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Marc Luescher
Location:
Present:
Absent:
Also Present:
Lunenburg Finance Committee
Minutes March 22, 2018
LUNENBURG TOWN
Town Hall
CLERK OFFICE
Terri Burchfield, John Henshaw, Jay Simeone, Mark Erickson, Hannah Anderson, George Martin
Marc Luescher
Heather Lemieux, Karen Brochu
Notes: 1. This meeting was televised on the Lunenburg Public Access cable channel. A link to
the video recording of the meet is on the Public Access Page of the Town Website.
2. John Henshaw wrote the minutes to this meeting.
1. Terri said that, while the meeting agenda had a 6:00 start time, the agenda header had the start time as
7:00. After discussion with the Town Manager, Terri decided to begin hearing the FY2019 budget
presentations at 6:00. But she won't call the committee to order until 7:00 pm. Only after the
committee was called to order would members ask questions or deliberate. Presenters have kindly
agreed to remain after their presentations to answer questions.
FY 2019 Budget Presentations
2. Public Access Cable Committee (PACC) FY2019 Budget presentation by Steven Walker, Chair of the Public
Access Cable Committee
a. Income:
• Funds come from the franchise fee that Comcast pays quarterly. This fee averages slightly over
$28,000 a quarter.
• Steve projects an FY2018 ending balance in this franchise fee account of $253,500.
• PACC is in negotiations with Comcast over a renewal of the franchise fee including the increase in
that fee from 2.5% to 5% which would be in line with the franchise fee to other towns.
b. Expenses for FY19:
• Operations: $142,600 including salaries, health insurance, and lease of studio space.
• A proposal to Increase staff hours would mean higher operation costs, due in part to increased
cost of benefits.
• Capital: $50,000 - Studio improvements. replacing/upgrading equipment.
• An article on the FY19 ATM warrant requests $192,600 to meet these anticipated expenditures.
3. Monty Tech FY2019 Budget presentation by Sheila Harrity, Superintendent of Monty Tech and Tammy
Crocket, Business Manager
a. FY2019 Assessment for Lunenburg:
• This assessment is largely set by the state required minimum.
• Although the per-student cost increased by about $500 or (see point below), Lunenburg's enrollment
in Monty Tech declined by 10 students to 82 students. Thus, the Town's assessment declined from
$876,381 to $824,011, a decrease of 5.9% or $52,370. For context, Monty Tech is proposing a 3.2%
increase in its total FY19 budget.
• Monty Tech's per student assessment: FY2018 $9,525.88, FY2019: $10,048.91.
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Personnel
Non-Personnel
Total
FY17
$12,809,451
$5,432,180
$18,241,631
FY18
$13,567,789
$6,034,260
$19,602,049
FY19
$13,978,429
$6,211,681
$20,190,110
• The increase over projected FY18 to proposed FY19 is $588,061 or 3%.
5. Unclassified Budgets: Update presented by Heather Lemieux, Town Manager
a. Health Insurance: The updated percentage growth from FY18 to FY19 is 6.82%. Originally the expected
growth was 8%.
b. The other categories comprising unclassified budget have remained the same as of now. Other budgets
within Unclassified have been level funded, except for general government.
6. Department of Public Works FY2019 Budget Recommendation Presentation by Jack Rodriquenz, Director
of the DPW
a. The Dept. of Public Works encompasses:
• Road maintenance including the pavement management program, pot hole repair, traffic signs &
devices, and snow and ice plowing & sanding/de-icing.
• Facilities and grounds
• Vehicle maintenance
• Tree Removal
• Cemetery
• Parks and Recreation.
b. Except Vehicle Maintenance all is level service funded.
c. The proposed budget for FY19 includes a recommendation to add $37,000 for an assistant mechanic to
augment the one mechanic the DPW has.
• There were reductions in DPW staff several years ago during a tight budget times. The second
mechanic position was never refilled. They have not made up the lost positions.
• The mechanic on staff is tasked with repairs and services every piece of motorized equipment
including vehicles, pumps, generators, etc. the Town has. The charge to contract repairs exceeds
$100 per hour.
• It's too much for one person to do.
FY18
Dept of Public Works
$1,589,171
FY19 Proposed
$1,668,378
Note: Snow and Ice Account (Deficit)
($108,344)
7. Sewer Commission FY2019 Budget Recommendation Presentation by Joe Anderson, Chair of Sewer
Commission and Carl Luck, Vice-Chair
a. The Sewer Commission is an enterprise fund.
• The charter of the commission is to be cost neutral to the Town.
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c. Mark E. suggested that the Sewer Commission consider separating the one-time connection fees from the
monthly usage fees. As non-recurring revenues connection fees could fund capital or capital reserves.
Carl said that it was a good idea and that it would be something the commission could write a policy on
so this would be how future commissions would handle connection fees.
8. Debt Service: Karen Brochu said the debt service costs for FY19 and supporting details were included in
the budget Heather Lemieux has given the committee.
9. Updates on Monied Articles reported by Town Manager Heather Lemieux
a. The Municipal Modernization Act (MMA) requires that Towns adopt a by-law to set up revolving funds and
then re-authorize revolving funds annually.
b. Adjust the snow & ice deficit, Stabilization funds, OPEB trust fund and separate out the Sewer OPEB,
Sewer Enterprise Fund and capital fund, solid waste disposal, water enterprise budget, cable budget,
cemetery lots sale, rescind borrowing for various projects, a citizens' petition for a debt exclusion for
demolition of the Old Primary School.
10. Review of minutes: There were no minutes to review,
11. Public Comment: Bob Ebersol stated the Charter Review Committee completed its initial draft of the
Town Charter. There will be a meeting at Town Hall on Thursday, April 5 to get public response and
comment.
12. Next meeting: Thursday, March 26th, at the regular time of 7:00 PM in the Bilotta Room at Town Hall.
During this meeting the Finance Committee will review the monied articles on the Annual Town Meeting
warrant.
13. Adjournment: John moved to adjourn the meeting and Mark seconded the motion. The committee
approved the motion 6-0 at 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted by John Henshaw April 26, 2018
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