Finance Committee Minutes
Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of February 24, 2016
Council on Aging, 7:00 PM
Members Present: Arlene Kirsch, Janet Loewenstein, Fred Magee, Linda Pellegrino, Stephen Polowczyk, Chair, Liz Sorrell, Robert Wallace, Ira Wood
Members Absent: Sam Bradford
Also Attending: Assistant Town Administrator Brian Carlson, Town Accountant Marilyn Crary, Mary Rogers, Town Administrator Harry Terkanian, Wellfleet Elementary School Committee Members: Martha Gordon, Mort Inger, Betsy Pontius, & Jill Putnam
Chair Polowczyk called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Transfers
None
Liaison Reports
None
Correspondence
Nothing of note
Minutes
Tabled
Community Preservation Act Funding Application Overview
Mary Rogers, coordinator for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), presented the five projects on the FY17 Warrant. The Committee asked clarifying questions.
The Committee requested a presentation and a draft contract for the Cape Cod Village project prior to making a recommendation. Rogers will try to arrange for a representative of the project to attend the next Finance Committee meeting on March 23.
The Committee postponed its recommendations on the CPC projects until all warrant articles are ready for comment.
Wellfleet Elementary School FY17 Budget
The Committee reviewed the Wellfleet Elementary School FY17 Budget presentation prepared by Principal Mary Beth Rodman, and presented by Finance Committee member Liz Sorrell. Sorrell emphasized the merits of the Kindergarten program.
Further discussion focused on the School Committee’s plans for future cost cutting, in light of the fact that enrollment is generally down. Special Education costs, employee benefits, and transportation fees add to the growing cost of education.
FY17 Budget Recommendations
TA Terkanian guided the Committee through the FY17 Wellfleet Town Budget, specifically the changes that have been made since it was originally submitted on December 3, 2015. He noted that the Board of Selectmen had approved both the FY17 Operating and Capital Budgets as amended at its February 23, 2016 meeting.
Chair Polowczyk made recommendations that would cut the budget, but no motion was made.
After further discussion, Kirsch made the motion to recommend the Town of Wellfleet FY17 Operating and Capital Budgets as presented with amendments that had been approved by the Board of Selectmen on 2/23/16, Wood seconded; the motion passed 7-1.
Next Meeting: March 9, 2016
Minutes
Warrant Article Recommendations
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM.
Public Records of 2/24/16
CPC Application Overview
FY17 Wellfleet Elementary School Budget Presentation
FY17 Town of Wellfleet Budget documents, available on the Town’s website