Shutesbury Finance Committee
Minutes from 2/4/2003 meeting at Town Hall
APPROVED MINUTES
Present: Chair Eric Stocker, members Al Beswick, Nancy Beswick, Narda Wakoluk, Rita Farrell, and Steve Hasbrouck (recording minutes). David Ames and Police Chief Charlie Bray joined us.
We started the meeting at 7:10 PM.
There were no minutes from our 1/28/2003 meeting to review and there were no reports from representatives from other committees. Rita said Tim Hunting’s review is complete.
On the unemployment update, the secretary that was let go by the school is collecting. Even though it was mutually decided she wasn’t suited for the job it was an involuntary dismissal and the DET ruled in her favor.
We reviewed year-to-date expenses. We got cut $14,000 from the lottery money. The police department revenues are down, one less officer, fewer tickets being written. The increased legal expense was because someone challenged their taxes. The ambulance bill gets paid in one payment. Snow removal wages are maxed out, they may come to us later for more on that line item. The Conservation Trust Fund is up to $50,757, we may skip funding in the next budget cycle.
At 7:30, Charlie Bray arrived. Things are on budget so far this year for expenses. He reiterated that one less officer means fewer tickets are being written. They did get a grant from the Highway Safety Bureau to help raise awareness of wearing seat belts. On Labor Day their will be increased patrols. If someone gets stopped for a traffic violation, they will be checked to see if they are wearing their seat belt. If not, a $50 ticket will be issued. Their will be no warnings. We get one-half the money. On other expenses, fuel usage ought to be down with the one less officer.
In presenting his budget, wages are being proposed at a 3% increase. The contract is up for renegotiation and that was his guess. Overtime is for when people go on vacation and we need coverage. The officers work 10 hours per day, four days a week. Charlie is here 7 – 5, five days a week. Coverage Sunday stops at 8:00 PM, coverage stops Saturday at 1:00 AM. One of the officers qualifies for the Quinn bill so gets paid more. If we level fund the budget, we won’t have coverage when an officer goes on vacation. We told Charlie we are asking all municipal employees to forgo a raise next year. We will see how the contract negotiations go.
After Charlie left a long discussion about the current budget situation ensued. No definitive action was taken. Too many variables are still in the air. We don’t know about the regional situation and that is a huge part of our budget. We do know there is a meeting on Feb. 15th with all towns. We are asking our legislators to give us information on the Commonwealth’s budget as soon as they can. The health insurance for retirees is coming up as an issue once again. We wondered who would be the enforcing body on saying no to any municipal employee wage increases. There is a school committee meeting on Feb. 19th. We adjourned at 8:35.
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Hasbrouck