Minutes

Finance Commission · from the Town's website · 2 pages · 78 KB
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Winthrop Finance Commission Minutes

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 6:00pm

Attendees: TOW: Sarah Johnson (SJ), Jim Letterie (JL)
FC: Brent Farrell (BF), Karin Chavis (KC), Matt Gorzkowicz (MG}, Hannah Belcher (HB),
John DaRos (JD), Shannon Poulos {SP}
Absent: Joe Hanlon, John Macero, Max Tassinari, William Gault

Meeting called io order at 6:16 pm by MG.
Rolicail vote completed by KC. All present except individuals noted above.
Minutes from prior meeting unanimously approved. HB motioned to approve, BF seconded.

Focus of meeting is developing the comments from the committee for inclusion in the narrative of
recommendaiions to the fown board. Discussion topics / commentary are highlighted below on a
department by department basis.

General Points:
1) Structural deficit exists
2) ARPA dollars provided “stopgap” funding over past several years
3) New growth believed to be sustainable at current levels for next two to three years, but is
long-term concern
4) Trash should have modest increase for housing authority
5} Regionalization of various services
6) Change in health insurance contribution split from 85/15 to 80/20
7) Focus on five-year plan versus annual budget modifications and allocations
8) Future capital expenditures related to fire station, EB Newton, Old Middle School
9) MWRA / MassPort contracts are up
10) Pest removal
11} MassPort Winthrop as a Host Community
12) Beach PILOT - DCR assessed values for beaches ($57MM state line item)
13) Five-year long-term financial forecasting

ana Finance Department
1) Position posted at $87-$110K for Assistant Town Manager / Planner

Assessing
1) Seeking additional 5 hours for clerk, from 30 to 35
2) Town manager already provided increase — discuss further

Police / Fire
1) Emergency management and relocation
2) Mutual aid has not been balanced with other communities

School
1) Unfunded mandates discussed and impact on entire school population
2) $2.8MM override results in average bill increase of $425

ISD
1) IPad purchase recommended
2) Requested hourly wage increase for electric and plumbing inspectors, currently $18 per hour

Solid Waste

1} 5,935 barrels are billed annually

2) Consideration should be made for size of barrel

3) Winthrop Housing Authority currently pays $20K annually

4) $200K deficit eating into retained earnings

5) Moderate increase suggested to taxpayer cost

6) New contract expected to be five years — town manager can approve at 3 year term
7) Recommendation to make increase commensurate to new contract

8) Discussion related to considering composting program — incentive program (Wendy)

Potential for meeting to occur on Wednesday, May 29%,
BF motioned to adjourn; MG seconded. Approved by all present members.

Meeting adjourned at 7:49 pm.