2002-10-10-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Appropriation Committee Meeting Thursday, October 10, 2002-7:45 pm-Police Guard Room Present: D Brown, P Hamburger, R Pawliczek, E Michelson, S Spector, R Eurich, K Dooks, A Levine, A Nedzel, J Ryan Also Present: W Hadley, S Stolz * PAYT refund issue discussion. * P Hamburger indicated that the TMMA felt that if there were to be a refund then there should be an appropriation by Town Meeting for that purpose. * MOTION: The Appropriation Committee is not in favor of issuing refunds for the PAYT program. Approved by a majority (5-4). Those voting in favor of the motion were A Levine, D Brown, P Hamburger, R Eurich, and K Dooks. * General discussion of what should be subject to a refund if the BOS were to implement such a policy. * MOTION: Appropriation Committee recommends that if the BOS were to implement a refund policy for PAYT the citizens who purchased a barrel label for the period January to June 2001 should receive a refund equal to ½ of the cost of the six-month barrel label cost. All citizens who present for redemption unused bag stickers will be refunded the face value of the stickers presented. There should also be a specific time period in which all citizens can make application for a refund, both barrel label and tags. No refunds will be made unless requested. Majority in favor (7-2). * General discussion of the need for an appropriation for this purpose if the BOS were to approve a refund policy. * MOTION: The Appropriation Committee recommends that the BOS call for a Special Town Meeting as soon as possible in order to appropriate funds for this purpose. Unanimous. * P Hamburger discussed what took place at the TMMA Executive Board meeting on October 9, 2002. They want to wait and see what position the AC takes on the PAYT issue. The idea of seeking legislation that would exempt health care costs from Proposition 2 ½ was discussed. Nothing has been proposed or filed at this date. * Discussion of the Early Retirement Incentive legislation. Information from Buck Consultants was presented and discussed. The 15 employees who have the most creditable service are currently earning approximately $700,000. If the Town were to accept the legislation, Buck has determined that there would be an added cost to the Retirement Board of approximately $300,00 per year for seven years. If not positions were filled there would be a savings of $400,000 per year. That savings would be reduced by the amount of each position that in fact did get filled. With the looming issue in 2004 it was felt that this is an opportunity to attempt to reduce staff without layoffs. * MOTION: The Appropriation Committee will recommend that the BOS adopt the Early Retirement Incentive legislation, granting the five-year option to add to age and or creditable service. Majority approved (7-1). * Solid waste seems to be on target this year. * The landfill closure will be an agenda item at the ATM and is projected to cost between $350,000 and $500,000. * The Electric Utility Ad-Hoc Committee will seek $150,000 to study municiplaization. * AC notified that "free cash" has been certified at $2,135,507. * Liberty Ride update. Currently running at a deficit of $17,600.