Committee Report - Finance - 4-30-15 — File 199143

Finance Committee Page 1 of 4 Printed 5/1/2015 April 30, 2015 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Tony Lafuente Chair Present Maryann M. Heuston Vice Chair Absent Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present John M. Connolly Alderman At Large Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Others present: Alderman Niedergang, Alderman McLaughlin, Peter Forcellese, Jr. - Treasurer, Bruce Desmond - CIO, Suzanne Rinfret - T&P, Robert King - Capital Projects, Ed Bean - Finance, Michael Glavin - OSPCD, Alan Ignatio - OSPCD, Eileen McGettigan - Law, Omar Boukili - Mayor's Office 1. Approval of the March 24, 2015 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 198160: Requesting an appropriation of $500,000 and authorization to borrow that amount in a bond for a comprehensive planning effort for Assembly Square. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198669: Requesting approval of the 2015-2016 HUD One Year Action Plan, for CDBG, HOME, and ESG programming. Mr. Ignatio and Mr. Glavin spoke on the item. OSPCD is required to file an annual One Year Action Plan in order to qualify for any federal funding. Members were told that the yearly plans follows the track of the 5-year plan. Mr. Ignatio explained the entitlement grant formula and Mr. Glavin noted that 1 or 2 items had minor changes, but still remain in the focus of the plan, so additional approval isn’t needed. RESULT: APPROVED 198670: Requesting to pay outstanding FY14 invoices totalling $9,438.42 in the Traffic and

Finance Committee Page 2 of 4 Printed 5/1/2015 Parking Department. Ms. Rinfret Suzannne reviewed each of the invoices and explained why they were not paid. RESULT: APPROVED 198672: Requesting approval to create a Tufts University Consolidated Gift Account. Mr. Bean explained that Tufts makes a yearly payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) of $250,000. In addition to that payment, Tufts also makes a donation of $75,000 to the city to be used for educational, recreational or cultural purposes. This request is to create a separate gift account (Tufts University Consolidated Gift Account) for convenience and tracking purposes. Alderman Connolly’s motion that the Administration communicate to the Board of Aldermen, how any Tufts University Consolidated Gift Account funds will be spent; and further recommends that the Administration prioritize the distribution of funds so as to benefit the city’s seniors, children and veterans, was approved. Alderman McLaughlin (speaking from the audience) clarified that the BOA has no oversight of these funds and expressed his concern regarding the sum donated by Tufts. Mr. Boukili noted that Tufts is under no obligation to make a donation and assured members that the city continues to make the best deal possible for the city in this regard. Alderman Niedergang (speaking from the audience) and Alderman Ballantyne also expressed disappointment with the sum donated by Tufts. After a vote of 2 in favor and 2 against, this item is being referred to the BOA without a recommendation. RESULT: DISCHARGED W/NO RECOMMENDATION 198673: Requesting the acceptance of a donation of $75,000 from Tufts University for educational, recreational, or cultural purposes. See 198672 (above). This item is being referred to the BOA without a recommendation. RESULT: DISCHARGED W/NO RECOMMENDATION 198752: Requesting an appropriation and authorization to borrow $603,998 in a bond for an Information Technology Virtualization Project. Mr. Desmond explained that the city needs to update some IT systems and recommends moving forward with virtualization technology, essentially a grouping of new software and technology. Such a move would be beneficial to the city by reducing costs and energy consumption, allowing for faster resource provisioning and easier backups, reducing the number of disruptions, freeing the city from being locked into a vendor and providing a head start to cloud technology.

Finance Committee Page 3 of 4 Printed 5/1/2015 There was a discussion about the language in the bond request and Mr. Forcellese informed the members that outside counsel is used whenever there is a bond request and that he would follow up with counsel to verify that the request is written in such a manner as to cover the scope of proposed upgrades. The requested amount in this item would cover upgrading about 65-70% of the city’s servers. RESULT: APPROVED 198754: Requesting the use of $177 in available funds from the Health and Human Services Salaries Account for the new Shape Up Somerville Director salary. RESULT: APPROVED 198755: Requesting approval for the Personnel Dept. to use FY15 funds to pay a FY14 invoice of $1,192.06. RESULT: APPROVED 198928: Requesting the acceptance and appropriation of $328,445.30 from US2 into the Union Square Stabilization and Revitalization Fund. Ms. McEttigan explained that the developer, US2, is required to make periodic payments to the city to cover the city’s expenses for planning consulting services and outside counsel related to the development of Union Square. RESULT: APPROVED 198936: Requesting an appropriation of $539,670.30 from the Union Square Stabilization and Revitalization Fund for services in connection with the redevelopment of Union Square. This item is to authorize payment of the city’s expenses related to the development of Union Square bills. The committee requested copies of the invoices and any relevant contracts prior to voting on this matter at the next Finance Committee meeting. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198980: Requesting the transfer $47,000 within the Engineering Division, from its Salaries Account to its Professional and Technical Services Account, to fund certain engineering services. Mr. King explained that the request is to for consulting services in the absence of having an engineer on staff. Alderman Niedergang commented that he has not received a response to his

Finance Committee Page 4 of 4 Printed 5/1/2015 prior request for a written statement of who the city is relying on for engineering services. Members were told that the information will be ready by the next regular BOA meeting. RESULT: APPROVED 199068: Requesting an appropriation and authorization to borrow $120,000 in a bond for Engine 7 Roof Replacement. Mr. King spoke on the item. RESULT: APPROVED