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Advisory Committee
January 23, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Town of Hingham
Advisory Committee
January 23, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Present:  Port, Bierwirth, Alvarado, Barclay, Burns, Ellison, Farrell, Friedman, Kiernan, Lauter, O'Meara, Reardon, Seelen

Chair Linda Port called the meeting to order at 7:36PM in the Town Hall Building.

The Advisory Committee voted favorably on FY2008 budgets for Accounting; the Bathing Beach; Elder Services; Finance and Unclassified as shown on Attachment A. 

Mr. Falvey entered the meeting room at 8:00PM and was greeted by all.

The Library budget was presented by Dennis Corcoran, Library Director, and members of the Board of Trustees.  They reviewed the current funding levels, the challenges facing the library, the state of the library endowment, and the need to maintain the book and materials collections at a level that ensures Accreditation and State Funding.  This requires additional funding by the Town for books and materials while the endowment is rebuilt.  The Advisory Committee recommended that the books and materials line item be removed from the operating budget and be funded through the capital budget at least for the next three years.  By including the monies in capital, the amount will be tracked in a more visible manner. 

The Advisory Committee voted on the library budget as shown on Attachment A.

Chief Mark Duff and Deputy Chief Bob Olsson presented the Fire Department and Emergency Management budgets.  After an extensive discussion on Fire Department expenses, the ambulance supplies and physicals line item was fully funded.

The Advisory Committee voted favorably on both budgets as shown in Attachment A. 

The Building Department budget was presented by Dick Morgan, Building Commissioner.  Jerry Seelen asked if consideration had been given to using one or two full-time personnel versus many part-timers.  Mr. Morgan thought it would be a good idea to think about this.  The Building Department budget consideration was deferred until such time as Mr. Morgan completed his analysis.

Open budget items from The January 16, 2007 Advisory Committee meeting were reviewed and voted on favorably as shown on Attachment A:

. The Public Works - Engineering budget
. The Historical Commission budget
. The Sewer Department expenses line item

Ted Alexiades provided an update on the financial forecast.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:12PM.