Warrant Committee March 24, 2008
Thirty-Third Meeting
Present: K Conlon, T Hurley, D Biagiotti, B McLaughlin, S Keel, J Conley, E Innes, B Martin, L Dee, J Pinkus, K Chase
Absent: J Folcarelli, J O’Connor, L Walker
Reserve Fund: $ 75,290
School Set-Aside $ 61,626
Reserve Fund Balance: $ 13,664
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at the Senior Center.
Before the Personnel Board presentation, Member Pinkus recused herself. Ann White, Chair, Personnel Board, discussed the 2.75% increase recommended for Chapter 13 employees. At the conclusion of this presentation, Member Pinkus returned to the meeting.
Town Administrator Kevin Mearn discussed Article RR, which would repeal a bylaw that prohibits self-service gas stations. Secretary Hurley raised questions that the Town Administrator will ask of the Fire Chief.
The Committee discussed revolving funds. On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend in favor of continuing the revolving fund for the Parks at $75,000 under Article DD.
Before Article BBB was discussed, Member Innes recused himself from the meeting. The Chair advised the reason for this replacement revolving fund for the Library and the transfer of the $25,000 balance from the Kidder revolving fund into the new revolving fund. Member Keel made a motion, seconded by Member McLaughlin with the Committee voting 9-0-0 in favor, to recommend establishing a new revolving fund for the Library and transferring the $25,000 balance into this fund. Member Innes returned to the meeting.
Member Innes made a motion, seconded by Member Keel with the Committee voting 10-0-0 in favor, to recommend Article T (Chapter 90 funds) in the amount of $475,003.
Member Innes made a motion, seconded by Secretary Hurley, and the Committee voted10-0-0 to recommend that the Town borrow $677,180 from the M.W.R.A. for the purpose of financing the rehabilitation, replacement or enhancement of the Town’s water system under Article U.
Before Article V was discussed, Chairman Conlon recused herself from the meeting. Member Innes made a motion, seconded by Member Keel, and the Committee voted 9-0-0 in favor of Article V. Chairman Conlon returned to the meeting.
On a motion by Member Keel and seconded by Secretary Hurley, and on the advice of Town counsel as reported by the Chair, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to make no recommendation on Article UU at this time, as special legislation is still pending in the State Legislature.
Member Innes made a motion, seconded by Member McLaughlin, and the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend in favor of Article AAA.
On a motion made by Member Martin and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 7-0-3 to approve the minutes of March 17, 2008.
On a motion made by Member Innes and seconded by Member Dee, the Committee voted 7-0-3 to approve the minutes of March 19, 2008 with corrections.
Following discussion of Article VV (citizens’ petition/budget), on a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend that Town Meeting vote No.
The Committee discussed Article XX with Beirne Lovely, Chairman of the Recreational Facilities Committee, Terry Driscoll, Park Commissioner, and Dave Perdios, Superintendent of Parks.
With Mr. Lovely at the meeting, Chairman Conlon asked if any Committee members wanted to discuss any school budget issues. The School Committee will meet on Tuesday morning, March 25, at 7 AM to discuss the FY09 budget. Mr. Lovely will send Chairman Conlon an email following the meeting. The Chair also asked Mr. Lovely to advise whether the School Committee will withdraw Article YY (relating to Medicaid reimbursements).
Before the Committee discussed Article WW (citizens’ petition/master plan), Member Innes recused himself. Following discussion, on a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Dee, the Committee voted 9-0-0 to recommend that Town Meeting vote No on this article.
A short recess was taken from 8:55 PM to 9:10 PM to allow for the computer to be set-up to for a discussion of the FY09 budget.
On a motion made by made Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the Capital contingent budget. On a motion made by Member Conley and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend $83,733 for the Capital contingent budget.
On a motion made by Member Innes and seconded by Secretary Hurley, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the Set-Asides in the contingent budget. Secretary Hurley moved to recommend $1,405,582 for Set-Asides in the contingent budget. Member Martin seconded the motion. Member Innes offered a friendly amendment to change the amount to $1,203,302, which Secretary Hurley accepted.
On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the contingent Reserve Fund budget. On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend $1,370,872 for the contingent Reserve Fund budget.
On a motion by Member Innes and seconded by Secretary Hurley, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the Capital Stabilization Fund in both the contingent and the non-contingent budgets. On a motion made by Member Innes and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend transferring $115,595 from the Recycling Drop-Off account to the Capital Stabilization Fund.
Before the Library budget was discussed, Member Innes recused himself. On a motion made by Member McLaughlin and seconded by Secretary Hurley, the Committee voted 9-0-0 to reconsider the Library contingent budget. On a motion made by Member McLaughlin and seconded by Member Pinkus, the Committee voted 9-0-0 to increase the Library contingent budget to $915,710. Member Innes returned to the meeting.
On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Martin, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the set-aside (representing the Chapter 13 amount). On a motion by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member McLaughlin, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reduce the set-aside in the non-contingent budget by $78,699.
Before the Chapter 13 article was discussed, Member Pinkus recused herself. On a motion made by Member McLaughlin and seconded by Secretary Hurley, the Committee voted 9-0-0 to reconsider Chapter 13 employee wage adjustments in the contingent budget. The Committee voted 9-0-0 on a motion made by Secretary Hurley, seconded by Member Martin and amended by Member McLaughlin to recommend $86,439 for the Chapter 13 contingent budget.
On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Conley, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the contingent and non-contingent budgets for Blue Hills Regional Technical School. Following a lengthy discussion, on a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to recommend $655,767 for the Blue Hills Regional Technical School, which amount is less than the amount that the school requested.
On a motion made by Member Innes and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the Reserve Fund budget. On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Keel, the Committee reduced the budget by $655,767 to $715,015.
On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes, the Committee voted 10-0-0 to reconsider the Law non-contingent budget. On a motion made by Secretary Hurley and seconded by Member Innes to recommend $136,000 in the non-contingent Law budget, the Committee voted 4-6-0 and the motion failed to carry.
On a motion made by Member Keel and seconded by Secretary Hurley, the Committee voted to adjourn at 11:05 pm.
The next meeting is Wednesday, March 26th at 7:30 PM at the Senior Center.
Reserve Fund: $ 75,290
School Set-Aside $ 61,626
Reserve Fund Balance: $ 13,664
Respectfully submitted,
Helen Kiddy
Senior Administrative Clerk
March 24, 2008
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