TRI-TOWN BOARDS OF SELECTMEN MEETING
FOR TASK FORCE ORGANIZATION AND REVIEW
OF THE PENTUCKET SCHOOLS’ REGIONAL AGREEMENT
MEETING OF JULY 13, 2005
7:00 p.m. – First Floor Hearing Room
West Newbury Town Office Building, 381 Main Street
Present: Merrimac Selectmen: Carol Traynor, Chair, Bonnie Collins, and Robert Sinabali; Groveland Selectmen: Betty Gorski, Chair, William Darke; West Newbury Selectmen: Ann O’Sullivan, Chair. School Committee Representative: Tom Atwood, W.N. Also: Hon. H. Stanley, Matt Connolly (Senator Tarr’s Office), K. Pyle, J. Solis and other interested individuals.
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Meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m.
Merrimac and West Newbury have not had anyone volunteer as an at-large representative; Merrimac is considering having one selectman rep. with a second selectman functioning as the at-large member if a volunteer does not come forward. Groveland will appoint Andy Wiles who is a teacher and is on their FinCom. Mr. Sinabaldi questioned whether Mr. Wiles could be objective since he is a teacher, but was assured that Mr. Wiles is very fair.
Ms. O’Sullivan said that one issue WN would like the Task Force to look at is the legal position of the towns regarding the teachers’ union suit, and whether they should sue or not. All agreed that suing would divide the communities and raise turmoil. At this point it is unsure whether the Agreement has to be changed. Merrimac suggested that a non-binding opinion should be sought with options ready in case it is determined that the present agreement is illegal and the towns are forced to change it. Suing would be very expensive for all three towns, and it would be preferable to take another course of action. All agreed that they want to move forward and encourage respect for the other towns, and not “force anyone’s hand.” In the last month the Selectmen
have been told by State officials that the agreement will stand up, but none of the officials has been willing to put that in writing.
Another matter for review will be equalizing assessment methods. Merrimac has lower real estate values and lower median income level but it needs to be determined if this brings in signigicantly higher State funding to the schools.
The towns need to come up with a plan whether the present method of assessing each town’s share of the bill is legal or not, because the School District needs to have a budget every year that is fair to all and that everyone can live with. If Merrimac is bringing in disproportionately more aid, that will need to be taken into consideration.
It was suggested that the Task Force analyze the last 10 years to see what would have happened if the 2-step method had been in place over that period of time. They should also look at the spending and require the schools to provide a clear explanation of where the money goes. In the past the Administration has refused to have an independent audit and refused to provide other financial information. The Selectmen questioned why the towns should keep funding if the Schools won’t account for what has already be given. Steven Greenberg was credited with straightening things out and providing answers. It is now clear that in the past couple of years the people in the Pentucket business office didn’t know how to do the job of accounting for the spending.
The Task Force needs to help to re-build trust in the School Department, and to make it clear that the current budget crisis was not just the Superintendent’s fault. One problem in the past was that the School Committee started the budget process much too late, and another was that each department was not accountable for exactly what their budget was spent on and who was paid what amount. Ms. Collins pointed out that the budget can be connected to the Regional Agreement by adding a provision requiring up-to-date reports on a timely basis. With the new budget schedule the School Committee has to provide an approved budget at their Open Meeting date of February 7. In the past the towns would receive the SC budget very shortly before the Town Meetings in April, leaving no room for questions or
revisions. Finance Directors of the three towns will be asked to act like a budget committee to the School Committee, and the Task Force should define the Finance Directors’ role in the process.
Selectmen from all three towns were in favor of the elementary schools being replaced or renovated with the financial responsibility solely falling on each town for its elementary school(s) as the present regional agreement provides. It was noted that the elementary schools are operating without leases.
Because the previous Task Force was able to identify some items that needed attention and got them on the town ballots, there will be less to resolve, but the new Task Force will have to build on that. At the next tri-town meeting of the Selectmen, they will have reviewed the Reg. Agreement and identified areas that are still of concern. Ms. O’Sullivan said that if the method of assessment is going to be changed, there should be a change in the weight of WN’s vote, which is now .8.
Mr. Darke said that the Task Force should define what the school district base budget is and what the supplemental budget is. If increased, they should have to account for what the increase is funding. They need to live within our means, and if they want to spend beyond that, it needs to be an override. There was some discussion about including in the Agreement a provision that the school budget not exceed 2½ % growth per year and that amounts above this would be considered supplemental. After some discussion it was determined that changing State aid could result in the school district receiving less because the limitation on the increase in the budget did not consider changes in the sources of funds.
Tom Atwood, Chairman of the SC, indicated that in accordance with Mass. General Law the SC has decided to ask a selectman from each town to participate in its contract negotiations, and that all contracts may in the future be “subject to Town Meeting agreement.” Special Ed mandates cause increases that the Towns can’t foresee and are required to meet, but must be met, but the rest of the budget should be under the control and approval of the towns.
Before the next Tri-Town Board of Selectmen meeting all Selectmen will review the Regional Agreement and prioritize their concerns. New Task Force members and alternates will be asked to meet with the Selectmen on Wednesday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Office in Groveland. Tom Atwood agreed to type up the last Task Force’s areas of concern and e-mail it to all the Selectmen. The Selectmen will give the new Task Force a goal of presenting a report to the citizens at each Town’s Special Town Meetings in the Fall.
Ms. O’Sullivan recommended that all the towns have their School Committee reps meet with their Capital Improvement Committees next January when the budget process is starting. The School Committee needs to initiate bringing their budget and any necessary improvements needed to the town. Ms. Collins said that she definitely wants the Task Force to spell out who is responsible – the Town or the School Dept. -- for each expense.
Adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Kristine A. Pyle,
Administrative Asst. to the
West Newbury Board of Selectmen
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