WHITMAN — Selectmen on Tuesday, Jan. 18 voted to approve a final portion of a financial policy for the town.
Four such policies have been under consideration either as new or amended with one not yet voted on — the question of how the proposed procurement card policy will control use of the card.
Only one credit card will be used for the town and kept in the Selectmen’s office.
“The policy you have in front of you makes that clarification, that it would be one,” Heineman said.
Selectman Dan Salvucci asked how food tabs would be covered, such as sandwiches brought in during long meetings as opposed to billing restaurant meals to the card.
Heineman said the town’s personnel policy includes the federal government’s GSA guidelines for standard federal meals and hotel rooms, where necessary, rates for the area.
“Our personnel policies are linked currently to the GSA’s guidelines,” he said.
Forest Street resident Shawn Kain asked how the financial policy — as well as the strategic plan and capital projects — going to be presented to the public.
“Will there be a budget document that’s given to people as they come in for the special Town Meeting that will kind of display this stuff and how … decisions are made?” he asked.
Heineman said the debt policy adopted by the board last month, he definitely thinks there is some nexus to the special Town Meeting, but not directly because there is no borrowing. The consideration for the DPW building under consideration are the recommended debt levels.
The debt policy requires that levels of borrowing not exceed a certain percent of the town’s levy limit.
“Because there is no debt, there is no requested debt at the special Town Meeting,” he said. “But, certainly, it would be great to have the board’s toughts — your thoughts — on a way to, perhaps in a sentence or two, say how this is projected to, in the future, be in compliance with the new debt policy.”
Kain said even a simple statement such as that would demonstrate the town’s fiscal due diligence.
“Just to connect those dots is very helpful to people,” he said. “Certainly very helpful for me.”
A written copy of the town’s strategic plan was expected later that week, Heineman said.