BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MARCH 31, 2006

APPROVED MEETING MINUTES

 

 

Present:  George F. Dillon, Jr., Chair; **Peter S. Cunningham, Member; Robert W. Nordblom, Clerk; Mihran Keoseian, Member; Jean E. Kitchen, Administrative Officer; Maria Casey, Administrative Assistant.

Absent:  John L. Saball, Vice Chair

Guests:  Town Accountant Valerie Jenkins; Finance Committee Chairman Steve Webber; Finance Committee Member Jay Prager.

 

The meeting began at 12:00 p.m.

 

The Board of Selectmen (BOS) met for the purposes of reviewing and balancing the Draft FY07 Budget (copy enclosed herein).

 

The Board reviewed the Accountants Notes which left a current working deficit of $68,957.

 

Mr. Dillon suggested the BOS support a 3.86% increase in the GDRSD Operating Expense Line Item (Debt not Included) rather than the proposed 2.79% of the Finance Committee.  Mr. Keoseian concurred and explained further that Superintendent Genovese is going to take a good hard look at the FY08 budget.  The Board was in consensus of the 3.86% increase, which was a $450,000 decrease from last years operating expense line.  With that percentage increase, the BOS would need to make an additional $223,300 cuts.

 

Mr. Dillon suggested that monies be reserved to support the Union Contracts still outstanding  Police Union and Town Hall/Library Union.

 

Mr. Cunningham preferred to wait until the Fall Special Town Meeting when Chapter 70 amounts were confirmed.  This has been a past practice.

 

Mr. Dillon stated that this current proposed budget shows the Contracts under negotiations under funded.  He felt that the estimated figured should be in the budget.

 

Ms. Jenkins stated that with the Past practice, the money is taken out of stabilization or newly realized cash not taken out of Raise and Appropriate.  All of those unknowns wont be realized until the tax recap is accomplished.

 

Mr. Cunningham felt that the BOS needs more information especially the final state budgets.

 

Ms. Jenkins stated that the BOS could boost the reserve fund in anticipation of the estimated figure.

 

Mr. Cunningham inquired as to how close the Contract Negotiations are to being finalized?

 

Mr. Keoseian was in concurrence with Mr. Cunningham and felt it prudent to fund these at the Fall Special Town Meeting.

 

Ms. Kitchen replied that the Town Hall / Library Union may be done by Special Town Meeting and could not hazard a guess as to the Police Union.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to not fund the anticipated estimated figure for the un-finalized Union Contracts.  Seconded by Mr. Keoseian.  Two in favor (PC, MK); One against (WN); One Abstention (FD).

 

The Board was in consensus with Capital Planning Committees recommendations on Page 2 in the amount of $602,000.

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to cut Line Item 2040  Fire Protection - West Groton Water District $5,000.  Seconded by Keoseian.  Three in favor with one opposed (Dillon).

 

Mr. Cunningham moved to cut Line Item 2041  Fire Protection  Groton Water District $12,600.  Seconded by Keoseian.  Three in favor with one opposed (Dillon).

 

Mr. Cunningham made two requests prior to leaving.  He asked the BOS to support the Personnel Manager and the Solid Waste Consortium.

 

**Mr. Cunningham left at 1:00 p.m.

 

The Board was in consensus to delay the decision regarding the Board of Assessors Budget until Selectmen Saball can update them regarding meetings.

 

The Board was in consensus to make the following line item cuts:

 

$4,000	Line Item 1024- Minor Capital	Board of Selectmen
$10,000	Line Item 1201  Expense	Computer Committee
$8,400	Line Item 1220  Expense	GIS Steering Committee
$5,700	Line Item 1260  Expense	Elections
$8,000	Line Item 1323  Engineering	Conservation Commission
$43,700	Line Item 1382  Minor Capital	Municipal Buildings
$11,000	Line Item 2024  Building Maintenance	Fire Department
$10,000	Line Item 2183  Minor Capital	Emergency Management Agency
$223,490	Line Item 3020  Operating Expenses	GDRSD
$40,000	Line Item 5040  Expenses	Snow & Ice Removal
$1,800	Line Item 7062  Expenses	Library
$11,549	Line Item 9020  Health Insurance	Insurance

 

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to cut $15,000 from the Consulting Engineer Fire Budget.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to cut $6,600 for the Solid Waste Co-op position.   Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to cut $5,000 from the Board of Health Engineering Budget.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to delay the Copier purchase in the amount of $8,300 until the Fall Special Town Meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Nordblom moved to reduce expense increase in Parks Budget in the amount of $8,100 for review of the Fall Special Town Meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Keoseian.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to reduce the Outreach Coordinator to 3 hour increase in the amount of $6,800.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to not support Emergency Management Stipend and to consider for future review with all other stipend positions.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Nordblom moved to delay the Firefighter hire until 1/1/07.  Seconded by Mr. Keoseian.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to eliminate the Young Adult Librarian hire.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to delay Highway Hire until 1/1/07.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to delay the Personnel Manager hire to 10/1/07.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Nordblom moved to fund the Reserve Fund.  Seconded by Keoseian.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Keoseian moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:50 p.m.  Seconded by Mr. Nordblom.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

Approved:  _____________________________                   Respectfully submitted,

                  Robert W. Nordblom, Clerk                                   Maria Casey

                                                                                    Administrative Assistant

 

Date Approved:  May 8, 2006

 

Enclosure:  Draft FY2007 Budget (18 pages)