Town of Newbury
Finance Committee Meeting
Thursday April 10, 2014, 7:00 pm, Town Hall
Meeting Minutes (draft)
Committee (alphabetical): Linda Allen, Gene Case (Vice Chair), Bob Connors (CPC Chair), Erica Jacobsen, Frank Remley (Chair).
Agenda (Tentative)
The purpose of this meeting was to update the Finance Committee’s review of the ATM warrant to date, as voted on by the BOS the previous evening, April 9.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Article 1: Payment of prior year bill of $1,581 to Northeast Mosquito Control from Free Cash
Recommendation; Approved, 5-0-0
Article 2: Transfer $156,694 from Free Cash to the Snow & Ice Account to cover current year deficit (as allowed under state law).
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
APPROPRIATIONS
Article 3: Line item budget
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0 with below changes
NOTE: Because of the decision not to seek a $147,000 override, some line items had to be reduced from the previous draft.
Admin and Finance Salary and Wages, 287,663 (Should be footnoted to identify components of this figure since it is a
departure from prior reporting practice.
IT services 24,000 (Was previously 15,000, why increased by 9000 for FY15? Covers
servicing of 26 computers, 28 printers and related software)
Professional and Technical Services 60,000 (reduction from 90,000)
Reserve Fund 90,000 (Reduction from 100,000)
Pictometry and MIMAP 9776 (Up from 3,500 in FY14, to include a “fly-over” per MVRC)
Insurance Expense 159,390 (Up 10%, and has been subjected to bid process?)
Shellfish Salary and wages 40,000 (Up by 36,000 from 4000, due to the need for a full time Constable, per
the personnel board review)
Fire Protection Wages 205,705
Call Fire Wages 179,566, up by 22,356
Fire Co. Lease Expense 150,000 (Up by 10,000)
Fire Maintenance Expense 10,000
Fire Capital Outlay 0.00
Road Improvement Program 47,641 (Reduced from 80,000 to cover
increases in Call Fire wages, and Fire Lease expense. Reduction of
32,359)
Council on Aging Salary and Wages 77,989 (Up 19,526, to cover added help)
Whittier Regional Operating Assessment 305,267 up 98,371 this is the largest increase in recent memory due to an
almost tripling of Newbury enrollment from 7 to 19. This expenditure will
likely increase for at least several years come and may increase further.
Should it be considered for an override to cover such a large increase in outside
assessments?
Article 4: Raise and appropriate 50,000 for Stabilization Fund
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0
Article 5: Raise and appropriate 25,000 for OPEB.
Recommendation: Approved, 5-0-0
Article 6: Transfer 9,000 from free cash to purchase portable radar units.
Recommendation: Approved, 5-0-0
Article 7: Appropriate $273,931.00 of Chap. 90 or any other sum for use by the DPW for street and road repairs and related expenditures.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0 (expenditures subject to road improvement plan. To identify needs, priorities and amounts for specific projects)
Article 8: Transfer sum of $140,000 from the stabilization fund for the DPW to purchase a rubber tired excavator for road repair work.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0. (NOTE: CPC suggested it come from Free Cash.)
Article 9: Transfer 15,495 from the Stabilization Fund to purchase and asphalt roller.
Recommendation: Not approved, 0-5-0 (remove article as BOS also disapproved)
Article 10: Appropriate $52,000 or any other sum from the Land Sale Fund for first year payment of the lease/purchase of a pumper truck for the Fire Dept not to exceed $450,000.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0 (However, while total initial outlay may be 52,000 for the first year cost of a long term lease/purchase, total cost will be determine by bid process. Subsequent debt exclusion may be considered later to pay off remaining amount)
Article 11: Appropriate sum of 36,000 from the Stabilization Fund for fire fighter turn-out gear.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0
Article 12: Transfer 7,800 from Receipts Reserved Fire Alarm Account for repairs to the fire alarm system.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0
Article 13: Transfer 59,410 from the Stabilization Fund for Library Repairs
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0 (CPC recommended using the Land Sale Fund as the source)
Article 14: Transfer 50,000 from the Stabilization Fund to replace the non-compliant septic system at Manter Field
Recommendation: Not Approved 5-0-0 (subject to final plan and further review by CPC and verification full cost of needed improvements)
Article 15: Transfer a sum not-to-exceed 37,000 from the Stabilization Fund for repairs to the Grange Hall.
Recommendation: Not Approved 4-0-1 (Subject to further review of total repair needs, including septic. It would be a further drain on Stabilization)
Article 16: Authorize the continuance of the Recreation Revolving Fund for purpose of continuing field maintenance up to $50,000 in FY15.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0
Article 17: Authorize continuance of the Municipal Waterways Improvement and Maintenance Fund to spend up to 70,000 in FY 15
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0.
Article 18: Transfer the sum of 35,000 or any other sum from the Waterways Maintenance and Improvement fund to purchase, replace and outfit a 20-22’ center console, open bow patrol boat.)
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0
Article 19: Transfer 31,000 from free cash to fund a town-wide inventory and analysis of the condition and priority repair to Newbury’s roadways, including software acquisition.
Recommendation: Approved 5-0-0 (Should this money be appropriated from Chap 90?)
Article 20: Transfer a sum not-to-exceed 60,000 from Free Cash to fund updates to Newbury’s Master Plan and Open Space and recreation plan.
Recommendation: Not approved, 2-3-0 (pending further information on what, when, how, who. May be re-introduced in the fall)
BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE SOURCES OF ABOVE CAPITAL PROPOSALS BY FUND
BY-LAWS AND OTHERS
Article 21; authorized the BOS to contract with the Commonwealth for construction and maintenance of public highways:
Recommendation: Will of Town Meeting, 7-0-0 (note: this is an annual article to enable state work on state and interstate roadways at the expense of the Commonwealth)
Article 23: For Newbury to accept liability for work by the Commonwealth for improvements, development, maintenance, and protection within Newbury of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tidewaters, foreshores and shores along public beaches in accordance with Chapter 91. More Specifically for the BOS to issue a bond of indemnity to the Commonwealth for such work. This is an annual request.
Recommendation: Will of Town Meeting, 7-0-0
Article 27: to see if the Town will vote to amend the Newbury Capital Planning Committee Bylaw
12-1 Appointments and terms: Town administrator becomes ex-officio, non-voting advisor and CPC would include five voting members: one member of BOS; two members of Finance Committee; two at large voters appointed by the BOS for a term of two years.
12-2 Powers and Duties: No change
12-3 Propose Anticipated Projects: No Change except raise thresh hold from $10,000 to $25,000.
12-4: Annual Report: No change: No change
12-5 Expenditures on Projects: No Change
12-6 Publishing of Reports and Budgets: No change
Recommendation: Not approved 5-0-0 [N.B.: the Finance Committee generally believes that the CPC has worked well as constituted with five members and two year appointments. Further, if the threshold is to be raised, it should be to $25,000 (not $50,000 initially) which is the procurement process requirement for a formal bid under current state law. Also, five year annual O&M costs should be considered.
Article 28: To see if the Town will accept sections 3 to 7 inclusive of chapter 44B, known as the Mass. Community Preservation Act with a property tax surcharge of 1.5%, and a $100,000 exemption.
Recommendation: Approved, 5-0-0
Article 29: Amend Town of Newbury Charter
Recommendation: Will of the Town, 5-0-0
Article 31: Petition to General Court to allow certain named fire personnel to be reclassified as “senior support staff”, and increase retirement age to over 65
Recommendation: No vote, will of the town.
Article 32: To See if the Town will vote to accept MGL Chap 41, Section 108P allowing the Treasurer/Collector to receive an additional $1,000 in annual compensation.
Finance Committee Recommendation: Approved, 5-0-0
Article 33: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the BOS to negotiate and enter into payment in lieu of tax agreements (PILOT) pursuant to MGL Chapter 59, section 38H with one or more renewable energy companies operating one or more solar systems or take any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Finance Committee recommendation: Approved. 5-0-0
Article 34: To see if the \Town will vote to instruct the BOS to petition the General Court to adopt an Act directing the commissioners of fisheries, wildlife, and recreational vehicles to convey certain land in Newbury to Richard I. Boudreau and Pauline C. Boudreau.
Finance Committee Recommendation: Approved, 5-0-0
- Next Meeting (tentative): Tuesday May 6, 2014, 7:00 pm Town Hall
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