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 Tuesday, October 20, 2020 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held Remote via Zoom Webinar, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 6:00p.m. Councilor Boericke was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan M. Cimino conducted the roll call. All votes were taken by Roll Call Vote. 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 Christine Stickney, Director Planning & Community Development Kelly Phelan, Conservation Planner Approval of Minutes • May 19, 2020 Motion made by Councilor Ryan to approve Minutes of May 19, 2020. Motion: by Councilor Ryan to approve Minutes of May 19, 2020 Second: by Councilor Connors Roll Call Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • May 20, 2020 Motion made by Councilor Ryan to approve Minutes of May 20, 2020. Motion: by Councilor Ryan to approve Minutes of May 20, 2020 Second: by Councilor Connors Roll Call Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) October 20, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 4 • May 21, 2020 Motion made by Councilor Ryan to approve Minutes of May 21, 2020. Motion: by Councilor Ryan to approve Minutes of May 21, 2020 Second: by Councilor Connors Roll Call Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Old Business • None New Business • 20 069 Mayor: Request for Appropriation – Smelt Brook Culvert & Fisheries Habitat Restoration or take up any action relative thereto (PUBLIC HEARING at Full Council) At the September 21, 2020 meeting of the Community Preservation Committee, the Committee voted unanimously to recommend the appropriation of Community Preservation Act funds for the Smelt Brook Culvert & Fisheries Habitat Restoration (Phase I). The project, located in the Landing (beneath Commercial Street), included work to the existing culvert with over one hundred (100) linear feet of culvert replacement, relocation of existing utilities and a new culvert bottom installed with a specialized spawning bottom to mimic the natural stone lined channel bottom. Additionally, beyond the Commercial Street layout, approximately one hundred and fifty (150) feet of culvert was day lighted as part of the project. A second phase is forthcoming that will create a small passive pocket park around the daylighting with interpretive signage explaining the fishery habitat and life cycles. Councilor Boericke, Chairwoman of the Committee of Ways & Means asked the following questions: • Can you please confirm we are still estimating ~$800K in annual revenue for the CPA? o The CPA surcharge revenue collected in FY20 was $805,000.00 o FY21 revenue from the CPA surcharge is projected to be in the $800,000.00 range. o The state CPA match is projected to be in the $90,000 range based on a reimbursement percentage of 11.5; however, this may increase if the reimbursement percentage is increased by the state. • At the beginning of FY '21 we had a balance of ~$8.1M in total CPA funds, with the appropriations thus far what is the current balance? o As of June 30, 2020, the total available was $8,300,761 with the following individual fund balances:  Budgeted Reserve--$450,000  Encumbered--$600,962  Open Space--$580,313  Historic Preservation--$377,435  Community Housing--$795,944  Unreserved Fund Balance--$5,496,108 October 20, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 4  o In FY21, the following appropriations have been made/proposed:  Historic Preservation--$30,000 (remaining balance $347,435)  Unreserved--$1,515,000 (remaining balance $3,981,108)  Open Space--$250,000 (remaining balance if approved $330,313) o If the pending request is approved, the remaining balance in the fund will be $6,505,761. • What other expenditures are anticipated in FY '21? o There are three applications on the agenda for the Community Preservation Committee’s consideration on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 5 pm. Smelt Brook Funding questions: • Looking for clarification on the overall funding for this project. Is the total cost of $890,000 ($640K paid by Weymouth through a Mass Works grant and $250K paid by Braintree)? • Are CPA projects covered by Mass Works? Is this an avenue Braintree has pursued, either for this project or others? This project was initially funded through a $1,600,000 MassWorks grant. A subsequent round of grant funding in the amount of $640,000 was awarded in response to a joint application submitted by Weymouth and Braintree. At the inception of the project, Braintree committed $400,000 to the overall cost of the project. This commitment is now being fulfilled through two separate CPA appropriations. The first, currently pending before the Council is for $250,000 to support Phase I of the project relating to the culvert work. The second request, which is currently pending before the Community Preservation Committee is valued at $150,000 and will be used to fund a portion of Phase II of the project and support the development of a park. CPA projects can assist as a local match as long as the project meets an eligible category for funding under the CPA. In this case, the categories are open space and ecological restoration. Motion made by Councilor Ryan for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 20 069: MOTION: : That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44B of the General Laws and with the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee, the appropriation of $250,000.00 from the CPA Open Space Fund for the Smelt Brook Culvert & Fisheries Habitat Restoration Project (Phase I) in the Landing, located beneath Commercial Street running west to east (at #6 across to #5) at the corporate line with the Town of Weymouth, conditional on the funds expended under the direction of the Community Preservation Committee and the Director of Planning and Community Development. Motion: by Councilor Ryan for favorable recommendation to the full Council Order 20 069 Second: by Councilor Connors Roll Call Vote: For (5–Boericke, Connors, Flaherty, Ryan, Sciascia), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) October 20, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 4 It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:12p.m. by Roll Call Vote. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • Minutes of May 19, 2020 • Minutes of May 20, 2020 • Minutes of May 21, 2020 • 20 069 Mayor: Request for Appropriation – Smelt Brook Culvert & Fisheries Habitat Restoration or take up any action relative thereto (PUBLIC HEARING at Full Council) October 20, 2020 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 4