PALMER TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY, May 21, 2009, 7:00 PM
Town Council Meeting Room, Palmer Town Building
Minutes
1. Called to order at 1902
2. Roll Call
a) Present: Mr. Williams, Mr. Burns, Mr. Backus, Mr. Dinuovo, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Streeter, Ms. Barry
b) Absent: Mr. Remillard, Mr. Duguay
c) Mr. Magiera arrived @ 1940
d) Guests: Mrs. Salzmann, Dr. Fournier, Mr. Janelentz, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Charko
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Agenda Item: Budget discussion
a) Mr. Fournier: Recapped how he formulated this year’s schools budget, where funds were promised vs. what funds actually were approved for Palmer schools, and how the state budget process has been difficult to asses because of this
b) Budget was level funded as a start; we have no idea what cuts we will make
c) Ms. Salzmann: Fed school lunch cuts; unemployment for people contemplated to layoff; still unknown what we will get for funding to restore positions
d) Mr. Lynch: SpEd grant has been paying some salaries through grant; next year no instructional salaries will save us $20,000, budget will be tight and we will be scrutinizing contracts to squeeze every penny
e) Is DOE taking over any responsibility for these increases every year? No
f) Fed stimulus money: State is using that money to cover shortfall in FY 09 budget, effectively borrowing from FY 11 money to cover this year’s shortfalls; we have to apply for those funds
g) 439 represents total amount of funds idea funds, title b ARRA, stimulus funds $431.000
h) Potential FY 10 reduction in chapter 70 funding will be made up with stimulus funding from FY 11
i) Stimulus money is already included in budget; budget would be 431.000 higher without this item
j) See handout-
k) Budget was voted 15,641,500 at level funding; if schools get 431.000 then budget would get increase? Yes
l) Money comes directly to schools to spend; we can’t use that money as offset
m) Mr. Streeter: explained handout from Monday pertaining to school budget; discussed possible unemployment costs as additions to budget
n) Proposal to school committee was 32,800; new unemployment numbers figured today have not even been to committee yet; over 300,000
o) Can we absorb SpEd costs in the system vs. farming these students out> was discussed today; no; maybe in a year or two
p) If we start a program could we serve students from other districts?
i. Originally we swapped students with other towns for other programs
ii. Original intent was to not pay; just swap students
iii. Wound up paying back and forth
iv. Huge increase in SpEd costs; no one has control at state or fed level; they mandated programs and just walked away
q) Council numbers are different than School Dept numbers; why are several categories different?
i. Health insurance should factor in 6.4% increase we just received
ii. Retirement numbers also different
iii. Medicare: figures came from town accountant
r) Level funding will devastate the school system
i. In past years we have let go of stuff and held staff
ii. Nowhere to go this year but to cut staff
iii. At this point we can’t give children education they deserve
iv. We hope town will make education a priority
s) Mr. Fournier: Budget this year will devastate school accreditations
i. This year’s budget is same dollar amount as it was when I got here 4 years ago
ii. Sooner you get firm numbers to us sooner we can get rescind notices to those who are staying
iii. We were trying to buy some time and meet contractual obligations
t) Are parents involved in supporting the education of their kids? We might face the music this year; next year may be worse
u) Do you have a proposal on what you are considering to cut?
i. We can’t cut until we have a budget to work with
ii. We have to look at the bottom line; at present everything is on the table
iii. To maintain level funding, looking at everything including SpEd, sports, staff, everything
v) We don’t know who’s going to pathfinder until June or July sometimes; list is fluid
w) Mr. Streeter discussed variations in unclassified expenses and how it affects a level funded budget
x) Clarification: we cut 1.7 or 1.8 to get to level funding; what numbers are we working with?
i. Mr. Charko clarified previous conversations about the budget with Mr. Streeter
ii. Ms. Barry discussed differences in budget numbers from Mr. Streeter and School Board
iii. Mr. Streeter reminded council about free cash discussion of previous meeting
iv. We need to get on our legislators for all the help we can get in boosting the senate version of the budget
y) By arriving at a figure too high initially, we may penalize the school system
z) Layoffs more than we need to prepare for a worst case scenario because we can only rescind once
aa) Unemployment is also a cost for the education budget; cost must be considered and then brought back to level budget
bb) Budget will be closer to senate version than house version; talk is of increasing circuit breaker to 50% from 30%; backroom discussions
cc) Fees are also under consideration
dd) Is there a point where laying people off is counterproductive and costs aren’t saved by laying off? These people don’t generate revenue; case is different
ee) Capital improvements: in 2010 we pay off schools; in 20 years we haven’t paid any capital costs
i. Energy audit discussed
ii. People have offered; once they see our costs they can’t save us any money
iii. We have done everything we can do to minimize energy consumption
ff) When can you share what cuts you would make based on level funding?
gg) Those meetings are beginning tomorrow
hh) Committee is meeting next Thursday
ii) Union concessions? Still on table; they want to see where we are first
5. Recess for 5 minutes @2010
6. Mr. Dinuovo: Please thank staff for fine job and quality education in Palmer
7. Mr. Streeter discussed going into executive session for information
8. Mr. Backus moved to adjourn at 2020, failed for want of a second.
9. Ms. Barry moved to go into executive session and adjourn there from; Mr. Remillard seconded. Councilors were polled individually; vote was unanimous to go to executive session and adjourn there from.
Respectfully submitted by
Ramon Dole
Recording Secretary
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