Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2024-04-16
Attendance
Cal Finocchiaro ; Mark Garipay ; Ward Hamilton ; Maya Jamaleddine ; Manjula Karamcheti ; Leila Migliorelli ; John Obremski ; Devin Romanul ; Robb Stewart ; Kimberly Vandiver ; Ryan Williams
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Public Comment
- Appropriation
- APPRO-2024-15 : An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $101,540.94 to the Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund (#2757).
- APPRO-2024-16 : An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $16,696 to Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School District (account 013012-547300) for one additional student for Academic Year 23/24.
- APPRO-2024-17 : An Appropriation from Free Cash to the Contract Stabilization Fund(#8404) in the amount of $500,000.
- APPRO-2024-18 : An Appropriation from Free Cash to Special Ed Stabilization Fund (#8408) in the amount of $386,231.35.
- Grants
- GRANT-2024-14 : Acceptance of the FY24 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant awarded to the Melrose Fire Department by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Fire Services, in the amount of $9,064.82.
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE APPROPRIATIONS & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALENDAR● APRIL 16, 2024 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Committee Meeting 7:14 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Maya Jamaleddine Chair Present Ryan Williams Vice Chair Present Mark Garipay Present Robb Stewart Present Manjula Karamcheti Present John Obremski Absent Ward Hamilton Present Kimberly Vandiver Present Devin Romanul Present Cal Finocchiaro Present Leila Migliorelli President, Ex Oficio Present
APPRO-2024-15 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $101,540.94 to the Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund (#2757). Ought to Pass City Council
APPRO-2024-16 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash in the amount of $16,696 to Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School District (account 013012-547300) for one additional student for Academic Year 23/24. Ought to Pass City Council
APPRO-2024-17 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash to the Contract Stabilization Fund(#8404) in the amount of $500,000. Ought to Pass City Council
APPRO-2024-18 Appropriation An Appropriation from Free Cash to Special Ed Stabilization Fund (#8408) in the amount of $386,231.35. Ought to Pass City Council
GRANT-2024-14 Grant City of Melrose Page 1 6/26/2024 2:22 PM Minutes Appropriations & Oversight Committee April 16, 2024 Acceptance of the FY24 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant awarded to the Melrose Fire Department by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Fire Services, in the amount of $9,064.82. Ought to Pass City Council City of Melrose Page 2 6/26/2024 2:22 PM
Transcript
▶ 8:47 Maya Jamaleddine: and Oversight Committee. I am Maya Jamal, Dean pronounce she and her the chair. And also joining me tonight, um, vice Chair William Councilor Ro gpe, Hamilton Chetty, Romano Stewart, and, and President GL Ex Officio. This serves as notice of a quorum for the record and in accordance with the Open Meeting law. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on MMTV. Um, and now I will motion by unanimous consent. Consent to open the floor for public comment. And seeing no objection, we are now open for public comment. This is the portion of the meeting where anyone can speak on any item on our agenda for tonight. Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone online? Not at this time. Okay, thank you. And since we don't have anyone in, uh, willing
▶ 9:57 Maya Jamaleddine: to participate in public comment, uh, if there is no objection, I will motion to close public comment. Seeing no objection, we are now closed for public comment. Um, since we have members of the administration here tonight to speak on the items before us, I would like to entertain a motion by unanimous consent to suspend Rule 37 B before we proceed. Seeing no objection, the rule 37 B is now suspended. First, um, uh, order on our item on our agenda for tonight is appropriation 2024 dash 15, uh, and appropriation from, uh, free cash in the amount of, uh, 101,000,005, uh, uh, 540 94 to the opioids, uh, settlement. Special Revenue Fund number 27 57. We have Mayor Tus. Good evening everyone. You, you have me for the next, uh, four orders?
▶ 11:09 Jen Grigoraitis: Yes, always. Um, so this is a request that we, I believe had discussed previously when Assistant City Auditor Golden had come before you with a budget update. Um, these are funds that from the Commonwealth when they settled with various opioid makers and distributors that were part of our certified free cash. And then the division of local services had subsequently put out a bulletin requesting that municipalities transfer that money into a designated settlement fund. So the motion before you tonight would just be to make that transfer, obviously, when and if we make a request to use those funds, that would, you know, come before you with a more programmatic update. But tonight is just to move this from free cash
▶ 11:50 Robb Stewart: into the designated fund. Do we have any question from my colleagues? Councilor Stewart? Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you Madam Mayor for being here this evening. Um, and I'm pleased to see that this is finally being done. I, I recall that, um, there was a lot of, um, what's the right word? Um, non-action to receiving these funds across the commonwealth. And there, there was a little bit of a push to get communities to act on this and use the money appropriately. Can you speak to, um, how you anticipate this funding is gonna be used in going forward? Um, I don't wanna speak preemptively for, um, the city, but at this, to, first of all, in your packet is a link to the bulletin from the Division
▶ 12:52 Jen Grigoraitis: of Local Services, which provides some pretty detailed guidance around how the funds can be used. So we are currently, um, our health director is leading a collaborative effort with Health Fire Police, Melrose Public Schools, and the Council on Aging to discuss how we can collectively best use this funds. We're also recognizing that we have some existing services that are provided for, um, those that are recovering from opioid addiction, that we are paying for out of general funds, that given the impending financial challenges, we may be looking to use some of this money to offset some of those existing costs. Um, and that's where we're at with those discussions. Great. Thank you Madam Mayor.
▶ 13:32 Robb Stewart: Um, and you know, I, I did read the DLS, um, bulletin. I think it was very helpful. And they do speak of four areas in particular, prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Mm-Hmm. So, and, and, um, I encourage the administration and the health department to look at all facets of that and how we could potentially bring this, uh, to our children in the schools. Uh, I think that's an important and opportunity that we could take advantage of to address this with our youth. Absolutely. Great. Thank you madam. Uh, mayor. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you Councilor Stewart, anyone else who have got, uh, vice Chair Williams. Thank You. Um, do you happen to know the scope of substance abuse deaths in Melrose?
▶ 14:21 Ryan Williams: How many people in Melrose? No, not off the top of my head. Okay. I'm happy to ask the chief. Obviously there would also be a difference between reported and unreported. Sure, absolutely. Yeah. Um, no, I I mean, when you, when when it comes time to discuss the, the placement of the funds, I think it would be good to just talk about where we are as a city with that Mm-Hmm. Because I, I know it happens, but we don't, um, we don't often hear the details of it. Um, and so these funds, looking to the DLS guidance, the, the guidance says that we may put the funds in a stabilization fund. We don't have to put the funds in a stabilization fund. Right? Yeah. So we're choosing to, um, and the goal would be to use some of that money specifically
▶ 15:03 for the purpose, kind of the, the philosophical purpose of the settlement. We would use all of the money for that, correct? Yes. All of The money for that. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, for the second time, counselor, uh, Stewart Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to recommend this to the full council. Second. Okay. We have a motion to recommend, uh, to the full council, made by Councillor Stewart. Seconded by Councillor Chetty. Um, Mr. Clerk, Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Councillor Repe? Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Chetty? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Van Devin? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro. Yes. President Elli? Yes. And Chair Jamal? Yes.
▶ 15:59 Maya Jamaleddine: That's Unanim with 10? Yes. Thank you. Um, uh, this, the motion passes and now we have next on our agenda appropriation 2024 dash 16 and appropriation from free cash in the amount of 16,696 to Essex North Shore Ag, uh, agricultural and technical school district account 0 1 3 0 1 2 dash 5 4 7 3 0 0 for one additional student for academic year 2324. We still have you mayor. Thank you Madam Chair. So, um, in the budget that this council approved last year for this current fiscal year, we had budgeted for the, at the time, known seven students who would be attending Essex, Aggie for both transportation and tuition costs. We have subsequently, since the start of the school year, had one student transfer in bringing us to a total of eight.
▶ 16:56 So this would allow us to cover that additional unanticipated tuition cost. Awesome. Thank you. Um, councilor Ra? Yep. Just wanna make a mo motion to recommend. Second, We have a motion to recommend made by Councillor Ra, seconded by Councilor Karadi. Um, on discussion, Councillor Stewart. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, one, one question regarding this funding. Is this for, uh, a full year or the remaining portion of this year? I believe it's prorated for the portion of this year, but I don't know at what point they transferred into the system. Okay. But it is prorated. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Mayor, Madam, whoever. It was a madam here. You're welcome. Thank You. Um, any, uh, other question on discussion?
▶ 17:51 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. We have motion Vice Chair Williams. Yes. Councillor Repe. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Chetty? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. Councillor Roal. Yes. Councillor naca. Yes. President Elli? Yes. Chair Jamal? Yes. That's of 10. Yes. Thank you. And this motion also passes. Uh, next we have appropriation 2024 dash 17 and appropriation from free cash to the contract stabilization fund, uh, number 84 0 4 in the amount of, uh, 500, um, thousand dollars. Thank you, Madam Chair. So this is a request to transfer 500,000 from certified free cash into our contract stabilization fund. The fund currently has a balance of just over a million dollars. Um, the purpose of this fund is for wage
▶ 18:48 Jen Grigoraitis: and salary adjustments for both union and non-Union staff. For those of you who've served on the council for the past couple years, it has been used to both cover, um, back pay when we do settle a contract negotiation for union employees, as well as to provide retro raises for non-Union employees. It can also be used to fund regular city contracts. I believe it was in FY 23. It was used to fund a lease with St. Mary's for some parking spaces. Um, and we could also use it under the guidance of the stabilization fund for uncompensated absences or retirements. When we have an unexpected personnel matter that comes with significant cost to the city, um, we'd like to have this fund have the healthy balance
▶ 19:28 Jen Grigoraitis: as I think we've previously discussed. Um, the city is currently in negotiations with our fire union and that, um, agreement has been expired since June 30th, 2023. So while I'm hoping that we will have a finalized agreement soon, I anticipate we'd be looking at likely a year's worth of retro payments when that contract is settled to our members of that union. And we are in negotiations now with police superiors, um, and we'll be doing negotiations with police patrol soon as well. And both of those current contracts expire on June 30th of this year. So we are anticipating that will, there will be some need for retro payments from this fund in the coming months. Thank you. Uh, Madam Mayor, anyone, uh,
▶ 20:10 Ryan Williams: from my colleague have a question? Vice Chair. William. Thank You. Um, I was, I was looking back to refresh my memory through the past couple of contract stabilization, um, requests. And I noted that a lot of the time when we do this, we do it after a contract has been confirmed because then we know what kind of money we're gonna need in there. And I know you said that you've got a bunch coming up and kind of good practice proactive. Um, but I'm just wondering if, if there is any kind of, um, information that you can share with regard to why the number was chosen? Why now? Why not after the contracts are settled? I mean, just, you know, To put the money to request that you put the money in the fund.
▶ 20:51 Jen Grigoraitis: Yeah. Um, my approach to free cash this year has been to first pay off our existing debts, which was the school shortfall, and to then make sure that our savings accounts are adequately funded for the issues that we know are coming like this. Um, and to then go forward with capital projects. So that was sort of the order in which we tried to put these down. And when you're thinking about what adequate funding means for the stabilization accounts, what do you, where are you, um, pulling the information from that you use to, to determine what adequate is? Is it a million, is it 2 million is, you know, I think it's a combination of looking at how many, um, folks we would be, we anticipate we would have with retros.
▶ 21:30 Kimberly Vandiver: Obviously the largest union in the city is the schools that's, you know, that's handled on the school side. Um, fire is one of our larger unions in terms of the mem number of members. Um, and also recognizing that the longer these contracts are out, the larger the payments are. And so we're, you know, we're closing in on a year worth of retros. Right. Got it. Okay. Appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um, counselor. Thanks. Um, just for my understanding, when we talk about retro payments, does are the, are these, um, people still being paid under their previous contract and the retro payment would be for the difference under the new prob presumably more generous contract? Correct.
▶ 22:11 Mark Garipay: So everyone is still being paid under the contract that expired, and then once we pass the retro, we would then calculate the difference in pay that's owed, and that would be what we'd be looking to make as a retro payment. Great. Thank You. Councilor gpe. Thank you. Uh, Madam Chair. Chair. Sorry, Madam Mayor. Um, uh, the, I'm a big proponent of stabilization funds. Um, I think this is very, um, prudent to, to be doing this this year, especially where we know we have the money in hand right now. We don't know what we're gonna, where we're gonna be next year. So, um, I'm happy to see this and I, I'm happy to support this. That's It. Thank you. Um, councilor Fe, I just wanted ask, um, like historically,
▶ 23:00 Jen Grigoraitis: what is the balance of this fund typically? Is it around this amount? Oh, You're asking questions. I don't have the answer to. Sorry. Um, no, I think it's typically we've tried to keep it close around between a million and 1,000,005. I think it's di below a million after we made some, um, adjustments on the non-union side for city hall staff. Okay. But I can get you those numbers definitively. That's okay. I just was wondering if we were around that amount. And I agree. I like having that cushion there, um, instead of like last minute, like kinda looking for it. So Any, um, c Kara Shedi? Did I see you? I was just gonna make a motion to recommend, But second. Second. We have a motion to recommend made
▶ 23:42 Maya Jamaleddine: by counselor Kara Shedi, seconded by councilor Ro Mr. On discussion. Okay. Seeing none. Clerk Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Councillor Gerade. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Karara Shetty? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor for naca? Yes. President Elli? Yes. And Chair Jamal? Yes. That is 10. Yes. Unanimous. Thank you. And, uh, motion passes. Um, and, uh, um, and just, um, before we move to our, um, next order, I just wanted to, uh, clarify. I probably, uh, have read, um, uh, by mistake the number of, uh, order appropriation 2024 dash 15, um, wrong. So I just wanted to, uh, make it clear and correct that is, um, is 101,540 and 94 cents.
▶ 24:45 Jen Grigoraitis: So just to correct that. Um, next we have appropriation 2024 dash 18 and appropriation from pre-cash to special education, uh, special ed, uh, stabilization fund, uh, number 84 0 8 in the amount of, uh, 386,231 and 35 cents. Thank you Madam Chair. One last time. Um, so this is a request to, um, move $386,000 into our special education stabilization fund, which would bring the, the current balance is 354,000. This would bring us up to 750,000, which has always been the internal target balance for this fund. Um, I, I know everyone I think is well versed in the rising cost of special education services. The intent of this fund is to be there for out of district placements and associated transportation costs,
▶ 25:41 Ryan Williams: which while we certainly do our best to plan for can change midyear and also obviously are driven by outside factors such as, you know, the, um, state setting contract rates. So that would be the request. Thank you. I appreciate, um, the clarification. Um, uh, counselor, vice chair, uh, Williams. Sure. Thank you. Um, this goes on top of the budgeted amount for special ed, is that right? Correct. Like it comes in after that's expended? Yeah. Okay. I, I was, I was noting, and I wish I had, I had mentioned it when we looked at the school budget, I noted that the special ed line was, you know, super high. Still super high. Um, and obviously that's been a, you know, a big, a big concern for us. So it's good to see putting a healthy amount in the special
▶ 26:23 Jen Grigoraitis: ed stabilization fund because that's obviously gonna continue to be an issue for us. Mm-Hmm. So yeah, that's, that was my question. Does it come in after? So thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Councilor Stewart? Thank you Madam Chair. Madam Mayor. Uh, so with these three appropriations, um, in total, what would be the remaining free cash balance? Yeah. Um, so there is a running chart that was attached. I'm not gonna be able to do the math off the top of my head, but we've tried to provide for you what the balance is. And then as, as each order has come before you, what we would, what that number is that we're asking to be appropriated. So it would leave us with about just over, I think 1.4 million.
▶ 27:08 And then you'll see on your full council agenda tonight, you have several fairly significant capital requests coming. Great. Great. Thank you Madam Mayor. You're welcome. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay. Any, um, other question? Just gonna make a motion to recommend second, unless somebody else has a question. Uh, we have a motion made by Councilor Ro to, uh, recommend seconded by Councillor Repe Williams, uh, on discussion. No, I, I did the second. Oh. I was gonna make a motion to, we're good. Okay. Uh, on discussion. Okay. Seeing none, Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Councillor Repe. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Chetty? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Vandiver. Yes. Councillor Romanul. Yes.
▶ 28:00 Maya Jamaleddine: Councillor naca? Yes. President Elli? Yes. And Chair Jamal Dean? Yes. That's unanimous with 10? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you. Um, next we have, um, in Grant Grant 2024 dash 14 acceptance of the FY 24 Fire, uh, fighter safety Equipment grant awarded to the Mero Fire Department by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, uh, department of Fire Services in the amount of, um, nine th uh, thousand 64 and 82 cents. And we have, um, the Act Fire Chief John White. So white, Before we begin, I just wanted to take a moment to formally introduce you all to Acting Chief White and thank him for his leadership of the department. He will be running things, um, at least through the summer
▶ 28:53 Jen Grigoraitis: as we engage in a, um, formal review and hiring process. And I'm very grateful to his leadership and it's really, um, I think made a huge difference both on the management side and with our firefighters. So I will turn it over to him. I just wanted to say welcome to your first council meeting. Thank you. Thank you. And welcome to the Chamber. Good evening folks. Thank you. Um, former Chief Collina, um, put in for a grant through the, um, office of Public Safety Security Department of Fire Services. And they were awarded that grant for $9,000 $9,064. And we're just asking permission to accept the grant. Sure. That we can purchase a hose testing equipment and deposit pressure. Ventilating fan. Um, these are, um,
▶ 29:43 Maya Jamaleddine: important tools we use in the fire department. And, um, I just ask you to please, uh, accept this grant. Thank you. Any question from my colleagues? No. I'll make a motion to recommend. Second. Second. Okay. We have a motion made by Vice Chair Williams, seconded by Counselor Vandiver. Um, all in favor? Is it? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. This motion, uh, carries. It will be recommended to the full council. Thank you so much for, uh, taking on this role and we appreciate your service. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. Michelle. Make a motion to adjourn. Second, We have a motion to adjourn made by Councilor Sewer. Seconded by Vice Chair Williams. All in favor? A aye. Any opposed? Okay, we are adjourned. Thank you.