Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Community Room, Downstairs, Town Hall, 39 South Street, Hinsdale MA

​Posted at 1:43pm on 4/22/2022

Members                                   Absent                                      Other                                                                                                                                            Shaun Galliher                                                                             Bob Graves, Town Administrator                                                                                               Mary Rice                                                                                      Ray Bolduc, Select Board     

Russ Parks                                                                                     Dick Scialabba, Select Board Chair                                                                                        

Bonnie Conner                                                                             Monica Montferret

Jim Chivers

Chris Pike

Heather Brown (remote)

The meeting was opened at 6:38 pm.

A motion was made and seconded to accept the  minutes of April 7, 2022 as written. The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Bob and Shaun went over the accounts that were still being worked on, and the ones that now have final figures. The Committee discussed some the the issues as follows;  W/S module for the IT; Custodial for Town Buildings possible change of vendors; Tree Warden General Expense; Town Insurance; Highway Superintendent;  Highway accounts; Winter Roads overrun; and Capital.

Some of the Capital accounts will now be pushed out as our budget cannot support them this year. At this point, some of those are the paving in front of the Highway Garage; Fire Department tanker; unmarked cruiser; Plunkett Lake Retention Pond; and the  Sewer Service Truck. The final list is not yet complete but will be finalized at our next meeting. The budget will be sent to all members to look over for our next meeting and to offer suggestions or solutions on some of these items.

The Committee discussed the ongoing issues with capping the landfill. Chairman Galliher suggested putting it out to bid now, so we have some idea of the costs. The biggest issue is the material that is required by the State to cap it.

We also discussed the need for vehicles in our Highway Department. The new truck we ordered last year was supposed to be here in March, but is still delayed.

The printed Annual Report was discussed also. We had reduced the number of books printed, but still had boxes left over that nobody seem to want.  We could save a substantial amount of money by printing the report ourselves and posting it on the website. This would allow us to print any extra copies as needed or requested.

The Committee also expressed their frustration with the folks from East Washington Road that want to put a petition on the ATM to have the Town do work on their road. Last Spring, a plan was in place to reclaim the black top surface and use that for a solid base, replace some of the culverts and be in a better position to apply for grants to finish the road. The plan was put together by the engineers  and the company that was in town, working on Old Dalton Road. We would have gotten a good deal as the equipment was already in Town. A group of citizens protested that plan the night before it was to be signed although the complete plan was explained by the Select Board at that meeting. At their request, the papers were not signed and the project was canceled. Now, some of the same people, want it to be done. Unfortunately, that opportunity no longer exists. There are 26 culverts needed on that road and three of them could cost over $700K each.

We are all concerned about all our cost increases and in trying to retain qualified employees. This will certainly be a tough year from a budget perspective.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 8:00 pm. The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote. The next Budget meeting of this Committee is Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the downstairs Community room at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted, Mary A. Rice, Secretary