Town Council - Ways & Means Committee

Braintree Town Council MEMBERS Joseph Reynolds, Chairman Committee of Ways & Means Julia Flaherty, Vice-Chairwoman One JFK Memorial Drive Elizabeth Maglio, Member Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 MINUTES Thursday, April 6, 2023 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held remote via Zoom Webinar on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 2pm. Councilor Reynolds was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan Cimino conducted the roll call. Present: Joseph Reynolds, Chairman Julia Flaherty, Vice-Chairwoman Elizabeth Maglio, Member Also Present: Ed Spellman, Director of Municipal Finance Jim Arsenault, DPW Director Mike McGourty, Facilities Director Mark Dubois, Police Chief Corey Chambers, Police Sgt. James Lee, School Superintendent Sarah Kaufman, School Department Shawn McGoldrick, Town Auditor Approval of Minutes • None Old Business • None April 6, 2023 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 6 New Business • 23 016 Mayor: Request to Approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Plan or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing at full Council May 2, 2023) Chairman Reynolds asked for a Motion to take off the table Order 23 016 Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to take off the table Order 23 016 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Chairman Reynolds asked if any Committee members would like to speak on Order 23 016. Questions were asked by members. Councilor Flaherty asked about the portable radios and mentioned this was an ask in 2022 and now again in 2023 and the town-wide radio migration. Corey Chambers stated the radio migration is town wide and in the schools. The portable radios is to replace the majority if not all for the full-time officers and special officers so they all have the same. Councilor Flaherty asked about the data processing system request for $26,800. Corey Chambers stated those assets are managed by BELD and each year we are provided a list that they would recommend for replacement immediately and then in the short term. Councilor Flaherty asked about the HAVC units in the Police Department. Mike McGourty stated he was asked to look at the system. We would replace 3 of them now and later on replace the full system. Councilor Flaherty asked how many vehicles can be purchased with the $243,000 recommended for police vehicles. Corey Chambers stated probably only 3 vehicles. We hope for 4 but probably only 3. Councilor Maglio asked for an update on the police garage that was too small to park the paddy-wagon inside. Mike McGourty stated all the steel beams are up and the grouting still needs to be done and we will see if it will be acceptable to park vehicles again inside the garage. Chairman Reynolds asked if HVAC units were replaced last year? Corey Chambers stated to my knowledge we have not replaced any to date. Mike McGourty stated we did add a new heat pump inside last year. Chairman Reynolds stated this is a concern of mine that we are operating with extensive needs of capital and infrastructure upgrades. There are items here from the police that we have got to be able to support. April 6, 2023 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 6 Chairman Reynolds asked do you have a master project scope for the police station and infrastructure needs specifically. It would be good to know deliverables and milestones of your plan. Mike McGourty stated I do. We are looking at $1.5 to $2 million to deal with a complete upgrade of the existing system in that building. We can certainly put together what we are doing and how we get there. Chairman Reynolds asked how many vehicles in the fleet. Corey Chambers stated approximately 60. Councilor Flaherty asked about asbestos. I do not see it in this request. Mike McGourty stated there will be in the operating budget a request of $50,000 for asbestos abatement. Councilor Flaherty asked is this the last year we are paying on Munis? Ed Spellman stated this is the 5th and final year of the school component of Munis $100,000 that is correct. Councilor Flaherty asked $235,000 for building repairs. Is this unanticipated repairs? Mike McGourty stated that is unanticipated repairs that will come up and to keep schools operational at this time. Councilor Flaherty asked where the money went that was originally allocated for the school hot water tank. Does anyone have an answer to that question? Superintendent Lee stated at that time there was $215,000 allocated for high school renovations. We needed to replace the hot water heater but in the interim we had repair work that needed to be done to an elevator and work being done in the media center. We also had a lot of plumbing issues last year and the money went into the repair of those things instead. Shawn McGoldrick, Town Auditor commented that most of the capital planning this year is being funded through grants and non-general fund finances. We look at the debt impact and there is no significant increase to either the overall debt being issued or the overall ratio compared to the overall operating budgets. Councilor Maglio asked about the prioritization of the ADA projects but the plan isn’t available. Why would a project be held up a year when numbers are being put together for contractors. I don’t understand that process. Ed Spellman stated the contract stated there would be cost estimates given by the contractor so it had to be sent back and that caused the delay in in them getting that report to us. Jim Arsenault stated we kept pushing and saying they need to provide estimates because it is part of your contract after they continued to stall. As far as the ranking we can look at situations that come up and we may need to prepare for something critical like an elevator. The overall parameters will give us the baseline of normal activities. We will work toward that. Councilor Reynolds stated lets give the administration an opportunity to give more specifics about the ADA Transition Plan before we vote on this. We want to know what this allocation will be used for and if something changes that we know that. April 6, 2023 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 6 Councilor Flaherty stated it would be helpful to see the draft version of the ADA Plan before we vote on this. Chairman Reynolds stated our one outstanding question is the ADA. We can table this to Monday, April 10th. Chairman Reynolds asked for a Motion to TABLE Order 23 016. Motion made by Councilor Flaherty to TABLE Order 23 016. MOTION: To approve FY23 Capital Plan as submitted. Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to TABLE Order 23 016 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • 23 017 Mayor: Request for Appropriation - Fiscal Year 2023 General Fund Capital Budget or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing at full Council May 2, 2023) Chairman Reynolds asked for a Motion to take off the table Order 23 017. Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to take off the table Order 23 017. Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Chairman Reynolds asked if any Committee members would like to speak on Order 23 017. Questions were asked by members. Chairman Reynolds asked for a Motion to TABLE Order 23 017. April 6, 2023 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 6 Motion made by Councilor Flaherty to TABLE Order 23 017. Motion: That ORDERED: That the Town of Braintree appropriates the sum of Four Million Three Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($4,335,000) to pay costs of the following capital projects: Project Amount Authorizing statute Police Vehicles 243,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) Police HVAC 90,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) School Building Repairs HVAC 125,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) School Building Renovations 235,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) School Technology 151,000 Ch. 44, s 7(9) School Library Books 145,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) Roadway Resurfacing 1,700,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) Town ADA Improvements 280,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) DPW Facilities Parking Lot & Sidewalk 135,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) DPW Cem./Ground Vehicle Dumpster 135,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) DPW Hway (2) vehicles, Plow& Sander 280,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) DPW Sidewalk Paver 60,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) DPW Cem/ Ground Cemetery Expansion 565,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) DPW Hway (1) Sidewalk Snowplow 191,000 Ch. 44, s 7(1) and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto; that the amounts indicated above for each project are estimates and that the Mayor may allocate more funds to any one or more of such projects, and less to others, so long as, in the judgment of the Mayor, each of the projects described above can be completed within the total appropriation made by this Order; that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to the authorizing statutes described above, or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor. Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to TABLE Order 23 017 Second: by Councilor Maglio Vote: For (3–Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) April 6, 2023 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 6 It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 3:25p.m. by Roll Call Vote. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 23 016 Mayor: Request to Approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Plan or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing at full Council May 2, 2023) • 23 017 Mayor: Request for Appropriation - Fiscal Year 2023 General Fund Capital Budget or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing at full Council May 2, 2023) April 6, 2023 Ways & Means Committee 6 of 6