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On Monday, June 11, the Finance Committee met for the first time after Annual Town Meeting in May. They typically use this meeting to reorganize leadership and liaison assignments, onboard new members who were appointed by the Town Moderator at Town Meeting, and set some intentions for the next budget cycle.
Following a brief discussion, they opted to continue with their co-chair model. Mike Joachim will continue as co-chair and Mike Ferrari will step in as a new co-chair in place of longtime chair/co-chair Eric Poch. Poch enthusiastically endorsed both Joachim and Ferrari for co-chair and the vote was unanimous.
The committee discussed a variety of issues they might address, and processes they might improve, in the year ahead. There seemed to be broad agreement that the committee could enhance its communication with residents beyond their meetings and their formal reports. They didn’t get into depth about tactics, but it did seem like something the group could action upon given the broad agreement during the discussion. Though there was some mention of combatting misinformation on social media, the primary thrust of the idea was to help the community make the most informed decisions possible.
Member Hank Sorett once again raised the issue of ambulance services, a topic he wanted to discuss in the last budget cycle. He questioned if the Town-operated ambulance model was a money loser, and if privatization could turn it into a revenue generator. Co-chair Joachim agreed that the committee could take a look at the issue. However, the Select Board might beat them to it. Ambulance rates are on their agenda for tonight’s meeting. (Agenda here)
New Member John Baranowsky suggested that the Finance Committee might consider weighing in on issues like after-school care, where multiple boards and committees have questioned if its within their purview. The idea appeared to be that a financial lens might bring clarity to the question of purview.
Member Poch pointed out that while various committees set goals, the Town itself doesn’t have annual goals. He thought it might be worthwhile to bring that idea up to the relevant groups, in addition to working on updating the Select Board’s financial policies. More broadly, multiple members agreed on the general concept of closer collaboration with the Select Board on financial matters.
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