HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown Managers Newsletter - 2012 01 13
From the Desk of Town
Manager Libby Gibson
JANUARY 13, 2012 VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1
Town of Nantucket
16 Broad St.
Nantucket, MA 02554
P: (508) 228-7255
F: (508) 228-7272
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Please note: Town offices will be closed on
Monday, January 16, 2012 in observance of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Town Administration News and Updates
Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund Budget
The Board of Selectmen reviewed the FY 2013 budget recommendations
throughout December and held a public hearing on January 4th. No public
comments expressed. One way to interpret this is that the public has no
questions and is generally satisfied with the Town’s budget. Or, maybe
citizens were not aware or were busy with post-holiday activities. In any
case, the Board subsequently adopted the budget recommendations at its
January 11th meeting and is scheduled to present those recommendations to
the Finance Committee on January 23rd. Thereafter, the Finance Committee
will formulate its budget and other recommendations for Town Meeting
throughout February and into early March. The Board will be reviewing the
projected FY 2013 sewer enterprise fund budget on January 18th. The Board
also has a public hearing scheduled for FY 2013 sewer rate increases on
January 18th. For at least the past two years, the prospect of sewer rate
increases has been discussed by the Board during the development of the
annual sewer enterprise fund budget. The FY 2013 sewer budget will require
a rate increase without any new projects. Rate increases have been mitigated
by the use of sewer retained earnings (fund balance) for several years but
that is not sustainable, especially with new projects coming up that need to
be started, including a downtown sewer rehabilitation project known as
“Phase II B”; and, an update to the Comprehensive Wastewater Management
Plan.
2012 Annual Town Meeting
The 2012 annual town meeting is scheduled to start Saturday, March 31,
2012. The Board is continuing to discuss articles it will include on the
warrant and is scheduled to adopt the warrant on January 18th, with any
ballot questions for the April 10, 2012 annual town election. The Finance
Committee will be reviewing the warrant after adoption by the Board
throughout February and into early March. On January 4th, the Board voted
to include an article to seek an appropriation subject to a debt exclusion
override, for a proposed wind turbine at the Madaket Landfill. The Board
heard from proponents and opponents for over an hour prior to its vote.
Board of Selectmen
2011 – 2012 Goals Update
I gave the Board an update regarding implementation of its goals for 2011 –
2012 at its December 21st meeting. A summary follows:
(text in bold italics is the update)
OBJECTIVE 1. Improved Fiscal Management.
Goal 1. Ensure each finding of the FY 10 Management Letter is specifically
scheduled to be addressed by 6/30/11 and submitted for review to the
auditors with the request for a response by 8/1/11.
10/5/11: This item is complete and has been reviewed by the Audit
Committee at several meetings, through August, 2011.
12/21/11: No change since the October update; however, Audit
Committee reviews a “Score Card” of where we are with the various
items toward continued improvement at each Audit Committee which
meets generally twice a month.
Goal 2. A plan to address each recommendation of the Abrahams Report by
8/1/11 with implementation by 6/30/12.
10/5/11: This item is in progress. A specific plan to implement the remaining
recommendations is not complete yet. The Abrahams Group is here this week
to review status of implementation and will be issuing a report this fall
confirming what has/has not been completed.
12/21/11: This item remains in progress. The Abrahams Group
interim report for which field work occurred in October is expected in
January. There may be remaining items to reconsider.
Goal 3. Ensure compliance with the Department of Revenue Municipal
Calendar to ensure timely report submittals.
10/5/11: This is an on-going item; however, reports are almost entirely
current with the DOR. The combined balance sheet and tax recap forms were
submitted before September 30. On October 4, the tax rate for FY 12 was
certified – the earliest time ever in recent history. Tax bills will go out on
October 14. Depending on the DOR schedule, we hope Free Cash will be
certified this month. One report that was due September 30 for the DOE is
delayed due to staffing issues. That report should be submitted before the
end of October. In the last 10 years that report has been submitted between
January and May.
12/21/11: This is an on-going item; however, reports are current
with the DOR. Some of the DOR required action is not complete yet,
such as the certification of free cash and retained earnings. Problems
arose with Airport grants and prior year capital articles following the
submittal of a report called Schedule A which is in the process of
being addressed with DOR.
Goal 4. Meet the milestones related to the Annual Audit Checklist developed
by the Town’s auditing firm to ensure the 2011 Audit Report is finalized by
12/31/2011.
10/5/11: Everything on the checklist has been submitted with the exception
of the GASB 45 actuarial information which is pending submittal by the
contractor preparing it. At the October 4 Audit Committee meeting, the
Auditor reviewed the dates that field work will commence and confirmed the
submittal of the checklist items.
12/21/11: Everything on the checklist has been submitted and
receipt confirmed with the auditor at the Audit Committee meeting on
December 20th (with the minor exception of a school item). In that
discussion with the auditor, draft financial statements are expected
to be issued by tomorrow, with a week or two of review by staff. The
management letter component of the audit is not complete yet.
Hopefully, the entire package will be available in final draft form for
the Audit Committee’s review at its January 11th meeting.
Goal 5. Achieve an Unqualified Audit for FY 11.
10/5/11: This remains to be seen due to the schedule of audit completion;
however, unless something completely unexpected surfaces, we are
optimistic about achieving this Goal.
12/21/11: As of the Audit Committee’s discussion with the auditor
on December 20th, this goal is expected to be achieved.
OBJECTIVE 2. Long-Term Wastewater/Water Quality Plan.
10/5/11: Defer to October 5 Wastewater Action Plan Update Presentation.
12/21/11: Since the review with our consultants on October 5th, the
Board had a workshop meeting on November 17th to review the
Madaket Estuaries Report with its associated TMDL numbers. The
Board has also agreed to seek funding for an update to the CWMP at
the 2012 ATM before proceeding with any specific sewer extension
projects. A webpage on the Town’s website has been established for
documents and updates associated with this Objective. Also in the
works is the development of an approach to address septic system
issues in areas like Madaket where sewer may be planned in the
future per the current CWMP but where a final determination has yet
to be made pending the outcome of the CWMP update.
OBJECTIVE 3. Long-Term Municipal Facilities Management.
Goal 1. Develop a multi-phase, multi-year municipal space and infrastructure
improvement strategy involving the Town Building, Mooney Building, 20 S
Water, 37 Washington Street and 2FG by 12/1/11.
10/5/11: This item is in progress; however, completion of the strategy plan
will need to be adjusted to at least the end of December due to competing
priorities.
12/21/11: A complete report remains in development. The first
phase of it, which involves 20 S Water Street, the Mooney Building
and potentially the Town Building requires direction from the BOS.
The other components including 37 Washington St and 2 FG are still
in process.
Goal 2. Seek capital funding for first phase of municipal building strategy at
2012 ATM.
10/5/11: In progress. A capital request for the renovation of 20 S Water
Street was reviewed by the Board at its September 28 meeting and has been
submitted to the Capital Program Committee.
12/21/11: The Capital Program Committee has recommended
Scheme A of the 20 S Water Street Report. Town Administration is
recommending Option B. NOTE: at its December 21st meeting, the
Board voted to endorse Option B and place an article on the town
meeting warrant, for an appropriation contingent upon a debt
exclusion override for this project.
Goal 3. Design a facilities/fleet maintenance division of DPW to be phased in
over 5 years, seeking initial funding by 2013 ATM.
Not started.
JANUARY TRIVIA QUESTION
What kind of oil's viscosity remains constant at any temperature, and has
been used in space programs for that reason?
ANSWER TO DECEMBER TRIVIA QUESTION
Who was the one and only Snow King at the first Christmas Stroll in 1977?
Answer: This proved to be a highly controversial question with more than
one response. The question was initiated by an individual who shall remain nameless* (but whose name appears in the answers submitted) and who insisted he was the one who achieved this superior designation…
Robert Von Kampen
Kenneth Holdgate
Larry Maury
Bobby DeCosta*
To be honest, I have no idea of the correct answer.
Answers submitted by:
Diane O’Neil
Jim Lentowski
Catherine Stover
Bobby DeCosta As always, ideas for future e-newsletter topics are welcome!