Finance Committee Meeting

August 1, 2007

 

In attendance:

 

Ben Meiklejohn, Chair

Ellen Alcorn

Lori Gramlich

Sarah Thompson

 

Peter Eglinton

 

School Staff:

Joline Hart

Mary Jo O’Connor

 

City Staff:

Anita Lachance

Duane Kline

Ellen Sanborn

 

 

  1. Discussion was had around interim plans for fiscal oversight/collaboration between the city and school department.  Duane Kline indicated that there were no final numbers yet as the books are not closed out.  
  2. The group discussed the chair’s draft plan to improve budgetary planning and achieve efficiencies.  There was agreement that the policy adjustments proposed by the chair be vetted through the Policy Committee expeditiously.  Chair Mieklejohn indicated that Robert O’Brien, Policy Chair, had copies of these policies already and would be taking them up at an upcoming meeting.  Policies that will be reviewed are: DDC, DBI, DI, DIC, DIF.
  3. Ellen Alcorn commented that there is a need to bring City Council and the School Committee together soon to begin to address consolidation issues.  She indicated that the DOE has facilitators at the ready to assist districts in these discussions.
  4. The committee discussed the meeting that was held at City Hall that morning.  Staff gave an overview of the highlights of the meeting (reported out at the business meeting on 8/1/07).  In sum, the city is willing to provide financial assistance and oversight as an interim measure until a more definitive plan can be developed and shared with the joint Finance Committees in September.  
    Chair Meiklejohn requested that the committee be provided with a report developed two years ago by joint members of both finance committees regarding areas for consolidation.
  5. Chair Meiklejohn made the following motion:  To have the city assist in managing school department finances on an interim basis and to continue to have staff work on developing future plans. The motion passed unanimously.
  6. The committee also voted unanimously to accept Phase One of the School Sustainability timeline.
  7. The next finance committee meeting will be on August 27th at 5:30 p.m.