Saugus pols defend FinCom

SAUGUS-Selectman Michael Kelleher’s suggestion that the Finance Committee is passé has raised the eyebrows of some and the ire of others.Precinct 4 Town Meeting member Al DiNardo said he couldn’t disagree more with Kelleher’s thoughts that the committee should be disbanded.”Fin Com has told us for the last three Town Meetings that we were headed down this path,” he said. “We just haven’t reacted properly.”DiNardo is referring to a report the committee made to the Annual Town Meeting in 2003. The report predicted the town would suffer a budget shortfall of $2.4 million in 2006 if it continued on its fiscal spending path.Despite the fact the prediction was one year late, the committee’s numbers were not far off.Compared to the actual 2006 budget, the Finance Committee’s predicted cherry sheet numbers were off by only $55,000, while the figure for total tax levy plus automatic growth and estimated growth combined was off by barely $3 million.The report predicted the shortfalls would come in the area of inflation, the settlement of the police contract and healthcare.DiNardo said he needs the kind of non-biased, up front information that the Finance Committee provides.”They are away from the political hand,” he said. “It’s raw information. It might not be pretty, but I need that raw information.”Precinct 8 Town Meeting member Robert Hoffman said he, too, puts a lot of weight in Finance Committee recommendations.”And I think Mr. Kelleher is out of touch with reality.”Ellen Faiella of Precinct 9 doesn’t necessarily agree with Kelleher, but defended his right to make the suggestion.Kelleher initially made his feelings known on the Finance Committee during the Charter Commission public hearing. The hearing was held so residents, including public officials, could have their say on what works and what doesn’t work within the town government.Faiella said she fears that harsh criticism towards Kelleher might deter other residents from offering their suggestions.”You may not agree with all the ideas, but to throw stones sends the wrong message to the public,” she said, adding she believes the Finance Committee serves an important purpose, but it is also incumbent on Town Meeting members to do their own research.She said Town Meeting members shouldn’t rely solely on recommendations of any one board or committee.”We should do our own homework, it’s our responsibility,” she said.Raymond Lawrence, also of Precinct 8, questioned Kelleher’s suggestion that a review board made up of Town Meeting members replace the committee.”I’m not sure Town Meeting has that type of expertise,” he said. “I think the job they do is very important and everyone on the Finance Committee has a financial background.”Moderator Robert Long said Teri Katsos is the only Finance Committee member without ties to a financial career, but he argued that she is a long time activist and is very familiar with the town’s financial circumstances.DiNardo said he believes it’s the Finance Committee’s job to steer the ship from point A to point B and to give the news most residents probably don’t want to hear.”If they tell us the women and children have to row the ship, then the women and children have to row the ship,” DiNardo said with a laugh. “We need these people to tell us the hard news.”