Approved
3/2/04
TOWN OF HAMPDEN,
MASSACHUSETTS
BOARD OF
SELECTMEN/BOARD OF HEALTH
February 23, 2004 625 Main Street
6:00 pm Town
House
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM
Present: Duane Mosier, Mark Barba, James Smith
Guests: Police Chief Mellis and Kathy Zanetti, Secretary to The Police Department
The board reviewed the FY-05 budget requests with the chief and the secretary to the Police Department. The Chief presented documentation showing that since the beginning of the FY-04 the department has averaged about 20 4-hour vacancies per month. This was the result of several factors including budget reductions from FY-04 requests, and a US labor audit requiring higher overtime compensation and payment for reserve training. The board members all agreed that the goal was to seek a budget for a resumption of 2 officers on duty 24 hours.
The board also agreed that police cruisers requests, if any, should be included in the annual budget rather than a separate line item. This is because the cruisers have a useful life far less that the 5 years typically used for capital acquisitions.
At 7:30 the Board recessed to attend the Advisory Committee meeting in progress to discuss the Police budget.
At 8:00 the Board returned and continued the meeting.
The board discussed strategy regarding a possible Proposition 2-1/2 Override. It was agreed that the Board would develop guidelines and discuss them with the Advisory Committee at the meeting with the Advisory Committee on March 1. If an override is needed the Board agreed that they would seek a single override for all operating budgets within the guidelines. Any overrides outside the guidelines or overrides for capital improvements would be considered separately.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
James D. Smith
Selectman
JDS/pbc