Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

 

Members                                   Absent                                      Other                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Shaun Galliher           Tracy Lussier                                Bob Graves, Town Administrator                                                                                                                                                                     

Jim Chivers                                                                               Earl Peck, Select Board Chair

Heather Brown                                                                Bart Collins, Select Board member       

Russ Parks                                                                        Susan Rathbun, Chief of Police     

Bonnie Conner                                                                 Ray Bolduc

Mary Rice                                                                         Candy Galeucia

Sara Baumann

The meeting was opened at 6:33 pm. 

A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the December 1, 2022 meeting as written. The motion passed unanimously.  

Chairman Galliher asked everyone if they had gone over, and/or noticed anything that should be addressed in the  Accountants Report.  He said everything seems to be on target excepting a few items that we expect to go over.  They were the Fuel Account and Highway Road Maintenance.  He questioned if the Plunkett Lake Beach property had been surveyed yet.  Heather Brown, also an employee of Foresight Land Services, said she is still working on it.  There is an issue with a Town Road that went straight at the boat ramp, to the beach that has been underwater for many, many years.  This should be put on a Town Meeting Warrant to be discontinued and the current road that skirts around this  area be accepted as the new official  travel way.  She finds no record of it being discontinued, nor the other area accepted.  This should not be costly as it only involves paperwork.

Bob Graves reported on the Schnopp Road Project.  He said one culvert would cost 500 to 700K and would eat up half of the Grant money of One Million.  Also increasing is the total cost for the project.  He has contacted our State Representatives to up the amount of the Mass Works Grant program.  We may be able  to only do part of the project with that Grant money.  We can apply again for the remaining costs and carry over what ever is not expended in the first Phase.

The Plunkett Lake Beach Committee is looking into possible Grant funding from the HDC (Hill town Development Corporation) to help with the project.  They want to put up a pavilion and HDC is willing to work with them on finding funding.  They had expressed interest in talking to Mary Rice on Historical issues that may be related to the project.  Mary is very willing to assist.

Bob reported that the budget requests will be going out next Friday and will be due back on February 17th.  He asked that the Committee start thinking about how to approach the process as there are going to be many challenges.  He hopes to level fund most departments, recognizing that some increases are contractual.  There is a lot on the plate this year.

Bob reported that he has received a proposal from Eversource that works with a local company, to install cost saving measures such as heat pumps, air conditioning to our Town Hall.  Along with State incentives, this could save us a lot of money. Bob will send this information to the Committee members.

There was a discussion about the propane switch from oil, moving the propane tank near the garage area at Town Hall, (which was to be temporary).  The Green Community had sold us the idea that they would pay for a lot of this change, and nothing has happened.  This can still be done with the money that has been put aside, at a future time.

Jim Chivers, School Building Committee, reported no new information.

Bonnie Conner, Seven Town School Advisory, reported that the Committee is trying to set up a meeting for January, but so far has heard nothing.

Mary Rice, Water and Sewer, said the bills should be going out shortly.  Bob Graves reported that they will be generated from the new software that is being switched over to Softwrite from Cusi.  They should be going out next Friday.  The next element of the switch would be the Neptune System that reads the Water meters.  Lynne has been working with Bob on this switch and it is going well and should be completed soon.  

Bob Graves reported that he still does not have the other two (2) bids for the Tanker that are required to finish the Grant Application to USDA for the loan. Although the original cost came from the State Bid list and did not require additional bids, the USDA Grant application does require them.  Select Board member Bart Collins said he had two proposed financial agreements but had not yet given them to Bob. Earl Peck, Select Board Chair, went over how the ATM voted for 50 +K yearly for 10 years.  If, at any future Town Meeting, that amount is not appropriated, or the Truck is delivered prior to the 10 years, it will be repossessed back by the company.  He also explained that Bob was handed the task of writing the Grant, but his hands are tied without the other two (2) bids.  It was unclear what the delay was but it was stated that this is up to the Fire Department, not the Town Administrator to seek and provide them.  When Bob receives the information requested, he will check with USDA to make sure all will be accepted and proceed with the Grant Application.  Chairman Galliher said that Bart should get those documents to Bob and the Select Board should put this on the next Select Board agenda and ask that the Fire Department attend.

Ray Bolduc reported that he still does not have a cost for the pump for the Fire Truck therefore there will be no request from the Reserve Fund at this time.  Ray also said that there is an opportunity through a Grant, to get a Pumper Truck costing 850K that will cost the Town 5% or approximately 45K.  He also said the Ambulance could possibly get a 20K LUCAS (automatic CPR machine) for 5% cost to the Town.  Chairman Galliher asked why the Association couldn't apply as they own the Ambulance.  Ray said it has to go through the Town.  Chairman Galliher said we could get the funds from the Capital plan and the Committee  expressed agreement for Ray to proceed with the Grant application.

Heather Brown reported that she would like more time to gather information from local Police Departments on wages since she has only heard back from a few to date.  The Committee and Bob discussed information needed such as base pay plus incentives  as the differ greatly from Town to Town. Chief  Rathbun feels the base pay should be increased and eliminate some of the incentives going forward.  She feels the base pay is what will get people through the door, not the incentives.  Chairman Gallher reported that the Personnel Policy does address some of those incentives already.

Chief Rathbun reported that she has lost two (2) officers recently, earlier that expected, and has two fully qualified people that she would like appointed.  There is a Select Board meeting scheduled for January 11, 2023 and it is expected that this will be on the agenda.  

 

There was a rather heated discussion among the audience about a canceled Select Board meeting and Chairman Galliher reminded everyone that this has nothing to do with the Finance Committee.  He suggested that everyone read the Open Meeting Law and get better informed about outside meetings and communications of Committee members.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 7:40 pm, the motion passed unanimously.  The next regular meeting of this Committee is Thursday, February 2, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the downstairs Community room at Town Hall.  

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mary A. Rice, Secretary