Board Of Selectmen’s Joint Meeting MinutesAugust 18, 2015
TATom Guerino
Selectmen
Stephen Mealy, Chairman, Don Pickard, Vice-Chairman, Michael Blanton, Clerk, Don Ellis, and Peter Meier.
Bourne School Committee
Christopher Hyldburg, Chair, Heather DiPaolo, Vice-Chair, Anne-Marie Siroonian, Secretary, and Mitch McClain.
Finance Committee
Mary Jane Mastrangelo, Chair, Judy Conron, George Slade, John Redman, William Towne, Michelle Ford, and Brian Lemee.
Documents
Meeting Called to Order
Chm. Mealy called the meeting back into open session at 7:00 pm.
Mr. Mealy invited the other committees to call their meeting to order. Finance Committee and the School Committee called their meeting to order.
1)State Office of Campaign and Finance presentation on Do’s and Don’ts regarding Overrides, what Employees can and cannot do regarding the Override Question, forming, using Ballot Committees.
Jason Tate, from Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, OCPF, stated they keep track and help the public see how political committees areallowed to raiseand spending money. The director is appointed by the head of the State Republican party, the head of the State Democratic party, the Secretary of State, and a Law School Dean who is appointed by the Governor, those four people get together every six years and appoint a Director. They do the audit portion of money raised and money spent. Mr. Tate went over campaigns involving public employ and public buildings. He explained Public Employ - cannot solicit or collect money for a political campaign. Public Buildings - cannot solicit or receive money for a campaign in a public building. The Anderson Decision – cannot use public resources for political campaign services. Emails – email addresses used for political services, objective material is also prohibited. What can public paid officials do? They can appoint paid officials who work for and support to form a ballot question committee. Mr. Tate also went over Equal Access, Municipal Websites, and Automated Phone Systems. Ballot question Committee – If committees are formed records must be kept. Reports must be filed 8 days before the ballot question to 30 days after. Mr. Tate stated you can call us if any of these issues come up.Board members and audience members asked Mr. Tate questions.
2) FinCom/BOS/School Committee Review of two new Sources and Uses:
- Sources and Uses with Override
- Sources and Uses with reductions based on input from July 28th and yearend
Linda Marzelli went over the Funds Cut Sources and Uses.
Stephen Mealy went over how we got to the budget numbers for the Public Safety, Police, Fire, and Ambulance Departments.
Linda Marzelli went over the town cuts from the original budget.
Linda Marzelli went over the Funds Override sheet budget numbers.
Stephen Mealy went over the budget line item for the snow and ice removal, if the money is not expended it is turned back to the General Fund as unused funds.
Linda explained that in the override scenario everyone’s budget does not grow it stays the same.
Stephen Mealy wanted to emphasize when we originally stated talking about an override we had been discussing a number of 2.9 million dollars. When we started looking at the long term planning model we were able to bring the number to 2.7 million dollars, and it will be adequate to supply the town funding for the next three years we would like to propose we can stretch that to five years.
Mary-Jane Mastrangelo wanted to make sure everyone is aware with the override it brings our revenue up to the point it will cover our expenses for a number of years. Under the reduction scenario we will be back in the same scenario in 2019.
3) Fire Department Budget Adjustments
Chief Sylvestro, Bourne Fire Department, went over the cuts and changes he made within his department, bringing dispatch into the community.
Stephen Mealy pointed out this is a temporary measure in order to address a means of being able to take money that would have been spent outside the town to support and maintain the four individuals that were originally going to be laid off and loosing the Safer Grant. By taking dispatch in-house it puts the burden on the fire department temporary for several years and allow us to provide that service. This allows us to maintain our own personnel, maintain the Safer Grant, fully fund the full complement of members of the fire department, and thus the services that we have at this date.
Tom Guerino stated this change can be done whether the override question passes or fails. Mr. Guerino also stated that this is temporary for several years.
Don Pickard wanted to state that the Sagamore station was not going to close. There is enough people to keep that station
Tom Guerino stated the Selectmen made it very clear to keep Sagamore open regardless with what happened with the override.
4) Review and Discuss Community input and alternatives
Stephen Mealy wanted to mention there are two outreach presentations being made this week and next week. This week at the Pocasset Heights Improvement Association at 6:30, and on Taylors Point on Monday the 24that 6:30 pm. At both of those meeting the presentations will be made to allow give and take from the residents, and to ask questions about what might happen if the override does or does not happen. Also to give the elected officials an opportunity to explain how we find ourselves in this situation and steps we are taking to prevent it from happening again. What our proposal is to make these adjustments and how the override amount came about.
Christopher Hyldburg stated members of the School Committee have come up with a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the teachers union. They heard the situation from the people of Bourne loud and clear. Mr. Hyldburg also wanted to reiterate this override isn’t a bump, these cuts are not just to get us through; this just deals with 2016 and 2017. In 2018 we will be dealing with another series of cuts. Mr. Hyldburg also wanted to state that on Wednesday, August 26th at the Bourne Middle School there is a public meeting specific to the cuts of the schools and the potential impact of the override to the schools.
Don Pickard directed a question regarding the Fire Chiefs proposal; if the Board is voting on this will we have a draft approve to form agreement before we are asked to vote on it? Mr. Guerino stated it is their intent to bring a draft to the Board.
5) Board of Selectmen Third, final reading of Financial Policy and potential vote for engrossment.
Stephen Mealy went over what the Financial Policies covers and the changes that were made to the way free cash will be utilized and to put a limit on how much free cash can be utilized. With the stabilization account we recognized that in the past we have had a goal of maintaining a 7% of the general fund operating fund balance as a balance to carry in stabilization. We have never reached that amount of money; the recommendation is to reduce that to 6%. Also recommended the amount that was going to be put in the reserve fund, which we have seen from the past may have been underfunded. Within the new policy, we are proposing this evening, we are asking that a limit be set at .5% of the general operating budget, to insure we have adequate funds should we have any unforeseen expense. This will be the third and final reading.
VotedDon Pickard moved and seconded by Michael Blanton that the Board of Selectmen adopt the Town of Bourne Financial Management Policies and Guidelines with the changes introduced in the June 15, 2015 draft. Vote 5-0.
Tom Guerino stated if the Board of Selectmen vote to adopt these changes the Finance Committee should vote to adopt the changes. The Finance Director, Treasure, and Town Administrator have to sign off on them.
On the Finance Committee John Redman moved and seconded by Michelle Ford adopt the revised Financial Policies. Vote 7-0
6) Other business of the joint committee meeting
7) Adjournment
VotedPeter Meier moved and seconded by Don Pickard to adjourn. Board of Selectmen meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. Vote 5-0.
VotedJohn Redman moved and seconded by Michelle Ford to adjourn the Finance Committee meeting at 8:30 pm. Vote 5-0.
The next Bourne Selectmen meeting will be on Tuesday, August25th at 7:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted – Carole Ellis, secretary.
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