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 Monday, May 20, 2024 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in Cahill Auditorium on Monday, May 20, 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 Joseph Reynolds, Member Julia Flaherty, Member Elizabeth Maglio, Member Also Present: Kara Nyman, Chief of Staff/Director of Operations Michael Esmond, Director of Municipal Finance Shawn McGoldrick, CLA – Town Auditor Melissa SantucciRozzi, Director Planning and Community Development Connor Murphy, Asst Director Planning and Community Development Elizabeth Manning, CPC Manager Marybeth McGrath, Director Municipal Licenses & Inspections Russ Forsberg, Building Inspector Sharmila Biswas, Director Dept. of Elder Affairs Hank Joyce, Board member Elder Affairs Tim Burke, Board member Elder Affairs Approval of Minutes • None May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 10 Old Business • None 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 (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Planning and Community Development Municipal Licenses & Inspections® Dept. of Elder Affairs® Planning and Community Development Department Overview given by Melissa SantucciRozzi: • Staff • Director – Melissa SantucciRozzi • Assistant Director – Connor R. Murphy • Conservation Planner – Kelly Phelan • Zoning Planner –to be filled May 6, 2024 • Principal– Unfunded • Staff Planner - Unfunded • CPC Manager – 14 Hours a week out of CPA Funds • Office Manager – Louise Quinlin • Boards • Master Plan Steering Committee (2022 and 2023) and Implementation (2024 to 2033) • Planning Board • Conservation Commission • Zoning Board of Appeals • Historical Commission • Community Preservation Committee • South Shore HOME Consortium • The Department is responsible for all Land Use Planning, Regulation and Permitting for the disciplines noted above • 89% of the department is staffing. May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 10 FY2025 Highlights • Master Plan Phase II – Implementation • Completion of the Hazard Mitigation Plan • Completion of the MAPC Wood Road Economic Development Study • 74 and 90 Pond Street Affordable Housing RFP • Completion of Armstrong Dam Removal • Creation of Zoning Ordinance Amendment Priorities and Schedule • MBTA 3A Zoning Implementation and Project Generation • Work with Mayor of Economic Development Strategies and Policies • Inclusionary Housing Study • Creation of Historic District Guidelines • Wood Road • Armstrong Dam Melissa SantucciRozzi stated We work very hard to apply for and receive grants. Melissa SantucciRozzi stated quick fixes are good but we need companies that will bring jobs to Braintree and be a player here for the next 10, 20, 30 years. Its all about balance. Councilor Reynolds asked which one would you like more money for? Master Plan, Zoning Re-write, Economic Development Plan. Melissa SantucciRozzi stated if funding available an Economic Developer. Councilor Maglio asked about the small business grant fund. How has the money been disbursed and to whom? Melissa SantucciRozzi stated this is not administered through my department. I would think the Mayor’s office would have this information. Councilor Maglio asked for a list of grant funding across departments. We are able to do more than the general fund pays for. Councilor Flaherty stated a lot gets done in this department. There are also positions that have gone unfunded. Would you fund an Economic Developer above a Staff Planner? Melissa SantucciRozzi stated yes I would. Councilor Flaherty stated it seems your department needs more support and I hope you get it. Councilor Morin stated I don’t have many questions on this budget. It is modest in your requests. Chairwoman Boericke asked about fees. I would like to get a list of fees we have today. Melissa SantucciRozzi stated fees are based on commercial construction, fees for grading and parking lots and residential units pay per unit. We are looking at how to maximize on the commercial side. Director Esmond stated we will be putting a list of fees together and want to make sure we have it right. There are a lot that have not been reviewed and updated in quite a while. September 1st would be more of a realistic implementation timeframe. Chairwoman Boericke asked for an update on the South Braintree Square rapid recovery plan from 2021. May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 10 Municipal Licenses & Inspections Department Overview given by Marybeth McGrath: Building Division / Inspectional Services- • Permitting and Inspections of Building, Plumbing, Gas, Electrical, Sheet Metal, Mechanical, Tent, Trench, Signage, Solid Fuel Burning Appliances, and Weights & Measures. • Enforcement Agent/Code Compliance for zoning bylaws, general ordinances, ADA and constituent complaints. • Liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning & Conservation Boards, Commission on Disabilities and Licensing Board. Health Division/ Inspectional Services- • Clinical Services-blood pressure clinics, communicable disease surveillance, state MAVEN and MIIS report, immunization clinics, community health premotion/disease prevention, school health, heath education and SHARPS needle disposal program. • Substance Use Prevention Program • Inspectional Services- Inspections of restaurants, retail food, temporary food events, mobile food units, caterers, bakeries, school and daycare kitchens, nursing homes/hospital kitchens, housing, Title 5 Sewage disposal systems, beach water quality surveillance, tanning facilities, hotel/motels, recreational camps for children, public and semipublic pools, well installations, septage/offal trucks, public health nuisances, animal inspections, tobacco control and mosquito control. • Enforcement Agent for applicable local and state public and environmental health codes. • Liaison to the Board of Health and Licensing Board FY2025 Highlights Revenues: Building and Health permitting • Building Revenues for FY 24’ (July 1, 2023 – April 19, 2024): $1,747,830.00 • Health Revenues for FY 24’ (July 1, 2023 – April 19, 2024): $80,850.00 • Non-General Fund resources: Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Grant, Opioid Settlement Funding, Immunization/Public Health Revolving Fund. Inspections: Building and Health (July 1, 2023 – April 19, 2024): • Building: 3923 (3676-Building, 82-Certificate of Inspection, 165-complaints) • Health: 1137 (Inspections & complaints) Marybeth McGrath, Director Municipal Licenses & Inspections stated we are looking to upgrade our software and go live around July 1st and the Building Dept software in the fall. We are reviewing our fee schedules as well. Councilor Morin asked how many building inspectors? Director McGrath stated in 2009 we had 4. We have one and an alternate who assists Mr. Forsberg in supplementing the inspectional program which is very difficult to maintain. May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 10 Mr. Forsberg stated it is very difficult to fill these positions. We are not as competitive as some of the other communities in terms of the salaries. Councilor Morin stated the reduction in staff creates an economic development issue because you’re not able to respond to permit applications, inspections as timely as you would with more staff. Director Esmond stated we are going to work to get this position filled. Chairwoman Boericke stated this department is under budgeted and understaffed and so important to the well-being, health and safety of our community. Thank you. Dept. of Elder Affairs® Department Overview given by Sharmila Biswas: • The Department of Elder Affairs is the focal point of Activities and Programs for the Older Residents of Braintree: • We provide information of services and benefits available to our older adults. • Annually, we provide approximately 3,900 rides to our Older residents. This allows people living alone to remain healthy and independent. • For those whose who come to our Center, experience supportive friendship, which is known to lower isolation, depression and stress levels. • Our Outreach Program offers assistance to people who are frail and homebound. Our Friendly Visitor Staff visits older adults who are homebound and lonesome. • Elder Affairs coordinates appointments for S.H.I.N.E (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone), Legal counselling, Tax Preparation, Support Groups and Health Screenings. • In the last reporting year, approximately 6,550 (duplicated) activities were provided, and 16,850 (duplicated) older adults participated • Elder population is about 9,847 • We loan out equipment to people who need them (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) FY2025 Highlights • Key changes: • Full time Services Coordinator position (vacant) temporarily is funded at a part time level, resulting is savings in the 2025 budget. • Non-General Fund Revenues and Grants: • Gifts and Donations account receives small donations from individuals participating in activities. This revenue funds our kitchen supplies, pays our entertainers, and covers many of the meals we provide, either free or for a minimum cost. • State Formula Grant for Older Americans $137,858: • This grant supports our 6 part-time employees, working on Transportation, Outreach, Finance, Reception and provides additional funding for our Friendly Visitor program. • Title IIIB/ Friendly Visitor Program-$5,000.00 • The part time staff member visits homebound and lonesome individuals. This grant is supplemented with additional funding from the State Grant. • Title IIIB/ Alzheimer’s and Dementia Education FY 2024-$4,000.00 May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 10 • Service Incentive Grant from Massachusetts Councils on Aging $7,500.00 • Funds a part time position to coordinate our Asian Outreach Grant. This grant helps pay the salary for the Coordinator and supports the activities and supplies for the weekly meetings. Councilor Flaherty asked what is the greatest need? Sharmila Biswas stated our transportation. We only have one full time van driver. It is tough for us. I would really like to get our open position filled in the department which is a Services Coordinator. I would like to reinvent that position. We go for a lot of grants that need to be reported each month. Councilor Morin asked why is labor custodian in this budget? Sharmila Biswas stated it is actually our van driver. Councilor Reynolds asked about a reduction in the administrative/clerical line. Sharmila Biswas stated that individual was partly paid by the town and part by a grant. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Table Order 24 020 to the next Committee of Ways & Means meeting Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • 24 021 Mayor: FY2025 Budget – Community Preservation Committee or take up any action relative thereto Motion: by Councilor Morin to Take off the Table Order 24 021 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) Presented by Planning Director Melissa SantucciRozzi on May 20th. Director SantucciRozzi explained the CPC funds are from 1% of our tax levy and state match. The match comes from registry fees mostly. Chairwoman Boericke asked what the appropriate annual expenditure for the use of CPC funds if we receive about $1.3 million annually. Director SantucciRozzi stated some towns have applications due once or twice a year and they are reviewed and chosen. There is also something said about being fair in each District. They have to demonstrate whoever is running the project is capable of seeing it through. We are open for future discussions on this. Chairwoman Boericke asked about the house at Liberty and Grove. May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 6 of 10 Director SantucciRozzi stated we need to have conversations on what the district might like there. It was an unrestricted purchase. We need more direction and would like to hear from the neighborhood. Chairwoman Boericke asked for Motions on Order 24 021 C1 thru C5: MOTIONS FOR TOWN COUNCIL APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2025 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE BUDGET Read by Councilor Morin: C1. In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5 and the recommendation of the community preservation committee, that the sum of $125,000 be appropriated from the community preservation fund to the community housing reserve for acquisition, creation, preservation, or support of community housing or the rehabilitation or restoration of community housing that is acquired or created as provided in Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Approve Order 24 021 (C1) Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) C2. In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5 and the recommendation of the community preservation committee, that the sum of $125,000 be appropriated from the community preservation fund to the open space reserve for the acquisition, creation, or preservation of open space or the rehabilitation or restoration of open space that is acquired or created as provided in Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Approve Order 24 021 (C2) Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) C3. In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5 and the recommendation of the community preservation committee, that the sum of $125,000 be appropriated from the community preservation fund to the historic resources reserve for the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic resources as provided in Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Approve Order 24 021 (C3) Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 7 of 10 C4. In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5 and the recommendation of the community preservation committee, that the sum of $754,160 be appropriated from the community preservation fund to the community preservation budgeted reserve as provided in Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Approve Order 24 021 (C4) Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) C5. In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5 and the recommendation of the community preservation committee, that the sum of $59,430 be appropriated from the community preservation fund to the Fiscal Year 2025 administrative operating fund as provided in Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44b, section 5 said funds to be expended under the direction of community preservation committee and by the director of planning and community development. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Approve Order 24 021 (C5) Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 8 of 10 • 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 (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), 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 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 Motion: by Councilor Morin to Table Order 24 022 to the next Committee of Ways & Means Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (5–Boericke, Morin, Flaherty, Maglio, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) May 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 9 of 10  It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:35p.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 20, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 10 of 10