Committee Report - Finance - 4-20-16 — File 201331

Finance Committee Page 1 of 5 Printed 4/26/2016 April 20, 2016 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Tony Lafuente Chair Present Maryann M. Heuston Vice Chair Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Others present: Alderman Dennis Sullivan, Alderman Mary Jo Rossetti, Alderman Mark Niedergang, Nancy Bacci - HHS, Bruce Desmond - IT, Charles Quigley - Engineering, Doug Kress - HHS, Russell Koty - OSPCD, Peter Forcellese, Jr. - Treasurer, Ed Bean - Finance, Rob King - Capital Projects, Dick Bauer - CPA, Kristen Stelljes - CPA, Emily Monea - SomerStat, Glenn Ferdman - Library, Ida Cody - Auditing, Eileen McGettigan - Law, Frank Wright - Law, Charles Sillari - Clerk of Committees The meeting took place in the Committee Room and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Alderman Lafuente and adjourned at 7:00 PM. Document List: • Police Headquarters Feasibility Study (with 201098) • FY16 CPA Funding Recommendations (with 201172, 201175-79, 201279 • FY16 non-bonded funding reserve allocations (with 201172, 201175-79, 201279) • FY17 Water Main Projects (with 201173) 201098: Requesting an appropriation of $52,000 from the Capital Stabilization Fund to conduct a Police Department Headquarters Feasibility Study. Mr. King stated that the study is centered around six tasks concerning the Police Department’s Union Square building. He spoke about each task and noted that the first two were the most critical. Alderman Ballantyne stated that this item was purposely kept in committee pending additional information from the mayor. Alderman White spoke about the several big ticket items being proposed by the Administration, e.g., a new police station, a new high school and a new city hall, and pointed out that the city has never faced this much bonding. Chairman Lafuente

Finance Committee Page 2 of 5 Printed 4/26/2016 does not want to expend the funds on a study if the project is not going to go forward. The item will remain in committee until the mayor makes his presentation. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 201276: Requesting an appropriation of $385,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Law Department Legal Services and Professional and Technical Service Accounts for outside legal counsel and technical consulting services. Mr. Wright discussed the cases needing outside counsel and the steps that need to be taken. He told the members that the Ch 91 case requires a great deal of work and is extremely expedited. Alderman Ballantyne asked how much has been spent on each case and Mr. Wright replied that answering that question now could jeopardize a case and added that executive session may be appropriate. He will provide a sheet with the funds spent on each case. Alderman White expressed concern about the approaching end of the fiscal year and asked if the funds are needed in the next few months. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 201277: Requesting a transfer of $60,000 from the Judgments and Settlements Account to the Law Department Legal Services Account to fund outside counsel services. See 201276 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 201278: Requesting a transfer of $20,000 from the Law Department Salaries Account to the Law Department Legal Services Account to fund additional outside counsel costs. See 201276 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 201172: Requesting authorization to borrow $2,500,000 in a bond, and appropriate the same amount for the rehabilitation of West Branch Library, with debt payments to be funded through CPA revenue, through the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. Mr. Bauer discussed the community preservation plan and stated that some funds were allocated to the affordable housing trust fund. Various CPA projects were discussed. Ms. Stelljes said that the CPC recommends bonding for the wall and roof work. RESULT: APPROVED

Finance Committee Page 3 of 5 Printed 4/26/2016 201175: Requesting to appropriate $423,480 from the CPA Fund Historic Resources Reserve and Undesignated CPA Fund Balance for the rehabilitation of the Somerville Museum, including ADA accessibility, per the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. RESULT: APPROVED 201176: Requesting to appropriate $400,000 from the CPA Fund Open Space and Recreation Land Reserve to rehabilitate Hoyt Sullivan Playground per the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. RESULT: APPROVED 201177: Requesting to appropriate $150,000 from the CPA Fund Undesignated CPA Fund Balance for the creation of a Local Historic District Property Owner Preservation Fund per the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. This item would provide funds to owners of homes or businesses. RESULT: APPROVED 201178: Requesting to appropriate $60,160 from the CPA Fund Open Space and Recreation Land Reserve for the Rehabilitation of South Street Farm per the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. RESULT: APPROVED 201179: Requesting to appropriate $20,000 from the CPA Fund Open Space and Recreational Land Reserve for design services for the rehabilitation of Allen Street Park per the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. RESULT: APPROVED 201279: Requesting to appropriate $26,808 from the CPA Fund Undesignated CPA Fund Balance for design services for the rehabilitation of Milk Row Cemetery per the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee. Alderman White was recused from all discussion and votes on this item.

Finance Committee Page 4 of 5 Printed 4/26/2016 RESULT: APPROVED 201180: Requesting the acceptance and appropriation of an additional $40,000 from US2 Associates into the Union Square Stabilization and Revitalization Fund. RESULT: APPROVED 201181: Requesting an appropriation of $40,000 from the Union Square Stabilization and Revitalization Fund for services in connection with the redevelopment of Union Square. RESULT: APPROVED 201182: Requesting authorization to pay FY2015 invoices totaling $15,395 from FY2016 Funds in the Information Technology Department's Ordinary Maintenance Budget. Mr. Desmond explained that the vendor had to resubmit invoices. RESULT: APPROVED 201183: Requesting the acceptance of a grant of $44,500 from Metro North Regional Employment Board for the Health & Human Services Department's summer youth employment program. Ms. Bacci said that this grant would fund 25 summer jobs for at-risk youths. RESULT: APPROVED 201184: Requesting the acceptance of a grant of up to $37,321.70 from National Grid, for the SPCD Housing Division's residential energy efficiency efforts. Alderman McLaughlin was recused from all discussion and voted on this item. Mr. Koty discussed the grant. RESULT: APPROVED 201173: Requesting authorization to borrow $138,000 in a bond, and appropriate the same amount for design services as part of the MWRA Local Water Assistance Program. Mr. Quigley explained that this is a no interest loan that will be used for design services and construction oversight. Mr. King noted that this is for the design only and that a separate request for construction funds would be submitted at a later date. RESULT: APPROVED 201174: Requesting an appropriation of $320,493 from the Parks Stabilization Fund to the

Finance Committee Page 5 of 5 Printed 4/26/2016 General Debt Service Fund for Debt Service of Park Renovations. Mr. Forcellese explained how the funds were obtained. RESULT: APPROVED