Committee Report - Finance - 12-10-14 — File 198216

December 10, 2014 Finance Committee Page 1 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014 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 Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Also present: Alderman Mary Jo Rossetti, Alderman Mark Niedergang, Peter Forcellese. Jr., Ed Bean, Omar Boukili, Police Chief Dave Fallon, Nancy Bacci, Jill Lathan, Ron Bonney, Betsy Allen, Stan Koty, Michael Glavin, Ed O'Donnell, Marc Levye, Robert King, Stephen Mackey, Tom Bent, Stanley Pollack, Danny McLaughlin, Sue Thomas Approval of the Minutes of October 28, 2014 RESULT: APPROVED Approval of the Minutes of November 12, 2014 RESULT: APPROVED 195532 - Requesting authorization to borrow $500,000 in a bond, and appropriate the same amount, for ADA Accessibility - Building Improvements.: Stan Koty and Betsy Allen distributed a 2 page document listing proposed locations for ADA signs and other building improvements relating to ADA. The locations include schools and City Hall. There was a discussion about the signs and the overall plan and Chairman Lafuente asked that real numbers, not estimates, be provided when requesting funds. Additionally, he would like to see the plan, where the work will be done, specifics for all expenditures, including a prioritization of the large ticket items and a copy of the previous report for ADA improvements. RESULT: APPROVED

Committee Meeting December 10, 2014 195734 - That the Administration provide this Board with a breakdown of special events (festivals, concerts, road races, etc.), indicating if they are/were city sponsored and/or privately sponsored, and including city expenditures for each.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 195769 - Requesting approval to appropriate $106,812.60 from Free Cash to the Highway Professional & Technical Services Account to provide the first year of GPS monitoring services for city vehicles.: 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.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196058 - Assistant City Solicitor responding to #195769 re: GPS devices on city vehicles and collective bargaining rights.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196125 - Sanford Pooler submitting comments re: #195769, installing GPS devices in city vehicles.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196588 - That the Recreation Superintendent appear before this Board to provide an update of all expenditures for the current fiscal year.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 196859 - Director of Finance submitting a report on SPCD Professional & Technical Services Accounts.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197349 - That the Commissioner of Public Works provide this Board with the invoices for electric light poles as they are purchased in FY15.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE Finance Committee Page 2 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014

Committee Meeting December 10, 2014 197850 - That the Director of Finance and/or the City Treasurer report to this Board on what categories of grants, gifts, payments, donations, etc. and by what type of entities need to be formally accepted by a vote of this Board and which do not require official acceptance.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197880 - That the Director of Finance and the Chief Assessor provide a 5-year projection of new commercial office and new commercial retail revenues.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197881 - That the Chief Assessor report the addresses of all commercial properties that have decreased in land or building value.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197922 - That the Director of SPCD provide administrative support and funding for a Main Streets initiative for the Beacon Street corridor.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197926 - Requesting authorization for a time extension for the Gilbane Building Company, to March 31, 2015, for work on the East Somerville Community School.: RESULT: APPROVED 197928 - Requesting a transfer of $8,000 from the Executive Summer Jobs Youth Program to various Recreation Dept. Ordinary Maintenance Accounts to fund a Girls Basketball Program.: Ms. Lathan explained that the previous program was lacking volunteers and funding is needed to make the program stronger and more sustainable. Alderman Ballantyne requested a copy of the current budget for girls and boys basketball. Mr. Bean spoke on the parental involved over the previous years, adding that he does not believe the program will survive without the recreation department's intervention. RESULT: APPROVED 197929 - Requesting a transfer of $8,000 from the Executive Summer Jobs Youth Program to various Recreation Dept. Ordinary Maintenance Accounts to fund a Boys Basketball Program.: See 197928, above. Finance Committee Page 3 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014

Committee Meeting December 10, 2014 RESULT: APPROVED 197976 - That the Director of Capital Projects present to this Board, no later than January 22, 2015, a 5- and 10-year plan for the use, development and sale of City buildings.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197988 - That the Administration work with this Board to reschedule the community meetings currently set for November 19 and 20.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197989 - That the Administration hold off from advertising the proposed community meetings on #196116, re: commercial and residential property tax valuations, and immediately direct the Communication Department to cease advertising as well.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 197990 - That the Director of Finance create a database to track developers’ contributions to stabilization funds and how those funds are utilized.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198001 - Requesting the acceptance of a $3,000 grant from the Somerville Health Foundation, for the Council on Aging's "fit for life" program at the Cross Street Center.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198023 - Finance Director responding to #197850 re: grants and donations that require this Board's approval.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198062 - Requesting an appropriation of $1,012,171.75 for the cost of DPW equipment and Departmental vehicles and authorization to borrow $1,012,171.75 in a bond to meet the appropriation.: Mr. Bonney spoke about the FY-15 Fleet Improvement Plan. Alderman Heuston spoke about the number of vehicles being added instead of using private vehicles and how much the city expends for car allowances and reimbursements for gas. Alderman Heuston moved to sever the ISD and motor pool items from the order. Finance Committee Page 4 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014

Committee Meeting December 10, 2014 Alderman White requested a detailed breakdown for the ISD portion of this item. Mr. Boukili will have the item resubmitted, without the ISD and motor pool vehicles, at the December 11th BOA meeting. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 198063 - Requesting an appropriation of $200,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Health and Human Services Professional and Technical Services Account to fund enhanced youth services programming.: Nancy Bacci talked about the RFP that went out to enhance the Youth Services programming. Discussions were held on increasing the capacity with more staff to work with the Police, Recreation, Library, Schools and Health and Human Services Departments. The biggest issues the program will address are depression and mental health. Most of the funding will be for full time staff. RESULT: APPROVED 198064 - Requesting a transfer within the Water Enterprise Fund of $60,000 for an increased scope and time extension for full replacement of the water main at Beacon St.: RESULT: APPROVED 198065 - Requesting the acceptance of a grant of $39,946 from the MA Department of Agriculture for the Health & Human Services Department's Shape Up Program to expand the food production/distribution triangle.: This is a duplicate item. (Same as #198129 below) RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 198066 - Requesting acceptance of a grant of $23,895 from the Office of Justice Programs FY15 Byrne JAG Grant for Police Department programming.: Chief Fallon stated that the funds would be used to increase the hours of the JAG coordinator. RESULT: APPROVED 198067 - Requesting the acceptance of a grant of $10,000 from CHNA 17, for the Health & Human Services Dept.'s SCAP Youth Leadership Program to increase youth engagement in social marketing prevention strategies.: RESULT: APPROVED 198068 - Requesting acceptance of a grant of $9,990 from The State Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for underage alcohol enforcement.: Finance Committee Page 5 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014

Committee Meeting December 10, 2014 RESULT: APPROVED 198069 - Requesting the acceptance of a grant of $5,000 from the MA Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division for the Police Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enforcement initiative.: RESULT: APPROVED 198070 - Requesting the acceptance of a reimbursement of $3,770.61 from Federal Realty Investment Trust for 2014 Riverfest event expenses.: RESULT: APPROVED 198071 - Requesting acceptance of a grant of $2,000 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for child passenger safety equipment.: RESULT: APPROVED 198127 - Requesting an appropriation of $25,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Police Department Professional and Technical Services Account to fund a drug prevention program.: RESULT: APPROVED 198128 - Requesting the use of $1,155 in available funds for a LGBT Liaison position in the Health and Human Services Department Salaries Monthly Account, to increase outreach and engagement for a 6 month period.: RESULT: APPROVED 198129 - Requesting acceptance of a $39,946 MA Department of Agriculture Grant to support and expand the Health and Human Services Department's Shape Up Somerville Food Production/Distribution Triangle.: Nancy Bacci said the grant will help with learning about technology and agriculture. Ten new micro farms and a pilot a chef’s market are planned. RESULT: APPROVED 198130 - Requesting the acceptance of a grant of $10,605 from Metro North Regional Employment Board, for the Health and Human Services Department to fund employment, training and support services for youth.: Finance Committee Page 6 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014

Committee Meeting December 10, 2014 Finance Committee Page 7 of 7 Printed 12/11/2014 RESULT: APPROVED 198131 - Requesting approval to accept a $10,000 CHNA 17 Youth Leadership Development Grant for the Health and Human Services Department for youth programming.: RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 198160 - Requesting an appropriation of $500,000 and authorization to borrow that amount in a bond for a comprehensive planning effort for Assembly Square.: Mr. Glavin and Mr. O’Donnell spoke about increasing the city's economic base. The appropriation is for a comprehensive plan for the area that is not part of the Partners and FRIT development and would encompass approximately 60 acres. Alderman Heuston requested data for each item in the preliminary budget for the Assembly Square study plan, including:  a description of the benefit of the expenditure of that particular item to the future development of particular parcels at Assembly Square,  goals for the expenditure,  anticipated potential for influencing and directing the use of parcels by current or future works and  how the plan can be proven to be efficacious and incorporated into zoning in some fashion. Alderman Niedergang requests that the proposal be flushed out with full details and also commented on the need to hire outside consultants because the internal staff is currently working on the Somerville by Design project. Residents spoke on this item mentioning the value to bring in outside work and other expertise and the expansion of the City. Attorney Richard DiGirolamo spoke on behalf of some of the property owners in Assembly Square and said that they welcome the opportunity to work with the City of Somerville and to share their vision. Mr. Wig Zamore believes Assembly Square has suffered a little by not having a master plan. He distributed a document showing that Somerville currently has .5 jobs per resident worker, whereas Boston and Cambridge have 2.0 jobs per resident worker. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE