Minutes

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Winthrop Finance Commission Minutes

Date:

Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 6:00pm

Attendees: TOW: Bobby DiMento (BD), Arthur Hickey (AH), Jim Letterie (JL), Sarah Johnson (SJ).

Robbie Powers (RP)

FC: Brent Farrell (BF), Karin Chavis (KC), William Gault (WG), Matt Gorzkowicz (MG},
Hannah Belcher (HB), Joe Hanlon (JH)

Absent: John Macero, Shannon Poulos, John DaRos, Max Tassinari

Meeting called to order at 6:05 pm by MG.

Rollcall vote completed by KC. All present except individuals noted above. Members unable fo vote
on prior meeting minutes due to attendance.

Focus of meeting will be on the discussion and review of the Larsen rink and harbormaster budgets.

Larsen
.

Rink (BD)

Indirect costs increased by 20%

Discussion related to cost allocation amongst various enterprise funds

Electricity costs are low due to solar credits, expected that there wont be significant savings
against budget from last year

Additional revenue from schools due to existence of JV hockey team

Rental rates are below competing rinks nearby, due to amenities

Ice isn't utilized full-time and there is availability

Harbormaster (AH}

Focused on increasing revenues from prior years

Increasing waterways fees from $200 fo $250 and non-residents from $250 to $300

Raised rates in marina from $105 per foot to $125 per foot

Improved lighting, plumbing, etc.

Ramp fee is currently $10, which is mandated by the state

33 slips are fully utilized, five town boats occupy slips

Town had not been reconciling to Department of Environmental Police billings to capture
additional revenue, doing so now

Need exists for dredging and new finger floats in near future, not believed to be part of
capital plan

Various discussion points amongst the members included:

~60% of employees utilize health insurance. 211 school employees use health insurance, 144
do not. 106 town employees use health insurance, 48 do not

GIC costs are increasing ~10% on roughly $5MM annual expense, sizable increase over prior
years

85/15 cost sharing could be changed fo 80/20, not possible to change certain contracts.
State and large number of other towns have moved to 80/20 or 75/25. Consider changing for
future contracts.

Winthrop Housing Authority pays roughly $20K annually. Utilization is approximately 400 barrels
which would equate fo $64K in expense annually.

Consideration should be made to increasing trash fee or decreasing bin size

MG to research how offen fowns successfully implement overrides

BF motioned to adjourn: WG seconded. Approved by all present members.

Meeting adjourned at 7:24 pm.