Finance Committee Guidelines Subcommittee Approved Minutes
November 6, 2008
The Finance Committee Guidelines Subcommittee met Thursday evening November 6, 2008, in the Board of Selectmen’s Room at the Town House, Concord, Massachusetts. Notice of the meeting was duly filed with the Town Clerk, Town of Concord, Massachusetts.
Members present: Jill Appel, Susan Bates, Walter Birge, Charles Blair, Bruce Button, Mark Howell, Michael Lawson, Judith Quanrud, Lynn Salinger, Carol Wilson.
Also present: Thornton Ash, Carlisle Financial Committee; Patrick Ball, Concord Journal; John Flaherty, Deputy Superintendent in Charge of Finance and Operations; Pam Gannon, School Committee Observer; Gregory Howes, Chair, Board of Selectmen; Virginia Lamere, Carlisle Mosquito; Tony Logalbo, Finance Director; Virginia McIntyre, Selectmen; Janet Rothrock, Recorder; Jerry Wedge, Chair of Concord Carlisle Regional School District.
Chairman Mark Howell called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes: Approval of the minutes was not discussed.
2. Response to Tentative Guideline:
Superintendent of Schools: Superintendent Rigby presented the overview of the preliminary
budget information FY10 response for Concord Carlisle Regional School District and
Concord Public Schools.
Deputy Superintendent Flaherty presented details of the preliminary budget information FY10 response for Concord Carlisle Regional School District and Concord Public Schools.
Preliminary needs for Concord Carlisle Regional School District to achieve a reduction of $474,520 include: eliminate funding for one replacement school bus, eliminate 2 FTEs Radio Station staff, reduce professional development, adjust staffing to 95:1 (from 90:1), cut .2 Health Curriculum Specialist and Program, reduce athletic budget by 30%, reduce co-curricular stipends by 10%, eliminate partial restoration of the supplies and materials budget, cut Guidance 1 FTE, reduce clerical support, reduce library textbooks, increase unemployment compensation budget.
Preliminary needs for Concord Public Schools to achieve a reduction of $323,751 include: eliminate funding for one replacement school bus, reduce supplies and materials budget, reduce capital outlay and capital stabilization.
Superintendents Rigby and Flaherty expressed an interest in increasing the funds available to Concord Carlisle Regional School District.
Town Manager: Town Manager Whalen presented the Response to Preliminary Guideline Allocation for FY2010. A reduction in the operating budget in the range of $200,000 to $250,000 will be achieved through improved efficiency and service reductions. The importance of fair compensation and the difficulty of achieving cost savings by regionalizing services were discussed.
3. Finance Director’s Report: Finance Director Logalbo reported new growth is $147,751
higher than the $800,000 estimate included in the September 18th memorandum. This
is expected to be offset by decreased revenues from motor vehicle excise tax.
4. Other Business:
Chair’s Comments: Mr. Birge shared with committee discussions from the state finance
committee conference last weekend. Of particular concern to Concord is the risk of
osing state revenue for state-owned land within Town.
Bruce Button was congratulated for his election as Director, Association of Finance Committees.
School Schedule Committee will be meeting 11/13/2008 at 4:30. Finance Committee representation was encouraged. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Wilson, Clerk
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