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, September 23, 2024 A meeting of the Committee of Ways & Means was held in Cahill Auditorium and via Zoom Webinar on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 6:30pm. 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 arrived at 6:38pm Joseph Reynolds, Member Also Present: Michael Esmond, Director of Municipal Finance Fred Viola, Acting Fire Chief September 23, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 1 of 6 Approval of Minutes • May 13, 2024 • May 14, 2024 • May 15, 2024 • May 20, 2024 • May 21, 2024 • May 22, 2024 • July 2, 2024 • July 16, 2024 Motion: by Councilor Morin to approve Minutes of: May 13, 2024, May 14, 2024, May 15, 2024, May 20, 2024, May 21, 2024, May 22, 2024, July 2, 2024, July 16, 2024 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (4 – Boericke, Flaherty, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (1 - Maglio), Abstain (0) Old Business • 23 080 Mayor: CPC Appropriation – Request for Appropriation - Fire Station Historic Restoration or take up any action relative thereto (previously TABLED 2/20/24) Motion to Take off the Table by Councilor Morin. Motion: by Councilor Morin Take off the Table Order 23 080 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (4 – Boericke, Flaherty, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (1 - Maglio), Abstain (0) Chairwoman Boericke stated this has been tabled since our February 2024 meeting. Discussion/Update: Director Esmond gave an update stating the 1st phase should be what is the most necessary. We are looking at grant funding around $2 million. Chief Viola there is a roof leak we are looking to fix. Two weeks ago there was a sewage problem. It is every bit 96 years old. Councilors asked many questions. Motion to Table Order 23 080 by Councilor Morin. Motion: by Councilor Morin to Table Order 23 080 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (5 – Boericke, Flaherty, Maglio, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) September 23, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 2 of 6 New Business • 24 048 Mayor: Local Option for Prudent Investor Rule or take up any action relative thereto Director Esmond explained under changes adopted by the State Legislature in August 2023 (please see Section 26 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023 and Chapter 203C of Massachusetts General Law), cities and towns are given the option of adopting the Prudent Invest Rule for the management of trust funds. Specifically, this change would allow for additional diversification and flexibility in the investment of trust assets, while still preserving key protections and standards for the safekeeping of funds entrusted with municipalities. The Town of Braintree itself serves as the trustee of a wide variety of trust funds invested across various financial institutions. Over the past several months the Treasurer/Collector has been meeting with various investment management groups to assess its current trust procedures. From these meetings, a key takeaway is the opportunity that the Town has to adopt the Prudent Investor Rule as part of a larger initiative to update policies and procedures for the oversight and management of these trusts. By adopting this option now changes would be immediately implemented in how the Town manages funds entrusted with it. However, it will be an important tool in the future as the Treasurer continues her work to streamline the management of the funds and partner with financial institutions to identify where the Prudent Investor Rule is appropriate and advantageous for generating long-term returns on assets while safekeeping the funds. Councilors asked questions and stated they would appreciate more transparency. Motion by Councilor Morin for favorable recommendation to the full Council: Motion: That the Town does and hereby accepts the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 203C and authorizes the trustee of the town's previously established Trust Funds, as authorized by Chapter 32B, Section 20, G.L. c. 44, s. 54, and G.L. c. 44, ss. 55, 55A and 55B of the General Laws, as amended, to invest and reinvest the monies in such fund in accordance with the Prudent Investor Rule established under Chapter 203C of the Massachusetts General Laws. Motion: by Councilor Morin to approve Order 24 048 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (5 – Boericke, Flaherty, Maglio, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) September 23, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 3 of 6 • 24 049 Mayor: Local Option for Adoption of Chapter 33, Section 59 (Military Leave Benefits) or take up any action relative thereto Director Esmond explained Massachusetts General Laws (specifically please see Chapter 33, Section 59) outline the benefits servicemen and servicewomen shall receive, most notably compensation/wages, during the periods where they are actively deployed to their units in the Massachusetts National Guard or other US armed service branch. These provisions include pay rules that ensure that those persons deployed will not receive lower wages or suffer any other loss of benefits such as but not limited to seniority and vacation leave, during their deployment than they would earn under their regular compensation from their state employer. Section 59 also authorizes a city or town to adopt the same pay rules with acceptance of this chapter as a local option. Based on a review of historical actions by the Town Council, it has been determined that the Town of Braintree has not yet accepted the provisions of Chapter 33, Section 59 that were adopted in 2014. While limited in number per year, this option is an important tool to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of our men and women who serve. The following motion would formally adopt the provisions authorized by the Commonwealth for eligible Town of Braintree servicemembers. Chief Viola asked for the Council’s support on this. Councilor Morin stated I am in support but want to make sure there are checks and balances in place and the leave is confirmed. Motion by Councilor Morin for favorable recommendation to the full Council: Motion: That the Town votes and hereby accepts the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 33, Section 59 establishing salary, leave and related allowances and compensation for Town employees for time deployed in the service of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States consistent with said statute, as may be amended from time to time; and further, any benefits to be paid pursuant to the acceptance of this statute shall take effect in Fiscal Year 2025. Motion: by Councilor Morin to approve Order 24 049 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (5 – Boericke, Flaherty, Maglio, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) September 23, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 4 of 6 • 24 050 Council President: Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2008 – Extension or take up any action relative thereto Chairwoman Boericke explained this act provides full property tax relief to any reservists or member of the National Guard for the amount of time that they are called into active duty and deployed to a foreign country. If you were called into duty and serving overseas for half the year, you would only pay half of whatever your property taxes are. This rarely happens thankfully for their sake, but it is a nice added benefit for their sacrifice and service. AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE BOARD OF ASSESORS OF BRAINTREE TO GRANT TAX ABATEMENTS TO CERTAIN MILITARY PERSONNEL. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows: Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of assessors of the town of Braintree may grant, retroactive to fiscal year 2002, real and personal property tax abatements, up to 100 per cent of the total tax assessed to members of the Massachusetts national guard and to reservists on active duty in foreign countries, for the fiscal year they performed such service subject to eligibility criteria to be established by the board of assessors. The authority to grant abatements under this act shall expire after fiscal year 2010 unless extended by a vote of the town council of Braintree. In 2010 Councilor Clifford made the following motion “To extend Chapter134 of the Acts of 2008 of the Massachusetts General Laws through fiscal year 2012 at which time the Town Council may vote to extend Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2008.” This has been favorably voted by Council to be extended ever since 2010. Motion by Councilor Morin for favorable recommendation to the full Council: Motion: To extend Chapter134 of the Acts of 2008 of the Massachusetts General Laws through fiscal year 2028 at which time the Town Council may vote to extend Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2008. Motion: by Councilor Morin to approve Order 24 050 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (5 – Boericke, Flaherty, Maglio, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) September 23, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 5 of 6 • 022 24 Mayor: FY2025 Town of Braintree Fee Review or take up any action relative thereto Director Esmond explained the new fees which included $50 increase to the Trash Fee and $25 Sticker Fee for the Trash/Recycling Center. Other departments are looking to increase fees to begin January 2025. Chairwoman Boericke asked if there was a Motion to table this to a future meeting. Motion made by Councilor Morin to table item 022 24. Motion: by Councilor Morin to table item 022 24 to a future meeting Second: by Councilor Flaherty Roll Call Vote: For (5 – Boericke, Flaherty, Maglio, Morin, Reynolds), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:18p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 23 080 Mayor: CPC Appropriation – Request for Appropriation - Fire Station Historic Restoration or take up any action relative thereto (previously TABLED) • 24 048 Mayor: Local Option for Prudent Investor Rule or take up any action relative thereto • 24 049 Mayor: Local Option for Adoption of Chapter 33, Section 59 (Military Leave Benefits) or take up any action relative thereto • 24 050 Council President: Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2008 – Extension or take up any action relative thereto • 022 24 Mayor: FY2025 Town of Braintree Fee Review or take up any action relative thereto September 23, 2024 Ways & Means Committee 6 of 6