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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-05 Finance Committee Minutes TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date March 5, 2019 Meeting Location: School Administration Building Timothy Tschirhart, TT, Chairman X Ed MacMillian EM Sasha Weinreich, SW, Vice Chair X Divya Bhatnagar, DB X Christine Allen CA X Charles Trafton CT X Thomas Ringler, TR X Angela Ciofolo, AC X Liz Gerron, LG X Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to a re-vote upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table, herein. Non Finance Committee Members in attendance Fire Chief(WM), William McCarthy Police Chief(CG), Charles Gray Emergency Management(JC), Jeff Coco Director of Public Works (JS), Jim Stanford Lyne Savage (LS), Acting Town Manager, Finance Director/Town Accountant Pledge of Allegiance 7:02 Call to order and opening comments— Tim Discussion starts on or about 7:03 pm/00:35 on video time TT: We have a pretty full meeting tonight. Asked if there was any Public Comment at this time, and there was none (at this point of the meeting). TT: Briefly reviewed what was on the agenda tonight, as well as those invited to speak. FY2020 Budget Over View—Acting Town Manager Lyne Savage Discussion starts on or about 7:04 pm/01:30 on video time Reference Recommended Budget Book FY2020 LS: Thank you for having me, I am going to do a high overview of the budget. I am not going to get into the nitty gritty details,just the high points, and questions after, if anyone has them. March 5, 2019 Page 1 LS: Spoke of the General Fund Budget,with a 4.3%budget increase compared to FY 2019. The School Budget is increasing by 3.75%. LS: Also spoke of the onetime increase that was recommended by Jenifer Price of$120,000 to fund the SPED Program that are intended to pay for themselves in future years. LS: Spoke of the increase of 2.9% for Municipal Spending and the 2.2% increase for Support Services (This is about 41,000 dollars). LS: Spoke of Capital and Reserves and that 1.4 million dollars that are coming from free cash (reserves) and LS went on to say that $350,000 will be going into the Capital Stabilization Fund, $238,000 will be going into the regular General Stabilization Fund, and that $194,000 will go into the OPEB Trust. LS: Spoke of prefunding OPEB. LS: Commented on the Water Enterprise Fund and that we will see less than a 2%increase and that the Sewer Enterprise Fund will see a 1.80% increase. LS: Stated that for eight consecutive years sewer rates have not been raised. LS: Commented on the Stevens Estate and stated that profits for FYI are small and then spoke of the future of Stevens Estate and the possibilities of changing ownership, due to the fact it is not very profitable. TT: Thank you very much Review of Emergency Management Police Chief(CG), Charles Gray Discussion starts on or about 7:16 um/ 15:50 on video time Reference Recommended Budget Book FY2020 CG: Spoke of the radios and that they are working great (with some fine tuning)and the ongoing Traffic Study with traffic boxes that were purchased last year (about 30 streets underway). Commented on the biggest ongoing problems is with the Cannabis Legalization and the problems and laws that are associated with this. CG: Commented on the opioid epidemic problems, and also spoke how they are trained on how to administer Narcan. TT: Wanted to know more of the Community Police Officer Program. CG: Responded that they would change the transition traffic unit into a new and revised unit. They would handle not only traffic issues, but also add community interaction, maintain relationships with residents, and also with the youth in the community. Questions were asked and conversations of future goals and a variety of discussions, some with regards to police officers, police officer reserves, increase of staff, staffing different shifts,public safety, the increase of the Town's population, spoke of creating a positive interaction with the public (to help change any negative views that some of the public has of police officers today) and also spoke of the difficult and lengthy time it takes to recruit new police officers. CG: Spoke of the new position that was created in town this past year, The Community Support Coordinator, Deanna Cruz. She has been a great help to the police department. It also helps free up the time of the Police office. This is a valuable position and she is doing a great job. March 5, 2019 Page 2 CT: Do you think you are stressing the budget or are you under budget? CG: We are properly budgeted, but I want to think ahead and be prepared for the future. CG: Spoke of how overtime pay is driven up by such things as an officer calling in sick, injured officers, or when an officer is on vacation etc., because they need to have adequate staffing and they need to have 2 on a shift. TR: What do you think of your last 3 years since you have been appointed to Police Chief? CG: It has been outstanding, made a lot of positive steps forward, in three years we have accomplished a lot and I look forward to the upcoming years. I am proud of the Department. TT and the Committee thanked CG for all his work. Fire Chief(WM), William McCarthv Discussion starts on or about 7:40um/38:00 on video time Reference Recommended Budget Book FY2020 WM: He spoke of how he is just about to enter his 4th year as Fire Chief and that his goal was to increase in-town inspections and that was accomplished. WM: Also spoke that The Community Support Coordinator, Deanna Cruz who has also been used by the Fire Department, WM praised her, and commented on how valuable she has been. WM: Spoke of the online burn permitting process that has been adopted, it is linked to the Town's GIS mapping software system, enabling them to track where burns are permitted. WM: Spoke of"Adopt a Hydrant" and how it works. WM: Commented that they are a little behind the Police Department as far as technology, we still do more with pen and paper then the Police Department. There will be an increase in my software budget. I am looking to add a program to enhance our existing program. This will allow and enable us to have better reports for data look up. WM: I feel we have been funded well for equipment we need. WM: Commented on the full time EMS coordinator position, this position is to oversee training, education, etc. Questions and discussions regarding the Columbia Gas explosions were part of the conversation, as well as the related impact, aftermath, budgets,reimbursements, etc. WM: Stated that he is very proud of everyone that was involved in working on the Columbia Gas Explosions. March 5, 2019 Page 3 TT and the Committee thanked WM for all his work. Emergency Management (JQ,Jeff Coco Discussion starts on or about 8:05pm/ 01:03 on video time Reference Recommended Budget Book FY2020 JC: Started off saying that we are the third branch of public safety, we are not a department,but we are a volunteer agency, we answer to various multiple entities. JC: Spoke of how they work on getting reimbursements from the Federal Government during a state of emergency for our community(if we qualify). JC: We have about 20 volunteers, and these volunteers have specific jobs and responsibilities. Stated that they go through lots of training. And went on to say that you need to have an understanding family to volunteer. Most of our budget is funded by the federal government, by about 99% DB: Commented to JC that she wanted to salute him (and all the volunteers) this is something great that you do. JC: Spoke of the communication as far as radios go, and that they could communicate and transmit with all different spectrums, it was great, we had the means to talk to all of them, regarding whatever frequencies they used. This allowed us to have the means to talk to all the different apparatus involved, this was especially helpful during the Columbia Gas explosions disaster. TT and the Committee thanked JC for all his service and work. Review of the Department of Public Works including Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds Director Jim Stanford Discussion starts on or about 8:19 pm/01:16on video time Reference Recommended Budget Book FY2020 JS: Started off by wanting to recognize, Glen Alt, who is responsible for the water treatment plant, John Borgesi, Assistant Director, and Tim Willet, Division Operations Manager. These 3 are responsible for many of the benefits we have here. JS: Spoke of the unexpected weather events that have impacted us, such as wind stories, tree damage etc. Also spoke of the Columbia Gas Disaster. JS: We just finished up with the LED street lights. Then Spoke of the various grants, one was installing sidewalks and another one was taking an inventory of hopefully connecting sidewalks, possibly to schools and neighborhoods. JS: Everyone in the department gets involved with various projects in the community, some work on the Senior Center project, and some work on the kindergarten project, the LED project etc. We are involved with all fields. We are not short on projects. March 5, 2019 Page 4 JS: Stated that we will be fixing the roads for the next 3-4 years because of what happened with Columbia Gas as well as our regular road work (not relating to Columbia Gas) Discussion and questions on down trees in North Andover, and what responsibilities National Grid is responsible for regarding these down trees, and how Public Works cannot touch the trees that are in the wires. Also underground wires were discussed and the cost involved with underground wires. TT and the Committee thanked JS and his staff. General Brief discussion and on the 2020 Capital Improvement Plan RFCC: Fixed cost see (Liz & Tim) Remainin6 Calendar and Plans Discussion starts on or about 8:48 pm/01:45 on video time TT: We will vote on the CIP and the Operating budget all at one time (at a different meeting). TT: Wanted to speak to IT, Facilities, LS and the Planning Budget at the next meeting (March 19th) LG: Spoke of the final Fixed Cost meeting, such as the rising trend with employee benefits, insurance and retirement. Retirement was up 9.6% this year. Revenue was between 3.5%-4% LG: Stated that LS is very conservative with any extra money that she finds and does not sink any extra savings into bigger budgets. LS and the committee questioned and discussed FTE and OPEB cost TT: Stated that there is an OPEB Meeting, Tuesday, March 12th at 7:OOpm and anyone is welcome to come. Public comment(s) if any Discussion starts on or about 8:58 pm/01:55 on video time Stan Limpert of 43 Stonecleave Road commented on the cost involved when hiring a teacher, the direct labor cost and also the additional cost to the Town. I do like the installment plan that was suggested. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SW: Spoke of the Finance Committee Warrant Letter that is due, and different sections that each Finance Committee Member is assigned. TT: Stated that he wants to cut down the length of the warrant letter, I do not want to repeat what others are saying. March 5, 2019 Page 5 Approval of minutes for January 29, 2019 Discussion starts on or about 9:07 pm/ 02:04 on video time LG: Made a motion to approve the meeting minutes as written for January 29, 2019. SW: Second the motion All in favor to approve the minutes. Adjournment 9:08 CA: Made a motion to adjourn the meeting LG: Second the motion All were in favor to adjourn Document Table -Agenda Finance Committee Meeting for February 12,2019 -Minutes from January 29,2019 -Revenue and Fixed Cost Projections-RFCC Worksheet non departmental Expenditure Detail -Capital Improvement Plan FY2020-FY2024 -FY20 Financial Plan and Operating Budget -Merrimack Valley Planning Commission to the North Andover Board of Assessors dated 2/25/2019 March 5, 2019 Page 6