Printer Friendly Layout

News/Events - Meeting Minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Cook, Chair, Anthony Antoniello, Constantine Constantinides, Maura Curran, Tony Villani, Karen Connolly

ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Rick Agnew, Town Administrator

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mr. Cook called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. at Scituate Town Library.

2. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:

On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Connolly, the agenda was approved by unanimous vote (6-0).

3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:

On a MOTION by Ms. Connolly, SECONDED by Ms. Curran the minutes from 1.22.09 were approved as amended by unanimous vote (6-0).

4. REVIEW BUDGETS
Budet-241 Inspections
• Mr. Neil Duggan represented department.
• Mr. Tony Villani updated the Committee on the budget.
• A 3% increase for the building commissioner and a senior clerk that works 30 hours per week.
• There is a part time clerk and five inspectors. The clerk gets paid hourly and the inspectors are paid for each inspection. The inspectors are 1099 workers and with one exception they do not receive benefits.
• Maintenance and repairs to the town owned truck used by the building commissioner. The vehicle is 10 years old; replacement will be needed in the coming years.
• Printing is done by the Inmate Print Shop at the Plymouth Court House of Corrections.
• The town reimbursement rate increased from $0.32 to $0.40 per mile. The 25% increase in the reimbursement rate resulted in a commensurate increase in the budget.
• Southeastern Mass. Bldg. Inspectors Association membership provides the inspectors with low cost, in some cases the only offering of, training. The building commissioner keeps the department’s legal fees down by keeping up with changes and trends in zoning laws by reading the zoning case studies in Lawyers Weekly.
• Over time the weights and measures equipment needs to be replaced at a cost of approximately $1,500. Recently the department ordered jackets for the inspectors. Helpful to identify workers especially in schools.
• Accomplishments are the inspection of damaged homes in the aftermath of Turner Road gas explosion. Ordered demolition, boarding of damaged homes and clean up of site, which has been accomplished. Continue work with homeowners and their insurance companies to insure damaged dwellings are properly repaired and inspected.
• Investigated Scituate Rod and Gun Club building and zoning violations. Sent cease and desist. Working towards a resolution with neighbors, club members and their attorneys. ZBA action is pending.
• 2010 Operational Challenges: setting up and learning how to operate the new Permitting software, which includes organizing over 10 years of archived records.
• It is a goal to step up the zoning enforcement efforts with recent illegal sign campaigns and ticketing. These duties will increasingly be handled by Nicole Harris in her new capacity as assistant zoning officer. She continues her duties as secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Public Records Searches – building commissioners department is frequently receives subpoenas or summons for information. In some cases the inspectors are called into court as expert witnesses. In one case, the department was requested to furnish 20 years of zoning decisions on flood plain matters, requiring the staff to search through 20 years of papers and plans by hand.
• Any reduction would most likely come from an already frugal Inspections part-time budget.
• There is a tax credit of $750/year for senior citizens if they do work for the town. They could help inputting records.
• Permits are down 15%. Each building permit may be for additions it may not be new constructions.
• Ms. Curran wanted to know where department stood year-to-date. Mr. Duggan estimated $30- $40K in January.
• Mr. Constantinides questioned the inspection workers and how they are organized and paid. Mr. Duggan explained. If one reached their cap, Mr. Agnew told they would go to the reserve fund for money.

On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED BY Mr. Villani, Budget- 241 for $202,281 was approved unanimously (6-0).

Budget-210 Police
• Chief Stewart represented the Police Department.
• Mr. Villani updated the Committee on the department’s budget.
• Revenues are $98,381 from grants to supplement the budget. Community Policing Grant for $13K, 911 Telecomm Grant for $28K, Federal Click It or Ticket for $8,500 and under age Alcohol Enforcement Grant for $4,900.
• There are 31 full-time employees, 5 seasonal patrol and 3 permanent part-time staff.
• Overtime is level funded for 2010.
• July 3rd and 4th all police are on duty.
• The Gate Gym is funded by overtime. Keeps kids off the street.
• Many line items in budget are due to contractual obligations.
• Purchase of Services is level funded except for large items.
• Repair Maintenance of Property Equipment is level funded.
• Training was reduced from $13,500 in FY2009 to $10,500 in FY2010.
• Support Services is level funded. $27,000 was the cost around the Fourth of July.
• Mileage Reimbursement was increased from $.32 to $.40. For going to court and training in personal vehicles.
• Materials and Supplies is level funded except for large ticket items.
• Fuels and Lubricants – the Town Administrator put in the budget $14,000 less than the department requested based on current gas prices.
• Equipment is level funded at $99,210.
• The K9 Unit that is a few years old is doing well. It is considered a key accomplishment.
• Another accomplishment is the “Records Management Computer Aided Dispatch” system completed in July 2008. It increased efficiency. Freeing up the dispatcher.
• A savings of $14,000 due to a renegotiation with dispatchers union to allow three part timers to share midnight to 8 a.m. shift.
• Drug trafficking in area was cut down due to Lieutenant Mike Stewart’s involvement with the Federal Drug Task Force.
• OCPACT – Old Colony Police Anti Crime Taskforce allows officers from town to town to perform their duties in another town.
• Challenges include the difficulty of level funding’s impact to the purchase of services and materials and supplies. Also balancing the staff.
• Mr. Villani applauded the department’s commitment to technology.
• Mr. Antoniello asked about replacing 3 cruisers this year and asked if it was average and Chief Stewart told him it was the cycle they were in.
• Ms. Connolly asked about shift differentials and was told it was contractual.
• Ms. Connolly asked about the fines. $34K in tickets. Motor vehicles are state laws but we do have town traffic regulations.
• Ms. Curran asked about neighboring towns regionalizing their 911 service. Chief Stewart told her that it has not yet happened however he would be interested in it if it does work. Mr. Agnew reported that this was looked at several years ago but decided not to proceed because the unions were an issue, towns wanted their own fire, and a number of other factors.

On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Ms. Connolly Budget-210 for $3,184,993 was approved by unanimous support (6-0).

Budget-220 Fire
• Chief Rick Judge represented the department.
• Mr. Villani provided the update.
• They are on track year to date.
• There are 55 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. The number stays consistent for FY2009 and FY2010.
• Overtime decreased to $360,000 in FY2010, which is a $70K difference. Mr. Agnew said he did not cut a position. He cut overtime rather than a position. This gives Chief Judge more discretion.
• Mr. Agnew stated it is approximately a level funded budget.
• Training decreased by $5000.
• S.A.F.E. Program (Stay Alive From Education) is level funded. Paramedics talk to students about making good choices about drinking, drugs and seat belts usage by talking about tragedies the paramedics encounter.
• Part-time salaries decreased to $18,000 from $20K
• Sick Leave Buyback was level funded at $21,000.
• There is an 11% increase in the amount budget for electricity.
• Equipment parts is level funded at $75,000. There are a lot of older vehicles and they cost a lot to maintain.
• Diesel prices have gone up in past year. The amount requested is $35,000 for fuels and Lubricants, which is $11,550 less than the department request of $46,550. This line item is contingent on fuel prices.
• Accomplishments cover the revamping of the in-house Advanced Life Saving management team. They now have 4 group stewards with 1 coordinator, which oversee, train and mentor the paramedics on their shift.
• Promoted a health fitness culture among the firefighters.
• Vehicle maintenance is handled by one of the firefighters, which is a big cost saver, and he will be sent for certification.
• No major injuries this year is the biggest achievement and due in part to the healthy initiatives set in place.
• Operational Challenges are that there is no capital money available so the vehicle replacement schedule is askew.
• If there are personnel cuts the ability to handle the rising number of incidents will be affected.
• A 10% reduction would result in personnel cuts.
• Ms. Connolly asked about appealing to community for donations. She suggested appealing once in a while to community. Mr. Agnew stated that it would be taken under advisement.
• A few grants were in this year. They will try again this year. Homeland security dried some of those funds up.
• The budget reflects a 3% increase in salaries however it has not been settled on.
• Computer server is 13 years old and lost its capacity. $20K is estimated to redo the system.

On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Mr. Villani, Budget-220 for $4,108,202 was approved by unanimous support (6-0).

5. REVIEW ARTICLES
• Mr. Agnew briefly went through the articles as follows:
• Mr. Cook and Committee discussed Advisory Committee Assignments. Mr. Cook will make suggestions at next meeting.
• Mr. Constantinides will distribute information he has regarding health insurance and municipalities.
• Ms. Requested a formal update from Mr. Roberts on 2010 State Aid that he distributed via email

6.OLD BUSINESS – None

7. NEW BUSINESS -
Next week’s schedule was outlined as follows:
• Group insurance - employee benefits
• Dept and interest

The February 12th Advisory Committee Meeting will cover the schools and CPC.

On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Mr. Villani, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 by unanimous vote (6-0).

Respectfully submitted by Heather Dwyer.