Bellingham Finance Committee (FinCom) and
Capital Improvements Committee (CIC) Joint Meeting Minutes
September 23, 2013 – (Approved 10/28/13)
- FinCom Present: J. Collamati (Chair), J. Allam, J. Cibelli, A. Elliott, R. Szczepan, G. Young (7:30)
CIC Present: J. Cibelli, J. Collamati, R. Szczepan
- FinCom Absent: K. Shkreli
CIC Absent: R. Lavallee; 1 vacant position
- At 7:00 PM, FinCom was called to order by Chairman Collamati; the CIC was called to order by Vice Chairman Szczepan.
- Having performed a study on the high school boilers (at a cost of $6500; see October 2013 STM Article 5), it was determined that two boilers are estimated to be serviceable for another 10 years, and that one boiler needs to be replaced at a cost of $80,000.
A CIC motion was made to support an $80,000 expenditure for the purchase of a replacement boiler at Bellingham High School.
Collamati/Cibelli 3/0
A FinCom motion was made to recommend an $80,000 expenditure, from Free Cash for the replacement of a boiler at Bellingham High School.
Allam/Szczepan 5/0 (Mr. Young was not yet present.)
A update to previous discussions took place regarding magnetic fire doors at the high school. It was determined that new fire doors need to be installed. This is an important safety issue.
A CIC motion was made to support the allocation of $70,000 towards the installation of magnetic fire doors at the high school.
Collamati/Cibelli 3/0
A FinCom motion was made to recommend that $70,000 be taken from Free Cash to install magnetic fire doors at the high school.
Allam/Szczepan 5/0 (Mr. Young was not yet present.)
- At 7:14 PM, a motion was made to adjourn the CIC meeting, as all of the CIC’s agenda had been satisfied.
Collamati/Cibelli 3/0
- The Town Clerk and representatives of the Police Department requested that
$10,000 be allocated in Article 1 to pay for Bellingham Youth Center rent for 10 months. They reported that the Youth Center has been highly successful over the past 18 months. Over that time, the landlord (Rick Kaplan) allowed the Youth Center to occupy its current location rent-free.
A motion was made to recommend that $10,000 be allocated from Free Cash to pay 10 month’s worth of rent for the Youth Center to remain in its current location.
Cibelli/Szczepan 5/0 (Mr. Young was not yet present)
- DPW Director Don DiMartino addressed the FinCom regarding Articles 15, 17
and 18 as follows:
Article 15 – Linda Way Acceptance
Mr. DiMartino reported that the Planning Board was not recommending acceptance at this time, and that a meeting was scheduled with the contractor to discuss the matter further. An update should be available by the September 30th FinCom meeting to allow the FinCom to make final adjudication at that time.
Article 17 – Water Transmission Main Land and Easement Acquisition
Mr. DiMartino recommended Passing Over this article at this time.
Article 18 – Wrentham Road Drainage Easements
Mr. DiMartino recommended Passing Over this article at this time.
A motion was made the FinCom to concur with Mr. DiMartino and recommend that Articles 17 and 18 be Passed Over at the October STM.
Elliott/Allam 6/0
A prior DPW request for $180,000 for a Trackless Sidewalk Plow was revisited.
Another prior request for $175,000 for a Plow/Salt Dump truck was revisited.
A motion was made to recommend that $180,000 be allocated towards the purchase of a new Trackless Sidewalk Plow.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
A motion was made to recommend a $175,000 expenditure towards the purchase of a new Plow/Salt Dump Truck.
Allam/Cibelli 6/0
Four more previously discussed requests were updated.
- Water Service Renewal on Wrentham Road, from Lake Street to Parks Department entrance; $100,000
- Water Main Replacement on South Main Street during Mass DOT Bridge Replacement; 130,000
- Harpin Street Water Main Replacement; there have been 3 water main breaks on the part of Harpin Street the parallels South Main Street (near swamp); $80,000
All of the above projects had previously been supported by the CIC.
A FinCom motion was made to recommend the allocation of $310,000 from Water Surplus to complete the Wrentham Road Water Service Renewal, South Main Street Bridge Water Main Replacement and Harpin Street Water Main Replacement Projects.
Szczepan/Young 6/0
- Police Department representatives presented an updated request for one Radar
Trailer. The PD has decided on purchasing, through MHQ, a Decatur Radar Trailer at a cost of $8,675.
A motion was made to recommend the allocation of $8,675 from Free Cash towards the purchase of a Decatur Radar Trailer.
Allam/Elliott 6/0
- Fire Department Chief Gentile requested an amendment to Article 1 referencing the FD Pager System Phase-In. $2,360 is requested for additional Tri-Tech software that is required by the new pager system to recall off-duty personnel.
$2,000 is the cost of the software; $360 is a software maintenance fee.
A motion was made to transfer $2,360 from Free Cash to the Town IT Budget towards the purchase of Tri-Tech pager software.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
- Board of Selectman Chair and Charter Review Commission Chair Michael
Connor explained the requirement for a complete Town Charter Review every 10 years (years ending in “3”), and presented the Charter Changes proposed by the 2013 Charter Review Commission.
The 7 proposed changes are:
- a typographical/grammatical change to Section 4-4-1 (Removal and Suspension)
- removal of all reference to the Personnel Board (Sections 5-9-1, 5-9-2), as it has been made redundant by the creation of a Human Resources Manager who performs its previous functions,
- renumbering of Section 5-10-1 (Tree Warden; becomes 5-9-1 due to the removal of the Personnel Board)
- changes to Section 8-3-1 in three areas: Board of Selectman Appointments, Town Administrator Appointments, Library Trustee Appointments.
A motion was made to support Article 19, with proposed changes included in the
Town Meeting Booklet.
Szczepan/Elliott 6/0
- Article 1 Amendments presented by CFO Chris Laviollette
- recommendation for a generator to be installed at the Senior Center. In the event of a power failure, it would be more comfortable and safer for seniors to be sheltered at the Senior Center.
A motion was made to allocate $8,000 from Free Cash to complete the installation of a generator at the Senior Center.
Szczepan/Cibelli 6/0
- A Swingline Cross-Cut paper shredder for the Tax Collector/Treasurer’s
office was discussed. A medium grade shredder would cost $1200, while a
heavy duty shredder would cost $2500. The question was raised as to whether
it might be more cost effective to have paper shredded by an outside vendor.
FinCom requested more information on the cost effectiveness of purchasing
a medium grade shredder versus the heavy-duty version, and the feasibility of
vending out document shredding.
- The MIS Department is recommending that 17 PC’s running Windows XL be
replaced, as Windows XL is soon-to-be unsupported. The proposal is to replace the existing PC’s with new desktops with Windows 7 pre-installed.
A motion was made to recommend the allocation of $10,200, from Free Cash, to purchase 17 new desktop computers to replace antiquated PC’s.
Elliott/Allam 6/0
- The new Board of Health Agent is no longer a town employee, but rather, an
independent contractor. In order to facilitate payment to the Health Agent,
monies must be transferred from the Board of Health Salaries Account to the
Board of Health Expenses Account.
A motion was made to transfer $35,245 from Board of Health Salaries to
Board of Health Expenses in order to facilitate payment of the Health Agent.
Szczepan/Allam 6/0
- A Parks Department Representative (Roland Arcand) requested $11,000 for 52 rubber mats to place under swings in the Town’s play areas. The rubber mats provide extra safety so that children do not hurt themselves falling into divots made by continuous landings in the same spot. Installation of the mats would also cut down on the amount of replacement mulch required to fill the divots.
A motion was made to recommend that $11,000 be allocated from Free Cash towards the purchase of 52 playground rubber mats.
Szczepan/Allam 5/1 (Mr. Elliott)
A related issue was discussed, involving the replacement of wood chips at the town’s play areas. Mr. Arcand requested $5,000 to replenish wood chips.
A motion was made to allocate $5,000 to replenish wood chips at the various town play areas.
Szczepan/Elliott 6/0
Mr. Arcand requested $9,000 for the installation of additional fencing at the Blackstone Street baseball and field hockey fields. The purpose of this fencing is to prevent balls from going into the woods and to keep deer from coming onto the fields.
A motion was made to recommend allocation of $9,000 for additional fencing at the Blackstone Street baseball and field hock fields.
Szczepan/Elliott 0/6 (Not Recommended by the Finance Committee)
A request was made by the Parks Department to create a Revolving Fund. A FinCom decision was deferred until the 9/30/13 meeting when more information will be available from the CFO.
- The MIS Department usually requests $50,000 annually towards GIS
mapping. This year, MIS is requesting $25,000, as there is $29,000 left in the GIS
mapping fund from last year.
A motion was made to recommend supplementing the GIS Mapping account with
$25,000 from Free Cash.
Szczepan/Cibelli 6/0
- A motion was made to Pass Over Article 13, Commission on Disability Revolving Fund request.
Elliott/Cibelli 5/0 (Mr. Allam not present for vote.)
- A motion was made to accept Meeting Minutes from 9/3/13 meeting with one
change.
Szczepan/Elliott 5/0 (Mr. Allam not present for vote.)
- The ATFC Annual Meeting Registration Form included in this evenings packet
was discussed. Cost to attend meeting range from $40 to $55. Members wishing to attend must inform Chairman Collamati as soon as possible.
Selectman Michael Soter, who attended the FinCom meeting discuss a Town Attorney Evaluation form under development. When completed, that form will be forwarded to both the CIC and FinCom for review and recommendation.
- The date for the next FinCom/CIC meeting was set for 9/30/13 at 7PM at the Bellingham Municipal Center. It will be a joint session with the CIC, FinCom and Board of Selectmen.
On the FinCom agenda will be: discussion on Articles 20 – 24, new Police Station, 2 DPW trucks, Linda Way, Collector/Treasurer shredder and Free Cash number.
- At 8:20 PM, a motion was made to adjourn the FinCom meeting.
Szczepan/Elliott 5/0 (Mr. Allam not present for vote.)
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Larry Sposato,
FinCom/CIC Clerk
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