HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-01-AC-MIN.pdf APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEETING,WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2000
ROOM G-15, 7:45 P.M.
Present: P Hamburger, R Pawliczek, R Eurich, D Brown C Welch, A Levine, A Nedzel,
S Spector, J Ryan
Absent: E Michelson
• P Hamburger asked that all article write-ups be sent to A Nedzel ASAP
• Discussion of School Department request(1100)under Article 4. R Pawliczek
discussed the drivers of the school budget (Sped, salary adjustments per contractual
obligations). Day setting Sped costs are rising very rapidly. S Bottan feels that she
can handle any FY 00 shortfalls she is experiencing in Sped and utilities.
• MOTION: Approve Article 4,Line # 1100 Lexington Public Schools.
UNANIMOUS (8-0-1) $52,939,850
• Discussed the continuing need to get information regarding maintenance for both the
schools and town
• Budget questions that need clarification. Town Expenses: There have been comments
that the NESWC tipping fee was going to rise $25 per ton. With 11,000+GAT why is
there only $75,000 identified as a projection assumption? The Health Insurance is
being presented differently in FY 01. This creates difficulty in tracking and
comparing one year to the next. What is causing the reduction in estimated Sewer
Fund needs in FY 04?
• Article 8(e): MIS Fiber Optic Network Equipment. D Brown and S Spector believe
that the amount being requested is $100,000 per conversation with Town Manager.
Previous discussion placed the cost at$150,000. Reconcile the difference.
• Article 8(a) Town Building Envelope Program. Per discussion with Town manager
there seems to be question on whether the amount is $ 500,000 or$450,000 (Cary
Hall) with the remaining $ 50,000 for the preliminary work on a senior center.
• Article 8(b) Public Works Equipment. S Spector stated that according to Bill Hadley,
the most important piece of equipment that he needs is a sander($97,000). The
requested amount is $72,864. Question as to whether the funding is from the tax levy
or enterprise funds.
• D Brown indicated that the CEC is going to propose that the funding for the senior
center be reduced from $50,000 to $ 25,000
• General discussion of the ambulance.
• Roads request seems to be in FY 01 and then disappears(pg8 & 9)
• Deficits appear to be greater as of 3/1/00 vs. spreadsheet in mid January. Why?
• Warrant and Town manager budget do not indicate that there will be a need of
appropriating funds for C. 90. J Ryan indicated that he believed that Town Counsel
felt that it was not necessary.
• No vote taken on Article 8
• S Spector discussed the school request for work to be done at the Bowman School
• Overview: A Levine stated that he felt that the Overview needed to tell Town
Meeting exactly what the drivers are in the budget. Increases in enrollment, increases
in Sped students and the costs associated with the program, contractual salary
adjustments, health insurance costs,NESWC and the short changing of the capital
needs.
• R Eurich discussed his proposed minority report. He felt that perhaps the final
decision as to what gets cut, assuming that the override fails, should be left to the
BOS in a similar fashion that the SC will ultimately decide what cuts are made if the
override fails.
• Discussion surrounding the elementary school project. Do we construct one or two
new schools in an attempt to expedite the project?
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