Town Council - Ordinance & Rules Committee

Braintree Town Council MEMBERS David Ringius, Jr, Chairman Committee on Ordinance & Rules Steven Sciascia, Vice- Chairman One JFK Memorial Drive Julia Flaherty, Member Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 Lawrence Mackin, Jr, Member December 7, 2021 MINUTES A meeting of the Committee on Ordinance & Rules was held in Johnson Chambers on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 beginning at 6:30pm. Chairman Ringius was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan Cimino conducted the roll call. Present: David M. Ringius, Jr, Chairman Steven Sciascia, Vice-Chairman Julia Flaherty, Member Lawrence C. Mackin, Jr, Member Also Present: Nicole Taub, Chief of Staff/Town Solicitor James Arsenault, DPW Director Mike McGourty, Facilities Director David Ringius, Jr, Chairman of the Committee on Ordinance & Rules asked for a moment of silence for our first responders and all those serving home and abroad. Approval of Minutes • November 3, 2021 A Motion was made by Councilor Sciascia to Approve Minutes of November 3, 2021 Motion: by Councilor Sciascia to Approve Minutes of November 3, 2021 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4 – Flaherty, Ringius, Sciascia, Mackin), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • November 10, 2021 A Motion was made by Councilor Sciascia to Approve Minutes of November 10, 2021 Motion: by Councilor Sciascia to Minutes of November 10, 2021 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4 – Flaherty, Ringius, Sciascia, Mackin), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) December 7, 2021 Committee on Ordinance & Rules 1 of 4 Old Business • 21 027 Mayor: Ordinance to Establish a Centralized Maintenance Department or take up any action related thereto (Public Hearing 12/7/21 at full Council) Chairman Ringius asked for a Motion to Take off the Table Order 21 027 A Motion was made by Councilor Sciascia to Take off the TABLE Order 20 034 Motion: by Councilor Sciascia to Take off the TABLE Order 20 034 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4 – Flaherty, Ringius, Sciascia, Mackin), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Nicole Taub, Chief of Staff stated you should have received all documentation relating to the idea of a Centralized Maintenance Department. This idea was originally formally raised by Councilor O’Brien and bringing it to the forefront and note it was something the Mayor was thinking about as when the Mayor took office he toured every school from boiler rooms to roofs and look at ways for better efficiencies and ways to take better care of the properties. This is the second step in a process. The first was the adoption of the statute which was voted and approved. The next step is authorizing the creation of the consolidated department. The consolidation requires a vote of the Council and also a majority vote of the School Committee. Please note what we are approving is the idea to create a consolidation of departments. We are not approving a salary scale or staffing levels or an organization chart. We understand there are more steps including possibly negotiating with the unions. In documents received we did send along a draft organizational chart. We are trying to move away from a reactive emergency response to a pro-active maintenance team. Back in 1996 there was an agreement that delineates the Schools and Town and what part of the properties they are responsible for. This will eliminate this. Councilor Sciascia asked if it would be feasible to separate out the School Building Maintenance so when they use money for maintenance they charge against that account. If leftover money they could start building back the School Trust fund. Nicole Taub states it is a question on how quickly we will be able to form this Consolidated Maintenance Department. Maybe we add a program in the DPW Operating budget like a School Buildings Program so everyone could see that funding in the Operating. Mike McGourty stated even with having to pay his team overtime we are still at 50% the cost of hiring outside. Their rate is $103 and our plumbers overtime rate is $43. The oversight has to be there and we have to have the right people in the right place. Nicole Taub stated one of the first things we would do under this program is do a full assessment of the buildings and create a multi-year action plan. That is something we would share and update. Chairman Ringius asked about the Custodial staff who are at each school. What if the Principal at the School had an immediate request. Will the custodial staff remain at their schools that the kids and parents get to know and used to seeing the same person. December 7, 2021 Committee on Ordinance & Rules 2 of 4 Nicole Taub stated the Custodial staff at their own schools would carry-over. If it was a mowing or plowing issue you would now have the full DPW/Highway staff for that. You will also have those teams a Principal can reach out to for services to be taken care of. Mike McGourty stated Custodial staff could be moved around if need be but for the most part like at Town Hall it is the same staff every day. Councilor Flaherty asked why we haven’t heard from the School Maintenance Department. Nicole Taub stated the Mayor has shared the proposal with them and talked to Superintendent Lee and Chairman Devin. Some of the questions have been who do we contact and how do we get prioritized. Chairman Ringius asked with a vote this evening what would the next steps be if both Council and School Committee vote in favor of this. Nicole Taub stated the next steps would be taking a closer look at the organization chart, the funding and discussions with the unions could start. We would seek to give updated presentations to the Council but there would be no more formal vote required. Motion was read by Councilor Sciascia for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 21 027: MOTION: Ordinance 2.220.060. , Centralized Maintenance Department. The Department of Public Works, under the direction of the Director, shall include a Centralized Maintenance Department, combining facilities staff, for the purpose of maintaining all buildings and land owned by the town including school buildings and grounds. The Centralized Maintenance Department is hereby established as authorized by Section 4-5.3 of the Town Charter and the adoption of M.G.L. c. 71, § 37M, by the Town Council. This ordinance shall take effect only after a majority vote in favor thereof, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, § 37M, by the School Committee. The consolidation of the maintenance departments may be revoked, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 71, § 37M, by majority of vote of the School Committee or Town Council, or both. A Motion was made by Councilor Sciascia for favorable recommendation to the full Council to Approve Order 21 027 Motion: by Councilor Sciascia for favorable recommendation to the full Council to Approve Order 21 027 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4 – Flaherty, Ringius, Sciascia, Mackin), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) December 7, 2021 Committee on Ordinance & Rules 3 of 4 New Business • None It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • Minutes of November 3, 2021 • Minutes of November 10, 2021 • 21 027 Mayor: Ordinance to Establish a Centralized Maintenance Department or take up any action related thereto (Public Hearing 12/7/21 at full Council) December 7, 2021 Committee on Ordinance & Rules 4 of 4