A Special Meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chamber on Monday, December 17, 2007 at 6:30 P.M. for the purpose of taking action on the Tax Rate and related matters. Notice of this meeting was posted on December 13, 2007 at 3:18 P.M. and advertised in the Salem News on December 14, 2007.
Councillors O’Leary, Lovely, and Pelletier were recorded as absent.
Council President Matthew A. Veno presided.
Councillor Blair moved to dispense with the reading of the record of the previous meeting. It was so voted.
#776 – ONE YEAR TAX AGREEMENT WITH DOMINION
Councillor Sargent recused himself and left the chamber.
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor, was adopted by a roll call vote of 7 yeas, 0 nays, 4 absent. Councillors Sosnowski, Prevey, O’Keefe, Furey, Corchado, Blair and Veno were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillors Sargent, Pelletier, O’Leary and Lovely were recorded as absent.
Councillor Blair moved immediate reconsideration in the hopes it would not prevail. Reconsideration was denied.
ORDERED: That the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute a one year agreement in lieu of real estate and personal property tax between Dominion Energy Salem Harbor LLC and the City, that would result in a payment to the City of $4,750,000.
#777 – APPR. TO RECEIPTS RESERVED FOR APPROPRIATION
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor was adopted under suspension of the rules.
ORDERED: That the sum of Eight Hundred Seventy-Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-Seven Dollars ($874,577.00) is hereby appropriated from the “Receipts Reserved for Appropriation” accounts to reduce the gross amount to be raised by taxation when the Fiscal Year 2008 tax rate is set in accordance with the recommendation of Her Honor the Mayor.
#778 – APPR. TO REDUCE THE FY2008 TAX RATE
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor was adopted under suspension of the rules.
ORDERED: That the sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the “Fund Balance Reserved for Appropriation – Free Cash” account to reduce the gross amount to be raised by taxation when the Fiscal Year 2008 Tax Rate is set in accordance with the recommendation of Her Honor the Mayor.
#779 – APPR. FOR AFSCME UNION RAISES FOR FY2008
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor was adopted under suspension of the rules.
ORDERED: That the sum of Sixty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy Dollars and Seventy-Eight Cents ($68,570.78) is hereby appropriated to the accounts listed below to be funded by property taxes, state aid, non-property tax revenue and reserves when the FY2008 tax rate is set in accordance with the recommendation of Her Honor the Mayor.
Assessor Salaries Full-Time 1,423.42
Assessor Fringe 200.00
Council on Aging Salaries Full-Time 1,496.39
Council on Aging Fringe 200.00
Collector Salaries Full-Time 2,203.80
Collector Fringe 300.00
City Clerk Salaries Full-Time 781.14
City Clerk Fringe 100.00
Elec & Reg Salaries Full-Time 2,343.43
Elec & Reg Fringe 300.00
Electrical Salaries Full-Time 3,402.34
Electrical Fringe 400.00
Finance Salaries Full-Time 781.14
Finance Fringe 100.00
Fire Salaries Full-Time 5,202.06
Fire Fringe 600.00
Health Salaries Full-Time 5,260.56
Health Fringe 600.00
Library Salaries Full-Time 770.38
Library Fringe 100.00
Licensing Salaries Full-Time 781.14
Licensing Fringe 100.00
Park & Rec Salaries Full-Time 781.14
Park & Rec Frige 100.00
Golf Course Salaries Full-Time 1,545.86
Golf Course Fringe 200.00
Parking Dept Salaries Full-Time 4,134.54
Parking Dept Fringe 700.00
Police Salaries Full-Time 2,445.54
Police Fringe 300.00
Pub Prop Bldg Maint Salaries Full-Time 832.00
Pub Prop Bldg Maint Fringe 100.00
Pub Prop Inspections Salaries Full-Time 1,562.29
Pub Prop Inspections Fringe 200.00
Public Services Salaries Full-Time 21,993.10
Public Services Fringe 2,800.00
Purchasing Salaries Full-Time 781.14
Purchasing Fringe 100.00
Treasurer Salaries Full-Time 1,468,63
Treasurer Fringe 200.00
Engineer-Trash Salaries Full-Time 781.14
Engineer-Trash Fringe 100.00
$68,570.78
#780 – APPR. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RESERVE – SCHOOL
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor was adopted under suspension of the rules.
ORDERED: That the sum of Four Hundred Twenty Thousand, Fifteen Dollars ($420,015.00) is hereby appropriated to school accounts to be funded by property taxes, state aid, non-property tax revenue and reserves when the FY2008 tax rate is set in accordance with the recommendation of Her Honor the Mayor.
#781 – APPR. TO VARIOUS ACCOUNTS
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor was adopted under suspension of the rules.
ORDERED: That the sum of Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirteen Dollars and Thirty-Six Cents ($6,413.36) is hereby appropriated from the “Retained Earnings – Water Fund” account to the accounts listed below in accordance with the recommendation of Her Honor the Mayor.
Water Salaries Full-Time 3,629.62
Water Fringe 800.00
Water-Eng Salaries Full-time 1,583.74
Water-Eng Fringe 400.00
Total 6,413.36
#782 – APPR. TO SEWER – SALARIES & SEWER ENG.-FULL TIME SALARIES
The following Order, recommended by the Mayor was adopted under suspension of the rules.
ORDERED: That the sum of Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirteen Dollars and Thirty-Six Cents ($5,213.36) is hereby appropriated from the “Retained Earnings – Sewer Fund” account to the accounts listed below in accordance with the recommendation of Her Honor the Mayor.
Sewer-DPW Salaries Full-Time 3,629.62
Sewer-Eng Salaries Full-Time 1,583.74
#783 – ACCEPT ACTS OF 1986, CHAPTER 73, SECTION 4
The following Order recommended by the Mayor was adopted by a roll call vote of 8 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent. Councillors Sosnowski, Sargent, Prevey, O’Keefe, Furey, Corchado, Blair and Veno were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillors Pelletier, O’Leary and Lovely were recorded as absent.
ORDERED: That the Mayor and City Council accept the provisions of Section 4, Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1986 for Fiscal Year 2008, and that such additional exemptions granted by 100% of the statutory exemption amounts, provided all other qualifications specified in said section 4 and in Section 5, Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws are met.
#784 – DETERMINATION OF THE PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL TAXES FOR THE FOUR CLASSESS OF PROPERTY
Councillor Sosnowski introduced the following Order, which was adopted by a roll call vote of 7 yeas, 1 nays, 3 absent. Councillors Sosnowski, Sargent, Prevey, Furey, Corchado, Blair and Veno were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillor O’Keefe was recorded as voting in the negative. Councillors Pelletier, O’Leary and Lovely were recorded as absent.
ORDERED: That the City of Salem adopt a Residential Factor of 87.0780% (1.65) for Fiscal Year 2008.
Councillor Blair moved immediate reconsideration in the hopes it would not prevail. Reconsideration was denied.
#785 – OPEN SPACE EXEMPTION
Councillor Blair introduced the following Order, which was adopted by a unanimous roll call vote of 8 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent. Councillors Sosnowski, Sargent, Prevey, O’Keefe, Furey, Corchado, Blair and Veno were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillors Pelletier, O’Leary and Lovely were recorded as absent.
ORDERED: That the City of Salem NOT adopt an Open Space Exemption for fiscal year 2008.
Councillor Blair moved immediate reconsideration in the hopes it would not prevail. Reconsideration was denied.
#786 – RESIDENTIAL EXEMPTION
Councillor Blair introduced the following Order, which was adopted by a unanimous roll call vote of 8 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent. Councillors Sosnowski, Sargent, Prevey, O’Keefe, Furey, Corchado, Blair and Veno were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillors Pelletier, O’Leary and Lovely were recorded as absent.
ORDERED: That the City of Salem NOT adopt a Residential Exemption for fiscal year 2008.
Councillor Blair moved immediate reconsideration in the hopes it would not prevail. Reconsideration was denied.
#787 – SMALL COMMERCIAL EXEMPTION
Councillor Blair introduced the following Order, which was adopted by a unanimous roll call vote of 8 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent. Councillors Sosnowski, Sargent, Prevey, O’Keefe, Furey, Corchado, Blair and Veno were recorded as voting in the affirmative. Councillors Pelletier, O’Leary and Lovely were recorded as absent.
ORDERED: That the City of Salem NOT adopt a Small Commercial Exemption for fiscal year 2008.
Councillor Blair moved immediate reconsideration in the hopes it would not prevail. Reconsideration was denied.
Councillor Blair assumed the Chair.
#788 – ACCEPT MASS. GENERAL LAW CH. 71, SEC. 37M CONSOLIDATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS WITH THE CITY OF SALEM
Councillor Veno introduced the following Order, which was referred to the Committee on Government Services and co-posted with the Committee of the Whole to be taken up within 30 days in the New Year and invite Mr. L’Heureux, Richard Rennard, School Committee, Business Agent for the Schools. Councillor O’Keefe was recorded as opposed. A motion to suspend rule 31 B to bring the matter into the new year was adopted.
ORDERED: That the City Council adopt Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 37M relative to consolidation of administrative function with a city or town.
On the motion of Councillor O’Keefe the meeting adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
ATTEST: CHERYL A. LAPOINTE
CITY CLERK
| 
