Date of Meeting: Monday, March 31, 2008
Location: Town Hall, 221 Main Street
Time: 7:00 PM –- 9:20 PM
Members Present: Chairman James Stanton, Ken Sydow, Roger Deal
Others Present: Suzanne Olsen, Town Administrator; Lori Esposito, Administrative Assistant; Stephen Madaus, Town Counsel; others as listed on sign-in sheet
Quarterly Updates Meeting
Financial warrants were signed in approval prior to the meeting.
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
Rand-Whitney Update:
Chairman Stanton explained that a Special Town Meeting is scheduled for next week, April 8; it involves zoning changes for Rand-Whitney, as well as the TIF. It does not reduce tax revenue as it currently exists.
· $250-275K tax revenue (net after TIF) - 20 years
· 20% - five years
· 15% - balance if 15 years
· Issuance of building permit = $150K payment (feasibility study for Tahanto)
Also, 43D to be implemented there, as well as previous Turf Links site.
Rand-Whitney is adding jobs to the State so they will qualify for State reimbursement if they have the TIF.
Ken: What’s in it for Rand-Whitney? Their initial building is already approved. The second, additional building to be added will save some tax money and will allow State tax savings for capital equipment. The Town will get what we would get for the first building plus additional money for the second building, plus a lump-sum payment. There will be additional jobs in Town, as well. Dennis Costello (Board of Health): Is $150K up front payment for taxes? Ken: No. We knew we needed money for the school feasibility study, so it was negotiated as an incentive. Theresa Prunier: How many employees? Jim: Recollection is over 250. Roger: Perceives it to be labor-intensive employment. Theresa: Are
traffic lights to be installed? Jim: They are discussing that with the Planning Board. Ellen McKay: If TIF targets are not met, the TIF goes away. Jim: Correct. Theresa: Was this incentive offered to new construction on Rte. 140? Ken: No, they have to apply for it. It’s intended for the business, not the property owner. Also, it has to expand an existing business. Theresa: I would like an update on the Routes 70/140 project. Jim: The building permit has been pulled in the corporation’s name. Mark: They are fully permitted, with tenants lined up.
Earth Removal on Sewall St:
Theresa Prunier asked the status of earth removal on Sewall Street. Jim: The Earth Removal Board was in last week. A permit was re-issued last week. Ken: They are also working with Town Counsel to redraft their by-law to help enforce and protect the removal by-law.
Finance Committee – FY’09 Update: (Herb Cronin present)
Herb: Budgets are all tight.
· Current shortfall of $161K
· To meet with Board of Selectmen April 7 and April 14.
· Fuel costs up; revenues down (no increase in lottery funds, no new growth, no excise tax increase).
Jim: $285K = total increased revenue
· Health insurance increase favorable at 7.1%.
· Workers’ Comp insurance level-funded.
Theresa: What other alternatives exist if $162K can’t be cut? Jim: We have a small amount in free cash. Herb: The Finance Committee will be recommending some capital planning expenses to save in the long run. Jim: Will also be looking to put out some things to bid, such as storing our own fuel, etc., to save costs. Sue T asked if the April 7 and April 14 meetings were just the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen meetings? Jim: As of now, likely, unless some departments’ budgets are affected.
Town Administrator Search: Jim briefly updated meeting on the status of the TA search. Don Parker: Will there be a committee of residents and department heads? Jim: There will be a public process for candidate review.
School Budget Review (7:40 PM): (John Roy and Vin Perrone present)
John Roy briefly reviewed the budget. Override amount = $624,379. Don Parker: What do we take in for school choice kids? John: $573,797. Vin: We do put these numbers out and we have regular meetings. Assabet and charter schools also cost more money and are not a “wash.” Those tuitions cost more than the $5K choice kids. Ken: These are the types of questions that might come up from Townspeople and might need to be justified when being “sold” to the Townspeople. Vin: The past year’s free cash adjustments now need to be made up in the form of an override. Jim: This year, without an override, there is not a pool of free cash that is available to fund the budget.
Dennis Costello: Why is Assabet tuition $13,000 versus $5,000 for school choice? Vin: They have a board that sets their own tuition versus the State school rate of $5,000.
A brief discussion was held regarding the dynamics of school choice, charter schools, trade schools, etc., and how it works.
Ken: Parents spoke of adding Grade 6 to Tahanto. What is the status of that? Vin: From a business standpoint, it would be an advantage.
Planning Board:
The Board of Selectmen will entertain request subject to Planning Board approval, DPW and Safety, and meets requirements of Road Improvement Hearing….Send letter to Planning Board.
Department of Public Works:
Regarding the front-end loader, Don Parker said we can take money from somewhere else.
Send an email to everyone to see if they have suggested areas where to reduce or would like to be here, please do so by Monday, April 7.
Don: Regarding funding overdrawn snow budget, we legally need to fund the same amount the following year.
Article 3: Motion to vote to accept provisions of Chapter 43D for 315 Main Street and 160 Shrewsbury Street, Boylston. Motion seconded; Voted All in Favor.
Article 2: Mr. Stanton motioned to Join ETA, subject to acceptance. Motion seconded by Ken; Voted All in Favor.
Motion: Approve terms of pending TIF between Boylston and Rand-Whitney pending final modification by Town Counsel. Motion seconded; Voted All In Favor.
Board asked Lori to send an email to all departments to see if they have suggested areas where to reduce or if they would like to be here, please do so by Monday, April 7.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Esposito
Administrative Assistant
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