Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, May 7, 2012
1. FinCom Present: Joseph Collamati, Judith Cibelli, John Allam, Roland Lavallee, Toni Picariello, Katie Quinn, Henri Masson
2. FinCom Absent: N/A
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 p.m.
4. ARTICLE 23 - CIVIL FINGERPRINTING (Police Department & Town Counsel) - PASS OVER
Pursuant to an email from the Police Chief: I think at this time since this seems to be a very controversial and confusing issue the more everyone analyzes it, I would be willing at this time to withdraw the article from the May Town Meeting warrant and do some future research for October.
This would allow me time to consider bringing it forward, and in what manner, and get some feedback from other communities that have adopted a similar bylaw. If it seems like it’s worth pursuing at that time, I will, if not
You can take me off of the schedule for the May 7th 2012 meeting.
Joseph Collamati/Katie Quinn motion to pass over this Article. Vote: 7/0.
5. ARTICLE 14 - NON CAPITAL OUTLAY (under $50,000)
Copy Machine/$3,957 (Planning Board)
Patricia Buckley, Peter Pappas & Stacey Wetstein appeared.
The Planning Board is requesting a new copier in the amount of $3,957.00. The copier is a Konica Minolta from Northeast Copier Systems. It will make black/white copies and will have a color scanner.
Henri Masson/Judith Cibelli motion to recommend this capital expense. Funding: Free Cash. Vote: 7/0.
6. ARTICLE 18 - GRANT OF EASEMENT (Petitioner: Coast Realty, Joseph M. Antonellis, Esq.)
Steve McLaughlin appeared.
We received a letter from Attorney Antonellis letting us know that he was not available to attend this meeting.
After discussion on some concerns, it was noted that this Article "AUTHORIZES" the Board of Selectmen to grant an easement at the appropriate time.
CVS is requesting a 780 square foot easement in order to add a traffic lane entering the CVS parking lot. They offered to donate a piece of property for Town use and they will maintain that property. See Map on next page.
The Planning Board is in the middle of hearings/meetings with CVS and had no recommendation at this time.
The FinCom had recommended this easement at their April 9, 2012 meeting.
7. ARTICLE 24 - SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA REQUIREMENTS (Planning Board)
FEMA is moving and updating the boundaries for the flood hazard area in Town. If a property owner's boundary has changed, they have already been notified. If this article is not passed, the home owners in the flood hazard area will not be able to obtain flood insurance.
Explanation from the Planning Board: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains and updates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maps. Participation in the NFIP provides Federally-backed flood insurance to homeowners, renters and business owners as an alternative to disaster assistance to reduce the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. Recently FEMA updated the Flood Insurance Rate Map for Norfolk County, including Bellingham. As a condition of continued eligibility to receive this insurance, Bellingham is required to adopt these Special Flood Hazard Area Requirements.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend this article. Vote: 7/0
8. ARTICLE 25 - PARKING BYLAW (Planning Board)
This is a better bylaw then the previous one. Roland Lavallee informed the Committee that he had discussed his concerns with Stacey Wetstein and they were considered and there were some changes made. Joseph Collamati asked if Lee Ambler was notified and most of his issues have been addressed. The bylaw has less restriction for businesses and is more flexible. The Planning Board passed out some information and gave a summary:
Summary from the Planning Board:
• Simplifies calculations
Parking calculations have been simplified to a straightforward formula based on 1000 square feet per gross floor area for almost every use.
Adds sample calculations and graphics for greater clarity.
Calculations based on several sources, including the 4th Edition Parking Generation manual from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (2010) and MAPC model parking bylaw.
• Provides more flexibility
Parking requirements can be reduced by Special Permit from PB based on a variety of different data, not just strict ITE calculations, including developer experience with similar establishments.
• Explains intent of bylaw
Definitions results in greater guidance for business owners/developers.
Purpose gives an explanation/context for all parking/loading requirements.
Guidelines for bicycles, small cars and motorcycles.
• Refines parking requirements
Requires less commercial and office parking.
Less parking = more potential development on the lot = more tax revenue
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Bellingham Examples:
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Project Description |
Required Under Existing Bylaw |
Required Under Proposed Bylaw |
RETAIL |
Cranberry Meadows, 829 South Main |
3,890 s.f. strip mall as retail only, no fast food. |
27 spaces (retail only, no food) |
16 spaces (retail only, no food) |
Walgreen’s, Mechanic Street |
14,626 s.f. freestanding retail space |
98 spaces |
59 spaces |
DINING |
Outback Steakhouse |
6,160 s.f. freestanding casual dining |
171 spaces |
154 spaces |
Zio Paulo’s |
6,500 s.f. freestanding fine dining
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153 spaces |
130 freestanding fine dining (could be reduced with special permit for shared parking)
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Dairy Queen |
2,500 s.f. fast food dining |
58 spaces |
43 spaces (could be reduced with use of special permit for flexible parking, walkability)
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COMMERCIAL RECREATION |
Bungay Brook Golf Club |
9-hole golf course with clubhouse |
98 required: 142 spaces actually constructed: |
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- 18-hole golf course, parking in Franklin
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MULTI-USE |
Bellingham Commons II
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29,000 s.f. multi-use shopping center:
- 18,750 s.f. retail
- 6,500 s.f. fine dining
- 2,500 casual dining
- 1,250 s.f. fast food
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- 126 spaces for retail
- 201 for dining
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- 75 retail
- 130 fine dining
- 62 casual dining
- 22 fast food
(Could be reduced to 274 with shared parking special permit or more with flexible parking special permit options) |
Henri Masson/Katie Quinn motion to recommend this article. Vote: 7/0.
9. ARTICLE 1 - TOWN OF BELLINGHAM BUDGET
Article 1, Item 154 - MIS Budget
Salaries Expenses Total
2012 $71,975 $159,135 $231,110 ($49,675)
2013 $138,725 $162,635 $301,360 +70,250
Marilyn Mathieu indicated that the increase is for an additional person for MIS (to maintain the network, municipal, Police and Fire). Marilyn Mathieu did a lot of the MIS and Captain Correveau did 80% of the highly specialized MIS for the fire and police, but he will be retiring.
Joseph Collamati/Judith Cibelli motion to recommend this budget. Vote: 70.
Article 1, Item 992 - Transfer to Group Ins Trust
Entire Town Budget - Budget figures will be changing because of contract settlements
Town School Total
2012 $29,206,792 $19,939,986 $49,146,778 +$1,334,056
2013 $25,592,061 $20,309,986 $45,902,047
Article 1 - Operating Expenses and Salaries (Board of Selectmen)
Funding as listed below:
Ambulance Receipts $313,000
Title V. Receipts $35,334
Overlay Surplus $350,000
Retirement Reserve $400,000
Taxation $44,803,713
Mileage $0.41 per mile (The Town maintains vehicles for employees to use, there is no need for the use of personal vehicles)
Specific votes re: some budgets will be included in the Motion.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to recommend the entire budget, funding and mileage as listed above. Vote: 7/0
Toni Picariello abstained from the vote on tax title;
Roland Lavallee abstained from the vote on the School Department;
Judith Cibelli abstained from the vote on the Electrical Inspector; and
John Allam abstained from the vote on the School Department
20. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Correspondence/Emails/Memo's etc.
None
13. Adjourn: Henri Masson/Judith Cibelli motion to adjourn. Vote: 7/0. 8:10 p.m.
(Accepted 6/25/2012)
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