Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, September 22, 2014
1. FinCom Present: Raymond Szczepan, Joseph Collamati, John Allam, Alexander J. Elliott, Sean Coyle
CIC Present: Roland Lavallee Raymond Szczepan Joseph Collamati Jerald A. Mayhew
2. FinCom Absent: Judith Cibelli, Matthew J. Fernandes
CIC Absent: Judith Cibelli
3. Meeting called to order: 7:00 p.m.
4. PULASKI BLVD – NORFOLK STREET TO AUCLAIR STREET ($150,000)
From July 14, 2014 Meeting: Amount requested $150,000. This project is a top priority and is to replace and upsize the 6" water main to 8". The cost is based on $150/foot with services for 1,000 feet. This project was funded at the 2014 May Town Meeting from borrowing. Donald DiMartino would like to amend the funding to be transferred from water surplus
No action taken. The final cost figure is not available. This is rescheduled to October 8, 2014 meeting.
5. ARTICLE 7 - AMENDED REVOLVING FUND - CONSERVATION COMMISSION (Conservation Commission & Chris)
Michael O'Herran of the Conservation Commission appeared (9/15/2014, thinking this was the hearing night) for the Conservation Commission revolving fund article. He explained that the Conservation Commission's is requesting that their revolving fund is increased from $5,000 to $15,000, as there has been an increase of applicants. The wording of the Article will not change, just the funds.
This Revolving Fund receives revenues from applicants under the Town's local wetlands protection by-law and authorizes the Conservation Commission to use said funds for potential land purchases, in supplementation of funds in the Town's Land Acquisition Trust.
Alexander J. Elliott/Sean Coyle motion to recommend this article. Vote: 5/0.
6. ARTICLE 1; AMEND ARTICLE 1 - FY 2014 BUDGET (Board of Selectmen)
a. Veterans Benefits-Expenses, $42,500.00
These funds are being requested as there has been an increase in the number of veterans and their families currently living in Bellingham.
b. Municipal Bldg - Expenses; DEP Compliance/Pearl Street Mill, $4,320.00
This amount is the annual assessment/compliance paid to DEP regarding the Brownfield site at the Pearl Street Mill.
c. Fire Department - Expenses; Relocation of Mobile Training Structure, Plus Travel, $4,800.00
The amount requested is to relocate the Mobile Training Structure.
d. Town Inspector - Salaries; Part time, $12,000.00
This amount will cover salary costs for absences, zoning enforcement and administration as the Department is part-time.
Joseph Collamati/Raymond Szczepan motion to recommend the above transfers. Funding: Free Cash. Vote: 5/0.
7. ARTICLE 2; AMEND ARTICLE 2 - TRASH ENTERPRISE (Board of Selectmen) Requesting $75,000.00
These funds are requested as an increase in the budget was necessary.
Sean Coyle/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend this Article. Funding: $75,000 from Trash Surplus. Vote: 4/0/1 Raymond Szczepan recused.
8. ARTICLE 3 - AMEND ARTICLE 3 - WATER ENTERPRISE (Board of Selectmen)
Raymond Szczepan/Alexander J. Elliott motion to pass over this Article. Vote: 5/0.
9. ARTICLE 4 - AMEND ARTICLE 4 - SEWER ENTERPRISE (Board of Selectmen)
From Department of Public Works: We will need an Amendment to this article. I received good numbers from CRPCD for FY2015 just before the Town Meeting so we did not change it then. The appropriated amount for them is $18,915.50 below their projected billing, which is always dead on. I still hope to see an invoice for this fiscal year from Woonsocket before town meeting. They promised it in July but nothing yet. I know I estimated the host fee low by at least $2,762. I don’t know if I will be sure that is all I am short until after the October meeting. Therefore, minimum I need to add to the expenses side of 0300-460 Sewer Enterprise $21,677.50. Rate revenue for FY2015 should be more than sufficient to cover these added
expenses.
This amount is to cover the cost of Bellingham's wastewater going to the Woonsocket Wastewater Facility. The estimated balance in the Surplus account is $537,458.23.
Joseph Collamati/Sean Coyle motion to recommend $21,677.50 for this Article. Funding: Sewer Surplus. Vote: 5/0.
.10. ARTICLE 6 - NON-CAPITAL OUTLAY EXPENDITURES (Less than $50,000) (Board of Selectmen)(Any last minute items??)
a. Conservation Commission Land Acquisition $15,000.00
This request is to add to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to purchase land in Town, requiring Town Meeting approval. The Conservation Commission was not present. The balance is approximately $122,000 and the Finance Committee believes that is enough money for the time being.
Joseph Collamati/Raymond Szczepan motion to not recommend this transfer. Vote: 1/4 opposed the request.
b. Police/Fire Department New ATV $17,000.00
This 2-seat ATV would be used to deter and crack down on ATV and dirt bikes riding through Town. The Town received an $8,000 grant towards this purchase; the Town’s cost is the $17,000 balance.
No action taken. Rescheduled to October 8, 2014.
c. Parks Department Kubota Mower & Attachments $15,995.00
The requested lawnmower will be used to mow all the lawns and fields in Town, including all school property. It was mentioned that since there are two Kubotas being requested that in the future the equipment should be presented at the same time and the bid for more could result in lower cost.
Raymond Szczepan/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend this purchase. Funding: $15,995.00 from Free Cash. Vote: 5/0.
d. Parks Department Landscaping Trailer $4,050.00
This is a 14-foot trailer.
Sean Coyle/Joseph Collamati motion to recommend this purchase. Funding: $4,050.00 from Free Cash. Vote: 5/0
e. Mill Street – Isolated Water Main Replacement – $60,000 –
From Donald DiMartino: This is a new request - I will not know exactly what is needed until bids are opened on October 3rd. Funding will be from Surplus or Transfer from FY2015 Water Enterprise budget (Excluded Debt).
This will be scheduled to the October 8, 2014 meeting.
f. Highland Street – Water and Service replace and upsize 2” to 6” – $45,000 –
This is a new request – I will not know exactly what is needed until bids are opened on October 3rd. Funding will be from Surplus or Transfer from FY2015 Water Enterprise budget (Excluded Debt).
This will be scheduled to the October 8, 2014 meeting.
11. ARTICLE 8 - MUNICIPAL AGGREGATION OF ELECTRICITY (Board of Selectmen)(Emailed Finance Committee Guide to Municipal Electric Aggregation in Massachusetts, by Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs)
Raymond Szczepan/Sean Coyle motion to pass over this article. Vote: 5/0.
12. ARTICLE 13 - GENERAL BYLAW - FORECLOSED PROPERTY (Board of Selectmen)
This bylaw will require a bank or other lender which has foreclosed on a residential property to register the property with the Town as foreclosed. The bank or lender has an obligation to maintain the property. Failure to register or maintain the property can result in the Town assessing fines. This bylaw will also apply to the owner of abandoned property where the owner has no mortgage. The bylaw does not cover abandoned property in probate/estate.
John Allam asked if there would be a cost to the Town. On Article 13. Dennis Fraine said he could not guarantee that there would be no cost to the town, but if there were that it would be minimal.
Raymond Szczepan/Sean Coyle motion to take no action on this Article. Vote: 2/3.
Alexander J. Elliott/Joseph Collamati motion to recommend this Article. Vote: 3/2.
13. ARTICLE 16 - TAX STABILIZATION FUND (Board of Selectmen)
The request is to transfer $50,000 into the Fund. This fund was established by the voters of the town of Bellingham to mitigate the future loss of property tax revenue from the power plants; this fund is intended to help the town of Bellingham continue to provide services to its citizens and maintain its' infrastructure in a responsible and prudent manner.
Joseph Collamati/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend this transfer. Funding: $50,000 from Free Cash. Vote: 5/0.
14. ARTICLE 17 - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND (Board of Selectmen)
Joseph Collamati/Sean Coyle motion to recommend this transfer. Funding: $100,000 from Free Cash. Vote 5/0.
15. ARTICLE 9. HAMPTON COURT, KENSINGTON COURT, LEEDS LANE, OXFORD COURT & WHITEHALL WAY ACCEPTANCE (Mark A. Kablack, Esq.) (Report of Professional Services Corporation, PC re: drainage problems emailed to Finance Committee members-Board of Selectmen holding hearing on October 6, 2014)
9/19/2014 - From: Mark Kablack, Petitioner; Jacki, please see the attached letter requesting that Article #9 be passed over at the Fall Town Meeting.
9/3/2014 Police - We have no problem with street acceptance for these roads.
9/3/2014 - Department of Public Works - Recommended by the Department of Public Works
9/3/2014 - Conservation Commission - The Conservation Commission recommends Articles 9, 10 11 and 12 on the Warrant for the Special Town meeting in October.
The Finance Committee will discuss this Article at its September 22, 2014 meeting. John Allam wants to know if the Town will be assuming liability and how much?
Raymond Szczepan/Alexander J. Elliott motion to pass over this article. Vote: 5/0
16. ARTICLE 14 - TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO O.P.E.B. TRUST (CFO)
This is a yearly transfer to the Other Posted Employment Benefit. Amount requested $50,000.
Raymond Szczepan/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend this transfer. Funding: $50,000 from Free Cash. Vote: 5/0.
17. ARTICLE 15 - STABILIZATION FUND (Finance Committee)
The amount requested for this year's transfer is $100,000.00.
Joseph Collamati/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend this transfer. Funding: $100,000 from Free Cash. Vote: 5/0.
18. ARTICLE 18 - UNPAID BILLS (Finance Committee)
So far there are two unpaid bills:
a. CleanHarbors bill for $5,320.00 to be paid with Trash Surplus. This bill was for pick up of hazardous waste.
Joseph Collamati/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend transferring $5,320.00 from Trash Surplus to pay CleanHarbors. Vote: 5/0.
b. A Custom Co. bill from the Council on Aging for $498.80 to be paid from Free Cash for the repair of Water Cooler.
Joseph Collamati/Alexander J. Elliott motion to recommend transferring $498.80 from Free Cash to pay A. Custom Co. Vote: 5/0.
19. POLICE DEPARTMENT - PORTABLE MESSAGE BOARD; amount requested $13,500.00.
From August 18, 2014 meeting: The Police Department is requesting the message board to announce safety issues, traffic tie ups, construction projects, etc. At this time, they borrow boards from other towns or rent them. They would like the purchase the Wanco, Metro VMS because of the three quotes they received, Wanco has a 5 year warranty and the company is Liddell Brothers in Halifax, MA, who will service it.
Raymond Szczepan mentioned that this item was a "wish" and not a necessity. He would like to take this under advisement and discuss it further.
Joseph Collamati/Raymond Szczepan motion to recommend this capital item. Funding: $13,500.00 from Free Cash. Vote: 4/1 (Alexander J. Elliott)
20. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Mail: None
b. The All Boards Meeting will be held by the Board of Selectmen on October 20, 2014.
10 OLD BUSINESS
a. When to reschedule?
DISCUSS THE BUILDING COMMITTEE BY-LAW with Board of Selectmen.
DISCUSS OF COMMITTEE/BOARDS/COMMISSION STIPENDS with Board of Selectmen.
8/20/2014 from Michael Connor - BOS passed on the building committee and stipends for Fall TM, opting to defer until later in the year.
This will be rescheduled at a future date.
11. Approval of minutes
a. September 8, 2014 (FC: Sean Coyle, Alexander J. Elliott)(CIC: Jerald A. Mayhew)
To be approved at a future date.
b. September 15, 2014 (CIC: Roland Lavallee, Jerald A. Mayhew)
To be approved at a future date.
Bills:
c. No bills submitted.
Adjourned:
Capital Improvement Committee: Joseph Collamati/Raymond Szczepan motion to adjourn. Vote: 3/0. 8:30 pm
Finance Committee: Raymond Szczepan/Joseph Collamati motion to adjourn. Vote: 5/0. 8:30 pm.
(Capital Improvement Committee: Minutes Accepted 11/10/2014)
(Finance Committee: Minutes accepted 11/24/2014)
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