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Home My Public Portal AboutSelect Board -- 2020-02-10 Minutes aa\u�` uiuuununaia, Office of: ;, �9 Town of Brewster �_ �''•,,+ �� 2198 Main StreetSelect Board Town Administrator 3 0 a Brewster, MA 026314898 Phone : (508) 896- 3701 4 Fax : ( 508) 896 -8089 eo �� "�imxrnMannluuu�u`� � •�' I�, � i� n � . •_� _ . . . MINUTES OF THE SELECT BOARD MEETING I_, 1 .1:. 1;1s; trE, 111,;11 ? l; Lc`e; i'; DATE : February 10, 2020 TIME : 6 : 00 PM PLACE : Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street PRESENT : Chair Whitney, Selectperson Bingham , Selectperson deRuyter, Selectperson Chaffee, Town Administrator Peter Lombardi , Assistant Town Administrator Donna Kalinick, Robin Young, Selectperson Dickson 6 : 07pm Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance Chair Whitney called the meeting to order at 6 : 01pm . Chair Fitzgerald called the Finance Committee meeting to order at 6 : 03pm Citizens Forum = Members of the public may address the Select Board at this time fora period not longer than 5 minutes . The Select Board is unable to. respond to comments as it could be a violation of the state's Open Meeting Law which reauires a specific topic to appear on the agenda for public discussion to occur. A topic raised by a member of the public may be added to a future meeting agenda if deemed warranted by the Select Board Chair. No discussion . Selectperson Chaffee read a disclosure notice . Finance Committee member Don Arthur read a disclosure notice . Both are filed with the town clerk . Consent Agenda Selectperson deRuyter voted to approve the Consent Agenda , Selectperson Bingham second . The Board voted 4-Yes 0- No . Sign March 3 . 2020 Presidential Primary Warrant and Appoint Slate of Election Workers as printed — Town Clerk Signature Requested - Dennis Community Block Grant Request to Permit Additional Remote Attendance and Add Further Discussion of Remote Participation Policv to Upcoming Agenda — Town Planner Request for two ( 2 ) One Dav Liquor Licenses — Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Proposed Citizens Non = Binding Public Opinion Ballot Question — Suzanne Sullivan Suzanne Sullivan introduced a non - binding resolution to be placed on the upcoming ballot . She was joined by Diane Turco of Cape Cod Down Winders for discussion of the ballot question . They distributed informational materials on the Nuclear power safety resolution . The pilgrim nuclear power plant is now closed and Ms . Turco explained that the site still poses safety hazards . The petition is to properly store the spent waste and increase security at the site . Selectperson Chaffee asked for town counsel review of the proposed petition , with the language of the ask referring to the state, as opposed to the feds who control the land . Selectperson www . brewster- ma . gov BoS 02- 10- 20 Page 1 of 4 ��,t�ao\gip£W BUr�iq�i P� FOffice of: o�' ,, . Town of Brewster Select Boa rd 2198 Main Street Town Administrator 3 W Brewster, MA 02631 = 1898 Y Phone : ( 508) 896 -3701 Fax : ( 508) 896= 8089 Ito deRuyter is comfortable moving forward with the petition as written , to communicate the message to the legislature, who will then pass that on to the Federal government . Selectperson deRuyter moved to approve the ballot question as presented , Selectperson Dickson second for discussion . Selectperson Dickson agreed it is advisory in nature, and this can become an exhibit in a lawsuit potentially . Tom Fitzgibbons noted this article would not fall under the purview of the finance committee however he questioned the fund for remediation , and asked who that account belongs to . The account is under the oversight of the Decommissioning Trust . The NRC has custody of the fund . Don Arthur asked why this group would seek a ballot vote to direct the Select Board to call or write the governor' s office, opposed to asking them directly tonight . The petitioners want to bring this matter to the attention of every citizen as it effects their quality of lives . Selectperson Dickson would like it as a ballot vote, as a vote of the citizens of the town than the five Select Board members in the event of litigation . The Select Board voted to place the citizen ' s non - binding public opinion ballot question on the warrant by a vote of 5 -Yes 0- No . Presentation of the 5 Year Capital Plan and Spring 2020 Capital Prolect Recommendations — Capital Planning Committee Mr . Lombardi reconvened the Capital Planning Committee meeting that was originally called to order at 5 : 30pm . In August, he sent a memo to department heads for input on their capital requests this year and the next 4 years out . Some requests for fall Town Meeting were previously approved to be paid for from free cash . Following fall Town Meeting, the Capital Planning Committee was reconstituted and met over 8 times . The meetings were televised for transparency . The summary of the various funding sources for each fiscal year in the plan was highlighted . Free cash is the principal funding source for capital project recommendations . The financial reserve policy, recently adopted by the Select Board , was included in the packet for reference . There is potential to appropriate any additional funds toward the capital stabilization fund and/or the housing trust . Capital requests are listed by each department and with a funding source . Mr Lombardi reviewed all of the department' s capital requests and their funding sources line by line . Selectperson deRuyter appreciated the detailed 5 year plan and asked Mr . Lombardi the thought process behind including the entire cost of the high school project, not net of the MSBA grant or only Brewster' s percentage share . As this will be on the ballot with the total cost of project when listed , Mr . Lombardi felt it was best to include the entire cost as a transparency to voters of what will be projected in future costs . This will be edited in future editions of the capital plan , when the project is accepted or rejected . It wouldn 't be on resident' s tax assessment until FY25 . Selectperson deRuyter appreciated detail on housing trust, highlighting his interest on the Select Board having policy discussion on the use of the short term rental revenue in the near future . It was clarified that the $ 60, 000 . 00 appropriation for HVAC at Natural Resources department is above and beyond what has already been spent at that building . ( Former Fire Station ) As part of the Green Communities application , a 5 year energy reduction plan was developed . That building was on the plan as a deficiency due to the audit . A series of recommendations were made and this was one of them to maximize their incentives . A spend down history for the elementary school capital costs was requested , to see how money has been spent . Selectperson Dickson recalled a bylaw adopted a number of years past that www . brewster- ma . gov BoS 0240- 20 Page 2 of 4 gX 'a � W$4lijA Town of Brewster Office o Select Board 2198 Main Street Town Administrator _ 0 " u Brewster, MA 02631 = 1898 V0 'm Phone : ( 508) 896 =3701 Fax : ( 508) 896- 8089 ��M//B�IIMIIII111N«u��\� the Town must present in the town warrant a summary of projects $ 100, 000 . 00 or more . That was not included last year because there was no capital planning process . The $ 70, 000 . 00 annual figure from Water to land contributions is appropriated annually if there is a project to allocate it to or not . If not the funds are accumulated and rolled into a land purchase at a later date . The last rate study included an average of it annually incorporated . If no project comes up next year, it would not be given but would wait until a suitable project was brought forward . Mr . Lombardi would recommend voting on each capital item by category of funding source at a future meeting, line by line . The money investments in Stony Brook and Eddy Elementary were considered . Mr . Fitzgerald said it would be helpful to have an assessment of facilities . A facility condition index prepared with an engineer that would have life span and condition of everything at each building . Ms . Pivirotto asked if technology investments were made at the school , could that technology still be utilized in the event of consolidation . The majority of funds are used on software and equipment . The schools will be in to discuss their budget and capital requests in more detail on February 26, 2020 and it is appropriate to ask them then . The operating budget and capital items are voted on at one time with the school committee . Mr . Meehan asked what happens when capital needs arise that are not on the plan . The Capital Committee will revisit the plan on annual basis after every fall town meeting . IT investments are being made as an oversight of all initiative in anticipation to improve security and programming . There is inclusionary conversations with all departments and the IT department, as the IT Director Kathy Lambert is involved with all efforts . The Brewster Ladies Library was noted for their building project as they are 16th on list for state aid . There is no ballpark of when that grant would be awarded , and under the Select Board funding for the community center it is "TBD" . Tom Fitzgibbons noted there is really no debt exclusion on the horizon with exception of the school, but was reminded that the library and community center would drive the next major debt exclusions . Adding any funding to the capital stabilization account would be able to apply significant funding to those projects in order to reduce long term borrowing . The Finance Committee discussed issues with having a specific capital stabilization fund , since there is already means of accounts . Could $ 250, 000 . 00 apply to places of existing vulnerabilities such as housing, opeb , or capital FY22 . It was suggested to have a consolidation of savings funds . Funding should be designated to a particular area , so it is not spent for something else . Selectperson Dickson noted that a number of points and policies are recommendations from the DOR such as having a capital stabilization fund and opeb funding . There is a cap of $ 4 million on a capital stabilization fund . A Brewster Ladies Library feasibility study has to have funds in place . Once the State approves projects, the Town will have 6 months to move forward with the project . Feasibility studies have cost escalators built in place . Mike Fitzgerald requested to his members if any section needs a further department head explanation , to let him know . It was again noted that having a building assessment would be beneficial , as it is a required element of the LCP to do so . Ms . Pivirotto noted the Recreation ' s Drummer Boy park playground upgrades in FY23 . There is significant interest in seniors at COA to have equipment at the park . That is what played into the timing of the capital request in FY23 . Select Board has a FY21 capital project Drummer Boy park master plan update that will look at the area in its entirety . The committee wanted to spread out the impact of the capital request to different funding sources . A CPC application will be submitted in FY23 for the project, but that could change with timing of BLL project . www , brewster- ma . gov BoS 02- 10 - 20 Page 3 of 4 \\ 0, W4 .3.W4 Office of: /441 9 Town o Brewster Select Board T ":' ' % 2198 Main Street Town Administrator A4 : to = rA Brewster, MA 02631 = 1898 Y -- A Phone : ( 508) 896 -3701 �% Fax : ( 508) 896- 8089 ISO S0411 WM/I/fI�/ mlliflllN��u�� Selectperson Chaffee requested Mr . Lombardi add a note to explain the High School funding to the document . Continued Review of Potential Spring 2020 Town Meeting Warrant Articles No discussion . FYIs No discussion . Future Meetings — TBD February 24th , Joint meeting school budget on the 26th, and March 2, and 161H Adjournment Selectperson Chaffee moved to adjourn at 7 : 45 pm , Selectperson Bingham second . The Board voted 5 -Yes 0" No . Respectfully submitted , Robin Young iv Approved : Signed :Date Selectperson Dlerk of the Board of Selectman Accompanying Documents in Packet : agenda, consent agenda, capital information, fyis www . brewster-ma . gov BoS 0240- 20 Page 4 of 4