Minutes
Lincoln Finance Committee
June 25, 2009
7:30 PM
Present: Peter Braun, Karl Geiger, John Koenig, Ellen Meyer Shorb, Laura Sander, Robert
Steinbrook
Absent: Sanj Kharbanda
The Committee unanimously approved the minutes of its June 2, 2009 meeting (Karl Geiger
abstaining as he was not a FinCom member on June 2).
The Committee reviewed and unanimously approved a Reserve Fund transfer request of $50,000
from the Police Department to cover unanticipated overtime (attached).
The Committee reviewed and unanimously approved a Reserve Fund transfer request of $7,000
from the DPW to cover excess electricity costs for street lights (attached).
After these transfers, the balance in the Reserve Fund is $148,310.05.
The Committee reviewed additional documentation submitted by Tim Higgins, Town
Administrator, with respect to Municipal Relief Act transfers made at the close of FY2008 and
proposed to be made at the close of FY2009 (attached) and a draft schedule for a special town
meeting (attached).
The Committee reviewed an updated State Aid Analysis for FY2010 (attached) and discussed
options for dealing with the projected budget shortfall.
The Committee met with Mickey Brandmeyer, Superintendent of the Lincoln Schools, to hear
his report on year-end spending. He anticipates a positive balance of approximately $125,000,
which will be applied to prepay SPED tuition and collaborative assessments for FY2010.
Mickey also discussed changes in use of SPED funds, the Lincoln School’s receipt of federal
stimulus funds, reductions in METCO funding, and anticipated reductions in Medicaid
reimbursement.
The Committee met with Tim Higgins to discuss delaying capital expenditures approved for
FY2010 to the greatest extent possible, pending more clarity on the FY2010 budget situation.
The Committee discussed follow ups:
1. Inquire as to ways to move the discussions/negotiations with Nstar re the street lights to a
conclusion.
2. Suggest exploration of the possibility of replacing street lights with more energy efficient
options - LED lights for example, which is perhaps a task for the Green Energy
Committee.
3. Follow up with Tim Higgins and/or Colleen Wilkins re health insurance expenses.
4. Clarify how Quinn bill changes affect Lincoln’s budget.
5. Clarify background of potential funds from Assessor’s account.
6. Pursue various alternative budget scenarios in the fall.
The Committee scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, September 1, 2009.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.
Submitted By: John L. Koenig
Approved: Sept. 1, 2009
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