Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes 2009

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Board of Selectmen - Meeting Minutes

February 10, 2009
Special Session 7:05pm
Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo

The Board convened in joint session with the Advisory Committee to hear the proposed School Committee budget.

Ms. Smith introduced the proposed budget. She explained that in addition to the operating budget the School Committee also would be presenting information on the all day kindergarten proposal and the request for an override to open the new school.

The School Department recently conducted a master planning exercise. Three major items identified in the master planning process. These items were: the schools are overcrowded; there has been significant new growth in Town; and Hingham is in the minority of towns without a full day kindergarten.

The School Committee voted unanimously to request an override question on the ballot. The amount of the requested override is $1,599,565.

Dr. Galo reviewed the school administration’s recommended budget as submitted to the School Committee last December which called for a level services budget of $36,907,612, an increase of 4,84%.,plus the incremental cost of $1,596,710 for operating the fourth elementary school and $352,408 for the full day kindergarten proposal. A revised operating budget proposal was submitted at the end of January. That recommendation had, for economic reasons, reduced the scope of the level services component to $35,368,835 resulting in a .47% increase over the FY09 budget. The recommendation did include a request for an override but deferred the implementation of full day kindergarten to a future date.

Goals Considered in recommended reductions

Preserve Workable Infrastructure – Leadership & Support Staff, Facilities Maintenance
Minimize Staff reductions that impact class size and direct services to children
Minimize total elimination of programs and spread impact of reductions across all sections of budget
Minimize potential unemployment insurance liability
Utilize additional sources of revenue, such as fees where possible.
Reflect what is going on in other towns as identified by benchmarking.

Comments on proposed reductions

All cuts are painful and will impact programs and services
Proposed reductions within requested bottom line is subject to change due to new information such as enrollment, retirements, etc.
Administration recommends that any new revenues be used to reduce the scope of the currently proposed cuts with restoration of personnel being a high priority
Even passage of the override will not eliminate the need for the $1.5 million in reductions.

Dr. Galo reviewed the suggested budget reductions by position and noted that 80.9% of the budget is in salary accounts so that it is impossible to make any significant budget cut without cutting personnel.

The incremental costs for the fourth elementary school are as follows:

School Department Costs
Personnel, Utilities, Materials $1,509,462

Additional Town Costs
Benefits for additional employees,
Crossing guard, property insurance 90,103

Total $1,599,565
Ms. Burns thanked the School Committee for the cooperation. The School Committee and General Government had to cut budgets by a total 3 million dollars – $1.5 million each. The School Committee cooperated and came up with a budget cuts to close that gap. The School administration has also reviewed the proposed cost of opening the new school and found significant savings.

Mr. Rabuffo said that the Town does have to open this school. If the school were not opened it could jeopardize the school building funding agreement. He expressed concern that as the rest of the Commonwealth goes through great difficulties the amount in state aid may change. Mr. Rabuffo asked Dr. Galo to estimate what would happen to class size if the reductions had to be done today. He said people have asked “What is Plan B – what happens if the override does not pass?” Although less than half of the money to operate the fourth school would come from the override, Dr. Galo said it is unlikely that the town could operate four elementary schools without the override. Plan B is that there are 4,000 students to be educated and the School Department will do their best. There is not a Plan B at this time. If in early May the override does not go through, the School Department will have to choose the best of the worst. Mr. Rabuffo said that at the State House this is an era of uncertainty unlike anything they have been through.

Mr. Riley asked what impact of the postponement of town meeting would have. Dr. Galo said that the School Department cannot hire until after town meeting. Parents will not know where the children will be going to school and at what times until after the override vote. She also noted that it took eight months to develop a redistricting plan and bus routes. Should the override fail these would all have to be redone in a far shorter time frame.

Ms. Lauter thanked the School Administration and School Committee for the many hours they have put in with Advisory and Selectmen. In response to Mr. Innis’ question regarding what would happen if the override should fail, Dr. Galo said it is quite unlikely that the School Department could operate four comparable schools. She noted that this is not a year when we can have the best possible education budget. Ms. Smith said the idea of delaying town meeting is of grave concern. A delay of the meeting by even two weeks is problematic. – the Town needs to get started.

The Board concluded the joint session and reconvened in regular session for the Board.

The Board discussed the delay in the Hersey House closing.

The annual contribution from the Light Plant was discussed and it was agreed that there was need for the maximum contribution, not for an energy audit in lieu of a portion of that contribution.

Voted – to act favorably on recommendation of the Traffic Committee to install a crosswalk and landings at Main and Gardner Streets.

Voted – to approve the minutes of September 9, 2008.

Meeting adjourned 10:05 pm.

Betty Foley, Clerk