Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Lower Level
Monday, April 6, 2009
1. FinCom Present: Carol Dill, Roland Lavallee, Joseph Collamati, Henri Masson, Gary Maynard, Toni Picariello,
2. FinCom Absent: Raymond Szczepan
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
4. DISCUSSION WITH PETITIONER, PATRICK CALLAHAN
Article 14, Handicap Parking
Patrick Callahan, Petitioner and Louise Arnold, Board of Health appears.
Mr. Callahan explained that this Article is a deterrent to get people not to park in handicapped parking spaces. The handicapped parking bylaw was under Section 16.06 and this Article would delete that section and add it as "Article 16.06". The language and amount of spaces is consistent with ADA Laws enforced by Mass. Architectural Access Board, 521 CMR 23.2.1.
Roland Lavallee asked how this Bylaw would deter people from parking in a handicapped space? (a) Cars could be ticketed with a fine not-to-exceed $150.00; (b) police can tow cars after more than one violation.
Louise Arnold is a member of the Board of Health and on the Commission of Disability. She is in favor of this Article.
Signs will need to be changed to include the following:
"…shall be identified by signs with white lettering against a blue background bearing the words “Handicapped Parking: Special Plate Required. Unauthorized Vehicles May be Removed at Owner’s Expense” and a sign with the words “$150 Fine”, or such other standardized signage that may be recognized as a proper means of clearly identifying handicapped parking spaces and describing the penalties for improper use thereof."
All the business owners would need to replace their signs and Mr. Callahan stated that the signs would cost about $27 each. Roland Lavallee would like to see a phone number on the signs for people to call. Mr. Callahan stated that people could call the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Joseph Collamati/Carol Dill motion to recommend this Article. VOTE: 6/0.
5. DISCUSSION WITH BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Marilyn Mathieu Appeared for all Articles
Article 9 – Amend Article 1
Department |
Amount Requested |
Transfer from |
Comments |
Board of Selectmen Expenses |
$15,000.00 |
Debt-Interest |
This is for arbitration and grievance costs for the police and fire departments |
CFO-Salaries |
$7,500.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 2 people; for $3,500 and to pay $4,000 overtime because the payroll clerk in out on disability. |
Treasurer-Salaries |
$3,957.02 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 2 people. |
Town Collector-Salaries |
$2,500.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 2 people. |
Town Clerk Salary |
$1,l68.80 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 1 people. |
Police Salaries |
$25,958.75 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 5 Dispatchers, 2 Clerks. |
Police Expenses |
$7,500.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fix 3 jail cells. |
Fire Salaries |
$40,601.32 |
Fire-Air packs & Radio Equip. |
To fund 2009 contract (3% increase). |
$21,204.68 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund 2009 contract (3% increase). |
Town Inspector Salaries |
$2,000.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); Clerical and Asst. Town Inspector. |
Plumbing Inspector Salaries |
$595.35 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 1 person. |
School Transportation |
$109,879.09 |
Group Insurance Trust |
They requested $1.8M for transportation costs in 2009, but $1.6M was appropriated. |
Highway Salaries |
$2,000.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 3 Clerks. |
Snow & Ice Removal |
$710,000.00 |
Free Cash |
$100,000 was appropriated in 2009. |
Board of Health Salaries |
$1,100.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 1 Clerk. |
COA Salaries |
$1,717.17 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 2 Clerks |
Library Salaries |
$3,500.00 |
Debt-Interest |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); 3 Clerks and Janitor. |
TOTAL |
$956,182.18 |
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Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to recommend and fund Article 9 as listed above on April 6, 2009. VOTE: 6/0
Article 28 – Amend Article 2
Trash Salaries |
$2,500.00 |
Trash Surplus |
To fund the 2009 ASFME contract (3% increase); Clerical for trash billing. |
Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to recommend and fund Article 28 as listed above. VOTE: 6/0
Article 29 – Amend Article 3
Water Salaries |
$10,000.00 |
Water Surplus |
To fund the 2009 ASFME/DPW contract (3% increase). |
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend and fund Article 29 as listed above. VOTE: 6/0
Article 30 – Amend Article 4
An amount is not requested for the Sewer Salaries or Expenses.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to pass over this Article. VOTE: 6/0
6. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Warrant Article discussion
ARTICLE 11 - NON-CAPITAL OUTLAY
An amount of $7,500 to fund the GASB 45 Update was requested. The Town will be mandated to do a major actuarial update in 2011. This $7,500 will update the study we had done. Bellingham provides post employment benefits of health insurance at 50% to retirees.
Carol Dill/Joseph Collamati motion to recommend this transfer of $7,500. Funding: Free Cash. VOTE: 6/0
ARTICLE 13, APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS-SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS, FUEL STORAGE TANKS & DELEADING DWELLINGS.
To reiterate:
Michael Graff, Health Agent, appeared [March 30, 2009]. This Article allows the Town to offer a loan to homeowners in order to repair their residential failing septic system through the Department of Environmental (“DEP”) Revolving Fund. This is only for existing septic systems. A homeowner with a problem must get 3 bids for the job, apply for the loan and if they receive the loan, will need to pay it back at 2% interest. There is a 20 year repayment period where the Town puts a lien on the property for the amount. Repayments are made to the DEP and the Town keeps the 2% interest.
Mike Graf mentioned that this is a good program and helped the homeowner with the cost of replacing their septic system, which can cost up to $30,000. In the last 1 ½ years Bellingham has loaned approximately $200,000 and since 1998 up to $1M.
Joseph Collamati mentioned that he did not like the wording of the Article “…appropriation should be raised whether by taxation, transfer or available funds, borrowing or otherwise and if by borrowing….” He wanted to see the word “taxation” taken out of the Article. Denis Fraine said he would check with Town Counsel.
Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to authorize borrowing up-to-$300,000 for repairs to septic systems pursuant to clarification of the funding language regarding the word “taxation”. VOTE: 6/0.
Joseph Collamati had a concern about the wording of "…appropriation should be raised whether by taxation,…" in the Article. Marilyn Mathieu explained that the Water Pollution Abatement Trust authorizes to "borrow". The wording is the required wording for the Article. The Town borrows at 0%, but the Town needs to pay Bond Council, so the Homeowner is charged 2% to borrow. The charges are placed as a lien (same as a betterment) on the property. The homeowner can pay the loan over 20 years.
QUINN BILL - POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Quinn Bill is an education incentive for the policemen. The State reimbursed a percentage of the education costs of policemen. Marilyn Mathieu informed us that in this year's budget the State has cut out the funding. Since the Quinn Bill is contractual in Bellingham, the Town will have to make up any shortages in reimbursing the policemen.
RESERVE FUND TRANSFER
Marilyn Mathieu requested a Reserve Fund Transfer for the Selectmen-Professional Services in the amount of $10,000. This amount is for Labor Counsel to cover the cost of legal fees for arbitration fees with regard to grievances filed by police and fire departments.
Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to transfer $10,000 to the Selectmen-Professional Services account from the Reserve Fund. VOTE: 6/0
B. Accept Minutes for March 30, 2009 (Raymond Szczepan).
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson to accept the minutes for March 30, 2009 with minor corrections. VOTE: 6/0
C. Toni Picariello let the Committee know that the ATFC Annual Meeting will be held on 10/24/2009.
Adjourned: Roland Lavallee/Henri Masson motion to adjourn. VOTE: 6/0. 8:40 p.m.
(Accepted May 4, 2009)
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