Committee Report - Finance - 1-24-11 — File 190770

January 24, 2011 Finance Committee Page 1 of 4 Printed 1/25/2011 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Maryann M. Heuston Chair Present William A. White Jr. Vice Chair Present John M Connolly Alderman At Large Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Present Anne Thomas OSPCD Present Ed Bean Finance Director Present Stan Koty DPW Commissioner Present Monica Lamboy Exec. Director, OSPCD Present William M. Roche Ward One Alderman Present Omar Boukili Administrative Assistant Present Ellen Schneider Landscape Planning Manager Present Doug Willardson Auditing Present 190590 - Requesting an appropriation of $127,000 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to study the potential acquisition of certain properties in Union Square for a new Main Library and municipal facility.: Ms. Lamboy withdrew the request. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 190592 - Requesting an appropriation of $22,400 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to conduct an exterior envelope study of the High School.: The funds will be used to evaluate and prioritize repairs that need to be addressed as soon as possible. RESULT: APPROVED 190593 - Requesting an appropriation of $21,800 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to conduct a City Hall facade and interior renovation study.:

Committee Meeting January 24, 2011 Finance Committee Page 2 of 4 Printed 1/25/2011 RESULT: APPROVED 190636 - Requesting approval to accept a PARC Grant of $256,000 from the Division of Conservation Services for Dickerman Playground construction costs.: RESULT: APPROVED 190637 - Requesting the appropriation of $400,000 in Capital Funds from the Assembly Square Stabilization Fund for Dickerman Playground renovation.: The park construction cost is estimated to be $400,000. The state will reimburse the city 64% of the cost ($256,000) and the city will be responsible for the remaining 36% ($144,000). RESULT: APPROVED 190639 - Requesting acceptance of a PARC Grant of $384,000 from the Division of Conservation Services for Morse-Kelley Playground construction costs.: RESULT: APPROVED 190640 - Requesting approval to appropriate $600,000 in Capital Funds from the Assembly Square Stabilization Fund for Morse-Kelley Playground renovation.: The park construction cost is estimated to be $600,000. The state will reimburse the city 64% of the cost ($384,000) and the city will be responsible for the remaining 36% ($216,000). RESULT: APPROVED 190642 - Requesting the acceptance of a $403,200 PARC grant from the Division of Conservation Services for the acquisition of 3 parcels at 15-25 Cross Street East (Map 89, Block K, Parcels 14, 15, and 16).: The city was awarded this grant for the acquisition of 3 parcels to be used in the construction of a new Harris Park. The existing park will be disposed of through an open acquisition process, with the proceeds of the sale going to the Assembly Square stabilization fund. RESULT: APPROVED

Committee Meeting January 24, 2011 Finance Committee Page 3 of 4 Printed 1/25/2011 190643 - Requesting the appropriation of $630,000 in Capital Funds from the Assembly Square Stabilization Fund for the acquisition of three parcels at 15-25 Cross Street East (Map 89, Block K, Parcels 14, 15, and 16).: RESULT: APPROVED 190705 - Requesting the acquisition of three East Somerville parcels at 15-25 Cross Street East (Map 89, Block K, Parcels 14, 15, and 16) for a new Harris Park.: RESULT: APPROVED 190706 - Requesting the appropriation of $170,047 from the Receipts Reserved for Appropriation-Insurance Losses Acct. to DPW and Police Flood Costs Accts. to pay expenses related to the July 10, 2010 Flood.: $7,680 of these insurance funds will be used in the Police department with the balance being allocated to the DPW. The city has been working closely with the insurance company on settling the claim from the recent flood and there are just 2 items in dispute at the Capuano School. Chairman Heuston requested a breakdown of the claims, showing what was and wasn't paid for by the insurance company. RESULT: APPROVED 190707 - Requesting the transfer of $6,454 from the Water Enterprise Salary Contingency Acct. to the Water Enterprise Salaries Acct. to establish the position of Director of Administration & Finance, Water/Sewer Enterprise Funds.: This new position is being created to manage the $28 million in revenue generated by the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds. The position of Director of Operations in the Water Department has been vacant and will be eliminated and the payroll funds for that position will be utilized for this new position. The committee requested a copy of the job description by this week's Board of Aldermen's meeting and also asked that the Water Superintendent be available to address the committee's concerns. RESULT: APPROVED 190738 - Requesting authorization to enter into a contract with City Solutions Inc. to operate a modular news rack program for 10 years.: This program is being offered to both the city and publishers at no charge. The vendor generates revenue from the sale of advertising space on the racks, none of which would be alcohol or tobacco related, and returns 5% of that revenue to the city. In addition, the city would be

Committee Meeting January 24, 2011 Finance Committee Page 4 of 4 Printed 1/25/2011 provided with advertising space at no cost. Before the program could be implemented, a change would have to be made to the current ordinance governing newsracks. There was some concern that this program might defeat the purpose of the current ordinance since publishers would not have to participate in the program. Members suggested that the vendor appear before the Legislative Matters Committee to discuss the program in more detail and that the City Solicitor be asked to provide some input. Chairman Heuston asked that the distributed map be updated to show 1,2 and 3 box locations. The committee also requested that a copy of the contract be provided for review. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE