HomeMy WebLinkAboutCapital Improvements 02/03/2011Capital Improvements Committee Minutes
February 3, 2011 ri,}df�
Present: Charlene Lavin, Chair; Doug Annino, Board of Selectmen, Jean Miller, School CLERKS OFFICE
Committee, Shawn MacDonald, Planning Board, Tommy Ratliff, Finance Committee, Al
anQl% FE
Clapp, MBC 25 A `� 44
William Ross, Town Manager, Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development H 4 H G SFIELD
SETTS
Gary Babin and Chris Cox, Light Department, Lou Andrews and Carl Lambrecht, Airport
Commission, Neal Boldrighini, Fire Chief
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Correspondence
1. January 20, 2011 Minutes
On the second page, Mr. Ratliff asked about the ideal number of trucks and sanders, not
Mr. Jodice
Motion: To approve as amended (Miller -Ratliff) Five in favor. One abstention. PASSES
The committee discussed the fact that warrant articles are due by March 1. Ms. Lavin asked to
have place holders left on the warrant, because the town has a desperate need to fund capital
items. She said there is approximately $400,000 available.
Mr. Ross said as an example, as debt comes off for the school buildings, the town may be able to
do a debt exemption for the DPW garage and not have to raise taxes because the cost of debt
service would remain the same.
Ms. Lavin said part of the committee's task is to recommend funding sources for the capital
items.
Mr. Ratliff said capital funding needs to be more intentional, rather than waiting until the end of
the budget process and using what may be left over,
13. Mansfield Municipal Electric Department Requests
Gary Babin explained the capital plan was developed by Chris Cox and Gary D'Ambra using the
DPU system of accounts. There are five different accounts into which their capital projects fall,
as shown on the spreadsheets given to the committee.
Mr. Babin explained the East Mansfield Substation will be funded with an $8 million bond
authorization and has been approved at Town Meeting. He said he hopes to be able to pay most
of the cost with retained earnings.
Mr. Cox explained the Tremont Street and Bonney/Eric Road projects are one-time expenses. He
said the Otis Street project is phase two of three small projects that will upgrade the existing
system.
Mr. Ross asked if the town will get power from the Bird Road substation. Mr. Babin said it does,
and the cost of two circuits underground the Maple and Winter Streets is included in the $8
million.
Mr., Babin explained the Light Commissioners approve the department's budget, unless it is a
borrowing or an interest in land, then it would go to Town Meeting.
. irVdY��t Department Requests'
Lou Andrews and Carl Lambrecht, Airport Commission, explained the FAA sets priorities, which
are 1) safety and 2) runway improvements. He said each airport gets $150,000 annually from the
FAA, which goes toward safety.
Mr. Andrews said the Airport Commission has had public meetings on the Master Plan. He
explained the airport is run with an enterprise account, and their revenue is about $75,000
annually. He said $40,000 of that is returned to the capital budget. The FAA covers 95% of the
airport's expenses, the state covers 2.5% and the remaining 2.5% is covered locally.
Chief Neal Boldrighni explained he has provided the committee with a ten-year capital plan, and
his priorities in the following order, with items one and two for the upcoming fiscal year:
Rescue 34—The current Rescue 34 is a 2003 model with 108,000 miles. It is used for
3,000 runs a year and as a backup for 500 runs a year. It has needed $13,000 in repairs in
the past 18 months. Rescue 34 carries cutting edge equipment. Rescue 34 is in use every
day, is a vital piece of equipment and must be replaced.
Chief Boldrighini explained the ambulance fund takes in $700,000 a year. He said he would like
to purchase one ambulance in FY 11, and a second ambulance in FY 12. He said he is looking
for support to reallocate money earlier.
2. Car 2 — The current Car 2 is a 1998 Ford Explorer with 120,000 miles and is used by the
deputy. Replacement cost is approximately $32,000-$35,000.
The remaining requests are listed in order of priority in the years shown on the spreadsheet.
3. Radio System — The current equipment, which uses land lines and antennae, has failed
three times in the past few years. He said he would like to switch to microwave
equipment, which would be a data network rather than just a radio system, and which
would not involve landlines. The committee discussed how the microwave system would
work. It would be a comprehensive approach including fire, police, DPW and water, and
would be part of a larger network.
4. Vision 21 receiving units currently monitor over 300 alarms. The current units are 10
years old and cost $22,000 each to replace. Chief Boldrighini suggested adding a fee to
each alarm box to fund this system.
5. Portable Radios — The department has three types of radios, and he would like to upgrade
them at a cost of approximately $56,000.
6. SCBA Units — All 40 need to be replaced by 2014 at a cost of $316,000. They will not be
able to be recertified again.
7. IKON Copier— was purchased with a federal grant in 2005.
Mr. Babin explained the Light Commissioners approve the department's budget, unless it is a
borrowing or an interest in land, then it would go to Town Meeting.
Lou Andrews and Carl Lambrecht, Airport Commission, explained the FAA sets priorities, which
are 1) safety and 2) runway improvements. He said each airport gets $150,000 annually from the
FAA, which goes toward safety.
Mr. Andrews said the Airport Commission has had public meetings on the Master Plan. He
explained the airport is run with an enterprise account, and their revenue is about $75,000
annually. He said $40,000 of that is returned to the capital budget. The FAA covers 95% of the
airport's expenses, the state covers 2.5% and the remaining 2.5% is covered locally.
Chief Neal Boldrighni explained he has provided the committee with a ten-year capital pl
his priorities in the following order, with items one and two for the upcoming fiscal year:
1. Rescue 34 —The current Rescue 34 is a 2003 model with 108,000 miles. It is used for
3,000 runs a year and as a backup for 500 runs a year. It has needed $13,000 in repairs in
the past 18 months. Rescue 34 carries cutting edge equipment. Rescue 34 is in use every
day, is a vital piece of equipment and must be replaced.
Chief Boldrighini explained the ambulance fund takes in $700,000 a year. He said he would like
to purchase one ambulance in FY 11, and a second ambulance in FY 12. He said he is looking
for support to reallocate money earlier.
2. Car 2 — The current Car 2 is a 1998 Ford Explorer with 120,000 miles and is used by the
deputy. Replacement cost is approximately $32,000-$35,000.
The remaining requests are listed in order of priority in the years shown on the spreadsheet.
Radio System — The current equipment, which uses land lines and antennae, has failed
three times in the past few years. He said he would like to switch to microwave
equipment, which would be a data network rather than just a radio system, and which
would not involve landlines. The committee discussed how the microwave system would
work. It would be a comprehensive approach including fire, police, DPW and water, and
would be part of a larger network.
4. Vision 21 receiving units currently monitor over 300 alarms. The current units are 10
years old and cost $22,000 each to replace. Chief Boldrighini suggested adding a fee to
each alarm box to fund this system.
5. Portable Radios —The department has three types of radios, and he would like to upgrade
them at a cost of approximately $56,000.
6. SCBA Units — All 40 need to be replaced by 2014 at a cost of $316,000. They will not be
able to be recertified again.
7. IKON Copier — was purchased with a federal grant in 2005.
8. North Main Street Fire Station —Chief Boldrighini explained renovating or moving the
station would be very expensive.
9. Thermal hnaging Cameras —There was a donation of two thermal imaging cameras from
local companies.
The committee discussed the cost ($183,000) of the last ambulance purchase in 2003, and
whether the cost projection includes cost escalation. The answer was that it does.
Motion: To adjourn at 7:30 p.m. (Miller -Ratliff) All in favor.
The committee discussed asking the School Department to limit its presentation to 45 minutes to
allow the Capital Improvements Committee to begin deliberations.
at f next meeting: February 17, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
Signa ure of Chair
Z/r7 11
Date of Approval