Select Board Meeting Minutes

FINANCE COMMITTEE & SELECT BOARD JOINT BUDGET MEETING MINUTES
Meeting date: 
Thursday, March 31, 2022

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

​Posted at 1:20pm on 4/13/2022

Members: 

Shaun Galliher                     Chris Pike                         Bob Graves, Town Administrator                                                                                                         Mary Rice                              Heather Brown                                               

Russ Parks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Bonnie Conner                                                                       

Jim Chivers                                                                                                                                

The meeting was opened at 6:34 pm.

Bob Graves presented the Police Department budget that includes four (4) full time officers.  The Committee discussed this budget in detail and the increased costs to the Town.  Small town police forces are getting hit especially hard because of the State eliminating part time training, going instead to only full time training. 

Bob Graves reported that the State has rejected our plan on how we intended to complete the capping of the landfill.  They have issued new guidelines that will cost us a lot more to complete the project.

Bob also reported that the Vocational Tuition figures are not yet in but should have the figure for the ATM.  The Transportation contract is $79,626.00 for the year.  This equates to $442.35 per day for 180 days between McCann ($214.02) and Smith Vocational ($228.33). 

The Committee and Bob discussed the Highway salary structure with the intent to give a fair wage to each employee, based on their qualifications.  Winter Roads overrun is approximately 27K and can be funded out of Free Cash.

The Committee discussed other accounts including  the Transfer Station, Town Hall cleaning contract, Liability and Health Insurance, the Capital Plan, Water Department, Police Training to mention a few.

We have invited, and are expecting the School Superintendent, School Committee members including  our own representatives to attend our next meeting on April 7, 2022.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 7:58 pm. The motion passed unanimously  The next meeting of this Committee is Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the downstairs Community room at Town Hall. 

Respectfully, Mary A. Rice, Secretary