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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Tony Vegnani, Chairman; Kathy Donahue; Constantine Constantinides; Paul Lemieux; Peter Detwiler; Bob DeLorenzo. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Lisa Fenton.

1. Chairman Tony Vegnani called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Scituate Library meeting room.

2. On a MOTION by Mr. Lemieux, SECONDED by Mr. Constantinides, the agenda was accepted as written unanimously by a vote of 6-0.

3. OLD BUSINESS. a) Committee Appointments. Mr. Vegnani welcomed the new members to the Advisory Committee, Mr. DeLorenzo and Mr. Detwiler. He said that some members’ terms will be concluding shortly, and new members will be appointed to replace them.

Mr. Vegnani suggested taking the agenda out of order and moving to agenda item
4. NEW BUSINESS a. Reserve Fund Transfers first, dealing with transfers from FY06 (balance as of 6/30 $85,657.30) first.

The first reserve fund transfer requested is $20,375.00 from FY06 to Dept. 123 Sch 532 Legal Fees Town Administrator. Mr. Vegnani said that he reviewed the bills, the majority of which are for fire and police and are all from one attorney who bills a reasonable $100/hour; about 150 hours were for the Johnson case. Mr. Agnew added that the Hamacher case and Alonzo case were also included. Mr. Constantinides asked if any of these cases will continue; Mr. Agnew said that the Johnson case was appealed. On a question from Mr. Detwiler, Mr. Agnew said that this was the highest amount in 16 years. Mr. DeLorenzo and Ms. Donahue asked if any of the legal fees for the Johnson case are recoverable; Mr. Agnew said that they are not. On a MOTION by Ms. Donahue, SECONDED by Mr. Constantinides, the transfer of $20,375.00 was approved unanimously (6-0).

The next transfer requested is $9,065.00 from FY06 to Dept 610 Library Sch 520 Maintenance. Ms. Meeker said that the outstanding amount is on the maintenance and repair line; and that they have never had this happen to this extent. The elevator pit showed signs of water seepage; the elevator is also not ADA compliant and if it were shut down it probably wouldn’t be allowed to be used again. So the work done on the elevator was costly. There also was a minor flooding incident due to either vandalism or negligence. Ms. Meeker said that there are many items including roofing, windows, infrastructure and a/c will be in need of attention in the near future. On a MOTION by Mr. DeLorenzo, SECONDED by Mr. Constantinides, the transfer of $9,065.00 was approved unanimously (6-0).

The final transfer requested from FY06 was for Line 423 Snow and Ice, $56,217.30. The figure for Snow and Ice in 2006 was $503,000; in 2005, it was $930,000; in 2004, it was $524,000; and in 2003 it was $658,000. On a MOTION by Ms. Donahue, SECONDED by Mr. Constantinides, the transfer of $56,217.30 was approved unanimously (6-0).

Mr. Vegnani then moved to line item transfers.

$350.00 From Dept. 910 Sch 512 Non-Contributory Pensions to Dept 131 Sch 520 Advisory Committee. On a MOTION by Mr. DeLorenzo, SECONDED by Mr. Constantinides, the transfer of $350.00 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$313.99 From Dept 210 Sch 520 Police to Dept 210 Sch 540 Police. Ms. Donahue asked about fuel costs; Mr. Agnew confirmed that all vendors had been paid and that the total was less than anticipated. On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Ms. Donahue, the transfer of $313.99 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$1,685.26 From Dept. 400 Sch 520 DPW to Dept 400 Sch 540 DPW. On a MOTION by Ms. Donahue, SECONDED by Mr. Detwiler, the transfer of $1,685.26 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$2,561.00 From Dept 910 Sch 512 Non Contributory Pensions to Dept 720 Sch 590 Debt. On a MOTION by Mr Constantinides., SECONDED by Mr. DeLorenzo, the transfer of $1,685.26 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$2,262.01 From Dept 123 Sch 520 Town Administrator to Dept 913 Sch 515 Unemployment Insurance. On a MOTION by Ms. Donahue, SECONDED by Mr. Detwiler, the transfer of $2,262.01 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$3,356.44 From Dept. 914 Sch 515 Contributory Group Insurance to Dept 916 Sch 515 Federal Taxes. This is for the Medicare premium. This deficit is considerably lower than it has been in previous years. On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Ms. Donahue, the transfer of $3,356.44 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$2,089.00 From Dept. 910 Sch. 512 Non-Contributory Pensions to Dept 541 Sch 905 Paratransit. On a MOTION by Mr. Detwiler, SECONDED by Mr. Constantinides, the transfer of $2,089.00 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$1,436.50 From Dept. 543 Sch. 520 Veterans Agent to Dept 541 Sch 905 Paratransit. On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Ms Donahue., the transfer of $1,436.50 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$1,138.50 From Dept 543 Sch 540 Veterans Agent to Dept 192 Sch 570 Liability/Property Insurance. On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Ms. Donahue, the transfer of $1,138.50 was approved unanimously (6-0).

$5,000.00 From Dept 149 Sch 520 Town Administrator to Dept 192 Sch 570 Liability/Property Insurance. On a MOTION by Ms. Donahue, SECONDED by Mr. DeLorenzo, the transfer of $5,000.00 was approved unanimously (6-0).

Mr. Agnew said the Board of Selectmen will be voting on the Line Item Transfers on Tuesday; Mr. Vegnani said that the Advisory Committee is solely responsible for FY06 transfers.

4b Cherry Sheet Review. Mr. Vegnani pointed out that there is only about a $93,000 overage, after the $500,000 from Free Cash is taken out. Mr. Agnew reviewed the Cherry Sheet for Advisory members. Mr. Vegnani also pointed out that we have withdrawn $400,000 from the Stabilization Fund and $100,000 from Retained Earnings. There was a discussion about new growth.

In other new business, Mr. Vegnani said that the schools will no longer pay for cleanup after Town Meeting. He said that Mr. Norton will be the Selectmen Liaison and he explained how Advisory members will meet with the departmental liaisons to prepare for reviewing the budget. He said that Mr. Babin of the Water Department asked whether the $30,000 appropriated for a new vehicle could be spent on two used vehicles, and that Mr. Agnew had said that it cannot. Mr. Vegnani also mentioned reclusions

3. OLD BUSINESS. b) Approval of Previous Minutes. The Minutes of January 26, 2006, February 2, 2006 and March 4, 2006 were reviewed but approval was tabled as a majority was not present for a vote.

5. A MOTION was made by Mr. Constantinides to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 P.M; the motion was SECONDED by Ms. Donahue; all present voted in favor of the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M..

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Martin