3/19/2020 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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5 Finance Committee Minutes March 19, 2020 Continue discussion and votes on the May 4, 2020 Town Meeting Warrant: Annual Town Meeting Warrant: Article 2 Omnibus Budget: The Finance Committee has reviewed and supported each line item of the Town Manager's Recommended FY 2021 budget with the exception of the DNR Expense budget, Line item 33. There was a debate whether to Hold the recommendation of Article 2 to the night of Town Meeting or to approve the budget as written making comment on Line item 33 on the night of the Annual Town Meeting. Pros to approving the Town Manager's Recommended FY 2021 budget would provide consistency with the Board of Selectmen and notification to the citizens that the budget has been supported by the Finance Committee. The Board of Selectmen is expected to execute the Town Meeting Warrant on Monday, March 23, 2020. To adhere to posting deadlines,the warrant is posted with the Town Clerk and published in the Enterprise on April 3, 2020. It was argued the warrant should go to print with a recommendation from the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee remained firm with their,decision to hold the line item until further information regarding the proposed expenditures is received. It was noted the Finance Committee previously voted on ATM Article 2 by a vote of 6-0 pending Line Item 33. This essentially places the entire budget on hold. Motion made by Mr. Pettengill to recommend that Line item 33 be reduced by $42,000, the amount of the STM Article 10, to $90,840. Motion seconded by Mr. McKelvey. Discussion followed regarding the actual number of STM Article 10 that has not been determined. Motion made by Mr. Pettengill to rescind the motion. Motion seconded by Mr. McKelvey to rescind. VOTE: No action. It was agreed the Finance Committee would meet next week to consider approving the amount of STM Article 10 to be deducted from ATM Article 2, Line item 33. There was also a question regarding the wording of the warrant which states: as shown in the column entitled (FY 2021 Department Request" (See Omnibus Budget). The FY 2021 Department Request is 61,149,317. The FY 2021 Town Manager Recommendation is $60,401,047. The difference is $748,270. There is a misperception of correctness regarding the wording of the article as the Town Managers Recommendation is what is voted upon. As a result it was recommended this article be Held for clarification.