{"id":695,"date":"2010-02-18T01:39:35","date_gmt":"2010-02-18T05:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/?p=695"},"modified":"2010-02-18T21:14:54","modified_gmt":"2010-02-19T01:14:54","slug":"finance-committee-10-02-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dandunn.org\/blog\/2010\/02\/finance-committee-10-02-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Finance Committee 2\/17\/10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Black text is mostly objective, <\/em>red text is mostly subjective<\/span> in nature<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Our meeting for 2\/10 was canceled by the snow-storm-that-missed-us. \u00c2\u00a0Today was mostly about the Town Meeting warrant articles, with a few extras.<\/p>\n

Our first hearing was the Vision 2020 (Jane Howard et al) and the DPW (Teresa DeBenedictis) asking for $15,000 for treatment for water bodies. \u00c2\u00a0Back in 2006, Town Meeting (via home rule legislation in Article 24<\/a>) created a special fund to manage water body expenditures. \u00c2\u00a0The expenses are irregular – every 3-5 years there is a big sum. \u00c2\u00a0Since then, the town has allocated $15,000 each year. \u00c2\u00a0This year, they plan on expending $55,000 which would entirely drain the fund. \u00c2\u00a0It was noted that the \u00c2\u00a0Upper Mystic and Menotomy Park pond are done with private dollars; the $15,000 doesn’t cover all 7 water bodies. \u00c2\u00a0After reviewing the details, the request was closer to $18,000. \u00c2\u00a0 There is unpredictability in the annual expense – but is there enough data to predict on the long term? \u00c2\u00a0Yes on Spy Pond, but not enough data for the Res. \u00c2\u00a0$150,000 every 10 years on Spy Pond is the rough number. \u00c2\u00a0Donations were discussed, evidently received from all over town, with a cluster around Spy Pond. \u00c2\u00a0Later in the meeting, we discussed and unanimously approved $15,000 for recommendation to Town Meeting. I was originally opposed to this special fund back in 2006, but it has exceeded my expectations. \u00c2\u00a0I voted in favor of this recommendation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second hearing of the night was on an Uncle Sam market study. \u00c2\u00a0Laurence McKinney spoke for several minutes. \u00c2\u00a0He is asking for $2500 to do graphics and make some prototypes to put in stores. \u00c2\u00a0Promises money back in 2 years with profit. \u00c2\u00a0Did not have a budget or outline of how the money would be spent. \u00c2\u00a0He was asked if he went to the Chamber of Commerce – he had not. \u00c2\u00a0There was a later discussion about coordination of the various town tourist activities, and the article was tabled.\u00c2\u00a0I expect that I’ll be voting against any money in this area. \u00c2\u00a0The pitch was all about seed money for\u00c2\u00a0tchotchkes. \u00c2\u00a0Find a private investor! \u00c2\u00a0If there’s profit here, great. \u00c2\u00a0The town isn’t in the business of seeding businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

The third hearing was on restoration of trees on Summer Street by the rink. \u00c2\u00a0Jeanne Leary spoke and provided before and after pictures of the trees. \u00c2\u00a0Summer St reconstruction took the trees down. \u00c2\u00a0Cut down 1000 treas in 2 days. \u00c2\u00a0Now there is no barrier between rink\/fields and neighbors. \u00c2\u00a0She complained of two lit fields during spring\/summer until 10pm and later, hockey rink until 1am. She reported multiple police complaints. \u00c2\u00a0She has tried Sens. Havern, Marzilli, and Donnelly. \u00c2\u00a0Rep Garballey tried and almost got $100,000. \u00c2\u00a0She found $46,000 in trees that the contractor missed, but Park and Rec put them in McClennan instead of at the rink. \u00c2\u00a0Some money has come from the Town Manager and DPW, but not enough. \u00c2\u00a0CDBG said no. \u00c2\u00a0So they are trying warrant article. \u00c2\u00a0Town took the trees down – not state – so we can’t go after them. \u00c2\u00a0We discussed this and there was hesitancy to set the precedent of FinComm involvement at this level. \u00c2\u00a0We agreed to talk to the DPW and Town Manager, consider funding sources, and tabled it for now.<\/p>\n

Al Tosti reported on community budget meetings.<\/p>\n

Feb 22nd is next Budget and Revenue Task Force meeting.<\/p>\n

Al reported there is a 5 year plan draft coming. \u00c2\u00a0I was surprised to hear this. \u00c2\u00a0This will be tough to do without a real plan to get into the GIC. \u00c2\u00a0I’d been assuming that we’d do FY11 without a 5-year plan, and try again next year. <\/span><\/p>\n

We reviewed the warrant in detail and identified articles that we wanted to have hearings. \u00c2\u00a0Articles that might have interesting hearings:<\/p>\n