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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1996
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE 6:00 PM
Present: P Lapointe, M Miley, M Mairson, J Pagett, R Borghesani, R Colwell, J Ryan
Absent: R Leone, M Hastings, L Peck
* P Lapointe distributed a draft of the AC Report to Town Meeting
* M Miley informed the AC that she attended a meeting on Friday, March 29th with K
Dooks, R White, J Young, L McSweeney, and J Dini and indicated that nothing was
resolved. J Young and R White are scheduled to meet again on Monday, April 1st.
* P Lapointe will attend a meeting on Wednesday, April 3rd at 7:30 am with the group
that normally gets together on Thursdays in an attempt to resolve the budget issues.
* P Lapointe stated that the AC will make a report to Town Meeting on April 22nd(20
mins) and that J Young was going to give an overview on April 8th.
* The 3 for 1 issue was discussed by J Pagett. The issue is extremely complex as to which
teachers fall where in the salary schedule. The agreement was not made for cost
effectiveness. The SC is concerned that they have not been able to hire the teachers they
would like and have not been able to attract minorities. Most of the calculations are
being supplied by P Crosby, President of the LEA union. It appears to be "done deal".
J Pagett and R Borghesani support the request. Concern expressed that S Guryan has
not verified the possible costs associated with the agreement.
* P Lapointe expressed concern that the employees affected by this agreement signed
contracts fully aware of the salary schedule and the need to retroactively adjust their pay.
* P Lapointe posed the question, Does the AC wish to make a dollar cut proposal in order
to close the gap?
* M Miley stated that the class size issue was brought up last Friday but appeared to go
nowhere.
* R Borghesani stated that he thought the technology costs estimates were understated and
that the actual costs will be greater than projected. The SC also needs to show how it
intends to manage the technology costs.
* P Lapointe discussed the increase in the Town budget request, 4% and the School
Dept. increase of 7.9%. If the cost associated with increased enrollment was deducted
from the increase there would still be a 5.1% increase in the School Dept. request.
Should the AC recommend that the school request be reduced to reflect a 4% increase,
or a $ 410,000 decrease.
* AC need to attempt to show leadership in controlling expenses.
* R Colwell discussed the possibility of a real estate transfer tax dedicated to support
schools in an attempt to help deal with rising enrollments.
* P Lapointe brought up the following for discussion in an attempt to resolve the gap
problem:
Bond the pumper
Split the snow deficit between fy 96 and fy 97
§x§
Defer the 3 for 1 in some fashion
cuts or fixed dollar cuts on the town and school side
Move some of the school technology from operating to capital ( pg 45)
Insist that the "educational focus" produce an equal amount of savings
Technology
* MOTION: Appropriate $ 300,000 from free cash to Snow & Ice Appropriation in fy 96
and carry the remainder of the deficit forward to fy 97. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: To reconsider the vote of March 14th to bond the purchase of the pumper.
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: to defer the purchase of the pumper one (1) year. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: To approve $ 162,000 for the 3 for 1 program and defer the balance.
* MOTION PASSED: 5 yes, 1 no (JP)
* MOTION: To transfer $ 100,000 of school hardware costs from the operating budget to
the capital request under Article 21. UNANIMOUS
* Discussion of the education focus component of the school request. Schools should
establish guidelines that all increases in costs be offset with savings in other areas and the
the program costs be expense neutral.
* MOTION: The $ 90,000 request for technical aides be offset with a similar amount of
operating budget cuts. PASSED 3 yes, 2 no( JP, Mairson), 1 abstain((RC).
* MOTION: Reduce Town request by $ 250,000.UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Reduce the school request by 1% or $ 402,000. AMENDED: Reduce the
school request by $ 250,000.PASSED 4 yes, 2 no (PL, M Miley)
* MOTION: Article 5 approved as adjusted to reflect snow & ice. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 6 approved at zero. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 7 approved at zero. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 8 Water Main Cleaning approved at $ 280,000. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 9 Sanitary Sewers approved at $ 560,000.UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 10 Previous vote reconsidered and approve at $ 400,000.
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 11 Public Works Equipment approved at $ 142,000.Purchase the gang
mower do not enter a lease agreement. PASSED 5 yes, 1 no (RB)
* MOTION: Article 12 Town Building Envelope approve at $ 160,000. Repairs the roof
at Fire Hdqtrs., Visitors Center, Basement of Fire Hdqtrs and the boiler.
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 13 Inflow & Infiltration Program approved at $ 600,000.
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 14 Library renovations approved at $ 7,700,000.UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 15 Minuteman Library Network approved at $ 68,000.UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 16 Senior Center Air Quality approved at $ 60,000. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 17 Fire Engine Purchase deferred for one year. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 18 Fire Equipment approved at $ 60,000.UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 19 Pine Meadow Golf Course improvements approved at $ 150,000.
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 20 Playground & ball field improvements approved at $ 50,000.
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 22 Land acquisition hold pending being presented with a cost.
EE
UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 23 Buckman tavern repairs approve at $ 20,000 with a request that the
Historical Commission provide a five year capital plan. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 24 Land acquisition Augusta property hold pending being presented
with a cost estimate. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 25 Land purchase Winning Farm hold pending being give a cost
estimate. UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 26 Notice of Intent Fees approved at $ 4,662.UNANIMOUS
* MOTION: Article 36 Quinn bill acceptance. Discussion on the costs associated with
increasing the base pay by 10, 20 and 25%. What is the long term costs for
pensions with police officers at higher rates of pay?
MOTION: To recommend approval of acceptance. FAILED
* MOTION: Article 21 Miscellaneous School Article approve at $ 2,310,000.
UNANIMOUS
* Next meeting scheduled for 7:30 pm, April 3, 1996
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