FINAL
Finance Committee Meeting
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Monday, August 27, 2012 7:15pm
1. FinCom Present: J. Collamati (Chairman), J. Allam, J. Cibelli, P. DeGenring, H. Mason, K. Quinn,
R. Szczepan
2. FinCom Absent: All present.
3. Meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM by Chairman Collamati.
4. A joint meeting was held with the Capital Improvements Committee (CIC) to hear presentations from various department heads regarding October Town Meeting Articles:
5. Parks Department – Article 6: William Roberts, Parks Department Chairman requested $30,000 to replace 1989 pick-up truck. A 2007 estimate was presented. FinCom recommendation was made to submit updated proposal at 9/10 meeting. Mr. Roberts agreed and will appear at 9/10 FinCom meeting.
6. Auxiliary Police Department – Article 6: Lt. Mokosky is requesting $31,972.00 for a cruiser, plus approximately $3,000 for radio upgrade for the cruiser (no computer is necessary) to replace a 2008 Ford cruiser (with 25,000 miles). The 2008 Ford will replace a high mileage vehicle in the Inspectional Services Department.
H. Mason/R. Szczepan motioned to recommend $35,000 expenditure from free cash to replace 2008 vehicle and purchase radio upgrade.
Passed 7-0
7. School Department – Article 6: Superintendant Fleury, Maintenance Director Oakley, School Committee Member Ranieri presented on behalf of the School Department, which is requesting $33,000 to purchase an Ford F350 truck with plow. This vehicle will replace 2 older vehicles (1994 and 1995 vintage). The new truck, equipped with plow, will be more versatile and allow for more expedient plowing.
R. Szczepan/P. DeGenring motioned to recommend $33,000 expenditure from free cash to purchase an F350 pick-up truck with plow assembly.
Passed 7-0
Article 5: Macy School Carpeting - School Department is requesting $104,000 to replace all carpeting at Macy School, and thus “re-encapsulate” the 8”x8” asbestos tiles as prescribed by law. The existing carpeting is over 15 years old. The carpet replacement will be phased in over each of the 2012-2013 school-year vacations. The existing carpeting will be replaced by 2’x2’ carpet tiles that can be replaced individually when soiled, and have a 12-year life expectancy. There was a brief discussion of the durability of the new carpeting.
R. Szczepan/J. Allam motioned to recommend $104,000 be expended from free cash to purchase 2’x2’ carpet tiles (plus extras) to re-carpet the entire Macy School.
Passed 7-0
Article 9: Middle School Renovation Project – School Department is requesting funding to allow for architectural study to comply with EPA regulations regarding asbestos remediation, and thus avoid potential fines and shut down of the facility. Past studies have been flawed in that terminology such as “existence of asbestos is assumed” without quantification. Awareness training has been done, but no LEA training has taken place. This article will likely be passed on the October Warrant and brought to the May Town Meeting.
8. Athletic Field Upgrade – Article 7: Michael Reed showed a PowerPoint presentation in support of a request for $1.5 million for athletic field reconstruction. The highlights of the presentation are as follows:
Replace existing grass field surface with synthetic turf.
More opportunity for students to play on synthetic field.
Fields are underutilized so as not to degrade them due to constant use.
Synthetic turf does not require maintenance such as cutting, fertilizing and watering.
Synthetic turf has an expected lifespan of from 8-10 years (hoping for 12).
At the end-of-life, only turf portion will have to be replaced. Foundation will still be usable.
Current annual maintenance costs are approximately $10,000, plus staff salaries; projected
annual cost for synthetic turf maintenance is $7500 (including salaries); maintenance equipment will be purchased as part of the $1.5 outlay.
Many area towns have synthetic turf fields; some have found them to be so successful that they
have multiple fields. (Franklin, Ashland, Milford, Medway, Holliston)
Potential source of revenue of $80-$150/hour in rental fees; Medway currently takes in
$25,000/year.
Questions were asked regarding number of hours of use to realize 8-12 lifespan, number of students currently playing each sport on fields, the name of the company, and website that manufacturers the product and the name of the company that will install the product. Additional comments were made regarding the cost of the proposed field reconstruction in a year when significant water and other expenditures are anticipated to be brought to the Town Meeting. Mr. Reed will provide additional information.
J. Allam/R. Szczepan motioned to defer further discussion until 9/17/12 FinCom/CIC meeting after review of additional information.
Passed 7-
9. Town Clerk – Article 6: Ann Odabashian requested $11,490 to bind and archive property valuation books from 1929-1939. Books will be copied to 35mm film and digital discs as well. Work to be done by KOFILE Preservation.
R. Szczepan/K. Quinn motioned to recommend expending $11,490 from free cash to preserve property valuation books from 1929-1939.
Passed 7-0
10. Treasurer/Collector – Grace Devitt is requesting $16,000 to purchase a new folder/stuffer machine for tax bills, etc. The current machine, which dates back to 2001, has been plagued by breakdowns and malfunctions.
R.Szczepan/J. Allam motioned to recommend expending $16,000 from free cash to purchase a new folder/stuffer machine.
Passed 7-0
11. DPW – Water Surplus - Don DiMartino, DPW Director discussed the fact that he was made aware that there is $134,095 in Water Surplus, plus $299,338 debt exclusion available for extra items to be added to his requests:
Complete survey, definition and estimates for retrofit plumbing at 41 Municipal Buildings to
comply with DEP water saving mandates with January, 2014 deadline. Cost: $27,500
H. Mason/R. Szczepan motioned to recommend appropriation of $10,133 from water
surplus and $17,367 from water expense to complete the plumbing survey, project definition
and estimates to determine scope of water savings project mandated by DEP by January,
2014.
Passed 7-0
Beech Street water main replacement replacing the existing two-inch water main with an eight-
inch water main with hydrant at a cost of $52,000. This upgrade would be done in conjunction
with the drainage system installation and roadway construction scheduled for 2013.
R. Szczepan/H. Mason motioned to recommend appropriation from water surplus to
replace 2-inch water main on Beech Street with an 8-inch main and hydrant when drainage
system and road re-surfacing work is completed in 2013.
Passed 7-0
Replacement of 1994 pick-up truck with 145K miles. The truck will be replaced by a heavier
Ford F450 Water Treatment Pick-up with boxes. Quote from MHQ has been revised upward to
$55,500 for the new truck.
K.Quinn/R. Allam motioned to recommend appropriation of $47,500 from water surplus and
$8,000 from water expense to purchase a new Ford F350 water treatment truck.
Passed 7-0
Water Capital Expense – Don DiMartino, DPW Director announced that there is $299,338 available
from excluded debt. He requests that those funds be allocated as follows:
A study should be completed to update the Water Master Plan. The cost of this study is
approximately $25,000. The study is necessary to analyze the town’s water pipe system and
prioritize future projects.
H. Mason/J. Allam motioned to recommend that a sum, not to exceed $25,000 be
recommended for a Water Master Plan update. The monies will be from Water Capital
Expenses.
Passed 7-0
Don DiMartino is requesting Water Service Replacement on sections of Pearl and Maple
Streets where complete roadway reconstruction is being performed. He feels that it makes no
sense to resurface the roads without simultaneously replacing water service lines. He also believes that water loss will decrease with the replacement of lines. This request is part of the
$3.4 million water replacement program that has been submitted to the CIC.
R. Szczepan/J. Cibelli motioned to recommend that $40,000 be appropriated from Water Capital Expense to replace water services on the sections of Pearl Street and Maple Street
That are being resurfaced.
Passed 7-0
A request was made for $80,000 to add valves to the 15,000 foot water main that runs down
South Main Street, from Blackstone Street to Elm Street. The main was installed in 1940 and
is deemed to be in “remarkably good condition”. However, there are only 3 valves along the entire span which is far out of line with today’s requirements. As it stands today, large segments of town would be without water if repairs had to be made to the line.
K. Quinn/J. Allam motioned to recommend that $80,000 be appropriated from Water Capital to allow for valves to be installed every 1,000 feet along the South Main Street water main.
Passed 7-0
Sewer Surplus – an estimated $83,152 is available through Sewer Surplus. No projects are recommended at this time.
A discussion took place regarding DPW Two-Way Radio System Replacement. The item was tabled until the Board of Selectmen have had their review.
Water Treatment System Design and Reconstruction – deferred until 9/10/1 meeting.
A request was made to replace a 2000 SUV with an F-250 truck equipped with a plow. An MHQ bid was received quoting $35,500 for the vehicle.
R. Szczepan/H. Mason motioned to recommend a $35,500 expenditure from general funds to purchase a new F-250 truck to be equipped with a plow and used by the DPW.
Passed 7-0
Hartford Avenue TIP Project has been suggested by the Roads Committee. It is being passed over at
this time.
There will soon be a plan before the Planning Board to develop a 200 acre tract of land directly north of Lake Hiawatha, up to, and just north of Blackstone Street. Sewers in the Lake Hiawatha area are part of the Sewer Master Plan. With the new development planned, the Town is attempting to get the developer to pay for a portion of the sewer line down to Lake Hiawatha, where pumping station will be installed. The estimated cost for the Town’s portion of the work is $1 million. There are many outstanding questions regarding this project. It was agreed that it would be brought up for discussion again at the 9/17/12 meeting of the FinCom (and CIC). There is a good possibility that this item may be passed over for the October 2012 Town Meeting.
Don DiMartino reminded FinCom members that there are major public works projects that need to be addressed in the near future:
Pearl Street Dam
EPA Storm Water Phosphorous Reduction
Bridge Rehabilitation
DPW Headquarters Improvements & Parks Office Relocation
Road Projects
12. CFO – Marilyn Mathieu presented the following requests:
$95,000 to upgrade the IT Firewall, to accommodate increased traffic and bandwidth. Town now needs 2 firewalls. Also looking for continuous data collection offsite. Router is aging and needs upgrade.
J. Allam/H. Mason motioned to recommend expending an amount not to exceed $95,000 for IT upgrades.
Passed 7-0
Amendments to Articles:
Article 1 – Modify Article 1 to take $42,848.28 from free cash account.
K. Quinn/R. Szczepan motioned to recommend that $42,848.28 in Article 1 of the October
2012 Town Warrant to be taken from free cash account.
Passed 7-0
Article 2 – Modify Article 2 to move $500 from Trash Surplus to Trash Salaries.
J. Allam/H. Mason motioned to recommend that Article 2 be amended to move $500 from
Trash Surplus to Trash Salaries.
Passed 6-0; 1 abstention (R. Szczepan)
Article 3 – Modify Article 3 to move $18,038 from Water Surplus to Water Salaries.
J. Allam/Szczepan motioned to recommend that Article 3 be amended to move $18,038
from Water Surplus to Water Salaries Account.
Passed 7-0
Article 4 – Modify Article 4 to take $1346.00 from Sewer Surplus to Sewer Salaries.
J. Allam/Szczepan motioned to recommend that Article 4 be amended to move $1,346.00 from Sewer Surplus to Sewer Salaries Account.
Passed 7-0
Article 18 – Transfer of $250,000 from Free Cash to “Other Post Employment Benefits”
(OPEB) to comply with State’s requirement to keep OPEB adequately funded.
R. Szczepan/Quinn motioned to recommend that the sum of $250,000 be taken from Free
Cash and transferred to OPEB to comply with State requirement.
Passed 7-0
Article 19 – Transfer of $250,000 from Free Cash to Stabilization Trust Fund.
J. Allam/J. Cibelli motioned to recommend that the sum of $250,000 be taken from Free
Cash and transferred to the Stabilization Trust Fund.
Passed 7-0
Article 20 – Transfer of $250,000 from Free Cash to Tax Stabilization Fund.
J. Allam/J. Cibelli motioned to recommend that the sum of $250,000 be taken from Free
Cash and transferred to the Tax Stabilization Fund.
Passed 7-0
13. Animal Control – Marilyn Matthew requested, on behalf of Animal Control (AC), $15,000
to be put towards new pick-up truck to be used by AC services. The total cost of the truck is
$30,000; Bellingham and Franklin will share cost.
R. Szczepan/J. Allam motioned to recommend that the sum of $15,000 be taken from Free
Cash Account to the purchase of a new pick-up truck for Animal Control, jointly owned and
paid for by the towns of Bellingham and Franklin.
Passed 7-0
14. New Business – There will be a seminar held in October at Tri-County High School in Franklin for Town Finance Committee members.
Minutes for 8/13/12 meeting will be approved at next meeting.
15. Having no more business to complete, Chairman Collamati requested a motion to adjourn.
R. Szczepan/H. Mason motioned to adjourn the 8/27/12 meeting of the Bellingham Finance Committee.
Passed 7-0
Meeting was adjourned at 9:46PM
Next meeting: 9/10/12 7PM in the Conference Room, Municipal Center, Lower Level.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Larry Sposato,
Finance Committee Clerk
| 
