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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 05/16/05 ;~~ 1 \t \.:D ("'"I ,.: n.,~:-r:: 'CF , I I .. (' Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen C' 5 r'l {\ Y 2 6 ~.!~ 9: 3 I Minutes of May 16, 2005 i.. , ..... . ;'[ '0' t I f II i.....,- M~, c:<:; '~'l""111c:.ETTS .".1'., y'....,..: ", '.I i ~ :~.'..,.,; Present: Chairman Roger Achille, Vice Chairman Bernard Dolan, Clerk David McCarter, Selectman Louis Amoruso and Selectman Michael McCue Town Manager John D' Agostino The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Chairman Achille. Finance Committee Members Present: Chairman Andy Gazzo10, Greg Arnold, Jess Aptowitz, Jack Goldberg, Jim Lazarra, Charlene Lavin and Mike Sams. School Committee Members Present: Chairman Mike Trowbridge, Steve Greenberg, Frank DelVecchio and Jean Miller Superintendent John Moretti Mr. Gazzolo said that a semi-deal has been made and wants to know if the Board of Selectmen is agreeable. The Town Manager said that the vote of the Finance Committee was not to use stabilization. He said that in order to balance the budget, it was not something that the Finance r Committee wanted to do. The Town Manager suggested looking at stabilization. He met with Nancy Hinote and they took a look at Andy's suggestion of taking the $100,000 in high growth and the Town Manager said that he expects the Senate to allocate more funding in their budget. The Town Manager went on to say that his concerns with using stabilization is that there is a $1.2 million nut and that he and Superintendent Moretti both recognize that revenue projections for FY07 aren't going to be more significant than FY06. He added that if additional revenue does come in from the final budget, that money would be committed to stabilization. The Town Manager said that the issue is that we have is that the motion on the floor is the Finance Committee's motions. He understands that there is a movement afoot to bring more money to the schools with a further motion. The Town Manager said that he if he had his way, he would not use stabilization. The good news is that it is less than the million than the town used last year and could be even less if more money comes in from the state. Chairman Achille said that if we have a million left in stabilization, we may need an override if we get the same state aid as this year. The Town Manager said that we have committed a lot of money to future years - $647,000 to a capital bond authorization. Selectman McCarter said that if we use less stabilization next year, then we are weaning ourselves off of stabilization. ".- The Town Manager said that the real issue is that we have the ability to share in the stabilization use - unless something changes on the floor of Town Meeting. The town side is balanced in the Town Manager's opinion. He added that we would end up with much-needed personnel- Police, Fire, COA, DPW - we tried to create a win-win situation. Mr. Greenberg Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 16, 2005 1 r r ,.--. said that he is concerned about the staffing on the town side and very concerned about the staffing on the school side and that he hasn't heard anyone mention the topic of override. Mr. Gazzolo said that if we do this, we are pushing for an override next year - unless we can cut people, not requests, we are in an override position. Mr. Greenberg said that we should be talking about it this year and Selectman McCue said that we need to talk about concretes. Mr. Sams said that there are two ways to address the problem - increase the revenue pot or to control our costs/reigning in salaries, benefits and costs. We can't continue to go up 6-8% every year. He added that we need to make a commitment to controlling our costs before we talk about an override. Mr. Greenberg said that we are increasing our class sizes and Mr. Gazzo1o said that we need to look at fees. The Town Manager said that we were given a number and we met it and he believes that our public safety is in jeopardy. Selectman Dolan asked Superintendent Moretti how many more students are coming into the school system next year and the Superintendent replied 115. Selectman Dolan said that the perception is that who cares what happens to the town after the kids leave the school system. Superintendent Moretti said that we were called her to agree on a motion or we can have this debate on the floor of Town Meeting. He went on to say that he and the Town Manager agreed on $31,680,000 for the school's budget with the use of $335,000 from stabilization. Mr. Gazzo10 said to Mr. Trowbridge that we need to look at contract negotiation issues for the future and Mr. Trowbridge replied that the schools aren't giving up the ship and that he doesn't know how the town does their negotiating. Mr. Goldberg said that we need a systemic change/shift so that we don't have the same problem year after year. The Town Manager noted that you have to be careful in how you approach contract negotiations because you don't want to end up with more legal fees. Mr. Sams said that people should sit down ahead of contract negotiations to talk about revenue projections, etc., so we don't end up like this every year. The Town Manager said that we should have an intelligent discussion about what contract negotiations should be like globally. Mr. Sams said that we need a coordinated plan. The Town Manager said that contracts come up next year - the school meets in two years. Selectman Amoruso said that we need a five-year master plan and he said that this may be a workable plan but we need a permanent solution for next year. Mr. Lazarra said that this amount coming out of stabilization will bite us next year and Selectman Amoruso agreed. Mr. Gazzo10 suggested postponing some things on both sides until the fall to see if the money comes in. Selectman McCue said that if the Board made a commitment to call a fall Town Meeting, they would do it. Selectman Amoruso asked what the schools could cut if they can't touch teachers, textbooks, etc. and Superintendent Moretti said that he would have to cut from the special education tuition account. He further added that come next spring, we would come back looking for the special education tuition account plus possibly more. Mr. DelVecchio said that he doesn't see the benefit of waiting until the fall. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 16, 2005 2 r Superintendent Moretti said that in order to get to the school's budget to $31,680,000, the School Committee is considering generating $85,000 in additional fees. If we take the scenario we are talking about, we are artificially reducing our budget. If we lose the $335,000 and wait until the spring Town Meeting, when we start our budget for next year, you will see a minimum of $335,000 for special education tuition accounts. Selectman Amoruso said that the town leaders need to present a plan that people will understand and Mr. Sams added that we also need to let the townspeople know how we are going to solve the problem in the future. Mr. Moretti said that historically, our collective bargaining has averaged 3%, but we have gone to 2% - that is short money. He said that the things you are asking us to change, it can never be changed - step changes and lane changes. Selectman Amoruso said that a long time ago, the School Committee agreed that there was no raise, and the unions went along with it - the lane changes and step changes still went up. Selectman McCue asked Superintendent Moretti if he would be willing to consider the article relative to the consolidation of services and Mr. Gazzo10 replied that the article was being withdrawn by the Finance Committee but that the three grOUpS would meet to discuss. The Town Manager said that there would be a use of $500,000 of stabilization funds and ".- Selectman McCarter said that if we all agree on these numbers, will the schools ask for more? Mr. Moretti said that this would cut: a 2nd grade teacher, a 3rd grade teacher, a reading specialist, an assistant principal, a .6 physical therapist - all existing; and 3 high school teachers that were requested. He added that class size at the high school will be over 30. Mr. Lazarra said that there is a risk of bringing this to the Town Meeting floor and Chairman Achille suggested that we adjourn to tomorrow night when we can all vote on this and the Town Manager said that people are going to vote on a budget tomorrow that we do not have. Finance Committee Motion: To have the Town Manager go to Town Meeting with a balanced budget (Lazarra - no second) Selectman McCue asked Mr. Lazarra if the motion he just made is saying that the Finance Committee is endorsement of the use of stabilization. Mr. Sams said that there is an understanding that if there is a surplus of funding in the fall from the state, any revenue money that will come in as free cash will to into stabilization. Motion: To reconsider the motion relative to the use of stabilization funds (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes r Superintendent Moretti said that he would like the School Committee to have its attorney come in to talk to the Finance Committee about merit increases and the topic of the 6% increases. Mr. 3 Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 16, 2005 r ".- r Lazarra said the Finance Committee would like to see the numbers. Mr. Goldberg said that voting in favor of this is not delicious but that both sides appear to be in favor of looking at the Finance Committee's suggestions. The Town Manager said htat the town is commited to various initiatives that the Finance Committee suggested implementing and the fact that we are willing to do that should be noted. Mr. Arnold said that his hesitancy is that we can't get a commitment from the School Committee htat someone won't ask for more money for the schools on the floor of Town Meeting - he doesn't want to vote on this thinking we have a deal and then have things change. Mr. Aptowitz asked Superintendent Moretti what would happen if all three boards voted to support the use of stabilization and something happened where a motion was made to give more money to the schools and Superintendent Moretti said that in the past, the School Committee would not accept the additional money. Selectman McCue asked Superintendent Moretti if his recommendation to the School Committee would be to reject any movement from Town Meeting floor for incrases to the school budget and Superintendent Moretti said begrudgingly, yes. Mr. Gazzolo noted that any extra funds would go into stabilization and asked if we need to vote today or do we wait until the School Committee votes. Mr. Arnold said that it would be a no- brainer if we vote after the School Committee votes. Mr. Lazarra withdrew his motion. Mr. Moretti asked for a commitment that we don't ever do this again and wait until the last minute. Let's agree to disagree. Motion: To support to the use of $500,000 from stabilization as presented this evening and will take any additional revenue to put into stabilization; to meet with the Finance Committee to establish a five-year plan to discuss upcoming salary negotiations; and this support is subject to the School Committee not expending more than the $31,680,000 as presented. (Amoruso - McCarter) 5-0 Passes Mr. Gazzolo asked what the net increase is in staff, after the cuts and Superintendent Moretti believes that there is a 2.5 net increase - Superintendent Moretti said that he will email the information to Mr. Gazzolo tomorrow. Superintendent Moretti said that the positions cut are vacant, so they are not laying people off. Motion: To adjourn at 8:43pm (McCue) 5-0 Passes ~AL !lJattid W. .&~ Signature of Clerk ~ 25. 2eeS Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 16, 2005 4