HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-05-AC-MIN.pdf APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1995
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, 7:30 PM
Present: P Lapointe, C Coughlin, M Miley, J Pagett, R Borghesani, L Peck, M Mairson,
R Neumeier, R Leone, J Ryan
* MOTION to accept minutes of December 14, 1994 as amended, UNANIMOUS
* Next meeting will be joint meeting with BOS, SC, CEC on January 9, 1995
* Next regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 1995
* P Lapointe will attempt to have Dr. Young and a representative of the SC attend the
meeting on January 19th.
All AC questions should be done in advance through C Coughlin
* P Lapointe discussed the breakfast meeting held on December 23, 1994. It was attended
by a representative from each major board as well as R Caldwell from TMMA
* TMMA has sent a letter to BOS expressing disappointment in their feeling that the BOS
has not fulfilled its charge under Article 31. TMMA apparently feels that more
information could be made available now without anyone committing themselves
* Town Manager's budget message apparently answered some questions
* P Lapointe and C Coughlin discussed their meeting with J Young and J Dini held on
January 5, 1995. Discussed were Article 31, technology plan, middle school bulge and
special education. Items driving special education are tutors (under funded), transfer of
costs from consultants to employees, early childhood (pre-school) and migration.
* School department appears to be reluctant to look at special education in a similar
fashion as the method used to help solve the health insurance issue
* The cost of health insurance for tutors has not been factored into the school budget
for Fy 95 or Fy 96
* School request for Fy 96 lists special education costs on pages 7 & 8. Page 32 of the
Superintendent's request indicates special education costs to be in the area of$ 6,000,000
* P Lombard is scheduled to discuss special education at the School Committee meeting
on Tuesday, January 10, 1995
* R Leone discussed special education. Why does Lexington have 16-18% of student
population in special education when Andover is at 11% ? What is the cost as adjusted
per student. General discussion on special education followed. Many questions and few
answers
* R Leone led discussion on the Principles adopted by the AC. The principles are to be
the criteria upon which appropriation requests are to be evaluated. They are not intended
to be a forum for second guessing and are not to be used to express a political
philosophy on a particular issue. The seven (7) criteria or goals were cribbed from
Harvard University. The principles were well received by the AC and members expressed
feeling that the final version was well done
* AC should test the principles with the technology request
* J Pagett felt that negativism should be eliminated and revise the principles into a more
positive statement
* General discussion of possible warrant articles:
A. Financial principles
B. Policy on "free cash", stabilization and reserve funds
C. Waste management enterprise fund
D. Town-wide compensation policy
E. Override/debt exclusion for long-term capital needs
* General discussion of Article 31 of 1994 and ramifications in the future. The article only
appears to address the preparation of the Fiscal 1996 budget. Perhaps the TMMA should
be given our article position if they wish to bring up the continuation of the intent of
Article 31
* general discussion centered around the timing for the "public meetings" to be held by
both the AC and CEC. Should they be held jointly or separately? P Lapointe to discuss
with N Cannalonga
* Motion to adjourn
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