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 December 17, 2019 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in the Johnson Chambers, Braintree Town Hall, on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 6:30p.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 Thomas Whalen, Member Also Present: Joseph Reynolds, Chief of Staff Christine Stickney, Director Planning & Community Development Nelson Chin, Director Parks & Recreation 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  November 6, 2019 Motion: by Councilor Hume to APPROVE Minutes of November 6, 2019 Second: by Councilor O’Brien Vote: For (5– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0)  November 19, 2019 Motion: by Councilor O’Brien to APPROVE Minutes of November 19, 2019 Second: by Councilor Hume Vote: For (5– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) December 17, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 5  Old Business  19 043 Mayor: Authorization to Fund South Middle School or take up any action relative thereto (Tabled on 12/3/19 to Continue to Table) Chairman Bowes stated we are waiting for more information on this item. It is requested at this time this item be TABLED to the next Committee of Ways & Means meeting. MOTION: That the Town appropriate the amount of Eighty-Six Million Five Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Nine Hundred Nineteen Dollars ($86,585,919) for the purpose of paying costs of designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing a new South Middle School, to be located behind the existing South Middle School at 232 Peach Street in Braintree, Massachusetts, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project”), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children for at least 50 years, and for which the Town may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), said amount to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee. To meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44, or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town; provided further that any grant that Town may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) fifty-three and ninety-six hundredths percent (53.96%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the Town and the MSBA. Any premium received upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, 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 vote in accordance with M.G.L. c. 44, §20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount. Motion: by Councilor Hume to TABLE Order 19 043 to the next W&M meeting Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (5– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) December 17, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 5  19 044 Mayor: To Approve the purchase and resale of an affordable-housing unit at Turtle Crossing and the expenditure of funds for that purpose or take up any action relative thereto (Tabled on 12/3/19 to Continue to Table) John Goldrosen, Town Solicitor stated if this property goes into foreclosure the Town can step in and purchase as affordable housing. The owner is still in the process of working things out with the bank. We have the right of first refusal. There is NO Motion at this time. The request is this item be TABLED at this time per John Goldrosen, Town Solicitor. Motion: by Councilor Hume to Continue to TABLE Order 19 044 to the next W&M meeting Second: by Councilor Whalen Vote: For (5– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0)  19 045 Mayor: FY2020 Supplemental Appropriations #1 or take up any action relative thereto (Item #6 Tabled on 12/3/19) Chairman Bowes asked if there was a motion to take Order 19 045 Item #6 off the table. Motion: by Councilor Hume to TAKE OFF the TABLE Order 19 045 Item #6 Second: by Councilor Whalen Vote: For (5– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Motion read by Councilor Hume for FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL: 6. Human Resources MOTION: That the Town vote to amend the wage and salary classification schedules, as most recently amended by appropriating the sum of $116,367.63 for the purpose of funding a wage increase for the non-BPMA employees effective July 1, 2019, and further that the Director of Municipal Finance is authorized to allocate said sums to and among the various accounts affected thereby in such amounts as are proper and required. In anticipation of approval of these agreements, funds were appropriated to a salary reserve account in the previously approved Fiscal Year 2020 budget. December 17, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 5  Motion: by Councilor Hume for Favorable Recommendation to the full Council Order 19 045 Item #6 Second: by Councilor O’Brien Vote: For (5– Bowes, Carey, Hume, O’Brien, Whalen), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) New Business  19 048 Mayor: Request for Appropriation - Winfield Adams Playground Baseball Field Renovation Project or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing at full Council) Councilor Hume stated these upgrades are well needed but there is no parking there. What about opening the gates for parking during games. Parking needs to be addressed. Can we get the plan for parking after your meeting with the local companies? I do support this but parking is a big concern. I request information on parking prior to the first games. Can this come back to us with an update. Councilor O’Brien made a Motion to TABLE Order 19 048. There was NO Second. The Motion Fails. Motion: by Councilor O’Brien to TABLE Order 19 048 Second: NONE Vote: MOTION FAILS Motion read by Councilor Hume for FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL: MOTION: That In accordance with the provisions of Chap. 44B of the General Laws and with the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee, the appropriation of $21,500.00 from the Unreserved Fund, for the Winfield Adams Playground Baseball Field Renovation Project located at the comer of Adams and Commercial Streets (Map 3013 Plot 53). Said funds are to be expended under the direction of the Community Preservation Committee and the Director of Director of Recreation, Community Events, Grounds & Cemetery. Motion: by Councilor Hume for Favorable Recommendation to the full Council Order 19 045 Item #6 Second: by Councilor Carey Vote: For (4 – Bowes, Carey, Hume, Whalen), Against (1 - O’Brien), Absent (0), Abstain (0) December 17, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 5 It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:51p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting  Minutes of November 6, 2019  Minutes of November 19, 2019  19 043 Mayor: Authorization to Fund South Middle School or take up any action relative thereto (PUBLIC HEARING at full Council)  19 044 Mayor: To Approve the purchase and resale of an affordable-housing unit at Turtle Crossing and the expenditure of funds for that purpose or take up any action relative thereto  19 045 Mayor: FY2020 Supplemental Appropriations #1 or take up any action relative thereto (Item #6 Tabled on 12/3/19)  19 048 Mayor: Request for Appropriation - Winfield Adams Playground Baseball Field Renovation Project or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing at full Council) December 17, 2019 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 5