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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCapital Improvements 04/28/2009Capital Improvements Committee Minutes April 28, 2009 Present: Charlene Lavin, Chair; Tom Ratliff, Finance Committee, Michael Trpwhjidpe and Jean Miller, School Committee, George Dentino, Board of Selectmen, Julie Hunter, MBC, Tony Jodice and Mike McClanahan, Planning Board Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development 1. 1 he meoting was called to order at b,3© p;m 2' I}A3�GICi�7+OT1 Q`-I�,i..� �!$ `�'r,--.��-s�.'_���.✓-e� �.`-v s r=,,,,,..� F s The committee discussed the Town Manager's recommendation list. Mr. D'Agostino has identified his 10 top priorities. The group decided it would review his recommendations to begin their deliberations. On the issue of the SPED bus, Mr. Trowbridge said at this time, it is uncertain what amount of stimulus funding will be available for capital requests and how it will be allocated to the town. It is understood this is grant money that will have to be applied for, but it appears to be a significant amount of conflicting information about when or how much money will become available for the SPED busses. Ms. Lavin asked about the $2 million educational stimulus funding. Mr. Trowbridge and Ms. Miller responded it is their understanding that one-half of the money will be allocated the first year, the balance the second year. At least half of the money must be used for sustainable programming and cannot be used to retain current staff. The committee was informed the grant must be applied for and there is quarterly progress reporting required, and other regulations attached to the grant of the stimulus money. Ms. Lavin suggested reviewing the Town Manager's prioritization and identify what differences, if any, the committee has with his ranking. Mr. Trowbridge said from his perspective, School Department priorities 1-4 would remain their priorities. 'Mr. Trowbridge and Ms. Miller disagreed with Mr. D'Agostino's ranking of the high school stage vent as the first priority, based on Mr. Parker's representation that the existing vent would likely last another year. Mr. McClanahan asked about the security cameras for the schools at $125,000 and whether there was grant money available. Mr. Trowbridge responded the original installation of cameras at Memorial Park and the high school were grant funded, and the request this time is to raise and appropriate funds for cameras in the remaining public schools. ' Ms. Lavin suggested the group may want to consider removing Cate Springs chemical containment repair from the priority list because it is an enterprise account and the repairs will be done with retained earnings from that account. While recognizing this is a priority, tonight's discussion should focus on items within the operating budget. Mr. Trowbridge suggested when the committee sets the priorities, it should establish them according to need as though we have the money, thereby establishing a project queue. Mr. Dentino raised the issue of the Canoe River Campground Dam and the additional information supplied by the town engineer. Mr. Dentino stated no towns have been fined by the state yet, and it appears if the dam fails, it will drain down the pond into the wetland below, probably without damage to the road. Mr. McClanahan concurred that it is a man-made pond used for agricultural purposes many years ago and does not retain significant amounts of water now. He, too, was of the opinion that this shouldn't be the number one priority. Mr. Jodice asked if anyone has contacted our elected state officials to determine whether we can get assistance from the Commonwealth or a deferral on the directive to repair the dam. Discussion focused on the unlikelhood of anyone at the state level being willing to take the risk to tell the town not to make the repair. The committee decided to remove the dam as the number one priority and move on with the prioritization of the remaining CIP request. Motion: To make the Fire Department's 12 -lead semi-automatic defrbulators priority number one (Trowbridge -Miller) All in favor. PASSES Mr. Ratliff stated that Rescue 34, the Fire Chief's number one priority, will need to be replaced, and the group may want to consider that as a high-priority item. Consensus was that having just spent $I million on equipment replacement for the Fire Department, Town Meeting may not be amenable to spending another $225,000. Hopefully, there will be money available in the ambulance fund and from the donations made by the developers of the next phase of Willow Crossing. The committee then discussed the thermal imaging cameras and how important they were for the Fire Department in search and rescue operations. Motion: To make the thermal imaging cameras priority 2 (Trowbridge -Miller) All in favor. PASSES The group then turned to the number three priority, and discussed whether that should be the Robinson generator or the Jordan Jackson chiller retrofit. The group decided the Robinson generator would be priority 3 and the Jordan Jackson chiller priority 4. Motion: To make the Robinson generator priority 3 (Trowbridge -Miller) All in favor. PASSES Motion: To make the Jordan Jackson chiller priority 4 (Hunter -Miller) 7 in favor. 1 opposed. PASSES Mr. Jodice advised the committee that the capital requests they just voted to support total $167,000. Motion: To make the Opticom system priority number 5 (Trowbridge- no second Motion: To make Rescue 34 priority number 5 (Hunter - no second Motion: To make roadway maintenance priority number 5 (Jodice-Trowbridge) Mr. Jodice and Mr. Trowbridge reconsidered their motion and second. Motion: To make the sander computers priority number 5 (Jodice-Trowbridge) Mr. Ratliff said he recalled Mr. Cook saying increased efficiency as a result of the computer system may pay for the system within one year, which would be a good return. All in favor. PASSES Motion: To make the roadway maintenance priority 6 (Jodice-Trowbridge) Mr. Jodice suggested reducing the amount proposed for roadway maintenance from $450,000 to $213,500, as that would bring the total dollar amount of requests for the first six items to $400,000, which would be an amount more likely to be funded. All in favor. PASSES Discussion returned to the Canoe River Campground dam Motion: To make the Canoe River Campground dam priority 7 (Lavin -Miller) The committee acknowledged the repairs would only be conducted if a funding source for the $400,000 is found, bringing the total of CIP raise and appropriate to $800,000. All in favor. PASSES Ms. Lavin suggested the committee return to discussion of the Cate Springs chemical containment repair facility. Ms. Lavin stated that as this repair is a necessity and the funding source is an enterprise account, the committee consider supporting the Water Department's request. Motion: To support the Cate Springs chemical containment repair facility (Trowbridge -Miller) All in favor. PASSES 1. Minutes April 7, 2009 - Motion: To approve as submitted (Trowbridge -Miller) 6 in favor. Two abstentions. PASSES 2. Minutes November 6, 2008 Motion: To approve as submitted (Trowbridge -Miller) 6 in favor. Two abstentions. PASSES Ms. Lavin suggested the committee make a recommendation to the Finance Committee on the most appropriate number to be carried in the operating budget for the life of the five-year capital plan. Ms. Lavin said review of the spreadsheets indicated a range of , $1.3-1.7 million annually under raise and appropriate, which excludes debt for large ticket items like the public safety facility. Mr. Ratliff suggested the committee's recommendation be $1.5 annually for inclusion in the operating budget. Mr. Trowbridge said he though $1 million would be adequate, and the addition $500,000 would be difficult given the town's fiscal situation. Consensus was reached that $1.25 million per year would be the number presented as a recommendation to the Finance Committee. Motion: To recommend $1.25 million to the Finance Committee for annual inclusion in the operating budget (Trowbridge-Jodice) All in favor. PASSES Ms. Lavin said the committee has taken care of its business and will not meet again hefore Town Meeting. The committee will be hosted for the night of Town Meeting. t05MMPI 5M Motion: To adjourn at 7:25 p.m. (Jodice- ) All in favor. PASSES ate o ext meeting: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 — Annual Town Meeting SignatW bfChdirman nate bf Approval