Town Council - Ways & Means Committee

MEMBERS Braintree Town Council Thomas Bowes, Chairman Committee of Ways & Means Shannon Hume, Vice-Chair One JFK Memorial Drive Stephen C. O’Brien, Member Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 Timothy Carey, Member Thomas Whalen, Member MINUTES June 5, 2018 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in the Johnson Chambers, Braintree Town Hall, on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 6:00p.m. Councilor Bowes was in the Chair. The Clerk of the Council conducted the roll call. Present: Thomas Bowes, Chairman Shannon Hume, Vice-Chairman Stephen O’Brien, Member Timothy Carey, Member Thomas Whalen, Member Also Present: Joe Reynolds, Chief of Staff Ed Spellman, Finance Director James Arsenault, DPW Director James Casey, Town Clerk Christine Stickney, Director Planning & Community Development Kelly Phelan, Conservation Planner The meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag followed by a moment of silence for all those serving in our armed services, past and present. Approval of Minutes • May 21, 2018 Motion: by Councilor Hume to Approve Minutes of May 21, 2018 Second: by Councilor O’Brien Vote: For (3 – Bowes, O’Brien, Carey, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (1 - Hume), Abstain (0) New Business • 18 032 Town Clerk: Permanent Relocation of District 3B Polling Location or take up any action relative thereto James Casey, Town Clerk stated 85 Quincy Avenue is to be renovated and therefore a new polling location needed to be found. Braintree Yacht Club agreed to accept us as a new polling location for 3B. Braintree Yacht Club land is owned by the Town of Braintree. The front door is on street level therefore, meets ADA requirements. Motion read by Councilor Hume for favorable recommendation to the full Council: June 5, 2018 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 4  UPON THE REQUEST OF THE BRAINTREE TOWN CLERK, THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE, THROUGH THE BRAINTREE TOWN COUNCIL, IT IS SO ORDERED: Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 54, §24, that the public convenience would be better served by permanently relocating to the Braintree Yacht Club, 9 Gordon Road, the District 3B polling location which is currently located in the Braintree Recreation Building, 85 Quincy Avenue. Motion: by Councilor Hume to recommend favorable action to the full Council on Order 18 032 Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (5-Bowes, Hume, O’Brien, Carey, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • 18 031 Mayor: Land Purchase - Middle Street or take up any action relative thereto Kelly Phelan, Conservation Planner stated this is very developable land. We are here to request open space and a walking trail along the Monatiquot River. Charles Kokoros, Council Vice-President and District 1 Councilor stated the owner of this property Grossman has not paid taxes since 1992. They owe approximately $115,000 in taxes. This property is assessed at $250,000. I support selling this but not at $620,000. $400,000 would be a more reasonable price. Christine Stickney, Director of Planning & Community Development stated we are here for open space acquisition. The CPC looked at the value and an independent appraiser took into consideration the potential build out. It is 6 acres plus and worth it. I encourage favorable recommendation if you want to keep it from being developed. Joseph Reynolds, Chief of Staff stated the appraised value and the assessed value are two different things. The Mayor would like a river walk along Elm Street. He does not want this area developed. He wants to purchase this for open space. The back taxes will get paid out of the $620,000 purchase price. Motion read by Councilor Hume for favorable recommendation to the full Council: That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44B of the General Laws and with the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee, the sum of $620,000 be appropriated from the CPA Open Space Reserve Fund for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space, in order to acquire a parcel of land located off Middle Street containing approximately 6.4 acres and identified as Assessors Map Parcels 2002-0-1 and 2006-0-1A, said sums to be expended under the direction of the Mayor. Further, that the Mayor be authorized to accept a deed for said parcel and to take any other action necessary to accomplish the acquisition of said parcel, and that the Mayor also be authorized to grant a permanent restriction on said parcel to meet the requirements of Chapter 184 of the General Laws, Sections 31 and 32, as required by Chapter 44B of the General Laws, Section 12. Upon acquisition, said parcel is to be placed under the care, custody, and control of the Conservation Commission, and is to be used for passive recreation and other open-space uses. Motion: by Councilor Hume to recommend favorable action to the full Council on Order 18 031 Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (5-Bowes, Hume, O’Brien, Carey, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) June 5, 2018 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 4 • 18 033 Mayor: Tri Town Plant Bond Authorization or take up any action relative thereto Joseph Reynolds, Chief of Staff stated the Tri-Town board of Braintree, Holbrook, and Randolph has made significant progress in the long awaited construction of a water treatment facility to be shared and operated by all three communities. This is the bond authorization for the Braintree’s share of the construction of the plant. Braintree’s share of the cost is estimated at $ $23,300,000. Having had positive conversations with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) we believe that as a regional entity we can qualify for a low interest loan, offered by the water abatement trust – a subsidiary of the State Treasurer’s Office – at 2.4% for a 30 year period. This rate compares very favorable to the current 30 year bond rate of approximately 5.00%. Thus, saving the rate payers $12,600,000 in interest over the life of the bond issue. The Mayor’s office will provide updates along the way. Motion read by Councilor Hume for favorable recommendation to the full Council: ORDERED: That the Town of Braintree appropriates Twenty-Three Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($23,300,000) to pay the Town’s share of the costs of designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing the Tri Town water treatment plant, which is to be undertaken with the Towns of Randolph and Holbrook, and for the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto, which amount shall be expended in addition to all other amounts previously appropriated by the Town for this project. To meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to G. L. c. 44, §7(1), §8(4) or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor. The amount authorized to be borrowed by this order shall be reduced to the extent of any grants received by the Town on account of this project. All or any portion of the amount authorized to be borrowed by this order may be obtained through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. Any premium received by the Town upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this order, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this order in accordance with G. L. c. 44, §20 of the General Laws, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount. Motion: by Councilor Hume to recommend favorable action to the full Council on Order 18 033 Second: by Councilor Whalen Vote: For (5-Bowes, Hume, O’Brien, Carey, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • 18 034 Mayor: Appointment Planning Board – Philip Baker or take up any action relative thereto Joseph Reynolds, Chief of Staff stated Mr. Eng will be stepping away and heading up the South Coastal Rail Project. Motion read by Councilor Hume for favorable recommendation to the full Council: To approve the appointment of Philip J. Baker to the Planning Board in accordance with sections 3-3 of the Town Charter. June 5, 2018 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 4  Motion: by Councilor Hume to recommend favorable action to the full Council on Order 18 034 Second: by Councilor Whalen Vote: For (5-Bowes, Hume, O’Brien, Carey, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Old Business • None It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:57p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino, Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • May 21, 2018 • 18 031 Mayor: Land Purchase - Middle Street or take up any action relative thereto • 18 032 Town Clerk: Permanent Relocation of District 3B Polling Location or take up any action relative thereto • 18 033 Mayor: Tri Town Plant Bond Authorization or take up any action relative thereto • 18 034 Mayor: Appointment Planning Board – Philip Baker or take up any action relative thereto June 5, 2018 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 4