Committee Report - Finance - 6-22-10 — File 189854

June 22, 2010 Finance Committee Page 1 of 4 Printed 6/24/2010 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Maryann M. Heuston Chair Present William A. White Jr. Vice Chair Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Present John M Connolly Alderman At Large Absent Rebekah L. Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present William M. Roche Ward One Alderman Present Sean T. O’Donovan Ward Five Alderman Present Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present Walter F. Pero Ward Four Alderman Present Tony Pierantozzi Superintendent of Schools Present Mark Niedergang School Committeeman Ward Five Present Adam Sweeting School Committeeman Ward Three Present Marueen Bastardi School Committeeman Ward One Present M. Teresa Cardoso School Committeeman Ward Two Present Christine Rafal School Committeeman Ward Four Present Paul Bockelman School Committeeman Ward Six Present Mary Jo Rossetti School Committeeman Ward Seven Present Matthew Dias Administrative Assistant Present Robert C. Trane Ward Seven Alderman Present The Committee met as a COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. 189788 - Requesting Approval of an Appropriation of $165,507,404 to fund the Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Budget for the City of Somerville: Superintendent Pierantozzi presented the School Department’s FY-11 appropriation request of $48,759,034 and spoke about the declining revenue trend over the past three fiscal years. The FY-11 budget recommends that $710,000 be used to retain special education teachers, MCAS remediation program and paraprofessional staff and that at least 50% of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds be used for strategic investment, i.e., Literacy and Math Coaching, Inclusion Specialists, Program Development, Technology and Staff Development. These funds may be used through September, 2011. The FY-11 request is an increase of 2.09% over last year’s appropriation. Operation expenses have increased by $375,827 and salaries have increased by $1,023,151. The School Department will be entering negotiations for an effective date of January 1, 2011, so compared to this year, there will be very few salary increases next year. A staff decrease to the local appropriations from FY-09 to FY-11 equals 39.3 FTE and was

Committee Meeting June 22, 2010 Finance Committee Page 2 of 4 Printed 6/24/2010 accomplished through the use of ARRA funds, the growth of self-funded programs and attrition and retirements. Essentially, the staffing level has remained stable but the impact on the local appropriation has decreased. Superintendent Pierantozzi spoke about the proposed SomerPromise initiative explaining that by interfacing various segments, everyone’s service is improved and more services can be delivered with less people. The 1st year would concentrate on data collection. He sees the School Department playing a massive role in this program. Mr. Niedergang added that the program would also provide a mechanism for the city to leverage additional amounts of grant funding. Requests for Information • Alderman O’Donovan asked for information on how many out of district students are being serviced by the Next Wave and Full Circle programs and the amount of revenue/profit thus derived. • Alderman White requested a spreadsheet showing class sizes from 5 years ago to be used for comparison to this year’s figures. • Alderman O’Donovan asked for a list of class sizes for the high school. • Alderman White suggested that it might be helpful to have a detailed list of all School Department expenditures in the future. • Alderman Taylor requested job descriptions for the employees being laid off in the Recreation Department. • Alderman Taylor requested to know if there was any employee who got a $24,000 salary increase from FY-10 to FY-11. • Alderman Taylor requested an explanation of the criteria needed for library certification. • Alderman O’Donovan requested to know which departments (including the School Department) have had personnel and/or salary increases in the FY-11 budget. Include the individuals’ names, if possible. • Alderman Gewirtz requested that information regarding the revenue brought in by Parking Control Officers be put in writing and submitted to the committee. • Alderman White requested that the DPW Commissioner provide supplemental information on the cost of street sweeping equipment. • Alderman White requested that Ms. Lamboy be present at the June 29th Finance Committee meeting to address questions regarding the amount of tickets issued and revenue collected by Inspectional Services. Motion: by Alderman Sullivan That the Board of Aldermen go on record to encourage the Administration and the school custodians to bargain in good faith to agree upon a fair contract. Approved on a Roll Call vote.

Committee Meeting June 22, 2010 Finance Committee Page 3 of 4 Printed 6/24/2010 RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Heuston, White Jr., Desmond, Gewirtz, Taylor, Roche, O’Donovan, Sullivan, Pero, Trane ABSENT: John M Connolly • Public Hearing A Public Hearing was convened at 7:20 PM on the proposed FY-11 budget and several members of the public exercised their right to speak on the issue. A summary of the comments follows: • Surprised to see pay raises given when jobs are being eliminated, • Setting precedent of irresponsibility • Urged to negotiate in good faith • Pass the budget on merit and try to lessen the hardship • There seems to be a pattern of replacing union jobs with part timers and the city is treating people the wrong way. Pensions are being lost. The Aldermen need to take a stand and work harder to find the money to save jobs • Supports the efforts of the Board of Aldermen and the Administration in dealing with the budget before them • It’s time people start to work for the community and not just for the money • Eliminate the Christmas lights, fireworks and the flowers along Broadway to help to save jobs • 311 team is the face of the city and is providing vital services to residents • Custodians help the morale of the schools • Custodians are part of the fabric of a great educational system • School custodians are known to the children and considered as family • Teachers are dedicated and compassionate and administrators are needed • Maintain funding for school programs • Children need to come first - would prefer that the city had no parades or fireworks and had less frills to spare cuts • This is the 2nd year of cuts in both Recreation and Libraries • Library staff should be retained • Opposed to hiring individuals for less than 20 hours per week as a means to avoid paying benefits • The library has provided fond memories to families and budget cuts would effect the services provided • If library loses its certification, borrowers would not be allowed to borrow from other libraries

Committee Meeting June 22, 2010 Finance Committee Page 4 of 4 Printed 6/24/2010 • Libraries are the cultural centers of a community • Ed Halloran, from the SMEA, asked the members to the Mayor to restore the 8 jobs being cut in the Library and Recreation Departments. He noted that the union has offered concessions each year, but cuts continue to be made, noting that librarians have been cut 20% over the last 2 years • Richard Rogers from the Greater Boston Labor Council compared privatization to union busting. He told the members that union official Louis Mandarini had a conversation with Mayor Curtatone and said that for now, the mayor has agreed to resume negotiations with the custodians to try and resolve the issue and come to an agreement. • Ron Bonney, a member of the Financial Advisory Committee, told the members that if the city was participating in the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health plans, none of the impending cuts would be necessary. The city could save $9 million by joining the GIC and he suggested that the unions consider this when the topic is discussed, because it appears that the financial picture for next year will be worse. Mr. Bonney added that the management decision was made in good faith and that he would support the budget before the committee. • Stephen Mackey, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, testified in favor of the budget. The Public Hearing was closed at 9:05 PM. Chairman Heuston will keep the record open for 24 hours to accept written comment.