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 MINUTES FINANCE Meeting 05/26/2021 Attendees: FINANCE Committee Members: Councilor Dan Rist, Chair Councilor Peg Conniff Councilor Homar Gomez Other Attendees: Nicole LaChapelle, Mayor Emily Russo, Director, HR Jennifer Gallant, City Treasurer Chris Norris, Fire Chief Meeting called to order at 5:00pm. The meeting was held remotely due to the COVID-19 pan- demic and was videotaped. There were no minutes to approve Mayor Communication: None Public Speak: None. New Business 1. Supplemental Appropriation A. $19,701 for FY 21 Workers Compensation- This is being used to cover a short- fall. The 4th quarter rates were not included in the 2021 budget. This may occur again in FY2022. Motion to recommend to full council the approval of this appropriation made by Councilor Gomez, seconded by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0  B. $94,400 for Fy 21 DPW snow removal shortfall - This is a typical appropriation from Free Cash at the end of the year. The total snow removal actuals were $244K Motion to recommend to full council the approval of this appropriation made by Councilor Gomez, seconded by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 C. $63,000 for Fire Deputy Chief funding and vehicle repairs - • When the 2021 budget was created, there was no funding for this position. The position was filled from July - December, 2020 and paid out $49,492. The plan was to try to fund this through other savings. Approximately $19K was found in other areas of EFD budget. This request is for $30,000. • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance is related to some maintenance on Ladder Truck for $33,000, including ladder pads and the entire hydraulic system. Motion to recommend to full council the approval of this appropriation made by Councilor Gomez, seconded by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 2. FY22 Budget A. Human Resources - $112,394 Looking to streamline policies and processes in the department. Improving employee engagement. Health insurance decreased. • Question related to how the FTE are represented. Jennifer Gallant will up- date those figures. BUDGET MOTIONS: SECTION ONE – GENERAL GOVERNMENT As Presented Council Approved I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,955,927.58 $1,953,507.59 for the various departments listed under SECTION ONE – GENERAL GOVERNMENT and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the following amounts to be transferred, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 SECTION TWO – PUBLIC SAFETY I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,636,545.39 for the various departments listed under SECTION TWO – PUBLIC SAFETY and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee. Motion by Councilor Conniff, Second by Councilor Gomez. Approved 3-0  SECTION THREE – SCHOOLS I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $17,097,692.63 for the various departments listed under SECTION THREE – SCHOOLS and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 SECTION FOUR – PUBLIC WORKS I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,869,226.22 for the various departments listed under SECTION FOUR – PUBLIC WORKS and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the following amounts to be transferred, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Water/Sewer Enterprise Sale of Lots Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 SECTION FIVE – HUMAN SERVICES I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $653,320.06 for the various departments listed under SECTION FIVE – HUMAN SERVICES and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee. Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 SECTION SIX – CULTURAL AND RECREATION I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $607,454.20 $609,237.36 for the various departments listed under SECTION SIX – CULTURAL AND RECREATION and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the following amount to be transferred, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0  SECTION SEVEN– DEBT & INTEREST I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,368,738.17 for the various departments listed under SECTION SEVEN – DEBT & INTEREST and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the following amounts to be transferred or raised, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Water/Sewer Enterprise Debt Exclusion Taxation to be reduced by reserves for amortization Tax Rate Stabilization Motion by Councilor Conniff, Second by Councilor Gomez. Approved 3-0 SECTION EIGHT – UNCLASSIFIED ( Employee Benefits) I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,526,282.18 $9,435,370.18 for the various departments listed under SECTION EIGHT – EMPLOYEE BENEFITS and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the following amounts to be transferred as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Water/Sewer Enterprise Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 SECTION NINE – COMMUNITY PRESERVATION I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $562,500.00 for the various departments listed under SECTION NINE – COMMUNITY PRESERVATION and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the total amount to be raised and appropriated from the Community Preservation Fund, as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0  SECTION TEN – ENTERPRISE I move that the City vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,749,970.18 for the various departments listed under SECTION TEN - ENTERPRISE and that the amounts listed in the Mayor’s printed report, unless amended, be considered specific appropriations, with the following amounts to be transferred as recommended by the Mayor and Finance Subcommittee: Water/Sewer Enterprise $2,749,970.18 Motion by Councilor Gomez, Second by Councilor Conniff. Approved 3-0 5:40 pm - Motion to adjourn by Councilor Conniff, Second Councilor Gomez3-0 NEXT MEETING: June 15 @ 5:00pm