Discussion regarding the Prudential Committee’s Petition leads the opening remarks. Further discussion about the structural state of Freedom Hall; contractors consulted, Civil Engineers have not. Discussion about changing Website development and hosting companies; proposal from Browne Company due in the following day. Some bills were voted to be paid. Fire and Water Commissioners have yet to propose changes to the by-laws.
Author: cotuitadmin
Prudential Committee Meeting Minutes-April 13, 2011
Discussion concerning the budget for 2011, as well as the proposed budget for 2011 being compared to the expenditures from 2010 and 2009. Fire Fighting Budget talks prevail.
A brief discussion about the physical state of Freedom hall – water, mold, handicap issues – and the renovations that may be necessary.
Prudential Committee Meeting; March 21, 2011
Treasurer appointment duration decided. Decision to purchase Bullet Board for outside the First Station – for those who do not use computers – was made; no more the $500. Fire Fighting and Water budgets discussed. Environmental protection and road improvement touched upon briefly at the end.
Meeting Minutes 2-21-11
The minutes from the Prudential Committee Meeting have been posted
You may download them by clicking on the Prudential Committe file folder on the Documents page
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COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT
Prudential Committee Minutes
February 21, 2011
The Chairman, Amy Kates, called the meeting to order. Members Rick Barry and Laurie Hadley were present.
The meeting was opened to public comments. Jessica Rapp Grassetti spoke and referred to Attorney Mark Boudreau’s letter which had been available at the May District Meeting which stated that Chapter 32b of the Massachusetts General Laws established the Prudential Committee as the appropriate governmental body to determine whether or not elected officials should receive health insurance and the amount they would contribute.
Cynthia Gardner raised a question about the job description for the Prudential Committee and their governance over the finances of the District. She stated she was raising the question because she has been attending Fire Commissioners meetings where nothing is discussed, yet “things are happening.” She expressed concern that she had not been able to get an answer as to how much is being spent on legal fees. She believes that “a couple of months ago, they maxed out their budget.” She again asked how much as been spent to date on legal fees and where the funds are coming from.
Barbara Trainor-Tessier read a letter which she had previously read at the Fire Commissioners meeting and the answer she had received. She is inquiring as to whether or not the Fire Department’s legal fees are covered in any part by insurance. She had previously asked this question at a Prudential Committee meeting and had been told by the Treasurer that the liability will not be covered by insurance. The Fire Commissioners reply to her answer about “astronomical legal fees” directed her to the Treasurer.
The Treasurer explained that the District Meeting does not vote on line items. The warrant appropriates funds to four general categories. The Department does indicate amounts for line items, but is free to move money from one line item to another within a category. At this time, the Fire Department has not gone over its total appropriation. Should they go over their total budget, their recourse is to go to the Prudential Committee and request a transfer from the Reserve Fund.
Cynthia Gardner then raised a question as to whether or not the Fire Department is taking away from the staffing so that legal fees can be met. She further stated that she didn’t believe staffing was what it had been two years ago.
The Prudential Committee members then voted to approve the minutes of their last meeting.
Ms Kates stated that as the Prudential Committee had voted to initiate a home rule petition regarding health insurance for elected officials, this will be the only action they will take at this time. However, she will maintain contact with State Representive David Viera to be sure he has all he needs from the Committee.
Ms Kates summarized the actions taken regarding the District Treasurer. As Ms Murray had indicated her wish to remain in the position, the Committee agreed to a one-year appointment. As the starting date of the appointment had not been made clear, the Committee considered a starting date as of the next District Meeting; as of July 1, 2011; or as of January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. After discussion, upon motion made and seconded, it was unanimously voted that the period of the Treasurer’s appoint- ment will be January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, with the same salary and benefits that had been in effect. A question was raised about a job description for the Treasurer. The responsibilities of the clerk and treasurer are set by statute.
The District Moderator, Alison Lowe, requested that the minutes of the executive session, during whichthe Treasurer’s appointment had been acted upon, be made public. It was agreed that this would bedone.
Regarding a bulletin board, no further information was available as Ms Hadley had not made the inquiries.The By-law Committee had not yet met, but would be meeting the following week. The Policy AdvisoryCommittee is meeting monthly and is concentrating on Freedom Hall. The Fire and Water Commissionershad not meet prior to the Prudential Committee meeting. Mr Barry has been attending the strategysessions regarding the union negotiations. It is anticipated that negotiations will take eight to twelvemeetings. Ms Kates asked if the Prudential Committee had to sign the contract. A question regarding theuse of a professional negotiator received no definite answer.
A motion to adjourn was seconded and unanimously voted in the affirmative.Respectfully submittedLaurie C. Hadley, ClerkPrudential Committee
Meeting Minutes 1-12-11 Posted
The Minutes from the Prudential Committee meeting on 1-12-11 have been posted.
You can download the minutes clicking on the Prudential Committee folder on the Document page.
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MINUTES OF THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE
OF THE COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT
January 12, 2011
Chairman Kates opened the meeting and welcomed members of the public who were in attendance. She explained that the purpose of the meeting was strictly “housekeeping” or organizational. An executive session planned to follow the meeting would not be held because of the absence of the Treasurer, Mrs. Agnes Murray.
Posting of meetings was the first topic of discussion. In the past, meetings were posted only at the post office. As of July 1 of 2010, the revised open meeting law required posting at Town Hall. It was stated that a letter had been received from the Attorney General stating that we must post at the Town Hall. Ms. Hadley suggested an outdoor bulletin board at the Fire Station. It was moved that meeting notices be posted at the post office, the library, the fire station, and the water department in addition to the Town Hall and that we pursue getting an outdoor bulletin board. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Ms. Kates will try to find out what work has already been done toward obtaining an outdoor bulletin board. There was also discussion regarding keys to the bulletin board at the post office.
Ms. Hadley volunteered to be the Prudential Committee member assigned to the By-law committee. A motion to that effect was made and seconded and passed unanimously.
Ms Kates will remain on the Policy Advisory Committee.
It was agreed that one member of the Prudential Committee will attend Fire Commissioners meeting and one will attend Water Commissioners meetings. A motion was made and seconded that Ms. Kates will attend Fire Commissioners meetings through May and Ms. Hadley will attend Water Commissioners meetings. It passed unanimously.
A motion was made and seconded that Mr. Barry will be the committee’s contact for street lights. It passed unanimously.
It was stated that Mrs Murray has been in charge of scheduling the use of Freedom Hall as well as for opening the building and closing it for each usage. Her son, Stephen Murray has been the custodian. Ms Kates made a motion that Cotuit and nonprofit groups be allowed to continue using the hall for not charge, that for profit groups would pay a fee of $25, that the scheduling will be the responsibility of Ms Kates and that she will determine whether or not the present custodian wishes to continue to perform those duties and that she will monitor the condition of the hall. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
After discussion about proceeding with an executive session in the absence of Mrs Murray, who had chosen not to attend the meeting, and upon a motion made and seconded to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing strategies in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, and not to return to a public session, a roll call vote was taken and with Mr. Barry and Ms Hadley voting in favor, Ms Kates voting against..
Respectfully submitted
LAURIE C. HADLEY
Clerk, Prudential Committee
Meeting Minutes 1-6-11 Posted
The minutes from the Prudential Committee meeting on 1-16-11 have been posted.
You may download these minutes by clicking on the Prudential Committee folder on the Documents page.
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MINUTES OF THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE
OF THE COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT
January 6, 201l
Present were Chairman Amy Kates, Members Rick Barry and Laurie Hadley, as well as several members of the public.
As notice of the meeting had not been posted within the required forty-eight hours, no official business could be conducted.
Respectfully submitted
LAURIE C. HADLEY
Clerk, Prudential Committee