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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-17-AC-MIN.pdf APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2000, COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE 7:30 P.M. Present: P Hamburger, R Pawliczek, D Brown, C Welch,A Levine, S Spector, A Nedzel, R Eurich, J Ryan Absent: E Michelson • MOTION: Approve minutes of the January 19th February 3rd and February 10th meetings. UNANIMOUS • MOTION TO SUPPORT ARTICLE 21: Accept Chapter 41, Section 100G '/ of MGL. General discussion of the article which would provide up to $5,000 for funeral and burial expenses to the family of a police officer or firefighter who is killed in the performance of their duties. UNANIMOUS (8-0-1) • P Hamburger requested an updated debt schedule, subsequent to the bond sale of February 3, 2000. John Ryan will provide the schedule. • ARTICLE 4: Operating Budget general discussion(see P Hamburger handout re: Article 4). AC needs to separate in its report Article 4(operating budget) and Article 8(capital projects and equipment). No Vote Taken • AC report should contain and overview of FY 2001 and some long-term projections. • P Hamburger distributed a"Three Year Forecast" (02/17/00) as prepared by the Town manager Office. He has added two columns FY 2000, TM 3/14/99 and FY 2000 Difference. J Ryan will assist in reconciling the data. • ARTICLE 14: School Capital Project. General discussion(see draft by S Spector). P Hamburger discussed the presentation of options as presented by the"Elementary School task Force". The options are 1)build one new school and renovate five or 2) build two new schools and renovate four schools. The construction of two new schools will accelerate the renovation of all the schools. The SC will not be presenting their request until the"Summit meeting" schedule for February 29, 2000. No Vote Taken. • R Pawliczek discussed the school operating budget request. He will attempt to meet with S Bottan next week, prior to the AC meeting on Thursday. If any AC member wishes him to address something specific with S Bottan let him know. P Hamburger stated that he had received some information from the School Dept. regarding his request for maintenance effort. Information received was not quite what he was looking for and will continue efforts to get the information. • ARTICLE 8: Capital Projects and Equipment. D Brown and S Spector discussed their meeting with R White this morning. There appears to be some confusion as to where the $500,000 for road repairs (subject to an override) is. J Ryan indicated that he thought the$500,000 is in the $1,675,914 and that there will be no specific request to appropriate C. 90 funds. Norman Cohen feels that it is not necessary to have Town Meeting appropriate C 90 funding. J Ryan and D Brown will clear up this issue.NO Vote Taken • ARTICLE 11: Rehabilitation of Center Pool Complexes. C Welch still has a little research to do. K Simmons will not be back in the office until February 28th.No Vote Taken • ARTICLE 12: Accessibility of the Old Reservoir. C Welch will report when K Simmons has returned. No Vote Taken • ARTICLE 13: School Technology Program. R Pawliczek will meet with S Bottan next week and report back to AC. No Vote Taken • ARTICLE 15: Stabilization Fund. P Hamburger will do the write-up. No funds are being sought at this time. No Vote Taken • ARTICLE 16: Retirement Board. General discussion surrounding the granting of a COLA which may be in excess of the regional cost of living increase. J Ryan explained that the maximum COLA will be 3% on the first$ 12,000 of pension allowance, or a maximum increase of$360. There are 226 retirees who receive an annual pension allowance of$12,000 or less. The current year's COLA was set at 1.3%(warrant is in error at 2.1%). The additional cost for a 3%vs. a 1.3% Coal is approximately $46,000. The value of the Retirement Board portfolio was $77 million at the end of 1999. A Levine and E Michelson will do the write-up. No Vote Taken • ARTICLE 22: By-Law Amendment-Appropriation Committee. P Hamburger will write-up. Committee in favor. NoVoteTaken • ARTICLE 25: Use of Funds to Reduce Tax Rate. P Hamburger will write-up. No Vote Taken. • C Welch discussed the progress of the Library Trustees fund raising efforts. Since July 1999 they have received pledges of$1.2 million. • D Brown distributed and a discussion followed on her research in to town comparisons (see handout). Difficult to compare one community to another. Attempt will be made to simply state the facts and let the reader come to their own conclusions. • C Welch distributed information regarding the Recreation Fund(balance sheet as of 12/31/99, FY 99 recreation revenues and Retained Earnings as of June 30, 1999, Income Statement, June 30, 1999). Discussion about possible PILOT, how are indirects calculated, is the$75,000 too high, too low?What is a reasonable amount to carry as a retained earnings amount when other tax-supported issues are not being funded? C Welch will attempt to get an accounting of the indirect costs incurred by the DPW from B Gilbert. • MOTION: To Adjourn Ac02.17.00