Finance Committee
Tuesday January 23, 2018
Rutland Public Library
7:00 p.m.
Present: Lyndon Nichols - Chairman, Sheryl Vernon, Iain McKinlay, Tom Ruchala, Karen Nahrwold
Absent: Debbie Kristoff, Carl Bindoo
Others Present: Margaret Nartowicz – Town Administrator, Leroy Clark – Board of Selectmen, Laura Scannell – Secretary
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was recorded for Channel 191.
APPOINTMENTS
7:00 p.m. - Inspection Services
Building Inspector – William Cassanelli was in attendance to present the Building Inspector budget request. He is expecting Inspection Services will be hit heavy in FY19 and beyond by an increase in homes being built. 55 new homes were built last year, they are expecting more than that in the coming year. Mr. Cassanelli proposed an increase in his hours, from 20 per week to 24. Wage line items reflect the percent increase; step increase will be flat until equitable non-union wage increases are determined.
Clerical hours also increased by 20% - 16 hours a week to 19 hours a week.
Purchased Services will increase $689 for the restoration of cell phone into the budget (being moved from DPW Purchased Services; DPW budget will reduce accordingly). This is not included in the $4,828.64 requested.
Ms. Nartowicz expressed that there are concerns similar to those expressed at the last meeting about planning capacity. Inspection Services will also benefit from the proposed coordinated permitting process. The Town is already seeing the startup of a major subdivision, there will be a roll out of single family homes this Spring into FY19. Inspectors are already working beyond their salaried hours and should be fairly compensated. The work required of them will not decrease.
Total revenues received by the building commissioner were $126,784 – skewed in part by a large solar project. The department consistently trends $20,000 more in revenue than department costs in full.
There was discussion about the increase in hours for the building inspector, and discussion about revenue generation.
There was discussion about the purchased services line – Mr. Cassanelli stated $2,196 was for software and software maintenance for the department's building permit software (a cost that would come out if the Town transitions to streamlined permitting); sealer of weights and measures is paid an annual contract fee out of this line.
Gas & Plumbing Inspector – James Smith was unable to attend; Gas Inspector and Plumbing Inspector requests were provided to the Finance Committee for review. Notable items of discussion were the 20% increase in hours & wages. Gas and Plumbing Alternates increased, other charges are up substantially including mileage. All inspectors use their own personal vehicles, mileage is reimbursed at the IRS rate (54.5 cents). Only the electrical and building inspectors have town-paid cell phones.
Electrical Inspector – Lester Grace was in attendance to present the budget request. Mr. Grace is currently redoing the electrical inspection fee schedule, which hasn't been updated in over 10 years. He will be presenting this to the Board of Selectmen on January 29, 2018.
Ms. Nartowicz stated that Electrical Inspections consistently exceed the budgeted amount. FY17 data reflects a large solar project for which electrical is very active in inspections.
Mr. Grace is requesting a 20% increase in hours. Currently he works 19 hours/week at $27.26/hour (MTP 3-4+). An increase of 3.5 hours a week is reflected in the budget sheet. Each new house requires 4 inspections.
Purchased Services – cell phone costs put back in, reflected in the request. Other purchased services include code books and attending meetings.
Alternates increased last year. Typically, alternates are paid $30 per inspection, Mr. Grace feels this is not enough.
7:15 p.m. - DPW
Gary Kellaher, DPW superintendent, was in attendance to present the budget request. The budget is standard, reflects a 3% increase on all items. Wage increases are contractual obligations, status quo. Highway Purchased Services will be reduced approximately $3,800 with cell phone redistribution (Town Administrator, Inspection Services, Fire Chief, and 2 Police cell phones).
Last year, Ms. Nartowicz did a 10-year budget history to evaluate increases. Both DPW and Inspection Services represent two of the lowest 10-year budget growth histories of the entire town. From Fy7 – FY17, Inspection reduced by 11.2%, and DPW increased by only 14.47% - other budgets average from mid-20% to 170% range.
Ms. Kellaher discussed the DPW is down 3 bodies – not reflected in the FY19 budget. The dpeartment will be spending less in wages, coming in at Step 1. There are 2 permanent full-time vacancies and 1 worker out for the winter with an injury. Additionally, there is a vacant custodian position. The salaries for the positions are included in the budget, but the positions are vacant.
The request includes wage increases – will be flat in the working budget until equitable wage adjustments are determined (exception of union positions).
Mr. Kellaher discussed $4,000 paid to the Central Mass Storm Water Coalition, as well as MS4 permitting. Changes in the federally mandated permit process will prove costly – year one will cost the Town a lowball estimated $62,500 – costs can be reduced but it would be labor intensive (labeling catch basins, mapping). The Town would have to show progress in storm water reduction. Only $4,000 is reflected in the budget. Year two projects permit compliance - $160,000-$200,000, total cost by the end of year five estimated to be $1.4 - $2.1 million. If the Town can't afford the permitting it would be fined $25,000 per day. This is a federally mandated EPA program, DEP charged at the state level with carrying out the permit requests. The Town would have to get creative – interns for geolocating culverts and catch basins, in-house work
instead of engineering services contracts.
Mr. Nichols asked about the status of the snow & ice budget currently. Mr. Kellaher stated they are still under budget, though today was particular bad with ice. As of the last warrant there was still about $47,000 in snow & ice.
Water & Sewer – Both accounts proposed standard 3% increase. There is an increase on number of users. Numbers aren't available yet from Worcester and Upper Blackston, but Upper Blackstone is looking at a 2.63% increase. Worcester is expected to be in the same range. The budget appointment for Water & Sewer will be continued on Thursday February 8th, when the numbers should be available.
There was discussion of the action Holden took against sewer flows. Ms. Nartowicz stated Rutland and West Boylston both signed agreements three years ago; Holden did not sign & pursued litigation. If Holden prevails, the understanding is all member towns would benefit.
Mr. Ruchala questioned why Rutland hadn't joined with Holden. Ms. Nartowicz stated at the time, town counsel had reviewed the agreement and found it acceptable. The Board of Selectmen signed based on that recommendation.
Ms. Nartowicz announced that the Town has just been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Dam and Seawall Repair and Removal Program for the repair of the Moulton Mill Dam.
MINUTES
Ms. Nahrwold moved to accept the January 11, 2018 meeting minutes as written. Ms. Vernon 2nd the motion. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Nahrwold moved to accept the January 16, 2018 meeting minutes as written. Mr. McKinlay 2nd the motion. Vote unanimous.
Ms. Vernon moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Ruchala 2nd the motiong. Vote unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________ Laura Scannell, Secretary
Approved on: _____________
___________________________________ Lyndon Nichols, Chairman
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