Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, March 29, 2010
1. FinCom Present: Raymond Szczepan, Henri Masson, Gary Maynard, Roland Lavallee, Joseph Collamati, Carol Dill
2. FinCom Absent: N/A
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
Monday, March 29, 2010.
1. ARTICLE 19 - WETLAND PROTECTION
(By Conservation Commission)
Clifford Matthews appeared for the ConCom. He explained that the ConCom wanted to strengthen and reinforce the Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 131: Section 40. Removal, fill, dredging or altering of land bordering waters) and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and 310 CMR 10 (Wetlands Protection and Wildlife Habitat) by having a Town Bylaw that states: no one shall "remove, fill, dredge or alter any resource areas, or land in or under such areas, within one hundred (100’) feet of any isolated or contiguous freshwater wetland, marsh, wet meadow, floodplain, bog, swamp, lake, river, pond, stream, creek, bank, estuary or vernal pool, without filing a Notice of Intent". He mentioned that the ConCom has denied property owners have altering or building within the 100 foot "buffer" zone, they appeal and DEP overturns the ConCom's decision. If this Bylaw is approved at Town Meeting than it would be difficult for a property owner to appeal the ConCom's decision,
because DEP would most likely abide by the local Bylaw.
Roland Lavallee stated that he is an advocate of protecting wetlands and wild life, but DEP's intent was not to deny everyone of their request, but to make sure the work was done correctly.
Toni Picariello was bothered by the "100 feet" which is a lot of land not to allow someone to build, plant or alter. Most residents in Bellingham have less than 100 feet, so they would not be able to do anything on their property per the ConCom.
Cliff Matthews mentioned that if the Town had a strong Bylaw then the ConCom could stop building within the 100' limit and save homeowners the problems of water on their property or in their home. Roland Lavallee was bothered by that, stating that it was the Building Inspector's job to protect the building of homes, not the ConCom's.
Cliff Matthews also mentioned that this would cover "new" construction. Joseph Collamati indicated that the Article does not mention that.
Cliff Matthews said that most of the Town's land has been developed. Now people are developing close to wetlands.
Gary Maynard brought up that in order to plant a tree and/or bush within the 100' buffer; a homeowner would have to get the ConCom's approval. Also a shed, pool, etc. would be in question.
Denis Fraine stated that the ConCom was not looking for anything more than what the State regulates, only that the ConCom will do a better job enforcing the regulations.
The FinCom felt that there are laws and regulations already, on the state level, and that should be enough for the ConCom to enforce.
Raymond Szczepan/Henri Masson motion to recommend this Article. VOTE: 0/6/1 (Six members voted against the motion; Joseph Collamati abstained as he was undecided).
2. ARTICLE 18 - RECOMMENDATIONS OF BYLAW REVIEW COMMITTEE
(By Bylaw Review Committee) TO BE PASSED OVER
Denis Fraine appeared.
Toni Picariello asked who was on the Bylaw Review Committee. Bruce Lord, Jerry Mayhem, Roland LaPrade, Skip Goodnow and Town Counsel.
Joseph Collamati/Roland Lavallee motion to pass over this Article. VOTE: 7/0.
3. ARTICLE 30 - HIGHRIDGE ROAD AND RHODES WAY ACCEPTANCE AS PUBLIC WAY.
(By Petition: Highridge Properties, LLC, Timothy Jones, Manager)
RESCHEDULED UNTIL APRIL 26, 2010
4. ARTICLE 12 - REVOLVING FUNDS
Marilyn Mathieu appeared. She stated that the Revolving Funds are the same as last year. She explained that these accounts can exceed the "not-to-exceed" amounts, but any amount over that amount is transferred into the general fund.
The Revolving Funds recommended by the FinCom are:
1. Bellingham Public Library Trustees, overdue book, not to exceed $15,000.
2. Parks Commission, swim program, not to exceed $20,000.
3. D.P.W., compost bins, not to exceed $2,000.
4. D.P.W., cemetery graves, not to exceed $7,500.
5. Board of Health, food inspections, not to exceed $35,000.
6. Commission on Disability, gifts, grants and fees, not to exceed $10,000.
7. Bellingham Police Department, third party vendors hired by the Police Department, not to exceed $40,000.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend the revolving funds as listed in the Warrant and above. VOTE: 7/0.
5. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Review updated spreadsheet from CFO (Town Meeting Article Funding)
The FinCom received the updated spreadsheet and $185,000 was added under Capital Outlay for School Technology, Phase I. Toni Picariello explained that the FinCom got an email from the School Department on March 26, 2010 as follows:
"We would like to know what the proper procedures would be to go forward with the following:
Our Technology request for $185,000.00 was recently placed on the Town Meeting Capital Outlay article. I can see by your Revised Finance Committee Meeting schedule that there will be a discussion on these topics on Monday, April 12, 2010. This request has already been brought before the Capital Improvement Committee earlier this year. We will provide your committee with copies of the Technology report sometime next week. Would you want our Director of Technology to make a full presentation on this request that night or should we just be available to answer any questions that your committee might have on this topic?
Also, on March 22, 2010, the Board of Selectmen approved to place several of our maintenance needs ($300,000.) on a Prop 2 ½ Debt Exclusion. We are assuming that we will also have to appear before the FINCOM on this topic. The School Department has been placed on the FINCOM’s April 26, 2010 meeting (tentatively) for Article 1-School Dept. Budget. Would we present at this meeting on the Maintenance request also or would this also be up for discussion with the Capital articles on April 12, 2010?
Thank you in advance for any information you may provide as to how we should go forward with these items."
Toni Picariello felt that she and the Committee were "blind sided" because when the School came before the CIC (Picariello, Lavallee & Collamati are members of that Committee also), there were questions from CIC members and the CIC thought that, because of the limited amount of money for the budget, this request would be on the Fall Town Meeting Warrant.
Marilyn Mathieu explained that the $185,000 might be able to be funded from "free cash" since the snow and ice removal account funding was not as much as expected. She clarified that Verizon and Comcast have given the Town a grant to run fiber optic to all municipal buildings, including all the schools. This would be done in two phases and be an upgrade. The Town and Schools would save on phone service and help with the connection to the internet. Comcast will no longer run under our existing INET.
Raymond Szczepan mentioned that the School is looking for around $150,000.00 for computers and $35,000.00 for servers. Toni Picariello asked if any of the funds would be used for salaries. Toni Picariello will email the School the unanswered questions that the CIC had during the Technology presentation in January 2010 (which are in their minutes of January 11, 2010). Some of the questions were:
1. Lease or purchase?
2. What other companies have you spoken to besides Dell?
3. What is the "real" number of computers to be purchased?
4. Were lab fees discussed?
Toni Picariello handed out the emails between the School, Marilyn Mathieu and Toni Picariello regarding this capital request, along with the Presentation material presented to the CIC in January.
B. New Article 13 added to the Warrant.
Article 13 and the Debt Exclusion are for the following:
1. Asbestos tile removal at Macy School;
2. Carpet removal and tile installation at Macy School;
3. Purchase, installation and implementation of critical safety items at Macy School;
4. Repairing water and fire pumps at the High School;
5. Repairing fire pumps at the Middle School;
6. Purchase and installation of a new water heating system at the Stallbrook School;
7. Re-caulking of windows at the Stallbrook School; and
8. Repairing the rear entry curtain wall at the Stallbrook School,
Joseph Collamati wants to know what the viability for Macy School is.
Raymond Szczepan (who also served on the School Budget Committee and School Facilities Committee) let the Committee know that he gave an update to the School Committee last Tuesday on closing Macy School. He said on Thursday, he was notified that both those citizen committees where disbanded.
Denis Fraine mentioned that there were two options on what to do with Macy, Stallbrook and PJP schools.
The FinCom wants to schedule a "field trip" to Macy and Stallbrook before April 12, 2010. The meeting would have to be in the evening or on a Saturday morning. Toni Picariello will notify the school department.
C. Misc. correspondence and emails.
1. Roland Lavallee mentioned that he requested a spreadsheet from Donald DiMartino, Department of Public Works, listing all employees, their position, salary and what account(s) their salary is included. To date he had not received it. The FinCom would like a copy when complete.
2. Roland Lavallee asked who runs the Recycling Center. Denis Fraine said it is run under the Department of Public Works.
3. We received the Blackstone Valley Regional Voc School 2009 Annual Report. Also, Toni Picariello said she received a call from BVRVTHS asking if they needed to attend the budget hearing we had scheduled for April 5, 2010. Since Bellingham's assessment went down (less students), the FinCom agreed that they did not have to appear, but wanted to know the cost per student. Toni Picariello will request that information.
4. We received a copy of the Intermunicipal Agreement for the Building Inspector Services for Blackstone. This is a temporary Agreement. The Town of Bellingham will receive $23.00 per hour for the Inspector's and Assist. Inspector's time in Blackstone. Mileage and expenses will not be paid by Blackstone.
5. Toni Picariello handed out the recommendation on Warrant Articles from the Department of Public Works and ConCom.
Adjourned: Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to adjourn. VOTE: 7/0; 8:20 p.m.
(Accepted April 5, 2010)
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