1987-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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s -As of February the town's authorized operating budget A budget shortfall caused a reduction of services in for FY'88 was $15,113,344. This does not include several departments, notably school, fire, police, and monies to be borrowed. public works in 1987. Voters twice declined to approve -The transfer of funds to the Stabilization Fund at the referenda that would have maintained those services. annual town meeting, allowed articles for capital im- Despite the cutbacks in operating budgets, though, provements to be considered.Town meeting permitted voters at annual and special town meetings approved ' the`leaky' roof of the Samuel G. Davis School (tem- the vast majority of capital budget recommendations porarily being used as town hall) to be repaired. The for the first time. Much of the time of this office is t ramp and steps at the senior center were replaced.A ma- devoted toward the capital program from time of de- jor town hall computer contracts of $186,567 to velopment of projects to their completion. New equip- MASBO Corporation was signed to install computers ment in the public works department, a new computer in town hall. This contract was approved by the board system, a new school, first phase of an addition to the in a three to two vote with Selectmen Gottlieb and police station, rehabilitation of a fire engine, and ap- Thomas opposed. Seventy-five thousand dollars was ap- proval of the Town's participation in a regional solid propriated to pay for a major overhaul of fire engine waste facility were major components of the capital #355. program. -Selectman Gottlieb initiated the process for the town to Overall, Mashpee is in relatively good fiscal health. participate in the Homeownership Opportunity Pro- This is due largely to the fact that the Town's three finan- gram to provide reduced interest mortgages to first-time cial officers — Board of Assessors,Treasurer/Tax Col- homebuyers with annual incomes up to $35,000. lector, and Town Accountant — work well together, in -The voters approved a by-law which authorized the contrast to many other communities. Annual audits, a police department to hold all future dog hearings. program to reduce unfunded pension liabilities and the -The County fuel oil bid in which the town participates, overall financial climate contributed to a maintenance went to Belcher of New England for#2 fuel oil at 1.22 of the Town's bond rating in 1987. Mashpee likely will cents above cost. not see an improvement in its rating without further diversification of its economy and complete conversion -Judith Kuusela was appointed to serve on the Waquoit of its financial systems to its computer system, a proc- Bay National Estuarine Research Committee as Mash- ess that started in 1987. pee's representative. -Monies collected by the selectmen's office for fees and Organizationally, the Town maintained its structure permits totalled $35,319. -The process of developing a Harbor Management Plan in 1987, adding one elected body, the Sewer Commis- sion.As 1987 closed,the organizational chart of Town government consists of 14 elected officers or commit- continued with the creation of an ad-hoc committee to tees and 25 separate officers or committees reporting study the issue. directly to Selectmen. Essentially, the Board of Select- -Revaluation was delayed one year due to the strains of men is"in charge"except for the functions of 13 other keeping up with growth on the assessors' office. elected departments. While the executive secretary's"job It has been an active and productive.year. Without the description"is specified by town by-law, state law per- team spirit of our town personnel and elected officials,the mits Selectmen to modify this "description" as they so accomplishments outlined in this report,would not have desire.As a result, duties of the executive secretary run been possible.Additionally,the selectmen wish to express the entire range from those of a significance to the long- their appreciation to the many volunteers serving the town term future of the Town to clerical functions.The scope who give endless hours of service to town government. of duties change with the composition of the Board of Selectmen. - i Respectfully submitted, It is suggested that Townspeople review Mashpee's B. Jean Thomas, Chairman government to determine if the executive and ad- Peter n Lawrence, Vice-Chair ministrative apparatus is functioning in the most effi- cient manner. There was a perception by many people Willard L. Hanson, Clerk Andrw R. Gottlieb that by voting in 1986 to revise the role of the executive I Jeremy Carter secretary and adding two selectmen, major changes BOARD OF SELECTMEN would take place. This has not occurred. It is suggested that 1988 and 1989 would be good opportunities to review the government structure. Report of the Executive Secretar Respectfully submitted, y Joseph F. Murphy Executive Secretary To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: - 9 -