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 2-12-2020 Chair – Dan Rist Members –Bill Lynch (Clerk) – Peg Conniff Absent Councilor Rist called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Minutes for last meeting Councilor Rist motioned, Councilor Lynch second pass 2- 0 Public communications – None New Business – Council Budget – Councilor Coniff added $2,000 to go to the council for training. Motion moved to approve the budget as amended and the narrative by councilor Lynch, second by councilor Rist and it passed 2-0 Interdepartmental transfer from Reserve fund to be transferred to Election and Reg other positions and Election and reg computer services in the amount of $9,600. This is to hold the elections, the schools, police detail and the computers for the elections. Councilor Rist motion to approve, councilor Lynch second the motion and it passed 2-0 The creation of two stabilization fund accounts – One for Cannabis stabilization – this would allow us to identify where the money goes and comes from. This will help us with making sure the money is used appropriately. There is also a tax benefit in having a stabilization fund. This would help us in multiple ways. Establishing Tax Rate Stabilization funds – same comments around both Councilor Rist made the motion to approve both accounts, councilor Lynch second the motion and it passed 2-0 Interdepartmental Transfer from Reserve funds to be transferred to various accounts – the reason is due to unforeseen expenses due to retirements and resignations, there were 4 voids. Two came over from Northampton fully trained and did not need to go to the academy. The other two cadets needed to go to the academy and this is the fees for them and the equipment. There is also a buy out for the vacations and and the benefit pay outs for the ones that have left. The retired officers did not give the notice of retirement when the budget was built and it was not budgeted for. Councilor Lynch made a motion to approve it, councilor Rist second the motion and it passed 2-0 Supplemental Appropriation from Free Cash to be transferred to Police Hybrid Cruisers (2) – One is a Hybrid Ford escape for a Detective Bureau – One a Police Interceptor – The quote for the Hybrid is only $3,500 more than the regular non hybrid – Fuel savings per year are estimated at $5,213. This would replace a 2014 Interceptor that has 125K miles on it. The detective Ford escape will be replacing a 2006 Ford 500 which has 90k miles. Both Cruisers will be reused in the City, one for the park and rec and one for the school department. Cruisers usually get replaced every 100k miles and we try to purchase them every year. There was a motion made to approve the appropriation by councilor Lynch and second by Councilor Rist and it passed 2-0. Union Street Capital Project – Continued to next meeting because Joe could not attend tonight’s meeting. Next meeting is 2-26-20 at 5:00pm in room 1. Councilor Rist made a motion to adjourn second by Councilor Lynch and it passed 2-0. Submitted by, Bill Lynch