2/27/2012 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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Feb 27 meeting Page 1 of 1 From: Kathleen A. ll corekmcore a@mashpeema.gcv To:.ksoa712 ksca712 c acl. M Subject: Feb 27 meetingL Date: Tue, Feb 28,2012 10:35 arn Good morning Kathy, Usted below is the statement read last night by Selectman Richardson. "I would-like to read the fol IoW1ng-statement Into-the-record: The-Town of I a pee-is run very.well: We^hare-a-financial y-strong.To nlana r-running our operation and she has done a very good job-for many gears addressing the needs of residents,and employees alike,and at the same time year after year balancing our budget. It is a thankless job in many ways,as is any large management position,since its impossible to make everbody happy.It's also Important hereto-state-that happiness-is not-our main goal,the,main-goal-is-twun-our operation so that the residents of-Mash pee get the services they are entitled to while at the same time not breaking the bank,ie keeping taxes in check. Again this year the budget process is a tug and pull process,some give and take as we rrieander along the path to a balanced budget. We use one system for all budgM.MUNIS.Its a user friendly system that works for everyone.one department again this gear refuses to use MUN15 resulting Ire added time, conft6imon,and-disconnects-by,aU-involved-in-the,budget process`a we-t to come up with accurate-information. The School-system-of- lashpee-refuses. to input their budget into 1111UN15. All other departments do. 1 bile I cannot guarantee thank the Schools would get the requested budget.by so doing,i can say that the process of getting there wouid be much simpler and less time consuming,ire addition to being more clear as to the rationale behind requests. i would say that the more clarity we can get the easier the process. There have been many and various discussions about the use of MUNIS, problerns associate with-it,it-bein&locked-or-unlocked,and there is- or Nswr a4-dl a ree msas-welh,however r today,-a- speak-there-is-nothin that prevents the Schools from using it. Additionally it was suggested by a School Committee member at a recent School Committee Meeting expressing some frustration over the continuous budget disconnects that perhaps the Town should handle the budgeting process and financials for the Schools. That idea was summarily rejected as being a"t o #lict of Interest"'by the-char-and Vice-Chair of the Scboo4-Committee—. in r-#c-the-tis aMIJU is no'r ason-why-the Ana ndals-and - budgeting process could not be combined with the Town's accounting department.Where eXists-abwiutely no conflict of interest,and i wit-ad d-thatbased on a couple of years trying to understand the School budget,that such a process would make everything much smoother. Lastly.a-Department heads-meet-rutinely-tax-discuss issues-wit Nn th -To n-as-th.e i pact it ii departments.This is the foundation-for collaboration amongst town departments also allowing for understanding of other departments needs,and issues.This is where the understanding of how available budget money may be needed in a specific area,thus allowing for more collaboration during the budget process.ft what makes the machinery run..the opportunity to understand what your fellow departments are going through. For reasons unknown,the Superintendent of Schbols.muses to attend depaTtment rneefiRgs.Any-manager of a-larg"ep rtment's-hould haae-an-interest in the other-departments,particularly.as they-interconnect,so this represents a very difficult thing for us to understand. I'd like to close by saying we do get to the end game eventually. it is not without stress,discord and,some hurt feelings.I sense that will always be part of the process and to challenge and be challenged is appropriate.Any manager worth,his or her salt should be able to stand the test of inquiry as it relates to budgets,-The rnaj ofdepamrAmt heads-fully understand-tba nd rL to-the-occasion.They-come-forth-with open and imaginative-ways-to manage. their operations.That is not to say they dont fight for every penny,however,they do so with an understanding of limitations,an understanding of their fellow department needs,and they do so with a willingness to compromise,and they do it up front and openly man to marc,manager to manager,not in the newspapers with spin on the issues, Vd-like-the SchWs to consider stepping-up-to-template-arid beg4mactingI1ke jown-Dep rtmentthat wishes-to work within-the sy tern. I-believe it w*d ultimately be good for everyone. Sincerely, Kathleen A.Moore Administrative Assistant i to the Town tanager Selectmen Town cvf Mashpee http://moa*l.aol.com/35647-111 aol- /erg- s ail PrintMes age.as 2/28/201