A meeting convened at 7:32 PM in Town Hall.
Members present; Bothwick, Burbott, Cabot, Carr, Croft, Kenney, Putnam and Swanson
Members absent: Herbster
Others present: Town Administrator, Town Accountant
Mr. Bothwick presided.
OPERATING BUDGETS
Recreation – The Director joined the meeting. The reduction in education/training is because a program coordinator position has been postponed.
Singing Beach – The large increase in salary is due to increasing the beach operations. The F’07 budget was not adjusted for the operations that the Singing Beach Committee recommended and the BOS approved. The portable telephones will be NEXTEL, replacing a three different radio system, and in the off season no charges will incur. The old system will be kept as a back up.
Lifeguards – The budget was reviewed with no questions.
Tuck’s Point – The budget was reviewed with no questions.
Observances – The budget was reviewed with no questions.
DPW – The Director joined the meeting. The expense costs are inclusive of the increases seen in F’2007 for energy costs. Energy charges are outpacing the F’07 budget; however there may be surplus in gasoline, diesel and oil to cover the increase in natural gas.
The Athletic field maintenance is reduced because Coach Field playground will not need services due to the School Building project. The category of the Coach Field playground will change in the new school lease. The Park/beach maintenance cost will increase because the School will take over the maintenance and charge the Town for usage.
The FinCom requests the consolidation of line items in future budget requests.
Trash removal and raking of Singing Beach is included in DPW budget, rather than Beach budget. The FinCom requests the amount for this service both man time and the disposal fee amounts.
Snow – The DPW requested $141,600; the BOS reduced the request to $75,700. Upon review of the past years, it may be appropriate to recommend an average of $85,000. The Town Accountant has built in$100,000 in the budget projections.
Street Lighting – There are additional lights in downtown.
Sanitation – The question continues about the cost for two Town options. If the Town eliminates the transfer station and requires curbside pick up, the Town will lose tonnage, and also eliminate DPW worker hours for other work. Another option is to close the transfer station for public use, but remain open for DPW use. Having two options costs more. It is suggested to discuss the best option for the Town with MAA.
Composting – Is it time to charge a fee? The consensus is that fewer people would use it. If the Town were to sell the compost, that would require manpower and equipment.
Sewer Fund – The budget was reviewed with no questions.
Water Fund – The distribution expenses are increased due to reassessed real estate tax in Hamilton. The budget request should be increased to $33,000. Overtime costs are for routine services on weekends and holidays.
CAPITAL ITEMS
Singing Beach Parking Lot Lines – It was suggested to put this item in the operating budget, or include it every three or four years at a STM. If it fails at the STM, the Committee would consider a Reserve Fund transfer.
Singing beach bathhouse – This project is not supported by the BOS.
Singing Beach Bathhouse Electrical upgrade – This project to meet safety regulations is supported by the BOS.
Singing Beach Granite Walk and Railing - This project is not supported by the BOS.
DPW Dump Truck Unit 18 – This project is not supported by the BOS.
DPW Pickup Truck replacement – A recommendation was made to purchase a diesel vehicle. The purchase will be funded by the Sale of Lots and Perpetual Care of Funds.
DPW Reline Sewer Mains – This project will allow for 15 -20 years of life at $75 per running foot. To replace the mains will cost $125-150 per running foot and would require an ongoing project of ten years or more.
DPW Redevelop Lincoln Street Well - This work needs to be done every four to six years.
DPW Road Improvements – The amount currently available will not cover the proposed schedule of two miles per year. The amount requested will be forthcoming.
Water Meter Technology – The current meter system will be obsolete on July 1. This project is phased over three years replacing the reader unit, and adding a radio read system. The project will experience a pay off in three years when the laptop is implemented; year one, $125,000; year two, 150,000; year three $160,000. Technology will reduce reading costs from $28,000 to $3,000.
Water Plant Computer Upgrade – Software maintenance that supports upgrades is not available.
DPW Masconomo Park Bank Stabilization – This is a two phase project. The first phase stops the erosion caused by runoff from the parking lot. The second phase is to construct a seating area at the point.
DPW Regulatory Programs from EPA – This project is $10,000 for a consultant to prepare and submit sampling plans required by EPA for Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproduct Rules, and long term two enhanced surface water treatment rule, which complies with drinking water updates. The cost of this project will be backed into increased water rates.
DPW Chowder House Repairs - $25- 30,000 will be requested at STM.
Water Treatment Plant - $25,000 proposed to change to a centrifugal pump system. If the initial cost is for engineering, the DPW operating budget will cover this expense. This project provides a two - three year payback, and will reduce the operating costs.
The Town Administrator reported that an additional item has been submitted for $17,500 to add a spray cleaning system to the pump station on Old Essex Road. A second location could be done next year at half the cost.
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Storage of Records – Ms. Burbott reported that storage is not required for many records, which would save money. The Town Administrator pointed out that several Town employees are not willing to give up keeping hard copies of records.
Congregational Church – The Town Administrator reported that Town Counsel ruled there is no separation of church and state relative to this project. It is eligible as a historic structure.
MINUTES – The minutes of 1/23 were amended.
Operating budgets, Fire, sentence five- hazardous technician is replaced with HAZMAT
sentence seven – add ‘s’ to increase
CONSERVATION – replaced by COMMUNITY
Second page – remove the following sentence because it was an opinion, rather than a fact, The Fin Com may make recommendations to a petitioner for use of CPC fund, but they may not petition a project.
The minutes of 1/23/07 were unanimously adopted as amended.
The meeting adjourned at 10:08 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Sabella
Clerk
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