Town Council - Ways & Means Committee

Braintree Town Council MEMBERS Meredith Boericke, Chairwoman Committee of Ways & Means Peter Morin, Vice-Chairman One JFK Memorial Drive Joseph Reynolds, Member Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 Julia Flaherty, Member Elizabeth Maglio, Member MINUTES Tuesday, May 14, 2024 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in Cahill Auditorium on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 6:00pm. Councilor Boericke was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan Cimino conducted the roll call. Present: Meredith Boericke, Chairwoman Peter Morin, Vice-Chairman Julia Flaherty, Member Elizabeth Maglio, Member Not Present: Joseph Reynolds, Member Also Present: Kara Nyman, Chief of Staff/Director of Operations Michael Esmond, Director of Municipal Finance Shawn McGoldrick, CLA – Town Auditor Jim Arsenault, DPW Director Daryn Brown, Superintendent of Golf Kristina O’Connell, Treasurer Paul Sullivan, Assessor Approval of Minutes • None Old Business • None May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 7  New Business A Public Hearing on the Town Budget, allowing public comment, will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at 7pm. Please email written statements or your questions to towncouncil@braintreema.gov These meetings will be televised by BCAM TV cable/YouTube. • 24 020 Mayor: FY2025 Operating Budget or take up any action relative thereto Motion: by Councilor Morin to Take off the Table Order 24 020 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio), Against (0), Absent (1- Reynolds), Abstain (0) 610 Golf 151 Law 133 Finance Programs Golf Division (101 Jefferson Street) The Golf Division is a self-funded Enterprise Fund which oversees the Town’s 18-hole golf course and its grounds. This includes mowing for the grass, greens, repairing divots, keeping up the general grounds, outhouse, driving range, golf carts, water around the course, equipment store, concessions, simulators, dining area, many golf events, training, competition, and many other duties. • The Golf Division (101 Jefferson Street) – is a self-funded Enterprise Fund. The major change for this fiscal year is assessing an opportunity for the renovation of the grounds. Also depending on funding, Golf will be looking at further renovating the food and beverage facility and event area this coming year. Daryn Brown stated golf has seen a resurgence since COVID and feels this will continue. This has been driven by younger golfers and women. We’ve had some good years. Having come for transfers prior, we are putting some of that money back as well. The budget is basically level funded. 53% of our increase is part-time labor. We have about 60 employees on staff throughout the summer. The majority are retirees or college students. They are basically seasonal. 18% budget increase is pension fund. Mr. Brown explained they will need to upgrade the club house up to ADA standards and new doors and windows need to be replaced. We will be looking for quotes in the Fall and I may have to come before you for those projects. Chairwoman Boericke reiterated the Enterprise Funds are self-sustaining paid for through fees that cover the cost and its fees from people that use the golf course. This is separate and apart from our general operating budget. Councilor Flaherty asked about credit card fees. Mr. Brown stated we are negotiating with our vendors but put enough in the budget so we don’t get caught short. We now require, as all golf courses do, to hold your reservation with a credit card. May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 7 Councilor Maglio asked about Food & Beverage. Mr. Brown explained it is a revolving fund with a spending limit of $550,000. Within this we have a budget for the Food & Beverage Director’s salary, and costs of purchasing of food, beverages, operating expenses, etc. It is a very popular feature of the golf course. Councilor Morin stated Braintree Municipal Golf Course is an excellent first class facility. Are the greens fees alone enough to support the budget? Mr. Brown stated golf cart revenue brings in about $450,000. That is very profitable. The greens fees bring in about $1.6 million. Our fees are right in the sweet spot and we are charging what we can get. Councilor Morin asked if the Pro Shop is covering its own expenses? Mr. Brown stated yes. Merchandise sales are up. Daryn Brown explained we are in the middle of an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Councilor Morin stated your cart budget has doubled. Mr. Brown stated yes. We have 59 golf carts. The new carts have GPS screens on them which increased the lease costs. People love it. We run out of carts regularly. We will come back for funding to do an expansion of our existing cart barn and figure out how to house the additional carts and all the chargers that are required. Chairwoman Boericke asked about the fee for the event space. Mr. Brown stated we do a lot of events in that space. It distracted from the golfing. We pushed the use of it away from prime golf season. Our rate for the room is now equal to similar venues in the surrounding areas. 151 Law Department Overview • The Solicitor's Office provides legal counsel to the Mayor, all Town departments, boards and commissions and the Town Council. Representations and advice are provided in numerous areas, including municipal finance, Charter interpretation, contracts, zoning, environmental issues, labor and employment, ordinances, civil rights, and tort liability. • The Solicitor's Office researches legal issues and assists in the drafting of ordinances, civil rights and tort liability. The Solicitor's Office assists in resolving claims made by and against the City. The Office also prosecutes and defends all lawsuits for and on behalf of the town. 23 FY2025 Highlights • In FY25 the budget provides for legal counsel to provided via outside counsel. • The total Legal budget is $252,400, down 1.6% from FY24 projected. Chairwoman Boericke asked for a list of the number of lawsuits we are actively involved in. Councilor Morin stated I have expressed in the past I prefer to have a full-time counsel in town hall. Is the paralegal function and support staff for Licensing being done through the Town Clerk’s office? May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 7 133 Finance Programs Department Overview • The Department of Municipal Finance has 16 employees and is responsible for the coordination of all of the fiscal and financial activities of the town. The department coordinates all of the duties and responsibilities performed by or under the authority of the town accountant, the treasurer, the collector of taxes, the trust fund commissioners and the management information systems. • Accounting - The mission of the Accounting Division of the Department of Municipal Finance is to protect the fiduciary interests of the Town by providing independent, timely oversight of the Town’s finances and to ensure that financial transactions are executed legally, efficiently, and effectively in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws. • Assessors - The Assessors Office assess all property to the fair market value using the guidelines of the Department of Revenue and assists the public with exemption forms, abatement forms and abutters list. • Collector - This office collects Real Estate and Personal Property Bills, Motor Vehicle and Boat Bills as well as Trash Bills. • Purchasing - Browse through the Town of Braintree bids. • Treasurer - The Town Treasurer maintains accounts and investments, borrowing and funding FY2025 Highlights • Debt Service expenses are budgeted for an approximately $300,000 increase from FY24 levels, bringing projected annual General Fund supported debt service to $10.6 million or 6.6% of annual General Fund operating revenues. • Additionally, Insurance Premiums are budgeted to increase by 10% for FY25, accounting for continuing upward cost pressure across most major coverage lines. • The Assessing Division has a substantial increase in its Valuation Services account corresponding to recently-procured agreements for real and personal property valuation services. Councilor Morin asked what is missing in our re-evaluation for the reason to put this in the budget. Director Esmond stated on the personal property side we need to get better data and better evaluations for that. We are hoping to select a firm with specialized expertise. Paul Sullivan stated they would do a complete re-listing of all parcels of the town. Councilor Morin asked why the line for OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) is zero. Director Esmond stated frankly affordability or lack of. Councilor Morin stated this cannot go unfunded. This is going to stick out like a sore thumb when we go to borrow. Chairwoman Boericke asked about how long does an abatement take? May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 7 Mr. Sullivan stated each year after the tax bill goes out in December there is about a months’ time for the taxpayer to file for an abatement. In the meantime, the taxpayer still needs to pay at least the minimum each year. Chairwoman Boericke asked if we can get a list of commercial/industrial properties that filed. Mr. Sullivan stated yes through a FOIA request but you would only get the parcel id, the application itself is confidential. Chairwoman Boericke asked about the process to collect taxes when a closed church is no longer being used for a religious institution. Mr. Sullivan stated for FY25 Saint Thomas More will receive a tax bill going forward since they did not file to be exempt. The same for the Saint Francis property that is not being used for a religious entity. Chairwoman Boericke asked about Insurance premiums. If we sell off some town buildings would our insurance costs go down as well? Director Esmond stated I would expect to see premiums drop from that. Chairwoman Boericke asked about PILOT payments. Could we get an updated list on where our PILOT payments are and the time frames. Councilor Morin stated once the archdiocese delegates a parish for profane use it is immediately taxable. Saint Thomas More was relegated in December 2022. A bill should be issued for this current fiscal year as well. Chairwoman Boericke asked what is the position on this from the Mayor’s office? Motion: by Councilor Morin to Table Order 24 020 to the next Committee of Ways & Means meeting Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio), Against (0), Absent (1- Reynolds), Abstain (0) • 24 021 Mayor: FY2025 Budget – Community Preservation Committee or take up any action relative thereto (Presented by Planning Director Melissa SantucciRozzi on May 20) No action this evening. Tabled to May 20, 2024. May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 7 • 24 022 Mayor: FY2025 Budget - Continuation of Revolving Funds or take up any action relative thereto Motion: by Councilor Morin to Take off the Table Order 24 022 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio), Against (0), Absent (1- Reynolds), Abstain (0) (Revolving Accounts on the date Department Head presents Budget) 5/6 Library® 5/13 Department of Public Works® - Recycling 5/14 Golf® 5/20 Dept. of Elder Affairs® 5/20 Municipal Licenses & Inspections® 5/21 Education® Committee members had no questions on the Golf Revolving Funds. MOTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 CONTINUATION OF REVOLVING FUNDS R1. That, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 of the General Laws, the Town of Braintree hereby sets the maximum amount that may be spent during Fiscal Year 2025 beginning on July 1, 2024 for the revolving funds established by ordinance for certain departments, boards, committees, agencies or officers, as follows: Revolving Fund Department, Board, Committee, FY2025 Spending Limit Agency or Officer Elder Affairs Services and Department of Elder Affairs $30,000 Activities Immunization Board of Health $50,000 Library Materials Library Trustees $45,000 Library Room Rental Library Trustees $5,000 Recycling Materials Mayor, in conjunction with $4,800 Recycling Coordinator Household Hazardous Mayor, in conjunction with $50,000 Waste Recycling Coordinator Full Day Kindergarten School Committee $1,100,000 Pro Shop Mayor, in conjunction with Director $300,000 of Golf Operations Food and Beverage Mayor, in conjunction with Director $550,000 of Golf Operations School Bus School Committee $500,00 May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 6 of 7  Motion: by Councilor Morin to Table Order 24 022 to the next Committee of Ways & Means meeting Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (4–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio), Against (0), Absent (1- Reynolds), Abstain (0) It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:24p.m. by Roll Call Vote. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 24 020 Mayor: FY2025 Operating Budget or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing) • 24 021 Mayor: FY2025 Budget – Community Preservation Committee or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing) • 24 022 Mayor: FY2025 Budget - Continuation of Revolving Funds or take up any action relative thereto (Public Hearing) May 14, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 7 of 7