City Council - Finance Committee

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL Easthampton Municipal Building 50 Payson Ave., Ste. 100 Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027-2260 Telephone #: (413) 529-1460 Fax #: (413) 529-1417 Finance Sub Committee meeting 1-15-20 Chair – Dan Rist Members –Bill Lynch (Clerk) – Peg Conniff Councilor Rist called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Minutes for 5/4, 5/1, 5/29, 6/26, 8/28, 9/25 and 11/13 Pass 2-0-1 Public communications – Steve Minie – Concerned around the fact that there was a lot of residents that still did not vote in favor of the school. That the government should have been more transparent. Fred Cooksie – Concerned with the assessment and there are inconsistencies with the assessment. He has filed the abatement. He wants to know what the formula is on the subjective part. Wes Hardy - Concerned that the contract negotiations are coming up and concerned around the YES campaign was selling it that the property values go up and the tax rate that compliments it. Pete Cassinber - Business owner in Holyoke concerned that if he had to do the increase he would be out of business. Lack of communication was the biggest problem. Dave Ludwig – tax went up 42% and limited income and works too much already. Jean Basset – bought the house at 21.5K and she was doubled the increase. Struggling so much to pay the bill, doesn’t mind the new school but doesn’t appreciate the taxes. Concerned with the location of the new school and the condition of the High School. Concerned that it was retroactive and that the other quarters Eric – Not everyone’s taxes went up. Some of the Taxes were over looked in the city and he is bringing a law suit. Laurie Picard – Looked at what it was in the last two quarters vs. What it is in the current two it went up 50% and thinks that it is excessive. She is upset that we are doing this. Wants to have the money from the old schools used to pay off the bonds. We all live within a margin and cannot live like this. Question is are we looking at smaller bonds during construction and the larger part at the end. Maybe not put in the storm water, Deborah Tryan – Confused that not everyone’s was included. Anette Siegle – Knew that the taxes went up and was communicated and supports ‘ Tammy Kuit – Wants to know how everything will level out. Has three grandkids in school and is concerned that it is built on a swamp. Ken Pepin – Been in town since 1846, farmed and been around for generations. His land went up 70% and it is just farming and he cannot build on it and it went up that much. Rich Godway – Second generation and hopes he can continue to live in his home. When taxes went up you dug in and were able to find a way. Retired folks cannot dig in to earn extra money. Went to a meeting and it was brought up in the past around the ability to help the seniors. Wants to look again and said that we need to use the Federal tax claims. Everyone has different circumstances and she only gets $70 a month from SSI. He asks that we look at the quality of life for seniors. Valerie Reviewed the budget process in detail around the build-up and spend of the budget. How the taxes are figured vs. what the appraisals are. Mayor Communications – None New Business – Appropriation for $284,800 from Retained Earnings to go to Waste Water design, oversite and repair of the sewer outfall line from the treatment plan to the CT river. For Public Hearing 1-22 at 6:15 Peg to approve, Bill Second – Pass 3-0 Appropriation for $17,233 from Free cash and Retained earnings to pay the increases in Payroll from collective bargning agreements. Councilor Conniff made the motion, Councilor Lynch Second and it passed 3-0 Appropriation for $182,000.00 to provide the employers share of the Health insurance to end of the fiscal Year. Counciolor Conniff made the motion to approve and Councilor Lynch second it and it passed 3-0 Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $202,282.81 for fire Next meeting is 1-29-20 at 5:30pm in room 1. Councilor Lynch made a motion to adjourn second by Councilor Conniff and it passed 3-0. Submitted by, Bill Lynch