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 05/27/2020 MINUTES FINANCE Meeting 05/27/2020 Attendees: FINANCE Committee Members: Councilor Dan Rist, Chair Councilor Peg Conniff Councilor Bill Lynch, Clerk Other Attendees: Nicole LaChapelle, Mayor Homar Gomez, City Councilor - Precinct 2 Jen Gallant, City Treasurer Val Bernier, Auditor JP Kwiecinski, Councilor Tom Peake, Councilor Meeting called to order at 5:30pm. The meeting was videotaped. No minutes to approve. Mayor Communications: City was awarded $30,000 to assist small businesses in Easthampton. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Interdepartmental Transfer: • $38,211.22 to fund the Firefighter’s contract for remainder of FY ’20. New numbers were provided by Jen Gallant at this meeting. As the Council cannot vote to increase the budget numbers, these appropriations will need to be resubmitted. No further discussion was held on these topics 2. Supplemental Appropriation: • $122,541.62 to fund the Firefighter’s contract for FY ’21. New numbers were provided by Jen Gallant at this meeting. As the Council cannot vote to increase the budget numbers, these appropriations will need to be resubmitted. No further discussion was held on these topics 3. Review of proposed FY 2021 budget: • FY ’21 budget review and votes Review of motions to be presented at full council for budget approval. Jen Gallant agrees that this budget is very tight. Councilor Rist stated that many of the revenue numbers are based best information at the time. Mayor concurred. Councilor Rist stated he will vote against any reductions in this budget. Councilor Conniff suggested that with the unknowns from the pandemic, now is not the time to cut positions as it is unlikely we will get those po- sitions back. Councilor Lynch has some proposals to share regarding potential cuts to the budget. Mayor objected to council reducing budget on a line by line basis. The only changes to be made should be made at a section by section basis. Reductions suggested by Councilor Lynch General Government: Mayor line: Principal Clerk reduction Mayor’s expense line City Attorney change to prior year numbers Human Resources: Professional Services reductions Planning Department - remove asst. planner position (Planner Bagg objected to this cut and would be detrimental to the city and future plans.) Mayor stated this is the only department putting money back into the city. Councilor Peake believes this position is very important to the city. Councilor Kwiecinski reflected on the last downturn in the economy and revenues were much lower. Very concerned about the addition of this position. Motion to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for General Government, Second Dan Rist. Approved, 2-1 Councilor Lynch voted no Public Safety: No changes Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Public Safety, Second Councilor Lynch Approved, 3-0 Schools: No changes Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Schools, Second Councilor Lynch Approved, 3-0 Public Works: ($3,100 reduction) Engineering: Tools and Supplies Highway: Rentals Director Greg Nuttleman stated that his staff needs the necessary tools and equipment is ag- ing. Councilor Kwiecinski agreed with proposed adjustments. Councilor Peake stated that to review on the past budget is not helpful in that we don’t know if past budgets were appropri- ate. Councilor Conniff stated that it is not useful to review line by line as we are not knowl- edgable enough to know what is or is not needed by the Public Works. Auditor Val Bernier stated that any changes to the PW would require a change to the enterprise amounts for other departments. Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Public Works, Second Councilor Rist Approved, 2-1 Councilor Lynch voted no Human Services: ($24,361 reduction) Health Department: Remove Health Inspector Maggie Hebert - Chair of BOH: Spoke of the challenges to keep up with the inspections be- fore COVID. As Easthampton has grown into an arts and entertainment area, more restau- rants, more events etc create a backlog of work. Not approving a Health Inspector, is creat- ing a less safe Easthampton. Councilor Kwiecinski spoke in support of the position. Mayor stated that the position would be added without COVID because we were woefully under- funded and understaffed in this space. Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Public Works, Second Councilor Rist Approved, 2-1 Councilor Lynch voted no Cultural and recreation: No Changes Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Cultural and Recreation, Second Councilor Lunch Approved, 3-0 Debt & Interest: No Changes Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Debt & Interest, Second Councilor Lunch Approved, 3-0  Unclassified (Employee Benefits): No Changes Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Unclassified (Employee Benefits), Second Councilor Lunch Approved, 3-0 Community Preservation: No Changes Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Community Preservation, Second Councilor Lunch Approved, 3-0 Enterprise: ($37,000 reduction) Sewer: Equipment Rental Waste Water: Lab Chemicals Water: Pipes and Fittings Motion by Councilor Conniff to recommend budget amounts as presented by Mayor for Enterprise, Second Councilor Rist Approved, 2-1, Councilor Lynch voted no. Last motion could not be presented for Easthampton PEG Access and Cable related fund as both Councilor Conniff and Councilor Lynch are on the Easthampton Board of Direc- tors. This item will move forward without a recommendation. OLD BUSINESS: 1. CPA Exemption: Councilor Rist asked JP Kwiecinski for additional information regarding CPA exemption for next meeting. To be discussed on June 10 meeting. 2. Review of Salaries and Stipends per Charter 2-4 (a): No discussion Motion to adjourn by Councilor Conniff, second by Councilor Lynch 3-0. Next Meeting on 6/10/2020 at 5:30pm. Details on suggested amendments from Councilor Lynch: 2021 Budget Adjustment Proposals Below are the proposed adjustments that were brought up tonight and the reason why. General Government – Adjust down $73,367 • Mayor – Department 1210 - Total budget $138,246 adjusted down $4,900 to $133,346 o Line 1212.5113 – Principal Clerk from 18,702 to $14,202 ▪ 5 hrs per week added cosOng $4,500 – Recommend not to increase. o Line 1210.5400 – Mayor Expense from $400 to $0.00 ▪ New line added, not in previous budgets. Needed for hosOng Girl Scouts or groups at City Hall. • City AXorney – Department 1510 – Total budget $65,000 adjusted down $15,000 to $50,000 o Line 1510.5319 – Prof. Services from $65,000 to $50,000 ▪ Previous yeas budgeted $50,000, keep it level funded. ▪ Previous actuals – $22,545, $25,700, $19,321, $27,129 • Human Resources – Department 1520 – Total budget $122,514 adjusted down $1,000 to $121,514 o Line 1520.5319 – Prof Services from $1,000 to $0.00 ▪ Department head claimed it was not needed during quesOoning. • Planning – Department 1720 – Total Budget $223,424 adjusted down to $170,957 o Line 1720.5112 – Requested from $52,467 adjusted down to $0.00 ▪ PosiOon does not exist currently, recommended not to increase. Human services – Adjusted down $24,361 • Board of Health – Department 5120 – Total budget $107,179 adjusted down $24,361 o Line 5120.5314 – EducaOon and Training from $1,000 to $350 ▪ Previous year budget was $350 or less; 2020 - $0, actuals going back $350, $350, $80 and $30 ▪ Cut back due to not increasing proposed PT Health Inspector. o Undesignated 3 lines - Total Budget $23,711 adjusted to $0.00 ▪ Increase staff one Pt inspector – Recommended not to add. Public Works – Adjusted down $3,100 • Engineering – Department 4110 – Total budget $161,788 adjusted down $600 to $161,188 o Line 4110.5438 - tools and Supplies from $1,200 to $600 ▪ Line increased last year for added engineer for computer equipment, both hardware and so^ware. Hardware was purchased and recommend to adjust line to $600 for so^ware purchases. ▪ Previous years actuals - $200, $0.00, $21  • Highway – Department 4210 – Total budget $670,745 adjusted down $2,500 to $668,245. o Line 4210.5274 – Rentals from $12,500 to $10,000 ▪ Past previous years budget was $10,000 ▪ Past Actuals, $7,700, $2,895, $5965 ▪ Looking to increase it due to uncertainty of capital plan when budget was created. Enterprise – Adjusted down $37,00 • Sewer – Department 4410 – Total budget $490,685 Adjusted down $16,000 to $474,685 o Line 4410.5274 – Equipment Rental from $5,000 to $0.00 ▪ Rental was added two years ago for a Brush Hog, the City has purchased one, recommend to cut. o Line 4410.5428 – Tires, Tubes and Chains from $2,000 to $1,000 ▪ Previous years 2020, 2019, 2018 were all budgeted $1,000 recommend to level fund. o Line 4410.5533 – Curb Iron CasOngs from $20,000 to $10,000 ▪ Noted in quesOoning inventory on hand. ▪ Past years budgets all $10,000, 2018, 2019, 2020 Recommend to level fund • Waste Water - Department 4460 – Total Budget $1,244,620 adjusted $16,000 to $1,228,620 o Line 4460.5484 – Lab supplies from $46,000 to $30,000 ▪ Last year the line went from $30K to $45K due to the need for a Refrigera- tor for the chemicals to be stored in, it needed to monitor temps etc. rec- ommended the budget go back to previous years level of $30,000 ▪ Previous years actuals $21,419, $18,673, $20,008 • Water – Department 4500 – Total Budget $856,020 adjusted $5,000 to $851,020 o Line 4500.5535 – Pipes and Fibngs from $30,000 to $25,000 ▪ Actuals in years past are $15,249, $17,468, $8,253 – Never over $20,000, recommended to lower to $25,000