Town Council - Ways & Means Committee

MEMBERS Braintree Town Council Meredith Boericke, Chairwoman Committee of Ways & Means Charles Ryan, Vice-Chair One JFK Memorial Drive Donna Connors, Member Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 Julia Flaherty, Member Steven Sciascia, Member MINUTES February 25, 2020 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in the Fletcher Hall, Braintree Town Hall, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 6:00p.m. Councilor Boericke was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan M. Cimino conducted the roll call. Present: Meredith Boericke, Chairwoman Charles Ryan, Vice-Chair Donna Connors, Member Julia Flaherty, Member Steven Sciascia, Member Also Present: Nicole Taub, Chief of Staff Ed Spellman, Finance Director Ed Cronin, Director of Finance & Operations for Schools Shawn McGoldrick, Clifton Larson Allen – Town Auditor Dan Sullivan, Clifton Larson Allen – Town Auditor Hannah York, Clifton Larson Allen – Town Auditor 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  January 21, 2020 Motion: by Councilor Ryan to Approve Minutes of January 21, 2020 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) February 25, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 5 Old Business  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 Councilor Boericke gave an update from John Goldrosen, Assistant Town Solicitor. He stated: “Please continue this item, without action, until the March 17th meetings of the Ways & Means Committee and the Town Council. The unit owner is awaiting approval of a proposed loan modification agreement with her lender. If the agreement is approved, the scheduled foreclosure will be cancelled and there would be no need for any Town action. The decision on the loan modification agreement probably won’t be made before the next scheduled Council meeting on March 4th, and so I am requesting the continuance until March 17th.” Chairwoman Boericke asked if there was a motion to continue to table Order 19 044 at this time. Motion: by Councilor Ryan to continue to TABLE to the next Committee of Ways & Means meeting on March 17, 2020 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0)  20 016 Council President: Re-Appointment Town Auditor or take up any action relative thereto Chairwoman Boericke asked if there was a motion to take off the table Order 20 016. Motion: by Councilor Ryan to take off the TABLE Order 20 016 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Shawn McGoldrick and Dan Sullivan, Town Auditors were present and answered questions about the new 3-year contract and price points. The Town Auditors have been working for the Town, appointed by the Town Council for the past 3 years. They are familiar with the Town and what needs to be done and what they can better assist with. Dan Sullivan stated you will not find anyone who does not know municipalities. Shawn McGoldrick does most of the work. We bring “seniors” in to get work done efficiently and at the right rate. We have a blended rate. The highest paid does not do all the work when it can be done at a lower rate. Councilor Connors stated thank you for negotiating your rates. Councilor Boericke stated this is a very fair agreement. I request in two years’ time this committee begin reviewing multiple vendors ahead of the next re-appointment of Town Auditors. February 25, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 5  Councilor Ryan made a motion for favorable recommendation to the full Council. MOTION: Pursuant to Section 2-8 (A) of the Charter of the Town of Braintree the Town Council appoints Clifton Larson Allen as Town Auditor for a three year contract effective April 24, 2020 through April 23, 2023. Motion: by Councilor Ryan for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 20 016 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) New Business  20 019 Mayor: Transfer Funds from Human Resources Salary Reserve or take up any action relative thereto Nicole Taub, Chief of Staff stated it is fairly common negotiations are not settled and this why we set this money aside. These monies are not new financial obligations they are transfers from the Human Resource Reserve Account set aside to fund union contracts. FY2021 and FY2022 will be budgeted for. We will know the amount required. Councilor Flaherty asked if we can predict and budget for this money in the future. Nicole Taub stated we have 11 Unions we negotiate with. It is very difficult to predict. Ed Spellman, Finance Director stated the Human Resource Reserve Account was set up in the HR Budget and we estimated the $500,000 to help cover these contracts. Councilor Ryan stated maybe in the future the town should put aside more money for additional contract items not just the salary. Councilor Sciascia asked if the dollar amounts needed can be projected out Nicole Taub stated we have 11 Unions we negotiate with. It is very difficult to predict but our HR Director looks at other towns and municipalities and compare costs. Councilor Ryan made a motion for favorable recommendation to the full Council. MOTION: That the Town vote to amend the wage and salary classification schedules, as most recently amended by transferring the sum of $9,351.76 for the purpose of funding a wage increase as detailed in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Braintree Library Staff Association, MLSA Local 4928, AFT Massachusetts, AFL-CIO, (BLSA) effective July 1, 2019, and for this purpose, the sum of $9,351.76 be transferred from the Human Resources/ Program 04- Employee Benefits/ Benefits Reserve 5179 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. Motion: by Councilor Ryan for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 20 019 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) February 25, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 5  20 020 Mayor: Appointment – Cultural Council, Anne Stuart or take up any action relative thereto Nicole Taub, Chief of Staff gave an overview of the resume submitted from Anne Stuart. Ms. Taub stated this is an impressive resume. Councilor Ryan made a motion for favorable recommendation to the full Council. MOTION: To Approve in accordance with Section 3-3 of the Charter, the Appointment of Anne Stuart to the Cultural Council. Motion: by Councilor Ryan for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 20 020 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0)  20 021 Braintree School Department: Authorization to execute Memorandum of Understanding with Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services or take up any action relative thereto Ed Cronin, Director of Finance & Operations stated this allows the Town to apply for a grant for federal reimbursement for some of the costs the schools incur by transporting children in foster care to schools. We will be refunded up to 25% but unsure as to exact amount at this time. Braintree pays about $16,000 per year. It is mandated we provide this transportation to Braintree residents up to 6th grade. Councilor Ryan made a motion for favorable recommendation to the full Council. MOTION: To authorize the Superintendent of the Braintree Public School Department to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Department of Children and Families, in order to obtain Federal Title IV-E reimbursements for costs incurred by the Braintree Public School Department for foster care transportation, and to provide that payments for such foster care transportation costs may be made from the reimbursements that are received under the MOU, without appropriation of said reimbursements, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 70. Motion: by Councilor Ryan for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 20 021 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) February 25, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 5 It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:06p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting  Minutes of January 21, 2020  20 016 Council President: Re-Appointment Town Auditor or take up any action relative thereto  20 019 Mayor: Transfer Funds from Human Resources Salary Reserve or take up any action relative thereto  20 020 Mayor: Appointment – Cultural Council, Anne Stuart or take up any action relative thereto  20 021 Braintree School Department: Authorization to execute Memorandum of Understanding with Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services or take up any action relative thereto February 25, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 5