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 May 20, 2019 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in the Cahill Auditorium, Braintree Town Hall, on Monday, May 20, 2019 at 6:45p.m. Councilor Bowes was in the Chair. The Clerk of the Council conducted the roll call. Present: Thomas Bowes, Chairman Shannon Hume, Vice-Chair Stephen C. O’Brien, Member Timothy Carey, Member Not Present: Thomas Whalen, Member Also Present: Joseph Reynolds, Chief of Staff Edward Spellman, Finance Director 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 6, 2019 Motion made by Councilor Hume to Approve the Minutes of May 6, 2019. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) May 20, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 5 New Business • 19 015 Mayor: FY2020 Operating Budget or take up any action relative thereto Motion made by Councilor Hume to TAKE OFF the TABLE Order 19 015 Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor O’Brien Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) Councilor Bowes, Chairman of the Committee of Ways & Means stated the committee requested Call Backs for the following departments: CALL BACKS 121 Mayor's Office 133 Finance Programs The Mayor’s office provided a detailed memo with additional requested information. Councilor O’Brien stated thank you for the updated information including a 5-year spending/funding plan. I appreciate the clarification on funds pertaining to golf being a subsidy. I appreciate that document “change”. I am still very concerned about the lack of funding for the overtime for Fire and Police. Councilor O’Brien asked about item #5 on the memo dated May 15, 2019 and what was included in the $700,930 Capital Plan. Joe Reynolds, Chief of Staff gave a summary that it included equipment for the DPW and building infrastructure repairs being HVAC and boiler systems for Town Hall and repairs at 74 Pond Street. Councilor Bowes asked if he could receive information on grants that were applied for by the Substance Use division. Joe Reynolds, Chief of Staff stated he would get that information to him. Motions read by Councilor Hume for favorable recommendation to the full Council on the following items: 1. That the Town of Braintree raise and appropriate the sum of $139,331,575 to provide for all of the expenses for the maintenance and operation of the Town’s several departments and programs for the fiscal year 2020 and that the several sums herein set forth are hereby approved for the several purposes and are subject to the source of funding for said expenditures as outlined on the attached Exhibit A, specifically, that the sum of $94,809 be transferred from Golf Course receipts, the sum of $250,000 be transferred from the Overlay Surplus account, the sum of $9,700 be transferred from the Waterways Improvement fund, the sum of $22,000 be transferred from the Sale of Cemetery Lots, the sum of $625,031 be transferred from Water and Sewer receipts, the sum of $20,961 be transferred from Stormwater receipts, the sum of $1,200,000 be transferred from the Town owned land account and the balance to be raised in the tax levy. May 20, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 5  Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (3 – Bowes, Carey, Hume), Against (1 – O’Brien), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) Councilor O’Brien for discussion stating reasons for his votes include departments being asked to reduce their budget by 1% and not all departments did this and we are approaching our debt limit. This would have been a good year to send message to the departments that the 1% reduction would help not only now but in the future. Good budget management generally gives direction and receives. Ed Spellman, Director of Municipal Finance stated our debt limit is approximately $360 million. We are nowhere near approaching our debt limit. We do have 2 school building projects coming on board which does significantly reduce the Towns debt capacity that is correct. We are participating with the MSBA. They are contributing $41 million to the East $82 million dollar project. As far as the Budget, these are the Mayor’s priorities. The Mayor’s priorities have always been education, public safety, police, fire, public works and then the roads and sidewalks for the community. 2. That the Town of Braintree appropriate the sum of $1,907,151 to provide for all of the expenses for the maintenance and operation of the Town’s Golf Course and related programs for the fiscal year 2020 and that the several sums herein set forth are hereby approved for the several purposes as outlined on the attached Exhibit A, specifically, and that the sum of $1,907,151 be raised in the Golf Course receipts. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (3 – Bowes, Carey, Hume), Against (1 – O’Brien), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) 3. That the Town of Braintree appropriate the sum of $19,121,661 to provide for all of the expenses for the maintenance and operation of the Town’s Water and Sewer Division and related programs for the fiscal year 2020 and that the several sums herein set forth are hereby approved for the several purposes as outlined on the attached Exhibit A, specifically, that the sum of $103,694 be transferred from the Water Sewer Rehabilitation Fund and the balance of $19,017,967 be raised in the Water and Sewer receipts. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) May 20, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 5 4. That the Town of Braintree appropriate the sum of $582,029 to provide for all of the expenses for the maintenance and operation of the Town’s Stormwater and related programs for the fiscal year 2020 and that the several sums herein set forth are hereby approved for the several purposes as outlined on the attached Exhibit A, specifically, and that the sum of $582,029 be raised in the Stormwater receipts Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) 5. To see if the Town of Braintree will accept the provisions of Chapter 44, § 53F½ of the Massachusetts General Laws establishing a Cable Public Education and Government (PEG) fund an enterprise fund effective fiscal year 2020. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) Councilor O’Brien asked for further information on this PEG fund. Ed Spellman, Director of Municipal Finance stated Mass Department of Revenue had issued guidelines and in the budget for FY2020 it talks directly about the Cable Access fee. They are requiring one of two accounting methods: An Enterprise fund or a Receipt Reserve for Appropriation. The Enterprise fund is most closely linked to what we are doing now. Money comes in from the 3 cable providers in town: BELD, Comcast, Verizon and is transferred over to BCAM for their operations. This is a change of accounting the Department of Revenue is requiring. 6. That the Town of Braintree appropriate the sum of $531,369 to provide for all of the expenses for the maintenance and operation of the Town’s Cable Television Public, Education and Government Access and related programs for the fiscal year 2020 and that the several sums herein set forth are hereby approved for the several purposes as outlined on the attached Exhibit A, specifically, and that the sum of $531,369 be raised in the Cable Franchise fees receipts. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) 7. Pursuant to General Law Chapter 44, Section 31D, the town is authorized to incur a liability in excess of the amount appropriated for snow and ice for fiscal year 2020. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) May 20, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 5  Councilor O’Brien asked if this has to do with an upcoming Supplemental #3 on snow and ice. Ed Spellman, Director of Municipal Finance stated this is for FY2020 and allows the Town to carry a deficit over to the next fiscal year. Without this language it would not be allowed. The upcoming Supplemental is to cover the deficit of FY19. Councilor Hume stated last week when Blue Hills was here at the budget meeting they stated they currently have no plan in place to address OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits). I commend Ed Spellman and the Town for having our OPEB in place. I would like to make a motion to send a letter to Blue Hills Regional to come up with a plan. Motion by Councilor Hume for favorable recommendation to the full Council that the full Council send a letter to Blue Hills Regional that they come up with a plan to address their OPEB liability and send that letter from the Town Council and the Mayor’s office. Motion: by Councilor Hume Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien), Against (0), Absent (1 - Whalen), Abstain (0) Councilor Bowes, Chairman of the Committee of Ways & Means stated only 42% of departments followed the 1% budget decrease request. We do have contractual obligations that caused some increases. Old Business • None It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:38p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 19 015 Mayor: FY2020 Operating Budget or take up any action relative thereto • Memo from Ed Spellman/Mayor’s office to address additional questions May 20, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 5