Town of Hudson - Board of Selectmen
Minutes –February 9, 2015
78 Main Street 2nd Floor 7:00 PM
Present were Mr. Lucy, Mr. Vereault, Mr. Duplisea, Mr. Durant, and Mr. Moses. Also present were Attorney Cipriano and Ms. Santos. Mr. Quinn was not present.
Public Session: January 26, 2015
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 4-0 to approve the minutes.
- Citizens’ Issues:
- Meetings and Public Hearings - 7:00 PM:
Selectmen to conduct utility pole hearing to consider relocation of a pole on White Pond Road.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 4-0 to approve the relocation of the pole on White Pond Road.
Selectmen to consider approval of appointing Tracy Landry as Part Time Reference Librarian, Grade F, Step 1, effective 2/10/15.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 4-0 to approve the appointment of Tracy Landry as Part Time Reference Librarian, Grade F Step 1 effective 2/10/15.
Selectmen to consider award and authorization to sign a contract with E.H. Perkins Construction in the amount of $695,040 for the reconstruction & reclamation of White Pond Road (Main Street to Marlborough Town Line).
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 4-0 to award the contract to E.H. Perkins Construction in the amount of $695,040 for the reconstruction & reclamation of White Pond Road (Main Street to Marlborough Town Line).
Selectmen to consider award and authorization to sign a contract with Lazaro Paving Inc. in the amount of $348,700 for the reconstruction & reclamation of a portion of Main Street (from Forest Avenue to Chestnut Street).
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 4-0 to award the contract to Lazaro Paving Inc. in the amount of $348,700 for the reconstruction & reclamation of a portion of Main Street (from Forest Avenue to Chestnut Street).
Selectmen to consider approval of Snow & Ice Overdraft authority in the amount of $210,000 Expense and $95,000 Salary.
On a motion by Mr. Duplisea, seconded by Mr. Durant, the Board voted 4-0 to approve the Snow & Ice Overdraft authority in the amount of $210,000 Expense and $95,000 Salary.
Selectmen to consider amending the Parking Rules & Regulations, Article IV, Section 6. Stratton Road: No Parking on the easterly side from Cox Street to Manchester Drive 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Monday – Friday September 1st. through June 30th.
Supt. Fortuna explained that this is the first step toward helping to alleviate the traffic congestion issues at the Quinn middle school during drop off and pick up times. She noted that during those times stopped vehicles along Stratton Drive make for unsafe conditions as the road is narrowed significantly to the point that any fire apparatus could not navigate through. By erecting the signage not only will this increase the safety at this location but also help with the back ups on Manning Street.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted 4-0 to approve the amendment to the Parking Rules & regulations, Article IV, Section 6:
Stratton Road: No Parking on the easterly side from Cox Street to Manchester Drive 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM – 4:00
PM Monday – Friday September 1st. through June 30th.
None
- Correspondence to be Noted by Clerk:
On a motion by Mr. Duplisea, seconded by Mr. Durant, the Board voted 4-0 to note correspondence.
Selectmen to meet with Assabet Valley Regional Representatives.
Present were: Ernest Houle, Superintendant, Chris Luoto, Director of Business Operations, Bill Charboneau, Hudson’s School Committee Representative and Mark Hollick, Principal.
Mr. Houle stated that 180 students of the 1,122 attending Assabet are from Hudson and the budget numbers are based on this. Mr. Luoto explained that the number that the School Committee voted on is slightly lower than the amount first submitted to the Selectmen. The budget increase this year as 3.51% which he noted is the largest increase than in the previous five years. The average increase over the past five years is 2.43%. An increase in enrollment and special needs as well as contractual obligations led to the increased budget amounts.
The budget is approximately $19 million. Ten million is made up of state aid and other receipts and $8.8 million is made up of town assessments. The number of students from Hudson as of October 2014 makes up 24.23% of the operating share of the budget. The operating assessment for Hudson is $1,968,166 which is an increase of 2.85%. There is also a capital assessment for the Town as a payment on the principle and interest for monies for the ongoing renovation project is due. Hudson’s portion of this is $43,983. The combined total for Hudson if $2,012,149.
Selectmen to vote to reconsider a new lower budget total of $2,012,149 for Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Duplisea the Board voted 3-1 to approve a budget total of $2,012,149 for Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. Mr. Vereault opposed.
Hudson Public Schools FY2016 Budget presentation.
Present were Dr. Jodi Fortuna, Superintendant, Patricia Lange, Director of Finance and Jennifer O’Brien, School Committee Chair. Dr. Fortuna began by stating that the budget it currently out of balance.
Contract negotiations will begin with three major unions during this fiscal year, which had an impact on the budget numbers. The number of special education students opting out of the district has increased and the School Department is not being reimbursed by the State at rate that it is required to spend.
The per pupil expenditure in Hudson has risen fairly consistently with that of the state average.
Overall student performance in math through all grades is not where it is expected to be. The hiring of two elementary level math coaches, certified teachers with advanced degrees in math, has been added to the budget. The approximate impact to the budget is $130,000. The job of these coaches is to be in-house professional developers to provide support to teachers and help them meet national standards.
The number of English Language Learners (ELL) has increased by 59 students in the past four years. A new ELL teacher position has been budgeted for the Quinn Middle School. This position is budgeted at $64,921. There are currently seven ELL teachers in the district that are spread throughout the five campuses.
Dr. Fortuna explained that the number of students with behavioral and emotional health issues has increased in the past few years. Included in the budget is the addition of a clinical psychologist at the High School to help these students. The cost of which is approximately $74,000.
Declining sources of revenue are also impacting the budget. There has been a fairly sharp decline in the gifts and grants category of the budget. Dr. Fortuna also explained that the number of students coming to Hudson via school choice has declined. The number of out of town students in FY11 was 162. In FY15 the number declined to 97. Hudson receives approximately $5,000 for each school choice student (the number fluctuates depending on whether the student requires any special needs). Therefore the revenue brought in by school choice has significantly declined. These revenues are used to help to balance the budget.
Another new position that Dr. Fortuna feels is necessary is a part time Communications and Development Coordinator. This position does not directly impact student achievement however the intention is that this becomes a self sustaining position by bringing in more school choice students as well as attaining private gifts and grants. The salary for this would be $30,000, again which hopefully would be self sustaining by FY17.
Ms. Lange explained that the amount budgeted for school choice is spending $1,539,495. Mr. Lucy asked what the school choice amount was at the end of June. Ms. Lange said $2,181,892. The total revenues for FY16 total $37,729,740.
The greatest portion of the expenses is the personnel which is $30,297,402 this is a 4.18% increase over the previous year. This amount includes the new positions as well as an estimate of contractual increases for the year. The total expenses are $39,709,297. This leaves a deficit of $1,979,557.
Dr. Fortuna explained that they are unwilling to make cuts at this point as they have not yet received the state and federal amounts. This budget is build upon many assumptions as they do not yet have a clear idea of what the spending will be nor do they have a clear idea about their revenue.
Mr. Lucy talked about the meeting of June 18, 2014 when the school department requested an additional $198,000 from the Board of Selectmen in order to avoid layoffs. He stated, as it had been said at that meeting, that the 60/40 split of Chapter 70 funds does not work as the School Committee had suggested. Therefore, Mr. Lucy stated that the Board will not be contemplating a 60/40 split of these funds this November.
Mr. Moses noted that the budget continues to increase at a higher rate that the state average year after year and this type of budget growth is not sustainable. The revenue is not able to support the $39,709,297 level of spending.
Mr. Lucy cited his concern for the inconsistencies in the amount of school choice money that remained in that account at the end of June 2014. He went on to say that this leaves him questioning the amounts that are noted in other parts of the budget.
Ms. O’Brien stated that she agreed that sustainability is a major issue. She feels that the budget presented is fiscally responsible but sustainability is going to continue to be an issue.
Mr. Vereault stated that the Board had voted at its last meeting to hold the amount of $35,372,146 for the schools FY16 budget. He then asked what the budget request is. Dr. Fortuna said the request is for $39,709,297. She went on to say that the school choice account is the only mechanism that the school department can control to provide sustainability.
Mr. Vereault made a motion to approve the FY 16 budget of $39,709,297, this motion was not seconded.
Mr. Durant agreed that budgets cannot continue to increase at a rate any higher than 2.5% to be sustainable.
Selectmen to meet in Executive Session to discuss Superior Officers’ negotiations, with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.
The Board voted 3-1, by roll call, to adjourn and enter into executive session, not to return to public session, to discuss Superior Officers’ negotiations with respect to collective bargaining, if the Chair declares that an open session may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. Mr. Vereault opposed.
Document List – February 9, 2015
Document |
Location |
Public Session Minutes: February 9, 2015 |
BOS Office |
Petition for pole relocation for White Pond Road |
BOS Office |
Appointment memo for Tracy Landry, PT Reference Librarian |
BOS Office |
Memo, procurement, for EH Perkins Construction contract for reconstruction & reclamation of White Pond Road |
BOS Office |
Memo, procurement for Lazaro Paving Inc contract for reconstruction & reclamation of a portion of Main Street |
BOS Office |
Snow & Ice overdraft memo |
BOS Office |
Memo for amendment to the Parking Rules & Regulations |
BOS Office |
Assabet Valley FY2016 budget documents |
BOS Office |
Hudson Public Schools FY2016 budget documents |
BOS Office |
Memo from Planning Board Chairman regarding the acceptance of the Master Plan |
BOS Office |
Copy of letter to MassDOT regarding the Washington Street Bridge project |
BOS Office |
Form 500 for 2014 from Comcast |
BOS Office |
IAFF notice of reorganization |
BOS Office |
Notice of Parking Management Study Grant elimination |
BOS Office |
Notification of Free Cash Approval from DOR |
BOS Office |
Draft of May 2015 Town Meeting Warrant |
BOS Office |
Form 500 for 2014 from Verizon |
BOS Office |
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