November 26, 2007
Special Town Meeting
MINUTES
2nd session – Held on December 10, 2007
Town Moderator Robert J. Long called the second session of the Special Town Meeting of November 26, 2007 to order at 7:30 p.m. on December 10, 2007 in the Town Hall Auditorium, 298 Central Street, Saugus, MA, with 38 members, plus the moderator present. A quorum is met.
The Moderator led the meeting in the salute to the Flag.
Town Clerk, Joanne Rappa, called the roll.
Sean Maltais, from Precinct 6 will be making motions, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee his evening.
Albert J. DiNardo, from Precinct 4 and Edward S. W. Boesel, from Precinct 9 were appointed and sworn as tellers.
Tellers distributed the Finance Committee Recommendations.
Mr. Long clarified the roles of the Finance Committee, as described in the Town Charter.
Article 1. To hear and act on reports of Committees.
Mr. Robert Palleschi, Chairman of the Finance Committee gave the Finance Committee Report and asked for support of Town Meeting, stating that the recommendations were in the best interest of the Town.
Mr. Maltais moves to have Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 from the table.
Seconded at 7:44 p.m.
Unanimous voice vote to take Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 from the table at 7:45 p.m.
Article as submitted:
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, improving and constructing Town ways. Said sum will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 34. (Town Manager)
Mr. Maltais, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, moves Article 2.
Seconded at 7:45.5 p.m.
Moderator Long reads an amendment to Article 2, submitted by the Sidewalk Committee, which reads as follows:
ADD:
Of this sum no less than $100,000.00 will be used to make existing Saugus sidewalks compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that no less than $80,000.00 will be used to improve and/or repair and/or upgrade and/or construct new sidewalks.
A motion to accept the amendment to the article is made.
Seconded at 7:46 p.m.
Vote on Sidewalk Committee’s amendment.
Yeas: 39 Nays 0 at 7:47 p.m.
Sidewalk Committee amendment passes.
TOWN MEETING ACTION:
Article 2. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $948,000 for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, improving and constructing Town ways. Said sum will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 34. Of this sum no less than $100,000.00 will be used to make existing Saugus sidewalks compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that no less than $80,000.00 will be used to improve and/or repair and/or upgrade and/or construct new sidewalks.
Yeas: 39 Nays 0 at 7:47.5 p.m.
Article 2 passed as amended.
Article as submitted:
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Fiscal Year 2008 Group Health Insurance appropriation to be added to School Department’s Salary appropriation. (Town Manager)
Mr. Maltais, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, moves Article 3.
Seconded at 7:48 p.m.
Superintendent of Schools Keith Manville spoke on Article 3, stating that reasonable assurances were made during contract negotiations with the Teachers Union that the Town would fund the money, as the schools had nothing left in the budget to fund the negotiated contract.
Joseph Malone, School Committee Chairman, stated that contract negotiations were made in good faith when the issue of the GIC came into play and that it is fiscally responsible for the Town to fulfill its obligations.
Ellen Faiella, Town Meeting member and former School Committee member, makes a motion to accept Article 3 as follows:
To see if the Town will vote to transfer $330,000 from the Fiscal Year 2008 Group Health Insurance appropriation to be added to the School Department salary appropriation.
Seconded at 8:01 p.m.
Patricia Johnson stated that she knows the Finance Committee’s job is a difficult one, and would like to speak as a teacher, mother and a taxpayer. Mrs. Johnson indicated that she did not feel her role as a teacher was a conflict of interest, but feels that the teachers deserve this new contract.
Mrs. Johnson then asked for 14 members to stand in a roll call vote for both the main motion and the Faiella motion. Fourteen members standing, a roll call vote is ordered.
Town Manager Bisignani stated that there would be consequences should the contract not be funded tonight which may result in forcing the Town to borrow in order to meet financial obligations. Mr. Bisignani also stated that we must balance this budget in order to move forward.
Mrs. Faiella stated that she was a member of the school committee during these negotiations, and not only did the teachers deserve this raise but it is the responsible action for the Town to take to honor the contract.
Mrs. Groark, Town Meeting member and PTO president of the Lynnhurst School spoke on funding the raises as well as Anthony Valente, Town Meeting member from Precinct 5, who stated that he was in favor of supporting the raises also.
Mr. Russell J. Brandwein of 46 Hale Street, Newton, MA, President of the Saugus Teachers Union and teacher at Saugus High School stated that the teachers were dedicated professionals and that the contract should be honored.
Mr. Michael Dockery, Town Meeting member from precinct 10 stated that he was concerned with the way the teachers went about getting this contract.
Frederick Doucette, School Committee member and former Town Meeting member, stated that he now finds himself in a difficult position, as he generally supported the Finance Committee recommendations in the past; however, he disagrees with the recommendation tonight. Mr. Doucette feels the contract should be honored and asks for support.
Paul VanSteensburg, Town Meeting member and a member of the Saugus Police Department stated that all the departments feel the same bare bones budgets as the School Department and therefore he can not justify giving all the money to one department, when others are also in need. Mr. VanSteensburg asks for responsible decisions to support the Finance Committee recommendations.
Maureen Dever stated that she feels the entire community would be in jeopardy should this be passed, as there will be less police and fire on duty and the Essex Street Fire station will be closed, as well as the possibility of the closure of the Library. She further stated that passage of this article would benefit 224 people and leave the entire community in jeopardy. Mrs. Dever asks to support FinCom recommendations of referral.
Christine Wilson, School Department member, stated that when the GIC issue came about it opened the window for negotiations with the teachers.
Mr. Al DiNardo stated that this was a very difficult vote, as he can see both sides of the issue. However, other unions, some without a contract for four years, are also deserving. Voting this raise rather than keeping a fire station open is on his conscience. Mr. DiNardo stated that we have to start looking for money to come from the state and that the state delegation must come through for us.
Jeffrey Moses also stated that this was a very difficult decision, but taking the money out of the Medical Trust Fund should not be an option and will vote for referral as recommended by the Finance Committee.
Peter Manoogian stated that everyone had good points tonight, but this was a vote of conscience. Mr. Manoogian stated that he has documents stating that the money will run out for police and fire as well as dispatch overtime. Mr. Manoogian pointed out that the Finance Committee voted by unanimous decision to recommend referral of this article.
Town Manager Bisignani stated that we needed 70% of the unions support to join the GIC and that much debate occurred during these negotiations.
Mr. Peter Rossetti, Board of Selectmen member, commended all members, for this is a very difficult decision and stated that he respects FinCom, but disagrees with the recommendation.
Mrs. Dever further stated that the community would be in jeopardy should the contract be funded at this time.
TOWN MEETING ACTION:
Article 3. Voted to refer Article 3 to the next Special or Annual Town Meeting.
ROLL CALL VOTES
Atkinson, Ronald |
A |
Long, Robert |
P |
Attubato, Joseph |
A |
Lopresti, Anthony J. |
Y |
Barressi, Sal |
A |
Malone, Barbara J. |
Y |
Bartolo, Jean M. |
Y |
Maltais, Sean A. |
Y |
Billingsley, Stacy A. |
N |
Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr. |
Y |
Boesel, Edward S.W. |
N |
McCarthy, Stephen F. |
Y |
Cote, Karen |
Y |
Merrifield, Henry F. |
N |
Dever, Maureen P. |
Y |
Moschella, Dennis J. |
A |
Devlin F. Ann |
Y |
Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr. |
Y |
DiNardo, Albert J. |
Y |
Nelson, Stephen A. |
N |
Dockery, Michael |
N |
Nicosia, Nicola M. |
Y |
Faiella, Ellen L. |
N |
Nuzzo, Richard |
A |
Falasca, Thomas A. |
Y |
Palczynski, Joseph, Jr. |
Y |
Flynn, Patrick M. |
A |
Politano, Kimberly A. |
N |
Gill, Charles F. |
A |
Rodenhiser, Joyce C. |
N |
Goodwin, Pamela J. |
A |
Serino, Angelo, Jr. |
N |
Grabowski, Arthur |
Y |
Smith, James F., Jr. |
Y |
Groark, Laura Z. |
N |
Smith, Rick A. |
Y |
Hansen, John N. |
Y |
Stewart, Thomas |
Y |
Hawkes, Timothy R. |
Y |
Sullivan, Betty Ann |
N |
Hoffman, Robert D. |
A |
Sweezey, Stephen D. |
Y |
Johnson, Patricia Anne |
N |
Valente, Anthony |
N |
Jones, William R. |
A |
VanSteensburg, Paul J., II |
Y |
Lawrence, Raymond |
Y |
Vecchio, Matthew J. |
Y |
Leuci, Janet |
Y |
Witten, Margaret H. |
Y |
Yeas: 26 Nays 13 at 9:02 p.m.
Article 3 is referred to the next Special or Annual Town Meeting.
Article as submitted:
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Fiscal Year 2008 appropriation for rubbish disposal to be added to the Police Department Capital Equipment appropriation. (Town Manager)
Mr. Maltais, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, moves Article 4.
Seconded at 9:03 p.m.
Stephen Sweezey makes a motion to accept Article 4 as written for $47,000.00.
Seconded at 9:04 p.m.
Chief of Police McKay asks for support of this Article as it is desperately needed.
Finance Committee Chairman Robert Palleschi stated that in the spirit of consistency, you cannot pick and chose which departments get money at this time and asks for support of the Finance Committee recommendations to refer this article to the next Special Town Meeting.
Mr. Sweezey, Mr. Manoogian, Mrs. Dever and Town Manager Bisignani all spoke on Article 4.
TOWN MEETING ACTION:
Article 4. Voted to refer Article 4 to the next Special Town Meeting.
Yeas: 30 Nays 9 at 9:13 p.m.
Article 4 is referred to the next Special Town Meeting.
Article as submitted:
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of street lights currently leased to the Town pursuant to schedule of property No. 1 dated as of January 20, 2006 to the Master Lease Agreement dated as of January 20, 2006 between the Town and Systems Finance corporation; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise; or to take any other action relative thereto. (Town Manager)
Mr. Maltais, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, moves Article 4.
Seconded at 9:14 p.m.
Town Manager Bisignani explained the article, stating that this was something that the outside auditors suggested and that it will save the Town money in future years.
TOWN MEETING ACTION:
Article 5. Voted to appropriate, by borrowing, the sum of $452,216 for the purchase of street lights currently leased to the Town pursuant to schedule of property No. 1 dated as of January 20, 2006 to the Master Lease Agreement dated as of January 20, 2006 between the town and Systems Finance Corporation.
Yeas: 37 Nays 1 at 9:16 p.m.
Article 5 passes as recommended by the Finance Committee.
Article as submitted:
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be used exclusively to pay debt services on previously approved drainage construction borrowings. (Town Manager)
Mr. Maltais, as a courtesy to the Finance Committee, moves Article 5.
Seconded at 9:18 p.m.
TOWN MEETING ACTION:
Article 6. Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $43,000 from available funds to be used exclusively to pay debt services on previously approved drainage construction borrowings.
Yeas: 33 Nays: 2 at 9:20 p.m.
Article 6 passes as recommended by the Finance Committee.
Mr. Long then stated that in the spirit of this season of giving, he would like to present the Town Manager with a gift on behalf of Town Meeting, which was a lovely wrapped crystal ball that Mr. Bisignani stated he will treasure forever!
Edward S. W. Boesel makes a motion to adjourn Sine die.
Seconded at 9:22 p.m.
Town Meeting is adjourned Sine die by unanimous voice vote at 9:22 p.m.
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