FinCom & Selectmen FY18 Budget Hearing January 24, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Present: FinCom Members; Chairman Marshall Carroll, Susan Murphy, Bruce Golden, Vicki Divoll, Adam DeBettencourt, Eric Glasgow, Rob Hannemann, Selectmen; Chairman Doty, Bill Rossi Jim Malkin not present Others: Tim Carroll, Melanie Becker, Diana DeBlase, Skipper Manter, Joyce Bowker, Tanya Larsen, Sarah Kuh, Leslie Clapp, Martina Thornton, Lyndsay Famariss and Julie Fay.
At 7:00 PM Chairman Warren Doty called meeting to order in the Selectmen’s meeting room.
Chairman Doty said the Selectmen had a brief item to take care of prior to the Budget Hearing.Chairman Doty said Jennifer Morgan the Cemetery Superintendent has handed in her resignation. Mr. Rossi moved to accept her resignation and advertise for the position vacancy. Chairman Doty seconded the motion. SO VOTED: 2 Ayes 1 not present
At 7:03 PM Chairman Doty turned the meeting over to Chairman Carroll
#541Social Services
Up Island Council On Aging (UICOA):
Director of UICOA Joyce Bowker presented the proposed FY18 budget. Ms. Bowker said this would be her 32nd year at UICOA. Chilmark’s total will be $126,966.70 this is a 3.83% increase from last year. Tim Carroll said that we pay proportionately by our population of seniors in each town. Ms. Bowker explained that the increase is due primarily to salary and health insurance. The Cost of Living (COLA) recommended by the West Tisbury Human Resources Board is 2%. Mr. Carroll explained that West Tisbury is the fiscal agent to UICOA like we are to the Tri-Town Ambulance. And the health insurance increase is estimated at 11% .
Ms. Bowker said that the UICOA had 970 folks over 60 utilizing their services in 2016 and the total of persons served was 1,100.
Chairman Carroll thanked Ms. Bowker for her presentation.
Center for Living:
Director of Center for Living Leslie Clapp presented the proposed budget. Using the 50/50 Formula 11.67% is Chilmark’s portion of the budget. The total is $54,206.00.
Ms. Clapp said that they have not moved into the building yet, sprinkler system has been installed but more renovations are needed. A handicap access bathroom and other construction are still needed. Martina Thornton the County Manager explained that they received Special Legislation allowing them to request bids and be able to use local contractors in hopes to keep the cost down for the renovations. Chairman Doty stressed the importance of controlling the change orders. Chairman Doty recommended having a close eye and a person working to keep the contractor (once they have one) to the agreement of the project. Ms. Clapp said she believed someone on the Board of Directors for the Center for Living could be that person. Ms. Clapp gave a complete report of the services the Center is supplying the community. Mr. Rossi asked
if there was a tenant for the second story yet. Ms. Thornton said no.
Center for Living:
Ms. Clapp said it would be great to be in our building by July 1, 2017 but thinks the reality will more likely be this fall. Chairman Carroll asked if the budget not utilized last year would be returned to the towns. The FY17 budget included funds to be up and running a 5 day center halfway through the year. Ms. Thornton said the towns receive credits in the following year.
Mr. Doty asked Ms. Clapp if all the employees are ok with the benefits that the County workers receive. The MOU between Center for Living and Dukes County is that the grandfathered employees would keep their benefits but when they retire there would no longer be benefited positions through the County. Ms. Clapp said she and her board are working to secure health insurance in the future (Ms. Clapp doesn’t receive health insurance through C4L either at this time). Now the other employees are not full time but when they are the director would like to work towards funding to covering them. Chairman Carroll thanked Ms. Clapp for her presentation.
First Stop:
Julie Fay director of MV Community Services (MVCS) presented this budget. Ms. Fay explained that the Community Services integrated the First Stop into their already existing employees and system. This is the 3rd year First Stop web site is in existence. Rather than continue to pay a separate individual who created the web site they terminated the contract with them and are managing the First Stop within MVCS but the County will be the fiscal manager. The Chilmark Selectmen and FinCom expressed their concern of creating a new job when it seemed there was already a service that could integrate this system and that is what they did. Ms. Fay said that in 2016 the First Stop web site received 489 hits.
Chairman Doty congratulated the MVCS on their efforts to get “detox beds” for our community that is dealing with substance abuse.
CORE:
Lyndsay Famariss presented the budget and information about the Counseling, Outreach and Referral for the Elderly (CORE). Ms. Famariss’s office also is the First Stop telephone switchboard. Ms. Famariss explained that the CORE offers in home care for 55 (year olds) and older in their homes. Ms. Famariss noted that they have been receiving primary care physician referrals to their office. Many of the clients of CORE have high anxiety and have not left their homes in a long time. CORE case worker will assess the needs of these individuals in their own homes.
Both First Stop and CORE budgets are being submitted as warrant articles. Chilmark policy is to allow a service to really establish itself prior to adding them to the budget. This allows for the community to be part of the process. Chairman Carroll thanked both Ms. Fay and Ms. Famariss for their presentations.
Vineyard Health Care Access Program:
Director Sarah Kuh presented the budget along with County Manager Martina Thornton.
Vineyard Health Care Access Program(VHCAP) Continued…
Ms Kuh said her primary focus is helping the community of Martha’s Vineyard with their public benefits and health connector programs. Ms. Kuh said VHCAP has a trilingual employee to assist the public during their appointments. The VHCAP enrolled 2,800 people in 2016 into healthcare coverage. Ms. Kuh gave an in-depth description of all the services provided by the VHCAP. Mr. Carroll asked what the percentage of Vineyarders with insurance coverage was. Ms. Kuh said close to 95% the other 5% would be considered uninsurable (not being documented).
Mr. Doty asked what is going to happen with Government changes to the healthcare system. Ms. Kuh said we will continue the work we have always provided. A real concern is that insurance will become unaffordable for many people but that VHCAP existed prior to the health care reform act and had connections with physicians that we may revisit.
Chairman Doty asked Ms. Thornton about the homeless shelter for Martha’s Vineyard. Ms. Thornton explained that through a grant funded department through HUD and HAC we are establishing a male only (at this time) shelter. Other programs were also discussed.
Chairman Carroll thanked Ms. Kuh and Ms. Thornton for their presentations. Tim Carroll said before County Manager Thornton goes he wanted clarification about the debt service on the Center for Living Building. Ms. Thornton said the at the Island’s Annual Town Meeting the towns approved purchasing the building and in the contract each town agreed to a debt schedule for the next 10 years to pay the bond. Mr. Carroll asked if Ms. Thornton would be submitting a request for the payment annually. Ms. Thornton said that each town will manage their debt service for the social services. Tim Carroll and Melanie Becker (town Treasurer) will discuss tracking this item with the Accountant Ellen Biskis on her return.
#192 Town Offices / Building Maintenance:
Executive Secretary Tim Carroll and Building Maintenance Supervisor Rodney Bunker presented this budget. This budget has an increase of 2.10%. The salary line (Mr. Bunker and Custodian) is where that increase is primarily; Longevity, Step and COLA of 1%
Chairman Doty asked about the warrant article the town approved, for the chimney and roof repairs. Mr. Bunker said he is planning on a period of better weather. The chimney was never lined and he intends to have a stainless steel liner installed (something to last 30-40 years).
#194 Community Center:
Mr. Bunker and Tim Carroll made a slight increase of 1.25% to this budget for: line 5295 Septic Pump-outs with increase of $150.00 and line 5430 Facilities Maint. Supplies increased by $100.00
Tim Carroll asked if Mr. Bunker had information to discuss about Police, Fire or Library Building Maintenance. Mr. Bunker said he recommends that the Library HVAC system be replaced in FY19 and to plan on that expense. Mr. Bunker said he will be submitting a warrant article for April Annual Town Meeting to paint the Library, he said this will be for $12,000.00
Chairman Doty asked if the Library basement would be a safe dry place to store the overflowing documents from town hall. Mr. Bunker said it would be fine for that.
Chairman Carroll thanked Mr. Bunker for his reports. Tim Carroll proposed to review the Animal Control and Animal Inspector budgets since the meeting is running ahead of schedule.
# 292 Animal Control Officer:
Tim Carroll said there are no increases to this budget (other than 1% COLA) but that this year Jonnie Jenkinson retired as the West Tisbury Animal Control Officer so she is no longer one of our assistant ACOs but that Allen Healy will still be assisting Chris murphy (Chilmark’s ACO) when he is on holiday or unavailable. Mr. Carroll said Mr. Murphy has reached out to West Tisbury ACO to see if they can get an MOU for assisting each other when needed.
# 296 Animal Inspector:
Mr. Carroll said there is no change to this budget it’s a stipend of $1,200.00
At 8:47 PM with no further budget discussion Mr. Golden moved to adjourn. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion. SO VOTED: FinCom: 7 Ayes, Selectmen 2 Ayes 1 not present
Minutes respectfully submitted by Diana DeBlase
Minutes approved 02/06/17
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