Finance Committee
Holden Finance Committee Minutes, September 16, 2020
Reorganization Meeting via Zoom
Members Present: Paul Challenger, Dave White, Joe Dolak, Chris Lucchesi, Don Graves, Jane Titcomb, Stephanie Adams, Marilynn Foley
Member Absent: John Lambert
Also Present: Town Moderator, Joe Sullivan (left at 8:08)
The meeting was called to order at 7:08 P.M.
Town Moderator Joe Sullivan thanked the Committee for volunteering to be members of the Finance Committee and for their time and effort in their deliberations on the Fiscal Budget.
Joe Sullivan called for nominations for Committee Officers.
A motion by Jane 2nd by Don to elect Paul as Chairman was voted unanimously (roll call vote: Adams, Challenger, Dolak, Foley, Graves, Lucchesi, Titcomb, White).
A motion by Stephanie 2nd by Jane to elect Chris as Vice Chairman was voted unanimously (roll call vote: Adams, Challenger, Dolak, Foley, Graves, Lucchesi, Titcomb, White).
A motion by Paul 2nd by Don to elect Marilynn as Clerk was voted unanimously (roll call vote: Adams, Challenger, Dolak, Foley, Graves, Lucchesi, Titcomb, White).
Joe turned the meeting over to Paul.
Paul reported on his conversations with Town Manager Peter Lukes. They discussed the town’s reaction to the Covid 19 pandemic. The town is in good shape financially for FY 2021. Towns buildings are closed to the public, but staff are working and all services are being provided. State aid will be level funded for 2021, but with no increase in funds. Next year (FY2022) will be a tight budget year. Peter is planning a level funded operating budget. The town received a grant for $165,000.00 for crosswalks at the Dawson recreation area. The Fire Department received a $66,000 grant for air compressors. The pool revenue is less because of restricted use of the pool this summer due to the virus. They discussed the impact the virus has had on the WRSD. The plan is for remote learning until Nov.16. The WRSD is spending in accordance with their approved budget, but does not yet know what state aid they will receive. The state is planning at least level funding.
Chris reported on the DPW building project. The bids were very favorable for the project coming in under the $18,550,000.00 voted at Town Meeting.
The Committee discussed planning for the next budget year. For example: should meetings end by 9:00 P.M. or be flexible, should we group the department heads differently when they come to present their budget to the Committee, should we plan for a longer meeting for the Resource Profile night having smaller departments attend, getting accurate head counts of departments (some departments have personnel entered in a number of different budgets), should we have MRTVHS come for a visit, when should we meet with the WRSD? We would like actual prior year numbers in the Resource Profile instead of estimated numbers. We would like the budget book to be a little different, for example: listing departments differently, order of the special funds, account names, terms in the Capital Budget. Paul will pursue some of these with the Manager and the Committee will meet again on September 30 to continue these discussions.
A motion by Dave 2nd by Don to approve the minutes of June 29, 2020 was vote unanimously
(roll call vote: Adams, Challenger, Dolak, Foley, Graves. Lucchesi, White, abstained Titcomb).
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marilynn Foley, Clerk