Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, April 21, 2022

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

​Posted at 2:42pm on 4/29/2022

 

Members                            Absent                                      Other                                                                   

Shaun Galliher                  Chris Pike                                  Bob Graves, Town Administrator                           

Mary Rice                                                                               Ray Bolduc, Select Board     

Russ Parks                                                                              Dick Scialabba, Select Board Chair                       

Bonnie Conner                                                                       Monica Montferret

Jim Chivers

Heather Brown

 

The meeting was opened at 6:40 pm.

A motion was made and seconded to accept the  minutes  of April 14, 2022 as written. The motion passed unanimously.

Bob presented the “Draft” Warrant for our review. Chairman Galliher reported that there is approximately 357K in new spending this year that will result in at least a few dollar increase in the tax rate.

Chairman Galliher, Bob Graves, and the Committee went over additional figures in the budget that included the following;

   Vocational Tuition - $19,622. per student for $156,976 total, almost a 10% increase.

   W/S module for Softwrite for 10K, we will hold on the reader for $17,010. till next year

   Road Machinery Maintenance – not approving any new vehicles, should put more $ in Maintenance.

   Custodial position – The current contractor is having problems getting help, and Mike who is currently working for us, will be leaving.  Contracting a current employee  would increase the Health Ins account, but we would get better service.

The Committee also reviewed other issues as follows;

   Stormwater Management; Sewer System mapping; Police Reform;  Landfill capping;  Compactor/recycling area; Generators for FD/Town Garage/Town Hall; Radios for PD/Fire; Propane and oil tank at Town Hall; Town Reports; Capital Plan; Tax Title;  Collector's expense; unaccepted Roads account; Lake herbicide treatments; Veterans Aid; Community Center Expense; Health Insurance; Cemetery Trees;  Mausoleum repair; Hazardous trees; Winter Roads; fuel meter; and adding money to the Capital Stabilization and Road Stabilization accounts.

The Committee also discussed raising the Reserve Fund from $20,000 to $30,000. because of all the uncertainty of escalating costs.

Chairman Galliher also reported that several bills from the last fiscal year need to be paid and we will do that from the Reserve Fund. They were late being sent to us and missed last year's deadline to be paid. One is from a paving cost, one from a water testing lab.

A bigger discussion was on the Warrant Article requesting the purchase of a Tanker for the Fire Department at a cost of $475K, to be paid in 15 yearly payments of $41,352.16. Chairman Galliher questioned this commitment for 15 years when the Town needs other equipment such as replace one cruiser, highway truck, etc. He also questioned the need to purchase a brand new vs. used, and and upgraded piece of equipment not just a replacement for what we now have. He welcomed the Fire Department Board of Engineers to our next meeting to explain why they put this together the way they did. He also said that if it is approved at the Town Meeting, due to the way it is written, we are locked in and committed to this payment for 15 years. The majority of our Committee agrees with Chairman Galliher, that although we all recognize the need, we simply cannot afford it.

The Committee also discussed the petition on the Warrant for a Road Improvement Plan to be implemented starting in 2023. We do already have a plan, but should not be held to begin that in 2023 because we may not be in a position to fund it without grants. One road could cost over several million dollars at a minimum.

The Committee also discussed the possible change of use involving the former Camp Ashmere,  permits and sewer usage increase. This property has been advertised as Berkshire Lake Camp, a destination for events, weddings, family reunions etc. The Town is currently investigating this with the building inspector, Conservation and possible Planning Board involvement. Dave Prickett could possibly be called in to assess the current Sewer EDUs and possible adjustment of those if needed.

The Committee will meet next week to vote on the Warrant Articles; the Select Board also needs to vote, but does not have to be at the same meeting. Select Board Chairman Dick Scialabba cannot attend our next meeting but will set up a separate meeting to take their vote.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 8:15 pm. The motion passed unanimously. The next Budget meeting of this Committee is Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the downstairs Community Room at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted, Mary A. Rice, Secretary