Truro is beautiful in the Fall, and it is quite busy. Our Town Committees, Boards, and Commissions are meeting again. Town Hall has meetings scheduled day and night. Fall is here!
The emphasis for the Town Administrator is to prepare the Fiscal Year 2012 Town budget. This process begins in October and ends at Town Meeting in the spring. First, with help from the Town Treasurer and Town Accountant, I must create the Municipal Financial Calendar. This is a list of important financial dates for the Town of Truro. It details steps in the budgeting process. Next, the Board of Selectmen talk with the Town Administrator and the Town Accountant to determine what sort of limits the 2012 budget should have. Limits may be stated as "cut 5% from the 2012 budget" or "level fund the 2012 budget." The possibilities are endless. On October 19, the Board of Selectmen determine the parameters of the 2012 budget. The Town Accountant and I have uncovered expected increases in the health insurance offered to our employees, and all insurances needed by the Town, and retirement benefits. Also, we have determined various mandates and projects that will affect the budget in 2012. We have uncovered expenses that will impact the budget in 2012 and presented our thoughts to the Board of Selectmen.
On November 2, I meet with the Department Heads and Chairmen of the various Truro Committees, Boards, and Commissions to disseminate the Board of Selectmen limits on the new budget. Budget worksheets are distributed by the Town Accountant. The Department Heads and Committee chairs work on their budgets for a month. Then the Town Administrator and Town Accountant meet individually with all Department Heads. Following this process, the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee review the 2012 proposed budgets.
The 2012 budget will be priced, debated, and thoroughly reviewed during the time between now and Annual Town Meeting in May 2011. This budget will take effect on July 1, 2011. As you can see, we are trying to look into the future, almost 18 months, in order to set a fair and accurate budget. It is a time-consuming process that demands close attention and detail.
I am also busy negotiating new contracts with all three of Truro's Collective Bargaining Units, or unions. Truro's unions are the Police Federation, which represents all the people who work in the Police Department; AFSCME, which represents manual laborers in the Department of Public Works; and LIUNA, the union for professionals and clerical workers. We are in hard times. The economy is struggling with recession. It is a tough time to negotiate a labor contract. Our three unions, to their credit, have been conscious of the economy around them. We always negotiate in good faith. It is my goal to be fair with each union and attempt to negotiate a settlement: a settlement that will be satisfactory to the members of the union and, at the same time, be a settlement the Town can afford.
This Fall, as all meetings and committees reconvene, I have attended on behalf of the Town the SEAMASS meetings, Cape Cod Regional Transit Meetings, Inter-municipal Cooperation Meetings, (Regionalization) and meetings with the Truro Cable Commission. The latter is in an attempt to establish a Channel 18 (government channel) here in Truro and to establish a strong infrastructure for Channel 17 at Nauset High School. I will continue to report progress in these areas as I write for the eNewsletter.
In the last eNewsletter, I informed the reader that Truro was searching for a new IT (Information Technology) Director. We have hired that Director, and his name is Harry Terkanian. Harry lives in Wellfleet and is the Wellfleet Town Moderator. He is a former attorney who has decided to devote the rest of his career to computer technology. Harry was the IT Director for La Tanzi, Spaulding, and Landreth, as well as a legal partner. During the past seven years he devoted his time and energy to computer technology by establishing his own firm, Outermost Systems. I spoke to people for whom Harry provided computer service in various private companies. They could not say enough about his talent. Harry Terkanian is our new IT Director.
Speaking of Department Heads: Paul Morris, the Director for the Department of Public Works (DPW) and I just visited the Community Center so I could see the tile at the entrance to the building and the entire lobby area are now covered with carpet. Just in time for the winter weather. Our goal is to prevent slips and falls. I think you will like the new carpet in the lobby.
Well, Dear Reader, I must end this contribution to the newsletter and get back to work. I will continue to inform Truro citizens of the comings and goings of our local government. Till then,
Pam Nolan
Town Administrator
townadm@truro-ma.gov
(508) 349-7004, ext 10