Committee Report - Finance - 12-14-20 — File 211057

Finance Committee Page 1 of 5 Printed 12/15/2020 December 14, 2020 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jefferson Thomas ("J.T.") Scott Chair Present Katjana Ballantyne Vice Chair Present William A. White Jr. City Councilor At Large Present Mary Jo Rossetti City Councilor at Large Absent Wilfred N. Mbah City Councilor at Large Present Councilor-at-Large Mary Jo Rossetti was not present due to attending a Somerville High School Building Committee meeting. Others present: Khushbu Webber-Mayor’s Office, Alan Inacio-OSPCD, Edward Bean- Finance/Auditing, Alex Lessin-Water & Sewer, Steve MacEachern-DPW, Balkys Sicard-DPW, Lauren Racaniello-Mayor’s Office, Deputy James Stanford-SPD, Chief Charles Femino-SPD, Luisa Oliveira-OSPCD and Jill Lathan-Parks & Recreation. The meeting was held virtually and was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairperson Scott and adjourned at 7:28 p.m. Approval of the November 23, 2020 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 210455: That the Chief of Police provide to this Council an itemized statement of all materials, tools, and property owned or leased by the City for use of the Police Department. The chair stated that items 2 and 3 have been on the agenda for a while. The administration did not have any updates for tonight’s meeting. Chair Scott will follow up with the new police chief. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 210456: That the Chief of Police provide to this Council an itemized statement of any equipment purchased on behalf of employees of the Police Department which became the individual employee's property.

Finance Committee Page 2 of 5 Printed 12/15/2020 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 210754: Special Counsel submitting a Home Rule Petition to permit Cambridge to provide, at no cost to Somerville, snow plowing and removal, water, storm water drainage, sanitary sewer, police, fire, and other emergency services to the Somerville building in the development known as Cambridge Crossing. Chair Scott stated he did not see any problems with this request and that the city administration also supports the Home Rule Petition. RESULT: APPROVED 210834: That the Commissioner of Public Works provide this Council’s Finance Committee with every invoice from the Fleet Division's Ordinary Maintenance budget for FY21 year to date, including documentation supporting encumbrance figures listed in the current Munis report. The chair stated the council received communication on this matter at last city council meeting. There are 8 different invoices as of late October. Ms. Sicard stated that all invoices have been paid YTD along with documentation supporting the invoices as of October 31. There are other encumbrances pending post October 31 with commitments for the fleet division. Ms. Sicard stated that having a contract does not mean that a PO is created for the contract. It depends if the work is going forward. The chair stated he will revisit this matter in the new year. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 210859: Requesting acceptance of a $295,463 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Office to the Police Department to fund E911 personnel costs. The Chair stated he had conversation with Ms. Webber about series of grants and which were recurring grants. Ms. Webber stated she sent an email to the committee last Friday with updates on this matter. The committee did not receive this information. The Chair asked for Ms. Webber to forward email to him and the committee to review. Councilor Ballantyne stated she did not have a problem going through the requests and would listen to Deputy Stanford responses. If there are questions, they will leave in committee until they receive the email. Chief Femino stated the email states there are no grants recurring every year. Chief Femino believes SPD has applied for this grant as far back as 2014. Councilor White asked if this is a grant that is fully funded in the budget and then they apply for the grant to put the funds back into General Funds. This question was confirmed by Chief Femino. RESULT: APPROVED 210861: Requesting acceptance of a $89,234.57 grant with no new match required, from the State E911 Office to the Police Department for 911 training and the certification of 911 telecommunicators.

Finance Committee Page 3 of 5 Printed 12/15/2020 RESULT: APPROVED 210865: Requesting acceptance of an $6,233.33 grant with no new match required, from the MA Dept of Public Health to the Police Department to purchase and provide training for Naxalone. RESULT: APPROVED 210867: Requesting approval of a contract extension for the KZLA Architects construction administration contract for services at Prospect Hill Park. Items 210867 and 210868 were discussed together. Ms. Oliveira stated both extension are due to COVID-19. RESULT: APPROVED 210868: Requesting approval of a contract extension for the NELM Corp construction contract for services at Prospect Hill Park. Items 210867 and 210868 were discussed together. Ms. Oliveira stated both extension are due to COVID-19. RESULT: APPROVED 210904: Requesting acceptance of a $50,000 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for the purchase of maritime equipment to enhance responses to marine incidents. Deputy Stanford and Chief Femino were asked if this is one time. Chief Femino stated this is the 2nd year this grant SPD has applied for the grant. The fund will be used for improvement at boat house location for lighting and expand docks for community and department use. SPD will also purchase portable radios which would normally come out police budget. Councilor Ballantyne asked how will the money be divided from DCR, Parks & Recreations and now SPD. She also asked if the money coming from this grant will be for police use only. Ms. Lathan stated she has been working with SPD and they have a boat there with approval by DCR. Ms. Lathan also stated there is a need for extra security and lighting. Councilor Ballantyne stated that since this is a shared area with P&R and now SPD, she wants to make sure the funds will be used for the Blessing. Additionally, Councilor Ballantyne would like a report breaking out how the funds will be used from the grant. Chief Femino does not know how the funds will be broken out at this time and will break it down as it is spent. The chair asked the Chief for a breakdown from the previous year. Chief Femino will provide that information. RESULT: APPROVED 210905: Requesting acceptance of a $24,500 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Office to the Police Department to fund E911 emergency medical dispatch

Finance Committee Page 4 of 5 Printed 12/15/2020 services. Chief Femino stated SPD has been receiving for many years. RESULT: APPROVED 210915: DPW Director of Administration and Finance responding to #210748 with DPW expenses since FY19. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 210941: Requesting an appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,591,206 in a bond for Dilboy Stadium improvements. Ms. Oliveira stated the finance committee had seen this project before. Ms. Oliveira provided slides for tonight’s meeting. Please see attached for details. She stated the turf field was constructed in 2006 and is very poor condition, as well as, a safety hazard. There will be drainage improvement. The track and field are very worn and possibility of injuries. The running track will be resurfaced. They are reviewing with engineering due to stormwater issues. The materials for field are the same used in East Somerville Community School and Capuano and proposing the same for Conway. There will be various levels for drainage. The Conservation Commission has been involved in the project. Ms. Oliveira stated the turf material has a 10-year warranty and is recyclable. The field will be open in July. No work on the actual stadium. Councilor Ballantyne stated there was a community meeting last September. She supports the project. The field needs to be redone. There were discussions with Mr. Bean about bonding. Councilor White had questions about the debt summary, combining short- and long-term debt. Mr. Bean stated the total would be $330M if count total short- and long-term debt which also includes the $23M for the high school. Councilor White asked for the percentage, its principle and interest and figure how long the band will last. Mr. Bean stated that on long term plan will probably increase up to 7% in 2030 year with the current debt. Mr. Bean will put information on the finance website for the residents to understand. Councilor White would like a more precise listing what the anticipated debt will be for the city. Councilor Ballantyne had a question on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was presented to finance committee and what the change is from last one to this MOU. She had requested the difference previously which will be sent to her in writing. Councilor Ballantyne also asked if there are capital investment in the Dilboy area. Ms. Lathan will provide information in writing, but stated that one of the changes is 10 year vs. 5-year agreement. Additionally, there is ongoing work needed for the Dilboy pool to make sure it has mechanical function needed. The biggest change is relating to the track and field. Parks and Recreation worked very closely with DCR to get the work done. Councilor Ballantyne asked if it’s common procedure for director of finance to look at MOU coming down the pipeline. RESULT: APPROVED 210945: Requesting acceptance of a $400,000 PARC grant that requires a match, from MA Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to the Parks and Urban Forestry Division for

Finance Committee Page 5 of 5 Printed 12/15/2020 Prospect Hill. Mr. Inacio stated this the second follow up grant received. They were going through accounting and noticed they had not accepted the grant. This request will even out the accounting. The match required is not new money and has already been allocated through CPA. RESULT: APPROVED 210946: Requesting acceptance of a $75,000 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for expenditures and backfill/overtime for the Special Response Team. Chief Femino stated that 50% for training and 50% for equipment. Asked how many members there are and there are 14 officers involved on the team. Chair Scott would like a breakdown on what the grant was spent on last year before Thursday, this week. RESULT: APPROVED 211009: Requesting the transfer of $9,900 in the Sewer Enterprise Fund, from its Sewer Repairs Account to its Judgments and Settlements Account, to settle a pending claim. Mr. Lessin stated the pending claim related to 211033 that the law department put forward to reimburse a resident who hired a private contractor to make repairs. The property had a sewer main backup and hired a private contractor to fix it. The homeowner filed the claim and this is to reimburse the homeowner. RESULT: APPROVED 211008: Requesting the appropriation of $143,766 from the Receipts Reserved Insurance Reimbursement Account to the DPW Highway Capital Vehicle Account, to replace the bucket truck that caught fire in 2018. Mr. MacEachern stated this vehicle had faulty equipment and this is the result of the insurance money collected by the city. The funds will be used to purchase a new bucket truck. RESULT: APPROVED Handouts: • 2020.20.08 Dilboy MOA-executed (with 210941) • debt-summary-12.14.20 City Council (with 210941) • Dilboy Stadium Finance Comm Dec 14 2020 (with 210941) • Dilboy Stadium Improvements Debt Service (with 210941)