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Advisory Committee
February 06, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Town of Hingham
Advisory Committee
February 06, 2007 Meeting Minutes

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

Chair Linda Port called the meeting to order at 7:38PM in the Town Hall Building.

The meeting began as a joint session with the Selectmen on the School budget and the School Building project warrant article.

Chrisanne Gregoire, Chair of the School Committee, presented the overview of the budget process for fiscal year 2008.

Dorothy Galo, Superintendent of Schools, presented a detail view of the operating and capital budgets.

. The budget process began December 18, 2007 and two updates have occurred since.
. The recommended FY2008 budget is up 7.45%, more than usual, for three main reasons:

o Salaries.  This is year three (3) of the three year contract.
o Contract services especially in the area of transportation.
o Special Education tuition

. The Capital budget is higher than anticipated due to new requirements for individual schools and the decision to purchase three additional vehicles (one wheelchair van and two new special education vans).

Mike Barclay introduced the School Building Project Committee and provided a high level update of activities.

Alan MacDonald gave a detailed update of the status of the Commonwealth funding process timeline and a look at the options being considered by his Committee.  Based on the fact that the Commonwealth will not award money until well past Town Meeting, the committee is considering a warrant article requesting additional money to keep them on track to open the new Elementary School in the fall of 2009 (a year later than planned) and allow collaboration with the Commonwealth on the Middle School project and/or the renovation of the Plymouth River and Foster Elementary schools.  The Building Committee will submit all four projects in July of this year for Commonwealth funding.

Phil Edmundson, Selectmen Chair, and Linda Port, Advisory Committee Chair, thanked the Schools for their efforts and the collegial working relationships among the groups.

Phil Edmundson recessed the joint meeting at 9:19PM following the conclusion of the School presentations.

The Advisory Committee moved to its normal meeting room in Town Hall to continue its meeting.

The Advisory Committee voted favorably on the following Warrant Articles:

. Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund
. Plymouth County Cooperative Extension Service
. Building Department Revolving Fund
. Chapter 90 Roadwork
. Committee Reports
. DCR Liability
. Light Plant Receipts
. Stabilization Fund

The meeting was adjourned at 10:23PM.