Westport News

Present:    Warren Messier (WM), Tony Vieira (TV), Lisa Arnold (LA), John Miller (JM), Bob McCarthy (BM), Jack Baughan (JB), Tracy Priestner (TP), Charles “Buzzy” Baron (BB)
Absent:    Hugh Morton (HM)

1.    TV, Chair, opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with the traditional salute to the flag.

2.     Minutes:    The minutes for March 9th and March 16th was presented for approval.  BM made a motion and JM seconded it to approve the minutes as presented.  The vote was unanimous in favor.

3.    Harbor Enterprise:    Richie Earle, Harbormaster, was in attendance to discuss the FY11 budgets for the Harbor and the State Ramp.  BB had presented these previously in Richie’s absence.  These are under the Harbor Enterprise and are level funded for this year.  There is one article on the annual warrant for $25k for dredging to come out of the dredging surcharge account.

4.    Dog Officer:    Michael Coughlin, Town Administrator, was in attendance to speak on the FY11 budget for the Dog Officer.  This department is a work in progress.  The future of the department is uncertain due to talks with the Board of Health.  At this time, the budget is level funded.

5.    Board of Selectmen:    Michael Coughlin, Town Administrator, was in attendance to speak on the FY11 budget for the Board of Selectmen.  This department has a slight increase to bring it to the level it was before the FY10 cuts.

6.    Legal Department:    Michael Coughlin, Town Administrator, was in attendance to speak on the FY11 budget for the Legal Department.  There is a meeting between him, Len Kopelman the Fincom legal subcommittee this week.  They will report back on the findings at the next meeting.  

7.    TP spoke on two outstanding matters from a previous meeting.  She spoke to Dr. Colley, Superintendent, and was told that there is only one active claim of an injured employee.  If a special needs student, in accordance with their disability, causes an injury, there is no lawsuit only the standard claim through workers comp.  She asked about benefits for substitutes.  She was told there are no benefits.  If they wish to apply for unemployment and the state accepts their claim, then we are obligated to pay it.  She was told there were no current plans for layoffs.

8.    Michael Coughlin spoke on two items.  He spoke in support of the $1.5 million override.  He also stated that he has set a meeting on March 29th with the BOS and all the department heads regarding the impact to each department should the override fail and not just in numbers.  JB said there should be a moratorium on all benefits and raises.  

9.    Community Preservation Committee:        WM spoke regarding the CPC.  He said we are currently looking at a 32-33% match from the state or less.  The public hearing is April 8th.

10.    Capital Improvement Planning Committee:    There has been no communication from this committee regarding the article on the town meeting warrant.  Michael Coughlin said planning, both long term and short term, needs to be implemented.  A strategy needs to be worked out and a dollar amount to spend should be established.  Some of the long term spending can be done with a bond, however, a bond and an override should not be on the same ballot.  CIPC currently has no dedicated funding.  WM moved that JB and LA reconvene the CIPC for more discussion on whether or not to put a $ amount on the warrant.  BM seconded the motion and the vote was 6-1 with 1 abstention.  

11.    Fire Station Building Committee:    Currently the estimated is $6 million.  The tower is still under consideration.  

12.    Personnel Board:    A question was raised by JB if the board had received the current job descriptions to be reviewed.  Michael Coughlin said not that he was aware but would get right on it.

13.    Dredging Committee:    The current dredging has been completed and the federal will pay for upkeep.

14.    Annual Town Meeting Warrant:    See attached.

15.    Other:    TV will send out the agenda for next weeks meeting.  He will update the revenue projections and the anticipated shortfall to be cut.  JB asked about level-funded vs. level-services.  

Adjournment and next meeting: There being no further business to come before this meeting, BB moved and TP seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:15pm.  The vote in favor was unanimous.  The next meeting will be on March 30th at 6:30 p.m. at the Westport Town Hall.
                            
Respectfully submitted,
Nicole Botelho, Recording Secretary