Joint Capital Improvement Committee &
Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, January 24, 2011
1. FinCom Present: Roland Lavallee, Raymond Szczepan, Katie Quinn, Carol Dill, Toni Picariello
CIC Present: Roland Lavallee, Toni Picariello, Judy Manning
2. FinCom Absent: Joseph Collamati, Henri Masson
CIC Absent: Joseph Collamati; Mary Beth Cuomo
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
4. WELCOME NEW FINCOM MEMBER - KATIE MULLAHY QUINN
5. (FinCom) SNOW AND ICE EMERGENCY SPENDING AUTHORIZATION (Department of Public Works)
As of this date, the Snow & Ice budget is over spent by $300,000.
Raymond Szczepan/Carol Dill motion to authorize emergency spending of the Snow and Ice Budget for FY2011. VOTE: 5/0.
6. DISCUSSION WITH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT RE: MACY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PRIORITIES FOR MSBA STATEMENT OF INTEREST.
Frank Gauvin, David Fischer and Jim Testa appeared.
The Middle School boilers project is proceeding. Bellingham is on the Green Repair Program ("GRP") list and expects to be reimbursed about 50% of the $440,000. They will be appointing a project manager, Daedalus Projects, Inc., Boston. A MSBA preapproved design architect will need to be chosen.
The school is looking for a Statement of Interest to send to GRP for repairs to Macy School in the amount of $2M. Macy school needs repairs as follows: asbestos, replace carpets, etc. It is the oldest school and will need a roof, windows and boilers. MSBA proposals can be modified and the amount can be moved from school to school, but it must go to Town Meeting first.
What has the School Department done to look at reducing costs?
1. Transportation costs
2. PJP? Judy Manning is for changing PJP. This must be approved with the state and it's still on the table. If they move PJP students to the High School then it would only be Bellingham students.
Roland Lavallee mentioned that the school did not exhaust costs saving measures when he was on the facilities committee. PJP has never paid for itself. Frank Gauvin said there was a cost factor, that it would cost more to send students out.
MSBA has a tool for enrollment. Mr. Fischer will have the data.
Judy Manning is all for closing Macy. Raymond Szczepan mentioned that community schools are no longer a priority.
Once the application is submitted it could take 1-2 years for a response. If they close the school for 2 year to make the repairs and upgrade they might not get the funding.
CIC: Judy Manning/Toni Picariello motion to support a statement of interest and application to MSBA for the upgrade and repairs at Macy School. VOTE: 2/1 (Toni Picariello did not vote for it because she does not believe the school has studied the possibility of closing of buildings)
FinCom: Raymond Szczepan/Carol Dill motion to support a statement of interest and application to MSBA for the upgrade and repairs at Macy School. Funding: ~$2M with MSBA reimbursement. VOTE: 4/1 (Toni Picariello did not vote for it because she does not believe the school has studied the possibility of closing of buildings)
7. DISCUSSION WITH CFO RE: PROPOSED BUDGET.
Marilyn Mathieu stated that the state budget is not looking good and the town's budgets are mainly level funded. There might be an increase in c.70 and c.90 money, but a decrease in local aid. She plans on staying with Health Insurance we have now and not go with the State's GIC plan. Per the comparison Marilyn Mathieu gave the FinCom last year, our system costs less than if we adopted the State system. She is working on the budget now.
Roland Lavallee thinks there should be a town wide facilities manager. What is needed for facilities? Should there be a facilities committee in town?
8. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. FinCom Budget
The FinCom will level fund our budget. The figures are as follows:
Salaries: 2,868.00
Postage 150.00
Printing, binding & copy 1,332.00
Dues/Membership 320.00
Office Supplies 405.00
$5,075.00
Carol Dill/Katie Quinn motion to recommend the FinCom budget as listed above for a total of $5,075.00. VOTE: 5/0
B. Accept the following Minutes:
FinCom: October 5, 2009 (Henri Masson, Carol Dill)
June 28, 2010 (Henri Masson, Carol Dill)
Raymond Szczepan/Toni Picariello motion to accept the October 5, 2009 & June 28, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 4/1 (Carol Dill was not present)
August 30, 2010
Carol Dill/Raymond Szczepan motion to accept the August 30, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 5/0.
November 22, 2010 (Roland Lavallee, Carol Dill)
Raymond Szczepan/Toni Picariello motion to accept the November 22, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 2/2 (Roland Lavallee and Carol Dill were not present)
September 13, 2010 (Henri Masson, Roland Lavallee)
Carol Dill/Raymond Szczepan motion to accept the September 13, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 3/1. (Roland Lavallee was not present)
September 20, 2010 (Carol Dill)
Raymond Szczepan/Toni Picariello motion to accept the September 20, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 3/1. (Carol Dill was not present)
CIC: October 5, 2009 (Mary Beth Cuomo
Judy Manning/Toni Picariello motion to accept the October 5, 2009 minutes. VOTE: 3/0.
March 8, 2010 (Judy Manning)
Toni Picariello/Roland Lavallee motion to accept the March 8, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 2/1 (Judy Manning was not present)
August 30, 2010
Judy Manning/Toni Picariello motion to accept the August 30, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 3/0.
September 13, 2010 (Judy Manning, Roland Lavallee) To be accepted at next meeting.
September 20, 2010
Judy Manning/Toni Picariello motion to accept the September 20, 2010 minutes. VOTE: 3/0.
Adjourned:
CIC: Judy Manning/Toni Picariello motion to adjourn. VOTE: 5/0. 8:50 p.m.
FinCom: Carol Dill/Katie Quinn motion to adjourn. VOTE: 3/0. 8:50 p.m.
| 
