02/08/2021 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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3 Finance Committee-Board of Selectmen Minutes February 8, 2021 Discussion of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Recommendations: Town Manager Rodney C. Collins outlined the Town Manager's FY22 Recommended Operating Budget. With the exception of the DPW,Transfer Station and Board of Health the expense budget is essentially level funded. The recommended budget of$64,924,643 represents a 4.89%increase while reducing expenditures by $791,202. The operating budget contains wage and salary adjustments consistent with collective bargaining obligations. Medical Insurance presents a 9.02% increase within a recommended budget of$8,592,742. It was reported new figures have been obtained in the Medical Insurance category that represent a decrease in projections realizing a savings in expenses by approximately $1 million. The School Department budget adheres to the recommendation of the Town Manager for Fiscal Year 2022. The $23,299,435 budget has been reduced by $229,000 to consider an increase of 3.29%in FY22. The School Committee was noted to have affirmed the modified submittal. As an offset School Choice funds and Capital Improvement Program budget appropriations would compensate for the shortfall. Within the DPW, expenses have been reduced by 18%to equal expenses in FY21. This created an adjustment to the road maintenance plan. In the salary/wage category there are reductions as several vacant positions were not intended to be filled in FY22. This objective maintains level funding retaining personnel and avoiding layoffs. It was noted it is permissible to deficit spend the Snow&Ice Account. This line item cannot turn-back funds. Discussion of May 3 2021 Special and Annual Town Meetings: The deadline for articles to be considered for the May 3, 2021 Special and Annual Town Meeting warrant is Monday,February 8, 2021. The warrant will be reviewed at subsequent meetings. There is one petition article submitted for solar panels in the overlay district. It is the recommendation of the Town Manager to place the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) facility, a capital improvement program recommendation on the Special Town Meeting warrant to have funds readily available for the needs of this department. The CIP, Select Board and Finance Committee were noted to have unanimously recommended the $850,000 DNR building for placement on the Special Town Meeting warrant. In the interim Town Counsel would be consulted to ensure all procurement aspects of the proposal would be satisfied. The remaining CIP budget would be placed in normal course on the Annual Town Meeting warrant after the Omnibus Budget is funded.