WESTPORT - With a new chairman and several new members, the Finance Committee will have a new look next year. Some changes may also be in store, according to the committee members, who introduced themselves to the public via cable television at their Aug. 31 meeting.

Paul Schmid, who raises cattle at his farm on Horseneck Road, will be the new chairman. He replaces Chester Adams, who served as chairman last year. Charles "Chuck' Goldberg is the new vice chairman. Mr. Goldberg signaled that he "anticipates many changes," during the 2004-2005 budget year.

Mr. Schmid said the previous Finance Committees "have done a great job presenting a balanced budget in crunch years." But he said the committee should work more closely with the Board of Selectmen to develop priorities for both the short term and long term.

"We need to get five-year goals from the Board of Selectmen for long-range planning," Mr. Schmid said.

Mr. Schmid also questioned the wisdom of asking voters to approve purchases of large capital items like the police cruisers and fire trucks on the June special election ballot. Except for the fire truck, which passed by about 30 votes, all the other purchases were rejected.

Although they were a one-time expense, financed by a short-term borrowing, the capital items still represented a Prop 2 1/2 override. The town has used this method in the past for large-ticket items, but some voters saw it as a back-door way to pass an override.

Mr. Schmid said the capital expenditures should be incorporated in the regular budget and that the town should "not get in the habit " of making them separate.

Warren Messier said moving the Town Meeting to June this past year helped considerably because it gave the town time to find out how much money it was getting from the state. Getting the warrant articles sooner would also be a big help, Mr. Messier said.

Elizabeth Collins, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who attended last week's meeting, said town boards need to "look at the big picture in the beginning and have a road map."

Ms. Collins is trying to get the main boards involved in Town Meeting to synchronize their efforts earlier in the process for next year's Town Meeting. By communicating better among themselves, they will be able to communicate more effectively with the public, Ms. Collins said.

Jack Baughan said he's asked the Board of Selectmen for 10 years to exert more leadership in the budget process. "This is the first time the Board of Selectmen has shown an interest in long-range planning," he said.

Bob McCarthy said it is difficult to find the money for all the rising costs because the town has "no control over revenue except through taxes." He said that in an environment of budget cuts, other costs keep rising. Among the ever-increasing costs he mentioned are labor costs, including health care, pensions and workers' compensation.

Mr. Schmid handed out copies of state rules governing finance committees. They included the rules for conflict of interest. Finance Committee members were given disclosure forms to fill out listing their business interests and those of immediate family members.

Mr. Goldberg said members should even be careful about perceived conflicts. As an example, he said a member who owns a boat might have a vested interest in a decision on a town dock or marina.

Some members said the personal associations in a small town are so interwoven, it could be difficult to get a quorum. But Ms. Collins said all town board members have to deal with similar conflict issues and yet they manage to conduct business.

"It is state law," she said.

Mr. Schmid read from the section of the rules that said personal friendships and partisanship cannot interfere with official duties.

Jack Baughan, who joined the Finance Committee in 1981, said, "Massachusetts Town Meeting government is a remarkable experiment and it's an honor to watch it in action."

Mr. Baughan called the budget process leading up to Town Meeting a "spiderweb" of all the "little elements" the town deals with in planning the next year's budget.

BY PEGGY AULISIO

paulisio@eastbaynewspapers.com