Minutes

Meeting Date: 

February 20, 2019

Wellfleet Finance Committee

February 20,2019

Wellfleet Senior Center, 715 Old Kings Hwy

Present: Chair, Janet Loewenstein; Ira Wood, Kathy Granlund, Stephen Polowczyk, Fred Magee, Robert Wallace, Linda Pellegrino, Jeff Tash

Absent: none

Others Present: Town Administrator, Dan Hoort; Community Preservation Committee Gary Sorkin, Jan Plaue and Mary Rogers. Housing Partnership Gary Sorkin, Richard Ciotti and Sharon Rule-Agger

Chair Loewenstein called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Community Preservation Committee Update

CPC Chair Sorkin presented the CPC recommendations which were discussed by the Finance Committee.

1. $75,000 for a housing specialist.  The intent is to hire a consultant.
2. $30,000 for additional Form B inventories.  The hope is to eventually train and hire a local Wellfleetian to do the inventories.
3. $54,000 for a shade structure at the Baker Field recreation area to replace the tent.
4. $100,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
5. $7,500 to the Community Development Partnership to support the ongoing Housing Institute meetings.

The Shellfish Department had put in a request which was denied due to state regulations on how CPC funds may be used.

Housing Authority/Local Housing Partnership

Sorkin, Ciotti and Ager presented the plans for 95 Lawrence Road which will be on the town meeting warrant.  The plot is 9+ acres which includes the ballfield and the water tower.  Rule-Agger discussed the 2017 Housing Needs Assessment.  The Town is losing its younger population due to the lack of housing.  The housing shortage in turn effects the local economy due to the labor shortage.

The property has a capacity for up to 90 bedrooms.  The Committee asked a number of questions regarding the proposal.  The availability of town water is a key for this property.

The Committee briefly discussed the request from the Selectboard that they attend the 03/04/19 Selectboard meeting where the Selectboard will insert articles onto the warrant and make their recommendations.  No decision was made.

The Committee began their review of the operating budget and other warrant articles.

Moved to recommend General Government budget in the amount of $1,786,765

Motion:  Polowczyk               Second: Wood                       Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Public Safety budget in the amount of $3,789,097

Motion: Wood                        Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Education budget in the amount of $6,049,340

Motion: Wood                        Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Public Works budget in the amount of $2,065,806

Motion: Wood                        Second:  Pellegrino               Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Human Services budget in the amount of $681,768

Motion: Magee                       Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to reduce the Salaries & Wages line item in the Recreation budget by $6,400

Motion: Polowczyk                Second:  Granlund                Passed: 6-2-0 (JL, JT)

Moved to recommend Culture and Recreation budget in the amount of $1,306,806

Motion: Polowczyk                Second:  Granlund                Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Interest Accounts budget in the amount of $25,150

Motion: Magee                       Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Benefits and Insurance budget in the amount of $3,275,223

Motion: Magee                       Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Water Enterprise Fund budget in the amount of $280,861

Motion: Wood                        Second:  Magee                     Passed: 7-1-0 (SP)

Moved to recommend Marina Enterprise Fund budget in the amount of $625,669

Motion: Granlund                  Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

WARRANT ARTICLES:

Moved to recommend Article 6 – Prior Year Invoices

Motion: Wood             Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Articles 16 & 18 – Capital Improvements

Motion: Wood             Second:  Magee                     Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Article 19 – Capital Improvement request

Motion: Wood             Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Article 20 & 21 – Capital Improvement request

Motion: Wood             Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Articles 22 & 23 – Building and Grounds

Motion: Wood             Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Articles 24 – (OPEB) Contributions (Town and School)

Motion: Wood             Second:  Polowczyk              Passed: 8-0-0

Moved to recommend Article 25 Marina Enterprise Stabilization

Motion: Wood            Second: Polowczyk               Passes 8-0-0

Moved to approve minutes of January 30, 2019

Motion: Polowczyk    Second:  Wood                      Passed: 7-0-1 (BW)

Moved to instruct TA Hoort to send get well wishes from the Finance Committee to Rebekah and send flowers if possible.

Motion:  Wood           Second:  Tash                         Passed: 8-0-0

There were no liaison reports.

Magee gave a brief update on strategic planning.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:01pm