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 9/30/2020 MINUTES FINANCE Meeting 9/30/2020 Attendees: FINANCE Committee Members*: Councilor Dan Rist, Chair Councilor Peg Conniff Other Attendees: Nicole LaChapelle - Mayor Greg Nuttelman - Director, DPW Diane Rossini - DPW Jeff Bagg, City Planner Homar Gomez, City Councilor - Precinct 2 Jen Gallant, City Treasurer Michael Owens - Procurement Meeting called to order at 5:30pm. The meeting was videotaped. No meetings to approve NEW BUSINESS: 1. Supplemental Appropriation - $25,000 for pedestrian safety improvements on Route 10 • Installation of Rapid Flashing Beacons at the crosswalk. It will be solar powered. • This crosswalk is near ESB across from River Valley Market. • This was not originally included in the MASSWORKS grant • Money received from Cannabis host agreement fees can be used to mitigate increases/impacts to traffic and pedestrian activity. Motion that Finance Committee approve the appropriation of $25,000 from Cannabis Impact Fee Stabilization account to the MassWorks Rt 10 Improvement account. Motion: Councilor Rist, Seconded by Councilor Conniff. Passed 2-0 - $46,000 for preliminary design services for potential upgrade and reconfiguration of the Parsons and Ferry street intersection. • Are grants available to supplement this money? They are challenging to acquire. The money from Cannabis impacts fees can be used right now and not have to wait for grants. • This will allow us to meet priorities on complete streets. • The neighborhood deserves a safe gateway to the Mill District. Mayor wants to have these changes financed through cannabis impact fees and Community Development Block Grants. • Mayor believes it is right and good to use Cannabis money in the New City and Pleasant Green neighborhoods as they have been disparately impacted by the war on drugs and and inequities that have happened in those areas. Motion that Finance Committee approve the appropriation of $46,000 for preliminary designs for upgrades and reconfigurations of the Parsons and Ferry street intersection. Motion: Councilor Rist, Seconded by Councilor Conniff. Passed 2-0 - $60,000 for 25% match to an awarded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) action grant for FY2021. • Funding would create a green infrastructure plan/Low impact development assessment and identification of Nature based solutions for improving flood resiliency and protect water quality. • Cherry Street Neighborhood Site Specific Design - outfall restoration. It is failing but failing over time. • Development of Green Infrastructure Master Plan • Public Outreach and Community Engagement Motion that Finance Committee approve the appropriation of $60,000 for MVP action grant 25% match. Motion: Councilor Rist, Seconded by Councilor Conniff. Passed 2-0 OLD BUSINESS: 1. Review of Salaries and Stipends per Charter 2-4 (a) • Discussion around the stipends for School Committee and BPW. Councilor Rist is proposing and increase for School Committee from $1400/yr to $2000/year. Increases BPW stipend from $300/yr to $1000/year. Removed discussion for Planning, Assessor and Zoning and dropped those figures down to a $0 increase. • Councilor Conniff is concerned about the unknown of where the City will be situated financially. • Changes to elected official stipends must be approved before 12/31/2020. Any changes for other boards and committees can be addressed after January, 2021.  • Councilor Gomez agrees to separate the elected from boards and committees. Agrees that the salary of the Mayor is the most critical change needed at this time. Also agrees that City Council president should have an increase due to the work load for that posi- tion. • Councilor will prepare ordinances for a vote in Committee on 10/14/2020. Set Public Hearing and Vote in Full Council on 11/7/2020. 2. Review monthly fiscal report • Val Bernier, Auditor: Local receipts are down but tax receipts are picking up and have made up the difference. General fund is ahead slightly from where we were at this time last year. “in pretty good shape so far.” • Councilors have not looked at the report from auditor so no questions were asked of the auditor at this time • 6:20 pm - Motion to adjourn by Councilor Conniff Next Meeting: Wednesday, 10/14/2020 at 5:00pm