Back to Advisory Committee Minutes
January 25, 2011 Meeting Minutes
Hingham Town Hall
Present: Committee Members Manning, Asher, MacCune, Eldredge, Farrell, Friedman, Innis, Marwill, O’Meara, Power, Pyles, Johnson, Ellison, Kirven
1. Call to order
Chair Jack Manning called the Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:04 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the January 11, 2011 meeting were approved by a unanimous vote of the members present.
3. Forecast Update
There was a continuation of the forecast discussion initiated at the January11, 2011 meeting. Ted Alexiades noted there were no changes to the forecast he presented at the January 11 meeting. With respect to the currently estimated 2011 surplus of approximately $1.2 million, Ted suggested there were limited opportunities to use the surplus, including pre-funding the Town’s 2012 retirement plan contribution, pre-funding the Town’s 2012 OPEB contribution or using the surplus to fund capital expenditures. Authorization by Town Meeting through a Warrant article would be required for expenditure of any surplus funds.
However, Ted noted that another option would be to let the surplus fall to Fund Balance where it would be available for future appropriation, but that subsequent withdrawal from Fund Balance for other than non-recurring needs would be inconsistent with past practice.
4. Budget Hearings
The Committee heard FY 2012 budget presentations from the following departments (no votes were taken):
Department |
% Change from FY11 |
Comments |
Health |
-1.94% |
Level services. |
Elder Services |
-14.78% |
Level services. Reduction from prior year due to program services ($48,000 in FY 2011) moving to a revolving account. Additional request of $28,000 to expand tax work-off program. |
Department |
% Change from FY11 |
Comments |
Veterans Services |
-5.13% |
Level services. Decrease due to turnover in Veterans’ Agent position. |
Celebrations |
-0.67% |
Level services, level funding. |
Womansplace Crisis Center |
0.00% |
Level services/level funding. |
South Shore Women’s Center |
0.00% |
Level services/level funding. |
Recreation |
+10.57% |
Increase to fully fund director’s salary. All other expenses to be paid from department revenues. |
Debt Service |
-2.07% |
Includes both principal and interest. |
Group Insurance |
+6.74% |
Reflects 10% premium increase net of enrollment changes. |
Contributory Retirement |
+19.43% |
Actuarially determined. Reflects extension of the funding schedule from 30 to 40 years and decrease in expected rate of return on investments. |
Non-contributory Retirement |
+1.18% |
COLA adjustment to lone covered retiree. |
Workers Compensation |
0.00% |
Level services/level funding. |
Unemployment Compensation |
-73.04% |
Reduction due to less-than-expected layoffs. |
Medicare |
+10.01% |
Increase consistent with related compensation. |
General Insurance |
0.00% |
Level services/level funding. |
Unclassified |
+55.17 |
Increase of $4,000 to reinstate MPAC membership dues. |
5. Next Meeting
The next meeting of the AdCom is scheduled for February 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM. The Town Forum will be held on February 13, 2011.
6. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Greg MacCune, Secretary