City Council — 2015-05-11
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
- ORDER-2015-152 : Joint Meeting of the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015, in the Aldermanic Chamber, City Hall, Melrose, MA on the Financial Condition of the City, revenue and expenditure forecasts, and other relevant information in preparation of the FY2016 Operating Budget.
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN BULLETIN● MAY 11, 2015 Aldermanic Chamber Joint Meeting with the School Committee 7:30 PM
ORDER-2015-152 Joint Meeting/School Committee Joint Meeting of the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015, in the Aldermanic Chamber, City Hall, Melrose, MA on the Financial Condition of the City, revenue and expenditure forecasts, and other relevant information in preparation of the FY2016 Operating Budget. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jaclyn L. Bird Alderman at Large Present Robert A. Boisselle Ward 4 Alderman Present Scott M. Forbes Ward 7 Alderman Present Gail M. Infurna Ward 5 Alderman Present Jennifer L. Lemmerman Ward 2 Alderman Present Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis Alderman at Large Present Monica C. Medeiros Alderman at Large Present Peter D. Mortimer Ward 6 Alderman Present John N. Tramontozzi Ward 1 Alderman Present Francis X. Wright Jr. Ward 3 Alderman Absent Donald L. Conn Jr. President, Alderman at Large Present School Committee members in attendance: Christine Casatelli Donald Constantine Mayor Robert Dolan Margaret Driscoll Jessica Dugan Kristen Thorp, Chairman Absent: Carrie Kourkoumelis Supt. of Schools Cyndy Taymore - (present) Chair/President Conn invited Mayor Dolan to come forward to adddress the assemble masses. Mayor Dolan came forward to the podium and addressed the assemble masses on the Financial Condition of the City (see attached). City of Melrose Page 1 6/15/2015 5:39 PM
Transcript
▶ 0:00 Okay, if the chamber could come to order, please. Okay, welcome to the Aldermanic Chamber. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Donald Kahn. I'm the President of the Board of Aldermen. Sitting with me is Kristen Thorpe, Chairman of the Melrose School Committee. Tonight we are here to hear from His Honor the Mayor in accordance with Section 6.2 of the City Charter, which requires that he appear before a joint meeting of the school committee and the board of aldermen to discuss the fiscal situation and health of the city of melrose ms o'shea could you call the rule of the two bodies please here here here here here here here here here here here school committee members christine casatelli here here darlin constantine here maya dolan here
▶ 1:38 robert briscoe here here jessica duggan here here barry corcoran and chairman christian thorpe here Okay, we have a quorum of both groups. Could everybody please rise and join us in saluting the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Well, Mr. Chair of the Joint Committee meetings, I make a motion to open the floor for public participation. Well, Mr. Alderman, it's the opinion of the chair that since no votes will be taken, and this is only a meeting to receive information from his honor, the mayor, that there will be no public participation relative to the joint meeting.
▶ 2:40 As soon as this meeting adjourns, we will have a meeting of the Board of Aldermen, at which time we will receive the budget and other orders that are going to be discussed by the mayor this evening so after the joint meeting is concluded we will open the meeting of the board of aldermen at which time anybody who wishes to speak will be heard by the board of aldermen thank you sir i will withdraw my motion at this time and as with all public meetings in the city of melrose this meeting will be recorded and will be rebroadcast on melrose cable television at this time i'd like to invite Mayor Dolan to come forward to the podium when I put the podium up and address the assembled masses. Good evening everyone. Good evening. Good
▶ 3:45 evening members of the school committee, the Melrose Board of Aldermen, and the citizens of Melrose. I am pleased to present my administration's fiscal year 2016 operating budget. It is my 14th budget as mayor of the city of Melrose and that period coincides with some of the great economic challenges of our time this budget is balanced is responsible and it continues to represent our shared values within the revenues allocated to us by our citizens supports our schools our vital city services our infrastructure and our business community but I'd like to summarize some of the highlights and important points of the FY 16 budget for you this budget represents the continuing renovation of Melrose High School taking on a substantial portion
▶ 4:29 that educational facility the next phase which was approved by the unanimous vote by the Board of Aldermen includes a complete rehabilitation of the former high school middle school Resource Center turning it into an innovative 21st century Learning Commons that will benefit our students and our entire community FY 16 will see a comprehensive plan combining city and school resources to responsibly fund technology which a proper plan for ongoing investment this This has been a real struggle for our community, but I believe we have developed a proposal that will solve this problem. And I thank the more than 25 citizens of this community who volunteered their time and expertise to make this plan a reality.
▶ 5:13 This budget reflects the positive effects of rezoning our railroad corridor. This is a pro-business, pro-investment budget that allows entrepreneurs to thrive in our community. As a result, we have seen the largest increase in private investment in our city's history. We have seen passage of significant laws regarding alcohol, which are also pro-business and allow the free market to improve our local economy through the investment in smaller restaurants to anchor business districts throughout our city, not just downtown. The school building authority continues to assist our city with repairs to the Hoover School, which will include new windows and frontage, and we are adding additional classrooms within the Winthrop School through the reconfiguration of space, as well as repairs to our central fire station roof and the living quarters for our firefighters, if approved by our Board of Aldermen.
▶ 6:09 This budget continues our ongoing drainage program to address flooding in identified neighborhoods. Once again, we will partner with parents and volunteer groups to further renovate our playgrounds. This year, we will complete the Common Playground and upgrade the Early Childhood Center Playground. Through the Open Space Fund, we will rebuild the Mayor Richard D. Lyons tennis courts, and at this pace, maybe in August when the snow melts, which are part of our continued improvement to our athletic facilities, which I believe rival the best in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This budget seeks funding for a demographic study as well as a new master plan. The last master plan was completed in 2003 and now is the time to set new
▶ 6:54 priorities for our community. This is a modest budget that holds the line on spending. It represents a 3.5 increase over last year. This increase represents two new positions, an increase in veterans benefits a 5.5 increase in the cost of health insurance for our employees and contractual salary increases we have achieved a 6% reduction in our trash disposal budget compared to last year which I see as a direct result of the decision to initiate weekly recycling citizens have responded to this investment and we are clearly seeing the return due to the incredible work of the Energy Commission in all city departments despite record increases in electricity costs as well as an incredibly cold winter we are able to
▶ 7:42 responsibly level fund utilities which proves the ESCO investment worked we will propose upgrading all of our roadway lights to efficient LED technology this summer we will continue in need to continue on this path of progressive energy policy and I know our citizens support this important work FY16 will see the completion of the Highlands renovation in the Department Transportation Lebanon Street project in the completion of the comprehensive two-year road improvement plan as well as with additional chapter 90 money the paving of portions of Washington Street we will see the beginning of the next highly competitive mass works grant which will extend the beauty of our downtown through Essex Street and down Willow Street our school budget funds
▶ 8:29 two additional kindergarten teachers two elementary teachers due to increased in population amongst our elementary grades this budget continues our investment in a strong stabilization fund and keeps us on track to pay off 75% of this city's debt in 10 years Massachusetts went through the worst winter in the history of its existence and clearly the most expensive we are a city that responsibly budgets for snow removal so that even with limited federal assistance we are able to take a 2.1 million dollar snow deficit and cut it in half to 1 million dollars this is a great achievement but not without considerable pain we are considering utilizing the new state law that allows us to pay off this debt over
▶ 9:13 a three-year period instead of one that decision will be made in the fall this is a partial list of the investments your tax dollars will provide over the next year they are progressive they are wide-ranging they are exciting but there our concerns. My job as Chief Executive Officer of this city is to tell you, the citizens of Melrose, what my concerns are and offer my professional recommendations. You cannot fix problems without hard solutions. Tonight I propose something that I take very, very seriously. I have looked at this from every possible angle and it has weighed on me for some time the city of Melrose needs a tax override this is my professional opinion as a trained public administrator with 14
▶ 10:07 years experience as mayor of the city and personally I believe in it as a taxpayer a parent a son an uncle and someone who loves his community this evening I propose to the Board of Aldermen a ballot question to be placed before the citizens of Melrose for their consideration this November I propose this order in order to advance public education in this city to advance public safety as well as to sustain the successful financial basis that we have built over the last decade even during the hardest time since the Great depression for our time and for decades to come this is not an easy thing to propose but in my opinion it is absolutely necessary tonight I will lay out the reasons why I have made this proposal I will ask every citizen in
▶ 11:04 the city to become informed and engaged regarding this issue make up your own mind and be part of a community discussion and a vote that will dictate the future of your city the proposal would increase property taxes by on average two hundred and forty dollars per year or twenty dollars per month it will fund much-needed education positions at all levels five point five elementary teachers six secondary teachers and one district-wide educator effect technology in addition this investment in our community will eliminate the structural deficit in our public schools increase vital light items for professional development and materials and allow us to hire two additional police officers which are absolutely needed to enhance our public
▶ 11:54 safety and reduce overtime payments this override is very different than previous proposals in our city's history Melrose in 2015 is a stable and strong community we have the highest bond rating in our city's history we have the highest property values in the hottest real estate market in the region throughout the city you can see visible advancements and investments in every neighborhood volunteerism and civic engagement and involvement have never been higher we make incredible commitments to our arts culture athletics, health, our neighborhoods, our houses of worship, and the caring for our elderly and disabled and our less fortunate. The City of Melrose truly has a statewide reputation for efficiency, innovation, sound planning, regionalization
▶ 12:55 of services, and good management. The issue before us today, unlike in previous decades is that we have reached our absolute cap in our ability to invest any further in public education and public safety that in turn will hurt every department in the city as well as our quality of life in the future due to a considerable withdrawal of state and federal funds and a change of demographics that is bringing more children into our schools we have been forced to use reserves to maintain what we have which will result in a weaker financial outlook we are stable and strong today we are not in crisis yet but citizens of Melrose why wait now is the time to take action to prevent the crisis that will happen if something is not done there are certain factors about
▶ 13:56 Melrose that warrant the proposal that I put before you today. Unlike our neighbors, Melrose is a predominantly residential community. We are 94% residential and only 6% commercial. The communities around us have substantial commercial bases that drive revenue through taxation. We do not have that and we never will. I believe the residents of this city place great value on preserving our largely residential makeup that does not mean we have done nothing to expand our commercial base we have we have targeted smart growth around our railway lines to encourage responsible economic development but in the scale of things it's very small I believe that as a community we need to continue to value our conservation land in our vast green spaces including Mount
▶ 14:45 Hood, the Middlesex Fells, Pine Banks, Swains Pond and Towners Pond. I believe it is important to have strong zoning and a strong planning board that protects our community. There is simply no land available nor will there be for large commercial districts or industry and I need to tell you that I am not in favor of changing policy that dramatically affects the makeup of our city in a manner that degrades our quality of life in what makes Melrose so special to simply solve the financial challenges we face it is not worth it other cities around us have done just that and I think those decisions have resulted in making them far less desirable communities in which to live and raise a family Melrose is not an inexpensive place to live I know that
▶ 15:41 but the facts show that our average tax bill is significantly lower than those of our peers in the real estate market our average tax bill is less than Wakefield in North Reading and far less than our residential peers 32 less than Arlington, 30% less than Reading, 20% less than Natick, and 55% less than Bedford. These are cities with far more industry and far higher taxes, predominantly to support their public education systems. But let me be very, very clear. We should only care about Melrose. I am not proposing we go anywhere near these other communities tax rates, because it is unnecessary and we shouldn't. But the fact is, we have incredibly high property values, with some real estate agents claiming
▶ 16:41 that home values have gone up over $100,000 in one year, and ladies and gentlemen, that doesn't happen by accident and it can only be maintained in the future through continued responsible investment in public education to support new families and to ensure that real estate consumers consumers see Melrose as a place that is advancing and improving no one no one will make the most important financial investment that they will make in their life, their home, in a community where they do not feel strongly that their children will have better opportunities than they had. Fellow citizens, state and federal funding are going away and they're not coming back. Melrose has seen a reduction of five million dollars in
▶ 17:41 state and federal assistance since 2009. We have less state aid today than we had in 2001 special education costs continue to rise yet assistance lessons and mandates increase important title one programs that help early learners have been reduced the kindergarten grant was eliminated by the governor in this budget regulations and mandates have increased yet funding to support them is zeroed out. Melrose and other cities and towns are really on their own. I believe this proposal puts control into our own hands at the local level and leaves us less dependent on state and federal funding which are dangerous and oftentimes unreliable because they are so susceptible to the ups and downs of of the economy you can't build a future on what might not be there i am very proud to say that
▶ 18:45 we are seeing currently in the city of melrose the greatest influx in school-aged children since the 1970s because we're a great place to live the early childhood center is now a capacity the pre-k through grade three population has exploded we have seen well over 100 students sign up for the melrose public school since the first day of school the estimate of next year's kindergarten class could be as high as 320 students a considerable increase over this year's total of 276. we do we simply do not have enough teachers to teach them we are seeing one of the great challenges of a robust community which is that melrose is now identified as one of the strongest family housing markets in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And we need to
▶ 19:37 invest now for this continued success. But it is not right to ask taxpayers for more when government hasn't certainly reformed itself. Few communities have reformed more than our Melrose. Melrose was the first city in the history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a few years ago where 17 labor unions and non-union employees voted to freeze their own wages, avoiding dramatic reductions in the city's budget. The city of Melrose was the first in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the support of its labor unions to join the group insurance commission, saving millions in its insurance costs. We have continuously signed responsible contracts with our employees in a non-confrontational environment. We have been the state's leader in regionalization
▶ 20:30 practices, saving money while building efficiency in areas like public health and veteran services. Few cities across the state has sought out and won more school building assistance money, more mass works money, more planning grants, more green energy money, or other grants per capita than our city of Melrose. We have managed our debt responsibly. We started our own ambulance company. Memorial Hall and Mount Hood were once failing, they're now at capacity and thriving. Our yearly audits by outside evaluators including Moody's and Standard & Poor's are beyond reproach. Every project has been on time and on budget and there has been unprecedented dialogue amongst our community members through blogs twitter in our own accessibility we have been a leader in green
▶ 21:25 policy that has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars we have done the hard work to offset massive reductions in state and federal aid but it is simply unrealistic to believe that our city of melrose can continue to subsidize the commonwealth of massachusetts and the federal government our budget must be supported by citizens who believe in the city in which they live that my friends is the new reality we are a stable and well-managed community but we are not able to devote one more dollar to operate our public schools in future years in fact we need a supplemental budget of over $700,000 to balance the current school year budget and we will need to do it again next year. There is little or nothing left for our city
▶ 22:24 departments in no flexibility to deal with unexpected situations. Being such a desirable community in which to live brings additional costs as population changes. We can no longer count on Washington or Boston or Hope or short-term fixes to get us through the next decade. This is a structural problem that is not going away and in many ways it has been a burden on this community for my entire life. It is going to be our choice whether or not to invest in and advance our schools in our city understanding that money doesn't solve all the issues but it is a fact that you don't ever get what you don't pay for there is no way to sugarcoat the fact that if passed this will burden some of our citizens therefore I am also
▶ 23:28 proposing tonight measures that will alleviate some of the additional financial hardship on citizens of lower income that is the responsible approach but at the end of the day in November this board allows every citizen is going to have to make up their own mind I am simply offering a responsible proposal that I believe is necessary that is my job it will be your job to make the decision I personally will vote yes because I believe that our city needs it I believe that all students deserve a competitive educational experience with their peers with this proposal success we can take for at least the next decade out the fate of our children's educational experience as well as the fate of our property values out of the hands of a dysfunctional federal
▶ 24:26 government and the overwhelming challenges on Beacon Hill the dips and blips of the economy or incredibly snowy winters and put them in our own hands the hands of the people that love them and know their needs the best that is our responsibility and it's no one else's we last voted for an override 23 years ago it was larger than the one that we are proposing now because at the time our city was near bankrupt and weak let's do it in 2015 not because we are weak not because we are holding pink slips over the heads of teachers and police officers but because we believe in our community because we believe in what we have built together because we believe that we must continue moving forward because we believe in our educators our police force our cities
▶ 25:23 and city employees and we believe in ourselves and because we believe that is our obligation to give every child the best opportunity in more of an opportunity than we had ourselves as mayor of the city I'm telling you tonight that I am all in I'm all in as the mayor as a citizen and as a dad and I ask each one of you to join me tonight thank you for your consideration of this budget and the accompanying orders to follow this evening thank you very much mr. president I make a motion to place this order on file I don't think we're gonna take any votes in this meeting this evening chair would entertain a motion to adjourn so moved second Alderman Mortimer moves to adjourned seconded by alderman forbes all those in favor of adjournment indicate by saying aye