Westport News

Present:    Warren Messier (WM), Tony Vieira (TV), Hugh Morton (HM), Lisa Arnold (LA), Charles “Buzzy” Baron (BB), John Miller (JM), Bob McCarthy (BM), Jack Baughan (JB), and Tracy Priestner (TP).

1.    TV, Chair, opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with the traditional salute to the flag.

2.    The reading and approval of the minutes from preceding meetings was postponed in order to convenience the department heads who were scheduled to present their proposed FY 2011 budgets.

3.     JM introduced Marta Montleon, Debbie Kenny, and Paul Jennings who, with him, presented the proposed budget for the Diman Regional School.  A Q&A period followed that focused upon the perceived unfairness of the Commonwealth’s use of a subsidy formula that resulted in Diman students from Fall River being subsidized in an amount that was over $8,000 more per pupil than the subsidy provided for Diman students from Westport.

4.    JM reported that no proposed budget had yet been set for the Bristol County Agricultural School since its board of trustees had not yet met for that purpose.

5.    TP introduced Westport School Superintendent, Dr. Carlos Colley and Melissa Sousa for the purpose of their presenting the proposed budget for the Westport Community Schools and made prepared introductory remarks that are attached to these minutes.  Dr. Colley led the FinComm through the extensive and detailed budget page by page and fielded questions.  The questions and answers dealt primarily with the large and unpredictable costs of special education programs mandated by the Commonwealth.  At the conclusion of the presentation of the proposed budget, TV noted that, since the matter of making up the FY2010 shortfall out of the Stabilization Fund had been last dealt with by the FinComm on February 9, a citizen petition had resulted in a Special Town Meeting being scheduled for March 9 at which the only warrant up for consideration would be one calling for authorization of such a move.  After some discussion of procedure that was aided by advice from the Town Moderator, it was moved by BB and seconded by TP that the FinComm recommend passage of that warrant.  After discussion of the motion by the members, it was passed by a vote of 5 to 4.

6.    JM introduced Jack Sisson and Sue Menard who, with him, presented the proposed budgets for the Highway Department and for Snow and Ice Removal.  It was noted that the proposed Highway budget would result in an increase in the amount of some $48,000 over the previous year but that the increase was necessitated primarily by preventive work required for roads that needed patching and by the need to purchase radio and signage equipment.  As regards the proposed budget for Snow and Ice Removal, discussion focused on whether the FinComm should continue its traditional practice of budgeting at an unrealistically low level in order to achieve a balanced budget in any particular fiscal year with the hope that overage could be covered out of Free Cash realized from the prior fiscal year.  In light of the fact that no Free Cash could be expected to be realized from FY 2010 and in light of the need to present Town Meeting and the electorate that might thereafter be asked to vote for a Proposition 2 ½ override with an accurate picture of the town’s financial situation, it was moved by BB and seconded by BM that we treat the proposed FY 2011 budget for Snow and Ice Removal in the same realistic fashion as we treat all other proposed FY 2011 budgets.  After some discussion, JB proposed an amendment to the motion that would nonetheless limit the proposed budget to $150,000.  The amendment not having been accepted by BB, the proposed amendment was moved by JB and seconded by BM.  After discussion, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 5 to 4.  Following further discussion, the original motion was passed by a vote of 7 to 2.

7.    BM introduced Wes Norman who presented the proposed FY 2011 budget for the Town Cemeteries.  Mr. Norman’s introductory remarks are attached to these minutes.

8.    BB presented the proposed budget for Street Lights in the absence of Denise Bouchard, who was suffering from laryngitis.

9.    JB presented the proposed budget for Water Enterprise.

10.    With the conclusion of the budget presentations scheduled on the night’s agenda, TV raised the question of whether there were any additions or corrections suggested for the minutes of February 9.  There being none, it was moved, seconded and passed by a vote of 8 positive and one abstention that they be approved.

11.    There then followed some discussion of steps to be taken to deal effectively with what appears to be a very strained revenue situation in FY 2011.  TV reported on a helpful meeting that the FinComm had had with the Board of Selectmen at the latter’s meeting the night before.  He reported that more such meetings were planned in order have everyone on the same page regarding steps that may need to be taken to cut spending as much as 5% over FY 2010 in order to make up for what, in the opinion of some, is likely to be a shortfall in the amount of around $1,500,000.00.  If this cannot be made up for by an override, we will have to come up with a balanced budget which makes reductions in that amount.  LA suggested that we take a positive view on the override possibility and do everything we can to make it a reality.  BB suggested that we implement a suggestion made by HM several meetings back that we conduct a campaign to educate the voters as to how the taxing and budgeting systems work and present them with a true picture of what they will all have to face in terms of service cuts if an override does not pass.  BB then moved and TP seconded a motion that the FinComm commit itself to implementing just such a program of voter education.  However, the motion was never voted upon.

12.    TV then mentioned that the Town Moderator had questioned the FinComm’s use of the Reserve Fund to cover shortfalls in its budget occasioned by overages in payment of fees for secretarial services.  BB moved and TP seconded a motion that, in light of the current revenue crisis, a member of the FinComm be designated to keep the minutes at each meeting.  After discussion, the motion was defeated by a vote of 5 to 3.

Adjournment and next meeting: There being no further business to come before the meeting, adjournment was moved, seconded and unanimously passed at 9:45 p.m.  The next regular meeting will be at Westport Town Hall on March 2nd at 6:30 p.m.
                            
Respectfully submitted,
Buzzy Baron, Recording Secretary, Pro Tem