Thursday – April 17, 2007 – 7 pm
Members Present: Bruce Dodge, Mike Steere, Norman Nickerson
Absent: David Hedstrom
Guests: Kent Vincent, Paul Cowled, John Erdman
Chairman Dodge called the meeting to order at 7:10pm
Guest Kent Vincent taking minutes.
Agenda:
1. Membership and Officers
a. Election held to fill position of Chairman for 2007
i. Previous Chair, Karen Day, resigned due to joining BOS.
ii. Bruce Dodge nominated and elected Chairman.
b. Chairman Dodge reported following results of 2007 Town Elections:
i. Bruce Dodge was reelected to BAC;
ii. Norm Nickerson was elected to BAC
c. Chairman Dodge declared 3 vacancies (out of 7 positions) on BAC
d. Kent Vincent, Paul Cowled, and John Erdman were invited and accepted as new members of BAC, each to fill a 1-year term.
e. Kent Vincent volunteered to be recording Secretary for 2007.
2 New members were acquainted with procedures and duties of BAC
ü BAC work for town residents, through the BOS
ü Regular meeting is 2nd Tuesday of each month, with some special meetings toward the end of the year
ü Meetings are intended to last no more than 2 hours.
3 General discussion of goals and establishment of priorities for 2007
ü BAC intends to work closely with BOS and Department Heads throughout year, not waiting until year-end, in order to:
i. Reduce confrontational atmosphere of past years
ii. Work with Department heads to more easily:
1. Prepare budgets for 2008
2. help manage 2007 budget
4 Committee members raised an initial list of 9 subject areas due consideration in 2007 (presented in NO special order):
ü Collecting data from similar towns for comparison to Greenfield
ü Explore ways, means and merits of adopting a “best practices” policy in Greenfield
ü Evaluating methods of funding significant road repairs
ü Evaluating merits of “Capital Reserve Accounts”
ü Change approach to budget presentation at Town Meeting (tearing down vs. building up)
ü Merits of different budgetary approach by GFD on “capital” improvements & replacements
ü Work with GRC to explore generating higher revenues.
ü Exploring ways and merits of meeting some Dept. Heads requests for on-going, active BAC assistance.
ü Work to minimize expenses in 2007
ü Evaluate benefit packages (now and future) in Greenfield and similar towns.
5 Proposed Action
a. Committee members will review previous list and list of Greenfield departments to report back at next meeting as to prioritizing list and which departments most appeal to each member.
b. Greenfield Depts.: Elections Vital Stats, Executive, Financial Admin, Fire, Highway, Library, Parks & Rec, Police, Recycling
6 Next Meetings:
May 1st 7:00 pm (BOS want to meet with BAC that night as well)
May 8th 7:00 pm
Meeting was adjourned at 8:10PM,
Committee members then joined BOS meeting in progress to present new members, and begin the paperwork to make them official BAC members. Please see BOS Minutes for further information.
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