Finance Committee

‭Finance Committee‬ ‭Meeting Minutes‬ ‭May 8, 2024‬ ‭__________________________________________________________________________________________________________‬ ‭Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting Wednesday, May 8, 2024‬ ‭A meeting of the Joint Budget Subcommittee was held Wednesday evening, May 8,‬ ‭2024, at the Municipal Building, 2nd Floor, Council Chambers, 355 East Central Street,‬ ‭Franklin, MA.‬ ‭Members Present‬ ‭- George Conley, Chair‬ ‭- Natalie Riley, Vice Chair‬ ‭- Nicole Corbosiero, Clerk‬ ‭- Heather Sansoucy‬ ‭- William Batchelor‬ ‭- Chuna Keophannga‬ ‭- Michael Hamilton‬ ‭- Lauren Nagel‬ ‭- John Grace‬ ‭1. Call to Order‬ ‭2. Public Comments‬ ‭3. FY25 Town Administrator Operating Budget Hearing continued...‬ ‭FY25 Town Administrator Budget Materials website‬ ‭a. Public Safety :‬ ‭i. 210 Police Department‬ ‭SUMMARY: Deputy Chief James West presented the Police Department budget. 97% of the‬ ‭budget is for personnel costs, which have remained steady in recent years. The Police‬ ‭Department has 58 officers currently and no planned additions for FY25. In response to‬ ‭questions, Deputy Chief James West discussed:‬ ‭- Private detail pay goes into a separate revolving account, not the operating budget‬ ‭- The Department evaluated body cameras but determined the data storage and public‬ ‭records request costs would outweigh the benefits at this time‬ ‭- Two new traffic officers are having a positive impact on speeding enforcement while‬ ‭reducing forced overtime‬ ‭- Recruitment is challenging but the Department is using a new company to help and has a‬ ‭candidate in the pipeline to replace an anticipated retirement‬ ‭Town Administrator Jamie Hellen added that the two new officers from the Proposition 2‬ ‭1/2 override are preventing forced overtime, improving morale and helping with female‬ ‭officer recruitment and retention. He noted a statewide shortage of police officers is‬ ‭projected.‬ ‭ii. 220 Fire Department‬ ‭SUMMARY: Fire Chief Jim McLaughlin presented the Fire Department budget. The main cost‬ ‭increase is for three new Paramedic positions to expand ambulance coverage. During peak‬ ‭weekday hours, this will allow a third ambulance to be in service. It will also reduce‬ ‭overtime costs by $225-250k per year. Since last October, the third ambulance has‬ ‭responded to 107 calls that would have otherwise required mutual aid. The Chief projects it‬ ‭will bring in $160-175k in additional transport revenue annually.‬ ‭Recruitment has been challenging but the Chief is confident the department can fill the five‬ ‭anticipated vacancies this year (3 new, 2 retirements). Having paramedic certification as a‬ ‭hiring requirement reduces the applicant pool but saves on training costs. The High School‬ ‭EMT program partnership may help with future recruitment.‬ ‭iii. 225 Regional Dispatch‬ ‭SUMMARY: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen presented the regional dispatch budget. This‬ ‭is the first year of full assessment after a 4-year state regionalization grant ended. Funds‬ ‭were saved during the grant years to help phase in the full cost over a few years. The‬ ‭assessment will increase by 2-3% annually going forward based on collective bargaining.‬ ‭The regional dispatch district, governed by area Town Managers, continues to explore‬ ‭expansion opportunities to achieve greater economies of scale. However, state grant rules‬ ‭have been changing which complicates the process. Franklin's portion of the FY25‬ ‭assessment is offset by a $500k transfer from the regionalization stabilization fund.‬ ‭iv. 240 Inspection Department‬ ‭SUMMARY: Building Commissioner Gus Brown reported his department is now fully staffed‬ ‭with one full-time local Inspector and one dedicated Administrative Assistant, in addition to‬ ‭two long-time shared clerical staff. Business has been very good with permit fee revenue‬ ‭projected to exceed $1.5 million this year, far more than the Department's $360k budget.‬ ‭The Accessory Dwelling Unit permitting process in cooperation with the Police Department‬ ‭has been going smoothly with about one permit per month and no denials so far. Regional‬ ‭Weights and Measures inspections are now handled by an outside inspector.‬ ‭v. 292 Animal Control‬ ‭SUMMARY: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen reported that Franklin has had a successful‬ ‭regional Animal Control partnership with Bellingham for many years with very few‬ ‭complaints. The program, led by Bellingham, saw a 13% budget increase this year likely due‬ ‭to wage adjustments and some new equipment. Franklin and Bellingham alternate‬ ‭responsibility for capital expenses.‬ ‭b. Department of Public Works (DPW) :‬ ‭i. Departments: 422 Public Works‬ ‭SUMMARY: DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi presented the Public Works budget which had‬ ‭to absorb a $300,000 cut this year. Road and sidewalk improvements, tree maintenance, and‬ ‭consulting services all had to be reduced as a result. Unlike other departments, only 35% of‬ ‭the DPW budget is for personnel with the bulk going to expenses like materials and fuel,‬ ‭which are subject to high inflation.‬ ‭Despite the cuts, the DPW continues to find operational efficiencies like reducing road and‬ ‭sidewalk widths to save on long-term maintenance costs. They use a five-year budgeting‬ ‭approach. Significant roadwork is funded through state Chapter 90 funds ($928k this year)‬ ‭and other grants, not the operating budget which mainly covers routine maintenance. The‬ ‭Town recently updated its Pavement Management Plan to prioritize projects.‬ ‭This winter's below average snowfall resulted in a $521k surplus in the Snow & Ice Budget‬ ‭which will be used to start a new stabilization fund for future severe winters. The DPW Fleet‬ ‭Manager has helped modernize the town's Vehicle Maintenance Program.‬ ‭ii. Enterprise Funds:‬ ‭1. 450 Water‬ ‭2. 440 Sewer‬ ‭3. 434 Solid Waste‬ ‭4. 460 Stormwater‬ ‭SUMMARY: The Water andSewer Enterprise funds are solely supported by ratepayers. Water‬ ‭rates will rise 8.8% next year, mainly due to the new water treatment plant and PFAS‬ ‭regulations. Sewer rates are not increasing.‬ ‭Solid waste collection fees will increase by $50 next year with more increases likely when‬ ‭the collection and recycling contracts expire. Recycling costs in particular have soared.‬ ‭The Town's Stormwater Utility fee is now in its second year. Funds previously budgeted in‬ ‭the DPW operating budget for stormwater have been reallocated to snow & ice removal and‬ ‭road maintenance. Credits are available to reduce the stormwater fee for property owners‬ ‭who install items like rain gardens or detention basins. Federal stormwater mandates, with‬ ‭no funding provided, will require major capital investments of $35 million or more in the‬ ‭coming years to reduce phosphorus discharges into the Charles River. This will likely trigger‬ ‭significant future increases in the stormwater fee.‬ ‭4. Adjourn‬ ‭VOTE(S):‬ ‭Subject: Motion to adjourn‬ ‭Mover: William Batchelor‬ ‭Second: Natlie Riley‬ ‭Result: Passed‬ ‭Details of the vote: Roll call vote:‬ ‭- George Conley: Yes‬ ‭- Natalie Riley: Yes‬ ‭- Nicole Corbosiero: Yes‬ ‭- Heather Sansoucy: Yes‬ ‭- John Grace: Yes‬ ‭- William Batchelor: Yes‬ ‭- Chuna Keophannga: Yes‬ ‭- Michael Hamilton: Yes‬ ‭- Lauren Nagel: Yes‬