Selectmen’s Workshop with Tom Keyes

April 22, 2008

Bourne’s Veteran’s Memorial Community Center

239 Main Street

Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

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Attendance

Thomas M. Guerino, Town Administrator

 

Jamie J. Sloniecki, Chairman

Stephen Mealy

Judith Conron

Linda M. Zuern

John A. Ford

 

Call Meeting to order

Meeting called to order at 6:06 pm.

 

Long Range Plan Review and Objective

Benefits of having a Long Range Plan:

  1. Financial picture – decision making through credibility – 10 year historical view
    1. Budgetary increases – 5 years out
    2. 10 Year Debt Service and Retirement of Debt (land purchases, capital projects)
    3. Revenue to predict shortfalls – 5 years out based on today’s assumptions
  2. Provide a basis for setting priorities
    1. Capital and operational where most successful
    2. Department heads use date to plan better strategies
  3. Identify goals and opportunities to develop strategies to achieve them
    1. Complete financial picture with shortfalls allows for action plans to be developed
  4. Strengthen sense of common purpose through a transparent process
    1. Allows for complete transparency, published on website
    2. Allows for stabilization

 

Items that make up of Long Range Plan:

  1. Executive Summary
    1. Document for towns goals
  2. Mission Statement
    1. Set up a long range plan committee - optional
    2. Description of town services
    3. Core Service matrix – all services provided by the town.  Executive level document.  Board of Selectmen putting together thoughts on what the core services are based on the input of the town manager/administrator and all department heads.

 

As population changes, core services are reviewed yearly after outcome of town meeting.  Sandwich uses four sessions for all updates, looking at core services and demographics.

 

Demographics are obtained from the schools and Department of Revenue.  Also included are calls from Public Safety and Council on Aging (ambulatory runs or EMS runs).  TA Guerino asked if crime statistics are included and it was noted Sandwich does not include said statistics.

 

The core service matrix is a way to allow the community to see what the Board of Selectmen value as a group.

 

    1. Assumptions – go back ten years
    2. Goal strategies and opportunities
    3. Implementation timeline
    4. Five-year financial projection

 

Yearly updates on financial projection include cyclical trends and level funded items.  Town meeting is the financial future.

 

    1. Capital improvement plan – ability to carry growth
    2. Community Preservation Act summary and review projection – some dollars can go towards certain municipal needs or historic buildings.  Documents are hypo-linked.

 

Discussion

The following is required to initiate a Long Range Plan for the Town of Bourne:

  1. Assumptions – Board with TA Guerino as facilitator
  2. Goals and strategies – Board with TA Guerino as facilitator
  3. Five-year financial projection

 

Mr. Keyes said two members of the Finance Committee of Sandwich were included in the year-to-year review for Long Range Plan.

 

TA Guerino will compare the last two year’s forecasted projections vs. actual projections.  Long Range Plan will be an agenda item for next week.

 

Selectman Sloniecki MOVED and SECONDED by Selectman Zuern to adjourn.  UNANIMOUS VOTE.  Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted as transcribed,

Lisa Groezinger, sec.