Finance Committee

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APRIL 1, 2015 A meeting of the Finance Committee was held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at 7:03 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, Chair, presided. Members of the Committee present: Alderman-at-Large Daniel T. Moriarty, Vice Chair Alderman-at-Large David W. Deane Alderman Ken Siegel Alderman Paul M. Chasse, Jr. Alderman-at-Large Jim Donchess Alderwoman Pamela T. Brown PUBLIC COMMENT – None COMMUNICATIONS From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Southwest Trail Construction Requested By Community Development (Value: $420,275) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO MORIN’S LANDSCAPING IN THE AMOUNT OF $420,275. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN DEPARTMENT 181, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; CONSERVATION COMMISSION FUND ($395,443); NASHUA WETLANDS BUFFER FUND ($2,252); VERNAL POOLS FUND ($651); LOVEWELLS POND FUND ($3,953); AND DEPARTMENT 169, WASTEWATER; WASTEWATER FUND ($17,976) ON THE QUESTION Mayor Lozeau We put a full-sized map back in the office for you to take a look at. This has been discussed a few times now. I see Commissioner Gallagher here, the Chairman of the Conservation Commission. I know this has been discussed. I can’t recall if it’s been recalled to let people know that Morin’s Landscaping has received the bid but Lynch’s Landscaping is actually also doing a donation and some work on the far end of the trail. You will see legislation coming in at the next Board of Aldermen meeting to accept that gift. I just thought since it was before us tonight I wanted to make sure you were aware of that and that would be coming. Alderman Donchess After the expenditures made from the Conservation Fund, how much will be left under their care? Mayor Lozeau On the list on the agenda, each of the departments showed the remaining amount of money although the conservation commission just identifies the fund, but doesn’t say the amount. I believe it’s pretty close to $2 million. Mr. Gallagher nods yes. I apologize that it is not on the agenda. It should be. MOTION CARRIED Finance – 04/01/15 Page 2 From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Main Street Materials – Bricks And Sand – Change Order # 3 (Value: $43,860) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #3 TO THE CONTRACT WITH CORRIVEAU-ROUTHIER, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $43,860. SOURCE OF FUNDING IS DEPARTMENT 161, STREET; CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; MAIN STREET PROJECT ON THE QUESTION Alderman Moriarty I have always been in support of bricks on Main Street. Mayor Lozeau Well, here’s some for you. MOTION CARRIED From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Main Street Materials - Concrete – Change Order # 6 (Value: $42,000) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #6 TO THE CONTRACT WITH GRANITE STATE CONCRETE IN THE AMOUNT OF $42,000. SOURCE OF FUNDING IS DEPARTMENT 161, STREET; CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; MAIN STREET PROJECT ON THE QUESTION Mayor Lozeau Alderman Moriarty, have you always been opposed to concrete downtown? Alderman Moriarty I’ve always been opposed to concrete. The animosity surrounding this project, I think for the most part, is gone. The Main Street project is going to finish, but most recently I’ve learned there’s still a little bit of sadness associated with the loss of the trees and the fact that there’s just one remaining section of bricks that reminds everybody what it was like. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but I’m certainly going to vote against the concrete and the granite planters, for whatever it’s worth. MOTION CARRIED From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Main Street Curbing – Change Order #8 (Value: $51,625) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #8 TO THE CONTRACT WITH CLASSIC CURB IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,625. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN DEPARTMENT 161, STREET; CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; MAIN STREET PROJECT MOTION CARRIED Finance – 04/01/15 Page 3 From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Main Street - Electrical System – Change Order #2 (Value: $31,500) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #2 TO THE CONTRACT WITH JOHNSON’S ELECTRICAL SUPPLYING THE AMOUNT OF $31,500. SOURCE OF FUNDING IS DEPARTMENT 161, STREET; CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; MAIN STREET PROJECT ON THE QUESTION Alderman Chasse Is this for the streetlights? Mayor Lozeau This is for all the electrical work downtown: streetlights, outlets, to finish the last run. Alderman Chasse When we had the stroll, I thought it was awfully dark downtown. Mayor Lozeau It was because we had areas where they haven’t been connected yet. Alderman Chasse Last week driving downtown after the sun goes down, it’s still dark downtown. It is very dark. It’s hard to see pedestrians in the crosswalks. I think maybe somebody ought to take a look at that. I think there’s a safety factor there. Next time you’re driving downtown late at night, take a look at it and think about how dark it is compared to what it used to be. It’s hard to see people. Mayor Lozeau I understand. I think as soon as the rest of the lights and everything is hooked in, it will be better. In the crosswalks, it’s our intention to put lit ballads in the center of the crosswalks. Alderman Chasse Are those the things that light up again? Mayor Lozeau No. I really liked those. I think they are very helpful. Alderman Chasse If they worked properly. There’s nobody in the crosswalk, and you’ve got them blinking. Mayor Lozeau That’s just because they walk fast. Once they hit or if somebody knocks the ballad. Finance – 04/01/15 Page 4 Alderman Chasse No when there’s nobody around, believe me. You go down and you see the things blinking. Mayor Lozeau Great. You slow down and look. I’ll take that. The ballads I’m referring to are in the mid-block crossings. We’re going to put ballads that shine a light down in the center between those two islands so people can tell there’s something in the center. MOTION CARRIED From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Main Street Materials – Granite Planters – Change Order #1 (Value: $29,500) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #1 TO THE CONTRACT WITH SWENSON GRANITE COMPANY, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,500. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN DEPARTMENT 161, STREET; CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND; MAIN STREET PROJECT ON THE QUESTION Alderman Moriarty I think you might have mentioned it, the ones on the north end, the planters that are only an inch high or so, people trip over them. Can we get fencing or some sort of grading? Is that in the works? Mayor Lozeau It’s in the works to get fencing just above knee height for people to see. Those flush beds allow us to have some flexibility. In front of Giant of Siam, you’re going to see us brick it instead of keeping it as a flush garden. With the restaurant there, that will give them room for outdoor dining. Other locations, we may do the same. In the areas where we keep them, we will put fencing in. Alderman Moriarty In front of Cardin’s Jewelers, I hope you put a fence. Mayor Lozeau I was actually in to see them this week to talk about that space. Alderman Moriarty As far as the granite planters, I short of promised to vote no because unfairly or fairly they become sort of a source of ridicule in certain corners. I think it’s the last Main Street contract I suspect we’ll ever see. Mayor Lozeau I can’t promise that there’s not any changes that might come as we finish the project. Finance – 04/01/15 Page 5 Alderman Moriarty But this is sort of the last opportunity to vote no on this frustrating experience. Mayor Lozeau I think we’re all frustrating with it. Alderman Donchess Is the Giant of Siam going to have outdoor seating? Mayor Lozeau They will, as long as they meet the requirements in the distance. Alderman Donchess Do they need a permit? Mayor Lozeau The outdoor dining permit, Alderman Donchess, goes along with their annual environmental health license. They need a permit to encumber the sidewalk. We’ve made it kind of a single process now. Environmental Health and Public Works and the Fire Department all work together. They still have to meet certain criteria. They have to have five feet of unencumbered space so people can walk down Main Street, that sort of thing. Alderman Deane Is that an ordinance or is that an internal policy? Mayor Lozeau I believe there was an ordinance that allowed for the outdoor dining. Then the policy internally on how to administrate the encumbrances of sidewalk is something done through public works. MOTION CARRIED From: John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer Re: Aeration and Clarifier Upgrades Construction Phase Services – Amendment #1 (Value: $40,000) MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND APPROVE AMENDMENT #1 TO THE CONTRACT WITH WOODARD & CURRAN IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $40,000. SOURCE OF FUNDING IS DEPARTMENT 169, WASTEWATER; WASTEWATER FUND; AERATION AND SECONDARY CLARIFIER UPGRADES CONSTRUCTION MOTION CARRIED UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None NEW BUSINESS - None Finance – 04/01/15 Page 6 DISCUSSION Alderman Moriarty I wanted to thank you for waiting for me to arrive. I was talking to some people about positive street art on my way up the sidewalk which delayed me. They are putting together what they call a passport that’s going to be on Wednesday and a day on the weekend. The idea is to have people come in and go to different businesses that have displays of street art. Currently at Nashua Garden they have some art work up on an easel and a skateboard. One of the members of the organization, Amber, is there along with Fou and a couple of other people. I just wanted to help communicate to the public that this effort to engage people from the public to come into the city and create an art culture in Nashua is going on. Alderman Siegel What’s the status of our getting a purchasing manager? Mayor Lozeau I was going to announce tonight. I was just waiting. We have hired a new purchasing manager. He begins on Monday, April 6. Mr. Kooken; first name Daniel. He’s looking forward to starting. I think everybody is very much looking forward to him joining us, most especially our CFO. Alderman Moriarty Another question concerning the green trash barrels that we normally pick up at the landfill, the transfer station, the recycling bins. Are they on order? Mayor Lozeau We buy them every year. Alderman Moriarty I think right now there are no more out there. Mayor Lozeau I can check if there’s a backorder. If there is, we’re purchasing more. Alderman Moriarty That was the question. What’s the status? Did we run out? Do we wait until we need a bunch? Why have we run out? Did you know that we ran out? Alderman Deane We approved a purchase order probably 2 ½ months ago. Mayor Lozeau I’ve not heard that we’re out of them. I will check on that. Alderman Chasse Finance – 04/01/15 Page 7 Maybe they are out of them in front of the transfer station, but they do have storage area with the others. When I went and got mine, they were out of them in front of the transfer station. Somebody had to go back and get another one and bring it out to me. Alderman Moriarty I’ll pass that along, thanks. Mayor Lozeau They can always call in and make sure they are there before they go. Alderman Donchess On that subject, I would recommend getting the green trash barrel because they do make recycling a lot easier and increase your recycling support. Mayor Lozeau I agree. They’ve been selling very well. A great gift for Father’s Day. A little bit of ice, a few cans of beers. It’s a wonderful gift. It’s on wheels. RECORD OF EXPENDITURES MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS COMPLIED WITH THE CITY CHARTER AND ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO THE RECORD OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE PERIOD MARCH 13, 2105 THROUGH MARCH 26, 2105 MOTION CARRIED PUBLIC COMMENT – None POSSIBLE NON-PUBLIC SESSION ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY ALDERMAN CHASSE TO ADJOURN MOTION CARRIED The Finance Committee meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m. Alderman Ken Siegel Committee Clerk