Back to Advisory Committee Minutes
Present: Committee Members Lauter, Asher, Dwyer, Eldredge, Ellison, Farrell, Friedman, Innis, Johnson, Manning, Marwill, Mooradian, O’Meara
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1. Call to order
Chair Irma Lauter called the Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:09 PM.
2. Approval of minutes for January 13, 2009
The Committee reviewed and approved minutes from the meeting on January 13, 2009.
3. FY 2010 Budget Presentation
a. Town Clerk/Elections
Eileen McCracken, Town Clerk, recommended a $166,412 budget that is 4.2% higher than the FY09 appropriation.
The Committee explored a number of potential cost-cutting options, including reduced poll hours, increased fees, and reduced operating hours.
b. South Shore Country Club
Jay McGrail, Interim Director of Operations, presented a $1,811,001 budget that is .47% higher than the FY09 appropriation.
Jay indicated that permit memberships are coming in slowly and that the magnitude of that revenue stream would be known with greater certainty within the next month.
A number of Committee members encouraged Jay to formulate cost-cutting and revenue-enhancement alternatives quickly in order to address a possible shortfall in permit membership revenue.
c. Sewer
Michael Salerno, Sewer Commission Chairman, recommended a $2,135,878 budget, which represents a 1.6% cut from the FY09 appropriation.
Michael indicated that the Sewer Commission would sponsor three Warrant articles, two for sewer betterments on Central and Thaxter streets, and one to rescind the FY09 $380,000 debt authorization for rebuilding the Mill Street Pumping Station. Through careful financial management, the Sewer Department projects completion of the work for less than $300,000, which it will fund from its Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) account.
4. Budget and Forecast Update
Irma signaled that updated FY10 Town revenue projections are not likely to be available before mid-February.
Irma has discussed the Committee’s strong desire to conduct a joint budget meeting with the Board of Selectmen and is working with the Interim Town Administrator to set a near-term date. The objective of such a meeting would be to provide clear direction to all department heads for addressing the multi-million-dollar budget shortfalls projected for FY10 through FY14.
Irma reminded the Committee that the second round of FY09 quarterly departmental budget reviews will begin at the end of January.
5. General Business
Dennis Friedman provided more detailed information regarding the School Department’s decision to delete all work in the General Contractor re-bid associated with metal window replacement and the aluminum storefront entrances at both Plymouth River and Foster elementary schools.
Irma encouraged Committee members to email to Amy Farrell, copying Irma, any questions/suggestions to be addressed at the budget working session with the School Dept/Committee on January 31st.
6. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jonathan Asher, Secretary