DRAFT
Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
March 16, 2009
1. FinCom Present: Joseph Collamati, Henri Masson, Gary Maynard, Roland Lavallee, Toni Picariello,
2. FinCom Absent: Raymond Szczepan, Carol Dill
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 pm
4. DISCUSSION WITH DPW
Donald DiMartino appears to discuss the following articles.
Article 8, Highway Construction
This is the annual Chapter 90 Article. Donald DiMartino anticipates receiving approximately $384,000 from the State. This money will be used for the Pulaski Blvd. Easements, repairing Pearl Street, Hartford Avenue (in front of Zoots), etc. This article authorizes the Board of Selectmen to accept the money from the State.
Roland Lavallee/Joseph Collamati motion to recommend this Article. VOTE: 5/0.
Article 18, Stonehedge Road Access Easement Acceptance
Mr. Porter and other residents appeared for this article. This article is to authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept a donation from the owner of Woodlands Condominium complex in Franklin to allow access to the road for Bellingham town vehicles for snow plowing and other municipal purposes. In the original plan, Stonehedge was supposed to have a cul de sac at the end so that the plows and other vehicles could turn around. Instead the road was extended into a “private” road for a condominium complex and town vehicles could not use the road as a throughway. There is no cost to the Town in order to complete this.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend this Article. VOTE: 5/0.
Article 19, Town Center Roadway Easement Transfer to the State
The Town owns this easement, for a sliver of land in front of the Center Plaza owned by Tony Khroury on Rte. 140, and needs to transfer it to the State. Plans have been submitted to widen the intersection at Rte 140 and 126. MassHighway has a problem with this, but Special Counsel, Gerald M. Moody of Milford is working on this with them.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend this Article. VOTE: 5/0.
Article 20, Delegation of Designation of the Permitting Authority for Trench Safety
This article is requesting the Town to accept a Mass. General Law which requires private property owners to apply for a permit to dig any trench (in excess of 3 feet) on their property. Cellar holes are exempt. Property owners would have to show insurance coverage and pay a fee for the permit. The Board of Selectmen would appoint Donald DiMartino as the permitting authority.
Joseph Collamati brought up that this is another “unfunded mandate” and it will be put on a private property owner. The committee agreed that the private property owner is again being taxed on making improvements to their property.
Donald DiMartino mentioned that the State might not like that the Town will not accept M.G.L. c.82A, §2 and the Town might be penalized. Joseph Collamati asked what can the State do to penalize us. Toni Picariello will write our Representative.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion NOT to accept this article. VOTE: 5/0
Article 21, Pulaski Boulevard Project Temporary Construction Easements
Donald DiMartino is still working on getting the 5-year temporary construction easements. He needs 120 easements and 65 have agreed so far. He is doing appraisals for the rest of them. The Town will have money after April 15th.
The Committee agreed to reschedule the hearing on this article to April 27, 2009.
Article 22, Revision to Town Zoning Bylaw Section 4900 Water Resource Districts
This article would limit a home owner from putting whatever he/she wants on her property (driveway, swimming pool, shed, etc.) if there is not a certain percentage of “green” left on their property. This would be a hardship on homeowners with small lots. Donald DiMartino is getting an impact analysis.
The Committee agreed to reschedule the hearing on this article to April 27, 2009
Article 23, Federal Economic Stimulus Plan
The Committee agreed to reschedule the hearing on this article to April 27, 2009
Article 24, Water Treatment Facilities Improvements
The Town received $222,000 from the MTBE groundwater contamination class action suit. This suit was against fuel companies who used MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether). DPW would like to use this money per Donald DiMartino’s email, below:
Here are the three project CIC forms that I have completed for the expense of the entire MTBE Settlement and then some. The total of the project is well over the available roughly $222,000, but is the list of projects I feel is a logical plan for expense of these funds.
1. Modifications to Pump. Chemical Feed, and Control Systems – Very preliminary estimate of $115,000
2. Cross Street Facilities (Wells 1, 2, and Corrosion Control Bldg) – This is in case we need more than the funds previously appropriated Aux Power and Oct 2009 - Potential extra needed of $107,000 - Appropriations
3. Hartford Ave Facilities (Wells 7, 8, and Water Filtration Plant – Some of the many options include extensive study of the existing wells $195,000 and Rehab of existing filters $325,000.
If the estimates of expense on 1 and 2 are correct there will be no money for 3. The tasks proposed in 3 have lots of possible phasing options; therefore, I want them in as possible expenses. If we have even minimal funds left over after 1 & 2 we can get some positive work done on 3.
I suggest the motion read to fund “WATER FACITILTIES UPGRADES” and the FinCom booklet can list these three possible projects but without dollar figures beside each allowing maximum flexibility and full appropriations and expense of the MTBE settlement funds
The CIC will need to act on this Article, will schedule April 27, 2009.
Joseph Collamati/Roland Lavallee motion to recommend the following: Modifications to Pump. Chemical Feed, and Control Systems and Cross Street Facilities (Wells 1, 2, and Corrosion Control Bldg); and if there is enough money left, Hartford Ave Facilities (Wells 7, 8, and Water Filtration Plant). Funding: Not-to-exceed the MTBE Settlement proceeds. VOTE: 5/0
Article 25, Acceptance of Public Ways
Donald DiMartino mentioned that the majority of these roadways had been accepted at the Special Town Meeting in August 2000. Once a roadway is accepted, the Town has 180 days to resolve all issues (prepare deeds, get easements, release bonds, etc.) and get the deed or documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds. Some of the roads have been public ways for approximately 30 years. The Town needs to accept all of the listed roadways again because former Town Counsel did not have the required documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds within the 180 days. The Board of Selectmen must sign all Deeds.
Toni Picariello mentioned that she requested comments and recommendations from the ConCom, Planning Board and Police Department. She also asked the Town Treasurer to check for outstanding bond money being held by the Town.
Roland Lavallee/Joseph Collamati motion to accept this Article. VOTE: 4/1 (Toni Picariello voted against it at this time, because the FinCom had not received comments or recommendations from other boards.)
Article 26, Buffy Road and Penny Lane Acceptance as Public Way
This article had been on 2007 Annual Town Meeting Warrant before. To reiterate:
From 3/26/2007 Minutes
Bruce Wilson of Wilson Associates appeared on behalf of Gerald Lorusso. He explained that the tasks that still need to be done in order for Penny Lane and Buffy Road to be accepted will be completed hopefully before Town Meeting. Mr. Lorusso’s brother and partner passed away and he is having a difficult time completing the roads.
The FinCom will continue this hearing to Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the High School and will write to the DPW, ConCom and Planning Board to request an updated comment or recommendation before that date. If the work on the streets is not complete by Town Meeting the article will be passed over. (By: Gerald Lorusso, Contact: Wilson Associates, 205 East Central St., Franklin, 508-553-9233)
Donald DiMartino mentioned that the Planning Board is taking the Bond that the Town is holding. These streets are located
The Committee agreed to reschedule the hearing on this article to April 27, 2009
Article 27, High Ridge Road and Rhodes Way Acceptance as Public Way.
These roadways are part of the HighridgeEstates and Tim Jones of Gracewood Development.
The Committee agreed to reschedule the hearing on this article to April 27, 2009
5. GENERAL DISCUSSION
Donald DiMartino was requesting a transfer from the Water Reserve Fund to Water Expenses in the amount of $25,000. There is a balance of $792,422.57 in the Water Expenses account. He needs the money because of the cost of water treatment chemicals. They have increased significantly since the budget was approved in 2009. $55,000 was budgeted and he is projecting expenses of $80,000.
The FinCom felt that this transfer could wait. It will be reviewed closer to Town Meeting and/or the end of the fiscal year.
Adjourned: Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to adjourn. VOTE: 5/0. 8:20 p.m.
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