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)

Absent:    Tracy Priestner (TP)

1.    TV, Chair, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with the traditional salute to the flag.

2. TV asked for a moment of silence for the deaths of Henry Arruda and John Carvalho.  They were farmers and instrumental in town.  They both had large families and owned dairy farms.

3. TV briefly spoke about town finances and the revenue stance going forward.  He distributed a schedule of local receipts from the Town Accountant. (See attached.)  He stated that there is no free cash this year and the stabilization fund is only at $1.5 million, which should be 3-5% of the total budgets.  We are starting at zero for FY11.

4. Treasurer, George Foster, talked about his outlook for the rest of FY10 and FY11.  He said that the revenue seems to be slowing down and the expenses are staying the same or increasing.  Receipts are down $1.3 million.  There is not a lot in reserves to cover.  Managing cash flow right now is very difficult.  The town has to revert back to what can and cannot be paid based on importance.  The Treasurer’s office does generate revenue in the form of interest but there is not much to invest and the banks are not paying out.  Our ability to borrow is better than our peer groups.  The Fire Station will go out to bid for bond in the spring as a 20-yr. bond.  This will have a minimal tax effect.  Stabilization is about ½ of what it should be.

5. Assessors Steve Medeiros, Jack McDermott and Bob Grillo were in attendance to speak.  They distributed a handout detailing the taxes for the town.  (See attached.)  A supplemental tax is when an occupancy permit is issued.  The handout showed the overlay reserves for abatements.  They said the reserve for 2008 might be able to be used but not until the end of the year.  The overlay reserve is for abatements or appeals pending.  Once they are completed, then the reserve can be released.  

6. Tax Collector, Carol Borden, came in to speak on collections.  She had good news in that revenue for Municipal Lien Certificates is up.  The demand fee has been doubled.  The bulk of excise has increased.  

7. Tim Harrenstein, School Committee, read a letter from Russell Kleber regarding the need for monies to be taken from stabilization to fund a shortfall in the FY10 school budget.  (See attached.)  Much discussion ensued with Dr. Carlos Colley, Superintendent, and many members of the school committee.  BB made a motion to use the stabilization fund to help the school budget.  TV seconded the motion.  After much more discussions, LA made a motion to table the first motion till a later date.  HM seconded the motion and the vote was 7-1 in favor of tabling the motion.  Consensus is that the town needs an override or more cuts have to be made.  The townspeople will have to decide what services can be cut.   FY11 school budget is at $15.4 million.

8. JB talked about CIPC and the requests to date are approximately $5 million.  Most of these are infrastructure improvements.  If an override does not go, we can go out to bond for this.  TV said there is a bond out there not being used of $1.5 million and can we revote it for CIPC.  WM said that the new fire station will come in underbid and that there will be extra that we need to revote for CIPC.  BB made a motion to schedule a joint meeting with the BOS at their earliest convenience to discuss town priorities of the FY10 and FY11 budgets.  LA seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

A brief recess occurred from 9:30 – 9:45 p.m.

9. LA talked about the transfer station and if the Fincom could put an article on the warrant to raise the sticker fees.  Dr. Colletti, Chair of the BOH, said that they do not have enough manpower to implement a yearly sticker.  TV said we are waiting for the DEP report to make any decisions.  JB recommended closing the transfer station and contracting with waste management for recycling.

10. TV finished by stating that any budget submitted over level-funded needs to have a revenue source.  A bill was presented for the clerk’s hours.  WM made a motion to pay the bill.  HM seconded the motion and all were in favor.  A letter from the Highway surveyor was presented (see attached) that requested deficit spending for Snow & Ice.  BM made a motion to allow up to $137,000.  WM seconded the motion and all were in favor.


Adjournment and next meeting: There being no further business to come before this meeting, BB moved and BM seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:50pm.  The vote in favor was unanimous.  The next regular meeting will be on February 9th at 6:30 p.m.
                            
Respectfully submitted,
Nicole Botelho, Recording Secretary