Finance Committee Meeting – Jan. 25, 2012

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Minutes

ROCKLAND FINANCE COMMITTEE

ROCKLAND TOWN HALL

ROCKLAND, MA 02370

January 25, 2012

In attendance at January 25, 2012 Finance Committee meeting were Bill Allen, Bob MacDonald, Joe Gambon, Rich Penney and Rachel Gear. Julie Schaffer was absent.

The meeting was brought to order at 7:07 p.m. by Vice Chairman Joe Gambon. Joe read aloud that the meeting was being recorded and could be reproduced.

Rich Penney made a motion to accept the minutes from the January 11, 2012 meeting, seconded by                          Bob MacDonald. A unanimous vote was taken. Rachel Gear abstained as she was absent at the meeting on 1/11/2012.

New Business

  • Finance Committee re-organization. Due to his desire to run for Town Treasurer, John Ellard was required, by statute, to resign from his role as chairman. After discussion among members of the committee, Bill Allen was nominated as chairman by Bob MacDonald, seconded by Rich Penney. A unanimous vote was taken.
  • Bill Allen then resigned from his position of secretary. After discussion, Rachel Gear was nominated by Rich Penney, seconded by Bob Macdonald. A unanimous vote was taken.
  • Fire Department Budget Review: Chief Scott Duffey and Mary Ryan were in attendance.
    • FY 2013 Proposed Budget: $2,734,559 vs. $2,598,237 in FY 2012. This represents an increase of $136, 322 or 4.98%.
      • $75,560 increase in Salaries for permanent men includes a new hire, and a 4% bump based upon one firefighter being in service for 20 years.
      • $6,169 Increase in the captain’s line item is based upon the salary being carried at the paramedic rate. The acting captain did not take the Civil Service exam.
      • $10,000 increase in substitute payroll is a result of the 4% increase in the Salary line item, and the new hire. Rich Penney asked what affect filling the vacancy would have on substitute payroll. The line item cost would increase.
      • New Line Item of $30,000 was added for 3rd Party Ambulance billing. This is needed based upon the ever changing rules in deductibles. In order to stay on top of these rules and insure that we as a town collect all that is due, the department, and town would like to outsource this. It is estimated that we should, at the very least, breakeven, and more than likely collect more of the billings.
      • Reviewed the articles to be submitted at Town Meeting, they consist of
        • Annual renewal of the 50K Revolving account
        • 3rd year Lease payment on the New Engine, 50K
        • 45K for a Command Vehicle or an option to lease for 3 years at 18K per year.
        • 220K to purchase a new ambulance, or an option to lease for 4 years at 60K.
        • Sick time buyback of $45K
        • 35K to purchase of a new LifePak 15 Cardiac monitor.
        • 7K for the town’s 5% match to a DOHS Firefighters grant for 2 Cardiac Monitors and ancillary equipment, 11 Semi-auto Defibrillators and maintenance agreements. – If awarded the 35K article is removed.
        • 40K for the towns 5% match for a DOHS Firefighters grant to outfit the station with new radio and communications equipment. (Joint with Abington).
        • Boiler replacement at the station. Funds un-known at this time
      • When asked to rank these in his order of priority, Chief Duffey said the Boiler replacement was #1, the Ambulance would be #2 and the command vehicle would be #3.
      • The Ambulance would generate revenue for the town, but there would also be added costs. We are leaving somewhere around 100K on the table by having only 1 ambulance on the road.
      • Current Staff includes 23 permanent men for shift work. 2 men are of on injury.
    • Update from Eric Hart
      • Governor’s budget gives us approximately $60,000 more in funding
      • Approximately 432 K in Free cash. Finance Committee needs to put a policy in place regarding free cash and its use.
      • Have approximately 432 K in LNR money
      • Asked that we try to steer away from new lease agreement.
      • Informed us that Doric from the Schools wanted to have a liaison meeting with the chairman, Eric Hart and Bill Minahan to review their budget.
    • We decided along with Eric to begin our level funded budget using last fiscal year’s appropriated numbers rather than the budget submitted from the BOS.
  • Other Business
    • None.

OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

  • School Building Committee
    • No Updates given.
  • Capital Planning Committee
    • No updates given.

NEXT MEETING:

Currently scheduled for February1, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower conference room.

Rachel Gear made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Rich Penney.  A unanimous vote was taken and the meeting ended at 8:53 p.m.

Respectfully

William Allen

Chairman

Rockland Finance Committee