Committee Report - Finance - 4-9-14 — File 196639

April 9, 2014 Finance Committee Page 1 of 5 Printed 4/10/2014 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Tony Lafuente Chair Present Maryann M. Heuston Vice Chair Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present John M. Connolly Alderman At Large Absent William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Others present: Alderman Niedergang, Kevin Kelleher, Peter Forcellese, Jr., Ed Bean, Ginger Barrett, Melissa McGeoghen, Michael Glavin, James Donovan, William Roche, Candice Cooper, Amanda Maher, Paulette Renault-Caragianes, Karthik Viswanathan, Omar Boukili Approval of the Minutes of March 24, 2014 RESULT: ACCEPTED Approval of the Minutes of March 26, 2014 RESULT: ACCEPTED 194503 - That the Director of SPCD respond in writing within 30 days with a breakdown of all funds provided through the CDBG program, DIF bonds, "I Cubed Bonds" or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and spent to fund work or purchase materials in connection with Assembly Square, whether by the City, the State, any agencies thereof, or by Federal Realty Investment Trust or any subsidiaries or related companies.: Mr. Glavin reported that this is a work in progress. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 194831 - That the Director of Finance provide this Board with a list of all contracts, purchase orders, or payments to vendors in excess of $25,000 for 2012 and 2013 (to date), whether funded through the budget or through grants, that were not publicly bid, with a brief explanation of why they were exempt.:

Committee Meeting April 9, 2014 Finance Committee Page 2 of 5 Printed 4/10/2014 RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 195373 - Requesting authorization to borrow $900,000 in a bond, and appropriate the same amount, to implement a comprehensive wayfinding plan.: Mr. Boukili spoke about the RFP and said that the city would like to get this done. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 195532 - Requesting authorization to borrow $500,000 in a bond, and appropriate the same amount, for ADA Accessibility - Building Improvements.: Mr. Boukili stated that the funds would be used for ramps, sidewalks and work in city buildings. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 195571 - Requesting an appropriation of $500,000 and authorization to borrow that amount in a bond to retain a qualified planning and land use concern to develop a major plan change to existing Assembly Square Urban Renewal Plan.: Alderman Niedergang informed the members that this item will be on a future Housing and Community Development Committee meeting agenda. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 195787 - That the Purchasing Department purchase decibel meter readers for the use of the Police and Inspectional Services Departments.: Mr. Viswanathan spoke about less expensive options that are available and Mr. Boukili will look into them. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 195833 - That the Director of Finance and the City Treasurer research the possibility of providing direct deposit pay stubs online to employees and determine the potential savings to the city by doing so.: Mr. Cooper explained that the current system utilized by the city does not have the capability to perform the function requested in Alderman Heuston's Order. Mr. Forcellese informed the committee that the city could save $100,000 per year by moving to another system. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196040 - Requesting an appropriation of $93,500 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the DPW Buildings and Grounds Moving Services Account to clean out the Homan's Building and the Powderhouse School Building.:

Committee Meeting April 9, 2014 Finance Committee Page 3 of 5 Printed 4/10/2014 Mr. Koty stated that the requested amount is lower than the original estimate. RESULT: APPROVED 196145 - That the Administration provide this Board with a copy of the recently executed 5 year partnership agreement with Tufts University, including all payments in lieu of taxes.: The information will be emailed to all BOA members. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 196164 - Requesting an appropriation of $490,000, and authorization to borrow $490,000 in a bond, for a new HR and Payroll system.: Mr. Roche and Mr. Viswanathan spoke about potential savings to the city, lower maintenance costs and up-front costs. The bond would be for 10 years. The same system is presently being used by Brookline and Lowell. The committee requested the following information: 1) a graph that shows the real costs, 2) hardware costs 3) software costs 4) warranty information RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196191 - Conveying the partnership agreement with Tufts University.: The information will be emailed to all BOA members. A motion that the Chief Assessor provide the Committee on Finance with a list of all property owned by Tufts University in Somerville, the assessments of said properties, payments by Tufts to the city, and what Tufts would pay if they actually paid taxes, was approved. The committee requested the following information relative to Tufts: 1) the number of applications to Tufts from SHS students, 2) the number of acceptances, 3) the amount of financial aid offered, 4) the amount of financial aid paid out. The committee also requested the following information: 1) what Cambridge receives from Harvard University and MIT

Committee Meeting April 9, 2014 Finance Committee Page 4 of 5 Printed 4/10/2014 2) what Medford receives from Tufts RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196227 - That the Director of Finance and this Board’s Committee on Finance review the attached article on Arlington’s “visual budget”.: Mr. Bean will report back on this item. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196241 - Requesting an appropriation of $200,000 from the Sewer Retained Earnings Account to the Capital Improvements Account for East Broadway drainage improvements.: Ms. Barrett, Ms. McGeoghen and Mr. Koty discussed the project. RESULT: APPROVED 196244 - Requesting an appropriation of $65,820 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for the purchase of two Hurst Rescue Tool Systems for the Fire Dept.: Chief Kelleher spoke about the need for this equipment. RESULT: APPROVED 196245 - Requesting an appropriation of $47,500 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for the purchase of 4 thermal imaging cameras for the Fire Dept.: Chief Kelleher spoke about the need for this equipment. RESULT: APPROVED 196248 - Requesting an appropriation of $5,791 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for a dryer for firefighter protective bunker gear.: Chief Kelleher spoke about the need for this equipment. Mr. Bean reported that there is $1,822,000 in the Capital Stabilization Fund. RESULT: APPROVED 196265 - Updating this Board with respect to Partners Healthcare at Assembly Row.: Mr. Boukili reported that there is no agreement with Partners Health Care yet and Mr. Glavin stated that negotiations are taking place between FRIT and Partners to convey the property. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Committee Meeting April 9, 2014 Finance Committee Page 5 of 5 Printed 4/10/2014 196288 - Requesting the transfer of a parcel of land at 163 Glen Street to the Redevelopment Authority for neighborhood development.: Mr. Glavin distributed a plot plan of the lot and explained that the land reverts back to the city once the veterans post ceases to use it. The intent is to attract development of family housing. It is unknown if the lot is contaminated. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196289 - Requesting the expenditure of FY14 funds totaling $167.41 to pay an outstanding prior year invoice in the Police Department.: RESULT: APPROVED 196320 - That the Director of Finance submit to this Board, a report of all new appropriations from July 1, 2013 to date and identifying all new appropriations approved.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 196327 - Requesting a transfer of $4,000 within the Public Health Dept., from its Salaries Account to its Professional and Technical Services Account, to hire an emergency preparedness consultant.: Ms. Renault-Caragianes spoke about the need for the position. RESULT: APPROVED 196329 - Retirement Board notifying this Board of intention to vote at a regular meeting on a Cost of Living Adjustment for eligible retirees for 2014.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 196595 - Requesting the acceptance of a Working Cities Challenge grant totaling $100,000 from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for the development of a workforce training program.: Amanda Maher spoke on the item. RESULT: APPROVED