09/23/1987 FINANCE COMMITTEE Minutes

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Finance Committee Minutes September 23 , 1987 Page 2 . Bill' Towner voiced his suggestions for the FY89 budget and how it should be approached. He feels that the FY89 budget should be level funded from FY88 plus 80% reimbursement to Fire, Police and School budgets and a 22 increase for everyone . He expressed his idea that there be no money articles on the town warrant prior to the general budget. If the general budget passes at that level , if there is money left over, other money articles can come. He expressed his feelings that the Finance Committee had made some mistakes this year cutting budgets in view of 22 constraints . The Fire Department problems and morale were discussed. Carl Heller expressed his belief that there had been an absolute consipiracy spending $25 , 000 on overtime. Lou visited the Fire Department again. She mentioned that more people would be cheaper than the overtime . Finance Committee members agreed that it is necessary to get to the bottom of why the wage account is so depleted. Carl noted that an independent audit of the Fire Department accounts would cost $20 , 000 , and he believes it is necessary. Vern' s audit can not be legally accepted, she has the documentation. Finance Committee members agree that the Selectmen are not managing the Department well . The members reviewed the Articles on the Warrant for November 1987 . A number of these articles do not have monies assigned to them. All articles will be discussed further at next week ' s meeting. Article 1 This will be looked at next week. The Committee would like to have Tom Fudala explain this using maps . Article 2/3 Will be discussed next week . Article 4 This article is regarding the appropriation of funds for the engineering, design and technical specifications for the transfer station at the dump. No money figure has been assigned to this article, and will be discussed next week. Article 5 This . article seeks $8 , 860 for the Park and Rec Well Account. Finance Committee members questioned . if this was the second time around for this article. Article 6 The Finance Committee questioned the $7 , 260 from the Town Land Account to conduct a boundary survey of the Park and Rec complex on route 130 . . An explana- tion of this article is required . Article 7 The Committee has no choice but to agree that $4 , 276 . 51 be appropriated from free cash to pay bills from the previous year. Article 8 Carl explained that the reason for this article is that the town can only spend up to $10 , 000 from the Insurance Recovery Account without town approval. The article states that $12 , 754 has to be appropriated from Insurance Recovery and $324 from free cash. This is actually only costing the town $324 to replace the police cruiser the rest is from the insurance.