Appropriations & Oversight Committee — 2024-07-08
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
- AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE
- Public Comment
- Appropriation
- APPRO-2024-43 : An appropriation from Contract Stabilization in the amount of $502,297 to the Fire Department (#221) to fund Fiscal Year 2024 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- APPRO-2024-40 : An appropriation in the amount of 248,581.83 from Peg Access to MMTV and the School Department.
- APPRO-2024-41 : An Appropriation from Water Enterprise Reserve Account in the amount of $250,000 to the Water Enterprise Fund.
- APPRO-2024-42 : An Appropriation from Sewer Enterprise Reserve Account in the amount of $250,000 to the Sewer Enterprise Fund.
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE APPROPRIATIONS & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALENDAR● JULY 8, 2024 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Committee Meeting 7:30 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Maya Jamaleddine Chair Remote Ryan Williams Vice Chair Present Mark Garipay Present Robb Stewart Present Manjula Karamcheti Present John Obremski Absent Ward Hamilton Present Kimberly Vandiver Absent Devin Romanul Present Cal Finocchiaro Present Leila Migliorelli President, Ex Oficio Present
APPRO-2024-43 Appropriation An appropriation from Contract Stabilization in the amount of $502,297 to the Fire Department (#221) to fund Fiscal Year 2024 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Ought to Pass City Council
APPRO-2024-40 Appropriation An appropriation in the amount of 248,581.83 from Peg Access to MMTV and the School Department. Ought to Pass City Council
APPRO-2024-41 Appropriation An Appropriation from Water Enterprise Reserve Account in the amount of $250,000 to the Water Enterprise Fund. Ought Not to Pass City Council
APPRO-2024-42 Appropriation An Appropriation from Sewer Enterprise Reserve Account in the amount of $250,000 to the Sewer Enterprise Fund. Ought Not to Pass City Council City of Melrose Page 1 7/10/2024 9:55 AM
Transcript
▶ 13:33 Ryan Williams: The meeting's not closed. Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Today is Monday, July 8th, 2024, and this is a meeting of the Appropriations Committee of the City Council of Melrose. I am the Vice chair of the committee, Ryan Williams, filling in for Chair Jamal Dean. And I'm joined by voting members Councilor Rob Stewart Councillor Mark gpe. Councilor Man Karm Chaney. Councillor Ward Hamilton Counselor Devin Romano. Counselor Occhio President Leila mli, ex Officio and joined remotely by Councilor Jamal Ledine. And that's it? Yes. Okay. That's enough. Alright. This serves as a notice of a quorum for the record. So the meeting will proceed in accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Tonight's meeting is being recorded
▶ 14:14 Ryan Williams: and broadcast by our partners at MTV and live streamed on their website@mtvthree.org. At this time, I'll motion by unanimous consent to open public comment and seeing no objections. Public comment is now open. What's up? All calls have to be roll Call. Roll call. Yep. All right. Um, I'll motion to, uh, open public comment. I entertain, I I Motion to open public Comment. Thank You. Second. Thank you. Motion to open public comment by President Midgley, seconded by Councillor Stewart. Roll call. Vote please. Councillor Repe? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Carcetti. Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councillor Naro. Yes. President Elli? Yes. Um, chair Jamal Dean? Yes.
▶ 15:06 Ryan Williams: And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Ass unanimous. Okay. Public comment is now open. Uh, we have four orders in front of us today. Um, oh, we have the, do we read the American a DA Notice? You don't have to. Okay. Well, I will. City of Melrose does not discriminate based on disability and is committed to hosting accessible meetings and events. Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written material and alternative formats, or reasonable modifications and policies and procedures. In order to access the program and activities of the city of Melrose, or to attend meetings, should contact City 88 Coordinator Pauline Lata at otta@cityofmelrose.org.
▶ 15:48 Ryan Williams: Okay. Um, the first order we have before us is point Of order. I think we're in public comment right now. Oh, sorry about that. That's okay. Yeah. A little rusty. It's okay. Um, no one for public comment. No one online. No one online. Alright, great. Mr. Vice chair, I'll make a motion to close public comment. Second. Thank you. Motion by Councilor Stewart to close public comment. Seconded by councilor. Uh, president Elli. Roll call please. Councilor Gareg? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Carcetti? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Freeman naca? Yes. President Melli? Yes. Uh, chair Jamal Dean? Yes. And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Motion passes. Okay, great. We have four appropriate,
▶ 16:31 Ryan Williams: we have four orders before us tonight. All appropriations. The first is appropriation 2024 dash 43 and appropriation from contract stabilization in the amount of $502,297 to the fire department fund. Number 2, 2 1. To fund fiscal year 2024 of the collective bargaining agreement. Uh, and I will entertain a motion to suspend Rule 37 B so that we can hear from members of the city administration. Mr. Vice chair, I'll make a motion to suspend Rule 7 37 B. Second. Okay. Motion to suspend by Councilor Stewart. Seconded by Councillor Rio. Uh, roll call please. Councillor Gpe? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Chetty? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Roal. Yes. Councillor Finocchiaro. Yes.
▶ 17:17 President Melissa? Yes. Uh, chair Jamal Dean? Yes. And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Motion passes. Great. So the rules are suspended. Great. Good evening, honorable counselors. Uh, Shannon Phillips, city Solicitor. This order is before you tonight as a result of successor contract that we just entered into with the fire union, uh, a few weeks ago. Local 1 6 1 7. Um, and this contract is gonna be in effect from July 3rd, 2023 to July 28th, 26. Um, the order tonight is requesting an appropriation for the first fiscal year of the contract, which is the fiscal year that just ended. Um, and my understanding is it's coming from the contract stabilization fund. Um, I can highlight for you if few agreed upon terms from the contract,
▶ 17:57 which I did have in the memo that I submitted. Um, for the agenda as part of this meeting, um, cost of living adjustments that we agreed to 2.25 for the first fiscal year, which is the one that just passed 2%. 2%. We did do market rate adjustments as I know we've previously, um, discussed, uh, 2000 to the wage schedule in the first year, 500, the year after 500 the year after that, plus a 1% market adjustment. Um, the union also agreed for the first time to add a new position of Assistant chief, which has been attempted in previous contracts, um, and has not previously been successful. Um, ambulance duty incentive, you'll, you'll notice a lot of the highlights from this contract are relative
▶ 18:34 to the ambulance and EMT service, since that is the most difficult. Um, that's the most difficulties of the department and other departments in Massachusetts are having at the moment of hiring, um, qualified candidates to fill those positions. So you'll see we have an ambulance duty incentive that we've added another dollar 50 an hour for anyone who works on the ambulance, um, to try to get members to volunteer for those shifts. Um, an increase in EMT premium payments, which hadn't been updated since fiscal 17. Um, and there's gonna be a working group established between the union and, um, fire department admin, including the chief, which, um, to discuss policies and procedures which have long been needed
▶ 19:08 to exist in the fire department, um, in a comprehensive form. And we're gonna, um, implement the current versions within six months, um, after this council funds the contract. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions council might have. Other than that Counselor Hamilton, thank you. Thank you for being with us. And you may not have this answer, but, um, you just said that service on the ambulances on a volunteer basis, Um, no, I apologize. Um, I apologize. I miss Stoke misspoke. Um, in the past year, um, there's been a lot of forced overtimes. Okay. So what I meant by that is we're hoping to get a lot of people to take overtimes on the ambulance. Great. Thank you. That's All. I apologize. Yeah, no, no,
▶ 19:51 Robb Stewart: No, that's fine. Thanks. Uh, councilor Stewart. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you Ms. Phillips for being here. That's very helpful. Um, so when I look at the numbers, right, so COLA is 2.25 and two and two, and then the, you have a market rate adjustment that adds additional 1%. So that's gonna be, if I look at it, 3.25 and three and three, which is over 2.5% on a year to year basis. So the, the money that would cover from that, is that anticipated then to be covered by, um, the contract stabilization on an ongoing year by year basis? No. Um, so going forward this would be part of the operating budget. It's just that we have to pay the retro. So that's why it's coming from the contract stabilization.
▶ 20:41 Robb Stewart: Okay. So this retro, so then we're going to be biting into a little bit of something else because we're gonna be over 2.5% if I understand this correctly. Yes. Do you have any idea where that's gonna come from or do you, I know it's a hard question To Yeah, it would be part of the operating budget. We would just, Okay. And my second question is regarding this assistant chief, this is a new position. It would be a new position. So an added position. And what is the approximate yearly loaded cost of that resource? I, this is, it's, this is not gonna be an immediate, uh, obviously immediate addition since it wasn't contemplated in the current budget. It also needs to go through the civil ser. We also have to get a civil service,
▶ 21:23 Robb Stewart: which is an easier process, but a little bit lengthier in doing a al petition to the state. So I don't anticipate this being any time in the near future, maybe in the next few years, but yeah. Okay. So you don't anticipate this being an added resource for fiscal year 25 or even potentially fiscal year 26 is what I'm hearing? It could be possibly fi fiscal 26, but yeah. Okay. Alright. And No guarantees on the dates, but yeah, that's definitely not this fiscal year. Okay. So this, so the money that's coming from contract stabilization is not covering salary then, is what I'm hearing as well, that will then roll into the operating budget for the following year? Correct. Okay. Okay. Great. Alright. Thank you.
▶ 22:06 Mark Garipay: If that helps. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Council Carpe. Um, thank you. Um, Mr. Chair, um, council Stewart touched on a couple of my questions. Um, I understand the mayor, it's, you know, mayor's our negotiator, um, and I fully support the capital stabilization, um, for the, for the, uh, retro for the, uh, firefighters ahead. Just want to touch a little bit the question regarding the assistant chief, that which is a new position. I kind of have the same question, uh, as Council Stewart, we're gonna hold off. 'cause I'm worried if maybe until we have full staff or close to full staff, 'cause that's gonna add added expense into our overtime budget, which was already cut this year. So if I heard you correctly, we think it'll be,
▶ 22:52 Mark Garipay: that position will take place when we get closer to fully staffed. I would assume. I would, I would assume so. We haven't had those specific discussions yet, but the assistant chief will come from either the captain rank or the lieutenant rank within the department. So everyone would sort of bump up. So yeah, I think it would not be an immediate fill of that position, But as they bump up, we have more overtime 'cause we'll lose that position. Yes, Correct. That's so that all has to be taken into account, right? So this is not, yeah. And then the, the, um, only other question, I guess, um, would be for Ms. Golden Mm-Hmm. On the heels of the override a couple weeks ago that failed in a zero level funded more
▶ 23:34 or less budget for the fire department. Mm-Hmm. Do you feel that we're gonna be able to absorb this within the budget if nothing changes in FY 26? So as far as FY 25 is concerned, uh, what we do know, we still have a number of vacancies. I'm sorry, would be F 2025. I apologize. Yeah. Yeah. So we know that we still have a number of vacancies to fill. So, uh, what we saw in FY 24, there was a surplus of $235,000 in salaries for FY 24. So if we kind of follow that pattern, we've gone a couple years not being fully staffed. Um, but it is a concern once we start to get fully staffed, um, that, you know, it, we would have to look each year when we're doing the budget whether or not, um, you know, we can afford this
▶ 24:28 or make adjustments in other areas to afford it. So. Okay. If, if we were fully staffed, do we know what the annual cost would be on this? If we were fully staffed that, did we, um, have any numbers during the negotiations or We do have those numbers. Yeah. What the impact would be the one, we could get those numbers Too. We do have them, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, that was it. Thank you. Anybody else? No further questions that, what's will of the committee? Mr. Er, I'll make a motion to recommend to the full counsel. Second. Okay. Motion to recommend by Councilor Stewart. Seconded by Councilor Repe. Roll call please. On discussion. Seeing none, roll call please. Councilor Repe? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes.
▶ 25:16 Ryan Williams: Councilor Che? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor naca? Yes. President Elli? Yes. Uh, chair Jamal Dean? Yes. And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Motion passes. Great. Thank you. Next up we have, uh, appropriation number 2024 dash 40, which is an appropriation in the amount of $248,581 and 83 cents from PEG access to MMTV and the school department. And we are joined by Mary Beth from MMTV. Well, and thank you. We're still operating under suspension of the rules, so please feel free to Thank you. Let us know what your plan Is for this. Thank you for having us. It's nice to see so many of you again, good luck. As I like to say at the beginning of a term. Um, I, yeah, I'm here to speak to order 2024 dash 40,
▶ 26:13 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: which is, uh, an appropriation of $248,581 and 83 cents, which is, um, revenue that is held in the PEG access account. Yes. And, um, it, it comes from the subscriber fees that are paid by people who have Comcast and Verizon. Fewer and fewer, but, um, we're happy to receive whatever we can from them. Um, we have entered into new contracts with both, uh, providers this past year. We have a 10 year contract with Comcast and a five year contract with Verizon. So, um, we hope that, uh, people will, some people will continue with their cable and, um, that you'll appropriate the necessary funds from the excess. Thank you. Any counselors have questions? Councilor Repe. Thank you. Um, I've asked this question every year.
▶ 27:15 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: I've been on the board and I don't know that I've actually configure or have gotten an answer is on the school portion of the money that they get. How is that determined and who does determine That? That was determined? Uh, every time we renew the, every time that the contract is renewed. And the contract is, is technically between the vendor, Verizon and Comcast and the mayor, the mayor's office. So historically, um, initially when we decided to, um, share this co share this revenue with the schools, um, we negotiated with, um, let me see, who was the mayor? Um, there've been so many in my tenure. I think it might have been, I don't think it was Dick Lyons, I think it was after Dick. But anyways, um, it was determined that we would do, uh,
▶ 28:10 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: give 20% basically of the revenue that comes through to the school department in addition to that MMTV supplies. Um, much more than that because, uh, the last contract before this one, we went up to, um, 5%, um, of the, of the revenue with the providers. And that, um, part of the reason for that was because we told them that we were gonna share it with the schools. Okay. Um, I appreciate that. Um, when's the next contract up? When would the 10 years for Comcast and five years for Verizon. And Where are we in, uh, in that contract? Are we, We just, we just signed them this past year. I think it was January for Comcast in June. For Verizon. Um, and is the 20% that's decided after the fact, um,
▶ 29:00 or is that in, that's decided with Comcast? No, that's To my knowledge. I mean, you could check with the city solicitor, but to my knowledge, that is part of the negotiations, Um, through the chair. The, my memory of the contract, I don't have it in front of me, either one in front of me right now, but the amount that either Verizon or Comcast will give to the city is determined in the contract language. The split percentage. My understanding, it's always been, You know what it was Correct, Correct. Just that it is correct. Yeah. It's going back to that, the split percentage of that. It's not actually codified in the actual agreement or contract anywhere. So that can get changed if the mayor
▶ 29:34 Mark Garipay: chooses during the 10 years. Uh, I believe it has to be changed when the contract is up for renewal. Okay. And I'm not saying MMTV does a great job. I think the schools do a wonderful job too, and I'd like to support them any way possible to continue the program. Totally understand. And That's why I'm fighting, fighting for 'em. Um, yeah. And especially with the tight school budget. Um, so I think, um, can, can we get a copy of that contract? Absolutely. Thank you. Um, that's all my questions, Counselor Ro I Just have a question about, um, do these fees sustain MMTV in Yes. The school programming, or do you get funds from? Um, I, I can't really speak to the school programming. I can tell you, however, the 20% that they receive
▶ 30:25 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: through the, um, contract is augmented by our own funds. Mm-Hmm. Um, because we buy pretty much all of their equipment, and we do provide some, um, technical and educational support for the program, for the schools, for the, for the, um, audio visual program. Oh, for the school. For the schools. Okay. Yep. Mm-Hmm. Yeah. We have a great program at the high, at, particularly at the high school. I, you know, we have, um, the huddle system now, which we, um, MMTV pays for that subscription annually, which is almost $20,000 so that people can, um, access any of the sports online via, um, the YouTube channels. Mm-Hmm. So we don't really, we don't get any revenue from any of the online, um, programming that we provide via our YouTube
▶ 31:17 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: channel right now. We are advocating for that, um, at the state and federal level. Okay. Thank you. You are welcome. Councilor Gar. Just one other question and one of the comments. Um, if there's any way we can get mics with a button that we can press in the council that Get what? Mike's, Mike's that with buttons that we can press with buttons instead of being on all the time Mics. I'm not sure if that's, uh, in compliance with the open meeting law. So, counseling. Okay. Good. Solicitor, we are getting, you know, we are, we are getting more, better equipment in here in the coming year. Cameras and whatnot for the public to, to hear better. Councillor Stewart, Mr. Vice Chair, I'll make a motion to
▶ 32:07 Ryan Williams: recommend to the full council. Second. Motion to recommend by Councilor Stewart. Seconded by Councilor Karen Shady. Roll call please. On discussion. Roll call please. Councillor Repe? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Carrum Shady? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro. Yes. President Elli? Yes. Chair Jamal Dean? Yes. And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Motion passes. Cool. Thank you Very much. Appreciate your support. Next up, we have appropriation 2024 dash 41 and appropriation from the Water Enterprise Reserve account in the amount of $250,000 to the Water Enterprise Fund. And we are still under suspension of the rules. So go right ahead. Hi. Um, so we put forth, uh, the two orders
▶ 33:03 for both water and sewer. Um, for a supplemental appropriation of $250,000. We're actually recommending that they not pass. Um, on June 17th, we had to put an order in and we were concerned with the timing of some of the bills and the revenue collections. Um, but based on year end results and what we know now, um, we're actually okay. And we no longer need, um, this order. There's still a revenue shortfall for the year between the revenue shortfall, curtailing expenses, and, um, the surplus from FY 23. We will be okay, uh, for FY 24. Okay. Councilor Garipay, I'll Make a motion to, um, make a motion for appropriation 2024 dash 41. Not pass. Okay. Second motion for Councillor Repe. Ought not to pass.
▶ 34:00 Ryan Williams: Seconded by President Melli. All in favor of the motion for this not to pass. Roll call, please. That's a lot to like Councillor Repe. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Chetty. Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul. Yes. Councillor naca. Yes. President Elli? Yes. Uh, chair Jamal Dean? Yes. And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Motion to not pass PA passes. Sure. Councilor Repe. Uh, Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion that, uh, appropriation 2024 dash 42 ought not, ought not to pass. Second. Okay. So, um, for appropriation 2024 dash 42, which is an appropriation from Sewer Enterprise Reserve account in the amount of $250,000 to the Sewer Enterprise Fund, which is the sister bill to the Water Enterprise Fund account.
▶ 34:53 Councillor Garbe Motion ought not to pass. Seconded by President Melli. Roll call please. Councillor Garbe? Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Chetty? Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Na. Carl? Yes. President Elli? Yes. Chair Jamal Dean? Yes. And Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Uh, motion passes for this not to pass. Yes. Wonderful. Um, I'll entertain the motion to adjourn. Mr. Vice Chair. I make a motion to adjourn. Second. Motion to adjourn by Councillor Stewart. Seconded by Councillor Repe. Uh, roll call please. Councillor Repe. Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Chetty. Yes. Councillor Hamilton. Yes. Councillor Romanul? Yes. Council for naca? Yes. President Elli? Yes. Uh, chair Jamaleddine? Yes.