Committee Report - Finance - 6-28-18 — File 206223

Finance Committee Page 1 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 June 28, 2018 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived William A. White Jr. Chair Present Mary Jo Rossetti Vice Chair Present Ben Ewen-Campen Ward Three Alderman Present Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present Jefferson Thomas ("J.T.") Scott Ward Two Alderman Present Jesse Clingan Ward Four Alderman Present Mark Niedergang Ward Five Alderman Present Lance L. Davis Ward Six Alderman Present Stephanie Hirsch Alderman At Large Present Wilfred N. Mbah Alderman at Large Present Others present: Michael Mastrobuoni - Budget Director, Ed Bean - Finance, Mary Skipper - School Superintendent, Andre Green - School Committee Chair, Denise Taylor - PEG, Jim Halloran - DPW, Stan Koty - DPW, Joe Curtatone - Mayor, Steve McEachern - DPW, Jill Lathan - P&R , John DeLuca - Water& Sewer, Ron Bonney - DPW, Kristen Stelljes - CPA, Candace Cooper - Personnel, Peter Forcellese - Legislative Clerk. The meeting took place in the Aldermen’s Chamber and was called to order at 6:17 PM by Chairman White and adjourned at 10:00 PM. FY-19 Departmental Budget Cuts Alderman Rossetti was recused from all discussion and votes of the Cable Television PEG Access Fund, the Communications Department and Planning and Zoning Boards. Alderman McLaughlin was recused from all discussion and votes pertaining to the Police Department and HHS Teen Empowerment. Mr. Halloran clarified an issue from the last committee meeting and told the committee that 1 filled position was omitted from the FY-19 Budget Book and the Finance Department said that the bottom line will be corrected via a supplemental budget appropriation of $47,940. SOLID WASTE

Finance Committee Page 2 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 Alderman Niedergang asked how many years were left the School Custodian contract and why those jobs weren’t brought back in-house. Mr. Halloran said that the contract is negotiated each year and Mr. Koty stated that the Administration will consider bringing the jobs back before next year. Alderman White asked for a chart of solid waste and recyclable tonnages collected over the past several years and the amortization schedule for the trash and recycle barrels. Alderman Niedergang asked why the contract for solid waste was for 13 years. Mr. Koty explained that increases are spelled out in the contract. If the tonnage exceeds the estimated amount, the contract would need to be amended. Mayor Curtatone spoke about the elimination of the incinerator and the adjustments made to lower our costs by entering into an extended contract. The Administration will provide a memo with an explanation of why the contract is for 13 years. Alderman Hirsch recommended cutting $100,000 from line 529006. APPROVED on a Roll Call vote of 9 in favor (Ald. Scott, Mbah, Rossetti, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Hirsch, McLaughlin, White) to 2 against (Ald. Ewen-Campen, Ballantyne). Highway Mr. McEachern was questioned about the street sweeping contract by Alderman Scott. The committee meeting was recessed at 7:13 PM to allow the Board of Aldermen meeting to begin. The committee meeting reconvened at 8:00 PM Alderman Scott continued his line of questioning and Mr. McEachern explained that the contract is an hourly contract and the cost varies due to road/weather conditions. Alderman Scott asked if there's a baseline, given the amount of roadway being swept and Mr. McEachern answered that the baseline is what's posted on signs, i.e., 8:00 AM to Noon. Alderman Scott recommended cutting $120,000 from line 530000. NOT APPROVED on a Roll Call Vote of 4 in favor (Ald. Scott, Niedergang, Ewen-Campen, McLaughlin) to 6 against (Ald. Rossetti, Clingan, Davis, Hirsch, Ballantyne, White) and 1 absent (Ald. Mbah). Alderman Rossetti recommended cutting $75,000 from line 530000. APPROVED on a voice vote. Fleet Management Mr. Mastrobuoni explained that the salary for Mr. Bonney is listed under the Highway Department’s budget. Water – Sewer Alderman Rossetti recommended cutting $8,000 from line 524013. WITHDRAWN Additional departmental budget cuts are listed on the attached "FY-19 Budget Cuts" document.

Finance Committee Page 3 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 Submission of Orders/Resolutions The following Orders/Resolutions were submitted. Resolution by Aldermen McLaughlin and Hirsch That the Administration present a revised job description for the Environmental Health Liaison that requires candidates to have rodent extermination experience, the ability to implement the city’s rodent eradication strategy, including monitoring of hot-spots and convening street-level meetings in neighborhoods experiencing infestation and to develop plans for eliminating rodents. Resolution by Alderman Hirsch That the Administration create a Waste Reduction Coordinator (position) who will be responsible for staffing a Waste Reduction Task Force, developing both evidence-based and innovative strategies to reduce household and business waste through education/incentives, working with businesses to create packaging-free retail options, and drafting model legislation. Resolution by Alderman Hirsch That the Administration staff a contracted or salaried person with experience in systems architecture and coding, to work on integrating existing systems and help design or acquire new systems so that they may be easily linked, including linkages of the 40+ systems that relate to properties and linkages of functions that affect children and families, so that systems may be used to support and inform wrap-around services. Resolution by Alderman Ewen-Campen and the Entire Board That the Administration commit to funding a full-time legal services position that would provide free on-site legal assistance to anyone seeking assistance at Somerville’s District Housing Court. Resolution by Alderman Ballantyne That the Administration re-allocate $20,000 of the Enroot High School Out of School Program (Program Management and Budget Management), from the Economic Development budget to the SomerPromise budget. Resolution by Alderman Ballantyne That the Administration add $250,000 to the FY-19 budget to purchase additional trees. Resolution by Aldermen Niedergang and Ballantyne That the Administration and this Board create and fund an open space acquisition fund, separate from the Community Preservation Act, to acquire more open space towards the SomerVision goal of adding 125 acres of open space. Resolution by Aldermen Niedergang and Ballantyne

Finance Committee Page 4 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 That the Administration develop an open space acquisition plan that lays the foundation and groundwork for adding enough public open space to achieve the city’s SomerVision goal of adding 125 acres of open space. Resolution by Aldermen Niedergang, Hirsch and the Entire Board That the Administration install portable toilets at playgrounds and the following parks: Albion, Dickerman, North Street, Lincoln (when it reopens), Marshall Street, Chuckie Harris, Kenney, Grimmons, Healey, Hoyt-Sullivan (when it reopens) and Conway, no later than July 2018, and if necessary to test the concept, begin with a pilot program at Albion Park. Order by Alderman Niedergang That the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (Housing) develop an affordable housing program targeted especially at city employees whose income is below a certain threshold level. Resolution by Alderman Clingan That the Administration fund and launch a smart traffic flow overhaul, reconsidering the direction of every street in the city based on data collection. Order by Alderman Rossetti That this Board discusses with the Administration and appropriate personnel, the implementation of an annual Municipal Revenue Growth Factor Report. Order by Aldermen Rossetti and Ballantyne That this Board discusses with the Administration and appropriate personnel, the implementation of a Receipts Reserved for Appropriation account for proceeds earmarked for particular purposes. Order by Alderman Rossetti and the Entire Board That the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (Transportation and Infrastructure) finalize the long-awaited formation of the Urban Forestry Committee. Order by Alderman Rossetti That the Superintendent of Inspectional Services and the Director of SomerStat review with this Board, the statistics of repeat offender building violations Resolution by Alderman Rossetti That the Administration reconsider the annual salary of the Council On Aging Executive Director, increasing her total compensation to align with the numerous other Department Directors who oversee a similar number of staff and contribute to the well-being of thousands in our Community.

Finance Committee Page 5 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 Resolution by Alderman Mbah That the Administration establishes an independent task force to look into hiring more minorities and people of color in various departments, most especially the Fire and Police Departments. 206025: Requesting an appropriation of $225,971,887 to fund the General Fund Operating Budget for FY19. Amended by cutting $1,132,866 from the budget. RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED 206026: Requesting an appropriation of $1,750,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to reduce the FY19 Tax Levy. RESULT: APPROVED 206027: Requesting to appropriate or reserve $1,986,473 in estimated FY19 CPA revenue for CPA projects and expenses. RESULT: APPROVED 206028: Requesting the appropriation of $377,622 for the FY19 Cable Television PEG Access Fund Budget. Alderman Rossetti was recused from this item. RESULT: APPROVED 206029: Requesting an appropriation of $865,346 to fund the FY19 Veterans Memorial & Founders Ice Rink Enterprise Fund Budget. RESULT: APPROVED 206030: Requesting an appropriation of $41,000 from the Veterans Memorial Ice Rink Retained Earnings Account to subsidize the FY19 Veterans Memorial Ice Rink Enterprise Fund Budget. RESULT: APPROVED 206031: Requesting the appropriation of $205,000 to fund the FY19 Dilboy Enterprise Fund Budget. RESULT: APPROVED 206032: Requesting the appropriation of $17,000 from the Dilboy Enterprise Fund

Finance Committee Page 6 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 Retained Earnings Account to subsidize the FY19 Dilboy Enterprise Fund Budget. RESULT: APPROVED 206033: Requesting approval of an amendment to Ordinance 2-373 to include a Revolving Fund for Community Gardens. RESULT: APPROVED 206034: Requesting the approval of FY19 expenditure limitations for departmental Revolving Funds. RESULT: APPROVED 206036: Requesting an appropriation of $22,847,863 to fund the FY19 Sewer Enterprise Fund Budget. Amended to $22,847,402 RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED 206037: Requesting an appropriation of $14,521,861 to fund the FY19 Water Enterprise Fund Budget. Amended to $14,521,400 RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED 206038: Requesting the appropriation of $736,041 from the Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings Account to subsidize the FY19 Water Enterprise Fund Budget. RESULT: APPROVED 206159: Requesting approval to amend Ordinances 2-322 and 2-323 re: municipal salary ranges. Alderman Rossetti was recused from all discussion and votes on this item. RESULT: APPROVED 206079: Requesting a transfer of $2,576,212 from the Salary Contingency Salaries Account to the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund. RESULT: APPROVED 206080: Requesting an appropriation of $1,737,203 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the DPW Snow Removal Account to mitigate the Snow Removal deficit.

Finance Committee Page 7 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 RESULT: APPROVED 206086: Requesting the appropriation of $376,387 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the DPW Sanitation Recycling Account to mitigate a Recycling deficit. RESULT: APPROVED 206087: Requesting the appropriation of $607,279 from the Park Stabilization Fund to the General Fund Debt Service Account to pay for incurred debt service for FY18 Parks renovation and construction. RESULT: APPROVED 206089: Requesting approval of a transfer of $20,000 in the Workers Compensation Department, from various Ordinary Maintenance Accounts to the Workers Compensation Wages Account to eliminate a year end deficit. RESULT: APPROVED 206090: Requesting a transfer of $11,000 from the Veterans Services Professional & Technical Services Account to the Clerk of Committees Salaries Monthly Account to fund clerical support for the remainder of the fiscal year. RESULT: APPROVED 206091: Requesting a transfer of $10,600 from the Pension Accumulation Fund to the Pension-Non-Contributory Fund to eliminate a year end deficit. RESULT: APPROVED 206081: Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Green Line Extension Stabilization Fund. RESULT: APPROVED 206082: Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Facility Construction and Renovation Stabilization Fund. RESULT: APPROVED 206083: Requesting an appropriation of $500,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Community Preservation Act Fund. Alderman Rossetti expressed concern that the requested amount is too high. Alderman Niedergang thinks the Community Preservation Committee has used the funds well and he has no objection to the requested amount. Alderman McLaughlin is comfortable with the requested amount.

Finance Committee Page 8 of 8 Printed 8/1/2018 RESULT: APPROVED 206084: Requesting an appropriation of $500,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund. RESULT: APPROVED 206085: Requesting an appropriation of $500,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Other Post Employment Benefits Trust Fund. RESULT: APPROVED Attachment: • FY-19 Budget Cuts