Financial Forecast Minutes April 8 2019Minutes of the
Financial Forecast Committee
April 8, 2019
6:00p.m.
City Hall — Conference Room B
In Attendance
Chairperson and City Councilor Estelle Rand, City Council Appointee Karen Fogarty, School
Committee Member Rachael Abell, Beverly School Finance Director Jean Sherburne, School
Committee Member Kelley Ferretti, Mayoral Appointee Paul Manzo, School Committee Appointee
Medley Long and City Council Budget Analyst Gerard Perry.
Absent was Finance Director Bryant Ayles and City Councilor James Latter. Also present was City
Councilor's David Lang, Scott Houseman, and School Committee Member Lorinda Visnick.
Discussion
There was a discussion of numerous modifications to the minutes of both March 28, and April 1, 2019
by Ms. Abell. The committee members agreed with her suggestions. Motion made by Mr. Manzo,
seconded by Ms. Abell to approve the minutes of March 28t'', as amended by Ms. Abell. Motion passed
unanimously. Motion made by Ms. Abell, seconded by Ms. Fogarty to approve the minutes of April 1St
as amended by Ms. Abell. Motion passed unanimously. The Committee asked that future minutes be
sent both in word and PDF format.
Ms. Sherburne began a presentation about the school budget for FY20 and future years through FY23.
She presented a spreadsheet to committee members and then explained its contents. Ms. Sherburne then
briefed the committee on the following categories; salaries and wages, building budgets, utilities,
district curriculum, school committee, buildings and grounds, transportation, SPED, SPED tuition,
SPED staff, SPED expenses, benefits, technology, administrative expenses, steps /column /reserves, and
substitutes. Ms. Sherburne informed the committee that the FY20 school budget, as considered by the
Mayor, would increase by 5.1% in total. This increase would include $250,000 to reduce fees for
educational services rendered while the remaining budget would increase by 3.25 %.
Chairperson Rand discussed her concerns about the how much was paid to substitutes. Ms. Sherburne
explained substitutes are paid $80.00 a day, which is less than minimum wage. She further explained
that that the Human Resource officials explained that substitutes are exempt from the minimum wage
requirements, however it is a real issue for the school administration.
Chairperson Rand suggested that the committee meet next on April 22 and May 13t'', which the
committee members agreed to. Mr. Perry advised he would make the necessary arrangements with the
City Clerk to have them properly posted.
Motion made by Mr. Manzo, seconded by Ms. Ferretti to adjourn at 6:45p.m. Motion was unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gerard D. Perry
City Council Budget Analyst
Attachments: School Budget Development & Spreadsheet FY19 -23