Hancock Advisory Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Minutes

 

Present: Marsha Kono, Rich LeFebvre, Greg Lusted (Chair), Pat Payne.

The meeting convened at 6 p.m. at the Town Office.

 

Greg Lusted handed out the latest versions (Jan. 19, 2010) of the 2010 Expense and Revenue Budgets received from Barbara Caverly, reflecting some changes in 2010 projections as well as updated 2009 actuals.

 

Our plan was to meet with Police Chief Andy Wood at 6, but on arrival we saw flashing lights heading down Rte 137 and Andy was unable to join us until 6:40.

In the meantime, we had a free-ranging discussion about what appear to be our major concerns this year–

* That Hancock's spending over the last few years is unsustainable and is becoming a major burden to middle- and lower-income residents, even more so in the light of the current, severe economic downturn which has affected both household incomes and town revenues.

* That the Select Board, in managing the process for both the regular operating budget and additional Warrant Articles, needs to understand that residents rely heavily (perhaps too heavily) on the Select Board's "recommendation" as to whether planned projects and expenditures are really critical to the Town.

* That the Committee sees a shift in the people who are active in town affairs, with more active participation by newer (and to some extent, more affluent) residents and less participation by longer-term and often less affluent residents.

* That all of us – Advisory Committee, Select Board, Department Heads and Town Voters -- need to keep in mind the ability to pay of all property owners, especially the less affluent and those whose household incomes have been seriously affected by the recession, as we aconsider spending plans and projects.

* That we really would like to see a process for regular, quarterly communications from the Select Board to the Town, summarizing how the Town is doing financially relative to the current year budget, and on Warrant Article projects authorized at Town Meeting – as a way to increase voter awareness and understanding of the Town's financial matters.

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On his arrival, Police Chief Wood gave us an overview of his proposed plans for 2010 and their budget impacts. [Note: Subsequent to our meeting, Andy made a number of adjustments from his preliminary budget figuresÉthe figures cited below are the latest [January 19, 2010] figures but the issues are the same.]

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT Acct.# 01-4210

*     Andy's proposed 2010 budget is $193,253, down $36.1K or -14% from the 09 budget. His request is also lower than the department's actual spending in 2009.

*     On a combined basis, the salary and wage lines (including full time salaries, pay for part-time officers, overtime pay and pay for special police details) is $153.7K, lower than both the 09 budget and 09 actual spending.

*     At this point, Andy believes his staffing plan is set, with November hiring of Nicholas Weeks as a full-time officer replacement and John Melia, initially as a part-timer with plans for him to go full-time on completion of State Police Academy in 2010. Officers Giammarino and Minichiello will continue as part-timers on an as-needed basis.

*    Andy noted that a significant change for 2010 is the plan, with the agreement of the Select Board, to eliminate use of outside lawyers to prosecute our cases, instead having Hancock officers handle the prosecutions. He expects benefits both in financial savings and valuable experience gained by officers who see their cases through from arrest to resolution.

[At this point, the meeting moved to the Police building, because of an additional meeting scheduled at the Town Office and the Committee's desire to see get a better feel for Andy's plans for the entry renovation.]

*      Although not in his department budget (it is under Town Buildings – Police), he clarified his request for modest renovations (about $1,000) to reconfigure the entry area to the Police building to create a separate and more welcoming reception area for town residents and to create some needed secure storage for weapons and ammunition.

*    Andy said he is in ongoing talks with Kurt Grassett, Department of Public Works Director, about potential savings, as well as communications improvements, through use of Blackberrys (smart cell phones) to eliminate the need for pagers. He and Kurt are also discussing the potential for Town Highway staff to perform routine maintenance on police vehicles, at lower cost than outside services.

*     He cited the challenge of budgeting in his first year, lacking some of the detail and hands on feel for what the Department"s actual needs are. He plans to make better and fuller use of the capabilities of the Police Records Management software (department already has) and expects it will help find other opportunities for cost-effectiveness.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted, Marsha Kono

 

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