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 11/23/2020 MINUTES FINANCE Meeting 11/23/2020 Attendees: FINANCE Committee Members: Councilor Dan Rist, Chair Councilor Peg Conniff Councilor Homar Gomez Other Attendees: Jen Gallant, City Treasurer Jamie Webb, Asst. City Planner Val Bernier, City Auditor JP Kwiecinski, City Councilor Tom Peake, City Councilor Meeting called to order at 5:00pm. The meeting was videotaped. Minutes from 5/21, 5/27, 6/10, 6/24, 9/9 meetings were approved 2-0 (1 abstention). Motion Rist, Second Conniff. Minutes from 11/11 approved 3-0. Motion Rist, Second Gomez. Mayor Communication: None New Business 1. Request for Supplemental appropriation $374,000 to PARC Grant funding (BOLD be- low are part of the discussion notes) - To show availability of funds for PARC grant funding (for Trailhead Park) Motion that Finance Committee make a recommendation to the full council to approve the supplemental appropriation of $374,000. Motion: Councilor Gomez, Seconded by Coun- cilor Conniff. Passed 3-0. 2. Request for Supplemental appropriation from CPA funds (BOLD below are part of the discussion notes) • $9,850 for intensive historic survey of the Mt. Tom Trailhead parasite RIST: Survey is necessary to ensure that no indigenous people’s land will be adversely impacted. BAGG: anywhere there is excavation there is a need to do an archeological survey to en- sure no artifacts are located or impacted. BAGG: Mass Historical society has inventoried areas and this is near one of those flagged sites. • $176,000 design/construction drawings/construction of Mt. Tom Trailhead Park RIST: Presented full layout of the project budget. Motion that Finance Committee make a recommendation to the full council to approve the supplemental appropriation of $9,850. Motion: Councilor Conniff, Seconded by Councilor Gomez. Passed 3-0. Motion that Finance Committee make a recommendation to the full council to approve the supplemental appropriation of $176,000. Motion: Councilor Conniff, Seconded by Coun- cilor Gomez. Passed 3-0. Old Business 1. Review of monthly fiscal reports from the City Auditor - No discussion 2. Discussion of city ordinance amendment - Mayor’s Salary RIST: presented a 4 year plan for incremental increases for the Mayor’s Salary. 2022: $82,000; 2023: $84,000; 2024: $87,000, 2025: $90,000 CONNIFF: Agreed this plan is a better one and will be less impactful to the fiscal bud- gets GOMEZ; Does not agree that a Mayor position is similar to other business department head jobs as it is a political position. Councilor Gomez does agree that this plan for salary increases is better than a single increase. Motion that Finance Committee make a recommendation to the full council to approve the revised Mayoral Salary ordinance increase. Motion: Councilor Gomez, Seconded by Coun- cilor Conniff. Passed 3-0. 5:30 pm - Motion to adjourn by Councilor Gomez, Second Councilor Conniff 3-0 Next Meeting: Monday, 11/30/2020 time 5:00pm (MGL 121A - Ferry Street Project)