Committee Report - Finance - 2-9-11 — File 190820

February 9, 2011 Finance Committee Page 1 of 3 Printed 2/10/2011 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Maryann M. Heuston Chair Present William A. White Jr. Vice Chair Absent John M Connolly Alderman At Large Absent Rebekah Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present Omar Boukili Administrative Assistant Present Monica Lamboy Exec. Director - OSPCD Present Tony Pierantozzi Superintendent of Schools Present Vincent McKay Asst. Superintendent of Schools Present Jessie Baker Director of Personnel Present Sarah Kloos Asst. Director of Personnel Present Stan Koty DPW Commissioner Present Steve MacEachern Supt. of Lines and Lights Present David Salvi Deputy Fire Chief Present Dave Shapiro Asst. City Solicitor Present Thomas Pasquarello Police Chief Present Stephanie Hirsch SomerPromise Present Ed Bean Director of Finance Present Alderman Sullivan was appointed to the committee for this meeting only so that a quorum could be maintained. 190075 - That the Director of Finance Provide This Board with Information Regarding Monthly and Quarterly Variance Reports by Department, or the Method by Which Actual Departmental Expenses Are Reconciled to the Budget on a Regular Basis.: The committee reviewed financial data for departments whose mid-year expenditures have exceeded 50% of their budget. Mr. Bean and various department heads provided explanations for the increased expenditures. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190348 - Requesting approval to establish a Private-Purpose Trust Fund for the activities of the SomerPromise Program.:

Committee Meeting February 9, 2011 Finance Committee Page 2 of 3 Printed 2/10/2011 Mr. Shapiro explained that a revolving fund allows departments to spend funds without further appropriation and a private purpose trust fund is an arrangement whereby the city holds funds in a trustee capacity as an agent for individuals, private organizations or government units. The committee requested that a member of the Board of Aldermen be appointed as a trustee and Mr. Shapiro stated that in order to effectuate this request, a language change to the Declaration of Trust would be required. Chairman Heuston noted that the Board of Aldermen will have financial oversight as defined in the trust document. Questions were raised regarding the longevity of the Trust and the possibility of the Trust evolving into a non-profit or private organization. Alderman Gewirtz’s motion that the language of the SomerPromise Declaration of Trust be changed to allow the President of the Board of Aldermen to appoint a member of the Board of Aldermen as a trustee of the city’s SomerPromise Trust, was approved. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190547 - Requesting the acceptance of a grant of $18,850 from the Dept. of Environmental Protection for the city’s recycling program.: RESULT: APPROVED 190709 - Requesting acceptance of a grant of $8,400 from the State Office of Public Safety to the Police Dept. for traffic enforcement.: Funding from this grant will be used for Drunk Driving, Over the limit, Under arrest enforcement. RESULT: APPROVED 190710 - Requesting the expenditure of a grant of $7,815 from the State Office of Public Safety and Security for the Fire Dept.’s SAFE Program.: The funds will be used to provide fire safety education to children in the City of Somerville. RESULT: APPROVED 190782 - Requesting acceptance of a Sustainable Community Challenge Grant of $1.8 million from the Dept. of Housing & Urban Development for several SPCD initiatives, including the Comprehensive Plan, Green Line planning, a rewrite of the zoning ordinance, streamlining the permitting process, and a land bank for affordable housing.: Ms. Lamboy told the members that this grant includes funding for the positions of Area Planner, Zoning Planner and an Operations Manager (in the Inspectional Services Department). The bulk

Committee Meeting February 9, 2011 Finance Committee Page 3 of 3 Printed 2/10/2011 of the $1.3 million grant will go towards the city's land bank. It was recommended that the details and programs of this grant be presented to the board at a future meeting. RESULT: APPROVED 190744 - That the Director of Finance appear before the Committee on Finance with the meals tax receipts (adjusted for the increase in the rate) over the past five years and discuss their impact, especially on the state of the restaurant business in Somerville.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190800 - Requesting acceptance of a donation of $10,000 from Spectra Energy Transmission to support community-based projects involving the Dept. of Public Works.: RESULT: APPROVED 190801 - Requesting acceptance of a donation of $5,000 from Powederhouse Productions to support community events, programs and other municipal initiatives.: RESULT: APPROVED