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FINCOM MINUTES 04-02-2015

Finance Committee · Record date 2015-04-02 · Record 66f13bda0ef2a2cc9d

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Town of Canton Finance Committee                       Minutes Voted on: 5/13/15
                                            Meeting Minutes                             Vote: 10-0-0
                                         Thursday, April 2, 2015


Members Present:
Rob Barker, Sepp Bergschneider, Jim Casamento, Jerry Dorfman, Nichola Gallagher, Dianne Gustafson,
Stephanie Leach, Tim McKenna, Mark Porter, Barbara Saint Andre and Jim Sims.

Members Absent:
Diane Wolff.

Guests Present:
Jim Murgia, Finance Director
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary

Opening: A meeting of the Canton Finance Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday,
April 2, 2015 in the Salah Meeting Room of Town Hall.

A.       Approval of Agenda

Chairman Porter reviewed the items on the agenda.

B.       Announcements

There were no announcements at the meeting.

C.       New Business

Vote - STM Article 1 — Amend the Zoning By-Law to add "Priority Revitalization Area C" (Canton
Center Economic Opportunity District By-Law)

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider that the motion presented by the Planning Board for STM
Article 1 as printed in the STM warrant was seconded by Rob Barker.

Mr. Barker spoke in support of the motion.

Ms. Gustafson spoke in support of the motion.

Mr. Sims spoke about his concern with regard to the projected $1.2 million revenue stream and the
$500,000 purchase price being estimated for some of the units. He also spoke about his concern as to
the remediation clean-up of the property. He referred to an article he provided to the Committee
members written by Wellesley College personnel about The Neponset River Restoration Project (see
meeting handout).

Chairman Porter stated that he was comfortable with the Developer's indication of Factory Pond natural
attenuation and monitoring planned for every five years. Chairman Porter also spoke about the one
condominium unit that would be conveyed to the Town and that the School Committee had expressed an
interest in this condo for use for guest teachers to Canton. This condominium would also give the Town
of Canton a "seat at the table" with regard to homeowner's association meetings. Chairman Porter also
stated that the Town has the option, not the requirement, to take possession of the Pond.

Ms. Leach spoke against the number of units and stated that she thought the market value is being
overvalued.

Mr. McKenna spoke in support of the project that there would be fluctuations but that if the Town could
get through the 20-year financing period, at least there would be a development with no vacant buildings
or blighted land.

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Mr. Casamento spoke in support of the project.

 Ms. Gallagher spoke in support of the project and commended those who worked on the project,

Vote: 10-1-0. Ms. Leach voted in opposition to the motion.

Vote - STM Article 2 — Amend Zoning Map by Placing Parcels Along Revere Street and Neponset
Street within CCEOD Revitalization Area C

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider that the motion presented by the Planning Board for STM
Article 2 as printed in the STM warrant was seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 9-2-0.

Mr. Sims and Ms. Leach voted in opposition to Article 2.

Vote - STM Article 3 — Vote to Create a District Improvement Financing (DIF) Program

A motion made by Rob Barker to recommend to STM the motion for Article 3 as printed in the STM
warrant was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 9-2-0.

Mr. Sims and Ms. Leach voted in opposition to STM Article 3.

Vote — STM Article 4 — Revere Street Appropriation

A motion made by Rob Barker to recommend to STM that the sum of $8,597,000 be borrowed to
finance the construction and acquisition of portions of and improvements to the Plymouth Rubber
Redevelopment project was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider.

Mr. Murgia stated that Town Counsel would be reviewing the motions.

Vote: 9-2-0. Mr. Sims and Ms. Leach voted in opposition to STM Article 4.

Vote — STM Article 5 — Acquisition of Revere Street and Neponset Street Land and Upper and
Lower Force Ponds

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider to recommend to STM the motion for Article 5 as printed
in the STM warrant was seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 9-2-0. Mr. Sims and Ms. Leach voted in
opposition to STM Article 5.

Vote — STM Article 7 — Disposition of Land

A motion made by Dianne Gustafson to recommend to STM the motion for Article 7 as printed in
the STM warrant was seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 10-1-0. Ms. Leach voted in opposition to STM
Article 7.

Vote - STM Article 6 — Recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee

A motion made by Rob Barker to recommend to STM that $1,740,000 be appropriated from the
Community Preservation Fund through borrowing for the purchase of open space at the Plymouth
Redevelopment site was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider.

Mr. Casamento spoke about his conflicted opinions about Article 6. While he was a supporter of the CPA
on the ballot, he thought that this project was how the CPA funds should be spent. He was not in support
of the bonding for this over 10-20 years. If the CPA were to be rescinded and this project was bonded
over 20 years, the Town would lose its right to rescind the CPA if it decided to do so.

Mr. Sims spoke in support of "banking" CPA funds.

Ms. Gustafson spoke in support of having CPA funds in the bonding stream because the Town would at
least have something to show for it.
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Mr. Dorfman spoke about his concern as to the revenue stream and that the matching is dependent upon
the revenue from the Town,

Vote: 7-4-0. Mr. Sims, Mr. Dorfman, Mr. Casamento and Ms. Leach voted in opposition to STM Article 6.

Free Cash Discussion — Mr. Murgia provided to the Finance Committee a worksheet on Estimated Cash
Reserves (see meeting handout).

The total reserves balance as of June 30, 2014 was $10.6 million. This represents approximately 13.2%
of the operating budget in reserves. The goal of the Finance Committee last year was to increase the
reserves to 15%.

Ms. Gallagher spoke in support of using $400,000 of free cash for a full-day kindergarten program.
Chairman Porter stated that the $400,000 would not be enough for this program.


Reopen and Vote - Article 2 Motion 2 — Non-Residents Allowed to Participate in ATM

A motion made by Rob Barker to reopen the vote previously taken on Article 2 Motion 2 was
seconded by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 11-0-0. There were additional non-residents' names added
to the list.

A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre to approve the amended motion for Article 2 Motion 2 was
seconded by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 11-0-0.

Vote - Article 5 — Collective Bargaining Agreements under the Board of Selectmen - $205,755

Mr. Murgia provided a spreadsheet for the contract costs for Articles 5 and 6 (see meeting handout).

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider to reopen the vote previously taken on Article 5 was
seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.

The BOS had voted a $442,289 increase to the FY16 municipal operating budget which included $37,000
for a Council on Aging Coordinator Position, $7,000 added to the Planning Board budget and a $31,000
increase to the Conservation Commission budget for an increase in hours from 24 to 40 for the
Conservation Agent.

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider that $205,755 be recommended to Town Meeting for
Article 5 to fund COLAs for various bargaining units (including Enterprise Funds) was seconded
by Rob Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.

Vote - Article 6 — Personal Service Contracts under the Board of Selectmen - $102,980

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider that $68,597 be recommended to Town Meeting for Article
6 to fund COLAs for personal contract and Personnel Board employees was seconded by Rob
Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.

Rescind and Vote - Article 12 Motion 10 — Mr. Murgia stated that upon further examination of the vote
taken at the ATM 2014 under Motion 4 (Fire Station 2 Repairs), the ATM14 vote had included repair for
the brick support structure supporting the historic bell (see meeting handout). Therefore, Article 12
Motion 10 for ATM 2015 was unnecessary and should be withdrawn from printing in the warrant.

A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider to withdraw Article 12 Motion 10 from the warrant was
seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.




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Vote - Article 19 Motion 8 - $99,120 — Community Preservation funds for the restoration and
preservation of the Steeple in the First Unitarian Church

During the Finance Committee meeting Chairman Porter received an email at approximately 6:45 p.m.
from Lisa Lopez stating that she had not heard back from Town Counsel with regard to Article 19 Motion
8. Mostly likely the restrictions on this project would be negotiated after Annual Town Meeting. Chairman
Porter read a motion that Ms. Lopez had emailed to him as follows:

"that the sum of Ninety-Nine Thousand One Hundred Twenty Dollars ($99,120.00) be transferred from the
Undesignated Fund Balance Reserved for Community Preservation Act for the purchase by the Town of an Historic
Preservation Restriction on the First Parish Unitarian Church for the purpose of restoring and preserving the First
Parish Church Steeple, such purchase to be conditioned upon the restoration of the Steeple in compliance with
restoration standards to be set by the Community Preservation Committee at or before the time of recording of such
Historic Preservation Restriction."

A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre that the motion read by Chairman Porter be recommended
to Town Meeting for Article 19 Motion 8 for $99,120 for the steeple restoration project at the First
Unitarian church was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider.

Some of the Finance Committee members stated that they preferred to have the motion in hand before
they took a vote on the motion. Members were also interested in making sure the church was financially
sound.

Vote: 7-4-0. Ms. Gallagher, Mr. Sims, Mr. Casamento and Mr. Dorfman voted in opposition to the motion
for Article 19 Motion 8.

Vote - Article 38 — To Approve Funding for a Comprehensive Assessment of Town Buildings and
Facilities

Mr. Murgia provided a listing of the 25 Town buildings that could be covered under this study (see
meeting handout).

A motion made by Rob Barker to recommend to Town Meeting the sum of $155,000 from free cash
to fund a comprehensive assessment of Town buildings and facilities and create a master plan for
improvements based on relative need and cost effectiveness was seconded by Stephanie Leach.

Ms. Gustafson inquired if this study was something that could be done by existing personnel. Ms.
Gustafson was also interested if there would be a commitment by the Town to follow through on the
suggested recommendations. Ms. Gustafson also inquired if the Capital Planning Committee supported
Article 38.

Mr Murgia stated that the last buildings study had been done 25 years ago by the Building Renovation
Committee and that because there was an ATM article to combine the Buildings and Property
Maintenance into the Department of Public Works, this was an appropriate time for this study to be done.

Vote: 11-0-0.

Vote - Article 40 — A Municipal Compensation/Job Description Study

Mr. Bergschneider spoke against Article 40 because he thought this should be an on-going function of the
Human Resource Administrator and Department Managers to keep the job descriptions current.

Ms. Gustafson commented that there had not been a significant increase to municipal employee staffing
and that there should be an expectation in place for Human Resources to perform this function of
reviewing job descriptions.

Mr. McKenna spoke in favor of a third party evaluating these job descriptions.

Mr. Casamento has concerns with this study as well.
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Mr. Murgia spoke in support of the compensation/descriptions study because it may help to address
complaints from employees for positions seeking upgrades.

Vote: 7-4-0. Mr. Bergschneider, Mr. Dorfman, Mr. Casamento and Ms. Gustafson voted in opposition to
Article 40.

Discussion of Free Cash — Chairman Porter stated that he had received an email from Mr. Nectow that
they were seeking the Finance Committee to reopen their vote on Article 20 (SPED Stabilization)
because the School Committee was seeking to transfer $81,000 of the $90,000 balance for their FY15
SPED budget. Chairman Porter suggested that the Finance Committee consider using $80,000 of free
cash for transferring into the SPED Stabilization for FY16.

Vote - Article 18 — Additional Local Appropriation to Supplement the Commonwealth's Chapter 90
Roads Program —

A motion made by Rob Barker that $150,000 be appropriated from free cash to supplement the
Chapter 90 Roads Program was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider.

Mr. Murgia spoke in support of using $250,000 of free cash to supplement the Chapter 90 Roads
Program. Mr. Murgia provided to the Finance Committee information he had received from the BOS
office with regarding to paving and sidewalk construction (see meeting handout).

Ms. Gustafson stated that she would like to see restrictions placed on how this supplement is spent and
also requested a more comprehensive roadway/sidewalk plan.

An amended motion made by Barbara Saint Andre that $250,000 be appropriated from free cash to
supplement the Chapter 90 Roads Program was seconded by Nichola Gallagher. Vote: 7-4-0.

Mr. Barker, Mr. Dorfman, Ms. Gustafson and Mr. Sims voted in opposition to the amended motion.

Mr. Barker requested a five-year plan be identified for the use Chapter 90 funds.

Vote — Article 20 — Transfer a Portion of SPED Stabilization Fund to Supplement FY15 SPED
Budget Deficit

A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre to reopen the vote on Article 20 was seconded by Rob
Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.

A motion made by Rob Barker that $80,000 be transferred from the School SPED Stabilization
Fund to supplement the FY15 SPED budget deficit was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider.
Vote: 11-0-0.

Article 17 — Increase Stabilization Fund

Motion 1
A motion made by Rob Barker that $100,000 be transferred from free cash to the SPED
Stabilization Fund for FY15 was seconded by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 11-0-0.

Motion 2
A motion made by Sepp Bergschneider that $600,000 be transferred from free cash to the Town
Stabilization Fund for FY15 was seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.

Vote — Article 4 — Consent Agenda -

A motion made by Rob Barker that the following articles, Articles 8 (Unpaid Bills), 10 (Transfer of
Unexpended Prior Year Appropriations), 13 (Accept Laws Enacted by the General Court (Accept
Laws Enacted by the General Court), 15 (Insurance Proceeds), 16 (Rescind Unused Borrowing
Authorizations), 39 (Title Change for Human Resources Administrator) and 41 (Consolidate
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Department of Public Works & Property Maintenance) be included in the Consent Agenda was
seconded by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 11-0-0.


D.        Other Business/Open Issues

Liaison Reports — There were no liaison reports.


E.       Approval of Minutes

A motion made by Rob Barker to approve the minutes for March 25, 2015 as written was seconded
by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 10-0-1. Ms. Leach abstained from the vote as she was not present
at the March 25th meeting.

A motion made by Rob Barker to approve the minutes for March 26, 2015 as written was seconded
by Sepp Bergschneider. Vote: 10-0-1. Ms. Leach abstained from the vote as she was not present
at the March 26th meeting.

F.       Next Meeting Date: The next Finance Committee meeting would take place on Wednesday,
April 8, 2015 in the Salah Meeting Room of Town Hall.

Adjournment: A motion made by Nichola Gallagher to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m. was
seconded by Rob Barker. Vote: 11-0-0.

Minutes reviewed by: Stephanie Leach

Respectfully submitted,



Barbara Saint Andre
Acting Chair, Canton Finance Committee




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Town of Canton
                          Finance Committee Meeting — Thursday, April 2, 2015

                                       List of Meeting Handouts


Please note: These meeting handouts may also be found on the Town's website under the Posted
Minutes section (Laser Fiche).

Amended Agenda (1 page).

Internet article, "Wellesley College/The Neponset River Restoration Project" Conservation Catalyst
Network, dated April 2, 2015, provided by Jim Sims, Finance Committee member (5 pages).

Estimated Cash Reserves, dated April 2, 2015, provided by Jim Murgia, Finance Director (1 page).

Summary of Revenues and Expenditures, dated April 2, 2015 (1 page).
Property Tax Revenue, dated April 1, 2015(1 page).
Additional Property Taxes from Debt Exclusions — Net of Reimbursements, dated April 1, 2015 (1 page).
State Aid Comparison, dated April 1, 2015 (1 page).
Local Receipts, dated April 1, 2015 (1 pages).
Transfers from Other Funds, dated April 1, 2015 (1 page).
Fixed Costs and State and County Charges, April 1, 2015 (1 page).
Municipal Departments' Operating Budgets, dated April 2, 2015 (2 pages).
Enterprise Funds' Operating Budgets Comparison, dated April 2, 2015 (1 page).

ATM 2015 Articles 5 and 6 Contract Costs, dated April 2, 2015, provided by Jim Murgia, Finance Director
(1 page).

Article 38 - To Approve Funding for a Comprehensive Assessment of Town Buildings and
Facilities — Listing of Town of Canton Owned Buildings (excludes Ice Rink), dated March 31, 2015,
provide by Jim Murgia (2 pages).

Article 18 — Additional Local Appropriation to Supplement Chapter 90 Roads Program -
Paving/Sidewalk program (BOS) as of April 2, 2015, provided by Jim Murgia, Finance Director (4 pages).

Article 19 — Recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee — Email from Lisa Lopez
to Mark Porter regarding CPA Church Project, dated April 2, 2015 (4 pages).




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