Back to Advisory Committee Minutes
March 8, 2011 Meeting Minutes
Hingham Town Hall
Present: Committee Members Manning, Asher, MacCune, Ellison, Kirven, Marwill, Power, Pyles, Dwyer, Farrell, Innis, Johnson, Friedman, Eldredge
1. Call to order
Chair Jack Manning called the Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the February 15, 2011, February 17, 2011 and March 1, 2011 meetings were approved by a unanimous vote of the members present.
3. Discussion of School Department Budget
The Education sub-committee was split 2-2 with Amy Farrell and Dennis Friedman favoring the School Committee's recommended budget of $38,484,395 and Liz Eldredge and Laura Marwill favoring the budget initially put forth by the School Department which was approximately $100,000 less, the principal difference between the two amounts representing 2 teaching positions at the Middle School. Amy and Dennis suggested this was consistent with level services in consideration of increasing enrollment. Liz noted that she believed many other departments had determined level services based on a consistent number of FTEs with the prior year. Karen Johnson suggested that was not the case in every department. There was a discussion as to why the School Committee increased the budget from the amount recommended by its department head. Concern was expressed by some members that the FY 2012 budget was too reliant on an expected surplus from FY 2011 and that such surplus was non-recurring. Some members expressed concern that the current year budget did not address what they believe to be a structural deficit inherent in the school department budget. It was suggested by other members that the structural deficit issue is not unique to the school department.
4. Warrant Articles
The following articles were heard and voted on as noted below:
Article Q: Sewer Funds for Engineering
The AdCom voted unanimously to approve Article Q.
Article R: Derby Street Corridor Roadway Improvements
The AdCom voted unanimously to approve Article R.
Article ZZ: Supplemental Retirement Allowance
The AdCom voted unanimously to approve Article ZZ.
The AdCom deferred action on the following articles for the reasons noted:
Article P: Sewer Property Acquisition
Deferred pending vote by the Board of Selectmen.
Article VV: Long-term Lease of 2 Acres at Landfill
Deferred to provide additional time for proponents and opponents to make their case.
5. Update on Hersey House Arbitration and Sale
Ted Alexiades updated the AdCom on the Hersey House matter noting that the arbitrator's ruling was due by March 11, 2011. Ted also informed the AdCom that the Town had received 4 proposals in response to the Hersey House RFP and Ted provided a brief summary of each proposal. Ted expected the BOS to vote on the proposals in the next few weeks.
6. Open Forum
There was a brief discussion regarding warrant article hearings and other matters to be discussed at future meetings.
7. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Greg MacCune, Secretary