pato, Rob Addelson (ex officio, non - voting) Also present: Carl Valente, Denise Casey, Micah Niemy, Deborah Brown, Michael Kennealy The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. 1. Thanks to Rick Enrich. This was Rick Eurich's final meeting after more than nine years of service on the Appropriation Committee. Rick was originally appointed in 1999 to fill an uncompleted term, and then was reappointed for three successive three -year terms. The committee expressed its thanks and appreciation to Rick Eurich for his long and valued service. 2. Amendments to Open Meeting Law. Carl Valente noted that recent amendments to the Open Meeting Law would not be deferred until the fall, as had previously been anticipated but would go into effect on July 1, 2010. 3. FY2010 Year -End Transfers. Micah Niemy reviewed with the committee a number of proposed year -end transfers from the Reserve Fund (which must be approved by the Appropriation Committee) and from other accounts under the "3% rule" (which must be approved by the Appropriation Committee and the Board of Selectmen). The details are set forth in a spreadsheet that was distributed to the committee. After extensive discussion and questioning, the committee voted unanimously to: (1) approve the transfer of $334,401 from the Reserve Fund to cover Public Works expenses for snow and ice removal, spring flooding pumping expenses and unanticipated fire department apparatus and radio repairs; and (2) approve the transfer of $78,465 under the 3% rule to cover workers' compensation claims and the purchase of new communications equipment for the Fire Department. Micah also reviewed with the committee proposed transfers from the Town's salary adjustment account totaling $316,500. These adjustments, which are approved by the Board of Selectmen and do not require a committee vote, are needed primarily to fund the retroactive costs of a recent settlement with the firefighters' union and also to cover certain other overtime costs and other contractual settlements and obligations not absorbed by unused salaries from vacant positions. Rob Addelson noted in response to a question that the salary adjustment account is a continuing balance account; the balance before the transfers was approximately $1,000,000 and after the transfers will be approximately $600,000. Rob also noted that all labor contracts from 2009 and earlier have been settled, and that most contracts for 2010 and beyond remain open. -1-