Finance Committee — 2015-03-09
Attendance
Jaclyn L. Bird ; Robert A. Boisselle ; Donald L. Conn Jr. ; Scott M. Forbes ; Gail Infurna ; Jennifer L. Lemmerman ; Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis ; Monica C. Medeiros ; Peter D. Mortimer ; John N. Tramontozzi ; Francis X. Wright Jr.
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Public Participation
- Recess
- Orders
- ORDER-2015-108 : Appointment of Christopher R. Wilcock, 189 Broadway, Wakefield, to the Board of Assessors for a three-year term, said term to end on the last day of February, 2018
- ORDER-2015-98 : Transfer of $1,051.00 from Council on Aging- Custodian to Council on Aging - Salaries & Wages
- ORDER-2015-100 : Transfer of $19,694.45 from A/C # 019122-543102, Workers Comp Benefits to A/C # 013012-5471300 Essex North Shore Agricultural School
- ORDER-2015-101 : Transfer of $10,000.00 From A/C #016112-534200 (Library Books & Periodicals To A/C #016111-511000 Library Salary and Wages as set forth herein.
- ORDER-2015-102 : An Appropriation in the amount of $12,343.95 from A/C # 84042-590000 Contract Stabilization Trust Fund to A/C # 016111-511000 Library, Salaries & Wages
- ORDER-2015-99 : Acceptance of Fire Prevention Grant Fund # 4017
- ORDER-2015-103 : An Appropriation of $73,281.00 from Available Free Cash to various Fire & Police Accounts as set forth within
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE FINANCE COMMITTEE CALENDAR● MARCH 9, 2015 Aldermanic Chamber Committee Meeting 7:30 PM The public should take notice that the Melrose Board of Aldermen may, on certain occasions, have a quorum in attendance due to standing committees of the Board of Aldermen consisting of both voting and non-voting members. Members attending this duly posted meeting are participating and deliberating only in conjunction with the business of the standing committee. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Scott M. Forbes Chairman Present John N. Tramontozzi Vice Chairman Present Jaclyn L. Bird Alderman at Large Present Francis X. Wright Jr. Ward 3 Alderman Present Peter D. Mortimer Ward 6 Alderman Present Donald L. Conn Jr. President/Ex-officio Member Present Robert A. Boisselle Nonvoting Member Present Gail M. Infurna Nonvoting Member Present Jennifer L. Lemmerman Nonvoting Member Present Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis Nonvoting Member Present Monica C. Medeiros Nonvoting Member Present In Attendance: Mayor Robert J. Dolan; Chief Assessor Christopher Wilcock; Library Director Linda Gardener; Fire Chief Christopher Leary; Police Chief Mike Lyle
ORDER-2015-108 Appointment Appointment of Christopher R. Wilcock, 189 Broadway, Wakefield, to the Board of Assessors for a three-year term, said term to end on the last day of February, 2018 Recommend Passage Board of Aldermen
ORDER-2015-98 Transfer Transfer of $1,051.00 from Council on Aging- Custodian to Council on Aging - Salaries & Wages Without Recommendation Board of Aldermen
ORDER-2015-100 Transfer Transfer of $19,694.45 from A/C # 019122-543102, Workers Comp Benefits to A/C # 013012-5471300 Essex North Shore Agricultural School Without Recommendation Board of Aldermen City of Melrose Page 1 Updated 3/12/2015 4:46 PM Minutes Finance Committee March 9, 2015
ORDER-2015-101 Transfer Transfer of $10,000.00 From A/C #016112-534200 (Library Books & Periodicals To A/C #016111-511000 Library Salary and Wages as set forth herein. Recommend Passage Board of Aldermen
ORDER-2015-102 Appropriation An Appropriation in the amount of $12,343.95 from A/C # 84042-590000 Contract Stabilization Trust Fund to A/C # 016111-511000 Library, Salaries & Wages Recommend Passage Board of Aldermen
ORDER-2015-99 Acceptance Acceptance of Fire Prevention Grant Fund # 4017 Recommend Passage Board of Aldermen
ORDER-2015-103 Appropriation An Appropriation of $73,281.00 from Available Free Cash to various Fire & Police Accounts as set forth within Recommend Passage Board of Aldermen City of Melrose Page 2 Updated 3/12/2015 4:46 PM
Transcript
▶ 57:27 Scott M. Forbes: This chair was just right. It's 8 o'clock. This is the Finance Committee. My name is Alderman Scott Forbes. I'm the Committee Chairman. With us tonight, we have Alderman Chairman Tozzi. we have Alderman Byrd, Alderman Wright, Alderman Mortimer, President Kahn, as the members of committee. I'd like to open the floor up to public participation. So moved. We have a second? Second. We have nobody here for public participation. Anybody wants to speak on behalf of the agenda item tonight? We have a motion to close. Motion to close public participation, Mr. Chairman. Second. Public participation is now closed for this part of our meeting. Motion to recess? Motion to recess. Second. We have a motion for a recess we have a second second all right this committee is now
▶ 2:05:53 Scott M. Forbes: All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, the Committee on Appropriations is adjourned. Thank you, one and all. 108, the appointment of Christopher R. Wilcock, 189 Broadway, Wakefield to the Board of Assessors for a three year term, said term to end on the last day of February 2018. Before we ask Mr. Wilcock to approach, just want to make mention this meeting is being recorded in accordance with the Massachusetts General Open Meeting laws. can watch all of our meetings on mmtv or you can log on to the city of meadows website where you can hit the appropriate link and watch to your viewing pleasure mr wilcox if you are present we do appreciate your patience this evening you want to approach the table mr mayor welcome thank you
▶ 2:07:35 i'd like to offer the name of christopher wilcox to the position on the board of assessors as as you know of those that served previously i had submitted the name of don dorad our previous assessor to serve on the Board of Assessors. It was approved and he was reappointed. When Don Durant retired, the city lost an incredible assessor. Assessors are not easy to find in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Exceptional assessors are even harder to find and having Don retire after his service there was a real void. Chris has done an incredible job, a really top-notch job of bringing that office to another level and I stand with long members of the Board of Assessors Lee Phelan and the chair Kathy Galino in
▶ 2:08:21 support of this appointment. Chris has served as an assessor in Massachusetts for 14 plus years. He has been the past president of the Middlesex County Board of Assessors Association and he currently chairs the Technology Committee of the Mass State Assessors. He's bringing the office to a more a modern level and it's certainly many people when they come into the office not only have they been satisfied in the service but have come upstairs to my office to talk about how well the office is running and the information that they are given I think that speaks to the abatements I think that speaks to the the satisfaction of the community in the sense of that when they ask questions regarding their assessment and taxation they get an honest thorough and in
▶ 2:09:10 Scott M. Forbes: compassionate answer from everyone in that office and I think he would serve well on the board to replace Don drop yeah as the mayor indicated mr. Wilcock already is serving in the position he's doing a fine job I'm gonna move to recommend that his appointment for the new term be approved by the committee second in a motion recommend by President Kahn we have second by all Alderman Mortimer, all those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Okay, your motion passes. You will be recommended to the next full board meeting. We do thank you for your attendance here tonight and your patience. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next order we have is order November 2015-98. It's a transfer of $1,051 from the Council of Aging custodian to Council of Aging salaries and wages.
▶ 2:10:07 we have anybody here to explain that order there's nobody here to explain the order if we want to if I may yes mr. chairman it's um it's a transfer within the department within the council on aging anyways I would just move that make a motion to move it forward to our full board meeting and without recommendation we can we can work on it then okay we have a motion to move it forward by Alderman Tramontozzi do you have a second on that second second by Alderman Mortimer all in favor all opposed motion passes and will be discussed at our next full board meeting to adjourn no we do have five more orders left to go November three order November two zero one five we do have some eager people waiting to approach the bench two zero one five
▶ 2:11:11 Scott M. Forbes: dash 100 a transfer of nineteen thousand six hundred ninety four dollars and 45 cents from account November zero one nine one two two dash five four three one oh two workers comp benefits to account November zero one three zero one two dash five four seven one three zero zero Essex North Shore Agricultural School I believe this is probably the same type of motion that we had at the previous one not really it's a little different but do we have yes president Khan yeah I have questions about this order and if and I'm not suggesting what the committee does but if this were to pass on to the full board which it may or may not do I don't know and don't really have a position as to whether it does or
▶ 2:11:57 Scott M. Forbes: not I would not vote to support this order unless we have the appropriate people to talk about it because I do have some questions and this does not appear to be a simple housekeeping order I was gonna suggest the same thing and that when you're dealing with the the school the North Shore aggregate in that kind of money it sounds like it's a pupil tuition type of thing I'd like to hear what's going on with that given the monetary amount of almost $20,000 that the will the committee is to have the appropriate parties present yes I think We move to retain it in committee. Second. Motion to move to retain in committee by Alderman Tramontozzi, second by Alderman Byrd. All those in favor? Aye. This motion will be retained in committee
▶ 2:12:39 Francis X. Wright Jr.: until the appropriate parties are present. Any further discussion? No further discussion? Further discussion, Alderman Wright. I would have asked that it be moved to the full board without recommendation. I don't know how quickly they need this money. I don't know how quickly it needed to be dealt with. Obviously, if there was an emergency, you would expect someone to be here, but we don't know what the circumstances are. We could always keep it before the full board or send it back to the committee. But we may find ourselves in a position now where we can't deal with this for a month. But a motion has been made, and I guess I'd make—well, I can't. Somebody could make a motion for reconsideration who voted for it.
▶ 2:13:21 I have three people saying yes on the motion to have somebody present for the appropriate parties and one person no. so the that has it so at that point in time we'll have the person present and we'll rediscuss that at the appropriate time in the next finance committee i'll make a motion for reconsideration have a motion to reconsideration discussion oh yes it has to be second at point of order do we have a second oh sorry no i'm not seconding it i'll second that oh second we can discuss it okay Discussion? Alderman Baird. Thank you Mr. Chairman. I appreciate Alderman Wright comments on that. Given the amount of money that it is and the fact that we haven't had any correspondence related to the fact that someone isn't going to
▶ 2:14:10 Jaclyn L. Bird: be here tonight, to my knowledge I would feel better retaining this in committee just so that we don't get in the habit of pushing things along that maybe would be doing that prematurely. If maybe there is information that I don't have. excuse me I failed to forward an email from mr. de la Russo today that said that this is an increase in enrollment by one student for this year and I apologize for not forwarding that on I I thought he would be here but it was my mistake in light of that information I think then maybe we should go ahead and forward it I think if the communication attempt had been made and we should go ahead and go forward with the idea that we move it forward without recommendation sorry and and discuss it at the full boarding full board meeting
▶ 2:15:05 Scott M. Forbes: which would give us time to reach out to mr. de la Rousseau and make sure he's present that night so now we have a motion to reconsider motion to bring upon the full board by Alderman Byrd yes we have a second well first we need point of order if I may mr. chairman respectfully we need to vote on the motion for reconsideration so everyone needs to vote yes on that committee members all right let's do that let's vote on reconsideration I was in favor all right okay now new vote new motion motion to go forward to the full board without recommendation all right we have a motion for going before the board second by Alderman Byrd second by Alderman Mortimer all those in favor aye all those opposed discussion Alderman
▶ 2:15:49 Monica C. Medeiros: just since this is going to go I'm not a voting member on this committee but since this is now going forward I would like some information about for the full board meeting perhaps mr. chairman you could relay this in regard to workers compensation how much money is available there and and what what makes us think that we have the money available thank you that information will be provided provide at the next full board meeting and this will be known before the board order November two zero one five dash one oh one transfer of ten thousand dollars from account November one zero one six one one two dash five three four two hundred library books and periodicals to account November zero one six one one one dash five
▶ 2:16:39 Scott M. Forbes: one one zero zero zero library salaries and wages as set foot set forth here in Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to suspend the rules that we may hear from the director of the library. Motion to suspend the rules from Alderman Tonimer. Second. Seconded by Alderman Byrd. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Rules are suspended. Good evening. Good evening. Thank you for your patience. Thank you. Would you like to just give us a brief description of the order that's among us here tonight? Yes, this is a transfer from the books and periodicals account to cover salaries and wages costs. It allows us to maintain adequate staffing throughout the year. The funds that are being removed from the books and periodicals account,
▶ 2:17:28 Scott M. Forbes: we are fortunate to be making up those costs with a combination of money that the trustees have paid for books. And also donation funds that have come in that are also paying for books, so that those purchases are not suffering. Any discussion? Motion to recommend for passage. Motion to recommend by Alderman Mortimer. Second. Second by Alderman Tramontozzi. All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? This motion or this order will be recommended before the full board. You don't have to be present at the meeting. Thank you very much. I do know that you're here for the next order as well. Order November 2015-102, an appropriation in the amount of $12,343.95 from account November 84042-590000, contract stabilization fund to account November 016111-51100, library salaries
▶ 2:18:26 and wages. Would you like to just give us a brief description of that order as well, please? Sure. This order, I believe, actually came from the auditor's office, but it's clearly from my department. And it is, we were in a contract negotiation year with our library union and successfully negotiated a new contract for them. So this covers, and we also had a retirement this year, so this covers the retirement and also the contract negotiation retro pay and increase. is this for prior fiscal year or current fiscal year uh the contract it's current the contract actually went into effect right with the school years oh motion to recommend for passage motion recommend by Alderman Mortimer second second by Alderman
▶ 2:19:37 Scott M. Forbes: Byrd all those in favor aye aye opposed order is passed and will be recommended before the full board. You don't have to be present before the full board for that motion. Thank you very much for being here tonight. Appreciate it. Thank you. Next order, order 2015-99, accepting of fire prevention grant fund November 4017. Chief, how are you doing this evening? Good, thank you. So this was a grant we applied for through FM Global, one of the largest commercial property insurers and it's to aid in fire prevention so it's just over three thousand dollars that we are going to use towards the purchase of tablets and other items to aid in our inspection program I'm in trim Tosi is this a matching type of grant no that's good excellent thank you second motion
▶ 2:20:44 Scott M. Forbes: recommend by Alderman Byrd second by Alderman Mortimer all those in favor all right great order passes will be recommended before the full board our next meeting. I know you're going to be right there. Order November 2015-103, an appropriation of $73,281 from available free cash to various fire and police accounts that's set forth herein. Good evening, Chief Lyle. How are you? Good evening. Looking at the breakdown of the paper here which i assume you have here if you just kind of give us a rundown of uh these expense items that are here just a brief description of where all this uh where the allocation is going to be going to the first items for motor vehicle repair and maintenance the storms have taken a toll with breakdowns and accidents we still have three months left
▶ 2:21:48 we have a couple of outstanding bills so i anticipate that this money will this 25 000 will get us through the end of the year barring any catastrophic events and the next one is uh turnout gear um our gear only has a 10-year shelf life five years front line in five years as backup and um we used to be able to take the gear and use it at the academy for when the guys or ladies go but unfortunately the two with ten year mark it has to be scrapped so this will allow us to purchase approximately seven sets of gear to begin a rotation to try to have everyone with the up-to-date gear as well as a second set okay she thought professional services line this all most of this is for three new hires that start the police academy this morning professional
▶ 2:22:49 services their Academy fee for each officer the next one obviously is uniforms for uniforms for the officers to attend the Academy upon graduation ammunition they're required to spend 40 hours at a firing range they expand approximately a thousand rounds each officer and they're quite expensive dues and memberships that's for that's housekeeping for the police department For the past several years, our dues and memberships have increased, and we've struggled to pay them in timely fashion. They run on a calendar year, unfortunately they run on a fiscal year, and every year we go through the same concerns and budget woes to accommodate them. Computer support, that is for our software company, it's called IMC, that runs a police department.
▶ 2:23:34 They've had a November of increases over the years, and we've juggled our funds to pay it, and we're behind right now. Ammunition, this is to buy three new firearms for the three new hires that we have. Books and periodicals, these are the academy books for the new officers. And lastly, laundry and cleaning, this is for the cell block. When we have a detainee in there, each time they get a wool blanket and we have to have it cleaned after each use. And we've run over a bit this year. Any discussion? Motion to recommend for passage. Second. Motion to recommend by Alderman Mortimer, seconded by Alderman Byrd. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Order has been passed and will be recommended before the full board at our next meeting.