The Governor's budget in depth

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (Mass Budget) had previously released a quick look at the Governor's 2012 budget. They have followed up with a more in depth look that can be found at this link.
Mass Budget does a great job of tracking the budget as it moves through the appropriations process. The Governor's budget proposal has gone to the state House ...

... where it is designated, House 1. As the various budget items are considered and revised by the House, it becomes the House Ways and Means budget and then is forwarded to the state Senate for similar consideration. The Senate considers and revises the budget and then a joint budget is passed by both bodies. Finally the Governor, who has line item veto power, can markup th final and then the legislature may override his vetoes or not.
The whole process takes several months. municipalities would like the budget sooner rather than later as they must make decisions on their own budgets and state figures impact their decisions Click here to read on!

Town and Budget candidate unable to reach an agreement.

The town and Mr. Sulmonte, who was the Select Board's first choice to be the next Director of Budget and Finance, have reached an impasse in contract negotiations. The Select Board has decided not to pursue the matter further with Mr. Sulmonte.
The Select Board has also decided to offer the position to the second place candidate, Mr. Greg Barnes, who is currently the town administrator in Townsend. Mr. Barnes grew up in Westport, ...

... so he is familiar with our town. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. Discussions with Mr. Barnes are now underway and I hope can reach a conclusion soon.
Click here to read on!

Police Chief hired, Budget Director selected

At last night's Select Board meeting, the Board signed a contract with Captain Timothy Lee to become the new Police Chief in Dartmouth. Captain Lee will begin his service on March 22nd. There will be a reception at the Town Hall at 5:30PM on that day to welcome Chief Lee to the community and department. I feel that Chief Lee will be a tremendous asset to the town and an outstanding Police Chief for many years to come.
The Select Board also voted to appoint Mr. Anthony Sulmonte as Director of Budget and Finance, subject to successful contract negotiations. Mr. Sulmonte was not interviewed at the same time as the other candidates due to a scheduling conflict. It is unfortunate the he could not have been interviewed on DCTV so that the community could have watched ...

... but there was another meeting televised that evening and the room was not available. I found Mr. Sulmonte to be knowledgeable, very personable, open, and sincere. He was the unanimous choice of the selection committee and the Select Board. Mr. Sulmonte is currently the Treasurer in Abington.
Finally, the Select Board asked to have a discussion of full day kindergarten put on the agenda for next week's meeting.
Click here to read on!

Budget and Finance candidate interviews

The Select board will interview two candidates for Budget and Finance Director at tonight's meeting. Mr. Anthony Sulmonte of Abington was interviewed last Tuesday. He had a schedule conflict tonight, so he was interviewed earlier. John Clark, the Billerica Treasurer/Collector and Greg Barnes, the Townsend Town Administrator, will be interviewed tonight.
I do not know how the other members of the Select Board feel ...

... about the timing of the selection. I would like to make the appointment tonight.
The budget season is upon us and there are many issues that need to be addressed. While I am confident that Mr. Cressman and the staff at the Budget and Finance office can handle the task, it would be a great help to have a new Budget and Finance Director to sort through the details of a very challenging budget year for FY2011.
Click here to read on!

Budget and Finance process begins

The Select Board interviewed the first of three finalists for Budget and Finance Director. Anthony Sulmonte, Abington Town Accountant met with the Select Board this evening due to a schedule conflict on Monday. The other two candidates, John Clark, the Billerica Treasurer/Collector, and Greg Barnes, the Townsend Town Administrator, are the other two finalists. They will interview with the Board on Monday.
These three candidates have been selected ...

... from more than 30 initial applicants by a committee formed to conduct the search in accordance the Dartmouth General Bylaws.
Thanks to the committee for their time and effort in bringing the process forward to this point.
Click here to read on!

Select Board to begin interviews of Budget and Finance candidates

The Select Board will interview one of three finalists for the position of Budget and Finance Director at tomorrow's meeting. A committee set up in accordance with our bylaws (C1 section 3) has advertised for candidates, interviewed them and decided on a trio to present to the Select Board for consideration. The Select Board had planned ...

... to interview all three on February 22nd but a scheduling conflict for one candidate has pushed his interview up to tomorrow. The remaining two will appear on the 22nd.
Click here to read on!

Moderator seeks volunteer for Budget Director search

From Mr. Sharek

Hi Bill and Curt ... I just got a request from Executive Administrator David Cressman to appoint a Town Meeting member to serve on a screening committee that will seek a successor to Ed Iacaponi. Composition of the committee is outlined in the Town's General By-Laws, Committees and Commissions, Section 3, found below. Could you post something on your blog, asking interested Town Meeting members to contact me as early as possible by e-mail at
stevesharek@comcast.net
or by mail at 25 Ricketson Street, Dartmouth, MA 02747.
A brief letter of interest with a resume would be helpful.
Thanks. Steve Sharek, Town Moderator

continued after the jump

SECTION 3. SEARCH AND SCREENING COMMITTEE FOR DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCE/TREASURER.
A screening committee composed of five members shall be appointed, one by each of the following committees: Finance Committee, Personnel Board, Board of Assessors, a Town Meeting member appointed by the Moderator, and the Personnel Administrator.
The screening committee shall supervise a national and regional search and recruitment program. The committee shall interview the most qualified applicants recommending no more than three suitable candidates to the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen must make its appointment from the three candidates submitted by the committee.

Click here to read on!