Advisory Board looking for long-term answers on fiscal issues
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The town financial Advisory Board met on Monday, Sept. 10, to discuss the variety of goals for the upcoming fiscal year as well as a list of questions for the Board of Selectmen and other town department heads.

The Advisory Board seemed intent on gathering information and time to make fiscal recommendations to the town's residents.

"We will get answers, we may not like the answer, but we will get an answer," board Chairman Bill Johnson said.

The board talked about how to get better communication between themselves and the other departments, boards and town officials.

"It just seems like things seem to fall through the cracks," said board member Marie Zbikowski.

Johnson agreed.

"I think it always seems like we are always trying to get a seat at the table," he said. "If we're not going to get invited, we're going to invite ourselves."

They plan to meet jointly with the selectmen at the end of the month to get the answers to some of the questions they discussed on Monday night. Many of the board members wanted updates on the status of ongoing issues such as the lease for the piano museum, and the Town Hall and public safety building projects.

Other issues the board discussed were questions proposed by Dorothy Monore.

"All of (my questions) were basically on the revenues," she said.

One of the pieces of information she wants to know is if there is any likelihood that the town will increase the industrial and commercial base in town. She also wanted to be able to get an explanation on how property assessments are completed.

Members also brought up funding questions of the Route 12 road repairs, moving the employees to the new public safety building and back to the Town Hall, as well as the VMS Building's and Senior Center feasibility study.

The board established six goals. They want to create a better booklet of information to mail to residents in preparation of the town meeting. They want to see a fiveyear personnel plan and a five-year capital plan developed for the town, which can be updated and revised every year.

Johnson also pushed for a new budget format that would show the historical data of each line item for the last five to seven years. The board members also decided to ask for monthly updates on revenue and expenses, overtime expenses in the police, fire and public works departments as well as an update on late tax information coming in.

"We don't really have authority over anyone, but we have authority to get information," Board member Leo Janssens said.

In other business:

Advisory Board members decided not to propose a warrant article to remove the merit pay portion of the Personnel Bylaw, yet. The members agreed to request an update on the policy that would regulate this and a proposed funding source.

• The members agreed to request more information about the approximately $92,000 that was appropriated above the corresponding percentage of Westminster's appropriation to the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District.

Johnson said his goal would be to put the money into one of the town's stabilization or long-term planning accounts.

• The board also established a subcommittee to periodically review the town's biweekly warrants. Board members Maggie Whitney and Johnson will be the first two to comprise the subcommittee.